Knot of Souls by Christine Amsden

Title: Knot of Souls

Author: Christine Amsden

Genre: Scifi Fantasy

Series: N/A

Publication: May 20, 2025, 396 pages

Source: I received a review copy from the author in exchange for a honest review.

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Two souls, one body …

When Joy wakes up in an alley, she knows three things: she was brutally murdered, she has somehow come back to life ... and she is not alone. She’s been possessed by an inhuman presence, a being that has taken over her dying body. That being is powerful, in pain, and on the run from entities more dangerous than he is.

Shade, a Fae prince on the run, didn’t mean to share the body he jumped into. Desperate and afraid, accused of a murder he didn’t commit, he only sought a place to hide—but if he leaves Joy now, he faces discovery and a fate worse than death.

Forced to work together to solve multiple murders, including her own, Joy and Shade discover hidden strengths and an unlikely friendship. Yet as their souls become increasingly intertwined, they realize their true danger might come from each other … and if they don't find a way to untangle the knot their souls have become, then even the truth won't set them free.

MY THOUGHTS

Amsden is the wonderful author of Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective and The Immortality Virus, which I had the pleasure of reading during my early review days. Cassie Scot remains a memorable favorite of mine. So, when the author reached out to let me know she had published a new novel, I jumped at the chance to review it!

Knot of Souls is completely different from Amsden’s previous works, but her impeccable writing style remains unchanged. In my opinion, Knot of Souls leans toward light Sci-Fi Fantasy, with a unique and fresh take on the Fae.

The story begins when a human named Joy is murdered, and in that fleeting moment between life and death, her body is hijacked by a Faerie Prince named Shade. Normally, when a Fae inhabits a living body, the original soul is no longer present but, in this case, Joy is still there, and she doesn’t plan to leave without a fight.

The subject of Fae has been around for as long as I can remember and, in recent years, has taken center stage in many fantasy stories. But Amsden’s version is unlike anything I’ve seen before. The Fae in Knot of Souls are incorporeal, energetic beings from another planet (yes, like aliens, though Shade would probably be offended by that label). With their planet destroyed, some chose to come to Earth to start over, while others returned to Source. The story touches on fascinating themes like genetics, reincarnation, and past lives, which I’ve always been drawn to. I loved how the author wove these concepts into the Fae's background and history.

Joy was such a realistic and relatable character; flawed, very human. I appreciated that she wasn’t the typical fantasy heroine who’s instantly tough, overly confident, or always knows what to do. She was simply herself, doing the best she could in an impossible situation. Shade, like Joy, was also flawed; his past trauma causing him to keep everyone at arm’s length. It was really rewarding to watch them overcome their differences and learn to support each other.

This was a low-stakes, almost cozy story where we follow the characters as they navigate the world, learning and adapting day by day. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It offered a refreshing change of pace from all the romantasy and high fantasy I’ve been reading lately. Knot of Souls felt like a warm cup of cocoa; something comforting, relaxing, and easy to get lost in.