I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Unforgiven by Lori Adams Published by Random House Publishing Group on April 21st 2015
Pages: 332
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Synopsis
Otherworldly desire and paranormal action reach new heights in the final installment of The Soulkeepers. As Sophia St. James moves Heaven and Hell to claim her destiny, questions are answered, secrets are revealed—and immortal love is tested.
After finally becoming a powerful Spirit Walker, Sophia St. James is shocked to discover that her conjured identical twin, Ka—along with her soul—have been dragged down to Hell by the relentless Demon Knight Dante. Sophia tries to hide the crisis, but there is little hope of keeping any secrets from her red-hot Guardian Angel. Growing suspicious, Michael has been making plans of his own that will bind him and Sophia together forever.
But Sophia is plagued with evil visions through Ka’s experiences in Hell. She is terrified that Dante will discover he has taken the wrong Sophia. Desperate to return to her original state before she withers away and dies, she risks everything to go where Michael can’t follow. To bring back Ka and save her own soul, Sophia must now enter the gates of Hell.Praise for The Soulkeepers
“In a clash between heaven and hell, no one raises the heat like Spirit Walker Sophia and her Guardian Angel, Michael.”—Cecy Robson, award-winning author of the Weird Girls series
“As romantic as it is addictive, with witty writing, an action-packed plot, and a face-fanning romance all in one, The Soulkeepers is quickly becoming one of my favorite paranormal series.”—Cassie Mae, author of The Real Thing
“If you are looking for an amazing and unique paranormal romance that never has a dull moment, has an intense love triangle, fabulous characters, and a captivating, action-filled plot, then look no further than this highly addictive series.”—The Avid Book Collector
Excerpt:
“I wasn’t expecting so much power. Is that normal?”
I feign innocence but I’m very aware that having weapons that pulsate with a powerful blue light is not normal for a spirit walker. I’ll be sure to explore that freakishness right after I take care of more important issues. Like finding Ka and my missing soul. Michael considers me with a long, penetrating look. As a former guardian angel—just recently elevated to spiritual warrior—he has retained the ability to sense the condition of souls. He can read my emotions. Lucky for me, my aura and soul have been a mystery to him since the day we met.
“There is nothing about you that’s proven normal, Sophia,” Michael says in a quiet tone. He is masking his feelings but I can’t be sure if it’s to avoid detection from the crowd, or from me.
“Best take a load off,” Rama says, gesturing to a nearby chair. He gives me a look that says he understands what really happened. He should. It was Rama who performed the ritual that made me a double. He knew the rules as much as Ka and I did; she wasn’t supposed to travel too far away and risk taking my vital elements with her. I never imagined that would include my soul.
While Michael guides me to a chair on the stage, Rama addresses the curious crowd and explains why I cried out moments ago, why I nearly fainted at the end of the ceremony.
“My wahine went overboard today. Nothing to worry about. As most of you know, she single-handedly destroyed a Demon Knight from the fifth kingdom. Took a lot out of her. She needs time to rebalance her energy, is all.” He smiles and nods, urging everyone to carry on with their celebration. The annual graduation for Halos of the Son and spirit walkers is usually a festive, if not reverent, affair. He wants everyone to enjoy themselves. Raph and Milvi are shouldering their way through the mass, eager to reach me.
“Please tell them I’m fine,” I say to Michael, who’s gone down on one knee beside my chair. He is dressed in his ceremonial clothes of black and gold body armor, sword, and black cape down his back. He looks every bit a Roman soldier, like the other Halos.
“Sophia—” Michael tries again, but this time I cut him off. I can’t let him voice his doubts.
“Michael, please! Tell your family I just need to catch my breath. I’m good. Everything is good.”
His eyes narrow and his jaw muscle twitches. Making him angry makes me feel worse. Moments before I felt my soul ripped away, Michael had tugged three times on my heart. His supernatural way of telling me he loves me. I haven’t had the chance to say it back. Ours is not a relationship to share with others. No one can know that Michael and I are in love. I’ll have to wait until we’re alone. In the meantime, Michael reluctantly agrees to my request. He jumps from the stage and stops Raph and Milvi before they can reach me. As he explains things to his brother and cousin, Rama pulls up a chair beside me and takes my hand. I’m filled with panic all over again.
“What’s happened?” I whisper. “What went wrong?”
He shakes his head. “Don’t know. Gotta ride this into the shallows and then we’ll see.”
Review:
Mrs Adams does it again in the third and final installment of the SoulKeepers series. Sophia is finally a Spirit Walker after so many ordeals, but when her soul, in the form of Ka, is taken to hell by obsessive Dante Sophia must risk it all to rescue it. She can’t let her angelic boyfriend (Michael) know her secrets: Ka, her recent history with Dante or the possibility she could lose her soul forever.
Michael, on the other hand, has to find the demon spy hiding in their midst while wrestling with being the newest and youngest recruit for the Halos. Michael must hide the ever impossible relationship he has with Sophia or he could lose everything including his beautiful wings.
I loved the first two SoulKeeper novels and enjoyed the dramatics behind the forbidden romance. Learning of Sophia’s destiny to become a Spirit Walker was unexpected and her training seemed grueling. Although I never understood Sophia’s choice to create Ka it fortunately enabled us to learn more about Hell and Dante’s sad history. Ka’s experiences in Hell allow us to learn about ancient Italy, Sophia’s past lives and Dante’s role in making Sophia who she is in her current incarnation. Adams reveals why Sophia is so special and powerful while leading us to the dramatic conclusion of the SoulKeepers trilogy.
The book moves slowly, working up its pace until the very end. It took me a very long time to work through the first half of the book, yet absolutely no time to finish once Sophia got herself into action. The full brunt of the prophecy comes to the forefront near the end of the book, giving us a new vision for heaven, and extends Adams’ world building. Heaven is full of bigots and are not perfect, but Sophia and Michael can change that. This book was a dooozy in world building, changes and growth for all of the main characters as they come to grips with the revelations from this book. And the revelations are stunning..once you get there.
It will be interesting to see the next series set in the SoulKeeper universe because Adams has totally set us up for more!
I recommended this book for previous readers of the SoulKeepers series, people who love fantasy, angel fiction, romance and new adult romance with a dash of the paranormal. I would say this is worth the read and a fantastic end for Sophia St James and the Patronus family.
Giveaway
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About Lori Adams
Lori Adams is the author of the Soulkeepers series: Forbidden, Awaken, and Unforgiven. She wrote her first book—about scary sharks—at the age of eight. Now she writes New Adult, young adult, and middle-grade fiction. Originally from Oklahoma, Adams lives in Southern California with her husband and two daughters.
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