SOUL FRAUD

Just when a man thinks he’s hit rock bottom and life can’t get any worse, a demon steals his soul in this debut novel.

Matthew Carver has a very sad life. His mother and two sisters die in a car accident on their way to visit him in college. He then drops out of school and becomes estranged from his father. He moves in with his best friend, Connor, and his fiancee, Violet, whom Matt is secretly in love with. Matt is drinking sadly on his birthday when Dan the Demon arrives with a proposition. If Matt sells his soul, he gets the girl. But Matt loves his friends, and he would never want to see Connor and Violet break up, or worse, so he declines. Dan won’t take no for an answer and forges Matt’s signature, committing the titular “soul fraud” and leaving the protagonist with a giant mess. Matt worries about the fate of his soul, his friends, and whatever else the demon has done to threaten his life and those he cares about, prompting him to search for answers. He makes friends with Alex, a supernatural being and an investigative journalist (“Let me come along with you, document what happens. You know, the whole reporter thing”). Alex has the connections and resources to help Matt. One of these contacts is the mythic hunter Orion. With Orion and Alex’s guidance, Matt delves deeper into the world of magic, demons, angels, fairies, and, most important, fraudulent paperwork. Givler’s series opener is wonderfully entertaining. The author is a master at interweaving worldbuilding, characterizations, and humor. Matt is relatable, and his decisions drive the plot, resulting in a bracing fantasy adventure and coming-of-age story. Other players, such as Orion and Alex, feel fully developed and complex as well, adding depth to the tale. The supernatural and fantastical aspects are creatively rendered. Givler presents his own version of these myths and fairy tales in an intriguing way that helps sustain the narrative. The author’s well-crafted action scenes also help support the plot and keep the story moving. Fantasy and supernatural fans will delight in this addition to their bookshelves.

A hilarious, fun, and exciting fantasy adventure.