My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, #2)

by Rachel Vincent

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld--a consequence they can't possibly understand.

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....

• ISBN10: 0373210043
• ISBN13: 9780373210046
• Publish Date: 29 December 2009
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Mills & Boon
• Edition: Original ed.
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 279
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

4.5 Stars - not as good as book 1, but still good.

In this next installment of the "Soul Screamers" series, we get a peek into Tod's past as our mythical trio attempt to save his ex-girlfriend's soul....literally. This book had many of the elements from the previous book: action, suspense, drama, lust/love, but it also contained some very undisguised social commentary. We learn a lot more about the folklore as Kaylee works with Harmony to develop and control her skills and we are introduced to a very old reaper (and superhero of Tod's). There are actual trips to the Netherworld this time too, so we get a lot more than a peek into that.

Why did I knock it down a half star? The story suffered slightly with dragging a few parts out too much, but other than that, I was quite pleased.

This is the second book in the serious and it was pretty good. I would give it a 3.5 rating, I gave it a 4 because I didn't think it deserved a 3. Like the first book it was a very easy and fun read.

[celinenyx]

It seems Rachel Vincent is just a hit or miss author for me. The first in her urban-fantasy series, Stray, I didn't like very much. But the first book in her YA series, My Soul to Take, was an enjoyable and engaging read. I was looking forward to reading the second book in the Soul Screamers series, My Soul to Save, but it seems that excitement was good for nothing.

Kaylee's banshee powers are needed when Tod's ex-girlfriend has sells her soul, and they need to get it back from the hellion that holds it now. Together with her boyfriend Nash and his brother Tod, she has to venture into the Netherworld and get it back.

The first problem is quite evident while reading the summary. Why in the nine rings of hell does Kaylee have to risk her life to help some random chick that sold her own soul. I don't care that she did it to provide for her little sister, but you know you could also get a job, or something else less drastic. The entire plot hinges on an unbelievable premise, and I didn't buy for a second that she'd risk her life just because she felt guilty over not saving those girls in My Soul to Take. Girls getting killed by a rogue reaper is something completely different than girls selling their soul for fame and fortune.

Getting back to the selling of souls part, I feel the message of "celebrities have to give up their souls" very heavy-handed and repeated too much. Yes, we get it. The big media corporate CEO guy basically has a deal with the devil (and and Decker Media doesn't resemble Disney at all, oh nooo). Mrs Vincent also never explains just how the demons can provide fame and fortune. If they can have that much influence on the real world, why don't they create massive chaos and rampage?

I was impressed by how My Soul to Take stayed away from a few common YA clichés. For example, the wiser and more experienced parents were involved with the plot. Kaylee had a best friend that was actually present throughout the plot. In My Soul to Save, these positive points are completely thrown out of the window. Parents aren't even told what's going on, for no reason whatsoever. Why wouldn't the parents want to help a poor girl that was facing eternal torture in the hands of a demon? Why wouldn't Harmony want to help the ex-girlfriend of her son? It makes absolutely no sense. Emma, the best friend, becomes nothing more than a convenient prop in My Soul to Save. She's only there to provide a ride towards an important plot point, and that's it. Kaylee has no other friends. She spends all of her time with Nash, and spends no time mentioned with her BFF, or any other person of her age. This is so unrealistic, not even to mention unhealthy.

The characters take a turn for the worst in this book. Nash becomes even more picture perfect. He's extremely popular, plays footbal, is hot, has tons of friends, and it's just because he doesn't care but otherwise he'd be valedictorian. Really? He has absolutely no flaw (except that he keeps screaming at his brother - but apparently I'm the only one that finds that rude). I hope he's secretly a demon too, because I can't stand him as he is. Also, if he's a footbal player, how come he never has practice? To play competitions you have to at least train three times a week, yet there is never a mention of him actually attending a practice. He spends all his time with Kaylee. I smell bad writing. Kaylee, on the other hand, is the standard YA heroine. She has a omg-I-must-save-everyone-including-people-I-don't-even-know complex, feels seriously bad for herself, and thinks there is no way in heaven her boyfriend could be into her for herself. Blah blah, we've seen this before. There is nothing that makes her interesting. She doesn't even have a hobby, for god's sake. What does she do when Nash isn't around? Nobody knows.

Kaylee and Nash's romance in My Soul to Save is easily abridged into one short paragraph. They cling to each other. Constantly. Spending ALL their time together. Smooching. Nash wants to have sex. Kaylee doesn't. More smooching. But does want to. Doesn't want to. They don't talk about it. Ever.

Communication, people. Is that so hard?

I will probably read the third book in the Soul Screamers series, My Soul to Keep, mostly because I already bought it. Plus, I've been told that things happen, so I'm interested to see what it is.

One more thing before I end this terribly long review. These people shouldn't be allowed to drive. There are three scenes in which they swerve over roads, people gripping steering wheels because drivers can't keep control over them, people calling while trying to steer and failing and apparently they all want to get into a car crash. Worst thing is, they constantly joke about it, like "oh, I'd like to get out of this car alive! ha-ha! *swerve swerve, nearly avoiding uncoming trucks*. GEE, HOW FUNNY.

[Berls]

For more reviews, see: Fantasy is More Fun

My Initial Reaction...
What a fun read! This series is gradually getting better and better; it's definitely worth sticking with past the first book.

The Narration...
Once again Amanda Ronconi hits it out of the park. She brings each and every character to life, with a distinct personality that perfectly matches their written descriptions. I especially like the way Ronconi's style so beautifully embodies Kaylee's vivacious personality.

The Characters...
Kaylee is continuing to learn more about what it means to be a female banshee and her relationship with Nash is growing deeper and more complex. Add to that the complications of her new-found relationship with her father and Kaylee's becoming a very complex individual. What I love best about her though is her constant conviction to do what her conscious dictates. She's insistent on putting her "gift" to good use, even if she has to fudge the lines of right and wrong a bit to do it. And unlike some young adult heroines, Kaylee is not a whiney teenager. She's remarkable grown up and responsible, most of the time. And she has a heart of gold.

Nash is a well-written character, but in my opinion, also a weak one. He's supportive of Kaylee, but so far she's much stronger than him. She's running the show and he's along for the ride, whether he thinks it's a good idea or not. He's sweet, but I wish he showed some of the strength that Kaylee does.

The character we get to know best in this book is Nash's brother, Todd. He's a complex character, trying to straddle the line between life and death; his responsibilities as a reaper have taught him to view life differently, yet he still has ties to the living. Like his brother Nash, he's fiercely loyal, and like Kaylee, he's willing to fudge a few lines to what he feels is right. It's no wonder that these three get into so much trouble!

The Story...
In this book we pick up with Nash and Kaylee at a concert that Todd has gotten them into; the opening act is an ex-girlfriend of his (not that she knows that Todd is alive) and he's clearly excited to see her. But while they're backstage watching, the pop-star drops dead... and Kaylee feels no need to scream. First she thinks that the girl has just passed out, but then Nash informs her that he's here to watch a "special" reaping. He's in awe, until he realizes that same special reaper will be coming for his ex, Addison, in just a few days time. Kaylee's learned she can't stop death, but when she learns the stakes are higher - Addison's very soul is at stake - she follows her conscience and her heart to do all she can to save the young pop star.

Their journey to save Addison is an exciting one. We learn more about Kaylee's abilities and the supernatural world that she is part of. They embark on dangerous adventurous, crossing lines we've only seen glimpses of so far. I found their experiences thrilling and more than once I was anxious about what would happen to several of the characters. Much more exciting and less exciting than the last book.

Concluding Sentiments...
A very fun, engaging read! Vincent managed to throw in some surprises that made the book all the more unexpected and left me eager to read the next one. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites!

[littleread1]

For the most part, I really like this series. But there are a few things I want to get off my chest first. One, they make a big deal about not telling Addy exactly what Tod is, then all of a sudden she seems to know not only what he is but is ok with it. Pick one or the other, or explain the transition, don't just expect me to suspend my belief on that conversation (of course it is entirely possible I missed that conversation taking place, but it should be memorable). Two, I find it really difficult to follow Kaylee's train of thought sometimes. I guess that is good sometimes, in that it leaves you guessing, but it is also frustrating.

With those specific, and probably specific to me, gripes out of the way, I really am enjoying this. I do look forward to the next book. Vincent does a great job building the rules for the world and keeping them consistent. The characters, and their reactions to events are believable and consistent. Can you tell consistency is important to me?

There is significantly more tension of the sexual nature in this book. Kaylee and Nash have been together for about 6 weeks now, and he seems to be wanting more from their relationship. She still isn't sure, which I think is great. Plus, Tod is a great tension breaker when things look like they might get out of hand. :-)

Something that many YA books seem to gloss over is parental involvement. A lot of times these kids seem to have free reign to do what they want when they want. Not here, and that adds another level of tension to the already nerve-wracking nature of what they are trying to accomplish. The parents are involved, and react like my parents would when I was in high school if they caught me having snuck out, or lying about where I had been. Oh my gosh these parents actually care? What a novel concept!

Overall this is a great YA. It's a pretty easy read, yet still deals with a tough subject, death, in a believable manner. There are enough light moments to balance out the not so light ones, and the characters are consistent (YAY) in not only their actions, but their reactions. Definitely something I would recommend if you have not read the series already. And if you've started it, it's worth continuing.

[Hixxup]

I give this one a 3.5

I wasn't too impressed with it in the long run. I really enjoyed the parts between Kaylee and Nash. It took me a little bit to read this because for some reason it just couldn't hold my attention like the first book did. So, I'm hoping the next one is better because I've heard so many things about this series that tells me it's great, and with the first one I see it has potential but this just did not float my boat.

[Amanda]

Kaylee has a tendency to bring out the adult in me, which means that sometimes she gets on my nerves, but still a very good teenage character who acts before she considers the consequences yet always has good intentions.

I started My Soul to Save after my teaching semester started, which was why it took me so long to finish the book (and why I'm writing a GR review and not one on my blog). I found this to be another solid installment; the second book explores the world a bit more, and gives us a glimpse of Kaylee's powers, as well as the Netherworld.

I've been told THINGS HAPPEN in the third book (as well as that the series gets better), and I think this interfered with my enjoyment of this book because I just wanted to get to the THINGS THAT HAPPEN and that meant holding off on getting attached to characters in this book, and feeling like I wanted to get through this book ASAP.

Looking forward to My Soul to Keep, though.

[Jo]

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.
The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can't possibly understand.
Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk… From Amazon US

After reading My Soul to Take, I was excited to read My Soul to Save, so when Harlequin Teen asked me if I would like to review it as well, I jumped at the chance. Being a regular reader of Rachel Vincent’s blog, I was aware that there were a number of readers who didn’t like the ending of MSTSave, and so I was even more intrigued to read this book, and strangely, not that put off by it. I’m glad to say that I wasn’t one of those people! I loved it!

Firstly, before I get to the main plot of this story, I need to talk about Kaylee and Nash. There is so much sexual tension between those two, it’s as thick as treacle! And Rachel is just so unfair on them! They never get five minutes alone with each other, as someone always interrupts them – namely Tod, who will just pop up unannounced at the most inconvenient moments – and each interruption just knocks the tension up a notch. Kaylee needs to get her some Nash, because the girl is suffering. It is pretty funny though! And to be fair, Kaylee is underage by US laws, and she has a few low self-esteem fuelled doubts, so it’s probably for the best that it’s not happened just yet. But let’s face it, Nash is too hot for words! Poor, poor Kaylee.

But to the plot, MSTSave is just brilliant! It’s almost metaphoric; stars sell their souls to hellions from the Netherworld for fame and fortune, but once they realise that “too good to be true” does actually have some meaning, the only way out leads to their world tumbling down around their ankles. From things you read in magazines and see on the TV, the plot of MSTSave makes far too much sense, and seems incredibly believable. It’s just a great idea!

We also get to see what the Netherworld is like in a bit more detail. To me, it seems a lot like hell in the movie Constantine, just without the fire and smoky atmosphere, and more bruise coloured. It’s creepy as, well, hell. I won’t go into detail of what happens there, but I really don’t like it. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of, and it really freaks me out! Yet, that just means Rachel has done her job; if I’m being freaked out by a place where demons hang out that came from Rachel’s imagination, then things are going well!

I’ve already talked about the sexual tension between Kaylee and Nash, but now individually. Nash is angry a fair amount of the time because of the dangerous situations they get themselves in, and with good reason. He’s worried for Kaylee’s safety, and thinks her compassion is taking her too far. Kaylee has her heart in the right place, and just wants to help, and make amends for what her aunt did in MSTTake. The time is going to come when Kaylee will need to have a good chat with Nash, there are some things that need to be aired, and I’m quite looking forward to it. I really like Tod! He’s annoying, but he’s funny! But he can be a little selfish, and asks far too much from Kaylee and Nash, and is a little out of order, but I can’t help but really like him. He’s a great guy underneath it all.

Considering the main characters are bean sidhes and reapers, the action isn’t fighting, but more like a race against time, and a fight through emotional strength and determination. It’s just as suspenseful though, though I worry about how the future of these characters. They are pretty much defenceless against the hellions, how they’re supposed to defend themselves against sharp teeth and soul-sucking, I don’t know. I’m intrigued to see how things will progress.

The ending of the book was just brilliant, in my opinion. I’m not going to spoil it for anyone, but I think it made sense for the situation the characters found themselves in, and for the nature of the characters. I didn’t see it coming at all, and although this is a fantasy novel, life isn’t all rainbows and butterflies, and it makes sense that that would be reflected in the books we read. As I said, I didn’t see it coming, but I did try to think what might happen as I was reading along, but nothing else could have happened. This ending just felt right, to me. At least no-one can say the outcome was too easy. I think it was just awesome, and I applaud Rachel for it.

This really is an amazing book from a great series, and I love it! I’d recommend it to everyone, and can’t wait for the third book in the series, My Soul to Keep, which will be released 1st June 2010.

From Once Upon a Bookcase - YA book review blog

[boghunden]

Det her var en stor skuffelse! Bog et var god og virkede som en god indledning til resten af serien, men jeg tog fejl. Serien har bare ikke ret meget at byde på. De første 150 sider går med ingenting. Så kommer der lige 20 siders spænding og så tilbage i den samme gamle rille. Noget godt var der dog; Tod! Tod kan jeg godt lide. Han er min nye bogkarakter-kæreste. Jeg nød hver sætning, der handlede om ham.
Omvendt må jeg indrømme, jeg har svært ved at kende forskel på ham og Nash – også selvom navnet står der. De minder for meget om hinanden.
Jeg læstebogen som ebog og det gjorde bare, at jeg følte bogen var enormt lang. Gang på gang trykkede jeg på “next page” knappen, men blev ved at stå på side 50. Suk.
Om jeg vil læse resten? Nej. Det tror jeg ikke. Livet er for kedeligt til serier, der kun er “okay.” Selvom jeg vil savne Tod!

[Angie]

I dove into this immediately after finishing My Soul to Take, but reading the blurb made me go "what?!" It sounds kind of cheesy, but Rachel Vincent somehow made it exciting and interesting. It was still a bit silly at times, like mega media corporations selling souls of the teens they recruit, but it also gave us more insight into the Netherworld. I was also excited to get more Tod, even though half the time he seemed like a lame sidekick. He still had some great, mischievous moments though!

After failing to save the souls of the girls in the first book, Kaylee is determined to help pop-star Addison Page get hers back after trading it for fame and fortune. Kaylee is a bit too compassionate and determined for her own good, since this venture puts her, Nash and Tod in danger. However, it also gives her (and us) more information about her heritage and the Netherworld. It was nice to see Kaylee develop her abilities and become more confident in what she can do.

Kaylee's relationship with Nash is getting steamy! Seriously, hormones are raging between these two whenever they're left alone together. I'm wondering if their intense chemistry is due to being the same, or if it truly is a speedy romance. Either way, I'm surprised those two managed to keep their clothes on! I was proud of Kaylee for knowing she wasn't ready to go all the way yet, and for Nash for not pressuring her into it.

There's just one thing in My Soul to Save that wasn't clear and it nagged at me throughout the entire book. Why was Tod so determined to save Addy? I know they had dated in the past, but was she the one that got away? Is that why he was so desperate to retrieve her soul, that he'd put his and everyone else's lives at risk? I just wish there had been more to that, so it would feel like Tod was just featured as a convenient plot device. But overall, this was another quick, fun addition to the series and I'm excited to know what Kaylee will face next.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.