Gina Briganti's Reviews > Borrowed Souls

** spoiler alert ** This may be the next series that grabs me and doesn't let go until the series ends. I've been looking for characters and world-building to match what I loved in Ilona Andrews Kate Daniel's series which ended last year.

The author's dedication was an indicator that I was in the right place. "For my parents (Sorry for all the swearing.)"

I read in a description that this is dark urban fantasy. Though I appreciate the warning I didn't find it to be dark in the ways that would deter me from reading, such as gratuitous violence and gore.

What I really liked about this book:

Great world-building within the culture of Gem City and their unusual emphasis on how they care for their souls. Soul rental for the purpose of sinning without getting the soul dirty, uh, hello! Characters who don't return the souls on time and have to have them collected? I demanded more from the author and she gave it to me.

The MC, Callie. She's accessible and flawed. Gorgeous, sexy, sassy, smart, and messed up in what I think are redeemable ways or I wouldn't want to keep reading about her.

The hero/enforcer, Derek. Yum. The way he and Callie support one another makes my romantic heart skip a beat. I want to bring him to life and...you know.

Mueller's promise to the reader to bring more, more, more of her fresh voice to UF with this series.

So much room to expand the story of how Callie came to where she is in this book, renting a soul to save her questionable brother. I want to know more about his role in Gem City and I trust this author to give him a compelling one.

The Charmer who is anything but. He is creepy in a way that makes me want to read more about him, and I'll be honest, I want to see Callie in a boss battle with him when she gets a handle on the soul magic he tricked into her.

A hint of romance, because as much as I love fantasy I will choose one with a romance over one without one faster than a dragon scents gold.


Why four stars and not five? I had trouble connecting to the story at first. I had to get to know the world and the characters to get invested and that didn't happen right away.

Onto the next, Rogue Souls: Magic, murder, and rented souls.