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PRISMES DE TOPAZE: A Belle Époque Gothic Historical Fantasy of Memory, Light, and Lost Love
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2026
About the author
Daphne Anne Sotheby
49 books18 followersDaphne Anne Sotheby is a British-American writer whose work is inspired by the quiet beauty of nature, the resilience of the human spirit, and the gentle wisdom found in everyday moments. Splitting her time between coastal California and her British roots, she draws inspiration from ocean breezes, woodland paths, music, art, and the enduring connection between people and the natural world.
Known for her thoughtful storytelling and uplifting nonfiction, Daphne writes with warmth, compassion, and a deep appreciation for life's simple wonders. Her books invite readers to slow down, reflect, and rediscover the beauty that exists within themselves and the world around them. Whether exploring mindful living, personal growth, healing, mystery, or the quiet grace of nature, her writing encourages curiosity, hope, and a sense of belonging.
A passionate advocate for the arts, culture, and mindful living, Daphne believes that stories have the power to comfort, inspire, and connect us. Through her work, she hopes to create spaces where readers can pause, breathe deeply, and remember that even the smallest moments can hold extraordinary meaning.
When she is not writing, Daphne can often be found walking along the coastline, tending to a garden, exploring historic places, listening to music from decades past, or simply enjoying the changing colors of the sky at sunset.
Known for her thoughtful storytelling and uplifting nonfiction, Daphne writes with warmth, compassion, and a deep appreciation for life's simple wonders. Her books invite readers to slow down, reflect, and rediscover the beauty that exists within themselves and the world around them. Whether exploring mindful living, personal growth, healing, mystery, or the quiet grace of nature, her writing encourages curiosity, hope, and a sense of belonging.
A passionate advocate for the arts, culture, and mindful living, Daphne believes that stories have the power to comfort, inspire, and connect us. Through her work, she hopes to create spaces where readers can pause, breathe deeply, and remember that even the smallest moments can hold extraordinary meaning.
When she is not writing, Daphne can often be found walking along the coastline, tending to a garden, exploring historic places, listening to music from decades past, or simply enjoying the changing colors of the sky at sunset.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 24, 2026
Uniquely enjoyable
An aristocratic family with 3 girls in late 19th century Paris who enjoy the society that only the wealthy can experience. The father gets sick and dies and the family finds out that they were so in debt they had to sell everything they owned, including their home. Almost everyone they thought were their friends abandoned them. The middle daughter Vivienne was to marry but her betrothed is killed in an accident. She has always fixed broken things and becomes employed as a jewelry restorer. A man brings in a fractured crystal and a quest to determine its true use and eventual destruction ensues.
An aristocratic family with 3 girls in late 19th century Paris who enjoy the society that only the wealthy can experience. The father gets sick and dies and the family finds out that they were so in debt they had to sell everything they owned, including their home. Almost everyone they thought were their friends abandoned them. The middle daughter Vivienne was to marry but her betrothed is killed in an accident. She has always fixed broken things and becomes employed as a jewelry restorer. A man brings in a fractured crystal and a quest to determine its true use and eventual destruction ensues.
September 7, 2026
There is something wonderfully haunting about the world of Prismes de Topaze. The Paris of the story feels almost like a character itself—beautiful on the surface, but filled with hidden corners, old secrets, and things better left undiscovered. I especially enjoyed the contrast between Vivienne’s refined upbringing and the much harder life she eventually has to build for herself. Her work with damaged jewellery also creates a lovely connection to the larger ideas of the story: restoration, loss, and whether something broken can ever truly be made whole again.
The idea behind the topaz prism is what really drew me in. Turning memories and emotions into something that can be preserved gives the novel a fascinating speculative element without losing its emotional heart. The mystery surrounding the experiments and secret societies adds an intriguing darkness, while Soren brings another layer of uncertainty to an already unusual world.
Love, grief, obsession, and the desire to hold on to someone we've lost all feel recognisable, even within such an unusual setting. The combination of historical atmosphere, romance, mystery, and speculative fiction gives the book its own identity. It is a beautifully atmospheric story that leaves you thinking about whether preserving a memory is the same thing as preserving the person attached to it.
The idea behind the topaz prism is what really drew me in. Turning memories and emotions into something that can be preserved gives the novel a fascinating speculative element without losing its emotional heart. The mystery surrounding the experiments and secret societies adds an intriguing darkness, while Soren brings another layer of uncertainty to an already unusual world.
Love, grief, obsession, and the desire to hold on to someone we've lost all feel recognisable, even within such an unusual setting. The combination of historical atmosphere, romance, mystery, and speculative fiction gives the book its own identity. It is a beautifully atmospheric story that leaves you thinking about whether preserving a memory is the same thing as preserving the person attached to it.
August 9, 2026
A beautiful, moody book that balances the glamour of 1880s Paris with genuine tension and heartache. Vivienne’s journey - from sheltered aristocratic aspirations to the harsh truths of artisan life - had me hooked. The descriptions of jewelry repair had me feeling like it was all so tangible. I also really appreciated that the struggle of grief and making do wasn’t overshadowed by drama. Then the broken topaz prism appears, and everything about the story gets dipped in crazy delicious magic. If you’re a fan of Gothic historical romance/fantasy that isn’t afraid to say beautiful things still come from broken things, pick this one up.
July 29, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews