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lolasreviews's review against another edition
5.0
This review might contain some spoilers for previous books in this series.
I love this series and this book was no different. From the moment I started reading I got that feeling of contentment you have when reading a very good book. The pages easily slipped by and I didn't want to stop reading. I love the way Kelley Armstrong writes her stories, her writing style really works for me. The story flows so well and it feels like there never is a dull moment. Every scene and every interaction has my attention. I get sucked into the story. This book left me feeling happy and content as it was such a good read and I enjoyed every page of it.
Reviews for books I love are always the hardest the write and even more so when it's a later book in this series. Because even though this is a new book, it has the same things I've grown to love from the previous books. The interesting characters, the slight paranormal element and mystery mixed together in a compelling storyline, the relationships and romance between the characters and seeing how it all progresses slowly. And I almost fear that I will just be repeating myself from reviews for previous books in the series.
When I reached the last page I just wished it wasn't so long to the next and last book in the series and at the same I don't mind the wait as it will be something to look forward to. Yes I am very curious how this series will end. I felt that this book really read like book 4 of the 5. Things were set-up for the next book, characters changed and at the end I felt like the pieces were in place for the series finale.
Like in every book there is a bit of a mystery, the mystery and investigations always add something to these books. In this case Liv is investigating the deaths of some snake type of Fae. Then there is a broken hound they find and the two camps of Fae are tied into the mystery as well. I thought it was well done and I liked the twist at the end. I had expected a bigger Betrayal though, yes there is a betrayal, but I had expected worse with it being the title of this book and then in the book Rose hinting towards it.
One of my favorite parts of this series are the characters. Liv is such a great character to read about. She isn't perfect, but she is a realistic and an interesting character. I like her point of view and perspective on things. I also liked seeing her relationship with Ricky and Gabriel develop. All three of them change quite a lot in this book. It really becomes obvious the focus is on these three now. They learn more about Matilda, Gwynn and Arawn and even see themselves in parts of them, but at the same time being their own personalities as well. Normally I am not a fan of reincarnation type of stories, but I thought it was handled well here. There are visions and omens and there are hints about the choice Liv has to make, but the choice stays a bit on the background in this one.
In the first 3 books it was obvious there would be a love triangle, but in my opinion it only turns into one in this book. And I don't mind at all, I would even say it makes me a bit happy. Because I love Gabriel and Liv together and want nothing more than to see them end up together. Gah I can't explain how much I enjoyed reading the scenes were they are together. There are some really good ones, there this scene in his apartment that just made me so happy, their interactions are so much fun to read. While their relationship would be difficult I do think these two belong together. Gabriel is a bit broken, having had a hard youth and he doesn't think the same way as others, but that's also the part what I like. He has such an interesting personality and unique view on things and he cares in his own way and there are some gestures he makes in this book that were just so sweet and awesome and still totally Gabriel. And the chapters from his point of view are a real treat.
And then there is Ricky, while I always liked him and even like him and Olivia together, there is something she has with Gabriel that lacks with Ricky. And I want that for Olivia. On the other hand Ricky is so considerate and nice at times I just feel bad for him. He knows he might only have her for a limited time and is okay with that. He tries to be mature and laid back about the whole thing. And then there is the ending, the way this book ends that makes me sad and so curious about the next book at the same time.
To summarize: this book was a joy to read. Reading this book just made me feel happy and content. Reading one of Armstrong her books is like coming home. I love this series and betrayals is a great fourth book. It continues themes set up in earlier books and also sets the stage for the last book. There is a mystery that is mostly solved in this book and it was an interesting one. The betrayal mentioned in the title wasn't as bad as I had expected, although it was a nice twist. I liked seeing the characters change and develop in this book. And in this book it feels like the potential love triangle really turns into one. And I am glad about that partly as I want Liv to end up with Gabriel. The scenes where Gabriel and Liv interact are amazing to read, it makes me happy just reading about them interacting. I think Armstrong handles the love triangle really well. Both Gabriel and Ricky are good for Liv, but in different ways. Liv her relationship with both of them is very different. It's interesting to read about. And Gabriel is such an interesting characters to read about, his view and perspective so unique. I like that we get his and Ricky his point of view a few times as well. All in all this was a great read and I can't wait for the fifth and final book in this series to see how things will get wrapped up.
I love this series and this book was no different. From the moment I started reading I got that feeling of contentment you have when reading a very good book. The pages easily slipped by and I didn't want to stop reading. I love the way Kelley Armstrong writes her stories, her writing style really works for me. The story flows so well and it feels like there never is a dull moment. Every scene and every interaction has my attention. I get sucked into the story. This book left me feeling happy and content as it was such a good read and I enjoyed every page of it.
Reviews for books I love are always the hardest the write and even more so when it's a later book in this series. Because even though this is a new book, it has the same things I've grown to love from the previous books. The interesting characters, the slight paranormal element and mystery mixed together in a compelling storyline, the relationships and romance between the characters and seeing how it all progresses slowly. And I almost fear that I will just be repeating myself from reviews for previous books in the series.
When I reached the last page I just wished it wasn't so long to the next and last book in the series and at the same I don't mind the wait as it will be something to look forward to. Yes I am very curious how this series will end. I felt that this book really read like book 4 of the 5. Things were set-up for the next book, characters changed and at the end I felt like the pieces were in place for the series finale.
Like in every book there is a bit of a mystery, the mystery and investigations always add something to these books. In this case Liv is investigating the deaths of some snake type of Fae. Then there is a broken hound they find and the two camps of Fae are tied into the mystery as well. I thought it was well done and I liked the twist at the end. I had expected a bigger Betrayal though, yes there is a betrayal, but I had expected worse with it being the title of this book and then in the book Rose hinting towards it.
One of my favorite parts of this series are the characters. Liv is such a great character to read about. She isn't perfect, but she is a realistic and an interesting character. I like her point of view and perspective on things. I also liked seeing her relationship with Ricky and Gabriel develop. All three of them change quite a lot in this book. It really becomes obvious the focus is on these three now. They learn more about Matilda, Gwynn and Arawn and even see themselves in parts of them, but at the same time being their own personalities as well. Normally I am not a fan of reincarnation type of stories, but I thought it was handled well here. There are visions and omens and there are hints about the choice Liv has to make, but the choice stays a bit on the background in this one.
In the first 3 books it was obvious there would be a love triangle, but in my opinion it only turns into one in this book. And I don't mind at all, I would even say it makes me a bit happy. Because I love Gabriel and Liv together and want nothing more than to see them end up together. Gah I can't explain how much I enjoyed reading the scenes were they are together. There are some really good ones, there this scene in his apartment that just made me so happy, their interactions are so much fun to read. While their relationship would be difficult I do think these two belong together. Gabriel is a bit broken, having had a hard youth and he doesn't think the same way as others, but that's also the part what I like. He has such an interesting personality and unique view on things and he cares in his own way and there are some gestures he makes in this book that were just so sweet and awesome and still totally Gabriel. And the chapters from his point of view are a real treat.
And then there is Ricky, while I always liked him and even like him and Olivia together, there is something she has with Gabriel that lacks with Ricky. And I want that for Olivia. On the other hand Ricky is so considerate and nice at times I just feel bad for him. He knows he might only have her for a limited time and is okay with that. He tries to be mature and laid back about the whole thing. And then there is the ending, the way this book ends that makes me sad and so curious about the next book at the same time.
To summarize: this book was a joy to read. Reading this book just made me feel happy and content. Reading one of Armstrong her books is like coming home. I love this series and betrayals is a great fourth book. It continues themes set up in earlier books and also sets the stage for the last book. There is a mystery that is mostly solved in this book and it was an interesting one. The betrayal mentioned in the title wasn't as bad as I had expected, although it was a nice twist. I liked seeing the characters change and develop in this book. And in this book it feels like the potential love triangle really turns into one. And I am glad about that partly as I want Liv to end up with Gabriel. The scenes where Gabriel and Liv interact are amazing to read, it makes me happy just reading about them interacting. I think Armstrong handles the love triangle really well. Both Gabriel and Ricky are good for Liv, but in different ways. Liv her relationship with both of them is very different. It's interesting to read about. And Gabriel is such an interesting characters to read about, his view and perspective so unique. I like that we get his and Ricky his point of view a few times as well. All in all this was a great read and I can't wait for the fifth and final book in this series to see how things will get wrapped up.
littlefoot10's review against another edition
5.0
This series definitely keeps getting better and better. I am such a sucker for love triangles it is ridiculous...maybe cause I've been there before in life .. but there is just something about reading them that makes my heart race and makes everything even more exciting and frustrating. I loved the mystery in this novel, the revelations that were shown to Gabriel about his father and about Gwynn and his past. It honestly breaks my heart for Ricky because he is such a good guy...and wanting what is best for Olivia. It's beautiful how much he loves her. And Gabriel...ahh :) I am so excited to enter into the next book to see if Liv and him finally are able to have more than just a moment... (even if that moment on the slab made me smile uncontrollably like a fool). I am also super excited to see Ricky grow as a character while not in a relationship with Liv... maybe make more a connection with his heritage.. with his new hound :) !!! I love Kelley Armstrong books .. and this series is freaking epic !
brokenrecord's review against another edition
5.0
I have no idea what the actual plot of this book was, but I don’t even care because GABRIEL/OLIVIA!!! The development of their relationship in this book was enough alone to make me give this 5 stars. I mean, this book definitely is not flawless, but it just made me SO HAPPY, so I don’t really care.
First off, THEY KISSED!!!!!!!! Sure, Olivia doesn’t know it was real, but I love that she was like, “If I’m dreaming about Gabriel, I’m going to make the most of it!” and that Gabriel doesn’t even hesitate to kiss her back. And that Olivia says Gabriel’s name multiple times, and Gabriel KNOWS that she knows it’s him, even if she’s out of it.
I think my favorite thing about this book (apart from the kiss!!! I’m nothing if not predictable) was how Olivia and Gabriel were both keeping something from the other, and I was SO SURE the other would find out and it would cause conflict and tear them apart, just as these situations have in previous books, and then it didn’t happen!!! Olivia finds out about Gabriel representing her mother, INSTANTLY understands why he did it, and isn’t even really mad that he didn’t tell her himself. And then Olivia tells Gabriel she knows who his father is and he guesses it’s Patrick himself and is FINE and isn’t upset she didn’t tell him sooner. It’s just so wonderful!!! It truly shows how much progress they’ve made since the first book, and it was everything to me. My other favorite thing was Olivia finding Gabriel’s stash of stuff in his condo which he was so worried about her finding in Visions and almost shutting down but then Olivia gets it and he lets her talk to him about it and it helps bond them even closer.
My other favorite Olivia/Gabriel things (aka everything that happened between them in this book): Gabriel preparing the Carew house for Olivia!!! (HE PICKED OUT PILLOWS FOR HER!!!!!!!!) The fact that both Olivia and Gabriel basically assumed that there would be a room at the Carew house for Gabriel! Gabriel jumping after Olivia without even thinking about it and Olivia finding out!!! Gabriel making it clear to Olivia that he gets uncomfortable when she talks about feelings not because he doesn’t want to hear it but because he does but doesn’t know what to say that will help! Olivia kissing him on the cheek!!! Gabriel telling Olivia that his lack of caring doesn’t apply to her!!! BOTH OF THEM ADMITTING TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY’RE IN LOVE WITH THE OTHER. Everything was so much!!!
My favorite non-Olivia/Gabriel thing was Ricky. I’m not sure how people who have been rooting for polyamory between the three of them will feel about this book, but since I’m somehow who both loves Ricky and his friendship with Olivia and Gabriel and ships Olivia and Gabriel above anything else, I LOVED the Ricky stuff here. I basically spent a whole lot of this book going I LOVE RICKY. Like I said, I love him as a character and his relationships with Olivia and Gabriel, just not… romantically. I love that Ricky gets what’s going on and accepts it. He doesn’t get mad at Olivia or Gabriel, and he’s about 8000 times more reasonable about the whole situation than anyone would expect of him. I love how he just wants to enjoy the time he has with Olivia while he can, but once he sees things developing between Olivia and Gabriel, he accepts it and ends things with Olivia. I also particularly loved Ricky riling Gabriel up about Olivia to show him that he wouldn’t shoot Ricky over Olivia and making him promise that he wouldn’t interfere with Ricky’s friendship with Olivia. Even though I don't ship the three of them together,I’ll always super love the friendship OT3 here at least.
I honestly didn’t really follow any of the plot-related stuff in this book and was actually kind of surprised when I found that the book had ended because I didn’t feel like the main plot of the book had even started yet. I’ll have to pay more attention whenever I end up rereading it, I guess! But the plot was never what made me fall in love with this series, so ultimately that’s fine. Anyways, I can’t believe that there’s only one book left in this series (at least, that’s my understanding? I could be wrong) and that I have to wait another full year for Gabriel and Olivia to FINALLY get together (because that’s definitely coming!!!).
First off, THEY KISSED!!!!!!!! Sure, Olivia doesn’t know it was real, but I love that she was like, “If I’m dreaming about Gabriel, I’m going to make the most of it!” and that Gabriel doesn’t even hesitate to kiss her back. And that Olivia says Gabriel’s name multiple times, and Gabriel KNOWS that she knows it’s him, even if she’s out of it.
I think my favorite thing about this book (apart from the kiss!!! I’m nothing if not predictable) was how Olivia and Gabriel were both keeping something from the other, and I was SO SURE the other would find out and it would cause conflict and tear them apart, just as these situations have in previous books, and then it didn’t happen!!! Olivia finds out about Gabriel representing her mother, INSTANTLY understands why he did it, and isn’t even really mad that he didn’t tell her himself. And then Olivia tells Gabriel she knows who his father is and he guesses it’s Patrick himself and is FINE and isn’t upset she didn’t tell him sooner. It’s just so wonderful!!! It truly shows how much progress they’ve made since the first book, and it was everything to me. My other favorite thing was Olivia finding Gabriel’s stash of stuff in his condo which he was so worried about her finding in Visions and almost shutting down but then Olivia gets it and he lets her talk to him about it and it helps bond them even closer.
My other favorite Olivia/Gabriel things (aka everything that happened between them in this book): Gabriel preparing the Carew house for Olivia!!! (HE PICKED OUT PILLOWS FOR HER!!!!!!!!) The fact that both Olivia and Gabriel basically assumed that there would be a room at the Carew house for Gabriel! Gabriel jumping after Olivia without even thinking about it and Olivia finding out!!! Gabriel making it clear to Olivia that he gets uncomfortable when she talks about feelings not because he doesn’t want to hear it but because he does but doesn’t know what to say that will help! Olivia kissing him on the cheek!!! Gabriel telling Olivia that his lack of caring doesn’t apply to her!!! BOTH OF THEM ADMITTING TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY’RE IN LOVE WITH THE OTHER. Everything was so much!!!
My favorite non-Olivia/Gabriel thing was Ricky. I’m not sure how people who have been rooting for polyamory between the three of them will feel about this book, but since I’m somehow who both loves Ricky and his friendship with Olivia and Gabriel and ships Olivia and Gabriel above anything else, I LOVED the Ricky stuff here. I basically spent a whole lot of this book going I LOVE RICKY. Like I said, I love him as a character and his relationships with Olivia and Gabriel, just not… romantically. I love that Ricky gets what’s going on and accepts it. He doesn’t get mad at Olivia or Gabriel, and he’s about 8000 times more reasonable about the whole situation than anyone would expect of him. I love how he just wants to enjoy the time he has with Olivia while he can, but once he sees things developing between Olivia and Gabriel, he accepts it and ends things with Olivia. I also particularly loved Ricky riling Gabriel up about Olivia to show him that he wouldn’t shoot Ricky over Olivia and making him promise that he wouldn’t interfere with Ricky’s friendship with Olivia. Even though I don't ship the three of them together,I’ll always super love the friendship OT3 here at least.
I honestly didn’t really follow any of the plot-related stuff in this book and was actually kind of surprised when I found that the book had ended because I didn’t feel like the main plot of the book had even started yet. I’ll have to pay more attention whenever I end up rereading it, I guess! But the plot was never what made me fall in love with this series, so ultimately that’s fine. Anyways, I can’t believe that there’s only one book left in this series (at least, that’s my understanding? I could be wrong) and that I have to wait another full year for Gabriel and Olivia to FINALLY get together (because that’s definitely coming!!!).
breruby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bookmarked_by_jenn's review against another edition
3.0
The story continues to unfold as we learn more about the past lives of our 3 main characters, the town and the new murders.
This book got the momentum going again and I’m ready to see how the series ends. I really enjoy Liv and Ricky together, but I am team Gabriel all the way. Gabriel really shone for me in this book and I need more of him ASAP!
This book got the momentum going again and I’m ready to see how the series ends. I really enjoy Liv and Ricky together, but I am team Gabriel all the way. Gabriel really shone for me in this book and I need more of him ASAP!
maryleong's review against another edition
3.0
When Ricky is framed for the disappearance of several young women in Chicago, Olivia and Gabriel have to work to uncover the motive behind these brutal crimes. At the same time, tensions rise between the trio as Olivia's visions show them the way this love triangle has played out in the past, each time in tragedy.
This was probably the weakest of the novels thus far, focusing much more on our (doomed?) love triangle than on the mystery du jour. Despite that, I'm enjoying all the reveals about Cainsville and its secrets, and Patrick is a wonderfully cheeky and endlessly frustrating lore master, a perfect embodiment of hobgoblin mischief. We also get to learn more about the Cŵn Annwn, the Cainsville elders' nemeses, the Wild Hunt which pursues vigilante justice. The folklore which this novel draws from is incredibly rich and well-layered throughout.
Bonus point for the spectral hound, a perfect foil to TC ("The Cat"), because every magical being needs a familiar.
This was probably the weakest of the novels thus far, focusing much more on our (doomed?) love triangle than on the mystery du jour. Despite that, I'm enjoying all the reveals about Cainsville and its secrets, and Patrick is a wonderfully cheeky and endlessly frustrating lore master, a perfect embodiment of hobgoblin mischief. We also get to learn more about the Cŵn Annwn, the Cainsville elders' nemeses, the Wild Hunt which pursues vigilante justice. The folklore which this novel draws from is incredibly rich and well-layered throughout.
Bonus point for the spectral hound, a perfect foil to TC ("The Cat"), because every magical being needs a familiar.
jessfm's review against another edition
5.0
To anyo struggling to get back at this series after the love triangle of doom on book 3:
DO IT! JUST DOO IT!
Seriously, I hate love triangles, and still I say it will be worth it.
DO IT! JUST DOO IT!
Seriously, I hate love triangles, and still I say it will be worth it.
librarelyy's review against another edition
4.0
God this series just gets better and better. The ending though too- shit I can’t wait to start the next book.
fredicia's review against another edition
4.0
It's the direction I assumed the book was going.
Do I wish it went a different direction? Yes.
Do I wish it went a different direction? Yes.