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"Forsaken"
by
Kelley Armstrong
urban fantasy in a Kindle edition that was published by Subterranean on November 29, 2014 and has 167 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Broken, Personal Demon , Living with the Dead, Men of the Otherworld, Tales of the Otherworld, Frostbitten, Dates from Hell, Exit Strategy, Made to Be Broken, The Reckoning, Spell Bound, The Gathering, The Awakening, "Hidden", The Calling, Aftertaste, Kisses from Hell, The Rising, Omens, Wild Justice, Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions, Visions, Deceptions, The Masked Truth, City of the Lost, Empire of Night, Forest of Ruin, Betrayals, A Darkness Absolute, Indigo, Rituals, The Unquiet Past, This Fallen Prey, Stolen, Rough Justice, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted, Broken, Waking the Witch, Portents, Missing, Alone in the Wild, Watcher in the Woods, Otherworld Secrets, Wherever She Goes, "The Case of the Half-Demon Spy", "Escape", Otherworld Chills, A Stranger in Town, "Bargain", Hex on the Beach, "Recruit", "Checkmate", "Framed", Cursed Luck, High Jinx, Bitten, Driven, The Deepest of Secrets, "Dead Letter Days", Men of the Otherworld, The Boy Who Cried Bear
A short story, 13.5 in the Women of the Otherworld series and revolving around a diverse group of strong, smart, and skillful supernatural women and their equally talented mates. The focus is on Kate and Logan Danvers of the Stonehaven Pack.
If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
I’m taking issue with the whole “summoned” to a meeting. How can a British Alpha summon an American Alpha? What’s the hold? The hierarchy? Tell him to piss off until after your vacation. He wants his kid to have bodyguards? Send them yourself. For this, I’d’ve given “Forsaken” a “3”, but this is only the start of the story, and I had to up it to a “4” due to the rest of the tale.
Nothing says Kate has to justify being Alpha. Nor does she have to answer to anyone but her pack.
We “hear” the whole story from a first person protagonist point-of-view from Elena’s perspective, and while I love hearing her thoughts on how she and Clay are raising their kids. As time shows, it’s the best way. As for her thoughts about the kids’ propensities? Too funny.
It’s through Elena that we also hear the hypocrisy that makes me want to blow up! Elena notes that if Clay went for Parker’s throat, then he was a proper werewolf. If she went for Parker’s throat, she was a hysterical woman.
It’s Kate’s phone call that starts off the real action. Growing up comes with issues. Growing up with werewolf blood comes with even more issues only it takes awhile for Elena and Clay to realize what’s happening.
It seems America isn’t the only group with voting irregularities. I’m not sure where Harris is going with this. Part of the set-up? Or just that Parker is an idiot with an immature son for whom he’s making excuses. He was a child six months ago, but now he’s eighteen so he’s mature now? Yep. I’ve got this bridge . . .
It’s plenty of tracking and brutal action based on werewolf abilities, particularly Elena’s and Clay’s to an extent. But it’s also Elena’s thoughts about her kids. Parents will relate. Okay, except for the werewolf bits, lol. Hmm, then again . . .
The Story
Business calls Elena out of the country when she’s supposed to be on vacation. It’s a call from Kate that will call Elena back.
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.
The Characters
Elena Michaels has been the Alpha for three years. Clay Danvers is her husband — the world thinks he’s a psycho — and her Beta. The twins — Kate and Logan — are eight years old now. Jeremy Danvers, his kitsune side gives him visions, had been the previous Alpha until he retired. He’s still a very successful artist. Jaime Vegas, the celebrity psychic, is Jeremy’s mate of seven years (No Humans Involved, 7).
Members of the Stonehaven Pack include . . .
. . . Karl Marsten, who’s married to Hope, a chaos half-demon and daughter of Lucifer (Otherworld Chills: “Chaotic”, 5.2, and Personal Demon, 8) and they have a daughter, Nita (Thirteen, 13); Antonio Sorrentino; Nick Sorrentino is Antonio’s son who has had a reputation as a playboy, but he’s involved with the very competent Vanessa “Ness” Callas, a half demon with a gift for fire and former FBI; Noah is Nick’s ward (Frostbitten, 10); Morgan Walsh is a Canadian with no reputation but great tracking skills (Otherworld Secrets: “Forbidden”, 10.2); Reese is the Australian around whom so much controversy revolves (Frostbitten, 10); Charlie is/was an Australian bounty hunter sent after Reese; and, Madison “Maddie” is Charlie’s human daughter in college and now a member of Stonehaven, a human, gasp!
The unloved Malcolm Danvers is Jeremy’s father who had been thought dead, but is hiding out in Bulgaria. Rhys Smith runs a security agency where Vanessa is one of his agents (Otherworld Chills: “Brazen”, 13.3).
The English Pack
Hollis John Parker, Lord Something, has been the British Alpha for three years with a jerk of a son, Kevin. He’s teetering over who to ally with. Harris Charles Parker, another Lord something, is Hollis’ cousin. Shane Atherton is Hollis’ current Beta who had contested Hollis for the position of Alpha.
The Australian Pack are . . .
. . . enemies who want to take over the American Pack.
The Russian Pack is . . .
. . . an ally.
The Bulgarian Pack is . . .
. . . led by Marko Todorov who has given asylum to Malcolm.
The Cabals are . . .
. . . sorcerers aligned by families. The Nasts are based in California.
The Cover and Title
The cover is graphic in style with the curly, blonde Kate in a red hoodie and jeans, her body facing us but her head tilted to the side in shame. Behind her is a GIGANTIC, snarling black wolf with blue eyes. At the very top is the title in the same blue, crossing Kate’s hoodie. At the bottom right is the author’s name in a white shadowed red.
I think the title is about Malcolm feeling “Forsaken”.
