My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

She doesn’t see dead people, but...

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...

Kayless has a strange gift: she knows if people she meets are going to die soon. Bit of a naff gift, if I'm honest, but all becomes clear when the truth behind her gift is revealed. And I don't want spoil anything, because it is a good twist, but it is surprising and a fresh take, but still a bit odd. Hopefully full exploration of her powers would occur in later books. 

Anyway, when she meets cute boy from school while she's trying not to scream blue murder, she is understandably worried about her reputation for a weirdo. Yet Nash knows things, things about her gift and how to calm her. That's because he shares this secret. The whole story develops just over a couple of days, which was a little confusing because I thought more time had past and I thought 'really, that was just yesterday?'  To keep Kaylee and Nash occupied as well as learning more of her gift, there are a few unexplainable deaths that are spooking the town and especially Kaylee and Nash because her screaming is the only warning some of the girls got. I loved this added element to the story, which made this contemporary tale all the more interesting with some supernatural and murder mystery elements. 

As for the love interest, Nash is first introduced with a reputation as a player but then as we get to know him, he hints that it is all talk. And when we find out that Kaylee's cousin lied big time about the apparent tryst she and Nash had: hilarious. Yet, as much as I liked him, unfortunately I did not believe Kaylee and Nash's love story. Don't get me wrong, I liked them both enough, but together I just didn't feel the love! 

One character I loved wholeheartedly was Tod. A reaper stuck in a hospital, he gives Kaylee and Nash (some) information they need to discover who or what is behind these strange deaths. His appearance and part in the story made it all the more fascinating and fantastical, with his mysterious past and magic.

All in all, an amazing take on folklore and the magic that surrounds us, with death and murder mystery to boot! And never mind my lack of love for their romance, that's just personal preference for slow wooing that teens surrounded by death apparently have no time for! 

Published 1st January 2011 by Mira Ink.