When the world becomes dark, can you be the light?
Elda Gild is next in line for the throne, betrothed to a monster that wants her crown, and a pawn for a father who is king first, family second. Doomed to a short, painful life at the hands of the ambitious Lord Rhydian Horthan, all seems lost.
When the Soul Forge steps into Elda’s path, everything changes. The Spirits have claimed her as their champion, but her new mentor is hiding a dark secret and an even darker past.
Will Elda have the strength to fix a broken soul? Or will Valerus burn?
Firstly, a heartfelt thank you to Georgia May, who sent me this book as an ARC. Life, as it often does, got in the way and delayed my reading, but having finally immersed myself in Soul Forge, I wish more than anything that I'd entered this world sooner because this isn't just a book, it's an experience.
From the very first page, I was hooked. Her debut into the fantasy romance genre is nothing short of incredible. It has emotional intensity, stunning depth and masterful storytelling that proves she's building a complete other world in fiction. At the start of the book, we are introduced to Princess Elda, a young woman shackled by, not iron but by tradition and expectation. Elda's life is dictated by her father, the King who makes all her choices for her, forbidden to learn or to read, or venture out. She is expected to marry the toxic Lord Rhydian Horthan. Her moments of stolen freedom through forests infested with dangers to both magical and mortal speak volumes of her yearning for more. When the spirits choose her as their champion and assign her to the Soul Forge, Sypher, her world cracks open and so does the readers heart. What follows is a deeply emotional and thrilling journey filled with magic, and an complicated relationship. Their connection is not a fairytale, but something raw, real and it's enemies to lovers, mistrust to complete unexpected loyalty and hate to love so fierce it affected every part of me. Sypher is nothing like a traditional love interest, he's haunting, brooding and carries such a darkness that makes him both dangerous and magnetic, including a secret that I cannot reveal without spoiling the book. The world building is expansive and deeply immersive. From cursed forests to ancient magic, soul-bound corruption and demonic corruption.
Beyond the main characters, the side ones are an amazing touch, each one bringing something vital to the story such as Vel, Reiner, and Julian. Vel is a standout for me, I won't spoil anything but it is honestly nothing short of fantastic.
Georgia does not shy away from heavy themes, so please take care when reading as the book includes the following:
⚠️ Content Warnings (Essential Reading)
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Graphic violence
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Death (including child death)
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Torture
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Gore
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Off-screen rape and sexual assault
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Mental health struggles
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Sexual content
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Strong language
"More than the stars, more than the moon, more than my favourite book or the forest when it rains, everything that I am, and everything that I have, it's all yours."
Reading this book felt like falling in love and being torn apart at the same time. It’s a long book, yes, but not a word is wasted. Every chapter builds toward a climax that left me reeling and desperate for the sequel. This book deserves to explode on BookTok, and I really hope it does with all my being. This book is not just a recommendation, it's a requirement. I won't forget this one.
To buy the book:
https://amzn.to/4jChUop
To follow the author:
HOME | Georgia May
Georgia May (@georgiamay_writes)
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