Frostbitten (Otherworld)

Elena and Clay head off to Alaska in Frostbitten to track and aid a young mutt in danger. While there they find something far beyond the supernatural they're accustomed to. Frostbitten takes the reader deep into shapeshifter mythology, while also providing a look at both Elena and Clay's pasts.

Frostbitten offers much in the way of action and passion. Elena and Clay away from the twins and their day-to-day lives allows for room to explore their relationship as well as how they've both changed from the beginning of the series. With more change on the horizon for Elena, it's a pleasure to see her hardening somewhat - not freaking out over the things Clay has to do to protect the pack and even becoming more pragmatic when it comes to what she herself will do to protect the ones she loves.

We don't see much of the others - pack nor supernatural friends. Frostbitten is truly Elena's book. We spend a lot of time in her mind as she considers her life, past, present and future. I enjoyed Elena's thoughts, but at certain times it felt like one rehashing too many. We know Elena loves Clay and has gotten over their rocky past, so we don't need to be reminded again and again of what she went through to finally realize she was happy.

Steamy scenes, life or death situations and a couple of surprising twists kept me entertained throughout. Frostbitten isn't destined to be my favorite Women of the Otherworld book, but moves Elena and the pack's story along nicely.

Ok, I haven't actually read the book yet but I know it will be amazing. Most people who are reviewing this have already read the other books in the series, so you should know by now if you like the storyline (and if you haven't, it's really important to read these books in order, as they do follow a timeline). Elena is actually my favorite perspective in the Women of the Underworld series so I was delighted to add this book to my collection. But my collection is in paperback and I was hugely disappointed that the beautiful cover art for the hardcover edition didn't make it onto the paperback. It would have matched the previous publications perfectly. Instead, it was printed with a nearly solid black cover and a single dark red ribbon of blood running across in a fashion much too similar to Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. So when I saw this version, I was appeased. The art is not nearly as lovely as the hardcover edition but certainly an improvement over the original paperback. But now that I finally have it in my hands, I discovered that the size/binding format is not the same! It's listed as mass market paperback but I wonder if it's the UK or Canadian version because it doesn't fit with my US publications. The cover is a little too tall and not quite wide enough across to match. Some people might say I'm being too picky or have OCD. They'd be right. But I can't be the only person who likes uniformity on their bookshelf.

OTHERWORLD #10

This book is one of Elena's stories.
Elena is tracking a young werewolf from Australia, who is being set up by bad mutts. She has to go to Alaska. Clay meets her on the way,but when they get there they find much more trouble than expected. One of their friends has been murdered and the area is rife with rumors of wolf kills.
The natives believe there is a huge Bigfoot type creature that lives in the frozen wilderness.
Elena is having trouble putting her past behind her since getting an unwelcome letter. Clay is doing his best to boost her confidence by trying to let her fight her own battles, While struggling a bit of doubt in his own strength.

These books are suitable for Y.A. and exciting enough for all ages. Plenty of fighting and a sprinkle of romance. Very good fun.

Alaska still has many secrets hidden in the uncharted hills and valleys. Elena is sent there to check on an elder pack member who has not been heard from in a while and also to check on some reports of missing humans. When she gets there she is aware that there is more going on here then anyone thought. Her life her sanity and her back story all come slamming down on her shoulders. She is alone, Clay is is another state, unaware of her situation. Something truly scary lurks and it has her scent, but this big bad is not the only bad thing coming for her. Elena is out numbered, out fought and there is no hope in sight.
Action packed, filled with harrowing moments that had me on the edge of my seat. There are some awesome new beasties found in the wilderness and many bodies.It brought a fresh new look to this couples story. It was wonderful to visit with Clay and Elena again, one of my favorite couples. I really enjoyed this edition to the series.

As a huge fan of the Women of the Otherworld series and even more so a fan of the main character(in this book) Elena, i was very happy after finishing it. In the series the author switches every few books to a new charcter, but they are all associated. My favorite though is when the werewovles are the main storyline. There are also witches, sorcerers, necromancers, vamipres and a few others. The story always progresses with every character even if they are seldom mentioned, you do find them growing and changing.
In this book Elena who is a part time mother of two, wife, and pack spokesperson is given a huge proposition and it troubles her deeply whether she should accept it or not. She has a very dominant husband, the strongest in the pack, and all of the US for that matter. So who should take the biggest job of being pack leader between them? And whomever does ascend, will it effect their relationship?
It wouldn't be an adventure for the werewolves if someone wasn't in grave danger, taking huge risks, and making hasty choices that have you biting all your nails off. If you are a fan of the series you simply cannot pass this book up. Also if you are a fan of authors like richelle mead, jeaniene frost, patricia briggs, charlaine harris, or stephenie meyer then you have to give this series a shot. You will love it, and thankfully you don't have to wait each year for a book to come out. You already get 10 all at once!

I picked this book up at the local grocery store, the cover reminded me of the Stephanie Meyers Twilight books so I initially thought that it was going to be a cheesy second rate knock off. I was surprised that this author has not made a bigger inpact! The book was fast, fun, frenzied with a nice mix of romance, drama and fantastical exploits.

I love that Elena and Clay have finally found themselves as one, and their children make the back story interesting as well. I think that Armstrong has given Elena and the book a great reality based plot, for example Elena has serious issues resulting from sexual abuse as a child, she has had ups and downs, many of which a normal person may have. Often times the writer makes the women innocent, weak, and demoralizing, no so much the case in this instance.

I recommend this book if you lile the "paranormal" hype that is all the rage. This book is definately NOT a Twilight knock off. Not even close, she spins her tale in a way that makes you think, "could there be people out there who have these paranormal abilities", and at the same time keeping the plot moving and putting the characters in situations were the things they accomplish make it clear it is a work of fiction, an awesome work I might add.

Elena Michaels and the American Pack know that recent emigrant Reese Williams is being framed by his allies. Running from Elena makes it hard to tell him, so she follows the Antipodean to Alaska, a state no stranger to wolves...and perhaps not to werewolves and other beasties, either. Soon Elena discovers traces of new scents - other breeds of animal. But tracking down who's responsible for the missing girls, the dead Pack member, and who knows what else requires more than one wolfy investigator. It's time to call in the Pack.

Elena and Clay Danvers are on this mission without their three-year-old twins, who are with their grandfather and his lady friend. And these are no ordinary kids - they jump out of a second-storey window and escape with nary a scratch. This examplifies why I generally don't connect with mothers as lead characters - because the kids are always precocious. No child is average; they're super-smart and physically gifted, too. Is there wish fulfillment going on? Of course no parent wants to admit that their kid is kind of stupid, but in fiction stupid children don't exist...well, they don't if their parents are the protags.

Also, no one in this series really seems to have a full-time paying career. Elena SOMETIMES writes for Canadian Press. Clay SOMETIMES gives anthropology lectures. Jeremy SOMETIMES does art. Jaime SOMETIMES tours. Really, Hope Adams seems to be the only person with an everyday job that she actually DOES. How the others can afford to keep a roof over their heads, bills paid and food on the table is beyond my tiny comprehension. Supernaturals are loaded? Well, bugger me.

Danya Podrova is minor, but his surname confuses me. If the Ukrainian naming system is anything like its Russian counterpart, his surname should be Podrov - without the "A". If he had a sister, she'd be Podrova, but not a man. I may be wrong, but if I'm right, this mistake has passed over quite a few heads on the way to publication. Who's the right person to contact to see about getting this changed in a future edition?

FROSTBITTEN is definitely the best of the latter Otherworld novels released. The witches/sorcerors/demons books have never really grabbed me the way the werewolf ones have. And considering that the last Otherworld book I read was the disappointing MEN OF THE OTHERWORLD anthology, FROSTBITTEN is the perfect book to re-engage readers who may have fallen off the wagon. Not only that, but the new species of animal featured here are bloody fascinating, and there are some fantastic new characters, too. Reese is Australian, and is keeping his past a secret. He's a buff, blond, twenty-year-old who looks like a surfie and has a name to match. (Generally, his name should be spelled Rhys, the Welsh way, but you know what surfers and bogans and whatnot are like with their spelling...) And we meet another Canadian - Morgan Walsh is a Newfie. Also cool is news of a Russian Pack, and expect to see Noah Albright return.

And protag Elena is awesome. Okay, so I question her taste in men, because Clay's always pissed me off, but other than that, she's pretty darn cool. She's Canadian, and so provides a refreshing viewpoint, though she spends most of her time in the US. However, sometimes it seems as if Canadians are looked down upon by their more popular neighbours: "One advantage to being a Canadian journalist is that Americans don't expect you to know the rules." Nah, I think journalism's pretty the same internationally, except in some censored countries. Also, you know this is the US when Elena purchases a weapon, and... "the leftist humanitarian in me was appalled, while the warrior in me, heading into battle, was happy that she didn't need to fill out paperwork and wait six weeks for a license." Turns out she didn't need the weapon after all, but like that's ever stopped anybody purchasing one...

---REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS------

An Elena and Clay book is always fun. This one was no exception. Although some of the tropes got annoying at times, overall this was a worthy successor to the werewolf/pack series and well worth the purchase, even if it was a trifle short.

Elena and Clay are in Alaska, this time investigating some suspicious deaths, and catching up with an old pack mate and his son who became estranged when Jeremy took over as alpha. Clay and Elena discover that this packmate has been murdered by evil rapacious mutts and while hot on the trail, they discover an unusual creature in the backwoods.

I had a few minor nits to pick with this book.

First, I listened to the audio edition, and the narrator did a poor job on Jer's voice. He sounds way too `growly.' His voice should be more soft, not guttural like a caveman. I found it distracting whenever he spoke. Fortunately, this was not often.

Second... I know I'll get flack for this, but I found Elena and Clay's kids kinda annoying. Yikes. These overly precocious kiddies were a little...much. I'm far more interested in the goings on with the adults, but these kids were way too smart, cutesy and precocious. They seemed kind of bratty and demanding, especially towards Jer who seems to be reduced to a glorified babysitter. It's bad enough that they are twins which sort of edges them into Sue territory, but I found them irritating and overdone. I hope they have another-normal- child to balance out the `wonder twins..'

Third, the `everyone wants Elena because she's hawt' got a bit old. I get she's the only female werewolf. But please. All the bad guys, men on the street, and magical creatures seem to want to do is shag her. Enough. I get she's attractive. But please. Not every male-special scent or not is going to want Elena. Which brings me to... I found the adult scenes a bit strange in this one. Particularly the gym scene. That and the destruction of the hotel room seemed inconsiderate and showy, like the author was trying to convince the audience that these people were passionate. But I guess it is hard to come up with something new.

Lest you think I have only criticism for this story, I don't. I really did enjoy it. But there were parts that seemed a bit off.. I enjoyed seeing Nick who I really adore, and I like the potential new additions to the pack. I also enjoyed the setting- Alaska, and would like to see this locale explored more in depth. The new 'race' didn't thrill me that much, as they seem not much different than the weres, but I like the idea of the Russian pack which is intriguing. Perhaps we'll get an European adventure.

4 stars. Good fiction, an enjoyable romp. Some minor nits. Well worht a listen.

I was so enthused to finally read Frostbitten because I have missed the dynamic duo of Clay and Elena. I was hoping their bond would be even stronger now that they have a family and the exciting development that Elena is being groomed to take over as Alpha when Jeremy steps down. Elena is my favorite female character...Kelley Armstrong's other Women of the Otherworld leads are boring, bland, or irritating, namely Hope and especially Jaimie.

To my dismay, I found myself skimming over many of the chapters because the story and the characters were just not calling to me. After nearly twenty years into their relationship, Elena is still brooding over Clay biting and turning her into a werewolf. I did enjoy the introduction of the shifters but the villains were over the top sadistic and beloved characters like Nick and Jeremy came across as weary and old.

Like many other series and authors I used to enjoy, this one is starting to drag as the author tries to stretch wafer-thin storylines over multiple books. Frostbitten is not bad book and it's far superior to the mediocre offerings of the previous three books in this series but it just wasn't a fun way to spend my time or money investing in. I'm glad I picked it up from the library because sadly, Kelley Armstrong has become a former favorite author and a library-only read for me.

Let's face it, the werewolf stories are the best books in Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. Yes, I enjoyed the rest of the installments, but there is something extremely appealing about the physical world of weres. It's just so much more fun to read about hand-to-hand fights, cracked bones, and torn-out throats. How can spell-casting, raising the dead, and (give me a break!) sensing chaos possibly compete with that?

In this novel Elena and Clay travel to Alaska to have a talk with a young stray werewolf from Australia and visit a couple of ex-Pack members. In the process they stumble across a gang of mischievous mutts and some weird creature in the wilderness...

Frostbitten is the best book in the series since Stolen and a great werewolf comeback after the cheesefest Broken was. This novel is almost a perfect mix of action, mystery, and smutty goodness. Armstrong manages to avoid many of the mistakes of her previous novels: the book is not a nauseating reunion of all her series characters, it's not overly sweet and indulgent, like Broken was, the kids' cuteness is featured just in the right amount. The plot is engaging and well-paced, new characters are a lot of fun (I would love to get to know about the Russian Pack and Elena's possible werewolf heritage). And mainly, Elena and Clay are at their best. They still care for each, but their relationship is not stale (like it was in Broken), there are some issues they have to work through and they provide just enough entertainment and drama to make the couple's interactions fun, touching, and smoldering.

Overall, Frostbitten is a great entertainment. Armstrong proved once again why she is my favorite urban fantasy writer.

I have to admit that I was less than enthused over the last WOTU book. It was "ok", but that was about it & I sort of wondered if the next book would be an improvement. `Living With the Dead' was interesting, but just felt pale in comparison to the earlier stronger works in the series. Thankfully, `Frostbitten' was a much more enjoyable read.

`Frostbitten' shows a return of Elena as narrator, which is always a good thing- mostly because Elena is easily the most compelling of Armstrong's characters as well as the best constructed. In this book Elena is sent to Alaska after a young rogue mutt- not to kill him, but to warn him that he is in danger of being murdered & framed by two dangerous human killing weres. While she's there, she has to deal with threats both old & new, as her past torments threaten to overwhelm her. And Elena has never had so much to lose.

I really did enjoy this book because like I said, Elena's the main character. She's Armstrong's ace in the hole- it's hard to read an Elena story & NOT like it in one way or another. I liked how this book had Elena dealing with the ghosts & demons of her past, plus I liked the new revelations brought up in the book. I also enjoyed the introduction of several new characters, two of which could later become "fodder" for future books. (One is an absolute definite- you'll know who it is when you read the book.)

Now for the "bad". The book is great, but at times it just really felt like it was more of a novella than a novel- a short story stretched out to book length. The book doesn't overly suffer from this, but at times it just felt like it needed to be a bit meatier. The thing that keeps me from seeing this as a huge fault is that for the life of me, I couldn't really put a finger on what exactly could've been fleshed out more. There's a lot of new info & material put into this book, so it's not like there were huge gaps in the storyline or not. Maybe it's because a good portion was filled with Elena & Clay romping through the snow or Elena in peril. Although those scenes were good, there was quite a few of them. Then again, those scenes were necessary for Elena to grow a bit as a character.

The bottom line is that fans of the series will adore this book & those who had been disappointed by the last book will be overjoyed to see the series returning to some of its old form. Like I said, it's hard not to like anything that has Elena & Clay in it.

Werewolf pack enforcers and soulmates Elena Michaels and Clay Danvers pursue a visiting Aussie werewolf to warn him that two rogues have set him up to take the fall over half-eaten humans in the Pittsburgh area. Elena and Clay follow the man to wintry FROSTBITTEN Anchorage.

While in Alaska they also learn of more gruesome murders outside the city that have werewolf mutt feel to them. The pair heads towards the killing fields to investigate as the evidence points to a roguish mutt or two who must be stopped immediately. To survive the harsh climate of the until recently unspoiled wilderness, and end the serial killing spree, alpha Elena and her alpha minus mate must release their inner beasts much more so than they have ever done before.

FROSTBITTEN is a super entry in a great series as the lead couple follow a trail of mutilation that contrasts with the stark pristine beauty of Alaska. Elena is a kick butt alpha female giving orders to insolent males and she is a a great role model of the Women of the Otherworld and our world too.. The investigation is also top rate as Kelley Armstrong provides a fabulous thriller that her fans will relish.

Harriet Klausner

I mean if I was in peril or captured as often as she was I might get a gun. I know that would be illegal so how about a knife or several. Heck even a large rock would help. I imagine a werewolf could toss a rock really hard. And trusting people who turn on you and imperil your life and those that you love. Gosh, really how often would you do that after the first time. And why would you forget you could turn just your hands into claws, could help slipping out of those pesky restraints not to mention give you big edge in a fight for your life. Just my thoughts.

After losing her way with books featuring her secondary and less-interesting supernatural women, Kelley Armstrong has hit paydirt with this thrilling and sexy werewolf novel. Elena Michaels' makes a triumphant return as she and her husband, Clay, trek to Alaska to take down some renegade werewolves. While there they encounter some other supernatural shape-shifters, which lead to one of this series most harrowing passages as our heroes make their way through the desolate Alaskan wilderness while being pursued by unknown enemies.

Armstrong isn't shy about torture, violence, or sex, so don't let your little kids read this one.

An excellent return!

I just re-read this book recently, so I figured I'd post a quick review.

I keep fearing that Kelley Armstrong will disappoint me. She never does.

I was worried that the addition of Clayton and Elena's children would somehow spoil it. It definitely didn't.

Actually, I'd say the weakest point (and really, this is so trivial) of this book was the antagonists. I felt like the lackeys were "just there" as cannon fodder, but otherwise I loved the characters and new concepts that were introduced.

The switching of narrators from book to book is, in my opinion, what keeps this series fresh. No matter the narrator, I always look forward to each book in this series, and I've gone back and reread most of them. Kelley Armstrong is one of my very favorite authors, and I hope we'll continue to see a lot of her in the future.

Wow! Frostbitten, the 10th novel in the Women of the Otherworld series gets my vote for best novel of the series so far! Frostbitten is told from Elena's point of view, taking us back to our original (and my personal favorite) narrator. The story is set predominantly in Alaska, and features Elena and Clay almost exclusively. We do get to touch base with some of our other much-loved Werewolves, and we also get to meet some fantastic new characters that I hope we'll be seeing more of in future stories.

Right from the first page, Frostbitten is filled with action, intrigue and excitement, and of course... a little bit of romance. (What else would you expect from a book featuring Elena and Clay?) I don't want to give any of the juicy plot away so I'll stop there, but I'm quite sure that fans of the Women of the Otherworld series will love Frostbitten, while fans of supernatural fiction in general, could enjoy it as a great standalone novel as well. Don't miss Frostbitten!

I really like Kelley Armstrong, and have read all of her books, but while reading this one I became convinced that she is at her best when writing from Elena's point of view. In fact, it's been so long since I read BITTEN that I'd forgotten how much I love reading about Elena & Clay.

However, their relationship in BITTEN was so chaotic, I wasn't completely convinced that they would be happy together in the long run. I think that is one reasons why I enjoyed FROSTBITTEN so much. It provided an extremely satisfying look at how their relationship has evolved and it completely put to rest any lingering doubts that I had at the end of BITTEN.

As soon as I finished "FROSTBITTEN" I longed for another installment. If I had my way, Armstrong would stop all work on her other series, and would turn Elena & Clay into the main focus of all her future releases.

I love the character Elena, though this wasn't one of my favorite books in the series, it is still a great adventure. I'm still waiting for a book with all the characters meeting to work on a case, but meanwhile I will take these individual stories. You won't be disappointed with a Kelley Armstrong book.

Too bad this didn't come out before I took my annual trip to South Beach. It would have been the perfect beach read. Kelly Armstrong never disappoints, her series don't get worse as they go along, they get better or remain just as strong.
Unlike others, Clay and Elena are not my favorite characters but they seem to have grown and matured so much just like real people would do. It is my opinion that Kelley Armstrong is a the best writer in this genre. Her stories are always interesting, the dialogue is realistic and characters are reasonably complex.
I read it slow so I could stretch out the enjoyment as long as possible. Take my advice and do that too

Kelly Armstrong is to wolves /werewolves as Anne Rice is to vampires. In addition to continuing to expand the fantastical world of her characters, she shows incredible depth and complexity in her characters while maintaining a story line with lots of action. The author, as usual, rocks!

This is one of my favorite series. If you haven't read it, and like really sexy paranormals, these are the books for you. Kelley Armstrong creates a really believable alternative reality that's sexy and suspenseful at the same time.

This is a good book. Some of you might even find it a great book, but I have a one major reservation.

On the positive side, my two favorite characters are back, Elena and Clay. Their relationship is more mature but the deep bonds and lust these two feel for each other are still there, which in contemporary fiction is a feat in itself. The book provides excellent glimpses into Elena's thoughs as she struggles to come to terms with the abused child she once was and the leader she may be destined to be. And Clay's support and understanding make that part of the story really special.

However I only gave it 4 stars.

A large part of the story occurs in werewolf form, or focuses on the habits of wolves and bears and shape shifters. I love the human interaction between our heros, and I liked understanding this animalistic side of Elena and Clay better, but in my opinion it wasn't as strong or as relatable as the human components. But that might just be me.

Either way, I imagine this is a must read for Elena and Clay fans.

Obviously Elena is a favorite for most WOTO readers. This book had too much of one thing and not enough of anything else. After reading other books starring Elena, I expected to see some of her weakness and a lot of her strength. Elena has a lot to deal with in this book, but Armstrong spent most of the book with Elena doubting herself and her abilities. I understand how necessary that is, but Armstrong spent too much time on this aspect. I hope to see Elena in top form again soon.

The book was readable. It had characters that I have grown to love. However, I just feel that the whole book was written to give us a vehicle in which we find out who Jeremy wants to be packleader after him. The story wasn't important in the scheme of the series. At the end I was left with a feeling of "....That's it? So what was the point?" For all that was accomplished with this book, it could have been a novella.

Elena Michaels, the world’s only female vampire finds herself in the frozen tundra of Alaska along with her mate Clayton, tracking a werewolf on the run. When they arrive in Alaska, they find a group of rogue, thug werewolves who are into gun trafficking and murdering young women. In addition, there is the presence of Intuit shape-shifters previously unknown to them. Elena has to confront some dark things that happened in her past as she goes after this new pack of werewolves.
This novel was written at a good pace. There was plenty of action throughout. I liked the premise of the Intuit shape-shifter that was hinted at throughout the novel, until the point that it was actually introduced, and then at that point it felt a little bit of a letdown. Not having read previous books in this series, I was puzzled that Elena is the only female werewolf. That seemed really strange to me and with the absence of any kind of explanation, it didn’t make sense to me. The other shortcoming was that there were some serious logic gaps in the story. In the end, it was an enjoyable read, but there were enough drawbacks that make this a good but not great novel.

Carl Alves - author of Blood Street

Once again Kelley Armstrong has outdone herself! Her books are wonderful to read. Real "page turners"! Kelley Armstrong writes books for adults and puts Stephenie Meyer to shame. Kelley's books always keep you guessing and hungry for more.

i am a huge fan of the otherworld series and especially of elena (the main character of the novel) and the wolves. i have been eagerly awaiting the new book and as always armstrong doesn't disappoint... i was only sad i finished it so soon! here's waiting for the next...

It seems like forever since I started the Women of the Otherworld series with Bitten & Stolen which were incredible. I bought the next two books to continue on with the series but it took me forever to finish them....I'd start and then I get bored and start reading something else. I gave up. When I realized recently that Armstrong was on her 10th book of the series and that it was about about my favorite characters I was determined to get through the series to get to FrostBitten. I've read books 1-4 and then cheated and went straight to 10. I really liked this book. Great story. Great characters. Entertaining...now on to book 5.

Like the speed of a nascar, like a surge of "1.21 gigawatts of electricity" quick, like the speed of light astronomical unit per hour quick! P.S. Im talking about the shipping speed rate. 5stars and two thumbs way up.