this thread can be used for discussion of the author Kelley Armstrong, and for discussion of her book series Women of the Otherworld.

YAY, thanks for starting this discusson group Jess! I really like Kelley Armstrong and am about halfway through this series. I just finished Industrial Magic(#4) and have Haunted at home, but i'm hesitant to start it as I did not love Dime Store & Ind. Magic as much as I loved the first two and not sure I'm looking forward to Eve's story... anyone have any thoughts!!??

I really enjoyed HAUNTED. The after-life created was very interesting. I liked Eve, she's tough and very protective of her daughter.

BROKEN wasn't as good as BITTEN and STOLEN but there were some really funny bits. As for PERSONAL DEMON I really disliked Hope but I loved the Cortez family in this one as well as Karl Marsden.

NO HUMANS INVOLVED was ok but not brilliant and I haven't read LIVING WITH THE DEAD yet. I'll probably read it just before FROSTBITTEN comes out.

That's good to know Amy!! I LOVED Bitten, Stolen was good, Dime Store and Industrial Magic were good, Paige, Lucas and Savannah did grow on me.... I'm definitely going to continue the series but at the moment it's taken back seat to Anita, BDB and NightHuntress :)

So I've thought that Frostbitten wasn't supposed to be released until Nov 5th, because that's what's listed on goodreads. I just found out that it's actually coming out Sept 29th! I am really excited! Also, for those of you who are Clay and Elena fans, you need to check out Armstrongs website. She's set up a twitter account for Elena! lol! It's actually been going on since the start of July. I went back and read all of the posts and some of them just made me laugh! It was great!

Oh wow! That's awesome news :)

Yeah, I certainly wont complain about getting a clay and Elena story early!!!

I'm certainly looking forward to reading more about Elena and Clay and finding out more about their kids.

did anyone know that Kelley Armstrong is writing a paranormal series with all types of paranormal people for the teenagers? My daughter found her book and it was great...I try to read any books my daughter wants to read first because of all the sex parts lol.. this one was about teenager paranormals and it was called the summoning I believe.

I actually do have a copy of the audio book of The Summoning but I haven't listened to it yet. So you enjoyed it? What's it about?

I have read The Summoning, and I LOVED it! It did take a little bit to get into, but after the middle part of the book it flowed nicely. And when it finished it left me hanging for more!
Havent been able to find the second book, but I intend to buy it asap!

I've read both the first and second books in her YA trilogy, and to be honest, I think her adult works are better written and more entertaining. Being a librarian, I would suggest Armstrong's YA to any kids who are into books like Twilight, but for my older, more mature high schoolers I might suggest they read her adult works instead.

What about for us adults that like to throw in a mix of YA books into our reading?

Kelley Anne wrote: "What about for us adults that like to throw in a mix of YA books into our reading?"

Kelley Anne, I didn't mean to say her YA works were bad, just that her adult works are better. I think she and other authors like Kim Harrison with Once Dead, Twice Shy trying to move in on the YA market because of the success of Twilight. Some authors can do YA or children's books as well as they do adults, some can't. I think Kim Harrison is one that can do just as well, Armstrong does better with adult.

Someone told me that her YA series isn't really YA appropriate and that there is some sex in there. Is that true?

I haven't read it yet because I'm not much into YA, but from what this person told me it sounded like it leaned more towards adult and not YA

I didnt see any sex in it at all... not even kissing so i think it was age appro. I mean my daughter is 15 and I let her read it.

I have read The Summoning and my mum just brought me the second one today The Awakening but I havent seen any sex in them. [in the first one I think there is like a little kiss and holding hands, but thats it:].
Does she do any other YA books?

Ellen, I believe this trilogy is all Armstrong has done for YA so far.

Joseph wrote: "Ellen, I believe this trilogy is all Armstrong has done for YA so far."

Thanks! =D

Just cleaning out the "New Releases" folder and thought that I'd put the link for the discussions of one of her books. I'm moving the discussion to the archived folder. Warning, this discussion probably contain spoilers!

Men of the Otherworld - Spoilers

Bitten is the first Kelley Armstrong book I've read and I'm a little over halfway through with it. It has taken me this long to become interested. I was just wondering if her other books are similar in the ... amount of action and characters. Does that make sense? I don't know how to word it =P

Kristin wrote: "I was just wondering if her other books are similar in the ... amount of action and characters. Does that make sense? I don't know how to word it =P "

From what I can remember, Bitten was more of a tentative introduction to the series. Stolen, the second book, explodes into action. A number of new characters and adrenaline pumping situations are explored.

Bitten is probably the most sedate of all the books in the series.

I agree, they get better as you go... I always find the 1st book in a new series is slow and uneventful at times as they are trying to give us all the new information the new series needs :) Keep reading you won't regret it :)

For me, Bitten was one of my favorites, and Stolen was probably my least favorite. Men of the Otherworld was REALLY fun! But I do recommend reading it after Bitten.

Thanks!

FYI - Armstrong has the prologue and first 2 chapters of Frostbitten on her website right now!

http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/chapters/...

OO thanks Kelley Anne!

Does the Woman of the underworld series need to be read in sequence? I constantly end up buying books on special thats midway in a series :(

It will be better if you read them in order. For the most part each book has different characters. As they are introduced in one book they will later turn up in a later one as the main characters, while previous characters pop in for cameos.

Ah similiar to Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. Will then just have to stick to reading it in order.

That's what I would recommend. When I read them, I skipped around and first read all of the books that mainly dealt with the werewolves, and then ended up going back and reading the others. I really wish that I had just read them in order!

I read her sequel to The Summoning, and I loved it. I love the way her writing just flows.
I want to start reading her other books, but Im not entirly sure.?!?!?!

Ellen ~ If you like the Summoning then check out her other series. I tried to read the Summoning, but gave it up as it just couldn't hold my interest. But so many people keep saying how good it is I may have to check it out again.

Darcy, it took a while for me to get into The Summoning too but by the end I was hooked. The Awakening was excellent and now I'm salivating in anticipation for The Reckoning!

I am definitely going to have to get it from the library again. Too many people have been raving about it.

I've been meaning to read The Summoning, because I really love her other books, but just haven't gotten around to it yet! What's it about? Is the world the same as the one she created in the Women of the Otherworld series?

The Darkest Powers trilogy is YA and is set in the same world as the Women of the Otherworld with a few characters either being mentioned or making cross overs especially in the second book, The Awakening. There is a minor link between The Awakening and Frostbitten (WotO #10) and Bitten (WotO #1).

It's about one institution of many who genetically enhance children of all the supernatural races. They either grow up in the programme or outside of it and then are either placed into it by or are kidnapped from their parents.

The main protaganist is Chloe a teenage necromancer who is seen as crazy by her human father for seeing and talking to people that aren't there (ghosts) and is placed in an Edison Group home for teens with problems by her aunt. Only Chloe finds out it is much more than that and attempts to escape with her fellow inmates...

I was hooked on her writing the moment I started The Summoning. The Awakening is even better. She released a chapter of the Reckoning, that was just as good. I've lent out my Bitten. As soon as I get it back, I will definitely start it.

Her short story in Eternal Kiss was also set in this world. Very good. I'd like to see more of that character.

I also have it on my tbr list. But I keep hearing mixed things about it. Some people say it's good others not so I don't want to waste money on it. I'm waiting to get it from the library.

I actually have a copy of the audio book, so I'll have to bump it up my list. But I need to finish listening to Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity first.

Kelley Anne wrote: "What about for us adults that like to throw in a mix of YA books into our reading?"

I'm finding that some author's who write PNR well (armstrong, mary janice davidson, kim harrison, katie mcalister, karen chance, rachel vincent, melissa mar,pc cast etc) write exceptional YA series as well. I have three teenish daughters, and like to read everything I can before they do. If I think something is crap (gossip girls) I tell them. Oh, and Rosemary Clement-moore is great, she has a teen "from hell" series. Kelley Armstrong's books are wonderful!

I have read all of Kelley Armstrong's books and I would rank them in this order--

1. Werewolf-centric WotO books (Bitten, Stolen, Broken, Frostbitten)
2. Darkest Powers books (Summoning, Awakening)
3. The rest of the Women of the Underworld books

I really liked her Darkest Powers books, and I agree, by the end of the second one I was dying for the 3rd one to come out.

I really love Kelley Armstrong's OtherWorld Series. I've already read Frostbitten. I cant wait till Waking the Witch comes out in 2010, Savannah's 21 and its her first case alone at Cortez & Winterbourne Investigations.

Also waiting on Tales of the OtherWorld (2010). Really curious about how Clay turned Elena, also wondering how Paige and Lucas wedding went!

Kelley has a graphic novel out about how Clay turned Elena, and the original stories were posted to her website, a few years ago. I have them, but don't think I'm allowed to share them because of copyright laws. suffice to say, their first sexual experience together is pretty incredible! not in a graphic, moany sort of way, but because it really highlighted how perfect they really are together.

Susan (Suz) wrote: "YAY, thanks for starting this discusson group Jess! I really like Kelley Armstrong and am about halfway through this series. I just finished Industrial Magic(#4) and have Haunted at home, but i'm..."

The two Magic books weren't my favorite either. I really fell in love with Elena & Clay so it was hard getting into the next two (the character were just so different.)BUT I love the rest of the series after that. So push on, it's one of my top 5 favorite series.

Mariah wrote: "I really love Kelley Armstrong's OtherWorld Series. I've already read Frostbitten. I cant wait till Waking the Witch comes out in 2010, Savannah's 21 and its her first case alone at Cortez & Winter..."

I didn't realize Frostbitten was out! You're sure Sav is going to get her own book?! Do we know if Adam will be in it?

Frostbitten is definately out and it is super good. I think it is worth reading the book just for the last scene at the end. It just isn't what we see a lot of with them and really pounds the idea of family and home.

I have heard about Waking the Witch, not sure about Adam in it. But I have grown to love Savannah and it will be interesting to see what happens to her.

First off, I have to say that I agree. Frostbitten was great! But I love the books about the werewolves best!

So, last night, I was doing some housework and wanted to listen to an audio book while doing it. I didn't have my Ink Exchange audio handy, so I ended up turning on Summoning. I couldn't stop listening!!! I finally, about half way through, made myself turn it off or else I wasn't going to get any sleep! Loving it so far!

Haha. That happened (and still does) to me all the time. But when I am reading a book. I am currently hooked on Succubus Blues. I have finally given in and have started reading it on the laptop. Lol.

I want to start reading her other series. But I have a very important question to ask:
What is the order?! And is it best to read the series in order of the characters or how they have come out?

Personally, I would recommend reading them in the order they came out. I didn't read them that way. I loved Bitten, and wasn't really interested in any characters other than the werewolves. So I read the 3 books that mostly revolve around them first. But then, I found myself having to go back and read the rest of the series. I wish that I'd just gone in order to start with!

Here's the order:

Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living With the Dead
Frostbitten

Men of the Otherworld technically takes place before all of these books (except for the last story in it) but I would read it after you've at least read Bitten. Personally, Stolen was probably my least favorite of the books, and Bitten and Frostbitten are tied for my favorites!

Enjoy!