Here you can find some reviews on The Seekers: Soul Ties
The Seekers: Soul Ties will appeal to fantasy readers who like their adventure stories fast-paced and action-packed, but it also presents an unusual format. It takes the form of two stories of couples who face different challenges as they tackle changing threats from the natural world they thought they knew well.
Sabiri and Iskrila are forced to go to war to protect their village when a new force hits. They are igni: a fast, agile creature on this world which sports "two legs ending with hooves, two arms, but also a tail. Unlike animals who walk on all fours, the igni, as any sapient species of the Lands, preferred to walk upright, meaning on two legs. Each igni was two meters tall, wide and muscular, making them the second strongest and biggest sapient species." They are unique, creative makers whose curiosity can either pose trouble or offer a solution to the challenging new threats that plague the world.
Maria and Bacara's lives (they are also igni) revolve around a different village world. They, too, face mysterious attackers who seem to have no specific reason for decimating their village. The only solution involves a quest to gain control of magical artifacts that may hold power to protect their village from the attack or some other useful ability.
With various clans, good allies, dangerous enemies, unique species, close friendships, different goals, desires, and perspectives, Anton Anderson crafts a complex, appealing world. He peppers his story with black and white illustrations that add visual context to its characters and setting.
There are ancient, mysterious temples with magical doorways that lead you where you command them, magical fountains that become full of running water at your single wish, and books that are crafted unnaturally well. There are encounters with diverse species and a variety of colorful and dangerous flora and fauna.
Most of all, their quest involves satisfying their curiosity about the world and testing their courage and responses to it as all four move outside their familiar comfort zones and into realms where the rules no longer apply.
Anderson's story seems a simple quest tale on one hand, but draws readers with a complex fantasy setting and evolving relationships that often give pause for thought. Uncertain new alliances test everyone and bring with them new dilemmas as the power of the artifacts becomes evident.
Will they tap this new force to save the world, or will they transform it?
The struggles these igni face within themselves and between one another makes for an involving fantasy that paints an involving picture of creatures connected to the land, but somewhat disconnected from one another.
The adventure that drives them into unfamiliar territory is recommended reading for fantasy fans from advanced middle school grades well into adult circles.
D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
The Seekers: Soul Ties is a fantasy written by Anton Anderson. It is a debut novel where Anderson creates a fantasy world of chaos. The igni find the clutches of danger squeeze around them in this world. The Drowners are deadly, organized, and powerful. In the danger, Sabiri and Iskrila are the hopes for the igni survival. But first, they need to find each other to consolidate their power. Anderson navigates us through their adventure.
What Anderson does well is create lovable characters and show strong relationships between them. This is best shown in the relationship between Bacara and Maria. While fishing, Maria, the superb hunter tries to tutor Bacara and coach her into catching a fish. The scene was nicely orchestrated to juxtapose the two characters and reveal their complementary strengths. As they take on a journey to find a magical artifact, the relationship becomes strained. On the surface, their adventure seems to deal with the destruction and chaos around them, but underneath, their story is about their relationship.
What makes good fantasy stories are the world-building skills of the writer and the way the characters pull the reader in. I think Anderson accomplishes these tasks. As a writer, I look forward to watching how Anderson grows into an accomplished fantasy writer.
Anton Morris
This was such an interesting read from the beginning. The author has given us a rich world with such interesting characters. I loved reading about the world this book was set in and the intricate details in it. I also loved reading about the different types of people living in this world. It was fun getting to know these characters.
The book is divided into two parts. They are about different characters in an almost similar setting. The first part was about Sabiri and Iskrila. They are living their peaceful happy lives when suddenly there is a danger brought to their peaceful world. They are thrown into confusion and chaos. A means to save their village ends up in their hands.
The second part is about Bacara and Maria. An almost similar situation occurs for them as well. Now, they are forced to act to protect themselves and everything they hold dear. There is magic involved here too in the hunt for the artifact they need.
I loved the world-building in this book. The villages they lived in and the surrounding kingdoms were beautifully explained. I loved the characters as well. They were such fierce and loyal women who would go to great lengths to protect those who are dear to them. I loved their relationships and the camaraderie.
The magical element in the story was unique. There were explanations but still, it felt very vague. I wish there was more information in the first part of the book. It felt a little too short.
Even though I enjoyed the read, it felt incomplete somehow. I felt like I expected more from this book. But it was a very good read!
Fangirling Over Frappes