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vikingwolf's review
4.0
I used to own a copy of 'Dates from Hell', the anthology that this novella was published in but when I saw that the story was about Hope and Karl first meeting, I chose not to read it and the book was traded to a friend. Yeah, I know, I should've given it a chance! At the time my favourite women were Elena and Jaime so Hope wasn't as interesting to me. I wasn't a fan of Karl in Bitten but he has greatly grown on me as the series has progressed and that is why I hunted down a copy of this novella to read. And I loved it!
Hope is on a blind date set up by her mother-with her brother-in-law's old frat buddy, the boring, self obsessed and rude Douglas. At the museum her chaos senses are alert to a security guard being attacked and a robbery in progress. Hope goes to confront the thief and realises it is a werewolf-a test by the Council to see how Hope is developing as an agent. Can she stop Karl, impress the Council and ditch her date?
I wish I had read this book before I read Personal Demon as it would have endeared me to her before she got her own book. I really liked her character in this book. She comes over as a normal person, other than her half demon side, the kind you would like to have as a friend. She feels that she owes the Council for giving her a purpose, an outlet for her chaos as she investigates paranormal events for the publication she writes for, but her mother is more interested in finding dates for her. Where they dug up Douglas from is a mystery to me!
Douglas is an awful date, always talking about himself and how great he is, boring poor Hope to tears! When she does get a chance to talk, he just interrupts all the time and seems to want Hope to be what he wants her to be, instead of finding out who she really is. Hope, you are WAY too polite! I would have dumped his ass by the end of dinner! When he ignores her wish to visit an exhibit and drags her off to introduce him to people he wants to network with, I was yelling at her to stop being such a doormat and get rid of him! I would have left him with his networking target and went on the tour, but hey, I'm rude and selfish so that's just me...
Karl was great in this book-charming, unruffled, sexy and dangerous. Didn't you just want to grab him? I loved all of his interactions with Hope and his amused demeanor at her amateur detective antics. He may have been the bad boy outcast when we met him but when things take a dangerous turn for Hope, he is trying to protect her without a second thought, and I liked seeing this side to him. It gives us a taste of what he will do in the last Otherworld novel '13'. He is fast becoming a favourite of mine, the more I read about him.
It is hard to review this novella without giving away everything that happens-and there is tension, action, intrigue and a touch of romance. It really is the complete novella and I loved reading it.
Hope is on a blind date set up by her mother-with her brother-in-law's old frat buddy, the boring, self obsessed and rude Douglas. At the museum her chaos senses are alert to a security guard being attacked and a robbery in progress. Hope goes to confront the thief and realises it is a werewolf-a test by the Council to see how Hope is developing as an agent. Can she stop Karl, impress the Council and ditch her date?
I wish I had read this book before I read Personal Demon as it would have endeared me to her before she got her own book. I really liked her character in this book. She comes over as a normal person, other than her half demon side, the kind you would like to have as a friend. She feels that she owes the Council for giving her a purpose, an outlet for her chaos as she investigates paranormal events for the publication she writes for, but her mother is more interested in finding dates for her. Where they dug up Douglas from is a mystery to me!
Douglas is an awful date, always talking about himself and how great he is, boring poor Hope to tears! When she does get a chance to talk, he just interrupts all the time and seems to want Hope to be what he wants her to be, instead of finding out who she really is. Hope, you are WAY too polite! I would have dumped his ass by the end of dinner! When he ignores her wish to visit an exhibit and drags her off to introduce him to people he wants to network with, I was yelling at her to stop being such a doormat and get rid of him! I would have left him with his networking target and went on the tour, but hey, I'm rude and selfish so that's just me...
Karl was great in this book-charming, unruffled, sexy and dangerous. Didn't you just want to grab him? I loved all of his interactions with Hope and his amused demeanor at her amateur detective antics. He may have been the bad boy outcast when we met him but when things take a dangerous turn for Hope, he is trying to protect her without a second thought, and I liked seeing this side to him. It gives us a taste of what he will do in the last Otherworld novel '13'. He is fast becoming a favourite of mine, the more I read about him.
It is hard to review this novella without giving away everything that happens-and there is tension, action, intrigue and a touch of romance. It really is the complete novella and I loved reading it.
hemloc's review
4.0
Four reasons to read Chaotic:
1) I like Hope more in this story than I do in her POV books because she's an awful lot more relatable. Here, we get to see her as an amateur investigator and agent. She makes mistakes, catches herself, and keeps things entertaining while she does it.
2) There is something very appealing about Karl when he isn't being overbearing.
3) Hope and Karl work well together. They bring out a spark in each other that often generates fun back-and-forths and heated interactions.
4) It's a caper story. A bit more violent than its peers, but still a caper story and those are always fun.
Two drawbacks to Chaotic:
1) The story is action-packed yet somehow still manages to feel slow. This is a recurring problem with Hope's POV. She spends too much time thinking, and the story has to stall every time she has a vision. The pacing did pick up about halfway through, though.
2) Even though Hope is more relatable in this story, she's still a little bit annoying. She's so polite at times that she turns into a doormat.
1) I like Hope more in this story than I do in her POV books because she's an awful lot more relatable. Here, we get to see her as an amateur investigator and agent. She makes mistakes, catches herself, and keeps things entertaining while she does it.
2) There is something very appealing about Karl when he isn't being overbearing.
3) Hope and Karl work well together. They bring out a spark in each other that often generates fun back-and-forths and heated interactions.
4) It's a caper story. A bit more violent than its peers, but still a caper story and those are always fun.
Two drawbacks to Chaotic:
1) The story is action-packed yet somehow still manages to feel slow. This is a recurring problem with Hope's POV. She spends too much time thinking, and the story has to stall every time she has a vision. The pacing did pick up about halfway through, though.
2) Even though Hope is more relatable in this story, she's still a little bit annoying. She's so polite at times that she turns into a doormat.
a_h_haga's review
5.0
I've loved the Otherworld-series from the first time i read ''Bitten'', but I've never gotten around to reading this one!
So when I found it on my phone, I just had to do have it!
This short-story has everything that I love about Kelley Armstrong, a kick-ass female lead, bad guys and a hot guy.
Before I read this, I already knew how it was going to end - I spoiled my self by reading ''Personal Demon'' a while back, but I think that only made this story more fun!
I smiled and laughed and got everything I wished for, so just thumbs up for this one!
So when I found it on my phone, I just had to do have it!
This short-story has everything that I love about Kelley Armstrong, a kick-ass female lead, bad guys and a hot guy.
Before I read this, I already knew how it was going to end - I spoiled my self by reading ''Personal Demon'' a while back, but I think that only made this story more fun!
I smiled and laughed and got everything I wished for, so just thumbs up for this one!
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
Great short story of Hope and Karl's first meeting in a museum, and yeah, I really enjoyed it, and how she wasn't sucked in by Karl. And that he liked that. And that he's going to make a fool of himself, well, married and with a kid coming in 13, yeah.
si0bhan's review
4.0
I’m trying to read the Otherworld Stories as they occur in the Women of the Otherworld timeline. Whether or not I’m achieving my goal is hard to say – I’m succeeding and not at the same time. Nevertheless, I am trying. Thus, Chaotic was picked up before I jumped into the sixth book of the series. Although it is book five-point-two, I’m unsure as to how vital reading it before the sixth book is. I know it will be relevant later, though, and that’s enough for me.
I’m going to be honest by saying I wasn’t overly excited by this one. The idea of Karl being the male lead… I simply wasn’t excited by it. My prejudice against his character left me with the belief I would not enjoy this one. Fortunately, I was mistaken. I finished this story with a sudden love for Karl. In fact, I’m super excited for his return later in the series – I need more Karl in my life, a statement I never expected to say.
In Chaotic we’re introduced to Hope, another character we will be meeting later in the Women of the Otherworld series. At first I wasn’t quite sure what I thought of her, but before long I found myself rather enjoying Hope. We get to know a lot about her, yet there is still plenty left open that will come into play in book eight of the series, when we get another look at Hope’s story. In fact, I have high hopes for Hope’s book following this one.
Another wonderful read in the Otherworld series, one I’d recommend for fans of the series who enjoy the extras Kelley Armstrong provides.
I’m going to be honest by saying I wasn’t overly excited by this one. The idea of Karl being the male lead… I simply wasn’t excited by it. My prejudice against his character left me with the belief I would not enjoy this one. Fortunately, I was mistaken. I finished this story with a sudden love for Karl. In fact, I’m super excited for his return later in the series – I need more Karl in my life, a statement I never expected to say.
In Chaotic we’re introduced to Hope, another character we will be meeting later in the Women of the Otherworld series. At first I wasn’t quite sure what I thought of her, but before long I found myself rather enjoying Hope. We get to know a lot about her, yet there is still plenty left open that will come into play in book eight of the series, when we get another look at Hope’s story. In fact, I have high hopes for Hope’s book following this one.
Another wonderful read in the Otherworld series, one I’d recommend for fans of the series who enjoy the extras Kelley Armstrong provides.