Piggybacker by Mikki Noble is the first entry in the Vessel of Lost Souls series. Believed by everyone to have attempted suicide, Marley's mother sends her to a center for young people with issues. It's there that Marley begins to hear the voice of a boy called Gavin in her head. He needs help and Marley has to complete a resurrection spell in the next four days. She hasn't yet gotten all the clues to the answers she needs and, as she works on them, a malevolent power is poised against her. Now both hers and Gavin's lives are on the line.

Mikki Noble opens the series with a powerful entry. The protagonist is a complex character immersed in a paranormal experience that is exciting. Her journey of helping Gavin puts her life at great risk and as I read from page to page, I was so interested to see if she could complete the spell in time. I also wanted to know if she could survive the shadowy power fighting against her. The writing is beautiful. It is crisp and enjoyable with diction that is familiar and phraseology that makes for easy reading. The author captures the emotional and psychological states of the protagonist with style and this strengthens the connection readers make with the characters. Piggybacker is a spellbinding book with an interesting plot and awesome characters. A work of great entertainment written for fans of the paranormal and a gripping first entry that is both bold and delightful.

Marley had no idea what had happened. It was the first anniversary of her father's death, and life was starting to feel almost normal again. Then she was accused of trying to kill herself. She had no memories of that day, but she knew with certainty this could not be true. She would never try to take her own life. The wounds, the evidence, all seemed to point to the contrary. To add insult to injury, when she was placed in the 'mental hospital' to recover, she started to go insane. She kept hearing a voice. A boy called Gavin begged for her help. In seven days his life would end permanently. He was already dead, but she could help bring him back. His death had been special, executed by a Limbonian. If she could find the five items needed, their special bond would allow him to return. He is a piggybacker, able to live off her soul for seven days, but if this time elapses he has no hope of return. The closer Marley gets the more questions she has. What will happen if she fails to meet the deadline, what happened on that day, and why does someone seem intent on stopping her.

Piggybacker is book one in Mikki Noble's Vessel of Lost Souls series, and it is a series I look forward to following. Marley is an excellent character, with great detail and effort placed into adding depth to her personality, life, and character. She is strong and vulnerable at the same time. Her journey is a difficult one, made harder by the complicated and strained relationships in her life. The supporting cast of characters, from the mysterious Circe to Marley's closest friend Kimmy, are all nicely developed with their own personalities and backstories. Piggybacker unfolds at a steady, engaging pace in a first-person narrative. I loved the ideas and execution of links and magic. Vivid characters, a ticking clock, magic, mystery, and uncertainty come together to create this riveting and compelling tale, and I was thrilled to see it is only the first book in what promises to be a gripping series.

Piggybacker by Mikki Noble is a strong entry in the Vessel of Lost Souls trilogy, a paranormal narrative that grips the reader right from the very start. It opens with the introduction of the protagonist in her own words: “Marley McCartney, good girl turned suicidal troublemaker overnight. It’s news to me since I’m quite certain there’s not a violent bone in my body.” Just because of a single accident, everyone, including her mother, believes that Marley is a troubled girl and her mother sends her to a center for young people like her. But strange things start happening as the voice of a young boy, Gavin, calls to her for help. No other person hears the voice. There is one thing she can do to help Gavin: complete a resurrection spell in the next four days. So, Marley has to find out how to do it. As she looks for clues, she also discovers that a malicious force is doing everything to stop her. She doesn’t just find herself racing against time to complete the spell and save Gavin, but also fighting to stay alive.

Mikki Noble writes in the first person narrative voice and the language is impeccable. The story is told from the viewpoint of the protagonist and in a voice that pulls the reader in immediately. The story starts with a powerful premise — a young girl treated for what she believes she is not: suicidal. The conflict is introduced immediately. Marley wants to be home in the comfort of her bed, but she is denied that freedom. The conflict moves from a psychological one to an even deeper level with the voice of the boy calling for help. I loved Marley the moment I met her; she is so real, so human, and so sure of who she is that readers instantly develop sympathy for her. Piggybacker is deftly plotted and the pacing is fast with surprises that are hard to predict. I found myself rushing from page to page as I read on, wanting to know what happens next. A gorgeous opening for a trilogy that will thrill fans of the paranormal.

Piggybacker by Mikki Noble is a gripping paranormal novel with an unusual character and a great treat for fans of young adult and urban fantasy. Everyone thinks that Marley tried to commit suicide, including her own mother, and that is why her mother sends her to a center for troubled teens. But something more disturbing begins to happen to Marley. She starts hearing a voice in her head, the voice of a boy called Gavin needing help. The voice asks her to complete a resurrection spell within the next four days. The most complicated thing about it is that a mysterious presence is trying to stop Marley from coming to Gavin’s help and her own life is in grave danger. Can she stay safe long enough to complete the spell and save Gavin? Time is passing pretty fast.

This is the first book in the Vessel of Lost Souls trilogy, and it’s a great opening. The story starts with a powerful premise—a young girl is sent to a place where she doesn’t belong because everyone thinks someone is wrong with her. She has a unique gift and a connection with the mysterious voice of the boy in her head which makes her life complicated. The conflict is strong enough to be emotionally and psychologically disturbing and the author uses it to create the kind of suspense that makes readers turn from page to page, wondering what could go wrong and following the protagonist closely to see if she will fulfill her mission. Piggybacker is balanced and deft and composed with wonderful prose. Mikki Noble is a great storyteller with a unique gift for plot and character.