Books On Board

Soul Screamers Books in Order

  • 10 Books
  • 2009 – 2013 Published

Amazon links here are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reading order
1 of 1 reading orders shown

The Recommended Reading Order: Chronological Flow

Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers is a serialized paranormal fantasy series where events build directly upon one another. While the publication order is highly straightforward, the insertion of prequels and companion novellas requires careful planning to maximize emotional impact and avoid spoilers. For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to follow the chronological order of events, with a slight caveat regarding the prequel story, Fearless.

Here is the recommended path through the series:

  1. My Soul to Lose (Book 0.5 - Prequel Novella)
  2. My Soul to Take (Book 1 - Main Novel)
  3. My Soul to Save (Book 2 - Main Novel)
  4. My Soul to Keep (Book 3 - Main Novel)
  5. Fearless (Book 0.4 - Prequel Novella)
  6. Reaper (Book 3.5 - Companion Novella)
  7. My Soul to Steal (Book 4 - Main Novel)
  8. Niederwald (Book 4.5 - Companion Novella)
  9. If I Die (Book 5 - Main Novel)
  10. Never to Sleep (Book 5.5 - Companion Novella)
  11. Before I Wake (Book 6 - Main Novel)
  12. With All My Soul (Book 7 - Main Novel)
  13. Last Request (Book 7.5 - Post-Series Novella)

The Prequel Placement Caveat

While Fearless is chronologically the earliest story (Book 0.4), it focuses on Nash Hudson's life before he met Kaylee. Reading it first can spoil certain character dynamics and twists. It is best enjoyed after Book 3, My Soul to Keep, when readers are already deeply familiar with Nash. In contrast, My Soul to Lose (Book 0.5), which details Kaylee's very first scream and her initial discovery of her supernatural nature, serves as a fantastic introduction to the universe and can be safely read first or immediately after Book 1.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

If you prefer to experience the series exactly as fans did during its original run, you can follow the publication order. Rachel Vincent released the core novels alongside digital-exclusive novellas. The primary difference is that the prequels and companion pieces were published later in the cycle to expand the lore.

  • My Soul to Lose (2009)
  • My Soul to Take (2009)
  • My Soul to Save (2009)
  • My Soul to Keep (2010)
  • Reaper (2010)
  • My Soul to Steal (2010)
  • If I Die (2011)
  • Never to Sleep (2012)
  • Before I Wake (2012)
  • With All My Soul (2013)
  • Last Request (2014)

An In-Depth Look at the Soul Screamers Universe

The Prequels and Early Books

My Soul to Lose (Book 0.5): Before Kaylee Cavanaugh knew she was a banshee, she was just an ordinary teenager trying to fit in. This short prequel covers the terrifying day she went to a local mall and felt an uncontrollable urge to scream, marking her first encounter with death's shadow.

My Soul to Take (Book 1): The official start of the main series. Kaylee's life changes forever when she screams at a high school pep rally, predicting the death of a classmate. Here, she meets the attractive Nash Hudson, who reveals that they are both banshees (bean sidhe). Together, they must figure out why souls are going missing before they reach the afterlife.

My Soul to Save (Book 2): Kaylee is still adjusting to her banshee heritage when a teenage pop star sells her soul to a hellion. Kaylee and Nash venture into the Netherworld to save the girl, escalating the stakes and revealing the dark bargains that dictate the supernatural hierarchy.

The Mid-Series Escalations

My Soul to Keep (Book 3): This entry deals with a highly addictive Netherworld drug trade filtering into the human world. The story tackles mature themes of addiction and dependence through a dark fantasy lens, pushing Kaylee to her absolute limits.

Fearless (Book 0.4) & Reaper (Book 3.5): These two novellas expand on the Hudson brothers. Fearless explores Nash's background, while Reaper centers on his older brother, Tod Hudson. It explains how Tod became a grim reaper and the rules governing his spectral existence, bridging the gap between the third and fourth novels.

My Soul to Steal (Book 4): A new character named Sabine is introduced—a hellion who feeds on fear and has a complicated history with Nash. This book tests Kaylee's trust and introduces romantic tension while expanding the politics of the Netherworld.

The Climax and Conclusion

Niederwald (Book 4.5): This novella focuses on Sabine and Emma taking a road trip to a small Texas town. It sheds light on Sabine's character development and explores the concept of harpies, whose oracle Sabine must consult regarding Nash.

If I Die (Book 5): A pivotal turning point in the series. Kaylee faces her most dangerous threat yet and must make a sacrifice that alters the trajectory of her relationships and her own survival.

Never to Sleep (Book 5.5): Told from the perspective of Kaylee's cousin, Sophie Cavanaugh, this novella deals with the fallout of the events in If I Die, showing the emotional toll of the supernatural world on those close to Kaylee.

Before I Wake (Book 6): Kaylee wakes up to find the Netherworld in a state of chaos. She must team up with unexpected allies to survive a looming war between the reapers and the hellions.

With All My Soul (Book 7): The epic conclusion to Kaylee's journey. She must make the ultimate sacrifice to protect her loved ones and bring balance to both the human world and the Netherworld.

Last Request (Book 7.5): Set during a temporal gap near the end of the final novel, this novella centers on Tod and offers fans closure on his journey and his lingering feelings.

The Anthology Collections (Omnibus Editions)

For readers who prefer physical books, Harlequin TEEN released the entire series in four compiled volumes. These collections are excellent because they package the hard-to-find novellas right alongside the novels in their ideal reading spots:

  • Volume One: Contains My Soul to Lose, My Soul to Take, and My Soul to Save.
  • Volume Two: Contains My Soul to Keep, Reaper, and My Soul to Steal.
  • Volume Three: Contains If I Die, Never to Sleep, and Before I Wake.
  • Volume Four: Contains With All My Soul, alongside companion stories Fearless, Niederwald, and Last Request.

What to Know Before You Start

Rachel Vincent's banshee lore is visceral and unique. Unlike traditional mythology where banshees are merely harbingers of doom, Vincent casts them as guardians who guide souls safely to the afterlife and prevent hellions from harvesting them for power. The series is heavily serialized, meaning books cannot be read as standalones without losing critical plot context. While classified as Young Adult, the series features dark themes including grief, death, addiction, and emotional betrayal, making it a satisfyingly complex read for older teens and adults alike.

Frequently Asked

Can the Soul Screamers books be read as standalones?

No, the Soul Screamers series is a heavily serialized story. Each novel builds directly on the plot, character development, and lore of the previous books, so they should be read in chronological order.

Who is the main protagonist of Soul Screamers?

The main protagonist is Kaylee Cavanaugh, a teenager who discovers she is a banshee (bean sidhe) and must protect souls from supernatural threats in the Netherworld.

Where does the Soul Screamers series take place?

The series is set in modern-day Eastlake, Oklahoma, and the Netherworld, an eerie mirror dimension inhabited by supernatural beings like reapers, hellions, and harpies.

Is there a spin-off or sequel series to Soul Screamers?

There is no direct sequel or spin-off series, but the companion novellas like Reaper, Never to Sleep, and Niederwald focus on side characters like Tod, Sophie, and Sabine.

What is the difference between banshees and reapers in this series?

In this universe, banshees (bean sidhe) sense when someone is about to die and scream to claim the soul, while reapers are spectral guides who shepherd reclaimed souls to their final destination.

What are the Soul Screamers omnibus editions?

The series was compiled into four paperback editions called Soul Screamers Volumes 1–4, which collect the main novels alongside their corresponding novellas in the recommended reading order.