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cheryl_88's review
5.0
Loved this book...it was such a satisfying ending to a massively enjoyable series.
katyanaish's review
5.0
The ending to the Cainsville series, which, as a whole, I could not put down. I am so happy the whole series was released so I could plow right through.
This is a series that, IMO, excels because of the individual book plots, and the character arcs. The overall series arc was a bit wishy-washy, with lots of holes. I don't want to dwell on those, because I really did enjoy the book, but just a brief list of the big ones, to be clear...
We got some hand-waving about her bringing life/power to whichever side she chose. But why? I mean, through all the iterations and multiple lifetimes, we never got any indication that she was imbued with some superpowers. The original Matilda didn't even seem to have powers at all. She was just a girl who was loved by two boys. There was no prophecy, no Gods that chose her, or ordained this. Where did this idea come from? And how does she bring them power, when she chooses? How does this work? Is it enough to just love the boy she does, or does she have to live there? Could she have chosen to love Gabriel and then empower the Cwn Annwn? I honestly cannot believe we didn't get any detail.
2. What did the sluagh hope to gain?
Was it really just chaos, or "I want that because other people want it"?? That is ... honestly, the dumbest motivation ever. I can't believe there wasn't some ACTUAL point. But I suppose that any concrete gain would have to explain what Matilda actually does. Refer to point 1, above.
3. Some things were overly convenient.
Seanna wasn't just a shit human being, she had her soul stolen. Pamela was seemingly just totally forgiven at the end. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame her for killing murderers to save her daughter. But killing James was pretty unforgivable. There was no good reason. I mean, really. Why, logically, would she kill the only non-fae to have a claim to Olivia's affections, when Pamela clearly wanted Olivia to have nothing to do with the fae?
4. We have some fairly major loose ends.
WALTER was betraying them? Walter? What? Why? How is it that we will never know that? Also, does Pamela get to know that she was TOTALLY played by the sluagh? We don't know if she was told or not told, but she damn well should be told, because she seems to feel like she's the only person who can see what's really going on... and she needs to know that she's just as fallible as everyone else, so she shouldn't go racing forward into something horrible just because she thinks she has shit all figured out. Like she did with the murders. Like she nearly did with Seanna. If she's getting out of jail, this needs to be handled. Which leads to: are her parents getting out of jail? That's a horrible loose end. Also, how did they know that an Arawn was being born but no Gwynn? And how can that even happen? But wouldn't it seem more likely that - given how the sluagh were literally manipulating every other event - that they just convinced the fae that they were needed, to get their foot in the door of Cainsville?
So those are overall plot problems. I'd like to also say, though, that I loved the shades of gray, and the twists and turns, throughout the series. Pamela doing bad things, but for good reasons. People making hard choices, that aren't really good or bad... they just are necessary. No character in this series has clean hands, and that makes it complicated and interesting.
Okay, so then we get to the the individual plot of each book, which I enjoyed very much. In this book, that's the Seanna / dryads story.
I also enjoyed that Gabriel and Olivia finally got past the ridiculous miscommunication and overreactions. They were great once they finally stopped that crap, and their overall character arcs were fantastic. Especially Gabriel.
So that's the series. I'm sad it's over. Here's my rating.
Overall character arcs: 5 stars
Individual book plots: 4.5 stars
Overall series plot: 3.5 stars
So I'm giving this book a 4.5.
This is a series that, IMO, excels because of the individual book plots, and the character arcs. The overall series arc was a bit wishy-washy, with lots of holes. I don't want to dwell on those, because I really did enjoy the book, but just a brief list of the big ones, to be clear...
Spoiler
1. We never got any indication of what, exactly, Matilda was supposed to do.We got some hand-waving about her bringing life/power to whichever side she chose. But why? I mean, through all the iterations and multiple lifetimes, we never got any indication that she was imbued with some superpowers. The original Matilda didn't even seem to have powers at all. She was just a girl who was loved by two boys. There was no prophecy, no Gods that chose her, or ordained this. Where did this idea come from? And how does she bring them power, when she chooses? How does this work? Is it enough to just love the boy she does, or does she have to live there? Could she have chosen to love Gabriel and then empower the Cwn Annwn? I honestly cannot believe we didn't get any detail.
2. What did the sluagh hope to gain?
Was it really just chaos, or "I want that because other people want it"?? That is ... honestly, the dumbest motivation ever. I can't believe there wasn't some ACTUAL point. But I suppose that any concrete gain would have to explain what Matilda actually does. Refer to point 1, above.
3. Some things were overly convenient.
Seanna wasn't just a shit human being, she had her soul stolen. Pamela was seemingly just totally forgiven at the end. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame her for killing murderers to save her daughter. But killing James was pretty unforgivable. There was no good reason. I mean, really. Why, logically, would she kill the only non-fae to have a claim to Olivia's affections, when Pamela clearly wanted Olivia to have nothing to do with the fae?
4. We have some fairly major loose ends.
WALTER was betraying them? Walter? What? Why? How is it that we will never know that? Also, does Pamela get to know that she was TOTALLY played by the sluagh? We don't know if she was told or not told, but she damn well should be told, because she seems to feel like she's the only person who can see what's really going on... and she needs to know that she's just as fallible as everyone else, so she shouldn't go racing forward into something horrible just because she thinks she has shit all figured out. Like she did with the murders. Like she nearly did with Seanna. If she's getting out of jail, this needs to be handled. Which leads to: are her parents getting out of jail? That's a horrible loose end. Also, how did they know that an Arawn was being born but no Gwynn? And how can that even happen? But wouldn't it seem more likely that - given how the sluagh were literally manipulating every other event - that they just convinced the fae that they were needed, to get their foot in the door of Cainsville?
So those are overall plot problems. I'd like to also say, though, that I loved the shades of gray, and the twists and turns, throughout the series. Pamela doing bad things, but for good reasons. People making hard choices, that aren't really good or bad... they just are necessary. No character in this series has clean hands, and that makes it complicated and interesting.
Spoiler
Also, have to give a nod to Patrick here. Finding out he didn't just have an affair with Seanna was good, but also heartbreaking. It gives a little justification for why he stayed so on the outside of Gabriel's life... I mean, who wants to have anything to do with their rapist?Okay, so then we get to the the individual plot of each book, which I enjoyed very much. In this book, that's the Seanna / dryads story.
Spoiler
Speaking of the dryads, I cried my eyeballs out at the end. Seriously, I think I'm still dehydrated.I also enjoyed that Gabriel and Olivia finally got past the ridiculous miscommunication and overreactions. They were great once they finally stopped that crap, and their overall character arcs were fantastic. Especially Gabriel.
Spoiler
When he finally became a leader at the end - making sure his people were as safe as he could make them, dragging Ricky to safety, etc - I was so happy that I was bursting.So that's the series. I'm sad it's over. Here's my rating.
Overall character arcs: 5 stars
Individual book plots: 4.5 stars
Overall series plot: 3.5 stars
So I'm giving this book a 4.5.
killerkakez1224's review
5.0
I loved this book, while it was a beautiful conclusion to the series I am utterly distraught that this is the last bit of that world.
christie_esau's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the first book or two of this series, especially since it was a bit different from the other Kelley Armstrong books I've read. By the fourth and fifth books, however, I just wasn't as invested anymore (and was admittedly tired of the Gabriel/Ricky/Olivia drama). Fine for a light read but definitely not my favourite.
maggie1903's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the original premise of Cainsville and the first instalment, Omens, but this series has lost its way a little over the last few books. It could have easily been a trilogy and not a five book series. However I'm happy to have an ending and some answers.
To recap, Liv, Gabriel and Ricky are caught up in an ancient fae story which replays across generations. Liv must make a choice between the two men, but that choice will condemn the people of the one she rejects. The two sides are the fae of Cainsville and the Wild Hunt. How will Liv choose?
She's already broken up with Ricky, finally coming to terms with the fact she has feelings for Gabriel, depsite his inability to let people in. I was team Gabriel from the start, so yay. But this still leaves Liv with knowledge that she will be hurting the Wild Hunt, if she officially chooses. I thought her final choice was a good one and I'd kinda worked it out half way through that it was what she must do.
The book also fills in a lot of questions about how Liv's parents facilitated her cure. As with all deals with the fae, nothing is straightforward and there's always a catch. I liked the addition of dark creatures, the Slaugh who punish those that the Wild Hunt cannot. I loved the mythology behind it, but it took a while to get there.
All the characters are now trying their best to be accommodating and understanding. Which is great, honestly, it's wonderful to have considerate people looking after themselves and others. The only problem is that they spend paragraphs explaining how they are being so accommodating so it just seems forced and I want to yell at them to get on with saving the day!
There is an amusing passage where they are talking about the romance books one of the characters writes. It reflects some of the criticism that Kelley herself receives, with books going on a bit too long and lack of editing, but also that it's not helpful to point this out to the author's face.
I even liked the addition of a couple of new characters, which is something I usually baulk at near the end of a series. The pair of dryads add a bit of comic relief and are also lovely people, who play a role in the big ending.
Would I recommend the series? It's tough, there is plenty worth reading but you've got to be OK with a slow middle to get to the payoff.
To recap, Liv, Gabriel and Ricky are caught up in an ancient fae story which replays across generations. Liv must make a choice between the two men, but that choice will condemn the people of the one she rejects. The two sides are the fae of Cainsville and the Wild Hunt. How will Liv choose?
She's already broken up with Ricky, finally coming to terms with the fact she has feelings for Gabriel, depsite his inability to let people in. I was team Gabriel from the start, so yay. But this still leaves Liv with knowledge that she will be hurting the Wild Hunt, if she officially chooses. I thought her final choice was a good one and I'd kinda worked it out half way through that it was what she must do.
The book also fills in a lot of questions about how Liv's parents facilitated her cure. As with all deals with the fae, nothing is straightforward and there's always a catch. I liked the addition of dark creatures, the Slaugh who punish those that the Wild Hunt cannot. I loved the mythology behind it, but it took a while to get there.
All the characters are now trying their best to be accommodating and understanding. Which is great, honestly, it's wonderful to have considerate people looking after themselves and others. The only problem is that they spend paragraphs explaining how they are being so accommodating so it just seems forced and I want to yell at them to get on with saving the day!
There is an amusing passage where they are talking about the romance books one of the characters writes. It reflects some of the criticism that Kelley herself receives, with books going on a bit too long and lack of editing, but also that it's not helpful to point this out to the author's face.
I even liked the addition of a couple of new characters, which is something I usually baulk at near the end of a series. The pair of dryads add a bit of comic relief and are also lovely people, who play a role in the big ending.
Would I recommend the series? It's tough, there is plenty worth reading but you've got to be OK with a slow middle to get to the payoff.
fictionaladventures's review
3.5
Not my favorite but had good moments.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
chill01469's review
4.0
This was a great little series with lots of great twists and turns, and a reasonably satisfying end; would have been better if Ricky had some kind of real resolution, but he was left "swinging in the breeze" so to speak.