Unsouled

By: Neal Shusterman

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

The story that began with Unwind continues.

Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard, the last safe haven for AWOL Unwinds. But for the first time, they’re not just running away from something. This time, they’re running toward answers, in the form of a woman Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her, and learn why the shadowy figures behind unwinding are so afraid of her, they may discover the key to bringing down unwinding forever.

Cam, the rewound boy, is plotting to take down the organization that created him. Because he knows that if he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human.

With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, the paths of Connor, Lev, Cam, and Risa will converge explosively - and everyone will be changed.

Neal Shusterman continues the adventure that VOYA called "poignant, compelling, and ultimately terrifying".

©2013 Neal Shusterman (P)2014 Audible Inc.

that awkward middle book-just get the next one too

This is the book in the middle. It does not stand alone, but sets up for final volumes. You will need to have UnDivided at hand as soon as you finish this one.

This book asks the questions What will your soul allow you to do to survive? What happens to your soul as you observe events unfolding around you? Does Society or Humanity have a collective soul, and who is in control of it? What are the ethics of non-involvement or isolationism?

Cam is searching for Risa. Connor is searching for the Beginning of It All. Starkey is searching for fame and respect and revenge.

In this dance, the characters diverge, come together for a while, and then diverge again. We meet new people, the most delightful of whom is Grace Skinner whose presence grows as her savant abilities slowly shine through the gloom of events. Even as Grace's light brightens, Nelson and other Parts Pirates grow darker as we come to understand the true pit-depths of their depraved and hardened souls.

Most of the names are seemingly just names. However, we can understand the irony of Camus Comprix (camera + moo, composit + prize), but the names of the new characters are meaningful. Grace is grace, she may be the saving grace needed in such horrific times. Her brother is Argent, or silver, which may tarnish but can also gleam and shine if given some appropriate attention. Their last name, Skinner, can show the cruelty of the flesh trade, yet in Grace's hands may merely cut to the quick and bare you to your very soul.

Each volume pushes the Unwinding horror further. We read it, we absorb it, and we go on, just as society does in the book. Atrocities can be justified, then accepted, then embraced, and we are forced to look around at the world we live in and see similar forces at work here. This series is a frightening look into ourselves and what we wouldn't do to save (insert your most cherished person here).

Luke Daniels continues to give accurate, convincing, life-filled voice to the many characters in the book.

Penultimately, Soully Setting Up the Closer

UnSouled continues Neal Shusterman's dystopian YA series that he began with UnWind, returned to in UnWholly, and subsequently wrapped up with UnDivided. UnSouled lives up to the high standard he set in the prior two novels in all ways except one: there is no real ending here -- the sole purpose is setting up the grand finale.

UnWind was originally written as a standalone novel. UnWholly, clearly a continuation of a series it was not meant to complete, still had story lines that came to proper conclusions. UnSouled does a good job of continuation and set-up, as a transitional entry, but does not have its own story line -- indeed, quite a number of characters are left hanging quite early on without showing up any more, sure to return in UnDivided to help finish the series, but reaching no interim conclusions here.

On the plus side, as with UnWholly, several excellent new characters are introduced. Best of all are the brother and sister duo, Argent and Grace, who are not as dim and they appear at first. Jansen Rheinschild, the inventor of unwinding, briefly mentioned in UnWholly, becomes a fully formed character in flashback. One other new character is not as much of a success and does not look like she's coming back in the next book. Two of the better characters first introduced in UnWholly return, Connor nemeses Camus Comprix and Mason Starkey, with major impact.

While the new characters add freshness, the number of characters Shusterman now has to follow has grown to the point of spreading them too thin, especially after they dispersed at the end of UnWholly. So here's to hoping they all come together (their stories) in the closer of the series, which I'm going to get to forthwith.

Alright mid-series installment

I definitely recommend everyone to read/listen to this book, and I enjoyed listening to the book and the story is engaging, but it bears the marks of a mid-installment setting the scene for the series finale. The book goes deeper into the background of unwinding and the conflict, exploring more points of views and connects several storylines. Though the core protagonists are still the backbone of the story multiple POVs are brought in. The different POVs allows you to have insight into different perspectives on the situation and events that unfolds and keeps the story engaging.

One point that became somewhat of a pet peeve for me was the constant interconectedness between all of the characters. This tendency started to be apparent in UnWholly, and developed into slightly ridiculous proportions in UnSouled. While the relationships adds more layers to the story and I enjoyed seeing the intersections between the storylines, I feel this at some points made the story unbelievable.

This is definitely my least favorite book in the series, there isn't terribly much happening in terms of the story, as I said earlier, its main role seems to be laying the groundwork for the forth and final book.

I really liked Luke Daniels as the narrator, he did a good job bringing the characters to life and really added to the story.

it's getting better-ish

I hate the unnecessary love triangle between cam, reesa, and connor. Its forced and cringy and I hate it. It's clear the author had nothing better for cam to do than insert himself into a plot line that did not need him and would have been fine without him. Not that I dont like cam, he is just being wasted on a needless love triangle where he could be doing somthing more productive to the story line somewhere else. That's my biggest issue, there are too many characters and not enough for them to do. The Nelson Argent plot was a waste of time too. Stark's plot at least thickened but then stopped. ugh, I want to like this series but it's really hard too. I'm off to the 4th book, cant believe I'm saying that, hope its ending isn't as unsatisfying as I feel it may be.

This Is an amazing book!

if you read the first two books then you already know this book will be great, they leave you on a cliffhanger, what's gonna happen next?!? the only thing is the voice acting, in my opinion it wasnt too great maybe if there were multiple people who helped voice the book it would be better otherwise I recommend to those who enjoyed the first 2 books.

Fell short

Loved the previous books this one kind of fell apart. Too many loose ends at the end. Readers high pitched affected voices drove me crazy. Very disappointing.

Disappointed

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No it was not well spent. I found it inferior to the other books I read in the series. Too many cliches and not enough good story line.

Has Unsouled turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, although I am 67 years old I love reading young adult books and have really enjoyed other books in this genre

What three words best describe Luke Daniels’s performance?

Adequate

Could you see Unsouled being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Luke Daniels is one superior narrator

Finally finished this YA Dystopian series. I was let down at the end but thats the nature of dystopian stories, isn't it?

Although this particular novel is the weakest in story arc of the 4 in the series, Luke Daniels, narrator supreme, does some of his finest work here.

I started the series particularly because I had decided to listen to more novels narrated by Daniels, who I think is one of the top male narrators working these days. I became engrossed in many ways because of Daniels wonderful ability with voicing and emotion. Each character has a strong voice..though when "Oberon, the dog's voice" out of Kevin Hearns "Iron Druid" series shows up attached to a teen aged kid it can be discerning.

Iron Druid is another long series that Daniels gives voice to. I have to admit I'm not nearly as intrigued with the series as I was at the beginning, but thats not any fault of Daniels.

This is the second time I have followed my instinct and listened to novels narrated by favorite voice actors-George Guidell is another one who could read me a menu and I'd listen!

Worth a credit if you've followed the series-no place to start though...this needs to be listened to from Book 1 in order for it to make any sense.

LOVE THIS WHOLE SERIES!

All the books are great. I’ve been listening nonstop for a few days. Neil Shusterman and Luke Daniel’s make a fabulous team. If you like this series, You will love the Scythe series.

Another great adventure

Love these characters and the twists of their fate along the way. Can’t wait for the next one.

Fantastic story

After reading the first book years ago I'd forgotten about this gem, finding the saga here was a great surprise. Great character development and story! Highly recommended