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Otherworld Stories #0.12
Truth and Consequences
Here I first created the character of Elena. If you’ve read Bitten, you may recognize some aspects of the story, which were briefly recounted there. The events were the impetus (or excuse) for Elena deciding to leave the Pack–a resolve which she must break at the start of Bitten.
Free online short story
Free online short story
7 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2002
3 people are currently reading
1332 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
293 books33.6k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 2, 2022
A more detailed accounting of what made Elena leave the pack.
January 4, 2021
Loved it
December 14, 2022
First read: October 2006
Re-read: December 2022
Rating: 3/5 stars
Story #12 in my chronological re-read of the Women of the Otherworld series
I first read Truth and Consequences online, about a year after I discovered the Women of the Otherworld series, and I remembered very little about it when I decided to re-read it.
Elena is working as a professional paranormal investigator when she is invited to a meeting where a man named Carter claims to have proof of the existence of werewolves. It is stated that her organisation is called The Gaines Institute, however, there is no indication given as to whether this is a front for the Pack, or whether she is working for a legitimate company.
Elena comes across as pretty ruthless in this story but sharp and good at picking apart Carter’s story when needed. Armstrong has stated that this story was her first written story containing Elena’s character, and that is obvious; for example, the mention of a dress, high heels and perfume that Carter associated with Elena would not fit in with her later characterisation.
General Trivia:
- Elena noted a previous ‘case’ of Carter’s took place in 1992, with Carter going on to clarify that one of the women involved in that case had been dead for two years. If she died immediately after the 1992 case, then earliest possible date for this story would be 1994.
- Two other professional paranormal investigators were involved in the story, one from a group called PRC, and another from the Hecate Society. Hecate is a Greek goddess associated with witchcraft; therefore it is possible that this society was working in behalf of the witches that also exist in this world.
Re-read: December 2022
Rating: 3/5 stars
Story #12 in my chronological re-read of the Women of the Otherworld series
I first read Truth and Consequences online, about a year after I discovered the Women of the Otherworld series, and I remembered very little about it when I decided to re-read it.
Elena is working as a professional paranormal investigator when she is invited to a meeting where a man named Carter claims to have proof of the existence of werewolves. It is stated that her organisation is called The Gaines Institute, however, there is no indication given as to whether this is a front for the Pack, or whether she is working for a legitimate company.
Elena comes across as pretty ruthless in this story but sharp and good at picking apart Carter’s story when needed. Armstrong has stated that this story was her first written story containing Elena’s character, and that is obvious; for example, the mention of a dress, high heels and perfume that Carter associated with Elena would not fit in with her later characterisation.
General Trivia:
- Elena noted a previous ‘case’ of Carter’s took place in 1992, with Carter going on to clarify that one of the women involved in that case had been dead for two years. If she died immediately after the 1992 case, then earliest possible date for this story would be 1994.
- Two other professional paranormal investigators were involved in the story, one from a group called PRC, and another from the Hecate Society. Hecate is a Greek goddess associated with witchcraft; therefore it is possible that this society was working in behalf of the witches that also exist in this world.
April 6, 2015
A con man uses fake werewolf sightings to get money from journalists but when he tries to sell the details to Elena he could be in real trouble.
I liked this because, hey werewolves! The story was interesting but the version of Elena that we see here doesn't quite fit for me. The target is a con man with fake files-it seems a bit over the top to have the Pack wanting him killed. I believe that this is the where Elena decides that her future is outside the Pack.
I liked this because, hey werewolves! The story was interesting but the version of Elena that we see here doesn't quite fit for me. The target is a con man with fake files-it seems a bit over the top to have the Pack wanting him killed. I believe that this is the where Elena decides that her future is outside the Pack.
December 10, 2014
I read Bitten before I read this so I didn't find this interlude all that interesting. Most of Elena's story is in the book, and having watched the TV series, the rest of her story has been portrayed there. It's quick, takes all of three minutes to read and feels more like it something that was cut out of the book.
December 29, 2018
I’ve previously read books 1 to 9 of their series many years ago, loved them all. It’s only recently that I’ve watched the TV series called Bitten which is based on the books which has made me want to come back and finish reading the series as well as all the short novels that have been written in addition to the full length novels.
So this short story with Elena in it was a nice quick easy read, bit too short for my liking but it gives us a further insight to the character of Elena.
So this short story with Elena in it was a nice quick easy read, bit too short for my liking but it gives us a further insight to the character of Elena.
May 14, 2016
Truth and Consequences is an okay addition to the Otherworld series, yet it is not a necessity to read. It adds more to the world, but you’re not missing out on anything vital if you don’t read it. It works as a small introduction to Elena as a character, yet having read it after Bitten and Stolen I found it did not add that much.
December 19, 2012
Very witty and creative, leading lady rocks!
November 13, 2015
I was drawn in from the very first sentence, and it wasn't what I expected. It flowed well and it contained the right amount of suspense. My only problem was that it was too short ...
November 11, 2020
A free short story, 0.12 in the Women of the Otherworld urban fantasy series. The focus is on Elena Michaels and werewolf sightings.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
Not one of Armstrong's best, yet still interesting. Armstrong uses third person point-of-view — mostly an antagonist point-of-view from Carter's perspective with a wee bit of protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective at the end.
The pace was an easy sell and primarily character-driven with that amusing insight into how Carter set up this meeting and his "investment" in his attaché case.
Elena was certainly obstinate in this, and while Armstrong indicates that "Truth & Consequences" is the first time Elena appears in Otherworld and serves up the reason Elena left the Pack...I'm not seeing it.
I do have to wonder how Davis and Wyotski never noticed the clump of gore...
The Story
Two eager paranormal investigators — and one skeptic — sit down to a meeting about werewolf sightings.
The Characters
Elena Michaels is the only female werewolf in the world and a journalist.
Lyle Davis is with the PRC and Robert Wyotski is with the Hecate Society.
Jose Carter has a pile of proof for a werewolf sighting.
Emma Simmons had been fascinated by the paranormal.
The Cover and Title
The cover is more titillating than accurate with a naked blonde Elena, her right arm bent with her hand covering her breasts and holding a pendant with a five-pointed star facing us, but her head is turned as if to look behind her at the lone figure in the misty distance walking under an old-fashioned triple street lamp. It's a lonely cover … in the depth of night. At the very top is an info blurb in white with the author's name in yellow immediately below it, crossing Elena's eyes. A testimonial in yellow is to the left of her elbow while the title, also in yellow, is below Elena's elbow at the bottom.
The title is what happens, tell the "Truth & Consequences" will follow.
If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.
My Take
Not one of Armstrong's best, yet still interesting. Armstrong uses third person point-of-view — mostly an antagonist point-of-view from Carter's perspective with a wee bit of protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective at the end.
The pace was an easy sell and primarily character-driven with that amusing insight into how Carter set up this meeting and his "investment" in his attaché case.
Elena was certainly obstinate in this, and while Armstrong indicates that "Truth & Consequences" is the first time Elena appears in Otherworld and serves up the reason Elena left the Pack...I'm not seeing it.
I do have to wonder how Davis and Wyotski never noticed the clump of gore...
The Story
Two eager paranormal investigators — and one skeptic — sit down to a meeting about werewolf sightings.
The Characters
Elena Michaels is the only female werewolf in the world and a journalist.
Lyle Davis is with the PRC and Robert Wyotski is with the Hecate Society.
Jose Carter has a pile of proof for a werewolf sighting.
Emma Simmons had been fascinated by the paranormal.
The Cover and Title
The cover is more titillating than accurate with a naked blonde Elena, her right arm bent with her hand covering her breasts and holding a pendant with a five-pointed star facing us, but her head is turned as if to look behind her at the lone figure in the misty distance walking under an old-fashioned triple street lamp. It's a lonely cover … in the depth of night. At the very top is an info blurb in white with the author's name in yellow immediately below it, crossing Elena's eyes. A testimonial in yellow is to the left of her elbow while the title, also in yellow, is below Elena's elbow at the bottom.
The title is what happens, tell the "Truth & Consequences" will follow.
September 10, 2021
Here I first created the character of Elena. If you’ve read Bitten, you may recognize some aspects of the story, which were briefly recounted there. The events were the impetus (or excuse) for Elena deciding to leave the Pack–a resolve which she must break at the start of Bitten.
Heather's Notes
I liked it and wished it was longer of course. I do wonder why no one else so the gore in her hair.
Heather's Notes
I liked it and wished it was longer of course. I do wonder why no one else so the gore in her hair.
July 22, 2022
Two reasons to read Truth and Consequences:
1) It's interesting seeing Elena from an outside, non-supernatural perspective.
2) I love the final scene, Elena flicking gore from her hair and calmly explaining to humans that werewolves don't exist.
One drawback to Truth and Consequences:
1) The threat Jose Carter poses isn't threatening enough. He doesn't feel dangerous and the proof he shows isn't all that convincing, so Elena's reaction feels unwarranted.
1) It's interesting seeing Elena from an outside, non-supernatural perspective.
2) I love the final scene, Elena flicking gore from her hair and calmly explaining to humans that werewolves don't exist.
One drawback to Truth and Consequences:
1) The threat Jose Carter poses isn't threatening enough. He doesn't feel dangerous and the proof he shows isn't all that convincing, so Elena's reaction feels unwarranted.
February 3, 2018
It was really short and we didn't really learn anything new about Elena or the world that we explore in this series but it was a quick read. I wish to say it was also fun but the story really needed to be longer than that for me to say so. You can read it so fast though that, if you enjoy this series, you will like it enough to not feel as if you have wasted your time.
August 6, 2021
Elena kills a guy trying to sell proof of werewolves. This is the event that prompts Elena's decision to leave the Pack and move to Toronto, returning only when she is called back for the events of Bitten. This story is free online and it's very short, but if you decided to skip it, you wouldn't miss anything really.
October 14, 2022
As far as 5 pages novellas go, this was fun, I do wish all novellas were put together in one edition because tracking them all down was a task haha This one is available for free however. I liked seeing Elena interact with Carter and get a visual of what happened that day, pretty cool! Kelley Armstrong is damned good that in 5 pages I was already into the style :)
November 21, 2020
An OK enough short introducing the events that leads to Elena leaving the Pack. It doesn't really introduce any new info on the event, although it was fun - as a fan - to read the first story about Elena ever written.
July 18, 2017
This seemed to have a lot of inconsistencies, and the ending didn't really make a whole lot of sense.
December 12, 2017
Short PDF story found on author’s website under Extras.
Introduces Elena to the series. She’s been working as a paranormal investigator who exposes werewolf hoaxes.
Fave scene: the last paragraph.
Introduces Elena to the series. She’s been working as a paranormal investigator who exposes werewolf hoaxes.
Fave scene: the last paragraph.
October 17, 2018
I was a little confused with who was talking and who wasn't.
July 21, 2019
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very brief (6 pages) but fun, free short story with Elena. Would recommend.
Very brief (6 pages) but fun, free short story with Elena. Would recommend.
January 13, 2020
It was short and smile worthy.
May 6, 2020
This one made me chuckle : )
January 12, 2024
A short story featuring Elena protecting the Pack, enjoyed this and it definitely helps build Elena’s history.
January 25, 2026
Very reading and creative, leading lady rocks!
January 10, 2017
Elena does a little solo enforcing of werewolf secrecy while on the job as a human investigator. Very short and to the point. Not as fun as Elena's narratives when you get to see through the wolf'so eyes too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2015
Kelley Armstrong first created the character of Elena in this short story, the story which eventually led to the book Bitten. Bitten is one of my favorite books so it comes as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed the story which led to a component of it. The story is short and "sweet" but definitely in Armstrong's style. I loved how after "disposing" of a problem as a werewolf, Elena becomes human again and is calm and collected when she tells her work associates: "Get it through your heads, boys, there's no such thing as werewolves."
July 29, 2013
This story is very short so I had a hard time deciding on how many stars to give it. This story features Elena, obviously some time after we last saw here in Beginnings, who can now control her shifting. Here she now apparently works for The Gaines Institute as a professional paranormal investigator. Here she attends a meeting with two other paranormal investigators from other companies, Lyle Davis and Robert Wyotski, where they listen to a salesman's pitch about a werewolf infestation in "Country X" and secret location which will only be revealed when the requested monetary amount is given. Elena becomes very suspicious of this man, Jose Carter.
December 26, 2014
This story takes place early in the storyline, which might be why I had some trouble with Elena. Yes, we don't know her yet. Yes, she is still trying to find her place. I don't know, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. I like seeing Elena be tough and play with the big boys, but I definitely missed Clay. They balance each other so much that without him, she's just not as memorable. The short story showed a con man trying to get money in exchange for a information about real werewolves. Obviously, Elena controls the situation.
November 19, 2013
I found that this story was a little too short for me, and I didn't find Elena's actions very believable. If she knew he was a scam artist, and that he didn't really believe in werewolves, then why not just hand him over to the police? It seemed rather to extreme to kill him in my opinion. Maybe something another werewolf would have done, but not Elena.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews