Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!

The premise of this book is what initially intrigued me and as I began to read it I realized whoever marketed it needs to be taught how to market books to their actual plot.

Marketed as an enemies-to-lovers romantasy, Soulhate is filled with 99% politics and 1% romance.
The book was frankly boring in the first 60%. The world building was off and too much modern slang was used. I often couldn’t tell if I was in the modern day or Ancient Greece. The romance aspect was lackluster at best with underdeveloped characters and absolutely no chemistry.

The whole idea of a Soulhate is genuinely ingenious it’s just unfortunate that the author couldn’t do more with it or execute it in a way that actually had me intrigued. It dragged on and the plot fell flat in many areas, it felt like a second draft that still needed a lot of work. The characters had no development and Renza unfortunately fell into the ‘I’m so smart I’m actually naive’ category and it was truly sad considering she had so much potential. The plot twist was evident from the beginning and it just made it feel cheap since it’s a twist that’s done often in ‘romantasy’ novels nowadays.

Overall, it was a lot of edits and plot revising away from being absolutely brilliant and it’s sad to see a good premise once again be ruined by a subpar plot and crappy character development.

I've seen other reviews, and while I agree that the vernacular is fairly modern compared to the setting, that doesn't bother me usually, and this case is no exception.
I loved this premise, I loved that there wasn't a cure or a way to break the soulhate curse thing. I loved that they had to find a way to work together regardless. I feel like people wanted them to focus on finding a way to fix it so that Renea and Idris aren't soulhates anymore, but that wouldn't have been realistic at all within the context of this story. Why would they spend time worrying about something there is no precedent for in all of their history, while there is a much greater threat currently busting down the door?? I feel that how the story stands now is the most realistic in regard to these things, but it's definitely open for further exploration in future books nov that the characters have established relative peace.
I look forward to a continuation!

Thank you so much for One More Chapter and Netgalley for providing this arc!

I think I went into this book expecting something it isn't. Mainly because this is rumored to be in a romantasy sub box. So I went into it expecting way more romance, and fantasy. and I'll have to admit, the first 50% felt really boring and slow.

The "magic" system in this one was really interesting, and the world building seemed really cool, with the holy states and all. Until I realized the only magic in this book are the soul mate and soul hate bonds, and that's it. And we kinda skipped over those for the most parts as well. I wanted more, I wanted more magic and fantasy. Okay I get it, the world is something new, so that by definition makes it fantasy, but I waited more.

As this was marketed for me to be a romantasy book, there was way too little fantasy and way too little romance. Instead there was a loooot of politics. It's a bit like someone would say game of thrones is a romantasy book. I would have loved to see more of either one, but instead I got a really naive fmc and politics.

I did really enjoy that this was a standalone book (to my knowledge). We need more of those in fantasy setting! And around 60% the story really picked up, and to me that was what saved this book.
3 stars for political fantasy, and who knows, someone who knows what they are getting into, might really like it.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. 2.5⭐️

When I first saw the cover and title of Soulhate it seemed right up my alley. So when I received my ARC I expected to devour this book and have it finished within the week. Unfortunately, Soulhate fell flat for me.

Plot: The plot of Soulhate isn’t bad, but I think the author spent so much time building up for the betrayals and political schemes and not enough time resolving them. I would’ve liked a few more chapters showing how Renza, Idris, and everyone in Halice were rebuilding and taking care of things after the end of the book, or an epilogue.

Characters: The characters were very one dimensional and they almost all blended in with one another. Renza is a strong and smart woman who surrounds herself with other strong, smart women but unfortunately they all seemed so similar that most of the time I couldn’t remember who was who. Our villains were predictable for me and I spent a solid 10 chapters frustrated with Renza for not seeing what I was seeing. Scenes with Idris were always fun to read and I genuinely wish he was more present in the story but we really don’t get to see him much until half way through the book.

I also wish there was more focus on the soulhatred between Renza and Idris. One of the main reasons I wanted to read this so bad was the idea of the Soulhate bond and overcoming it and the enemies to lovers trope but I wouldn’t call them lovers by the end of the book and I don’t feel like I know anymore about soulhates now than I did before reading this.

Things I liked: I enjoyed the setting of Soulhate. I was easily able to picture Halice. The authors writing is very descriptive and easy to follow along with. I also enjoyed getting to hear about Idris’ travels and education in the other countries.

I feel like I’m falling out of my YA era.

The premise and prologue of Soul Hate had me intrigued, promising a tale of fate, love, and hate set in a historical Greek-inspired society. However, as I delved into the story, I found myself distracted by the frequent references to modern terminology and slang, which felt out of place in the ancient setting.

While the beginning showed promise, the rest of the book failed to fully capture my attention. The prologue's potential was not fully explored, and I struggled to connect with the characters.

Despite my reservations, I did enjoy aspects of the book, but ultimately, something was missing for me. If you're a fan of historical fantasy with a touch of romance, you may still find Soul Hate to be a compelling read.

An attention grabbling title that is backed by a solid enemies to lovers against a political plotline.

I had mixed feelings with this book. There’s plenty I enjoyed - the political intrigue, the pacing was generally pretty good (aside from the ending, which felt a bit rushed) and I liked that the author didn’t shy away from making some bold decisions (although I think these would have had more impact if there had been greater build up).

For me, the things that detracted, or would’ve improved the read were:
- Some things about the ‘soul hate’ concept don’t quite stack up for me (and, being super picky, I found the term quite grating as it sounds juvenile).
- For someone who’s meant to be super intelligent, Renza can make some really stupid decisions. I also didn’t like how judgmental she was towards Idris at times, although I understand that some of that might have been driven by him being her “soulhate”.
- There’s a betrayal near the end that I think is pretty evident from the start.
- The romantic relationship doesn’t really work for me. I know the old saying is that there’s a thin line between love and hate but it’s hard to get behind a relationship where the mere smell of him brings bile to her tongue!
- For that reason, I would’ve liked Idris’ POV because I don’t really understand how he can have those feelings towards Renza.
- It lost me a little bit at the end for reasons I won’t go in to, to keep this review spoiler free. Part of it was definitely related to pacing, there was quite a nice, slow build up and, by contrast, the ending felt really rushed.

However, I would definitely recommend giving it a go and I’m interested to see what this author writes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

Ah, Soulhate—a book that asks the age-old question: what if your soulmate wasn’t the person you were destined to love, but the person you were destined to absolutely despise? If you’ve ever glared at someone across a conference table and thought, “I’d like to debate you and fight you in a parking lot,” then Renza di Maineri is your new literary bestie.

Hannah Kingsley delivers a delightfully chaotic romp through Halice, where politics and fate are as inseparable as Renza and her inner monologue about throttling Idris Patricelli. Renza’s dilemma is peak drama: not only is Idris her political nemesis, but he’s also her fated Soulhate, the anti-soulmate whose very presence sends her blood pressure soaring. Forget candlelit dinners, these two are more “accidental sword fight at a press conference” material.

Kingsley has mastered the art of “angst with a side of chaos.” Every page brims with tension, secrets, and just the right amount of “oh no, they’re hot” moments. Renza’s journey to maintain her political career while navigating the cosmic joke of Idris’s existence is relatable in a way that makes you wonder if the author has secretly attended your work meetings.

The writing is sharp, the worldbuilding is immersive, and the twists are so wild they might make you want to throw a chair at Idris, too. By the end, you’ll be questioning everything you thought you knew about fate, loyalty, and whether grudgingly wanting to murder someone is just another form of love (spoiler: in Halice, it’s complicated).

Highly recommend if you love your fantasy spiced with drama, backstabbing, and just the right amount of existential dread. Not recommended if you’re afraid to find out who your Soulhate might be (hint: check your group chats).

Hannah Kingsley's debut fantasy novel was a fresh, fun read. I loved the concept of "soul mate" and "soul hate," and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an eARC copy of Soul Hate by Hannah Kingsley.

Soul Hate by Hannah Kingsley has an intriguing premise with its blend of political intrigue and supernatural elements. The concept of a protagonist grappling with her destiny while trying to step out of her father's shadow is compelling. However, the execution falls short.

The pacing felt uneven, and at times, the plot dragged with lengthy exposition that detracted from the tension. Renza's internal struggle could have been more engaging, but it often felt repetitive. Additionally, Idris, as the rival and Soulhate, didn’t come across as fully developed, leaving their dynamic lacking depth.

While there are moments of potential, the story ultimately didn't deliver the excitement I was hoping for. With more refinement, it could become a captivating read, but as it stands, it feels like it missed the mark.

Loved it, five stars for sure!
When I saw that the synopsis said that the book was about politics, I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant, thinking that it would be a heavy read, well, I was so wrong! The politics mentioned aren't too complicated for anyone to understand. However, I must admit that I felt a bit overwhelmed by the first chapter as I still didn't have much of an idea of how the politics in this book worked.
The author's writing is very easy to follow, but I found the descriptions of the places to be too detailed and lengthy, but I don't like reading descriptions of places by nature, so my opinion may be a little biased. I also found the plot of the book a little predictable, but it's better to be predictable and good than just plot twists that make no sense.
Another 'critique' I have to make, and beware of spoilers if you haven't read it yet, what was that ending? We had a whole book of getting to know Idris, realising that he never meant any harm to Renza and that their feelings for each other were changing, only to have it thrown away in the last few pages just because she doesn't want to have a romantic relationship while she's working? Since neither of them would change their political beliefs for the other or interfere with the other's work, I don't understand why. Honestly, I think it was just because the author wanted to show that even if two people like each other, it doesn't mean they should be together as they do in reality, but screw that! I read to escape reality! Anyway, as you can see, I was quite revolted, but it wasn't enough to make me dislike the book.
The author could write an epilogue in which she shows how they are after the city has been rebuilt, just leaving the idea here...

This was a truly fascinating concept, and I enjoyed watching it play out. In all my reading and dreaming, I'd never heard of or thought of soulhate as a pair to a soulmate before, and I think the author did a really good job developing the world around an interesting idea.

One of the elements that was interesting, albeit a bit frustrating at times, was the actual way a soulhate bond worked. There were several plot points and twists that I saw coming from the first third of the book that the main character just didn't see (much to my annoyance), but the soulhate bond provided an actual reasonable in-world excuse for the main character's ignorance. So I was frustrated at times, but at least it made sense?

I also really enjoyed the main characters and the worldbuilding. I struggled a bit to keep some of the side characters distinct in my head, but I had a good feel for the two main characters, and I enjoyed watching them interact and learn and grow together. Renzia in particular was a breath of fresh air. I could actually believe that she knew what she was doing, and I appreciated her willingness to set her own struggles aside to care for the people around her. I don't often see characters like her in positions of power in literature, and it was really refreshing to get to see the world through her eyes for a while. As for the worldbuilding, I thought the hints of all the different cultures and people groups that I saw throughout the story added really fun texture that hopefully will be developed more in future books.

One of the biggest detractors for me was the fact that there was an open door sex scene that did very little to actually move the plot along. It was brief and easily skippable, but as a general rule I don't enjoy reading spice--especially when it feels so unnecessary to the book's plot--and so that detracted from the book's overall rating for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and OneMoreChapter for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

i can understand the intention but the book's execution reads like it's confused about its identity. another interesting premise that goes down the drain because of juvenile references and tone for a book with such a serious subject. one can seldom expect the readers to take anything seriously when the thought behind it isn't serious enough. In my opinion, this would have read better like a cozy fantasy with humour instead of what was presented.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for allowing me to read this early, I’m rating it 3.75 - 4.0 stars.

I really like this storyline and how it takes a common concept of soulmates and re-engineers it to be a two sided coin. It also does a great job of incorporating religion, the gods and fantasy into the story. There are core themes of violence and betrayal throughout, the stakes are quite high.

This is a YA fantasy/romantasy, but not too heavy on the romance as it’s quite plot focused. My only gripe is that I wish the ending hadn’t ended quite like that, I wanted more for our FMC.

3.5

This is the first book in a romantasy enemies to lovers trilogy by a debut author. While the writing wasn’t perfect, I did really like the premise. The soulhate aspect and everything surrounding it was super unique. It was a very different take on the enemies to lovers trope. I really enjoyed that dynamic and am super interested to see more. I also really enjoyed the politics and felt this was well done. Will definitely continue the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had an interesting concept, but a few aspects didn’t quite work for me. The shifts between the modern-day setting and the historical fantasy elements felt a bit disjointed and made it hard to stay immersed in the story. The premise was unique and had so much potential, but I found myself wanting more explanation about the gods, goddesses, and the soul hate dynamic. It felt like there were great ideas that weren’t fully developed. While the story had promise, it just didn’t fully deliver for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Hannah Kingsley for the Advanced Readers' Copy.

The concept of a "soulhate" instead of a soulmate was a promising one that unfortunately fell fat. The author, however, excelled at writing politics. In addition, I enjoyed that the main character started out as a strong political figure, because it's not something we see a lot in romantic fantasy novels.

Best wishes to the author in all her future endeavors.

This was interesting and the whole concept of a soulhate makes me glad that doesn't exist in real life.

I did feel the villian was obvious from very early on, and struggled with characters speaking in a modern way in what was very clearly not a modern time. But overall I enjoyed the book. It was different with a unique conflict.

Would have loved a little less emphasis on the FMC getting ready for a date towards the beginner. It just felt odd and very modern and out of place with the environment of the story. I had to modernize everything in my head for these sorts of conversations to make sense, which I think took away a bit from the world building.

I would still recommend this book to others and am curious if there will be a book 2 because we need more with Idris and Renza figuring things out.

Even though I saw a character’s betrayal coming, I was still pleasantly surprised with the two main characters and where everything ended up. The idea of a “Soulhate” is also intriguing, because there is a fine line between love and hate. I feel the relationship between them could have been fleshed out more, but ultimately it’s not 100% necessary. Loved the Italian/Roman inspired world too! Would definitely read more!

Soul Hate by Hannah Kingsley had some intriguing elements but ultimately fell short for me. The cover is beautiful, and I thought the “Soul Hate” concept was a clever twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope. The Roman Empire-inspired setting was a nice touch, and there were some lovely descriptive passages.

That said, I found several aspects of the book frustrating. The mix of an old-fashioned setting with modern references and dialogue felt jarring and out of place. For instance, in a single page we get mentions of heeled gladiator sandals and three-for-two drink deals and it really pulled me out of the story. It felt inconsistent to have modern dialogue like "seriously?" and "I get that" with the setting.

The predictability of the plot was another downside. It was obvious who the villains were, and that lack of suspense made the story feel flat. I also struggled to understand the FMC’s behaviour after the dramatic mid-point incident. While I understand she was mourning, it seemed implausible for someone presented as a strong, competent leader to disengage so completely during a time of crisis. The idea that she would attend a library opening or that markets would be running as usual right after a terrorist attack killing heads of state felt completely out of place. Also, it seemed strange that the city seemed to be carrying on as normal after the explosion? I expected her to be more involved in the fallout and decision-making and less concerned with her new relationship. Her naivety in handing over decisions and actions to other people was frustrating.

The supporting characters lacked depth, and I didn’t feel like they added much to the story. However, I did enjoy the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. It was one of the stronger aspects of the book.

Soul Hate didn’t work for me, but I could see it appealing to a younger YA audience or readers new to the romantasy genre