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Regency Faerie Tales #1.5
The Latch Key
Lord Elias Wilder, Regency England’s court magician, regularly performs three impossible things before breakfast—but the one thing he cannot do is raise a daughter. As Theodora Wilder continues taking children under their roof, however, Elias is finally forced to confront his dark familial past and the matter of his dubious faerie father.
This short, exclusive novella, written from Lord Elias Wilder’s perspective, takes place just after the events of Half a Soul and includes glimpses of the Lord Sorcier’s childhood in faerie.
This short, exclusive novella, written from Lord Elias Wilder’s perspective, takes place just after the events of Half a Soul and includes glimpses of the Lord Sorcier’s childhood in faerie.
42 pages, ebook
First published February 28, 2022
About the author
Olivia Atwater
12 books2,560 followersOlivia 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.
Searching for more Regency faerie tales? Sign up for the Atwater Scandal Sheets at oliviaatwater.com and get ongoing updates, along with the exclusive novella The Latch Key.
Searching for more Regency faerie tales? Sign up for the Atwater Scandal Sheets at oliviaatwater.com and get ongoing updates, along with the exclusive novella The Latch Key.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
June 2, 2023
3.5*
Quick one sitting read to check back in with Dora, Elias, Abigail and meet Lord Longshadow as our MCs from book1 settle into their new life following that books adventure.
Told in alternating chapters with flashbacks to Elias' childhood in faerie as he has to decide what kind of parent to be - simultaneously heartwarming & heartbreaking but so good to catch up with the characters of book1 before we move on to new MCs for the rest of the series.
Massive thanks to Ms Atwater for making this novella available on her website for free - so dang generous to share more of this world with us 🥰
Quick one sitting read to check back in with Dora, Elias, Abigail and meet Lord Longshadow as our MCs from book1 settle into their new life following that books adventure.
Told in alternating chapters with flashbacks to Elias' childhood in faerie as he has to decide what kind of parent to be - simultaneously heartwarming & heartbreaking but so good to catch up with the characters of book1 before we move on to new MCs for the rest of the series.
Massive thanks to Ms Atwater for making this novella available on her website for free - so dang generous to share more of this world with us 🥰
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February 27, 2023ELIAS IS A FATHER TO MANY!!!!!!!!
November 26, 2023
Elias is sure he will make a remarkable terrible father, but he is a father none the less to all the orphaned children his wife wants to bring home. Abigail was the first charge to find her way into their hearts. And while Elias and Dora don't think they'd make the best of parents they are trying to love these children the best they know how.
This seems like a nice epilogue to half a soul were we see how Elias and Dora's life together has ended up. As Elias remembers his own father and how he finally came to the point he needed to kill him, he is determined not to be that kind of father to Abigail.
You get a glimpse of how determined Abigail is to survive and protect herself from the dangers of the world out there and her start at becoming a magician before her book Longshadow. It was a nice prequel to Longshadow as we see how he and Elias once met.
This seems like a nice epilogue to half a soul were we see how Elias and Dora's life together has ended up. As Elias remembers his own father and how he finally came to the point he needed to kill him, he is determined not to be that kind of father to Abigail.
You get a glimpse of how determined Abigail is to survive and protect herself from the dangers of the world out there and her start at becoming a magician before her book Longshadow. It was a nice prequel to Longshadow as we see how he and Elias once met.
December 19, 2022
A really nice little story that will probably move anyone who knows what it's like to be hypervigilant in childhood (and not only), anyone who has ever wanted to scream: I never asked to be housed, fed and parented! And it's nice to get to know Elias a bit better and see just a bit of his marriage to Dora and what that's like.
October 22, 2023
A sweet novella that gives more detail about Elias’ background and shows him growing into being a parent with Dora.
May 21, 2024
3.5 ✨
How very sweet to read how much Elias wanted be cared for in his childhood and therefore decided to care for others. He’s very awkward and faerie but it’s so sweet!
How very sweet to read how much Elias wanted be cared for in his childhood and therefore decided to care for others. He’s very awkward and faerie but it’s so sweet!
March 23, 2022
Well, I did say I want to read everything in this universe I can get my hands on. This novella is something of an epilogue to Half a Soul, telling us of Elias and Dora and one of their orphans, Abigail, who seems intent on learning magic, intertwined with glimpses into the part of childhood Elias spent in Faerie. And his struggle with being a father to their adoptive children because of it. But mostly, I enjoyed seeing more of the characters :D
Content warning: abusive faerie father
Content warning: abusive faerie father
June 12, 2023
A nice little novella set in the world of the Regency Faerie Tales.
May 29, 2024
adorable 😭🫶🏼 the most tender Elias backstory and fan service that I could ever wish for. I just, as always, desperately wish there was more
September 26, 2022
I love a short story nestled in between the main book series and this one was great!
Centred around Elias, we get to read about his childhood and his brush with Lord-Dom. It was a fab little story, with a lock and key, some ingenuity and a plucky young Elias determined to outsmart his father. Split between memories and the now, it was a wonderful little novella and a great addition to the main series.
Centred around Elias, we get to read about his childhood and his brush with Lord-Dom. It was a fab little story, with a lock and key, some ingenuity and a plucky young Elias determined to outsmart his father. Split between memories and the now, it was a wonderful little novella and a great addition to the main series.
May 1, 2022
Can I just say that I love novellas? The connection between Elias’s childhood and his interactions with Abigail was so well done. And the afterword is something I’ll keep with me for a long time.
As with most novellas, I’d definitely recommend reading Half a Soul before The Latch Key.
As with most novellas, I’d definitely recommend reading Half a Soul before The Latch Key.
August 13, 2022
Spoilers! Oh. My. GOODNESS. I had really wanted to know the story of Elias’s childhood and how he killed his father and this novella did not disappoint in the slightest!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2024
Loved seeing Elias and Dora, as well as the children being safe and sound. We also got a peek into Elias’ childhood and some of what he endured before leaving faerie. Fantastic world building in such a short novella.
August 20, 2024
4.15 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
I was fully expecting my babies Dora and Elias to 🛏❤️🔥👅👁️🗨️ in the novella but that didn't happen
I'm happy we got Elias's childhood though
I was fully expecting my babies Dora and Elias to 🛏❤️🔥👅👁️🗨️ in the novella but that didn't happen
I'm happy we got Elias's childhood though
August 6, 2023
I really enjoyed the parallel plot structure
June 14, 2024
Ik denk dat ik voor iedereen spreek als ik zeg dat de beste vader in deze novella de Engelse boer was
June 28, 2024
3.75☆
a short and sweet story set after the events of Half a Soul that talks about the troubles of parenthood and about growing out of generational cycles of hate.
a short and sweet story set after the events of Half a Soul that talks about the troubles of parenthood and about growing out of generational cycles of hate.
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September 7, 2023I subscibed to the author's newsletter just to read this...worth it, I don't care
August 20, 2024
Some people might hate it, but I love how the author uses her stories to unabashedly say what she wants. She does the same thing here, something akin to a fable.
and omg I love the characters 😍
and omg I love the characters 😍
May 31, 2023
Seeing Elias's backstory was heart breaking. I loved that he chose to look beyond himself to figure out what was going on with Abigail. And to see a little into the future of their lives. Loved it so much!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2023
Fluffy “extended epilogue” novellas are my jam. This one was no different, adorable and emotional at the same time. Not much else to add because this was super short, but I really did love getting some more glimpses into Dora and Elias’ lives!
July 8, 2023
some are born fatherhood, some achieve fatherhood, and some have fatherhood thrust upon them
December 26, 2022
I really liked this... I think I enjoyed it more than The Lord Sorcier since it seemed to had more clear idea where it was going (which I think is important for a short-story) and it actually gave us more of the "new stuff". We get to see some of Dora and Elias' life after the wedding and that was quite nice. We also get to learn more about Elias' origin and childhood and I loved that as well...
I might re-read this before starting Longshadow since I have a feeling that those two kind of belong together (?).
I might re-read this before starting Longshadow since I have a feeling that those two kind of belong together (?).
February 23, 2023
“You have impressed the realm too much,” said the dark faerie. ���Whatever quality your father had which attracted Swiftburn, you must have that quality in even greater measure.”
Elias closed his eyes. “I am so angry, and so hateful,” he whispered. “Is that really what Swiftburn desires from its lord?”
Lord Longshadow considered this seriously. “It may well be that,” he said. “Your father must have raised you well, to make you even more of what he was.”
Elias pressed his face into his hands. “I don’t want to be lord of Swiftburn,” he cried. “I don’t want to be like my father.”
Lord Longshadow was silent for a very long while. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. “The realm has offered you its lordship,” he said, “but you are free to decline the honour.”
Elias closed his eyes. “I am so angry, and so hateful,” he whispered. “Is that really what Swiftburn desires from its lord?”
Lord Longshadow considered this seriously. “It may well be that,” he said. “Your father must have raised you well, to make you even more of what he was.”
Elias pressed his face into his hands. “I don’t want to be lord of Swiftburn,” he cried. “I don’t want to be like my father.”
Lord Longshadow was silent for a very long while. When he spoke again, his voice was soft. “The realm has offered you its lordship,” he said, “but you are free to decline the honour.”
November 2, 2022
I loved this extra time with Elias and Dora. In particular the insight into Elias' childhood. This was such a great short story in this world.
October 19, 2023
elias as a reluctant dilf >>>
July 29, 2022
Elias is a good father. Loved his interactions with Abigail. I also enjoyed the Elias x Dora crumbs I received. Hoping to see more of them in the 3rd book. Elias's father got exactly what he deserved.
March 23, 2023
This novella was available with a link at the end of my „half a soul“ ebook. I loved this novella, what a beautiful story this was!
June 4, 2024
3,5 ⭐
August 5, 2022
THE LATCH KEY is a short story that can be obtained by signing up to the author's newsletter. It is set both after HALF A SOUL and long before it, told from Elias' perspective as he comes to grapple with what it means to be a father to the orphans rescued from faerie and also with his own relationship to his father.
It is an interesting look into Elias' fears and experience with faerie, and why that makes him so angry about injustice. He is trying to survive, but his routes keep getting blocked so he has to lash out. All the while he sees his father plan indirect cruelties in order to be allowed (by faerie magic) to harm people directly, using his power to hurt people with the same indifference he shows his son. But he keeps getting thwarted, which gives Elias hope.
That story alternates with the "present" day, and Elias trying to protect his study (and one of the children, Abigail, from it), and his struggle to understand what she wants because he doesn't have that example. The alternation allows you to understand why he struggles to connect to the children and also why him finding a way to connect is a big moment for him.
It is an interesting look into Elias' fears and experience with faerie, and why that makes him so angry about injustice. He is trying to survive, but his routes keep getting blocked so he has to lash out. All the while he sees his father plan indirect cruelties in order to be allowed (by faerie magic) to harm people directly, using his power to hurt people with the same indifference he shows his son. But he keeps getting thwarted, which gives Elias hope.
That story alternates with the "present" day, and Elias trying to protect his study (and one of the children, Abigail, from it), and his struggle to understand what she wants because he doesn't have that example. The alternation allows you to understand why he struggles to connect to the children and also why him finding a way to connect is a big moment for him.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews