Dark Souls by Paula Morris (Review and Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Welcome to York, England: the most haunted city in the world.

Miranda Tennant arrives in York with a terrible, tragic secret. She is eager to lose herself amid the quaint shops, hoping she won’t run into the many ghosts who supposedly roam the cobblestone streets. Then she meets Nick, an intense, dark-eyed boy who knows all of York’s hidden places and histories. Miranda wonders if Nick is falling for her, but she is distracted by another boy -- one even more handsome and mysterious than Nick. He lives in the house across from Miranda and seems desperate to send her some sort of message. Could this boy be one of York’s haunted souls?

Soon, Miranda realizes that something dangerous -- and deadly -- is being planned. And she may have to face the darkest part of herself in order to unravel the mystery -- and find redemption

Review:

Based on the cover alone, I had a strong feeling Dark Souls would be eerie yet delightfully so. As it turns out, my predication was right on. However, it also provided some great additions: a beautiful setting, interesting characters, and plot lines that constantly managed to twist and turn in surprising ways!

One of my favorite parts of Dark Souls was the setting. I've never read book that has taken place in York, England before, and boy have I been missing out! From Paula's beautiful and breathtaking descriptions to seeing Miranda adventure through the city, more times than one I felt like I was right there on those crowded streets, seeing all the enchanting storefronts and old buildings light brightly for the holiday season. Best of all, I loved how through the use of ghosts and their stories, Paula was also able to bring a bit of a historical aspect to York as well. It gave this book a great edge to say the least, especially when it was used to further the plot.

The characters in this one were great as well. From the first page, Miranda managed to fully gain my attention, as not only was she likable and easy to root for, but she also had a lot of spunk and mischief buried deep down- some of which managed to come out in full force during Dark Souls! What I liked most about her character, though, was seeing how she managed to grow and develop as the book barreled on. I also enjoyed the addition of Miranda's brother Rob as well as his love interest Sally. Because while they were secondary characters, they still managed to steal the show when they appeared on page based on how adorable and cute they were together!

As mentioned before, the plot of this was another high point of the novel. It constantly managed to surprise and thrill me as new plot characters as well as plot lines where introduced to give this book 360 degrees turns more times than one. Making the book even better was Lord Poole, a charming and interesting old man, as well as Nick, Miranda's sidekick in York. Both ended bringing a lot more than I expected to the book, and without them, I fell Dark Souls wouldn't nearly be the same. Lastly, the climax of this book was intense! I never was exactly sure how exactly it would end, and even when it did, I was still a bit shocked about how everything unraveled!

Eerie, beautifully written, and action paced, Dark Souls provides a thrilling and unique ghost story, one that is sure to have many readers flipping the pages, eager to know just how everything will end! Paula Morris has certainly created a fabulous book, and I can't wait to read more by her!

Grade: B+

Dark Souls is now out!

Source: Publicist at Publicity Firm/Publisher- thanks Big Honcho Media and Scholastic!

Photo Credit: Robert Trathan

About the Author: 

Paula Morris is the author of Ruined, and has published several novels for adults in her native New Zealand. She has lived in a number of cities around the world, including York, England. She now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, and teaches creative writing at the University of Stirling. Visit her online at www.paula-morris.com. To find out more about the book and its author, check out This Is Teen Facebook page as well! 

Thanks to Scholastic and Big Honcho Media, I also have TWO copies of Dark Souls up for grabs.

Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter
~ Must have a US mailing address
~ This giveaway will close on September 13 at 12:00 PM EST

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*