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A review by proseandfronds
As Many Souls As Stars by Natasha Siegel

dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

Huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

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A family curse, a Faustian deal, a mutual obsession that stretches over multiple lifetimes, AND its sapphic? Immediately yes.

Cybil Harding is born into a life of loneliness, grief, and melancholy as the misfortunate first born daughter of a family plagued by an ancient curse. Miriam Richter is the physical manifestation of darkness, summoned into being ages ago and burdened with an ancient curse of her own - immortality (and an insatiable hunger for souls). The two meet when Ritcher finds herself in the Harding home and crosses paths with Cybil, whose soul burns far brighter than any other Richter has ever come across, and she is determined to make a feast of it. She makes a deal with Cybil in exchange for her deliciously luminous soul: another chance at life, so that she can try to break her family’s curse. But reincarnation only seems to amplify her powers, and Richter is left chasing her across multiple lifetimes in an attempt to claim what was promised to her.

The writing is evocative, and I’m so impressed by how well developed the relationship between Harding and Richter was. The centuries-long mutual obsession and yearning were palpable. Opposities attract, and this is especially true for light and darkness - as the two are all the more stark when contrasted by one another. I did feel like the pacing was a bit slow at times, but that could’ve been because I was so eager to see how it’d end (and oh man, that ending!!).

I was admittedly hesitant when I saw this marketed toward lovers of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue since I wasn’t a fan of that one, but this story had everything I personally felt like the former was missing.

This was overall a fantastic read, and I’ve already recommended it to multiple people who are now eagerly awaiting its release on Nov 25!
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