Bitten

Rating:
Summary: a diverting read
Review: Elena Michaels is just trying to fit in and lead a normal life. But that's kinda tough when you're a werewolf. She's living with her unsuspecting boyfriend when she gets a call from the Pack. What follows reads like a hard-boiled detective story complete with a romantic angle, wild sex, and plenty of gore. There aren't many werewolves in the world but it turns out that what's left of them are feuding. Elena gets caught up in all of it and she's a prize of sorts because she's the only female werewolf. This was a diverting read and the pages turned easily. The sex scenes were kinda fun too. (See page 87 for the first one). I've also heard that this book has been optioned as a movie which may star Angelina Jolie (I could see that). But looks-wise, I pictured Elena more like a younger Sigourney Weaver. This book is the first in a series featuring Elena and would probably appeal to anyone who's O.D.'d on Anne Rice's books.

Rating:
Summary: Bitten is a deliciously hot book!!
Review: It is imaginative, romantic, sexy, electrifying and suspenseful. Bitten tells the story of Elena, a female werewolf, who lives her daily life among normal people. She has kept her real existence a secret and is put in a predicament when her werewolf pack calls her to them when they run into some trouble. She leaves on a temporary basis to assist the pack, but finds the situation to be much bigger and more dangerous than expected. It takes her more time than anticipated to help clean up the trouble that is confronting the pack, and in the process she is dealing with the emotional reunion of the pack and her feelings for her previous werewolf lover/boyfriend. She also has to deal with her human boyfriend who is back at home waiting patiently for her return. I won't give away the entire story by telling you more, but you will treasure this book. Two of my friends had read it before me and they loved it also. I finished this book and immediately picked up Stolen, Kelly Armstrong's follow up book about Elena.

Rating:
Summary: could have been better
Review: I thought this book was well written , and the characters were great, but, I found the story line to be a bit slow. I found myself getting bored with this book about half way in. Same old, same old, seem to be how the story was progressing.Could have had more of a story going besides chasing down mutts. I am going to try out the Anita Blake series, and a few others I have read about on this site and give them a try. I hope they pack a little more of a punch than this book did.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning, Riveting, Utterly Magnificent!
Review: Kelley Armstrong's debut novel, "Bitten", is an unbelievably good book that captivated me from start to finish. I utterly adored this book and could scarcely make myself put it down from the minute I started it (which caused me to lose an entire night's sleep, but WOW was it ever worth it). "Bitten" is one of those books that you read at lightning pace, then flip right back to page one when you reach the end because you can't bear to part with the characters yet. It's that great. In my humble opinion, "Bitten" is one of the best werewolf books out there today. Filled with romance, horror, mystery, and some of the most compelling characters I've come across in a long time, "Bitten" will enthrall, delight, and electrify readers everywhere!

Elena Michaels has spent the last year living a relatively normal and quiet life in Toronto. She has a steady job as a journalist, a nice apartment, and a caring boyfriend. But Elena is no ordinary woman; she is, in fact, the only female werewolf in existence. Bitten by her werewolf fianc$B!&(Band defeating the odds by surviving, Elena has never gotten over his betrayal. After nearly ten years with her pack in New York State, Elena decided to leave them and try to make the stable, happy life she has always dreamed of. And things have been going just fine for the last year, until her pack leader, Jeremy, leaves her an urgent message, summoning her home to deal with a pack emergency. Determined not to be pulled back into her old life, Elena heads off to New York, resolute that she will find out what the problem is and then go back to Toronto. But upon arriving at Jeremy's estate, Stonehaven, Elena feels the unmistakable joy of coming home.

But there are many things to deal with at Stonehaven. Perhaps the most difficult for Elena is dealing with her ex-fianc$B!&(Band lover, Clayton. Clay is still and always will be deeply in love with Elena, though he is an incredibly complicated man. Bitten as a very small child, Clay somehow survived the Change and lived alone as an animal for years before Jeremy found him and took him in. Though he is brilliant, Clay is ruled by his animal instincts, making him a passionate, but often volatile man. But Elena cannot deny the pull she feels towards Clay, and the passion and love they share is both incredibly erotic and achingly beautiful. I absolutely fell in love with Clay and Elena as a couple, and was rooting for them the whole way through.

Unfortunately for Elena, dealing with her confused and powerful feelings for Clay is the least of her worries. A group of non-pack werewolves, known as mutts, have invaded the pack's home, killing humans and leaving them in Jeremy's forest. The mutts are bent on exposing and destroying the pack, and they are coming dangerously close to succeeding. The entire pack is called to Stonehaven to help, though they are only seven strong, including the steadfast Antonio and his fun-loving playboy son, Nick, the considerate Peter, and Elena's good friend Logan. Werewolf genes are passed down only through the males of the species, and women who are bitten virtually never survive the Change. As the only female werewolf, Elena is a very sought after woman, and the entire pack knows that the mutts will try to take her for their own if they get the chance.

Unable to leave her pack when they need her, Elena works with Jeremy and the others to try and figure out what the mutts are really up to and how to stop them. But the mutts are strong and ruthless and they take a deadly toll on the pack. Armstrong weaves a hugely suspenseful tale, and readers will become engrossed in the pack's fight to destroy the mutts before the mutts destroy them. The pack's fight for their territory and their lives is absolutely gripping, and is mixed seamlessly with the evolving relationship between Elena and Clayton. The tale builds towards an exhilarating climax that is sure to have readers on the edge of their seats, and Armstrong provides a wonderfully satisfying conclusion.

"Bitten" is a downright superb novel, a sparkling and inspired tale of love and suspense that will make every reader an instant Kelley Armstrong fan. It's delicious and sinful, and is best described as a compulsive page-turner! Armstrong provides readers with a fascinating and perceptive view of wolf society, and when the characters are in wolf form, their actions ring true. Each character is vivid, real, and brilliantly portrayed, from the controlled and compassionate pack alpha, Jeremy, to the fabulously strong, stubborn, and loyal heroine Elena. The suspense quite literally had my heart pounding and the adrenaline pumping through me, and the story came vibrantly to life inside my head. "Bitten" is an original and outstanding novel, and it's hard to believe it's Armstrong's first one. Kelley Armstrong has breathed new life into the werewolf genre and I just can't praise this book enough. So read "Bitten" for yourself and you'll see what I'm talking about. Trust me, you'll love it!

Rating:
Summary: Hungry Like the Wolf!
Review: I loved this book! Kelley armstrong's debut novel was one sexy and gripping supernatural thriller! Elena Michaels is a successful and beautiful young woman who has one very dark secret.She is a werewolf! She is summoned back to the home by her pack leader to help them battle some nonpack werewolves, mutts who are turning human killers to vicious werewolves and who are framing the pack for their crimes!One of the things I love about this book is the heroine, Elena is a the only female werewolf in existence who was turned into one by her lover, Clay who torn between the desire for him and the love of her human lover Phillip who is her link ot the human side of her. Bitten has all of the things a good modern gothic horror should have:
brutal violence, steamy sex and lots of suspense.Fans of Anita Blake series and Anne Rice should take note of Armstrong's storytelling ability as she takes us into her world of werewolves! Once you enter this book be prepare for some great entertainment!

Rating:
Summary: So much better than the same old same old
Review: I've been meaning to review this book for some time now, it's one of those books that sticks with you because it's a refreshing take on something that is seemingly done to death.

Elena is the only female werewolf, having been bitten by her fiance years back. She's fled that life and is trying to live as a human in Toronto, complete with a new live in boyfriend who has no idea who she truly is. The weight of that, of being closeted begins to wear on her - she has to eat secretly, run secretly.

In the midst of this, her old Pack leader Jeremy, a man who has been like a father to her, calls her back home and she relents, albeit reluctantly.

From here, we watch as Elena struggles with her anger over who she really is and also over who she'll never be again. Her anger and love for Clay. Clay, having been bitten and changed as a very young child has none of the hesitancy and reluctance that Elena feels and this often causes tension between them. (and other things but I won't give any spoilers).

Contrary to what another reviewer wrote, Elena is not weak minded at all. She's incredibly strong, first just to have survived the bite and transformation and also the betrayal by the man she loved when he bit her without permission. Secondly, she's an enforcer for her Pack, she hunts down the mutts who are rogue wolves and kills them, she's universally feared by those who operate outside of Pack structure. The internal struggle she faces in choosing between her life at Stonehaven as a werewolf and her life in Toronto as a closeted wolf is written well and is convincing.

I must say the chemistry between Elena and Clay and my own personal bias against living as a closet anything had me rooting for Elena to just finally get past her anger and accept who she was and be with her Pack and Clay. I also enjoyed her relationship with the other wolves in her Pack, namely Jeremy.

Bitten is a really creative new take on the werewolf novel and an excellent first novel from Armstrong. The others in the series are good as well but this one is my personal favorite of the group. It's sexy, funny, action filled and a really good entry in the horror/romance/paranormal genre that isn't gory, insultingly stupid or insipid in any way.

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: One of the best werewolf books I have read in a long time.
The main character Elena, is sexy, intelligent and the only female werewolf in the world.
Living with an all male clan is not easy, and after a while she leaves her friends and starts a new life.
But she cannot leave her past behind her that easily. For soon her pack calls her home again to deal with some trouble that has arisen.

Anybody who loves horror, or a good romance will like this book, and even if you dont do read it. Its a great book and I'm hoping the sequel Stolen comes out soon!...

Rating:
Summary: Is it just me? I thought it was horrible?
Review: This book was so boring and akwardly written, I quit about three chapters in. For one thing, the prologue was written not only in first person, but in first person PRESENT, which is very offputting. The main story itself is told in first person, and not well. The main character comes across as completely self-centered and whining. I had no interest in her or her problems. I felt no connection with the story at all and finally gave up. Perhaps die-hard werewolf fans will like it, but I couldn't stand toturing myself any more than absolutely neccesary.

Rating:
Summary: NEW LOOK AT WEREWOLVES, NO CUDDLY PUPPIES HERE
Review: BITTEN is a story about werewolves, more specifically one in particular, Elena. Elena, a 'bitten' werewolf, meaning she had been turned into one by a bite rather than being born one, has left her Pack and was building a life on her own when she is called back and embroiled in a turf war between her old Pack and 'Mutts' bent on revenge. Mutts are independent Were's not banding together in any one group.

The good part about BITTEN is the novel approach Ms. Armstrong has taken to portray how a group of storybook monsters could actually live in a modern human society. The storyline is action packed, the characters well fleshed and described in explicit, chilling detail. The plot is believable and thoroughly engrossing (once you accept that werewolves exist.)

Great story right? Not really.

The characters may be well fleshed out but they are with one exception the most despicable and unlikable lot to grace the pages of a book in years. Even Elena, maybe especially Elena. At the beginning you get the feeling she is the victim here, reluctantly drawn back to a grotesque lifestyle she had given up. Not so, mere hours after leaving behind her human lover, the only likable character in the book, she is hitting the mattress with her old pack mate Clay. Other than a brief moment of remorse in the morning, not that she let that slow her down from many more romps with this animal in human form, she shows her moral integrity to be about zero. One of the Mutts says to her "I smell a [female dog] in heat" and that pretty much sums up her good points. No romance here, no love, just lust.

In fact the whole lot of the Were's are such a despicable bunch I started hoping they would all kill themselves off by the end. There are some books that when you reach the end you can't wait for the next installment, this isn't one of them. Learning that the next in the series, STOLLEN, also features Elena and Clay I had no desire to read it. Thank goodness I read DIME STORE MAGIC (#3) before I read BITTEN or I might have missed one really great book.

While BITTEN is well written and interesting with respect to the hypothetical lives of werewolves it wasn't a pleasure to read. While I can't recommend it I know there will be many out there who will really like it dark corners and all. The best I can do is remain NEUTRAL.

Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST!
Review: Kelley Armstrong's debut novel, "Bitten", is a really good book from start to finish. It is about Elena Michaels the only female werewolf. For the past year she has been trying to live a normal life in Toronto with her boyfriend Philip. Her old life sucks her back in when she is needed in New York to help with some trouble. I don't want to say to much and give the book away. This is a wonderful book and I can't wait to read Stolen!