#TravelingtotheTerminus Review ~ With All My Soul ~ Rachel Vincent

With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent
Soul Screamers #7
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased Paperback
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove, #TravelingtoTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has...

I put off reading this last book for a long time. A really long time considering I've had it in my possession, a signed copy no less, since May of 2013. But I adore this series and these characters and I didn't want to say goodbye. So I put it off. However, I'm happy to say that I couldn't be happier with this ending. If I had to say goodbye, at least Vincent made it worth my self-imposed wait. ;)

I think the bar was set very high for Vincent in wrapping up this series. We all love Kaylee and crew and were loathe to say goodbye. I'm sure it was difficult, wanting to make all readers happy but knowing that's an impossible feat. I, for one, am pleased with how things wrapped up.

With All My Soul finds Kaylee wanting justice - nay, vengeance - against the hellions who have taken so much from her. Before she can even formulate a plan, Avari strikes again. In attempting a rescue, Kaylee realizes she's going to have to sacrifice much more if she wants to end the hellions' reign of terror.

I love this entire cast. Okay, there are a few I just love to hate but still. The character development I've been witness to is heartwarming and incredible. They've each grown in some way, some more than others.

Vincent took a risk, I think, with the introduction of a new hellion and the repercussions of the lessons he teaches Kaylee. It was fascinating watching Kaylee, and a few others, learn more about themselves, figuring out what's most important in this life or the after-life in Kaylee's and Tod's case.

I appreciated the action Kaylee took - what she gave up - and the wiliness used in accomplishing it. And I appreciated how it all wrapped up. So even though I waited 3 years to read this because I seriously didn't want it to end, I'm satisfied with where all these characters ended up.

My TBR List Review ~ The Stars Never Rise ~ Rachel Vincent

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

The Stars Never Rise Rachel Vincent
The Stars Never Rise #1
Release Date:
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: Received as an ARC from the publisher at RT 2015
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016HW, #BloggerShame, #ShelfLove, #TakeControlTBR
Goodreads

Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a famiy. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears hoodies?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

Y'all. This book. THIS. BOOK. It was sooo good. And once again, I'm speechless at the awesome I've had sitting on my shelf for almost a year. If y'all haven't read this yet, I highly encourage you to snap to it. GO! (okay, you can finish reading my review first :) )

This is gonna be a review where I gush a lot but don't say much. The premise is fantastic - original and fresh - at least, I've read nothing like it. There were several moments of gasps, "holy..."s, and "oh"s with events and plot twists I didn't see coming. There was even a line where I stopped and told my daughter, "This is why you're gonna love this book," and then read the line to her. The story is well plotted and well crafted, and the characters are fully realized. I felt I was right alongside them in all they experienced. And one thing I really appreciate about Rachel Vincent's YA...it's YA but feels so mature.

Nina - I adore her. There were a couple of characters who referred to her lack of intelligence. I never saw anything to make me think she lacked smarts but I would absolutely want her on my team. She is courageous in the face of danger and terror and fierce in her love, protection, and loyalty.

Nina's new friends, Finn, Devi, Reese, and Grayson are a fine group and are people I'd also want fighting on my side. I barely know they but feel like I've always known them. They, too, are brave and loyal, and embraced Nina, enfolding her into their lives. They all have each others' backs and I have a feeling that's going to be important when they face what's yet to come. Mellie, Nina's sister, is a character I hope to learn more about in the next book. I know she loves Nina and Nina loves her, but I didn't get a real good feel for her yet.

So, fast-paced, brilliantly written story and characters I'm already fully invested in. What's not to love? Nothing. I finished in a day and have already promised to loan our my copy to 4 people (my daughters included). Read it. You won't be disappointed.

My TBR List ~ March ~ And the Winner is...

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

***

As y'all know, I'm participating in the Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge this month. Since I was already regretting making a list of books I'd read, I decided to let y'all pick the one you absolutely want to make sure I get to. The votes are in...

And the Winner, by ONE vote, is:

The Stars Never Rise
The Stars Never Rise #1

Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a famiy. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears hoodies?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.



Check back on March 26th for my review! And thanks for voting! :D

**Sidekick Showcase ~ #44**

Sidekick Showcase (previously known as Sidekick Saturday) is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

**********************************
May's theme ~ In honor of Mother's Day we'll pick moms, grandmas, strong female mentors, etc. 

My pick this week:
Harmony Hudson
from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers Series  

I'm picking Harmony for my last pick this month. It's been awhile since I read this series, but I know I admire Harmony. She is a good mom - smart, kind, loving, tough when she needs to be, fiercely protective, generous (she took on teaching Kaylee how to be a bean-sidhe), AND she bakes. Like all the time. ;) What more can you ask for in a mom?

"Can you hear me, hon?" she asked, and I nodded, so grateful for her presence that I didn't think to question how she'd known she was needed. "Your voice is fadin', but I can sing all night." She faced Marg then, and seemed to stand taller. "You're not leaving with her soul. Or the other one's either," she said, glancing at Sophie's soul where it still bobbed sluggishly in the air over her body.
-Harmony & Kaylee, pg. 204, My Soul to Take

"Go wake up van Winkle and see if you can get him to eat something. I'm making apple-cinnamon muffins."
-Harmony to Kaylee, pg. 27, My Soul to Keep

"Laissez faire parenting, Mom. We talked about this." He handed me a soda, and Harmony let me go to scowl at her son.
"That was before I spent two weeks nursing you through withdrawals from a substance more dangerous and addictive than anything the human world has ever even seen. I think that's earned me a little latitude, even if you are old enough to vote."
-Nash & Harmony, pg. 57-58, My Soul to Steal