Omens (Cainsville, #1)

by Kelley Armstrong

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Otherworld series and Hemlock Island, the first chilling novel in the Cainsville series.

Olivia Taylor-Jones is shattered to learn that she’s adopted. Her biological parents? Notorious serial killers. On a quest to learn more about her past, Olivia lands in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois. As she draws on long-hidden abilities, Olivia begins to realize that there are dark secrets in Cainsville—and powers lurking in the shadows.

• ISBN10: 0142181064
• ISBN13: 9780142181065
• Publish Date: 24 June 2014 (first published 20 August 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Imprint: Dutton
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 512
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780142181065

Reviews

[Chelsea]

I need to stop reviewing books by Kelley Armstrong because they're always the same. I can't hate her. I can't even be disappointed in her. Ever. It's impossible. Kelley is easily one of my favourite authors of all time and that's a difficult position to get. She's an incredible writer and this book was no exception.

I'll start with the characters which were really impressive, as always. I loved Olivia/Eden. At the start I was sure I wouldn't like her. She was a typical rich girl who never hard to work for anything in her live. She really started to impress me when she left her stupid husband to be and never even thought about going back home. She quickly forgot her old role and jumped into a new one. She got a job and actually worked at it. I hate books where the characters, for some reason, are never working or doing anything. Olivia was a really, really great heroine. I also loved Gabriel. I loved him from the very start. He's funny, smart, and very attractive, which is a huge plus. I also really liked all the older people in the town. They're really mysterious and I'm excited to learn more about them in the next books. The characters I didn't like were, for obvious reasons, the husband to be, Olivia's adoptive mother, and anyone from that part of her life. Even the bad guys were really well done.

The plot was amazing from the start. I wasn't expecting anything like this. It just flowed so perfectly and there was always something interesting going on. I was never bored while reading it. I'm really excited for the next book to be released because I really want to know more about the town and her real parents. The writing, as usual, was incredible. The plot was funny, sad, scary, and happy. It was everything you could imagine. I love everything about it. I don't want to go into more detail with the plot because you really have to read it for yourselves. Give it a try!

[celinenyx]

Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, featuring werewolves and vampires and witches, is one of my favourite series of all time. It took me a long time to pick up Omens because how would it compare? Would it measure up to my expectations?

Actually, yes. It did.

Though it has to be said that Cainsville is a whole other beast than WotO. Where her first series is in-your-face supernatural, Cainsville starts off subtle, with the merest hint of otherworldly. Main character Olivia discovers her parents weren't exactly who she thought they were, and this discovery sparks a journey that takes her to Cainsville, a small town near Chicago.

On the surface, Omens is a thriller - and a good one at that. Ms Armstrong has a great command of language, and her writing lends itself well for the clear, direct style of a thriller. The chapters are short and the story moves fast. In the background, a murky image is starting to form, one that becomes clearer throughout the book. There is more to this fictional world than the ordinary, and Olivia is caught up in it all. There are quite some hints scattered through the story, and as quite the experienced fantasy reader, I have a pretty good idea what might be going on at Cainsville. For definite answers I will have to wait a bit longer though, because in Omens we are only just scratching the surface.

Omens is a nifty book which will appeal to both thriller readers as well as fantasy buffs. The main plot thread might be resolved by the end of the book, but it leaves us with more questions than answers.

[kimbacaffeinate]

The tale begins in Chicago where we meet Olivia Taylor Jones; daughter of a wealthy Chicago family, educated and engaged to an up and coming CEO with political ambitions. From her volunteer work to plans to further her Ivy League education, Olivia appears to have it all. That is until all hell breaks loose and in one night she discovers she is adopted and the daughter of notorious serial killers.

The events that follow had me completely enthralled as fate draws Olivia to the town of Cainsville with its Gargoyles and strange townsfolk. Olivia is hiding out from the media, and coming to terms with her past. Aided by Gabriel Walsh, her biological mother’s former attorney she begins to investigate their case. All the while strange occurrences and the town’s unique interest in Olivia hold me spellbound. Ravens,fairy circles, black cats...the town itself becomes a character.

Danger, strange omens and unique characters bring this tale to life. I love old superstitions and Armstrong weaved them in from the popular to the obscure. The more Olivia uncovers, the more she finds she has this uncanny sixth sense and I devoured these elements. The characters are unique and likeable even as I found myself unsure if they are friend or foe. While I closed this book with more questions than answers, I know beyond any doubt I will continue. Olivia is strong, confident and surprising levelheaded despite all that is happening.

While this series is quite different from Armstrong’s previous works, I actually preferred it. The mystery element is at the heart of Omens weaving in murder, the supernatural and secrets. The town of Cainsville is absolutely creeptastic. There is a wrongness about it but I cannot quite place my finger on it. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[elysium]

4,5 stars

Olivia Taylor-Jones comes from a wealthy family and has had a life of privilege. But then everything changes when she learns that she’s adopted, and her biological parents are infamous serial killers. The ensuing scandal drives Olivia from Chicago to a small town called Cainsville.
While trying to re-investigate her parent’s crimes, Olivia starts to notice something peculiar about the town.

I’ve read one Kelley Armstrong book before which I liked and I had high expectations for this one. And it didn’t disappoint me!

I liked Olivia who at first was just another poor little rich girl but she really grew after settling into Cainsville and learning to take care of herself instead of using the family money. When she learned about the adoption, she didn’t run straight into the arms of her biological family and still thought her adoptive parents as her parents. I really liked that even if her mother didn’t win the mother of the year price after fleeing to Europe from the scandal…

I think the best thing in the book was Gabriel. He was a lawyer who once represented Olivia’s mother and now helps her re-investigate. I sense a future love interest and I’m looking forward to it!

There is paranormal aspect in the book but it’s more mystery book. It worked for me but I haven’t read many of the author’s previous books so I don’t have much to compare it to. I guess we learn more about the town in the next books maybe paranormal things starts to come up too.
This wasn’t very action packed and felt like it prepared us for the things to come, but I didn’t realize until after the book was over that there didn’t happen that much in the book after all. But it kept me very entertained that’s for sure.

[Melanie]

4.5 stars

This is a new world for Kelley Armstrong. It is completely different from the Otherworld series we are used to. I can't wait to see where she goes with this one. It definitely has me intrigued.