The Weight of Souls

by Bryony Pearce

Sixteen year old Taylor Oh is cursed: if she is touched by the ghost of a murder victim then they pass a mark beneath her skin. She has three weeks to find their murderer and pass the mark to them – letting justice take place and sending them into the Darkness. And if she doesn’t make it in time? The Darkness will come for her…

She spends her life trying to avoid ghosts, make it through school where she’s bullied by popular Justin and his cronies, keep her one remaining friend, and persuade her father that this is real and that she’s not going crazy.

But then Justin is murdered and everything gets a whole lot worse. Justin doesn’t know who killed him, so there’s no obvious person for Taylor to go after. The clues she has lead her to the V Club, a vicious secret society at her school where no one is allowed to leave… and where Justin was dared to do the stunt which led to his death.

Can she find out who was responsible for his murder before the Darkness comes for her? Can she put aside her hatred for her former bully to truly help him?

And what happens if she starts to fall for him?

Genres: Young Adult, Ghosts, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology, Romance, Urban Fantasy

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Bryony Pearce (formerly McCarthy) lives with her husband and two children in a village on the edge of the Peak District. She completed an English Literature degree at Corpus Christi College Cambridge in 1998 and afterward worked in the business-to-business market research sector. She went freelance in 2004 so she could devote more time to writing. Bryony was a winner of the 2008 Undiscovered Voices competition with her MG novel Windrunner's Daughter. Her first YA novel, Angel's Fury, will be published on 4th July 2011 by Egmont.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5

I have to admit, I had an ulterior motive in reading this book: I was hoping to get my fill of an awesome, kick-ass, take-no-prisoner Asian heroine. That was what initially attracted me to this book. The cover. It's a pretty cover. The heroine is obviously Asian, and the instance I saw it, I quite literally squeaked for joy. It wasn't a kawaii sound, but I digress.

Let's face it, multicultural characters in YA fiction...in Western fiction, period, is an absolute rarity. With the rare exception, when they do appear, they're often:
a) stereotypically portrayed
b) written using the knowledge gleaned from a Wikipedia article on anime
c) tries too hard and end up tossing around often-used phrases and pop culture references in an effort to appeal to their audience (oppa!!! saranghaeyo!!1!)

I am glad to say that none of the above problem exists in this book. This character may be Asian, but that isn't really integral to the plot. She's just Asian, like I happen to be female. Let's not make a big deal out of it. She was born and raised in England, so was her mother, and her race really isn't a major plot device at all. In fact, this book is pleasantly multicultural. The setting is the present-day UK, British slang and terminology is used, but it's not a barrier to comprehension. You don't need to have a genius-level IQ to eventually figure out what an "Oyster card" does or what a slang like "manky" means.

Now, onto the bad. The book itself just isn't that great. The main character is uninteresting and contrary, the supporting characters are...shall we say...assholes? The romance was absolutely forced, and there is a decided lack of character development.

The plot is pretty standard for an YA PNR. Girl sees ghost, girl chases ghost, girl is ostracized by peers, girl solves mystery of [fill in the blank here], girl falls in love with some asshat or another along the way. Taylor is half-Asian, she's been seeing ghosts and chasing down murderers and Marking them since she was 10. Her mom is dead (her family curse has this annoying quality of eventually killing off the affected family members or instilling them into a mental institution at a young age), her father thinks she's insane like her mother, and has a disease that gives her the Mark on her skin, and is feverishly hunting down the cure. Due to her abnormality of seeing ghosts and the Mark on her skin, as well as the ability of transferring the Mark to whomever she touches, even if that person is not the actual murderer, Taylor is not the most popular character at school (understatement). She misses school a lot, due to her "work," and is subjected to a considerable amount of bullying by her peers.

I felt so bad for Taylor initially. She's got a dad who thinks she's insane, and the amount of bullying by her former friends that she faces was painful to read. Especially when she's taunted with names like "Lucy Liu," "Godzilla," and "China." The first third of this book had me cringing and wanting to give Taylor a hug due to all the crap she's facing in her life. Aside from my sympathy with Taylor due to her curse, I didn't really find her a good character. Maybe it's due to her back-up wall of defense, but Taylor's prickliness really made her a hard character to love. I am tempted to label her TSTL, due to the situations that she sometimes put herself into, but I don't know if that's a correct label for her. It's due to this curse that she absolutely has to fulfill or die trying. Is it TSTL if she rushes headfirst into danger when trying to accomplish her mission and save her own life in the progress? Because if she doesn't transfer the Mark onto someone else (hopefully the true murderer), she will die of it herself.

Now, the curse. It's a combination of family history + some conjured up version of King Tut's curse. Two hundred years ago, an ancestor of the Oh family went on a grave-robbing exploratory expedition and found Queen Nefertiti's tomb. When they opened it, they got a whole other kettle of fish that they didn't expect. Long story sort, that ancestor ended up making a deal with the devil...or rather, Anubis, that ended up screwing over his descendants. They're cursed with the ability to see murdered ghosts, and those murdered ghosts can touch them, leaving a Mark which will doom them in a few short weeks unless said descendant finds the true murderer and passes on that Mark to them first. The Egyptian mythology is of no relevance here, the Egyptian mythology, as interesting as it seems initially, is limited to Anubis. It is not exact, neither is it true to the legend. The curse of Anubis is more of a plot device and a name thrown about as an easily recognizable Egyptian god of the dead to the average Western reader than an actual basis on the real Egyptian god.

The victim, Justin, is a real freaking winner. He is one of Taylor's former friends turned enemies, and he is among the ones who bullied her and made her life so miserable. I had zero sympathy for him initially and his reaction to his own death combined with his reluctance to assist Taylor with finding his murderer so that she can save both their asses does not endear him to me any further. That's among the reasons why the romance between them felt so ridiculously forced.

The mystery in this book didn't really ring true to me, and the major plot twist in this book just left me flabbergasted...not in a good way. It felt like the book took a completely different turn from its initial plot. The mystery was not well-written and not well-explained, in my opinion; it just felt like things happened out of nowhere, with zero explanation, and Taylor's behavior during the latter third of the book was so contradictory with the prickly, survival-minded, purpose-driven girl we initially met. She didn't evolve as a character at all, nor did Justin. A boy who succumbs that easily to peer pressure is not worth it. He didn't change; it is a character defect to me that Taylor even thinks about him romantically. Justin is a tool and a fool.

The book is readable, but the writing is not remarkable in its own merit, and there is no character development to speak of. The grand mystery of the Oh family is a far stretch of the imagination, and overall, this book just left me confused and cold.

I received this book as an advanced review copy from Netgalley.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

YES. Asian protagonist. Asian model on the cover.

Thank you.

(Oh, and the synopsis sounds cool too.)

8/24 Edit: Need to write a real review ... but I really did like this one. Lots of cool stuff thrown in without it feeling too mish-mashy (probably not a word ... but whatevs.) I also liked that the protagonist is Chinese but it wasn't like OMG THIS CHARACTER IS ASIAN LOOK HOW ASIAN AND DIFFERENT SHE IS (thank you for not making her a martial arts expert as well.) She's just the main character and is also Chinese.

Proper review to come soon.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Weight of Souls took me by surprise. As good as it looks on the surface, I was not expecting the extra layers that came with it. Pearce brings to the table ghosts, bullying...a secret society and Egyptian mythology. What you see is not just what you get. There is a lot going on, yet it all comes together nicely to form a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Taylor Oh is cursed. Not only can she see the ghosts of murder victims, but when a ghost touches her, they leave a mark on her skin; she has three weeks to find the murderer and pass it on, thus avenging the victim. If not, the Darkness will come and take her instead of the murderer. This is bad enough as it is, but it only gets worse. Justin, popular kid at school and who's made it his life's mission to bully Taylor, is murdered. Does she really want to help him? Help the guy who helped ruin her life? But it's too late. He passes the mark to her and she has to find his murderer in three weeks, otherwise the Darkness will come for her instead. Her findings lead her to the V Club, a secret society that is a little more sinister than just a group of sixth formers messing around. Somehow Taylor needs to find out who exactly killed Justin, preferably without actually dying herself...And what about the fact that she and Justin are becoming closer? Just when Taylor thought her life couldn't be any more complicated, Justin's murder makes it take a turn for the worse.

Pearce wastes no time in introducing us to Taylor's ability, showing us immediately how it works. It's quite a simple idea, really: a girl who sees ghosts. Yet with that comes emotions and questions, and these were explored nicely. Despite the layers in this book, it never became cluttered; it never felt like the author was trying to fit in too much. Everything was connected, with Taylor in the middle to truly bring it all together. The flashbacks and extracts from The Tale of Oh-Fa (a diary of Taylor's ancestor) particularly gave this added flavour. It was also a strange yet compelling mix of ordinary elements, such as bullying, and mythological aspects. Then in the middle was the V Club. This was a well-thought out idea which was interesting to read about. The only thing I would have liked added here would be the truth side of the game, as all the focus was on the dares - understandable, but I would have liked a glimpse of the other side.

Taylor herself was a real character, one easy to relate to. The fact that she gets bullied implies a vulnerability - and she is vulnerable - but she is also strong. Her struggle with her curse comes across clearly - the fact that she has to be on the constant lookout for ghosts because they all come for her and want her to help them means she can't enjoy a normal life. This isn't helped by her father, whose character frustrated me with his obstinacy and absolute refusal to believe that Taylor suffers from nothing more than a genetic condition. All of this made her a character easy to like. Yet Justin's character is, for me, the most transformative. As a bully, and seemingly having no other side to him than that, I disliked him and could not really imagine why Taylor would end up loving him. But when he is a ghost and we learn more about him, his character evolves and becomes more complex, until I loved him. He really is sweet; he simply allowed his twisted guy logic to lead him the wrong way (what is it with guys picking on girls to show their interest?).

The Weight of Souls is a novel commendable in all the themes it explores and its success in doing so. At the moment the matter of a sequel is in question, but I sincerely hope there will be one, as there were certain issues and questions specifically brought up towards the end that I would like to see resolved. But even aside from that, my first experience with this author has left me wanting more. This is definitely one I would recommend.

This review is also posted on my blog.

[Whitley Birks · Rating 2 out of 5]

See this review and more on Whitley Reads

A galley copy was provided free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This books strongest advantage was in the basic concepts behind the premise, but unfortunately, the book didn’t fully take advantage of that. Taylor gets cursed by ghosts and has to pass on that curse to the murderers? Awesome! Tell me more about that! …or go to high school, yeah, that’s interesting, too.


What you get on the summary, that’s it. Oh, sure, we get the background of how this curse came about, but as far as really exploring and playing with this concept, no. It’s just there. Since that was what I was most exited about, it ended up rather disappointing for me. We came into the book with Taylor already knowing (supposedly) everything about her curse, already weight down with it and accepting, so we didn’t’ get to explore the curse with her. She just told us a few things about it, and that’s it. For all we know, she didn’t explore it either, she didn’t test it or try to figure anything out about it. “I have to go find murderers? Okay, but only if I can get there on the bus.”

What happens when someone’s murderer fled the country? What happens if the murderer dies before she can mark him? And most importantly, why doesn’t she try and mitigate the negative effects of this curse?

Taylor, and in fact her whole family, keep this curse hidden and we’re never told why they do this. It’s provable – we learn in this book that non-ghost-seers can watch a person get eaten by the ‘Darkness,’ and ghosts can move inanimate objects. They can perceive the world around them. Taylor’s only excuse for not telling people about her curse is that they wouldn’t believe her, but she could easily just blackmail a ghost into helping her out and say “hey, knock over chairs until my friend here understands that you’re real.” Since we come into the book with her already settled into the curse, we don’t know if she’s tried this and failed or been warned away from it or never thought of it.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem; lots of paranormal books keep things hidden for no reason and it doesn’t break the book. But most of Taylor’s drama revolves around not being able to tell people why she’s acting so curse-y, so her reasons for not telling need to be fully explored. They’re not. It was really, really irritating for me to spend so much time with this angst when the obvious answer never even got addressed. It ended up feeling like Taylor (and all her family members) went “I’m cursed now? Oh, well, guess I’ll go hide in a corner…”

Speaking of hiding in a corner Taylor took a very lax attitude to the books’ main plot. She has to figure out who killed Justin, yes? Well, for having a morbid deadline hanging over her head, she certainly didn’t act very rushed. She only ever addressed or considered one course of action, and when parts of that course were going to take days or even a full week of downtime, she shrugged and waited. All things considered, one would think she’d be more aggressive about this.

In fact, I think that’s my major gripe about this novel. It feels like an adult novel, in that the main character is jaded and beat down at the start of the book, which is a theme for middle-aged protagonists, instead of discovering and growing, which is a more common theme for teenagers. While that’s certainly not a requirement for a young adult novel, it did feel out of place for me.

The central group of antagonists didn’t help much, either. They were bullies of the sort that are so one-dimensional and over the top that they’d find a welcoming home in a Steven King drinking game. But on top of that, they’re part of a secret society that revolves around…Truth or Dare. Really. And they take this shit seriously, even claiming to be a multi-generational thing with powerful leaders who will give you a leg up in the world as long as you’re part of their club.

Based on Truth or Dare. Shitty high school pranks. Really.

I could not take these guys seriously at all. Maybe if they were just a gang of kids who did this, or it was a tradition at the school, okay. But once they tried to pull the “friends in high places” card, I started rolling my eyes.


The book was overall clunky, filled with contrivances, girl-on-girl hate, poorly done “flashbacks but we’ll call it a journal even though it’s written like narration and not like anyone writes in a journal”, and forced character interactions. Nothing about it felt…inspired or exciting or tense or motivated. Taylor dragged herself through this book, and so I felt dragged while reading it.

[♥ Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this book was an absolute ghastly experience.
The description of the book was cool.
But that was all I could tolerate.

I HATED THE REST:

#1 - Taylor was a social outcast at her school because of how strange she started acting after seeing a ghost for the first time when she was 10. I would've appreciated it more if she was always a social outcast, and somehow worked that to her advantage when it came down to mark-transference/ vengeance seeking time!

#2 - The lack of explanation behind why Taylor serviced these ghosts really hindered my ability to be able to enjoy the story for what it was. I kept thinking to myself, this is so stupid; she could've just avoided the whole thing, etc. If she utilized measures (which she ultimately ended up doing in the later half of the book) tto prevent the ghosts from getting to her, she wouldn't have to worry about the mark staying on HER. Why'd she put up with the "curse" if there were alternatives?

#3 - I didn't get why the Darkness only came for those who had the mark. What's the logic behind that? If it was in fact for retribution, then shouldn't the Darkness only take the guilty? Why would the Darkness blindly take an innocent who might've innocently gotten smeared with the "mark" on accident? More specifically, why the hell was Taylor in risk of being taken if she didn't transfer the mark on time? (It seemed so unnecessary, illogical, and silly to me.)

#4 - The romance was degrading and offensive, to say the least. Taylor and Justin's relationship lacked chemistry, and felt SO forced. It also made NO SENSE WHATSOEVER that two people who hated each other the point where one would order his friends to sexually harass, physically assault, humiliate and torture the living daylights out of the other could suddenly claim that he "fell in love" with her. WTF? Yeah, sure buddy. It's also kinda convenient b/c he'd suddenly turned into a ghost and needed Taylor's help to "move on." Super cheesy and it ended up making both of them, but especially Taylor, look like the biggest idiot with no self-respect.

#5 - Why did Taylor only have a couple of days (at the most) with other ghosts before the Darkness came, but weeks when it came to Justin? Was it b/c multiple parties were involved? Who knows. One could only guess, b/c the author CLEARLY didn't bother to explain jacksquat.

#6 - I really hated the fact that she was this "exotic" Asian ghost-whisperer/seeker of vengeance outcast bad-ass turned wimpy love-struck sell out who went ga-ga over some asshole who had tormented her and publicly humiliated her for YEARS ON END with no justifiable excuse. HELLO!!!! This Asian chick not only had ancestors with the surname "FA" (Mulan, anyone?), but she also ended up looking like the biggest idiot with a capital I.

Figures.

[jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

taylor oh is one in a long line of cursed oh descendants. she can see ghosts. if one such ghosts touches her skin, she has to avenge its death by tracking down the killer and transferring the 'mark'. and do it fast. because otherwise the darkness will come for her and take her life instead.

"anubis is meant to be the reason for all this. my ancestor was a member of an expedition of ... i suppose you'd call them tomb robbers. they found nefertiti's tomb but it wasn't empty."
[arc, 37%]

besides worrying about bullies like justin, who seems to have a special grudge against her. keeping up her grades and her constantly worrying wheel bound, widowed father. taylor has to be on the lookout for murderers and it's definitely a struggle, because time is running out and she never has a moment for herself.

life isn't easy being a non-caucasian girl, especially not when you are cursed on top of that. when justin, the person she hates most is dead .. she has to find his .. killer? taylor and justin team up and the closer they get to the truth, the closer the killer gets to making her his next victim.

where was justin hargreaves? why would he have run away? had something sinister happened? only i knew that he wouldn't be coming back. and i very much needed to speak to the dead bastard.

[arc, 27%]

first things first. i can't write about the weight of souls without mentioning the fabulous cover. i mean, how many times have we seen a cover where a non-caucasian played the main lead and we actually get to see his/her face, but only parts of it or it's silhouetted?

yes, i thought so.

i love how the cover artist included relevant elements. and you can enjoy and bask in its glory too, because it's not an embarrassment to trot about with the book.

our female lead, taylor oh, is half-chinese. people take notice and there's always someone who has to make some oh-how-original-joke. but the author sadly didn't explore this aspect a bit more. it is mentioned that taylor oh is of chinese descent, but to quote s.e. smith & nijkamp: "it never comes up again, depriving characters of cultural context [..] i’d love to see fully developed characters, whose [ethnicity], while informing who they are, isn’t their only identifying marker but part of a complex set of characteristics."

suggestively he adjusted the crotch of his baggy jeans.
"hey, look, it's lucy liu, innit? come for some real man, lucy liu?"
[arc, 1%]

the narration is pretty clunky in that it contains a lot of info-dumpy inner monologues and extracts from the 'book of oh-fa' an ancient sort-of memoir of one the ancestors detailing the curse background (snooze). another quibble is the characterization, secondary characters needed more fleshing out, for me to actually believe they were more than cardboard characters:

"oh gawd, look who it is."
the familiar drawl penetrated my eardrums like a dental drill. it was tamsin harper, she of the faux us accent, the fake blond hair and the fluffy angora jumpers.
[arc, 4%]

i feel that there is just so much unmet potential, because it's not like the author infused the characters with pure evil. there were definitely moments were the characters showed remorse or at least other emotions than glee, hatred and malice. which brings me to the next point. we are told that taylor is sixteen, as we experience the unfolding events from taylor's pov, you can get a taste of how young she sounds and it reads like the account of a thirteen year old girl. and honestly i would've thought it was a middle grade book were it not for the book description that clearly states otherwise.

alas, it's just not a book that sticks and that is ultimately what bothered me the most. because the problem wasn't that it was bad. just mediocre.
even for all the bad things i've listed, i can tell you that it has its moments of triumph and merits as well. i don't want to keep anyone from reading this. it has popcorn-entertainment value to be sure, though i skimmed a lot of the 'book of oh-fa' extracts because they were just so Zzzzzz.

random quotes:
on the one hand i didn't know what was waiting for me but on the other, i had nowhere else to go.
[87%]

i caught my breath. i ... liked justin. i explored the sensation as if i was probing a broken tooth with my tongue.
[arc, 72%]

arc was kindly provided by strange chemistry/angry robot through netgalley

[Lisbeth Avery {Domus Libri} · Rating 2 out of 5]

There isn't really much going for this book other than the premise. Dude, how awesome is the idea of a girl cursed by ghosts to hunt murderers? For some reason though, Pearce thought it a better idea to make Taylor's social life the main point of the book instead of I don't know, her curse.

Brilliant, just brilliant. Yes, that's a perfect idea. Focus on high school, because obviously that's going to attract more YA readers who can't read books without a huge focus on high school.



While, sure we do get some time focusing on the curse, most of the book doesn't pay much attention to it. I really only read the book because of the awesome sounding plot and Pearce does a very poor job of keeping it the center of attention. Instead it gets piled under loads of unnecessary bits and pieces that detract from the overall book. I don't get it. Why would you bog down your murder mystery with an boring drama and angst?

It honestly seemed like, that even though there was a lot resting on this, Taylor really didn't care too much about finding Justin's murderer. She seemed more interested in his pretty body to be honest. It was more of something she had to do at some point but it didn't really matter when. If it took a while, she would basically shrug her shoulders and say "c'est la vie".

Taylor, gurl, you do realise you, the main character, don't even care about your own plot? At all? I don't think that's how it usually works but okaaay...

Like I said, Pearce focuses so much of her efforts into building drama and angst that the curse is largely underdeveloped. We are given the bare bones to work with and are basically left to speculate about the rest. There is some backstory but it's presented in such a way that it makes it a chore to read through and I, like many others, really just skimmed or skipped these parts.

The Weight of Souls isn't an entirely bad book. The main character, Taylor, is actually pretty cool. She's one of those fun narrators that aren't really amazing but just keep the book going and you reading. Taylor is pretty level headed and actually, fairly intelligent.

Before I end this review, I have to mention two things: Justin the asshole and the 'illusive super secret organisation' that is part of the mystery for a long time.

Justin the asshole is this guy who's died and now he's a ghost who refuses to acknowledge this. He's also, *gasp*, the love interest. You're so surprised, I know. Who would have guessed right? Well, he's also the guy who bullied Taylor for years. You know, the guy who sent his goons after her. The goons harassed her and called her horrible things all under the blessing of this Justin guy.

Yeah, really romantic backstory.

Somehow, when someone bullies you, it means that they have a crush on you. Yes, friends, every bully that will ever bully you is actually someone who has a huuuge crush on you and you'll end up living happily ever after.



What? No. That's not how it works. Bullying ≠ Crush nor will it ever. Romanticizing bullying is absolutely horrible and should not be accepted.

The second thing is much less atrocious, and more humourous.

I'm going to try and not spoil anything but basically this extremely powerful club is a bunch of kids doing dares and having sleep overs. But not just any dares, *whispers* bad boy dares. Oh yeah, they're doing big kid dares. So. Scary.

There is a lot of unexplored potential in this book that really just went to waste. The Weight of Souls could have been so much more if certain aspects were fleshed out a bit more and others given a more minor role. Overall, The Weight of Souls was a huge disappointment. While it wasn't completely unenjoyable, it wasn't very good either. I don't really recommend this book to anyone.

[Keri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well okay...

Let me first say that I knew nothing about this book. I picked it as my "Book Based on the Cover" for my 2015 Challenge. I did not read any spoilers or reviews prior to cracking it open. I picked it because of the awesome cover art and a half-Asian female lead! Maybe she'll be kickass?!

Aaaaand no.

My rating: .5 stars because of the race of the lead. Literally. I believe Asians need more rep in literature, especially YA, so that's why it gets any rating at all.

I originally was going to give it 2 stars, but after I finished, the angrier I got with the loopholes, crappiness of the plot and the unbelievability of everything.

Spoilers ahead so read at your own risk.

So Taylor has being seeing murdered ghosts since she was 10 because of a family curse. Poor thing. If they touch her, she gets marked and has to find their killer before 3 weeks are up or she gets sucked up into the Darkness.

First of all, is it even really stated how these ghosts know that ONLY SHE can see them? They will appear out of nowhere and try to grab her... but she actively avoids them so how do they know??? Second, if your family has been cursed forever, WHY ARE YOU STILL HAVING BABIES? CUT THAT SHIT OUT.

Within the first few chapters, we see the meanies who try to get Pete to kiss Taylor. What??? Is this a new form of bullying I am unaware of? Because, you know, when I was bullied all I got were fat jokes. Lame.

So her future crush is Justin, who just sits around and watches her get bullied day in and day out by his posse, but later in the book, he's loved her since they were 10!! He was only mean to her because he wanted her to notice him. So he started bullying her first and then his friends joined and he couldn't stop them!! What complete crap. For SIX YEARS, he let her be bullied, not saying anything, not trying to be friends, not helping her or worrying about her, etc. and all of a sudden "He's loved her since they first met!" Oh, and let's not forget that he BLAMED her for his initiation into the group (more later) because she told him in passing to say "Dare" instead of "Truth." BUT SHE WASN'T EVEN IN THE GROUP ITSELF, HOW WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO KNOW IT WAS AN INITIATION? But he loved her forever, amirite?



Thanks, Liz.

Anyway, Justin finds out he's dead but doesn't realize he's dead and accidentally touches her. Well shit, now she's doomed. And she gets into a fight with him and he disappears for like a week, which is 1/3 of her allotted time, so double shit.

During this time, Taylor proves what an utter bitch she is because when Justin's ex-girlfriend is grieving and sad, she is snooty and rude. UMMM. I get it, she bullied you for 6 years and is a total wanker. But her BOYFRIEND JUST DIED. Give her a damn break.

ANYWHO. Taylor calls Pete, because they used to be bffs until Taylor broke his heart... or he just got tired of her shit, I'm split on which it was. He helps her find Justin (and is a total a-hole in the process, but you know, she rejected him!! She deserves it!!) and for no reason whatsoever, she tells Justin her family secret and Justin starts to protect her. Even though they're like this the entire time:



Sooo the "plot twist" is Justin wasn't murdered! Or so he thinks. He just fell off some rafters because... wait for it.... He's in a secret league of Truth or Darers called "V Club" and had to complete his dare or risk because a social loser FOR SENIOR YEAR! Once you're in, you're in FOR LIFE!!!! And oh, the V Club is oooold, so there's higher ups too! Like a school principal! And a cop! And... and... I dunno, no one else is mentioned.

Yeah. You read that right. Truth or fucking Dare to the death, bitches.


(Except Justin can't go home. Cause he's dead. Oops.)

So Taylor is like, "I gotta get into this club cause it's so dope- I mean, I gotta find Justin's killer!" and so she calls up Pete and somehow convinces him AND Tambourine (I literally can't remember her name), you know her bullies, to initiate her. She has to jump down into train tracks after a train leaves and play chicken with it.

She can't do it alone, Justin has to save her ass. Kick ass factor -1. But whatever, she's in.

She gets picked for the first dare, so she gets to claim the next Truth or Dare round. And guess what her dare is? The same one that killed Justin!!! Even though it's been voted "impossible" by the leaders of the group, she HAS TO DO IT!!



So blah blah blah, she does it thanks to Justin (Kick ass factor -100 at this point), she almost dies like 4 times (cause the Darkness is coming since it's been like... forever), her and Justin kiss twice.

All of a sudden, Tamale can see Justin!! Apparently Taylor's kisses bring Justin some life because he's stealing her soul (or something.)



I'm also confused, brah.

So anyway, they go to a pub and Taylor demands her truth and she asks what really happened to Justin. Justin wanted to leave because it was getting crazy dangerous and that's just NOT ALLOWED!! NO TAKE BACKS FROM THE GROUP HE WAS FORCED TO BE IN SINCE HE WAS 10! So what do these 4 shits plans to do? Kill him. WAY TO PROVE JUSTIN RIGHT, YA STUPID ASSHOLES.

So Taylor touches everyone and then goes to touch Pete and....

she can't do it. Because Pete is her oldest friend.



RECAP FOR THOSE LOST: Pete kicked her ass to the curb because she didn't like him, bullied her for the past 3~4 years (he was late to the game, I think?), didn't bother helping every time she was hurt, didn't call or worry when she missed like 75% of the school year, she gets angry at him like 80% of the book, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY ARE BFFS AND SHE JUST CAN'T!!!

So this means, she gets sucked into the Darkness, but not before she kisses Justin like 3 more times and makes him more viable so everyone can see him (even her father.)

So now she's stuck in the Darkness and something cool should happen, right? Look, all those people she marked looking terrified! Looking like someone's building a dead person army! Shit's about to go down!!

EXCEPT NOT. Because here comes Justin to save Taylor AGAIN, because she can't save herself AGAIN. Kick ass factor nonexistent at this point, why not just named this book "The Weight of Keri's Disappointment." He jumped through the closing Darkness cloud to find her. Literally gtfo at this point.

So he leads her to the light and they are both okay!! And now everyone can see Justin even though he's dead, and everyone is friends again. Except the principal is angry and Anubis might be building an army, because Justin is some sort of prophet or, you know what, I don't even care.



Me with this book.

Don't read it. Save yourself the time and energy and go read something else.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry for the galley copy (via NetGalley). Quotes are taken from an advanced review copy and are subject to change before publication.

Sixteen-year-old Taylor Oh can see the ghosts of murdered people due to a generations-old curse passed down from her mother's side of the family. If a ghost touches her, she becomes marked, and she must transfer the mark to the killer responsible before the Darkness claims her. When all-around popular guy--and her personal tormentor--Justin dies under suspicious consequences, he accidentally passes his mark to Taylor, who now has no choice but to help a guy she hates. To make matters worse, Justin doesn't know the identity of his killer. As they slowly begin to understand each other--and she soon finds herself falling for Justin--they must work together to solve the mystery before the impending Darkness consumes Taylor.

I should note that this isn't a one-and-done novel; rather, it seems to be the first part of an as-yet-unnamed series. I think it is safe to make this assumption because there were loose ends that continued to flail about untethered and unresolved by the time the story reached its conclusion. The Weight of Souls has two things going for it: the concept of a person who can see ghosts and avenge murders, which, in theory, sounds badass, and the use of an Egyptian god as the core of the curse. Unfortunately, the story was a disappointment on several levels. First, the pacing was awkward due to the overuse of flashback sequences, which consisted of Taylor's childhood memories and old journal entries from Taylor's ancestor, who describes how the curse was acquired. By far, the journal is the worse of the two methods since there are times when it is practically shoved into the narrative with a pathetic excuse for a segue (Taylor happens to see the journal on the table, so she decides to take it into her room and read it; flashback commences). It would have been much, much better to give the entries their own chapters, alternating between the past and present day.

Secondly, the relationship between Taylor and Justin was...I can't even think of a proper word. Regrettable? Ill advised? Cringeworthy? Uncomfortable? How would you describe a girl falling in love with her bully, a bully who never apologized for his treatment of her? To his credit (I suppose), Justin did provide a reason for his complete asshole attitude, but all it did was make me exclaim, "OH MY GOD" and drop an expletive or ten. To top it off, Taylor actually blames herself for how she and Justin have misunderstood each other this entire time, which leads me to the third disappointment in this story: Taylor herself.

I really thought she would be a better character than what Ms. Pearce created. Not only does Taylor develop feelings for Justin (and kind of alludes to the fact that she may have had a crush on him all along), but also believes that "if [she] hadn't been blind, [they] could have had years." I hated how she felt that this was her fault, especially when she had her own problems to deal with. I would think avenging murderers and keeping the Darkness at bay ranked just slightly higher on the priority list than deciphering the reasons why the immature and cruel (but cute, let's not forget that he's cute!) boy hated her. It's not her fault he hated her and it's not her job to find out why. He is the dirt beneath her shoe and unworthy of her attention. Taylor's increasing and disturbing dependence on Justin also did not sit well with me.

Lastly, important elements of the curse are not addressed until the end of the book, making the legend seem like an afterthought when it should have been the backbone of the story. Coupled with the frequent flashbacks, this made for an irritating reading experience.

An intriguing idea is ultimately marred by clunky flashback sequences, a romance that I found hard to swallow and a heroine who I initially believed was interesting but ended up not being the strong character I thought she would be.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy ARC: The Weight of Souls via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ghosts, disturbing secret societies and Egyptian curses, oh my! Well I must say, the first chapter definitely got me hooked. The idea of murder making a mark and being able to pass it on is intriguing. Especially when you throw in a time limit.

Weight of Souls took place in London and was written from Taylor Oh's perspective.

The idea behind the curse was well done. Relatively simple but I don't like it when it's overly convoluted either. It was easy to believe. Plus throw in ancient Egyptian curses? I'm totally in.

Taylor was a strong main character. I didn't understand her obsession with not telling her friends her secret while assuming they would think she was crazy. I suppose it was more of a tension value thing. She is pretty paranoid but in a way I can't really blame her. She felt very real and was easy to root for. I enjoyed seeing her change throughout the novel

Justin was sweet. Really. I'll admit at first I didn't think I would like him but he grew on me exponentially. You had to feel sorry for his situation and his faithfulness to Taylor was adorable and well done.

Taylor's dad was both frustrating, and yet I couldn't help but have my heart bleed for him a little. He was so scientific and close-minded but I also understood his point of view, as much as it made me want to slap his face.

The V Club. Well. I won't say too much to avoid spoilers but it's definitely convoluted. Pearce did a fabulous job at creating something that is easily sucked in and then hard to leave. She showed just how easily something simple and childish such as Truth or Dare could become warped into something dangerous. She also did a great job creating a group of characters that I wanted to be kicked into the Darkness from the chapter I met them.

The Weight of Souls is very easy to read. The writing was vivid and easy to imagine. There were definitely a few twists and turns and a few other things I felt I saw coming a mile away. I felt pacing was also clean. I never felt rushed or bored so I can applaud that. There were a few awkward phrases, but that could have been do to having a pre-released copy of the book or just I'm not as up to terms with some British terminology. Either way it was still very smooth.

The climax scenes (I'd definitely believe there were two of them at the end there) were well put together and I could feel the tension on the page as Taylor was struggling. The end was well put together and there was even a vague hint of possibly another book. It is not listed as a series but there a few loose ends, Taylor has her work cut out for her. If there IS a sequel, I will most definitely be picking it up because I loved this world, the characters, the idea. Everything was well done and I'm very thankful for the author kindly giving me the opportunity to read it early.

[Ornella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't been expecting to enjoy this book quite as much as I did. I thought the romance would be trite because of the who she was falling for, but this book has so much actually going for it.

First let's talk about the curse. The blurb doesn't really say much except the bare facts. I thought the explanation about the curse would be something along the lines of every other paranormal out there. But then almost right away you find out that the curse is quite literally a curse, put on my freaking Anubis! Yes, this book deals with Egyptian mythology, and I was NOT expecting that at all (and now looking at the cover more closely, I really should have lol). I liked how the book was written, with excerpts of the story about how the curse came about in between the present day problems that Taylor was dealing with. I was also pleasantly surprised that the curse was even more complicated than you first think, and there are still quite a few unanswered questions about it once you reach the end.

This book deals with a lot of difficult subjects. We have bullying because Taylor is half Chinese. We have a secret society that is actually quite far reaching and very dangerous, and we have the usual teenage problems, friends, romance and family. At first I really didn't like her dad. I knew he was trying to help but the way he was doing it was incredibly counter productive. Taylor also had friend issues, as in she only had the one friend and because of her curse it was hard to keep that friendship, but this was mostly Taylor's fault through out the story.

Lastly we have the romance. As I mentioned before I hadn't been expecting much from it, but I found it to be really sweet. Taylor and Justin start confiding with each other and helping each other out and he finally realizes why Taylor is the way she is, but not only does he accept her, but actually starts protecting her as well.

As for the plot itself, it was great. The pacing was just right. There was something always going on, whether it was her personal issues or her actual investigation about Justin's death. It was a great mix between a mysterious, deadly curse, a dangerous secret society and life's problems.

I didn't have high expectations for this one going in, but it managed to surprise me with it's depth on multiple accounts, and I'm glad I got the chance to review it.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A copy of this novel was provided for review via Net Galley on behalf of the publisher.

A good book! Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleeeeeelllluuuujjjaaaahhhhh.

I had been looking forward to The Weight of Souls ever since I saw a review for it on Tammy's blog Books, Bones & Buffy (like a year ago - I know SHAME ON ME for reading things so late but hey ... better late than never, right? RIGHT?). I trust her opinions on books, so I knew that I was probably going to like The Weight of Souls. Which I did. Very much so.

Pearce's writing style is very, very good. I slipped right into the story and into Taylor's POV extremely easy. It was also the kind of style that just begs you to keep reading. I mean, I read this book in a few hours because it was so engrossing. Beyond that, the storyline was flipping fantastic and completely unique in the fact that Taylor has to ... murder murderers. SO AWESOME.

I wasn't entirely enthused about the ~secret society~ aspect of the book, but it wasn't enough to deter my enjoyment of the book. There's little to no romance, and it certainly isn't instalove so I appreciated that wholeheartedly. I actually love Taylor for all the shit she gave Justin after he died. I laughed.

I must warn you, though: there is a lot of potential for a book #2, but so far no word on that. So if you aren't keen on a book that has a few unanswered questions and room for a sequel but no news so far ... still read it because it was awesome.

[Michelle Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryony Pearce is about to take the YA and Urban Fantasy world by storm, after reading The Weight of Souls, I've added her to my list of favorite authors in these genre's where the likes of Charlaine Harris, Richelle Meade, and Stephanie Myer also reside.

This is a must read for anyone that enjoys a bit of fantasy mixed with reality. Bryony Pearce crafts a very believable world, and the characters come alive with every turn of the page. Especially Taylor Oh, the protagonist, she'll make you laugh with her smart wit, and keep you enthralled throughout the story where you are almost guaranteed to shed a tear or two.

I'll refrain from quoting from the text as I received an ARC via net galley, after the book is officially released I'll come back and include some of my favorite lines.

I do hope to see a second installment of this story, it's too great to leave it as a stand alone.

[Amanda]

A sharp, dark, funny YA novel, featuring a girl called Taylor Oh who suffers a dangerous curse.

[Sara Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

X-FILES meets SIXTH SENSE through a rollercoaster of twists, truths, dares, love and the ever after.

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor Oh lives in present day London and he world is falling apart. Her mother has passed away, she's having a hard time at school as she's not one of the popular girls, her father is convinced of a genetic disorder that Taylor must be suffering from, oh and she's also cursed. When a murdered person's dead ghost touches her skin, she received a mark and must avenge the ghost by passing the mark onto the responsible party that commited the crime.

This story is a mix of paranormal, ancient Egyptian magic, and a curse so intricate and different that it will suck the reader right in. When one of the biggest bullies tormenting Taylor dies and touches her, the story kicks into high gear, and she only has three weeks to find the killer or she will be consumed by the darkness fueling that magic.

Highly enjoyable and original, I'd love a little bit of the Egyptian mythology represented but overall I had a great time and really liked the intense creepy moments, I hope there's a sequel because I feel there's so much more of this story to tell.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm.

I almost gave this book 2 stars, but there was something about the reaction this book evoked from me that earned it another.

But first, the bad:

1. It was an interesting premise, the whole 'darkness-will-come-for-whoever-bears-the-mark'. Unfortunately (I believe other reviewers mentioned this as well), I don't think that it was used to its full potential. There was just...so much more the author could have done with a cool idea like this, and instead it's focussed on the drama within Taylor's social/school life. The curse is SO underdeveloped - we know the basics, but it is never actually explored in depth. I suppose I was looking forward to the immersion in the mystery surrounding the murder, more egyptian mythology (I'm not too sure the curse of Anubis was accurate) and just more on the curse's workings.
I don't know about you guys, but the bit at the end made the supposed 'egyptian curse' core of the book seem like an afterthought.

2. The Veritas Club? I thought it was kind of ridiculous. And extremely childish. The point at which the author tries to tell us that members of the V club had friends in higher positions of power had me laughing. If the club did darker, shadier things like running a lucrative illegal drug business, or even sacrificing kittens to Satan, I would have taken them more seriously. It would have warranted the 'sworn to secrecy' and 'you must abide by the rules' conditions. But gosh, all they do are stupid pranks each week that embarrass them, and more recently, in Justin's case, get them killed. The club could have been more interesting.

3. There was a lack of character development, and the romance, badly done. I am frankly sick of this elementary school mindset where bullying a person equates to you having feelings for them. I am not adverse to a little teasing, but that is not what happens here. Justin starts off doing "harmless" things like wiping Taylor's name off the board/stealing her pencilcase (can't quite remember the specifics, I think they were along these lines) in an attempt to get her to notice him. Soon his friends start copying him, and by 16, it has turned into flat out bullying with him supposedly commanding people to harrass her. Excuse me? This is not a crush. Taylor starts off angry at Justin, but quickly succumbs to his charms, despite things he's done. I thought she would have proceded with more caution, seeing as he indirectly bullied her. I also found that aside from this, the actual romance was lacking in chemistry and felt...well, uncomfortable and forced.

4.I thought the pacing was weird and clunky - the flashbacks and Oh Fa's journal snippets were not coherent, and I skim read them. I found them burdensome to the actual plot.

5. I didn't really feel the mystery element. I knew that Justin's murder had something to do with his band of friends and it was honestly no surprise when Taylor realised she had to mark all of them - James, Harley, Tamsin and Pete. From the start, I knew it had something to do Justin's gang. I wouldn't have bothered with joining the club. I'd have forced Justin to tell me that he wanted to quit and then guessed his gaggle of friends didn't like that. Because honestly? Did justin really think that was a simple accident? The kid from the year below who failed a dare or something had to tranfer schools because the V club were intent on making his life a living hell after that. Did he really think leaving the club was going to be fairplay? I don't know, man. If I were her, I would have just marked them and be done with it. Sure, they could have been innocent (not that innocent as they had tortured number of people in school) but as Taylor liked to say: It was them or me.. Sorry about the rant(and my questionable morals in this reasoning), was just disappointed by the lackluster mystery.

And now the good:

1. It's rare that you get a YA paranormal book with a non-white protagonist. It's even rarer that that uniqueness is displayed on the cover and not whitewashed or silhouetted or anything. What I did find a little disappointing was that Taylor hardly reacted to people calling her 'China' or 'Lucy Liu' - Her heritage is mentioned, wasn't an integral part to the book, which was good, but I really would have liked at least a sentence on what she thought about others making fun of her being half chinese. The book was multicultural and I appreciated that.

2. I really did feel for Taylor, which is why I gave this book three stars instead of two. Her dad thinks she's insane and hallucinates, she's unpopular, failing class because of the curse, comments are made about her ethnicity and she's taking Mad-eye Moody's 'CONSTANT VIGILANCE' sentiment seriously as she has to worry about being marked by random unaccomadating murder victims all the time.I related real hard to the bit where Hannah decided to cut her friendship with Taylor off; I've had people come close to doing this to me because I was so busy - I don't think I was on Taylor's level, but I felt guilty nonetheless.. I felt the suffocation at not having your parents and other adults on your side, feeling lonely all the damn time because you're busy avenging the dead. It must be horrible being on the lookout whenever you go out, afraid that you'll touch a ghost and will now have to spend a frenzied few days finding the murderer. And what if the murderer was somewhere hard to reach or missing? I hate her reality. It seemed so depressing. She could never relax. The Darkness was always only a ghostly touch and a few weeks away.

Overall, this book wasn't unenjoyable, but there were bits that peeved me. The saddest thing I believe, was that the potential of the premise, the idea , was not harnessed fully.

[Mieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ability to see or hear the dead and helping them move on, is of course not a new concept, just look at Ghost Whisperer or Tru Calling , which I still feel was cancelled before its time. However, the concept of 'help a murder victim catch their killer or die’ was a version I hadn't heard before. And while the story is a little more complicated than that concept makes it seem, it does sum up the reason that tension builds the further we get into the novel, as Taylor literally races against time to solve Justin's murder before the Darkness get her. It makes The Weight of Souls an exciting read and one I enjoyed quite a lot.

Due to Taylor's heritage – she's of Chinese descent – there are some Chinese elements to the mythology of the story, but the largest mystical influences are Egyptian. The Oh family curse was set by a dark entity, thought to be Anubis, imprisoned in what is supposed to be Nefertiti's tomb. Consequently the place the murderers Taylor catches go once the Darkness takes them isn't your conventional heaven or hell; at least not literally, it is an after-life, just not one we know. I really liked this version of a ghost story and helping them pass on to the Great Unknown. Despite the curse of necessity taking such a central place in her life, Taylor tries not to let her life be defined by it and tries to hang on to her friends. She's a lovely protagonist, funny, sarcastic, and caring, I really liked her.

Part of the Oh family curse is that they are guaranteed to find their one great love. And fate has a sense of humour in Taylor's case, as her One True Love seems to be the boy whose murder she needs to avenge. While this concept left me rather dubious to begin with, to Pearce's credit she actually sold me hard on this pairing. I loved the development of the rapport between Taylor and Justin. The way one little incident when they first met influenced everything that came after – Justin's seeming dislike of Taylor and his bullying of her together with his group of friends – was well-conceived and felt plausible. Even though it seemed completely impossible that something lasting might come of it, the author had me rooting for Taylor and Justin to make it.

Besides Justin, Taylor has two more really important relationships in her life, the ones with her father and with her best friend Hannah. Taylor's relationship with her father is rather strained. Mr Oh doesn't believe in the Oh family curse – Hannah inherited the curse from her mum – he believes, he needs to believe, that Hannah and her mother just have a really strange medical or psychological condition and that she can be cured. It's what made his marriage to Taylor's mother troubled and the fact that he doesn't believe in her hurts Taylor deeply. But Mr Oh is very much the involved parent, no absentee parenting in this story, a fact I appreciated a lot. Taylor's friendship is just as strained as her relationship with her dad. Taylor's continual disappearances and the flimsy excuses she gives for having to cancel on Hannah again and again are wearing this friendship down and Hannah is slowly losing her faith in Taylor throughout the novel. However, Hannah's readiness to forgive Taylor shows just how good of a friend she is in the end.

The secret society at school that Taylor comes across is fascinating and frightening. I do wonder how much of these sorts of 'old boys' clubs' at school are culture-based, at least at a secondary school level. I think there might also be a class element to it, as you often find stories about them set at public schools, such as Eton or Winchester, but the fact that they are set at secondary school is strange to me. As far as I'm aware here in the Netherlands they are far more common at the university level and beyond. But I also always like the secret society as a plot device, so I enjoyed it in The Weight of Souls as well.

Bryony Pearce's first – and hopefully not last – book with Strange Chemistry was an enjoyable and interesting story. The Weight of Souls has an interesting premise and a great protagonist in Taylor. The book ends with this book's mystery solved, but with a great big plot hook in place for a possible sequel, which I hope we'll see announced soon. In the meantime, if you're looking for a fun and at times dark paranormal YA mystery, The Weight of Souls is just the ticket.

This book was provided for review by the publisher.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!

A new exciting book that Strange Chemistry brings to us at the beginning of August, The Weight of Souls by Bryony Pearce was a really interesting read.

We are introduced in the strange life of Taylor Oh, a girl who has a special ability: she can see dead people. Not only can she see ghosts but she can also interact with them which brings us to the main part that makes her life difficult: the curse. Passed from generation to generation, this ability of hers - the curse - comes, most of the time, with some negative parts.

I really liked the idea that the author brought into view. Taylor is the one who can help ghosts gain their vengeance. Murdered ghosts (people) who touch the girl, leave a mark on her hand - the dark mark - which becomes darker and darker, until Darkness comes after Taylor...only if she does not pass the mark to the murderer in cause!

Living in fear and always having to keep an eye open for ghosts, Taylor is having a hard life and her school surroundings do not help her at all since many of her colleagues tease her. I found the protagonist a really strong person since she has to endure so many things: distinguishing ghosts from people, avoiding the bad words from those at school, putting up with her father who keeps experimenting on her in his attempt to find a cure for her curse, always having to hide when having the mark on her hand.

It is really good to see that she has a really good friend, Hannah, but their relationship starts to wreck because of the secret that Taylor is hiding. All alone, Taylor never thinks too much of what her life could be if she had more people around her or maybe a boyfriend.

Everythig turns upside down when a strange murder happens, a murder of one of Taylors school bullies, Justin.

I liked how the action progressed, making Taylor acknowledge some things like counting more on her friends and not having to always hide in the dark when something bad happens. It was really interesting to find out more about Oh's bully, Justin since the author had a really nice way to take us back in time, when things might not have gone so well for T. and J.

The death of Justin was also interesting and I would not have thought of such a wicked game as the one that laid behind this.

The main characters (Taylor and Justin) were my favourites, of course! The main main character is actually T. but I have included J. also since he is quite present in the book. I did not like T.'s father in the beginning but really loved him at the end when he open his eyes to see clearly what was actually important.

The secondary characters were not to my liking, especially the bad characters! They were nicely built by the author and they played well their roles.

I felt a little pity for Pete since he was somehow caught in between the good and the bad charas but he still had something that I did not like about him.

There were also some funny parts in this book but not that many. This is not a minus, of course! The book still kept me reading and I was curious about many things.

Before her life takes and important turn, Justin is the last one who she must help. Will she help him after how he had treated her? You know she has to because of the Darkness...but what will exactly happen? Who killed Justin? And what is the link between the curse and mythology? You must read to find out :P!

Oh, and as for the minuses of this book I can mention just a few of them. At times I was a little bored by Oh-Fa's journal entries. They were interesting at times but not that much.

I also predicted some things about the upcoming events but just a few of them! The book still had some mystery to it.

Hmmm...I guess that this is all to be said. I could continue but I would not want to spoil the book anymore!

What do you think? Will you put this book on your TBR list? :] I recommend it to all of you, since it is mystery, paranormal book with bits of romance included.


Quote (taken from the ARC!):

"Justin nodded. "This game is crazy. Look at what we do. Lok at what you're doing. You don't break the rules, you just don't. Plus they've got something on you now. If you try and break the silence of the confessional, you'll be in trouble too." "

[A Book Vacation · Rating 5 out of 5]

To see my full review:

http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...

This novel was phenomenal! I was enraptured from the very beginning, watching Taylor walk into the depths of a violent gang to pass on the mark, noting her vast courage and fortitude as she attempted to trap a killer. With her “them or me” mentality, drilled into her from a young age, Taylor runs the gauntlet of danger throughout this entire novel trying to stave off the Darkness, keeping it at bay one murdered soul at a time.

Enter Justin and his teenage followers: the popular crowd who enjoy nothing more than to plague Taylor at every turn. They don’t know about the Darkness; they don’t know Taylor sees the dead, or that the murdered’s touch is the reason she wears gloves, hoping to cover the ever deepening black mark death leaves on her hand. All the populars know is that she’s different. And “different” in high school terms means the end of all social acceptance. The brunt of their spiteful attacks and malicious slurs tend to fall on deaf ears, however, as Taylor is a strong female lead; she’s more interested in saving her soul than fitting in. And I loved this about her. She’s not afraid to assert herself or speak up against her tormentors, though it never brings about much good. Yet when faced with the death of the most popular of her tormentors, Justin, Taylor has to do more than fight back—she must fit in in order to figure out the truth before it’s too late, before the Darkness comes for her.

The fact that her scientist father doesn’t believe anything Taylor says about her curse, chalking it all up to a disease he’s intent on curing, only adds another barrier that she must overcome in order to continue roaming the streets in search of murderers, attempting to keep away the Darkness and also convince her father she’s not crazy. I can’t imagine being in her situation and having a parent disregard my words and insist on extracting my blood in attempts to heal me, but Taylor bares it quite well, following in her deceased mother’s footsteps, so it seems. Now, there’s a story that’s highly intriguing! Learning all about Taylor’s family curse, passed down from her mother’s side, was fascinating. I loved the glimpses and stories we’re given as Taylor reads from her mother’s book, the one that explains how it all began and sets the stage for the upcoming fight with the Darkness that readers know is bound to come.

This novel is unlike anything I’ve read before, and I loved the sleuthing Taylor undertakes, as well as learning the truth about Justin, the V Club, and watching Taylor risk her life in order to impede the Darkness. It’s very well written, and as I said before, I just adore Taylor and her inner strength. Regardless of all the obstacles set before her, she diligently tries to do what is right and protect others. Justin grew on me too, though I really hated him in the beginning, even though his side-kick James is actually the more threatening of Taylor’s tormenting group, made all the more sinister by the revelation of the V Club.

The whole idea of the V Club was fascinating, and it made me think of all those underground clubs that are rumored to have been in hiding for centuries, which only adds to the fun of it all. Of course, V Club seems a lot more sinister than the underground clubs I’ve heard of (but then again, I wouldn’t really know because I’m not privy to their societies and all they do), and it was awesome watching Taylor attempt to infiltrate. Likewise, we eventually learn more about the Darkness and, in this case, it’s interest in the V Club, which filled me with trepidation as we get an up-close and personal view of what lies beyond—which then begs the question, if all the murderers are sucked into the Darkness, what, exactly, are all these evil murderers going to be used for in the future? Because… the Darkness is not hell, as one might assume. So, what is it?

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75-3 Stars!

I was originally going to give this book two stars because I didn't like it in the beginning, but the last 25% was good enough to encourage me to give it 3 instead. I was really hoping to love the story because it had an Asian protagonist, but the story was just okay for me. Just to warn you now, I will be listing mostly cons.

Taylor. For about 75% of the book, I didn't find her character too likable (for me personally). She seems like your stereotypical angst teenager (though I can see where her angst comes from) and I wasn't a huge fan of her stubbornness and impulsive attitude. She's not the first heroine to be both stubborn and impulsive, but the level of stubbornness and impulsiveness wasn't too much to my liking. When she told Justin that she could take on V's dare is one example. Her confidence in taking on the challenge seemed more cocky than confident the way I read it and it got on my nerves a little bit when it didn't hit her about the serious danger of the dares until she did one. I also didn't like her relationship with Hannah. While I understand why Taylor couldn't explain the situation to Hannah, it made me mad when she complained about the situation as if Hannah's moodiness about the situation was at fault. Eventually, I started easing my dislike towards her as I got a little more interested in the book.

Taylor and Justin's relationship. I gotta hand it to Taylor. I'm not sure if I could easily forgive, forget, and fall in the love with the guy who'd been a jerk to me for the past few years in a matter of weeks. Yes Justin had a reason and (depending on your opinion) it could be Taylor's fault, but I'd say that getting Taylor's attention through bullying was a little too extreme. I also thought it was a bit cheesy that kissing brought some life back into Justin, but where there's romance, there's cheesiness.

V club. While this club is necessary in the stories plot, I do think it is kind of ridiculous that this club was created through a Truth or Dare game. I know there are people out there who take the game seriously, but it seems insane to have a club dedicated to doing this kind of stuff for years. While I suppose completing the challenge ca say a lot about your character, I think it's just ridiculous to risk your life for a game. Though in this case, you risk your life by either doing the dare or not.

The story telling isn't bad, though the story dragged on for me from the beginning to middle. I was impatient at how long it took to finally know about the accident, the main conflict to finally start picking up speed, and learn more about the curse (though I do still have questions about it). I don't like being spoon fed information nor do I like it thrown at me quickly, but I would like for it to be given to me at a decent pace in a reasonable amount. I guess the book just isn't personally for me because of my preferences. One example is that I'm not a fan of constant story/time shifts (unless it's like a time traveling novel that requires it). I did start slowly liking the story when Taylor was assigned to do her 2nd dare because it started picking up the pace.

Overall, I'd say read the book if you're into YA paranormal novels with romance. If you find that you usually easily dislike the lead female character or agree with a lot of the complaints I listed here, this book probably isn't for you. I don't regret reading the story, but I do wish that I loved it more. As to whether or not I will continue to read this series, it's still up for debate. In the beginning I was certain I wouldn't continue, but the approaching end made me reconsider. Until the synopsis for the next one comes out, my decision to read the next book is up in the air.

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
THEME: Ghost, Romance, and Supernatural
RECEIVED: Publisher
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
A clever ghost story with an interesting take on an Egyptian curse, Pearce takes the readers on a scary but mysterious journey with a sixteen-year-old girl who has a big responsibility. Ghost may be scary but the darkness that takes the souls who have sinned is the thing everyone should be afraid of.

The Weight of Souls follows Taylor Oh a young teen who is living with a curse that has been passed down each generation. She sees ghosts and the ghost who were murdered want revenge and Taylor can help them. Her curse allows ghosts to mark her then to pass the mark to their murder, which will send them into darkness. Even though her life is already complicated enough, her school bully Justin is murdered and he leaves his mark, now she must find his murder before the darkness decides to take her instead.

Taylor Oh is an outcast, a girl who has been picked on for quite a while by the “popular” kids. But she also has the curse to deal with, the loss of her mother and a father who insist she’s crazy. Her life is far from easy and I give her a lot of credit for not going crazy with all the emotional set backs in her life. Pearce does a great job creating a character with some backbone that understands her responsibility and tries her best to get through each day. The hardest part for me was Taylor’s relationship with her father; he is a stubborn man who is doing more harm than good. She needs all the support she can get and he keeps nagging her about how she ill, I felt so bad for her since she really needed a dads comfort. She also has a great friend, her only friend Hannah who is a sweet girl that really wants Taylor to open up to her. Their friendship has its ups and downs but I felt it was written well and realistic. In the end Taylor is just starting to get a handle of things and has a lot to learn and look forward too.

Justin is a complex character; the readers learn a bit about his past but are probably not going to like him at the beginning. He has secrets, has been misunderstood and also just wanted Taylor to open up to him as well. He works with Taylor to figure out what happened to him and that there is a whole secret society that’s affecting kids and adults. His life is tied to a club called V and it’s dangerous and they’re in way over their heads. I actually liked Justin’s characters once I got to know more about him, there are still a lot of unanswered questions that I’m hoping the next book will dive into it.

Overall I found this story really unique; there are many books about people who can see ghost, but not because of an ancient curse. I can tell there is so much potential with the curse and that there is a lot more to discover with Taylor’s family history. There are bits and pieces that were pretty creepy and the darkness is something I never would want to encounter. My only negative was Taylor’s father; it may be because I’m close with my dad but I hated how much he didn’t listen to her and was actually hurting her by not being supportive. I’m also super curious about V Club and how big and what dangers lie ahead for Taylor. The ending was great and a new beginning takes place for what ever ghost she must help next.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with some darker tones that set the eerie scenes. Fans of Tara Hudson’s Hereafter series and Michelle Hodkin’s Mara Dyer series will enjoy The Weight of Souls.

[Christopher Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest oppinion. I will post a more detailed review soon, but for now I can say that The Weight of Souls hooked me from "jump" and proved to be quite the page-turner with an incredible blend of action, teen characterization, and nicely woven romance arc between two most UNlikely characters. And Anubis. How can you go wrong with Anubis? Mrs Pearce delivers a fantastic story well worth the read. Again, deeper review pending soon.

Aaand here it is!

I have a confession pertaining to Bryony Pearce’s THE WEIGHT OF SOULS: I was hooked from the opening well before strange Chemistry allowed me an ARC, a few months ago with the release of the trailer and first chapter. Mrs Pearce’s direct delivery and in-your-face style of wordcrafting brings the un-vindicated dead to 3-D in a ride that is sure to make Universal Studios V-Coaster designers scratch their chins. The story opens with a delicious shocker and keeps the momentum going from double-decker bus hopping to high anxiety pole walking.

The teenage characters are recognizable. Not just as typical teens, but as those individuals we all dealt with in high school. One particular aspect I appreciated most about Mrs Pearce’s characterization is that she uses double layers for her peeps. The popularity princess has all the superficial beauty and attitude as to be expected, but beneath, she really is just a nasty little biscuit-witch. The male protagonist, Jason, has all of the Draco Malfoyisms to make us hate him at the onset, but then proves to be one hell of an honorable gent hiding behind very real feelings to which most of us male readership can relate. And the main character, Taylor Oh, is about as emo as a girl can get, down to the self-pity—which was a bit annoying at times, but paid off in a huge thematic lesson learned and well worth the wait.

The plot was a bit predictable after the midway point; however, I cannot find this as a fault because the action carries it so well and keeps the pages moving. The themes of “bullying” and “folly of self-pity” add color and tension throughout, and also serve to raise the emotional investment with the characters.

Most of the book was incredibly satisfying, but there were two points I struggled with a bit.

First, the father’s character pressed the believability envelope at times, as did some of the character’s interaction. This being an ARC, I am hoping that the final version includes better transitions and dialogue in certain areas.

Second, the backstory slows the momentum at times. I feel that the archeological dig scenes are necessary, but there was some excess backstory amongst the teenagers that felt superfluous and could have been covered in a few sentences as part of the current-time action/ dialogue, though I believe these parts are small enough that most YA readers will appreciate them more than see them as speed bumps.

Overall, I liked this book and intend to buy the final version for my own teens--the themes are just that powerful, as is the delivery. Despite the few problems I pointed out, THE WEIGHT OF SOULS was a darned good story and it stays with me, the Mark of any good tale!

[Nafiza · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Weight of Souls is an interesting look into the life of Taylor Oh who has an affinity for, and obligation to, the dead who stalk her. If ghosts who leave the world due to unnatural reasons, (like humans wielding axes), touch her, they transfer a mark onto her skin. If she cannot pass the mark on to the murderer within a limited time, the Darkness will come for her. So she spends her days treating her best friend like crap (because the best friend can’t know), being bullied by these jerks at school and running from the ghosts who all want a piece of her and finding killers so that she doesn’t get killed.

The mythology is new; Egyptian mythology is incorporated with generous doses of urban myth. The writing is pretty at times and the pacing is just right. I liked the tense and dark atmosphere created in the novel. Dark streets, danger whispering down alleys, cruelty and viciousness all coming together to tell a tense story of cliques and power. The dead are always hungry for absolution and the parent, her father, is a disbeliever who takes more blood from her than a vampire would. All in the name of finding a cure. The parental issue is the least of Taylor’s problems though..

There are secret organizations, snobbery, classism and all those other fun things. There is also plenty of bullying – more on this later. And had it not been for a particular issue, I would not have had a problem with it. Pearce discusses, in a peripheral manner, never making it the explicit subject of a conversation, the discrimination Taylor suffers due to her Chinese heritage. Why it wasn’t specifically addressed, I don’t know.

But what I did have a problem with, what I still have a problem with, is the romance. From the beginning we are told that all of Taylor’s problems – the reason she is treated so badly – is due to the Mean Girl’s boyfriend, who has decided it is open season and Taylor is the choicest prey. He is the reason she is treated like utter crap – though, to be fair, the ones doling out the damage aren’t exactly angels either. However, for her to forgive him after he confesses that the reason he treated her like three day old trash was because he had a crush on her is…ridiculous and a bit offensive to me. I understand that in Kindergarten, boys will be jerks in order to show their “lurve” but having you pushed into a pit, calling you names because of your ethnicity – that’s not any kind of love I want to experience. Ever. It is not okay, in my opinion, for Taylor to wave that away and justify his death as an equalizer. It is not okay that he treated her as he did for a reason as stupid as it was. And asking the readers, well, this reader, to accept it…yeah, no.

Perhaps it is just me who is perturbed by incidents such as these, perhaps you think I’m over analyzing this but I don’t think I am. I don’t like the subtext; it’s disturbing. (And courtship rituals in certain YA novels is also my thesis so…I’m bit more sensitive to the issue.) This sticky issue aside, the novel is readable and I guess it is up to the individual to decide whether they want to read it or not.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

THE WEIGHT OF SOULS read like Gossip Girls with a paranormal twist- a high brow school in London, a mysterious club with secrets, and a girl with the ability to get vengeance for murder victims. What originally drew me in to THE WEIGHT OF SOULS was the striking cover, and what kept me hooked was action that started from page one, the mystery that Taylor has to solve and the sweet romance that develops throughout.

With Egyptian mythology and a heroine of Asian descent, THE WEIGHT OF SOULS manages to cover ground that you don’t see frequently in young adult paranormal, or really in urban fantasy at all. But the book doesn’t feel like fantasy. It could be any two friends trying to solve a murder- it just so happens in this book one of them is a ghost. The murder has nothing to do with the paranormal aspect at all, and the juxtaposition of the very real aspects of hazing and high school cliques with ghosts and the darkness that follows Taylor is an interesting one. I liked that this book didn’t necessarily follow the typical “girl gets powers, is super special, everybody falls in love with her” cliched plot that seems to have become relatively common. If anything, Taylor’s abilities keep her apart from others, and she is constantly dealing with her father, who is trying to “cure” her with a single minded focus that to me, made him a very sad character.

The world building in THE WEIGHT OF SOULS was done very well. Through journal entries of Taylor’s ancestor, we find out why her family is “cursed,” and we learn about the logistics of the curse in the first scene, where we see Taylor passing on a mark to a murderous gang member. Right away, we’re introduced to the life she lives, complete with danger and constant vigilance, since she’s always trying to avoid ghosts who could pass on another mark.

Usually, ghost and human romances kind of drive me nuts. I can never tell where they’re going, and they seem impossible to me (I guess everybody has their urban fantasy deal breakers). And that would probably be my one complaint about THE WEIGHT OF SOULS- I think it would have made a good story without the romantic connection between Justin and Taylor. Their relationship evolved from antagonistic to friendly, and I thought that change was believable, but the step to her liking him was a bit harder to swallow, and while a lot of it had to do with the fact that he’s a ghost, it also has to do with the fast transition from hating to liking- it seemed unrealistic.

THE WEIGHT OF SOULS was a very worthwhile read. This one kept me up way past my bedtime, but I didn’t regret finishing it as quickly as possible. It was different and I would definitely recommend you try it out if you’re looking for something a bit out of the norm. And while I couldn’t find anything about it being the start of a series, I know I would pick up a second book about Taylor, if there is one.

Sexual content: Kissing

[Tien · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite moments in life is when I’ve just read a book that exceeded my expectation. A book that is so engaging, that absorbed all your attention, that totally ruin everything else in the day for you, and that you can barely put down. Even better is a book you can devour in the one sitting. The Weight of Souls is one of those books for me. It was so easy to read with engaging characters and a pretty suspenseful plot; I was immediately immersed in the book and did not think of anything else for the day (fingers crossed that I didn’t do any major mistakes at work!).

What originally attracted me to this book is the ghost idea. I am Chinese in descent and they’re pretty superstitious especially when it comes to ghosts. Despite my being westernised, ghosts are just one of things that I cannot un-believe. Though personally I’ve never come across one nor do I want to and am pretty sceptical if someone said that they have come across one, I believe in the idea and ghosts in fiction would usually say to me, “Read Me!”

Interestingly, Taylor Oh is a halfie (ie. her mother is Chinese but her father is not) and it is through her mother that she has inherited this familial curse of seeing ghosts of murdered victims which usually comes with the obligation of avenging their murders. She was 10 when she saw her first ghost and from then on, her life has gone on a downward slide especially since she’s been unable to confide in her friends of what she’s seeing or doing. Not only that, she’s also been bullied at school. Life as a teenager is hard already without the extra burden (curse) that Taylor has to carry but then one of her bullies died and she’s the only who can see him. She felt forced to help him especially since her life is at risk from the Mark she carries but who murdered him and why? Will she be able to work together with him to solve this mystery?

I really liked the dynamic of relationships in this book, between Taylor and her dad, Taylor and Justin, Taylor and Hannah and Pete, etc. Each of them different and each revealed parts of Taylor: her loneliness, her strength, her loving nature, etc. There were also snippets of the origin of the curse which was told from Taylor’s memory of her mother’s voice which was really sweet and I really enjoyed this ‘ancient story’. As with all ghosts story, it’s always interesting to find out how the author would spin the romantic side of the story and I’ve to say that it was pretty sweet 

This story will string you along so be prepared to read it in one sitting. I loved the suspense, the “historical background”, the character interactions, the supernatural idea, and of course, the romance. I’m hoping with the way the book is ended that there will be an awesome sequel.

Thank you, Strange Chemistry via NetGalley for ecopy of book in exchange of honest review

[Nara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review also found on Looking for the Panacea

The Weight of Souls has one seriously epic premise. I mean, marks being left on the protagonist's skin by the ghosts of the murdered- marks which turn into the Darkness and will consume her if she doesn't transfer it to the murderer in time...DAYUM. I was so hoping that the book itself would be able to support the epic-ness of the premise, but unfortunately it falls a little short.

In the book (as evident from the blurb), there's a "secret society" where nobody ever goes in and nobody ever comes out. Well, not really, people just aren't allowed to leave it (I couldn't resist the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory reference haha). I have to admit though, the whole being unable to leave the club seems a bit stupid to me. It was just overly dramatic to have people who got kicked out of the club and therefore "forced" to leave the school. Surely you'd want out from the insane club that makes you do ridiculously dangerous dares anyway. I would transfer schools and good riddance to the damn club. Also, is getting one's social standing cut THAT bad? Because that's the punishment for leaving the "protection" of the club- I mean, come on!

The romance- like waaht just happened? Seriously, this was not built up well. At the start of the book, Justin was quite clearly one of the antagonists. He did not like Taylor and Taylor did not like him (or so it seemed...) Justin dies, and BAM apparently that is some sort of catalyst for sweet, sweet lurve. Yeah, I didn't see the attraction. And then the background is explained, and dude what a cop-out. I'm not sure I should talk about it in the review because it's a minor spoiler, but basically it was like -_- (Also, for those who've read the book- did anyone else find it really annoying how the characters called Taylor names like "Lucy Liu" and "China"? Could you get any more creative? #sarcasm)

The pace of the novel was quite reasonably set. It is a mystery, so pace is quite an important factor in keeping the reader's interest going. In terms of the writing though, one thing I was confused about was the relevance of the Egyptian mythology. To be honest, it just seemed like it'd been thrown in for not much reason at all. The whole Anubis etc. aspect of things just didn't quite fit the story that was being told. I mean, I understand that you can adapt the original story by adding in your own twist, but it really seemed as if the Egyptian thing was just put in there because it's a familiar theme. It was just really random...

Well, basically, The Weight of Souls wasn't terrible. It just wasn't as amazing as the premise set it up to be.

6/10

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! You know a book is good when you finish it in a day, can’t put it down, and when you are busy doing other things, all you can think about is getting back to the book. Which is exactly what happened once I started reading The Weight of Souls. And it was so easy to read, I felt like I had been reading for 5 minutes when I realised that I was on page 100.

The Weight of Souls appealed to me as although I read lots of paranormal, there are vampires, demons and so on, but I don’t read a lot that has many ghosts in it, and the fact that Taylor Oh was meant to avenge the death of the murdered gave a different spin to any book I have read before.

Right from the very first line I was sucked in. The writing is so imaginative and descriptive it’s like being transported right into the pages of the book. I immediately fell in love with Taylors character, it doesn’t take long to see how much her curse affects her whole life and the people in it, from the bullies at school, to her dad trying to find a cure. I even found myself warming lots to Justin, who at the start of the book is part of the V Club that torments Taylor, but after he dies and we learn more from his side, its hard to dislike him for long. I think this is the first time I have read a book where even the smaller characters have been written with as much care as the main characters have, and it pays off. It helped the flow of the whole book, and made the whole book seem more realistic.

As for the story of Taylor and her ghosts that Mark her so she can pass the Mark on to their killers so the Darkness can take them – it was so good, and so refreshing to read something new. It seems a lot of books these days, especially in similar genres and categories as The Weight of Souls, all seem to be heading along the same lines, the same kinds of characters and ‘otherworldly species’ so to read something that felt totally fresh and one of a kind maybe what made me fly through the pages.

I really hope that Bryony Pearce is writing another book to follow this, as there was a great little twist towards the end that put a smile on my face and I wanted to see how that panned out, but there were also a few unanswered questions, so I hope there is a next book to get those answers, and it’s not going to be one of those books you never find out everything (and okay, I really want more of Taylor and Justin, too!)

This is a Young Adult book, but I am almost 30 and loved it, and I would be happy to let my almost 11-year-old read it, there are a few swear words but nothing heavy, and not consistently throughout, but I honestly think young adult, or mature adult, whatever age I would have really enjoyed this book.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received in exchange for an honest review*
This book was definitely something different for me. I have never read a book like this before and was pleasantly surprised by it! The only ghosts stories that I have ever successfully managed aren't even ghost stories - they are the ghosts which reside in Hogwarts. I was a little sceptical about whether I would enjoy this book, especially with the romance element brought it, but it really was a fantastic read.

The novel follows the path of Taylor Oh and her battle with an inherited curse. Taylor can see ghosts, and if touched by one, she must avenge their deaths by passing on the mark which calls to the Darkness. If she fails, the Darkness will come for Taylor, leading her to an unknown fate. Needless to say, this does not make life easy for a sixteen year old girl. Constantly picked on in school, Taylor has only one remaining friend, Hannah. Taylor's constant scouting and avoiding of ghosts puts a strain on their friendship, something which isn't helped by the bullying antics of Justin, James, Tamsin and their gang.

The Weight of Souls takes a massive twist as we discover that Justin is dead. The novel follows the path of Taylor and Justin as they attempt to discover the mysterious causes of his death. The events which unfold make for an action packed novel; a novel which explores coming of age, trust, cults, death, friendship, bravery and loyalty. I could not put the book down. Almost every chapter ended on a cliff hanger, making you want to read more and more. Despite having an idea of who was responsible for the death of Justin, it was incredibly tense discovering the exact method and the corruption of an established cult within the school; something which continues ones the children leave.

It was tense and the romance did not dominate the book. This was something I found incredibly relieving. The prose was given over to the battle of Taylor and Justin, the romance was a side note and something which came with an interesting twist. The character of Taylor was incredibly well built; we learn about her family history, the origins of the curse and the struggles that she encounters daily. I loved the world building and it all felt incredibly familiar. It is an easy world to lose yourself in and is easily imaginable. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it!

[E. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brand new book by Bryony Pearce has three of my favorite topics to read about:

1. Murder

2. Ghosts

3. Bullying

Does this make me dark? Or perhaps the author? Or are we looking at a story that looks at reality through the lens of paranormal fiction? I'd like to think it's the latter. And I think that this is one of the many things that makes THE WEIGHT OF SOULS brilliant.

Taylor Oh is a student who is the bottom of the totem pole at her London high school. She's picked on relentlessly by the cool crowd, even to the point of physical violence. Racial slurs are thrown at her, she's tormented daily,and between this and her freaky secret, she never quite feels safe. Having recently lost one of her oldest friends to the popular kids, she now worries that her best friend Hannah will be the next to drop her.

The problem is, even if Taylor shared her secret with Hannah, she wouldn't believe her. Taylor sees the ghosts of murder victims. And when the ghosts spot her, they leave her with a mark -- a mark that could kill Taylor unless she finds the murderers and transfers it to them before the Darkness comes. Even Taylor's father doesn't believe the truth. A survivor of the accident that killed Taylor's mother, Mr. Oh is determined to find a cure for the family curse. With science. And he is getting more and more exhausted by Taylor's insistence that she needs to skip school, stay out late, and put herself in dangerous situations to help ghosts. According to Taylor's dad, Taylor's affliction is a combination of a skin condition and hallucinations. But Taylor knows the truth, and when one of the biggest jerks in school turns up missing, it's up to Taylor to solve his murder. She's the only one who can see him, and the only one who knows he's dead.

THE WEIGHT OF SOULS is not only riveting and rife with action, but heartfelt and beautiful. The humanity of the book strikes just as hard as the mythology. Bryony Pearce draws on Egyptian lore to create Taylor's world, and on the reality of teen life to create the characters around her and the social conflicts she has to confront. This is an up-all-night read, the kind of book that is terrifying and exciting and heart-wrenching. THE WEIGHT OF SOULS is not to be missed this summer, and I hope you'll go find yourself a copy soon!