Review by grace_kahinga -- Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
-
grace_kahinga
- Posts: 22
- Joined: 20 Apr 2020, 09:10
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 19
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-grace-kahinga.html
- Latest Review: The Mindset by Ace Bowers
Review by grace_kahinga -- Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
[Following is a volunteer review of "Soul Seeker" by Kaylin McFarren.]
Crighton is a demon who has existed in the Underworld for as long as he can remember. His work is to seek and capture the souls of evil human beings for Lucifer, King of Hell, to feed on. One of his assignments is Gabriel, the son of Benjamin Poe. Benjamin is determined to save his son and in the process, Crighton tricks him into murdering his son thus condemning himself to eternal damnation not only on earth but also in hell. Meanwhile, Lucifer is demanding the souls of angels of Heaven who keep eluding his army. Crighton knows of an angel, but he spared her and this information is enough to end him and his mother should Lucifer sniff the secret out. To appease his mad master, Crighton sets off to find another angel.
The desire to placate Lucifer, however, leads him to fall into the hands of the Sovereignty Society, a group of humans that uses cruel and sophisticated means to further their extensive research and understanding of celestial beings. Captured along with him is Ariel, an angel in training. They are discovered to be connected by a special bond, uncommon between angels and demons. The shocking piece of news puts Crighton in a dilemma. He’s torn between killing Ariel and saving himself from Lucifer’s wrath and exploring the added information to see what unfolds. Soon, they find themselves on the run, hoping to not only outlive their formidable enemies but also overcoming the web of lies and deceit that surround their lives.
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren is quite a unique romantic adventure novel. The author caught me by surprise, and I didn’t know what I was in for until it was too late to back out. From the beginning, I was gripped with the thriller-kind of suspense where the more I read, the more questions I had and the faster I turned the pages. The author masterfully narrates the events in a manner such that at the end of each, the reader is left knowing very little about the characters than they did at the beginning. As a result, the reader is left desperate and yearning for more.
The most notable aspect of the book is its element of surprise. The characters are surrounded by lies and deceit from those closest to them, and each moment they uncover some truth, they realize the web is larger than they had imagined. They are left questioning all that they knew their entire lives and despite wishing that the nightmares would end soon, the plot twists keep on coming. As a reader, I had to pause more than once to just breathe and think, otherwise, I would have risked losing a grip on what is happening.
The other thing worth noting about the book is how controversial it is. I am conflicted on how to feel about this. On the one hand, I appreciate the different take on things while on the other hand, I feel the author failed to play to the strengths of what society has popularized to be good and evil. I grew up in a Christian home and in a culture that is aware of what is moral and immoral. Therefore, I hold some strong beliefs on what heaven, angels, hell, and demons are supposed to be like. Of course, angels are guileless, inherently powerful, and cannot stand in the face of evil. But Ariel, the angel, seems to contradict all of this. I found it highly disturbing how easily she takes to Crighton, how powerless she is, and except for the glowing white feathers, she is simply human.
Moreover, demons are supposed to be heartless, soulless and encompass everything that is dark, miserable, and evil. However, when Crighton begins to feel sympathetic and even compassionate to Ariel while still being loathsome and extremely cruel to deserving and innocent human beings, it was disconcerting. Also, I believed that both angels and demons had inhuman supernatural powers and probably inhuman lifestyles. But shockingly, there are knives and guns in the celestial fights, and a mansion with a chair for Lucifer to sit on in Hell! In more ways than one, I felt that the book was out of its depth.
Ignoring the contradictory religious notions, the book holds to be an intriguing read. The budding romance between Ariel and Crighton is as captivating as it is weird, and somehow it inspired in me the need to see where their abnormal relationship would lead. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Profanity is in plenty which marks the book as unsuitable for children. Also, considering the innocence and the tiny grasp children have of what constitutes good and evil, it would be cruel to subject them to this book. I would recommend it to enthusiasts of fast-paced novels involving mysteries, romance, and betrayal. However, staunch believers of any religion that acknowledges the existence of God, heaven, the devil and hell, should keep away from this book. I found it troublesome in some areas, and the controversy presented may prove too uncomfortable to make excellent reading for them.
******
Soul Seeker
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Crighton is a demon who has existed in the Underworld for as long as he can remember. His work is to seek and capture the souls of evil human beings for Lucifer, King of Hell, to feed on. One of his assignments is Gabriel, the son of Benjamin Poe. Benjamin is determined to save his son and in the process, Crighton tricks him into murdering his son thus condemning himself to eternal damnation not only on earth but also in hell. Meanwhile, Lucifer is demanding the souls of angels of Heaven who keep eluding his army. Crighton knows of an angel, but he spared her and this information is enough to end him and his mother should Lucifer sniff the secret out. To appease his mad master, Crighton sets off to find another angel.
The desire to placate Lucifer, however, leads him to fall into the hands of the Sovereignty Society, a group of humans that uses cruel and sophisticated means to further their extensive research and understanding of celestial beings. Captured along with him is Ariel, an angel in training. They are discovered to be connected by a special bond, uncommon between angels and demons. The shocking piece of news puts Crighton in a dilemma. He’s torn between killing Ariel and saving himself from Lucifer’s wrath and exploring the added information to see what unfolds. Soon, they find themselves on the run, hoping to not only outlive their formidable enemies but also overcoming the web of lies and deceit that surround their lives.
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren is quite a unique romantic adventure novel. The author caught me by surprise, and I didn’t know what I was in for until it was too late to back out. From the beginning, I was gripped with the thriller-kind of suspense where the more I read, the more questions I had and the faster I turned the pages. The author masterfully narrates the events in a manner such that at the end of each, the reader is left knowing very little about the characters than they did at the beginning. As a result, the reader is left desperate and yearning for more.
The most notable aspect of the book is its element of surprise. The characters are surrounded by lies and deceit from those closest to them, and each moment they uncover some truth, they realize the web is larger than they had imagined. They are left questioning all that they knew their entire lives and despite wishing that the nightmares would end soon, the plot twists keep on coming. As a reader, I had to pause more than once to just breathe and think, otherwise, I would have risked losing a grip on what is happening.
The other thing worth noting about the book is how controversial it is. I am conflicted on how to feel about this. On the one hand, I appreciate the different take on things while on the other hand, I feel the author failed to play to the strengths of what society has popularized to be good and evil. I grew up in a Christian home and in a culture that is aware of what is moral and immoral. Therefore, I hold some strong beliefs on what heaven, angels, hell, and demons are supposed to be like. Of course, angels are guileless, inherently powerful, and cannot stand in the face of evil. But Ariel, the angel, seems to contradict all of this. I found it highly disturbing how easily she takes to Crighton, how powerless she is, and except for the glowing white feathers, she is simply human.
Moreover, demons are supposed to be heartless, soulless and encompass everything that is dark, miserable, and evil. However, when Crighton begins to feel sympathetic and even compassionate to Ariel while still being loathsome and extremely cruel to deserving and innocent human beings, it was disconcerting. Also, I believed that both angels and demons had inhuman supernatural powers and probably inhuman lifestyles. But shockingly, there are knives and guns in the celestial fights, and a mansion with a chair for Lucifer to sit on in Hell! In more ways than one, I felt that the book was out of its depth.
Ignoring the contradictory religious notions, the book holds to be an intriguing read. The budding romance between Ariel and Crighton is as captivating as it is weird, and somehow it inspired in me the need to see where their abnormal relationship would lead. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Profanity is in plenty which marks the book as unsuitable for children. Also, considering the innocence and the tiny grasp children have of what constitutes good and evil, it would be cruel to subject them to this book. I would recommend it to enthusiasts of fast-paced novels involving mysteries, romance, and betrayal. However, staunch believers of any religion that acknowledges the existence of God, heaven, the devil and hell, should keep away from this book. I found it troublesome in some areas, and the controversy presented may prove too uncomfortable to make excellent reading for them.
******
Soul Seeker
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Mindset by Ace Bowers
