(Originally posted at http://www.lostatmidnightreviews.blogspot.com/)

This was actually the second time I've read My Soul to Take. I decided to take part in The Soul Screamers Reading Challenge hosted by Fitkshun over at Fiktshun's Blog because I thought it would be a great way to get back into the series before the much anticipated release of Before I Wake. I hadn't read MSTT since August of 2009, the day it came out. I was a huge fan (and still am) of Rachel Vincent's adult series, and was eagerly awaiting the release of her first YA book. And I was not disappointed. I spent one summer afternoon on my basement couch just reading, without stopping. It was addicting.

It was really odd to re-read this book. After everything that has happened over the last five books (and trust me, a LOT has happened), it was really cool to go back and see how it all started. The characters have grown so much throughout the series, and it was a shock to see them back before everything happened. I found myself slipping into the story once again and, even though I knew what would happen, I couldn't stop reading it. The characters called me back every time, and the interesting and original storyline made this book completely unique. Over the series, I've come to really love Kaylee, but going back to the start I remembered my early irritations with her, and my misguided love of Nash. I kept trying to shove the characters back into the boxes of my opinion, but found it impossible. These are not the same characters they are in the later books, and my opinions of them grew as they did. I can't hate Nash because he really hasn't done anything to make me feel that way, just like I can't love Kaylee because my pride in her doesn't exist yet. I have re-read tons of books before, but this experience was new to me. Usually, characters grow but, in this case, it was like the characters weren't even the same people. And I loved it.


I really adored the concept of this book even more the second time. As I mentioned before, I'm Irish, and I have studied Irish mythology more than once (not extensively, mind you) and it was great to read about Vincent's spin on bean sidhe. The added element of the Netherworld (a world apart from our own filled with grotesque creatures and soul-stealing hellions who feed on chaos and pain) was a great addition to the story. As were the reapers! I thought it was a very creative and well-thought out world, one that has so much potential built into it.


And speaking of reapers...time for some Tod gushing! This adorable, sarcastic, and cunning reaper who stole my heart from his first scene. I am a very proud member of Team Tod, and love him more and more each book. It was so great to go back and see Kaylee's first impression of the angelic-haired soul snatcher, and notice a few things I didn't before! (Since what I noticed is a bit of a spoiler, I'm going to save that for a later review!) I can't wait to watch as his role increases, and as his wit and heart capture my love all over again.


Overall, I'm so happy to have read this book again. Looking at the old story through new eyes was both jarring and enlightening. I think I'm going to love this series more the second time!


Check out the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge if you're interested in these books! And, you can buy the first two books (and novella) in an omnibus!

- Ciara who is lost at midnight

MY SOUL TO TAKE is the first novel in the Soul Screamers series and is it ever nice to read about a different type of paranormal creature. I wonder where Rachel came up with the idea of creating a story base on a bean sidhes or banshees as more commonly known.

I was super excited to be introduced to these novels(Special Thanks to Crissi @ Book Club). I used to have a thing for banshees and Irish ghost stories and the likes when I was younger. So I was excited to start reading this book.

It was great! It was a fast and easy read. Nash and Tod are both pretty dreamy - I can't pick between them! It's too hard...don't make me pick! I couldn't guess what was going to happen which I really enjoy in a novel. I don't like guessing where the story is going to go at the beginning and end up being right. I can see that Kaylee's character is slowing going to grow and that she will have a significant role to play - I know that she is the main character but I think her role will grow into something more than just being a main character.

Overall, it was a great beginning to what I'm know is going to be a fabulous series

I have no idea why I randomly picked up this title, but I'm definitely glad I did!

I'm going to start with the things I didn't like just because I think this review should end on a good note just as the book did. The beginning was quite cliche (the "super hot unreachable boy who is nothing but surprisingly insightful and understanding for unexplainable reasons and is therefore too good to be true" story line has been done and done again), and for that reason was a little too much on the predictable side. Aside from that, some rather large plot holes near the end of the book left me with the feeling of "well that's a little random" which I'm not going to say too much about since it will most definitely ruin the story for all. I will say though that both of these are minor problems that the great story definitely makes up for.

Now where to begin with the good things? Having read what seems like hundreds of teen paranormal-romance novels as of late, I have definitely grown tired of the same story being rehashed with new names, and am finding it quite hard to be really surprised anymore. That being said, My Soul to Take definitely caught me off guard at moments.

I really feel like every character in the book was created with purpose and therefore found no real dislike for any particular person. As a matter of fact, most of the characters were really likable as well as relatable.

The dynamic of the different types of paranormal beings was really interesting and all fit together like a puzzle in terms of how they interacted with each other. And the two main species of people are two that have not popped up in other novels recently and thus were very refreshing to read about.

To put it together, this book was just refreshing and a great start to a new series. I've already ordered the next few books and can't wait to read them. Highly recommended.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did. It was unexpected and creative, and I liked that. The plot was good, it just wasn't executed well enough. I really liked the beginning, but lost some of the interest towards the end. The whole thing was rushed, and very short.

Don't get me wrong, it was interesting. It just shouldn't be a high priority on someone's reading list.

However, I am definitely willing to give this series a second chance.