Helpful Score: 9
I loved, loved, LOVED this book!
It would be so easy to babble on and gush about this story, but I'll try to keep myself from writing too much and giving things away. The beginning seemed to have a little bit of a flat quality (not much, since I never wanted to put the book down!), but looking back at it now it seems perfectly appropriate. But once the story takes off there's a lot of action! This is very well plotted! I especially loved how the other characters seemed to grow and evolve as Elena's perception of them changed. Ah, the things we want to see, and the things we refuse to see -- very well done!
I may have to go buy a copy of this for my personal collection, and copies to hand out to others. I may have to go back to upstate New York, and look for wolves... :)
It would be so easy to babble on and gush about this story, but I'll try to keep myself from writing too much and giving things away. The beginning seemed to have a little bit of a flat quality (not much, since I never wanted to put the book down!), but looking back at it now it seems perfectly appropriate. But once the story takes off there's a lot of action! This is very well plotted! I especially loved how the other characters seemed to grow and evolve as Elena's perception of them changed. Ah, the things we want to see, and the things we refuse to see -- very well done!
I may have to go buy a copy of this for my personal collection, and copies to hand out to others. I may have to go back to upstate New York, and look for wolves... :)
Helpful Score: 4
This is the best werewolf book I've ever read. I picked it up on a whim from the library and read it in one day. Then went back and read it again. I loved it so much I had to buy it as soon as I spotted it in my local Borders. It's my favorite book with rich descriptions of the change from human to werewolf and all the senses. If you love the paranormal genre, you must read this book!
Helpful Score: 3
This was an incredible book - I loved every moment of it. It caught my attention right in the beginning with the description of Elena's run. It got even better when Elena went back to the Pack. The tension between her and Clay was absolutely intense. But the descriptions are really what caught my attention. Armstrong seems to really know how it feels to be a wolf - or at least how to describe it so it seems that way!
Helpful Score: 3
An exciting, nonstop, novel that I couldn't put down. This author really gets into people's minds, motivations, emotions... It's a different take on werewolf stories. As the Houston Chronicle says: "Will both thrill and absorb you."
The first book in Armstrong's debut series. This book introduces us to Elena, the only female werewolf in existance. A wonderful series beginner, and the series as a whole is turning out to be far superior to LKH's Blake series (my opinion only). Well written, with a clever take on the often over-used supernatural genre.
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent read. I like that Armstrong brings a real world feel to being a werewolf, without all the magical legends. I love those kinds of books, but this brings a realness to her story. Her characters are intense and her writing is smooth. I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series!
Helpful Score: 2
Elena seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman. she just happens to be a werewolf. Bitten by her lover. Great story with a wonderful world of the wolves!!..
Helpful Score: 1
I picked up this book while waiting for new Anita Blake, I like the book, just a little slow I felt. I would love to read the rest of the series.
Helpful Score: 1
I picked this book up because I wanted to read somthing that was different from my norm. Bitten turned out to be so good that I can't wait to read the rest of the series. It's about a female warewolf (the only female warewolf) who is strugeling to find her place in the world. She wants to make it in the human world but her pack needs her help. This story has a little of everything. A little love story, A little mystery, alot of excitement and plenty of twist and turns. The charicters are great and the story is even better. I would highly recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 1
I had a busy week and could not just sit down and read this book - but I found that even reading a few chapters here and there, I was thinking about the characters - really thinking about them. I think that is the key to a great story.
Once I was able to devote the time to reading, I could not put it down. I love the way she describes being a werewolf - it almost made me feel like I was one. The story was great and it just grabbed you - I love how you see both Elena and Clay grow as characters - and I feel like I really got to know them in the story - I also felt like I had a chance to get to know the secondary characters as well - that is a feat - because sometimes you only get to know the main characters and the rest of them are just in the periphery - but with this book, you feel like you get to know them a little too.
I can't wait to read more from this author - in looking at her website, not all the books are narrated by Elena - that is exciting - to be able to get into this world from different perspectives. If you couldn't already tell - I recommend this book!
Once I was able to devote the time to reading, I could not put it down. I love the way she describes being a werewolf - it almost made me feel like I was one. The story was great and it just grabbed you - I love how you see both Elena and Clay grow as characters - and I feel like I really got to know them in the story - I also felt like I had a chance to get to know the secondary characters as well - that is a feat - because sometimes you only get to know the main characters and the rest of them are just in the periphery - but with this book, you feel like you get to know them a little too.
I can't wait to read more from this author - in looking at her website, not all the books are narrated by Elena - that is exciting - to be able to get into this world from different perspectives. If you couldn't already tell - I recommend this book!
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book, I usually don't like books about werewolves, but the all the characters were totally engaging the whole story and I loved how fast paced it was. I couldn't put it down and I read it in about 4 days. Wonderful and looking forward to the next one!
Helpful Score: 1
The first book in the women of the otherworld and a fabulous addition to the ever growing Paranormal genre. Being the only female werewolf in exhistance makes Elena's life extremely hard. Fighting for independence from her pack and trying to fit in with the human world are only some of Elena's challenges.
Kelley Armstrong's writing is what Laurell K Hamilton fans miss about the more recent Anita Blake books. Armstong does a wonderful job of introducing Elena's life and world to the readers without making the background dull and uninteresting. She is a strong and independent woman who struggles with who she is. You never question who this book is about even with the introduction of several key players in Elena's werewolf world.
Kelley Armstrong's writing is what Laurell K Hamilton fans miss about the more recent Anita Blake books. Armstong does a wonderful job of introducing Elena's life and world to the readers without making the background dull and uninteresting. She is a strong and independent woman who struggles with who she is. You never question who this book is about even with the introduction of several key players in Elena's werewolf world.
Helpful Score: 1
Enter the world of werewolves with Elena Michaels, the only known female werewolf. This book is such an amazing read. You really feel like you fall into her world easily. If you love the underworld of the supernatural, don't miss this series.
Helpful Score: 1
Hands down the most realistic werewolf paranormal story I've read and I've read many from Lora Leigh to Kresely Cole. This story is believable in terms of how painful it is to change, how one is naked after the change (clothes don't magically reappear when you revert back to human form), how it feels like to be a wolf in an urban setting, how it feels to have wolfish senses, and so on.
I loved the heroine and disliked her also. She's feisty, she's sexual, she's smart and funny. She isn't anyone's submissive. She is also mean, selfish, and wishy washy. She couldn't figure out if she belonged in the human world or the Pack. If cheating bothers you, then be warned. The heroine cheats on her sweet human boyfriend. The werewolf hero, Clay, is likable though when you find out what he did to the heroine 11 years earlier (no, not rape!), you may not see him in a positive light. He is sweet without being one of those chest-thumping "you're mine!" type he-men so prevalent in paranormal stories. The two main characters had good dialog and tension.
There's a good mix of humor, drama and romance. The plot is a whodunnit. I felt the author really gave the werewolves all the wonderful characteristics while the humans were bland and boring. The wherewolves are athletic, fit, strong, rippling muscles, all six-pack abs, they have loads of money, expensive cars, nice clothes, mansions, etc. The humans...well..not much of those things. The humans are just there for dinner or sex. And when the Pack needs money they get it because their leader, Jeremy, is just this genius who can do things to generate cash. It just all seemed very convenient. Jeremy, the Pack leader, is an intriguing and likable character. Hope to read more about him in the future.
Overall, I liked this book, but at times it felt like a Harlequin Romance novel. But it's a fresh take on paranormal stories. I'd read more from this author.
I loved the heroine and disliked her also. She's feisty, she's sexual, she's smart and funny. She isn't anyone's submissive. She is also mean, selfish, and wishy washy. She couldn't figure out if she belonged in the human world or the Pack. If cheating bothers you, then be warned. The heroine cheats on her sweet human boyfriend. The werewolf hero, Clay, is likable though when you find out what he did to the heroine 11 years earlier (no, not rape!), you may not see him in a positive light. He is sweet without being one of those chest-thumping "you're mine!" type he-men so prevalent in paranormal stories. The two main characters had good dialog and tension.
There's a good mix of humor, drama and romance. The plot is a whodunnit. I felt the author really gave the werewolves all the wonderful characteristics while the humans were bland and boring. The wherewolves are athletic, fit, strong, rippling muscles, all six-pack abs, they have loads of money, expensive cars, nice clothes, mansions, etc. The humans...well..not much of those things. The humans are just there for dinner or sex. And when the Pack needs money they get it because their leader, Jeremy, is just this genius who can do things to generate cash. It just all seemed very convenient. Jeremy, the Pack leader, is an intriguing and likable character. Hope to read more about him in the future.
Overall, I liked this book, but at times it felt like a Harlequin Romance novel. But it's a fresh take on paranormal stories. I'd read more from this author.
I really liked this book. The commentary, in the first person, was outstanding. It was as though I was pulled into the story. I will read the 'The Others' series.
Ms Armstrong is one of the best authors I have read in a long time.
Ms Armstrong is one of the best authors I have read in a long time.
I adored this book. I am forever wishing for stronger female leads, and I love paranormal romance. Elena was self-sufficient, strong, smart, and TALL! At 5'10" I was excited to finally see a heroine taller than a petite 5'2".
Kelley Armstrong writes with humor, it flows well, and I enjoyed the story. Just enough romance to satisfy without overdoing it.
Kelley Armstrong writes with humor, it flows well, and I enjoyed the story. Just enough romance to satisfy without overdoing it.
Interesting characters, but way too gory for my taste. I had to put it down a few chapters in after the umpteenth description of splattered, bloody body parts.
Loved the book. Loved the around the way love story. Had me guessing, but guessing wrong. I like that. A very tangible relationship that has you rooting for the heroine to make the right choices.
Really enjoyed this book, look forward to reading more of this series.
This is probably one of my favorite writers and one of my favorite series. Im now reading it all over again for the third or fourth time, it never gets old and I always get to add a new book at the end.
She is a great writer and the stories are amazing! If you havent read this yet you are sooo missing out!!
She is a great writer and the stories are amazing! If you havent read this yet you are sooo missing out!!
this was a great urban fantasy werewolf read! The Women of the otherworld series is great continue reading!!!
This was the best book Ive read in a while. It was a little slow in the beginning, but then in gets REALLY good. The romance in it isnt like any other ive read before. It was honestly a great book. A good mystery is intertwined with all the pack relationships, which i really enjoyed. 5 out of 5 stars, easy.
I really love this series!
While this is a very good story, the writing exceptional, I disliked the main character...Elena. I agree with Tracey A and Dinah R's opinion of her. I won't be reading the next story because reading more about Elena and her vacillating, whining and self-righteousness is annoying. I might read book three since it has a new character.
This is a fun one...great read!
Great Book- Great Author- Great Series. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre.
I loved the writer's prose and I'm going to try other books by her. However, I found the main character (Elena) annoyed me so I found it hard to warm up to the rest of the book. I hope someone else enjoys this more than I did.
** spoiler alert ** There could potentially be spoilers, so I am marking the whole review, just to be safe. I have heard about The Otherworld Series many times over the years. It has always been filed away in the back of my brain as a to-read-at-some-point-in-the-future. Then I accidentally bought the 5th or 6th book of the series and thought, well now is as good a time as any to start from book one! And I loved it! I have thought long and hard about how to rate this book, because a five star rating is one that I give a lot of thought to before I give it. But I couldn't find a single reason to rate this as less.
Armstrong's prose is polished and not a wasted sentence in the entire book. It is not uncommon for a first book in a series to be littered with whole chapters that just seem unnecessary, but not this one. Every sentence was necessary and useful to the plot. The only thing I could say negatively about the prose is that at time the point of view seemed to falter. First person is a tough point of view to right in, and the author alternated between a narrative and the character directly addressing the reader during the narrative. It was a bit jarring at first since I have not read books that do that often. But in this case it seemed to fit the character's personality to do so and once I got used to it, it made complete sense.
Clayton could have been one of those characters that I really disliked. He's the ultra, uber, alpha male type and that can easily go badly. But not this time. Yes, Clayton can come acros as a bit obsessive and stalker-ish, but this book doesn't make it seem over the top. He harbors deep feelings and loyalty for Elena, and wants desperately to have her back but he knows when to draw the line. It may not seem like drawing a line to readers but Elena, who knows him best, comes to see that he really as trying to make her life easier and not manipulate her anymore. I liked that and so I ended up liking his character immensely.
Elena is a great female lead! I have gotten very sick and tired of female leads who's only flaw is that they occasionally have a bad hair day. Elena is much more human than that, without actually being human. She holds grudges for absolutely no reason other than to hold a grudge. She is angry and stubborn and often lets that be her excuse for doing something tremendously stupid. Yes, she has flaws, but that just makes her character better. It makes her more relatable. I can relate to her because she is flawed, and so I like her for many of the same reasons. But not only does she have flaws that many fictional heroines seem to lack these days, she also kicks some serious ass. Elena might get angry and so something done but she will kick ass once she gets there and correct that mistake without letting anyone else suffer the consequences. I want to read more about Elena, I love her!
The plot of this novel went along at a good clip, but it didn't seem rushed. Everything was given the appropriate amount of time to be satisfying and then was moved on from to the next thing. I appreciate a story with a good pace, it allows me to get drawn in and wrapped up into it. I was so drawn into this story I read whenever I got the chance and all of a sudden would be 50 pages farther! A fantastic book, I am a fan of Kelley Armstrong.
Armstrong's prose is polished and not a wasted sentence in the entire book. It is not uncommon for a first book in a series to be littered with whole chapters that just seem unnecessary, but not this one. Every sentence was necessary and useful to the plot. The only thing I could say negatively about the prose is that at time the point of view seemed to falter. First person is a tough point of view to right in, and the author alternated between a narrative and the character directly addressing the reader during the narrative. It was a bit jarring at first since I have not read books that do that often. But in this case it seemed to fit the character's personality to do so and once I got used to it, it made complete sense.
Clayton could have been one of those characters that I really disliked. He's the ultra, uber, alpha male type and that can easily go badly. But not this time. Yes, Clayton can come acros as a bit obsessive and stalker-ish, but this book doesn't make it seem over the top. He harbors deep feelings and loyalty for Elena, and wants desperately to have her back but he knows when to draw the line. It may not seem like drawing a line to readers but Elena, who knows him best, comes to see that he really as trying to make her life easier and not manipulate her anymore. I liked that and so I ended up liking his character immensely.
Elena is a great female lead! I have gotten very sick and tired of female leads who's only flaw is that they occasionally have a bad hair day. Elena is much more human than that, without actually being human. She holds grudges for absolutely no reason other than to hold a grudge. She is angry and stubborn and often lets that be her excuse for doing something tremendously stupid. Yes, she has flaws, but that just makes her character better. It makes her more relatable. I can relate to her because she is flawed, and so I like her for many of the same reasons. But not only does she have flaws that many fictional heroines seem to lack these days, she also kicks some serious ass. Elena might get angry and so something done but she will kick ass once she gets there and correct that mistake without letting anyone else suffer the consequences. I want to read more about Elena, I love her!
The plot of this novel went along at a good clip, but it didn't seem rushed. Everything was given the appropriate amount of time to be satisfying and then was moved on from to the next thing. I appreciate a story with a good pace, it allows me to get drawn in and wrapped up into it. I was so drawn into this story I read whenever I got the chance and all of a sudden would be 50 pages farther! A fantastic book, I am a fan of Kelley Armstrong.
This is the first book in a series about Elena who was bitten by her fiance 10 years prior. She's never forgiven him for turning her into a werewolf. She spends most of the book angry, bitching and complaining about her plight and never thinking of anyone but herself. I found this to be very annoying and almost didn't finish the book.
I had the second book in this series, Stolen, on my wishlist but removed it after finishing this one. Don't think I can stand anymore of her whining.
I had the second book in this series, Stolen, on my wishlist but removed it after finishing this one. Don't think I can stand anymore of her whining.
Very good story in a great series.
I don't know if it's just me but I couldn't get into this book. I like werewolves and such, but it just didn't grab me after 90 pages so I gave up.
This one is a keeper. I found myself rooting for the wrong guy! Had I read the others first that might have been different. But it was a good enough read to get me interested in the sequels, all of which I loved. Perhaps it's not the best of the bunch but it's worth reading for background if nothing else.
Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman. She lives with her boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf.
Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desparate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must reckon with who, and what, she is.
Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desparate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must reckon with who, and what, she is.
Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman. She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf.
Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must reckon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel.
Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must reckon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel.
