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A review by leelah
Rituals by Kelley Armstrong
4.0
This book in a gif:
Seriously, every little thing was wrapped up and addressed and dealt with.
But to make it more detailed:
- I know that blurb makes it look like that is THE story, but the final book in Cainsville series confirmed what I was always felt about these characters: once you take out the whole love triangle out of the equation, they are actually pretty cool and likable and have more interesting and more important things to do.
So, the whole choice thing. Armstrong heavily touched this in previous book, but Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky are simply knowing and respecting each other well enough not to make the fact they are living embodiment of greatest love triangle in fae world decide what will they do and become the most prevalent thing in their lives. So, I liked how she decided to ditch this thing and make her main trio of characters adult about it even if centuries-old fae in Cainsvile and Cŵn Annwn aren't. Hence, I wasn't surprised how Armstrong wrapped up this thing because she stayed true to characters she's written- when I finished I thought it's exactly what Olivia I got to know through series would do. But I liked it for it also provided ( in my opinion) a very fitting end- one where fae need to evolve.
-I guess you noticed how I didn't mention the choice Liv has to make because she is Matilda reborn in connection to romance development. Well, that's because Olivia's decisions in that department were never written to be anything BUT hers and the result of how she felt in that particular time of her life. And it was that way with any of the men she was involved in: even James, when she was just high society girl at the beginning of the first book. Her attraction to Ricky, and then Gabriel felt organic and believable. And you know what? She didn't have any doubts about the man she wants to be with in this book either. Stupefying the whole thing about three of them being Matilda, Arawn and Gwynn reborn and equaling it to love triangle where she has to choose one of them because she is Matilda and they are Arawn and Gwynn is the worst fucking thing Armstrong could have gone with. So, thank god for that.
-Which leads me to Gabriel. I think he is the most interesting character in series. Just the way KA decided to introduce him to reader- as this skeevy lawyer who wants money- who thought reading that scene that this is the guy I will care the most about and want to see him happy? This slow de-layering of a very complicated character who says more between sentences and his journey to the man who is still complicated and often misunderstood, but, finally, in peace with himself and rest of the world was great. Gabriel is just awesome.
- Like I mentioned, the book is actually not all about Matilda's choice or Liv's love life. Our main characters figured out fae were directing them in various situations (and their reasons behind it), they figured out the mystery of killing spree Liv's real parents committed (and their reasons behind it), but that's not the whole story. Every major player in this thing was manipulated into bargain by someone much darker and sinister and these pesky fae and Wild Hunt are studying Liv's sleeping arrangements so meticulously to figure out if she chose their champion, they don't even see the real trouble and bad guy closing in on them. Armstrong incorporated another fine part of Celtic folklore into story introducing the sluagh, which worked because 1)their usual depiction is scary and Armstrong took that and just went creepier with it and 2)because of what they are it plays in interesting ways with Liv's premonition powers and ability to see dead people.
-but like I said wrapping up is the theme- we have both Olivia and Gabriel resolving complicated relationship with their parents. This book opens up with the appearance of Gabriel's, believed to be dead, mother and she is really something. (0_0)
-We also see dryads and they are fun.
-I chucked the star off because I think book would benefit from cutting a few scenes off. For example, scene where Rose is musing about past proved to be unnecessary when KA didn't elaborate on that or make something of it later.
All in all, I liked how this series ended up and I also liked the fact it ended up instead of making it longer.
Farewell, Cainsville. It was fun! :)
Seriously, every little thing was wrapped up and addressed and dealt with.
But to make it more detailed:
- I know that blurb makes it look like that is THE story, but the final book in Cainsville series confirmed what I was always felt about these characters: once you take out the whole love triangle out of the equation, they are actually pretty cool and likable and have more interesting and more important things to do.
So, the whole choice thing. Armstrong heavily touched this in previous book, but Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky are simply knowing and respecting each other well enough not to make the fact they are living embodiment of greatest love triangle in fae world decide what will they do and become the most prevalent thing in their lives. So, I liked how she decided to ditch this thing and make her main trio of characters adult about it even if centuries-old fae in Cainsvile and Cŵn Annwn aren't. Hence, I wasn't surprised how Armstrong wrapped up this thing because she stayed true to characters she's written- when I finished I thought it's exactly what Olivia I got to know through series would do. But I liked it for it also provided ( in my opinion) a very fitting end- one where fae need to evolve.
-I guess you noticed how I didn't mention the choice Liv has to make because she is Matilda reborn in connection to romance development. Well, that's because Olivia's decisions in that department were never written to be anything BUT hers and the result of how she felt in that particular time of her life. And it was that way with any of the men she was involved in: even James, when she was just high society girl at the beginning of the first book. Her attraction to Ricky, and then Gabriel felt organic and believable. And you know what? She didn't have any doubts about the man she wants to be with in this book either.
Spoiler
Ironic, since we find out original Matilda always knew which man she loves as well.-Which leads me to Gabriel. I think he is the most interesting character in series. Just the way KA decided to introduce him to reader- as this skeevy lawyer who wants money- who thought reading that scene that this is the guy I will care the most about and want to see him happy? This slow de-layering of a very complicated character who says more between sentences and his journey to the man who is still complicated and often misunderstood, but, finally, in peace with himself and rest of the world was great. Gabriel is just awesome.
Spoiler
And Liv and him work as a couple, but then, I didn't expect anything else since they understood each other better than anyone else in series.- Like I mentioned, the book is actually not all about Matilda's choice or Liv's love life. Our main characters figured out fae were directing them in various situations (and their reasons behind it), they figured out the mystery of killing spree Liv's real parents committed (and their reasons behind it), but that's not the whole story. Every major player in this thing was manipulated into bargain by someone much darker and sinister and these pesky fae and Wild Hunt are studying Liv's sleeping arrangements so meticulously to figure out if she chose their champion, they don't even see the real trouble and bad guy closing in on them. Armstrong incorporated another fine part of Celtic folklore into story introducing the sluagh, which worked because 1)their usual depiction is scary and Armstrong took that and just went creepier with it and 2)because of what they are it plays in interesting ways with Liv's premonition powers and ability to see dead people.
-but like I said wrapping up is the theme- we have both Olivia and Gabriel resolving complicated relationship with their parents. This book opens up with the appearance of Gabriel's, believed to be dead, mother and she is really something. (0_0)
-We also see dryads and they are fun.
-I chucked the star off because I think book would benefit from cutting a few scenes off. For example, scene where Rose is musing about past proved to be unnecessary when KA didn't elaborate on that or make something of it later.
All in all, I liked how this series ended up and I also liked the fact it ended up instead of making it longer.
Farewell, Cainsville. It was fun! :)