Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong

March 22nd, 2016 Kimberly Review 48 Comments

22nd Mar
Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong
Deceptions
by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Cainsville #3
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne Flame

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?

freaky paranormal traingle

Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong, is the third book in her urban fantasy series Cainsville. Filled with Fae, omens and suspense I have come to love this series. It has an old mystery flair to it that reminds me of thrillers from my childhood. Deceptions suffered from middle book syndrome but had bits I thoroughly enjoyed.

Since each book builds on knowledge learned in the earlier books, I do not recommend reading this series out-of-order.

Caffeinated Aspects

  • Cainsville, the Fae, visions and supernatural creatures surrounding this tale continue to draw me in. Armstrong’s weaving of mythology into this series is like crack and I am always looking for a fix.
  • The overall mystery and sub-mysteries lure you in. The questions regarding Oliva, her parent’s, the murders, Gabriel and Cainsville have all been fascinating. Deceptions answered many of those questions.
  • Armstrong is brilliant writer and her stories have a flow to them that allows the reader to slip into the world. Despite my decaffeinated aspects, I enjoyed Deceptions and devoured it.
  • Gabriel. Ah Gabriel, he is quirky, strong, determined, misunderstood and odd. Sometimes he is pushy, and socially inapt. I find I want to hug him, but I know he would hate it.
  • This book focused more on Olivia and her relationships with Gabriel and Ricky. I know many folks have issues with the TRIANGLE, but honestly, in this instance I did not. I found the answers through Olivia’s visions of who they are fascinating. I also find their friendship interesting, and enjoy when the three work together.

Decaffeinated Aspects

  • What happen to Olivia? Ugh. I love strong, confident female protagonist, and in Deceptions Olivia was whiny. Towards the end of the book, she seemed to be a tad strong and I hope we see more of that in Betrayals.
  • I like Ricky, I find him to be charming and even like that he belongs to a Biker Club. However, a scene where Olivia goes with him to their club pissed me off. It had to do with biker mentality about their woman. Olivia played submissive.
  • Deceptions suffered middle book syndrome. Most of the reveals, I had already pieced together as the reader. Olivia seems to be struggling and her thought process was all over the place. The mystery took a back seat to the relationship dynamics and while the sex scenes were hot, they were not all necessary.

While Deceptions didn’t pack quite the punch that Visions delivered I am hoping Betrayals brings me more of what I love in the Cainsville series.

Photo of kimbacaffeinate
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

Related Posts

48 Responses to “Deceptions by Kelley Armstrong”

  1. Lola

    I don’t mind the love triangle in this series as much, although I really want her to end up with Gabriel. And the mysteries and the way this series is written is just so well done. I wasn’t a fan of the biker mentality towards women either. Olivia did seem to act a bit out of character in this one a few times, but I still loved the book. Great review!

  2. Karen

    I gave up after the last book. I love Armstrong but for some reason this series just doesn’t work for me. I think it’s because I expected it to be more about Olivia being the daughter of killers and the genetics of that (as they advertised it originally) and it’s not really.

    I hope the next one picks back up for you!

    Karen @For What It’s Worth

  3. Candace

    I can’t believe this is book three already! I have so many of her books I need to read but I don’t have this series yet.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Bwahaha..I am glad I am not the only one who is shocked when the third book is already out for a series I planned to start 🙂

  4. Kristin

    Was it like a transition book or something? Those usually don’t go too well. I’m sorry this one didn’t rock your world. Yep, hopefully the next one will be a winner (winner, chicken dinner… it just happens in my head when I say that word, can’t be helped!) 😉 Great way to do a middle of the road review!!!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      No. We see great plot development and learn new things.but see setbacks as well..either way I am enjoying this series and hoping Betrayals delivers more of what Visions did!

  7. Sophia Rose

    Old time suspense feel has appeal for me. So sad that she has a personality blip and gets whiny and different. Maybe it will switch back in the next book.

  8. kindlemom1

    I just finished this too and I have to say, even with the sort of love triangle, I adored it. I can’t wait for book four! I probably liked this more than you but I’m glad you still liked it. 😉

  9. Bookworm Brandee

    I’m sorry this one kinda missed the mark, Kimberly. It’d really bother me for the heroine, who starts our strong and confident, to turn whiny. Um, why do that?!? Hopefully the next book will bring a new and improved Olivia. 🙂

  10. Rita

    Uh oh, whiny and submissive. Not good :(.
    I intend to read the first in the series when I can anyway. I’ve read a YA book by this author- good, not great for me- and a hard-to-classify novel just last month- City of the Lost- which I loved. She seems to be able to reinvent herself over and over, just looking at her varied book list. Hope her next one is even better for you!

  12. Mary Kirkland

    It’s been a long time since I read one of her books. I read her first two books and stopped but it sounds like I might need to start reading her again.

  13. Heidi

    Hmm… I just finished Omens last week and I really enjoyed it. I am sad to hear that a love triangle develops and that Olivia backslides.

  14. Quinn's Book Nook

    I read my first Kelley Armstrong book last year, The Masked Truth, and I really liked it! I should check out some of her other books. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying this series. Have you read her other books?

  15. Tanya

    I need to catch up on this one. I read the first one, and I wasn’t totally overwhelmed with it, but I wanted to continue. I commonly have “first book syndrome”, but I haven’t gotten back to it yet. The next book will probably pick up. Some series just take that little dip here and there. I hate that because it makes me nervous that the end of the series is near.

  17. AngelErin

    Sorry this one wasn’t as great, but I’m glad you still liked it. I’ve been meaning to read this series since the first book came out. I love Kelley Armstrong. I might even own the first book in this series too. 🙂

  18. Jenny

    She’s whiny in this one? That’s too bad! Whiny is something I struggle with big time in my heroines, so hopefully she shakes that off in the next book! And hopefully you get a lot of plot developments that don’t make it feel like a middle book:)

  19. Felicia the Geeky Blogger

    This one was a bit of a miss for me. I am still trying to decide if I am going to continue. I did love the mystery but the triangle/angst/character backslide kind of annoyed me 🙁 I am glad it worked better for you!

  21. Braine

    I hope the next book won’t be a slump. I haven’t read this series but this does sound like a weak installment especially with the heroine’s character regressing to a whiny protagonist.

  22. Melanie Simmons

    I started this book on audio and couldn’t finish. I think it was the narrators. I plant on finishing it, but I need to read it. It was the first book in this series that I tried to listen to. I’ve had mixed results with audiobooks from Kelley Armstrong. She doesn’t seem to have great narrators. After reading your review, I’m wondering if it wasn’t entirely the narrators, but maybe the story not being up the Armstrong’s normal standards. Normally her books are a 4+ stars for me. Great review.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I am not sure starting this series at book three is a good idea Melanie, it really builds of each book. I have not tried any of her books on audio.

  23. Priscilla

    The fanbase for this series is huge! 😮 It’s not the type of book I usually read, but I can see why many find it appealing 🙂