Shattered Souls Review: Lenzi

Book: Shattered Souls
Author: Mary Lindsey
Series: Souls
Standing: Book 1
POV: 1st person by Lenzi, past tense
Genre: YA paranormal

Source: Physical copy
Pages: 336
Release: December 8th, 2011
Publisher: Speak/Penguin

Rating: 2 Stars

Blurb (Goodreads)
Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

                              ✭ ✭

I don't really know what to make of this book. It took me a while to get through it.

This book features Lenzi. She's always heard "white noise" her life, but after her 17th birthday, she begins to hear actual voices. These voices are actually those of the dead, those who have yet to move on. Lenzi finds out she's a Speaker, someone who can communicate with the dead, and it's been her job to help spirits move on for centuries.

I wasn't too keen on the romance aspect in this book. I mean, Lenzi is dating Zak, who is an overall great guy. He's had a rough life, but he's been able to shake it off and make a life of his own with thanks to Lenzi. She's his rock, his anchor. Enter Alden, and the speed Lenzi decides to leave Zak for Alden is insanely fast. Yes, she is a bit indecisive, and feels extremely guilty at some points, but she basically decides things won't work with Zak and leaves him. Just. Like. That. I didn't like the way Zak ended off at the end of the book, either. I mean, the one person who keeps him on the good track just ups and leaves him. There's going to be clear issues for him. I felt there could have been a better ending for him. 

The romance between Alden and Lenzi was a little frustrating. Yes, they had their cute moments, but I felt a little like I was banging my head repeatedly with them. Lenzi kept comparing herself to Rose, her past selves, and Alden kept on denying any advances Lenzi tried. It was awkward, even though it eventually worked out

I didn't really buy the whole soul thing. There wasn't a really in-depth explanation of it, nothing that made it seem...believable. Being able to have two souls in one body? Letting a ghost enter a vessel? Can't say I was too convinced, but it could just be me, as I'm not really a ghost person.

I was also hoping for a bigger finale, maybe an epic showdown of sorts. Though Lenzi was able to defeat the malevolent spirit, she didn't completely vanquish him.  And then immediately, we're back to resolving Lenzi's relationships issues. I don't know, but it didn't really seem to flow with me.

However, I really did like Race. He was a fun guy, who saw the bigger picture and had his priorities straight. A good friend. If only there was more of him. Sigh.

All in all, a mediocre book. Quite a few loose ends, and seeing as the next book is about a completely different set of characters, I'm not sure if the questions I have will ever be answered...