In my review for Book 3 I mentioned that it felt like the book where Kaylee had everything to lose. I stand by that--despite the issues she faces in this book, they're issues within her control. Though that might not be the right word since she can't control Sabine (Nash's ex and feature player from the short story "Fearless"), but slowly Kaylee learns to control the situation I think is what I mean.

What's happening, or not happening, between her and Nash is twisted and complicated and not something that a 'Oops sorry won't happen again' can fix. And it wasn't just his actions in My Soul to Keep either, but deep-rooted fears within Kaylee herself. Love her or hate her (and I lean more towards tolerant irritation) Sabine made a lot of interesting and truthful points. Setting aside Kaylee's decision to wait to have sex, a lot has happened to her in a relatively short amount of time. And a lot more just keeps happening. She doesn't have a 'down time'.

There are three, maybe four, predominant plots running the course of this novel. Kaylee and Nash's relationship, Nash and Sabine's relationship, the insta-crazy the school seems to have manifested and the Kaylee-Sabine rivalry. Coincidences abound and as many of the characters proclaim, there is no such thing as coincidence.

I went into this book fully expecting to hate the living daylights out of Nash. What he did and what he allowed to happen to Kaylee was monstrous. And as the book opens its been at least three weeks and he's been working through the withdrawal while Kaylee has been working through her feelings for him. Like Kaylee I'm not sure I forgive him, or if he deserves that sort of feeling. Nash in this book is...more mature somehow. In a lot of ways. He knows that what he was so wrong, he knows that Kaylee won't get over it quickly and he accepts that. He accepts their relationship may never be at the same level.

That sort of thing made me like him a bit better. Not enough to endorse Kaylee welcoming him with open arms, but enough so that I was okay when she admitted to missing him.

The Nash and Sabine tangle...kind of made me cringe. On the one hand I can understand where Tod was coming from, later on when he talks with Kaylee about what people may need versus what they may want. It a lot of ways Nash and Sabine make sense; he has a very strong hero complex and she needs a lot of looking after. For all that she's improved in the years since he saw her, and obviously wants what he has (normal life, friends, etc), Sabine is a seriously tortured creature. But Nash calms that and helps her. So yes, I understand why Sabine is obsessed with him, why she does the things she does and says the things she says.

Doesn't mean I like her any better for it though.

The ending is kind of hopeful and opens the door to a new chapter. Hopefully, without the influence of others, the triangle that is Kaylee--Nash--Sabine may reach some sort of satisfying conclusion. Because so much of what happened between Kaylee and Sabine was influenced by external forces--not just their actions, but thoughts and motivations to some extent--I wonder how it will play out. Kaylee began to take what Tod (and Sabine) told her more seriously by the end of the novel, and I think that when she's able to look at things more rationally, she'll come to a definitive realization.

The next novel in the series, Book 5, breaks away from the naming scheme of the first four (My Soul to [insert word]) and is called If I Die. Its due to release sometime in 2011 (dare I hope...sooner rather than later? Yes yes?) and I am very, very, eager to find out what happens next for Kaylee and Co. ( )

The soul Screamers series picks up its pace in this book. Sabine's appearance, Nash's ex, adds some tension to the story. She's a very interesting character and Rachel Vincent doesn't make her a unidimensional character. I found myself thinking about the book while I was away from it, wondering what Avari the hellion was going to do to get Kaylee. There is more action and suspense in this book IMHO than in the previous ones. ( )

Rachel Vincent is a really great author. I enjoyed her Shifter series, and I'm still enjoying the soul Screamers series. I like this because not only does it have that supernatural aspect that they are bean sidhe's and have to deal with the nether world and a hellion of greed wanting Kaylee's soul, they also have normal problems too.

Nash's ex come into town and she stirs things up. Nash and Sabine's relationship was steamy and exciting. Sabine says "they're like lightning in a bottle." So when Sabine comes to town and tells Kaylee that she wants Nash, it worries Kaylee.

Kaylee and Nash have not gotten back together yet. She is still VERY upset about, Nash "letting" a hellion possess her and using his talents to pressure her into sex. Tod, Nash's brother won't talk to him, and with all this Nash is still going through withdrawal from Frost.

As this one goes on, I think Tod has feeling for Kaylee. Everyone is telling Kaylee that she should stop letting Nash hang on to the hope that they'll get back together, and let Sabine have him. They all know that Kaylee can't forgive him, and will never trust him again.

All of this and Avari, the hellion of greed, is still managing to kill humans in the real world. While he's still in the netherworld? You'll have to find out, but lets just say ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN THE SCHOOL. The whole book, Kaylee is AGAIN trying to figure out who is killing the teachers, and why all the students start to go crazy. On top of that Kaylee is not sleeping.

I can't want for the next book in this series. As a young adult I REALLY enjoy it. I guess like I was saying before, it's a paranormal romance that still manages to have morals slipped in to teach. Last book was don't do drugs or you can loose it all, family, love, life, and poss soul. This one is a mix i think. Don't feel pressured to make decision that your gut doesn't feel is right, AND WATCH OUT FOR THE GREEN EYED MONSTER!! ( )

Love it! Couldn't put it down. Who knew bean sidhes were so hot!! haha It was nice to meet a knew character even though I kind of wanted to smack her the whole time. Tod has me a little concerned. He was just acting a little off in this one. Nash well he's Nash *sigh* Kaylee really got a backbone in this one. She's gradually becoming a stronger character. I hope Ms Vincent writes fast because I'm already desperate for the next one. ( )

Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele

Der erste Band dieser Serie hat mich ja wirklich umgehauen, während der zweite eine ziemliche Enttäuschung war. Mit dem dritten ist die Geschichte dann glücklicherweise wieder ins Rollen gekommen und im vierten Band knüpft die Autorin gelungen wieder daran an. Zwar finde ich, dass auch der vierte Band noch nicht wieder mit dem ersten mithalten kann, aber die Qualität der Geschichte bricht zumindest nicht wieder völlig ein und ich habe das Buch durchaus genossen.

Dabei waren es wieder hauptsächlich die Charaktere, die dafür gesorgt haben, dass mich die Geschichte von Anfang an in ihren Bann gezogen hat. Alle Charaktere in dieser Geschichte sind auch im vierten Band noch lebensecht und realistisch, was nicht zuletzt daran liegt, dass sie sich entsprechend ihrer Erlebnisse weiterentwickeln und diese Entwicklung von der Autorin wirklich sehr gut umgesetzt wurde. Da auch immer wieder neue Figuren auftauchen, bleibt die ganze Sache spannend und abwechslungsreich.

Dass diese neuen Charaktere gleichzeitig auch neue mythologische Aspekte mit sich bringen, macht die Sache für mich nur noch besser. So ist es in diesem Band Sabine, die als Mara eine neue Wesensart in Rachel Vincents ausgeklügelter Mythologie rund um Leben und Tod verkörpert und so für immer wieder neue, interessante Details und Entwicklungen sorgt.

Auch Vincents Schreibstil gefällt mir sehr gut, er ist locker und humorvoll, lässt sich leicht lesen und schaft es doch die Welt, die die Autorin für diese Serie geschaffen hat, detailliert und bildhaft zu schildern, sodass man sich als Leser sehr leicht in sie hineinversetzen kann.

Allerdings hatte dieses Buch für mich etwas zu viel Teeny-Beziehungsdrama, woran natürlich hauptsächlich das Auftauchen von Nashs Exfreundin schuld war und das Gezicke von ihr und Kaylee fand ich wirklich nur begrenzt spannend. Glücklicherweise war die Geschichte sonst allerdings sehr fesselnd, sodass sich das zumindest halbwegs wieder ausgeglichen hat.

Alles in allem ist „Schütze meine Seele“ eine durchaus gute, solide Fortsetzung, die zwar noch deutliches Entwicklungspotential nach oben hin hat, aber im Vergleich zum vorherigen Band auch nicht nachlässt, sodass sie Fans der Serie bestimmt gefallen wird. ( )