madwonder's review against another edition
4.0
I have some very mixed feelings about this book. The one thing that I have loved with this series is that I just find it incredibly easy to read. Everything is straight forward and you aren't trying to do guess work the entire time. The fact that I find these simple is sometimes also a bad thing for me. There was barely any action and not even as much confrontation. I wouldn't go as far as calling it dull, because I did still enjoy it, but it was very quaint.
I absolutely adored Tod. He is funny, snarky, and super sweet. Their intimate relationship is what keeps me reading these books. Nash needs to seriously realize what Tod and kaylee have and try to forgive his brother. There wasn't a whole lot else that stood out for me except for the end. WTF is what I say to that. It just ended. It's pulse went from stable to flat in seconds. I did not like that what so ever. Nor did I like the fact that. Whoa. Why? Slightly annoyed with that.
Overall, despite the fact that this book wasn't really any marginally different than the others and wasn't remotely filed with actual excitement, i still enjoyed the read. Tod kept me drawn and he will continue to do so through the next one as well. Because of him is why this book will get 4 stars instead of the 3 I have been contiplating.
I absolutely adored Tod. He is funny, snarky, and super sweet. Their intimate relationship is what keeps me reading these books. Nash needs to seriously realize what Tod and kaylee have and try to forgive his brother. There wasn't a whole lot else that stood out for me except for the end. WTF is what I say to that. It just ended. It's pulse went from stable to flat in seconds. I did not like that what so ever. Nor did I like the fact that
Spoiler
they killed Emma and then threw her in a different body.Overall, despite the fact that this book wasn't really any marginally different than the others and wasn't remotely filed with actual excitement, i still enjoyed the read. Tod kept me drawn and he will continue to do so through the next one as well. Because of him is why this book will get 4 stars instead of the 3 I have been contiplating.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
This and other reviews can also be found on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews.
This book had absolutely everything I could have wanted to make it a great book! Kaylee finally figuring out what it means to be an extractor as well as a bean sidhe, Tod and Kaylee growing closer, and Kaylee fighting with all she has to save her friends and family.
This book had absolutely everything I could have wanted to make it a great book! Kaylee finally figuring out what it means to be an extractor as well as a bean sidhe, Tod and Kaylee growing closer, and Kaylee fighting with all she has to save her friends and family.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
So I decided to review the 6 books so far in one review since I had the opportunity to read them all back to back. Overall I would give this series a 3.5. It was interesting enough to keep me reading and I (for the most part) liked the characters.
From a timing standpoint, the books flow one right after the other and I thought that was a positive - there isn't much time lost from one to the next. I won't do a summary here - there wouldn't be enough room. Instead - just a brief overview...Kaylee is a 16 (almost 17) year old high school girl who has grown up living with her cousin and aunt/uncle since she was 3. She doesn't have much of a relationship with her father and her mother died - we are introduce to Kaylee and her best friend Emma at the beginning of the series and eventually find out that Kaylee suffers from "panic attacks". Turns out that isn't really the case and she is really a bean sidhe....Oh and she just happens to go to school with a male bean sidhe. Enter Nash - turns out his ability allows him to help Kaylee through the times when she feels a scream coming on.
I actually liked the relationship development and the interaction between Kaylee and Nash - I really did and I can't really understand why there has to be a love triangle. At book 6 I see why Vincent did what she did but I'm not sure I like it. Some of my favorite characters were Emma, Kaylee's uncle Brendon, Harmony and Alec. I will admit - I didn't like Tod at all in the first books but he did eventually grow on me and by book 6 he earned it. I didn't really care for Sabine and after a few great books where Nash was lovely, supportive and caring - he transformed into something entirely different for the next books. Sophie was super annoying and in most cases, not really necessary.
I am for sure looking forward to the last book in the series. Based on how book 6 wrapped up I will be curious to see how things progress and what Kaylee and the group do to get this wrapped up.
From a timing standpoint, the books flow one right after the other and I thought that was a positive - there isn't much time lost from one to the next. I won't do a summary here - there wouldn't be enough room. Instead - just a brief overview...Kaylee is a 16 (almost 17) year old high school girl who has grown up living with her cousin and aunt/uncle since she was 3. She doesn't have much of a relationship with her father and her mother died - we are introduce to Kaylee and her best friend Emma at the beginning of the series and eventually find out that Kaylee suffers from "panic attacks". Turns out that isn't really the case and she is really a bean sidhe....Oh and she just happens to go to school with a male bean sidhe. Enter Nash - turns out his ability allows him to help Kaylee through the times when she feels a scream coming on.
I actually liked the relationship development and the interaction between Kaylee and Nash - I really did and I can't really understand why there has to be a love triangle. At book 6 I see why Vincent did what she did but I'm not sure I like it. Some of my favorite characters were Emma, Kaylee's uncle Brendon, Harmony and Alec. I will admit - I didn't like Tod at all in the first books but he did eventually grow on me and by book 6 he earned it. I didn't really care for Sabine and after a few great books where Nash was lovely, supportive and caring - he transformed into something entirely different for the next books. Sophie was super annoying and in most cases, not really necessary.
I am for sure looking forward to the last book in the series. Based on how book 6 wrapped up I will be curious to see how things progress and what Kaylee and the group do to get this wrapped up.
ellenpenleysmith's review against another edition
4.0
This review, among others, was written and posted for my blog, Reading's My Drug .
Warning: spoilers for previous books.
After the amazing precedent of If I Die, I was actually worried that Before I Wake wouldn’t live up to its standards. And for the first quarter of the book, I did actually wonder. It seemed like everything I wanted had happened and I had no real reason to continue reading, so why was I? Kaylee was still the same selfless character, Tod was still a snark Apricot jam loving Reaper and the rest of the characters hadn’t really changed from If I Die. Sabine was a bit nicer though.
Then something strange happened.
A new mystery was brought forward and suddenly, I was interested again as to how this would all work out. But then, I kind of started to get disinterested. Because what stakes were there to Kaylee? I didn’t really understand what Kaylee could lose because she was already dead and she couldn’t grasp a hold on humanity while adjusting to live in the human world so I felt like she didn’t even want to be dead/alive. She was floating in her mind absently and the only thing that felt alive to her was Tod (which I totally approve of), but after a while even that got boring.
I think what’s dragging this series out for me is Kaylee herself. I mean, she died protecting other people and she still isn’t sick of saving people and help them. I just don’t get it. Surely there is not one person who can die and still feel compassionate about saving people. Sure, her job kind of required it (saving stolen souls and all that), but come on! Surely you had enough by now? I kind of feel like I should go back and re-rate all the books because this isn’t the first time Kaylee’s compulsion for helping others has annoyed me. But it’s the sixth book and this act is starting to wain on me, much like it is on Avari (yes, he’s still around). She died and still has no sense of self preservation which is beyond ridiculous.
It’s really the last quarter of the book that saved me. Because each book in this series has really been a stand-alone plot. Yeah, some aspects continue throughout the books (Demons breath and Avari for example), but each mystery is solved and dealt with by the final page. Before I Wake was different. By the last page, Kaylee is out for revenge and that has me excited for With All My Soul. And this is why I don’t want to re-rate all the other books. Because as much as Kaylee has annoyed me now and before, I desperately want the next book to see what happens which is where Vincent did it right.
I’m so torn on this rating. It was better than the other books, but at the same time it grated on my nerves which made me hate it, but the ending just makes me want the last book even more. I feel like I can’t rate it any lower than the other books because it was better despite my commentating, but I can’t rate it any higher either.
Warning: spoilers for previous books.
After the amazing precedent of If I Die, I was actually worried that Before I Wake wouldn’t live up to its standards. And for the first quarter of the book, I did actually wonder. It seemed like everything I wanted had happened and I had no real reason to continue reading, so why was I? Kaylee was still the same selfless character, Tod was still a snark Apricot jam loving Reaper and the rest of the characters hadn’t really changed from If I Die. Sabine was a bit nicer though.
Then something strange happened.
A new mystery was brought forward and suddenly, I was interested again as to how this would all work out. But then, I kind of started to get disinterested. Because what stakes were there to Kaylee? I didn’t really understand what Kaylee could lose because she was already dead and she couldn’t grasp a hold on humanity while adjusting to live in the human world so I felt like she didn’t even want to be dead/alive. She was floating in her mind absently and the only thing that felt alive to her was Tod (which I totally approve of), but after a while even that got boring.
I think what’s dragging this series out for me is Kaylee herself. I mean, she died protecting other people and she still isn’t sick of saving people and help them. I just don’t get it. Surely there is not one person who can die and still feel compassionate about saving people. Sure, her job kind of required it (saving stolen souls and all that), but come on! Surely you had enough by now? I kind of feel like I should go back and re-rate all the books because this isn’t the first time Kaylee’s compulsion for helping others has annoyed me. But it’s the sixth book and this act is starting to wain on me, much like it is on Avari (yes, he’s still around). She died and still has no sense of self preservation which is beyond ridiculous.
It’s really the last quarter of the book that saved me. Because each book in this series has really been a stand-alone plot. Yeah, some aspects continue throughout the books (Demons breath and Avari for example), but each mystery is solved and dealt with by the final page. Before I Wake was different. By the last page, Kaylee is out for revenge and that has me excited for With All My Soul. And this is why I don’t want to re-rate all the other books. Because as much as Kaylee has annoyed me now and before, I desperately want the next book to see what happens which is where Vincent did it right.
I’m so torn on this rating. It was better than the other books, but at the same time it grated on my nerves which made me hate it, but the ending just makes me want the last book even more. I feel like I can’t rate it any lower than the other books because it was better despite my commentating, but I can’t rate it any higher either.
sjtouqan's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, I really did, but I can't bring myself to give it five stars. I'm sorry Ms. Stiles, but I just can't. Kaylee changed to me, and the constant Gary Stu way she thought of him annoyed me. He isn't perfect, but he is so very very beautiful, evidently. I couldn't help but think that part of me missed his protective best friend mode in the fourth book. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But I did love the book. Alec broke my heart. I cried and laughed and yelled. Truly a great book. Cannot wait for the end.
valoria's review against another edition
5.0
I think this was the best book of the series. Very action packed and I LOVED the ending. Onto the last book now. The one good thing is that Ms. Vincent has promised a HEA for Kaylee at the beginning of the next book. So I know that Tod for sure survives yay. :D
Tbh I wouldn't care if Nash dies but I'd feel bad for Sabine. (WHAT DOES SHE SEE IN HIM???) Also Sarah. Like ugh. Shut up. Nobody cares about you. Except Luca. (Again, WHAT DOES HE SEE IN HER???)
Can't believe I'm so near the end. :'(
Tbh I wouldn't care if Nash dies but I'd feel bad for Sabine. (WHAT DOES SHE SEE IN HIM???) Also Sarah. Like ugh. Shut up. Nobody cares about you. Except Luca. (Again, WHAT DOES HE SEE IN HER???)
Can't believe I'm so near the end. :'(
kayla_llbr's review against another edition
4.0
Oh Todd, you own my heart completely! The emotions I encountered throughout this book goes to show what an incredible author Rachel Vincent is. I cannot wait for the last book of the series. It will be bittersweet
lolasreviews's review against another edition
3.0
Be warned this review contains a major spoiler of book 5. It does not contains spoilers of this book.
So I had really high expectations for this book. I loved If I Die, the 5th book in this series. And I expected this book to be even better, well I guess I had too high expectations because I was a bit disapointed with this book.
Before I explain my thought about this book I first want to say that I love the cover and think it's the most beautifull cover in this series so far, it makes me glad I have this version of the series.
First the story, all the books in this series have a clear story. Mostly consisting of some evil plot or sheme that the characters have to stop and at the end of this book it's solved, well most of it. Well this book lacked this order. And not only that, the story was actually pretty confusing. It really took some time before I as a reader understood what was going on and even then I wasn't satisfied with the explanation. Also there was a bit too much "omg what is happening now" going on and then afterwards it just got a bit repetitive.
The theme of this series actually is a bit dark, but this book feels even darker and even a bit depressing at times. I didn't like some of the dark things that happened in this book. I think there was a bit too much dark things in this book in relation to the bright and happy things.
In this book kaylee is death, wel maybe undead is a better term. Just like her boyfriend Tod. This means we get a view of the afterlife and how it is to be undead, I actually liked this, because in the rest of this series we don't really learn much about it. Although there still is a bit too little explantion for my taste, there are still some things that are a bit unclear to me, like how they teleport, how they actually get in this state of undead and how they can still eat while they don't need this.
Well the characters are still the same as in the other books. Although there are some little acts that are a bit out of character. Kaylee does some things I didn't expect. Also there is still the usual drama between the characters and this is one of the things I always enjoy about this book. I actually would've liked seeing more drama and character interactions in this book.
Normally I would skip the world building topic in reviews of later books in a series, but I just have to say something about the world building in this book. There are some rules in the soul screamer world, rules that let us know how this world functions. And Rachel Vincent changes one of her rules in a not convincing manner. Some rules are just rules and should stay that way. I think that changing a main rule of the world in a series is something that you shuldn't do, because well it doens't make sense. Something is impossible, but now suddenly it isn't anymore.
To conclude: I love this series, but I was disapointed in this book. I think it's my least favourite book in the series. It just is too confusing, a major world building rule changes, the story lacks the nice structure of the other books and there is too less character drama and too much "omg what is happening now" drama. I think it is a bit of my own fault that I was disapointed. I loved book 5 so much, that I expected this book to be even better. And due to those high expectations this book felt even worse than it is. Also I think that there are enough people that will enjoy this book, so I would recommend to form your own opinion.
So I had really high expectations for this book. I loved If I Die, the 5th book in this series. And I expected this book to be even better, well I guess I had too high expectations because I was a bit disapointed with this book.
Before I explain my thought about this book I first want to say that I love the cover and think it's the most beautifull cover in this series so far, it makes me glad I have this version of the series.
First the story, all the books in this series have a clear story. Mostly consisting of some evil plot or sheme that the characters have to stop and at the end of this book it's solved, well most of it. Well this book lacked this order. And not only that, the story was actually pretty confusing. It really took some time before I as a reader understood what was going on and even then I wasn't satisfied with the explanation. Also there was a bit too much "omg what is happening now" going on and then afterwards it just got a bit repetitive.
The theme of this series actually is a bit dark, but this book feels even darker and even a bit depressing at times. I didn't like some of the dark things that happened in this book. I think there was a bit too much dark things in this book in relation to the bright and happy things.
In this book kaylee is death, wel maybe undead is a better term. Just like her boyfriend Tod. This means we get a view of the afterlife and how it is to be undead, I actually liked this, because in the rest of this series we don't really learn much about it. Although there still is a bit too little explantion for my taste, there are still some things that are a bit unclear to me, like how they teleport, how they actually get in this state of undead and how they can still eat while they don't need this.
Well the characters are still the same as in the other books. Although there are some little acts that are a bit out of character. Kaylee does some things I didn't expect. Also there is still the usual drama between the characters and this is one of the things I always enjoy about this book. I actually would've liked seeing more drama and character interactions in this book.
Normally I would skip the world building topic in reviews of later books in a series, but I just have to say something about the world building in this book. There are some rules in the soul screamer world, rules that let us know how this world functions. And Rachel Vincent changes one of her rules in a not convincing manner. Some rules are just rules and should stay that way. I think that changing a main rule of the world in a series is something that you shuldn't do, because well it doens't make sense. Something is impossible, but now suddenly it isn't anymore.
To conclude: I love this series, but I was disapointed in this book. I think it's my least favourite book in the series. It just is too confusing, a major world building rule changes, the story lacks the nice structure of the other books and there is too less character drama and too much "omg what is happening now" drama. I think it is a bit of my own fault that I was disapointed. I loved book 5 so much, that I expected this book to be even better. And due to those high expectations this book felt even worse than it is. Also I think that there are enough people that will enjoy this book, so I would recommend to form your own opinion.
hoping4more's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!
See my full review here:
http://alwayshoping4more.blogspot.ca/2012/07/soul-screamers-6-before-i-wake-55-stars.html
See my full review here:
http://alwayshoping4more.blogspot.ca/2012/07/soul-screamers-6-before-i-wake-55-stars.html