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katiemcgregor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I never would have discovered, nor decided to read, <I>My Soul to Take</I> if it weren't for my old college roommate (thanks Nikki), but I'm not mad that I did end up reading it. I've never been a big fan of paranormal romances, even back when they were the big thing. Something about the genre just doesn't mesh with my reading tastes. Now though, I think I can appreciate this book for what it is. Is it a quality piece of literature? No. Does it have a mysterious keep-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat plot? No. Do the character relationships have solid development? No. But is it a good time and a nostalgic piece of mid-2000s literature? Most definitely.
I commend Vincent for getting creative with the incorporation of banshees. I can't say I've read any other books about them, and the lore she writes makes sense for the most part. If anything, it's probably one of the more solid parts of the book.
I think my main complaint is that the big "plot twist" at the end is really out of left field and still doesn't make a lot of sense to me? It just feels like a plot device that was randomly thrown in there. This doesn't ruin the whole book for me, but I just wish there was a little more thought put into it.
A few other critical observations that didn't hinder my opinion of the book, but are worth noting:
- Other than discussing banshees and making out, Kaylee and Nash really don't do anything else? They don't have much foundation to their relationship and definitely have some insta love vibes. But at the same time I don't hate them. They just have such a classic YA paranormal romance. In a way, I love it.
- I wish that the setting of Texas was utilized more. This is purely because it's funny to imagine all of these paranormal beings walking around with heavy southern accents. There's one point where dialogue is written with an accent, but that was it. I wish there was more.
- The plot definitely has a predictability to it. Other than the plot twist, which was so out of left field it doesn't make sense, everything else was pretty predictable.
All this to say, this book isn't necessarily an objective masterpiece, but it's fun to read, especially when you can laugh at the ridiculousness and lack of development.
I commend Vincent for getting creative with the incorporation of banshees. I can't say I've read any other books about them, and the lore she writes makes sense for the most part. If anything, it's probably one of the more solid parts of the book.
I think my main complaint is that the big "plot twist" at the end is really out of left field and still doesn't make a lot of sense to me? It just feels like a plot device that was randomly thrown in there. This doesn't ruin the whole book for me, but I just wish there was a little more thought put into it.
A few other critical observations that didn't hinder my opinion of the book, but are worth noting:
- Other than discussing banshees and making out, Kaylee and Nash really don't do anything else? They don't have much foundation to their relationship and definitely have some insta love vibes. But at the same time I don't hate them. They just have such a classic YA paranormal romance. In a way, I love it.
- I wish that the setting of Texas was utilized more. This is purely because it's funny to imagine all of these paranormal beings walking around with heavy southern accents. There's one point where dialogue is written with an accent, but that was it. I wish there was more.
- The plot definitely has a predictability to it. Other than the plot twist, which was so out of left field it doesn't make sense, everything else was pretty predictable.
All this to say, this book isn't necessarily an objective masterpiece, but it's fun to read, especially when you can laugh at the ridiculousness and lack of development.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
kreadman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment