Young scientist and widow Mayela has always wondered if the visions she’s experienced since childhood are merely hallucinations or a glimpse into another world. When she meets the enigmatic Nathan, she finds that the veil between her world and the underworld is surprisingly thin. Nathan is a Soul Hunter, an immortal being who has reaped souls from the annals of history, creating a legion ready to do his bidding. In Mayela, he sees something strange and wonderful. If he can reach her and make a pact of allegiance, he just might be able to secure his place among the legendary Soul Masters, the immortals who hold sway over both demon and earthly realms. As Mayela discovers her magic, what she knows about her own past may just unravel.

Gastreich creates a tense, spooky atmosphere—her underworld is as intriguing as it is scary. A pantheon of scheming immortals and figures from history (Anne Boleyn, Mozart) populate the Soul Hunter realm. Plucky Mayela’s budding romance with Nathan is buoyed by moments of eroticism, and the dialogue is fun: “I ate duck in the Underworld? I went to the bathroom in the Underworld?” Both worlds have their complexities, as Mayela’s right-wing father, sporting his red ballcap, insists he’s no racist but just wants what’s best for the country, a case of Gastreich striving for nuance, while a serial-killer twist is not up to the level of invention of the book at its best.

Gastreich is ambitious, and the immortals here do so much that it can be a challenge keeping up with all the powers and portents: the reaping of historical souls, seeing future pandemics, influencing natural phenomena, politics, and religion. However, there are many flashes of brilliance, especially when Gastreich lets Mayela breathe and discover her own brand of nature magic. Soul Masters will appeal to seasoned fantasy readers up to the twists and turns of Gastreich’s storytelling.

Takeaway: Spooky, inventive romantic fantasy of souls, immortals, and the underworld.

Comparable Titles: Maggie White’s Soul of Light and Shadow, Susan F. Banks’s Red Souls.

Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-