From a blog post I penned back in 2006:

I chanced upon a new author whom I truly adore. Kelley Armstrong has a collection of books featuring supernatural characters. I devoured Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted and Broken in the blink of an eye.

The first two and the last books center around the sole female werewolf in the world as their main character. The third and fourth books have a young witch as the focal point, while the fifth one tells the story of a deceased (yet ghostly) witch.

These books were truly excellent. My favorite themes, sex and violence, are present, but there's also a great deal about personal relationships and a well-developed world in which the characters inhabit.

The books have the same characters throughout. The stories and characters actually exhibit growth, which is a pleasant surprise. I'm really getting tired of series where the characters seem to be stagnant at a certain point and it all feels like a rehash of the same (think Anita Blake).

Good stuff here, give it a try.

This book truly filled me with an overwhelming amount of anxiety.

It was as if every page I turned, my heart rate increased and my mind was filled with unease.

The story seemed to constantly take unexpected turns that left me on the edge of my seat, but not in a good way.

And then there was Savannah. Oh, Savannah! She was such a freaking brat all the damn time.

Her actions and behavior were so irritating and selfish.

She seemed to have no regard for anyone else's feelings or well-being.

It was difficult to even like her as a character, let alone sympathize with her.

Overall, this book was a real disappointment, filled with anxiety-inducing plotlines and an unlikable main character.

I'm not sure if I would recommend it to anyone else.

This one was a little hard to get into at first.

However, once I managed to immerse myself, I found that I really liked it.

Now I can understand why this series is named "the women of the otherworld".

It's not just centered around one main character, as I've now noticed.

That's okay and still makes it a great read.

Poor Paige, though. It always stinks when "old magic" or "old politics" hampers modern ideas and values.

And for her coven to do what they did to her, oh my goodness!

I would be like "um, screw you!"

With Paige, it took her a long time to realize that her coven wasn't the right path, at least for now.

Savannah, on the other hand, that girl has some extremely powerful and wicked powers.

She might become really scary later on.

Overall, this story has its own charm and keeps you engaged with the different characters and their unique situations.

I've read several books in this series (not always in the proper order!), and this is the first one that truly disappointed me.

Paige is tasked with looking after Savannah, who is proving to be an absolute handful. She is wild, rude, and refuses to accept Paige's authority. When a custody suit is filed on behalf of Savannah's father, the girl's future seems uncertain. Certain individuals are determined to legally remove Paige from the picture by making her appear as an unfit parent, a witch, and even a murderer. So, when a lawyer shows up offering to assist her in fighting the case, Paige is distrustful of his motives but has little choice but to collaborate with him.

The actual storyline had its merits. Paige struggles to fill Ruth's shoes and be taken seriously by the Coven, attempts to live up to Elena whom Savannah idolizes, and tries to communicate with a girl who won't respond to her. The introduction of the dark forces that want to harness Savannah's power and the Cabals should have made for a great read, but for me, it just didn't gel.

I generally liked Paige in the second book, so the shift from the werewolves wasn't an issue. However, in this book, Paige comes across as whiny, irritating, and annoying. I grew tired of her constant 'I don't trust you' conversations with Lucas. Yes, we understand that Paige doesn't trust him, but do we really need to hear about it every five minutes? This aspect of the plot grated on my nerves throughout the entire book. It felt as if it was being hammered into our heads with a sledgehammer, just in case we missed it the first 500 times.

Savannah is a spoilt, rude, selfish, and unpleasant little brat who desperately needs a good slap to teach her some manners. Paige, dear, I would have given the ungrateful child to the Coven and walked away! Savannah shows no gratitude for anything Paige does for her, and the fact that Paige is keeping her safe from her supernatural father and other dangerous elements means nothing to the girl. Then, when everything goes wrong, she expects Paige to come to her rescue. I truly despise Savannah! The Coven themselves were just annoying and dull, adding very little to the story.

But what really surprised me was the complete lack of chemistry between the lovers. Given how excellent the next book in the series is, this was quite unexpected. I simply didn't feel any spark between them, and it left me feeling cold. I don't usually pay much attention to romance in urban fantasy books, but when it's present, I want it to feel genuine.

This was just a subpar book on so many levels. However, if you don't enjoy this one, don't give up on the series entirely. It's just a blip in what is otherwise a great series, at least up to book 10 which I haven't read yet. The same characters appear in Industrial Magic as in this one, but it's a much better book in every respect.

Good, strong installment in the series. I liked Paige when she was introduced in Stolen. Although she was a bit on the cocky, arrogant side, her character had depth. In this book, we get to see what the aftermath of her taking in Savannah is. It's a complex situation that tests Paige's mettle.

Leah the bitch makes her return and from there, Paige's life pretty much goes up in smoke. All the while, the people she should be able to count on most will not help her at all. But through it all, one man stays by her side - even when she really didn't want him to. Enter, Lucas Cortez. One of the geekiest, yet sexy nerds ever. I <3 him. I wanted to kick Paige every time she tried to get rid of him, but he stuck in there! She eventually came to her senses, though. ;]

One thing about Paige, despite all of the absolute shit she went through in trying to protect Savannah, she never once threw in the towel and decided that her life would be so much better if she just let Savannah go. It would have been. She could have done that and then changed her mind later or something, but she didn't. I wanted to cheer her for sticking in there. It was the right thing to do, but she could have taken the easy way out. Her determination is truly admirable.

At least, some characters got what they deserved. I wanted a certain old bitch put in her place, but alas, it didn't come about. I hope Paige has an opportunity to confront her in her next book. Hate that woman. The story has its twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. I can't wait to see what happens next in Paige's journey.

I truly adored every single moment of this remarkable book.

Although I have never been completely convinced by Elena's point of view books, as I'm not a huge fan of werewolves, my love for Kelley Armstrong and her extraordinary writing compelled me to persevere.

And I'm extremely glad that I did, because this series is becoming increasingly rich and engaging.

I have a particular fondness for the fact that its focus is on multiple women within this captivating paranormal universe.

Paige, up until now, has emerged as my favorite among the women we've been introduced to.

I'm completely smitten with her witchiness and her sharp wittiness.

This was such an incredibly fascinating book, especially with regard to the coven witches and how they are connected to historical witch hunting.

I'm eagerly anticipating seeing more from Paige and Lucas, who I firmly believe make a better couple than Clay and Elena.

And, of course, I can't wait to see what more Savannah has in store for us.

I was truly not anticipating to have such a profound liking for this book!!!!!

My friend introduced me to this series. With the first book, Bitten, I immediately fell head over heels in love with Elena, Jeremy, Clay, and the entire pack in general. The second book in the series, Stolen, still centered around Elena. However, when it came to the third book, it took me an eternity to seriously engage with it as it followed the story of Paige. At the beginning, I was rather cranky and deeply missed the thrilling werewolf drama. But by persisting, I was rewarded with a delightfully witty thriller that constantly kept me on the edge of my seat, continuously guessing what would happen next. Armstrong's writing is both dark and twisted, yet at the same time, she is able to infuse it with hilarious moments. The characters are well-developed and the story is captivating. I liked it so much that I couldn't resist going and reading the fourth book in the series before sitting down to write this review.

Jesus God,

this book is incredibly boring!

It consists of one long and tiresome explication of a so-called magical quality that, in reality, doesn't even exist. The explanations are given by people whom I wouldn't welcome into my home for a second time. I have a simple rule: I don't invite back anyone who lacks a personality.

When the book isn't engaged in that mind-numbing drivel, it's bombarding me with sanctimonious morality. I just can't begin to convey to you how excruciatingly dull it is to listen to a person agonize over the morality of a non-issue.

And I most definitely do not recommend that you subject yourself to this by reading this absolute tripe. People with fully developed personalities have a clear understanding of right and wrong and can easily articulate it for the rest of us in a matter of seconds. Don't waste your time on this boring and pointless book.

Slick as a \\"Angel\\" episode, Kelley Armstrong delves into the paranormal with a sure and steady hand.

Dime Store Magic is strongly reminiscent of Cate Tiernan's \\"Sweep\\" novels, utilizing verbiage and background into the elusive Wiccan culture, which is artfully mixed with the modern-day visage of \\"Buffy\\" and \\"Angel\\".

Here, in Armstrong's alternate-verse, Witches and Sorcerers are foes and are organized into corporate-like entities called Cabals. For those witches who do not belong to the waning and outdated American Coven of Witches, they either are rogues or belong to the sorcerer-run Cabals. Of course, this universe would not be complete without the requisite demons and vampires thrown in as well, with a pedigree and hierarchial structure to rival even the most organized mob.

This is the world Paige Winterbourne lives in, and one she must cut her teeth in. Swimming with sharks is an understatement as Paige finds herself ousted from the coven that has sheltered her.

Relying on a basic majick skill-set (albeit sanctioned by the ACOW), this heroine discovers that she must tap her powers with the help of a few stolen grimoires, (and a sexy sorcerer), in order to protect her gifted charge, Savannah, whose penchant for black majick has come under the scrutiny of the Cabals. The ruthless Cabals will stop at nothing to acquire her.

A sure-fire read that is not only believable but also highly enjoyable and written by an extremely capable author. Her delicate hand balances all the facets of good storytelling, leaving readers longing for more.

www.fiendishlybookish.com

**Expanded Article**

“According to Cortez, the Cabals had strict policies against employing any supernatural being that might mistake them for lunch.” This statement sets the stage for an exciting and perilous world. After reading the first two books from Elena's perspective, I was initially hesitant about switching to Paige's point of view. However, upon giving it a try, I was completely hooked and didn't want to come back up.

Paige and Savannah have been living together since the terrifying events of "Stolen." But not everyone is happy about this arrangement, especially the snooty coven. Now, a custody battle is brewing, involving the super powerful Cabal and former villain Leah. Unexpected help arrives in the form of Lucas, a new character in the series who I hope remains. There's a lot of legal maneuvering, but it's mainly a battle of magic, setups, and luck. The office scene where the lawyer ends his career is truly epic.

Paige can be a bit nerve-wracking with her paranoia towards Lucas, but once she warms up, she's great. I loved the development of their bond. Lucas is described as somewhat generic and scrawny, speaking with a lawyer's spiel and an uptight manner for most of the book. But this only makes him more endearing. He's passionate about causes, protects the weak, and is trying to find his place in the world. Savannah, on the other hand, acts like a pre-teen girl, which can be annoying at least half the time.

The book shines with its engaging storyline. There are various forces working against the characters, creating plenty of tension. The action is intense, and the personal relationships add depth to the characters, making me truly care about them. If I had to point out a flaw, it would be Paige's naivety in falling into some traps, like at the funeral home. But overall, if you've been reluctant to read more of the series because of the point of view changes, I can assure you that Paige's story is filled with magic, dimension, and all the wonderful elements of Urban Fantasy.

I absolutely adore Paige and identify with her purely.

If you haven't read the first two books of this series, you need to turn that little butt right around and march to your library and check out Elena's books Bitten and Stolen. Even though these stories are not always told by the same person, there is a seamless flow to them. For instance, Paige and Savannah were not only introduced in the second book, Stolen, but they also rely significantly on the setup in this story.

Paige is a young twenty-something witch who is taking care of a tween named Savannah. Both of their mothers died (reasons detailed in the last book, Stolen), and they are constantly striving to make things work.

Well, here comes a Volo (telekinetic) half-demon cop named Leah who, for some inexplicable reason, really wants Savannah. Seriously, I have no idea why she is so fixated on the girl. She desires custody over Savannah, yet she isn't a relative or anything.

In order to lay her claim, Leah goes and finds Savannah's dad. For some reason, she believes it is a sorcerer who is a big bad business lawyer, Nast Cabal. The Cabal thing is just too complex for me to explain fully. It's kind of like Wolfram and Hart (from the TV show Angel in the Buffyverse), except they are all sorcerers and family members? There are different branches for each family? You'll have to read to find out exactly who they are.

This book is filled with satanic rituals, house burnings, running from the police, grave digging, conjuring demons, unexplained deaths, and the dead walking. The story itself is truly the most entertaining thing. You won't get bored for a second.

Now, the writing, on the other hand, is literally better. Armstrong does not disappoint when it comes to writing in a way that makes you laugh and makes you feel for the characters she wants you to. Paige is nothing like Elena, yet she is everything and more. I love Elena and Paige for different reasons, and I'm happy that more than one character has been the center of a book.

Not to mention Lucas is 100% legit.

Get into this series if you like risky things, gore, horror, the supernatural, twists, and nonstop wonderfulness.

This was my very first Armstrong book, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

There were a few instances where I had to reread certain passages because I got a bit confused with all the diverse other-worldly species and which group they belonged to.

However, despite this minor hiccup, the characters in the book were extremely strong and well-developed. Each one had their own unique personality and backstory, which made them very engaging and easy to root for.

The story itself was also very compelling. It had a great plot that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I was constantly eager to find out what would happen next and how the characters would overcome the various challenges and obstacles that they faced.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy novels. And I will most definitely be trying another one of Armstrong's books in the future. :)