Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater is a historical fantasy that is like if Pride and Prejudice had fairies. The story revolves around Dora, whose emotions were stolen by a nefarious faerie. Instead of feeling regular emotions, like happiness, anger, etc. she feels nothing. It's like she has half a soul. One day, she meets Elias, the Lord Socier of England, and he is intrigued by her condition. Can sparks fly between someone arrogant and someone who can't feel anything?

Here is a captivating excerpt from the Prologue, which is a flashback:

"“Do you not know what happens to impolite young children who wander in the woods, firstborn child of Georgina Ettings?” Lord Hollowvale asked Dora in a quiet, dangerous voice.
Dora backed her way slowly towards the creek. “You said you weren’t my mother’s friend,” she told the elf warily. “I have no cause to be polite to strange men who sneak up on me, Lord Hollowvale.”
The elf’s pale hand flashed forward like a serpent, grasping Dora by the neck. She let out a strangled cry, reaching up to claw at his hand with her fingernails – but he was much stronger than he appeared, and there was a cold, inhuman fury to his grip."

Overall, Half a Soul is a lovely blend of historical romance and fantasy. One highlight of this book is the heroine, who is like a breath of fresh air. I love how she doesn't follow protocol because of her condition. It's so original to have a heroine who isn't afraid to go against what society dictates. Another highlight of this book is how hilarious it is. There were moments that were laugh-out-loud funny, which I wasn't expecting when I first started reading this book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in June!