Bitten

3.5 ☆

I was far better at killing things than keeping them alive. Good thing I never planned to have children.

Bitten isn't my typical urban fantasy choice as it focuses on werewolves. However, I was intrigued by the gradual revelation of the main protagonist, Elena Michaels' personality and history in this lengthy 436-page book. She's a misfit trying hard to fit in with humanity. Elena may not be an entirely likable character, but her first-person POV helps to temper her less appealing traits.

\n  \n    Human rules confused me... The problem arose with human interactions. My childhood was rather messed up. Then, just as I was on the verge of adulthood, I was bitten and spent the next nine years with werewolves.

Maturity is highly overrated. \n  \n

The werewolf mythology in Bitten varies from others I've encountered in urban fantasy. Werewolves are few in number and thus hide their existence. Only males can be born as werewolves, and most shift for the first time during puberty. Then there's Elena, the only female werewolf, due to an unwanted werewolf bite. (This seems like a plot device, as surely more female shifters could be created.) There's only one Pack in the country, led by alpha Jeremy, who is based in rural New York.

\n  \n    I didn't deserve Jeremy's kindness. I knew that. I suppose that's why I always questioned his motivation... When I realized there was nothing bad in Jeremy, I latched onto another excuse: that he was good to me because he was stuck with me, because he was a decent guy and maybe even because he felt some responsibility for what his ward had done to me. I wanted him to enjoy my company, but couldn't believe it because I didn't see much in myself to justify it.\n  \n

Elena's role within the Pack was to keep an eye on the mutts. These are the werewolves who are nomadic or who don't want to submit to the alpha's authority. Unlike other werewolf UFs, being a werewolf in this story involves more than just a human preoccupied with their place in the pack's dominance hierarchy. Armstrong's werewolves have a stronger animal nature, which Elena struggles against, and that's why she lives in Toronto with Philip instead of with the Pack.

\n  \n    Philip courted me with all the patience of someone trying to coax a half-wild animal into the house, and like many a stray, I found myself domesticated before I thought to resist. \n  \n

But Elena can't escape her dual nature, and she can't ignore the Pack's call when there's trouble from rogue werewolf mutts. Returning to the Pack means seeing Jeremy's ward, whom Elena wants to avoid.

\n  \n    “You forget, darling. I am the local psychopath.”

Here I had a wonderful man who cared for me, and I was messing around with a self-absorbed, conniving monster who'd betrayed me in the worst possible way. \n  \n

Jeremy wouldn't have contacted Elena if it weren't an emergency. Soon, the stakes become extremely high as the mutts have joined forces and are trying to overthrow Jeremy...

Pretty much until the last twenty percent, I was quite satisfied and was considering giving Bitten 4 stars. The pace was a bit slow, but I had enjoyed the natural unfolding of Elena's personality, her issues, and those of the other key characters. However, in the final stretch, Elena acted rather stupidly, sigh. I was already reading an atypical female UF character for me, so I didn't appreciate being pushed off the fence I had been sitting on. The ending also had two overly convenient assists instead of taking a more logical path. Oh well, Bitten was still a good read, and I'll check out the sequel.


#2 Stolen 3.5 ☆
#6 Broken 3.5 ☆
#7 No Humans Involved 3.5 ☆
#10 Frostbitten 4 ☆

Men of the Otherworld #1 3.5 ☆ rounded up
Tales of the Otherworld #2 3.5 ☆
Otherworld Nights #3 3.5 ☆

Elena Michaels is resolute in her decision to go solo. She firmly believes she doesn't require the pack. Nor does she need Clay, the werewolf who deceived her, made her think he was in love with her, and then turned her into a werewolf without her consent or even informing her about his true nature. To compound matters, it turns out that she is the sole female werewolf in the world. That's right. Elena is the Only One and has no interest in dealing with the inevitable "attention" that comes her way. So, she departs from the pack and relocates to Toronto, where she secures a job as a journalist and finds a nice, ordinary boyfriend to cuddle with. However, the problem is that she can't outrun her past, and she can't escape the call of the wolf.

Her difficulties intensify when the pack needs her assistance, and Jeremy, the Alpha, summons her back home to help them solve a series of grisly murders. They suspect some mutts (rogue wolves) are responsible for the chaos, and Elena's specialty happens to be tracking mutts. Unable to decline Jeremy's summons, Elena reluctantly returns to the compound in upstate New York, gritting her teeth in anticipation of the reception she will receive. As it turns out, Clay has been waiting for her all this time, insisting that he is still in love with her and always has been. Elena is fairly certain that she is still in love with him too. But none of this prevents them from bickering like teenagers and snarling at each other whenever they have the opportunity.

The scenes where the members of the pack interact as a motley, rowdy family are extremely well executed. The same goes for Elena's painful transformations from human to wolf form. The undeniable sense of freedom and belonging that she experiences upon returning to the pack is vivid and palpable, and I found myself completely engrossed in discovering the fate of these vulnerable, larger-than-life characters. Elena's external and internal conflicts were well-plotted and captivating, and the book builds steadily towards an intense showdown between the pack and the mutts. Only in the final few pages is anything resolved, and unfortunately, I felt that the internal conflict was resolved far too hastily. Elena and Clay's relationship was delightfully messy and complex, with layer upon layer of distrust and longing. The book itself was nearly 400 pages long, and attempting to untangle the mess in just the last six pages left me dissatisfied and disappointed. I liked the entire intricate web and felt that it deserved a more meticulous treatment in the end. I am currently still grappling with whether or not to pick up the sequel, Stolen.

I read this for the “Werewolves” square of my 2017 Halloween Bingo card.

I constantly remind myself that this is the first book in a series. Often, I tend to like the later books better once the author has found their rhythm. I'm sitting on the fence with a 3-star rating for this one. I have some issues with it, but it was interesting enough for me to finish, not just because of my Bingo game!

Elena, the main character, really frustrated me. She should probably be a cat of some sort because no matter where she was, she always thought she wanted to be somewhere else. If she was in Toronto, she thought she'd be happier in Stonehaven. Then, when she's summoned to Stonehaven, she's angry and wants to be back in Toronto. She's supposedly trying to build an ordinary life with Philip in Toronto, but almost immediately has sex with Clayton when she returns to the werewolf world. The pattern repeats - whichever man she's with, she wants the other one.

Philip, although we see very little of him (and never from his perspective), looms in the background of most of the book. He's an unusually patient man who spent months getting to know Elena and seems to be stealthily adding more ties to their relationship as time goes on. What he finds attractive is a bit of a mystery. He's sleeping with a woman who regularly sneaks out in the middle of the night and doesn't explain why. She's slim from all that nocturnal wolf running and starving herself to hide her amazing werewolf appetite, but she admits she hates clothes shopping and doesn't pay much attention to her appearance. She's secretive, understandably to those of us who know, but not at all creative with her excuses for her behavior, and Philip doesn't seem to have the ability to question her like a normal lover would.

In the foreground is Clay, who doesn't care about people at all, only werewolves. He liked Elena, so he bit her to trap her in his world. He's not the alpha (that's Jeremy), but he's still an overbearing jerk who only listens to Elena when he feels like it. To be fair, he has some reasons for that, since she seems to lie to herself quite often about what she really wants and what's realistic for a woman in her situation.

So the ending of this volume wasn't a surprise to me - there was only one way things could be resolved, it was just a matter of the path Armstrong took me on to get there. I know a lot of my Goodreads friends who like urban fantasy love this series, so I'm going to persevere for a book or two more to see if I can get into it. After all, I'd love to support a Canadian writer and read fantasy set in my own country.

2.5 Stars

Before delving into this book, I had only read Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, which I adored. Thus, I entered this with high expectations. However, to my great disappointment, it failed to meet them. Don't misunderstand me; this book held promise, but it felt as if it took an eternity to reach its potential.

My primary concern revolved around the characters, especially Elena. She was in no way a likable character. She treated those around her abominably, including her extremely patient and understanding boyfriend. She was so muddled about what she desired and couldn't handle her own indecision that she lashed out at anyone who showed her kindness. I'm also not a fan of people cheating, especially when they know it's wrong yet use excuses like 'what happens in Vegas'. I truly despised Elena, and it seemed that the sole reason everyone else liked her was because she was the only woman in a werewolf clan.

The side characters were marginally better, but still not given much depth. Clayton was the most interesting, yet still very much the alpha male who believed he owned women. I don't know; perhaps I now seek a bit more from my romances than just animals in a frenzy - because that's precisely what this seemed like. Oh, and then there were the numerous pages spent inside a werewolf's mind, discussing how dirt feels beneath its paws.

Regarding the mystery, an excessive amount of information was bombarded at us, so I never truly grasped all the players. Since I kept confusing them, there were no shocking or jaw-dropping moments. Will I continue the series? Honestly, I'm uncertain. Nothing truly enticed me into the world and made me eager to persevere.

The only two characters I truly liked in this story were Clay and Jeremy. Their presence was the sole reason that made me consider continuing with the series.

Otherwise, the plot left much to be desired. It was highly predictable, with a rather cliched love triangle thrown in for the sake of some intermittent drama. In my opinion, cheating is an absolute no-no. Even though the main character, Elena, claimed to love Clay, she repeatedly cheated on her current partner with him. This behavior really didn't endear her to me at all.

The world-building in this book was also rather lackluster. It didn't offer anything particularly unique or captivating. As for Elena, there were moments when I felt some sympathy for her and her past, but for the most part, I found myself disliking her.

Moreover, this book leaned too heavily towards paranormal romance (PNR) for my personal taste. I'm a big fan of urban fantasy (UF) books, but I've yet to come across an adult PNR series that I truly loved. The Fever series, for instance, failed to impress me. In fact, I completely hated that series and the character Barrons.

However, I must mention that the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews is an exception. I adored it because it read more like UF and, of course, because of the amazing writing skills of Ilona Andrews.

Among Kelley Armstrong's works, her Darkest Powers YA series still stands out as the best. Her other YA trilogy, Darkness Rising, is also a bit more interesting than this particular book so far. But I have to admit that I liked Bitten more than the rather confusing first book of her other adult UF series, Omens.

is far more than just a typical werewolf book. It indeed chronicles the story of Elena, a werewolf, and the numerous trials and tribulations her pack endures. There is an abundance of action and steamy scenes. However, what truly sets this book apart is the complex web of emotions evoked by our main character.

Elena never desired to be a werewolf. Her childhood was a living nightmare, bouncing around the foster system and suffering from horrific abuse. She managed to survive, holding onto the hope of creating a normal life for herself, one where she could grow up and have the family she never had. But all that changed in college when her fiance, Clay, bit her and turned her into a werewolf. That was approximately a decade ago, and she still hasn't forgiven him. Instead, she abandoned her pack and started afresh, hiding her true nature and passing herself off as a normal woman, especially to her live-in boyfriend, Phillip.

But she is compelled to return to the pack when her alpha, Jeremy, calls for her assistance. There is a rogue wolf in the pack's territory, and they need Elena's help to track him down. Clay is also there, making the situation even more complicated. As the story unfolds and the rogue-wolf plot becomes increasingly dangerous and deadly, we witness Elena engaged in a fierce battle with the pack, Clay, and herself as she struggles to figure out where she truly belongs.

Armstrong does an excellent job of presenting both sides of Elena's conflicting emotions. The hurt and resentment she feels towards Clay are entirely understandable given her traumatic past. Yet, at the same time, it is evident that there is something profound between them. Clay loves her deeply, and this is even more significant when compared to his general disregard for almost everyone else. Elena and Jeremy are his entire world. And it is clear that no matter how much Elena was hurt by his bite, her heart will always be connected to him. He is an integral part of her. Her relationship with Jeremy is equally fascinating. She is extremely insecure about his feelings as he remains mysterious and unreadable. He gives her orders that sometimes seem cruel, but upon closer inspection, one can understand the reasoning behind his decisions. And even if it is not obvious to her, it is clear to me that he loves her.
Elena's relationship with Phillip definitely adds to the complexity. It is hard not to be slightly put off by the fact that she jumps from his bed to Clay's without a hint of guilt. I suppose this reveals where her true heart lies, but it does not paint her in the most flattering light. Armstrong makes it clear that Elena is far from perfect, but perhaps that is what makes her a more compelling heroine.
The book is filled with action. Several characters meet their demise, and they are not just minor characters. I found the story arc to be exciting and full of unexpected twists and turns, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This was a great introduction to the Otherworld series. 4 1/2 stars.

4 Bite Me Star’s

Audiobook – First of all, I was really excited that it was set in CANADA! Or at least parts of it were. That was a big plus for me! And please read the whole thing before you assume I hated it because I didn't.

I actually really liked the narrator. She did an excellent job with all the accents. She didn't make the Canadian accent too cliché and did a great job on Clay's accent as well.

However, I felt there was just too much detail about everything that didn't really pertain to the story. (I still feel this way even after listening to it three times.) I got a bit hung up on that and felt like it was going on and on, and I would find myself daydreaming. (This happened again, but not as much this time.)

Elena Michaels was bitten by the love of her life. She was very hurt and held a huge grudge to the point where she had to move on with her life. (I'm not sure if I agree with her, but then again, I wasn't bitten by a werewolf and my life wasn't turned upside down.) So she moves to Toronto, Ontario and starts to build a “human” life. She has a live-in boyfriend, Philip, who she loves (or at least I think she does, but maybe more like she thinks she should have a boyfriend to make being “human” more real). But she has to make changes to her everyday life so he won't get suspicious. (Like she can't eat as much as she needs, she takes the subway when she would rather walk, and she needs to be active.)

“Philip wooed me with all the patience of someone trying to coax a half-wild animal into the house and, like many a stray, I found myself domesticated before I thought to resist.” - Elena

Clayton Danvers, I found, follows his instincts. When his wolf bites Elena, it's because he knows she will survive the change and be his. (I'm not saying he was right because he's definitely paying for it now.) He is very loyal, even after everything she puts him through. (And boy, does she put him through a lot!) His job in the pack, as far as I can tell, is to protect his family, his pack. And yes, he can be brutal, but if it keeps them safe, he will do it. But he still has a gentle side, and I think that's why I liked him so much. (He really is my favorite.)

“You forget, darling. I am the local psychopath.” - Clay

I feel like he's going to be paying penance for the rest of his life. (She really needs to give the man a break.) Isn't 11 years not enough? Elena isn't ready to give up the grudge yet, even though she seems to have forgiven the rest of them. (She might just be a little crazy.) Including Jeremy, the pack master, who locked her in a cell to protect her and them from her. Yes, she is the only female wolf, but it's not like the pack is after her in that way. (She would kick their butts if they were.) They let her go to be who she thinks she needs to be.

But when the pack needs her, she comes back and fits right in as if she belongs there. (I really think she's been lying to herself up to this point because she falls back into the routine so easily when she's with the pack.) So I don't really understand all the angst and heartache she puts herself and Clay through, let alone poor Philip. (I kind of hope Elena at least feels a little bad for stringing these men along while she figures herself out.)

“I didn't know how Clay had known I was coming back today when I hadn't left a message. Nor did I question why he'd spent the entire day waiting at the gate.” -Elena

I loved the wolf transformation. If that makes me weird, so be it. I like that it hurts them because, I mean, you're going from human to animal, it's not going to be pleasant. Although I wasn't a huge fan of how many times entrails were mentioned or the steam from the guts and blood. I did really like that there were a minimum number of wolves in total. Not all of them are in a pack. The ones that aren't are called Mutts, and they have their own ideas about how things should be run. (Heaven help us all if that was real life.)

Overall, it's a great book. I feel like it's not finished, but I don't know if I can sit through the torture she'll put Clay through. Also, it's not really a “romance” in the typical sense either.

I wholeheartedly agree with Lauren's review.

Certainly, there were parts of this story that held me completely riveted, as if I was under a spell. The author had this amazing ability to draw me in and keep me on the edge of my seat.

However, at other times, I found myself not liking either Elena or Clay. Their actions and decisions didn't quite resonate with me, and I had my moments of frustration with them.

Despite that, I have to admit that I truly love the way this author writes. Her prose is engaging, her descriptions vivid, and her storytelling is top-notch. I also appreciate her honesty in presenting the characters and their flaws.

I can easily understand why this book would receive five stars from some readers. It has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall, it's a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression.