Rayne and Braeden live in a world decimated by war and famine, a world where survivors take refuge in fortresses, protecting themselves against a land overrun by hybrids—the horrific results of wartime genetic modifications—and the branded—roving bands of supernatural outcasts. When Rayne exposes Braeden as a werewolf, she’s lauded as a hero. But it’s actually just the first step in their desperate bid for freedom.
My Thoughts :
Ever wondered what could of happened to the Otherworld? Branded is a short story that shows a post-apocalyptic view of the Otherworld series which will leave you with goosebumps.
After all the years of Otherworld stories I have to admit that I didn't see this future coming. Maybe this novella is only a possibility of what could happen but it really makes you wonder what Kelley Armstrong could do with this series in the future.
Branded is an interesting story that packs a punch despite its small size. A definite read for any fans of the series and a very interesting twist on the whole series. What else can I say? Just try it. You will either love it or hate it but with so many other books being all post-apocalyptic these days it may just be the read you need to see how it really should be done.
Gabriel’s Gargoyles (Cainsville short story, Gabriel Walsh as 10 year old narrator.) :
Cainsville was where a boy could walk the streets safely at any time, day or night. Where everyone was genuinely glad to see you, and didn’t think you were odd if you wanted to keep to yourself. Because Cainsville was odd, too. For one thing, there are the gargoyles. Unlike the others, Gabriel doesn’t believe the carven creatures came to life to protect the town. It’s up to a boy to protect himself. Now he’s determined to find the last hidden gargoyle by winter Solstice. He’s also determined to get the perfect gift for his great-aunt Rose. And when Gabriel Walsh sets goals, he achieves them…one way or another.
The Puppy Plan (Otherworld novella, 9 year old Logan Danvers as narrator.) :
When Logan finds an puppy abandoned by the roadside a few days before Christmas, he knows it’s a sign. His sister Kate wants a dog more than anything. Their parents aren’t completely opposed to the idea. It’s just a bad time. A really bad time. Maybe next year. But now there’s this puppy in need of a home and a girl in need of a pet… So how does a boy who always plays by the rules give his sister what she wants most?
My Thoughts :
The Otherworld series came to an end but Kelley Armstrong still delights her readers with these amazing short stories! The Puppy Plan is another story about Elena and Clay's twins who are now already 9 years old. It is another great story in the series and a must read for any fans. The Christmas theme to the story means that this is the perfect time of year to read this one and it would also make a perfect gift to anyone who loves this author.
The Cainsville series is Kelley's newest adventure and it is turning out to be just as amazing as all her other books. I am enjoying the series a lot and this short story was a lovely gift from the author. It was great to get to know Gabriel as a boy and really see how things were for him growing up. The whole story was interesting to read and it would also make a great quick look into the series if you haven't already started.
Both stories were, as always, top notch. Definite must reads for fans of the author and if you can manage it you really need to check these out before the holidays are over. There is nothing like reading a Christmas story at the wrong time of year!
Thank you Kelley for the amazing gifts! I hope you have a great Christmas! ;)
This short story collection will include many brand-new tales and others only previously available on Kelley Armstrong's website. Most of the stories will feature the werewolves of the Otherworld, Elena and Clay, Jeremy, Karl and other members of the American Pack. These are some of Kelley Armstrong's best-loved and most enduring characters, from bestselling books such as Bitten, Stolen and Frostbitten.
My Thoughts :
I usually hate anthologies and usually moan and groan about them afterward. However an anthology with only Kelley Armstrong stories based in the Otherworld Series is nothing to gripe about. It is something to celebrate and anticipate.
Due to my distaste for anthologies I have actually never (to my recollection) read any of the short stories in the Otherworld Nights collection. So I was very eager to read this book and catch up with some of the characters again and see how they are doing. To make the review easier to write I will address each story individually.
1) Demonology - Adam's mother discovers what he is.
Short but sweet. This one left me wanting more but it was a nice to find out more about Adam and meet his Mother.
2) Stalked - Clay/Elena honeymoon story from "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon"
This is the only story from the collection that I believe I have read before. It felt familiar and if I go back and check my previous reads maybe I will find "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon" on the list.
It was a good story and it was typical Elena and Clay. They manage to be so close but fail to communicate well enough to enjoy their honeymoon. It is amusing and cute at the same time. A nice story about two of my favourite characters in the series.
3) Hidden - SubPress 2012 Elena/Clay novella
The was the longest and best story in the book. Clay, Elena and the twins are getting ready for Christmas. All alone in a cabin they come across a local mutt. The story has some nice twists and turns and also brings up the 'when do we tell the children' question.
I really liked this story and it was like having another new episode in the Otherworld series. A look at how things could have been. Other members of the Pack show up as an added treat but the icing on the cake was getting to know the twins better.
Any fan of the series, who hasn't read this short story, should get this anthology just because of Hidden. It makes the whole anthology worth reading and made me very happy.
4) Twilight - a Cass story from "Many Bloody Returns"
A story about Cassandra. I guess the title is a little funny when you think this one is a vampire novella. I didn't really care for this one and have never really liked the character. It was interesting to find out more about her life but she made me want to stake her.
5) Chivalrous - Reese's backstory from SubPress's long sold-out "Tales of Dark Fantasy 2" (the Dec'14 SubPress graphic novella picks up this storyline)
I think this was my second favourite. I can't remember much about Reese but I really enjoyed getting to know him and finding out more about his past. This was a tragic story but it was a good look into the reasons Reese is the way he is. He is mentioned/takes part in some of the other stories in this anthology and this background piece about him explains a lot.
6) Lucifer's Daughter - Hope/Karl story from "Blood Lite II: Overbite"
I really like Hope and Karl so I was happy to find them among the novellas in this collection. Another short but sweet story this was over pretty quick but there was a lot of action and information. Another enjoyable read and well worth checking out if you like these characters.
7) From Russia with Love - Elena bonus story included with hardcover of "Thirteen"
Another nice Elena story but it was over pretty quick. I didn't understand why the whole being followed bit was so important but maybe I wasn't paying enough attention.
This story came across as the last look into the life of the Pack. It could also be seen as the beginning of what is to come. I don't know if Kelley intends on coming back to the Otherworld at some point but if she does this is the story she would have to continue from. A nice ending but a hopeful future.
8) Vanishing Act - brand-new Savannah/Adam novella set after "Thirteen"
I like Savannah but this story didn't agree with me. I am not sure why but I felt like I should have enjoyed it more. Maybe I didn't put it in the right place in the series and it should have meant more to me. Did it tie up some loose ends that I had forgotten about?
I plan on reading/listening (if I can get them all on audio!) the whole series again from start to finish and I definitely have to try and fit in the novellas too.
All in all this was a good collection of stories that are well worth reading if you are a fan of the series. Check the stories first to see if you have read them before because you could end up being disappointed and re-reading novellas you already know.
Kelley Armstrong is a great writer and I thank her for putting this novellas together and look forward to another collection. The Otherworld is one of my favourite series ever and I miss it like mad. This anthology was a great present and a thoughtful idea. I doubt I would have ever managed to read all of the stories in their original anthologies.
War is coming to the Otherworld. A sinister cult known as The Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons.
Savannah Levine - fiery and unpredictable - stands at the heart of the maelstrom. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows.
On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival - Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jaime; Hope, Eve and more...They are fighting for lives.
They are fighting for their loved ones.
They are fighting for the Otherworld.
My Thoughts :
The end of an era. Thirteen is the last book in the Women of the Otherworld series. I feel like I was just at a funeral for a bunch of fantastic friends. No, Kelley didn't kill all the characters off, it just feels like it is over forever. The ending isn't one of total closure and there is a small promise of some more short stories in a few years. I will hang on to that hope.
While I feel sad that the series is over I am also extremely happy it ended the way it did. So many series try to finish with a huge bang, lots of characters dying, all ends getting tied up and a look into the future to show us that indeed everything did end up being picture perfect. They usually have a rushed feeling to them and end up filled with too much information as the author tries to cram everything in. Kelley Armstrong managed to stay away from this trap and write another perfectly fabulous story and end things on a high.
The plot itself is not something I want to go into. I don't want to spoil it for any fans who haven't yet got hold of a copy. All I will tell you is that there are quite a few surprises, everyone makes an appearance and while Savannah is the narrator the other Women take over at times to tell their side of the story. Thirteen is a super read and actually doesn't feel like the end.
So if you are a fan. Get a copy asap! This isn't one you want to put off reading. It's better to get it over and done with and enjoy every last word. If you haven't tried this series yet then you really need to take the time to try it now. What better way to enjoy the books now you can read one delicious installment after another without having to wait for a new release.
This is a must read series and one I will treasure for years to come. I intend on listening to the books soon on Audio and I will definitely be reading them again and again. The Women of the Otherworld had everything I wanted from a Paranormal Urban Fantasy series and I can't wait to see what delights the author has in store for us next.
This pack of 2 novellas starts with Stalked. It’s not a good sign when Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers resort to everyday activities on their long-awaited honeymoon in St. Louis. But their encroaching boredom is about to take a backseat to an unexpected threat that catches Clay’s attention. A non-pack werewolf is clearly stalking them—out to claim Elena for himself—and Clay has no intention of letting the upstart mutt spoil their romantic getaway, even if that means deceiving Elena as he pursues the rival werewolf on his own.
In Off-Duty Angel, dark witch and half-demon Eve Levine is desperate for a little entertainment while her lover, Kristof Nast, is detained in afterlife court—enough to volunteer an extra week’s worth of angel corps duty just to pass the time. Luckily something even better comes up: a real celestial bounty-hunter mission to trail a shaman, someone who might prove to be a useful lead in Kristof’s court case. Following the target goes smoothly, until he leads Eve to the British Museum, where she inadvertently steps into a secret dimensional passage and stumbles upon a far more enticing puzzle . . . and a much greater danger.
My Thoughts :
Thirteen is coming. The last book in the Women of the Otherworld series. A story I have been following ever since I can remember. Most likely my favourite ever series. A series that has one of my reviews quoted on the cover! I don't want it to be over. I know I have to let go and that all good things eventually come to an end but I will clutch hold of any little sniff of an Otherworld story. So when I saw this pack of novellas available I couldn't stop myself.
I expected The Hunter and The Hunted to be two new, if yet short, stories. The blurb was non-existent but the promise was there. However the first novella, Stalked, seemed a little familiar. I was pretty sure I had read about Elena and Clay's honeymoon somewhere before. It was only afterwards that my suspicions were proven true. This story was actually part of the anthology 'My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon'. Stalked is actually #7.3 in the series.
Now the story was good. So I wasn't upset that I had been cheated out of a new story. I enjoyed reading the 30ish page long account of Elena and Clay as told from Clay's perspective. Not exactly the best story told by him but it was still interesting to see things from his side. Also I remembered how great Kelly Armstrong is at writing short stories. She really manages to pack a punch in such a short space of time.
The second story wasn't called Hunted or Hunter. This #12.5 part in the series is a new original work called Off-Duty Angel and features Eve. This wasn't a bad story and I liked the fact that we finally get to see more of the character who has been dead for the whole series. However the shortness of this tale showed towards the end when things seemed to go too fast and wrap up far too quickly. I was left a little dazed and confused with only a little bit of satisfaction.
This collection was a little disappointing compared to the hype. A nice teaser and appetiser ready for Thirteen but I have to say I expected a lot more. Of course if you are someone who can't wait for Thirteen you may find this e-special very tasty. It does include the first seven chapters of the Otherworld series finale which releases July 24th. I however refused to read the chapters. Nothing worse than reading something amazing and then having to wait for the rest.
I can't wait for Thirteen but in retrospect I didn't need this teaser. A nice present for the fans but you may be left feeling, like I did, a little disappointed.
Kelley Armstrong returns to the Otherworld with "Chaotic," where a half-demon tabloid journalist's boring date is saved...by a supernatural explosion? She's off to save the day—if only her less-than-stellar date wouldn't tag along! Luckily, the intriguing, infuriating, and just plain sexy werewolf/jewel thief Karl Marsten also appears.
My Thoughts :
I really love the Women of the Otherworld series and couldn't resist this one. Despite only being a Novella this short story still manages to show the reader how amazing this writer and series is. Any fan will appreciate finding out how Hope and Karl met and the circumstances surrounding their relationship. While anyone who hasn't yet had the pleasure of reading this series will get a nice idea of how things work in Armstrong's super urban Paranormal books.
This was a quick read and I am pretty sure I have read it before somewhere else. Of cours I would have loved this to be longer but it was a nice little visit before the next full length novel comes out. You really have to read this series if you haven't. It is a must for any readers of the genre.
