Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, Bk 1)
Author:
Genres: Romance, Horror
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genres: Romance, Horror
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
When I started getting into paranormal romance and urban fantasy books, I quickly learned that I had a lot of catching up to do. One of the books that kept coming up in conversations with friends, online reviews and recommendations, every list I looked at, was this book--Bitten by Kelley Armstrong. There were people that told me this was the book to which all other shapeshifter books should be compared. Now, I'm not going to gush quite such high praise, but I will say this is going on my five star shelf (and I don't say that about many books).
The story is told entirely from the first person perspective of Elena. Ten years prior to the main plot, Elena was bitten by her fiance and thrust into a world of werewolves she never dreamed existed. She has done everything in her power to seperate herself from the Pack (the leading clan of werewolves) and make a life for herself in the human world. But when her alpha calls and demands her help with some unruly mutts (non-Pack werewolves) she can't refuse. Thrown back into the violent and unpredictable world of werewolves, Elena must fight those who threaten her loved ones and come to terms with who and what she is.
This book is brilliant in it's simplicity. I guess I've grown accustomed, with most fantasy books, to being inundated with information about vampires, shape-shifters, witches, fairies, and all the customs and rituals and rules that go along with each. It's not that I mind that in the slightest, but sometimes a story that's just about one thing--werewolves in this case--is best. I got a really clear sense, from the brilliant use of Elena's perspective, exactly what it might be like to be a werewolf. Her journey, her pain, her relationship with the other wolves, occupied most of the space and I mean that in the best possible way. I loved the Pack and the disfunctional family atmosphere they create. And the romance between Elena and Clay (the wolf who bit her) is remarkably sweet. Even the villains are fleshed out, with believable and interesting motivations.
What I liked most about this book, at the end of it all, was how thuroughly Elena's worldview shifted. There's nothing quite like watching a character finally come to accept herself. When it's done right, it makes the book spectacular.
If you're looking for a werewolf book, look no further. This one's a keeper.
The story is told entirely from the first person perspective of Elena. Ten years prior to the main plot, Elena was bitten by her fiance and thrust into a world of werewolves she never dreamed existed. She has done everything in her power to seperate herself from the Pack (the leading clan of werewolves) and make a life for herself in the human world. But when her alpha calls and demands her help with some unruly mutts (non-Pack werewolves) she can't refuse. Thrown back into the violent and unpredictable world of werewolves, Elena must fight those who threaten her loved ones and come to terms with who and what she is.
This book is brilliant in it's simplicity. I guess I've grown accustomed, with most fantasy books, to being inundated with information about vampires, shape-shifters, witches, fairies, and all the customs and rituals and rules that go along with each. It's not that I mind that in the slightest, but sometimes a story that's just about one thing--werewolves in this case--is best. I got a really clear sense, from the brilliant use of Elena's perspective, exactly what it might be like to be a werewolf. Her journey, her pain, her relationship with the other wolves, occupied most of the space and I mean that in the best possible way. I loved the Pack and the disfunctional family atmosphere they create. And the romance between Elena and Clay (the wolf who bit her) is remarkably sweet. Even the villains are fleshed out, with believable and interesting motivations.
What I liked most about this book, at the end of it all, was how thuroughly Elena's worldview shifted. There's nothing quite like watching a character finally come to accept herself. When it's done right, it makes the book spectacular.
If you're looking for a werewolf book, look no further. This one's a keeper.
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