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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Spell Bound (Women of the Otherworld Series #12) by Kelley Armstrong




Publisher's Blurb:   
At last, in the novel every Kelley Armstrong fan will need to own, all the major heroines and heroes of Otherworld are united.
It's been ten years since Bitten, the first novel in Kelley Armstrong's New York Times bestselling Otherworld series. In that time hundreds of thousands of fans have ravenously devoured the adventures of Armstrong's witches, demons, and werewolves. Now, in Spell Bound, she brings them all together for her most sweeping tale yet.
Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she's powerless to help herself. At the heartbreaking conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would prevent further pain for a young orphan. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.
And now, witch-hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell-casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Armstrong gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jamie, Hope, and other beloved characters, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

Review:  Whew!  What a great book.  Fans of Armstrong's novels will not be disappointed, as Spell Bound is churning with deadly plots, a possible deity, a swiftly approaching war and a gathering of characters from Books 1-11.
 The story begins when Savannah's spells are taken from her by a mysterious entity, forcing her to rethink who she is if she has no power, how her powers have defined her relationships, and her new feelings of vulnerability.  At the same time she and Adam are being hunted by witch-hunters, and soon learn of a paranormal uprising in the making.  Turns out the other side is interested in these events, too, as no less than two lord demons contact Savannah.  And the paranormal leaders of the uprising want Savannah on their side, kidnapping her in an attempt to convert her.  As Adam and Savannah gather information from strange and often questionable sources, work with a demon trying to gain political influence, and start to unravel the clues, they don't know who to trust.  Trying to stay alive, figure out what the uprising has planned, and determine who is involved keeps Adam and Savannah running and confused.  As their friends begin to gather in Miami under the safety net of the Cortez Cabal, they race to discover the goal of the uprising and the ulterior goals of the legendary man behind it.
Savannah has grown over several years and books into a great character - strong, brave and smart, yet reckless and immature.  She is realistic, and fascinating, and I feel like I know her.  The insecure little girl who lost both her parents has blossomed into a fierce but still scared woman who has incomparable power.  The constant underlying tension that is caused by her unspoken love for Adam, her partner and friend, is steadily humming throughout this book as well, and their relationship reaches a breaking point.
Armstrong's writing is fast-paced, full of action, humor, danger, fascinating characters, and a beautifully layered plot that is slowly revealed as Adam and Savannah race for answers.  One of Armstrong's many strengths in this series is the consistency of her characters.  Even though they naturally grow and change, they stay true to their personalities, and this continuity in turn creates a believability for the reader.  The characters are the focus of these books.  As the world building and incredible action send the reader on fantastic adventures, the characters always bring us home.  And I think that's why these books still feel fresh and exciting to read, even though Spell Bound is the twelfth in the series.  I can't wait for #13!
Readers new to the Otherworld will enjoy this novel as a standalone, but reading the entire series is well worth it, as previous characters, actions and stories all culminate in the war that begins in this book.


For more information on this fantastic series, check out the author's website at http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/.

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