The Soultrapper" was a great read. I found it well-paced, and the descriptions were vivid and immersive; I could imagine myself in the game with Stef and Paul. Stef, the protagonist, was well-developed, and I found it interesting that she was into gaming and coding, as I feel like there isn't a lot of representation of females in these spheres. I also found the antagonist well-written and compelling.

This is one of the best books I've read this year. Thanks to Netgalley, Victory Editing and Stanislava Buevich for this ARC.

Basically, we follow two childhood best friends, Stef and Paul who enjoy playing video games together and one day are gifted with a VR headset from a game that hasn't been launched. They decide to play the game together and are mesmerized by the graphics and how real it feels.

The whole idea of Virtual Reality, and how realistic the game was, is very appealing and I can see this book being adapted into a movie or series someday, I'm sure it would be a very interesting thing to watch.
Each chapter's ending made me want to read the next one and I was captivated by the story.
The description was amazing and you could imagine every detail perfectly.
The character's dynamic was lovely and nice to read, you could see their connection.
All the characters were interesting but I felt Paul needed a little bit more "screen time", Stef had way more development and always had the best guesses during the game. I understand she's way more interested in gaming than him (since he was willing to diminish his time playing because of Alex) but I think he could have more correct guesses as well. That's my only complaint, to be honest. The book overall was great.

!!!!!!!!!!

SPOILER ALERT

!!!!!!!!!

That ending was something! Will we have book two or do we need to assume the story will repeat all over again?
And also, will Zach actually be stuck there forever? I wanted them to trick the AI somehow but not everything works out, I guess

I actually really liked this book! The plot was really well thought out, and I had so much fun trying to solve the mystery alongside Stef and Paul!

I didn’t love the writing in this book; there were several instances where I had no idea what the author was talking about. Most memorably, there’s a scene in Chapter 1 where Paul calls Stef by her full name (even though she hates it), and she has this weird reaction. I know that she was embarrassed and upset, but the way it was worded seemed really weird to me. Obviously there were some spelling mistakes, but there were also a lot of times where a different word would have worked better.

Overall, I did really like the book. Paul was annoying me for the first few chapters, but he got better the further into the book I got. Like I said, the mystery was really well thought out, and it was really fun to read about.

Plot: 8/10
Characters: 7.5/10
Writing: 5.5/10

We are following two friends Stef and Paul who love playing video games. They get a VR headset from a family member which is using technology no one can imagine at that time. We are in the period where Wikipedia is getting introduced and internet is dialed in.
Throughout the story we get to know that we are chasing a mystery inside and outside the VR game. Basically we parallelly follow the friends' life in reality with simple life problems as love, school duty and hardships making relationships, and the game they are playing which turns out to be more than just a game.

The description about the environment and scenery in the virtual reality was so well-done I could imagine myself in there. The characters were interesting and relatable to our childhood. I was really interested in both mysteries as well.
My favourite character was Zach, the developer, who is a big question mark and also a helpful friend in the book.
I would not be mad if the kids inside the game helped our main characters more than they did, but their rare appearance was completely enough for the storyline.

The only thing was missing for me is that if we did not know clues to beat the mystery inside the game, it was not completely clear for me how would we know who is the thief other than assuming things based on answers they gave. This is the only half star missing from my 5 star review.

Overall, I did finish this book in two nights and I am a really slow reader. The writing, the plot and the characters were perfectly fit well to each other for me and I was not bored for a minute reading this.
Thank you NetGalley for this early access to this book, and Stanislava Buevich that I could read and review your work.

That was a enjoyable reading but not 100% convinced by some points...

I loved the concept, the puzzles and the games Paul and Stef have had to resolve. That was cool, I wanted to play too.

But, I had a problem with when it happens. Felt like it was in 2010's but written in the 2020's so futuristic but old in an urrealistic way... I get it when it's old futuristic, like when it's supposed to happen in the 2020's but written in the 1990's because they just get it wrong but really thought it could have happen. But here I really had a problem with the period.

I also have one thing to say : WHY ROMANCE ? I mean could they not just being geek friends playing video games together ?! I'm getting tired of romance in eveery book I read when that's not the point nor deserve the plot and the action.

Somebody could enjoy it though so I rate 3 stars because that wasn't that bad and enjoyed it. But that was cool and fun, nothing more...

Unique, truly unique at least for me I did liked a lot and personally it was really unpredictable. One of the things I really liked was the use of VR nowadays is a more common thing to use and personal critic I do believe it's a bit too much.. The idea and the name and the story, the characters was really amazing

4.5/5

In "The Soultrapper" by Stanislava Buevich, Stef and Paul embark on an immersive VR adventure, The Disappearance of Eden Rose. At first, it seems like a well-crafted escape game mixed with discovering who stole Eden Rose. However, Stef and Paul soon realize that the game holds more than just puzzles and challenges. After an encounter with a mysterious character named Ollie James, they uncover a link between the game and the unsolved deaths of numerous children over a decade ago. As they delve deeper, Stef and Paul realize they're not just playing a game - they're racing against time to unravel a shocking cover-up and undo its damage, risking their lives in pursuit of truth.

"The Soultrapper" was a great read. I found it well-paced, and the descriptions were vivid and immersive; I could imagine myself in the game with Stef and Paul. Stef, the protagonist, was well-developed, and I found it interesting that she was into gaming and coding, as I feel like there isn't a lot of representation of females in these spheres. I also found the antagonist well-written and compelling.

It wasn't exactly clear in which year the story was set (1990s? early 200s?). However, that didn't bother me much.

I enjoyed that the book is a mystery version of Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, especially when it got to the end of the book. I knew I was immersed in the story when I started feeling a little paranoid when the antagonist appeared. I originally thought that the clues given were going to be hard to remember; however, I was pleasantly surprised when I was able to remember them throughout the novel. I do think it is missing something for me. I also don’t love how the ending unfolded. I felt the final scene with the antagonist could’ve been prolonged and I would’ve liked a little more insight on the character.

This review will be posted to my Instagram on July 7th, 2024.

first thing first, thank you very much for allowing me to read your book early.

the title of the book is what pulled me in first off, it is definitely eye-grabbing and the cover Is perfectly designed to fit the story of the book. and the description of it made me want to pick it up, which I find is hard nowadays with some books but as soon I started the story I was truly hooked almost instantly on it. I did not want to put my e-reader at all and found myself losing a little sleep just so I could continue reading the book, the plot twists that were there, especially the end shocked me and kept me wanting more, i do hope there is a second book because that would be amazing! and I'm sure there's plenty of possibilities for it,

I know if there is going to be a physical form of the book i will be ordering it of course after i recommend this book and its amazing story to friends, family, and followers if they read these types of books.

Engaging and fun, but not quite what I was looking for when I started to read it. I was hoping there'd be a bit more of a fantasy element given the title, but that's on my expectations. Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this. The book gave me professor layton vibes and I loved it. I thought it was pretty fast paced and would definitely recommend

3.5!
"Congratulations, Stephanie and Paul. Your best time is fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds. Welcome to the game.”

Fifteen-year-olds Stef and Paul have been inseparable since childhood, bonding over their shared love for games, puzzles, and mysteries. When they stumble upon *The Disappearance of Eden Rose*, they dive in headfirst. But the sudden appearance of Ollie James, who seems suspiciously real for a game character, makes them question their reality. Could it be that this game is more than just a game?

What I liked:
1. The characters act their age. They rage, they cry, they despair—just like real teenagers.
2. Stef is a well-crafted protagonist.
3. The pacing was steady, keeping the narrative engaging.
4. The in-game descriptions were vivid and immersive.
5. It made me feel like I was inside the game too.

What could be improved:
1. Though Stef is the protagonist, Paul’s thoughts are occasionally shown. He felt a bit underdeveloped compared to Stef.
2. A bit more background would help. The story hints that it’s set in the late '90s to early '00s, but it’s not very clear.

Overall:
This was an enjoyable read! Pick it up if you’re a fan of games or if you enjoyed *Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint*.

I absolutely loved it. Such a unique story with mystery and romance. I felt like I was involved with helping them solve the case. There were a few plot twists I weren't expecting. Which is nice since most books have a predictable plot line.
The characters are relatable and help draw you into the story. It wasn't confusing and the story pulled you in. I felt the emotions the characters were feeling. The story sucks you in and you can't stop reading.

Goodreads: 21/6/24

This has all the makings of a great YA book and I hope it does well. It is however aimed at that age group and as an older reader I struggled to connect to the cares of teenagers.

This is a DNF for me but I’m grateful for the advance copy

Rating: 3.75

Tropes: Time tropes, AI, Futuristic technology, Friends to lovers

Review: This read was enjoyable and delivered on my expectations. It gives nostalgic antidotes with an early 2000s setting where two childhood best friends who are avid gamers explore a new futuristic game that utilizes VR. In the game the best friends have to solve various puzzles and escape rooms to solve the disappearance of Eden Rose. The longer they play they realize the game might not be a game at all and has significantly higher stakes. They realize that consequences in the game can affect them outside in their reality. As the truth about the game, and what’s at stake unfolds they accept a wager that could cost them their lives and freedom in efforts to save others.

If you want to reminisce about dial up internet, childhood friendships developing as a teenager, and enjoy solving puzzles and figuring out “whose done it”. With an interesting plot twist ending this might be the book for you!

Dislike: Sometimes the FMC felt too childish and “red blotches” to describe her anxiety felt forced at times.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this ARC!

This book was fast-paced and you jump straight into the main plot. It made it very easy to keep reading, and nearly impossible to put down.

The main characters Stef and Paul were well-thought-out characters. Stef is intelligent but relatable, and Paul gives off typical grumpy teenage boy vibes, especially at the beginning of the book.

The VR headset/how the game was played reminded me of Ready Player One, which helped me picture what was happening as they were playing, especially as they had the gloves to help them feel everything in the game.

I wasn't expecting the mystery aspect to be so enjoyable! I genuinely couldn't figure out who was the AI gone rogue, which I loved because there is nothing worse than a super predictable outcome!

I was glad Stef and Paul got to have an interaction with Ollie at the end of the book. It helped the characters and the reader confirm that everything that happened was real, and we got some closure. It was interesting to find out that the original kids stuck in the game didn't just appear in the present day, and they got to go back to the timeline they were in when they entered the game.

The epilogue reminded me of Jumanji - the VR headset appearing just at the right time and Ariadne enticing 2 new players to join the game. I look forward to seeing what the author does next!

Thanks to Netgalley, Victory Editing and Stanislava Buevich for this ARC.

In The Soultrapper, 15 year olds Stef and Paul discover a virtual reality game like no other. The Disappearance of Eden Rose has escape room style puzzles and a deeper mystery to solve. In this immersive world, Stef and Paul find a link to unsolved deaths of many teenagers from their town a decade ago. Can they uncover the truth?

The characters:

The main characters Stef and Paul had an interesting dynamic as childhood friends navigating growing up. I was interested to see how their relationship evolved. Stef, the protagonist was endearing, I thought it was extremely cool that she liked gaming and programming. As a woman in STEM, we need more representation in fiction for all ages.

The antagonist was compelling. I can't say too much without spoilers but they were unique and well written.

The story:

The story was more fairytale esque than I was expecting. Based on the blurb and my own experience with the subgenre I thought it was going to be darker. I would recommend it to younger teenagers, or the more squeamish young adult reader. I enjoyed the storytelling, it made the writing really immersive. I could picture every scene perfectly and very much lost track of my own surroundings.

The VR element was cool and definitely unique, I think it allowed for the more fantastical landscapes and gaming tropes. I felt like I was suspending my disbelief a bit in the beginning but got very into it by the end.

Overall:

A light but mysterious and enjoyable teen fiction mystery. Immersive, fairytale like descriptions of fantastical landscapes in an advanced VR setting. Compelling characters with an intriguing relationship dynamic kept me hooked from the start.

It reminded me of sword art online so it was giving anime vibes, at least to me. It was a pretty good read and would recommend if it's your vibe

I love the VR so much …I’ve never tried it as a kid so just experimenting with the characters in the book was a real to me as ever !!!!