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A review by _readobituaries
Your Soul Is Ours by Tanya Lynn
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Received as an ARC!
First off, let me say- we better get a book 2!!! That ending was UGHHHH! Amazing. I need a closer look at this world!
Let’s start with the serious review: First off, If you relate to this story anywhere NEAR as much as I did- please call a therapist or a trusted loved one that you can discuss your feelings with. I prefer to go into my books “blind” and I rarely read trigger warnings- but pls, take into account the triggers for narcissistic parental abuse, suicidal ideation/suicide and thoughts of harming those who abused you. I have extreme deeply rooted trauma- a lot of which stems from the abuse I faced from my narcissistic parents- and even knowing that I am not easily triggered… there were times where I needed to set the book down, take a breather and come back to myself. I am far enough along in my healing journey (and distanced enough from the abuse being NC) that these triggers were not a major problem for me but please, be mindful.
I loved the connection Sebastian and Marla had. Sebastian is the perfect mix of “let me save you” and “you’re absolutely amazing in every way.” He didn’t feel like he wrote off her mental health issues. He let her know that despite her negative feelings- he does not feel that way- but regardless, her feelings are valid and he is willing to work on and make the changes she feels necessary.
The spice was great! The connection between the two was hard hitting and intense and I feel the scenes portrayed that.
Jess was an amazing inclusion. Her story was so sad but was a wonderful way to drive the story.
As I stated earlier, my connection to Marla is unparalleled in many ways. I’ve never read an FMC that seemed to merge with my mind in the way Marla has. As someone who has struggled with thoughts of hurting myself and others due to the abuse I faced and the lack of help when I spoke out about the abuse- I found myself understanding her motivations in a way I don’t normally and found myself rooting for her in the most unlikely of ways.
I also found myself relating to Sebastian. In the beginning, before I spoke out about my struggles and sought help- My mental traumas were shown via anger and violence. So hearing someone who is also self aware of their anger issues and they way their childhood contributed to that was refreshing.
Despite all this serious talk, this is along the lines of a horror fantasy than strict horror imo. The inclusion of the “other world” and how the mental illnesses are manifested is a unique take on not only mental illness, but suicide and I am thoroughly excited to see where Tanya takes the world building in the next installment. By the end of this book, you’ll be rooting for Sebastian and Marla above all else.
-Spoilers Start HERE-
In the end, I found both to be an amazing representation of 2 different ways your mental traumas can present: violence against others and violence against oneself. Sebastian liked to punish based off the crimes they committed on themselves- His violence was spotlighted on the crimes of others and how others were negatively impacted. Marla on the other hand- all her victims were those were being punished based off the crimes they committed on Marla. Her violence was more internalized and focused on how it negatively impacts her.
Another way this was shown was in their deaths. Sebastian chose to commit his suicide in a public place, taking revenge on the crime committed against someone else, waiting for death to be his last option. Marla chose to commit her suicide in the privacy of her safe space, even hiding from those she sees most and was motivated but the crimes committed against her. Now, you may say “but she killed herself bc of Jess!” But 1) she expressed how she never thought of how Jess was affected. She didn’t worry if Jess was scared or had someone to hold her hand. She was focused on the crimes committed against HER. ‘They took my friend from me’ rather than ‘my friend lost her life’. Marla’s focus throughout the entire story is her and her trauma first and foremost. Jess being Marla’s friend was about Jess making Marla feel good- not Marla making Jess feel good. Meanwhile, Sebastian being Marla’s friend was about making Marla feel good- not about making Sebastian feel good. And 2) Her suicide was brought on by feelings of despair that SHE wouldn’t get help and that even if she did, it wouldn’t help.
Another way this parallel was played with was in the difference between not getting help and getting help (Sebastian wasn’t mandated to the clinic and seemed to have found a better handle on his traumas (at least being able to focus on crimes committed against others) meanwhile Marla was seeking help and was still stuck in the thorough of the traumas and crimes committed against her. Jess played an interesting character here in showing that it doesn’t exactly matter which way you go because the help or no help, internalized or projected, violence against oneself or others- all are determined by the individual person and traumas.
I am interested to see how this parallel will play out with them in the “otherworld”.
First off, let me say- we better get a book 2!!! That ending was UGHHHH! Amazing. I need a closer look at this world!
Let’s start with the serious review: First off, If you relate to this story anywhere NEAR as much as I did- please call a therapist or a trusted loved one that you can discuss your feelings with. I prefer to go into my books “blind” and I rarely read trigger warnings- but pls, take into account the triggers for narcissistic parental abuse, suicidal ideation/suicide and thoughts of harming those who abused you. I have extreme deeply rooted trauma- a lot of which stems from the abuse I faced from my narcissistic parents- and even knowing that I am not easily triggered… there were times where I needed to set the book down, take a breather and come back to myself. I am far enough along in my healing journey (and distanced enough from the abuse being NC) that these triggers were not a major problem for me but please, be mindful.
I loved the connection Sebastian and Marla had. Sebastian is the perfect mix of “let me save you” and “you’re absolutely amazing in every way.” He didn’t feel like he wrote off her mental health issues. He let her know that despite her negative feelings- he does not feel that way- but regardless, her feelings are valid and he is willing to work on and make the changes she feels necessary.
The spice was great! The connection between the two was hard hitting and intense and I feel the scenes portrayed that.
Jess was an amazing inclusion. Her story was so sad but was a wonderful way to drive the story.
As I stated earlier, my connection to Marla is unparalleled in many ways. I’ve never read an FMC that seemed to merge with my mind in the way Marla has. As someone who has struggled with thoughts of hurting myself and others due to the abuse I faced and the lack of help when I spoke out about the abuse- I found myself understanding her motivations in a way I don’t normally and found myself rooting for her in the most unlikely of ways.
I also found myself relating to Sebastian. In the beginning, before I spoke out about my struggles and sought help- My mental traumas were shown via anger and violence. So hearing someone who is also self aware of their anger issues and they way their childhood contributed to that was refreshing.
Despite all this serious talk, this is along the lines of a horror fantasy than strict horror imo. The inclusion of the “other world” and how the mental illnesses are manifested is a unique take on not only mental illness, but suicide and I am thoroughly excited to see where Tanya takes the world building in the next installment. By the end of this book, you’ll be rooting for Sebastian and Marla above all else.
In the end, I found both to be an amazing representation of 2 different ways your mental traumas can present: violence against others and violence against oneself. Sebastian liked to punish based off the crimes they committed on themselves- His violence was spotlighted on the crimes of others and how others were negatively impacted. Marla on the other hand- all her victims were those were being punished based off the crimes they committed on Marla. Her violence was more internalized and focused on how it negatively impacts her.
Another way this was shown was in their deaths. Sebastian chose to commit his suicide in a public place, taking revenge on the crime committed against someone else, waiting for death to be his last option. Marla chose to commit her suicide in the privacy of her safe space, even hiding from those she sees most and was motivated but the crimes committed against her. Now, you may say “but she killed herself bc of Jess!” But 1) she expressed how she never thought of how Jess was affected. She didn’t worry if Jess was scared or had someone to hold her hand. She was focused on the crimes committed against HER. ‘They took my friend from me’ rather than ‘my friend lost her life’. Marla’s focus throughout the entire story is her and her trauma first and foremost. Jess being Marla’s friend was about Jess making Marla feel good- not Marla making Jess feel good. Meanwhile, Sebastian being Marla’s friend was about making Marla feel good- not about making Sebastian feel good. And 2) Her suicide was brought on by feelings of despair that SHE wouldn’t get help and that even if she did, it wouldn’t help.
Another way this parallel was played with was in the difference between not getting help and getting help (Sebastian wasn’t mandated to the clinic and seemed to have found a better handle on his traumas (at least being able to focus on crimes committed against others) meanwhile Marla was seeking help and was still stuck in the thorough of the traumas and crimes committed against her. Jess played an interesting character here in showing that it doesn’t exactly matter which way you go because the help or no help, internalized or projected, violence against oneself or others- all are determined by the individual person and traumas.
I am interested to see how this parallel will play out with them in the “otherworld”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Stalking, and Murder
Narcissistic Parental Abuse