For What It's Worth


Thursday, August 21, 2014

Review: Visions (Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong


18398797As #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s new Cainsville series continues, Olivia’s power to read omens leads to the discovery of a gruesome crime with troubling connections to her new hometown.

Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.

Goodreads

Source: Copy provided by publisher for my honest review

Review:
I enjoyed, yet didn’t love, Omens, the first book in The Cainsnville series. I wanted to give it another try though, since I’ve loved so many of Armstrong’s previous series. 

Looking back at my review of Omens, I see that I basically feel the same way about Visions. It was ok but I’m still really frustrated by the pacing and lack of plot development.

I really like almost every character in this series but they’re all very one dimensional. They’re nice but flawed which should lend lot of messy complications but it doesn’t. Everyone keeps their feelings to themselves and just goes about their business no matter what. No feathers are ruffled. Well, except one - the ex fiancé but that feels forced.

The paranormal elements and the more prevalent Fae world are as always, fascinating but I wish we could see more, learn more of that.

I feel like anytime something starts gaining momentum, Armstrong just changes course and moves on. Find a head in your bed? A corpse in your car? See a wolf that looks at your BF too closely? Olivia is upset for a few minutes, takes a picture, makes a phone call, then moves on. There’s so much investigating and very little action.

There are quite a few (BIG) new reveals but again, they just add to the mystery.

I know I seem like I’m knocking this book a lot, and I guess I am, but the conclusion I’ve come to, is that it’s not so much this book, it’s that I don’t like mysteries, or investigations. That all bores me to tears. I thought the paranormal elements could overcome that for me but it isn’t enough. This series just isn’t the right fit for me.

Several of my friends, who didn’t love Omens all that much, really enjoyed this one so I would still recommend it. Especially if you did liked Omens.

I think I’m done with the Cainsville series unless I hear that the next book is the last one because at least then there would be answers.

19 comments:

  1. I do not think I am gonna start this series. Sure I liked her other books, but in reality I liked one, the rest were..ok

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    1. It reminds me a little of The Others series by Ann Bishop which I love. I don't know why this one just doesn't work for me.

      You should give it a shot though. It's really different from her other series.

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  2. I'm sorry this didn't work for you. However, I do like mysteries, so I still have high(ish) hopes for this one. I think your very lucky to be able to isolate specific things that don't work for you. Sometimes I have a hard time doing that . . . Better luck next time!

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    1. It's hard with this book because I really think it's just me - not the writing or the story. If that's the type of story you like then you'll love it. Have you read it yet?

      There's just something about the tone and pacing of this series that doesn't work for me but I would still recommend it to others.

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  3. I hate when I feel this way about a book/series. It really is good that you can chalk it up to not being the right fit, versus feeling like there's either something wrong with you or the book.

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    1. Yeah - I don't think it's the story or her writing. It's good - just not for me.

      I'm still interested to see how it ends though.

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  4. I've read some "I love this story!" reviews and some like yours...which means I need to read this. I wasn't a big fan of the first book either, for the reasons you outlined, but I had higher hopes for this one!

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  5. Omens was a real struggle for me, while as I thought Armstrong hit it out of the park with Visions. I seriously ♥ this book! I was happy that we did get some answers in this installment, and I like the direction in which the author is going in. Gabriel was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! I understand why some readers are frustrated with this series, but personally, I cannot WAIT for the next one.

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    1. Gabriel is what keeps me reading :-)

      Have you read Armstrong's Nadia Stafford series? It's not paranormal (& it's fantastic) but so much of this series follows that one that I find it distracting. The relationships and characters feel like a retread.

      I really wish I liked it more or maybe had more patience with it.

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  6. Sorry this one didn't completely make you forget about the ok 1st book by only being an okay 2nd book

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  7. I'm still going to read this series one day just because I enjoy her writing. Hopefully it will start to get better by the time I can pick it up. At least I will be prepared.

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    1. I think you would like this series more than me so definitely give it a try.

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  8. I'm kicking mself for missing out on Omens when it went on sale. That said, I'm a bit relieved if book 2 is still not stellar. I get why book 1 can be so-so with all the world building and introductions but the sequel should be BETTER right?

    Anyway, I took your rec and will be reading Aguirre's NA this weekend, let's hope I like it. You know we're on the same page when it comes to that genre.

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    1. Almost everyone I know loved this book even if they were a little meh about Omens. So give it a try if you find a deal on bk1

      I hope you like Ann's book. I loved it but I'm seeing that quite a few of my friends didn't. Eep *bites nails*

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  9. Eh...sounds like I'm not missing a whole lot by skipping this band wagon and avoiding another loooong series...

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    1. I don't know how long this one will be. I might be able to stick it out of I knew when it ended.

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  10. So sorry you didn't enjoy it. I did find that interesting you're right there really wasn't much investigating at all in this one.

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  11. So Karen, is it that you don't like mysteries or you don't like boring mysteries? :) I'll admit, I've put down some paranormal mysteries because they get really...out there, but I've heard some good things about this one in particular.

    I'll get it at the library and save myself 30 dollars (gotta read the Omens too!)

    Thanks for your honesty!

    Amber Elise @ Du Livre

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    1. Mysteries in general because I find the detective work - going around questioning everyone - boring lol

      That's why I mentioned it in this review because if you don't mind that you will probably like this book. I just want the paranormal element to be stronger or mixed in better and move along faster.

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