Half A Soul by Olivia Atwood is a short, sweet read, that delights and enchants through its clever take on the Regency Romance genre.
What is Half A Soul About?
Half A Soul follows Theodora Ettings, a young lady who, through an unfortunate encounter with a faerie when she was a child, finds herself without a full soul.
Her cousin, Vanessa, is determined to help Dora recover the other half of her soul, even if it means convincing her meddlesome mother that Dora should accompany them to London this season.
Vanessa has heard that the Lord Sorcier is in town, and despite his fearsome reputation, believes he may be able to help her cousin.
But only having Half a Soul is difficult at the best of times, and Dora often finds herself accidentally causing scandal wherever she goes. She’s prone to saying the wrong things, and fears she doesn’t feel things quite as she ought to.
Brought together by a determination solve a mysterious sleeping illness befalling the children of London’s workhouses, the Lord Sorcier and Dora find themselves gaining a deeper understanding of each other… even, love?
A Masterclass in Whimsy
Crafting a world that is rich with magical detail is no easy task, especially within a well-established genre such as regency romance.
But Atwater takes well known tropes of propriety and spins them into a delightful tale. A great portion of the story centres on a heroine who are outside the boundaries of the society in which she is supposed to belong within.
It’s great fun seeing the characters function in a way that demonstrates awareness of the expectations of the genre (chaparones, balls, meddlesome mothers) and uses magic as a way to further highlight and play with these elements. In a world where a key focus is on appearances and the ‘done thing’, these characters behave in unexpected ways.
The magic itself doesn’t feel overdone, but rather seems paired with a degree of realism and social concern. I was particularly impressed by the way the book discusses the workhouses, and social conditions of the less fortunate – something which often seems to be glossed over or only perfunctorially covered by the genre.
Lightness Shouldn’t be Dismissed
The overall tone of whimsy and lightness, when paired with a deep concern for social justice and the pain of others, combines to bring a story that doesn’t lack depth, even as it delights.
There’s a danger, which many romance books face, in being dismissed as frivolous or just ‘fluff’. I’ve noticed this danger doesn’t seem to be faced as much by other genres, especially those deemed more “Serious”.
There is something to be said for writing a joyful story, that doesn’t feel shallow or simpering, but rather just as deep and engaging as one born from a place of pain and darkness.
Half A Soul is an engaging take on the regency romance genre that demonstrates that taking risks within a genre can be well worth it. At the end of the day, the agreement made with the reader is still kept in terms of what I hoped to get from reading a romance novel (a beautiful love story, with a happy ending), but the execution is to be admired for the freshness and heart it brings.
Favourite Quote
There were many lovely lines to choose from, but this one sums up much of the heart of the book.
“Sometimes, when you cannot force the world to come to its senses, you must settle only for wiping away some of the small evils in front of you.
(Elias Wilder) Olivia AtWater – half a soul
Have you read this book? If you have, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it – leave a comment. Or perhaps there’s another whimsical book you’d like to recommend?
Steph Huddleston 