Book Sojourner: Review: Soul Choice by Elizabeth Kirke

Soul Choice by Elizabeth Kirke

(More Than Magic #3)

May 30, 2015

330 pages

Genre: YA/NA Paranormal

Contains: minimal profanity, minimal fade-to-black sexual references

Source: Personal purchase

Forget everything you know… about magic…

Jen doesn’t know who people keep mistaking her for, but one thing is clear: her mystery double is not popular. When Jen is kidnapped by a group bent on revenge for something she never did, it’s up to her friends to rescue her. Little do they know, Jen’s captors are ready for them.

Thomas, TS, Charlie, Dani, and Mariana become the latest victims of a malicious experiment, one which could spell doom for magic-kind. Now their lives, and maybe their entire world, are in Jen’s hands. Unfortunately, escaping the facility is the least of their problems. The experiment is dangerous; one in three test subjects dies. And considering five of them are affected, the odds don’t look good.

Time is running out and Jen and her friends are faced with the hardest decisions they’ve ever had to make; how do you know who to trust, when your own mother isn’t who you thought she was? Just how much will you sacrifice for a friend, even if it’s your life?

And how can you make a choice when the wrong one means death?

'Soul Choice' is the third book in the 'More Than Magic' series. I recommend reading the books in this series in order. If you like the characters, story arch, and the world Kirke created in the first book, you are sure to like the rest of the books. There is something really special about this series and what Kirke has created. I have loved each and every installment.

This time around Jen hasn't seen her friends or boyfriend, Thomas, is a few months, now that school is back in session. But a weekend between spring breaks is just what she needs to feel connected once again. Unfortunately, there is also a strange vampire threatening her, but being a flight away from her magic friends leaves everyone a bit nervous about her predicament, the distance leaving them feeling helpless. And then things take a turn for the worse, and Jen and friends find themselves in danger they never saw coming.

I find that I really enjoy going through life with Jen. She's easy going, observant, and level headed. She also loves her friends and all their help and insight, yet she is also independent and comfortable on her own. But unlike many heroines I've read, Jen gets help, asks questions, and doesn't ignore things, which I love. Now there were a few times when Jen's pacing borders on too detailed or slow, but I easily forgive it because I feel like I'm just a friend going along for the ride with her, both of us discovering this magical world together.

Along with Jen, what I really love is the camaraderie of her and her friends. Thomas, TS, Dani, Charlie, Mariana, and Ember create such a wonderful group and I love feeling like I'm hanging out with them. They are fun, supportive, and super considerate of Jen and her special circumstances. They are also fiercely loyal and protective, and despite knowing Jen for only a number of months, she is one of them, and they will dive into any danger for her. So I love them all, and am always happy to catch up with them and where they're at in life.

The situations that come about in this story really took me on a ride. There were many unexpected moments, and I found myself reading faster and faster, sitting on pins and needles, anxious for the outcome. There were some nail-biting scenes. There were also some really touching scenes, showing the depth of love between these characters. Then combine the depth of love with the depth of danger, and this story packed it all in until the very end. And a fantastic ending it was! Loved it!

I'm sad that this is the last book of the series. I have loved these characters from the start and will miss their adventures. But I can only hope that Elizabeth writes a little something about them in the future. I'll take anything. A holiday novella. A wedding novella (hint hint). Anything. Thank you for the 'More Than Magic' series!