My Soul to Save - Book Rant

My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2)
by Rachel Vincent

What is it about:
When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk...

What did I think of it:
What is it that makes that when a bad guy does something it's evil and wrong, and when the good guy does the exact same thing it's OK?

That's the question that stayed with me after finishing this book.

It's something that I've encountered before in my reading (Allegiant anyone?) and that annoys me.

It also took away from my reading enjoyment in this book. Overall this is a really cool story, and I was enjoying it, up until Kaylee decides on her 'Holier Than Thou' solution, in which she gets to do the things the bad guys do, without it being the horror it is when the bad guys do it.

I grumbled, I growled...

I finally decided to try to ignore it, and see it as the double standard that is used for good guys and bad guys. I decided to pretend Kaylee doesn't notice she's acting in the same manner as the bad guys.

Then I reached the ending, and Kaylee started angsting over a morally questionable action made by someone else. Really?! Now she did see how wrong it was, but not when she was doing it herself?! ARGH!

So... I think I will stay away from the next book in this series until I've calmed down a bit.

Why should you read it:
Mostly it's a fun and original Paranormal YA read.

My Soul to Take - Book Review

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1)
by Rachel Vincent

What is it about:
She doesn't see dead people. 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.

What did I think of it:
I've been eyeing this series for a while now, and what kept me from picking it up, is my previous experience with Vincent's books. I read Stray, and that was a nice read, but it didn't convince me to continue that series. I read Blood Bound, and loathed the characters. So even though this series sounded intriguing, I kept putting off buying the first book.

Then I had the opportunity to get my trotters on the first two book in this series in a book trade, and I took the plunge.

And I must say: My Soul to Take is the first book by Vincent that makes me eager to pick up the next book in the series.

I will confess I did think Kaylee was much too trusting, and ready to believe impossible things from people she barely knows, but that's not anything new in YA. :-p I really feel like I must have been one of the most cynical and distrusting teens ever.

That aside this is a really fun and original story. I really liked the use of mythology in this book. I also actually liked most of the lead characters for once. I did grumble a bit over the peppy cheerleaders are evil message, but overall I enjoyed this story.

Some things were a bit predictable, but as I mentioned in reviews about other predictable books, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

All in all this book was a pleasant surprise after the trouble I had with Vincent's other books, and I'm happy I already have book two waiting in my tbr-pile, because I'm curious where Vincent will take this series next.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable Paranormal YA read.

Blood Bound - Book Review

Blood Bound (Unbound #1)
by Rachel Vincent

What is it about:
Bound by blood, condemned by fate

As a bloodtracker, Liv is extremely powerful. And in a world where power is a commodity that can get you killed, Liv's learnt to survive by her own rules.

Rule number one? Trust no one.

But when a friend's daughter goes missing, Liv is bound by a potent magical oath. She can't rest until the child is safe.
And that means trusting her dangerous ex, Cam.

What did I think of it:
I'm in two minds about this book.

I really liked the writing, the world building and the magic system that Vincent came up with. The story itself is interesting enough that it kept me reading to see how it would all play out.

But I totally loathed Liv's so called 'friend' and Cam.

Really: if I had friends like that you could shoot me right now. I wouldn't want to live in a world where people like that would be considered friends. So if I'd been Liv, this book would only have been a couple of chapters long, because either I'd have comitted suicide or I'd have gone on a killing spree.

Therefore I really couldn't understand the attraction Liv felt for Cam and I kept hoping against all odds she would kick his ass or at least see the light and dump him.

So this was a bumpy read that kept frustrating me while being interesting enough to keep me from screaming and throwing the book through the room. I don't think I'll read any other books in this series, my blood pressure can't handle it.

Why should you read it:
It's a suspenseful story with a very intriguing setting and magic system.

Stray - Book Review

Stray by Rachel Vincent (Shifters #1)

What is it about:
I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.
Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.
This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . .

What did I think of it:
Another book that I'm in two minds about. The writing is good, the story suspenseful, emotional and with some powerful action. So far so good. It's two things that hold me back from embracing this series however.

First there's Faythe, the lead character.
While I can understand her half of the time and feel for her, the other half she's just not thinking and doing stuff no one in their right minds would do. It kept me from really liking her.

Second there's the cats.
The males kept frolicking (for a lack of better word) with each other and while I understand this was meant to display the playful side of cats, I myself have never seen adult male cats act anything close to playful or frolicky towards each other. Now this might be just me and maybe male cats are more playful than the cats I've been around, but it just didn't feel real to me.

So all in all I did enjoy the story and the writing, but I don't think I will be picking up the next book in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a well written, suspenseful Urban Fantasy story.