Sunday, 14 March 2010

Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (Book Review)


















From the back cover:

Eve Levine — half-demon, black witch and devoted mother — has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life and can’t be killed again — which comes in handy when you’ve made as many enemies as Eve. Yes, the afterlife isn’t too bad — all she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter, Savannah, and she’ll be happy.

But fate — or more exactly, the Fates — have other plans. Eve owes them a favor, and they’ve just called it in. An evil spirit called the Nix has escaped from hell. She feeds on chaos and death, and is very good at persuading people to kill for her. The Fates want Eve to hunt her down before she does any more damage, but the Nix is a dangerous enemy — previous hunters have been driven insane in the process. As if that’s not problem enough, the only way to stop her is with an angel’s sword. And Eve is no angel. . . .

This is Book 5 in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. Although I have not read any of the other books in the supernatural series, the characterizations and storylines were easy to follow. Ms Armstrong provided enough detail from previous books to assist the reader with information transition.

Ms Armstrong uses an aspect of the afterlife as an alternative universe with varying dimensions of heaven and hell along with angels who have problems of their own. The supernatural afterlife is run by beings known as the Fates. The heroine, Eve, is part demon and witch, with a ‘kick ass’ attitude chosen by the Fates for her unusual methods. Eve uses sorcery, astral projection, telepathy and teleportation with the assistance of her ex-husband, Kristof (also dead), a half-blood angel, Trsiel, and a necromancer, Jamie Vegas, to find the Nix.

The story throughout focuses on Eve’s concern for her daughter, Savannah, left in the living world with guardians, and being reunited with Kristof (Savannah’s father) while keeping him at a distance as a mere friend. Kristof has regrets over not getting to know Savannah for fifteen years and is determined not to repeat them.

Eve persists in going ahead with the search and apprehension of the Nix despite the warnings from the Fates and Trsiel. The ending is well executed and carries the reader on at a faster pace than the steady pace previously. Besides the Nix, there are several other antagonists who provide Eve and Kristof with challenges that make the story more interesting.

For those interested in stories of the supernatural this book will entertain well. I intend to be looking at some of Kelley Armstrong’s other books in this series.


Book format: trade paperback, 464 pages
Fiction: Fantasy suspense
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Published: January 26, 2010
Author website: Kelley Armstrong

Available at:

Chapters.Indigo.ca

11 comments:

Leah J. Utas said...

This book sounds so interesting.

Rune Eide said...

You seems to be a very nice person with a fine sense when it comes to photography and other matters. However, I must admit that we don't share the taste in literature - but, then, why should everyone do?

Anonymous said...

I wonder how I'll go with a Kelley Armstrong search in the bookshops of Adelaide tomorrow. Will let you know.

Adele said...

This series is so brilliant, every book is fantastic. Kelly is a really awesome writer.

Barbara Martin said...

Leah, it is a good book for those interested in the supernatural.

RuneE, as I write in the fantasy genre it pays to read the competition. Though I do like books more in crime mysteries, historical fiction and quantum science.

This author is a fellow Canadian living near London, Ontario.

Pam, the author uses a modern vernacular which is easy to read and digest.

Hagelrat, all votes of condifence are welcomed.

Charles Gramlich said...

Half demon, black witch and devoted mother. Now this character I want to meet. IN fiction that is.

Steve Malley said...

I'm quite the Kelley Armstrong fan, good to know she's got a new one out!

David Cranmer said...

You can't beat "half-demon, black witch and devoted mother" for a grabber.

David Cranmer said...

I just posted my comment and see Charles had similar but funnier take. And so true.

L.A. Mitchell said...

I wonder how she felt about her cover art. Hard to stand out when you're borrowing Twilight :O

Barbara Martin said...

L.A., this is a special Canadian edition. The first print had a different cover, though I thought the same thing when I saw it.