Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater Review

Title: Ten Thousand Stitches

Author: Olivia Atwater

Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Orbit Books

Pages: 288

Release Date: 21 July 2022

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Hello fellow book lovers, today sharing my review of Ten Thousand Stitches, the heartwarmingly whimsical sequel to Olivia Atwater’s spellbinding regency romance, Half A Soul—a charming (and delightfully quirky), Downton-meets-Studio Ghibli Cinderella retelling.

Synopsis

Regency housemaid Euphemia Reeves has acquired a faerie godfather. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he's doing.

Effie has most inconveniently fallen in love with the dashing Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. There's only one problem; Effie is a housemaid, and a housemaid cannot marry a gentleman. It seems that Effie is out of luck until she stumbles into the faerie realm of Lord Blackthorn, who is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Ashbrooke's heart. All he asks in return is that Effie sew ten thousand stitches onto his favourite jacket.

Effie has heard rumours about what happens to those who accept help from faeries, but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, she has one hundred days - and ten thousand stitches - to make Mr Ashbrooke fall in love and propose. . . if Lord Blackthorn doesn't wreck things by accident, that is.

For Effie's greatest obstacle might well prove to be Lord Blackthorn's overwhelmingly good intentions.

Review

I absolutely LOVED this!

Having read (and absolutely loved) Half A Soul I was incredibly excited to get the change to dive right back into this whimsical regency world once again and I especially enjoyed getting to see the eccentric Lord Blackthorn once again.

Like Half A Soul, Olivia Atwater’s unique and witty regency retelling of Cinderella was charming and throughly unique, delving into issues surrounding social justice whilst exploring anger, virtue, happiness, and love.

I loved soo many of the characters but I have to say Lord Blackthorn definitely stole my heart with his enthusiastic joy and sincerity as he strives to become a better person. Though, this cinnamon roll faerie godfather’s helpfulness doesn’t always workout (unintentionally causing more problems than he solves.) But, his enthusiasm is soo infectious that even Effie cannot stay mad for long.

Likewise, I also loved our protagonist, Effie is a kindhearted and strong-willed maid worked to exhaustion by her employers—I really enjoyed watching her grow in confidence and learn to stand up for herself as the story unfolds. I loved her scenes with Lord Blackthorn, the friendship that grows between them was absolutely wonderful. The one downside is that we don’t explore the relationship and growing feelings between Blackthorn and Effie nearly as much as I hope we would but otherwise a really fully, lighthearted and throughly enjoyable read.

It is the second book in the Regency Faerie Tales series, but as it’s a separate story from the first you can enjoy this as a standalone (though I definitely still recommend reading book one as it’s really good.)

So, if your looking for a Downton-esque, Studio Ghibli rendition of Cinderella set in an alternate regency England then you definitely have to give this a read, it’s absolutely delightful!

Also, a huge thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for the e-arc.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

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.

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