With All My Soul Review

With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers #7
Published by Harlequin Teen on March 26, 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult
Goodreads

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....

 

   Julie’s Review    

I put off reading the final book in this beloved series for a little while even though I pre-ordered it. I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters and this enthralling world Rachel Vincent built for us. This series is so deeply emotional and the characters are so wonderfully developed. Ms. Vincent must be a Joss Whedon fan because she does not pull the punches and her characters suffer through a lot as the series progresses. Each book in the series portrays one of the seven deadly sins, which makes for a really cool plot.

With All My Soul is the finale of a long battle with Avari, the hellion of greed, who wants Kaylee’s soul. He wants to own her and torture her in the Netherworld for all eternity and own her banshee wail. So he preys on her loyalty and love and continues to hurt (and kill) her friends and family to get to her. They have suffered so much already, and Kaylee is furious. She keeps trying to find a way to get rid of Avari once and for all and to save her loved ones. But can she succeed without sacrificing herself? How much will it cost her to save everyone?

After all these characters have been through, I just didn’t know how they could get a happy ending. This series, and this book specifically, deals with so many deep emotions – grief, anger, worry, pain – so much loss. But Ms. Vincent is a genius and delivers a conclusion that is both satisfying and emotionally taxing to read. I gotta say I really liked Ira, despite him being a hellion of wrath. He is definitely interesting and clever.

I love Tod and Kaylee and their bond is so amazingly strong, even after everything they have both been through. Like Kaylee, I finally started liking Sabine, even though I couldn’t stand her at first. Even her cousin Sophie has grown on me. And Nash, oh Nash, I’m so glad he finally learned the truth. That was bothering me the entire series and I’m glad he finally understands. And poor Emma – being Kaylee’s best friend can be dangerous, but she manages to handle everything thrown at her fairly well, considering. I loved the ending, and even though this series is complete, there is still room for some side novellas should Ms. Vincent feel like being extra nice to her fans.

Here are some quotes that stuck with me:

Emma and I had both died twice, and for me, that second one actually stuck. Now I was a “resurrected American,” better known, in colloquial terms, as life-challenged. Or undead. Or the living dead. But I’m not a zombie. I’m just a little less alive than your average high school junior.

And

That damn mara was an emotional ninja, sneaking up on your heart when you least expected it.

And another

“Your mortal attachments are like a puppet’s strings,” Avari said, both hands clasped casually at his back. “One need only pluck the right cord to make the puppet dance.” His smile was almost creepier than his threats. “Dance, reaper!”

And a Tod quote:

“I mean, creatures who only exist in the dark don’t know they’re missing the sun, right? But once you’ve seen the sun. Once you’ve seen it light up the world … once you’ve felt its heat all around you … inside you …” He clutched his own chest, and my heart cracked open. “Its hard to live in the dark after the sun dies.”

But seriously, this series is absolutely wonderful and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys the paranormal genre, great characters, lots of plot, and doesn’t mind a little torture in your YA. I recommend her adult books as well. All her series are great!

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