Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales #1) by Olivia Atwater

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales #1) by Olivia Atwater. It's the perfect blend of historical and fantasy and so much fun!

About the Book

It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.

Ever since a faerie cursed her, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear, embarrassment, or even happiness—a condition which makes her sadly prone to accidental scandal. Dora’s only goal for the London Season this year is to stay quiet and avoid upsetting her cousin’s chances at a husband… but when the Lord Sorcier of England learns of her condition, she finds herself drawn ever more deeply into the tumultuous concerns of magicians and faeries.

Lord Elias Wilder is handsome, strange, and utterly uncouth—but gossip says that he regularly performs three impossible things before breakfast, and he is willing to help Dora restore her missing half. If Dora’s reputation can survive both her ongoing curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world… but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.

Pride and Prejudice meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this enthralling historical fantasy romance, where the only thing more meddlesome than faeries is a marriage-minded mama. Pick up Half a Soul, and be stolen away into debut author Olivia Atwater’s charming, magical version of Regency England!

Book Beginnings

Theodora Eloisa Charity Ettings was a very long name for a very small girl. This, her aunt liked to say, was probably why she was such a handful - by the time one had fully shouted the words "Theodora Eloisa Charity Ettings, you get back here this instant!", said ten-year old girl was almost always long gone.

Friday 56

Dora reached out to touch Elias very carefully on the shoulder. "You do not have many friends, Elias," she said slowly. "I may be wrong about this - in fact, I am most likely wrong - but I think that you are grieving. And if you trusted your friends enough to show that grief, instead of turning it to anger, you would not be outside in the rain."

What have you been reading lately?