Review: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

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

Young Adult Fantasy

Harlequin Teen (August 1, 2009)

ISBN: 978-0373210035

384 pages

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

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…

Loved it! I'm a fan of Rachel Vincent's Werecats series, so I'm glad to see that she has done such a great job translating to the YA genre.

Kaylee Cavanaugh, having been pawned off by her father following the death of her mother, lives with her Uncle Brendon, Aunt Val, and bratty cousin Sophie. Despite her unique home life, Kaylee is a great teen heroine: comfortable with who she is, yet not immune to typical teenage anxieties. She's the kind of girl that you could easily see as your best friend. Considering her family situation and the powers that she's only beginning to understand, she's pretty level-headed and well-adjusted too.

As an urban fantasy novel, this one fares well. Vincent uses classic mythology to shape the story of Kayle and her family and friends. Banshees, or bean sidhes as they are named in this novel, aren't as popular as vampires and shapshifters. When they are used, they always seem to be cast in the role of the dangerous or bad creatures. I enjoyed seeing Vincent handle them in a different light, as normal people with powers that can be used for good.

Kaylee deals with several issues throughout the course of the story. Whether adolescent in nature or supernatural, all of her problems ring true and are handled with aplomb by Vincent. Kaylee's friendship with best friend Emma is natural and strong and her bonds with her family are loving, if strained. As for her budding romance with the hot and popular Nash Hudson, it couldn't feel more right. Despite the fact that they get off to a fast start, it rings true. The dangers that they face together during the story helps them form an immediate bond. It also helps that Nash recognizes Kaylee as a fellow bean sidhe and aids her introduction to her new life.

The plot is well developed and the characters are employed will within it. Vincent doesn't give the teens anything to handle beyond the realm of believability. She seems to keep in mind their ages and lack of experience with their abilities. The fact that she also involves the adult family members lends to the credibility.

I'm so excited about this series and I look forward to reading more about Kaylee, Nash, and their families and friends. I recommend reading My Soul to Lose, the free ebook prequel, prior to this one for a more complete understanding of Kaylee's story. The follow-up, My Soul to Save, is due for release in January 2010.

Grade: A

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