The Soul Cages

Nicole Givens Kurtz

3/9/2003

Sarah and Amana have escaped from Valek's soul cages. The have regained flesh bodies and are running to a transport circle. Just as they reach it, Valek's henchmen catch up and capture Amana. Sarah is recused by a strange warrior who reaches through the circle and pulls her through before her soul can also be retaken.

Sarah finds herself in a strange, cold world following a dark, huge man who is a Minister Knight. She is angry at this man, Marion, because he would not let her return to get her sister. For his part, Marion is not thrilled with this girl, either. Yet his queen believes she will be the salvation of the souls captured by Valek, along with the Minister Knights.

Valek not only has his captured souls working in mines, but he is also the only source of the mysterious drug Solance. Solance allows the user to read other people's minds for a period of time. Unknown to each other, Valek is selling this drug at an exhorbitant price to both sides of an ongoing interplanetary war. The Ministry Knights not only want to free the prisoners, but stop the spread of this drug.

This is a fantasy ebook with an interesting premise. My attention was caught by the captured souls idea. It is lightweight reading. The characters aren't paper characters, yet never really flesh out, either. I would have liked more description of the soul cages themselves - perhaps the author didn't have them completely visualized either. There is also conflict between Marion and another Knight, Kalah, that is a surprise when it is explained. The first appearance of Kalah gives a different impression of their relationship. Despite some of the problems, this book keeps the reader's interest. Enjoy.

You can find more about this book at Nicole's Niche.