Review: Soul Seekers by Jake C. Wallace

Title: Soul Seekers

Author: Jake C. Wallace

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 330 Pages

Category: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

At a Glance: Quite simply, an amazingly well-written mystery that kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Reviewed By: Lindsey

Blurb: Nineteen-year-old college student Levi Reed has spent his life with hollow emotions and a darkness so deep that he’s convinced he’s losing his mind. He’d give anything to feel something, anything, real.

When a mysterious stranger appears, Levi is convinced the man is trying to kill him. When he’s near, Levi experiences head-crushing pain and something surprising—real emotions for the first time. Jeb Monroe is arrogant, self-assured, closed-off, and handsome, but he isn’t the harbinger of doom Levi assumed. Jeb’s mission: help Levi find his missing soul.

Levi is pulled into the secret world of Seers and Keepers, those born with the innate ability to manipulate souls and tasked with balancing the negative energy they can produce. Levi learns he possesses a rare gift, and he’s in danger. As Jeb and Levi grow closer, they discover a group of zealots who want to harness Levi’s power to cleanse the world of damaged souls. Everyone Levi cares for is threatened unless he agrees to become their tool of death. But agreeing could spell the destruction of humankind. With no one to trust and nothing as it appears, it’s up to Levi to save them all.

Review: Have you ever picked a book based on the blurb and thought, “I’ll give it a shot,” expecting to at least like it but not setting the bar too high? That was me on this book. I haven’t read anything previously by Jake C. Wallace, but after Soul Seekers—if the rest are anything even remotely close—I may just have a new must-read author.

In my opinion, this is how a mystery should be done. From beginning to end I was engrossed in figuring out what had happened, and was happening, to poor Levi. There were enough plot twists that I was unable to figure it out until the very end who all the players were, what their role was and what was going to happen. The pacing was well done and gave just the right amount of information to keep the reader invested, without giving too much away.

The story’s concept is that of “Keepers” and “Seers” and the ability for people who possess these special talents to remove a soul. The system is intricate, and there are stringent rules and a counsel that oversees the process. Now, removing of a soul is done in order to create a balance, and there are circumstances it is permitted and is heavily regulated. Those whose souls are removed are kept safe and the removal is registered, several people involved in the process and in place to help create balance until the soul is returned. The people involved keep the ability hidden to avoid dangerous situations and control the process. When Levi encounters Jeb and has all-consuming pain, and begins to feel for the first time, he is thrown into a world he never fathomed existed. How is it that nineteen year old Levi has no clue he has no soul? Who has it? Why was it taken? How can he get it back? Therein lies the mystery surrounding Soul Seekers.

I could not put this book down. Could. Not. The mystery had me totally captivated as, slowly, questions are answered—only to reveal more questions. The idea of the “Keepers” and “Seers” along with balance and harmony of the soul is an intriguing idea that the author does a wonderful job of exploring and explaining the concept of. As with anything that is not explained, or could be considered out of the norm or supernatural, there are groups out there determined to eradicate those who are a part of this processes, which adds to the mystery.

Levi and Jeb are imperfect individuals. Levi (under the impression he has an anxiety disorder with depression, which causes him to remain detached and unable to feel) is emotionless. He tries hard to think of others’ feelings and do the right thing, but his lack of empathy or understanding of emotions makes it difficult to function. Jeb, also emotionless but not because he can’t feel; because he refuses to let himself. The interaction between the two is explosive. I could feel Levi’s fear first, then confusion and anger at Jeb, slowly morphing into curiosity as he tried to piece together the man helping him search for his missing soul. As the attraction grows, Levi’s confusion as to his own emotions, which have started to develop, and whether they are real or part of something else, was realistic.

Quite literally, the intricacy and detail of this novel blew me away in the best possible way. Between the character developments, the mystery, and the world building, I was hooked. I remained hooked all the way until the end, and can’t remember a moment where it slowed down or was too rushed.

I honestly can’t think of a single complaint I had with this book. Not a one. It was the perfect combination which checked all of my boxes, keeping me totally invested in all the aspects of the story. If you enjoy a good mystery along with some paranormal elements, a cast of well-crafted and dimensional characters, this book just might be what you are looking for.

You can buy Soul Seekers here:
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