The Soulstealers

What I Think: This is not a sweet tale as the authoress leaves us in no doubt as to the horror underlying this seemingly sweet, magic-filled world. Yet, Arnaka has sworn to end it. A promise that she unwittingly walks towards in her bid to earn a friend of her own. But the only way this is happening is if she’s ready to bring down her home, clan, and country. This must be the youngest heroine’s tale I’ve ever reviewed but magic, an alternate dimension, and POC characters made it a must. Even then I hesitated(you know how I feel about YA. Children have enough problems without putting the weight of the world on their delicate shoulders). But then, I went on to read another of this Authoress’ tales so back I went to Book Siren to get this one and I was not disappointed. Arnaka is so much more mature and not looking at things through rose-tinted glasses as those were ripped from her young eyes quite early. She is ready for battle and totally unafraid, certain that she must keep her promise and ready to do whatever it takes to keep her word. She’s so adult that already my heart aches for her youth even as I cringe from the actions of the nobility.
The gender inequality in this tale made me want to rage at the world. Even in a dimension where women had become so necessary the country couldn’t run without them, they are still bound by society and men and banned to the shadows. But Arnie has balls of steel. How else can she go against her clan and society over and over again, in spite of the darkness she seems to bring to those she wants to love? I would have placed this under adventure fantasy and left it there but, finally, she appears. The one I already know will be Arnie’s own and partner in crime. And, oh, what an entrance! Had me thinking back to when I was younger and read romance novels while wishing I could be the Knightress in shining armor who saves the damsel in distress. But what happens when an unmovable object meets an unstoppable force? They clash, collide and snuff out the light in the darkness of the world beneath, yet, already I can tell something these 2 can’t. When they finally move as one, they will bend the very world to their wishes and I’m in such a hurry to see this that I’m speedreading.
The ensuing choices that lead to battles, races against time and evil forces, sacrifices, losses then the final battle left me breathless and speechless. It is a shame how the strongest of us are usually those who believe themselves to be the weakest. Even more emboldening is how pure mental will can bend the world around it which is something I can completely relate to. It’s a life I live every day, a maxim I practice every second as my health renders my body and mind on two parallel paths that only pure will melds together.

It is said that a lion can not be friends with a rabbit which makes it so important that we find the right clan to belong to. Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are is also a common saying and it is proven true in every aspect of this tale. Arnaka is made up of pure will and in my mind, I have dubbed her the original Arnaka of Great Will (capitalized so it must be true), and her found family are truly equal allies in this battle. Children, they might be but having been raised in these harsh realities, they’re already adults, dragged there by the cruelty and selfishness of those around them. But as their world finally begins its road to change and Arnaka says goodbye to Promise, my eyes misted over. If this is an ending, then I shall be glad to let my mind fill in the future, but if this is the beginning of a series, then I eagerly await more, Mme. Jacqueline!
Verdict? A gorgeously crafted tale that proves the old proverb – where there is a will, there is a way!