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fromjuliereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Y'ALL. This was the book I never knew I needed! It's like an Austen fantasy and I devoured it. Everything I wanted and more. I loved it and highly recommend for a cosy fantasy romance!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, War, and Death
rickosborne's review against another edition
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
4.75
A delightfully neurodiverse regency fairytale romance.
I cannot help but see this book as being about being on the autism spectrum and/or dealing with PTSD. Dora has reduced emotional presentation, and struggles to read and react to the emotions of others. The vast majority of her internal monologue is fixated on passing for normal, until she gets to be herself around the people who don't need her to pass. It me. It so, so me.
Some reviewers gripe about how "Dora cannot feel emotions, except when she can". Look, that's what everyone gets wrong about autism. People think that just because autistic people struggle with interpreting and expressing emotions then it must mean they can't actually feel those emotions. Which is crap. We feel just as much and as deeply as anyone else. It just doesn't surface as easily or as quickly. Like Dora. The fact that "Dora doesn't feel emotions" isn't a fact — it is what she is told about herself by others, so she internalizes it on her pile of mistreatments.
Elias is his own thing, and as I haven't read his book I will refrain for now. Suffice it to say, there's a huge, huge overlap between the reduced presentation that comes from autism and that which comes from PTSD, especially from childhood trauma.
The romance is well done. I loved that Dora matched Elias snark for snark ("kind but never nice"), and only later figured out that Elias was one of the people around whom she didn't need to pass. Elias, too, very slowly figured out that not only was Dora more interesting than he assumed, but also more capable and more empathetic. Two people slowly seeing more of each other and getting closer because of it — romance, y'all.
It's not epic fantasy with hundreds of pages of world-building. The faerie stuff is kindof nonsense, but it's clear that's intentional from the very first page. It's a nice, light fairytale, with a few standout grim twists, just like any fairytale should have.
Tags: #DismissiveFearfulPair #FamilyIssues #FightingCrime #HardOutsideGooeyInside #Kidnapping #Mystery #Neurodiverse #Regency #SinglePOV #ThirdPersonPOV
I cannot help but see this book as being about being on the autism spectrum and/or dealing with PTSD. Dora has reduced emotional presentation, and struggles to read and react to the emotions of others. The vast majority of her internal monologue is fixated on passing for normal, until she gets to be herself around the people who don't need her to pass. It me. It so, so me.
Some reviewers gripe about how "Dora cannot feel emotions, except when she can". Look, that's what everyone gets wrong about autism. People think that just because autistic people struggle with interpreting and expressing emotions then it must mean they can't actually feel those emotions. Which is crap. We feel just as much and as deeply as anyone else. It just doesn't surface as easily or as quickly. Like Dora. The fact that "Dora doesn't feel emotions" isn't a fact — it is what she is told about herself by others, so she internalizes it on her pile of mistreatments.
Elias is his own thing, and as I haven't read his book I will refrain for now. Suffice it to say, there's a huge, huge overlap between the reduced presentation that comes from autism and that which comes from PTSD, especially from childhood trauma.
The romance is well done. I loved that Dora matched Elias snark for snark ("kind but never nice"), and only later figured out that Elias was one of the people around whom she didn't need to pass. Elias, too, very slowly figured out that not only was Dora more interesting than he assumed, but also more capable and more empathetic. Two people slowly seeing more of each other and getting closer because of it — romance, y'all.
It's not epic fantasy with hundreds of pages of world-building. The faerie stuff is kindof nonsense, but it's clear that's intentional from the very first page. It's a nice, light fairytale, with a few standout grim twists, just like any fairytale should have.
Tags: #DismissiveFearfulPair #FamilyIssues #FightingCrime #HardOutsideGooeyInside #Kidnapping #Mystery #Neurodiverse #Regency #SinglePOV #ThirdPersonPOV
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Murder and Violence
briely's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: War, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Kidnapping, Child death, and Death
solacelight's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
wtf this is SO CUTE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Trafficking, Child abuse, Medical content, Ableism, Child death, Terminal illness, and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
Minor: War and Death of parent
bookforthought's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Half a Soul was the comfort read I didn't know I needed. Reading this book was absolutely delightful and I enjoyed every moment of it, finding myself wanting to pick it up multiple times during the day and reading well into the night. And as the last page turned, that warm and fuzzy feeling lingered for quite a while.
The Regency atmosphere of London ball season suited this very well, and I loved seeing it through the eyes of our main character, Dora. Following a meeting with a faerie lord as a child, Dora lost half her soul and with it the ability to experience feelings. I found Dora to be really endearing as a character, and I loved that she tried to adapt to various situations by emulating other people's reactions and feelings while slowly realising that maybe not all her feelings were compromised. I also really enjoyed her arc, and especially her move from a painful, excluding "otherness" to a more wholesome and peaceful uniqueness and self-acceptance, surrounding herself with people who love, care for and respect her.
This is a Regency faerie tale romance, and so I would be remiss if I didn't mention the romance part fairly early on in this post. I LOVED it. Elias and Dora gave me definite Pride and Prejudice vibes, especially in the beginning, and their banter was always witty and absolutely spot on. The build-up in their relationship was beautifully set up, and there were a couple of scenes that had me literally squealing in joy. I also really enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and some of the side characters, and the fierceness of their love for one another as friends/family members even while calling each other out on problematic behaviour.
One element of this book I particularly enjoyed was the mystery surrounding the inexplicable sleeping plague hitting children in various London workhouses. Although the solution to this was, in the end, maybe a tad too simplistic, I really enjoyed how this was used as a way to introduce some (sadly) still current themes. Characters shared some deep reflections on socio-economic inequality and privilege which I really appreciated.
"There is such a thing as evil in this world," Elias told her quietly. "It does not help to look away from it. It does not even help necessarily to look at it. [...] But sometimes, when you cannot force the world to come to its senses, you must settle only for wiping away some of the small evils in front of you."
Quote taken from the e-arc version, might be different in the final version.
The class critique was maybe used a little conveniently at times, and certainly lacked some depth upon closer scrutiny, but it worked well in the context of a feel-good romance fantasy novel. The same goes for the more satirical/farcical episodes in the latter part of the book: I had a nice giggle out of them (which I greatly needed), but don't go in expecting a treatise on equality and virtue.
Similarly, most of the characters lack depth and it is entirely possible that several plot points would not really hold up on a focused re-read, but I had such a great time with this book that this time I'm going to rate it (almost) entirely based on the way it made me feel rather than on a logical, rational analysis.
Highly recommended to anyone looking for an easy, fluffy, romantic read - especially if you ever thought you'd like Bridgerton to have magic!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and War
ryleighkates's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.75
Would say this is my favorite book of the year! Although some flaws, like any book, this novel is whimsical, romantic, and at times absolutely enchanting. I would recommend this book to those looking for a quick witted female lead role and fantastical love story in the regency era.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Kidnapping
genny's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
5.0
It finally happened! I found a 5-star romance novel for myself! This was pure, marshmallow-sweet goodness that never felt cloying. The protagonists complement each other so well. I found myself grinning and clutching at my chest multiple times. Maybe I was just in the perfect mood for this? There was nothing entirely unique or surprising about how the romance developed, but I ate everything up. I only wish we had an even slower burn, because I'm a sucker for that. I'm so excited to read more from Olivia Atwater! It's kind of a relief to know that romance books aren't out of the cards for me (I've been burned multiple times...), I just had to find a book that hit all the right spots. Apparently "whimsical historical fantasy" does that for me :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Child death
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
This is a favorite book. I loved everything. (It isnt perfect of coarse but is quite close.) Everything. It made me think,laugh, stare at a wall for a couple of minutes straight. Everything.
It's very interesting how much society at those times affected one. It’s all about
the ^unsaid^, be very careful of what you do and what other people think of you out of worry for your reputation. Get a husband in time. Be polite, neat and pretty. Do not dare atract attention with anything other than light flirting, politeness and charm, do not dare be different, rumors about you will affect you and your family.
It's very interesting how much society at those times affected one. It’s all about
the ^unsaid^, be very careful of what you do and what other people think of you out of worry for your reputation. Get a husband in time. Be polite, neat and pretty. Do not dare atract attention with anything other than light flirting, politeness and charm, do not dare be different, rumors about you will affect you and your family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Violence, and War
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Slavery, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death
bookishflower's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Physical abuse, War, and Pregnancy
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