Rating: 10/10
Genre: Faerie Regency England Historical Fiction with Romance and Fantasy
I adored this book. Seriously, I read it all on a single plane ride– I just couldn’t stop myself. I mean, to begin with, I have a soft spot for Regency England romances with strong female leads, not to mention my absolute obsession with books with the Fae. I found this story fascinating. The premise of Dora having “half a soul,” with the other half stolen by a faerie, was captivating, and made her such a unique character. Her lack of respect and deference to both social norms and the undeserving resulted in a great deal of hilarity, and her deep connections with the few that she did let into her heart were touching. As one of the characters said, there are “many human beings with a full soul to their name who do not have half so much compassion or practicality.” The romance works well with Dora’s personality, character development, and story, with charming side characters (I was particularly fond of Albert Lowe). However, the true triumph of the book was the way it weaved true social injustice and cruelties from the era with the fantastical elements of the book; the author does not shy away from the reality of the situation, but intertwines it with a belief in the small actions one can take to make things better, leaving the reader with hope as well as sorrow.
Bookworm's Haven 