Review: Lotería by Cynthia Pelayo

Title: Lotería

Author: Cynthia Pelayo

Genre: Adult, anthology, horror

Publication date: July 2012

Published by: Union Square & Co.

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: The Mexican board game of Lotería is a game of chance—similar to bingo. However, in Lotería instead of matching up numbers on a game board, players match up images.

There are 54 cards in the Lotería game, and for this short story collection you will find one unique story per card based on a Latin American myth, folklore, superstition, or belief—with a slant towards the paranormal and horrific. In this deck of cards you will find murderers, ghosts, goblins and ghouls. This collection features creatures and monsters, vampires, werewolves and more.

Many of these legends existed long before their European counterparts—passed throughout the Americas via word of mouth, collected just like the tales the Brothers Grimm. These are indeed fairy tales—Latin American fairy tales—but with a horrifying slant.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I enjoyed this book so much!! I love playing Lotería and I love horror, so this book was made for me! 😆 And for those unfamiliar with Lotería:

Review: Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3) by Kiersten White

Title: Endlessly

Series: Paranormalcy #3

Previous books in this series: Paranormalcy (#1) | Supernaturally (#2)

Author: Kiersten White

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: July 2012

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Library book

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Synopsis:

In Endlessly, pink-loving, butt-kicking Evie has way too much on her to-do list. Paranormals are begging her to open a faerie gate so they can leave the human world, something Evie’s not sure she has the power to do. The Dark Queen is torturing humans and must be destroyed.

On top of all that, Evie’s prom is coming up. She’s not sure what to wear, and, oh, yeah, her shape-shifting boyfriend, Lend, has been cursed so that he falls into an enchanted sleep whenever he and Evie are in the same room…and even Evie’s ex-boyfriend, the faerie Reth, can’t reverse the dark magic.

An epic battle is looming, and the choices Evie makes will determine the fate of whole paranormal world—and her own life.

My rating: ★★★★☆
And we have come to the conclusion of the series. A series I started 7 years ago and have only finished it just now. Heh. Hehe...

Review: Terminal (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #4) by J.L. Bryan

Title: Terminal

Series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #4

Previous books in this series: Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper (#1) | Cold Shadows (#2) | The Crawling Darkness (#3)

Author: J.L. Bryan

Genre: Adult, paranormal, horror

Publication date: May 2015

Published by: J.L. Bryan

Source: E-book for review from author

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Synopsis:

Ellie Jordan and her apprentice Stacey investigate a house in an elaborate planned community that was only half-built before it went bankrupt, leaving an instant ghost town with only a few residents. The entity haunting this house is a banshee that feeds on sadness and misery.

Unfortunately for Ellie, this is no simple haunting, but just one symptom of the cursed land on which the suburban community was built. The old railroad line running through the nearby woods might just be a conduit for lost souls, including dark spirits with ill intentions toward the living. Ellie soon finds herself facing one of the most complex and difficult hauntings she’s seen in her career.

My rating: ★★★★☆
Ellie Jordan's next job takes her to this neighborhood that was abandoned in the middle of building due to insufficient funds. Now, there are just a couple of people here and there, living in some of the complete houses. But it's all for the best, I suppose, seeing as how it turns out that the whole place is pretty much haunted--an abandoned railroad nearby, particularly.

Review: Never To Sleep (Soul Screamers #5.5) by Rachel Vincent

Title: Never To Sleep

Series: Soul Screamers #5.5

Previous Books in this series: Fearless (#0.4) | My Soul to Lose (#0.5) | My Soul to Take (#1) | My Soul to Save (#2) | My Soul to Keep (#3) | Reaper (#3.5) | My Soul to Steal (#4) | Niederwald (#4.5) | If I Die (#5)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: January 2012

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: RAK gifted (thanksies!)

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Synopsis:

Don't Close Your Eyes.

Sophie Cavanaugh is not going to let her freak of a cousin's strange psychiatric condition ruin high school for them both. Not after all the work she's put into cultivating the right look, and friends, and reputation. But then, Sophie sees something so frightening she lets out a blood-curdling scream--and finds herself stuck in a bizarre parallel world where nothing is safe and deadly creatures lurk just out of sight, waiting for her to close her eyes and sleep...forever.

Could this world be real? Or does insanity run in the family...?

My rating: ★★★★★
I seriously loved this novella! I don't know how many times I've said it before, but Rachel is just AMAZING! She makes me feel sympathetic even toward the characters I don't like! Yes, I'm talking about Sophie.

Review: If I Die (Soul Screamers #5) by Rachel Vincent

Title: If I Die

Series: Soul Screamers #5

Previous Books in this series: Fearless (#0.4) | My Soul to Lose (#0.5) | My Soul to Take (#1) | My Soul to Save (#2) | My Soul to Keep (#3) | Reaper (#3.5) | My Soul to Steal (#4) | Niederwald (#4.5)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

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.

My rating: ★★★★★
In this installment of the Soul Screamers, Kaylee finds out her expiration date is coming up...much too soon for her liking. She also discovers that the new, hot, young teacher is really an incubus, looking for more than just a little fun with the female students. Kaylee decides to try to get rid of this incubus posing as a teacher, not only to get her mind off her coming death, but also to save her best friend, Emma, from the clutches of the incubus. Impending death, incubus at school...will Kaylee be able to get out of this one?

Review: My Soul to Steal (Soul Screamers #4) by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Steal

Series: Soul Screamers #4

Previous Books in this series: Fearless (#0.4) | My Soul to Lose (#0.5) | My Soul to Take (#1) | My Soul to Save (#2) | My Soul to Keep (#3) | Reaper (#3.5)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: Jan. 2011

Published by: HarlequinTEEN

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

My rating: ★★★★★
This book was amazing!! I couldn't stop reading it! Poor Kaylee was many problems to figure out, and it makes me wonder if she’ll ever get her “happily ever after.”

Review: Reaper (Soul Screamers #3.5) by Rachel Vincent

Title: Reaper

Series: Soul Screamers #3.5

Previous Books in this series: Fearless (#0.4) | My Soul to Lose (#0.5) | My Soul to Take (#1) | My Soul to Save (#2) | My Soul to Keep (#3)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: Dec. 2010

Published by: HarlequinTEEN

Source: Own e-book

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Synopsis:

Tod Hudson was a typical teenager. He liked girls, sports, food and tolerated his younger brother, Nash. In fact, he had his whole life in front of him--and due to his bean sidhe heritage, it was going to be a very long life indeed. And then the car accident occurred.

Suddenly Tod's future wasn't so sure, and he had to make a choice. Life... Death... or something Between....

An ebook exclusive Soul Screamers series novella.

My rating: ★★★★★
All I have to say is that I have totally fallen in love with Tod! I absolutely loved this book...it was amazing!

Review: My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3) by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Keep

Series: Soul Screamers #3

Previous Books in this series: Fearless (#0.4) | My Soul to Lose (#0.5) | My Soul to Take (#1) | My Soul to Save (#2)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: June 2010

Published by: HarlequinTEEN

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.

Until something does.

Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And so is someone else…

My rating: ★★★★★
(Q and A format)

I really like books like this: full of emotion, suspense, and unexpected turns. But this unexpected turn almost made me want to tear my hair out! I have to admit though, I kinda knew what it was in the back of my mind. Just like Kaylee, I was like: No, no, that's not possible. Boy was I wrong.

Review: My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Save

Series: Soul Screamers #2

Previous Books in this series: Fearless (#0.4) | My Soul to Lose (#0.5) | My Soul to Take (#1)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date:

Published by: HarlequinTEEN

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk...

My rating: ★★★★★
So Kaylee has known that she is a bean sidhe (AKA banshee) for only a few weeks now. What that means is that she screams when ever someone is about to die. But when she and her super hot boyfriend, Nash, go to a concert and the pop singer drops dead (literally), she starts to wonder what was going on.

Review: My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Take

Series: Soul Screamers #1

Prequel story: My Soul to Lose (#0.5)

Author: Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA, urban fantasy, paranormal

Publication date: August 2009

Published by: HarlequinTEEN

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

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.

My rating: ★★★★★
This book has a perfect combination of suspense, tons of mystery, and romance, of course ;) and I do not regret reading this book, it was great!