The Vessels

May 4, 2020
Elias’s imaginative if murky urban fantasy debut conjures a world in which the living can become Vessels for the spirits of the dead. The Vessels program purports to do good by allowing spirits the chance to right the wrongs they committed in life, but preys on vulnerable people to do so, emotionally manipulating the down-and-out into signing on as Vessels. Among those coerced into the program are police officer Tal Davis, who falls into a depression after her partner dies; Link, who escapes from juvenile detention after being falsely convicted of murder; and Avani Nair, whose best friend leaves her unconscious in an alley after a (graphically described) attempt to rape her. All three seek refuge at a shelter in Reno, the home of the first North American branch of the Vessels program. The program’s “spirit guard,” Liam, uses threats and supernatural powers to convince Tal, Link, and Avani to become Vessels, and unknowingly puts them at risk from a vengeful rogue spirit with a dark agenda. The grey morality of the Vessels program is frustratingly underexplored and the mythology around its origins remains confusing throughout. Readers will be drawn in by the exploration of redemption and the afterlife, but disappointed by how frequently these themes are lost in the noise. Agent: Italia Gandolfo, Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary.

May 15, 2020
In the Vessels Program, spirits of the dead return to inhabit the bodies of human vessels and visit their still-living relations to right past wrongs. Sam has just established a program in Reno, Nevada, and recruited four vessels, Tal, Link, Avani, and Aaron. They have all suffered from life's cruelties and are more than willing to let the spirits inhabit them for their seven-day journey of redemption as the spirits seek forgiveness or to forgive loved ones. One of the Spirits, however, is a terrifying, vengeful revenant not interested in redemption. As the three benevolent spirits work toward accomplishing their missions, the vessel for the fourth must figure out a way to prevent this vengeful spirit from harming others. This unique novel mixes social commentary, Native American mysticism, the power of love and forgiveness, and ghostly spirits. This gothic speculative tale will appeal to sf and horror fans alike, and the open-ended finale leaves plenty of room for a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)