Soulprint ~ Megan Miranda (earc) review [@MeganLMiranda @BloomsburyKids]

Soulprint
Bloomsbury USA Childrens
February 3, 2015
368 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from TBD/or Amazon

A new literary, sci-fi thriller from acclaimed author Megan Miranda.

With the science of soul-fingerprinting a reality, Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned for the crimes her past-self committed. In an attempt to clear her name, Alina unintentionally trades one prison for another when she escapes, aided by a group of teens whose intentions and motivations are a mystery to her. As she gets to know one of the boys, sparks fly, and Alina believes she may finally be able to trust someone. But when she uncovers clues left behind from her past life that only she can decipher, secrets begin to unravel. Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat the past.

This compelling story will leave readers wondering if this fictional world could become a reality.

I loved the way Megan Miranda uses science in her novels; first in 2012's Fracture and then in its sequel, Vengeance.  In Soulprint, soulprinting, like fingerprints but with souls, is a reality. The ramifications of what this means for society and the individual - that souls are born again and again and can be tracked - is still being discovered.

One person who knows just how much it can mean is Alina Chase. She was born with a soul that previously belonged to a now infamous young woman. She has spent her whole life isolated, in a de facto prison for her protection and the public's. It doesn't matter how much she hears of her past self's crimes, Alina knows that's not her. She's her own person.

If only she could prove it.

When the chance for escape comes, Alina gladly takes it. Only to find she may not have achieved the freedom she was imagining.

The twists and the understanding (and lack thereof) in Soulprint make for a very enjoyable, thrilling tale. We know from the beginning that Alina is infamous in her own right for things done by her soul in a past life. However, we don't know exactly what those things are.

There is, of course, curiosity about what was so terrible to necessitate the life Alina lives, but not knowing makes you more invested in Alina's desire to uncover the truth. We learn more and more about who she is even knowing that her 'soul' supposedly did something so horrible very recently. It's an interesting contrast and raises interesting questions.

The mystery and Alina's journey were so much better than I could have imagined. The other characters a great addition and seeing their attitude towards Alina, how it changes, gives a nice idea of how someone in that reality sees her.

I really like how the author handled the entire idea of souls. It is scientific (even if it's theoretically science) but doesn't ignore religion, either. It creates a very plausible, well balanced, idea.

The premise, characters, and story of Soulprint are very enjoyable and the development, the mystery make for a great read.





thank you to the publisher for my egalley through NetGalley