REVIEW: Otherworld Nights by Kelley Armstrong

Otherworld Nights is the first of three anthologies that are set in Kelley Armstrong’s epic, Women of the Otherworld series! Yes, you did hear right. This is the first of three, and each book has been packed with novellas that feature some of our favourite characters. I am huge fan of novellas, I think they add something extra within a big series of books. These long stories are a way for us to get back to our favourites, such as Elena and Clay and will allow the reader to explore themes and certain sub plots that we wished we could’ve explored more within the main books.

In this particular edition, we get a brand new novella, Vanishing Act. This is set after the series finale, 13. I have yet to read Vanishing Act, as I have been holding off reading the final book. You know when you love a series so much, and you don’t want it to end? That’s why I’ve been putting 13 off, but no more! With the arrival of these awesome anthologies I can safely wrap up the series and still get my dose of the Otherworld. In this bindup we get a whopping eight novellas. Demonology, Twilight, Stalked, Chivalrous, Lucifer’s Daughter, Hidden, From Russia, With Love and Vanishing Act.

It’s very hard for me to talk about some of these novellas as some of you may not be finished with this series or are yet to get as far book 6, Broken. A particular pair are featured heavily within Otherworld Nights and the events take place after Broken would give away particular spoilers. One of my favourite stories is Hidden. I just love these two characters and it was just perfect to read about their family and getting a glimpse into how life will be for them. Even though things didn’t turn out as expected, the growth of one of these characters (not saying the name to avoid spoilers) was emotive and it was a real pleasure to watch her come full circle. I loved how this book was less about a threat and more about the pleasure of coming together as a unit.

I just LOVE Kelley Armstrong. She is a magnificent writer and keeper of fabulous plot twists! Armstrong’s writing is addictive and her world building is creative and thrilling. I look forward to the next instalment of novellas that Kelley is writing for us and I am excited for a brand new, original novella. I highly recommend Otherworld Nights for all fans of Kelley Armstrong and urban fantasy fans!

As a side note, to give you a better idea of where about these stories take place, I’ve listed them for you. Demonology you can read anytime after Bitten, this is voiced by Talia. Twilight fits in after the 7th book, No Humans Involved and is told by Cassie. Twilight was actually bound in a previous anthology Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris. Stalked you can dive straight into after reading Twilight and is told by Clay. Chivalrous is Reese’s backstory and should be read after the 8th book, Personal Demon. Lucifer’s Daughter told by Hope should be read after Frostbitten, book 10. Hidden can be read after Lucifer’s Daughter and is a Clay and Elena story. From Russia, With Love should be read after 13 and features Elena. Then finally, Vanishing Act. Hopefully that will help you read these in the right order within this universe.