Although I was drawn in by the cover of this book, the content didn't work for me. Although some of the dialogue is witty, the characters felt flat to me. The action scenes were well depicted, but much of the world building was missing - seemingly even to the characters themselves. As always, your mileage may vary.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I don’t think I could read it again.

It’s very slow to begin with and I felt like I wasn’t invested until about 40% in. I could have easily DNF’d before this.

It’s quite confusing with the changing POV’s and the characters were good, but not overly interesting.

Main positive is that the main character actually tries to help herself and has agency - she isn’t just a basic damsel in distress.

DNF.. The story itself is well written. The characters, mostly so. It made me too uncomfortable at the repeated and unnecessary mentions of "God". Also did not like the encouragement that Saphyr's only value was with what man she belonged to.
The Blood thicker than Water quote should have been completed correctly or left out as that mindset encourages accepting familial abuse.

Unfortunately I only made it 1/4 of the way through this book before giving up. It is definitely fast-paced, but the characters had no depth and I didn't feel attached to them at all. I wish they would've been fleshed out more, and the story was just falling flat because I couldn't bring myself to care about what was happening to them. On the positive side, the plot immediately picks up and was very fast paced.

Gripping and interesting read, hooked me from first 4 pages which I love, loved how the characters evolved and how the story came together from start to finish, you want be disappointed in this book. I read this in 1 sitting couldn't get enough

This book was captivating and faced paced. There was never a moment while reading when I wasn't on the edge of my seat wanting to know more or wanting to see want would happen next. I really enjoyed the use of a fallen Empire, a forbidden royal romance, and an ancient treaty with the Fae were used within this story. All are elements I really love and this was done well in my opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The world within this story is one that is marked with greed and swimming with rebellion, and death lurks in the shadows just waiting to consume anyone that puts up a fight. This world is intriguing and enthralling, and I was able to picture it well while I read it.

When a friendship between Corvus, an heir to the most powerful house, and Crown Princess Saphyr becomes frowned upon and by the Emperor due to the threat Corvus poses the Emperor forbids their friendship from transpiring any longer. He doesn't take kindly to the forbidding and formulates an Alliance to over throw the Emperor. But a betrayal buckles his plans and sends him into exile.

When the lethal Queen of the Sirens emerges from the secret realm of Sirenibus, Corvus is tempted by an irresistible deal at a dangerous price. And through out the story he is caught up in a conspiracy and a war between light and darkness that could be terrible destruction. It's up to him and Saphyr to fight to save everyone from a terrible fate and hopefully restore the Empire to its former glory. But along the way he may have to sacrifice more than he is willing to give.

This was a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Four Stars

I really enjoyed this book, the plot was very interesting to me and kept me interested throughout the book.


The story follows Corvus an heir to one of the Noble Houses. A coup he is planning with the general goes wrong and he has to leave the kingdom with his friend and the Princess Saphry.


Corvus was an interesting character, but overall I felt like he could’ve used a little more depth to him.
Kanis however was my favorite character!

Spoilers below:

2/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise and general plot of this book. Corvus, the heir to a House that threatens the rule of the current Empire, fights to overturn the existing rule with the help of both his best friend and the Emperor's daughter. He learns of the existence of mythical creatures, hidden powers, and undergoes various trials.

Unfortunately, however, I was not a fan of the way the premise was carried out. Though the world-building had a lot of promise, there wasn't much substance to it. I would have loved to read more about the history of the Empire and the backgrounds of the Houses, as well as the definitive line between human and myth. <spoiler> Though the book, at the beginning, seemed to give off a fantasy vibe, it's revealed that the characters don't know or believe in sirens until they meet them. And, later in the book, when Corvus sprouts wings seemingly out of nowhere, he isn't surprised, and actually learns how to use them unrealistically fast. </spoiler>

Along similar lines, there was little character complexity. There was almost no substance to Saphyr, and though Corvus was the main character, we rarely saw anything beyond surface-level thoughts. I wouldn't be able to describe either of their personalities. Morgana was the most interesting character for me, but even with her we don't get to see much.

The pacing of the book was also odd - at some points it was moving really fast, even jumping between scenes, and other times the author glossed over events or scenes that could have been described more fully. I didn't think the writing style captured much, and often the author spelled out scenes really clearly for the reader that could have been more vague for a sense of mystery. Take this line, for instance:

<spoiler> "I hoped Kanis was wrong. Galbreg could be cruel and headstrong, but he cared for the people. If anyone could end the corrupt rule of the Empire and feed its people, it was Galbreg. I felt certain he would never betray me. Still, I could not avoid the feeling we were making a terrible mistake." I feel as though any frequent reader of fantasy could probably infer that Galbreg would, in fact, betray Corvus and the Empire. If there was some mystery left in this, Galbreg's betrayal would have been much more of a surprise. </spoiler>

Overall, I think that this book had a lot of potential to be really interesting and fun, but there were a few key aspects where it fell short. I'll leave you with this line where Saphyr was clinging onto Corvus' back (which had to be inspired by Twilight, right?):

"'Hold tight, little monkey,' I suggested softly, 'Close your eyes'".

Thank you so much Netgalley for sending me an ARC of Immortal Souls in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb of this book interested me and I was eager to sink my teeth into it. Unfortunately, I immediately knew that this book just wasn't for me.

I found it difficult to connect with the characters and the plot, which should have been intriguing, was a bit lacklustre.

I was excited to read this book from Corvus' POV, but he was just an underwhelming character and his love interest, Saphyr was just as bland.

I found myself skimming because I just had no real connection to the characters or the plot.

I wish the book had been a bit more fleshed out, especially our characters because I really just did not have any connection with them. It is a relevantly short novel, so there easily could have been some extra scenes and chapters added.

This series does hold promise, so I was really disappointed I didn't love it.

It took me several sessions to get through this book. The main character wasn't the problem, but rather, the weak female lead. I really thought we would see more character development between the both of them, especially when Morgana is introduced. She was a better-written character, far more complex than what Corvus expected from Saphyr. I thought we would get a sequel (um, yes please!), but then I read the epilogue. It was almost like the author WANTED to do a sequel but then changed their mind.

The first thing that drew me in to this book on NetGalley was the gorgeous cover. The male character, Corvus, on the cover art reminded me of the description of the Elf King in Elise Kova's A Deal With the Elf King. The official blurb is also compelling, suggesting forbidden love, political intrigue, and death. The writing is decent and overall the plot has the good bones of a decent, but somewhat conventional, story. Unfortunately, this is where my positive comments stop, so I'll keep this review relatively brief.

One of the major aspects of this story is that Corvus is essentially forbidden from marrying Saphyr. Her father, the Emperor, doesn't want to see Corvus on the throne, so when she comes of age, he basically throws her eligibility to the highest bidder. Saphyr is in the bulk of the story and, given her importance to Corvus, one would think she'd have more page time. Instead she's shoved to the background of the story in the way a tertiary character might be. She's this delicate flower whose hair smells like nectarines every time Corvus gets close to her. In short, she's a very flat character with almost no personality.

I'm sorry to say it, but I didn't really like/couldn't get attached to any of the characters. I think the pacing of the story, which is too fast, has a lot to do with that. At the very beginning we're thrown into Corvus's point of view right before a coup. There's constant action. Most of the writing is dialogue, including any form of self-reflection. I almost felt like I was reading a play. The non-dialogue portions were, generally, nice to read and I think this book could have benefitted more from these descriptive passages.

Lastly, the unexpected incorporation of the Christian God and loose religious discussion scattered throughout surprised me. It felt like a bait and switch since the synopsis didn't indicate this story would fall more in the realm of YA Christian fantasy. No shade to those who enjoy it, but if I had known beforehand I would have passed since it's not for me. I think this is a large reason why the romance portion is so chaste and flat. Twice the author makes sure to mention that Corvus sits on top of the blankets on Saphyr's bed rather than under them. I don't mind if there's a religious system in a fantasy book, but the God discussion occurred abruptly one third of the way through the book. Only near the end is it emphasize that the Emperor is "chosen" by God, something that could have been set up better at the beginning of the book.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that. I have other thoughts, but I don't want to belabor my opinions. I think the publisher should perhaps adjust their marketing a little bit to indicate this leans more towards YA Christian fantasy. Perhaps that might prevent a mismatch between what a reader's expectations from the synopsis and what's actually in the story.

This review will be posted to my blog, www.aliteraryescape.com, in 1-2 weeks.

I liked the writing style and overall plot premise, but unfortunately the world building and characters really let this one down for me. Essentially this book is about an heir of one of the most powerful houses in an Empire plotting a coup that goes horribly wrong so he’s exiled from the kingdom with his friend and a princess. I needed more background to be able to enjoy this, like why there was a coup to begin with, more information about the main characters as I didn’t connect with any of them on any level. The princess was a very boring character to read and honestly I’m not sure what her purpose to the plot was.

The author should have given us more information about the world our characters are in, there were so many things being thrown at us readers (like fae and other creatures) but we weren’t given any information about them so what was the point of including them? Was there a point to that? Also, where was the “forbidden romance” that this book marketed? I didn’t see anything forbidden about it…

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

Immortal Souls took me by surprise! I really enjoyed it. The cover sucked me in (hello, that is gorgeous 🤩), and the synopsis was intriguing.

Immortal Souls follows Corvus, the sole Heir to the most powerful house, as he created an Alliance to overthrow the current Emperor. However, things go sideways when he is exiled. Corvus is tempted to create an irresistible deal with the Queen of the Sirens, but how far will he go to help Saphyr, his crush since childhood? How far will he go to save the Empire, Saphyr, and his life long friend Kanis?

Plot wise: the only thing I have to say about it is that I wish we got introduced to the mythological aspects of the world before we did. It felt jarring to suddenly go from Corvus on a boat to ‘oh wow Sirens are real?’ If we were introduced to it earlier, it would’ve been better.

Characters: I really loved Corvus. It’s been a while since I read a book from a males POV, and it was refreshing. I also loved Kanis, he was funny and really fun. Saphyr on the other hand, for most of the story she was very one dimensional. But around the 70% mark, I finally liked her a bit.

Overall, Immortal Souls was a really fun and easy read! Very fast paced, intriguing, and the romance is great.

I received a free eARC for an honest review!

I *want* to be in love with this book. Desperately.

The cover is gorgeous and the plot summary sounds amazing. Based on the cover and description, I thought this was going to be a 4-5 star read.

Unfortunately, it is highly flawed and I can only give it 2 stars.

The Good

The plot is solid. I love the forbidden romance, the political intrigue etc. All of it had the makings of a great story.

The world has clearly been developed well by the author and the imagery is awesome.

The Bad

Overall, it reads like a first draft.

This book starts 5 years into the plot with no world-building to set you up. There is no time for you to get your bearings. We are dropped into Corvus’ (our hero) POV and now we have to hold on for dear life! His brain is a rollercoaster.

The Awkward

I can’t buy either MC as a leader or a love interest. They aren’t mature enough yet.

Corvus feels everything really dramatically and deeply. It feels like he can’t make up his mind and his POV is littered with over-the-top verbs, adverbs, and adjectives. He isn’t believable as a heroic love interest or rebel leader. I need him to grow up first.

Saphyr has no personality. She is a shiny golden ball that we are supposed to love because we are seeing everything through the eyes of her besotted best friend. Oh and she smells like nectarines. Yay.

Oh this is so pretty and definitely caught my eye. Sadly I just didn't particularly like the leading characters although the Siren Queen was a hoot ! She was most assuredly my favourite character with her meddling and just general manipulation. I could let Corvus grow on me I think as he does have potential but Saphyr was just way too one dimensional for my tastes as I present heroines to be able to stand up and take charge.
Essentially this isn't particularly aimed at my age group and I feel my feelings do reflect this.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

This story followed Corvus, soul heir of House Alba and Seraphine, the Emperors daughter who is to be sold to the wealthiest suitor. From the beginning it very quickly explodes into action. You are immediately taken on an adventure and have a bit of catching up to do with what is going on.

It was fast paced and had plenty twists and turns to keep you entertained. My favourite character was Morgana who was quite mysterious throughout. Her magical abilities were really interesting and I enjoyed all the chapters with her in it.

For me the romantic scenes fell a bit flat at times. I felt they needed more exploring to develop a more emotional love story. A bit more tension and passion.

I liked the ending so overall a good YA fantasy novel.

This was sent to me through netgalley for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

I received this earc from NetGalley and finished it in less than 48 hours! This was such a quick read and I throughly enjoyed it! It has everything you could want from a fantasy book: action, sirens, fairies, selkies, mystery! There is also great world building and was so fast paced! I loved the characters that Vieira created! I really hope there is another book! I loved this world! This book comes out 12/2021! Read it!!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Immortal Souls is the debut novel by Phoenix Vieira. While the written was actually good for a debut novel, the execution of the plot could have been better.

Plot

Corvus is the heir of one of the most powerful houses of the Empire. A coup he is planning with the kingdom's general goes wrong and he is forced to leave the kingdom with his friend Kanis and the princess Saphry.

The plot was actually fast-paced, but sometimes I would like to have more background of the story. I felt some of the things weren't explained or the explanation was really rushed. But the plot was still interesting.

Characters

Corvus

Corvus is the main character. We see the story in his point of view, but I couldn't connect with him. I thought he wasn't flesh out so much. Even in the end of the book, I feel like I don't know much of him.

Saphry

Saphry was the princess of the empire. For me, she didn't have any personality. She was a really dull character during the entire book.

Kanis

Kanis was Corvus' best friend. I liked to see the loyalty he had for Corvus, even when he was a jerk to him.

Morgana

Morgana was actually the best character of the story. I thought she was even more complex than the main ones.

Writing

The writing for a debut novel was good. One of the things that I didn't like was the fact that the author tells a lot instead of showing us.

World-Building

What I like in a fantasy novel is the word-building. Unfortunately, this didn't happen here. This didn't felt like a fantasy novel to me, I would like to know more about the sirens or about the fae that appeared in the book, but we just didn't get that. I wish she could have shown us more.

Romance

Because I couldn't connect with the main characters, I couldn't care about their story. This book was supposed to be a forbidden romance, but I failed to see that here. I actually couldn't understand the forbidden part of the romance.

Another thing that left frustrated was the miscommunication between the characters. The conflict that exist between the two of them, could have been avoided if they decided to talk with each other instead of taking assumptions.

Final Thoughts

The plot was interesting enough, but the execution, the characterization of the characters and the world-building was lacking.

This wasn’t my favorite read, but I do think the world building was done well. It did however take a long time to finish because I wasn’t drawn in 100%.

An intriguing new world, but unfortunately the main characters are very bland. So I found it hard to root for them. All in all it started promising, but it didn’t deliver.

Thank you @netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.