Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to explore this Advanced Listener’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished this ALC and wow. This book was a masterpiece of pain and beauty. The journeys of May and June were inspiring and devastating to the point where there were moments I had to put the book down and collect myself. I loved the dual perspectives; watching May and June get to their respective destinations and HOW everything was revealed? 🤌🏼

What a listen. I will for sure be buying a physical copy.

A Colony of Lost Souls was released yesterday, June 24th. Everyone go check it out!

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this audiobook ARC in chapter 14 due to a trigger relating to personal experience with infertility. This would be my only trigger, otherwise, I was really enjoying the book up until that point, I was definitely on the edge of my seat for most of it! So here is my honest feedback on what I did read.

I loved the sister dynamic. The narrator (Sarah Welborn) did a wonderful job giving each sister their own voice and personality. I really liked the way the author chose a close third POV for June and first person POV for May.

I would only suggest possibly adding a trigger warning for anyone who has experienced infant stillbirth or infertility.

All that said, I really enjoyed the author’s writing and would absolutely read more of her in the future! If you like darker historical fiction or cult themes, check this one out. Hopefully I will be able to revisit this one in the future, I really wanted to keep reading :)

I planned to leave the rating blank, I don't feel like it is fair to rate a book I DNFed so my rating is based on the 40% I read.

I was really looking forward to The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James, cult-centered stories always spark my interest, and this one had such a unique setup. While the pacing felt slow in parts and didn’t fully hook me the way I’d hoped, there were still elements that stood out.

The atmosphere had an eerie, unsettling quality that fits the theme well, and the story tackled some dark, heavy topics. That said, I do wish there had been clearer content warnings (especially for SA), as certain scenes were unexpectedly difficult and left me feeling uneasy.

What truly elevated the experience for me was the audio narrator, she did an incredible job bringing the characters and tone to life, and I was really impressed by her performance. While this story didn’t fully resonate with me, I can absolutely see it finding the right audience, especially for those who enjoy slow-burn psychological suspense.

I am not really sure what I just read, but it definitely kept my interest and made me want to finish quickly. There was so much that happened in the first half of the book and then the second have kinda drug out a bit with parts that I didn't feel like were pertinent to the ending. The cult plot line was different for me, but Rex had a way of getting the women to trust him. His wife not fully knowing what was going on with the other women was weird, but I guess that tracks for some cults. There were quite a few villains in May's way, but the ending was a twist I wasn't expecting. Not really sure if this books is for me, but it did a good job of pulling me in and keeping me interested.

I think this book makes for a good beach read. It's not exactly light an airy, but I think the plot and character development is simple enough that it would be enjoyable on vacation. I love the gothic elements, as well.

May has lived her life in her sister's shadow. Everyone- including May- loves June. However, June disappeared two years ago. When May suddenly gets a letter from June, she leaves immediately to see her. May finds herself in a strange commune- and June is not there. They tell her she has left on a mission and will be back soon. As May waits, she finds herself getting sucked in.

I was never able to buy into this cult, so it all seemed kind of ridiculous. May is a complete idiot- granted, she has lived a sheltered life, but still. It really lost me when the plot tried veering into the supernatural.

Sarah Welborn narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this fast paced story filled with mystery and intrigue. The bond between May and June was true sisterly love. May was a strong character throughout THE COLONY OF LOST SOULS her actions kept me entertained until the very last page. Highly recommend for historical fiction fans.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brillance Audio for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram @coffee.break.book.reviews in the near future.

The Colony of Lost Souls
Kelsey James
The setting is during the 1930s during the great depression and prohibition. May and June Anderson were born a year apart, they were devoted to one another, unfortunately their relationship changed. Their father owns and runs a grocery business. May has always been interested in the business and had great ideas but no one wanted to hear them. She married the manager of her father’s business, Fred. He wasn’t interested in her ideas.
June had been missing for over two years when May received a letter from her inviting her to visit the colony in southern California. She took some money from Fred and left him.
She was impressed when she saw the estate. The Colony was quite impressive with a magnificent mansion overlooking the ocean. May was bewitched by the Colony, the couple that managed/owned it and the atmosphere. The colony’s residents were led by Rex; he was charming and charismatic. The residents believed in an spirit world where spirits/souls existed together. If someone was enlightened enough, they could beckon the soul of one that has passed on.
When May inquires after June, she is informed that June was on a mission. May is intrigued with the colony and agrees to stay on until June returns. The spell of the colony begins to work on May. She doesn’t realize it but she is their prisoner.
The definition of a cult: “A group of people having an obsession with or intense admiration for a particular activity, idea, person or thing.“. The ambience of this tale is rich, and dark, you can feel the chill of the evil surrounding the colony. You dread tuning the next page for you know something bad is going to happen. “All that glitters is Not Gold.” The colony may have looked and sounded great but there was murder, danger, manipulation and deception. I was rooting for May throughout this read. I was shouting warnings. I could sense the evil in Rex, a con artist, manipulator, self-serving thief.
This is a great read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. My reviews are my personal opinion.

The narration was excellent — subtle, emotional, and perfectly matched to the tone of the story. Combined with the beautiful writing, it made for a really immersive listening experience. The language was rich, and the pacing felt just right.

That said, I had a hard time fully embracing the story. Not because it wasn’t good — it was — but because I felt so deeply for the characters. Their sadness stayed with me, and at times it made the whole experience feel a bit too heavy. I found myself needing breaks, just to breathe.

It’s a powerful and beautifully told story, but emotionally intense. If you're in the right place for something heavy and heartfelt, it's definitely worth your time.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

May leaves to find her sister June, who has been missing since leaving for an artist colony in Souther California over a year ago. When May arrives, everything seems to be paradise at the colony with a beautiful mansion, a random lion, and a charming couple who run the colony. May finds herself enthralled in the colony and its purpose of helping to find once was lost for its members. However, June remains nowhere to be found. Soon after investigating around, we start to see that the Colony may not be as it seems and is holding more secrets than answers.

This book started out very interesting. The premise of a possible cult and missing person always intrigues me. However, the plot fell a little flat as the book continued, but it did end with a satisfying conclusion. The atmosphere was great, and I definitely got the dark gothic feelings that the author laid out in the setting. There were some elements throughout the book that seemed a little repetitive, like the competition felt between May and her sister and the mother trope, but overall, it was a decent read.

Sisters, May, and June have grown apart over the years. When May gets an invitation to visit June at a mysterious enclave known as Colony, she takes the chance to reunite with her sister. The Colony turns out to be more of a cult, with members believing they are able to contact and even reunite with lost loved ones. May is told her sister has gone on a journey of discovery when she arrives, and against her better judgment, finds herself falling for Rex charismatic leader of the group.