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Lost Souls
Living on the premier Ring, Maximus, a brilliant engineer, hungers for more than the monotony of daily existence mandated to him by those that control the Ring. The relentless pursuit of Infinite Existence is a collective purpose assigned to all, but for Maximus, it's a hollow dream that leaves his soul yearning for its own legacy. Determined to escape his repetitive life, Maximus seeks out a destiny that will offer his life significance. When shocking revelations about the Ring’s underbelly intertwine with the hidden truths of his own lineage, he’s propelled into action. Fueled by a spirit passed down to him by his indomitable father, he devotes his unshakable resolve to reshape the Ring. Maximus embarks on a mission to challenge the unassailable leadership of the Rings. He’s ready to wager everything, even his own life, on liberating all those that have lived below him from the ruthless grip of their oppressors. In this high-stakes struggle for freedom and justice, Maximus must confront not the forces of tyranny but also the threat of losing everyone that has built him up to the man he is now. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, he stands poised to start a revolution that will ignite every soul that’s been lost up to this point.
- GenresScience Fiction
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2023
8 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 30, 2024
Check out my interview with Ryan Skeffington at Grimdark Magazine.
My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Lost Souls, the debut novel from indie author Ryan Skeffington, is a dark science fiction thrill ride that leaves plenty of emotional devastation in its wake. The novel opens in the year 2070 with passengers on a spaceship awakening from a three-year cryogenic freeze after fleeing global destruction on Earth. But the cryogenic freezing process takes its toll: many passengers wake up to find themselves missing limbs, and some never wake up at all.
The spaceship’s destination is an asteroid composed entirely of xantium, a “bio-metallic rare-non-earth metal” that can absorb incredible amounts of energy to be released at a later point in time. Xantium is reminiscent of another fictional extraterrestrial metal, viz., the coveted vibranium which pervades the Marvel Universe. Like vibranium, xantium has seemingly miraculous properties when interacting with organic matter such as biological tissue. Hence, xantium is considered an essential building block for humanity’s long-term survival in space and may provide a pathway toward the so-called Infinite Existence.
The first few chapters in Lost Souls jump quickly through time, advancing from year 2070 to 2123 and then 2133. Interestingly, the thirteen chapters in Lost Souls are named sequentially after the songs from the critically acclaimed “Deep Blue” album by Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive. Each chapter starts with a quote from the corresponding Parkway Drive song, echoing the main themes from that song throughout the chapter. I really enjoyed deciphering the multiple layers of meaning that Ryan Skeffington incorporated in this work. As an added bonus, “Deep Blue” provides the perfect soundtrack for reading the book.
Although Lost Souls bounces among various perspectives, the main point-of-view character is Maximus, a brilliant xantium engineer who is trying to meet (or exceed) the impossibly high expectations set by the work of his father and grandfather while also determining his own unique path. His personal struggles are set against the backdrop of an epic battle between freedom and tyranny. With the fate of humanity in his hands, the stakes could not be any higher.
It's hard to believe that Lost Souls is a debut novel. Ryan Skeffington writes with a strong command of both the hard science and emotional aspects of the novel, balancing the large-scale conflict with heart-wrenching personal struggles from Maximus and several side characters. Although the writing feels a bit dense at times, the author propels the story forward at a steady pace, building up to an astonishing climax that left my mouth agape in disbelief. Skeffington also makes effective use of gray morality throughout the novel.
Altogether, Lost Souls is a stellar debut by an electrifying new voice in dark science fiction and a must-read for grimdark fans looking for their next sci-fi fix. The story will continue with the next installment in the Infinite Existence series.
My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.
Lost Souls, the debut novel from indie author Ryan Skeffington, is a dark science fiction thrill ride that leaves plenty of emotional devastation in its wake. The novel opens in the year 2070 with passengers on a spaceship awakening from a three-year cryogenic freeze after fleeing global destruction on Earth. But the cryogenic freezing process takes its toll: many passengers wake up to find themselves missing limbs, and some never wake up at all.
The spaceship’s destination is an asteroid composed entirely of xantium, a “bio-metallic rare-non-earth metal” that can absorb incredible amounts of energy to be released at a later point in time. Xantium is reminiscent of another fictional extraterrestrial metal, viz., the coveted vibranium which pervades the Marvel Universe. Like vibranium, xantium has seemingly miraculous properties when interacting with organic matter such as biological tissue. Hence, xantium is considered an essential building block for humanity’s long-term survival in space and may provide a pathway toward the so-called Infinite Existence.
The first few chapters in Lost Souls jump quickly through time, advancing from year 2070 to 2123 and then 2133. Interestingly, the thirteen chapters in Lost Souls are named sequentially after the songs from the critically acclaimed “Deep Blue” album by Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive. Each chapter starts with a quote from the corresponding Parkway Drive song, echoing the main themes from that song throughout the chapter. I really enjoyed deciphering the multiple layers of meaning that Ryan Skeffington incorporated in this work. As an added bonus, “Deep Blue” provides the perfect soundtrack for reading the book.
Although Lost Souls bounces among various perspectives, the main point-of-view character is Maximus, a brilliant xantium engineer who is trying to meet (or exceed) the impossibly high expectations set by the work of his father and grandfather while also determining his own unique path. His personal struggles are set against the backdrop of an epic battle between freedom and tyranny. With the fate of humanity in his hands, the stakes could not be any higher.
It's hard to believe that Lost Souls is a debut novel. Ryan Skeffington writes with a strong command of both the hard science and emotional aspects of the novel, balancing the large-scale conflict with heart-wrenching personal struggles from Maximus and several side characters. Although the writing feels a bit dense at times, the author propels the story forward at a steady pace, building up to an astonishing climax that left my mouth agape in disbelief. Skeffington also makes effective use of gray morality throughout the novel.
Altogether, Lost Souls is a stellar debut by an electrifying new voice in dark science fiction and a must-read for grimdark fans looking for their next sci-fi fix. The story will continue with the next installment in the Infinite Existence series.
March 24, 2024
I knew this would be an emotional read based on the dedication, but you know what? I wasn't ready. I wish I could share some of the quotes in this review but they'd all be spoilery so I can't, boo.
Anyway, I was really surprised by Lost Souls, it's super easy to read & get into, I zoomed through it in no time. I really appreciate that there are no huge info dumps, which can happen with scifi, and the author gradually introduces us to the world.
We follow a few PoVs, but Maximus's is the main one. The way he goes from kind of unaware, to ambitious, to...something I can't say, was so interesting.
He was the most developed character, but there was this "jump" in his personality that made me wish the book was longer so that the progression would feel natural. I didn't mind that much in the grand scheme of things though.
I liked Max's friendship with Ratchet and Kana, and wish we saw more of that since Max was often away doing his own thing. All three of them are cool characters, but the coolest, if you ask me, is (drum roll)...Moraxa!!! It's the purple, I admit. I need her to be in the next books so bad.
The ending was fitting, if a bit sad. I couldn't have picked a better one out if I tried. I'm looking forward to book two now, fingers crossed it's double as long (yes I'm manifesting).
Anyway, I was really surprised by Lost Souls, it's super easy to read & get into, I zoomed through it in no time. I really appreciate that there are no huge info dumps, which can happen with scifi, and the author gradually introduces us to the world.
We follow a few PoVs, but Maximus's is the main one. The way he goes from kind of unaware, to ambitious, to...something I can't say, was so interesting.
He was the most developed character, but there was this "jump" in his personality that made me wish the book was longer so that the progression would feel natural. I didn't mind that much in the grand scheme of things though.
I liked Max's friendship with Ratchet and Kana, and wish we saw more of that since Max was often away doing his own thing. All three of them are cool characters, but the coolest, if you ask me, is (drum roll)...Moraxa!!! It's the purple, I admit. I need her to be in the next books so bad.
The ending was fitting, if a bit sad. I couldn't have picked a better one out if I tried. I'm looking forward to book two now, fingers crossed it's double as long (yes I'm manifesting).
August 23, 2024
A really cool experimental futuristic dystopian sci-fi novel! I can’t wait to see what Ryan does next in this world. Inventive and full of emotion this story will hit you right in the emotions.
July 24, 2025
Overall I thought this book has good bones, plot, characters, and setting! It is multi-POV which shows us the setting from multiple angles, class divides, and privilege.
The setting is interesting - the Rings which are a man-made space colony for mining a rare and useful material, but the "dredges" are the lowest-class, indentured workforce. As with all good dystopians with class divides, they are ruled by the Celestials, who are nearly godlike and all-powerful.
The main characters Maximus and Kana, supported by Arex and Ratchet, work together and have some strong moments together, particularly near the end of the book. However, it suffers from a lot of telling the reader instead of showing, which for me took some of the emotional impact out of it.
The ending was absolutely wild - both a tone shift and character shift for one of the characters. It was somewhat jarring as it diverted from said character's original characterization for lack of better word. It being jarring may have been the point however.
I do believe the book would have benefited from another 100 pages give or take, just for more characterization and plot development. I will be reading book two, which released recently.
The setting is interesting - the Rings which are a man-made space colony for mining a rare and useful material, but the "dredges" are the lowest-class, indentured workforce. As with all good dystopians with class divides, they are ruled by the Celestials, who are nearly godlike and all-powerful.
The main characters Maximus and Kana, supported by Arex and Ratchet, work together and have some strong moments together, particularly near the end of the book. However, it suffers from a lot of telling the reader instead of showing, which for me took some of the emotional impact out of it.
The ending was absolutely wild - both a tone shift and character shift for one of the characters. It was somewhat jarring as it diverted from said character's original characterization for lack of better word. It being jarring may have been the point however.
I do believe the book would have benefited from another 100 pages give or take, just for more characterization and plot development. I will be reading book two, which released recently.
December 15, 2023
This isn't my normal genre of reading but I loved it! The characters are developed and change throughout making them so interesting. The details on chemistry, botany and mechanics were amazing but the emotional connection between father and son tugged at my heart.
November 22, 2024
Ryan Skeffington’s debut novel, Lost Souls, is a character driven sci-fi novel that explores the ingenuity, perseverance, and compassion found in humanity while not ignoring the darker side of human nature. Ego, oppression, and betrayal are important elements of this story.
Things I loved about Lost Souls
+
There is a compelling cast of characters that I love and love to hate.
The post-earth world that Skeffington has created is truly dystopian. It gets dark.
THE SCIENCE! Skeffington clearly knows a thing or two about mechanics, chemistry, and biology and it makes the fantastical applications of these sciences in the Rings feel real.
The loss Skeffington's characters suffer, and they be SUFFERING, feels real.
Ratchet. I would die for him and fight anyone who hurt him...or looked at him wrong.
The titan suits. I want one! I would not act correctly if I had something so bad ass, but I DO NOT CARE.
Muscle Mommies! WHEW.
Things I loved about Lost Souls
+
There is a compelling cast of characters that I love and love to hate.
The post-earth world that Skeffington has created is truly dystopian. It gets dark.
THE SCIENCE! Skeffington clearly knows a thing or two about mechanics, chemistry, and biology and it makes the fantastical applications of these sciences in the Rings feel real.
The loss Skeffington's characters suffer, and they be SUFFERING, feels real.
Ratchet. I would die for him and fight anyone who hurt him...or looked at him wrong.
The titan suits. I want one! I would not act correctly if I had something so bad ass, but I DO NOT CARE.
Muscle Mommies! WHEW.
June 21, 2024
Needs a bit of editing with a decent amount of grammatical errors, but all in all a very entertaining story to read
September 27, 2024
Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington is a gripping science fiction novel with a unique world-building foundation, following Maximus, a brilliant engineer disillusioned with the sterile, controlled life on the Ring. The novel kicks off with a high-energy opening sequence that immediately pulls readers into Maximus’ journey for meaning and freedom. The central theme of personal legacy versus the oppressive expectations of society provides a thought-provoking foundation for the story.
The world-building in Lost Souls is intricate and imaginative, painting a vivid picture of the Rings' rigid structure and the hidden layers beneath the surface. Skeffington creates a setting that feels expansive, though at times it takes a bit to fully immerse the reader into its complexities. The initial heavy hitting prose slows down after the opening, with a more deliberate buildup as the story peels back the layers of Maximus' world and the underlying power dynamics. While this pacing shift may test some readers’ patience, it pays off with compelling revelations and dramatic stakes later in the novel.
One of the novel’s key strengths lies in its emotional depth. The father-son relationship, a cornerstone of the story, is handled with great sensitivity and adds a layer of heart to Maximus’ struggle for freedom. However, this personal arc sometimes feels detached from the broader, more political aspects of the narrative. There’s a sense that these emotional moments, while beautiful, don’t always blend seamlessly into the larger, action-oriented plot, making the story feel slightly disjointed at times.
Character development is a slow burn, with a large cast of characters to follow. This abundance of POVs can make it difficult to track everyone’s arc, especially for readers who prefer fewer viewpoints. However, each character feels distinct, and for those who enjoy intricate character dynamics, this may be a rewarding aspect of the story.
The climax delivers a sudden, high-stakes finale that feels both epic and a bit rushed. The resolution packs an emotional punch, though some readers may wish for a bit more time spent in these final moments to fully absorb the weight of the events.
Overall, Lost Souls is an engaging, emotionally resonant sci-fi novel with a lot to offer. While it has some pacing issues and could benefit from tighter editing, it provides a fascinating world and an exploration of relationships that feel genuine and heartfelt. Readers who enjoy rich world-building and character-driven stories with epic stakes will find much to love in Ryan Skeffington’s debut.
The world-building in Lost Souls is intricate and imaginative, painting a vivid picture of the Rings' rigid structure and the hidden layers beneath the surface. Skeffington creates a setting that feels expansive, though at times it takes a bit to fully immerse the reader into its complexities. The initial heavy hitting prose slows down after the opening, with a more deliberate buildup as the story peels back the layers of Maximus' world and the underlying power dynamics. While this pacing shift may test some readers’ patience, it pays off with compelling revelations and dramatic stakes later in the novel.
One of the novel’s key strengths lies in its emotional depth. The father-son relationship, a cornerstone of the story, is handled with great sensitivity and adds a layer of heart to Maximus’ struggle for freedom. However, this personal arc sometimes feels detached from the broader, more political aspects of the narrative. There’s a sense that these emotional moments, while beautiful, don’t always blend seamlessly into the larger, action-oriented plot, making the story feel slightly disjointed at times.
Character development is a slow burn, with a large cast of characters to follow. This abundance of POVs can make it difficult to track everyone’s arc, especially for readers who prefer fewer viewpoints. However, each character feels distinct, and for those who enjoy intricate character dynamics, this may be a rewarding aspect of the story.
The climax delivers a sudden, high-stakes finale that feels both epic and a bit rushed. The resolution packs an emotional punch, though some readers may wish for a bit more time spent in these final moments to fully absorb the weight of the events.
Overall, Lost Souls is an engaging, emotionally resonant sci-fi novel with a lot to offer. While it has some pacing issues and could benefit from tighter editing, it provides a fascinating world and an exploration of relationships that feel genuine and heartfelt. Readers who enjoy rich world-building and character-driven stories with epic stakes will find much to love in Ryan Skeffington’s debut.
October 30, 2024
Look at that cover! Don't worry, the story within is just as good! This book does an amazing job telling a story in a cool scifi world with interesting and fun technology. But at its heart, it is grounded in character depth and emotions. Grief, depression, and loss are heavily featured. You feel what the characters feel, enriching your reading experience and connection to the characters. There are also swerves galore you won't see coming so get ready! Highly recommend this book and I am excited for the sequel!
March 12, 2024
Ryan Skeffington bursts into the indie scene with this impressive, bold debut.
Well...I'm impressed. After finishing this book, it forced me to question a lot of the preconceptions I held, but also a lot of the assertions I had made whilst reading it. I don't wish to spoil that experience for anyone else, but I will say this: Skeffington isn't afraid to take risks. This book is definitely worth picking up, and Ryan Skeffington, I believe, will be a name to watch. I'm very excited to see where the honing of his craft will take him.
Well...I'm impressed. After finishing this book, it forced me to question a lot of the preconceptions I held, but also a lot of the assertions I had made whilst reading it. I don't wish to spoil that experience for anyone else, but I will say this: Skeffington isn't afraid to take risks. This book is definitely worth picking up, and Ryan Skeffington, I believe, will be a name to watch. I'm very excited to see where the honing of his craft will take him.
May 31, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
Note: I got a free copy of the book in a Twitter giveaway. I participated because I loved the cover art, and everything I read about the book made me want to pick it up. To be honest, I was not ready for the sensitive emotion-driven character arcs that comprise this book.
Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington
What I liked:
The book opens with an unnamed character waking up from cryosleep. They’ve arrived at an outer space ringworld kind of location where they are immediately engaged in labour. Sounds pretty standard and straightforward, right? Well, it wasn’t. Skeffington takes his time to craft a visceral experience of this scene. I felt the chill in my bones, the ache and soreness that would follow from unused muscles. The prologue alone is a very strongly written opening for what follows in the world of Infinite Existence.
I’ll admit, the scenes following that fantastic experience were a little dull and confusing. Yet, they introduced some very interesting characters. Maximus is your standard sci-fi protagonist from the get-go. He’s an idealist and a very intelligent one at that. Seeing him navigate the mundane of this majestic space station really struck a chord with me. It was an odd choice, but made realistic and relatable with the author’s careful treatment. The same goes for Kana and Arex, both of whom are handled with equal care and attention.
The concept of space gladiators was insane, and I wish Skeffington had explored more of that. The author managed to expertly tie in the gladiators with the main conflict at hand—the serum. Given the world we live in, and how a lot of us have complained about the inhuman conditions some are forced to work in, this entire plotline of the serum was an interesting—and horrifying—take. I can totally imagine big corporations incorporating such a solution that focuses on improving productivity with absolute negligence towards the workers’ health and well-being. All this brings me back to the highlight of this novel—the characters.
Seeing that cover, I was expecting an action-packed Star Wars kind of novel. What I got instead was a novel driven by poignant character moments, interesting character development, and an exploration of their philosophies and psyche in a warm and empathetic manner. As an author myself, I understand how deeply therapeutic writing can be, and it shows especially in the author’s treatment of Maximus and Pentalux’s relationship. It isn’t easy to explore such raw and real emotions, but Skeffington has nailed it.
The characters, their development, and their treatment are what make this book shine. Trust me, if you love character-driven stories, Lost Souls is THE book for you.
What I didn’t like:
Usually, books that are character-driven aren’t necessarily strong on plot. The strong character moments make up for the simpler plots. However, if the pacing has issues, it can hamper the reading experience overall.
I mentioned earlier how the first couple of scenes after the prologue were a little dull and confusing. To me, that was because of the time jumps and flashbacks. In isolation, each scene was fantastic. But strung together in a sequence, they sometimes had a clunky effect that broke my flow. Some of the flashbacks, although important to the plot, were distracting, bringing me out of the immersion of an otherwise intriguing world.
And lastly—my biggest complaint with the book—the ending.
You could argue that’s a good thing because that’s how much I had come to care for the characters. But, I’m still left with this bitter feeling that I can’t seem to shake off.
Given the author’s skill at writing characters, I wouldn’t mind reading another 200 pages of these characters if it meant the ending could be set up appropriately. Sadly, it wasn’t, leading to a rushed and unsatisfactory experience, at least for me.
All in all, a good read which was somewhat soured by the ending. There are more than enough seeds planted in this book for sequels. The author’s character work alone is powerful enough to pick up the sequels. And from what I know, the author is working hard on finishing the next instalments. It’s going to be interesting to see what lies ahead in the world of Infinite Existence.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: emotional and sensitive treatment of character moments, interesting world-building.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: some pacing issues, inappropriately built-up the ending
Note: I got a free copy of the book in a Twitter giveaway. I participated because I loved the cover art, and everything I read about the book made me want to pick it up. To be honest, I was not ready for the sensitive emotion-driven character arcs that comprise this book.
Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington
What I liked:
The book opens with an unnamed character waking up from cryosleep. They’ve arrived at an outer space ringworld kind of location where they are immediately engaged in labour. Sounds pretty standard and straightforward, right? Well, it wasn’t. Skeffington takes his time to craft a visceral experience of this scene. I felt the chill in my bones, the ache and soreness that would follow from unused muscles. The prologue alone is a very strongly written opening for what follows in the world of Infinite Existence.
I’ll admit, the scenes following that fantastic experience were a little dull and confusing. Yet, they introduced some very interesting characters. Maximus is your standard sci-fi protagonist from the get-go. He’s an idealist and a very intelligent one at that. Seeing him navigate the mundane of this majestic space station really struck a chord with me. It was an odd choice, but made realistic and relatable with the author’s careful treatment. The same goes for Kana and Arex, both of whom are handled with equal care and attention.
The concept of space gladiators was insane, and I wish Skeffington had explored more of that. The author managed to expertly tie in the gladiators with the main conflict at hand—the serum. Given the world we live in, and how a lot of us have complained about the inhuman conditions some are forced to work in, this entire plotline of the serum was an interesting—and horrifying—take. I can totally imagine big corporations incorporating such a solution that focuses on improving productivity with absolute negligence towards the workers’ health and well-being. All this brings me back to the highlight of this novel—the characters.
Seeing that cover, I was expecting an action-packed Star Wars kind of novel. What I got instead was a novel driven by poignant character moments, interesting character development, and an exploration of their philosophies and psyche in a warm and empathetic manner. As an author myself, I understand how deeply therapeutic writing can be, and it shows especially in the author’s treatment of Maximus and Pentalux’s relationship. It isn’t easy to explore such raw and real emotions, but Skeffington has nailed it.
The characters, their development, and their treatment are what make this book shine. Trust me, if you love character-driven stories, Lost Souls is THE book for you.
What I didn’t like:
Usually, books that are character-driven aren’t necessarily strong on plot. The strong character moments make up for the simpler plots. However, if the pacing has issues, it can hamper the reading experience overall.
I mentioned earlier how the first couple of scenes after the prologue were a little dull and confusing. To me, that was because of the time jumps and flashbacks. In isolation, each scene was fantastic. But strung together in a sequence, they sometimes had a clunky effect that broke my flow. Some of the flashbacks, although important to the plot, were distracting, bringing me out of the immersion of an otherwise intriguing world.
And lastly—my biggest complaint with the book—the ending.
You could argue that’s a good thing because that’s how much I had come to care for the characters. But, I’m still left with this bitter feeling that I can’t seem to shake off.
Given the author’s skill at writing characters, I wouldn’t mind reading another 200 pages of these characters if it meant the ending could be set up appropriately. Sadly, it wasn’t, leading to a rushed and unsatisfactory experience, at least for me.
All in all, a good read which was somewhat soured by the ending. There are more than enough seeds planted in this book for sequels. The author’s character work alone is powerful enough to pick up the sequels. And from what I know, the author is working hard on finishing the next instalments. It’s going to be interesting to see what lies ahead in the world of Infinite Existence.
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: emotional and sensitive treatment of character moments, interesting world-building.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: some pacing issues, inappropriately built-up the ending
March 16, 2024
Some rough edges and a somewhat abrupt end sequence held things back for me somewhat, but I ultimately found myself quite impressed with this book which serves as a strong debut for this new indie author as well as a promising start to this dark scifi series.
NOTE: I want to mention that I won a paperback copy of this book as part of a giveaway. I was not specifically asked to write a review (though that's always nice thing to do, especially when you like the book) and my opinion of this book is not influenced by receiving a free copy as part of this giveaway from the author.
CHARACTERS
Although there is definitely a clear plotline driving things forward, I would actually say that the characters are the main focus of this narrative. The story is told across multiple POVs with Maximus serving as what I would essentially describe as the main character. He's a rather naïve young man who's been brought up in a life of relative privilege, but a series of moments where he starts to open his eyes to the world around him sets him down a path of trying to change things. Maximus is deeply emotional and quite flawed in some key ways which made him both an engaging and frustrating lead. He's joined by his childhood best friend, Ratchet, who doesn't have any chapters told from his perspective as far as I can recall, but is a central figure within the arcs of both Maximus and Kana. I enjoyed how the story explored the key ways in which Ratchet is both similar to and quite different from Maximus. I think out of the whole cast, he was probably my favorite due to how steadfast of a friend he is and how hard he works to balance doing everything he can for everyone in his life. Kana is a headstrong young woman that's part of the lower caste and I quickly found myself enjoying her characterization as well. She can be a bit of a hothead sometimes, but her more endearing qualities ultimately won out for me. Arex doesn't have too many chapters told from his perspective, but he's another really interesting figure. I think he has by far the most compelling backstory and I enjoyed how the little nuggets we're given offered crucial context into his actions and motivations. There is still a great deal that we don't know about him though, so I hope his character is further explored down the road. Perxes and Pentalux are the other two characters that we follow, albeit quite briefly. Pantalux is a fascinating person and I found myself hooked on all of the mysteries of his past that Maximus slowly uncovers. Perxes is the perfect kind of psychopath who ends up being far more integral to the main plot that I initially realized. His chapter is grotesque but very well done.
SETTING/WORLD
Perhaps the most important aspect of this novel is actually the world in which it is set. There's an interesting juxtaposition between how confined things feel on the ring world that this particularly story takes place on and the vastness of the greater universe which is really only alluded to here and there. This is one of those "humans have essentially destroyed Earth and must now head to the stars" type of setups, but what makes it super unique is the way that everything works on this new home for humanity. The society that is established is one filled with brutality and suffering. There is a fascinating caste system, though I will say that it took me a handful of chapters to understand that terms like "Phantom" or "Wraith" or "Dredge" were referencing social hierarchies/orders. Despite my initial confusion, I did find myself appreciating that we don't get all the information dumped on us all at once. I felt like the key details were revealed to me in the moment that I needed to understand them and that sort of slow drip approach is used in other aspects of the worldbuilding as well which gave the more expositional bits a much more seamless feeling. This is perhaps especially impressive given that there are all sorts of weird technologies present in this universe from the flying zephyrs to pulse firearms and even some awesome suits of body armor worn by this world's version of gladiators which are referred to as "Titans." Without getting too deep into spoilers, I will just say that there are a lot of crazy reveals that the characters unearth which deliver some great twists on not only the all-powerful Celestial class and the society they've crafted, but even the very mechanics of this ring world itself. It's all great stuff and I think that if you are someone who gets really hyped about worldbuilding, then this one is probably going to be a real treat for you.
PLOT/TONE
For probably the first 25% or so of the book, I wasn't entirely sure what this story was really about. We start out with a harrowing opening sequence followed by something slightly more wholesome and then get into setting the stage and introducing our players one by one. From the onset it's clear that this one is not for the squeamish. Skeffington's depictions of blood and gore is the stuff of nightmares and the more subtle forms of violence and oppression are no less disturbing. In contrast to that is a cast of characters that wear their hearts on their sleeve and speak with almost-melodramatic earnestness to one another, often in ways that are quite touching. It's a stark dichotomy that created a really distinct blend of tones which almost reminded me of an anime even though I wouldn't say there was anything too cartoonish about this book (so, maybe a gritty, live-action adaptation of an anime then?). The narrative itself also goes through some different phases. After the groundwork is set, there's a pseudo-mystery that unfolds as Maximus makes some important discoveries and forms some new friends as he attempts to use what he's learned for the betterment of the lower class. Things then evolve into a sort of slow-burn rebellion story where the main characters band together in an attempt to upend "the system." I kind of enjoyed this slower sort of buildup as it gave a generous amount of space for some meaningful character moments and important reveals to unfold though I also felt at times like it meandered a bit.
The last several chapters suddenly kick into high gear in a way that kind of threw me off a bit. It all starts with a big moment that I wasn't really sure if I was supposed to be surprised by or not. It was unveiled as if it was meant to be quite shocking and is then retroactively explained, but I just sort of expected that this was where things were headed and would have preferred having a little more buildup to it up front since I think that would have been more dramatic. Things then escalate rapidly from there with a flurry of different events that all culminate into a somewhat tragic conclusion that isn't quite a cliffhanger, but does clearly lead into the next books in the series. I should note that there's nothing too out of left field aside from a romantic moment that I didn't feel was especially earned. There's no deus ex machina or anything, it's just that some of the more climactic moments felt a little rushed and the ending is definitely abrupt. I think a lot of people may take no issue for this at all. For me, a story's ending is a big factor in my enjoyment and while this one wasn't necessarily frustrating or unsatisfying, it also doesn't do much to offer a sense of closure or completion which is tough for me, especially when I am reading a new or new-to-me author.
THE PAPERBACK
The first thing most people are probably going to notice about this book is it's striking cover. The wraparound artwork is stunning and packed with tons of tiny details while also rendering a handful of the main characters front and center in a rather glorious fashion. The dark, gritty style is also a great indication of the kind of story that can be found within the covers. On the inside, I found myself appreciating the minimalist scifi motif when it came to the chapter headings and font choices. I did feel like the margins were a little bit stingy though. It's not so bad that I had to damage the spine while reading, but the text definitely dives a little deeper into the middle than I typically prefer. The formatting choices also make this book deceptively long since there is a fair bit of text on each page, though I wouldn't necessarily say that it felt "crammed in." Apart from a very sweet dedication, there aren't really any additional trappings in the form of an Author's Note (Forward/Afterward) or Author Bio. The absence of these things is obviously not a negative, more so just an observation that there aren't too many frills surrounding the story itself.
CONCLUSION
If you enjoy science fiction with intricate worldbuilding and compelling, emotionally expressive characters, then I would absolutely recommend that you give LOST SOULS a chance so long as you don't think you'd find darker, more violent content too upsetting. I, for one, will be keeping an eye on this author and series!
(+) The world Skeffington has crafted is something truly special, and it's clear that there is so much more of it left to discover.
(+) The characters were all engaging in their own way and have some rather endearing interactions with one another.
(+) Some intense action sequences.
(+) A fascinating juxtaposition between horrifyingly bloody violence and extremely earnest characters which created a rather unique tone.
(+) Really elegant delivery of the worldbuilding and backstories for certain characters.
(+) A stunning cover that I am quite please to have on my shelf.
(-) An abrupt ending with some moments that felt a little rushed in comparison to how deliberately the rest of the story unfolded.
(-) Some rough edges with specific bits of dialogue and plot/pacing.
NOTE: I want to mention that I won a paperback copy of this book as part of a giveaway. I was not specifically asked to write a review (though that's always nice thing to do, especially when you like the book) and my opinion of this book is not influenced by receiving a free copy as part of this giveaway from the author.
CHARACTERS
Although there is definitely a clear plotline driving things forward, I would actually say that the characters are the main focus of this narrative. The story is told across multiple POVs with Maximus serving as what I would essentially describe as the main character. He's a rather naïve young man who's been brought up in a life of relative privilege, but a series of moments where he starts to open his eyes to the world around him sets him down a path of trying to change things. Maximus is deeply emotional and quite flawed in some key ways which made him both an engaging and frustrating lead. He's joined by his childhood best friend, Ratchet, who doesn't have any chapters told from his perspective as far as I can recall, but is a central figure within the arcs of both Maximus and Kana. I enjoyed how the story explored the key ways in which Ratchet is both similar to and quite different from Maximus. I think out of the whole cast, he was probably my favorite due to how steadfast of a friend he is and how hard he works to balance doing everything he can for everyone in his life. Kana is a headstrong young woman that's part of the lower caste and I quickly found myself enjoying her characterization as well. She can be a bit of a hothead sometimes, but her more endearing qualities ultimately won out for me. Arex doesn't have too many chapters told from his perspective, but he's another really interesting figure. I think he has by far the most compelling backstory and I enjoyed how the little nuggets we're given offered crucial context into his actions and motivations. There is still a great deal that we don't know about him though, so I hope his character is further explored down the road. Perxes and Pentalux are the other two characters that we follow, albeit quite briefly. Pantalux is a fascinating person and I found myself hooked on all of the mysteries of his past that Maximus slowly uncovers. Perxes is the perfect kind of psychopath who ends up being far more integral to the main plot that I initially realized. His chapter is grotesque but very well done.
SETTING/WORLD
Perhaps the most important aspect of this novel is actually the world in which it is set. There's an interesting juxtaposition between how confined things feel on the ring world that this particularly story takes place on and the vastness of the greater universe which is really only alluded to here and there. This is one of those "humans have essentially destroyed Earth and must now head to the stars" type of setups, but what makes it super unique is the way that everything works on this new home for humanity. The society that is established is one filled with brutality and suffering. There is a fascinating caste system, though I will say that it took me a handful of chapters to understand that terms like "Phantom" or "Wraith" or "Dredge" were referencing social hierarchies/orders. Despite my initial confusion, I did find myself appreciating that we don't get all the information dumped on us all at once. I felt like the key details were revealed to me in the moment that I needed to understand them and that sort of slow drip approach is used in other aspects of the worldbuilding as well which gave the more expositional bits a much more seamless feeling. This is perhaps especially impressive given that there are all sorts of weird technologies present in this universe from the flying zephyrs to pulse firearms and even some awesome suits of body armor worn by this world's version of gladiators which are referred to as "Titans." Without getting too deep into spoilers, I will just say that there are a lot of crazy reveals that the characters unearth which deliver some great twists on not only the all-powerful Celestial class and the society they've crafted, but even the very mechanics of this ring world itself. It's all great stuff and I think that if you are someone who gets really hyped about worldbuilding, then this one is probably going to be a real treat for you.
PLOT/TONE
For probably the first 25% or so of the book, I wasn't entirely sure what this story was really about. We start out with a harrowing opening sequence followed by something slightly more wholesome and then get into setting the stage and introducing our players one by one. From the onset it's clear that this one is not for the squeamish. Skeffington's depictions of blood and gore is the stuff of nightmares and the more subtle forms of violence and oppression are no less disturbing. In contrast to that is a cast of characters that wear their hearts on their sleeve and speak with almost-melodramatic earnestness to one another, often in ways that are quite touching. It's a stark dichotomy that created a really distinct blend of tones which almost reminded me of an anime even though I wouldn't say there was anything too cartoonish about this book (so, maybe a gritty, live-action adaptation of an anime then?). The narrative itself also goes through some different phases. After the groundwork is set, there's a pseudo-mystery that unfolds as Maximus makes some important discoveries and forms some new friends as he attempts to use what he's learned for the betterment of the lower class. Things then evolve into a sort of slow-burn rebellion story where the main characters band together in an attempt to upend "the system." I kind of enjoyed this slower sort of buildup as it gave a generous amount of space for some meaningful character moments and important reveals to unfold though I also felt at times like it meandered a bit.
The last several chapters suddenly kick into high gear in a way that kind of threw me off a bit. It all starts with a big moment that I wasn't really sure if I was supposed to be surprised by or not. It was unveiled as if it was meant to be quite shocking and is then retroactively explained, but I just sort of expected that this was where things were headed and would have preferred having a little more buildup to it up front since I think that would have been more dramatic. Things then escalate rapidly from there with a flurry of different events that all culminate into a somewhat tragic conclusion that isn't quite a cliffhanger, but does clearly lead into the next books in the series. I should note that there's nothing too out of left field aside from a romantic moment that I didn't feel was especially earned. There's no deus ex machina or anything, it's just that some of the more climactic moments felt a little rushed and the ending is definitely abrupt. I think a lot of people may take no issue for this at all. For me, a story's ending is a big factor in my enjoyment and while this one wasn't necessarily frustrating or unsatisfying, it also doesn't do much to offer a sense of closure or completion which is tough for me, especially when I am reading a new or new-to-me author.
THE PAPERBACK
The first thing most people are probably going to notice about this book is it's striking cover. The wraparound artwork is stunning and packed with tons of tiny details while also rendering a handful of the main characters front and center in a rather glorious fashion. The dark, gritty style is also a great indication of the kind of story that can be found within the covers. On the inside, I found myself appreciating the minimalist scifi motif when it came to the chapter headings and font choices. I did feel like the margins were a little bit stingy though. It's not so bad that I had to damage the spine while reading, but the text definitely dives a little deeper into the middle than I typically prefer. The formatting choices also make this book deceptively long since there is a fair bit of text on each page, though I wouldn't necessarily say that it felt "crammed in." Apart from a very sweet dedication, there aren't really any additional trappings in the form of an Author's Note (Forward/Afterward) or Author Bio. The absence of these things is obviously not a negative, more so just an observation that there aren't too many frills surrounding the story itself.
CONCLUSION
If you enjoy science fiction with intricate worldbuilding and compelling, emotionally expressive characters, then I would absolutely recommend that you give LOST SOULS a chance so long as you don't think you'd find darker, more violent content too upsetting. I, for one, will be keeping an eye on this author and series!
(+) The world Skeffington has crafted is something truly special, and it's clear that there is so much more of it left to discover.
(+) The characters were all engaging in their own way and have some rather endearing interactions with one another.
(+) Some intense action sequences.
(+) A fascinating juxtaposition between horrifyingly bloody violence and extremely earnest characters which created a rather unique tone.
(+) Really elegant delivery of the worldbuilding and backstories for certain characters.
(+) A stunning cover that I am quite please to have on my shelf.
(-) An abrupt ending with some moments that felt a little rushed in comparison to how deliberately the rest of the story unfolded.
(-) Some rough edges with specific bits of dialogue and plot/pacing.
March 12, 2025
DISCLAIMER: My copy of this book was provided to me by the author, Ryan Skeffington, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Please note that all of my thoughts are entirely my own.
I wanna start this review by saying that, when it comes to books, I'm still new to the Sci-Fi genre, though I am very familiar with it in other media, such as movies, TV shows and video games. So while my experience with reading the genre may be limited, I do have a pretty extensive knowledge on the genre as a whole, its subgenres and so on and so forth.
This is a Grimdark Sci-Fi book, meaning that it's bleak, it's dark and the people in the world are desperate. The setting is in outer space, after humanity has ruined Earth with their greed and constant warring, which (presumably) left the place uninhabitable. Whilst in space, the surviving members of the species created a new system in order to maintain power and control, a caste system, with the lowest rungs being little more than forced slave labor, and the higher rungs living comparably better lives, though it's only better by the metric that they can live the same life day in and day out, working monotonous office jobs rather than slaving away mining or doing the work of three times as many men in a warehouse.
But a young man, named Maximus (or Maxximus, the book goes back and forth on this, more on this later) has dreams and goals to create a new world, a better world, one where people are equals, where the lowest castes can live comfortably and happily with their families, and nobody has to suffer. Along the way, he meets Ratchet, Kana and other friends, who share in his goals and values and attempt to help him create this better world.
I can't dive too much more into the story than that without getting into major spoilers, but I have to say, I do like the setting and the overall idea of the story. It may not be entirely new, but it is engaging and interesting. However, sadly, I can't say that I was overly fond of the execution of the plot, the progression of certain characters, or much of the dialogue in the last quarter of the book.
I want to start with my first and smallest issue with the book, the grammar. There's some definite grammatical errors beyond just name inconsistences (Maximus vs Maxximus, Pentalux vs Pentaluxx, etc. As these may be intentional), but a handful of small spelling errors, and an inconsistency with the handling of the castes. We have, in no particular order, Wraiths, Phantoms, Spectres, dredge, Celestials and Titans. Notice the issue? I used the same capitalizations as the book, if the other castes are going to be capitalized, the dredge should too, as they're part of the same system, and it helps to create better consistency between them. Additionally, there's a goal in this book titled "infinite existence" but it's almost never capitalized, despite being the name of a project being worked on by the world's rulers. It should be a proper noun and treated as such.
The next issue I had was the pacing, the book either moves slowly, or at a rocket's pace, with nothing in-between, and I found it to be jarring, it almost read like it was written from the perspective of being a TV show, with commercial breaks and one week gaps between episodes, where time is implied to have past by default, rather than like a book, which it actually is. This is purely a matter of personal taste, but I dislike this writing style, I find it weaker from a narrative perspective, and I think the book would have been better served by being longer, so that we can have actual events connecting what happens between chapters, rather than just jumping to the next sequence of events.
The reveal of the new "secret villain" towards the end, is also not my favorite narrative device, and this is yet again personal preference, but it's not a decision I'm usually fond of in any media, books included. I might have been more forgiving of it though, if I felt it had ANY build up. But instead, it just seemed to hit out of completely nowhere, which again, was jarring. And to make matters worse, their dialogue became very mustache twirly, which made them feel a touch too cheesy for my personal tastes.
I want to stress, that I do SINCERELY appreciate Ryan sending me this book, and this is a debut novel from him. I'm sure his writing will improve over time, but I can't help but feel like this one should have stayed in the oven a bit longer. It had some great ideas and plotlines in the mix for seasoning, but the story itself felt a bit undercooked to me. It's not a bad book in my opinion but, I can't praise it very highly either, sadly.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars, I'm hopeful the sequel will show improvement but, I don't think this one is quite there yet.
I wanna start this review by saying that, when it comes to books, I'm still new to the Sci-Fi genre, though I am very familiar with it in other media, such as movies, TV shows and video games. So while my experience with reading the genre may be limited, I do have a pretty extensive knowledge on the genre as a whole, its subgenres and so on and so forth.
This is a Grimdark Sci-Fi book, meaning that it's bleak, it's dark and the people in the world are desperate. The setting is in outer space, after humanity has ruined Earth with their greed and constant warring, which (presumably) left the place uninhabitable. Whilst in space, the surviving members of the species created a new system in order to maintain power and control, a caste system, with the lowest rungs being little more than forced slave labor, and the higher rungs living comparably better lives, though it's only better by the metric that they can live the same life day in and day out, working monotonous office jobs rather than slaving away mining or doing the work of three times as many men in a warehouse.
But a young man, named Maximus (or Maxximus, the book goes back and forth on this, more on this later) has dreams and goals to create a new world, a better world, one where people are equals, where the lowest castes can live comfortably and happily with their families, and nobody has to suffer. Along the way, he meets Ratchet, Kana and other friends, who share in his goals and values and attempt to help him create this better world.
I can't dive too much more into the story than that without getting into major spoilers, but I have to say, I do like the setting and the overall idea of the story. It may not be entirely new, but it is engaging and interesting. However, sadly, I can't say that I was overly fond of the execution of the plot, the progression of certain characters, or much of the dialogue in the last quarter of the book.
I want to start with my first and smallest issue with the book, the grammar. There's some definite grammatical errors beyond just name inconsistences (Maximus vs Maxximus, Pentalux vs Pentaluxx, etc. As these may be intentional), but a handful of small spelling errors, and an inconsistency with the handling of the castes. We have, in no particular order, Wraiths, Phantoms, Spectres, dredge, Celestials and Titans. Notice the issue? I used the same capitalizations as the book, if the other castes are going to be capitalized, the dredge should too, as they're part of the same system, and it helps to create better consistency between them. Additionally, there's a goal in this book titled "infinite existence" but it's almost never capitalized, despite being the name of a project being worked on by the world's rulers. It should be a proper noun and treated as such.
The next issue I had was the pacing, the book either moves slowly, or at a rocket's pace, with nothing in-between, and I found it to be jarring, it almost read like it was written from the perspective of being a TV show, with commercial breaks and one week gaps between episodes, where time is implied to have past by default, rather than like a book, which it actually is. This is purely a matter of personal taste, but I dislike this writing style, I find it weaker from a narrative perspective, and I think the book would have been better served by being longer, so that we can have actual events connecting what happens between chapters, rather than just jumping to the next sequence of events.
The reveal of the new "secret villain" towards the end, is also not my favorite narrative device, and this is yet again personal preference, but it's not a decision I'm usually fond of in any media, books included. I might have been more forgiving of it though, if I felt it had ANY build up. But instead, it just seemed to hit out of completely nowhere, which again, was jarring. And to make matters worse, their dialogue became very mustache twirly, which made them feel a touch too cheesy for my personal tastes.
I want to stress, that I do SINCERELY appreciate Ryan sending me this book, and this is a debut novel from him. I'm sure his writing will improve over time, but I can't help but feel like this one should have stayed in the oven a bit longer. It had some great ideas and plotlines in the mix for seasoning, but the story itself felt a bit undercooked to me. It's not a bad book in my opinion but, I can't praise it very highly either, sadly.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars, I'm hopeful the sequel will show improvement but, I don't think this one is quite there yet.
Read
November 6, 2024I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC4 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.
Status: Cut
Read: 31%
I enjoyed the first chapter quite a lot. Usually, I detest reading prologues and it seems like this book sneaked it in right under my nose and I never realized it until much later in the story. Expect a grim space colony that doesn't value human life where poor people from the low Dirge caste are coerced to inject their bodies with a stimulant drug to work 5 times their normal body capacity so that oligarchs can decorate their houses with rugs made of extinct tiger fur. Oh, and the enhancement drug kills most people within a few years. If you don't use the drug, you also die because some weird bio soldiers called Spectres zap you with a gun and take your body away or something.
This book tries its earnest showing multiple POVs, from the odd friendship between an upper middle class guy named Maximus and a Dirge that moved up the caste ladder through grit & talent named Ratchet, to a Dirge woman named Kana and a gladiator combat champ with alcoholism named Arex who barely appears for 1 short scene of the sample. He was arguably the most interesting character so far.
I was intrigued about the mysterious semi living mineral Dirge risk their lives digging from asteroids. We only know it is highly malleable and can theoretically extend a human's life I suppose to make it easier for people to live in outer space. With more dev editing, the mysteries of this material could have answered some of the questions I had while reading the book.
We get reminded ad nauseum Dirge wear rags, die quickly from poisoning and almost never move up the social ladder, whereas the middle class Wraiths seem to live good lives and don't have to do anything except travel to work 14 hours a day everyday without feeling tired from the long commutes. And all of these commutes to... not work, just listen to some guy.
There were great worldbuilding elements in this story that were making me really curious such as the Rings. Are these asteroid rings? Jupiter's rings? Some stellar cloud in the other side of the galaxy? The book so far never offers answers to this. In fact, for the insane amount of time it spends talking about the Dirge caste, we don't get to know much about the rings at all. Only that rich people zip around buildings Jettsons style in little ships called zephyrs and for no reason have humans doing all of the dangerous menial factory work instead of automating it to efficient robots. In fact, outside of little screen devices worn on the left wrist, there really isn't much technology in this book at all.
That is, except for the Titan suits. For yet more unexplained reasons, rich oligarchs are sort of living behind the curtains ruling over the lower castes without being seen by anyone and the only upper caste regular folk get to see on a regular basis are 7 warriors that wear special battle suits called Titans. Inspired by Roman gladiators meets the Hunger Games, these warriors come from upper castes, train their entire lives in combat and fight to the death with aspiring warriors for their spot like a Drow society.
And the tradeoff for being one of the 7?
Ummm... I guess they get to continue wearing the Titan suits?
I didn't quite understand why Arex who has taken Kana under his wing as his employee of sorts doesn't use his super influence to move her up the social ladder like Rachet did. So far, the book never explains why he didn't do this. Too much head trauma from the fights? Too much PTSD? Alcoholism? Maybe he would like to, but feels concerned she'd discover something horrible he did and could blackmail him? Maybe the book expands this further later.
The book has promise, and with dev editing where each individual chapter focuses on one character instead of several at a time, the book could really shine. Therefore, the book is a cut from the contest for me.
Status: Cut
Read: 31%
I enjoyed the first chapter quite a lot. Usually, I detest reading prologues and it seems like this book sneaked it in right under my nose and I never realized it until much later in the story. Expect a grim space colony that doesn't value human life where poor people from the low Dirge caste are coerced to inject their bodies with a stimulant drug to work 5 times their normal body capacity so that oligarchs can decorate their houses with rugs made of extinct tiger fur. Oh, and the enhancement drug kills most people within a few years. If you don't use the drug, you also die because some weird bio soldiers called Spectres zap you with a gun and take your body away or something.
This book tries its earnest showing multiple POVs, from the odd friendship between an upper middle class guy named Maximus and a Dirge that moved up the caste ladder through grit & talent named Ratchet, to a Dirge woman named Kana and a gladiator combat champ with alcoholism named Arex who barely appears for 1 short scene of the sample. He was arguably the most interesting character so far.
I was intrigued about the mysterious semi living mineral Dirge risk their lives digging from asteroids. We only know it is highly malleable and can theoretically extend a human's life I suppose to make it easier for people to live in outer space. With more dev editing, the mysteries of this material could have answered some of the questions I had while reading the book.
We get reminded ad nauseum Dirge wear rags, die quickly from poisoning and almost never move up the social ladder, whereas the middle class Wraiths seem to live good lives and don't have to do anything except travel to work 14 hours a day everyday without feeling tired from the long commutes. And all of these commutes to... not work, just listen to some guy.
There were great worldbuilding elements in this story that were making me really curious such as the Rings. Are these asteroid rings? Jupiter's rings? Some stellar cloud in the other side of the galaxy? The book so far never offers answers to this. In fact, for the insane amount of time it spends talking about the Dirge caste, we don't get to know much about the rings at all. Only that rich people zip around buildings Jettsons style in little ships called zephyrs and for no reason have humans doing all of the dangerous menial factory work instead of automating it to efficient robots. In fact, outside of little screen devices worn on the left wrist, there really isn't much technology in this book at all.
That is, except for the Titan suits. For yet more unexplained reasons, rich oligarchs are sort of living behind the curtains ruling over the lower castes without being seen by anyone and the only upper caste regular folk get to see on a regular basis are 7 warriors that wear special battle suits called Titans. Inspired by Roman gladiators meets the Hunger Games, these warriors come from upper castes, train their entire lives in combat and fight to the death with aspiring warriors for their spot like a Drow society.
And the tradeoff for being one of the 7?
Ummm... I guess they get to continue wearing the Titan suits?
I didn't quite understand why Arex who has taken Kana under his wing as his employee of sorts doesn't use his super influence to move her up the social ladder like Rachet did. So far, the book never explains why he didn't do this. Too much head trauma from the fights? Too much PTSD? Alcoholism? Maybe he would like to, but feels concerned she'd discover something horrible he did and could blackmail him? Maybe the book expands this further later.
The book has promise, and with dev editing where each individual chapter focuses on one character instead of several at a time, the book could really shine. Therefore, the book is a cut from the contest for me.
April 11, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
There is a lot to reflect on in the moments after finishing Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington. For a start, it’s a powerful debut, the kind that gets you thinking, gets you feeling, and paints a portrait of a vast new world to be explored.
I’m not ashamed to say, however, that what got me right from the start is that Lost Souls is structured chapter-by-chapter alongside one of my favourite albums of all time: Deep Blue by Aussie metalcore powerhouse Parkway Drive. If you know me, you know I like my metal/hardcore/pop-punk, so Lost Souls was sold immediately to me on that premise alone.
Let me start with a personal anecdote before we dive into the story, back to the day of June 25th, 2010. I stood, lined up from about 8:00am outside a JB HI-FI store (the Australian equivalent of Best-Buy). I was about to pick up my signed copy of Deep Blue, and I had my tickets secured for the upcoming Parkway tour. I was also studying in my second last year of high-school, and my main subjects were as you might expect for a nerd like me: Advanced English, two different Extension English subjects, and Music. As a teenager, music and writing intersected for me constantly. I remember in particular that I handed in a particularly conceptual piece of long-form writing based off of Homesick by A Day to Remember, if that gives you anything to go by.
The thing about Deep Blue, however, was that it managed to do everything well. The sonic wall that pummelled you with songs like Unrest, Pressures or Karma; the juicy, melodic guitars, and the impressively deep lyricism in every song. Deep Blue had to be considered as a whole piece to me. To this day, my experience of that album hasn’t changed.
So when I opened up Lost Souls for the first time, I’d already heard Ryan talk about bands like Parkway in some of his interviews–but to see Deep Blue be used so reflectively as a structure for the story had me hooked. The original album explores a lot of themes, but conceptually tells the story of a man who journeys to the bottom of the ocean to find the Truth. I say Truth with a capital ‘T’ because that’s what it is; in a world of lies, it becomes our greatest purpose to discover the beauty that is contained in our lives, in our homes, in us.
Lost Souls couldn’t be set anywhere further from the ocean. In fact, the story opens on an asteroid, where humans are mining a new-world metal known as xantium, which becomes the crux at the heart of the story. There’s a lot going on here: a new settlement for humanity called the Nucleus, a super-serum, and scoops of politicking and classism, amongst more. This is where the story shines: each chapter is spiritually inspired by each track on Deep Blue, and thus Lost Souls is intrinsically connected to its themes, both central and supporting.
I found myself highly engaged, particularly in the first eighty pages or so, as I discovered the world, the nature of the government, and the dichotomy of classes. Our lead character, Maximus, is part of an upper tier of society known as Wraiths, while secondary POV Kana, is a Dredge or low-life. There are also Sceptres, merciless officers of the law, and Celestials, who we are yet to learn more about, likely in the sequels to come. The way these characters slowly came together in their own colliding arcs and kept the story constantly engaging is something I have to give Ryan Skeffington props for, especially as Lost Souls is his debut novel.
One of the driving motifs of the story, however, is the Truth, and that leads me back to Deep Blue again. Both Maximus’ and Kana’s stories intersect over the desperate search for the truth. The climax, of course, comes when the story echoes the sentiment of track 10 on Deep Blue, Home is for the Heartless: Mother Mercy, take my hand … Father Time, return what’s mine. The tonal shift in the story is not so strong that the integrity of it is compromised, but it’s definitely there, and it only makes the undertones of Lost Souls more powerful. Maximus discovers a lot of the capital ‘T’ Truth here, and this propels the story towards a fast and utterly enthralling ending that is built off the back of discoveries.
The book itself is a delight to read, and can only be enhanced by listening along to Deep Blue, especially if you have a propensity towards heavy metal. There is a lot of potential to be explored here; Ryan shows off the brute force of his emotive writing, as well as his natural talents in the sciences. Worldbuilding is vast and deeply interesting, and there are some provocative philosophical and ethical questions littered throughout. While dialogue can sometimes be a bit clunky, and there are some formatting issues in the physical copy of the book, these things are minute in the overall reading experience and definitely did not hinder my enjoyment of the story at all. I do think there are areas to flesh out some of the expository writing more–the author is incredibly concise, which is actually a testament to his skill as a writer, but can occasionally come across as jarring.
Overall, Lost Souls is a deeply considered, action-packed sci-fi filled with hard science, physics, and ethics. It is supported phenomenally by Deep Blue, the ‘patronus’ of the story, if you will. This should not be overlooked as a debut work, and absolutely must go on your TBR. Ryan Skeffington is one to watch, and I hope you’ll give this story a try.
There is a lot to reflect on in the moments after finishing Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington. For a start, it’s a powerful debut, the kind that gets you thinking, gets you feeling, and paints a portrait of a vast new world to be explored.
I’m not ashamed to say, however, that what got me right from the start is that Lost Souls is structured chapter-by-chapter alongside one of my favourite albums of all time: Deep Blue by Aussie metalcore powerhouse Parkway Drive. If you know me, you know I like my metal/hardcore/pop-punk, so Lost Souls was sold immediately to me on that premise alone.
Let me start with a personal anecdote before we dive into the story, back to the day of June 25th, 2010. I stood, lined up from about 8:00am outside a JB HI-FI store (the Australian equivalent of Best-Buy). I was about to pick up my signed copy of Deep Blue, and I had my tickets secured for the upcoming Parkway tour. I was also studying in my second last year of high-school, and my main subjects were as you might expect for a nerd like me: Advanced English, two different Extension English subjects, and Music. As a teenager, music and writing intersected for me constantly. I remember in particular that I handed in a particularly conceptual piece of long-form writing based off of Homesick by A Day to Remember, if that gives you anything to go by.
The thing about Deep Blue, however, was that it managed to do everything well. The sonic wall that pummelled you with songs like Unrest, Pressures or Karma; the juicy, melodic guitars, and the impressively deep lyricism in every song. Deep Blue had to be considered as a whole piece to me. To this day, my experience of that album hasn’t changed.
So when I opened up Lost Souls for the first time, I’d already heard Ryan talk about bands like Parkway in some of his interviews–but to see Deep Blue be used so reflectively as a structure for the story had me hooked. The original album explores a lot of themes, but conceptually tells the story of a man who journeys to the bottom of the ocean to find the Truth. I say Truth with a capital ‘T’ because that’s what it is; in a world of lies, it becomes our greatest purpose to discover the beauty that is contained in our lives, in our homes, in us.
Lost Souls couldn’t be set anywhere further from the ocean. In fact, the story opens on an asteroid, where humans are mining a new-world metal known as xantium, which becomes the crux at the heart of the story. There’s a lot going on here: a new settlement for humanity called the Nucleus, a super-serum, and scoops of politicking and classism, amongst more. This is where the story shines: each chapter is spiritually inspired by each track on Deep Blue, and thus Lost Souls is intrinsically connected to its themes, both central and supporting.
I found myself highly engaged, particularly in the first eighty pages or so, as I discovered the world, the nature of the government, and the dichotomy of classes. Our lead character, Maximus, is part of an upper tier of society known as Wraiths, while secondary POV Kana, is a Dredge or low-life. There are also Sceptres, merciless officers of the law, and Celestials, who we are yet to learn more about, likely in the sequels to come. The way these characters slowly came together in their own colliding arcs and kept the story constantly engaging is something I have to give Ryan Skeffington props for, especially as Lost Souls is his debut novel.
One of the driving motifs of the story, however, is the Truth, and that leads me back to Deep Blue again. Both Maximus’ and Kana’s stories intersect over the desperate search for the truth. The climax, of course, comes when the story echoes the sentiment of track 10 on Deep Blue, Home is for the Heartless: Mother Mercy, take my hand … Father Time, return what’s mine. The tonal shift in the story is not so strong that the integrity of it is compromised, but it’s definitely there, and it only makes the undertones of Lost Souls more powerful. Maximus discovers a lot of the capital ‘T’ Truth here, and this propels the story towards a fast and utterly enthralling ending that is built off the back of discoveries.
The book itself is a delight to read, and can only be enhanced by listening along to Deep Blue, especially if you have a propensity towards heavy metal. There is a lot of potential to be explored here; Ryan shows off the brute force of his emotive writing, as well as his natural talents in the sciences. Worldbuilding is vast and deeply interesting, and there are some provocative philosophical and ethical questions littered throughout. While dialogue can sometimes be a bit clunky, and there are some formatting issues in the physical copy of the book, these things are minute in the overall reading experience and definitely did not hinder my enjoyment of the story at all. I do think there are areas to flesh out some of the expository writing more–the author is incredibly concise, which is actually a testament to his skill as a writer, but can occasionally come across as jarring.
Overall, Lost Souls is a deeply considered, action-packed sci-fi filled with hard science, physics, and ethics. It is supported phenomenally by Deep Blue, the ‘patronus’ of the story, if you will. This should not be overlooked as a debut work, and absolutely must go on your TBR. Ryan Skeffington is one to watch, and I hope you’ll give this story a try.
May 28, 2024
I picked up Lost Souls for two reasons. I like Halo, and Ryan Skeffington seems like a very nice man. This isn't a book that was on my radar until Ryan reached out to me and offered to send me a copy. I said no because I'm awkward and had never had someone try to give me a book before, but it planted a seed of intrigue and I bought a copy last week. Now for the book.
- "I am the messiah of this world, and your reign ends here." -
The setting for Lost Souls, I'm sure Ryan won't mind me saying is very heavily influenced by the Halo video games. It's set on a ring in space, there are gravity weapons, Cortana style sentient holograms, ranked matches, spartan (titan) armour, plenty of great stuff for a cool Sci Fi book.
That is where the Halo comparisons end and the story comes into its own. The book follows a few different characters but Maximus, Ratchet and Kana are the main three, with Maximus being the ultimate protagonist. The story is essentially your classic evil suspicious overlords vs plucky rebellion who want change all underpinned with some very current comparisons to the current issues we face with the balance of power and wealth in our own societal structure, I found myself relating to all three of the main cast at different stages which helped me to stay immersed in the world Ryan had created. He also plays on the theme of power corrupting really well and delivers an excellent twist that I didn't see coming until a few pages out.
I'd be remiss not to mention a couple of things that weren't quite to my taste with the book, the main one being that I just don't think the book was long enough. Ryan tells a brilliant story in the 240ish pages he gives us, but he tries to do so much in those 240 pages that the story does feel quite jumpy at times and situations don't get the chance to come around organically. I noticed this most in thr character arc for Maximus. Without wanting to give anything away, Maximus goes through some quite significant shifts in his personality and these shifts did feel quite abrupt, it would have been nice to have a slightly longer read with a bit more of a natural build to some of those changes. For me, if this book is longer its an easy four stars for me.
As I said, Ryan tells a brilliant story here and while the writing can feel a bit jumpy at times, he also demonstrates flashes of brilliance in his writing. The loss of life in books is often done in a spectacular way, and the effects of grief are brushed past as the author needs a strong hero, but Ryan completely subverts that approach in his book, and in doing so spoke to some of my inner most fears around the fragility of life. I'm not ashamed to say I cried reading parts of this book, it was done beautifully.
Overall I found Lost Souls to be an overall good Sci Fi novel with some flaws and some brilliance mixed into it and would give it a solid 3.5/5 stars. Ryan definitely grew as a writer during his time writing this and you can feel that as you read the book. I'm excited to see where he takes his series next and without meaning to place any interstellar puns in this, the sky is the limit for Ryan Skeffington, I think he has bags of potential.
- "I am the messiah of this world, and your reign ends here." -
The setting for Lost Souls, I'm sure Ryan won't mind me saying is very heavily influenced by the Halo video games. It's set on a ring in space, there are gravity weapons, Cortana style sentient holograms, ranked matches, spartan (titan) armour, plenty of great stuff for a cool Sci Fi book.
That is where the Halo comparisons end and the story comes into its own. The book follows a few different characters but Maximus, Ratchet and Kana are the main three, with Maximus being the ultimate protagonist. The story is essentially your classic evil suspicious overlords vs plucky rebellion who want change all underpinned with some very current comparisons to the current issues we face with the balance of power and wealth in our own societal structure, I found myself relating to all three of the main cast at different stages which helped me to stay immersed in the world Ryan had created. He also plays on the theme of power corrupting really well and delivers an excellent twist that I didn't see coming until a few pages out.
I'd be remiss not to mention a couple of things that weren't quite to my taste with the book, the main one being that I just don't think the book was long enough. Ryan tells a brilliant story in the 240ish pages he gives us, but he tries to do so much in those 240 pages that the story does feel quite jumpy at times and situations don't get the chance to come around organically. I noticed this most in thr character arc for Maximus. Without wanting to give anything away, Maximus goes through some quite significant shifts in his personality and these shifts did feel quite abrupt, it would have been nice to have a slightly longer read with a bit more of a natural build to some of those changes. For me, if this book is longer its an easy four stars for me.
As I said, Ryan tells a brilliant story here and while the writing can feel a bit jumpy at times, he also demonstrates flashes of brilliance in his writing. The loss of life in books is often done in a spectacular way, and the effects of grief are brushed past as the author needs a strong hero, but Ryan completely subverts that approach in his book, and in doing so spoke to some of my inner most fears around the fragility of life. I'm not ashamed to say I cried reading parts of this book, it was done beautifully.
Overall I found Lost Souls to be an overall good Sci Fi novel with some flaws and some brilliance mixed into it and would give it a solid 3.5/5 stars. Ryan definitely grew as a writer during his time writing this and you can feel that as you read the book. I'm excited to see where he takes his series next and without meaning to place any interstellar puns in this, the sky is the limit for Ryan Skeffington, I think he has bags of potential.
June 10, 2025
A very ambitious debut that I found incredibly intriguing and entertaining. The character work was a shining point. It at times hearkened to sci-fi greats like Star Wars and Red Rising, but ultimately stands apart as its own unique story.
So why only three stars? In my opinion this was not quite ready for publication. It reads like a first draft. Spelling/grammar errors, a confusing story structure, and inconsistent pacing all prevented this from being the excellent book it could’ve been. So many of the elements were there, it just needed some more work to stick the landing.
For me, the flaws I mentioned were not enough to cause me to DNF. I simply had to know how it was going to end!
I’m really looking forward to book two. I’m very intrigued to see where the story goes from here.
So why only three stars? In my opinion this was not quite ready for publication. It reads like a first draft. Spelling/grammar errors, a confusing story structure, and inconsistent pacing all prevented this from being the excellent book it could’ve been. So many of the elements were there, it just needed some more work to stick the landing.
For me, the flaws I mentioned were not enough to cause me to DNF. I simply had to know how it was going to end!
I’m really looking forward to book two. I’m very intrigued to see where the story goes from here.
January 3, 2024
First published on my blog.
Lost Souls is a mesmerizing indie sci-fi debut that must be read now! An epic beginning that is visceral, emotional, and brutal.
I also want to thank Ryan Skeffington for sending me a copy of this book to review!
Genesis
Lost Souls is another book that found its way to me through the interwebs of Twitter/X. The author, Ryan Skeffington, commented on a post of mine where I was talking about an upcoming Indieverse (where I highlight new and upcoming indie books) video. It was here that Ryan and I chatted a little bit about his debut sci-fi novel that had interested from my very first glance of the cover.
To me, the cover looked like a mashup of Power Rangers and Halo which I was 100% digging. I am a huge Halo fan playing all the games and when I found out that Lost Souls involved a society living on a Halo like ring, I was hooked. Then about a week later, Ryan made a post comparing Lost Souls to Cyberpunk Edgerunners for having tragic characters, fast pacing, body modification, and a brutal life for those left behind.
I am also a huge Cyberpunk 2077 fan and really enjoyed the Edgerunners show so Ryan saying their was some inspiration from Halo AND Edgerunners, I was even MORE hooked. If I was a fish, I would be caught on 10+ hooks.
This is all before I have even read a single word from Lost Souls but I was more than ready to check it out. Did it live up to my internal hype? Well, you can see below how it turned out.
Preamble
Lost Souls is Ryan Skeffington’s sci-fi indie debut coming in right around 250 pages. Lost Souls is the beginning of the Infinite Existence series with Skeffington currently writing the sequel which is called Eternal Dreams.
After completing book number one in this series, I absolutely need book number two ASAP!
Other than knowing what this book was inspired by and Skeffington comparing it to Cyberpunk Edgerunners, I really had no clue what this series was about.
This might be surprising, but I rarely read a books description in it’s entirety. I usually read a sentence or two of the description, any blurbs, and of course my eyes devour the cover.
I love blurbs on books which I am sure most people do but it really helps me get a good gist of what to expect when diving into a book. On the Lost Souls back cover, there is a fantastic blurb by a U.S. Space Force Officer describing the book as “A heart-wrenching sci-fi thriller that ends with bang!”
Now that I have finished this book, I can for sure confirm that this is a fantastic blurb that highlights what to expect at a very high level. I also think it’s funny that this blurb came from someone in the Space Force with the story taking place…in space!
Halo, Cyberpunk, Power Rangers??? I was more than ready start this book.
Aftermath
“Living on the premier Ring, Maximus, a brilliant engineer, hungers for more than the monotony of daily existence mandated to him by those that control the Ring. The relentless pursuit of Infinite Existence is a collective purpose assigned to all, but for Maximus, it's a hollow dream that leaves his soul yearning for its own legacy. Determined to escape his repetitive life, Maximus seeks out a destiny that will offer his life significance.”
Lost Souls opens up with one of the most visceral scenes of coming out of cryogenic sleep I have ever read. You quickly come to grasp the tone of this book within the first few sentences.
Just like the main POV in the first chapter, we are abruptly brought into a cold and unforgiving world that makes you question, am I human or am I just a number?
Forty five pages into Lost Souls, I became in love with the book being presented with some of the best immediate world building and character development I have read in a long time. There was a handful of characters that you are introduced to within the first couple chapters with each one having a connection together in someway.
You know that meme of Leonardo DiCaprio snapping and pointing a TV? Well, my mind was having this exact reaction through multiple scenes when being introduced to our distinct cast of characters.
When reading through Lost Souls, my mind broke it into three distinct sections being foundation, progress, and fall.
Foundation
In the first third of Lost Souls, world building was put to the absolute max. “Max”…see what I did there? (Our main character’s name is Max). In the beginning portion of this book, we meet a distinct cast of characters, become introduced to this class based society living on the the Rings, and learn a little bit about the resource that makes almost all of this possible, Xantium.
This is a class based society where thousands of people are living in the shadows of the elites being called Celestials and Phantoms. The people living in the dredges of society do not benefit at all from technology advancements that Xantium has made possible. It is common for the people at the bottom of this society to sell years of their life in exchange for extra food or even oxygen.
In this section, we also learn more about our main character and his burning passion to better the existence of all that lives on the Ring. It was also interesting to see Max’s POV on the current situation of living on the Ring compared against the “reality” of what actually was going on. This allowed for some very early on character growth for our main POV that progressed throughout the story.
I also loved the character relationships founded within this section of the book that all felt realistic, especially a relationship between a father and son.
In this section, Skeffington also touched on many levels of grief and loss that was tough to read. Tough to read in a good way as I think it is amazing to see a real human emotion captured so beautifully within a sci-fi story. Pain does not fade away when turning to the next page within a book, it is all consuming and requires time, a lot of time. I love how Skeffington does not simply gloss over this emotional state with a character that simply picks themselves up by their bootstraps and moves on.
In addition to all this goodness, we also have badass arena gladiator duel scenes that are brutal and so much fun to read.
Progress
In the second third of this book, I picked up on somewhat of a different tone compared to the first chunk of this book. I know the genre “grimdark” is fluid in terms of the actual definition but I like the way that another indie author, EJ Doble, defined it for me being a state where there is more desperation than hope.
In this section of the book I found there to be a lot more hope present from multiple characters within our story. We have a mission, we have a purpose, we are learning, we are training, and we have a burning desire to progress.
We learn a ton more about how the rings work within this section, especially the mystifying resource of Xantium.
Like a seed budding out of the ground, hope was inching itself up within the narrative. Yes, there were still struggles present but our characters still progressed forward. The idea of rebellion was spreading like a spiderweb sticking to more and more people.
Then answers were given abruptly that served as a turning point in the narrative.
Fall
The last third of Lost Souls was easily the most action packed with multiple cinematic scenes that will stick in my head for a very long time. In this section we have duels, we have battles, and we have goliath flying beasts that are extremely imposing.
All the work and training that we prepared for in the second chunk of this book came into fruition in this section with some very bloody outcomes.
Going back to the definition of grimdark I mentioned above, in this section, unfortunately despair reigned supreme. Blinded by rage, the original goal and passion of some of our characters is lost. This last chunk reminded me of the Star Wars Revenge of the Sith movie and Red Rising’s Golden Son, the second book in the Red Rising series.
Now this is where I have my only problem with this book. This section came too quickly for me leaving me thinking that there wasn’t enough done or seen that makes this sudden character arc change so violently.
Imagine if Luke Skywalker decided to join in the Dark Side that last 15 minutes of the movie without seeing that many reasons why. You would be like “wait, what just happened”? I personally think that maybe another 20 or 25 pages of exposition would help me better cope with the dramatic change of events to better understand and emphasize with a particular character.
Overall, I think Lost Souls was an amazing grimdark sci-fi debut by an author with a very great future ahead of him. There is so much to love in this book that just left me wanting more. Skeffington…give us MORE!
I rate Lost Souls 4.6 out of 5 stars and recommend to any sci-fi or grimdark fantasy fan. Like a hammer pounding in a nail, Lost Souls is now hammered into my brain 🧠🔨.
I am so looking forward to the next entry in the series.
“Existence here is suffering, nothing more, nothing less. It is, however, better than the alternative.”
For all future reviews, be sure to follow me on Twitter/X or visit my website where I will host all future book reviews.
My Book Reviews Website - https://www.bibliotheory.com/
My YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory
Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all, I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!
Thank you to my Patrons
“Your name here!”
Lost Souls is a mesmerizing indie sci-fi debut that must be read now! An epic beginning that is visceral, emotional, and brutal.
I also want to thank Ryan Skeffington for sending me a copy of this book to review!
Genesis
Lost Souls is another book that found its way to me through the interwebs of Twitter/X. The author, Ryan Skeffington, commented on a post of mine where I was talking about an upcoming Indieverse (where I highlight new and upcoming indie books) video. It was here that Ryan and I chatted a little bit about his debut sci-fi novel that had interested from my very first glance of the cover.
To me, the cover looked like a mashup of Power Rangers and Halo which I was 100% digging. I am a huge Halo fan playing all the games and when I found out that Lost Souls involved a society living on a Halo like ring, I was hooked. Then about a week later, Ryan made a post comparing Lost Souls to Cyberpunk Edgerunners for having tragic characters, fast pacing, body modification, and a brutal life for those left behind.
I am also a huge Cyberpunk 2077 fan and really enjoyed the Edgerunners show so Ryan saying their was some inspiration from Halo AND Edgerunners, I was even MORE hooked. If I was a fish, I would be caught on 10+ hooks.
This is all before I have even read a single word from Lost Souls but I was more than ready to check it out. Did it live up to my internal hype? Well, you can see below how it turned out.
Preamble
Lost Souls is Ryan Skeffington’s sci-fi indie debut coming in right around 250 pages. Lost Souls is the beginning of the Infinite Existence series with Skeffington currently writing the sequel which is called Eternal Dreams.
After completing book number one in this series, I absolutely need book number two ASAP!
Other than knowing what this book was inspired by and Skeffington comparing it to Cyberpunk Edgerunners, I really had no clue what this series was about.
This might be surprising, but I rarely read a books description in it’s entirety. I usually read a sentence or two of the description, any blurbs, and of course my eyes devour the cover.
I love blurbs on books which I am sure most people do but it really helps me get a good gist of what to expect when diving into a book. On the Lost Souls back cover, there is a fantastic blurb by a U.S. Space Force Officer describing the book as “A heart-wrenching sci-fi thriller that ends with bang!”
Now that I have finished this book, I can for sure confirm that this is a fantastic blurb that highlights what to expect at a very high level. I also think it’s funny that this blurb came from someone in the Space Force with the story taking place…in space!
Halo, Cyberpunk, Power Rangers??? I was more than ready start this book.
Aftermath
“Living on the premier Ring, Maximus, a brilliant engineer, hungers for more than the monotony of daily existence mandated to him by those that control the Ring. The relentless pursuit of Infinite Existence is a collective purpose assigned to all, but for Maximus, it's a hollow dream that leaves his soul yearning for its own legacy. Determined to escape his repetitive life, Maximus seeks out a destiny that will offer his life significance.”
Lost Souls opens up with one of the most visceral scenes of coming out of cryogenic sleep I have ever read. You quickly come to grasp the tone of this book within the first few sentences.
Just like the main POV in the first chapter, we are abruptly brought into a cold and unforgiving world that makes you question, am I human or am I just a number?
Forty five pages into Lost Souls, I became in love with the book being presented with some of the best immediate world building and character development I have read in a long time. There was a handful of characters that you are introduced to within the first couple chapters with each one having a connection together in someway.
You know that meme of Leonardo DiCaprio snapping and pointing a TV? Well, my mind was having this exact reaction through multiple scenes when being introduced to our distinct cast of characters.
When reading through Lost Souls, my mind broke it into three distinct sections being foundation, progress, and fall.
Foundation
In the first third of Lost Souls, world building was put to the absolute max. “Max”…see what I did there? (Our main character’s name is Max). In the beginning portion of this book, we meet a distinct cast of characters, become introduced to this class based society living on the the Rings, and learn a little bit about the resource that makes almost all of this possible, Xantium.
This is a class based society where thousands of people are living in the shadows of the elites being called Celestials and Phantoms. The people living in the dredges of society do not benefit at all from technology advancements that Xantium has made possible. It is common for the people at the bottom of this society to sell years of their life in exchange for extra food or even oxygen.
In this section, we also learn more about our main character and his burning passion to better the existence of all that lives on the Ring. It was also interesting to see Max’s POV on the current situation of living on the Ring compared against the “reality” of what actually was going on. This allowed for some very early on character growth for our main POV that progressed throughout the story.
I also loved the character relationships founded within this section of the book that all felt realistic, especially a relationship between a father and son.
In this section, Skeffington also touched on many levels of grief and loss that was tough to read. Tough to read in a good way as I think it is amazing to see a real human emotion captured so beautifully within a sci-fi story. Pain does not fade away when turning to the next page within a book, it is all consuming and requires time, a lot of time. I love how Skeffington does not simply gloss over this emotional state with a character that simply picks themselves up by their bootstraps and moves on.
In addition to all this goodness, we also have badass arena gladiator duel scenes that are brutal and so much fun to read.
Progress
In the second third of this book, I picked up on somewhat of a different tone compared to the first chunk of this book. I know the genre “grimdark” is fluid in terms of the actual definition but I like the way that another indie author, EJ Doble, defined it for me being a state where there is more desperation than hope.
In this section of the book I found there to be a lot more hope present from multiple characters within our story. We have a mission, we have a purpose, we are learning, we are training, and we have a burning desire to progress.
We learn a ton more about how the rings work within this section, especially the mystifying resource of Xantium.
Like a seed budding out of the ground, hope was inching itself up within the narrative. Yes, there were still struggles present but our characters still progressed forward. The idea of rebellion was spreading like a spiderweb sticking to more and more people.
Then answers were given abruptly that served as a turning point in the narrative.
Fall
The last third of Lost Souls was easily the most action packed with multiple cinematic scenes that will stick in my head for a very long time. In this section we have duels, we have battles, and we have goliath flying beasts that are extremely imposing.
All the work and training that we prepared for in the second chunk of this book came into fruition in this section with some very bloody outcomes.
Going back to the definition of grimdark I mentioned above, in this section, unfortunately despair reigned supreme. Blinded by rage, the original goal and passion of some of our characters is lost. This last chunk reminded me of the Star Wars Revenge of the Sith movie and Red Rising’s Golden Son, the second book in the Red Rising series.
Now this is where I have my only problem with this book. This section came too quickly for me leaving me thinking that there wasn’t enough done or seen that makes this sudden character arc change so violently.
Imagine if Luke Skywalker decided to join in the Dark Side that last 15 minutes of the movie without seeing that many reasons why. You would be like “wait, what just happened”? I personally think that maybe another 20 or 25 pages of exposition would help me better cope with the dramatic change of events to better understand and emphasize with a particular character.
Overall, I think Lost Souls was an amazing grimdark sci-fi debut by an author with a very great future ahead of him. There is so much to love in this book that just left me wanting more. Skeffington…give us MORE!
I rate Lost Souls 4.6 out of 5 stars and recommend to any sci-fi or grimdark fantasy fan. Like a hammer pounding in a nail, Lost Souls is now hammered into my brain 🧠🔨.
I am so looking forward to the next entry in the series.
“Existence here is suffering, nothing more, nothing less. It is, however, better than the alternative.”
For all future reviews, be sure to follow me on Twitter/X or visit my website where I will host all future book reviews.
My Book Reviews Website - https://www.bibliotheory.com/
My YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/@BiblioTheory
Also, I have a Patreon that is completely open for new members where I will place your name at the bottom of all future reviews and in all future videos. No pressure at all, I can’t thank you enough for simply reading this review and watching my videos. You ROCK!
Thank you to my Patrons
“Your name here!”
March 11, 2024
Good book, absolutely twists the narrative on you more times than you can count. Would read again
October 16, 2023
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
Lost Souls is a rip-roaring adventure with a captivating cast of characters and a plot about societal inequality torn straight from today's headlines. It has it all - futuristic gladiators, the impact of new technologies, and the protagonist's quest to fulfill his father's legacy and bring justice to the Rings. It's an modern take on Heinlein's classics, a rebellion against the status quo that had me rapidly turning the page in order to find out what happens next. There's some rough edges, sure, but no more than would be found in any other debut novel. I can't wait for the sequel!
Lost Souls is a rip-roaring adventure with a captivating cast of characters and a plot about societal inequality torn straight from today's headlines. It has it all - futuristic gladiators, the impact of new technologies, and the protagonist's quest to fulfill his father's legacy and bring justice to the Rings. It's an modern take on Heinlein's classics, a rebellion against the status quo that had me rapidly turning the page in order to find out what happens next. There's some rough edges, sure, but no more than would be found in any other debut novel. I can't wait for the sequel!
December 28, 2024
What was that?!?
September 8, 2024
Lost souls was a wonderful roller coaster to ride. From the unnerving and brutal reality of Chapter One to the gut-wrenching ending, this book was eccentric.
One of the things I liked most about the book was its realistic properties. It really seemed as though the biology and chemistry was believable. I am not a Chemist or Biologist, but man this book was so detailed in that perspective. It is hard to come by Sci-Fi books with actual science. most of the time, Sci-Fi echoes reality, but this book is true Science Fiction.
The world building was incredible. So many layers, literally, to the Rings and to the people, it was seemed so expansive. I felt as though Maximus was traveling around the heart of Coruscant from Star Wars. The dredge neighborhoods felt very, very lived in. It reminded me of Fallout but in Space. The Xantium was well thought out, I had no idea how much the Ring relied on it, and yet how little the people knew of it.
The only spot in the book I felt lacked was the characters, specifically in interactions. It felt off how Maximus and Ratchet would yell at each other at random points, and cry almost out of no where, but were best friends ever. The same goes with Kana. Even though the story takes places over a couple motnhs period of time, I think that Kana and Max's relationship was very rushed. The characters had great detail into their personality and emotion, but it changed so much. Often all of the personality was washed away when it came to communication and interaction. I felt like I never had a grip on how they were actually feeling, which made it hard to imagine that they were real people.
The plot was really good, but like the characters, I felt it had some moments when it felt forced. Some of the POV changes were very odd, especially with the beginning chapters, a lot of those POV's were very minimal for the plot in the end of the book. The ending was good, but I think the fault in the characters made Max's betrayal seem odd. I felt it coming, but the motion for it was not that large, so it felt off when it happened. But it was a good ending still.
With this being said, there are so many great things about this book, I am just hoping for better character development for the next book, which I will be reading!
One of the things I liked most about the book was its realistic properties. It really seemed as though the biology and chemistry was believable. I am not a Chemist or Biologist, but man this book was so detailed in that perspective. It is hard to come by Sci-Fi books with actual science. most of the time, Sci-Fi echoes reality, but this book is true Science Fiction.
The world building was incredible. So many layers, literally, to the Rings and to the people, it was seemed so expansive. I felt as though Maximus was traveling around the heart of Coruscant from Star Wars. The dredge neighborhoods felt very, very lived in. It reminded me of Fallout but in Space. The Xantium was well thought out, I had no idea how much the Ring relied on it, and yet how little the people knew of it.
The only spot in the book I felt lacked was the characters, specifically in interactions. It felt off how Maximus and Ratchet would yell at each other at random points, and cry almost out of no where, but were best friends ever. The same goes with Kana. Even though the story takes places over a couple motnhs period of time, I think that Kana and Max's relationship was very rushed. The characters had great detail into their personality and emotion, but it changed so much. Often all of the personality was washed away when it came to communication and interaction. I felt like I never had a grip on how they were actually feeling, which made it hard to imagine that they were real people.
The plot was really good, but like the characters, I felt it had some moments when it felt forced. Some of the POV changes were very odd, especially with the beginning chapters, a lot of those POV's were very minimal for the plot in the end of the book. The ending was good, but I think the fault in the characters made Max's betrayal seem odd. I felt it coming, but the motion for it was not that large, so it felt off when it happened. But it was a good ending still.
With this being said, there are so many great things about this book, I am just hoping for better character development for the next book, which I will be reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2024
Review
“Existence here is suffering, nothing more, nothing less. It is, however, better than the alternative.”
I want to start by saying I was provided a copy of "Lost Souls" in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to the Sci-Fi Genre, I would consider myself a beginner, having only read a handful. However, the more I read, the more I absolutely love what it brings to the table.
As a debut novel, this has to be one of the strongest starts I have read and has only furthered my adoration for all things sci-fi!
"Lost Souls" challenged me first by being thrown into the novel as a character comes out of "cryofreeze" and back into a life, thus creating questions for the reader and were not even a page into the book. Those questions aren't answered right away, but through the unique characters introduced, an incredibly personal story starts to come into focus.
The relationships and struggles create a very relatable cast of characters that constructed one the most emotionally impactful books I have read to date. Max, the main character, has many motivations including finding a legacy and devoting himself to the "greater cause", a society ruled by tyranny.
The dystopian setting or "The Ring" gave a deliciously dark tone throughout the entirety of this story. It is a systematic, monotonous, and overzealous "blanket" being thrown atop a working class treated with no humanity. As someone who appreciates that "Dark", I do also feel that for a dark tone to feel authentic, hope has to be a possibility and the author delivered.
I am anxious to continue the "Infinite Existence Series" and If you are into grimdark or dark fantasy as well as enjoy science fiction, relatable characters, and themes that give you an emotional "punch to the throat", I suggest you read, "Lost Souls"!
“Existence here is suffering, nothing more, nothing less. It is, however, better than the alternative.”
I want to start by saying I was provided a copy of "Lost Souls" in exchange for an honest review.
When it comes to the Sci-Fi Genre, I would consider myself a beginner, having only read a handful. However, the more I read, the more I absolutely love what it brings to the table.
As a debut novel, this has to be one of the strongest starts I have read and has only furthered my adoration for all things sci-fi!
"Lost Souls" challenged me first by being thrown into the novel as a character comes out of "cryofreeze" and back into a life, thus creating questions for the reader and were not even a page into the book. Those questions aren't answered right away, but through the unique characters introduced, an incredibly personal story starts to come into focus.
The relationships and struggles create a very relatable cast of characters that constructed one the most emotionally impactful books I have read to date. Max, the main character, has many motivations including finding a legacy and devoting himself to the "greater cause", a society ruled by tyranny.
The dystopian setting or "The Ring" gave a deliciously dark tone throughout the entirety of this story. It is a systematic, monotonous, and overzealous "blanket" being thrown atop a working class treated with no humanity. As someone who appreciates that "Dark", I do also feel that for a dark tone to feel authentic, hope has to be a possibility and the author delivered.
I am anxious to continue the "Infinite Existence Series" and If you are into grimdark or dark fantasy as well as enjoy science fiction, relatable characters, and themes that give you an emotional "punch to the throat", I suggest you read, "Lost Souls"!
January 4, 2025
Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington is an electrifying science fiction novel set in the futuristic world of the Rings, where existence is dictated by an unyielding hierarchy. Maximus, a brilliant but disillusioned engineer, seeks a purpose beyond the monotonous collective pursuit of Infinite Existence. When he uncovers shocking truths about the Rings' oppressive leadership and his own lineage, Maximus embarks on a revolutionary journey to challenge the status quo.
As he confronts tyranny and battles to free those oppressed beneath him, Maximus is faced with heartbreaking sacrifices, including the potential loss of those who shaped him. The novel’s 331 pages are packed with action, emotion, and philosophical depth, exploring themes of freedom, legacy, and the human spirit.
Skeffington weaves a compelling tale of rebellion and resilience, making Lost Souls a must-read for fans of thought-provoking, high-stakes science fiction.
As he confronts tyranny and battles to free those oppressed beneath him, Maximus is faced with heartbreaking sacrifices, including the potential loss of those who shaped him. The novel’s 331 pages are packed with action, emotion, and philosophical depth, exploring themes of freedom, legacy, and the human spirit.
Skeffington weaves a compelling tale of rebellion and resilience, making Lost Souls a must-read for fans of thought-provoking, high-stakes science fiction.
April 23, 2024
Full Disclosure: I rarely write reviews, especially for things I am still not finished using/experiencing. That aside, I'm thoroughly enjoying and appreciate the characters and am enamored with their universe and very much look forward to finishing this book. Highly recommend diving in for any fans of this genre.
July 27, 2024
Truly, I really don’t like to be negative, especially regarding an indie author that seems to be a nice person with a great inspiration for their book.
But unfortunately, other than an interesting setting, absolutely none of this book worked for me and only seemed to get worse the further it went. I don’t want to publicly say any more than that, but this was just not for me.
But unfortunately, other than an interesting setting, absolutely none of this book worked for me and only seemed to get worse the further it went. I don’t want to publicly say any more than that, but this was just not for me.
November 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this book while also learning about science and math at the same time. The story is about a guy named Maximus that goes on a journey of revenge, self-healing, and leading a lower class to freedom. It has Titan suit battles that are awesome and the finally climax of the story caught me by surprise.
December 24, 2024
Started out strong
It seems like the author got impatient with the last half of the story which devolved into a lot of wordy grand-standing with less than believable plot development. I enjoyed the characters and the world he created but feel like the thread got lost when it came time to put them to use.
It seems like the author got impatient with the last half of the story which devolved into a lot of wordy grand-standing with less than believable plot development. I enjoyed the characters and the world he created but feel like the thread got lost when it came time to put them to use.
September 10, 2024
This book was the equivalent of a Kyle.
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