Review: My Soul to Steal - Rachel Vincent

Sometimes dreams do come true...
and that's the last thing Kaylee needs

Working things out with Nash - her maybe boyfriend - is hard for Kaylee.  She's already coping with being a teenage banshee.  Worse, Nash's gorgeous ex-girlfriend just transferred to their school.

Sabine's no ordinary girl.  She's a mara, a real-life walking nightmare.  Draining people's energy through their darkest dreams sustains Sabine...and makes her Kaylee's top suspect in a cluster of super-creepy deaths.

To win back Nash, Kaylee's determined to unearth the truth.  But Sabine knows the deathly secrets of Kaylee's subconscious - and she's not afraid to use them to get whatever and whoever she wants...

Soul Screamers Series:
My Soul to Lose (prequel novella)
My Soul to Take
My Soul to Save
My Soul to Keep
Reaper (novella)
My Soul to Steal
If I Die
Never to Sleep (novella)
Before I Wake
With All My Soul

For more information visit Rachel Vincent's website

Review:
Warning, although this review won't contain spoilers for My Soul to Steal it is impossible to review without including spoilers for previous books.  If you're new to the series then I'd highly recommend starting with the first book My Soul to Take and not reading any more of this review.  This is one of my favourite YA urban fantasy series though so it is one I would highly recommend!

Wow things certainly get complicated for poor Kaylee in this latest installment to the Soul Screamers series.  She still feels incredibly betrayed by Nash after his actions in the last book and I can't say that I blame her.  I was pleased that Rachel Vincent doesn't try to sweep the results of Nash's addiction under the carpet and each of the characters show very real emotions as they deal with the aftermath.  Kaylee still loves Nash but she can't trust him, she doesn't want to lose him but she is scared to take him back and I could really feel for her.  Nash is trying really hard to give up his addiction and move forwards but he doesn't really have anyone to turn to for support which makes everything so much harder for him.  I really felt for Nash too and although I didn't want Kaylee to forgive him too easily I did wish that Tod could have helped him more.  Nash needed someone to be on his side and I really thought that his brother should have been there for him.

Add in the complication of Sabine who is literally Kaylee's worst nightmare and things go from bad to worse.  Sabine is a mara, a creature that feeds from nightmares, she knows your deepest darkest fears and plays on them so she can feed from you.  She also happens to be Nash's ex girlfriend.  Sabine wants him back and is willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how underhand, to get him.  I have to admit that I can't stand Sabine, she was a complete bitch and I just wanted to slap her but I did find myself feeling quite sorry for her too.  She has had a difficult life and I could understand why she is so jealous of Kaylee and so determined to get Nash back, that doesn't mean I want her to succeed though.  Despite the fact I hate her I think she makes a very interesting addition to the series, not only is she a new supernatural creature that I'd not heard of before (Rachel Vincent is great at coming up with unique ideas in both her adult and YA series!) but she changes the dynamics between the other characters in a way that was really fun to watch.

You might think that Kaylee has enough drama to deal with considering the arrival of Sabine but frankly that is the least of her worries when people at her school start being murdered.  Alongside the very realistic teenage dramas you have the added element of the paranormal mystery and we get to find out more about the Netherworld.  That really is a creepy place to be and Kaylee gets to see a bit more of it than she would have liked.  The action is edge of your seat stuff and had me hooked from beginning to end.  My Soul to Steal is a fantastic installment to the series and one that left me desperate to get my hands on If I Die, I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Source: I was given this book by the lovely Sammee from I Want To Read That, thanks Sammee!

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.