Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Series: Soul Screamers Book 1
Purchase: Amazon.com
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Digital galley from netgalley.
PJVs QUICKIE POV:
Just having read STRAY by Rachel Vincent I marveled at how easily she transitions from a young adult voice to an adult voice. She does it very well, you can almost feel the age intrinsically. Kaylee being of a more younger and naive character than the other characters Vincent writes. I am very pleased with Vincent as an author, she has a very rich voice and she can tell a story like few others. I'm also very intrigued with the series, it was highly unique and compelling. I don't think I've read anything like this before and plan to read on in the series. What hindered me in my rating though was certain reactions that the different characters had. I thought Kaylee was too easily "inducted" into her supernatural world and the adults were too against everything, almost as if there were two pitting forces --- the teens vs. the adults. Which, yes this happens a lot in daily teen life, but I would think in a life or death situation there would be a bit of leeway. Because of these odd reactions in the characters the story felt forced at times and led to this not being a favorite of mine, even though I'm completely sucked in by the concept and the writing.
REVIEW:
Kaylee Cavanaugh can sense impending death. She sees a shroud around the person that is about to die and her body says "scream." The one time that this happened it landed her in the psyche ward and a one week vacation from reality via happy pills. She doesn't plan on this happening again. Trying to live life to it's fullest, she sneaks into a bar with her best friend and is preening under the attention of one of the hottest guys in school when the sick feeling of impending death overtakes her and her new found companion has to rush her out of the club to avoid a very LOUD commotion. He is very understanding of her situation, almost too understanding. Nash seems to know more about Kaylee than she does.
When reports come out of the girl's death at that same club, and the coroner can't pinpoint the cause of death, Kaylee needs answers...especially when another girl drops dead and she too has no signs of trauma. Something is going on and Kaylee seems to be in the middle of it.
A richly detailed young adult fantasy novel with plenty of romance to feed the flowers and candy need, MY SOUL TO SCREAM definitely entertained. The storyline was so unique and original that Vincent needs kudos for standing out in a very saturated genre. What I wished would have happened though was a little expansion on that world. I felt rushed and hurried through the entirety of the novel. I felt Nash and Kaylee were thrown together and that their romance was almost a forced marched because of their shared heritage. (Kaylee remarked on this herself though). In my opinion the stances were almost too stereotypical - the cousin was too evil stepsister and the parents too distracted. The adults of the situation were so unbelieving (even though they were also a part of it) and too heavy handed when it came to Kaylee and Nash -- but in the end swooped in like they had known all along.
On top of that the murder mystery aspect of it just wasn't believable. Kaylee latched on and obsessed a little bit too early. I didn't feel a connection that was good enough for her sudden interest in the death of another teenager, especially one that she didn't witness herself. Then with their involvement with Tod - and his odd behavior and the fact that he just so happens to be able to hack into his boss' computer. Then the fact that bad guy just happens to reveal herself to Kaylee...and then, well more will lead to spoilers. It was just too quaint. Everything added up without it really adding up. It just played out too quickly and some was rather obvious. This sort of ruined the story for me and it was a shame because I have been really wanting to read this book for a long time.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
This is a mature novel, that can be consumed by both teens and adult readers. There is nothing for parents to be wary of, just your usual teen behavior.
