'Before I Wake' by Rachel Vincent: Review

Soul Screamers Book #6 

Before I Wake 

By Rachel Vincent

I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school... Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life...(from Goodreads)

Before I Wake is the 6th book in the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent.  Let me warn you all that if you haven't read If I Die yet, you should not be reading this, there will be spoilers, I'm sorry, it's unavoidable.  Let's get down to it now. I came home from a LONG day at work last Friday and found this book in my mailbox from the lovely folks at Mira Ink. There was some jumping up and down, I can admit that without shame.  I love this series & Rachel Vincent. I'd been counting down the days til the book released here in the US and  as a lovely late birthday present and I got it for free & by surprise. It was serendipitous. 

The story picks up a month after If I Die ends and we find Kaylee struggling to accept some pretty massive changes in her life. Not just Kaylee, either. It seems everyone who loves Kaylee (or loves someone who loves her) is battling some literal or figurative demon. No one is having an easy time of it.  Kaylee continues to be one of the most interesting characters in the young adult genre today.  She is just one of the many reasons why I can't get enough of  this series. 

So much happened in this book I'm glad we don't reveal spoilers on this blog because I honestly wouldn't know where to begin.  I was on the edge of my seat through the entire thing. I caught myself biting my nails at least three times. Twice, I scared my husband by gasping out loud.  I went from crying to laughing and back to crying all within a few chapters. This might be the most emotionally charged installment of this series yet.  I didn't want it to ever end.

I mentioned how much I love this series already; each book is better than the last. It was impossible to put this book down. I keep waiting for the story to get stale (like it has with other series I've read) and it never happens. Kaylee grows more with every installment and you can't help but but admire her strength of character as you follow her story.   The depth and vitality of each and every character is amazing to me and I'm simply in awe of Vincent's brilliance in her craft. She weaves spellbinding stories with intriguing, suspenseful plots that are riddled with wit, humor and romance.  She has writing the 'perfect' novel down to a science. 

Kaylee's strength, loyalty, bravery and just flat out goodness make her an amazing character. I have been saying it since the first book, and I'll say it again, we need more heroines like her. When she gets into trouble, she doesn't look to the men in her life to save her. She does her damnedest to save herself and anyone else who may be in danger. She is awesome. 

While Kaylee is definitely my favorite character, there are others who have grown quite interesting through the progression of the series. First off, there's Tod. I loved getting to see more of his true character. His strength and devotion are sweet, yes, but he is more than that. He is the one person who can make Kaylee truly feel like herself during this transition in her life.  Next, and I really can't believe I'm saying this, but Sabine has really grown on me.  The depth of her love for Nash  shows how truly vulnerable she is. Not that she'd ever admit to being vulnerable, of course. It's there, though.  She's always good for comic relief as well.  

If you read Never To Sleep, you've already met Luca. I am sort of in shock; he makes Sophie more human, in my opinion and brings out the good qualities she does possess. You have to like him for that! He's also funny and dependable and a wonderful addition to an already stellar cast of characters. Sophie hasn't quite grown on me as of yet, but the possibility is definitely there. 

Before I Wake is an expertly crafted blend of action, romance, humor and terror.  Vincent is a master storyteller and I have yet to dislike something she's created.  This is what I consider a perfect book. 

My Rating: 

April Author Appreciation: Rachel Vincent

We had so much fun with Author Appreciation Month that we decided we were going to keep it going in a manner of speaking. Each month, we're going to shine a spotlight on an author we love. This month we're showing love to Rachel Vincent, who shines in both the young adult urban fantasy and adult genres. 

From Rachel Vincent's Website.

My husband actually introduced me to Rachel Vincent's work. He had read several books from her Shifters series for adults and told me how great they were. He was so right! I loved Faythe and her plethora of brothers, the books were amazing and I was instantly hooked. I flew through the entire series in about a week and a half.  Then I found the Soul Screamers series at my local library & I was officially in heaven!  If you haven't read them yet, you really must get to it as soon as possible! The next installment, Before I Wake, comes out in June, so you have time to get up to date! 

I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. 

The good news? He didn't get it.

The bad news?

Turns out not even death will get you out of high school...

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend.

But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life....

I really can't wait to read this book!  And there's a whole other series for adults, the Blood Bound books, that I haven't had a chance to check out yet, but I'm sure they are right on par with her previous work.  

*Also, stay tuned for a giveaway soon with some signed bookmarks from If I Die by Rachel Vincent!! *

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're super excited about. This week, my pick is: 

Before I Wake 

Soul Screamers Book 6

By Rachel Vincent

Publication Date: June 26, 2012

I died on a Thursday-killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul. The good news? He didn't get it. The bad news? Turns out not even death will get you out of high school... Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent "recovering," she's back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend. But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life....

 I really adore this series & I cannot wait to see what happens next for Kaylee (& Tod!!) If you haven't checked out the first five books yet, do so now-you have time to  get caught up! 

What's your pick? 

Review-Rachel Vincent's 'If I Die'

The fifth installment of Rachel Vincent’s ‘Soul Screamers’ series, 'If I Die', is a must read! Kaylee Cavanaugh is a 16 year old bien-sidhe, or banshee who lives in our world but faces creatures the rest of us know nothing about; you know, like demons and grim reapers; things like that. In ‘If I Die’, Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline is coming to its close and she must face the very real possibility that she could die in a week. To add to that stress, the new teacher at her high school is an incubus who has set his sights on her best friend, Emma. Kaylee’s life gets more complicated still as she is forced to face her troubling feelings for the Hudson brothers. Add to that already towering heap of stress the fact that her father is determined to save her, even if it means forfeiting his own life and saying she has her hands full is a bit of an understatement.

Kaylee tells her story with an honesty and bravery that is refreshing. I found myself pulled in and hooked from the very first line. Kaylee is an amazing young heroine and you can’t help but cheer her on as she boldly works to rid her school of evil and protect her loved ones, even if it means her end. Kaylee is not perfect; (who is??) but she’s brave and funny and fierce in everything she does, right or wrong. The story is definitely fast-paced; a real page turner. Before you know it you’ve reached the end and you are left wanting more. While, of course, for the attentive reader there are a couple predictable scenes, I found myself gasping aloud at some of the twists in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have the rest of the series. I can’t wait to read what happens next in Kaylee’s world.