Altered Souls

Witch Avenue #2

by Karice Bolton

The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

Genres: Paranormal, Witches, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

310 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2012

About the author

Karice is the author of over sixty books that span several genres. She loves nothing more than spending time with her family and sneaking away to write in between with a latte in hand.

She received an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of W.

Sign up for Karice's newsletter and new release info at http://www.karicebolton.com/


Titles include:

Cloudberry Inn Series
Imagining You
Remembering You
Leaving You
Loving You

Sunshine Breakfast Club
Dash of Love
Pinch of Love

Beyond Love Series
Beyond Control (Book 1)
Beyond Doubt (Book 2)
Beyond Reason (Book 3)
Beyond Intent (Book 4)
Beyond Chance (Book 5)
Beyond Promise (Book 6)
Beyond the Mistletoe (Book 7)

Island County Series
Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Book 1)
Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Book 2)
Tangled Love on Pelican Point (Book 3)
Forever Love on Fireweed Island (Book 4)
Tempting Love on Holly Lane (Book 5)
Chance at Love at Mystic Bay (Book 6)
Irresistible Love at Silver Falls (Book 7)
Lucky in Love on Hound Island(Book 8)
Mistletoe Mischief (Book 9)

Silver Ridge Series
Happy Truth About Love
A Little Secret About Love
A Funny Thing About Love
A Surprising Thing About Love
Christmas at Silver Ridge

V Mafia Series
Blake
Devin
Jaxson

Luke Fletcher Series
Hidden Sins (Book 1)
Buried Sins (Book 2)
Redemption (Book 3)
Mia (Book 4)

Afterworld Serie
RecruitZ
AlibiZ
UprisingZ

The Camp

The Watchers Trilogy
Taken Novella (A Watchers prequel)
Awakening (Book 1)
Legions (Book 2)
Cataclysm(Book 3)

The Witch Avenue Series
Lonely Souls (Book 1)
Altered Souls (Book 2)
Released Souls (Book 3)
Shattered Souls (Book 4)


The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening was a Barnes & Noble January 2012 Staff Pick: Nook Books Under $5

Reviews

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quicker paced book. I remember that book 1 was slow to get started. I felt that Triss at times had things too easy. I mean for someone who is new to this she sure can get herself out of a jam quickly. I also thought it was cool that the author wrote faeries into the story too. I love books that mix all the different paranormal creatures into it.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altered Souls picks up right where Lonely Souls left off. Triss is determined to get her mother back and do whatever she needs to do to achieve that goal. But this journey brings with it discoveries about her ancestry, and she herself will need to learn to confront the concept of dark magic, battling her own demons and learning about the power within herself. With Logan at her side, she enters a world of Altered Souls and knows that not only do they have to save them, they need to prevent anyone else from suffering the same fate.

This middle installment is in ways definitely better than the first book. For one thing, it brings in a lot more of the witchy action I had kind of expected to see at the start of the series. Witch books tend to be a bit hit and miss for me, but with this I really enjoyed encountering all the different spells and potions; I find myself quite fascinated with things like the symbolism of colours and flowers and herbs, and this is something that both books have fulfilled for me, at least in terms of learning more about plants. I was especially impressed with the ending. The ending brought with it tension, pace, anticipation, and the true personalities of some of the secondary characters really become clear. I found myself questioning the true intents of a couple of people, uncertain whether they were really on the right side, whether their viewpoints would change, and I liked that suspense. The ending was then a reflection of the growth of those characters.

Triss is also much stronger in this. As in the first book, she does question herself a lot, unsure of her own self-worth and what she could possibly do to make this new world she's in any better. But at the same time, she is also very ready to do what she thinks needs to be done. She is much more decisive, and much more prepared to fight for her loved ones. I found myself admiring of the lengths she went to to get her mother back, knowing full well the risks she was taking. Logan, too, remains as supportive in this installment as he was in the first. I loved how he was both prepared to help her no matter what and how he also accepted her as her own person. The romance in this series so far has proved to be wonderfully sweet and endearing. There is a lot of light banter between them, interspersed with much more serious moments. Both work at getting the other to open up more and let people in; it is very much a give-and-take relationship.

I'm so glad that after reading Lonely Souls, I was able to read this immediately after. As much as I liked Triss and Logan before, they have come a long way, and I really appreciated seeing this growth. Added to that is the much greater presence of the fantasy elements. The combination of these has made for what I feel is a stronger sequel, leaving me very hopeful for the conclusion to this series.

This review is also posted on my blog.

[Rosalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad that I didn't have to wait a long time to get hold of this book. Lonely Souls has left me bemused and deprived of the ending I so longed to read, I had to read this one to seek that ending! Well, I am not disappointed with the ending of Altered Souls. It really has all the ingredients for it to be a successful novel.

In Altered Souls, I like the way Bolton has developed Triss’ character into a stronger and forceful young woman who will do anything she can to save the people she loves and holds dear. Her bond with Logan has gone stronger and their romance is endearing. It became clear that her mother was taken by her father (also a witch who turned into a dark sorcerer, a killer of souls, spirits and witches alike and now training and leading a powerful group to change the world – by altering their souls). Now, her father is after her. Will she be able to bring her mother back? Or will she become one of them – like the plight of her mother, become an Altered Soul?

In this novel, Bolton has introduced two powerful characters; Dace and Bacula – leaders of hundreds of fairies who have been waiting for Triss to turn 18 as according to them, she is the chosen one to lead them.

There are many surprises in this novel. I like the way Bolton developed Trevor’s character for the better and I wonder how it is going to pan out in the end. There seems to be a love triangle going...

With the appearance of Eben, a more powerful sorcerer and who is also Triss’ grandfather, this is only the beginning of a big battle to come between good and evil... Coming up soon... Released Souls - hope it's not going to be a long wait!

I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it as a good read if you are seeking to unwind and relax for a couple of hours or so.

[Cat's Review · Rating 1 out of 5]

*** This review does contain spoilers so please read at your own risk ***

This is the second witch series where I had the uncontrollable urge to root for the bad guys.

I warily started reading Altered Souls after just completing Lonely Souls (Book 1). I didn’t care for the first book I was curious about where the story might go in book 2 so I decided to give it a try.

I actually found the writing to be better in Altered Souls and I thought that this book would be an improvement over Lonely Souls. Though, grammar-wise, the author chose not to use dialog tags at times and made it difficult to figure out who was speaking – especially when one person would be talking and the author would start each new sentence on a different line. Each of these new sentences also had their own beginning quotation marks that added to the confusion.

But, as I said, the writing was definitely better. I was even considering giving the book at least three stars.

To begin with, Triss found a way for me to dislike her immediately in the beginning of the novel. There was not much she did to fix that and I detested her all the way from beginning to end. It’s sad when you’re rooting for the bad guys to kill off the main character at every chance but that’s what I did.

The book opens up with Triss working on a black magic spell (which she tries really hard to convince both her and Logan that it’s not “really” black magic if you want to learn the truth). Then, she carelessly shrugs off the fate of a spider, like she doesn’t care about them and has no special connection to nature. In Lonely Souls, she sang the praises of spiders, saying how they killed all the other insects that she didn’t like. A little two-faced there, I thought. Throughout the novel, she did whatever she wanted whenever she wanted without considering the consequences. Even Logan tried to give her advice, which she refused to take.

Now, I can hate a character and still like a book. I knew that there were other interesting characters in the previous novel and I wanted to see if they would make and appearance or brighten up the story so I kept reading. That was until I got up to around 40-45% of the novel. That’s when the entire novel took a deep nosedive that made it harder for it to recover.

Even though I started off the book not liking Triss, I didn’t automatically dislike Logan. I did notice a change in Logan and he appeared to be an angrier character in this book and I must point out that whatever interest I had in Logan automatically disappeared at the beginning of chapter 13. Logan claims that he’s a good person and that he does not want to side with evil. And yet, when Triss and Logan came across a boy named Preston, a boy Logan has never met before, Logan sucker punches the boy in the stomach.

-- Logan let go of my hand and pushed the guy to get his attention.
-- “What’s up, man?” The guy asked, spinning around.
-- “Interested in what you’ve got going on,” Logan spoke very quietly.
-- “How so?” The stranger replied coolly.
-- “I think you know,” Logan snarled as his fist landed deep in the guy’s gut.
-- A gust of air escaped before he doubled over from Logan’s fury.

Then, to cover up his abuse on a stranger, Logan props up the guy to make it look like he got ill from watching the events. Logan directs Triss to bring the car around (she does happily – “Watching Logan in action did something to me I didn’t expect. It was a like a magnet pulling me to him. Seeing his grave expression mix with his apparent strength was hard not to admire.”). Then, he drags the boy over to his car and essentially kidnaps him – all to find out what the boy knows about Triss’s father. And, Triss is completely fine with all of this. Then, when Logan gets all the information he wants out of Preston, the following exchange happened:

-- “You can get out now,” Logan said to Preston.
-- We both heard a grunt as he got out of the car.
-- “You did a number on him,” I whispered. ( again with the whispering! They are the only two people in the car!!)
-- Logan smiled as we both watched him trundle off in the direction of the lake.

Now where is the good in that scene? Why would it be okay for Logan to punch strangers, kidnap them and then smile at what he had just done like he enjoyed it? This may be fiction but there are words to describe people like this: they are the bad guys. After that, it was hard to see him as a person on the side of good and it made me second guess every move he made and every word he uttered.

This book seemed to have more instances of Triss and Logan “whispering” to each other when just using regular voices would suffice. I let my Kindle do the counting for me and it came up with 160 results for any version of “whisper”. I don’t have real page numbers this time but Amazon states that the book has 310 pages. That averages to a little more than a “whisper” on every other page. I honestly do not believe that people really speak to each other this way. I certainly don’t and no one I have ever encountered does this. Other than distracting the reader, I’m not exactly sure what the author was trying for.

Oh, and Triss seems to change facts that have already happened in the story. During her ten second dream in Logan’s mini-house, she saw Ellsy shackled to a stone wall where she learned some horrible information. Ellsy’s last words in the dream were, “You better not touch my son, Nicholas.” A few percentages later (38%), Triss tells Logan that Ellsy was begging for Logan’s life. Nope. I didn’t read about Ellsy begging – I read Ellsy’s threatening words. Is Triss trying to stir up more trouble by distorting the facts or did the author forget to change one of the scenes to match the other? Begging and threatening are two very different types of words and invoke two very different types of reactions.

And what is this whole deal about Triss having a pure heart? I don’t know where the author is going with this one but Triss is right to deny Logan’s idea. She keeps proving that her heart is not pure and both Triss and I can give several examples of this (she loves the power that the dark magic gives her, she wants to kill several people – Trevor, her father, she tries to make excuses for using black magic and she killed a person in Lonely Souls (not exactly sure if the being with red eyes was really human or not). On pages 286-287 of Lonely Souls, Triss sat high in the tree and waited until he was beneath her. He did not know that she was even up in the tree or that she was planning on killing him – “… the silence of the kill was what was necessary. I was no longer the prey, I was the predator.” Logan called this self-defense but it’s only self-defense if the person actually tries to attack you, not when he is being hunted and killed without being able to confront his attacker (who is Triss, in this case). Now, if she jumped out of the tree and engaged in a real, confrontational fight with this person, then yes, her killing him could be called self-dense.

I also found that deux ex machina was way too apparent in this novel. Triss never really had to fight to solve her problems and most of the solutions were just handed to her on a silver platter. This happened at many times throughout the novel (more than in Lonely Souls).

Example: Trevor has been the supposed big threat to Triss and Logan’s romance since the beginning of the book. Triss hates him, Logan hates him, they want to hurt him, Triss wants to kill him, etc. Then, when is fighting with her grandfather and she becomes trapped with nowhere to go, she passes out. When she wakes up, who is the one who saved her? Trevor. Who suddenly switched to the good side right in the nick of time to help Triss and Logan fight the bad people? Trevor. I just sat there in amazement (not the good kind). Once again, Triss is miraculously saved and oh look, her enemy has suddenly turned good and can amazingly fight off an evil witch with no problem.

I would also like to know how Triss suddenly became knowledgeable at spell casting. She would point her want and automatically start spouting off spells like she had been casting them her entire life. The only practice that I knew of was when Logan taught her a few spells and when she read the family book that was hidden in the cottage. The author never stated that Triss had an eidetic memory so I find her ability to start whipping out useful spells, in a different language (that she does not fully understand) at the exact time that she needs them to be highly unbelievable. Now, if she had training for this, along with Latin instruction, then yes, I could believe this. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction or not, you can’t make a character be able to do something like this and have the reader accept it willingly.

Something else that bothered me: if the grandfather and the father were so badass, why were Triss, Logan and Trevor able to perform such simple spells that had such a great impact? Why didn’t the grandfather and the father try to eliminate them, freeze them or do something powerful to stop them? If the author wanted me to believe that Eben and Nicholas were so bad, she should have proved it. If the author wanted me to believe that Triss, Logan andt Trevor were really fighting for their lives (which they really weren’t), then don’t perform a simple spell that just anyone can do.

The scene towards the end with Triss waiting for her father to make his move so she could attack him was plain ridiculous. She called in the birds and he make a spell do have it rain. For real?? The big bad man makes it rain? THAT’S what he chose to use as an effective weapon? And then Logan freezes him without using the word ‘temporary.” Now, if Logan knows this spell (and Logan trained under the father), why couldn’t the father just FREEZE all three of them? I find it very hard to believe that the father would just make it rain. That’s a very poor fight scene and a big let down – along with the girl licking her lips at the end. Triss must have had been given psychic powers to figure that one out because nothing in that little exchange led me to the same conclusion as her.

The idea of gray magic just seemed like a cop out. It was like the author was giving Triss an excuse for performing black magic and making it okay. Now, I don’t have a problem with “gray magic” but with Triss and Logan’s history with magic and Triss always trying to find an excuse for performing bad spells on unwilling people, gray magic should not be an “out” for her. There should be repercussions for her magical actions.

I found the love connection between Triss and Logan to be ridiculous in Lonely Souls and it just increased in this book. I found it odd that Logan often tried to distract Triss from her game of 20,000 questions by trying to seduce her (not through sex but through touches, kisses and the fact that Triss was enamored with just about any movement he made). Quite often, Logan wouldn’t answer Triss’s questions, he would just grab her, kiss her, touch her and she would just melt into his arms like the little lust bunny she was. I didn’t see or feel the love between the two of them.

I’m giving this book 1.5 stars because I thought the writing was better but overall, I didn’t think that this was a terrific book.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altered Souls packs one hell of a punch all into one book. In comparison to Lonely Souls, there is much more at stake for Triss in her attempts to bring her mother back from the talons her nefarious father, Nicholas, has sunk into her, but to also stop her father's wicked plans upon the souls of good people. I found that Altered Souls did a wonderful job in keeping up pace, the reader entertained and wanted more during the end of every chapter.

There is much for Triss to handle in the second installment of the Witch Avenue Series, but as a female character caught in the web of love with her childhood friend Logan, she does well for herself in character arcing. As a reader, I am always relieved to find that a female main character can stand and fight for herself and believe in her own ideas, following her own path and straying away from the damsel-in-distress cliche that can be present in YA fiction. But Triss fights hard, never straying from her goals. There are times when Logan becomes a huge influence in her thoughts and her actions, but other than that Triss is spot on in going for the goal with nothing getting in her way.

Logan is a wonderfully drawn character, sort of the conscience for Triss when her actions get too out of hand. Their relationship definitely strives from the balance between the two. One could not really survive on their own without the other, they pick at each other's faults in order to prevent disaster from arising because of it. Both would go to any length to save the other no matter what the stake or the cost. It really does show the strength of the bond that the two of them have for one another and that is what makes their relationship is so heartwarming.

The good vs. evil element does push the book along. The struggle between Triss against all of these people from her past and the progression of beginning to understand why her father, the man who we only knew was just truly evil in the first novel, is doing what he's doing. Now it's only the beginning of an understanding for it's not all really explained because there happens to be more than meets the eye. And by that I mean there is someone else pulling the strings in this evil operation. Always thrown with twists right around the corner, Altered Souls really did a thorough job of keeping me wanting to know more and more, turning the pages faster than I ever thought I could. I can only thank the book gods for not giving me a thousand paper cuts.

Final Summation: Besides a few grammatical errors and some minor misspellings Altered Souls did a fantastic job as a second installment in progressing Triss's story. I felt strongly about her getting her mother back and taking down her father. There was also some sympathy towards the situation that she was in. If I had to stop by evil father . . . I don't even know what I would do actually. I should count my lucky stars that my dad isn't an evil man wielding dark magic. Anyway, with a love by her side, anther trying to steal her heart for good, a mother missing, a father truly evil, another pulling the dark strings of this whole evil operation, Triss has her work cut out for her yet fights hard for the people she loves.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in the Witch Avenue Series. Triss and Logan are a couple and are still searching for her mother plus trying to figure out about Triss' family history and what if anything it has to do with the present. At this point, they are pretty sure that Triss' dad had her mother but the question is why. He walked out on Triss and her mom when Triss was still a baby. Logan has admitted he really delved into black magic and that his teacher was Triss' dad. Trevor, a friend of Triss from high school, has shown that he too has learned from Triss' dad and that he wants to have a future with Triss.

So know Triss and Logan go to New York state and track down her pare ts at a camp that is run by her father. He is able to brainwash people I to doing his bidding but it is somewhat more powerful then that. Her dad is powerful and verywell trained in Dark magic but something else is aiding Triss'dad also. If all this is not enough, Triss discovers that fairies are real and that they want to help her. They know that without Triss, no one will be able to stop the terrible future that Triss' dad is working towards. Triss is so desparate to get her mother back that she puts herself at risk by going to the camp and acting like to is thinking about joining. She is heartbroken to realize her mother is not the same person she was, she is shocked at her dad's disregard for other peoples' lives and is completely floored by the discovery that she has a grandfather--who sadly is even more evil than her dad.

The overall story really picks up in this book. Triss and Logan become a couple more comfortable with each other and as a result become a stronger team. She learns more about her family history, even gets to know a little of her dad's family and her powers as a witch grow stronger. Trevor has supposedly seen the error of his ways and is on the same side as Triss and Logan now but Triss is not completely sure. Bad enough to realize your father and his ancestors all evil and greedy but it is worse when you realize that they would turn on witches as a community to further their own goals. Triss has to figure out what they are really up to and put a stop to it as quickly as possible. This book was good. It progressed from the first book smoothly and leads you to the next just the same. I have read booth stories within a day or two because I do not want to put them down once I pick them up to read. I also cannot seem to wait to read the next one and usually I like to spread my series out a bit more. I will defintely read the third book and I have a feeling it will be in the near future.

[Amy Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Lonely Souls, so I was really excited to read this one and see where the story would lead. This one gets a lot deeper into the troubles they are facing and there is no one that Logan and Triss can trust. They know that they need to go to Triss's father because that is the center of all the issues. It's very dangerous and it's not only their lives on the line, but those of innocent people too. This book was suspenseful, had some great action, and a little bit of some great romance.

Triss is a character I really enjoy. Yes, she comes across as a little paranoid, but you can't really blame her. It's impossible to know who to trust. She also spends a lot of time worrying about what choices to make. She just wants to act on things, but others are telling her that the choices she wants to make are wrong. She will also do anything for Logan. She loves him more than anything and it's really sweet. They have such a great connections and awesome chemistry.

Logan is so amazing. No matter how far Triss is pushed to wanting to resort to dark magic to save them, he keeps her from doing it. He will do things he doesn't want in order to save her from having to. He will go to any lengths to help her, even if it means keeping secrets from her. His intentions are good and it's impossible to not love him. He would die for Triss if it came to that. His unwavering love and devotion to her is so sweet and it warms my heart.

Of course there is more than just Triss and Logan's relationship. There is evil lurking around every corner. A fate that has been coming for centuries. Triss is the only one who can stop it, with the help of Logan and a few trusted others. It is hard to know who to trust so it makes it difficult to make a plan. It also seems that Triss's father seems to know their every move even before they make it. It's all one big game that has already been set out. Are they smart enough to find a way around it? You will have to read it to find out.

This book had me racing through the pages to find out what would happen. Some certain people who they weren't sure which side they were on I figured out rather quickly, but that doesn't mean there weren't other things that happened that had me shocked. Okay, so maybe shocked it a bit over dramatic, but I was surprised at some things. I thought that this was a well weaved story and thought there was a lot going on, it all fell together perfectly and I am definitely going to be counting the days to Released Souls!

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Altered Souls (The Witch Avenue #2)
Author: Karice Bolton
Date of Release: October 28th, 2012
Number of Pages: 312
Source: Author for ATOMR tour review.
Summary from Goodreads:
The realm of Altered Souls brings nothing but unrest, deceit, and pain forcing Triss to come face to face with heartbreak from her past.

Facing a betrayal like never before, Triss questions everything she thought she knew about her family, coven, and abilities.

With the help of Logan, she embarks on a journey enabling her to confront the dark side of magic and the person who controls it. Realizing Triss’s ancestors have been seduced for centuries by the dark side, Triss and Logan must ensure no more in their world fall victim to the realm of Altered Souls, even if that means ending the ones they love.

Review: Hands down, this book was terrific. I wasn’t even half way in and I had fallen back into the story. I liked how at times the mood felt playful and other moments completely terrifying. Being a second novel the book never had those boring paybacks that I usually just skim through. I’ll admit that, I have a short attention span. I liked how the previous key events were placed in so if you had forgotten or needed a playback it was there, but it was done in a way that didn’t feel like recapping. Altered Souls is Karice Bolton at her best.

Triss kind of felt psychotic in the beginning and I was questioning her sanity. I really liked that. The balancing of white and dark magic was hard for her and book two was all about finding that grey line. The building of her magic skills was done in a way where it didn’t feel too rapid just natural. Logan, I want to marry. Too bad he’s taken ;) We get to explore his whole dark past and origins. I was absolutely captivated. Maybe there are decent guys like him in the world. Anyways!! The relationship between Triss and Logan builds and crescendos into this BRILLIANT final result that the last ¼ of the book dealt with. It didn’t overwhelm the main plot it was a second string to that which everything was based on. The layering worked perfectly.

At times things felt like it was moving too fast. At the same time, I couldn’t get enough. I wanted more slow it down moments, but I also wanted the wicked fight scenes. What I was given satisfied me until I turned the last page and there was nothing left! I will definitely be reading book three. Make sure you check out book one Lonely Souls!

[Autumn Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plain and simple, I enjoy this series. I really liked the first book, Lonely Souls, and was anxious to read this book. I love stories about witchcraft and I feel like Karice Bolton does a really great job at explaining what's happening so the reader can truly follow the story. It was also great to see Triss and Logan again.

I have liked Triss from the beginning of this journey. She is just a likable character. I appreciate that she remains true to herself too. Yes, she makes some risky decisions, but she is selfless in her reasons. I was glad to see her relationship with Logan have a more firm foundation in this book. In the first book, I had concerns about Logan, but I really do believe that he loves Triss and I feel like they are meant to be together. They do go through some challenging moments that test their relationship, but their bond is hard to break. I really was happy with the progression of their relationship.

As for the story...this storyline holds my attention. I feel like I got a better sense of where the series will go from here. I also liked the addition of the fairies into the story. I wasn't expecting it, but it added a nice twist to the overall plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed Altered Souls and am looking forward to seeing what will happen in Released Souls. I don't read a lot of paranormal anymore, but this is a series that I would not pass up. If you enjoy witchcraft, adventure, and romance...definitely check this one out!

Quotes:
~"Oh, my god," I whispered, sliding my arms around his waist. "It's a miracle." "No, it's magic," he replied coyly, bringing me into his embrace.-pg78

~"You are my everything and more, Triss," he whispered, pulling my hair back from my face. "And you are mine." Scooping me up, he took m toward the stairs and my breath caught.-pg194

~"I think that was the whole point of the spell book from the cottage. It contained spells that were both white and black...who's to say which is what?"-pg300

[Unabridged Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the second book in a series does not quite measure up to the first one, this is most defiantly not the case with Altered Souls. It is a fast-paced read, with action, romance, and danger around every corner. Triss really comes into her own in this book, and it think her transition is the best part of the book. Altered Souls starts where Lonely Souls leaves off, and it does not slow down from that point on.

Triss and Logan’s relationship is one of the best I have seen in a young adult romance. It is honest and caring, while each of them values what the other one has to say and offer. I really like the support the relationship provides to both Triss and Logan. It is a mature relationship emotionally, and I really wish this type of relationship would show up more in young adult literature.

Triss is really at her best in this book. She is determined to face down whatever is in her path to save those she cares about, even when she would like to run away. I really admire that quality in a character, and Triss really embodies it. As she begins to lose trust in those closest to her, she knows that it is up to her and Logan to put a stop to the danger threatening the Wiccan world.

This book is full of magic in both the story and in the way the story is written, a truly magical read. I almost did not want the story to end, but I know that it only means I need to get my hands on the newest book in the series, Released Souls! If you have not started this series, make sure to grab the first book Lonely Souls, which is currently FREE on Amazon!

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOODNESS! I just love this series! It gets better and better! I can not say enough great things about Altered Souls. A perfect mix of romance (Logan = swoon), paranormal awesomeness and heart pounding excitement! The story is a non stop adrenaline rush especially with Triss and Logan finding themselves in such dangerous situations. I wanted to jump through the pages and kick some butt for them. I couldn't possibly put this book down once I started it. My heart ached one minute then soared the next. I just flipping love this series! I am immediately starting Released Souls because I can't get enough! (Especially my sweet Logan!)

100 stars! I highly recommend Altered Souls if you love great plots and lovable characters. A brilliant, amazing, awesome book!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope it comes out soon.

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review- Altered Souls by Karice Bolton

Triss knows who has her mother. She and Logan are in hiding as her father searches for her. There are only a few people they can trust. They have Trevor locked in a room. They want information he may have. Triss is willing to use a dark magic spell to get it. Unfortunately, things don’t go the way she plans. Trevor believes they are bonded but Triss escapes with Logan. Logan takes Triss to his home. His mother has disappeared and they know exactly who has her. Logan and Triss make their way to where her father is thought to be. Triss has to understand the history of her father’s family. She must know what is truly going on. They watch him as he alters souls of those he surrounds himself with. Triss is shocked at what she sees. Logan and Triss have to stop him. They receive help from somewhere they never thought would be a possibility. Unfortunately, things aren’t exactly as they seem. Triss watches as her mother and father fall as the true person behind everything is revealed. Triss knows things aren’t over.
I love this series. There is a lot of magic, light and dark, and suspense. Complex family dynamics drive the storyline. The author takes Triss’ mom and allows her father to change her. It is heartbreaking to her. It seems the only one she has is Logan. Logan is an excellent character. His steady presence was good for Triss’ character. He was sweet and protective. He brings his knowledge of dark magic to the table. He helps her gain her confidence.
They were a good pairing, working together to save those they love. They both were deeply involved with the final plan. It was surprising how the author set the plan in motion and the truths revealed to Triss. I was shocked to see who was really behind the whole mess. It was not what I expected. The villain has always been her father. Now things are changing. It sets the stage for the next book. I give it a 4 out of 5.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action, Intrigue, Romance and Family Mayhem

I really enjoyed this second book in The Witch Avenue series. It picks up where the first left off. As with the first book, we continue the saga from Triss's point of view. There is a little more romance in this book between Triss and Logan, and sometimes a bit much for my liking. Fortunately, though, it was tempered with the finding of missing Mums. It was easy to read and follow, and the addition of more characters did not make it confusing. The characters are interesting and well developed.

For me, the books only downside, is that Triss's inner monolog could get a bit distracting. She has a bad habit of second guessing herself or over analyzing stuff. Don't be put off by this, it doesn't detract from the story, it just makes you want to knock some sense in to her. You have to remember she is only eighteen.

Overall, it was a good solid read and I'll be reading the next book in the series. I just hope it's as good as the first two and it picks up where this one ended. At least these books don't have cliff - hanger endings.

[Branwen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altered Souls carries on from where the previous book finished. Triss and Logan don't know who to trust while they continue trying to find Triss's mother.
This second book in the series was even better then the first. It was fast paced and the characters have developed further.
Looking forward to starting the third and penultimate book in the series.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read

I knew after reading the first book of the series that I would be reading this one, because the desire to know what was going to happen next was too strong to be denied. And I can definitely say that this book was well worth the read, murr! Where with book one I had problems getting into the story, with this one, I couldn’t put it down. From the first page I was hooked and I wasn’t satisfied until I had reached the very end. Well done, Karice, well done. =^.^=

The first thing that I want to say is that if you haven’t read the first book of the series, STOP reading this review and immediately get a copy of the first! It’s currently free on Amazon, so there’s no excuse in not getting it. The events in Altered Souls take place directly after the events in Lonely Souls, and so in order to understand this novel, it is imperative that you read the first book! Now having said that, on to the review.

I was pleased to see was how much Triss grew in this story. Whereas before she got under my fur a lot because of her continual desire to close herself off to everyone around her and deny her emotions for Logan, now she’s more confident and fully open to her feelings. My respect and admiration for her has grown and she’s definitely becoming a favorite character of mine. She’s tougher, more determined, and while she still questions herself at times, you can tell that she’s coming into her own and becoming a strong young woman. As for Logan, I still love him. He’s fiercely loyal to Triss and his desire to protect her from the darkness that is in the world is really touching, if a bit impractical at times. Still, while he’s protective, he’s not as smothering as he once was. I liked that he’s letting Triss explore and figure things out for herself, giving her the chance to take the lead rather than automatically stepping in and taking charge like he was in the first book. As for the rest of the characters in this story, they all bring something to the table and add to the richness of the plot.

And speaking of the plot, this one is definitely action packed and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Like the first book, this one is just as dark and just as compelling. The only difference is that there’s less mystery and more intrigue, at least for me. I was more invested in figuring out who was playing for what side, rather than figuring out what it was that Triss’ father was planning. I also enjoyed the fact that there was a lot more spell work, which I would expect to see now that the initial story concept has been established. What this new book introduces is Triss’s ancestry. We finally get to learn about Triss’s family history, or at least parts of it anyways, and all I’m going to say there is it’s not all love and light that much is for certain. And yes, the plot took some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, especially at the end. Oh my sweet Bastet that ending…yeah, like I didn’t already know I was going to be reading the third book in the series. It’s now definitely climbed towards the top of my must read pile!

So, for fans of paranormal YA novels, I highly recommend giving this series a read through. It’s got a lot of enjoyable moments and it’s definitely getting better with each book. I can’t wait to get my paws on Released Souls, followed by Shattered Souls, in order to find out what happens next, murr!

[Reader's Hollow · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did enjoy reading this book and was interested early on, there are a couple things I almost wish were done just a bit differently. For instance Triss’ decision on practising grey magic seemed almost too abrupt from her initial abhorrence to dark magic in general from the first book; a more gradual temptation would have flowed better in my mind. As well there was still no mention of how the coven world plays in the normal society, for instance whether it is known to the general public or not, to know this would give a better idea to picture the world I am reading about.

I as well liked the continued development of Triss and Logan’s relationship (especially up to the point of the matching tattoos) and the conflict placed upon it with the presence of Trevor. Though I did find the conflict to feel a little contrived, not that it wasn’t a good idea, just that the build-up of reason to worry about it didn’t come across as much as I think it was intended, more like it was a forced love triangle just to add tension. And lastly, Triss’ father’s name; more mentions of his actual name would have been good in my opinion since to me they were so sparse I don’t even remember if it was ever stated.

That being said there were quite a lot of other things I did enjoy about this book. The description of Triss’ father’s settlement I found intriguing, the mind connection Triss had through Trevor, and later the connection to Logan, and even the final outcome with Triss’ father all appealed to me. The explanation of Triss’ mother’s whereabouts and the events that were focused around her were also of interest to me and in my opinion were quite well done. Then there was the involvement of Aunt Vieta; the continued complexity of whether or not she could be trusted I really delighted in, as well as Logan’s mom Ellsy and all the parts that she played, though few, I found to be good additions to the story.

The fairies to me were a spectacular addition as well, and I continued to be intrigued by Triss’ father, and now even more so about her grandfather Eben. The sinister qualities of both these men kept my interest. The growth in in all the characters in general was well done; I appreciated the implementation of grey magic as well as the fact that the animals assist Triss due to her newly discovered powers, but it was the change in Trevor’s character that I think was the best. In many books there have been characters that alter their personal opinions and conducts based upon what seems like nothing, but Trevor’s gradual transformation I thoroughly appreciated due to the fact that he was able to give reasoning as to why.

By the end of the book, the job was done; I had answers to previous questions from the first book, but am interested in still finding answers to new ones formed from reading book two. -- REVIEW BY DANIKA JAYDE -- SEE THE REVIEW ON WWW.THEREADERSHOLLOW.COM

[Diayll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Author
Reviewer:Heather

Altered Souls is the second book in the Witch Avenues Series by Karice Bolton. If you are unfamiliar with the first book, Lonely Souls then please go read it now. While there will not be much in the way of spoilers, I think it is a good idea to start a new series from the first book.

While you’re at it be sure to check out her Watcher’s Trilogy, and her new novella, Taken!

This book picks up right where the second book left off, so it is pretty imperative to read Lonely Souls for the full effect. Could Altered Souls be read on its own? Sure, it would make a good read, but as a series, it brings much more to the table, and it really allows the full story to slowly build and unfold. I’m going to whip this up a little differently as Karice gave us multiple storylines, and each one is important.


Triss and Logan are still together, very much in love, but their mothers are still missing. In the beginning, the only link is Trevor, and all signs are pointing at black magic and the father Triss has never known.

Conflict #1

Right off the bat, Triss has this notion of performing a spell, a dark spell that has grave consequences. In a way, it has the possibility of binding her to Trevor, romantically, forever. All it would take is one loving thought, notion, or even a kiss to seal her fate to him. Will she choose Trevor over Logan?

Conflict #2

Trust. Every time Triss turns around, it seems she loses the ability to trust in those she cares about. The only exception is Logan, but we will see some twists and turns as the story progresses.

Conflict #3

Dark Magic. The draw is intense, even for the pure soul that encased Triss. We watch her struggle time and again to not only make the right moves, but for the proper reasons too. The end of this conflict was pretty awesome, but I just can’t give it away.

Conflict #4

Father. Triss’s father is at the root of all this evil deception…or is he?


Gosh, I really love Karice’s ability to tell a good story. I’ll never tire of reading her books, and I do read them again. Her style has a very human notion, and it is what lacks in many paranormal type books, for me. I want human emotions, actions, and thoughts because no matter what happens, I can relate to that. As a reviewer that is the first – and last aspect of a story I seek out, and this author never fails to provide. As long as Karice Bolton keeps writing, I will gladly keep reading (and reviewing).

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few books from Karice Bolton by now, and other than the fact that she is one of the nicest ladies around, she writes great books. I always know that the quality level will be high when I pick up one of her books. I have also come to learn that she really steps up her game in the second book in the series. What I mean by this is that second books tend to either be a hit or fall flat for me. But in the Witch Avenue Series, as well as her Watchers trilogy, she takes the characters and plot to a new level. She really keeps on building things and working details into the story and I love that about her books.

Altered Souls was even better than Lonely Souls. I really enjoyed getting to know Triss and Logan better. I mentioned in my review of Lonely Souls that it seemed kind of dark and that was one of my main thoughts while reading Altered Souls as well. Karice Bolton explores some darker magic in this book and it was creepily delicious.

The thing that I loved the most about Altered Souls was Triss. She really seemed to come into her own in this story. She became more confident and sure of herself, which is especially important when you throw in the magical elements of the story. Triss and Logan stay pretty strong throughout the book and I really liked that. It seemed like their relationship only grew. This won't come as a surprise to anyone that has read the book, but Logan is flat out awesome. He just does the sweetest things sometimes.

Altered Souls has plenty of action to keep you entertained the whole time. There was a lot packed into this book. Including some new characters. I don't want to to talk too much about them because they were a new twist in the story and I don't want to ruin anything. I learned a lot and many of my questions from book 1, and from this book, were answered. I appreciated that I wasn't kept in the dark the whole time like I am with some books.

Altered Souls, and the Witch Avenue Series is a unique paranormal series. It is very character driven, but the magic is also front and center. If you liked Karice Bolton's Watchers Trilogy, then you need to check out this series as well. You will love it.

[EndlessReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

Altered Souls is the second book in the "The Witch Avenue Series" by Karice Bolton. In this book Triss learns all about betrayal in the worst kind.

Throughout the book Triss has gone from the lonely devastated girl we first saw in book one "Lonely Souls" to a beautiful independent women, a witch and has advanced in her abilities from the help of Logan, of course.

Altered Souls packs one hell of a punch all into one book. In comparison to Lonely Souls, there is much more at stake for Triss in her attempts to bring her mother back from the evils doings by her, not in the picture, father, Nicholas.

You find out in this book that not only does Triss want to stop her father's wicked plans upon the souls of good people, but that the fae has asked her to rescue these "lost souls" and bring back the "altered souls".

Triss and Logan are becoming more as one entity in this book. They face the obstacle of preparing to face Triss' father and his dark wizards. This book shows an emotional journey as well as a physical one. She has to figure out how to stay true to herself and to not sacrifice her soul, and not to loose Logan to the dark side, as she's so scared of becoming drawn to.

Triss finds an unlikely source of help from the one person she didn't expect it from, and its an inside job, which is a bonus.

Towards the end of the book we find out what the root of all this darkness and who this person is? It certainly is a shocker!.

We have so many things to look forward to in the third book of this instalment "Released Souls" like:

What's going to happen in the Triss & Logan saga?
What's going to happen to her Father?
What's going to happen with her Mother?
What will come of Trevor?
What will come of the Coven, as it is?
What will come of her Grandfather, Eben?

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I want to give a huge kudos to Bolton for NOT making this book centered on a love triangle. I got pretty nervous when it looked like it was heading that way. I cannot handle anyone getting in between my Logan and Triss.

And let me tell you something…characters made this book amazing. Triss really grew into her character and is becoming one determined young lady. But there are times she gets a little too caught up in her problems and starts making rash decisions (and spells)...if she is not careful, those decisions could cost her dearly. Logan, how could you not love him? I mean, dude is a fine magical specimen. Literally. And this might sound a little crazy…ok a lot of crazy…but I am kind of liking Triss’ dad in the story. He is one of those characters you cannot nail down. You don’t know if he is really mean or just playing the part. So to me, I enjoyed the scenes he is in.

And whoa to that ending. Yeah, I felt like I was at a football game rootin on Triss and Logan. (RAH RAH REE…Zap him in the knee!) Sitting on the edge of my seat desperately reading to see what would happen next. And whoa whoa whoa…it was frickin awesome. That ending had me giddy and scared all at once. I so cannot wait until the next book, Released Souls, because there is no telling what Bolton has up her sleeves for that one.

Anyone that enjoys a great read about magic, romance, and all that jazz definitely needs to pick this book (and series) up. I am addicted to the whole series...and practically anything Bolton writes.

[S.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to buy this book, after reading Lonely Souls I was counting down to the release of Altered Souls, I couldn't wait to get more Triss & Logan... And I was drawn straight back in as the story continues where the previous book left off.

The book is full of twists and turns and fantastic heart-dropping moments that bring out every emotion your body holds. I was so lost inside the story that when I was worried or scared I felt my heart speeding up. It felt the roller coaster of emotions from each character in every scene from heartache to happiness, sometimes in a split second. The anticipation and excitement in each chapter that is building you up for the ending was brilliant and it delivered without fail.

Triss is an amazingly headstrong and confident woman who knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to complete her mission to save her mother. Again there's excitement and happiness for Triss and Logan with their growing relationship I immediately clicked back into their connection. Their serious, tender and playful moments make the scene so easy to imagine. With their love for each other and Logan's protectiveness for Triss along with the bond they have, you can really feel their undeniable closeness.

I cant wait to for Released Souls to come out and to find out what's next in store for Triss & Logan. <3

[Dialma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book oh the series was an easy read. For a second book, it was fast paced and an enjoyable read. A little too much romance for my taste, and lot of the scenes were a bit more than I care for, but still clean enough for a YA reader. I didn't think the romance triangle worked too well, and the author kind of work her way out of that triangle on this book; although I still wonder if somehow it will come back to hunt the main character on the third book. Also fairies were introduced on this installment, and for me, the way that they appeared on the story felt a bit forced.It was like the author really likes fairy folklore and somehow wanted to include them as part of the plot , even if it the story didn't need the fairies, to carry on. But now they are important to the story, so I guess I just have to deal with the fact that this is now a witches and fairies kind of book. Need to tead the third installment soon though. There are a lot of unanswered questions I will like to get answers to. However the book has somewhat of an ending, instead of being a complete cliffhanger of an ending. I still think a lot of my friends will enjoy reading it. Especially the ones that like a bit of romance in their reads.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, thank the sweet, 8 pound 6 ounce, baby Jesus that I didn't read Lonely Souls until this book was available! Altered Souls starts right where we finished in Lonely Souls, which is one of the many reasons I love this series. I really hate when I am reading a series and each book starts the same as the one before, introducing characters that we've already met; and it takes 3-5 chapters before anything exciting happens.

So many questions were answered in this book - another reason to read and love these book as much I do! You don't have to wait until the end before your curiosity is sated. That being said, there is a pretty major cliff hanger at the end, opening up a new set of questions to be answered!

Triss and Logan are met with a lot of challenges to face, not only are they dangerous, but their love is tested as well. She learns of her families somewhat dark past, and the lines of good and evil become blurred as she has to decide which path to take. But, as with most decisions people must make, everything isn't always black and white.

This book is equally as amazing as the first and I can't wait to find out what happens next in Released Souls!

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**
I received a copy of this book for an honest review as part of a blog tour.

MY OVERVIEW: I didn’t enjoy Altered Souls as much as I did Lonely Souls. I actually got really nervous in the beginning that the author was going to bring in a love triangle thing after everything Triss has gone through with Logan.

PROS: So, I had an issue with the white vs. dark magic in the last book and thought it was done a whole lot better in this one. There was more explanation into it and I like the “gray magic”. Oh, I also really enjoyed the fairies. I thought they were a fantastic addition to the team.

CONS: The timeline didn’t seem to flow as well through this book. It seemed like we were skipping ahead at points. I also didn’t enjoy the Trevor/Triss connection thing. I feel like there were other ways to have gone about getting certain information without the “connection”.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I found the ending somewhat anti-climatic. It just seemed to be over too soon. I know there is going to be more, and I can’t wait to read it, I just wish the ending had stretched out a little more.

[Off Market578 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. There is a lot going on but now that Triss has finally just let her feelings for Logan happen naturally instead of fighting them constantly (this annoyed me through all of book one), the flow of the story is now much more smooth and enjoyable. Bolton gets you guessing in this one as to whom the antagonists really are. The ending was good and I find myself excitedly anticipating the next installment - especially now that the characters are developed. It's a very interesting world Bolton has created that makes for an extremely enjoyable read. I will definitely continue with this series.

[Karlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The witch avenue series is quickly proving to be one of those series that stays with me long after I finish the last page. I think it's because of the characters being so real. I can relate to the emotions and nothing is oversimplified. The author writes in a way that makes me feel like I am there with everyone feeling what they are feeling.

The swoon worthy moments alone are worth reading Altered Souls. Triss and Logan are an incredible pair. I love the hidden darkness of Logan, but I like how the characters always seem to have a level of redemption somwhere. I can not say enough good things about this series. Now I can not wait for the next book. I need a Logan fix.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as much as the first if not more. It dived deeper into the characters and finding out what happened to Triss’s mom, Veronica. Logan and Triss grow closer together and mark their bond to make it even stronger. Faeries, coyotes and the other good witches help Triss on her journey to get their moms and take down her father. There are a few twists in the book that you wouldn’t have necessarily expected and a bit of a cliff hanger at the end that leaves you wanting to go straight to the next book.


My favorite quote from Altered Souls - “Hate is hate. It’s a powerful tool. It doesn’t matter what you initially hate because in time it will grow to include other things.” - Logan

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the second installment of the Witch Avenue Series. It has action and romance.

Triss and Logan are getting closer in this book. They face the obstacle of preparing to face Triss' father and his dark wizards. This book shows an emotional journey as well as a physical one. She has to figure out how to stay true to herself and to not sacrifice her soul.

I would recommend this book to readers 16+ because of some sexual innuendo.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was good!!
Following up after Lonely Souls, this book starts right where the last ended.. Triss and Logan have to embark on a journey that leads t osome shocking things and leaving them to trust no one. This book was very intense and i cant wait to find out what happens next- a must read!!!