Book Review and Giveaway: Dark Souls by Paula Morris

Title: Dark Souls
Author: Paula Morris
Details: Hardcover, 292 pgs.
Published: Aug. 1st, 2011 by Point
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Big Honcho Media and Point


Description:

Welcome to York, England.
Mist lingers in the streets.
Narrow buildings cast long shadows.
This is the most haunted city in the world. . . .
Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint cobblestones, hoping she won’t run into the countless ghosts who supposedly roam the city. . . .
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.

Wow, what a setting!  I have to say that the setting was one of my favorite aspects of the book.  I've always dreamt of visiting England and going to York would certainly be a fantastic adventure.  So it was great to go and see it through Miranda's eyes.  

I really thought this was a brilliant idea for a story.  I love books with ghosts and find them fascinating.  And while I enjoyed this one I kind of wished there was more to the ghost aspect.  Like maybe she could have talked with them more or learned more about some of them.  And while in the end we got more to the ghost part it seemed a bit long in coming.  Actually through most of the book, while I was enjoying it, I just wanted a bit more.  It's hard to explain, but I guess I felt like I was missing something.  However, it was still a great story and I enjoyed the characters.  

I really liked Miranda.  I felt like she was someone I could really be friends with.  And Nick... oh boy.  He's the sullen mysterious type and while I would normally say that's been done too many times, I still ended up falling for him.  I don't know what it is about those mysterious boys... 

Miranda's family can't be left out.  They had a great realistic family dynamic from her father saying nerdy and outdated things to the banter between Miranda and her brother.  I found it all realistic and very enjoyable.

I felt like even though this was a quick read it was slow paced.  It felt like not a lot happened very quickly and then the climax hit and was over.  I do have to say that the climax was pretty intense and it wasn't anything I had figured out at all.   I just wish that we had known just a bit more of the mystery earlier because we didn't even know what to look for while in the end we see there were clues all over the place.  

Overall it was an enjoyable read with great characters and in a fantastic setting!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

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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.

Giveaway: *ENDED*
Keep your space peaceful

A big thanks to Big Honcho Media and Point who are  giving away one copy of Dark Souls and a sage candle.

Open to US only.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends 9/7/11

To Enter: *ENDED*

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