Review(s): The Reckoning & Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong

Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope. YA Paranormal


*I was thinking of not writing a review for this book. For one – I love Kelley Armstrong, and for two – I seem to be the only one who feels this way about this book. But as my blog name implies…here’s my opinion – for what it’s worth………


Review:
As I said, I love Kelley Armstrong. I have every book she’s written. Even the anthologies, the limited edition novellas, the Nadia Stafford series….everything. I admit I’m not a huge fan of the Darkest Power series but I enjoyed reading the first two books from the series and my love for Derek keeps me coming back for more.
I just could not get into The Reckoning. The main reason is the writing style. This seems to be more a book of what is going on inside Chloe’s head rather than moving the plot forward. The constant inner monologue drove me nuts as she contemplated every move she made. I first noticed this in Armstong’s Frostbitten – an “Elena” centric Otherworld book released last year. I found it a little off putting in that book also, but Elena’s head is infinitely more interesting to be inside of than Chloe’s.
I tried to remember that while I’ve read the series over 3 years – it has only been a few weeks for the actual events taking place, but the lack of Chloe’s emotional growth still bugged me.
I’m pretty much in this series for Derek but I was disappointed there too. He’s not in the first half very much and when he is it’s pretty much to grunt or growl. The book picked up for me about halfway through when Derek moves to the forefront but then lagged again shortly after. I also found his character disturbing at times. I understand that most of his behavior can be explained away by the hormonal / wolfy things happening to him but it wasn’t balanced out enough by the “good / nice” Derek. Add in Chloe’s meek personality it started to bother me.
I know some people are disturbed by the loose ends at the conclusion. I didn’t really mind that but I felt we didn’t really find out much of anything. It was just more of the same from the previous two books.
On a side note…they kept bringing up “the Pack”. I couldn’t help hoping Jeremy would come in and fix this mess! Clay could have talked to Derek, Jamie could help Chloe, Paige & Lucas for Tori & Simon.

Rating: 2 out of 4 - But you know what?? I am the only person who feels this way about this book – so I say go read it and enjoy! Every other review I have read gave it their top rating….so just ignore me and my little review :-)

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong has bewitched audiences with her Otherworld series of supernatural thrillers. Now, in this new collection of shorter fiction, some of Armstrong’s most tantalizing lead characters appear alongside her unforgettable supporting players, who step out of the shadows and into the light.
Have you ever wondered how lone wolf Clayton Danvers finally got bitten by the last thing he ever expected: love? Or how the hot-blooded bad-girl witch Eve Levine managed to ensnare the cold, ruthless corporate sorcerer Kristof Nast in one of the Otherworld’s most unlikely pairings? Would you like to be a fly on the wall at the wedding of Lucas Cortez and Paige Winterbourne as their eminently practical plans are upended by their well-meaning friends? Or tag along with Lucas and Paige as they investigate a gruesome crime that looks to be the work of a rogue vampire?
Now devotees of the Otherworld can share these special moments with some of their favorite characters—as well as discovering deeper insights into the lives of some of the lesser-known players. But even readers new to the Otherworld universe will find much to love in these seven tales of friendship, adventure, and enduring romance. For when the superhuman men and women of the Otherworld set their minds to a task, they do so with fierce passion and an undivided sense of purpose that make them, in the end, very much human. Adult PR, anthology

On the flip side:

Review:
Now this is what I’m talking about! Nice deep, flawed, complicated characters! Tales from the Otherworld is a collection of stories about the women of the Otherworld. You may have read a few of them already from her website but there is a new story about Eve and Kristof – Bewitched”. It was nice catching up with these characters again. This book also tells the story of how Clay and Elena met – Beginnings.

Rating: 4 out 4 I loved meeting up with Elena, Eve, Paige, and Cassandra again!