Dark Souls by Paula Morris + Giveaway

Dark Souls

Paula Morris

Publisher: Point

Release Date: August 1, 2011

Series or Standalone: Standalone

ISBN: 9780545251327

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 292

Source: Big Honcho Media

Websites:

Paula Morris – Website

Paula Morris – Blog

Paula Morris – Twitter 

Rating: 3 Stars

I have to admit, Dark Souls is one of those really hard books to review because I did not love it and I did not hate it. My thoughts are somewhere in the middle and that is always the hardest to describe.

Dark Souls was an interesting read. And I know, interesting is the best word, but really, I cannot think of another word. I really liked how Paula Morris set up the story and introduced us to the world of ghosts. While this book involves seeing ghosts, it did feel like a paranormal novel. The ghosts were just part of Miranda’s life, something she sees after witnessing the death of her best friend in a car accident. I really liked how Paula Morris explained the reason for why Miranda can see ghosts, and why any other person who sees ghosts actually sees them. There was no paranormal explanation, more of an emotional one which I really liked.

Something about this book made me keep reading it. I was indifferent to the plot of the book, but I did want to keep reading to find out what will happen and what was up with the mysterious Nick and the ghosts in York. I was not on the edge of my seat or anything while I was reading, I was merely reading just to move the plot along.

One thing that I really did like about this book was the writing. Paula Morris gives really amazing descriptions. Her descriptions of York were beautiful and really helped to establish the setting of the novel. While I was reading, I was tempted by her descriptions to actually look up the places were the novel takes place and was amazed at how accurate her descriptions were.

Another thing I really liked was the relationship between Miranda and her brother Rob. Rob was in the driver in the car accident which killed Miranda’s friend and he is carrying around some emotional baggage like Miranda. I really liked that you could tell Miranda and Rob really cared for each other and I loved their conversations with each other because they really felt like actual brother and sister and you can tell they cared for each other.

While I liked the relationship between Miranda and Rob, the relationship between Miranda and Nick just did not work for me. Something about it just did not work for me. I’m not sure what it really is, if it was the character of Nick himself or just there interactions, but something fell flat. Nick was an intriguing character on his own, but Miranda and him together just did not work.

I felt that Dark Souls was missing that special something that makes me really like a book. I don’t know what that special something really is, it’s different for each book, but this one just was missing it. It did not click for me. Don’t get me wrong the book was good, nothing I really did not like but it just did not blow me away. And sometimes that happens with books.

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Thanks to Big Honcho Media I have TWO copies of Dark Souls to giveaway. Here's a bit more about the book:

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint shops, hoping she won’t run into the many ghosts who supposedly roam the cobblestone streets. 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.

Photo Credit: Robert Trathan

About the Author:
Paula Morris is the author of Ruined, and has published several novels for adults in her native New Zealand. She has lived in a number of cities around the world, including York, England. She now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and teaches creative writing at the University of Stirling. Visit her online at www.paula-morris.com.

Paula Morris will also be featured on the This Is Teen Facebook page for Dark Souls so make sure to check it out!

Giveaway Rules:
 -Fill out the form below completely
-Open to US residents only
-Must be 13 years or old to enter. If under 13, parental consent is required.
-One entry per person. Multiple entries will be deleted
-Ends September 1, 2011