Review: With All My Soul - Rachel Vincent

Kaylee Cavanaugh's taking her final stand!

After spending the last year undead, Kaylee has had enough of the paranormal creatures who have plagued her ever since she came into her banshee powers. Now she's ready to take her school back from evil hellions, once and forever.

To protect her friends, Kaylee will need to find a way to turn the living incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another.

Yet when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realises she can't save everyone she loves without making some powerful sacrifices . . .

Soul Screamers Series:
My Soul to Lose (prequel novella)
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
Reaper (novella)
My Soul to Steal
If I Die
Never to Sleep (novella)
Before I Wake
With All My Soul

For more information visit Rachel Vincent's website

Review:
I have been a massive fan of the Soul Screamers series ever since I read the first book so I have to admit I was quite nervous about picking up this final book in the series. I was sad that the story would be coming to an end and worried in case I didn't like the ending but I should have known better - Rachel Vincent has never let me down yet and With All My Soul is a fitting end to the series. I'm going to deliberately keep this review fairly short because I would absolutely hate to give away how it ends but please note that this is the seventh book in the series so my review may contain spoilers for the previous books. If you've not read the first six books then I don't recommend reading any further but I do recommend immediately dropping everything to catch up because this is a series that isn't to be missed.

Kaylee and her friends have been through so much throughout this series at the hands of Hellion of greed Avari and he isn't going to stop coming after them until he has what he wants - Kaylee's soul to torture for eternity. They have taken numerous casualties but haven't managed to find a way to hurt Avari in return and things are starting to get desperate. Kaylee just wants to protect those she cares about and she has an idea for a way to turn the three Hellions against each other in the hope that they will destroy themselves but that isn't going to be as easy as it sounds and Kaylee may have to make a sacrifice that she isn't prepared for if she has any hope of succeeding. Kaylee has always been a strong character but she excels herself in this book, she has always put the safety of her friends and family above her own and she has gone to great lengths to protect others. That doesn't change in this book, in fact she is going to have to be even smarter and braver than ever before if she has any chance of looking after the ones she loves. She is facing some fearsome enemies and that is going to mean making some incredibly hard decisions but anyone who knows her will know that she doesn't back down from a challenge.

With All My Soul ends the series with a bang, the story is fast paced, full of action and takes some very unexpected turns. Characters I've loved to hate in previous books managed to make me fall in love with them and some of the events in this book broke my heart. I laughed, I cried and I prayed for my favourites to survive until the end but I always had a fear at the back of my mind that something major would happen. I'm not going to tell you who makes it, I'm not going to tell you if they all live, I'm not actually going to tell you anything else at all apart from that this is a MUST read for fans of the series. Rachel Vincent has ended Kaylee's story on a high and as much as I'm going to miss these characters I'm happy that I'll be able to look back at this series with fond memories and without feeling disappointed by the ending. Now I'm just eager to see what the author comes up with next, I already know from experience that I love both her adult and young adult books so whatever it is she writes it will automatically be added to my must buy list.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Before I Wake - Rachel Vincent

Even death can't get you out of high school.

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking her life is much harder than ex-teen banshee Kaylee expected. Now she's fighting to stay visible to the human world and struggling to find time alone with her new reaper boyfriend Tod.

To stay in the mortal realm, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls and, when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life . . .

Soul Screamers Series:
My Soul to Lose (prequel novella)
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
Reaper (novella)
My Soul to Steal
If I Die
Never to Sleep (novella)
Before I Wake
With All My Soul

For more information visit Rachel Vincent's website

Review:
Before I Wake is the 6th book in the Soul Screamers series and I'm going to assume that anyone who is reading this review has already read the previous books. If you're not up to date with the series then look away now because this review will contain spoilers for If I Die. I'm a massive Rachel Vincent fan, I love her adult books but I also love this series - in fact it is one of my favourite YA series so I couldn't wait to read this book! For those who haven't started reading these books yet I just have to ask you why the heck not? Go out and grab a copy of My Soul to Take immediately - I promise you won't regret it!

This instalment to the series sees Kaylee trying to come to terms with her death and her subsequent afterlife as an extractor. She is finding it hard to remain visible to her friends and family and often starts to disappear if she loses her concentration - not something that makes it easy to avoid attention at school. She also has to learn how to use the new abilities she has and discover how they will help her with her new role in the reclamation department. From her first assignment she realises that nothing is going to be quite what she expected and she is going to have to face an old foe who has developed surprising and worrying new skills. Luckily she has the support of Tod and her family but things are going to get worse before they can get better.

As the second to last book in the series you can expect some dramatic events in Before I Wake. Things that will shock and horrify you but also moments that will squeeze your heart and make you sigh happily. Kaylee has been through so much in the last few months but she has grown so much stronger because of it. No matter how hard her life has been she has always tried to stand up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. She has always tried to protect the innocent even if it comes at a high cost to herself so fans won't be surprised to see that selflessness continue. She has to face some truly horrible events in this book though, things that are going to have lasting consequences on her and those around her.

I absolutely love the developments in Kaylee and Tod's relationship, they are so sweet together and I couldn't be more happy with the way things have turned out. I was firmly on team Nash for the earlier books but I really think that with everything they have been through there could have been no happy ever after for them. It was nice to see them start to regain a bit of their previous friendship though and I hope that Nash continues to sort himself out and get over his Frost addiction. Anyway, as far as Kaylee's love life goes I'm now definitely a member of team Tod!

I really liked the addition of Luca to the story, we were introduced to his character in the Never to Sleep novella and I had a feeling we'd be seeing more of him. I'm looking forward to finding out more about his abilities. We also get to see Sophie from a different light in this book, I'm still not her biggest fan but it seems like she has finally started to grow up a bit - about time really! I don't want to talk about any more of the plot so I'm just going to say that this is another great instalment to a fantastic series. As much as I'm dying to read With All My Soul I'm equally sad that this series is coming to a close. I'm going to miss Kaylee and gang after it ends! I'm sure that this is a series I will be re-reading in the future though and that has to be the highest praise I can give it because I hardly ever re-read books anymore.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: If I Die - Rachel Vincent

Kaylee can see death coming.
Now she must face her own.

As a teen banshee, Kaylee's blood-curdling screams are a death knell for others.  Yet she never expected to see her own name at the top of a reaper's list.

Scheduled to die within days, Kaylee knows her magic can't change her fate.  Worse, on top of worrying about her own demise, she needs to save mortal best friend Emma from the clutches of a deadly Netherworld creature.

As Kaylee's time on earth slips away, troubled banshee boyfriend Nash and his reaper brother Tod refuse to give up on Kaylee.  They're ready to unearth murky family secrets to give her a last chance at life, as their fight to save Kaylee becomes a battle for her love.

Soul Screamers Series:
My Soul to Lose (prequel novella)
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
Reaper (novella)
My Soul to Steal
If I Die
Never to Sleep (novella)
Before I Wake
With All My Soul

For more information visit Rachel Vincent's website

Review:
Warning, although this review won't contain spoilers for If I Die it may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.  If you're not up to date with the series then you probably shouldn't read my review but I will say that this series just keeps on getting better and better and it's one I can't recommend highly enough!

What would you do if you discovered you had just days to live?  That is the decision Kaylee has to face in If I Die after Tod spots her name on the reaper list.  Somehow things like school and work don't seem quite so important anymore.  Her family and friends are desperate to try and find a way to save her but Kaylee is trying to accept her fate and wants to make sure that they will all be OK when she is gone.  She is particularly concerned about Emma who she fears is being targeted by a new teacher who isn't quite what he appears to be.  As Kaylee once again puts herself in danger for the sake of others can those who love her find a way to protect her?

This was already one of my all time favourite YA series but If I Die was by far the best book yet.  I really don't know how Rachel Vincent does it but each new instalment just gets better and better and I can't wait to get my hands on Before I Wake!  If I Die really takes you on an emotional roller coaster and I had absolutely no idea how things would play out at the end, I'm just going to assure you that it surpassed by expectations by a long shot.

I already loved Kaylee but she proves just how strong she is this time around.  She doesn't want to die but she knows that she has had a second chance and she doesn't see any way around what is going to happen.  She feels that she has to accept what is going to happen and she wants to make sure that her family and friends will be alright when she has gone.  There were some heartbreaking scenes between her and her father and I was really impressed with the dignity Kaylee shows in the face of everyone else's denial over the situation.  Always one to put others above herself it isn't a surprise that Kaylee ends up spending what could be her last few days trying to protect others, especially her best friend Emma, from a supernatural threat.

I've made no secret of the fact that I've always been on team Nash, while I've been liking Tod more and more with each book I'm quite loyal and once I've picked a team I very rarely change my mind.  Having said that I think I might just have defected to team Tod now which is something I really didn't expect to say!  I still love Nash but his actions over the last few books have shocked me and if anything he did something even worse this time around.  I really hope he manages to sort himself out but I don't see how Kaylee could ever be able to trust him again after all the things that have happened.  Tod on the other hand has turned into someone who is always there for Kaylee, he let her down very early on in the series but since then has become a source of strength for her and has really proved himself.

If I Die is action packed and full of twists that will have you gasping in shock, alternating between rage and joy and probably shedding more than a few tears along the way.  The book really was impossible to put down so make sure you clear your diary before you start reading - there is no way you'll want to stop!  I can't recommend this book (or this series) highly enough and I can't wait to see where Rachel Vincent takes us next, especially after the latest developments!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: My Soul to Steal - Rachel Vincent

Sometimes dreams do come true...
and that's the last thing Kaylee needs

Working things out with Nash - her maybe boyfriend - is hard for Kaylee.  She's already coping with being a teenage banshee.  Worse, Nash's gorgeous ex-girlfriend just transferred to their school.

Sabine's no ordinary girl.  She's a mara, a real-life walking nightmare.  Draining people's energy through their darkest dreams sustains Sabine...and makes her Kaylee's top suspect in a cluster of super-creepy deaths.

To win back Nash, Kaylee's determined to unearth the truth.  But Sabine knows the deathly secrets of Kaylee's subconscious - and she's not afraid to use them to get whatever and whoever she wants...

Soul Screamers Series:
My Soul to Lose (prequel novella)
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
Reaper (novella)
My Soul to Steal
If I Die
Never to Sleep (novella)
Before I Wake
With All My Soul

For more information visit Rachel Vincent's website

Review:
Warning, although this review won't contain spoilers for My Soul to Steal it is impossible to review without including spoilers for previous books.  If you're new to the series then I'd highly recommend starting with the first book My Soul to Take and not reading any more of this review.  This is one of my favourite YA urban fantasy series though so it is one I would highly recommend!

Wow things certainly get complicated for poor Kaylee in this latest installment to the Soul Screamers series.  She still feels incredibly betrayed by Nash after his actions in the last book and I can't say that I blame her.  I was pleased that Rachel Vincent doesn't try to sweep the results of Nash's addiction under the carpet and each of the characters show very real emotions as they deal with the aftermath.  Kaylee still loves Nash but she can't trust him, she doesn't want to lose him but she is scared to take him back and I could really feel for her.  Nash is trying really hard to give up his addiction and move forwards but he doesn't really have anyone to turn to for support which makes everything so much harder for him.  I really felt for Nash too and although I didn't want Kaylee to forgive him too easily I did wish that Tod could have helped him more.  Nash needed someone to be on his side and I really thought that his brother should have been there for him.

Add in the complication of Sabine who is literally Kaylee's worst nightmare and things go from bad to worse.  Sabine is a mara, a creature that feeds from nightmares, she knows your deepest darkest fears and plays on them so she can feed from you.  She also happens to be Nash's ex girlfriend.  Sabine wants him back and is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how underhand, to get him.  I have to admit that I can't stand Sabine, she was a complete bitch and I just wanted to slap her but I did find myself feeling quite sorry for her too.  She has had a difficult life and I could understand why she is so jealous of Kaylee and so determined to get Nash back, that doesn't mean I want her to succeed though.  Despite the fact I hate her I think she makes a very interesting addition to the series, not only is she a new supernatural creature that I'd not heard of before (Rachel Vincent is great at coming up with unique ideas in both her adult and YA series!) but she changes the dynamics between the other characters in a way that was really fun to watch.

You might think that Kaylee has enough drama to deal with considering the arrival of Sabine but frankly that is the least of her worries when people at her school start being murdered.  Alongside the very realistic teenage dramas you have the added element of the paranormal mystery and we get to find out more about the Netherworld.  That really is a creepy place to be and Kaylee gets to see a bit more of it than she would have liked.  The action is edge of your seat stuff and had me hooked from beginning to end.  My Soul to Steal is a fantastic installment to the series and one that left me desperate to get my hands on If I Die, I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Source: I was given this book by the lovely Sammee from I Want To Read That, thanks Sammee!

Other Reviews:
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