Reviews with content warning for War - Half a Soul

I enjoyed this pride and prejudice-esque regency style novel with some depth and social commentary beyond the fluff, but generally lighthearted and heartwarming.

It reminds me a bit of some of Gail Carriger's work, specifically the Soulless series.

Content Warnings

jaqylantern's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Easy, delightful read. This was like Alice in Wonderland met the Pink Carnation series.

Content Warnings

sydapel's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This had been on my list for AGES, but I realized I never really knew exactly what the plot was. This is a lovely crossover of faerie and regency, perfect for if you're interested in the ACOTAR/Bridgerton worlds but aren't quite sure about all the more intense parts of those series. It does lean a bit YA, but it's well paced and draws attention to poverty and unfair labor practices that aren't addressed in a lot of regency romances, which I really appreciated.

Content Warnings

kingcrookback's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This was lovely. It's relatively low-stakes compared to the books I typically read, but it still tapped into some important moral considerations. And as fairies were historically sometimes used to explain neurodivergence before it was recognized as such, I think Atwater's worldbuilding was pretty clever. I found both Dora and Elias compelling and endearing. My only real criticism is that the ending wrapped up a bit quickly for my tastes; I would have liked to have seen a bit more of their lives after the greater resolution of the plot.

Content Warnings

beccaand's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

nnia's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

A Regency Fairy Tale about changelings, their cruel faerie predators, magic and some very starchy and colonial attitudes and the possibility of romance and marriage.

The starch was too much for me at this time. Might have enjoyed this book more when I was younger.
The main characters find the Napoleon Wars, terrible, the treatment of the humans by faeries, terrible, suffocating colonialism and etiquette of their culture, terrible, the conditions/treatment of the poor, terrible, etcetera.

There is talk of workhouse reform but . . . ?

Heard this book likened to 'Howl's Moving Castle', a bit of 'Pride and Predjudice' a bit of social commentary, but the dissatisfaction far outweighs any changes made (I know, it's historic urban fantasy)and so the dissatisfaction that remained at the end of the book was too much.

There is a bonus origin story, prequel novella included at the end of this novel war buddy tale about Elias and Albert meeting during the war, working together, becoming friends and leveling up. Sort of sweet and at least the characters are outside of any city and in the elements more.

Content Warnings

More...