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katiemcgregor's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
Why did I not know about this book sooner?!? Half a Soul is an utterly charming and whimsical take on a regency romance. Atwater does a lovely job of balancing humor, romance, and social justice in this sweet little novel that filled me with warmth as I read it.
Half a Soul isn't especially strong when it comes to world building, but the imagery is visceral (can we just talk about that ballroom scene!?!) and everything is consistently lighthearted, so I didn't mind much. The characters are delightful and just so much fun. It helps that our leading man lands somewhere between being similar to Howl Pendragon and Christopher Chant (immaculate vibes). But Dora, our protagonist, is just as likable with her strange affliction and blunt manner. The two compliment each other perfectly.
Honestly, the main reason I'm rating this 3.75 stars instead of 4 is because I don't know how I feel about he epilogue. Normally I enjoy these additions at the end of a good novel, but I'm not sure if Half a Soul needs an epilogue. In this case, I think leaving the conclusions open to interpretation might have been more satisfying.
Half a Soul isn't especially strong when it comes to world building, but the imagery is visceral (can we just talk about that ballroom scene!?!) and everything is consistently lighthearted, so I didn't mind much. The characters are delightful and just so much fun. It helps that our leading man lands somewhere between being similar to Howl Pendragon and Christopher Chant (immaculate vibes). But Dora, our protagonist, is just as likable with her strange affliction and blunt manner. The two compliment each other perfectly.
Honestly, the main reason I'm rating this 3.75 stars instead of 4 is because I don't know how I feel about he epilogue. Normally I enjoy these additions at the end of a good novel, but I'm not sure if Half a Soul needs an epilogue. In this case, I think leaving the conclusions open to interpretation might have been more satisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Kidnapping, Murder, and Trafficking
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Confinement
nebraskanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexism
samchase112's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
4.25
What a fun, entertaining Regency romance! Romance, magic, and intriguing characters—what more could you need? Dora, an outspoken noble missing half her soul, travels to London with her cousin for the season; where she expects to find mild amusement, she instead finds love and a purpose in life. Elias was such a wonderful love interest, and I adored how Dora’s unique nature—her condition of having half a soul made her head such an interesting place to be!—brought out a new side of his character. The inditement on England’s treatment of its poor was a fantastic plot line, and its inclusion felt natural rather than contrived. All of the side characters had clearly defined roles, yet were not flat or uninteresting. My only gripe with this book was the rushed ending; another few pages to explore Dora’s decision and the enormity around it would have made more sense. But all in all I loved this sweet, one-of-a-kind Regency tale!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Murder, and Child death
Minor: War
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s really more of a 3.5 stars but I’ve rounded up for how much I enjoyed it.
What prevents this book from being stellar is what so many other historical fantasies lack: any semblance of or even honest attempts at world-building. Too often authors rely on their historical setting to automatically generate a world in the reader’s mind but that’s not only lazy, it also results in their story having no internal logic, no explanation for the fantasy elements or how they work, and ultimately a less substantial story.
I’m afraid that’s the case here. I have no idea how the magic works in this story, who can or cannot be a magician—this story only has one and I have no idea why—or how magic fits into this world. Which is such a shame because I really liked Dora, Elias and Albert, and the concept of only having half a soul.
I also loved the themes of what constitutes evil and how everyday people can combat it, even in small ways, and that even when something feels missing, a person can be and still is a whole person. And what happens to Dora and her missing half at the end was lovely.
Overall, I wish this had been more fleshed out in nearly every possible way, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the characters. It’s an easy, engaging, heartwarming read and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Minor: Blood and Violence
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