Ten Thousand Stitches follows the story of Effie, a young maid working for cruel nobles, who sets her sights on a certain noble gentleman and recruits the help of the fairy lord Blackthorn to help her become a lady. She makes a bargain to become a lady and in exchange she must marry within 101 days and for every minute she spends as a lady she must put a stitch in Lord Blackthorns jacket otherwise she will end up in his keep forever.

This book was probably my favourite of all the regency faerie tales books, whilst I have loved them all with the intoxicating combination of regency era setting with faerie magic and heart-warming charm, something about this one just felt special to me. It felt like a classic faerie tale of caution but with a hopeful message and the endearing charm of both Effie and Lord Blackthorn really carried the story for me. This book also felt like a bit of a mash up between Cinderella, My Fair Lady and Rumpelstiltskin which I loved so much.

I loved the classic rags-to-riches vibe at the beginning of the story but then the direction it takes is that Effie realises she has so much more worth just as herself and maids should be treated with just as much respect as noblewomen and I loved this so much more. I think all of the books in this series discuss class and the struggles of the poor in Victorian era England in a really accessible and interesting way and I think it's really important to highlight the starker realities of the time, rather than just the glamourous veil we sometimes cast over the past.

Effie as a character was really enjoyable to follow, she had such strength and motivation but also an inherent kindness. I also really liked her friendship with Lydia and how Effie acknowledged when she had messed up and hurt Lydia's feelings and actually apologised and took responsibility because I feel like so often protagonists treat their friends like shit and just get away with it in the narrative. I also really liked Lord Blackthorn, he was so sweet and trying so hard and just generally a very cute and enthusiastic bean, even if he often messed stuff up. I loved the development of the relationship between Effie and Lord Blackthorn, it was very slowburn feeling, despite it being a short book and I was shockingly very invested in them.

The faerie settings in this series I always really enjoy and this book was no exception. The prose is also very enjoyable to read and feels perfect for the tone of the story with an excellent balance of humour and light-heartedness with some heavier and more emotional moments.

Overall I would highly recommend this series, it is the perfect mood boosting read and you will fall in love with all the characters and delight in the charming regency setting with a faerie twist!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Half a Soul, so I went into Ten Thousand Stitches with high hopes, and I was not disappointed!

Effie is a maid for a household who treats their staff poorly, who has grown up hearing how dangerous and cruel faeries are from her mother. However, when she finds herself acquainted with Lord Blackthorn, she is driven to throw her caution to the wind and make a deal with him; he will make her a lady so she may marry the man she loves, and in return she will embroider his jacket - one stitch for every minute she spends as lady.

Effie is a fantastic character, realistically fed up of being treated poorly by the family she works for, she strives to be better but knows that society does not allow the elevation of maids. Lord Blackthorn reminds me somewhat of Dora in the first book, but more exuberant - he desperately wants to help and do what’s best, but somehow finds that things don’t quite go the way he planned.
I adored Effie’s final decision, and that she stuck to her morals and valued herself so highly.

Overall, I enjoyed Ten Thousand Stitches as much as Half a Soul, and would thoroughly recommend it. I can’t wait for the next Regency Faerie Tales book!