I think that Kelley Armstrong's stories are much stronger than Vaughn's. I really loved the first Kitty book but the second one didn't do it for me. I loved Bitten and Stolen, was bored by the next two books, and really liked Haunted and Broken. Armstrong's website is great as well. She has prequels and other Elena/Clay stories. Glad you posted this.
Yes it is safe. Though I think I read Stolen first. I'm anal about order also which is why I forced myself through books 3 and 4. I only read two prequels. One about Jeremy and the other about Clay. But I think if you go on her website, it will be pretty clear whether it would spoil something. I think she writes one each year.
Interesting about the series...so would I be able to skip the two that are dullish, or would that hinder my reading of Broken? Better still, if I read all the Elena books in order, but only them, would that throw me off? :)
You need to read the next two. There isn't anything wrong with them. I just didn't warm to the main character. But she's important to the later stories. In fact, you meet a lot of people who are important to the later stories. (Though I think you meet most of them in Stolen.)
It's... recommended that you read the series in order, but not necessary. They're pretty much written so that you can pick up any book in the series and start there if you want to.
That being said, I actually really liked books three and four. They're not as dark as Bitten but I liked Paige, and I really liked her romantic interest, much more than Clay.
I have Industrial Magic on my library tbr pile. My husband - a picky reader - handed it to me telling it was a 'must read', so it must be good. I checked and discovered it was number four in a series and now, coincidentally, here is your review of the first one, Bitten. Now I'm wondering if I should try to get hold of this before I read IM. Have you any idea? I'm strange in that I don't like reading books out of order.
I'm weird about that too. I'd say get the first one, and then read the books in order, but emerald_ibis commented above, and could probably give you a better idea of how important it is to read them in order or not. :)
It does look, from other comments, as though it's a good idea to read them in order so I'll get hold of Bitten I think and read that first. EBay will probably supply a copy - and that'll please my husband as the library apparently only have that one book of hers; why book 4 and not book 1 is anyone's guess of course...
(Apologies, read_warbler is my bookblog and I can't be bothered to logout and in right now.)
ahh yes. i actually picked that up a couple of weeks ago. haven't got very far becuase of exams and such but all finished now so hopefully will get it read this week
I haven't read anything by Vaughn, but I did happen to pick up Bitten and I'd have to agree with your take on it - though I'll admit I appreciated Clay more than I did Elena.
Thus far, though, my personal favorite for werewolves would have to be Alice Borchardt's wolf books (The Silver Wolf, Night of the Wolf, and The Wolf King -- especially the first and third).
I will, if i can find any in the bookstores -- i picked up Bitten in a used bookstore that got part of its stock from remainders from the US and UK.
Borchardt is much heavier than Armstrong... more serious and very much rooted in its time period (medieval Europe, specifically Rome and Britain). Armstrong's style kind of reminded me of Laurell K. Hamilton.
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Interesting about the series...so would I be able to skip the two that are dullish, or would that hinder my reading of Broken? Better still, if I read all the Elena books in order, but only them, would that throw me off? :)
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That being said, I actually really liked books three and four. They're not as dark as Bitten but I liked Paige, and I really liked her romantic interest, much more than Clay.
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(Apologies, read_warbler is my bookblog and I can't be bothered to logout and in right now.)
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Another great used book resource is www.abebooks.com. I prefer it to eBay myself, but it depends on what I find where. :)
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Thus far, though, my personal favorite for werewolves would have to be Alice Borchardt's wolf books (The Silver Wolf, Night of the Wolf, and The Wolf King -- especially the first and third).
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And check out Carrie Vaughn's Kitty and the Midnight Hour. It's very different from Armstrong, but lots of fun. :)
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Borchardt is much heavier than Armstrong... more serious and very much rooted in its time period (medieval Europe, specifically Rome and Britain). Armstrong's style kind of reminded me of Laurell K. Hamilton.
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