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Returning Souls
Evie D'Arico is just like any other 67-year-old retiree until a sudden stroke puts her life in jeopardy, and catapults her soul through multiple lifetimes. After drifting through a space where time has no meaning, Evie awakens to find herself in the body and mind of someone else. She realizes she is experiencing her soul's past life on Earth as Astara, a young girl who lived during the Mesolithic Era of human prehistory.
Evie soon melds into Astara, who has just experienced the Girl's Coming of Age rite, a ritual of the Golden Fish tribe. On her quest, Astara saw herself as a Three Face - a powerful combination of male, female and animal elements - making her a potential spirit leader. But the Holy One of the Golden Fish tribe does not want to acknowledge another seer within his realm, especially a defiant young female Three Face. Astara is given a choice either to live as an unremarkable woman of the tribe, or to leave her home and family on an unprecedented journey into unknown territory, and establish her own following as a Three Face.
Through living a few crucial days as Astara, Evie comes away with new self-knowledge and an appreciation for the courage of the young girl she was in a past life.
She still has unanswered questions about the meaning of her current lifetime. Her soul relives Evie's life, recalling the impact of her sister Liliana, and reliving her upbringing during the 1950s and 1960s. She meets trusted Guardians along the way who help her recognize the end results of her own actions. As the disjointed revelations of her soul's journey come together the puzzle of her life takes on new meaning, and she is faced with the possibilities of her own future.
Evie realizes she must decide who she really wants to be. Only she can choose the next stage of her soul's epic journey through lifetimes.
What will she choose? Who will she be?
Evie soon melds into Astara, who has just experienced the Girl's Coming of Age rite, a ritual of the Golden Fish tribe. On her quest, Astara saw herself as a Three Face - a powerful combination of male, female and animal elements - making her a potential spirit leader. But the Holy One of the Golden Fish tribe does not want to acknowledge another seer within his realm, especially a defiant young female Three Face. Astara is given a choice either to live as an unremarkable woman of the tribe, or to leave her home and family on an unprecedented journey into unknown territory, and establish her own following as a Three Face.
Through living a few crucial days as Astara, Evie comes away with new self-knowledge and an appreciation for the courage of the young girl she was in a past life.
She still has unanswered questions about the meaning of her current lifetime. Her soul relives Evie's life, recalling the impact of her sister Liliana, and reliving her upbringing during the 1950s and 1960s. She meets trusted Guardians along the way who help her recognize the end results of her own actions. As the disjointed revelations of her soul's journey come together the puzzle of her life takes on new meaning, and she is faced with the possibilities of her own future.
Evie realizes she must decide who she really wants to be. Only she can choose the next stage of her soul's epic journey through lifetimes.
What will she choose? Who will she be?
178 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2017
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5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 11, 2018
Evie had no idea that this was not the first time that she had lived, that was until she had a stroke which took her to the brink of dying. She found herself, at first, in a bit of a no-mans land before wakening up in the body of a young woman from one of her previous lives. Evie and Astara soon melted into one where Evie begins to experience new life skills that she didn’t have in her present life. This is a truly fascinating back story of the way of life of this tribe and others. The vision quests of the young girls and what they revealed. Astara’s was not what you would call typical.
The story shoots forward to Evie’s own childhood, where one curious little girl is eager to want to know about everything but most of all she wants to be loved, she is expected to sit down and be quiet. When a sister arrives for Evie she is over the moon and feels love for her and from her, but Liliana has Down’s syndrome and in the 1950’s and 60’s it wasn’t the easiest time for any disability.
This is a story that really gets to your heart. Evie has had quite a journey in her life but could the new skills that she has become aware of make a difference to her life or is it too late? My heart bled for Evie as a child but the relationship that she has with Liliana is something really special. An unbreakable bond and an understanding of Liliana that no-one else has.
I easily connected with Evie both as and child and growing up and in her previous life as Astara, all so very different and yet they had the essence of her kind soul through them all. What I got from this story, personally for me, was that it isn’t just our souls that make us who we are but the people we are with too. So always be true to yourself and take a step back and think about the real you too not just what someone else is moulding you into. It also made me step back and think how I influence others, it is never too late. A lovely read.
The story shoots forward to Evie’s own childhood, where one curious little girl is eager to want to know about everything but most of all she wants to be loved, she is expected to sit down and be quiet. When a sister arrives for Evie she is over the moon and feels love for her and from her, but Liliana has Down’s syndrome and in the 1950’s and 60’s it wasn’t the easiest time for any disability.
This is a story that really gets to your heart. Evie has had quite a journey in her life but could the new skills that she has become aware of make a difference to her life or is it too late? My heart bled for Evie as a child but the relationship that she has with Liliana is something really special. An unbreakable bond and an understanding of Liliana that no-one else has.
I easily connected with Evie both as and child and growing up and in her previous life as Astara, all so very different and yet they had the essence of her kind soul through them all. What I got from this story, personally for me, was that it isn’t just our souls that make us who we are but the people we are with too. So always be true to yourself and take a step back and think about the real you too not just what someone else is moulding you into. It also made me step back and think how I influence others, it is never too late. A lovely read.
September 6, 2018
This book was different from what I normally read, but I’m really glad that I did.
It was a story of a soul currently living as 67 year old Evie, going back and forth between this life, the place between, and the life of a young Mesolithic girl Astara. It’s hard to choose which part of the book was the most magical. I really loved to see how Astara lived and her journey through life deeply connected with nature. It was absolutely fascinating. I was little sad there wasn’t more of this, I wished to see how her life continues, but I guess Evie learned what she needed from her. I also really liked the next parts where Evie remembered herself and her life and when she was “in between” and met loved ones from the past.
This book touched me somewhere deep inside and left this undescribable sensation in me. It radiated love and care with witch it was written. It was more spiritual read than I’m used to, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
It was a story of a soul currently living as 67 year old Evie, going back and forth between this life, the place between, and the life of a young Mesolithic girl Astara. It’s hard to choose which part of the book was the most magical. I really loved to see how Astara lived and her journey through life deeply connected with nature. It was absolutely fascinating. I was little sad there wasn’t more of this, I wished to see how her life continues, but I guess Evie learned what she needed from her. I also really liked the next parts where Evie remembered herself and her life and when she was “in between” and met loved ones from the past.
This book touched me somewhere deep inside and left this undescribable sensation in me. It radiated love and care with witch it was written. It was more spiritual read than I’m used to, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
dnf
September 26, 2018DNF @ 41%
This is definitely a case of right book, wrong reader. This is an interesting story that looks at the multiple lives one soul lives and bounces between Evie and Astara. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with either perspective and the overarching narrative, and found the writing to be a bit disjointed. Looking at the other reviews, it seems to come together in the end very nicely but this isn't a story that I am compelled to finish. I definitely recommend this book to those who love coming of age stories and strong women that balk at gender roles of society, what I saw of Astara's life was promising!
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an electronic advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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This is definitely a case of right book, wrong reader. This is an interesting story that looks at the multiple lives one soul lives and bounces between Evie and Astara. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with either perspective and the overarching narrative, and found the writing to be a bit disjointed. Looking at the other reviews, it seems to come together in the end very nicely but this isn't a story that I am compelled to finish. I definitely recommend this book to those who love coming of age stories and strong women that balk at gender roles of society, what I saw of Astara's life was promising!
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an electronic advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
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October 12, 2018
What an adventure! I love a book that can make you feel like you’ve been transported into the story along with the character.
This is so beautifully written, and it feels raw and honest. Definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and author Ernestine B. Colombo for this opportunity.
This is so beautifully written, and it feels raw and honest. Definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and author Ernestine B. Colombo for this opportunity.
March 11, 2018
Some people believe that one life is an entire journey, and, when life is over, the journey stops. Others believe that one life is just one stop in a longer journey, where souls continue to learn and love along the way.
Returning Souls is a story about one soul’s journey.
When 60-something Evie D’Arico finds herself laying on the kitchen floor, her consciousness slips into an ethereal region where memories of lives unknown and dead loved ones come to her to guide her to a new knowledge and purpose.
Evie’s well-meaning, but indifferent and ultra-conventional parents and her cruel and controlling ex-husband have brought her sorrow and desolation that only the lessons from past and present lives and loves can heal.
Her Mesolithic counterpart Astara teaches her self-confidence and survival in the midst of rejection and want, and they share a common grief which then becomes a reason for rejoicing.
Held in Death’s velvet grip, Evie experiences wisdom, love, and affirmation as precious loved ones – human and animal, living and dead – renew her spirit and breathe life into her soul. She in turn touches the lives of her living loved ones, giving to them the promise of her presence forever at their side and discovering that the young and the innocent (her godchild and mentally challenged sister) are most receptive to her presence.
But, is Evie really dead or just standing in a place between life and death? Will she get a second chance at happiness?
This is a hopeful and extraordinary story of undying love and redemption. For those of us who believe that life is larger than what we see of it here, and that the spark in us called a Soul never dies but continues to grow, learn, and love, this is an unforgettable book.
Returning Souls is a story about one soul’s journey.
When 60-something Evie D’Arico finds herself laying on the kitchen floor, her consciousness slips into an ethereal region where memories of lives unknown and dead loved ones come to her to guide her to a new knowledge and purpose.
Evie’s well-meaning, but indifferent and ultra-conventional parents and her cruel and controlling ex-husband have brought her sorrow and desolation that only the lessons from past and present lives and loves can heal.
Her Mesolithic counterpart Astara teaches her self-confidence and survival in the midst of rejection and want, and they share a common grief which then becomes a reason for rejoicing.
Held in Death’s velvet grip, Evie experiences wisdom, love, and affirmation as precious loved ones – human and animal, living and dead – renew her spirit and breathe life into her soul. She in turn touches the lives of her living loved ones, giving to them the promise of her presence forever at their side and discovering that the young and the innocent (her godchild and mentally challenged sister) are most receptive to her presence.
But, is Evie really dead or just standing in a place between life and death? Will she get a second chance at happiness?
This is a hopeful and extraordinary story of undying love and redemption. For those of us who believe that life is larger than what we see of it here, and that the spark in us called a Soul never dies but continues to grow, learn, and love, this is an unforgettable book.
October 20, 2018
Evie Doesn’t understand where she is first. When she finds herself melding with a young girl named Astara, she realizes that she is experiencing a past life. It appears strange to find herself in this past life. She wonders why she is there. As time passes and she gains different experiences, she needs the help of Guadians to understand what she was suppose to have learned from that life. Eventually Evie must decide what she wants to do with her life. What will she do?
I found it to be a very intriguing novel for me as this involves reincarnation. I’ve always been curious about it and have read this story with great interest. It is not a story that I didn’t relate to asi did! I’ve always believe that it is important how you treat others and what you can learn from the people in your life. This is a book not to be missed! Read it!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obligated to write a favorable review or any at all. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
I found it to be a very intriguing novel for me as this involves reincarnation. I’ve always been curious about it and have read this story with great interest. It is not a story that I didn’t relate to asi did! I’ve always believe that it is important how you treat others and what you can learn from the people in your life. This is a book not to be missed! Read it!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obligated to write a favorable review or any at all. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
October 13, 2018
Returning Souls by Ernestine B Columbo
This is initially set in the present day and Evie collapses at home. Her soul leaves her and she can see all that is happening.
She then ‘wakes’ as a young girl, Astara, the daughter of a holy man and different to her tribe. Astara is Evie’s first life.
This is a wonderfully written tale of reincarnation, on how past lives and events, happy and sad form the person you then become.
Evie is then in the white place, with her oversoul and many questions and answers. Meeting family and pets helping her with a decision....does she return to her life as Evie? Move on ? Or try again.?
It’s a moving take of life, love and loss. I loved it and will definitely be giving it a second read.
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
This is initially set in the present day and Evie collapses at home. Her soul leaves her and she can see all that is happening.
She then ‘wakes’ as a young girl, Astara, the daughter of a holy man and different to her tribe. Astara is Evie’s first life.
This is a wonderfully written tale of reincarnation, on how past lives and events, happy and sad form the person you then become.
Evie is then in the white place, with her oversoul and many questions and answers. Meeting family and pets helping her with a decision....does she return to her life as Evie? Move on ? Or try again.?
It’s a moving take of life, love and loss. I loved it and will definitely be giving it a second read.
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
May 7, 2019
Imagine you had a stroke - you're in the ICU and you're on life support. Your brain is still functioning and it takes you back to early memories of a past life in another time and place, hundreds of years earlier during the Mesolithic Era of human prehistory. You are Astara, a young girl who is part of the Golden Fish tribe, and has just finished her 'coming of age rite.' When Evie wakes up, she realizes she is remembering a past life she's lived.
The story unfolds at that point and I found it difficult to put the book down. Returning Souls is a book worth reading.
September 23, 2018
I wasn’t too sure about this one as I started reading it. The writing seemed a bit disjointed but as I read on I realised it was written this way to add to the character. I ended up really enjoying this book. I loved the idea of our soul finding different hosts & I felt for the characters. The meaning behind it all at the end was beautiful and it makes you look at life a little differently!
Defiantly worth a read
Defiantly worth a read
March 5, 2018
This was an amazing travel with a soul through the time and space of a blink of an eye. It will leave you wondering and pondering the before and after life.
September 16, 2018
I was captivated by the sensory language I found in Returning Souls. The writing is of an absolutely literary nature and the prose is poetic. Beautiful writing and clever plotting form a narrative that deserves notice.
October 25, 2018
This book has a great resonance for me. A lot of the soul statements are ones that I believe and it was exciting to find a novel so close to my heart. It didn't let me down either. Not everything is in sync, but it is a work of fiction. I look forward to reading more by the author
October 13, 2018
Returning Souls by Ernestine B Columbo
This is initially set in the present day and Evie collapses at home. Her soul leaves her and she can see all that is happening.
She then ‘wakes’ as a young girl, Astara, the daughter of a holy man and different to her tribe. Astara is Evie’s first life.
This is a wonderfully written tale of reincarnation, on how past lives and events, happy and sad form the person you then become.
Evie is then in the white place, with her oversoul and many questions and answers. Meeting family and pets helping her with a decision....does she return to her life as Evie? Move on ? Or try again.?
It’s a moving take of life, love and loss. I loved it and will definitely be giving it a second read.
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
This is initially set in the present day and Evie collapses at home. Her soul leaves her and she can see all that is happening.
She then ‘wakes’ as a young girl, Astara, the daughter of a holy man and different to her tribe. Astara is Evie’s first life.
This is a wonderfully written tale of reincarnation, on how past lives and events, happy and sad form the person you then become.
Evie is then in the white place, with her oversoul and many questions and answers. Meeting family and pets helping her with a decision....does she return to her life as Evie? Move on ? Or try again.?
It’s a moving take of life, love and loss. I loved it and will definitely be giving it a second read.
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
October 20, 2018
Evie Doesn’t understand where she is first. When she finds herself melding with a young girl named Astara, she realizes that she is experiencing a past life. It appears strange to find herself in this past life. She wonders why she is there. As time passes and she gains different experiences, she needs the help of Guadians to understand what she was suppose to have learned from that life. Eventually Evie must decide what she wants to do with her life. What will she do?
I found it to be a very intriguing novel for me as this involves reincarnation. I’ve always been curious about it and have read this story with great interest. It is not a story that I didn’t relate to asi did! I’ve always believe that it is important how you treat others and what you can learn from the people in your life. This is a book not to be missed! Read it!
I found it to be a very intriguing novel for me as this involves reincarnation. I’ve always been curious about it and have read this story with great interest. It is not a story that I didn’t relate to asi did! I’ve always believe that it is important how you treat others and what you can learn from the people in your life. This is a book not to be missed! Read it!
October 29, 2018
When 67 year old Evie has a massive stroke, she is drawn back in time to a past life. As Astara, a young woman living in an ancient tribal civilization, she stuggles to come to terms with herself. As a "three face " being, a blend of man , woman and animal, she is outcast by the tribal elders. Evie soon learns that her soul has lived numerous times., making mistakes and learning from them along the way. Her soul is still on that journey ,and only by learning from her past will she be able to return to the present.
I thought the concept of the book was really good, and loved the idea of a soul or being living through multiple life experiences , though I do wish we had even one more cycle described in the book. It is clear that the author has done a lot of work and research into the historical aspects of the story and her passion and interest shines through.
Unfortunately my enjoyment of the book was marred by a strangely moralistic turn in the last section, which frankly felt poorly handled and left an unpleasant taste in the mouth,
I read and reviewed an copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
I thought the concept of the book was really good, and loved the idea of a soul or being living through multiple life experiences , though I do wish we had even one more cycle described in the book. It is clear that the author has done a lot of work and research into the historical aspects of the story and her passion and interest shines through.
Unfortunately my enjoyment of the book was marred by a strangely moralistic turn in the last section, which frankly felt poorly handled and left an unpleasant taste in the mouth,
I read and reviewed an copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
November 25, 2018
What an intriguing and original premise for a book. Well-written and with good plotting and pacing, the book held my attention from start to finish.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews