Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

44 reviews

a_libra_library's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Death, Classism, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Trafficking, Blood, Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, and Cursing

mmefish's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

2.5

I've been enjoying "Half A Soul" up until the very end—even with all its  plotholes, somehow repetitive writing, at times wonky dialogues and a caricatorius villian—but the last sentence spoiled the effect. If I'm not mistaken, This MC's "condition" is an allegory to autism, and if so, then the whole message about being accepted as you are, deserving love even if you're different etc. gets destroyed by the end of the novel.

In the epilogue, after the story already came to it's natural—and satisfying—conclusion, the MC, apparently, somehow gets her soul restored. It's a terrible decision that erases all the character growth and quite literally the whole point of the story.

 
It could be a nice, heart-warming fantasy romance but ended up being an OK-written underbaked Disney-like adventure with a shaky background instead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Child death and Murder

kelleykamanda's review against another edition

adventurous 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? Yes

4.5

Such a fun, romantic read. Not cheesey and sexual, just a slow burn. Highly recommend to my cozy fantasy lovers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Classism, and Confinement

Moderate: Terminal illness, Bullying, Child abuse, and Ableism

Minor: War, Violence, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent

kingcrookback's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Classism

Moderate: War, Physical abuse, Blood, and Kidnapping

Minor: Violence

shadowspinner's review against another edition

emotional funny 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Ableism, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child abuse, Blood, War, and Child death

sophiesmallhands's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Child abuse

Minor: Child death, Physical abuse, Gore, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Abandonment, War, Violence, Slavery, Death of parent, and Blood

evarinya's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Slavery, Emotional abuse, War, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Kidnapping, Blood, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, and Terminal illness

paniquemecanique's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? No

4.0

AHHHH THAT WAS SO GOOD
this was the loveliest cottage core regency era one shot fantasy novel EVER! 
I will always live a book with a female character so different and weird that she feels like no one understands her (wonder what that's about.....) and this one  was perfect. The character development and perception of the characters was deep and nuanced and ever changing, and I really fell in love with all of them.
The book also explores family dynamics in a very traumatising way tbh ahah but it is appreciated to have a very nuanced approach of it. 
Overall the biggest flaw of this book is that it is not longer, nor is it a series. I definitely think that we needed much more to explore and understand this world and these characters,  especially Dora's real power and how it becomes and advantage. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Blood, Violence, and Physical abuse

lainiereads's review against another edition

emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. It is what Howl's Moving Castle would have been if it had not been aimed for a middle grade audience. Such wonderful main characters and development for them. And the romance was so genuine and sweet, it is the picture of comforting romance read. Plus, there is a wonderful story centering classism, the abuses towards the working class and veterans, and the struggle of  finding a purpose to your life when there are such evil things going on. Dora and Elias are such perfect characters, and the story going on around them is so important. This will definitely be one of my favorite reads of the year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War, Blood, Death of parent, and Medical content

angelsfw's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Medical content, Death, Blood, and Kidnapping

Moderate: War

Minor: Pregnancy