Book Review: “Soulmatch” by Rebecca Danzenbaker

“Soulmatch” by Rebecca Danzenbaker (2025)

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Page Length: 496 pages (hardcover edition)

Synopsis:

Two-hundred years after World War III, the world is at peace, all thanks to the soul-identification system. Every 18-year-old must report to the government to learn about their past lives, a terrifying process known as kirling. Good souls leave the institute with their inheritance, a career path, and if they’re lucky, a soulmate. Bad souls leave in handcuffs.

It’s a nerve-wracking ordeal for Sivon, who, given her uncanny ability to win every chess match, already suspects her soul isn’t normal. Turns out, she was right to worry. Sivon’s results stun not only her, but the entire world, making her the object of public scrutiny and anonymous threats.

Saddled with an infuriating and off-limits bodyguard, Sivon is thrust into a high-stakes game where souls are pawns and rules don’t exist. As deaths mount, Sivon must decipher friend from foe while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong move could destroy the future lives of everyone Sivon loves, and she can’t let that happen, even if they’ll never love her back.

Review:

It’s been a while since I’ve delved into the Dystopian genre of books, but the synopsis of Soulmatch piqued my interest from the very beginning. It’s an action-packed rollercoaster of twists and turns for this debut, and I could tell from the intricacies of this novel how much work Danzenbaker put into crafting this story! Reading this novel took me back to the days where I devoured novels like The Hunger Games or Divergent, but I feel like the plot is fresh and will bring new readers into seeking out more dystopian stories (even though it feels as if we’re living in one nowadays).

Reading this novel felt like watching a movie play out on the big screen in theatres. I felt that it had a great mixture of science fiction and fantasy elements that will keep the reader locked in with Sivon’s story. Sivon as a character is a strong heroine despite her being thrust into a world that was very different from her upbringing. She uses her wit and intelligence to try to puzzle the pieces of a past that seems to be missing from her memories all the while figuring out who she can truly trust. The element of suspense is very heavy throughout the book due to the concept of souls and past lives that is executed in this book. Because of how deep the lineage is for each character, readers aren’t sure of the motive’s for those that become entangled in Sivon’s mission.

The world building was very well, although I did find it a bit hard to follow as times. I appreciated how multi layered the plot was and how the novel was not only focused on Sivon’s perspective but how we get glimpses of her friends and foes views too. It had me on the edge of my seat due to the characters having to race against time. I couldn’t wait to get to the next chapter to see how the story would progress. There is a romance sub-plot within in the novel, but it feels genuine compared to earlier dystopian novels with the insta-love trope. I appreciated that Danzenbaker ingrates Sivon’s romantic journey it into the story rather than making it the forefront of the plot.

Overall, I feel that Soulmatch is a has a unique concept that explores reincarnation in a futuristic setting. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy Fantasy and Science Fiction. It’s a strong debut and I’m curious to see what the author will come up with next!

*Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Death

Final Verdict: