Arc Provided by Subterranean Press through Netgalley

Release Date: March 31st

The greatest compliment I can give to this novella, is that after being thoroughly annoyed with the way things ended in the third Cainsville novel, I am now _once again _ determined in finishing the series! So, well done! Objective achieved, lol
As to what happens in this novella, obviously I'm not going to spoil it for you guys, but I'll say that the basic plot was extremely interesting... okay, there's ghosts...and other supernatural beings involved.
Patrick, aka Gabriel's... now what have you read?
Have you read the first four books and the anthology "Led Astray" who has some pretty good shorts on Gabriel and his childhood? Because in the case that you haven't, let's just keep things...secret. Okay?
So, I was talking about Patrick who is a writer amongst other things... Olivia would probably use a much more colourful language about the guy!*snort*
Patrick decides to get more involved in Gabriel's life, and of course things don't go as they probably should. A big mess ensues. Gabriel and Olivia's relationship is still on the mend, and people are getting lost. In more ways than one...
Now if you're wondering, after all my blabbering, if you can read this novella without reading the previous stories, the answer is yes.
Of course by doing so, you'll be losing more than half of the "fun" :)

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I love Kelley Armstrong her Cainsville series and this novella is an awesome addition to that series. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the series and even more for those who like Gabriel. This novella is told from Gabriel his point of view with a few short chapters from Patrick in between. I really like Gabriel, he's one of my favorite characters in this series and getting to spend a whole novella in his head was awesome.

I feel like we get an even better understanding of him in this book. How he feels over what happened in book 3 and how it effects him and also why he keeps doing those things, we even see him do one of those push away actions in this book and get to see what goes through his mind while he does it. And through it all it's so obvious how much he cares about Olivia.

There's a bit of a mystery, Patrick brings the case to Gabriel hoping to get his attention. It works and Gabriel takes the case. There's a lot of figuring out what's going on and what the disappearing hitchhiker is. But besides that there is also a lot of character focus, we see how Gabriel interacts with Liv and even how Patrick interacts with Liv. And we get to spend more time in Gabriel's head seeing how he thinks. It was interesting to have this whole story without even getting Olivia her point of view as that's whose point of view we mostly get in the main books.

It was great to spend time reading from Gabriel and Patrick's their point of views and this novella does add some character depth and understanding even if it doesn't advance the main plot line. It almost could be read as standalone as the events here don't impact the main story, but at the same time it would contain spoilers for those who haven't read the series, so I would recommend to read it in order if possible. It's set between book 3 and 4 and also makes some references to another novella that was written in between these books. It was nice to get those other hints of the ongoing story and it was easy to imagine when this would take place. So it felt firmly set in the timeline of this series with mentions of what happened in earlier books. The mystery itself is contained to this novella, it has a beginning and an end. It made for a great read.

To summarize: This was a great novella and I really enjoyed it! I would recommend it to fans of the series who want more Gabriel. The whole novella is told from Gabriel his point of view, with a few Patrick chapters in between. It really helped give even more understand and more depth to his character. Gabriel is one of my favorite characters in this series, so I loved spending time in his point of view. It was obvious how much he cares about Liv and it was heartbreaking to see how he keeps messing things up and can't help himself. He's fully aware what he's doing and how it sounds, yet he can't stop pushing her away in certain situations. There's a small mystery that gets resolved before the end of the book, but mostly I would recommend it for the additional time spent with the characters. All in all a great read.

I have been loving this series since the beginning so I just couldn't wait on getting my hands on this story.

I love Lost Souls. The story is so very well written and I was hooked from the very beginning of this short book.

I do highly recommend this book.

Kelley Armstrong is an author that doesn't limit her stories to just the occurrences covered in her novels, but fills in that liminal space between novels with novellas and short stories that offer depth and glimpses into events that might otherwise slip into the cracks.

In Lost Souls we build on existing relationships and knowledge with a take on the classic Vanishing Hitchhiker legend, but with its own Cainesville spin.

Excellently executed and feels right at home within the series.

I have been a fan of Kelley Armstrong for years and the Cainesville series is one that slowly pulled me into its mystery. When I first started reading it I wasn’t quite sure where the paranormal angle was, but it’s slowly (quite slowly) been coming out. I didn’t jump on reading book 4 when it came out because I’m holding out for the audiobook, and lucky that because this novella takes place between books 3 and 4. So perfect timing for me to read it without having experienced book 4 yet.

LOST SOULS has us investigating another case that mixes what is believed to be a touch of paranormal and in this case an urban legend more so than an omen. The case was interesting in and of itself, but the way the author pulled so many personal strings around this case to draw the reader in made it all the more appealing. And all those strings in this case revolve around Gabriel. He’s the focal point for me in this story. His relationship with Olivia has suffered a bit after Deceptions and he can’t find it in himself to open up to her to fix it. Patrick is also looking to connect with him. The case gives the perfect backdrop to try and work through some of those issues.

Gabriel is quite complex as a character. There are many walls he’s erected to protect himself. Feelings are not something he’s used to or deals with well. But I think I’m finally seeing an internal struggle that he can hopefully overcome before the series ends.

Overall, this short novella delivered on the edge of intrigue I have come to love about this series while giving us some crumbs to mull over on the personal side. Perfectly done and I can’t wait to read more.

Even though only a novella, this captures everything about the Cainsville series that I love... Gabriel and Olivia working together and a creepy suspenseful story. Five stars for crafting a Cainsville short story without losing any of the special qualities that makes the series so great.

LOVE GABRIEL!!! I can't get enough of the Cainsville saga and am so sad to know it's coming to an end. It's a series I've reread a number of times already and am so glad to add Lost Souls to the rereads!

The Cainsville series is very well written, but partly due to bad reading habits, I always feel like I spend the majority of the novel wracking my brain to remember what happened last time. Again, mostly this is just my bad habit of not reading the books close together and not rereading before starting the next book.

That being said, I thought this novella served as a remedy to this situation. I was quickly able to remember he central conflicts as well as the interesting subplots that Armstrong is so talented with.

Also, practical Gabriel investigating an urban myth? Priceless. Even more so when you add in Olivia and Patrick. Additionally, I really appreciated the chance to read from Gabriel's perspective. Intriguing to say the least.

I would recommend reading the first three novels before this novella. A good stand alone this is not.

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.

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.

This was a difficult story to get into if you haven't read the previous books in the series and therefore only warranted 3.5 stars from me.

That being said I enjoyed the complexities of the characters and the 'ghost' story line .

Gabriel is approached by Patrick , a Cainsville Fae elder and also his unknown father ,to look into a case of a hitch-hiking ghost leading people astray .
Gabriel is at first unwilling to take the case but soon decides that it might be just the thing to tempt Olivia , his assistant, back into his life .( This is where you need previous knowledge - Olivia has gone on a trip after a disagreement with Gabriel on a previous case....)

The story is told as alternative narrative , jumping from Patrick to Gabriel to Olivia and back .

Whilst the backstory is about the 'ghost' the real story is about the relationship between the three main characters . How Gabriel is led by his childhood and fear of rejection , thus pushing Olivia away before he can be hurt . How Patrick wants to feature in his son's life and to get to know him but fearing Gabriel's reaction on discovering who he really is . How Olivia fears losing her job , not for the money , but for the friendship and her anger at Patrick for not telling Gabriel he is his father .

I found the characters engaging and the story a peek into the Fae world - leaving me wanting to read more of this Author's works .

I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review .

Ok this author enjoys surprising her readers and her Cainsville series is one that always keeps reader on their toes. You get a little bit of paranormal and a whole lot of mystery and this novella that connects Deceptions and Betrayals is no different. Revolving around Gabriel whose journey has been a hard one we catch up with him when he is at a low ebb. There's a connection between him and Olivia who works for him that is magical but not in the way you expect but as this story begins their friendship is under a lot of pressure. So what better than a new case to blow away the cobwebs and the one that Patrick is dangling fits the bill but is it real and just why is Patrick so keen?
I empathise so much with Gabriel and yet freely admit he's not the most warm and fuzzy character and yet he just works ! There is a sort of triangle running through this book involving Ricky but it's very much on the back burner as the author takes the ghost story of urban myth and tarts it up in her own inimitable fashion. Olivia has experienced so much and yet she will bravely go forward without losing that spark that makes her shine. As for Patrick instigating things well he never quite gets it right but hey ho at least Gabriel and Olivia somehow forge ahead or is that just maintain the status quo?
Happily even with Gabriel in turmoil he's not allowed to wallow and indeed he actually , shock horror seems to be facing reality! Although the reality here is that yes we now know the fae are real but perhaps ghosts are too? Plus there's a clock ticking away with a life at stake so time to pull on those big girl panties and solve the case!
I really do think this is something that should be read after the first three books in the series as it gives away a huge plot line that still needs to be resolved but as a way of catching up with characters it works very well . The twist in the tale as we discover just what is really happening whilst a little quick for my taste was a surprise but that's why I keep coming back to this author as her imagination just knows no bounds!
A copy of this was provided for me which I have voluntarily read and these comments are my own 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

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.

"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)

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

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.

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)