When I made the decision to go indie for my own books, I started reading indie authors with a newly found voracious hunger for them. I searched for books that I longed for but couldn’t seem to find enough of on traditional publishing shelves. That’s how I discovered Olivia Atwater, who just may be one of my favorite new authors and I’m here to preach the good word about how delightful her books are. The pandemic has left me with a yearning for more whimisical stories and Olivia happens to write charming fantasy with a whole lot of whimsy. Fantasy romance lovers, these books are for you.
I’ve read the first two books in her Regency Faerie Tales series and I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the third. What I like about her books is she keeps her books charming and whimsical while still managing to comment on people and society without being too heavy handed. We get hard looks into the dark parts of Regency England, like the workhouses and how poorly servants were treated. But her books still makes me chuckle and leave me feeling happy for the characters by the end. A lot of fantasy I pick up lately is quite dark and angsty, and this series was a great breath of fresh air when I needed a good chuckle.
She also gives us some rather lovable love interests who don’t always fit the typical mold, like Elias who is the Lord Sorcier of England and bitter after realizing defeating Napoleon didn’t fix England’s troubles but still manages to help others (Half a Soul). Or Lord Blackthorn who is a faerie who desperately wants to be Euphemia’s fairy godfather despite having no idea of what he is doing (Ten Thousand Stitches). Her heroines are just as fascinating, like Theodora who only has half a soul after a faery lord stole the other half and now she doesn’t feel emotions the same as everyone else.
The series is also aptly named. Both books have had a strong faerie tale feel to it while being a story I can relate to as a modern woman. In Ten Thousand Stitches I can see why a maid would want the wealthy gentleman, but unlike Cinderella she realizes why the rich, handsome man of society isn’t always the right choice. For some of us that simply isn’t the faerie tale ending we want. We want a deeper love that goes beyond a single dance at a ball and a glass slipper. Give me the adorable fairy godfather instead.
Longshadow is scheduled for release in October 2021 and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
It’s difficult to find a husband in Regency England when you’re a young lady with only half a soul.
Ever since a faerie cursed her, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear, embarrassment, or even happiness—a condition which makes her sadly prone to accidental scandal. Dora’s only goal for the London Season this year is to stay quiet and avoid upsetting her cousin’s chances at a husband… but when the Lord Sorcier of England learns of her condition, she finds herself drawn ever more deeply into the tumultuous concerns of magicians and faeries.
Lord Elias Wilder is handsome, strange, and utterly uncouth—but gossip says that he regularly performs three impossible things before breakfast, and he is willing to help Dora restore her missing half. If Dora’s reputation can survive both her ongoing curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world… but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul.
Regency housemaid Euphemia Reeves has acquired a faerie godfather. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he’s doing.
Euphemia Reeves has most inconveniently fallen in love with Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. Housemaids do not marry gentlemen, of course… but a faerie named Lord Blackthorn is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Benedict’s heart regardless.
Effie knows what a terrible idea it is to accept help from one of the Fair Folk—but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, Effie has one hundred days and ten thousand stitches to make Mr Benedict fall in love with her and propose… if Lord Blackthorn doesn’t wreck things by accident, that is. For Effie’s greatest obstacle might well be Lord Blackthorn’s overwhelmingly good intentions.
You can find out more at oliviaatwater.com