Reading at Dawn - Book Review Blog

I'll admit I'm behind. I read this Young Adult novel back in August, and there are a few books that I finished months before it that I haven't blogged yet. But I'm determined to keep Reading at Dawn open so here is a good start. Paranormal YA has many interesting books available and the Soul Screamers series, in my mind, falls under that category: it was interesting. Here is my review:

About the novel 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.




Overall: Okay, I have to admit that I struggled a little in the beginning of this story because I'd read a couple female main character YA novels with paranormal elements and the crush on certain boy type had already gotten old for me. It redeems itself, but at first I was hesitant even though there was a different paranormal element. The soul screaming had my attention but based on the novel description I was almost disappointed at the start because she manages to have more control of her voice than I would have expected considering the initial set up. But that was easy enough to get over and once the plot thickened, I was hooked. And I didn't expect what came at the end, in the good way. I can see the hints when looking back so it wasn't out of nowhere but definitely not what I quite thought it would go. I liked the book by the end.

Characters: I'm a bit picky when it comes to YA main characters and I think it's part of reading several certain types in a row. But this one at least isn't the 'woe is me' things happen and she needs saved, but she was a little more boy focused than I care for at times but I'm not the character. What I like is that she has a lot she doesn't understand and that is her focus, getting answers. There is the often in trouble best friend, the relatives that are so different than the main character (cheerleader versus non-cheerleader in real ways and other ways too) and there is the boy who happens to have answers for the girl. Even with the typical, the characters managed to pull their weight in the end.

Plot: This is what caught my attention from the beginning, beyond the pretty girl on the cover. It's my first siren-like story and had some creative elements for me in how the system is built up. The author put in consequences for messing with the role death has on the world and I liked those elements in particular because it's not just random powers, the knowing when someone will die, but there is more. When she does get information, the story becomes what can she do and will she be able to save anyone... that kept me reading.

Recommendation: If you like YA paranormal with female characters with slight love interest but the focus is on the growth of the main character, check this one out. It's a whole series, so this is just book one and I hope to some day read book 2.