All I can say about this book is that THIS is exactly what I was anticipating Paige's books to be like.

However, once I completed reading it, I most definitely received something far more substantial.

And as I go about my life and express myself, Eve Levine has become my new fictional girl crush.

She is such a captivating and dynamic character. The way she is written, her personality, and her actions all draw me in.

I find myself constantly thinking about her and the story.

This book has truly exceeded my expectations and introduced me to a character that I will remember for a long time.

I can't wait to see what else Paige has in store for us in future books.

I truly had a great fondness for this particular piece.

There was an abundance of suspense and intrigue throughout, which kept me on the edge of my seat.

I especially liked Eve's attitude. She is a remarkable character, embodying the essence of a strong woman, whether she is alive or has passed away.

Her presence and actions added depth and complexity to the story.

Moreover, I believed that the ending was nothing short of perfect.

It tied up all the loose ends in a satisfying way and left a lasting impression on me.

The way the story concluded was both unexpected and yet, in hindsight, completely fitting.

Overall, this was a truly engaging and enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to others.

Rereading old favourites is always a delight. It's like taking a trip down memory lane, revisiting the characters and stories that have touched our hearts and minds. Each time we pick up that beloved book, we discover something new, a detail we missed before, or a different perspective on the plot.

These old favourites have a special charm that never fades. They are like old friends, always there to comfort us, make us laugh, or inspire us. Whether it's a classic novel, a children's book, or a work of poetry, the power of these words to transport us to another world is truly magical.

So, the next time you're in the mood for a good read, don't be afraid to dust off those old favourites and give them another go. You might be surprised at how much they still have to offer.

So far, this installment is my favorite within the series.

I have to admit that I really despised Paige, and to my great delight, she appears only minimally in this one. Hooray!

Moreover, there are fewer of those awkward sex scenes, which is a relief.

I was quite intrigued by the concept of the afterlife and learning about the nix's back story. However, I did find it rather annoying that Eve and Kris are now portrayed as good, and allegedly they always were, just misunderstood. How lame is that?

I much preferred it when they were bad. It added more depth and excitement to the story.

I hope that in future installments, the author will bring back some of that original edge and not shy away from creating truly complex and morally ambiguous characters.

Haunted is the fifth installment in Kelley Armstrong's captivating Women of the Otherworld series. At the heart of this story is Eve. She was briefly introduced in Stolen, the second book of the series, as Savannah's mother before her untimely death. In Dime Store Magic, the third book, more details about Eve's past and character were unveiled. Now, Eve exists as a ghost.

Armstrong presents a unique take on the afterlife. For the majority of the deceased, the afterlife closely resembles this one, except for those who were extremely wicked. There is a special form of hell reserved for those who were exceptionally evil during their human and earthly existence. Eve is struggling to adapt to her new life as a ghost, even with her former lover Kristof by her side. The issue is that Eve cannot stop thinking about the daughter she left behind. Savannah is in capable hands, as Eve is well aware, but she can't help but observe from a distance.

Just when she needs it, fate, or rather the three Fates, intervene and assign Eve a task: capture and slay an escaped demon that has been causing chaos in the human world. This distraction is precisely what Eve requires to begin truly living her life again, in a sense. Other books in this series have focused on werewolves and witches, with glimpses of other supernaturals. The werewolves remain my personal favorite, and I eagerly anticipate the series returning to them. Eve was an acceptable lead character, but as a ghost, her interaction with the series' other characters is limited, which I found to be a drawback. Strangely, despite this book centering around Eve, her character doesn't develop significantly. More about her was revealed in previous books than in this one. This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy Haunted. I liked it well enough, but it is not my favorite book in the series.

This is not your typical ghost story. Eve is deceased, indeed, but she remains a formidable dark witch who struggles to adapt to the state of being dead and the afterlife. She fixates on her daughter Savannah, the sole source of pride from her tumultuous existence. Instead of moving on, she devotes all her time to watching over her.

However, everything changes when The Fates demand that Eve fulfill a favor she promised while still alive. She is the only spirit in the supernatural realm of the afterlife who is both clever and strong enough to track down an escaped Demi-demon from the hell realm, known as the Nix. Condemned to a particularly unpleasant part of the afterlife, the Nix has managed to return to Earth as a spirit. She uses her newfound freedom to possess the bodies of women who are already inclined towards evil and urge them to carry out their horrific fantasies. Afterward, the Nix abandons them to face the consequences and moves on to her next victim.

Eve is the perfect candidate for this task. She is tough, unrelenting, and remarkably creative in her methods. Nevertheless, she cannot capture the Nix on her own; for that, she requires the assistance of a rather timid angel who always seems to be occupied with something else whenever Eve has the Nix within her grasp.

I adored the interactions between spirits, angels, demons, and The Fates. Who would have thought that there was an entire special order of beings operating in the afterlife? Kelley Armstrong, that's who. It's a highly enjoyable and fast-paced detective story with a unique twist.

This is a re-read, and I must say that I loved it just as much as the first time, if not more.

As I delved into the story again, I picked up on more details than I did the first time around. Eve Levine is truly a fantastic character. She is strong, sassy, and has an excellent and cutting wit.

She is determined to do things her own way, regardless of the consequences. I can really relate to that, perhaps more than I should.

However, she is a little too intent on trying to have it all and is a bit useless when it comes to Kristof. But these flaws only make her more real. After all, nobody is perfect.

The incorporation of real-life serial killers in the story is a great touch. Thanks to Netflix and its Deadly Women series, I recognized a few more this time.

It adds a great level of realism and makes you wonder if Armstrong knows something that we don't. Overall, it's still an excellent addition to the series.

I was not anticipating to have any liking for this book. To be honest, I had absolutely no interest in the character Eve. Moreover, the beginning of the book failed to capture my attention right from the start. That's just the way I am, as I'm not a big fan of period pieces and the book commenced with a glimpse of the past.

However, the latter half of the book was extremely fast-paced. Despite being at work, I simply couldn't refrain from reading it. Honestly speaking, I have a great love for Kelley Armstrong's writing. It manages to keep me fully engaged. Although it's not really an effortless read, it's one that doesn't require me to think overly deeply.

Anyway, by the conclusion of the book, I felt that I had gained an understanding of Eve and the person/ghost she evolved into. Without desiring to disclose a spoiler, I was astonished by the ending and what transpires to Eve. I would have preferred to see more interaction between Savannah and Eve, but perhaps it was for the best the way it was. I award it a 5-star rating because there were moments when I had to compel myself to stop reading and the ending was a great one.

I find myself getting increasingly addicted to this series.

Every time I start watching an episode, I get completely immersed in the story and the characters.

The plot is so engaging and full of twists and turns that it keeps me on the edge of my seat.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

The characters are also very well-developed.

They have their own unique personalities and backstories, which makes them feel real and relatable.

I find myself rooting for them and hoping that they succeed in their goals.

I think this series is one of the best I've ever watched, and I can't wait for the next season to come out.

*RTC*

At a Glance

Haunted was a good read, yet it added nothing significant to the series as a whole. It had its moments of interest, but in the grand scheme, it felt a bit like a side story that didn't quite fit.

The Good

I have always been intrigued by how authors envision the afterlife, and Armstrong has a vivid imagination. She created a complex and detailed world for the dead, which was fascinating. Her descriptions were so vivid that I could easily picture myself being drawn into that world. As the story progressed, I started to care more about Eve, the dead, dark witch and mother to Savannah. I wanted her to succeed in her task and find peace in the afterlife. The action and fighting scenes, especially when Eve and her friends went after the demon Nix, were well done and really made the story come alive.

The Bad

The beginning of the book was slow. Armstrong bombarded the reader with a lot of information about the afterlife right from the start, which made it a bit overwhelming. I just wanted to get to the heart of the story. Also, the afterlife in this book was very similar to the world in Beetlejuice, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing. My biggest issue was that this story didn't contribute much to the overall series. It felt like a detour that didn't really add anything new or important.

The Snuggly

There was a bit of romance between Eve and Kristof, but it wasn't really my cup of tea. I never really liked Kristof, and Eve was just okay, so seeing them together didn't do much for me.

Overall

I had fun reading this book most of the time, despite the few things that bothered me. It was an enjoyable read, but in terms of following the series, it can definitely be skipped. I would only recommend it to those who are die-hard fans of Armstrong and want to read everything she has written.

Quote

“You'll wrest a burning sword from an angel, but you're afraid of bats?”

“I'm not afraid of them. I just don't like them. They're... furry. Flying things shouldn't be furry. It's not right. And if I ever meet the Creator, I'm taking that one up with him.”

“That I'd like to see. Your one and possible only chance to get the answer to every question in the universe, and you ask, 'Why are bats furry?'”

“I will. You just wait.”

Stars Breakdown

Plot: I initially had doubts about whether this story would hold my interest. The idea of a plot with a ghost as the point of view didn't seem appealing to me. However, I was proven wrong as Eve's story turned out to be quite intriguing. Nevertheless, I did have an issue with the length of the book. The story seemed to drag on and on. How many times could the Nix slip through Eve's fingers? By the last quarter of the book, I started to zone out.

Cover: The cover is rather unremarkable and fails to catch my attention.

Writing: The writing is decent.

Originality: The concept is quite original, which earns it 4 stars.

Characters: Eve, the point of view character, is a tough and engaging character. Her partner, Trsiel, on the other hand, is rather lame. How many times can an angel mess up? I also enjoyed getting to know Savannah's dad, Kristof, a little better. There are also cameos from Savannah, Jaime Vegas, Sean, Paige, and Lucas.

Romance/Chemistry: Eve and Kristof have a good connection, but since the story doesn't focus much on their relationship, I didn't fall in love with them.

Action/Romance ratio: The ratio of action to romance is 85:15, which means there is a significant amount of action in the story.

Ending: The very ending is good in Armstrong's style. However, the couple of chapters leading up to it dragged, and I ended up skimming (if not skipping) some of it, especially when Eve goes to hell. The story was already dragging, and this part could have been left out.

Overall, it's good enough to pick up again, but it does have its flaws.

My favorite Kelley Armstrong book so far is truly a masterpiece.

It earns a perfect 10/10 rating from me. There is never a dull moment throughout the entire story. From the very beginning, it grabs your attention and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The author has written it so perfectly that you can't help but be completely immersed in the world she has created. The characters are vivid and believable, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.

Every page is filled with excitement and anticipation, making it impossible to put the book down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great read. It is definitely one of the best books I have ever read by Kelley Armstrong.