Title: Broken
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publishing Date: May 2006
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: B-
Sensuality: Warm
Broken is book six in Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Underworld series. The main focus of the book was the mystery surrounding the portal Elena accidentally opens up and her emotional upheaval with her pregnancy. The mystery involved a From Hell letter that was supposedly written by Jack the Ripper. Elena is asked to steal it, and her needing some excitement in her life agrees to do the job.
Elena, Clay and Jeremy set out for Toronto to steal the letter. The theft goes as planned without any problems. It was a pretty simple job with very low risks involved. What they didn’t know about the letter though, was that it was actually a portal. Elena accidentally activates it and a couple of zombies escape. Elena and Jeremy want to close the portal. What they thought would be simple, soon becomes complicated.
I don’t know what it was about this book, but it just wasn’t as exciting as Elena’s first two books Bitten and Stolen. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, but it seemed to be missing something. The story centers around Elena because it’s all in her point of view. Maybe by getting only Elena’s point of view, the other characters make less of an impact. Clay’s angst was almost non existent. Occasionally, he would growl at Elena for her to keep herself safe, but that was about the extent of it. I really loved Clay in Bitten, but he just seemed a shadow of himself in this book.
I do really enjoy Elena’s voice and she is still the same sensible, level headed woman. She likes to have her fun though. I also love the pack dynamics. I love to see how the other wolves interact with each other. Jamie, the necromancer also puts in an appearance to help out the pack. I love seeing her interact with Jeremy. Especially since, Jamie isn’t pack and doesn’t follow Jeremy’s orders like Clay and Elena do. I just wish there would have been more of that in this story. Broken is a good solid read, but not as griping as the first books.
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5 comments:
Jill,
You won the copy of Cry Wolf at my blog, see my last post about how to get in touch. :)
I, too, really miss Clay and Elena. Maybe I will still give this book a try. I loved Bitten and Stolen so much!
I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by this book. I was anticipating it soooo much... so perhaps I got too much expectations for it.
I think that you nailed it. Part of why this wasn't as good is because it was very focused on Elena and her fears about the pregnancy. It'd have been fun to have more of Clay and the others. The whole mystery was okay in my opinion. I liked the investigation... but zombies? meh.
You're going to love Jaime's book. i guarantee it! :)
I had some of the same feelings as you, that while Broken was an enjoyable enough read, it wasn't up to Armstrong's usual standard. I think it has to do with the lack of character arc for Elena, that at the end of the book she's the exact same character she was in the beginning, with no growth or change. So much of her revolved around the pregnancy in this book, which is fun and all, but doesn't really stand in as a substitute for the growth of the protagonist.
On a totally different note, you'll probably love No Humans Involved, the next book in the series, which is about Jamie and Jeremy.
Carolyn Jean, I really loved Bitten and Stolen too! Clay is just so yummy!
Nath, I can't wait for No Humans Involved. I am going to pick it up from the library today. I probably won't read it right away though because I have some other books due back soon and I have to get to them first. Aaaakkkk! Too many books and too little time.
Hi Anna and welcome to my blog! I checked out your website and you have some great reviews! I am totally excited about Jamie and Jeremy's book.
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