Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong
Review copy provided by publisher.

Release date July 27th, 2010

PJVs QUICKIE POV: More of a Who-Done-It Mystery than Armstrong's usual UF leaning towards, PNR, Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld, Book 11) covers everyone's favorite juvenile delinquent, Savannah Levine. Highly engaging, action packed and full of leather-clad, kick-butt snark, the latest addition to Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series will not disappoint her fans. There were a few tid bits that left me a bit frustrated, but overall it was a great read and in fact enjoyed it more than some of the later WOTO books.

REVIEW: Savannah Levine is all grown up and ready to take on her first solo case. She's been dying to take a stab at it, but Paige, Lucas and Adam have been holding her back. With Paige and Lucas on a much needed vacation and Adam participating in a conference, their absence just might land Savannah her first gig, courtesy of Jesse a friend of Lucas' and a fellow PI.

The case takes her to the depressed town of Columbus, Washington, investigating the death of three women, shot to death and displayed in what would seem like a ritualistic murder.  Savannah's goal: find the killer. Things get a bit trickier though as more dead bodies start showing up and the prime suspect and his wife try to intimidate her through brute force and a little surprise magic of their own.

Following in the 10th installments footsteps {Frostbitten} Waking the Witch is all mystery and very little romance like most of Armstrong's other Otherworld novels tend to be. There is some hinting at a bit of romance, but in the end this is a mystery and you are there to follow Savannah as she solves her first case, not fall in love.


Hard-hitting and snarky, Savannah as a character did deliver with her prickly personality and reckless behavior. Yet, overall there was a bit of disappointment with her, some of which might hold a spoiler or two, so I will try and keep it light. For one, Savannah has always been an enigma to me, the product of some really sketchy parents and then the unlikely victim in a few instances, I do believe Savannah should be a little more twisted than how she is turning out. MHO. Yes, she doesn't obey all the rules, but I think I would believe a little emotional fallout with her, than what happens in Waking the Witch. I know Armstrong is capable of this, because of what she put Elena through (Bitten, Stolen...) in the beginning of the series. WW just seemed a little shallow, Savannah a lot more well-rounded than I would think possible. Secondly, the rehashing of the nemesis. I'll just say, that a new one might have been better played. And lastly, I feel the book was a bit drawn out and then it left you with a cliffhanger so-to-speak. It just seem forced and then the last minute HELLO to make you die to read the next book. I'm not saying I didn't like this book, I did. I went through it quickly...it was fast-paced and intriguing, there were just a few bits and pieces that I found gave the book a shallow feel when Armstrong can be so, well robust.  Fans should enjoy this - and I know a lot of people say they don't enjoy the ones that have Paige and Lucas in them...well have no fear, they only show up in a few phone calls.

RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that you read a few of the Otherworld series before you read Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld, Book 11).  You don't have to read all of them though. Some are relevant, such as: Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, Book 4), Haunted (Women of the Otherworld, Book 5).

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Review copy purchased.

PJVs QUICKIE POV: What can I say? Kelley Armstrong is one of the reasons I am addicted to Urban Fantasy. Armstrong bridged the gap from Horror to Urban Fantasy, for me, thereby refining my literary tastes and setting me on the path that is -- well my Paranormal Junkeeness. Elena and Clay were my first couple loves and they still to this day have an effect on me. I usually reread Bitten every 2 years and then move on to the rest of the series. I'm actually bummed that I will not have the time to move on to Stolen after this.

REVIEW: Elena is the only female werewolf in existence.  She did not come to be this way by her own machinations and because of this she is on a mission, a mission to avoid her other "self" at all costs.  She is avoiding the Pack and her past, trying to live as human of a lifestyle as she possibly can.

When her other life intrudes rudely into her human life, Elena must go back to the Pack, if is only to push herself further away. She'll just do this last task and then she can severe her ties with the other wolves and rejoin the humans that she desperately wants to be a part of.  The problem is, Elena isn't human any more. Higher metabolism, strength, senses and a penchant for nighttime disappearances tend to be noticed the closer you get to someone and to live in the human world, you have to let the humans get close.

Going back to the Pack isn't an option for Elena, but as she gets sucked back into the fold she might just have to realize that neither is going back into the human world, especially when Clay, the man she once loved sets his mind on keeping her close.

I think I've said it all on this one. Fans of UF and PNR, this is a must read. It is also a great break-in for readers that want to be introduced to the genre. The characters are larger than life, the world is exquisitely crafted, the emotional turmoil that Elena goes through is exactly what I would believe would happen to a female werewolf.  Kelley Armstrong is a veritable titan in the Urban Fantasy genre, don't miss out.

RECOMMENDATIONS: For mature audiences, there is violence, language, gore and sexual encounters. My kind of fun.

BWB Rating 4/4

 Discussion Questions for BWB:

1. Let's talk relationships.  What did you think of Elena's relationship with Philip? Were her feelings for him genuine? Why or why not?
   Personally I viewed Philip as a non-entitiy. Probably because I am so infatuated with Clay. When I first read Bitten, Clay was a little too much in the beginning for me - one word - feral. But then he gets under your skin and by that time I was like "Go Away Phillip!" I think her feelings for Philip were her talking herself into it. You know, that guy that is supposed to be perfect for you. Your mom likes him, your dad likes him, he has a good job, no kids, perfect - right? But you just can't get over some hump in the relationship, that last little spark that goes from really like to love. I think Elena really liked Phillip and talked herself in thinking she loved him and as soon as Clay stormed in she realized that really liking someone is nothing compared to really loving someone.
   
2. Keeping secrets from someone you love, is it being true to yourself?  Elena was hiding out in Toronto and away from the Pack. Did this make Elena a stronger character or whiny?
   I really don't think either. Elena was in denial mode, much like a diabetic that is completely in denial and keeps on snacking on those chocolates - bad analogy I know - but it is similar. I don't think it makes her strong, because to be strong we face our problems head on instead of running from them. Whiny, I wouldn't take it that far, I think she was just scared, scared to let go of a part of herself that she didn't want to let go of.
   
3. Kelley Armstrong's werewolves lean more towards the traditional side of the wolf legend. What "were" type are you? Do you enjoy the pain riddled, desiring human flesh werewolves like the Wolfman or the intensely scary wolves like in the movie Silver Bullet or do you prefer painless shifters that keep a majority of human emotions...ie..Twilight and other light PNR novels?
   I really liked these wolves and find myself comparing them to others in the genre. I believe Armstrong painted a very realistic picture on what could be, if they actually were to be.
   
4. Could you forgive the man you loved if he were to BITE you like what occurred with Elena?
   That was a serious breach of trust and I think it would be hard to overcome, but when you break it down to the basic reason for his actions, it was love motivated, how can you not forgive that. Now you can be seriously mad at him for awhile.
   

The books in the series (reading order):
Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, Book 1)
 Stolen (Women of the Otherworld, Book 2)
 Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld 3)
Industrial Magic (Women of the Otherworld, Book 4)

Haunted (Women of the Otherworld, Book 5)
 Broken (Women of the Otherworld, Book 6)
 No Humans Involved (Women of the Otherworld, Book 7)
Personal Demon (Women of the Otherworld, Book 8)

Living with the Dead (Women of the Otherworld, Book 9)
Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld, Book 10)
Tales of the Otherworld
Men of the Otherworld: A Collection of Otherworld Tales



Coming Soon!