Book Review: The Capital of Dreams by Heather O’Neill (20 Books of Summer)

I received an Advance Readers’ Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Publication Date: 9 October 2024

I’ve read all of Heather O’Neill’s fiction (see some reviews here) over the years, starting with the debut novel that launched her into CanLit fame – Lullabies for Little Criminals. Her latest book fits in well with a lot of the themes and styles that O’Neill has previously explored while offering some new direction. (Readers of O’Neill’s other books will notice that this is her first story not set in Montreal.)

I’ve loved Lullabies but overall I most enjoy O’Neill’s historical fiction. I thought The Lonely Hearts Hotel was one of her best and showcased her talents well. O’Neill can be a bit of a divisive writer in that she isn’t exactly a magic realist but there is definitely magic in her books, usually presented without explanation and requiring the readers’ acceptance in order to fully engage with the story. The Capital of Dreams is no exception as one of the main characters is a speaking, philosophical goose. Personally, I love this and I am all in.

The Capital of Dreams draws on a lot of things that I love about O’Neill’s books – a sense of history but also a strong drawing on current political issues. Feminism and strong female characters, particularly young girls coming into who they are as individuals, magic and fairy tales.

Our main character is Sofia, a girl on the cusp of adolescence. She lives in the Capital of a country called Elysia. Elysia became an independent nation after the Great War, known for its provocative arts and its pagan, nature-based religion. Sofia’s mother is Clara Bottom, a pre-eminent thinker and writer who is admired by many but not a particularly caring mother. When an Enemy nation begins to invade Elysia, the small nation can mount little defense. Their arts and culture are particularly targeted and so when children are evacuated by train from the Capital, Clara sends Sofia away, along with the manuscript of her latest book. Sofia is tasked with the job of getting the manuscript out of the country so that the rest of the world will know that Elysia is worth saving. But the train is a trap and when Sofia flees into the woods, she loses the manuscript while saving her own life. From there, in the company of a talking Goose, she determines to find the Black Market, where her mother’s manuscript must surely have ended up, and fulfill her mother’s wishes. To do so, Sofia must navigate human nature, a country at war, the struggle of social classes, and her own burgeoning womanhood.

This is a story of human nature. War and magic are the backdrop but the heart of this story is a young girl learning who she is and what she values. And pulling back from there, it’s a story about what makes a culture or a people who they are and what is worth saving. There are some obvious parallels with current political events – Ukraine and Russia particularly – and the book overall has the fairytale feel of magic and danger that I associate with Eastern European folktales.

It’s lovely to see a current writer continue to expand and develop her voice while trying new settings and characters. While I can see why this book might not be for every reader, I think fans of O’Neill’s previous work will not be disappointed.