Wayward Souls

Harker & Moriarty #2

by Susan J. Morris

"Such an absolute joy to read. Highly recommended" TJ Klune

Monsters are rising in Ireland-and the only ones who can stop them are two women who might be more dangerous than the beasts they fight...

Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty might have solved the Paris case, but that doesn't mean the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena trusts them. Sam's power to see into the minds of monsters is a slippery slope to corruption. Worse, Hel's uncanny habit of turning up wherever her notorious father's hand is felt has the Society questioning whether he exists at all . . . or whether it's been Hel all along.

So when Special Branch requests aid in Ireland, the heart of Professor Moriarty's hidden empire, they send another agent to monitor Van Helsing, who is perpetually suspicious of Sam and a bit of an arse.

Their investigation takes them from ancient ruins to the clandestine clubs of the rich and powerful, untangling the mysteries of magic, monsters, and men. But even as Sam and Hel fall deeper into each other's orbit, the secrets between them multiply. Things Hel can't bear to confess; things Sam doesn't dare confide. Things which not only put Sam in terrible danger from Van Helsing, but leave her haunted by death omens, mysterious black feathers, and a song no one else can seem to hear. And, as ever, Professor Moriarty lurks in the shadows, waiting to make his next move . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Historical, Mystery, Gothic, LGBT, Queer

Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2026

About the author

Susan J. Morris is a fantasy author best known for her Harker & Moriarty novels, including Strange Beasts and its sequel, Wayward Souls. Before succumbing to books entirely, Susan worked as a novels editor at Wizards of the Coast, ran workshops for Clarion West, and penned a popular writing-advice column—all of which, she is coming to realize, are more or less books. Susan makes her home in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her partner, her cats, and entirely too many plants. Find her online at susanjmorris.com.

Content warnings available on her website.

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Harker is a researcher at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena in London, England. All her life she had been conditioned to believe she was especially susceptible to evil because of her supernatural channeling ability--- she can see into the minds of monsters. To offset the risk of merely existing, she must not use her gifts for fear of corruption, like what happened to her mother under Dracula’s enthrallment. Sam is convinced she is a weakness, a liability, and a potential danger to everyone around her. Hel is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ notorious nemesis, Professor Moriarty, and her time at the Royal Society as one of the top field agents has earned her a confounding reputation as sterling as it is tarnished. She’s brilliant, but ominously, her partners always end up dead. With just a week away from Samhain, these two women will be dispatched to look into the perplexing disappearances of multiple field agents in Dublin, Ireland. To complicate things even further, the Royal Society has also assigned Jakob Van Helsing as head babysitter for the two women, ratcheting the stakes even higher: should Sam give in to her supernatural abilities or Hel fail to prove her father’s existence, their fates would be held in his hands. Unlocking the truth will become the heart of the matter for both the investigation and for Sam and Hel’s tenuous relationship as partners. Sam and Hel still struggle to trust each other; however, hesitating to do so will swiftly lock them inside a deadly game filled with monstrous secrets, shifting shadows, and masterful subterfuge. This book is powerfully propulsive, an irresistible page-turner, and I couldn’t look away as the chemistry and the mystery deepened. Hel and Sam will face insurmountable odds to exorcise evil, apprehend a killer (or killers), and outmaneuver Death itself!

Susan J. Morris has brilliantly alchimised a darkly atmospheric Victorian fantasy world packed with supernatural phenomena, secret underground societies, perilous puzzles, and thrilling monster and mouse investigations in her debut book series, Harker & Moriarty! The second installment to Morris’ series, Wayward Souls, is penned with great affection for the classically horrific and with great appreciation for a good detective novel. She skillfully sutures the two genres together with an exacting eye, transplanting terrifying villains and beloved characters from these worlds into a plot already rife with exciting exploits and other-worldly danger following Hel and Sam on their thrilling adventures!

I adore Hel & Sam together. Their initial chemistry was undeniable and totally addictive, but now it’s electric & the sapphic longing is absolutely scrumptious! I’m beyond excited that they now have their own series! Just like the first book, there is a continuing thematic presence of feminine strength & resilience in open rebellion against the systemic & prolific patriarchy of the time, which is profoundly satisfactory. Maybe it’s because I have been on a gothic horror novel dive recently, but this time around I also noticed clever connections from the genre including themes of unchecked ambition expanding far beyond defined ethical bounds & the questioning of what really defines monstrosity from humanity (both from Frankenstein), the literal & figurative grappling of good vs evil & our inexplicable obsession with female sexuality (these from Dracula). Morris’ writing is incredible, innovative, and intriguing. She has galvanized new life into long-dead, stodgy tales from the past, successfully giving rise to her very own Promethean creation!

I can’t recommend these books enough since I can guarantee you’ll be in store for a monstrously good time! Thank you so much Net Galley and Bindery Books/Inky Pheonix for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own.

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

A smidge of gothic horror, a touch of sapphic romance, and a whole lot of paranormal mystery and mayhem, Wayward Souls is book two in the spooky and compelling Harker & Moriarty historical fantasy series.

I really loved book one (Strange Beasts), with its wildly atmospheric, early 1900s, Parisian setting. I was wowed by the writing quality (for a debut) and the clever way Morris used characters and histories, from several notable classics (namely, Dracula and Sherlock Holmes), as stepping stones to build this engrossing gothic world, following FMCs Sam Harker and Hel Moriarty (both daughters of literary icons), as they use their smarts and skills to solve paranormal mysteries for a secret agency, while fighting their growing attraction to one another while facing dangers unknown.

In this sequel, I was more than happy to step back into this impressively atmospheric world, with these complex and likable female leads—along with their slightly antagonistic, but (to me) still lovable sidekick and thorny watch-dog, Jakob Van Helsing (son of the Dracula slaying legend himself).

This time around, a missing-persons’ case takes the trio to Ireland, where they become entrenched in local folklore and the frightening machinations of a secret society, as well as the expert behind-the-scenes game-play of Hel’s father (the infamous Professor Moriarty), all of which forces Sam, Hel, and Jakob to face their personal insecurities and multi-layered trust issues, in order to work together to foil the villains’ plans, in yet another complex, high-stakes, very time-sensitive, (eventual) murder-mystery case.

The characters and the world-building are no doubt the biggest strengths of this series, but unlike with book one, I found this sequel to be a lot slower in pace and fuzzier in some of its narrative executions. I’ll admit I had to re-read many passages and pages to even fully comprehend what was happening in some scenes here, often confused about who was talking and/or what they were referring to at any given moment. Unfortunately, this left me with a bit of a disconnect to the intricacies of this particular mystery plot that I can confidently say I did not experience with book one. For me, this story was perhaps overly complex, with too many side characters and mentioning’s of histories and folklores that I honestly struggled to keep straight (and visualise clearly) in my head.

Although I didn’t enjoy this story quite as much as its predecessor, I very much like this historic, gothic world and these fascinating lead characters (and their dynamics) a lot, to the degree that I would certainly return for more paranormal adventures as this series expands, should that be Morris’s plan going forward.


***A special thanks to the author and the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second installment in the series and was so pleased to see it continue to develop in the ways I most hoped. Definitely pick up Strange Beasts if you haven't yet, because Wayward Souls really builds off the events of that book.

My only criticism is that there was a particular reveal that was such a cool and unique idea that it made me jealous I hadn't thought of it first.

Oh! And we better see more of the kitten in the next book.... or else. >:)

I guess if you're the kind of person who hears it's International Women's Day and your response is to ask when International Men's Day is, then this is not the book for you. But for everyone else I had a blast and this is one of my fav reads of 2025!

Does the ~dog die?:
both Heathcliff and the kitty are absolutely unharmed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam and Hel (the daughters of Jonathan and Mina Harker from Dracula and Professor Moriarty, the nemesis of Sherlock Holmes, respectively) are off on another adventure in this sequel to Strange Beasts. This time London's Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena have sent them to Ireland with Jakob Van Helsing accompanying to keep an eye on things, as they don't quite trust Hel's loyalties or Sam's abilities.

Like its predecessor, the vibes in this book are perfectly on point! Steeped in the darker aspects of Celtic mythology and folklore, this story is perfect for spooky season reading. People in Ireland are disappearing in ways that smack of the supernatural and it's up to our team of field agents to figure out who or what is behind it all, preferably before the night of Samhain, when the veil between worlds is thinnest and dangers from the Otherworld are at their peak.

A theme of this installment is that no one is only one thing - all good or all bad. Characters who were midlevel villains of the last book have the opportunity here to show that they have another side. Our heroines have to learn to allow themselves as much grace as they do the monsters they confront in their line of work, who are sometimes made the way they are by monstrous acts committed against them.

I hadn't recalled from the first book that the story is all told with third person POV from Sam's perspective, so readers can only really get an idea of Hel and Van Helsing's thoughts and feelings through their interactions with her. I do think a reread of that one would have been beneficial, as I couldn't recall much about the situation with Sam's grandfather, which comes into play as a fairly major plot thread here.

One complaint I have with this book is the same one I had for the first in the series - I couldn't always follow the characters' reasoning when they came to conclusions about things in their investigation. The answers and explanations here were a bit convoluted, with a lot going on. I kind of had to just enjoy the ride and accept the characters' determinations without fully appreciating how they arrived at them.

Still, this was overall a fun story and perfect fit for my October reading, and I am grateful to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Inky Phoenix Press for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

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[Nico bookreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Bindery Books and Netgalley for this ARC.
My honest opinion is that this book is really good, and I love all the mysteries and the growth of each character! I love how Sam gets to discover more about herself and about the people she has in her life, Hel does some underground work here and we see more of Jakob too which fills my heart as I love these three so much.
The mystery, the research, the Irish folklore that goes deep within the roots of Ireland and the despise they have for the English, which is still true, lol.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and I hope it gets into your hands and hearts and you may all enjoy a good reading!

[Heather | Nerdy By Nature Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty may come from illustrious families, but they've made names for themselves working at the Royal Society for the Study of Abnormal Phenomena. Sam is more fond of the research side of things, but got a taste of field work while assisting Hel on a previous case. It also led to the Society distrusting the pair, but they've been given another chance to prove their loyalties when they're assigned a case in Ireland to uncover the mysterious disappearance of two fellow agents. Only this time, the pair will be accompanied by Jakob Van Helsing to oversee them. Their investigation takes them all over Ireland, and as Sam and Hel's connection grows deeper, so do the secrets between them. Hel is haunted by the sins she committed in her father's name, while Sam is plagued by death omens that mark her as the next victim. Can Sam and Hel uncover the truth before it's too late?

One of my favorite aspects of the previous book was its atmosphere, and Morris continued to nail it here. It has all the Gothic, spooky vibes you could want, plus it blends historical mystery and fantasy together in such a cool way. It also has a 'monster-of-the-week' feel that I love. I enjoyed learning more about our two MCs, Sam and Hel, and seeing their relationship develop (it's one for the slow-burn fans.) I liked how Morris incorporated Celtic myth and folklore into the plot. You could tell how much research must've gone into the work to get the story just so. However, it didn't capture my attention as fully as I'd hoped, but I still liked seeing Morris bring it all together. It's not a new favorite, but I would still recommend checking out the series.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morris' first book in this series, Strange Beasts was one of my favourites of 2025, so I was pretty excited to get hold of the sequel's ARC copy too. For a quick recap these books are set in an 'everything exists' universe and our MCs are descendants of the villain Moriarty, and Dracula's Mina Harker, and Van Helsing.

While Wayward Souls is a strong piece, I do diagnose a little bit of sequelitis. A major appeal of Strange Beasts was the frenemies dynamic between the main characters, but after being somewhat resolved in that book, the story of Wayward Souls feels like it stretches a bit to create some more drama between the main trio also there is a bit of a tear between the "monster of the week" plot and building ongoing tension for the big-bad. Basically I enjoyed the heck out of anything Moriarty related, which did make the main murder mystery type plot feel a bit like a distraction.

But that's all the negatives out of the way, Morris' writing is still some of the best urban fantasy out there. I continue to admire the way Morris is able to draw together to many mythical and supernatural elements without coming across as try-hard or just creating complete chaos. There is a good balance of intrigue and outright (and quite brutal action) scenes throughout the story and snuck between all that is decent social commentary which does some heavy lifting (as its kinda hard to do good social commentary when your fictional universe is full of magic and monsters).

All in all, my massive fanning over these books continue and I'm immediately hanging out for the next one, can't wait.

[Vavo ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this even more than the first. Not only I am obsessed with Sam and Hel and their relationship but I also loved the Irish setting. The historical background of the Seperatist movement and the industrial revolution, the idea that the country resisted against the English, the folk and the ghosts and all the creatures and of course the mystery were all woven together in the most satisfying way possible.
Sam and her struggles both as a woman and as a channel make her one of my favorite characters and my crush on Hel is still alive and well. It's a bummer she only has eyes for Sam. Never been more sad by a closed door scene btw.

[Wyetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s another title where I’m thinking, “Where do I begin?”—but in the best possible way.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books 📖 for the advance copy of this title.

With Wayward Souls, I probably should have read the first book to get better acquainted with the characters. There are so many moving parts and storylines that figuring out how everyone connects was a little confusing at times. I’m assuming the first book in the series would have cleared much of that up. Also, judging by the way this one ends, it’s clear another installment is right on its heels.

That said, I really enjoyed this title and its many twists and turns—especially since it’s not my usual type of read.

Let me break it down for my own sake. We have Samantha Harker, daughter of Mina and Jonathan Harker (yes, that Jonathan Harker—Dracula’s 🧛🏻killer). Her Aunt Lucy visits her as a ghost who drinks blood. Then there’s Dr. Helena Moriarty (daughter of Moriarty… yes, that Moriarty), whose precision and fighting skills are second to none. And of course, Jakob Van Helsing, who really needs no introduction.

All of these players are members of the Royal Society and are sent to Ireland to investigate the disappearance of two of its members.

Now let’s add in the Wild Hunt—which I only recognized from another TV show I’ve watched—along with crows’ feathers emerging from limbs and bodies, a silent song that only one person can hear, characters seeing the dead, witches, people with second sight… and suddenly you’ve got a whole grab bag of eerie elements to latch onto.

What I also found interesting was Samantha’s journey in this part of the series. She’s constantly being told to return home, yet she proves again and again that she’s smart, cunning, and more than capable of handling the task at hand. After all, she’s the one who ultimately puts the pieces together.

Despite the action and tension, this still felt like a cozy kind of story. There’s a brewing love story, strong friendships, betrayal, and men who believe they have the power to control and possess what isn’t theirs. Honestly—what more could you ask for?

I really enjoyed this title and highly recommend it. It would make a perfect read for the Fall/Halloween season.

Rating: 4.5 stars ✨

[Milda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Wayward Souls by Susan J. Morris in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What really worked for me in this book was the mystery. I loved that the investigation leaned into more Sherlock-style thinking 🧠—careful observation, clever deductions, and outsmarting the antagonist rather than relying purely on action. And Heathcliff the rat 🐀 absolutely stole the show for me. He felt like a true member of the team, fully involved in the adventure and investigation, not just a quirky side detail.

That said, while the romance was clearly with Hel, I couldn’t help but notice the tension between Van Helsing and Samantha 👀. It didn’t ruin the story for me, but it did pull my attention away from the central relationship at times and left me slightly conflicted about where my emotional investment was supposed to land.

Would I recommend it?
Yes. If you enjoy supernatural mysteries with smart problem-solving, a strong investigative thread, and memorable side characters (especially the animal kind 🐾), this is a solid and enjoyable read.

#WaywardSouls #NetGalley

[Ana Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After Strange Beasts ended up on my favorites of 2024, I was both excited and scared when I found out about the sequel. I’m very glad (and relieved) to report that Wayward Souls held up to the very high standards Susan J. Morris established with the first book.

One of my favorite things about this series is the setting. I love the way the author seamlessly weaves together historical events (in this case, we had a lot about Irish Separatism, the Gaelic Revival movement, and the Second Industrial Revolution) and figures with local mythology and famous literary characters and lore. As a reader, you can really tell how much effort she put into researching all of these elements.

Of course, we have our main characters, Samantha Harker and Helena Moriarty, this time accompanied by Jakob Van Helsing, drawing from Dracula and Sherlock Holmes, but I love how there were nods to other stories, as well as more elements of these two (I loved the introduction of Sam’s “aunt”, to keep this review spoiler-free).

I really enjoyed the inclusion of Van Helsing in the main group, both because it was interesting to see how his presence changed Sam’s dynamic with Hel (and with her own powers) for the development of his character and backstory. Learning about his past makes us understand his actions and his complicated relationship with Sam.

I love how much nuance Morris brings to basically all aspects of the book: family dynamics, character relationships, what makes a “monster”, and so on. Nothing is black and white, and it’s incredible how she does this in a way that is not overwhelming or confusing.

Now, I really enjoyed this novel, but there were two things that ended up a bit confusing . The first one being about the mystery. There were too many suspects (both humans and “monsters”), and I often found myself having to reread passages to make sure I understood and wasn’t mixing up any of the characters. I also wish there was more explanation regarding the mythology. I’m personally not familiar with Irish folklore, and obviously, there was a lot of it in this book. We did get information about some of the figures, but for others (and ones that were quite significant to the story) I feel like the author expected the reader to have some previous knowledge of, which I didn’t.

In the end, I settled for a solid 4-star rating. The writing, atmosphere, characters, and relationship dynamics are the highlights of this series and were really well constructed, and even with the issues I had while reading, I do think the mystery overall was good as well.

Personally, I liked Strange Beasts better than Wayward Souls, but that’s mostly due to my taste and experiences. I’ve been to Paris multiple times and love any time it is used as a setting, especially during this time period. On the other hand, I haven’t been to Ireland (yet) and am not familiar with Celtic myths, so I wasn’t as immersed this time around.

This book can be read and understood by itself, but I would highly suggest picking up Strange Beasts beforehand to get more context on the world and characters. This series is incredible and I really, really hope we get many more installments following Sam and Hel solving mysteries all over the world.

[Athena Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Freya, arc & monthly book box pick reviewer (on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/athenafreya... )

Initial thoughts: My favourite f/f partners->more are back, and no one is happier than me!

About the book: Hel is still distrusted by their Society, and in fact, they are actively trying to find any evidence to arrest her. Sam is by her side and supports until they find themselves on an investigation in Ireland- Moriarty's homebase. Men keep disappearing, ominous birds and songs surround Sam, and everything happens while Van Helsing is there distructing everyone.

What I liked 🤩: If I really, really liked book 1 (Strange Beasts), then I LOVED book 2 (Wayward Souls). The suspense, the who-did-it, but also Moriarty's threatening aura and the omissions of truth between Sam, Hel, and Van Helsing had my brain doing sommerhaults in the best way possible.

Sam is tormented by things she doesn't feel comfortable saying to Hel or to Van Helsing. About the song she keeps hearing and how tempted she is to surrender to it. About the feathers she keeps finding in slightly creepy ways because she doesn't want Hel to worry and do something extreme against her father. But she also grows steadily into a woman who does what she wants, rules be damned, and that character growth was sooo satisfying.

Hel learns to trust Sam and lets her in. As usual, she is hot with dry humour that I absolutely love and incredibly smart. She observes and sees everything, and I do have a thing for smart, competent characters.

I disliked Van Helsing in the first book and still dislike him but a lot less. We get to see things from his traumatized perspective, and it truly makes you dislike him a lot less, which makes me believe that the author did a great job with his character development.

The plot was tight, no loopholes, no lacking pacing, just suspense and mystery and tons of different plot threads waiting to be discovered and pulled. The worldbuilding was awesome, from Irish lore to secret societies, Irish separatists, and Moriarty's criminal network consisting of human and magical resources. It blew my mind.

This book is perfection and managed to pull me from a reading slump.

What I didn’t like 🙃: Nothing. This was perfect!

Overall: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MORE PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS SERIES. IT IS AMAZING!!!! Everything about this book is amazing: the plot, the worldbuilding, character development, representation! 5 stars aren't enough! I sincerely hope we get more books in this universe. I need a closure so badly.

SE info: This series of standalones have beautiful Goldsboro editions. Yes, I got mine.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Wayward Souls is the sequel to Strange Beasts and the second book in the sapphic historical fantasy mystery series Harker & Moriarty. Samantha Harker and Dr. Helena Moriarty may have solved their Paris case, but Hel remains under suspicion. No one believes her villainous father, Professor Moriarty, is truly dead. Now the pair are specially assigned to Ireland to investigate the disappearance of several men, including two agents sent before them. However, the Special Branch insists they be accompanied by Jakob Van Helsing, who is determined both to restrain Samantha’s channeling abilities and to catch Helena in wrongdoing. When their investigation leads to a secret society of wealthy and powerful men dabbling in magic, they must unravel a dangerous web of intrigue before Samhain, when the barrier between worlds grows thin.

I thought this was much stronger than Strange Beasts. It retains the gothic atmosphere and feminist energy without tipping into the heavy-handed, man-hating rhetoric that tainted the first book. The central mystery also feels more integrated with the characters’ emotional arcs instead of playing second fiddle to them. The novel continues unresolved threads: Sam’s search for her beloved grandfather and Hel’s complicated relationship with her father and brother, one of which reaches a satisfying conclusion. While the romance between Sam and Hel still lacks strong chemistry, it at least features more pining and subtle emotional cues woven into their interactions.

Of the central sapphic duo, Sam is the more fully realized character since the story unfolds primarily through her perspective. Hel remains distant, her guarded nature and the plot’s structure limiting opportunities for her to open up. Unexpectedly, the standout character for me was Jakob Van Helsing (which is probably the wrong takeaway for a sapphic fantasy). Despite his deeply flawed beliefs and actions, he is written with emotional complexity and a compelling internal conflict that allows his character arc to shine. The narrative does an effective job of showing how his upbringing shaped him, making him feel more layered and human than the protagonists at times.

While richer in mystery and atmosphere than the first book, Wayward Souls still struggles to make its central romance as engaging as its supporting cast.

*Thank you to both Hodder & Stoughton and Bindery Books for the eARC via NetGalley

[Sara-Jane Keenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was really interesting, a next generation mash up of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes. A gas lamp paranormal fantasy meets mystery thriller.

This is the second book in the series and I do recommend reading the first book prior to this one. I didn’t realise that it was the second so I feel like I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I might have if I’d read book one first.

The main characters are Samantha Harker, the daughter of Dracula’s killer, Helena Moriarty, daughter of Moriarty and Jakob Van Helsing, son of Van Helsing. Sam and Helena are a couple but I didn’t even notice at first. Their relationship grows throughout the book but I didn’t find myself rooting for them.

I particularly enjoyed the world building, when the trio go to Ireland there’s lots of great folklore, which was fun to read. I enjoyed the mystery and tension too.
However, it was a little bit too dialogue heavy which struggled to keep my interest.

Overall, I did enjoy the concept of the story, the folklore and paranormal elements, so I rate it 3 ⭐️.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this series more and more with every installment! 🙌

We’re on another case with Sam Harker and Hel Moriarty with Jakob Van Helsing keeping an eye! 👀 I love this trio of characters and am enjoying the connection between Sam and Hel further develop. I was drawn in from the get go and stayed engaged throughout! Oh and let’s talk about the cover for a sec - is it not gorgeous?!! The covers for this series so far have been so beautifully intricate! 😍 Highly recommend this series, book peeps! Especially if you love historical fantasy mixed with mystery and gothic vibes! 👏

Thank you to Inky Phoenix Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[Alicia Jardine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
This was a fun read with a good amount of the fair folk and mystery. Being a sequel, I enjoyed that the plot picked up shortly after the events of the first novel and I didn’t feel any disconnect between the characters and storyline.
This was heavy on the character development, which I appreciate, but I did feel at times the plot was getting stagnant. Overall, this was an interesting addition to the series. The plot was full of the Fair Folk and Irish Folklore that gave a feeling of being in another world entirely. The mystery was interesting and fun and was not entirely predictable. Always a plus!

I received this eARC by the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.0.

I enjoyed being back in this world and the characters on page again. I found book 2 to be slightly slower than book 1 pacing wise but I enjoyed the flow with the paranormal horror taking center stage.

I like this duology though as it takes characters we widely recognise and it feels fresh with strong femal characters and queer representation. I like the dynamics and the way the story unfolds with mystery and supernatural tones.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Warward Souls is not a standalone story. It is the second book in the Harker & Moriarty series, following Strange Beasts, and contains spoilers for the previous book.

Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.

[Mystie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, twisty, and scrumptious! I love this series!

This latest installment takes us into deep mysteries and desperate fates. It was exquisitely written and engrossing.

This is more female strength and using the skills you have in the face of adversity than say female rage. I think that made it even more interesting the more I read.

Sam's abilities take turns that no one expected and the team grew!

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend both books of this series to anyone who loves a meld of Sherlock Holmes mystery solving and the paranormal.

Thank you so much to Edelweiss and Bindery Books for this arc.

[Sarah Ingerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*

Thank you to NetGalley and Book Bindery for the eARC.

No sophomore slump here—Susan J. Morris delivers again. Strange Beasts was one of my favorite reads of 2025, and its sequel, Wayward Souls, is a worthy follow-up.

I especially loved the development of the relationship between Sam and Jakob Van Helsing. In this book, you get a stronger sense of who Van Helsing is, and it adds some heartbreaking context to his character. As always, I also loved the dynamic between Hel and Sam. Hel is exactly the kind of prickly love interest I always fall for in books. I also appreciated the new nods to Dracula and Frankenstein—fingers crossed Frankenstein himself shows up in a future installment. As a gothic fiction fan, these literary crossovers are part of what makes this series so compelling for me.

That said, I did find Wayward Souls slightly less successful than Strange Beasts. The writing didn’t feel quite as crisp. For example, there’s a scene where Sam and Hel are joking about how the conversation should be taking place somewhere else—but I didn’t even realize where they were until well after that comment, which pulled me out of the moment. There are a few instances like this where I had to reread to get my bearings. Some of the folklore references could also use more context; creature names were sometimes mentioned without explanation, and I found myself having to look them up to fully understand their significance.

Still, I really enjoyed this book (hence the high rating), but I’m tempted to reread it just to make sure I didn’t miss anything the first time around.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved getting to check out the sequel, so thank you for that!
I snagged this off Netgalley.

Usually I have some reservations about sequels, but this one I was actually excited for and it did not disappoint, so safe to say, if you liked the first one, you will totally love this one, I did.

I am obsessed with Sam and Hel ( spoiler alert but not really a spoiler in that sense but Sam is the kid of Mina and Johnathan Harper ( screaming) and Hel is the kid of Professor Moriarty ( super screaming) I am a long time fan of all things in that realm so you can imagine.

There are so many little Easter eggs for people like me that I am not going to spoil, but if you are a Sherlock or Dracula fan, its too fun.

This book isn’t all adventure and romance of course, it’s a sordid tale of what I think is, when is a monster a monster?
When is what you are doing for good, really going to far..
Power corrupts but its also what you make of it..

This story was excellent…

I need more Sherlock vibes with a Sapphic twist please!

[Chewable Orb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wayward Souls (Harker & Moriarty #2) by Susan J. Morris
4🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Est. Pub. Date: March 17, 2026
Bindery Books/Inky Phoenix Press

Beyond the veil of Irish folklore….

💡 Orbs Prologue: I have been summoned. Detective Orb, pipe in hand, my gunmetal grey tweed suit immaculately pressed. Sitting on a dark mahogany chair, I listen to Mr. Wright, the director for the Royal Society for the Study of the Abnormal Phenomena, prattle on about being a mediator. A glorified babysitter of grown adults, more like. Samantha Harker, Helena Moriarty, and Jakob Van Helsing, detectives in their own rights, need supervision. During the debriefing, it has come to our attention that field agents have gone missing in Ireland, and “our team,” if one could call us that, is tasked with investigating the whereabouts of our comrades. Shifting uncomfortably, I sigh, for this could end up being a complete disaster. There is no love lost between some of these individuals. Van Helsing, as the name suggests, is great at rectifying “creature” problems, yet his ego remains larger than ever. Harker is a channel, and while handy with the more supernatural side of things, her actual on-hand fieldwork is lacking. May I also disclose a “hidden” relationship between Harker and Moriarty, who herself is trying to escape the various accusations due to her ties with her infamous father, he of numerous nefarious acts? I expect this to go as smoothly as a plane entering a stormy jet stream. Ireland…. On an old wrought-iron bench, I people-watch through the lens of a grizzled veteran. The landscape of a lush green park, stirring with activity, consumes our attention. In a suddenness of change, if one looked closely, a thin film of smoke-like abstraction began to hover, smearing the beauty… for this is where our fellow brethren had disappeared…

🧐 A small glimpse: In another installment in the Harker & Moriarty series, our detectives go searching for information as to the whereabouts of missing coworkers. This time, with Jakob Van Helsing in tow, author Susan J. Morris has planned a mystery soaked in Irish folklore and a group called the Vespertine. The Verspertine are your average wealthy individuals looking to harness powers through a more cult-like nature, mystical seances, where creepy animal masks are part of the evening attire. As Samhain arrives, the veil between humans and the spirit world becomes its thinnest, thus firmly placing select individuals to meet their untimely deaths. As Sam’s “visions” increase, she attempts to hide their ferocity from Moriarty & Van Helsing in an attempt to prove her worth. This unique ability has proven to be extremely helpful but has come with the dangerous caveat of putting Sam in harm's way. The ghosts loom restless, attacking apparent random persons. Why? What is the cause of these provocations? Who is the person pulling the marionette strings?

👍 Orbs Pros: Paranormal mysteriousness!! Visions, creating chaos and mayhem…stirring the ghostly pot. An unsettling feeling rushes over me, as if having 9 out of 10 photos of a crime scene, yet the one missing one holds the key to cracking the case. Strong Characters!! There is enough bravado to go around with the likes of Moriarty and Van Helsing around. In this story, Harker comes of age as a detective and discovers her worth to her peers. The Lore!! I found the Irish folklore to be fascinating. The story of Samhain, which sees ghosts seeping through, exacting their terrors on unsuspecting people, was both fascinating and frightening in equal measures.

👎 Orbs Cons: Slowly plodded along!! Strangely, if I compare this book with the first in Morris’ Harker & Moriarty series, I found this one a bit slower. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I felt passages needed to be read for more clarity. I wouldn’t say the writing was clunky by any means, but it required more concentration on my part, which ended up breaking my immersion at times.

Recommended! If you have read the first novel in this series, then reading this is a no-brainer. The outcome was satisfying, and I look forward to continuing the series. I can recommend this to anyone who loves that paranormal vibe, steeped strongly in flashes of clues hidden in visions to point the reader in the right direction. This group has a deep-rooted history, and as such, there are always a certain number of trust issues that surface, bringing even more emotions to the table.

💡 Orbs Epilogue: Crows!! The murder of crows' black feathers shimmer, beaks opening and closing in intermittent cawing. For a minute, they seem almost human. In a fit of anger, Harker turns to me and blurts out what she has seen. Rendering her helpless, the entity stalks her nighttime hours in an attempt to speak words that come out as nothing more than silence. Harker remains perplexed. A warning? A haunting? Moriarty is feeling out of her depth. Time is difficult for one who is guarded with her emotions, and really, who can blame her for dealing with an almost psychopathic genius for a father? Moriarty, on multiple occasions, has leaned on my shoulder for a good cry, but I am not to tell anyone of this! Van Helsing…like father, like son. The epitome of a manly man, never one to back down from a fight. And yet, I have seen an innate tenderness within that clearly differentiates him from his old man. How am I through all this, you might ask? Orb is old and fearful. For I see a patchwork of darkness arising from thin air, a trellis of onyx wings, with just enough slivers of light to see through to the other side, where an illumination of golden symbols resembling a satanic type of worship attempts to prosper in a place that should be well enough left alone. Whispy tattered ghosts flutter by, evil creatures biding their time until Samhain…until Samhain…

Many thanks to Bindery Books/Inky Phoenix Press for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

[Gyalten Lekden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit hit or miss for me. Or, more accurately, miss and then hit. I had a lot of fun with the first novel in the series; I liked the world and the characters that were developed and the sense of mystery and danger that flirted with being cozy but with just enough peril to keep you holding your breath across chapters.

So, I was eager for this book, only for the first half to be a bit of a disappointment. It felt like the entire first half of the book should have been one chapter. Yes, the world is patriarchal and parochial, somehow infantilizing the main characters and insisting they need protection but also insisting they are dangerous, and both Sam and Hel react to this differently… But this is exactly the same dynamic as in the first book. Nothing is added to it, it doesn’t reveal anything new about the characters or the world, it isn’t used in any interesting way. It is the same note being run again and again. It is certainly a valid and interesting note, it is part of what makes the duo such a tense set of main characters in this world, but a story needs more to go on than that, especially when it is no different than the first novel, no sense of change or maturation. The world had been expanded but that is about it, especially as the main characters did not have to do much work. A person literally dies in front of them at their hotel, and the clues basically fall into their laps, there never seems any urgency or wit to their investigation. To be honest, when I hit the 50% mark I was not particularly interested or enamored with the story. It wasn’t offensive or bad, it just wasn’t interesting, and our characters were not functionally different from who they were in the last novel.

Then we crossed the halfway point and things got interesting. The clues and the mystery still did feel convenient—the story doesn’t really highlight how special our main characters are, to be honest—but things felt like they were moving. There was intrigue, there was character growth and development, and it felt like there was more happening than simply two uncommonly intelligent women doubting themselves in a patriarchal society. The plot actually felt like it was moving, while all the characters basically grew along an expected trajectory at least there was internal movement. In short, I had fun with the second half of the book. I was not blown away by the mystery or the reveal, and the stakes never really felt as high as in the first novel, but I still enjoyed my time with the characters. Nothing was surprising, in terms of plot or character growth, but it was still satisfying and enjoyable. If the whole first half was a single chapter then this would be a strong novella and I would be singing its praises. Instead, it feels a little unbalanced and undercooked, without enough plot or character development to really warrant a full novel and so a first half that feels thin, at best.

I also think a lot of the writing feels quite abrupt; the set-up and pay-off are almost always back-to-back. It never really feels like there is a sense of struggle, instead just convenience, both in the characters’ experiences but also just the narrative. For instance, the very first scene is Sam being interviewed by her boss and two other investigators. She leaves his office, meets Hel, and they walk to Hel’s desk. As soon as they arrive someone rushes into the room and says the boss needs to see both of them in his office… and so they just turn around and walk back, I guess? But he is in an entirely different emotional state than he was a minute before and has been briefed on and planned an elaborate, multi-country field assignment for them in the intervening minutes, totally ignoring the investigation into Hel’s behavior that warranted the opening interview in the first place. The writing feels like that. Those two scenes felt totally unrelated, and they were just shoved together, creating a dislocated narrative that doesn’t feel like it has momentum. Everything happens in the most convenient way, and none of it is terribly surprising.

Look, I am clearly disappointed by this title. I enjoyed the back half and wish that could have been the start of the journey. The characters and world are still fun and there is still an incredible amount of potential in this series, but this novel just missed its mark. The ideas it brings up are important and interesting, but they are the same things explored in the first novel, without adding any new wrinkles. The mystery is more or less served to them on a platter, it doesn’t feel like it taxes their skills or intellect in any meaningful way. I would love to see this pair take on more cases, cases that actually let us explore different types of lore and fantastical beasts, instead of just name-dropping them and having them be somewhat incidental to what is going on. If you enjoyed the first novel then, by the end of this one, there are certainly some fun beats and a small amount of character growth. It literally took me half of the book to really have a sense of adventure or fun, but it is there, and the story ends in such a way that the promise of more stories is real.

I want to thank the author, publishers Bindery Books & Inky Phoenix Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

(Rounded from 2.5).

[lit._.for_life_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @binderybooks for allowing me to read Wayward Souls, the second book in the Harker and Moriarty series by Susan J. Morris.

So, I have mixed feelings about this books, so this will be both quite long and very ranty.

Overall, it felt a lot like a filler book that tried to further character development, but made them mostly feel static.
The narrator has a lot of revelations about the world but seems unable to apply those outside her head, the relationship between her and the woman she loves felt very strained and unrealistic, and the whole thing felt unnecessarily long.

It did manage to create some suspense and had some more world building (I think the idea of Sherlock Holmes but women and supernatural is super fun)
(Disclaimer, I dont know anything about the Irish folklore used for this book and cannot comment on that)

While i do have some issues with this book, it does not mean I think this series is bad. I just think this was very much not for me, but others would really enjoy it.

Spoilers!! The rant, then followed by genuine critique
Samanthaaaaaaaa, just because you are the only feminine woman you spend a lot of time with does not mean you are the only person suffering from the patriarchy!!

Samantha, why do you suddenly talk about how attracted you are to Hel when you are being a horrible person and she is disappointed in you and really hurt

Samantha you are supposed to be smart and kind and all that but then how come you are literally incapable of applying any “revelations” about society to anyone that isn’t a feminine woman??? How did it take you so long to realise that maybe the reason you cannot recognise the boy you grew up with, who grew up within the same oppressive, patriarchal system as you, maybe was hurt by it as well???

Genune critique
Also, I felt like the author missed such a big chance to talk about Samanthas lack of autonomy, both as a woman but also as a channel. Especially because her lack of autonomy is not only enforced by the man in the group, but also Hel, since both Hel and Van Helsing have a hard time allowing Samantha to make her own choices and take responsibility for herself.

In Hels case its mostly played of in a “I love her and must protect her” but because her “mirror” character if you can call it that is Van Helsing, a man who works for the same broken institution as them and has been telling Sam that if she starts using the powers she was born with, he will kill her, and has been telling her that since Samantha and Van Helsing were like 11 years old, Hel just looks like she is reinforcing the control the system has on Samantha.
And I am sorry, but helping others taking away the autonomy of a person is not very romantic.

This lack of commentary is also one of the reasons why Samanthas character got on my nerves. She has the right to keep what she wants from the others in the group and to make her own decisions, but she only justifies them in her head. Whenever she has to talk with someone else it’s like she becomes the woman who is incapable of everything and is in dire need of a saviour. Like come on, don't stand up for yourself only in your head!!

This might just be me, but in many ways, Hel is not written as a woman. You could easily take out some physical descriptions and you would have no idea about her gender. It annoys me a little, because it feels like you are putting stereotypical heterosexual relationship ideas onto a sapphic couple and not allowing them to have a relationship outside the binary (most of the time, it gets a bit better further into the book).
Hel is written like the broody and cold man, and Samantha more like the sunshine or cheeky/sassy woman who is the only one who can get him out of his shell.
I just wish we got more in depth characters and better character dynamics so it feels less superficial and ‘Boxable’ if you know what I mean.

And my main issue.
I do not need you to explain to me every single nuance of the characters and their dynamics. Samantha and Hel has a conversation, Samantha realises she has done something stupid and then there is a whole paragraph detailing exactly why and how Samantha has hurt Hel.
That details how she hurt her both in the moment, but also in relation to everything that has already happened in the book. Then after being told every single little detail, there will be multiple scenes playing out exactly. what. was. just. told.
It just gets annoying in the long run, and I want to be able to feel the atmosphere instead of being told everything about it before I get to see it myself.

[AmEricaNo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for providing a copy of this ARC.

In recent years, I—like many other readers—have developed a small phobia surrounding sequels. We’re all aware of famous authors missing their deadlines and leaving fans languishing for years on broken promises. And even if the sequel to the book you love does come out, there’s no guarantee that it’ll live up to your lofty expectations. Worse, what if the second book fails to live up to your lofty expectations and retroactively makes you like the first book less? These are the questions that made me nervous about picking up Wayward Souls, the sequel to Strange Beasts, one of my favorite books of 2024.

Sam and Hel’s story picks up a month after the events of the first book, when they’re thrown into their next mystery case involving the mysterious disappearance of two Society field agents in Ireland. Amidst speculations of Hel’s deceit concerning her father’s crimes, Sam’s childhood friend and modern-day adversary Jakob Van Helsing is sent to accompany—and more importantly—keep an eye on them. Their investigations will take them to Professor Moriarty’s home court, where Hel must revisit the sight of the sins she’s committed as her father’s pawn and Sam must resist the temptations of Ireland’s untamed wilds.

Strange Beasts and Wayward Souls are what I imagine the Sherlock Holmes novels could be like if they were updated for modern readers with 21st-century bones and twentieth-century skin—and of course, the supernatural and righteous feminist anger. I adore how Susan J. Morris isn’t afraid to excavate familiar gothic tales and go through them with a fine-tooth comb, uncovering the buried stories of women and monsters wronged (for women, as we all know, are often framed as monsters so long as they resist men’s control). It’s like finally being able to relive the stories we loved so uncritically as children, but whose flaws and limits we couldn’t look away from or excuse as adults.

Outside of the mystery, which Morris nails once again in the sequel, I was most excited (and nervous) about the progression of Sam and Hel’s relationship. In Strange Beasts, Sam and Hel were often separated for long periods at a time, so I was hoping for them to get more interaction together in the sequel, seeing as they were partners. In Wayward Souls, I am loving how open and unapologetic Sam is about her feelings for Hel in her internal monologue. This girl can get feral. Unfortunately, Morris almost seems scared to keep Sam and Hel on-screen for too long at a time, lest they explode with the sheer amount of chemistry they have with each other. I also can’t help but pity Jakob as the unfortunate third wheel to their whole situation.

Wayward Souls suffers from many of the same flaws as Strange Beasts—flaws that I was willing to overlook because of how exhilarating a time I had reading the first book, but that become more difficult to overtly ignore on a second visit. While I can follow the broad trajectory of the narrative and piece together how the ending occurred, Wayward Souls nevertheless shares similarities with Strange Beasts in how difficult it can be to follow the individual details: There’s such a dizzying amount of locations, character names, and connections that I’m tempted to pull out a whiteboard for my next read.

By the same token, Wayward Souls pulls an emotional explosion in the third act that reminds me a little too much of the first book, down to when it occurs in the narrative. And like the first book, I was left feeling like the resulting aftermath needed more time for the characters to process in a way that felt true to themselves. I wanted more from the conclusion. I wanted to know where the characters stand with each other. But, once again, we’re left waiting for the sequel. In some ways, how similar Wayward Souls ended up being to Strange Beasts made me love the sequel less—yet my overall feelings for the series remain the same.

If you’re a fan of slow-burn, you’re going to love how much this series is cooking.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

[ 3.5 / 5 ]

A Big Thank You to the publishers for reaching out to me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second installment of the Harker & Moriaty series and picks up fairly soon after the events of part one. It was nice being with our main characters again and I enjoyed being with the classic-literature-spin off characters again - I am still loving the nods to Sherlock and Dracula etc.

Before I talk about the actual content in the novel, I would like to compliment the cover artist, Zach Meyer, who once again blessed us with an absolutely beautiful cover! I have loved both covers from this series so far and I hope Meyer continues to do the rest if this series continues.

This installment had a lot of Irish folklore which I was absolutely eating up! I actually come from an Irish family myself but know nothing about the folklore and tales (born and raised in England), so this novel definitely had me googling a variety of folklore and reading up on some Irish legends/myths myself which I greatly appreciated - I love when a novel has me googling and educating myself on stuff.

I had fun reading about the new creatures this time as well as seeing a development and continued discovery in our main characters' skills and abilities.

Also, I really liked the actual writing in this novel; I highlighted a lot of things while reading:


The cord kissed his palm and fell, ribboning into the dark.


This was where countless writers had cut their teeth, from Oscar Wilde to Jonathan Swift, its library whispered about amongst the Society's researchers in tones of awe.


A vaulted building of moss-eaten stone built on a hill, hollow eyes of windows half swallowed by earth



However, much like the first novel, I feel like the actual chemistry / relationship between our two female protagonists is still missing something. Although, it made sense this time as a lot of this novel is focus on them agreeing to "let's pretend we actually don't get along so people don't suspect we're together", therefore we spent a lot less time with them actually together. On the other hand, I really enjoyed seeing Sam and Van Helsing working through the distance in the friendship and seeing each other's side of how they felt things changed since they were children. We also started getting answers and reveals about Sam's ability, her grandfather, and Hel's family in this one, so I am very intrigued to see how these things continue to unfold.

Another slight negative point I want to make is; I feel Characterisation is Morris' weak point. I can tell you maybe 3 things max about our 3 main characters, and then excluding them, I honestly would not be able to tell you who Mr Bishop, Lord Lusk, Mr Enfield, and M. Voland are nor how they differ besides who's dead and who isn't. At the end of the day, it could be a me problem, but I felt the Characterisation was lacking.

Finally, I couldn't figure out the mystery this time around, even though the answer ended up being obvious, but that could be because I was enjoying my time with the actual writing, the monsters, and the lore instead. I really do think those are aspects Morris shines brightly in.

If there is a third installment, which I assume there will be because of the open ending I will happily read it.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to reread Lockwood & Co. and rewatch The Irregulars.

Wayward Souls is the second book in the Harker & Moriarty series, and it's a historical fantasy/mystery that explores Irish folklore in a way that made me actually enjoy the supernatural. I'm not always a huge fan of monster hunter and paranormal plots in books, but I think I enjoy them more when the settings are more historical, so I appreciate the aesthetics of this series. I want to note briefly that I did not reread book 1 before I read this one; I had some notes from my read-through, but they were vague, and I do think a reread is necessary to truly enjoy this if you're someone like me who forgets books just a few weeks after you read them.

After two Society agents go missing in Ireland, Sam and Hel are sent to investigate their disappearances...only this time they're to be supervised by Jakob Van Helsing. Everything takes a turn for the worse when it is revealed that the victims were all being haunted, and so is Sam. If Sam wants to live, she'll have to solve the mystery of the disappearances without revealing her true nature to Van Helsing. I liked the mystery aspect of the plot, though it did feel a little overwhelming at times. I felt like I didn't have a good enough grasp on any of the subjects to truly formulate any theories, so I was kind of along for the ride. I didn't really predict any of the plot twists, but like I said, I felt a bit disoriented and couldn't quite find my footing within the mystery. There was a fair amount of action, so I did appreciate the quick pacing. Admittedly, the suspense aspect didn't hit right for me. I'm not sure what it was, given that Sam was in danger pretty much the whole book. Another review pointed out that she acted a bit damsel-like for the majority of the story, and that might have been what didn't work for me. I liked the ending, and I'm excited to see where the plot goes in potential future books, but I do think I enjoyed book 1 more than this one.

Does Van Helsing know he's third wheeling? Someone should tell him...but also, his ignorance is entertaining. Like I said earlier, Sam got on my nerves a bit with the self-pity, but she also continuously got involved in the mystery despite her fears, so I didn't dislike her. I almost wish this book were dual-POV because I think switching between Sam and Hel's minds might help with getting tired of one narrator. Hel is fun; I like her boldness and how her independence comes back to haunt her at times. I still think the dynamic between them is great and they complement each other well, but the fake-enemies trope they had going on annoyed me at times. I understand its importance, but that doesn't mean I like it. Van Helsing was an entertaining addition to the team. It's clear that he cares about Sam, which makes him good to have around, but he's also so stupid sometimes. I didn't care much for any of the side characters; again, I feel like I struggled to remember them at times, and I didn't know much about them to truly create any opinions. Not to worry, though, because Sam and Hel's dynamics can carry the story when side characters can't.

Wayward Souls is the sequel to Strange Beasts, a historical fantasy/mystery series perfect for fans of Lockwood & Co., The Irregulars, and Ordinary Monsters.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.5/5

[Crush Critiques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayward Souls is the follow up to Strange Beasts, where we followed the young daughter of Jonathan and Mina Harker of Dracula fame, and the daughter of Sherlock Holmes nemesis James Moriarty, as they investigate paranormal crime in early 1900s Paris.

Our investigating duo is in Ireland this time, and joined by the son of Professor Van Helsing, as they race against the clock to solve the disappearances of two Society field agents before the veil thins on Samhain.

Susan J. Morris does an incredible job of weaving together Ireland’s rich folklore and mythology with actual historical events, making the setting where humans co-exist with magical beings seem plausible. Characters having ties to famous literary figures, and the nods to other books was also very well done and creative.

There’s a lot happening in Wayward Souls which can get a little busy at times, but for the most part Morris is able to keep the story from veering too far off course. I will say that unless you’re pretty familiar with Irish folklore and mythology, you might have some trouble in sections, as not everything is explained in detail. Also, some of the deductions that Harker and Moriarty make are a tad bit unclear, although that could simply be me missing something. Like I said, there’s a lot happening in the book…

I really enjoyed that the main characters were all able to grow and learn more about themselves, for good or bad, as the story progressed. It gives them a more realistic feel since most people are incredibly complex beings. Even the monsters are multifaceted and complicated, rather than only being one dimensional “bad guys” who simply choose to be bad.

I did however get a bit irritated with Sam’s character, as she is often passive and seems to be totally okay with others making choices for her. I suppose having no agency over oneself cuts down the stress of making important decisions, but it still seems odd that an intelligent person wouldn’t question why others feel the need to continually tell her what to do, or as in Jakob’s case, frequently tell her not to use her power or he’ll kill her. I don’t see how that’s something that needs constant reminding. I don’t dislike Sam’s character, I just want her to have the autonomy she deserves.

I don’t know if the romance between Sam and Hel will be something that intensifies and progresses in future books, but as it stands it’s really just a suggestion of a sapphic romance as nothing really happens. While I’m not a fan of insta-love, I don’t particularly like when a slow burn romance is nothing but a few sparks and tendrils of smoke either. This was really the only area where I wanted a bit more.

Honestly, this book has so many different things converging that it could have been a train wreck, but instead it’s this artfully crafted love letter of literature, mythology, history, and the occult. I loved it.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, Bindery Books and Inky Phoenix Press, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.

[Siobhan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Bindery Books & NetGalley for granting me advance access to this incredible second instalment in the Harker & Moriarty series, following on from ‘Strange Beasts’. This is a book I’ve been really looking forward to from the minute I finished its predecessor last year! I will try to keep this review free of any major spoilers for both books, beyond content warnings at the bottom of this review.

On which note, I would say you DO need to have read ‘Strange Beasts’ before embarking on this sequel - not only due to the multiple major plot spoilers for book 1 contained in book 2, but to adequately understand the groundwork of the main characters’ relationships (with each other, and with other important off-page characters).

Above all else, this book pays so much respect to the mesmerising stories of Irish folklore and brings them to life in such a beautiful & atmospheric way, while not detracting from the ongoing character development for our three MCs who I absolutely adore. The growth of their relationships was everything I’d been hoping for after the foundations were laid in the first book.

I also love how much of the original Dracula/Holmes stories (as well as brief mention of some other gothic classics!) are still being woven into this series, it’s a lot of fun spotting the references - but also perfectly enjoyable to read even without any in-depth knowledge of those stories.

Susan J Morris has such a way with words, and an excellent sense of humour even when handling some dark subjects (this is a book set in the early 1900s, of course we’re going to encounter some pretty dark aspects of the treatment of women, among other things!). The pacing was variable but good, and I really enjoy the mystery elements of her books; this book felt more like it has multiple mysteries to solve concurrently (therefore with slightly less focus on each of them at various points) than in the first book when I felt I was only ever focused on one.

Overall, I highly recommend this wonderful book to any fans of gaslamp fantasy, sapphic romance, Irish folklore and/or supernatural mystery.

I will now include a list of Content Warnings for anyone who finds them helpful - if that’s not you, then fair warning to STOP READING HERE TO AVOID MINOR SPOILERS!:

———————-

Content Warnings:

- abusive/manipulative parent-child relationship
- alcohol use
- bereavement, including loss of a friend & partner/spouse
- bigotry - chauvinism & GBV, classism, homophobia
- domestic violence (briefly mentioned, not described in detail)
- engagement
- mental health - audio/visual hallucinations, dissociative amnesia
- police intimidation & incarceration
- sexual content (briefly alluded/mentioned, not described in detail)
- sexual harassment
- violence, torture, blood, gore - including brief descriptions of skin/teeth/intestine removal (on living person) & corpse mutilation - death/murder, explosions and war/civil unrest

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up. I definitely enjoyed the second book in this series more than the first. Many of my quibbles from the first book (pacing issues, too much internal monologue and not quite enough action) are handled much better here.

The second Harker and Moriarty novel from Susan J. Morris picks up and builds on what she created in Strange Beasts. Sam Harker is very much a field agent now and still partnered with Dr. Hel Moriarty, with whom she has a certain level of trust. Does that mean all her insecurities and concerns from the first book are magically gone? Absolutely not. But she is a little more confident in herself, even if she is still a disaster with a gun. She still spends a little too much time doubting herself and second-guessing things, especially when it comes to Hel, but her growth is noticeable and much welcome.

One thing that I also noticed about Wayward Souls was the increased presence and development of side characters. While the first book tended to focus more on Sam and Hel and their beginnings, here we have not only the return of Jakob Van Helsing (more on him in a second), but the introduction of other side characters that I hope will show up in future books, including another channel. It felt as though, having established Sam and Hel's partnership, Morris had more opportunity to expand on the world she's created, which I loved. And while Jakob's still infuriating, his character developed in unexpected ways, allowing him to show some layers and nuance. I'm still a little on the fence about him, but I don't hate him as much as I did in the first book (and through the first half of this book).

As I mentioned previously, one issue I had with Strange Beasts was that it felt a little too long and slow in parts. That's not the case here. The action moves quickly and Morris's writing is tighter, without losing any of her fantastic ability to create atmospheric settings and creepy environments. The villainy of Professor Moriarty is definitely still present here, but is a little more like an ominous presence in the background, rather than demanding attention. It was an interesting change that worked well for this story and allowed characters such as Sam, Jakob, and the side characters take up more space. (Not quite as much Hel, but it also worked.)

The ending managed to make progress on the central mystery while keeping the door open for future adventures, which is something I love in mysteries. All in all, this is a fantastic follow-up and makes me very excited to see where this series goes!

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, through my subscription to The Inky Phoenix. All thoughts and opinions are my own.