The writing wasn’t really doing anything for me
This also felt really young and I just didn’t connect to any of the characters or even the story ( )

Princess of Souls is a great YA fantasy story, full of forbidden magic, witty characters and a huge, detailed world.
I was apprehensive about this book at first, as I didn't enjoy the previous book I read by this author, however I found this to be very engaging and well written. ( )

This book was awesome! I listened to it as an audiobook and was absolutely transported! Both Selestra and Nox were an amazingly strong capable main characters. I appreciated their differenced and how they played off of one another. I found Selestra's adventures outside of the caged world that she had previously know to overthrow the king (and by extension her mother) were particularly interesting. I think this was one of the main reasons I felt that the world building and magic lore was so strong. You got to see everything, basically for the first time through Selestra's eyes. Also just the concept of the Somniatis Witch was really cool. Soul stealers that are revered and feared a pretty dang cool concept if you ask me!
I did have a few minor gripes though and my biggest one was (without spoiling it) how things ended up with her mother. Throughout the book it seems like her mother has an understanding and even regret for what is going on yet in the end that doesn't seem to be as present. If her mother that that her only way out was through *** slight spoiler ***
death than I would have liked that to be more apparent in their conversation.
Also, what happened to the bird? Was it freed?
But aside from those few quibbles I couldn't be happier with my experience reading this book! ( )

Book: Princess of Souls
Author: Alexandra Christo
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 352
Published: October 11th 2022
Main Characters: Selestra and Nox

I loved the fantasy novel Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo. It was a great read. I decided to read it because it sounded intresting. I also chose to read this novel because I love retellings. I really love the cover too it's what caught my attention and pulled me in. The book starts off slow but slowly starts to get intresting a couple chapters in. Three important characters in this book are the heir Selestra Somniatis, Seryth king of the Six Isles, sand Officer Nox Laederic of Thánatos regiment. Officer Nox Laederic is the king's favorite. Also King Serth had been trying to conquer Southerisle Polemistes is the only one left not bowing down to king after he killed their king. When Officer Nox goes to make the bargain with the king his prediction shows his and Selestra Somniatis death. I hope you enjoy reading this book I sure did.

Now here's some important quotes from the start of the book so I don't spoil the rest of the book for y'all:

1. "I can tell someone when they're going to die. All I need is a lock of hair and their soul."..."That's the job of a Somiatis Witch."

Thoughts on the quote: This job seems interesting but must be hard

2. "At sixteen, I'm still just an heir to my true power, waiting for the day I inherit my family's magic."

Thoughts on this quote: It must be really hard to wait for your true self to kick in.

3. "Somniatis witches are like siphons. We draw in energy and let it pass through us. Energy like death that we call into our veins and let wet our lips. It's what gives us our visions and allows us to take the soulsof the doomed and pour them into the king.
It's cursed magic but it's the only magic left in the six Isles.
My family saw to that."

This quote is important.

4. "Heirs to magic are useless until they reach their eighteenth birthday and are bound to the king by the blood oath, ready to be taught the true essence of magic and trained to take over once the old witch dies. Until then I am Irrelevant."

Thoughts: It must be hard.

5. "Each year only two hundred are allowed to enter into the bargain and risk their souls." ( )

I really enjoyed reading Princess of Souls a dark YA fantasy very loosely based on the Rapunzel story. The story follows Selestra, a teenage witch, part of a line of witches in thrall to the tyrannical, immortal king Seryth. Her mother foretells deaths and feeds souls to the evil Seryth so that he can maintain his immortality. The story starts with Selestra imprisoned in her castle tower, timid and resigned to her fate forced to serve Seryth once her mother dies.
Then she meets Nox, a soldier in the King's army who is driven to avenge his father who was killed by Seryth. Together Selestra and Nox embark on a journey to destroy the king they despise.
The story was fast paced and full of adventure. I was hooked the entire time and couldn't put the book down. The world building was vivid and immersive. I was intrigued by the dark, horrifying magic system. Selestra and Nox begin their journey as hostile adversaries but united in their dangerous quest, grow to care for one another. I enjoyed following Selestra as she grows fierce and powerful. The side characters Micah and Irenya are also well developed. The witty banter among the foursome is a lot of fun.
Princess of Souls is an imaginative and beautifully written adventurous fantasy. Thank you to BookishFirst for a copy to review. ( )