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Shattered Souls (Souls #1)

by Mary Lindsey (Goodreads Author)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 3,713 ratings · 569 reviews

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny, and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - a...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published December 8th 2011 by Philomel/Penguin

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Apr 24, 2013 Lea rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: annoying-romance, epic-fail, ghosts, hilarious, made-me-want-to-punch-something, make-it-stop-now, paranormal-romance, tstl-characters, tstl-heroines, whining-and-pining, wtf

Warning: If you don't like reading rants about books, especially for ones that you liked or think you're going to like, then you aren't going to like this review, because I've honestly never been more pissed off at a YA book before. If you do like reading rants about books, well then, this should probably be pretty darned entertaining...

*****

OK, so let me start off by just saying, I really tried to like this book, honestly I did.

I tried up until the very last page to have hope that something was...more

like 79 likes · see review

Jun 16, 2012 Mary Lindsey added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: penguin, philomel, young-adult, ghosts

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to add, rate, or review.

like 104 likes · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Rane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, keeper, paranormal-pnr

Ghost are real.

From those who wish to say goodbye to their love ones, to those who wish to hurt and take over another's soul.

And only a Speaker and a Protector stand in the way, Because

Ghost are real.

Mary Lindsey's debut novel puts an new and and story gripping twist on ghosts and the ones in charge of keeping everything in order here on earth. Lenzi thinks like her father, she's going truly mad. The voices she keeps hearing is driving her to the brink. Popping pills to keep the voices dow...more Ghost are real.

From those who wish to say goodbye to their love ones, to those who wish to hurt and take over another's soul.

And only a Speaker and a Protector stand in the way, Because

Ghost are real.

Mary Lindsey's debut novel puts an new and and story gripping twist on ghosts and the ones in charge of keeping everything in order here on earth. Lenzi thinks like her father, she's going truly mad. The voices she keeps hearing is driving her to the brink. Popping pills to keep the voices down and trying to hold it together for her Mom and her Boyfriend Zak, Lenzi doesn't know where to turn to until one night she meets a young man Alden, who tells her the voices are real, their ghosts and only she can help them, and time is slowly running out for Lenzi as a evil spirit wants her dead....again..

Lindsey not only creates a new mythology for the ghosts while keeping it traditional, but a system of people who are reincarnated over and over again in order to keep the peace for souls and the people. This may have some kudos points of knowing what to do, but also carries the chains from past lives. The author plays with the theory about being reincarnated, but with a clean slate. Lenzi is such, as a Speaker, she’s able to talk to ghosts, and let them enter her body in order for the ghosts to finish what they wanted or needed to do in this plain. Protectors are like their namesakes, and can share their souls and feel a deep connection to their Speaker. And Lensi and Alden go way back, but the catch? Lenzi has no memory of this...

I felt for Lenzi as she goes through a difficult time, unknown to what is happing to her. All her emotions and actions are pretty much on the dot to what anyone would act like if faced with what she does. The beauty of Lenzi is her deep belief in herself and others, that gets her out of some tricky situations and later saves the lives of others. Lenzi growth from scared young woman to a strong Speaker is what makes this book that much more great.

Alden on the other hand makes the story complete with him teaching Lenzi the ropes, and giving the reader an insight to the whole system of how it’s done, something he’s never had to do before. His emotions are just as confusing as Lenzi as they share a deep past and he remembers it. Alden is a play by the book kinda guy, who cares deeply, but is afraid of the What ifs. I love how such a gentleman he was, and wanted to smack the crap outta him for being to much in the rules and by the play book. Still he was a major sweetie.

The world building was excellent, with the reader learning along with Lenzi what it takes to just be a Hearer and the past life dangers in all entails. The action took a backseat to all the cases Lenzi took with learning. The raised conflict between her boyfriend Zak was something I would have left out, yes he wanted to help Lenzi, but at the same time I felt as a troubled soul, he could have gotten better help, but perhaps it shows that some people are meant to help in other ways, in order to save another life.

For a debut Mary Lindsey wins the prize, for a creative work that stands out from the pack. (less)

like 17 likes · see review

Oct 31, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: covergasm, owned-ebooks, pretty-dress-on-the-cover, ghosts, insta-love, love-triangles, unlikable-heroines, i-am-disappoint, dickhead-heroes, dont-understand-why-its-hyped, coverlove-booksuck, boooooring, you-arrogant-prick, where-art-thou-originality, pile-of-crap

A similar review of this is now available on my blog.

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This book was such a disappointment.

From the blurb + cover, I was really excited to read this. But my hopes were pretty much crushed once I finally did.

First of all, Lenzi. My God, she's probably one of the most unlikable YA heroines out there, and that's saying something, since there are a lot. She's a CHEATER, which I absolutely cannot forgive. She also constantly whines about her duties and always wants...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-books-in-2011, 2011-debut-authors, arcs, blog-tours, favorites

Lenzi’s father is dead because he heard voices and now that Lenzi has turned seventeen, she’s hearing them too. Her life flashes before her eyes: the hospitals, the medications, her mother’s sad face. She’s sure this is the course of her life until she visits her father’s grave and meets Alden. Alden is handsome and when he touches Lenzi, everything feels right in the world. The only problem is that Lenzi has a boyfriend and Alden seems to be just as much out of touch with reality as Lenzi is.

B...more Lenzi’s father is dead because he heard voices and now that Lenzi has turned seventeen, she’s hearing them too. Her life flashes before her eyes: the hospitals, the medications, her mother’s sad face. She’s sure this is the course of her life until she visits her father’s grave and meets Alden. Alden is handsome and when he touches Lenzi, everything feels right in the world. The only problem is that Lenzi has a boyfriend and Alden seems to be just as much out of touch with reality as Lenzi is.

Before long, Lenzi has little choice but to believe Alden that she really is a Speaker and he’s her Protector. As a Speaker, Lenzi has the ability to help lost souls move on to Heaven or Hell. She’s apparently been doing this for centuries but has no memory of it or of her longtime Protector, Alden.

Her boyfriend, Zak, is the sexy musician type that keeps things interesting, but not necessarily always in the good way. Despite his downfalls, he’s extremely supportive of Lenzi and will do anything to help her overcome the voices in her head. It’s obvious that he truly cares for her, which makes it hard to dislike him at times when you know you should.

And if it isn’t enough that Lenzi has to choose between her loyal boyfriend to her centuries long Protector, Lenzi also finds out that she’s been the target of an extremely strong malevolent spirit and he’ll stop at nothing to finally destroy her.

Shattered Souls is an original and remarkable debut that had me on the edge of my seat for much of the book. Lenzi is a strong female lead that I instantly connected with and wanted to see succeed. I fell in love with Alden immediately. He’s handsome, devoted, confident and never puts his own needs before Lenzi’s. What else do we need in a man? And then there’s Zak. He may not be perfect but his character is built strong enough throughout the book that he’s impossible to forget and perhaps, you’ll fall in love with him a little bit too. He’s not perfect, but they can’t all be, can they?

I thoroughly enjoyed Shattered Souls and am keeping all my extremities crossed that we’ll get a second book to follow-up with. It’s exceptionally well written, fantastically disturbing and head over heels romantic. I simply cannot wait to read more by this extremely talented author! (less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Diana (Mrs. Barrons) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-or-pnr

Is 5 stars really the most I can give? How do I express how much I love this book? This might be the only book I've ever read, or at least read in a long long time, where I was immediately drawn in on the very first page.

Lenzi is just trying to be normal. Her dad was schizophrenic. He heard voices, and then he died. Now Lenzi is hearing voices, too. The stability in her life is her ever so sweet boyfriend Zak. But the voices are getting worse, and as much as he wants to, Zak can't really help. A...more Is 5 stars really the most I can give? How do I express how much I love this book? This might be the only book I've ever read, or at least read in a long long time, where I was immediately drawn in on the very first page.

Lenzi is just trying to be normal. Her dad was schizophrenic. He heard voices, and then he died. Now Lenzi is hearing voices, too. The stability in her life is her ever so sweet boyfriend Zak. But the voices are getting worse, and as much as he wants to, Zak can't really help. And that's when she meets Alden, in a cemetery no less. And although she resists, Lenzi starts realizing that she needs Alden if she's wants to keep the voices at bay.

I love this story. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "soul mates", and not at all in a corny way. The writing is wonderful. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic, just how I like it. The whole book is quote worthy. And the characters....

Lenzi is just a girl trying to make sense of the horrible situation she finds herself in. She's scared (who wouldn't be?), but she's not weak, and like a true heroine, she gets better with every page. I sympathized with her. I loved her.

And I loved Zak. The book starts with Lenzi having a boyfriend. In most books you would expect the boyfriend to be an ass, so that the heroine can fall in love with the hero, or something like that. But usually that's not the case in real life, and its not that easy in this book. I loved Zak. He really loved Lenzi and wanted her to be happy. In my mind, he was totally date-worthy. And so was Race for that matter. Race was another protector, and another one of the wonderful men that I fell in love with in this book.

Which brings us to Alden . Sweet, patient, caring. I think I'm in love. Lenzi remembers nothing of her past lives as a speaker, and Alden is by her side the whole time, helping her deal with what would be a truly unbelievable situation to most people. Did I mention how much I love him?

In addition to the truly original story, the witty writing, the heart warming characters, and the great action, there's an ending I didn't expect, and yes, I did cry like a little girl. I did reread the last few chapters a few times after reading the book, just to be close to the characters again.

And a a final note: OMG look at the cover! Its a girl, disintegrating into rose petals (cuz her reincarnation's name was Rose). So beautiful! Ok, I'm going to stop gushing now.

And don't forget "There's hope until the last second" - Cover page of the IC Rule Book

(view spoiler)

See full review and author interview at: www.nightlyreading.wordpress.com (less)

like 28 likes · see review

Dec 26, 2011 Jord¥n rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, disappointed, creepy-stalker-bf, cover-love

Rating....2.5
*crying like a baby*
I hate myself......*sniff* ok.....here we go fellow bookworms.....

I'm very disappointed in how this book turned out. Iv been waiting about a year to read it and ordered it weeks before it came out at the library. I checked every day to see when it was gonna come in. When I finally received it I had tears of joy in my eyes and rushed home to start. Then I realized, shit! I had books I HAD to finish that day so I just took a small peak in shattered souls and promis...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Bri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: boys-boys-boys, favorites, want-to-buy, paranormal

Lenzi’s father committed suicide after he could no longer deal with the voices in his head. But now Lenzi has started hearing them, too, and she is sure she is on a path to self-destruction if she cannot keep them out of her head. Her boyfriend, Zak, tries to help where he can, but it is never enough. Then a mysterious boy named Alden appears, and he says that he is a Protector, someone who watches over a Speaker, a Ghost Whisperer who is supposed to help the dead move on. He says Lenzi is his S...more Lenzi’s father committed suicide after he could no longer deal with the voices in his head. But now Lenzi has started hearing them, too, and she is sure she is on a path to self-destruction if she cannot keep them out of her head. Her boyfriend, Zak, tries to help where he can, but it is never enough. Then a mysterious boy named Alden appears, and he says that he is a Protector, someone who watches over a Speaker, a Ghost Whisperer who is supposed to help the dead move on. He says Lenzi is his Speaker and he can help her control the voices. She is all for that, but even with her attraction to Alden, he seems a little crazy himself. And now a malevolent spirit out for revenge is back, and Lenzi is standing right in his path. Looks like it’s time for her to make a decision.

I enjoyed this book A LOT. At first, I was kind of confused as to the roles of the Protector and Speaker and their abilities, but things became clear pretty quickly. The premise of the story is actually really interesting, and while the idea of a ghost occupying and possessing a person’s body is not new (same with the Ghost Whisperer aspect), Lindsey gives a nice little twist to the story to make it super original and really enthralling. I also really liked Lindsey’s writing. She really has a way with words that clearly gets feelings across, and her descriptions are eloquent in a way that makes readers feel like they are in Texas themselves.

I really liked Lenzi. I think what I liked about her the most was how down to Earth she was. She is known as one of the most powerful Speakers ever, yet there are still moments when she is scared and has no idea what to do. She listens to the advice others give her and she is pretty smart. She is definitely one of the better female leads in YA literature. And I LOVED Alden. Why is it I always fall for YA boys? I do not know, but Alden was AWESOME. He was willing to put Lenzi first and he just seemed to really care about her, which I loved. He almost never thinks of just himself, he is always there for her, he listens to her, and the list just goes on and on. Alden is the perfect man. I will end it there. I also liked Zak. There were moments in the book where the reader is not supposed to like him, but I could not help feeling for him. He is a troubled soul who has been abandoned by his parents and had a rough upbringing, and now the girl he loves is pulling away from him. He makes some bad decisions, but he just wants to save the relationship with his girlfriend. I do not know how other people feel about him, but I did not hate him at all. He may not be perfect like Alden is, but what real man ever is?

This was an amazing debut by Mary Lindsey. If you have not read this book yet, I would definitely add it to your to-read list. You do not want to miss out on it! Everything about this book is beautiful. AND THE COVER. I do not know what it is about this cover, but I am obsessed with it. It is GORGEOUS. There has been no mention of a sequel, but if there is one, I am going to be all over it. However, Lindsey will be releasing another book, Annabel, sometime in 2013. It is going to be a retelling of the original Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. I am looking forward to reading anything else this talented author releases (and please let there be a SS sequel!). (less)

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Jan 08, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, urban-fantasy-paranormal, ghosts-dead-people, paranormal-humans, high-expectations, e-version, in-love-with-the-cover, i-cannot-tell-you-my-secret, love-triangle, read-2012, love-story-romance, debut

The short version:
A bit draggy and boring during the first half, but quite captivating, when the action and the romance started to run warm.

The long version:
Lenzi Rose had a schizophrenic father, whose condition unraveled her mom, thus Lenzi does not dare to confide in her that she is hearing voices trying to enlist her "help" (like Isobel in Unraveling Isobel). Instead she talks to the only person still by her side after her father took his life (do people let their friends drop because of ment...more

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Aug 24, 2011 J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fave-2011-reads

Shattered Souls is a haunting tale filled with emotional depth and near-paralyzing suspense that grips as each new piece of mystery unfolds. The skillful characterization combined with mystery, the paranormal, and horror makes the narrative flow natural and graceful - a serious pleasure to read (addictively).

Lenzi is a troubled girl in a relationship with a troubled boy, Zak, but then Alden appears and seems to know about Lenzi's issues and reveals that they are not, in fact, issues but part of...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite

Shattered Souls isn't just a book that you read, it's a book that you experience. I'm going to start out with that. Honestly, from page one I was completely hooked into Lenzi's struggle, her world, and everything going on. This is a haunting tale, with so much suspense that it sinks it's teeth into you and carries you along as things develop. What I'm saying is that this is a book that you need to read. It's addictive.

We meet Lenzi, a troubled girl who isn't quite sure what is going on in her li...more Shattered Souls isn't just a book that you read, it's a book that you experience. I'm going to start out with that. Honestly, from page one I was completely hooked into Lenzi's struggle, her world, and everything going on. This is a haunting tale, with so much suspense that it sinks it's teeth into you and carries you along as things develop. What I'm saying is that this is a book that you need to read. It's addictive.

We meet Lenzi, a troubled girl who isn't quite sure what is going on in her life. She keeps hearing voices, seeing visions, and the pills just aren't working. However Lenzi isn't the type to back down. I loved that her character was so deep and realistic. No matter how much fear she feels, she is willing to admit it and move forward anyway. It helps, of course, that she has Zak, her sweet and broken boyfriend, to keep her grounded. I fell in love with him almost instantly, despite his cracked interior. The two of them are really sweet together, until cocky and charming Alden comes along. In fact, the more time Lenzi spends around Alden the tougher things get. Do you sense a love triangle? If you do, you are correct. I'm generally not a huge fan of them but honestly? This one is done perfectly and it's delicious (and addictive) to read!

This is a book that will really keep you on your toes as you read. All the emotions in this book are palpable, and I found it so easy to feel what Lenzi was feeling. The emotional aspect of the writing in this book is done so gorgeously, that it just bleeds off the page and into your heart. Although the basic plot of Shattered Souls is rather simple, Mary Lindsey adds in her own twists that will keep you reading well into the night. There are so many beautifully executed clues peppered into the story. By the time I was halfway through I was completely enamored and engaged with the book. There is something for everyone in here. Wit, twists, anger, a slight creep factor. It's all here.

What killed me (and I loved) at the same time, was the ending. I won't spoil it one bit. This is a story you'll need to experience for yourself. I will say that the climax to this book leaves nothing wanting. Except perhaps that you'll want another book. A wonderfully written debut, Shattered Souls is a book that I would (and will once I get my own copy) read a hundred times over.
(less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Stacy/GirlsInTheStacks.com added it

Great cover, very lovely. Go flower petals. And it’s not black.

What a good debut novel! It is a well-written, great paced book that has plenty of adventure and perfect hint of romance.

As I read the last pages of this book I started to picture the perfect teen dramedy, “Ghost Whisperer, the YA version” (sorry, couldn’t think of a catchy title, I used all my witty last night on twitter). Really, I think this would make a great TV show and it would be like bringing the Creek back to Dawson, paranor...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books

RevieTalking spirits, cute boys, amnesia and a dog named Spook.

No, Lenzie isn’t going crazy like her father! She isn’t anything like her father, she’s your run of the mill Speaker. You know, person that talks to dead people. Helps them resolve their issues and then sends them packing for the pearly gates. (Or a one way ticket to hell!)

There were things I really enjoyed about this story and others not so much. But overall it was a positive reading experience.

Lenzie. I liked her, but really didn’t...more RevieTalking spirits, cute boys, amnesia and a dog named Spook.

No, Lenzie isn’t going crazy like her father! She isn’t anything like her father, she’s your run of the mill Speaker. You know, person that talks to dead people. Helps them resolve their issues and then sends them packing for the pearly gates. (Or a one way ticket to hell!)

There were things I really enjoyed about this story and others not so much. But overall it was a positive reading experience.

Lenzie. I liked her, but really didn’t have any preferences for her character one way or another. Something about her character just didn’t add up for me. One minute she is a timid, self-conscious teen girl and the next minute she is telling off some elder with the finesse of someone much older and wiser. I get that she’s this thousand year old soul that’s been reincarnated into this teen girl, but if she has amnesia, then she has amnesia. She can’t just NOT have it when it’s convenient for her to not to.

Alden, I liked. I didn’t love… I think I could grow to love him, but for now I just really like him. He’s honorable and somewhat honest, which I find that I respect in characters in general. One of the things I enjoyed most about this novel what his relationship with Lenzie. Of course I wanted nothing more than these two to be together!

I think that Lindsey tried to have a bit of a love triangle there with Zak & Alden, but it didn’t really work, since Zak was a complete asshole. And maybe I’m a little biased because he reminds me of a crazy ex-boyfriend, but Zak did had a few redeeming qualities they were just a little too late to the party to matter. Love triangle fail.

My favorite characters were Race and Maddie, let’s see some more of them!!

The soul aspect of the story was really what sucked me in. The souls and the malevolent spirits. The whole process of helping them move on, now that was cool. Would love to read more about that aspect of the story, and the history of the Speakers and Protectors. How did it happen and what is exactly is the council and what does it do? I must know more!

Overall, Shattered Souls was an impressive story! I’m hoping for more.w to Come!(less)

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Sep 12, 2011 Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

QUICK REVIEW: eeeep! This book was ah-FREAKIN'-mazing!! I am at a lost of words for that ending! So, so, SO good! Everybody needs to buy this book when it comes out, it's an awesome, awesome story! It's so much more than just a "ghost story" GAH!! i don't know how to explain it, besides SHATTERED SOULS IS FANTASTIC!! <3 <3 <3 oh! and I love Alden... that is all!

FULL REVIEW: The concept of this book was simply incredible and I was mesmerized from page one!

I may be a tad biased because g...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Isamlq rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Good

The whole protector-speaker thing. They’re basically exorcists. Even if the way Alden explained the in’s and out’s of what they were and what they did come off as a little clumsy to suit my taste, I did enjoy the novelty of it all. She talks to dead people and he protects her. Throw in some reincarnation and then some amnesia, and I thought the whole thing as not bad.

The So-so

Rose thinks she’s schizophrenic. (I think I’d have liked her more if she were.) When compared to her previous ve...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Dana Wright rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen, spirits, reincarnation

I got my copy in the mail today and am already pouring through it.

Check out my review at:

http://danasyabookpile.blogspot.com/

http://bookgirlknitting.blogspot.com/

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Oct 19, 2012 Kristine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites, beautiful-dress-covers

Shattered Souls for me has...

A beautiful cover..
fascinating plot..
intriguing back story..
swoon-worthy characters..(w/haunting spirits)
and a bittersweet ending.

Storyline

Lenzi hears voices and sees visions, she thought she's going crazy just like her dad. Zak, her musician boyfriend, is always there to support her even though he can't actually do anything to help her expel the voices she hears. Then she meets Alden, the boy in her vision. He tells her that she is a Speaker who can hear, talk and h...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Izzy99 ~* The Pirate Princess *~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

READ THIS REVIEW & MORE ON MY SUPER AWESOME BOOK BLOG: BooksAreBetterThanIceCream.com!
I really liked this book. It was one of the best I've read,....EVER!!!

Lenzi..or Rose, thought she was going crazy. Then Alden showed up and she got pissed.
Zak is supposed to be Lenzi's boyfriend, but he ain't a good one.

The character's personalities keep the same through out the book. Lenzi is sarcastic, smart, funny, and gets pissed. Alden disobeys, obeys, and is unpredictable. Zak is whack. He gets drunk...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Luu rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal, dropped-series, je-v-preklade

Priemerne 4.48? Huh?

Lenzi vidí (či skôr cíti a počuje) duchov. Pomaly ju to privádza do šialenstva, keď sa na scéne ocitne Alden. Lenzi je takzvaný "Speaker," ktorý môže ukladať "Shattered Souls" na večný spánok, a Alden je jej "Protector." A aby to bolo zaujímavejšie, Lenzi nie je vlastne žiadna Lenzi, ale reinkarnovaná slečna menom Rose, ktorú Alden už niekoľko životov za sebou (prirodzene Lenziných/Rosinych) prenasleduje a miluje.

...a v tomto momente sa ocitám v menšine, pretože netuším, čím...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can say with all honesty that this is one of my favorite books. I did not want to give this book up to the next person on the tour. I wanted to hide it away so I could read it again. And I did reread many scenes, just so I could relive them and sear them into my brain.

First off, Mary Lindsey’s writing is clear, fresh, and descriptive. I lost myself in the words and had to force myself to slow down, as I wanted to take my time, but the writing was so easy to inhale. I was gripped into the story...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Stacy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-publisher-author, teen-book-scene

Reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...

Engaging, emotional, roller coaster of a debut. Lenzi thinks she is going insane like her father and is trying to hold her self together. She hears voices and sees things that no one else does. Her boyfriend Zak tries to be helpful but is slowly starting to think she is crazy too, then Alden appears and everything is slowly revealed to her and starts making sense.

I loved the plot. The fact that Lenzi and Alden have reincarnated together over an...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Aydrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommended

I absolutely loved this book because it had a new concept I haven't read about before and it captivated me almost right away. Poor Lenzi (awesome name!) has no idea what is going on and frankly neither did I right away and I think that is what pulled me in. There was a lot going on in this book and figuring things out along with Lenzi was awesome. I want to say more, but I don't want to ruin anything so I will just say that I loved everything about this book from the concept, to the plot and the...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Suad Shamma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, favourites, 2012

So I bought this book on a whim. I found it at the bookstore, quickly read what it was about, and made the decision that I was going to buy it. When I picked it up to read, I did not think I was going to get immersed into it as quickly as I did. In fact, I finished it only a few hours after I picked it up. I was taken away completely by the story and could not stop reading because I literally needed to know what happens next at the end of every chapter.

Is it the greatest book in the world? No. I...more So I bought this book on a whim. I found it at the bookstore, quickly read what it was about, and made the decision that I was going to buy it. When I picked it up to read, I did not think I was going to get immersed into it as quickly as I did. In fact, I finished it only a few hours after I picked it up. I was taken away completely by the story and could not stop reading because I literally needed to know what happens next at the end of every chapter.

Is it the greatest book in the world? No. Is it a one of a kind storyline? Not really. Are the characters unlike anything else you've ever imagined? Nope. But you know what? None of that matters, because the book was good, the storyline was good, and the characters were all interesting and well-rounded.

Lenzi is a normal teenage girl in every way except one. She hears voices. That worries her because her father had committed suicide after a long battle with schizophrenia. She cannot confide to her mother about it, because her mother's been through enough, and her boyfriend Zac does not understand what she's going through. No one does. That is until she meets Alden.

Sweet Alden who keeps calling her by the wrong name - Rose. At first, she's wary and hostile, wanting to get away from this strange boy who tries to explain to her how she is hearing the voices of those shattered souls. Voices of the dead who need her help in one thing or another so they can transition and rest in peace. This strange boy who insists she is someone she's not. Insists that he is her protector, and she needs him whether she likes it or not. A strange boy who warns her about more wounded souls, dangerous souls...demons.

Now Lenzi is expected to believe not only is she a "Speaker", one who hears and helps those souls, but she is reincarnated too!

That is when Lenzi's journey with Alden begins. A gripping journey of life and death. Of love and loathing. There are interesting mysteries, adventures, trespassing, romance, an exorcism and a trial.

I'll say this much, the book reminded me a little bit of Maureen Johnson's style in The Name of the Star. The girl who can see ghosts, the group of people she meets and joins who have similar "powers" so to speak, the mystery behind it all, and so on.

I loved it well enough to have finished it in one sitting. And I would definitely like to see a sequel to it, as the whole storyline with the malevolent demon wasn't settled in my opinion.

Very good debut novel from Mary Lindsey.(less)

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Jul 26, 2011 Leah (Jane Speare) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The fact that Lenzi can hear voices is strange and disturbing. She thinks she is becoming schizophrenic like her father that ended up committing suicide a year ago, but the truth is even more unusual. She hears the voices of souls trapped on Earth. Her role as a “Seeker” is explained by Alden, a boy who claims to have known her through centuries of life times she can't seem to remember. I think Lenzi deals with this whole new world that opens up well, because she's pretty excited to hear she isn...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

The whole time, the premise struck me as a tad odd, but that oddness is what made it stand out from the crowd and I ended up really liking the story, regardless. To some extent, it's a standard "I see dead people" story--Lenzi discovers that she can hear ghosts and goes through a learning process to help them move on. The oddness comes in when it's revealed that "Speakers" like her are actually part of a global "Intercessor Council" and that they, along with their soul-bound "Protectors" (who li...more The whole time, the premise struck me as a tad odd, but that oddness is what made it stand out from the crowd and I ended up really liking the story, regardless. To some extent, it's a standard "I see dead people" story--Lenzi discovers that she can hear ghosts and goes through a learning process to help them move on. The oddness comes in when it's revealed that "Speakers" like her are actually part of a global "Intercessor Council" and that they, along with their soul-bound "Protectors" (who live only to serve, apparently), have been doing this through multiple centuries of reincarnation. Add to that the fact that they operate on a point system, and if they don't resolve enough souls to maintain their quotas (or if they break any other of the IC's oh-so black and white rules), they get permanently "discontinued"--killed, with no hope of reincarnation.

The kicker here is that normally, Speakers and Protectors regain all their past life memories as soon as they come into their powers, so it's no big deal to start kicking ghost butt and taking names (literally--they have to file a report after every encounter in order to claim their points) as soon as they "emerge." But for some mysterious reason, Lenzi has no past life memory. So we, as readers, get to work through the "You're here to do what??" and "You want me to do what???" strangeness along with her, as her Protector, Alden, tries to get her acclimated and moving along, which I think is what keeps everything from just being too weird. I'm not sure I'd say it's truly a full 4 stars for me, but it's close enough. I quite liked both Lenzi and Alden, for all his "I shouldn't have to explain this to you, so I'm not going to, even though I know you don't know it" overprotective mysteriosity. I'm interested to see where the series goes from here.

(also, I'm amused that I just used the word "mysteriosity"--I've obviously been reading too many Georgia Nicolson books, but I'm going to leave it because I find it entertaining)(less)

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Jan 02, 2012 Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: demons, ya, highly-emotional, must-re-read-again, paranormal-romance, favorites-ya

4.75 Soul Shattering Stars!

I'm in love with this story! It was creepy and eerie at times, but the story had so many other more elements. It's a story of love, death, finding closure, and second chances.

All our heroine, Lenzi, wants is a normal life. She has a supportive boyfriend in Zak, but that doesn't help her little problem of hearing voices. She's looking for answers that doesn't involve medication or a trip to the psychiatrist. The reason she hears voices is not because she's her schizoph...more

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Mar 30, 2013 ♥ Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, pnr

2- 2.5 stars

Blah. That’s how I felt about the book. I didn’t HATE it, but I didn’t LOVE it either. I wasn’t BORED but I wasn’t particularly entertained either. It was just whatever, which was the opposite of what I expected from a book with such a stunning cover.

I should really learn not to judge a book by its cover. The book started off really slow, and at first I was hoping there wouldn’t be insta-love. Sometimes I can deal with the insta-love, especially when it comes to reincarnated souls;...more 2- 2.5 stars

Blah. That’s how I felt about the book. I didn’t HATE it, but I didn’t LOVE it either. I wasn’t BORED but I wasn’t particularly entertained either. It was just whatever, which was the opposite of what I expected from a book with such a stunning cover.

I should really learn not to judge a book by its cover. The book started off really slow, and at first I was hoping there wouldn’t be insta-love. Sometimes I can deal with the insta-love, especially when it comes to reincarnated souls; but unfortunately, the romance aspect shifted into shallow insta-love as the story progressed (which made it just unacceptable, because why?).

In addition, the characters were bland and mostly one-dimensional. I didn’t particularly LIKE the main character, or the two love interests. There was almost a love-triangle, but not really, which means: lazy writing. The paranormal aspect had a lot of potential (especially with the demon possession), but it never really went anywhere and most of the action scenes were quickly summarized or glossed over. And there wasn't enough “supernatural” elements that kept me interested; the romance was blasé, creepy, unoriginal, uninspired & shallow. Authors need to stop with insta-love, and readers need to stop buying into it!! Also, I wanted there to be a more significant reason behind Rose’s motives for wanting to get her memory erased. Further, the “reasons” why Lenzi/Rose and her Protector couldn’t get it on was absurd!! The little splices of memories could have added so much depth and richness to Lenzie & Alden’s relationship, but did nothing to add to the story.

Zak was also a waste of a character. His character had a lot more potential, especially with the backstory of his dad being an addict, his mommy issues, rock star persona, and drinking issues. But his character went from having potential to straight cardboard character / plot device / filler. Boo.

As a whole, the best part of Shattered Souls was probably the cover (which isn’t even relevant to the story). It was an OK read, but there were too many details that didn’t fit, that didn’t make sense, were glossed over, and summarized. If you’re looking for reincarnation + heroine literally meeting boy of her dreams + protector + heavy & intense romance read Meant to Be instead.(less)

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Jan 17, 2012 Book Whales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted @ Book Whales

She wanted to shut off the voices
But they needed her to hear them…

I started reading this book last night and boy was I hooked, to the point that I also finished this that same night.

Mary Lindsey’s debut novel tells us about Lenzi, who’s been hearing voices, and just like her father, she thinks that she’s going crazy. She wanted to lead a normal life with her mother and awesome boyfriend Zak, but the voices seemed more desperate as time goes by, and soon she’s st...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I first picked up this book because of it's awesome cover. Yes, I'm one of those people that judge a book by it's cover. Then, I started reading it and thought "WOW....this book is stupid.".....you thought I was going to praise the book? So after reading a few pages I put the book away and read another book. After finishing that book I picked up Shattered Souls again. I read the first few pages again and thought "Why did I pick this up again?" but then I noticed that the only other book I had le...more

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May 06, 2012 Izabela C rated it 1 of 5 stars

What a load of absolute crap. I don't feel like writing a proper review. Behold - quotage!

"The other students talked about me, but not to me, which was probably my fault. I'd made no attempt to even be friendly.

...

Ignoring other students' curious stares, I left everything in my locker, including my backpack. I wasn't going to do homework anyway, so why bother?"

Way to be enthusiastic about life, Lenzi. She obviously has no desire to make friends or pass the school year, but ... why? I just fini...more

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