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Regency Faerie Tales #3
True Crown - Das Duell mit dem dunklen Magier: Das zauberhafte Finale der magischen Regency-Romance-Trilogie (Die Regency-Faerie-Tales-Reihe 3)
Eine wahre Lady wird keine Magierin – oder etwa doch?
Miss Abigail Wilder wird gerne mal unterschätzt. Der Londoner Gesellschaft ist sie als Mündel des Lord-Magiers suspekt, denn sie trägt Elfenblut in sich. Ihr Ziehvater hingegen bezweifelt ihre magischen Fähigkeiten. Als jedoch die Londoner Debütantinnen-Saison von unerklärlichen Todesfällen unter den jungen Ladys erschüttert wird, ist ihre Stunde gekommen. Wider alle Zweifel begibt sie sich auf die Spur des Geheimnisses. Doch glücklicherweise stellt sich ein junger selbsternannter Magier auf ihre Seite, der darauf beharrt, ihr in der Stunde der Gefahr beizustehen. Wovon die größte Gefahr ausgeht, dem Verschwörer hinter den Kulissen, der ungezähmten Magie ihres jungen Helfers oder ihrem eigenen verräterischen Herzen, wird sich erweisen müssen ...
Das funkensprühende Finale der magischen Regency-Romance-Reihe
Miss Abigail Wilder wird gerne mal unterschätzt. Der Londoner Gesellschaft ist sie als Mündel des Lord-Magiers suspekt, denn sie trägt Elfenblut in sich. Ihr Ziehvater hingegen bezweifelt ihre magischen Fähigkeiten. Als jedoch die Londoner Debütantinnen-Saison von unerklärlichen Todesfällen unter den jungen Ladys erschüttert wird, ist ihre Stunde gekommen. Wider alle Zweifel begibt sie sich auf die Spur des Geheimnisses. Doch glücklicherweise stellt sich ein junger selbsternannter Magier auf ihre Seite, der darauf beharrt, ihr in der Stunde der Gefahr beizustehen. Wovon die größte Gefahr ausgeht, dem Verschwörer hinter den Kulissen, der ungezähmten Magie ihres jungen Helfers oder ihrem eigenen verräterischen Herzen, wird sich erweisen müssen ...
Das funkensprühende Finale der magischen Regency-Romance-Reihe
Die Bände der »True Crown«-
True Crown - Die Lady und der Lord Magier (Band 1)
True Crown - Der Mantel des Elfen-Lords (Band 2)
True Crown - Das Duell mit dem dunklen Magier (Band 3)
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2021
440 people are currently reading
15666 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Atwater
16 books3,541 followersOlivia Atwater writes whimsical historical fantasy with a hint of satire. She lives in Montreal, Quebec with her fantastic, prose-inspiring husband and her two cats. When she told her second-grade history teacher that she wanted to work with history someday, she is fairly certain this isn't what either party had in mind. She has been, at various times, a historical re-enactor, a professional witch at a metaphysical supply store, a web developer, and a vending machine repairperson.
Searching for more Regency faerie tales? Sign up for the Atwater Scandal Sheets at oliviaatwater.com and get ongoing updates, along with the exclusive novella The Latch Key.
Searching for more Regency faerie tales? Sign up for the Atwater Scandal Sheets at oliviaatwater.com and get ongoing updates, along with the exclusive novella The Latch Key.
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June 27, 2024I don't review my own books, of course—but here are some facts you might not have known about Longshadow and the Regency era in general!
FUN FACTS ABOUT LONGSHADOW
- My historical editor has a vibrant knowledge of queer Regency history, and he was always thrilled to share it with me while I worked on the first two books of the Regency Faerie Tales. By the time I reached book three, I knew I had to put his expertise to good use with a queer romance!
- People sometimes refer to Longshadow as a mystery, but I actually consider it to be a kind of magical procedural thriller. It's often more about the logic of how to track a killer than it is about meeting specific suspects and ruling them out.
- Longshadow was still being written when I sold the rights to the series to Orbit. I was asked for an outline, which I did my best to provide, with several warnings that my books rarely end up looking like their outlines. Strangely, I think Longshadow mostly stuck to the outline, just to prove me wrong.
- That said, Abigail was often more clever than I originally gave her credit for in the outline, which required me to speed up certain revelations.
- I originally conceived of Longshadow as a young adult book where the adults are still competent, but sometimes overprotective. I often find that books with parental themes focus on how to protect children, but rarely discuss the importance of letting young adults start choosing their own well-informed risks.
- Abigail's talent for lying is at least partially inspired by Lyra Belacqua, from His Dark Materials. I've always been fascinated by the idea that—under the correct circumstances—lying can be a positive survival trait, rather than a moral failing.
- Mercy is based on a crush from my school days. But no, I won't tell you her name. (I'm pretty sure she was aware of it, anyway. I was miserably transparent.)
AMUSING (QUEER) FACTS ABOUT THE REGENCY ERA
- History has always been queer—but while it hasn’t always been written by straight historians, it has certainly been curated by them! As such, I had to dig into some special resources in order to write Longshadow. Like every good author, I am now extra-fun at parties as I delve into unprompted lectures about historical transgender marriages and traditional lesbian flirtation techniques.
- There were probably several lesbian households in the town of Bath. Single women sometimes pooled their resources to form a household together, and Bath was the most popular option. We may not know for certain that there were lesbians in some of these households, but… on the other hand, yes, we’re pretty certain.
- Women in the Regency were physically affectionate in their friendships, which made lesbian flirtation strangely difficult. Close female friends in the Regency regularly embraced, kissed each other on the lips, slept in the same bed, made exaggerated declarations of love to one another, and even expressed jealousy of each other’s husbands. Imagine how difficult it was to convince your friend that you were really, no actually in love with her!
- This is one of my favourite facts: Regency lesbians implied their sexuality by talking loudly about Sappho. Because it was so difficult to imply an openness to lesbian relationships, lesbians would often start up loud discussions about which historical figures they thought were attracted to women. Sappho was the number one favourite.
- “Female husbands” were not uncommon. We have several accounts of women dressing as men in order to marry other women during the 1700’s, though there are still examples of the practice in the Regency era.
- Our best firsthand account of lesbianism in the Regency period comes from Anne Lister’s diaries. Anne Lister, a wealthy Regency lesbian, kept detailed diaries which mention her various romantic conquests. A lot of what we know about lesbianism during the period comes from these diaries, which are at times very explicit.
- The “Ladies of Llangollen”, publicly considered the model of pure feminine friendship, were likely asexual lesbians. Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby ran away to Wales together and became famous for their “romantic friendship”, which was considered an admirable model of female companionship. They were certainly in a romantic relationship, though said relationship might have been asexual. At least one associate referred to them in private as “sapphists”.
- “George Sandism” was a slang term for transgenderism. The Regency understanding of gender was different from ours in many subtle ways, but the French novelist George Sand is considered to be a transgender figure from the Regency period. “George Sandism”—the idea of women dressing and acting as men—was talked about with such regularity and derision that we know it happened plenty!
- For readers who want to read more about these topics, I highly recommend the blog and podcast of Dr Heather Rose Jones, who consulted on Longshadow. You can find both of these resources on her website at alpennia.com.
FUN FACTS ABOUT LONGSHADOW
- My historical editor has a vibrant knowledge of queer Regency history, and he was always thrilled to share it with me while I worked on the first two books of the Regency Faerie Tales. By the time I reached book three, I knew I had to put his expertise to good use with a queer romance!
- People sometimes refer to Longshadow as a mystery, but I actually consider it to be a kind of magical procedural thriller. It's often more about the logic of how to track a killer than it is about meeting specific suspects and ruling them out.
- Longshadow was still being written when I sold the rights to the series to Orbit. I was asked for an outline, which I did my best to provide, with several warnings that my books rarely end up looking like their outlines. Strangely, I think Longshadow mostly stuck to the outline, just to prove me wrong.
- That said, Abigail was often more clever than I originally gave her credit for in the outline, which required me to speed up certain revelations.
- I originally conceived of Longshadow as a young adult book where the adults are still competent, but sometimes overprotective. I often find that books with parental themes focus on how to protect children, but rarely discuss the importance of letting young adults start choosing their own well-informed risks.
- Abigail's talent for lying is at least partially inspired by Lyra Belacqua, from His Dark Materials. I've always been fascinated by the idea that—under the correct circumstances—lying can be a positive survival trait, rather than a moral failing.
- Mercy is based on a crush from my school days. But no, I won't tell you her name. (I'm pretty sure she was aware of it, anyway. I was miserably transparent.)
AMUSING (QUEER) FACTS ABOUT THE REGENCY ERA
- History has always been queer—but while it hasn’t always been written by straight historians, it has certainly been curated by them! As such, I had to dig into some special resources in order to write Longshadow. Like every good author, I am now extra-fun at parties as I delve into unprompted lectures about historical transgender marriages and traditional lesbian flirtation techniques.
- There were probably several lesbian households in the town of Bath. Single women sometimes pooled their resources to form a household together, and Bath was the most popular option. We may not know for certain that there were lesbians in some of these households, but… on the other hand, yes, we’re pretty certain.
- Women in the Regency were physically affectionate in their friendships, which made lesbian flirtation strangely difficult. Close female friends in the Regency regularly embraced, kissed each other on the lips, slept in the same bed, made exaggerated declarations of love to one another, and even expressed jealousy of each other’s husbands. Imagine how difficult it was to convince your friend that you were really, no actually in love with her!
- This is one of my favourite facts: Regency lesbians implied their sexuality by talking loudly about Sappho. Because it was so difficult to imply an openness to lesbian relationships, lesbians would often start up loud discussions about which historical figures they thought were attracted to women. Sappho was the number one favourite.
- “Female husbands” were not uncommon. We have several accounts of women dressing as men in order to marry other women during the 1700’s, though there are still examples of the practice in the Regency era.
- Our best firsthand account of lesbianism in the Regency period comes from Anne Lister’s diaries. Anne Lister, a wealthy Regency lesbian, kept detailed diaries which mention her various romantic conquests. A lot of what we know about lesbianism during the period comes from these diaries, which are at times very explicit.
- The “Ladies of Llangollen”, publicly considered the model of pure feminine friendship, were likely asexual lesbians. Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby ran away to Wales together and became famous for their “romantic friendship”, which was considered an admirable model of female companionship. They were certainly in a romantic relationship, though said relationship might have been asexual. At least one associate referred to them in private as “sapphists”.
- “George Sandism” was a slang term for transgenderism. The Regency understanding of gender was different from ours in many subtle ways, but the French novelist George Sand is considered to be a transgender figure from the Regency period. “George Sandism”—the idea of women dressing and acting as men—was talked about with such regularity and derision that we know it happened plenty!
- For readers who want to read more about these topics, I highly recommend the blog and podcast of Dr Heather Rose Jones, who consulted on Longshadow. You can find both of these resources on her website at alpennia.com.
Read
November 1, 2021Loved the first books in this series but this one didn't grab me, greatly to my regret. I got stuck on the decision to do the two MCs' working class accents phonetically, with dropped g's, which may be pathetically petty but it really grates on my nerves. Like, why only dropped g's, what about the glottal stop or the non-pronounced fricatives, let alone vowels? And if *they* aren't necessary, why are the g's? Especially since dropped g's can actually be an upper class marker? There's a whole world of issues with phonetic speech representation and whose speech is assumed to be represented in standard spelling. And it got right in my way of engaging with or enjoying the characters, though in fairness I was trying to read it towards the end of self isolation and thus in a pretty crappy mood.
August 14, 2024
3 stars
This third book in the Regency Faerie Tales series focuses on Abigail Wilder who we met in book one. When young ladies begin mysteriously dying, Abigail takes it upon herself to investigate and along the way partners up with a mysterious woman named Mercy.
I first read Half a Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches about six months before reading this book so I had already forgotten a little bit but not so much that I couldn't understand this book. While this can be read as a standalone it's better if you read the first two books in the series. I did enjoy this book very much, but it lacked some of the magic of the other two books. Overall a very consistent and good historical fantasy series, I would absolutely read more by this author.
This third book in the Regency Faerie Tales series focuses on Abigail Wilder who we met in book one. When young ladies begin mysteriously dying, Abigail takes it upon herself to investigate and along the way partners up with a mysterious woman named Mercy.
I first read Half a Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches about six months before reading this book so I had already forgotten a little bit but not so much that I couldn't understand this book. While this can be read as a standalone it's better if you read the first two books in the series. I did enjoy this book very much, but it lacked some of the magic of the other two books. Overall a very consistent and good historical fantasy series, I would absolutely read more by this author.
August 1, 2022
4.5 stars
Longshadow, the third instalment (and conclusion) in Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales was just as whimsically enchanting as the previous books and like the rest of the series, I really enjoyed it. It’s a direct sequel to Half A Soul, which follows Dora and Elias’ daughter Abigail (who we met in Half A Soul.) There’s also a brief appearance by Lord Blackthorn and Effie from Ten Thousand Stitches so if you haven’t read the rest of the series yet, I’d definitely recommend doing so before starting this.
In an alternate Regency England, Young aristocratic ladies are mysteriously dying and Abigail Wilder intends to find out why. Her father (the Lord Sorcier of England) believes a dark lord of faerie is the culprit—but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, no one (including society or her parents) believe she’s capable of it.
Fortunately she’s not the only one investigating, as Mercy (the self taught magician Abigail mistakes for a laundress) insists on helping to unravel the mystery. Mercy's magic is strange and foreboding, but she may well pose an even greater danger to Abigail's heart.
This was another enjoyably charming and lighthearted read and I absolutely loved getting to see so many familiar characters that I loved again. Abigail was a wonderful protagonist—she’s a smart and intelligent young woman who knows what she wants and knows out to get it (even if that means telling a few lies to do so.) I loved how warm and loving her relationship was with her adopted parents and Hugh, the best (and most adorably witty) ghost brother a girl could ask for.
I liked that Abigail’s interactions and experiences with the ton were explored, with the exclusionary, classist and gate keeping attitudes highlighting some of the societal issues and bigotry that prevailed throughout the era. It also perfectly showcased just how brave and compassionate Abigail was especially whilst trying to help save the very people who’ve done nothing but ridicule and belittle her.
Mercy was a pretty intriguing character and I loved her chemistry with Abigail (and how well their relationship blossoms throughout the story.) I did sort of work out the big twist half way through, but I was so excited by it that guessing beforehand didn’t hinder my enjoyment whatsoever.
I also loved getting to see some old faces too, especially the enthusiastically eccentric Lord Blackthorn and Effie. This is the last book in the series (so far) but I do hope we get to see more stories set in this fabulously magic (and fae) filled world in future.
Overall, a whimsical regency romance full of endearingly charming characters and a fabulously sweet LGBTQ+ centred romance—It’s Sally Lockhart meets Bridgerton with a wholesome, studio Ghibli-esque romance that I highly recommend.
And, a huge thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.
Longshadow, the third instalment (and conclusion) in Olivia Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales was just as whimsically enchanting as the previous books and like the rest of the series, I really enjoyed it. It’s a direct sequel to Half A Soul, which follows Dora and Elias’ daughter Abigail (who we met in Half A Soul.) There’s also a brief appearance by Lord Blackthorn and Effie from Ten Thousand Stitches so if you haven’t read the rest of the series yet, I’d definitely recommend doing so before starting this.
In an alternate Regency England, Young aristocratic ladies are mysteriously dying and Abigail Wilder intends to find out why. Her father (the Lord Sorcier of England) believes a dark lord of faerie is the culprit—but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, no one (including society or her parents) believe she’s capable of it.
Fortunately she’s not the only one investigating, as Mercy (the self taught magician Abigail mistakes for a laundress) insists on helping to unravel the mystery. Mercy's magic is strange and foreboding, but she may well pose an even greater danger to Abigail's heart.
This was another enjoyably charming and lighthearted read and I absolutely loved getting to see so many familiar characters that I loved again. Abigail was a wonderful protagonist—she’s a smart and intelligent young woman who knows what she wants and knows out to get it (even if that means telling a few lies to do so.) I loved how warm and loving her relationship was with her adopted parents and Hugh, the best (and most adorably witty) ghost brother a girl could ask for.
I liked that Abigail’s interactions and experiences with the ton were explored, with the exclusionary, classist and gate keeping attitudes highlighting some of the societal issues and bigotry that prevailed throughout the era. It also perfectly showcased just how brave and compassionate Abigail was especially whilst trying to help save the very people who’ve done nothing but ridicule and belittle her.
Mercy was a pretty intriguing character and I loved her chemistry with Abigail (and how well their relationship blossoms throughout the story.) I did sort of work out the big twist half way through, but I was so excited by it that guessing beforehand didn’t hinder my enjoyment whatsoever.
I also loved getting to see some old faces too, especially the enthusiastically eccentric Lord Blackthorn and Effie. This is the last book in the series (so far) but I do hope we get to see more stories set in this fabulously magic (and fae) filled world in future.
Overall, a whimsical regency romance full of endearingly charming characters and a fabulously sweet LGBTQ+ centred romance—It’s Sally Lockhart meets Bridgerton with a wholesome, studio Ghibli-esque romance that I highly recommend.
And, a huge thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.
March 2, 2025
This is the third part, but starting it after the first part was probably better for me.
The plot here is more active than in the second one, and I teared up a bit from the sentimentality.
It was nice to see more characters from the first part here.
I'm not a huge fan of LGBTQ+ storylines (nothing against them, just not my thing), but this love line was light and comfortable. I liked how the FMC learned to understand her own desires and those of other people.
The plot here is more active than in the second one, and I teared up a bit from the sentimentality.
It was nice to see more characters from the first part here.
I'm not a huge fan of LGBTQ+ storylines (nothing against them, just not my thing), but this love line was light and comfortable. I liked how the FMC learned to understand her own desires and those of other people.
November 5, 2021
As for the previous books in this series, it’s a charming, clever, well written story in a fantasy sub-genre quite different to most of my fantasy reading. It matches the enjoyment I had of the other books in the series. Generally upbeat but not avoiding some of the shadows and injustices of life.
This book follows on a few years after the events in #1, and the odd character from #2 also appears, so it isn’t really a standalone book. It features the excellent Dora, with only half a soul (the rest in Fairie) who is unemotional in consequence and her magically proficient husband. Plus their adopted daughter, Abigail, who is the main character in this story.
It seemed to have a rather more involved plot than in the previous books, with Abigail doing some informal detective work trying to determine the likely supernatural causes of some recent deaths in wealthy Regency London Society. There’s even a significant romance (f/f) involving Abigail that gave it more of a YA feel than the previous books in the series.. No more details on the plot but I thought it was a nice blend of the snobby London society that Abigail and her family dislike intensely, and the magical, though often far from welcoming, world of Fairie.
I hadn’t realised that the Regency era in England attracted so many contemporary writers (Jane Austen’s active period) but it does, more than just this author and not forgetting a recent TV series, Bridgerton! A bit of a shame this book series has ended, it seems, as it’s created quite a coherent fantasy world that I enjoyed.
In summary, Book 1 seemed a cross between a mild spoof on Jane Austen (the same sort of society where refined young ladies look for husbands, except this author’s heroines and heroes aren’t really interested), and the magical world of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell; Book 2 was set away from that snobby world with a more Bronte country, big house, feel. Book 3 is, it seems to me, different again, a bit more complex, and more it’s own beast.
Why on Earth a reader of dark, sometimes violent, and cynical fantasies, like me, would be reading this type of book is a mystery I’ve not solved, though I’ve had a sneaking liking for Jane Austen for many years - the subversive approach of creating a glittering world of wealthy people partying and gossiping, and then adding sympathetic characters who show it to be so superficial. And also for English folklore where the Fairy world is a rival, often hostile world, to humans.
4.5* - well written and an absorbing story but maybe with just a touch more YA and romance than my creaky old bones have a taste for, compared to the others in the series.
This book follows on a few years after the events in #1, and the odd character from #2 also appears, so it isn’t really a standalone book. It features the excellent Dora, with only half a soul (the rest in Fairie) who is unemotional in consequence and her magically proficient husband. Plus their adopted daughter, Abigail, who is the main character in this story.
It seemed to have a rather more involved plot than in the previous books, with Abigail doing some informal detective work trying to determine the likely supernatural causes of some recent deaths in wealthy Regency London Society. There’s even a significant romance (f/f) involving Abigail that gave it more of a YA feel than the previous books in the series.. No more details on the plot but I thought it was a nice blend of the snobby London society that Abigail and her family dislike intensely, and the magical, though often far from welcoming, world of Fairie.
I hadn’t realised that the Regency era in England attracted so many contemporary writers (Jane Austen’s active period) but it does, more than just this author and not forgetting a recent TV series, Bridgerton! A bit of a shame this book series has ended, it seems, as it’s created quite a coherent fantasy world that I enjoyed.
In summary, Book 1 seemed a cross between a mild spoof on Jane Austen (the same sort of society where refined young ladies look for husbands, except this author’s heroines and heroes aren’t really interested), and the magical world of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell; Book 2 was set away from that snobby world with a more Bronte country, big house, feel. Book 3 is, it seems to me, different again, a bit more complex, and more it’s own beast.
Why on Earth a reader of dark, sometimes violent, and cynical fantasies, like me, would be reading this type of book is a mystery I’ve not solved, though I’ve had a sneaking liking for Jane Austen for many years - the subversive approach of creating a glittering world of wealthy people partying and gossiping, and then adding sympathetic characters who show it to be so superficial. And also for English folklore where the Fairy world is a rival, often hostile world, to humans.
4.5* - well written and an absorbing story but maybe with just a touch more YA and romance than my creaky old bones have a taste for, compared to the others in the series.
July 22, 2022
2021 Fall Bingo (#FallInLoveBingo🍂): Series Continuation
Entertaining ending to a romantic/historical fantasy trilogy (I think it’s a trilogy as most of the loose ends are tied up, but maybe there are more books to come?). I do not recommend this installment as a standalone — you could theoretically read and enjoy LONGSHADOW without context, but I suspect that you’ll miss important backstory for secondary characters. For fans of the previous books: you’ll be delighted by many familiar faces from HALF A SOUL and TEN THOUSAND STITCHES.
I adored everything about Abigail — her loving relationship with her adopted parents and ghostly brother Hugh, her discomfort (and lack of interest!) re: fitting in genteel society, her unflinching bravery in the face of darkness, and her overwhelming generosity, even to those who don’t deserve it (thinking of a certain annoying ghost here!!!). Mercy is far more opaque — I don’t think I ever got a full sense of her character and motivations, but that opaqueness is clearly an intentional authorial choice. There is a shocking reveal toward the end and it 100% explains why the book is only from Abigail’s POV. Still: I wish we had Mercy’s POV for at least a chapter, even if it was in the end. I had a bunch of question marks floating in my head after the final chapter, and my curiosity is killing me!
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Entertaining ending to a romantic/historical fantasy trilogy (I think it’s a trilogy as most of the loose ends are tied up, but maybe there are more books to come?). I do not recommend this installment as a standalone — you could theoretically read and enjoy LONGSHADOW without context, but I suspect that you’ll miss important backstory for secondary characters. For fans of the previous books: you’ll be delighted by many familiar faces from HALF A SOUL and TEN THOUSAND STITCHES.
I adored everything about Abigail — her loving relationship with her adopted parents and ghostly brother Hugh, her discomfort (and lack of interest!) re: fitting in genteel society, her unflinching bravery in the face of darkness, and her overwhelming generosity, even to those who don’t deserve it (thinking of a certain annoying ghost here!!!). Mercy is far more opaque — I don’t think I ever got a full sense of her character and motivations, but that opaqueness is clearly an intentional authorial choice. There is a shocking reveal toward the end and it 100% explains why the book is only from Abigail’s POV. Still: I wish we had Mercy’s POV for at least a chapter, even if it was in the end. I had a bunch of question marks floating in my head after the final chapter, and my curiosity is killing me!
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
Solid 4* read and my fav of the trilogy
The whimsy I loved in book1 flourished in this one and getting to see all the other characters from the previous books turn up and help out in their unique ways was such a treat - the cherry on top of Abigail's interesting story!
What an adventure this took her on, longtime readers of my "reviews" who've read this will undoubtedly be able to guess which choice of Mercy's prevented me from rating this higher even with the wonderful authors note at the end about the Hays Code.
Special shout out MVP scene stealer Hugh 🥰
The whimsy I loved in book1 flourished in this one and getting to see all the other characters from the previous books turn up and help out in their unique ways was such a treat - the cherry on top of Abigail's interesting story!
What an adventure this took her on, longtime readers of my "reviews" who've read this will undoubtedly be able to guess which choice of Mercy's prevented me from rating this higher even with the wonderful authors note at the end about the Hays Code.
Special shout out MVP scene stealer Hugh 🥰
Read
October 2, 2021Longshadow is a joy in all the ways you’ll have come to expect from this smart, subversive and utterly charming series, but on top of that: it has a queer transness that made my heart go oH. You’ll want to read this one in order, because it does feature a number of characters we’ve met in Half a Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches.
August 7, 2022
Longshadow is the third book in the Regency Faerie Tales series by Olivia Atwater. This is a unique series that blends historical romance and fantasy in a way that I haven’t seen before, and I’m glad I had the chance to buddy read all three books with Leslie @ Books Are the New Black.
The premise of the story is really interesting, and I liked that the characters from the first two books have roles in this one too. That being said, I felt like the characters were a bit underdeveloped and lacked emotion. Some of the secondary characters are endearing, and I enjoyed their roles in the story, but, I don’t know, I kept expecting, well, more. I wanted more layers to the plot and characters and a deeper look at the relationship dynamics, emotional responses, and the magical world created. It feels like the author just skims the surface of the story.
One aspect of the story that I liked, and like in the first two books as well, is the strong messages about social and gender issues. The story spotlights many strong, independent, and courageous women living in a society that values men more than them. I like that we see these women defy societal norms and embrace their individuality and passions in life. The story also sheds light on the massive discrepancies between social classes, as well as the unbalanced political system which strengthens the upper class while working to the detriment of the lower class.
I also really liked the magical world the author created, though I wish it were developed more. And I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book. They were faster-paced and more immersive than the middle of the story, which I felt dragged a bit. The .love story was also very slow building and didn’t have a lot of chemistry. It was another aspect of the story where I hoped for more.
Overall, this was just an ok read for me. I liked the messages and some of the characters. It’s an interesting story with a great premise, but it didn’t feel as layered as the first two books. Thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The premise of the story is really interesting, and I liked that the characters from the first two books have roles in this one too. That being said, I felt like the characters were a bit underdeveloped and lacked emotion. Some of the secondary characters are endearing, and I enjoyed their roles in the story, but, I don’t know, I kept expecting, well, more. I wanted more layers to the plot and characters and a deeper look at the relationship dynamics, emotional responses, and the magical world created. It feels like the author just skims the surface of the story.
One aspect of the story that I liked, and like in the first two books as well, is the strong messages about social and gender issues. The story spotlights many strong, independent, and courageous women living in a society that values men more than them. I like that we see these women defy societal norms and embrace their individuality and passions in life. The story also sheds light on the massive discrepancies between social classes, as well as the unbalanced political system which strengthens the upper class while working to the detriment of the lower class.
I also really liked the magical world the author created, though I wish it were developed more. And I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book. They were faster-paced and more immersive than the middle of the story, which I felt dragged a bit. The .love story was also very slow building and didn’t have a lot of chemistry. It was another aspect of the story where I hoped for more.
Overall, this was just an ok read for me. I liked the messages and some of the characters. It’s an interesting story with a great premise, but it didn’t feel as layered as the first two books. Thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
April 28, 2023
I’ve enjoyed the first two books in this charming series and was so pleased to receive this arc. I found this quite a difficult read though as I kept losing concentration and had to keep rereading passages. For some reason this book did not hold my interest.
August 10, 2023
3.5. Still charming and whimsical, but frustrating compared to the previous two books. Abigail was a wonderful protagonist, but I just never fell in love with Mercy; it's clear for most of the book that Mercy is keeping some secrets that will become a grand reveal, but unfortunatley I felt like that was prioritized over her character development, leaving her opaque and hard to really root for. I was also frustrated because in order to keep this mystery going, the book falls into the trap of one of my biggest pet peeves: supposedly intelligent characters just roll with things and don't ask very obvious questions that any normal person would ask in their situation. The initial sequence of events kicking off Abigail and Mercy's investigation together felt oddly paced, overly convenient, and once again, anyone in this situation would have a lot of questions for Mercy and I struggled to suspend my disbelief when they didn't.
I did settle into the story and enjoy it more once the ball got rolling. I loved Hugh and was completely taken with the way the Wilder household managed affairs with a whole coterie of ghostly children. It was also really nice to see the return of Dora and Elias; they felt very true to their characterizations from book one, but also more mature, and their relationship with their daughter was incredibly sweet.
Relative to the first two books in this series, this installment also focused much more heavily on the mystery itself and seemed to have somewhat of a weaker grasp of its thematic subtext. Threads of classism still ran through the story, but it never brings them into the light and to a point; instead, the novel thematically pivots to ponder the unfairness of death itself. This meditation on death was interesting, but I'm afraid it was most clearly and impactfully articulated in the afterword rather than anywhere in the text: in the afterword, Atwater laments the near-universal depiction of accepting death and letting go as something natural and even morally correct. In stories, ghosts always accept that they need to move on and fighting to return the dead to life always fails. Atwater argues that there is no ethical impetus to accept death; that it is not immoral to sink your nails into life and refuse to let go for as long as you can.
This was particularly poignant as she related it to the Hays code: the unwritten rule of self-censorship that mandated for decades that queer characters in movies must be punished by the plot with an unhappy ending, usually death. How dare we portray the acceptance of death as a moral virtue, when death itself is so unfair - not senseless at all, but in fact heavily linked with oppression, poverty, and disenfranchisement?
See - I'm writing a review for the afterword. I knew this would happen, because the afterword made me a lot more emotional than the story itself.
The book itself was good. It was fine. Certainly worth reading, if you've enjoyed the series up to this point. Pick this one up for its lesbian and transgender characters, endearing ghostly children, a faerie ball, and some very good crows.
I did settle into the story and enjoy it more once the ball got rolling. I loved Hugh and was completely taken with the way the Wilder household managed affairs with a whole coterie of ghostly children. It was also really nice to see the return of Dora and Elias; they felt very true to their characterizations from book one, but also more mature, and their relationship with their daughter was incredibly sweet.
Relative to the first two books in this series, this installment also focused much more heavily on the mystery itself and seemed to have somewhat of a weaker grasp of its thematic subtext. Threads of classism still ran through the story, but it never brings them into the light and to a point; instead, the novel thematically pivots to ponder the unfairness of death itself. This meditation on death was interesting, but I'm afraid it was most clearly and impactfully articulated in the afterword rather than anywhere in the text: in the afterword, Atwater laments the near-universal depiction of accepting death and letting go as something natural and even morally correct. In stories, ghosts always accept that they need to move on and fighting to return the dead to life always fails. Atwater argues that there is no ethical impetus to accept death; that it is not immoral to sink your nails into life and refuse to let go for as long as you can.
This was particularly poignant as she related it to the Hays code: the unwritten rule of self-censorship that mandated for decades that queer characters in movies must be punished by the plot with an unhappy ending, usually death. How dare we portray the acceptance of death as a moral virtue, when death itself is so unfair - not senseless at all, but in fact heavily linked with oppression, poverty, and disenfranchisement?
See - I'm writing a review for the afterword. I knew this would happen, because the afterword made me a lot more emotional than the story itself.
The book itself was good. It was fine. Certainly worth reading, if you've enjoyed the series up to this point. Pick this one up for its lesbian and transgender characters, endearing ghostly children, a faerie ball, and some very good crows.
December 30, 2023
3.5 stars
To no one's surprise, Longshadow was an utterly charming and delightful read. I still think book 1 was my favourite in this series, but this one is a close second.
I especially loved the queer rep here, and this unexpected and unconventional romance just got me all in my feels. On top of that, the side characters also really stole the show (HUGH!!), and there were so many great cameos from beloved characters from the first two books. While each of these instalments stands super well on its own, it's truly impressive to see how cleverly they are all interconnected.
There's also a great sense of mystery driving the narrative forward, which made it so easy to keep turning the pages. The final resolution felt a bit rushed, but since this is mostly a character-driven narrative anyway, I honestly didn't care all that much.
Just a highly enjoyable fairytale-esque historical romance series. I can definitely see myself returning to these books for comfort rereads in the future!
To no one's surprise, Longshadow was an utterly charming and delightful read. I still think book 1 was my favourite in this series, but this one is a close second.
I especially loved the queer rep here, and this unexpected and unconventional romance just got me all in my feels. On top of that, the side characters also really stole the show (HUGH!!), and there were so many great cameos from beloved characters from the first two books. While each of these instalments stands super well on its own, it's truly impressive to see how cleverly they are all interconnected.
There's also a great sense of mystery driving the narrative forward, which made it so easy to keep turning the pages. The final resolution felt a bit rushed, but since this is mostly a character-driven narrative anyway, I honestly didn't care all that much.
Just a highly enjoyable fairytale-esque historical romance series. I can definitely see myself returning to these books for comfort rereads in the future!
October 2, 2024
“Abigail is quite literally a stubborn, immortal lesbian— and she and her transgender faerie girlfriend will live together happily for ever and ever in perfect defiance”
Truly the most perfect afterword I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading :)
Truly the most perfect afterword I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading :)
April 20, 2025
Miss Abigail, you are an icon
July 20, 2023
Another 4.5 read this month, yay !!!!
I’ve been eager to read this third installment of the Regency Faerie Tales since I got a copy last year but it just never worked out. But I definitely needed something sweet to get through my troubles this month and this book turned out to be the perfect medication.
The writing is as charming, witty, whimsical and lovely as the first two books and I was instantly delighted to be back in this world. It was also nice to be back in this world among familiar characters, because this is kind of a direct sequel to Half A Soul. Abigail is the adopted daughter of Elias and Dora and their relationship is one of the sweetest in the book, along with Abby’s dynamic with Hugh, her cool ghost brother. It’s just such an endearing family and I loved following their quest to solve murders involving the ton in this book. Abby is ably assisted by Mercy who is as mysterious as her shadow magic and while they both start off as adversaries, the development of their love story absolutely adorable.
While family and love are the core of this book, I also liked how the author tackled important themes without them overwhelming the cozy tone of the story. We see the kind of classist and snobby behavior the ton exhibits and how Abby has to lie or trick her way through conversations even when she is investigating murders among their own. The other theme that is quite deeply explored is the idea of death and while it’s true that it’s inevitable for everyone, it doesn’t mean that it’s wrong for a person to want to fight to live, or even want to remain a ghost without moving on from their loved ones. The author integrates these ideas through character development and I thought it was masterfully done.
Overall, this was a delightful read and something that made me very happy. While the first two books of the trilogy can work as standalones, you’ll enjoy this book more if you’ve read both of them. If you are in the mood for a regency sapphic romance, some delightful family moments, as well as some cool magical and ghostly sleuthing, do pick up this book and I promise you will not be disappointed.
I’ve been eager to read this third installment of the Regency Faerie Tales since I got a copy last year but it just never worked out. But I definitely needed something sweet to get through my troubles this month and this book turned out to be the perfect medication.
The writing is as charming, witty, whimsical and lovely as the first two books and I was instantly delighted to be back in this world. It was also nice to be back in this world among familiar characters, because this is kind of a direct sequel to Half A Soul. Abigail is the adopted daughter of Elias and Dora and their relationship is one of the sweetest in the book, along with Abby’s dynamic with Hugh, her cool ghost brother. It’s just such an endearing family and I loved following their quest to solve murders involving the ton in this book. Abby is ably assisted by Mercy who is as mysterious as her shadow magic and while they both start off as adversaries, the development of their love story absolutely adorable.
While family and love are the core of this book, I also liked how the author tackled important themes without them overwhelming the cozy tone of the story. We see the kind of classist and snobby behavior the ton exhibits and how Abby has to lie or trick her way through conversations even when she is investigating murders among their own. The other theme that is quite deeply explored is the idea of death and while it’s true that it’s inevitable for everyone, it doesn’t mean that it’s wrong for a person to want to fight to live, or even want to remain a ghost without moving on from their loved ones. The author integrates these ideas through character development and I thought it was masterfully done.
Overall, this was a delightful read and something that made me very happy. While the first two books of the trilogy can work as standalones, you’ll enjoy this book more if you’ve read both of them. If you are in the mood for a regency sapphic romance, some delightful family moments, as well as some cool magical and ghostly sleuthing, do pick up this book and I promise you will not be disappointed.
May 15, 2023
Longshadow is the third book of the Regency Faerie Tales. And like the books previous of it, it follows a love story between a fae and a mortal girl in the regency era.
However, I found it less enjoyable compared to the rest of the series, even though the main character was fun to read and nicely fleshed out. Also, it was nice to read about the well beloved characters from the other books.
However, I found it less enjoyable compared to the rest of the series, even though the main character was fun to read and nicely fleshed out. Also, it was nice to read about the well beloved characters from the other books.
May 25, 2024
I did enjoy this book but I just missed the romance 🥹
November 16, 2023
Though once again I wasn't all that enamoured by the plot, in the sense that I was mostly along for the ride instead of enthralled by it, this time the telling of it was much improved from book two. The pacing, the flow of the story, the writing, all that worked, too. And I also enjoyed all the characters -- except the ones we aren't supposed to like -- and how all previous couples got to show up for a bit as a mini-check in on where things are, how they're doing, with each one playing at least a small role in the plot itself.
Atwater also mixes up her formula a bit and offers us something different with the romance. Something that at first felt a little awkward but quickly became rather charming and then later, with all the reveals out of the way, I adored. And I think this had my favourite ending of the three.
This one was also more of a mystery than the others, with everyone having to piece things together to solve the whodunnit, with not only a few red (tee hee) herrings along the way, but also some unraveling of misconceptions of certain faerie. While the author did still infuse the story with larger themes ala the previous instalments (classism being the main player), they were on a smaller scale this time, mostly peeking out from the background, as the mystery and investigation took centre stage and we spent a little less time amongst society and the ton.
I don't really have much more to say about this one. This series came out swinging and I wish we could've ended on a higher note (not that this is at all a bad one!) but at least it's not remotely a low, so. Big win.
If you're looking to fulfill that cozy fantasy craving but want more of the vibes whilst still having some stakes and action? And, also, some romance? This is definitely the series for you.
3.5 stars
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Atwater also mixes up her formula a bit and offers us something different with the romance. Something that at first felt a little awkward but quickly became rather charming and then later, with all the reveals out of the way, I adored. And I think this had my favourite ending of the three.
This one was also more of a mystery than the others, with everyone having to piece things together to solve the whodunnit, with not only a few red (tee hee) herrings along the way, but also some unraveling of misconceptions of certain faerie. While the author did still infuse the story with larger themes ala the previous instalments (classism being the main player), they were on a smaller scale this time, mostly peeking out from the background, as the mystery and investigation took centre stage and we spent a little less time amongst society and the ton.
I don't really have much more to say about this one. This series came out swinging and I wish we could've ended on a higher note (not that this is at all a bad one!) but at least it's not remotely a low, so. Big win.
If you're looking to fulfill that cozy fantasy craving but want more of the vibes whilst still having some stakes and action? And, also, some romance? This is definitely the series for you.
3.5 stars
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
October 16, 2023
As with the other books in this series, I continue to be impressed by the wonderful balance of lighthearted banter with depth and social commentary.
There were actually so many twists that had me pleasantly surprised in this too! The ghosts, the vibes, the mystery - all amazing! So great to revisit beloved characters and meet new ones. Emotional and lovely all around!
There were actually so many twists that had me pleasantly surprised in this too! The ghosts, the vibes, the mystery - all amazing! So great to revisit beloved characters and meet new ones. Emotional and lovely all around!
June 29, 2023
I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but this one was confusing and not especially compelling. i probably wouldn't have finished, except for wanting to see how the trilogy wraps up.
December 8, 2022
cozy fantasy reading vlog: https://youtu.be/KqMzv_TGJHw
This was cute! I didn't love the romance as much as I have in the last two books, but I did enjoy that it was sapphic. I wished the characters had a little more chemistry but I still enjoyed the book immensely. This series is like a warm hug.
Booktube | Instagram
This was cute! I didn't love the romance as much as I have in the last two books, but I did enjoy that it was sapphic. I wished the characters had a little more chemistry but I still enjoyed the book immensely. This series is like a warm hug.
Booktube | Instagram
December 24, 2022
Really enjoyed this book and different elements of fairy that we got to see, I would definitely recommend these regency fairytales to everyone
December 2, 2023
We met Abigale for the first time in Half a Soul, she was the child rescued by Dora and the Lord Sorcier and later becomes their ward. She is now around eighteen and has spent years learning magic with the Lord Sorcier. She is determined to help investigate the mysterious deaths of some of the nobility girls who are the toast of the season and the mysterious fae-crows seen leaving their rooms when the girls died.
Abigail sets off with her ghostly companion and sibling Hugh. Hugh is adorable, he is one of the children from Half a Soul, left on the other side of the veil with Lady Hollowvale. He and Abigail are like true siblings and she has remarkably found a way to tie him to her in the mortal world. Together they are off to solve this mystery.
Mercy was found when during the coarse of the investigation. She is also looking for some answers and some friends of hers that have also seemed to disappeared. Resultantly she is pulled into investigating with Abigail and Hugh to get to the bottom of the mystery. Even if that means her secrets might be uncovered too.
The plot to this story was a bit more in depth than the other books of the series. I did figure out Mercy's secret very early and just waited for the big reveal on that. Abigail and Mercy together was a decent build up for a romance, but the ending for them didn't impact me like to couples of the other two books in the series. I'm not sure if that was the (f/f-ish) aspect of it or more Abigail is 18 and Mercy a Fae creature is immortal and much much older overall so it seemed a little creepy too.
Overall a solid conclusion to the trilogy. The time we get with Dora and Elias were some of my favorite scenes. Hugh and the reward he gets at the end were fantastic and I look forward to seeing how he turns out in the spin off series.
The bar for this book was really high due to how much I loved the first two of the series. So while still a strong book, it just didn't capture my heart as much as the first two.
Abigail sets off with her ghostly companion and sibling Hugh. Hugh is adorable, he is one of the children from Half a Soul, left on the other side of the veil with Lady Hollowvale. He and Abigail are like true siblings and she has remarkably found a way to tie him to her in the mortal world. Together they are off to solve this mystery.
Mercy was found when during the coarse of the investigation. She is also looking for some answers and some friends of hers that have also seemed to disappeared. Resultantly she is pulled into investigating with Abigail and Hugh to get to the bottom of the mystery. Even if that means her secrets might be uncovered too.
The plot to this story was a bit more in depth than the other books of the series. I did figure out Mercy's secret very early and just waited for the big reveal on that. Abigail and Mercy together was a decent build up for a romance, but the ending for them didn't impact me like to couples of the other two books in the series. I'm not sure if that was the (f/f-ish) aspect of it or more Abigail is 18 and Mercy a Fae creature is immortal and much much older overall so it seemed a little creepy too.
Overall a solid conclusion to the trilogy. The time we get with Dora and Elias were some of my favorite scenes. Hugh and the reward he gets at the end were fantastic and I look forward to seeing how he turns out in the spin off series.
The bar for this book was really high due to how much I loved the first two of the series. So while still a strong book, it just didn't capture my heart as much as the first two.
March 19, 2025
Abigail ist noch nie eine normale Lady gewesen. Als Mündel des Lord Magiers und mit ihren furchtbaren Erfahrungen in ihrer Kindheit hat sie einen ganz anderen Blick auf die gefährliche Welt der Elfen. Als in der feinen Gesellschaft Londons drei junge Ladys plötzlich sterben und es so aussieht, als hätten Elfen ihre Finger im Spiel, beschließt sie daher, selbst auf Spurensuche zu gehen.
Abigail ist dankbar für ihr Leben, aber die Vergangenheit hat ihre Spuren hinterlassen. Nun ist sie ziemlich vernünftig und glaubt an Gerechtigkeit; sie möchte ihrer Familie so helfen, wie ihr selbst auch geholfen wurde. Den Elfen vertraut sie nicht besonders, darum will sie diese Todesfälle aufklären, obwohl die letzte verstorbene junge Dame nicht gerade freundlich zu ihr war. Während ihrer Recherchen mochte ich ihren Mut und ihre Offenheit gegenüber unerwarteten Wendungen, außerdem mochte ich, wie sie sich entwickelt, wenn sie ihre eigenen Stärken erkennt.
Ich fand es schön, bekannte Charaktere wiederzusehen, die sich kaum verändert haben und mit ihrem einzigartigen Charme wieder gut unterhalten können. Darunter auch der junge Hugh, dessen Existenz kaum jemand wahrnehmen kann, aber davon lässt er sich nicht unterkriegen.
Die Magie der Elfen fand ich wieder unterhaltsam und die Handlung konnte immer wieder kleine Überraschungen bieten, dazu kommen noch die vielschichtigen Charaktere, die der Geschichte noch Tiefe verleihen. Mir hat die Reihe insgesamt gut gefallen und durch die eher geringe Seitenzahl ist es kurzweilig und angenehm, ohne sich je in die Länge zu ziehen.
Abigail ist dankbar für ihr Leben, aber die Vergangenheit hat ihre Spuren hinterlassen. Nun ist sie ziemlich vernünftig und glaubt an Gerechtigkeit; sie möchte ihrer Familie so helfen, wie ihr selbst auch geholfen wurde. Den Elfen vertraut sie nicht besonders, darum will sie diese Todesfälle aufklären, obwohl die letzte verstorbene junge Dame nicht gerade freundlich zu ihr war. Während ihrer Recherchen mochte ich ihren Mut und ihre Offenheit gegenüber unerwarteten Wendungen, außerdem mochte ich, wie sie sich entwickelt, wenn sie ihre eigenen Stärken erkennt.
Ich fand es schön, bekannte Charaktere wiederzusehen, die sich kaum verändert haben und mit ihrem einzigartigen Charme wieder gut unterhalten können. Darunter auch der junge Hugh, dessen Existenz kaum jemand wahrnehmen kann, aber davon lässt er sich nicht unterkriegen.
Die Magie der Elfen fand ich wieder unterhaltsam und die Handlung konnte immer wieder kleine Überraschungen bieten, dazu kommen noch die vielschichtigen Charaktere, die der Geschichte noch Tiefe verleihen. Mir hat die Reihe insgesamt gut gefallen und durch die eher geringe Seitenzahl ist es kurzweilig und angenehm, ohne sich je in die Länge zu ziehen.
April 18, 2022
This might be a mood thing as much as anything, but I just didn't get along with this as well as the first two. Maybe some of it is that so much is mysterious about Mercy for so long.
Regency lesbians, though, woohoo!
Regency lesbians, though, woohoo!
September 27, 2023
Bei diesem Buch handelt es sich um den 3. Teil der Reihe und damit gleichzeitig um den letzten. Die Bücher sind immer als Einzelbände lesbar, da jedes Buch von anderen Charakteren handelt. Dieses Mal ist die Hauptfigur Abigail Wilder, die Tochter von Dora und Elias aus dem 1. Teil der Reihe.
Es gibt eine Mordserie, bei er Abigail ermittelt. Diese Mordserie ist zentrales Thema und wird spannend erzählt. Was aus dem Klappentext so nicht hervorgeht ist, dass hier Geister eine wesentliche Rolle spielen, was die Autorin auf jeden Fall sehr interessant umgesetzt hat.
Abigail ist eine selbstbewusste junge Frau Mercy ebenfalls. Die Romanze zwischen den beiden ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Geschichte.
Mir hat dieser Teil wieder sehr gut gefallen. Ich kann die Reihe jedem empfehlen, der gerne Regency mit Fantasy mag. Von mir gibt es 4,5 von 5 Punkte.
Es gibt eine Mordserie, bei er Abigail ermittelt. Diese Mordserie ist zentrales Thema und wird spannend erzählt. Was aus dem Klappentext so nicht hervorgeht ist, dass hier Geister eine wesentliche Rolle spielen, was die Autorin auf jeden Fall sehr interessant umgesetzt hat.
Abigail ist eine selbstbewusste junge Frau Mercy ebenfalls. Die Romanze zwischen den beiden ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Geschichte.
Mir hat dieser Teil wieder sehr gut gefallen. Ich kann die Reihe jedem empfehlen, der gerne Regency mit Fantasy mag. Von mir gibt es 4,5 von 5 Punkte.
October 7, 2021
'Longshadow' is the eagerly awaited third book in the 'Regency Faerie Tales' series by Olivia Atwater, an author who very quickly became a favorite of mine last year. While everyone else is off writing historical fiction steeped in dark academia aesthetics, Atwater is quietly coining her own distinctive style for others to follow.. something I like to think of as dark whimsy.
Utterly unabashed, within her regency fantasy world.. she's never afraid to deal with the extremely dark themes that were real problems for people in her chosen era. Managing to discuss things like workhouses from a point of truth in a historical fantasy novel without either minimizing their awful effects on the lives of those who passed through them or bringing down the entire mood of the story.. is no easy task, but she does it so eloquently that she makes it look easy.
Each book has had a special place in my heart for different reasons. The female protagonists emotional make-up and psychology vary dramatically due to some very specific background and I adore every one of them.
Watching Abigail slowly discover who she is.. as a young woman and as a magician.. is such a pleasure. As always, the magical structure is interesting and as diverse as the series' characters. The fae are not one size fits all, but rather distinctively textured and Mr Jubilee remains an absolute joy, even in brief appearances.
I love the way Atwater takes ideas of the supernatural we've known for generations and turns them into inherent biases reflective of those with real world connotations, then smashes them to bits.. as if to say.. 'look.. things are not always as they seem!'
This is a wonderfully, whimsically dark fantasy tale you won't want to miss.
Utterly unabashed, within her regency fantasy world.. she's never afraid to deal with the extremely dark themes that were real problems for people in her chosen era. Managing to discuss things like workhouses from a point of truth in a historical fantasy novel without either minimizing their awful effects on the lives of those who passed through them or bringing down the entire mood of the story.. is no easy task, but she does it so eloquently that she makes it look easy.
Each book has had a special place in my heart for different reasons. The female protagonists emotional make-up and psychology vary dramatically due to some very specific background and I adore every one of them.
Watching Abigail slowly discover who she is.. as a young woman and as a magician.. is such a pleasure. As always, the magical structure is interesting and as diverse as the series' characters. The fae are not one size fits all, but rather distinctively textured and Mr Jubilee remains an absolute joy, even in brief appearances.
I love the way Atwater takes ideas of the supernatural we've known for generations and turns them into inherent biases reflective of those with real world connotations, then smashes them to bits.. as if to say.. 'look.. things are not always as they seem!'
This is a wonderfully, whimsically dark fantasy tale you won't want to miss.
August 8, 2022
To little surprise this book was SPECTACULAR and along with the rest of the series is going to be added to my favorite books of 2022 list ✨✨
Thank you to the publisher for the arc~~
I have devoured every single one of Olivia Atwater’s and this was no exception. If you read 10,000 stitches and half a soul this book is bringing back everything you loved about them. We get our magical romance and our protagonist who is uniquely herself. If you haven’t read any of Olivia’s books you could start with this one the story stands on its own without background info but it’s a bit better to read half a soul first.
(I’ve made the comparison W others of Olivia’s books but particularly here the little straw man is giving the scarecrow from howls moving castle 🥺)
I cannot recommend this book (and the entire series tbh) enough it was delightful to read. 💗
After you read it please read the authors note too bc bestie was intentional
Thank you to the publisher for the arc~~
I have devoured every single one of Olivia Atwater’s and this was no exception. If you read 10,000 stitches and half a soul this book is bringing back everything you loved about them. We get our magical romance and our protagonist who is uniquely herself. If you haven’t read any of Olivia’s books you could start with this one the story stands on its own without background info but it’s a bit better to read half a soul first.
(I’ve made the comparison W others of Olivia’s books but particularly here the little straw man is giving the scarecrow from howls moving castle 🥺)
I cannot recommend this book (and the entire series tbh) enough it was delightful to read. 💗
After you read it please read the authors note too bc bestie was intentional
October 16, 2021
Perfection
I love every single thing I've read by this author and although it may seem impossible each book somehow gets better than the previous one. Can not wait to read the next one.
I love every single thing I've read by this author and although it may seem impossible each book somehow gets better than the previous one. Can not wait to read the next one.
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