Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

20 reviews

kartoffel_00's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

24th October 2023:

I would have liked to give this a 4 but the plot of this book towards the end was very, very lazy. 

The strong points were how it didn't shy away from the real and cruel history even at the end. The epilogue for one, was what saved the book for me but not enough to excuse how the middle and last part were written. 

Final Rating - 3.75/5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Torture, Murder, War, Slavery, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Emotional abuse

All the warnings happen to an moderate extent. They're not graphic enough to be triggering but still present in the book based on the history and setting.

matcha_pages's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle <3   

I loved every moment of this book. I'm a huge fan of fake-dating trope and this did not disappoint. The whimsical magic really enhanced the romantic moments It was wholesome, cute, and made me feel all warm inside. The main characters were witty and didn't hesitate to call things as they see it. I adored seeing their feelings for each other grow as the book progressed.

The Faerie world is introduced at the end of the book and it left a lot of questions. Origin stories are hinted at but never explained in depth. I'm hoping the sequel will answer these questions, so I'm not too concerned right now. 

Also bonus points for including non-gorgeous Fae

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Child abuse

katievallin's review against another edition

adventurous 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Ableism, Classism, Murder, Trafficking, and Grief

Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Sexism, War, and Body shaming

Minor: Blood and Death of parent

kathrynok's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Ableism

Minor: Death of parent

mmefish's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-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

2.5

I've been enjoying "Half A Soul" up until the very end—even with all its  plotholes, somehow repetitive writing, at times wonky dialogues and a caricatorius villian—but the last sentence spoiled the effect. If I'm not mistaken, This MC's "condition" is an allegory to autism, and if so, then the whole message about being accepted as you are, deserving love even if you're different etc. gets destroyed by the end of the novel.

In the epilogue, after the story already came to it's natural—and satisfying—conclusion, the MC, apparently, somehow gets her soul restored. It's a terrible decision that erases all the character growth and quite literally the whole point of the story.

 
It could be a nice, heart-warming fantasy romance but ended up being an OK-written underbaked Disney-like adventure with a shaky background instead.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Child death and Murder

callmemartiall's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Child death

Moderate: Ableism, Classism, and War

Minor: Death of parent and Murder

amanda_mh's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is like if Bridgerton or Pride & Prejudice met a Fae World and I am so here for it! It was the coziest, sweetest, historical romance in a fantastical world. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series 💚💚 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, and Murder

januaryt123's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Bullying

Minor: Kidnapping and Child abuse

evarinya's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Slavery, Emotional abuse, War, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Kidnapping, Blood, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Medical content, and Terminal illness

angelsfw's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Medical content, Death, Blood, and Kidnapping

Moderate: War

Minor: Pregnancy