What an interesting start. Plot is riveting, especially the beginning. Characters are engaging. Something about them made me want to continue reading and cheer them on. The main character, Rhett, behaves much as I believe I would. Disbelief, and then frustration. Even dead he tends to have a depressive vibe. I love that about him.

I also love that he is always looking for his parents. He has guilt but also love for them. It's tangible. Maybe because of how the accident occurred but it just felt like they had a decent relationship. In many stories the parents go unnoticed, even in YA, and it's so frustrating to me. The parents aren't even around in this and yet they are never forgotten. They are a constant for him.

The movement felt good. The time spent was a tad weird but didn't hold back the plot and I'm glad there wasn't training for an entire year. Obviously that would have held back the plot, and slowed everything down.

Characters were a riot. Although they may have seemed almost a tad cliche, I still liked them. Basil is my favorite. The other characters kind of blurred a bit. You have the mean lead who has to be snarky to everyone. I wish she was a bit more, I don't know, empathetic maybe? She rubbed me wrong the entire time.

I did enjoy the ending though. This was so well done that I sped through it. Found little that I didn't like. Most that I did.

Such an interesting concept, and the initial description of the ship hooked me with its fantastical imagery, but overall the writing didn't grab me and I did not end up finishing it. There was a strange juxtaposition between a story that felt like it was written for the 11-13 year old crowd, and more adult language thrown in every once in a while.

I enjoy YA, but like YA that leans towards an older audience, and this one definitely skews younger. Very interesting and I'm sure it would be a great fit for fans of Riordian or similar tween fantasies.

As a debut novel, Devon Taylor’s talent earns an 11 on a scale of 1-10. So why am I rating this book with a 3? This amazingly original tale of “The Soul Keepers,” marked by its magnetically compelling introduction was absolutely failed by its editor. Brilliant descriptive scenes and creatively quirky characters are impeded by stunted prose that an editor should have swiftly recognized and corrected. Within an ocean of recent books that has ignored action-seeking “junior high” readers, Soul Keepers had the potential to transcend expectations.

“The Soul Keepers,” is undoubtedly a Middle School book. Many mature and unnecessary superlatives could have easily been substituted with "pre-teen friendly"phrases.

The story line and pacing are would be well-received by fans of Riordan’s “The Lightning Thief” and/or Copling’s “Sage Alexander” Series. Taylor's work would also serve as a“book alike” Reader’s Advisory lists among Schusterman’s “Everlost” and/or Mark Frost’s “Paladin Prophecy.”

Taylor's talent is one to watch as his writing voice is certain to reel in reluctant readers and avid readers alike.

Lisa Brennan @noveltalk Netgalley ARC

This was such a fun book to read near Halloween! The characters were varied and interesting, keeping me entertained throughout. I also found the mythology fascinating, especially the ship itself, and its changing nature.

OMGGGGGg. I loved this book! it was so much fun to read! it kind of reminds me of YA ghost ship means Percy Jackson! This book took me completely by surprise. just when i thought i knew where this book was headed, i was wrong! so its definitely unpredictable. the writing in this book was well done and i found the plot captivating. I can't wait to see what else Devon Taylor has up his sleeves!

The Soul Keepers is one of those stories that grabs you right from the very beginning, and it doesn't let go until the very end, which will leave you gasping and eager for more.

First things first... I LOVE this cover. It's super cool, and it made me want to read this book immediately. Also, the synopsis sounded awesome, so I was like, yes. Let's read this book.

We have Rhett, our main character. He's a teenage boy who dies in a horrible car accident, and the next thing he knows, he's being whisked away to a huge, hulking ship (known as The Harbinger) by a British guy named Basil. Said ship is where souls are kept; some souls are tucked away, and some (like Basil) become Soul Keepers, if you will. But there's something more to Rhett than him joining the ranks of Keepers. I won't spoil what that is, though. You'll have to read it to find out. ;)

There are also these evil creatures known as Psychons, and they'll stop at nothing to destroy a Keeper and take the souls for themselves. They're like demonic Grim Reapers in a way. Skulls and cloaks and all that jazz.

Now, I won't spoil any of the plot, but just know this book is ridiculously good. Like, edge of your seat roller coaster thrill ride that will leave your heart pounding and your head spinning good. I can't say I was disappointed by that. Definitely a good thing.

As for the characters, I really liked Basil. I thought he was cheeky and fun. Rhett was a likeable enough guy, although he did have his moments. I mean, he is a teenage boy. I also liked Theo...and the rest of the gang. But I think Basil was my favorite.

Overall, I think The Soul Keepers is a really strong debut novel, and I'm so happy I took a chance and decided to read it. It's a fantastic, imaginative story, and now I need more! I can't wait to see if there will be a sequel. Fingers crossed!

4.5 stars from me.

Holy wild ride, Batman! The Soul Keepers grabbed from the very beginning and didn't let me out of its clutches until I'd consumed the very last word. I decided to download the audiobook from Kobo and I highly recommend doing so. It added so much more to the experience. The narrator did different voices for each character...including a certain creepy voice that still haunts my dreams.

It's always so hard to review the books that I enjoyed the most. Oh gosh, where to start? Rhett's character was very believable and relatable. He has a hard time accepting his new afterlife and is wracked with guilt over the cause of the accident. I won't delve much deeper than that because when it's revealed, it will gut you. He has to work hard to prove himself to his fellow crew members but once he does, he has found a new sort of family.

My favorite character was Basil. I loved his accident and his chipper attitude. He was also full of snark and wit, which is always a good thing. The secondary characters were also great and had a strong presence in the whole story. I feel like there's more to Mack than we get, but I have high hopes of more of her backstory in (hopefully) the next book. I definitely need more of this story and this world!

If you're looking for a fast-paced adventure with lots of wit, nail-biting moments, loyal friends, and a smidgen of romance, then I highly recommend The Soul Keepers...and grab that audiobook if you can. You won't regret it!

Even though I adore the Swoon Reads imprint because of the swoony romances, I was still excited for The Soul Keepers, which has no romance (at least with the main character) in it. I was promised an action-pack adventure and it more was more than fulfilled!

The Soul Keepers begins right away with Rhett and his parents dying in a car accident and Rhett looking at the scene away from his body. He soon realizes that they have all died and comes across a figure, Basil, who can see him. Basil recruits him to the Harbinger, which holds all of the souls and the syllektors (soul collectors and what Rhett has now become).

The world building is fantastic in The Soul Keepers. I loved learning about the Harbinger and the job of the syllektors as Rhett goes on missions with his new crew. Part 1 really focuses on explaining what’s going on and why the souls need to be collected. Part 2 then skips ahead to ten months later when the monsters controlled by a demon who wants Rhett start attacking the his crew and the rest of the ship. There is a prophecy involving Rhett, which is why the demon is after him in the first place. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m hot going to explain the mythology.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel dealing with the afterlife like The Soul Keepers does and I really enjoyed how Devon Taylor tackled everything. His writing style fit so well with explaining the world and letting Rhett’s voice shine through while also keeping the story quick and fast-paced. I enjoyed the other characters and the interesting dynamic that formed between them. I especially liked Basil and Mak.

Overall, The Soul Keepers is an action-packed debut novel filled with adventure and fascinating world building! I cannot wait for a sequel!

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

When Rhett dies in a car accident, he expects the usual long tunnel with a white light at the end. Instead, he finds himself chosen as a syllektor, those responsible for collecting the souls of the dead and taking them to safety before the soul-eating psychons can reach them. Rhett joins a team of other syllektors and slowly begins to accept his new 'life' and friends. However, his new existence is upended when they realize there is an even more terrifying entity behind the psychons, and she is after a power Rhett does not even know he has. The action is thrilling and non-stop, but there will be many questions still unanswered when you reach the end. Hopefully, the cliffhanger ending means another book will follow this one.

This book took me COMPLETELY by surprise!

I admit that I struggled a little to get into it at the beginning but I quickly got caught up in the fantastic mythology.

To sum it up, this book felt like a mixture of Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and a modern spin on Greek mythology.

I loved the writing style, particularly when it came to the action scenes which were fantastic, and also the plot twists which were extremely unexpected.

The characters were varied and interesting, keeping me engaged throughout and the mythology is fascinating, especially the ship itself, and its changing nature.

My only complaint with this book was the ending, I just felt that it left so many unanswered questions. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend The Soul Keepers to mythology and YA fantasy lovers in general.

I have to say the cover was the first thing that caught my eye. Especially the tagline on top "death is jsut the beginning" made it sound very promising. We meet Rhett on the day he dies. The car accident just took place and he sees everything happening. His soul isn't with his body anymore and Basil is here to collect him.

Rhett is brought to the Harbinger. A massive vessel that is driven by the souls that are collected. This is where he learns what happens in the afterlife. The group that is already there isn't quite sure Rhett belongs there, but give him a chance. A whole new world opens up for Rhett and even the monsters that are hidden in the dark.

I love how everything is described in this book. Devon Taylor knows how to make us picture what something looks like, I actually felt like I was there. The Harbinger sounds creepy, but I think it would be amazing to see. Everything works like a well oiled machine.

This is where The Soul Keepers got tricky for me. I felt like something was missing. Not a lot happens in the beginning and I feel like we should've seen more of Rhett's training and how he experiences the ship and the group he works with. Part two of this book is ten months later and I feel this was a bit too large of a gap.

During Part two we realize there is more to Rhett than first thought and that makes this very interesting. Something is coming after him, but how can he protect himself and the ship? The soul eating monsters that are always lurking in the dark become very real. Is this team ready to beat them and save all the souls on board? Can Rhett change the odds with the other gift he apparently has?

Once again, the author is great at describing the monsters and the fight that they are trying to win. There are some twists near the end that I didn't see coming and I definitely needed to continue the last few chapters to find out how everything played out.

I loved the group of characters. I felt there was some good humor at times and a friendship bloomed throughout the books. All of them may have died a different way, but they knew what the others was experiencing. I think they complimented each other in different ways!

I really enjoyed this story, but I think the concept was a bit stronger than the actual story. I would've liked to have seen more character background/development and maybe more background about the ship. That being said, I think The Soul Keepers is a good book to start of the dark and cold months coming our way. A definite Halloween read!

Okay, wow wow WOW, this book! Fantastic! It’s almost 300 pages, but I read it in like a day (and I am NOT a fast reader).

The Soul Keepers is by debut author Devon Taylor, who introduces YA readers to an exciting world of death and high-seas adventure. Main character Rhett dies tragically, but then quickly finds out that death is its own adventure when he’s recruited to join a crew of syllektors on the Harbinger, a massive ship that’s tasked with carrying and protecting the souls of the dead. And what do these souls need protection from, you ask? Well, syllektors like Rhett and his new friends collect souls and keep them safe from creepy psychons who like to show up at death sites quick on the skylletors’ heels and eat souls (gross). There’s also a sea monster or two who’d like to make kindling out of the Harbinger. Oh, and then there’s this pesky demon who keeps popping up?!

This book was nonstop action, a wee bit of romance, a fair amount of mystery, and a ton of suspense that had me super stressed out the whole time, wondering what was going to happen next.

I really hope the author is planning at least a sequel if not a whole series because I felt like I was just getting to know all of the characters when BOOM the book ends and there’s a HUGE CLIFFHANGER! I thought my heart was going to stop while reading this book and then it just ENDED AND I HAVE NO CLOSURE. Clearly this author is a fan of torturing his readers, which is FINE I guess.

For anyone who loves Rick Riordan and Neil Gaiman's books, I’d definitely recommend this book! The characters are interesting, the plot is intriguing, and the suspense might possibly kill you (you’ve been warned).

Rhett Snyder awakens from a fatal car accident outside of his body, looking in on his parents and himself. The only person that can see him is a guy named Basil who wants Rhett to come with him. Rhett and Basil enter an abandoned cabin that opens a portal to a gigantic ship called the Harbinger where “syllektors” are tasked with collecting and harboring the souls that have passed on before the psychons find and eat the souls.

OH. MY. GRACIOUS. This book! I seriously loved this book and have no clue how in the heck I am going to wait another year before the sequel comes out. Granted this book is not without its faults, but its excellent storyline makes up for the minor flaws that would have earned it a 4 star originally.

From the very beginning, we start off with a bang and the wild ride doesn’t ever seem to stop. This is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure that feels part middle grade, part YA. I was getting some serious Rick Riordan/Percy Jackson vibes the entire time I was reading it. My only fault that I found with the book is that around 70% of the way through the book, the description gets a bit info-dumpy and I found myself kind of skimming through material without realizing it and then having to go back and re-read once I realized. Seeing as this is Taylor’s debut novel, this is a flaw that I can easily forgive because the rest of the book was so good. Seriously...why am I not seeing this getting hyped up all over the place?! I could easily see this story lending well to a movie. 5 stars for sure!

This was a fascinating take on an old idea, what happens after you die. Well, if you are Rhett you are taken aboard a giant ship where you become a syllektor, a person who collects souls. This was a fast paced book with adventure and fighting around every corner.

Rhett was a solid character. He accepts his new responsibilities as a syllektor pretty easily, but he still spends time grieving for his own death as well as his role in the death of his parents. His group of friends are also well balanced, if maybe a little cliched. We have Mak, the leader of the group. She is tough and hard on everyone, but also has a good heart. Basil is the happy go lucky, cheeky boy who wants everyone to be happy. He was also good for a lot of the witty banter between the characters. Treeny was the quiet and shy one, who often hid instead of fighting, but she was also a tech wiz. Theo was the brawn of the group, big an tough, but also gentle and really cared about everyone. They all worked well together though and soon became a family of sorts.

The psychons were an interesting creature. They also chased souls, but not to save them. Souls is what they needed to survive. Rhett is told that they are basically animals with out a lot of smarts, but they do have a pack mentality and are somewhat cunning. Some of the scenes with them were quite scary, and I did worry about if the group would survive.

The overall plot was interesting. There were times when it was a little bit on the info dump side of world building, and there were many things about the ship that were not explained well. But I still found it to be a compelling read that was very hard to put down. This was an really good start to an interesting series. I am looking forward to the next one.

A little scary, a little sarcastic, and a whole lot of fun! The crew of the Harbringer brings action from the beginning sprinkled with humor that is perfect for junior high level readers.

This has a really tough start for me. I'm currently at 25% and am not sure what to make of this novel. The description of a ship ferrying dead souls sounded intriguing. Not sure if I will finish this one.