Bargain

Otherworld Stories #5.3

by Kelley Armstrong

Available free online

Xavier gets the “From Hell” letter theft job.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Short Stories, Supernatural, Adult, Fiction

10 pages, ebook

First published December 1, 2005

About the author

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Reviews

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bargain is another of the quick little stories designed to fill in blanks and add more details to the Otherworld story. Bargain sits nicely between books five and six, giving us information that leads nicely into book six.

Whilst there isn’t much happen within Bargain, I know enough about what to expect with book six to realise this works as a nice little prequel. Reading this one is not a necessity, but it has worked nicely to build up more excitement for book six – in fact, I’m even more excited to give it a read now that I have an insight into what is to come.

A short few pages that do not add much, but worth it for fans of the series.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A free short story, 5.3 in the Women of the Otherworld urban fantasy series, revolving around a diverse group of strong, smart, and skillful supernatural women and their equally talented mates. The focus is on Xavier, a very detached half-demon.

If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Otherworld books on my website.

My Take
"Bargain" is the set-up for Broken , 6.

It was that third person protagonist point-of-view from Xavier's perspective that lets us in on his very different back story. Now I want to meet his family and find out if they know what his "career" is all about.

There's no real action, not as we would think of it. Meetings at Starbucks, strolling through a downtown scene of scurrying worker bees. There's a bit of speaking, and most of it is character-driven. Xavier's grifter character as he works through the parameters and assessments he considers as he plots to gain Elena's help. Y'know . . . criminal business versus regular business.

And now you'll have to read Broken to find out what Xavier really wants . . .

The Story
Xavier needs help, and he needs to work it so that Elena Michaels will want to ally with him.

This is gonna take a lot of thought . . .

The Characters
Xavier, despite his scar, is a born grifter, but a lousy thug ( Stolen , 2). He has three, successful, older siblings. Feathers is Xavier's business partner.

Tommy, a thief and fellow Evanidus half-demon, is a friend of Xavier's (with the perfect job). Roy is a whipped-cream-slurping toady who owes Xavier a favor.

Elena Michaels is the only female werewolf and part of the Danvers Pack at Stonehaven. She's married to Clay Danvers.

Lucas Cortez rebelled from his father and the Cortez Cabal and dating a council delegate, Paige Winterbourne, a witch. Savannah is the little girl (and witch) Paige took in, whom we first met in Stolen .

Robert Vasic, a Tempestras half-demon professor of demonology is the go-to guy on research issues, and no longer the council’s half-demon delegate — having passed the job on to his stepson, Adam Vasic, a fire half-demon who's friends with Paige, Lucas, and Savannah.

David Hargrave is a man-killing mutt. The Cabals are like a mafia family only composed of sorcerers. A Ferratus demon can harden their body.

The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with red words from the Hell Letter and a white silhouette of Jack the Ripper centered at the bottom. At the top is the author's name and the title in white.

The title is what Xavier is seeking, a "Bargain".

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This is an Otherworld short story, #5.3 featuring Xavier (half-demon from Stolen and Broken).

This story is the set-up to the Jack the Ripper’s "From Hell letter" in Broken (Women of the Otherworld #6).

This story was okay. But I prefer Otherworld short stories that are about the main characters from the series. But it was a good set-up for book 6.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Xavier wants to make Elena a professional contact of his and plans to help run a man eating mutt out of town. He also decides to try to find a job that he can hire her for and is intrigued to hear about the Jack the Ripper documents.

I failed to really see the point to this story. It is meant to be the lead up to Elena's investigation in 'Broken' but it doesn't really add anything to the story and can easily be skipped. It is just Xavier sitting thinking for the most part.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 2 out of 5]

First time Xavier's shown up since Stolen. I'd forgotten about him (the teleporting half demon if you forgot about him too).

Short POV that walks you through Xavier's conniving to get Elena's help in Broken. MEH.

[the judgy reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two reasons to read Bargain:

1) It fills in a few blanks and makes Xavier's motivations a lot clearer. Seeing him show up in Broken was a tad odd – you wouldn't contact someone who may want you dead for such a small favour – but this story explains exactly what he had in mind.

2) Xavier isn't the most memorable character in the series, but he is morally corrupt, which makes him interesting. He's also disarmingly upbeat and excited. It's a fun combination.

One drawback to Bargain:

1) The story focuses on explaining Xavier's motivations and doesn't do much else beyond that. There's no mystery, no threat. Nothing really happens.

[Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve previously read books 1 to 9 of their series many years ago, loved them all. It’s only recently that I’ve watched the TV series called Bitten which is based on the books which has made me want to come back and finish reading the series as well as all the short novels that have been written in addition to the full length novels.

So this short story with Xavier in it was a nice quick easy read, bit too short for my liking but it gives us a further insight to the character of Xavier.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short story found on the author’s website under Extras.

Xavier is a half demon grafter who later works as security for the Cortez cabal. This story is really just a short fill-in ‘scene’ about Xavier trying to come up with a way to make a bargain with Elena, a werewolf.

Fave scene: four MBAs.

[Anniken Haga · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I never liked Xavier, and this short only cemented that. Xavier is just what Karl was hinted at being in Bitten - but proved to not be: a manipulative man-child that prefer to use everyone around him.

This story tells us how/why he approaced Elena with the From Hell Letter-deal in Broken. Didn't do much else for me, but well written and ok story.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Xavier, the teleporting half-demon from Stolen wants to cultivate his professional relationship with Elena, so he goes looking for something that can serve as an excuse to get in contact with her again and he comes across the From Hell letter job. Short prequel to Broken.

[Girlgeorge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short online story of how Xavier came into the information regarding the From Hell letter. I was hoping for a Xavier story with these little extras, but more of a beginning story. This one didn't offer anything more about him or his personality that we didn't already know.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Xavier gets the “From Hell” letter theft job.

Heather's Notes
Oh how little did he know. Still nice to see how it all started.

[Shardallinee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bargain is a prequel to Broken (Women of the Otherworld series), and it is a very short tale about how Xavier got the job for Elena - stealing Jack the Ripper's From Hell letter in exchange of giving her a serial killer werewolf.

Something this simple, what could go wrong?

Yes, what indeed, Xavier? ;) He seems it a perfect bargain, a starting point of a working relationship between him and Elena. Easy? It turned out as anything but.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Knowing the plot of the next book in the series, this is a decent enough filler, and a free 10 pages novella is nothing to scowl at. I have a hard time rating such short novellas but I'd say somewhere in the middle. With this author I wouldn't have complained if it had been beefier but her writing is always entertaining even in small stories like this one, it fills up the world building even more and I really enjoy that.

[IbNancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

just downloaded it for free from her site ~to read yet
Just found it's included in "The Tales of the Otherworld" book now, so I have read it!
OK but that was 2 years ago, definitely going to read these again.
Highly recommend Tales of the Otherworld and Men of the Otherworld for all the short stories and background of all the characters in the series of books.

[gremlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure this is probably good background info if I had read it anywhere near when I read Broken. I only very vaguely remember that one though, and as a virtual standalone it isn't a very interesting story.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curious how Xavier ended up getting the From Hell job? This story gives the motivations and backstory that led to all the drama that came along with a "simple job." This would be a good lead in to reading Broken, but is definitely not required reading. You get some insight into how the supernatural underbelly operates, but other than that, there's not much value added.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set before book 6, and how Xavier wanted to build up a working relationship with Elena, and yeah, he actually has a family, 3 older siblings, and yeah, he thought that was it was going to be good. Loved it!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this series, but this short was just too short. It seemed more like deleted pages about how Xavier planned to pull Elena into his confidence. Having said that, Kelley Armstrong is an amazing author and I adore this series.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story, giving a bit of background on some of the charactors throughout the Otherworld series. It's a fun quick read. Can be found on her website http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/free-o...

[Michelle Tempted By Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story where Xavier plots to get Elena's help in collecting the "From Hell" letter. This is just a back story, it really has no barring in the entire story and will not give insight to anyone who is unfamiliar with the Otherworld.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little more background on the From Hell letter and Xavier. Somewhat confusing in that I'm not sure what Xavier's motivations are for befriending Elena and getting her on his side. Seems a little open ended on that matter.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't give a story by Kelley Armstrong less than 3 stars, esp since this one is a shortie. I like Xavier, but it's just too short to really rate it. :)

[Lilian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sure the story is good, but the short lack something....I wish it had more detail.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story, a prequel to Broken, about how Xavier got the job for Elena. Too short to give it a higher ranking, but I loved the humor, especially the bit about Xavier's scar.

[Riana Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

doesn't work well as a stand alone. Even if you've read the complete series, this is just more of a set-up scene.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story about Xavier and the letter from hell.

[Kerrie Salsac · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is strange to see the lack of sinister intentions that went into the job that takes place in Broken. Interesting when paired with the book for sure.

[Lizzie the Book Hoarder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything Kelley Armstrong writes in the Otherworld series. These short stories give us more insight into character we may not know very well or revisit those we love.

[Charlotte Witney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love these short stories