5*'s. This series has my entire heart and I was so excited to see a book with these whimsical, romantic, fantastical vibes that was also queer! The mystery in this was interesting and I loved seeing our main characters from book one from a different perspective! I would formally like to request 1000 more books with this vibe please and thank you. And massive thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an early copy.

Olivia Atwater, I’m going to need more books please!!

We return back into delightful regency England (with a fairie twist of course) alongside Miss Abigail Wilder. If you’ve read Half a Soul (if you haven’t read it… go read it right now!) you’ll remember both Elias and Dora, who I adored just as much in this book which follows on from the first. We also see lovely appearances from Mr Jubilee and Effie.

Abigail, a budding magician just like her adoptive father the Lord Sorcier, along with the mysterious Mercy have set it upon themselves to solve the murders of young ladies in the Ton. Abigail is a fantastic protagonist- and through her eyes we explore the classist system of the ton, her relationship with her parents and her bloody brilliant ghost brother Hugh, as well as seeing her navigate her confusing feelings towards Mercy.

I know a few people figured out the twist but I was definitely left guessing until pretty close to the reveal which made the experience all the more fun!

Overall a wonderful addiction to the Regency Fairytales and I hope to read more from this author soon. It’s official- Olivia Atwater is an auto buy author for me from this moment on!

Actually I read plenty good Historical Romance books, but it isn't my main genre. But the author cleverly add magical sprinkles on the mix and make this story become so unique and intriguing me.

I instantly interest to the main character Abigail. She is smart, brave and protective to people she truly care. I love how she accepted her own worth and did the best with all her abilities. The mystery investigation and magical aspects make the plot very interesting and unpredictable. This is my 2nd read from this series and I was so wrong that thought I can predicted the twists and turn haha...
Overall I am really enjoyed my reading time with this book, and would love to read next installment from the author informing the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit from Little Bron Book Group for provided me with this copy. I am truly grateful and my thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed the characters and the magic was fun. This book (along with the others) are enjoyable reads that you can relax with and have fun reading

I really thought that this was quite a clever magical faerie tale

It has a great lead character in Abigail with some great twists and turns I genuinely didn't see coming but should have as it was heavily hinted at.

I really love how the Sorcier family come together in this so we get to see more of the great characters from the previous stories with some really well written emotionally charged parts.

I really hope this isn't the end of the Regency Faerie Tales because I could read these so many times.

Thank you to Netgalley & Orbit for this arc in exchange for a review.
Give me all the sapphic, fantastical regency romance- this was really good!
The only thing I struggled with was the way the characters spoke with a lot of abbreviations in the “common” language. Overall a very well rounded out conclusion to this series.

A series of mysterious deaths is shocking Regency London. Eligible young ladies are dying in their sleep, and in the morning the western window is found open - leading some to speculate that faeries, particularly the cruel kind called sluagh, are responsible.

Elias Wilder, Lord Sorcier of England, certainly believes this to be the case, but while he is willing to do battle with Lord Longshadow, the most important and powerful of the sluagh, he believes that his eighteen year old ward, Abigail, should not, and would, in fact, be safer in the faerie realm.

Abigail does not agree, and sets off on her own investigation into the latest death - that of Miss Lucy Kendall - and encounters a strange young woman, dressed as a laundress, who is also searching for Lucy, or at least her ghost.

This is the second of Olivia Atwater's Regency Faerie Tales that I've read, and is again a delightful, whimsical mix of historical romance and faerie magic, with the extra twist of a murder mystery thrown in too. The main character, Abigail, is one of the Workhouse children rescued in Half a Soul, and here we find her a few years older, exploring her magical powers, and discovering love in a way that she feels is very unconventional, but which Mercy assures her has existed forever.

Magic abounds, as you would expect in a story set partially in Faeryland. There are magical dances in Kensington Gardens, and ballgowns spun out of midnight, but just as Half A Soul had its darker side with explorations of the workhouse system and the apathy of most people towards its conditions, so too does Longshadow, with its look at our attitude towards death. There's the inevitable grief which turns even Lucy's stuck-up mother into someone deserving compassion, but alos Abigail and Mercy think differently about death itself. One maintaining that we should battle against it as long as possible; the other believing that there's a point as which enough is enough, and we should retire from life gracefully. It seems a slightly weird topic to encounter in what is to all intents a 'lightweight' story, but it gives depth and a contrast to the magical world of faery.

Books are such powerful things and the experience of reading can bring so much. In the case of this series, which I read one after another, they brought me sheer joy and comfort. These books are the equivalent of being curled up with a cozy blanket and a hot drink by a roaring fire. They were a perfect escape.

Olivia Atwater’s series delivers a well balanced combination of regency romance and light fantasy. We are introduced to various characters in the familiar regency romance landscape who then find themselves drawn in to some mystery or plot involving inhabitants of the adjacent lands of Faerie.

This book reveals more about the workings of magic in the series as we start to really flesh out the world building. Abigail is certainly her father's daughter, out to look after others. We see characters from earlier works in the series here. Dora from Half A Soul is present throughout the book and its quite different to see her from an outside perspective without the benefit of hearing her thoughts and interpretations of events.

As I said, the books were a real comfort, they are sweet but not overly so.

I’ve seen the series described as “Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle”. It certainly shares setting elements with Bridgerton but anyone looking for the steaminess of that series should look elsewhere.

I’d really recommend this series to anyone looking for a whimsical, cozy fantasy-romance read. You won’t regret it.

Having read and loved the first two books in this trilogy, I had high hopes for the final chapter and it did not disappoint.

I was at first sad that there weren't any Regency balls being held in this book but the last section fulfilled that desire!

There's not much I can say about these books other than if you even remotely liked Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Pride and Prejudice and Brudgerton then I think you will love this series too. Make sure to read them in order as whilst they could be read individually you will get much more from being immersed in this world and following the stories through. Thank you NetGalley and Olivia Atwater for giving me the chance to review this series.

This was a book with a great premise and a setting that I really liked. Unfortunately, there was something that just didn't hook me with this story and I struggled getting through it. I really liked the world and the relationships between the characters, and the writing is good, it's just very slow and uneventful and it feels like nothing interesting happens.

So, unfortunately, this was a let down and an average read for me. Not bad, but definitely not one I will remember either.

I picked up Longshadow by Olivia Atwater not knowing it was part of a series. I was initially drawn to the beautiful cover and then seduced by the intriguing blurb- what is not to like about a magical mystery set during the Regency period. When I first picked up the book it was a bit of a struggle to keep myself interested, I felt like I had dropped into the middle of the story and I would probably be in a better position had I read the earlier books. That being said once I got bedded into the book and had a bit more of an understanding of the world, the magic and the characters I found myself really being drawn into the story.
The young marriageable ladies of Society are dying under mysterious circumstances and the Lord Sorcier of England believes the Sluagh, the dark Lords of Faerie are to blame. His ward , Abigail Wilder is determined to help with the investigation, even if he does not think she is ready. Aided by her ghost brother Hugh and Mercy, a self taught magician and self described street rat , Abigail will have to face off against the deadly and devious Lord Longshadow, and it could cost her everything.
Over the course of the book I was intrigued by the magic system, and the worlds of Faerie and I will probably read the earlier books to learn more about them. The characters were complex, interesting and charming, and that is what kept me going during the early part of the book when I was initially struggling., I loved the bonds between Abigail and Hugh , it felt like a genuine sibling relationship , and I liked the slow burn of the romance between Abigail and Mercy . There were a couple of twists that I did not see coming, and it is always good when an author can surprise me.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Firstly I’d like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC 🥰❤️

As with all of the books by Olivia Atwater I’ve had the privilege of reading, I Ioved this book so much!! The story was a perfect blend of a whimsical fae tale and a Regency mystery novel!! 😏😍

Abigail is the adopted daughter of the Lord Sorcier Elias and his wife, Dora. As one of the child rescued from Hollowvale in Half a Soul she’s got a little magic and when young women start mysteriously dying Abigail decides to investigate, find the culprit and save any others from the same fate. With the help of her brother Hugh, her parents and new friend Mercy they go heard first and Abigail learns that things and people are never what they first appear to be…

Abigail is a brilliant MC, I totally fell into step with her, she’s bright and clever and how she thinks. I loved her relationship with her parents and her brother but I especially loved her relationship with Mercy ❤️❤️ Mercy is definitely my favourite character in the book, she’s a little mysterious, bold and so devoted to those she loves. She just grabbed me when I met her.

As always I loved going between England and Faerie 🥰😍 Longshadow was described beautifully and I want to go to Kensington Gardens and dance with Fae please!! 🥺❤️

Longshadow is the final book and the conclusion to the Regency Faerie Tales and I loved how all of lovely characters we’ve met in the 2 previous books were in it 🥰🥰 The ending was so lovely and it felt so warm and complete, I simply adored it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

(I do suggest that you read both the previous books in the series before reading Longshadow. The previous 2 books can be read as standalones but this one does need the series set up ❤️❤️)

Thank you to @littlebrownbookgroup_uk / @orbitbooks_uk for giving me an eARC of Longshadow by @oliviaatwaterauthor to review! Available in paperback from the 18th August!

Longshadow had all of the magic and whimsy I loved so much about book 1 of this series (Half a Soul). This was the perfect balance of historical romance and fairytale. I also really enjoyed seeing a queer romance outside of a contemporary setting.

This is technically book 3 in the series but it can be read as a standalone, however I’d recommend reading at least book 1 first as the main characters from Half a Soul (HaS) are important in Longshadow and one of the fringe characters from HaS is the main character in Longshadow. I’ve not read book 2 so can’t speak to how that may enhance the reading experience but I do plan to go back and read it at some point.

The whole book is from main character Abigail’s POV and I enjoyed seeing her striking out on her own and discovering her confidence, her sexuality (lesbian), and her imagination.

Hugh is now going to be my go-to answer whenever anyone asks about favourite side characters. This character, the ghost of an 8 year old boy, brought innocence and mischief to the book in spite of his tragic background. Hugh deserves all of the apple tarts!

There is other queer representation in Longshadow that I’d love to discuss but I’d be giving spoilers so you’ll just have to read and discover this character yourself!

Overall I really enjoyed Longshadow, it was the perfect blend of mystery, romance, and magic!

Read for:
• Historical FF romance with a fairytale feel ❤️
• Hugh - a side character who will steal your heart as soon as he appears on the page 💕
• Faerie and mortal magic ✨
• Mystery 🧐

Rating: 5/5🌟
Steam Level: 0/5🔥 but the classic historical romance hand touches and tension were there.
#Longshadow #OliviaAtwater #NetGalley

I could easily read 10 stories set in this world, it's just that good.

Longshadow, the third installment in the Regency Faerie Tales, follows Abigail Wilder, ward of Elias and Theodora Wilder (the protagonists from the first book). So spoilers for the first book! After Theodora and Elias rescued the children from Hollowvale, Abigail has been living with the two of them and Lady Hollowvale in Faerie. Since Abigail is more interested in learning magic than finding a husband, Abigail's Season was a disaster and 'polite society' mocks her. However, when Abigail finds out several young ladies have been murdered and Faeries might be the culprit, she and her younger brother Hugh start to investigate. They get unexpected help from the mysterious Mercy, who has her own connections to Faerie.

The plot is what mainly kept me engaged here. Longshadow had far more elements of a murder mystery than fantasy romance, compared to the other books in the series. While I didn't mind this, the book did lose some of the whimsical vibes. The murder mystery was the more engaging part of the book for me and at the end, some of the plot twists took me off-guard. We also saw an extension of the worldbuilding in the realm of Longshadow and sluagh, faeries who lead the dead to the afterlife. All the stories in the series are quite narrow in scope, but a fantasy book doesn't always need to be about saving-the-world-from-doom scenarios. Sometimes, it's just a housemaid or a magician or a lady doing the best they can to make their little corner of the world better. And that, in my opinion, is a great story too.

As for Abigail, I didn't connect with her as much as I did with Dora and Effie. Compared to Effie and Dora, Abigail is a more jaded character, having lost her biological mom early and having to labor in a workhouse. She is less forgiving to those in power and more pessimistic. Nevertheless, she was an interesting protagonist to follow. Seeing how much she followed in Elias' footsteps and how she fought for Hugh made me emotional.

Moreover, I was happy to see the book featured a sapphic relationship. There were some scenes here I found delightful, such as Abigail having major gay panic, the girls dancing on a moonlit lake and helping each other dress. Still, I found Mercy to be too mysterious and thus couldn't imagine what appeal she had for Abigail. In this installment, the romance really took a back seat to the murder mystery and the themes, which is why I think I didn't catch my interest as much.

All protagonists from the previous books appeared here, which made me so happy!! Dora and Elias were my favorite characters out of everyone and they were such great parents here!! Elias' distaste for balls and general English society was still hilarious and Dora is a queen!! Easily one of the best fantasy romance heroines for me.

As all books in the series, Longshadow also tackles privilege and abuse of power. Furthermore, the book is about grief and accepting death on your own terms, which I thought was a great aspect. I was, however, caught up on the moral questions this book posed, and wish the author had explored them more deeply.

All in all, Longshadow was an engaging, fast-paced fantasy romance with a mystery aspect. I just wish I had connected to the characters more. 3.5/5

Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Worldbuilding: 3/5
Prose: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5

People are dying under mysterious circumstances, and since all the past victims have been young women from the highest circles, and investigation is launched.

Though this is part of a series, I am happy to say that it works as a standalone story. I did not read the first books, and while I got the sense of adventures in the past that could be explored, it doesn't feel neccessary.
And in a world where most fantasy books are parts of series and have to be read in order, I am grateful for one where it just works as it is.

Regency setting with magic, lesbian romance with crime fighting. Short and sweet.
I really don't want to say too much, because it's not that long, but is has what you would expect: Balls, questions of urg do we need to change clothes for another activity, and can we really go at this time of day to make a call on someone?

I liked the characters, they're charming. Well, most of them.
If I should find myself in the mood for regency era fair folk shenanigans, I will come back for sure and look at the first books in the series.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

Preliminary 5-star review. Will post a full review and adjust the rating accordingly after I finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

Full disclosure: I didn’t finish this book - I stopped reading when I found out it was the third in a series - something I didn’t realise before requesting on netgalley. I only stopped reading for this reason - because I was actually really loving this book!

The part of the book I did read before stopping I loved! Combining the regency period with magic and fantasy?!? Hell yes - that is RIGHT up my street! I loved the world building and how these two different genres have been combined to something so unique and creative - and it’s been really beautifully written! From page 1 I loved the characters and instantly warmed to them.

I loved how quickly the story picked up with the mystery element and what sounds like a really clever plot line. I was really intrigued to see how it all pans out and what adventures our characters had in store! The tension, the mystery, the magic - all combined to an inventive third book!

I didn’t realise bridgerton meets magic was a book series I knew I needed, but now it’s here I am OBSESSED! I can’t wait to go back and speed read the first two books so I can re-read this one and catch up. Based on how much I loved the first half of book 3, I know I’ll love the others too!

I have to say I liked 'Longshadow' a bit less then 'Ten Thousand Stiches'.
I read it immediatly after book two and enjoyed the main characters of both books having entirely different voices. 'Longshadow' is still a whimsical and sometimes humorous read, but because of the plot (basically a murder mystery) the novel has a much more serious tone to it and is way more adventurous.
The love interest definitely has more page time and personality, which I appreciate.
In comparison to book two it feels like I'm missing something, as Abigail apparently is the daughter of book ones protagonist and events are referenced that I have no knowledge of. I'd recommend reading at least book one beforehand. It still reads fine as a standalone though.
I sadly never got into it as it also reads younger than book two. Though the novel takes enough time to establish relationships, I think the murdery mystery prevented me from being engaged in the romance.

LONGSHADOW is the last book in the Regency Faerie Tales series (for now, one hopes! I would absolutely not object to more books) as a magician and a mysterious not-laundress hunt for the truth behind the deaths of several wealthy young women.

Like, TEN THOUSAND STITCHES, LONGSHADOW is set after HALF A SOUL, but is more closely tied to the story of HALF A SOUL as it follows Dora and Elias' adopted daughter, so it does contain spoilers about how that book ended up. It was also nice to spend some more time with Dora and Elias, see them from another perspective - and still equally bemused/frustrated with the nobility. There are also cameos of Effie and Juniper Jubilee.

The book looks at entitlement and performative niceness, particularly through the ghost of one of the dead girls who is still self-entitled and believes everything is about her even in death. It is a pretty scathing look at those with privilege all the way through with villains and minor side characters who can only be trusted to look out for themselves.

At the same time, it is also a book about family. Abigail has found a new family in the shape of the Wilders, which is a pretty unconventional family with a ghostly brother and two versions/incarnations of their mother. But it's a family all the same and I loved seeing them interacting with such love. Plus the parents' journey to trusting their children to act as adults in dangerous situations.

There is also a discussion in the book about grief and moving on, and how different people react to grief, for good or ill. It's not the major theme of the book, but it's a subtle, moving part woven into the layers of the book.

Not to mention, it's another romance full of whimsy and balls! What regency romance is complete without a ball where important things happen? It's just probably good that Abigail didn't need to attend lots of balls in order to fall in love!

Abigail, daughter of the Lord Sorcier, joins her father in investigating the suspicious and sudden deaths of three society Misses. With help from the ghost of her brother, Hugh, and the mysterious Mercy, she quickly finds herself in the middle of a grand adventure.

This is another brilliant fairytale in Atwater's distinctive style, with cameos from plenty of characters from the previous books. A quick and magical read!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.