Reviews with content warning for War - Half a Soul

Reviews tagging 'War'

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

77 reviews

xvicesx's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

A thoroughly enjoyable read, mixing faeries, magic and Regency England. I liked the way that the author managed to blend themes of social justice into the story without it sounding preachy, and that ultimately Dora gets to be loved for who she is, rather than who she ought to be, or who she could have been with her full soul.

Loved it immensely, though I was a bit uncertain about it at the start. It definitely picks up!

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leligavi's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.75

This is my first ever fae novel and I enjoyed it! I really loved Dora and Elias. I think their relationship was really sweet and I'm excited to maybe look at the book that is in Elias POV.
I thought Albert and his mom were awesome side characters, but Vanessa was kind of so-so. But I think that's the point...?

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krows_ink's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

Half a Soul ⭐️ 4.25/5
I loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I have little gripes with the book. Elias is probably my favorite genre of love interest/ fictional man. I wish that the book was a little long to explore his obviously complicated backstory. Spoilers ahead

I’m not a huge fan of epilogues that summarize how the rest of the character’s lives go. In that regard I was a bit disappointed. I also wish that the book was longer. I feel like the ending got a little confusing and rushed. Having more time or even possibly a chapter from Elias’ pov would have been cool to flush out his connection with Faerie. Whenever it got brought up it felt a little forced/ jarring. But maybe J just like dramatics.

The Lord Socier ⭐️ 4.5/5
I loved this little novella and that it was written from Arther’s pov! I love Atwater’s hopeful undertones in her works while still facing the gruesome and contradictory nature of human (English/ European) society. This novella gave me a glimpse into Arther and Elias’ relationship and I loved every page of it.

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takarakei's review against another edition

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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

3.5

This is definitely a regency-era romance with some fantasy elements sprinkled in, but it leans more hist. romance to me. Suspend a little disbelief on the connection of this world and faeries - you just gotta go with it. There's also a slight mystery plotline happening at the same time. Something about the overall plot didn't quite click with my to really hold my interest.

Dora reads as neurodivergent to me, and I did like the ending when it came to her curse - how she didn't really need to change at all.
Elias was a perfectly fine love interest, I was endeared to him by the end.
I really fell in love with Albert as a side character and I'm not sure if we'll see more of him. Though my copy had a little prequel short-story about him and Elias in the war time.

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cepbreed's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

This was literally so adorable. I think this is the sort of novel that lends itself well to being read in a confined space, like a plane. The pace felt rushed at times (especially the end) but that speed does wonders for my waning attention span. I had this downloaded on my Kindle but had completely forgotten anything about it so I truly began reading this blind. It took no time for me to be charmed by the world Atwater created. Despite doing minimal world building (actual English history doing the brunt of the heavy lifting) there is something so distinct about the atmosphere of this book. And I absolutely adored the feeling her writing brought me. Dora may not have any emotionality left but while reading this I felt it all: happiness, sadness, confusion, rage, and most importantly the giddiness that follows reading about a budding couple. I quite liked Albert in the beginning so I was sort of miffed that

Elias was obviously set up to become the love interest.

At some point the brooding-bad-first-impression—male-lead must be put to rest but I’m so glad it wasn’t before this book was written. By the end

I had also fallen fully for the Lord Sorcier.

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mynameisrebecca's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

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aseel_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was so stinking cute and of good quality??? I thought it would be way more poorly written but it was actually well done and super engaging. My only tiff is that Dora was quite autistic coded but she lost half her soul to the Fae... Which is a bit icky when you think about some autitic stereotypes...

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mamaewalk's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

To me this book was the perfect combination of a sweet and endearing story and exciting magical adventure

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violinknitter's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.75

Oh, so this is why people love this book!

I know I borrowed this from the library some time ago and returned it without finishing it. I thought that I started it & abandoned it, but I actually must’ve gotten distracted and not read even two whole pages. This time I fell right into the story and finished in a day.

I absolutely loved Dora. She has so much heart and care.

I see why people call this Bridgerton meets Howl’s Moving Castle. I don’t completely agree, since the story has none of the madcap shenanigans of a Diana Wynne Jones plot, but the spunk of both of the main love interests definitely is reminiscent of Howl & Sophie.

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maryhungerford's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.5

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