Soul Bound is a worthy sequel

Soul Hate by Hannah Kingsley had the most original enemies-to-lovers premise of the previous year and the story continues in this thrilling sequel coming January 9th.

Read my 4-star review:

Things are tentative for Halice after the Great Rebellion and the Holy States are not letting it go. Idris has invited mercenaries to help the situation, while Renza disagrees. This is a decision that may just blow up in their faces. As they work towards stabilizing their home, someone or maybe more than one person are working behind the scenes to force them into failure. Will they be able to save their city, or is outright war inevitable?

We are introduced back into the world of Halice in the middle of an Electi meeting that cleverly lets us know what the situation is at present. Enveloping us is the feel of an Ancient Rome-like world, with the expected political machinations, on the teetering brink of an explosive outcome. The Holy States debacle is not forgotten of course, and the pressure from them is on. The author describes the environment and the people with a twinkle in her eye. Color and light are the beloved leads. All else is presented with evocative images of utter vibrancy that echo the emotions of our protagonist. I have always enjoyed how the soul hate is depicted, using lyrical notes of genius, the forced, in forced proximity, is taken to a whole new level. And with them also wanting each other, the turmoil is more than palpable.

In the sequel, we are again privy to Renza's inner thoughts in the most engaging and often chuckle-worthy way. Idris is as swoony, "stupidly arrogant" according to Renza, and hero-like as ever. Their mutual stubbornness, even if their hearts are in the right place, leads to inevitable head-butting. There is a whole new dynamic with the arrival of the aunts and their meddling. The consequences of the events from book one are showing in everything, including the affected characters, weaving into the storyline in a heartwarming or/and gut-wrenching manner. The beloved secondary characters continue to add and be true parts of the story, not props, to which I must applaud the author. The surprises, the hits from known and unknown enemies keep coming. There were moments when I wanted to scream at the book, but that only shows how intelligently the writing gets me invested.

There are instances when the descriptions of things feel like unnecessary hyperbole, hitting a nerve with their timing and repetitiveness. I mean how many mentions do we need of how the High Chamber looks? I still hate the overuse, actually any use of the word creamy in the descriptions. It really needs to go.

Dealing with power struggles and the cruelty they can bring, it showcases the strength of hope, of belief, of the human spirit. Can you truly upend Fate? And is freedom an illusion?

Thrilling, fraught with danger, devious plots and betrayals, this was an amazing sequel. Gifting us with the anticipated and much-appreciated banter, the uplifting relationships that are put to the test, and yearning that steals your breath, it solidifies its place in the favorites column. I cannot wait for the next one.