Please, Ms. Armstrong, May I Have Some More?

As per usual, Kelley Armstrong is fabulous.

I really liked Rough Justice, and it was so much fun to get back into Cainesville. My biggest hope is that Armstrong keeps giving us these novellas (and maybe another novel?!?!?!?) because I will buy and/or read anything that she puts out! Also worth noting that even though I got an ARC from NetGalley, I'm still buying the copy from Subterranean Press- gotta have those beautiful illustrations :)

Like the blurb says, RJ picks up with Liv, Gabriel, and Ricky after the events of Rituals. By this point, the trio has been balancing in their new dynamic for the last six months. Since she's agreed to try and find a way to support both the Cwn and the Tylweth Teg, Liv has to go on her first official hunt to mete out the Cwn's justice- albeit it swift, rough, and uncompromising.

However, Liv wouldn't be Liv without asking some questions. When she can't blindly follow the huntsmen's verdict, she and Gabriel get involved in an investigation to find out if the intended victim has truly earned the justice of the hunt.

Fans of Ricky should dig into Rough Justice- even though our glimpses of Ricky are very brief, there's something beautiful in the way that he starts to develop his role in the hunt. There's a lot of potential here for him to keep growing into his role as Arawn, and I'm hoping that there's some further development on the horizon for him. Fair warning- Ricky doesn't get a lot of page time, but I'd still count RJ as a "must-read" for lovers of the series.

Fans of Liv and Gabriel will love Rough Justice. Armstrong delivers scenes from both perspectives, so we get that multi-faceted view of their world, and their relationship, that is one of my favorite parts of this series. Even after six months, the pair is still learning how to function as a romantic couple, and I love that Armstrong stays true to their personalities (and especially Gabriel's history).

They make progress in how they relate to and communicate with each other, but it's a realistic progression, one that's believable and as amusing as always. I think that she does character growth very well, and it's wonderful to see Liv and Gabriel get to know each other more intimately as they continue to figure out what the other needs and how to give it to them. Not to mention, there's a lovely scene at the end that had me cheering (I've been on team Gabriel since the first novel).

Minor spoilers (depending on how sensitive you are)...

Rough Justice also shows that the series has such magnificent potential even though some major events are "closed" by Rituals. Armstrong leaves openings for further stories, and I really hope that she takes advantage of them. With new issues on the rise with Rose, Seanna, and Liv's developing place as a shared Matilda, I don't see how any fan could stop from wanting more.