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Touched Girl #1
Soul Walker
"I need to get you to the hospital." He was taking responsibility for me. Only my parents had that job. I stretched my hand out in protest, but the lack of depth perception had my trembling fingers grazing his overheated neck. I swore his whole body shook.
When five-year-old Anna Pierce is offered a chance to have nightmare-free nights for the small price of her voice, she jumps at it. Silence has to be better than all-consuming dreams about blood and death and fangy monsters. The bargain she strikes comes with a secondary benefit, visions of a person's future potential. The combination of visions and silence changes her very nature and soon she's diagnosed with autism. Twelve years of living in her head comes to a screeching halt the moment Peter Davis pulls her out of an icy river.
Her new life has her twirling, tiptoeing, and crashing through unfamiliar territory, one filled with a cranky grandma, a knocked up cousin, an unpleasant cousin, a bunch of mostly good vampires, and the boy who rescued her.
To top it all off, the deal she made at five is no more. Anna is expected to talk, to figure out her resurfacing nightmares, and to control her ever-growing powers. And she'd better get it done soon because if the good vamps want a piece of a living, breathing Touched girl, the evil ones simply want. They'll take Anna for their very own.
Soul Walker is the first book in the Touched Girl Series. It's approximately 91,000 words. Be on the look out for Soul Bender, coming March 2013.
(excerpt from Amazon Product Description)
When five-year-old Anna Pierce is offered a chance to have nightmare-free nights for the small price of her voice, she jumps at it. Silence has to be better than all-consuming dreams about blood and death and fangy monsters. The bargain she strikes comes with a secondary benefit, visions of a person's future potential. The combination of visions and silence changes her very nature and soon she's diagnosed with autism. Twelve years of living in her head comes to a screeching halt the moment Peter Davis pulls her out of an icy river.
Her new life has her twirling, tiptoeing, and crashing through unfamiliar territory, one filled with a cranky grandma, a knocked up cousin, an unpleasant cousin, a bunch of mostly good vampires, and the boy who rescued her.
To top it all off, the deal she made at five is no more. Anna is expected to talk, to figure out her resurfacing nightmares, and to control her ever-growing powers. And she'd better get it done soon because if the good vamps want a piece of a living, breathing Touched girl, the evil ones simply want. They'll take Anna for their very own.
Soul Walker is the first book in the Touched Girl Series. It's approximately 91,000 words. Be on the look out for Soul Bender, coming March 2013.
(excerpt from Amazon Product Description)
951 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2012
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Jones
5 books106 followersI'm the mom of two hardcore boys. My oldest trained me to be matter-of-fact, no frills. My youngest wants the whole singsongy sweet package. Thank goodness for reading and writing because they are my sanity makers. I know life is all about the journey, that's why I like my fiction to be all about the destination. I want to be taken somewhere not here when I read, same goes with the stories I create. Thrills, chills, tears, and laughter, but there has to be something to hold on to at the end.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 12, 2015
Beautifully written, with a very special MC and vampires that are unlike any others I've ever met.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
December 17, 2012
Originally reviewed at http://prufreads.blogspot.com/
My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
"I've tasted your blood, Anna. I know how pure you are, but to see through your eyes...I don't feel deserving. How can you give yourself to a hunter like me?"
~Peter
**Please note, gifted by author for an honest review**
First I want to thank author Robyn Jones for requesting that I read and review her debut novel, Soul Walker. I was intrigued by the blurb but what really grabbed me and drew me into this book was one word, autism. I have lost count of how many books I've read where the lead heroine is different and/or gifted. She stands out from everyone else, with some paranormal explanation being the link. While Soul Walker is a paranormal read, a YA romance, there is a new twist on the heroine. Outside of the paranormal reasons for this and that, her gifts, her strengths, Anna is autistic. The fact that Anna is autistic, created a richness that blended so well, adding charm to a teen heroine in a genre where most are rendered fragile, needy and in desperate search of thee boy to 'complete them'. Anna's parents, Sam and Sue Pierce, wanted more for their daughter, disability be damned.
The occasional nightmare isn't really out of the norm for a 5 year old girls active imagination. For Anna Pierce, however, it was much more than that. A little girl, her dream sister, Daniella was in many ways, Anna's best friend. Time with Daniella wasn't always pleasant. Anna began seeing violence, monsters and bloodshed. According to Daniella, the only way to stop the nightmares was for Anna to stop talking, and so she did. Twelve years later, just before Anna's 18th birthday, tragedy strikes. Anna's entire world is stripped away from her, leaving her with a hard nosed grandmother, a couple of cousins she hasn't seen in years and a mysterious boy that seems just. so. familiar. Such drastic changes would prove difficult for basically anyone, now imagine a girl who has lived inside her own head for years.
Soul Walker was such an amazing read for me. I'm not the biggest fan of YA but Ms. Jones did a fantastic job telling the story of a 17 year old girl without making the story childish or juvenile. The storytelling was fascinating and as the reader, you get a real sense of Anna, her quirks and what drives her. Anna does have a special gift and a connection to a world she knows nothing about, a world she didn't even know existed. This brave young woman is now faced with moving forward in both of her worlds, worlds that slowly blend together creating one odd, delightful disfunctional family. As the story plays out, Anna does make progress. She gets more comfortable, slowly learns some social do's and dont's but still remaining "Anna". Ms. Jones didn't magically 'cure' her autism. Another standout for me is Peter, our hero. Peter isn't 'typical' either. While his ethnicity is never actually stated, through descriptions, Anna's inner dialogue, we discover that Peter's skin is a gorgeous milk chocolate. I can only speak for myself but I enjoy diversity in my sexy, vampy heroes so this was a pleasant suprise!
Let's talk supporting cast. Anna's grandmother, Ella is definately rough around the edges but you can't help but love her. She too has to adjust to what fate has handed her. It isn't easy but she isn't one to give up easily. Then we have the the cousins. Sara, a teen mom to be, who seems very sweet and wants to look out for Anna. Betsy on the other hand, is bitchy, snarky and often a pain in the ass, but she too seems to have a heart of gold. Peter comes with his own odd little family as well. His Sire, Lillian is a Queen amongst the vampires. Lance, her mate and also the resident meterosexual of the group, well...I just couldn't get enough of him. Then there's Jared. Jared, in some ways, remains a question mark for me. He is the most fascinating of the supporting characters. His personality and charm, you can't help but love him as well. I expect alot more about him as the series progresses. He too has a past, a rough history where love is concerned, and a growing attachment to our heroine. Did I meantion he's also Peter's bestfriend? Towards the end of the book we meet Billy and his coven. They live very different than Peters current 'family', definately more from them and I can't wait!
Why not 5 stars? I had a couple of minor issues. A turn of a phrase can make or break for me. Anna would often say 'pray to the Gods of...', soft landings, gods of this or that. For whatever reason, that just annoyed me. Also, at one point, Peter has to be away for a few days and leaves both Lance and Jared to watch over and protect Anna. They don't exactly stay in the shadows. They're always hanging around and yet no one really questioned it. That struck me as odd especially considering Ella doesn't really know them yet there they were, hanging around her house. Not questioning it didn't seem to flow with Ella's personality.
Overall, Soul Walker is a fascinating, fresh approach to paranormal romance. I can't say for sure that this is a YA series. Keep in mind, in book one, Anna is 17 and learning how to cope with touching and being touched, what is appropriate and what's...well, not so much. lol I can only hope that it matures right along with Anna and her relationship with Peter. I have already recommended this book to two friends and now I'm recommending it to all of you as well. March can't come soon enough, I can't wait for book two!
For more on Soul Walker, visit Robyn Jones on her blog, http://robgirlbooks.blogspot.com/.
My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
"I've tasted your blood, Anna. I know how pure you are, but to see through your eyes...I don't feel deserving. How can you give yourself to a hunter like me?"
~Peter
**Please note, gifted by author for an honest review**
First I want to thank author Robyn Jones for requesting that I read and review her debut novel, Soul Walker. I was intrigued by the blurb but what really grabbed me and drew me into this book was one word, autism. I have lost count of how many books I've read where the lead heroine is different and/or gifted. She stands out from everyone else, with some paranormal explanation being the link. While Soul Walker is a paranormal read, a YA romance, there is a new twist on the heroine. Outside of the paranormal reasons for this and that, her gifts, her strengths, Anna is autistic. The fact that Anna is autistic, created a richness that blended so well, adding charm to a teen heroine in a genre where most are rendered fragile, needy and in desperate search of thee boy to 'complete them'. Anna's parents, Sam and Sue Pierce, wanted more for their daughter, disability be damned.
The occasional nightmare isn't really out of the norm for a 5 year old girls active imagination. For Anna Pierce, however, it was much more than that. A little girl, her dream sister, Daniella was in many ways, Anna's best friend. Time with Daniella wasn't always pleasant. Anna began seeing violence, monsters and bloodshed. According to Daniella, the only way to stop the nightmares was for Anna to stop talking, and so she did. Twelve years later, just before Anna's 18th birthday, tragedy strikes. Anna's entire world is stripped away from her, leaving her with a hard nosed grandmother, a couple of cousins she hasn't seen in years and a mysterious boy that seems just. so. familiar. Such drastic changes would prove difficult for basically anyone, now imagine a girl who has lived inside her own head for years.
Soul Walker was such an amazing read for me. I'm not the biggest fan of YA but Ms. Jones did a fantastic job telling the story of a 17 year old girl without making the story childish or juvenile. The storytelling was fascinating and as the reader, you get a real sense of Anna, her quirks and what drives her. Anna does have a special gift and a connection to a world she knows nothing about, a world she didn't even know existed. This brave young woman is now faced with moving forward in both of her worlds, worlds that slowly blend together creating one odd, delightful disfunctional family. As the story plays out, Anna does make progress. She gets more comfortable, slowly learns some social do's and dont's but still remaining "Anna". Ms. Jones didn't magically 'cure' her autism. Another standout for me is Peter, our hero. Peter isn't 'typical' either. While his ethnicity is never actually stated, through descriptions, Anna's inner dialogue, we discover that Peter's skin is a gorgeous milk chocolate. I can only speak for myself but I enjoy diversity in my sexy, vampy heroes so this was a pleasant suprise!
Let's talk supporting cast. Anna's grandmother, Ella is definately rough around the edges but you can't help but love her. She too has to adjust to what fate has handed her. It isn't easy but she isn't one to give up easily. Then we have the the cousins. Sara, a teen mom to be, who seems very sweet and wants to look out for Anna. Betsy on the other hand, is bitchy, snarky and often a pain in the ass, but she too seems to have a heart of gold. Peter comes with his own odd little family as well. His Sire, Lillian is a Queen amongst the vampires. Lance, her mate and also the resident meterosexual of the group, well...I just couldn't get enough of him. Then there's Jared. Jared, in some ways, remains a question mark for me. He is the most fascinating of the supporting characters. His personality and charm, you can't help but love him as well. I expect alot more about him as the series progresses. He too has a past, a rough history where love is concerned, and a growing attachment to our heroine. Did I meantion he's also Peter's bestfriend? Towards the end of the book we meet Billy and his coven. They live very different than Peters current 'family', definately more from them and I can't wait!
Why not 5 stars? I had a couple of minor issues. A turn of a phrase can make or break for me. Anna would often say 'pray to the Gods of...', soft landings, gods of this or that. For whatever reason, that just annoyed me. Also, at one point, Peter has to be away for a few days and leaves both Lance and Jared to watch over and protect Anna. They don't exactly stay in the shadows. They're always hanging around and yet no one really questioned it. That struck me as odd especially considering Ella doesn't really know them yet there they were, hanging around her house. Not questioning it didn't seem to flow with Ella's personality.
Overall, Soul Walker is a fascinating, fresh approach to paranormal romance. I can't say for sure that this is a YA series. Keep in mind, in book one, Anna is 17 and learning how to cope with touching and being touched, what is appropriate and what's...well, not so much. lol I can only hope that it matures right along with Anna and her relationship with Peter. I have already recommended this book to two friends and now I'm recommending it to all of you as well. March can't come soon enough, I can't wait for book two!
For more on Soul Walker, visit Robyn Jones on her blog, http://robgirlbooks.blogspot.com/.
November 25, 2015
(RabidReads.com)First I need to thank Brandee at Bookworm Brandee blog for mentioning that this was one book that she felt was underrated, or words to that effect.I pretty much immediately went and bought and read it. I had never read a book with a main fictional character with autism and actually never thought I would. Add in vampires and this story became one of the most unusual paranormal stories I have ever read. Believe me, that is saying a lot for me.
Anna has always been different, and didn’t speak, but she had great,loving parents that gave her a wonderful life, while growing up on islands all over the world. When a tragedy happens, she goes to live with her grandmother, Ella, in her father’s hometown. Also living in the small town is Peter, the beautiful man that actually saved her from the same fate that her parents met. She’s almost eighteen, and it’s the summer before her senior year of high school, when she suddenly begins to speak again.
Anna just might be the most unusual character that I have met in my reading life. The reader is drawn into her mind and we get to see why she didn’t speak, and how she sees the world around her. She has special abilities in that she can enter other people’s minds(souls) and see futures for people. Her abilities mark her as a Touched Girl, and she is one of a group that has come before her, a group that never lived past childhood-making Anna even more unique.
When she meets Peter, it’s not long before she realizes that he is both vampire and someone that loves her. He’s a pretty great character, I must say. She falls for him just as hard. Besides her grandmother, she also has two cousins, Sara and Betsy, that are around her a good bit of the time. Sara is the same age as Anna, and almost ready to give birth. Betsy is younger and snarky as they come. Peter’s vampire family consists of Jared, Lillian(the oldest vampire) and Lance, her mate. There is of course a villain in the form of Lillian’s twin, Eric, a horrible ancient vampire that wants her for his own purposes.
This story takes the reader on a journey through Anna’s mind, her life, and her realization of what ultimately, she is. Her personality was quirky to say the least. The writing was very well done, but there were a few times that I was a bit confused. Sometimes there would be a sentence said by a character that I felt didn’t make sense inside of the context of the scene, so that threw me off a bit. This was not a big problem, but I felt it needed to be mentioned. It also should be mentioned, that it could be just me and no one else will have that problem!
If you like an unusual paranormal story line, mixed in with the more familiar vampire premise, this could be your next good read. It’s a good, if unusual, romance, but it’s also full of it’s share of action, violence, and some characters with nefarious intentions. I can honestly say it’s not a book I will forget anytime soon. Big plus? The next two books in the series are already released.
Anna has always been different, and didn’t speak, but she had great,loving parents that gave her a wonderful life, while growing up on islands all over the world. When a tragedy happens, she goes to live with her grandmother, Ella, in her father’s hometown. Also living in the small town is Peter, the beautiful man that actually saved her from the same fate that her parents met. She’s almost eighteen, and it’s the summer before her senior year of high school, when she suddenly begins to speak again.
Anna just might be the most unusual character that I have met in my reading life. The reader is drawn into her mind and we get to see why she didn’t speak, and how she sees the world around her. She has special abilities in that she can enter other people’s minds(souls) and see futures for people. Her abilities mark her as a Touched Girl, and she is one of a group that has come before her, a group that never lived past childhood-making Anna even more unique.
When she meets Peter, it’s not long before she realizes that he is both vampire and someone that loves her. He’s a pretty great character, I must say. She falls for him just as hard. Besides her grandmother, she also has two cousins, Sara and Betsy, that are around her a good bit of the time. Sara is the same age as Anna, and almost ready to give birth. Betsy is younger and snarky as they come. Peter’s vampire family consists of Jared, Lillian(the oldest vampire) and Lance, her mate. There is of course a villain in the form of Lillian’s twin, Eric, a horrible ancient vampire that wants her for his own purposes.
This story takes the reader on a journey through Anna’s mind, her life, and her realization of what ultimately, she is. Her personality was quirky to say the least. The writing was very well done, but there were a few times that I was a bit confused. Sometimes there would be a sentence said by a character that I felt didn’t make sense inside of the context of the scene, so that threw me off a bit. This was not a big problem, but I felt it needed to be mentioned. It also should be mentioned, that it could be just me and no one else will have that problem!
If you like an unusual paranormal story line, mixed in with the more familiar vampire premise, this could be your next good read. It’s a good, if unusual, romance, but it’s also full of it’s share of action, violence, and some characters with nefarious intentions. I can honestly say it’s not a book I will forget anytime soon. Big plus? The next two books in the series are already released.
January 6, 2013
Anna is so refreshing
"Anna doesn't talk. She's brilliant and sensitive, but for now she's nonverbal."
The Good
I started reading two books at the same time and this one just took over the minute I picked it up. I greatly enjoyed getting to know Anna and all of her quirks. She likes to sing herself to sleep and twirl on her tippy toes. She isn't modest with her body at all and causes quite a few people to blush or drop their jaws. I also really liked the other characters, every single one of them. I liked Betsy the most probably due to her straightforward nature which I relish. She is a no-holds-barred type of person that you don't see all the time.
The story is different and not one even similar to something I have read before. The main character is too set apart from anyone I have come across previously. Jones' voice is soothing and I came away from the book glad I had delved into Anna's head.
The vampires were also something I hadn't seen before with the types being a Sire and a Soldier that you could become. Soldiers are killers and Sires are the only ones that can create new vampires or kill vampires with their bite. I always love seeing a fresh take on an old favorite.
The Bad
I got confused while reading, especially in the very beginning. What's funny is that I was drawn in and curious, but also having a hard time figuring out what was going on mostly during the first two chapters. Mainly, this is because I was having to get acquainted with being inside of Anna's head which is different than I am used to and I ended up liking the differences once I understood what was going on. Also, sometimes I would have to go back and read a page ahead of something that happened because to me it just came out of nowhere. I had to do this about three times.
The Romance
I can't really see a love triangle happening in the future, but you never know. Peter and Anna are just too fit for each other. However, Anna was very odd with how she handles relationships and wouldn't get jealous when most people would and also made Peter jealous at times because I think she just didn't know any different. This could become a problem for future books for their relationships, but during this one their new budding romance was a great read.
Conclusion
This was an excellent and refreshing book. It drew me in with a story I haven't come across before and the characters were well thought-out with clear personalities and quirks that made them different. I enjoyed all of the suspense, the critical moments, the bad guys, and am definitely looking forward to the next one coming out.
*I was sent Soul Walker by the author for an honest review *
Thank you Robyn Jones
This review can also be found on my blog: JC's Book Haven
"Anna doesn't talk. She's brilliant and sensitive, but for now she's nonverbal."
The Good
I started reading two books at the same time and this one just took over the minute I picked it up. I greatly enjoyed getting to know Anna and all of her quirks. She likes to sing herself to sleep and twirl on her tippy toes. She isn't modest with her body at all and causes quite a few people to blush or drop their jaws. I also really liked the other characters, every single one of them. I liked Betsy the most probably due to her straightforward nature which I relish. She is a no-holds-barred type of person that you don't see all the time.
The story is different and not one even similar to something I have read before. The main character is too set apart from anyone I have come across previously. Jones' voice is soothing and I came away from the book glad I had delved into Anna's head.
The vampires were also something I hadn't seen before with the types being a Sire and a Soldier that you could become. Soldiers are killers and Sires are the only ones that can create new vampires or kill vampires with their bite. I always love seeing a fresh take on an old favorite.
The Bad
I got confused while reading, especially in the very beginning. What's funny is that I was drawn in and curious, but also having a hard time figuring out what was going on mostly during the first two chapters. Mainly, this is because I was having to get acquainted with being inside of Anna's head which is different than I am used to and I ended up liking the differences once I understood what was going on. Also, sometimes I would have to go back and read a page ahead of something that happened because to me it just came out of nowhere. I had to do this about three times.
The Romance
I can't really see a love triangle happening in the future, but you never know. Peter and Anna are just too fit for each other. However, Anna was very odd with how she handles relationships and wouldn't get jealous when most people would and also made Peter jealous at times because I think she just didn't know any different. This could become a problem for future books for their relationships, but during this one their new budding romance was a great read.
Conclusion
This was an excellent and refreshing book. It drew me in with a story I haven't come across before and the characters were well thought-out with clear personalities and quirks that made them different. I enjoyed all of the suspense, the critical moments, the bad guys, and am definitely looking forward to the next one coming out.
*I was sent Soul Walker by the author for an honest review *
Thank you Robyn Jones
This review can also be found on my blog: JC's Book Haven
April 15, 2013
I love words. They're what I love most about reading (and writing). I love simple words and flowery words. And I love it when words conjure images for me. I love all the word pictures. It's like a dessert - rich and decadent. And so very satisfying.
Robyn Jones delivered a most delectable dessert with these first two books. She has created a finely crafted set of characters and an entirely new twist on vampires. The pictures she evokes with her incredible prose are fantastic. My goodness, I can even smell the scents she describes. I want to write so many words to describe my thoughts and feelings about these books and yet I'm not sure I can do them justice. But I'll give it a whirl.
In Soul Walker, we are introduced to Anna Pierce. Anna is a special girl. Not having spoken since she was 5, a tragic accident leads to the discovery of her voice. It also leads to the introduction to a young man, Peter Davis, who seems to know everything about Anna and her life. The discoveries don't stop there.
Anna has a gift. She was diagnosed with autism at 5. Along with the special quirks and being non-verbal, Anna also has the gift of being able to see souls. This ability makes her of special interest to certain people and that's not necessarily a positive thing.
Following the tragedy that forever altered her life, Anna's new life revolves around her grandmother, her two cousins, Sara and Betsy, and, of course, Peter. However, Anna's gift and those who want to use her gift for the own gain, leave Anna fighting to live her new life on her own terms.
Robyn's writing is marvelous. It drew such intense emotions from me. I smiled, laughed, cried...her characters are so well developed that I was captivated by them all. I love Anna! I love that she's flawed. I love all her quirks and her inner strength that I don't think she even knew she had. I love watching her brain work - I know a thing or two about being right-brained, and thinking in pictures. Peter was precious in all his protectiveness and love for Anna. Ella, Anna's grandmother, provides a bit of humor with her gruff mannerisms. Sara, the sweet cousin, and Betsy, the snarky cousin, are also lovable in their care for Anna. And the action - the sights, sounds, smells are so vividly portrayed. I also enjoyed the vampires. :) I love vampires and I love it when an author puts their own spin on vampires. Anna's gift and the powers it bestows - at least in the eyes of the vampires - was fresh and intriguing. Soul Walker is a completely compelling and utterly satisfying read.
Robyn Jones delivered a most delectable dessert with these first two books. She has created a finely crafted set of characters and an entirely new twist on vampires. The pictures she evokes with her incredible prose are fantastic. My goodness, I can even smell the scents she describes. I want to write so many words to describe my thoughts and feelings about these books and yet I'm not sure I can do them justice. But I'll give it a whirl.
In Soul Walker, we are introduced to Anna Pierce. Anna is a special girl. Not having spoken since she was 5, a tragic accident leads to the discovery of her voice. It also leads to the introduction to a young man, Peter Davis, who seems to know everything about Anna and her life. The discoveries don't stop there.
Anna has a gift. She was diagnosed with autism at 5. Along with the special quirks and being non-verbal, Anna also has the gift of being able to see souls. This ability makes her of special interest to certain people and that's not necessarily a positive thing.
Following the tragedy that forever altered her life, Anna's new life revolves around her grandmother, her two cousins, Sara and Betsy, and, of course, Peter. However, Anna's gift and those who want to use her gift for the own gain, leave Anna fighting to live her new life on her own terms.
Robyn's writing is marvelous. It drew such intense emotions from me. I smiled, laughed, cried...her characters are so well developed that I was captivated by them all. I love Anna! I love that she's flawed. I love all her quirks and her inner strength that I don't think she even knew she had. I love watching her brain work - I know a thing or two about being right-brained, and thinking in pictures. Peter was precious in all his protectiveness and love for Anna. Ella, Anna's grandmother, provides a bit of humor with her gruff mannerisms. Sara, the sweet cousin, and Betsy, the snarky cousin, are also lovable in their care for Anna. And the action - the sights, sounds, smells are so vividly portrayed. I also enjoyed the vampires. :) I love vampires and I love it when an author puts their own spin on vampires. Anna's gift and the powers it bestows - at least in the eyes of the vampires - was fresh and intriguing. Soul Walker is a completely compelling and utterly satisfying read.
December 20, 2014
Anna is one of the most intriguing and unique female main characters I've come across. I liked her immediately and admired her inner strength. Every one of her "quirks" just endeared her to me even more. I couldn't imagine having nightmares to the point where I'd agree to give up my voice. Those must have been terrifying for Anna to have agreed to stop talking. And for twelve years! That's such a long time, especially since she has the ability to speak. She is soon diagnosed with autism, and I haven't read a book where the main character has been diagnosed with autism. With so much awareness having been raised for autism these past few years, it was really interesting to see the world through Anna's eyes. I cannot tell you how much I love this girl!
The action takes off from the very beginning, and I was thrilled to go along for the ride. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be any new stories to be told with vampires, Jones proved me wrong, and I was just fine with being proven wrong. :) Especially with the world Jones has built and the characters she has developed - the combination made for the kind of reading where I was completely absorbed in the story no matter what was going on in the background of the "real world"!
Anna's grandmother, Ella, and her two cousins, Sara and Betsy, surprised me with how much they grew on me. I cared about them as much as I cared about Anna, which surprised me because I wasn't sure how they were going to treat her in the beginning. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments and witty dialogue between Anna and the other characters - I found myself smiling every time Anna interacted with her family.
I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the characters, the story, and the world Jones created in this start to what is sure to become one of my favorite series. I am looking forward to the next book!!
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for the blog tour.
The action takes off from the very beginning, and I was thrilled to go along for the ride. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be any new stories to be told with vampires, Jones proved me wrong, and I was just fine with being proven wrong. :) Especially with the world Jones has built and the characters she has developed - the combination made for the kind of reading where I was completely absorbed in the story no matter what was going on in the background of the "real world"!
Anna's grandmother, Ella, and her two cousins, Sara and Betsy, surprised me with how much they grew on me. I cared about them as much as I cared about Anna, which surprised me because I wasn't sure how they were going to treat her in the beginning. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments and witty dialogue between Anna and the other characters - I found myself smiling every time Anna interacted with her family.
I absolutely fell head over heels in love with the characters, the story, and the world Jones created in this start to what is sure to become one of my favorite series. I am looking forward to the next book!!
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for the blog tour.
March 21, 2013
See the complete post at Sycho Faerie's Book Obsession
I actually had this book on my to-be-read list for about 2 months, and only recently purchased it. I wish I would have bought it sooner!
I love Anna. She is a great protagonist. After over a decade of living in her own non-verbal world she finally gets a chance to have friends and a teenage life. I really like how much of a free-spirit she is. She isn't afraid to dance and twirl when she is extremely happy, and it's interesting to watch her figuring out new emotions like anger.
The vampires in this story are awesome. I like it when vamps do not live up to the old stereotypes (besides the blood-sucking one, they aren't really vampires if they don't do that). There are 2 types in this series, Hunters and Sires. I liked them both for their own special reasons. The Hunters are quick and deadly, and the Sires have two different sets of awesome fangs. With all that being said, on to Peter. Peter is absolutely my new book boyfriend of the moment. He is a hot, stealthy vampire and Anna's watcher. I loved his and Anna's relationship. You could feel the chemistry between them perfectly. I can't wait to see where the next book takes them.
I am excited for the next book in this series. I believe Anna and Peter are only temporarily out of trouble. I know those bad, twin vampires are going to do something. I am curious to see if we get to learn anymore about the 'hippie' vampires in the woods. I also look forward to seeing if Anna discovers anymore of her Touched girl powers. Or at least gets a better control on them.
I actually had this book on my to-be-read list for about 2 months, and only recently purchased it. I wish I would have bought it sooner!
I love Anna. She is a great protagonist. After over a decade of living in her own non-verbal world she finally gets a chance to have friends and a teenage life. I really like how much of a free-spirit she is. She isn't afraid to dance and twirl when she is extremely happy, and it's interesting to watch her figuring out new emotions like anger.
The vampires in this story are awesome. I like it when vamps do not live up to the old stereotypes (besides the blood-sucking one, they aren't really vampires if they don't do that). There are 2 types in this series, Hunters and Sires. I liked them both for their own special reasons. The Hunters are quick and deadly, and the Sires have two different sets of awesome fangs. With all that being said, on to Peter. Peter is absolutely my new book boyfriend of the moment. He is a hot, stealthy vampire and Anna's watcher. I loved his and Anna's relationship. You could feel the chemistry between them perfectly. I can't wait to see where the next book takes them.
I am excited for the next book in this series. I believe Anna and Peter are only temporarily out of trouble. I know those bad, twin vampires are going to do something. I am curious to see if we get to learn anymore about the 'hippie' vampires in the woods. I also look forward to seeing if Anna discovers anymore of her Touched girl powers. Or at least gets a better control on them.
January 9, 2013
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
When Anna was a young girl she had horrific nightmares, at five years old she is given a deal, no more nightmares if she stops talking. Anna keeps her end of the deal; she doesn't talk not even when her parents die on a rafting trip with her. She is rescued by a mysterious boy named Peter and has to move in with her Grandmother. Her nightmares come back, she has to start talking, deal with an off the wall family, finds out vampires do exist and they come in shades of gray. I really enjoyed this book and respect Robyn for inserting accurate and uncomfortable information in a book could have been just another YA vampire book. Anna is genuinely autistic, her parents have always been there to protect her and when they die she is left trying to find a way fit into society. You can tell that her Grandmother is uncomfortable and doesn't know how to react to Anna and while her cousin Betsy can have her catty moments her and Sara show that they love Anna. The rest of the characters in the story are mysterious, funny or just downright scary. The storyline was original and heartfelt. The writing itself was very good, the scenes fit together perfectly and the pace of the book was just right. My only problem with the book was some of the wording and terms used, it just didn't sit right with me and brought it from a solid five stars to four. Soul Walker is an original book that stands out in the growing sea of YA vampire books.
When Anna was a young girl she had horrific nightmares, at five years old she is given a deal, no more nightmares if she stops talking. Anna keeps her end of the deal; she doesn't talk not even when her parents die on a rafting trip with her. She is rescued by a mysterious boy named Peter and has to move in with her Grandmother. Her nightmares come back, she has to start talking, deal with an off the wall family, finds out vampires do exist and they come in shades of gray. I really enjoyed this book and respect Robyn for inserting accurate and uncomfortable information in a book could have been just another YA vampire book. Anna is genuinely autistic, her parents have always been there to protect her and when they die she is left trying to find a way fit into society. You can tell that her Grandmother is uncomfortable and doesn't know how to react to Anna and while her cousin Betsy can have her catty moments her and Sara show that they love Anna. The rest of the characters in the story are mysterious, funny or just downright scary. The storyline was original and heartfelt. The writing itself was very good, the scenes fit together perfectly and the pace of the book was just right. My only problem with the book was some of the wording and terms used, it just didn't sit right with me and brought it from a solid five stars to four. Soul Walker is an original book that stands out in the growing sea of YA vampire books.
June 17, 2018
6/16/18
It's been awhile since I hung out in Anna's world. I'll be hitting each book in the series in preparation for book 4, Soul Redeemer.
Any fans of Soul Walker might like to read a fun character interview with Peter Davis. Stop on by JC's Book Haven and check it out. http://jcbookhaven.blogspot.com/2013/...
Snuggles at Rainbows and Books recently interviewed Anna. You can check it out here, http://rainbowsnbooks.wordpress.com/2.... (contains a minor spoiler if you haven't read Soul Walker)
It's been awhile since I hung out in Anna's world. I'll be hitting each book in the series in preparation for book 4, Soul Redeemer.
Any fans of Soul Walker might like to read a fun character interview with Peter Davis. Stop on by JC's Book Haven and check it out. http://jcbookhaven.blogspot.com/2013/...
Snuggles at Rainbows and Books recently interviewed Anna. You can check it out here, http://rainbowsnbooks.wordpress.com/2.... (contains a minor spoiler if you haven't read Soul Walker)
April 15, 2013
Wow I absolutely loved this story! It grabbed me at once mostly because it is the first novel I have read that the heroine has Autism. She is not portrayed as stupid, or incapable of achieving anything, she is portrayed as a strong, loving girl who has "quirks", which is funny because that is what we call our children's odd behaviour, we don't say they are obsessed or crazy just that they are a bit quirky.
I fell in love with Anna, She is a brilliant, caring, young woman with some odd quirks, not only is she dealing with the usual behaviours of having Autism, she also gets visited every night in her dreams by a five-year old ghost called Daniella, they form a strong bond during their nighttime talks until one day Daniella stops visiting and someone very different starts visiting instead.
After the tragic deaths of her parents Anna is sent to live with her grandmother, at her hospital bed she meets Peter, he acts like he has known Anna her whole life, but Anna has never met him before. Peter quickly becomes part of her life on a regular basis as her protector and boyfriend. Because the story is unravelling from Anna's point of view, It takes awhile for us to find out what Peters connection is to Anna which was frustrating but kept me reading waiting for more. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves paranormal romance stories as well as a refreshing and honest view from what it is like to live with Autism. This is a unique change from the usual vampire story. I am Currently reading the Second Installment Soul Bender As part of the Soul Bender Blog tour I will be adding my review up on the 19th of April. Stay tuned.
I fell in love with Anna, She is a brilliant, caring, young woman with some odd quirks, not only is she dealing with the usual behaviours of having Autism, she also gets visited every night in her dreams by a five-year old ghost called Daniella, they form a strong bond during their nighttime talks until one day Daniella stops visiting and someone very different starts visiting instead.
After the tragic deaths of her parents Anna is sent to live with her grandmother, at her hospital bed she meets Peter, he acts like he has known Anna her whole life, but Anna has never met him before. Peter quickly becomes part of her life on a regular basis as her protector and boyfriend. Because the story is unravelling from Anna's point of view, It takes awhile for us to find out what Peters connection is to Anna which was frustrating but kept me reading waiting for more. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves paranormal romance stories as well as a refreshing and honest view from what it is like to live with Autism. This is a unique change from the usual vampire story. I am Currently reading the Second Installment Soul Bender As part of the Soul Bender Blog tour I will be adding my review up on the 19th of April. Stay tuned.
August 29, 2013
I found this book to be magical right from the beginning. When I first started to read about the heroine, Anna, she seemed quaint and kind of unreal. Her thoughts were strange and so unlike a normal teenager of her times. I soon realized she wasn’t an ordinary girl because of her autism and the fact that she had special powers. She needed them to survive the horrible events that soon came her way. Starting with the disaster with her parents, to meeting and being saved by, Peter, her soul mate who was also different in a way that one wouldn’t suspect, Anna takes us on a journey both whimsical and humorous. Soul Walker is a beautifully written journey that only gets better and stays that way right till the end.
January 4, 2013
I really like this book. I loved Anna's point of view. Soul Walker makes me want homemade pizza and other compfort foods that Anna and her family eat in the book. I enjoyed Anna's adventures with her parents. The author understands how to create nostagic events that effect the characters and show their vulnerabilities. I also loved Anna's new adventures with her tough Grandma and her equally lovable cousins. The author brings humor, love, danger to her story with such ease. I look forward to her next installment of Anna's story.
December 30, 2012
Oh, I fell in love with Anna and her crazy life. She suddenly loses everything, then just as suddenly a whole new life brings back her voice that had been stilled by her dream visitor with bloody nightmares. Her surly grandmother, kooky cousins, and those delicious vampires kept me turning the pages til the very end. I just loved the author's voice and writing style. I felt like she was including me in this story - somehow I was right there in the car during the driving lessons, enjoying the banter of the cousins, and feeling the warmth of the vamps bodies. Can't wait for the next one!
January 16, 2018
Book Review- Soul Walker by Robyn Jones
Anna was diagnosed with autism at five years old. She stopped talking after the nightmares started. It is just her and her parents. They like to go on adventures. They find themselves rafting down a river with a guide. However something goes wrong and Anna is the only one to survive the trip. She is saved by a strange boy who seems familiar.
She is sent to live with her grandmother as her dream sister revisits her telling her she can’t keep the nightmares away. Daniella tells her to start talking again. Anna starts speaking and letting her light shine. She is able to see things and feel things others can’t.
The boy who saved her is Peter and he isn’t what he seems. However she is drawn to him. She should fear him but she doesn’t. They grow closer as things get dangerous. There is evil after Anna and Peter is determined to protect her. She is special and his family helps to keep her safe. Yet Eric keeps coming after her and Peter has to go outside his family as Anna becomes the most important thing.
This book had an interesting storyline. Unfortunately I’m not sure exactly what a soul walker is. The author never really explained it very well. Anna’s behavior is revealed but not why or what she really does, at least not clearly.
I liked Anna and her family. They are not perfect yet learn to accept each other. Anna seemed to be the light that brought them together. The family dynamics were unconventional but a great mix nonetheless. I also liked Peter and his family. The boys tried to help protect her and added another side to her family. They were sweet and I liked how they treated her. Peter, of course, was the sweetest. How he treated her was how every girl should be treated. He loved her and protected her. He was just a vampire which added the paranormal twist. His way of life added to the storyline. I’m still not sure what Anna’s role will be but I’m vested in the story, so I want to see what will happen next. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Anna was diagnosed with autism at five years old. She stopped talking after the nightmares started. It is just her and her parents. They like to go on adventures. They find themselves rafting down a river with a guide. However something goes wrong and Anna is the only one to survive the trip. She is saved by a strange boy who seems familiar.
She is sent to live with her grandmother as her dream sister revisits her telling her she can’t keep the nightmares away. Daniella tells her to start talking again. Anna starts speaking and letting her light shine. She is able to see things and feel things others can’t.
The boy who saved her is Peter and he isn’t what he seems. However she is drawn to him. She should fear him but she doesn’t. They grow closer as things get dangerous. There is evil after Anna and Peter is determined to protect her. She is special and his family helps to keep her safe. Yet Eric keeps coming after her and Peter has to go outside his family as Anna becomes the most important thing.
This book had an interesting storyline. Unfortunately I’m not sure exactly what a soul walker is. The author never really explained it very well. Anna’s behavior is revealed but not why or what she really does, at least not clearly.
I liked Anna and her family. They are not perfect yet learn to accept each other. Anna seemed to be the light that brought them together. The family dynamics were unconventional but a great mix nonetheless. I also liked Peter and his family. The boys tried to help protect her and added another side to her family. They were sweet and I liked how they treated her. Peter, of course, was the sweetest. How he treated her was how every girl should be treated. He loved her and protected her. He was just a vampire which added the paranormal twist. His way of life added to the storyline. I’m still not sure what Anna’s role will be but I’m vested in the story, so I want to see what will happen next. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
August 4, 2014
Originally posted at: http://ethpages.blogspot.com/2014/08/...
**Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book! :) *
The best thing about this book is its narrator- Anna! :)
I loved Anna! She was so quirky and endearing!! Her little habits were so cute, and her happiness-her sweet little twirls!- was very contagious. And the details! I loved how Anna notices the little things about life, and she relayed those details to us in a such pretty way. I also liked her boldness. It was a different kind of boldness, but it was really refreshing; many characters in YA have a strength to them that’s similar to Katniss (Hunger Games) or Tris (Divergent series), so a lot of them tend to just blur together. But Anna’s strength/boldness was a different kind that was very unique and refreshing. :)
Ella, her grandmother, was another favorite character of mine; she was one of those tough on the outside, but caring on the inside characters- one of my favorite types of characters. ;)I also really liked Sara, who was a big sweetie, and I loved the relationship she and Anna had.
As for Peter, I didn't really like him at first. It was just that he came out of nowhere (literally), and there wasn't much development on him until the flashbacks, but after that meeting scene (very cute btw ;) ) and I got to know him a little better, he started to grow on me. :)
I’ll be honest in saying that I was a little wary before reading this book. I love vampire stories, but a lot of the vampire stories coming out in YA these days (along with all those angel stories…) have put me on guard (lol). But this book had a unique plot that I’d never read before, and I had to keep on reading to see what happened! :)
My only iffy about this book was that there were several parts where the transition was a bit rough, so I got a little lost. But otherwise, I liked this book!
Thanks for reading! :)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
**Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this book! :) *
The best thing about this book is its narrator- Anna! :)
I loved Anna! She was so quirky and endearing!! Her little habits were so cute, and her happiness-her sweet little twirls!- was very contagious. And the details! I loved how Anna notices the little things about life, and she relayed those details to us in a such pretty way. I also liked her boldness. It was a different kind of boldness, but it was really refreshing; many characters in YA have a strength to them that’s similar to Katniss (Hunger Games) or Tris (Divergent series), so a lot of them tend to just blur together. But Anna’s strength/boldness was a different kind that was very unique and refreshing. :)
Ella, her grandmother, was another favorite character of mine; she was one of those tough on the outside, but caring on the inside characters- one of my favorite types of characters. ;)I also really liked Sara, who was a big sweetie, and I loved the relationship she and Anna had.
As for Peter, I didn't really like him at first. It was just that he came out of nowhere (literally), and there wasn't much development on him until the flashbacks, but after that meeting scene (very cute btw ;) ) and I got to know him a little better, he started to grow on me. :)
I’ll be honest in saying that I was a little wary before reading this book. I love vampire stories, but a lot of the vampire stories coming out in YA these days (along with all those angel stories…) have put me on guard (lol). But this book had a unique plot that I’d never read before, and I had to keep on reading to see what happened! :)
My only iffy about this book was that there were several parts where the transition was a bit rough, so I got a little lost. But otherwise, I liked this book!
Thanks for reading! :)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
April 16, 2013
Originally posted on Bookshelf(Full review)
At the beginning of the story, I found this a very interesting concept, seeing things from the perspective of an autistic girl. Seeing things from inside her head, it made me think what it must be like and how little we understand. What a creative way to see what autistic kids go through, his thoughts and characteristics and how their concept is very different from ours.
I loved seeing Anna's, the main character, thoughts and just getting to know her like others can't.
After a couple of chapters I started seeing how the plot of the story started to unfold. It was more than an autistic kid going through life as a 17 year old with everyone else against her, since they couldn't understand her. We see the main character (the autistic girl) evolve and mature but still keep those characteristics that make her who she is. A special character, fun, that showed us a more positive way to look at life.
At the beginning of the story, I found this a very interesting concept, seeing things from the perspective of an autistic girl. Seeing things from inside her head, it made me think what it must be like and how little we understand. What a creative way to see what autistic kids go through, his thoughts and characteristics and how their concept is very different from ours.
I loved seeing Anna's, the main character, thoughts and just getting to know her like others can't.
After a couple of chapters I started seeing how the plot of the story started to unfold. It was more than an autistic kid going through life as a 17 year old with everyone else against her, since they couldn't understand her. We see the main character (the autistic girl) evolve and mature but still keep those characteristics that make her who she is. A special character, fun, that showed us a more positive way to look at life.
January 13, 2013
The story grabbed me and I read the whole book in one sitting.
I am anxious to know what will happen next. What are the various
characters capable of?
I am anxious to know what will happen next. What are the various
characters capable of?
April 29, 2013
This was a great book! I loved Anna and Peter. I can't wait to read book two!
April 25, 2017
Anna is thought to be Autistic, since she stopped talking at the age of 5. But little does anyone know, her dream sister told her to stop talking and she would keep the nightmares away. And even though she never said a word, Anna's parents found ways to help their daughter manage life. Never staying in one place, travels to islands for vacation, Anna never wanted for anything. Until the day she did. On a last vacation before moving home to be closer to her grandmother, 17 year old Anna and her parents went rafting. Her parents and the rafting guide died on the water, and somehow Anna managed to survive. Forced to move home with her grandmother, Anna finds comfort in the guy that saved her from the river. And with that, her dream sister tells her it's time to talk, so she does. But why now? With a gift of seeing the future Anna must now maneuver thru Teen hood, family relations, a mysterious guy who she feels compelled to be with-his odd family & a teacher out to make her life hell. Add in a dark vampire out to make her his & his crazy twin sister who is obsessed with Anna and you have a perfect weekend read!
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