A deadly virus burns through the jungle, leaving nothing but corpses in its wake. Everyone flees from the outbreak—except for the terrorists intent on weaponizing the catastrophe.Lieutenant Elliot Davis, US Navy SEAL, is sent to rescue CIA officers from their clandestine base in Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and evacuate them out of the country. What they’ve uncovered sends Elliot back … Elliot back to the Congo, trying to prevent an attack that could spark a global pandemic.
Dr. Ikolo Ngondu runs a refugee hospital caught between the advancing rebels intent on slaughtering everyone in their path and Elliot’s mission to find and capture their leader. In the chaos of a surprise attack, Elliot’s target slips away, and the only way to find him is to plunge into the Congo’s dark, dangerous, and fevered forest with Ikolo as his guide.
Together they track a burning shadow through Africa’s broken heart, and Elliot struggles to reconcile the world he finds with the life he’s lived as a black man in the West. He looks to Ikolo for answers and finds a man with a core so bright and fierce he scorches Elliot’s soul.
Even as they race against time, Elliot and Ikolo have no idea what’s been set in motion with their mission: a dark secret lies at the center, one that leaves billions of lives hovering between life and death.
And through it all, a question burns inside Elliot, one that only Ikolo may hold the answer to.
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Beautifully stunning novel, as always from Tal Bauer. Rich in descriptions, painting a scene so perfect it felt like I was there. Insert two extremely likeable leads, well-crafted plotting, and high stakes, and Tal’s certainly got another winner. I couldn’t put this down!
This book is so many things: an action-packed tale, a love story between two souls that find completion in one another, a story about war, colonialism, abuse and racism. It touches so many subjects, and Bauer’s writing sucks you in in a way that very few writers really can.
It’s rare that a book impacts me so strongly, making me think about how the world works and how, being from a Western country, I take so many things for granted. I know it intellectually, but I usually don’t feel it. This book made me feel it, and while it was hard to read sometimes, I’m glad I did.
Read this book, it will hurt, but you won’t regret it.
***This review was based on a complimentary copy provided by the author.***
Tal Bauer once again creates a world that is so complete, with characters so compelling that you simply cannot put the book down until you finish it. In Soul on Fire, Bauer uses the very real and very current threats in the Democratic Republic of Congo–both political and biological–to keep readers suspended from the very first page. The action is constant, the characters are deep, and the intrigue and plot twists sophisticated. Bauer challenges your suppositions about different parts of the world, and by the end, you feel you’ve grown in knowledge and compassion, just as the heroes do. Absolutely 5 stars.
This was a beautifully written book about devastating events and world views. The characters came alive on the page, and the world building is vivid and really brings you into the story.
Elliot is a lieutenant and leader of a SEALs team. His entire life, he has felt dismissed, less than, feared, targeted…because he is a black man. When he enlists with the Navy SEALs, he finally has a chance to prove himself as a man; not the color of his skin. He’s a limit pushing bada$$, but when a crisis arises, he is brought in to give his opinion and help form the best plan.
Ikolo is a native Congolese with a past, but he escaped the dangerous life in the jungle to attend medical school. Upon graduation, he returned to the Congo to build a hospital/refugee camp where he could help his fellow Africans, as well as atone for his past. Ebola is spreading like wildfire through the jungle, and among the other agencies, Ikolo’s hospital is having the most success, but it is never enough.
A wealthy rebel group has found “God,” and is joining forces with the Islamic State to fight the Great Satan: America. They are not only trading weapons and ammunition, but have now given who they believe to be the Somalians an even more deadly weapon. But, things don’t go according to plan, and the Somalians require the rebels to perform one last test before they will get their prize. The second in command takes on the challenge, and the chase begins.
After a lot of political posturing, a plan is put in place. A lead has come to the attention of the government, and it originated from Ikolo’s hospital. Elliot and his team are deployed, then all heck breaks loose. The only man who can identify the perpetrator is Ikolo, but he has conditions of his own. Elliot must make a decision whether to follow orders or his instincts.
As Elliot and Ikolo race through the mortally dangerous Congo, along the way, they make a strong connection with each other. It happens fast, and it happens strong, and while their time together is , the majority of the book focuses on the danger and the lengths and sacrifices the two men are willing to pay in order to stop a madman and an all-out war.
This story is fast paced, full of atrocities and a vicious illness, and viewpoints that should make every reader take a moment to think. Elliot and Ikolo get to spend their lives together doing what they feel is right. Although the circumstances may not be ideal, I will call that a win and a HEA.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
• *I received an ARC for review*
THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS… READ AT YOUR PERIL!!!
Short Review
This book made me fall in love with Tal Bauer all over again
Even Shorter Review
UNPUTDOWNABLE!!
Long Review
When I received this book, I made the decision to read it over breakfast. Suffice to say not one scrap of food was eaten because I was truly engrossed in the material and post reading, I was visibly shaking because of everything that went on in the book. (ate breakfast late)
Firstly, I must commend the author for writing a book with two strong male characters who are black. From my view as an avid reader (who is black) I haven’t come across books which are so well written in the genre of LGBTQ+ and military romance with African or even African American characters so it was quite refreshing to get one such as this. (If there are please direct me to them).
Secondly, the book considered scenarios that are happening all around the United States to young black men and how they feel society treats them. I very much appreciate the writing of Elliot’s experience being a young black man being treated as nothing more than a thug when he was younger and feeling that people feel he won’t amount to nothing yet made something out of himself.
Thirdly, the Ebola story line was truly one I never expected. Being someone who pays attention to what is happening around the world, when the Ebola epidemic happened seeing what happened in the news did give me pause. But to have it written in such vivid detail where you could use your imagination to see exactly what is happening gave me chills. A few scenes in the book had me putting my tablet down and walking off because of the gruesomeness of what was happening especially the scene with Antoinette with the bucket of body parts with the Ebola virus.
I saw a big parallel in both Elliot’s and Ikolo’s journey in life. Both men although living in extenuating circumstances; Elliot living in the US being black and Ikolo growing up as a child soldier; made the best out of their situation and changed their lives. I loved how their self-discovery played out and their unfolding romance was truly enjoyable to read and as usual Tal writing a sex scene is just amazing to read.
Only part of the book which truly upset me was this; if the US has an Ebola curing vaccine why do they allow so many people in foreign countries to die?
All in all, it was truly well written book. This book showed me that Tal has and will always remain true to his type of writing in that every piece of work; even if it is a work of fiction; is well researched and gives you a lot of food for thought and a point to research something which is important on a global scale
At this point in my life I am limited with my reading to my tablet, but I can say in all surety that is this one I am going to get in hard copy for my collection.
Soul on Fire is a hauntingly beautiful story written by a master words craftsman. Tal Bauer manages to evoke more emotion than thought possible in this gem of a story. With vibrant descriptions the reader is thrown into a world few have experienced. We are right there in the jungle along with our main characters, Elliott and Ikolo. These fully formed characters draw us into this journey of despair, pain, tragedy, hope, strength and most importantly, love.
I, for one, was so thankful that have been taken on this journey. Well done Tal, so beautifully written.
This book started off intense, gruesome and heartfelt. Both MCs were introduced separately and the author gave me a chance to like them as individuals and later as a couple. This book was an eye opener for sure. Made me think about what I take for granted every day and what other people probably have never experienced in their lives. Added to that was the systemic racism that people of color encounter from their birth – Tal Bauer tackled this issue with tact, truth and passion. MCs thoughts were riveting on the matter. Another point in favor of Tal Bauer’s books for me is a always fleshed out villain that I can hate to my heart’s content, that gets his just desserts in the end and makes me want to do a happy dance at their demise. Here it felt tenfold – the malign nature of greed and hatred.
As always the story wasn’t cut and dry and revolved around seemingly random events and countries that later came together into a fascinating puzzle of political intrigue, international relations, humanitarian aid and human nature to find the truth. At one point it felt that this story was in the same world as Executive Office series. The author delved deep into mind set and lives of Congolese people and what it took to survive living in Congo. For such a short read it packed a lot of emotion and human struggle.
I really liked Ikolo. His stance on life, his willingness to help and sacrifice and his ability to bring comfort even in the most dire circumstances made him an exceptional man. I enjoyed his everyday work, his interactions with his colleagues and how brave he was throughout the book. There was more to him than what he showed on the surface. Elliot was a very conflicted man. Some people can find their center when they are finally at peace, but Elliot needed to face the worst of humanity, to go through mortal danger and face his harshest demons to find his purpose and finally be one with himself. And in part it was thanks to Ikolo and his quiet acceptance and support. Those two were so beautiful together. They forged a strong bond that with time developed into love and devotion. Awwww.
The book was well researched and detailed, intense, fast paced, mildly steamy and action packed. The characters were diverse, well written and fitted every situation to a tee. It all came together in such a spectacular fashion. I loved it. The end was satisfying. Tal Bauer didn’t leave me hanging about what Elliot and Ikolo were doing with their personal and professional lives. One thing was sure – they were doing it together.
Tal Bauer’s specialty is meticulously researched thrillers that take the reader on a wild ride while the main characters also fall in love. Soul on Fire is no exception despite the fact that the book was researched, planned, written and published in one calendar month.
The story is gripping, the characters vivid, and the plot twists are standard Bauer fare – that is to say brilliant in their deviousness.
I was hesitant to read a book about an Ebola outbreak but I trusted Tal and I am glad I did.
Read this book, y’all.
Tal Bauer has a unique gift of writing books that feel so real as though your there .
With Tal’s writing for me it is like i am in a cocoon with warmth spreading throughout living the life he has written.
This time in Africa , Goma which is the democratic republic of Congo.
Tal’s words come to life with the devastation the putrid smell of sickness amid the dreadful disease of embola virus the huge amount of death that occurred .
This wonderful story is of a US Navy Seal and an African Doctor both are men of colour one from the west and one born is Africa …
How they see themselves how they find each other and how their lives entwine .
To see how Elliott the Navy Seal finds his way as his soul finds another .
How Ikolo who always will do good finds his soul mate .
Africa , biological warfare , politics add in suspense and a thriller then you have Soul on Fire..
Two quotes from the book below.
“Doctor Ngondu still has children waiting for him on my ship. Is he taking them home to the Congo?” “Yeah.” Elliot nodded. “Actually…” He grinned. “I think we’re going to take them home.”
“Take me anywhere,” Elliot said, drinking his own beer. “I’ll go everywhere with you.”
I always love Tal’s writing – beautiful and flowing prose that puts you in the scene, emotional moments that grip you right in the feels, characters that are memorable in all the best ways. I found this story to have all those same wonderful things I love about his books.
However – I had no idea that this book would push me so hard. I (normally) actively avoid books that focus on discrimination based on race. It is something that I don’t like to hear, experience or read. So. There is that. It was essential to the story, but for some reason I wasn’t expecting it and that made this book hard for me to read.
This was in a different class than most of his other books for me. It made me think, and challenged some of my worldview, educated me on some things, and I recommend it highly. It’s good enough to read again, but it will be awhile.
I received an ARC and chose to review it.