Fiktshun's Soul Screamers Reading Challenge: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

 

 There will be spoilers in this post from My Soul to Take, My Soul to Save, My Soul to Keep and my Soul to Steal! If you want to know more about the Soul Screamers books then check out my review of the first book in the series, My Soul to Take here! 

 Alternatively if you've already some of the books 

My Soul to Save is here!

My Soul to Keep is here!

And My Soul to Steal is here!

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 342
Publisher: MIRA Ink
Published: 27th of September 2011

The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

 What I Have to Say

...


Just give me a moment. I can't even think how to put into words the epic-ness of this book. 


It was just so sad and funny and shocking! And it made me look mental for reading it on the train! I kept gasping at the book and trying not to cry xD No one said anything but I'm pretty sure they were backing away slowly. 


Trying not to give away too many spoilers, but I have to say that I still think that Todd and Emma should have gotten together. They would have been amazing together! 


Todd is still my favourite character, but I really like Sabine too. She's so sarky and bitchy. I love it! :P 


I can not wait for the next book to come out! I need it now! 


Slightly cryptic note for those who haven't read it, but I can't wait to see how it all develops after everything that's happened. Vincent has really shaken things up! 


Never read this book on a train. Ever. Just trust me. I'm pretty sure I screamed out "No!" at one point...

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Synopsis (from Goodreads) 

Pages: 236
Publisher: Headline Book Publishing
Published: the 1st of January 2012

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18C. Hadley’s in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.

What I Have to Say

I really loved this book. It was such a lighthearted read. Especially since so many of the books I read leave me crying, which is why I like them, this one was a welcome change. I could just read it and not have my emotions toyed with by a sadistic author.

I loved the characters and the humour. It made me smile.

There's not really much more I can say about it though! Just that it's really sweet and nice to read >< I would recommend it if you're looking for a comfort read. Maybe something to read on holiday (especially for the plane ride!!!) especially since it's so short, so easy to read in one sitting.

It's perfect for comfort reading!

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

Pages: 417
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Realised on: 2nd of October 2007
Other Books in this Series:
     Uglies
     Pretties
     Specials

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of "American Idol." Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But Aya doesn't care; she just wants to lie low with her drone, Moggle. And maybe kick a good story for herself.

Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity...and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for.

What I Have to Say

 

Extras was amazing! I loved it so much! Probably in part because it's set in Japan, but it was also really cleverly written. The change in culture was really smoothly done. I think it was partly because Westerfeld only changed it slightly. 

It's not too inaccurate, because especially in the future, the cultures will be very similar, because they're growing more and more similar as time goes on.  But at the same time, he's made it so obviously Japan. As well as also fitting in the fact that the society has developed quiet a bit since we last saw it with Tally. I envy Westerfeld's way of creating such unique and intricate worlds. 


I think it was also really clever to separate this book from the previous three. It was nice to have a few of the loose ends left from Specials tied up, and also from a different view point that Tally. It was great to see where the society went after the mind-rain. 


In my opinion though, this is the best book of the series, though that might just be because it's Japan ^^

This is the last book in the series, so I won't have a chance to say this again, if you haven't read this series then you are seriously missing out! 

Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 272
Publisher: Walker
Published on: 28th of Febuary 2012

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.

(Special thanks to  the author for providing me with this copy ^^) 

What I Have to Say

This book was amazing. I honesly didn't expect it to be as good as it was, which is why I should never let first impressions of a book sway my judgement xD

I've never really thought about the paparrazi as anything more than a bunch of people who bother celebrities and take their pictures. This really gives an insight into their point of view. Why they do it, how they think about it. I'm not saying that it's good, but there are some really good arguments made in this book. 

Jo was a really cool character too. I feel in love with her really quickly! She just had such an interesting voice and it was easy to  sympathise with her. She was also really funny! My sort of humour I think.^^

The best thing I think about it though was  how real it felt, which is especially impressive considering the plot. 


I really recommened this book!

 

Katana by Cole Gibson

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Pages: 375
Publisher: Flux
Published on: 8th of March 2012


 Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana—a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

 What I Have to Say

I was really surprised by this book! I was expecting it to be enjoyable, but I thought that, as I know quite a bit about Japan, I would be bugged by a lot of inaccuracies! But there are only a few and the story more than makes up for it (and it's pretty funny to imagine samurai warriors tripping over her kimono. Anyone who's tried to wear one will appreciate how hard it is to run in them, let along fight! :P).

Also, I was really impressed that they used the Japanese nunchyaku rather than the Korean nunchuck. But I won't bore you with random Japanese knowledge :P 

Rileigh was a really cool character. It was easy to imagine her as both the high school skater chick and the fierce samurai warrior.  


Anyway if you have any interest in the samurai or martial arts in general, I recommend this book. Really enjoyable story.

Forgotten by Cat Patrick

Synopsis (from the Waterstones Website)

Pages: 288
Publisher: Egmont Books Ltd
Released on: 6th of June 2011

Here's the thing about me: I can see the future in flashes, like memories. But my past is a blank. I remember what I'll wear tomorrow, and an argument that won't happen until this afternoon. But I don't know what I ate for dinner last night. I get by with the help of notes, my mom and my best friend Jamie, and the system works ...Until now. Everything's falling apart. Jamie's going of the rails. My mom is lying to me. And I can't see the boy I adore in my future. But today, I love him. And I never want to forget how much.

What I Have to Say 

This book had such a cool idea behind it!  I knew just from reading the blurb that I was going to love it. Not being able to remember the past must be very disorientating. Plus knowing what's going to happen in the future always makes for an interesting story!

London's condition was shown in a very straightforward way. It's something that she's suffered with since she was 6 years old and she's found ways of dealing with it, by writing herself notes.

I loved the way that the mystery of it all was so essential to the plot. The memory problems left the character in much the same as the reader is when starting the book. She doesn't remember her past and we haven't been told about it yet. As she found out things, so do we! It works so well.

London is also a very good character. The way she explains things and talks about her condition seem very realistic. Also the way Patrick starts some of the chapters with the notes that London has left herself was nice to read.

I only wish that this book had been longer! It's a shame to have finished it really.

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

Synopsis (from the Waterstones Website)

Pages: 448
Published by: Abacus
Released on: 2nd of Febuary 2012

Yasuko lives a quiet life, working in a Tokyo bento shop, a good mother to her only child. But when her ex-husband appears at her door without warning one day, her comfortable world is shattered. When Detective Kusanagi of the Tokyo Police tries to piece together the events of that day, he finds himself confronted by the most puzzling, mysterious circumstances he has ever investigated. Nothing quite makes sense, and it will take a genius to understand the genius behind this particular crime...

What I Have to Say

 Probably the main attraction of this book was that it was by a Japanese author and  set in Japan. Still whether you like Japan or not, it's a really wonderful story. It's got a few aspects of the culture in there, which I found really cool, but not intrusive if your not interested in the culture.

The characters were really interesting.  Each of the point of view characters had a different outlook on life and very different voices. Ishigami was the most interesting, the reasons why will be obvious if you read the book. I also really liked Yasuko's voice. She had a very straightforward outlook on life.

There were so many mind games and false clues in this book, that it was pretty much impossible to work out how it was going to end. If anyone has read this or is going to, please let me know in the comments if you even had a suspicion, because it was a complete surprise to me and I'm usually pretty good at working these things out! :P

This book is really a must if you're interested in Japanese culture. And if you're not then I would recommend it to people who like Crime. Especially those looking for something that will really surprise you.