A closet readers take on: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Erotica, YA Fiction & Audiobooks

Thursday, April 12, 2012

SOUL SCREAMERS READING CHALLANGE: Rachel Vincent's MY SOUL TO KEEP (Audiobook Review)

Soul Screamers Reading Challenge


I can’t begin to tell you how much I love Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamers series. It is full of deep characters, strong relationships, and fighting for what is right. I'm so happy to be a part of Fiktshun’s Soul Screamers Reading Challenge.



Title: MY SOUL TO KEEP ( Soul Screamers 3)
Series: Soul Screamers (Bk 3)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
List Price: $17.95
Listening Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
Program Type: Audible Audiobook Version (Unabridged)
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Ltd. Audible.com
Release Date: June 1, 2010
ASIN: B002KAEMAM
Buy MY SOUL TO KEEP from Audible.com


My Ratings

Plot: 4.5/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Originality of Plot: 5/5
Characters Development: 5/5
Ending: 4.5/5
Narration 5/5
Cover Art: 5/5
Likelihood to Recommend: 5/5

Overall: 43.5/45 = 96%


My Synopsis

Kaylee Cavanaugh first night out, after being grounded for a month, ended with a real bang. She was hanging out at a party with her bean boyfriend, Nash Hudson and the rest of the ‘shining throng’, better known as the popular kids. When one of Nash’s teammates and her best friends love interest, Doug Fuller, hit Kaylee’s car. Doug was under the influence, but it isn’t what you probably think. The jocks of Kaylee’s high school are taking a substance called Frost, better known in the Netherworld as Demon’s Breath. It is highly addictive substance, that can kill humans or maybe worse drive them insane. No matter how hard Kaylee tries to stay out of the Netherworld and it’s problems, they just keep finding her, With the help of Nash, Tod, and a cast of unlikely characters, Kaylee has to figure where the Demon’s Breath is coming from, and who is bring it from the Netherworld to her world before it’s to late. Kaylee has to proceed carefully, or she may lose something that she holds very dear.


My Review

I first want to applaud Rachel Vincent, for taking on issues that are very real to today’s teens. This book deals not only with drug use, but addiction and it consequences. It also deals with the pressure on teens to have sex. These issues may be wrapped up in the world of ban sidhe’s, but this situation could happen in any high school in America. Also, the teens is in series sound and react like real teens, not how an adult might thinks a teen would sound and react.

I enjoyed reading about how Kaylee is dealing with her relationship with Nash through out the beginning of the book. She’s questioning how he really feels about her. Are they soul mates? I mean forever is a long time when you are a bean sidhe. She’s questioning how far they should take their relationship physically. She’s also feeling the first stirrings of jealousy. I remember going through these same issues as a teen, and I can really relate to her character.

For me the stand out character from this book is Tod. He really steps up in this book. He does what has to be done, even risking the love of his undead life, to help Kaylee. Though he isn’t without his own faults (ie. crossing Nash over no questions asked and carrying unknown substances from the Netherworld to real world), but for me the reason behind the actions are solid. He’s the like the big brother Kaylee never had, and he seems to have soft spot when if comes to her. He may, at first, come a crossed as somewhat obnoxious and self centered. I see this as more of a smoke screen. With each book, we get to see more and more of who he really is, and I really like it.

I read the last chapter with my hand covering my mouth in complete and utter shock. All I wanted to do is cry for Kaylee. I just couldn’t believe what Nash did, though the signs were all there. I guess, I just saw Nash as Kaylee’s rock, the person she could always turn to for everything. That is probably why I didn’t see it coming, and neither did Kaylee. My heart broke after reading what Nash had done, and how he had treated Kaylee. His actions had so many awful consequences. Will Kaylee, in time, come to forgive Nash for his appalling behavior? I just don’t know, but I just hope that he can get himself together and be the man Kaylee deserves.

I can't say enough about how much I love the choice of Amanda Ronconi as the series narrator. She just has a down to earth feel to her voice. She also sound like a teen, and not what an adult thinks a teen should sound like. She has an amazing ability to convey every thing from the series deepest emotions and it's lighthearted moments as well! She really draws the listener into the series. The end of this audiobook left sobbing, and I can tell you that Amanda's spectacular narration was part of the reason.

The Soul Screamer books are getting better and better, with each book released. I can’t wait to review the next audiobook in this series!!!


Rachel Vincent's Books

Soul Screamers (YA Series):
0.5) My Soul to Lose (2009)
1) My Soul to Take (2009)
2) My Soul To Save (2010)
3) My Soul To Keep (2010)
4) My Soul to Steal (2011)
5) If I Die (2011)

Unbound Series (Adult Series):
1) Blood Bound ( 2011)
2) Shadow Bound (2012)

Shifters Series (Adult Series):
1) Stray (2007)
2) Rogue (2008)
3) Pride (2009)
4) Prey (2009)
5) Shift (2010)
6) Alpha (2010)



Related Websites

Buy MY SOUL TO KEEP from Audible.com
Rachel's Website
Rachel's Twitter
Rachel's Message Board

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