Though I understood why, it didn’t make her the most likable protagonist when the story first began.

I won’t spoil how it all worked, but, again, it was a perfect marriage of fantasy alongside very real world dilemmas and solutions. Effie berates Miss Buxley for having other choices, but as we learn mere pages later, Effie hasn't even bothered to see if any of the other households in the area are hiring, despite complaining all book long that she can either put up with the bad working conditions at Hartfield or go destitute.

I'm all for open-endedness, and for two people learning that they might not put the word "love" to the same emotions. Of course, given the highs of the first book, there was a lingering question whether this book could live up to that first outing! Sadly the book never really exploits this for its tropey romance value, but I liked it as a premise nonetheless.

Loving the themes that prop up these books, love that we did get a little more worldbuilding (or at least a sense of why the faerie are in this world) as I wanted, and Mr. I’ll say no more on the magical plot, although it involves horrible aristocratic owners, haughty housekeepers and Faerie folk. This all happened exactly how I imagine a Faerie with good intentions trying to help a maid out would go down.While I think I liked the first book a shade better than this one, it’s such a small distinction that it’s barely worth noting. Some of these things are mentioned below, but please be forewarned that trigger warnings for sexual assault are appropriate. With the involvement of Lord Blackthorn, there is more time spent in (and direct involvement from) faerie, which was very nice. It’s a bit lighter than Half a Soul, but offers some truly satisfying comeuppance for the nasty folks and great endings for the good guys.

Effie was interesting, and I liked that she wasn’t the typical historical romance heroine, but she was angry all of the time. Enter Lord Blackthorn, a faerie who is keen to learn all he can about the English, and to grow to be as virtuous as possible. Effie’s anger and determination were both excellent, however foolish she may have been with falling in “love” with the first nobleman to smile at her.

Effie is rather angry herself, and she learns that heers is so powerful it affects others around her, infusing itself in the stitchwork she is so well-regarded for. One is the setup: Effie is a maid in a wealthy household who falls instantly in love with the youngest brother of the family, Benedict. 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.

This may be part two of a series, but you don't need to know anything of book one to enjoy it (although there is a role for one Lady Hollowvale whose story is well worth the read with Half A Soul).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. If you’re looking for a charming break with winsome characters and a whimsical flair, you must pick up TEN THOUSAND STITCHES. That made it all the sweeter being able to look ahead to the summer and see two more books of the same style by Atwater coming down the pike. I love a Pygmalion adaptation, and I extra-love "I'm helping you fall in love with someone else, and along the way I fell in love with you, and now I must pine. It’s one that’s told so often that the retellings become less about the overall story, and more about the details that will inevitably set it apart.