What do you think?
Rate this book
Soul Stones #2
Soul Shade
Death lies around every corner.
The newly crowned queen of Aralith, Maya Drygo, is reeling from the loss of her father and the destruction of her city. With the threat of war looming beyond the horizon, she must race to rally the kingdom against an unknown threat, but trouble lies closer to home than she realizes.
When Maya’s refusal to forgive Will Sumner for her father’s death leads to a difference of opinion around battle preparations, Will storms off to take matters into his own hands. Now Maya is left to navigate the politics of being queen on her own.
In the cutthroat realm of lords and ladies, Maya learns everything is not as it appears. With no one but a stranger standing beside her, she realizes if she’s to survive she’ll have to give what she never has before: trust.
The kingdom is falling apart, the gods of old are reawakening, and a bloodthirsty enemy stands between her and the peace she’s fought so hard to protect.
The newly crowned queen of Aralith, Maya Drygo, is reeling from the loss of her father and the destruction of her city. With the threat of war looming beyond the horizon, she must race to rally the kingdom against an unknown threat, but trouble lies closer to home than she realizes.
When Maya’s refusal to forgive Will Sumner for her father’s death leads to a difference of opinion around battle preparations, Will storms off to take matters into his own hands. Now Maya is left to navigate the politics of being queen on her own.
In the cutthroat realm of lords and ladies, Maya learns everything is not as it appears. With no one but a stranger standing beside her, she realizes if she’s to survive she’ll have to give what she never has before: trust.
The kingdom is falling apart, the gods of old are reawakening, and a bloodthirsty enemy stands between her and the peace she’s fought so hard to protect.
- GenresFantasy
466 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2018
About the author
T.L. Branson
18 books303 followersT.L. Branson is the author of the Soul Stones series. Branson started writing when he was eighteen and has contributed articles to several blogs and websites over the years. Soul Render is his debut novel in a planned trilogy. He finds his inspiration from the kings (and queen) of story, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, George Lucas, and J.K. Rowling. Born in Pennsylvania, he currently lives in California with his wife and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 1, 2026
Maya Drygo, daughter of the King and resident evil overlord, is desperate to keep her kingdom together.
"...I can't dwell on it right now. I've got an execution to get to."
With the death of her father, she finds herself holding the reigns of a splintering kingdom and no matter what she does, it is just falling apart.
Will Summer, one of the very few who owns a soul stone, may have...totally caused her father's death.
And while Maya objectively knew her father was a bad person (downright evil, to be honest), she still struggles to look at Will, knowing that he killed the king.
Meanwhile, there is another evil poisoning the land, and it is up to Will to stop it...but without Maya on his side, does he even stand a chance?
This was a surprisingly great sequel!
"What's the worst that can happen?"
I loved the world building of the first one and jumping back into Soul Stone world was a breath of fresh air!
The pacing was go, go, go! Every chapter just upped the energy so much and I loved it!
I really enjoyed Will's character this round, he's grown so much since book 1!
I think Maya was a bit over-the-top with her distrust in Will, especially considering their history but it wasn't enough to spoil my overall enjoyment.
And, of course, the humor of this book just absolutely got me. It's seriously one of my favorite parts of the series!
With thanks to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review
"I'm as serious as a beard on a goat."
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
February 13, 2019
“Soul Shade” begins where the first book ends, the assassination of King Alexander Drygo.
Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
October 5, 2018
This one takes the story to a whole new level. I can rate my own books right? Writing is such a wonderful adventure and I can't wait to see where the characters take me next.
September 28, 2018
Never mind Winter! The elves are coming!
I was ridiculously excited to get my paws on this just prior to release. Soul Shade picks up where Soul Render left off, set across roughly a fortnight period and, whilst I thought Soul Render was a good solid YA Fantasy, Soul Shade completely blew it out of the water.
I love a book with a plot twist I don’t see coming, this beauty proceeded to catch me out THREE times. I think at this point I can safely say Branson is deserving of the genius plot twists crown (and possibly owes my neighbours an apology after I repeatedly yelled “What?! What?!” at my kindle!)
More action, more fantasy critters and all-out War on the horizon, Soul Shade is a high-stakes adventure. Fans of Maya and Khate (yay!) rejoice as they both have big parts in Soul Shade along with familiar faces such as Ocken, Khal, Robert and Will (who I speculate I may just never like, although he’s mildly growing on me) and new characters who are utterly cracking. Sowena is a new favourite for me and look out for Bryn, he made me laugh. Any good book should always be guilty of making you both laugh and cry!
“Lass, when you get to be as old as me you learn real quick you can’t change the past and there’s no use being upset about it. You’ll only make yourself feel worse.” he said. “Try as you might you can’t bring him back. Just promise yourself never to *snips spoiler* again, and do your best to uphold it.”
Yep, I want a Bryn.
If you haven’t read Branson before, think Rick Riordan meets David Eddings. Soul Shade has been written accessibly, I think you could jump on here and not have too many problems, but I do recommend starting with the collected prequel novellas Soul Siphon: Set includes four books: Midnight Blade, Kingsbane, Ash and Steel, Sentinels of the Stone. Equally if, like me, some of the finer details of the previous books have slipped your mind, Branson has your back with the odd mini re-cap just naturally cropping up. (I don’t recall getting the back story as to why Ocken had called his late weapon Melody, mystery now resolved!)
All in, this is such a hidden gem (or should I say powerful soul stone?) and the way each book has raised the bar, I can’t wait to find out what will happen next in the quartet. It’s a wonderful indie fantasy series and I can’t recommend Soul Shade enough. It’s a great adventure and it’ll keep you guessing - this is NOT a story you’ll be able to predict!
I was ridiculously excited to get my paws on this just prior to release. Soul Shade picks up where Soul Render left off, set across roughly a fortnight period and, whilst I thought Soul Render was a good solid YA Fantasy, Soul Shade completely blew it out of the water.
I love a book with a plot twist I don’t see coming, this beauty proceeded to catch me out THREE times. I think at this point I can safely say Branson is deserving of the genius plot twists crown (and possibly owes my neighbours an apology after I repeatedly yelled “What?! What?!” at my kindle!)
More action, more fantasy critters and all-out War on the horizon, Soul Shade is a high-stakes adventure. Fans of Maya and Khate (yay!) rejoice as they both have big parts in Soul Shade along with familiar faces such as Ocken, Khal, Robert and Will (who I speculate I may just never like, although he’s mildly growing on me) and new characters who are utterly cracking. Sowena is a new favourite for me and look out for Bryn, he made me laugh. Any good book should always be guilty of making you both laugh and cry!
“Lass, when you get to be as old as me you learn real quick you can’t change the past and there’s no use being upset about it. You’ll only make yourself feel worse.” he said. “Try as you might you can’t bring him back. Just promise yourself never to *snips spoiler* again, and do your best to uphold it.”
Yep, I want a Bryn.
If you haven’t read Branson before, think Rick Riordan meets David Eddings. Soul Shade has been written accessibly, I think you could jump on here and not have too many problems, but I do recommend starting with the collected prequel novellas Soul Siphon: Set includes four books: Midnight Blade, Kingsbane, Ash and Steel, Sentinels of the Stone. Equally if, like me, some of the finer details of the previous books have slipped your mind, Branson has your back with the odd mini re-cap just naturally cropping up. (I don’t recall getting the back story as to why Ocken had called his late weapon Melody, mystery now resolved!)
All in, this is such a hidden gem (or should I say powerful soul stone?) and the way each book has raised the bar, I can’t wait to find out what will happen next in the quartet. It’s a wonderful indie fantasy series and I can’t recommend Soul Shade enough. It’s a great adventure and it’ll keep you guessing - this is NOT a story you’ll be able to predict!
September 28, 2018
An action packed thrill ride. This book contains many layers with well developed characters that are familiar to all readers of this series. Also many new characters which you will be surprised by. Some live some die. New soulstones are found and a few soulfiends to deal with. Some self sacrificing heroines will have you tearing up with heartbreak. Some have lost their families and homes and have no city to return to. The ending describes an epic battle between Queen Maya’s forces and a large gathering of elves. With so much happening it is hard to tell which direction Mr. Branson will take it. Plus there is the dreaded cliffhanger at the end. Nonetheless, this bodes well for an exciting third book in the series which I hope will not take as long to write as this one did.
September 26, 2018
Almost a masterpiece.
I sorta knew the deal with the way half the characters were related from the beginning, but that was okay, since that always happens for me. In fact, most stories are very predictable, and since I have read alot of everything, I now am able to get a good idea of how a story will go from the first two chapters; until now. This book actually managed to surprise me a few times, and the ending was a colossal change from what I had expected.
Congratulations T. L. Branson on a truly captivating read. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who hasn't read it yet.
I sorta knew the deal with the way half the characters were related from the beginning, but that was okay, since that always happens for me. In fact, most stories are very predictable, and since I have read alot of everything, I now am able to get a good idea of how a story will go from the first two chapters; until now. This book actually managed to surprise me a few times, and the ending was a colossal change from what I had expected.
Congratulations T. L. Branson on a truly captivating read. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who hasn't read it yet.
January 10, 2019
A good but bloody read
I enjoyed reading this book series. The plot was different from other fantasy books I've read and the action is nonstop. I appreciated the character development and their time in the story as it encouraged me to follow each one's place in the tale. The only detractor, (at least to me), was the frequent, violent and bloody incidents! Though they have their place in the plot, my mind felt bombarded with, (as I said - at least to me), constant visuals of the gory scenes described in the text. I didn't need all that to enjoy this otherwise well written work. It actually made me have to put the book down rather than read nonstop as I usually do with good reads. I would recommend this series for adults only as I feel that anyone younger doesn't need more of the violent pictures that already permeate most other media.
I enjoyed reading this book series. The plot was different from other fantasy books I've read and the action is nonstop. I appreciated the character development and their time in the story as it encouraged me to follow each one's place in the tale. The only detractor, (at least to me), was the frequent, violent and bloody incidents! Though they have their place in the plot, my mind felt bombarded with, (as I said - at least to me), constant visuals of the gory scenes described in the text. I didn't need all that to enjoy this otherwise well written work. It actually made me have to put the book down rather than read nonstop as I usually do with good reads. I would recommend this series for adults only as I feel that anyone younger doesn't need more of the violent pictures that already permeate most other media.
September 21, 2018
A very fast paced, full of action novel, with great battle scenes between mortals and Gods as more humans seem to be finding soul stones. This is one hell of an epic fantasy novel and T.L. Branson seems to be strengthening his writing with every book he publishes. I absolutely enjoyed reading this, his second full length novel in the Soul Stones Series and love the way it ended leaving scope for continuing the story. Our heroes are brilliantly portrayed, Maya, Khate, Jade and Sowena are really kick-ass female characters and Ocken, Will, Robert and Khal are loyal to a fault and nothing daunts them. All have great fighting skills and the magic of the stones of course gives them all that extra edge when fighting against Gods and Goddesses. I just hope we do not have too long a wait till the next book is published as this was too exciting to put down and I in fact read it in one sitting.
January 10, 2019
Lightyears better than the first book.
The pacing was great. Our protagonists are now dealing with the fallout of (again) Will's impulsive decisions. The kingdom is in chaos, the elves are attacking, and everything is falling apart. It's great! We meet some new characters, each with their own backstories and motivations.
I was able to guess the relationship of the one character early on, but that did not detract from the enjoyment of the book.
The ending, including a heartbreaking plot twist, raises the stakes, yet again. I'm looking forward to seeing how T.L. Branson resolves the series.
The pacing was great. Our protagonists are now dealing with the fallout of (again) Will's impulsive decisions. The kingdom is in chaos, the elves are attacking, and everything is falling apart. It's great! We meet some new characters, each with their own backstories and motivations.
I was able to guess the relationship of the one character early on, but that did not detract from the enjoyment of the book.
The ending, including a heartbreaking plot twist, raises the stakes, yet again. I'm looking forward to seeing how T.L. Branson resolves the series.
November 14, 2018
I Couldn't Ask For More In A Fantasy Story!
Once every 10,000 years or thereabouts, a story is told so well that it shatters our pre-conceptions of what a ‘good’ story actually is. It gets our neurons pumping, synapses firing and our hearts beating exponentially faster with each passing moment. The story isn’t just told or read. It’s lived. It becomes a fundamental part of you and you want to read it again just as soon as you’ve finished. Well dear friends, this is not a ‘good’ book… This story passed ‘good’ and never looked back. Soul Shade is an absolute marvel!
T.L. Branson has a kind of trend with his book writing style in the fact that he makes EVERY SINGLE ONE more packed with crazy twists, action, humor and even better storylines with some pretty cool things for those who pay attention, than the last. His books (including the novellas that lead up to Soul Render) all mete this out. He does not disappoint when it comes to delivering an all-out thrill ride of epic proportions!
I was not prepared for going from the full-to-bursting to flattened and broken hearted feeling that was to occur in this book. That said, it made this a real journey down an action packed yet emotional road to see how Will, Maya, Khate, Ocken *Ocken is my favorite! It’s okay if he’s not yours too, not everyone can be right ;-)* and the rest of the bunch will handle the potentially cataclysmic events taking place.
I really enjoy how Soul Shade gets me hooked on an idea just to flip it upside down and really kept me guessing the whole time. Not everyone can do that but this Branson guy has it figured out. I absolutely love being surprised when I’m reading a book and whether it was a crazy twist or a terrible situation sprung out of nowhere to lure me in, this book brings the hook; line and sinker to catch me and leave me as breathless as a fish out of water.
I don’t want to give anything away here with specifics so I’ll just say I really do enjoy the kinds of magic and the application of them in Soul Shade. They have just enough familiarity to make you feel comfortable in the onset and a bunch of ‘wow’ factor that I’ve never seen to make you want more. The seamless blending of these unique abilities with the unforgettable characters *Yes, I’m back to talking about my attachment to fictional characters. Book people are people too :-)* is what propels T.L. Branson to the top echelon of the fantasy realm in my opinion. *Which is a good one, just ask me!*
Soul Shade is a hot-rod with the brakes torn off. It doesn’t slow for twists or turns, just burns epic fantasy rubber all over the literary highway. So grab a copy, buckle up and take this baby for a spin. It’s a ride you’re not likely to forget.
Happy Reading!
Once every 10,000 years or thereabouts, a story is told so well that it shatters our pre-conceptions of what a ‘good’ story actually is. It gets our neurons pumping, synapses firing and our hearts beating exponentially faster with each passing moment. The story isn’t just told or read. It’s lived. It becomes a fundamental part of you and you want to read it again just as soon as you’ve finished. Well dear friends, this is not a ‘good’ book… This story passed ‘good’ and never looked back. Soul Shade is an absolute marvel!
T.L. Branson has a kind of trend with his book writing style in the fact that he makes EVERY SINGLE ONE more packed with crazy twists, action, humor and even better storylines with some pretty cool things for those who pay attention, than the last. His books (including the novellas that lead up to Soul Render) all mete this out. He does not disappoint when it comes to delivering an all-out thrill ride of epic proportions!
I was not prepared for going from the full-to-bursting to flattened and broken hearted feeling that was to occur in this book. That said, it made this a real journey down an action packed yet emotional road to see how Will, Maya, Khate, Ocken *Ocken is my favorite! It’s okay if he’s not yours too, not everyone can be right ;-)* and the rest of the bunch will handle the potentially cataclysmic events taking place.
I really enjoy how Soul Shade gets me hooked on an idea just to flip it upside down and really kept me guessing the whole time. Not everyone can do that but this Branson guy has it figured out. I absolutely love being surprised when I’m reading a book and whether it was a crazy twist or a terrible situation sprung out of nowhere to lure me in, this book brings the hook; line and sinker to catch me and leave me as breathless as a fish out of water.
I don’t want to give anything away here with specifics so I’ll just say I really do enjoy the kinds of magic and the application of them in Soul Shade. They have just enough familiarity to make you feel comfortable in the onset and a bunch of ‘wow’ factor that I’ve never seen to make you want more. The seamless blending of these unique abilities with the unforgettable characters *Yes, I’m back to talking about my attachment to fictional characters. Book people are people too :-)* is what propels T.L. Branson to the top echelon of the fantasy realm in my opinion. *Which is a good one, just ask me!*
Soul Shade is a hot-rod with the brakes torn off. It doesn’t slow for twists or turns, just burns epic fantasy rubber all over the literary highway. So grab a copy, buckle up and take this baby for a spin. It’s a ride you’re not likely to forget.
Happy Reading!
October 23, 2018
**Possible Spoilers**
The reader is immediately hooked with a clearly strong female heroine with a direct relation to the late, King Alexander Drygo. It's worth mention that she, Khate, is a woman in her forties which is a refreshing twist in the genre that is typically immersed in the minds of teens. Point of view changes are still frequent but fluid and well defined. The new characters are phenomenal, and the new relationship developments are beautifully intertwined with the main story line. Sowena is a character that is difficult to like, but she makes a terrific turn around about a quarter of the way through the book. Between her and Khate, plus Maya, the reader could hardly want for a better mashup of strong female leads. The story arc holds with tales like Pirates of the Caribbean with multiple protagonists on multiple adventures at once. With the addition of seafaring adventures, there is a distinct pirate-y feel to many of the escapades while the world is also now fully intertwined with elves that invite a more high fiction tone to the various ongoing quests. Branson is hitting all of the sub-genres of fantasy with this one. Will's power manifests itself more in Book 2 than it did in Book 1, which was satisfying! There are plenty of twists and turns, and with each one the plot thickens. (Though I may be a little dense, because in retrospect, all of the clues are so bright, but when we find out who Khate is, that was my personal favorite!) Some of the dialogue becomes predictable, but in an anecdotal, had-to-say-it, that-was-classic, chuckle kind of way. Soul Render was the adventure of a young boy with a rebel's cause who wound up with the powers of a goddess. The scope was fairly small, but in Soul Shade, the scope widens significantly, and it is the stage setter for the world conflict. Not to mention that by the end, Will Sumner seems poised upon a precarious precipice. T.L. Branson fully delivers with a five star adventure!
The reader is immediately hooked with a clearly strong female heroine with a direct relation to the late, King Alexander Drygo. It's worth mention that she, Khate, is a woman in her forties which is a refreshing twist in the genre that is typically immersed in the minds of teens. Point of view changes are still frequent but fluid and well defined. The new characters are phenomenal, and the new relationship developments are beautifully intertwined with the main story line. Sowena is a character that is difficult to like, but she makes a terrific turn around about a quarter of the way through the book. Between her and Khate, plus Maya, the reader could hardly want for a better mashup of strong female leads. The story arc holds with tales like Pirates of the Caribbean with multiple protagonists on multiple adventures at once. With the addition of seafaring adventures, there is a distinct pirate-y feel to many of the escapades while the world is also now fully intertwined with elves that invite a more high fiction tone to the various ongoing quests. Branson is hitting all of the sub-genres of fantasy with this one. Will's power manifests itself more in Book 2 than it did in Book 1, which was satisfying! There are plenty of twists and turns, and with each one the plot thickens. (Though I may be a little dense, because in retrospect, all of the clues are so bright, but when we find out who Khate is, that was my personal favorite!) Some of the dialogue becomes predictable, but in an anecdotal, had-to-say-it, that-was-classic, chuckle kind of way. Soul Render was the adventure of a young boy with a rebel's cause who wound up with the powers of a goddess. The scope was fairly small, but in Soul Shade, the scope widens significantly, and it is the stage setter for the world conflict. Not to mention that by the end, Will Sumner seems poised upon a precarious precipice. T.L. Branson fully delivers with a five star adventure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2018
Soul Shade, the second book in the Soul Stones series has more action, adventure, romance, and intrigue. The relationships are complicated and the characters are more interesting. Will and Maya have matured since the first book, but they don’t see eye to eye. Because of their differences, the team ends up on different missions. There are new players too like Khate, a warrior woman who has lost her family and is in search of a soul stone, Sowena, a small-town girl who dreams of greatness, and Thallan, an elf who joins Maya’s quest. The story keeps moving with plenty of twists and turns, including the ending. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next!
I received an ARC of this book. This is an honest and voluntary review.
I received an ARC of this book. This is an honest and voluntary review.
October 13, 2018
Soul Shade is an excellent sequel to Soul Render. Maya, Will, and their allies know that the elves are on the offensive, but they don’t know when the attack will come. A few new people come onto the scene, with some surprising connections to current characters. There’s plenty of interpersonal conflict between the sometimes reluctant allies to keep things interesting. I think Khate is my favorite character so far. The author gives us plenty of battle scenes, which never ceases to delight me.
I occasionally struggle to keep track of all the characters and how they’re connected.
Overall a great read!
I occasionally struggle to keep track of all the characters and how they’re connected.
Overall a great read!
October 20, 2018
Wow
Wow wow wow! I need a nap. Will and Maya are brave and exasperating. They are young and don't know what they are doing. Thank God they learn fast. Action packed. Can't wait until the next book. So good.
Wow wow wow! I need a nap. Will and Maya are brave and exasperating. They are young and don't know what they are doing. Thank God they learn fast. Action packed. Can't wait until the next book. So good.
October 20, 2018
Great sequel
TL did an excellent job with book two of his series. Fast paced, great plot, and very enjoyable new characters and new parts of Aralith for the reader to discover. Looking forward to the next book!
TL did an excellent job with book two of his series. Fast paced, great plot, and very enjoyable new characters and new parts of Aralith for the reader to discover. Looking forward to the next book!
August 25, 2019
Great
This is a great continuation of the series. I really enjoy the interaction between the characters and that the characters learn from their mistakes. Definitely recommend reading this if you have finished the first book.
This is a great continuation of the series. I really enjoy the interaction between the characters and that the characters learn from their mistakes. Definitely recommend reading this if you have finished the first book.
Read
November 11, 2019Non stop excitement cover to cover
Excellent book. The characters are believable and the action is non stop. Fantasy isn't my preferred read, but once I got into the first book in the series I was hooked. Can't wait for the next one.
Excellent book. The characters are believable and the action is non stop. Fantasy isn't my preferred read, but once I got into the first book in the series I was hooked. Can't wait for the next one.
September 27, 2018
Soul Shade by T.L. Branson was an absolutely wonderful addition to the Soul Stone series. I keep thinking these book can't get better, but somehow... they do! I had SO much fun reading this!
I've said it before... If you're a fan of brilliant fantasy novels with wonderful characters, a dash of humor, and a splash of brutal violence, you need to check out this series by T.L. Branson!
In chapter one, I love that we start with a bang. We’re with Khate and she is running through an alley, being chased. During that chase, we get a quick two paragraphs that recap what had happened in the first book in a short, but very effective way! I just love when authors do this! It's so helpful to the readers.
In following chapters, when we are reintroduced to the other characters, there are very short bits added in to recap previous events as well. I especially appreciated the quick sentence or two that the author included here and there which reminded the reader of the specific soul stone and the related goddess each character had.
I really enjoyed the new character we met, Sowena Restarick! She was so stubborn when it came to what she believed in. She attracted quite a bit of poor luck, but she was so brave! I really loved how much she adored and looked up to the queen.
I loved learning more about the soul stones and how each of them worked! I especially the Stone Mirror and I was so happy to see how the power from that one played into the story.
Throughout the book, the chapters jump between groups of our favorite characters. Toward the middle, I began to get really antsy to see how it would play out. I couldn’t wait to see if they would all eventually come together or if they would keep just barely missing one another.
One of my favorite elements of the story was how well each storyline was added and when in the overall organization of the chapters. It flowed SO well. However, it also made it impossible to put the book down as many chapters ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I just couldn’t wait to see what happened when we saw that character again a few chapters later!
Speaking of flow, I love how the author made use of the method where one character is thinking about something or doing something, and then we immediately move to another character that is thinking about or doing something similar. One example of this was in one section of chapter 24. In this chapter, Ocken was thinking about Khate, wondering if she was still in Celesti or if she had moved. He thinks to himself “Maybe they lived in Penrythe now for all he knew.” Shortly after that, the chapter breaks and we’re with Khate, who was walking off of a ship and entering a town a few miles from Penrythe.
This book didn’t hold back at all when it came to the action and brutality. And my goodness, the deaths of some of the characters came as a total shock to me! Especially one near the end. That one is going to take me a while to get over...
My favorite passages:
Ascending the lone step, she pushed open the door. A cacophony of terrible music, raucous laughter, and clattering mugs greeter her - the pungent odor of sweat and stale beer accompanying it.
Most everyone knew that if a sea captain wasn’t on his ship, he was at the bar.
The time for dreams was over. Now was the time for action.
It all felt like a dream to her. In some regards it seemed too fanciful- like it was straight out of a novel. Lava pits, dragons, magical stones, and a narrow escape? A year ago, Khate wouldn’t have believed any of it. Well, besides the magical stone bit. Those dastardly things had a way of pushing into her life.
Robert's face was flat and stalwart, staring straight ahead as he walk. He was five feet in front of Ocken but he looked a million miles away. If Ocken didn’t do something fast, Robert was going to go into shock.
He could play the “What if” game all day long. He knew he shouldn’t. He understood that dwelling on hypotheticals would only lead to guilt and depression. He couldn’t change the past so there was no use dwelling on it.
“Besides, I could use a little spice in my life.”
“If you had any more spice you’d have to change your name to Basil,” Bryn said.
The shadows were her element. It’s where she went to unwind and get away from the stresses of life. Stepping up onto a crate, she hopped over onto a wooden awning that stood out over someone’s back door. One giant leap upward and her fingers grabbed the lip of the rooftop ledge. Khate pulled herself up and lay down on the stone wall, crossing her arms behind her head.
Ocken roared and charged, picking up an elf and using his body as a shield as he barreled his way though, punching a hole for Will, Robert, and Sowena to slip through.
My final thoughts:
A wonderful follow up to the first book in the series! I very highly recommend checking out both Soul Render and Soul Shade as soon as you can.
And yet again... I just cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
I've said it before... If you're a fan of brilliant fantasy novels with wonderful characters, a dash of humor, and a splash of brutal violence, you need to check out this series by T.L. Branson!
In chapter one, I love that we start with a bang. We’re with Khate and she is running through an alley, being chased. During that chase, we get a quick two paragraphs that recap what had happened in the first book in a short, but very effective way! I just love when authors do this! It's so helpful to the readers.
In following chapters, when we are reintroduced to the other characters, there are very short bits added in to recap previous events as well. I especially appreciated the quick sentence or two that the author included here and there which reminded the reader of the specific soul stone and the related goddess each character had.
I really enjoyed the new character we met, Sowena Restarick! She was so stubborn when it came to what she believed in. She attracted quite a bit of poor luck, but she was so brave! I really loved how much she adored and looked up to the queen.
I loved learning more about the soul stones and how each of them worked! I especially the Stone Mirror and I was so happy to see how the power from that one played into the story.
Throughout the book, the chapters jump between groups of our favorite characters. Toward the middle, I began to get really antsy to see how it would play out. I couldn’t wait to see if they would all eventually come together or if they would keep just barely missing one another.
One of my favorite elements of the story was how well each storyline was added and when in the overall organization of the chapters. It flowed SO well. However, it also made it impossible to put the book down as many chapters ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I just couldn’t wait to see what happened when we saw that character again a few chapters later!
Speaking of flow, I love how the author made use of the method where one character is thinking about something or doing something, and then we immediately move to another character that is thinking about or doing something similar. One example of this was in one section of chapter 24. In this chapter, Ocken was thinking about Khate, wondering if she was still in Celesti or if she had moved. He thinks to himself “Maybe they lived in Penrythe now for all he knew.” Shortly after that, the chapter breaks and we’re with Khate, who was walking off of a ship and entering a town a few miles from Penrythe.
This book didn’t hold back at all when it came to the action and brutality. And my goodness, the deaths of some of the characters came as a total shock to me! Especially one near the end. That one is going to take me a while to get over...
My favorite passages:
Ascending the lone step, she pushed open the door. A cacophony of terrible music, raucous laughter, and clattering mugs greeter her - the pungent odor of sweat and stale beer accompanying it.
Most everyone knew that if a sea captain wasn’t on his ship, he was at the bar.
The time for dreams was over. Now was the time for action.
It all felt like a dream to her. In some regards it seemed too fanciful- like it was straight out of a novel. Lava pits, dragons, magical stones, and a narrow escape? A year ago, Khate wouldn’t have believed any of it. Well, besides the magical stone bit. Those dastardly things had a way of pushing into her life.
Robert's face was flat and stalwart, staring straight ahead as he walk. He was five feet in front of Ocken but he looked a million miles away. If Ocken didn’t do something fast, Robert was going to go into shock.
He could play the “What if” game all day long. He knew he shouldn’t. He understood that dwelling on hypotheticals would only lead to guilt and depression. He couldn’t change the past so there was no use dwelling on it.
“Besides, I could use a little spice in my life.”
“If you had any more spice you’d have to change your name to Basil,” Bryn said.
The shadows were her element. It’s where she went to unwind and get away from the stresses of life. Stepping up onto a crate, she hopped over onto a wooden awning that stood out over someone’s back door. One giant leap upward and her fingers grabbed the lip of the rooftop ledge. Khate pulled herself up and lay down on the stone wall, crossing her arms behind her head.
Ocken roared and charged, picking up an elf and using his body as a shield as he barreled his way though, punching a hole for Will, Robert, and Sowena to slip through.
My final thoughts:
A wonderful follow up to the first book in the series! I very highly recommend checking out both Soul Render and Soul Shade as soon as you can.
And yet again... I just cannot wait to see where this story goes next!
November 5, 2018
After I finished and reviewed Soul Render, the author, T.L Branson added me to the ARC list for Soul Shade. This was one of the first ARC lists I was added to and I couldn't be more grateful for getting the opportunity to read the next installment in the Soul Stones series in advance. I have to say Soul Shade did not disappoint. I actually enjoyed the book more than the first book Soul Render. I have to congratulate Branson for actually listening to readers' feedback and applying it to his writing. I think it takes a great writer to accept constructive criticism and improve on their work.
I enjoyed Soul Render when I read it but I thought that the settings and character progressions could use work. Branson definitely improved in these areas in Soul Shade. New characters were added like Sowena, General Kosta's, Bryn and his crew. We learn more about Ocken and how he came to protect Riley growing up and through Ocken we learned more about Riley. I loved the introduction of Khate, Will and Robert's mother, and learning about Khate's past added layers to Will and Robert as characters. Specifically, how Will and Robert became so knowledgeable in combat and strategics. I really appreciated the character development of Maya. We started to see her vulnerabilities and weaknesses. We were able to understand her concerns and why she challenged her principles. Maya was a large focus of this book and I could see her growing and truly appreciating the company around her. She stopped being rash and started to put pieces together by taking the advice of others. I would have liked to see a relationship develop with Maya and Evangeline, because Maya is used to living without a mother, but Branson only scratched the surface of this relationship. I absolutely love when author's create elements of the unknown, especially with character relationships, so I admired Branson's ability to create multiple links between the characters and bring it all together smoothly and understandably.
There were many aspects and plot twists that I was not anticipating in Soul Shade, like Thallan, Ocken's love interest, Khal's sister, Lotess' fate, that really added to the plot and contributed to the needed complexities of the story to make the Soul Stones series stand out from so many other fantasy series. Though Soul Shade only occurred in a limited number of cities, Branson brought together all the different plot lines well and built a clear picture of the settings within the area. The lead up to the war with the elves was executed nicely and I was happily surprised when the war developed and began in full force. This specifically stood out to me because Branson did not follow the typical trope for war, and again it took me by surprise. The book stayed true to the violence and death of the first book which I have a soft spot for because it makes the series more realistic. Main characters don't always make it and Branson has embraced this concept.
I definitely witnessed the plot expand in Soul Shade. It was hard to see where Branson was navigating the story line in Soul Render, but it is much more clear in this book. I am still slightly confused as to why the elves were locked away and how, but I think Branson will cover this in the next book. Branson did write a novella prequel series (Soul Siphon) to the Soul Stone series and I am sure it sheds light on the full situation, but without reading those books it is a little confusing, yet still intriguing. Maya is trying to bring together her torn kingdom and is being met with resistance, but she knows a war is coming and is struggling with what she should do. Will is focused on finding another Soul Stone to aid Maya in her quest, but he does this as an individual without Maya's consent. It will be interesting to see how these two settle their differences and put aside their egos.
Branson set up the next installment for the series perfectly. There were questions that were answered from the first book but more intricate concerns came to light which led nicely into what will be the third book. I can not emphasize enough of how much I saw Branson's writing style enhance and refine in Soul Shade. I will be honest, I read the last half of the book in one day because it kept me so enticed and intrigued I did not want to stop. I felt like I would miss something if I didn't continue and that is a big selling feature. Branson stayed true to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings vibe, but I felt like he started to define his own energy to the series. Branson has delivered with Soul Shade and the reader can truly feel Branson grow as a writer, which is a great accomplishment. Overall, I am excited to see what the future holds for the character's but more importantly for Aralith as a nation!
You can buy Soul Shade on Amazon
I enjoyed Soul Render when I read it but I thought that the settings and character progressions could use work. Branson definitely improved in these areas in Soul Shade. New characters were added like Sowena, General Kosta's, Bryn and his crew. We learn more about Ocken and how he came to protect Riley growing up and through Ocken we learned more about Riley. I loved the introduction of Khate, Will and Robert's mother, and learning about Khate's past added layers to Will and Robert as characters. Specifically, how Will and Robert became so knowledgeable in combat and strategics. I really appreciated the character development of Maya. We started to see her vulnerabilities and weaknesses. We were able to understand her concerns and why she challenged her principles. Maya was a large focus of this book and I could see her growing and truly appreciating the company around her. She stopped being rash and started to put pieces together by taking the advice of others. I would have liked to see a relationship develop with Maya and Evangeline, because Maya is used to living without a mother, but Branson only scratched the surface of this relationship. I absolutely love when author's create elements of the unknown, especially with character relationships, so I admired Branson's ability to create multiple links between the characters and bring it all together smoothly and understandably.
There were many aspects and plot twists that I was not anticipating in Soul Shade, like Thallan, Ocken's love interest, Khal's sister, Lotess' fate, that really added to the plot and contributed to the needed complexities of the story to make the Soul Stones series stand out from so many other fantasy series. Though Soul Shade only occurred in a limited number of cities, Branson brought together all the different plot lines well and built a clear picture of the settings within the area. The lead up to the war with the elves was executed nicely and I was happily surprised when the war developed and began in full force. This specifically stood out to me because Branson did not follow the typical trope for war, and again it took me by surprise. The book stayed true to the violence and death of the first book which I have a soft spot for because it makes the series more realistic. Main characters don't always make it and Branson has embraced this concept.
I definitely witnessed the plot expand in Soul Shade. It was hard to see where Branson was navigating the story line in Soul Render, but it is much more clear in this book. I am still slightly confused as to why the elves were locked away and how, but I think Branson will cover this in the next book. Branson did write a novella prequel series (Soul Siphon) to the Soul Stone series and I am sure it sheds light on the full situation, but without reading those books it is a little confusing, yet still intriguing. Maya is trying to bring together her torn kingdom and is being met with resistance, but she knows a war is coming and is struggling with what she should do. Will is focused on finding another Soul Stone to aid Maya in her quest, but he does this as an individual without Maya's consent. It will be interesting to see how these two settle their differences and put aside their egos.
Branson set up the next installment for the series perfectly. There were questions that were answered from the first book but more intricate concerns came to light which led nicely into what will be the third book. I can not emphasize enough of how much I saw Branson's writing style enhance and refine in Soul Shade. I will be honest, I read the last half of the book in one day because it kept me so enticed and intrigued I did not want to stop. I felt like I would miss something if I didn't continue and that is a big selling feature. Branson stayed true to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings vibe, but I felt like he started to define his own energy to the series. Branson has delivered with Soul Shade and the reader can truly feel Branson grow as a writer, which is a great accomplishment. Overall, I am excited to see what the future holds for the character's but more importantly for Aralith as a nation!
You can buy Soul Shade on Amazon
July 23, 2022
Soul Shade picks up right where Soul Render left off. I don’t want to spoil the first book, so I’ll leave it at that.
Not to be that pushy, annoying reader, but where’s book 3? I NEED it now! In all seriousness, I know that amazing books like Soul Render and Soul Shade take time, so I will try to be patient.
Soul Shade had all the action that I loved from the first book! That was definitely one of my favorite aspects of the novel; I was never bored because things were constantly happening.
Additionally, I loved seeing some of my favorite characters from book one grow and develop more, with the addition of some new and interesting characters too!
The fact that more soul stones were in play throughout this novel really added a lot to the book as a whole. It was fun seeing how the soul stones interact with one another and learning the limits and abilities of some from book 1. This feature of the series is truly unique and riveting!
Overall, this series has the potential to become classics in fantasy in this reader’s opinion! This is not a series you want to miss out on!
Not to be that pushy, annoying reader, but where’s book 3? I NEED it now! In all seriousness, I know that amazing books like Soul Render and Soul Shade take time, so I will try to be patient.
Soul Shade had all the action that I loved from the first book! That was definitely one of my favorite aspects of the novel; I was never bored because things were constantly happening.
Additionally, I loved seeing some of my favorite characters from book one grow and develop more, with the addition of some new and interesting characters too!
The fact that more soul stones were in play throughout this novel really added a lot to the book as a whole. It was fun seeing how the soul stones interact with one another and learning the limits and abilities of some from book 1. This feature of the series is truly unique and riveting!
Overall, this series has the potential to become classics in fantasy in this reader’s opinion! This is not a series you want to miss out on!
October 15, 2018
I would give it six stars if I could.
And thought that the previous book was the most exciting book... I have no idea how the author did it but this book was even better, more exciting, with more twists and turns, and shocking revelations. And this book ends on a cliffhanger, or several of them. I loved every second of it and I will be cheering the author to give us the next book as soon as possible. Gripping read is not even the proper way to describe this series.
The author's writing style is still consistent and unchanged which made me incredibly happy. He has a way of being ruthless and brutal with his characters, and go with the story, no matter where it takes him, and no matter what happens to the characters in the process. Will, Robert, Khate, Ocken, and Maya are going through trying times, at times separately and times together. Some great new characters are introduced and become integral part of the story, some of the familiar characters show up for a surprise appearances, secrets are revealed, more soul stones are uncovered, Gods join the party, and battles are epic!
The plot is so intricate, so detailed, and so beautifully consistent, I don't have enough words of praise for the author. And for me, the best part was when puzzles started falling into place and all the short prequels started making sense, and the initial stories made the full circle. There were so many details that I did not expect, and reading this book was just a roller coaster of emotions and a highly exciting adventure. Thank you T.L. Branson for this epic masterpiece!
It is important to read the stories in order, for the better understanding of the plot and the characters: Midnight Blade, Kingsbane, Ash and Steel, or Soul Siphon set, which apart from the first three, includes Sentinels of the Stone, the fourth prequel novella, and then Soul Render (Soul Stones, #1), and Soul Shade (Soul Stones, #2).
And thought that the previous book was the most exciting book... I have no idea how the author did it but this book was even better, more exciting, with more twists and turns, and shocking revelations. And this book ends on a cliffhanger, or several of them. I loved every second of it and I will be cheering the author to give us the next book as soon as possible. Gripping read is not even the proper way to describe this series.
The author's writing style is still consistent and unchanged which made me incredibly happy. He has a way of being ruthless and brutal with his characters, and go with the story, no matter where it takes him, and no matter what happens to the characters in the process. Will, Robert, Khate, Ocken, and Maya are going through trying times, at times separately and times together. Some great new characters are introduced and become integral part of the story, some of the familiar characters show up for a surprise appearances, secrets are revealed, more soul stones are uncovered, Gods join the party, and battles are epic!
The plot is so intricate, so detailed, and so beautifully consistent, I don't have enough words of praise for the author. And for me, the best part was when puzzles started falling into place and all the short prequels started making sense, and the initial stories made the full circle. There were so many details that I did not expect, and reading this book was just a roller coaster of emotions and a highly exciting adventure. Thank you T.L. Branson for this epic masterpiece!
It is important to read the stories in order, for the better understanding of the plot and the characters: Midnight Blade, Kingsbane, Ash and Steel, or Soul Siphon set, which apart from the first three, includes Sentinels of the Stone, the fourth prequel novella, and then Soul Render (Soul Stones, #1), and Soul Shade (Soul Stones, #2).
October 14, 2018
With her father dead and his soul stone destroyed, Maya is now the Queen of a realm in turmoil. She is struggling to try and bring it under control without becoming the despotic ruler that her father had become during his reign. But with all the troubles she is facing, nothing is quite that simple. Not only are there many problems that must be solved and dealt with, but some of the countries that were conquered during her during her father’s reign are now determined to reclaim their independence.
In addition to these problems, the elves have chosen now to attack and are seeking to wipe out all humans. War on several fronts seems to have become unavoidable. On top of this is a quest to find more of the long hidden soul stones as well as needing to stop a soulfiend who is attacking innocent people across the countryside, leaving their bodies alive but without a soul inhabiting them. Those found in such a state cannot be healed. Without a soul their bodies will eventually die.
This was an interesting book that continues the story that was begun in “Soul Render.” I enjoyed the story the author has been telling, but I really wish this book had gone through another round of editing and proofreading. There were a good number of typos and other errors contained within that I believe would have been caught with another read through by a good editor/proofreader. Even though it was a good story, fixing some of the errors I saw would have made it even better.
Edited to add: I have since spoken with the author who assures me that the problems I noticed in the version I read for him have been corrected before publication. Given this fact, I have raised my star rating from a 3 to a 4 as the majority of the problems I noted should now no longer be an issue for future readers of this book.
In addition to these problems, the elves have chosen now to attack and are seeking to wipe out all humans. War on several fronts seems to have become unavoidable. On top of this is a quest to find more of the long hidden soul stones as well as needing to stop a soulfiend who is attacking innocent people across the countryside, leaving their bodies alive but without a soul inhabiting them. Those found in such a state cannot be healed. Without a soul their bodies will eventually die.
This was an interesting book that continues the story that was begun in “Soul Render.” I enjoyed the story the author has been telling, but I really wish this book had gone through another round of editing and proofreading. There were a good number of typos and other errors contained within that I believe would have been caught with another read through by a good editor/proofreader. Even though it was a good story, fixing some of the errors I saw would have made it even better.
Edited to add: I have since spoken with the author who assures me that the problems I noticed in the version I read for him have been corrected before publication. Given this fact, I have raised my star rating from a 3 to a 4 as the majority of the problems I noted should now no longer be an issue for future readers of this book.
April 25, 2019
This sequel to Soul Render, follows the
plight of the new queen as she attempts
to unite her troubled kingdom against an
Elven enemy that is threatening to
destroy all humankind, while continuing
to learn about her newly acquired
abilities and discovering who her true
friends are.
Will, the boy with the power to destroy
souls and inhabit other people’s bodies,
also returns in this race to save the
kingdom of Aralith with ideas of his own
about how to deal with the new threat.
Realistic characters facing new challenges
keep me wanting to read more to find out
what’s going to happen next. The unique
magic system also adds a fun dynamic to
the story, especially as those who have
recently acquired their powers are
learning about it themselves.
I can't wait to read the next installment of this series!
plight of the new queen as she attempts
to unite her troubled kingdom against an
Elven enemy that is threatening to
destroy all humankind, while continuing
to learn about her newly acquired
abilities and discovering who her true
friends are.
Will, the boy with the power to destroy
souls and inhabit other people’s bodies,
also returns in this race to save the
kingdom of Aralith with ideas of his own
about how to deal with the new threat.
Realistic characters facing new challenges
keep me wanting to read more to find out
what’s going to happen next. The unique
magic system also adds a fun dynamic to
the story, especially as those who have
recently acquired their powers are
learning about it themselves.
I can't wait to read the next installment of this series!
September 27, 2018
Get ready for your next adventure! The action doesn't stop! There was a few times when my mouth literally dropped open with the revelations. I can't say anything without spoiling it, but wow! One in particular went straight for my heart. Utterly brilliant!
TL really knows how to pack a punch with his worldbuilding skills! This book shifts the focus off Will, and shares it with Khate, Maya, and a new character. It's filled with magic and adventure, sprinkled with secrets...and the ending!! Bah!!! TL is known for his mic drop endings and he does not disappoint! Definitely stepped it up with this sequel. I cannot wait until the next book drops!
If you enjoy reading Brandon Sanderson, Jeff Wheeler, and Richard Knaak, you're going to want to snatch up this adventure!
TL really knows how to pack a punch with his worldbuilding skills! This book shifts the focus off Will, and shares it with Khate, Maya, and a new character. It's filled with magic and adventure, sprinkled with secrets...and the ending!! Bah!!! TL is known for his mic drop endings and he does not disappoint! Definitely stepped it up with this sequel. I cannot wait until the next book drops!
If you enjoy reading Brandon Sanderson, Jeff Wheeler, and Richard Knaak, you're going to want to snatch up this adventure!
October 12, 2018
ONE THRILLING ADVENTURE!!!
Talk about hitting the ground running. This is one action packed, fast paced, heart pounding, pulse racing, page turning bombshell that captivates from the start. All the twists and turns, ups and downs, ins and outs, along with a few glitches here and there make for one enjoyable experience. The characters and their personalities are unique with qualities and traits that balance out perfectly. The scenes are so descriptive and detailed it's easy to picture each scenario as it Branson pulls it together brilliantly. Great job Branson, thanks for sharing this awesome read with us.
Talk about hitting the ground running. This is one action packed, fast paced, heart pounding, pulse racing, page turning bombshell that captivates from the start. All the twists and turns, ups and downs, ins and outs, along with a few glitches here and there make for one enjoyable experience. The characters and their personalities are unique with qualities and traits that balance out perfectly. The scenes are so descriptive and detailed it's easy to picture each scenario as it Branson pulls it together brilliantly. Great job Branson, thanks for sharing this awesome read with us.
September 30, 2018
Get ready for one hell of a ride T.L. Branson did not disappoint with this book.. it's is action packed with a great story line and the main characters continue to grow and make you wonder what's going to happen next...if you haven't read any of these books I suggest that you buy them all ...you will not be disappointed now if we can get the next book...lol...loved this one from start to finish.....🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 2, 2018
I was given an ARC copy of Soul Shade in exchange for an honest review.
Oh I really enjoy this world! It did take me a little bit to get into this one but once I got into it, boy did I get into it! These characters have so much potential. The style seems a little mixes for me at times - sometimes super formal and other times more casual than I would have expected but it doesn't take away from the story. Definitely keen to find out what happens next!
Also needs more romance for me haha 😄
Oh I really enjoy this world! It did take me a little bit to get into this one but once I got into it, boy did I get into it! These characters have so much potential. The style seems a little mixes for me at times - sometimes super formal and other times more casual than I would have expected but it doesn't take away from the story. Definitely keen to find out what happens next!
Also needs more romance for me haha 😄
October 5, 2018
This is an enjoyable second book in the series. While it can be read as a standalone novel, references are made to previous events and the reading goes a bit more smoothly when read as part of the series.
With that said, Author Branson does an impressive job with combining a variety of plots, places, and characters in an intricate storyline that takes characters around an impressively created world.
I received an ARC of this book and have chosen to review it.
With that said, Author Branson does an impressive job with combining a variety of plots, places, and characters in an intricate storyline that takes characters around an impressively created world.
I received an ARC of this book and have chosen to review it.
October 2, 2018
What a great story! The world building is fantastic and the characters come alive as you escape into their world. This series is getting better and better. I can't wait for the next installment! If you like great fantasy, full of action and adventure, then pick up book one and catch up. You won't regret it.
October 31, 2018
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 & 👍🏻👍🏻 T.L. Branson is one of the best indie fantasy writers out there and “ Soul Shade” is awesome! Book #2 in the Soul Stones” series. Fast pased, lots of action, conflict between characters. I don’t like spoilers and I don’t do them but just let me say you guys got to read this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews