Hoping For More: July 2012

Title: Before I Wake
Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers, #6
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Page Count: 346 Pages
Published: June 26th 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Rating: 5/5

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...

My Review:

My first thought after turning the last page of Before I wake was 'I have to wait a whole year for more?!' Followed immediately by 'OMG that was sooooo good!'

Totally different feel in this one than If I Die but just as riveting and heart stopping. I have to say that being a Tod fan made this my favourite book in the series, even with the heartbreak and turmoil throughout. There are so many perfect scenes with Tod and Kaylee and finally some sexual tension and heated moments that felt effortless and perfect. With Nash she was always second guessing either herself or him, or she was worried or afraid. With Tod everything just clicks into place and their chemistry flows right off the page.

My favourite part about Before I Wake was finally seeing Kaylee have some real powers. In the other books she had the heart of a hero but was so often powerless to help those she loves. Her new abilities give her the extra power behind the intent that I have waiting to see - to see the bad guys scared of her for once.

Obviously there are some major sad moments in Before I Wake, but I won't spoil them. I felt like they were necessary and added to the build up of what is to come in the final book, but they hurt and totally sucked at the same time.
A fast-paced and action-packed chapter in the Soul Screamersm even more excited now to find out how it all ends.

What happens when you piss off an Undead Bean Sidhe? I don't know but I feel like some hellion heads are going to roll.

Fav. Quote(s):

"She just got out of the hospital. Why don't you go gossip behind her back, like decent people?" - Emma (Ch 2)

"I think death looks good on you." - Tod (Ch 3)

"What happened to the good little girl who blushed and covered her face at the thought of what you're doing right now?" "She died," I whispered into his ear. -Tod and Kaylee (Ch 4)

"Avari had woken me up and given my afterlife purpose. He’d awakened my rage." Kaylee (Ch 21)

*Side note: as a bonus there is "A Day in the Afterlife of Tod" at the end of the book that made me smile, which was welcome after the intensity of the last chapter.*