The Seven Souls of Esmerelda Black

by N.K. Brown

To save her sister's soul, she must steal seven others.

In the shadows of Victorian London, Esmerelda Black isn't just a medium, she's a soul thief. With the power to possess the living and steal fragments of their essence, she makes a desperate pact with the Devil: seven deadly sins in exchange for her sister's salvation.

After stealing sloth from her first target, Lady Grafton, she unwittingly creates a ruthless, vengeful opponent who becomes Esmerelda's greatest threat. Things grow even more dangerous when Dorian Rosewood, a cunning political candidate with secrets of his own, steals Esmerelda's only link to Hell and forces her to use her powers for his gain.

As enemies close in and the Devil's deadline looms, Esmerelda must walk a fatal line between control and surrender, truth and deception. One mistake could doom her sister to eternal torment or damn Esmerelda's soul forever.

Darkly atmospheric, richly woven, and laced with forbidden magic and morally gray intrigue, The Seven Souls of Esmerelda Black is perfect for fans of Hester Fox, Laura Purcell, and Simone St. James.

Genres: Fantasy

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all the cover of the book caught my attention. The theme gothic fantasy with enemies to lovers, is totally my cup of tea. And the story didn’t disappoint at all!

It has all the elements to call it a cosy, page turning dark romantasy. Enjoy a glass of wine on the couch while your mind swirls right into the masterly created fantasy world of NK Brown! ☺️🤩.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aly | Thealylifestyle ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ ⏦ﾟ♡︎ ⋆ 𐙚 ̊. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that HAS to be in your tbr asap!! Wooow it absolutely grabbed me from the very beginning and didn’t let me go. I was so intrigued reading about Essy’s abilities, fascinated by the thought of her being insides peoples minds!! The setting being in victorian London is always so good and this did not disappoint. I felt like if I was in Esmeralda’s position I probably would’ve done the same thing for my own sister and even though she was sometimes ruthless and the story a bit eerie, I totally understood why she had to do what she had to. I really enjoyed that even towards the end, it was full of mystery and intrigue and I was trying to figure out what was going to happen.

[Arien Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I’ve read. It’s so unique and the prose is well balanced and perfect. I love books that keep you guessing as the plot unfolds and I can say I had no idea where this MS was going!

N.K. Brown always has a way with words, and I love her descriptions of the world she created. The story line was well written with a gothic vibe and a sharp and witty FMC.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a cozy, spooky fall read! 🍂🍁🍁🍃

[Marnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My heart was still beating, my lungs were still filling with oxygen, but there was no feeling left within me. My soul had died."

Yes yes yes! This was a beautifully written historical gothic fantasy set in one of my favourite periods, Victorian London, which I knew, alongside the gorgeous cover, I HAD to read! 😍

I adored the plot and the writing, but would have liked this even more if the book was just that little bit longer, as the concept of the seven deadly sins and saving souls really sold me on this book, but it could have been so much richer.

"Part of me wondered what it would feel like to love someone so blindly that you would kill yourself for them, the unerring faith one would need to believe that you would find them again and that they would do the same for you." 🌹✨️🔮

[Brittany Garvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is perfect if you enjoy a historical, gothic fantasy with romantic undertones. I loved the setting, Brown did a phenomenal job with her descriptions, transporting you to Victorian London. The tone was eerie and sinister at times, as our FMC, Esmerelda, fought ruthlessly for her sister’s soul. I enjoyed the depictions of magic and how the author portrayed the seven deadly sins. Definitely give this standalone book a try if you enjoy atmospheric, morally gray storytelling!

[Rosina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good. I really liked the concept of this books, and throughout, I felt that I could really connect with the characters positions and feelings.
I wish that there had been a little bit more world-building at the start, because it took a few chapters to get to grips with the story and understand what was going on at first. After this however, I really enjoyed the story and how it was told.
I also wish that there had been a little bit more of a conclusive ending, either between the final chapter and the epilogue, or within the epilogue itself. Just because I feel a little bit like some questions were left unanswered, but I think they just needed to be answered more clearly.
Overall, I enjoyed this read, and thought the concept was really fun!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[N.K. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, author here! I loved writing this morally grey, historical fantasy. It's my all time favourite story of mine. Esmerelda is strong and determined, she will do anything to save her sister. Would you?

Feminine rage? Check
Dark, lush fantasy? Check
Ride or die sibling bond? Check
Enemies-to-lovers? Check

The last trope is my favourite. Let me know what ending you envisioned for her and Dorian...

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed in both a historical fiction novel and the gothic fantasy concept. I was invested in Esmerelda and appreciated getting to go on the journey to save her sister's soul. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed how strong everything that I was looking for and worked in this universe. NK Brown wrote this well and was glad this was so well written.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Asha Cohen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wtf

So this book was all over the place.. Nothing seemed to flow. I would be reading one scene the skip to another with flow. The description of the book made me want to read it but I feel cheated. This book left he hanging.