It's fast paced and exciting, with the danger level increasingly significantly as the story progresses, and characters I'd grown to really care for feeling very at risk. That is until a new seer, Sam, comes into town and expects Charlie to join him on discovering why some of the ghosts in town are disappearing. His growth throughout the novel was astounding, but felt natural and realistic for the events he endured and his growing emotional maturity. These minor frustrations are all forgivable though, for Sixteen Souls is a gripping and fun thriller. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I spotted a reference to The Monk by Mathew Lewis, my favourite gothic horror novel and one of the first classics of the genre. As Charlie's romantic feelings develop for Sam, he will have to risk his life and his heart if he is going to save the afterlife.

The plot is consistently engaging, unique, and engaging, with a steady flow that allows for plenty of twists and turns without feeling clogged by too many ideas. By combining a newbie Seer with an old pro, we get to see the gift through new eyes, with the benefit of experience to clarify the dangers and reality of such a gift. Incredibly emotive and visceral characters help pave the way for a story that grips you from the start and doesn't let go.But as much as I was hooked by the supporting players, I cannot put into words just how much I love Charlie and Sam. I want to scoop them both up into a giant hug and smother them with my care and protection. The budding relationship between them is written so tenderly and it made me ACHE watching them be stupid little chaos gays with their stupid miscommunication and stupid self-esteem issues and I wanted to bash their stupid heads together but also I wouldn't change a thing and I was literally reading it with tears streaming down my cheeks and a grin on my face most of the time. Charlie is a seer. This means quite simply that he can see ghosts. He can not really talk to anyone about it until he meets Sam. These are the sons of Zilpah, which Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

I am so glad that I did. Because it left nothing for me to be disappointed in. I greatly appreciate all of the representation that is whiting this book. There is LGBTQ+, disability rep for a double amputee, trans representation. With all of this rep I feel like it only deepened the connection with the characters. And you were able to get to know their true authentic selves.

What happens next I’ll leave for the reader to discover. I only mentioned this much to note a WWII history episode I’d seen recently (Air Warriors?) about a German air squadron late in the war which was specifically and deliberately designed to ram the Allied planes. The weird thing? The episode showed collision after collision in which, oddly enough, the German pilot survived.

Charlie, as a main character, was brilliantly written. As I said earlier -- and I'll probably keep repeating, because it's so important – he is relatable and interesting, capable of keeping your attention, stirring your emotions, and connecting with the reader in a way that is VITAL to a good book. I've read so many books with promising plots, but dull main characters, and there was NO risk of this here. This book is about Charlie who, unlike anyone else, can see ghosts – and touch ghosts, respectively can also be touched by ghosts. Which is kind of a problem because not all ghosts are nice persons. So Charlie keeps his head low and relies only on his few ghost friends. This changes when suddenly ghosts are missing, among them one of his closest friends, and he has to team up with Sam, another boy who can see ghosts.These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bore unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons. Deliciously dark” - Cynthia Murphy, author of Last One to Die, Win Lose Kill Die and The Midnight Game Books will be announced during the previous month to give you plenty of time to read. They’ll be a mixture of new and old YA books. The plot was generally good. Charlie, however, is a blinking idiot, who keeps leaping to conclusions that he is absolutely certain are correct, only to be proven wrong. Everyone treating his assumptions as facts had me close to yelling at the characters to stop being so stupid! Then he suddenly realises towards the end of the book that he's actually had the answers within his head the whole time and is able to lay out large sections of exposition. A couple of the major revelations felt a bit obvious from about halfway through, but there were still plenty of surprises and revelations to keep me entertained. Some of the revelations did feel like they came out of nowhere right at the end though, with characters and organisations dropped in to the text at the eleventh hour in a slightly jarring way.

I loved how EVERY character had a purpose. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, their own parts to play in the plot, and their own experiences with the Seer gift. Every minor character is a part of Charlie's history, and they all help in some way, with their own limits and different experiences to add to his. No one is a perfect know-it-all, who just happens to be in the right place at the right time, or who just happens to know things they shouldn't. Together, they made a team, and supported each other through every struggle and ordeal. Sixteen Souls is filled with character, whimsy, high stakes, and a spooky vibe all throughout. Not going to lie, my heart almost leapt out of my throat a few times because it’s impossible to not immerse yourself in the story so completely that it feels like you’re there with the characters.

Sixteen Souls is a boundlessly clever, heartfelt queer take on the story of a sensitive young man who sees dead people. Talbot has crafted something chillingly delightful! Perfect for any ghoul-lover’s shelf!’ The setting of York was perfect and set the atmosphere fabulously! Made me want to go on a ghost tour!