Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld, #11) by Kelley Armstrong

Aug 29, 2010

Stephanie rated it

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Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

REVIEWED 8/24/2010 by Stephanie Takes-Desbiens
at http://fangswandsandfairydust.blogspot.c...
Purchased August 8, 2010
Read 8/23 & 24
Kindle Edition
File Size: 448 KB
Print Length: 320 pages
Publisher: DUTTON ADULT (July 27, 2010)
Sold by: Penguin Publishing

This is book eleven in the Otherworld Series.

Savannah is sassy, maybe a little arrogant, young, powerful, headstrong, makes mista...more

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Aug 03, 2010

Melindeeloo rated it

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Savannah, the teenage witch, is no longer a teenager. She's twenty-one and minding the detective agency while her guardians, Paige and Lucas, are on vacation when she gets the opportunity she's been waiting for - a case of her own.

I enjoyed Savannah as the narrator in Waking the Witch, and I enjoyed watching the investigation of the possibly ritual linked murders of three young women unfold and watching Savannah pick up clues that the local police have missed. But as the story progre...more

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Aug 27, 2010

Ashley rated it

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Waking the Witch marks #11 in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. For the first time, the reader is given a book in which Savannah Levine - daughter of Eve Levine and Kristof Cabal- half witch, half sorcerer narrates. It follows in the tradition of the previous otherworld books, where there’s a mystery to be solved and a tough, strong willed woman to do it. I’ve always loved Savannah. Even when she was only a small little thing in Stolen and then again in Dime Store Magic, it was ...moreWaking the Witch marks #11 in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series. For the first time, the reader is given a book in which Savannah Levine - daughter of Eve Levine and Kristof Cabal- half witch, half sorcerer narrates. It follows in the tradition of the previous otherworld books, where there’s a mystery to be solved and a tough, strong willed woman to do it. I’ve always loved Savannah. Even when she was only a small little thing in Stolen and then again in Dime Store Magic, it was hard not to want to take care of her and want to be her friend- at the same time.

The book opened up a lot of question that the reader isn’t given the answers to, just yet. I’m anticipating great things from Spell Bound in 2011. The book took a bite out of me and didn’t let go until the final pages. The end leaves you wanting more! And trying to guess all the twists and turns that come straight at you, is impossible. I would have never guessed the direction in which the book ended up heading.

The plot was strong, with an even stronger heroine who wants to do things by herself and by her rules. It’s her way or the highway, although she is surrounded by men - being a 6 foot tall, skinny, dark haired witch sorcerer with blue eyes- she doesn’t want their help, even when it’s needed the most.

Savannah’s relationship with Adam has been ongoing since she was 12 years old. She’s loved him since then and nothing has changed. Would you really want it to? I for one wouldn’t and I’m glad her feelings haven’t. I’m sad that Adam isn’t really one for sharing his emotions towards Savannah though. He’s guarded when it comes to Savannah but open to her at the same time. He wants to be with her, I could feel it, but can he?

I’m eagerly anticipating Spell Bound and the continuation of Savannah and Adam’s story. It also never hurts to get small glimpses into my other favourite otherworld women: Jaime, Elena, and Paige.

Kelley Armstrong has done it again. She’s given her readers a fast pace, action packed, page turning heroine tale, that will leave you guessing until the very end. (less)

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Sep 22, 2011

Book Chick City rated it

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Shelves: books-for-review-full-list, books-i-own, fiction, urban-fantasy, reviews

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City.

It's no secret that I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. I was hooked since I picked up my very copy of 'Bitten' and then had to run to the shops to buy 'Stolen' immediately after. For those who haven't read any of her books, they follow women with supernatural powers, the books are a series, but often have different lead characters.

This book follows powerful, young witch Savannah. Savannah's been in in the series since the second book, b...moreReviewed by Laura for Book Chick City.

It's no secret that I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. I was hooked since I picked up my very copy of 'Bitten' and then had to run to the shops to buy 'Stolen' immediately after. For those who haven't read any of her books, they follow women with supernatural powers, the books are a series, but often have different lead characters.

This book follows powerful, young witch Savannah. Savannah's been in in the series since the second book, but she's always been a child or more recently, a teenager. So it was with great anticipation than I opened the crisp front cover looking forward to her first story as an adult.

Savannah has been left on her own running the Paige & Lucas's supernatural detective agency. Desperate to prove that she's responsible & can manage her own cases without their supervision, she jumps at the chance when a new case comes in.

She finds herself investigating the murders of three young women in a small town. But a six foot, motorbike riding, young woman arriving in town is bound to be noticed and she find herself the attention of unwanted attention from several different parties. Cue, local rednecks, a resentful and incompetent local sheriff, a local commune and town bad boy and you've got all the key ingredients of a small American town murder mystery.

Savannah is the daughter of dark (and dead) witch Eve who has had a couple of books of her own. Raised by good witch Paige, she is a nice mix of Paige's morals, with some of Eve's darkness thrown in, which means she's not against crossing the line when she needs to. I loved her sass and determination and her mixture of compassion and bullishness

Now, historically everyone of Kelley Armstrong books have also included a great love story and it was not what I expected it to be in this novel. I waited for the arrival of half-demon Adam with baited breath, knowing that Savannah has been desperately in love with him for years. But this was danced around without any real development. I guess I'm just going to have some patience on that one!

For those who haven't read any of the other books, there are quite a few references to past characters, but for the most part you could pick it up as a standalone novel. I think as Savannah is so young, it will appeal to YA fans too.

There were a couple of disappointments with this book, it didn't feel quite supernatural enough for me. There was of course magic, but it really more like a murder mystery than the complex supernatural world that I've come to enjoy in Armstrong's books. But, the mystery is undoubtedly a good one and kept me guessing until the end.

Secondly, it felt more like half a story than a whole one. Things were left very open at the end and I can only assume that there is a sequel on the way. But the ending seemed a touch rushed and unfinished because of this.

VERDICT:

This book is written with Kelley Armstrong's pacy, page turning style that is one of the reasons I'm such a fan. If I'm honest, it's not as good as some of her earlier books, not enough magic and exploration into the supernatural world. But, never the less I enjoyed it and if you're a fan I'm pretty sure you will too.(less)

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Sep 25, 2010

Tatiana rated it

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Shelves: 2010, urban-fantasy, series-in-progress-still-like

2.5 stars, rounded up to a very, very, very generous 3-star rating.

Waking The Witch is an installment of the Women of the Otherworld series that I don't see myself ever re-reading. This is sad because I had been looking forward to finally reading a Savannah book for a long time.

I remember Savannah a 12-year old spoiled, petulant girl and later a determined, brash, strong, sassy and refreshingly selfish woman and a powerful witch who hates authority, goes after what she w...more2.5 stars, rounded up to a very, very, very generous 3-star rating.

Waking The Witch is an installment of the Women of the Otherworld series that I don't see myself ever re-reading. This is sad because I had been looking forward to finally reading a Savannah book for a long time.

I remember Savannah a 12-year old spoiled, petulant girl and later a determined, brash, strong, sassy and refreshingly selfish woman and a powerful witch who hates authority, goes after what she wants, can kick ass, despises humans and whose only weakness is her girl crush on Adam. That's who she was as we saw her through the eyes of Paige, Jaime, Elena and other narrators of earlier Otherworld books and that's the way I loved her. The Savannah we get in this novel is pretty much a boring and timid Hope Adams clone who is apparently slightly depressed, has no spunk and no guts to actively pursue a man of her dreams preferring instead to settle for random hookups. Who is this woman? Let me tell you, not someone I care to read about. I expected this book to be about a young woman who would raise mayhem and unleash her super powers. I expected Savannah to go after Adam with all her determination and forces. I expected sparks to fly between the two. No luck here.

Now onto the plot itself. You know, I wonder why Armstrong started writing urban fantasy because it seems she prefers writing mysteries. I have nothing against mysteries per se, but if not grounded in paranormal, hers are weak. This book can be considered urban fantasy only because the main character is a witch. Otherwise, substitute cover spells with hiding in dark corners and knockback spells with a good kick, and there is nothing paranormal left in this story. The mystery itself is mediocre at best, because there is absolutely no way for readers to guess who the villain is. Speaking of the villain, the villain's motivation makes hardly any sense, the final result can be achieved much easier without this convoluted plan and murders.

Some readers also mention the cliff-hanger ending. Yes, there is one, but it is lame and unnecessary IMO. It surely won't make me lose my sleep.

To sum it up, Waking The Witch is a throwaway addition to the series - the mystery is lame, the narrator is boring, and romance is non-existent. But somehow it is written better than the majority of new UF and this is the only excuse for my very generous rating.(less)

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Nov 22, 2011

Fangs for the Fantasy rated it

The Otherworld series shifts protagonists every book – so we get to see this amazing world from several different angles, it’s one of the things I love most about this series. In this case we follow Savannah, the ward of Paige and Lucas, daughter of the witch/half-demon/ghost Eve Lavine and the incredibly influential Sorcerer Kristof Nast. After following her as a child, we see her now aged 21, working for Paige and Lucas’ investigation firm.

And while they’re out of town she has a case...moreThe Otherworld series shifts protagonists every book – so we get to see this amazing world from several different angles, it’s one of the things I love most about this series. In this case we follow Savannah, the ward of Paige and Lucas, daughter of the witch/half-demon/ghost Eve Lavine and the incredibly influential Sorcerer Kristof Nast. After following her as a child, we see her now aged 21, working for Paige and Lucas’ investigation firm.

And while they’re out of town she has a case, her first solo case, eager to prove herself and put into action all the training she’s received, she looks to solve the murders of three young women. But, more, as a witch/sorcerer, she also must keep a look out for an occult connection to the case – always aware of the concern of keeping humanity ignorant of the preternatural.

And the case is far from simple –or clear whether the supernatural is involved or not. With so many suspects and so many possibilities – and so many clues leading so many places, it’s hard to keep track – it’s a complicated and knotty tangle to unravel.

And Savannah is torn between proving herself and acknowledging she needs back up and support – not just for the case but also to deal with the emotional fallout as bodies start to fall.

I really like Savannah as a protagonist –I’ve been looking forward to her taking the reins (especially since the last few books featured Elena and Hope who are far from my favourites). We’ve seen Savannah since she was 12 years old and her ups and downs, problems and now, at 21, she’s a very real, fully fleshed out character – and you can see all those events we’ve followed reflected in the person she is. She isn’t a completely different person, but she isn’t the same either, she has grown and developed along reasonable, understandable lines.

And she’s a strong, powerful and extremely confident character. She’s not perfect, she takes risks and is reckless – but I don’t think her recklessness crosses the line into Spunky Agency. She is caustic and sarcastic at times – but never to a degree that is utterly unreasonable and caricature-like. It’s a great balance – and I think it’s a character a lot of authors aim to portray but hardly ever get right.

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Jan 26, 2012

Emma Meade rated it

If you followed the Women of the Otherworld series, you will be familiar with the witch Savannah Levine, daughter of a dark witch and ruthless sorcerer. Now at 21 she is eager to prove herself as a supernatural PI, qualified to operate solo. With her bosses (and guardians) Paige and Lucas on vacation, the new job falls to her. Savannah roars into the small, rundown town of Columbas, Washington on her motorcycle, immediately attracting attention. She’s there to find out who murdered Claire K...moreIf you followed the Women of the Otherworld series, you will be familiar with the witch Savannah Levine, daughter of a dark witch and ruthless sorcerer. Now at 21 she is eager to prove herself as a supernatural PI, qualified to operate solo. With her bosses (and guardians) Paige and Lucas on vacation, the new job falls to her. Savannah roars into the small, rundown town of Columbas, Washington on her motorcycle, immediately attracting attention. She’s there to find out who murdered Claire Kennedy, a young college student who was in town a mere two weeks before her untimely demise. Armed with photographs of the crime scene that hint at a supernatural cause, Savannah sets out to find the killer, putting herself and everyone around her in jeopardy.

Savannah is a bold and confident young woman, brimming with self-assurance that borders on arrogance at times. She has been in love with Adam, her cute, half-demon co-worker since she was 12. There is a bit of an age gap, a little over a decade and this is perhaps why Adam hasn’t made a move though it’s clear he is crazy about her. This whodunit is skilfully written and I pegged everyone from town and beyond as a suspect. I liked Savannah but I thought her brazen and self-possessed demeanour was over the top. I also found her difficult to relate to and I’m sure a lot of other female readers would too.

Being familiar with Armstrong’s other books in the series I was expecting a lot more romance but it didn’t happen and this came as something as a disappointment. Savannah goes on a date with Claire’s brother Michael and believes there may be something between them but Adam is never far from her mind. This runs the other way too as Adam is constantly checking in on her, just typical concern for a younger co-worker or something more?

Even if you haven’t read the other books in the series, Waking the Witch can be enjoyed as a standalone novel but it will spoil storylines and character developments from previous books. Fast-paced and fun, and with an ending that sends the reader (me) out to the local bookshop to pick up the next book in the series, I can easily recommend this to fans of the supernatural genre. (less)

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Jan 22, 2012

Shiloh rated it

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Shelves: fantasy

It's Savannah Levine's first solo investigation, and of course it's not going to be easy. Between the suspect trying to kill her, the other suspect lying to her, someone trying to sabotage her magic, and an old nemesis using the whole situation to try to kill her, Savannah's got her hands full. But she's nothing if not resourceful, and it takes a lot to shake the daughter of a witch and a sorcerer.

I love that we've gotten a book from Savannah's perspective. She's one of the most intere...more

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Nov 14, 2011

Laura rated it

Armstrong creates her series with each book centering around a different character. “Waking the Witch” is centered around twenty-one year old Savannah Levine, daughter of a powerful black witch and equally powerful sorcerer. What makes Armstrong such a unique author, is her ability to give each character in each book in depth characteristics that are unique to that particular person. In this one, we are introduced to Savannah Levine, a young woman who feels entitled to unearned respect due to he...more

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Oct 27, 2011

Krista rated it

Shelves: okay-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 11, 2011

Jessica Strider rated it

Pros: fast paced, good dialogue, a fair bit of action

Cons: last 30 pages rely more heavily on previous books for climax and denouement and contain spoilers for the earlier books (only a problem if you haven't read those books)

Savannah Levine's running her guardian's P.I. agency while they're on vacation. When another P.I., Jesse Aanes, drops a murder case that has hints of occult activity in her lap, she's ready to prove she can solve a case solo. So off she goes to Columbus,...morePros: fast paced, good dialogue, a fair bit of action

Cons: last 30 pages rely more heavily on previous books for climax and denouement and contain spoilers for the earlier books (only a problem if you haven't read those books)

Savannah Levine's running her guardian's P.I. agency while they're on vacation. When another P.I., Jesse Aanes, drops a murder case that has hints of occult activity in her lap, she's ready to prove she can solve a case solo. So off she goes to Columbus, a small town that now boasts 3 murders. With two obvious suspects and several people offering help (including the brother of one of the victims, an out of town detective), it seems like an easy case. But nothing's as it seems and when someone else dies Savannah realizes that going solo isn't as fun as she thought it would be.

Savannah's an interesting character. She's got a lot of streetsmarts and a no nonsense attitude. She's not quite the kick ass character urban fantasy is known for, but not far off either. Magic is her first line of offense, though she knows some martial arts too. She avoids being a Mary Sue by asking for help from a senior member of the P.I. agency and by occasionally making potentially stupid decisions (like meeting a possible suspect alone without telling anyone where she's going).

This is the first Otherworld book by Armstrong that I've read. I assumed Savannah was a minor character in the other books so the first book dedicated to her would be a good place to jump into the series. There were occasional references to her past throughout the book that were easy to understand until 30 pages to the end. Suddenly someone from her past who was never mentioned in this book shows up. The climax's 'ah ha' moment was more of a 'what?' moment for me. Since I didn't know who this character was I had no idea what was coming. The ending wasn't ruined by this. Armstrong explained enough about who the character was that a new reader could follow along. But I knew I'd missed the real surprise of the scene.

Still, it was a fun, quick read. And, from what Armstrong tells about Savannah's past, those who have followed the series will likely enjoy seeing Savannah grown up.(less)

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Jun 25, 2011

Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it

Shelves: otherworld, urban-fantasy

One of the things I love best about the Otherworld series is that time passes in the books pretty much like real-time. The series began back in 2001 and we've essentially watched the characters change and grow through 10 years of their own lives. We met Savannah in the 2nd book, as a 12 year-old child and now she's a 21 year-old woman, serving as the narrator of her very own story. It's a little hard to see her as an adult, but I think that's in part to her personality, which is still a little i...moreOne of the things I love best about the Otherworld series is that time passes in the books pretty much like real-time. The series began back in 2001 and we've essentially watched the characters change and grow through 10 years of their own lives. We met Savannah in the 2nd book, as a 12 year-old child and now she's a 21 year-old woman, serving as the narrator of her very own story. It's a little hard to see her as an adult, but I think that's in part to her personality, which is still a little impetuous and self-absorbed. And she is still trying to prove herself.

So when Paige and Lucas go on vacation, Savannah jumps at the chance to take the lead on her very own case. The tip comes from Jesse, a half-demon contact of Lucas' -- and it takes Savannah to a small town to investigate a trio of human murders with a link to the occult. She joins forces with an off-duty cop named Michael, whose sister was one of the victims. I liked him right away. (view spoiler)

There's a wide range of suspects: from the strange commune of girls living with a creepy therapist... to the adulterous boyfriend of one of the victims. Links to the supernatural keep popping up, but Savannah can't quite put her finger on how they're tied to the case. Savannah's a tough girl, as we are reminded more than once, but she could have helped herself a lot by reaching out and being honest with her family and friends. It was frustrating to keep watching her make this mistake. The story would have gone very differently if she weren't so bent on proving herself.

Adam shows up in the second half of the book. We don't get a romance between him and Savannah, but the groundwork is there. I'm hoping they'll pursue it in the next book, which is also a Savannah story. The resolution here on the murder/mystery was a huge surprise for me and while that storyline did wrap up, the ending is a pretty big cliffhanger. I enjoyed the book, but I wish we would have had more crossover with the other characters from the previous books. 4 stars.

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May 07, 2011

Liath rated it

Inhalt:

Hexe Savannah Levine hütet zuhause die Detektei ihrer Pflegeeltern Paige und Lucas, während diese sich im lange überfälligen Urlaub befinden, als ein alter Bekannter von Lucas auftaucht und um Hilfe bei einem Fall bittet.
In dem kleinen Ort Columbus wurden drei Frauen ermordet und der Täter ist noch auf freiem Fuß.
Savannah die schon lange auf ihrem ersten eigenen Fall wartet macht sich sofort auf den Weg in das verschlafene Nest.
Vor Ort merkt sie schnell das a...moreInhalt:

Hexe Savannah Levine hütet zuhause die Detektei ihrer Pflegeeltern Paige und Lucas, während diese sich im lange überfälligen Urlaub befinden, als ein alter Bekannter von Lucas auftaucht und um Hilfe bei einem Fall bittet.
In dem kleinen Ort Columbus wurden drei Frauen ermordet und der Täter ist noch auf freiem Fuß.
Savannah die schon lange auf ihrem ersten eigenen Fall wartet macht sich sofort auf den Weg in das verschlafene Nest.
Vor Ort merkt sie schnell das außer den ermordeten Frauen auch noch andere Dinge in Columbus im Argen liegen. Es gibt eine New-Age Kommune über die die Bewohner die Nase rümpfen, die reichste Familie vor Ort hat mehr als zwielichtige Mitglieder und Savannah scheint auch nicht die einzige Person mit „magischen“ Kräften in dieser Kleinstadt zu sein. Und scheinbar jeder in dem Ort, weiß mehr über die toten Frauen als er zugibt.

Meinung:

Mit Savannah Levine bekommt nun eine alte Bekannte ihr erstes eigenes Buch. Mit 21 ist sie schon eine sehr starke Persönlichkeit die genau weiß was sie möchte und kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt. Dennoch schafft Kelley Armstrong es auch die inneren Zweifel und Ängste der Protagonistin so herauszuarbeiten, dass es für den Leser glaubhaft bleibt. Auch merkt man Savannah sehr an wie sie aufgewachsen ist. Sowohl die Tatsache es mit der Moral nicht so eng zu sehen um an ihr Ziel zu kommen (ein Erbe ihrer Mutter Eve), als auch ihre mitfühlende und praktische Seite (die Erziehung von Lucas & Paige) machen sich bei ihr bemerkbar.
Der Plot ist gut ausgereift und bietet viele überraschende Wendungen. Romantik und zarte Gefühle kommen selbstverständlich auch vor, auch wenn wie bei der Autorin üblich, dieses keine zu große Rolle spielen und somit nicht von der eigentlichen Story ablenken.
Wer mit der Serie bekannt ist wird den ein oder anderen vertrauten Namen lesen. Die Geschichte dreht sich aber voll und ganz um Savannah und ihren ersten eigenen Detektivauftrag.
Das sich die nächsten beiden Bände (Teil 12 & 13) in der „Women of the Otherworld“ Reihe auch um Savannah drehen sollen, merkt man vor allem daran, das der eigentliche Plot zwar zu ende erzählt wird, die Geschichte aber dennoch mit einem riesigen Cliffhanger endet.
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May 05, 2011

Kchab rated it

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

I really wanted to enjoy this book-after all, it was free! Unfortunately, I found the plot unnecessarily complex, and the characters flat. I am not familiar with the other books in the series, so I had no preconceived notions about how Savannah was supposed to be like when I began reading. What I discovered was a 16 year old in a 21 year old's body, talking about how mature she is when all she does is whine about how she's nev...more

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Mar 25, 2011

Christine rated it

Shelves: 2011-reads

This next installment in the Otherworld series features Savannah Levine, daughter of Eve. Since losing her mother Savannah has lived and worked with Paige and Lucas. A seemingly simple case falls into her lap and Savannah strikes out on her own as a PI in this book. Seemingly simple turns into complicated and dangerous, not only testing Savannah’s powers as a witch but as an adult as well.

I have read and enjoyed Ms. Armstrong’s book since Bitten. Waking the Witch does keep us up t...more

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Feb 11, 2011

Habrewer rated it

Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong
*won the ARC from Literary Escapism blog – in exchange for an honest review

Waking the Witch is the newest installment in the Women of Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. It follows Savannah Levine, who is all grown up now. She has been working with Paige and Lucas since she graduated high school. She is ready to show them that she is not the same spoiled little girl she used to be. The perfect opportunity knocks while Paige and Lucas a...moreWaking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong
*won the ARC from Literary Escapism blog – in exchange for an honest review

Waking the Witch is the newest installment in the Women of Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong. It follows Savannah Levine, who is all grown up now. She has been working with Paige and Lucas since she graduated high school. She is ready to show them that she is not the same spoiled little girl she used to be. The perfect opportunity knocks while Paige and Lucas are on vacation in Hawaii.

Jesse Aanes shows up at the office with an offer Savannah can’t refuse. He has been hired to investigate the murders of three young women in a small factory town north of Portland. There are signs that the murders may have been part of an occult ritual. Adam is at a conference, so that just leaves Savannah.

She is excited for the opportunity to spread her wings, with Adam acting as backup she takes off for the town. She encounters a lot of road blocks along the way and the bodies keep piling up. As the story progresses there are several underlying events taking place that eventually come to a conclusion. There are twists and turns in the story that kept me guessing for awhile. I had figured out who was the “bad” guy toward the end but the left turn caught me off guard. The ending was great but I HATE cliffhangers in books. I want the next book NOW!!!!

I really enjoyed Savannah’s book and seeing her grown up. I have liked Savannah since she was introduced in Stolen. I like the werewolves in this series but unlike most people, I actually enjoy the witch stories just as much. Savannah has had to deal with a lot in her young life and she is finally realizing that she needs to take responsibility for who she is. She lost both her mother and father at an early age but she has had Paige as a stable role model growing up. You see that influence on her as she struggles to do the right thing even when she wants to give in to her darker side.
The story is a little slow building up but about midway through it picks up. I was not happy with the way things turned out with Michael, Claire’s brother but understand it was part of the story. I think he was good for Savannah and helped bring out a little softness in her. She is used to taking care of herself and doing things her way that she had to learn give and take when working with him. Their verbal sparring sessions were very entertaining.

I love Adam’s character and how he has a soft spot for Savannah. They are best friends, even though she wants more. I think Adam has a hard time getting past the age thing with Savannah and seeing her as a young woman. His reaction whenever anyone does something to hurt her says he cares for more for her than just a friend. I hope he has a bigger role in the next book and we can see if things progress between the two of them.

Overall it’s not the best book in the Otherworld series but I enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book to continue Savannah’s story. If you are a fan of Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series, I definitely recommend it. If you have not read any of the series, I would start at the beginning and read them in order. I give Waking the Witch 3 Flaming Hearts.
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Feb 07, 2011

Kathy Davie rated it

Savannah comes of age in this eleventh installment in the paranormal Women of the Otherworld series.

Paige and Lucas are on vacation in Hawaii and Adam is attending a conference when a fellow PI, Jesse Aanes, shows up at HQ ostensibly looking for Lucas. Just what Savannah is looking for, an independent operation where she is in charge. By phone, Adam encourages her to head on up to small town Columbus on her Triumph motorcycle where Savannah encounters a charismatic commune leader whose...more

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Jan 07, 2011

William Thomas rated it

Shelves: i-gave-it-a-try, goodreads-has-forced-me-to-read-a-f, could-have-been-better-if-it-didnt, you-mean-i-actually-finished-this-o

Hi, I'm a witch blah blah blah energy bolt blah blah motorcycle blah hot guy blah blah blah I'm 21 and super pretty don't you want to be me or do me blah blah blah sacrifice and dead girls blah blah small town blah investigate blah blah more hot guy talk blah blah blah I'm a clever witch, actually, and I solve the crime blah blah motorcycle blah. Get the drift?

I can reduce this book to a 2 minute powerpoint presentation in which there are only 3 actual headings for discussion- motorc...more

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Dec 05, 2010

Siobhan rated it

Well well well, if you are a fan of this series this will not dissappoint. I realise that some reviewers have not been as pleased with this book, it lacks one of the usual elements that accompany this series. The relationship progression that normally occurs for the narrator, which in this case is Savannah - a character we met in the second book of the series "Stolen" she was 12 in that book and is now aged 21. Although, she seems older than her years due to a highly volatile, supernat...more

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Nov 20, 2010

Emily rated it

Shelves: reviewed-books

I'll put this out there at the onset of this review: I've only read one other book in the Otherworld series (Bitten) and so I was unfamiliar with many of the characters and history that these characters shared/were trying to overcome. As a result, I won't focus on how this book fits in with the overall trends of the series, since I don't really know anything about those, and will instead focus on the experience of reading this book more or less as a standalone novel.

Savannah as a narr...moreI'll put this out there at the onset of this review: I've only read one other book in the Otherworld series (Bitten) and so I was unfamiliar with many of the characters and history that these characters shared/were trying to overcome. As a result, I won't focus on how this book fits in with the overall trends of the series, since I don't really know anything about those, and will instead focus on the experience of reading this book more or less as a standalone novel.

Savannah as a narrator and heroine really worked for me on a variety of levels. I enjoyed her snark and her sass, her can-do attitude (even though she freely admits sometimes that that's totally a bluff) and her desire to prove herself to the people she loves. One of my favorite things about the heroines in this series so far is that I find it really easy to understand their thoughts and motivations and to realize why they make the decisions that they do; for better or worse, that's definitely the case here.

The beginning of the story sets us up with a murder mystery with a supernatural twist as a fellow PI, who also happens to be half-demon and a friend of Savannah's adopted father, shows up in the family agency office to ask for help on a case. Savannah seizes the opportunity to prove that she can handle a case on her own and leaves at once to help solve the whodunnit.

What happens after that is a twisty, turny journey to discover the identity of a gruesome killer, to navigate the drama and prejudices of a small town, and for Savannah personally to make some decisions about the kind of person she wants to be and how she wants other people to perceive her. There's a smidge of relationship drama, there are injustices that have to be overcome; essentially, there's a lot going on and there are plenty of layers to this story that make it a good read.

I'll tell you my one issue with the book, though, and I am totally willing to attribute this to my having not read any other books in this series since the first one- why is everyone so hard on Savannah? She mentions past peccadilloes fairly liberally and there was a sense of the other past characters in the book kind of holding their breath as if they were waiting for Savannah to screw up somehow, and then they were somehow shocked when Savannah not only picked up on this, but was upset about it. I mean, I gather that she hasn't always been the most responsible person or had the best impulse control, but even so, that seems like a lot to hold against someone who in another world wouldn't even be out of college yet. Even at the end, in the emotional showdown with Adam after the (supposed) resolution of the murders, it was hard to tell whether he was standing by her out of deeper feelings for her or out of a sense of duty and responsibility to Paige and Lucas. There wouldn't be anything wrong with either standing, except one is the basis of a relationship and one is maintaining the status quo of everyone else being in charge and Savannah acting like/being treated like a kid. Maybe this is explained in previous books? I don't know.

Anyway, all nitpicking aside, the plot was tight, the narration was excellent and I'm definitely on board to read the rest of the series and future installments as well. Overall it was a very enjoyable read.

Overall Grade: B+

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Nov 01, 2010

ALPHAreader rated it

‘Waking the Witch’ is the eleventh book in Kelley Armstrong’s ridiculously popular paranormal series, ‘Women of the Otherworld’. It is also the first book to be narrated by long-running, fan-favourite character Savannah Levine.

Savannah’s guardians, Paige Winterbourne and Lucas Cortez, are on a much-needed Hawaiian vacation. . . and while away Savannah is in charge of their Private Investigation business. So it happens that when telekinetic-demon and fellow PI, Jesse Aanes, walks thro...more

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Oct 11, 2010

Elizabeth rated it

Waking the Witch
This was another great book from Kelley Armstrong. This book is from the point of view of Savannah. Savannah is left alone to take care of Paige and Lucas’s PI business while they are on vacation. It is her turn to prove that she able to take care of herself in there dangerous supernatural world. However things are not what they seem to be when Savannah goes to work three related murders that have a supernatural angle. She needs to prove to herself that she can go sol...more

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Sep 04, 2010

Alana rated it

Shelves: romance-paranormal, paranormal

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.

Waking the Witch is the first in a new series (within a series) narrated by Savannah Levine - a powerful young witch who has been helping her guardians run a supernatural PI service. With Lucas and Paige away on vacation, however, Savannah steps up to take the lead investigating a series of murders in a small Washington town that appear to have a link to paranormal rituals. With the help of two half-demons and a detective ...moreI received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.

Waking the Witch is the first in a new series (within a series) narrated by Savannah Levine - a powerful young witch who has been helping her guardians run a supernatural PI service. With Lucas and Paige away on vacation, however, Savannah steps up to take the lead investigating a series of murders in a small Washington town that appear to have a link to paranormal rituals. With the help of two half-demons and a detective from Dallas, Savannah sets to work investigating the killings - but someone wants her dead, and lately her magic has been misfiring at the most inopportune moments...

Although this is the eleventh book in Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series , it works relatively well even if you haven't read the others in the series. Although it was clear that there was quite a bit of backstory that I was missing (certain character appearances/cameos were lost on me, and I wish I had seen the build-up of Adam & Savannah's working relationship), things were certainly explained well enough that I had no trouble following the plot or the rules of the urban fantasy world that Armstrong has set up.

Savannah can be a little hard to take. She's headstrong and reckless; she kind of knocks you over the head with her conviction that she's utterly bad-ass and irresistible; and she has a pretty huge chip on her shoulder that often has her rejecting anyone's attempts to help her. In short, she's just the kind of tough girl heroine that rubs me the wrong way, especially when she gets transplanted into a 'hick' town and has a chance to stick her nose in the air at what she perceives as backwardness.

But even though Savannah frustrated me, she still had moments of genuine vulnerability that kept me on her side. She's smart, capable and driven to get the job done, but she also grows to realize that she can't, shouldn't and doesn't have to always tough it out. That there's something to be gained by allowing yourself to feel and even to fall apart a little some of the time. And that was a lovely thing to read.

I enjoyed her relationship with her colleague/long-time crush Adam and how she dealt with young Kayla, who is determined to be a detective. Those were the real reasons I kept on reading, though, to be fair, I also really liked watching her puzzle out the mystery. There were a lot of twists to the mystery plotline that kept me whirling about like a ballet dancer doing fouettes without having learned how to spot - and I mean that in a Good Way. The Great Reveal loses a lot of impact if you haven't read the rest of the series simply because you don't really have the necessary background to understand the implications, but it did encourage me to give more of Armstrong's work a try. Especially since Waking the Witch wraps up its primary plot but ends on a cliffhanger for the next book in the series!(less)

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Aug 30, 2010

Lindsey rated it

I been a follower of Kelley Armstrong since I came upon the first novel in her Women of the Otherworld series Bitten about nine years ago. Each novel is well written and executed with the perfect balance of plot/character description and dialog that enables you to invest yourself in the main characters beyond the duration of each book. In Stolen, the second book in the series, we are introduced to Savannah, when the main character of the novel, Elena, is captured and imprisoned along with other...moreI been a follower of Kelley Armstrong since I came upon the first novel in her Women of the Otherworld series Bitten about nine years ago. Each novel is well written and executed with the perfect balance of plot/character description and dialog that enables you to invest yourself in the main characters beyond the duration of each book. In Stolen, the second book in the series, we are introduced to Savannah, when the main character of the novel, Elena, is captured and imprisoned along with other supernaturals. Savannah has periodically been mentioned in subsequent novels in the series, but nine books later she becomes the protagonist as she sets out to solve a supernatural murder mystery.

This book was almost everything I expected of a Kelly Armstrong novel. Unraveling the mystery alongside Savannah was addictive and as always the mention of other beloved characters in the series had me gobbling up the pages like a book junkie. The pace of this novel was fairly even keel with a few instances of suspense and anticipation as the plot thickens and the mystery unfolds. I particularly enjoy Savannah's tough-as-nails outward appearance coupled with hints that she is a much softer person on the inside. Waking the Witch was an excellent story on its own but having an understanding of Savannah's life growing up (as read in other books in the series) enhanced my enjoyment and understanding of the story.

Each of Kelley Armstrong's novels introduces and explores a new love interest for the main character. In this novel Savannah makes it clear that she has been interested in being more then just friends with supernatural half-demon, Adam Vasic, but she believes he still sees her as the young ward of his friends Page and Lucas. Adam is not the main love interest for Savannah in Waking the Witch, yet I felt that the the display of Adam's over protectiveness hinted that he may be realizing that Savannah isn't a little girl anymore. That dear readers is why Waking the Witch fell just short of perfection for me! I wanted MORE growth in the romantic department between Savannah and Adam. With that said the ending of this novel left things wide open for the next novel both in increasing the readers interest in Savannah and in the possibility of something "more" developing between her and Adam.

Waking the Witch was an excellent addition to the Women of the Otherworld series, primarily because I felt that Savannah has deserved her own book for some time now. If your already a fan of the Otherworld series I think you'll be pleased with this addition, but if this is the first time hearing about author Kelley Armstrong or this series I recommend you check out the first novel, Bitten. (less)

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Aug 25, 2010

Sonja rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I didn't think it was possible to like Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series more. Clearly, I was wrong. She tricked me, and I completely fell for it. Based on the patterns of the previous ten books, I was expecting the story to wrap up nice and neat at the end of this, and an entirely new one to start up in Spellbound (book 12).

Kelley completely left me hanging, and I'm so happy she did because I had been convinced for months that Adam and Savannah were going to get together in this...more

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Aug 18, 2010

Liberty Gilmore rated it

What’s Good About It

I’m a long standing fan of the Women of the Otherworld Series. I think Kelley Armstrong does the perfect realistic heroine and Savannah is a perfect example of that. The super-powerful witch could easily have become the most annoying character in the series – no one likes a character that is all powerful. It’s boring. But Savannah is far from boring and that’s because, despite being super-powerful, she has a whole load of realistic flaws that make her so very huma...moreWhat’s Good About It

I’m a long standing fan of the Women of the Otherworld Series. I think Kelley Armstrong does the perfect realistic heroine and Savannah is a perfect example of that. The super-powerful witch could easily have become the most annoying character in the series – no one likes a character that is all powerful. It’s boring. But Savannah is far from boring and that’s because, despite being super-powerful, she has a whole load of realistic flaws that make her so very human. Yes, she weilds more magical power than most covens, but she also has huge insecurities, a desperate need to prove herself to Paige and Lucas, her adoptive parents, an unrequited love for half-demon Adam Vasic, and a real aversion to asking for help. She does stupid things, makes mistakes, misses stuff, and people get hurt. But she’s also brave, determined and resourceful – things we all wish we would be in a crisis. She’s the sort of heroine we believe we would be capable of being, which makes for brilliant escapist reading.

The plot is just the sort of thing you would expect from Armstrong – tense, taught and filled with murder and intrigue. There was never a moment when I thought ‘Someone please open Savannah’s eyes, because this is so obvious’ which is my quality control test for mystery novels of any nature. I hate guessing things ages before the character does (if I’m not supposed to) and I didn’t once have this problem in Waking the Witch.

The book works well as an addition to the series, but if you are new to it it’s a reasonable place to start. It’s light on reccurring characters, and though there are a few references to previous events that it would be better to know before reading, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t, as there are reminders weaved into the prose for the benefit of both schools of reader. Personally, I think you’d be better off starting from the beginning and enjoying the series in its entirety - all the books in it I’ve read (and I’ve read most) are fab – but if your library/bank balance does not allow, then you can still enjoy this one.

What’s Not So Good

I didn’t like the ending. I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but while the main thrust of the story was wrapped up, this felt more like ‘part one of two’ than a standalone novel, which most novels in this series are. They feature reccuring characters, and the same narrators are often revisited, but each book stands alone. This one doesn’t, so much. While nothing is left so open as to be annoying, it was a bit too cliffhangerish for my taste. Mostly because I don’t know when the next book is out, but it will probably be ages too long :D(less)

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Aug 07, 2010

Debbie rated it

Shelves: mystery, fantasy

I don't normally read contemporary paranormal novels, but I do love a good mystery. So, when I received this book as an unrequested review copy from the publisher, I decided to give it a chance. The characters were engaging, and Savannah managed to have a "bad girl attitude" without turning me off. The pacing was very good. The suspense was created by the physical danger to Savannah and the others during the investigation. (Though I was never convinced Savannah wouldn't survive, I did ...more

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Aug 01, 2010

Harmonybites rated it

Recommends it for: Those Who Don't Mind Cliffhangers

Shelves: contemporary, fantasy, horror, mystery, crime, fiction, novels

I'm a fan of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, page-turning paranormal mysteries with romantic elements told from the first person point of view of a female supernatural: a werewolf, witch, angel, necromancer, half-demon... In this case it was Savannah Levine, daughter and ward of two previous protagonists. She's a witch and a private investigator.

For quite a while I was happily being pulled along by the mystery. Armstrong has a deft style and strong world-building ...more

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Jul 31, 2010

Mei rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of the series

Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld, Book 11)

Synopsis
Savannah finally gets a chance to her first solo case while Page and Lucas are on vacation. What starts are a simple investigation into the deaths of three women becomes increasingly more complex the more she looks into the little town's secrets. Not to mention that something seems to be getting a little bit weird with her powers...

Review
Not one of my favorite of the Otherworld series, but not my least...more

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Jul 31, 2010

Jennifer Morrill rated it

Reviewed this with the local paper. Funny to me how differently I write for them vs my blog. More formal! But I'm too lazy to rewrite a review. So cut and paste is in order!

In the 11th installment of her Otherworld series, Armstrong revisits the storyline of young Savannah Levine. Now grown up and in control of her supernatural powers, she is seeking recognition with the paranormal investigation firm run by her adoptive parents. When a lead is thrown her way, she jumps at the c...more

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Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld #11)

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