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

Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment—an unfortunate condition that leaves her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season—but when Elias Wilder, the strange, handsome, and utterly ill-mannered Lord Sorcier, discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into peculiar and dangerous faerie affairs.
If her reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all high society, then she and her family may yet reclaim their normal place in the world. But the longer Dora spends with Elias, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love even with only half a soul. 

Review:
This book was endearing, enchanting, witty, and altogether brilliant. I had apparently bought this book back in August of 2021 and like so many well meaning people with libraries allowed it to sit. The moment I had started it I found it enticing, in the same way books such as A Little Princess are. There were some definite inspiration points taken from other novels, with Chapter One featuring two references that seem very relatable to Alice in Wonderland. The further in we go, the more lessons we learn-about how hard it is to allow yourself to be more than angry at the world, about what makes someone virtuous and why you may think highly of someone. While this story was fantastical and definitely had some Alice and A Little Princess vibes, it stands on it’s own and I think it’s a very neat book about accepting yourself as you are, learning to harness your strengths and work on your weaknesses, and never give up on those who need your help.

I quite love the banter and peculiar way in which Dora views the world. Many have compared it to Howl’s Moving Castle and Bridgerton, some to Pride and Prejudice. It is very much a historical fantasy with a mystery and some romance; if that sounds good to you, you’ll likely love this book. I do intend to continue this series at some point as the writing pulls you in and you just want to know more, especially about one particular Lord Sorcier who seems bent on making everyone hate him…

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯