The Soul Throne

by Nissa Leder

Throne of Glass meets A Cruel Prince in this brand-new YA series!

Kill the prince. Earn her freedom. Lose her soul.

Gezena longs to escape the oppressive walls of the orphanage and explore the outside world. Maybe then she can learn why she was found alone in the forest at only a few days old or why she doesn’t dream.

But when the Soul Elves claim her best friend in a bargain made by a long-ago king, Gezena begs to go in her stead, knowing her friend is too frail to survive such a harsh life.

Now she must serve Prince Caius, who isn’t what she expects. He loathes his princely duties and seems unsure of what to do with her as his servant. But when his father assigns him a dangerous mission, she must go with him.

Just when she’s lost all hope of ever finding answers to her past, an unexpected offer to earn her freedom arises. All she must do is kill the prince. She has a second chance at the future she's always dreamed of. But if she takes it, she might just lose her soul.

The Soul Throne is the beginning of an exciting new fantasy series with a bold heroine, powerful magic, and court politics. Perfect for fans of Elise Kova, Sarah J Maas, and Holly Black. Order your copy today!

Genres: Fantasy

388 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2022

Reviews

[Brinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I had no idea what I was actually about, I picked it up solely because of the cover. And while I'm not sure what the cover has to do with the actual book, it led me to it, so that's a point in its favor.

Honestly, my favorite thing about this has to be the very slowburn romance. I went into this expecting fiery enemies-to-lovers, and instead I got a steady climb from enemies to friends to more. While this may not be the book for someone looking for a fiery passion storm, it was the perfect book for a cozy vibe.

I also really loved the world we were thrown into. While it bears some resemblance to the world's of ACOTAR and the Cruel Prince, it's also something entirely distinct. I loved the glimpses into the different types of elves, and I hope we get to see more of them in later books.

While I do wish this one had some more action, I still really liked it. The characters were a fun group, and I can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes them

Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Lakshita Mathur · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ ARC Review ~

🔪"She didn’t dream, and sometimes, she swore she could sense death unlike anyone else."🔪

Thank you so much sweet author for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful ARC!

🗡💀🗡

This. Book. Is. Just. Legit. Magnificent.
Our dear author, you've done an extremely great job in this book baby. I loved the book at every point, every page, every line. Really guys it's legit an instant favourite read!
Elves x humans x magic x dark magic x YA Fantasy x FUN
Just go for it!!

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌶🌶

🗡 💀 🗡

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

"Right and wrong were not two sides to the same coin, a sea of gray existing between them, and she still wasn't sure if she'd ever know how to distinguish between the two."

Genzena has always longed for an adventurous life away from the confinements of the orphanage but in a desperate attempt to save her best friend from an enteral life serving the Soul Court, Genzena finds herself more trapped than ever. But when she is assigned to serve Prince Caius she realises that elves aren't what she expected and Caius is actually tolerable. But when the prince is tasked with a dangerous mission and she must go with him, Genzena is offered a chance at freedom, only if she kills the prince. Genzena is determined to earn her freedom, but as she spends more time with the prince, she can't ignore the growing 'friendship' between them.
Kill the prince. Earn her freedom. Lose her soul. But nothing is as simple as it sounds.

If you like:
✨ One Bed Trope
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Elf / Human
✨ Forced Proximity

then you'll enjoy this book!




This was a medium paced fantasy book, which I previously thought was a standalone, but left A LOT of questions unanswered and should definitely have another book! The writing style was easy to read and conveyed good imagery throughout the story. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but the cover is beautiful and the syposin sound intriguing and what I was given very different to what I expected. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, although it was a bit slow, I also loved the adventure they went on and thought it was a nice addition to the story that helped the characters relationships and traits really shine. However, I do wish there was more action because I felt the fighting scenes were a bit rushed. I wouldn't say the plot is very original as I can see aspects of the Hunger Games but I thought the different Elf Courts were a great addition that I enjoyed learning about!


This world revolves around the humans and the elves, with the elves forcing the humans into one kingdom and taking a number of randomly chosen human sacrifices and slaves every year. The elves were an interesting race and I did love learning about the different Courts and the different types of magic they could use. I felt this would've been such an interesting topic and would have loved to see a bit more of the other types of magic. The world itself was fairly simple and easy to follow which is always great!


I didn't instantly bond with a lot of the characters but I loved the adventure which gave us more of an insight into their characters. It was also refreshing to see that they weren't overly talented from the start and they both had to adapt and learn. We don't see much of other characters but the Blood Elf twins did seem to be becoming major side characters and i'd love to see them again because they really added so much to the story!


The romance is definitely slow but i wouldn't say it was boring, in fact romance isn't the reason I pick up books so I loved the fact that it wasn't the main focus of the book and yet we still got those small scenes that spiked our interested and built the ship. I'm hoping that if there is another book we'll finally get to see this romance blossom! Because there is nothing like a well written slow-burn romance and the admission scene!


While it was a bit predictable and I thought the ending was a bit rushed, I really enjoyed the plot of this book and the naturality of the characters as they grew throughout their adventure, learning more about themselves and each other along the way. I especially LOVED the magic system and how each Elf Court had their own magic and how they were used and conducted differently! There are a few things I wish would be explained in more detail but I have a feeling things will be fleshed out more in the next book (if there is one... i'm really hoping there is).

Thanks to Book Of Matches Media and the author for the arc!

~ Abby

[Madhu MaBookYard - · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The world was not as simple as she had once thought. Right and wrong were not two sides to the same coin, a sea of gray existing between them, and she still wasn't sure if she'd ever know how to distinguish between the two."
.
• ELF PRINCE/ HUMAN GIRL
• FORCED ADVENTURE
• SINGLE BED TROPE
• 'I WAS SUPPOSED TO KILL YOU, BUT I DON'T WANT TO RUIN THIS FRIENDSHIP'
• ANNOYING SISTERS ( 1. In a I'mma kill you way, 2. In a 'Omg you are a riot I love you' way. )
.
My Rating : 3.75/5 🌟🌟🌟✨
.
Just when I thought it was going to be a standalone enemies to lovers, THE DAMN CLIFFHANGER HAS TO COME IN AND RUIN EVERYTHING!! The book books starts off really well (Imagine Shadow & Bone, but without the love interest). Gezena, a human orphan steps in for her best friend, Lotus, when the Elf promise comes to fruition. She was so relatable and was flawed and I absolutely loved her. I would have loved to see a chapter with Lotus Pov (Just to see how she reacts to the exchange). Caius is such a last child, BUT manages to be strong in his own way and is not the perfect warrior we always seem to get. (Love his Obsession with books. I stan. )
.
"Dying wasn’t something he looked forward to, but if he did die, at least he wouldn’t have to put up with all the politics and expectations of his title. Always a bright side."
.
For the story and plot development, I really liked the different Elf (factions? Groups? divisions? Let's call it faction because it sounds fancy lol) factions that was introduced, and the kind of magic they can weild. Both the main characters had their own issues and strengths and I really enjoyed their forced proximity/working together on an adventure trope. We got some action, poisoning, kidn@pping, runing away, chasing wild animals... (I was Still expecting the Romance and the relationship development admist the struggles... But nope)
.
I loved the side characters introduced and the way the story was brought together. Remi and Tirzah were a force to reckon with, and I am excited to learn about their background story and who they are in the next book ( I demand a next book). THEN the ending came, and the thing thay was supposed to happen (Which I was expecting) never happened, and now I don't know how to feel. It was a Cliffhanger, we have more questions than I started the book with, AND THE RELATIONSHIP?? no comments, because I'm not spoiling anything.
.
As much as I enjoyed this book and the plot, I still had some issues with it. Almost 90% of the book is the characters being on an adventure. And suddenly, the mission is done, and the soul promise is fulfilled and it ends? I liked it, but it could have been a bit more detailed. Also, I wish we had the twins pov after they go their own way. I have so many questions about them it's not even funny. But overall, DAYUM that was one hell of a ride! I honestly didn't expect to like this book (considering I was expecting a happy ending and not a Cliffhanger) BUT it was a really good surprise! I really liked the writing style and I'm really looking forward to the next book !! (If there is not next book, I'mma RIOT !)
.
Thank you BOMM & the author for the arc copy!
.
*Quotes are from an advanced reader version of the book. Final wording may vary*
.
Tags : Fantasy, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, One bed Trope

[Tralyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Soul Throne for an ARC Tour hosted by the author, Nissa Leder, and Book of Matches Media. Thank you to both for inviting me along and for the gifted e-arc. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Gezena feels her circumstances are hopeless. She sees no way out of the orphanage or to any other kind of life. Being dropped off as an infant, she knows nothing of her parents or any other family. Other than her friends at the orphanage, she is alone in the world.

Gezena has moxy. She has determined to stand up for others and to protect those she cares for even to her own detriment. I think this comes from her own abandonment. No one stood up for her when it really mattered. No one protected her when she needed it most. So, she is going to be the one to do for others what no one did for her. I love this about her. The scene where Gezena begs to go with the Soul Elves in her best friend’s place is heart wrenching.

We get the feeling that Caius, the Soul Prince, is only doing what is expected of him. He seems he’d rather leave his princely life behind and live a different life. He doesn’t seem to agree with how the king rules the kingdom. Just because he does what the king orders him to do, doesn’t mean he enjoys it. Caius starts off already having a heart and compassion. Getting to know Gezena only makes those things stronger. He and Gezena are alike in that neither can see a way out of the situation they were born into.

The journey is a good one. I love the quest these two characters are ordered to go on. There are some pretty intense moments and some did-that-just-happen moments. It built up good momentum but then sometimes it felt rushed. There were a couple of moments on this quest where I would’ve liked to slow down a bit and let the characters feel their feelings or deal with situations rather than just hurrying to the next scene. I understand time was of the essence on this particular journey, but some things were too quickly done.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I felt like there are still so many unanswered questions. The ending was satisfying but, there is still a long way to go to truly finish it. I hope this one ends how I envision it in my own mind! I cannot wait for the next book!

I enjoyed this story and am excited for what’s to come. I need to know what happens with Gezena and Caius! I recommend The Soul Throne to fans of YA Fantasy, found family, one-bed trope, quest stories, and forbidden relationships.

[Mei Li · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect phrase to sum up the theme of this book is "the grass isn't always greener on the other side."

Gezena had always longed to leave the orphanage she was raised in. She pictured a life of exploring, and this was granted to her. Just not in the way that she expected. When the Soul Elves come to claim Gezena's best friend - she offers herself up instead, knowing that her best friend would not be able to survive such hardship. Now she serves Prince Caius, and when he's sent on a dangerous mission - she must follow him...and kill him if she wants to be free.

I wish more fantasy writers wrote their first novel in a series the way Leder wrote The Soul Throne. The plot moved steadily, and had a perfect build up to the next novel.

The dual POV really stressed the difference in what Gezena was taught versus what was actually true about elven history (via Caius). Learning about the different types of elves and creatures that roamed the land through Caius was truly enjoyable. There is so much potential with the lore and I cannot wait to see it expanded upon even more.

Gezena and Caius suited each other well. Both had difficult pasts, and have struggled to find their place in the world. Watching Caius and Gezena's friendship blossom was truly magical - Learning to rely on each other during trying times, and becoming stronger as a result.

I really enjoyed the true enemies to friends to lovers slowburn in this novel. The fact that they were friends first makes the connection that much more meaningful...that Gezena and Caius are choosing each other despite their differences.

I did feel like the climax of the book was a bit short, but it did set up for the second book quite well. Definitely more of a stepping stone to a bigger evil and I cannot wait to find out what that is!

Can it be October already? I need the second book ASAP. My questions need to be answered 🤣

[Tea_Reading_and_Oz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really thrown off by that end until I realized there is going to be a second book after stalking through the authors insta profile.

There is definitely a lot in the world that I wanna see built upon in the next book. Like seeing more of the other elves because I was really interested in the blood elves that were featured. Which makes me curious as to how the high elves do magic if the Soul ones use stones. There's also a lot of things that go in answered by the end and I'm not sure how long the series is suppose to be but I'm kind hoping for some really big revelation in the next one, like earth shattering for Gezena and Caius.

They are both in a serious slow burn romance if that's the end goal because they only barely became attached to each other. Not sure how much I'm rooting for them. I'm also wondering if someone Gezena knows from the orphanage shows up more in the next one to cause some either love triangle stuff or give her a better idea of what she's really looking for.

Both Gezena and Caius grow with the book since both aren't able to do much but by the end they can both kinda hold their own, hoping there's more fighting in the next one or political intrigue that leads to fighting. I didn't really fall in love with both but I didn't hate them either. They are really good characters that grow but I really wanna see more development of personality and what they expect from their long as hell lives beside just kind of existing. They are trying to solve some things in the next one though so maybe that will cause them either to grow closer to each other or make them start doing new things.

If you enjoy slow burn, elves, magic, a female mc who does at least kick one person's ass, then I think y'all would enjoy this.

I'm gonna keep an eye out for the next one to see what's really in store for Gezena and Caius.

[Cherokee - Books With A Chance · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is what drew me in, followed closely by the plot!

The plot is intriguing. The Hunger Games (or maybe The Selection) meets The Lord of the Rings. The Soul Throne is slow paced, but not terribly so. It moves just enough to build suspense, but again it’s over pretty quickly.

I had originally thought maybe this would have some Hunger Games vibes, and in a way it does, but not nearly as violent. Gezena and Prince Caius are supposed to be going on this epic and incredible dangerous mission, but I felt that the action scenes weren’t as detailed as they could have been. It just seemed that every time there was an encounter or danger, it was over too quickly with little climax… at least until the GIANT cliffhanger at the end. Which, by the way, was a nice surprise, as I had originally thought that The Soul Throne was a standalone novel. The author paints a lovely picture with minimal details, allowing the reader to fill in gaps with their own imagination. Not going to lie to you though, I did kind of have the plot twist figured out.

I enjoyed the different Elf… factions. The way they all had their unique affinities and ways they wielded magic was really neat. More details on them would have been great though. It just felt a bit lazy to me, to have all of these different types of magics and magic users, but no one – even royalty – knowing anything about them.

I enjoyed the fact that each MC was real in their flaws. Neither one of them was a real badass from the get-go. They both had to learn and adapt together. I was expecting the enemies to lovers, forced proximity to bring them closer in a romantic sense, but was pleasantly surprised that it had been kept platonic. The natural projection works really well for this story.

The Blood Elf twins were a couple of my favorite characters. They were a hoot and I would love some bonus chapters in their POV. Prince Caius’ sisters were a bit hard for me to swallow. The one is very obvious in her dislike, and I cannot help but think the one that is super nice to him, and that he actually doesn’t mind… is plotting against him to in a more subtle way. Time will tell.


Featured Tropes:
- Enemies to Friends
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- Sibling Rivalry for the Throne
- Fated One
- I’m Supposed to Kill You, But You’ve Grown on Me

Possible Triggers:
- Implied R@pe
- Murder
- Abuse
- Kidnapping

[Sara Lavina · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a fast-paced, light adventure in an elven kingdom, this is the book for you.
You’re immediately thrown into the world of The Soul Throne, a world full of lore that needs a bit of unpacking and manages to keep some things hidden until the very end and still doesn’t give you that many answers.
The heroine of this story, Gezena, is an orphan human girl whose life changes overnight, becoming a slave to the Soul Prince, an elf she cannot trust. All her dreams are shattered when ancient magic plays its cards, forcing her to take a path she wouldn’t wish her worst enemy to walk on.
Caius is somewhat weird, somewhat a breath of fresh air, nothing like the usual elven prince, but more of a nerd in his own way. He’s the perfect portrayal of the spare heir, there but not as important, and thus he’s lived his life as such, certain he’d be left alone. His father, as well as his older sister, has other plans for him, plans that involve him going on a quest alongside Gezena who, as a human, seems less than resourceful. Or so he believes.
The both of them are a weird couple to say the least, forming an unlikely alliance that bleeds into a weird friendship, only to culminate into the infamous one-bed trope. Yep. Forced proximity, one-bed… sounds promising, doesn’t it?
Besides, I loved all the lore Nissa Leder came up with when it came to the various kind of elves, especially the Blood ones, but it’s the Dark ones that have me the most curious, as well as the High ones. Perhaps there’ll be a chance of meeting them in the next book?

[Gabrielle (belle.bookcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a fantasy adventure with forced proximity and one bed trope, then you have to check this one out!

The plot is well crafted with great writing style and unique world building, especially about the elf world and its society.
Both main and secondary characters are likeable and it didn't take a long time to connect with them.

I'm loving the main characters adventure on a quest from the king. They got to know each other there and their relationship slowly turns to friendship. The romance is barely there, if there's a next book it would probably get explored there.

I'm reading this book as a standalone in mind, so I was surprised to find out about the cliffhanger at the end. It definitely left me feeling slightly frustrated because I'm left with so many unanswered questions😂

Overall, this is a good start for a fantasy series. I can't wait to find out more about the secrets and how the relationship between the main characters will go next!😁
Hopefully there will be a sequel soon!

A huge thank you to Nissa Leder and Book of Matches Media for giving me this digital copy of the book and allowing me to be a part of the book tour!

[Meigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soul Throne was an immersive and exciting story of friendship, adventure, court politics, and elves! With an incredible world that’s just as fascinating as it is fraught with danger, there’s an interesting dichotomy between humans and elves who, for various reasons, are definitely enemies. Each year, humans must sacrifice some of their people to the elves, and Gezena finds herself on the chopping block as she steps in for one of her friends.

My favorite aspect of this book was the Elven kingdom and the elves as a whole. I haven’t read too many books where elves are the stars, and now I want to read all the elf books. There’s also a bit of (enemies to lovers) romance thrown in and I liked the relationship and how, through forced proximity, they each learn that perhaps the other isn’t the enemy, and they certainly aren’t who their preconceived notions led them to believe.

Bottom line — an exciting adventure from start to finish. The end definitely leaves plenty of doors left open for more stories in this world, and I certainly look forward to them. 3.5 ⭐️. Many thanks to @bookofmatchesmedia and @nissaleder for gifting me a digital arc!

[Morgan (youarethelibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is proof to other indie authors that they don’t need a throw-the-book-against-the-wall cliffhanger to get readers to pick up the next book. I loved the way Leder ended this one. I was nervous, thinking that I was going to be blindsided at the end, but what we got were some plot points tied up, and some loose ends for the next book. Here’s the thing: if I like the characters, I don’t need shock value to make me come back to them. Leder seems to get this, and I wish other authors did, too.

Gezena is a determined, persevering, loyal friend who craves adventure, and her reactions to things were realistic. I also liked her struggle with her conscience, and deciding if she could live with herself if she did certain things.
Caius is not what you’d expect from an elf prince in a good way, but he still needs to start taking responsibility for his actions or lack of action. Gezena pushes him to do that, which I love. I also enjoyed Tirzah and Remi, and would love to see them again in the future. I’m really looking forward to learning more about Gezena’s strange abilities.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Soul Throne is a YA fantasy by author Nissa Leder. This is the first book I have read from Nissa but it certainly won't be my last. I found the Soul Throne to be a super easy read to fall into and I got swept away in the story. It feels like there is going to be a follow up book, so we can dive into the mystery surrounding the Queen's death. If you are a fan of quest based enemies to lovers, The Soul Throne is a great book for you to check out.

In The Soul Throne, we meet our main character Genzena who is an orphan who is randomly selected to be one of the 10 humans selected each year to go to the Elf kingdom to serve in the soul kingdom for the rest of their lives. Once she gets there she learns that she going to be the personal servant to the Elf Prince Caius. Soon after she arrives she is set to go on a quest with the prince, and she has a side quest of her own to complete. This book was fast paced and I immediately fell into the story. I really enjoyed this book and I would love to see where the story goes next.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and BOMM for sending me an ARC✨✨

The world building was intriguing. The Soul Elves made a bargain a long time ago with the human king to claim humans every year as servants or worse. A mark appears on the human’s arm when they are chosen. Once chosen, the Elf would come to retrieve them from the Human world.

When Gezena’s sick friend is chosen, she bargains to be taken in her friend’s place. She has to serve Prince Caius since he retrieved her. Caius is not a fan of humans or anyone else. He has secrets of his own.

His father, the Soul Elves’ King, sends them on a dangerous mission. Gezena gets an unexpected offer to earn her freedom by killing the Prince during the mission.

Gezena became my favourite character from the beginning. She was strong and loyal to her friends throughout the story. Prince Caius was an interesting character who was the complete opposite to his family.

The story was set in a comfortable pace with action and adventure making it a page turner.

[Reads_Must · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Soul Throne
The Soul Throne #1
YA
Nissa Leder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was different but in a good way. I don't think I've read anything with elves and these types of powers/magic before.

The characters were well developed, you feel sorry for Gezena and actually come to realise that Caius hides behind an indifferent persona to cope. I didn't like Reynah because I can tell how bitter she is and I think that she's going to cause problems in the next book.

I did like the writing style but found the pacing a little slow at times and sometimes the 3rd person style did confuse me, especially when switching between POVs. There weren't many plot twists so I didn't guess them but I do predict something happening in the next book to do with Gezena and who her parents were/are 🤫.

I liked the world building too and I hope in the next book there's even more details about the different types of magic.

I wasn't keen on the ending though, it seemed to come out of nowhere and was very abrupt.

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this is what I first noticed but the book did not disappoint. This is also my first book by Leder and I do plan on reading their other books!

Read this fantasy book if you like
-Fantasy Worlds
-Elf/human
-Forced Proximity
-Family Drama
-One Bed trope
-Slow Burn
-Enemies to friends to lovers?

Gezena makes a choice to save her best friend and ends up being taken by the Soul Elf Prince- Caius- as his servant. The Soul King sends both Prince Caius and Gezena on a mission to find an elf but through manipulation, Gezena is given another mission- to kill the prince.
Gezena is a strong FMC who continues to prove to Caius that she isn’t a weak human mortal. The different classes of Elves was very detailed and I found myself wanting to know more about them- especially the blood elves. This is a very slow burn, I’m not entirely sure if there is love happening but a strong bond/friendship has been
formed. I do hope we see more of their relationship growing in the next book.

3.75 stars
Thank you to Book Of Matches Media and the author for giving me an early review copy.

[Anshul (stories.buddy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indeed an intriguing story with a good concept in hand. I very well enjoyed the plot, the determination of Gezena is the most admired trait in the story. Her every step is quite inspiring and tells about her good heart. Caius whereas is kind but still a mystery in many forms. He’s not any human can think an ELF to be. The world-building is a mystery, I have many unanswered questions that are unanswered, I hope to know more about the Elf history and their forms, magic, and the Soul promise. The entire journey of these two is incredible and self-explored, leading to questions and now they’ll work on them in the next book, I think. The journey is the roller coaster nobody was prepared for and I enjoyed it the best. The partnership development between them is good and the tuning entertains.

It’s a 3.5⭐️ for me.

[B.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big fan of Nissa Leder’s books I was excited to read The Soul Throne, and like her other books it did not disappoint.

✨Slow Burn
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Mysterious Origins
✨Perilous Quest

The book is a medium paced adventure with a very slow burn that will leave you dying to read the next book to see how the relationship between Gezena and Cauis will progress. This was a real underdog story, two enemies with all the odds against them but they were still able to succeed and form an irresistible bond. I can’t wait to find out about Gezena’s origins and for all the secrets of her to be revealed. Caius is a broody prince with a surprising soft side that will make you totally totally fall in love with him. I’m definitely continuing this series and can’t wait for the next book.

Huge thank you to Nissa Leder for sending me a copy of The Soul Throne!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Nissa and Book of Matches Media for The Soul Throne! This has a really cool take on magic and elves! I wish we'd gotten a little more info on them but I like where it's leading! Gezena is a fabulous FMC! I mean right off the bat she sacrifices herself to save her best friend. I love her progression and growth. Caius isn't too bad for a soul elf prince! This was definitely slow slow burn to the point of not much romance. Lol, and for me that's kinda disappointing since I love romance mixed with fantasy! I hope Book 2 has more info and more romance!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, fast-paced read!
I was surprised at how quickly I made my way through this book! The world building was nice, and Gezena is a great MC. I liked that she was headstrong and brave without being overbearing. Her sacrifice at the beginning of her story was touching and unexpected.
Prince Caius wasn't what he seemed at first either. The plots and manipulations of his family made me feel sorry for him.
The later half of the book was my favorite.. I particularly liked the Blood Elves and the adventures that surround their part of the story.
I am sure book 2 will be another great one!

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let me go until the last.

I loved Leder's take on elves and the different types she created. Each of them had their own magic systems, their own beliefs, and their own social structures.

Her world was rich and well-developed. Her characters were intriguing. There are so many things I still need to know. I need book 2 now!

[Becca Mee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The soul throne was a book that drew me in with the cover and kept me engaged with how unique it was. I was fascinated by this world of tributes, devious soul elves, and more. It was a truly unique world that Leder has created here. The concept of the claiming and Gezena’s selfless act to save her best friend really endeared her to me as an MC. I liked the slow burn forced proximity dynamic with Caius and Gezena. My big issue with this one was pacing. It’s a slow mover which made it feel draggy at places, but it was a solid and unique fantasy read!

[thespookybooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adventure this book was! I enjoyed every second of it. I liked the writing style, it was medium-fast paced and easy to read. I couldn't put it down! I found the world the author has created to be interesting, especially the four elven kingdoms and the different Elves inhabiting them. I do wish we got to learn more about them, and I'm hopeful that will be the case with book two!

[Elise Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gezena is an orphan who mysteriously cannot dream. When a Soul Elf comes to claim her best friend in servitude to the Soul Court, Gezena fights to go in her stead.

I don’t know why, but I am a complete sucker for a good kidnapping trope! In this case she begs to be the one taken and it’s all a part of a centuries old bargain made between kings. I loved how the Soul Prince was kind at heart, if a bit oblivious, and sympathized with his introvert struggles. Gezena fights for what’s right and the people she loves.

THE SOUL THRONE is full of court intrigue, adventure, danger, and powerful magic. Lots of friendships are formed and there is just the start of a romance brewing in this book and I can’t wait to see how that evolves in the next installment.

I normally like a bit more romantic tension in my books and the inner dialogue was a bit too lengthy at times for me, but still a great read.
3.5 stars