A Book Obsession..: Kelley Armstrong

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Review: Otherworld Chills by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Otherworld Chills by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Stories Collection

Embrace the obscure. In the final installment of the Otherworld anthology series, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong once again opens the gates to the Otherworld. This collection of rare and never-before-published novellas and short stories brings the clever wit, dark twists, and intense suspense Otherworld readers have come to expect. Favorite characters return, secrets are revealed, and several important storylines reach their conclusions.

While almost all of these stories had been published previously, I've only read a few of them. So this was largely an enjoyable fresh read for me.

Brazen - I love Nick Sorrentino, so this one was a super fun read. Nick really steps up in this one, and throws off a lot of his playboy, boy toy exterior ways. I really enjoyed seeing the start of his relationship with Vanessa as well. Now to have a full length novel with the two of them... Well that would be perfect.

Chaotic - I'd read this one before, but it was just as fun the second time around. Seeing Karl and Hope meet and all the hijinx involved was a ton of fun.

Amityville Horrible - I have to admit this one wasn't quite as enjoyable as the rest. I felt a good bit of deja-vu while reading it despite never having actually read it. It just didn't bring anything fresh to Jeremy and Jaime's relationship or story in my opinion.

Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word - This one was super quick and just mediocre for me. Cassandra never was my favorite character, so it's not surprising it wasn't my favorite of the bunch.

Off-duty Angel - This was another I read, but Eve and Kristoff are another of my favorites, so I really enjoyed their adventure.

The Puppy Plan - I loved, loved, loved this one. In fact, Logan now has officially moved to my top favorite character of the entire series. There's just something so incredible about this little guy and I hope we get more stories from him (and Kate, Clay, & Elena) just so we can see the fine man he'll grow into.

Baby Boom - This one was the only newly written story of the bunch and it was a game changer. It's funny to think of something changing the game well after a series has ended, but this one sure did. Well worth the read to see the Cabel brew-ha-ha crazy.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Smexy Books
Inside of a Dog
Rabid Reads

Previous Books:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living With the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spell Bound
13. Thirteen

Review: Driven by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Driven by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Stories #13.6

Cains are known for being big, brutish and not-too-bright. The mutt clan embodies all the supernatural world’s worst stereotypes about werewolves. But not even the Cains deserve to be hunted down and skinned like animals.

When young Davis Cain comes to the Pack for help, Alpha Elena Michaels can’t refuse him. It isn't about morality or justice. It’s about not letting anyone think they can do this to werewolves and get away with it.

But Elena is also dealing with the Pack’s homegrown monster—Malcolm Danvers, onetime enforcer, full-time psycho. Malcolm is now under Elena’s control, as part of the most difficult decision she’s had to make as leader. But if she has to let Malcolm in, she’s going to make full use of him…and the best person to catch monsters is one who knows exactly how they think.

I'm always amazed at the quality of these longer novellas Kelley puts out through Subterranean Press. Everything part about them is perfect, not only the stories themselves but the imagery as well, and DRIVEN is no exception. Despite the series technically ending at book Thirteen, there has been so much going on afterward, and I love seeing things continue. This time around really felt almost like it's own full novel with the main plot and dangers therein, not to mention the Malcolm issues taking full stage as well. Add in the dynamics between the growing pack and seeing the twins mature even more, and this was one heck of a treat to read. Sure it's a bit short compared to the full lengths, but it's got so much packed in that shorter length, the only thing you're missing is the longer drawn out stuff you'd find in a full length book. Trust me, this read is well worth the price.

All in all, Driven is an absolute must read for fans of the series.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
One Book Two
Paperback Wonderland
The Armchair Librarian

Previous Books:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living With the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spell Bound
13. Thirteen
13.1. Brazen
13.2. Bounty Hunt
13.3. Forsaken

Release Day Review: Led Astray by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Led Astray by Kelley Armstrong

Anthology

Two brand new tales anchor this wide-ranging collection from one of urban fantasy's most successful authors. Here is the first time that best-selling fantasy, YA, and crime author Kelley Armstrong has had her stories collected from Otherworld and beyond. With her signature twists and turns, Armstrong gives a fresh spin on city-dwelling vampires, werewolves, and zombies, while also traveling further afield, to a post-apocalyptic fortress, a superstitious village, a supernatural brothel, and even to feudal Japan.

With tales that range from humorous to heart-stopping, these are the stories that showcase Kelley Armstrong at her versatile best.

I've really enjoyed all of Kelley's books, including the other anthology, Otherworld Nights. So when I had the chance to read this one I didn't hesitate. Unfortunately, while LED ASTRAY was enjoyable, it just didn't suck me or wow me like I had hoped. Anthologies, and short stories are tough tricks because unless they are longer novellas, the short format just doesn't lend to the full set up I would like. However, in cases like Otherworld Nights, the stories are set in an established world with established characters, so much of that build up is unneccsary anyway. Unfortunately that wasn't the case here as most of the stories were not set in Otherworld or Cainsville, and even the ones that were didn't revolve around the main characters, with just a few exceptions. And I would guess it's no surprise that the stories that those exceptions were the ones that I enjoyed the most.

As I said, the stories were largely entertaining, but I can't help being frustrated at feeling like I was left hanging in each story at the end. They were just too short to be developed how I had hoped, and some are still leaving me scratching my head, namely the Dragon story set in Cainsville. I also would have loved to have seen more from the Door story, but again, these short stories just didn't lend to a lot of detail.

It's a compliment to Kelley's writing in itself that I wanted more from these stories. Despite that short format, I was engaged with each new tale. I can only hope that some of these will be expanded upon in the future as my appetite has been whetted, but not satisfied. In the end, aside from anthologies firmly set in established worlds, I think I'll pass on groupings like this. I just wanted more.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
The Eater of Books!
a GREAT read

Early Review: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

Cainsville #3

Olivia Taylor Jones's life has exploded. She's discovered she is not only adopted, but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Fleeing the media frenzy, she took refuge in the oddly secluded town of Cainsville. She has since solved the town's mysteries and finds herself not only the target of its secretive elders but also her stalker ex-fiancé.

Visions continue to haunt her: particularly a little blond girl in a green sundress who insists she has an important message for Olivia, one that may help her balance the light and darkness within herself. Death stalks both Olivia and the two men most important to her, as she desperately searches to understand whether ancient scripts are dictating the triangle that connects them. Will darkness prevail, or does Olivia have the power to prevent a tragic fate?

I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan, but this series has been a bit of an up and down for me. I absolutely loved the first book in this series, but the second book just didn't wow me. The lack of answers and forward momentum really slowed things down for me. So, this time around I have to admit I went into the book with just a bit of trepidation, worried about another book without explanations. I shouldn't have worried. After finishing DECEPTIONS, I'm happy to say that I was hooked from the start. Sure there's still a lot of things unanswered but between the things that were revealed and the plot/character momentum those questions didn't seem so important anymore. There just was a certain amount of intensity this time around that put things back on track and now I'm content to sit along for the ride. And a ride it was.

Another thing that made this book more addictive was the stronger prevalence of the love triangle. Sure it was hinted at previously, but it was only that, a hint. Typically I'm not the biggest fan of these as there's always a whole lot of angst involved. But for Olivia, Ricky, and Gabriel, it just somehow works. Perhaps that's because it's all tied into the plotline and secrets behind Cainsville, or perhaps because there's no real jealousy involved. Regardless, I found it interesting and I'm rather anxious to see how everything plays out in that department especially as it intertwines with each of their choices and future. I'm honestly not sure who I'm rooting for, and that's just fine with me.

All in all DECEPTIONS was a very enjoyable installment in the Cainsville series. I know I'll be counting down the days until the next book's release.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
a GREAT read

Previous Books:
1. Omens
2. Visions

Review: Forsaken by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Forsaken by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Stories #13.3

Being Alpha of the North American Pack is like being a small-town sheriff — nobody wants the job, but someone’s gotta do it.

For the most part, Elena Michaels likes it just fine, even if it means dealing with arrogant misogynists in the werewolf world who are convinced that a woman isn’t up to the job.

That she could handle. What she never expected was a deadly threat to her eight-year-old twins. That her little girl could go missing in the night.

The enemy thought he was dealing with a hysterical mother.

Mother, yes. Hysterical, no.

Elena was Alpha for a reason. And nothing would stop her from getting her child back.

I absolutely love getting my hands on a Clay and Elena book. Their stories are like coming home, and FORSAKEN was no exception. These novellas have been a truly great addition to the series allowing it to grow past the ending back in Thirteen. This time around shows Elena dealing with the repercussions of taking over as Alpha in a misogynistic werewolf world. It's made her and her family a target, but her enemies quickly learn that it's the females you need to watch out for when their family is threatened. Suffice it to say Elena sees the trap and machinations well in advance and proves the "boys" need taught a lesson. I really enjoyed seeing her kicking butt and taking names.

Simply an enjoyable and full read despite being a novella. My only complaint would have to be the open ended nature of the ending. Granted that probably means more novellas to come, but it just caught me off guard as I had thought these stories to be bonus ones rather than a continuing storyline, but it appears I was wrong. So I'll be looking to see where that twist of an ending leads next.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:

Previous Books:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living With the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spell Bound
13. Thirteen
13.1. Brazen
13.2. Bounty Hunt

Release Day Review: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Stories Collection

This short story collection will include many brand-new tales and others only previously available on Kelley Armstrong's website. Most of the stories will feature the werewolves of the Otherworld, Elena and Clay, Jeremy, Karl and other members of the American Pack. These are some of Kelley Armstrong's best-loved and most enduring characters, from bestselling books such as Bitten, Stolen and Frostbitten.

1) Demonology - Adam's mother discovers what he is
2) Stalked - Clay/Elena honeymoon story from "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon"
3) Hidden - SubPress 2012 Elena/Clay novella
4) Twilight - a Cass story from "Many Bloody Returns"
5) Chivalrous - Reese's backstory from SubPress's long sold-out "Tales of Dark Fantasy 2" (the Dec'14 SubPress graphic novella picks up this storyline)
6) Lucifer's Daughter - Hope/Karl story from "Blood Lite II: Overbite"
7) From Russia with Love - Elena bonus story included with hardcover of "Thirteen"
8) Vanishing Act - brand-new Savannah/Adam novella set after "Thirteen"

I have to admit that anthologies aren't typically my favorite thing as the short stories never seem long enough for my tastes. The exception to that rule is when the anthology is set in one of my favorite series, where the world is already known to me. I enjoy getting to see extras from my favorite main characters, as well as the bonus of featuring some of the side characters as well. It's an opportunity to expand the world, and even while Kelley's world already was very very expanded for me due to the narrator rotation, this anthology only enhanced things for me. Now onto the individual stories:

Demonology - This one's about Adam's mother and how she learned about his demonic half. It was enjoyable, but it left me wanting more in the end. It just felt like it ended too abruptly. Even so, it was a good look into her character and the determination to help her son.

Stalked - I had read this one before, but it was just as much fun the second time around. Clay and Elena are anything but a normal couple, so seeing them try to go through the full ritual of a honeymoon was amusing, especially as both were determined to follow procedure. A cute and fun story.

Hidden - I've read this one as well, and own the really nice hardcover collector's edition. This one is perfect for fans of the werewolves as the whole gang is there for the most part, including the twins. A great additional story to satisfy fans.

Twilight - This one was interesting because it showed Cassandra, and explained some more details on vamps at the end of their lives. It could have been a bit longer, but I was glad to have those questions answered.

Chivalrous - This one utterly and completely broke my heart. I knew Reese's back story wasn't a happy one, but this one felt like a sucker punch to the gut. But, after reading this one, I feel I understand him better, and my heart goes out to him even more.

Lucifer's Daughter - This was a fun and crazy story to match Karl and Hope's lives. Enjoyable.

From Russia with Love - This is another I had read before, and again it was just as enjoyable the second time around. I always enjoy the werewolf centered stories the most. This one is set right after the end of the series.

Vanishing Act - This was the new novella for this anthology, and while I enjoyed it, it really did spotlight Savannah's immaturity. Frankly I kind of had enough of that back in the main series, so it irked me a bit, but none the less I enjoyed the story, and I think the immaturity might be finally on its way out, so it will be interesting to see if there will be any more Savannah stories coming up in the future.

So as you can see, this is a great set of stories for fans of the series. I can't wait to see what novellas will be in the next as Kelley has two more anthologies planned.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
a GREAT read
Liberty Falls Down
Paperback Wonderland

Previous Books:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living With the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Waking the Witch
12. Spell Bound
13. Thirteen

Early Review: Visions by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Visions by Kelley Armstrong

Cainsville #2

As #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s new Cainsville series continues, Olivia’s power to read omens leads to the discovery of a gruesome crime with troubling connections to her new hometown.

Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.

I was completely ensnared by the first book in this series, so I was really excited for this installment. It had a slow build, and sure the lack of answers was a bit frustrating, but as I said, I was ensnared, particularly by the characters. I could deal with little to no answers as I loved the characters so much. So, that being said, despite that fierce love of the characters, namely Oliva and Gabriel, I was hoping for a bit more in the answers department this time around. Unfortunately that just didn't seem to pan out the way I would have hoped as while there were answers they only led to more questions and everything was presented in a vague and foreshadowing sense. Even when Oliva figured things out, she would still hide those thoughts from the reader, only adding to my frustration. I realize this could just be a stylistic issue as this is a bit outside of my genre preference, but it still made for a slower read for me. Typically I devour Kelley's books in one single setting, but with VISIONS, I found myself continually distracted by other things. Don't get me wrong, it's a very good book, and the characters and everything is written very well, I'm just not one for being left in the dark so much.

Despite my frustrations with all of the unanswered questions, I found it very easy to slip right into the characters lives. Oliva is so strong and yet more than a little stubborn, which I love her for. It's very clear she's through with letting others control her and all I can say is good for her. Gabriel on the other hand, boy is he a tough nut! He's so damaged and closed off, but in this installment we started to see that shell cracked. I'm still holding out hope for a romantic interest there, but I have a feeling that's still going to take some time as Oliva has to handle him with "kid gloves" in order to accomplish anything personal at all. And of course there's the matter of her current love interest standing in the way, but I have a feeling he's just a companion for now. Nothing against him as he seems to be exactly what she needs right now, but I don't see him lasting with her long term, but again that's just me.

I really hate rating and reviewing VISIONS as only a 3 star after my resounding enjoyment of the first installment, but it really time keeping me hooked. Again this may be a stylistic preference, but readers who prefer more answers rather than portents and hints leaving them largely in the dark may find the same frustrations that I did. I will still be continuing on with this series as I want to see where the characters end of next, but it's probably not going to top my most anticipated list.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Previous Books:
1. Omens

Early Review: Omens by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Cainsville #1

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong begins her new series with Omens, featuring a compelling new heroine thrust into a decades-old murder case and the dark mysteries surrounding her strange new home.

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

Oliva Taylor-Jones has always lived in a life of privilege, and media exposure was always just the way of life. She never minded it, and actually embraced her public image, at least that was until she finds that she was adopted at a young age. As if that were not enough of a shocker, her parents are none other than the infamous Larsens who went on a killing spree, murdering 4 couples in satanic rituals in a short amount of time. The media upon learning this of course descended upon her and her adoptive family like vultures. She decides to go into hiding and finds the small, odd town of Cainsville, where things are not quite normal. But it gives her the much needed time and space to try and figure out her life, and soon begins to investigate the Larsen's case alongside her mother's previous lawyer. What they uncover reveals secrets and an ability she's kept suppressed since childhood. What it means for the future, no one knows, but it would seem darker forces are at work and only time will tell.

If this book had of been written by any other author, after reading the description, I can almost guarantee I would have passed on it. As long time readers of this blog know, I love all things paranormal with some romance thrown in there, and the description paints this as much more of a thriller than an urban fantasy. However, since I have yet to read a book from Kelley Armstrong that I didn't love, I knew this one would be worth a try despite my issues with thrillers. I'm the type of person while watching a suspenseful movie, will look up on wiki how it ends to avoid some of the tension. I do something similar with books by skipping to the end once things get intense and reading the last chapter to know how it all pans out before going back to read the rest to see how it all go there. I know a lot of people disagree with ruining the surprise, but I just hate suspense. So of course about 100 pages into reading OMENS, I did my skipping routine, only to find out that the ending didn't make sense in this case without all the prior build up. So I had to grin and bear it and read straight through. That being said, I was absolutely hooked the entire time I was reading OMENS, which is pretty impressive considering just how far out of my genre preference it is. It would up being a very late night as I simply could not put it down. At 486 pages, I think that speaks for itself.

Putting my intense desire to find out what was going on aside, what really sucked me into this book was just how realistic the characters were. Kelley paints her characters in full color vivid 3-D, and it's just incredible to me. There is nothing flat about a single one of these characters no matter how small their role is. But getting into the main two, Oliva and Gabriel, who I dare to hope may have some stirrings of a romance in the future, but will have to wait to see what the cards have in store. Oliva is not your typical socialite of priviledge. Sure, she's very used to her life of luxury, but she has a bit of a wild side to her, never quite wanting to follow perfectly into her society's rules. Even before she learned of her heritage, she was bucking expectations and not wanting to live the simple role of being her future husband's arm candy and event planner. Then once things started to unravel, and her circumstances changed drastically, her iron will and strength, and to be honest, ruthlessness really started to shine through. It was made apparent by Gabriel that he felt she was only playing "poor" and would go running home once she got it out of her system, but I had to disagree. But that's Gabriel, cold, abrasive, and not someone you really want to go against. And yet, there seemed to be a slight softening the longer he worked with Oliva as she cracked his shell making him more human. That being said, he didn't just simply turn all mushy and unrealistically change his ways, which I really appreciated.

Typically I do not fully realize the impact a book has made on me until I go to write the review. When there are times, like while writing this review, where the thoughts just pour out, and I have to curtail myself to keep from going on too long or revealing too much, it really shows the lasting power of the book. There are so many books that I've enjoyed, but a month later probably could not tell you a whole lot of details about it, but it is the precious few, like OMENS that really stick with me. I do not see myself forgetting this story anytime soon, and I'll surely be eagerly anticipating the next installment. While I've already mentioned this, it bears repeating as despite being completely out of my genre preferences, this was one heck of a read for me. Fans of Kelley's other works, or really anyone who enjoys a good story line with a fantastic cast of characters will not want to miss OMENS!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
Curiosity Killed the Bookworm
Rabid Reader
Minding Spot

Review: Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong

Women of the Otherworld #13

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong delivers the novel her fans have been clamoring for: The epic finale of the Otherworld series.

It’s been more than ten years, a dozen installments, and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others. And it’s all been leading to Thirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.

A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.

Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.

Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-notforgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a grand, crowd-pleasing closer for Armstrong’s legions of fans.

Over the last twelve installments the Women of the Otherworld have been telling their tales of danger keeping readers enthralled. But everything prior to this point has been leading to one final showdown that will bring all of the beloved characters characters back together one last time. The stakes have never been higher as the lives of every supernatural are hanging in the balance. Told from Savannah's perspective, the reader will be enthralled as they watch her scramble with her other allies to stop the war from destroying them all. But it won't be easy as the fight isn't only on earth, but heaven and hell have joined the fray. No matter the outcome, in the end nothing will ever be the same.

There are so many elements in Thirteen that I would love to talk about, but in all honesty the entire book is one big spoiler and I completely understand why the publisher opted to put such a strict release date and no early review copies. This is a book that truly deserves to be savored not spoiled, and for that reason, I won't be going into may detail or specifics in this review. I apologize in advance if things seem overly vague or I end up sounding like a squealing fan girl as a result. It just wouldn't do this fantastic book any justice to give anything away in advance.

From the very start, Thirteen took off with a bang. It was so jammed pack with action that the even when the characters would score a small victory, both they and myself barely had a chance to breath before it was off to the next crisis. Seriously, I don't think my heart rate lowered once while reading Thirteen as the stakes were that high. However, even though that action was incredibly exciting, what really kept me enthralled were the emotional aspects of the book. Again, keeping from spoiling things I won't go into specifics, but suffice it to say the emotion took the book from really good to absolutely stellar. I especially loved the added in chapters from the different characters' perspectives periodically throughout the book. Don't get me wrong, Savannah's perspective was great, but it was nice to see into the heads of some of my favorite characters from the rest of the series.

I am always torn by my emotions whenever the final book in a series comes out. On one hand I am very excited for the anticipation and wait to finally be over, so I can dive into the story and see how everything plays out in the end. However, on the other hand, finding out that resolution also means saying goodbye to characters that I have grown to love. In Thirteen's case this inner conflict was even worse due to the long build up over so many books. With each installment, my anticipation of the final showdown and resolution only grew, but so did my love for the characters, making saying goodbye even harder. Even though I knew the blow would be softened somewhat by the short story collections set to be released in the future, I still was still rather nervous as I started this book. However, after finishing it, I am happy to say that Thirteen not only delivered on but exceeded my expectations. Granted the ending wasn't exactly what I was expecting, with nothing tied up in pretty bows, but in not doing so, it served these characters so much better. Their personalities and circumstance wouldn't allow for anything less and I'm very happy Kelley stayed true to them. She really is a fantastic writer, and will always be one of my favorite authors. Thirteen is an absolute must read for fans of the series!

(Received a copy from the Publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:

Other Reviews:

Previous Books:

Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living With the Dead
Frostbitten
Waking the Witch
Spell Bound

Early Review: The Hunter and the Hunted by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

The Hunter and the Hunted by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Series E-Special

It’s not a good sign when Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers resort to everyday activities on their long-awaited honeymoon in St. Louis. But their encroaching boredom is about to take a back seat to an unexpected threat that catches Clay’s attention. A non-pack werewolf is clearly stalking them—out to claim Elena for himself—and Clay has no intention of letting the upstart mutt spoil their romantic getaway, even if that means deceiving Elena as he pursues the rival werewolf on his own. Originally part of an anthology of supernatural romance stories, STALKED is the perfect introduction to Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series and an action-packed interlude for fans to revisit some of their favorite characters.

In OFF-DUTY ANGEL, dark witch and half-demon Eve Levine is desperate for a little entertainment while her lover Kristof Nash is detained in afterlife court—enough to volunteer an extra week’s worth of angel corps duty just to pass the time. Luckily something even better comes up: a real celestial bounty-hunter mission to trail a shaman, someone who might prove to be a useful lead in Kristof’s court case. Following the target goes smoothly, until he leads Eve to The British Museum, where she inadvertently steps into a secret dimensional passage and stumbles upon a far more enticing puzzle…and a much greater danger. Packed with suspense and surprising twists, OFF-DUTY ANGEL reveals fascinating new insights into a beloved series character.

Includes an exclusive early look at THIRTEEN, the epic finale to the Otherworld series, coming July 24, 2012.

I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series. I'm really sad that it's almost over, so I was incredibly excited when I saw this e-special was going to be available. Not only are there two short stories included, but there also is a large chunk of the opening chapters of Thirteen.

I had previously read Stalked a long time ago, but it was more than worth reading a second time. Clay and Elena are my top favorite characters in the otherworld series, so I absolutely love any books/stories that center around them. Stalked was an especially good treat as it was told from Clay's perspective rather than Elena's. I really love the dynamic between the two of them, and it was nice to see some happiness after the very long and rough road they have had together.

Coming in at a close second for favorite characters, I'm always happy to read anything from Eve's perspective. She's a very complex character that has a very strong set of morals, but doesn't have a problem getting her hands dirty to get the job done. She's always got to keep herself busy or she quickly gets bored and into trouble, which is exactly what happens in Off-Duty Angel. It was quite entertaining to see her more mischievous side come out to play.

Finally, the excerpt of Thirteen. It starts off with a prologue featuring Eve, and then transitions into Savannah's perspective. The action starts right away, and man is it intense. If the whole book follows that pace, then Thirteen promises to be one heck of a roller coaster ride.

So, I have to say that this e-special is more than worth the purchase, and is a must read for fans of the series!

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

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Previous Full Length Books:

Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living with the Dead
Frostbitten
Waking the Witch
Spell Bound

Previous Short Story Collections/Novellas:

Men of the Otherwold
Tales of the Otherworld
Becoming
Angelic
Counterfeit Magic
Hidden
Plus many many more short stories on the author's website, and other anthologies

Spell Bound (Early Review)

, by KT

Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Women of the Otherworld #12

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she's powerless to help herself. At the heartbreaking conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would prevent further pain for a young orphan. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch-hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell-casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Armstrong gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and other beloved characters, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

At the end of Waking the Witch, Savannah lost her powers. In Spell Bound she is trying to come to terms with this, but really not succeeding. Her spells feel as important to her as breathing, so losing them was quite devastating. It doesn't help that trouble keeping coming up, putting her in situations that make her miss the lost firepower even more. It seems all supernatural are a target for some sort of nefarious scheme. While everyone else meets in the Cabel strong hold in Florida, Savannah and Adam are out on the front lines trying to get to the bottom of things. They'll need to get to the bottom of things quickly or run the risk of their world being forever changed.

At times while reading this I felt more as if I was reading a YA novel than an adult. It just didn't have the feel to it that Kelley Armstrong's other adult novels have. Perhaps it is because Savannah still seems so immature despite her age. She continually makes poor decisions, which in itself is not the issue. The problem is that she doesn't step up to the plate and admit her mistakes, she just runs off at the first sign of confrontation. She also threw several "temper tantrums" because things were not going her way. At one point in the book she talks about how she was always respectful and helpful whenever she visited the werewolves growing up, but was completely lazy and constantly disobeyed Paige and Lucas when she was home. It is obvious that she really cares for her guardians, so why treat them with less respect than the werewolves? Clay did seem to give her a wake up call in Spell Bound, so perhaps we will start to see some major progress in her behavior.

I am a very impatient person when it comes to relationship progression, so the issue with Savannah and Adam is driving me nuts. I was really hoping for some relationship progression in this book, but it just felt like things were one step forward and two steps back. Yes, I understand that this is only Savannah's second book, but things really started many books ago when she first met Adam. Of course the age difference was an issue at the time, but it just isn't anymore. I understand her hesitation to admit her feelings to him, as she is afraid he will turn her down. However, Adam would have to be blind not to have figured it out by now, considering the fact that everyone else has. Besides, I really think he cares for her too, so I'm not sure why he hasn't spoken up, unless it is due to her immaturity. As the next book is supposed to be the last one, I can only hope to finally get some satisfaction about these two characters coming together before the series is over.

While Spell Bound read very quickly, there just didn't seem to be a lot of action or real plot development. It felt more like a set up for a final battle in the next book as we don't even get a real picture as to who or what the "bad" guys are. As I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan, the slow movement and lack of progression did come as a little bit of a disappointment. However, I do have a feeling that the final book will definitely pick things up so this great series can go out with a bang. All in all, while Spell Bound may be a bit of a slower installment than the previous Women of the Otherworld books, it still is a pretty enjoyable read that fans of the series won't want to miss.

(Received from Netgalley)

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Pre-order at Amazon:
Spell Bound (Otherworld, Book 12)

Other Reviews

Previous Books

Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
No Humans Involved
Personal Demons
Living With the Dead
Frostbitten
Waking the Witch

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy

Review: Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

, by KT

Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Women of the Otherwold Novella

The first rule of a supernatural fight club? Don't kill your opponent.

When the fighters come with lethal spells, werewolf strength and half-demon powers, that can be a lot tougher than it sounds. It's hard to attract talent if they know they might not leave the ring alive. So when fighters at a California club start dying -- it's bad for business.

Witch detectives Paige Winterbourne and Savannah Levine take the case. Going undercover in the power-heavy arena of the fight club is a welcome change of pace for Paige, relegated to the role of The Wife as her husband struggles to find his place in his family's Cabal--the corporate Mafia of the supernatural world.

As Paige is drawn deeper into new and dangerous corners of her world, she quickly discovers the greatest threat isn't the killer in her sights. It's something much, much closer to home. And this is one fight she can't afford to lose.

This book was sold more as a collector's piece rather than as a book in itself, as the page count would be very low. The previous installment that Subterranean Press released, Angelic, cannot be found for less than $150 for the trade edition and well over $300 for the limited. So, when I saw that another one would be coming out, I had to snatch a copy of both versions before they sold out. That being said, I wasn't really expecting a whole lot on the story end as I bought it for the collecting aspect. After reading the novella, I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised. It packs a surprising amount of emotion in small amount of pages and is a nice companion story to the rest of the series. That being said I don't recommend it to anyone who hasn't read the rest of the series as there is no setup at all in relation to the characters.

For those not interested in this as a collector's aspect, don't worry as nothing major happens that will make you feel like you are missing something in future books. It was just a very nice "bonus" story. The cover itself is gorgeous as well as the illustrations inside. The limited leather bound version is especially nice well worth the extra price. All in all, this novella was definitely worth the purchasing if you are an avid Kelley Armstrong fan, and will make a great addition to your shelf.

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