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Otherworld: Kate and Logan #2
Wolf's Curse
For Kate and Logan Danvers, sixteen-year-old twins of the werewolf Alpha, nothing could ruin a summer faster than the words “supernatural teen leadership conference.” They expected a boring week of earnest political discussions and team-building exercises. Instead, in Wolf’s Bane, they got a crash-course in real-life leadership, when the camp imploded and the twins and their new friends fled into the West Virginia forest.
Now, in Wolf’s Curse, the group has taken refuge in a magically warded cabin only to discover that they might have been safer taking their chances with the demon outside. Trapped in a dark witch’s sanctuary, surrounded by hell hounds, the twins will need to hone their leader and team building skills fast. There are battles to be waged and mysteries to be solved. Friendships to be forged in conflict and lost in betrayal. Even romances spark to life amid the turmoil.
It might not be the way Kate and Logan expected to spend their week, but it will certainly be a summer camp to remember.
Now, in Wolf’s Curse, the group has taken refuge in a magically warded cabin only to discover that they might have been safer taking their chances with the demon outside. Trapped in a dark witch’s sanctuary, surrounded by hell hounds, the twins will need to hone their leader and team building skills fast. There are battles to be waged and mysteries to be solved. Friendships to be forged in conflict and lost in betrayal. Even romances spark to life amid the turmoil.
It might not be the way Kate and Logan expected to spend their week, but it will certainly be a summer camp to remember.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2020
195 people are currently reading
1489 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 202 reviews
March 24, 2020
Unfortunately, I am not the intended audience for this book.
I’m a long-time fan of the Otherworld series and I hoped that this would continue in the same style, a kind of Otherworld: Next Generation. Instead of the same UF feel, this is very much a YA story. There is a lot of teen angst about relationships, sexuality, and sexual orientation that takes up a fair chunk of page space. There are characters who are of different races and sexual orientations, but at times it felt as if they were assigned roles to add a check mark to some list of what should be in an inclusive YA book. But the thing that made me want to give the book flying lessons (I refrained as I didn’t want to throw my iPad) was how the characters had so many TSTL moments. They actually succumbed to many of the usual horror movie dumb moves while joking about the situations being like cliched horror movies. Multiple times.
So, I’ll file it under “not for me” while noting it may appeal greatly to those who love this kind of YA fare. That said, I’d love to read more Otherworld stories in the previous UF style...
I’m a long-time fan of the Otherworld series and I hoped that this would continue in the same style, a kind of Otherworld: Next Generation. Instead of the same UF feel, this is very much a YA story. There is a lot of teen angst about relationships, sexuality, and sexual orientation that takes up a fair chunk of page space. There are characters who are of different races and sexual orientations, but at times it felt as if they were assigned roles to add a check mark to some list of what should be in an inclusive YA book. But the thing that made me want to give the book flying lessons (I refrained as I didn’t want to throw my iPad) was how the characters had so many TSTL moments. They actually succumbed to many of the usual horror movie dumb moves while joking about the situations being like cliched horror movies. Multiple times.
So, I’ll file it under “not for me” while noting it may appeal greatly to those who love this kind of YA fare. That said, I’d love to read more Otherworld stories in the previous UF style...
April 20, 2020
I am only giving this such a high rating out of nostalgia. Around 2011, the Otherworld series was one of my all-time favorite series. I was obsessed.
This, sadly, was not really a worthy installment. The issue isn't just that it was YA. It was that the characters kept indulging their angst. And even with a few dead bodies and people fighting for their lives, the stakes felt very low. Characters kept losing each other, and would openly remark upon how they were acting out horror movie tropes. I agree with another review on here saying that the characters kept feeling the need to have weird little PSA moments. That when they are dealing with a demon, one who openly admits to wanting to foment chaos, the characters have to take the time to gently reprove other characters not to misgender the demon.
Characters wasted a lot of time on teen romantic drama, or Generation Z "I don't like labels" nonsense, that should really have taken a back seat to the demonic threat. And as a gay man, I find the author's attempt to be LGBTQ-inclusive problematic.
In an earlier foray into YA fiction set in the Otherworld, the Darkness Rising series, Armstrong included one lesbian character. She gave this lesbian short, spiky hair, and a tendency to punch people. She had the character openly call herself a stereotype. When she came out to the protagonist, Armstrong had the protagonist *reprimand* her, and I only dimly recall why. For being concerned how straight people would react? Something like that. At the time, I thought Armstrong had no idea how to write gay characters, and I stand by that opinion.
We already know from last book that Logan isn't sure what his orientation is. That, all by itself, I have problems with. Here, Armstrong states that he masturbates about as much as normal, but feels no particularly deep attraction to anyone. To the point that when he walked up to a female character, whom had not expressed any interest in him, more than a paragraph was dedicated to him waxing on about how he was NOT attracted to her.
... So what is he masturbating to? Sorry to be crass, and I know I don't speak for everyone, especially not people with female genitalia. But when he sees penises or he sees breasts, he either gets aroused or he does not. For a man it is obvious. Arousal or lack thereof. Simple. Binary.
Armstrong writes him as a bisexual with an exceedingly low sex drive, right up until she says he still masturbates like normal. Then what the Hell is he fantasizing about?! I can't speak for everyone, but based on my experience? He should know whether he is gay at puberty. After that it is a question of whether he wants to admit it to himself.
This is perhaps unsurprising. I also think Armstrong doesn't know how to write a realistic molestation victim in Elena. She alternates between having a guarded, frigid personality, and ravenously sexual, within the space of the *same book*.
We are given a new origin for werewolves here. Now, matching the short-lived television series loosely based on the books, werewolves are characterized as "cursed." They weren't for the last 20 years, but, ok. ... Is Paige going to sleep with Nick now, too? If the books are trying to match the absurd changes of the tv show?
The quality of writing here was sub-par. The adult characters I wanted to see mostly just appeared as cameos, at most. The fight scenes were possibly the best part. But our teenage protagonists weren't allowed to have the satisfaction of actually killing anyone.
Overall a swing and a miss.
This, sadly, was not really a worthy installment. The issue isn't just that it was YA. It was that the characters kept indulging their angst. And even with a few dead bodies and people fighting for their lives, the stakes felt very low. Characters kept losing each other, and would openly remark upon how they were acting out horror movie tropes. I agree with another review on here saying that the characters kept feeling the need to have weird little PSA moments. That when they are dealing with a demon, one who openly admits to wanting to foment chaos, the characters have to take the time to gently reprove other characters not to misgender the demon.
Characters wasted a lot of time on teen romantic drama, or Generation Z "I don't like labels" nonsense, that should really have taken a back seat to the demonic threat. And as a gay man, I find the author's attempt to be LGBTQ-inclusive problematic.
In an earlier foray into YA fiction set in the Otherworld, the Darkness Rising series, Armstrong included one lesbian character. She gave this lesbian short, spiky hair, and a tendency to punch people. She had the character openly call herself a stereotype. When she came out to the protagonist, Armstrong had the protagonist *reprimand* her, and I only dimly recall why. For being concerned how straight people would react? Something like that. At the time, I thought Armstrong had no idea how to write gay characters, and I stand by that opinion.
We already know from last book that Logan isn't sure what his orientation is. That, all by itself, I have problems with. Here, Armstrong states that he masturbates about as much as normal, but feels no particularly deep attraction to anyone. To the point that when he walked up to a female character, whom had not expressed any interest in him, more than a paragraph was dedicated to him waxing on about how he was NOT attracted to her.
... So what is he masturbating to? Sorry to be crass, and I know I don't speak for everyone, especially not people with female genitalia. But when he sees penises or he sees breasts, he either gets aroused or he does not. For a man it is obvious. Arousal or lack thereof. Simple. Binary.
Armstrong writes him as a bisexual with an exceedingly low sex drive, right up until she says he still masturbates like normal. Then what the Hell is he fantasizing about?! I can't speak for everyone, but based on my experience? He should know whether he is gay at puberty. After that it is a question of whether he wants to admit it to himself.
This is perhaps unsurprising. I also think Armstrong doesn't know how to write a realistic molestation victim in Elena. She alternates between having a guarded, frigid personality, and ravenously sexual, within the space of the *same book*.
We are given a new origin for werewolves here. Now, matching the short-lived television series loosely based on the books, werewolves are characterized as "cursed." They weren't for the last 20 years, but, ok. ... Is Paige going to sleep with Nick now, too? If the books are trying to match the absurd changes of the tv show?
The quality of writing here was sub-par. The adult characters I wanted to see mostly just appeared as cameos, at most. The fight scenes were possibly the best part. But our teenage protagonists weren't allowed to have the satisfaction of actually killing anyone.
Overall a swing and a miss.
April 5, 2020
Awwww! I wanted this to be good! And instead it was just...fine.
Everyone splits off into groups of two- because plot. Everyone explains what they are doing and thinking in a completely inorganic way. They also drop these lil weird PSA's. Like, don't misgender the demon?
The whole thing is BIZARRE AND CLUNKY
Supes disappointing because I love these characters and I thought the first book was strong.
That being said, I would read another book featuring these characters because my investment is no longer dependent on the quality of the writing. Just completely divorced from reality.
I hate myself, too
Everyone splits off into groups of two- because plot. Everyone explains what they are doing and thinking in a completely inorganic way. They also drop these lil weird PSA's. Like, don't misgender the demon?
The whole thing is BIZARRE AND CLUNKY
Supes disappointing because I love these characters and I thought the first book was strong.
That being said, I would read another book featuring these characters because my investment is no longer dependent on the quality of the writing. Just completely divorced from reality.
I hate myself, too
April 9, 2020
After reading Wolf's Bane I was quite excited to get to Wolf's Curse. This is a duology that reads more like one big book. Wolf's Bane ends on a cliffhanger or in the middle of the story and I was happy to finally get part 2 and see how it all ends. Wolf's Curse starts off with the main characters and their friends trapped into a cabin or a dark witch and form there is only gets worse until they find a way to resolve it all.
I liked the paranormal vibe this book had and the figuring out what was going. Although it did have a bit of a weird mix of more dark/ creepy and then more mild parts and for a long time I wasn't quite sure what was going on which direction the author was going in terms of the tone of the book. The creepy part gets toned down a bit later in the book and it sticks more firmly in the same tone after that. There were quite some mysterious events in this and the first book that seemed a bit far fetched and not fit in with the paranormal world as we know it and I was wondering how that would get explained, but there is a good explanation of everything later on. I like how there are some great twists and reveals as well. With characters not quite being who they are and some interesting characters pop up in this book.
The story was interesting with the characters trying to stay safe as well as figure out what was going on. Although the whole splitting up the group and then running around and trying to find the rest wasn't as interesting for me. I do like how they handle most of the situations, trying to be smart and cautious, but also very curious and determined to solve things. There also is a bit action and danger.
There is a fun cameo appearance of some characters from this author's Darkest Powers series as well as references to both the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series, which is nice. I don't think it would be too difficult to follow it if you haven't read those series yet and it might even make you curious about those. For those who have read the other series it's a fun tie in. Although I did wonder if I missed a novella or something as this book referred some events that weren't in any books or maybe this is meant as a way to bridge this. I like how with all the series are tied together and clearly set in the same world. I am curious what will happen to the characters after this book as a few side plot lines are left open enough for possible more stories, but at the same time there are enough hints of what is to come that you can make some guesses yourself.
While the book wraps up the main storylines up well, the characters and romance storylines feel a bit unfinished. I know the story is the main focus and not the romance, but it still bothered me a bit with how much page time it was given to not have it fully resolved. It bothered me a bit how the romance was left open ended as I really wanted to see how these relationships continue. You can obviously guess where things are gong, but it felt a bit unresolved and I would've liked to see more of the romance play out. The book is told from both Kate and Logan's point of view and they both have their own romance with one of the side characters.
On the other hand it does make sense they end where they do. I am pretty sure Logan is demisexual from the description and he probably needs more time to develop the feelings as he gets to know Mason, which will take time and that isn't possible during the short few days this book is long. While Kate's behavior also makes sense, although her romance ends on a more hopeful and optimistic tone, while still being clear they still have things to work through. I liked how Kate's romance at least had a clear direction, while Logan's romance felt more unsure and in the beginning stages.
I liked Kate's romance more than Logan's. It's clear Kate and Elijah are a good match and we get some interesting glimpses into her feelings like how Kate realizes she never will settle for less as she wants a relationship like how she feels about Elijah and how they complement each other. I like how Elijah explains his behavior from book 1, although it was a tad frustrating how long that took due to circumstances getting in the way and Kate talking right over him. It felt like those too many coincidences in a row that prevented them form taking this thing through. It also felt to me like Kate's relationship with Elijha developed more as we got to see more of it throughout these books and get a feel for how they areas a couple, which I enjoyed seeing. Where Logan's romance with Mason is still very much in the early stages and while Mason's behavior has an explanation I still thought he was an ass at times and I didn't fully feel the romance between them yet.
Another minor niggle for me is that this book was almost too full of diversity, I think it's good that there is some diversity and totally think diverse characters, different races and different sexual orientation need to be seen in books. But here it almost felt a bit too much, like checking off multiple diverse characteristics in characters. There are a lot of diverse aspects and at the same time there isn't as much exploration of those topics. I would rather have seen the author stick with a few diverse topics and explore those a bit more as now it felt like there is a lot of diversity in amount, but a bit superficial.
I really like the characters of both Logan and Kate. They are both likable characters and while their voices or writing style for each of them is a bit similar, they do both have a different way of thinking and a different personality. I really liked seeing them resolve something that was between them and mend their bond. I also liked how Logan realized he had made a mistake in judging someone. They felt pretty mature for teenagers, but in a good way. I enjoyed reading about them and following their story.
To summarize: This was the second half of Kate and Logan's adventure and I was excited to get the second half of the story. It directly continues form where book 1 ended and continues the storyline and nicely resolved it at the end. There is some danger and adventure and plenty of paranormal things going on. I liked the references to the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series and the cameo appearances from two characters form one of those series. While the plot line gets wrapped up well I thought the character and romance plot lines were left a bit open. Kate's romance I liked the most of the two romances, I liked seeing a bit of Elijah and Kate and get hints of how they were together and how they would be as a couple. That romance ends on a pretty positive note, although it's clear they have more to work through. While Logan's romance only barely gets started, which makes sense as the getting to know each other part takes up more time than this book has, but I still would've liked to see how their romance develops. This book has some interesting side characters as well as some fun twists. All in all I was happy to be back in this world again and follow the adventure of these twins.
I liked the paranormal vibe this book had and the figuring out what was going. Although it did have a bit of a weird mix of more dark/ creepy and then more mild parts and for a long time I wasn't quite sure what was going on which direction the author was going in terms of the tone of the book. The creepy part gets toned down a bit later in the book and it sticks more firmly in the same tone after that. There were quite some mysterious events in this and the first book that seemed a bit far fetched and not fit in with the paranormal world as we know it and I was wondering how that would get explained, but there is a good explanation of everything later on. I like how there are some great twists and reveals as well. With characters not quite being who they are and some interesting characters pop up in this book.
The story was interesting with the characters trying to stay safe as well as figure out what was going on. Although the whole splitting up the group and then running around and trying to find the rest wasn't as interesting for me. I do like how they handle most of the situations, trying to be smart and cautious, but also very curious and determined to solve things. There also is a bit action and danger.
There is a fun cameo appearance of some characters from this author's Darkest Powers series as well as references to both the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series, which is nice. I don't think it would be too difficult to follow it if you haven't read those series yet and it might even make you curious about those. For those who have read the other series it's a fun tie in. Although I did wonder if I missed a novella or something as this book referred some events that weren't in any books or maybe this is meant as a way to bridge this. I like how with all the series are tied together and clearly set in the same world. I am curious what will happen to the characters after this book as a few side plot lines are left open enough for possible more stories, but at the same time there are enough hints of what is to come that you can make some guesses yourself.
While the book wraps up the main storylines up well, the characters and romance storylines feel a bit unfinished. I know the story is the main focus and not the romance, but it still bothered me a bit with how much page time it was given to not have it fully resolved. It bothered me a bit how the romance was left open ended as I really wanted to see how these relationships continue. You can obviously guess where things are gong, but it felt a bit unresolved and I would've liked to see more of the romance play out. The book is told from both Kate and Logan's point of view and they both have their own romance with one of the side characters.
On the other hand it does make sense they end where they do. I am pretty sure Logan is demisexual from the description and he probably needs more time to develop the feelings as he gets to know Mason, which will take time and that isn't possible during the short few days this book is long. While Kate's behavior also makes sense, although her romance ends on a more hopeful and optimistic tone, while still being clear they still have things to work through. I liked how Kate's romance at least had a clear direction, while Logan's romance felt more unsure and in the beginning stages.
I liked Kate's romance more than Logan's. It's clear Kate and Elijah are a good match and we get some interesting glimpses into her feelings like how Kate realizes she never will settle for less as she wants a relationship like how she feels about Elijah and how they complement each other. I like how Elijah explains his behavior from book 1, although it was a tad frustrating how long that took due to circumstances getting in the way and Kate talking right over him. It felt like those too many coincidences in a row that prevented them form taking this thing through. It also felt to me like Kate's relationship with Elijha developed more as we got to see more of it throughout these books and get a feel for how they areas a couple, which I enjoyed seeing. Where Logan's romance with Mason is still very much in the early stages and while Mason's behavior has an explanation I still thought he was an ass at times and I didn't fully feel the romance between them yet.
Another minor niggle for me is that this book was almost too full of diversity, I think it's good that there is some diversity and totally think diverse characters, different races and different sexual orientation need to be seen in books. But here it almost felt a bit too much, like checking off multiple diverse characteristics in characters. There are a lot of diverse aspects and at the same time there isn't as much exploration of those topics. I would rather have seen the author stick with a few diverse topics and explore those a bit more as now it felt like there is a lot of diversity in amount, but a bit superficial.
I really like the characters of both Logan and Kate. They are both likable characters and while their voices or writing style for each of them is a bit similar, they do both have a different way of thinking and a different personality. I really liked seeing them resolve something that was between them and mend their bond. I also liked how Logan realized he had made a mistake in judging someone. They felt pretty mature for teenagers, but in a good way. I enjoyed reading about them and following their story.
To summarize: This was the second half of Kate and Logan's adventure and I was excited to get the second half of the story. It directly continues form where book 1 ended and continues the storyline and nicely resolved it at the end. There is some danger and adventure and plenty of paranormal things going on. I liked the references to the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series and the cameo appearances from two characters form one of those series. While the plot line gets wrapped up well I thought the character and romance plot lines were left a bit open. Kate's romance I liked the most of the two romances, I liked seeing a bit of Elijah and Kate and get hints of how they were together and how they would be as a couple. That romance ends on a pretty positive note, although it's clear they have more to work through. While Logan's romance only barely gets started, which makes sense as the getting to know each other part takes up more time than this book has, but I still would've liked to see how their romance develops. This book has some interesting side characters as well as some fun twists. All in all I was happy to be back in this world again and follow the adventure of these twins.
April 10, 2020
Meh...I loved the first book, Wolf's Bane, and was excited to read this one. But I didn't enjoy it near as much. What should have taken a couple of days to read took me almost two weeks. I found it disjointed and not as engaging.
March 30, 2020
Good book.
This book was decent, but I am a bit confused. Derek and Chloe show up in this book, and it mentions something happening in the past that separates them from their friends, and I am trying to figure out what it is if I might have missed another book that they might have appeared in. appeared in. If so, please give a hint of what happened or something. I was enjoying this book until that occurred.
This book was decent, but I am a bit confused. Derek and Chloe show up in this book, and it mentions something happening in the past that separates them from their friends, and I am trying to figure out what it is if I might have missed another book that they might have appeared in. appeared in. If so, please give a hint of what happened or something. I was enjoying this book until that occurred.
March 20, 2020
I forgot how much I loved this series and all the characters. I'm only disappointed that I've finished this book and there isn't more to read.
I always hope Kelley Armstrong will return to these characters again.
I always hope Kelley Armstrong will return to these characters again.
December 4, 2020
I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. And I love her Women of the Otherworld series so much. So to get to see the next generation was such an exciting thing.
Wolf's Curse is the second and final book in a YA paranormal duology.
You must have read the first book, Wolf's Bane (as this is a continuing story).
This is a spin-off from the Women of the Otherworld series. It follows 16 year old twins Kate and Logan (1st person POVs).
This book picks up right where book one left off. The twins and a few friends are in a cabin. They had gone to a supernatural leadership camp.
This book started off a bit slow for me. But the second half of the book really picked up for me a lot.
The book has a lot of paranormal elements. And a bit of romance.
I loved getting to see a few familiar faces. And overall this was a very satisfying conclusion to this duology.
March 18, 2021
The disappoinment from the first book continues!
This book is a walking advertisment of political correctness and a already finished Netflix adaptation (checklist: trans guy, bisexual guy, gay guy and black guy). Holy shit, it's just bad! There are also seriously SEVERAL instances where someone states that correctly gendering a fucking demon is important... I can't anymore.
And even so Kate gets her future groom to be, Logan's love interest isn't explored in the same capacity. Armstrong overtly puts a lot of importance on tolerance and acceptance of any form of sexuality - which in general is nice, but she shoves it down the readers throats in both books on so many wasted pages. Just say it once and we get the message. But despite this, Logan and Mason just get to share one forced mashing of the lips. Like WTF?! First excessive teasing about him being bisexual and there isn't even a proper conclusion to it? All her Otherworld books and her YA series are full of romance and steamy moments, but the gay couple doesn't get any? That's just wrong and disappointing.
I'm also not sure what's going on with several reminders that Elijah is black. Authors usually describe the appearance in the beginning and are done with the shit. But Armstrong keeps reminding the readers - what for? Maybe don't make a big deal about the fucking skin color and include a more diverse cast in general since America is supposed to be a huge melting pot. This reeks so bad of trying to comply with the zeitgeist.
The inclusion of some well-loved characters from the Otherworld universe is the only saving grace this book has to offer.
Kelley Armstrong was and maybe still is one of my favorit authors, but her current books like 'A Stitch in Time' and the Kate & Logan dualogy don't bode well for the future.
This book is a walking advertisment of political correctness and a already finished Netflix adaptation (checklist: trans guy, bisexual guy, gay guy and black guy). Holy shit, it's just bad! There are also seriously SEVERAL instances where someone states that correctly gendering a fucking demon is important... I can't anymore.
And even so Kate gets her future groom to be, Logan's love interest isn't explored in the same capacity. Armstrong overtly puts a lot of importance on tolerance and acceptance of any form of sexuality - which in general is nice, but she shoves it down the readers throats in both books on so many wasted pages. Just say it once and we get the message. But despite this, Logan and Mason just get to share one forced mashing of the lips. Like WTF?! First excessive teasing about him being bisexual and there isn't even a proper conclusion to it? All her Otherworld books and her YA series are full of romance and steamy moments, but the gay couple doesn't get any? That's just wrong and disappointing.
I'm also not sure what's going on with several reminders that Elijah is black. Authors usually describe the appearance in the beginning and are done with the shit. But Armstrong keeps reminding the readers - what for? Maybe don't make a big deal about the fucking skin color and include a more diverse cast in general since America is supposed to be a huge melting pot. This reeks so bad of trying to comply with the zeitgeist.
The inclusion of some well-loved characters from the Otherworld universe is the only saving grace this book has to offer.
Kelley Armstrong was and maybe still is one of my favorit authors, but her current books like 'A Stitch in Time' and the Kate & Logan dualogy don't bode well for the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2020
Conclusion of this two part novel.
So, at the end of the last book, our plucky group of teenagers were alone in the woods.
The action in this concluding half (although to me it felt much longer and more substantial than the first half) is almost relentless. There are tricksy bargains with demons, a Hansel and Gretel feel about the creepy cottage, some very earnest discussions of sexuality in all its forms which (as others have said more eloquently and from a more personal perspective) felt a little forced and almost too Pc (eg the black kid, the gay kid, the kid who has been bullied by their so-called friends, the kid who isn't sure, etc). In addition, I don't think there is anyone who isn't/hasn't pretended to be someone/something that they aren't.
Putting all that aside, this was a supernatural romp akin to a cheesy teenage horror film from my youth and I loved it. There, it was fun and fast-paced and I got to see Derek and Chloe and Paige and Savannah again (yey). This is definitely YA/NA but hey, who cares if you enjoy it.
So, at the end of the last book, our plucky group of teenagers were alone in the woods.
The action in this concluding half (although to me it felt much longer and more substantial than the first half) is almost relentless. There are tricksy bargains with demons, a Hansel and Gretel feel about the creepy cottage, some very earnest discussions of sexuality in all its forms which (as others have said more eloquently and from a more personal perspective) felt a little forced and almost too Pc (eg the black kid, the gay kid, the kid who has been bullied by their so-called friends, the kid who isn't sure, etc). In addition, I don't think there is anyone who isn't/hasn't pretended to be someone/something that they aren't.
Putting all that aside, this was a supernatural romp akin to a cheesy teenage horror film from my youth and I loved it. There, it was fun and fast-paced and I got to see Derek and Chloe and Paige and Savannah again (yey). This is definitely YA/NA but hey, who cares if you enjoy it.
March 24, 2020
I really enjoyed this read. It had exactly what I was looking for at the time: hope and drama, new friends and old, trust and betrayal. Would this be a 5 star read at a different point of life (aka when I'm not sheltering in place and anxious)? Maybe. I really liked it, so it would probably have a high rating no matter when I read it. But it is exactly what I needed now, and that makes it a 5 star read, and that's what counts.
This is the second novella in the Kate & Logan duology, and it ties up all the ends from the first one nicely. There are lots of things that could still be developed further at the end of this novella, but that makes it feel more real. The plot from this duology is nicely tied up, and didn't leave me with any remaining questions.
(Also, many thanks to Kelley for releasing this ebook early. I and many others needed a spot of sunshine among the COVID-19 mess.)
This is the second novella in the Kate & Logan duology, and it ties up all the ends from the first one nicely. There are lots of things that could still be developed further at the end of this novella, but that makes it feel more real. The plot from this duology is nicely tied up, and didn't leave me with any remaining questions.
(Also, many thanks to Kelley for releasing this ebook early. I and many others needed a spot of sunshine among the COVID-19 mess.)
April 4, 2020
Good YA story! Every time I thought I knew what was going on, the author would surprise me!
May 3, 2020
It's a five star from me!! Second book to Wolf's Bane. Teenagers at a supposed supernatural camp. What could possibly go wrong? What's the real agenda? ...and there is an agenda. But they work it out,work together to figure it out.
April 2, 2020
I enjoyed this book, I like the characters and it's entertaining, but I had a few issues with it.
I really felt like the whole book could have been fleshed out more, a lot of the plot and action felt glossed over in places while the characters spent so much time talking about their feelings it got a little tiresome. Also, while I do appreciate that the author wants to be diverse and inclusive in her cast of characters, it often came across as heavy handed, reading a little like an after school special.
At times the supernatural stuff seems only perfunctory, too. The werewolves, for example, only changed briefly, as if she had them do it to check off the to do list, rather than being plot driven. In both cases they stayed changed for 2 or 3 pages and then changed back immediately, ignoring the in world established length of time it takes a wolf to shift. This was so sloppily handled that at one point when Kate had gone through the whole rigamarole of changing she had a line of dialogue right afterwards, despite the fact that she was supposed to be a wolf. Then she is once again a wolf on the next page. Later Logan is shifted and the next time we see him, supposedly a couple minutes later, he's inexplicably in human form. I find stuff like that super irritating, it throws me right out of the book. It was also a little disappointing that they spent so little time in those forms, as I have always loved the way Armstrong writes her characters in wolf form, it always feels very true to life of how a werewolf might behave.
Anyway, it's a fun read, it just could have been so much better.
I really felt like the whole book could have been fleshed out more, a lot of the plot and action felt glossed over in places while the characters spent so much time talking about their feelings it got a little tiresome. Also, while I do appreciate that the author wants to be diverse and inclusive in her cast of characters, it often came across as heavy handed, reading a little like an after school special.
At times the supernatural stuff seems only perfunctory, too. The werewolves, for example, only changed briefly, as if she had them do it to check off the to do list, rather than being plot driven. In both cases they stayed changed for 2 or 3 pages and then changed back immediately, ignoring the in world established length of time it takes a wolf to shift. This was so sloppily handled that at one point when Kate had gone through the whole rigamarole of changing she had a line of dialogue right afterwards, despite the fact that she was supposed to be a wolf. Then she is once again a wolf on the next page. Later Logan is shifted and the next time we see him, supposedly a couple minutes later, he's inexplicably in human form. I find stuff like that super irritating, it throws me right out of the book. It was also a little disappointing that they spent so little time in those forms, as I have always loved the way Armstrong writes her characters in wolf form, it always feels very true to life of how a werewolf might behave.
Anyway, it's a fun read, it just could have been so much better.
June 7, 2020
I follow Kelley on social media and knew going into these books that 1) is was going to be a duology and 2) that this was a one-off thing. I've read the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising trilogies as well as all the Otherworld books and kept hoping she would meld these and basically become a new series. We kinda got that in this book.
In this we have a new generation of supernaturals in Kate, Logan, Holly, Mason, Elijah & Allan. Then we have Derek & Chloe from DP/DR who are between the above and the Otherworld characters in age. Then Clay & Elena, Savanah & Paige who are our "originals" and they all kind of end up together.
While the story was crazy and completely unrealistic (as in not normal for people who don't have "superpowers"), there were a ton of twists in this and I didn't try to figure who was good and who wasn't, I just went with it. Personally, I would have liked a little more snark, just in general, but it worked well with Kate & Elijah. I really do miss all of these characters and would like Kelley to dip back into this world and give us more.
In this we have a new generation of supernaturals in Kate, Logan, Holly, Mason, Elijah & Allan. Then we have Derek & Chloe from DP/DR who are between the above and the Otherworld characters in age. Then Clay & Elena, Savanah & Paige who are our "originals" and they all kind of end up together.
While the story was crazy and completely unrealistic (as in not normal for people who don't have "superpowers"), there were a ton of twists in this and I didn't try to figure who was good and who wasn't, I just went with it. Personally, I would have liked a little more snark, just in general, but it worked well with Kate & Elijah. I really do miss all of these characters and would like Kelley to dip back into this world and give us more.
May 28, 2020
Ohhh, I loved this so much! My heart hurts in the best way possible. I’m a bit flummoxed over some of the alleged fans being disappointed. These 2 books are definitely typical Otherworld style, but dialled down to a mature YA level, which I was already used to after reading the Darkest Powers, and Darkness Rising trilogies - both of which precede this duology timeline-wise. All 3 series take place in the Otherworld, and are linked together quite nicely by integrating some of the main characters. Armstrong continues to create unique and captivating storylines within this world, and I for one, will never tire of returning to it for as long as she decides to write it.
May 6, 2020
I have Followed the OtherWorld series for Years ... I have read ALL of it, and I was HOPING it would continue ....... Now, I Loved the PLOT.......... I liked the STORY LINE.... I did NOT like the Development of the story. I felt I was having " new social norms Shoved Down My Throat ...... I Realize that Publishers are PUSHING these NEW Ideas, but ...... good gods, give it a break ! Brainwashing much ?
March 24, 2020
More please
I need more. These two were so good, I already miss Kate and Logan :( pups of The Otherworld really needs to be an entire series, the same length as the original series, pretty please????
I need more. These two were so good, I already miss Kate and Logan :( pups of The Otherworld really needs to be an entire series, the same length as the original series, pretty please????
July 13, 2025
This was written much in the same vibe of Wolfs Bane and I think it is much enjoyable as a teen drama with horror/urban fantasy flavor.
the final scene melted my heart and made for a really great conclusion to the series!
the final scene melted my heart and made for a really great conclusion to the series!
March 11, 2022
Initial thoughts, this hit right in the nostalgia part of my heart. It bridged the gap between so many of the characters I grew up loving! I really enjoyed the surprise cameos. It’s a very lighthearted supernatural thriller mystery. Easy to consume.
April 3, 2020
The book is the sequel to WOLF'S BANE and begins with Logan and Kate stuck in a cabin surrounded by hellhounds. It is filled with adventure and smart, snarky teen dialog.
The book's fast-paced action reminds this reader of a teen horror movie which isn't lost on the characters in the story. They discover allies and uncover enemies as they try to get away and call for help from some - any - responsible adults while building relationships of their own.
I enjoyed that the story switched between Kate's and Logan's points of view. I liked that they were very different people with very different problems but were still trying to be strong supports for each other. The various supernatural characters made a very interesting story.
The book's fast-paced action reminds this reader of a teen horror movie which isn't lost on the characters in the story. They discover allies and uncover enemies as they try to get away and call for help from some - any - responsible adults while building relationships of their own.
I enjoyed that the story switched between Kate's and Logan's points of view. I liked that they were very different people with very different problems but were still trying to be strong supports for each other. The various supernatural characters made a very interesting story.
March 26, 2025
Even better than the first book about the twins--loved it. If you are a fan of this series, this book is completely worth it. You'll love it. I am trying to figure out if you have to read the Bitten series before these two books, and I just don't think you will appreciate them on the same level if you aren't familiar with the series.
April 6, 2020
I seriously think that Wolf's Bane and Wolf's Curse could have been a single book with less of the mental angst and they would have been much more readable and enjoyable. That said, I still liked the whole thing.
April 12, 2020
Great finish. I hope there’s more!
April 24, 2021
Very good, but man did she include every social justice trope there is
March 21, 2020
As always, phenomenal. Kelley Armstrong never disappoints. I don’t really think I can say more than that. I o my wish we got more of the next gen of supernaturals!
January 26, 2021
Loved it. Reads like a train. Leaving you wanting more!
There's one thing though. Not bad, just something I did notice. This was very ... woke (for the lack of a better word in my vocabulary). And that's a good thing for new readers and certainly for young readers who's mind can still be mold more easily and can learn ... better? You know, making it all very normal as it should be. Slipping it in so you don't even notice it, which I fully embrace. For me it was just a bit much as I'm not fully used to it in her work. It was just ALL present, hence why I noticed it: consent, trans-people, pansexuality, gays, 'black' people ... If it were spread over 13 books I wouldn't have noticed it quite as much. But I do understand these subjects are very 'now' and they should be. I do understand the need for it. It is something I would let my children read for that reason alone. Also cuddos for making consent something that extends to boys as well! It's not often enough recognized that men can be the victims just as easily as women.
Spoiler: I absolutely adored that Logan's brother played such an epic part and that he met Elena and Clay. I've always been such a fan of Logan. Loved everything about him! Made me tear up in the end as well.
Also ... this book kept on giving! I mean ... the witch and her story. The demon and her story. Secret upon secret upon secret. And it all made sense. Loved it.
There's one thing though. Not bad, just something I did notice. This was very ... woke (for the lack of a better word in my vocabulary). And that's a good thing for new readers and certainly for young readers who's mind can still be mold more easily and can learn ... better? You know, making it all very normal as it should be. Slipping it in so you don't even notice it, which I fully embrace. For me it was just a bit much as I'm not fully used to it in her work. It was just ALL present, hence why I noticed it: consent, trans-people, pansexuality, gays, 'black' people ... If it were spread over 13 books I wouldn't have noticed it quite as much. But I do understand these subjects are very 'now' and they should be. I do understand the need for it. It is something I would let my children read for that reason alone. Also cuddos for making consent something that extends to boys as well! It's not often enough recognized that men can be the victims just as easily as women.
Spoiler: I absolutely adored that Logan's brother played such an epic part and that he met Elena and Clay. I've always been such a fan of Logan. Loved everything about him! Made me tear up in the end as well.
Also ... this book kept on giving! I mean ... the witch and her story. The demon and her story. Secret upon secret upon secret. And it all made sense. Loved it.
May 2, 2020
*3.5*
March 24, 2020
Omg more please!!!! I NEED a book from Allan’s POV.
March 24, 2020
I need more!!! I love these characters! Please let there be more in the future!! ☺️❤️
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