"Soulmatch," | Reviewed by Andi Kloppe

“Soulmatch,” dystopian psychological thriller by Rebecca Danzenbaker, is bound to have readers reevaluate what it truly means to face the consequences of their actions. 

The book is set 200 years following the events of World War III. Souls can now be identified and cataloged, and reincarnation is very much a reality. One of the major changes after the conclusion of the War is the introduction of kirling—a government mandated event that 18-year-olds must attend, where they are matched with their soul. 

Finding out the identification of your soul is a stressful, and oftentimes a life- changing event. Upon learning the identification of your soul, you also inherit that particular soul’s talents, career, inheritance, and in some individuals' cases, a soulmate. Most souls leave Last Letters in their former lives to give direction to the new recipients.

However, there are good and bad souls. To inherit a bad soul, means you also inherit punishments received for crimes they committed in their former lives.

This is the greatest fear for Sivon, a girl who is remarkably good at figuring out puzzles, and winning any game she plays. The soul she fears the most? Flavinsky. A soul so notoriously bad that all individuals who inherit this soul die by suicide, and whose appearance at a kirling is long overdue. 

When Sivon receives her results, it is not the outcome she wanted, or could have predicted. When her new identification is made public, Sivon is turned into a public figure, and gains attention she doesn’t necessarily want. It is up to Sivon to decide with whom her trust can be placed as it becomes apparent there may be more forces at work behind the kirling than she originally thought. 

Sivon finds herself a pawn in this potentially dangerous game. She must decide who her true allies are. This is made more difficult, and more important than ever, as time evolves and individuals are not who they appear to be, or claim to be.

Is this a game that Sivon can win, or has she finally met her match? 

Tensions will run high in “Soulmatch” as Sivon finds herself having to trust her instincts, identify the motives of those around her, and navigate the conflicted feelings she has for her bodyguard. 

This fascinating read takes a very interesting approach to the concept of reincarnation. Danzenbaker challenges readers to consider what it means to have second chances at life, and what it can mean to have a path laid out before you while still possessing the power to change it. 

Buy the Book.