Review: My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers book 3) by Rachel Vincent
Publisher: MIRA
Released: 15th April 2011
Rating: 4/5
Challenge: Soul Screamers Reading Challenge hosted by Fiktshun

Goodreads description:

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them. Until something does.

Demon’s breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow, the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked. And when the epidemic hits too close to home, Kaylee will have to risk everything to save those she loves.
My thoughts:

I'd forgotten how much I loved Rachel Vincent's writing and her Soul Screamers world, and I thoroughly enjoyed falling back in love with it.

Kaylee is a headstrong and no-nonsense heroine. Fiercely loyal and brave almost to a fault, she really showed off her best qualities in this book. Her determination to save those around her, even at great personal risk is both admirable and intensely frustrating; but on both counts her behaviour illicits strong reactions. I felt sh grew again in this book, partly from her growing knowledge of her Bean Side heritage and from her developing confidence. 


Nash, on the otherhand, I was so unimpressed with. His poor decision making and attitude towards Kaylee has pretty much cemented the poor opinion I already had of him. I know I complain about parental input in YA; but if Nash had gone to his mother for help the whole situation in this book would've been avoided and that irritated me more than I can express. What happened to him wasn't his fault; but how he dealt with the situation was truly appalling. Nash will never redeem himself in my eyes, no matter what happens in the rest of the series.


Tod....whether due to Nash's failings or his own successes...I am so Team Tod. He felt almost like a completely different creature in this book, whist still retaining what we loved about him from the previous 2. He was a bit more helpful, more sensitive and considerate yet as snarky, unpredictable and flippant as ever. I adore him, I can't wait to see more from him in the later books! 


The plot was gripping and intricate, but slightly predictable. I did enjoy it but at one point towards the end, Kaylee made a decision that really, I don't think she would have made. She didn't chose the lesser of two evils; instead putting a lot of people in danger to make herself feel a bit better. I felt this decision was made more because it advanced the plot than because it was the right thing to do, and it really pulled me out of the book.


Despite that little niggle at the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the third instalment of this series, and I'm so grateful to Rachel from Fiktshun for hosting the Soul Screamers Challenge as without it, I don't think I would have read this book for a long long time. I can't wait to read the 4th book in April!