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marquez's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Fifth and last in the Cainsville urban fantasy series set in and around Chicago and revolving around a woman pursued by the Tylweth Teg and the Wild Hunt. It’s been two years since Liv’s adoptive father died.
My Take
It’s been a complex, slowly unveiling story over the series arc in which Armstrong incorporated a number of beliefs about the fae while using first-person protagonist point-of-view from Liv’s perspective. It’s a fascinating premise, that of fate insisting that Liv/Matilda make a choice, and I had wondered how Armstrong would end this. A brilliant ending that makes sense, even if it doesn’t solve everything.
It’s been a painful journey for both reader and Gabriel, for he is so incredibly reluctant to expose any emotions and render himself vulnerable. He had reason, but oy, it’s been frustrating. And it turns out he’s a terrified romantic, and terrified that he might lose if he took the next step. It’s a simple “cure”, but so very important for any one of us to acknowledge. Sigh, there is a great deal of growth for Gabriel in this.
Oh, man, you will NOT believe who slithers out of the woodwork. What a piece of work! We do learn more about Gabriel’s life with his useless mother. The truth also comes out about that pact made so long ago between Arawn and Gwynn. Falling in love can really be a bitch.
Then there’s Ida. Gabriel gave her what for, and I had to laugh…and savor it. On the opposite side of the spectrum was the scene in the forest with Greg Kirkman. Jesus. Then Liv’s realization about the woman who clawed her eyes out and cut out her own tongue.
Armstrong’s reasoning about fae blood and how it interacts with the human shape — Liv’s spina bifida, Seanna’s lack of conscience — was fascinating, as was her explanation for Liv’s love for sportscars and Ricky’s and his father’s love for motorcycles.
The dryads will crack you up. They're so frivolous and silly. And not.
This installment is the twistiest of the lot, and yet answers so very many questions, more even than I could ever expect.
The Story
Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky are determined not to make the same mistakes their past trios have made. They intend to stick together and thwart their usual fates, aided by those glimpses into past Matildas, Gwynns, and Arawns.
The Tylweth Teg don’t help matters what with the lies and manipulations. Of course that third “entry” only makes everything worse…and better, for their entrance begins to clear up so many, many questions.
The Characters
Olivia “Liv” Taylor-Jones knew she had been adopted. She didn’t know who her real parents were. That she had started life as Eden Larsen suffering from spina bifida, daughter of notorious serial killers Todd and Pamela Larsen. Liv has been working for Gabriel as a researcher and investigator. TC is the cat who adopted her, and it turns out he’s Felix, a matagot. Liv is also the personification of Mallt-y-Nos, Matilda of the Night, of the Hunt, the half-fae, half-Hunt woman contended over by Gwynn and Arawn in every “reincarnation”.
Gabriel Walsh is a wildly successful defense lawyer whom the police hate. He’s also Gwynn ap Nudd, king of the Tylweth Teg. His family, the Walshes, are con artists and thieves, and Great-aunt Rose Walsh, who lives in Cainsville and has the Sight, is one of them. Seanna Walsh is/was Gabriel’s mother, a petty thief who fancied herself a con woman and drug addict, who died fifteen years ago. Lydia is Gabriel’s very efficient secretary.
Ricky Gallagher, the gorgeous heir to Satan’s Saints, a motorcycle club, is pursuing an MBA. He’s not quite Liv’s ex. But he is Prince Arawn, one of the Cŵn Annwn and legendary lord of the Otherworld, the third leg of their triangle. Lloergan “Lloe” is a fae hound who had been badly treated and whom Ricky saved (Betrayals, 4). Don is his father, the leader of the club.
Cainsville is…
…a sleepy little town outside Chicago and is populated and run by the Tylwyth Teg. The Carew House is Liv’s great-great-grandmother’s, Granny Carew's, place. Ida is one of the fae elders. Walter is her consort. Veronica, a coblynau, is another of the elders, but one who doesn’t agree with the general Tylweth Teg attitude toward Liv. The damaged Pepper is a lamia who lives with Veronica. Patrick is a romance writer, a bòcan, and Gabriel’s father. Grace is a bogart and rents out apartments, but it’s all a cover for its true purpose. Jack is Grace’s cousin.
Melanie was a lamia killing off her sisters in Betrayals, 4. Bobby Sheehan had been a changeling who grew up to be a murderer. Hannah had been Rose’s best friend, a girl who could understand animals.
The Wild Hunt, the Cŵn Annwn, made…
…a deal with the Larsens twenty-two years ago. The Wild Hunt’s mission is to execute the truly guilty. Ioan leads the Cŵn Annwn and is Ricky’s grandfather. Brenin is his alpha hound; Lludw is his raven. Meic (Derwyn is his hound) and Wmffre are Huntsmen escorts.
Alexios and Helia are dryads who are anxious to help. And you'll be crying at the end…
The sluagh are…
…sidhe, the darkness, the unforgiven, the heb edifeirwch. They’re the souls of those who cannot be forgiven in the form of birds, the melltithiwyd, who claim unwary souls by devouring the host. They care not if you are truly guilty, as Duncan discovers when his Mary marks him, for they are only intent on feeding their hunger.
The law in Chicago
Detective Fahy has had dealings with Gabriel before. Negative ones. Porter is one of the prison guards where Todd is being held. Some of the other prison guards are Huntsmen, part of the Cŵn Annwn, including Keating.
Imogene Seale, mistress to Marty Tyson, is a witness in a multiple homicide. Lisa Tyson had been Marty's wife. These two along with Stacey Pasolini and Eddie Hilton had murdered the first couple: Amanda Mays and Ken Perkins. Greg Kirkman went missing some years ago. James Morgan had been Liv's fiancé.
The Cover and Title
The cover is horrible from a reader’s standpoint. Well, from mine. I'm glad to see that they brightened it up for those thumbnails online! Every aspect is a shiny metallic with a deep, almost-grey silver background to the embossed author’s name in a slightly lighter shade. The title does stand out more in gold. Part of the background is a bare-branched tree into which we look up, from a lying-on-the-ground perspective. I do appreciate the series information in the lower right corner within its city-like highway sign.
The title is the truth, the Rituals that brought everyone to this moment.
My Take
It’s been a complex, slowly unveiling story over the series arc in which Armstrong incorporated a number of beliefs about the fae while using first-person protagonist point-of-view from Liv’s perspective. It’s a fascinating premise, that of fate insisting that Liv/Matilda make a choice, and I had wondered how Armstrong would end this. A brilliant ending that makes sense, even if it doesn’t solve everything.
It’s been a painful journey for both reader and Gabriel, for he is so incredibly reluctant to expose any emotions and render himself vulnerable. He had reason, but oy, it’s been frustrating. And it turns out he’s a terrified romantic, and terrified that he might lose if he took the next step. It’s a simple “cure”, but so very important for any one of us to acknowledge. Sigh, there is a great deal of growth for Gabriel in this.
Oh, man, you will NOT believe who slithers out of the woodwork. What a piece of work! We do learn more about Gabriel’s life with his useless mother. The truth also comes out about that pact made so long ago between Arawn and Gwynn. Falling in love can really be a bitch.
Then there’s Ida. Gabriel gave her what for, and I had to laugh…and savor it. On the opposite side of the spectrum was the scene in the forest with Greg Kirkman. Jesus. Then Liv’s realization about the woman who clawed her eyes out and cut out her own tongue.
Armstrong’s reasoning about fae blood and how it interacts with the human shape — Liv’s spina bifida, Seanna’s lack of conscience — was fascinating, as was her explanation for Liv’s love for sportscars and Ricky’s and his father’s love for motorcycles.
The dryads will crack you up. They're so frivolous and silly. And not.
This installment is the twistiest of the lot, and yet answers so very many questions, more even than I could ever expect.
The Story
Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky are determined not to make the same mistakes their past trios have made. They intend to stick together and thwart their usual fates, aided by those glimpses into past Matildas, Gwynns, and Arawns.
The Tylweth Teg don’t help matters what with the lies and manipulations. Of course that third “entry” only makes everything worse…and better, for their entrance begins to clear up so many, many questions.
The Characters
Olivia “Liv” Taylor-Jones knew she had been adopted. She didn’t know who her real parents were. That she had started life as Eden Larsen suffering from spina bifida, daughter of notorious serial killers Todd and Pamela Larsen. Liv has been working for Gabriel as a researcher and investigator. TC is the cat who adopted her, and it turns out he’s Felix, a matagot. Liv is also the personification of Mallt-y-Nos, Matilda of the Night, of the Hunt, the half-fae, half-Hunt woman contended over by Gwynn and Arawn in every “reincarnation”.
Gabriel Walsh is a wildly successful defense lawyer whom the police hate. He’s also Gwynn ap Nudd, king of the Tylweth Teg. His family, the Walshes, are con artists and thieves, and Great-aunt Rose Walsh, who lives in Cainsville and has the Sight, is one of them. Seanna Walsh is/was Gabriel’s mother, a petty thief who fancied herself a con woman and drug addict, who died fifteen years ago. Lydia is Gabriel’s very efficient secretary.
Ricky Gallagher, the gorgeous heir to Satan’s Saints, a motorcycle club, is pursuing an MBA. He’s not quite Liv’s ex. But he is Prince Arawn, one of the Cŵn Annwn and legendary lord of the Otherworld, the third leg of their triangle. Lloergan “Lloe” is a fae hound who had been badly treated and whom Ricky saved (Betrayals, 4). Don is his father, the leader of the club.
Cainsville is…
…a sleepy little town outside Chicago and is populated and run by the Tylwyth Teg. The Carew House is Liv’s great-great-grandmother’s, Granny Carew's, place. Ida is one of the fae elders. Walter is her consort. Veronica, a coblynau, is another of the elders, but one who doesn’t agree with the general Tylweth Teg attitude toward Liv. The damaged Pepper is a lamia who lives with Veronica. Patrick is a romance writer, a bòcan, and Gabriel’s father. Grace is a bogart and rents out apartments, but it’s all a cover for its true purpose. Jack is Grace’s cousin.
Melanie was a lamia killing off her sisters in Betrayals, 4. Bobby Sheehan had been a changeling who grew up to be a murderer. Hannah had been Rose’s best friend, a girl who could understand animals.
The Wild Hunt, the Cŵn Annwn, made…
…a deal with the Larsens twenty-two years ago. The Wild Hunt’s mission is to execute the truly guilty. Ioan leads the Cŵn Annwn and is Ricky’s grandfather. Brenin is his alpha hound; Lludw is his raven. Meic (Derwyn is his hound) and Wmffre are Huntsmen escorts.
Alexios and Helia are dryads who are anxious to help. And you'll be crying at the end…
The sluagh are…
…sidhe, the darkness, the unforgiven, the heb edifeirwch. They’re the souls of those who cannot be forgiven in the form of birds, the melltithiwyd, who claim unwary souls by devouring the host. They care not if you are truly guilty, as Duncan discovers when his Mary marks him, for they are only intent on feeding their hunger.
The law in Chicago
Detective Fahy has had dealings with Gabriel before. Negative ones. Porter is one of the prison guards where Todd is being held. Some of the other prison guards are Huntsmen, part of the Cŵn Annwn, including Keating.
Imogene Seale, mistress to Marty Tyson, is a witness in a multiple homicide. Lisa Tyson had been Marty's wife. These two along with Stacey Pasolini and Eddie Hilton had murdered the first couple: Amanda Mays and Ken Perkins. Greg Kirkman went missing some years ago. James Morgan had been Liv's fiancé.
The Cover and Title
The cover is horrible from a reader’s standpoint. Well, from mine. I'm glad to see that they brightened it up for those thumbnails online! Every aspect is a shiny metallic with a deep, almost-grey silver background to the embossed author’s name in a slightly lighter shade. The title does stand out more in gold. Part of the background is a bare-branched tree into which we look up, from a lying-on-the-ground perspective. I do appreciate the series information in the lower right corner within its city-like highway sign.
The title is the truth, the Rituals that brought everyone to this moment.
aliyyahj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cheryl_88's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book...it was such a satisfying ending to a massively enjoyable series.
katyanaish's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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