Review: Stolen

Reviewed by Jen
 

Stolen is one of my very favorite installments in Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series.  It features feisty werewolf Elena as the narrator, but it opens the door to the rich world of other supernatural characters that will be the hallmark of the series.

As our story begins, Elena is going to meet someone who claims to have proof that werewolves exist.  It turns out that the offer is really a ruse for a pair of witches to get in the same room with her.  They want to warn her about a project that is collecting members of the supernatural community to study them.  And the witches hope the pack will join up with them and others who are trying to stop the abductions.  Here is where we meet Paige Winterbourne, the young 20-something witch that will narrate the next book.  We start to learn about the history witches and sorcerers, shamans and half-demons, while getting to know characters of all the different varieties.  It might sound like a lot to take it, but it's done rather seamlessly.  Even though there is a huge influx of characters, each is distinct and easy to keep straight.

There's plenty of action in the story, as Elena is captured and held with the other prisoners.  This book isn't as much of an emotional wringer, the way Bitten was for me.  But the plot was so good and the characters so much fun that I think I may have liked it even more.  And I can't leave out the awesome goodness of Clay Danvers here. He is such a great love interest for Elena.  The guy is so utterly devoted to her and oh-my-Goodness is he hot. 

I love the way Armstrong has broadened her world-building with this book.  Elena will probably always be my favorite narrator, but the move to branch out really keeps the series from getting stale. A great book. 5 stars.

Stolen

by Kelley Armstrong

Release Date: 2002

Publisher: Random House of Canada