Title: Dark Souls
Author: Paula Morris
304 pages, Published by Point
Target Audience: Ages 12 and up, Will appeal to adults that love ghost stories as well!
Review copy provided by Big Honcho Media.
Buy The Book: Amazon
Summary:
Welcome to York, England.
Mist lingers in the streets.
Narrow buildings cast long shadows.
This is the most haunted city in the world…
Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint cobblestones, hoping she won’t run into the countless ghosts who supposedly roam the city…
Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York’s hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy – one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York’s haunted souls?
Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous – and deadly – is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery – and find redemption. (Summary provided by Point.)
My Thoughts:
I’ve heard lots of good things about Paula Morris’s debut YA novel Ruined, but unfortunately I never got a chance to read it. So I was intrigued when I received a review copy of her latest YA offering Dark Souls. Dark Souls is the story of Miranda, a teen who is able to see ghosts after after she is in a car crash in which her best friend dies. While on a family trip to England, Miranda meets Nick. Nick can also see ghosts and he begins indoctrinating her into the world of those who can see the dead. Miranda soon discovers that Nick has a secret…
You know what I love better than a good ghost story? A great one – and Dark Souls definitely fits that description! From the spooky setting to the excellent character development, Paula Morris sinks her hooks into her readers and doesn’t let go until the thrilling conclusion. Dark Souls reads like a traditional mystery but with an edge.
Most of the novel takes place in an area of York, England known as The Shambles. This is the second ghost related YA novel that takes place in England that I have read in the past month, and if this is going to be a new trend in YA, I’m all for it! I can think of no better place to set a ghost story than on the quaint streets of York.
Paula Morris has a knack for creating interesting, believable characters. Miranda is a complex protagonist, and her love interest Nick will keep readers intrigued. Even the ancillary characters shine through the pages in Dark Souls! I absolutely fell in love with one of the minor characters in the book: sweet, old Lord Poole. Morris’s descriptions of his stately home (including a cozy library I’d like to spend the day wondering around) were one of many highlights of the book!
I highly recommend Dark Souls for any reader that enjoys a good ghost story or mystery. Although it is listed as a Young Adult book, I think it will appeal to adult readers as well. Be sure and check out the This Is Teen Facebook page. Dark Souls will be featured there this month.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I liked this book, but didn’t like it as much as you did. I know young people are passionate, but I found it too coincidental that both Miranda and her brother met someone special so quickly and I had trouble getting past that.
i really am getting hooked right now im, in were miranda is at clifford tower and she feels like shes a ghost to them people who look ashy so im in that parcent part
look i havent hit that prt so ill try to see what ur talking about!!!gosh dont be so bossy like everyone has opinions im ok with ur opinion but im justr saying my opinion and stuff
I just got this book today at my school’s book fair and so far I love it. The prologue was so well written that I was hooked after I read it. Great story so far, I hope it stays that way.
I have read almost 25% of the story and it’s like I won’t stop. Good I found the e-book version, i can bring it anywhere. Hope I can download some more stories from Paula Morris.
this book is my favorite i love how there is clues hidden throught the book if you read it once try and read it again to find all of the clues
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