The pack manages to steal a letter that is supposedly from Jack the Ripper. As they do so, they accidentally open a time rift.

What I truly enjoyed about this story was Elena being so real and expressing genuine concerns about her pregnancy. It added a layer of authenticity and depth to her character. Also, the relationship between Elena and Clay is just the best. Their connection and dynamic are engaging and heartwarming. Another aspect that I liked was Jaime being flustered by Jeremy. It was a cute and entertaining moment. And of course, having the whole pack together was great. It gave a sense of unity and family.

However, there were also some things that could have been better. Personally, I could have done without the Jack the Ripper vibe. It felt a bit out of place and didn't quite mesh well with the overall tone of the story for me. Maybe if it had been integrated in a different way, it would have worked better. But as it was, it was a bit of a distraction.

Hm. This instalment of the series has to be my least favourite so far. For some inexplicable reason, I just couldn't muster up any enthusiasm for it. The plot line simply failed to hold my attention. It seemed overly drawn out, with an abundance of unneeded descriptions of the pack's everyday activities that only served to bulk out the story.

However, the ending did manage to bring a smile to my face. :)

Thankfully, I'm certain that the next novel will be up to Kelley's usual level of awesomeness. She has a proven track record of delivering captivating stories, and I have no doubt that she'll continue to do so in the future. I'm already looking forward to seeing what she has in store for us next.

So, here's my take on this book.

I really wanted to rate this one 4 stars. However, Elena and Clay are among my all-time favorite couples. I missed them tremendously throughout the previous 3 books, which is why I just had to give it that extra star! It felt like a wonderful family reunion for me!

But to be honest, I think Kelley Armstrong should have focused more on the werewolf aspect of this series. I find it difficult to get as deeply involved in the other books of this series as I do in Elena's. I still have a soft spot for "Bitten" and "Stolen" and prefer them to this one. Nevertheless, this book is still a significant improvement over the last few.

I still have a great admiration for Ms. Armstrong's writing style. Therefore, I will most definitely be continuing with this series. And I'll do my utmost not to skip directly to "Frostbitten". I'm actually quite interested in Jaime's story, so hopefully, I'll be completely sucked into that one.

Broken is the sixth installment in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, and it's the second one I've delved into. While it's advisable to read the books in sequence, everything managed to make sense on its own, and it was straightforward to envision the paths the characters' lives had taken since the first book. I must admit, this particular one struck me as a bit on the silly side, even for a fantasy, but it still provided an enjoyable and quick read.

We encounter Elena, the werewolf, very pregnant and under the watchful care of her mate, Clay. They continue to live with pack alpha Jeremy Danvers and the rest of their pack in Upper New York. Their tranquility is disrupted when they receive a call from an old acquaintance seeking their help. This leads them to Toronto, Elena's former haunt, to carry out a B&E and steal a letter from a wizard. The letter is said to be from Jack the Ripper. The task involves some tricky partial transformations from werewolf to human, which is rather interesting.

The consequence of this theft is that a portal is opened, unleashing zombies and perhaps even Jack the Ripper himself. Elena, her werewolf mates, and other friends now have to race against time to close the portal, prevent the city of Toronto from succumbing to ancient diseases, and stay alive. Witch Jaime arrives to offer assistance, and they also meet Zoe, a vampire who might have been involved in the original theft of the From Hell letter. The plot is highly convoluted and confusing, with numerous suspects and theories about what transpired and what should be done. Jeremy and the other werewolves must safeguard Elena and her baby, while Clay steadily deteriorates after being scratched by an infected zombie. It's a bit of a whirlwind adventure, at times silly, at times sexy, and filled with plenty of action. I wouldn't rave about it, but it was still an entertaining read. (2.5 stars)

I absolutely LOVED this book!

Actually, I have a deep affection for this entire series. It is truly outstanding and without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites.

Anyway, this particular book reverts to being narrated by Elena Michaels, who just so happens to be the only female werewolf in existence. She finds herself obligated to repay a favor to Xavier, which incidentally involves the infamous Jack the Ripper 'From Hell' letter.

The only hitch is that she is pregnant. A pregnant werewolf agreeing to steal a letter - that doesn't seem like a recipe for success, does it? And when she accidentally activates a dimensional portal to Victorian England, things rapidly take a turn for the worse. There are repulsive rats, zombies, and water issues that suddenly invade modern society. Yuck!

The book is written in a delightfully casual and engaging style. Kelley has a remarkable talent for penning intimate narrations that completely immerse you in the story and make her characters seem incredibly real. Clay is a bit more amicable in this installment, suggesting that fatherhood has the power to soften even the most savage werewolf. And the pack dynamic persists, adding another layer of depth to the narrative.

Overall, this book is a thrilling addition to the series and I can't wait to see what Kelley has in store for us next.

As much as I loathe to admit it, "Broken" is by far the weakest installment in the "Women of the Otherworld" series. My dissatisfaction has nothing to do with the main characters. (I recall not truly liking "Dime Store Magic" simply because I didn't have much regard for Paige or Lucas.) Instead, it stems from the fact that "Broken" has a wish-fulfillment/filler quality. Let me explain further.

The novel's focus is on Elena's pregnancy. That's right, not a zombie outbreak accidentally triggered by Elena when she opens an old letter of Jack the Ripper, but rather her expanding stomach. I'm all for babies, weddings, and such fluff, but not in such excessive detail. The constant fretting over Elena's stomach, the vitamins, the eating, the purchasing of baby furniture, and Clay's and Jeremy's unyielding hovering over her quickly become tiresome. Moreover, the way both men act in this novel, in my opinion, completely emasculates them. They behave more like two middle-aged aunts than the paranormal heartthrobs I know them to be. I believe Elena's pregnancy should have been entirely omitted from this book, perhaps with the exception of a few flashbacks. It has its place in the Otherworld universe, but it should have been presented as a short story or novella (similar to "Beginning" and "Savage"). As part of the novel, it overshadows the story in a painful resemblance to "Breaking Dawn."

My second gripe is with the story itself, or rather the lack thereof. Typically, Armstrong's books are filled with fresh mythology and engaging mystery. Not so here. No new mythology is introduced. The zombie lore is flimsy and evasive, and even Elena's strange pregnancy remains unexplained. (It is accelerated, and what occurs during the Change is still a mystery to me.) The case is convoluted, with a lot of running around and reuniting with various familiar characters from other Otherworld books for no other reason than to pad the pages, as they显然 add very little to the investigation. And finally, the villains are simply laughable. Two zombies who can be dispatched with ease and the main antagonist (whom I won't name) who wants to get to Elena for some absurd reason.

After this assessment, you might think I despised the book. That's not the case. It is somewhat enjoyable. I still adore the characters, both the old ones (Elena, Clay, Jeremy, Jaime, Antonio, and Nick) and the new ones (Zoe Takano). There are some great dialogues, and overall, the story is fast-paced and a quick read. But I just expected Elena's and Clay's novel to be much better. "Broken" is nowhere near as good as "Bitten" and "Stolen." Although I'm disappointed, I'm not giving up on the series yet. I've already flipped through "No Humans Involved," and there's quite a bit of steamy Jaime/Jeremy action. Something to look forward to!

REREAD 2022

What I said in my original review still holds true. However, I also wanted to touch on a few aspects that have become more significant to me now than they were in 2020.

I have a deep affection for Zoe and the representation she offers in this world. Nevertheless, I'm still disappointed that we never received a book dedicated to her. I firmly believe she could have been an engaging main character to follow, especially since a heist story often writes itself in many situations.

Then there's T. As a person with both physical and mental disabilities, reading about T this time around truly had a profound impact on me. The way she descended into madness and her way of life were both shocking and eerily familiar, causing my heart to ache. But I also greatly appreciate the fact that Zoe does everything in her power to help T, and the interactions between the women in those chapters are truly touching. T is yet another character and plot point that could easily be incorporated into a book about Zoe, just saying.

I am maintaining my original rating because I listened to the entire book in a single day and never once felt bored. Hurray!

REREAD 2020

What I recall about reading BROKEN for the first time was my intense investment in the pregnancy and my eagerness to get to know the child.

This aspect remained unchanged during this reread. In fact, being aware of what would happen and the plot of the story only enhanced my enjoyment in that regard.

It was also a delight to reunite with the pack and follow them as the main characters, as they are my original favorites in this series.

The only thing that I feel may have shifted for me with this book is that it felt a little too long. There was a great deal of back and forth, and while some of it is inevitable given the nature of the world, perhaps they could have somehow condensed everything by one day.

I never actually experienced boredom or anything of the sort, but... I don't know... I'm not a fan of books that meander, and there was a bit of that here.

New rating: 4/5 stars

Original rating: 5/5 stars

I didn't enjoy this book as much as others in the series about werewolf Elena and her pack (Jeremy, Clay, Nick, Antonio).

I am not sure if it's because the book is weaker than others, or if I have been away from the series long enough to see weaknesses.

What I didn't like was how long it took the werewolves, who have superior strength and senses of smell and hearing, to track down and catch the bad guys.

It felt like the author was making it harder than it should have been just to drag out the story.

The pacing seemed off, and it made it difficult for me to stay fully engaged.

I expected more action and excitement from a werewolf story, especially one involving such a strong and capable pack.

However, despite my disappointment, I still have some hope for the series.

Maybe this was just a one-off book that didn't meet my expectations, and the next one will be better.

I will probably give the series another chance and see if it can redeem itself.

Overall, while this book wasn't a complete disaster, it definitely didn't live up to the potential of the series.

I have a deep passion for fantasy, which is why I was eager to read this book. Previously, I had only delved into young adult fantasy and craved something more geared towards adults. Having watched the TV show, I had always intended to read the series. During the lockdown, I re-watched the show and was reminded of my love for it. I decided to embark on this reading journey and was not disappointed by the first few books. I'm delighted that the pack is back in this installment as my admiration for Elena remains unwavering.

This book centers around Elena Michaels, whom we were introduced to in the first book. She wasn't seeking trouble, but when a half-demon requests a favor, she has little option but to comply. The task appears straightforward: steal Jack the Ripper's infamous "From Hell" letter from a dubious collector in Toronto. However, in the supernatural underworld, nothing is ever that simple. When Elena accidentally activates a spell on the letter, she opens a portal to the dark streets of Victorian London. It's bad enough that Jack the Ripper might be on the loose in the modern world, but there's something even more terrifying lurking in the shadows, waiting to cross over. Only Elena and her Pack can prevent this from happening.

I have a profound love for the pack. Even when they're simply going about their domestic lives and not engaged in any action, I still find their story captivating. I adore Elena and Clay and their relationship, characterized by their willingness to do anything for each other while also enjoying winding each other up. I love the entire dynamic of their relationships. I'm also rooting for Jaime and Jeremy. I'm glad Nick has returned as I missed him in the previous few books. I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper and whether he was back and hunting people.

The only aspect that slightly marred my enjoyment and prevented me from giving this book five stars was the inclusion of zombies. While I understand that this is a supernatural world, I felt it was a bit excessive. I can handle wolves, witches, vampires, and all the other creatures in between, but zombies just didn't appeal to me. I'm hoping that the next book focuses solely on Clay and Elena dealing with a mutt or wolf problem rather than introducing new creatures.

This one truly had me guessing almost throughout the entire duration.

For a while, I was certain that I knew who the culprit was, yet I kept wavering on my decision. I simply couldn't make up my mind! But once it was revealed, lo and behold, I had been right all along.

I was truly shocked to discover that Elena was pregnant in this book. However, I was overjoyed that Elena and Clay were finally happy and secure in their relationship. It was so adorable how Clay and Jeremy continuously doted on her, while she kept getting frustrated with them. I have really missed Elena's sarcasm. That's always been one of the things I liked about her. Another aspect that made me happy with this book was that Antonio and Nick played a significant role. We haven't seen those two since the first book! There was also a good deal of Jaime once again. Thank goodness her book with Jeremy comes after this one because that couple has been so built up that at this point I'm just eager for it to happen! She's been infatuated with him for 3 years!

The biggest surprise for me was how much I liked Zoe, a vampire who was a major part of this book. I would have been extremely upset if Hull had actually managed to kill her. She's really cool and funny.

To be honest, the book was mostly about the pack tracking zombies by smell. They never really made much progress. The bad guy basically had to announce himself. This should have annoyed me, but since I could never determine who was playing tricks on the Pack: Hull, Anita, Tolliver or Shanahan, it didn't bother me. Wolves sniffing for scents really shouldn't be that exciting, but Kelley Armstrong sure made it engaging.

Another solid addition to the series.

At a Glance

I did enjoy reading Broken, but I feel it was a filler book. It didn't seem necessary to advance the series. However, I was excited to have another story about Elena and Clay.

The Good

We finally have another book featuring Elena and Clay, my favorite characters in the series. I loved them in Bitten and Stolen, and I loved them in this book too. Elena is 5 months pregnant, and as the only female werewolf, pregnancy brings unknown risks. She is very fearful. Clay and Jeremy are both nervous wrecks, which I found realistic. Once the action starts, Broken is a quick read with good mystery and action. When Elena releases a well-known serial killer who brings zombies and killer rats, the group has to call in reinforcements. We get to see Nick, Anthony, and Jaime again, and when Jaime is on the scene, the fun and hilarity begin. Armstrong excels at dialogue, and these characters are great at witty banter. We also meet new characters, like Zoe the vampire, who had me laughing the whole time. I hope to see her again. Elena and Clay are in a great place. They are starting a family and still have great chemistry. Clay is still very protective, and what he goes through in this book gives him more depth and some intense scenes.

The Bad

A lot of the book focuses on Elena's pregnancy, which is fine for a paranormal book, but it seemed odd. The paranormal part with Jack the Ripper and the zombies attacking felt forced and had nothing to do with the series as a whole. Some of the scary parts were too briefly described, so we didn't get to fully experience the excitement. I also found it annoying that Elena takes on this "case" while putting her babies in danger. She is a pregnant woman and does dangerous things because she is bored. Come on, Elena, don't be so stupid and selfish.

The Snuggly

We get two sex scenes that are sexy and playful but not overdone.

Overall

The characters make this book worth reading. Seeing our old favorites is great, but don't expect an original and deep plot. Read this book for the characters we love. Recommended for series followers.

Quotes

“We scarified a mosquito. I bet that's what did it. It was probably a virgin too.”

~~~~~~

“Go out and ask her into the alley.”

Clay looked at Jeremy as if he’d just been told to dance the rumba on a public thoroughfare.

I bit back a laugh. “Just walk over to her and point at the alley. Maybe say…I don’t know…something like ‘fifty bucks.’ ” I looked at Jeremy. “Does that sound right? Fifty?”

His brows shot up. “Why are you asking me?”

“I wasn’t—I just meant, as a general…” I threw up my hands. “How am I supposed to know how much a hooker costs?”

Armstrong has a remarkable talent for making her characters seem "real" within a paranormal world that, with a bit of imagination and stretching, *could* potentially be hidden on the fringes of our own.

This particular work, like her others, serves as a great light read for entertainment purposes. It offers an escape into a world filled with supernatural elements and engaging characters.

However, as she continues to produce more work, there is a sense that she may be veering more towards catering to the audience. Perhaps she is working a bit too hard at trying to meet their expectations and deliver what they want.

While this may ensure commercial success to some extent, it also raises questions about the authenticity and artistic integrity of her work. Will she be able to maintain the balance between creating engaging stories and staying true to her own creative vision? Only time will tell.