I was provided an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review

Unfortunately, this is a DNF at 6% for me.

The concept sounded interesting and the introductory author's note had me intrigued, but the prose and worldbuilding just aren't for me, so I am going to be leaving it here.

This was the first ARC audiobook I have engaged with, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it needs a lot of work. The narrator does an okay job, but they don't seem familiar with the text and I am not sure what the situation with the direction and editing is, but they are a long way from the finished article. I don't think that is the fault if the narrator though.

The Case of the Tortured Souls has an extremely creative and unique storyline. I really appreciated Holley’s efforts to write something that would connect with a variety of audiences, especially teen with unique struggles and interests. I can tell that this work was written with a lot of intention and a desire to communicate themes that were important to the author.

However, it was hard for me to stick with the storyline because the way random facts about characters, magic system, and dialogue that were randomly presented. It took me several chapters to understand the scope of the world that I was reading, and even then there were too many ideas crammed into a few pages. Again, I really appreciated the creativity here, but I think this work would benefit from a narrowing of scope or an elaboration on the background of the characters and setting before more elements are added.

Audio ARC provided by Netgalley.

I had high hopes for this audiobook because it sounded pretty interesting, but I had to DNF this book a few chapters in. This audiobook sounded like a high school performance rather than a professional audiobook. The characters and plot were difficult to follow from the start. I hope to try this book again when I can read the paperback and see if I am able to get more into it because the concept seems like a really good idea.

Rating: 2.5⭐️
Recommend? For readers new to magical intrigue, sure. I think seasoned readers will be disappointed in the magical structure & plot twist.
Finished: March 22, 2025
Format: Advanced Audio; thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC
Read this if you like: polyamory, difficult family dynamics, magical society
Triggers: torture of children, child death

Ariel works as a surrogate witness, pulling evidence of innocence or guilt from the minds of those unfortunate enough to be accused of a crime. But when she is on the verge of an exciting new job with her dream mentor & a proposal to the woman she has loved since college, everything goes horribly wrong. Her lover cannot physically be around her without becoming homicidal, her mentor is knocked into a magical coma, a multi-family feud is brewing that could prove deadly, and she has no idea how to fix any of it. Will she get her happily-ever-after or will she get taken out by something bigger, and far more foul, than she could ever anticipate?
Blending traditional history with a fantasy magical twist, Holley strives to tell an inclusive tale of intrigue and spice. The spice is there, but the intrigue, not so much. Unfortunately, for me at least, the twist was telegraphed all too early in the book & all that was left was for me to listen until it was wrapped up in a bow.
Also, the editor needs to take a look at the audio track, the narrator’s double click to signify a section that needs to be cut and the erroneous section are still included throughout the final version of the audiobook. In truth, I may have rated this 3⭐️ if the narrator hadn’t been quite so monotonously whiny in her depictions of the two main female characters. Not my cup of tea, not look forward to reading it in paperback format.