To Take A Soul

by Sara Sultane

The first book in a romantasy duology for fans of Tahereh Mafi, Maiya Ibrahim, and Hafsah Faizal, offering a different portrayal of Middle Eastern subculture in the West.

Born to fulfill a prophecy, Maya must find her way through a lineage of witches, a secret order, and hidden agendas.

Maya is lost in a tangled web of unanswered questions when she meets Adam, a mysterious stranger she feels inexplicably drawn to. But Adam is no ordinary man—he belongs to the Dūshevs, an ancient order that steals human souls. As Maya uncovers the truth about her own lineage, she learns she is the descendant of Persian witches, destined to stand against the Dūshevs. With an ancient prophecy looming, she must choose between embracing her fate or facing the wrath of her ancestors.

In a journey of love, destiny, and ancient magic, Maya witnesses the clash between powerful forces and the choices that could alter the course of her reality forever. Will Maya fulfill the prophecy, or will she surrender to the promise of love that could bring ruin to them all and tip the scales of nature?

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Witches

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2022

About the author

Sara Sultane is the author of To Take a Soul & To Defy an Oath. From a young age, Sara has been fascinated by magic, devouring novels that whisked her away to realms far away. Her vivid imagination and passion for reading naturally led her to writing. She is a dreamer at heart, intrigued by the allure of magical universes and the secrets they hold. She discovered that nothing brings her greater joy than finding lost legends and pouring her wonder into every story she writes. When she’s not writing, she loves to spend time reading romantasy novels with a piping hot tea in hand. On rare occasions, she enjoys Copenhagen’s far-between sunny days, or late-night swims in the ocean.
To Take a Soul is her debut novel.

Reviews

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge, huge thank you to Sara Sultane and The Nerd Fam for the opportunity to read both this book, and its sequel To Defy an Oath as gifted eARCs. Of course, the opinions expressed are my own.

Since To Defy an Oath is the sequel, I obviously had to read this one first. This book had a lot going on. Knowing this was a first novel, I did give it a lot of leeway to find its feet. There was some confusion with the multiple subplots, but it got easier to tell everyone apart the more I read. We had some romance, a bit of cat and mouse, and a whole lot of mystery. Some of the usual first novel issues were definitely present, lots of extra dialogue and explanation, which could get tiring at times.You can see the momentum pick up at the midpoint of the book. Then the focus is the set up of the two main characters coming face to face at the end. I really liked the premise, which was around the twin flames of souls. However, I do wish there was some streamlining/editing, but all in all, it was an enjoyable read. What was an unexpected bonus was getting to see Persian mythology and witchcraft as part of the main narrative. This was the first time I’d been able to read and learn about Persian traditions and beliefs within the context of the narrative. I really want to try Persian tea now, too! And that ending… one hell of a cliffhanger! Now… onto the next!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think for a debut novel this was a great start to the duology! I really enjoyed the magic and the characters. They were a lot of fun. Also, I really liked the middle eastern subculture within this book. It was something new for me and really liked it. Maya doesn't realize she's a witch with a long lineage whose purpose is to fulfill a prophecy! I can't wait to see what happens in book two.

Thank you @thenerdfam for the gifted ebook

[Scarlett Kouyou · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️
A middle eastern subculture fantasy, with an urban fantasy vibe mixed with international travel, magic, leaving you aching for the second book in the duology immediately after reading. Finished this book in less than 24 hours because I was glued. The initial start to the book felt slow and I wasn’t sure the purpose of some of the slower details however as the book continued, puzzle pieces started to fit and I found myself gripped by the story. Fantastic read.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

To take a soul is a riveting romantic fantasy with ancient magic, elemental conjuring of powers and control, love and secrets.

The story follows Maya, an ordinary girl. Her life is seemingly normal, with good friends, a job and all, there is a lingering sense of magic in her essence. However her fate is far from it, her wish for magical interventions seems to have manifested in a bizarre adventure where she will have to fend off perils and unexpected trials at every corner. Meeting Adam, the author and current obsession of hers always points to something that is unexplainable yet the magnetic pull of uncertainty cloaked in the veil of desires and attraction is too strong to resist.

When a series of vivid experiences of magic seeps into her reality, it makes her question her sanity. But this was only the beginning. And Adam is the only anchor, for he surely knows more about what's happening around than anyone else.

This book has an immensely immersive reading experience. I was instantly drawn into this book's vibes and it continued to grip my attention till the very end.
I really appreciate the way the author's fantastic writing weaves in the magical elements, the concepts of souls, Dūshevs, Sāhers and time passage. It's so fascinating and I devoured every bit of it. The themes of elemental magic, love, longing, revelations, magical abilities and the cultural exploration truly brought me to the place where the narrative took place. The twists and turns were not only unprecedented but also created intriguing suspense and anticipation. Sara's enthralling writing style captivated me and I cannot wait to read more books from her.

This book is perfect for those who love to delve into fantasy novels with an intriguing streak of ancient magic, perils and high stakes anticipation and excitement.

[Jenniraereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

“To Take a Soul” by Sara Sultane is an engaging debut that intertwines romance, fantasy, and Middle Eastern mythology. The story centers on Maya, a young woman who discovers her heritage as a descendant of Persian witches and her role in an ancient prophecy opposing the Dūshevs, a secretive order that steals human souls. Her journey becomes even more complex when she meets Adam, a member of the Dūshevs, leading to a compelling narrative filled with magic, destiny, and forbidden love.

Sultane’s portrayal of Middle Eastern subculture offers a refreshing perspective in the fantasy genre, enriching the narrative with cultural depth. The chemistry between Maya and Adam was written well adding emotional weight to their intertwined fates. However, I found the pacing to be a bit uneven, with certain sections feeling slow before the plot gains momentum.

Overall, I felt this was a promising start to a duology that will appeal to fans of romantasy seeking a unique cultural backdrop. While it has areas that could benefit from refinement, its strengths in character development and world-building make it a worthwhile read.

I would like to thank Sara Sultane and The Nerd Fam for gifting me this ARC.

[Britney ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just unfortunately wasn't for me.

The plot sounded so interesting, and while it was, it was just a bit disjointed. I found myself unsure of what was going on at several different points and had to keep stopping and going back.

The characters themselves, though, were amazing. Incrediblely dynamic and very easy to fall in love with 😍. They made it worth reading through to whole way.

Thank you to The Nerdfam and the author for the gifted copy of this book

[Litbyzuls · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an ending! I need book two yesterday lol.

I really enjoyed this book, not going to lie I was going to put it down because of the jumping from scene to scene. This made the story a bit confusing and difficult to follow along on some parts but am glad I stuck it out and finished the story.

Mythical magic, witches, and warlock clans with an epic decade long war this book had me hooked with the unique storyline and magic system of Egypt and Iran.

Magic and epic betrayals had me captivated.

Thank you to the nerd fam for the early copy

[booked.with.julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and this amazing author for the copy!
The storyline for this book is so unique and captivating. I was so excited to dive into this first book in a new romantasy duology. A middle eastern subculture fantasy with magic, an order that steals souls and witches!
I love Maya and Adam. With that ending???? I need book two!!!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY GOD THIS BOOK!!!!. Another 5 ⭐️ read, I am seriously hitting the jackpot with my reads lately, and this one did not disappoint, the story was so beautifully thought out and developed, the writing exquisite. I am sat here at 2.30am because i could not put this down, Maya and Adam 🥰🥰🥰 I loved Thier dynamic and and chemistry in the story which helped bring out the plot in the book, Thier lives and how they grow and think is so beautifully executed that you feel like your literally standing next to them every step of the way. Sara sultane also intergrated cultures into this story which made it all the more enticing for me in terms of learning about them. It makes you think about fate and if we have to follow the paths that are often set out for us or challenge them to create and have something new. The ending to this first book had me sobbing for my life but in a good way because it touched a deep part of me, which is when you know the author has done their writing justice and a good job. Even though I’m crying my eyes out I cannot wait for the sequel to see how this story keeps developing. Sara thank you for an amazing book and can’t wait to tell you this in person next year at @yalc_uk because you have seriously hooked me in,line and sinker.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨✨To Take a Soul✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

6 stars! 6 fucking stars if there is ever a book I need you to read just trust me on this one and READ IT!!!
You know what I don’t see enough of in fantasy novels? Middle Eastern culture and folklore! This book is full of it! Our FMC Maya comes from a coven of witches but is unaware of her families involvement in this coven because it’s only the women of the family and her mother left when she was young. She spends this novel learning about her family history, her culture and how to wield the magic inside of her. THE FEMININE RAGE THAT BUILDS FROM HER AFTER BEING SLIGHTED?! HELL YEAH! I love a woman set on revenge and Maya is one bad chick!!!
The MMC Adam comes from an enemy family of mages. The mages only come from the male side of the family and there aren’t very many women in his lineage because the art of creating life and making a soul usually kills women in child birth. What does his family do?! Takes souls from bad people and inserts them into people born without souls that are more deserving.
This book is heavy on the twin flame theory. There is heart break, there is a war between the two families and there is a very intense cat and mouse game between the two MCS as Maya is on her journey to fulfill her families prophecy. If you want to read a book with a different portrayal of Middle Eastern subculture in the west, witches, a secret order and a hidden agenda you are going to want to read to Take a Soul!! This is the first book in a duology and I am currently diving into the next book! Thank you to Nerd Fam and the author for sending me an Earc of both of these books in exchange for my honest review!

[Rohini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww I feeling of reading a book by an Indian author is so special to me. It makes me feel proud of them too.

Haha Maya is a daydreamer like me. You know when you read books which seems similar to you? Like you feel you already know them and a connection you feel with them? That's how I feel when I read romance Indian books. They hold special place in my heart🤌💘🥰😭💗

Super natural stories are interesting and fun but they also leads to many of emotions. Mainly deaths of people which hurts a lot when you get connected to them. You don’t know them but you feel you know them when you read about them. 😭🤧💕

Aww the story was so magical. I really starting to love the story more and more while completing one after one chapter😘🤩

I really loved the story a lot and it’s so interesting. I learned new things about the witches , Sāhers and Dūshevs. Every chapter is so interesting and thrilling that I read the book more fast bcoz of curiosity 😩😅

Waiting for the next part of the book. I really curious of what will happen next

[Karidad Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I did not know I would love this book as much as I did.
And the cliffhanger? Um, next book, please?

The book has a slow start, introducing the main characters and their attraction to each other. Around 19% the story started to build up and I didn’t want to put my book down. You will find themes of love, betrayal, death, grief, magic and loyalty.

The plot of the story is very interesting. The author paints a clear picture of the ancestry of each main character and the magic system is unique. There is a good amount of action and a bigger amount of world building in the story. The FMC gradually evolves throughout the story and becomes a fearful main character and the MMC is torn between his loyalty for his family and his new found love.

I really enjoyed reading this story and I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Also, this should be made into a show!

Thank you to The Nerd Farm and Sara Sultane for this amazing ARC!

[That_awkwardbook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so different from what I expected. The first half of this book fe t very very slow and aimless. The love story was not very believable and there was hardly any chemistry between the characters.
This story absolutely lives from the second part, that's when the action starts, plot is implemented, betrayal and magic are implored. The second half of the book is a lot better. But I don't know who I'd recommend reading this book. It's kinda all over the place.
the open end felt just lazy like there wasn't enough time to come to a satisfying end , because all those pages were wasted in the beginning of the book.

[Téa · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Take A Soul
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

Wow I loved this book. There were a few times where the plot twists had be so caught off guard, and I loved Maya’s character. I found myself gravitating towards her story from the beginning.

I love when POVs are so well written and isolated (like Maya and Adam’s) where the reader is genuinely just as in the dark as the main characters.

There is a battle of families, unique magic tied to souls and their role in the story is something I haven’t heard done before, I absolutely love this book!!

[Katelyn Delone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no words on how this book played with my emotions. From the forcing them apart to death to the freaking ending the way she played! I cannot, I am at a loss for words the world wind this was. 😅 I was going through it. All in all I loved the culture and the magic elements that were in this book. The entire book was a whirlwind adventure and I’m ready to find out what happens next because this has left me stunned. 😅 please go read this so you can be as stunned as me!

[Chloe Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved diving into the rich cultures and the unique blend of myths and magic the author brought to life. It was such an engaging and refreshing read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next, and I’m beyond excited to pick up the second book!

[Rawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a formidable ending. She had me by the throat!!! My jaw DROPPED. I was finishing it on an airplane crying in the dark next to a stranger. What an amazing way to end the beginning of this story. Please sign my busted copy. (yes it’s that good!!… I just ordered a hardback for the shelf). 😍😍😍😍

[Amanda Couts · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Take A Soul was a quick read. Throughout the book there were some slow points, but as the plot developed the storyline was addictive. I was hooked on the main plot and could not wait to see what happened next. I really enjoyed the twists that this book took and enjoyed what felt like a different take on a fantasy romance. Overall I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait to read book two.

[Cátia Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of the duologia, but i'm already on love!! Thanks for sending me the book Sara Sultane and i'm jumping to the second right away!!

[Sara Rahmeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. Only with short breaks to get more coffee. Loved it.

[Brooke Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was delightfully unexpected for me. I loved watching all the drama unfold between Adam and Maya. Generational family rivalry is absolutely wild.

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending killed me

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel really terrible saying this, but this was the first of 86 book I’ve read this year that I had to DNF. I’m so thankful to The Nerd Fam and the author for sharing this with me. The story just was too disconnected for me and it just wasn’t my vibe. I feel like this book actually needed to be longer to give the story the right amount of world and relationship building it needed. I got 33% through this book and decided I needed to put it down.

[SharksRJerks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good concept, poor execution; but that's understandable as it's the author's debut novel. I think she has potential.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Sara Sultane for the free ARC of this book.

The book almost felt written by two different people. The narration felt fairly smooth, and it flowed. I especially enjoyed how the author explained cultural references when specific Farsi was used or Persian customs were mentioned, which helped the reader feel included in what was happening.

The dialogue and character interactions, on the other hand, felt stilted and immensely immature; i.e. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll find out by myself and make sure to become the chosen one!” What, and then will you take your ball and go home? Neither Maya or Adam, our MCs, feel relatable to me as the reader. Also, the lack of simple adjectives made the character interactions feel robotic, which was very bizarre in a spicy scene. In general, a lot of the writing felt very staccato and choppy.

The last half of the book left a lot unexplained for the reader, as if things happened off scene that we were just supposed to know about. This made the book less enjoyable, which is a shame because I find the story very intriguing.

All in all, there is little to no character development with all characters feeling very two dimensional and flat, even the MCs. (A characters's personality change due to a loss of soul is not growth.) The lack of descriptors and adjectives made it difficult to feel immersed in the story, which jumped erratically at points. So it was frequently not enjoyable and I found myself disappointed with the book.

In my opinion, the author owes it to herself and her readers to do some rewrites and extensive editing. Her story concept is good and I would really like to reread it once she and her team tweak the book.

[Jarlyn Camacho · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Review ✨

To Take A Soul is a darkly captivating start to a new romantasy duology that hooked me from the very first page. Sara Sultane’s writing is vivid and immersive, pulling you into a world steeped in Persian witchcraft, ancient orders, and a prophecy that could tip the scales of nature itself.

The story follows Maya, a strong and resilient heroine who discovers she is descended from Persian witches destined to stand against the Dūshevs—an ancient order that steals souls. Her path collides with Adam, a morally grey hero whose duty threatens everything she stands for, yet whose presence is magnetic and impossible to ignore. Their relationship is filled with mistrust, tension, and slow-burn chemistry that had me rooting for them even when the odds were stacked against them.

This book offers so much of what I love in romantasy:
🌙 Enemies to Lovers
🌙 Forbidden Romance
🌙 Morally Grey Hero
🌙 Dark Fantasy Vibes
🌙 Slow Burn Tension
🌙 A Fierce Heroine

While there were a few slower moments in the beginning, once the plot unfolded I was completely hooked. The mix of love, destiny, political intrigue, and ancient magic created an addictive storyline full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I especially loved how unique this book felt—blending Middle Eastern subculture with a dark fantasy romance in a way that felt refreshing and new.

The ending left me reeling (I’ll be starting book two soon). Overall, To Take A Soul is an enthralling, imaginative read perfect for fans of stories about fate, forbidden love, and the battle between light and darkness—and I cannot wait to see where Maya and Adam’s journey goes next.

Thank you to the author and The Nerd Fam for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and Sara Sultane for the gifted eBook

To Take A Soul's premise and plot are definitely interesting. It has a unique take on paranormal fantasy. This is part of a new romantic duology. The book seemed a bit faster-paced for me, but it was in a way that I got a little bit confused. There were times I wasn't sure what was going on and felt a little bit of disconnect. I was close to just shelving the book the first 15%. However, I am glad to have finished the story. It definitely redeemed itself. It gives off this forbidden love story, almost like Romeo and Juliet, kind of like Feyre and Rhysand (in the beginning). I do enjoy that it has some Middle Eastern subculture projected into the storyline. It's definitely something new for me. Now, whether some of the parts and pieces to it are portrayed correctly, I wouldn't know. I'm just glad there is some sort of diversity and culture in the book. This book is a 3.75, almost a 4 for me, and I wish that GR had that on their scale. I feel as if the ending could've gradually ended a little bit more gracefully. Maybe it's just me, but I felt like it just ended. Overall, would I recommend this book? Yes. Would I read the next installment? Yes. I would read it out of interest, as to why I felt it ended so abruptly. Maybe I just have a personal take on how I'd like endings to go. Everyone has a preference, and I don't think that my take makes the story any less good. Would I read it again? Perhaps. I think that if I read it the second time around, I could possibly understand it better. Sometimes, there are things you end up missing that you end up picking the second go.

[༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆ 𝘓𝘪𝘢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

˚ ࣪˖ ⋆ ᝰ｡˚⋆ “𝓢𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓴𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮; 𝓘 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓭 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶” ˚ ࣪˖⋆ ᝰ ｡˚⋆


4★

𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖
ᝰ 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
ᝰ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
ᝰ 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼
ᝰ 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆
ᝰ 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻
ᝰ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲

︵‿︵‿୨☠︎︎୧‿︵‿︵

⋆ ⁺₊❅.𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨⋆ ⁺₊❅.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘣 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵, 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺. 𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧—𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘸𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩.

︵‿︵‿୨☠︎︎୧‿︵‿︵


⋆ ⁺₊❅. 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 ⋆ ⁺₊❅.
𝘚𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳.

[Calischarm · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Take a Soul by Sara Sultane presents an engaging narrative from the outset. Maya, a typical 21-year-old, is navigating life's decisions while residing with her family and maintaining a job and social circle. Her life takes a dramatic turn upon meeting Adam, whose family possesses the extraordinary ability to steal souls and transplant them into newborns. This unique gift is accompanied by other remarkable talents, including teleportation, water evaporation, and oxygen manipulation, which Maya discovers over time. As their relationship deepens, Adam becomes increasingly distracted, causing Maya to feel a growing sense of distance. Following her grandmother's passing, Maya travels to Iran for the funeral, marking the beginning of a transformative journey. Upon her return, she experiences unexplained blackouts, instability, and a growing sense of disconnection from Adam. Ultimately, Maya is hospitalized and pronounced dead, only to be discovered missing from her coffin by Adam. Maya awakens in Iran, where she learns of her ancestral ties to an ancient coven of witches sworn to confront Adam's family, with Maya destined to spearhead the battle.

[lizface · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every atom in my body craved her. I wanted to pick her up, throw her on the bed, and play her string by string like a cello.” 🥵

Well hot damn.
That one spicy scene was perfect for these two.

But in l seriousness I enjoyed this book so much!
This is my first novel with middle eastern mythology and I DEVOURED it 😋

To Take a Soul is the first book in a series about a girl named Maya who finds herself immersed in a world she never thought was real. It all started when she met Adam, and she was totally crushing on him,hard. But little did she know he was interested in her too. And he was also a part of the world she was becoming to know. Adam is a Dūshev, an ancient order that steals souls. And he is just one of MANY. As they traverse this new path of love and magic Maya discovers who she truly is. Will she embrace this new found knowledge? Or will she fall into the promise of love?

The magic, the family and friends, the yearning 💗 it was all perfect. I couldn’t stop reading! And then that ending!?!?!?

I woke up ready to start book 2 🤭

Thank you Nerd Fam and Sara for my eARC 🫶🏼

[Savannah (chapters_of_mayhem) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am officially in a love/hate relationship with this book.
Parts of it I absolutely devoured and parts I had to force myself to get through.

I really enjoyed the cultural aspect of it. I find fantasy books that explore myths and legends from other parts of the world so incredibly fascinating!

I really enjoyed Maya as a character, I could relate to her and enjoyed being in her head a lot of the time.

Adam was fine, for someone as old as he was he was pretty childish and frustrating at times tbh.

The jumping back and forth between perspectives towards the end was hard to keep up with, some of it didn’t feel necessary.

Also the villain of the first half had nothing to do with the second?

The premise was great, loved the concept and the bones of the story. Parts I couldn’t get enough of. Execution just wasn’t my cup of tea which is a person opinion so I wouldn’t let that put you off if you’re considering this book.

Thank you to Sara Sultane and Nerd Fam for the opportunity to read and review this book for free.
This is my honest opinion.