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Oldsoul
Jason Gouvas doesn t want to believe he has special abilities or that he's an Oldsoul-- a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away, but the dead girl in his mind can be very persuasive. Her name is Erin, and through her Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him. And with a group of power-hungry immortals bent on destroying the Oldsouls and overthrowing humanity, he's going to need them all.
314 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2012
4 people are currently reading
682 people want to read
About the author
Dan Haring
2 books93 followersDan Haring is from a tiny town in Utah and has been drawing and writing for most of his life. He earned his degree in animation from BYU and has worked on such films as The Incredible Hulk and Disney's Tangled. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 8, 2013
my dads book is the best, book,EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never knew my dad could write such a good book, or maybe I did, FROM MY DADS AWSOMENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I were you, I`d read it, NO MATTER WHAT STOOD IN MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 16, 2015
When young Philadelphia cop Jason Gouvas learns that he is no ordinary guy, he finds himself swept up on a journey of mysteries and the supernatural, centuries-old wars and fierce warriors. Whether he likes it or not, his life is changed forever. He soon realizes that there's a lot more to discovering he's an Oldsoul than he could have imagined, and the leaders of the ancient race as well as the voices of other souls in his mind help him as he puts the pieces together. But warnings from familiar, long-gone voices cause Jason to worry that he might not be able to trust everyone he meets in his new life.
I really liked this book. I knew the author in college, and it was a pleasure to finally read his first novel. Oldsoul has a lot going for it. It's original and interesting, and I never knew or guessed what was going to happen next. The world and society that Dan created is unique and fantastical, but rooted in fact and history, and with a dose of subtle spirituality. It was a very quick read, and the writing has a distinctive voice. (I should note that it's in first-person present-tense, which does take some getting used to, but which also does something as far as putting the reader right in the middle of the action.) The story is fast-paced and in some parts the pages practically turned themselves. I think action is hard to write, and for some (like me), sometimes hard to read, but I thought it was really well-executed here. The mysteries of the war between the Oldsouls and the Athanatos were fun to piece together along with Jason, and it added a good sense of threat and danger as the stakes raised with each new bit of information. And then, when the stakes WERE raised, it seemed realistic that Jason remained kind of cool and casual, as someone who was thrust into the situation most likely would. It was thrilling to follow the twists and turns and I was surprised at many points. It has an interesting and varied cast of characters; they felt real and believable, I can see some of them very vividly in my mind, and their conversation sounded natural and readable. I always enjoyed hearing the internal interactions between Jason and Erin, and Mikey's timely appearance was a really great breath of fresh air. Although I realize this is a more of a YA novel (geared toward guys, which is refreshing), I also really appreciated how clean this book was, especially considering the fact that a lot of YA novels these days feature decidedly inappropriate content. There were a few times when it would have been easy (maybe even more natural) to express the same thing in a harsher or more vulgar way, but toning down the language and content made it appropriate for readers of any age, even if it is now and then somewhat amusingly inaccurate for a cop from the hardened streets of Philly with a troubled upbringing to watch his language. It was fun to have some pop culture references sprinkled throughout too, tying the story to the superhero archetype and theme that weaves itself through. They were subtle (some to the point of practically being Easter Eggs), added some added element of relatability to Jason, and weren't at all distracting. Still, I did have a couple of issues with this book. I feel like it could have been fifty to a hundred pages longer, which would have led to a little more character development and some slightly deeper relationships between some of the cast. Mela and Jason had a compelling story, but there wasn't quite enough of them together for me to feel a real connection (though I was still rooting for them). Sometimes it seemed like there was something more to his immediate and intense attraction to her, and it might have been nice to see that explored a little more. Jason's family relationships could have been explored in a little more depth too, so when he learns more secrets about his past there's a little more resonance. The backstory of some of the central figures could have been explored a little more too, but I feel like if there's a sequel it could really expand the world in that way (for example, I'm really interested in Erin's story), and hopefully in a way that ties a continuation to the events of this book. There are a lot of changes of location that kept things interesting, but kind of blurred together in my mind for some reason, and that led to some fuzziness on what happened when and where, which caused me to go back and try to sort out the timeline a few times. There didn't seem to be a very clearly defined villain until really close to the end, which added an element of suspense, but also kind of made the little battles along the way seem less important or something. There were a couple of typos and grammatical issues too, but those are probably more noticeable to a pedant like this reader. Still, while it might not have been a perfect book, minor quibbles aside, the intricacies and intrigue of the story held my interest from the very beginning to the very end. I really look forward to what Dan writes in the future, especially if it continues Jason's story.
Dan Haring's debut is a great read. It's original and gripping, and I really cared about Jason and his allies. The world and mythology of the Oldsouls are unique, a little bit magical, but rooted in reality, with a nice touch of the classic superhero story woven throughout as well. It was so fresh that it seemed almost like something I normally wouldn't read told in a way that turns it into something I would. While I had a couple of very minor issues, I never knew what was going to happen next, and the pages just kept turning. Nice work, Dan!
I really liked this book. I knew the author in college, and it was a pleasure to finally read his first novel. Oldsoul has a lot going for it. It's original and interesting, and I never knew or guessed what was going to happen next. The world and society that Dan created is unique and fantastical, but rooted in fact and history, and with a dose of subtle spirituality. It was a very quick read, and the writing has a distinctive voice. (I should note that it's in first-person present-tense, which does take some getting used to, but which also does something as far as putting the reader right in the middle of the action.) The story is fast-paced and in some parts the pages practically turned themselves. I think action is hard to write, and for some (like me), sometimes hard to read, but I thought it was really well-executed here. The mysteries of the war between the Oldsouls and the Athanatos were fun to piece together along with Jason, and it added a good sense of threat and danger as the stakes raised with each new bit of information. And then, when the stakes WERE raised, it seemed realistic that Jason remained kind of cool and casual, as someone who was thrust into the situation most likely would. It was thrilling to follow the twists and turns and I was surprised at many points. It has an interesting and varied cast of characters; they felt real and believable, I can see some of them very vividly in my mind, and their conversation sounded natural and readable. I always enjoyed hearing the internal interactions between Jason and Erin, and Mikey's timely appearance was a really great breath of fresh air. Although I realize this is a more of a YA novel (geared toward guys, which is refreshing), I also really appreciated how clean this book was, especially considering the fact that a lot of YA novels these days feature decidedly inappropriate content. There were a few times when it would have been easy (maybe even more natural) to express the same thing in a harsher or more vulgar way, but toning down the language and content made it appropriate for readers of any age, even if it is now and then somewhat amusingly inaccurate for a cop from the hardened streets of Philly with a troubled upbringing to watch his language. It was fun to have some pop culture references sprinkled throughout too, tying the story to the superhero archetype and theme that weaves itself through. They were subtle (some to the point of practically being Easter Eggs), added some added element of relatability to Jason, and weren't at all distracting. Still, I did have a couple of issues with this book. I feel like it could have been fifty to a hundred pages longer, which would have led to a little more character development and some slightly deeper relationships between some of the cast. Mela and Jason had a compelling story, but there wasn't quite enough of them together for me to feel a real connection (though I was still rooting for them). Sometimes it seemed like there was something more to his immediate and intense attraction to her, and it might have been nice to see that explored a little more. Jason's family relationships could have been explored in a little more depth too, so when he learns more secrets about his past there's a little more resonance. The backstory of some of the central figures could have been explored a little more too, but I feel like if there's a sequel it could really expand the world in that way (for example, I'm really interested in Erin's story), and hopefully in a way that ties a continuation to the events of this book. There are a lot of changes of location that kept things interesting, but kind of blurred together in my mind for some reason, and that led to some fuzziness on what happened when and where, which caused me to go back and try to sort out the timeline a few times. There didn't seem to be a very clearly defined villain until really close to the end, which added an element of suspense, but also kind of made the little battles along the way seem less important or something. There were a couple of typos and grammatical issues too, but those are probably more noticeable to a pedant like this reader. Still, while it might not have been a perfect book, minor quibbles aside, the intricacies and intrigue of the story held my interest from the very beginning to the very end. I really look forward to what Dan writes in the future, especially if it continues Jason's story.
Dan Haring's debut is a great read. It's original and gripping, and I really cared about Jason and his allies. The world and mythology of the Oldsouls are unique, a little bit magical, but rooted in reality, with a nice touch of the classic superhero story woven throughout as well. It was so fresh that it seemed almost like something I normally wouldn't read told in a way that turns it into something I would. While I had a couple of very minor issues, I never knew what was going to happen next, and the pages just kept turning. Nice work, Dan!
March 31, 2012
I have a confession to make… I have no idea goes on in a man’s mind. Shocking, I know. It’s for this very reason that I’m hesitant to read a book written from a guy’s POV in first person. I’m always afraid I won’t be able to connect with the character, or that I won’t understand his thought processes behind his decisions because he’s a dude and I’m not. But, I spend all day with an 18mo and I crave a little adventure in my life, so when we were approached about participating in the blog tour I said “heck, why not? I’ll give it a try!” And so I did.
Jason is in the middle of getting his lunch handed to him when he hears the strangest thing: a woman’s voice calling out, sounding suspiciously like it’s coming from inside his own head. Days later, Jason wakes up completely healed in a monastery in the middle of nowhere. If it wasn’t for the lovely face he wakes up to, he would have bolted the instant he woke up. Instead, he waits until the monks tell him a crazy story about how he’s a vessel for old souls reaching back thousands of years, and then bolts. It’s then that the woman who saved him before speaks up, and tells him everything the monks told him was true. The voice in his mind introduces herself as Erin, and tells him that his physical body does indeed house thousands of souls. Jason isn’t your typical oldsoul either, he’s the Ancient of Days, the one prophesied to bring an end to the war between the oldsouls and their bitter enemy, the Athanatos.
Jason immediately begins training to fight, and is soon sent out on his first mission. He is tasked with killing a powerful Athanatos, but the plan goes awry when Jason and his crew are ambushed. They do kill the intended target, but Mela (the lovely face from above) is kidnapped, and Jason ends up in the clutches of someone from his past. It seems the monks weren’t entirely up front with the status of the war, and the lines blur as enemies become friends, and friends become enemies.
I had a few issues with the book, but thankfully none of them were gender related. I enjoyed Jason’s character for the most part. He was a likeable guy, but he didn’t invoke strong feelings of passion or anything. He had a sarcastic sense of humor that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t, and he was a lot like that awkward guy in class that is really nice, but will never go beyond the “strictly a lab partner” line. The world and premise of the story was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the action scenes and the twists.
However.
I struggled with the writing style. It was choppy, and what could have been said in one or two sentences was said in five. Can sentences be too short? If so, then that was definitely the problem here. Ex: They walked to the car. They got in the car. They drove to the warehouse. They each received duffel bags full of weapons… and so on and so forth. When I’m reading a book, I don’t want to be bothered with the writing style, grammatical errors or other editing issues. I want to be taken away from my mundane life into that of the fantastical and make-believe. Unfortunately, Oldsoul didn’t achieve that for me.
And the romance. Dear heavens. I use that term loosely, by the way, since I wouldn’t use that word to describe the relationship between Jason and Mela. First of all, she hardly gets any page time, which means she hardly ever gets face-to-face time with Jason. By the end of the story all I know about her (and what I know is based on what Jason knows) is that her favorite color is dark gray, and she’s good with a bow and arrow. That’s it. As an avid romance reader, it’s difficult to believe in the love story when I don’t know the characters or feel the chemistry. I would have much preferred the story if they had been friends instead of a couple, or if the romance part had been taken out all together. Although, since Jason’s motto was “save the world, get the girl” I’m not quite sure how not having a girl would have worked out.
My Summary: I wanted Oldsoul to be a success, I really did. The author has created such a unique and interesting world, and it has such potential. I just couldn’t ignore the fluidity issues in style, and the romance needed to have a bit more back bone. I probably could have moved past the lack of romance, if not for the fact that most of Jason’s decisions were based on Mela’s status and safety. It just wasn’t believable. While Oldsoul didn’t work for me, I would definitely recommend giving it a shot and forming your own opinion. Who knows, maybe this author’s particular writing style is what you’ve been looking for.
My Rating: C
Jason is in the middle of getting his lunch handed to him when he hears the strangest thing: a woman’s voice calling out, sounding suspiciously like it’s coming from inside his own head. Days later, Jason wakes up completely healed in a monastery in the middle of nowhere. If it wasn’t for the lovely face he wakes up to, he would have bolted the instant he woke up. Instead, he waits until the monks tell him a crazy story about how he’s a vessel for old souls reaching back thousands of years, and then bolts. It’s then that the woman who saved him before speaks up, and tells him everything the monks told him was true. The voice in his mind introduces herself as Erin, and tells him that his physical body does indeed house thousands of souls. Jason isn’t your typical oldsoul either, he’s the Ancient of Days, the one prophesied to bring an end to the war between the oldsouls and their bitter enemy, the Athanatos.
Jason immediately begins training to fight, and is soon sent out on his first mission. He is tasked with killing a powerful Athanatos, but the plan goes awry when Jason and his crew are ambushed. They do kill the intended target, but Mela (the lovely face from above) is kidnapped, and Jason ends up in the clutches of someone from his past. It seems the monks weren’t entirely up front with the status of the war, and the lines blur as enemies become friends, and friends become enemies.
I had a few issues with the book, but thankfully none of them were gender related. I enjoyed Jason’s character for the most part. He was a likeable guy, but he didn’t invoke strong feelings of passion or anything. He had a sarcastic sense of humor that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t, and he was a lot like that awkward guy in class that is really nice, but will never go beyond the “strictly a lab partner” line. The world and premise of the story was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the action scenes and the twists.
However.
I struggled with the writing style. It was choppy, and what could have been said in one or two sentences was said in five. Can sentences be too short? If so, then that was definitely the problem here. Ex: They walked to the car. They got in the car. They drove to the warehouse. They each received duffel bags full of weapons… and so on and so forth. When I’m reading a book, I don’t want to be bothered with the writing style, grammatical errors or other editing issues. I want to be taken away from my mundane life into that of the fantastical and make-believe. Unfortunately, Oldsoul didn’t achieve that for me.
And the romance. Dear heavens. I use that term loosely, by the way, since I wouldn’t use that word to describe the relationship between Jason and Mela. First of all, she hardly gets any page time, which means she hardly ever gets face-to-face time with Jason. By the end of the story all I know about her (and what I know is based on what Jason knows) is that her favorite color is dark gray, and she’s good with a bow and arrow. That’s it. As an avid romance reader, it’s difficult to believe in the love story when I don’t know the characters or feel the chemistry. I would have much preferred the story if they had been friends instead of a couple, or if the romance part had been taken out all together. Although, since Jason’s motto was “save the world, get the girl” I’m not quite sure how not having a girl would have worked out.
My Summary: I wanted Oldsoul to be a success, I really did. The author has created such a unique and interesting world, and it has such potential. I just couldn’t ignore the fluidity issues in style, and the romance needed to have a bit more back bone. I probably could have moved past the lack of romance, if not for the fact that most of Jason’s decisions were based on Mela’s status and safety. It just wasn’t believable. While Oldsoul didn’t work for me, I would definitely recommend giving it a shot and forming your own opinion. Who knows, maybe this author’s particular writing style is what you’ve been looking for.
My Rating: C
April 1, 2012
I ran into Dan Haring during the Apocalypsies YAmazing Race (well, not literally, ‘cause it was on the internet) and asked if I could review Oldsoul on my blog. He was nice enough to send me a copy, and I’m so glad I read it, because it has an original hook that made me want to keep reading.
Jason is a young cop on patrol one night with his partner Marty, when they are caught scoping out a secret meeting of a notorious Italian crime family. As he comes to after being beaten and tied up, Jason hears a voice in his head telling him to hold on, and all hell breaks loose as a group of weapon-wielding vigilantes comes to his rescue. Confused, bleeding, and in pain, Jason later wakes up in a strange room, and his new life begins. According to his new friends Solon and Mela, he is an “Oldsoul,” a vessel for hundreds of reincarnated souls, who all reside within Jason. Better still, he is automatically equipped with each soul’s particular talents and knowledge. The speaker for the group is a soul named Erin, a young girl whom Jason gets to know quite well as the story progresses, as they learn to converse with each other without speaking aloud.
Solon also explains that the Oldsouls are facing war with the Athanatos, immortal beings who want to destroy the Oldsouls. Luckily, the Oldsouls have a weapon that can drastically hinder, if not kill, the Athanatos: their own blood. (Likewise, Athanatos blood is dangerous to Oldsouls.) Coincidentally, Jason just happens to be the Oldsoul known as the Ancient of Days, the one who is destined to defeat the enemy. The Oldsouls have a mission to keep their race going, and their best chance at survival, Jason, is finally part of the team.
The action is fast and furious as the Oldsouls try to stop the evil Athanatos Moravec. Along the way, Jason is stunned to meet up with several lost family members, including his father, who turns out to be an Athanatos himself, and his dead Grandfather, whom he meets up with in his dreams. When Jason discovers he has several startling abilities, including the power to heal himself, the pieces of his parentage begin to fall into place. In order to triumph, Jason must come to terms with his new talents and accept the help of his souls.
Haring wisely includes a love interest for Jason, the beautiful Mela, who is also an Oldsoul. The Oldsouls may need Jason to help them win their battle, but Jason’s priorities clearly involve getting closer to Mela, and later after she is kidnapped during a dangerous mission, rescuing her. Strangely enough, I felt the more interesting female character was Erin, whose wicked humor and sarcasm were much more engaging than the cookie-cutter Mela’s. Although Mela has had combat training and joins in fights with the others, I could imagine Erin doing much better in battle, and not managing to get herself kidnapped to boot. And Erin has a mystery to solve: her mortal life ended in murder, and Jason has sworn to help her discover the identity of her killer.
I enjoyed the unique concept of Oldsoul, a variation on the idea of reincarnation. As an Oldsoul, Jason will eventually be reborn in another body when he dies, and all the souls in his head, including the wonderful Erin, will be there with him. Haring’s story is action-packed but filled with humor as well. His use of present tense throughout, which I usually don’t like, worked well this time and made the action and emotion in the story seem palpable, especially since Jason is telling the story. Characters abound in Oldsoul, perhaps too many, and I couldn’t begin to list them all here if I tried. But they are all well-drawn and add depth to the plot, and most readers won’t have trouble keeping track of them. My one complaint is that the dialog was too clichéd and predictable, and made the love story between Jason and Mela less than believable. But Haring has time to work on his dialog. He’s young, after all, and has many more books in him, I’ll bet. I for one will be waiting in line for his next story.
Many thanks to Dan for supplying a review copy of the book. This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy. Visit my website now for a chance to win a copy of Oldsoul! Contest ends April 7th.
Jason is a young cop on patrol one night with his partner Marty, when they are caught scoping out a secret meeting of a notorious Italian crime family. As he comes to after being beaten and tied up, Jason hears a voice in his head telling him to hold on, and all hell breaks loose as a group of weapon-wielding vigilantes comes to his rescue. Confused, bleeding, and in pain, Jason later wakes up in a strange room, and his new life begins. According to his new friends Solon and Mela, he is an “Oldsoul,” a vessel for hundreds of reincarnated souls, who all reside within Jason. Better still, he is automatically equipped with each soul’s particular talents and knowledge. The speaker for the group is a soul named Erin, a young girl whom Jason gets to know quite well as the story progresses, as they learn to converse with each other without speaking aloud.
Solon also explains that the Oldsouls are facing war with the Athanatos, immortal beings who want to destroy the Oldsouls. Luckily, the Oldsouls have a weapon that can drastically hinder, if not kill, the Athanatos: their own blood. (Likewise, Athanatos blood is dangerous to Oldsouls.) Coincidentally, Jason just happens to be the Oldsoul known as the Ancient of Days, the one who is destined to defeat the enemy. The Oldsouls have a mission to keep their race going, and their best chance at survival, Jason, is finally part of the team.
The action is fast and furious as the Oldsouls try to stop the evil Athanatos Moravec. Along the way, Jason is stunned to meet up with several lost family members, including his father, who turns out to be an Athanatos himself, and his dead Grandfather, whom he meets up with in his dreams. When Jason discovers he has several startling abilities, including the power to heal himself, the pieces of his parentage begin to fall into place. In order to triumph, Jason must come to terms with his new talents and accept the help of his souls.
Haring wisely includes a love interest for Jason, the beautiful Mela, who is also an Oldsoul. The Oldsouls may need Jason to help them win their battle, but Jason’s priorities clearly involve getting closer to Mela, and later after she is kidnapped during a dangerous mission, rescuing her. Strangely enough, I felt the more interesting female character was Erin, whose wicked humor and sarcasm were much more engaging than the cookie-cutter Mela’s. Although Mela has had combat training and joins in fights with the others, I could imagine Erin doing much better in battle, and not managing to get herself kidnapped to boot. And Erin has a mystery to solve: her mortal life ended in murder, and Jason has sworn to help her discover the identity of her killer.
I enjoyed the unique concept of Oldsoul, a variation on the idea of reincarnation. As an Oldsoul, Jason will eventually be reborn in another body when he dies, and all the souls in his head, including the wonderful Erin, will be there with him. Haring’s story is action-packed but filled with humor as well. His use of present tense throughout, which I usually don’t like, worked well this time and made the action and emotion in the story seem palpable, especially since Jason is telling the story. Characters abound in Oldsoul, perhaps too many, and I couldn’t begin to list them all here if I tried. But they are all well-drawn and add depth to the plot, and most readers won’t have trouble keeping track of them. My one complaint is that the dialog was too clichéd and predictable, and made the love story between Jason and Mela less than believable. But Haring has time to work on his dialog. He’s young, after all, and has many more books in him, I’ll bet. I for one will be waiting in line for his next story.
Many thanks to Dan for supplying a review copy of the book. This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy. Visit my website now for a chance to win a copy of Oldsoul! Contest ends April 7th.
August 13, 2012
I've wanted to read "Oldsoul" ever since I stumbled across its awesome description. How cool would it be to be a vessel for hundreds of souls which lend you their abilities? Imagine all the things one could do! Now that I've finally read the book, I am just as excited though I had a small complaint which will come later.
First of all, I have to say that "Oldsoul" is the perfect novel to be transformed into an action film. It has a ninja and a samurai as souls, rocket launchers, explosions, gun fight, martial arts etc. It can make even the fussiest person happy. Moreover, the world and the society created by Dan Haring are so unique and enveloped in mysticism that you are unable to let the novel go until you finish it. Although it starts at a slower pace, as you progress through the novel, the action becomes more and more alert, culminating in an explosive way.
The characters are seen through Jason's eyes, but the author manages to shape them in a complex way, despite the first person Point of View. Erin is probably the most endearing of them all. A former painter, murdered while she was still young, Erin becomes Jason's friend, confidant, observer and personal spy. Mickey, Jason's friend is that humorous voice all novels need. The romance between Jason and Mela is soft, but it's there and brings a nice and warm moments in the action.
What I would have loved would have been to know more about the main antagonist until the end of the novel. He gets revealed in the last part of the book and I had problems connecting with him. I was just as confused as some of the characters. Unfortunately, this took away some of the importance of the final battle.
I loved the fact that the ending is not exactly set in stone. The author made the finale of the story in such a way that it can leave room for imagination, can be continued or even left as it is.
Personally I would love to read more about Jason in the future.
Rating: 4.5/5
First of all, I have to say that "Oldsoul" is the perfect novel to be transformed into an action film. It has a ninja and a samurai as souls, rocket launchers, explosions, gun fight, martial arts etc. It can make even the fussiest person happy. Moreover, the world and the society created by Dan Haring are so unique and enveloped in mysticism that you are unable to let the novel go until you finish it. Although it starts at a slower pace, as you progress through the novel, the action becomes more and more alert, culminating in an explosive way.
The characters are seen through Jason's eyes, but the author manages to shape them in a complex way, despite the first person Point of View. Erin is probably the most endearing of them all. A former painter, murdered while she was still young, Erin becomes Jason's friend, confidant, observer and personal spy. Mickey, Jason's friend is that humorous voice all novels need. The romance between Jason and Mela is soft, but it's there and brings a nice and warm moments in the action.
What I would have loved would have been to know more about the main antagonist until the end of the novel. He gets revealed in the last part of the book and I had problems connecting with him. I was just as confused as some of the characters. Unfortunately, this took away some of the importance of the final battle.
I loved the fact that the ending is not exactly set in stone. The author made the finale of the story in such a way that it can leave room for imagination, can be continued or even left as it is.
Personally I would love to read more about Jason in the future.
Rating: 4.5/5
March 13, 2012
In case you can’t tell by the cover, there’s nothing girlwashed about Oldsoul.
Don’t get me wrong, fancy dresses and love stories are still my favorite, but if you’re looking to try something new, perhaps something with gun fights, martial arts, and plot of “save the world get the girl” proportions—you’re looking at it.
I was very pleased that despite the intense nature of the fight scenes, there wasn’t anything in here that made me cringe like I did while reading THE HUNGER GAMES.
Jason is an Oldsoul, a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away. Among these colorful personalities is a girl named Erin.
Erin feels like the girl next door, and if this were a video game, she’d be the lovely Cortana in Master Chief’s helmet. Erin something like a spy, multi-tasker, and a close friend to Jason. The author does a great job of making her feel real even though she’s just a voice in Jason’s head, a character the reader can’t actually “see.” Through Erin, Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him.
With a samurai and ninja in his repertoire, the fight for life scenes and sequences threaten to jump off the page and karate chop you in the face. The brutal beatings our hero goes through certainly challenges him both mentally and physically, and it’s his adaptation to the pitfalls kept the plot lively and had me turning pages in a rush to see what would happen next.
The tone is very casual, and the internal dialogue and observations are spot on for a story told from a male POV. However, there are plenty of little tidbits regarding the hero’s crush on the supporting female character that makes me comfortable recommending this to my girl friends and not just the guys in my life.
Don’t get me wrong, fancy dresses and love stories are still my favorite, but if you’re looking to try something new, perhaps something with gun fights, martial arts, and plot of “save the world get the girl” proportions—you’re looking at it.
I was very pleased that despite the intense nature of the fight scenes, there wasn’t anything in here that made me cringe like I did while reading THE HUNGER GAMES.
Jason is an Oldsoul, a vessel for the souls of people who have passed away. Among these colorful personalities is a girl named Erin.
Erin feels like the girl next door, and if this were a video game, she’d be the lovely Cortana in Master Chief’s helmet. Erin something like a spy, multi-tasker, and a close friend to Jason. The author does a great job of making her feel real even though she’s just a voice in Jason’s head, a character the reader can’t actually “see.” Through Erin, Jason is able to access the knowledge and skills of the souls within him.
With a samurai and ninja in his repertoire, the fight for life scenes and sequences threaten to jump off the page and karate chop you in the face. The brutal beatings our hero goes through certainly challenges him both mentally and physically, and it’s his adaptation to the pitfalls kept the plot lively and had me turning pages in a rush to see what would happen next.
The tone is very casual, and the internal dialogue and observations are spot on for a story told from a male POV. However, there are plenty of little tidbits regarding the hero’s crush on the supporting female character that makes me comfortable recommending this to my girl friends and not just the guys in my life.
March 27, 2012
I was lucky enough to host the blog tour for this book to celebrate it's release. You can see my interview with the author here in which he talks a little about graphic novels, cartoons and weapons.
Oldsoul was one of those books that when I first heard about it I was thinking it was going to be like most of the other books I've read recently in which the main character can communicate mentally with other people, like telepathy, except he could communicate with dead souls as well. I was completely wrong. For me it was more like reading mission impossible or bourne identity with the addition of the main character getting feedback and advice from relatives, other oldsouls etc through his mind, with the help of Erin.
I couldn't help but picture the story as an action movie as I read, huge all out fight scenes including missions and explosions and flying cars. I also think it would make a great graphic novel and through the author discovered that is what he originally hoped for this story.
As the main character is a young policeman at 18 years old, this appeals to a younger audience and with a less focus on romance and more on battle, a book great book recommendation for boys.
I was also a little surprised to find a focus on family ties as well. There is a story connecting Jason with his father and his grandfather that really appealed to me. I liked the struggle that he is put through, he has some hard decisions to make and only with the help of the other oldsouls is he able to fight back. After all you can't really be considered for the title of superhero without a sidekick or two.
April 5, 2012
Oldsoul - what a cool concept! Oldsoul had a bit of a slower start, but really built into a a cool premise and action packed story. This was a promising debut from Dan Haring, and I can't wait to see what he writes next.
The world setup was really neat. For the first portion of the book, there was a lot of world building going on and it was a bit disorienting, but I just loved the idea. It was so completely unique from anything else I have read, which was so refreshing. The one thing I would say is I wish several things had been explained a bit more, since I finished still not completely sure about some aspects.
With the second half of the story, things really start to pick up. There were quite a few twists I would never have guessed coming, which made Oldsoul that much more fun to read.
The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book. Erin and Solon were two of my particular favorites. Erin was just too funny, and Solon was so sincere and charming. I didn't see a whole lot of build up to Jason and Mela's relationship, so it appeared a bit odd to me at times.
Oldsoul by Dan Haring was quite an enjoyable read. I loved the premise, and while it had a bit of a slow start, it still was quite the read. I would love to see more from this fabulous cast of characters.
The world setup was really neat. For the first portion of the book, there was a lot of world building going on and it was a bit disorienting, but I just loved the idea. It was so completely unique from anything else I have read, which was so refreshing. The one thing I would say is I wish several things had been explained a bit more, since I finished still not completely sure about some aspects.
With the second half of the story, things really start to pick up. There were quite a few twists I would never have guessed coming, which made Oldsoul that much more fun to read.
The characters were one of my favorite parts of the book. Erin and Solon were two of my particular favorites. Erin was just too funny, and Solon was so sincere and charming. I didn't see a whole lot of build up to Jason and Mela's relationship, so it appeared a bit odd to me at times.
Oldsoul by Dan Haring was quite an enjoyable read. I loved the premise, and while it had a bit of a slow start, it still was quite the read. I would love to see more from this fabulous cast of characters.
April 6, 2012
Oldsoul was unlike anything else i've read, which made me want to read it as soon as I read the premise for it.
This book had a bit of a slow start for me, but I think it was due to trying to get the basics of the storyline across in a way that was understandable to the reader. I loved the characters in the book, and by far my favorites were Erin and Solon. They both were strong and well-developed characters and I enjoyed the roles they played in the story. The action-packed events made me want to keep reading, and was a fast read for me because I wanted to know what happened to Jason.
The only problem I had with the story was Jason and Melas' relationship. Right from the get-go Mela read like an older character, for some reason I pictured her in her fourties, and Jason is just a teenager. I obviously misinterpreted her character because she's not that old, but I couldn't really feel connected to their relationship because I felt it was under-developed, and just wasn't feeling it at all.
Overall, I really enjoyed OldSoul and liked Dan Haring's writing style. Its a strong debut for sure, and look forward to reading more from him in the future. I'm not sure if this book was intended to be a series or not, but I definitely think he can expand on this story and make something great!
This book had a bit of a slow start for me, but I think it was due to trying to get the basics of the storyline across in a way that was understandable to the reader. I loved the characters in the book, and by far my favorites were Erin and Solon. They both were strong and well-developed characters and I enjoyed the roles they played in the story. The action-packed events made me want to keep reading, and was a fast read for me because I wanted to know what happened to Jason.
The only problem I had with the story was Jason and Melas' relationship. Right from the get-go Mela read like an older character, for some reason I pictured her in her fourties, and Jason is just a teenager. I obviously misinterpreted her character because she's not that old, but I couldn't really feel connected to their relationship because I felt it was under-developed, and just wasn't feeling it at all.
Overall, I really enjoyed OldSoul and liked Dan Haring's writing style. Its a strong debut for sure, and look forward to reading more from him in the future. I'm not sure if this book was intended to be a series or not, but I definitely think he can expand on this story and make something great!
June 13, 2012
This book held my interest from page one. The main character, Jason Gouvas, lives a very normal life until one day everything familiar comes to an abrupt halt and he discovers his true calling in life. After initially resisting the changes he’s faced with, he eventually embraces his fate. Dan Haring is a witty writer who made the characters not only funny, but also real and believable. The concept of this book is unique and interesting. In addition, there were constant surprises creating an unpredictable story. While this is a book that would seemingly appeal primarily to men, a love story is intertwined as well, making it interesting to a female audience also.
For more content details go to http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...
For more content details go to http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...
February 24, 2012
I truly enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up. The first page grabbed me and I became so involved with the main characters I couldn't put it down. The story line in well written so it is easy to follow but was also very complex. The story really made me think which made it so much more enjoyable to read. There was no guessing what would happen next.
September 20, 2012
The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that it is not really my style of book, just a little more action/fantasy than I prefer, but my son loved it. It definitely hooked me in by the second half and I'm anxious to see where he goes with it!
July 26, 2012
3/5 stars = liked it. I liked this book. The main idea behind the book was really cool and interesting. The whole second half of the book seemed rushed though and didn't flow well for me. If there is a followup book I'll read it though. Like I said, really cool main idea.
November 2, 2012
I got this book at school, and it is AWESOME! It is about Jason, an oldsoul, who is just headed for an amazing journey. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Amazing! READ IT!
December 26, 2011
An excellent read with a very unique premise and great characters...I loved it! (full review to come)
October 13, 2012
Clever premise, action-packed, and original. Really enjoyed the romance and action. Fun voice and humor!
May 11, 2012
This was a fun book with an introduction to a new world of old souls and immortals. The pace was quick and the characters engaging. It made me want to read more fiction!
August 7, 2016
Check out my review below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
September 4, 2012
Probably the stupidest book I have ever read. Just stupid.
July 16, 2012
Pretty awesome storyline. Good job Dan! For his first book, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Can't want to see if the story continues.
October 15, 2012
A little slow start, but an interesting story, great to read a YA novel with no swearing and a good plot line... Wanted more when I was done. Hope Dan writes more soon!
August 20, 2014
I was fortunate to help edit the manuscript before Dan published it. I thought it was an interesting concept and I loved where he went with it!
April 6, 2022
Loved this book!
Pros: Clean, fast paced, sweet romance side story, happy ending, unique story idea (read: mutant powers I hadn't come across before), characters were believable
Cons: ...
Yeah, sorry. Weird review, but this book was a breath of fresh air, and a quick read. Great job, Dan!
Pros: Clean, fast paced, sweet romance side story, happy ending, unique story idea (read: mutant powers I hadn't come across before), characters were believable
Cons: ...
Yeah, sorry. Weird review, but this book was a breath of fresh air, and a quick read. Great job, Dan!
August 23, 2023
I'm a bit biased because I'm a big fan personally of the author.
This is a coming of age story that showcased an interesting fantasy idea of having past lives (skills and abilities too) inside the main character that reminded me of the Borne series. It was fun to see the character develop.
This is a coming of age story that showcased an interesting fantasy idea of having past lives (skills and abilities too) inside the main character that reminded me of the Borne series. It was fun to see the character develop.
September 23, 2014
I have a confession to make��� I have no idea goes on in a man���s mind. Shocking, I know. It���s for this very reason that I���m hesitant to read a book written from a guy���s POV in first person. I���m always afraid I won���t be able to connect with the character, or that I won���t understand his thought processes behind his decisions because he���s a dude and I���m not. But, I spend all day with an 18mo and I crave a little adventure in my life, so when we were approached about participating in the blog tour I said ���heck, why not? I���ll give it a try!��� And so I did.
Jason is in the middle of getting his lunch handed to him when he hears the strangest thing: a woman���s voice calling out, sounding suspiciously like it���s coming from inside his own head. Days later, Jason wakes up completely healed in a monastery in the middle of nowhere. If it wasn���t for the lovely face he wakes up to, he would have bolted the instant he woke up. Instead, he waits until the monks tell him a crazy story about how he���s a vessel for old souls reaching back thousands of years, and then bolts. It���s then that the woman who saved him before speaks up, and tells him everything the monks told him was true. The voice in his mind introduces herself as Erin, and tells him that his physical body does indeed house thousands of souls. Jason isn���t your typical oldsoul either, he���s the Ancient of Days, the one prophesied to bring an end to the war between the oldsouls and their bitter enemy, the Athanatos.
Jason immediately begins training to fight, and is soon sent out on his first mission. He is tasked with killing a powerful Athanatos, but the plan goes awry when Jason and his crew are ambushed. They do kill the intended target, but Mela (the lovely face from above) is kidnapped, and Jason ends up in the clutches of someone from his past. It seems the monks weren���t entirely up front with the status of the war, and the lines blur as enemies become friends, and friends become enemies.
I had a few issues with the book, but thankfully none of them were gender related. I enjoyed Jason���s character for the most part. He was a likeable guy, but he didn���t invoke strong feelings of passion or anything. He had a sarcastic sense of humor that sometimes worked and sometimes didn���t, and he was a lot like that awkward guy in class that is really nice, but will never go beyond the ���strictly a lab partner��� line. The world and premise of the story was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the action scenes and the twists.
However.
I struggled with the writing style. It was choppy, and what could have been said in one or two sentences was said in five. Can sentences be too short? If so, then that was definitely the problem here. Ex: They walked to the car. They got in the car. They drove to the warehouse. They each received duffel bags full of weapons��� and so on and so forth. When I���m reading a book, I don���t want to be bothered with the writing style, grammatical errors or other editing issues. I want to be taken away from my mundane life into that of the fantastical and make-believe. Unfortunately, Oldsoul didn���t achieve that for me.
And the romance. Dear heavens. I use that term loosely, by the way, since I wouldn���t use that word to describe the relationship between Jason and Mela. First of all, she hardly gets any page time, which means she hardly ever gets face-to-face time with Jason. By the end of the story all I know about her (and what I know is based on what Jason knows) is that her favorite color is dark gray, and she���s good with a bow and arrow. That���s it. As an avid romance reader, it���s difficult to believe in the love story when I don���t know the characters or feel the chemistry. I would have much preferred the story if they had been friends instead of a couple, or if the romance part had been taken out all together. Although, since Jason���s motto was ���save the world, get the girl��� I���m not quite sure how not having a girl would have worked out.
My Summary: I wanted Oldsoul to be a success, I really did. The author has created such a unique and interesting world, and it has such potential. I just couldn���t ignore the fluidity issues in style, and the romance needed to have a bit more back bone. I probably could have moved past the lack of romance, if not for the fact that most of Jason���s decisions were based on Mela���s status and safety. It just wasn���t believable. While Oldsoul didn���t work for me, I would definitely recommend giving it a shot and forming your own opinion. Who knows, maybe this author���s particular writing style is what you���ve been looking for.
My Rating: C
Jason is in the middle of getting his lunch handed to him when he hears the strangest thing: a woman���s voice calling out, sounding suspiciously like it���s coming from inside his own head. Days later, Jason wakes up completely healed in a monastery in the middle of nowhere. If it wasn���t for the lovely face he wakes up to, he would have bolted the instant he woke up. Instead, he waits until the monks tell him a crazy story about how he���s a vessel for old souls reaching back thousands of years, and then bolts. It���s then that the woman who saved him before speaks up, and tells him everything the monks told him was true. The voice in his mind introduces herself as Erin, and tells him that his physical body does indeed house thousands of souls. Jason isn���t your typical oldsoul either, he���s the Ancient of Days, the one prophesied to bring an end to the war between the oldsouls and their bitter enemy, the Athanatos.
Jason immediately begins training to fight, and is soon sent out on his first mission. He is tasked with killing a powerful Athanatos, but the plan goes awry when Jason and his crew are ambushed. They do kill the intended target, but Mela (the lovely face from above) is kidnapped, and Jason ends up in the clutches of someone from his past. It seems the monks weren���t entirely up front with the status of the war, and the lines blur as enemies become friends, and friends become enemies.
I had a few issues with the book, but thankfully none of them were gender related. I enjoyed Jason���s character for the most part. He was a likeable guy, but he didn���t invoke strong feelings of passion or anything. He had a sarcastic sense of humor that sometimes worked and sometimes didn���t, and he was a lot like that awkward guy in class that is really nice, but will never go beyond the ���strictly a lab partner��� line. The world and premise of the story was unique and interesting, and I enjoyed the action scenes and the twists.
However.
I struggled with the writing style. It was choppy, and what could have been said in one or two sentences was said in five. Can sentences be too short? If so, then that was definitely the problem here. Ex: They walked to the car. They got in the car. They drove to the warehouse. They each received duffel bags full of weapons��� and so on and so forth. When I���m reading a book, I don���t want to be bothered with the writing style, grammatical errors or other editing issues. I want to be taken away from my mundane life into that of the fantastical and make-believe. Unfortunately, Oldsoul didn���t achieve that for me.
And the romance. Dear heavens. I use that term loosely, by the way, since I wouldn���t use that word to describe the relationship between Jason and Mela. First of all, she hardly gets any page time, which means she hardly ever gets face-to-face time with Jason. By the end of the story all I know about her (and what I know is based on what Jason knows) is that her favorite color is dark gray, and she���s good with a bow and arrow. That���s it. As an avid romance reader, it���s difficult to believe in the love story when I don���t know the characters or feel the chemistry. I would have much preferred the story if they had been friends instead of a couple, or if the romance part had been taken out all together. Although, since Jason���s motto was ���save the world, get the girl��� I���m not quite sure how not having a girl would have worked out.
My Summary: I wanted Oldsoul to be a success, I really did. The author has created such a unique and interesting world, and it has such potential. I just couldn���t ignore the fluidity issues in style, and the romance needed to have a bit more back bone. I probably could have moved past the lack of romance, if not for the fact that most of Jason���s decisions were based on Mela���s status and safety. It just wasn���t believable. While Oldsoul didn���t work for me, I would definitely recommend giving it a shot and forming your own opinion. Who knows, maybe this author���s particular writing style is what you���ve been looking for.
My Rating: C
March 21, 2014
(Full review here.)
I had trouble getting into this book. The idea is creative, the writing is fine and the action is exciting. But I just didn't really connect with it. I think the world building was a little wobbly, and the main character never seemed terribly concerned about the upheaval around him. I'm not opposed to a mellow protagonist, but if the main character is cracking jokes it's hard to feel the tension. The love interest was a little flat and overall it was a bit predictable--not unpleasantly so but predictable nonetheless. Also it could do with some finer editing, as I found a number of typos. I promise I don't look for those things! But I do have eyes and all, ha.
Overall, this had some original ideas and exciting action, but it didn't really grab me.
I had trouble getting into this book. The idea is creative, the writing is fine and the action is exciting. But I just didn't really connect with it. I think the world building was a little wobbly, and the main character never seemed terribly concerned about the upheaval around him. I'm not opposed to a mellow protagonist, but if the main character is cracking jokes it's hard to feel the tension. The love interest was a little flat and overall it was a bit predictable--not unpleasantly so but predictable nonetheless. Also it could do with some finer editing, as I found a number of typos. I promise I don't look for those things! But I do have eyes and all, ha.
Overall, this had some original ideas and exciting action, but it didn't really grab me.
July 27, 2014
Loved this book!
Pros: Clean, fast paced, sweet romance side story, happy ending, unique story idea (read: mutant powers I hadn't come across before), characters were believable
Cons: ...
Yeah, sorry. Weird review, but this book was a breath of fresh air, and a quick read. Great job, Dan!
Pros: Clean, fast paced, sweet romance side story, happy ending, unique story idea (read: mutant powers I hadn't come across before), characters were believable
Cons: ...
Yeah, sorry. Weird review, but this book was a breath of fresh air, and a quick read. Great job, Dan!
Want to read
April 29, 2012apr 24
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