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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
The Good Stuff
I was worried when I started reading this as I would be lost as I haven't read all of this series -- but Kelley is such a gifted author she gives you enough to figure out what is going on without frustrating longtime reader of the series
Non stop action, you are constantly holding your breath and you so do not want to put the book down (This was very frustrating because I have so much to do right now -- I really needed to put it down -- ah well stayed up to 2am so I could finish)
Fabulous ending -- ties up a lot of stories but also leaves things open so if Kelley feels like writing more of the series she can -- wonderful!
So many of the characters are so lifelike and real, you feel like they are actually people
I have said it before Kelley is one of the most gifted storytellers alive - she always sucks you into a story, I have yet to be disappointed
Some nice light moments thrown in at just the right times
Shows all sorts of families, not just those that consist of a mom, dad and biological children
Female characters are strong and in most cases fabulous role models
Characters are not perfect, in other words real (Yes I know there are no such thing as vampires and werewolves, and thank god none of the demons she described in this book -- icky!)
The Not So Good Stuff
A lot of gory violence (not necessarily a bad thing -- just more a warning)
So hard to write a review for this one without any spoilers - so I will just say -- get thee to a bookstore and buy now, you will not be disappointed!
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"We worked quite well together," Cass said. "Or we did, after you two started speaking to each other again. Please don't ever send her to me when you're angry with her, Adam. It's dreadful. All that moping and angst. It's like being partnered with one of those fictional vampires."
"Gotta admit, as good as Clayton Danvers looks from the other side, he looks even better in person." She paused. "Just don't tell Elena I said that." Another pause. "Or your father."
I smiled. "Nothing wrong with window shopping when you aren't looking to buy."
"Is this the point where I explain my master plan? Um, no. Thanks, but I have more important things to do."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Obviously if you have read the rest of the series you will LOVE this
I would recommend reading the rest of the series before you read this, but if you have only read a couple of them, you will still find them enjoyable
5 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review
I was worried when I started reading this as I would be lost as I haven't read all of this series -- but Kelley is such a gifted author she gives you enough to figure out what is going on without frustrating longtime reader of the series
Non stop action, you are constantly holding your breath and you so do not want to put the book down (This was very frustrating because I have so much to do right now -- I really needed to put it down -- ah well stayed up to 2am so I could finish)
Fabulous ending -- ties up a lot of stories but also leaves things open so if Kelley feels like writing more of the series she can -- wonderful!
So many of the characters are so lifelike and real, you feel like they are actually people
I have said it before Kelley is one of the most gifted storytellers alive - she always sucks you into a story, I have yet to be disappointed
Some nice light moments thrown in at just the right times
Shows all sorts of families, not just those that consist of a mom, dad and biological children
Female characters are strong and in most cases fabulous role models
Characters are not perfect, in other words real (Yes I know there are no such thing as vampires and werewolves, and thank god none of the demons she described in this book -- icky!)
The Not So Good Stuff
A lot of gory violence (not necessarily a bad thing -- just more a warning)
So hard to write a review for this one without any spoilers - so I will just say -- get thee to a bookstore and buy now, you will not be disappointed!
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"We worked quite well together," Cass said. "Or we did, after you two started speaking to each other again. Please don't ever send her to me when you're angry with her, Adam. It's dreadful. All that moping and angst. It's like being partnered with one of those fictional vampires."
"Gotta admit, as good as Clayton Danvers looks from the other side, he looks even better in person." She paused. "Just don't tell Elena I said that." Another pause. "Or your father."
I smiled. "Nothing wrong with window shopping when you aren't looking to buy."
"Is this the point where I explain my master plan? Um, no. Thanks, but I have more important things to do."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Obviously if you have read the rest of the series you will LOVE this
I would recommend reading the rest of the series before you read this, but if you have only read a couple of them, you will still find them enjoyable
5 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review
What an epic ending! Sometimes these kinds of series just fizzle out and end with the standard who-dunnit style that classified the other books in the series. Not this one! This one went so much further. It tied everything together and ended the series wonderfully. I'm sad to see it go really. I know I took a three year break - but I kind of wish there were more. Guess I have to read Kelley Armstrong's other series.
In a lot of the other books there have been characters from other books as secondary characters. Confusing? Yes. Haha. What I mean is .... Personal Demon featured Hope and Karl, but had Lucas from Dime Store Magic as a secondary character. This one brought all of the main characters together (except for the human and necromancer light) for the finale. You always knew they worked together when they had to - but this was possibly the first time that you got to see it directly, and it was the entire group. Loved it! This way Kelley Armstrong let us say good bye to all of the characters we've come to love over the last few years. Wonderfully done.
Check out more of my reviews at http://whatabookbitch.blogspot.ca
Thirteen starts off with a prologue featuring Elena, then takes us through a lightning-quick view of Eve and Kristof, before catching up with Savannah as she and Bryce meet up with Jeremy, Jaime, and Adam after the explosion at the lab. So, Operation Rescue was successful, now let’s see how Operation Get-the-Heck-Away-from-Here goes…
Not very well, as Jaime and Savannah are hauled off to jail, and barely survive a werewolf-gone-mad and a sorcerer with a death wish. What’s next? Well, they still have an evil megalomaniac to foil, and for that they’ll need friends. Good thing they’ve got some pretty phenomenal ones. The plot from here on out is pretty straightforward, as the good guys work together to thwart the bad guy from attaining his goal. But the story, well, that takes a winding road – one that’s got enough twists and turns to make sure you’re not falling asleep at the wheel!
I love how Kelley Armstrong’s novels can take the expected and imbue it with mystery and surprise, so much so that “expected” turns into an enjoyable journey. And what’s a journey without a cast of characters to travel with? If you’ve read Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series, you wouldn’t be surprised when I say I’m going to miss this crew. I remember Paige and Lucas from Dime Store Magic, and they’re still my favorites. Savannah comes a close second – she hasn’t had it easy at all, poor girl, and I’m glad the series finale showcases her growth and maturing. Eve, Jaime, Hope, Elena – all have had their stories shared and devoured. Not too hard to do, when Armstrong’s women are talented, strong, and don’t take sass from anybody.
Thirteen wraps up this series nicely, with plenty of action and emotions. If you’ve read the other books in the series, make sure you’ve read them all before picking this one up. If you haven’t read the other books in the series, start with Bitten. Happy reading!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
Not very well, as Jaime and Savannah are hauled off to jail, and barely survive a werewolf-gone-mad and a sorcerer with a death wish. What’s next? Well, they still have an evil megalomaniac to foil, and for that they’ll need friends. Good thing they’ve got some pretty phenomenal ones. The plot from here on out is pretty straightforward, as the good guys work together to thwart the bad guy from attaining his goal. But the story, well, that takes a winding road – one that’s got enough twists and turns to make sure you’re not falling asleep at the wheel!
I love how Kelley Armstrong’s novels can take the expected and imbue it with mystery and surprise, so much so that “expected” turns into an enjoyable journey. And what’s a journey without a cast of characters to travel with? If you’ve read Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series, you wouldn’t be surprised when I say I’m going to miss this crew. I remember Paige and Lucas from Dime Store Magic, and they’re still my favorites. Savannah comes a close second – she hasn’t had it easy at all, poor girl, and I’m glad the series finale showcases her growth and maturing. Eve, Jaime, Hope, Elena – all have had their stories shared and devoured. Not too hard to do, when Armstrong’s women are talented, strong, and don’t take sass from anybody.
Thirteen wraps up this series nicely, with plenty of action and emotions. If you’ve read the other books in the series, make sure you’ve read them all before picking this one up. If you haven’t read the other books in the series, start with Bitten. Happy reading!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
True Rating: 2.5 stars
Um...I think the only reason I liked this one more than the previous book is that there was a lot more action and the story tied up. I'm still not the biggest fan of it, but meh.
The main character, Savannah, just kind of always annoyed me. I never really cared that she was in these life threatening situations.
But, everyone gets their happily ever after. That's not so terrible.
Seriously, just kind of eh on this book.
Um...I think the only reason I liked this one more than the previous book is that there was a lot more action and the story tied up. I'm still not the biggest fan of it, but meh.
The main character, Savannah, just kind of always annoyed me. I never really cared that she was in these life threatening situations.
But, everyone gets their happily ever after. That's not so terrible.
Seriously, just kind of eh on this book.
Meh. The best part of the book was the Elena/Pack short story at the end. I honestly just couldn't get into this book. I ended up skimming a lot. Part of that is, I just don't like Savannah. I think she's spoilt and smug, so of course that colored my view of the book. And just a little bit of a Mary Sue. Sorry, but for me this was a sad ending to what once was a great series with strong female leads.
13 is the exciting, nail-biting conclusion to the Women of the Otherworld series. This whirlwind final instalment wraps up most of the elements of each of the women's stories, through an ultimate battle they all need to fight in to preserve the world as they know it.
It was thrilling, suspenseful, and daring, while also taking the time to continue to develop each of our leading ladies as a person.
That said, I had two main problems with this final novel.
First: The number of perspectives
While I had no problem with the perspective shifts throughout the series, the number of perspectives required to tell this particular story was more than I had bargained for. While I appreciated the first person, intimate storytelling leading up to the end, there was no way to successfully tell this story without diving up the book into a huge number of perspective shifts. Many of the characters who took over perspective, did so for only a couple chapters, which was jarring at times. I sometimes wonder if a shift to third person for the entire series might have made the conclusion a little more neat.
Second
This is perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I certainly prefer when there is substantial, meaningful loss during a final battle. Frankly, the loss of anonymous foot-soldiers just didn't cut it for me.
Armstrong almost made a risky choice, and I wish that she had stuck to her guns and killed Karl, rather than having us believe he was dead (and in the process rendering Hope a completely unreliable narrator) and then bringing him back for a triumphant return. Even bringing back Bryce from the brink of death eliminated the already reduced stakes.
With the existence of necromancers in this world, death loses a lot of meaning, so to avoid meaningful death eliminates most of the stakes.
On a similar note, bringing Malcom Danvers back from the dead and leaving that plot line unresolved feels out of place. Every other storyline is wrapped up (or implied to be such), but this one was introduced and then just left hanging. It didn't influence the final plot in any substantial way, and so feels done entirely for shock value.
I have come to expect a lot from Armstrong over the years, and while I wouldn't say this was a disappointment, it wasn't quite the ending I had hoped for.
It was thrilling, suspenseful, and daring, while also taking the time to continue to develop each of our leading ladies as a person.
That said, I had two main problems with this final novel.
First: The number of perspectives
While I had no problem with the perspective shifts throughout the series, the number of perspectives required to tell this particular story was more than I had bargained for. While I appreciated the first person, intimate storytelling leading up to the end, there was no way to successfully tell this story without diving up the book into a huge number of perspective shifts. Many of the characters who took over perspective, did so for only a couple chapters, which was jarring at times. I sometimes wonder if a shift to third person for the entire series might have made the conclusion a little more neat.
Second
Spoiler
The lack of meaningful loss and the people brought back from the dead.This is perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I certainly prefer when there is substantial, meaningful loss during a final battle. Frankly, the loss of anonymous foot-soldiers just didn't cut it for me.
Armstrong almost made a risky choice, and I wish that she had stuck to her guns and killed Karl, rather than having us believe he was dead (and in the process rendering Hope a completely unreliable narrator) and then bringing him back for a triumphant return. Even bringing back Bryce from the brink of death eliminated the already reduced stakes.
With the existence of necromancers in this world, death loses a lot of meaning, so to avoid meaningful death eliminates most of the stakes.
On a similar note, bringing Malcom Danvers back from the dead and leaving that plot line unresolved feels out of place. Every other storyline is wrapped up (or implied to be such), but this one was introduced and then just left hanging. It didn't influence the final plot in any substantial way, and so feels done entirely for shock value.
I have come to expect a lot from Armstrong over the years, and while I wouldn't say this was a disappointment, it wasn't quite the ending I had hoped for.
This was a great end to the series! I am really going to miss all the characters that I've grown to love. It feels like time to start at the beginning again and re-read them all!
I really didn't want this book to end. I'm really quite sad that the Otherworld is over, but hopefully Armstrong writes more stories based in this world (and I have no doubt that she will). A great way to finish the series.
Oh my god this series is over! I have been reading this since high school, and i have been pushing this book down the list for 4years because I am not ready to leave this world. I know there is still LOTS to read, but this kinda just feels a little final. 13, the end of it all.
It was amazing, I don't think Kelley could have written a better send off to some of these guys.
If you havent picked up this series do it now.
It was amazing, I don't think Kelley could have written a better send off to some of these guys.
If you havent picked up this series do it now.
adventurous
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Why does everyone have a southern accent??? Except for the Cortezes who sound like Andy Garcia and fake-ass Pitbull?
Kelley Armstrong was and is still one of my favorite authors of all time and Otherworld is foundational in my urban fantasy education, so I was incredibly sad this was the last full-length in the series.
Why did likeable Adam go from 27-year-old to teenage fucboi? He's supposed to be 36 and apparently he spent the entire last 9 years working on his douchebaggery.
Kelley Armstrong was and is still one of my favorite authors of all time and Otherworld is foundational in my urban fantasy education, so I was incredibly sad this was the last full-length in the series.
Why did likeable Adam go from 27-year-old to teenage fucboi? He's supposed to be 36 and apparently he spent the entire last 9 years working on his douchebaggery.