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rrgailey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I was feeling a fun supernatural read, and while this one was darker and grittier than I thought it would be, it was still a good read. Elena is definitely a complex character, and while some of her thought processes and decisions were a bit bonkers, I appreciated the less-than-perfect female protagonist.
samanyana's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
5.0
If you’re into werewolf fiction and fast paced writing, this book is for you. I could put myself in Elena’s shoes so well and picture what she was going through, without having to read through fluff.
The plot was gripping! A wild ride
The plot was gripping! A wild ride
ladylilyofold's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it but I didn't love it. I will keep reading the series but I defintely had some issues with the characters. Elena (who is in a relationship)was alright until she slept with Clay almost upon arrival at Stone Haven. What bothered me is that Armstrong actually makes a very compelling argument as to why Elena should hate Clay for what he did and then two pages later she sleeps with him. This kept happening over and over and as a reader I felt very jerked around. I never really liked Clay and couldn't get behind the relationship at all. Then in the last few pages of the book she totally changes her mind and is going to give it a try. There just wasn't enough buildup to warrant that kind of turnaround. But I really enjoyed Jeremy and the other members of the pack so I'll keep reading but not overly impressed with the first installment.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Women of the Otherworld (now shortened to Otherworld) urban fantasy series and revolving around a group of supernaturals. The focus is on Elena Michaels, a journalist living in Toronto versus her life with the Pack.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
Bitten is a combination of back story for Elena and Clay and a dramatic introduction to the life of a werewolf.
I adore Elena and then again I do not like her. She ticks me off with her constant running away, her hypocrisy, and yet I like her feistiness. She's living a double life, trying for her dream but stuck with her reality, a part of which is the lying she's doing with Philip, trying to be what she thinks he expects. It's no kind of future for which anyone should aim. That trip back to Toronto to be with Philip was full of tense days. Poor Philip. Clay is not someone who cares what others think. And Philip. He's wanting Elena's dream . . .
It's sad and yet too easy to understand when this change was not something she had planned for. Not that you can plan for something you didn't realize existed. And we know all this through first person protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective.
Her dream is something Elena treasured throughout her horrible childhood, and Philip and his welcoming family could be the fulfillment of that dream.
Armstrong has thrown in a few red herrings. Nope, I'm not sharing, *grin*. I will share how I laughed at the newer mutts who hadn't yet realized their strengths and Elena's reaction to their bravado.
The mutts are sad in that they don't realize how practical a Pack is about controlling behavior. Especially in these modern days with instant communication and all the surveillance everywhere. They're addicts to the excitement.
Armstrong paints an amazing picture of werewolves and mutts and their contrasting lifestyles. Naturally, she does emphasis the mutts' evil, but she doesn't downplay Clay's obsessions, either.
Bitten has a good pace and a sad, sorry tale that will find you weeping in places. The story is both character- and action-driven — that chase at the airport had my heart going. It's not the only chase or attack, and it certainly demonstrates the differences between Pack and mutt. As for the characters, hoo boy, they are an assorted bunch ranging from peacefully good to incredibly evil.
It's a series to buy!
The Story
It's a truce between Elena and the Pack . . . until "wild dogs" attack people in Bear Valley.
Tracking the mutts had been Elena's job until she fled. Now she's a target.
The Characters
Elena Michaels, the only female werewolf in existence, is a journalist living in Canada who specifically writes about Canadian politics. Philip is her human boyfriend. Anne is Philip's mother; Larry his father. Judith and Diane are his sisters. Ken is Diane's husband.
The Stonehaven Pack
Based in the struggling small town of Bear Valley in upper-state New York, Jeremy Danvers, an artist whose former career had been as a translator, is the calm Alpha of the Pack. The excitable Clayton Danvers, a professor of anthropology (his specialty is in anthropomorphic religions), is his second-in-command and foster-son-turned-bodyguard. Clay has a nasty childhood background as well and it colors how he sees people. Members of the Pack who don't live at Stonehaven include the easygoing playboy, Nick Sorrentino; his successful father, Antonio, who was a contemporary of Jeremy's — both live in the Catskills on their estate; Peter Myers, with the wild red hair and a degree in audiovisual technology, who lives across the border in Vermont; and, the fun-loving Logan, who lives in Albany and is Elena's best friend. Celia is Elena's cousin's "wife". Dominic had been Antonio's father who had had three sons, the deceased Gregory, Benedict who had left, and Antonio.
Rick's Tavern is one of three licensed establishments. Mike had been one of the searchers. Morgan is the town police chief; Officer O'Neil is one of his men.
Daniel Santos, seven when Clay was brought into the Pack, had a brother, Stephen. Daniel has started his own "pack" that includes Zachary Cain, a dumb serial killer; Jimmy Koenig; Scott Brandon, a serial killer from North Carolina; Thomas LeBlanc is a medical lab technician and yet another serial killer; Victor Olson, who's a rapist; and, international jewel thief Karl Marsten.
Sally and Juan are Anne and Larry's neighbors. José Carter was a small-time con man selling the wrong information. Malcolm Danvers had been Jeremy's brutal father and the former Pack Alpha. The Legacy is a centuries-old book that tells the history of werewolves, the Alphas adding to it every generation. Ethan Ritter had been part of a range dispute. A mutt is a werewolf without a Pack, and dangerous.
The Cover and Title
The cover is red. A red sky with the silhouettes of leafless trees. A red-tinged wolf with yellow eyes in the lower right corner. Elena's naked red back with her hair as wild as the tree branches. All the text is white from the blurb starting at Elena's shoulders welcoming us to the series, the title below it with a testimonial below that. Under the wolf's eye on the right is an info blurb with the author's name below it.
The title is the event that brought Elena into the Pack, when she's Bitten.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
Bitten is a combination of back story for Elena and Clay and a dramatic introduction to the life of a werewolf.
I adore Elena and then again I do not like her. She ticks me off with her constant running away, her hypocrisy, and yet I like her feistiness. She's living a double life, trying for her dream but stuck with her reality, a part of which is the lying she's doing with Philip, trying to be what she thinks he expects. It's no kind of future for which anyone should aim. That trip back to Toronto to be with Philip was full of tense days. Poor Philip. Clay is not someone who cares what others think. And Philip. He's wanting Elena's dream . . .
It's sad and yet too easy to understand when this change was not something she had planned for. Not that you can plan for something you didn't realize existed. And we know all this through first person protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective.
Her dream is something Elena treasured throughout her horrible childhood, and Philip and his welcoming family could be the fulfillment of that dream.
"Only humans kills for sport", for the fun of it."It's a scary situation with mutts invading Bear Valley, riling up the human citizens. Lord knows Daniel is doing his best to turn the humans against the Danverses.
Armstrong has thrown in a few red herrings. Nope, I'm not sharing, *grin*. I will share how I laughed at the newer mutts who hadn't yet realized their strengths and Elena's reaction to their bravado.
The mutts are sad in that they don't realize how practical a Pack is about controlling behavior. Especially in these modern days with instant communication and all the surveillance everywhere. They're addicts to the excitement.
Armstrong paints an amazing picture of werewolves and mutts and their contrasting lifestyles. Naturally, she does emphasis the mutts' evil, but she doesn't downplay Clay's obsessions, either.
Bitten has a good pace and a sad, sorry tale that will find you weeping in places. The story is both character- and action-driven — that chase at the airport had my heart going. It's not the only chase or attack, and it certainly demonstrates the differences between Pack and mutt. As for the characters, hoo boy, they are an assorted bunch ranging from peacefully good to incredibly evil.
It's a series to buy!
The Story
It's a truce between Elena and the Pack . . . until "wild dogs" attack people in Bear Valley.
Tracking the mutts had been Elena's job until she fled. Now she's a target.
The Characters
Elena Michaels, the only female werewolf in existence, is a journalist living in Canada who specifically writes about Canadian politics. Philip is her human boyfriend. Anne is Philip's mother; Larry his father. Judith and Diane are his sisters. Ken is Diane's husband.
The Stonehaven Pack
Based in the struggling small town of Bear Valley in upper-state New York, Jeremy Danvers, an artist whose former career had been as a translator, is the calm Alpha of the Pack. The excitable Clayton Danvers, a professor of anthropology (his specialty is in anthropomorphic religions), is his second-in-command and foster-son-turned-bodyguard. Clay has a nasty childhood background as well and it colors how he sees people. Members of the Pack who don't live at Stonehaven include the easygoing playboy, Nick Sorrentino; his successful father, Antonio, who was a contemporary of Jeremy's — both live in the Catskills on their estate; Peter Myers, with the wild red hair and a degree in audiovisual technology, who lives across the border in Vermont; and, the fun-loving Logan, who lives in Albany and is Elena's best friend. Celia is Elena's cousin's "wife". Dominic had been Antonio's father who had had three sons, the deceased Gregory, Benedict who had left, and Antonio.
Rick's Tavern is one of three licensed establishments. Mike had been one of the searchers. Morgan is the town police chief; Officer O'Neil is one of his men.
Daniel Santos, seven when Clay was brought into the Pack, had a brother, Stephen. Daniel has started his own "pack" that includes Zachary Cain, a dumb serial killer; Jimmy Koenig; Scott Brandon, a serial killer from North Carolina; Thomas LeBlanc is a medical lab technician and yet another serial killer; Victor Olson, who's a rapist; and, international jewel thief Karl Marsten.
Sally and Juan are Anne and Larry's neighbors. José Carter was a small-time con man selling the wrong information. Malcolm Danvers had been Jeremy's brutal father and the former Pack Alpha. The Legacy is a centuries-old book that tells the history of werewolves, the Alphas adding to it every generation. Ethan Ritter had been part of a range dispute. A mutt is a werewolf without a Pack, and dangerous.
The Cover and Title
The cover is red. A red sky with the silhouettes of leafless trees. A red-tinged wolf with yellow eyes in the lower right corner. Elena's naked red back with her hair as wild as the tree branches. All the text is white from the blurb starting at Elena's shoulders welcoming us to the series, the title below it with a testimonial below that. Under the wolf's eye on the right is an info blurb with the author's name below it.
The title is the event that brought Elena into the Pack, when she's Bitten.
buggys_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marymichal's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
This book was hard to rate. I enjoyed the story and suspense, and I think that deserves higher than 3⭐️. However, I hated all of the main characters. All of them. Elena was awful. Clay was awful. Jeremy was supposed to be good and kind, but he was awful.
Content Warnings
oofie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book tells the story of Elena Michaels, a werewolf attempting to live in society and away from her pack. But when pack business urgently calls, she finds herself sucked back into it all. Back into the pack and pack business, and back into the arms of the man/wolf that bit her.
Because in this world, there are born wolves, and they're all male, and then there are bitten wolves, which is why Elena exists as a wolf..
The "pack business" ends up turning really deadly, really quick, and Elena is finding keeping perspective, and keeping herself out of the life of the werewolf, incredibly hard.
I wish I liked this book more. I liked that not all the characters were 100% good and likable, I liked the real wolfy/otherness that the werewolves had, unlike in some other book, and I liked that there was action and gore that suited werewolves. I liked that some of the bad guys were truly bad, evil guys. But the writing was just...not it, and I wasn't in love with the story either. The writing has a lot of things people would say in actual conversation that just don't fit in a book (like, "XYZ was kidding...I think" or "I thought he was going to tell Daniel where to stuff it", etc.).
So overall, this book just wasn't for me. Might be for someone else.
Because in this world, there are born wolves, and they're all male, and then there are bitten wolves, which is why Elena exists as a wolf..
The "pack business" ends up turning really deadly, really quick, and Elena is finding keeping perspective, and keeping herself out of the life of the werewolf, incredibly hard.
I wish I liked this book more. I liked that not all the characters were 100% good and likable, I liked the real wolfy/otherness that the werewolves had, unlike in some other book, and I liked that there was action and gore that suited werewolves. I liked that some of the bad guys were truly bad, evil guys. But the writing was just...not it, and I wasn't in love with the story either. The writing has a lot of things people would say in actual conversation that just don't fit in a book (like, "XYZ was kidding...I think" or "I thought he was going to tell Daniel where to stuff it", etc.).
So overall, this book just wasn't for me. Might be for someone else.
ingread27's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the hard edge of this book. Characters who don’t need to be nice all the time but who you still root for. I also enjoyed a different take on werewolves from some of the other authors I’ve read. Overall, a good quick read.
rosie135790's review against another edition
adventurous
2.5
Jeremy and Nick are my favorites out of the cast. I would say that Jeremy is my favorite over Nick simply because we see more of him. Clay and Elena are not high up on my list (see spoilers for that). I think that this book would benefit from multiple points of view since Elena knows nothing most of the time. If not for all the stuff with Philip then this book would be rated higher. This book is probably rated high since I just read a book that I did not like and rated low.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia