Bea Reviews Forsaken by Kelley Armstrong

Publisher: Subterranean Press
Series: Otherworld Stories 13.4
Format Read: hardcover
Source: owned by the reviewer
Release Date: January 31, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble | Subterranean Press
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Blurb from goodreads:

Three years after being named Alpha of the North American pack, Elena Michaels is in London battling for respect from the British pack. When it becomes apparent she won’t get it, she heads home, expecting a much-needed rest on her family vacation, only to discover a battle brewing of a very different kind.

One of her eight-year-old twins has disappeared, and all evidence points to Malcolm Danvers. It seems as if the psychotic former Pack member they’ve been tracking for the past year has brought the fight to them, setting the bait he knows Elena can’t afford to ignore.



Number one New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong returns to her much-loved Otherworld with this powerful novella detailing the latest trials and travails of a fan-favorite character, a working mother who happens to lead the werewolves of North America.

Bea's Thoughts:

It's no secret that I love Kelley's Otherworld books and universe. Her take on supernaturals is original, her characters strong and vivid, and she mixes mysteries into her stories, which is always a plus for me. I purchased this in both Kindle and print as Kelley is an author whose books I like to have in every possible format.

If you don't like children in your stories, you might want to skip this one as Elena and Clay's twins are an important part of the story. They're precocious and yet believable, both funny and obnoxious. I enjoyed them and their interactions with each other and their family, which includes the whole pack.

Elena was not one of my favorite characters initially. I sort of liked her but she wasn't a favorite. Over the years though she has changed and grown and now I like her a lot. Armstrong has a knack for writing compelling characters and they don't stay static, they evolve. Elena is mature yet snarky, thoughtful and reasonable yet stubborn, independent yet able to accept help. The problem is that as Alpha, she has to be careful about being seen to accept help. Alphas of other packs around the world are having trouble accepting that she is really the American Alpha; women werewolves are unusual and they have an easier time believing that her husband and mate, Clayton, with his bloodthirsty reputation, is the real power. I enjoyed seeing the difficulties and how Elena handled. She's calmer and more level-headed than she used to be.

The story itself was a little convoluted at times and I wasn't entirely happy with the resolution but it was a good story with a Machiavellian villain. Darn it, I wish he'd die already, mumble grumble. Maybe in a future story. Overall, I enjoyed the story including the close-up at werewolf politics and pack politics.