My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent Series: Soul Screamers #3
Published by MIRA Books on April 15th 2011
Pages: 378
Goodreads
Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.
Until something does.
Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.
And so is someone else…
My Soul to Keep is a hard book to review. I would say that this novel was definitely a game-changer – though to what extent remains to be seen. It is by far the most action-packed book in the series to date. At some points I just wanted to cover my eyes because I could not believe what was happening (though I admit, I love it when authors shake things up!).
After the events of the second book, Kaylee finds herself stumbling onto something almost as horrific as soul-stealing. Some of her classmates have got their hands on Demon’s Breath (literally the breath of a demon) a highly addictive and ultimately deadly substance.
Kaylee feels compelled to get to the bottom of this and persuades her boyfriend Nash and his reaper brother Tod to help her find out who has been dealing this in this lethal otherworldly drug. However, Kaylee discovers that the real problem may lie a little closer to home and once again her life (and soul) is on the line…
Wow. This book was a crazy ride from start to finish. Nash being addicted to Demon’s Breath was a real shocker for me – did not see it coming at all. His behaviour was certainly erratic at times but I really did not suspect the cause. When I found out the things he had done to fuel his addiction I was completely stunned.
What he did to Kaylee was inexcusable and I could totally understand her not wanting to forgive him…and yet…I cannot completely condemn him either. The reason he became addicted was directly related to helping Kaylee and Tod try to save Addison’s soul inMy Soul to Save (he accidentally breathed in Demon’s Breath) so in a way they bear some of the responsibility. However, that in no way justifies his actions and I am not sure if Kaylee should forgive him.
I actually liked getting to see a bit more of Nash, even if it was not quite so much in a favourable light. Despite being physically present for much of the last two books he was very much a mystery to me. He seems a bit more human now I guess. Seeing a more vulnerable side to him made me like him a lot more even while I was appalled at how he was hurting those closest to him (and hurting himself in the process).
I still find Kaylee to be a really strong main character and I am glad that she developed more of a backbone in this. She wasn’t willing to instantly forgive Nash just because she felt guilty for what happened to him. She is really growing as a character and I find myself liking her more and more every book – she is definitely becoming a kick-ass character (even though her strengths lie more in her willingness to help others rather than any real supernatural ability to take down any foe).
Tod…is still my favourite (can’t help it – I just love that snarky reaper!). He wasn’t actually in the book very much which was a bit of a disappointment for me. Luckily the story was so strong that I could overlook that oversight! I loved him stepping up to help Kaylee (especially since he almost got her killed in the last book!) and being supportive of her. I actually cheered when he showed up near the end [and when he socked Nash one in the face – sorry Nash but you definitely deserved that one!
I also really like Alec, one of Avari’s minions, who helps Kaylee and Tod when Nash is kidnapped by Avari and held in the Netherworld. As someone who has been held in the Netherworld for over a quarter of a century, he is going to have a hard time trying to acclimate to modern-day life. Looking forward to seeing more of him.
My Soul to Keep was probably the strongest book to date in the Soul Screamers series. Full of action and twists and turns that took me completely by surprise, I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.
Leave a Reply