Title: 13
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #13
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Not your mommy.

War is coming to the Otherworld.

A sinister cult known as the Supernatural Liberation Movement is hell-bent on exposing the truth about supernaturals to the rest of the world. Their violent, ruthless plan has put everyone at risk: from werewolves to vampires, from witches to half-demons.

Savannah Levine – fiery and unpredictable – stands at the heart of the maelstorm. There is a new, dark magic inside her, granting her the power to summon spells of terrifying strength. But whether this magic is a gift or a curse, no one knows.

On the eve of battle, all the major players must come together in a last, desperate fight for survival – Elena and Clay; Adam and Savannah; Paige and Lucas; Jeremy and Jaime; Hope, Eve and more… They are fighting for their lives. They are fighting for their loved ones.

They are fighting for the Otherworld.

This was an absolutely AMAZING finale to this series! Although there are a number of short stories and novellas that follow and tell you how the many characters have continued life after the war, this was the final of the actual novels. And it was an epic final battle. I loved that although the majority of this story was told from Savannah’s point of view (like the preceding two books), the main players from the other books also had their own chapters. It’s almost the last section of a three part book – making it impossible to put Waking the Witch, Spellbound OR 13 down.

The Women of the Otherworld storyline felt a little staggered and haphazard (but still awesome) at the beginning of the series. But after a while, there seemed to be a larger storyline at work throughout the different tales. 13 provided a fantastic wrap up of this. Although, as it says at the end, more adventures are awaiting them. But the major points of the story are tied up, and there is an overarching feeling of a happy ending and a bright new future ahead for everyone.

There is something poetic about the fact that a paranormal series has thirteen books, and the final book is called 13. The cover art, the name and the number in the series all work beautifully to add onto the feel and theme that has been created throughout the series. I was actually kind of sad to turn the last page of this story. Only to remember that there are some short stories left to read…

Image source: ALPHA Reader

Title: Spellbound
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #12
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Excellent.

Savannah Levine is in danger. That’s not usually a problem. But, caught in the grip of a disturbing and violent murder case, Savannah swore to give up her unique gifts if it would save an innocent young girl. Little did she know that someone – or something – was listening… Now she has no idea how to restore her powers, just when she needs them the most.

In this compelling, fast-paced thriller, Savannah has to face a host of deadly enemies bent on destroying not only her but the very fabric of the supernatural world. As dark forces gather, Savannah isn’t just fighting for her life, but for everything and everyone she loves.

The ending of Waking the Witch was a bit of a cliff hanger. What would happen of Savannah’s blunder and how was it going to be fixed? Her final promise to give up her powers to save a young girl leave her incredibly vulnerable. And not just with a lack of powers, but it also causes her to ask who she is and what it all means? The added complications of Savannah’s guilt and her confusion about Adam help to make this a journey that I couldn’t put down.

Losing her powers, surprisingly helped Savannah to become stronger – not just in herself, but she finds ways to compensate for the lack of firepower. It’s a great reminder of all of the shortcuts that Savannah has taken throughout the series, and she is forced to really rely on herself. And, as has been slowly forming since the occurrences in Broken, the supernatural war is beginning. Which means that Savannah’s position at the centre of maelstrom makes her abilities and power integral to the survival of  all of our Women of the Otherworld favourites.

Although Adam and Savannah haven’t gotten romantically entangled yet, there is a really strong undertone to their relationship that keeps hinting at the future that I want them to have. Actually, it starts to become resolved at the end of this book, but mostly the undertone drives the storyline and tale of the story. His protectiveness of Savannah while she is vulnerable and being hunted shows how much he cares about her, and their ability to work as partners is kind of poetic. Yet, when Savannah pushes him too far, he shuts her down completely.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #11
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Summer was almost here, and I needed a new wardrobe, which meant a trip to New York with my favorite shopping buddy.

When three young women are found dead – apparent victims of ritual murder – the small, fading town of Columbus is shaken to its core. But things are about to turn even more strange and sinister…

Private investigator Savannah Levine can handle ‘strange and sinister’. As the daughter of a black witch, she has a lot of power running through her veins, and she’s not afraid to use it. But her arrival in town has not gone unnoticed. Savannah may think she’s tracking down a murderer, but could she be the killer’s next target?

Every time I read one of the books in the Women of the Otherworld series, I decide that they are my absolute favourite heroines of the series. And then I open the next book and my mind changes all over again. Every single lead in this series has her own amazing prowess and something that makes me feel connected to them. But, they’re all different enough that the storyline never gets boring. The first book featuring a grown Savannah Levine was no different. Her teenage rebellion and attitude have mellowed since her introduction in Stolen, but she still has this sense of sass that none of the other characters possess. And, her infatuation with Adam has blown from a school girl crush to an understanding of love and giving.

From the moment that she was introduced in the series, Savannah possesses a don’t care, self-centred persona. Yet, as she tries to track down a serial killer and befriends some of the locals, it becomes obvious that this is just that – a persona. She has a thick skin and protects herself with her mother’s reputation and her ability to be pithy and rude. But she cares so deeply about the people that surround her. Kayla, the young daughter of one of the victims, helps to add an extra layer of risk and emotion to her actions. Throw in some shady cult leaders, a not-so-nice crime family and the fact that Leah is back haunting earth somewhere… yeah, this story not only shows that Savannah has a soft side, but it also drags it out of her kicking and screaming. Which, of course, leads to a pretty intense and emotional conclusion that had me reaching for Spell Bound as soon as I could.

Throughout our daily lives, my partner and I are constantly forced into gender roles and made fun of when one or the other don’t fit these. The age difference between Adam and Savannah just encourages this assumption throughout the story. The idea that Savannah is unable to lead her own investigation is compounded by the fact that Adam shows up to give her moral support. Yet, he is more than willing to let her have her head. He actually lets her be herself, dominant, pissy, strong… something that is needed in a lot of relationships (or so I believe).

Image source: Goodreads