Half a Soul

4.25⭐️

I was only last month that I discovered the genre Cozy fantasy. And I think this is another smashing addition to the list of books I have read that fall under this category. I love romance and historical romance has always been more of a favourite than contemporary (probably because I like that it is even more of an escapism when based in a different timeline to my own) and this particular book was a warm addition. Like the MC says, this book was like a lantern warmth.

For a book that is supposedly a cozy fantasy it sure hit a few heavy emotions and topics. This book is an example of what good writing can do - make you feel. Not just the emotions that the characters are feeling but also leave you with lingering emotions. I think emotions play a big role in this book as part of Dora's soul that was taken from her was the part of her that felt all of the emotions keenly and the author was able to make us feel them through Dora's inability to do so.

There are so many messages that can be attributed to this tale. One of romance plain and simple between Elias and Dora. Another of the unfairness that plagues life and the class divide. One can say that the Faerie represent the rich of this world and the way they make arbitrary rules that don't always follow logic and are there only for the sake of the rich to feel like they are moral and right for following them.

One of the big things addressed here is the rage both Elias and Dora feel towards the world at large for its treatment of the poor and weak, in the form of workhouses and the worlds willful ignorance of the effects of war. Though it is easy to write a happily ever after or come up with a solution on paper for all that ails the world, I loved that the author came up with a more reasonable solution - to tackle the small evils of the world around you. Though it might not save all of the people it does impact a few who might in turn impact others positively.

I absolutely adored this book. I feared I was going into a book slump so early in the year after picking up and discarding a few books post my last full read. Which is why I went back to a fave book to reread. But something pushed me to pick this book up and I just couldn't put it down. I am quite looking forward to reading the other books in this series, though I am given to understand they are not necessarily connected.