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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
A short story, 13.5 in the Women of the Otherworld series and revolving around a diverse group of strong, smart, and skillful supernatural women and their equally talented mates. The focus is on Kate and Logan Danvers of the Stonehaven Pack.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
I'm taking issue with the whole "summoned" to a meeting. How can a British Alpha summon an American Alpha? What's the hold? The hierarchy? Tell him to piss off until after your vacation. He wants his kid to have bodyguards? Send them yourself. For this, I'd've given "Forsaken" a "3", but this is only the start of the story, and I had to up it to a "4" due to the rest of the tale.
Nothing says Kate has to justify being Alpha. Nor does she have to answer to anyone but her pack.
We "hear" the whole story from a first person protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective, and while I love hearing her thoughts on how she and Clay are raising their kids. As time shows, it's the best way. As for her thoughts about the kids' propensities? Too funny.
It's through Elena that we also hear the hypocrisy that makes me want to blow up! Elena notes that if Clay went for Parker's throat, then he was a proper werewolf. If she went for Parker's throat, she was a hysterical woman.
It's Kate's phone call that starts off the real action. Growing up comes with issues. Growing up with werewolf blood comes with even more issues only it takes awhile for Elena and Clay to realize what's happening.
It seems America isn't the only group with voting irregularities. I'm not sure where Harris is going with this. Part of the set-up? Or just that Parker is an idiot with an immature son for whom he's making excuses. He was a child six months ago, but now he's eighteen so he's mature now? Yep. I've got this bridge . . .
It's plenty of tracking and brutal action based on werewolf abilities, particularly Elena's and Clay's to an extent. But it's also Elena's thoughts about her kids. Parents will relate. Okay, except for the werewolf bits, lol. Hmm, then again . . .
The Story
Business calls Elena out of the country when she's supposed to be on vacation. It's a call from Kate that will call Elena back.
One of her eight-year-old twins has disappeared, and all evidence points to Malcolm Danvers. It seems as if the psychotic former Pack member they’ve been tracking for the past year has brought the fight to them, setting the bait he knows Elena can’t afford to ignore.
The Characters
Elena Michaels has been the Alpha for three years. Clay Danvers is her husband — the world thinks he's a psycho — and her Beta. The twins — Kate and Logan — are eight years old now. Jeremy Danvers, his kitsune side gives him visions, had been the previous Alpha until he retired. He's still a very successful artist. Jaime Vegas, the celebrity psychic, is Jeremy's mate of seven years (No Humans Involved, 7).
Members of the Stonehaven Pack include . . .
. . . Karl Marsten, who's married to Hope, a chaos half-demon and daughter of Lucifer (Otherworld Chills: "Chaotic", 5.2, and Personal Demon, 8) and they have a daughter, Nita (Thirteen, 13); Antonio Sorrentino; Nick Sorrentino is Antonio's son who has had a reputation as a playboy, but he's involved with the very competent Vanessa “Ness” Callas, a half demon with a gift for fire and former FBI; Noah is Nick's ward (Frostbitten, 10); Morgan Walsh is a Canadian with no reputation but great tracking skills (Otherworld Secrets: "Forbidden", 10.2); Reese is the Australian around whom so much controversy revolves (Frostbitten, 10); Charlie is/was an Australian bounty hunter sent after Reese; and, Madison "Maddie" is Charlie's human daughter in college and now a member of Stonehaven, a human, gasp!
The unloved Malcolm Danvers is Jeremy's father who had been thought dead, but is hiding out in Bulgaria. Rhys Smith runs a security agency where Vanessa is one of his agents (Otherworld Chills: "Brazen", 13.3).
The English Pack
Hollis John Parker, Lord Something, has been the British Alpha for three years with a jerk of a son, Kevin. He's teetering over who to ally with. Harris Charles Parker, another Lord something, is Hollis' cousin. Shane Atherton is Hollis' current Beta who had contested Hollis for the position of Alpha.
The Australian Pack are . . .
. . . enemies who want to take over the American Pack.
The Russian Pack is . . .
. . . an ally.
The Bulgarian Pack is . . .
. . . led by Marko Todorov who has given asylum to Malcolm.
The Cabals are . . .
. . . sorcerers aligned by families. The Nasts are based in California.
The Cover and Title
The cover is graphic in style with the curly, blonde Kate in a red hoodie and jeans, her body facing us but her head tilted to the side in shame. Behind her is a GIGANTIC, snarling black wolf with blue eyes. At the very top is the title in the same blue, crossing Kate's hoodie. At the bottom right is the author's name in a white shadowed red.
I think the title is about Malcolm feeling "Forsaken".
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
I'm taking issue with the whole "summoned" to a meeting. How can a British Alpha summon an American Alpha? What's the hold? The hierarchy? Tell him to piss off until after your vacation. He wants his kid to have bodyguards? Send them yourself. For this, I'd've given "Forsaken" a "3", but this is only the start of the story, and I had to up it to a "4" due to the rest of the tale.
Nothing says Kate has to justify being Alpha. Nor does she have to answer to anyone but her pack.
We "hear" the whole story from a first person protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective, and while I love hearing her thoughts on how she and Clay are raising their kids. As time shows, it's the best way. As for her thoughts about the kids' propensities? Too funny.
It's through Elena that we also hear the hypocrisy that makes me want to blow up! Elena notes that if Clay went for Parker's throat, then he was a proper werewolf. If she went for Parker's throat, she was a hysterical woman.
It's Kate's phone call that starts off the real action. Growing up comes with issues. Growing up with werewolf blood comes with even more issues only it takes awhile for Elena and Clay to realize what's happening.
It seems America isn't the only group with voting irregularities. I'm not sure where Harris is going with this. Part of the set-up? Or just that Parker is an idiot with an immature son for whom he's making excuses. He was a child six months ago, but now he's eighteen so he's mature now? Yep. I've got this bridge . . .
It's plenty of tracking and brutal action based on werewolf abilities, particularly Elena's and Clay's to an extent. But it's also Elena's thoughts about her kids. Parents will relate. Okay, except for the werewolf bits, lol. Hmm, then again . . .
The Story
Business calls Elena out of the country when she's supposed to be on vacation. It's a call from Kate that will call Elena back.
One of her eight-year-old twins has disappeared, and all evidence points to Malcolm Danvers. It seems as if the psychotic former Pack member they’ve been tracking for the past year has brought the fight to them, setting the bait he knows Elena can’t afford to ignore.
The Characters
Elena Michaels has been the Alpha for three years. Clay Danvers is her husband — the world thinks he's a psycho — and her Beta. The twins — Kate and Logan — are eight years old now. Jeremy Danvers, his kitsune side gives him visions, had been the previous Alpha until he retired. He's still a very successful artist. Jaime Vegas, the celebrity psychic, is Jeremy's mate of seven years (No Humans Involved, 7).
Members of the Stonehaven Pack include . . .
. . . Karl Marsten, who's married to Hope, a chaos half-demon and daughter of Lucifer (Otherworld Chills: "Chaotic", 5.2, and Personal Demon, 8) and they have a daughter, Nita (Thirteen, 13); Antonio Sorrentino; Nick Sorrentino is Antonio's son who has had a reputation as a playboy, but he's involved with the very competent Vanessa “Ness” Callas, a half demon with a gift for fire and former FBI; Noah is Nick's ward (Frostbitten, 10); Morgan Walsh is a Canadian with no reputation but great tracking skills (Otherworld Secrets: "Forbidden", 10.2); Reese is the Australian around whom so much controversy revolves (Frostbitten, 10); Charlie is/was an Australian bounty hunter sent after Reese; and, Madison "Maddie" is Charlie's human daughter in college and now a member of Stonehaven, a human, gasp!
The unloved Malcolm Danvers is Jeremy's father who had been thought dead, but is hiding out in Bulgaria. Rhys Smith runs a security agency where Vanessa is one of his agents (Otherworld Chills: "Brazen", 13.3).
The English Pack
Hollis John Parker, Lord Something, has been the British Alpha for three years with a jerk of a son, Kevin. He's teetering over who to ally with. Harris Charles Parker, another Lord something, is Hollis' cousin. Shane Atherton is Hollis' current Beta who had contested Hollis for the position of Alpha.
The Australian Pack are . . .
. . . enemies who want to take over the American Pack.
The Russian Pack is . . .
. . . an ally.
The Bulgarian Pack is . . .
. . . led by Marko Todorov who has given asylum to Malcolm.
The Cabals are . . .
. . . sorcerers aligned by families. The Nasts are based in California.
The Cover and Title
The cover is graphic in style with the curly, blonde Kate in a red hoodie and jeans, her body facing us but her head tilted to the side in shame. Behind her is a GIGANTIC, snarling black wolf with blue eyes. At the very top is the title in the same blue, crossing Kate's hoodie. At the bottom right is the author's name in a white shadowed red.
I think the title is about Malcolm feeling "Forsaken".
michalice's review against another edition
5.0
I love Kelly Armstrong's Otherworld Series, and I am late to actually picking this one up and reading it....I also read it out of order which may have spoilt previous books in this spin-off series, but I don't really care ;)
Forsaken starts with Elena, who is attending pack meetings in the UK regarding a wolf coming to America to study, and the Alpha wanting him protected. Elena isn't really regarded as Alpha, just a stand in, a puppet for Clay or Jeremy, after unsuccessfully resolving the matter she returns home to find that her daughter Kate is missing, Logan being the one to break the news to her. The pack come together once again to hunt for Kate, but with no scent of her anywhere it's a difficult task, even with Elena's good sense of smell.
Forsaken was like visiting old friends, and I saw this more as catching up with them than actually reading a book. I love the world Kelley has created and I could not wait to dive into it once again. The hunt to find Kate was gripping and tense, I loved the twists and turns that kept you guessing over what was really going on and who was responsible, and just when you thinks it's all resolved something new is added and you are back to square one again, but for different reasons.
Kate and Logan have their own journeys to travel in Forsaken, and seeing these two deal with things in completely different ways but have the same outcome was such an experience as a reader.
Forsaken was a quick read, but was packed full of everything you expect from Kelley, and when I realised it was coming to an end I wanted to savor every word, make the book last that little bit longer. The ending of Forsaken was not what I expected, but leaves it open for a next part to this story, and I really hope we get to see what choice is made and very soon.
Final Verdict
Forsaken was a quick but extremely satisfying read. I devoured the pa
Forsaken starts with Elena, who is attending pack meetings in the UK regarding a wolf coming to America to study, and the Alpha wanting him protected. Elena isn't really regarded as Alpha, just a stand in, a puppet for Clay or Jeremy, after unsuccessfully resolving the matter she returns home to find that her daughter Kate is missing, Logan being the one to break the news to her. The pack come together once again to hunt for Kate, but with no scent of her anywhere it's a difficult task, even with Elena's good sense of smell.
Forsaken was like visiting old friends, and I saw this more as catching up with them than actually reading a book. I love the world Kelley has created and I could not wait to dive into it once again. The hunt to find Kate was gripping and tense, I loved the twists and turns that kept you guessing over what was really going on and who was responsible, and just when you thinks it's all resolved something new is added and you are back to square one again, but for different reasons.
Kate and Logan have their own journeys to travel in Forsaken, and seeing these two deal with things in completely different ways but have the same outcome was such an experience as a reader.
Forsaken was a quick read, but was packed full of everything you expect from Kelley, and when I realised it was coming to an end I wanted to savor every word, make the book last that little bit longer. The ending of Forsaken was not what I expected, but leaves it open for a next part to this story, and I really hope we get to see what choice is made and very soon.
Final Verdict
Forsaken was a quick but extremely satisfying read. I devoured the pa
papidoc's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. OK, but not great installment in the series. I guess that is why the author herself placed it as 13.5, rather than as a full novel.
vikingwolf's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book in the beginning. Elena is dealing with the steriotype snotty British wolves who are patronising and sexist. Her daughter, instead of talking to her about her issues, behaves like a spoiled whiny brat and I was ready to strangle Kate. I have never liked her much because she obviously takes behaviour lessons from Savannah. However, as the book goes on I have a bit more sympathy for her. I guessed what was going on with Kate but was frustrated that she didn't just TALK to someone in the Pack like Nick, instead of being a bitch.
With Kate missing in the woods, Clay is trying to find her without panicking Elena but when the familiar scent of Malcolm is scented in the same woods, they fear for their daughter. Elena starts to lose control of herself, becoming Kate's mother instead of Pack Leader and the Pack all arrive to give support and guard Logan.
Spoiler warning! The story is set up to make you think that Malcolm is the one who is stalking the kids, to get revenge on Elena and Clay, but for me this never fitted into what we know of Malcolm. Malcolm always liked Clay and I believe he respects Elena because she is tough and capable. He didn't kill Nick in 'Brazen' when he had the chance so why would he want to hurt the kids? It didn't fit for me. I was sure he was there watching the events, but I didn't think he was the threat. I always felt it was the British Pack who were out to get Elena by using her kids. when Malcolm calls Elena on the phone to talk about Logan being alone while they searched for Kate, Elena took this as a threat but I believed Malcolm was warning her about mutts trying to grab her son. It was pretty nice to be right about something! I loved how the author dealt with Malcolm in this book!
Safe to look again! There was a lot of tension in this book, a lot of searching, running and hiding and I really enjoyed it. Other good things? The Pack were all involved which was GREAT as there are so many great characters amongst them. I love the Pack! I liked the end of the book with the scenes around the hotel etc which were tense and exciting. And of course, the ending was mindblowing! You just have to love Malcolm...sort of!
'Brazen' and 'Forsaken' were two very good novellas which made up for the major disappointment that was '13'. I hope we get so many more of these excellent novellas but it would be nice if they weren't so darn expensive!
With Kate missing in the woods, Clay is trying to find her without panicking Elena but when the familiar scent of Malcolm is scented in the same woods, they fear for their daughter. Elena starts to lose control of herself, becoming Kate's mother instead of Pack Leader and the Pack all arrive to give support and guard Logan.
Spoiler warning! The story is set up to make you think that Malcolm is the one who is stalking the kids, to get revenge on Elena and Clay, but for me this never fitted into what we know of Malcolm. Malcolm always liked Clay and I believe he respects Elena because she is tough and capable. He didn't kill Nick in 'Brazen' when he had the chance so why would he want to hurt the kids? It didn't fit for me. I was sure he was there watching the events, but I didn't think he was the threat. I always felt it was the British Pack who were out to get Elena by using her kids. when Malcolm calls Elena on the phone to talk about Logan being alone while they searched for Kate, Elena took this as a threat but I believed Malcolm was warning her about mutts trying to grab her son. It was pretty nice to be right about something! I loved how the author dealt with Malcolm in this book!
Safe to look again! There was a lot of tension in this book, a lot of searching, running and hiding and I really enjoyed it. Other good things? The Pack were all involved which was GREAT as there are so many great characters amongst them. I love the Pack! I liked the end of the book with the scenes around the hotel etc which were tense and exciting. And of course, the ending was mindblowing! You just have to love Malcolm...sort of!
'Brazen' and 'Forsaken' were two very good novellas which made up for the major disappointment that was '13'. I hope we get so many more of these excellent novellas but it would be nice if they weren't so darn expensive!
vikingwolf's review
4.0
I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book in the beginning. Elena is dealing with the steriotype snotty British wolves who are patronising and sexist. Her daughter, instead of talking to her about her issues, behaves like a spoiled whiny brat and I was ready to strangle Kate. I have never liked her much because she obviously takes behaviour lessons from Savannah. However, as the book goes on I have a bit more sympathy for her. I guessed what was going on with Kate but was frustrated that she didn't just TALK to someone in the Pack like Nick, instead of being a bitch.
With Kate missing in the woods, Clay is trying to find her without panicking Elena but when the familiar scent of Malcolm is scented in the same woods, they fear for their daughter. Elena starts to lose control of herself, becoming Kate's mother instead of Pack Leader and the Pack all arrive to give support and guard Logan.
Spoiler warning! The story is set up to make you think that Malcolm is the one who is stalking the kids, to get revenge on Elena and Clay, but for me this never fitted into what we know of Malcolm. Malcolm always liked Clay and I believe he respects Elena because she is tough and capable. He didn't kill Nick in 'Brazen' when he had the chance so why would he want to hurt the kids? It didn't fit for me. I was sure he was there watching the events, but I didn't think he was the threat. I always felt it was the British Pack who were out to get Elena by using her kids. when Malcolm calls Elena on the phone to talk about Logan being alone while they searched for Kate, Elena took this as a threat but I believed Malcolm was warning her about mutts trying to grab her son. It was pretty nice to be right about something! I loved how the author dealt with Malcolm in this book!
Safe to look again! There was a lot of tension in this book, a lot of searching, running and hiding and I really enjoyed it. Other good things? The Pack were all involved which was GREAT as there are so many great characters amongst them. I love the Pack! I liked the end of the book with the scenes around the hotel etc which were tense and exciting. And of course, the ending was mindblowing! You just have to love Malcolm...sort of!
'Brazen' and 'Forsaken' were two very good novellas which made up for the major disappointment that was '13'. I hope we get so many more of these excellent novellas but it would be nice if they weren't so darn expensive!
With Kate missing in the woods, Clay is trying to find her without panicking Elena but when the familiar scent of Malcolm is scented in the same woods, they fear for their daughter. Elena starts to lose control of herself, becoming Kate's mother instead of Pack Leader and the Pack all arrive to give support and guard Logan.
Spoiler warning! The story is set up to make you think that Malcolm is the one who is stalking the kids, to get revenge on Elena and Clay, but for me this never fitted into what we know of Malcolm. Malcolm always liked Clay and I believe he respects Elena because she is tough and capable. He didn't kill Nick in 'Brazen' when he had the chance so why would he want to hurt the kids? It didn't fit for me. I was sure he was there watching the events, but I didn't think he was the threat. I always felt it was the British Pack who were out to get Elena by using her kids. when Malcolm calls Elena on the phone to talk about Logan being alone while they searched for Kate, Elena took this as a threat but I believed Malcolm was warning her about mutts trying to grab her son. It was pretty nice to be right about something! I loved how the author dealt with Malcolm in this book!
Safe to look again! There was a lot of tension in this book, a lot of searching, running and hiding and I really enjoyed it. Other good things? The Pack were all involved which was GREAT as there are so many great characters amongst them. I love the Pack! I liked the end of the book with the scenes around the hotel etc which were tense and exciting. And of course, the ending was mindblowing! You just have to love Malcolm...sort of!
'Brazen' and 'Forsaken' were two very good novellas which made up for the major disappointment that was '13'. I hope we get so many more of these excellent novellas but it would be nice if they weren't so darn expensive!
garnetofeden's review against another edition
4.0
Takes place two years after Brazen and features Elena, our usual Pack narrator. A minor change in the plot of Brazen was made to the version published in Otherworld Chills, and that is the version referenced in Forsaken.
Best part: The twins give hilarious and adorable analyses of their parents' behavior.
Rating reviewed 1/20/2023.
Spoiler
In that version, Vanessa would have chosen to let Malcolm kill her.Best part: The twins give hilarious and adorable analyses of their parents' behavior.
Rating reviewed 1/20/2023.
kstep1805's review
3.0
Such a delight to find this book when I thought there weren't going to be any new stories in this series. But it felt like a teaser, a taste of what I love about Elena and Clay.
readingrenbo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
hemloc's review against another edition
4.0
Six reasons to read Forsaken:
1) The story opens with international werewolf politics. There is no way to make that uninteresting if you're a writer like Kelley Armstrong.
2) There’s a lot of family drama, which I enjoyed because it creates conflict and shows that, even in fiction, no family is perfect.
3) I've not always been a fan of Clay's, but he has grown a lot since the first book and is no longer the kind of character I instantly dislike. I loved how worried he was over losing Kate, how afraid he was of telling Elena, and how even so many years later he still enjoys antagonising Karl.
4) This is the first time we really see the whole Pack work together!
5) The twins’s casual commentary as they watch their mother fight was funny.
6) The final plot twist is wonderful.
Four drawbacks to Forsaken:
1) I don't always enjoy how the twins are characterised. They're often too mature even for kids who spend most of their time around adults, especially Logan. Of the two, he’s the least interesting because he isn't given any proper flaws.
2) The plot is convoluted because what the villains are up to doesn't make sense. The scheme they hatch is stupidly complicated and implausible. It’s obvious that it's a means to an end, that end being character development and the final plot twist, but I would have enjoyed the story more if everyone's actions made sense.
3) The story occasionally did that thing where it makes side-characters unrealistically vile so that the hero can shine.
4) Elena annoyed me. All that talk about how women aren't hysterical, yet that's exactly how she acted when Kate went missing. To the point where she kept passing out.
1) The story opens with international werewolf politics. There is no way to make that uninteresting if you're a writer like Kelley Armstrong.
2) There’s a lot of family drama, which I enjoyed because it creates conflict and shows that, even in fiction, no family is perfect.
3) I've not always been a fan of Clay's, but he has grown a lot since the first book and is no longer the kind of character I instantly dislike. I loved how worried he was over losing Kate, how afraid he was of telling Elena, and how even so many years later he still enjoys antagonising Karl.
4) This is the first time we really see the whole Pack work together!
5) The twins’s casual commentary as they watch their mother fight was funny.
6) The final plot twist is wonderful.
Four drawbacks to Forsaken:
1) I don't always enjoy how the twins are characterised. They're often too mature even for kids who spend most of their time around adults, especially Logan. Of the two, he’s the least interesting because he isn't given any proper flaws.
2) The plot is convoluted because what the villains are up to doesn't make sense. The scheme they hatch is stupidly complicated and implausible. It’s obvious that it's a means to an end, that end being character development and the final plot twist, but I would have enjoyed the story more if everyone's actions made sense.
3) The story occasionally did that thing where it makes side-characters unrealistically vile so that the hero can shine.
4) Elena annoyed me. All that talk about how women aren't hysterical, yet that's exactly how she acted when Kate went missing. To the point where she kept passing out.