My Soul to Steal

By Rachel Vincent

New York Times–Bestselling Author: Teenage love triangles can be tough—especially when your rival is a demon who feeds on human fear . . .

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into horrific dreams while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants . . .

Praise for the series

“Fast-paced . . . with dollops of humor.” —Booklist

“Plenty of paranormal thrills.” —Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781426879135

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

BY THE TIME the second semester of my junior year began, I’d already faced down rogue grim reapers, an evil entertainment mogul, and hellions determined to possess my soul. But I never would have guessed that the most infuriating beast of all, I had yet to meet. My boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend was a thing of nightmares. Literally.

I WON’T BITE. Nash looked up at me with a green bean speared on his fork, and I realized I was staring. I’d stopped on the bottom step, surprised to see him at school, and even more surprised to see him sitting alone at lunch, outside in the January cold, where I’d come to get away from the gossip and stares in the cafeteria.

Obviously he’d had the same idea.

I glanced over my shoulder through the window in the cafeteria door, looking for Emma, but she hadn’t shown up yet.

Nash frowned when he noticed my hesitation. But I wasn’t worried about him. I was worried about me. I was afraid that if I got within touching distance of him—within reach of the arms that had once been my biggest comfort and those gorgeous hazel eyes that could read me at a glance—that I would give in. That I would forgive, even if I couldn’t forget, and that would be bad.

I mean, it would feel good, but that would be bad.

The past two weeks had been the most difficult of my life. In the past few months alone, I’d survived horrors most sixteen-year-old girls didn’t even know existed. But a couple of weeks without Nash—our entire winter vacation—had nearly been enough to break me.

Whoever said it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved was full of crap. If I’d never loved Nash in the first place, I wouldn’t know what I was missing now.

Kaylee? Nash dropped his fork onto his tray, green bean untouched. I get it. You’re not ready to talk.

I shook my head and set my tray on the table across from his, then sank onto the opposite bench. No, I just… I didn’t think you’d be here. I hadn’t gone to see him, because that would have been unfair to us both—being together, when we couldn’t really be together. But I knew he’d been very sick from withdrawal, because my father, of all people, had called regularly to check on him.

And based on his brief reports, withdrawal from Demon’s Breath—known as frost, in human circles—was hell on earth.

Are you…okay? I asked, poking at runny spaghetti sauce with my own fork.

Better. He shrugged. Still working toward okay.

But you’re well enough for school?

Another shrug. My mom was giving me a sedative made from some weird Netherworld plant for a while, to help with the shakes, but it just made me sleep all the time. Without dreams, he added, when he saw my horrified expression. The hellion whose breath he’d been huffing had communicated with Nash through his dreams sometimes. And through me, the rest of the time. By hijacking my body while I slept.

I’d been willing to work through the addiction with Nash—after all, it was my fault he’d been exposed to Demon’s Breath in the first place. But his failure to stop the serial possession of my body—or even tell me it was happening—was the last straw for me. I couldn’t be with him until I was sure nothing like that would ever happen again.

Unfortunately, what my head wanted and what my heart wanted were two completely different things.

I still don’t have much appetite, but what I do eat is staying down now. Nash stared at his full tray. He’d lost weight. His face looked…sharper. The flesh under his eyes was dark and puffy, and he hadn’t bothered to artfully muss his hair that morning. The bright, charismatic Nash I’d first met had been replaced with this dimmer, somber version I barely recognized. A version I was afraid I didn’t know on the inside, either. Not like I’d known my Nash, anyway.

Maybe you should have stayed home a little longer, I suggested, slowly twirling noodles around my plastic fork.

I wanted to see you.

The fissure in my heart cracked open a little wider, and I looked up to find regret and longing slowly twisting the greens and browns in his irises. Humans wouldn’t see that, even if we’d had company. But because Nash and I were both bean sidhes—banshees, to the uninformed—we could see the colors swirling in each other’s eyes, and with a little practice, I’d learned to interpret what I saw in his. To read his emotions through the windows of his soul—when he let me see them.

Nash…

No pressure, he interrupted, before I could spit out the protest I’d practiced, but hoped not to have to use. I just wanted to see your face. Hear your voice. Translation: You didn’t visit me. Or even call.

I closed my eyes, trying to work through an awkwardness I’d never felt with Nash before. I wanted to. More than I could possibly express. But it’s just too hard to…

To see, but not touch? he finished for me, and I met his rueful gaze. Trust me, I know. He sighed and stirred a glob of mass-produced peach cobbler. So, what now? We’re friends?

Yeah. If friends could be in love, but not together. In sync, but out of touch. Willing to die for each other, but unable to trust.

I don’t think there are words for what we are, Nash. Yet I could think of at least one: broken.

Nash and I were like the wreckage of two cars that had hit head-on. We were tangled up in each other so thoroughly that I could no longer tell which parts of us were him and which were me. We could probably never be truly untangled—not after what we’d been through together—but I had serious doubts we could ever really recapture what we’d had.

I just… I need some time.

He nodded, and his eyes shone with the first flash of hope I’d seen from him in ages. Yeah. We have time.

In fact, we had lots and lots of time. Bean sidhes age very slowly from puberty on, so while I’d likely be carded until I was forty, if Nash and I actually managed to work things out, we’d have nearly four hundred years together, barring catastrophe.

Although actually barring catastrophe seemed highly unlikely, considering that since the school year began, my life had been defined by a series of disasters, barely held together by the beautifully strong thread of Nash’s presence in my life. At least, until recently. But now I was clinging to the wreckage of my existence, holding the pieces together on my own, trying to decide if I would be helping us both or hurting us by letting him back in.

So, how’s Em? Nash asked, his voice lowered as he glanced at something over my shoulder.

I twisted to see Emma Marshall, my best friend, heading toward us across the nearly deserted quad. Everyone with half a brain—or nothing to hide—was eating inside, where it was warm. Em carried a tray holding a slice of pizza and a Diet Coke, content to eat with us outside, not because she couldn’t face the crowd ready to judge her, but because she didn’t care what they thought.

Em’s strong. She’s dealing. And though she didn’t know it, in many ways, Emma was my hero, based on her resilience alone.

Doug Fuller, Em’s boyfriend of almost a month, had died from an overdose of frost two weeks earlier, and though they’d been connected at the crotch, rather than at the heart, she’d been understandably upset by his death. Especially considering that she couldn’t comprehend the Netherworld origin of the drug that had killed him.

Nash lowered his voice even further as she walked toward us. Did you go to the funeral?

Yeah. Doug had been one of Eastlake High’s starting linebackers. Practically the whole school had shown up at his funeral—except for Nash. He’d been too sick from withdrawal to get out of bed. And Scott, their third musketeer. Scott had survived addiction to frost—but at a devastating price. He’d suffered brain damage and now had a permanent, hardwired mental connection to the hellion whose breath had killed Doug and mortally wounded my relationship with Nash.

Hey. Emma came to a stop on my right and glanced from me to Nash, then back before taking a seat next to me. Someone bring me up to speed. Are we making up or breaking up? ’Cause this limbo is kind of driving me nuts. She grinned, and I could have thanked the universe in that moment for the ray of sunshine that was Emma.

How low can you go? I asked, then crunched into a French fry.

Lower than you know… Nash replied, with a hint of an awkward grin.

Em rolled her eyes. So…more limbo?

Nash looked just as ready for my answer as she did. I exhaled heavily. For now.

He sighed and Emma frowned. Like I was being unreasonable. But she didn’t know the details of our breakup. I couldn’t tell her that he’d let a hellion take over my body and play doctor with him—to Nash’s credit, he hadn’t known it wasn’t me that first time—without even telling me I was being worn like a human costume.

I couldn’t tell her because the same thing had happened to her, and for her own safety and sense of security, I didn’t want her to know that her body had been hijacked by the hellion responsible for her boyfriend’s death. Her friendship with me had already put her in more than enough danger.

Oh, fine. Drag out the melodrama for as long as you want. At least it’ll give everyone around here something else to talk about. Something other than Doug and Scott.

If they hadn’t already had two weeks to deal with grief and let off steam, the whole school probably would have been reeling from the double loss. The looks and whispers when we passed in the hall were hard enough to deal with as it was.

So, did you see the new girl? Emma asked, making a valiant attempt to change the subject as she tore the crust from her triangle of pizza.

What new girl? I didn’t really care, but the switch in topic gave me a chance to think—or at least talk—about something other than me and Nash, and the fact that there was currently no me and Nash.

Don’t remember her name. Emma dipped her crust into a paper condiment cup full of French dressing. But she’s a senior. Can you imagine? Switching schools the last semester of your senior year?

Yeah, that would suck, I agreed, staring at my tray, pretending I didn’t notice Nash staring at me. Was it going to be like this from now on? Us sitting across from each other, watching—or pointedly not watching—each other? Sitting in silence or talking about nothing anyone really cared about? Maybe I should have stayed in the cafeteria. This isn’t gonna work….

She’s in my English class. She looked pretty lonely, so I invited her to sit with us. Emma bit into her crust and chewed while I glanced up at her in surprise.

First of all, Em didn’t have other girlfriends. Most girls didn’t like Emma for the same reason guys couldn’t stay away from her. It had been just the two of us since the seventh grade, when her mouth and her brand-new C-cups intimidated the entire female half of the student body.

Second of all…

Why is there a senior in your junior English class? Nash said it before I could.

Emma shrugged while she chewed, then swallowed and dipped her crust again. She got behind somehow, and they’re letting her take two English classes at once, so she can graduate on time. I mean, would you want to be here for a whole ’nother year, just to take one class?

No. Nash stabbed another green bean he probably wasn’t going to eat. "But I wouldn’t want to read Macbeth and To Kill a Mockingbird at the same time, either."

Better her than me. Em bit into her crust again, then twisted on the bench as footsteps crunched on the grass behind us. Hey, here she comes, she said around a full mouth.

I started to turn, but stopped when I noticed Nash staring. And not at me. His wide-eyed gaze was trained over my head, and if his jaw got any looser, he’d have to pick it up off his tray. Sabine? he said, his voice soft and stunned.

Emma slapped the table. "That’s her name! She twisted and called over her shoulder. Sabine, over here! Then she glanced back at Nash. Wait, you’ve already met her?"

Nash didn’t answer. Instead, he stood, nearly tripping over his own bench seat, and when he rounded the table toward the new girl, I finally turned to look at her. And instantly understood why she wasn’t intimidated by Emma.

Sabine was an entirely different kind of gorgeous.

She was a contrast of pale skin and dark hair, where Em was golden. Slim and lithe, where Em was curvy. She swaggered, where Emma glided. And she’d stopped cold, her lunch tray obviously forgotten, and was staring not at me or her new friend Emma, but at my boyfriend.

My kind-of boyfriend. Or whatever.

Sabine? Nash whispered this time, and his familiar, stunned tone set off alarm bells in my head.

"Nash Hudson. Holy shit, it is you!" the new girl said, tossing long dark hair over one shoulder to reveal a mismatched set of hoops in her double-pierced right ear.

Nash rounded the table and walked past me without a glance in my direction. Sabine set her tray on the nearest table and ran at him. He opened his arms, and she flew into them so hard they spun in a tight circle. Together.

My chest burned like I’d swallowed an entire jar of hot salsa.

What are you doing here? Nash asked, setting her down, as she said, I can’t believe it!

But I was pretty sure she could believe it. She looked more thrilled than surprised. I heard your name this morning, but I didn’t think it would really be you!

It’s me. So…what? You go to school here now?

Yeah. New foster home. Moved in last week. She smiled, and her dark eyes lit up. I can’t believe this!

Me, neither. Em stood and pulled me up. What is it we’re not believing?

And finally Nash turned, one arm still wrapped casually around Sabine’s waist, as if he’d forgotten it was still there. Sabine went to my school in Fort Worth, before I moved here.

Yeah, before you ran off and left me! She twisted out of his grip to punch him in the shoulder, but she didn’t look mad.

Hey, you left first, remember? Nash grinned.

Not by choice! Her scowl was almost as dark as her grin was blinding.

What the hell were they talking about?

I’d already opened my mouth to say…something, when Tod winked into existence on my left. Fortunately, I was still too confused by the arrival of Nash’s old friend—please, please just be a friend!—to be surprised by the sudden appearance of his mostly dead grim reaper brother.

Hey, Kaylee, you… Tod began, running one hand through pale blond curls, then stopped when he saw Sabine and Nash, still chatting like long-lost relatives, while the rest of us watched. Uh-oh. I’m too late.

Too late for what? Emma asked, but I could tell from the lack of a reaction from either Nash or Sabine that Em and I were currently the only ones who could see Tod. Selective corporeality was one of several really cool reaper abilities, and now that Emma knew about him, Tod rarely appeared to me alone. For which I was more than grateful—Em was one less person who thought I went around talking to myself when I was really talking to the reaper.

To warn you, Tod continued. About Sabine.

She comes with a warning label? Em whispered.

I crossed my arms over the front of my jacket. Well, it can’t be sewn into her clothes, or we’d see the outline. Sabine’s black sleeveless top was so tight I could practically count her abs.

Emma raised one brow at me. Catty, much?

Well, look at her! I whispered, both relieved and very, very irritated that neither Nash nor Sabine had given us a second look. A strip of bare skin showed between the low waist of her army-green carpenter pants and the hem of her shirt—an obvious violation of the school dress code—and she wore enough dark eye shadow to scare small children. And—most grating of all—the look worked for her. And it obviously worked for Nash. He couldn’t look away.

I don’t think it’s her you have a problem with, Emma whispered. "It’s them."

I ignored her and turned to Tod. I take it they were involved in Fort Worth?

Tod nodded. Yeah. If you’re into really dramatic under-statements.

Great.

Hey, you two, care to introduce those of us on the periphery? Emma called, betraying no hint of Tod’s presence. She was a fast learner.

Nash looked up in surprise. Sorry. He guided Sabine closer. I’m guessing you’ve already met Emma? he said, and the new girl—his old girl—nodded. And this is my… Confusion flashed in Nash’s swirling eyes, and he dropped his hand from Sabine’s waist. This is Kaylee Cavanaugh.

Sabine truly looked at me for the first time, and I caught my breath at the intensity of her scrutiny. Her eyes were pools of ink that seemed to see right through me, and in that moment, the certainty—the terror—that Nash would want nothing to do with me now that she’d arrived was enough to constrict my throat and make my stomach pitch.

Kaylee… Sabine said my name like she was tasting it, trying to decide whether to swallow me whole or spit me back out, and in the end, I wasn’t sure which she’d chosen. Kaylee Cavanaugh. You must be the new ex.

Resisting the overwhelming urge to take a step back from Sabine, I shot Nash a questioning look, but he only shrugged. He hadn’t told her. He hadn’t even known she was there until she walked into the quad.

I… But I didn’t know how to finish that thought.

Sabine laughed and fresh chill bumps popped up on my arms, beneath my jacket. Don’t worry ’bout it. Happens to the best of us. Then she turned—pointedly dismissing me—and grabbed her forgotten tray in one hand and Nash’s arm in the other. Let’s eat. I’m starving!

He glanced back at me then, and a flicker of uncertainty flashed in the swirling greens and browns of Nash’s irises before he turned with her and headed for our table.

As they sat, I turned to find Tod watching them warily. How long ago did they break up? I asked, without bothering to whisper. Nash and Sabine no longer knew we existed.

Well… Tod hesitated, and I frowned at him. Like Emma, he was usually blunt bordering on rude.

What? I demanded.

Tod exhaled heavily. Technically speaking, they never did.

2

SO, HOW SERIOUS were they? I handed change and a receipt to a balding man in his forties. He shoved them both into his front pocket, then took off toward the north wing of the theater with a greasy jumbo popcorn.

You sure you want to hear this? Tod sat on the snack counter in his usual jeans and snug white tee, invisible and inaudible to everyone but me and Em. Not that it mattered. Monday afternoons were dead at the Cinemark. But then, so was Tod.

Emma leaned over the counter next to him. "I’m sure I want to hear it." She was on a break from her shift in the ticket booth, but Tod and I were obviously much more entertaining than anything going on in the break room.

I didn’t come to rub your face in it, the reaper insisted, watching me as he snatched a kernel from Emma’s small bag of popcorn.

No, you came because you’re bored, and my problems obviously amuse you.

Tod had just switched to the midnight-to-noon shift reaping souls at the local hospital, and since reapers didn’t need sleep, he was now free every afternoon to bug his still-living friends. Which consisted of me, Em, and Nash.

Tod shrugged. Yeah, that, and for the free food.

Why are you eating, anyway? Emma pulled her paper bag out of his reach. Can you even metabolize this?

Tod raised one pale brow at her. I may be dead, but I’m still perfectly functional. More functional than ever, in fact. Watch me function. He reached around her and grabbed another handful of popcorn while she laughed. And that’s not all I can do…

"Can we save the live demo for later, please? Bean sidhe in angst, here. But the truth was that it felt good to laugh, after what we’d all been through in the past few months. Seriously, tell me about Sabine."

Emma grinned. Does she have a last name, or is she a superstahh? Like Beyoncé, or the pope?

I threw a jelly bean at her, from the open box I kept under the counter. You know that’s not his name, right?

Em threw the jelly bean back.

Anyway… Tod began. Vital stats—here we go… Her name is Sabine Campbell, and she’s probably seventeen by now. She likes long walks down dark alleys, conspicuous piercings, and, if memory serves, chocolate milk—shaken, not stirred. Tod paused dramatically, and the good humor shining in his eyes dulled a bit. And she and Nash were the real thing.

My grape jelly bean went sour on my tongue, and I had to force myself to chew. But he’d said were. They were the real thing. As in, past tense. Because I was Nash’s present tense. Right? We were taking a break so he could get clean, and I could come to terms with what had happened, but that didn’t mean he was free for the taking!

Wait, the real thing, like hearts and candy and flowers? Em asked, wrinkling her nose over the cupid cliché.

Tod started to laugh, but choked off the sound with one look at my face. More like obsession and codependence and…sex, the reaper finished reluctantly.

I rolled my eyes and poked through my box of jelly beans for another grape. I know he’s not a virgin.

Well, he was when he met Sabine.

Ohh, Emma breathed, and I dropped my jelly beans into the trash.

Okay, so what? I opened the door to the storage closet and grabbed the broom. So she was his first. That doesn’t mean anything. I swept up crushed popcorn kernels and smooshed Milk Duds in short, vicious strokes. She didn’t save lives with him. She didn’t risk her soul to rescue him from the Netherworld. Whatever they had can’t compete with that, right?

Right. Emma watched me, her eyes wide in sympathy. Besides, we don’t even know that she’s still interested in him. They were probably just surprised to see each other.

I stilled the broom and raised both brows at her.

Emma shrugged. Okay, she’s totally still into him. Sorry, Kay.

"It doesn’t matter. So long as he’s not into her." I resumed sweeping, and accidentally smacked the popcorn machine with the broom handle.

Tod hopped down from the counter and held one blessedly corporeal hand out. Hand over the broom, and no one will get hurt. But I found that hard to believe. Sabine was making me doubt everything I’d thought I knew. And I’d spent less than fifteen minutes with her.

I gave Tod the broom and he put it back in the closet. He hasn’t seen her in more than two years. Give him a chance to get used to her being here, and everything will go back to normal.

Normal. I could hardly even remember what that word meant anymore. You really think so?

Tod shrugged. I give it a fifty-fifty chance.

Doesn’t that mean I have a better chance of being struck by lightning at least once before I die?

Em laughed. Knowing your luck? Yeah.

I pulled a plastic-wrapped stack of large cups from under the counter and began restocking the cup dispensers. So, what’s the deal? How did they hook up?

I was limited by real-world physics at the time, so I don’t know the whole story, Tod said, leaning back with his elbows propped on the counter.

Just tell me what you do know.

The reaper shrugged. "Nash was only fifteen when they met, and still coming into his full bean sidhe abilities—Influence doesn’t come on full-strength until puberty."

Really? Emma said, a kernel of popcorn halfway to her mouth. I didn’t know that.

I hadn’t, either. But I was tired of sounding ignorant about my own species, so I kept my mouth shut.

"Yeah. Otherwise, the terrible twos would turn any little bean sidhe boy into a tyrant. Can you imagine Nash ordering our mom around from the time he could talk?"

Actually, I could, having had a taste of what out-of-control Influence looked and felt like.

So, anyway, Nash was coming into his own, but he didn’t have our dad around to teach him stuff, like I did, so he was kind of mixed up. Sabine was abandoned as a kid, and she’d been through a bunch of foster parents. When they met, she had it pretty rough at home, and she’d gotten into some trouble. She had a temper, but nothing too serious. She and Nash just kind of fell into each other. I think he thought he could help her.

Yeah, that sounded like Nash and his hero complex. We’d gotten together the same way.

I stared at the gritty floor, trying not to feel sorry for Sabine. Something told me she wouldn’t welcome my sympathy any more than she’d welcome my currently undefined presence in Nash’s life.

Did Harmony like her? I asked, unable to deny the queasy feeling my question brought on. I didn’t want Nash’s mother to like any of his exes better than she liked me, but the new fear went beyond that. Harmony and I shared bean sidhe abilities. We’d bonded beyond our mutual interest in Nash, and I wanted her for myself, just like I wanted Nash.

Tod shrugged. Mom likes everyone. The two of them together scared the shit out of her, though, the same way you and Nash being together probably gives your dad nightmares.

So what happened? Em asked, while I was still trying to process the fact that Nash and Sabine’s bond had been strong enough to worry Harmony.

When Tod didn’t answer, I looked up and he shrugged again. I died.

Emma blinked. You…died? She knew he was dead, of course, but that didn’t make his proclamation sound any more…normal.

Yeah. I died, and Mom and Nash didn’t know I’d be coming back in my current incarnation. He spread his arms to indicate his existence as a reaper—and his completely unharmed-by-death physique. So they moved for a fresh start, just like we did after my dad died. We’d lived around here when Nash and I were kids, so this probably felt a little like coming home for my mom. It made everything harder for Nash, though. Because of leaving Sabine.

And he and Sabine never broke up? I moved on to the jumbo plastic cups, fascinated in spite of myself by Tod’s story.

He couldn’t get in touch with her. She was kind of…in state custody at the time. No email. No phone calls, except from family. Which she doesn’t have.

Emma stood straight, brown eyes wide. She got arrested?

"I told you

Reviews for My Soul to Steal

[rozziereads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rachel Vincent is a really great author. I enjoyed her Shifter series, and I'm still enjoying the soul Screamers series. I like this because not only does it have that supernatural aspect that they are bean sidhe's and have to deal with the nether world and a hellion of greed wanting Kaylee's soul, they also have normal problems too.

Nash's ex come into town and she stirs things up. Nash and Sabine's relationship was steamy and exciting. Sabine says "they're like lightning in a bottle." So when Sabine comes to town and tells Kaylee that she wants Nash, it worries Kaylee.

Kaylee and Nash have not gotten back together yet. She is still VERY upset about, Nash "letting" a hellion possess her and using his talents to pressure her into sex. Tod, Nash's brother won't talk to him, and with all this Nash is still going through withdrawal from Frost.

As this one goes on, I think Tod has feeling for Kaylee. Everyone is telling Kaylee that she should stop letting Nash hang on to the hope that they'll get back together, and let Sabine have him. They all know that Kaylee can't forgive him, and will never trust him again.

All of this and Avari, the hellion of greed, is still managing to kill humans in the real world. While he's still in the netherworld? You'll have to find out, but lets just say ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN THE SCHOOL. The whole book, Kaylee is AGAIN trying to figure out who is killing the teachers, and why all the students start to go crazy. On top of that Kaylee is not sleeping.

I can't want for the next book in this series. As a young adult I REALLY enjoy it. I guess like I was saying before, it's a paranormal romance that still manages to have morals slipped in to teach. Last book was don't do drugs or you can loose it all, family, love, life, and poss soul. This one is a mix i think. Don't feel pressured to make decision that your gut doesn't feel is right, AND WATCH OUT FOR THE GREEN EYED MONSTER!!

[filialibri-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele

Der erste Band dieser Serie hat mich ja wirklich umgehauen, während der zweite eine ziemliche Enttäuschung war. Mit dem dritten ist die Geschichte dann glücklicherweise wieder ins Rollen gekommen und im vierten Band knüpft die Autorin gelungen wieder daran an. Zwar finde ich, dass auch der vierte Band noch nicht wieder mit dem ersten mithalten kann, aber die Qualität der Geschichte bricht zumindest nicht wieder völlig ein und ich habe das Buch durchaus genossen.

Dabei waren es wieder hauptsächlich die Charaktere, die dafür gesorgt haben, dass mich die Geschichte von Anfang an in ihren Bann gezogen hat. Alle Charaktere in dieser Geschichte sind auch im vierten Band noch lebensecht und realistisch, was nicht zuletzt daran liegt, dass sie sich entsprechend ihrer Erlebnisse weiterentwickeln und diese Entwicklung von der Autorin wirklich sehr gut umgesetzt wurde. Da auch immer wieder neue Figuren auftauchen, bleibt die ganze Sache spannend und abwechslungsreich.

Dass diese neuen Charaktere gleichzeitig auch neue mythologische Aspekte mit sich bringen, macht die Sache für mich nur noch besser. So ist es in diesem Band Sabine, die als Mara eine neue Wesensart in Rachel Vincents ausgeklügelter Mythologie rund um Leben und Tod verkörpert und so für immer wieder neue, interessante Details und Entwicklungen sorgt.

Auch Vincents Schreibstil gefällt mir sehr gut, er ist locker und humorvoll, lässt sich leicht lesen und schaft es doch die Welt, die die Autorin für diese Serie geschaffen hat, detailliert und bildhaft zu schildern, sodass man sich als Leser sehr leicht in sie hineinversetzen kann.

Allerdings hatte dieses Buch für mich etwas zu viel Teeny-Beziehungsdrama, woran natürlich hauptsächlich das Auftauchen von Nashs Exfreundin schuld war und das Gezicke von ihr und Kaylee fand ich wirklich nur begrenzt spannend. Glücklicherweise war die Geschichte sonst allerdings sehr fesselnd, sodass sich das zumindest halbwegs wieder ausgeglichen hat.

Alles in allem ist „Schütze meine Seele“ eine durchaus gute, solide Fortsetzung, die zwar noch deutliches Entwicklungspotential nach oben hin hat, aber im Vergleich zum vorherigen Band auch nicht nachlässt, sodass sie Fans der Serie bestimmt gefallen wird.

[spazzydragon13 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Let's get a few things straight before anyone reads my reviews of the Soul Screamers series...

Rachel Vincent is an amazing author and she is tied for first place on my favourite authors list. (The other being J.K. Rowling for creating such an amazing world.) Then, there's the fact that Rachel's Soul Screamers series is made of awesome. Those two facts combined - yes, I'm stating my opinion as FACT - make for one of the most wonderful reads ever.

Also, something to note... my reviews on the Soul Screamers series will always contain spoilers. I cannot refrain myself.

The previous three books in the series have been pretty good. Book One set the foundation with sharp plot twists you could cut yourself on. Book Two had one darn brilliant story line that takes a deeper look into all the characters. (Oh, Tod!) Book Three was heart-achingly sad that I nearly died from it.

Now, we're on Book Four...My Soul to Steal. Oh my, my, my. I have never been so frustrated and angry at fictional people in my whole life. Rachel introduced a new character named Sabine (pronounced Sabeen-ah, for those who may not know) and she's not human. She's a mara, and that means she can weave nightmares out of your worst fears. She's also Nash's ex-girlfriend who's really not an ex since they never truly broke up. Why? Because Tod died. Glorious, mischievous, Tod died and Nash left Sabine behind.

Of course, after a year later, Sabine finds Nash who is currently recovering from Demon's Breath addiction and Kaylee-withdrawal. Sabine marches in thinking she can take Nash back with her awesomnesss. (Which means she's a hardcore, smokin' hot, slut.) Naturally, I'm on Kaylee's side but that's when I became frustrated. I didn't completely agree with Kaylee ignoring him like she was. She needed to help Nash overcome his addiction THEN work on the trust issues. Baby steps! I also didn't agree with Nash and his pushy-ness. I also wanted to b**ch-slap Sabine and knock her down a few levels. She obviously didn't care about Kaylee's past so why should we care about how bad her's was? Tit for tat.

Then Avari came back! The instant I realized it, I could practically hear the timpani building the tension. I can see him waking up in the morning and stretching while saying "Oooo, how can I screw with my two favourite bean sidhes today!?" As evil as he is, I like him. He's interesting.

Tod wise...I was conflicted! I know I wished Tod and Kaylee were together earlier, (though it's sorta creepy) I was just incredibly pissed at Tod for what he said about Nash and Sabine belonging together. About how life would be if Nash never met her. (Implying, it would be better with out her.) I totally felt the hurt Kaylee did during that scene. I love Tod, but he was just demoted.

Over all, a very tense and good book. Rachel did a nice job writing it so we could easily experience the right emotions as a reader. I also feel that Kaylee has improved somewhat since the last book, but I desperately want her to stay with Nash. At the same time, I feel that Nash was subdued more than normal, which fit the mood of the book. The plot of the story was not as amazing as the first and second book, but it was good. Now, I simply can't wait for the fifth book; If I Die!

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.After reading the synopsis of My Soul to Steal, something I usually don’t do before reading, I became very afraid. The Soul Screamers series and I have been quite amicable and the plot of My Soul to Steal sounded like it was sure to enrage me. Ultimately, it did enrage me at several points, but I think that the ending really made the book worthwhile and overcame a lot of the rage-inducing moments. Thus this is perhaps the best and the worst book in the series so far.The main plot of My Soul to Steal is built around a love triangle. Kaylee and Nash are broken up, due to what went down in the previous book, and Kaylee’s trying to figure out if she can trust him again. Before she can make up her mind one way or another, Nash’s ex-girlfriend, his first love (and first sex), shows up out of nowhere. Not only that but Sabine wants Nash back…and she also might be killing folk.I read about all that and I went COME ON, Gob Bluth style. Like, seriously, we’re going to go from awesome paranormal plots to a straight up cat fight over Nash who I dislike because View Spoiler » Not gonna lie, My Soul to Steal does descend into classic fighting over boy behavior, complete with slapping and the trading of eternally effective and classy insults like these:“You sound like a slut.”“You dress like a prude.”As one might have expected, Sabine and Kaylee spend most of the novel slut- and virgin-shaming one another respectively. Nash waits for Kaylee to make her choice, but makes it very obvious that he’s totally okay with Sabine should Kaylee decide in the negative. Basically, I spent 3/4 of the book wanting to force them onto MXC where I could watch them get painfully eliminated.However, it does get better. Though I doubt the shaming is gone for good, since it’s been here, if in smaller doses, throughout, the overall attitudes are getting much healthier. Sabine does eventually get a bit of a character arc, which reveals her to be not just a boyfriend-stealing bitch. There is groundwork laid that she and Kaylee could maybe manage to be friends one day.So far as the romance goes, I do think I’m going to get my wish in the sinking of the Nash/Kaylee ship. I don’t consider this spoilery, since it’s still on the fence in this book. Anyway, I am all for this, because Vincent’s promoting a really healthy awareness that just because two people are really into one another, that doesn’t necessarily make them a good match. Compatibility is more than physical, and someone you love who loves you can still be really destructive unintentionally. The new ship for Kaylee that seems to be chugging into harbor I’m honestly not so sure about, but it’s apparently for sure, as people keep spoiling it in Goodreads comments on earlier books where it wasn’t a thing yet. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS WHERE THIS HAPPENS YET, PEOPLE. UGH.This may, hopefully, be the turning point where this series goes from slightly better that average paranormal to super awesome sauce. I hope so. Now, on to the next!

[mrso822 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was so amazing that I finished it one day. For this busy mom of three, reading a 348 page book in one day is nothing short of a miracle! But I just couldn’t put it down!

In the first chapter, we see Kaylee interact with Nash for the first time, and as they’re trying to seriously discuss their relationship, a new girl shows up who turns out to be Nash’s ex-girlfriend. And she makes it very clear from her first meeting with Kaylee that she has every intention of getting him back.

Amid the craziness of trying to decide how she feels about Nash and how to deal with his ex-girlfriend, Kaylee also faces other weirdness. She starts having horrible nightmares, and there’s always the looming threat of Avari. Also, people at her school start going crazy, and her teachers start dying. Things are a mess!

This book was heartbreaking, seeing the pain that both Kaylee and Nash are in. But moreso, it was terrifying. Just thinking about the situation that Kaylee faces with Avari made my skin crawl, and my stomach was in my throat a lot of the time. I can’t say too much without spoiling the book, but seriously? This book took the creep-factor to a whole new level, but did it in such a way that this wimp was left feverishly flipping the pages, rather than being scared enough to put the book down. I didn’t even have nightmares! lol

As much as I didn’t care for Nash in the last couple books, in this book, I started liking him again, especially seeing his pain in this book. Kaylee continues to grow and become stronger. And Tod. *sigh* I don’t know if I’m supposed to love Tod, but I do. There’s just something about the Reaper that I cannot turn away from. I LOVE him! Sabine and Alec were very interesting characters as well. And Avari is terrifying as always!

The resolution had my heart in my throat and my heart pounding. It was intense, and I couldn’t see where it was going. The last chapter ended on a little bit of a cliffhanger, with a sense of hope for the next book. I cannot wait to keep reading this series! My only regret is that I started it now, when the last book is yet to be released! I easily gave this one 5 stars!

This review is also posted on Mommy's Reading Break

[justanotheryablog · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rachel vincent Surprised me AGAIN
I mean when you thing NOTHING seems to be going to work then bam! same with Vice Versa
And Nash I feel bad for you,even though you did was wrong...
But not enough
TEAM TOD.Forever
Avari,get your priorities together,seriously

[laneliterati · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hijinks at the high school again. Teachers are dying, jealousy is a foot. And a literal Nightmare is the newest student. Great book!

[paisean13 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the first two books in this series even though I thought Kaylee was a bit thick-headed, she had good intentions. In My Soul to Steal, Kaylee is acting like a jealous, selfish, and clueless brat. She keeps calling Nash her boyfriend, but she broke-up with him. She is angry that he wants to spend time with someone who actually cares about him, even though it is in an obsessive way, but she doesn't want to help him with his struggles herself. I do not understand how she could be a heroine, when all she does is complain and accomplish nothing. I had a hard time not throwing this book against the wall several times. I like my heroines to be flawed, but I cannot stand when they are depicted as helpless, selfish, and indecisive in the books I read and then we are suppose to cheer them on. I'll still read the next one to see if she actually grows-up and stops acting like a toddler, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed.

[pnh002 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this book, Nash's ex-girlfriend Sabine comes back and of course she can't be just a normal human. She's a mara, a walking nightmare. And I mean literally. This of course causes disturbances in Nash and Kaylee's already rocky relationship and makes it even harder for them to try to work things out. Although Sabine was a pure, evil b*tch, I still had a soft spot for her. I guess it was because I felt like everyone was too hard on her and she had had a hard life and didn't deserve it. I know she did some messed up things and was like a cancer in some ways, but I only didn't like her when it came to Nash. The things she did to him in spite of Kaylee, I wanted to slap her. Somethings are just uncalled for. As for Kaylee, I felt like she was being a HUGE whiny baby in this book. She didn't want him but she didn't want anyone else to either and that annoyed me. It even annoys me when people do it in real life. I just feel like if he can't make you happy, go out and find someone who does. No sense in both of y'all being miserable. But overall, the mythology in both of these were amazing. Everything was completely researched and well thought out. One huge thing that I was thankful for was the fact that Vincent had went back and repeated everything that happened in the previous books, because although they are some of my favorites, I sometimes get them confused. Another big thing that I loved about it, was the fact that Vincent's humor is still just the same. Most of this book was pretty heavy with hellions and maras and bean shides running around, but Vincent was able to add that comic relief in places that needed it. It was just overall well written.

[tinkerbell4726 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh Sabine I wish I could kick your butt myself. Same goes for you Nash. You two make me want to rip my hair out!

[alcarinqa_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Soul Screamers series has absolutely stepped up its game. I haven't really enjoyed the previous two books in the series but I'm glad I didn't stop because My Soul to Steal is amazing. A riveting plot involving mysterious deaths at Kaylee's high school, coupled with the emotional drama between Kaylee, Nash and his ex girlfriend Sabine made for a compelling read that I could not put down. I was another late night for me!Finally, finally, Kaylee's (un)common sense kicks in and she enlists the help of her father and uncle when people started mysteriously dying at her school. They help her every step of the day and she even admits it was great to not have all the responsibility fall on her for once. She still goes through a lot and has some awesome (deadly) adventures, but I was glad that she told the adults in her life when she suspected something weird was up. There is a lot going on in the book and for a long time it's unclear how much of it is caused by something supernatural. I liked how it all came together though, and left me with an ending I was satisfied with, but still wanting more.The book is a lot more focussed on the relationships between characters than those preceding it, and we get to see Kaylee and Nash attempt to work through all the issues that came up in the last book. It's all made very difficult by Sabine, who uses her freaky-deaky powers to invade Kaylee's dreams and turn them into nightmares based on her deepest fears. One of the things I enjoyed is Sabine's tenacity - she never once backed down and I think, oddly enough, I liked that about her. Nash also improves in my eyes throughout the book because he makes it clear to Sabine that he is in love with Kaylee. I think Kaylee was a little harsh on him about Sabine, considering all he can do is tell her he's not interested - he can't stop her "actively trying to get into his pants".I've always enjoyed the premise of Soul Screamers and love getting to know about the world that Rachel Vincent has created, and I think she delivers a wonderful tale in My Soul to Steal. I can't believe how much I enjoyed this book - I liked it even better than the first one! I'm sticking to my guns and advising readers to stick with the series, it's worth it just to read this book!You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.

[mzserena · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series just keeps getting better and better. I absolutely love the way this series is starting to shape up. I am devouring every book like it's a drug I can't get enough of.Nash irritates me some, but I love Sabine. She makes for some great drama and it gives the whole series even more depth and realness. I still have a hard time figuring out what's going to come next and have to keep reading to find out.

[alaiel4kreuz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The fourth book is sure to let you with your mouth wide open and wondering what could possibly happen next. Sabine's presence will be like a hurricane: ready to pass and destroy everything.I've always like hurricanes you know? But at the same time I know they are dangerous and that it's better to stay away from them. Well, with Sabine happens the same thing: I like her because she is strong, direct and fearless (of course she is, she is a mara, how could she be scared of something?!) but at the same time I dislike her for crushing Kaylee's hopes and being, well, brutally honest.Then the whole "Kaylee-Nash" situation will make you punch your pillow, I'm telling you. It's frustrating to say the least. But the balance comes with Emma and Tod's dialogues and jokes, they are one of the best parts of the series.And the author: You know that feeling when you just know what's going to happen next? When reading a book becomes a pain because the plot is just way too obvious? Well, that's NOT going to happen with this series so don't worry.Somehow Rachel Vincent makes sure to entertain us with all these new characters, new creatures and new problems for Kaylee & Co. to solve.A quick resume of the book could be:Drama? Check.Love? Check.Friendship? Check.Funny situations? Super check (Thanks to Tod).Exasperation? Check that too.Danger? Double check.The end leaves you with the promise of hope floating in your heart but deep down the taste of bitterness will linger. Thank goodness, the fifth book is already out so you won't have to wait to read it.

[sukhihontu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kaylee starts to really let her backbone show through! I like the earlier books but wasn't sure if would have continued the series if I hadn't ready some small spoilers ahead. BUT it was mainly because I couldn't stand Nash from the get-go, their whole relationship was so quick and easy and its hard for me personally to get into a book if even our heroine isn't exactly 100% sure about the seemingly intended "love interest"...Rachel's writing seems to get better as her series' progresses. I feel like the first book is always the "undiagnosed A.D.D" version but with each new book & their medication doses bumped up, we finally plateau at perfection.

[leannesf_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed Vincent's protrayal of Kaylee's her trust issues with Nash and the introduction of his ex-girlfriend, Sabine. Fast-paced and well-written book and one of the better one in the series!

[bkwormblogger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Synopsis:Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.Review:Oh boy! Vincent does it again with another fantastic episode in the Soul Screamers saga.Not only do we have Kaylee, who is slightly broken underneath, but Nash is back to his normal almost-amazing devotion of Kaylee. That is despite the withdrawl from his addiction to Demon's breathe, and the fact that he was aware that evil bad-guy Avari was using Kaylee's body (something she still can't forgive him for - and who would?)Kaylee knows that if it was just the addiction she probably could have helped Nash more through his withdrawl but for Avari to use her body and Nash know about it, thats something that goes way beyond the laws of loyalty and trust. Something she probably can't do either of with Nash again.Kaylee is clearly just about coping with life without Nash, and its now up to Alec (rescued from the Netherworld in the previous book) and Tod to hold her together with an enormous amount of help from Emma, her BFF.I must admit that I hated Sabine from the start, probably because I was supposed to. I really wanted Kaylee and Nash to have a chance again but either Sabine or Tod always got in the way. Tod for better and Sabine for worse.Staring Kaylee straight in the eye is jealousy. Everytime she sees Sabine with Nash she gets wound up. But she doesn't understand why because she turned him away. Right? Wrong...there are worse forces of the Netherworld at work which is driving all of the kids at school nuts. Suddenly best friends are fighting one another, maiming each other and causing chaos and mayhem at the school.Kaylee is convinced its Sabine when she finds out that Sabine is actually a Mara, or Nightmare. She can pick out your fears and bring them to the surface, making you unable to control yourself.While Nash and Kaylee get pushed further apart, and while Sabine pushes all of Kaylees buttons Tod makes more of a show of his affection towards Kayley, which in my mind has been a long time coming. I loved the way that she was finally able to see that Tod would do anything for her, whereas Nash is still under the cloud because he gave all their 'firsts' away to Avari.Sooner than later all of their lives get so messed up that Kaylee is 99% sure that something in the Netherworld is responsible for it. And she goes to investigate with terrifying consequences.Once again, I loved every single page of this book. I just keep wanting to read more and more!

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Infuriating. I hate love triangles, they're way too depressing, and love triangles that mostly consist of everyone shouting at each other the whole time are even worse. Not totally happy with the ending, but Rachel Vincent did pull it all together surprisingly well and made me look forward to the next book, in which I seriously hope she fixes everything. Despite all this, it was still amazing, but made me too angry to really enjoy it.

[sithereandread · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

MY SOUL TO STEAL, by Rachel Vincent, is definitely my favorite of the series so far. Each of these books steps up the action and danger and this one was no different. From the last book we left Kaylee and Nash broken up because of his addiction to the Netherworld drug, frost. This book begins after they have been apart for a few weeks and it had been torture for the both of them. But just as they begin talking again, Sabine steps into the picture.I initially read about Sabine from the short story, Fearless, from the anthology Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love (Review). She was dating Nash two years prior to My Soul To Take. Sabine gives Kaylee a run for her money and complicates the delicate nature of her and Nash's relationship that is currently in shambles. These two are at each others throats the entire time. It was simultaneously comedic and sometimes sad. Each of these girls appeals to a different part of Nash and I was having a hard time figuring out who he needed more. But that aside, I am and will always be a Kaylee/Nash shipper.Kaylee was definitely the strongest I have ever seen her. She did not give into the pressure that Sabine was dishing out. There were times I wanted her to get over what happened but when I put myself in her position, I could see where the trust issues between her and Nash created a barrier. And Sabine's ability to exploit fears was not helpful at all.While I was distracted with Nash, Kaylee, and Sabine, I was missing out on the disasters that were slowing snowballing during the book. The climactic 'fight' was definitely full of chaos and crazy action.Vincent has definitely done it again with this book. Her ability to create a legitimate love triangle and still keep up the pacing of a story filled with action and suspense is why this series is one of my favorites.

[larissabookgirl_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Having fought through and survived hellions, possessions, toxic plants, demon's breath and death, Kaylee is about to face her biggest threat yet. After being apart for two years Nash and his ex girlfriend Sabine have again found each other. But as much as Nash denies he still has feelings for Sabine, Kaylee can't help but wonder. After all Sabine is no ordinary ex girlfriend, she was his first kiss, his first love, his first everything.With Sabine's arrival comes death and ciaos and Kaylee can not help but be suspicious of her new rival, despite claims from those around her who would stick up for Sabine. Sabine has made it more then clear that gaining Nash back is her only goal, even at Kaylee's expense. Kaylee must make a choice, either stand aside and give up the one she loves to appease a living nightmare, or risk losing everyone that is dear to her to a fate worst then death.My Soul To Steal through love, fear and bad dreams. Something is broken between Kaylee and Nash that may never be fixed. Kaylee has to decide if it is more painful to hold on to something that is no longer there, or to let go of something that had meant so much. With cat-fights, jealousy, creepy vines, nightmares, love triangles, white lies, painful truths, pizza, ice cream and puppies, this is the best Soul Screamers story yet.

[bookaddictdiary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Without a doubt, My Soul to Steal is the best book so far in the Soul Screamers series. As someone who has been reading the series from the beginning, it's amazing to see how author Rachel Vincent has matured as a writer and storyteller. Vincent's writing skill seems to have improved considerably since previous installments here, and her creativity, eye for detail and storytelling are at their peak.In My Soul to Steal, bean sidhe (or, banshee) Kaylee is still recovering from her sort-of break-up with Nash, a male bean sidhe. As the new school term begins, teachers are showing up dead more what appears to be natural causes, but Kaylee, who knows all about the dangers of the Netherworld, knows differently. To make matters worse, Nash's ex-girlfriend Sabine enrolls at their school and seems intent on stealing Nash away. But not even in a normal way -a supernatural way. Sabine is a Nightmare, or mara, who has the ability to enter and control people's dreams in order to feed off their fear. I was amazed at some places of the places Vincent went with in Soul to Steal. It went into darker, more personal and edgier areas than previous novels, which seriously upped the impact. Vincent did an amazing job of fleshing out a new character quickly that the reader, along with Kaylee, loves to hate. But what most surprised me were the twists Vincent threw in -a welcome change from previous installments, as was the fact that she made the stakes in Steal higher and more personal.A wonderful addition to the series, My Soul to Steal is a must-read for fans of Soul Screamers and teen paranormal romance. The next book in the series, which appears to be the final book in the series, will hopefully be even better (no release date yet!).

[reader_barbara · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, Book 4) by Rachel Vincent is the latest addition to the Soul Screamers series. Kaylee Cavanaugh, female bean sidhe is trying to hold it all together. While she is still recovering from her recent breakup with Nash, his ex-girlfriend and first love Sabine comes to town. Kaylee is blindsided by the gorgeous and slightly creepy Sabine, who is very clear in her intention to win back Nash's heart. Sabine is a mara--a being that feeds off the fear of others in the form of their nightmares. In the midst of Kaylee's troubles, teachers start dropping dead at school--in their sleep. And the student body seems to have lost its collective mind. On top of all this, Avari seems to have been possessing people around Kaylee in their sleep. Sabine, Avari and the chaos can't all be a coincidence, can it? Kaylee is faced with so many possibilities that she doesn't know where to turn or who to trust. Can she turn to Nash even though she feels that she can't trust him? Tod is always there for her, but he seems to be acting a little weird too, and she can't expose Emma to any more of Netherworld, can she?My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers, Book 4) shows Kaylee becoming more self-reliant and confident in her abilities. She also has to learn to trust and accept help from others instead of trying to take everything on herself. Nash is also maturing--his desperation in trying to win Kaylee back a clear sign that he is adhering to the straight and narrow. All of the characters seem to have matured since the first novel, My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers Book 1). Okay, maybe not Sophie but somebody has to play the foil, right? The books seem to be heading in a direction where Kaylee is learning how special she is, as both a girl and a bean sidhe. I found this latest addition to be highly entertaining and I am eagerly anticipating the next installment. Follow my reviews at readerbarbara at blogspot dot com

[dearheart_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two weeks have passed since the events of the prior book and Kaylee is still struggling with whether or not she can trust Nash again since he'd lied to her and used his bean sidhe ability to Influence her mind while he was addicted to Demon's Breath. Her heart and head are warring with each other over the issue.But along comes Sabine, the troubled (and trouble) girlfriend Nash left behind a couple of years ago when his mother moved them to a different town and Nash hadn't been able to contact her. She's made it clear that Nash is hers and she intends to fight dirty to get Kaylee out of the way.Sabine's arrival coincides with trouble at the school involving deaths and utter chaos, and Avari, a hellion, has new plans to get his hands on Kaylee. The weight on her shoulders gets heavier as Kaylee and crew attempt to save the school from the machinations of the Netherworld.This is the 4th book in the Soul Screamers series. As an adult reading this YA series, I find the struggle Kaylee faces between her heart and head to be somewhat grown up and the trust issue is appropriate for the amount of time that's taken place. Some might find it a little frustrating that she hasn't immediately moved on in either direction, although the pace works for the story.Sabine's character is interesting. Situations and conversations with or due to her provide the reader with insight to relationships beyond our own wants. What's actually best for whom in the long run?Even though it's told in first person, the author has done a good job of getting the thoughts and perspectives of the other major players to come through in the story. I found it easy to read and not too dark considering the circumstances. And it would be difficult not to be sucked in from the first paragraph.If you have a Kindle and have not yet gotten it, Reaper, the short story told from Tod's point of view, telling us how he died and became a reaper, would be good to read before this one, especially since the story is still free to download. It's not necessary to read it first, but the events take place when Nash is obsessed with Sabine.

[ruthiesbookreviews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series by Rachel Vincent has been quite the ride. After everything that happened in the last book with Kaylee and Nash, things start to slow down a little in the beginning, but it never seems to last that long. She and Nash are keeping away from each other until he gets through his addiction and recovers and Kaylee gets over the fact that Nash hid things from her and allowed her to be used by a hellion.And seeing him is still so hard for her to do. She wants to touch him, kiss him and trust him again, but she keeps fighting those feelings. Now the book got a little more interesting when a certain someone walked right back into Nash's life. His ex-girlfriend Sabine, who by the way is a supernatural herself. All wrapped up in the moment of jealousy Kaylee finds herself in a battle with Sabine for Nash's heart and Sabine is a 'nightmare' to deal with. There is plenty of action and lots of twists and turns throughout the book. The kind of 'who-dun-it'. So really you have no idea what everyone is up to. With the same characters, Tod, Nash's reaper brother, Emma, Kaylee's best friend, Alec from the last book and of course Kaylee's father and Nash's mother Harmony. Things start getting really interesting when teachers start turning up dead and then the entire school goes completely insane. They take it upon themselves with some trips to the Nether to find out what's going on and who's behind it all. Life is never boring being a bean sidhe.Especially when Hellions are involved. I am waiting patiently for the next installment of this series.

[hcross9820_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My Review is slightly spoilerish. No hard facts from the book, but general observations. Just wanted to warn everyone.*****How can you start to forgive the one you love, when they have done something to violate your trust? That is the question that MY SOUL TO STEAL tries to answer. Was what Nash did to Kaylee in MY SOUL TO KEEP (Soul Screamers Bk3), so unforgivable that she could never get over it or get past it? I found myself thinking along those lines. I was pretty sure I was going to angry with Nash for a while after what he did, but soon as I started reading MY SOUL TO STEAL, I changed my mind. I saw what Nash was willing to go through, and what he was willing to do to regain Kaylee's love and trust. He knew he messed up big time. He admitted he had a problem, and he sought help. He allowed Kaylee to grieve on her own terms. He even let Kaylee behave erratically, and still forgiver her because he felt he deserved it.I'm very proud that Kaylee is finally starting to stand on her own two feet. I was also extremely happy to see that she had grown and matured over these four books. She's learned to stand up for herself. She didn't just sit back and let Sabine walk all over her. She made better and smarter decisions. She’s stronger emotionally, physically, and she has better control of her abilities. I'm pretty sure the Kaylee from book one would have just backed off, hid in a corner, and let Sabine have Nash back. I do think that she needs to actively start trying to forgive Nash. Her passive behavior won’t help recover their relationship, nor will it helping Nash get better. I believe that she is partially to blame, for Nash’s need to confide in Sabine about his addiction. This may just be the biggest downfall in their relationship.Speaking of Sabine, I'm still not sure I altogether like her. Unfortunately, I started reading MY SOUL TO STEAL, before I read the FEARLESS novella. After great pressure from two of my bookish besties (you know who you are), I stopped mid-book and read FEARLESS. It really gave me perspective into where Sabine came from and why she behaves the way she does. After that, I didn't hate her to the same degree. She's a creature that is stuck doing what she has to do to survive. I may think that her dream-weaving is absolutely dreadful, but it's what she has to do. I’m trying to hate what she did, not who she is as a person. I do, however, believe that a lot of her spiteful & malicious behaviors was explained in the end of the story. I think I want to hold out final judgment on Sabine for the next book.As for Tod….I love Tod! I love Tod! I love Tod! My love for him is growing with every book. He's been there for Kaylee through a lot. Every time Kaylee needed someone to talk to or lean on, he was there for her no questions asked. Even though Kaylee’s yet to see it, Tod seems to really care for her. However, I momentarily despised him for his little speech to Kaylee towards the end of the book. (I think I hated him in that "the truth hurt" kind of way) His speech both broke my heart, and brought me to tears.The only part of this book that kind of let me down was the end. Especially after Tod speech, I wanted some kind of confrontation or resolution for Kaylee and Nash, but we didn't get it. The end was a little to fluffy bunnies, or fluffy puppies in this case ; ). I'm pretty sure IF I DIE (the 5th Soul Screamers book) is going to break my heart all over again! Rachel Vincent has hinted that IF I DIE will be “a real game changer”. I think I should to start buying stock in Kleenex, that or stop reading Rachel's books. I'm pretty sure you guys know what I'm going to choose.

[averysbooknook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be frustrating, that is not to say that it was bad by any means, it was great and tied as the best book in the series, but just some of the characters frustrated me.First off? Nash. In my review of the previous book in this series I stated that I did enjoy seeing Nash knocked down a few notches, it made him seem more human(ish) and not the stereotypical popular pretty boy jock that he seemed to be in the first two books- but in this book? He was as sad as a puppy that got kicked. I understand that in the recovery process he was experiencing a hard time, was depressed and everything, but I just felt like he really played that up, trying to make Kaylee feel extremely bad for him and guilty for breaking up with him. Kaylee had every right to break up with him- simply put he betrayed her and I don't think he deserves her forgiveness. And the whole Sabine situation? Well buddy, you are trying to earn your ex-girlfriends trust again so that she will once again be your girlfriend- WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU THINKING, HANGING OUT AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT WITH YOUR EX-EX-GIRLFRIEND WHO EX-GIRLFRIEND WILL OBVIOUSLY BE JEALOUS OF?!? THAT IS NO WAY TO EARN EX-GIRLFRIENDS TRUST/ SHE WILL OBVIOUSLY NOT COME RUNNING BACK TO YOU... Pfew, now that that is off my chest...As for Kaylee? I must say that I was extremely proud of Kaylee for the majority of this book. She stuck to her guns and didn't go running back to Nash as soon as he apologized to her. But I am frustrated with the fact that she was unable to give Nash up overall. I think that Tod made some extremely valid points about Sabine and Nash being better for one another than her and Nash being together. I don't think that either Kaylee nor Nash can live up to their full potential if they stay in their relationship. And I might be the only one out there but... I really want to see Tod and Kaylee together! Or heck, I will even take Alec and Kaylee together (but more so Tod and Kaylee)! And Sabine? Though I found her to be frustrating with all of her sluttiness/ boyfriend-stealer-ish behavior, I didn't hate her. She was dealt such a crappy hand in life- it's kinda like she won the worst possible lottery, being the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and as such becoming a literal nightmare- or mara. As I mentioned previously, I really would like to see her and Nash together, because as Tod explained both her and Nash are broken in a sense, and together they could become a whole- and I believe that she really does deserve happiness.I thought that it was great seeing Emma grow even more so in this book/ really come to terms with the crazy world that she was thrust into. Also, I loved learning more about Alec. He is such an intriguing character and I really cannot wait to see what role he will play in "If I Die"- plus all of the banter between him and Kaylee with her always calling him "hot" despite his physical age versus mental age, in front of her dad? Hilarious.As for Avari? Stay in the Netherworld you friggin' hellion and stop trying to destroy everyone's life!All in all? Rachel is clearly bettering herself as an author with each of the books in this series, therefore I cannot wait to see what "If I Die" has in store for us.

[krista23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Seriously mean girl shows up to school, and we see the first love triangle happen in the series. Sabine, an old girlfriend of Nash, appears at school out of the blue. She's gorgeous, but she comes with a bite. She's nasty and out to get Nash back. Very confrontational and apparently non-human. This book had some wonderful drama, and this time we get to see some of the teachers die, but are Nash and Kaylee able to save them this time, when Kaylee cannot even trust Nash and his new "friendship" with Sabine? Awesomly dramatized and well done, Sabine is the character we love to hate. Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series is not one to miss, more entertaining each book she writes.

[pollywannabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI remember saying that Rachel Vincent was brave for the places she took her characters in the last Soul Screamers book, but that was nothing compared to what she’s done to them in MY SOUL TO STEAL.Sabine. Obviously we’re not supposed to like Nash’s ex-girlfriend who shows up and starts trying to pick things back up where they left off, but Rachel Vincent might have taken it a bit too far. I wanted to reach into the book and physically beat her! She’s a psycho, vindictive, vengeful, manipulative slutbag. I’m getting angry again just thinking about her. Anyone who showed her the slightest compassion--and I mean anyone--got knocked down a peg in my estimation. Think Lila from season two of Dexter.And really, did Kaylee and Nash need any more problems with their relationship after what happened in MY SOUL TO KEEP? Apparently so, because Sabine worms her way into the middle of things like a parasite. Emotions run high for everyone and the fallout proves to be just as big. And I don’t just mean for the characters.When I start a series and invest myself in new characters, I start to build certain expectations. Who will end up with who, who will become a villain, who will be redeemed etc. I had very clear expectations going into MY SOUL TO STEAL, and I should have known after MY SOUL TO KEEP that Rachel Vincent never does what I expect. There’s a big, huge, ginormous thing that happens in this book, or rather starts to happen, that I initially felt so betrayed by that part of me didn’t want to finish the book. I did of course, and I’m amazed at how quickly I started to warm up to the idea of what’s to come.Nothing is set in stone for this series. Rachel will probably surprise me again in the next book, IF I DIE, but that’s part of what makes this series so exciting. The last two books have been shocking, but they’ve also been my favorites. Can’t wait.Sexual Content: Kissing. Lots of references to sex.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have never been so pissed off while reading a book. Sometimes I get mad and then get over it. But after reading this book I was mad for days!!Kaylee is struggling with trust. Trust that has been broken takes time to be repaired, but not in Nash's case. Instead his ex-girlfriend comes in to town making it all to easy for him to fall into another arms. Kaylee is pressured with all kinds of circumstances and is now fighting for a guy.Let me just say I love Kaylee. She has always been such a great character that has grown immensely before my eyes. But in this book she is nothing but weak! Instead of putting her foot down and putting Nash in his place she always allows him to control her. She's already giving him a second chance and now he says he whats it this way and she does it! OMG! I was furious. Strong Kaylee is not so strong anymore.And don't get me started on Sabine and Tod! They are both are on my crap list. It is one thing to go after something you want but boy did she fight dirty. And Tod asked Kaylee to do something that I never thought he asked. How could he??? Does everyone want Kaylee to give up everything for everyone? What about her? Does anyone care to ask what she wants? Kaylee has done nothing but rescue everyone no matter the circumstances. Isn't it time someone rescue her?Ok, rant over.This book is one hundred percent so freaking awesome! If you have not read this series, you most definitely should. This is one series that you could not put down. EVER! With every new book, Ms.Vincent writes it even more exciting, more intensity, and much more fun. She knows exactly how to bring her characters to life with zeal and strength. I love every minute of reading it. But be forewarned it will take you on one emotional roller coaster!

[elbrown_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

" The fourth book in Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series was just as engrossing as the frist three. This book picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of My Soul to Keep. Kaylee is struggling to learn to trust Nash again and find a way to ma ...more The fourth book in Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series was just as engrossing as the frist three. This book picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of My Soul to Keep. Kaylee is struggling to learn to trust Nash again and find a way to make their relationship work, when his ex-girlfriend Sabine comes back into his life. Sabine is a great new character added to the series. She was first introduced in the short story "Fearless" in the Kiss Me Deadly anthology, and she keeps you on your toes with her blunt attitude and feelings. She is Kaylee's opposite and I think she brings out a stronger side to Kaylee, sometimes that stronger side is ripe with anger, but I like how the two characters go together. I won't say anything more because that would give away some big events that happen during the book.Kaylee is once in the center of death and intrigue, when people in her school start dying and the cause seems too natural. She is immediately weary of those around her and looking for someone to blame.Overall this book felt like growth to me. Several of the characters showed sides to themselves that may not have really been seen before. They are growing and becoming strong in each book. That is one of the things that keeps me loving a series, and I love how Rachel's characters do it so effortlessly. To me that was especially seen in Tod in this book. For those who have read the previous books, know that Tod only cares about what he deems worthy. In this book he seemed to really stop and listen to Kaylee and at the same time try hard to help her, even if she didn't want his help. Kaylee also really stood out in this book. She really struggled with her feelings of trust and hurt. And while there were times I wanted to shout out her, I think the way she handled some situations were spot of her a sixteen year old