Loading ...Soul Keeper by Belinda McBride
The Equis (called Chirons amongst themselves) came out to the public after the kidnapping and horrific treatment of one of their kind. The Equis are the Centaurs of the ancient world, able to walk as human, half-human/half-horse, or fully horse. They are a people of many gifts and a rare few are called Soul Keepers. The souls of those who have left life but not yet gone onto to spirit world will sometimes attach themselves to a Soul Keeper. After a time, understanding comes to the souls and they are able to move on.
Phaedre Goode comes to the Siskiyou compound in North California to ask a favor of the herd’s Soul Keeper, Dorian. Phaedre lost her husband, Steven, and their unborn child after a terrible car wreck. She senses that Steven has joined with the Soul Keeper. She and Steven had some of his sperm frozen, and she wishes to be artificially inseminated so that she can bring a child of theirs into the world. What she doesn’t tell Dorian is that she is Avian and her people are almost extinct because they can only reproduce with very few humans. The needs of her race are as great as the needs of her heart for a child. What she doesn’t know is that Dorian had lost his life-mate and child and has been grieving so hard that he’s almost lost himself as well. In order for him to help Phaedre, he will need to heal his own broken heart.
In addition, Dorian’s twin brother, Kaine, is trying to emotionally heal from his abduction by scientists where he was examined and tortured for over three years. Phaedre’s sister-by-heart was recently drugged and tortured as well. The Equis and Avian people must come together to heal the wounds of the past and strengthen their bonds for the future good of all.
Soul Keeper is a fascinating book. The premise is absolutely unique and the book is so tightly constructed that the reader flows smoothly through the complexities and many sub-plots. The writing is almost lyrical, fitting beautifully with the characters. The physical descriptions of the characters are superb. You can almost see the feathers and feel the flight and visualize the strong, muscular racing Equis. There are graphic sexual scenes, but the author uses them to make a point rather than titillate the reader, and they are beautifully done.
Soul Keeper comes perilously close to being “too much”, however. There are numerous characters, each with their own unique story and plot. (I have not mentioned most of them in this review). The stories are wonderful and interwoven well, but there are a few loose ends still hanging at the end. The author could have easily made a series out of just this one book as she clearly has a rich imagination and the skill to make it come to life.
Book Stats
- e-book, digital format
- Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
- Book Length: Novel
- Language: English
- ISBN: 1-58608-
To purchase an electronic copy of Soul Keeper click here.
(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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