Book one

MY SOUL TO TAKE

synopsis (from Goodreads)

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally. 

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next

MY REVIEW:

If this is an example of Rachel Vincent's writing...Bring on the rest of the series!!!  I was familiar with the Banshee but don't ever recall reading a book about one.  I've been looking at this book for a while, but the Soul Screamers reading challenge encouraged me to get reading!!   

I love the character of Kaylee. Her friendship with Emma is the kind we all want to have. 

I can't wait to continue with the books!

Speaking of The Banshee....

I've joined the SOUL SCREAMERS READING CHALLENGE

hosted by Fiktshun.com

We plan to read all of Rachel Vincent's wonderful books over the coming months.

All in anticipation of the upcoming release of the 6th book in the series:

for more information:

go here

Time for another mythology blurb.
Today it's Celtic lore. ( info obtained from Wikipedia)
The Banshee....
is a feminine spirit.  She represents an omen of death and a
messenger from the Otherworld.


A banshee is a fairy who wails when someone is about to die.  
The Banshee have been describes as women dressed in gray and having long hair.  (From Wikipedia) The women are often seen brushing their hair with a silver comb.  According to Irish legend, if you see a comb on the ground--NEVER pick it up, or the banshee will lure you away to the Otherworld.
 I found these images of the Banshee online.

Fans of Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers books will recognize the banshee as a main character in her books.  For more information about the Soul Screamers, go here

DRAGONSWOOD

by

JANET LEE CAREY

published by 

Dial Books (Penguin USA)

received this book from publisher and

Destination Elsewhere giveaway

synopsis (Goodreads)

Wilde Island is not at peace. The kingdom mourns the dead Pendragon king and awaits the return of his heir; the uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is strained; and the regent is funding a bloodthirsty witch hunt, hoping to rid the island of half-fey maidens. 

Tess, daughter of a blacksmith, has visions of the future, but she still doesn't expect to be accused of witchcraft, forced to flee with her two best friends, or offered shelter by the handsome and enigmatic Garth Huntsman, a warden for Dragonswood. But Garth is the younger prince in disguise and Tess soon learns that her true father was fey, making them the center of an exciting, romantic adventure, and an ancient prophecy that will bring about peace between all three races - dragon, human, and fairy.

MY REVIEW

WOW, wonderful, fantabulous, unique and amazing.  Get the idea?  The was a fantastic book.  It contained dragons (always a favorite of mine) Fey (fairies) and humans.  Not just any humans but descendants of Arthur Pendragon...remember him?  King Arthur?  Witchhunts, crusades and wonderful characters made this a compelling book to read.  I couldn't wait to finish to find out what happens to Tess, but it was bittersweet when I turned the last page.  I realized I didn't want it to end.   

Back to Tess, she is the main character.  A young girl accused of witchcraft, arrested and tortured.  Throughout the book we are introduced to many other amazing characters.  Tess's two friends, Poppy and Meg are understandably angry when they find out she mentioned their names while being tortured and they escape and run with her.  

I don't want to give anymore of the book away.  It flows in a natural progression.  

The characters were rich and full of life.  I wasn't too impressed with the fey or their way of life, but we cannot all be the same.  The dragons were more majestic than I could have imagined.  The descriptions were rich and colorful.

Overall, a very well written and enjoyable book!

5 stars! 

for more information about Destination Elsewhere

go here http://destination-elsewhere.ning.com/

FREE Two Days Only: A Vampire Novel with Actual Bite!

As the modern world establishes itself and pushes the supernatural into the shadows, the supernatural fights back.

The Darkening Dream is a chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter, that has received rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and is FREE for two days only on Amazon Kindle (February 7th to 8th)! Download your FREE copy here: http://amzn.to/yTvZPG

Long-time readers of dark historical fantasy (Tim Powers, Guy Gavriel Kay, Katherine Kurtz) will appreciate the weaving together of mythology, occult, and religion, while younger readers and fans of HBO dramas (True Blood, Carnivàle) or urban fantasy (Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher) will be drawn to the twisted imagination, graphic action, and romantic tension.

About The Darkening Dream

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts – Sarah Engelmann’s life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.

With the help of Alex, an attractive Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex’s elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah’s own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah’s continuing visions reveal?

No less than Gabriel’s Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be her very soul.

The Reviews Are In

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"…A perfect blend of mystery, magic and myth. A grown-up Grimm's fairy tale...emphasis on grim."  ~Amazon Review

Read the first two sample chapters here >> http://bit.ly/xXVxXS

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Cover links can be found at:

http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/the-darkening-dream/cover
and
http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/the-darkening-dream/cover-small