A Soul Divided: The Blood-Fire Trilogy: Book One

by Daniel M. Quilter

When the princess of the technologically advanced Human Empire is kidnapped by an agent of the Mystic religion, they’re forced to turn to the last person they’d ever expected to ask for Drake Ashbell, a snarky pirate who has a problem with authority, and a dark secret. When he’s pulled into the conflict, Drake finds himself caught up in a fast-paced adventure that will take him to distant worlds, make him face his tragic past, and test the limits of his soul.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook

699 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2014

About the author

Daniel M Quilter is the multi-genre author of the sprawling space opera, the Blood-Fire Trilogy, and the imaginative portal fantasy series, the Cross-Road Travelers. He's also the author of several stand-alone novels, such as Rust-Kicker, the story of a fire department in a town where everyone has a pet dragon.

When he's not writing, Daniel enjoys camping, hiking, rock-climbing, and riding his motorcycle.

Reviews

[Audrey]

Space pirates.

This indie story was just FUN. It’s fast-paced and clever and light-hearted most of the time.

The hero reminds me of these guys:





Maybe that’s cliched, but we still love them. He gets in and out of tight spots so often, I was impressed at the imagination needed to keep that up. It is almost too fast-paced; a couple more moments of some calm introspection would have made it just right.

It was enjoyable the whole time, and I sure hope the sequel is out somewhere. It just needs a copy editor really really really badly. Otherwise, this could be 5 stars.

Book Blog

[Britt | Fantasy Fire and Freckles]

I loved this book; it ended up being in my top 5 favorite books of 2025

SFF BLEND / EPIC SPACE ADVENTURES/ UNLIKELY HERO / UNIQUE MAGIC / ENEMIES TO ALLIES / ROMANCE / PAST PACED / SNARKY HUMOR / STAR WARS VIBES / FUN BANTER/ FUTURISTIC TECH

WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK?!?!

Drake is one of my favorite MC's & he reminds me a good bit of Han Solo. I breezed through the audiobook, even though this book is a chonker - at 699 pages long.

The world building & magic is so unique, immersive & honestly just a really fun time. We gradually learn about the world, magic, races & even the racism amongst them - which serves as a pretty important plot point. Daniel does an excellent job forming the magic system with mostly little confusion. The way the futuristic tech is interconnected with magic is really neat as well. This is something I found especially fascinating throughout & can't wait to get more of it in book 2.

The humorous banter/dialogue is a blast & Drake's character voice is something that strongly sets the tone of the book. It is really hard not to love Drake - and laugh & be charmed by him. I loved getting more of his backstory & watching the mystery of his magic & trauma unfold, as well as getting the story of what happened to both him & his brother.

The villains are dynamic & I enjoyed the unpredictable twists in the plot. There is a bit of a slow burn romance as well, which is very realistic & genuine. The romance is challenged with their glaring differences & flaws which makes for a really relatable relationship.

The friendships are also pretty great, with unlikely bonds being formed. I was impressed by the character development in all 4 of our MC's. I especially enjoyed watching the relationship between Drake & Vahn - estranged half-brothers. The females held their own in a realistic way without it feeling forced or annoying. Overall, this story has a bit of everything that I really love!

[Lyra Shanti]

I had a blast reading this really fun, creative, and action-packed book. The main character, Drake, is really likable, and he makes you root for him, even though he's already got luck on his side. Even the creepy "anti-luck" seems like he's got much more to him than we know.

The only problem with the book is the somewhat typical damsel in distress type female characters. Sure, they're snarky and sassy, but they can't fight or do much on their own, and they know it. I can only hope there is a stronger female character in the next book of the series. Despite the slight flaws, I really look forward to reading the next book! It was like reading a combo of Firefly and Star Wars. Totally enjoyable, and I highly recommend!

[enchanted_zunshine]

“The value of a person, much like the value of gold, is not determined by what they are right now, or what they have been in the past, but by what they can become”

A soul divided is a wild ride that grabs you right from the jump! It’s super fast-paced and kicks off with Princess Olivia, daughter of an important King, going missing.

Two brothers, living totally different lives, get roped into finding her. You’ve got Vahn, a steadfast soldier who’s all about doing the right thing and proving he’s got what it takes. Then there’s Drake, a snarky outlaw with mysterious supernatural gift, who reluctantly joins the quest to make up for his shady past. We also have some side characters that I found to be quite enjoyable (except Celestia) 😂 I’m sorry. Even some of the villains are easy to like.

The writing? So good! It’s descriptive without being heavy, so you can
picture everything and just breeze through it. I hate having to compare this to Star Wars, but that’s the vibe I was getting except the author adds his own distinctive lore and original magic system.

Only hiccup was near the end, something about memories and taboos got a bit messy and confusing, but I powered through and came to understand it. The story does wrap up well and it’s clear there will be a book 2.

If your looking for an actioned packed sci fi read this is for you.

[AleciaReads]

This book is the space opera I’ve been looking for! Giving me ALL the Star Wars vibes.

The multiple POVs were done so well! They weren’t confusing, and each one helped unfold the world while making you genuinely care about the characters. I found myself emotionally invested in every single one of them.

But let’s talk about our MMC, Drake. He reminded me so much of Star Lord! His story was so compelling, and I found myself the most invested in him. He made me laugh, cry, and feel ALL the emotions. Watching his character growth was incredible.

Honestly, there was so much character development throughout this book, and it was amazing to watch everyone grow. One character in particular stood out to me (I won’t say who because SPOILERS), but watching their journey unfold was something special.

But let’s talk about that diabolical cliffhanger 🤬

Because WHY?! WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO END IT LIKE THAT?! I am kidding 😂. I secretly love cliffhangers actually.

I need answers. I need the next book. I need emotional compensation.

If you love space opera, multiple POVs, character-driven stories, and a little emotional damage, you might want to add this one to your TBR!

[Dave Lawson]

3.5

Drake was a great main character and there was a lot of funny banter. The worldbuilding was cool and I think book 2 will be awesome!
I definitely felt like the novel meandered at times and could have been a couple hundred pages shorter without losing anything. Also, some of the side characters like Vahn and Olivia didn’t get the same development as Drake. However, I was hooked by Drake and I liked him and Angela, so I was happily along for the ride til the end.

[Crystal Frost]

4.25 stars

This was a fantastic story! And I really fell in love with the MMC, Drake. He was flawed, he was brutal, he was revengeful but he also was a man with true feelings while dealing with his inner demons.

I was not a fan of the author using the same slang words over and over. And I don’t mind when an author has a character having thoughts spoken out loud, but please authors STOP HAVING THE THOUGHTS ALWAYS BE IN QUESTION FORM.

[Bruce McLennan]

Last week I downloaded a science fiction novel called “A Soul Divided” from Amazon with the intention of writing a review. I’d done my research and looked at reviews on Goodreads and Amazon and hadn’t seen a rating below 4 stars. I’d also read the Amazon preview chapters and even though it wasn’t wonderful writing there was just enough interest as a concept to go that step further and hit the ‘buy’ button. I’ve read a lot of books that start off mundanely only to exceed all expectations. Unfortunately, “A Soul Divided” wasn’t one of those books.

Daniel M. Quilter’s style is upbeat with lots of witty dialogue to slow the story down. Did I just say slow the story down? The dialogue was a bit of a problem for me in that it dominated the book. In most novels, there is attention to such elements as plot, scene, characters, even how the characters feel about things. Not in this book, it is dialogue driven. Almost as if it was written as a script for a movie (god forbid). Oh, and the dialogue wasn’t that witty either, more of a high school banter that fails to work for the most part.

In reviewing this book, I think that it’s only fair that I review the reviews as well. After all, I purchased the book based on four and five-star reviews. I need to ask the question, are the reviewers in any way related, known to or affiliated with Daniel M Quilter? While I appreciate that everyone has an opinion I find some of the comments peculiar, prompting to ask, did they read the same book that I did? A few examples.

The characters' vibrant personalities add depth to this fast-paced science fiction adventure.

Characterisation was one dimensional, I think a comic book would have developed personalities far more completely. It certainly was fast paced. Too much so for any semblance of reality. Even given the existence of a ‘Tachyon drive’ which could shorten travel between planets to instantaneous transition I think it a bit farfetched that someone a couple of planets, or was it star systems away, talking on some super high tech telephone, could just say, “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

I LOVED this great sci-fi fantasy story

Now, what is it? I’ve seen this trend evolving with authors who don’t know what to write. It needs to be either sci-fi or fantasy, not both, please. Yes, this author has started out with what appeared to be science fiction, as read in the Amazon preview chapters, then allowed the story to devolve into a free for all with the central characters possessing magical powers far in advance of technology. I know some will run out the old Arthur C. Clarke quote on technology and magic but at no point does the author attempt to rationalise the magic in any sort of logical science-based format.

Vhy' Rai is an extremely interesting magic system. It's three laws are complex and well thought out.

Perhaps the magic would have been interesting if the author had decided to explain it a bit more but like everything about this story it is just thrown in there as a series of discoveries used to solve a problem rather than adding to the overall enjoyment of the book. At this point, I realised that I'd been conned by a book that pretends to be a 4.5 star offering.

Some of the reviewers, to give them some credit, did offer criticisms. Unfortunately, they also gave the book 4 stars. This comment:

I'd give it a 3.5 star if allowed because there was no resolution. It ended open, in the middle of action, which I never appreciate. Also there was a tendency to express character through dialog and then repeat what was just expressed in the following paragraph with an inner monologue. It was maddening. I almost stopped reading multiple times.

I’m on a similar wavelength to this reviewer but I fully intended to give the book a very generous 3 stars the whole way through. But that ending did it for me, and one star had to come off.

Or this comment from someone who has obviously never read great writing:

Great story line, I am only giving this four stars because I would have loved to have had more back story and more detailed descriptions of the planets and the people, there we also some editing errors.

I find myself wondering how all the reviewers (28) would rate a truly great science fiction novel, one with a truly original plot, great characterisation, wonderful descriptions and no typos and errors. Unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, Amazon and Goodreads don’t allow scores of 10 out of 5 because that is what would have to happen if these reviewers actually attempted to read some of the classics.

Needless to say, I won’t be purchasing the next in this series.

[JoesFantasyBooks]

Wow!

I rarely read science fiction books as I mostly stick with the fantasy, but I’m really glad I checked this one out. It’s a fantastic read! I loved the main cast of characters: Drake, Vaughn, Angela, and Olivia. Their arcs were fun to follow and the action was just the way I like it - fast and furious. Oh, and I can’t forget Al. He may be my favorite character and I hope to learn more about his backstory. Can’t wait to read the next book!

[Shattered Anthologies]

This is the kind of sci-fantasy that fully embraces both sides of the genre. Blending futuristic technology with a well-developed magic system, it creates a world that feels fresh, immersive, and packed with adventure from the very first pages.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its world-building. The combination of advanced technology, mystical powers, and long-standing tensions between different races gives the setting a unique identity. The conflict between the Human Empire and the Mystics provides both political intrigue and meaningful character development, while themes of prejudice, cooperation, and understanding are woven naturally into the story.

The cast is another standout element. Drake quickly steals the spotlight with his sharp wit, reckless charm, and constant stream of entertaining banter. Beneath the humour, however, lies a character carrying deep emotional scars, and watching his past slowly unfold adds surprising depth to the narrative. His relationship with his half-brother Vahn is particularly compelling, balancing conflict, loyalty, and personal growth.

The supporting characters are equally memorable. Angela's journey is especially well handled, as she is forced to confront her own prejudices and reassess everything she believes about the Mystics. Rather than feeling simplistic, her growth unfolds naturally and adds an important emotional layer to the story.

The pacing rarely slows down. Action sequences, chases, political conflicts, betrayals, and unexpected revelations keep the story moving at an engaging pace. Despite its considerable length, the novel remains highly readable, avoiding long stretches of exposition by gradually revealing the world and its rules through the characters' experiences.

What makes the book particularly enjoyable is the balance between adventure and character-driven storytelling. Alongside the battles and mysteries, there are strong friendships, family tensions, evolving relationships, and moments of genuine humour that make the characters feel alive.

Verdict: A highly entertaining sci-fantasy adventure with excellent world-building, memorable characters, and a creative blend of magic and technology. Fast-paced, character-driven, and full of heart, it's an impressive start to a series that leaves you eager for more.

Thank you, Daniel, for reaching out and generously providing an eBook copy for review. I truly enjoyed the journey through this imaginative world, and I appreciate the opportunity to experience and share my thoughts on such an engaging story. Wishing you all the best with the series and your future projects!

[K.J. Simmill]

I am going to start off by saying I absolutely loved this book, and for me that is not a phrase I utter lightly, in fact over the course of all my reviews I have maybe uttered this phrase two or three times.

The plot focuses mainly on the plights of Drake as he is drawn into a situation only he is capable of handling. Of course, it doesn’t help matters that Drake is on the opposing side of the war, the Mystics versus the Human Empire. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and in order to save his legacy the king of the Human Empire must recruit his aid. Fortunately for the King, Drake’s own brother serves within his ranks. As the war rages on, and truths hidden from even some of the royals are unveiled, the situation becomes more desperate, the stakes higher, as Drake tries to deliver his end of the deal.

The characters in this book are fantastic, my favourite being Drake with his quick tongue and witty retorts. The focus spans across several characters who each have their own very unique identity and back story. You’ll find no cookie cutter characters here, you will however find complex relationships, agendas, betrayal, and vices. Not to mention a hidden secret or two. You can't help but like the characters, and they honestly left me grinning.

The plot is an immersive one, and I was reluctant to put it down. In the interest of full disclosure I was initially sent a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review, however before I even got halfway through I had brought myself a copy. Such brilliant writing deserves no less.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, or anyone who simply enjoys a good plot with strong characters and an excellent narrative.

I am eagerly awaiting book two, how could I not with an ending like that?

[J.C.]

Imagine Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, put him in a sci-fi setting, and you have Drake, the main character from a Soul Divided. Hilariously snarky with a disdain for authority, he delivers some of the best lines I’ve ever read in speculative fiction, in a book full of witty banter among colorful characters with wonderful chemistry. I found myself laughing out loud at times as I followed Drake’s adventure to avoid his past and live in the moment.

If I judged a book solely on these factors, A Soul Divided would be an out of the park grand slam 5 stars. However, I found the world building interesting, but not mind-blowing. The underlying premise is an intergalactic war between future humans and a anthropomorphic race known as the Mystics. Drake belongs to a human-looking race who are exceptionally lucky, but were all but wiped out by the human empire’s secret weapon. That secret weapon has now turned on the humans, and it is up to Drake to defeat it.

Where A Soul Divided could use work is in the use of dialog tags and said-isms. I was mostly listening on audiobook, and the constant use of said-isms really slowed it down for me. Switching many of those said-isms to tags would have really made this fast-paced story shine.

[Terrell Rice]

This book had come at the perfect time after some super serious books. It feel like an old school space adventure. It such a fun read for the most part. Snappy dialogue. What didn't really expect from this based on the synopsis was emotional depth. The book is constantly moving forward with few moments of silence. There are characters that does show some growth. There are two characters that shouldn't be where they are at the end based on their beginning. I do like where are at, but it seems like it shouldn't be there until the next book. Timeline wise it did felt off. I had read this on my Kindle and I had listened to the audiobook. The audiobook was a great listen. I did love this book and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I do recommend this book.

[Brandie]

First off, a big thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. As always, these are my own unbiased thoughts and honest feedback.

To start, I honestly don’t even know how I let this sit unread for so long because this ended up being one of the most fun reads I’ve picked up in a while. It had everything that I could want from a book and more. If you’re someone who isn’t always sure about sci-fi, I actually think this is a great one to try because it has such a good blend of sci-fi and fantasy elements.

As mentioned, the author originally sent me the audiobook version, but I’ll be honest, I struggled a little with the narrator early on. Because I had heard so many great things about the story, I decided to grab the ebook as well and I’m really glad I did. Once I switched to tandem reading, I absolutely flew through the book. I ended up binge reading because I was so hooked and just needed to see what was going to happen next.

What really stood out to me was how naturally the story unfolds. The world, the different taboos, everything is introduced in a way that just feels really seamless. It was all set up so well, and the more the story progressed, the more everything just clicked into place. It made the world feel really immersive and thoughtfully built.

The characters were another huge highlight for me. Drake easily became my favorite. His sass, his personality, and the way his story unfolds, along with the reasons behind why he is the way he is, made it really easy to connect with him and made him such a fun character to follow. I also found myself really connecting with a lot of the characters throughout the story. There were even a few moments toward the end that caught me off guard emotionally which I wasn’t ready for. To make it even better, the dialogue between all the characters felt completely natural and was absolutely spot on, which for me can definitely make or break a story.

This book honestly deserves way more hype than I feel like it’s getting. I’m kind of blown away by how much I enjoyed it and I’m already anxiously waiting for book two because I need to see where the story goes next. If I could give this book more than five stars, I absolutely would.

[Aaron Bishop]

8/10

I was honestly surprised at how well-written this book is, and the audiobook narrator is fantastic! There were some really cool and epic scenes, like the escape from 169's ship (my personal favorite scene), the defense against the Hostile on New Earth, and the "negotiation" between Drake and 169. There were also good running themes like "You can't hate someone once you understand them" that made this a more meaningful story, and the characters were well-written and multi-dimensional (for the most part). The reason I'm not rating this higher than an 8/10 is due to a couple minor annoyances and one major pet peeve.

Annoyance 1: There are some cheesy moments that make it feel like the author is trying to teach pre-teens how to talk about their feelings, but then there are plenty of mature scenes (mostly language and gore, but also one closed-door sex scene) that definitely aren't meant for that same age range. This made it feel like the author wasn't sure who his audience was.

Annoyance 2: The big reveals were predictable. The book is called A Soul Divided, we learn about the third taboo of dividing a soul, and we know that Drake turns into a monster when he doesn't have his soul anchor, yet it's treated as a big reveal that Drake committed the third taboo later on. It's also treated as a big reveal that Drake can kill the nightmares, even though we already learned that the nightmares were created with the third taboo and we also know that taboo-committers can be killed by others who have committed the same taboo.

And finally, my major pet peeve: the author committed the fourth taboo of allowing literally billions of people to die in this book while all of the important characters make it out alive... again, and again, and again. The plot armor was already getting to me by the time I got 60% through the book, but Vahn's miraculous survival after Rabbit's Foot reeeally irked me (to the point that I would have given this book a 9/10 otherwise). The death of an important character gives a story more impact and can be a great tool to further the other characters' development. It would have been such an impactful moment if Drake's nightmare form had actually killed the brother with whom he had just reconciled after years of feeling betrayed. Unfortunately, we'll miss out on knowing what Vahn's death could have done to Drake.

Overall a good read. I'll definitely be reading future titles in the series!

[Carina_inkdrinker]

Audiobook Review 

I'm not really a audiobook person, love the idea of it. But for me I can't really find so many with a narrator I want to listen to. Zach Dyer who narrates A Soul Divided is the best one I listen to since Steven Pacey in the First Law universe. The way he captures the emotions, feelings and the different voices to our 4 povs/ side characters is incredible. And I had such a fun time along the ride! 

For the story itself, it's amazing. It's fast paced, the banter is fantastic, the characters are all intriguing and fun to read about. My favorite (I bet everyone's favorite) is Drake, such a great character. Even with a fast paced story, that doesn't stop Daniel from pouring all the characters feelings and emotions on the table. And I think that is one of the best things here, because he for sure know what he's doing in A Soul Divided.

The world itself is very fun in itself, with mystics, humans and something else. A dash horror, enemies to lovers, and so many enemies that you will start to wonder who is really the main bad guy in this show. So much action to die for, with boss fights and danger in literally every corner. 

If you haven't read this sci-fi fantasy yet. You have to, it's incredible! Super excited for book 2 to come.

[mjs.readingnook]

Gifted ALC from the author

Since this genre is completely new to me, I chose not to give a rating — I don’t feel it would be fair to the author or the book. But stepping into unfamiliar territory ended up being a surprisingly engaging experience.

What stood out most to me was the core concept of Vhy’Rai and the spiritual weight behind its taboos. It adds a fascinating moral layer to the story, making the stakes feel larger than just a political war. The tension between religion and technology is woven naturally into the worldbuilding, creating a universe that feels both imaginative and purposeful.

Drake Ashbell’s personal arc was another highlight. His struggle with grief, identity, and responsibility adds an emotional grounding that helped pull me into the story even as someone new to the genre. I enjoyed how his journey intersects with the bigger conflict, allowing the book to balance action with introspection.

Overall, A Soul Divided is a thoughtful and ambitious sci-fi story that blends cosmic scale with personal stakes in a way that fans of the genre will likely appreciate.

[Scott Shifflett]

When I say I devoured this book, I devoured it. It’s almost 700 pages and I read it in 4 days! I could not put it down. I was gifted this book by @danielmquilter and I was instantly drawn to the cover. It reminded me of the illusive man from Mass Effect 2 (which is one of my fav games of all time)

This book does not let up the whole time and I loved it. It has multiple povs. In some books, one of the povs is a weak link that was not the case in this book.

I loved the world building. One of the main characters Drake (one I actually like) reminded me of Starlord and Han Solo. He had quips and could deliver emotionally when the time came.

I loved learning about the different worlds and the different types of Mystics. Al was my favorite, he reminded me of Garrus from ME2.

This book was so good, that I bought it for my shelf.

I am bummed that I have to wait for the sequel and I cannot dive in right now. I am need to see what happens to these characters and worlds moving forward.

#scifi #reading

[Ovium_Reads]

​I absolutely devoured the audiobook for A Soul Divided and can confidently say it's a hit. This is a non-stop thrill ride that's fast-paced, wickedly clever, and packed with action.
​
​The story’s greatest strength for me is its cast, starting with the main character, Drake. He was an immediate favorite of mine. His character is built on quick wit and a sarcastic, no BS attitude that provides fantastic levity in the face of constant danger. ​The supporting cast is just as strong and developed. Olivia and Angela aren't just side characters though. They are integrated into the story and their personalities complement and challenge Drake, making for some engaging interactions. Even the primary antagonist, 169, is a powerful and believable adversary, raising the stakes in every encounter.
​
​Daniel has created a fun and interesting power system here. Combine that with high-stakes battles that span across different reaches of space, and you have a story that is highly imaginative and addictive!

​Overall, A Soul Divided was a truly enjoyable listen that delivers on every front: action, humor, and exceptional character depth. I'm already looking forward to continuing this series!

[Joel Middleton]

4.75⭐️ I loved the characters in this book. Good mix of sci-fi fantasy

[Meg]

Highly recommend! It was action-packed, fast-paced. I enjoyed the multi POV. The humor reminded me of a Marvel movie. It has such a unique mix of tech and magic system. I’m desperate for book 2.

[Christy Nicholas]

So many writers struggle (and fail) to bring true humor to their characters. It’s a struggle Mr. Quilter has overcome in his character, Drake. His interactions with Angela and Princess Olivia are realistic and interesting, set across the space operatic background of this world. The story itself is original, well-constructed, and worthy of some time to experience it. I like flawed heroes – they are much more believable than the Dudley Dooright sort. And snark and smart-a$$ery rules any day!

The paragraph formatting (no indentations) sometimes made it difficult for me to read, but that was a very minor point. There was a lot more conversation than exposition, which is a good thing. It exposes the characters without dumping a lot of external evaluations from the author.

[Kent]

I read it on my Kindle app on my phone, and really enjoyed it a great deal! I definitely want to read the rest of the series as they come out (if they aren't available yet.), and if they are written by my good friend's son, as the name makes it appear, I'd even consider going against my stance against paying for anything on Kindle, just to support the good work!

[S.K. Gregory]

A battle between the Mystics and the Human Empire sees Drake fight for his life and deal with some terrible events from the past. An epic sci-fi yarn, with a great storyline. The characters were well developed and I could picture the places quite clearly. I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans. Really enjoyed it.

[Aly]

If you are a Sci-fi junkie, you should check this book out. I love the world the author created and the characters seemed to jump off the pages. I think this is a good book. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[IamSam]

One of the best science fiction books I have read! The action scenes are well written, bringing the readers along as they watch the charming characters trash talk each other in a highly humorous way.

[Max I Like Fantasy Books]

What a ride.

Earlier this year the author of A Soul Divided, Daniel Quilter reached out and asked me if I was interested in reading his book. It sounded interesting, so I said yes. I spoke to some friends and they liked it too. So I finally picked it up and read A Soul Divided, here is how it went.

Ok. So this book was a ton of fun. Like take it on vacation and read it on the beach fun. Breaking a reading slump fun. This was probably one of the fastest paced books I have read in a long time - and it was blistering paced done mostly right.

This book will give you the vibes of a Star Wars like adventure. Its got a Han Solo based lead, he quips, hes brash, he's lucky, he hits on the women, he saves the day, hes a pirate, he's got a companion with a life debt. Drake is awesome. Sometimes his banter was a bit too much for my liking, but it does not ruin the character.

This book has a Princess that needs saving. She also has military training, she isnt quite Leia but the paralels are there. Drake has a half brother, and the relationship between the two is so well done.

Drake and Vahn both suffer from their very traumatic pasts and both deal with them in different ways- and while this is a light and fast paced book, the emotional scars of its leads do add depth to the characters that many people want from a book.

I love the friendships that are forged by the characters in this story, it really added to the Star Wars feeling I got. By the end, our crew feels like they all belong together.

There is a romantic subplot that works really well in this story and plays an important role in the story's themes but doesnt dominate the plot.

The plot flies, and it is relentless. You are never bored. And this book is long, but because the plot runs the way it does, it rarely if ever feels long.

Read this book.

Ok, was this book perfect? No! What book is? I felt like in the VERY early sections of book there were things that took me out. For starters the magic, which is actually really cool overall, is immediately billed as "limitless power" and then on the next page we learn that the limit is quite literally that it cannot kill anything. We like limits on power, but I did think that was ...interesting. There one or two other smaller things that happen early on that felt a touch clunky- but by the time this gets going none of that matters. This book is adrenaline, this will scratch that Han Solo itch. It may even scratch a Cello's Gate itch.

The last "criticism" is that at around 550pages long, there is a moment at around page 425 that feels like could have ended the book. And while I was NEVER at all disappointed to keep reading, for the next 40+ pages it did feel like this portion could have been part of book 2. Never fear, this part of the book was still very good and led to a killer ending that left me DYING for book 2.

This book was rounded up to a 5 from the mid 4's- probably around a 4.6. That is to say that these criticisms were things I noted as I was reading but weren't things that really bothered me- as the magic, characters and plot really FAR out weighed the small issues I saw.

Also, there are moments and battles so tense that I really was not sure how we would get passed them.

Do yourself a favor, read this Dangerously Under Read Book.

[VampsReads]

This is one of those books that genuinely earns the phrase “thrown into the deep end.” The opening chapter is a full-scale battle, and within pages I was already questioning everything. It’s an immediate, visceral start that tells you exactly what kind of ride you’re in for.

One of the most interesting aspects of this world is the magic system. Vhy Rai isn’t a weapon in the traditional sense. The limitations make it feel grounded and purposeful rather than overpowered, especially that some people are considered “unworthy” to wield it without assistance adds another compelling layer. This, together with the Taboo’s, created an interesting mechanic that make this entire system so unique to read.

And then there’s Drake. Just when you think you understand him, the rug is pulled out from under you. Learning that he is not only capable of extreme violence, but actively enjoys it at times, was genuinely shocking. The mystery surrounding the source of this ability, and what exactly his revolver allows him to do, kept me completely hooked. His history with Vahn, and the slow reveal of their shared past, is one of the strongest threads in the book.

Daniel Quilter’s writing style is a big part of why this book works so well. The prose is snappy and dialogue-driven without feeling shallow. There’s a sense of ease to the reading experience; witty exchanges land, chaos unfolds…chaotically.. humor slips in at exactly the right moments. Scenes like Drake’s first interaction with 169 balance comedy and unease very well (hello Sixty Niner). There is also a level of brutality in the battle scenes that I honestly didn’t expect to experience, but it works so well.

That said, not everything landed equally for me. Some emotional confrontations, especially later in the book, felt rushed and overly explicit, with feelings stated outright rather than allowed to breathe. I also wasn’t fully convinced by the Drake/Angela romance; it wasn’t badly written, but it felt less essential than the sibling dynamic between Drake and Vahn, which carried far more weight. I enjoyed Drake and Vahn much more as character POVs than Angela and Olivia. I found them to be stronger and more sturdy in their construction, but together they did complete the puzzle.

Still, the strengths of this book outweigh its missteps. The dialogue is consistently sharp, the battles are chaotic and immersive, and the moral grayness of its characters makes the story feel unpredictable and real. The final act, especially seeing Drake’s transformation from multiple perspectives, was something I’d been waiting for all along…and the ending left me stunned, confused, and desperate for answers.

This is a story that trusts its readers to follow breadcrumbs, sit with discomfort, and question its characters rather than neatly categorizing them. It follows themes of self acceptance/loathing, responsibility to family and expectations, and forgiveness. It’s ambitious, fast-paced, and rooted in chaos and overwhelm…and I’m more than ready to see where it goes next.

Favourite quote:
“Do you think we hate ourselves because we don’t understand ourselves?”

[Kevin Duran]

First, I want to thank Daniel M Quilter for sending me this book.
I'm a small creator, next to no following, and it means something that after visiting my page he thought I'd like this one enough to review it and put my own visual spin on it.

So let's go.

The first three chapters took me a minute to get into. I couldn't tell you exactly why at first. Was it the writing? The characters getting the focus early on? Turns out it's build-up, for Drake's introduction and for 169's villain status, and it drags a little getting there. Something about it kept pulling me out of the book, enough that I dropped it for a few weeks and came back with a fresh mind. And then Drake showed up. Ohhh baby, let's go.

He's charming, funny, a half-boiled bad guy with a big heart and an even bigger set of trauma. The book runs on four POVs, Drake, his brother Vahn, Olivia, and Angela, but it circles around Drake the whole time. He's the center of it, even in the chapters he's not in.

Daniel M Quilter wrote a story that genuinely surprised me. Going in, I figured it'd be a fairly generic sci-fi with some kind of magic system stapled on. What he actually gave me was a full meal, and then some. A magic system that doesn't hand you the rulebook up front but grows the more you read. A mythology that keeps expanding, its own gods, or god, and other things that bump around in the dark corners of the universe.

Characters with heart, and well-deserved trauma, even when you just want to grab them and tell them to get over it... cough, cough, Angela. She's annoying for basically the entire book, and I've decided that's the point. The whole thing is built around one idea, that it's impossible to hate someone once you understand them. Al says it first, Drake quotes it back to her, and eventually Angela hands it right back to him. That line means nothing if the person you're learning to understand was likeable from page one. Angela wasn't, not for me. Her arc, and how much she grows across the book, only works because of how much she made me want to shake her at the start. By the end, she felt as real as anyone else on the page.

4.5 stars from me. The slow start and Angela's early stretch are the only things holding it back from a perfect score.

For a first entry in the Blood-Fire Trilogy, this is a must-read, for anyone looking for that special gem, or anyone just stuck in a reading rut. It'll pull you right out of it... after the first few chapters, and the second Drake's snark starts stealing your heart.

[Steve Conoboy]

Sci-fantasy. That's what we've got here. I'm far from the biggest sci-fi fan, (I enjoy it on the screen but don't follow much of what goes on in books) but I do think that magic in space is a pretty novel idea, and can't imagine that there's been too many variations on this idea. Immediately, then, there's a freshness to the work, difficult to achieve in any flooded field.

Things get off to a pretty quick start. Olivia, Princess of the Human Empire, looking forward to an evening of staring the stars, finds herself watching as five soldiers are taken down by a single man, and we're only a couple of pages in. The action is taut and tightly written throughout the book, and it's the speed of events that really helps the book. The ideas are a tad cliche, but when done with gusto the whole story makes for a rollicking adventure that will keep those pages turning.

The characters aren't the usual cardboard cut-outs either. Olivia in the above scene finds the confrontation an 'interesting' diversion from the norm. The brothers Vahn and Drake offer up interesting contrasts. Vahn, sent on a quest to find his criminal half-sibling, is diligent, Drake is a Han Solo-esque rogue with a knack for a snappy line (he's the kind of guy who'll jump through a window if you don't let him use the door). Not long after we meet Drake we're into a chase scene. In fact, it's to the book's credit that we never sit still for long periods of exposition. In that sense, A Soul Divided is very reminiscent of original trilogy Star Wars or Indiana Jones.

My only niggle is that the cover doesn't do a particularly good job of representing the story, so I recommend any prospective readers look past it (and we all know the proverb about judging and book covers...). There's a review I've seen that complains about the paragraphing, but that's not a problem I had, unless it applies to the print version? Anyway, kindle edition is laid out correctly and easy to read. A couple of editing issues here and there, nothing overly bothersome though.

A Soul Divided, then is recommended if you're after a real blast of adventure set around a solid magic system that sticks to its rules.