Hannah Kingsley does a fantastic job in getting the reader to question what was going on. It had a strong fantasy element that I was looking for and enjoyed the topic of this novel. I was invested in the characters and what was going on with the idea of Soul Hate. The cover is beautifully done and am excited for more from Hannah Kingsley.

This story is a whirlwind of fate, politics, and forbidden attraction. The concept of Soulmates and Soulhates adds a fresh, exciting twist to the enemies-to-lovers trope. The emotional and personal conflicts Renza navigates make her a deeply relatable and engaging character. Overall, this book is full of twists, making it an irresistible read that’s impossible to put down.

'what is this feeling, so sudden and new?'

Soul Hate follows Renza di Maineri as she navigates the hardship that comes with being an elected political leader of Halice. When a huge tragedy strikes the city, she is forced to work with Idris Patricelli, her Fated Soulhate and her greatest enemy. They most somehow find a way to save Halice without killing eachother in the process.

I really enjoyed Soul Hate! I would 100% recommend this to anyone who is a fan of a 'Dramione' dynamic as this felt just like them! This, paired with my current 'Wicked' hyperfixation (I'm sure many can relate), made for a perfectly enjoyable read.
I do wish that there was a greater focus on the romance rather than the politics as I prefer slowburns to be more interaction-heavy but that isn't to say that Idris and Renza didn't exchange a lot of dialogue together. I imagine any later installments would be more romance focused.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hannah Kingsley for the arc and I hope to see more of Idris and Renza in the future!

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this prior to release.

There is a story in here, strip away the modern dialogue, the modern references, the lack of flip flopping of historical fantasy inspiration and modern and you'd have a 'good story' that requires work to make it better.

Picture a world that apparently is ancient Rome. Gods cursed people to have 'soul hates', meaning that there is someone on earth that once they are in your proximity it triggers an anger switch that takes over and makes you want to rip / maim / kill the other. Our female lead is currently discovering hers. Hers is a boy she knew of, had not seen for years, but returned with some weight in the same circles she is in. Seeing that she wants better for her city, and is on a mission to do so, she is now facing the issue of her soul hate working in the same circles.

This is where the story starts to fall apart. The importance of the soul hate - hence the book - is pretty crucial, strong. You think the author would allow more of a focus on gods, goddesses, soul hates - breaking a soul hate? No. Besides the fact that we were told that soul hates exist and continue to exist... you never hear anything else supernatural or strange again.

BUT, you do get such a modern-esque prose and approach from the author regarding the setting and its characters that it takes you out of thinking you're in a fantasy land where people wear togas, wraps, sandals, etc. The author cannot drop the modern day references. Instead of 'courting' she uses the word 'dating'. 20th Century words are thrown around a lot... and it's like, why set it in ancient fantasy times if your writing keeps straying to call and use modern day references. It took me completely out of it book, especially since people are using swords and daggers to kill one another instead of guns.

The characters - villains included - are boring. Very flat. They had the equivalent of paper dolls - made to go to point A to B.

I could understand the story, but the world building, the atmosphere and the characters themselves lacked.

DNF at 40% ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Rating: ⭐⭐/5

First of all, I was really excited to read Soul Hate. The concept sounded amazing, a “soul-hate” instead of a soulmate and enemies to lovers? Sign me up!! That’s such a cool idea to explore and a fantasy setting is perfect for it. Unfortunately, the book didn’t live up to my expectations at all.

1. Writing
The writing was just…bland. It felt like it was trying to be easy to read, but instead, it came across as too simple, almost juvenile. Don't get me wrong, I am no literature snob, I don't have anything against simple writing but this just wasn't it. I didn’t feel any connection to the world or the characters because there wasn’t enough detail to make anything feel real or immersive. The descriptions were repetitive and dull, and the dialogue felt super modern for a setting that’s supposed to be inspired by Ancient Rome. It pulled me out of the story every time.

2. Concept
The idea of soul-hate had so much potential, but it wasn’t explored properly. The execution was shallow. The primal rage characters feel when they find their soul-hate seemed unimaginative. Like the characters just fight each other and sometimes die. That’s it. It’s so surface-level. I get the idea, but there’s nothing else going on to make it interesting. It’s just basic, and I kept waiting for it to get better, but at 40%, I didn’t see any hope of that happening. And if you can't captivate me by 40% then why should I keep reading?

3. Characters
The characters didn’t do it for me either. Right at the start, I felt like I was being info-dumped about everyone, their motives, histories, political roles, everything. It was too much, too fast, it felt like an info dump designed to avoid developing these details organically later.

The secondary characters were especially disappointing. They felt like they only existed to support the main character. They didn’t have their own lives or struggles explored enough, and I didn’t care about any of them. Honestly, I didn’t care much about the main characters either.

4. Stakes
By 40%, I didn’t feel like anything was at stake. Nothing in the story made me curious about what would happen next. The political system was basic, the worldbuilding was thin, and the plot wasn’t gripping. Even with books I don’t love, I’ll sometimes keep reading if I want to know how the author will end the book, but with this one, there was just nothing pulling me forward.



Overall, Soul Hate was a huge disappointment. I really wanted to love it, but the writing, characters, and plot all fell flat for me. That said, I do think this book might work better for a younger audience, like the younger 13-15 side of YA. They might enjoy it a lot more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I wish the author the best for their future projects, but this one just wasn’t for me.

Soul hate is a thrilling story about enemies to lovers and the battle to fight fate in order to choose one’s own love.

There is so much to this book that I absolutely love and adore, I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers and I love the idea of there not only being soulmates but there also being soulhates.

The book starts out with Aldo and Chiara angering the god of fate which results in the creation of soulmates and soulhates.

The book then goes on to follow the life of Renza di Maineri, tragedy happening as she’s swiftly thrown into power not knowing who she can trust and who might or might not betray her.

I cannot recommend this book enough this is truly one of my favorite books I’ve ever read .

Thank you Netgalley HarperCollins Uk and one more chapter for the arc

This book is frankly GENUIS. I couldn't put it down, nor could I stop thinking about it when I'd finished.

If you're looking for political intrigue, morally ambiguous characters and a super portayal of enemies this book is for you.

Soul Hate explores the (GENUIS) idea of what would happen in a world where not only soul mates exist but also the opposite. Every body has a person they are fated to destroy, to hate beyond measure, who upon first sight they are compelled to kill. Add to that the idea that the one you are destined to destroy may be the only one who can help you save the city you love and you've got a book that will have you hooked from the first page.

The politics in this book will grip you and the resulting plot will keep you intrigued the entire time. Our MC is devoted to the city she lives within, and has worked within its chambers to improve the lives of its citizens from a young age. Through her eyes we get a glimpse into the internal elements of politics, exploring how differing opinions between politicians may be frustrating but still come from an individuals inner desire to do the best thing for the city.
The exploration of a soul hate allows the author to explore the darker side of human nature and how sometimes, emotional feeling can blinker us to the reality of the situation, allowing us to assume the worst in others.

I could go on and on about how much I adore this tale, how incredible and independent the MC is, how gripping the concept and more but I don't want to spoil anyones experience of this tale.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book overall! As someone who dies over the soulmate trope, I was immediately impressed by the notion of a soulHATE. And, I am glad I kept my suspicions, because the plot twists were plot twisting for sure! I am excited to read the next book in the series.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this!The character development was fantastic, and I was hooked from the start. The uniqueness of the story really kept me engaged, and I found myself connecting with the narrative.The characters were so well-crafted, and the story had a unique depth that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for something fresh and captivating!

Tropes:
🖤Soulmates with a twist
🏛️Greek vibes
📜Politician academia
❤️‍🔥Hate to love
⚔️Rivals to lovers
🗯️Witty banter
🔥Chemistry
💙 guy falls first Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. *some spoilers ahead* This was a wonderful read, great writing style, and had a unique world-building. The FMC was hard working and stubborn. I accurately guessed the plot twist, and I wish there was more interactions between FMC and MMC. The one-bed trope could have been better, idk why she ran off…

Love this new fantasy book! Action packed and a plot like none other. The characters and plot are well developed and have you hooked!

Review of Soul Hate by Hannah Kingsley

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Hannah Kingsley for providing me with an ARC of Soul Hate in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah Kingsley's Soul Hate introduces a fascinating concept: while everyone has a fated Soulmate, they also have a fated "soulhate" — someone destined to destroy them. The story follows Renza di Maineri, the youngest elected leader of Halice, who discovers that her soulhate is none other than her political rival, Idris Patricelli.

Kingsley's writing is richly descriptive, effectively setting the scene and immersing readers in the political world of Halice. The world-building is solid, and the queer representation is beautifully woven into the narrative, enhancing the story's depth and inclusivity.

The concept of "soulhate" is refreshingly unique, and I found myself captivated, devouring the book in a single day. Although Soul Hate is categorized as a romantasy, the fantasy and romance elements take a backseat to the political intrigue. That said, the interactions between Renza and Idris are compelling, and Idris, in particular, is a standout character.

While this book may not satisfy readers seeking a conventional romantasy, those who enjoy political drama and unexpected twists will find Soul Hate a rewarding read. It was a refreshing departure from typical romantasy, and I loved the surprising turns the story took. If you’re drawn to complex power dynamics and innovative world-building, this one’s for you!

A well written story, not about Soulmate but Soulhate. Politics, intrigue and an interesting religion-sysyem forms this intriging fantasy world. A eminmes to lovers troupe? Or are they just fated to hate..
Really liked the FMC!

Post on IG 14.jan 2025 on one_fairy_tale_at_the_time)

Renza is the youngest elected leader and she is determine to prove her worth. She meets her political rival who is also her soulhate- the fated nemesis. But she falls for him too....

A great premise. I love the idea of a fated enemy. It's a lot of political ideas in the story. A great story. Only very minor complaint is that i wish the romance was more explored? I am just more of a romance reader than fantasy. reader But it's a great book overall.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I never once thought about the opposite of soul mate and BOY, this book did it well. Lovely pacing, thought out characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Renza di Maineri is an ambitious and confident young woman with sincere, uncompromising values. When her city is threatened by the chaos of a violent political scheme, it's up to Renza, her soul hate, friends, and newfound allies in a team of seven to save the city. Amidst all the grief and deception, Renza is a genuine, human protagonist who manages to remain remarkably strong.

The fated soulhate bond twist, along with the incredible cover art, was novel enough to pique my interest. I was unsure on how productive a trope twist would actually be versus being there for pure novelty, but in in the end, I enjoyed how Renza and Idris's connection was built through seeing past their instinctual hatred of one another to their connected intellectual and moral values.

The book is much more focused on politics and preventing the city's potential collapse than the romance. Renza also has another love interest for the majority of the plot, who I admittedly found very boring.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This book promises enemies and absolutely delivers on that end. The idea of a soulhate is absolutely fantastic and I loved seeing this play out. Though minimal romance, I do love the political intrigue of this book and was gripped by the politics and the plot. Renza is an intelligent, formidable woman and I enjoyed reading through her lens as she navigated being a newly appointed elected leader amongst everything happening. I’d say if you love strong, confident women and politics this book was great it had an intriguing plot with a dose of found family!

Renzia is the youngest elector chosen to represent her city, but things get dramatic when she meets her soul hate, Idris, the person destined to be her greatest enemy. When tragedy strikes, the two must work together to protect their city, Halice...despite the hatred (or sparks) between them.

Hannah Kingsley noted that she wanted to be a writer growing up, but I have always been interested in policy and governance. So I was so excited to get to know a FMC like Renzia, who is passionate about the difference that politics can make to the lives of ordinary citizens. In a time like this, where there is so much divide in politics, I think she is a wonderful example of a politician who will overcome her own feelings to do the best she can for others.

I was really interested in the history of the world - their relationship of Halice to the Holy States clearly had some basis in historical Roman empires and Papal States, and I hope this will be more explored in future books in the series.

I would really recommend this book to other girls a bit like me...who want to make a difference in the world around them!

I liked the story building in this story, and the characters were enjoyable and relatable. The concept felt fresh in how the author handled it. However, I don’t feel confident recommending it to my students because of some of the elements of the romance.