Soulstealer: Nythan (Book 1)
Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Market)
He was looking forward to college…but then the worst possible thing happened. Could Nythan survive the demon inside of him?
College in Florida was supposed to be about the beaches, the girls, and sometimes even a class or two. But the demon inside had one demand. Help it fulfill its quest so the demon might escape. It’s the only way for Nythan to get his life back. There are just two problems…
Nythan doesn’t want to hurt innocent people…and there’s a secret order out to stop him.
They’re called the Ordo Solis, an ancient group whose only mission is to hunt down and destroy the Soulstealer. They’ve been chasing it for thousands of years. It’s in Nythan, and they have no choice. The host must die.
Caught in the middle, Nythan must come up with a plan. Will he survive?
You’ll love this coming-of-age urban fantasy because it’s an action-packed adventure that will keep you turning the pages.
Plot/Idea: 4 out of 10
Originality: 5 out of 10
Prose: 7 out of 10
Character/Execution: 5 out of 10
Overall: 5.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: The plot in Boulware's novel becomes somewhat muddled as the book attempts to tackle too many topics at once. Religious arguments flood the narrative, bogging down the pacing of the plot, and would better serve the storyline if they were revised for focus and clarity.
Prose/Style: Boulware's prose is filled with embellished metaphors, engaging plot, and a smooth style, but occasionally feels overwritten and suffers from an overutilization of dialogue between Nythan and Bane.
Originality: Boulware takes demonic possession and manages to make the device slightly more original than most novels, but still leans too much into common tropes.
Character Development: Nythan is described in excessive detail and loses individual characterization, instead becoming inseparable from the demon possessing him, Bane. Their relationship, while well-developed, overwhelms the narrative.
Date Submitted: May 27, 2020
