Title: Baby Boom
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #13.9
In: Otherworld Chills (Kelley Armstrong)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: You have always known it.

Is it time to have a child? Paige and Lucas are faced with this question as Benecio tries to encourage their procreation to ensure the succession of his Cabalic throne.

As the name suggests, this short story is all about babies. It starts with a pregnant Savannah shopping with Paige for prams. But, as quickly becomes apparent, both Paige and Lucas aren’t interested in having children. While there are many moments that feature Savannah’s pregnancy, this story is really about Paige and Lucas, and the fact that sometimes people genuinely make the decision not to have children. Something that both Paige and Lucas agree wholeheartedly on.

However, Benecio wants a grandchild. Not just for his own enjoyment, but to ensure the succession of his Cabal. After all, it’s a family run business, and if Lucas is to pass on the business to the next generation, well, there needs to be a next generation. But, inheriting isn’t enough of a reason to bring a child into the world, that is, until Paige and Lucas find out that their birth control has been sabotaged…

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Title: The Puppy Plan
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #13.7
In: Otherworld Chills (Kelley Armstrong)
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: Novella
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: We know.

It’s Christmas time and the Danvers twins have both come up with the perfect gift for one another… if only they can get their parents to agree.

This is such a beautiful and sweet Christmas story – Logan and Kate Danvers try to find each other the perfect Christmas present.

Mostly this short story centres around Logan, and his indecision about what to do with the new puppy he rescued. Although it would be the perfect present for his twin, there is the complication of his parents. They’re not sure that they want the children to have a dog. Not just because it’s a little awkward with them being werewolves, but the Pack’s serial killer is back in town.

Although every kid wants a puppy, and Logan is no different in this, his approach to his parents is very different. He is so not a normal nine-year-old. Although, it gives a really sweet spin on the giving traditions of Christmas.

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Title: Brazen
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #13.3
In: Otherworld Chills (Kelley Armstrong)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: Nick looked toward the window, where he could pick up the distant wail of a siren.

Nick Sorrentino knows everyone in the supernatural world considers him the Pack’s playboy, the pretty but not very useful werewolf whose only reputation involves his amorous exploits.

Usually, Nick couldn’t care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack’s past, it matters.

Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.

It’s time for Nick to prove he’s not just a lover.

Malcolm’s existence and survival in 13 was a bit of a shock – after all, I’ve spent the entire Women of the Otherworld series believing that he was killed. As did the remainder of the characters. So, it was nice to get a bit of an update as to how the werewolf Pack were dealing with his ability to survive almost anything. The fact that Brazen is a tale about Nick and his pursuit of Malcolm (as well as his new standing and responsibility in the Pack) just made this a far more enjoyable novella.

I love that every character in this series has their own perfect match. Mostly it’s unconventional, not quite what you expect, but it works. And, FINALLY, Nick meets his perfect match. She’s not what I would have expected, it’s not the meet cute you would expect, but it works out well. It would certainly be difficult to accept Nick’s playboy past, but Vanessa somehow manages to do it and I love the not-so-tactful way in which she does this.

Malcolm is the boogeyman of the werewolf world – he is kind of intimidating and overwhelming and a sadistic a-hole. The depth to which this sadism and horror has expanded whilst in Cabal custody has only expanded, and it makes him an amazing villain throughout this story. And by amazing, I mean really intimidating and terrifying, and kind of difficult to read this tale late at night.

The bounty hunters throughout highlight our inclination to negatively reflect on the more ‘animalistic’ sides of our nature. I love that through all of the Women of the Otherworld series, the werewolves are considered to be lesser in so many ways. Not just brutish and driven by impulses, but also unable to control themselves. This prejudice against following one’s ‘emotions’ (animalistic nature) causes them to be cast as the ‘other’, and worthy of hunting. Seeing it from the point of view of Nick and the rest of the Pack makes me understand how minority groups that are undertrod can possibly feel.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Sorry… The Hardest Word
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #10.8
In: Otherworld Chills (Kelley Armstrong)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: She would have gotten help – she’s not a monster – but she wouldn’t have rescued me herself.

Cassandra du Charme travels to Toronto to make amends with resident vampire Zoe. It seems like this might be the greatest challenge of Cassandra’s long life.

I suppose that if you live for hundreds of years, you are likely to know a heck of a lot of people. Yet, somehow, it still surprised me that Cassandra and Zoe knew each other in the past. The fact that they had a history was a surprise. The fact that Zoe had been wronged… not so much.

Cassandra is a character that I have very mixed feelings about – she’s kind of a bitch, especially in Stolen, but as the series progresses and she appears in a number of short stories and novellas, you can understand the apathy that she feels towards the world. After all, she’s nearing the end of a very long life and has watched numerous people come and go. Which is why she is sent to apologise to Zoe. And, although she’s still a bitch, and Zoe is still annoyed, Zoe’s acceptance that this will give her peace is admirable.

Although it is a battle to get Cassandra to eventually apologise, as usual, Zoe’s manipulations and manoeuvring finally get her the result that she desires. It gives the story a beautiful, happy ending and is a great way to leave a smile on your lips when you turn the last page of the story.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Amityville Horrible
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #10.7
In: Otherworld Chills (Kelley Armstrong)
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: Novella
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: It was dark.

Jaime Vegas—spiritualist, entertainer and, unbeknownst to her audience, real-life necromancer—swore she’d never do another reality ghost show after the last fiasco. But when she’s railroaded into a charity gig, she finds herself back on the set, this time with a cast of photogenic college kids, an up-and-coming Russian spiritualist, and a tale of missing girls and murder in New England. It’s cheesy, but that’s show business. With her werewolf Alpha lover, Jeremy Danvers, along to keep her nights interesting, it’s not so bad really. Until the bloody ghosts show up. Jaime has never faced spirits like these, and no matter how hard she tries, they won’t be ignored.

Yet again Jaimie is pulled into the world of fake reality and TV shows. And, once again, she finds a way to shine and do a trashy public event without sacrificing her own identity and self-worth. And, she solves a mystery, has an incredibly passionate romp with Jeremy and fills her time with foiling the evil (or at least incredibly morally bankrupt) director of the show.

I don’t know much about horror and ghost stories in my local area, let alone around the world. But, I’m assuming because the name Amityville has a ring to it that there is a place in America that has a horrible history filled with ghost stories. At least, the way that Armstrong wrote about it made me think that it does, in fact, exist. And the way in which she yet again intertwines the worlds of fact and fiction so seamlessly that helps me to fall even further in love with the characters which inhabit her world.

For a character and story that I couldn’t put down and seriously enjoyed, I’m actually finding it hard to find the words to describe it. It’s a fantastic story that made me smile and laugh, and although it centres of Jaimie and her finding of the truth, there are also the sweet and understanding moments between herself and Jeremy. It’s these moments of love and acceptance that I’ve come to expect from Armstrong and I’m always a little disappointed when these secondary plots don’t rear their head.

Image source: Goodreads

Title: Off-Duty Angel
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #10.5
In: Otherworld Chills (Kelley Armstrong)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: He continued questioning them, and it didn’t take long to realize that they weren’t just trying to prolong the game.

Even when she’s off duty, Eve Levine manages to find something to entertain her. And all too often, get herself into trouble. Kris understands this and tries to find he something to do while she’s off duty. Only to have it blow up in all of their faces.

Eve has such a beautiful penchant for getting into trouble. No matter where the demon / witch / angel seems to find herself, she has one epic adventure. The fact that Kris tries to send her on a journey to kill boredom just helps Eve’s ability to get into trouble along.

Although Off-Duty Angel doesn’t seem to be a major part of the overarching Women of the Otherworld plotline, it is a nice insight into Eve and Kris’ afterlife. After nine years as ghosts, they still manage to have fun and put a little spice into their lives. This short story is just a great reminder of the many ways in which they do this.

I love the insights that Armstrong gives us into her version of the afterlife in this short story. It not only helps to add an extra layer to the world that she has so carefully and lovingly constructed, but also creates a way in which death isn’t necessarily the end.

Image source: Goodreads