51 pages • 1 hour read
Opal ReyneA Soul to Keep
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Reyne engages with a variety of folklore and mythological traditions in her world-building. Research some of the folklore elements of A Soul to Keep. What are the similarities and differences between the original tales and Reyne’s interpretations?
Community, or lack thereof, is a key piece of the narrative. Explore the different communities present in the novel, including Reia’s village, the demon town, and Jabez’s home world. How do these communities impact those who live within them and those community members deem to be “other”?
Monster/paranormal/demon romance is a genre that has risen in popularity over the past decade. How does A Soul to Keep engage with and push back against the tropes and expectations of the genre?
How does physical intimacy shape Reia and Orpheus’s relationship? How does it advance and detract from their romantic relationship?
How does the magic system work in Reyne’s worldbuilding? What is the significance of magic requiring sacrifice, or often needing blood, to work?
How do the metatextual references to Beauty and the Beast work in the novel? How are elements of the narrative similar to Beauty and the Beast, and how do they subvert expectations?
Consider Reyne’s use of color in the narrative. What is the significance of references to color in the development of Reia and Orpheus’s relationship?
Fear is an emotion referenced heavily throughout A Soul to Keep. How do different characters experience or think about fear, and what does that mean for their character arcs?
In writing this novel, Reyne took inspiration from various Japanese anime/manga. What elements of the book seem most consistent with those inspirations? What tropes or tools did she draw from those genres?
