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

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

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