If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)

by Rachel Vincent

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee--she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah--it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck...before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

• ISBN10: 0373210329
• ISBN13: 9780373210329
• Publish Date: 27 September 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Mills & Boon
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

No lie -- my favorite Soul Screamers yet.

The twists and turns the story took, were shocking and satisfying. I am quite pleased with almost all of the new developments.

We got to see so many new dimensions of many characters: Tod, Kaylee, even most interestingly, Levi.

Super stoked to read the next book.

[littleread1]

Well now – that was rough. I mean the whole series so far has been good and engaging and exciting but that was – wow.

Vincent throws us back into Kaylee’s world, her and Nash are working things out, Sabine is still around making life difficult, Emma is FINALLY in the know about most everything, and Tod is still dreamy Tod. Until he has to deliver some devastating news – Kaylee’s time is up. She is on the list.

Hole. Ee. Crap. What would you do if you knew when you were going to die, and that day was only a week away? Kaylee decides she needs to fix one more thing – and to do that she has to continue going to school. I personally wouldn’t go to school but that’s just me.

And of course if knowing you are going to die isn’t bad enough, everything else starts unraveling as well. Things with Nash aren’t perfect, Kaylee is lying to Emma and turning to Sabine for help and advice, and Tod is … well Tod is dreamy.

This whole story kept me on the edge of my seat, on my toes, and I had no clue where it was going. Just when I thought “OK, this is what’s going to happen,” BAM – I was wrong. If you haven’t started this series yet WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! Even though the read-a-long for Before I Wake isn’t until June, I may not be able to wait to read it. I must know what happens next, and sooner rather than later!

[Berls]

For more reviews by Berls go to: Fantasy is More Fun

My Initial Reaction...
After all the teenage angst of the last book I was a little worried about how the series would continue, but this one did not let me down. The teenage angst mellowed out again and Kaylee is facing much bigger issues than the possibility that her boyfriend's ex might try to steal him away from her

The Narration...
I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again: Amanda Ronconi really makes this series! She's extremely skilled at capturing each and every character's personality and making it shine through in her narration.

The Characters...
Kaylee is on an emotional roller coaster in this book, and understandably so. Vincent does a really great job writing Kaylee's reaction to the news that she's going to die. It's perfectly in character with Kaylee, but it also shows her trying to break character a bit; suddenly being so responsible feels pointless and she's trying to figure out what matters most to her and what she wants to experience before she dies. I really connected with Kaylee through this and felt like I was on that roller coaster with her.

Nash, Tod, Emma, and Sabine all deal with the news Kaylee will die in varied ways and there are some sad moments, shocking moments, and disturbing moments as a result. Things with Nash get intense; Tod is trying his best to help Kaylee (as the only person she knows who's died and with the right contacts); Emma struggles to cope; and Sabine is Sabine, through and through. Speaking of Sabine: I love her - she's such a marvelously complex and conflicted character - her sarcastic tough exterior hides a soft, sensitive interior that comes through fabulously.

The Story...
This book starts with Kaylee's discovery that she will die very soon. Being faced with death makes Kaylee reevaluate her life and her decisions. How will she spend her last few days and with whom? Can she escape her death day, again? But she has more to worry about than her own impending demise; her math teacher is an incubus and only she and Sabine are impervious to his charms. Kaylee decides getting rid of him is the best way to distract herself. Plus her best friend Ema may be his next target and Kaylee is determined to go to the grave knowing she's secured the safety of those dearest to her.

Concluding Sentiments...
This book was surprised me at almost every turn. The first book in the series to really make me gasp out loud and even shed a couple tears. Can't wait for the next one.

[Angie]

Kaylee is on the list. You know that list the Reaper's get so they know who to collect? Yeah, that list! It looks like she's going to be wailing for herself fairy soon. Is that even possible?! Either way, Kaylee is on a roller coaster of emotions, and I found myself worrying right there with her.

Knowing when you're going to die is definitely going to mess with your head and emotions. What would you do if you know you'd die in six days? Kaylee is dealing with the news the only way she can: throw herself into some crazy missions! First, she's investigating the sexy new math teacher, Mr. Beck. He's not human, but what is he? Did he knock up her classmate who nearly bled to death while miscarrying? Second, she can't die a virgin!

Sex plays a very prominent role in If I Die, which was a bit surprising. There's nothing explicit, but the topic does come up quite a bit. I do think the subject of Kaylee being unsure about wanting to lose her virginity was handled very well though. Then of course there's the whole student/teacher relationship plot going on, which is going to be a hot topic no matter how it plays out.

I almost gave this one 5 stars, but I can't. I think the ending was a little too convenient. I was just hoping for more. I was shocked at some of the events in the last chapter, but then they were resolved too neatly, taking away from that initial punch to my gut. Sure, happy endings are great, but leaving at least ONE thing messed up could have pushed this one to mind blowing. It's definitely the best of the series so far though.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Kelsenator]

Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

This series gets better with each book!

After the drama of the last book, things are starting to seem a bit more normal, until a student collapses in class, bleeding, and Kaylee tries to stop herself from wailing. But it’s not for the student exactly. She and her friends start to suspect the new teacher is involved when Sabine confirms that he’s not human, especially since he was privately tutoring the girl who collapsed.

That evening when she gets home, she is told that she’s on the reaper’s list, and she will die in a week. To distract herself, she decides to fully be involved with solving the mystery of Mr. Beck and what he’s up to, and making some closure with her loved ones, so she doesn’t leave them broken. Her father and Tod try to look for ways to save her, but she’s already on borrowed time, and there’s no second chances.

Kaylee becomes more bold, since she’s going to die anyway, and will do anything to protect Emma, who might just be falling for Mr. Beck’s charm. And of course there’s more issues with Nash, and whether she’s really meant to be with him, or if there’s someone else, who will do anything for her.

I honestly couldn’t put this book down, I’m totally in love with this series! Not only does Kaylee develop more in this book, get a bit of a backbone at times (imminent death helps), but I also think Tod is awesome, as well as Emma, she’s such a great friend!

Definitely recommended for those who are already reading the series, but if you haven’t yet go try out the first book, it’s very good!

[Jo]

I'm going to start this review by saying something outrageous. Who nees family or friends, hell, who needs food when you can lock yourself in a room and immerse yourself in the wonders that are the Soul Screamers series? I'm exaggerating, of course, but that should give you some idea as to how much I really mean my love knows no bounds when it comes to this series. No review I could ever write would ever come close to expressing how much I adore this series, and specifically this book (but I'm going to try!). If I Die surpasses My Soul to Steal, and I thought that was brilliant! I'm going to say something now I never, ever thought I would say. Are you ready? Ok, here goes. I love this series more than I love the Shifters series. I know! The Shifters series was absolutely phenomenal, and I didn't think Vincent could ever write anything that came close to how amazing it is, because how can you beat perfection?! Guess what? The Soul Screamers series is better!

Should I get on with the specifics now? Yes? Ok...

That's going to be hard actually, because there's so much that happens in this book that is major important, and it leaves very little I can talk about. I would say this is probably the most important book in respects to Kaylee's life so far. It's a turning point in the biggest way possible. Everything's changed. Everything. And it's brilliant!

As we learned much earlier in the series, Kaylee was supposed to die when she was three. However, her mother took her place, and Kaylee has been living on borrowed-time since then; she's been living the time her mother would have had had she not died, and now that line will be coming to an end in a few days. And there's absolutely nothing anyone can do to save her. As if that's not enough to deal with - having to face the fact she will die, trying to make sure everyone will be ok when she's gone, and decide what she wants to do with the little time she has left - she finds out there is an Incubus posing as the school's new Maths teacher, and has the sweet, young things he teaches in his sights - specifically Emma, Kaylee's best friend. Kaylee can't die, she doesn't have time to die! There is a freaking incubus attempting to impregnate half the student body! So, as you can imagine, Kaylee's fit to burst with everything she has to deal with and how very little time she has to deal in. It's enough to drive anyone mad, and perhaps make a few mistakes...

That's what's just so fantastic about Vincent; she doesn't shy away from putting her characters of her readers through hell. In all kinds of ways. And not one person, not one, comes out the other side unscathed, be it mentally or physically. If I Die is absolutely hellish on it's characters, it's terrifying and unbelievably sad, and yet it's also so, so beautiful. There were tears in my eyes as I closed the book because of more emotions than I could possibly name. But mostly, I was in complete and utter awe.

I have to mention Tod. My love for this boy has grown and grown with each book, and I'm sure it will continue to do so. He's just the most amazing, brave and selfless guy - and one of the funniest. He is just so completely wonderful, and I want one of my own. Sabine is still very much Sabine, and so I'm still loving her. That girl has serious spunk, and despite the way she can treat Kaylee sometimes, I love her for it. I am so looking forward to more of her. And I'm so glad I finally got an answer to a question I've been wondering about ever since reading the prequel novella, My Soul To Lose. Just shows how brilliantly talented Vincent is, If I Die is the fifth book in! She has had this book in head in some form since the very beginning. It blows me away.

I am so happy there has been a change when it comes to the titles! If I Die makes perfect sense, and I'll remember which book it is, but I'm always having to look up the others when I want to talk about them, because I can never remember whether it's MSTTake, Save, Keep or Steal. So I'm liking the chnge! I also love the cover - I love all the UK covers for this series - but it doesn't link to the story whatsoever that I can see, I have no idea of the significance of the dragonfly. So for this book, I think the US cover says a lot more about the story, it really works.

This is not a book anyone can miss. You have to read this book. Pre-order this book now, right now, because you simply cannot not read this book. It's absolutely amazing! Now I just need Mira Ink to publish the eBook novellas Reaper and Never to Sleep in the UK so I can read them, and I will be an extremely happy girl.

From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book blog

[anne]

A lot less shrieking-yeh. Good lightweight read.

[Linda]

A little too much drama for me in this one - and I have never liked triangles, and even less a quadrlangle...

I don't understand where Kaylee's sudden 'love' for Tod came from, even if Nash had done some pretty bad things, I think that both Kaylee and Tod should have given him a real second chance.

Also, the bringing Kay back from death, and Tod as well was overly dramatic in my opinion. However, it was not really unexpected, nor was the Kaylee and Tod thing unexepcted, it was foreshadowed from the very first book.

Now, all I need to do is to hope that Nash will get clean, and that things will get a little bit more normal for Kaylee now that she's dead, or undead...

[lizarodz]

If I Die is the fifth book in the Soul Screamer series, and I really enjoyed it. Each of these books are packed of action, adventure, and very strange things (the kind that go *bump* at night ;)

The characters in this installment were, for the most part, known to us. Kaylee receives very bad news at the very beginning of the book and made the best of it through the story (although it was a little irritating to keep repeating it over and over). As you might have guesses since My Soul to Keep, things with Nash are not back to normal and honestly I don’t think I would have been able to accept and forgive all that he did as fast as Kaylee did. Nash started as such a good character, but now I can’t seem to be able understand how weak he is. Tod is one of my favorite characters of this series and he is very prominent in this book. Emily and Sabine also make an appearance and they are as snarky as always, I enjoy the chemistry between the three unlikely allies. I wish certain inevitable things would have happened in a less painful way for all involved, but the pages were filled with angst, physical and emotional pain, and a sense of urgency that is hard to shake off.

I am sorry that this review is turning out to be so cryptic, but it is really hard to explain my feelings and impressions without spoiling it for you. I am trying my best though!

The plot was complicated, full of twists and turns as it is usual for Ms. Vincent and I loved every minute of it. The story is fast paced and flows rather quickly; it was a little hard for me to digest everything that was happening, especially at the end.
If you love the paranormal and supernatural you should give a try to the Soul Screamer series. I cannot wait to see what is going to happened with Kaylee (and her new job) and Tod. I hope she made the right decision!

About the Cover: I always find the covers beautiful; they turn out to be mysterious and whimsical at the same time and If I Die is no exception. I hope the green is for hope!

[Amber]

All the awards. I was bawling my eyes out at 1 o clock this morning. Until 2.

------

I really shouldn't write reviews for this series, because I end up squealing over it and never get across the points that I wanted to make. Nonetheless, I just had to jot down my thoughts on Rachel Vincent’s new book, as it’s my favourite series and I must share the love. Please don’t take this review too seriously, like I said, I’m just jotting! There will be no spoilers in this review. I may actually record a video review containing spoilers, because I need to discuss this book!

As always, the newest book in the Soul Screamers series totally tops its predecessor in so many ways. The plot is amazing, the characters are swoon worthy slash lovable slash people I want to kill, and the writing was – of course – incredible.

If you’ve read the synopsis then you know that Kaylee finds out she’s going to die. This book would not be complete without even more complications that come in the form of Kaylee and Emma’s teach, Mr Beck, who isn’t really human. There are also weird things happening with young girls in and around the town. Sound complicated, right? That’s because it is. There are so many things going on in this book, and yet it never seems to get ‘crowded’, for want of a better word. The plot is perfect, along with the pacing.

Kaylee is awesome, as always. I love her so, so much, and I loved reading about her coming to terms with her death – kind of – whilst also trying to figure out a number of mysteries at the same time. Kaylee is definitely one of my favourite characters in YA, she’s just fantastic! She’s also pretty badass in this book with all the fighting and punching she does!

I don’t think I even need to go into what I think about Tod. You should all know he’s amazing, and that I am in love with him. He was so, so sweet in this book! He does so much for Kaylee in this book, while his brother just stands around being useless. I love him *happy tears* He is the most adorable thing on the planet, he really is. *swoons*

As for Nash... I hate him. Nothing has changed since my last review so I don’t need to go into detail, but as far as I’m concerned Sabine can have him. Oh! I really liked Sabine in this book! She’s not as bad as I once thought.

The ending was definitely the best part of the book. It starts to really pick up with around 100 pages to go, and just keeps building. I will warn you, you are going to cry. I had to go to school with puffy eyes because I had been crying so much the night before after finishing this book. No, I won’t tell you why I was crying – you’ll have to go and buy the book, because it just won’t be the same coming from me!

I was so nervous about reading this book after reading some of the non-spoilery reviews that are on Goodreads. So. Nervous. But I shouldn’t have worried, because the whole thing was incredible and mind-blowing. It’s my favourite book in the series so far! I don’t know if Before I Wake and the final book will be able to compare. Oh, this was great.

If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I seriously don’t know what you’re waiting for. It’s my favourite series ever, and definitely compares with Vampire Academy and The Hunger Games’ qualities. Go get it!

Favourite Quotes:
“Why are you dressed like a mad scientist?”
“You just say the word, and I’ll make the rest of the world go away. I’ll take you someplace safe where no one else can reach us.”
“I’m every bit as good as you think I am.”
“I’m dead, not impotent. Nasty rumours like that must be quashed before they gain momentum. Feel free to emphasise how very functional I am.”