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thebookcoyote's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TW/CW: Death, murder, torture, sex, violence, fantasy violence
REVIEW: This is the fifth book of my Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld re-read. Haunted is the story of Eve Levine, the deceased mother of Savannah Levine. In this story, Eve, a ghost living in the realm of the dead, is given an assignment by the fates to catch an evil demonic spirit. With the help of an angel and the also deceased Kristoff Nast she sets off on a search throughout many different realms, meeting many interesting and terrifying characters along the way.
Eve is not my favorite of the Otherworld women, but this story was still interesting and engaging. Some of the images were really disturbing and graphic, but not so much that it entirely scared me away. It was also interesting to get to see a bit of the mythology of Armstrong’s afterlife, which we’d only seen in small snippets to this point in scenes with Jaime, the necromancer.
This book was a little bit on the long side, but it went pretty quickly. I recommend to fans of Kelley Armstrong, and to fans of urban fantasy and strong women.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
Since I really enjoyed [b:Industrial Magic|125925|Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #4)|Kelley Armstrong|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171907387s/125925.jpg|121282] I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the switch to Eve's story. Not having read #1 or #2 as yet i only had the barest back story on her role in previous books so I wasn't too sure what to expect.
Most suprisingly Haunted is set 2 years later than Industrial Magic. I expected a much shorter time gap or even overlap.
I did find that Haunted was another highly enjoyable, {mostly} fast paced installment exploring a new world, myths and new characters.
Eve is struggling to find a place in the ghost realm, wanting to find a way to return to her daughters life in some way, and accepts a task by the Fates to help capture an escaped demi demon hoping that she will find a way to reach out to Savannah. The demi demon known as Nix, who has instigated serial killer sprees, is not easy to find or capture and the investigation is challenging. Eve recieves support from Kristoff with whom she is redefining her relationship. And the assistance of an angel Trsiel - I actually spent the entire book expecting him to turn out to be evil since his incompetence seemed far too contrived. This was the major complaint I would have - because it seems he just really was just that stupid when he wasn't a stupid character and so i have a hard time reconciling those inconsistancies.
I really liked Armstrongs exploration of the nature of and degrees evil and I found Eve's POV of her own actions interesting given the impressions/thoughts others had of her in the mortal world.
I would prefer 3 and a half stars on this book. It wasn't quite as good as Industrial Magic - it dragged a bit more with the near misses and Trseil's character was annoying. However another entertaining installment, started [b:Broken|11915|Broken (Women of the Otherworld, #6)|Kelley Armstrong|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166490273s/11915.jpg|895274] as soon as I finished
Most suprisingly Haunted is set 2 years later than Industrial Magic. I expected a much shorter time gap or even overlap.
I did find that Haunted was another highly enjoyable, {mostly} fast paced installment exploring a new world, myths and new characters.
Eve is struggling to find a place in the ghost realm, wanting to find a way to return to her daughters life in some way, and accepts a task by the Fates to help capture an escaped demi demon hoping that she will find a way to reach out to Savannah. The demi demon known as Nix, who has instigated serial killer sprees, is not easy to find or capture and the investigation is challenging. Eve recieves support from Kristoff with whom she is redefining her relationship. And the assistance of an angel Trsiel - I actually spent the entire book expecting him to turn out to be evil since his incompetence seemed far too contrived. This was the major complaint I would have - because it seems he just really was just that stupid when he wasn't a stupid character and so i have a hard time reconciling those inconsistancies.
I really liked Armstrongs exploration of the nature of and degrees evil and I found Eve's POV of her own actions interesting given the impressions/thoughts others had of her in the mortal world.
I would prefer 3 and a half stars on this book. It wasn't quite as good as Industrial Magic - it dragged a bit more with the near misses and Trseil's character was annoying. However another entertaining installment, started [b:Broken|11915|Broken (Women of the Otherworld, #6)|Kelley Armstrong|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166490273s/11915.jpg|895274] as soon as I finished
the_bookbasket's review against another edition
5.0
5/5
“Ghost hunters can be the most ingenious breed when it comes to inventing ghastly tales, but ask them to think up a name for the ghost of a woman dressed in white, and they give you “the White Lady.”
When I tell you this book had me laughing, I am not exaggerating. Armstrong just knows how to write her female characters as bad-asses. This book will forever live on my conscience and will (apart from Elena Micheals' stories) be one of my favourites.
I loved the way Armstrong incorporated true crime stories into the book, it made it a whole lot more believable - like something like this could really happen.
The writing style was easy to follow and at no point in my read did I sit there thinking "What were you actually trying to say?"
I loved every minute of this experience and can't wait to delve into the rest of the series.
“Ghost hunters can be the most ingenious breed when it comes to inventing ghastly tales, but ask them to think up a name for the ghost of a woman dressed in white, and they give you “the White Lady.”
When I tell you this book had me laughing, I am not exaggerating. Armstrong just knows how to write her female characters as bad-asses. This book will forever live on my conscience and will (apart from Elena Micheals' stories) be one of my favourites.
I loved the way Armstrong incorporated true crime stories into the book, it made it a whole lot more believable - like something like this could really happen.
The writing style was easy to follow and at no point in my read did I sit there thinking "What were you actually trying to say?"
I loved every minute of this experience and can't wait to delve into the rest of the series.
lunarfire's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting take on the afterlife, but not my favorite plot line. While I like Eve and appreciated a deeper look into her personality, she's not as interesting to read about as the Canals and werewolves.
bookfessional's review against another edition
4.0
The notorious Eve Levine gets recruited to be an angel. Who'da thunk it?
Not me, that's for dang sure.
The wonderful thing about dealing with the subject of the afterlife it that the sky is the limit. Nothing is too far-fetched or fantastical.
If dead supes want to play at being pirates, who is going to stop them?
If you want to erase the memories of evil (serial killer-type) men before banishing them to hell-worlds, with no one but other evil men (to prevent further serial killing), who is going to say you can't?
No one, that's who.
Plus it makes me happy that Eve and Kristof get to be together. All kinds of goodness in this book.
Not me, that's for dang sure.
The wonderful thing about dealing with the subject of the afterlife it that the sky is the limit. Nothing is too far-fetched or fantastical.
If dead supes want to play at being pirates, who is going to stop them?
If you want to erase the memories of evil (serial killer-type) men before banishing them to hell-worlds, with no one but other evil men (to prevent further serial killing), who is going to say you can't?
No one, that's who.
Plus it makes me happy that Eve and Kristof get to be together. All kinds of goodness in this book.
nyxshadow's review against another edition
3.0
Pas mon préféré de la saga, je me suis parfois ennuyée
heatherinthenether's review against another edition
5.0
Kelley Armstrong’s Haunted is the fifth book in her Women of the Otherworld series. I have read all of them so far, and I keep liking them.
These books are not serious works of literary valor by any means. They are quick reads, based on semi-predictable supernatural characters and plots. There are love stories and usually at least one mystery to be solved. Nothing serious.
I like them because they are fun, quick, and really very well written. Armstrong does a great job with descriptive writing, and she keeps the plot moving so there’s no down time.
I recommend these books to anyone interested in supernatural fiction.
Verdict: A
These books are not serious works of literary valor by any means. They are quick reads, based on semi-predictable supernatural characters and plots. There are love stories and usually at least one mystery to be solved. Nothing serious.
I like them because they are fun, quick, and really very well written. Armstrong does a great job with descriptive writing, and she keeps the plot moving so there’s no down time.
I recommend these books to anyone interested in supernatural fiction.
Verdict: A
alice2000's review against another edition
5.0
I love Eve! Coming off of 2 books featuring Paige, who is something of a goody goody, it is awesome to have a whole book with Eve. Yet another twist in this world and Kelley Armstrong keeps you so invested in her characters that it's so hard to wait for the next installment.
shinychick's review against another edition
3.0
A little... I don't want to say confusing, exactly, but there was a hell of a lot going on here. Ghosts, half demons, Demi demons, necromancers, witches, Angels, sorcerers, magicians, and serial killers... That's a lot to contend with, especially when you can combine some of the above into multi hyphenate supernatural things...