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C-10
A-10
W-9
P-9
I-9
L-10
E-10
=67 divided by 7
=9.5

^ Above is a new rating system I am trying out to get a more accurate rating for the books I read. The goal is to use this all year but we shall see if I stick to it. This is called the “Cawpile�� system which was created by the book roast on Youtube a few years ago! Moving on to the actual review��

I am so heartbroken it took me this long to read this book. I started reading Half a Soul in December of 2022, continued it in January of 2023 and then I moved and didn’t pick it up again until January 1st of this year and that my friends is a crime! I absolutely LOVED this book. This is the kind of story that had me giggling and kicking my little feet. It was so cute!

This story follows Theodora (Dora) Ettings who was cursed by a fae in her childhood which resulted in her growing up with only half a soul. This unfortunately results in her having issues expressing and feeling emotions. She can to an extent, but for the most part all of her feelings are extremely toned down. In situations where she should feel furious, she only feels mildly annoyed. When she should feel euphoric she only feels content, ect. This story is also set during the regency era in London during the marrying season, and that makes Dora’s situation all the more complicated. Dora feels like it's obvious she is destined to become a spinster because nobody would want to marry her with her “Condition�� but she does have a cousin who is practically a sister to her who Dora wants to help find a husband. So off she goes to London with her cousin Venessa and her Aunt Frances. There they meet the Lord Sorcier and a collection of other interesting characters who want to help Dora lift her curse. I’m not going to go into more detail than that because when it comes to my reviews I tend to ramble enough as is, I don’t need to explain the entire plot of the book too.

First up, the characters were amazing! I loved Dora, she will probably be on the list of my favourite literary women for a very very long time. Venessa and Albert were both just rays of sunshine constantly. Elias was so charming and funny (although I think he'd hate to be described that way.) I heard someone describe this book as grumpy x grumpy with two sunshine best friends and that is very accurate.

The setting was so much fun, I am a Victorian girly through and through but I can be persuaded to enjoy a regency setting too from time to time! I was almost tempted to put off reading this book until spring because in my brain that is what this setting screams to me, but I am so happy I was impatient.

The writing style was fantastic! The plot was easy to follow and very much gave cozy fantasy vibes with low stakes but it still had A LOT to say about the problems of the time. I was intrigued by the mission to reverse the curse that Dora was dealing with but there was also another mysterious thing happening in London that I was desperate to solve.

The relationships were so incredibly easy to root for, they were so cute! Like this was a ROMANTASY book! Spice in romance books is fine, but this book was all about light touches and longing glances and developing a swoon worthy relationship. It was incredibly romantic and I loved it!

SO yeah, in case it wasn’t clear I loved this book which is good since I bought the other two books in this series last summer when I still hadn’t finished Half a Soul. I can’t wait to read them and The Witchwood Knot which is Olivia's newest book in her Victorian Faerie Tale series. Yes you read that correctly, VICTORIAN! I am so excited!

Pleaseee read this book! It’ll bring you so much joy!