Tiny Evils: Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

What does it mean to have Half a Soul. Or should I say what does it mean to have a soul at all. In Olivia Atwater's Half a Soul has quickly become one of my favorite books and has made me fall in love with reading once again. In this book, we follow Dora who has lived half her life living with part of her soul missing. Growing up unable to feel strong emotions and follow social norms lead her to be witty, blunt with a hint low self esteem. 

The lord sorcier is the lovable and worst as first impressions Elias. He has a full soul but is also unable to follow social etiquette. He is frustrated by the many injustices that exist especially in the workhouses. He works himself almost to death and pushes everyone away believing that he was the only one who truly cared. Among upper class society people either choose to look away or end up balancing keeping up appearances with helpig others.

"Pleasant-mannered men will not tell you of that side of the war because it is distressing. Pleasant mannered women, like the countess, will not hear of it in their presence. As a result, the ugly parts are largely not thought about by those who did not cross the channel." A bitter weariness flickered across his face. "I can't help but feel that if we had fewer pleasant-mannered people, then perhaps there would also be fewer hideous wars."-Olivia Atwater

Elias and Dora bond becasue they are able to understand eachother at a deeper level. They both feel so deeply about the injustices in the world and they are not afraid to step out of line to help others. Evil can never be fully vanquished and love and companionship teaches us that life is more than handling the worlds problems on your own. Wherever you are you can make your corner of the world a better place like a lantern.

This book emphasizes that not all people will ignore injustices, they just need to see it. Many people can use their strengths to find a solution like starting an orphanage or working as a doctor to heal those in workhorse. Some donate money and others travel into the land of mischievous fearies. Everyone has a part to play.

Fearies may be violent with a lack of understanding of human life and virtue(immortality things?). But virtue is not wealth or the number of jackets you wear, it is your beliefs and values and how you put it action. Evil lies in humans just as much as fearies and demons if not more.

My only critique of this book is that I wish is if it was longer, especially at the end. No worries because their are many other books by Olivia Atwater to consume.

"There is such a thing as evil in this world," Elias told her quiet. "It does not help to look away from it. It does not even help necessarily to look at it."... "But sometimes when you cannot force the world to come to its senses, you must settle only for wiping away some of the small evils in front of you." -Olivia Atwater