Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

22 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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Slavery, War, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

cepbreed's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Classism

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

yzvt's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Classism

aseel_reads's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

pho_ar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I adored this book. It was comforting, whimsical, magical and I am so sad it is over and so happy it happened. 

I related to Dora so much as someone who also does not react to things as she ought to and I love that Dora always had compassion and was kind and stood up for herself and others. I appreciated her so much.

Lord Sorcier, Elias. A good man who went to war. He was angry at the world and had a heart of gold. I loved that he loved Dora exactly how she was and saw her for who she was. When he said he already asked for her hand in marriage, I cried. It was so beautiful.

Theodora, I appreciated her too and her sacrifice and vigilante justice. 

I also appreciated that they couldn't solve all the evil but tried to make the world a better place regardless. It was a beautiful regency fantasy romance adventure.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, and Trafficking

chichisode's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

if Pride and Prejudice had a baby with Howl's Moving Castle. finished this in half a day, best decision of my life. cured my reading slump.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, and War

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kbairbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional relaxing sad 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

4.25

This was cute! I read this for my Bookclubs April pic and I really enjoyed it! I will say that I struggled with the split soul concept because if you replace that with autism you can see how poorly people with differences are treated. But I liked this book and how advocate-y it was for the oppressed and underprivileged.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

risten's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Trafficking, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, and War

kate_arts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.0

This book is cheesy but in all the best ways. I enjoyed the dialogue and how the characters interacted with each other. This book is definitely a mix between pride and prejudice and howl’s moving castle. Dora is strong minded in the same way as Lizzie and has similar thought processes as Sophie.

I really liked how even though her cousin attempts to get her help she still solves her problem herself. I also enjoyed that even though she is perceived as “broken” she ends the book not necessarily “fixed”.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Trafficking, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Violence, and War

ramakn22's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, and Trafficking