My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1)

by Rachel Vincent

[Amanda]

3.5

Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2012/07/02/review-my-soul-to-take-by-rachel-vincent/

I was very very intrigued by the premise of this world. While I did read the short prequel before starting this book, I’m not sure that it is absolutely vital to read first, as it really only created more questions than it answered. However, I definitely think it gave Kaylee’s struggle with the screaming more validity, since we knew exactly why she didn’t want to be considered crazy, and what that would all entail if she was locked up “again”.

Kaylee was a pretty typical YA heroine for me, and other than her few repeated references to wishing she weren’t so flat-chested/not curvy (and on further reflection, perhaps this was completely intended given the subject matter), I neither disliked nor fell in love. Don’t get me wrong — this was a solid beginning to what I have been assured will be a good series. But there is a part of me that feels just as shell-shocked as Kaylee, and I need to see how she settles into her new role before I can make a strong attachment.

Speaking of making strong attachments (or not making them, as the case may be), I have decided not to get attached to Nash. Partly because his sudden appearance in Kaylee’s life seems too good to be true, and partly because I know THINGS ARE COMING. I have no idea what these things are, only that they happen in book 3. THINGS! I did particularly like the rest of the cast of characters with Kaylee’s family. They were… interesting. I feel like saying anything more might reveal a little too much. So I won’t say anything else!

Back to the world. For a good portion of the book, Kaylee thinks she’s a normal teenager with a tendency to get “panic attacks.” Considering this is a paranormal book, you know that that isn’t the case, but, like Kaylee, we are clueless as to why Kaylee is the way she is. I think it’s well documented that I need a certain number of answers throughout a book in order to get a grip on which end is up in the world. While it did take awhile to get some answers, I liked that it was generally pretty clear that Kaylee’s aunt and uncle had the answers — they just weren’t sharing. To me, that’s more forgivable (from an information whore’s perspective) than being left dangling for no particular reason.

I don’t know that I was necessarily blown away by My Soul to Take but it was a good start, and I intend to dive straight into the next book soon. Books 3, 4, 5, and 6 are now all on my wishlist (and as I write this review at the end of May, it’s certainly possible that I will have bought/read all these books by the time this review actually publishes).