Led Astray: The Best of Kelley Armstrong
by Kelley Armstrong
ISBN: 9781616962029
Published: September 2015
Available Format(s): Trade Paper and Digital Books
With her signature twists and turns, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong (Otherworld, Cainsville, Darkest Powers, Age of Legends) always gives a fresh spin on city-dwelling vampires, werewolves, and zombies. She is equally exciting when traveling further afield, to a post-apocalyptic fortress, a superstitious village, a supernatural brothel, and even feudal Japan.
Here is the first time that urban fantasy, young adult, mystery, and crime author Kelley Armstrong has had her stories collected from the Otherworld and beyond. From humorous to heart-stopping, and including two original tales, Led Astray showcases Armstrong at her versatile best.
Praise for Led Astray
Book Nook: Ten Best Books I Read in 2015
“[STAR] From the first moment, this collection of fantastical tales sizzles with dark promise, rich world-building, and complex, often haunting characters. In “Rakshashi,” Amrita has long since completed her penance for the crimes she committed as a mortal, and is willing to take any avenue to capture her reward. Tanya is a woman with a gaslighting husband and a complicated history in “A Haunted House of Her Own.” “Dead Flowers by a Roadside” features a grieving man who can speak to ghosts—all but the ones he most longs to hear from. “Harbinger” introduces a group of spirits who have a message but no voice. Each story feels innovative and exciting, and they work together to create a harmonious whole from glittering supernatural fragments. The stories are set at various times and places but all feel as though they spring from the same dark, dangerous, and fantastical world. This excellent anthology will thrill Armstrong fans and new readers alike.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“…excellent escapism for urban fantasy readers!”
—Risingshadow.net
“…excellently written…. I’m impressed, deeply impressed by almost every story in this book.”
—Fangs for the Fantasy
A Book Frivolity 10 Fantastic Fantasy Releases for September 2015
“If you are a fan of any of Armstrong’s series then this book is one that you NEED!”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Shocks, horror, grief, magic and a little romance [—] this collection has it all!
—Just Talking Books
“Kelley Armstrong’s Led Astray hits all the notes it’s supposed to, and quite a few higher ones as well…. plenty for hard-core fans and newcomers alike to enjoy.”
—Green Man Review
“All of the stories were really good. It was a lot like reading stories from The Twilight Zone. I highly recommend.”
—Buckeye Angel.booklikes
“An engaging dark fantasy collection for both fans and new readers of Kelley Armstrong’s work.”
—Libromancer’s Apprentice
“[A] really successful combination of short stories. Thumbs up.”
—Paperback Wonderland
“…she weaves the fine threads of the supernatural world with that of horror and you might just find yourself looking over your shoulder or wondering about the things that go bump in the night.”
—Penny Dreadful Book Reviews
“[T]his collection shows just how versatile Armstrong is as a writer. She does supernatural just as expertly as she does thrillers and suspense. This is a must for her fans, and new readers alike.”
—My Bookish Ways
“Armstrong’s writing pulls you in and keeps your interest. All the stories were well thought out and imaginative, and the conclusions to some will definitely not be what you expected!”
—Readers in Wonderland
“Overall, this would be a terrific introduction to Armstrong, but it is absolutely essential to someone who wants to have everything related to a particular series.”
—The Qwillery
Kelley Armstrong is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the thirteen-novel urban-fantasy series Otherworld (Bitten, Broken, Dime Store Magic), the six-book YA series Darkest Powers (The Summoning, The Awakening), and the Nadia Stafford crime series (Exit Strategy).
On Bitten
“Frisky. . . . Tells a rather sweet love story, and suggests that being a wolf may be more comfortable for a strong, smart woman than being human.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Filled with romance and supernatural intrigue, this book will surely remind readers of Anne Rice’s sophisticated refurbishings of the vampire story.”
—Publishers Weekly
On The Gathering
“She has a great, image-evoking writing style that’s fun to read . . .”
—Dark Faerie Tales
On Omens
“Author Kelley Armstrong has done it again. . . . In Omens, she has moved to another fascinating tale of paranormal circumstance, and riddled it with feeling and eerie happenstance.”
—Blogcritic
On Visions
“I was so interested in the characters I could barely put Visions down. Frankly, I enjoyed the hell out of it. . . . I cannot wait for the next installment.”
—Tor.com
On The Awakening
“The Awakening is one heckuva ride—from beginning to end, there is not a dull moment or even an opportunity to catch a breath and relax.
—The Book Smugglers
“Will exhilarate even readers new to the series. . . . Dark alleys, undead bodies and bountiful blood will cause shivers. . . .”
—Kirkus, starred review
On Sea of Shadows
“Sea of Shadows is a great fit for both the male and female reader who are looking for something more in their historical fantasy, especially if it’s tinged with enough horror-filled moments to bring shivers to your late night reading.”
—Lost in a Great Book
On The Summoning
“Teen readers might scream loud enough to raise the dead.”
—Kirkus, starred review
Visit the Kelley Armstrong website.
Contents
Rakshashi (standalone)
Kat (Darkest Powers universe, non-series narrator)
A Haunted House of Her Own (standalone)
Learning Curve (Otherworld universe, Zoe)
The Screams of Dragons (Cainsville universe, non-series narrator)
The Kitsune’s Nine Tales (Age of Legends universe, non-series narrator)
Last Stand (standalone)
Bamboozled (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
Branded (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
The List (Otherworld universe, Zoe)
Young Bloods (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
The Door (standalone, original to this collection)
Dead Flowers by a Roadside (standalone)
Suffer the Children (standalone)
The Collector (standalone)
Gabriel’s Gargoyles (Cainsville universe, Gabriel)
Harbinger (standalone)
V Plates (Otherworld universe, Nick)
Life Sentence (Otherworld universe, non-series narrator)
Plan B (standalone)
The Hunt (Cainsville universe, non-series narrator)
Dead to Me (standalone)
Devil May Care (Cainsville universe, Patrick, original to this collection)
