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A review by bhnmt61
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
3.0
When she was ten, half of Dora’s soul was stolen by a faerie lord. The loss renders her unable feel intense emotions, and makes it difficult for her to navigate complex social situations. Years later, she and her cousin Vanessa are taken to London to find husbands. Vanessa is beautiful and her mother is sure she will land a rich husband. Dora is so unusual that she doesn’t really fit in, and she is quite sure she will never marry. Cue a kindly physician, the royal magician, and a bunch of complications.
It’s an entertaining read, but it also has more serious elements. What I really admired about it was Atwater’s willingness to tackle the thorny issue of how much is enough when you encounter people in need. Dora and her new friends are determined to make a difference in the lives of the people who have been sent to workhouses, but does it do anyone any good if you exhaust yourself to the point of illness in the name of service? It’s a bit clumsily done, but it’s a relevant topic and I admire her for taking it on. The second half moves on to more expected plot points. Enjoyable and sometimes thought-provoking.
It’s an entertaining read, but it also has more serious elements. What I really admired about it was Atwater’s willingness to tackle the thorny issue of how much is enough when you encounter people in need. Dora and her new friends are determined to make a difference in the lives of the people who have been sent to workhouses, but does it do anyone any good if you exhaust yourself to the point of illness in the name of service? It’s a bit clumsily done, but it’s a relevant topic and I admire her for taking it on. The second half moves on to more expected plot points. Enjoyable and sometimes thought-provoking.