Soul Swallowers

The Shattered Sea #1

by D. Wallace Peach

When swallowed, some souls gift insights, wisdom, a path to understanding. Others unleash power, proficiency with a sword, and indifference to death. One soul assimilates with ease. But swallow a host of the dead and risk a descent into madness.

Estranged from his family over the murder of his wife, young Raze Anvrell wields his fists to vent his rage. Then a chance at a new life beckons, and he retreats to the foothills of the Ravenwood, the haunt of unbound ghosts. He and his mentor build a freehold, a life of physical labor and the satisfaction of realizing a dream. They raise horses and whittle by the fire until the old man dies, and Raze swallows his first soul.

When his brother reaches out, open wounds begin to scar. But the tenuous peace won’t last. While those who rule the Vales yield to the lure of their ambitions, slavers of Ezar roam the countryside, hunting for human chattel. While one man manipulates the law, another heeds the souls of violence howling in his head.

Raze too listens to his soul’s whispers, and as danger intrudes on his quiet life, he has no choice but to return to his father’s world and join the fight.

***
In this completed series, epic fantasy blends with the wisdom of old souls to create a unique coming of age story of courage and honor in the midst of evil. Slavery is pitted against freedom, anger against forgiveness, and a desire to live peacefully against the necessity to take up the sword.

It’s a story of bitter estrangement and broken hearts, of deception and unfettered ambition. For Raze Anvrell it’s a journey of violence, redemption, and his soul’s growth as he transforms from a reckless youth into a man with a rich legacy of souls.

Magic, politics, love, and madness collide in this fantasy adventure. For lovers of beauty and battle, and complex characters willing to risk everything in the fight for their souls.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2018

About the author

I didn’t care for reading as a child – I preferred Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies reruns, Saturday morning cartoons and the Ed Sullivan show. Then one day, I opened a book titled The Hobbit.

Tolkien … literally changed my life.
I love to write. It’s a luxury I never expected I’d have time for – life got in the way. You know how that goes – kids, work, chores… sleep. I worked for 18 years in business where amassing coin was the all-consuming objective. It required huge amounts of time and mental energy. And for me personally, it was soul-slaying.

Then on September 11, 2001 two planes flew into the World Trade Center. I was working in Connecticut, about 2 hours from ground zero, and remember sitting in a conference room, watching the second tower fall.

That tragedy initiated a process of redefinition for me, an evaluation of what was vital and important. Life felt short and precarious, and I started to wonder if it was time to do something that actually mattered. I began to write.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book and its series drew my interest: Soul Swallowers, the first in D. Wallace Peach's The Shattered Sea collection. Though I'm not much of a fantasy reader, the story was intriguing. Would someone swallow a soul for a good or bad reason, perhaps both? How does a sea shatter? After checking out the author's blog and reading some of her own book reviews, this seemed like a great opportunity, so I purchased the book and read it last week. Now I get to share my thoughts with you...

The first few scenes are amazing. I quickly connected with the characters and the potential for this story. Raze was a fantastic protagonist, and I'm a sucker for love. His father, on the other hand, was definitely not a man to admire--but as a character, he was spot on. Stuck between love and loyalty, he had to make a decision, and Raze unfortunately will suffer the consequences. Immediately, the book grabs your attention and confirms you're about to embark on a wild ride. From there, the story spans several years of Raze's life, where he swallows souls, meets new friends and family, and learns how to survive in a world he cannot stand. Life is tough for those struggling in these lands, and the epic battle to win the war has only just begun.

Peach writes thrilling descriptions and settings. I could feel many of the backgrounds surrounding me as I read each chapter. Sometimes they felt realistic, others I knew I'd been transported to some fantastical foreign place. Ultimately, the story is about character relationships and the need to protect the future. While there are elements of fantasy and science-fiction, there is a fine balance so that readers have a solid foundation to ground them. I found myself more interested in the bonds Raze develops, the need and desire to free those around him from servitude. There is something strong in the moral tones and ethics of these characters that is highly admirable.

The writing quality is strong, and it is easy to read and stay connected. I'm curious what will happen in the future books. The cover is brilliant, and I love the imagination Peach brings to each and every scene and character. I got a Game of Thrones feel in the beginning... I've watched enough of the tv series to get a feel for its style, though I've never read the books. I'm keen to learn more about the true nature of a soul, and how it develops once it becomes part of another human being. A good read, glad I sampled from a different genre, and I would recommend it for most fantasy lovers.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I've come to expect, D. Wallace Peach's latest fantasy novel, Soul Swallowers (2018) is well-constructed with addictive characters, a riveting plot, and a world I believed. In this story, Raze Anvrell, son of Lord Rydan Anvrell of Kestrel and heir to that mighty empire, rejects an arranged marriage that would strengthen his father's power and expand their holdings. His trump card in the contentious argument that comes to a head one evening is that he has already married--and to a commoner. In short, he chose love over politics. When his wife is killed by marauders, Raze abandons his royal life for the world of a laborer, choosing drunken brawls and hard work over a luxurious life of privilege. Life leads him to the farming freehold of a good man who is gathering like-minded individuals to help him live out his dream. Raze becomes, if not happy, at least content. When this good man dies, Raze swallows his first soul in a maybe desperate attempt to gather this man's peace and tranquility, his vision of life, even his moral purpose and respect for all around him. When Raze's brother seeks him out, not to return to the family but in friendship, it seems to be the nexus for change in Raze's world. 

As we travel with Raze through about a decade of his life, fight slavers, befriend a witch, cross paths with spirits of the dead, and ultimately reconnect with the woman he was promised to, the intrigue and mystery never ends. Raze's world, though fantasy, is so realistic, I found myself subconsciously trying to figure out where in time and place it could be, knowing--of course--it was nowhere. At the root of this story is redemption, forgiveness, and family. Maybe mostly family.

Some of the great lines I found--and have come to expect in Diana’s writing:

"...brushed by the sea in hues of silver and slate, the sun swallowed by masses of churning clouds."

"He’d kissed her and lost his grip on the boundaries framing his life, heart swept sideways and head muddled."

"The weight of his loss drenched the very air and pressed on the clouds until they ripped open."
My one sentence summary: I’m ready for Book 2.

[Colleen Chesebro · Rating 5 out of 5]

D. Wallace Peach has the rare distinction of becoming my favorite fantasy author based on the quality of her storytelling methods. I haven't read a single book by this author that I haven't loved.

Imagine my glee, when I found out she had begun a new series, called, The Shattered Sea. Book One, The Soul Swallowers, is everything I knew it would be—brilliant, creative, and unforgettable.

When Raze Anvrell leaves the wealth and the safety of his home after his young wife is brutally murdered, he suspects that his family was to blame for her demise. Determined to strike out on his own, he flees to Ravenwood, where the souls of the unbound dwell.

Everyone wears an empty soulstone which is given to all of the people at the Temple of Souls. When people die their soul transfers into the pendant. To die without their soulstone allows a soul to drift forever in the ether. The individual's skills, aptitudes, and the very essence of their personality would then be lost to future generations.

Raze meets Briyon, the owner of his own freehold, who invites the young man to join him in making a new life. Briyon becomes the father figure in Raze's life and when he dies, Raze swallows his first soul. 

Imagine being who you are and accepting the soul essence of someone else into your existence. New skills and knowledge must integrate, for better or worse. If you swallow too many souls, disaster prevails as the personalities clash for dominion, madness being the end result.

It is in this world where Raze follows the whispers of his soul into unknown territory where only the brave survive.

I felt the magic breathe through the pages of this book with an ancient wisdom that touched my own soul. At the book's ending, I found myself reluctantly thrust back into my world hating to let the fantasy go. 

MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Stars

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want to like this book because I kept telling myself that I don't enjoy Fantasy (even though I previously read Peach's The Sorcerer's Garden and listed it as one of my favorite books of that year). So now I know beyond doubt that if D. Wallace Peach writes the novel, I will not only enjoy it, I'll delve deep into it. The world building is immense, and I was afraid I'd get confused about each world and who lives in it; instead, I battled the slavers and the schemers on either side of the Shattered Sea. I fell in love with Raze, the main character, and I sank into the philosophy of a world where souls can be swallowed, and consequences sweet or horrific, depending on the circumstances (and the soul). Love lights the novel when darkness threatens to consume the characters, and Peach's prose on life, spirituality, love, death, loss, pain, joy had me in tears at times. This author wears her heart (and soul) in her books' sleeves (inside and out), and we readers are rewarded by her efforts.

[Henryan Arkson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect beginning for a new fantasy series!!!

The story begins with an intense scene wherein Raze Anvrell is introduced and placed in a path filled with tension, internal and external, and action. The soul swallowing elements were a creative way to give the characters more depth. It was a nice way to allow the characters to evolve at a faster pace through the knowledge gained from the souls that were swallowed. The repercussions of swallowing the wrong soul, or too many, were also very interesting.

It's set in a vividly described pastoral landscape, and the great world-building will make you fell as if you were on either side of the Shattered Sea. It contains credible strives and intricate human schemes.

Overall, this is a well-written fantasy that’s infused with almost lyrical descriptions, engaging characters, and plenty of action. I really look forward to the next book in this series!

[Mae Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only does D. Wallace Peach create phenomenal worlds, but she knows how to dish political intrigue with the best of them. In Soul Swallowers, the reader is immediately immersed into a fantastical world of royal hierarchies, caste systems, and a blending of the spiritual and physical as related to souls. The idea that someone can swallow the soul of another and inherit personality traits and skills from the deceased is utterly brilliant. There is very little in this world and carefully crafted tale that doesn’t pass for brilliance.

The central character, Raze, is born into privilege and power but turns his back on his societal status due to tragedy. One of the elements that made this book so appealing for me is the extensive cast of characters. This is Raze’s tale, but it’s also the tale of many others, each who have distinct stories of their own (including some thoroughly reprehensible villians).

Peach introduces numerous players whose lives eventually intertwine with each other and Raze. I was in awe of the political scheming and the multi-layered plot which is stitched as tightly as can be. You won’t find any holes here, but you will find superior writing, characterizations, and twists and turns that will have you swiping pages long into the night. The writing is at times lyrical, others grim, but always extraordinarily vivid. D. Wallace Peach has an uncanny ability to place a reader thoroughly in a scene by weaving word-spells with her descriptions. Lovely, lovely incantations of words. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year. I am so glad book two, Legacy of Souls is already available for pre-order. I’m headed there now!

[Robbie Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book by its unusual title. Soul Swallowers, what could that mean? I was amazed and delighted to discover that its meaning is quite literal and one of the themes of this book is the ability of the people in the author's beautifully constructed fantasy world to physically swallow the souls of others, friends or foes, and acquire their characteristics, skills and abilities. I enjoyed how the author explored this aspect of the book and illustrated through her characters how the swallowing of souls impacted on the swallower, changing their personality if the soul was a contradiction to their own nature and causing internal turmoil. If the soul was a good fit, the swallower would benefit hugely from this process and the two souls would eventually meld and become completely harmonious. I found this concept unique and compelling.

The author has created a world in conflict and explores the possibilities for good and evil when one culture is consumed by another. Ideas and cultural policies that work well with a conqueror in this case the Ezar, are often badly transposed and their implementation manipulated for personal gain by the representatives of the conquerors and by the leaders of the conquered, who want to retain their positions of power under the new regime. The concept of slavery depicted in the Soul Swallowers and how its initial implementation by the Ezar is twisted in the Vales to the advantage of ruthless and unruly slavers clearly demonstrates this abuse of power. The uncaring attitude of the Vale leadership highlights the distrustful and back stabbing environment that emerges in such situations. As with other brilliant works of fantasy that draw analogies with real life happenings, the influences of Tolkien's experiences in World War 1 and their influence on his series Lord of the Rings come to mind, the author has done an excellent job of creating a world which shares interesting ideas and thoughts on problems and issue that we are currently facing with integrating cultures in our current global world.

The main character, Raze Anvrell, is the son of one of the Vale leaders who rails against his father's wishes for him to marry the daughter of a neighbouring Vale leader and bring about an alliance of their two families. When Raze discloses that he is already married, which results in the murder of his young wife, he turns his back on his family and disappears, building himself a life on a rural farm in the Vales. The growth of Raze's character is intriguing to experience as he goes from being a bereaved, but rather spoiled young man, to developing into a kind and compassionate man who cares for the welfare of others. Raze's path leads him to discover that you cannot always walk away from a bad system and sometimes you have to take a stand against it.

A fascinating and well written book and one I would recommend to readers of fantasy.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soul Swallowers is D. Wallace Peach’s best book to date, and that’s saying something. From her prior books I’ve come to expect expert plotting, three-dimensional characters, and truly magnificent world building.

In this book, Ms. Peach has taken one world-building premise—that people can swallow other people’s souls after they die—and worked it into a fantastic, detailed secondary world. Here, the powerful squabble for ever more influence while the wretches and unlucky are sold into slavery. The main character, Raze, has turned his back on a life of wealth and privilege, and joins another man in building up a small farm, a freehold, assisted by former slaves who soon become an extended family.

But the Byzantine politics of Raze’s former circle soon entangle him again, and he’s forced to re-enter his old world to try to save the members of his new family.

Soul Swallowers transported me to a completely different world, one that I enjoyed exploring and was reluctant to leave. I highly recommend it.

[Khira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantasy novel set in a medieval-style world with a very interesting premise: when people die, their souls are captured inside pendants that everyone wears at all times, lest their souls have to wonder the earth after death. The souls can be swallowed and merged with the souls of the living, resulting in assimilation of personalities, skills and memories.
The opening of the novel gave me pause, because the particular plot device is a somewhat overused cliché, which often leads to stereotypical tales of vengeance. However, that's not the way the novel unravels. Instead, it becomes a tale of growth and healing, of finding family, of intersecting lives and a search for understanding, love and compassion in a world beset with violence, slavery and intrigue.
The writing is beautifully crafted (apart from an occasional puzzling metaphor) and the plot evolves and twists in an unpredictable way. I found that the male voices and perspectives dominate in the narrative, even though there are unique strong female characters as well. A great read overall.

[Darrell Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
I have read other books from D. Wallace Peach and liked them but for a non-fantasy fan didn't all out love them because of how the genre is written. But I could see how a fantasy fan would love them.
Formal “high” language is a norm for fantasy, in her other novels Peach handled this well (in my opinion) so I can see how fantasy lovers would find that great.
Soul Swallowers is written more “medium-high” language, so if you are used to the formal language in other books it will feel comfortable, if you aren't fond of that, it doesn't get in your way. Overall an amazing balance.
As one can expect from a good fantasy novel the world building is huge. But in this novel it's not confusing. Once again a great balance.
Like any great fantasy novel, the strange world building influences the characters perception, outlook and worldview. But somehow they are all still relate-able.
With Peach's other books I liked them, and could really see how any high fantasy fan would love them. With Soul Swallowers, it's a given that fans of high fantasy will love them, but also people who mildly like the high fantasy storytelling and concepts but aren't true fans should like this as well.

[Jina Bazzar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started with a tragedy: The imposing will of a lord upon his eldest son and the innocent belief that love conquers all.
This is a story that follows multiple characters, all evolving around Raze, a young lord turned farmer, and his journey from boyhood to manhood.
At first, it feels like the secondary characters have nothing in common with each other, but the author weaves an intricate tale of conspiracy, slavery, politics, love, and honor, all impeccably interwoven– and it comes back to disrupt the quiet life Raze has dreamed for himself.
Now, the politics here has nothing to do with the affairs of our current world, but something more historical, like when lords arranged marriages for the sole purpose of gaining alliances, avoiding wars and so on.
I’d like to say I was surprised with the outstanding storytelling, but I’ve come to expect this from the author. You know when you think, hey, this is an author who knows how to use her words to intrigue and captivate? This is the kind of author D. Wallace Peach is.
I read this book about ten days ago. I started on Thursday night and was turning the last page early on Friday evening, and I can’t wait to pick up the second and final book, Legacy of Souls – and yeah, I already have it in my queue.
Like hinted above, the book starts with a promise of a love story, but instead of a happy couple, we get tragedy. The story follows Raze, his choices and actions, all based on that first touch of love and its traumatic outcome.
I enjoyed reading the journey of the secondary characters as well, and especially felt bad for Azalus, Raze’s younger brother, the kid who was left behind. I was glad to read more about him as the story progressed, though sometimes I wanted to bash Raze for treating his younger brother with indifference.
Every character we follow in this story has something special, a trait that touches the reader in a way or another, something that is relatable, and yes, there was a villain that I was actually rooting for.
Johzar, for one, is a character (villain?) who showed some redeeming qualities, and I was hoping by the end of the book that he’d turn into some sort of hero. He just…. Sounded like a reasonable man, *hmmm coughs* I mean slaver, with some good morals. And then there’s Benjmur, who is a manipulator and a schemer, and ambitious lord. The means to which he reaches his end are questionable, though they are cleverly arranged, and in a way that makes you wonder if he’s the most dangerous character in the story.
Then there’s Bel and Nallea, I really liked them. There were scenes in their journey where my heart beat faster, or my eyes prickled with tears, or a sigh escaped my lips, and I look forward to reading more about their journey.
There were characters I was really sad to see go, and although I won’t mention who and give some spoilers, I’ll say that I hope to hear more about them in the future.
Sajem, now, this is one villain I’m sure all readers would agree should meet a fitting end, but alas, I can’t talk about it here.
These are only some of the characters we meet, and they are not the only things that shine out from the pages. The plot, the writing, the fantasy elements, the world building, everything is done exceptionally well.
The writing is another thing that grabbed me from the first page, it’s rich, it’s vivid, and it’s tailored down to this historic, post apocalyptic world with an ease that feels natural. I rarely share quotes from a book I read, mainly because I’m too engrossed to pause to highlight, but here’s one I read more than once: “Beauty gleams with a brilliance beyond itself, and we call that light love. At its heart dwells the sublime source of affection for all of creation, for nowhere are love and beauty matters of fate or happenstance.”
The world building is flawless. The author gives enough information, enough detail to portray the image she wants us to see. Her words don’t just tell a story, they leap out and form the images in your head.
The fantasy side of the story is simple and logical, the kind the reader doesn’t need to puzzle or work to wrap the mind around. It’s a people who believe on soul stones – little pendants they wear around their necks to catch their soul once the body dies. A person can swallow the soul of a predecessor, a friend, or a total stranger, and gain in turn their skills and personalities.
All in all, I have absolutely nothing to complain about, except that I need a trip to a deserted island so that I can pick up the second and final book and see what happens next.

[Thomas Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literary Fiction Meets High Fantasy

Soul Swallowers is the best fantasy novel I've read in a long time. It's set in an area known as the Shattered Sea, and I call it literary fiction because it revolves around the lives of the inhabitants, noble and commoner alike. The people of the area practice a unique custom; when someone dies, their soul can be captured by a magical stone which can be swallowed by another person, so the swallowed soul lives on in the new host and is spared the tragedy of eternal wandering. I'm always leery of fantasy stories that rely on a gimmick, but the author integrates soul swallowing beautifully into the storyline; it doesn't dominate the plot but augments it in a unique and interesting way. I call this story literary fiction because it deals with people's lives, their joys and struggles, without relying on hackneyed fantasy tropes. Peach's characters are well developed and multi-dimensional; the reader comes to know them intimately, perhaps illustrating the point that we are all of us one people, regardless of the environment in which we find ourselves. Slavery and bondage are also an important issues in Peach's world, and the author relentlessly points out how such evil practices demean everyone, slave and owner alike. If I have one gripe, it's that the story is unfinished, but Soul Swallowers is clearly labelled as Book 1, and I will certainly have no problem reading Book 2, or however many the author chooses to write in this fascinating setting.

[Ned Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soul Swallowers by D. Wallace Peach is an intriguing work of sword and sorcery, though it might be better described as a character story since passages of character development outnumber passages of action by at least ten to one. The characters are interesting and believable, and they evolve according to their experiences as the novel progresses.
The plot begins powerfully in the first chapter then settles into a story of day to day life in the world of the Shattered Sea, a land of conquered kingdoms under the sway of one corrupt ruling house, the biggest corruption being the toleration and support of a system of slavery that evil characters profit from. The slavers seem to be in charge as they rampage across the landscape, enslaving anyone not powerful enough to oppose them. At times in the novel, they seem too powerful, too adept, too omnipresent.
The novel follows the development of the royal character Raze who turns his back on a life of privilege and chooses instead to lose himself in a retreat to the good and simple farm life of a common freehold. He frees good and deserving men, women, and children and welcomes them to join his blissful bucolic existence. The slavers, however, will not leave him or his loved ones alone.
Most interesting in the novel is the practice of soul swallowing. Those who die are able to enclose their soul inside a stone that, if swallowed, will allow the swallower to incorporate the personality, memory and talents of the dead person. One must be careful to swallow only souls that are compatible to one’s own (swallowing too many will lead to madness), but the temptation of soul swallowing is hard to resist, as it seems the easy path to attainment. Wise men swallow wise souls and become wiser. Warriors swallow the souls of champions and become more adept at fighting and wielding weapons. One need not develop oneself, just swallow the soul of someone already developed.
I would like to see this aspect of the novel developed further, which undoubtedly it is in the following books in this series. There is a second book. I’m not sure if there will be a third.
I liked this book a lot. Soul Swallower is well written and engaging and will stick with you even after the reading is done.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgettable Fantasy!

I didn’t know what to expect when I came across this title on D. Wallace Peach’s website, but the title and the cover drew me and after hesitating far longer than I should have, I decided to make the purchase- and can I just say, WOW!

This is the story of three kingdoms and the men and women who rule them, some with deceit more than honor.

When heir to the throne Raze Anvrell witnesses the murder of his young wife, he blames his father and disowns his family. He leaves to make his own way and learns over time, with the help of his mentor, that anger and hatred is not the answer to a peaceful soul.

The author has a beautiful, poetic way of writing that drew me right into the story- I couldn’t set it down!

Some of my favorite lines:

“What do you believe?”

“That we are children in a corner of the world trying to draw borders around the universe. We study a drop of rain and think we understand the sea. The only thing we can fully understand is ourselves, and even that task is beyond most.”

SOUL SWALLOWERS- D.WALLACE PEACH

The winter rains had abated, and waves of hammered bronze rolled into the cliffs with the rhythm of a heartbeat. The islands of the Shattered Sea crouched like hunchbacked giants tamed by the evening tide.

SOUL SWALLOWERS- D. WALLACE PEACH
Traveling to the sea cities was more than a physical journey for Raze. He returned sharper and dirtier with hard black seeds of malcontent like gravel in his shoes. Except they lodged in his skin and eyes and heart. They grew with weedy hunger.

SOUL SWALLOWERS- D. WALLACE PEACH
Maybe my desires are just poetic dreams pirouetting in the snow.

SOUL SWALLOWERS- D. WALLACE PEACH
Loss, love, war and betrayal- Soul Swallowers is a masterful fantasy novel!

Five+ lovely kisses- A must read!

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first D. Wallace Peach book, but it certainly won't be my last. 

As a regular visitor to her blog, I'm familiar with Peach's lyrical poetry that carries readers away to unexpected places - and this novel is no different.  The world-building is magnificent, and the premise of people swallowing souls to absorb their characteristics is mesmerizing.  With political maneuvering, power plays and alliances, arranged marriages, slavers - this is a complicated, dangerous world, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  Which was hard sometimes, because I wanted to linger over some of the beautiful writing.  

This author has a gift when it comes to characterization.  From the main characters to those who only survive a short while, all are so well-developed.  I especially enjoyed the children.  As with most tiny humans, their actions and comments are humorous and unfiltered, and I chuckled several times.  

Soul Swallowers is an easy 5 stars for me - I finished the second half of the book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.  Now to download the sequel!

[D.L. Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Soul Swallowers” follows Raze Anvrell who turns his back on his family and title after his commoner wife was murdered. He finds some peace working alongside a man who befriends him. But around Raze is political plotting, arranged marriages, slave trading, religious beliefs, and a witch. While I was captivated with Raze’s journey, I loved both Bel and Nellea’s stories. I connected with them both immediately and was rooting for their outcome. A unique aspect of this story was the swallowing of a soul stone or bringing a deceased person’s soul into your body. Having another person’s urges come out, such as fighting skills, empathy or cruelty, and blending that with their personality was fascinating. This is a well-written fantasy that’s infused with poetic descriptions, believable characters, and plenty of action. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series!

[E.M. Swift-Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Unusual and Engaging Fantasy Concept

Raze wanted to marry for love but his father, the king, has other ideas. After this conflict leads to personal tragedy, Raze turns his back on his privileged life as the heir to the throne and tries to escape his family and live a simpler life, but finds no matter what he tries that is not possible, the responsibility of family and friends binds him and the soul of his mentor will not let him walk away…

What I enjoyed:
The cool concept. The main thing that sets this story apart from the classic fantasy, is the notion of the soul stones. When someone dies you can swallow their soulstone and in some ways take on who they were and what they knew. This leads to some really interesting consequences and a world in which you can’t really be sure you ever know anybody as they are only one soul-swallow away from changing their skill set - and even their values.
The characters. In addition to the requisite cast for a fantasy. There were some really interesting ones, like the artist struggling with the warrior soul he had devoured. For me the best was the mystic, guided by a disembodied spirit who the world thinks insane. I was left thinking how amazing the book would have been if more had been written from her perspective.
The writing style Flawless and flowing. A sheer delight which made it easy for the reader to be carried along through the story.


What I struggled with:
Bad introduction of multiple points of view The first 25% of this book is all from one character’s perspective. By then I was expecting the book to be from just that one character’s perspective and I was immersed in the book. But in the next 25% it introduced six new character’s perspectives and my immersion was lost. The author seemed to struggle to master the switch between each perspective jump in a way that the reader could anticipate and so flow with. Instead it felt random, and hard to follow and connect with the characters. Multi-character books are great, but it needs to be established early and have some kind of predictable pattern to it, flagging when to expect a swap, for the reader to run with it seamlessly.

Overall:
An unusual fantasy concept, with a classic fantasy backdrop a bit reminiscent of the world of Conan. This is fantasy with a hard edge but a happy ending.

[Ed Morawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from page one due to the wonderful prose. It’s pretty rare to read such beautiful descriptions:
Raze steeled his resolve, tension linked across his chest and shoulder blades like a skin of mail.

A crimson fire snapped in the hearth, the room overly warm, air thick despite a blustery rain tapping insistent fingers on the windowpanes. On the mantel, a stuffed falcon cast its glass eyes over the black ravenwood table, pewter plates and crystal goblets set for the arrival of dignitaries from Avanoe.

The insinuation that he acted the child fired Raze’s blood...

Twelve bridges spanned the mossy gorges where waterfalls veiled the air with clouds of mist.

Sure pretty prose is one thing, but what about the story you say? Awesome I say: A father and son tale, both right and both wrong. A coming of age story. Family dynamics, political intrigue, war, slave traders, – and the supernatural. It’s all here.

I always start my reviews by assuming it’s going to be five stars, I deduct from there if I find issues. This one was a tough call as all the way to the 80% mark it was still five stars and I thought it was going to be a homerun. But at that point it started to get a little repetitive, which bordered on boring. I mean, how many times does Belizae need to be put in jeopardy and rescued? The first few times were thrilling, after that I wondered what the point was. I know some people like these long drawn out stories, but it started to feel like filler. And then I discover this is going to play over to book 2. So does the bad outweigh the good enough to deduct a star? I’m giving another break on this one.

Wonderfully surprising and entertaining from start to finish.

[Bethany Salway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like finding a rare and lovely color while combing a beach for seaglass. It makes you glad you took the effort to scope out indie books in the first place.

Soul Swallowers opens with a bang - an arranged marriage and a bold act of defiance in the first two pages - and it scarcely lets up from there. There are slow scenes that explore characters and setting, but they are spaced perfectly and add flavor to the epic. The world is believable and well defined, with an interesting political landscape. There's a sizeable number of characters with points of view that come together to tell an exciting story. Most importantly to me, the essential characters are likeable.

My only complaint is that this novel cries out for a sequel, and that sequel does not appear to be written yet.

EDIT: Never mind. I found the sequel! Look here.

[Cathleen Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Ms. Peach has taken a single world-building premise—that people can swallow other people’s souls after they die—and worked it into a fantastic, detailed secondary world. Here, the powerful squabble for ever more influence while the wretches and unlucky are sold into slavery. The main character, Raze, has turned his back on a life of wealth and privilege, and joins another man in building up a small farm, a freehold, assisted by former slaves who soon become an extended family.

But the Byzantine politics of Raze’s former circle soon entangle him again, and he’s forced to re-enter his old world to try to save the members of his new family.

Soul Swallowers transported me to a completely different world, one that I enjoyed exploring and was reluctant to leave. I highly recommend it.

Now here’s the place where you should imagine the radio announcer’s voice saying, “But wait, there’s more…” Because Soul Swallowers is Book One in the Shattered Sea series, which means that when you reach its finale, the story isn’t over. There’s still Book Two, Legacy of Souls.

[Ellen Morris Prewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love this book when it opened with a map of the Shattered Sea, a ship sailing its waters. It didn’t let me down. The world D. Wallace Peach so skillfully creates drew me in; the characters were strong and courageous and admirable. I loved the concept: a soul stone that holds souls and can be swallowed upon death, taking on the characteristics of the person. It raises the very interesting question of the continuing choices we make of who we want to be. And the writing! Such as this gem: “The meadows complexion had matured to a golden brown, freckled with wildflowers.” And, “Rain fell in an opaque curtain as if her home had grown fins overnight and waded into the city's waterfall.” I also loved the pearls of wisdom: “We study a drop of rain and think we understand the sea. The only thing we can fully understand is ourselves, and even that task is beyond most.” A wonderful read all the way around.

[Judi Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rating the set of two books a 5, but the first book wasn't as good as the second. Maybe because I preferred what was going on in the second half. But you have to read both to get the whole story. It's a wonderful fantasy story with an empress and slavers and sea travel between kingdoms/provinces, and sword fights. Not that slavers are wonderful things, but they do play a major role in this story and do occasionally do some good things. I think I would call Raze the main male character in this. It's his story we get into in the beginning and we close with him at the end, plus he is a major figure throughout the whole story. What I really enjoyed was that so many of the secondary characters got such major roles as well. That's probably why this was a two book story. It's very rich in action as well as detail. There's tons of emotion in it, too. There's jealousy, hate, friendship, loyalty, sadness, loss, betrayal, love, and probably some I've missed. Oh, there's some pride and happiness, too. Just in case you thought it was all a downer.
The world building is very good and the map was worth peeking at from time to time so you knew where things or people were, especially later on. The magic system was awesome. Initially, I found it kinda weird, but then I got used to it and saw how it was intended to be used and how it had become abused and dangerous. Then the next in line for the throne got her little buddy who explained to her what was really supposed to happen to the souls and she got a case of the smarts. Well, she called it wisdom.
Part of the "religion" in this is that everyone wears this pendant around their neck that holds a little pearl. When the person dies, their soul is caught in the pearl and the pendant seals up to preserve it. The family of the deceased can keep it or sell it to the temple or even just toss it away if they don't care. The temple documents each one they get: who, age, job, personality, quirks, skills, weaknesses. Then people could come buy what they want. For instance, if you're a soldier, but you're not very good with a sword you could buy the soul of a soldier who was a great swordsman and died of old age. You open the pendant and swallow the pearl. All of a sudden, he is a swordsman. As this soldier gets promoted and needs leadership ability, he could buy the soul of a great general. Now he has the leadership skills he needs. Has anyone spotted what the drawback could be? Well, I've already revealed enough. Read this two book set and find out what happens when you swallow too many or the wrong kind of souls. Recommended.

[Alex Craigie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a realm where people carry an empty soulstone. When they die, their soul enters this stone and someone else – a family member perhaps – can take this ‘pearl’ of soul and swallow it. When this happens, that person’s character influences yours. This can be a wonderful thing, an enriching experience, but what if that character hid part of its identity from you when they were alive? What if they had dark thoughts? What if they were secretly lying and manipulative? Countless numbers of these souls are stored in a tower for people to buy. What if you want to take control of situations and there are souls of successful strategists and cunning plotters available? Those who guard these souls advise against swallowing more than two or three as the conflict inside can drive people mad, but Sajem is an unscrupulous slaver who prides himself on his strength and swallows multiple souls of those who excelled at killing. His strength and cruelty are notorious.
Soul Swallowers is peopled by complex, three-dimensional, wonderful characters whose exploits matter because I become so invested in them. The foreign kingdoms are also convincingly realised – strange, different but also familiar.
At the heart of this book is human behaviour in all its forms. There is love and hate, jealousy and generosity, respect and contempt, honesty and deceit. These characteristics are borne on a superbly crafted plot that swept me along. Central to the narrative is political manoeuvering within the court circles of different provinces. Marriages are arranged purely to forge powerful alliances, taking away the freedom from the wealthy sons and daughters to make their own choices. For those who are poor and powerless, some have no freedom whatsoever, sold or stolen into slavery or bondage.
Into this world of deceit and brutality are characters, such as Raze, who treat others with kindness and respect. There are delightful, burgeoning romances and heroic deeds. There is joy, but it exists hand-in-hand with tragedy. This is a roller-coastering tale that had me gripped from the first page to the last.
I’ve already started reading the sequel.

[Sally Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read The Unraveling of the Veil series, my expectations for Soul Swallowers was high. I knew that there would be immaculate world building and interesting and memorable characters, and I certainly was not disappointed.

We follow the lives of those who are destined to be rulers and others who will always be bonded. The mantle of leadership does not always pass from father to son or daughter and old grievances and rifts threaten the peace of the kingdoms that lay along the shores of the Shattered Sea. Politics and relationships are complicated as characters swallow the souls of those who might enhance their given powers or in some cases add a new edge to advance their agenda. Some souls bring their peaceful intentions but others are far more dangerous. Some are gifted to those they love but most are a commodity and eagerly absorbed in quantities that can bring madness.

As the story develops  we follow the central character Raze, noble born but who has chosen to walk away having suffered a devastating loss., We meet his close companions and those who are a threat to his life on the freehold he considers his home and we see the effects of soul swallowing on the innocent and the evil. We are drawn into the intrigue as rivals jostle for power and control over other kingdoms and manipulate their own children for gain. Whilst Raze might wish to remain on the periphery of this turmoil, events and new alliances force him into taking a stand.

Throw in the slavers who bend the law to suit their own purposes and are willing to kidnap and kill to achieve fill their coffers; you have a fast paced adventure that is interlaced with moments of spiritual and thought provoking reflections on the absorption of souls.

I can highly recommend Soul Swallowers to those who enjoy both fantasy and excellently written adventures and look forward to reading the second book Legacy of Souls.

[Linnea Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What attracted me to read "Soul Swallowers" by D. Wallace Peach was the premise that a person could absorb other souls to gain insight, wisdom, and wisdom to a path of understanding. This is an epic fantasy that primarily follows Lord Raze, who is embittered because he believes his father orders the murder of his young wife after he refused to marry a noble girl for a political alliance. Brimming with rage, Raze seeks refuge in the Ravenwood, the haunt of unbound ghosts, After his elderly mentor dies, Raze swallows his soulstone to absorb his wise essence and to assuage his anger. Raze begins a humble life of raising horses and taking in other beleaguered people into his household. His quiet life is disrupted when his brother finds him at Ravenhood and embroils him in the web of political corruption and the dangers of slave traders roaming the countryside. Raze must finally come to terms with his past.

Author D. Wallace Peach creates a fantastical world with the premise that people can swallow the souls of others to continue their legacies. However, there is a downside of swallowing too many souls; it may make you go mad or absorb the evil characteristics of the dead person. The world-building is rich in detail and the sensory description heightens your senses, such as: "The morning had dawned with a sultry sun, the air ripe with humidity, a host of crickets snapping in the dry grass. The tale is told from different points of view so you can understand the underpinnings of political schemes. The switch in points of view sometimes impacted the evenness of the pacing and dampened the tension.

For readers who love unique world-building and a cast of memorable characters, I recommend that you read the first book, Soul Swallowers, in the Shattered Sea series.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is hard-core fantasy with the twist of a unique concept. People can Swallow Souls of others to gain their knowledge and basically their legacy-but this can also go wrong and it doesn't always make one a better person. The souls create a secondary character within each character and adds interesting elements to the story, especially with the fight scenes. I was engrossed with this core concept and felt it transcended the page. The novel is well edited, almost too edited; the only issue I had is that there is a lack of that chaotic, free flow of words. The sentences are lyrical but sometimes felt constructed for my tastes; like someone trying to write like an author, giving that appearance artificially instead of naturally letting the pen flow not caring about how it would be read and judged. This can work as an advantage or disadvantage-it depends on the reader. There are some lines in here that just made my mind burst by their cleverness. Other times it's a bit forced-mostly it's well done. The world building is extremely thorough, but the characters and their conflicts are the prime focus, magnified through the soul concept. The beginning section is slower but by the end I was entranced with every page and wanted to see the outcome of Raze's journey.

[H.R.R. Gorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

This book was everything I'd want, indie book or not. The characters were complex, the twists reasonable yet unexpected, and the political situation was at the forefront. The fantasy elements of literal soul swallowing was fit perfectly in with the way the politics worked. Peach's writing style has always been one of my favorites, and I'm thrilled to say that her word choice, sentence structure, formatting, and paragraph breaks all pleased me.

Basically, I loved this book. I haven't read The Game of Thrones, but I get the feeling the politics and build of Soul Swallowers would please fans of that more famous book. This book does contain some rather hard subjects (slavery and abuse being primary among these), so it may not be for everyone. Even despite the difficult subjects, Peach does an excellent job qualifying the characters' experiences to show the evils within the world.

I recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy and doesn't think the slavery and abuse pieces of the book will get to them.

Biggest complaint: Not a fan of the title. I know it's just a personal opinion, but that's really all I can say that I truly disliked.

[Lucretia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soul Swallowers is a beautifully written novel, with some turns of phrase and descriptions that will give you pause as you let them roll around your mind. Also rolling around are themes set in fantasy but with real world implications. I enjoyed the soul swallowing elements a lot, especially contemplating the repercussions of swallowing the wrong one, or too many. The need for an underclass was also explored in a way that could be as deep or shallow as the reader wishes. The novel was very well edited and had a lovely flow and tempo that was almost lyrical in places.

I made an immediate connection to Raze with his heartbreak at the onset of the story, though it waned as stakes and tension were swallowed by the leisurely pace. I thoroughly enjoyed the parts with some of the secondary characters as they were filled with tension, internal and external, and action. This is certainly a sweeping epic sort of story that is a beautiful journey if a touch meandering in middle. Fantasy fans won’t mind, as the details are spun with such a deft hand you find yourself strolling along with the characters.

It ends with a heartwarming message and a glimpse at the next part.

[F. Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very unusual fantasy read an therefore very interesting. I'd recommend to give it a go.

The story
We are following many characters in a very rich world, looking at events from many different perspectives. The depth of the background is fascinating. This isn't a fantasy world where the details stops wherever the hero doesn't look. This is a world far more intense. The story takes its time to follow the protagonists in a realistic manner.

The characters
They are well depicted, maybe a bit too many for the reader who needs to keep track of all of them. But still, they are very likable (or not) in the details provided.

The magic
The author looks at the effect brought by swallowing souls. No grand spells here but something more intimate.

Conclusion
If you want to take your time moving in a detailled fantasy world, looking at all its facets, go for this book.

[Bruce Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as a started this book, I thought to myself, “here is a lady who really knows how to write”. The command of language is impressive and avoids the amateurish over-explaining/telling not showing I’ve sometimes found in other indie books. This one reads really well.

I liked the central conceit of being able to swallow souls and take on parts of the past of other people. Reminded me a bit of the Matrix movies in a weird way. It was well done.

My only quibble – and it isn’t a major one – is that sometimes things seemed to happen very quickly, with little build up. Suddenly someone dies, or suddenly we’re in a different country, for example.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the series.