A Soul to Keep: Duskwalker Brides, Book 1

Name: A Soul to Keep: Duskwalker Brides, Book 1
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (31300 reviews)
Author: Opal Reyne

by Opal Reyne

4.4

About this book

All Reia ever wanted was freedom. Known as a harbinger of bad omens and blamed for Demons eating her family, Reia is shunned by her entire village. When the next offering is due and the monstrous Duskwalker is seen heading their way, her village offers her an impossible choice—be thrown into the prison cells or allow herself to be sacrificed to a faceless monster. However, he is not what he seems. His skull face and glow eyes are ethereal, and she finds herself unwittingly enchanted by him. All Orpheus ever wanted was a companion. Each decade, in exchange for a protection ward from the Demons that terrorize the world, Orpheus takes a human offering to the Veil—the place he lives and the home of Demons. The brief companionship does little to ease his loneliness, and their lives were always, unfortunately, cut short. He'd thought it was a hopeless endeavor, until he met her. She’s not afraid of him, and his insatiable desire deepens within every moment of her presence. But will Orpheus be able to convince Reia to stay before she’s lost to him forever?

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What readers are saying

Shelby Di Martino

A love story that makes women, disappointed by irl men, have hope in love again.

"This book def has some trigger warnings to be aware of if you aren't comfortable with violence, but this is a solid read with, fabulous balance between spice and plot. It kept me invested. The character development, not only for the mains but supporting characters too, had me picking up to read every free chance I had. These character designs for the demons and duskwalkers are so unique and refreshing for a monster fiction reader. The story is part engaging mystery, part sweet love story, and part supernatural action. Highly recommend it if you're into any of these vibes. (Spoilers below) I loved reading a story where communication and understanding are so at the forefront of how this relationship develops and it's so great to see for once in a smutty love story. Even if they weren't always the most healthy or mature, no one is perfect even in books 😂 I love how most of the story was just building this relationship. I low-key loved that the conflict didn't drag out too long or get too crazy. It was pretty perfect as far as action and drama go in my opinion. I also just love a happy ending but I also kinda wish I got to read about the antler Mavka being so excited to receive a gift and all the Mavkas finding out they're truly family and not alone. But I plan to read this whole series. So, I'll get more of the silly dumb antler monster in the next one 😄 ["

July 19, 2024 Verified Purchase

ForTheLOVEofBooks

A really cool concept and story

"So I never imagined when starting this book that it would have so much depth to it. Ms so many possibilities. I just thought it was going to be a monster story and that’s it. Which I would have totally been here for as well. But I’m glad there was more to it. Reía is definitely not what you would expect. She is sassy, spirited, strong willed, unafraid, and loving. And the fact that she could accept Orpheus as he was was truly something special. She fell in love with beast who is truly kind hearted and sweet. Despite is many attempts to eat her. He always wanted to protect her but sometimes he couldn’t help himself. Now not only is the budding relationship important but so is the very first relationship Orpheus ever had. His very first human was Katerina. And despite her wanting to survive because I can understand that. She couldn’t see past what Orpheus was to truly understand that he cared for her. So I’m the end she was a female dog with 💩 on top. You also discover that Katerina left Orpheus for Jebez , the Demon king. A half elf half demon, who created the veil and brought demons to earth. Sending humanity back into the stone ages. Unable to move forward technology wise because their inability to protect themselves from Demons who hunted at night or in the shadows. So he is also on the 💩 list. Jebez also doesn’t like Dustwalkers because he can’t control them and they are very strong. Almost equally matched with his strength and prowess. In my opinion he is just a scared creature who loves others pain. He is a coward and a bully. And he deserves all that is coming to him. Another interesting character is the Owl witch who is always looking after Orpheus and the other dust walkers. She does little things that keeps Orpheus and Reía safe to the best of her ability. And in her own she is motherly towards the dustwalkers. She even explains to Reía where the dustwalkers came from, what they are, and why by the end she is safe with with Orpheus. It’s different but I like Monsters and their beauties. It makes for very interesting stories. 😉😏 ["

October 26, 2022 Verified Purchase

Chase

Dark Woods, Duskwalkers, and a Love That Lingers: A Soul To Keep Revisited

"Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice/Romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Writing/Prose: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I picked A Soul To Keep back up for a second read with my book club, and honestly, it felt like coming home to a story that’s equal parts eerie and heartwarming. I’d devoured this series before—there are eight books, and I’m deep into book seven now—but revisiting Reia and Orpheus reminded me why I fell in love with Opal Reyne’s world in the first place. From the prologue, Reyne wastes no time immersing you in the Veil, a place crawling with demons, Duskwalkers, and all the things that go bump in the night. Our heroine, Reia, gets the rawest deal imaginable: she survives a demon attack as a child, only to be branded a curse by her village and offered up as a sacrifice to a Duskwalker every decade for protection. Talk about being the black sheep. Enter Orpheus, the bone-masked Duskwalker who seems almost indifferent, though you can sense his sadness and tired contempt for humanity. Their first meeting is brisk—Reia is already plotting her escape, and Orpheus doesn’t seem too fussed about whether she stays or runs. But the layers start to peel back quickly, especially when he risks himself to protect her from Demon Slayers. Humans in this story are often the true monsters, and the irony isn’t lost on Reia—or me. Watching them slowly find a fragile trust (and eventually, something deeper) is so satisfying. Reia’s fear is overshadowed by her righteous anger at the world that discarded her, and Orpheus, for all his dark power, just wants someone to choose him and survive. The tenderness he shows her is sometimes awkward, sometimes profound, and always compelling. I’d forgotten how much I loved seeing them learn to love each other without realizing that’s what’s happening. The romance builds deliciously slowly, and when it finally ignites—well, let’s just say the spice absolutely spices. If tentacles aren’t your thing…they might be after this. The climax is packed with revelations, a Demon King who has it out for Mavka, and a certain woman from Orpheus’s past (I’ll refrain from spoilers, but she deserves a whole lot of side-eye). The final chapters tie everything together with Reia embracing her new powers and both of them finally acknowledging their bond. Rereading this was absolutely worth it. The Veil feels vivid, dangerous, and hauntingly beautiful, and the story is both raw and tender in all the best ways. If you haven’t read this series, I hope you’ll give it a chance—and love it as much as I do. ["

June 29, 2025 Verified Purchase

IndigoRose1986

Ancient Magus' Bride for a darker crowd

"'ll start by saying this is an interesting book. The setting is unique; I could vividly imagine what the Veil was like, and at times, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. The steam was good, and the spice was great. You could really tell the chemistry between the two main characters even as Reia was coming to grips with it all. In case it matters to people there was a point of dubious consent in the beginning where her dream became reality, but for me it was so minor I was able to gloss over it. On to the bad news: Orpheus felt like a primal/dark version of Elias from The Ancient Magus Bride. Especially in the way he looks. You never see it under Elias' clothes as it is a tame anime, but a lot about him is the same. Wolf skull, single non-branching horns, orbs for eyes, deeper voice that comes from within his head rather than mouth. Lastly, he has an origin story where he came into being not knowing anything except he had to eat, and he wanted to eat people. There were a few grammar and spelling errors, but my main technical gripe was word choices. Instead of saying "crumple" like she 'lay crumpled on the ground'. Crumple was always crumbled. It's a person, not a cookie. Also, towards the later 1/3rd of the book, Orpheus is constantly "whining." It wasn't prevalent in the previous parts as much so seeing it at times multiple times a page was jarring. At times, it felt like the author was grinding too hard on certain points, like how much the village of origin hated Reia. I get that it's an important point, but it doesn't need to be hammered on constantly. It made me roll my eyes at times, wishing the descriptions could have been briefer or not there at all. It was also formulaic that whatever Orpheus asked Reia to do to stay out of danger, she wouldn't listen to him with predictable results. In the end: It was an interesting read, and I don't regret finishing the book. I might be tempted to re-read it later, but it won't be for a while. Final Reviews: MMC = 8/10 FMC 6/10 Plot: 6/10 Steam: 5/10 Spicy Scenes: 9/10 Originality: 4/10 ["

January 1, 2024 Verified Purchase