Cover Image: The Book of Souls

The Book of Souls

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Quick, fast paced read! 4.5 star this was different from my typical read so glad I decided to give this a chance! Joining netgalley has allowed me to expand my horizons with new authors for the better! Thank you

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I am super cautious of anything that promises a sequel these days, however I found this to be a very intriguing supernatural thriller. But then when a book starts out with an accident that causes the main character to wake up as a teenager, wondering what happened to his wife and kids, it definitely intrigues me. I have to provide trigger warnings for suicidal behavior and violent religious fanatics. With that being said, this is a unique twist on a ghost story that I really enjoyed. In spite of myself, I will also want to read the sequel.

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This book captures you right from the beginning with its eerie prologue and vivid, scary scenes that make you physically cringe.

Jack Kelly can't help but to remember his beautiful wife and family of three children even after he awakens as a 13 year old boy who has just experienced a life-altering accident. Not only does he become a 13 year old after the incident, but he also holds the ability to read minds, smell fear, and see dead people, ghosts, demons, and shadow creatures. His journey within the book is to help one soul cross over and find answers about his family he remembers so vividly.

This horrifying story leaves you with the perfect amount of unanswered questions to make you feel as though you understand what is going on all while making you want more. With life lessons about fear and time, this story will be on your mind 24/7.

I loved the simplistic writing where it was a direct line into the minds of the characters and their thought processes. The way the story was laid out is the perfect way to reveal the secrets about the characters so by the end you feel it all come together so well. I can't wait to read the sequel to this book to get even more answers about Jack, his family, and all the questions you're left with.

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May I state, that I wanted more and not end? At first, I will admit, I was confused at the beginning because it was a mixed up. Which later, I came to understand it was like a dream when a dream gets distorted. As I continued to read, it got better and better. I really loved the characters, especially the main one and of course, Kasper. They were very interesting. I really couldn't stop myself, but continued reading. The story is SCARY and even had my jaw dropped on certain parts. It's very eerie. I've enjoyed that a lot. When I came to the end, I did not want it to be done, I wanted more. I was even upset and ranted to my mother about it. LoL. It's a fantastic book and certainly a must-have. I hope part 2 will be in the making so I could find out, what happens next! :)

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I'm afraid THE BOOK OF SOULS was a very clunky 'did not finish' for me. There was something about the voice of the man (who ends up in the body of a thirteen year old after being in a coma) which was truly irritating and condescending. The language was clunky, basic and with a particularly stupid plot which I found hard to swallow. I love supernatural fiction, but the success lies in how the story is framed, and this was seriously lacking. This was one of the weakest horror novels I have been given to review for a good while and I am surprised something this weak was ever published.

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Jack Kelly wakes up from a coma believing he is a married man with a wife and kids. However, when Jack wakes up he is a thirteen year old child with vivid memories through adulthood and the accident that he believed that his brother suffered is now his own. Along with the brain injury, Jack can now read people's minds, feel their emotions and see the ghosts and demons that linger in the city and pull people into the next world. With an introduction to others like him, Jack begins to refine his gift and hones into one particular ghost in the apartment building across from his school. The ghost and Jack have a connection, but the ghost does not want to leave. A supernatural fight ensues as Jack tries to convince the ghost to move on.


From the beginning, Jack's story pulled me into this intriguing supernatural thriller. From the start, the demons and ghosts in the shadows were gripping, creating an intense and foreboding atmosphere. I was very interested in Jack's family as an adult and how that experience shaped how he came back as a child. Jack's reintroduction to life and his childhood after his coma were fascinating. Jack's character held the duality of being in a child's body with the memories and emotional control of an adult. The writing switched between the points of view of Jack and the ghost, Kasper Greenstreet. I was equally attracted to Kasper's storyline as Jack's. Being able to read about Kasper's life and death created him as a full person. I loved reading about his artistic process and the passion he put into his work. As Jack's interactions with Kasper increase, so does the suspense, culminating in an exciting ending. With many questions still unanswered, I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

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An intriguing tale that grabs the reader and sends them tumbling down a tunnel with the main character. Jack is fighting for the well-being of his sick son. Next thing he knows, he has awakened from a brain injury and everything he thought he knew about his reality is shattered. Gazing in the mirror, he is no longer a middle aged father, but a boy of 13 years old. And no matter who he tells his tale to, he must now pretend that his previous life was just a fantasy.

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