A warning to the reader: If you are unable to dedicate hours to reading, do not pick up this book. You will be utterly captivated by this story of a woman who is a werewolf and not entirely content with that fact. Elena is a captivating protagonist. She is not all bad, nor is she all good. She has an animalistic side that she has repressed. However, when dead bodies begin to surface, clearly killed by a werewolf, she can no longer evade her werewolf heritage.

Another aspect that makes this book so remarkable is Clayton Danvers. That man is dangerous. You wonder how Elena can remain angry with him, despite the fact that he really wronged her (you have to read it to discover the details). The pack dynamics are intriguing. As the only female werewolf, Elena is cherished like a beloved sister and daughter. But to Clay, she is and will always be his mate, even if she flees again.

If you are seeking an urban fantasy book written in the style of mainstream fiction, or a great fiction book that leans heavily towards urban fantasy, or an incredibly outstanding werewolf novel, you would most likely adore this book.

Given the low rating I gave this book, I truly should explain in detail what it was that I disliked about it.

Ms. Armstrong is not a bad writer by any means. The world she has crafted, although perhaps not the most fascinating urban fantasy world I have ever come across, is well constructed enough to maintain my interest.

However, what really spoiled this book for me were the two main characters, Elana and Clayton. Honestly, I have never encountered two more unlikable protagonists in any book I have read.

Elana spends a significant portion of the book complaining about how much she loathes Clayton and how he has ruined her life, yet at the same time, she frequently jumps into bed with him. Clayton, on the other hand, is an obsessive jerk, and I simply cannot fathom how any woman could like him.

I am aware that I may not be the intended audience for this book, but I still struggle to understand how some readers can like the book, and especially these two characters, so much.

I don't believe it's the genre that's the issue, as I have read and thoroughly enjoyed urban fantasy books by authors such as Patricia Briggs, Seanan McGuire, Carrie Vaughn, and Kim Harrison.

In any event, this experience has been sufficient to deter me from reading any other books by Ms. Armstrong. :-(

I got 50 pages into this book when I realized something quite astonishing.

I had read this book already! It was a few years ago that I had delved into its pages.

I vividly remember liking it at that time. However, during this re-read, I wasn't completely sucked in during the first few chapters.

It just didn't have the same allure as it did before.

So, instead of re-reading the whole thing, I've decided to move on to the next book.

There are so many other wonderful books out there waiting for me to discover.

Who knows what new adventures and knowledge they might hold?

I'm excited to turn the page and begin a new literary journey.

Maybe the next book will be even more captivating than this one was the first time around.

Only time will tell.

For now, it's goodbye to this book and hello to the next.

After experiencing some boredom and spending one afternoon mindlessly perusing the Netflix recommendations list, I accidentally came across this series about werewolves. Immediately, I recognized that it was based on this book series due to the woman's back in the opening credit. It was very distinctive, and I must say it was a good decision to keep it in there.

I had never intended to read this before, but the first episode of the show wasn't bad, so I became curious. It was better than I had expected, and Elena's voice is so easy to read that I'm impressed.

As I continued to watch the series, I found myself becoming more and more engaged in the story. The characters were well-developed, and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I also liked the way the show explored the themes of loyalty, love, and acceptance.

Overall, I'm glad I stumbled upon this series. It has provided me with some much-needed entertainment and has made me want to read the book series as well.

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

I have a particular penchant for books in a series where the protagonist is reluctant to be part of the group. This element adds a palpable tension to the other stories and gives rise to intriguing personal decisions. Although it's often somewhat predictable how things will turn out, I still thoroughly enjoyed following Elena's journey as she had to return to the pack and confront her past. There are numerous plausible reasons for her initial departure and her reservations about her relationship with Clay. However, the author manages to handle this aspect deftly, not dragging it out but instead making it reach a climax realistically and with great ease.

The characters in this book are truly outstanding. Elena is a worthy lead. She is independent, intelligent, and despite a fragile background, has a decent outlook on the present and future. She is not whiny, bitchy, wimpy, or overly melodramatic. Clay, on the other hand, may not be perfect, but he doesn't apologize for it. I'm tired of flawed leads who try to be something they're not. Clay is happy in his own skin and has no desire for the human lifestyle. He knows who he is and what he wants – which is Elena. Their relationship is both mildly obsessive and possessive, yet also playful and humorous. Five stars for their relationship!

Jeremy, as the alpha, is a breath of fresh air. He's not a smug, arrogant ass who constantly has to prove himself like in some other series. I really love Jeremy. His steady patience makes more sense than the growing and stumbling alphas in other series. He seems to appear whenever he's needed, and he has a warm, father-figure vibe with Elena. In fact, the entire pack is excellent. They have a sense of loyalty that is both unique and makes perfect sense, something that so many stories seem to struggle with.

While this is mainly a serious book, it also has some truly hilarious scenes. The awkward situation involving Clay, Elena, and her current live-in boyfriend had me giggling non-stop. The fighting scenes are intense, and the final battle is a worthy conclusion. It's not a mystery novel, but they do have to use their noses and get to the bottom of things, which they manage to do. The book ends on a strong note, wrapping up the main story, but leaving you eager for more and itching to read the sequel. Well done!

I've been watching the TV show since it premiered, enjoying it and being inspired to delve into this series. The first season had its stumbling blocks, but this third (and final) season that's currently airing is the best yet and keeps me hooked week after week.

Well, I can very safely state that I am not a devotee of Kelley Armstrong's writing style. It's quite a pity really, considering she is extremely popular. However, I simply could not engage with this particular work, even though I typically have a penchant for Urban Fantasy. So, what exactly went wrong?

To begin with, I believe I am starting to grow weary of the Werewolf plot in books. One might assume it would be the Vampire storyline that would lose its charm first, but that's not the case. I find myself getting dreadfully bored when reading about all the pack dynamics and posturing. Consequently, there are only a few outstanding examples of Werewolf fiction that I truly enjoy. Maggie Stiefvater, Andrea Cremer, and Sisters Red were all quite good. Although, to be fair, in Sisters Red the Werewolves were the antagonists, not the protagonists. I'm just not overly fond of Werewolves being the sole preternatural element. They don't have the ability to carry a story for me. That being said, it's somewhat of a good thing that I am planning to read this soon. Eye roll.

Besides that, Armstrong's writing style fails to captivate me. I had previously read The Summoning and was left underwhelmed. Her writing lacks the power to compel me or keep my attention firmly fixed on the pages. She spends an inordinate amount of time establishing ideas, which doesn't suit my tastes. Sometimes, she devotes an entire page to just one paragraph. Moreover, the inner dialogue of Elena does not endear her to me. I didn't like her as a narrator, and from what Armstrong fans and friends of mine have told me, she's supposed to be the best narrator of the whole series! I'm incredulous. I was bored throughout the first significant portion of the book and, as a result, didn't even make it to my customary 75-page mark. Ouch.

1 out of 5 stars.


- review courtesy of www.bibliopunkkreads.com

3.5 stars
I was truly amazed by how much I liked this book. It turned out to be an extremely entertaining story with thrilling supernatural elements that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Clay's character really tugged at my heartstrings. I'm really looking forward to reading more about him in the future installments.

However, the main character, Elena, was a bit of a let-down for me. She was constantly whiny, impulsive, and just plain annoying. At times, I felt like she was close to ruining the entire book for me.

But upon further reflection, I think the author might have done this on purpose. By taking us on this journey from Elena's point of view, we get to see her flaws and her growth. I hope that now that she has sorted out her desires, the rest of the series will be less aggravating and more enjoyable.

I'm still excited to see where the story goes and how the characters develop. Overall, despite my issues with Elena, I would still recommend this book to fans of the supernatural genre.

**Bitten: A Review**

Bitten is a captivating read that earns 4 stars. Like many UF and PNR series, its world building centers around werewolves. Armstrong's take on werewolf mythology is refreshingly original, with the hereditary Vs. Mutt dichotomy and the gene passing through the male line. However, the wolves' callous attitude towards killing humans is hard to accept. Also, the fathers taking the babies from their mothers seems unrealistic. Moreover, the pack doesn't seem very effective in protecting themselves and others, perhaps due to unfair comparison with other series like Mercy Thompson and Chicagoland Vampires.

The basic plot of renegade werewolves trying to undermine the pack by murdering local girls is strong but underdeveloped. It ultimately fizzles out and the story takes a different turn towards the end.

The characters are the most engaging aspect. Elena is a complex heroine. She's strong and feisty, but in denial about her true self. Her behavior with the men in her life is morally questionable, especially in the love triangle. Her resentment towards Clay, who bit her and turned her into a werewolf, can be irritating.

Clay, Elena's love interest, is a fascinating mix of opposites. His impulsiveness and instincts conflict with his humanity, and his hidden genius IQ adds to his complexity. Jeremy, the pack alpha, is a prime example of still waters running deep, and the family dynamic among the pack members is endearing. The villains, from the vengeful Daniel to the somewhat honorable Karl, are a diverse bunch.

Despite its flaws, Bitten is a well-written and action-packed read, leaving readers eager to see what happens next.

I don't think I'll be continuing this series anytime soon.

You know what really gets on my nerves? It's being misled by all those high ratings when it comes to a book.

This one was truly awful. It wasn't because the writing was poor; rather, it was because the main characters didn't meet my expectations at all.

Warewolves, they're supposed to be these fierce and badass creatures. But in this story, the pack was just so tame compared to the loner wolves. It was a huge letdown.

The quote, "I was about to bring the man I'd been sleeping with into the home of the man I'd made a commitment to," really didn't sit well with me.

I'm also not a fan of cheating, no matter how complex the relationships might be.

There was no character growth throughout the story. I absolutely hated Elena and Clay. Surprisingly, I ended up hating Elena more than Clay, even though I initially disliked him more.

I could go on and on about all the things I disliked, but I'll stop here for now.

In describing this book, I would first and foremost like to use the words carnage, mayhem and kinky.

Normally, the kinky stuff really grates on me. However, for some reason, the way it was written, and the story overall, made it a non-issue for me here. The whole concept of 'primal instinct' truly worked.

So here we have: Elena, a reluctant werewolf, who just wants to live a normal life. Of course, her pack can't let her go. When trouble calls them out, she's by their side in no time, doing wolfish things.

I was a little bothered by them calling themselves werewolves when they seemed more like shapeshifters. But then, the carnage began, and I was completely okay with it.

So, it's kind of like this: I went into this book a bit skeptical, and the slow start had me fully expecting to trash it by the end. But here it is... I kind of fking loved it. *shrugs*

I mean, there were some things that were a bit ehhh, like poor old Phillip, who was always going to get the raw end of the deal. But the mayhem totally won me over. Nothing soothes my soul more than blood and guts and absolute chaos. I also took to the characters unexpectedly fast. For example, how was I so shattered about Logan when I hadn't even met the guy??! They were such a fun bunch. I thought I would hate the predictable relationship between Elena and Clay, but their constant bickering was actually quite entertaining.

I also really loved that Elena was stubborn, did stupid things, and had stupid thoughts. But you could kind of see that, even though it was told in the first person. There was some sweet sarcasm that was dished out in just the right dose, meaning I actually kind of liked her sass.

Honestly, everything I thought I would hate about this book I ended up loving, so I can't make any serious complaints. Some of it was predictable, but there was plenty I didn't see coming. The carnage and mayhem were exactly what I wanted from a werewolf novel. I'm so glad it wasn't all about naked frolicking and bestiality.

I'd probably rate it R for the kiddies, though. This is no sweet and tame monster romance, my friends.

I knew it even before beginning this book that either I would completely loathe it, or I would not finish.

Bitten was forced upon me by a colleague who's a paranormal romance fanatic. The book was also mentioned several times to me by other goodreads members, so I decided to give one more chance to paranormal. I always end up giving too many chances to things I know I would never find a likeness for. Perhaps I'm biased. In fact, I think I am; starting any book with "I'm going to hate this" doesn't really help push away the negative thought from your mind even when you're half-way into it and it actually is not that bad.

Perhaps Bitten was subjected to one of my several severely lethal prejudices, for example the fact that it was written by a woman. I'm not a sexist and nor am I against feminism (as long as it focuses on strengthening women and not degrading men). But I am a complete misogynist when it comes to skill-lacking female authors penning down their silly fantasies in the shapes of contemporary Paranormal and/or Young Adult romances. To all these ladies: stop. Please. You're making me hate the fact that I'm a woman. The worst part is that these 'books' are gaining more popularity than a would-be-secret-child of Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga. Another reason I've stopped sifting through the Goodreads Most Popular and Highly Anticipated Books of whatever-year lists.

I went a bit overboard with my contempt up there, and Bitten, while not completely off the contemporary romance Venn Diagram, wasn't as bad as some of the others, with the paranormal mixed in it. Bitten wasn't as poorly written as most Paranormal romances that I've tripped across (Hush, Hush--I shiver). It actually had quite a nice bit of tone to it, to be honest. The writing wasn't mediocre, but the story it portrayed was horrible.

I don't think Bitten had a story, and if it did, that story did not surface even after 160 pages of the novel--the point where I put the book down calmly and decided to kick it out of my life and memory permanently (I bet something drastic would've turned up right on the 161st page, eh?) The major setback was how the events were unfolded: we have a thirty something real shallow, like real shallow, female protagonist thrown into a bizarre and highly unrealistic set of events. She was thrust into a house of men (of course, she was the only woman there, so, sex vibes radiating off everywhere) who she had a past connection with of more than a decade, and that connection was never explained. It felt like Elena Michaels was getting abnormally comfortable in a house full of complete strangers and this was downright weird.

Clayton, the supposedly alpha male douche bag of this book and the undeniable love interest of Elena Michaels, was a mess. Apparently, Elena hates him, but he still has full liberty to use her whenever and wherever he desires, and then both pretend nothing happened and Elena goes back to hating him. It's such a bullshit chemistry, that I don't even get it. Who the hell behaves like that? Oh and it's completely not cheating on her boyfriend, Philip, when she sleeps with this asshole because, hey, he's different. He's a werewolf. Werewolf genitals don't count.

The action played like a movie where you accidentally hit the [slow motion] button. There was literally no description, instead we get some pretty useless and unnecessary musings from Elena's head, with no concern for logic during humane interactions. The whole progression of the book was choppy and static. Like someone broke up one story into parts and pasted them haphazardly, with some paragraphs and histories missing. No other character stood out, except, perhaps Jeremy. But even he wasn't saved from being stereotyped.

Conclusion

I still think I can give paranormal another chance. I'm of the belief that it's my misfortune to trump across the most blatantly ridiculous representatives of the genre and that there are some gems out there, away from the clutching hands of the mainstream fan-base and devoid of preposterous romance, which are still waiting to be found and help redeem Paranormal books in my eyes. The Dresden Files looks like a good place to start. I'm also open to other Paranormal recommendations, preferably not linked to women, romance and alpha male douche bags.