My Soul to Take

By Rachel Vincent

She doesn't see dead people, but…

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…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Release date: Aug 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781426837630

Rachel Vincent

Rachel Vincent is the New York Times bestselling author of several pulse-pounding series for teens and adults. A former English teacher and a champion of the serial comma, Rachel has written more than twenty novels and remains convinced that writing about the things that scare her is the cheapest form of therapy. Rachel shares her home in Oklahoma with two cats, two teenagers, and her husband, who’s been her number one fan from the start. You can find her online at rachelvincent.com and on Twitter @rachelkvincent.

Book preview

1

COME ON! EMMA whispered from my right, her words floating from her mouth in a thin white cloud. She glared at the battered steel panel in front of us, as if her own impatience would make the door open. She forgot, Kaylee. I should have known she would. More white puffs drifted from Emma’s perfectly painted mouth as she bounced to stay warm, her curves barely contained in the low-cut shimmery red blouse she’d borrowed from one of her sisters.

Yes, I was a little envious; I had few curves and no sister from whom to borrow hot clothes. But I did have the time, and one glance at my cell phone told me it was still four minutes to nine. She’ll be here. I smoothed the front of my own shirt and slid my phone into my pocket as Emma knocked for the third time. We’re early. Just give her a minute.

My own puff of breath had yet to fade when metal creaked and the door swung slowly toward us, leaking rhythmic flashes of smoky light and a low thumping beat into the cold, dark alley. Traci Marshall—Emma’s youngest older sister—stood with one palm flat against the door, holding it open. She wore a snug, low-cut black tee, readily displaying the family resemblance, as if the long blond hair wasn’t enough.

’Bout time! Emma snapped, stepping forward to brush past her sister. But Traci slapped her free hand against the door frame, blocking our entrance.

She returned my smile briefly, then frowned at her sister. Nice to see you too. Tell me the rules.

Emma rolled wide-set brown eyes and rubbed her bare, goose-pimpled arms—we’d left our jackets in my car. No alcohol, no chemicals. No fun of any sort. She mumbled that last part, and I stifled a smile.

What else? Traci demanded, obviously struggling to maintain a rare scowl.

Come together, stay together, leave together, I supplied, reciting the same lines we’d repeated each time she snuck us in—only twice before. The rules were lame, but I knew from experience that we wouldn’t get in without them.

And…

Emma stamped her feet for warmth, chunky heels clacking on the concrete. If we get caught, we don’t know you.

As if anyone would believe that. The Marshall girls were all cast from the same mold: a tall, voluptuous mold that put my own modest curves to shame.

Traci nodded, apparently satisfied, and let her hand fall from the door frame. Emma stepped forward and her sister frowned, pulling her into the light from the hall fixture overhead. Is that Cara’s new shirt?

Emma scowled and tugged her arm free. She’ll never know it’s gone.

Traci laughed and motioned with one arm toward the front of the club, from which light and sound flooded the back rooms and offices. Now that we were all inside, she had to shout to be heard over the music. "Enjoy the rest of your life while it lasts, ’cause she’s gonna bury you in that shirt."

Unperturbed, Emma danced her way down the hall and into the main room, hands in the air, hips swaying with the pulse of the song. I followed her, keyed up by the energy of the Saturday-night crowd from the moment I saw the first cluster of bodies in motion.

We worked our way into the throng and were swallowed by it, assimilated by the beat, the heat and the casual partners pulling us close. We danced through several songs, together, alone and in random pairs, until I was breathing hard and damp with sweat. I signaled Emma that I was going for a drink, and she nodded, already moving again as I worked my way toward the edge of the crowd.

Behind the bar, Traci worked alongside another bartender, a large, dark man in a snug black tee, both oddly lit by a strip of blue neon overhead. I claimed the first abandoned bar stool, and the man in black propped both broad palms on the bar in front of me.

I got this one, Traci said, one hand on his arm. He nodded and moved on to the next customer. What’ll it be? Traci smoothed back a stray strand of pale, blue-tinted hair.

I grinned, leaning with both elbows on the bar. Jack and Coke?

She laughed. I’ll give you the Coke. She shot soda into a glass of ice and slid it toward me. I pushed a five across the bar and swiveled on my stool to watch the dance floor, scanning the multitude for Emma. She was sandwiched between two guys in matching UT Dallas fraternity tees and neon, legal-to-drink bracelets, all three grinding in unison.

Emma drew attention like wool draws static.

Still smiling, I drained my soda and set my glass on the bar.

Kaylee Cavanaugh.

I jumped at the sound of my own name and whirled toward the stool to my left. My gaze settled on the most hypnotic set of hazel eyes I’d ever seen, and for several seconds I could only stare, lost in the most amazing swirls of deep brown and vivid green, which seemed to churn in time with my own heartbeat—though surely they were just reflecting the lights flashing overhead. My focus only returned when I had to blink, and the momentary loss of contact brought me back to myself.

That’s when I realized who I was staring at.

Nash Hudson. Holy crap. I almost looked down to see if ice had anchored my feet to the floor, since hell had surely frozen over. Somehow I’d stepped off the dance floor and into some weird warp zone where irises swam with color and Nash Hudson smiled at me, and me alone.

I picked up my glass, hoping for one last drop to rewet my suddenly dry throat—and wondered fleetingly if Traci had spiked my Coke—but discovered it every bit as empty as I’d expected.

Need a refill? Nash asked, and that time I made my mouth open. After all, if I was dreaming—or in the Twilight Zone—I had nothing to lose by speaking. Right?

I’m good. Thanks. I ventured a hesitant smile, and my heart nearly exploded when I saw my grin reflected on his upturned, perfectly formed lips.

How’d you get in here? He arched one brow, more in amusement than in real curiosity. Crawl through the window?

Back door, I whispered, feeling my face flush. Of course he knew I was a junior—too young even for an eighteen-and-over club, like Taboo.

What? He grinned and leaned closer to hear me above the music. His breath brushed my neck, and my pulse pounded so hard I felt light-headed. He smelled sooo good.

Back door, I repeated into his ear. Emma’s sister works here.

Emma’s here?

I pointed her out on the dance floor—now swaying with three guys at once—and assumed that would be the last I saw of Nash Hudson. But to my near-fatal shock, he dismissed Em at a glance and turned back to me with a mischievous gleam in those amazing eyes.

Aren’t you gonna dance?

My hand was suddenly sweaty around my empty glass. Did that mean he wanted to dance with me? Or that he wanted the bar stool for his girlfriend?

No, wait. He’d dumped his latest girlfriend the week before, and the sharks were already circling the fresh meat. Though they’re not circling him now… I saw no one from Nash’s usual crowd, either clustered around him or on the dance floor.

Yeah, I’m gonna dance, I said, and again, his eyes were swirling green melting into brown and back, flashing blue occasionally in the neon glow. I could have stared at his eyes for hours. But he probably would have thought that was weird.

Let’s go! He took my hand and stood as I slid off the bar stool, and I followed him onto the dance floor. A fresh smile bloomed on my face, and my chest seemed to tighten around my heart in anticipation. I’d known him for a while—Emma had gone out with a few of his friends—but had never been the sole object of his attention. Had never even considered the possibility.

If Eastlake High School were the universe, I would be one of the moons circling Planet Emma, constantly hidden by her shadow, and glad to be there. Nash Hudson would be one of the stars: too bright to look at, too hot to touch and at the center of his own solar system.

But on the dance floor, I forgot all that. His light was shining directly on me, and it was sooo warm.

We wound up only feet from Emma, but with Nash’s hands on me, his body pressed into mine, I barely noticed. That first song ended, and we were moving to the next one before I even fully realized the beat had changed.

Several minutes later, I glimpsed Emma over Nash’s shoulder. She stood at the bar with one of the guys she’d been grinding with, and as I watched, Traci set a drink in front of each of them. When her sister turned around, Emma grabbed her partner’s drink—something dark with a wedge of lime on the rim—and drained it in three gulps. Frat boy smiled, then pulled her back into the crowd.

I made a mental note not to let Emma drive my car—ever—then let my eyes wander back to Nash, where they wanted to be in the first place. But on the way, my gaze was snagged by an unfamiliar sheet of strawberry-blond hair, crowning the head of the only girl in the building to rival Emma in beauty. This girl, too, had her choice of dance partners, and though she couldn’t have been more than eighteen, she’d obviously had much more to drink than Emma.

But despite how pretty and obviously charismatic she was, watching her dance twisted something deep inside my gut and made my chest tighten, as if I couldn’t quite get enough air. Something was wrong with her. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I was absolutely certain that something was not right with that girl.

You okay? Nash shouted, laying one hand on my shoulder, and suddenly I realized I’d gone still, while everyone around me was still writhing to the beat.

Yeah! I shook off my discomfort and was relieved to find that looking into Nash’s eyes chased away that feeling of wrongness, leaving in its place a new calm, eerie in its depth and reach. We danced for several more songs, growing more comfortable with each other with every moment that passed. By the time we stopped for a drink, sweat was gathering on the back of my neck and my arms were damp.

I lifted the bulk of my hair to cool myself and waved to Emma with my free hand as I turned to follow Nash off the dance floor—and nearly collided with that same strawberry blonde. Not that she noticed. But the minute my eyes found her, that feeling was back in spades—that strong discomfort, like a bad taste in my mouth, only all over my body. And this time it was accompanied by an odd sadness. A general melancholy that felt specifically connected to this one person. Whom I’d never met.

Kaylee? Nash yelled over the music. He stood at the bar, holding two tall glasses of soda, slick with condensation. I closed the space between us and took the glass he offered, a little frightened to notice that this time, even staring straight into his eyes couldn’t completely relax me. Couldn’t quite loosen my throat, which threatened to close against the cold drink I so desperately craved.

What’s wrong? We stood inches apart, thanks to the throng pressing ever closer to the bar, but he still had to lean into me to be heard.

I don’t know. Something about that girl, that redhead over there— I nodded toward the dancer in question —bothers me. Well, crap. I hadn’t meant to admit that. It sounded so pathetic aloud.

But Nash only glanced at the girl, then back at me. Seems okay to me. Assuming she has a ride home…

Yeah, I guess. But then the current song ended, and the girl stumbled—looking somehow graceful, even when obviously intoxicated—off the dance floor and toward the bar. Headed right for us.

My heart beat harder with every step she took. My hand curled around my glass until my knuckles went white. And that familiar sense of melancholy swelled into an overwhelming feeling of grief. Of dark foreboding.

I gasped, startled by a sudden, gruesome certainty.

Not again. Not with Nash Hudson there to watch me completely freak out. My breakdown would be all over the school on Monday, and I could kiss goodbye what little social standing I’d gained.

Nash set his glass down and peered into my face. Kaylee? You okay? But I could only shake my head, incapable of answering. I was far from okay, but couldn’t articulate the problem in any way resembling coherence. And suddenly the potentially devastating rumors looked like minor blips on my disaster meter compared to the panic growing inside me.

Each breath came faster than the last, and a scream built deep within my chest. I clamped my mouth shut to hold it back, grinding my teeth painfully. The strawberry blonde stepped up to the bar on my left, and only a single stool and its occupant stood between us. The male bartender took her order and she turned sideways to wait for her drink. Her eyes met mine. She smiled briefly, then stared out onto the dance floor.

Horror washed over me in a devastating wave of intuition. My throat closed. I choked on a scream of terror. My glass slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. The redheaded dancer squealed and jumped back as ice-cold soda splattered her, me, Nash, and the man on the stool to my left. But I barely noticed the frigid liquid, or the people staring at me.

I saw only the girl, and the dark, translucent shadow that had enveloped her.

Kaylee? Nash tilted my face up so that our eyes met. His were full of concern, the colors swirling almost out of control now in the flashing lights. Watching them made me dizzy.

I wanted to tell him…something. Anything. But if I opened my mouth, the scream would rip free, and then anyone who wasn’t already looking at me would turn to stare. They’d think I’d lost my mind.

Maybe they’d be right.

What’s wrong? Nash demanded, stepping closer to me now, heedless of the glass and the wet floor. Do you have seizures? But I could only shake my head at him, refusing passage to the wail trying to claw its way out of me, denying the existence of a narrow bed in a sterile white room, awaiting my return.

And suddenly Emma was there. Emma, with her perfect body, beautiful face and heart the size of an elephant’s. She’ll be fine. Emma pulled me away from the bar as the male bartender came forward with a mop and bucket. She just needs some air. She waved off Traci’s worried look and frantic hand gestures, then tugged me through the crowd by one arm.

I clamped my free palm over my mouth and shook my head furiously when Nash tried to take that hand in his. I should have been worried about what he would think. That he would want nothing else to do with me now that I’d publicly embarrassed him. But I couldn’t concentrate long enough to worry about anything but the redhead at the bar. The one who’d watched us leave through a shadow-shroud only I could see.

Emma led me past the bathrooms and into the back hall, Nash close on my heels. What’s wrong with her? he asked.

Nothing. Emma paused to turn and smile at us both, and gratitude broke through my dark terror for just an instant. It’s a panic attack. She just needs some fresh air and time to calm down.

But that’s where she was wrong. It wasn’t time I needed, so much as space. Distance, between me and the source of the panic. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough room in the whole club to get me far enough away from the girl at the bar. Even with me standing by the back door, the panic was as strong as ever. The unspoken shriek burned my throat, and if I unclenched my jaws—if I lost control—my scream would shatter eardrums all over Taboo. It would put the thumping dance beat to shame, and possibly blow out the speakers—if not the windows.

All because of some redhead I didn’t even know.

Just thinking about her sent a fresh wave of devastation through me, and my knees collapsed. My fall caught Emma off guard, and I would have pulled her down if Nash hadn’t caught me.

He lifted me completely off the ground, cradling me like a child, and followed Emma out the back door with me secure in his arms. The club had been dim, but the alley was dark, and it went quiet once the door thumped shut behind us, Emma’s bank card keeping the latch from sliding home. The frigid near-silence should have calmed me, but the racket in my head had reached its zenith. The scream I refused to release slammed around in my brain, reverberating, echoing, punctuating the grief still thick in my heart.

Nash set me down in the alley, but by then my thoughts had lost all semblance of logic or comprehension. I felt something smooth and dry beneath me, and only later would I realize Emma had found a collapsed box for him to set me on.

My jeans had ridden up on my legs when Nash carried me, and the cardboard was cold and gritty with grime against my calves.

Kaylee? Emma knelt in front of me, her face inches from mine, but I couldn’t make sense of a word she said after my name. I heard only my own thoughts. Just one thought, actually. A paranoid delusion, according to my former therapist, which presented itself with the absolute authority of long-held fact.

Then Emma’s face disappeared and I was staring at her knees. Nash said something I couldn’t make out. Something about a drink…

Music swelled back to life, then Emma was gone. She’d left me alone with the hottest guy I’d ever danced with—the last person in the world I wanted to witness my total break with reality.

Nash dropped onto his knees and looked into my eyes, the greens and browns in his still churning frantically somehow, though there were no lights overhead now.

I was imagining it. I had to be. I’d seen them dance with the light earlier, and now my traumatized mind had seized upon Nash’s eyes as a focal point of my delusion. Just like the strawberry blonde. Right?

But there was no time to think through my theory. I was losing control. Successive waves of grief threatened to flatten me, crushing me into the wall with an invisible pressure, as if Nash weren’t even there. I couldn’t suck in a deep breath, yet a high-pitched keening leaked from my throat now, even with my lips sealed shut. My vision began to go even darker than the alley—though I wouldn’t have thought that possible—like the whole world had been overlaid with an odd gray filter.

Nash frowned, still watching me, then twisted to sit beside me, his back against the wall too. On the edges of my graying vision, something scuttled past soundlessly. A rat, or some other scavenger attracted by the club’s garbage bin? No. Whatever I’d glimpsed was too big to be a rodent—unless we’d stepped into Buttercup’s fire swamp—and too indistinct for my shattered focus to settle on.

Nash took my free hand in his, and I forgot whatever I’d seen. He pushed my hair back from my right ear. I couldn’t understand most of what he whispered to me, but I gradually came to realize that his actual words weren’t important. What mattered was his proximity. His breath on my neck. His warmth melting into mine. His scent surrounding me. His voice swirling in my head, insulating me from the scream still ricocheting against my skull.

He was calming me with nothing more than his presence, his patience and whispered words of what sounded like a child’s rhyme, based on what little I caught.

And it was working. My anxiety gradually faded, and dim, gritty color leaked back into the world. My fingers relaxed around his hand. My lungs expanded fully, and I sucked in a sharp, frigid breath, suddenly freezing as sweat from the club dried on my skin.

The panic was still there, in the shadowed corners of my mind, in the dark spots on the edge of my vision. But I could handle it now. Thanks to Nash.

You okay? he asked when I turned my head to face him, the bricks cold and rough against my cheek.

I nodded. And that’s when a new horror descended: utter, consuming, inescapable mortification, most awful in its longevity. The panic attack was all but over, but humiliation would last a lifetime.

I’d completely lost it in front of Nash Hudson. My life was over; even my friendship with Emma wouldn’t be enough to repair the damage from such a nasty wound.

Nash stretched his legs out. Wanna talk about it?

No. I wanted to go hide in a hole, or stick my head in a bag, or change my name and move to Peru.

But then suddenly, I did want to talk about it. With Nash’s voice still echoing softly in my head, his words whispering faintly over my skin, I wanted to tell him what had happened. It made no sense. After knowing me for eight years and helping me through at least half a dozen previous panic attacks, Emma still had no idea what caused them. I couldn’t tell her. It would scare her. Or worse, finally convince her I really was crazy.

So why did I want to tell Nash? I had no answer for that, but the urge was undeniable.

…the strawberry blonde. There, I’d said it out loud, and committed myself to some sort of explanation.

Nash’s brow furrowed in confusion. You know her?

No. Fortunately. Merely sharing oxygen with her had nearly driven me out of my mind. But something’s wrong with her, Nash. She’s…dark.

Kaylee, shut up! If he wasn’t already convinced I was certifiable, he would be soon….

What? His frown deepened, but rather than bewildered or skeptical, he looked surprised. Then came vague comprehension. Comprehension, and…dread. He might not know exactly what I meant, but he didn’t look completely clueless either. What do you mean, ‘dark’?

I closed my eyes, hesitating at the last second. What if I’d misread him? What if he did think I was crazy?

Worse yet, what if he was right?

But in the end, I opened my eyes and met his gaze frankly, because I had to tell him something, and surely I couldn’t damage his opinion of me much more than I already had. Right?

Okay, this is going to sound weird, I began, but something’s wrong with that girl at the bar. When I looked at her, she was…shadowed. I hesitated, scrounging up the courage to finish what I’d started. She’s going to die, Nash. That girl is going to die very, very soon.

2

WHAT? NASH’S eyebrows rose, but he didn’t roll his eyes, or laugh, or pat my head and call for the men in white coats. In fact, he looked like he almost believed me. How do you know she’s gonna die?

I rubbed both temples, trying to wipe away a familiar frustration rearing inside me. He might not be laughing

Reviews for My Soul to Take

[alcarinqa_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don’t usually read books bordering on horror, so I was unsure about reading about a girl who senses when people are about to die. I shouldn’t have worried: I enjoyed My Soul to Take a lot and am glad there’s plenty more where that came from!The mythology used in the book is interesting - I think it is fresh and engaging. Kaylee’s discovery of her supernaturally inclined side and her acceptance of it is a little too quick and glossy for me, but otherwise I really enjoyed the pacing and premise of the book.I enjoyed reading about the characters immensely, especially Kaylee, who is great and relatable. And Nash, the love interest is awesome (and hot). I didn’t trust him initially but he’s definitely my favourite character now! Kaylee’s best friend Emma is the only character I didn’t like, because she didn’t act how I think a best friend should act. She is jealous and controlling of her friend when she be concerned about all the changes in Kaylee’s life. I liked this book a lot and will recommend it to anyone who wants a quick, enjoyable read to distract them. I plan to read the rest of the series as soon as I can. You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.

[strongpieces · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.My Soul to Take is a nice twist on the myth of banshees, and a surprisingly enjoyable YA paranormal romance read. I’ve grown tired of many tropes in the genre recently, and while My Soul to Take has some of them, the writing moves quickly and the plot is interesting enough that I could forgive them and enjoy it.Kaylee is a pretty nice heroine to follow; she’s sensible, she isn’t incredibly dumb, and she understandably thinks she’s going insane when she realizes she can predict people’s deaths – and ends up screaming like a banshee when near them. It didn’t feel like there was any actual character development with Kaylee, apart from her learning her true heritage as a banshee, and I didn’t enjoy the instant love she develops with Nash. Honestly, that trope is what knocked this down a star for me. But the book was enjoyable enough that I think I’ll continue on with the series. I still hold out hope that there isn’t a love triangle, even though I can see it coming a mile away.

[sweet_serenity · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So. This book wasn't actively bad, but it wasn't actively good. The mythology of the banshee sounded pretty cool and fresh, and the writing was readable. But it was terribly predictable, and there was nothing special about the writing- not particularly witty or insightful or poetic. It was also very tropey (mysterious connection to super hot guy, hot best friend that incites jealousy, mean girl) of teen drama, though I will say it is one of the better tropey teen books.

[emily1s · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

oh, i like this!

[junklekennedy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Plot: 5Setting: 5Writing: 5Originality: 5Characters: 5Passion: 4Overall: 29/30 - 96% - ACover/Title Bonus: 5I picked up MSTT at BEA in May. It was the first book upon my arrival back home that I read. I even picked up a very cute shirt that matches the cover! And the best part? Meeting Rachel! She was signing these at the Harlequin booth. I just wish I could have had a conversation with her but alas, there was a line and I also had to get into Gena Showalter's line for a copy of Intertwined (review coming VERY soon).Rachel will be featured here in a few weeks to celebrate the release date for My Soul to Take. There will be a contest for a signed copy as well as for an ARC because I just received another copy from the publisher! Maybe I'll start that contest a bit early that way someone will be lucky and get their hands on it before the release date! Stay tuned! On with my review.There's an excerpt on Amazon.com but it's really long so click and go read! :)Plot:The plot was great. It mixed together the paranormal element of Kaylee being able to tell when someone was going to die, the angst of just being a teen, and twisted in the mystery behind the teens that are dying. Everything flowed very well together. I was very interested in figuring out how it would all end.Setting:It was set in a pretty typical town. Most of it took place in their high school with side scenes in Kaylee's house and Nash's house. Nothing really paranormal about the setting.Writing:This was Rachel's first YA novel. I've read all of her previous adult novels. She did very well I thought. I believe it will be a well enjoyed book by both YA and adult readers. It has all the elements of her adult novels just with out intimate scenes and less blood scenes, which is very typical of her adult novels. I thought it ended too soon though, as in too short. I wanted to keep reading. I'm glad there will be more books in this series!Originality:Now, this is were Rachel rocked. Soul screamers!?!? Never read a book about them! I did a little research after reading this because I was just like "What?! Where did they come from?". I've heard of banshees, of course, but I didn't understand them like I do now. So by picking this very original topic Rachel not only made it very interesting to read about but it was a teaching session too. Learning IS fun!Characters:Kaylee is the main character. She can "see" when someone is about to die. It's actually very sad. I would HATE to have that ability. Luckily she meets Nash. He's a cute guy from her school who helps her through this odd time in her life. He's really a sweetheart and I couldn't have liked him any more than I do.Emma is Kaylee's best friend. She was cool too. There's also a character named Tod. I can't say much about him but I really enjoyed him in this story and I'm really hoping to see more of him in the next books!Kaylee lives with her Aunt and Uncle in his book. Her father does make an appearance and I'm thinking he'll be in the next book too. I'd like that too. He seemed genuinely interested in forming a relationship with Kaylee. And Rachel does an amazing job at writing the characters dad very well.Passion:Kaylee and Nash do have a budding relationship in this book. It's not a typical teenage relationship because of what's going on but it does have a lot to relate to. Nash is the sweetest. He and Kaylee make a very good pair. I took off a point in passion because I felt it got pushed to the side a bit because of the big mystery going on. Therefore, it's more of a mystery than a romance, so keep that in mind.Overall:It was a very good read. Rachel did not disappoint at all. I'm really looking forward to the next installment My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, Book 2), which is set to release January 1, 2010 (yikes! That's 6 months away!), and can't be pre-ordered yet (WTF!?).Cover/Title:The cover is gorgeous. The title is good. I do get them confused though, when I'm trying to think of the prequel and the second book title I usually switch them up.

[glitzandshadows · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

....I kept hearing about how amazing this was but... it was so boring =

I mean, the concept had potential for awesome but the themes were so cliche...

Not very popular girl... living under her best friends shadow, meets hot-popular-slightly 'bad boy'... bad boy likes girl but girl can't imagine why.... yay....

Is it bad that i'm just so tired of that? I feel like that theme is being so overdone these days....

I mean there were some cool things about it, the reapers and the bean sidhes [banshee's:]... they were cool.

But it was so bland... it was all so... flavourless. I didn't get attached to any of the characters during the entire book. I couldn't care less when any of them died because i really didn't LIKE any of them at all...

Nash was ok... but i didn't see anything original in him. He was just another hot guy... i dunno, maybe my standards are getting too high? Maybe i was too busy seeing the bad in this book?

... I just didn't really enjoy it... It might be a matter of personal opinion right now.

Because the otherwordly parts were really cool. i liked those parts. I just didn't like it any time the 'real world' stepped in. Because those parts were always rather cliche.

So... i dunno... it just didn't do it for me... maybe the second will be better.

[perpetualrevision · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've come across banshees a few times in other urban fantasy, but only ever as peripheral characters, not the main supernatural entity. So this story (and its precursor) offered a refreshing change from the "usual suspects."

I was also hooked by the mystery of who/what was killing the girls, and I definitely didn't see the ending coming, but I was a little dissatisfied with who was responsible, given that the character had not previously shown evidence of that degree of evil intent.

Overall, I enjoyed the story enough to want to listen to the next one in the series.

[a.happy.booker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting twist on banshees and fae. I really enjoyed it. There were some of the things that are cliche in YA fantasy fiction, but overall I thought it was a fun and entertaining read. I'll probably read the rest of the series.

[ahappybooker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting twist on banshees and fae. I really enjoyed it. There were some of the things that are cliche in YA fantasy fiction, but overall I thought it was a fun and entertaining read. I'll probably read the rest of the series.

[mrso822 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book took a bit to get into the true action due to the simple fact of it being the first book of the series. I always find that the first book of any series tends to take a while to get into, due to the necessity of set-ups and introductions. However, once it got into the story, it was really good, and I plan on reading at least the next book, if not the whole series. There was a twist with a secret that I saw coming, but the twist at the end was a complete surprise to me!

This was my first full-length audiobook, so it took me a while to get into it. Had I been reading the words, I'm sure I would have finished it sooner. However, given my lack of experience with audiobook narrators, I found the narrator to be very good. Her different voices were believable enough without feeling like she was trying too hard.

[taleofnight · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've seen this book pop up now and then for a while now, and finally decided to see what it was all about. I was really interested in the whole banshee thing and the other world that lived around them. The relationship between Nash and Kaylee definitely moved very fast. I appreciate the fact that Kaylee didn't freak out and refuse to acknowledge the fact that she was a banshee and basically got to the point of the story, but for some reason, the fact that their relationship moved so quickly bothered me.Overall, this was a solid good read for me, but I don't know if I'm interested enough to move to the next book.

[cyndigoodgame · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great read. Great new concept in Paranormal YA!

[tinkerbell4726 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has started my love affair with Todd. One of the greatest literary loves of my life!

[aaishah_6 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2/3 starsI read this at the insistence of two certain young ladies - you know who you are - and for that reason, I'm sorry I didn't enjoy this book - although I did warn beforehand that it wasn't quite my thing *pointed expression*. I might put the rating up to 3 stars, I haven't decided yet.Kaylee Cavanaugh has the ability to sense when someone is about to die. If she sees someone who's death is imminent, something takes control of her and induces her to scream uncontrollably. Her boyfriend Nash appears to know more than he first let on and eventually he tells her that she is a bean sidhe - a banshee. At the time of this discovery, teenage girls are dropping dead for no apparent reason. Nash and Kaylee set out to discover the truth and find that the blame for these deaths apparently lies on the shoulders of a rogue grim reaper - yet the ultimate truth is somewhat more shocking.I had a few big issues with this book. One of them was Kaylee. What girl finds out she's not human and then barely freaks out? What girl learns the truth about herself and then instantly demands to know more? OK, I can understand it in one respect - she's always known she was different, and learning that she's a banshee might actually make sense. But to suddenly find out all of this - hasn't there got to be a point where it's a little too much and she needs time to fully absorb it? Maybe I'm reading too much into it, maybe there are people who could actually instantly cope with that sort of information. But I felt that her acceptance was a little too quick. Then there's the issue of her learning that her aunt and uncle have been lying to her her whole life. Not only that, they had her hospitalised after they couldn't get her to stop screaming one day in the past. Now if that was me, and I'd found out my aunt and uncle had done such a thing, I would have been furious. Outraged. Hurt. Betrayed. Yet Kaylee is angry for all of five seconds. And then when her dad arrives - could the author not have taken just a little time to focus on his appearance? To focus a little more on Kaylee's reaction at seeing him after all these years?Another problem was the story-telling. For me it felt like there was too much dumping of information. Chunks of explanation. Some of it was OK - a bit of asking, a bit of answering, finding out more about bean sidhes. Yet some of it could have been spread out a bit more. And there were parts that were somewhat repetitive. I would have liked to see some more emotional scenes and a bit of variation in plot, things that would make me warm to Kaylee more than I did.That's not to say this book was totally bad. It definitely had its good points - like finding out the origins of the banshee in Irish folk tales, and the Netherworld. Nash was another, of course. Maybe not as intriguing or swoon-worthy as some other book boyfriends I could mention, but he was sweet, warm and never treated Kaylee like an idiot. He was concerned about overloading her with information, but he always respected her need to know more.Overall, I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either. I might have rated this a little harshly; I think the problem is now that I've read some amazing, breath-taking books and so the bar is set a little higher. Who knows, I may end up re-thinking the number of stars it deserves. I am by no means telling anyone not to read this - I know there are people who love it to bits, and it's not completely riddled with flaws. It just wasn't my cup of tea. I am curious enough to read the second one, however.

[deedee10_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The first thing that caught my attention with this book was the cover and then the cover. This book was a nice change for me since it wasn't about faries, angels, or vampires. It is still a paranormal/supernatural book, and gives us a new look at banshies. I enjoyed the characters and plan on reading the rest of the series when I get a chance.

[krista23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Banshee's are just a great subject for a teeb novel. I love how descriptive this author is. I liked the whole concept, I really enjoyed the characters, especially the grim reaper. Found it entertaining and looking forward to the rest of this series.

[mirandalg14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I felt like this was a worth-while read for those who are tired of the vampire stuff out.

[cynical_ames · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Soul Screamers series is certainly different from the mainstream.

Kaylee has a powerful urge to scream every time she comes across someone who is about to die, it only stops when she either puts some distance between her and them or when that person finally dies. She knows she's not crazy but she covers up the truth by stating that she has panic-attacks. She doesn't know why she has this ability or why the most popular boy in school is now interested in her and frankly neither did I until about half way through the book.

Nash and Kaylee's attraction seemed to be down to their secret shared heritage and teenage hormones and not much else. Nash's sudden personality change when it came to Kaylee was odd considering how he treated numerous other girls so I understood why Kaylee at the end was questioning how long it would take for Nash to get bored and move on.

Kaylee's family keeping her in the dark for so long was not only dangerous but damaging to her. Encouraging her to think that she's crazy instead of revealing who and what she is was cruel.

The revelation of Nash and Tod's connection was unexpected but made sense. The idea of the reapers reminded me of the TV show Dead Like Me but with master lists of those to die instead of just post-it notes!

What I couldn't quite understand was Aunt Val's motivation for doing what she did. How was she going to get what she wanted by making that deal? Maybe I missed that part or maybe she was just deluding herself into thinking that what she wanted was even possible, who knows? We all know that Faustian deals are just wrong, wrong, wrong - they never end well.

I read the prequel My Soul to Lose first and this straight after, I recommend that others read the prequel first too because it highlights the seriousness of Kaylee's situation and her family's reaction to it.

Overall I was pretty impressed with the originality of the story but there did feel like there was something missing, I'm not sure what it was, I can't put my finger on it otherwise I would give this 5 stars.

[annesanse · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked My Soul to Take! It was interesting and fun as well as pretty suspenseful. I liked Kaylee a lot and thought that the paranormal aspect was really unique. At least I've never read about Banshee's before. ;) Some parts were extremely touching and well written. I almost cried during one particular scene. I had figured out one of the "secrets" pretty early on, but I definitely didn't see the ending coming. Overall, I really enjoyed both the prequel and this first full-sized novel, and I'll definitely be reading the rest of the Soul Screamers books. Additionally, I thought the narrator did a great job on this book. (Amanda Ronconi) I've heard her read a few other books as well and almost couldn't believe she was the same person. She is a very talented reader.

[laneliterati · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic paranormal teen read on a subject not often explored - banshees!

[tarklovishki · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have heard a lot of great things about this series ever since it came out, and like a few other books I have read lately this one disappointed me.

This book starts out when Kaylee Cavanaugh meets her love interest. There is no build up. No nothing. It is just BAM here is Nash. Nash is here now. Hold your applause until the end of this book please.

That kind of start just started to sour my expectations.

My Soul to Take felt mediocre. I will continue in the hopes it does get better mainly because I bought the entire series at the same time.

[malbebe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After all the hype to this series, I had high expectations. Sadly, I didn't think that My Soul to Take was all that. This review is just going to be brief, since almost everyone has read this book. Kaylee is a likable character and the Banshee of the book. We, the readers, struggle along with Kaylee and her cute male companion Nash to solve the mystery of what is happening to girls randomly dropping dead. With out any cause of death.I like Kaylee as a person, but for some reason I did not connect with her character. The only things that pushed me on reading was to find out why girls are dying, who will be next, what can Kaylee do to stop the deaths, and Nash. So for the next book in the series I will only be reading it to see what happens next and for Nash and Tod. Even though Tod was a mischievous character I loved how he flirted with Kaylee. In my opinion he is not such a bad guy. Nash was a great guy and treated Kaylee like she means everything to him. Their chemistry was sweet.I couldn't really believe that Kaylee's family kept a HUGE secret from her her whole life. I know I'd probably let it slip and the truth would of been revealed sooner. It was nice though when Kaylee finally got the truth and all the secrets and such were known. For the ending of the book, I must say that I saw it coming. Nonetheless I was shocked! I feared with Kaylee. Family does play a big role and I liked that it did. I have faith that this series can only get better.

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ms. Vincent has created an exciting new world, with intriguing characters and a mysterious plot. My Soul To Take is enthralling from page one. An emotional read, which I had a hard time putting it down. The romance was charming as well. I'm looking forward to see how that progresses.I loved the story and the characters, I highly recommend this one. While this is a Young Adult book, I believe this book will be enjoyed by all ages.

[lexilewords · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Why yes I'm a sucker for a book that wants to deal with a paranormal element not previously done to extremeness--in this case the bean sidhe, or Banshee. Its not that I'm not still into vampires, werewolves, the Fey, witches...its just that it seems every time I turn around there's a NEW series or book or trilogy out dealing with one of the above. Technically the bean sidhe are part of the Fey, but when I say 'the Fey' I mean fairies. I grew up on tales of Underhill and Fairy rings and banshees from my granny and mother. To my granny it was less a fairy tale and more a reality that folks would disappear into the night and not be seen again for years. Realistic explanation or not these things happened and the Fey were blamed for it.My Soul To Take begins as if you missed a section of the book--relationship wise, not plot wise. Kaylee is out with her best friend and the hottest guy in school starts chatting her up and then suddenly is her new Knight in Shining Armor. Literally. He's saving her, helping her deal with her 'anxiety attacks', defending her, sitting with her at school...she wasn't exactly a complete social zero, but she was really close and he was definitely not. Later Nash explains the sudden change in attention, but I felt very much like Kaylee did for some of the book, as if at any moment Nash and his popular friends (Kaylee's cousin included) would call 'PRANK!' and humiliate her.I really enjoyed the book overall however. I think it was great how the legend is used and interpreted--banshees get a bad rap by in large, but in My Soul To Take, they are given a better role. I won't explain how, except that they help people. If I said too much more I'd be giving away spoilers.For some the pop culture references will go over their head--for instance there's a reference to The Princess Bride that may or may not be understood by the intended reader audience (is that still popular with today's teens? I honestly don't know.), but otherwise I think the portrayal of teens and their peculiar social habits are portrayed really well. The social bi-polarism of Kaylee and her cousin are leagues apart and you can feel that, just like you can feel the wariness of Nash (firmly entrenched with the 'popular' kids) jumping ranks to hang with the not so popular kids.There are a number of curve balls thrown about both Nash's family and Kaylee's family. The person who is behind everything I suspected once certain truths about the family life came out. I almost felt bad because really the situation was unfair and bound to create issues. The attempt at redemption at the end was, as Kaylee said, too little too late. It too was almost selfish in a way.The relationship between Nash and Kaylee begins as a relationship of unequals--he clearly understands way more then she does and uses that as a way to keep her coming back despite her fears and qualms. As Kaylee understands more and takes a more proactive approach to her power, the relationship balances out and it makes for a smoother reading.

[larissabookgirl_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a Friday night and Kaylee and her best friend Emma have decided to go out, but as they are still under age they have snuck into the club through the back door. Emma is blond, curvy and beautiful while Kaylee is not, but she is long used to standing in the shadows. What Kaylee is not used to is attention, especially not from a very good looking and popular Nash who has never talked to her before in her life.What started out as a fun night out soon turns into a nightmare as Kaylee's past comes back to haunt her. She had thought she was over it, that it would never happen again, but suddenly, in a club full of people Kaylee sees doom and panic strikes her. Unfortunately it just happens to occur when the gorgeous Nash is standing right beside her, and she knows after this he will never speak to her again.But when the panic is over and Nash is still at her side Kaylee is wondering what it is Nash is really after. So much is about to change for Kaylee and as much as she thinks she might be crazy she will not allow others to believe it, not when it could lead her to enforced hospital stays with zombie pills for the crazy. She will not go through that again!As the truth about Kaylee and her past is revealed so too is a whole new world, one that is far more heartbreaking and frightening then she could ever have imagined. With Nash by her side, although why and for how much longer, Kaylee must make some awful decisions and face horrific situations, and when the dust clears not every one will make it out alive.It's My Soul To Take as long as no one screams. A swan song unveils a whole new and engrossing world of supernatural and faerie beings that is dark, soulful and utterly unique. Amidst the death and darkness love is blossoming and as this story unfolds so to does the character of Kaylee and her story as it embarks on a new and exciting series. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[sweb4us · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After sneaking into a nightclub with her best friend, Emma, Kaylee experiences an "episode" that is becoming more and more familiar yet disturbing to her. Attracting the attention of one of the most eligible guys in her high school doesn't help her handle the ordeal, either. When Nash refuses to back off and their relationship becomes more and more entangled, Kaylee realizes that Nash knows more about what is happening to her than she does herself. As Kaylee and Nash innocently and dangerously navigate their way in a totally new world, they realize that a supernatural serial killer is on the loose and that they might be the only ones who can prevent more young girls from dying.After reading the prequel, I had hoped that Book One would be just as riveting, and I was definitely NOT disappointed! Once again I was drawn right into the intricate web of Ms. Vincent's story, and was reluctant to leave Kaylee and Nash behind when I finished the book. So, of course, I did what any good book lover would do, and ordered Book 2!

[nanajlove_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this offering as a free excerpt download through the Sony ereader store and was grateful to have it. I later won book three, and having the first 100 pages of this book created a limited background for reference. I would have been happy to read the rest of the book. The characters are engaging and the story is easy to read. The characters were already beginning to take solid shape when I came to the end of the excerpt. I sincerely hope the sequels are as great.

[ritastradling · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Story = 3.5 Writing = 2.5

This book was so-so. The writing was poor, somehow the narrator was all-knowing. I mean how does she know what everyones thinking??? I didn't know she was a telepath...
Also, I predicted (almost) everything, and that's never fun. But the story was okay.... The romance was entertaining. But the main character is annoying.

[26kathryn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kaylee is a bean sidhe but doesn't know it. All she knows is that she sees when someone is about to die and uncontrollably screams until they do die.This was a really great story and I really liked the characters, especially Kaylee and Nash.I hadn't heard of bean sidhes before so I was pleased to see that the mythology behind them was explained in the story.This was a fantastic start to the series and I can't wait to read the next book!

[akmargie · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The characters were a bit flat and the story could have been paced better. And I didn't need to know everytime the main couple touched each other. They started to sound like leeches after awhile. Yes, teens can be that way. Do I need to read it over, over, over...no. That does not make you a character. Just annoying.