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SoulMist #3
OblivionGate
Having survived Apologia and faced down the Angelic Assembly, Demavrian has every right to be feeling triumphant, but the threat hanging over his head from the vengeful god, Kaenera, is enough to snuff out any celebrations.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
OblivionGate is the third enthralling book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series full of vibrant characters, political intrigue and betrayal.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
OblivionGate is the third enthralling book in the Fantasy Romance SoulMist series full of vibrant characters, political intrigue and betrayal.
572 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Helen Garraway
18 books314 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Helen Garraway lives in the UK and has been writing about the world of Remargaren, a fantasy world of her creation since 2016.
Sentinals Awaken, which was Helen's debut fantasy novel, won the 2021 Readers' Favorite Finalist Award in the Epic Fantasy category. It was followed by Sentinals Rising which was released on March 17th 2021 and achieved a Five Star Readers' Favorite review and an Honourable Mention award. Four further books have been released in the Sentinals series along with SoulBreather, the first book in the fantasy romance SoulMist series.
An avid reader of many different fiction genres, a love she inherited from her mother, Helen writes fantasy novels and enjoys paper crafting and scrapbooking as an escape from the pressure of the day job.
Having graduated from the University of Southampton with a Degree in Politics and International Relations, she remains an active member of their alumni.
You can find out more and sign up to my newsletter to download a free copy of Sentinal Stirrings, a novella set in the world of Remargaren at www.helengarraway.com.
Sentinals Awaken, which was Helen's debut fantasy novel, won the 2021 Readers' Favorite Finalist Award in the Epic Fantasy category. It was followed by Sentinals Rising which was released on March 17th 2021 and achieved a Five Star Readers' Favorite review and an Honourable Mention award. Four further books have been released in the Sentinals series along with SoulBreather, the first book in the fantasy romance SoulMist series.
An avid reader of many different fiction genres, a love she inherited from her mother, Helen writes fantasy novels and enjoys paper crafting and scrapbooking as an escape from the pressure of the day job.
Having graduated from the University of Southampton with a Degree in Politics and International Relations, she remains an active member of their alumni.
You can find out more and sign up to my newsletter to download a free copy of Sentinal Stirrings, a novella set in the world of Remargaren at www.helengarraway.com.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 16, 2024
Obliviongate by Helen Garraway
Having survived Apologia and faced down the Angelic Assembly, Demavrian has every right to be feeling triumphant, but the threat hanging over his head from the vengeful god, Kaenera, is enough to snuff out any celebrations.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
A slower start compared to the other stories however it soon has you engrossed as the crew with work together to build their new life. I love how much they care for one another.
The characters are given so much growth in this story and as it builds towards something big, the characters flourish.
Some explosive events around the 70% mark, with dramatic and edge of the seat moments. Touching scenes towards the end.
Another fantastically written series by Helen. I always enjoy her books and the worlds she creates. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thanks for the ARC this has been my honest review.
Having survived Apologia and faced down the Angelic Assembly, Demavrian has every right to be feeling triumphant, but the threat hanging over his head from the vengeful god, Kaenera, is enough to snuff out any celebrations.
His fledglings are distraught and in disarray, Solanji’s brother is still without a soul and Solanji has no idea how her SoulBreathing works. He has no idea how to manage the Oblivion Gate and even with his Gate Wraith’s help, the burden of the soulless banging on the door may be his undoing.
Kaenera is poised to strike back and if Demavrian doesn’t learn the secrets of the Oblivion Gate fast enough, he may be the shortest lived Gate Keeper in history.
A slower start compared to the other stories however it soon has you engrossed as the crew with work together to build their new life. I love how much they care for one another.
The characters are given so much growth in this story and as it builds towards something big, the characters flourish.
Some explosive events around the 70% mark, with dramatic and edge of the seat moments. Touching scenes towards the end.
Another fantastically written series by Helen. I always enjoy her books and the worlds she creates. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.
Thanks for the ARC this has been my honest review.
July 1, 2024
What a beautiful and satisfying ending to the Soulbreather (SoulMist) saga. The story felt very complete to me as I breathed a sigh of relief for the "good guys." I first discovered Helen Garraway's books with the Sentinals series. I really liked all six books but my favorites were "Sentinals Across Time" (#4) and "Sentinals Destiny" (#6). Because of how much I enjoyed those books, I decided to give her new series, SoulMist, a chance. I'm so glad that I did. Now, I have a new favorite book, "OblivionGate".
I just couldn't put either "Soulbreather" or "Dragonbound" down and found it hard to wait for the next book in the series. I finally got to read "OblivianGate" and had to make sure that I got some sleep and to complete my normal daily tasks. I was so caught up in the story of "OblivianGate" that I did not want to put this book down either.
The author has continued her remarkable job of world building and character building with OblivianGate. Some of the chapters had so much tension that I was mentally shaking! And, wow, the characters themselves -- I really felt deep hatred of Kaenera and Serenia for their evil acts and treachery. Demavrian was such a great character. He always loved his heartsworn, Solanji, his family, "children", friends, Oathsworn, etc. and, of course, the people of Eidolon and all of his actions were for them. The author really knows how to use the emotions of the characters and the story itself to drive those emotions in the reader.
Throughout the story, Demavrian showed how he cared for and loved each of his "children". It was so nice to see how each of them grew and developed specialties which ended up helping Demavrian in his fight to defeat Kaenera.
There were times that I laughed out loud. My favorite line was when Demavrian was talking to Bailey and said "I hear you have a book you should read backwards." I actually burst out laughing when I read that line, but you'll have to read the book to understand why that one line was so hilarious! Also hilarious was the related scene when Bailey awoke after almost dying and discovered that he had "gotten his wings!" I can still visualize him bouncing down the hall shrieking.
And, yes, surprises. The author surprised many times with twists that I didn't see coming, but fit very well into the story. Most of the twists created high tension and some were happier.
The author has created some unique concepts around angels, gods, souls, and the "other side." Apparently, there is political intrigue, in-fighting, and the lust for power even among Angels! :-)
The contrast between the countries of Angelicus and Eidolon was very visual. I could "see" the sun-lit brightness of Angelicus and the dingy skies of Eidolon. The differences certainly impacted the lives of the people living in each area differently. Demavrian will have his hands full while attempting to improve the lives of the people of Eidolon, but that's beyond the end of the book.
I always try to provide a balanced review but I honestly have nothing negative to say about "OblivianGate". It's one of the few books that I would read again and I intend to do so.
For readers of Epic Fantasy, this book is a "must read", but you really need to read books one and two first. In my opinion, they will all be a very enjoyable read.
I just couldn't put either "Soulbreather" or "Dragonbound" down and found it hard to wait for the next book in the series. I finally got to read "OblivianGate" and had to make sure that I got some sleep and to complete my normal daily tasks. I was so caught up in the story of "OblivianGate" that I did not want to put this book down either.
The author has continued her remarkable job of world building and character building with OblivianGate. Some of the chapters had so much tension that I was mentally shaking! And, wow, the characters themselves -- I really felt deep hatred of Kaenera and Serenia for their evil acts and treachery. Demavrian was such a great character. He always loved his heartsworn, Solanji, his family, "children", friends, Oathsworn, etc. and, of course, the people of Eidolon and all of his actions were for them. The author really knows how to use the emotions of the characters and the story itself to drive those emotions in the reader.
Throughout the story, Demavrian showed how he cared for and loved each of his "children". It was so nice to see how each of them grew and developed specialties which ended up helping Demavrian in his fight to defeat Kaenera.
There were times that I laughed out loud. My favorite line was when Demavrian was talking to Bailey and said "I hear you have a book you should read backwards." I actually burst out laughing when I read that line, but you'll have to read the book to understand why that one line was so hilarious! Also hilarious was the related scene when Bailey awoke after almost dying and discovered that he had "gotten his wings!" I can still visualize him bouncing down the hall shrieking.
And, yes, surprises. The author surprised many times with twists that I didn't see coming, but fit very well into the story. Most of the twists created high tension and some were happier.
The author has created some unique concepts around angels, gods, souls, and the "other side." Apparently, there is political intrigue, in-fighting, and the lust for power even among Angels! :-)
The contrast between the countries of Angelicus and Eidolon was very visual. I could "see" the sun-lit brightness of Angelicus and the dingy skies of Eidolon. The differences certainly impacted the lives of the people living in each area differently. Demavrian will have his hands full while attempting to improve the lives of the people of Eidolon, but that's beyond the end of the book.
I always try to provide a balanced review but I honestly have nothing negative to say about "OblivianGate". It's one of the few books that I would read again and I intend to do so.
For readers of Epic Fantasy, this book is a "must read", but you really need to read books one and two first. In my opinion, they will all be a very enjoyable read.
May 6, 2025
A Masterful Continuation of an Epic Fantasy Romance
The third installment in the SoulMist series, OblivionGate elevates an already captivating fantasy world to new heights with deeper character development, higher stakes, and fascinating new magical elements.
Following Demavrian’s harrowing survival of Apologia and confrontation with the Angelic Assembly, what should be a moment of triumph is instead overshadowed by the looming threat of the vengeful god Kaenera. As the newly appointed Gate Keeper of Oblivion, Demavrian struggles to understand his responsibilities while simultaneously supporting his distraught fledglings, helping Solanji discover the true nature of her Soul Breathing abilities, and attempting to restore her brother’s soul. The pressure is immense as the soulless continue banging at the Oblivion Gate, and even with his Gate Wraith’s assistance, Demavrian fears becoming the shortest-lived Gate Keeper in history.
The characterisation of the Oblivion Gate itself is perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this novel. The author brilliantly brings this mystical boundary to life, giving it presence and personality that enhances the overall narrative.
The dialogue remains authentic throughout, allowing readers to deepen their emotional connection to characters they’ve grown to love over the series. This third book truly cements the reader’s relationship with the main characters.
The pacing is expertly handled, maintaining the engaging momentum that has characterised the series thus far while giving appropriate weight to Demavrian’s struggles with his new responsibilities and the looming threat from Kaenera.
OblivionGate proves that the SoulMist series only gets better with each installment. For readers who have followed Demavrian’s journey from the beginning, this third book delivers a richly satisfying continuation while setting up even higher stakes for what’s to come.
I award 5 stars for a fantasy romance that continues to captivate with its vibrant characters, well-crafted world, and the increasingly complex challenges facing our protagonists.
The third installment in the SoulMist series, OblivionGate elevates an already captivating fantasy world to new heights with deeper character development, higher stakes, and fascinating new magical elements.
Following Demavrian’s harrowing survival of Apologia and confrontation with the Angelic Assembly, what should be a moment of triumph is instead overshadowed by the looming threat of the vengeful god Kaenera. As the newly appointed Gate Keeper of Oblivion, Demavrian struggles to understand his responsibilities while simultaneously supporting his distraught fledglings, helping Solanji discover the true nature of her Soul Breathing abilities, and attempting to restore her brother’s soul. The pressure is immense as the soulless continue banging at the Oblivion Gate, and even with his Gate Wraith’s assistance, Demavrian fears becoming the shortest-lived Gate Keeper in history.
The characterisation of the Oblivion Gate itself is perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of this novel. The author brilliantly brings this mystical boundary to life, giving it presence and personality that enhances the overall narrative.
The dialogue remains authentic throughout, allowing readers to deepen their emotional connection to characters they’ve grown to love over the series. This third book truly cements the reader’s relationship with the main characters.
The pacing is expertly handled, maintaining the engaging momentum that has characterised the series thus far while giving appropriate weight to Demavrian’s struggles with his new responsibilities and the looming threat from Kaenera.
OblivionGate proves that the SoulMist series only gets better with each installment. For readers who have followed Demavrian’s journey from the beginning, this third book delivers a richly satisfying continuation while setting up even higher stakes for what’s to come.
I award 5 stars for a fantasy romance that continues to captivate with its vibrant characters, well-crafted world, and the increasingly complex challenges facing our protagonists.
June 18, 2024
OblivionGate
Outstanding, Finale to a Breathtaking Series
I received an ARC of this book and am giving an honest review.
Astounding does not do justice to this book, and the series itself is ground breaking in its content, but from a multi award winning author like Helen Garraway, we expect nothing less.
The storyline continues on from Book 2 where Archdeus Demavrian takes over the role as the Gatekeeper of the Obliviongate, and we knew from the ending of the last book that that task would not be an easy one. Things run smoothly for a while, leading the reader into a false sense of security, but the threat from Kaenera, the Archangel he defeated and banished, is real, and not until half way through do we see the extent of his malice and vengeance, which culminates in a devastating way, where not all survive the onslaught. It is an age-old battle; a fight of Good over Evil, leaving us to contemplate who will be the victors; and who will be lost forever…..
The characters that Ms Garraway creates are strong, vibrant, compelling, and deliciously dangerous. You can never second guess what will happen in any of her books, no less so in this one, as Ms Garraway weaves her magic within its pages. This series will stay with you long after you have turned the last page….
I highly recommend it.
Outstanding, Finale to a Breathtaking Series
I received an ARC of this book and am giving an honest review.
Astounding does not do justice to this book, and the series itself is ground breaking in its content, but from a multi award winning author like Helen Garraway, we expect nothing less.
The storyline continues on from Book 2 where Archdeus Demavrian takes over the role as the Gatekeeper of the Obliviongate, and we knew from the ending of the last book that that task would not be an easy one. Things run smoothly for a while, leading the reader into a false sense of security, but the threat from Kaenera, the Archangel he defeated and banished, is real, and not until half way through do we see the extent of his malice and vengeance, which culminates in a devastating way, where not all survive the onslaught. It is an age-old battle; a fight of Good over Evil, leaving us to contemplate who will be the victors; and who will be lost forever…..
The characters that Ms Garraway creates are strong, vibrant, compelling, and deliciously dangerous. You can never second guess what will happen in any of her books, no less so in this one, as Ms Garraway weaves her magic within its pages. This series will stay with you long after you have turned the last page….
I highly recommend it.
June 19, 2024
So the trilogy concludes, the window into this world closes. The "major" battles have been waged; the outcomes determined.
There are still loose ends, though those are "minor" battles, not as fitting for grand tales. Those we imagine if and as we wish - the rebuilding, the restoring, perhaps the reunification, with all the details of each, the politics, the (temporary) setbacks, the details of two worlds as they settle into a new balance. The author has given us enough details between the "major" battles to extrapolate from the work as written and continue the life of this world.
There are still loose ends, though those are "minor" battles, not as fitting for grand tales. Those we imagine if and as we wish - the rebuilding, the restoring, perhaps the reunification, with all the details of each, the politics, the (temporary) setbacks, the details of two worlds as they settle into a new balance. The author has given us enough details between the "major" battles to extrapolate from the work as written and continue the life of this world.
February 9, 2025
great culmination to the series
This culmination to the series offered what I wanted by tying off the main plot and showing Mav’s efforts toward a better world. However, much as I hate to say it, there were some really repetitious and confusing scenes, and for much of the book, the characters seemed to exist only in relation to Mav. I’m glad they got their happy ending, though, and the Oblivion Gate aspect of the story was truly novel.
This culmination to the series offered what I wanted by tying off the main plot and showing Mav’s efforts toward a better world. However, much as I hate to say it, there were some really repetitious and confusing scenes, and for much of the book, the characters seemed to exist only in relation to Mav. I’m glad they got their happy ending, though, and the Oblivion Gate aspect of the story was truly novel.
October 5, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole of the SoulMist series and OblivionGate was no exception. The characters were well rounded, it was fast paced, the story was good. My only fault with it was that I felt I still had questions when the book came to an end, mostly to do with the fledglings and how they became angels.
September 27, 2024
What an awesome series!
This was so good but so very incredible in its mix of life lessons. But you just can't stop until done! So get comfy and set up with a snack and drink. Happy reading!
This was so good but so very incredible in its mix of life lessons. But you just can't stop until done! So get comfy and set up with a snack and drink. Happy reading!
July 14, 2024
I enjoyed this book tremendously! Thank you for all the reading enjoyment you have given me.
July 25, 2024
Absolutely fantastic story to keep you wanting more. The characters will take you on an adventure that you won’t want to leave.
July 1, 2024
So the trilogy concludes, the window into this world closes. The "major" battles have been waged; the outcomes determined.
There are still loose ends, though those are "minor" battles, not as fitting for grand tales. Those we imagine if and as we wish - the rebuilding, the restoring, perhaps the reunification, with all the details of each, the politics, the (temporary) setbacks, the details of two worlds as they settle into a new balance. The author has given us enough details between the "major" battles to extrapolate from the work as written and continue the life of this world.
There are still loose ends, though those are "minor" battles, not as fitting for grand tales. Those we imagine if and as we wish - the rebuilding, the restoring, perhaps the reunification, with all the details of each, the politics, the (temporary) setbacks, the details of two worlds as they settle into a new balance. The author has given us enough details between the "major" battles to extrapolate from the work as written and continue the life of this world.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews