The Vessels

by Anna M. Elias

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of The Vessels in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Vessels is the debut novel of Anna M. Elias, and it introduces readers to a world of fantasy. Or a dystopian, depending on how you really want to look at it.

VESSELS is an international program with one goal: to help the Spirits of the deceased complete their goals and helped them move on (all while helping those that knew the Spirit in life). Thanks to this program four strangers are about to come together for an experience like no other.

As with life, there are always those looking to take advantage of any situation. Including those that are no longer living. As it turns out, even Spirits can be past a point of redemption.

“The Spirit prayed Sanjay was, indeed, as seasoned a Vessel as he'd heard, to help him complete this journey before the urge to kill overcame him once more.”

The Vessels is every bit as enthralling and captivating as the description makes it sound. This is a journey of both the living and the deceased, and their stories blend together in such a beautiful way. It was moving and fascinating, all in one.

One of the things I loved the most about this novel was the variety of characters found within the pages. A retired army officer, an ER Doctor fed up with red-tape, a teenager who is a tech genius, a police officer with a dark past, a spirit dominated by bloodlust, and the list goes on.

While it took me a while to get into the backstory of each and every character, it was amazing how human they felt towards the end. Well, most of them, at any rate. While they're all drastically different, they did all have one thing in common: loss. It's the theme that tied them to the story, and left a strong foundation in their wake.

The constant perspective shifts might throw off some readers, or maybe not. I enjoyed getting the chance to see what everyone in this novel was up to at any given point. It certainly went a long way in speeding up the plot (which wasted no time throwing readers into the deep end).

This is a story that is as steeped in lore as it is full of unique characters. There's so much to learn about the VESSEL program, which borders on religion at times. It was truly fascinating to see how it functioned. For me, it was just as fascinating to understand the why of it all, and that's what kept me turning the pages.

“When what we do is motivated by service to others, and not in spite of others, at the expense of others, or to control others, everyone wins.”

The real thing I loved about this book? How overwhelmingly positive it was. Don't get me wrong: horrible things happened within this book. But there is this constant sense of hope – a belief that people can come together and make things better.

If I'm being honest, I think the real reason this novel caught my attention so fiercely is that it reminded SO strongly of the Amenti from White Wolf. That made it more endearing rather than less, as well as adding a sharp edge to the possibilities within.

All things considered, I really enjoyed the time I spent reading The Vessels. I loved seeing the unique twists Elias took in her writing, and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks