So, today is the release day for Thirteen, the final book of the Women of the Otherworld series. Even though she has many more stories and series in the works, I am sure that Kelley Armstrong fans have to be sad to see an end to the world they have followed for 13 books. I know that when the day comes that Ilona Andrews says goodbye to Kate Daniels, or Patricia Briggs lets Mercy and Adam finally get their happily ever after, or God forbid Jeaniene Frost sends Cat and Bones off into the sunset I will not be a happy girl. At all. But I do applaud an author knowing when enough is enough, and it is time to give their trademark series a fitting send off. I do wish that a few other authors would follow her lead, before the series’ they write become nothing more than shadows of what they once were.
Synopsis…
It’s been more than ten years, a dozen installments, and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others. And it’s all been leading to Thirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.
A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.
Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.
Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-notforgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a grand, crowd-pleasing closer for Armstrong’s legions of fans.
What series do you think needs to come to an end? Which ones have gone on far, far too long, and which ones will you miss most when the time does come?
Without a doubt, The Hollows needs to end, Kim Harrison could resolve everything in another book or 2 and I wish she would.
It is hard when you get that invested in a series, and then hit the “filler” books…sort of an insult, really. Just wrap things up already when there isn’t any more to say.
Good Gravy that would def be Lora Leigh Breeds. When I first started that series I read straight through it and loved it. But here last three or four books it just fell apart for me.
Also the Black Dagger Brotherhood seems to lost it’s punch for me. I mean I havn’t warmed up to the Band of Brothers at all and thought Tohr’s book was to soon and should have been last. Oh Well.
Another thing I’m amazed at how much better Kresley Coles Immortals after dark have gotten. I just love that series and I’m not sure I’ll fare well once it ends. Man I love her writing.
I think for me, the Dark series is the one that needs to sail off into the sunset…loved them, but they still need to go. I agree about Cole, and add Singh to the list of still getting better for me, too.
I think a lot of people are ready for Antia Blake to settle down with her harem and for Laurell K. Hamilton to try something new.
But I dread the day Seanan McGuire sets aside October Daye. On the one hand if anyone needs a break from the crazy it would be Toby but I would pine for Tybalt. If Seanan ever did write a filler book I wouldn’t mind so much as long as we had plenty of the King of Cats to satisfy.
I haven’t read the October Daye books…is there one romantic lead, or does she have more than one love interest through the series?
The romance takes a back seat to the actual plot. There is a love triangle with two men vying for Toby’s interest but as far as fans are concerned there isn’t anyone who can compare with Tybalt.
Hmmm, sounds interesting. I don’t mind a love triangle, but I really don’t like the books where there is a new random fella thrown into the mix every time you turn around.
I agree with you! Anita Blake has gone on for far too long. And Tybalt’s the best for Toby!
Lora Leigh’s Breeds, Christine Feehan’s Dark, Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters – mind you – all of which I have loved well, but enough is enough – there must be an end; and it would be so much better to go off gracefully.
You know it is time to go when even the die-hard fans are saying it needs to end. That is like me and the Carpathians – have read them faithfully, but she can get three, maybe four more books before things just start to look a bit on the pathetic side.
Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter series. I feel she’s involved in way too many projects to be able to give us an story that doesn’t get the feel of “I’ve read it before” or “Why threat to destroy the world if we know Ash will pop up and save it?” I think she’s losing track of her series, even because she seems unable to complete the story arcs she introduced in earlier books. Retribution was bad and Time Untime doesn’t seem to be better – at least not like the earlier books. There’s always a major revelation, a major secret… and with each book I feel she’s copying and pastying the book she published before and substituting the characters’ names.
Also, J. R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood needs to end – I promised myself LAT would be my last attempt of reading this series. Curiously, her Fallen Angels are getting better, but it’s slow.
Gena Showalter, as much as I love her books, has made the LOTU series too lighthearted for my taste. And introducing new characters, mixing POV’s… yeah, I’ll keep reading them until she publishes Torin’s.
Kresley Cole and Nalini Singh don’t disappoint. I don’t think it’s because their series are… I don’t know, “new”, but even after all these books, they keep them fresh, with captivating characters.
I have all of the Dark-Hunter books waiting to be read, but it is just so…daunting, I guess – to see that many books in a series. I keep telling myself I will start them soon. Eh, maybe soonish is a better word. I am still a BDB gal, but I actually changed how I read them. I don’t go into it for the romance of the main couple anymore, but just for the overall story arc. But I do have to admit that they have a lot going on to keep track of, that is for sure. I am hit and miss with Gena’s Lords, though. Like you say, they can be almost slapstick comedic, and that usually doesn’t work for me. I like a sense of humor, but the constant zany antics can be a bit over the top. I am a total Torrin girl, though – can’t wait for his book.