SOULSTEALER

A man gathers his allies in a fight against a soul-eating force threatening the world in this second installment of a supernatural series.

Thirty-six-year-old Steven Carpenter is one of the last few members of a dying organization. The Ordo Solis, created long ago by the Roman Catholic Church, has kept its eyes out for the return of Bane, an entity that devours people’s souls. None of the group’s branches in America, Europe, and Asia are faring well, but Steven and his only fellow Solis American believe they have video evidence proving Bane—or, as the protagonist dubs it, the Soulstealer—is coming back. Not everyone buys their story, as it’s the first sign of this evil being in close to a millennium. But Steven is sure he’s on the right track once the Soulstealer’s savage, cultlike followers the Raptors enter the fray. They threaten both Steven and his old love, former Solis American Raeleigh, demanding all copies of the reputed evidence. Surprisingly, the Soulstealer’s teenage human vessel, Nythan, seems to yearn for a peaceful resolution between the Ordo Solis and the Raptors (as well as cults in Europe and Asia). Meanwhile, Steven scours for help wherever he can find it, from the Freemasons to United States government agencies. If they can somehow legitimize the Ordo Solis and convince the public that the Soulstealer is a genuine menace, they may have the muscle to take out the entity. If those peace talks don’t work out, the terrifying soul-eater may kill millions.

Boulware describes this sequel as a “companion novel” to his earlier, Nythan-centric book. Both stories take place at the same time, and some scenes in the first volume play out again from Steven’s perspective in the second. It’s an intriguing and effective approach, as the once-sympathetic Nythan is now more ambiguous and a potential villain. But there’s plenty of new material, as Steven teams up with Ordo Solis member and “German fireball” Adeline Faehrmann and they travel to places like the Solis Commandery in Dietzenbach, Germany. The first half of the author’s taut narrative delivers plenty of action; it is filled with shocking deaths, unexpected turns, and scenes of Steven dodging Raptors atop his ultra-cool motorcycle. This leads to a slower latter half, as Steven and Adeline plot their course in getting the word out. These scenes nevertheless teem with suspense; there’s distrust among members of the global organization, and the public is already skeptical thanks to a false alarm about the Soulstealer’s return (a Raptor hoax several years ago). Steven is an appealing lead character who reluctantly takes the hero role, as he initially planned to leave the Ordo Solis. He endures losing a friend or two and still harbors feelings for Raeleigh, notwithstanding her engagement to someone else. Steven’s tenacity drives the plot, and it often seems as if he alone is trying to convince the world of the Soulstealer’s existence. While those who have read the first installment will know some details about the ending, this story’s denouement is still memorable.

An absorbing paranormal sequel with a striking hero.