Format: Hardcover, 455 pages
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Publisher: Dutton
Source: Library
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Olivia Taylor Jones's life has exploded. She's discovered she is not only adopted, but her real parents are convicted serial killers. Fleeing the media frenzy, she took refuge in the oddly secluded town of Cainsville. She has since solved the town's mysteries and finds herself not only the target of its secretive elders but also her stalker ex-fiancé.
Visions continue to haunt her: particularly a little blond girl in a green sundress who insists she has an important message for Olivia, one that may help her balance the light and darkness within herself. Death stalks both Olivia and the two men most important to her, as she desperately searches to understand whether ancient scripts are dictating the triangle that connects them. Will darkness prevail, or does Olivia have the power to prevent a tragic fate?
Deceptions is the third installment in the Cainsville series by author Kelley Armstrong. Picking up where Visions left off, Olivia Taylor-Jones, sometimes referred to as Eden Larsen, continues to have her world turned upside down and drawn into a world that she would love nothing more than to avoid. Her recent escapades included surviving a car crash thanks to a killer going a bit off kilter, learning that she's more than human and the elders of Cainsville, all Fae, have plans for her and Gabriel. And, to top it all off, her parents really might be serial killers after all.
What hasn't changed over the last 3 books is that her ex-fiancé James Morgan, continues his attempts at getting her back. But, like Olivia, Ricky, and Gabriel, he is also being used by a much more dangerous individual. So, yeah, nothing has been resolved except for Olivia discovering the truth about Cainsville, and the fact that two factions, perhaps more, want her really badly. It gets even more strange when Olivia starts having visions of a little blond girl in a green sundress.
Honestly, I think there are way too many outrageous situations that are happening in this series. No, let's not talk about the intentional triangle which the author is doing everything she can to have readers stand behind her. Readers have like me have struggled with Olivia's desires towards Ricky. Olivia is like a sex addict whenever she's around him. She just can't help herself. He's her desire, and her drug. I won't say that I hate Ricky. Kind of hard to hate someone who hasn't exactly done anything wrong since he became deeply involved in Olivia's life and all that surrounds it.
Nope, let's not talk about what so called Powers Olivia is supposed to be coming into that makes the various Fae tropes lose their minds over. That would mean that it might make things better. I know, I know. There are more books coming. Relax. Chill. Wait to see how Armstrong resolves these issues. Nope, I just don't really believe all the hype behind the revelations about Olivia's parents and their guilt or innocence. I still say that Armstrong hasn't fully wrapped up that story line. I think there is more to meet the eye when it comes to what actually happened and why.
I think one of the things that readers will need to ask themselves is whether or not this fiasco that is Olivia, Ricky, and Gabriel friendship/love triangle will finally bring a stop to the merry-go-round that is their supposed history. One needs to ask themselves why Olivia, or anyone for that matter, wouldn't just walk away and get as far away from Cainsville, the Fae and their political nonsense as they can. But that would mean that this series would be over now, instead of having several more books.
In the end, Deceptions leaves a whole lot of unanswered questions, and nothing has been resolved except for one tiny issue that I won't spoil. There are enough reviews out in the world for you to figure out what happens. I will definitely jump on the bandwagon, however, by saying that one should not just jump into Deceptions without reading the previous two novels first.
I really need to read this one. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. You are the first person who I've seen that has been disappointed with this book. I think that is why it hasn't been high on my list to read.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a bridge to somewhere else, you know what I mean? Where are we going with this story? Are we going to have the triangle appear until the final page before it's fully resolved?
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