Robots and Vamps

Reviewed by Christel

Disclosure:  This novel was purchased by the reviewer with her own hard earned cash.

After reading the dust jacket summary on the back cover of this book, I felt trepidatious about reading it.  I thought it sounded a little goofy and immature for my taste, centering around a pop star willing to sell her soul for fame.  I figured the plot would be focused toward the younger reader and I really didn’t expect to find anything new from the same old pop star seeks fortune and fame story.  Boy was I wrong!

The story begins with Kaylee, Nash and Tod at a concert, witnessing the death of a famous diva, Eden.  But Kaylee dosen’t sing for her soul, leading her to believe Eden has no soul.  Come to find out, lots of young aspiring starts are selling their souls under the direction of their agent.  They are bartering their eternity for a few short years of fame and fortune.  Tod’s ex girlfriend Addison is falling in Eden’s footsteps.  She has even made it onto the reapers list and is scheduled to die in a matter of days.

Kaylee and Nash agree to help Tod try and save Addison’s soul before she dies.  Otherwise Addy will have to spend the rest of her eternity in the Netherworld being tortured by demons and Hellions and that does not sound fun.

The road to the Netherworld is littered with obstacles.  Kaylee’s father has laid down some ground rules, making it difficult for Kaylee to help her friends behind his back.  The kids don’t actually know how to get to the Netherworld yet.  And of course, they still have to attend school so they can only help at night.  This limits their time and ability to help Addy but yet the persevere.  No good deed goes unpunished, and Nash and Kaylee are about to find out what that is all about.

Still, I seem to be making this story sound like it is about nothing more than a spoiled pop princess.  And it is, somewhat.  The plot does center around getting Addy her soul back, but there is much more.  Kaylee is dealing with having a father back in her life and learning Bean Sidhe lessons from Nash’s mom, Harmony.  All while trying to build enough self confidence to have a good relationship with her boyfriend.  We learn more of the Netherworld and it’s inhabitants.  There are dangerous and creepy things that live in the Netherworld and unfortunately, the Bean Sidhe’s have to figure out a way to deal with these creatures who hate them so.

Somehow Ms. Vincent takes a story which on the surface should be formulaic and stale, and turns it into an entertaining read. The main plot is a tried and true one, but the journey to the conclusion is what makes it fun.  So, I guess since I didn’t have very high expectations I am definitely pleasantly surprised.   I am still of fan of this series and I look forward to the next adventure that awaits the Bean Sidhes and the Reapers.   So I guess the old adage is true, never judge a book by it’s cover.  Not even the blurb on the back.  (But I still do it anyway!)

Authors Website: Rachel Vincent

The names of the entrants were placed into the Official RaV Drawing hat, mixed around with ferocity and Bean reached her hand in to pick out the magical winners.

Congratulations Teresa, Emma and Emily

You are each the lucky recipient of a copy of My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent!

Enjoy!  Thanks to all who entered!

Reminder – Don’t forget to enter, this giveaway ends Friday, February 12!

We’ve got a great giveaway for you folks sponsored by Big Honcho Media!  Three lucky winners will receive their very own copy of My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent.

Book synopsis:  Book 1 of The Soul Screamers series — My Soul to Take — was released this past summer, and readers found out why Kaylee Cavanaugh screams bloody murder when someone’s about to die.

In Book 2 – My Soul to Save – when teen pop star Eden croaks on stage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk.

Soul Screamers: The last thing you hear before you die.

Just follow these quick and easy steps to be entered

1. Send an email to robotsandvamps@gmail.com.  Please include  “My Soul to Save” in the subject of the email.

2. Provide us with your name and mailing address.  Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

3. On February 12, Bean will choose three lucky winners from the magic RaV hat and you will be notified by email.

Its that simple… Good Luck and Happy Reading!

With trepidation, I picked up My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers book 1) and much to my suprise, I really enjoyed it.  I think the title of the series Soul Screamers sounded kind of silly to me, but once I got into the story, I understood why that moniker was chosen.  I am looking forward to this next installment, My Soul to Save.

Release Date: January 1, 2010

Just click on the image below for a free excerpt from Chapter 1.

Dust Jacket Summary: “If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.”

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk….

About the Author: Rachel Vincent is the author of the Shifters series, about a werecat named Faythe Sanders, who is learning to define her own role in her family and fighting to claim a place in her Pride.

Rachel’s young adult debut, My Soul to Take, will hit the shelves on August 1, 2009. My Soul to Take is the first in the Soul Screamers series, about a teenage bean sidhe (banshee) trying to balance a normal high school experience with the terrifying, hidden world she’s just discovered.

A recent transplant into the deep south, Rachel Vincent has a BA in English and an overactive imagination, and consistently finds the latter to be more practical. She shares her workspace with two black cats (Kaci and Nyx) and her # 1 fan. Rachel is older than she looks-seriously-and younger than she feels, but remains convinced that for every day she spends writing, one more day will be added to her lifespan.