Book Review: Soul Bearer

My rating: 5 dragon-sized stars

and
Damn! This woman can write!!

With Soul Bearer, Elexis Bell stole my heart and buried it deep within the pages!


Among all sub-genres of fantasy, high fantasy romance is my favorite. And this book is amazing!

A new dragon has risen and will soon wreak havoc over the world. Burning, destroying and terrorizing. And only the Soul Bearer has the power to stop it. The only person who can truly kill the beast. Revered and honored, Soul Bearers have always been human. But not this time.

This time the marks burn themselves into the flesh of one who is seen as an outcast and a freak. Aurisye, daughter of a Human and a half-Orc. In a world that would rather see her burn, Aurisye is meant to be the saviour. As the illegitimate daughter of the hero who died nearly thirty years ago after killing the last dragon, she suddenly finds herself summoned to risk her life for people who've never accepted her.
You'd think she'd resent the burden fate has now forced her to bear, in a cruel twist of fate. 'Defending the very people who have made her life a living hell...' And yet, what she fears the most is 'What if they hate me more. Because I'm who they're stuck with?' Not being able to step up to the task and not being worthy! Now who wouldn't root for a girl like that from the very beginning?

Luckily, her companion is chosen wisely. Rafnor, a tolerant soldier, who sees beyond skin color and race, is sent by the Human monarchs to bring Aurisye to the court as well as teach her all things combat. But time is limited, and Aurisye is unskilled in battle. And her sarcastic defenses try even his patience.

It doesn't help that the Human realm is at strife with that of the Elves and in an all-out war with the Orcs. The Elven royals are already plotting to secure an Elven heir to the Soul Bearer blood. And the fact that the Soul Bearer is partly a despicable Orc, does nothing but add fire to their resolve.

Amidst strife and prejudice, Rafnor needs to prepare Aurisye for a seemingly impossible to fulfill task. Killing not one but two dragons. And he needs to make sure she survives. Because there's something about Aurisye that thugs at his his heart. Something that deserves his respect. Next to the fact that he finds the mere sight of her mesmerizing. The more Rafnor gets to know her, the more she gets under his skin.

Aurisye on the other hand, needs to overcome years of oppression and disdain. She needs to find her self-esteem and realize she's worthy. Worthy of the task at hand and worthy of a place in a world that has never shown her anything but hate. And most importantly, she needs to find the courage to hold on to Rafnor.

Very easy to read and yet wonderfully complex, Soul Bearer is not just a plain romantic fantasy tale. This novel goes much deeper delving into solid themes like racism, prejudice and a person's nature. Does our blood define us? Our race or our parents?
Rafnor's firm belief ‘that race does not necessarily define how a person will turn out’ is masterfully supported by Aurisye. But then, the author also leaves room for a different perspective, just as beautifully highlighted by certain Elves, as well as certain Humans.

And yet, the romance is at it's heart. A heart-melting slow-burn romance between Aurisye and Rafnor. A romance that will tug at all your heartstrings because of how amazingly beautiful it is described.
The respect Rafnor has for a woman, clearly shunned and yet able to hold her head high; who knows she isn't good enough but tries her best despite it.
The skittering of a heart at break-neck speed at the thought of being near to someone who may not find her repulsive; and the stray tears threatening to fall because someone may care about her.
And that inner battle in between head and heart, when one warns about being weary and the other gives a rather gleeful, very girlish squeal..

The romance in this book is simply outstanding. Because of the masterful way the feelings are described. And the incredible insight into the characters'mind that the author gives us. The want and need, the fears and longings, everything leaps of the page.

The gratefulness of Aurisye to receive the only sign of affection in a day - the greeting of a few dogs - is heartbreaking. Just as that dangerous sort of hope that stirs within her, that Rafnor might actually treat her like a person.

And the love between them... (*dreamy sigh*)


'His voice is a rope to cling to, something to stop her from falling further down the cliffside, and she grasps it. Slamming into rock, she wonders if it’s truly worth it to slow the fall. Will she not fall again later? Is it not better to fall once, and be done with it all? But she clutches that rope, holding fast to his voice. She isn’t strong enough to climb back up yet, but at least she isn’t falling deeper into the chasm of black despair which could so easily swallow her.
"Shh..., he whispers. "I've got you. Don't worry."'

I couldn't put this book down, once I had started reading. The narrative is, as I've already mentioned, easy and beautifully flowing; the story is gripping and the characters masterfully fleshed out.
This is one romantic fantasy that will stay with me for a very long time.

And if you're looking for a heart-melting love story with depth and meaning - this is THE book you should try!
It is downright amazing.

Check out this book and more of Elexis Bell here.