The concept of Soul Hate is really interesting. Fate has not just given people a soul *mate*, but also a soul *hate.* What sounds like a great setup for an enemies-to-lovers romantasy falls a bit flat in execution. In this world, when one finds their soul hate they’re required to fight to the death. The problem with this approach is there’s no backstory, there’s no understanding for why the two souls hate, they just do, now they fight, end of story. This is no typical Romeo and Juliet where family history pits one against the other or even some miscommunication where they only think the other did something despicable. It’s a product of fate and nothing more.

TLDR: great concept, but lacking in real depth.

🌟 3.5

Very interesting concept! I’m keen to read more by this author.

Cover art ✔️ It is such a perfect cover for the book and its content.

🗡️ Fantasy romance
🗡️ Enemies-to-lovers
🗡️ Forget soul mates/ soul hates! 😂
🗡️ Rivals
🗡️ Clever plotting and world building
🗡️ political intrigue
🗡️ morally ambiguous characters

I'll start with what I liked about this book. I liked it there was a very unexpected setting. No mediaeval England. No dragons or witches but set in a hot country. Maybe like Africa or similar. I also loved the writing. I think if you want a study in world building by stealth then this book is for you. No 200 pages on the world or the setting but World building as you are going along. I also really enjoyed the diversity of characters, both sexually and racially. However, there was just not enough spice for me and I also found the plot a little boring. While the plot had all the intrigue and mystery you needed. I just didn't Vibe with it.

😍😍😍(Out of 5)

Big thanks to NetGalley and Hannah Kingsley for a copy of this book. This is my honest review.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for providing me this ebook in exchange for an honest review*


Soul Hate is an enemies to lovers masterpiece with banter, characters to root for and an amazing world-building. I can't believe Hannah Kingsley is a debut author. I mean...wha??? I can't wait to get into my hands the Forbidden Wing edition. And I can't wait to read more of this author!

Thank you netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the idea of this..but the execution just didn't do it for me. DNF.

This wasn't the worst debut novel I've ever read, but unfortunately it wasn't anything unforgettable either. This one had a lot of potential and the premise was very intriguing, which was what made me request the book. Sadly, it didn't deliver what was promised.

The question on the cover was what sold me, but I wasn't really sold as I was reading the book. I found it to be very predictable, and I figured out pretty much the whole plot by the first few chapters, which made the entire reading experience a bittersweet one. The side characters were interesting enough to want to keep reading but the main characters left a lot to be desired. I didn't feel the pull between Reza and the love interest, and it all felt very rushed just to fulfill a certain point in the story.

This would make a very interesting TV adaptation, but it lacked depth on the page.

SOUL HATE is precisely the kind of enemies to lovers read I’ve been craving so far this year. Forget fated mates and tired romance tropes. Instead, enter the reign of the fated nemesis who blurs the lines between love and hate. This is a very well-written political adventure that delights thanks to one epic slow born romance, Bravo, Hannah Kingsley!

Great cover, fascinating concept, and lackluster execution combined with writing mediocre enough that unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one and stopped after a few chapters. Luckily this title has almost two hundred other reviews and a four star average rating so hopefully mine won't affect its prospects much, since as always there are many people who love books I find unreadable, and I do appreciate the publisher approving me for this ARC in return for my honest review.

This is SUCH a refreshing concept! I think this is great for readers who love fantasy that offers romance but also so much more as well as an intriguing take on the enemies to lovers book trope.

Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for my ARC!

4/5

This book is so unique! I loved the plot and writing style of this! I couldn't put this book down while reading. The story really got to me and I would love to read this over and over again. This book is really underrated

I was so intrigued by the synopsis of Soul Hate and I am so glad I was able to pick it up! We follow Renza Di Maneri, an electi of her city and an incredibly smart woman. She goes through quite a lot in the beginning of the book and I immediately felt for her. Most notably she meets her soulhate, someone you a destined to destroy lest they destroy you. The tables turn when they are forced to put off the urge to strike one another down and must work together to protect their city from a zealous religious group. There is political intrigue, clever plotting, and soul-fated enemies to lovers. I really enjoyed the lore that Kingsley set up for the Soulhate and Soulmates we see in this novel. The writing was clear and easy to read, and I felt connected to the characters.
The twists and turns were well plotted. I was not expecting one twist in particular near the end of the book!! I think Renza was a great narrator because I was able to see all of her reasoning and logic- so betrayals felt even more wild because she was so smart about everything occurring in her world. This definitely leaned more towards a magical realism book to me than romantasy- that’s the best way I can describe it. The soul bonds took more of a back seat and we got more political turmoil and clever plotting- which I greatly enjoyed! But there is certainly a slow-burn, enemies to lovers going on! Overall, a really intriguing, easy read!
Thank you Harper Collins and One More Chapter for the e-arc of this book!!

I was expecting more romance, but still a great debut. Very interesting plot and worldbuilding. I enjoyed the writing style, and it was a perfect length read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Amazing enemies to lovers story. Looking forward to more from this author. Enjoyed the depth of the characters and the plot. I definitely need to get back into fantasy after this

I loved the unique concept of this book. I wish I had more Idris in this book! Please give us more!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins - OMC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love the premise of this book and what it promises: a fantastical world where soulmates and soulhates exist. In the synopsis of “Soul hate” we find a possible love story between the main character Renza, and her soulhate Idris. I would have loved for the characters to delve more into the soulmate/soulhate connection.

The characters were likable and with depth, which I loved. The banter was funny and good. The pace was fast, making it a quick read. The plot was good, with maybe too much focus on the political aspects. The world was confusing as it’s supposed to be fantastical but I couldn’t find it much.

All in all, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK – One More Chapter and Hannah Kingsley for approving my request on Netgalley for an eARC of Soul Hate.

I have to admit the premise of this one absolutely grabbed me – the idea you have soul mates you are destined to love and soul hate that you are destined to destroy was ingenious! Hannah Kingsley's writing is compelling and richly descriptive. Weaving a gripping plot full of political intrigue, palpable tension, and treacherous mysteries. The world-building is immersive, drawing you into a city-state, Halice, which has Rome empire vibes full of culture, rich in diversity between deep-rooted religious tradition and more modern tolerant ideologies.

The characters are complex, dynamic individuals from diverse backgrounds with queer and disability representation across the central and side cast. The female characters were a delight to read, all being strong and feisty. In positions of power, none more prevalent than the protagonist, Renza di Maineri, despite her young age, is elected leader of her city who is an intelligent, formidable politician shouldering the conflict of her Soul Hate and political rival Idris Patricelli (who honourable, dashing and devoted) against terrible events that will test their wills against a treacherous enemy from within, taking on fate and walking the fine line between love and hate.

A stunning, imaginative fantasy debut that high-stakes, intensive hate and teeth-grinding need to destroy your enemy (or kiss them senseless) that will have you rubbing your hands in glee if you love light-touch enemies-to-lovers dynamics! The romance is definitely a backseat subplot, but it adds lots of titillating conflict to the plot. If you don't like cliffhangers, this one is a bit of a stinker, so be forewarned. I'm not sure if this is a standalone novel or not, but I'm hoping for a sequel as I want more of Renza and Idris in the future- these two are going to be a power couple with lots of juicy moments in their future!

An amazing debut! Such an interesting and amazing story. I enjoyed the worldbuilding (though at times a bit flat). The characters were very interesting and I loved the way they interacted with each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

Loved the unique concept of this book which made it stand out from others in the genre. The pacing especially toward the finale could have been improved and it felt more like a series starter than I’d have liked. But overall enjoyed.

an alright romantasy debut, with a unique enough premise to not drown in the sea of other romantasies but not unique enough to earn a place anywhere memorable. the romance here is just alright, nothing particularly strong— the fmc is much more developed and cared for than the mmc and it’s quite obvious in the romance, where he falls flat ompared to her.

3.5 stars. I really, really wanted to love this, and I did love the concept, the characters, the representation, and the quick pacing, but it just didn’t go the way I was hoping.. I’m going to try and keep this concise!

In this world, there are soulmates and soulhates - the one person who you are fated to hate and want to kill. Renza is one of the elected leaders of Halice, and one day she meets the son of one of the other leaders, and finds her soulhate. Idris and Renza decide to try and overcome this mutual hatred in order to show their city that they can lead together, whilst trying to figure out who to trust when a bomb devastates their city.

I feel like the tag line of this book (‘what if you fall for the one you are fated to destroy?’) is a little bit misleading, as most of the book is focused on Renza and Nouis, her childhood friend turned love interest. I was waiting for more Idris time but she doesn’t start to see Idris as anything more until nearer the end of the book, and then it ends very abruptly 😩😭 if this was the first in a series then I could get on board with that (like ACOTAR vibes), but as a standalone I just wanted more about them 🥲

It was mostly focused on the political treason plot, the romance seemed more like a side plot, and so I have a hard time classifying it as a romantasy. If it was advertised differently, and was sold as a political fantasy and it explored them overcoming the soulhatred to be together in a duology or trilogy, then I would’ve loved it. It also used a lot of modern language which I felt didn’t always suit the worldbuilding, and - I don’t know why this word makes me feel weird inside - but the word creamy was used to describe the city/buildings way more than I was comfortable with 😩🫠 but overall it had so much potential and I did enjoy reading it!