DNF - 15%

I want to like this book, but unfortunately, it's a DNF for me. I kept trying to pick it up but it's been a struggle to get through these first few chapters. There are some reviewers who said the first half was slow, and it picks up, but I'm unable to make it that far. The main character just wasn't able to grab me in enough. I was intrigued by the summary so I may try to come back to it if I can.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for access to this ARC 📚.

🔥Quick Fire Review🔥

Genre/Themes: 🦁👩🏿‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏿📜🌲⚔️
Tropes: Slow Burn, Assassin, Tortured Hero, ‘Ugly’, Reluctant Hero, Secret/Lost Heir, Chosen One, Sworn Off a Relationship, Forbidden Love, Love/Hate Relationship, Can’t Spit it Out, Nursed Back to Health, Everyone Can See It, Innocent Cohabitation, Shifters
Positives ✅ : stunning prose, intriguing plot, great twist on the shifter genre, character-focused
Room for Improvement 🔎 : pacing, some parts somewhat repetitive
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗

✍🏻Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑

I completely ate this book up. This is definitely an author to watch and I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy. And I ADORE that we have a story about black characters, represented by the souls of the African lion, in the fantasy genre especially when there is a complete oversaturation of white American wolf shifter books.

Characterisation:
Some of the best I have read in a while. Our main characters, Eshe and Adeben are two sides of the same coin. They are both stubborn, short-tempered over-analysers who hold the perpetual belief that they are not good enough, that they are outsiders, that they are ‘other’. But different backgrounds and traumas underly these similarities. Adeben grew up rejected by his mother and torn away from his family, yet he still feels like an outsider in his found family. He knows he is an asset, a strength, a tool. Yet doesn’t want any of it. Eshe however feels smothered by her mother who tries to exert too much control of her life, while still keeping her at arms-length emotionally. She is made to feel like a nuisance, a wild card. Both are linked by the fear they experience with the dreams they share, of two lions who will fight to the death. My only gripe with Eshe was that she showed a bit of internalised misogyny earlier on in the book, giving ‘not like the other girls’ vibes. Yes, she feels ‘other’ due to her unexplained mental health issues, her facial scars and her race among a sea of privileged white people. But that doesn’t mean she has to reduce and belittle the women she knows with criticism of their cosmetic surgery and their interest in men. Although I rolled my eyes at her comments I enjoyed that she was flawed, she was complex and that her attitudes were contextualised. She is of course an unreliable narrator quite often and her own insecurities lead her to frame interactions negatively, reinforcing her cognitive bias of being a source of ridicule or annoyance. I thought this was a really accurate depiction of anxiety and tied in nicely with the exploration of Eshe’s mental health and the use of prescription meds to ‘dull’ her emotions. I really enjoyed the use of the lion soul bursting forth in times of ‘rage’, when she has allowed her anger to ferment and overwhelm her, as a tool to represent the result of repressing trauma and emotional issues. Adeben was very mysterious and while Eshe desperately held on to hope of living a ‘normal’ life full of love and friendship, Adeben had shut all of this down. While we as readers know he is actually very sensitive, with a strong moral compass and passion he keeps well tethered, to Eshe and others he is a closed book. But, just like Eshe, he has intense mood swings from all of the things he represses. His ‘rage’ and consequent changing to his lion soul, when he was trying to hide this from Eshe, was a result of intense jealousy. Their slow burn romance is so well written. Watching them both grapple with their feelings and watching their characters develop, Eshe having to learn patience and Adeben having to embrace vulnerability, was great reading. Supporting characters were also utilised really well for the most part, especially Eshe’s mother, her aunt and Adeben’s best friend William. Both of these characters are having to process their own pasts, especially William who now has to face the reality that his father is not who he thought he was. Tom and Eshe’s friends were perhaps a little underwritten, especially considering they have such a huge influence on her earlier in the book.

World-Building:
Eshe’s story is based in London, and later Surrey, while Adeben hails from a West African village and a ‘compound’ in the capital where he and the other Lion Souls reside. I loved that even though there is a clear wealth and privilege divide between their homes, the concept of overindulgence and ostentatiousness is portrayed in both. The lore surrounding the lion souls is really interesting, especially Eshe and her lioness. She and her lioness soul aren’t supposed to be possible. I love how this was used to tie in to the discussion of patriarchy and sexism in Adeben’s culture. Lion souls are implied to be part of the person they ‘awaken’ in, not possessing them like a ghost or spirit. The person has to be ‘bound’ to the Lion Soul within otherwise they cannot control it. Once bound the person and lion will even share injuries and illnesses. This was a little difficult to get my head around sometimes, especially since Eshe could feel her lionesses connection to Adeben’s lion before they were actually bound, but even certain aspects Adeben says he does not understand so I hope it is explored and explained throughout the trilogy. We also later see Eshe’s lioness manifest outside of Eshe’s body as a separate entity, and it’s even implied Eshe has absorbed another lion soul from an enemy. So I’m excited to see why Eshe and her lioness are the exception to everything the male lion souls can do. It is later revealed that there is a dark corruption laced through the compound, adding a political element to the lion souls. The Elders and the Leader were all very intriguing, especially in their clashing approaches to Eshe and Adeben’s mission. The Elders appear to be almost like Seers, seeing the premonitions and prophecies that Edeben and Eshe’s dreams seem to portray.

Prose\Plot:
The prose in this book is stunning. The author has a gorgeous writing style but it is a little difficult to pinpoint whether the intended audience is YA or adult. The content so far could be either, but the maturity of the prose makes me hope it will lean more adult. There were times things got a little repetitive, namely Eshe and Adeben’s inner monologues. There were only so many times I needed to hear why Adeben believes he can’t be with Eshe. The plot and the pacing is what ultimately brought down my stars down, as I do feel not enough happened to keep the pace engaging and moving forward. It feels more like a set up for book two. There were some parts that were skipped over which could have been interesting reads, such as Eshe’s training which I feel we didn’t see much of at all. Her bonding to her lioness felt somewhat rushed too and I felt Eshe’s scars were glossed over quite a bit. We know the story that was told to explain them, but still don’t know the real reason. She also seemed to be able to hide them very easily and when Adeben semi-discovers them nothing ever comes of it. I assume this will all be revealed further down the line. William’s visit and stay was also quite rushed, in many ways I think the book would have benefitted from a William POV which could have given us more insight into the compound. I’m also not sure how I feel about the medication plot for Eshe. In some ways, whether intentional or not, I got some negative undertones from the author about prescription meds. The idea that they were hiding or masking who Eshe really was, that she was relying on them and benefitting from being ‘numbed’ and that she would ‘implode’ from them felt a bit anti-med. Medication for mental health is still very much a taboo but the fact is they save lives. They don’t always ‘numb’ or ‘mask’ people, they can be as essential tool to help people find themselves again and facilitate other longer term approaches like therapy. Again, I will give the author the benefit of the doubt and it didn’t deter my reading.

This reminded me of a Ben Okri Novel. Wonderfully written with an interesting plot, this story redefines the concept of soulmates. I loved the magical realism element of this story and the supporting role played by friends and family.

I enjoyed this one! The plot was unique and I liked the characters. The writing style just wasn't for me. While I was reading, I would drift off and find myself having to re-read passages. It took me a while to get though this book because of that.

A Pride of Lions tells the tale of a woman struggling to be herself in a world where she doesn’t fit. Eshe’s struggles are real, her fears are often crippling, but her strength is a quiet flame that burns as fiercely as her desire to feel comfortable in her own skin. I think every woman can relate to this.

Lion Souls are males who have been given a gift of the soul of a lion. This gift gives the chosen ones the ability to shift into a lion form and enhance their speed, strength, and senses in human form. When a woman is discovered with a Lion Soul, the first thing the Leader of the Lion Souls wants is to kill her. She is an abomination and should be eliminated.

Adeben has been dreaming of a lioness for a while now. As the Lion Souls’ enforcer, he is tasked by the Leader to kill Eshe. Adeben is struggling with this decision because what he sees in his dreams every night is a strong, fierce woman with the soul of a lioness and he knows she is special but unsure why.

When an Elder takes Adeben aside and asks him to gather more information instead of eliminating the lioness, he is glad, but apprehensive. The Leader said she was a danger to all Lion Souls, but this Elder who has a clairvoyant gift, sees another path. When Adeben meets Eshe in person, he’s overwhelmed with emotions. Adeben faces a destiny that could herald death to the Lion Souls, or become his saving grace.

This male-dominated world of Lion Souls and their antiquated, misogynistic ways are about to be shaken to the very core by the emergence of a lioness, and I’m here for it!

I had a little bit of a difficult time getting into the story because it’s written through first person point-of-view (which I enjoyed) but the storyline is mostly inner-dialogue driven. I’m usually not a fan of stories like this but the writing is what kept me engaged and the plot gradually engulfed me into this extraordinary story.

Ms. Nartey’s Illustration of the written word is remarkable. I was absolutely enchanted by the way the author describes the characters' innermost thoughts. How beautifully written and with so much poise and purpose.

“The room, the people, my brothers and the things their mouths would not say, but their eyes were all too happy to announce. It’s what most people forget when they hold their tongues and skirt past me, afraid to prickle my skin and set me off into hysteria: their eyes. How much they say, how loudly they scream the very things they worry will send me back to the places where I am the one who knows well…”

“If there is any malice in her words, I do not hear it. Not anymore. Not when a lifetime of her tone has already made me immune to the thorns sometimes hidden in what she says.”

“I think you know when you’ve found someone who lights up your world, someone who will always be worth fighting for because your life would be infinitely darker without them in it.”

If you enjoy fantasy romance with a unique twist on the shifter/changeling trope, A Pride of Lions is right up your alley.

I loved the cultural and emotional complexity of this story. I loved the concept of the Lion Souls. I loved the beautifully executed magical realism that is what I would say is the main genre of the book. Overall, it was beautifully written.
However, the pacing left a little to be desired. It felt really slow and then some parts were really fast and then back to slow and so on. It made it difficult for me to want to co time reading at times. It I am very glad I kept going! There is a lot to discover in this story! And while I am not the biggest fan of the main characters, I think there is so much room for character development.
This story was unique to the usual magical romance stories out there and has some gorgeous writing!

I took me a bit to while read thru the book but I feel in love with the characters. I give story a 3.85/5.

The premise of this book was very intriguing, but the first half was a struggle to get into. The inner monologue dragged on a bit much and left me wishing for a little more active plot. I appreciated the complexity of Eshe’s inner struggle, however it could have been more succinct. The latter half moved more and I got more sucked into it.

The set up for the second book was great! I am interested to see how the confrontation goes for Eshe and Adeben.

SUMMARY
Eshe is plagued with dreams of herself in the form of a lioness, fighting a lion of great power. Her rage, her desires, her strength-- they emerge in her lioness form as she takes on the powerful male lion each night.
Adeben, a lion shifter, is struck each night with the same dream. The dream that depicts him fighting, and then killing, a lioness. But female lion shifters don’t exist and the Pride he belongs to is convinced these tales of a female mean danger for the way of life they’ve fought hard to protect.
Tasked with finding the female he dreams of each night, their dreams become reality as they confront the connections between their inner lions and the world they live in. They must decide which battles are the real danger-- the fight within, the fight between them, or the fight to choose their own paths.

WHAT WE LIKE
The Magic - This tale of magical realism opens an unknown world of very specific magic to the FMC. A small group of men in Africa have been infused with the soul of a lion upon birth. When they come of age, they gain the ability to transform into the form of their inner lion. When the ability is identified, they are brought to a secret compound where the shifters are trained to bond with their lions and control the ability. What is considered a powerful gift for the men, is called an abomination when bestowed upon a woman. We, the readers, are gifted with an empowering story of perseverance and identity reclamation through Eshe’s journey into exploring her connection with the lioness.
The Slow Burn - Eshe & Adeben have a gritty enemies to lovers arc that is so very satisfying. She is stubborn but forthright with her emotions, he is stubborn and reserved-- and watching these two butt heads is the best kind of romantically charged conflict!
The Cultural Rifts - Nartey artfully delves into the internal conflict of reconciling cultural identities following emigration. Eshe’s family originates from an African country (non-specific, but possibly Ghana since Nartey possibly shares her British-Ghanaian heritage with Eshe?), however her mother and aunt were coercively moved to England by her grandfather to seal the marriage between her mother & father, and secure more opportunities for their family. So many of the struggles Eshe faces in confronting her inner-lioness can easily parallel the complicated relationships between familial and regional cultures endured by second-generation immigrants. Especially in regional cultures where the majority of the population is white/Caucasian with a long history of colonization. But more on that when we discuss the FMCs.
The FMCs - Eshe • Olivia • Grace
These women have our whole hearts! Strong, fiercely loving, dynamic FMCs are everything! Olivia & Grace are wonderful foils to each other. With Olivia’s stoic, reserved personality and Grace’s warm, demonstrative approach, we see how each can have their moments of both connection and distance with Eshe. They both struggle to get things right, but they both come from a place of love and concern for their family. In a (predominantly white) society where Black women are often stereotypically portrayed as angry, lower socio-economic status, and/or uneducated-- we love to see representation of unapologetically complex and fully defined, Black, female characters whose diverse personalities are given space to bloom in all their imperfect glory and push back on those stereotypes.
Eshe is a given the perfect amalgamation of personality traits from the two important women in her life, while still retaining her own personality and journey of discovery. Chef’s kiss, Yvonne!!
The MMCs - Adeben • William
These two represent shifting tides in long-held social constructs. With very different personalities, they compliment each other’s desires and efforts to make positive change within their community. William’s affable nature is easy to love, but his connection with Adeben is what gives him the space to be himself. Adeben gives broody, tortured vibes but the glimpses into unburdened Adeben are the layers to the grumpy, enemy-as-romantic-lead cake that we love!

REAL TALK
Some Rough Edges - The technical aspects of the writing can have some rough edges. We give some grace for indie authors, but be forewarned- there might be a few things that catch your eye.
Some Mental Health Precautions - Eshe’s initial signs of being a shifter include mood changes and behavior that is interpreted as self-harm. She is institutionalized for a period, and claims to be institutionalized as a cover story after she is aware of her shifter status. Her mother convinces her to take mood-stabilizing medications, which cause a numbness to her lioness and end up being an inadequate solution to her symptoms. Readers should be aware that some aspects of this story may be difficult for those with a history of poorly supported mental health. It’s important to contextualize the conditions around Eshe’s choice to not continue her medication regimen: the main takeaway is that they were treating the wrong problem. This should not be seen as an endorsement of stopping meds without consulting a professional, or negative commentary on conditions that require medication.

BOOK DRAGON RATING
‘A Pride of Lions’ rates a 4.5 on the Book Dragon Scale and we are eagerly awaiting a sequel!

This book was slow paced which I didn't like, and another reason is that I didn't like the story in general, I DNF this book.

I would give this book 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)

This book started really strong for me, the intrigue and uniqueness surrounding the shifter system really grasping my attention. Seeing Eshe trying to subdue her inner lion and balance her 'new' and 'old' lives was interesting to follow too. I would have liked to see more of the training that happened between Eshe and Adeben, and even see more of the dynamics of the tribe and how Adeben fitted (or didn't) into their systems and plans, as well as how the Elder system worked within the tribe.

I found the writing of this novel a little jarring, as a lot of short, abrupt sentences are used - though I do wonder if that is on purpose to build some tension/anxiety that the characters may be feeling.
My other main negative point is how Eshe's mum was so flip-floppy about everything - she seemed to soften briefly and say how her actions were all for her daughter and keeping her safe, and then be really angry again the next second, which I found hard to follow.

Despite those brief points, I enjoyed reading about Lion Souls, and I am looking forward to the next one to see if any of my questions left from the ending are answered!

Stars: 4
Review Release: 03/02/25
Review Platform: Goodreads/Amazon
Review: I was very hesitant going into this one but my gosh, I was pleasantly surprised. Eshe was not your typical 'roll over and take it' kind of character, she was stubborn and relatable - very realistic. It took a while for me to be sucked in but by the ending, I was screaming due to the cliffhanger.

i would give this book 2.5 stars. i was very intrigued by the description of this book and it wasn’t like anything i’ve read before. however the book started quite slow and there wasn’t a ton of world building. i wanted to know more about the history of the lion souls to better bond with the characters. i felt like it was difficult to get to know the characters and form an attachment with them because i didn’t know much about them. the writing also seemed “flat” to me. it was very matter of fact and didn’t have that warm fantasy touch. overall the concept of the book was interesting but i felt like it could’ve been executed better.

thank you netgalley for the arc and giving me the opportunity to read it!!

This book has an intriguing premise blending magic realism with romance and fantasy, offering a unique narrative that explores love, identity, and destiny. The central relationship between Eshe and Adeben stands out, especially as they navigate their shared dreamscapes while struggling with their conflicting roles. The dual POV structure allows for an interesting dynamic, showing both Eshe's vulnerability and confusion alongside Adeben's sense of duty.

However, the pacing and world-building didn't fully work for me. The book starts off slow, which made it hard to get hooked right away, and the world-building felt a bit unclear in the beginning. I struggled with a lack of detailed descriptions, which left me disoriented at times. It might be that some of the cultural or geographical references were unfamiliar to me, but the execution didn’t draw me in as much as I’d hoped.

Despite these issues, the story was enjoyable. The characters are well-developed, and the themes of magic and self-discovery are intriguing. While the pacing and world-building might be challenging for some readers, the book still offers a thought-provoking experience for those who enjoy a mix of magic realism and romance. I will give it 2.5 ⭐.

I’d say this story would fall into the magic realism - romance and fantasy category. Weaving a narrative rich with cultural depth and emotional complexity. However, it isn’t without its challenges, particularly in pacing and world-building.

The magic realism shines in its portrayal of a world grounded in our reality but interwoven with the fantastical elements of those with lion souls. The themes of love, identity, and destiny resonate, particularly through the dynamic between Eshe and Adeben as they navigate their shared dreamscapes and conflicting roles. It’s dual POV structure adds depth letting us see both sides of the central conflict, from Eshe’s confusion and vulnerability to Adeben’s duty and desire.

However, the execution of the world-building is a mixed bag. I found myself disoriented by unclear or insufficient descriptions at the beginning half of the book. This lack of clarity made it difficult to immerse fully in the story. That said, this might be more of a personal hurdle for rather than a shortcoming on the author’s part. Especially since I’m aware of my lack of familiarity with some of the geographical or cultural references presented.
The pacing is another area where the story falters slightly, particularly at the start. The slow buildup might challenge to immediately immerse in the story

Ultimately, this book is an enjoyable read, especially for fans of magic realism and romance. Its strong female protagonist, diverse cast, and unique premise make it stand out. While it may not fully satisfy readers looking for fast-paced storytelling or richly detailed world-building from the outset, those who persevere will find a story that’s both thought-provoking and emotionally rewarding.

*4.5 stars rounded up

This first book in The Lion Souls Trilogy blends the vibes of the Nena Knight series with the magic of Raybearer & infuses its own unique elements, namely: lions!

The cover of this book is gorgeous, & I loved the lion/lioness artwork at the beginning of each chapter denoting the back & forth POVs of Eshe & Adeben. The emphasis on mental health & the role that emotions (chief of these being anger) play in the bonds with the souls of lions was thoughtfully written, & I really liked the importance that was placed on the relationships that Eshe has with her aunt & mother.

I hope that the second & third books in this trilogy are released soon, because I am very ready to see where Eshe & Adeben go from here, & understand more about their gifts.

Thank you to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I had the honor to read this as an arc and I need to say that I am absolutely amazed. I really liked the storytelling and the world of the lions. Eshe is an amazing and strong women and I really liked her story. You can feel what she feels and watch her grow, while also falling a step back from time to time. The same with Adeben. It felt very realistic to have both of them struggle often with their feelings, emotions and their communication and provided a deeper connection to both of the characters. The idea and description of the lion soul is just amazing, I've never read something like this before. I don't want to spoil any of the story, so I can just say that I really enjoyed reading this book. Only at the ending I realized, that this book does not have spice, not even very romantic scenes. Normally, I need those in a book, but let me tell you, this book doesn't need it. In fact, it's better without. It would have crashed the story at some point, so I am thankful that it was not included.

I really hope, there will be another book soon, so I can continue this series. I just now there will be much happening and some mysteries from this book that were not answered will be revealed.