Review: An Intensely Addicting Read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 8, 2014
I didn't quite know what I was getting into when I started reading Souls of Darkness, but one thing can be said for certain, the beginning of the book certainly grabs you by the throat and within ten minutes, I was hooked. The pace never really let up, which is what I look for in a diversion read (something I am reading for fun in between other, more "serious" books). I don't mean to talk down to this novel at all, but YA is not my normal fare. However, the writing wasn't condescendingly simple and the plot wasn't packed with silliness or unbelievable choices by the characters.Furthermore, as I have raised two teenagers myself, I was very impressed by Beaty's absolute clarity in terms of teenage mentality. I am assuming she has either raised her own or spent a lot of time around them, because she captured the characters of Alex and Taiya perfectly. They were headstrong, hormone-fueled, and ready for action at every turn. The paranormal aspect of the novel certainly drove the plot forward, but there were moments that seemed somewhat reminiscent of other books/movies, island mystery, haunted past, discovering secrets of a deceased relative, etc. Although certain plot points will always be repeated in popular fiction, there was a few too many overlapping for my taste. That being said, I enjoyed how the story unfolded, and how I was sincerely invested in everyone in the story. I was a bit put off by the large cast of characters, some of whom seemed unnecessary to the larger picture and had a tendency to be a bit distracting, as I would go back and remind myself of who they were/why they were important. I think a bit of slimming down could have been done in that regard.However, putting all that aside, I read it, I enjoyed it, and if you are looking for a quick, fun read that keeps you guessing (and probably reading a few more chapters than you expected because you can't wait to see what happens next), then this is probably an ideal choice for you. It may be penned as a YA book, but it definitely has enough appeal to capture the attention of other readers. Mother-son relationships, burgeoning teenage love, spiritual and existential quandaries, and the emotional baggage of loss and life as we get older. Nicely crafted and well delivered.