Customer Reviews

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers)

5 star:		(81)
4 star:		(60)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Nearly passed over this unique piece of paranormal fiction- incredibly glad I decided to order! (The description on the rear cover of My Soul to Take is a weak one.) Finished in just two sittings (would have been one if "real life" hadn't gotten in the way!), and already looking for the sequel. Better than I anticipated, easy to read, and twists I did not see coming. I have to admit, what was, I presume, supposed to have been the climactic revelation, I figured out halfway through; however, there were so many other things going on & so many directions they could take, I didn't mind knowing that one bit of information.

Kaylee Cavanaugh sneaks into a club with her best friend Emma. Comfortable with living in Emma's shadow, Kaylee is surprised, yet delighted, when sports hottie Nash Hudson takes notice of her & asks her to dance. Her delight is short-lived, however, when Kaylee recognizes the beginnings of another of her "panic attacks." In the midst of the crowded club, Kaylee's vision hones in on a beautiful young girl Kaylee has never even seen before- yet knows beyond a shadow of a doubt the young girl will die. Her "attack" is intensified by not only fighting the overwhelming urge to scream, but also the fear of "losing it" in front of Nash. With Emma & Nash's help, Kaylee is able to exit the club & calm down without giving in to the horrible urge. Having never even mentioned her "gift" to Emma, Kaylee suddenly feels compelled to tell Nash her secret. When he doesn't go running for the hills, Kaylee begins to feel she can indeed trust him, and agrees to meet him for lunch the following day.

Kaylee has never had confirmation of one of her "premonitions" before, so she is somewhat shocked to see the young girl's face on the news the next morning; she had been found dead in the bathroom of the club. With Emma being grounded, Kaylee has only one other person to turn to- Nash. She & Nash quickly begin to form a bond of trust- and undeniable attraction. Suddenly, two more teenage girls die, with seemingly no cause. Kaylee & Nash know the deaths are connected, but how? And why is Nash, who in the beginning urged Kaylee to tell someone about her "gift", now begging her not to mention it to anyone? Why does he seem to know more than he is letting on- about the deaths & about Kaylee- not only who she is, but also *what* she is? And can Kaylee make the connection & unravel all the secrets before it's too late?

Rachel Vincent has a wonderful way of allowing Kaylee to tell her tale with all of the excitement (& fear) a normal teenager would have under these not-so-normal circumstances- yet, thankfully, without all of the mellow-drama often accompanying such characters as of late. Highly recommend!

What could be illness - neurological or otherwise - may be something much deadlier in Rachel Vincent's first young adult urban fantasy Soul Screamers novel, MY SOUL TO TAKE.

Shadows blanket a girl who's about to die. Kaylee Cavanaugh wants to warn her, but can't. Withholding Kaylee's growing grief-stricken shriek is more than she can handle alone, so having Nash Hudson calm her is some relief. Except that he knows too much about Kaylee: not just WHO she is, but also WHAT she is. Together, they may be able to save potential victims of an unseen-to-the-human-eye serial killer, but there's always an exchange rate. If one person is saved, someone else will still die...

I'd heard this was a good book, but didn't expect it to make me cry. Too personal to share why here, but it just goes to show that the most powerful fiction is that which strongly resembles real life. However, once 100 pages had gone and the story became more paranormal, I was fine. I could distance myself from it, and should be able to read the following novels in the series tear-free.

The twists and turns are intriguing, and form an engrossing read. A truly outstanding novel, it'll be a hard act to follow but one to watch, come MY SOUL TO SAVE's release in January 2010.

Kaylee Cavanaugh can feel when someone is about to die, and when she does, she gets to the urge to scream. She's already been hospitalized for it. Fortunately, she doesn't often come across people who are about to die. That is until classmates of hers start dying for no cause and Kaylee might be the only person who can do something to stop the mysterious deaths.

MY SOUL TO TAKE is standard YA paranormal fare. If you want to be blown away by a book, this probably isn't it. If, however, you're looking for some enjoyable light reading and are a fan of teen paranormal romances, Rachel Vincent's YA debut is worth picking up.

Bean sidhes are new in YA fiction, and it's refreshing. Kaylee doesn't really have superpowers - no super-speed or super-strength or ESP or whatever. Another pleasant thing about this book is the fact that Kaylee's standard love interest (hot and popular and interested in the not-hot, unpopular heroine) is also a bean sidhe, and I'm struggling to think of another series in which both the protagonist and the love interest are supernatural beings living in the human world.

The characters are pretty straightforward. Kayeee's likaable enough, but she doesn't have any traits to really make her stand out, and Nash - her love interest - seems to have no flaws. But Kaylee's best friend, Emma, and Tod the Reaper add some fun to the cast. (Tod's my favorite character in the series.) Vincent's writing is also solid enough. No sparkling sentences or anything truly remarkable, but nothing wince-inducing.

All in all, MY SOUL TO TAKE is a fun read. If you're looking for something to distract your from everyday life and you're a fan of the genre, then pick up MY SOUL TO TAKE. If paranormal books aren't your thing, then you might want to skip MY SOUL TO TAKE, although I'd recommend it over some other popular titles.

I'm not into the whole sensing the near death nor am I interested in love triangles but I read this one because of the rave reviews and proof that there are exceptions to what people dislike.
Not only that but the book started out too bland for me but promising myself to uphold the "100 page rule"...I kept on reading. As I read, I found the story original and tempting for the most part but there was just something I didn't like about it. Kaylee (the heroin) and the two boys never held my interest. Nash (the love interest) was as forgettable as the dialog itself.

In my opinion the book description gives the reader the impression that the story will be somewhat imperative and thoroughly heart pumping, but in the end, I felt let down and lost any interest to read any of the sequels. I give this book by Rachel Vincent an "OKAY"

I wanted to like My Soul to Take. I really did. It's a great concept. Banshees have a really interesting mythology, and Vincent's take on it has a lot of possibilities. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to its potential.

The worst part is that the heroine, Kaylee, has no personality. No interests. Nothing to make her come alive. She has a lot of potential to be an interesting character. She's just learned that she's a mythological creature, and she's basically been abandoned by her father. Unfortunately, the character just didn't work for me.

Kaylee has a love interest, Nash, who she claims she can't get involved with because he's a "player," but her resolve to stay away from him lasts about 5 minutes. Sadly, the love interest is just as dull as Kaylee. The only characters with potential was Tod the reaper. He gives me hope that the subsequent books in the series might be better.

The plot also has issues. It just meanders along and then suddenly the bad guy is revealed, and the reader is left saying "huh?"

There are much better books in the YA paranormal genre, so I'd recommend saving your money for them. I hope this series gets better with subsequent books, but I doubt I'll be reading them.

After receiving the 5th book in the series for review, I knew I would have to start from the beginning to get a feel for this series. So I sat down with the first book, My Soul To Take, and I LOVED it! I wanted to scream like Kaylee because it ended. What a fresh new take in the paranormal realm for readers to explore. Who thought banshee's--spelled bean sidhe's--could be so intriguing and suspenseful.


At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like reading about bean sidhe. I mean, most of the lore I have heard about them is women in long, flowing dresses with long hair, who go around screaming. They liked to follow around mournful people and cause pain with their screams to the point of death for the human. I couldn't figure out how an author was going to make this a good thing. Just like Kaylee though, I learned that the lore is wrong in this world created by Rachel Vincent. Kaylee is a bean sidhe who can tell when someone is getting ready to die. Yes, she must scream for the person, but to other bean sidhe, the scream is a beautiful soul song.


What was surprising was the fact that men can be bean sidhe as well. Nash was a wonderful counterpart to Kaylee and the romance was sweet. I fell in love the first time Kaylee met him at the club. When he sings to her in the alley my heart fluttered with romantic anticipation. Emma was a fun friend as well for Kaylee and plays a major part in the story. The side characters of Brendan and Val were great as well. Since Kaylee's Father is in Ireland, he left Kaylee in the care of his brother Brendan. While Brendan was carefree and fun, he also has secrets that Kaylee discovers.


I have to say that besides the main characters of the book, Tod the reaper was one of my favorites as well. His revelations near the end of the book was a shock and I know I should have seen that coming! I hope he is included in the future books as well!


I am so glad to have started this series and I can't wait for more! Thankfully, I have the whole series in my hands so I can keep reading what happens next!

Sixteen-year-old Kaylee Cavanaugh has a strange ability: she knows when someone is going to die. She senses it, sees the person covered in shadow, and is unable to do anything but scream. Kaylee is not sure if this ability is a gift or a curse. She lives with her uncle Brendon, aunt Val and cousin Sophie; her father lives in Ireland and sent her to America after her mother's death. Her aunt and uncle seem to think her ability is psychological, like a panic attack. When gorgeous and popular Nash takes a sudden interest in Kaylee, and seems to know a lot about these visions she has, however, Kaylee begins to wonder if maybe she's not crazy. It turns out, Kaylee is a bean sidhe (or "banshee"): a mythical death herald. Screaming and wailing for the nearly deceased is part of who, or what she is. Nash knows this because he is a bean sidhe too, only he has the ability to guide souls that have recently departed their bodies. Together, Kaylee and Nash have to figure out why beautiful and healthy girls keep dropping dead at their high school. Can two bean sidhes in love save their classmates before it's too late?

Creative, original and entertaining, My Soul To Take, the first book in the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent, is a delight for any fan of monsters, vampires, ghosts, faeries, and other paranormal creatures. The novel begins with Kaylee experiencing a vision of death right away. Instead of opening with back-story and an introduction of the characters, Vincent gets the action started immediately, capturing the reader's interest from the start. The rest of the novel is devoted to expanding on the characters of Kaylee and Nash, and the history of the bean sidhe, all while moving forward with the plot. The result is a page-turner that is difficult to put down until the conclusion. In an almost Harry Potter fashion, it is revealed that Kaylee comes from a long long of bean sidhe, her father, mother, even her uncle Brendon are all bean sidhes. The reader discovers along with Kaylee the extent of her powers, the truth behind her life, and how she can use her abilities. Instead of observing Kaylee from the outside, Vincent places the reader right in the plot with her, creating an exciting experience that teens, and adults, will love. The novel also sets the stage for the other books in the series, keeping the reader interested in learning more about Kaylee and Nash, and seeing what kind of situations they will undoubtedly encounter in the future. Vincent's writing style is also very relevant for teens. Kaylee acts and speaks like a typical sixteen-year-old girl, despite the fact that she is a bean sidhe, and teen readers will identify with her feelings and attitudes. Overall, My Soul To Take is a must-read for teens who enjoy the genre.

I absolutely loved this novel. There are so many stories, especially for teens, that include monsters, whether it's vampires, zombies, werewolves, fairies, etc. I was so excited to see one that included one of the most interesting characters from Celtic lore: the bean sidhe. Kaylee is a very likable heroine as well, and takes on her newly discovered abilities with a sense of humor, not a pout or temper tantrum. I also highly recommend the rest of this fun series!

Like my review? Go to my profile to find the link to my blog to see other books I recommend!

I bought this book after reading the novella prequel, and I'm so glad I did. The banshee angle is very original, and refreshing amidst the mass of vampire/werewolf books flooding the market right now. Kaylee is a likeable character, and the plot flowed smoothly. I found myself wishing I could read faster towards the end, which to me is the mark of a good book.

The only criticism I have of this is the Nash/Kaylee romance. It just felt kind of rushed, and I never got a chance to really connect with Nash. Really, I came out of the story not knowing much about him at all besides he was really hot and -really- liked Kaylee, for reasons neither she nor I could fully understand given they'd only been dating for a couple days. Hopefully their relationship will be a little more developed in the next book.

Still, the rest of the novel more than makes up for that. It was believeable, suspenseful, intriguing, and all in all a five-star book. Highly recommended.

Author: Rachel Vincent
Book Type: Paperback
Number of Pages: 279

She doesn't see dead people, but... She senses when someone near her is about to die.

And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder.

Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school.
But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does.

And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next...

I got this book through the Harlequin Teen Panel, and I was very excited to read it after reading nothing but good reviews. Reading all this wonderful feedback gave me some pretty high expectations. These expectations were exceeded in some cases, and fell flat in others.

First off, Rachel Vincent is a sensational writer. Her style was easy to follow and refreshingly descriptive. She set the mood and tone of the novel perfectly. Lately I've read too many books that either talk down to teenagers, or portray the characters like 30 year olds instead of 17 year olds. But Vincent found a nice middle ground. The entire novel is told through Kaylee's point of view, and being inside her head was enjoyable. She was rational and smart, and very real.

I also have to give Miss Rachel some major bonus points for the originality! I have read enough about vampires and werewolves and ghosts (oh my!) to last me a lifetime. But I have yet to come across another book about banshees. Or bean sidhes, as it's originally spelled. I actually didn't know very much about bean sidhe mythology, and I wasn't very interested in it until I read My Soul to Take. After I finished, I went and started looking up all sorts of information, and I must say I have a new favorite mythological creature. (Funnily enough, my friends call me a banshee all the time because I can do this weird high pitched keening, kinda like Kaylee. I wonder why I've never bothered to look into it.)

Kaylee as a protagonist was great. My only complaint was that I'm a little tired of the "But I'm not that pretty!" schtick, but at least she didn't emphasize it that much. Kaylee carried a lot of baggage from a terrible childhood. Her mother died, her father dumped her with her aunt and uncle and barely talked to her or even visited, and at one point she was institutionalized. And she isn't on very good terms with her prim and perfect cousin Sophie, either. But she's got a good friend Emma, who is there for her even when Kaylee is having her "panic attacks", which is actually her soul song for the people who are about to die. I would have actually liked to see more Emma in the novel. She was in there a lot at the beginning, then slowly dwindled away until she just stopped appearing by the last few chapters.

Plotwise, it was very interesting and unique. We were introduced to creatures not seen much in the YA market, such as banshees and grim reapers. My qualm about the plot is that it happened over a period of 4 days, and so much happens in the four days that honestly, it doesn't seem like it's possible for everything that took place to happen in four days. (Also, while we're on the subject of timing, at one point, Kaylee takes a shower, gets dressed, and blow dries her hair in all of 20 minutes. Girls, I think you'll agree when I say that I take 20 minutes just to get dressed, let alone shower and blow dry my hair. That was so unrealistic I couldn't help but notice that one sentence).

And in the course of these four days, Miss Rachel Vincent falls into the dreaded love snare that it seems every YA book these days is falling into: the `I'm in love with you, even though we just met' trap. Yes, my friends. I know. Admittedly, there is a sense of gradualness to Kaylee and Nash's relationship (Nash is, of course, a jock, gorgeous, and one of the most popular guys at school) but it still happens fairly quickly for my taste.

Definitely a good book, and worth the read, although if you're nitpicky like me, you'll notice these things like I did. But, either way, I do recommend this book.

I read the prequel, My Soul to Lose, a couple weeks ago and at the time I didn't really know what was going on, but having finished My Soul to Take it puts the prequel in a whole new light. I'm glad I read the prequel first, it definitely got me interested in reading the rest of the series. I liked My Soul to Take, it was original, fun, and well written. I liked Kaylee and Nash, they had good chemistry together (lots of kissing) and worked well together as a team. I liked Emma and wish she would have been a little more present throughout the story. The other supporting characters were good and I look forward to seeing them more in the next book.

My only complaint with Kaylee and Nash was that it their relationship evolved a little too quickly. One minute he is the hot guy she's always had a crush on, and he doesn't know she exists, then the next minute (literally) they are in a serious relationship. While I think they make a good couple, I would have liked a little more "courting" before they really fell for each other. I like a little tension, will-they-won't-they in my books; especially considering this is a series and could have been drawn out a little more. Anyway, that's just a personal preference and I still enjoyed their relationship and the story as a whole. If you like YA fantasy/paranormal/mystery then you'll enjoy this one!

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