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A review by koistyfishy
A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 Little Doe Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Who would have thought that a demon without a face could be the biggest cinnamon roll in the world? I’m talking cute, adorable, puppy-like squishiness!!!!
I also really appreciated that this book started with an author’s note explaining that she uses standard English, not American English, so the spelling and certain word choices are expected. And I love that she included the line about “cunt being coveted like a little puppy.” It made me giggle, and I knew from the start that I was going to have a fun time with this book.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Reia, is considered the town’s pariah because she’s the only survivor of a tragic, horrific demon attack that wiped out her entire family. People believe she’s "demon-touched" and a harbinger of death, because the demons didn’t want to eat her. Now every ten years, a Duskwalker (Orpheus) comes to town and "steals a bride", casting a spell of protection on the village which shields the village from invading demons. Reia is chosen as tribute, even though the brides are meant to be voluntary and her choice was between being a bride to a monster or living in a dungeon. He carries her into the Vale (The place where all the demons live) and brings her to his cabin in the woods, where every day is a test of survival.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really like Reia’s spunk. She’s a go-getter, refusing to let her situation drag her down. She’s isolated in a cabin with a monster and could easily, like all the other brides before her, cry herself to sleep and lock herself away in a depressive state. Instead, she decides this is her life now, she’s not dead, and he hasn’t killed her yet, so she might as well make the most of it... including baking cookies, even though they have no flour and would need to get some.
Originally, Orpheus comes off as scary and elusive, but he’s also very careful. It becomes clear that he’s just lonely, searching for companionship, and everyone always leaves him. He has serious abandonment issues and suffers from grief from the people he’s brought to the cabin before (that all BASICALLY DIED). He just wants someone to live with him and share his existence. Romance isn’t really on his mind, he’s actually kind of a himbo who doesn’t understand sex or sexual gratification much, so he and Reia have to figure that out... collaboratively.
The more Orpheus is unpacked, the more you see he’s an absolute sweetheart. He’s so considerate, and yes, sometimes primal. He is a monster (duh) and he definitely has that “mine” mentality if that’s your kink. There’s also a slight breeding kink that crops up, and OF COURSE a little Stockholm syndrome.
This book does move at a slower pace and a lot of it focuses on the bucolic "country living", but without the rolling hills and livestock (BECAUSE THEY WILL ALL BE EATEN). It contains a lot of details about how they live in a demon-infested hellscape, how they survive, protect themselves, and manage day-to-day tasks like making food and protection amulets. There’s plenty of hunting, cooking, farming, and tending to the house and bathing. THERE IS A LOT OF BATHING!
Despite the slow going, I love how Reia ends up bossing Orpheus around, convincing him to open up and listen to her. It’s sweet how this girl, who lost her entire family and was outcast by her village, finds a kindred soul in a faceless demon.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ CaptorXCaptive (Forced Proximity)
▶ Beauty and the Beast Monster Romance
▶ Alphamale
▶ Spicy/Steamy Water Scenes (Bathing, a lot of bathing)
▶ Demons and Magic
▶ Cinnamon Roll
▶ Slow Burn
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Primal Play
▷ Fingers can't close
▷ It Won't Fit
▷ He has a tail
▷ "Mine"
Despite the blood, gore, and demons...the story turned out surprisingly wholesome and sweet, which I didn’t expect when I picked it up... but I really enjoyed it.
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Who would have thought that a demon without a face could be the biggest cinnamon roll in the world? I’m talking cute, adorable, puppy-like squishiness!!!!
I also really appreciated that this book started with an author’s note explaining that she uses standard English, not American English, so the spelling and certain word choices are expected. And I love that she included the line about “cunt being coveted like a little puppy.” It made me giggle, and I knew from the start that I was going to have a fun time with this book.
𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Reia, is considered the town’s pariah because she’s the only survivor of a tragic, horrific demon attack that wiped out her entire family. People believe she’s "demon-touched" and a harbinger of death, because the demons didn’t want to eat her. Now every ten years, a Duskwalker (Orpheus) comes to town and "steals a bride", casting a spell of protection on the village which shields the village from invading demons. Reia is chosen as tribute, even though the brides are meant to be voluntary and her choice was between being a bride to a monster or living in a dungeon. He carries her into the Vale (The place where all the demons live) and brings her to his cabin in the woods, where every day is a test of survival.
𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I really like Reia’s spunk. She’s a go-getter, refusing to let her situation drag her down. She’s isolated in a cabin with a monster and could easily, like all the other brides before her, cry herself to sleep and lock herself away in a depressive state. Instead, she decides this is her life now, she’s not dead, and he hasn’t killed her yet, so she might as well make the most of it... including baking cookies, even though they have no flour and would need to get some.
Originally, Orpheus comes off as scary and elusive, but he’s also very careful. It becomes clear that he’s just lonely, searching for companionship, and everyone always leaves him. He has serious abandonment issues and suffers from grief from the people he’s brought to the cabin before (that all BASICALLY DIED). He just wants someone to live with him and share his existence. Romance isn’t really on his mind, he’s actually kind of a himbo who doesn’t understand sex or sexual gratification much, so he and Reia have to figure that out... collaboratively.
The more Orpheus is unpacked, the more you see he’s an absolute sweetheart. He’s so considerate, and yes, sometimes primal. He is a monster (duh) and he definitely has that “mine” mentality if that’s your kink. There’s also a slight breeding kink that crops up, and OF COURSE a little Stockholm syndrome.
This book does move at a slower pace and a lot of it focuses on the bucolic "country living", but without the rolling hills and livestock (BECAUSE THEY WILL ALL BE EATEN). It contains a lot of details about how they live in a demon-infested hellscape, how they survive, protect themselves, and manage day-to-day tasks like making food and protection amulets. There’s plenty of hunting, cooking, farming, and tending to the house and bathing. THERE IS A LOT OF BATHING!
Despite the slow going, I love how Reia ends up bossing Orpheus around, convincing him to open up and listen to her. It’s sweet how this girl, who lost her entire family and was outcast by her village, finds a kindred soul in a faceless demon.
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ CaptorXCaptive (Forced Proximity)
▶ Beauty and the Beast Monster Romance
▶ Alphamale
▶ Spicy/Steamy Water Scenes (Bathing, a lot of bathing)
▶ Demons and Magic
▶ Cinnamon Roll
▶ Slow Burn
and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Primal Play
▷ Fingers can't close
▷ It Won't Fit
▷ He has a tail
▷ "Mine"
Despite the blood, gore, and demons...the story turned out surprisingly wholesome and sweet, which I didn’t expect when I picked it up... but I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment