Review: Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong

Thirteen

by Kelley Armstrong

(Women of the Otherworld # 13)

It is sad to see a series that I love come to an end but it's also refreshing to see one ending on such a high note.  Oftentimes series just start falling on the quality and originality of the books but Women of the Otherworld has always either kept steady or improved.  And THIRTEEN is one of the best books in the series!  A truly perfect grand finale.  And all I can do is applaud Ms. Armstrong for a job well done and now go cry in a corner because I won't get to see some of my favorite characters again.

THIRTEEN picks up right where SPELLBOUND left off, pretty much to the minute.  As you could expect all hell breaks loose in this book, literally and figuratively.  All I will tell you about the story is prepare for non-stop action and awesomesauce!  At times it's even gruesome and not made to look pretty.  It gets dirty and bloody and raw.

Speaking of raw, I will take this opportunity to thank Ms. Armstrong for NOT tearing my heart out at the end.  I cried for about five minutes fearing for things to come.  I get emotional just thinking about it now.  So thank you.  When you read the book you will understand.

Savannah is the main focus of this story.  She does finally get the guy.  I've always loved her character, she's tough, she's fierce, one of my favorite narrators.  And she gets so much closure in this book as well as a completely new beginning.  We've seen her mature so much throughout this series and really grow into her powers.  Adam is the perfect complement for her.  Although I have to say that I thought I missed something when Adam and Savannah finally got together and then all of a sudden they were waking up.  I don't think I was expecting Clay/Elena raw sex against a tree or anything, but I don't understand how come Savannah and Adam are the only couple that we didn't get even a paragraph past the kissing and clothes flying.

Then we have the cast of the series.  I'm going to cry.  They were all here, just as we love them.  Clay, Elena, Jeremy, Jaime, Hope, Karl, Paige, Lucas, Eve, Kristoff, Cassandra, Aaron, Benicio, Sean *they all take a bow* And even some that I didn't expect to ever see again, and I won't tell you who they are.  We get to read this book from many of their points of view, not only Savannah, which was great in tying things for each of their stories.

It has been a magical ride into a world that I almost feel part of by reading this series.  THIRTEEN was no different and gripped me from beginning to end. *The curtain falls on the last act*

*sobs*
You all will be missed!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review: The Hunter and the Hunted by Kelley Armstrong

3.5 Feathers

The Hunter and the Hunted

by Kelley Armstrong

(Women of the Otherworld # 7.3 & 12.5)

Brief overview:

You should know that I love Kelley Armstrong and I love this series.  I've been actually sad just thinking the last book is coming out in about a month.  So when I saw that this was coming out I actually got really excited.  And then I looked at what the stories were about and I had one those moments where that bright smile falters a bit.  You'll see why in my individual story review.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed this novella.  It actually has two very short stories and then quite a big preview of THIRTEEN, which I didn't read because I want to enjoy the book fully when it comes out.  But I was a bit disappointed that the preview was really pretty much half of this ebook.

STALKED

(Women of the Otherworld # 7.3)

This story was originally published in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (anthology) which I never read.  Basically Clay and Elena had their twins and were basically living as a married couple without being actually married.  So when they decide to make it official and then they go on their honeymoon, they thought they wanted what normal couples got in their honeymoon.  Except normal is boring for them.  And Elena finds herself being stalked by a mutt, but it's Clay who notices right away.  I loved the fact that this story was from Clay's POV.  I can still say Clay and Elena are my favorite couple in this series and it's always enjoyable to read about them, but Clay's mind is such a treat to be in.  Having not read the anthology this was originally published in, I actually enjoyed this story as new to me.

OFF-DUTY ANGEL

(Women of the Otherworld # 12.5)

Here's the reason why my smile faltered.  Eve *might* be my least favorite character in the series.  I've never developed any attachment to her, probably because she is technically out of the picture already when the series pretty much gets going and then comes back.  Needless to say I was disappointed that the brand new story we were getting was Eve's.  But it was kind of fun.  She's been bored out of her mind with mindless research work until her DH gives her an assignment.  This takes her on a quest, jumping through different planes, and she actually made this story entertaining to the point that I liked her.  A lot of action and the story was very focused on Eve and hardly on Eve/Kristoff.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIRTEEN!!!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Spell Bound

by Kelley Armstrong

(Women of the Otherworld # 12)

Urban Fantasy

I may have a girl crush on Savannah! This is the second book with her as the narrator, and I just love her! I love her personality, her spunk. She starts to do some growing up in this book. First of all, picking up right where Waking the Witch left off, she doesn't have any powers. And this is not the best time to be left without them as she is still dealing with a witch hunter.

But that is not the only threat her and Adam are facing in this book. Some of the previous storylines come back into play (immortality seekers, witch hunters, prophecies), some characters from previous books come back! Almost every character in the series makes an appearance! I don't want to give too much away, but lets just say that while Savannah is struggling to figure out how to regain her powers, she might get kidnapped, again, save a certain vampire, get drunk with a HOT demon on more than one occasion, and struggle with some major things with certain members of her family.

I definitely think this book was perfect to tie in lose ends and set up the last book. Yes, Kelley Armstrong has only been contracted to write 13 books, so the next one will be the last as far as we know. *pouts and makes a sad face* But I can tell it'll be amazing!

Savannah and Adam? Yes he will be her HEA, but there isn't a whole lot happening between them in this one. We do get one hot and emotional kiss, and a moment that I thought would be promising when they are both drunk and she falls asleep in his lap. Adam is adorable! He cares for Savannah so much, he really shows her he would put her above anything, protect her, take care of her and I can't wait to see them as a couple.

Savannah also realizes that she may not treat him with the respect that he deserves. So she has to change her ways.

Some of my favorite lines in this book though, came from Cassandra! Who would've thought? I loved her character in this book. I think is so cute that she's dating Aaron again to start with, and that has made her be a little bit more friendly. One of my favorite moments was when she texted Savannah if they really needed to talk to Eloise because she was soooo "O.M.G. I'm so excited to meet a vampire! fangirl".

So the final book I think will revolve around a "prophecy" that involves Savannah, Elena's twins, Rhy's grandchild, Jaz. This group we meet in this book thinks that it's time for supernaturals to rule the world. To come out in the open and have humans submit to them. I am really excited to see what happens with this as it seems it will be the final battle.

Review: Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong

This is Savannah's book. I was so excited to read it, and it didn't disappoint me AT ALL. It was everything I expected from her and more! I don't want to put a spoiler warning on this, so I'll try to be careful not give too much away.

At this point, Savannah is 21. She has been working for Paige and Lucas for 5 years, and now they are away on vacation and Adam is away at a conference, and a case comes up that sounds easy and safe enough for her to investigate her first case by herself. She follows Jessie, who's a friend of Lucas', to a nearby town to investigate the murders of three girls that seem to have a supernatural connection. While there she finds a group of women living in a commune and whose leader might be a suspect for the murders, another witch married to the main suspect in the killings, one of the victims' brother who comes from Dallas to investigate and actually goes on a date with Savannah twice, a witch hunter who they thought would just be a legend, and many more adventures.

What I liked: Savannah's personality, as usual, she's straight-forward, spunky, fun, confident and just adorable.  She's my favorite heroine in this series now! And she riders a bike! Adam's relationship with her is so cute! I loved hearing all the phone calls, the teasing, the memories of vacations they've had together and things they do for each other. And how she keeps burning his clothes with the sparks from her fingers! I liked Michael also.

There was a lot of action and mystery in this book! The story kept building and twisting and getting more complicated, with more possibilities as we went along.

And the greatest thing is I never would've thought the way things turned out in the end! I started suspecting, but for different reasons. Savannah has to battle with being Eve's daughter or doing the right thing. And the caring that Adam shows for her at the end *tender* He was there for her, protected her, risked his life for her, yelled at her, confronted her and didn't let her get away!

And the actual ending... Oh.My.God! I have to read the next book as soon as it comes out, and that's not soon enough, to find out what's going to happen.