Oath Bound by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Mira

Pages: 400pgs

The Story

The Tower Syndicate will fall . . .

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage – including a rare Skill – and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt. 

if he can figure out how . . .

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get . . . 

And if they can survive. 

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is . . .

The Review

Like in your usual tradition of all Rachel Vincent novels, she yet again blows us away with her third and final installment of the Unbound trilogy and boy how I'm sad to see it all end. Only this time, I find, Vincent weaves a very complicated tale unlike her previous installments where many relationships are tested, where missions are much more dangerous and where nothing is what it seems until all is revealed at the end. Honestly, what more can I say about this book except that I loved it a lot and my oh my . . . what an ending it delivered. I'm almost sad to see this series end now.

But much like it's other two predecessors, Blood Bound and Shadow Bound, what I love most about this particular series is the fact that each story never feels repeated (like same old same old, you know?) and how each of the newly introduced main characters of those three tales were just so different to one another. No character felt the same to me, especially the main characters. I love that refreshing feel and how you can't really say which installment you liked the best because they are - again - all so different. While the storyline is so creative, interesting and most of all very addictive, but what drives this series and in particular this final book is the characters themselves. They are what makes this series so epic and full of greatness.

Sera, our new main leading character, was absolutely amazing! I like how her morals are always in check and she never allows power or money to influence her in any way, shape or form. She's quite a girl that one. But what I loved most about her is how determined she is and how her vulnerability slips through the cracks of her very tough exterior, it's just something so fascinating to watch and to read about. Then of course we have her love interest (the one person who wants to kill her only he doesn't know that she is the one he wants to kill but hey it's complicated), Kris, who was amazing as well. Like Sera he is a pretty tough guy but he too has a vulnerable side. They're just the perfect match and you'll definitely see their chemistry when you read this book (there's a lot of chemistry in this one trust me!).

Overall, OATH BOUND is something you have to read for yourself to understand what a great series Rachel Vincent has created, and quite honestly I think this is my favourite series by far coming from her which really says something. I just loved it and I'm going to miss all of these characters.

The Rating

5/5 stars

With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 384pgs

The Story

What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America?

It's time to kick some hellion butt . . .

After not really surviving her junior year (after all, she did die), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to the find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity and the rest on each other. And so she – and her gang – make plans to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath. And Kaylee realizes that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. Especially when one more person she loves is taken . . .

The Review

A big thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

I was so excited when I got this book in the mail. It was the final book of the Soul Screamers series (I know it's so sad to even think about this series ending) and after everything the characters have been through - through hell and back and back through hell all over again - it was even more exciting to find out how exactly Rachel Vincent would  be concluding her much beloved YA series. But one thing is for sure: She sure doesn't disappoint with those 'are-you-crazy!' curve-balls that the author is just so good at!

Okay . . . KAYLEE IS SUCH A MAJOR BAD-ASS IN THIS BOOK. A MAJOR BAD-ASS. I kid you not people because she is absolutely amazing in this final book and proves herself again and again, and she sure makes me proud. I mean, after the many events that have occurred in this series, Kaylee has sacrificed so much (even her own life) to keep her family and friends safe from all hell's creatures and it's just so inspiring to witness, especially when she doesn't always put her safety first in dangerous situations. Of course it's stupid (really stupid actually to not think about your own safety) but it's just one those things I absolutely love about Kaylee's character. Her willingness to protect others and not think twice about it. It's the way she is.

Then there's Tod. Kaylee's 'sort of' new, dead hunk of a boyfriend. Okay, so right from the very beginning of the series I was a total Nash fan but when it comes to Tod . . . I tell you . . . I pretty much loved him as soon as Nash turned out to be a douche in the middle of the series and bless him. I mean, after everything Tod has done for everybody, in particular for Kaylee and his brother Nash, Tod finally gets his chance to shine and   OH MY GOD I JUST LOVE HIM AND KAYLEE TOGETHER. There's just so much to like about him and I like how Rachel Vincent made him shine in a different light in this book. He is so much more . . . serious and mature and boy I love that!

Now I won't spoil the book for those who haven't read it yet but let's have a quick talk about that ending. Hmmm . . . I am quite a fan of epilogues and such. I really love them. Really I do. I love that final ending and that little sneak peak into the future of our characters. But with this particular book . . . I absolutely did not agree with the epilogue. While it did have its good moments and most of the characters get their own 'sort of' happy ending, but with a certain 'something' that happened to Kaylee towards the end of the book, I just found everybody else including whiny Nash, that awful Sabine and that ungrateful friend Emma to be the worst friends possible in regards to that certain 'something' that happened to Kaylee and how her ending came about. It just didn't go well with me when I read the epilogue and the fact that everyone else moved on with their lives like ungrateful little . . . well . . . let's just say Tod is the only character I'm grateful for in the end because he never gives up on Kaylee and again bless him with how he feels about Kaylee. But that ending . . . damn you just can't do that! Sabine and Nash . . . grrrrr! I hope you two rot in Hell. Hehe.

Overall, apart from not being totally happy with the ending, WITH ALL MY SOUL certainly sets up a great finale and I can't wait to read even more from Rachel Vincent. How does that one woman write such fantastic stories like these ones? It's a mystery really and how I envy her!

The Rating

4/5 stars

Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Mira

Pages: 448pgs

The Story

If you live in the dark long enough,

you begin to forget the light . . .

Kori Daniels is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she's ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and for her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else . . .

The job? Recruit Ian Holt - or kill him.

Ian's ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he's on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower's top Binder: Kori's little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they'll have to choose between love and liberty . . .

The Review

Over the years Rachel Vincent has become an auto-buying author for me (seriously, I own all of her books and I'll continue to buy them) because I love every single book she brings out - whether it'll be her adult or her young adult series. After loving her first installment of her new adult Unbound series, Blood Bound, and after knowing she was about to write another sequel that follows closely after the first book's events, I just couldn't resist in ordering her new book and boy it was sure worth the wait!

SHADOW BOUND was so edgy, gritty, intense and completely raw to the bone just like the main characters who were being stripped psychologically and emotionally as we'd divulged into this powerful fantasy-like storyline. To be honest with everyone, this new Rachel Vincent creation is one of the best adult series I've ever read in a long time and there's just something so addictive about the world-building which I find myself constantly drawn to. I don't know how this author does it. Seriously . . . I'm envious of her writing talents and the perfection in her writing alone because this book right here blew my mind - literally - and it was just so damn perfect. I was a little wary of the sequel changing POVs, as the previous book was told by different character perspectives, but all of those worries flew away when I began reading this delicious tale!

So, what was the best part of the book? Hellllllloooooo, it was the main characters of course! The first being the main character Kori, whom has endured so, so much in her short life-span. At times it was so heartbreaking reading about how she lived her life - still lives if barely - and even though her thoughts are mostly consumed by the darkness and true human pain . . . she's still an amazing woman able to push through the boundaries of imprisonment and a world full of bloody crimes and deceit. Some would say Kori was a pretty badass chick with some badass attitude, but she was more than that to me. With her life filled with nothing but misery, Kori has managed to keep her sister out of danger for all of this time and she's someone who will always come on top. I just adored her and hated those who wanted to break her into pieces. Hands off my Kori, bad dudes!

The second main lead is our hottie Ian, who was just as imperfect as Kori was (don't worry imperfections have their high perks when it comes to this leading man) and at the same time he was equally adored by me too. For the beginning of the novel, Ian was dead set in wanting to kill Kori's younger sister but instead he ended up falling in love with Kori. How can you not love a man for doing so? When it came to Ian, everything about him from his killer instincts to his serious attitude made me fall harder and harder for him because honestly . . . he was the sweetest thing on earth, especially when it came to Kori. Plus they were a match made in heaven. Perfect for one another. I just loved the way he wanted to protect our Kori, how he understood her right from the very beginning, and how his personality was changing to a more softer side . . . really you can't blame a girl like me for loving someone like him, right? He was an absolute gem through my eyes!

Overall and without giving away major plot points, SHADOW BOUND took everything I know about Rachel Vincent's Unbound world to a whole new level and blew everything out of the water! Literally! Full of bloody, badassery, danger, romance, some cussing (Kori you are the Queen of it), drinking, fighting and some really, really heated sexual tensions, there's no doubt in my mind when I say that a lot of readers will want a taste of SHADOW BOUND because it's a lustful treat if I do say so myself! Best book . . . EVER!

The Rating

5/5 stars

Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 346pgs

The Story

I died on a Thursday - killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school . . . Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has chnaged. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life . . .

The Review

A big thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia for sending me a review copy of this book!

I think I'm with everyone else when I say the Soul Screamers series is one of my all-time favourite YA book series and every single book Rachel Vincent brings out just keeps getting better, better, and better!

BEFORE I WAKE, the sixth installment of the Soul Screamers series, picks up shortly after the previous book If I Die had ended, where our main leading lady, Kaylee Cavanaugh, had died and was practically brought back to become the new extractor of the afterlife. But as she must slowly come to grips with her own death, deal with a new job and a new reaper boyfriend, and with her having very little patience to deal with just about everybody else's problems on top of it all - including her ex-boyfriend Nash, things for Kaylee are about to get even more complicated when souls are being stolen and it's up to Kaylee and her friends to figure out who is behind it all, which will soon force Kaylee to make the hardest decision she's ever made before!

This new installment was yet another brilliant book coming my way and it packs quite an emotional punch if I do say so myself. I mean, the writings of these heartbreaking situations that Kaylee continuously faces with is just another one of Rachel Vincent's most wonderful trademarks and one that I personally love her for. And don't get me wrong here readers, I love to be shell-shocked by events, but man oh man . . . I can't predict what's going to happen next in this particular series alone . . . like AT ALL because it's shock-after-shock and twist-after-twist and honestly I'm really, really scared right now to read the final installment of this series next year, because I can tell that Vincent is going to make me cry harder in the future . . . I just know it! While BEFORE I WAKE may not have been my favourite of the series so far, but there's so much going on in this book and it's absolutely crazy - but I love series so much that I can handle crazy any time!

For our main heroine, Kaylee has been one of my favourite characters in YA for what feels like a very, very long time. She's strong, brave, selfless, snarky, caring, hella complexed, but most of all she's someone who accepts her mistakes and tries to move past them in the best way possible! Even if it breaks her heart doing so. But from each book and through each obstacle Kaylee faces, her character continues to grow and you are given even more reasons to love her each time . . . she's such a fine character and it's quite stupid of me to think a single paragraph is going to justify her as a great heroine. But hey - it's true. I love her to pieces!

But it's not just Kaylee growing . . . it's every other character in the book too. For one, there's the reaper Tod, Kaylee's ex-boyfriend's dead brother (yeah it's a little complicated for our girl), who shines throughout the entire book. Now I've always been a #1 fan of Tod and his superb humour to lift my spirits up, but what's changed in his character is that this time round he's actually in a relationship with Kaylee (I know finally!) after a bad break-up with his brother Nash, and while I'm sorry to not love Nash as much as I used to, but it's great to come together with other fans and praise Tod for all his hotness radiating in this book! Seriously he's so hot it's not funny and just reading about his relationship with Kaylee puts a smile on face. They are better suited than Kaylee and Nash ever were and they were all so, so good together.

Speaking of Nash's character, I do feel sorry for the guy and what happened to him in the previous book (even if it was his own fault). But I'm happy to report that he's slowly getting back on track - whatever that means - which is good to see and I hope Nash gets a good ending one way or another because he really does still love and care for Kaylee, but there's no longer that sizzle between them anymore and I think one day he'll see this . . . and hopefully get over it. Then there's Nash's ex-girlfriend and 'sort of' bestfriend Sabine. Ah, Sabine. Now I really dislike her. I mean sure, I tried to like her in this book and when I finally did . . . she just went straight back to being that nosey little teen that she is and I hate her for it. *face palm* She's annoying, okay? Can't connect with her even if I tried. Then there's Emma (Kaylee's best friend) who is supportive as ever, then there's Kaylee's dad who is so #1 on my best Dad list, and there's also so many other characters - including the baddies - who just shine in this novel as well . . . why must there be so many fantastic characters in such a short read??? Honestly I don't know how Rachel Vincent does it!

Overall, to say BEFORE I WAKE is amazing is a total understatement in my books but there's so much to love in this series and it never fails to disappoint me! If you haven't read this series yet, then what the hell are you WAITING FOR? GO READ IT NOW! PRONTO!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: 23rd August, 2011

Publisher: Mira

Pages: 463pgs

The Story

By blood, by word, by magic . . .

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special - a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot love, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner . . . every touch . . . every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over . . .

The Review

Rachel Vincent has done it again and it's no wonder why she's one of my favourite novelists! I've been a fan of Vincent's for a long time - what with her Shifter and Soul Screamers series - and no matter what book she brings out, you just know it's going to be awesome and a must read for all. BLOOD BOUND is such a rich and an extensive world - something that was so creative and unique! It's a world where a single drop of blood holds the power to expose a person's whereabouts and also where some people are either Un-Skilled or Skilled with specialized powers including Trackers, Binders, Travelers, Blinders, Jammers . . . it was nonetheless a very entertaining and complicated in a good-interesting-awesome kind of way!

BLOOD BOUND is told in first person, alternating from the main character Liv to her ex-boyfriend Cam and at first I found this alternative points of view confusing because I had no idea which head I was in. However, once you get used to these alternativing POVs you will soon become engrossed with this refreshing paranormal tale.

Liv, the heroine of our story, is one of the strongest characters that I know and it's no surprise considering Vincent writes strong female characters (for those who've read her other series will know what I mean). Liv will do just about anything to save and protect those she loves, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. Even her own life. She's been through so much in her past and she's a fighter too, which I love most about her character. Cam on the other hand, Liv's ex-boyfriend and the one person she left behind, was just as strong and protective, and he never gives up on something he wants. However he did get on my nerves sometimes . . . but hey, he's a man in love. He has desires that needed to be expressed I suppose and all he wants is for the love of his life to admit that she still loves him too. You have to admire and love a guy for trying so damn hard.

Personally for me, the best part of the book was the ever-so-amazing chemistry between the character's Liv and Cam - it was intense to say the least. They share a lot of history together and even after all these years, and after all the hurt Liv caused Cam, the ignited spark is still there and forces them to work together again, making this lost spark burn even brighter. I just . . . well I just loved, loved, LOVED every moment of them together! But there's no Rachel Vincent romance without its own complications. Trust me there are all sorts of complications for Liv and Cam. It will never be an easy relationship.

By the time I reached the final chapter, I was literally blown away by the ending! There were a lot of 'oh my' sayings and things like 'you seriously didn't just do that to me!'. When you read the last few words of the book, you definitely know there's a lot more instore for this book series and I can't wait to find out more, and what's going to happen to Liv and not to mention Cam! With heaps of fun-packed action, twists and turns, and plenty of love to go around, BLOOD BOUND was an exciting and interesting start to another great Rachel Vincent series!

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

If I Die by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: 27th September, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 342pgs

The Story

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee - she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah - it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck . . . before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

The Review

The truth is I love Rachel Vincent - an author who has become one of my ultimate favourites in both young adult and adult fiction. I will read anything of hers, especially any Soul Screamers book because you will never find yourself disappointed. Like many of my favourite book series, each book in this series keeps getting better and better, and I seriously don't know how Rachel Vincent does it. I believe some magical power is involved or perhaps a deal with the devil . . . when it comes to her ability to write. Now with our favourite heroine, Kaylee, she's faced with her impending death which is only a week away and I just had to sit down and devour the whole soul of this book in one sitting. And really, all I have to say is "Wow. Talk about high-running emotions!" Trust me, there are so many emotions here!

IF I DIE is the fifth installment of the Soul Screamers series and just within the first chapter, it's full of hard-hitting punch when Kaylee is told her 'borrowed time' is up. With the threat of Kaylee dying, instead of moping about and trying to figure out a way to wiggle out of this death issue, Kaylee focuses more on solving the problem of Mr. Beck - a soul-sucking-lusting incubus, who just happens to be the hot new maths teacher and who also happens to be using his girl students for his own advantage. But as the time starts to tick down, Kaylee will need to make more decisions than she originally planned - one including Nash.

I loved the other books in the series, but I LOVED this book the best. All the tension, the anticipation, the lust, the love, the wanting, the secrets, the lies . . . it was everything I hoped for and more. Unfortnately some readers maybe disappointed in Nash's character. Now I used to be Team Nash all the way because he was the guy you want in your life, but ever since the events of My Soul To Keep, the Nash we used to know isn't the same Nash anymore and we as fans need to accept this by the time you read the end of this book. I've accepted this now. However for Tod fans - a team which I'm officially on forever and forever and I won't look back, you guys will be super happy because he gets more of the spotlight and he's just super-awesome-swoon-worthy-type-of-delicious-guy that will have girls screaming like Kaylee! Let's just say Tod puts a wedge between Kaylee and the broken Nash, which I'm thankful for. Because I'll never forgive Nash nor will I respect him ever again. As for Kaylee's character, damn I love that girl! She has really come into her own and despite some flaws she had in this book, she finally knuckled down and made a decision that I respect her for. But I'm afraid that's all I can say for the meantime. I know I'm cruel.

Fans of the series will LOVE this book and it's typical for Rachel Vincent to make me falling on my knees and going, "I want more books!" That's just how she rolls as a best-selling author. And we love her for it. Rachel Vincent is gifted with so many talents of strong world-building, an unique and ever-so-fascinating and original 'paranormal' world, and of course, she has the amazing gift of writing characters that you have a rush of feelings for . . . and I'm talking about Kaylee and Tod here. Not Sabine of course, she was annoying as hell on fire. So I say to you all: READ THIS BOOK NOW BECAUSE THE REAPER WILL COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR OTHERWISE. Or not. *winks* But if it was Tod knocking on my door . . . then I wouldn't mind a visit or two. *another wink*

The Rating

5/5 stars

Alpha by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: 1st July, 2011

(AUS paperback)
Publisher: Mira

Pages: 441pgs

The Story

The unscrupulous new Council Chair has charged Jace, Marc, and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride - no matter what. Then there's Marc. And Jace. I need to choose between them.

With a target on my back, I'm heading for a final showdown that can and will - change everything forever. No decision will be easy, and not everyone will survive this epic fight to the death . . .

The Review

I'm obsessed with anything Rachel Vincent. I love every single book she brings out and I think I'll love them forever. Now I've been waiting and waiting for ALPHA to come out - in the new Australian paperback - and finally I got a copy. Bless the bookstores. Once I got ahold of this book, I literally stopped everything that I was doing and sat down . . . just reading this book and this book only. The Shifter series is one of my absolute favourite adult series, not because of my obsession with Vincent's books, but because in this series there's a strong heroine - not some male figure - right here and because it has an awesome story to add to that great heroine.

Note to self: This is the last - yes the LAST - installment to the mind blowing Shifter series and I'm so sad to see it all end. ALPHA continues almost right where we left off in Shifter, and now it's time to face the Pride Council where they must decide on who the next leader is. A lot of things happen, but what most readers like myself care about is Faythe's decision on her lover - between Marc, the person who probably loves her the most out of everyone and not to mention a longtime boyfriend, and Jace, someone Faythe least expected to fall in love with but has.

The reason why I'm giving this book 4 1/2 stars is because Faythe sits on the fence too long, deciding who she loves the most. It's unfair to the two boys she's in love with and it's unfair to the whole of humanity - that being ME! I was screaming in my head saying the likes of, "PICK HIM ALREADY!" and "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I wasn't too impressed with the way she handled things - her relationships. We had Marc whose heart is broken continuously and the amount of pain he was feeling . . . I WAS FEELING! Then there's Jace. Sweet, caring, breath-of-fresh-air Jace. While my heart will always be Marc's, but Jace is the kind of character you just can't help but love. He doesn't share the intense history like Marc and Faythe share, but he's giving it his all to be with Faythe. My heart goes out to him for trying. In the end, no matter who she chooses, readers will have to appreciate that Faythe has grown and evolved so much from the first book Stray and I just want to hug her for being such a kickass heroine!

I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I can definitely list some things that you should expect to come: 1) You'll cry like a baby, 2) You'll end up finding out who Faythe chooses to be with, and 3) Did I mention you'll cry like a baby? Yes I think I did. I was upset through most of the book - all through the good and bad things. But that's because the strongest part of Rachel Vincent's writing is how she's the Queen of all writing Evils. She can make you laugh, she can make you cry, she can make you yell, she can make you sit on the edge of your seat and make you fall of it. *smirks* As for the ending, while it ended quicker than I thought it would, but it was the most adorable thing I've ever read in a conclusion to a book series. So two big thumbs up for Vincent!

It's not a Shifter novel without big action sequences, romantic one-liners, and some little twists along the way. And that's what you still get from ALPHA. The action from this novel is phenomenal. Really. Rachel Vincent has taken it all to the next level and I love her for it. If you're an obsessed fan of Vincent like I am, than pick up this EPIC conclusion to one of the best adult series EVER! You'll not be disappointed! Here's my favourite line:

"Marc didn't want to win by default. He wanted to win for real. Forever."

The Rating

4 1/2 / 5 stars

My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

Release Day: January 1st/4th, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 352pgs

The Story

Trying to work things out with Nash - her maybe boyfriend - is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened . But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears - and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever - and whoever - she wants.

The Review

From where we left off in the last adventure of the SOUL SCREAMERS series, our strong teenage heroine, Kaylee, has been lied to, betrayed, and was almost killed by the one person she loves and trusts the most: Nash, her bean side boyfriend. Now, in this next addition to the series, Kaylee is trying her hardest to forgive her boyfriend for all his betrayals, but there's another problem coming her way...his ex-girlfriend, Sabine, who suddenly transfers to her high school and enters the scene wanting nothing more than to take Nash back for herself. And boy, does she try!

At first, I hated Sabine just as much as Kaylee did, and I still do hate her as a supporting character - especially with her always throwing herself at Nash. She was very posessive and childish, like a kid crying over a stolen toy. But as the story progresses, you begin to see another side of Sabine, one that shows you that she isn't as tough as she thinks she is. And a girl who needs some help! Haha. Still, I didn't like her mind games...but I liked her ability in nightmares, a great kicker for the storyline!

Like always, it was good to see that Kaylee was growing stronger by the minute in this novel, though she did act childish too over the whole Nash thing. But every girl who has a boyfriend and one of their exes around...I guess we would all do the same jealous thing! The only downer of Kaylee was that I didn't like the way she second-guessed herself with her relationship with Nash. Why does she need to? Yes, he did betray her...but if she still wants him - even the suffering side of him and even with Sabine there - she should fight for him (which she did, but not nearly enough as I wanted her to)!

But as for the other characters, I was glad Todd - my dear funny Todd - was back, with more wise words mixed with his great sense of humor. As for Emma, I was glad she had a bit more of a part in the novel and the same goes for Alec, whom I enjoyed having along for the ride. He was a great character and hope to see more from him in the next book! When it comes to the bad guys, Avari and the whole what-knot, those type of characters never get old!

So, Rachel Vincent has yet brought another great installment to the SOUL SCREAMERS series and it just keeps getting better and better with each new book release. No wonder why she has become one of my favourite authors!

The Rating

4/5 stars