My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers #0.5)
Publication Date: Originally Published July 1, 2009
Republished in Soul Screamers Vol 1 November 22, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Paperback: 60pgs
Summary:
In My Soul to Lose we are introduced to Kaylee a teenage girl prone to panic attacks. During a shopping trip with her best friend Emma, Kaylee has one of her attacks which causes her to let out this ear shattering scream. The frightening part is that she can't stop screaming no matter how hard she tries. When Kaylee wakes up she finds herself at Lakeside Mental Health Center, she doesn't why she's there but she wants to get out. Does she really belong at Lakeside and will she be able to get out?
Review:
In this novella we get a look into a very vulnerable time in Kaylee's life. Even though Kaylee is stuck in the metal ward her determination and strength start to show. She sets a goal, getting out, and tries her hardest to work towards that objective. Though she questions her sanity at times it doesn't stop her from trying to get out. I liked that Kaylee used humor to help her through a very difficult episode in her life. I also enjoyed how Kaylee dealt with with being in the hospital. She was obviously terrified at being mentally unstable but she wanted to get better so her panic attacks would stop and life could return to normal.
We are also introduced to other characters but since this novella focused primarily on Kaylee's stay at the Mental Health Center I don't think I learned enough about them to tell whether I liked them or not. One character I would have liked more information on was Lydia, one of Kaylee's fellow patients. She helped Kaylee through one of her panic attacks.
My Soul to Lose wasn't action packed but it was emotional and gave me insight into a horrible time in Kaylee's life. This novella definitely made me eager to learn more about Kaylee and the world she lives in. All in all I really enjoyed this novella.
Cover:
The original cover of My Soul to Lose is not one of my favorite covers. It's too plain and doesn't really scream pick me up and read me. I do however like the colors but that's pretty much all I like about this cover. However I really really like the cover of the omnibus version. It ties in with the whole banshee legend of screaming women in flowing gowns.
