Review – Visions (Cainsville, Book 2) by Kelley Armstrong (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Length: 464 pages
Publisher: Dutton Adult
Release Date: August 19, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0525953050
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Cainsville series
Source: Copy from Publisher for Review
Rating: 4/5 stars

I got a copy of this book from the publisher for review. Previously I had read some of Armstrong’s Otherworld series and thought it was okay, but not great. I have also read Armstrong’s Darkest Powers series; again I thought it was okay but not great. This is the second book in the Cainsville series and so far my favorite Kelley Armstrong book ever.

Olivia Taylor Jones, aka Liv, is still reeling from the events in the first book of this series, Omens. After proving that one of the murders attributed to her parents was actually done by someone else, Liv is all set to take a closer look at the other murders attributed to her parents as well. However her plans get sidetracked when she finds a woman dressed to look like her dead in her car…then the body disappears. Liv thinks it’s another omen…that is until the police report that the same woman Liv found in her car has gone missing. Now Liv must solve a convoluted case and figure out who is behind the woman’s death before she herself is a victim.

A lot more is revealed about Cainsville and the mysteries that surround it. There are things going on in this town that go beyond general human knowledge and Liv is determined to ferret them out.

I continued to really enjoy our two main characters Liv and Gabriel. We learn a lot more about Gabriel in this book and about Liv’s background too. They are both very complex characters with complicated histories and I loved reading about them.

Ricky is also in the story quite a bit. I love that his back story seems to tie in with that of the mythological fae Hunt (again though this is just starting to make some sense). There are some incredibly steamy scenes between Ricky and Liv. This is something that wasn’t there in the first book of the series. So those who like some romance/lust in their books will find that in this one.

There is a lots of mystery and creepiness in this story as well some subtle (okay less subtle than the first book) paranormal elements. You finally start to find out what sort of paranormal elements are in play in Cainsville…even though we don’t really understand the why of it all yet.

I found the story very engaging, I love the world and the characters. This was a thoroughly entertaining book that didn’t feel like it’s 460 pages, I breezed right through it and wanted to read more when I was done.

Overall a very well done investigative urban fantasy. This has been my favorite series by Armstrong so far. I am really enjoying the town of Cainsville, the quirky characters, and the mystery that overshadows it all. Recommended to those who love investigative urban fantasy.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Chunkster Reading Challenge (450+ pages)
– You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge