Oh how fun, mysterious, tender! I love the author’s imagination and writing. I loved theorising and analysing — finding all the parallels, layers and clues. As another review says, there were plenty “blink and you’ll miss it” moments; I was surprised several times.

It’s so much more than a cosy “love yourself” book, and even that aspect is uniquely done. The story is thoughtfully crafted and clearly very personal. CAJ has created a cast of characters that are layered, occasionally unlikable and wholly loveable. I saw myself, or others I know, in several. This was a bittersweet, but ultimately beautiful, experience. CAJ is undeniably talented.

I do think Theodora’s Tea Shop is slightly mis-marketed. Yes, it’s technically cosy but the stakes are way higher and the story is darker than I anticipated. It was sadder and there were violent deaths — be warned!

I truly loved this story, though unfortunately less so towards the end. Sooooo much happens — I loved that, at first, but I was eventually overwhelmed. Additionally, something happens towards the end that made me very upset; it felt unnecessary, for pure shock-value/tears, and thus very cheap. This definitely coloured the rest of my experience and my ratings. (If this hadn’t happened, this would have been 4.5 stars, 5 stars for enjoyment and would have gone on My Taste.)

Despite that, this story has stayed with me. I have ME/CFS and I’m autistic, too — like Dot. I really enjoyed this rep, seeing my experiences on-page and knowing that it’s possible for me to have adventures again one day too. 🧿 That there’s a future and possibility and hope. 🧿 Dot is accepting of her capacity, even at the start (though moreso at the end), and I really needed to see this. I’ve been asking myself “What would Dot do?”, and the answer is always “rest”. I’m learning to extend myself the same compassion and patience Dot does to herself come the end of the book. So, I am very grateful I read this. And even though I truly (personally) hated that thing at the end, Theodora’s Tea Shop has a special place in my heart. And overall a very lovely, magical, warm read. Thank you, CAJ.

I did not expect to fall in love with this so deeply. Not when I sampled it a few years ago. Nor when my best friend (soulmate) recommended it. And not even when I read and adored the sequel, Ten Thousand Stitches.

It took me about 40% to get into Half a Soul. I kept comparing it to book 2. This was less whimsical in vibe and it took a while for the political commentary to set in. But once it did, I fell in love with the story and the romance. Both have a deep sense of justice, which I appreciate seeing, especially in historical fiction. This book brought up so much I believe in and think myself, but also made me want to do better. Beneath its magic, Half a Soul is a call to arms. We must never look away from injustice. We must never stop trying to make the world a better place; even when we cannot defeat the biggest evils, we can still “[wipe] away some of the small evils in front of [us]”. I highly recommend reading the afterword — it has and will continue to stay with me.

One more thing on the romance: it is achingly beautiful. The leads really see each other and build nothing less than a true partnership. I felt warm and I felt seen, as well.

So, despite my reluctance, yes, I fell in love. Deeply and wholeheartedly. I have great respect for who Olivia Atwater seems to be and I look forward to reading the rest of her works.

The Hyacinth Labyrinth felt like a Barbie movie, which is obviously a massive compliment. It sings with imagination, whimsy, and pastel (lavender? 😉) tones — but also a very real danger.

I was pleasantly surprised by the differences in Jamie Pacton’s world of faerie and adored the subverted tropes! As other’s said, while some things were predictable, others were not. This combination of familiarity and surprise meant for a very fun and cosy ride!

Chloe and Hyacinth were very clearly teenagers, but Jamie Pacton wrote them with a grace, understanding and respect I don’t often see in YA fantasy. Their decisions, though impulsive and reckless, made sense for their characters, and so they very rarely annoyed me. I liked their character arcs, too — especially Hyacinth’s. She really came into her own, and it was lovely to see her bravery, resourcefulness and confidence grow.

The romance was believable and well-paced. I saw when, and understood why, characters fell in love. I also felt the romance was well-balanced with the main plot; it was always there in the girls’ bond, their anxieties and their yearning, but nothing felt overdone or over-focussed upon or drawn out.

The Hyacinth Labyrinth is part of an interconnected series. As I’ve not read the other books (they can all be read as standalones), I was glad that references ended up relevant to the story. I was also thankful for the authors note at the start explaining the interconnectedness, otherwise I would have been very baffled by the very unique backstories.

A few world-building details were a little fuzzy, and could have done with more development, but this was so minor that it didn’t bother me. My only criticism really is that the labyrinth (and the ending overall) felt easier than expected, and I would have loved more from it. Also more of the mysterious book — I think it only really came into use once, which was a shame. Aaaand I would have loved to see happy endings on page for particular characters that weren’t mentioned in the epilogue!

Overall a very charming, cosy, fun, heartfelt fantasy adventure. Would recommend and would buy a physical copy! Very happy I read it and grateful to Edelweiss, the publisher, and Jamie Pacton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.