Soulswift was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020 and I even went into the book knowing that I was probably going to cry. And I was still not prepared. In a story that explores the dedication of one's life to religion, Gelya has prepared her whole life to become a vessel for her god and finds herself running from the very people who protected her when she finds herself harboring the essence of Elath, the mother goddess (or demon as the Ovinists call her). With only an enemy solider, Tavik, on her side, Gelya has to find a way to remove Elath's spirit from her body and hopefully avoid setting her world on the path of complete destruction.
With such a fascinating premise, Soulswift combines religious-political commentary with a classic fantasy travel story. Gelya and Tavik quickly won me over with their banter and contrasting personalities. While Gelya is more anxious and unsure, Tavik is constantly trying to find positives and lighten the atmosphere. I genuinely loved reading about their adventures and would pick up another book just to follow them around. On top of lasting characters, Megan Bannen delves into a conversation about religion's role in oppressing women and other minority groups as well as how blinding religious fervor can be of one's own downfall. This discussion is woven through Gelya's own reflection of what her religion means to her as she learns more about the different interpretations of the neighboring lands. It brings into perspective the harm of erasing other stories with the belief that there's only one right interpretation, the god is pure and the goddess is evil.
Originally posted on dearrivarie.com
Reviewed by riv @dearrivarie on
Reading updates
- 30 March, 2021: Started reading
- 30 March, 2021: Finished reading
- 26 July, 2021: Reviewed