Review: Abithica by Susan Goldsmith

Title: Abithica

Author: Susan Goldsmith

Series: I hope it's the first

Pages: 288

Published: Available now for Kindle, paperback June 16

ISBN: 9781606192351

Source: Author sent for review

Description: What if you knew you were about to be torn from your body and replaced by an imposter in a seamless switch forever separating you and the one you love? Would you do whatever it took to stay? Even if YOU happened to be the imposter? Abithica must borrow all that she is from others: names, lives, even bodies. When she switches into the troubled life of Sydney Turner, she breaks the rule that has sustained her, the one thing in her control—never get attached. Lane Riley has no idea he’s fallen for Abithica, wearing Sydney Turner’s body and that a future with her is impossible. Desperate to stay with him, Abithica uncovers the mystery of what she is, only to learn she’s a pawn in a battle over souls, and that she’s probably one of the “bad guys.” What will happen if she refuses to leave Sydney’s body?

I Give This ...

 

I thought the first couple chapters of this book were really interesting.  We don't know who Abithica is at first.  She has no control over when she changes bodies.  She also has no bodily control right after she changes.  So, when she ends up in the newest body, she winds up face first in plate full of mackerel with no way to move until she regains control.  To make it a little funnier, she's with a women who believe she's doing this on purpose to cause a scene.  It was a great way to introduce you to the characters.

As the story progresses we learn that Abithica has no idea who or what she truly is.  Everytime she changes bodies, her mission is to help the correct their life.  It's often with very little clues as to what needs to happen.  Her current body seems to have some serious issues with her mother and is deeply mixed up with a troubling gang.  Abithica learns she must heal the relationship with her mother.  Along the way she meets Lane who has a sister who witnessed her mother's death and now refuses to speak.  She latches on to Abithica and believes her to be an angel.  As Abithica becomes closer to Lane, she realizes she's broken one of her cardinal rules.  She's fallen in love and can't bear the idea of letting Sydney have control back.

There's a darker part going on during this story.  We get a little bit of a look inside the gang that Sydney was a part of.   It's violent and scary, and the people running it don't seem human either.  When they kidnap a girl and leave her for drugged and nearly dead in the street, something extraordinary happens.  The story is more intricately woven than you could possible realize.  

Ultimately, I felt this story was about love.  Abithica constantly felt that they everyone loved Syndey, not realizing how much SHE had an effect on them.  When the others learn the truth, they feel like they would recognize her anywhere.  It was about the idea of souls connecting and not a physical connections.

There were a few things that bothered me.  At times, it felt like Abithica had a revelation about something and refused to share it with us.  I would wonder what was going on and a few pages later would understand.  Also, I wanted to know more about that gang.  I'm hoping this will be the first in a series or I will be seriously disappointed.