DECEPTIONS is the third title in Kelley Armstrong’s gothic thriller series Cainsville. This novel continues the story of Olivia Jones, as she unravels more about her past and the secrets of Cainsville. Armstrong reveals more of the secrets of Cainsville and of Olivia’s past in this book.

On the whole I enjoyed reading this book. Armstrong did the urban fantasy aspect of this novel brilliantly – I really appreciated the way that Armstrong wove the world of the fay and the human world together. It seemed really believable and vivid on the page. In a lot of ways this element is one of the strongest aspects of the novel, and has allowed Armstrong to create a really interesting world. I think this book, more than the previous two, relies on this framework and for me it works well.

Through Liv’s journey in the book Armstrong has DECEPTIONS ask – and to be fair, answer – a lot of questions. This book is kind of a “big reveal” in that we get a lot of information allowing us a better picture of what it going on in the series – but I am sure there are a lot of twists to come, based on Armstrong’s other series. Having read the short story collection LED ASTRAY the revelation wasn’t too much of a surprise, but I did never the less enjoy it.

Although there are many aspects of DECEPTIONS that I enjoyed, there was one aspect that made me uncomfortable and made me hesitant to pick up the book. I’m not entirely sure that Armstrong didn’t do it on purpose, but it grated at me. And I’m trying to think how to put it, without risking spoilers . . . There was a friendship dynamic in the book that, for me anyway, seemed to be very controlling and it just made me feel uneasy. Having said that, I think it works well in the overall plot of the book – which is why I think Armstrong wrote it that way purposefully.

If you have enjoyed the Cainsville series so far, then DECEPTIONS is a fantastic addition to the series. Kelley Armstrong brings an interesting and complicated new novel to the series.

Review first published on The Flutterby Room.

LED ASTRAY by Kelley Armstrong is a new collection of twenty-three short stories. The stories feature new and familiar characters, as well as new and familiar worlds. This collection brings together some favourite short stories from previous volumes, as well as two new pieces.

I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong, and when I was offered the chance to read this collection I couldn’t help but say yes. I was not disappointed. Of course, there were a couple of stories that I didn’t enjoy as much as the others but on the whole I think Armstrong has pulled together some really fantastic short stories in this collection. There are stories set in new worlds, but there are also stories set in familiar worlds if you follow Armstrong’s series – there are stories based in her Darkness Rising universe, her Otherworld universe, her Cainsville universe, and her Age of Legends universe.

On the whole I really enjoyed reading the stories in LED ASTRAY. I did have two particular favourites: Bamboozled and V Plates, which for different reasons I just loved. I also really enjoyed Learning Curve and The List. The stories Armstrong set in her Cainsville universe were all really enjoyable, as they all gave a bit more insight into the world – there were two in particular that I think have added to my understanding of certain characters, and the world itself. The stand-alone short stories contained some of the creepiest stories I’ve read in a while, but they also had some really great characters and cool plot twists that just kept me reading.

If you are a fan of Kelley Armstrong then you must get your hands on this book! I think it would be a great addition to your collection whatever series is your particular favourite. If you’ve never read any of Kelley Armstrong’s fiction before – and why have you not?! – then this could be a great place for you to start – just be aware that there may be some minor spoilers for you. I am so pleased that I managed to get an ARC of this book, and I will definitely be buying my own hard copy.

I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally published on The Flutterby Room.

WILD JUSTICE brings to a conclusion Kelley Armstrong’s brilliant Nadia Stafford trilogy. When a hit goes tragically wrong, Nadia is left adrift and unsure of her future. Wanting to help her, Jack presents her with a case that might very well provide Nadia with the closure she is looking for…

Kelley Armstrong is without a doubt one of my favourite authors. I found her first through her adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy series, and have since devoured everything I can get my hands on by her. If, like me, you are a fan of hers then you might want to consider checking this series out. There might not be werewolves or necromancers, but following Nadia and her job as a gun for hire will definitely keep you turning the pages.

At first, WILD JUSTICE presents itself as a typical book within the Nadia Stafford trilogy, but once the hit goes terribly wrong and Nadia is presented with the case by Jack things start to get interesting. The case is linked to a particular event in Nadia’s past that has played a huge part in her life – and the books. The plot of the book slowly unravels, and as you turn the pages the more you want to know what is going to happen next.

Nadia Stafford is an interesting character, and her story is both a compelling one and one that feels recognisable. She is a character who it is very easy to empathise with – you can see why she took the path she did. WILD JUSTICE provides a few revelations, and I enjoyed using the new insight to look back at past events. Jack is, as always, Jack: a gruff figure who provides support and guidance. WILD JUSTICE too provides insight into his character, and I really liked the fact that we finally get to know a little bit about his past.

WILD JUSTICE provides an adept conclusion to the Nadia Stafford trilogy. Armstrong provides a compelling story, and at the same time manages to wrap-up most of the plot threads of the trilogy into a solid conclusion. Although this series is meant to be a trilogy, I’m kind of hoping that there will be more stories set in this world.

Originally posted on The Flutterby Room.com.

So for my first Booklikes post I thought I'd summarize a few of the books I've been reading lately. Mostly I read textbooks for university, but considering I'm not counting those as pleasure reads, we'll forget them (until my grades drop drastically). As for fiction and novels that have been in bed with me lately, let the list begin!

• The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
• Frost Bitten - Kelley Armstrong
• Bellman & Black - Diane Setterfield
• The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

This book has been one of my favorites since I first picked it up in 2011. Erin Morgenstern is a genius, and the appeal of this book cannot be denied. It's the result of National Novel Writing Month (an annual literacy awareness campaign wherein people from all over the word write 50,000 words in the month of November to promote illiteracy awareness. I've competed and won a couple times, it feels great!)

The Night Circus is about, well, a circus. A traveling 19th century circus which appears without warning. It is only open from dusk until dawn, and is a public venue for two magically inclined competitors, sworn and bound to compete against one another until a victor is declared. New tents are constantly appearing in the circus, filled with wonderful, sensory illusions. 

Frost Bitten - Kelley Armstrong

Frost Bitten is actually from the middle of a supernatural book series I consider guilty pleasure reading. I own the entire series, from the anthology to Men of the Otherworld. This particular book sat on my shelf for several years, and although I have reread this series several times, I somehow always managed to skip over Frost Bitten, and never realized. Three nights ago, I realized, and in delight, plunged into this "new" book. I was up until 3 am on a school night, devouring the final chapter. Can't say I regret it, either.

The Otherworld series is about female supernaturals, everything from werewolves to witches to a necromancer. There's plenty of gore, bitch-calling, and unrealistic sex scenes. I wouldn't call any of the books in the series a "feminist read," but there is a hell of a lot of girl power in a series about female protagonists who kick bad-guy ass and look good doing it. The whole Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong is the ultimate post-breakup, PMS indulge fest reading material!

Bellman & Black - Diane Setterfield

In all honesty, I haven't finished this book yet. While it's written by literary mastermind Diane Setterfield who also penned The Thirteenth Tale (the reason I requested an advanced reader copy of Bellman & Black) I don't know if I like this new, unreleased novel as much. I'm struggling to get through it, feeling obligated to finish it and review it because I requested it and was accepted, and not wanting to read it out of obligation. So here we are, a few chapters in, and consciously comparing the opening pages to its predecessor. I'll get back to you on this one.

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

This book is an anomaly. It's mind-blowingly original, creative, inspired, and ultimately, a brainteaser. As the title suggests, it's a book about the wife of a time traveler, who is left behind every time her husband travels. He often goes to visit her childhood self, causing pause for thought: did they meet because he randomly traveled back to her childhood; or did they meet because she ran into him in his present and caused such a disturbance in his life with her previous history and knowledge of him? Can there be one without the other?

This book makes me feel like a philosophical quantum physicist which is just ridiculous: I'm actually a closet romantic. Of course this novel is also a love story, they married after all. It's dramatic and chaotic and unusually funny. Time travellers, of course, can't take anything with them. Not even their clothes. Good thing Henry doesn't need glasses. Or have any sexual piercings....