Soulless

The Immortal Gene #1

by Jacinta Maree

Welcome to Soulless.
We are the generation that laughs at death.


Reincarnation; what was once considered a gift of immortality has become an eternity of nightmares.
Nadia Richards lives in a world plagued by reincarnation, a system of recycling souls where all past memories, personalities and traumatic events are relived daily in disjointed sequences. Trapped within their own warped realities, not even the richest and most powerful are saved from their own minds unraveling. Madness is the new human nature, and civilizations are crumpling beneath themselves trying to outrun it. 
Within a society that ignores death, Nadia appears to be the one exception to the reincarnation trap. Born without any reincarnated memories and with printless eyes, the hot tempered 19 year old quickly becomes the ultimate prize to all those wishing to end the vicious cycle, or for some, to ensure they could evade death forever.

Readers discretion: Adult language, violence and some adult scenes. For mature audiences only.

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, New Adult, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Born in Melbourne Australia, Jacinta Maree considers herself a chocoholic with an obsession with dragons, video gaming and Japan. She writes a variety of genres including paranormal, steampunk, horror, science fiction, dystopian and supernatural. Multiple award winner and bestselling author, Jacinta writes to bring enjoyment to others while fulfilling her own need to explore the weird and the impossible.


You can find her here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacintamaree...

Deviant art: http://jacintamaree.deviantart.com/

Twitter: jacintamaree6.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Wix: http://jacintamaree.wix.com/jacintamaree

Reviews

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

The blurb is definitely what made me want to read this book. And man, am I happy I did read it. It's bloody fantastic! I usually don't read dystopian books much but with this one you simply can't help but love it. It reminded me a bit on the hunger games, since you had to survive even canibals, yes, you've read that right!, and everyone is out to get you. True, most of them don't want to kill you but just use you as their lab rat. Having no soul imprint can become quite bothersome for Nadia and it definitely does not make her life any easier. Far from it. She's one tough girl that fights so hard to stay basically just alive. And by what life throws her under, she does need that stranght and steel determination. She's an amazing character that's strangely enjoyable. Her parents are not even worth being called that and what they do to her is just horrible. Everyone she loves turns on her. But when things look the most grim, she finds herself an unusual ally. One that still at times want to kill or possess or sometimes also experiment on her. But hey, in her situation she can't be picky, right? But over time I really got to like and enjoy Diesels sharacter. He's a strange and broken fella but the more we get to know him, the more he grows on you and you get to see more than just a tough and insane ex con.

As far as the plot goes, I found it so incredibly interesting. There are people who can die but when they are re-born, so are their past memories. Yes, over the many life times that can lead some to insanity but the sole concept of that idea is amazing. You can be a doctor for over four centuries and really perfect your work or you can be someone bad and over the life times become even more evil. I love it! I know to some it might sound strange but wait till you read the book. It's really fantastic and there's never a dull or boring moment. You have so much action and betrayal and even some romance (a strange one, but a romance nonethless).

Since this is a trilogy, I'm super happy that I already have the sequel because the cliffy at the end is a mean yet brilliant one. I absoltely want to know what happens next!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay, my shallow habit of judging a book by it's cover has paid off! The cover intrigued me, and the book turned out to be even better. Loved this wild ride of a book, a bit more violent than I expected but that only added to the gritty reality. I didn't feel like it was gratuitous.

The characters were complex and I had a love/hate relationship with the heroes. The plot is so interesting, and I loved how it made me contemplate the idea of reincarnation long after I finished the last page. Great book for fans of dystopians. Truly amazing read. Enjoyed this book so much upon finishing, I immediately went onto Amazon and bought her other book My Demonic Ghost!

Book Song: Gunship – Fly for your life

Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy

Check out more of my reviews here


Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[ricah (andthebooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW ALSO POSTED ON THE BLOG

*I received an epub copy from xpressobooktours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review. All my opinion.*

The main reason why I wanna read this:
1. The stunning cover.I know that you must not judge a book by it's cover but I just can't. WHO DOESN'T LOVE PRETTY COVERS?! And there's BLOOD!!
2. "Welcome to Soulless.
We are the generation that laughs at death."
^How cool is it?! *wiggles eyebrows* Because of this I didn't read the rest of the synopsis and requested to join the blog tour right away.

Soulless started really dull and so slow. Infact, while reading the first chapters I slept 3 times. I forced myself to continue reading so I came up of the plan to eat while reading and it worked pretty well. So while reading (and eating) I was hooked. I'm glad I made a great decision. This book made me stay up all night just to know what happens next.

The world building that Jacinta made was astounding. I can clearly visualize what this world looks like, what they do to survive, and how they kill people. BLOOD.BLOOD.BLOOD. LOTS OF BLOOD. (Am I the only one who loves blood in books but not in real life? )

“Humanity didn’t have any love left for anyone. Not even themselves. Not since reincarnation started. That was eleven life cycles ago. Eleven life cycles of coming back to life, inside a new body with a new name. "

Nadia is the first human who was born without a soul imprint and that makes her kind of special and at the same time outcast. Nadia is a kick-ass character but at the same time a whiny little sht. AND a protagonist that isn’t insecure! She doesn’t care what she looks like. Diesel is probably my favorite character at the same time I hate him. He’s so bipolar. He becomes sweet then he becomes snarky and I wanna punch him or even kill him.

Honestly, I didn’t care what I looked like. I just didn’t want to look like I was the mouse they all called me. I owned my own appearance, bald patch and all.

“Of course I don’t believe you. In this fucked up world, trusting someone is like drinking poison. It will kill you it’s only a matter of when.”

Their wasn’t much romance going on with this book. The romance started to pick-up 80% not really sure. 70? 60? something like that until the end of the book. What I like with this is that Jacinta made the action her number one priority than the romance. Though, the romance doesn’t have any sparks and so unrealistic. It was so plain.

Can I talk about her parents?! Her parents doesn't give a single sht on her. They even sold her to be a lab rat just for money.

“Then you understand why I wouldn’t want one in my house. Now, if only they could be that successful still have no idea who you really are.” “You’ve raised me from birth. You know who I am.” “You may have my DNA but you are not mine.” She turned to face the hallway. “I’ll head out and try and get some money that is owed to us. Now that Annie is linked, we can cash our parental cheques.”

AN AWESOME LIST OF OTHER ASPECTS THAT I LIKE:
-I love the idea how they have nightmares from their past life and they need D400 to ease it.
-Jacinta made a really great and interesting plot. Soulless was a gripping book.
-How this book pointed out a lot of negative things with immortality and reincarnation.
-There was violence, cannibalism, torture, killing people, and adult language.
-BLOOD.BLOOD.BLOOD.BLOOD.
-LOT'S OF BLOOD.

AND IF YOU WANNA READ THIS KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS BOOK ENDS WITH A CLIFFHANGER. I NEED THE SECOND BOOK ASAP.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from net galley in exchange for an honest review.


Soulless sucked me in from the first sentence! The writing is amazing, the characters all have there own distinct voices and back stories and the world building is fantastic.

The world is set in the future, Immortality is reality and when a person reaches around age 6 they begin to remember there past lives and the more lives and memories the more bad dreams they have/ re live and the craziness that has invaded man kind will eventually takes hold.

Society has collapsed under the weight of multiple wars, people are being starved and killed left right and centre. If someone doesn't have the right background the are stuck with that life over and over. The rich have all, while the poor are left to stay poor.
The leaders of the world don't want change and have done everything in the control to stop riots, but they didn't count on a person like Nadia to come along to take back the world and set things right.

Nadia is our main protagonist and she is exactly what I want in a main character; Tough, caring, loyal and a badass.

I really liked her, she cares for her sister and Family even if they throw it back in her face, she makes the tough decisions to survive.
Diesel is the ultimate anti-hero, angry, crazy, threatening but with a heart somewhere under the thick shell of his.

3.8 Stars rounded up to 4 because I loved this world and can’t wait to get back into it.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s start this review where I usually start the review: with a little bit of cover love. Because this cover is just GORGEOUS and it actually does a pretty good job of representing the book as well.

The world situation in this book is absolutely tragic. In this world, reincarnation exists, but you remember every single life that you have previously been through. At some point when you’re child, all these past lives suddenly kick in, and it’s like you have multiple voices going on in your head and lives at once! Of course, no one can live like that and survive, hence why everyone has to take a drug in moderation to keep themselves in control. However, you need to be able to afford it. And of course, that makes the concept of death not nearly as scary as people actually find it – it’s no longer necessarily the end of you. Which means that the world became a whole lot more violent. You can also be blacklisted – seeing as your soul imprint is on your eyes, they can scan your eyes and see if you have done a great crime in any of your previous lives. If you have committed a crime before, you’re put back into jail as soon as discovered. That’s blacklisted.

I think the whole idea of this society was so imaginative and pretty well thought through. The world building was done efficiently because there wasn’t a single time when I felt like all this information was being thrown my way, and I completely understood everything. It wasn’t essentially done with beautiful language or anything – but the author manages to discretely weave it in there and it worked well with the story, especially as this one was so plot based.

What intrigued me was the way the families worked. We do get to see a family here, because the main character, Nadia has one. Although the parents do give birth to you, it’s hard for them to “love” you as a child simply because you’re not just their child anymore, but a bunch of other strangers as well. So it’s more like you’re giving birth to a body that many people are going to use. It was interesting to see how dysfunctional that made the family, and how it put an interesting twist on things. I wondered if it was like this for all the families.

I didn’t feel too connected to the main characters, but that was more so because this novel was plot based more than anything else. And it certainly does do so with the plot! There is always something happening, with plenty of action and events to keep you turning that page. There is never a dull moment.

The romance in this book was pretty intriguing as well. It was the enemies to loves kind of romance, and it was slow and subtle. Especially as Nadia is so used to be independent – she just didn’t know what to do with her feelings, and I kind of loved her innocence.

I think my biggest issue with this book was that at times I just couldn’t keep up! Things happened so fast that I wanted a little break where the characters would just stop and take a breather. Their situations never allowed for that, but the closer we get to the end of the novel the more things got crazier and crazier until there were times that I took little breaks from reading just so I could process what was happening!

The ending was a massive cliffhanger! Personally, I found it a little bit abrupt (I seriously thought there were going to be more pages!) but I know that I am going to have to read book two simply because I can’t leave the book hanging like that DD:

This review and more can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This needs to be a movie!!!

Wow! Wow! Goodness this book had me on the edge of my seat. It's unique and drew me in from the very first page. What a wonderful story Jacinta has created has created. Thank you for creating a one of the greatest female heroines. Nadia is sassy but has the biggest heart under her tough, kick butt exterior. This book is compelling and full of action........I was literally gasping a number of times because I wasn't sure what was going to happen. Diesel is complicated and dangerous and I love the character development throughout the book. This needs to be a movie!!! Yes it's that great and as I read it I could literally see the whole scene playing out in my head. Jacinta's ability to describe the scenes with such clarity is exceptional. I need the next instalment like YESTERDAY!!!

[Viking Jam · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/12/1...

Publisher: Inked Rabbit

Publishing Date: October 2015

ISBN: 9780994383907

Genre: SciFi

Rating: 3.3/5



Publishers Description: Nadia Richards lives in a world plagued by reincarnation, a system of recycling souls where all past memories, personalities and traumatic events are relived daily in disjointed sequences. Trapped within their own warped realities, not even the richest and most powerful are saved from their own minds unraveling. Madness is the new human nature, and civilizations are crumpling beneath themselves trying to outrun it.

Review: The cover art is really good. This started off so malignantly dystopian that I couldn’t put it down. People killing for places in line, dead bodies in the streets and robotic enforcers shocking the shjt out of malcontents.

Nadia is soon captured due to her unique qualities and liberated by a feral terrorist. What follows is a not too believable (and constant) scrape with death at the hands of raiders and the constant death threat of a terrorist whom Nadia hates but soon is swimming in his “earth brown eyes”. Fug. Nadia is either starving, shot, stabbed or barely conciouse for most of the novel. The lucid moments she does have is spent ruminating on her predicament.

Although Nadia’s plight is not believable, the world building and character development are exacting and fantastic. If the novel resists being trended into a YA mewling love splatter, then I look forward to this series and a more believable interaction between Nadia and her world.

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

This beautiful book cover drew my attention and I thought there might be some fire magic involved but so far theres hasnt been any. The reincarnation concept was interesting but wasnt explained as well as Id hoped. Maybe in the sequel. The writing was fast pace with a nice flow to it. I enjoyed the survival aspect and being on the run but for some reason I had a difficult time motivating myself to pick it up. However this dark story went by quickly once I got into it. The lack of love in this world did make it harder for me to care since none of the characters seemed to care but this story did create some strong emotions in me, like frustration.

The characters were often frustrating but Im guessing they were suppose to be. The main characters Nadias powerlessness in some situations drove me crazy but this craziness made me want to keep reading to see if she managed to rescue herself. I just wish she could have done something to improve her situation. Nadia is being hunted because she doesnt have a soul imprint and they believe she might be the cure to eliminate the past life issues. In a world lacking any humanity how can she trust anyone when reincarnation makes even parents not care about their kids. I felt like all anyone ever wanted was to use Nadia. I felt the danger and loved it.

The prison doctor was a complete jerk with no empathy whatsover but I guess no reincarnated soul does anymore. Nadia was the only person who seemed to have any humanity left but that wasnt necessarly a bad thing since it was done to show how reincarnation has affected society. I could never figure out Diesel who was the main secondary character. He was a jerk most of the time but then he would do something that had me wondering what was really going on with him. I like that he kept me guessing but I didnt like that he thought he owned Nadia. I thought the twin spies and the rebel groups were intriguing and more likeable then the Elite.

I kept wondering how it was possible that everyone in this book gets reincarnated every time they die if the amount of people dying is higher than the amount of people being born. Is there some kind of line up or waiting list where they get reincarnated in the order they died. Wouldnt this mean they could be waiting a long time before being reincarnated since the population has decreased. I also didnt understand how with the lack of resources the main character managed to have a phone or how she was able to charge it without being one of the Elites. Theres this blood scene I didnt understand because Nadias had cuts before and nothing happened then. She also got cut on the cheek twice but once it happened the injury wasnt mentionned again.

I appreciated the diverse characters and the fact that they were all flawed. I dont believe we were meant to like most of the characters but Nadia did have some redeeming qualities. Im not use to the majority of a book being so frustrating and it was kind of unsettling even though I knew I was suppose to feel that way because the main character was frustrated. Despite some of the unanswered questions I enjoyed the plot and the world stayed with me for days after I was finished reading. This book ended on a cliff hanger that made me want to start the sequel right away. I think now that I know what to expect Ill enjoy the sequel more.

*I received a review copy from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion*

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
Dystopian world, souls are "recycled," meaning there is no end. People are born, they live, and die. Cycle repeats, only they keep the memories of the previous life. A single remembered past life quickly becomes multiple remembered lives. The rich remember and keep their status. The poor also keep their status. No longer any chance of social movement. People are only out for themselves. Parental love? Gone. Trust? Nope.
Let's where Nadia comes in. She is different. She doesn't have the past memories. She is a blank slate. The scans that they use to identify people/past identities read her as null, she has no "soul imprint."
I found the world to be interesting, but depressing. Literally, there are no positives in this world. No happiness, compassion, empathy. It's dark, ugly, hateful. Nadia's own parents sell her. She's tortured, an experiment.
The other primary individual is Diesel. His motivations are unknown. I fluctuated between thinking I "got" him, to not having a clue. He is, like Nadia, an unlikable character. While I understand why they are like the way they are, I didn't like either one, and therefore didn't really care what happened to either one. I really didn't like the hint of romance between him and Nadia.
Be forewarned, the ending is a cliffhanger.
I noticed a few typos, the worst being the use of hyperthermia -> should be hypothermia.

Copy received from Inked Rabbit Publishing/NetGalley for review. Thank you Inked Rabbit Publishing and Netgalley!

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacinta Maree has an amazing way of captivating the imagination. She has created a world where you can get lost in the character and root for them when they are lost and down. I loved how Nadia, the main character has no soul imprint (No reincarnated memories) She is such a strong person and willing to do anything for the ones she loves, even when they betray her. She spends the entire book fighting for her life and hiding who she is. Although the ending is a major cliff hanger, I loved every minute and would recommend this read to anyone who loves a great dystopian fantasy.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the longest book i've read in awhile, so it took me awhile to get it read...with that being said, it took me a little bit to get into it, but i eventually did & i absolutely loved it! & am gonna have to get my hands on the second book so i can find out what happens in Nadia's life next.

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Disregard for the past will never do us any good. Without it we cannot know truly who we are.” - Syd Moore
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” - George Santayana

But what if they were wrong?

Previously I have read, loved and reviewed author’s The Reapers (Demonic Ghost #2) and her words of appreciation were… let say great. So, now, when I want to tell how much I loved the Soulless, is a hard trying to not fail, especially when words and ideas run away from me.

So, let’s try this way:
(1) Personal view
- I liked a lot;
- the author is in my debt for the ending (Mrs. Maree, I hope you are NOT adept of that trend that kills the important characters; I hate them! :))) );
- Send me, please, the next volume/s. NOW!

(2) Story
- the main motive is fresh, not over used in YA /NA literature;
- the paranormal aspects are just a part of the story;
- there is rhythm, suspense, danger and a lot of action – actually it’s all action;
- there is not girl-ish action either; there will be gore, killings and victims;
- the author is not afraid to bring the foul and macabre, …in The Walking Dead way (sort of);
- there are twists and fortuitous events;
- next to the great action, try to read a bit more profound – it will be your gain;

(3) Characters
- various, deceptive
- they have different views about good and bad and about the proper ways to achieve their goals;
- once again, look under the surface - even their name were important from my point of view;
- under the hideous effects of the past lives, sentiments and/or free will (or the lack of them) are present, important;
- the “love story” (quotation marks were intentional used) is present also, but is more as a vehicle / catalyzer not the main purpose – at this moment at least;

(4) Messages/ meanings
- they are not told, but suggested;
- they do not break the rhythm, but, hidden in plain sight, they are entwined with the story to which they bring value;
- they are about the human nature way to cope with the memories of their previous lives: “Fear spreads faster than compassion.”
- “it seems no matter how long we live, we never seem to know what we’re meant to be doing,”
- you should look after them - the story will become better, greater this way and you’ll have the right and whole picture;

(5) Style
- is different from The Reapers were it was a bit more… lacy;
- the language is not arid, but adapted and in rhythm with the story;
- the visual is important and very good built;
- the settings are part of the story and help to motivate, explain or to bring a certain result;

(6) Conclusion
- Jacinta Maree didn’t illude me;
- like I said, do not be a superficial reader. Read it with “open eyes” and you’ll find a good story with many meanings;
- for me – 5 Goodreads stars;

(7) Happy reading!

“It wasn’t out to destroy our bodies; it destroyed everything we once treasured. Hope, love, compassion, joy... even our mortality. It was all gone. And now it mocked us with a peace we could never achieve, death.”

http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/...

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This take on a dystopian society is complex and vividly imagined. I am loving the rules that governed the system...I mean, I don't agree with it but I liked reading about it and watching how the characters react / fight their civilization. I also appreciate how it showed the readers the ugliness and the dark, uncompromising environment brought about by immortality. When we speak of becoming an immortal, we usually tend to just see the "Wow! I get to live forever! I can eat pizza for eternity!" kind of reaction, but Soulless is NOTHING LIKE THAT. It gives us the other side of the mirror-the bitter side of that what-if question, where mankind turned on each other (as they often do) and as a result it became a never ending cycle of war and oppression.

What really struck me in this book's society is that the blame cannot be placed on the government alone. Everyone, and I mean everyone contributed to the mess they were facing. They thought they were doing the right thing at first until it spiraled out of control. It was human instinct and flaw that brought about the damage, and it was very frustrating to read because, well, it's not that difficult to imagine in real life.

The main character, Nadia, was wonderfully written. She is made up of half-sass and half-adrenaline, with a sprinkle of warmth and emotion in an otherwise unforgiving world. Diesel is a much more difficult character to paint. I spent the entire time deciding whether I hated him or I understood where he's coming from. The romance was like a tug of war, and I can honestly say I don't care much about it (because I was rooting for someone else, sobs). It was never the star of the novel though, so if you are not a fan of romance don't let it stray you away from this epic book.

Maree is an excellent writer. Her style is engaging and action-oriented. The book is also very visually violent, and I was uncomfortable reading some passages of Nadia getting beaten up *cringes*...and boy, did that happen often. Things moved quickly in this novel and it covered a lot of ground for something that is only 400 pages long. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of dystopian fiction.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished "Souless", what an amazing novel. The best I've read in it's genre! The plot is imaginative and unique, the characters are very realistic and this whole world of reincarnation is so immersive that the reader can disappear within. From the first page, to the last, this novel captured my attention and wouldn't let it go; long after I would have to pause reading, the story and characters stayed with me. The idea of a world where death is void, it's so fascinating to see the repercussions and a realistic take on what this world would actually look like. It's not pretty. Impressive first segment and I know I'm not the only one looking forward to continuing this wonderful "Immortal Gene" series.

[L.L. Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soulless is a fresh take on the dystopian genre. It is exciting and full of action. If you like Divergent or Taherah Mafi's Juliette Chronicles, then you'll enjoy Soulless! Some parts really grossed me out but I think that's an estimate of Jacinta's talent as a writer. Jacinta is a fantastic writer with an amazing imagination and I cannot wait to read more from her.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This an ‘arc” copy eBook supplied by Netgalley. I am not receiving any monetary benefit or any kickback for this review. I received this arc for an honest review. This review is cross-posted on Amazon, Goodreads and given directly to the publisher.
“Welcome to Soulless. We are the generation that laughs at death”
This is definitely a trap. Soulless draws you in, and then drops you into a pit of live wire emotions. Maree takes you on a death defying stroll through a gritty world. Soulless is a well thought out premise with an excellent world build. From the first page, the reader is immersed into the story. Everyone in the world has a soul imprint that proves their past lives from each reincarnation. But the catch is that you go crazy from all of the times you die. So you have to take a drug to suppress them. Soulless starts off with bang. The main character is in a food line to get rations when a fight breaks out.
“The shot set the rest of the crowd into a panicked scramble.”
The main character, Nadia, is a sassy, strong female protagonist. She does have a kind heart; it’s just hidden behind a tough exterior that keeps her alive. As she makes decision throughout the story, a little more of that heart shines through. Nadia is an oddity in her the world of Soulless. Nadia does not have a soul imprint. 18 years old and alone in a world that views her as persona non grata. But after the betrayals of her family, she finds a new companion. Diesel is a blacklisted terrorist that is rough around the edges. But like with every single character in this story there is more than just that side of Diesel. Every character has such potential to be an epic character. We only see a glimpse of them as Nadia interacts with them. I hope in the next we can find out more about the ones that are still alive…
“You see; I was born without a soul imprint. A defect that has restarted century-old wars, but this time nothing can stop the madness from destroying us all.
That is right Maree has the ability to make you love a character and then have you sobbing about them in less than a chapter. That also fits with the slow burn romance happening between Nadia and Diesel. There is almost sex, questionable feelings and hate to love sequences. Maree interweaves the psychological ramifications of a world that bodies are disposable and bonds are basically non-existent into a fast paced self-discovery saga. There are moments you question the growing love between Nadia and Diesel. Because Diesel is not a nice man, and definitely dangerous. But after the middle of the book, he treats her with a certain softness. He is such a flawed character that you can’t help but love him.
“I won’t let you become my biggest regret. I won’t let this feeling go…For whatever twisted and insane reason, I am choosing you, so please…Don’t run from me.”
Soulless is an action packed graphic tale. It is dark and cruel. It also leaves you with a cliffhanger. It’s slow burn love and exquisite world building more than makes up for the heart wrenching cliff. I devoured Soulless. Mainly because it is a very violent, austere dystopian novel with a chance for hope and love. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for the edge of your seat read.

[R.F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the past I’ve been asked, how I’ve picked the books that I’ve done reviews on. In the past I would’ve usually given a snarky and smart ass remark. But, not this time. I feel like I’ve grown over the years and in doing so, it has changed my attitudes to others and how they feel when I say things to them. So I sat back and thought long and hard about it and then I considered the answer for a moment and it reminded me of how this review came to fruition. I first started reading a different title, by a different author…It’s ok, I’m to going to mention their name I’m a better person than that. But as I was saying I was reading a different book and believe me when I say “that it hurts when I can’t get through a book.” So after trying twice to get through it, I sighed and put it aside. I then moped around my home wondering what to read next to review.
Then it hit me, why not check my email, it’s helped in the past before and so I did. As I stared into the vast abyss of what is my inbox that’s where I saw it. Stuck between the email of my order from Barnes and Noble and my last Hot Topic announcement…(don’t ask) I saw it. The notice that would allow me to make up for my past attempt at a review. The aforementioned email was from a newsletter that sends me notices of new books, be it free or offers of books with a small fee. In the past I’ve found their choices to be very well rounded. And, that’s where I saw it the latest from author Jacinta Maree from Melbourne Australia a book titled Soulless: The Immortal Gene Trilogy Book One.
I was drawn by its cover but that’s not what made me buy it, it was on sale people and there is nothing I love more than a book sale. Even a bad book that is on sale, but this is not the case. So, I decided to give it a shot and said to myself it’s only a dollar. Wow, was that dollar worth it. I have to admit that I have not read a story with such an imaginative and original plot line than this story. Jacinta knows how to draw you in with her rich characters and very good story telling. I don’t do much on the spoiler aspect so you can make the decision for yourself. But, I’ll say this it’s worth it, from the first page to the last page I have to say that not many people catch or should I say grab my attention like Jacinta Maree. And in the sense of page turning, this one has it and even though I’ve only finished the book a bit ago, the characters stayed with me in my memory.
This book is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. As this book caught my attention I’m sure you’ll get caught up in it as well. With it’s rich characters and well written prose I myself am looking forward to see what else she has in store for us when she puts out the rest of the this very well written trilogy.

[Rosemarie Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was only a little surprised to find myself absolutely loving this book. The premise totally had me gripped from the get go- a girl who, in a world filled with people trying to suppress memories of countless past lives, has none.

Nadia is a brilliant heroine. Strong, brave, flawed, intelligent - all the things I look for in a teenaged protagonist. She took a little while for me to warm up to, but once I did I was absolutely all in. She is also the perfect foil to blacklisted criminal Diesel - who is absolutely my favourite male protagonist in eons. I am used to badass heroines with fairly non-descript, paint by numbers male counterparts / love interests. Not so with Diesel - he is as flawed as they come, with plenty of character development here to work with.

The romantic elements, I felt, were handled brilliantly. As I have said in previous reviews of other books, I am absolutely sick of the run of the mill “first kiss leads to eternal love and happiness” versions of romance. It’s not a healthy way to see sex, love or relationships. Maree really fits the few romantic interactions between characters in with the tone of the novel - nothing is painless in this book and nothing is without its complications.

The world building is strong, but with Soulless being such a fast paced read there are still lots of questions left needing answers. There were a couple of instances where it felt a little “and then this happened, and then this happened…” but I soon got over that and was swept along by Maree’s writing. For those who find themselves often chanting “move it the hell along!” when reading first installments - this is for you. There are very few inconsistencies in tone, which is a great and pleasant surprise from a debut author.

The warning accompanying this, advising it for mature audiences only, is right on the money. One of my favourite things about Soulless was that it was DARK. Characters peak your interest right before they’re brutally killed off. Loved ones turn on each other. Society has no care for individuals who are not part of the “Elite” overlords. It’s brilliantly harsh and I absolutely love that. A book with this sort of subject matter couldn’t very well do with being anything but painfully cruel.

I am so, so excited for the next installment in this series. An absolutely must read.

[➳ Anthony ➳ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 DNF 43%
Date Reviewed: 7 April 2018
This Review was first posted on It’s All Anthony. For more reviews, check out the blog here.

In Soulless, the future is filled with reincarnation, souls reborn into new lives. However, everyone experiences their past lives’ memories and falls into madness. It almost feels as if immortality is finally achieved, but not what everyone wanted. Instead of finding ways to prolong life, everyone is now looking ways to end life once and for all. Fortunately, Nadia appears to be the one person with a fresh soul, showing no evidence of a past life and becomes the most wanted person for research.

I can’t say if I remembered how exactly this book got my attention. I’m not sure wether or not I stumbled upon this book randomly on GoodReads, or if it came up on an alert that it was on sale. Regardless, this book somehow ended up on my Kindle and I was the one who bought it and downloaded it.

I never read a book having reincarnation being the main plot of a story. I do understand that reincarnation plays into many kinds of mythology and that is probably where it grabbed my attention. Maybe I just wanted to see how it differed in this story compared to mythology? Perhaps I just liked the idea of reincarnation and wanted to see this different viewpoint on it. All I know for sure is this book couldn’t hold my interest for long.

I found this book boring and lost. I enjoyed the beginning where the depth and history of reincarnation in this world was explained. Since then, it felt like when you’re trying to explain something to someone, but just not finding the right words to say. You weren’t sure how to answer. The story didn’t know how to answer to this idea. Perhaps the story didn’t even click with me. I tried skimming the rest of the story, but I quickly realized there would be no point it. I decided I had to stamp the dreaded DNF onto the book and toss it aside. How can you continue a story when everything is lost and you can’t find your way into having an interest again? Sadly, this book was just not for me.

[Kel (Faerie-bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Soulless
Author: Jacinta Maree
Genre: NA SciFi/Dystopia
Format: Ebook
Shelf: Review
Pages: 395
Rating: 4
Heat: 1

Thoughts: What an interesting concept… reincarnation where you remember your past lives. The premise of the story just drew me in, schizophrenia on a whole new level. Granted not every character goes insane from all the memories and past personalities due to a drug called D400. But like the real world, the rich are afforded luxuries that the poor get sporadically or not at all. There are so many questions that remain unanswered when you're hit with a cliffhanger ending, argh! I NEED book 2 (don't worry, I have it lol). What's really interesting is that it seems like some emotions have disappeared, compassion, love, empathy. It's just about surviving until you die and come back. Kinda weird but it truly is like being immortal and that's got to get old after awhile. Immortality wouldn't be so bad if you didn't have to "share" it with your past personalities. Although it would definitely make it so school wouldn't really need to exist but with all the wars (apparently there have been at least 6 since WWVIII was brought up) there don't seem to be many jobs. And with the Elite (rich jerks) running the world, well, we all know how that's gonna work (or not work lol). So really, other than there being robots, war torn areas, and nuclear unstable areas, there isn't much difference to today, oh other than the reincarnation/immortality of course.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Tiffany Riach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I love dystopian books and I can't get enough of this one. It is very unique with great characters. The ending killed me a little bit.. I wanted to read more but all I got was a cliffhanger :(. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series so I can find out what happens next with Nadia and Diesel.

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and author Jacinta Maree for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Soulless is the absolutely spectacular first book in Australian author Jacinta Maree’s new The Immortal Gene series and is a truly impressive start to what looks to be a very promising series!

Soulless introduces readers to a futuristic dystopian world where reincarnation isn’t just a magical possibility—it’s a reality…a dark gruesome reality. For generations what was once considered the gift of immortality has been an unending curse. Individuals find themselves trapped inside their own minds as they experience the memories, experiences and often traumatic deaths of their past lives. With multiple personalities present in their heads, society has become a dark, warped place, where trust, love and consideration for others are all a thing of the past, and the only way to survive is to rely on yourself.

For 19 year old Nadia Richards, this world is home and a never ending fight for survival—especially seeing as Nadia is the first person ever born without a soul imprint; meaning she has no past memories and doesn’t appear to have ever been reincarnated. The exception in a crumbling society, Nadia finds herself hunted by different groups of individuals who will stop at nothing to end the cycle of reincarnations and who believe that Nadia is the key they have been looking for…….

Having read and literally devoured Soulless, there is absolutely nothing about the book I can fault—other than the fact it ended. LOL! Jacinta Maree has created a truly dark, vivid dystopian world within Soulless. Her powerful descriptions paint a picture of a world destroyed, where most citizens must wear gas masks to simply breathe outside and those in power rule with iron fists and violence. It’s quite vivid and beautifully dark. Maree doesn’t shy away from violence and gruesome death and keeps things very honest.

Jacinta Maree also depicts very different groups of individuals trying to survive and various organisations hell bent on bringing change about to the world—even if it’s through nefarious means. I really appreciated the different levels and layers to this society and find myself still dying to learn more; especially if the killer ending Jacinta Maree included in Soulless is anything to go by!

Soulless really draws you in as you follow Nadia, who truly is a fabulous heroine. Nadia is strong willed and capable and just a little hot-headed. She’s different in the sense she can’t really emphasise with what the rest of society go through, having no past lives herself, but she’s kind and caring in a way no one else is. I think she’s a strong individual and you couldn’t help but like her as you followed her story.

Maree doesn’t hold anything back with this novel and not all characters you meet are guaranteed to survive as the story progresses. I admit I’ve never found myself so entranced by a hardened, psychopathic killer before, but Diesel…..I love him. I don’t care if he has a pertinent to kill first and then ask questions later—this criminal is so darn likable. And he and Nadia have some serious chemistry even if they’re not trying to be flirty with each other. They just complement each other so well and I’m already so very invested in their friendship and possible developing romance. Jacinta Maree has me very interested in Diesel and what is happening between him and Nadia—there’s so many possibilities their connection brings, and it really is just the cherry on top of a story so fast paced and exciting.

Incredibly addictive all the way to the final page, Soulless is a fantastic premise in what I have no doubt will be a brilliant series and has this reader dying to get her hands on the next book pronto. Incredible story and one I highly recommend!

[Poulami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Well this book was definitely different from anything I have ever read, specially the concept was intriguing which made me request this book in the first place. I did had a few issues with this book but other than that it was a fantastic read.

Soulless is set in a futuristic dystopian world where reincarnation has become a day to day affair. All the souls are basically recycled every time where people regain the memories of their previous lifetimes which slowly eats away their sanity. Nadia Richards is the only exception, she is born without an imprint. While the Elites wants to turn her into a lab rat, surprisingly she finds she could be a part of something far more huge than what she expected. Will she believe it and accept that part or will the Elites get to her and finish her before she can do anything?

The first part of the plot moved a bit slowly before picking up its speed. Nonetheless, it was filled with suspense, action and adventure. In Soulless, the society is divided between the Elites and the poor where the conditions of the poor are very bad. If there's any defect in the soul or if someone was a criminal or fugitive in their past lives, they are forever captured and kept in the Alpha prison. All the people, at some point of their lives, regains the memories of their previous lives which slowly takes toll on their sanity. That's why the Elites created a drug, named D400 which supresses the side effects but something far worse than this drug is being created which might destroy entire humanity. I loved the world building and the concept was definitely an interesting one. Only Nadia, our main protagonist is the one who doesn't remember anything of her past lives, and that's why she's taken in and the experiments done on her are so brutal and crude, I was repulsed on how she was tortured.

Nadia was an interesting character. I don't have much to say about her but she knew how to fight for herself. Diesel was one hell of a weird guy. I mean, I liked him but he was so unpredictable, specially towards the end he felt like a totally different guy. Nadia and Diesel made an unlikely team. The relationship between these two most definitely felt complicated and weird but I kinda liked it as well. Although the romance is not the dominating factor, but it's there. I definitely want to see where this goes. The other minor characters were interesting to read as well. I enjoyed the action sequences the most, something or the other kept happening which kept me interested throughout the book.

Overall, Soulless was a great read. With a unique concept and interesting characters, the plot kept me glued to the screen throughout the book. The writing was smooth and easy to read. And it was very, very cruel to end on that huge cliffhanger, please can I have the next book as soon as possible? Damn, I really need to know what happens next!

Recommend it?

Yes!

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soulless is a sort of dystopian-esque novel with an almost sci-fi or paranormal feel to it. It tells the story of a young woman named Nadia, who happens to be the one person different from every other person on the planet, or so it seems.

Reincarnation is now the norm. No one dies anymore; everyone just comes back with past lives/memories embedded in their heads. Except for Nadia, that is. She's the odd woman out. And because she is different, there are some very unsavory people who would love nothing more than to get her into their clutches and experiment on her to see what makes her so special. And when that happens, Nadia is saved by a very unlikely person and ends up discovering that some people are not what they seem to be.

I was really intrigued by the premise of the book when I first was offered the chance to review. It was unique, and I've always been fascinated by reincarnation. What would it be like to have a past life or two? Would those memories be overwhelming and cause you to lose your mind? Or would you only remember certain things based on situations that cropped up in everyday life? Kind of like a deja-vu thing, but a little more powerful.

After reading Soulless, I'll admit I had a hard time with actually liking the characters. Nadia just seemed way too indecisive at times, and she frustrated me with her actions, her words, and her mild naivety. Diesel, the other main character, was extremely unlikeable. His moods fluctuated between ready-to-kill to angry to annoyed. It was confusing and also a bit frustrating. His and Nadia's "romance", if that's what you'd like to call it, was very unbelievable.
Plot-wise, there's a lot of action at times, but other times there's a bit of a lull and it gets a tad boring. I had to push through those parts so I could finish the book. However, when the action is happening, the book is really good.

The world building is probably the best part. While not superb, it's interesting in the fact that it's so bleak and depressing. There is no such thing as happiness in this world that Nadia lives in. People are starving. People are killing. People are dying and coming back. And then you have the Elites, who are basically special little snowflakes who think they're the cream of the crop and deserve preferrential treatment. One of those Elites is a doctor, and he's not a nice person. Nadia's parents "sell" her to him so he can experiment on her for a cure, or so he claims. It's definitely not pretty.

Also, the book is in dire need of an editor. I know it claims to have been edited, but there are so many grammatical errors, spelling errors, wrong words being used, etc. As an editor myself, I find it very distracting and annoying when I have to start and stop while reading to correct the mistakes. Definitely needs to be fixed.

Overall, I'd rate Soulless 3.5 stars out of five. I loved the cover and the environment of the story, but the characters and some of the plot were hard to connect with. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something dystopian and/or sci-fi that's a little different than most other books of those genres. Check it out.

[S.I. Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it's the year 3228 and man has pretty much mucked it up as planned. Everything has gone to shit and it's a total police state. The Elite run things and the common folk are left to fend for themselves. About eleven life cycles ago people started remembering their previous lives with enough clarity that it had separated the masses and a drug known as D400 was created to help dampen the effects the memories were causing. Violence, madness, depression. Those who came from high classes they have made it so that they never lose their status, thus becoming forever richer and more powerful. Those who can not keep up have been left at the wayside.

Nadia Richards is unique. She does not possess the souls imprint. The marking everyone is born with which carries their past lives. This has caused no end of issue for her as she has grown up. Labeling her as a non-person time and again.

Talk about felling exiled.

As the story unfolds Nadia's sister is tested time and again to see if she is one of the Blacklisted. Those whose memories cause them to go mad. While it is determined this is not the case, her triggered memories put Nadia ill at ease and send her out of sorts. When Annie wanders off resulting in Nadia's detainment because she reads as a possible Blacklisted the real trouble for her begins.

Taken to the Alpha prison she is handed over to the deranged Dr. Fitzgerald who has bought her from her family, keeping her as a lab rat. His need to understand her use and reason for being a blank slate driving him to do unimaginably cruel things to the young Nadia.

But she had an option in all of it. Desil, a wonderfully mad inmate who has the means of her escape within his hands. The problem? She's trading one set of shackles for another, while she won't be getting tied up and chopped up by him, his uses for her remain unclear. Determined to not be experimented on further she tries to endure.

Desil takes the reigns and facilitates her escape anyhow. Now the pair are begrudgingly on the run together. They need each other if they are going to make it out of the city. She doesn't want to be with him, but knows no other options. He seems to be in need of her but has yet to make those reasons clear. although he has ominously stated that he will always find her. In a tale about reincarnation that sits oddly.. don'cha think?

I'm gonna say this now. You should go and pick up this vividly written tale of interesting twists.

[Hazel Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bizarre but highly entertaining twist on reincarnation. The future has been ravaged by war and death and famine, so much so that scientists invented reincarnation, seemingly the only way to ensure people got a full life.

Except it all went horribly wrong.

People are reborn alright, but not with a blank slate. Memories from past lives linger from early childhood, causing horrific nightmares about previous deaths and, as a person ages and remember more and more and an ever-increasing number of lives, insanity.

Society is even more classist than ever, as the rich scrabble after a drug that suppresses these memories and allows them to retain their sanity, and lead a reasonably normal life, and the poor are abandoned to their madness and killed over the smallest offense.

Criminals aren't just criminals for life anymore, they're criminals forever. With the ability to 'scan' a person's eyes and see who they used to be, the authorities can lock you up for something you don't even remember doing - yet.

Into this harsh and deeply disturbing reality is born Nadia. At nineteen, she not only hasn't recalled her past lives yet, she doesn't have any. An outcast due to her sanity rather than her insanity, Nadia provides us with an intriguing insight into a world turned on its head.

What if everyone was mad, and you were the only sane person left?

What if you spent your whole life searching for understanding and a real human connection and were constantly met by mistrust, hostility, and indifference?

What if your own parents were incapable of loving you, as you love them, because to them you're not their daughter, but simply another body in a sea of bodies that are constantly born and discarded, souls born again and again, a perpetual do-over.

Except nothing ever gets better, it just gets increasingly worse.

Nadia lives in such a world. Unable to connect with her parents, from whom she wants nothing by a love they are incapable of giving, she searches elsewhere for meaning, love, and answers.

Her journey is a remarkable, if harrowing one, and the love she finds is fierce, strange, and ultimately as insane as the world it comes from.

This is a remarkable book. The world building is simply phenomenal, the characters intriguing and strong. For the most part it is well written, although it suffers slightly with pacing issues at times. This is a minor irritant, however, and there is more than enough intrigue and psychological exploration to keep you reading.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Beth ~Book Loving Is My Superpower~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Immortality. What was once a magnificent dream has now become our grim reality. Man no longer fears death; he yearns for it."

This book was a roller coaster ride (and thus hard to rate). The start was exciting and complex, the middle slowed to a boring lull and just when I was looking for my coffee to keep me awake and interested... BAM! there came the ending. The premise was extremely unique, the writing was very good but it needed some major editing. There were times where the wrong tense was used and places where words were omitted completely. It didn't detract from the reading too much but it was a minor nuisance. More importantly, the characters were not only likeable but relatable (even with them entrenched in a palpably dark dystopian world). The world building was incredibly detailed and rich that I felt like I was immersed 100%. That was true until around 50% (ish). Around then I was slowly starting to page watch, hoping that the numbers were growing faster than my notice (NOT a good sign)....BUT...The last 15-10% renewed my interest and increased the ongoing rating in my brain. It is a strong foundation for what will hopefully be an incredible series.

Here is a long quote that sums up the book's premise perfectly:

"The world had turned to waste; immortality was never meant for man and it drove humanity to the edge of destruction. There had been plenty of stories about how the human race would end. Unlike the movies from Hollywood, there was no big bang like a sun exploding; there was no catastrophic moment where our world was flipped upside down like in a nuclear war or zombie virus outbreak. It was gradual, like a seeping virus that withered everything within its path until it ground us down into brittle, hollowed cores. It wasn’t out to destroy our bodies; it destroyed everything we once treasured. Hope, love, compassion, joy… even our mortality. It was all gone. And now it mocked us with a peace we could never achieve, death"

I highly recommend this book to Dystopian readers, lovers of a good Saviour's journey along with anyone interested in finding a well written, fascinating character driven, uniquely premised YA novel. It really is a good start to the trilogy (slow spots and all).

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

I loved the concept - the future for humans is to be reincarnated and remember all our pasts - therefore immortal - but the human race is driven to insanity due to all the voices in their heads and relies on a drug/medication (D400) to survive & dull the voices. Each soul leaves an imprint on your iris and can be detected by an eye scanner.
There is a ruling power known as the 'Elite' who control most of the world, so too do they control the drugs, resulting in a post-apocalyptic style scenario with a distinct difference between those with money/power and those with nothing but a need for the drug and those so crazy they are 'Blacklisted' and contained in security centres.
Nadia, the MC, is different - she doesn't have an imprint and she can't remember any previous lives.
Nadia has parents whom she uses first names when referring to them, as there is not really any family connection - they effectively have just birthed her and care for her while growing up but are emotionally detached.
The emotional detachment comes through in the writing style as well - definitely at the beginning of the book as it is in first person point of view and everything is referred to as 'I', 'Me', 'My' and 'Mine'. Once more characters are introduced this style of writing relaxes a little and definitely sucks you in!

The world building within the story has been done wonderfully! It was very easy to imagine the scenery, the people and their attire. It was the future but it isn't too far fetched.

Towards the very end there was a small part where I thought it had lost its power and umphf but then right at the end.. there is that 'cliff' hanger..

I am so glad to have randomly purchased a copy of this book from an OzComicCon that Jacinta Maree was at, she even had cos players at her autograph table dressed as Nadia & Diesel.
I just need to find her again to buy book 2, Soul Finder! :-)

I think I will give this 4.8 stars, one of my favourite post-apocalyptic / dystopian books this year!

[Rhiannon Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in Australia recently having dinner with my cousin and her fiancé, and he mentioned that HIS cousin was a writer too, named Jacinta Maree. I was delighted to find out that Jacinta also writes YA spec-fic so I immediately looked her books up and bought this one. The cover is just beautiful and I really liked the sound of a dystopian adventure.

Soulless blends a dystopian setting and atmosphere with science gone wrong to create an original and very dysfunctional world. Reincarnation is a real thing, but everyone becomes aware of their past lives at a certain age and all the memories and voices and past lives start getting jumbled up together. There's a drug that controls it but not everyone can afford it, and if you do something wrong in a past life you're blacklisted. Forever.

Nadia, on the other hand, seems to have no past lives, which sets her apart as a freak in a world of freaks. She's a kickass female lead with snappy repartee and takes no sh*t from no one. There's a really great enemies-to-lovers romantic thread as well.

A fast-paced read and a highly original story. Loved it!

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book. With great detail, personality and imagination, this story brings to life the moment immortality and rebirth go from an honour to your worst nightmare.

The premise of the book is unique enough to draw you straight in and the writing finishes you off, making you completely hooked, which is fantastic. I really found myself connecting with characters, as I felt so bad for the, not only having to remember any bad past memories, but all those from you previous lives as well. I can see why so many characters felt plagued by the past.

The characters were exciting, unique and ech offer something up to the story, really giving it life. The main character was very real, as there was not only her bit of moaning when things weren't great, making it realistic, but there was also strength, courage and honest.

When these characters were placed in a world that was filled with detail, background and a unique nature, the author excelled it creating the whole package. I really love the book as a whole and feel the writing was great.

**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.