“Miss Abigail Wilder was not supposed to use her magic in front of the tea ladies. Never use your magic in front of the ton, her father had told her. Once you do, they’ll never let you rest – you’ll be doing useless magic tricks until you’re old and grey.”

My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group U.K. Orbit for a review copy via NetGalley of ‘Longshadow’ by Olivia Atwater. I complemented my reading with its unabridged audiobook edition again narrated by Madeleine Lesley. My apologies for the late feedback.

This is Book 3 in Atwater’s Regency Faerie Tales series, which blends a queer Regency romance with a Faerie-themed fantasy. The book opens with a handy Dramatis Personae. While there are some overlapping characters with the previous two books, ‘Half A Soul’ and ‘Ten Thousand Stitches’, each book can be read as a standalone.

It appears that a number of the marriageable young ladies of London are mysteriously dying and Abigail Wilder is determined to discover why. Abigail's father, the Lord Sorcier of England, is convinced that a dark lord of faerie is involved though Abigail has different ideas.

In order to discover the truth she is willing to match her magic against that of Longshadow, a lord of the sluagh with dominion over the dead. Neither her father nor London high society believe that she is capable of doing so. One person who does have confidence in her is Mercy, a self-taught magician who is also a laundress. She soon joins in Abigail’s investigation. 

Longshadow’ was another charming tale in this series. I loved Abigail’s relationship with her ghost brother, Hugh, and of course with Mercy. As in the previous two books issues of class are explored between the fashionable ton and the rest of society. There were also plenty of rich descriptions both of locations in Regency London and of the faerie realms.

I love Olivia Atwater’s writing and she is on my list of ‘must read’ authors.

Highly recommended.

Having enjoyed the previous two titles in Atwater's Regency Fairytales series, I loved being back in the same alternate London, and getting to see more of Dora, Other Mum and Elias, characters from the previous novels. While Longshadow can be read as a standalone, the links to characters and events from the previous two titles enriched the reading experience for me.

Longshadow's plot is focused on the Lord Sorcier's daughter, Abigail Wilder, who investigates a series of mysterious deaths among the young women of London's nobility. She is joined in her efforts to unravel the mystery by Mercy, a street rat and magician. The two soon find themselves in danger - and in danger of losing their hearts.

Again, Atwater deftly weaves difficult topics (social justice, death) into an enchanting tale and gives them weight without letting them dampen the whimsical tone of her story. I absolutely loved the sapphic romance, the glitz and opulence of regency and fairy dances, and found the portrayal of Abigail's emerging feelings and her internal conflict well written.

I'm shelving the series with mixed feelings - the satisfaction of having completed a series, mixed with a hint of sadness at leaving this world behind.

This was such an interesting and incredible read, there was such depth and intrigue. I found myself completely entranced by the story.

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.

Longshadow is a delight to read, an enchanting story that will appeal to both fans of fantasy and historical fiction. The mystery in this is really interesting, the romance is so gorgeous as always and I loved seeing some faces. Olivia Atwater's writing is a fabulous, I’m obsessed with it and her characters. Thoroughly recommended

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

When I first started reading this book and discovered it was about Elias and Dora's daughter Abigail, I really thought I wouldn't enjoy it. I loved Half a Soul so much and was so invested in Elias and Dora, so I was worried I wouldn't be as invested when seeing them as side characters.

I'm so happy that I was wrong. The world the author has created in this series is so unique and intriguing, and as a fan of fantasy, fairy tales AND regency, it's everything I could want as a reader!

While this book is filled with regency vibes and activities and the ton, it also has an entire world of different faeries and lands and magic which are so fun to read about.

I love how these books are all mysteries as well, and how none of them are predictable (at least I don't think so).

The romance in this story was also beautiful!!

If you like fantasy romance, regency, fantasy and fairy tales, you need to give this series a go!

Longshadow by Olivia Atwater is a charming and whimsical fantasy novel that is sure to delight readers of all ages. Set in a world of magic and wonder, this story follows the adventures of two young women, Miss Lucinda Hightower and Miss Sophia Lovelace, as they navigate the complexities of life in Regency-era England.

From the very beginning, Longshadow draws the reader in with its captivating prose and vivid descriptions of the world in which the story takes place. Atwater's writing is both playful and sophisticated, and she masterfully weaves together a variety of different elements to create a rich and engaging narrative.

One of the things that sets Longshadow apart from other fantasy novels is its focus on character development. Lucinda and Sophia are both fully-realized and complex characters, and their relationship forms the heart of the story. Atwater does an excellent job of exploring their motivations, desires, and fears, and the result is a deeply satisfying and emotionally resonant read.

Another strength of Longshadow is its worldbuilding. Atwater has created a rich and intricate magical world that is both familiar and unique. The way in which she integrates magic into the fabric of society is particularly well-done, and the result is a world that feels both lived-in and fantastical.

Overall, Longshadow is a delightful and enchanting novel that is sure to appeal to fans of fantasy and historical fiction alike. Atwater's writing is a joy to read, and her characters and world are both compelling and fully-realized. Highly recommended!

The third in the Regency Faerie tale series and I have immensely enjoyed all three of them. They are all such easy and quick read and are the perfect pick me ups. They can be read as standalones but you do see the same characters throughout them, Longshadow especially followed on from Half a Soul and had a lot of the same characters popping up which I loved.

This really didn’t grip me unfortunately, I wanted to love this series so much but it’s just not for me. It definitely has an audience that will appreciate it though

3⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Little Brown Book Group/Orbit and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

Phew! This book was much better than the last instalment.

I found the story and characters far more compelling, and the story more varied and fleshed out well.

I still wish the author would do a bit of world building-this would really take the book to the next level for me.

This is a nice easy comforting read, it’s not something that will be a life-changing read but it’s a pleasant read and sometimes that’s just what one needs.

Another delightful offering from Olivia Atwater, this time with a focus more firmly on a mystery plot with a romantic subplot, rather than the comedies of manners from books 1 and 2. This third book is also a more direct sequel to book 1 following some of the same characters and must therefore be read after the first book. I found the addition of a mystery element interesting, although I don't think it worked quite as well as the first two books. I loved the relationship between Abigail and Hugh - their sibling bond was truly joyful to read about. As with the other books, there is a social commentary present in this book, again dealing with class but also looking at the representation of LGBTQ people in the Regency period, which was very well done. Overall, this is probably my least favourite of the three books, but the series as a whole is wonderful and by no means is this third book a disappointment.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love the world of this series, but this was my least favourite. While I liked the characters, I didn't like the story as much as the previous ones. I didn't enjoy the fact that some characters were ghostly, or not quite in the world. The main character was strong and I appreciated the LGBTQ representation in the faerie historical era.

Longshadow is the conclusion to the delightful Recency Faerie Tales by Olivia Atwater and it’s just as charming and warm as the previous 2, Half A Soul and Ten Thousand Stitches. While these books are not sequels specifically in the sense that the plot carries across, they are all interlocked in that characters from each book will appear in the next in a way that just makes you smile, especially when Effie and Lord Blackthorn appeared and we got to see them more as couple. Atwater makes you fall in love with these people to seeing them pop up again, it’s just so lovely.

Longshadow follows Abigail Wilder, who you may remember was the young girl saved at the end of Half A Soul, who was taken in by Dora and the Lord Sorcier Elias, who in this book are married and very much in love with Abigail their recognised daughter. When young girls start to go missing, Abigail takes it upon herself to investigate why and is joined by Mercy, a mysterious magician who intrigues Abigail in more ways than one. I love that series ended with a LGBTQ+ romance, I loved the cameos, I loved the easy writing style and the way this book feels like a warm bath when so many of my books leave me so challenged and traumatised. This series really is a comfort series that I could very easily read more of, it’s inoffensive, it’s about love but not sappy, it’s about magic but not complicated. I really would recommend it to anyone who just needs a book hug.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I have obviously not bought the whole series to cherish.

I was lucky enough to read three books in this series, one after the other. Although the timeline is not direct, it is more fun to see the world develop this way.
This book takes a bit of a time jump from the last two, which were placed closer together (or so it felt). One of the characters introduced in the first, Abigail is now a ward of the first couple we encountered and a magician in her own right (or so she hopes to be). She has been groomed to be part of London Society but tends to fall just short of the mark, thanks to a number of reasons.
During a boring tea, Abigail and Dora hear that people have been discussing the loss of several society girls who had recently entered society formally. There are malicious magical folk hinted at having a hand in it all, and this has Abigail's interest piqued. She wants to help figure things out, but her father has his work cut out for him.
Abigail is an interesting character to follow. She is a product of different pieces of the adventures that have occurred previously in this world. Life is hard for her, as is finding her happily ever after. In the midst of this, she encounters another girl who seems to know more than she is revealing about all the deaths. This meeting changes how she views herself and the life she previously envisioned for herself.
It has a more diverse approach to the romance in the tale than either of the previous ones, and the author's note at the end also attests to how she consciously tried to do something different. That and the concept of grief are explored in this, making it a more serious adventure with magic and secrets than the romantic narrative I was expecting( although there are more profound moments for Abigail here as well).
It was more fast-paced than the previous adventures, but I was hoping for more of the same from my other readings, and this is probably the only reason that I rated this differently.
I would still recommend this to anyone who finds the blurb even mildly interesting because the author has built many vibrant characters, and their interactions are entertaining.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

This is such a lovely series! Light, fun and sweet. I loved the way the characters interwove through each other's stories. Beautiful romances. Reading these books just made me so happy.

While they are regency romances, they don't centre on typical 'regency novel' characters. Atwater likes to put her own twist on the era she's writing in.

Long Shadow is another brilliant romance, this time with great representation - especially with the historical note at the end. As well as following another fantastic couple, Long Shadow offers an exploration of grief and death, but still keeps the tone of the rest of the series.

I really love this series and could happily read very many more books set in it.

This is the third in the authors Regency Faerie Tale series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You could read as a stand alone book however it connects directly to Half a Soul (first book in the series) so reading the others would provide greater grounding for the story.
I love the whimsical nature of the books and that the author explores connected but different characters in each story. For this excursion we get to know Abigail Wilder - former foundling but now daughter to the Lord Sorcier Elias and his wife Dora.
Abigail has meticulously learnt the ways of the ton, her elocution and manners are perfect but no one forgets her lowly background. However when young ladies of the ton go missing from their bedrooms and then found dead, Abigail with her ties to Faerie, is best placed to investigate.
Whilst investigating Abigail meets Mercy, who looks like a launderess but who has magic at her fingertips and who is also following the killers trail. As Mercy and Abigail gain trust with each other, revelations of an emotional and romantic nature arise, all portrayed beautifully.
I am looking out for any other work by the author and would recommend this series. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5* upped to 4
I love the rest of the series but I struggled a bit with Longshadow as I found it quite slow. The characters and the plot are well done, the pace is a bit uneven.
It's the conclusion of this series and I think will read it again as it answers to all questions about the characters.
The author is talented and I would be happy to read other books set in this world
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love finding a series that I can totally trust when it comes to a fast-paced storyline, engaging characters and a little sprinkling of magic. For me, the Invisible Library series and this series - Regency Faerie Tales - fall into that perfectly.

We are back with some familiar characters for the third instalment in this series. Abigail Wilder, former workhouse orphan, has grown up in the care of Elias, Lord Sorcier, and Dora, who we new well from book one. After her unusual experiences in Faerie, Abigail has become an unusual young woman. Disinterested in balls and finding a husband (and never pressured to by her parents), she prefers to dabble in magic and explore her independency with her ghost-brother, Hugh.

And if you want a lovely, queer storyline that doesn't involve lots of soul-searching and agonising, and is instead one woman realising that she is truly attracted to another woman, and wouldn't it be wonderful is she liked her too? There's no labelling (and even harder to do with humans and faeries!) but instead just a lovely heartfelt acceptance of 'this is who I am and this is what I want'.

The story itself explores more of what it's like to have a kernel of fae magic inside you, as well as the finality of death. This tale also features the sluagh, drawn from Irish and Scottish folklore, but with Atwater's own slant on their appearance and role in death, instead guiding lost spirits to the other side.

The epilogue was quite a fast wrap-up to effectively tie the story off with a bow, but this is a series that won't disappoint - everything is thought of and covered neatly, and just leaves you with a feel of general satisfaction.

Same as the first book this one was great.
I simply loved the atmosphere author is creating with her stories..
Definitely a must read if you are a Cruel Prince and Bridgeton fan.

Thank you for my earc of this book. I thought this was an enjoyable and easy to read fantasy. I think people who are new to fantasy who enjoy historical fiction would love these books!