Viv Sharp can't bring people back to life. She can channel the dead, appearing as they once did after their mind joins with hers.
She can use their skills. Know their secrets.
And that's an ability people will kill for.
After a botched ritual mistakenly gives her the power to transform into the dead, Viv finds herself hunted by cultists, monsters, and at least one extremely irritated fortune teller.
To survive, she teams up with Colin, a clumsy but well-meaning Guardian who has almost no idea what he's doing.
But one thing becomes very clear.
Viv was never meant to be a Soul Wringer. And she must destroy this power before someone destroys her to take it.
Dick Wybrow is a Canadian author. His novels are mainly set in the US, where he grew up. A former stand-up comedian, Wybrow is a humor writer who crafts thrillers that incorporate elements of suspense, horror, mystery, science fiction and fantasy.
At the age of six, Dick was given his first book by his father. It was Wind in the Willows. Naturally, that put Dick off reading for several years.
After discovering Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the love of reading returned. And with it came the compulsion to get lost worlds like Douglas had created.
Dick lives in Auckland, New Zealand with one wife and two cats.
A rare book that I put down without finishing once started. Near-zero character development, no background, no world-building. The one good thing I can say is that I didn't notice any glaring abuses of grammar.
The author offers a chaotic, discontinuous, and disjointed narrative by which, I suppose, they intend to convey the protagonist's confusion. Sadly, it confused me right out of the book.
Loved this first book in this new series. Aviva and Colin are an unlikely, uninformed and totally inexperienced pair. It's such fun to witness the introduction to their shiny, new Soul Wringer/ Guardian relationship . Finding their way and making new rules. Encountering an eclectic cast of characters...friend and foe...along the way. Not going to give away the story here. I'm just going to say that it is a fun read. Full of adventure, humor and action. Well worth the time to read, hard to put down and I am now anxious for the next adventure!
I enjoyed reading about the soul wringer in the Kane series and am excited that it is becoming it's own series. I loved the main characters Aviva and Colin, they are trying so hard to learn their new roles and have plenty of scares while trying to hunt down the bad guys, but still manage to keep their heads, have fun, and work things out. The storyline and the world building are very intriguing and I had a hard time putting down the book and returning to the real world. I am looking forward to more of this world and the characters as the series continues.
An excellent spinoff of the werewolf Kane series! So fun to dig a little more in that fantastic world. I just finished book 6 of 7 of that superb tale, and was kind of sad to know it will end in December when I stepped on the Metamorph Rising first book, so I was more than delighted!
I'm a big fan of the author, but I think he could have done with a research consultant for this book. I can't think of any pub in England that would serve a pint of bitter in a frosted glass! I'm happy to provide snobbish beer and whisky opinions on any future books in the series :)
Otherwise a class urban fantasy romp as always, and a quick fun read.
I really enjoyed this book! I think it was the perfect book to end my 2025 reading challenge with! I enjoyed all the characters, I enjoyed the humor, I thought it was something I'd not read before and I liked that. I can't wait for the second book! I highly recommend this book to all those who love being carried away by a good book!
This is not your regular 'oooh I'm a ghost' story, nor is it a regular 'oooh I'm an orangutan today' story.
Who can you trust? Who is who they seem to be?
You may realise that I like this author, from my other reviews of his series...and they are well-deserved... but he still has to be amazing in order to draw me in to a new series. I am panting in anticipation for the next installment!!
Maybe it will tide us over until the last Kane comes out! I loved this funny, heartwarming, adventurous fantasy with Soul Wringers and Guardians. I cannot WAIT for the next one!
I enjoyed this book. It starts off at a fast pace but tempers itself quickly. It involves a pair of strangers who quickly become friends as they are exposed to a world where the seemingly impossible is actually possible.
The start of the story was to me personally not all that interesting and I almost stopped reading. I did keep going and it was well worth it. The story developed as it went further on to a good ending.
These two main characters are wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a young woman thrust into the role and the young man who chose to be her guardian.
This is soooo good!! Kept my interest page after page , I couldn’t wait to read more about this storyline and these characters!! Both characters are witty, smart, and have a bond that develops throughout the book , which is really interesting because what each character actually “ IS” that normally keeps them FAR away from each other , especially not becoming friends. I’m looking so forward to the next book and the continuing development of Viv and Colin in their journey together. So glad there was not a cliffhanger but believe me I’m ready for the next book right now won’t be soon enough!!! A MUST READ!! LOVED IT!! 10 stars!!
What is happening takes some time to figure out but the two main characters have great chemistry. I enjoyed the ideas and premises but wish for more information to fully understate what’s happening.
Book Review: Soul Wringer (Metamorph Rising Book 1) by Dick Wybrow.
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Thriller, Humorous Fantasy Author: Dick Wybrow.
Soul Wringer is the electrifying, darkly humorous first installment in Dick Wybrow's Metamorph Rising series. Known for his popular Kane (Wolfwere) and Hell Inc. sagas, Wybrow excels at blending fast-paced paranormal action with sharp comedic timing.
This new series introduces Aviva "Viv" Sharp, an average person suddenly thrust into a chaotic supernatural world, and establishes a fresh corner of Wybrow's shared universe of shapeshifters and ancient enemies.
Viv's immediate goal isn't to master her powers, but to get rid of them. Her search for an ancient ritual to strip away her unwanted gift is quickly complicated when she finds herself hunted by a dangerous cult determined to steal the Soul Wringer abilities for themselves. Enter Colin, a mysterious Englishman who claims to be her Guardian. Reluctantly, Viv accepts his help, and the two—an unlikely, inexperienced, and witty duo—are thrown into a thrilling adventure.
The book has been widely praised by fans of Wybrow's earlier works for its fast pacing, action, and humor. Reviewers frequently highlight the entertaining chemistry between Viv and Colin, noting that the book is hard to put down and a "fun read" full of adventure.
Dick Wybrow is a Canadian author celebrated for his unique brand of genre-bending fiction that masterfully blends humor with elements of supernatural thriller, suspense, horror, and fantasy. He is a former stand-up comedian, a past that profoundly informs his sharp wit and comedic timing, which he expertly injects into even his darkest narratives. He channels a rich, diverse career background into his writing, giving his novels a distinct voice often set in the US.
Notably, Wybrow is best known for his successful series, including the Wolfwere books, which begin with the bestselling novel Kane, as well as the Hell Inc. and Painter Mann series.
Overall Soul Wringer is another 100% win for Dick Wybrow.
Book 1 in a new series.A story involving humans,ghosts,metas and of course bad guys.this is a wonderful new world by Mr.Wybrow.This author once again takes you to places only he can imagine.If you are fans of the Kane books like me you are going to pick up on the subtle teaser that is found in both series. I am not surprised because he did the same thing way back in the Hells Inc series and that ended up being one of the best I have ever read so I am so excited to see where this goes..
This is not your regular 'oooh I'm a ghost' story, nor is it a regular 'oooh I'm an orangutan today' story.
Who can you trust? Who is who they seem to be?
You may realise that I like this author, from my other reviews of his series...and they are well-deserved... but he still has to be amazing in order to draw me in to a new series. I am panting in anticipation for the next installment!!