Review: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

Posted November 16, 2015 by Lola in Fantasy, Mystery, Review / 26 Comments

LolaReview

DeceptionsDeceptions (Cainsville #3)
by Kelley Armstrong

Blurb;
TRUST NO ONE

Olivia Jones is desperate for the truth. The daughter of convicted serial killers, she has begun to suspect that her parents are innocent of their crimes. But who can she trust, in a world where betrayal and deception hide in every shadow?

RISK EVERYTHING

Liv does have one secret weapon: a mysterious sixth sense that helps her to anticipate danger. The trouble is, this rare power comes with its own risks. There are dark forces that want to exploit Liv’s talents – and will stop at nothing to win her to their side.

FACE THE TRUTH

Now Liv must decide, before it’s too late. Who does she love? Who is really on her side? And can she save herself without burning down everything that matters most?

My Review:
I had a few meh reads in a row and decided it was time for a book I knew I would enjoy, so I started Deceptions. Deceptions is everything I hoped for and more. From the first page I was back in the world and got sucked into the story. Deceptions sure lives up to his name, with lots of mystery, people their motives are unsure and only at the end the deceptions come to light. I just wanted to keep reading as I had to know what would happen next and this book caused quite a few nights where I went to bed late as I couldn’t put the book down. The story is so well written and I love Kelley Armstrong her writing style.

The plot in Deceptions continues from where the last book Visions ended and seamless continues the story, while also providing a few recap sentence so readers get reminded of what happens next. There is so much going on this book, multiple plot lines and mysteries and it’s all woven together quite well. The mystery about everything Fea and Cainsville and the legend continues. Then there is the plot line of Olivia her parents and if they are guilty and they make some progress on that case too.

Olivia is a great main character and I really enjoy following her story in this one. I liked how she handled the situations, standing her ground and searching for answers. And not running away from dangerous situations,but cautiously approaching them if necessary. And there were also scenes where she showed her emotions and feelings. There is one thing I thought she handled badly, but she realizes that herself as well and I do understand why she handled it that way, I just didn’t like how things turned out afterwards. She kept something a secret for too long and ofcourse the other person found out and it wasn’t pretty. I liked seeing how the answers they do find and her Visions impact her relationship with those around her and how she finally got to see her real father Todd in this book. Then there are Gabriel and Ricky who are both great characters too and we even get a few short chapters from their point of view, which I really liked as it gave some more depth to their characters and made me understand them better. We also get a chapter from Rose her point of view again, which was nice. There are also some big surprises concerning some side characters, what they do and what happened to them. Sometimes I had a bad feeling about a character which was true and other times an unexpected twist suddenly was there, like at the end. It was well done.

Then there is the romance, which on the one hand I enjoy, but it also frustrates me a lot. I love a good slow building romance, which I still think Gabriel and Olivia their relationship is. There are finally hints in this book that they feel more and there are some awesome scenes between them, as friends that is and gah I want them together so much, but the there is Ricky who is great for her too. Maybe that’s the problem, as much as I want her to get together with Gabriel I also really like Ricky. Ricky is a nice and sweet biker guy, who also can be forcefully and aggressive at times. He really cared about Olivia and knows what she needs. He cares about her in a way Gabriel doesn’t or maybe can’t or not yet. On the other hand with Gabriel and Olivia I feel at that tension and build-up and them being close but not close enough, and she never has that with Ricky. So I still prefer Gabriel as love interest. And the whole almost love triangle thing has me so conflicted and frustrated and at the same time I appreciate how the author can make me feel so much about these characters.

Just like in the first two books the world building is awesome, we learn new things and make pieces of the puzzle fall on their place. This book brings more details and depth to the world and it comes more alive in each book. There are Visions that Olivia has that show us more about the past and explains quite some things. It’s fascinating learning more about this world and with every answer more questions pop up, but the author explains enough to not have it be confusing. It’s such a fascinating world and all I want is to know more and more about it. The only thing that I might have missed in this book is Cainsville, as there only a few scenes that take place there.

To summarize: this is another awesome book in the Cainsville series. It continues the plot lines from previous books and adds some new plot lines and mysteries. We get more answers and questions in this book and there is so much happening that I had a hard time putting this book down. I really like all the characters, especially Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky. Although the sort of love triangle can be a bit frustrating at time,s but it’s also well done as both men are so good for Olivia. The world building is done great, slowly progressing and adding more details and depth to this world. All in all I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

5-star

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What’s your most recent 5 star read?

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26 responses to “Review: Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

  1. This series wasn’t on my radar. But the way you describe the world, the heroine, and yes, a five-star after a bunch of meh is tough to get. Sounds like a series I’d like and even though its a triangle, the guys both sound worthy of her.

    My last five star was Kit’s Hill by Jean Stubbs. At least I think it was. I’ve been reading a lot of 3’s and 4’s lately. Although, I think the one I have going right now is heading toward a 5 star if nothing drastic happens to change that.
    Sophia Rose recently posted…Afternoon Delight: Sodom and Detroit by Ann MayburnMy Profile

    • This was such a great read, especially after that bunch of meh books. I am pretty picky when it coems to lvoe triangles, but I think this one is really well done. Both guys are worhty of her and there isn’t much out in the open conflict and agression and the guys actually are friends. It’s a tad frustratign at times though.

      I hope your current read ended up being a 5 star. I had a great 4 and another 5 star book right after this book, so it does seem to have got me out of my meh spree of books.
      Lola recently posted…Review: Revealed by SJ PajonasMy Profile

    • Thanks Lisa! It’s a great series and this book released a month or so ago, so that’s probably the reason you’re seeing it around more recently.

    • Yes there is a bit of a love triangle, but very different than in most books. I can’t fully explain it, both both guys are greta for her and there isn’t really a full on battle for her love as she has a relationship with one of them, but it’s obvious she also has feelings for the other. And both guys actually know each other and are friends. I think it’s well done. It’s a great series and I love this author her writing style! Definitely would recommend it.

    • The love triangle is frustrating in a good way and it is well writtne and fits the story, I just wish she ends up with the other. The characters and world building are truly amazing in this series. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this series!

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