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Adept Universe #24

Misplaced Souls

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Six years, three months, and two days ago, I was kidnapped by a black witch. Then forced to bear witness as she slaughtered witches and sorcerers across Europe, siphoning their magic and corrupting what she could of my own power in order to raise vanquished demons.

Five years, ten months, and twenty days ago, the dowser — Jade Godfrey — backed by a vampire, a werewolf, and a dragon, rescued me in London, England. A lethal quartet, who routinely flung themselves before death in order to save the world. Including me.

One year, nine months, and twenty-eight days ago, I untangled the power that fueled a dimensional portal used by an invading army of elves, helping to thwart a dark destiny while confirming that I wielded far more than basic necromancy.

After all I’d been through, the same powerful Adepts who had rescued me and worked alongside me waited, watching minute by minute. To see if the evil I’d endured was contagious. Because for a witch to go dark was one thing. But for a necromancer, going dark was something far more terrifying.

What with the potential for raising an army of the undead and all.

Six years, three months, two days, and five minutes …

Still not dark yet.
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Misplaced Souls is the first book in the Misfits of the Adept Universe series, which is set in the same universe as the Dowser, Oracle, Reconstructionist, and Amplifier series.

The Misfits series directly expands on and incorporates the events and characters first introduced in the Dowser series. Therefore, for the best reading experience, the author recommends reading all nine books in the Dowser series, including Dowser 8.5, before digging into the Misfit tales. The first book of the Dowser series is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic.

335 pages, ebook

First published April 14, 2020

56 people are currently reading
165 people want to read

About the author

Meghan Ciana Doidge

47 books1,294 followers
Meghan Ciana Doidge writes tales of true love conquering all, even death. Though sometimes the love is elusive, the vampires and werewolves come out to play in the daylight, and bloody mayhem ensues.

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5 stars
389 (68%)
4 stars
148 (25%)
3 stars
32 (5%)
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3 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer McLean.
277 reviews15 followers
April 20, 2020
Meghan has done it again! I have never read a book by Meghan Ciana Doidge that didn't thrill me. I've read almost everything she's written. I'm also lucky enough to live in the Pacific North West and know the streets she mentions in her books.

Misplaced Souls was sublime. I immersed myself in it like a warm bath. I drank the characters in like sipping the best hot chocolate with marshmallows. Meghan hit the perfect balance of nostalgia and newness. I love seeing glimpses of the old guard, the characters from her main Dowser series.

If you're new to the world building of Meghan Ciana Doidge, then be good to yourself, go back to the first book in the dowser series and read from the beginning. Meghan has it all laid out in perfect synchronicity, from the first dowser through the reconstructionist and oracle series to the first misfits, Misplaced Souls.

I envy you, who haven't read this masterpiece of world building. I'll never have that first thrill of drowning happily in Meghan's world. But I think I may go back and read from the start because even a second time, it can only be spectacular.
Profile Image for Pam.
34 reviews
April 15, 2020
I thoroughly enjoy all of Meghan’s books, but I have to say, Misplaced Souls is by far my favorite! I am looking forward to the next Misfits story!
Profile Image for Michele.
32 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2020
Necromancer Morana Novak has seen more darkness in her 21 years than some see in their entire lives -- nearly dying at the hands of black witches, sorcerers, elves and her own brother's shade will do that. Having fled to the Academy two years ago in order to learn to wield a power unseen in the Adept community in a quarter-century, Mori has returned to Vancouver, fully credited and licensed as an investigator for the Witches' Convocation. And before she has even settled in, Detective Liam Talbot, sorcerer, comes calling with a cold-case that will test all of her abilities.

I've been a fan of author Meghan Ciana Doidge's Adept Universe for years. Reading this was like a visit with old friends, albeit one that went by too quickly. I found it to be fast-paced and engaging. Although this is the beginning of a new sub-series, it is NOT a jumping-on point for the Adept Universe -- this is #20 in the overall series and there is just too much backstory and history covered in the Dowser, Oracle and Reconstructionist books. So please, if you haven't already, go back and start with Cupcakes, Trinkets & Other Deadly Magic. You won't regret it, I promise.
Profile Image for meital.
133 reviews
April 24, 2020
You wanna know why I'm crazy about Mory?
1.she has a poncho. A red poncho.
2. She has a familiar. He's a turtle. He's also undead and can sometimes become invisible.
3. She knits. I always wanted to be able to knit, or at the least have a friend who knits.
4. She's not afraid of the darkness, but she doesn't dwell. She lives in the light.
Profile Image for Gina.
2,069 reviews72 followers
July 23, 2020
This first book in a new trilogy set in the Adept world features Mory, a necromancer. Set a few years after the events of the last Dowser book, we learn Mory has been away training and is now back in Vancouver ready to begin her adult job as an investigator. I liked this a lot, but felt parts of the story were undeveloped and unfinished - often the problem with a first book even though we've known Mory since the beginning of the series. Great start to a continuation of the Adept world and definitely a must read for fans of this series. I'm interested to see where this goes.
Profile Image for Melissa Goodall.
128 reviews
April 15, 2020
Sooo good!!! I love that the younger characters are now coming into their power and the Adept world keeps expanding. Read this at a record pace and now I have to wait for more... 😭
Profile Image for Micca B aka gigglybookgeek .
136 reviews12 followers
June 16, 2025
Meghan’s books always feels like home. Seeing old friends, learning more about others. The deep craving for chocolate and cupcakes. 😂 I don’t know how she does it every time. I feel so drawn in and can envision each scene perfectly. I’m always sad when I get to the end, knowing I won’t see my friends for a while. If you haven’t read all of her books, find the reading order list and start binging. You won’t regret it.
Profile Image for Ken.
88 reviews
October 24, 2020
Another fine chapter.

I've read each of this author's novels, some twice. I've enjoyed her stories of Jade Godfrey and her friends over the past decade. Each book is stand alone and introduces us to her fully fledged characters (pun intended). And as each novel ends, I keep wanting to know more.

Will we ever see Kett's back story?
Or of Kandy's?
Or Warner's?
And of course Scarlett in her younger days....

So many stories to write, backgrounds to fill, and of course the future of our favorite characters.

I recommend you begin at the beginning, then read each one according to the author's timeline. The stories are fun, perfect for lovers of Urban Fantasy. And the characters are mostly complete and whole. I have many favorites from Jade, Kettil, Kandy, Warner, Liam, Ben, Jasmine, Wisteria, Rochelle & Beau, Henry, Mory, etc.

I highly recommend these novels. And after reading this one, I went back to the very beginning and re-read every novel in order. And yes, I thoroughly enjoyed them again, picking up on quite a few things I missed the first time.

They're well written, though sometimes the author concentrates on fashion a bit too much for my tastes. She's also released a Cupcake Cookbook for us fans. But...most bakers have a "stock" or "basic" recipe that is the base for every cake, then they create separate batches by adding just a few ingredients. Also, the author needs to learn the many uses of an icing bag, one with a special tip to create butterflies masterpieces on top of each cupcake. Note: much better then a flat knife.

Read these, they're fun and tasty.
705 reviews3 followers
April 12, 2021
I very much enjoyed this book, it is in the Dowser world
This the 1st book of the Misfits series and book 22 of Dowser series don't start here if not read the rest.

Below is the reading order though you can read this before but nice to read in order
1. Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic, Dowser 1
2. Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic, Dowser 2
3. Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic, Dowser 3
4. I See Me, Oracle 1
5. Shadows, Maps, and Other Ancient Magic, Dowser 4
6. Maps, Artifacts, and Other Arcane Magic, Dowser 5
7. I See You, Oracle 2
8. Artifacts, Dragons, and Other Lethal Magic, Dowser 6
9. I See Us, Oracle 3
10. Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1)
11. Tangled Echoes (Reconstructionist 2)
12. Unleashing Echoes (Reconstructionist 3)
13. Champagne, Misfits, and Other Shady Magic (Dowser 7)
14. Misfits, Gemstones, and Other Shattered Magic (Dowser 8)
15. Graveyards, Visions, and Other Things That Byte (Dowser 8.5)
16. Gemstones, Elves, and Other Insidious Magic (Dowser 9)
17. The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) – bundled with Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5)
18. Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1)
19. Bonds and Broken Dreams (Amplifier 2)
20. Mystics and Mental Blocks (Amplifier 3)
21. Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4)
22. Misplaced Souls (Misfits of the Adept Universe 1)
23. Awakening Infinity (Archivist 0)
Profile Image for Carrie.
2,522 reviews19 followers
February 12, 2022
This world (22 books in now) is so comfortable to me that each installment is like coming home. I will continue to gobble these up until the series (or the world) ends.

This book is about Mory. She's been a bit of a loner type since we met her, having gone through some serious trauma that introduced her as a big player in the magical scene. She works with death/life magic, knits, and is friends with an undead turtle. She also happens to be magically protected by Jade and her friends, but in this book she finds herself thrust into the "real world."

Having just gotten certified in magic stuffs, she can now take jobs and act like a grown up for the most part. Her first job ends up being from Liam, the police sorcerer we know from previous books. Who knew he would take such a turn? He ends up contracting her for work trying to solve some unexplainable murders of children. Along the way we learn about surprising magical creatures, Mory's even more tragic internal monologue, and maybe some actual romance. All in all, this felt like the start of a series, but it appears we move into Archivist stuff after this. I want more Mory!
Profile Image for Kandice.
890 reviews
May 13, 2020
This new "branch" opens the door to the younger crowd coming into their own, with a perfect balance of appearances by the old guard. Getting to know Mory was delightful. She's not just a young teen anymore. We see her on the other side of her training and education. She is still learning about herself (aren't we all?!?) but she gains confidence in her adulting.

I'm very particular about my paranormals and for me, this one is not just for die-hard paranormal fans. The majority of my reading is a range of romance. All about the HEA. But at their core, romance books are about relationships. The building of families. While this isn't categorized as romance, it does relationship building in spades. It just happens to do that in a universe of magic and creatures. I'm not sure I can explain exactly what it is about this author and this series, but I'm ALL.IN. If you haven't read this author yet, I absolutely recommend giving her a try.
459 reviews4 followers
July 26, 2022
This is the 1st book of the Misfits series, but we met the protagonist, Mory, way back in the 1st book of the Dowser series. For this one, it's important to have background. Here's the reading list from the author's website https://madebymeghan.ca/novels/

When we met Mori she was an obnoxious teenager with a huge chip on her shoulder. Now she's an adult and has been through a lot the intervening years (and books). She's been away getting her certification a a field of necromancy everyone though extinct. Mory is a Soul Seer. The older brother of her friends' is a detective in Toronto, and a sorcerer. He asks Mory for help with the murder of a non-magical child and she just can't say no. Especially when she goes to the child's grave to contact here and there's nothing there.

I love all of these books. They're fun, they're sarcastic and the characters have become friends.
Profile Image for Billie.
65 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2023
Misplaced Souls is about Mory set in the Dowser universe. Six years after the events that introduced her to Jade Godfrey, Mory has returned home after being gone for a year and a half honing her necromancy craft and getting certified with the Academy. Now home and she is already needed to help solve a case. This story is about her coming into her own, facing the things and people she left behind and discovering more of herself. Confronting feelings new and old, a succubus and the thoughts of inadequacy, Mory is determined to discover why there are souls missing in the cemetery she calls hers.
This is my second read through of this book and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time.
Profile Image for Nancy.
260 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2024
I enjoyed seeing a more mature version of Mory; this book helps focus the character building for the lesser known members of the Vancouver Godfrey coven scene. I'm really glad Mory scared off her vampire crush, and I honestly would have preferred her romantic interest to be the tech-sorcerer since he's always been friendly with her. Some aspects of her adult behaviors bothered me - there's absolutely nothing wrong with a wealthy mid-20's person taking responsibility for arranging yard care and house cleaning; she has a support network outside her mother she could ask for reference help since they manage many rental properties. Seems so obvious as a way to build connections as an adult rather than a teen. I'll keep reading though - Mory is an interesting character.
60 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2023
As a stand-alone, but with threads to the Dowser books, this is fabulous.

It fills out Mory's character as well as some of the Talbots and Ben's.

Jade makes a couple of appearances, as does Kett and Kandy, but it's the seamless merge, or separation maybe, from the main characters and books that is the joy of this!

The actual story is brilliant too, and, again, links back to what seemed like small insignificant statements in previous books.

You could read this on its own, by why would you when you could read The Dowser Series in full and enjoy such a great, emersive world of storytelling?
Profile Image for Lisa Maddison.
649 reviews6 followers
July 17, 2020
I have read all of the series at this point in time.

Mory has returned to Vancouver after finishing her studies of soul magic and is pressed into helping Liam with a cold case he has been focused on because the victim was the child of a co-worker. This leads to the discovery of a succubus living in Vancouver. The story was original and I loved Mory and Liam becoming interested in each other. There is also the complications of Benjamin for Mory, it is an interesting story line. Can't wait for the next book.
1,711 reviews6 followers
November 25, 2021
Well this completely blew my mind about what I thought I knew about succubus. I had always read that succubus or succubi were strictly sexual beings. Never heard of one feeding off children to preserve their youth! How horrid. Leave it to our little necromancer to be the only one oblivious enough to her magic to see this creature for the monster she really is. Finally setting Ben free from his mothers bindings and a possible love interest for Mory. The fun never ends with the possibility of a shifter wedding in Godfrey territory sanctioned by Desmond himself! Oh boy, hang on enforcer!
Profile Image for Kai.
536 reviews3 followers
April 22, 2020
Love, love love!
I tried so very hard not to read this too quickly, but it was pretty difficult not to! I love Mory and Ed, they are such a great team and the turtles little quirks are so amusing. Well written and enthralling. I was drawn straight back into this universe and I really didn’t want to leave. Loving the romantic tension between Liam and Mory! I’m rooting for For them!
I’m going to head back to the beginning and start again I think.
Can’t wait for the next instalment of Misfits!
14 reviews
April 22, 2020
As always I was hooked from the first page reading another amazing book from this author. It was great to finally hear more about Mory and to see more from the other characters from the Adept Universe. It also makes me want to knit and I have never been able to do it. Maybe its something I can try again!

I have to go back now and re-read all of the other series waiting for the next book in this series to come out. Cannot wait for it to happen!
Profile Image for Malissa.
725 reviews7 followers
April 24, 2020
Absolutely and perfectly Mory. I love seeing her all grown up now and let me say WOW! I love her dynamics and her with Liam. They are a perfect play off of each other. Seeing all the nuances of Jade and Kandy's group of Misfits is amazing and it really made me tear up to see everything come out and all these wonderful supporting characters get more recognition from an amazing author. Meghan has done it again. A sweeping 5 stars. Love the Misfits!
9 reviews
May 30, 2020
Even in new adept world still my favorite series!

I love the mix of new adepts with the original 3 characters. The space of time between the climatic ending from Dowser series is enough to allow Mori enough distance to leave and return to Vancouver with more self assurance to reestablish herself as adult The chemistry between characters is fresh fun and comforting. Her books are always amazing.
Profile Image for Nouks.
2 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2020
Oh how I love to be back in Vancouver that is not quite the real Vancouver but stil Vancouver.. I love the Adept Universe and this was yet another great addition and leaving me to want more.
I loved Mory and her interaction with the others, how she finally found her place and how all the misfits have their place.. I can hardly wait for more
37 reviews1 follower
July 15, 2022
Awesomeness

I absolutely love this story! Mory is one of my most favorite characters. From her hair choices to her knitting, to her "Ed" she just fascinates me as a character. This story had several cameos from the dowser series ( highly recommend starting there) & loved having them back & in the action.
15 reviews
November 5, 2023
Mory is just plain fun

I love this author and all the series set in this world. It was great to get to visit these characters again. Mory is one of the younger of the heroes in the Adept universe, but not so young that I couldn't relate. You can read anything by this author and come away more than satisfied.
Profile Image for Rozanne Cadotte.
166 reviews
July 24, 2025
I love it!

Giving the Misfits their own series is brilliant! So many times, an author will end a series and leave the “side” characters to just kind of drift away, leaving the reader to wonder “ Hey, what happened to that guy that we met when . . ,” To see Mory get her own book is great because she has an intriguing power and mystique all to herself! Thank you!
Profile Image for Christy Wright.
5 reviews4 followers
April 20, 2020
Love this look at the “Misfits” through their own eyes. MCD creates a fantasy world that I want to live in. Cupcakes, knitting, vampires, witches, nécromanciens, sorcerers and more await you when you step into Mory’s story.
66 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2020
I love this addition to the Adepts Universe. Mory has been a great character to watch grow up through the Dowser series, it is nice for her to have her own story told. Looking forward to the next story.
202 reviews1 follower
January 11, 2021
Great

Her characters are interesting and her stories draw you in to find out more about the characters and the world they live in. Plus I would really like to find someone who bakes so I can taste those cupcakes.
7 reviews
February 6, 2021
Great character development for the young Adepts coming of age

Have always liked Mory. Great to se her step into her character. See clear directions for the next generation in Vancouver.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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