I recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction and fantasy. The Capital of Dreams follows 14-year-old Sofia as she learns to fend for herself during wartime. The story conveys the confusing feelings that come with growing up in an uncertain world. It’s sad, but heartwarming, whimsical, but sensible. Amid tragedy, Sofia clings to her sense of wonder and finds comfort in the stories from her childhood. With its multiple metaphors and motifs, this introspective story kept reminding me of fairytales. The Capital of Dreams exceeded my expectations and further confirmed that O’Neill is a master in writing beautiful and emotional coming-of-age stories.

I will read anything Heather O’Neill writes, she has such a knack for female voices especially those coming of age, makes me wonder the curiosities of her own childhood.

The Capital of Dreams felt like a very relevant and timely read, there were themes and parallels to what’s going on in Gaza right now, lots about humanity, women and children, the importance of art and stories, of relationships and what it means to grow up amongst chaos.

A marvel of a story.

This was incredibly different from anything I’ve read lately. The unnamed “Enemy” and “Capital” made the story feel like it could be anywhere, in any timeline- which I guess was the point. Light on the fairytale aspect, the darkness was certainly there. This was heavy but told in a lighthearted way that was almost horrifying ? I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for the arc!

Do you ever reach an ending of a book and think "wow this is gonna mess me up for awhile."

The Capital of Dreams is a fantastical fairy tale that follows Sofia as she tries to make her way to the black market after being sent away to the country by her mother. She has to navigate the world with her talking goose companion while keeping them both alive during a war in which their forgotten country is occupied.

It expertly shows the nuance of mother/daughter relationships, coping mechanisms, and the realities of war. Heather O'Neill lets us live in Sofia's fantasy world without shying away from the more gruesome details. It's another literary tale from O'Neill of unfortunates and survival. Definitely recommend.