Delivery 2 - 3 weeks.
Just as Amber celebrates her seventeenth birthday, her life takes an unexpected turn.
Shrouded in mystery, her uncle sends her away from the secluded castle where she has spent her formative years, destination: Edinburgh. The reason behind this abrupt change remains elusive, leaving Amber to navigate a new world filled with uncertainty and hidden truths.
Bradley, the keeper of the family's deepest secrets, has shielded Amber from an ancient truth. Yet, as the walls of secrecy crumble, a looming threat puts everyone in jeopardy, especially Amber. In a race against time, secrets once buried rise to the surface, and the tranquility of Amber's world is shattered.
Amber's world takes a fantastical turn when she stumbles upon her clan's most ancient secret—a gift that sets her apart. She discovers her ability to change her physical form to match the essence of her soul. In a realm where reality bends to the will of ancient powers, Amber must navigate her newfound abilities and the consequences they bring.
The Shape of my Soul is a tale of self-discovery, love, and the transformative power of embracing one's true nature. As Amber grapples with her extraordinary abilities, she also discovers the profound depths of her heart, and in the process, unravels a love that defies the boundaries of the ordinary.
Join Amber as she unravels the enigma of her own existence and the ancient secrets that lie within the walls of her secluded castle.
Reviewed by Dinah Roseberry for Readers' Favorite
The Shape of My Soul by Lynette Ferreira is a wonderfully sweet paranormal romance that does not allow the paranormal to overshadow the romantic intrigue in any way. Ferreira remembers the number one rule for romance novels, and that is the romance comes first! (Not everyone remembers that.) In her story, Amber is a young woman, just seventeen, who has been sequestered in a castle in Scotland all her life, with only the staff at her home to act as family. Estranged from her parents under strange circumstances that have been kept from her, she does the best she can to enjoy her life. That couldn’t happen though if not for Bradley, the son of one of the staff, who, as a child, visited regularly and then only on holidays as they grew up together. The best romantic partner, of course, is one you can call best friend. But things don’t go quite that smoothly—especially when everyone is not on the same page. Suddenly, and without anyone preparing her, Amber is sent away to school—for her own good (where have we heard that before?!). Still, coincidences (Do we believe in them? No we do not!) bring the two “friends” back together to solve a family mystery – one that “shifts” as quickly as the snap of fingers. The Shape of a Soul has a literal meaning, an honest to goodness connection within Amber and the decisions she will need to make on her eighteenth birthday.
The strength of characters is brought to the forefront gently by Ferreira, and I found myself really, really caring about Amber and hoping that Bradley would turn into someone worth loving. The scenes are very well written and the setting is dazzling. The Shape of My Soul by Lynette Ferreira will give you a satisfying feeling, both as you read and once you finish, as well as a desire to know more—much more—about Amber and her clan and how she will survive in the future. Trust me, it won’t be easy. “Oh. My. Effing. Snowball.” I think I have found a new expletive!
Cook, Matilda and Mr. Glenfiddich stood at the door, while Giles helped me to carry the one suitcase I had, to the waiting car. The car that would drive me all the way to Edinburgh. Admittedly, I was afraid of what waited for me beyond the mist.
My guardian, Mr. Belvedere, was nowhere to be seen, as expected. I did not really think he was going to say goodbye to me, even though during the last few weeks I was tempted to march to his study and demand he told me about my parents, but my thin facade of confidence and bravery was fragile.
I hugged Cook goodbye, and let my arms stretch around her plumpness, while the strands of her hair which escaped the always present bun on her head tickled the folds of my neck.
“Bye, Child,” she sniffed. I pulled away from her and she kept her hands on my shoulders. Looking at me intently, she insisted, “Now, you come visit, you hear?”
I nodded my head, too afraid to speak, because saying anything would have started an avalanche of tears.
Matilda’s skinny frame pulled me into her and if felt as if she was crushing my bones. She was the closest person I had to a mother figure and she was crying discreetly. She said, as I pulled away from her, “I’ll miss you, Amber. I’ve looked after you since you were a little bundle and now, you’re so grown up. I wish there was a way I could have prepared you for the big world out there.”
“I’ll be okay,” I said as I moved to Mr. Glenfiddich. Even though I had the urge to hug him goodbye as well, I stuck out my hand. He took my hand in both of his and said, “You are well-prepared for school. Don’t be worried.”
Schoolwork was the least of my worries.
As I climbed into the back seat of the car, which would take me into foreign, unknown territory, I was petrified.
Cook, Matilda and Mr. Glenfiddich waved as Giles drove the car away from them, and for a moment, I wanted to open the car door, jump out and run back into Matilda’s arms and say I had changed my mind.
I would rather want to stay with them, rather be hidden away from the world behind a shroud of clouds. However, the excited anticipation of discovering everything I had read about in books edged me to look forward.
As the car drove along the paved road, while tall trees loomed on either side of us, I still felt trepidation. My fingers rested on the lever of the door. I was going to pull that lever, open the door, jump out of the moving vehicle and then I was going to run back to the safety of the castle.
I was still contemplating doing this when Giles drove the car through the mist, and I looked up at a blue sky so big it made me feel small. I marvelled at the sight on the long drive and we arrived in Edinburgh late that night.
As I looked out of the window to my side and watched the approaching city, the buildings were large and imposing, a million lights twinkled from windows and streetlights. Looming over the city was Edinburgh Castle, and no matter where I looked it was always there in my peripheral, no matter where my eyes were directed. It was as if the building made sure a person was always aware of its presence. There were people and cars everywhere.
It felt very overwhelming.
Publisher : Fiction for the Soul Books
Date : 3 January 2018
Language : English
Paperback : 260 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1393595250
Reading age : 13 and up
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.65 x 8.5 inches
Lynette Ferreira writes sweet romance stories for teens and young adults about first love, really cute boys, kissing and all the drama.
