Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 7, 2025
Heather O’Neill’s new novel, “The Capital of Dreams”, is a dark and dystopian coming-of-age story about sacrifice, creativity and hope.
Elysia is a small European country, known for their artistic creations and fantastic stories of trees that come to life and faeries that live among the roots and branches. Among all of the opera singers, musicians, artists and writers, no one is more well known that author Clara Bottom. Clara’s daughter, fourteen-year-old Sofia, has never been able to win the attention of her mother, and has spent years living in her mother’s shadow. When the war begins, Clara counts on Sofia to smuggle her life’s work, a manuscript, out of the country but, Sofia loses the manuscript after running for her life. Desperate to reclaim what she’s lost and finally earn her mother’s appreciation and respect, Sofia knows she must travel, alone, through ravaged and war-torn countries, in order to find what she’s been missing.
O’Neill is the Canadian author of “Lullabies for Little Criminals” and “The Lonely Hearts Hotel” (among others). Her unique writing style has always captivated me and her character-driven, well-developed plots stand out among the crowd. “Capital” is a coming-of-age dystopian tale that is both dark and emotional while still being both magical and fantastical.
“Capital” is dual-timeline, narrated by Sofia, in the times before the war and after. The times before focus solely on Sofia’s relationship with her formidable mother Clara, so readers can understand the choices Sofia makes on her post-war journey. There are some clues that are dropped in the current timeline (such as the piece of paper Sofia has in her pocket) which are talked about but not totally revealed until the final pages, so there is always a hint of underlying mystery hanging about as well.
“Capital” has many underlying relevant themes, including feminism, the importance of art and the many facets of a mother-daughter relationship, especially during the formative years. This is a novel that had hints of C.S Lewis (think, talking Animals) set in similar fashion to the numerous World War two novels told from the child’s perspective, with a dystopian aspect thrown in (think “Divergent”), all with O’Neill’s incomparable writing style and talent.
O’Neill’s “Capital of Dreams” is not a light read, but it will captivate and enthrall, and it checks all the boxes if you’re looking for a beautiful and creative story with an unassuming young protagonist.

This was such a great dystopian fairytale story that I wanted and enjoyed about the genre. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of them in this world. It had that plot element that I was looking for and was glad I got to go on this journey with the characters. Heather O'Neill has a strong writing style and can’t wait for more.

The Capital of Dreams by Heather O’Neill is a stunning, 5/5 read that showcases her exceptional talent for blending magic, history, and deeply emotional storytelling. I’ve always loved O’Neill’s work, and this novel did not disappoint. Set in the imaginary country of Elysia, the story centers on 14-year-old Sofia Bottom as she embarks on an unforgettable journey to recover her mother’s lost manuscript amidst an invasion. O’Neill’s world-building is brilliant, filled with captivating folklore, fairy tale elements, and a dystopian backdrop that feels both imaginative and real. Sofia is an inspiring and relatable character, and her quest resonates on so many levels. The novel’s themes of power, survival, and gender are woven seamlessly into a story that’s equal parts heart-wrenching and hopeful. I couldn’t put it down, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys beautifully written, thought-provoking fiction.

*The Capital of Dreams* is a mesmerizing and richly layered novel that explores ambition, power, and the pursuit of success. With vivid storytelling and complex characters, the narrative pulls readers into a world of intrigue and emotional depth. It’s a compelling and thought-provoking tale that lingers long after the final page.

The Capital of Dreams, by Heather O'Neill is a very enjoyable read with an ending I didn't expect. I am looking forward to reading more of her books!

Heather O’Neill is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read enough of her by now to trust that I will like anything new that she comes out with, and this new book is no exception. In The Capital of Dreams, O’Neill has built a very distinct world that feels real and emotionally connects with readers. The book relates the story of 14-year-old Sofia Bottom, daughter of philosopher and activist Clara Bottom, living in the Capital of the fictitious country of Elysia, which is being invaded and taken over by “the Enemy”. When the opportunity arises to send her daughter to live with grandparents in the country, and thereby escape the violence of the Capital, Clara entrusts Sofia with her latest manuscript, a memoir that Clara hopes will build empathy for Elysia and attract international aid. When Sofia’s exodus goes awry and she is separated from her luggage, she devotes her life to finding the lost manuscript.

Sofia’s world is one filled with imaginative people, animals (there’s a talking goose!) and settings. It is a rather dark story, one that contains both hope and despair, life and death. Heather O’Neill is a pro at inventing original characters and, in Sofia, she has created a plucky protagonist that readers can really get behind and root for. I liked everything about this book and will continue to look for what O’Neill writes next. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing this e-ARC for my honest review.

Heather O’Neill never disappoints! The ending of this book knocked me off my seat, incredible feat from an incredible author.

"The Capital of Dreams" is a new novel by Heather O’Neill. Similar to her previous works, it delves into themes of reversal of roles or fortune, gender, power, sex, desire, class, and status within a fictional world that reflects history. This coming-of-age novel resembles a dystopian tale, mixing elements of fairy tales, folklore, and mythology with perhaps the culture of 20th-century Weimar.

While there were aspects of the book that I enjoyed, I felt that the individual parts were stronger than the overall story. It didn’t quite meet my expectations, particularly following O’Neill’s previous novel. I found the pacing challenging and believe it would have been more effective as a short story. It was overly verbose with minimal action. This novel felt less like a hero's journey and more like a slow, meandering quest for survival and understanding one's place as a woman in a harsh world.

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for providing the ARC.

As a huge fan of O’Neill’s previous works, I am actually devastated to DNF this at about 50%. I was just so bored. I didn’t find anything exceptionally interesting about this, and while it had good ideas, I felt it failed to meet its promise at execution. I normally love O’Neill’s balance of whimsy and bite, but it seemed it was missing here. Even the characters felt a little flat. Maybe if I read to completion I would have felt differently, but I couldn’t bring myself to go on.

ARC provided by NetGalley