Genres: Young Adult, YA Paranormal, YA Urban Fantasy | Release Date: 8 August 2022 | Standalone | Pages: 251 | Indie Author | Review
“People say there’s good in everyone. They say good trumps evil. But they can’t see what I see.”
Faith Prince
Overview:
Firstly I need to say a big thank you to Faith Prince, for reaching out to me regarding her debut YA paranormal novel: Wild Souls! I went into this story not really knowing what to expect, and have been completely delighted by what I read. It’s such a joyous feeling, when a gem of a book like this one appears!
Within Wild Souls, Ethan and Jenna are in high school. Believed to be both a freak and a liar, Ethan is actually neither. But what makes him unique is that he can see people’s souls, and the nature of the people surrounding him. Jenna is the only one who wants to know him, all thanks to a social media app which let him begin talking to her anonymously. With the rest of the school ostracising Ethan, only Jenna can break down his defences thanks to her fascination with the paranormal… But will Ethan ever learn how to defeat his demons? Can Jenna find a way to be okay with her flighty Dad? This growing connection between Ethan and Jenna could make or break them…
Happiness Boost:
Wild Souls is for anyone who has felt like they don’t fit in. If you’ve ever felt like you’re too different, too much, even too quirky? This beautiful tale shows us that there *is* a place for us. And through Ethan’s journey, it’s shown again and again that who we are is exactly what the world needs. I love that Faith gives us characters who aren’t cookie cutter, as well those who are courageous enough to be different.
The damsel in distress trope is well and truly overturned in this YA paranormal story. In fact, the first interaction between Jenna and Ethan is when Jenna literally comes to Ethan’s rescue! That’s not to say Jenna is trouble free, because she isn’t. But it is Ethan who has the turmoil of seeing the darkest of souls, and Jenna is the one to persuade him to face his demons. Bubbly and radiant in her energy, Jenna is a breath of fresh air.
My final happiness boost has to be regarding Jenna’s idea of using the virtual apps as a medical diagnosis system. I really, really love that. Like she points out, if someone can’t vocalise what is wrong, or how something truly feels? The medical professional could use the app to actually experience it first-hand. As a chronically ill person, I think this is a phenomenally good idea. And I wish it was a reality for us!
Downside:
It took me a little while to come to grips with the different virtual reality apps which appear in Wild Souls, but that was just my own personal issue. Once I did, it was a riveting read!
Final Thoughts:
Wild Souls by indie author Faith Prince is a brilliant YA paranormal debut. A story of individuality and coming to terms with being unique, this book will stand the test of time. I have absolutely loved every minute of reading it, and really hope so many more bookworms take a chance on this new tale! If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read here, please do consider getting a copy of Wild Souls via the link below. Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can order Wild Souls via this link: Amazon
