SOUL CENSUS, the first book of a trilogy, is an imaginative tale filled with action and intrigue. Willem Maddock is a down-on-his luck veteran of the World War I. Unable to find a job at the height of the Great Depression, his fortunes suddenly change when he is recruited to be a Census agent and learns that his current incarnation is just one of many. A skilled warrior who has lived many reincarnated lives dating back centuries, his talents are needed in order to round up rogue souls which are living on Earth as demons. He soon finds that his destiny is far greater than he ever imagined and that he is a pivotal figure in the battle of good against evil. Intertwined with Maddock’s story is the story of Zarad, an ethereal being who must protect the Soul Sphere and the cycle of reincarnation.
SOUL CENSUS is not your typical fantasy story. While it does feature otherworldly creatures, it fuses together so many other elements that it is difficult to pinpoint its genre. The paranormal and fantasy elements are the most obvious, but SOUL CENSUS also becomes a war story when Maddock finds himself facing off against not just rogue souls but also Nazis.
Maddock is not the most endearing of heroes, but grows more likeable as the story progresses. His speech is chock-full of 1930s slang phrases, sometimes making him seem like a character lifted from a gangster movie, but his speech helps to keep SOUL CENSUS firmly rooted in the time period. Mythological entities are also integrated into the storyline and brought into the 20th century.
This blend of genres is ambitious, but not always effective. With so many creatures and characters, not to mention alternating narratives, there is a lot to follow. There are minor spelling and grammar errors throughout the book, but SOUL CENSUS’ greatest pitfall is its sheer length. There is plenty of action to fill its pages, but these action sequences are sometimes spaced far apart which causes the story to plod along.
Though the story could have been condensed and the pacing could be better, SOUL CENSUS is never boring. The ending is left open, prepping for the next installment of the series, but tying up the storylines to keep the reader satisfied — no major cliffhangers here! SOUL CENSUS is an entertaining read for lovers of fantasy and the paranormal.
~Christine-Marie Liwag Dixon for IndieReader
Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite
Whoa! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading Soul Census, the first book in a planned trilogy by author AJ Vega. This absolutely epic read is one that will engage readers from the very first page and keep them obsessively reading all the way to the end, not exactly an easy feat with a book this size, but definitely worth the effort! Following Willem Maddock, a man who has survived World War I and is looking to return to peace and happiness in New York, this story line twists and turns in the most unexpected of ways. What Willem finds on the streets of New York is anything but welcoming. Poor and on his own, he's not sure where to turn next. And when he's approached by a mysterious man who recruits him to be an agent of "Census," an organization charged with controlling the reincarnation of souls, he at first thinks the man must be crazy, but then realizes he has nothing to lose. What he finds is nothing like he's ever experienced before, and is possibly nothing like readers have either. Battling demons, fighting for souls, and hanging in haunted houses is now his daily work, and readers will often wonder if he has a chance at all of making it!
I so enjoyed Soul Census. Author AJ Vega has done a truly amazing job with this book, creating characters that are both fantastic and realistic, and ones that his readers will be able to connect with, care about, and continue to think of long after the story is done. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. The book is long, but the story line will keep readers engrossed throughout. As a big reader of paranormal fiction, this book is one that I found unique and creative, getting to be quite a rarity in the genre. I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys paranormal works, or someone who is just looking for a good read in general. I look forward to reading more from the obviously talented author, AJ Vega, as soon as I can!
Finding purpose after a life-changing event is something to which all readers can relate, and such is the fate of WWI veteran Willem Maddock, feeling the sense of despondency and alienation following the impossible tragedy of war. However, in Soul Census, written by AJ Vega, the story delves much deeper than a standard novel about post-war America. Instead, it penetrates the veil between mortality and spirituality, hinting at a form of existence that doesn’t end, but simply transcends.
Returning to find a cold world that doesn’t worship the right heroes, the tone is set for Maddock to be granted some higher purpose, but it doesn’t come in the form that he expects. The first chapter of this novel reveals that there is another world beyond the one we can see – the Spirit Realm – and it is not as disconnected from the world we know as you might expect. Based on the premise that reincarnation is not only possible, but a highly coordinated and secretive process, the novel throws Willem Maddock into the center of a mystical drama that challenges his courage, beliefs, and fortitude in the face of unthinkable odds.
The juxtaposition of Maddock’s gruff exterior and hard view of life to the ethereal personalities and unbelievable world of the Spirit Realm give the entire book a whimsical quality, despite its dark undertones. He’s a compelling central character, who finds his heart and taps into his own soul as the book proceeds, making him an excellent protagonist to root for, and a great focal point for the start of a series.
After settling into his newfound position, Maddock quickly realizes that there is a far greater threat in play than the danger of lost souls frightening people in haunted houses. Maniacal demons, powerful forces from the “other side,” and a very vague job description throw this main character into jaw-dropping circumstances and momentous events that few mortals could imagine. With a healthy dose of Nazi conspiracy and philosophical elements related to politics, religion, morality, spirituality, death, and eternal life, this book is packed with enough heady ideas to keep you flipping pages fast, while never becoming weighted down by these esoteric concepts.
The writing itself has a hard, gritty edge to it, particularly in the time sections that take place on Earth, versus the somewhat translucent and uncomfortable scenes in the Spirit Realm. For beings that live for millennia, if not forever, the foibles and failings of these spirit dwellers seem surprisingly human – even banal. Aside from the inhabitants of that world being “strange,” Vega could have done more to separate them in a meaningful way from the mortal actors in the story. Generally speaking, however, the writing was engaging and clean, with only a handful of errors, which a basic editing sweep could clear up.
The story of Soul Census could have easily gotten unwieldy, with millions of years to cover, old gods to introduce, new enemies to flesh out, and a seemingly hapless hero in the midst of it all, but Vega is up to the task, offering a mind-bending exploration of the soul. The novel manages to be thought-provoking and page-turning at once, and as the beginning of a trilogy, it will be hard to wait for Vega’s second installment.
