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Soul Hate

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Soul Hate

By: Hannah Kingsley
Narrated by: Victoria Morrison
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About this listen

What if you fall for the one you are fated to destroy?

The Holy States teach that everyone is born with a Soulmate. But every coin has two sides…

Renza di Maineri is the youngest elected leader her city has ever seen. Devoted to the citizens of Halice, she is determined to prove herself and finally step beyond her father’s shadow. But her world falls apart when she meets her worst nightmare, Idris Patricelli.

It’s bad enough that Idris is her main political rival, but fate is playing a cruel game. Idris is also her Soulhate, the person she is fated to destroy, and every moment in his presence she fights an urge to rip his throat out.

As gossip spreads and her ability to lead is challenged, Renza is desperate to salvage her reputation. But fate is not quite finished with her yet… can she uncover who can be trusted among those closest to her, when she cannot even trust herself?

©2025 Hannah Kingsley (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Destiny Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Political

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Soul Hate is a YA fantasy romance debut that offers a solid start, with a compelling premise and a few surprising twists. While it doesn’t break new ground in the genre, it’s a respectable first novel and shows real promise.

The story begins with an intriguing prologue that sets the tone and introduces a captivating premise: political rivals bound by a supernatural curse, destined to destroy one another. Renza (the FMC) and Idris (the MMC) are “soulhates”, forced to work together to prevent rising tensions and an impending war. I appreciated that this story doesn’t lean into the overused “soulmate” trope. Instead, it offers a unique twist with the soulhate concept, maintaining a level of mystery and ambiguity that keeps the reader engaged.

The worldbuilding is solid and suits the story well. I especially enjoyed Renza’s character — she’s caught between fate and free will, and her determination to carve her own path adds emotional depth. The political elements mesh well without overwhelming the plot.

However, the character development overall felt limited. By the end, many characters seemed repetitive or flat. Despite this, I did enjoy the banter and slow-burning angst between the main characters. There were also two plot twists that genuinely caught me off guard, which was a refreshing surprise.

I wasn’t aware this was the first in a series, so the ending felt abrupt, leaving me with more questions than answers. It wasn’t quite satisfying as a standalone, but it certainly sets the stage for book two.

There were hints of historical fantasy, with Roman and Ancient Greek influences, but unfortunately, these elements weren’t fully realized. The book reads more modern in tone, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it felt like a missed opportunity. The prologue introduces a rich mythology of gods and goddesses, but that lore is mostly forgotten afterward. I would’ve loved to see the characters explore that mythology more — doing research, finding clues, or interacting with divine elements would’ve added more depth and “fantasy” to the story.

The pacing was inconsistent. The first 30–40% felt quite juvenile, with heavy info-dumping and little character interaction. I found it difficult to ground myself in the world and cast early on, as we were mostly inside Renza’s head rather than seeing her engage with others. The middle of the book picks up nicely, feeling more in line with typical YA fantasy, while the last 20% rushes forward at breakneck speed. It created a bit of a whiplash effect — some parts dragged while others felt too rushed.

Overall, Soul Hate has a strong concept, some compelling moments, and clear potential. With more character depth and a tighter grip on pacing, future installments could be even more impressive.

Strong YA concept - poorly executed

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