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A review by noriboo
Jagged Souls by Miranda Grant
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
"No notes, just crying." is what I DM'd to the author at the halfway mark of this book.
I couldn't have asked for a better ending to Micha's and Varius' story (the first being Tethered Souls and the second Broken Souls).
This was a tough read, so much more than the previous books in this series. It felt hopeless at times, and I won't lie: what pulled me through was knowing that the author had promised that Micha would get her happy end. Everyone suffers in this book. Everyone. Now, I can hear you thinking:"Noriboo, then why are you reading this book?" Because Miranda is an incredibly talented author. She doesn't write gruelling scenes just because. Within the rape and torture scenes, the focus is more on the emotions of the victim: the fear, the denial of what is happening. The fight, flight, and freeze response. The shame and the choices a person is forced to make as they're trying to survive. While what's described is gruesome, it's unfortunately also something that's the lived experience of far too many people. I want to commend the author for having consulted therapists about how best to structure the depicted conversations surrounding the topic of healing after prolonged sexual trauma.
Through all the pain within this book, there was, at times, humour. One of my notes read:"How dare you make me laugh in the middle of these horrors, Miranda!".
I was happy for that, as it gave some levity and reprieve to know that my beloved characters were still able to find silver linings.
Varius has grown tremendously from where he stood in Tethered Souls. He has grown on an emotional level as a person, as a husband, and as head of the family. Micha, oh my dear Micha. I wept for her. For them.
Without a doubt, the bonds of the members of the Shadow family are what makes this series so amazing. They are the light in the darkness.
⚠️ There's graphic depictions of rape and sexual torture - I read the "hard" edition. These scenes are not included in the "soft" edition.
⚠️Your mental health is important. Full list of cw can be found on the authors website.
I couldn't have asked for a better ending to Micha's and Varius' story (the first being Tethered Souls and the second Broken Souls).
This was a tough read, so much more than the previous books in this series. It felt hopeless at times, and I won't lie: what pulled me through was knowing that the author had promised that Micha would get her happy end. Everyone suffers in this book. Everyone. Now, I can hear you thinking:"Noriboo, then why are you reading this book?" Because Miranda is an incredibly talented author. She doesn't write gruelling scenes just because. Within the rape and torture scenes, the focus is more on the emotions of the victim: the fear, the denial of what is happening. The fight, flight, and freeze response. The shame and the choices a person is forced to make as they're trying to survive. While what's described is gruesome, it's unfortunately also something that's the lived experience of far too many people. I want to commend the author for having consulted therapists about how best to structure the depicted conversations surrounding the topic of healing after prolonged sexual trauma.
Through all the pain within this book, there was, at times, humour. One of my notes read:"How dare you make me laugh in the middle of these horrors, Miranda!".
I was happy for that, as it gave some levity and reprieve to know that my beloved characters were still able to find silver linings.
Varius has grown tremendously from where he stood in Tethered Souls. He has grown on an emotional level as a person, as a husband, and as head of the family. Micha, oh my dear Micha. I wept for her. For them.
Without a doubt, the bonds of the members of the Shadow family are what makes this series so amazing. They are the light in the darkness.
⚠️ There's graphic depictions of rape and sexual torture - I read the "hard" edition. These scenes are not included in the "soft" edition.
⚠️Your mental health is important. Full list of cw can be found on the authors website.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia