Author: Rachel Vincent
Publisher: Harlequin, 2009
Genre: YA Paranormal, Romance
(Soul Screamers 0.5)
My Review:
Meet Kaylee Cavanaugh who, after a weird episode where she can’t stop the urge to screech, is sent to a mental hospital. There she will discover that the urge only comes when people near her are about to die. But what does this mean? And how can Lydia (fellow patient) can calm her screech? Kaylee doesn’t know, but what she does know is that she has to get out of there and soon.
I think I like this whole idea of prequels for books. It gives you enough of a taste to decide if you want to read the series in question or not. My Soul to Lose definitely convinced me to read more. Kaylee is such a fun and strong character to read. And after this short story, I know that any adventure she has will have my undivided attention.
(Soul Screamers 1)
My Review:
Just when I think I’ve really read about all the paranormal creatures out there, here comes the Soul Screamers series and proves me totally wrong! The prequel had already drawn me in considerably, and this first book just grabbed me, sat me down, and hypnotized me. It is a thrilling story that takes place during the course of a week, yet so many things happen that you swear more time has gone by!
It’s been some months since the events of My Soul to Lose. Kaylee has gone back to her living the normal life of a teenager. But when she is out clubbing with her best friend Emma the terrible urge to scream seizes her. Kaylee will try really hard not to cause a scene and get sent to the hospital again. Help comes from an unlikely sourse when Nash Hudson, the hottest guy in school, calms Kaylee down by just whispering in her ear. Just when she thinks she is losing her mind Nash reveals that her compulsion to scream around dying people comes from being a bean sidhe (banshee).
Kaylee is both frightened of and frustrated with her newfound powers, but she’ll need to get over that if she plans to discover why girls are dropping dead for no reason. It will be up to Kaylee and Nash to discover who, and try to stop him from taking another victim. But for that they’ll need the help of a reaper (as in a grim reaper), and bean sidhes have no business talking with reapers.
I really liked Kaylee. She is such a strong character, trying to deal with all of this convincing herself constantly that she is not crazy. Nash…Hmm I’m still not sure I totally love him, but he clearly cares about Kaylee a lot. He is the one who explains her heritage and calms her down during her wailing episodes. Then there is Tod. He is such a cutie! He really has the most awful job ever and still has managed to retain a carefree and fun personality (even if it’s just a façade). With all the things going on with Kaylee the surprises at the end really had me gasping in shock.
(Soul Screamers 2)
My Review:
In this thrilling second book of the Soul Screamer series Tod’s ex-girlfriend has sold her soul to a hellion in exchange for fame and fortune. When she realizes what she has done, and that her sister is following in her footsteps, she will ask Kaylee, Nash and Tod for help. This time the gang will have to go to dangerous lengths risking their lives to save not one but two souls. But with Kaylee’s dad exercising his new found parenting powers, sneaking out to do bean sidhe business might be difficult.
Once again Kaylee shows just how brave and fearless she is, by risking her life for another. She is learning more about her powers and how to be a bean sidhe from Nash’s mom. And she will get to practice for real more often than not. It seems there are some abilities that come with being a bean sidhe that neither Kaylee’s dad or Nash’s mom are willing to tell her about yet.
We get to read about the dangerous Netherworld and a couple of its residents. The symptoms of being soulless are just really creepy. The end had me nervously sitting at the edge of my seat, when it becomes a race against time to save the souls. I was sad to see Tod’s dark and dangerous side. He really didn’t care for the consequences and for the lives of others as long as he saved his ex. But overall I found this second book to be even better than the first. I’m hoping the third book follows the same pattern and it’s even better than better!
Favorite Quotes:
~Book 1 ~
Nash Hudson. Holy crap. I almost looked down to see if ice had anchored my feet to the floor, since hell had surely frozen over. Somehow I’d stepped off the dance floor and into some weird warp zone where irises swam with color and Nash Hudson smiled at me, and me alone.
~ Book 2 ~
His mischievous grin could do nothing to darken the cherubic features he’d inherited from his mother, and I had to remind myself that no matter how innocent he looked, Tod was trouble. Always.
~
“If you don’t learn to knock like regular people, I swear I’ll…tell your boss you’re abusing your reaper skills to pursue a life of voyeurism and debauchery.”
Tod shot us a wry grin. “He already knows.”
