The Colony of Lost Souls

August 21, 2025August 21, 2025 by onemoreexclamation

Welcome to The Colony of Lost Souls by Kelsey James book tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.

About The Colony of Lost Souls

Title: The Colony of Lost Souls

Author: Kelsey James

Released: June 24, 2025

Find it: Amazon

Born a year apart, May and June Anderson were once as close as twins. Time and a loveless marriage changed the once vibrant May into June’s timid counterpart. Now, two years after June abruptly disappeared, May receives a letter from her sister, inviting her to visit a mysterious colony in southern California. Eager to match June’s boldness for once, May doesn’t hesitate.

The Colony is located in a magnificent Spanish Revival-style mansion perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, and is presided over by the group’s charismatic leader, Rex. Colony members believe in an afterlife where departed souls mingle, and that the truly enlightened can even summon back the spirits of lost loved ones. May is told that June has recently left on a mission, and she’s intrigued enough to accept Rex’s invitation to stay until her sister’s return.

Drawn deeper into the group, and under Rex’s seductive spell, May undergoes their initiation ceremony. Yet her questions grow more urgent with June’s continued absence—and the warnings of a presumptuous but charming undercover investigator. May has longed for the daring, adventurous life her sister pursued, but her arrival has sparked a dangerous unraveling within the Colony, where nothing and no one is quite as it seems.

Gripping and atmospheric, The Colony of Lost Souls immerses readers in a world of secrets, deception, and unexpected redemption.

Book Blurbs

“The Colony of Lost Souls swept me away with its glittering 1930s coastal setting, Gothic atmosphere, dark secrets, and easy-to-love heroine. James masterfully weaves together threads of romance, obsession, and the occult into a suspenseful story that is perfect for fans of Sarah Penner and Simone St. James.” – Hest Fox, author of The Last Heir to Blackwood Library.

“A captivating work of fiction that explores the dangers of obsessive charisma and the allure of the unknown, wrapped in an intoxicating gothic mystery set on the rugged California coast. Absolutely hypnotic.” – Paulette Kennedy, author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport

“Evocative, fast-paced, and impossible to put down.” – Megan Chance, bestselling author of Glamorous Notions

“Looming on the craggy coastline of 1930s California like something Poe might dream up, The Colony of Lost Souls offers up a delicious and seductive gothic nightmare.”– Kimberly Brock, award-winning author of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare

Review for The Colony of Lost Souls

If you love your historical fiction with a moody, gothic edge, The Colony of Lost Souls is going to grab you. Set in 1930s California, this story drops sisters May and June into a world that looks like a dreamy retreat but quickly unravels into something much darker—think cult instead of a spa day.

May was such a fascinating character to follow. She’s always felt overshadowed by June and overlooked by her parents, so when a charming leader like Rex comes along, it’s no wonder she’s drawn in. But watching her strength emerge as the layers of control, abuse, and secrets peel back was really satisfying. I also enjoyed the flashbacks from June’s perspective, which added depth to their sibling dynamic.

With a chilling supernatural element woven into the already tense cult storyline, this book nails the eerie atmosphere. If you’re into gothic vibes, family drama, identity struggles, and a haunting mystery, this one’s a must-read.

About The Author

Kelsey James is a historical fiction author and content marketer whose work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Insider, ABC News, and The Huffington Post, among other outlets. Her novels include The Colony of Lost Souls, Secrets of Rose Briar Hall, and The Woman in the Castello, an Indie Next Pick and a LibraryReads selection. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, she is an alumna of Dartmouth College and now lives with her family outside New York City.

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