Soul Bearer

by Elexis Bell

A new dragon has risen. Impossible, but true. When the marks of the Soul Bearer burn themselves into Aurisye’s flesh, none can deny what she is. Illegitimate daughter of the hero who died nearly thirty years ago after killing the last dragon. The only person who can truly kill the dragon that terrorizes them, now. But Soul Bearers have always been human, and Aurisye is...not. Part Orc, oppression is her oldest friend. Yet, her companion is chosen wisely. Now, Rafnor, a tolerant soldier sent by the Human monarchs, must teach her all things combat. But time is limited, and her sarcastic defenses try even his patience. Amidst political strife with the Elves and all-out war with the Orcs, they must come together to prevent the merciless destruction of all three realms…Even as the Elven royals plot to tear them apart to secure an Elven heir to the Soul Bearer blood. Fans of underdogs and magic, dragons and adventure will love this high fantasy romance.

260 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2019

About the author

Elexis Bell writes literary fantasy and science fiction with a bit of romance and a lot of grit. She focuses on character development and the impact of trauma and mental health.

Amazon: http://author.to/ElexisBell
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elexis_bell
Facebook: https://fb.me/elexis.bell.author
Newsletter (free short story at sign-up): http://eepurl.com/gnTZwf

Reviews

[Natasha]

This story is of two kinds enemies that have always existed (if one of a kind is killed, another is born). These enemies are the fire-breathing dragons and the evil stopping soul bearers. The new soul bearer is the daughter of the previous one who died killing the previous dragon. The problem? All the previous soul bearers had been humans but Aurisye only qualifies that criteria by 50%. She is unaware and unprepared for a battle and in two minds when she is informed about one. This is the story of an unprepared outcast chosen one, her internal struggles due to the lifelong ill treatment by the society and the war of a lifetime.

Just like Annabelle from the novella Annabelle by the same author, here too the main character, the saviour, is an outcast girl. And this is what I love the most about Elexis's works - strong female characters who are ostracised by the society for no fault of their own. And rather than turning sour and burning everything down, these girls fight against the wrongs so nobody else has to suffer. Why exactly do they fight for the people (or the loved ones of the people) who would rather see them dead still surprises me but deep down, I know I would have done the same, and so would have a lot of other people I know.

If you are a fan of dragons, of Elexis's other works, of stories that tackle real life issues (politics, racism, socio-economic divide, etc.) by projecting them on fantastical creatures, slow burn romances and/ or quick reads, do pick this up. A thought provoking page turner like always. Definitely recommended.

[Laura]

5 dragon-sized stars
and
Damn! This woman can write!!

With Soul Bearer, Elexis Bell stole my heart and buried it deep within the pages!



Among all sub-genres of fantasy, high fantasy romance is my favorite. And this book is amazing!

A new dragon has risen and will soon wreak havoc over the world. Burning, destroying and terrorizing. And only the Soul Bearer has the power to stop it. The only person who can truly kill the beast. Revered and honored, Soul Bearers have always been human. But not this time.

This time the marks burn themselves into the flesh of one who is seen as an outcast and a freak. Aurisye, daughter of a Human and a half-Orc. In a world that would rather see her burn, Aurisye is meant to be the saviour. As the illegitimate daughter of the hero who died nearly thirty years ago after killing the last dragon, she suddenly finds herself summoned to risk her life for people who've never accepted her.
You'd think she'd resent the burden fate has now forced her to bear, in a cruel twist of fate. 'Defending the very people who have made her life a living hell...' And yet, what she fears the most is 'What if they hate me more. Because I'm who they're stuck with?' Not being able to step up to the task and not being worthy! Now who wouldn't root for a girl like that from the very beginning?

Luckily, her companion is chosen wisely. Rafnor, a tolerant soldier, who sees beyond skin color and race, is sent by the Human monarchs to bring Aurisye to the court as well as teach her all things combat. But time is limited, and Aurisye is unskilled in battle. And her sarcastic defenses try even his patience.

It doesn't help that the Human realm is at strife with that of the Elves and in an all-out war with the Orcs. The Elven royals are already plotting to secure an Elven heir to the Soul Bearer blood. And the fact that the Soul Bearer is partly a despicable Orc, does nothing but add fire to their resolve.

Amidst strife and prejudice, Rafnor needs to prepare Aurisye for a seemingly impossible to fulfill task. Killing not one but two dragons. And he needs to make sure she survives. Because there's something about Aurisye that thugs at his his heart. Something that deserves his respect. Next to the fact that he finds the mere sight of her mesmerizing. The more Rafnor gets to know her, the more she gets under his skin.

Aurisye on the other hand, needs to overcome years of oppression and disdain. She needs to find her self-esteem and realize she's worthy. Worthy of the task at hand and worthy of a place in a world that has never shown her anything but hate. And most importantly, she needs to find the courage to hold on to Rafnor.

Very easy to read and yet wonderfully complex, Soul Bearer is not just a plain romantic fantasy tale. This novel goes much deeper delving into solid themes like racism, prejudice and a person's nature. Does our blood define us? Our race or our parents?
Rafnor's firm belief ‘that race does not necessarily define how a person will turn out’ is masterfully supported by Aurisye. But then, the author also leaves room for a different perspective, just as beautifully highlighted by certain Elves, as well as certain Humans.

And yet, the romance is at it's heart. A heart-melting slow-burn romance between Aurisye and Rafnor. A romance that will tug at all your heartstrings because of how amazingly beautiful it is described.
The respect Rafnor has for a woman, clearly shunned and yet able to hold her head high; who knows she isn't good enough but tries her best despite it.
The skittering of a heart at break-neck speed at the thought of being near to someone who may not find her repulsive; and the stray tears threatening to fall because someone may care about her.
And that inner battle in between head and heart, when one warns about being weary and the other gives a rather gleeful, very girlish squeal..

The romance in this book is simply outstanding. Because of the masterful way the feelings are described. And the incredible insight into the characters'mind that the author gives us. The want and need, the fears and longings, everything leaps of the page.

The gratefulness of Aurisye to receive the only sign of affection in a day - the greeting of a few dogs - is heartbreaking. Just as that dangerous sort of hope that stirs within her, that Rafnor might actually treat her like a person.

And the love between them... (*dreamy sigh*)



'His voice is a rope to cling to, something to stop her from falling further down the cliffside, and she grasps it. Slamming into rock, she wonders if it’s truly worth it to slow the fall. Will she not fall again later? Is it not better to fall once, and be done with it all? But she clutches that rope, holding fast to his voice. She isn’t strong enough to climb back up yet, but at least she isn’t falling deeper into the chasm of black despair which could so easily swallow her.
"Shh..., he whispers. "I've got you. Don't worry."'

I couldn't put this book down, once I had started reading. The narrative is, as I've already mentioned, easy and beautifully flowing; the story is gripping and the characters masterfully fleshed out.
This is one romantic fantasy that will stay with me for a very long time.

And if you're looking for a heart-melting love story with depth and meaning - this is THE book you should try!
It is downright amazing.

Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner

[Sarah Neofield]

“Necessity is a brutal, but thorough, teacher.”
Soul Bearer by Elexis Bell is the tale of Aurisye, the part-Orc woman who discovers that she is the titular ‘Soul Bearer’, a mortal whose soul is ‘powerful yet dexterous enough to command the massive amounts of magic necessary to cast the Vanquishing Spell and kill the souls of Dragons’. Until now, all Soul Bearers have been human. With a new dragon having risen, Aurisye is the Soul Bearer that everybody needs, but nobody wants.
Thanks to prejudices against Orcs (and ‘half’ breeds in general), Aurisye lives a solitary life, beautifully evoked by Bell: ‘She sits at the tiny table she built for herself and eats alone.’ What is more, Aurisye has internalised much of the racism levelled against her, believing that others are indeed better than her, and has lowered expectations of herself. But then, she meets Rafnor – the officer sent to find and train her, who learned on the battlefield ‘that race does not necessarily define how a person will turn out’.
Soul Bearer is well-written. Its blend of Americanisms and Britishisms give it a real sense of being another world, rather than merely another time. The names, both for characters and for the world’s six gods are well-chosen, and the invented language (for the Vanquishing Spell) feels real.
While admittedly I am not a regular reader of the fantasy genre, Bell’s treatment of race in Soul Bearer fascinated me. In my previous career as a researcher, I read a lot of studies about depictions of race in online Role Playing Games (as well as playing some myself!), which covered the stereotypical mapping of certain language tropes and racialised features to fantasy ‘races’ such as Humans, Elves, and Orcs. Thus, I was interested to discover the ways in which Soul Bearer both drew upon and in some instances challenged these ideas.
Soul Bearer explores various intersections of power and difference – racial, economic, royal. As in many games and TV series, the book contains a ‘holy trinity’ of immensely powerful, brutish Orcs, refined and sophisticated Elves, and right in the middle, Humans. And sometimes, Bell reveals, it is people that are the real monsters.
Lineage plays a strong part in Soul Bearer. Aurisye’s ancestry is both the reason she is discriminated against, and the reason she discovers her value, finding her place in ‘a long line of honorable people, heroes even.’
The importance of one’s blood is a complicated theme in Bell’s novel. Aurisye experiences bias, as well as holding her own biases. On her journey, sometimes Aurisye confronts her expectations of Elves, and the beliefs she has about Orcs – and, of course, about herself. At other times, she finds a being’s nature determines – or at least, heavily influences – how it acts. And herein lies the complexity of Soul Bearer: is honor, and even heroism, a function of one’s actions and struggles, even in spite of the hurdles one faces? Or is it something one inherits? By extension, is brutishness, despicableness, and unworthiness a characteristic of one’s decisions, or something one cannot help? Bell’s book seemingly allows for both possibilities, and it is up to the reader to decide.
A highly recommended read for both fans of fantasy looking for something different, and those who wouldn’t necessarily consider themselves fans but are looking for a thought-provoking page-turner. This beautifully crafted book kept me up past midnight for three nights running!

[I. Vélez]

Skyrim Meets Fantasy Romance

This book has it all. Heart-breaking moments, sweet romance, one sexy and gentlemanly love interest, fire-spewing dragons, and gory action. Lovers of Skyrim and other high fantasy RPGs would feel inside their favorite dragon hunting games and romance lovers will have a sweet relationship between a human and a hybrid with orc blood.

But don't get me wrong, this book isn't candy and rainbows. If you don't like to read about the pitch black side of humanity, the mental and physical abuse, the discrimination, and the murder of persons just because they look different; or if you are running from reality and wish to read about a fantasy world where everything is perfect, this book isn't for you.

Aurisye is ostracized, abused and basically treated like sh*t just because she is 3 quarters human and 1 quarters orc. But that quarter orcs makes her skin grayish and her lower fangs to slightly protrude from her lips. These characteristics are kindle that spark the fire in people (humans, elves and even orcs) to treat her as something less than even animals. But they are the real monsters not Aurisye.

In her place, I would have let them all burn and be eaten alive by the dragons. I wouldn't have lifted a finger to help a world that hated my every breath, but Aurisye has a heart of gold. She has hero's heart, so she help everyone even when they cursed her for it.

I cried and raged throughout the book. I cried at Aurisye low self-esteem, at the degradation and abuse she was subjected to, and raged at the monstrous that people can be, no matter their race or color.

This book is truly a journey, one I hope you give a try, because even when it's dark, it's also truly beautiful.

[J.D. Groom]

A great story full of cruelty and pain, but also love. Aurisye has had a terrible life at the hands of others, typically destiny and fate work in strange ways to make her the one person everyone needs.
I loved the journey that the characters were on, not just physically but in terms of their personal growth.

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V.]

This fantasy romance could have been absolutely amazing! The fantasy world building is really intriguing and I absolutely love the idea of dragons being tremendous dangers to civilization and that some people (mostly humans) have strong enough souls to banish dragons from the realm. The idea and how it was worked into the main character, descendant of a soul bearer and his half-orcish lover, just came together brilliantly. I found the history and the cultures that were hinted at for the orcs, elves and humans quite interesting, but I would really have liked to have seen more meat on the bone in that part of the worldbuilding, as I was left with quite a few questions.

Unfortunately, the main thing that didn't work at all for me in this novel is the romance. I just couldn't get into it and really didn't feel all that moved by it. Considering how much I've loved some of this author's other works, this aspect was a real disappointment. I see potential for the insta-attraction/he falls first combo to have really gotten me good if only there had been some kind of internal conflict for the characters, but both of them kind of just went with the flow and then voilá they're in love. I guess I needed things on the emotional front to go deeper and for the characters to actually question what was going on with them and around them and how what they were experiencing was different from what would be considered socially acceptable and then allow themselves to see the amazingness of what they could have if they allowed it to happen and stopped letting others (thoughts, social norms, expectations etc) get in the way.

Since the characters remained relatively superficial, I couldn't ship the romance as I would have liked. The fantasy and the plot minus the romance is really great and I did manage to finish the book, which I think says something about it still having merit even if it wasn't quite for me.

[Bekah | Bekah’s Bookshelves Hosford]

The dragons have returned, and have begun wreaking havoc on the citizens of Balmaer. The Mage Circle, an alliance of elves and men,  has convened, desperate to find the progeny of Vaelent Ronen, the last known Soul Bearer. For it is only a Soul Bearer that has the power to defeat the dragons and to finally banish them from the land forever.  The Circle appoints the soldier Rafnor to locate Vaelent's daughter and teach her the skills needed to defeat dragons.
Aurisye Verlegt never expected anything special or amazing to happen to her. She had accepted her life as a woman who lived on the periphery of life--shunned because of her orcish heritage. Then one night, a mark burned onto her arm--a mark she learns is the symbol of the Soul Bearer and her inheritance from a father she never met. Along with the mark, Aurisye has begun to have visions, showing her the carnage wrought by the dragons.
When Rafnor meets Aurisye, they learn that they must not only fight dragons, but they must navigate politics, prejudices, and condescending elves. Rafnor must also fight the intense attraction he has for the beautiful half-orc. Together, can they save the land and find true love?
In Soul Bearer Elexis Bell introduces us to a rich new fantasy land and an array of colorful characters. Her elegant writing style helps set the sensual and gritty tone, which is perfect for this fantasy romance. The story unfolds through the eyes of both Rafnor and Aurisye, with each chapter alternating points-of-view. We can see their worries, fears, determination, and desires--especially their desires. While the characters fit into typical romance stereotypes, Bell does invert the some stereotypes. For example, our main protagonist is half-orc, and she is caring, confident, and badass--nothing like what we generally associate with orcs. Also, it is the elves of whom we are most wary. They are sneaky, conniving, and possibly duplicitous. I want to read more about Balmaer's history with the Elvish kingdom.
I could not put this book down. I love the fantasy genre, and I DEVOUR romances novels. This book was really the best of both worlds. I also liked at the depth of Bell's world building. She hinted at past and future political struggles, which is something I also love to read about. Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars.


[Karin Aston]

Soul Bearer

This is a fantastical fantasy story with kings and queens, elves and orcs and, of course dragons. With a blossoming romance between the outcast — a young woman who’s destiny it is to be the next Soul Bearer, the only one who can slay the dragons — and her protector, the honourable knight, what else could you ask for?
It’s a well written, intricate but simply told story and I really enjoyed it. I found it hard to out down even when I had plenty of other things to do and I was not happy that it ended. Not that it was a bad ending — I just wanted more, and more, of their mythical trials and adventures. I really hope there are more books planned to make a series as there are plenty of things left unresolved, in a good way.

The main characters are really well fleshed out and even the smaller side characters are given enough of a personality to either be liked or disliked. Every character has a purpose, none are added for the sake of filling out space and the same goes for the whole story. Nothing has been written just because the author liked it or just wanted it to be there. It all has meaning and a reason for being included. The language is sharp with a ‘long ago’ tone which only adds to this expertly constructed fantasy world.

There were only two things I found I had to get used to; the first is that it’s told in present tense which I always struggle with, and two; there are quotation marks around inward thoughts that each time made me think it was dialogue before I could correct myself. These are just tiny little personal peeves of mine and in no way do they detract from the beautifully written story. Sights, sounds, images and all the feels. Everything is right there. I highly recommend Soul Bearer to anyone who enjoys a really good fantasy book.

[A Rush Of Emotions]

This book was such an amazing surprise!
This was my first "fantasy romance" book, and it absolutely has me wanting to come back for more. I'm not typically a fan of slow burn romances, but OMG the slow build-up going on between Aurisye and Rafnor sucked me in.

Aurisye's an outcast, maltreated by her community and living day-to-day as a helper of sorts to a man on his large estate. She lives in a world of humans, elves, orcs, and of course, dragons. She is a half breed Human/Orc, which is where most of the malice comes from. Fate has also made her the newly-appointed savior of all, Soul Bearer, the only one being who can truly say a dragon. Rafnor's a trained fighter, a ranked officer in the military, and he's been tasked with finding and training Aurisye.

I love love love how their relationship bloomed. Aurisye has such low self-esteem because of her looks given to her from her part-Orc lineage, but is an otherwise good-hearted, well-skilled and fast learning woman. Rafnor is slowly entranced by her. He sees how others treat her, but never once views her as anything other than strong, brave, and beautiful.

My heart almost couldn't handle their slow-burn and reluctant love, because I just wanted them to experience all the good things about love, together. Aurisye deserved such a wholesome love after the life she lived, and Rafnor deserved a real, true love and soulmate to spend his life with. They're truly perfect for each other.

Their training and battle with the dragon were nicely written. So much world-building went into this book. The angst, drama and plot-twists kept me enraptured. 5 stars for this beautiful book.

[Sydney Mann]

The story of Aurisye, the soul bearer, was enjoyable, her relationship with Rafnor, sweet and endearing. It was a story that addressed prejudice and its resulting mistreatment. It had a bit of mystery, too, as Aurisye’s mother’s background was revealed through her journal entries. There is political tension among the rulers, human and elven. It has action and dragons!

My issues with it are mainly technical. The first person present tense was awkward for me. This may just be a matter of preference, but I think it would have been better in past tense. Also, I’m always thrown off when characters in a medieval-type setting (with kings, kingdoms, swords and horses) use modern vernacular, such as sure, stereotypical, kid (for child, not goat), okay, and out of the loop. Thoughts were written as quotes, which I found confusing, and there was overuse of unnecessary commas.
I would have given the book 4 stars if not for these issues.

[Kimberly Tinsley]

Soul Bearer did not disappoint. The prologue of the book immediately peaked my interest. I'm not sure what I am drawn to more the action and adventure that Aurisye finds herself on as the Soul Bearer or the budding love story between Aurisye and Rafnor. I thoroughly enjoyed adventuring along in this beautifully imagined world. I am looking forward to reading more from Elexis Bell.

[Taryn Chester]

I’m not going to lie, I picked this book solely because I liked the title/cover. Within the first couple pages I realized that it was fantasy, not my usual genre of choice, but kept reading because the characters were so intriguing. I really truly enjoyed the story and the way that it was written.

[Brandy Broadwater]

Wow. Can't wait to find out what happens next. Was so happy to see Rafnor's respect and love guide Aurisye through the whole book. She deserves to be happy.