Scan barcode
maggie1903's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
smuttea_matcha's review against another edition
5.0
Armstrong is killing me. Killing me! Each time I think my ship (Gabriel and Liv, obvi) is going to set sail, she just blows me in another direction. I can't handle this anymore. When is book 4 coming out? WHEN!?
Also, a realization that Ricky is Jax from Sons of Anarchy and Gabriel is Henry Cavill but with more looming and intimidation.
Deceptions was such a step up from Visions for me and I think it's because I felt like Visions was set up too much as a triangle and I was still rooting hardcore for Gabriel and Liv. It was tough to keep up with the mythology and the proper terms. You'd think that by book 3 I would have... Deceptions also focuses more on the dynamic of Gabriel and Liv, giving us more insights into Gabriel and his characteristics as well as his motives while also slamming the Ricky/Liv pairing in our faces. It's such a relief to read of Liv struggling with her developing feelings with Gabriel as much as she tries to fight the "fate" of their original dramas. I really, really enjoy that Armstrong emphasizes that while the three might be reincarnations of all those people, they're still their own people and have the independence to make their own decisions that do not tie in with the original cast. I really loved that. It's also adorable to read of Cainsville cheering on and shipping the Gabriel and Liv pairing. Ugh, until next time Armstrong, hopefully she GIVES me more of what I want. T_T
Also, a realization that Ricky is Jax from Sons of Anarchy and Gabriel is Henry Cavill but with more looming and intimidation.
Deceptions was such a step up from Visions for me and I think it's because I felt like Visions was set up too much as a triangle and I was still rooting hardcore for Gabriel and Liv. It was tough to keep up with the mythology and the proper terms. You'd think that by book 3 I would have... Deceptions also focuses more on the dynamic of Gabriel and Liv, giving us more insights into Gabriel and his characteristics as well as his motives while also slamming the Ricky/Liv pairing in our faces. It's such a relief to read of Liv struggling with her developing feelings with Gabriel as much as she tries to fight the "fate" of their original dramas. I really, really enjoy that Armstrong emphasizes that while the three might be reincarnations of all those people, they're still their own people and have the independence to make their own decisions that do not tie in with the original cast. I really loved that. It's also adorable to read of Cainsville cheering on and shipping the Gabriel and Liv pairing. Ugh, until next time Armstrong, hopefully she GIVES me more of what I want. T_T
patchworkbunny's review
4.0
I love the mythology of the Cainsville universe. Olivia’s visions are getting more frequent, and possibly more dangerous, which fill in gaps in the fae’s history. As one elder tells her, she can’t rely on the fae to tell her what’s what, they’re all a bunch of liars looking out for their best interest.
I missed the Matilda of the Night significance until I read the short stories in Led Astray, so I’m not sure if that was just me or if it won’t be so obvious going in. It’s a pretty important part of this third book but the myth is recapped a bit if you’re still clueless.
I was reading quite happily thinking isn’t it nice for a woman with a boyfriend to have such a close male friend with no weird love-triangle going on, but then this Matilda business throws a spanner in the works. The fact that they are reliving an ancient cycle of events suddenly brings into question whether Gabriel is something more to Olivia. The elders have explained that the same decisions aren’t made each cycle, so fate isn’t controlling them, but she doesn’t dismiss it outright.
I’m not quite sure why they’re marketing these as crime, other than that may be a more buoyant market at the moment. If you’re expecting a thrilling mystery escapade, you might be disappointed. It’s more about exploring Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky’s links to the mythology they are wrapped up in, whether they like it or not.
There’s a portion that seems very much a repetition of something that happened in Visions, even so that Olivia actually comments as such. It feels like Kelley is running out of plots which would be a shame as the universe is promising. I did enjoy Deceptions, but it’s not as strong as the first two books in the series, which I loved.
I missed the Matilda of the Night significance until I read the short stories in Led Astray, so I’m not sure if that was just me or if it won’t be so obvious going in. It’s a pretty important part of this third book but the myth is recapped a bit if you’re still clueless.
I was reading quite happily thinking isn’t it nice for a woman with a boyfriend to have such a close male friend with no weird love-triangle going on, but then this Matilda business throws a spanner in the works. The fact that they are reliving an ancient cycle of events suddenly brings into question whether Gabriel is something more to Olivia. The elders have explained that the same decisions aren’t made each cycle, so fate isn’t controlling them, but she doesn’t dismiss it outright.
I’m not quite sure why they’re marketing these as crime, other than that may be a more buoyant market at the moment. If you’re expecting a thrilling mystery escapade, you might be disappointed. It’s more about exploring Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky’s links to the mythology they are wrapped up in, whether they like it or not.
There’s a portion that seems very much a repetition of something that happened in Visions, even so that Olivia actually comments as such. It feels like Kelley is running out of plots which would be a shame as the universe is promising. I did enjoy Deceptions, but it’s not as strong as the first two books in the series, which I loved.
cherbear's review
3.0
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series but this books just wasn't up to the same standards. I think part of it was it's place in the series. Often the second one in a trilogy is not quite as good as the first and third. This book could be acting as a second in however many there eventually will be. It seemed like not much happened.
I also am hating the love triangle that seems to be developing. I really, really hate Olivia's relationship with Ricky. Nothing against Ricky I just question that reasoning skills of any woman who becomes involved with a man who's in a biker gang. Or any sort of gang. Sons of Anarchy will tell you that women pay a heavy price for their relationships with men like these. I don't even watch that series and I know this. And while I really like Gabriel I think he's took interesting a character to be wasted on a drip like Olivia. I still don't love her.
Relationships aside I also don't love the magical element that is being developed but it's possible that it will work so that's not a deal breaker. I didn't hate it enough to discontinue the series this late in the game, but I really hope the next book will be much better.
I also am hating the love triangle that seems to be developing. I really, really hate Olivia's relationship with Ricky. Nothing against Ricky I just question that reasoning skills of any woman who becomes involved with a man who's in a biker gang. Or any sort of gang. Sons of Anarchy will tell you that women pay a heavy price for their relationships with men like these. I don't even watch that series and I know this. And while I really like Gabriel I think he's took interesting a character to be wasted on a drip like Olivia. I still don't love her.
Relationships aside I also don't love the magical element that is being developed but it's possible that it will work so that's not a deal breaker. I didn't hate it enough to discontinue the series this late in the game, but I really hope the next book will be much better.
mmc_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
papidoc's review
3.0
With her third novel in the Cainsville series, Armstrong is starting to flesh out her setting with new details, layering fantasy elements over "real world" in an interesting way. Olivia learns more about her origins, Gabriel begins to get more in touch with his feelings (somewhat), and they begin to understand more about the back story of their tripartite relationship. Some shocking revelations ensue. In the end, there's a good setup for the next installment in the series.
malreynolds111's review
3.0
I was dissappointed in the " love triangle" angle. Really??!! did we have to have that. Don't want to read anymore of the series now.
tfulton52's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it's because I read it so far after I read the first two books, but the first half of this book dragged for me. The second half picked up pace a lot, but I feel like the first half of this book was so plot thin and could have been a lot shorter. I guess I wasn't prepared for that much of the book to focus on the relationships between the characters rather than a new mystery of some kind.
That being said, I did like the book once it was over. It advanced the series plot quite a bit and that was very gratifying. I guess it just seemed so different to me than the first two that it was hard to get into at first.
That being said, I did like the book once it was over. It advanced the series plot quite a bit and that was very gratifying. I guess it just seemed so different to me than the first two that it was hard to get into at first.
laughlinesandliterature's review
3.0
This book was a decent installment, I'm starting to get a little more anxious and wanting the plot to get on with it. It's starting to feel like we've re-hashed the Olivia/Ricky/Gabriel triangle too much. It was exciting to see Olivia moving on with her father, and starting to figure things out. The set up for this story has been in since the second book, so I'm not overly surprised at the route it's taking. I just could wish it would be a little quicker about. Looking forward to Betrayals!. 3 out of 5 stars.
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
Another great read from Kelley Armstrong in the Cainsville series. When Olivia discovered that she was not only adopted but that her birth parents were serving prison sentences for serial murder. In an effort to track down the truth of why her parents did what they did, she has to travel back and forth between her previous life and the mystical world that's been opened up to her. Because this has an overarching storyline I do not recommend reading as a stand-alone, too many characters and plot points that could get confusing. I'm excited to read the next in the series, see what happens with Olivia next!