Review by Amber Nichole -- Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren
Posted: 13 Feb 2021, 02:14
[Following is a volunteer review of "Soul Seeker" by Kaylin McFarren.]
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren begins with the story of Benjamin Poe, the captain of the local fire department who is better at battling the fires that he encounters than mending the broken relationships within his family. Already having lost a daughter, and with a marriage on the brink of collapse, the strongest source of tension rests between Benjamin and his son, Gabriel -- a boy becoming increasingly more troubled as the years go on. When a soul-seeking demon named Crighton begins to hunt Gabriel, however, Benjamin fights to save his son’s soul, only to end up being the reason for Gabriel’s demise. With Gabriel dead and Benjamin’s own soul doomed (if only by Benjamin’s own guilt and fear), Crighton eventually returns to Hell, whereupon he is thrust into a journey that challenges everything he thinks he knows about reality and himself. Secrets revealed and a blossoming alliance with a foe all leave Crighton questioning two things: who is he and who can he be?
As the recipient of over 50 awards, Kaylin McFarren has clearly developed strengths throughout her years of writing. In Soul Seeker, the biggest of these strengths is plot. There is never a stagnant moment as Kaylin McFarren leads readers through the rabbit hole of her world. When one loose end is tied, she exposes another mystery or conflict. This creates an exciting experience for readers as they try to predict what may be in store next.
As exciting as Soul Seeker is, it makes no attempt at avoiding the cliché but instead wholly embraces it. One scene in particular feels ripped straight from the script of a blockbuster horror movie -- a scene where Benjamin meets with a man he feels can give him information about Crighton. Kaylin McFarren takes every trope from the genre -- a mental hospital; a phone mysteriously ringing; the hysteria and self-abuse of a patient -- and crams them all into one chapter. As the story moves forward into Crighton’s journey, the clichés continue. The relationships revealed aren’t much of a surprise to anybody who has a basic understanding of Christian theology, and her use of the theme of forbidden love doesn’t contribute anything new to make it particularly noteworthy. Clichés, in and of themselves, are not inherently bad; Kaylin McFarren just doesn’t use them in a way that makes Soul Seeker stand out from similar novels preceding it.
Overall, I would give Soul Seeker a rating of two out of four stars. It does a great job of engaging the reader and offers philosophical thoughts on identity and the potential for change in oneself. However, I did notice several errors, which causes me to wonder how attentive the editor was -- if one was used. Beyond that, I was very disappointed in the lack of originality and struggled to finish reading the book. Had I not read beyond part one of the novel, I would have been left with a much better impression. There are plenty others, though, who will read this with delight.
This novel will best be enjoyed by those with interests in thrillers and fantasies, particularly of a darker nature. With generous swearing, mild erotic themes, and a scene depicting attempted rape, Soul Seeker is highly recommended for mature audiences.
******
Soul Seeker
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Soul Seeker by Kaylin McFarren begins with the story of Benjamin Poe, the captain of the local fire department who is better at battling the fires that he encounters than mending the broken relationships within his family. Already having lost a daughter, and with a marriage on the brink of collapse, the strongest source of tension rests between Benjamin and his son, Gabriel -- a boy becoming increasingly more troubled as the years go on. When a soul-seeking demon named Crighton begins to hunt Gabriel, however, Benjamin fights to save his son’s soul, only to end up being the reason for Gabriel’s demise. With Gabriel dead and Benjamin’s own soul doomed (if only by Benjamin’s own guilt and fear), Crighton eventually returns to Hell, whereupon he is thrust into a journey that challenges everything he thinks he knows about reality and himself. Secrets revealed and a blossoming alliance with a foe all leave Crighton questioning two things: who is he and who can he be?
As the recipient of over 50 awards, Kaylin McFarren has clearly developed strengths throughout her years of writing. In Soul Seeker, the biggest of these strengths is plot. There is never a stagnant moment as Kaylin McFarren leads readers through the rabbit hole of her world. When one loose end is tied, she exposes another mystery or conflict. This creates an exciting experience for readers as they try to predict what may be in store next.
As exciting as Soul Seeker is, it makes no attempt at avoiding the cliché but instead wholly embraces it. One scene in particular feels ripped straight from the script of a blockbuster horror movie -- a scene where Benjamin meets with a man he feels can give him information about Crighton. Kaylin McFarren takes every trope from the genre -- a mental hospital; a phone mysteriously ringing; the hysteria and self-abuse of a patient -- and crams them all into one chapter. As the story moves forward into Crighton’s journey, the clichés continue. The relationships revealed aren’t much of a surprise to anybody who has a basic understanding of Christian theology, and her use of the theme of forbidden love doesn’t contribute anything new to make it particularly noteworthy. Clichés, in and of themselves, are not inherently bad; Kaylin McFarren just doesn’t use them in a way that makes Soul Seeker stand out from similar novels preceding it.
Overall, I would give Soul Seeker a rating of two out of four stars. It does a great job of engaging the reader and offers philosophical thoughts on identity and the potential for change in oneself. However, I did notice several errors, which causes me to wonder how attentive the editor was -- if one was used. Beyond that, I was very disappointed in the lack of originality and struggled to finish reading the book. Had I not read beyond part one of the novel, I would have been left with a much better impression. There are plenty others, though, who will read this with delight.
This novel will best be enjoyed by those with interests in thrillers and fantasies, particularly of a darker nature. With generous swearing, mild erotic themes, and a scene depicting attempted rape, Soul Seeker is highly recommended for mature audiences.
******
Soul Seeker
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon