Series Review - Cainsville

Cainsville

Kelley Armstrong

Easy Reads
Paranormal / Supernatural / Mystery / Teen or Adult / Thriller /

*I won't adding a summaries to these novels the way I normally do. Because there would just be too many spoilers. I feel like even the goodreads synopisis gives too much away.
You just have to read this series it is AMAZING and totally addicting!

So here are my Spoiler Free Reviews :

Omens

8 Stars
483 Pages

I just finished The Darkest Powers Series and decided I should check out some more of Kelley Armstrong's novels. I went into this novel blind, I did quickly skim the synopsis before opening the book but I really did not have any expectations. I was in love by the second chapter, I don't even know where to begin explaining how excited I am about Cainsville! The setting is perfect, the pace is spot on, amazing characters - especially Gabriel who is just swoon worthy - the buildup is enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, more importantly the questions posed are answered in a timely and satisfying manner. Action packed and fast paced, I just couldn't put it down!

Visions

8 Stars
476 Pages

It is Armstrong's style to have the next novel pick up exactly where the previous novel left off; I often find that really irritating as there is excessive repetition and the first few chapters of the book always seem unnecessary. While this novel is no exception to her start up rule, but in this case it just enhances the story. With so much action and the primary (Larsen Mystery) and secondary storylines (Cainsville) both leaving cliffhangers, the characters are still developing. We the readers know more than the characters within the story and that dynamic more than anything is what has my anticipation levels so high. I have to know when the characters are going to find out what I know! As a result I have been marathoning my way through this book, picking it up whenever I have a free moment. I am a little worried that I will forget things because I am reading so fast, but these are also something I think I could read over and over. I might end up buying this series so I can have my own hardcover copies. I haven't read anything this captivating since The Daughter of Smoke and Bone last year!
We are given enough answers to be satisfied and interested but there is enough held back to keep you wondering.

Deceptions

7.5 Stars
458 Pages

I read the first 2/3 of this novel a lot slower than I wanted to, a couple chapters at a time instead of in big chunks like the first two. This was all due to life being in the way of reading, I think it would have been way better if I had read it with the same pattern I did the first couple books.  I am writing this review after I read the fourth novel and I am really regretting not taking the time between the two books to write this up as now my feelings for both books are kind of combined.
About half way through this book, I realized how many answers and how much information Armstrong has given me as a reader; without an overwhelming info dump. Yes she does give lots of info at once here and there, but overall its just little bits and pieces that come together seamlessly to form the big picture. There is a little bit of welcome repetition as we move around between characters and its "hidden" in such a way that until I looked back I never even noticed it. Getting the facts straight without that irritating tone that YA novels sometimes get. The conclusion of this novel was perfect, a wrap up of the first three novels that was satisfying and gave me a complete feeling. But still knowing there is more with the world and the characters driving you on to continue. *Armstrong has found the balance between the good and bad of so many characteristics... I can't even explain its just such good writting.

Betrayals 

8.5 Stars
416 Pages

I commented this on goodreads about 1/4 of the way through the novel and it sums up the beginning very nicely.
"Armstrong knows exactly when and how to change it up a little. First goal completed after three books, change the time line a little, switch up how all the characters interact, add another perspective and voila same old love but fresh" 
There is about three months between the end of the third novel and the beginning of this one - where as the first three novels were back to back timelines, and also Gabriel's perspective is added. I had so many mixed feelings going into this book. I wanted to love it,  but I was worried ; our main question had been answered. Would the new driving force behind the novel live up to my skyhigh standards for this series? Knowing so much now about the whole world what was left to really explore? Would it just be info dumping to fill in all the blanks with a half baked plot line to string out those facts?
I am beyond happy to report that this novel was just as amazing, although waiting a year for the 5th novel is going to be awful. I can't recommend this series enough.
*it is getting so hard to do reviews without spoiling anything!


Similar Reads

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Wrap Up - July 2016

Once I started this list I realized I had done more reading than I thought, pretty happy with what I got through this month.

1. One Foot in the Gravc, Jeannie Frost *reread
2. Halfway to the Grave, Jeannie Frost
3. At Graves End, Jeannie Frost
4. Long Hard Road Out of Hell, Marilyn Manson *reread
5. Serial Killers the faces of evil - Magazine
6. In the Afterlight, Alexandra Bracken
7. Killer Families : murder by dads, moms, kids and spouses, Sylvia Perrin

Was really excited to get back into Jeannie Frost's, Night Huntress Series, they are quick and easy reads. I really like her characters and will post a review of it all. I did find that by the end of the third novel I just wasn't feeling it (nothing to do with the book). I didn't start the fourth, tried a different romance, couldn't get into it. Tried a few lighter novels one adult one ya, just wasn't sparking any interest. In a bit of a reading slump.

Also picked up The Stand, read just under half on several occasions, its a pretty sizable detailed slowish read. Around halfway through it now hoping to finish it in August.

Series Review - Odd Thomas (Part 1) SPOILERS!

Odd Thomas 

Dean Koontz 

Mystery/Supernatural/Paranormal

7 Novels

*Read on audiobook by David Thomas Baker

The first three novels in this series where a roller coaster for me, ranging from distaste all the way through to absolute adoration. These are the first books I have read by Dean Koontz although many of his novels (most notably the Frankenstein series) have been on my TBR much longer than the Odd series. Deciding that it was time to start reading - or in this case listening - to a medium sized well reviewed series.

Vampire Book Tag

I am going to put this all down as if you are Vamp Newbies, and know next to nothing about our friends from beyond the grave.
What defines a vampire for me aka THE RULES not all of these criteria need to be met but the first 3 are always present, the farther down the list we go the more specific the book would have to be
*as vampires age from new born vamp to ancient the rules often modify or change all togther 

1. Undead 
2. Immortal, remain the age/appearance they died at, unnatural healing capabilities
3. Supernatural Powers (may have all or none or some)
1. Unnaturally/Inhumanly 
1. strong, 
2. fast, 
2. animal like hearing, 
3. eyesight, night-vision
4. Flight
5. Psychic powers, telekinesis, vampire to vampire  and or vampire to human
4. Killed by -- Often turn to dust, or skeleton when killed
1. Sunlight
2. Stake through the heart 
3. decapitation
4. Fire (completely consumed)
5. Silver (bullet or stake fatal, burns when in contact with skin, vampire kryptonite)
6. If you kill a "sire" vampire all the vampires he "created" will die too,
7. if restrained can be starved to death
8. some vampires need air (drowning/suffocation) others don't
5. Non-Fatal "allergies" to
1. Garlic
2. Holy Water
3. Crosses, not effected by bible passages, "God" spoken aloud may have reaction of sorts
4. Bites from werewolves/ other paranormal beings
6. Created by
1. Evil spell
2. Demonic possession 
3. bitten by vampire  and or 
1. only to rise as one after "natural death"
2. and only transformed if you drink his blood as well
3. must drink another humans blood before transforming
4. Some can be born vampire, either two vamps conceive somehow or pregnant human mother is bitten and gives birth to vampire child.
5. Half Blood Vampires, from a variety of things
6. Created by human virus/experimentation 
7. Depending on the novel becoming a vampire can have various levels of difficulty and steps not all humans can always become vampires 
7. Fangs, they drink blood, most often must be from a human direct from the source, could also be direct from source animal, human from the source or blood bank style, animal from the source or blood bank style, other vampires, may be allergic and or preferential to certain types of blood
1. Blood Lust or Urge to feed, May or May not be able to control, may be affected by
1. when the vampire last feed
2. age of vampire
3. if the vampire is wounded
4. strength of sire vampire
5. may or may not have to kill when feeding
2. May or may not be affected by state of humans blood, ie drunk humans, what people eat, blood type, HIV, Aids, Cancer
8. May or may not have reflection  and/or shadow, or turn up on film
9. May or may not need an invitation into places, ranging from private homes to any type of building
10. Ability to change shape, bat, smoke, 
11. Control over other supernaturals (varies)
12. Must sleep when the sun is up, variety of rules for dusk/dawn,
13. Good vs Evil Age old question of with or without a soul, same human as before transformed/ monster looking like human

If I have missed anything please comment. I am sorry if this list is hard to fallow I referenced a few websites + good ol' wikipedia and my somewhat wonderful memory bank
Depending on the novel vampirism can be an underground secret affaire to something very public.
It can be an old or new "condition" depending on how long the public has known about vampirism.
Humans in the novel can range from Wanna-be vamps to terrified victims desperate to escape any contract to vampire hunters

This post seems to be getting way longer than I intended it to be...

Book Review - The Coldest Girl in Coldtown (Spoilers)

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
by Holly Black

I liked this cover but it isn't really anything special. Doesn't really have anything to do with the novel. 

419 Pages
Easy Read

Vampire/ Paranormal / Post Apocalyptic/
Ya novel
7.5 Stars

So I picked this book up from the library on a whim, I was just looking for books that I thought I would be able to finish in one maybe two sittings (three at the most). I hadn't picked up anything paranormal in a long time and the cover caught my eye.  I have never read anything by Holly Black, I knew the name but it didn't thing to me so I didn't have any expectations. This was a good read, took me two sittings and I enjoyed it. It was more complex and in-depth than what I expected. There wasn't a love triangle or too many overwhelming little irritating things that seem to be in most YA nowadays. Holly Black really didn't throw in tons of unnecessary things that I find authors have been putting in their books just to crowd please. Overall something I would but on my TBR if your a paranormal fan, vampire fan its  good summer read, read-a-thon read. But its not a MUST read.

SPOILERS BELOW BEWARE! +  character list, general story overview, random notes, extra stuff more something for memory or school (not that i'm in school but...)