The Latch Key

Regency Faerie Tales #1.5

by Olivia Atwater

Lord Elias Wilder, Regency England’s court magician, regularly performs three impossible things before breakfast—but the one thing he cannot do is raise a daughter. As Theodora Wilder continues taking children under their roof, however, Elias is finally forced to confront his dark familial past and the matter of his dubious faerie father.

This short, exclusive novella, written from Lord Elias Wilder’s perspective, takes place just after the events of Half a Soul and includes glimpses of the Lord Sorcier’s childhood in faerie.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Novella, Fiction

31 pages, ebook

First published February 28, 2022

About the author

Olivia 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.

Reviews

[Khadidja]

ELIAS IS A FATHER TO MANY!!!!!!!!

[Aoife - Bookish_Babbling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Quick one sitting read to check back in with Dora, Elias, Abigail and meet Lord Longshadow as our MCs from book1 settle into their new life following that books adventure.

Told in alternating chapters with flashbacks to Elias' childhood in faerie as he has to decide what kind of parent to be - simultaneously heartwarming & heartbreaking but so good to catch up with the characters of book1 before we move on to new MCs for the rest of the series.

Massive thanks to Ms Atwater for making this novella available on her website for free - so dang generous to share more of this world with us 🥰

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elias is sure he will make a remarkable terrible father, but he is a father none the less to all the orphaned children his wife wants to bring home. Abigail was the first charge to find her way into their hearts. And while Elias and Dora don't think they'd make the best of parents they are trying to love these children the best they know how.

This seems like a nice epilogue to half a soul were we see how Elias and Dora's life together has ended up. As Elias remembers his own father and how he finally came to the point he needed to kill him, he is determined not to be that kind of father to Abigail.

You get a glimpse of how determined Abigail is to survive and protect herself from the dangers of the world out there and her start at becoming a magician before her book Longshadow. It was a nice prequel to Longshadow as we see how he and Elias once met.

[Ruxandra Grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice little story that will probably move anyone who knows what it's like to be hypervigilant in childhood (and not only), anyone who has ever wanted to scream: I never asked to be housed, fed and parented! And it's nice to get to know Elias a bit better and see just a bit of his marriage to Dora and what that's like.

[Moon_child31 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

La edición española de Ten Thousand Stitches/Diez mil puntadas incluye el relato de La Llave

Aparece de nuevo Dora y vemos la infancia de Elias, el sorcier real, por qué mató a su padre/elfo y su nuevo rol como marido y padre de niños huérfanos, con una bonita reflexión sobre la paternidad.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet novella that gives more detail about Elias’ background and shows him growing into being a parent with Dora.

[Mirelleisreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ✨

How very sweet to read how much Elias wanted be cared for in his childhood and therefore decided to care for others. He’s very awkward and faerie but it’s so sweet!

[Para (wanderer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I did say I want to read everything in this universe I can get my hands on. This novella is something of an epilogue to Half a Soul, telling us of Elias and Dora and one of their orphans, Abigail, who seems intent on learning magic, intertwined with glimpses into the part of childhood Elias spent in Faerie. And his struggle with being a father to their adoptive children because of it. But mostly, I enjoyed seeing more of the characters :D

Content warning: abusive faerie father

[Larisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kinda wanted more from this

[Lisa Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little novella set in the world of the Regency Faerie Tales.

[✨ Kayla Lynne ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

adorable 😭🫶🏼 the most tender Elias backstory and fan service that I could ever wish for. I just, as always, desperately wish there was more

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a short story nestled in between the main book series and this one was great!

Centred around Elias, we get to read about his childhood and his brush with Lord-Dom. It was a fab little story, with a lock and key, some ingenuity and a plucky young Elias determined to outsmart his father. Split between memories and the now, it was a wonderful little novella and a great addition to the main series.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say that I love novellas? The connection between Elias’s childhood and his interactions with Abigail was so well done. And the afterword is something I’ll keep with me for a long time.

As with most novellas, I’d definitely recommend reading Half a Soul before The Latch Key.

[Emma Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers! Oh. My. GOODNESS. I had really wanted to know the story of Elias’s childhood and how he killed his father and this novella did not disappoint in the slightest!

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elias in his daddy era 🙂‍↕️💋

[Miss Akacia . · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este relato viene como extra en la edición en español de Diez mil puntadas y ha sido muy cuqui! Es muy sencillito y sirve un poco como puente para la tercera parte de la saga. Volver a ver a Elias siempre se agradece, pero no es tampoco la gran cosa ni es realmente necesario. Aun así, me ha gustado leerlo 💙.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved seeing Elias and Dora, as well as the children being safe and sound. We also got a peek into Elias’ childhood and some of what he endured before leaving faerie. Fantastic world building in such a short novella.

[(^_-) مررررري ✭✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.15 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

I was fully expecting my babies Dora and Elias to 🛏❤️‍🔥👅👁️‍🗨️ in the novella but that didn't happen

I'm happy we got Elias's childhood though

[Meghana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the parallel plot structure

[An · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik denk dat ik voor iedereen spreek als ik zeg dat de beste vader in deze novella de Engelse boer was

[Azza ⋆.ೃ࿔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

°˖➴ 3 ★★★☆☆
🪄🧚🔥🗝️✨

this was such a cute little novella! i loved reading more about elias’s childhood and story and i love how he became a father and softened up and it’s just so cute.

[helena ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75☆
a short and sweet story set after the events of Half a Soul that talks about the troubles of parenthood and about growing out of generational cycles of hate.

[Kati Végh]

I subscibed to the author's newsletter just to read this...worth it, I don't care

[Nour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love novellas smmm

[Miri Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people might hate it, but I love how the author uses her stories to unabashedly say what she wants. She does the same thing here, something akin to a fable.

and omg I love the characters 😍

[Lover of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing Elias's backstory was heart breaking. I loved that he chose to look beyond himself to figure out what was going on with Abigail. And to see a little into the future of their lives. Loved it so much!!

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fluffy “extended epilogue” novellas are my jam. This one was no different, adorable and emotional at the same time. Not much else to add because this was super short, but I really did love getting some more glimpses into Dora and Elias’ lives!

[Nehar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when i thought i couldn't love Elias more :') This cleared up what happened between Elias and his father and the things he endured during his childhood. It was heartbreaking! :( This is a very quick read and an absolute must after reading Half a Soul <3

[thea ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

some are born fatherhood, some achieve fatherhood, and some have fatherhood thrust upon them