Author: Rachel Vincent
Series: (Soul Screamers #7)
Published: March 26th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal
 

I was struggling to form coherent thoughts after I read the final installment of what I consider my all-time favorite YA series. Soul Screamers is my first venture outside the vampire/werewolves theme. So for me this wrapped up is a bittersweet moment. I was excited and at the same time scared on how the author will pull this one off. She had managed to topple my expectations over and over again. But even with her stellar history, I’m somehow still having this uneasiness clouding me from the inside.

So my instinct is actually telling me something. I have never given the books from this series less than perfect rating. But I feel dishonesty if I still give it a full mark when I wasn’t really, hmm, satisfied. My dissatisfaction is not associated on how the story ends. Or the events in this book. It was my feelings afterwards. I feel a blend of regret and pity. Regret to a character I originally adored. And pity to the couple that I loved.

Let me divided this review into two parts, namely: Kaylee & Tod, and Nash.

I’ll start with Nash. My sister couldn’t comprehend my feelings of frustration over Nash’s situation, and Nash and Kaylee. I’m their fan from the beginning. I actually loved them as a couple. I loved Nash. I was his fan. Oh wait, that didn’t come out right: I AM his fan. Present. Until now regardless how his older brother clawed a huge chunk of my heart, a part of me is still loyal to him. In retrospect, I was being unfair to him. I should’ve not judged him. We should’ve not judged him. I shouldn’t have celebrated when things flipped and Tod’s now on his place. I feel remorse on those times when I was reveling Tod, while he was there struggling. But I think it helped him mature. That experience he had (bad as it was) helped him grow. And oh boy, did he grow.

When ending came and saw Nash again, I have this ‘what if’ moments. What if Kaylee stick to his side and they didn’t break up? What if Kaylee didn’t die? What if they end up together? Will Nash be Nash today? Will Kaylee still be Kaylee? I have so many questions. I know it’s useless to think on things on already happened but I just can’t help but to wonder. So what if?

I have three favorite moments in this book and two of them involved Nash. I know, my hidden affection for Nash came back with a vengeance. One was when Kaylee called everybody and every one of them was busy. Kaylee called him and asked for his help. You know Kaylee has a tendency to hog all the responsibility, so Nash was surprised that finally she needed his help. His voice showed surprised and delight (then she asked to ask Emma too, and the moment was ruined). Nash had taken the sidelines, and was treated as a liability which is once again it was unfair to him. He’s fully capable if given a chance—that I know wholeheartedly understand now.

My second favorite was when Nash was apologizing to Tod. Their relationship isn’t completely harmonious to begin with but I loved their connection, their bond. I’m just glad that they finally worked it out.

Sorry Sabine, hunt me in my sleep but I do not approve of your relationship. Nash deserves someone…better. Not that she’s unworthy but I don’t see it. Not after all these Nash feelings inside rushing back like a tidal wave. I think I have these MtTake, MtSave and few MsKeep flashbacks of Kaylee & Nash’s moments hovering in my head and I’m actually taking reconsiderations. Ugh, darn it. Darn it all!

Now for Kaylee & Tod: I loved this couple. Still do. Despite my surprising disclosure just earlier the books proved how perfectly they are to each other. I’m not gonna elaborate how unified they are but at the same still have liberties and identities outside their relationship. That’s what I liked about them. It’s not just about them two together. It’s about how they make their relationship work. How dedicated they are. This book has less romance than the two previous books since it already established that fact but when this two had their moments it was heart stopping, soul melting moments that I ended up (borrowing Kaylee’s line) like Mitchii goo.

The title of this book is a confession from Tod. I’m not going tell the context of what he said but I’m mesmerized and in love. No wonder Kaylee’s head over heels in love with him (and so is he with her). We also find the depth of their relationship. How true and powerful beyond border of their love for each other. That their minds, hearts, bodies and especially their souls intertwined—connected to each other.

But I held some pity with their relationship. With their lives specifically. When their friends and families have moved on. When everyone has moved on. All they have is each other. Romantic but sad. I was sad that they won’t enjoy the pleasure of living their lives. They are forever young, stuck in routinely human less world. The only consolation is that they have each other. Good thing they have each other.

I don’t have much to say about the plot other than Kaylee’s sacrifice in order for them to have lasting peaceful (Hellion less) lives was clever as well as painful. Physically, emotionally, mentally. Both to her and to the people she loves. And oh and another thing, I think the Hellion of Wrath was confusingly…cool. For a spawn of evil he’s actually nice. Still evil and selfish though. That’s all I can say without telling you more.

Perhaps, I wasn’t bawling like a baby like my sister was when she finished it. But it did feel like end of an era. Before I was asking for a spin-off but you know what, I take it back. I want this chapter of their lives permanently closed. I think everything was settled and smoothen. I think it is appropriate to put a period to the last sentence. And ‘the end’ to the last page. So yeah, it’s the end but it was completely fine with me.