The Rundown
When good souls wind up in bad places, it’s up to the Soul Retrievers to set things right. However, being a Hell traversing mercenary isn’t a job for everyone, particularly when the working hazards include a painful death and an eternity of torture. Seeking justice in the afterlife takes a special kind of warrior, and Getter must call on allies old and new if he wants to survive.
The Recommendation
Soul Retrievers doesn’t waste any time placing you right in the middle of the action. From the first page, protagonist Getter is face to face with the various monsters of the hell dimension, and the brakes are off from there on in. In his mission to find the soul of an innocent young girl, Getter is never short of a fight scene, and the novel rolls from one danger to the next with unrelenting pace. As events unfold, Getter’s seemingly straight forward task becomes embroiled in a demonic uprising against Satan, and the already high stakes of eternal damnation become higher still.
The strongest and most enjoyable part of Soul Retrievers are the various depictions of the many levels of hell. Plenty of imagination goes into describing the multitude of unique creatures, impressive environments and creative tortures found there, and the author takes great delight in painting an intricate picture that would give certain Renaissance artists pause for thought. From singing skeletons to giant snakes, rivers of bone to flaming waterfalls, David Burton’s hell is a rich and realised landscape, and this alone will keep you turning the pages.
Despite the sinister surroundings, Soul Retrievers is a mostly light hearted tale, with no shortage of wise cracks and goofs. Though, be warned, the story crashes into some pretty horrifying depictions of suffering, which shouldn’t be surprising considering the setting. Despite dealign with some heavy themes, the novel remains suitable for YA audiences.
The novel is told almost entirely from Getter’s point of view, and the first person perspective both helps and hinders the novel. Sure, it allows us to bounce along fluidly through the plot, but it also sacrifices the opportunity to let the support characters breath and grow on their own. If you’re looking for pure action adventure this won’t bother you at all, but those looking for a weightier character piece may sense a missed opportunity.
Still, the ideas are plentiful, and David Burton lays the table for a meal with plenty of meat. With a cast of ancient gaelic warriors, rebellious demons and vampiric girlfriends, Soul Retrievers is a sometimes grim but mostly fun adventure that will appeal to YA and fantasy nuts alike.
The Rating
4 Stars (out of 5): Recommended. For the right audience, this book is a great read. It can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Page Turner, Strong World-BuildingThe Links
The Reviewer
Steve Wetherell
Visit Steve Wetherell‘s website.From the first page, protagonist Getter is face to face with the various monsters of the hell dimension, and the brakes are off from there on in. In his mission to find the soul of an innocent young girl, Getter is never short of a fight scene, and the novel rolls from one danger to the next with unrelenting pace.
Read Soul Retrievers
