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A Soul to Heal: Duskwalker Brides, Book Two
Opal Reyne
4.4
A Soul to Keep: Duskwalker Brides, Book 1
by Opal Reyne
About this book
Reia has spent her entire life as an outcast, branded a harbinger of misfortune and scapegoated for the tragedies plaguing her village. When the community demands their decennial tribute to the monstrous Duskwalker in exchange for protection from the demons that stalk their world, Reia is handed a cruel ultimatum: face imprisonment or be sacrificed to the entity known as Orpheus. She chooses the latter, expecting a swift death at the hands of a faceless beast.
Instead, Reia finds herself in the Veil, a realm of shadows where Orpheus dwells. Far from the mindless monster she anticipated, Orpheus is a lonely, ethereal being who has spent centuries seeking a companion to endure his immortality. While his skull-like visage and glowing eyes are initially terrifying, a fragile curiosity blossoms between them.
Orpheus is captivated by Reia’s unexpected lack of fear, while Reia discovers a depth of soul beneath his forbidding exterior. As their bond deepens, the isolation of the Veil gives way to an intense, consuming connection. However, the shadow of their tragic history looms large.
Orpheus must navigate the challenge of earning Reia’s heart and convincing her to stay before the volatile nature of their world tears them apart forever.
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What readers are saying
Shelby Di MartinoA 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
ForTheLOVEofBooksA 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
ChaseDark 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
KellyLoss of Words!
"I will say that when I finished this book, I put it down and thought: "What the f*** did I just read...and when does the sequel come out because that was absolutely amazing!!!" This was my first book into monster lore and boy am I glad I started with this one! It is phenomenal! The author definitely has a way with words. She builds a wonderful connection between the FMC and MMC (monster main character, lol) through time and patience, while also adding some incredible spice between them. The author builds a fantastic world and is extremely descriptive without dragging out the book. *SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD* Having the FMC get adjusted to her new life with the MMC, learning about him, and slowly becoming attracted to him felt very natural. A wonderful slow burn romance. She questions why she starts forming the attraction to him and tries to fight it for a long time, which I feel would be something anyone would do given the situation. As for the MMC, he just wants a companion, a friend, which makes him see less threatening and more relatable. He treats the FMC with tenderness and care and tries his best to protect her when she makes stupid decisions (only flaw of the book). He is fiercely protective of her without coming off as an alpha-douchebag. Even when he goes through his jealous phase, he is still a rather adorable character. As for the sexual attraction between the two...holy damn. Like I said, the author has a way with word...and she knows many descriptive ones to get anyone hot and bothered. Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a slow-burn monster romance. It has all the bells and whistles any reader would want. I am eager to read the next book in the series...let's just hope our nameless Duskwalker has eaten a few more humans before then because, as Reia so eloquently put it, "he's really stupid, he needs to obtain more humanity." ["
September 16, 2022 Verified Purchase
