Lost Souls

I received this ARC for an honest review. I just love Kelley Armstrong. Even in her short stories, she makes her characters seem real. This short takes place after "Deceptions" where Gabriel abandoned Olivia in the Villa Tuscana hospital. Even though he through in the end, he still said some very cruel things to Olivia. In "Lost Souls" Gabriel is remorseful and is missing Olivia during her vacation.
Patrick is trying to make a connection with Gabriel. So he brings him a case that will intrigue Olivia and Gabriel with the hopes they will work together. I don't like posting spoilers, so I won't say much more about the story. Just that you have to READ this! It helps to bridge "Deceptions" to "Betrayals" (less)

I didnt realise when I requested this that is was a Cainsville novella. I havent read any of the Cainsville books so I think a fair bit was lost on me. It is still a good read and as always with Kelley Armstrong, it is beautifully written.

Lost Souls is set between Deceptions and Betrayals (book 3 and 4 in the Cainsville series). This novella features characters from the series embarking on an investigation that has little bearing on the main struggles of the characters.

With Liv away on a vacation with Ricky, Gabriel has too much time to feel insecure about both their personal and working relationship. Patrick attempts to engage or distract Gabriel with a new investigation. Strange occurrences happen with what appears to be a hitchhiking ghost; however, delving into details on his own and finally Liv, Gabriel discovers that there is also a distinct tie not only the fae but also to his past.

This is very much an opportunity for readers to explore Gabriel's insights and character. He's had a troubled past and doesn't always play well with others but the introduction of Liv into his life has changed him. Gabriel is learning, but in Lost Souls he still just can't quite go for it and let loose his emotions and say what he wants or means. It is a big moment for him to be able to admit that yes, his is a lost soul, but in the admittance he acknowledges that he is working toward finding his way. Having recently read Betrayals, I've gleaned more insight into his progress but he isn't quite there yet--we have to see what Rituals has in store.

What I did miss here with the advanced copy was access to the illustrations available with the release in hardcover come March. Based on similar collaborations from Armstrong and Subterranean Press for her Women of the Otherworld series, I'm sure they are well done and add a bit of extra flair to the story. I'll definitely be seeking out the print book when it is available.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @KelleyArmstrong



#LostsSouls #Cainsville #mystery #ghosts #subterraneanpress #illustrations #netgalley

"Lost Souls" was largely written from Gabriel's POV, and provided a great insight into his thoughts, and his thought processes. What really grabbed me was his self talk. He knows he doesn't want to say or do certain things with regards to Olivia, but is so caught up in needing to not be vulnerable that he heads down those pathways despite himself. As someone who tends to do exactly the same, this made me empathise with Gabriel, in contrast to the frustration I often feel when things are from Liv's POV. It also further mired me into the realisation that there is no winning for these characters, as - and even Gabriel recognises this - both Gariel and Ricky are characters you want to 'win' Liv. Argh, heartache coming.

The novella also gave us a chance to get see a bit more from Patrick's perspective, which I enjoyed. It was good hearing a bit more of the motivation behind his behaviour, and the more human (if appropriate for a fae) side of him.

Finally, the mystery woven through the book was reasonably satisfying. I really enjoyed this side piece in the Cainesville series, and would highly recommend it.

(Review also posted at Goodreads)

4.5/5 stars

Lost Souls is a novella in the Cainsville series. It is set between Deceptions (book 3) & Betrayals (book 4). It is really meant to be read as a companion to the Cainsville series. I would not recommend reading this book if you have not read the series as there are spoilers from the previous books.

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely love the Cainsville series. So I was very excited to read this novella.

I would describe this series as part mystery and part paranormal.

The story alternates narrators between Gabriel (30 year old lawyer) and Patrick (a Cainsville elder). Olivia is also featured prominently.

Patrick is trying to get closer to Gabriel. So while Liv is out of town he brings him a case to solve. The case has to do with a hitchhiking woman in white who vanishes on a country road after accepting a ride from a man. Is she real? Is she fae? Is she a ghost?

Gabriel and Olivia work together (and apart) to try to solve this case. I love Gabriel and Olivia together. I love their working dynamic. And I love their peculiar friendship.

I love Gabriel. He is such an intriguing and unique character. He has such strong feelings for Olivia. But he is so insecure that he can end up being cruel to protect himself.

Kelley Armstrong manages to make this story just as interesting and entertaining as her full length novels. She fills the reader in on key details from the previous Cainsville books. However this series is extremely complex. There are definitely some spoilers from the first 3 books. And if you read this novella without knowing this series you would not understand Cainsville. Or Gabriel. Or Olivia. Or Patrick. IMO, this novella is meant to be read by people who have read the series.

My only small complaint is that by reading the novella it is not completely obvious when this story is set. At first I really was not sure if it was set after Deceptions or after Betrayals. I think that should have been made more clear in the story, in the book blurb, and I think the story should be labelled #3.6.

Lost Souls was an interesting story. We got to see more of Gabriel, Patrick and Olivia. It was nice to get a new story. Overall this novella was very enjoyable. And it made me even more excited to read the final book of the series, Rituals.

Armstrong characters come to life on the pages of her books. Lost Souls is a short read in the Cainsville series. Gabriel Walsh is a successful lawyer with a past full of demons that makes him unable to project his inner feelings. This issue makes his life full of pot holes when dealing with Olivia his research assistant. Ghosts, Fae, and cemetery paths make for a page turning race. A copy of this book was provided to me by Subterranean Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.

"I bring you the gift of murder and mayhem, a puzzle to be solved, a mystery to be cracked."

I will forever be here for Gabriel POV. For. ever.

I hate to say this but I think I liked LOST SOULS more than BETRAYALS.. not that it should come as a surprise, really. The main factor being that there was hardly any Ricky to suffer through for this read. I know, I'm awful, poor guy, what did he ever do to me. He's such a nice dude. And that's mainly the problem. Gabriel might be frustrating as all get-out but he has legitimate reasons for being so. His character growth is slow as molasses but it's still there. We are seeing that evolution. And while LOST SOULS, a transitory story between books three and four of the Cainsville series, didn't offer much more of that, and gave us familiar bits of Gabriel's history, I still found it really relevant and worth reading. Patrick's involvement was a nice bonus, too, as he played a large role in this novella.

"On the stoop, he found the usual suspects : a cat and a boggart, actively ignoring one another. The boggart was Grace, the building owner, wearing her cranky old lady glamour. Well, the 'old lady' part was a glamour. The 'cranky' part was just Grace."

I'd also like to mention how much I love the mystery in this one. Over the course of this series the 'murder mystery' of the week/book hasn't always drawn me in. I've definitely been more caught up with the interpersonal drama and developments. But Armstrong really crafted a perfectly executed plot in this short story. Urban legends, fae, mystery, mistaken identity, thrills and chills and plays on words.. and, oh, banter. Little bit of that, too.

"..the folklore for ghosts is very clear that if you summon them at their graveside--"
"The folklore is also clear that to stop a ghost you have to dig it up and burn the bones."
"Uh, no. You've been watching Supernatural haven't you?"
".. my point is that the lore is full of crap."

As much as there is a lot to recommend this series, can I just say how happy I'll be to get the final book? I need my ending, people. I need it. I've earned it. We have earned it.

4 "again with the sarcasm" stars

I have been hooked on the Cainsville series since the first book and any chance I have to read anything set in that world, with the characters I've come to absolutely love, is a chance I don't even think twice about.

And a novella set almost entirely in Gabriel's point of view, I am so in. I love Gabriel and while he can be bristly and rough and tough we've seen over the course of the series that there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. That in fact, the man has a heart of gold, even if it sometimes has to be melted a bit to get to it.

I adored this novella. With Patrick and Gabriel and Liv, it really was such a treat and makes me even more excited for the last novel to be here. I can not wait for more and to see how it will all come together. This series has grown so much and with it my love for it as well. It really will be so hard to say goodbye to it.

Kelley Armstrong returns to the world of Cainsville in this novella told from the perspective of our favorite misunderstood lawyer, Gabriel. When Patrick brings Gabriel an intriguing case about hitchhiking ghosts, he hopes the case will be an opportunity to build bridges with his son. In true fashion, Gabriel in turn will try to use the case repair his own strained relationship with Olivia. Although it might seem that everyone in this novella is working at cross-purposes, the story flows back together into a cohesive whole with a tidy ending.

For readers of Cainsville, this novella will offer a unique perspective into Gabriel's character - much more in-depth than previous novels (which we know is not for a lack of curiosity on Olivia's part but due to Gabriel's inability to connect and share with others). The plot is well-paced and draws on modern ghost lore - the traditional woman in white for example - which blends seamlessly with other lore already established in the series. I very much enjoyed this story and getting to know Gabriel a little better - though I did miss the gargoyles.