UK Blog Tour: A Review for If I Die (Soul Screamers #5) by Rachel Vincent + Author Interview

Posted by Donna
Published Date: 3rd February 2012
Finished Date: January 28th, 2012
Publishers: Mira Ink
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 3427
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The Blurb from Goodreads: The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies. But the next scream might be for Kaylee. Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either. But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life. Anything.
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The Review: “He shrugged, looking right into my eyes. "Right now, this is all I feel." He held our intertwined hands up for me to see and I wanted to look away, but I couldn't break the hold his gaze had on me, like he could see more than anyone else saw. Things I couldn't see myself."
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If I Die was definitely my favourite book in the Soul Screamers series so far and I cannot wait to see what comes next from this talented author. 
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Kaylee Cavanaugh is trying to get back to normal after in the events in My Soul to Steal and she’s even trying to get things back on track with her boyfriend Nash. After all they’ve been through, they finally decide to take things nice and slow but once again Kaylee’s crazy and dangerous life gets in the way. When Kaylee finds out she’s next on the reapers list - to die, she does everything she can to try and take her mind off of her inevitable death. So when a girl at her school becomes pregnant and Kaylee watches her miscarry, she makes it her mission to find who is responsible. But what Kaylee doesn’t realise is that there is an Incubus at her school, one whose out to get want he wants – a baby and Kaylee is in more danger than ever. Can someone save Kaylee before it’s too late? Or is her borrowed life at an end already?

Even re-reading the blurb for this book makes me remember what a fantastic and emotional read it really was. If you thought the last book was good, wait until you read this one because you will be completely blown away. I personally think Rachel Vincent’s work gets better and better and it reminds me, I still need to try her other series' because all I hear is glowing reviews about them.

The storyline to If I Die was one hell of a ride. With Kaylee being the one in danger, we see a completely different side to her - one that is happy to accept her fate but she does try to get in a few things that she has never experienced in before she dies. I liked seeing this side of her, one that was completely reckless but also calm and collected too. What I admire most about Kaylee is that she doesn’t once waver from trying to save someone else’s life and she puts everyone else’s needs before her own. A very admiral trait.

All the other characters play a huge part in this story and they also have an emotional ride too. There is so much going on in this book because they all want to try and save Kaylee but the realisation that they can’t, hits them like a ton of bricks and some more than others.

Now the big question – am I TEAM NASH or TEAM TOD? You know how I feel about Nash but he shocked me to my core in this book. I love Nash 100% but he has seriously lost his way and I want him back. My problem is as much as I love Nash and Kaylee together, I cannot help but question…..are they ever going to get back what they once had? And I'm honestly not sure right now.  I really like Tod and if anything I like him even more but with the shocking twists and turns that Kaylee takes as a character, I cannot help think that Tod is right person for Kaylee at this moment in time. So again….am I TEAM NASH or TEAM TOD? Ummmmm…… I’m undecided at this stage but I cannot wait for Before I Wake so I can figure things out.

Overall, another awesome novel by Rachel Vincent! 4.5 out of 5. A must read! 

A huge thank you to Mira Ink for giving me the opportunity to review this book. 

Rachel Vincent 

Author of Soul Screamer Series, Shifters Series & Unbound Series

Check out her Goodreads Page: HERE

Check out her Website: HERE

1.       What inspired you to write 'The Soul Screamers' series?

There wasn’t a single, specific inspiration. It was more of a long brainstorming session, during which I decided I wanted to write about bean sidhes, which led to the world building foundation, which, in turn, fed the evolving plotlines.

2.       How many books are planned for the series?

Seven novels. Before I Wake (book 6) will be out this summer. There are also currently three online novellas: “My Soul To Lose,” “Reaper,” and “Never To Sleep.” MSTLose is in print in the US Omnibus edition, but the others are only available in electronic format at this time. [Note: I don’t know about the availability of international editions of the online novellas.] Also, I’ve written two short stories set in the Soul Screamers world. “Niederwald” is available in the Enthralled anthology, and “Fearless” can be found in Kiss Me Deadly.

3.       What was the hardest book out of the series to write so far?

Before I Wake. Because If I Die was a very difficult act to follow.

4.       Whose your favourite character?

Oh, that’s not fair! That’s like asking a mother to choose between her children! I have lots of favorites, each for a different reason. I love Sabine, because she gets to say what everyone else is thinking. I love Nash, because he’s so beautifully complicated and broken. He feels everything very deeply and doesn’t always know the best way to deal with what he’s thinking. Tod…well, everyone else likes him so much it almost seems fair for me to say that I like him too, but I do. He’s my Peter Pan. Frozen in time and wandering, trying not to lose his humanity in an endless march of days. He’s a good guy, with a strong mischievous streak. I love Em for her flawless loyalty. Everyone deserves a friend like Emma.

  

And Kaylee. I love her because she’s compassionate toward others, yet stands up for herself. She’s stronger than she realizes, but not so strong that she thinks she can take on the world on her own. She’s starting to understand that sometimes the greater good requires sacrifice along the way, and that sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reason. But mostly, I love Kaylee because she’s resilient. She takes everything I can throw at her, learns what she can from it, and moves on.

5.       Team Nash or Team Tod?

There is NO WAY I can answer that. So I’ll let you all answer that for yourselves. ;)

Wow! So awesome and thank you so much for joining us today Rachel. I loved If I Die and I cannot wait to see what you come up with next. Also a huge thank you to Mira Ink for asking Book Passion for Life to be apart of Rachel's tour. Next stop tomorrow: Bookaholic Book Club! Click this link!