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A review by sunkenbooks
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ok so this is like almost a perfect book for me. The characters? The story? *Chef kiss*. This definitely has Ancient Magnus' Bride vibes and even was confirmed by reading the authors note at the end. I almost even teared up at the last few chapters when Orpheus is having his breakdown over the final confrontation.
Some other things however bothered me more than they should have causing me to dock a star overall. Mostly it was the writing style and world building. The writing style is a little juvenile, some of the words are very simple and get a little repetitive. Also some word and writing choices made me need to step away. Mostly the sex scenes, like "liquid cream" "textured p***y" and the implication that Orpheus literally changed the body structure of Reia and others by his body. It made me roll my eyes. As for writing choices, when Reia is confronted with illusions of her family, having her baby brother "speak" by writing “Pappa said for yew to always protwect me. But... But yew wlet dem eat me.” made me groan. Just because they're children doesn't mean you have to write them like they have a lisp.
The other thing that really bothered me was the world building references. Like Stockholm Syndrome some how exists but also doesn't? Electricity doesn't exist but somehow Reia knows about it? Confusing. There were several examples like this but my brain only remembers those.
Overall, a very fun and spicy romance for all of us lovely monster fans.
Some other things however bothered me more than they should have causing me to dock a star overall. Mostly it was the writing style and world building. The writing style is a little juvenile, some of the words are very simple and get a little repetitive. Also some word and writing choices made me need to step away. Mostly the sex scenes, like "liquid cream" "textured p***y" and the implication that Orpheus literally changed the body structure of Reia and others by his body. It made me roll my eyes. As for writing choices, when Reia is confronted with illusions of her family, having her baby brother "speak" by writing “Pappa said for yew to always protwect me. But... But yew wlet dem eat me.” made me groan. Just because they're children doesn't mean you have to write them like they have a lisp.
The other thing that really bothered me was the world building references. Like Stockholm Syndrome some how exists but also doesn't? Electricity doesn't exist but somehow Reia knows about it? Confusing. There were several examples like this but my brain only remembers those.
Overall, a very fun and spicy romance for all of us lovely monster fans.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body horror, Animal death, Cursing, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
Minor: Torture