Best part of being a reader? Getting swept away into a story and letting it consume your thoughts for days or weeks.
Worst part of being a reader? Waiting for sequels! I've decided to add a collection of “finished collections” that have either many or all of the books in the series, trilogy or sequel set already published and ready to enjoy.
SOUL SCREAMERS
By Rachel Vincent
Categories: Fantasy, young adult
MY SOUL TO TAKE is the first book that introduces Kaylee Cavanaugh, a young bean sidhe who does not yet understand the how’s and why’s of what is happening to her. When someone near her is about to die, her irrepressible nature comes out to “sing” for the soul of the dead, a trait particular to the females of her species. Sneaking into a club with her best friend Emma sets of a chain of events that allows Kaylee to learn about her true nature, fall for a guy who knows a lot more about her then she thinks and solve a mystery of murderous proportions...
This series opens up the world of hellions, other worlds, grim reapers who collect souls and other supernatural creatures disguised as humans. The discovery of one’s individual strength and responsibilities, heartbreak and true love, the immortal bonds of family and friends are all explored in Kaylee’s adventures. She gets herself into many tough spots and makes an enemy in the hellion of greed, who regularly makes a grab for Kaylee’s soul. She experiences betrayal, the loss of her mother, an absent father,shunning from her cousin and complete acceptance and loyalty from Emma. Lots of teenage growing pains and lessons learned. I liked the picture that was painted of the other world, Netherworld, inhabited by hellions and creatures of a sinful nature. Kaylee’s bean sidhe abilities allow her to travel to this place, sometimes with heart-wrenching results.
I progressively liked these novels more and more as they went on, things really got interesting when Kaylee’s boyfriend Nash’s ex comes back into the picture, she was one of the more complex characters that added a bit of drama to things. Especially since Sabine wants nothing more than to get back together with Nash. Nash’s brother Todd and Emma are humorous characters that bring a bit of relief to the otherwise dark and difficult journeys Kaylee goes through.
The order of the books:
My Soul To Take
Deals with Kalyee learning about her bean sidhe heritage and the beginning of her relationship to Nash. Female classmates keep dying for no apparent reason and Kaylee must solve the mystery.
My Soul To Save
When pop-star Eden dies in the middle of a concert, Kaylee ventures into the world of selling one’s soul for fame and fortune. A friend’s former lover is held captive by the hellion of Greed and Kaylee is asked to help...
My Soul To Keep
Kaylee and her boyfriend Nash are inseparable, until his group of high school jock buddies start getting addicted to the Netherworld substance known as Demon Breath. A rift forms and Kaylee is left trying to protect others from the deadly substance, only to find someone really close to her has been keeping so many more secrets...
My Soul To Steal
Kaylee’s strained relationship with Nash is further tested when the arrival of his ex, Sabine comes to town. And she’s not your typical seductive ex, she’s a living nightmare known as a mara, who feeds of fear in nightmares. I really enjoyed the additional tension added when Sabine forced her way into the group.
If I Die
The new teacher at Kaylee’s high school just so happens to be an incubus who feeds on desire, specifically the easiest desire available from teenaged girls. But Kaylee see right through that (thanks to her bean sidhe nature), and sets about trying to save the rest of her fellow classmates from his sinister plan to reproduce. Making things even tougher is the fact that her own time on earth has a fuzzy, but close, expiration date...
Before I Wake
Embarking on the next phase, Kaylee is given her first assignment as a soul reclaimer (reaper) and comes face to face with the rogue reaper who murdered her mother years ago. Being immortal is no guarantee that she’ll be safe, since various hellions are still after her soul, not to mention the rogue reaper who’d like nothing more then to finish her off for good...
With All My Soul
Finishing the series, Kaylee is out to once and for all stop hellions from hurting the humans in her school and the people she loves. Her plan is to set the hellions of Greed, Envy and Vanity against one another and have them destroy one another. But the price of setting such things in motion is weighing on Kaylee and she grows more angry and desperate with each additional life that’s lost... A great wrap-up to the series, I would say ninety percent of the things I was wondering about were resolved. Which is a lot more than most long series does. Very exciting and action packed.
Additional reading (in case you just can't get enough) is available in the form of short ebooks, online novellas to read on a Kindle or tablet/smartphone:
Never To Sleep
This short is about Kaylee’s cousin Sophie Cavanaugh going on an unexpected trip to the Netherworld.
My Soul To Lose
Details Kaylee’s earliest experience wailing for someone’s soul as a young bean sidhe.
Reaper
Grim reaper and friend to Kaylee’s, Todd’s short story about his daily life.
