*This title will be released on January 1, 2011*
 | Title: My Soul to Steal Reading level: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Publisher |
Book Description
YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?
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.
I DON’T THINK SO.
Review
I remember saying that Rachel Vincent was brave for the places she took her characters in the last Soul Screamers book, but that was nothing compared to what she’s done to them in MY SOUL TO STEAL.
Sabine. Obviously we’re not supposed to like Nash’s ex-girlfriend who shows up and starts trying to pick things back up where they left off, but Rachel Vincent might have taken it a bit too far. I wanted to reach into the book and physically beat her! She’s a psycho, vindictive, vengeful, manipulative slutbag. I’m getting angry again just thinking about her. Anyone who showed her the slightest compassion--and I mean anyone--got knocked down a peg in my estimation. Think Lila from season two of Dexter.
And really, did Kaylee and Nash need any more problems with their relationship after what happened in MY SOUL TO KEEP? Apparently so, because Sabine worms her way into the middle of things like a parasite. Emotions run high for everyone and the fallout proves to be just as big. And I don’t just mean for the characters.
When I start a series and invest myself in new characters, I start to build certain expectations. Who will end up with who, who will become a villain, who will be redeemed etc. I had very clear expectation going into MY SOUL TO STEAL, and I should have known after MY SOUL TO KEEP that Rachel Vincent never does what I expect. There’s a big, huge, ginormous thing that happens in this book, or rather starts to happen, that I initially felt so betrayed by that part of me didn’t want to finish the book. I did of course, and I’m amazed at how quickly I started to warm up to the idea of what’s to come.
Nothing is set in stone for this series. Rachel will probably surprise me again in the next book, IF I DIE, but that’s part of what makes this series so exciting. The last two books have been shocking, but they’ve also been my favorites. Can’t wait.
Sexual Content: Kissing. Lots of references to sex.
My Rating:
4/5
Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.
Previous books in the series:
- Reaper (prequel)
- My Soul to Lose (prequel)
Also reviewed by:
Insanely jealous. I remember the obsessive Google searches I carried out after My Soul to Keep to find out release dates/excerpts/basically any scrap of information I could about My Soul to Steal. This book has been on my wishlist ever since I finished the third one. Your review just makes me want it more. I can already tell I'm going to loathe this Sabine girl - she sounds like everything you could never want in a girlfriend all rolled into one. I'm starting to question Nash's sanity. And this "big thing"? Feeling betrayed? You're killing me here! I officially cannot wait to read this...
ReplyDeleteHaven't read this series yet!
ReplyDeleteLove this cover, first time l have seen it.
Thanks for the review.
Lila from Dexter is the perfect example of Sabine -- nice call.
ReplyDeleteI loved this one, too. Rachel Vincent is so good at taking us to new (often emotionally agonizing) places.
Chelsea / Vampire Book Club
That's probably the reason why Rachel Vincent is a bestselling author: you never know what she's going to lead the story to next. :)
ReplyDeleteLiz R. - I felt the same way. And it is only going to be worse for IF I DIE. After MSTS, I don't trust anything at this point. Anything, and I mean anything can happen next. Hope you get a copy soon :)
ReplyDeleteBooks For Company - This series has really picked up steam for me. The first two were good, but the basic plots were a little too young for me to love. These last two, however, have been awesome.
Chelsea - I thought of Lila immediately after meeting Sabine. Too bad I don't think they will end up the same way :)
Julie - She totally blindsided me. Very few authors can shock me at this point, so it's great to know that Rachel still can.
Ohh, great review? I have not read one book in the series, but i think your strong review may have just convinced me to go and pick them up!
ReplyDelete-Linds, bibliophile brouhaha
sorry that was meant to be an exclamation point, not a question mark!
ReplyDeleteLinds - Oh good! I've grown to like this series more and more with each book and I think they are worth spreading the word about.
ReplyDelete