Review: Before I Wake (Soul Screamers #6) by Rachel Vincent






Before I Wake (Soul Screamers #6) by Rachel Vincent

Publishers: Harlequin Teen
Published Date:  June 26th 2012
From: Bought
My rating:
4 out of 5
Synopsis:
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...
Review:
The Soul Screamers saga has to be one of my favourite series of all time. Kaylee is such an awesome heroine and grows continually from book to book.

This time she has the unfortunately downside to deal with in that she's dead. Not zombie dead --she looks alive, eats and drinks, although she doesn't have to--but she's dead. Just like Tod.

The gang are all reunited. Sabine, Nash, Emma, Alec, and all the other characters that have passed Kaylees way from time to time. Kaylee has a new job as a Restoration Agent but she still has to attend school. Well, she doesn't have to but its all about routine. And routine tells her that to cope with her demise she must continue for the sake of her friends to openly appear normal.

The problems start heading Kaylees way sooner than she'd like. A hellion from her past is intent on making her adjustment difficult. And soon complications get involved with emotions. Nash, Kaylees ex, is still dealing with his own problems which relate directly to Kaylee. Her father is coping in his own way. But her rock, the only one who truly knows and understands her is Tod. I didn't like Tod initially (in all the first 5 books actually) but in this one he really shines through. There is a lot of romancing with Tod but its all good.

Once again the story reaches a gripping climax that wasn't expected in any way. Expect tears, laughter, pure class Sabine moments and a whole lot of sorrow.

But at the end of the day Kaylee Cavanaugh is amazing, and there are no words more meaningful to categorize her other than 'A true Hero'.

I now can't wait for the next installment thanks to a nail-biting cliffhanger...grrr, damn you Rachel!!!

-CB x
You can reach Rachel Vincent here:
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Facebook Page: Soul Screamers

Review: Rapture by Lauren Kate





Rapture by Lauren Kate

Publishers: Doubleday Childrens
Published Date: June 21st 2012
From: Bought
My rating:
4 out of 5
Synopsis:
The sky is dark with wings . . .

And time is running out for Luce and Daniel.

In order to stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the Fall began. Only Luce can break the curse, and it is her choice alone that will decide all of their fates.

But as Dark Forces gather, great sacrifices will have to be made in this final, epic struggle . . .

In the fight for Luce, and for Love, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can't wait any longer.
Review:

Rapture concludes the Fallen Series by Lauren Kate, and I have mixed feelings about it.

Lets start at the beginning. Fallen #1 was a great book. The story was original but with a few minor quirks. The two boy love twist, the good-come-evil librarian, and the inevitable big reveal (though nothing significant regarding Lucinda), and the great getaway. Torment (Fallen #2) was a little too Harry Potter's Hogwarts for me - a school for Nephilim and Angels alike? Other characters where introduced as was the meaning of the Announcers. The romance was touching but Daniel began to feel a little flat for me. Passion (Fallen #3) felt like an excuse just to time-travel back on previous stories of Luce and Daniel, although the introduction of Bill was the highlight of the book. An evil plot to erase the world was revealed right at the end to leave us hanging. Personally I felt that this book should probably have been an extra like Fallen in Love and not part of the main Series.

Rapture, in a way, was a relief. Yes, I had read all the books but I began to feel that the story was letting go some of the vital parts that the first Fallen book promised. After all, that is why we all wanted to read more after Fallen was released.

In my opinion, the quirky side-kick characters held none of their original charisma. The banter didn't feel real. Even Arriane, who is one of my favourite characters, only had a few lines of laugh-out-loud moments. And Roland and Cam were almost non-existent as far as characters, merely part of the background. Shelby and Miles, who were introduced and played a big part in Torment plus had their own section in Fallen in Love didn't really enter the story at all.

The good points have to go to the main historical elements of the story. Clearly Lauren Kate did her research regarding Bible and Angel lore, the depth of which is evident during the 'tellings' within the story. However, there were alot of moments where 'tellings' could have been more 'showings'.

Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I read it. I will always read Lauren Kate books, and I loved the finale (do you think the character of Nora was a nod to Becca Fitzpatrick?).I actually thought, with all the fig leaves and olive trees that Adam and Eve were going to be part of the story!!

-CBx

Want to read “Daniel’s Gift,” an exclusive Fallen short story?
Click on the above link to get it!


  You can reach Lauren Kate here:


Absence

Hi Everyone

If you've checked on here recently you'll know that I haven't been around for a while due to personal family problems. However I'm now back home and reading again, and I have so many reviews to post!!

To all the publishers and authors who've been extremely patient with me while I got over this harrowing time all I can say is Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....You support has been incredible and I can never repay you for that so Thank you once again.

So lets get this show on the road. I have some reviews to publish and Winners to announce!!


Best wishes from

Charlotte

xx