Kelley Armstrong (born 14 December 1968) is a Canadian writer, primarily of fantasy novels since 2001.
She has published thirty-one fantasy novels , thirteen in her Women of the Otherworld series, five in her Cainsville series, six in her Rockton series, three in her Darkest Powers series, three in her Darkness Rising trilogy and three in the Age of Legends series, and three stand-alone teen thrillers. She has also published three middle-grade fantasy novels in the Blackwell Pages trilogy, with co-author Melissa Marr. As well, she is the author of three crime novels, the Nadia Stafford trilogy. She has also written several serial novellas and short stories for the Otherworld series, some of which are available free from her website. Starting in 2014, a Canadian television series based on the Women of the Otherworld, called Bitten, aired for 3 seasons on Space, and SyFy.
Biography
Kelley Armstrong was born on 14 December 1968, the oldest of four siblings in a "typical middle-class family" in Sudbury, Ontario.
After graduating with a degree in psychology from University of Western Ontario, Armstrong then switched to studying computer programming at Fanshawe College so she would have time to write.
Her first novel Bitten was sold in 1999, and it was released in 2001. Following her first success she has written a total of 13 novels and a number of novellas in the world of the Women of the Otherworld series, and her first crime novel, Exit Strategy, was released July 2007. Armstrong has been a full-time writer and parent since 2002.
Her novel No Humans Involved (the seventh book of the Women of the Otherworld series) was a The New York Times bestseller in the hardback fiction category on 20 May 2007. Also, her YA novel The Awakening was a No. 1 The New York Times bestseller in the Children's Chapter books category on 17 May 2009.
Description of work
Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series is part of a recently popular contemporary fantasy subgenre of the fantasy genre that superimposes supernatural characters upon a backdrop of contemporary North American life, with strong romantic elements. Within that subgenre, she is notable for including many types of supernatural characters, including witches, sorcerers, werewolves, necromancers, ghosts, shamans, demons and vampires, rather than limiting herself primarily to a single type of supernatural creature. Most of her works have a mystery genre plot, with leading characters investigating some novel situation or unsolved question.
In the Otherworld novels, most supernatural powers are either hereditary, or arise from the act of an existing supernatural of the same type. The Otherworld, while it has overarching conflicts and plotlines that span multiple novels, is not an epic battle between good and evil. The novels are largely episodic with the continuing plotlines primarily involving the developing lives of the main characters.
Her contemporary fantasy writings share genre similarities with writers Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Kim Harrison.
Works Standalone novels Wherever She Goes (2019) Every Step She Takes (2020) The Life She Had (2022) (as K.L. Armstrong) Hemlock Island (2023) Known to the Victim (2024) (as K.L. Armstrong) Finding Mr. Write (2024) I'll Be Waiting (2024) Writing Mr. Wrong (2025)
Young adult The Masked Truth (2015) The Unquiet Past (2016) Missing (2017) Aftermath (2018) Someone Is Always Watching (2023), A Deadly Inheritance (2026)
The Women of the Otherworld Series The Women of the Otherworld books feature werewolves, witches, necromancers, sorcerers, and vampires struggling to fit as "normal" in today's world. The series also includes novellas and short stories, published online (and one in an anthology) Book #Publication DateTitleAnthology or CollectionNarrator0.5Jul 2012BeginningsWerewolves Tales of the Otherworld12001BittenWerewolves Tales of the Otherworld22002StolenWerewolves32004Dime Store MagicSpellcasters Witch Magic42004Industrial MagicSpellcasters Witch Magic4.5Jun 2016Wedding Bell HellSpellcasters Tales of the Otherworld52005Haunted62006Broken72007No Humans Involved82008Personal Demon92008Living with the Dead102009Frostbitten112010Waking the Witch122011Spell Bound132012Thirteen13.1Nov 2015BrandedShards & Ashes
All other stories may be found on the series' main article.
Otherworld novellas TitlePublication DateAnthology or CollectionCommentsDrivenJan 2016ForsakenJan 2015Bounty HuntDec 2014Graphic NovelBrazenDec 2013Otherworld ChillsAmityville HorribleJan 2013Otherworld ChillsForbidden NightsDec 2012HiddenDec 2011Otherworld NightsBecomingGraphic NovelCounterfeit MagicDec 2010Otherworld SecretsAngelic2011Otherworld SecretsChaoticJan 2012Otherworld Chills
Otherworld Young Adult
Wolf's Bane (Oct 2019) Wolf's Curse (Mar 2020)
The Nadia Stafford Series
Exit Strategy (novel, Jul 2007) Made to be Broken (novel, Feb 2009) Wild Justice (novel, late 2013) Double Play (Apr 2016) Perfect Victim (Nov 2017)
The Darkest Powers Series
The Darkest Powers Trilogy Book #TitlePublication DateAnthology or CollectionComments0.4DangerousDec 2017The Complete Darkest Power Tales Darkest Power TalesNarrator: Derek0.5KatThe Eternal Kiss1The SummoningJul 2008The Darkest Power Trilogy Darkest Power Tales1.5Divided2009The Complete Darkest Power Tales Darkest Power TalesNarrator: Derek2The AwakeningApr 2009The Darkest Power TrilogyNarrator: Tori and Simon2.5DisenchantedDec 2017The Complete Darkest Power Tales Darkest Power Tales3The Reckoning Apr 2010The Darkest Power Trilogy3.4Facing FactsDec 2017The Complete Darkest Power Tales Enthralled
Darkest Power Tales3.5Hunting KatMar 2012Kisses From Hell3.6BelongingDec 2017The Darkest Powers Tales Darkest Power TalesNarrator: Derek
The Darkness Rising Trilogy Book #TitlePublication DateAnthology or CollectionComments1The GatheringApr 2011Darkness Rising1.5The New GuyDec 2017The Complete Darkest Power TalesNarrator: Maya1.6The InvitationDec 2017The Complete Darkest Power Tales2The CallingApr 2012Darkness Rising3The RisingApr 2013Darkness Rising3.5AtoningMar 2015The Complete Darkest Power TalesNarrator: Chloe
Cainsville series Omens (novel, Aug 2013)) Visions (novel, Aug 2014)actual printed version of book Deceptions (novel, Aug 2015) Betrayals (novel, Aug 2016) Rituals (novel, Aug 2017) Portents: A Collection of Cainsville Tales (collection, Aug 2018) Cruel Fate (novella, Apr 2019) Rough Justice (novella, Jun 2018) Lost Souls (novella, Mar 2017)
The Age of Legends Series Sea of Shadows (novel, 2014) Empire of Night (novel, 2015) Forest of Ruin (novel, 2016)
The Blackwell Pages Trilogy Written under the alias: K. L. Armstrong. Co-authored with Melissa Marr.
Loki's Wolves (2013) Odin's Ravens (May 2014) Thor's Serpent (May 2015)
Rockton novels City of the Lost (Jan 2017) A Darkness Absolute (Nov 2017) This Fallen Prey (Nov 2018) Watcher in the Woods (Nov 2019) Alone in the Wild (Feb 2020) A Stranger in Town (Feb 2021) The Deepest of Secrets (Feb 2022)
A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying
A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying (Aug 2019) The Gryphon's Lair (Jun 2020) The Serpent's Fury (Jun 2021) The Final Trial (Jun 2022)
Haven's Rock
Murder at Haven's Rock (Feb 2023) The Boy Who Cried Bear (Feb 2024)
A Stitch in Time Book #TitlePublication DateComments1A Stitch in TimeOct 20201.5Ballgowns & ButterfliesNov 2020Under a Winter Sky2A Twist of FateOct 20212.5Snowstorms & Sleigh BellsNov. 20213A Turn of the TideOct. 20223.5Ghosts & GarlandsNov. 20224A Castle in the AirOct. 2023
Cursed Luck Book #TitlePublication DateComments1Cursed LuckMay 20211.5Goddess of Summer LoveNov 2021Hex on the Beach2High JinxDec 2021
A Rip Through Time +Book #TitlePublication DateComments1A Rip Through TimeMay 20222The Poisoner's RingMay 20232.5Cocktails & ChloroformDecember 20233Disturbing the DeadMay 20243.5Schemes & ScandalsDecember 20244Death at a Highland WeddingMay 2025
Series in collaboration Series Title#TitleIn Collaboration WithCommentsAngelVolume 5AftermathJoss WhedonGraphic Novel
Anthologies and collections TitleContentsPublication DateLike a CharmPlan B2004Witch MagicDime Store Magic
Industrial Magic2004Dying for It: Tales of Sex and DeathDeath Dealer2006Many Bloody ReturnsTwilight2007My Big Fat Supernatural HoneymoonStalked2008Blood LiteThe Ungrateful Dead2008Mammoth Book of Paranormal RomanceParanormal Romance Blues2009A Fantasy MedleyZen and the Art of Vampirism2009The Eternal KissKat2009By Blood We LiveTwilight2009Tesseracts ThirteenDead to Me2009Twilight Zone: 19 Original Stories on the 50th Anniversary A Haunted House of Her Own2009Campus ChillsHarbinger2009Hellbound HeartsThe Collector2009The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and HorrorA Haunted House of Her Own2010The New DeadLife Sentence2010EvolveLearning Curve2010The Bitten WordYoung Bloods2010Kisses from HellHunting Kat2010The Living Dead 2Last Stand2010Blood Lite 2: OverbiteLucifer's Daughter2010Men of the OtherworldInfusion
Savage
Ascension
KitsunegariFeb 2010The Urban Fantasy AnthologyA Haunted House of Her Own2011Vampires: The Recent UndeadZen and the Art of Vampirism2011Tales of Dark Fantasy 2Chivalrous2011Evolve 2The List2011Imaginarium 2012: The Best Canadian
Speculative WritingThe List2011The Monster's CornerRakshasi2011EnthralledFacing Facts2011Subterranean Tales of Dark Fantasy 2Chivalrous2011The Year's Best Dark Fantasy
and Horror 2012Rakshasi2012Blood Lite 3: AftertasteV Plates2012The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories
by WomenDead Flowers by a Roadside2012WerewolvesBitten Stolen
BeginningsJuly 2012Tales of the OtherworldRebirth
Birthright
Beginnings
Ghosts
Expectations
Wedding Bell Hell
The Case of El Chupacabra
BewitchedNov 2012The Hunter and the HuntedOff-Duty Angel
StalkedJun 2012Shards & AshesBranded2013Four Summoner's TalesSuffer the Children2013Mama's Going to Buy You a MockingbirdIntroduction2013SpellcastersDime Store Magic Industrial Magic
Wedding Bell Hell
Case of the Half Demon SpyJun 2013Dead Man's HandBamboozled2014Out of TuneMaking Music2014Rags & BonesNew Chicago2014Fantasy for GoodThe Kitsune's Nine Tales2014Subterranean Press MagazineThe Screams of Dragons2014Dark Screams: Vol 1The Price You Pay2014The Darkest Power TrilogyThe Summoning The Awakening
The Reckoning2014Darkness RisingThe Gathering The Calling
The Rising2014Otherworld NightsDemonology
Stalked
Hidden
Twilight
Chivalrous
Lucifer's Daughter
From Russia with Love
Vanishing ActOct 2014GiftedGabriel’s Gargoyles
The Puppy PlanNov 2014Darkest Powers TalesDangerous
Divided
Disenchanted
Facing Facts
BelongingMar 2015Led AstrayRakshashi
Kat
A Haunted House of Her Own
Learning Curve
The Screams of Dragons
The Kitsune's Nine Tales
Last Stand
Bamboozled
Branded
The List
Young Bloods
The Door
Dead Flowers by a Roadside
Suffer the Children
The Collector
Gabriel's Gargoyles
Harbinger
V Plates
Life Sentence
Plan B
The Hunt
Dead to Me
Devil May CareSep 2015Life SentenceLife Sentence
Last StandNov 2015Imaginarium 4Bamboozled2015The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2015The Screams of Dragons2015Science Fiction World Magazine (China)The Screams of Dragons2015Expiration DateSorry Seems to be the Hardest Word2015nEvermore!The Orange Cat2015Seize the NightWe Are All Monsters Here2015X-Files: The Truth is Out ThereDead Ringers2015The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror 2016The Door2016The Best Horror of the YearWe Are All Monsters Here2016Urban AlliesTailedCollaboration with Seanan McGuire.2016Strangers Among UsThe Culling2016Otherworld SecretsLife After Theft
Forbidden
Angelic
Zen and the Art of Vampirism
The Ungrateful Dead
Counterfeit Magic Jan 2016Otherworld ChillsBrazen
Amityville Horrible
Chaotic
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Off-Duty Angel
The Puppy Plan