Soul Born (Soul Born Saga, #1)

Jan 21, 2011 Marc Aplin rated it 3 of 5 stars

All Opal wanted was to be respected as a wielder of magic, but her teachers passed her over time and time again. When a mysterious warlord embarks on a conquest to destroy the lands of Illyia Opal seizes an opportunity to step out from the shadows of her instructors and take her rightful spot among them.

Tala, an alluring young elf, was banished from her tribe, hunted and nearly killed by the beasts that dwell in the deep forests, but more than anything else she is a survivor. Joining forces with...more All Opal wanted was to be respected as a wielder of magic, but her teachers passed her over time and time again. When a mysterious warlord embarks on a conquest to destroy the lands of Illyia Opal seizes an opportunity to step out from the shadows of her instructors and take her rightful spot among them.

Tala, an alluring young elf, was banished from her tribe, hunted and nearly killed by the beasts that dwell in the deep forests, but more than anything else she is a survivor. Joining forces with an ancient elemental power Tala finds herself in the centre of an unrelenting human war. She never wanted any of this.

Flesh like leather and bone as strong as steel Karn, a veteran from the first kingdom to fall, is fuelled by vengeance. While pushing ever headlong into battle Karn begins to recall memories of another life; ghosts that haunt his dreams.

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All sounds very ‘old school’ fantasy like... right? Well simply put it is. This isn’t a novel that treads new grounds; it isn’t a novel that will create ripples in the genre for its uniqueness – what it is, is an old school fantasy novel written in 2010. Imagine playing Dungeons and Dragons or Baulder’s Gate or anyone of those kinds of PC RPG games. The characters seem blocky; you roll your eyes at the dialogue, but at the same time you enjoy it for what it is and you quickly accept that this is old school and you remember something... you enjoy old school!

That’s how I felt when I first picked up ‘Soul Born’. I quickly found myself thinking lines like; “Human Magic is for Humans,” or “I saw lots of people. I – I think they were ghosts!” for example were a bit cheesy, but after a few chapters I was just enjoying them. Fantasy is popular today because of novels in the Dungeons and Dragons type era... the genre is defined by its blocky roots and its almost pre-defined characters. I very quickly found myself thinking how nice it was to go back in time a bit and read a novel that read like we expect a fantasy novel to read.

The character of Karn is one we have experienced hundreds of times before... a fearless Viking like hero who is aggressive and just wants to destroy evil. Opal is a little more new-age in the sense that she is a beautiful, powerful mage but with a darker side to her and Tala is that female Elve we have all come to love so much.

If you are looking for a Sanderson like writing style or a unique story you won’t find it here. But if you are a fantasy fan, willing to go back and look at what made fantasy great – cheesy lines, over-heroic characters, beautiful and lustrous women, elves, werewolves, dark kings and so on then this is a very good, quick read. I think Kevin Breaux does a good job at proving to write an enjoyable novel you don’t have to do anything ground-breaking, you don’t need to write something in a brand new style, you just need to do something proven to work.

After going through months of reading complicated story lines from authors such as Lynch, Sanderson and Weeks it was nice to pick up a book rich literally says: 'Right... we have magic, we have action, we have beautiful women. Are you ready? Lets go!' And that's it. No complicated world building, no overly confusing twisting and turning story, no complex magic system... just everything we would expect from fantasy like novels back in the day.

For me Soul Born pressed all the right buttons. As I said over in the forums, Kevin Breaux is one of those authors who has the ability to make you say; 'Damn Fantasy is Cool!’ without reshaping or redefining the genre. All round it is well worth checking out.(less)

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May 16, 2011 Nate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-of-best

Remember when fantasy used to be fun, exciting and enjoyable to read? Kevin Breaux does. His debut novel Soul Born is easy to read, but has a complex story. While fantasy might not be for everyone, Breaux gives us a book full of action adventure twisted together with a mysterious surprise.

I do not want to spoil it, but you are along for the journey believeing one thing and then whammo! Amazing! Brutal!

Soul Born works is the beginning of a series, which Breaux has stated will each have a differ...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Ashley Barnard rated it 5 of 5 stars

A perfect blend of high and dark fantasy, Soul Born is a delightful read with elves, mages and intrigue. The writing definitely stands out above most contemporary fantasy novels. Thanks, Kevin!

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Jun 08, 2012 Mihir rated it 3 of 5 stars

Full Review over at Fantasy Book Critic

CLASSIFICATION: Soul Born is a dark epic fantasy novel reminiscent of the works of James Clemens, Paul S. Kemp & R.A. Salvatore.

FORMAT/INFO: Soul Born is 306 pages long divided over thirty-two titled chapters and a Prologue. Narration is in the third person via Opal, Karn and Tala Silverwolf. Soul Born is the opening volume in the Soul Born Saga with the book ending on a proper note. November 30, 2010 marked the Trade Paperback publication of Soul Bor...more
Full Review over at Fantasy Book Critic

CLASSIFICATION: Soul Born is a dark epic fantasy novel reminiscent of the works of James Clemens, Paul S. Kemp & R.A. Salvatore.

FORMAT/INFO: Soul Born is 306 pages long divided over thirty-two titled chapters and a Prologue. Narration is in the third person via Opal, Karn and Tala Silverwolf. Soul Born is the opening volume in the Soul Born Saga with the book ending on a proper note. November 30, 2010 marked the Trade Paperback publication of Soul Born via Dark Quest Books. Cover art is provided by Dan Dos Santos.

ANALYSIS: Soul Born is a book that grabbed my attention because of an interesting blurb that described an “epic dark fantasy novel”, and a great cover by Dan Dos Santos. Of course, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters...

Soul Born is centered around three characters: Opal who is training to become more than just an ordinary mage; Karn, a warrior with a faulty memory who is supposed to fight the evil tyrant warlord, Mustaffa; and Tala Silverwolf, an elf banished from her tribe due to undisclosed reasons, and the key behind unlocking Karn’s past. Thankfully, the three main characters—with all of their motivations, plans and actions—are the main draw of the book. Opal in particular, is a shining star who I believe will be a major factor in the rest of the Soul Born Saga.

Story-wise, Soul Born is well plotted, with surprising twists and revelations, especially the ending and middle of the book where the author reveals certain details about Opal and Karn that will change the reader’s perception of them. There’s also the history of the mages which fuels a major plot point and the meaning behind ‘soul born’ laid bare, while the pacing never lets the reader rest. Prose meanwhile, is a bit bumpy at times, but it doesn’t derail the reading experience.

The major concerning factor for me were the coincidences throughout the book. For example, whenever a character needed to get out of a tight spot or needed a certain power or some other form of aid, the author provided it. This issue is what prevented me from enjoying the book as much as I thought I would.

CONCLUSION: Kevin J. Breaux‘s Soul Born is an interesting debut with some good points and some not-so-good points. Unfortunately, the novel was somewhat of a disappointment for me, but there is definitely potential there that could be further realized in the rest of the Soul Born Saga...
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Sep 10, 2011 MaryAnn rated it 5 of 5 stars

The cover of this book is colorful and magical! I have never read a fantasy, adventure novel before, so this was a first for me. I found this book exciting, mystical and surprising. The author is very detailed and I could actually visualize what was happening which is great. I was picturing a video game made from this book also. The ending was left so that we do want to read the next book to see what else can happen. I enjoyed this and as I kept reading I was more into it. I received the book th...more

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Feb 17, 2012 H.R. Krishna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Soul Born begins as a light headed novel but ends with a grim note, this is one of the very few sff novels where the politics isn't forced and there is definitely no farm boy rising to the occasion.
Opal is a fledgling mage who is struggling to get recognized by her masters and she sure is one hell of a sexy mage. But the point being she ain't the only one struggling to have a life she dreams.
karn has his own set of nightmares and his confusion later in the book is apparent owing to the kind of r...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying that this book is definitely unlike most other books
of this genre. Sometimes I think I've read all the fantasy-type books that I
possibly can. How many more times can I read about the world coming to an end
due to the evil machinations of some dark lord, wizard, or king who is trying to
obtain some great artifact of power which will make him or her unstoppable and
must be stopped by some individual with a destiny to lead the forces of good to
victory? Soul Born does n...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Konah Fawkes rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was lucky enough to pick up this novel last Monday, and stayed glued to the pages until I finished it Wednesday night.What kept me so intrigued by this book? Uniqueness, plenty of action, and a solid storyline. Soul Born breaks from the mold that shapes the vast number of fantasy novels.

The story captivated me easily, as you are tossed right in and learn more as you go. I was also able to connect with the main characters with ease. One thing that makes me crazy within the fantasy genre is bla...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

Soul Born is the first full-length novel by Kevin James Breaux, and the first of a trilogy. From the moment, I opened this book, I was hard-pressed to put it down. There is typically a pretty predictable formula in fantasy tales, with the battle between good and evil, the struggle for power, the quests for victory and the inevitable hero. While this novel had all of those elements, it definately was so much more. Because of the normal predictability, I kept expecting events to go in certain dire...more Soul Born is the first full-length novel by Kevin James Breaux, and the first of a trilogy. From the moment, I opened this book, I was hard-pressed to put it down. There is typically a pretty predictable formula in fantasy tales, with the battle between good and evil, the struggle for power, the quests for victory and the inevitable hero. While this novel had all of those elements, it definately was so much more. Because of the normal predictability, I kept expecting events to go in certain directions, and they just didn't and I loved that fresh take on fantasy. It was definately not a light and happy tale, but dark with lots of action and unexpected twists. With a lot of epic works, you have a lot of back story before you get to the real meat of the story. I really enjoyed the fact that this story didn't do that, but put you immediately in the story from the very beginning. You learned the secrets and reasons for the unfolding story as you went along and it kept me thoroughly engrossed.

The story revolved around three main characters: Karn (the warrior with the mysterious past), Opal (the enchantress struggling for recognition), and Tala (the elf shunned by her own kind). Each of these characters have a common goal, to destroy an invading warlord before he destroys them and all that they know. There was no clear cut good versus evil with these characters, nor with any of the supporting characters, which only added to the ability to relate to them as people. As in real life, the characters have motives that aren't always pure and are faced with choices that may sometimes be self-serving and hurt others around them. Because of that, some of the characters were sometimes hard to like, but that was as it should be. There times in the story where I felt like I was personally invested in those characters, completely emotionally engaged with them. I absolutely love a story that can pull me in emotionally like that!

The ending was unexpected and great and left me waiting impatiently for the next book!
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Feb 05, 2011 Vivien rated it 3 of 5 stars

I won this copy from the author in a giveaway. I finished this a few days ago and have been mulling over this review. It's a hard one to put into words. I would start off by saying that I don't think it's necessarily one I would have picked up had I seen it at the bookstore. It's just not the typical genre that I read. That said, I did overall like it. I do think that it's something a guy would enjoy more. There's a lot of action, women, wars, sex, etc. And while I like all those things I felt m...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Dave rated it 5 of 5 stars

Soul Born is a fast paced fantasy novel that will keep the reader turning pages and reading far too late into the night. Set in the land of Illyia, the novel tracks three main characters as they fight against an invading warlord who leaves a path of destruction across the land as he works towards his ultimate goal; the destruction of his creators.

The characters are wonderfully brought to life as we learn about them and their various motives throughout the story. Opal is a young mage filled with...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Van rated it 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 STARS

Soul Born is the first book in Kevin J. Breaux’s Soul Saga series. Having read Mr. Breaux series out of order, I already knew the outcome of the book. When reading a book I like the element of surprise and mystery, and to not know the end until I get there! So when I started this book I couldn’t stop thinking about the second book, even though it centers on a different group of characters. Soul Born focuses on three main characters; Opal, Karn and Tala. Opal is a powerful mage, Karn i...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Defined as an Epic Fantasy(1&2) , Soul Born is a tale which readers will find quite engaging and adventurous. Kevin James Breaux brings to the stage an interesting cast of characters whose journey will lead readers on a path quite different from that which enthusiasts of the fantasy genre may be used to. Leave behind any pre-conceived ideas as to what direction the typical high fantasy should take and enjoy Breaux’s unusual rendition of good versus evil complete with a myriad of blurred line...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Al Sirois rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fast moving, well written, "epic" style classic fantasy. Kevin has full control here, so let him take you for a ride.

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Feb 13, 2011 Lexie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy, books-owned, autographed, book-type-tradepaperback

First thing to say is that even though it didn't change the rating for the book, I was more than a little relieved to hear that Soul Born is the first book in a three book series. Book 2 is due out in fourth quarter 2011 (Fall/winter) in fact.

When I first read about this the words 'dark fantasy' were first and foremost. And this can definitely be considered that; there's no 'good guy' or 'bad guy', or a sense that one side is any better then the other. Much of the characters are motivated by a s...more First thing to say is that even though it didn't change the rating for the book, I was more than a little relieved to hear that Soul Born is the first book in a three book series. Book 2 is due out in fourth quarter 2011 (Fall/winter) in fact.

When I first read about this the words 'dark fantasy' were first and foremost. And this can definitely be considered that; there's no 'good guy' or 'bad guy', or a sense that one side is any better then the other. Much of the characters are motivated by a selfish goal or concern--in some cases this means acting against the side they've aligned with in order to achieve that goal.

Without giving spoilers, Karn begins with Opal, but he eventually goes with Tala. I liked that Breaux contrasted the emotions that Tala has for Karn with what Opal feels. He doesn't emphasize that one is better then the other, that one has more right then the other. This goes back to what I was saying about how there isn't a 'good' or 'bad' guy. Neither is exactly forthcoming with Karn in regards to who he is or why they need him.

I wanted to know more about Illyia, I was constantly hoping that just a little more information would be given so I could have a better worldview. Its not that Breaux leaves the world vague and unshaped, rather he focuses almost entirely on Opal, Tala and Karn's conflicts. We are given just enough information to understand what's happening--such as the war between Tala's people (the Elves) and the Lizardmen. Considering I'm used to entire chapters dedicated to detailing the history of why the Elves and Lizardmen are fighting, the few short paragraphs Breaux uses to tell us about the war made me blink. This isn't a bad thing, overall it gives the book a tighter focus, just takes a little getting used to.

There are several revelations in the book that left me surprised and eager to read on to see how this now effected things. More than anything else the mystery of Karn's past and his memories were what I wanted to know more about. They came in fragments and snippets, some of them mundane and some of them intense. In the beginning of the book Karn thinks about the fact he clearly remembers his death, but with no visible signs of it nor any linking memories to it, he grows confused. Each subsequent 'memory' builds a larger, rather frightening, picture.

I was a bit taken aback by the ending--I wasn't entirely convinced that what Opal did was necessary (even if she felt it was) nor did I think that what Tala did made much sense. There was no time passage defined, but it felt like Tala suddenly rushed into the decision. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in the next book, though I'm a little wary with the implications.(less)

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Apr 30, 2011 jD rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2_kindle_own, genre_fantasy, fantasy_adventure_worldbuilding, fantasy_strange, 2011-read

From a creative and conceptual standpoint, I have no issues with this novel. As a matter of fact, all three stars are for the unique concept behind this story. The problem for me was simply the writing style was not to my personal taste. The story reads like a video game. There is the continual stacking of action and consequences scenes. For me fantasy must have extensive world building and emotional manipulation. I need to feel the misery and the toll of death on the respective characters. I ne...more From a creative and conceptual standpoint, I have no issues with this novel. As a matter of fact, all three stars are for the unique concept behind this story. The problem for me was simply the writing style was not to my personal taste. The story reads like a video game. There is the continual stacking of action and consequences scenes. For me fantasy must have extensive world building and emotional manipulation. I need to feel the misery and the toll of death on the respective characters. I need to understand why they love or hate not just that they do. I need passion and desperation not knee-jerk instinctual reactions. I want the characters to whisper in my ear and tell me their story.

Mr. Breaux skips all these traditional devices and tells us a tale that is very clearly laid out in his mind. What he did not give me was any reason to care about the people in his story. I only read to the end so I would know what happened. I was prepared for everyone to die and it did not matter one bit. I don't know if Mr. Breaux intended for me to be indifferent but he never seemed to put much effort into capturing my emotions only my curiosity. So I read the story as an investment in a new voice and put aside expectations that I carry based on other more accomplished writers. When I did that, I was able enjoy the scenes much more and appreciate the creative concept of the plot. I noticed that Mr. Breaux loves blood and gore. He uses the word 'gore' so often that I came to expect it anytime there was a fight. It actually made me laugh after awhile. He really liked making things bloody and that showed through in the cataloging of injuries and grossly overstated bodily mayhem. Oh yes, there is plenty of magic and magical fighting.

One of the things that I felt was very well accomplished was the hidden aspects of each character. I was pleased when I discovered that there were not really any true villains or heroes in this tale. The roles kept shifting. I will admit - he did surprise me more than once by flipping a character's script. Again, I have to say, the concept is truly unique and in some ways tricky. Mr. Breaux left himself plenty of room for character development in future stories. I believe that there will be a following for this series. Although I don’t plan to read future installments, I will probably keep up with spoilers. Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind, especially if it’s inexpensive or free.
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Apr 09, 2012 Ray Bliss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-first-reads

Soul Born by Kevin James Breaux

Soul Born is a fun, engaging book in a mythical world where magic and monsters abound. Good and evil are not what they seem and many shades of gray exist for these characters and their motivations. The story starts with action and does not let up through most of the book. I especially liked how the back story slowly gets pieced together, but wish I could have gotten to know a little more about some of the secondary cast.

The cover of the book is an eye catcher, and...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Talitha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Love it! Very good read and look forward to more!

Received from Goodreads First Reads

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Nov 14, 2011 Michelle Horst rated it 5 of 5 stars

Soul Born... I'm very happy it's #1 of the saga! I can't wait for the next one to be released.

This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat from the very first word and there won't be any letting go until the last. Kevin has created a masterpiece and a world of enchantment where you want to go, but don't dare without some weapons of your own.

Every character is vibrantly alive and jumps from the page to draw you into their world. You can taste their fears, their hope and their courage....more

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Aug 15, 2011 Sherri Dub rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I was sent this book as a (First Reader) on Goodreads.com, but I definitely would have purchased it on my own. The cover is dynamite~bursting with color, as if magic is actually trying to escape the bindings of the book.
The book itself is a quick paced, easy read for all ages over 12, in my opinion. However, by no means is this a YA novel.
This is a classic D&D style read. If you enjoy fantasy books, in the form of RPG's, this book is for you.
I love reading all types of genres, but this was a...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Pearse rated it 5 of 5 stars

'Soul Born' is the debut novel by Kevin Breaux which is dark high fantasy. The story has 3 main characters who are followed as the plot progresses. They are Opal (a mage), Karn (a mighty warrior) and Tala (a female elf living in exile from her people). The plot evolves with twists and turns and just when you think you know what is going to happen next something completely different happens.

This book is a breathe of fresh air in the genre in my opinion and I recommend it to anyone looking to read...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Kimm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wow! This book really messed with my head. I can't say more without spoiling the novel, but there is a pretty unique plot twist that isn't revealed until you are completely invested in the characters. I actually got upset about it, I mean like raging mad about it, to the point where I was thinking of abandoning the novel. But then realized how brilliant it really was, and I HAD to know how it was going to end. I am uncertain as to whether or not I wish to visit this realm again. My heart can onl...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Adam Bourke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I was drawn into this book by the cover art. I found it to be quite stunning. In fact, it's one of the few books that have made me go to the artist's online Gallery. Or even glance at the name of the artist on the copyright page. I know there are some people who do this with every book, but I'm not one of them, so it means quite a lot. After half an hour looking at Dan Dos Santos' Gallery, I remembered I had a book to read.

And I was disappointed. Especially for the first hundred and fifty pages...more I was drawn into this book by the cover art. I found it to be quite stunning. In fact, it's one of the few books that have made me go to the artist's online Gallery. Or even glance at the name of the artist on the copyright page. I know there are some people who do this with every book, but I'm not one of them, so it means quite a lot. After half an hour looking at Dan Dos Santos' Gallery, I remembered I had a book to read.

And I was disappointed. Especially for the first hundred and fifty pages or so. There are three major problems, which I will discuss separately below, but had I not being reviewing the book, I don't expect I would have finished it. I just couldn't see it going anywhere interesting. Which is where the first problem comes in...

Lack of Direction. The characters kept being in action situations, with not enough story. (SLIGHT SPOILER) In the first fifty pages alone, Karn starts in a battle, kind of, then has a fight with some guards, then breaks out with Opal's help, while in the meantime Opal herself has met the Warlord, as well as doing some kind of spell, and then Tala has had a fight as well. That's six action scenes in 50 pages. leaving almost no time for story development. And it continues like that for some time. Action scene after action scene, with no story to allow us to see where the action scenes fit in, and no overall plot. There's a vague sense of "Kill the Warlord", but I felt him to be an insignificant enemy until the last third of the book. Apparently I was wrong. There is also no back story, until it's required. Other's have praised this, but I find that it means the author is adding quick explanations when he realises you don't know something.

Secondly, It has a lack of motivation. There isn't a reason for a lot of things to happen - or at least, no good one. To take an example of the poor reasons - the fight with the guards that Karn has is because he left the house where he was being treated for Battle Wounds and Memory Loss, leaving behind a mage he had seen to be quite powerful, and went to the place where he had lost the battle, alone and injured. Surprisingly, he fought quite well. But he should have waited until Opal woke up (since it was her idea to go anyway...). That's an example from where there is only a small spoiler, but there are bigger things that happens, with less reasons. Especially regarding her mage teachers. There is also quite a few things that are said, that I don't see why they were said - either they were blatantly not true, or unrelated to the scene.

Finally, there was a fairly poor narrative. In English class, we were always told not to over-describe things, and to allow the reader to figure out how emotions go on their own - through Dialogue, not narrative. Breaux DOES over-describe, and this itself wouldn't be a problem, but the emotion thing is. Because we basically get told "Opal was Sad", "Karn was Happy", etc, we don't empathise properly with the characters. So we can't be too attached to them. We don't really care if they succeed or not. (That is, if we can figure out what they're trying to succeed in). This is especially true of their feelings of losing their homeland (This is actually a little backstory you do get - in between the fighting of those first fifty pages). I just couldn't find emotion for any of the characters. The narrative also has quite a few clichés, which I won't point out.

There's a lot of negatives there, but this final point is positive. The underlying story is a good one. It can be hard to see until the very end, but looking back on it, it's quite a complex story. If it had been done differently, I could see myself liking it. It is interesting to see how similar, and hard to tell the difference between good and evil can be. So I enjoyed the story itself, it was just the getting to it that I didn't like.

There's a famous, often quoted warning about judging a book by it's cover. It's normally a metaphor for people, or various other things, but with this book I was reminded to take it literally as well. The cover is a beautiful piece of art, but the novel doesn't live up to the expectations it gave me. It is the first in a trilogy, but I doubt I'll read the next - however good the cover looks.(less)

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Aug 09, 2011 Steven Montano rated it 4 of 5 stars

In short...

THE PLOT: A warrior named Karn must prepare to do battle with the evil warlord Mustafa. But can his mysterious lover, the apprentice mage Opal, and her masters be trusted? What is the truth of Karn's mysterious background?

THE GOOD: This is a fine epic fantasy yarn, peopled with realistic, flawed and sympathetic characters. "Soul Born" has a layered and intricate plot that more often than not goes in entirely unexpected directions. Breaux's world is well detailed and fully realized, a...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Jennie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Everything Opal had ever wanted was now within her grasp. After years of training under the High Council of Mages she had finally been given the opportunity to show her skills and to earn the respect of her teachers. She would help her paramour, Karn, defeat the invading warlord, Mustaffa, who threatened to destroy the entire kingdom.

But though Karn was a mighty warrior and wanted nothing more than to defeat the evil invader, he also knew something inside him was missing. The memories of his pas...more Everything Opal had ever wanted was now within her grasp. After years of training under the High Council of Mages she had finally been given the opportunity to show her skills and to earn the respect of her teachers. She would help her paramour, Karn, defeat the invading warlord, Mustaffa, who threatened to destroy the entire kingdom.

But though Karn was a mighty warrior and wanted nothing more than to defeat the evil invader, he also knew something inside him was missing. The memories of his past seemed broken and twisted, as if they had been lived by someone else. And has he and Opal worked to bring down the rising darkness, Karn was sure that there was more evil afoot than just the enemy army. Someone else was pulling the strings and a deeper conflict set in motion years before was about to overtake them all.

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Soul Born by Kevin James Breaux is the first book in a three book series. It is a classic epic fantasy full of elves, wizards, and fairies. I actually won an ecopy of the book in a giveaway on Fantasy-Faction forums that Kevin was good enough to run a few weeks back. Kevin is also a Fantasy-Faction staff member and can be found on Twitter as @KevinBreaux.

I have to admit that the first thing that attracted me to this book was the awesome cover art, and I found as I began the story that the beautiful woman depicted was the main character Opal. Opal is a mage and one of my favorite things about this book is the way magic works and how it is depicted. Magic in this world is full of color and movement, with each type of spell represented by a different color. Magic is also very scarce and can only be performed by a select few.

The characters in this story are also unique, and even after getting three-quarters of the way through the book there is still more to learn about each one. The story itself twists and turns as it progresses, keeping you guessing as to who is on the side of good and who is on the side of evil. At the end of this book there are still questions to be answered, making the reader wonder which way the story will continue in book two.

I think the story and perspective at times seems to jump around a bit, and I would have liked to know a little more about some of the side characters. I give Soul Born 3 stars, but only because I’m not a big fan of stories where the point of view switches back and forth a lot. If you don’t mind that type of story, then it’s probably more like a 3-1/2 to 4 star book. Overall, I think this was a good quick read and I would recommend this to those who like classic sword-and-sorcery style fantasy stories. :)

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For disclosure purposes, I won a copy of Soul Born from the author in a giveaway contest, but chose to review it on my own. Winning the book did not influence my opinion in this review. :)(less)

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Oct 12, 2011 Ellz Readz rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts... Welcome to a world of good and evil, right and wrong, dark and light. Kevin James Breaux has created a high fantasy world full of mystery, action, violence, love, and deceit.

Readers are introduced to the characters, Opal and Karn in the beginning of the story. Opal is a powerful mage and Karn is a warrior. They seem to be the perfect pair, in love, with a deep respect and passion for each other. However things are not always what they seem to be. When the enchanting elf Tala come...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Izzles25 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Having won this book in a competition I was really excited to see what it was all about. I had found out about the author Kevin James Breaux from Twitter and from there I began to read his blog and learnt bits and bobs about the book from there. It sounded interesting and I am a really big fan of the genre fantasy and with all things magic so this book sounded right up my alley.

As soon as I started the book I knew I was in for a some surprises surrounding the characters and the storyline. I lov...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Seán Gardner rated it 4 of 5 stars

My personal taste when it comes to fantasy has generally been works that include a great deal of detailed worldbuilding. I love reading about history so when I consume fantasy stories about strange and exotic new worlds I often have the mindset that I looking for historical and geographical snapshots over and above a strong plotline and interesting characters. This is usually what holds my attention in fantasy, because I am always looking for clues, for a broken potsherd that tells me about the...more My personal taste when it comes to fantasy has generally been works that include a great deal of detailed worldbuilding. I love reading about history so when I consume fantasy stories about strange and exotic new worlds I often have the mindset that I looking for historical and geographical snapshots over and above a strong plotline and interesting characters. This is usually what holds my attention in fantasy, because I am always looking for clues, for a broken potsherd that tells me about the way the people in the land lived their lives.

Soul Born is a very focused novel. There are no meandering passages in this book and no exposition that isn't relevant to what's happening. There is no scenic route to get to the destination. The book is the GPS equivalent of telling you the quickest way to get from point A to point B. And baby, it makes the book ROLL.

I'll note here that it took me a little while to appreciate this characteristic. I had to put the book down half way through and think about it. Something about the style of Soul Born then clicked for me, and I enjoyed the hell out of the book. Most fantasy novels have clearly delineated good guys and bad guys, maybe some gray area third party that swings back and forth for a while until finally aligning with one group or the other for the Big Final Battle. Not so in Soul Born: these people are not out for some high falootin' grand ideal, they are, each and every one of them, pushing their own agenda. The result of this is a cast of characters that have a seeming tendency towards erratic actions, but in reality are simply adjusting their plans to the shifting tide of events in the story. If the characters, Karn and Opal in particular, realize that staying the course isn't going to get them what they want, they simply head in a different direction. It's kind of refreshing.

There's no dead wood in the plot. The characters are fun, if sometimes a little reprehensible. The book is action, action, action. It isn't your typical fantasy, and that's a good thing. It really stands out next to everything else on the shelf because it breaks all the standard fantasy tropes.

Thumbs up!
(less)

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May 27, 2011 Rich Weiss rated it 5 of 5 stars

Although I usually stick to typical science fiction space opera stories, I decided to read Kevin Breaux's high fantasy tale. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the story pulled me in hook line and sinker and didn't release me until the end. What an enjoyable storyline and likeable (and where appropriate unlikeable) characters. Breaux does a great job keeping things simple, yet pulling off unexpected turns in the plot that leave you guessing up until the very end.

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Mar 18, 2011 AshPash rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-shelf

When I first started reading I wasn't really sure what to except. Was I going to find a regular story about a woman who is a sorceress? Or was this going to be a book where it gives me a brand new perspective on fantasy books. Well I can tell you it was definitely a new perspective on fantasy books. I enjoyed the way the author mixed in a bit of a love story with medieval war, sex and sorcery. It opened my eyes to a whole new take on witches,sorcery and medieval times. For me reading this book a...more

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Soul Born (Soul Born Saga #1)

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