What do you think?
Rate this book
A Glimpse of Her Soul
When 16-year-old Gillian Boone discovers that a secret message has been etched into her soul, her world of normal teenage life is destroyed. Now, bizarre monstrosities seek to kill her so they can read this message as her soul departs and use its information to escape back to the world they came from.
Though she has the aid of her father and some new friends, there is only one who has the real power to help. A rogue monster named Jackhammer Jack. But he might want her secret, too, even as he helps her evade the clutches of those pursuing her. With threats surrounding her, Gillian will have to lead her allies in a struggle for survival - a struggle all the more treacherous when her allies are just as dangerous as her enemies.
Filled with action, excitement, magic, romance, and mystery, A Glimpse of Her Soul is a pulse-pounding ride you're sure to enjoy. And just the kind of genre bending you've come to expect from a writer whose motto is Fantasy Knows No Bounds!
Though she has the aid of her father and some new friends, there is only one who has the real power to help. A rogue monster named Jackhammer Jack. But he might want her secret, too, even as he helps her evade the clutches of those pursuing her. With threats surrounding her, Gillian will have to lead her allies in a struggle for survival - a struggle all the more treacherous when her allies are just as dangerous as her enemies.
Filled with action, excitement, magic, romance, and mystery, A Glimpse of Her Soul is a pulse-pounding ride you're sure to enjoy. And just the kind of genre bending you've come to expect from a writer whose motto is Fantasy Knows No Bounds!
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2013
99 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Jaffe
168 books214 followersStuart Jaffe is the madman behind the Nathan K thrillers, Max Porter paranormal-mystery series, The Malja Chronicles, The Bluesman series, and much more. He has written numerous short stories in Fantasy, SF, and Horror. He was also the co-host of The Eclectic Review (http://eclectic.libsyn.com) -- a podcast about science, art, and well, everything.
Stuart lives in rural North Carolina, and for those who keep count, the latest animal listing is as follows: one dog, two cats, one albino corn snake, three aquatic turtles, assorted fish, seven chickens, and a horse. Thankfully, the chickens and the horse do not live inside the house.
Stuart lives in rural North Carolina, and for those who keep count, the latest animal listing is as follows: one dog, two cats, one albino corn snake, three aquatic turtles, assorted fish, seven chickens, and a horse. Thankfully, the chickens and the horse do not live inside the house.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 24, 2013
What a fun book! You have to like dark, and alittle scary, with some creepiness thrown in, but if you do, you'll really enjoy this.
I don't talk about plot much, because I don't like to spoil anything. But briefly and without spoiling too much, the main character is a high school student (Gillian) who (unfortunately) has to escape from some strange creatures who want to kill her. On the run, she finds some new abilities, learns about her relationship with her family, and finds the stength to deal with an unwelcome and frightening situation.
At first, I was wondering if the plot would be predictable, but it's not. There are alot of mysteries here, and the plot took twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I didn't figure out the final mystery at all - and there was real suspence - I really wasn't sure how it would end!
There are some things that weren't resolved (like who to trust), setting this up for a sequel - I hope there is one, I'd like to keep reading about Gillian and what happens.
I like this author - he's got a fresh take, with his plot twists. One thing I will say that might disappoint some readers is there isn't that much romance. There is one very romantic scene and there are hints of it for future sequels. But this is really about Gillian and her journey. Honestly, I found it sort of refreshing for a paranormal book about a teen to be about HER, rather than romance, but if that's important to you (which is fine), be aware of that.
So, I recommend this book. It's fast-paced, interesting, alittle scary/creepy and surprising. All in all, a very good story.
I don't talk about plot much, because I don't like to spoil anything. But briefly and without spoiling too much, the main character is a high school student (Gillian) who (unfortunately) has to escape from some strange creatures who want to kill her. On the run, she finds some new abilities, learns about her relationship with her family, and finds the stength to deal with an unwelcome and frightening situation.
At first, I was wondering if the plot would be predictable, but it's not. There are alot of mysteries here, and the plot took twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I didn't figure out the final mystery at all - and there was real suspence - I really wasn't sure how it would end!
There are some things that weren't resolved (like who to trust), setting this up for a sequel - I hope there is one, I'd like to keep reading about Gillian and what happens.
I like this author - he's got a fresh take, with his plot twists. One thing I will say that might disappoint some readers is there isn't that much romance. There is one very romantic scene and there are hints of it for future sequels. But this is really about Gillian and her journey. Honestly, I found it sort of refreshing for a paranormal book about a teen to be about HER, rather than romance, but if that's important to you (which is fine), be aware of that.
So, I recommend this book. It's fast-paced, interesting, alittle scary/creepy and surprising. All in all, a very good story.
March 13, 2013
I'm trying to read more books outside of my comfort zone, and A Glimpse of Her Soul certainly qualifies. I wouldn't say it's so much a genre-bender as a genre-creator: Jaffe should trademark "Coming of Age Horror," as he grabs the category firmly by the horns and makes it his own.
Drawing on elements of Japanese fantasy, Jaffe provides rich imagery and a compelling story throughout. Even though I'm not the biggest horror fan in the world, (or, let's face it, the biggest "coming of age" fan in the world, either, since I still consider Disney World a pretty awesome vacation spot), as I read on, I eagerly anticipated Gillian's next move. Especially toward the end, as the elements of the story came together for one (in the truest sense of the word) awesome scene, the level of craft and care put into taking the reader to a different plane of existence is phenomenal.
There is a good amount of world-building, but it's generally balanced well with fast-paced, intense action. Additionally, though it's probably my own genre biases seeping through, I wish Jaffe would've maybe explored the "psychological thriller" aspect of the book a bit more in the first few chapters, but I understand that had to be subsumed to move the story forward.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a strong female protagonist, fantastic imagery, plenty of action, and a brave new spiritual world to explore!
April 16, 2013
I found the story engaging and unpredictable which was very exciting for me. I hate having a story all figured out before I reach the end and this one was not so easy to predict! The plot was fairly original as I can't remember ever reading anything quite like this. My biggest problem sadly was in the characters themself. I just didn't really take any liking to them especially for the most part of the book. They were just annoying and I wanted to smack them. I hated the way Gillian treated her father, acting like a spoiled brat, and hated the fact that he let her because he truly felt all he had done up until this point in her life was for her safety and instead of trying to understand where he was coming from she would just lash out at him. But on the other hand I guess that really is typical teenage behavior to a certain extent and I really did begin to see a growth in her in the latter portion of the story.
I totally recommend this one for anybody seeking something a bit different in the fantasy genre.
I totally recommend this one for anybody seeking something a bit different in the fantasy genre.
April 26, 2013
**ORIGINALLY ON READ-A-HOLICZ, HERE!**
Going into this book I wasn't expecting much, really the cover was the thing that caught my attention the most. That guy in the background looks friendly in a menacing way! I'm super glad that I took a chance and read it because I REALLY liked this book!
I knew from the first page that this book was going to be a thriller and adventure. Seriously it enveloped me in a world that was both real and terrifying. The first scene is a funeral about a girl Gillian had a nightmare, a very real nightmare, in which a paper samurai kills her with his hair O_O. Yup, his hair that act like snakes and BURN. Throughout the story there were creatures like these called Callers . They come from spirit and take any shape. I actually really liked this world because I never knew what was coming after Gillian Next!
Now Gillian, she was my kinda girl :) She went to a mental ward after a certain accident at school. And boy I thought we were BOTH going crazy! I liked that even though she was being thrust into this new and scary world she kept her strength and calm. I really liked her father he was protective and at times he got a mysterious/dangerous feel to him. And like true father & daughter they had arguments, cried, and were there for each other. Now, I finally read about the odd guy from the cover, I think he's Jackhammer Jack. A Caller that seemed more evolved than the rest and comes to Gillians rescue multiple times.
Another thing I LOVED about this book was that it wasn't just stuck in one place and had nothing going on. This book was action packed!! It happened when you least expected it and completely hooked you to want MORE! There is also a road trip in the book for those who like road trips :) Some road trip this was, I really liked the variety of people they meet and the things you learned about the characters.
OVERALL: This book was full of great characters, a different and unique story, and a world that is both enchanting and terrifying!! I say, DEFINITELY give it a try, you never know when u might need it...O_O
Going into this book I wasn't expecting much, really the cover was the thing that caught my attention the most. That guy in the background looks friendly in a menacing way! I'm super glad that I took a chance and read it because I REALLY liked this book!
I knew from the first page that this book was going to be a thriller and adventure. Seriously it enveloped me in a world that was both real and terrifying. The first scene is a funeral about a girl Gillian had a nightmare, a very real nightmare, in which a paper samurai kills her with his hair O_O. Yup, his hair that act like snakes and BURN. Throughout the story there were creatures like these called Callers . They come from spirit and take any shape. I actually really liked this world because I never knew what was coming after Gillian Next!
Now Gillian, she was my kinda girl :) She went to a mental ward after a certain accident at school. And boy I thought we were BOTH going crazy! I liked that even though she was being thrust into this new and scary world she kept her strength and calm. I really liked her father he was protective and at times he got a mysterious/dangerous feel to him. And like true father & daughter they had arguments, cried, and were there for each other. Now, I finally read about the odd guy from the cover, I think he's Jackhammer Jack. A Caller that seemed more evolved than the rest and comes to Gillians rescue multiple times.
Another thing I LOVED about this book was that it wasn't just stuck in one place and had nothing going on. This book was action packed!! It happened when you least expected it and completely hooked you to want MORE! There is also a road trip in the book for those who like road trips :) Some road trip this was, I really liked the variety of people they meet and the things you learned about the characters.
OVERALL: This book was full of great characters, a different and unique story, and a world that is both enchanting and terrifying!! I say, DEFINITELY give it a try, you never know when u might need it...O_O
May 5, 2013
Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-glimpse-of-her-soul.html
A Glimpse of Her Soul is a YA/Paranormal read that follows a young girl named Gillian. Gillian has made a very frightening discovery through the eyes of someone else. She saw a girl die through her eyes. What is worse is that the girl who died was killed by something she has never seen before. She wants to know how and why it happened. But she doesn't need to search that long when the monster comes after her. Now Gillian is in for the fight of her life.
Wow, what a read. Jaffe really has given us something quite fresh and new. I loved this read a lot. I really liked Gillian. She was a great lead. She wasn't whiny and her head wasn't stuck in the clouds. The girl had spine and smarts. She had moments when she yelled at her dad that I wasn't a fan of. I don understand, but I see things the way he does and I felt really sorry for him. He lost his wife and he mourns her everyday in the shrine he built for her. But this was as much about the monsters as it was about Gillian and her family. I really liked that.
As I said, this is such a unique read. There wasn't anything predictable about this book and it made this book even more enjoyable. I love the monsters in the book. They aren't your typical, run-of-the-mill kind of monsters. And the way to kill them is actually quite unexpected and quite disturbing. Definitely not the kind of weapons I would want to touch. I love the idea about Gillian's soul and what it means. I won't say what it is, but again, it is a great idea. You will love the twists and turns Jaffe will throw at you.
This read was pretty quick. The action starts of from page 1. But you don't feel like you are being thrown into foreign territory. It is never overwhelming. The book is full of action and very likable characters. I think a lot of people will love Jackhammer Jack. He was loads of fun. The read may have been fast, but it will still leave an impact. There better be a sequel. It definitely feels like there will be. I can't wait. Highly recommended for those who want something new, action packed, and suspenseful.
A Glimpse of Her Soul is a YA/Paranormal read that follows a young girl named Gillian. Gillian has made a very frightening discovery through the eyes of someone else. She saw a girl die through her eyes. What is worse is that the girl who died was killed by something she has never seen before. She wants to know how and why it happened. But she doesn't need to search that long when the monster comes after her. Now Gillian is in for the fight of her life.
Wow, what a read. Jaffe really has given us something quite fresh and new. I loved this read a lot. I really liked Gillian. She was a great lead. She wasn't whiny and her head wasn't stuck in the clouds. The girl had spine and smarts. She had moments when she yelled at her dad that I wasn't a fan of. I don understand, but I see things the way he does and I felt really sorry for him. He lost his wife and he mourns her everyday in the shrine he built for her. But this was as much about the monsters as it was about Gillian and her family. I really liked that.
As I said, this is such a unique read. There wasn't anything predictable about this book and it made this book even more enjoyable. I love the monsters in the book. They aren't your typical, run-of-the-mill kind of monsters. And the way to kill them is actually quite unexpected and quite disturbing. Definitely not the kind of weapons I would want to touch. I love the idea about Gillian's soul and what it means. I won't say what it is, but again, it is a great idea. You will love the twists and turns Jaffe will throw at you.
This read was pretty quick. The action starts of from page 1. But you don't feel like you are being thrown into foreign territory. It is never overwhelming. The book is full of action and very likable characters. I think a lot of people will love Jackhammer Jack. He was loads of fun. The read may have been fast, but it will still leave an impact. There better be a sequel. It definitely feels like there will be. I can't wait. Highly recommended for those who want something new, action packed, and suspenseful.
April 29, 2013
Right out of the gates it's obvious that Stuart Jaffe is no first timer. His writing is concise with a flow that had me stopping to think, 'wow, did I just read 50 pages?' The novel is go-go-go with hardly a minute to catch your breath.
Gillian Boone is a strong, young woman but also a teenager. The two worlds smack together and showed a realism that I rarely see in teen books. The novel started out mysteriously enough, snagging the reader in the opening page. Gillian goes from a normal life to running from strange creatures called Callers whose main purpose is to kill her, read the message on her soul and reach their home. Having to think up so many varieties of Callers takes a massive stroke of imagination. Though if you look at his list of pets, it's easy to see where some of the influence came from. :)
Jaffe has created an entertaining new world in Fantasy that I have never seen before and I will certainly be buying the next book in this series.
Gillian Boone is a strong, young woman but also a teenager. The two worlds smack together and showed a realism that I rarely see in teen books. The novel started out mysteriously enough, snagging the reader in the opening page. Gillian goes from a normal life to running from strange creatures called Callers whose main purpose is to kill her, read the message on her soul and reach their home. Having to think up so many varieties of Callers takes a massive stroke of imagination. Though if you look at his list of pets, it's easy to see where some of the influence came from. :)
Jaffe has created an entertaining new world in Fantasy that I have never seen before and I will certainly be buying the next book in this series.
July 30, 2013
4 / 5
If your looking for an non-stop action packed read, then this is your book. while reading it, I wasn't sure which genre it fit in, a bit of dark paranormal, suspense, fantasy ... a mix of many things and you know what, it works. The characters will keep you intrigued because you can't predict what is going to happen next. Over all, great read!
If your looking for an non-stop action packed read, then this is your book. while reading it, I wasn't sure which genre it fit in, a bit of dark paranormal, suspense, fantasy ... a mix of many things and you know what, it works. The characters will keep you intrigued because you can't predict what is going to happen next. Over all, great read!
March 9, 2024
Gillian discovers that she can see creatures from another dimension. Creatures that want to kill her, and others like her, so that they can return to "Spirit". When she learns that her father has kept all of this from her, she feels betrayed. Will she learn to forgive him and will they survive this waking nightmare?
April 9, 2013
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Disclaimers: I received an electronic copy of this book as part of the Reading Addiction Blog Tour for this novel. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I didn't really know what to think going into this novel. I thought the initial premise sounded good. This novel had great potential. The plot sounded really intriguing and original. Basically, I couldn't wait to see what Jaffe did in this novel.
The book was really interesting and quite original. I thought the plot was well-developed and that the characters were intriguing. The characters did annoy me during several parts of the book and at times I found myself feeling infuriated with them.
I did wish that the pacing would have been slower. The plot seemed really rushed at parts and I felt like I was being jerked from scene to scene at times. However, the book was enjoyable. I'd be interested to see what happens in the sequel.
This wasn't my favorite fantasy book, but it was still really good and I'd recommend it to fantasy fans.
So why 3 stars? I enjoyed the novel, but at times it felt rushed and it wasn't my favorite in the genre. However, it was very original and intriguing.
In Summary: Stuart Jaffe's novel was intriguing and original and I enjoyed reading it. However, I felt like the novel could have been better developed.
Warnings/Side-notes: There were some instances of language, but on the whole this novel was very clean.
The Wrap-up: I enjoyed the novel and am glad I read it. The plot really was intriguing and original. However, I do wish the novel had been better developed. Like I mentioned earlier, I thought the novel's pacing was a little bit rushed in certain places. I'd be interested in seeing what Jaffe does in the sequel though.
Love,
Danica Page
Disclaimers: I received an electronic copy of this book as part of the Reading Addiction Blog Tour for this novel. I was not obligated to write a good review nor did I receive any compensation for writing this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I didn't really know what to think going into this novel. I thought the initial premise sounded good. This novel had great potential. The plot sounded really intriguing and original. Basically, I couldn't wait to see what Jaffe did in this novel.
The book was really interesting and quite original. I thought the plot was well-developed and that the characters were intriguing. The characters did annoy me during several parts of the book and at times I found myself feeling infuriated with them.
I did wish that the pacing would have been slower. The plot seemed really rushed at parts and I felt like I was being jerked from scene to scene at times. However, the book was enjoyable. I'd be interested to see what happens in the sequel.
This wasn't my favorite fantasy book, but it was still really good and I'd recommend it to fantasy fans.
So why 3 stars? I enjoyed the novel, but at times it felt rushed and it wasn't my favorite in the genre. However, it was very original and intriguing.
In Summary: Stuart Jaffe's novel was intriguing and original and I enjoyed reading it. However, I felt like the novel could have been better developed.
Warnings/Side-notes: There were some instances of language, but on the whole this novel was very clean.
The Wrap-up: I enjoyed the novel and am glad I read it. The plot really was intriguing and original. However, I do wish the novel had been better developed. Like I mentioned earlier, I thought the novel's pacing was a little bit rushed in certain places. I'd be interested in seeing what Jaffe does in the sequel though.
Love,
Danica Page
June 3, 2015
This book has the flavor of I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore, and yet it was different. It just had that feeling. You have your teenage girl, Gillian, who’s stuck in this life she didn’t want or ask for and having to battle it out to keep the planet safe. That is how it’s similar. Okay, I Am Number Four did use a male main character, but the idea is still the same. And yet, it’s only similar. The story behind A Glimpse of Her Soul is different.
It’s full of action from beginning to end and keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. The plot twists and turns on you and you’re never quite sure where it’s going to end up. That makes this story fun and unpredictable. Characters do get introduced, only to be swept away by events now and then. I honestly was never ready when that happened. There was a small hint of romance in this book, but the story is mainly about Gillian and what she’s facing as she has her life tossed apart. She wasn’t popular in school and then everything that happens next makes her realize she has to take matters into her own hands and step up to the plate.
Unfortunately, what we do want from a story, no matter how unbelievable it is in real life, is to be swept up into it and think it’s real. This story starts off well but then seems to fall short of its mark. I can pinpoint where it derailed for me, but I’m not going to say here because of spoilers. We don’t want that.
It’s full of action from beginning to end and keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. The plot twists and turns on you and you’re never quite sure where it’s going to end up. That makes this story fun and unpredictable. Characters do get introduced, only to be swept away by events now and then. I honestly was never ready when that happened. There was a small hint of romance in this book, but the story is mainly about Gillian and what she’s facing as she has her life tossed apart. She wasn’t popular in school and then everything that happens next makes her realize she has to take matters into her own hands and step up to the plate.
Unfortunately, what we do want from a story, no matter how unbelievable it is in real life, is to be swept up into it and think it’s real. This story starts off well but then seems to fall short of its mark. I can pinpoint where it derailed for me, but I’m not going to say here because of spoilers. We don’t want that.
April 8, 2015
I purchased this book a couple of weeks ago during a 99c promo and it was one of those impulse purchases that really paid off. Stuart Jaffe's vivid characters and fantastical other-world monsters grab the readers attention from page one. For those of you who are a fan of YA (darkish) urban fantasy you are going to love this book. Stuart Jaffe's writing is very visual, his action scenes exhaustingly real.
Gillian, our reluctant teen heroine is really well written and the reader makes such a great connection with her as she is plunged unwittingly into a world she didn't know existed. I loved how she is propelled through this adventure, learning along with the reader, that she is not what she thought she was. As her world grows increasingly dangerous, she has to learn the skills to deal with what is thrown at her. Gillian is no fully formed 'vampire slayer' or 'demon hunter', but she is very real as she comes to terms with no longer being an ordinary school girl.
This is a fast paced action packed novel with some horror undertones. Occasional cuss word but mainly clean and an excellent choice for PG13/ Teen/ YA/ NA and through to adults.
I enjoyed this book so much that I have already purchased one of Jaffe's first books in another of his series. I am looking forward to exploring all of this authors back catalogue.
Gillian, our reluctant teen heroine is really well written and the reader makes such a great connection with her as she is plunged unwittingly into a world she didn't know existed. I loved how she is propelled through this adventure, learning along with the reader, that she is not what she thought she was. As her world grows increasingly dangerous, she has to learn the skills to deal with what is thrown at her. Gillian is no fully formed 'vampire slayer' or 'demon hunter', but she is very real as she comes to terms with no longer being an ordinary school girl.
This is a fast paced action packed novel with some horror undertones. Occasional cuss word but mainly clean and an excellent choice for PG13/ Teen/ YA/ NA and through to adults.
I enjoyed this book so much that I have already purchased one of Jaffe's first books in another of his series. I am looking forward to exploring all of this authors back catalogue.
April 21, 2013
First of all I just want to add that my reviews lack spoilers. If I like a book I will only reveal my reasons for liking it and vice versa.
Within the first few pages of this book I knew I was going to like it and boy was I right about that. For one thing, Gillian is definitely my kind of character. She’s strong and quick-witted, which makes her interesting and more credible as a young female. I especially enjoyed her ability to stand strong even when the world around her seems to be crumbling down.
The plot was a refreshing new twist I definitely was not expecting, but I found that this uniqueness worked well for me. So far, I’ve never read anything like this before, but I really got into the story and its characters. The author did an amazing job at creating a fantasy world that not was completely believable but kept me wanting to learn more about.
The only thing I didn’t like about the entire story was…well, the loss of a certain character. Man was I bummed about that. Yes, I did pout a little bit at that. But overall, I honestly enjoyed this story. So much so that I’m anxiously waiting for the next installment.
Within the first few pages of this book I knew I was going to like it and boy was I right about that. For one thing, Gillian is definitely my kind of character. She’s strong and quick-witted, which makes her interesting and more credible as a young female. I especially enjoyed her ability to stand strong even when the world around her seems to be crumbling down.
The plot was a refreshing new twist I definitely was not expecting, but I found that this uniqueness worked well for me. So far, I’ve never read anything like this before, but I really got into the story and its characters. The author did an amazing job at creating a fantasy world that not was completely believable but kept me wanting to learn more about.
The only thing I didn’t like about the entire story was…well, the loss of a certain character. Man was I bummed about that. Yes, I did pout a little bit at that. But overall, I honestly enjoyed this story. So much so that I’m anxiously waiting for the next installment.
April 10, 2013
What I really enjoyed about this book (and indeed it drew me to it in the first place) was the crazy creative premise. I just love the uniqueness of it all! What a fun twist on the paranormal genre! Unfortunately I felt this creativity went a little wrong with the monster descriptions. While I truly love the creative and unique, the monsters came off a bit Scooby-Doo (I'm sorry, I hate saying it, but it's the best comparison).
I did indeed gobble this book up in a few days. It's fast-paced, easy to get into, easily glues you to your Kindle. Lots of things happen quickly, but not so quickly that you're left with any confusion about what's going on.
There's good characters throughout the book. I love Jackhammer Jack! He's the best -- so much fun!!! Gillian is very likable and shows steady character growth. I did feel like the characters were all developed at 80% and was just looking for that extra something to make them feel a bit more real.
Regardless of a few hiccups for me, I gave this book four stars as the story completely carries the reader away. Yay for good books!!!
I did indeed gobble this book up in a few days. It's fast-paced, easy to get into, easily glues you to your Kindle. Lots of things happen quickly, but not so quickly that you're left with any confusion about what's going on.
There's good characters throughout the book. I love Jackhammer Jack! He's the best -- so much fun!!! Gillian is very likable and shows steady character growth. I did feel like the characters were all developed at 80% and was just looking for that extra something to make them feel a bit more real.
Regardless of a few hiccups for me, I gave this book four stars as the story completely carries the reader away. Yay for good books!!!
July 8, 2013
Stuart Jaffe's "A Glimpse of Her Soul" doesn't wait for you to catch up. It kicks off with the paranormal and keeps on rolling until the very end.
Jaffe builds an interesting world and describes great paranormal creatures named Callers. Here he let his imagination run wild and it really pays. They range from sadistic Bamboo Samurai to a living feather boa. Proving that Jaffe didn't hold back on going to the absurd, and it works. As a fan of weird monsters, he really held my interest.
While young readers will enjoy the super speed of the book, I would have enjoyed a bit more time with the characters and plot. Many key moments almost felt rushed. Especially with the denouement. I was left with wanting to see more of the aftermath of such a physically and mentally destructive experience. It felt like a marathon workout without a cool down.
Ultimately what sets this book apart is a unique take on the paranormal with a few familiar tropes to carry us over.
Stuart Jaffe has set himself up for a decent trilogy. The main character Gillian Boone didn't have much time to flex her powers in this book, but I can see her becoming a force of her own in future novels.
Jaffe builds an interesting world and describes great paranormal creatures named Callers. Here he let his imagination run wild and it really pays. They range from sadistic Bamboo Samurai to a living feather boa. Proving that Jaffe didn't hold back on going to the absurd, and it works. As a fan of weird monsters, he really held my interest.
While young readers will enjoy the super speed of the book, I would have enjoyed a bit more time with the characters and plot. Many key moments almost felt rushed. Especially with the denouement. I was left with wanting to see more of the aftermath of such a physically and mentally destructive experience. It felt like a marathon workout without a cool down.
Ultimately what sets this book apart is a unique take on the paranormal with a few familiar tropes to carry us over.
Stuart Jaffe has set himself up for a decent trilogy. The main character Gillian Boone didn't have much time to flex her powers in this book, but I can see her becoming a force of her own in future novels.
May 16, 2013
I was captured by the cover on this one, not the blurb. Honestly, I’ve read so many “When 16-year-old Heroine’s Heroic Name discovers…” novels. When I read a blurb that starts off that way, I say to myself, “Self, I’m pretty sure you read this one. Does this one have aliens, vampires or werewolves?” There’s usually a pause and then I continue with, “I wonder how much terrible heart-ridden angst there is.” Because that could make or break one of these.
Yes. I know. I’ve become a cynic. It could also be the cold. *shrug*
However! This book…is none of that! It’s dark and delicious…and I devoured it! The characters were sometimes annoying, but as I’m discovering, they were normal teenagers. *playful shiver* There’s a sense of discovery as the tail etches a chilly trail down your spine. I found myself unable to put the book down, which made for two long nights (yes, I know I’m a slow reader), and even longer work days. Then add the cold on top of that…yes. I drank a LOT of coffee through this book. *grinning chuckle*
Very good book. Nice and dark. A definite good read!
Yes. I know. I’ve become a cynic. It could also be the cold. *shrug*
However! This book…is none of that! It’s dark and delicious…and I devoured it! The characters were sometimes annoying, but as I’m discovering, they were normal teenagers. *playful shiver* There’s a sense of discovery as the tail etches a chilly trail down your spine. I found myself unable to put the book down, which made for two long nights (yes, I know I’m a slow reader), and even longer work days. Then add the cold on top of that…yes. I drank a LOT of coffee through this book. *grinning chuckle*
Very good book. Nice and dark. A definite good read!
April 21, 2013
Gillian's life is turned upside down when she discovers she bears a mark on her soul that attracts "callers", aka demons, monsters, etc. Callers are trying to find their way back to "Spirit" (heaven?) and want to look at her soul as she dies to find their way back.
Gillian has many opportunities to fight the callers and keep her soul and life intact. She has an unexpected ally, who is a caller himself, to help her survive and achieve her potential.
At first glance, the plot seems a little off the wall. It doesn't take long for the thought to diminish and the story becomes enjoyable. This book has twists and turns that keep interest and the plot moving in an interesting direction.
I would really have liked to see the characters develop a little more. From the get go, Gillian is exposed to danger and action scenes. She doesn't have much time to let us get to know her.
There is some swearing, with the use of the "f" bomb once.
Gillian has many opportunities to fight the callers and keep her soul and life intact. She has an unexpected ally, who is a caller himself, to help her survive and achieve her potential.
At first glance, the plot seems a little off the wall. It doesn't take long for the thought to diminish and the story becomes enjoyable. This book has twists and turns that keep interest and the plot moving in an interesting direction.
I would really have liked to see the characters develop a little more. From the get go, Gillian is exposed to danger and action scenes. She doesn't have much time to let us get to know her.
There is some swearing, with the use of the "f" bomb once.
April 30, 2013
I’m an avid reader so I love when I’m introduced to new Authors. Even though I don’t read a lot of Young Adult Fantasy books – I was eager to start on this Review book. The cover caught my attention. I admit it!! I’m a sucker for a great cover. That’s the first thing that catches a reader’s attention, but what keeps a reader reading are the words they discover once they open the book.
A Glimpse of Her Soul is a very fast paced, unpredictable, exciting, and spine-tingling read. I did wish the Author was more in-depth with some of the characters, but as the title suggests this is only Volume One. I can’t wait to see what the Author gives us in Volume 2.
Even if you don’t read Young Adult Fantasy – I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and give this book a try.
A Glimpse of Her Soul is a very fast paced, unpredictable, exciting, and spine-tingling read. I did wish the Author was more in-depth with some of the characters, but as the title suggests this is only Volume One. I can’t wait to see what the Author gives us in Volume 2.
Even if you don’t read Young Adult Fantasy – I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and give this book a try.
April 16, 2013
Stuart pens "A Glimpse of Her Soul" in an original plot filled with twists and turns that kept me glued to my kindle. A dark thriller with well developed and extremely interesting characters that was a bit scary even to me, someone who thrives on thrills and horror. Highly recommended for all horror, fantasy fans.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews