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Changed Souls
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 6, 2014
Changed Souls is a suitably dark, atmospheric dystopian sci-fi set in a future where food shortages have given rise to an authoritarian regime, and a virus runs rampant, changing and eventually killing its victims. Our heroine, Lucille, works as a patroller responding to calls to collect the bodies of those who have succumbed to the virus.
So far, so grim. When Lucille's partner Hank disappears in mysterious circumstances, a chain of events is set of that leads her into the heart of the darkness, and the rot, in her city. And I will not say more of the plot, since I am allergic to plot spoilers, save to say that I loved the redemptive theme which peeks through the brooding darkness in just a few places, lending colour and contrast to the atmosphere of the novel.
Changed Souls is well written and executed. The prose is sparse and as unforgiving as the setting, a city in which all live in fear of the virus, and the outside world is a place beyond imagination. For myself I would have preferred a heroine more in charge of events than driven by them, and found myself growing impatient at times during the story. But the ending was truly outstanding and very well judged.
For a memorable and ultimately satisfying tale, I rate this 4.5 stars rounded to 5, and I thank the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. An author to watch!
So far, so grim. When Lucille's partner Hank disappears in mysterious circumstances, a chain of events is set of that leads her into the heart of the darkness, and the rot, in her city. And I will not say more of the plot, since I am allergic to plot spoilers, save to say that I loved the redemptive theme which peeks through the brooding darkness in just a few places, lending colour and contrast to the atmosphere of the novel.
Changed Souls is well written and executed. The prose is sparse and as unforgiving as the setting, a city in which all live in fear of the virus, and the outside world is a place beyond imagination. For myself I would have preferred a heroine more in charge of events than driven by them, and found myself growing impatient at times during the story. But the ending was truly outstanding and very well judged.
For a memorable and ultimately satisfying tale, I rate this 4.5 stars rounded to 5, and I thank the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. An author to watch!
September 24, 2014
A ripping tale that weaves through the murky streets of a corrupt city as it struggles to manage the physical and moral implications of a terrifying new virus. Protagonist Lucille is spiky and judgemental at the outset of her journey, a journey that will lead her to question everything she has held a certainty. Her integrity is tested at every twist and turn, giving depth to this action-packed novel. Battling casual sexism, the media and political corruption, Lucille is a heroine with wide appeal.
An engrossing read: the narrative style reminded me of Phillip Pullman's Victorian novels (my favourite of his books). Enjoy!
An engrossing read: the narrative style reminded me of Phillip Pullman's Victorian novels (my favourite of his books). Enjoy!
October 3, 2014
Set in a city overcast by the horror of a highly infectious and fatal virus, the heroine, Lucille, is shunned as one of the workers who must remove the dead infected bodies. But one of these bodies mysteriously goes missing and she starts to question the motives of the authorities she works for. Then her partner and mentor goes missing and she embarks on a search for him which leads her to stumble apon a web of corruption and bribery.
Initially, Lucille is awkward and difficult to like, but at the novel progresses, I found I started to sympathise with her. She retains her integrity despite the many pressures around her. Many teenagers will be able to relate to her feelings of isolation and being different. Her relationship with Hank is well portrayed.
The themes of fear, ignorance and corruption in the face of a dangerous viral infection are highly topical. Lucille is avoided because of her job trying to control the infection and people attempt bribery to try to avoid the Isolation Hospital, where they fear they will become infected.
This novel is well written with an exciting plot which gripped me to the end. Although it is aimed at a young adult audience (which I unfortunately no longer am), I think it will be enjoyed by a much wider range of readers. I note this will be the first novel in a series - I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to the unresolved subplots!
I was given a free copy of this book to read prior to publication, but these are my own views.
Initially, Lucille is awkward and difficult to like, but at the novel progresses, I found I started to sympathise with her. She retains her integrity despite the many pressures around her. Many teenagers will be able to relate to her feelings of isolation and being different. Her relationship with Hank is well portrayed.
The themes of fear, ignorance and corruption in the face of a dangerous viral infection are highly topical. Lucille is avoided because of her job trying to control the infection and people attempt bribery to try to avoid the Isolation Hospital, where they fear they will become infected.
This novel is well written with an exciting plot which gripped me to the end. Although it is aimed at a young adult audience (which I unfortunately no longer am), I think it will be enjoyed by a much wider range of readers. I note this will be the first novel in a series - I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to the unresolved subplots!
I was given a free copy of this book to read prior to publication, but these are my own views.
December 3, 2014
Brava! This is an excellent urban fantasy. I don't mean a paranormal romance dressed up with oddments of myth. I mean a fantasy set in a city. Naive, honest Lucille is a "Patroller" in a city stricken by a virus that causes (or seems to cause) uncontrolled, fatal bone growth. She and her partner are responsible for taking the dead away. But when the authoritarian Mayor's girlfriend is struck down, Lucille stumbles into a deadly tangle of motivations that ultimately leads her to the truth abut the virus. The final twist was a real shocker, and very satisfying.
The writing is superb. Tight, atmospheric, and deft. The characters jump off the pages. No extraneous blather, and plenty of suspense.
That said, my one caveat (and the reason for giving this book four stars instead of five) is the lack of a sense of place. The drab, oppressive milieu of the city is very well evoked, but it could be any city, anywhere. I was distracted through the first quarter of the book by searching for clues as to what country we were in, let alone what era. Based on the cover and the general tone of the prose, I was leaning towards post-apocalyptic Britain, but another reviewer said this is an alternate 1920s Chicago, and clues later on in the book suggest that this is probably right. Anyway, if you're reading this, you will now know that this is NOT a post-apocalyptic setting, so you won't suffer my confusion :)
In conclusion, this is a thrilling read, and I highly recommend it.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is superb. Tight, atmospheric, and deft. The characters jump off the pages. No extraneous blather, and plenty of suspense.
That said, my one caveat (and the reason for giving this book four stars instead of five) is the lack of a sense of place. The drab, oppressive milieu of the city is very well evoked, but it could be any city, anywhere. I was distracted through the first quarter of the book by searching for clues as to what country we were in, let alone what era. Based on the cover and the general tone of the prose, I was leaning towards post-apocalyptic Britain, but another reviewer said this is an alternate 1920s Chicago, and clues later on in the book suggest that this is probably right. Anyway, if you're reading this, you will now know that this is NOT a post-apocalyptic setting, so you won't suffer my confusion :)
In conclusion, this is a thrilling read, and I highly recommend it.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2014
One sentence summary: A tough-talking farm girl turned Contamination Patroller has to solve the mystery of a missing partner, spreading contamination, and disappearing bodies to save her partner's and/or her own life.
The good: Changed Souls has a bit of a hard-boiled tone, with a main character that's pretty angry and hard-bitten and a narration style that gives the feeling of a farm-girl-turned-city-official. The wrap-up of the mystery's explanation is satisfying: everything makes pretty good sense at the end. Some of the characters (Lucille's partner) are likeable and three-dimensional.
The bad: The build up of the mystery gets pretty slow in the middle. The book starts off with some action, some strange occurrences, but then you don't get any sort of explanation, and a lot of the book ends up being the main character either pouting about the turn of events or casting about aimlessly for a solution to the mystery, without getting any leads. Orson Scott Card, one of my favorite authors, one said, "...suspense comes, not from knowing almost nothing, but from knowing almost everything and caring very much about the small part still unknown." In Changed Souls, you know almost nothing until the final 40 or 50 pages, so in the 100 pages preceding that it gets a little difficult to care.
The ugly: None, really. This is a well-edited, well thought out book. Aside from the slow parts, I enjoyed it.
The good: Changed Souls has a bit of a hard-boiled tone, with a main character that's pretty angry and hard-bitten and a narration style that gives the feeling of a farm-girl-turned-city-official. The wrap-up of the mystery's explanation is satisfying: everything makes pretty good sense at the end. Some of the characters (Lucille's partner) are likeable and three-dimensional.
The bad: The build up of the mystery gets pretty slow in the middle. The book starts off with some action, some strange occurrences, but then you don't get any sort of explanation, and a lot of the book ends up being the main character either pouting about the turn of events or casting about aimlessly for a solution to the mystery, without getting any leads. Orson Scott Card, one of my favorite authors, one said, "...suspense comes, not from knowing almost nothing, but from knowing almost everything and caring very much about the small part still unknown." In Changed Souls, you know almost nothing until the final 40 or 50 pages, so in the 100 pages preceding that it gets a little difficult to care.
The ugly: None, really. This is a well-edited, well thought out book. Aside from the slow parts, I enjoyed it.
October 5, 2014
An interesting concept, in which the reader is thrust into an alternate history, a time when early twentieth century technology and medicine battles vainly against a mysterious and deadly disease. The heroine, Lucille, is young, naive and believes wholeheartedly in the system within which she works at a job that is menial, socially isolating, but important to the crisis gripping the city.
Changed Souls is an atmospheric read, which creates a noir-like world of secrecy and corruption, where one does not know what side anyone may be on - including Lucille herself.
As has been mentioned elsewhere, I found that Lucille as a character was initially difficult to empathise with. Her choices, opinions and attitudes sometimes grated, however as the book progressed, I found my opinions changing toward her. I felt that her outlook on events and actions served to underline her youth in comparison to the characters around her, and also her lack of experience in dealing with the world.
With several plot twists that I did not at all see coming, Changed Souls is a truly fascinating read, which leaves the reader both satisfied with the story, but without doubt that there is room to see where events will go next. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
I was given an ARC copy of this book in advance of publication for an honest and unbiased review.
Changed Souls is an atmospheric read, which creates a noir-like world of secrecy and corruption, where one does not know what side anyone may be on - including Lucille herself.
As has been mentioned elsewhere, I found that Lucille as a character was initially difficult to empathise with. Her choices, opinions and attitudes sometimes grated, however as the book progressed, I found my opinions changing toward her. I felt that her outlook on events and actions served to underline her youth in comparison to the characters around her, and also her lack of experience in dealing with the world.
With several plot twists that I did not at all see coming, Changed Souls is a truly fascinating read, which leaves the reader both satisfied with the story, but without doubt that there is room to see where events will go next. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
I was given an ARC copy of this book in advance of publication for an honest and unbiased review.
October 24, 2014
Changed Souls is a brilliantly uncategorisable book. It's a mystery/thriller set in an alternative 1920s or 30s Chicago where a strange disease is causing its victims to mutate.
The disease has already been used as a justification for an authoritarian government to bring in compulsory quarantine, disinfection and a heavy-handed 'hygiene patrol'. The main character, Lucille, is a patroller whose job is collecting the bodies of people who have died from the disease before they have a chance to infect anyone else. The action begins when Lucille arrives to collect the body of the Mayor's girlfriend, who has died from the disease. But she finds the body gone and in its place the body of another woman with a gunshot wound.
The book follows Lucille's attempts to untangle the mystery, as the possibility of a cover-up brings her into conflict with her own trusting and law-abiding nature.
Lucille is one of my favourite heroines ever: she's kick-ass (exceptionally tall and strong, good at standing up for herself in the face of sexism or violence) but also heart-breakingly naive. As the back-story unfolds we learn why she is so obsessed with being a conscientious patroller and so judgemental about other people who allow the spread of the virus.
Truscott's writing is exceptionally vivid, multi-sensory and stylish, without ever being slow or wordy. We feel and smell the city as we follow Lucille through its morgues, cafeterias and seedy underworld.
The author is promising a prequel as well as a sequel to this intriguing book, and I'm looking forward impatiently to both - I am desperate to understand more about Lucille and the strange world she lives in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
The disease has already been used as a justification for an authoritarian government to bring in compulsory quarantine, disinfection and a heavy-handed 'hygiene patrol'. The main character, Lucille, is a patroller whose job is collecting the bodies of people who have died from the disease before they have a chance to infect anyone else. The action begins when Lucille arrives to collect the body of the Mayor's girlfriend, who has died from the disease. But she finds the body gone and in its place the body of another woman with a gunshot wound.
The book follows Lucille's attempts to untangle the mystery, as the possibility of a cover-up brings her into conflict with her own trusting and law-abiding nature.
Lucille is one of my favourite heroines ever: she's kick-ass (exceptionally tall and strong, good at standing up for herself in the face of sexism or violence) but also heart-breakingly naive. As the back-story unfolds we learn why she is so obsessed with being a conscientious patroller and so judgemental about other people who allow the spread of the virus.
Truscott's writing is exceptionally vivid, multi-sensory and stylish, without ever being slow or wordy. We feel and smell the city as we follow Lucille through its morgues, cafeterias and seedy underworld.
The author is promising a prequel as well as a sequel to this intriguing book, and I'm looking forward impatiently to both - I am desperate to understand more about Lucille and the strange world she lives in.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
October 21, 2014
I was recommended to read this book by the author's mother - but before you accuse me of nepotism, it's important I say much I enjoy this book, despite the genre.
Personally I prefer historical fiction or high fantasy, but this dystopian past (a common misconception is that a dystopia has to be in the future) is incredible. Lucille, despite the initial lack of depth in her character, becomes more likeable through the story - and Hank's cynicism really engaged me in the opening pages.
I shan't go any further, for fear of spoilers!
I would thoroughly recommend this to later teens, of both genders - as Ms Truscott here has made this book appealing to all of her age demographic, in my opinion.
Personally I prefer historical fiction or high fantasy, but this dystopian past (a common misconception is that a dystopia has to be in the future) is incredible. Lucille, despite the initial lack of depth in her character, becomes more likeable through the story - and Hank's cynicism really engaged me in the opening pages.
I shan't go any further, for fear of spoilers!
I would thoroughly recommend this to later teens, of both genders - as Ms Truscott here has made this book appealing to all of her age demographic, in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews