📖 Half a Soul
By Olivia Atwater.
A cozy Regency-era fantasy with a dash of faerie magic, following Dora as she navigates high society with only half a soul—and plenty of complications
Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping, war themes
- Vibes: Charming, whimsical, light fantasy with regency vibes
- Plot & Pacing: Started a little slow, but once it picked up, I was fully invested. The ending felt a little rushed after a strong build-up, but everything wrapped up neatly and satisfyingly.
- Characters: Dora was a really loveable lead, and the side characters added warmth and humour. The romantic element was sweet without being over the top.
- Writing Style: Gentle, easy-to-read prose with a cozy, almost Austen-like tone.
- Emotional Impact: A very chill read — not high drama, but quietly delightful and comforting.
- Continue series/ read more from this author? Yes
The setting felt very Bridgerton in nature — London’s high society full of balls, social obligations, and gossiping matrons — but with an added magical undercurrent. I found it incredibly easy to visualise, possibly because that Regency-style world is so familiar, and Atwater did a great job of weaving in the fae elements without overwhelming the social focus of the plot.
I really enjoyed Dora as a protagonist. Her mix of endearing bluntness and kindhearted nature made her easy to root for. The cast of side characters also added warmth — her cousin was particularly loveable, and the love interest brought a nice “grumpy-meets-charming” energy. Their romance falls into a bit of a dislike-to-love and oblivious-to-feelings trope, which I always enjoy, even if it was fairly predictable from their first meeting. Supporting characters like Albert, his mother, and Miss Jennings added more depth and coziness to the story, while the antagonists — particularly the aunts — were suitably unlikeable.
Plot-wise, while the premise of Dora’s missing half-soul created an interesting hook, it did feel like the resolution came a bit too quickly. The faerie realm doesn’t really come into focus until the final 20% of the book, and while everything wraps up neatly, it did feel slightly rushed after such a long build-up. That being said, the overall pacing made this a relaxing, cozy read rather than a high-stakes fantasy.
Who I’d Recommend it to:
If you’re looking for something low-stakes, atmospheric, and easy to read — this makes for an excellent palate cleanser between heavier fantasies. I’d especially recommend it to fans of historical romance who want to dip into light fantasy, or newer fantasy readers who don’t want anything too complex or overwhelming. It’s also very suitable for a slightly younger audience.
Summary:
✨ Bridgerton with fae
✨ Historical fantasy
✨ Cozy, slightly whimsical
✨ Romance with soft magical undertones
Let me know your thoughts…
Have you read this book? Let me know what you thought about it!
Tea & Tales 
Leave a comment