Porcelain: The Soul That Never Broke by Miranda Dodge
Get ready for an emotional paranormal romance as Ashton Lure brings together the angel, demon and human realms in Porcelain: The Soul That Never Broke by Miranda Dodge.
The protagonist in the first book of the Reuniting the Realms Series has been through hell, quite literally in some instances. Renowned neurosurgeon, Ashton Lure, is kidnapped, beaten, raped and forced to kill others, being forefully molded into an underground assassin. Try as she might might, there has yet to be any escape from this living nightmare. That is, until she falls in love with an angel … Angels shouldn’t exist, though, just like demons aren’t supposed to be real. But in Ashton’s world, they are very real, and they are not as clear-cut as the tales make them out to be. Angels, for example, aren’t all good, just like demons aren’t all bad. Weirdly, these supernatural beings are more of a family to Ashton than humans ever were …
A DARK AND TWISTY TALE
No matter where Ashton finds herself, though, she is constantly plagued by her nightmarish past. Can she ever escape the horrors she’d endured? Pasts tend to catch up with people, can Ashton avoid the same fate?
Miranda Dodge’s debut novel is an exciting read, especially to those who enjoy pop-culture references, have a soft spot for manga and anime, love some nail-biting action scenes, and can’t get enough intimate romance.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is how the author subverts tropes often found in other fantasy novels.. The theme of good and evil is prevalent throughout the book, but not in the way one would expect. Rather than painting angels as good and demons as bad, each character is unique, with their own flaws and positive traits. In essence, Dodge shows us that good and evil is not a black and white concept, and that there is a bit of both in all of us, as that is the nature of being human. The characters’ complexity leads to deeply satisfying character development throughout the story, and allows readers to become invested.
WHAT LIES IN STORE FOR THE REALMS?
Building off of this, my favorite aspect of Ashton’s character was the way in which her role as a neurosurgeon affects her outlook on life and the way she interacts with the world. Ashton’s cold hard logic contrasts starkly with the fantastical and decidedly illogical elements she finds herself dealing with. Watching Ashton change as her worldview is challenged over and over in new and unexpected ways was a delight, even if it wasn’t always so much so for Ashton as the story unfolds. As they say however, conflict is the essence of great story-telling, and the story is certainly not lacking in this sense.
Readers will be pleased to know that Porcelain: The Soul That Never Broke is only the first entry in Miranda Dodge’s Reuniting the Realms series, in which further entries will hopefully continue to answer questions and ask new ones as Ashton continues along her journey to reunite the angel, demon, and human realms. The protagonist evoked so much emotion in her journey that one cannot help but hope she gets the happily ever after that has eluded her for so long. This is without a doubt a memorable read that’ll definitely leave you wanting more.
About Miranda Dodge:
Miranda Dodge is a small-town girl from Rockport, Maine. She is a professional nail technician who has decided to put a new spin on her career. Taking her skills and talents in essay writing, she has decided to write her own series: Reuniting the Realms, a mix of Epic Fantasy and Paranormal Romance.
