2023 series reread continues....

I don't remember Broken being a tedious journey the first time around. However, this second read has been quite the opposite. It has been tedious and boring. There seems to be a whole lot of nothing happening, over and over again. This book truly gives the impression of being filler material. I'm left wondering if this frustration is the very reason why I stopped picking up this series in the first place. The "bad guy" was so blatantly obvious that it makes absolutely no sense that our trio of Clay, Elena, and Jeremy didn't immediately figure it out as well. And Jeremy's decision to withhold information for no apparent reason, under the guise of keeping Elena safe but actually prolonging the investigation? It's just a big no for me.

I still have a couple more books to go in order to "catch up" to the point where I left the series incomplete. I'm hoping that the remaining books will offer more excitement and less of this monotonous filler. Maybe there are hidden gems or plot twists waiting to be discovered that will make this reread worthwhile. Only time will tell.

Least Favourite

My least favourite thing is when something or someone is taken away and not brought back.

For example, there was this amazing character named Paige in a TV show. She was so full of life and had a great personality. The storylines with her were always interesting and engaging.

But then, for some reason, the showrunners decided to get rid of her character. It was really disappointing.

I kept hoping that they would change their minds and bring Paige back.

Every time I watched the show, I would look for any sign that she might return.

It just goes to show how much of an impact a character can have and how sad it is when they are gone.

I really miss Paige and I hope that one day she will be brought back to the show.

Sadly, I think this series is really losing momentum.

It seems that with each passing installment, the excitement and innovation that once characterized it are fading away.

The storylines are becoming predictable, and the characters are not evolving in a way that keeps me engaged.

Maybe it's time for me to move on and explore other series that can offer the kind of entertainment and intellectual stimulation that I'm seeking.

While I have fond memories of the earlier parts of this series, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment as it continues to decline.

It's always sad when a beloved series starts to lose its charm, but sometimes it's just the natural progression of things.

Perhaps the creators will find a way to rejuvenate the series and bring it back to its former glory, but for now, it looks like this may be it for me.

It was truly a pleasant experience to return to the captivating world of Elena. I have been making my way through this series at a rather leisurely pace, and it has been several years since I last delved into the first two books. She remains my absolute favorite among the women of the Otherworld (at least for now). However, this particular installment left me with a tinge of disappointment.

It boasted all the typical elements that are usually a recipe for a thrilling page-turner. I relished the engaging dialogue and the familiarity of the well-developed characters. Nevertheless, the plot failed to fully gel, and there was an overall sense of flatness.

The so-called "plot twist" was painfully predictable, and the "final fight" was, to be brutally honest, anticlimactic. There seemed to be no logical explanation for the characters' actions; they were all astonishingly oblivious. Moreover, Elena's "my way or the highway" attitude was becoming increasingly exasperating.

The beginning held great promise, with a supernatural pregnancy and the attendant uncertainties. But as the story progressed, that initial excitement fizzled out. There were numerous opportunities for more depth and excitement, yet they were largely squandered. Not to mention the seemingly endless pacing around Toronto with very little of consequence happening. Everything felt disjointed and fragmented.

Nonetheless, I remain a die-hard fan of the series, and this one lackluster experience will not dissuade me. It's just a pity that it had to be part of Elena's otherwise enthralling story.

Stars Breakdown - Should really be 3.5 stars.

Plot 3 stars - What I've found with this series is that the beginnings and ends are really good. However, it's the middle of the book that I have problems with. They tend to drag on and make the reading experience a bit less engaging. Unfortunately, Broken was no exception to this. Luckily, I'm a huge Elena and Clay fan, and that's what kept me going and willing to stick it out until the end.

Cover 2 stars - The cover of this book is nothing that would really catch my attention. It's quite plain and doesn't give much of an indication of what's inside.

Writing 3 stars - The writing is decent, but it's not outstanding. It gets the job done, but there are areas where it could be improved.

Originality 4 stars - The concept of the series is quite original, and Broken adds some new elements that keep it fresh.

Characters 4 stars - Elena is back as the point of view character, which is great. Nicholas and Antonio are finally in the book, and their appearances add depth to the story. There are also some other cameos, like Jaime Vegas, which are always fun to see.

Romance/Chemistry 5 stars - Clay and Elena are truly awesome together. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the series, and the romance and chemistry between them are palpable.

Action / Romance ratio - 80:20 - With Clay and Elena, there is always a little more emphasis on the romance and sex scenes. However, there is still plenty of action to keep things interesting.

Ending 4 stars - The ending of Broken is satisfying enough, but it doesn't leave you on the edge of your seat craving more.

Good enough to pick up again 3 stars - Overall, Broken is a decent addition to the series, but it's not my favorite. I would probably pick up the next book in the series, but I'm not overly excited about it.

I'm a bit disappointed with these reunions 2 years later.

The plot and the writing are nice, but I'm clearly no longer convinced by Elena and Clay.

As for the latter and Jeremy who are still hovering over Elena, it becomes ridiculous.

It's a pity because there were new characters with potential.

Maybe the author should have focused more on developing these new characters instead of constantly revolving around Elena, Clay, and Jeremy.

This way, the story could have had more depth and variety.

Additionally, the relationship between Elena and Clay seems a bit forced at this point.

It would have been interesting to see them develop in a more natural way.

Overall, while the book has its good points, it also has some areas that need improvement.

I hope the author will take these criticisms into account and create an even better sequel.

So we are back to Elena and the werewolves in Broken. I have to admit that Elena is not my favourite character. (I much prefer Paige, maybe that makes me more of a witchy person.) Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this book, just not as much as the others.

This series is evolving into almost like a supernatural detective series. Now, it seems we are adding a bit of history into the mix. The previous book included the story of Lizzie Borden, and this one combines the story of Jack the Ripper. I have to say that I was really intrigued when I read this on the back cover. However, don't let it mislead you. The Jack the Ripper theme does wear a bit thin. I'm not really sure where the author was going with this, but again, it's supernatural and fantasy, so who knows? The beginning of the book leads you into the story without giving too many details about the plot too soon. Kelley takes her time setting the scene and bringing you up to date with Elena and Clay, as we have been away from them for a few books.

Kelley is extremely good at explaining how things work in her world. She reminds you of all the different'species' traits, their strengths, their weaknesses, and so on. You can really get a good understanding of the world she has created. Most of the book is set in Cabbagetown, Toronto, a nice, normal town where supernatural occurrences should not be happening. I like the fact that the book is set in the real world and isn't overly complicated by being in a complex fantasy world.

So what didn't I like about this book? Well, we got only dribs and drabs of action. This is not as gory as the others in the series, although there is one rather disgusting bit. I couldn't see where the story was going, and in some ways, it dragged, but not enough to stop me from reading. It was a little far-fetched, even for a fantasy book. I had the feeling that it should have been a bit eerie and scary, but to be honest, I literally laughed my way through it. It really didn't feel as life-threatening as the others I have read. So, it's a 3-star rating from me. I can't wait for the next one, hopefully, it will pick up again.

I was truly overjoyed to have this series return to the werewolves. It felt as if I was reuniting with old friends I hadn't seen in a long while.

This particular tale commences with Elena being pregnant and, to some extent, bored. Then, the Demon from Stolen, Xavier, calls in the favor that had been promised. Elena seizes the opportunity immediately, eager to inject a bit of excitement into her life.

Regrettably, opening up a portal to another time that might potentially contain Jack the Ripper was far from what she had anticipated. Now, the need to safeguard herself and her unborn child from harm has become a paramount concern, as she now seems to be stalked by those who emerged from the portal.

The situation has become perilous and tense, and Elena must find a way to protect herself and her baby while also dealing with the unexpected and dangerous consequences of opening the portal.

I really enjoyed this next installment of the Otherworld series!

Elena is now pregnant, and it cracked me up to see Clay and Jeremy mother-henning her around. Given that she is the only female werewolf and her pregnancy is unprecedented (as far as the wolves know), it's understandable.

There is just something about the dynamics of the pack that I love. They are truly a family, and their playfulness is fun to read about. It isn't all about being a scary werewolf. Plus, I loved seeing Elena still be a badass while she is super pregnant.

I also loved seeing characters return and meeting new ones. Yay to meeting another decent vampire - I like Zoey so much more than Cassandra. As usual, I love watching Jaime get all flustered around Jeremy.

The mystery in this book was decent - not the best but definitely brought some new things to the table. I did figure it out relatively early, but I kept second-guessing myself.

Anyway, I think most people who've enjoyed this series will like this installment too. It isn't heavy on the romance but more about a family taking care of one another. Clay and Elena still have their amazing connection but are cautious with steamy things due to her pregnancy.

Overall, it was a great read that kept me entertained from start to finish.

Some spoilers ahead. This was truly boring, and I'm sorry to say that.

I simply couldn't develop any interest in Elena or Clay. Clay was extremely one-dimensional, lacking any depth or complexity. Elena, on the other hand, was annoyingly whiney. And all the other characters remained flat as well, failing to make any sort of impact.

The pregnancy aspect was completely uninteresting. Typically, when supernatural beings are pregnant, there is some fascinating character development that takes place. But not in this case.

These are hands down some of the most boring werewolves I've ever come across. I was not at all impressed with the world building in general. It felt lackluster and unoriginal.

The sex scenes were far from sexy. They just seemed like a necessary plot point that had to be checked off, rather than adding anything meaningful to the story.

The portal and the Jack the Ripper angle initially sounded like they could be fun, but unfortunately, they devolved into a zombie hunt that completely lacked tension. How incredibly inept are these werewolves that they can't catch just TWO zombies, over and over again? The apocalypse, which should be exciting and thrilling, was actually quite boring. And the bad guy was just as dull. Plus, it was the guy I suspected from the very start. It all seemed rather pointless.

After reading 250 pages, I was actually hoping for Clay to fall deadly ill from his infection or to start changing into a zombie, just so that something interesting would finally happen.

I can't believe that I liked some of the books in this series so much, while others just dragged on and on. Maybe it's me, but who really knows? Maybe if the book had been a hundred pages shorter, it would have had more momentum and been a more engaging read. I guess I'm finally calling it quits with the Women of the Otherworld, at least for now.

There's nothing really wrong with this book.

However, there's nothing really awesome either.

Clay and Elena are a great couple, but they were so pale in this installment.

I think maybe it depends on their finally being a couple, so the problems only came from the outside.

The story was also a bit of a mess.

It was like wandering aimlessly looking for something to happen.

There was no real sense of a plot.

I don't mean that I disliked it, but it seemed like a transition book.

It's just that it didn't have the same impact as the previous ones.

Maybe the author was setting the stage for something bigger and better in the next installment.

So, I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.

On to the next!

Armstrong truly caught my attention with the fascinating Jack the Ripper angle. I have always been a sucker for a good Ripper story, and this one had an interesting twist with a paranormal bent.

Honestly, if it were any group other than the werewolves... I really liked that the author disproved her previous assertion that werewolves couldn't get pregnant. Of course, there had never been a known case of a female werewolf being impregnated before, so no one had ever heard of a baby werewolf being born. But lo and behold, Elena found herself to be a mother-to-be. This endeared her to me and made me feel protective of her when an evil sorcerer and two zombies were suddenly released from a portal created in Victorian England. There are hints that one of the trio may be Jack himself, and Elena is his target.

The wolf pack, with the help of a vampire and a necromancer, must locate the trio and return them to the portal in order to close it. This is much more complicated than it sounds, as the sorcerer's greatest desire is to capture Elena and her unborn cub. Armstrong does a great job of having the two groups circle each other, each hoping to take the others by surprise and end the madness.

However, as always, one of my pet peeves with werewolf stories is Elena and Clay's constant need to stop whatever they're doing to have sex. We're hot on the trail of a zombie we need to capture? Let's have a quickie. People are disappearing into the still-open portal we desperately need to close? Time for some wolf-play. Really, I would be able to take these characters more seriously if they didn't act like lusty teenagers all the time.

That being said, this is a decent Ripper story and I did enjoy the plot twists. It kept me engaged and entertained throughout.