This was an interesting story with a cool concept. I'm not really sure I understood what soul/breth actually was though. It sounded like it was the actual living souls of people but it never really explained how that worked. How does someone weave soul? Do people buy breth because they're running out of soul? Do they buy it for newborns? Is breth necessary to keep people sustained? If you run out of breth do you lose your soul? It was all a bit confusing honestly. I did enjoy the art though and the overall message about preserving life/breth and saving the planet.

One of my favorite graphic novels of the year! It perfectly embodies so many issues that are occurring in today's society like the destruction and conservation of nature, our relationships with ourselves, with others, and with religion/spirituality. It was beautiful done!

Beautifully drawn and full of big ideas. Some slow parts, but the story and world are creative and memorable. A strong, thought-provoking debut! ul with gorgeous art. A little slow at times, but definitely worth the journey.

Jordana Globerman is a comic book writer and illustrator based in Ottawa, Canada. She holds a Masters in Visual Arts from the University of the Arts London in England, where she majored in drawing anthropomorphic bears and drinking tea the proper way. Her newest book is Soul Machine, a YA-oriented graphic novel of science fiction horror.

Chloe and her older sister make souls by hand in an empty old house in the countryside. When their supply of breth—the raw material needed to make souls—runs dry, the evil MCorp tries to force them to franchise and make synthetic souls instead. Chloe sets out to the big city in hopes of finding a new source. And maybe a way to modernize their business that Lacey is so determined to keep in the past. On a journey to M-tropolis to find a new source of breth, untouched by MCorp’s greedy hands, Chloe discovers an underground rebellion which leads to her uncovering some deep-hidden family secrets.

The plot of this book starts out dark and gets darker. In what is essentially framed as a luddite-versus-corporations plot, rather than milling and spinning cotton or wool, the family business is to create new souls from a plant. The corporation, MCorp, is creating a synthetic alternative and shuttering all the sources of breth, so post-apocalyptic ideas are established within the first few pages. However, when readers are forced to consider what a soul is, and how one would test a sythetic soul, and what happens to the failures of those experiments, the story gets deeply and darkly metaphysical. What starts out as a fantastic post-apocalyptic tale akin to Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, but then delves into a more darkly mythic direction, similar to Agamemnon and Iphigenia. All of this is couched in the science-fiction of a corporately-ruled nightmare dystopia.

Overall, Soul Machine is a great technological horror novel for YA readers. There’s enough here to fear, as there is in any post-apocalyptic books involving children, but it’s couched in a way that it seems both plausible as well as discussible. Furthermore, the focus on technology and the lack of a human connection adds discussion topics for parents and teachers. This book is strongly recommended for readers of sci-fi horror or post-apocalyptic horror, but anyone who enjoys dark graphic novels will be sure to fall under its spell.

The artwork was beautiful and I enjoyed the story. The pacing was a bit off but I loved the characters. I really related to Chloe’s desire to be seen

A very interesting take on economics and the influence of technology on society. The art work was beautiful

This was a very interesting story. I'm not really sure how to describe it but I think the main message is finding who you are and your purpose in life, whichever way that may be. Also that family is important. The art style was really nice too.

3.75 stars

Soul Machine is a great comic that dives into the connection and conflict of life merging into technology. This comic was well-written and easy to follow. The art itself was beautifully drawn for the story. Chloe and Lacey are great characters, being polar opposites given the childhoods they experienced. Chloe was reminiscent of Coraline from the movie, which made her character enjoyable to read, even with her naivety. Her older sister, Lacey, is seen at the start to be a bit overbearing and noticeably tense with all the work put on her shoulders, but as the story continues, we realize she was simply attempting to give her younger sister the life she thought she deserved, which is what most older sisters consider their responsibility. I enjoyed the comic, as it showed the deep connection people have and the presence of a person's soul being the meaning of life.
Thank you Netgalley and Annick Press for the early ebook copy.

*ARC REVIEW*
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This book could be considered the perfect mixture of Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Society. It touches on pivotal societal problems and allows the reader and our main character, Chloe, to form their own opinions as she navigates this dystopian world on her path to finding Breth. Something that is used to structure a soul mechanically. While doing soul-searching along the way. This was easy to digest considering the big problems it touches on and is an easy read to get you out of a book slump. 10/10 recommend. I loved every single second of this book and it kept me at the edge of my seat.
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Thank you to Net Galley, All the publishers, and the author! it was a privilege and an honor.

This was a great YA graphic novel with beautiful art and color. I really enjoyed the storyline and illustrations and trippy art.

**Book Review: *Soul Machine* by Jordana Globerman**

Jordana Globerman’s *Soul Machine* is a stunning debut graphic novel that blends the metaphysical with the thrillingly dystopian. In this visually captivating and intellectually stimulating story, Globerman crafts a world where souls are created by hand—a deeply intimate and sacred process that Chloe, the protagonist, and her older sister Lacey have been performing in an isolated house in the countryside. However, when the raw material they need to make souls—breth—runs out, a shadowy mega-corporation known as MCorp threatens to force them into mass production of synthetic souls, stripping the art and soul (no pun intended) from their craft.

Chloe, desperate to save her family’s livelihood and preserve their way of life, embarks on a journey to the city in search of a new source of breth. Along the way, she discovers startling truths about her family’s past, as well as the insidious reach of MCorp, which wants nothing more than to control every aspect of life, from the manufacturing of souls to the very essence of human consciousness.

Drawing comparisons to *A Wrinkle in Time* and *Brave New World*, *Soul Machine* is a unique blend of science fiction and spiritual exploration. The novel poses profound questions about what it means to be alive, what constitutes a soul, and whether consciousness can be mass-produced or commodified. As Chloe travels through this vividly rendered world, she begins to unravel not just the secrets of her family, but also the sinister consequences of unchecked corporate greed and the manipulation of the natural world.

Globerman’s artwork is nothing short of breathtaking, with each panel carefully designed to evoke the dreamlike quality of Chloe’s journey. The ethereal depiction of the breth harvests, contrasted with the cold, mechanized cityscapes controlled by MCorp, creates a sharp visual contrast that emphasizes the novel’s thematic conflict between nature and technology. The illustrations, coupled with the nuanced writing, make *Soul Machine* a deeply immersive experience.

What stands out most in *Soul Machine* is its ability to tackle heavy themes with grace and subtlety. While the narrative engages with complex ideas like spirituality, consciousness, and the commercialization of human experience, it never loses sight of the human element. Chloe’s quest is about more than just saving her family’s livelihood—it’s about rediscovering a sense of connection to the world and to each other in an increasingly disenchanted society. The portrayal of family dynamics, especially the tension between Chloe and Lacey as they struggle with tradition versus progress, adds an emotional depth that complements the sci-fi elements of the story.

In an era dominated by corporate interests and technological advancements, *Soul Machine* feels incredibly relevant. It’s a reminder of the importance of authenticity, the dangers of unchecked power, and the need to question the very systems that govern our lives. The novel is not only a thrilling adventure but a poignant commentary on the consequences of treating something as intangible as the soul as a mere commodity.

*Soul Machine* is a thought-provoking and visually stunning graphic novel that will resonate with fans of speculative fiction, dystopian stories, and those looking for a narrative that goes beyond surface-level adventure to explore deep philosophical questions about life, identity, and the soul. It’s a captivating debut that leaves you thinking long after you’ve turned the final page.

This graphic novel was very interesting. The storyline was different and can relate to how we're seeing big business today. I wasn't pulled into this as much as I had hoped I would have. I think the world building and side characters could have more information to have the story seem a little more put together. I did like the art style for the illustrations and the different use of colors for different settings.

A Soul Machine had so much potential. It offers an interesting exploration of what can be commodified and sold, as well as the complexities of family business and the dangers of innovation. The book clearly critiques how big corporations monopolize industries and exploit smaller businesses and the communities that rely on them. There’s a lot worth discussing here, but ultimately, I felt the story was too rushed.

The earlier pages focus heavily on Chloe’s angst and her desire to be seen and appreciated by her sister, which I found a bit frustrating. The fact that her sister never revealed the deeper history of their family business — rooted in care, connection, and the creation of something pure — felt disjointed. It would have made more sense if Chloe had some prior knowledge of the family business and was actively trying to prove her sister wrong, rather than simply being a grieving teen missing her father.

The pacing also felt too convenient, with each event leading directly to the next. For example, if Chloe had known more, she likely would’ve stayed home, and her sister would have been the one to venture into the city. Even the interactions with the protesters, while reflective of real-world activism and silencing, felt somewhat forced.

That said, the core concept — souls for sale and the raw materials to create pure souls becoming scarce — is incredibly compelling. I just wish we’d gotten more world-building and a deeper dive into how the family business came to be. This graphic novel could have easily been twice as long and still held my attention. The artwork was beautiful, and I’d definitely pick up another work from this author in the future, especially to see how they challenge themselves with more fully fleshed-out storytelling.

Chloe is a soul weaver. Her and her sister have a business making souls together. When the crop runs dry, Chloe runs to the city to see what is happening. The evil MCorp is trying to put small weavers out of business and is making synthetic souls instead. Can Chloe find a new sources for souls? Where did the crop go? Who can she trust?

The illustrations use varying shades of green and the character detail is well done. The plot is unique, engaging, full of mystery, and well written. The characters are well developed, but their portrayed ages don’t always match the illustrations. Readers who like graphic novels, mystery, and supernatural feeling fiction will want to pick this one up. 4 stars, Gr 7 to 10

Chloe and her older sister are soul weavers and have a business making souls together. All is going well until the crop runs dry. When Chloe goes to the city to figure out what's going on, she encounters McCorp, an evil company trying to put smaller weavers out of business by making synthetic souls. What is McCorp's real motive? Can Chloe find new soul sources and save the business? Who can she trust?

The illustrations are hard on the eyes due to use of varying shades of green, but the pane details are detailed. The plot is unique, engaging, and full of plot twists. The characters are easy to relate to and are memorable. Their perceived ages, however, don't match the illustrations. Together the illustrations and text work well together. The world building is well drawn, eye catching, and draw the reader into the story. Readers who like metaphysical mysteries, adventure, and graphic novels will want to pick this one up. Recommended for library collections where such books are popular.

Thank you for this ARC! I like a lot of things about this book, but it was confusing to me until about 3/4 of the way through, hence the low rating.

The pros:
-The art is really unique
-I LOVED the use of color, especially when it was first utilized to show different areas of this world. It was really striking and effective.
-I appreciate this author exploring large themes.
-I like that there's a complicated ending where the sisters don't just happily take over with their crop or put Mcorp out of business. There is an uphill battle which feels grounded and also helps drive the message home.

The Cons
-The world was slightly convoluted.
-I wished for more depth from the secondary adults in the world. It seemed like their motivations weren't fleshed out enough, particularly the Nuspiritualists who seemed to waffle one way or the other depending on what the plot needed.
-I'm not sure who the target audience for this book was. It seemed more geared for middle readers, but the story was confusing to me, so not sure how they'd handle it.

Soul Machine is a scifi graphic novel about a girl named Chloe. Chloe and her sister Lacey make souls, which are made from breth. Breth is slowly becoming extinct. Chloe goes out to the city to find a new supplier. In the city, Chloe uncovers family secrets and gets thrown into a power struggle of the evil MCorp owner, Maya.

I like many of the ideas Soul Machine explores including greed, power, and family. I found Chloe and Lacey's bond as sisters very endearing.

Unfortunately, I found the world building and character depth lacking. The world is mostly controlled by MCorp. As a reader, you know this almost right off the bat. I just wish we explored this world more. Most of Chloe's experiences happen away from the MCorp world, or in the home of Maya, MCorp's owner. The world and the effects MCorp has on it are briefly shown but I feel like more time should have been spent on Chloe exploring this world. Chloe and her sister live off the grid and a lot of Chloe's story skips over what MCorp has really done to the world. I think focusing more on this could have better highlighted the points the author was trying to get across. Similarly, I feel like many of the characters in Soul Machine are very surface level.

Overall, I think this is an interesting graphic novel that explores important topics, but it missed the mark a little when it came to the storytelling aspects. I would still recommend this as I think it has a great foundation and a lot of heart.

This was such a cool concept and world! The execution fell a bit flat, but I enjoyed my time reading this novel and was intrigued by the mystery. Chloe and her sister, Lacey, are taking on the family business of weaving souls after their mother died and father disappeared many years ago. This process involves harvesting breth, which is like a grass, and spinning it into yarn and then sending it off... somewhere? These souls are then placed inside each individual. However, there is big competition from MCorp, a big corporation that creates Digibreth, digitalized breth without a personality or link to a chain? The point is, we want the handmade soul because it links you to others in your ancestry line and is better somehow. Anyway! Chloe goes on a journey to the ciy to find more breth because their shipments have stopped arriving. On this trip, Chloe learns so much more about the world, about breth, and about MCorp that changes everything. I loved where the story went, and the mystery of their missing father kept me reading, but there were some plot holes that need filling. Overall, I enjoyed this story and will read more from Jordana Globerman.

Set in the future, where humanity relies on breth, and megacorporation searches for a way to capitalize and recreate their own digibreth. We follow sisters that weave breth in the old-school way, and their mother has passed and their father is gone.
The story weaved in megacapitalism, humanity, and climate change, and other messages throughout in a beautiful way.
Our mc wasn’t aware of a lot of things throughout the book, which left us as readers unaware as well, and some questions went unanswered.

The art of this comic is absolutely beautiful. The story speaks bounds about climate change, corporate greed, and even about societal dependence on technology. The main character and her sister have a complicated relationship, but it speaks on generational trauma and how parents aren’t always who you think they are. Overall, I really enjoyed it. I think the entire concept is so interesting and makes you think on real life. Are we all connected, in our souls? Not individuals, but pieces of a chain?