Lost Soul (War of Destiny)

The Lost Soul hooked me as I'm hoping Juliana grows into a strong vampire despite her horrid past as a human. I definitely recommend if you enjoy paranormal reads. It does contain some triggering scenes

I enjoyed this book and the story with how the main character transitions from weak and abused female to strong vampiress. I did miss internal dialogue and which the characters were deeper. However, great story overall.

Had me very intrigued to what would happen next can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next.

Heavy emotional rollercoaster. While I have seen Theresa’s books over time while working at a library, I hadn’t previously given them a read until now. One of my new years resolutions was to read books by as many new authors as I could, and this series always looked interesting. I must say I was not prepared for the deep emotions that I would be taken for a ride with, but the book had me holding my breath from start to finish praying Julia could get a win. Julia is in modern day London but as she writes her biography, we are taken on the journey of who Julia is and how she came to this point. She is over half a century old, and a combination of things has her getting flashbacks to her past life, her human life. The only way to be rid of the flashbacks is to confront them and discover what the importance is in them. 1492, Julia was born and while her childhood was mostly wonderful considering nothing prepared her for what was to come after overhearing her father and brother speaking when she was eleven. At fifteen she was to marry Gregory Smith, a man wealthier than her own father had asked for her hand and while it was not the man, she wanted to marry her father accepted for her and that was final. All Julia ever wanted was to have the power to make her own decisions about her own life. To have control. Immediately her younger sister informs her of the uneasy feelings she gets around Gregory and the urge to flee from the room he enters, but it’s too late she has no choice but to marry him. Crystal, her sister, warns her to be careful. What follows the marriage and in the first two years is heartbreaking, not only what Julia experiences at the hands of her husband but of her own father.Will Julia find an escape? Can she have a happy moment that’s not tainted with painful consequences? The world the author builds is based off history, the times in which the story takes place are accurate which makes reading it so much more painful as some today still deal with similar situations. The characters have immense strength and fight to overcome all that they are faced with. Finding one thing to fight for to keep her going. I have found a new author and series to follow and now off to book two, Pursuit into Darkness to see what happens next for Julia.

I was not sure what to expect from this book especially since it seemed like historical fiction. Then I read the prologue and BAM vampires! There was a lot going on and quite a few characters but it was an original story and I really enjoyed it. The setting is the early 1500s but I felt like it could have been the early 1900s. Julia is 15 and being married off to a man she doesn’t know. She is in love with Adam, the son of a family household servant. Her sister tells her that she doesn’t trust him, her father and brother are pushing her towards him, her mother is just silent and not saying anything. She married Gregory and it didn't go well. He is abusive and she tries to get away a few times. She meets Adam a few times in the market and has to cover her bruises and hide her face. She finally hits the desperate point of no return and is saved by a stranger who turns out to be a vampire. I enjoyed the characters, the family vibe of the vampires, and even England in the 1500s. Can’t wait to dig into book two!

Lost Soul War of Destiny is book one of the series. It is a fantastic fantasy read. This book really delivers and puts you directly into the shoes of the characters which are incredible, and it’s very will written. I couldn’t put this one down. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Five stars, highly recommend!

I was not sure what to expect out of this book, but I ended up really enjoying it! I was drawn into this book and it felt like I was right beside Julia and was going through the exact same things. I definitely recommend this book!

Lost Soul is Book 1 in the War of Destiny series by Theresa Van Spankeren. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book, but it really was a great read! Julia is a 15-year-old young woman living in the 1500s. She's in love with Adam, who is the son of a family servant. Her parents, however, have other plans for her and she's married off to Gregory. Gregory is abusive to her, and she tries to get a way a few times. Help comes to her from an unexpected source, where she's given the choice to have freedom to do as she pleases but must join the vampire community. Some content in this book could be triggering to some individuals as it includes arranged marriage and abuse.

Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren is the first book from the War of Destiny series. The story follows the life of Julia, a teen girl from a wealthy family living in London. She falls in love with her childhood friend, Adam. But unfortunately, he's also a servant's son and does not match her family's status. When her family gets to know about this they force her into an arranged marriage.Her husband is very cruel and constantly beats and restricts her. After a sudden tragedy, a stranger proposes a deal to her which can change her life totally. But in exchange for the freedom, she's about to receive she has to become a vampire and fight against the king.The cover is pretty and the title matches the story.The language used by the author is suitable for beginners and the writing style is lucid and uncomplicated.The characters are well written and well developed. I loved the character of Julia, Samuel, and Mary Anne.The book is around 300 pages and is fast-paced so it is much easier to finish it in one sitting.The author has written the story very beautifully. I laughed, I cried, I got angry while reading the book. It was filled with many emotions andThe author has successfully managed to keep the readers hooked throughout the book. The story is filled with action and twists.I will definitely recommend this book if you love to read fantasy.Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5