I couldn't get into this book for the life of me. I wanted to as Kelley Armstrong is a great author but this book didn't work for me.

Kelley Armstrong absolutely KILLS it with books, and this one was amazing! Getting a novella when I thought the Cainsville series ended seriously felt like Christmas came early. Highly recommend this series!

This a novella that happens after the series ends. Olivia is on her first Hunt with Ricky. She's anxious about the target of this as for her it doesn't feel right. So, she stops the hunt due to this. This is the only time given to Olivia + Ricky.



As the rest of the story is following her and Gabriel's relationship and the investigation.



Through the investigation they find bigger problems with the guy and it's definitely not what they originally thought.



And, the relationship things Gabriel is experiencing are definitely not what he thought, either.



Overall, it has a good balance of investigation and relationship/family/life drama. We see more investigation in this as it's part of Olivia adjusting to being apart of the Hunt. It's more focused on Olivia and Gabriel's relationship and how they're adjusting to their new life.

Downloaded through Netgalley thanks to the publisher in exchange for a honest review :D

I love when authors flesh out their series with novellas ... as if we needed any more proof they're just as addicted to their characters and worlds as we are. And it's already a given that I'll read anything Kelley Armstrong cranks out, so even though the Cainsville series has always had its highs and lows for me, I was more than happy for even a brief glimpse back into the lives of our favorite fated trio.

This novella takes place not long after the action-packed and fulfilling conclusion of Rituals, where Olivia has decided to finally embrace her destiny to choose between the Tylwyth Teg (the Fae) and the Cŵn Annwn (the Wild Hunt)—and in turn, to choose between Gabriel and Ricky. Her choice? To not choose. It may have been a bit of a predictable out, but I did love the way it wrapped up the series and opened the door to a powerful new dynamic between the two communities. I was so curious how Liv would balance her divided loyalties and what her acceptance of her role would mean ... and that's exactly what Armstrong delivers in this short but satisfying novella, where Liv steps up to participate in her first ever Hunt.

The dark lore surrounding the Cŵn Annwn is fascinating. "[T]asked with wreaking vengeance on humans who murder those with fae blood," part of their powers is an innate ability to sense guilt. Liv struggles to accept how they can immediately condemn a man to death outside of the confines of courtroom justice. It's such a unique backdrop for a mystery. We're told the who from the very start, but Liv wants the proof, which spawns an investigation of her own. The more clues she unveils, the less likely it seems that the who could possibly be correct. It feels like you're trying to piece together the puzzle with just one piece you know is right, but somehow that's the one piece hat refuses to fit. The result is a wonderfully layered mystery that's surprisingly intricate for a novella, and it certainly kept me on my toes.

This is very much Liv's tale, and I loved watching her maneuver the backwards investigation. She's just as strong, witty, and independent as ever, which makes her perspective a joy to read. We also see a lot of Gabriel's character through his role in the investigation, his maturing relationship with Liv, and his complications with his mother. My only gripe? I wish there was a lot more of Ricky in this installment ... I miss what a powerhouse team the trio proved to be in prior novels.

There's only so much that can fit into a novella under 200 pages, but Armstrong does a stellar job as always at packing it full of character development and a complex plot. Rough Justice is a blast, and it makes me want even more stories about Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky navigating their new normal. If you're a fan of urban fantasies laced with mystery, you'll definitely want to give this series a shot!

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

A quick visit back to Cainsville!

I thought we'd seen the last of Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky after Rituals, but I'm so glad Ms. Armstrong decided to give us a peak into their world again. Rough Justice was a fast paced story, with a little bit of a twist as Olivia throws a monkey wrench into their first Wild Hunt. She's determined to prove the quarry of their hunt is indeed guilty before justice is served.

There's a little personal business thrown in with the mystery. It's interesting to see how Gabriel is still learning to love and be loved, and how Olivia reacts to it. I really enjoy those two.

I truly hope that Ms. Armstrong continues to gives us these short visits to Cainsville.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

I was absolutely astounded to receive a copy of this until I figured out it was a novella and book 5.5.
I had never read anything of the Cainsville crew, and let me tell you....this was not the book to pick up as a starter. I was completely lost, but as an rabid fan of this author I felt I could do this book justice even if I hadn't read the first five. Well I was wrong...I was lost from the first page not having had read the first five novels. I gave it three stars and hopefully sometime in the future I will get to read this series in its entirety.

A quick interesting read. I liked Olivia and her cohorts, as well as this story’s take on the Fae and the Wild Hunt. I had not read any of the previous books in this series, but there was plenty of info as the story went along giving a cliff notes version. While the story was pretty good it wasn’t enough to make me want to go back and read the other books.

Rough Justice is a novella revolving around Olivia’s first Hunt as Matilda for the Cwn Annwn. The Hunt provides justice to those who have killed descendents of the fair folk and the Matilda leads that hunt as witness when justice is served. Olivia’s day job is as an investigator for her boyfriend lawyer Gabriel, so admittedly it’s hard for her to accept their prey’s guilt without proof, and because of that he goes free. Olivia investigates the murder and finds that the solution is not as clear cut as portrayed.

Kelley Armstrong has written another great novel in this series giving us just a taste of being back with our favorite characters. The mystery traversed a path that was unexpected and I enjoyed that journey, however the tension that filled the other novels was missing from this one with only a mild segue into the current status of Gabriel and Olivia’s relationship. Maybe I’m nitpicking but that tension was a big part of why I felt the series was so gripping.

If you need a Cainsville fix this novella will give you one, but I hope she is writing another one quickly because this is just an appetizer and not a whole meal.

I received a copy of this novella through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this urban fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

rough justice (Kelley Armstrong)
Title: rough justice
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Subterranean Press
Publication Date: TODAY!!! (hardcover/e-book)
ISBN: 978-1596068568
Source: NetGalley

The cover drew me in and three things convinced me to read this book:

1. I love Kelley Armstrong! I discovered her through her young adult book, sea of shadows, and she became me most read author of 2016;
2. It is a Subterranean Press book and they do great work; and
3. This story is set in the Cainsville series.
I
am not really an urban fantasy fan so I have been hesitant to pick up the first novel in this series despite me love of the author. So when I realized I could read a novella set in the world I was rather excited. It gave me a taste of what Kelley Armstrong can do with urban fantasy.

And what she can do is write a very compelling novella. This apparently is #5.5 in the series. Yet it didn't take long at all for me to get the gist of what had happened previously. I rather enjoyed the main character Olivia. She is fiercely intelligent, enterprising, and entertaining.

The premise is that Olivia has to lead her first Hunt. Yet despite the assurances that her prey is guilty and deserves death, Olivia hesitates and the man gets away. Olivia is horribly upset with herself and resolves to investigate her target in detail in order to solidify his guilt to her satisfaction.

I thought the plot elements of the murder that was committed and how the investigation was handled were wonderfully fun. I enjoyed Olivia's love interest and the snippets into the workings of their relationship. Despite being personally burnt out on fae stories, the fae elements of this one didn't detract from the story. I was pleased to enjoy this as much as I did. It is a testament to the author's writing skills.

I could totally see meself picking up the first novel of the series. If ye already be a fan of the Cainsville series then this will surely be a hit!

So lastly . . .
Thank you Subterranean Press!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Mallt-y-Nos. Matilda of the Hunt. The lone woman who rides with the Wild Hunt, tasked with finding killers who've escaped justice and letting the hounds reap their souls. For Olivia Taylor-Jones, Matilda isn't just a legendary figure from Welsh lore. She is Olivia's past, and her future, one she's finally embraced.
Having accepted her role as Matilda, Olivia must now lead her first Hunt. Seems simple enough. But when she questions their target's guilt, the Hunt is halted, her mission failed. Still, it's just a matter of getting Gabriel's help and investigating the man's past to reassure herself that he's guilty. He must be. Otherwise, he wouldn't be a target. But the deeper she digs, the more problems she finds, until she must question everything she knows about the Hunt and the choice she's made.

To visit the author’s website and blog go to:
Kelley Armstrong - Author

To buy the novel visit:
rough justice - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:
Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

sea of shadows- book 1 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
empires of the night -book 2 (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Fantasy)
forest of ruin - book 3 (Captain's Log - Young Adult Fantasy)
the masked truth (Captain’s Log – Young Adult Thriller)
missing (On the Horizon - Young Adult Thriller eArc)
city of the lost - book 1 (Off the Charts – Thriller/Crime Novel)
a darkness absolute - book 2 (Off the Charts / On the Horizon – Thriller/Crime Novel Arc)
this fallen prey – book 3 (Off the Charts / On the Horizon – Thriller/Crime eArc)

Trust in Ms. Armstrong to bring a faery tale into modern times. The way she can blend the supernatural into white colour jobs is impressive. In this story, the fae, specifically the Hunt have come into the corporate world. Their "day" job perfectly fits their dark persona. I am not sure if this story is an off shoot of another one because it did feel like I was missing some back stories. I was still easily able to get caught up to speed. Ms. Armstrong provides a bit of reference points in each instance.

Our focus here is Olivia. She is now part of the hunt. It is her job to witness and bring down the ones who thought they can get away with a crime. But how does she know that the Wild Hunt can always determine if the perpetrator is guilty? The Wild Hunt sets up a test for Olivia to believe without question. She tries and fails because she is a doubting Thomas. In this case, it was interesting because Olivia is right and wrong.

Ms. Armstrong leads both the Wild Hunt and Olivia on a merry chase. The false starts keeps making a reader go "ah ha!" this is the truth only to be proven wrong. When all the facts come together, the real story is not a pretty one. It is one that works and proves a couple of good points.

After reading this story, I need to go look for other books written by Ms. Armstrong that I may have missed. Because it seems as if this story is the aftermath of an existing relationship tug o' war between two men wanting and needing the same woman. It is intriguing and Ms. Armstrong does give enough information to make it work, but it does make me want to learn more about Olivia and her two men. The paranormal tale is recommended to readers who enjoy the original Grimm Fairy Tales.

I have read most of Kelley Armstrong's books. They're a guilty pleasure that do not leave my bedroom, so that my kids don't pick them up. My middle daughter would see some reference to werewolves and have her nose stuck in the book before I could cross the room. Not that I would blame her, because Ms. Armstrong's stories are so fun. However, they're not kid-approved.

Rough Justice is no exception. It is an awesome short story. It gives us more of an idea of the purpose of the Wild Hunt, and of Matilda's role. If one has a conscience, like this iteration of Matilda, then it is not an easy job to lead the Wild Hunt, and requires more than just blind faith. It also shows us that justice, even fae justice, is an imperfect science.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Gabriel is as charming as ever, even though he does not agree. The ethical and emotional quandary presented by his mother is interesting to contemplate. What do you do with someone who has no memory of the pain that they inflicted on you? I think that many people with relatives who have dementia or Alzheimer's could identify with Gabriel's situation. I appreciate Ms. Armstrong's take on the topic.

I'd definitely recommend picking up this little gem and enjoying it while we patiently hope for another installment in the Cainesville series.

I love Kelley Armstrong, but was iffy on whether or not i wanted to read the Cainsville series. But it was fantastic! I love the idea of the Wild Hunt. And Armstrong puts her unique brand on it as always! I am waiting anxiously for the next one!

I love Kelley Armstrong and was waiting to love this book. It was OK--I think I need to immerse myself in this world for a little longer before I can say whether I really liked it or not.

The story was solid, the mystery they were trying to solve did have a pretty nice twist--one part that I didn't see coming. The characters were fine, though I wasn't invested in them as much as I was invested in her Otherworld series.

And that's another thing. This seemed rushed compared to her Otherworld series. Shorter. Like she couldn't put enough into the story. Maybe it's just me, but when I like a writer I don't want to feel like I'm being hustled through the prose. I like to savor every moment.

I am going to keep my eye out for more in this world, as it is intriguing enough to get other books set in it.

A minor nit - and it's more to do with me than her - I really have trouble figuring out how to pronounce some of these Welsh/Celtic/Old world names for the Fae. Guess I'll have to Google more often!

I said it in my review of Lost Souls and I'll say it here: I love Kelley Armstrong's Cainsville series!!! It's just too much fun. This novella takes place after the final book, with Olivia in charge of her first hunt with the cwn annwn and it doesn't go as planned. She'll have to use her detective skills to figure it out.

This entry in the series will work for those familiar with the series and those who aren't. It's a fun little fae related mystery with a splash of love story that anyone who likes those things will enjoy. But like Lost Souls, those familiar with the series will understand the ins and outs of the character relationships and stuff. It's an added bonus and those who haven't read the series won't suffer from not getting it.

4/5 stars Kelley Armstrong is amazing! :)

I love novellas especially when the main series is over. It gives a peek to their lives. I love Kelley Armstrong's writing. This novella is about Liz's experience with The Hunt for the first time. She thought she could just follow on blind faith, but she learns that she needs a reason why this person deserves the hunt. After she stopped the hunt, Liz started to investigate Keith Johnson's guilt on murder. I love how this book twist and turns and keeps you on edge. There is also a side problem with Gabriel and Selena. I can't wait to see how this plays out. It is a great read! Loved every minute!

Continuing stories that center on the same cast of characters, advancing their relationships yet complete in themselves, face a number of hurdles. Whether linked short stories, novellas in this case, or entire novels, they must furnish enough backstory and setting to orient the reader. The first episode is in many ways the easiest; everything is new, nothing taken for granted. Often the protagonist explores the world via the plot, taking the reader along. In subsequent stories, the task requires progressively higher levels of finesse to give the reader the necessary history and detail in a smooth, unobtrusive fashion without interrupting the dynamic flow of action. Too much information will becalm the reader in a Sargasso Sea of exposition; too little creates disorientation and puzzlement.

At the same time, each story must stand on its own in terms of plot: inciting event, reversal, tension building to a resolution, and so forth. Not all ends need to be neatly tied up, but the reader should finish with a sense of satisfaction.

Rough Justice succeeds to a greater or less degree in these areas. Two concepts drive the story: a set of characters, avatars of ancient Welsh figures, who lead the Hunt, giant black red-eyed hounds and all, while wrestling with their previous incarnations and present lives (an attorney, a PI, and an ex-biker, all living just outside present day Chicago); and a very nifty murder mystery, complete with twisty turns, devious motives, and red herrings. PI Olivia (“Mathilda of the Hunt”) is on the brink of ordering the deadly finale to her first Hunt when her qualms allow the condemned man to escape. The Huntsmen claim to have an infallible supernatural method of determining guilt according to their “rough justice,” but Olivia isn’t convinced. She and her lover, attorney Gabriel (Gwynn in the old story) investigate what turns into a double murder/coverup/setup. That part is sneaky enough to please anyone who loves a puzzle.

The problems arise with the way the ancient Welsh myths play out in the lives of Olivia, Gabriel, and Ricky (Arawn). There’s an enormous amount of backstory and lore including how these three learned of their past lives, their roles in the Hunt, history and rules for same, the romantic triangle between Mathilda, Gwynn, and Arawn and how it relates to Olivia, Gabriel, and Ricky (or not). Plus the personal stories, relationships, and dark secrets of the three modern characters. This is where Rough Justice succeeds less well.

A certain amount of this setting and history is of course necessary but much more is presented in ways that paralyze the forward momentum of the pot. Although the story opens with the dramatic Hunt, it’s soon bogged down in backstory and long discussions of why the head Huntsman would set newbie Olivia up with a questionable verdict (and the question of whether the Huntsman is manipulating Olivia is never resolved).

On the other hand, Gabriel’s abusive, now-senile mother is being cared for by two women whose roles and relationships were never clear to me – family, professional caregivers, or fae guardians who strangely know little of Gabriel’s childhood? Therein lies the problem of trying to develop novel-length subplots in novella-sized chunks while reiterating everything that has gone before.

The setting and characters are intriguing enough to interest me in searching out the earlier installments of “Cainsville Tales” and certainly looking out for newer ones, especially if they contain similarly fascinating mysteries, but I can’t help thinking this tale would work better as a single-volume novel.

Fans of Kelley Armstong’s recently ended but fabulous Cainsville series will accept any crumb from the Cainsville table. In Rough Justice we have a tasty, rich, heavily iced cupcake. A cupcake, not a cake because this is a novella.
Olivia is on her first Wild Hunt (Cŵn Annwn) serving as the Malit-y-Nos, Matilda of the Hunt. The Wild Hunt secures justice for the fae by having their hounds harvest souls of those humans who have killed fae but escaped justice in the human world.
However Olivia being Olivia has questions about the guilt of this target.
So Olivia will do what Olivia does best and will want to investigate, therefore derailing her and Ricky’s first Hunt as Annwn, King of the Otherworld.
Ricky being Ricky will do what he always does and support anything Olivia does. He is not a major character in Rough Justice as this is mostly Olivia showing her chops during an increasingly tricky investigation.
Gabriel being Gabriel will do what he always does and hide something from Olivia. For her own good of course. He will be at her side throughout her investigation. Gabriel is still not comfortable as Gwyn ap Nudd, king of the TylwythTeg, the fae.
The Cainsville magic is present as always in Armstrong’s books. Delighting and charming the reader; enticing us into the world of the fae and Cŵn Annwn.
. The story is terrific, Cainsville great, the Cŵn Annwn thrilling; but reading about Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky is the ultimate treat.
Armstrong excels in her endings. The ending for Rituals was one of the best I have ever read, lovely and touching. The ending for Rough Justice is extremely satisfying too, but still leaves readers wanting more. Much more.
The hardcover of Rough Justice is featuring illustrations by Xaviere Daumaire , judging by his covers, they are beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Rough Justice is a nice little follow on to the Cainsville series. It has just enough of all the elements of the series - the Fae in the form of the Wild Hunt, visions, Liv, Ricky and Gabriel - all wrapped up in a case for Liv to solve when her first Hunt leaves her with doubts about the guilt of the hunted. I really enjoyed returning to the world and seeing life after Liv's big decision, this short worked so well that I would love to see future installments.

This review is for the ARC courtesy of Subterranean Press via NetGalley. Release date 6/30/2018

Kelley Armstrong is an amazing author. Characters who have heart and feelings..Matilda of the hunt with the rest of the team dispense punishment to the guilty. The one who is being hunted now may or may not be guilty. Matilda needs to know for sure before she feels comfortable with this particular case. It's rough justice but needed. If you've never read any of her books, I suggest you start today. You won't be disappointed. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

Love Armstrong's Cainsville series!! This takes Olivia on her first hunt and reveals the power her attendance emits. She possesses blood of two powerful fae groups and her challenge to embrace both. Loved reading about the characters and what has been happening since the last novel. Powerful author with skill at creating amazing characters and their worlds. "A copy of this book was provided by Subterranean Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." Loved the cover art!!