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kelley armstrong

reviews November 14, 2013

Omens by Kelley Armstrong

Omens (Cainsville 1) by Kelley Armstrong

Olivia Jones has lived a life of privilege and good fortune. But on the eve of her wedding she discovers two shocking facts. One – she was adopted. Two – her biological parents are notorious serial killers. And now the secret’s out, she’s in immediate danger.

Running for her life, Liv must face reality in the most brutal and terrifying way. But then she is confronted with a tantalising hope – is it possible that her parents weren’t guilty of the murders after all? And if so, who did commit them?

Arriving at the remote town of Cainsville, Liv believes she has found the perfect place to hide while she uncovers the truth. But Cainsville is no ordinary town – and Liv’s arrival was no accident. (back cover)

Olivia Taylor-Jones comes from a wealthy family and has had a life of privilege. But then everything changes when she learns that she’s adopted, and her biological parents are infamous serial killers. The ensuing scandal drives Olivia from Chicago to a small town called Cainsville.
While trying to re-investigate her parent’s crimes, Olivia starts to notice something peculiar about the town.

I’ve read one Kelley Armstrong book before which I liked and I had high expectations for this one. And it didn’t disappoint me!

I liked Olivia who at first was just another poor little rich girl but she really grew after settling into Cainsville and learning to take care of herself instead of using the family money. When she learned about the adoption, she didn’t run straight into the arms of her biological family and still thought her adoptive parents as her parents. I really liked that even if her mother didn’t win the mother of the year price after fleeing to Europe from the scandal…

I think the best thing in the book was Gabriel. He was a lawyer who once represented Olivia’s mother and now helps her re-investigate. I sense a future love interest and I’m looking forward to it!

There is paranormal aspect in the book but it’s more mystery book. It worked for me but I haven’t read many of the author’s previous books so I don’t have much to compare it to. I guess we learn more about the town in the next books maybe paranormal things starts to come up too.
This wasn’t very action packed and felt like it prepared us for the things to come, but I didn’t realize until after the book was over that there didn’t happen that much in the book after all. But it kept me very entertained that’s for sure.

4,5/5

Published: Sphere (2013)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 486
Source: publisher

reviews July 28, 2013

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Bitten (Women of the Otherworld 1) by Kelley Armstrong

Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman, She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She’s also a werewolf.

Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must recon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel. (Goodreads)

When the book starts, Elena is trying to live anormal life in Toronto after leaving her pack. She has a boyfriend and a job but she doesn’t feel comfortable. Then she gets a call from Jeremy, the Alpha, and she hasto go back with pack. There she meets her ex-lover Clay, who turned her into a werewolf, and they clearly have some unfinished business. And then dead human bodies starts to pile on the pack’s area and it looks like Elena has to stay longer than she wants.

I loved Armstrong’s young adult serie before and I was really curious how her adult books would be. And I wasn’t disappointed! I enjoyed this from the start.

I liked Elena and I think she made great narrator. She was strong, kick ass-woman and no damsel in distress. And I was pleasantly surprised that while she is the only female werewolf in the world, not every single man was drooling after her and trying to get her to bed. Elena has been a werewolf for 10 years but she’s still trying to come to terms with it and hasn’t forgiven Clay for what he did. But during the book she’s finally starting to accept it little by little and noticing that the pack is her true family.

I loved Clay! He could be really rude at times but he clearly loved Elena. It was fun to read about their love/hate relationship and it felt realistic. Clay has some problems to accept the fact that Elena was living with a human man but finally tries to save his life because Elena would want it. Poor Clay, he tries so hard to win her back and she’s not making things easy.

What a great book and I love the writing style. I need to get the next book soon!

4,5/5
Published: Orbit (2008)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 448
Source: my own

reviews July 27, 2013

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

The Reckoning (Darkest Powers Trilogy 3) by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be ‘cursed’?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them.

As if that’s not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she’s leaning towards the werewolf…

Definitely not normal. (Goodreads)

Chloe, Tori, Derek and Simon are safe now with Andrew, a friend of Simon and Derek’s father. Andrew introduces the kids to group of supernaturals (necromancer, witch and shaman) hoping they could teach the kids and helping them to control their powers. They don’t seem to believe that the Edison Group is actually trying to kill them. And when they found out how powerful the kids really are without training, things are starting to go from bad to worse.

Chloe has always been little too nice and I’m happy she’s finally learning to stand up and not letting others run her down. She finally stands up to Derek who seems to take out his frustrations on Chloe more than anyone else. Derek has his first Change and I love how supportive Chloe is about the thing. But I found it little funny how well she seems to understand Derek in his wolf form. How many different snort/frown can a wolf have? I love it how in books everyone knows what others are thinking and how eyes seems to show everything…

Tori has made some growing up and while she’s still bitchy she seems to be more part of the group. And the thing about her dad was so unexpected! I wish there would have some more information on that.

Simon wasn’t much in the book and it seemed his only purpose was to be a part of a love triangle. But for once the triangle didn’t bother me and the guys weren’t really fighting each other for it.

I still wish there would have been more about their powers. Like why were they given the experiences? What was the ulterior motive?

I enjoyed the book but it left the feeling that it was unfinished. As far as I know there’s no more books but I could be wrong though.

4/5
Published: Orbit (2010)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 391
Source: my own

reviews July 27, 2013

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

The Awakening (Darkest Powers Trilogy 2) by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders is on the run
and raising hell. Literally. 

Chloe Saunders is not your average supernatural teenager. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister team of scientists, she can barely control her terrifying powers. Now the team that created her has decided it’s time to end the experiment. Permanently.

Now Chloe is running for her life along with a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and a temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom – but can Chloe trust her new friends? (Goodreads)

The Awakening starts from where The Summoning left. Chloe, Tori and Rae has been recaptured by the Edison Group. Chloe and Tori escapes and starts to search for Derek and Simon. After they are reunited they decides that the best solution is to look for a family friend of Derek and Simon who could help. They’re trying to learn to control they’re new powers and to figure out what was done to them.

It’s been some time since I read the first book and didn’t remember these were so much fun!

Chloe is trying to learn how to control necromancy and her power just seems to grow. She’s also trying to accept what she learned about her Aunt who was always there for her.

I like her , and the fact that she doesn’t come complete idiot when a boy is around, and she is starting to believe in herself more. Sure she does some stupid decisions that leads her needing to be rescued but still. From the first book she has had a crush on Simon who is this nice, thoughtful guy but there is also Derek who most of the time is kinda rude at everyone but at times is kind and caring.

I liked Simon and thought he was fun but Derek is the mysterious one. Chloe understand him and helps him with his struggle with the wolf. And I can’t feel hoping there would be more between the two!

I wish we would have been told more about how the kids have been genetically altered. It’s told that they were but never more than that. And it doesn’t come clear what is supposed to be normal so you don’t really know how different the kids really are.

Personally I found it interesting when we found out that Simon has diabetes. It doesn’t come across often in the books and not with something about medication plan explained. And even though it’s not a big deal in the story, there is still the proper information.

I really enjoyed this and it was kinda quick read too. Can’t wait to start Armstrong’s adult serie too!

4/5
Published: Orbit (2009)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 357
Source: my own