A Soul to Steal by Opal Reyne is one of the most emotionally ambitious and philosophically resonant installments in the Duskwalker Brides series. Where earlier books explored survival, healing, and companionship within monstrous worlds, this sixth entry ventures even further into existential territory. It is a story steeped in grief, memory, identity, and the profound human need to be seen and chosen, even beyond death.
Set primarily in Tenebris, the afterlife realm of the series, A Soul to Steal immediately establishes itself as something different. The tone is quieter, heavier, and deeply introspective. This is not a romance driven by danger alone, but by loss and longing. Reyne invites the reader into a liminal space where time is fractured, memories fade, and souls risk dissolving into nothingness if they are forgotten. The result is a narrative that feels haunting, intimate, and emotionally raw.
The story follows Gideon, a young man who awakens in the afterlife disoriented, grieving, and furious at the injustice of his death. Gideon’s arc is one of the most human the series has offered. He is not noble in his suffering, nor is he quietly accepting. He is angry, devastated, and painfully aware of everything he has lost. His life was cut short before he could fulfill his dreams, build his future, or say goodbye to the people he loved. That sense of unfinished existence defines every part of his character.
Gideon’s longing is not romantic at first. It is existential. He wants companionship, yes, but more than that, he wants validation that his life mattered. His grief manifests as restlessness and resentment, and Reyne allows him to sit in those feelings without judgment. His emotional volatility feels honest, particularly in the way he grapples with memory loss and the terrifying realization that even his identity is not safe in this realm.
Enter Aleron, a Duskwalker of Tenebris who is every bit as lost as Gideon, though in very different ways. Separated from his twin and left behind in the afterlife while his kindred returns to the living world, Aleron exists in a constant state of longing. His grief is quieter but no less devastating. He wants connection, purpose, and a reason to exist beyond waiting.
Aleron is a fascinating character because of his innocence. Despite his monstrous form, he approaches Gideon with genuine curiosity and care. His understanding of humanity is fragmented, learned through observation rather than experience, which makes his attempts at comfort both awkward and deeply sincere. He does not know how to help Gideon process his grief, but he tries anyway, offering touch, presence, and protection in the only ways he understands.
The dynamic between Gideon and Aleron is the emotional core of the novel. Their relationship begins as companionship born of necessity. Gideon needs to remain conscious in Tenebris to avoid losing himself to the dreamlike limbo of the dead, and Aleron’s touch anchors him. Aleron, in turn, needs someone to stay, someone who does not recoil from him in fear. What follows is a slow, careful progression from reluctant dependence to friendship, and eventually to something far more intimate.
Reyne handles this evolution with remarkable sensitivity. There is no rush, no forced attraction. The bond between them develops through shared silence, honest conversations, and mutual vulnerability. Gideon teaches Aleron about humanity, emotion, and memory, while Aleron offers Gideon a sense of stability in a world that feels unreal and cruelly unfinished. Their connection feels earned because it grows from understanding rather than desire alone.
One of the novel’s most compelling themes is the idea of being remembered. In Tenebris, memory is survival. Forgetting means fading. Through Gideon’s fear of losing himself and Aleron’s desire to matter to someone, the story explores what it means to exist after death. Is identity defined by memory, by connection, or by choice? Reyne does not offer simple answers; she asks questions with care and depth.
The romance itself is deeply tender and unconventional. It is rooted in comfort, consent, and emotional safety rather than passion alone. When physical intimacy does emerge, it feels like an extension of trust rather than an escape from pain. This makes the relationship between Gideon and Aleron feel profoundly intimate, even in moments of quiet stillness.
World-building continues to expand in meaningful ways. Tenebris is unsettling and surreal, a realm that mimics life without fully understanding it. The wrongness of the environment reinforces Gideon’s sense of displacement and heightens the emotional stakes. Reyne uses this setting not just as a backdrop, but as an active participant in the story, shaping the characters’ fears and choices.
What makes A Soul to Steal particularly impactful is how it reframes the idea of a Duskwalker bride. This is not a story about claiming a mate through fate or survival. It is about choosing connection in a place where nothing is promised. Love here is an act of defiance against oblivion.
By the end of the novel, Gideon and Aleron’s journey feels both fragile and hopeful. Their bond does not erase grief, but it gives it meaning. They do not fix each other, but they learn how to exist together, which feels far more powerful.
A Soul to Steal is a poignant, emotionally complex installment that deepens the philosophical heart of the Duskwalker Brides series. It is a story about love after loss, identity beyond death, and the quiet courage it takes to reach for connection when everything familiar has been stripped away. For readers invested in the series, this book offers not just romance, but reflection, and it stands as one of Opal Reyne’s most emotionally daring works to date.
A Soul to Steal fits into several overlapping sub-genres, reflecting its blend of romance, fantasy, and emotional introspection:
- Paranormal Romance: The central love story between a human soul and a supernatural Duskwalker places the novel firmly within paranormal romance, with a strong focus on emotional connection over traditional realism.
- Monster Romance: Aleron’s nonhuman, monstrous nature and the romantic relationship formed with Gideon align the book with monster romance, a sub-genre that explores intimacy across species and appearances.
- Dark Fantasy Romance: The setting in Tenebris, themes of death, loss, and existential fear, and the morally gray supernatural world give the story a dark fantasy tone blended with romance.
- Afterlife Fantasy: Much of the story takes place in an otherworldly realm that explores what happens to souls after death, making it a strong example of afterlife or liminal fantasy.
- LGBTQ+ Romance: The romantic relationship between Gideon and Aleron places the novel within LGBTQ+ romance, with queerness treated as natural and integral rather than a point of conflict.
- Slow-Burn Romance: The relationship develops gradually through emotional intimacy, trust, and shared vulnerability rather than immediate attraction.
- Character-Driven Fantasy: The narrative prioritizes emotional growth, grief, and identity over action-heavy plotting, fitting the character-driven fantasy sub-genre.
Together, these sub-genres make A Soul to Steal a uniquely layered story that appeals to readers who enjoy emotionally rich romance set within dark, fantastical worlds.
A Soul To Steal Summary
A Soul to Steal follows Gideon, a young man who awakens after death in Tenebris, the afterlife realm where souls linger between existence and oblivion. Disoriented, grieving, and furious at the life stolen from him, Gideon struggles to understand where he is and what it means to exist when everything familiar has been stripped away. In Tenebris, souls risk fading into nothingness if they surrender to despair or lose their sense of self, making survival as much emotional as it is supernatural.
Gideon’s only anchor in this strange realm becomes Aleron, a Duskwalker left behind after being separated from his twin. Unlike the terrifying monsters of human legend, Aleron is gentle, curious, and profoundly lonely. He has spent his existence guarding the boundaries of Tenebris, yearning for purpose, connection, and proof that his life holds meaning. When Gideon arrives, Aleron instinctively clings to the chance for companionship, even as he struggles to understand human grief and emotion.
Their bond begins as a necessity rather than a choice. Gideon needs Aleron’s presence to remain grounded in Tenebris and avoid slipping into the dreamlike state that leads to dissolution. Aleron, in turn, needs Gideon’s awareness and attention to feel seen and real. Through shared time, quiet conversations, and physical closeness that stabilizes Gideon’s fading consciousness, the two form a tentative friendship built on mutual need and trust.
As Gideon processes his death, he grapples with anger, regret, and the fear of being forgotten. Memories slip away, threatening his identity and sense of self. Aleron becomes both witness and comfort, offering steady companionship without judgment. Gideon teaches Aleron about humanity, emotion, and memory, while Aleron provides Gideon with safety and presence in a realm that constantly threatens to erase him.
Their relationship gradually deepens into something more intimate and profound. Love grows not from passion alone, but from shared vulnerability and the choice to stay when leaving would be easier. Together, they challenge the rules of Tenebris and the expectations placed upon souls and Duskwalkers alike, daring to believe that connection can exist even beyond death.
As the story unfolds, Gideon must decide whether to continue clinging to the life he lost or embrace the one forming before him. Aleron must confront his fear of abandonment and his longing for identity beyond duty and solitude. Their choices carry consequences not only for themselves, but for the fragile balance of Tenebris.
A Soul to Steal is ultimately a story about love after loss, identity beyond mortality, and the power of being remembered. It explores what it means to choose connection in a realm defined by endings, and how even in death, souls can find purpose, belonging, and hope in one another.