I always look forward to more Cainsville novellas! This one focuses on the release of Olivia's father from prison, after his original convictions have been overturned...and unraveling the mystery of who is trying to have him sent back again. There was some good stuff here, but it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I wish it could have been a new novel, instead of a novella.

I’m so thankful to have received an ARC of Cruel Fate and what can I say? I love literally everything about Cainsville and it’s an honor to be able to continue reading about my favorite characters! Cruel Fate was everything I’d hope it’d be and more.

Olivia’s father is finally released from jail after 23 years. All is not perfect with strange omens and suspicious bodies found nearby. ARC from NetGalley.

Oh, how much I have missed this series. Olivia. Gabriel. Ricky. Gah! After the epic ending to the last full book in this series, I was left with a huge gaping hole in my literary heart. Finding something to fill it became nearly impossible, and then, Cruel Fates comes along, bringing be back into the Cainsville fold. This time, Olivia and her men aren’t the focus of the story. Instead, it’s her dad, Todd. After being newly released from prison, the proverbial much hits the fan, and Olivia has to race to keep the dad she is just getting to know out of harms way. There’s a few revelations in Cruel Fate that left me a little taken aback, and I can only hope that there’s more to come in the future. Please?

Rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the early review copy of Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong!

Cruel Fate, the last (announced) novella in the Cainsville series, finds Olivia and the gang two years since she first found out she was adopted and the daughter of serial killers, Pamela and Todd Larsen. (That's approximately one year and a half since the events of Rituals and one year since the events of Rough Justice, if my timeline is correct.) If you've finished all five novels in the Cainsville series (as you should before reading - would be WAY too complicated to jump in here!), then you know that the story is much more complex than that. The Larsens didn't really kill eight people, as convicted - they killed four. Those four victims? They were murderers themselves. The reason for the killings? A ritual and deal with the Cwn Annwn to cure their daughter, Olivia/Eden, of spina bifida. Oh yeah, and it wasn't Todd who killed those people - it was just Pamela. To make matters even more confusing, Todd DID kill one person - Greg Kirkman - to get the ball rolling with the Cwn Annwn. It has been a rollercoaster ride for Olivia, getting to this point, not only in her investigation but mentally, in regards to her relationship with her real parents. And now - now Todd is finally free.

Olivia is brimming with excitement and nerves at having her father finally out of jail and into her life. The first 100 pages of the novella are mostly catching us up with our favorite characters - their current outlooks, their relationships, how they are adapting to Todd's presence. Once the central mystery is introduced - the body of Todd's one actual victim, Kirkman, shows up the day after he is released - it takes over the last 100 pages of the story.

Cainsville is one of my favorite series, if not my absolute favorite, so I will always rejoice at spending any bit of time in this world. Even if it hadn't been long since I read Rough Justice, it was lovely to get to spend more time with Cainsville (where thankfully most of the story takes place) and its colorful residents. However, it was also twinged with sadness because this novella had an air of finality that I found Rituals lacking. There were a ton of callbacks to the previous stories, both books and short stories, and both references to large plot details and one-off lines that had me remembering a tiny scene I loved. We also had a chance to meet with most every character (except for poor Rose, who unfortunately did not get a scene) - even Dr. Webster and Pepper get some moments! These two elements made me think this was the last Armstrong was going to be visiting Cainsville for a long time - which would be cruel indeed. Fans of the series will find this the most pleasing part of the novella.

I do have to say that I enjoyed the first 100 pages more than the last - they promised more than the final 100 delivered on. The mystery, though it has strong consequences for these characters, is not as interesting as simply delving into these characters - their mindsets, their relationships. The mystery also has a rather lackluster conclusion. I expected the culprit to have more relevance to this world (there's one solution that's explored, but ultimately not true, that was much more exciting to me), but I should have adjusted expectations since it's unlikely Armstrong would put something too world-changing in a novella and the solution is not unlike one found in other Armstrong short stories. (I will say that there was an answer to a mystery that I didn't even know was there and it was much more satisfying.) I actually think this novella and its conflict could have worked well as a full novel, the first time I've had that thought about a short story.

This story largely focused on Olivia and her changing relationship with her father, Todd, now that he's out of jail. I enjoyed that - the Larsens have always been a particularly strong part of the series - but... I wish there was a tad more besides "Olivia-is-nervous-and-overbearing-towards-her-father" and, okay, I wish there was more Pamela! Her relationship with Olivia has always been very complex and fascinating. Maybe another novella? Also my absolute favorite part of this series has always been Olivia and Gabriel - their strengths and weaknesses as characters and their relationship. Jumping into their relationship after one year of dating had me giddy. There's a lot of promise there in the first half of the story, but I found that particular prospects of development were not delivered later on. It's difficult to explain without spoilers, but there was a believable Gabriel rumination brought up early on that I thought would lead to a great, deeper scene with Olivia but it never came. There was a hint of one... and then one scene that completely undoes the previous development. This one scene actually frustrated me a bit, because it seemed completely unrealistic for Gabriel, so on that front this novella disappointed me slightly! No scene matched the greatness of the one at the end of Rough Justice, where Olivia and Gabriel exchange anniversary gifts... sigh.

So I definitely recommend this novella to all Cainsville fans! You will certainly be pleased with this additional journey in this world. Just adjust your expectations to novella-sized, not full-blown novel-size, and you will enjoy it even more.

This novella ties up a major loose end in the Cainsville series. After 23 years in jail for the seven murders he did not commit, Olivia’s father Todd Larsen has been released from prison. Liv and her father love each other but do not really know each other. The day of his release she books a reservation at a very upscale steak house to celebrate his new-found freedom. However, she misjudged the situation and, instead of an intimate reunion, they are stuck in a crowded restaurant being ogled by the diners who recognize her dad from the TV and newspaper rehash of the murders and exoneration of the convicted man. Back in Cainsville things improve a little. Liv is overprotective and Todd, still getting used to not having guards watching his every move, tries to claim some independence without hurting his daughter.

While they are working toward a more natural relationship, it is soon obvious that someone is outraged at Todd’s release and is determined to send him back to jail. An anonymous tip to the police leads to the discovery of a body that could link Todd to another murder. Only the Cwn Annwn, the Wild Hunt, knew where Greg Kirkman was buried. Are they the enemy and, if so, why? Or is someone connected to one of the seven victims out for revenge? Liv and her lover Gabriel need to get to the bottom of the mystery before Todd is sent back to prison. They have help from the inhabitants of the Cainsville and the Wild Hunt.

It was fun to catch up with Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky. There are brief appearances by the characters from the previous books and a further exploration of the fantastic gargoyles which stand sentinel over Cainsville.

I don’t think this novella can be read as a standalone. The reader has to be familiar with the Cainsville canon to appreciate all the references to previous events. But for fans of the series, this is a welcome addition to a resolution of the primary story line

Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong 5 stars

This is the last adventure to Cainsville land for now. I tend to think of the Cainsville novellas as "multiple epilogues" that give us glimpses of what happened to our main character after the major plot points have been resolved. I enjoyed this one and I sincerely hope that Ms. Armstrong will visit Cainsville again in the future. Olivia, Gabriel and Ricky are living their lives and their roles in the world of the Fae. This novella concerns Olivia's biological father and his release from prison after being proved innocent of his crimes. I won't spoil the plot, but the interaction between Olivia and her father is at the same time awkward and caring. Thank you Ms. Armstrong for an enjoyable interlude.

Thank you Netgalley and Subterranean Press for this ARC.

Kelley Armstrong's latest novella takes place in her Cainsville universe. "Cruel Fate" is aptly named. No sooner does Liv’s father, Todd, get out of prison as a free man when he becomes a suspect to a double murder. An anonymous tipster has notified the police of the location of two bodies and one of them has Todd’s business card on him. Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky team up to defend and protect Todd. However, there seems to be more than one entity involved and Liv has to figure out who are implicated and why. There are some rather unexpected twists at the end so prepare to be surprised at what Liv and company find out.

I really enjoy reading about Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky, as well as the town of Cainsville with all its unusual inhabitants. Although the Cainsville series of five books has ended, I hope that Ms. Armstrong continues to delight us with more novellas and short stories in this very original universe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Cruel Fate" in exchange for an unbiased review.

It would be a cruel fate indeed if Cruel Fate was the last Cainsville novella. There are still stories to be finished.
Olivia Taylor- Jones, Gabriel Walsh and Ricky Gallagher are celebrating the release of supposed serial killer Todd Larsen from prison. Larsen is Olivia’s recently discovered biological father.
Of course just because Todd was exonerated for the deaths for which he was convicted doesn’t mean he hasn’t killed. The one absolutely no doubt killing that gives new meaning to a “he needed killing” killing. Unfortunately, someone has dug up that body along with his victim’s body and is dropping strong hints to the police that Larsen is responsible for both killings.
Olivia, Gabriel, and Ricky are still the warmest and strongest of friends, with Olivia and Gabriel becoming more and more settled. Supporting one another, compensating for one another’s weaknesses, they complete one another. They band together to fight for Todd’s continued freedom and his re-introduction into the world.
Kelley Armstrong has the golden touch; her stories, her characters, and her fantasy world building based on ancient folklore are all addictive. Of course, Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky are still extremely ethically challenged. Part of their charm, dahlings.
I think I am extremely lucky that I didn’t discover the Cainsville series until the summer Rituals was published. I would have gone insane waiting year to year for the books. In Cruel Fate Armstrong lightly touches upon the gargoyle ending of Rituals; still one of the loveliest endings I’ve ever read.
The Fae roles of Liv, Gabriel and Ricky are not a major part of Cruel Fate, but Cainsville and its citizens are still present in the story, still working their magic on the readers.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ahhh...I love ANY opportunity to sink back into the world of Cainsville. And this one was such a treat because we got to know Todd better and more info was added to the gargoyles of Cainsville. I really miss this world but so enjoy revisiting it any chance I can get. Thank you for allowing me the preview, I couldn't put it down!

GARGOYLES are thought to fight off evil and to protect house and garden. Cainsville has many - some visible and some seem to hide in the shadows. I love this series and the characters involved in this paranormal place of fae and hunters. My favorite part has always been the connection between Olivia and Gabriel who are living as a couple in Cainsville. Cruel Fate just did not give me enough of them and their connection to each other. After twenty years; Olivia's father has been released from prison and the story centers on her protectiveness of him. "A copy of this book was provided by Subterranean Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." ARMSTRONG's CAINSVILLE SERIES SHOULD BE READ IN ORDER! This is not a stand-alone; too much has happened in previous works.

Cruel Fate by Kelley Armstrong
I’ve never read a Kelley Armstrong book that I did not enjoy. They take you to a place where different possibilities blend with the reality we live in daily. Todd was acquitted and released from prison where he spent two decades for serial crimes he did not commit. His daughter, Olivia, is determined to make his transition go smoothly. Unfortunately, old misdeeds come to light which threaten his freedom and enlist the help of his friends and family. Armstrong is gifted in character development and the reader gets drawn into this community. I’m excited to read more about Cainesville. I ARC this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book....I WAS so glad Patrick made an appearance...I just can't get enough of that sexy bocan. I need a all Patrick book. I just love how far Gabriel has come with his emotions and love his love for Olivia. I hope one day we will get a wedding for those two, and pam out of prison. This was an amazing book and Cainsville is my favorite town besides Rockton.

Thank you NetGalley and Subterranean Press for this arc.

I have very much enjoyed the previous books in the Cainesville series but felt somewhat let down with this, supposedly final story. While the familiar characters were there in their familiar places, most were just mentioned in passing. It's only a novella, not a full length book, but I still felt "cheated". Also, Cruel Fate left me with more questions than it answered. Hopefully, there will be more and Ms. Armstrong is just taking a break from her Rockton stories and will come back with more Cainesville. It was still a good read, but just not as good as the full length Cainesville stories.

This final novella in the Cainsville series sees Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky dealing with Todd's release and all that arises from it. When Todd's actual victim is found, things spiral as these characters have to face the possibility he may go back to prison. This story has mystery, suspense, and love. Full of twists that will keep you guessing. I fell in love with these characters from the first book. I know this is the last novella for the series but I really hope we get one final book to wrap up the open plotlines. I'm not quite ready to let these characters go.