Omens

Cainsville #1

by Kelley Armstrong

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Adult, Thriller

486 pages, Hardcover

First published August 20, 2013

About the author

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing you should be aware of before starting this book? It isn't what you think. If you've jumped up at the sound of the name Kelley Armstrong and are considering this book as your next adventure into the land of urban fantasy, complete with standard supernatural creatures and romance, you might want to step away and look somewhere else. Less than 5% of this book is paranormal and I think there's a very strong argument to be made that this book isn't paranormal or urban fantasy at all. What this is, more than anything, is a contemporary mystery/thriller with hints at supernatural elements that is engaging and exciting, if approximately 50-70 pages too long. And it probably opens up more questions than it answers but, if I'm honest, I don't even care and I can't wait to find out more from the rest of the series.

No disrespect to the individual reviewers, but I think this book has confirmed what I've long suspected to be true: Kirkus and I are completely incompatible. Our relationship has been on the rocks for a while. It probably started with their negative review of The Spectacular Now, and deteriorated further when Pandemonium and Reached got starred reviews but Froi of the Exiles and Days of Blood & Starlight didn't. And now their review of Omens paints the book as mediocre at best, largely because of the "insufficient material for romance-seekers". Fair enough. But there it is, our incompatibility in black and white. Because I think one of this book's greatest strengths is the lack of romance (though, admittedly not something we'd expect from urban fantasy).

Romance is a spotlight stealer. It just is. Even the most subtle of romantic tales are constantly in our peripheral vision when we're trying to focus on a creepy and clever mystery. So I like that Armstrong keeps the focus very clearly on the mystery in Omens. She tells a story about a woman - Olivia Taylor Jones - who discovers her whole life has been a lie. Olivia's not the daughter of a wealthy Chicago family as she had always believed, but she's actually the adopted daughter of notorious serial killers. The press attention that comes with this revelation threatens to tear her family apart and ruin her relationship with James, her fiance. Forced to flee the glare of the cameras, Olivia is drawn back to the town where she was born. There she discovers secrets that have laid buried for years and she must face the possibility that the truth behind her parent's murdering rampage is far more sinister than anyone imagined.

There is a man in this - Gabriel - who has been set up in a nice position for potential future romancing but I prefer the way Armstrong has handled this. She's given us characters we can care about before she goes the romantic route so, when she does, we're probably going to be salivating for it (or maybe I'm just gross). I don't know how well this will make sense to those of you who haven't read a million bad romance novels, but I love Armstrong's descriptions of men. They're never described as beautiful. Or pretty. Or gorgeous. Their character is built up through showing their personality, rather than telling us how crazy hot they are. It works. It's so much easier to fall in love with a personality than a shiny, 2D pyramid of pretty adjectives. It's the simple old "show don't tell". Don't tell me why I should love them, show me. I'm not quite throwing my knickers across the room just yet, but I can see comparisons being made between Gabriel and Barrons from Moning's Fever series. Which, for me, is a good thing. Armstrong may not have given me romancing and sexytimes but she certainly has my attention.

I really enjoyed the story and the mystery, even though the bigger mystery is really only just beginning in this first installment. One thing brought in which is a personal love of mine is the use of real life events. It always adds an extra dose of believability for me when an author ties the story in with something that actually happened (especially when it's something that I've never heard of!). Not only does it make the story more convincing, it makes it scarier to think it theoretically could happen. And this is a creepy book, anyway.

In short, I'd be happy to recommend this but perhaps not to those expecting the usual from Armstrong. But I liked the characters, including hilarious secondary characters like the crabby old Grace. I liked the mystery. I liked the witty dialogue. The second book just landed on my wishlist.

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uff. I keep forgetting to come back and write a review for this one, and now I'm reading book two which is making my brain hurt trying to separate what happens in each.



How's this? "I really liked this book, so much that I grabbed the second book from my library the moment it came in, because I gotta know what happens next and answer some questions and most likely raise more questions." Why did I wait so long to read these? I love the subtle use of Welsh mythology and the mild vibes of horror infused here. The Cainesville atmosphere is a delicious mix of morose and dreamy, which I AM HERE FOR. Seriously, I weirdly wanted to stay away because YIKES, but also kinda wanted to move in part time? Such a fun read and am looking forward to more!

[Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread 08/03 : Despite my relative disappointment in Deceptions (and déception = disappointment in French, Oh, the IRONY), I'm still super excited about the 4th book coming out next week so I decided to reread them all during my vacations (STARTING NOW WOOT!)

"First you buy me a mocha. Then you let me help you hide a body. Now you take me to a biker clubhouse. Best. Day. Ever."

Wow. Color me surprised : I certainly didn't start Omens with high expectations and yet... It kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the end.



The first thing you need to know is that it is NOT Urban Fantasy by any means. Although I was more than okay with that because UF never was my favorite genre (that's an understatement), the blurb and the shelves can be misleading and you would be disappointed if that's what you expect.

Think... Criminal Minds meets Supernatural. A murder investigation with sparks of paranormal. A mystery that will keep you guessing the whole time, glued to the pages, where you need to pay attention at every omen and even every dream. Just sayin'.

"I sat there, feeling sick and shocked and angry, most of all furious with myself for being such a fool, such a damned fool.
This wasn't a game. It was serious and ugly and I wanted nothing to do with it. And yet, in wanting nothing to do with it, I was a hypocrite."

As for the writing, don't expect purple prose or beautiful sentences here. Yet despite the pretty generic writing, I enjoyed it immensely for what it is : to the point, true. And it works : I genuinely laughed. Smiled. Feared. Freaked out. Ate it up.

If Olivia's POV (in first person past tense) owns the show, the story is interspersed with passages in random people's POV that are told in third person. How unsettling as it sounds, strangely it didn't bother me at all but on the contrary I thought that it added interesting layers to the story.

But what I preferred were, by far, the dialogues. Indeed they were clever and funny in a non show-off way, the kind of private joke funny that doesn't allow me to take a sentence off context and say LOOK AT THIS! THIS IS HILARIOUS! Nope. Yet in context? With all the characters' dynamics background? I laughed. I giggled. At the most random parts.

To sum-up, we have :
An enthralling mystery to resolve ☑
An interesting background filled with fae folklore ☑
Several scenes really creepy ☑
A compelling writing ☑



In my opinion Kelley Armstrong handled her characterization perfectly : quietly, she set her characters in motion and just.... let the reader manage them, scrutinize them. I can't express how much I loved how she let me forge my own opinion without never telling me who they're supposed to be. Indeed she never tells us what to think, and that's brilliant - and so, so rare. Actually it's when we stumble upon books like this one that we realize how often we're told how the characters are in many books : This character is nice. He is hot. She is mean. Not an once of this telling strategy with Omens characters, and I'm so grateful for that.

Both main characters are manipulative and selfish. BEST. FEEL. EVER. Oh, also, their banter is fabulous.

The heroine, Olivia, is relatable, believable, willing to be strong but quite stung by the news, as everyone would be : how would you react if you learnt that you were adopted and that your biological parents were famous serial-killers? Huh? Does she hide behind her soon-to-be-senator fiancé?



She's going to handle it her way, thank you very much. Courageous this one. Frankly, I cared for her from the start. Don't get fooled, though : she's not our perfect little one, faaaaar from it, but she's ready to do anything to unravel the truth and we follow her wanderings like nice puppets. Trust me, Gabriel is right : she does have a backbone, and I loved that.

"You're not shooting the cat. It would leave a mess."
"True. Also, the killing of small animals is the entrance ramp onto the serial killer highway." I paused. "Damn. I bet the cat knows that. He picked me because I can't hurt him, or I'd be fulfilling my biological destiny. So I'm screwed. The cat stays. Unless you'll kill him..." I glanced at him. "How does fifty bucks sound?"

SPOILER ALERT : Don't worry, nobody harms the cat. Yet. (I kid, I kid)

Now, Gabriel.

"My nephew is a manipulative, scheming, unscrupulous son of a bitch. And those are his good qualities."

I'm a sucker for multi-layered and quite untrustworthy characters, that's why it won't come as a surprise that I'm completely drawn to Gabriel's character, and not in a romantic way : here's a man who is fascinating and not because he's a love-interest but because what I saw of his personality (I know! Not eight-packs or other shining things guys always have *in books*) appeals to me and above that, intrigues me. The problem I usually have with controlling - or powerful - male-leads lies with the fact that the heroine spends more time drooling over them than standing for herself : there's no romance here, therefore I can focus on his moral ambiguity without feeling the need to rage - I already said that : more than the characters alone, the characters' dynamics are important to me and influence my reading experience. Let me get to know them first. We'll see about the romance later (maybe).

"He had nothing to feel guilty about. If he knew one thing about life, it was this : look out for yourself. No one else would do it for you."

Gabriel isn't a "good" guy, and I sure don't want him to be. He's bossy, but trust me, Olivia knows how to handle him, and is even more bossy perhaps. To be frank, it pleased me to no end to see her snapping at him and analyzing his behavior. Really, I'm shameless : I loved seeing her destabilize him and push his limits (and I can't wait to see how their relationship will evolve).

To sum-up, we have :
Strong and interesting heroine ☑
Captivating male-lead ☑
Well-developed secondary characters ☑
A cat (yes, that's important, duh) ☑
Awesome dialogues between the characters ☑
Real character development ☑

► Kelley Armstrong offers us a strong debut for Olivia and Gabriel's story : I will definitely recommend it to any reader who loves mystery and good characterization. As far as I'm concerned, I'm off to read the sequel right now.

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

"Omens" that's all this book offers in terms of UF and Paranormal. Remove those and this is a straight forward mystery where our heroine tries to solve murders from two decades earlier. Few murders felt forced, few parts stretched, and Cainsville biggest mystery of all. Still I found it to be a decent mystery and the lead pair likeable enough to read second book to see where this is heading.

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5


Missed the mark. Completely missed it.

Recommended for lovers of detective novels, because that's all this book is.

I feel misled---specifically by the genres under which this book is categorized. I was led into reading this book under false pretenses. It is a far, far stretch to shelve this book as Urban Fantasy or Paranormal when it is more of a mystery with some very forced and frankly, nonsensical attempts at incorporating extremely, extremely minute elements of fantasy that ultimately didn't make a dent of a difference in the overall plot.

This book started off wonderfully, then it just fizzled off into a completely different direction from what had initially attracted me towards it in the first place.

Don't get me wrong, this was not a bad book by any means. The writing, as per Ms. Armstrong's usual style, is great. Succinct, to the point, never overly verbose, never confusing. The characters were well-done, not always likeable, but well-portrayed enough, and it helps that our main character is a highly likeable character. My problem is with this book's promise of an urban fantasy. Of the paranormal. In the author's introduction of the book, she tells us that there are hints scattered throughout the book, and that we're free to do our own investigation as we go along. I didn't need to, the terms sprinkled throughout are common enough so that any average reader of fantasy would know what a piskie, goblin, hobgoblin, bogeyman are. There are Welsh terms sprinkled throughout the book, also of that nature, and easy enough to understand...the problem with the supposed hints is that they go nowhere towards explaining the ultimate mystery of Olivia and what's behind the strange little town of Cainsville.

The book centers around a very privileged young woman, Olivia, who has recently discovered that she is adopted. To make it worse, her biological parents are convicted serial killers. With all the media frenzy surrounding her, and a broken engagement to a very eligible and privileged political scion of an old money family, Olivia picks herself up and runs away from it all. She eventually ends up in the towns of Cainsville, where she meets ambulance-chaser lawyer Gabriel Walsh. The two of them then set out to solve the mystery of her biological parents, and set out to prove their supposed innocence.

A privileged young woman gets uprooted from everything she knows and encounters an asshole in a new city. Sounds like the Fever series, doesn't it? That's where the comparison ends. The world of Fever is filled with dislikeable but highly complex characters within richly imagined, well-built world, fraught with utterly frightening underlying darkness, this book just falls flat in comparison. The characters are likeable, but dull. The ones who aren't likeable, are also dull. We do not get as much of a sense of character development, and there is no world building of the paranormal or the fantasy sort that would keep me mesmerized.

Cainsville is, in short, Dullsville.

I really liked Olivia's character. She is privileged, but she is not a bitch. She is a little sorry for herself and the mold of a the privileged life into which she has been forced to conform, but I never got much of the poor-little-rich-girl-woe-is-me vibe from her. She is an utterly likeable character. Olivia realizes that she is fortunate to live in such a privileged world, with her work helping the addict, she understands how good she's got it, even if she wishes things were different.

I live with my mother in a house bigger than the entire shelter. I have a master’s degree from Yale. I work as a volunteer, and I don’t even need to do that. Do I appreciate it? No. On good days, it chafes, like a dress with a scratchy tag. On bad ones, I feel like a bobcat caught in a trap, ready to gnaw my foot off to escape. Then I look at someone like Cathy, and a wave of guilt and shame stifles the restlessness.

Out of nowhere, Olivia is slammed with the news that she is not who she thinks she is. The media, the paparazzi, have a field day. Her face is plastered all over the news: it's big news, a socialite turns out to be the child of serial killers? That's the stuff that makes the media cream their pants. Her family and her fiancée...pretty much all the people she knows, really, prove themselves to be more or less fair-weather people, and Olivia does a pretty reasonable thing in my opinion. She runs away, she disguises herself; she wants to escape from it all, just for the moment.

As a privileged woman, Olivia has a hard time slumming it, but she struggles through it well enough, she is not a whiner. I really liked that about her. She may not have known what she was getting herself into, but she manages her new situation with gritted teeth, and is even brave enough to confront her nightmares...namely, her parents and their past. Naturally, her mother claims to be innocent, and seeks Olivia's help in proving it.

"Prove us innocent of this crime and the other evidence will be called into question. A house of cards. Pull out one and the rest topples.” She leaned forward. “Can you do that for me, Olivia?"

The rest of the book comprises Olivia and Gabriel working together in the course of their quest to prove her parents' supposed innocense. I enjoyed the way Olivia went through her investigation. She never acts so foolish as to make me cringe, she never deliberately places herself in the line of danger needlessly, and I feel that her behavior was rational, and within the limits of reason.

I also liked the fact that there is no attempts at a grand romance to overwhelm this book. Olivia still has to deal with her fiancée on top of her reluctant involvement with the jackass lawyer, the town swindler, the lawyer-with-a-shady-reputation jackass of an alpha-male that is Gabriel Walsh. But he's no Jericho Barrons. And dare I say it, I think I might prefer Jericho Barrons, the lord who reigns over my list of douchebags.

“I wouldn’t call Gabriel Walsh if I was on fire.” She pursed her lips. “No, I might. To sue everyone responsible---from the person who lit the match to those who made my clothes. But I’d wait until the fire was out. Otherwise, he’d just stand there until I was burned enough for a sizable settlement.”

It is a good book...for a mystery. Because an investigative mystery is all that it is. The investigation is well-portrayed but it feels like the paranormal hype surrounding this book is just hype. There was almost nothing of the paranormal about it. If this book was a mystery, I would have liked it just fine. It promised to be what is was not, and that's ultimately what upsets me most.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld Series….ooh I was really sad when it ended, I was so looking forward to her next offering. And what a start to her new Cainsville Series with the 1st book, Omens.

Amazing………Incredible!!!! What a great beginning!!

Olivia Taylor-Jones, the only daughter of a prominent and affluent Chicago family seems to have seems to have everything anyone wants – she’s well-educated, rich, beautiful and engaged to a man with the right connections and who fits in beautifully in her life. The ultimate perfect life.

Her perfect world comes crashing down when she discovers, in a very shocking manner, that she’ was adopted as a toddler and that her birth parents are serial killers, serving life sentences.
It’s like she’s falling down the rabbit hole – all these weird things start happening to her….leading her to flee to Cainsville, a little sleepy and very strange town an hour away from her home in Chicago.

Strange things happen in Cainsville. Bizarre and strange characters, black cats, ravens and crows appear out of nowhere, gargoyles that pop out suddenly in houses and buildings……….and Olivia suddenly begins seeing and able to read these strange signs and omens surround her.

It’s like she’s meant to be in this little town, which has a strong connection to her birth parents.
She meets up Gabriel Walsh. Now, here’s an interesting character. I just couldn’t “read” him. There’s something about him that just puzzled me throughout the book. He’s connected in a lot of ways to Olivia and not just because he’s her birth mother’s fired lawyer.

All the characters that Olivia meets be it in Chicago or Cainsville seem to have a connection to her and her birth parents. And just when I thought there would be some kind of revelation about the characters, another twist suddenly appears.

There’s this atmosphere of evil and dark things working here………something supernatural...I was so lured into the story that I kept turning page after page wanting to know the answers to the questions that Olivia had.
Who is Gabriel Walsh? Where does his “psychic” aunt fit into the story? What are the town elders hiding?

I was unable to tear myself away from this story…..was that my heart beating faster as I turned the next page to discover something IMPORTANT?

When I reached the last page……….I was still in the dark!!!! What is going on? I want to know now!!!!!!

I was totally freaked out……..I so desperately wanted answers and now have to wait for the next book!!!!!!!

So many mysteries, secrets……..I can’t wait to find out!!!!

I am so happy that I was able to love a new series by this author, whose books I really like a lot.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

“A friend helps you move; a real friend helps you move a body.”



Olivia Taylor Jones is the only daughter of wealthy department store owners and engaged to a man well on his way into a career with politics. When she discovers that she was adopted, and that her real parents are a notorious serial killer due currently in prison, it sends her life into a tailspin. Completely shedding her old life, Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville where she meets her birth mothers appeal lawyer Gabriel. Together they investigate the final murder in order to see if her parents are really innocent.

“A Bad Omen is a warning. A sign to stop and reconsider. Proceed with caution.”

Kelley Armstrong is one of my all time favorite authors. Her Women of the Otherworld series is my all time favorite PNR series and I'll read anything this woman writes. Omens is a little different from her usual genre. I would classify it as a mystery with paranormal elements and has potential for romance in the next installments of the series. This is not a paranormal romance novel in the strictest sense.

I really enjoyed this book, despite a very slow pacing there was not one moment when I was bored. Normally when books are slower I end up quitting but I was enthralled throughout the entire book. It's not my favorite book by this author but I can feel that it has set up a lot for future books in the series. This book was like the tip of the iceberg and there is much more to come.

So if you like mysteries with strange elements, this is for you. And I'm crossing my fingers for more romance in the next book.

“The hounds will come to Cainsville and when they do, you'll wish you made a very different choice today.”

[Jonetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story started off really interesting when Olivia Taylor Jones learns at the age of 24 that she was adopted. Her biological parents are notorious serial killers who've been in prison the last twenty years. Olivia's world falls apart as she struggles with her new identity and new " gifts" begin to emerge.

After a strong start, the story just settled into a rather dull, convoluted journey as Olivia tries to determine whether her parents were actually guilty of the last murders that got them convicted. She's working with her mother's former attorney, Gabriel Walsh, who is quite an enigma. Still not sure what to make of him.

I'm also not sure what this book wanted to be. At times there were paranormal and mythical elements in play and at others, just ordinary sets of events that just didn't really lead anywhere relevant. I never really connected with either Olivia or Gabriel but did find the mysterious town of Cainesville intriguing and wished more attention had been devoted to that angle. Olivia's decisions regarding her fiancé and adopted family just defied credulity so I never really bought into the direction her life took once she learned of her true parentage.

Two narrators were used here, one for Olivia's point of view and the other for everyone else. It was helpful in recognizing whenever there was a change of voice.

The resolution of the murders was also a bit of a stretch. I'm not sure where this story goes from here but I think I'm calling it quits. This just wasn't my cuppa.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was about to sit down when I stopped. Someone was watching me. I could feel it, the hairs on the back of my neck rising. I glanced slowly over my shoulder and -

There was a dog beyond the park fence. Standing in the shadows. A massive dog, the size of a small pony, with thick curling black fur and eyes -

Red eyes.

This book was surprisingly good. You have to wait and give it a chance to get to "good." When I started this, I was like, "Eh. Meh." But by the end I was spinning all these theories (this is the first in a trilogy) and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. If you're anything like me, you might find this slow to warm up, but I think overall it was satisfying.

Olivia Taylor-Jones is a wealthy 24-year-old from a prestigious family. The kind of woman who volunteers but has never worked a day in her life. The kind of woman who is engaged to a potential senator. But one day everything changes when Olivia finds out she was adopted. She's really Eden, the daughter of the husband-and-wife serial killers Pamela and Todd Larsen, who murdered 4 couples (8 people) ritualistically.

Her life turned on its head, Olivia/Eden flees Chicago and takes up residence in a small town named Cainsville. There, she works as a waitress and investigates the possibility that her parents were innocent.
...

SUPERNATURAL
This is actually my first Kelley Armstrong book. So I didn't go into it with any expectations. However, a lot of people who were expecting her usually paranormal stuff were sorely disappointed. This book DOES have supernatural elements. Just subtle ones, the barest whispering of a suggestion. It's 85% murder mystery, 10% romance, and 5% supernatural. You can determine for yourself whether this is something you'd enjoy or not.

WRITING STYLE
The reason that this book started out as "Eh. Meh." is that Armstrong really has no writing style. She certainly doesn't do "prose." Nor does she use the kind of awesome bare-bones approach of Robert B. Parker or Karin Fossum. It's a completely "meh" writing style. But the storyline, plot, and unfolding events make the story worth reading, in my opinion.

MEN
There are three love interests in the book. THREE. What do you call this? A love square? Anyway, all of the men are TERRIBLE. I wouldn't date a single one of them. Not a single one. Olivia/Eden has horrid taste in men, in my opinion. We have

1.) James. Potential senator. Really I could just stop here. A politician?!?!? Really? Really!?!?! Ick. And he fits the description, man. I mean, when he meets Olivia/Eden, he has a girlfriend. And he's kind of feeling things out with Olivia. For months. While having a girlfriend. Then he just asks her, point blank,

When I hadn't given him the signs he was hoping for - I don't flirt with unavailable guys - he'd finally asked point-blank. If Eva wasn't in the picture, would I go to Paris with him.

Instead of telling him to go to hell, like I would've done, she dates him and ends up engaged to him. When the stuff hits the fan, he proves himself to be a spineless, incompetent, career-first-loyalty-second scumsucker. We're not counting him out though - he's still in the running, here.

2.) Gabriel. What a piece of work. This guy is a manipulative, conniving, money-grubbing, amoral, self-serving, lying, deceitful, traitorous asshole. Needless to say, this is the strongest love interest and the one I think Olivia/Eden will end up with. Why? It's not a spoiler, I don't actually know, but Armstrong has given him two (TWO) POV chapters in this book. So...

"Oh, you're being so hard on Gabriel! He had it rough growing up, blah blah blah!" Guess what? I don't give a care. So he had a horrible childhood. Tough. No, honestly, I feel sorry for him. But not enough to excuse him for being a snake-in-the-grass, self-serving, lying son-of-a-gun. Piece of shit.

"Oh, but Olivia/Eden can take it! She goes head-to-head with him! She doesn't take any of his shit!" I agree. She refuses to take any of his shit and it is BRILLIANT. Seriously loved seeing a smart, well-equipped heroine who can dish it right back to the asshole love interest and match him step for step. Loved this aspect of the book. But as for his "love interest" quality, it's still zero. Who wants a man you can never trust? Who is lying to you constantly, sometimes just for fun? Who, when you catch him in his current lies/deceit/manipulative game you have to curb him and punish him? I'm not into games. And I'm definitely not into having a backstabbing boyfriend who I have to curb and train and punish as if he's a dog and not a man. NO THANK YOU. If Olivia/Eden had any sense, she'd stay the heck away from THAT mess, but... "Oh, he's just so DREAMY!" Sigh.

3.) Ricky. Son of a motorcycle club leader (kingpin? don?). Deals drugs, possible kills people... I don't know. Into the rough stuff (I don't mean sex!). He seems tickled pink with Olivia/Eden, but she's not sure she wants to dive into his filthy world.
...

See what I mean? Not a single man I'd go on even one date with.

If you are worried about the romance... don't be. It is extremely subtle and well done. There is ONLY flirting and speculating in this novel. Nothing more. It's obviously going to be fleshed out as the series progresses. Again, NO sexual content here. No one even gets kissed.
...

MYSTERY
The mystery was engaging. I wouldn't say it was an epic work of art, but it was good, kept me interested, and kept me guessing.

I loved the little things that were dropped that might be explained later. For instance, is Eden/Olivia a changeling in more ways than one? Did the real birth daughter of the Larsens have spina bifida (as is revealed in this book) and they switched their baby with a fairy child? That would be an AWESOME plot point.

I love being on pins and needles with this stuff. It draws me into the next book and keeps me theorizing. However, I DON'T appreciate other types of dangling threads. One thing that pissed me off in this book was that we never deal with the fact that Gabriel has betrayed Olivia/Eden by agreeing to work for slimeball James. We NEVER see what happens with this and it is not resolved in this book. I wish it would have been. I really needed that to come to a head. I know Armstrong is using it as impetus for people to read her next book, but I wanted that resolved. Unlike the more distant, supernatural threads, this was immediate and urgent and needed solving.
...

CHARACTERS
The characters were satisfying. They weren't AMAZING, but they were good and had personalities and were well developed.
...

Tl;dr - It's worth reading if you can get through the beginning and learn to ignore Armstrong's non-style of writing. The plot is solid and rewarding. The love interests are crap.

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omen is very much the first in its series, it is also very much a Kelley Armstrong book. Not to say it's anything like her other work as it's actually quite different, but in terms of wonderfully crafted characters, a world you can see yourself walk the grounds of, and an all-around compelling story, its got the Kelley signature on every page. This is what I've come to expect of her novels, and Omens was not an exception.

Omens tells the story of a young woman with a seemingly perfect life; wealthy, career-driven, intelligent, about to marry a man with an important political career ahead. She had an incredible life ahead of her. Then she - along with the whole world - finds out who her real parents are: two of the most notorious serial killers. Let's just say this changes things. Running from greedy, violent media, she tries to start a new minimalistic life in a very small and quaint town called Cainsville. Don't get into this book thinking it's your average urban fantasy or paranormal romance novel. While there are hints of this story having a bigger paranormal aspect that there is so far, this first installment is made up mostly of a murder mystery where Olivia is trying to find out if her parents really are guilty of the crimes they say they never committed. As for the romance side of things, don't expect a lot of this on your plate either. Some may be disappointed, but I found it was rather refreshing to not have a romantic subplot take over the spotlight. Although, it's not completely free of romance: When our protagonist starts working with an obstinate lawyer with a rumor-filled reputation, the two merely endure each other for their own benefit, but soon enough Olivia's sexual frustration is starting to show its head.

On that note I loved how certain and confident this woman is, on top of being determined and capable. Olivia is an incredibly easy character to root for. One who thinks for herself and doesn't take any bullshit. Told steadily in a natural, though not uneventful, pace, Kelley takes special care in developing every single character; from her protagonist to the the townsfolk and the smallest of secondary roles - even a darn cat who's especially quirky - everyone leaves a lasting impression with their genuine and distinct personalities.

Meanwhile, puzzle pieces are dropped along with hints of paranormal that keeps us on our toes. The mystery is what takes center stage in Omens. We have the obvious: the murders. But we also have hidden secrets surrounding the town, their residents, the gargoyles, even this damn cat again. Then there's Olivia's strange ability to see and interpret omens, her lawyer's past, the several small but obviously important side characters who give us a glimpse at their perspectives. Everything interconnects into this vastly intriguing puzzle. Like I said at the beginning, though, Omens is very much the first book in a series. We do get some answers as a small part of the murder mystery is resolved, but for every answer we get, more questions arise. We also don't go very deep into the paranormal aspect of the mystery. I was bummed to not learn more about Cainsville in particular, but I know that it will be worth the wait a Kelley has not disappointed me yet!

Original, full of personality, and vividly descriptive, Omens reinforces my fondness of Kelley Armstrong's stories. It's a slow building mystery that leaves you questioning everybody and everything, with a relentless sense of unease throughout.

--
A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Tatiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but I can't find any magic in Armstrong's stories any more - where is the excitement, passion, humor? "Omens" felt like a novel written by an old lady. It was a chore to get through.

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a checklist for what I think makes for a super duper awesome book

1. It's original, different from what you usually read. And a bit of creepyness doesn't hurt anyone
2. It has a strong plot
3. Good relationship development
4. Strong lead who knows what their priorities are and doesn't spend the whole time fantasising about the potential love interest while pretending to have a strong dislike for that person
5. If there is a love interest, he/she isn't one dimensional. (In case its a dude, please.. no broody tortured bad boys.)
6. Makes me incredibly hyper (due to it's awesomeness)

I am pretty sure my list could be longer than that but this book hit every single one of those points and more.

I feel like I can finally breathe again. The paranormal genre and I share a love/hate relationship. It's always been hard to dig out the gems in this genre and you always end up being more disappointed than anything else. For the past two months, I just haven't read anything that blew my mind like this book did and it's such a relief because it fills me with hope. Hope that even with all the books out there that fail to do anything for me, there will be some like this one that drive me mad with excitement.

The paranormal concept was so different from what I've read before. Omens. Superstitions. I am not superstitious person so most of the omens were new to me but superstitions have always interested me, so this book was right up my alley. This book doesn't focus too much on the paranormal side though what with the trying to solve a murder case but I am sure we are going to get more about that in the future installments.

The main character Liv made me so happy. She is the kind of female lead all that all the others should look up to and LEARN from. She isn't easily influenced and believes herself more than anybody else. She does have a little pride but that doesn't stop her from asking (or rather using) someone for help.

Gabriel is one of the other main characters and a potential love interest. And let me just say, I AM LOVING THIS GUY! (I was going to say I am loving it but that reminded me of McDonalds and I am kind of hungry right now). He is a sleazy lawyer who is honest. He had a hard childhood which taught him not to care for people. He however, unlike all those other cliches out there, doesn't take it out on the world. For him, everyone is the center of their own universe so he thinks everyone is just as selfish as him. He is a very interesting character to say the least.

As for their relationship, it's really fun to see how they play each other. The sparks are obviously there but not in the tons of sexual tension kind of way, more like the, they complement each other type of way. Neither of them are drooling over the other. They find each other interesting so they 'observe' each other. It's actually really interesting to see how they go from being acquaintances to almost friends.

As for the plot itself. It was one hell of a ride. There are so many things going on, so many questions to be answered. It was very lively.

I honestly believe this is the best Kelley Armstrong book I've read, although Elena and Clayton remain my favorite couple. She has out done herself with this book and I really can not wait to get my next Cainsville fix.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omens is a multi-layered well-written story with a great set of characters and I really enjoyed the mix of supernatural and mystery in it.
Olivia is a great, gutsy character and I'm really intrigued to see how things turn out for her in the future. I also want to find out more about Gabriel. He's an interesting character with a lot of secrets. Hopefully we get to learn more about him in the next book.
And what about Cainsville? What secrets does this place hide? I definitely want to know more!
Omens is a great introduction to a new series and I can't wait to read the next book.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the novella Lost Souls a while back and loved it. Since I never read any of the Cainsville books before I Lost Souls was I eager to get my hands on the first book in the series (and the second and third).

As a big fan of urban fantasy was I curious to see how this series would turn out. Luckily the first book is really good and it was great to get the backstory for the characters in Lost Souls.

Olivia has it all, that's until it's revealed that she was adopted as a child and that her real parents are serial killers. Now, her mother can't stand her, her fiance is (or mostly his mother) hesitant about marrying her and the press is after her. She needs a job and somewhere safe to go. And, through weird events does she learn of a town called Cainsville...

Omens is a great book. I love the mix of paranormal and crime and Olvia is a very likable character. Cainsville intrigues me, you can really feel that the town is hiding things. That it looks normal on the surface, but underneath ... well, there is definitely something weird about the town and the ones living there. Then, there is Gabriel. Olivia doesn't know what she will make of him, he used to be her real mother's lawyer, but now there is bad blood between them. Now he wants to help her, well for a price of course.

Omens is just the kind of book I love to read. I love weird little towns in the middle of nowhere and Cainsville is just the kind of town that I just know have a lot of secrets. The first book managed very well to introduce the characters. I'm curious to learn more about Olivia, her parents, Gabriel etc. If you like urban fantasy will you love this book!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes when you're in a bit of a mood, only a certain type of book will do. I didn't really know what I was looking for, but, undoubtedly, this was it.

I've read most of Kelley Armstrong's stuff but I was pleased to high heaven that this book escaped the UF/PNR labels that she usually goes for. I knew I would get a decent storyline and characters, but I thought they would be overwhelmed by the romance. Instead, I got a thriller with a foundation of paranormal and a hint of romance. For me, the perfect blend to while away the hours and just enjoy myself. It's easy to read, has tantalising hints of deeper mysteries, snappy interaction, interesting people, a cat, gargoyles, ravens, action, death, and an all American diner. Colour me happy.

[Ferdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoilers

-Really enjoyed it. I think I liked this more than Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. It was nothing groundbreaking, but everything just worked for me — the plot, the writing, the worldbuilding and the characters all kept me hooked.

-Olivia was likeable enough. It was nice reading a heroine who handled the craziness in her life without getting hysterical or annoyingly self pitying. Instead she used the rubbish thrown at her to her own advantage by leaving her privileged home and working on all the weak and unsatisfying points in her life. I was expecting her to moan and whine about finding out she was adopted, and that her biological parents were serial killers, but she didn't at all, she just got on with things.
I was annoyed with how she let her adopted mum and fiancee treat her. Her mum raised her and her fiancee knew her for years yet they both looked at her differently when they found out about her serial killer parents. She should have told the fuckers to fuck off.
I hope Olivia doesn't take her slimy, selfish, cowardly fiancee back — it was obvious that he only cared about his image and political career. He didn't give a fuck about what Olivia was going through, I'm sure he'll pop up in the next book and cause trouble. The bastard.

-The supernatural aspect was pretty good, I expected it to play a major role throughout the book but it was in the background for the most part. I'm intrigued about Olivia's powers and how they tie in with Cainsville - so Olivia sees omens? Did she inherit that from her mum? Does her mum have powers? Does she know about Cainsville? What about the superstitious side of Olivia's powers? Are the people of Cainsville fae? What was up with Olivia's cat? And that coffee shop guy? Does Gabriel have powers too?

-Gabriel was a decent character, he wasn't overly typical or cliched. I liked how obsessed he was with money, most rich love interests tend to throw their money about but Gabriel was a tight, greedy git — which I found more realistic than the usual overly generous hero. It's obvious that Gabriel and Olivia will eventually get it on — they were well suited for each other, I'm glad there was no insta-love or attraction between them. Olivia's trust fund better not play a part in Gabriel's feelings towards her.
I was pissed that Gabriel agreed to work for Olivia's fiancee just so he could earn a bit more money. He should have had more loyalty towards her, at least he came to his senses at the end and told her fiancee to piss off. It was dumb of Gabriel not to tell Olivia that he betrayed her - I expect Olivia to find out as soon as they get it on… And then there'll be the usual lame apology and they'll be jumping each other again.
I thought it was sweet of Gabriel to offer Olivia a job at the end, they made a good team. I'm guessing they'll try to clear Olivia's parents of the other murders they were accused of.

-I didn't buy the whole media frenzy surrounding Olivia. Big deal her biological parents were serial killers. Olivia was adopted and had a whole other life, I doubt she would be hounded and reviled so much from the media and public. There's loads of people who are relatives of murderers, and they're not chased after by the media. I would have expected some paparazzi/reporters but not to the extent Olivia got.

-Olivia's meeting with Pamela was quite lovely. Pamela was far better than Olivia's adopted mum, she actually cared about Olivia instead of herself. I was disappointed that Olivia didn't get to meet her dad - I'm guessing that reunion will happen later on. I really want Olivia to clear her parents name - I hope there's no twist that one of her parents turns out to be the killer, I want to see the three of them as a family again.

-Olivia's adopted mum was such a cow. Instead of comforting her daughter after finding out she was adopted and that her parents were serial killers, the silly cow only cared about her own pathetic feelings. What an awful mother. Olivia should have told her what a rubbish mum she was.

-There were no decent young female characters, they were all portrayed as desperate or bitchy or slutty.

-There were a few POV's that seemed utterly pointless. Maybe they'll make more sense in the second book.

All in all, an entertaining read. I'll definitely be checking out the next book.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: 12 Aug 13 (audiobook)

To get ready for Visions, I had to do a reread - or in this case, a listen. First off, I think they messed up with the narrators. The woman who did Olivia's voice had an older, higher sound that was inconsistent from the beginning of each chapter until she settled into the narrative. Only to get her high voice again at the start of each chapter. It was a little grating. The second narrator - who did all the third person chapters - had a much more sultry sound, thus exaggerating the difference as soon as Olivia started talking again.

I still enjoyed the story immensely - paying more attention to the omens and the CIA stuff this time around. It holds up well on the reread and I can't wait until 19 Aug!


Original read: 1 Jul 13 (ARC)
** I received this ARC from a friend who entered a drawing run by the author.

I don't know about the rest of KA's fans, but when she announced that The Otherworld was ending, I was very disappointed. No more Elena, Jeremy and Lucas? No potential story about Derek joining the pack? Argh!

But KA isn't your typical paranormal writer. Her Otherworld series didn't follow the same sort of pattern as Kim Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, or Charlaine Harris' single protagonist series. There were many voices, romances, and even mature relationships to follow as the story progressed - so we knew that she could write more than one POV.

In OMENS, even less of the world is known and understood than we got in Bitten. Olivia Taylor-Jones is a 24 year old heiress in Chicago, engaged to James Morgan, childhood friend, son of a former US Senator, with the promise to be groomed to take his own seat. All of that falls apart when Olivia is confronted by reporters with the news that she is not only adopted into her fortune, but her biological parents were notorious serial killers.

Olivia's omens were as much fun to read as KA professed to writing. That aspect seems so different than a lot of the genre available, barely skirting the lines of the supernatural, making it more believable, and at times, darker. I think this will be one of the books I have to read a couple times to catch all the Easter eggs... or maybe in this case, gargoyles.

One thing that I really like about KA's leading men is that they are so different from most "romance" heroes. OMENS doesn't disappoint (other than the lack of consummation). Gabriel Walsh is a mix of Clay, Jack, Derek and Lucas. Laconic, brilliant, overly protective, aloof. I wish that the slow burn of their romance would heat up a little faster, but there's no guarantee that KA is going to take Olivia/Gabriel in that direction (although, how could she not??). I kept having flashes to the Nadia series - when Nadia hooks up with not-Jack (what was his name again??)and I kept screaming at the book... If Olivia hooks up with Nicky first... *sigh*

I'm not sure I totally bought all the CIA conspiracy stuff, but it did make for a tense scene at the end - and I really liked Olivia and Gabriel's interaction and how self-possessed Olivia was at that point.

Actually, Olivia's personality was a little abrasive at first - too accustomed to her station in life, to her toys and clothes and status. But, whereas Gabriel didn't really buy into her smelly apartment and diner job, I admired her for it - even if she had a multi-million dollar trust fund to catch her if she really fell. Her background also made her better able to handle Gabriel, and he needs someone who can handle his forceful, in control demeanor.


KA suggests that some of the terms and foreign words and phrases can be googled, but I think I'll let some of the mystery ride. I'm very excited to see what else Cainsville has in store.

The one problem with ARCs... is that now I have more than a year to wait for the next installment. :) It was really good, and a lot of fun.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! I found it so intriguing, trying to work out what on Earth was going on. It raised far more questions than it answered, and I’m very keen to read on in the series. What kind of a place is Cainsville? Who are the elders? What are the hounds and who will send them? Are Olivia/Eden’s parents guilty? Will mind control be a bigger part of the story? I wish I’d grown up in a place with gargoyle hunts!

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

"A friend helps you move; A real friend helps you move a body."

This was GOOD. Very, very good. I loved it.
I'm a huge fan of KA. Her style of writing is so addictive. She doesn't use flowery prose, doesn't stick to overdone cliches and isn't heavy on the descriptions. What she excels at is writing engaging and maddeningly engrossing plots. Before you know it, you're hooked and completely lost in the intelligence of it all.
From her Otherworld series, the Nadia Stafford series, the City of The Lost series...she's an incredible author, and it continues with this book.

I loved the premise: Olivia, an Ivy League educated, wealthy and beautiful young woman, engaged to a successful man with political prospects, finds out her whole life has been a sham. She's not the daughter of prestigious, well off parents with influence...she's the child of serial killers convicted of eight murders. That revelation would stress out the strongest of individuals.

I can't just sum up this book with a brief paragraph. There are so many things going on here, so many interesting characters. There's a place called Cainsville, just outside Chicago, that Olivia eventually calls home. This town is deeply immersed in mystery and strange occurrences. As a reader, you know this book is only piercing the tip of an iceberg that is Cainsville and its inhabitants.
With Gabriel Walsh, her convicted mothers ex-lawyer guiding her, Olivia soon embarks on a twisting road to find the truth behind her parents supposed murder spree. I loved how smart and quick Olivia was despite her shitty situation. Between her new found ability to see signs and interpret omens, her shamed and tainted upbringing, the plethora of questions surrounding her parents conviction, a fiancée that needs a punch to the head and Gabriel, Olivia needs a break.

I loved seeing the slow development of Olivia's and Gabriel's friendship. At first, Gabriel seems cold and aloof, lacking feelings and morals. But as the book moves on, we see a different side to him and a blossoming of trust between him and Olivia.
There is no romance here, per se, but I think there is definitely the promise of one. There is a large amount of suspense, magic and folklore, though. It was hard to put this down and coming in just under 500 pages, that says a lot. Then again, it's KA.

I'm loving the start to this series and have already requested Visions, book two, from my library.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omens was probably my most anticipated read this fall simply because being familiar with Armstrong's writing I just knew I would get something perfect for not only the season but for the paranormal lover inside of me.

Well written, mysterious, and with characters you can't help but love, I completely devoured this read. It left me wondering, full of questions, and eager to begin the next installment. In short, I was completely hooked.

Imaginative writing, a memorable setting, a mystery that will keep you on your toes, and a town filled with the unusual and unexplained that is bound to have you pondering the story long after you put it down, this truly was everything I have come to not only expect from Armstrong, but what I was hoping for as well.

I can't wait to jump right into book two and hope some of the mystery is further explored and answered.

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently this is going to be my summer for Urban Fantasy. Having never really dabbled in this genre before, with the exception of the Master, Stephen King, I am finding it interesting, enlightening and just FUN.

Omens is the beginning of a new series for Kelley Armstrong and you can tell throughout that there is a lot of backstory that is being laid down and ultimately a lot of loose ends that are left dangling so that you will keep reading - and I will!

Briefly, Liv Taylor-Jones was raised as a society heir in Chicago, engaged to be married to a future politician and continue living the well-groomed 1% life. Things changed abruptly when it was revealed that she was 1. adopted 2. never told that she was adopted 3. the child of married serial killers. Well, yeah, that'll transform the 1% society fairly quickly. Running quickly away from the tabloids, etc., she ended up in the town of Cainsville - not by accident, we learn. This is a town filled with secrets and mystery and folklore and OMENS. As Liv attempts to prove her "real" parents' innocence, with the help blue eyed, cold-hearted hottie Gabriel Walsh, Liv discovers that she has a few special talents of her own to help her along the way.

The characters are well developed and truly fun - smart, witting and bitingly rude in a charming sort of way. The plot was good and believable for fantasy. There are some .... wobbles... at times but Armstrong is a good writer and overall I truly enjoyed the book - read it one day! I'm off to read the second in the series now.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread 11/16/14 - 3.5 stars:

After reading the prequel, The Screams of Dragons , I decided to reread Omens before finally tackling Visions, and I'm really glad that I did.

The background I gained from the prequel, combined with the cumulative knowledge I had from reading this the first time, made for a MUCH better second read.

The characters were more likable once I wasn't totally focused on trying to figure out WTH? was going on. I still thought the main mystery was kind of silly Mind control? Really? Pfft., but the background, which seems to be mostly based on the medieval collection of Welsh stories, The Mabinogion, was interesting enough to hold my attention, and Gabriel Walsh, whom I originally referred to as "a lesser Jericho Barrons" was . . . well, let's just say I liked him. A LOT.

Heading into book 2 with much higher expectations.

Original Review:

I was kind of disappointed by this book. It had the potential to be great. The series still has the potential to be great, but this first book kind of fell flat for me. I never really connected with any of the characters, main or secondary. I think I may have actually liked the stray cat more than anyone else.

Maybe it's not fair to hold new characters in a new series to standards that were developed in a different series, but when I read Bitten for the first time I was instantly smitten with Elena and Clay. That being said, I was never quite as in love with Paige and Lucas, but even so, I still liked them more than Olivia and Gabriel. They were missing that essential spark. Gabriel even came across as a lesser Jericho Barrons.

Plotwise it was convoluted. I love Fae-focused stories and I have enough Kelley Armstrong-love not to just throw in the towel, so I will definitely read the next book. I might just wait for it to come out in paperback . . .

[♥Rachel♥]

DNF @50%
I just figured out there is a love triangle in the coming books, which is still going strong with no resolution in book four. Not going to invest my time in a series when I know that will completely frustrate me.

[Karina Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread Dec 2018:
Just as much fun as the first time. I really love this series.

First read Apr 2018:
Loved this!!

[Susana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars



As sure as the sun eventually rises, I knew that I would read this book one of these days.
When?
Not sure, but I would get to it. After all, it was written by one of my favourite authors.

Strangely _or maybe nor_, it was while I was reading Kelley Armstrong's anthology "Led Astray" that I saw what I was missing out on not having started this series way sooner...although, now, I have the benefit of being able to read three books all in one row. Ahah! :D

So, let's start by calling things by their actual names. Is this an urban fantasy dash paranormal romance novel?
Humm, not really. In fact, if I hadn't read Led Astray that shone some light on what is happening in Cainsville, I would probably be suffering from "what the hell is going in here, people?"

This means that in the end I read this as your "basic" psychological suspense thriller with bits of the odd thrown in, once in awhile.

I love it that the author knows how to keep a story flowing. You don't have to give the reader an info dump once every minute, if you just knew how to do things. And the author sure knows how to.
That way, I was finally able to finish a story in a little over one day: huge thing for me, guys.

Also, I remember that I went to sleep thinking about what was going to happen in the story.
It got me invested in it. What more can I ask?

The characters, as usual, are well developed and interesting. I liked how in this one, they feel more raw. I liked how there wasn't the typical and immediate romance... between certain characters...

Having read "Led Astray" I was really curious about Gabriel and Patrick, so it was "nice" to seem them once again. As well as all the other folks in Cainville.
Definitely recommended to all of you who like a good mystery and who like to be kept on the edge of their seat.

On to the second one! :D

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man. Good good. Real good book. Armstrong knows how to write a series... not just a book. I'm so invested and I've learned... well, nothing. There's so much more I want.

Fuck you, Gabriel! I want to slap you and then kiss you.
Olivia, while at times is annoying, I usually find incredibly lovable and sweet. She's smart and fun as the main character.

Everything in this book works. Everything. Is this really even a romance? There's almost no romance to it. I'm left so damn curious. I don't think I've ever read an Armstrong book I didn't like. Her books are like crack that I was obsessed with all throughout college and after.

Great start to the series. Will buy the rest.

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I doubt there is anything like discovering a book that, after a slow and disappointing start, finally hits its stride - and marvelously so. Armstrong's latest novel may not have the most gripping of beginnings, and I suspect a solid fifty pages could easily be cut off, but after roughly a fifth of the story, it truly takes off. Ever since I read Armstrong's DARKEST POWERS trilogy when it first released, I've been a die-hard fan of the author. I tried my hand at her other adult series, but was sadly unimpressed by BITTEN. In OMENS, though, it seems I've finally found another promising series from her.

Unlike most of Armstrong's novels, OMENS reads more like a murder mystery than a paranormal story. Olivia Taylor-Jones lives a rich and privileged life, until, that is, she discovers she's adopted and her real parents are Todd and Pamela Larson, notorious serial killers. Thus, fleeing her past and desperate for answers, Olivia turns to Cainsville and begins seeking the truth about the ritualistic murders her parents committed. With the help of Gabriel Walsh, a cunning lawyer, Olivia begins to investigate whether her parents continued claim of innocence is really true. If only superstitions and mysterious omens would stop following her wherever she went...

It is clear that Armstrong wanted to try her hand at a new type of paranormal/occult brand, one that didn't involve shapeshifters. While there are plenty of superstitions and ominous portents in this novel, I appreciate that they are toned down. Of preceding importance is the case against Olivia's parents and her own investigations to see whether or not they murdered all eight of the people they were charged with. One of the strengths of this mystery is that it is impossible to know whether or not these people are truly murderers. Of course Olivia hopes they're not, but the evidence against them is so overwhelming that we're kept guessing till the very end. And even then, there are so many unanswered questions - ones I am clamoring to find answers to in the sequel. Furthermore, though the novel is told primarily from Olivia's first-person perspective, the reader is given glimpses of multiple third-person perspectives that crop up and only add to the chilling element of the storyline. At first, I was increasingly confused by these but I grew to anticipate the insight they'd provide as the novel wore on.

Yet, OMENS shines because of its narrator, Olivia herself. As the daughter of two notorious serial killers, Olivia cannot help but wonder what truly wins out - nature or nurture? In OMENS, Olivia investigates more than just her parents murders - she investigates herself. From the beginning itself, Olivia is plucky, independent, and strong. Although she's engage, she doesn't hesitate to make it clear that her future plans are just as important as his. And later, when that engagement breaks off - along with many other relationships - Olivia doesn't hesitate to find her own two feet, move, get a job, and make a new life. Moreover, she slowly comes to accept that along with being prim and proper Olivia Taylor-Jones, she's also superstitious Eden Larson as well. I found that Olivia's growth was well-paced and gradual, something I loved because there is still so much room for her to change in a realistic manner.

Nevertheless, my favorite character in this story has to be Gabriel. A ruthless lawyer and closed-off individual, at first glance Gabriel seems to be nothing more than a ticket for Olivia to use. After all, she's not attracted to large and muscular men like him, and especially not ones who are used to getting their way...right? OMENS brilliantly sets up a relationship between these two, though, and as they become business associates and then business partners and possibly even unlikely friends, the sexual tension between them only starts to simmer. I am a total sucker for a slow-burn romance and this one has all the necessary - and delicious blue-eyed - components. Gabriel is complex enough to stand as a formidable character on his own, though. We've only peeled back a few layers of him in this installment, but it's enough to keep our interest piqued. More than anything else, I suspect I'm looking forward to reading more about this hunky lawyer in the books to come than anything else.

OMENS was, ultimately, a pleasant surprise. Armstrong has crafted a brilliant mystery plot line and an even more remarkable overarching storyline with plenty of clues to keep readers thirsty for more. With strong characters added to the mix and an intriguing small town, full of their own quirks and superstitions, it's safe to say that I will be lining up to have the next book in my hands - and soon! Welcome to Cainsville...indeed!

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Goodreads's code, which I follow, two stars means "It was okay." It's the neutral rating, and I use it also when what I like in a book (three stars: "I liked it") is balanced by what I don't like (one star: "I hated it"). This is admittedly an odd rating to give this book, the first book in Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series, when it's made me so eager to read the second book. Granted, lots of people tell me the second book, Visions, is much better, but also the last quarter of the present book reaches a much higher level, and I don't want to stop now that we've finally got something going!

I should start, though, with what was very disappointing to me, and I gather to quite a few other readers too. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Armstrong's Otherworld books, I heard that her fictional town of Cainsville, Illinois was cast in a similar mold, a safe haven for people who had a connection to the supernatural. In this first book of the series, though, the supernatural (or paranormal) is presented in the manner of a horror novel, in infrequent little hints that never yield a connected, coherent picture. One star for world building.

There is no supernatural or paranormal element at all in at least 90% of this story, most of which is narrated in first person by its main character, Olivia Taylor-Jones. Her account is interrupted again and again by short chapters written in close third person from various other characters' points of view; some of them insert a paranormal note in a creepy way, and others simply give mundane information that Olivia doesn't know about. This disruptive writing technique rarely works well, but much of this tale hinges on it. Are these little breaks a necessary evil?

The pace is quite slow through much of the book, and most of the main plot points come late and far apart. Then, around the three-quarter point, the story tightens up, suspense builds, and we head into a violent climax that resolves Olivia's immediate pursuit and leaves a larger issue open for the sequel. I really liked the last quarter of this book (Goodreads code: four stars), and I'm very glad I made it through.

The physical setting works fairly well. Cainsville (population 1600) is about an hour's drive from Chicago, where both wealthy and run-down neighborhoods are described vividly. Action goes back and forth between the tiny town and the big city.

As the blurb (reprinted above) signals, Olivia, age 24 and due to come into her trust fund at 25, gets a set of shocks all at once: she's really adopted, her biological parents are serving life sentences for eight murders, and she's plunged into a media frenzy, so she tries to disappear. Chance encounters along the way lead her to Cainsville, but those disruptive little chapters tell us it's not chance; as one Cainsvillian puts it, she arrives "ahead of schedule." Hmm? Never explained.

Although the characters are well developed and the writing style is clear and straightforward, I felt some distance from Olivia and, well, both admiration and repugnance when it comes to the second main player, lawyer Gabriel Walsh. I did admire Olivia's strength of character, her courage, and her ability to keep Gabriel in his place. Some of her motivation, though, didn't ring true to me. Gabriel's aunt Rose, the Cainsville psychic reader, was lots of fun, as was Olivia's landlady in Cainsville, cranky old Grace.

Olivia's special gift, which made her a "useful addition" to Cainsville, is in the title: she has a sensitivity to omens, notices them, and realizes what they mean--or may mean. Like the rest of the supernatural elements in this story, Olivia's gift is never made clear, nor are the Cainsville residents' perceptions of her. And most annoying--those residents' repeated use of untranslated Welsh and Gaelic words and phrases that provide a key to what the little town of Cainsville is all about. Translation, please!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I read a great book, I feel like I should thank the author for giving me that little bubble of enjoyment in my life. Like a well made coffee, or a really pretty jacket. So thank you Kelley Armstrong.



What I liked about this book:

--> The Characters : Holy shit, the characters. Armstrong doesn't write typical characters does she? No, she writes people that are compelling and interesting with different voices and a multitude of personalities. Her characters, for the most part, are not the recycled messes you see from other authors. Her females are strong and witty, and her males wouldn't fit usual definitions of a lead. But they are REAl. They are people you could see yourself talking to, people you could see yourself admiring, hell, maybe even like despite how much you want to throttle them half of the time. I should also mention that there's enough character development in this book alone to fill a entire series to satisfy me and it was done brilliantly so hat tips to that.



Take Olivia for instance. It's been a while since I've read about such a likable heroine. Olivia was from the upper class, then got the news that her birth parents were notorious serial killers (possibly framed. The people in her life started to treat her differently, so she said "screw you" and changed her life completely by moving to a small town called Cainsville, supporting herself and teaming up with a lawyer called Gabriel Walsh to determine if her parents really did kill those people. She pulls her life in by the scraps among uncertainty and makes something fulfilling and meaningful out of it, something she calls her own and takes pride in. She went from this high society, doubtful of her actions, hurt lady to this confident, headstrong, independent women who refused to back down and be intimidated. What I really like is that she gets stuff done. She stomps through those obstacles and gets to her goal no matter what. When she doesn't have options, she creates them. It's mesmerizing to watch her navigate her new life.

Gabriel started as, quite frankly, an ass and by the end of the book, is still an ass, but he's quiet and thoughtful, and he's willing to change his perceptions of Olivia, and to admit when he's made a mistake. He has very skewed moral compass, but he realizes that his actions impact his partner and to consider what she wants rather than going about everything on his own. Armstrong shows all these other sides to his character that demands your attention, and insists on the reader treating him as a 3D, multidimensional person. He's not a hero, he's so far from it that having that description in the same sentence is laughable, but his actions and his words and his mind is captivating to read about.

--> The Non Romance: If I had to compare their relationship to something, I would say that they are like Holmes and Watson, because there was no romance, no flirting what so ever. OK, maybe it's not like Holmes and Watson. I mean, I think they will eventually end up together, but I am just laying back and watching the slow build. I am just enjoying the rest of the book and it is glorious. There's this overflowing mass of unbelievably quick couplings in the genre, and I am glad that this book doesn't follow that formula. Firstly, it wouldn't fit the personality of either characters. They are slow build people. Olivia just got out of a good relationship,and Gabriel is not the dating type. Secondly, it wouldn't fit the time span. Thirdly, there's way too much happening in the plot to make ROMANCE the forefront. They make great partners, and I think they would make better friends. There needs to be trust in that relationship before it deepens. It's building, building, building and I'm taking pleasure in the show.

--> The Wit: If you've read this book, then you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, let's just say that the banter is amusing at the least and grinning ear to ear at the best. Watching Liv and Gabriel bicker back and forth is like watching an old married couple. There's flippancy, humour and quick thinking all rolled into one.

When I hung up, Gabriel said, “Now you’re going out that—”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Don’t be stupid. I have a gun.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the .45.
“Which will knock you on your ass if you try firing with a bad leg. Sit down before you fall.”
“I’m—”
“Sit down.”
I walked to the door and peered out. If I strained, I could hear footsteps above. Anderson would
search the other rooms first. Then he’d come down here.
When I returned, Gabriel was still standing, leaning against the washing machine. Stubborn bastard.
“So you’re staying with me?” he said.
“Yep.”
“You may not want to do that.”
“Too bad.”
“I wouldn’t stay for you.”
“Probably not.”
His mouth opened, as if he’d been prepared for me to disagree. He paused and then said, “I wouldn’t. You know I wouldn’t.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re my partner. I watch your back.”

--> The World, or the Supernatural Elements, or the Story Building, or Whatever You Call It: This book doesn't have a lot of supernatural components in it. In fact, I would call this realistic fiction with a touch of magic. The magic, for the most part, contains itself to believable elements such as psychics, omens and superstition, which is dealt with in real life. There's not a lot of fantasy in it, and what little of it is interwoven into the plot so wonderfully that it aids in the telling of the story rather than some inexplicable central part. It's a hint of something bigger going on in the background that the protagonists haven't met, and the anticipation of something more. You can almost taste it in the air, how this is going to be epically awesome.

That's the main thought as I finished this book. It is so full of potential that if developed right, it is going to be just as good as Women of the Otherworld, maybe even better. I'm on a delightful ride and I can't wait for the destination.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was surprised that I remembered nothing about this book - I read it just a couple of years ago, in 2013, and I love Kelley Armstrong. Then reality caught up with me, and it turns out 2013 was six years ago. Well.

So this was a re-read, but a very successful one - Kelley Armstrong writes great books, and the only surprise is that it didn't come back to me at all while reading. I half suspect I had the wrong book when I first rated this.

Olivia Taylor-Jones is young, privileged, and yet somehow unsatisfied. But when her life comes crashing down her ears, and she's forced to flee to Cainsville, it all starts making an odd sort of sense. But as much as she's embracing her new life, she can't deny that there's something a little off; since when did gargoyles disappear in the daylight? And why does it feel like ravens and poppies are following her around?

This, on the surface, could be a very odd mix of a book - part serial-killer crime investigation, part potential paranormal small town mystery. But the seemingly mismatched halves are both done to such a high standard, that the two together just make a weird sort of sense. It's not the cronut of books - those things are waaaay too sweet - but it just might be a literary cheddar cheese and jam sandwich (trust me). And this is certainly a departure from some of Kelley Armstrong's other books, but her ability to write, and knowledge she stocks up on what she's writing about, haven't wavered in the slightest.

Very excited to re-discover this series after so long, and bonus - since I neglected it, there's now a whole series to dive into now that I'm done with book one!