Sometimes life gets you down. I’ve been having a rough few weeks myself, so I’m taking a bit of a break from the high-stakes, brutal stories that I typically lose myself in. After finishing The Shining and The Yellow Wallpaper, I’m about ready for a change.
Usually my go-to for comfortable, cozy media would be something from Studio Ghibli—like Castle in the Sky or Howl’s Moving Castle (I like castles)—or something like How to Train Your Dragon. (Basically, I am a child.)
But this time, I’ve found something new!
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater was recommended to a friend of mine via BookTok. Usually I’m a little wary of BookTok recommendations, but we thought we’d give it a try. After all, the book is recommended for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle. What’s not to like?
We went to Barnes and Noble together to find it and then read the few chapters out loud to each other as we reacted in real time. (Having to read the “pure-bred” section aloud prompted a set of “ews” all around, followed by giggle fits.) We kept reading even when we lost the evening light, and neither of us wanted to stop.
The premise is fairly simple. As a child, Dora has an encounter with the fae where she escapes with her life, but not her entire soul. Years later, she meets a sorcerer with an interest in the fae, prompting a romance reader to wonder: Is it possible to fall in love with only half a soul?
There’s something to be said about reading something nice and comfy with a friend. It felt like sitting next to the fireplace with a warm blanket. Not to mention, we both became intensely invested in the romance and overarching plot. I’m not usually the most at ease in social situations, even with good friends, but this story helped me to loosen up a bit. I can’t even begin to describe how refreshing that was.
My brother recently recommended an anime to me. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is fascinating in that it starts at the end of an epic tale of good versus evil. Frieren, an elven mage, and the rest of her party have just defeated the Demon King and can now live the rest of their lives as retired heroes. But for Freiren, that’s a long time, and as the years fly by, she sets out on a new adventure.
The introspective, episodic pacing of the show is such a refreshing change from what I usually watch (there’s only so many times you can get jump-scared by a titan or hit with the ole “Plus Ultra!”). What’s more, my brother and I sit down once a week to watch a couple of episodes and then dip. We take the journey slowly just like Frieren does.
I wouldn’t call stories like these escapism—not really. But they’re a nice little nook where nothing is too pressing and it’s okay to take life slow. That warm and comforting feeling I get when I experience these stories inspires me to write a few of my own.
There’s not really a lesson to be learned here. If anything, count this week’s post as a recommendation: go read Half a Soul and watch Frieren! Take it slow and sit by the fireplace for a while.
Rachel Sandell 