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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
"If a werewolf behaved like this psychopath it wouldn't be because he was part animal, but because he was still too human"
Elena Michaels seems to be your average 30-ish woman. She has a great job, great boyfriend, and great apartment. The problem is, she is also a werewolf and leads a secret double life of sorts. When Jeremy, the leader of the Pack she left over a year ago, calls her and asks her to return to Stonehaven, Elena has no choice but to follow his call. But the ghosts of why she left and the mysterious wolf-ish deaths in Bear Valley threaten to change everything.
I love urban fantasy, but, surprisingly, I'm not a huge fan of werewolf urban fantasy. I say "surprisingly", because, if you look at a list of my top favs in the Urban Fantasy genre, you would see Mercy Thompson and now Armstrong's "Bitten" at the top of the list.
However, I think it's easy to see why "Bitten" is on the top of that list. Kelley Armstrong, who wrote the Young Adult Urban Fantasy series, Darkest Powers (which I love, love, LOVE), has a lot going for her. She creates amazing, realistic characters and a great world.
The cast is fantastic. From our protagonists, Elena and Clay (and others), to our villains, Marsten and Daniel (and others), the characters feel real and unique. Elena was wonderful. I loved how she was a strong, independent woman, without losing her femininity. She didn't need to love pink to be a girl, but she also wasn't rushing headlong into situations, only to be saved by the brawny male at the end. She was more than capable of fighting on her own, using her brain, and generally, being bad @$$.
Often times, in first person novels, if the protagonist/viewpoint character is good, the others are generally blase. Not here. Jeremy was a great character, and I had a lot of respect for him. I may not have been a huge Clay fan, but I did understand how he behaved, how much he cared for Elena, and how he tried. And damn, were the scenes with Clay and Elena steamy!! WHEW! Summer has arrived! Philip, who wasn't a major character, garnered my sympathy, I was really hoping that the Pack wouldn't have to kill Marstens, and so on and so forth. The characters felt unique and not barely disguised clones.
The world that Armstrong has created in "Bitten" is absolutely fascinating. There is a quote on the book stating that Armstrong's "Bitten" does for werewolves as Rice's "Interview with a Vampire" did for vampires, and I have to agree. I love how Armstrong really made the wolfish tendencies prevalent, from how the werewolves rough-housed (really clever!) to their appetites and even to how they hunt and have hunter's instincts. I thought it was clever, well-thought out and very interesting, and, even though I am not a werewolf fan, I would definitely check into more of this series just to see more of this world that Armstrong has. (In fact, I plan on doing just that--I've bought the next three books in the series!)
The story itself is a bit generic/stereotypical. A werewolf is killing people near Stonehaven, and the Pack must discover who it is and root them out before it discloses their secret. For some reason, this really didn't bug me. I think it was a great introduction to a series/character, and it definitely led to some good world-building. I did think Jeremy's ability to speak to his Pack in their sleep via a telepathy of sorts was revealed too late in the story and felt like a patch to make the story come together. I also wasn't fond of how, in the end, Elena tended to throw herself into dangerous situations. But in Elena's and the author's defense, I will say it was appropriate given A) Elena's character and B) what was happening elsewhere in the story (no spoilers!). So yeah, I've seen it a lot, but Armstrong made it make sense and didn't make it so that Elena had to be saved by someone else.
This book was so much fun to read, that I eagerly look forward to continuing the series with Stolen and seeing what happens next in Elena and the Women of the Othereworld's life. If you like urban fantasy, werewolves, and smart women who are really smart and not just wrapped up in "smart" clothes, then pick this up!!
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence: Some f-bombs and milder swears. A few fairly discrete sex scenes. Lots of ripping of throats and chases and gun fights.
Elena Michaels seems to be your average 30-ish woman. She has a great job, great boyfriend, and great apartment. The problem is, she is also a werewolf and leads a secret double life of sorts. When Jeremy, the leader of the Pack she left over a year ago, calls her and asks her to return to Stonehaven, Elena has no choice but to follow his call. But the ghosts of why she left and the mysterious wolf-ish deaths in Bear Valley threaten to change everything.
I love urban fantasy, but, surprisingly, I'm not a huge fan of werewolf urban fantasy. I say "surprisingly", because, if you look at a list of my top favs in the Urban Fantasy genre, you would see Mercy Thompson and now Armstrong's "Bitten" at the top of the list.
However, I think it's easy to see why "Bitten" is on the top of that list. Kelley Armstrong, who wrote the Young Adult Urban Fantasy series, Darkest Powers (which I love, love, LOVE), has a lot going for her. She creates amazing, realistic characters and a great world.
The cast is fantastic. From our protagonists, Elena and Clay (and others), to our villains, Marsten and Daniel (and others), the characters feel real and unique. Elena was wonderful. I loved how she was a strong, independent woman, without losing her femininity. She didn't need to love pink to be a girl, but she also wasn't rushing headlong into situations, only to be saved by the brawny male at the end. She was more than capable of fighting on her own, using her brain, and generally, being bad @$$.
Often times, in first person novels, if the protagonist/viewpoint character is good, the others are generally blase. Not here. Jeremy was a great character, and I had a lot of respect for him. I may not have been a huge Clay fan, but I did understand how he behaved, how much he cared for Elena, and how he tried. And damn, were the scenes with Clay and Elena steamy!! WHEW! Summer has arrived! Philip, who wasn't a major character, garnered my sympathy, I was really hoping that the Pack wouldn't have to kill Marstens, and so on and so forth. The characters felt unique and not barely disguised clones.
The world that Armstrong has created in "Bitten" is absolutely fascinating. There is a quote on the book stating that Armstrong's "Bitten" does for werewolves as Rice's "Interview with a Vampire" did for vampires, and I have to agree. I love how Armstrong really made the wolfish tendencies prevalent, from how the werewolves rough-housed (really clever!) to their appetites and even to how they hunt and have hunter's instincts. I thought it was clever, well-thought out and very interesting, and, even though I am not a werewolf fan, I would definitely check into more of this series just to see more of this world that Armstrong has. (In fact, I plan on doing just that--I've bought the next three books in the series!)
The story itself is a bit generic/stereotypical. A werewolf is killing people near Stonehaven, and the Pack must discover who it is and root them out before it discloses their secret. For some reason, this really didn't bug me. I think it was a great introduction to a series/character, and it definitely led to some good world-building. I did think Jeremy's ability to speak to his Pack in their sleep via a telepathy of sorts was revealed too late in the story and felt like a patch to make the story come together. I also wasn't fond of how, in the end, Elena tended to throw herself into dangerous situations. But in Elena's and the author's defense, I will say it was appropriate given A) Elena's character and B) what was happening elsewhere in the story (no spoilers!). So yeah, I've seen it a lot, but Armstrong made it make sense and didn't make it so that Elena had to be saved by someone else.
This book was so much fun to read, that I eagerly look forward to continuing the series with Stolen and seeing what happens next in Elena and the Women of the Othereworld's life. If you like urban fantasy, werewolves, and smart women who are really smart and not just wrapped up in "smart" clothes, then pick this up!!
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence: Some f-bombs and milder swears. A few fairly discrete sex scenes. Lots of ripping of throats and chases and gun fights.
effohbree's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
dragon57's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
karostl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mbpartlow's review against another edition
4.0
Kelley Armstrong can do no wrong.
This is the first book, detailing Elena's and Clay's story. Sigh. Love the way the rest of the series rounds out the characters. It reads differently--even better--when you've read through the series and come back for a reread.
This is the first book, detailing Elena's and Clay's story. Sigh. Love the way the rest of the series rounds out the characters. It reads differently--even better--when you've read through the series and come back for a reread.
breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
this was really good. I can't believe it took watching the show to read this book. I can't wait to read more of this series. I think this author is quickly becoming one of my favorites
blurrypetals's review against another edition
4.0
Audible was having a sale on books that were the beginning of series, so I perused through the list to see if there was anything that sounded like fun and, since I'm calling this month Fantasy February, I wanted to keep with the theme and read another fantasy book, and because I just got done with a big awesome series, it was just about time for me to read something trashy and inconsequential to sort of hit my internal reset button. This was on that $4.95 list, it was rated "Sizzling" on Audible's romance package, the narrator wasn't bad, and that, ladies and gentlemen, is all it takes for me to buy an audiobook sometimes. Cheap? Steamy? Not unpleasant to the ear canals? I am sold, my dudes.
I got exactly what I paid for, exactly what I expected, and exactly what I needed. I have some desire to maybe - and that is the absolute softest maybe you will ever see from me - find out what happens to Elena and Clay in the sequels (which they are apparently not in all of anyway) so I might return to see what's up if I get into a slump later this year, after I've read 86 books and I'm having a hard time finding things at my local library or for cheap on Audible. It'll be a really good "back burner" series to kind of have for moments like that, where I just can't decide what to read so I decide a figurative coma for the thinking parts of my brain is best for the next couple of shifts at work (which, if you didn't know, is where I listen to all my books).
I realize I haven't talked much about what the book is like or how I felt about certain parts, but honestly, you can take this book at face value in its entirety. It's dumb, sexy fun. You don't have to remember which fictional countries all the different characters come from like I had to with a certain Ravka- and Kerch-set series I've recently finished. You barely have to remember anyone's names, you just have to be able to have an attention span equivalent to that of a goldfish and you'll be good, promise.
I got exactly what I paid for, exactly what I expected, and exactly what I needed. I have some desire to maybe - and that is the absolute softest maybe you will ever see from me - find out what happens to Elena and Clay in the sequels (which they are apparently not in all of anyway) so I might return to see what's up if I get into a slump later this year, after I've read 86 books and I'm having a hard time finding things at my local library or for cheap on Audible. It'll be a really good "back burner" series to kind of have for moments like that, where I just can't decide what to read so I decide a figurative coma for the thinking parts of my brain is best for the next couple of shifts at work (which, if you didn't know, is where I listen to all my books).
I realize I haven't talked much about what the book is like or how I felt about certain parts, but honestly, you can take this book at face value in its entirety. It's dumb, sexy fun. You don't have to remember which fictional countries all the different characters come from like I had to with a certain Ravka- and Kerch-set series I've recently finished. You barely have to remember anyone's names, you just have to be able to have an attention span equivalent to that of a goldfish and you'll be good, promise.
so_brookeish's review against another edition
4.25
I’ll admit, I watched the show years ago when it came out and then realized they were based off a novel! One day I was thrifting books with a friend and saw this one in practically perfect condition, I snagged it and let it sit on my shelf for way too long!
This was really enjoyable, absolutely a book I’d read again, and definitely one I’ll continue along in the series!
As far as book vs show there were some minor plot/character changes. Some things I disliked in the show (Logan’s entire storyline) weren’t in the books, and some things I liked in the show (a bit more character diversity) were only in the show.
I did enjoy the extra stuff you always get with a book, a bit more character history and growth, a bit more nuances in why a character does a certain thing or behaves a particular way..!
All in all I’m happy I read it (and watched it for that matter!) and plan to keep going in the series!
This was really enjoyable, absolutely a book I’d read again, and definitely one I’ll continue along in the series!
As far as book vs show there were some minor plot/character changes. Some things I disliked in the show (Logan’s entire storyline) weren’t in the books, and some things I liked in the show (a bit more character diversity) were only in the show.
I did enjoy the extra stuff you always get with a book, a bit more character history and growth, a bit more nuances in why a character does a certain thing or behaves a particular way..!
All in all I’m happy I read it (and watched it for that matter!) and plan to keep going in the series!
veraann's review against another edition
3.0
I really like werewolf stories. This one was pretty good. I don't feel I would rave about it and wildly recommend it, but I wouldn't find it a waste of time to read. Characters were done well, and had good depth. I just found times when it was wordy or the main character is going off on a tangent explaining what is going on. There are times of the I'm not gonna get into every little detail, but then goes on for a page about the event and explains the details she is not going to get into. It's like the person telling a long story and at the end saying, long story short...
alba_1994's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
2.5
Interesting world and characters, i wish we would have seen more of them interacting within that world, instead of wasting so much time on a love triangle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Kidnapping, Confinement, Gore, Death, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia