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!


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Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

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.

Series Review - The Maeve'ra Trilogy

The Maeve'ra Trilogy

by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Supernatural/ Vampire / ShapeShifter/ YA
Easy/ Junior High level Read

BloodWitch
7 Stars

Just browsing through the library killing some time while I got some work done on the car and I found this beautiful little book.
Set in the 1800's. This is a power struggle novel between various shapeshifter clans and the ruling vampire class. Our main character Vance - a Quetzal shapeshifter with bloodmagic-  is torn between the many factions, raised by the vampires they hold his love and loyalty. When his world is suddenly turned upside down by a series of events, be begins to question the integrity of the Midnight Empire.

For a YA novel this was wonderful, there was no romance, the emphasis was on freewill and choices although there was a little bit of prophecy/fate/destiny thrown in. I really liked the main character Vance and found him very believable, he did have some choices to make but there was little of the typical pointless back and forth it was very concise. Overall very a very refreshing read. The only issue I found which has been coming up quite a bit lately was the lack of pleasant characters, although I think as this series continues that will change. The overall character development seems to be setting us up for something!

BloodKin
6 Stars

I am one day going to have to find a second book that is better than the first because this trend is ridiculous. I realize that much of the second book is setting things up for the final novel - which seems to have only two outcomes 1. amazing 2. epic fail - but I always feel like there was so much potential that just wasn't realized... SO frustrating

Overall I really enjoyed this read, I can't wait to pick up the Kiesha'ra series because it is also set in this world. I don't think I have ever read another series that focuses on Spanish, Mexican, Latino Mythology and its really interesting. Unfortunately I also found that this novel was a little too drawn out, I don't understand why we switched over to Kadee's narrative when Vance was there the whole time. I would have rather stuck with him and how he was adapting to his new life. Kadee is a good character but I did find both the story and her to be repetitive in a very irritating way. There was some good info thrown into the mix but I just didn't feel for her the way I felt for Vance. Much of this writing had an unnecessary feeling to it, which is a little bit crushing after how refreshing and original the first novel was...

BloodTraitor

coming soon - April 2016


















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