Betrayals by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong never ceases to amaze me. She has written yet another novel that is intelligent, mysterious and fascinating. Betrayals has answered so many questions about the Cainesville world yet there's still so much we don't know.

Olivia was living a pretty normal life up until a few months ago. Ever since learning she was adopted and that her birth parents are in jail for murder, life hasn't been the same. Now she's living a life full of supernatural intrigue and visions. Working as a private investigator for lawyer and friend Gabriel Walsh, trouble seems to follow her around. Through one of her visions, she finds out that two girls were murdered and she makes it her duty to investigate. Because these girls are a type of fae, their bodies disappear soon after their death so Olivia is really their only hope for justice. Solving the mystery is even more important since someone is trying to pin an associated murder and disappearance on Ricky, Olivia's lover and the future leader of a biker gang.

I don't even know where to start when it comes to describing Cainsville. It's not a secret town but you can only find it if it wants to be found. It's a town built by Welsh fae, for the Welsh fae and their progeny. Almost like a safe haven in disguise. Olivia was drawn to the town for a reason, because the elders of the town believe she is a sort of reincarnation of Matilda, a maiden from one of their myths. It is said that Arawn and Gwynn, the princes of the Hunt and the Welsh fae, respectively, were both attracted to Matilda. Their story ended badly, but in our modern world, according to the town elders, Arawn is Ricky and Gwynn is Gabriel. Apparently Olivia must choose a side and the winning side would get the ultimate power to survive in the modern world.

Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky have decided to live out their lives as normally as possible, ignoring the "prophecy." However, Olivia is torn between Ricky and Gabriel. She is definitely attracted to Ricky and their physical relationship isn't suffering despite Olivia being stabbed and almost drowning. However, Olivia's strong feelings for Gabriel is unavoidable. Their calm and unassuming friendship isn't enough for Gabriel, and despite his jealousy of Ricky, he doesn't let it show. He does, however, try to win Olivia in his own way. Most of the time, I'm not a big fan of love triangles, but in this case, it's a drama you don't want to miss.

In my mind, Kelley Armstrong can do no wrong. This series is very different from her previous books but it's so original it makes me crave more. Betrayals is my favourite book of the series so far because of the drama unfolding between Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky. It has also answered many questions yet left us in the dark about so many other things. I can't wait to see how the series unfolds. I feel like the end is near yet I don't want this series to be over.

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by Tynga at Monday, October 24, 2016

 Cainsville, fae, Fairy Tales amp; Folklore, gargoyles, greek fae, Kelley Armstrong, Purchased, Random House Publishing Group, Review, signs, visions, welsh fae  Leave your mark

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The Hawley Book of the Dead by Chrysler Szarlan

What kind of murder mystery starts out with the full knowledge of the identity of the person who pulls the trigger? The obvious answer is that it has to involve magic of some sort.  This is one of the elements of this gripping tale of love, murder, family and magic by Chrysler Szarlan in the book The Hawley Book of the Dead.

The story begins with the glitz and glam setting of Las Vegas and a husband and wife magic show.  They are enjoying a level of success and fame that allows them to provide a stable life for their three daughters and themselves until fate steps in.  After a tragedy on stage, the remaining members of the family  are left to confront and live with what they learn of their ancestors and the legacy that has been handed them.  I am sure that it would be easy enough to find other stories that could loosely fit that description but, this is one that takes that skeleton and fleshes it out into an entertaining story.  Chrysler Szarlan uses setting and history to great effect and in a way which pulls the reader even further into the narrative.  Whether in the deserts of Nevada or a New England woods we are treated to scenes and scenery that helps build the energy and tension for this book.

We get to learn about the family mainly from the perspective of Revelation Dyer.  It is her thought, feelings and observations that bring this all to life to us for the most part.  The author did do something a bit unusual in shifting from Revelation's first point of view to a third person point of view centering on other characters.  The real surprise is how well it works.  To me, it came across as a clever way to give the intimate details that first person allows while still providing a glimpse into other parts of the story.

The Hawley Book of the Dead by Chrysler Szarlan is an interesting and entertaining book. It breaks a few a the rules and tells a story that will surely play the heart strings of its readers.  There is a bit of language and a small amount of suggestive dialog which earns this one a PG13 in my mind.

 

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, July 27, 2016

 Chrysler Szarlan, fae, Fantasy, Magic, Purchased, Random House Publishing Group, Review, Romance, Suspense  Leave your mark

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Alight (Generations Trilogy #2) by Scott Sigler

Alight is the second book in the Generations Trilogy by Scott Sigler. In this review, I will likely bring up points about plot points both crucial and obscure, otherwise known as spoilers.  If you have not started reading this series but, intend to, I suggest you come back once you have read the first book.  If you're not sure you want to start this series, check out my review of Alive by Scott Sigler.

We first met the main characters, Em (M.), Bishop, and their friends on the day they consider their birthday.  Having emerged from containers they first think of as coffins and for some of their number, it is an accurate description.  Those that survived wind up feeling like 12 year olds in much more mature bodies.  As they learn about where they are they learn who they are: bodies to be hosts to the conscientiousness of their makers on a spacecraft.  The big problem? The bodies don't want to be overwritten and in the end, leave the spacecraft for the nearest planet.

As with most second books in a series, there is quite a bit of character development going on here.  This story almost requires quite a bit of growth of the characters we already know an Scott Sigler delivers.   We start to see the answer to the question that has been on all their minds:  Will they their own per persons or are they just a copy of the grown ups that made them.  Of course there are new characters introduced to us but, I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers.

All of this self discovery does not get in the way of a very good story.  These kids have quite a bit to deal with figuring out how to exist in a new environment and all that comes with that.  Along with all the new problems they have many of the same unresolved issues they had while trying to leave the ship.

Alight by Scott Sigler is exactly the kind of follow up the first book Alive.  It not only advances the story, it also gives it somewhere to go.  All of this happens while the characters grow and become more than they were.  There is quite a bit of violence and hints of mature conduct but, it still stays in the lighter side of PG13 for me.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, April 13, 2016

 Action amp; Adventure, Generations, Purchased, Random House Publishing Group, Review, Science Fiction, Scott Sigler, young adult  1 Person left their mark

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