Book Review: My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Take
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers #1
ISBN: 0373210035
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub. Date: 2009
Source: Library
Genre: Paranormal/YA/Romance/Mystery
Pages: 279
Rating:  4/5

From Goodreads:  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

My Reveries and Ramblings:  Kaylee is trying to make her way through high school with as few problems as possible.  Keeping a low profile at home and school is the only way to keep herself off the medication and out of the hospital.  Her uncontrollable screaming around a dying person causes her to have a hard time being normal.  After helping Kaylee stop her scream, before it happened, Nash, her swoon worthy crush, helps Kaylee learn who she really is.   Kaylee is a Bean Sidhe.  They scream, or wail, when someone dies.  Although, male Bean Sidhes hear a mournful yet beautiful song instead of a scream-but to everyone else it’s just a high pitched loud and long scream.  When girls literally start “dropping dead” Nash and Kaylee enlist the help of a Grim Reaper, Tod, to help them solve the mystery.

I felt bad for Kaylee.  She had to deal with a lot, especially with her family, before Nash stepped in and helped her.  Speaking of Nash, my goodness, if only he would sing softly to me in my ear!   I loved Nash.  He’s so down to earth.  He made Kaylee feel comfortable and not freaked out about who she was.  Tod was hilarious.  I really liked him.  It was fun reading the dialogue between Tod and Kaylee.  The mystery was good, it wasn’t that suspenseful but I still wanted to keep reading.  The end was really good!  The twist at the end took me completely by surprise.  I would recommend this book!  It was a refreshing take on the supernatural -mixed with a bit of mystery.  I give it 4/5.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Book Depository

Book Trailers:

Book Playlist:

[spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/121171848/playlist/1UP8LROSM5Qvp59YW2r2SR]

*Plus, Sparks Fly by Taylor Swift 

Beautiful Coldplay Cover

My sister sent me the link to this video:  Sara Bareilles doing a cover of Coldplay’s Yellow.  Check it out.  It is such a beautiful cover of the song.

Book Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Title:  Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Series: Graceling Realm#1
ISBN: 015206396X
Publisher:  Harcourt Children’s Books / Graphia
Pub. Date: 2008
Source: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, YA, Romance
Pages:  471
Rating:  3/5

From Goodreads:  Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight — she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme, and in her case horrifying, skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change.

She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace — or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away… a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

My Reveries and Ramblings:  A Graceling is a person born with a magnified skill.  Gracelings, who have two different colored eyes, are considered property of the King.  Katsa, a Graceling, is used by her uncle, the King, as a killing machine.  She doesn’t like killing or violence and only uses her Grace if there is no other option.  During a rescue mission, she meets and fights Po-the only person who ever put up a challenge for her.  After knocking him out, Katsa resumes her mission, only to meet Po again when she returns.  Both set out to solve the mystery surrounding the kidnapping and rescue.

I liked this book.  I loved the world and the whole concept of Graces.  I really wanted to love the book, but there were a few things that I just didn’t like.  They mostly revolved around the ending.  I just didn’t like it.  What I did like was the suspense and how Katsa was strong and independent.  I liked Katsa and Po’s relationship and how their personalities complemented each other.  Leck creeped me out-as he should.  Bitterblue reminded me of my niece.  I liked how Katsa felt almost maternal towards Bitterblue.  Overall, it was a good read.  I give it 3/5.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Book Trailer:

Book Playlist:

[spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/121171848/playlist/5ky4CWOuINFD8z1IOWRaUg]

Book Review: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Dreamfever
Author:  Karen Marie Moning
Series:  Fever #4
ISBN:  0440244404
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub. Date: 2009
Source: Paperback
Genre: Paranormal/ Romance/ Mystery/Dark Fantasy
Pages: 512
Rating:  5/5

From Goodreads:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.

When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.

Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.

Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?

My Reveries and Ramblings:  Let me start by saying WOW!  I seriously love these books.  Karen Marie Moning is such an excellent writer and storyteller.  She left the end of Faefever with one of the worst cliffhangers I’ve ever read-well, it was at the time.  After reading Dreamfever, I was forced to change my mind and say, “Now that was the most torturous cliffhanger EVER!”  Basically anything I say will spoil what happens if you haven’t read the book so I will just ramble on and on about how much I loved it.  There were so many amazing moments and scenes in this book.  I must warn you though-make sure you buy Shadowfever with it because the cliffhanger at the end will drive you crazy-you will be dying to know what happens.  This book blew me away and I can’t wait to pick up my copy of Shadowfever tomorrow.  If you haven’t read this series then read it!  It is one of my all time favorite series.  I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

A Song from the OFFICIAL soundtrack to the Fever Series:

Book Playlist:

[spotify https://open.spotify.com/user/121171848/playlist/3hbPoPL1i3l2TyR4XS2ONk]