Is it all in your head if you're out of your mind?
Tomren Balrenci thought he had escaped the worst when he fled his family’s deadly ambitions. Betrayed by the people who raised him, he narrowly avoided being sacrificed to a demon in their quest for power. Now, he lives in exile deep in the underground nation of Aniroth, hunting dangerous creatures under the alias "Soulbow" to scrape by and stay hidden.
But demons aren’t so easily ignored. The sadistic voice of the very entity meant to consume him echoes in his mind, tempting and mocking him at every turn. As another archer, more skilled, leaves a trail of destruction which threatens to ruin his fragile existence, Tomren is forced to confront yet another new bounty hunters sent by his parents, descending upon Aniroth to drag him home.
Dark, gritty, and pulsing with raw intensity, Soulbow by August Oliver is a fast-paced fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, morally gray heroes, and stories that hit with the energy of an Avenged Sevenfold song.
Tropes you’ll love:
Anti-hero protagonistDethroned nobleOutcast family of charactersFound familyDeaf representation
If you're looking for a book with Dungeons & Dragons vibes with a lot of action, this is definitely a great book for you!
The action comes in hot and fast when Tomren's parents (and everyone who helped raise him) try to sacrifice him to a demon! But this isn't a typical sacrifice. They want the demon Aedairys to possess his body so she can take over the world.
Several years later, Tomren is now known as Soulbow. He's one of the best hunters Aniroth has known, but he can't do it alone. He has two companions, and a frenemy rival (who has some of the best, sarcastic lines! And a ton of fun plays on Soulbow's name.) He also has some big secrets. Soulbow hides his true identity from those he's closest to. And he hides the fact Aedairys is constantly nagging him in the back of his mind.
Throughout the book, Soulbow not only has to evade bounty hunters sent by his evil parents, but he has to find a new hunter who is kicking everyone's butt if he wants to keep making money to stay hidden.
All through the story there is incredible worldbuilding. You can imagine the UnSky and all the creatures that reside in Aniroth. There is danger and action around every corner, characters you may not want to get too attached to, and spicy and swoon-worthy love scenes.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
This book will twist you up! August has delivered an adventure filled with deceit, betrayal, friendship, love, and my favorite part, found family.
The world building is fantastic. We are taken to another place filled with beauty, darkness, light, and danger. The plants, the animals, the characters from all walks of life.
One of my favorite things about this book was the dedication to the side characters. Soulbow may be the main character but I so enjoyed his band of dedicated friends, Feezer and Sassan. The care given to each of their personalities and quirks was amazing and I loved them so much. These three would happily die for each other, so deep was their love as a family. And Kresten! What a hoot. Talk about an annoying little sister that you love to hate. The banter with this one, 🤌🏻 Ilayda is a total bad a$$ FMC. Loved her independence and her toughness and how she went after what she wanted, but was soft and indulgent when she wanted to be.
Soulbow’s character development through this book is real. He is not perfect. He comes into his own as his life and the lives of his friends are threatened by his past. He makes some bad decisions, some annoying decisions, lol, and through it all he finds his courage to stand up for what’s right and fights instead of running.
This story has some twists and turns, some plot points I found devastating and some that made me wonder why? The story will continue though so I guess I will find out! If you love fantasy and found family give this one a go!
4⭐️ 2🌶️ ARC Review: Soulbow is a fast-paced fantasy novel that begins with a violent start that drops the reader right into the main characters story. The character development throughout was great, even making the characters with smaller roles complex in their own way. There were no low points in the plot where the reader was left thinking “okay when is the next action piece”.
Side note: I have to say I LOVE the representation in this book as far as disabilities and sexual orientation.
Great story! great representation! loved all of it.
I felt for Tomren the entire time reading, and loved how he felt more of a reluctant type antihero just trying to survive. The banter was believable enough to make me actually laugh out loud.
This story was so crazy and I can't believe all of the events that took place 😳 My heart broke for Tomren. I'll never understand why some people were blessed with children when they clearly don't deserve them at all!
Growing up, Tomren has never had a good relationship with his parents. They completely dislike him because they don't fit their narrative. So what do you do when you dislike your child? Sacrifice them to a demon on their birthday? According to Tomrens parents, you do just that 🙃😒
After managing to narrowly escape, he now lives in exile underground and works as a hunter under the fake name Soulbow so he can survive.
The writing, the twists, the characters, the plot, everything was astounding! I was so obsessed with this story from honestly the first paragraph. The way it was written made it so easy to get lost in and incredibly hard to put down. The Dungeons and Dragons aspect was honestly such a great bonus!
Tropes: 🖤Fantasy 🖤Found family 🖤Demons 🖤Deaf rep 🖤Queer rep
Thanks so much to the author's and Finch Benson Publishing for the ARC!
Every so often, a fantasy novel comes along that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. Soulbow is one of those books. From the very first page, it pulls you into the shadowy depths of Aniroth, an underground world teeming with danger, mystery, and breathtaking lore.
Tomren Balrenci is the kind of protagonist I crave—flawed, complex, and carrying a past that weighs heavy on his every decision. His struggle with the voice in his head, his tangled web of loyalties, and the slow unraveling of his own identity make for a deeply compelling journey. And Ilayda? She’s sharp, strong, and every bit his match, creating an electric tension that kept me utterly enthralled.
The worldbuilding here is nothing short of stunning. From the eerie, bioluminescent landscapes to the intricate politics of Aniroth’s ruling families, every detail is rich and immersive. The magic system is unique and seamlessly woven into the story, balancing power with consequence in a way that feels both fresh and well-developed.
What sets Soulbow apart is its ability to blend action, intrigue, and raw emotion. The pacing is masterful, the stakes are high, and the writing is both poetic and razor-sharp. This is a book that doesn’t just entertain—it lingers, demanding to be pondered long after the final page.
If you love dark fantasy with deep character work, gripping political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance that feels earned rather than rushed, Soulbow is an absolute must-read. I can already tell this series will be a new obsession, and I cannot wait to see where it goes next.
Alright, I’ll be real—I went into Soulbow expecting just another dark fantasy, but this book wrecked me in the best way. Like, I was up at 3 AM questioning my life choices because I had to know what happened next.
Tomren Balrenci? Absolute menace. He’s got a demon whispering in his head, a family that basically handed him a death sentence, and trust issues bigger than the underground world he’s stuck in. And yet, somehow, he’s insanely likable—sarcastic, morally gray, but still trying (kinda) to be a better person. The reluctant-lovers dynamic with Ilayda? Tension. Off. The. Charts. Their banter alone could power a small city.
The worldbuilding in Soulbow is no joke. Aniroth is dark, dangerous, and weirdly beautiful in a way that makes me wanna live there (even though I’d die in two seconds). The magic system? Elite. The creatures? Creepy as hell. The political scheming? 10/10, would get betrayed again.
If you’re into trauma-ridden anti-heroes, slow-burn tension, found family, and a little bit of existential horror, this book will ruin your life in a fun way. It’s unhinged, it’s emotional, and I already know I’ll be feral for book two.
🔥 Vibes:
"I hate you" → "I’d burn the world down for you" Dark magic, dark humor, even darker trauma Messy, morally gray characters making bad choices Found family but like... begrudgingly Emotionally unavailable demon voices No notes. Obsessed.
Listen, I thought I was ready for Soulbow. I had no idea. This book grabbed me by the throat, whispered, "You're mine now," and I thanked it. But let's be real—I’m not here to be normal about this. I’m here because of Tomren Balrenci.
The morally gray, brooding, sharp-tongued disaster of a man who had no business being this compelling. He’s powerful but haunted, dangerous but reluctant, a man forged in shadows and stitched together with quiet agony. And the way he’s written? Every glance, every internal war, every razor-edged moment between him and Ilayda had me positively feral. Feral. I was pacing. I was clutching my chest. I was questioning all my life choices.
And beyond my Tomren obsession (which, let’s be clear, is eternal), Soulbow is just next-level fantasy. The world of Aniroth is stunningly immersive, the political intrigue is deliciously layered, and the magic? Unique, dangerous, and woven into the very fabric of the story. Ilayda is a force in her own right—smart, strong, and every bit as compelling as Tomren, which makes their dynamic sizzle. The slow-burn tension? The longing? The angst? It ruined me, and I loved every second of it.
If you love dark fantasy, complex characters, and a romance that aches in the best way possible, READ. THIS. BOOK. But be warned: Tomren Balrenci will consume you. And you will love every second of it.
Okay, so everyone’s out here losing their minds over Tomren (understandable), but let’s be honest—he wouldn’t survive five minutes without the absolute powerhouse women in this book. Like, objectively, the man would be a mess in a ditch somewhere if it weren’t for Kresten Bersyr and Ilayda.
First of all, Kresten?? My beloved. My scrappy, ride-or-die, “I will fight you in the street and then buy you a drink” QUEEN. She’s got that perfect blend of chaos and competence, and the way she just gets people? Obsessed. I would trust her with my life, my heart, and probably my bank account. She’s a lesbian icon, and I need everyone to show her respect.
And then there’s Ilayda, who is everything. Smart? Check. Deadly? Check. Capable of verbally slapping Tomren across the face with zero hesitation? CHECK. She’s a powerhouse, and the way she commands a scene—whether it's through strategy, combat, or just straight-up owning the moment—had me cheering. The push-pull between her and Tomren?? The angst, the power, the unspoken yearning?? Inject it into my veins.
And let’s be clear: Tomren would literally accomplish NOTHING without these women. He broods, he schemes, he’s powerful as hell, but it’s Ilayda and Kresten (and, let’s be real, like every competent woman around him) that keep things moving. If Tomren is the storm, Ilayda is the lightning, and Kresten is the fire he didn’t see coming.
💕 If you’ve never read anything from the trio that is Eleanor Rose, Chase St Clare and August Oliver, I’ll let you in on a little something. Expect the unexpected. Scenes so vivid, you can almost taste them. Characters to love and characters to hate. Plot twists? Oh, definitely. Don't fall in love with the characters because they might just break your heart. Soulbow gives you an anti-hero. A Nyxian, or partial demon, whose parents want to sacrifice him to an ancestral demon. And they almost succeed. I’ll never talk bad about my parents ever again. Tomren runs off, changes his name to Soulbow and makes a new name for himself. The fun part? The demon got enough of a taste of him in the would-have-been sacrifice that he now hears her in his head. Wouldn’t that just mess you up! Book 1 of The Shoterran Chronicles is Soulbow’s book. And let me just say that I loved Sassan and Feezer. His friends, his team, his found family. Individually, the trio could not have been more different. And maybe that’s why they connected like they did. Each one alone in the world. Together stronger. There’s also new and old love. Similar, yet different. One compliments him and challenges him. The other is soft and brings back memories of a happier time. There’s an annoying rival/sibling like character. She’s a lone wolf and unpredictable. There’s betrayal by someone close to him. But whom? And finally, a quest that brings him home to those loving parents who cared more about power than their own son.
Let's begin with the cover which made this book interesting even before starting. It is a Fantasy Novel with an amazing start, right into action without any dull drama or boring details. I loved the banter between the characters; making this book a wonderful read. You love complex characters?? Dark Fantasy?? Powerful female lead?? This book is for you. I enjoyed reading it and I definitely recommend it. All the dark fantasy lovers, get ready for the show and be warned, it will devour you whole and you will just enjoy it, just like me.
ARC Review Tomren, once offered as a sacrifice to a demon by his own parents, is now a hunter known as Soulbow. He’s tough on the outside, but beneath it all, he’s constantly fighting the demon Aedairys and hiding his true identity.
The writing completely pulls you into a dangerous, beautifully built world. There’s so much heart here found family, sacrifice, and the struggle to belong. The action is relentless, with bounty hunters to dodge, mysterious threats rising, and landscapes that feel alive, from the eerie UnSky to wild and vivid creatures.
Representation is handled with care—there’s Deaf/HoH and pansexual/gay characters, and the romance? Equal parts steamy and emotional. This story has everything I want in fantasy, and I’m already excited for what’s next! Going through withdrawal 😆
Soulbow is an important story about found family and the delicate balance it takes to create it. But it also is a story about rising against a chaotic evil, even when it seems to win time and time again. It's an important lesson for the world we live in at the moment, and inspiring because I think it's the perfect time for the message of this book. That even if we fail, even if things go bad, even if we run from it, it's always important to stand up and fight.