The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
analenegrace's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Talbot's characters were interesting and complicated characters who felt well-developed, and as a disabled reader, I thought the disability rep was good with a character who dealt with his limitations and succeeded but wasn't magically fixed and didn't just "get over it" like some disabled book characters tend to do.Â
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
sammymilfort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Torture, Medical content, Body horror, Death, Suicide, Gore, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Medical trauma
thereadedit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Unsettling: đŹđŹ/5
SCARY: đ»/5
DEATH: đđ/5
INTRIGUE: đ§ đ§ đ§ đ§ /5
I went into Sixteen Souls with zero expectations. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover and I fell. Hard. This cover is stunning and it says so much about the book without actually saying anything at all. I didn't read the synopsis before reading this because I really like to go into any kind of horror/paranormal books without knowing anything.Â
I am so glad that I did. Because it left nothing for me to be disappointed in. I greatly appreciate all of the representation that is whiting this book. There is LGBTQ+, disability rep for a double amputee, trans representation. With all of this rep I feel like it only deepened the connection with the characters. And you were able to get to know their true authentic selves.Â
 Getting to know you're characters throughout the book and how they handle the different bombs thrown their way was executed so well.Â
The world building and all of the different characters can be a bit much but it was so well written you were able to follow everything within their respective timelines and lifelines.Â
I really enjoyed the relationships within this book and how well they were written. Having more LGBTQIA+ in YA is such a pertinent need and this book fulfilled the need so well. I wish that there would have been a bit more explanation of one of the characters journeys so that we could have known them a bit better. But I'm hoping that will come in a follow up book.
Graphic: Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Medical content, and Suicide
mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Violence, Child death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, and Body horror
Minor: Cancer
anton13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Suicide, Body horror, and Gun violence
Moderate: Medical content, Death, Violence, Child death, Cursing, Child abuse, Medical trauma, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying, Ableism, Transphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Homophobia, and Torture
purrson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Teen melancholy comes in strong at the forefront of this YA story, with a main character whoâs trying to hang on to normalcy despite ghostly drama only he can see, and (in very relatable/typical adolescent fashion) is sometimes so-self conscious, he doesnât notice whatâs right in front of him. But the pity party doesnât go on too long, and itâs hard not to love the characters we meet (our MCâs new and old friends) as this mystery ramps into adventure.Â
Throughout this book a true love of the locationâits settingâs present and pastâreally shines through, and brings the living and long dead characters and their history (or the times they represent) to life. Itâs delightfully queer and inclusive (the main character has a visible disability), with some romance to boot. The villains are sinister enough to make the stakes properly high, and these teens deal with enough real life drama that the story stays grounded where it needs to be. Itâs truly heartfelt, endearing, and delightfully spooky that I absolutely recommend it for a fun, good read.Â
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Medical content, Torture, and War
fe_aye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Along with the paranormal is a good mystery element that keeps you guessing. Great book really enjoyed it.Â
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Gore, and Gun violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Medical content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Classism and Forced institutionalization
pan_to_ffel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide, Death of parent, Violence, Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Homophobia
frankieclc's review
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Suicide attempt
mxbluet18's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
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First impressions, amazing. It has chapter titles and a map. Both good features for books to have. As well as the very English colloquialisms and northern words and phrases.
~
This is a really well written book, with some amazing representation, and lovely characters. It was interesting reading a book that so heavily featured spirits and magic (the two things aren't always included together).
~
I found a couple of the friendships surprising and unlikely but they really worked. And I was mostly unsurprised to find a healthy dose of pining (as with many queer YA stories).
~
I also really liked that the trans and gay representation was really subtle. In the sense that the fact that there was a trans and gay characters wasn't front and centre, and wasn't a particularly large part of the overarching plotline.
~
The guilt aspect, and the reason both Sam and Charlie are seers took me by surprise, but it also makes a weird sort of sense. I thoroughly loved this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone.
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Suicide, Violence, Torture, and War
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Medical content, Grief, and Transphobia