I was completely spellbound by Bitten and couldn't wait to devour Stolen. At first, I was hoping for more of the same, namely Clay, Elena, and The Pack. But I knew that the Were world wouldn't be the main focus of this story. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed at first. Who cares about witches, demons, vamps, and the like? I just wanted to run, hunt, and drool over Clay!

Despite my initial hopes, I sat down with Stolen and tried to put my preconceived notions aside. After all, Kelley Armstrong hadn't let me down yet. And after finishing Stolen, I wonder if she ever will. It was truly superb!

Bitten fans, be warned. Stolen is nothing like its predecessor. I wouldn't even consider it a sequel. Bitten was written as a standalone novel, and it's clear from the start that Stolen was written with the intention of being the beginning of a series. So, here's my advice. As you read Stolen, try to think of it as the first book of a series that just so happens to include your favorite characters from Bitten. Rest assured, Clay and Jeremy are still there. There are still moments filled with chemistry between Clay and Elena, and their relationship still makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thankfully, they've moved beyond the troubles that plagued them in Bitten. Elena continues to narrate and provide us with her snide, aloof comments and preconceived misconceptions. However, the world as Elena knew it is gone.

As Stolen opens, Elena is following a lead about a possible werewolf killing. But what she finds is a pair of witches desperately trying to contact her, hoping to enlist the pack's help in tracking down a scientific group that's capturing people for an occult menagerie. At first, Elena is skeptical, but she becomes a true believer when she herself is stalked and ultimately captured. What follows is an action-packed story, filled with new and intriguing characters that will keep your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping as you devour every last word.

This was yet another excellent book within this series, one that I am rapidly growing to love.

On one hand, it presents us with some incredibly handsome boys to daydream about, but on the other hand, it also features some extremely powerful and independently strong women.

The main character is once again Elena Michaels, the sole female in the wolf pack. She has reunited with Clay, yet she persists in working independently, undeterred by his overprotectiveness and incessant nagging. Elena encounters a group of witches who claim that other members of the supernatural species are disappearing and that a few billionaires are responsible. Somehow, Elena and the witches manage to draw the pack into the situation. In the midst of it all, Elena gets captured and imprisoned at the facility where the other supernaturals are being held. The captors are detaining the supernaturals and conducting experiments on them for their own personal benefit.

There are several secondary characters, although I suspect they will be further explored in the next installment of the series.

The storyline is outstanding and original for books of this genre, and the pacing is commendable, albeit with a fair amount left until the last minute.

Overall, I rate this book 3 stars, as it is a great addition to the series.

I have read the book and have some thoughts about it.

It's true that I have enjoyed it to a certain extent, but it doesn't come close to the first book of the series, Bitten. The first book really set up a world for the series, and while it may not be the most original - with demons, witches, vampires, and werewolves - it did have its own charm. In this sense, the world created in the series is more realistic as these supernatural "races" are rare and not overly powerful like demigods.

The story itself is decent and fairly interesting, but it lacks that something special that would make it truly groundbreaking. There are moments in the book that are good, but overall, I expected more. Elena's reaction to her captivity is somewhat surprising as she doesn't seem to struggle much, almost as if she believes she is indestructible.

The characters, unfortunately, are quite shallow. We have the usual stereotypes - dumb people, evil people, and the peaceful, sometimes naive white witches. New characters can be easily categorized into one of these groups, and they don't do anything to break free from their major traits. There is no real controversy or depth to any of them. Even the characters from the first book, like Elena, Clay, and Jeremy, remain the same, with no character development.

Overall, "Stolen" is a light and entertaining read, but don't expect too much after the excellent first book. I will probably give the third book, Dime Store Magic, a try later, but for now, I have lost some of my interest in this world.

Beautiful and stunning!! I'm so pumped to read the rest of the series!

This statement truly encapsulates the essence of how captivating and enchanting this series is. The beauty and stunning nature of it have left me in absolute awe. It's like a magical world that has been unveiled before my eyes, filled with wonder and excitement.

The anticipation of reading the rest of the series is palpable. I can't wait to delve deeper into the story, to uncover the mysteries and secrets that lie within. Each page seems to hold a new adventure, a new discovery that will leave me breathless.

It's not just a series, but an experience that transports me to another realm. I'm completely immersed in it, and I know that the rest of the series will only continue to amaze and delight me. I'm eagerly looking forward to what lies ahead and can't wait to embark on this literary journey.

3.5 stars - Elena's job entails scouring the internet for any threatening information regarding werewolves. One day, while browsing a site similar to a paranormal ebay that mainly sells information, she discovers something of interest. She arranges a meeting with the seller, only to find out that they are witches. Surprisingly, these witches seem to possess a great deal of knowledge about her pack and they are in need of her help.

In this world, other races such as vampires and shamans also exist and communicate with one another. Their main objective is to prevent their existence from being exposed to the human world. Currently, they are facing a new threat in the form of a crazy scientist and an evil computer magnate. These two individuals have been capturing paranormal beings, conducting experiments on them, and when they grow bored, they hunt them down as if it were a real-life video game. All the major races now require the assistance of the werewolves. However, the werewolves are skeptical until Elena gets imprisoned and her survival is put at risk.

So, that is the story, at least the part that can be told without giving away any spoilers. The book is rather violent, and like in the previous one, even some likable characters meet a brutal end. Nevertheless, I found this installment to be far more enjoyable than the first book. It offers a greater variety of supernatural elements and Elena experiences less self-doubt and inner turmoil.

This series is definitely not for me.

The heroine in this series is truly annoying. She attempts to come across as sarcastic, yet it fails miserably. Her sarcasm doesn't add any charm or depth to her character; instead, it just makes her seem rather unpleasant.

Also, being a werewolf, she is extremely skeptical. She refuses to believe that other supernatural beings exist, which is quite astonishing considering her own nature. This skepticism leads her to do some very stupid things.

She believes herself to be invincible to the point of stupidity. She acts without thinking, putting herself and those around her in danger. Her overconfidence is her downfall.

As I have already said, this series is simply not for me. I cannot connect with the heroine or her actions, and it fails to hold my interest.

3.25 Stars ✨

This rating of 3.25 stars indicates a certain level of satisfaction or performance. It lies between 3 stars and 3.5 stars, suggesting that while there are aspects that are quite good, there are also some areas that could use improvement.

Perhaps the product or service in question has some notable features or qualities that earn it a relatively high score. However, there may be some minor flaws or不足之处 that prevent it from achieving a higher rating.

It could be that the user experience could be enhanced in certain ways, or that there are some areas where more attention to detail is needed.

Overall, a 3.25-star rating is a respectable one, but it also serves as a reminder that there is always room for growth and improvement.

The thing I loved most about the first book was just how kick ass Elena was. She was a force to be reckoned with, full of confidence and spunk. However, the trouble with this book is that she spends most of it being a bit of a wet blanket.

It's not really her fault, as she is a captive for the majority of the story. She keeps a lot of her sass inside her head, which is understandable given her situation. But she comes across as very meek around the bad guys, and this started to annoy me as she spends so much time in this prison place.

I did like that there are other supernatural creatures in the book. It adds an interesting element to the story. However, I feel we didn't get much out of them as they are also stuck in this prison.

I also didn't understand how that woman managed to become a werewolf and survive. I thought the special thing about Elena is that she is the only one to have gone through the whole process and lived. I didn't like that this nobody managed it as well.

When she finally escapes and meets up with Clay, that's when all the good stuff happens. The final part of the book, with the chase for the bad guy, was really exciting. It's just a shame we didn't see more of this in the story. Overall, the book had its good moments, but it also had some flaws that prevented it from being truly great.

**"Stolen" - A Review**

"Stolen" is a captivating sequel that can be enjoyed independently. It is told from the first-person perspective of Elena Michaels, who had a difficult childhood. She refuses to let her past define her present, as seen in her statement, "I never tell that story. I hate it. Hate, hate, hate it. I refuse to let my past explain my present."

After the events of "Bitten," Elena accepts her dual nature as a werewolf and the only female one. This book delves deeper into the lives of Clayton and Jeremy, the other important werewolves in her life. Their conversations add a touch of humor and lightness to the story.

In "Stolen," Armstrong expands her supernatural world by introducing more beings. The prologue sets the stage with an unidentified person being chased through the woods. The book briefly explores the background and lore of these other supernatural types, who have united against a common enemy - the ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe.

The storyline of "Stolen" progresses quickly and caught my interest from the start. However, I cannot say that the plotline was entirely original. Elena even makes a quip about it being similar to a subpar season of "Buffy the Vampire." The villains, a sadistic tech mogul and a detached Asian scientist, are also somewhat overused tropes.
Despite these flaws, the moments of emotional lightness from Elena's relationships help to mitigate the tension. For example, her statement, "Making me choose? Darling, we live with the guy. We share a house, bank accounts, even vacations. We're never alone and I've never heard you utter one word of complaint. You have never asked me to choose, and you have no idea how grateful I am for that, because if I ever had to pick, it would be you, no matter what that meant for the Pack."
Overall, "Stolen" is an enjoyable read that fans of the "Otherworld" series will likely appreciate. While it may not be the most original or groundbreaking book, it offers an exciting and engaging storyline with well-developed characters.

3.5 ☆

#1 Bitten 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 ☆

3.5/5.0

*2019 re-read*.

Still amazed at the incredible characterization, still a bit squigged by the excessive violent tendencies - but, again, incredibly realistic if the subject matter is wolves.

Original review:

"Stolen" continues the story of Elena Michaels, a young woman turned werewolf, where the book, "Bitten" left off. The relationships between Elena and her pack, especially Clay, are just as real and engaging as in the former book. Ms. Armstrong shows an amazing gift in painting life as it would be as a half human/half werewolf with incredible depth and understanding.

The downside in this book is the inordinate amount and graphic nature of the violence. It's not the generic "they killed the man" type or even the "they blew up the building with everyone in it" type. It is the personal description of each kill with graphic imagery used repeatedly with relish that just isn't my cup of tea.

In "Stolen", Elena's journey as a werewolf takes new turns. She has to face various challenges and conflicts within the pack and outside. The way Ms. Armstrong portrays Elena's struggle to balance her human and werewolf sides is truly remarkable. The descriptions of the werewolf world, its rules, and its hierarchy add to the authenticity of the story.

However, the excessive violence can be a bit overwhelming at times. It seems that every other page has a detailed account of a brutal killing. While I understand that this might be necessary to convey the harsh reality of the werewolf world, it does make the reading experience a bit uncomfortable for some.

Overall, "Stolen" is a good read for those who enjoy paranormal romance and stories about werewolves. It has a great plot, well-developed characters, and a unique setting. But be prepared for the graphic violence if you decide to pick it up.

The new installment is indeed an improvement over the first one.

However, it still fails to capture my complete attention and enthusiasm.

There are certain aspects that are commendable, such as the enhanced character development and the more intricate plot twists.

Nonetheless, something seems to be lacking, preventing me from having an unwavering desire to continue with the series.

Perhaps it's the pacing, which at times feels a bit off, or maybe it's the overall tone that doesn't quite resonate with me on a deeper level.

While it's better than its predecessor, it simply doesn't have that special charm or hook that would make me eager to see what comes next in the story.

Overall, it's a decent effort, but not enough to keep me engaged and invested in the long run.

The story is presented in a fast-paced manner, which keeps the readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are truly great, each with their own unique personalities and charm. I have a deep love for this series as it always manages to capture my attention and imagination.

Now, with the addition of more witches into the mix, I am eagerly expecting an abundance of even more high jinx and exciting adventures. The introduction of these new magical elements is sure to bring a whole new level of excitement and unpredictability to the story. I can't wait to see how the author weaves their storylines and interactions with the existing characters.

I am confident that this series will continue to be a thrilling and engaging read, filled with action, drama, and plenty of magical moments. It has become one of my favorite series, and I look forward to each new installment with great anticipation.