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Otherworld Stories #13.3
Brazen
Nick Sorrentino knows everyone in the supernatural world considers him the Pack’s playboy, the pretty but not very useful werewolf whose only reputation involves his amorous exploits.
Usually, Nick couldn’t care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack’s past, it matters.
Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.
It’s time for Nick to prove he’s not just a lover.
The Trade Hardcover of Brazen will feature a full-color dust jacket as well as four full-color interior illustrations.
Usually, Nick couldn’t care less what anyone outside the Pack thinks of him. But when it affects his hunt for Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic bogeyman from the Pack’s past, it matters.
Necessity forces Nick to team up with mercenary half-demon Vanessa Callas to run Malcolm to ground in Detroit. Together, they discover Malcolm is more deadly than ever. And he wants to play.
It’s time for Nick to prove he’s not just a lover.
The Trade Hardcover of Brazen will feature a full-color dust jacket as well as four full-color interior illustrations.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published November 27, 2013
40 people are currently reading
3198 people want to read
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
302 books33.5k 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 205 reviews
September 4, 2022
Nick Sorrentino is known by his werewolf pack as a lover, not a fighter. He is loyal to his Alpha Elena and his best friend Clay. The pack has hired a supernatural agency to track down the infamous Malcolm Danvers, a psychotic former member of the pack. When Malcolm is spotted in Detroit, Nick teams up with agency operative Vanessa Callas to take on the enemy.
Even though I finished The Women of the Otherworld series several years ago, I still stumble upon some of the novellas from the series. This story picks up right after the last full-sized book in the series. Nick was always one of my favorite characters. I was happy to see this story which is told from his point-of-view.
This is a fast-paced action story which makes me want to read more. Half-demon Vanessa turned out to be a good partner for Nick. My rating: 4 Stars.
Even though I finished The Women of the Otherworld series several years ago, I still stumble upon some of the novellas from the series. This story picks up right after the last full-sized book in the series. Nick was always one of my favorite characters. I was happy to see this story which is told from his point-of-view.
This is a fast-paced action story which makes me want to read more. Half-demon Vanessa turned out to be a good partner for Nick. My rating: 4 Stars.
May 1, 2022
***May contain spoilers if you haven't read WotO through Thirteen***
Brazen is another Nick POV, and I'm really glad Armstrong decided to do a couple of these. I've always liked Nick well enough, but there was no substance. He was just another werewolf. A rich and devilishly attractive werewolf, but that . . . was all.
Not only do we get some depth, but finally, FINALLY, Nick meets a woman he'd liked to pursue a real relationship with. That they got off on the completely wrong foot, only makes me happier (b/c not nice, LOL).
If you're like me, when the Malcolm bombshell got dropped in Thirteen, you nearly lost your mind. Ever since, I've been wondering what devious plan Armstrong had for dealing with the bomb she'd dropped, and in Brazen, we start getting some answers.
Nick has been put on track-him-down duty, and he's hired Rhys and his band of merry mercenaries to help--the deal being that Rhys and co. locate Malcolm, and the Pack take it from there. BUT there's a bit of a dispute over what locating Malcolm entails, and despite Nick's warnings, Vanessa (the agent in charge of the job) refuses to budge on the point of photographic verification, resulting in the abduction of her agent by Malcolm.
From there Nick and Vanessa travel to Detroit, and . . . the rest you'll have to read for yourself. *wink*
MUCH better than the last Nick POV (IMO), and like I said, infinitely gratifying in regards to Nick and his eternal bachelor status. Highly recommended.
Brazen is another Nick POV, and I'm really glad Armstrong decided to do a couple of these. I've always liked Nick well enough, but there was no substance. He was just another werewolf. A rich and devilishly attractive werewolf, but that . . . was all.
Not only do we get some depth, but finally, FINALLY, Nick meets a woman he'd liked to pursue a real relationship with. That they got off on the completely wrong foot, only makes me happier (b/c not nice, LOL).
If you're like me, when the Malcolm bombshell got dropped in Thirteen, you nearly lost your mind. Ever since, I've been wondering what devious plan Armstrong had for dealing with the bomb she'd dropped, and in Brazen, we start getting some answers.
Nick has been put on track-him-down duty, and he's hired Rhys and his band of merry mercenaries to help--the deal being that Rhys and co. locate Malcolm, and the Pack take it from there. BUT there's a bit of a dispute over what locating Malcolm entails, and despite Nick's warnings, Vanessa (the agent in charge of the job) refuses to budge on the point of photographic verification, resulting in the abduction of her agent by Malcolm.
From there Nick and Vanessa travel to Detroit, and . . . the rest you'll have to read for yourself. *wink*
MUCH better than the last Nick POV (IMO), and like I said, infinitely gratifying in regards to Nick and his eternal bachelor status. Highly recommended.
December 19, 2015
Sure, it isn't as if this was SO badly written to deserve such a rating. However I found the story completely boring, and I particularly hated how the "potential romance" part was dealt.
Oh, and having a character behaving out of character was really weird
Also, I really don't understand how werewolf's would hire a group of mercenaries to help them find Malcolm. And that Elena or Clay would let Nick get involved with that subject.
In the end I really could have passed without having read this.
Oh, and having a character behaving out of character was really weird
Also, I really don't understand how werewolf's would hire a group of mercenaries to help them find Malcolm. And that Elena or Clay would let Nick get involved with that subject.
In the end I really could have passed without having read this.
December 1, 2013
In my opinion, Malcolm Danvers is the best villain/antagonist in the Women of the Otherworld series (and one of my favorite baddies from any book). The attention to detail that Kelley's given to his development is great. His relationship with Jeremy and Clay as well as his propensity for violence and cruelty make him a complex sociopath who's also oddly sympathetic. If he could have appreciated the son he had in Jeremy, his life could have turned out so differently.
But he didn't so he ends up in a Nast prison, which is where we find him Thirteen. Now he's escaped and Nick is spearheading the hunt to find him. This is the first story from Nick's POV. Usually he's the friendly, ladies' man who's excellent in a support capacity. Not so in this story. We get to see more depth to his character and his relationships with other Pack members. When it comes to Vanessa . Regarding the ending .
But he didn't so he ends up in a Nast prison, which is where we find him Thirteen. Now he's escaped and Nick is spearheading the hunt to find him. This is the first story from Nick's POV. Usually he's the friendly, ladies' man who's excellent in a support capacity. Not so in this story. We get to see more depth to his character and his relationships with other Pack members. When it comes to Vanessa . Regarding the ending .
December 10, 2013
wish Armstrong would return to her original series. I want more Nick and Vanessa stories. more clay and Elena
....sigh
....sigh
May 19, 2017
I've waited forever to finally have time to read Brazen by the incomparable Kelley Armstrong. Nick is one of my favorite characters in the Otherworld universe and I wasn't disappointed. I soaked it up like a sponge and have read it twice. Highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
Want to read
December 19, 2014Pre-ordered! Is it December yet? :D
March 22, 2020
Best novella I have ever read. I love Nick so much 😭
September 6, 2016
Originally reviewed for & posted at Vampire Book Club
Review source: purchased
Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars
Note: While this review will be spoiler free it will make reference to previous books in the series.
When I found out that Brazen, the first Women of the Otherworld novella to be set after the series finale, was going to starring Nick Sorrentino I was ridiculously excited. Nick has always been one of my favorite supporting characters in the series, so naturally I couldn’t wait to see what lay in store for him.
In Thirteen it was revealed that Malcolm Danvers, pack enemy number one and father of former Alpha Jeremy, was alive and well, working (albeit not entirely under his own persuasion) for a sorcerer Cabal. After slipping through the packs fingers after this discovery, Nick has been charged with the task of hunting him down. He recruits a team of supernatural mercenaries to help, headed up by half demon Vanessa. Malcolm continues to prove himself a deadly foe though, one Nick is afraid Vanessa and her team underestimate.
I adore this series, so slipping back into this world, particularly a pack-based story, was a joy. Kelley Armstrong’s writing style makes reading effortless, characters and situation fully forming in my head instantly. Returning characters feel like old friends but new characters are just as easy to embrace. The love I have for Nick may have been what left me feeling slight disappointed by this novella however.
Now in his fifties and having taken on a foster father role to two young pack members, I could understand him growing discontented with his partying ways. I’ve always liked that the characters in this series mature and move on into different phases of their lives but I have to admit I missed the cheekier side to Nick. He has always been the fun loving one to Clay’s serious character, positive and supportive but here he felt weary, sad almost.
I liked Vanessa, she was intelligent and took pride in being professional. She also had moments of insecurity that made her very relatable. The romance between her and Nick both did and didn’t work for me. I liked the realistic nature of two adults meeting and feeling a mutual growing attraction. There were some comically embarrassing moments that endeared Vanessa to me even more, but all together it just fell a bit flat for me. That isn’t to say it necessarily needed to be a love at first sight affair (the slow burn of Jeremy and Jamie’s relationship remains one of my favorites of the series) but I guess I just wanted more passion for Nick.
The plot was fast and brutal, weaving between mind games and action, with Malcolm living up to his infamous reputation. Pack dynamics once again play a major role, an element that I love. I was enjoying it immensely up until the climax, which felt almost as if the novella cut off halfway through, ending before any resolution.
I think if Brazen had been with a more established pairing, or perhaps a prequel to a full-length novel I would have enjoyed it more. As it stands it’s unclear whether there will be more novellas featuring Nick and Vanessa, although the way is certainly paved. While I still adore this world and characters (and will mostly definitely be picking up any future novellas) Brazen just didn’t work for me as well as previous instalments.
Sexual content: scenes of a sexual nature.
Review source: purchased
Rating (out of 5): 3.5 stars
Note: While this review will be spoiler free it will make reference to previous books in the series.
When I found out that Brazen, the first Women of the Otherworld novella to be set after the series finale, was going to starring Nick Sorrentino I was ridiculously excited. Nick has always been one of my favorite supporting characters in the series, so naturally I couldn’t wait to see what lay in store for him.
In Thirteen it was revealed that Malcolm Danvers, pack enemy number one and father of former Alpha Jeremy, was alive and well, working (albeit not entirely under his own persuasion) for a sorcerer Cabal. After slipping through the packs fingers after this discovery, Nick has been charged with the task of hunting him down. He recruits a team of supernatural mercenaries to help, headed up by half demon Vanessa. Malcolm continues to prove himself a deadly foe though, one Nick is afraid Vanessa and her team underestimate.
I adore this series, so slipping back into this world, particularly a pack-based story, was a joy. Kelley Armstrong’s writing style makes reading effortless, characters and situation fully forming in my head instantly. Returning characters feel like old friends but new characters are just as easy to embrace. The love I have for Nick may have been what left me feeling slight disappointed by this novella however.
Now in his fifties and having taken on a foster father role to two young pack members, I could understand him growing discontented with his partying ways. I’ve always liked that the characters in this series mature and move on into different phases of their lives but I have to admit I missed the cheekier side to Nick. He has always been the fun loving one to Clay’s serious character, positive and supportive but here he felt weary, sad almost.
I liked Vanessa, she was intelligent and took pride in being professional. She also had moments of insecurity that made her very relatable. The romance between her and Nick both did and didn’t work for me. I liked the realistic nature of two adults meeting and feeling a mutual growing attraction. There were some comically embarrassing moments that endeared Vanessa to me even more, but all together it just fell a bit flat for me. That isn’t to say it necessarily needed to be a love at first sight affair (the slow burn of Jeremy and Jamie’s relationship remains one of my favorites of the series) but I guess I just wanted more passion for Nick.
The plot was fast and brutal, weaving between mind games and action, with Malcolm living up to his infamous reputation. Pack dynamics once again play a major role, an element that I love. I was enjoying it immensely up until the climax, which felt almost as if the novella cut off halfway through, ending before any resolution.
I think if Brazen had been with a more established pairing, or perhaps a prequel to a full-length novel I would have enjoyed it more. As it stands it’s unclear whether there will be more novellas featuring Nick and Vanessa, although the way is certainly paved. While I still adore this world and characters (and will mostly definitely be picking up any future novellas) Brazen just didn’t work for me as well as previous instalments.
Sexual content: scenes of a sexual nature.
March 17, 2014
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
It’s been nearly two years now since Kelley Armstrong’s WOMEN OF THE OTHERWORLD series wrapped up, and I’ve been suffering from some serious werewolf withdrawals ever since. So, when I found out that Nick was getting his own novella I was absolutely ecstatic! I may have even gone a little overboard because I bought the limited edition from Subterranean Press, and paid the exuberant shipping fee to have it mailed to Canada. But, it was money well-spent because this book is beautiful both inside and out. The custom artwork is to die for, and Nick is one of my all-time favourite players so seeing him rendered speechless by a woman was a real treat.
This novella’s plot line follows the same format as Armstrong’s full-length werewolf novels in that the pack is tracking a mutt, only in this case Nick is taking point for a change, and it’s not just any mutt but Malcolm Danvers—king of the crazies. I loved seeing how grown-up Sorrentino is in this short; he’s still a ladies man but he’s got the responsibilities of a full-blown adult with a day job, three teenage werewolf wards, and pack responsibilities. He remains a player at heart, and there���s definitely more than a few suave moments in BRAZEN. I got a kick out of watching him try to be a role model to Reese and Noah while being upfront about his man-whorish ways.
Malcolm is hands-down one of the best werewolf villains out there which makes any story featuring him a surefire adrenaline rush. He’s a sick sociopath who’s as intelligent as he is cruel. I loved watching his clever plan unfold in this short because it really was a work of art but the bitch-slap-to-the-face ending was even more satisfying. Armstrong isn’t known for her romance and that holds true in this novella, however I enjoyed the flirtations between Nick and Vanessa, and can only hope that it may spawn another OTHERWORLD story in the future.
This special edition was almost too pretty to read but I simply could not resist the pull of Armstrong’s wolves. Nick is the ultimate one-night-stand material which makes BRAZEN the perfect one-sit read.
It’s been nearly two years now since Kelley Armstrong’s WOMEN OF THE OTHERWORLD series wrapped up, and I’ve been suffering from some serious werewolf withdrawals ever since. So, when I found out that Nick was getting his own novella I was absolutely ecstatic! I may have even gone a little overboard because I bought the limited edition from Subterranean Press, and paid the exuberant shipping fee to have it mailed to Canada. But, it was money well-spent because this book is beautiful both inside and out. The custom artwork is to die for, and Nick is one of my all-time favourite players so seeing him rendered speechless by a woman was a real treat.
This novella’s plot line follows the same format as Armstrong’s full-length werewolf novels in that the pack is tracking a mutt, only in this case Nick is taking point for a change, and it’s not just any mutt but Malcolm Danvers—king of the crazies. I loved seeing how grown-up Sorrentino is in this short; he’s still a ladies man but he’s got the responsibilities of a full-blown adult with a day job, three teenage werewolf wards, and pack responsibilities. He remains a player at heart, and there���s definitely more than a few suave moments in BRAZEN. I got a kick out of watching him try to be a role model to Reese and Noah while being upfront about his man-whorish ways.
Malcolm is hands-down one of the best werewolf villains out there which makes any story featuring him a surefire adrenaline rush. He’s a sick sociopath who’s as intelligent as he is cruel. I loved watching his clever plan unfold in this short because it really was a work of art but the bitch-slap-to-the-face ending was even more satisfying. Armstrong isn’t known for her romance and that holds true in this novella, however I enjoyed the flirtations between Nick and Vanessa, and can only hope that it may spawn another OTHERWORLD story in the future.
This special edition was almost too pretty to read but I simply could not resist the pull of Armstrong’s wolves. Nick is the ultimate one-night-stand material which makes BRAZEN the perfect one-sit read.
August 14, 2014
An internationally best-selling author signing up with a small publisher is great, theoretically. Bringing a large fan-base to a press who could do with more business - it's a nice match. And a niche publisher is more open to hiring an illustrator to create interior art for an adult book - that's pretty cool.
But the actuality of all this comes with its share of problems, namely exclusivity. Limited print runs, though audio and eBook versions are also available. However, Subterranean Press's eBooks seem to be geo-restricted, so I can't purchase and therefore can't read them.
I managed to get my mitts on a hardcover of Kelley Armstrong's Brazen, and was immediately a little lost. Admittedly, I haven't yet read the last two full-length Otherworld novels (Spell Bound and Thirteen), and those likely would've helped me with back-story. But while another Subterranean Kelley Armstrong book (Hidden) is self-contained, Brazen clearly isn't. The story's not even finished, though I imagine it continues in the upcoming Bounty Hunt - but whether it will conclude there is anyone's guess.
The issue with having side-characters in other books switching to main characters in their own is that they may not have the same affability. I enjoyed Nick on the side because of his distinctive personality, but in Brazen he's all grown up and settling down with one woman, and his voice could've been that of any other Otherworld character.
There's one genuinely shocking moment in the book, though. (Just wait 'til you see the attic!) But other than that, I struggled to connect with this novella. I'm really looking forward to Bounty Hunt, though - it'll be narrated by Reese, and urban fantasy could definitely do with more Australians ;-)
But the actuality of all this comes with its share of problems, namely exclusivity. Limited print runs, though audio and eBook versions are also available. However, Subterranean Press's eBooks seem to be geo-restricted, so I can't purchase and therefore can't read them.
I managed to get my mitts on a hardcover of Kelley Armstrong's Brazen, and was immediately a little lost. Admittedly, I haven't yet read the last two full-length Otherworld novels (Spell Bound and Thirteen), and those likely would've helped me with back-story. But while another Subterranean Kelley Armstrong book (Hidden) is self-contained, Brazen clearly isn't. The story's not even finished, though I imagine it continues in the upcoming Bounty Hunt - but whether it will conclude there is anyone's guess.
The issue with having side-characters in other books switching to main characters in their own is that they may not have the same affability. I enjoyed Nick on the side because of his distinctive personality, but in Brazen he's all grown up and settling down with one woman, and his voice could've been that of any other Otherworld character.
There's one genuinely shocking moment in the book, though. (Just wait 'til you see the attic!) But other than that, I struggled to connect with this novella. I'm really looking forward to Bounty Hunt, though - it'll be narrated by Reese, and urban fantasy could definitely do with more Australians ;-)
January 2, 2014
***Spoilers for Thirteen***
This is a short story of Nick as he searches for Malcolm with the help of a half fire demon. The werewolves have hired supernatural mercs to help with the search. The mercs don't realize exactly how dangerous Malcolm really is. He may be old, but he is as ruthless as ever. It also seems that experiments that the Nast Cabal tried on Malcolm to make him young longer worked. He might be in his eights, but he can still kick some ass.
The story of Nick is a little weak. It starts off with Nick as the womanizer that he has always been, like most werewolves have always been. He even wakes up in bed with two women. You can tell that he is not overly happy with this existence.
He goes to meet the head of the team tracking Malcolm only to find out it is a female. Vanessa is a workaholic, half fire demon who hasn't done really well in field but is better at managing a team. Vanessa is having a little bit of a mid-life crisis and tries very hard to get into bed with Nick.
I find their love interest to be a little weak and a little forced. I think that they work well as a team, once Vanessa learns that the werewolves were not over exaggerating Malcolm.
I wish the story had more of Clay and Elena and even Malcolm, really. Nick is a great secondary character, but I just don't think he is strong enough as a main character. I also feel that there wasn't much of a great ending to the story. We know that Nick and Vanessa are going to see each other again, but that doesn't mean much long term or just another fling.
This probably my least favorite of the Otherwold Novellas. Usually, I like the look into the other characters, but this one just didn't do much for me.
This is a short story of Nick as he searches for Malcolm with the help of a half fire demon. The werewolves have hired supernatural mercs to help with the search. The mercs don't realize exactly how dangerous Malcolm really is. He may be old, but he is as ruthless as ever. It also seems that experiments that the Nast Cabal tried on Malcolm to make him young longer worked. He might be in his eights, but he can still kick some ass.
The story of Nick is a little weak. It starts off with Nick as the womanizer that he has always been, like most werewolves have always been. He even wakes up in bed with two women. You can tell that he is not overly happy with this existence.
He goes to meet the head of the team tracking Malcolm only to find out it is a female. Vanessa is a workaholic, half fire demon who hasn't done really well in field but is better at managing a team. Vanessa is having a little bit of a mid-life crisis and tries very hard to get into bed with Nick.
I find their love interest to be a little weak and a little forced. I think that they work well as a team, once Vanessa learns that the werewolves were not over exaggerating Malcolm.
I wish the story had more of Clay and Elena and even Malcolm, really. Nick is a great secondary character, but I just don't think he is strong enough as a main character. I also feel that there wasn't much of a great ending to the story. We know that Nick and Vanessa are going to see each other again, but that doesn't mean much long term or just another fling.
This probably my least favorite of the Otherwold Novellas. Usually, I like the look into the other characters, but this one just didn't do much for me.
December 31, 2013
2.5 stars - Spoilers
-I wasn't too keen on reading Nick's novella, he was a decent enough character but I wasn't interested in his POV or him getting an HEA. I would have rather read another Elena, Paige, or Savannah story.
-What's what: Nick (Clay & Elena's BFF/werwolf/manslut) teams up with a half-demon (Vanessa) to take down Malcolm (Jeremy's evul dad/crazy werewolf). Naturally, Nick and Vanessa get it on whilst searching for a notorious serial killer werewolf.
-I preferred Nick as a side character in the main novels, I wasn't all that impressed with him as a main character. He started off the story waking up from a threesome, then he bragged about how he shagged around with loads of different women and how women threw themselves at him. Ugh, it was really off putting.
His desire to stop having one night stands and date Vanessa was ridiculous — after decades of man whoring and no strings attached relationships him suddenly wanting to have a proper relationship with someone he barely knew didn't ring true at all.
-I didn't like Vanessa, she was a sad, pathetic, work obsessed loser who had little going for her. Nick would have suited someone more outgoing and fun instead of a boring sex-starved loser.
-I did like that the Malcolm arc was addressed and sort of resolved.
-All in all, this was just meh.
-I wasn't too keen on reading Nick's novella, he was a decent enough character but I wasn't interested in his POV or him getting an HEA. I would have rather read another Elena, Paige, or Savannah story.
-What's what: Nick (Clay & Elena's BFF/werwolf/manslut) teams up with a half-demon (Vanessa) to take down Malcolm (Jeremy's evul dad/crazy werewolf). Naturally, Nick and Vanessa get it on whilst searching for a notorious serial killer werewolf.
-I preferred Nick as a side character in the main novels, I wasn't all that impressed with him as a main character. He started off the story waking up from a threesome, then he bragged about how he shagged around with loads of different women and how women threw themselves at him. Ugh, it was really off putting.
His desire to stop having one night stands and date Vanessa was ridiculous — after decades of man whoring and no strings attached relationships him suddenly wanting to have a proper relationship with someone he barely knew didn't ring true at all.
-I didn't like Vanessa, she was a sad, pathetic, work obsessed loser who had little going for her. Nick would have suited someone more outgoing and fun instead of a boring sex-starved loser.
-I did like that the Malcolm arc was addressed and sort of resolved.
-All in all, this was just meh.
February 14, 2016
This was a great Nick story and it let us see life with the Pack after Thirteen.
I like how Nick was fully aware of the stereotypes people referred to him as and just kept living life as he wanted to, and still stepping up to do what the Pack needed, while allowing his opponents to miss-estimate him.
I'd love to see more from him and from Vanessa.
I like how Nick was fully aware of the stereotypes people referred to him as and just kept living life as he wanted to, and still stepping up to do what the Pack needed, while allowing his opponents to miss-estimate him.
I'd love to see more from him and from Vanessa.
December 3, 2013
Nick!!!
January 28, 2019
Brazen – I think this might have been the one I was looking forward to most. Nick is a favorite character of mine and this gaves us a little glimpse as to a possible HEA for him. :) Also, we find out Malcolm is even more of a dick than we already knew.
December 28, 2024
Oh man it’s clearly been too long since I’ve read a Kelley book, because I had forgotten how good she is. Must read more books by Kelley, pronto.
October 25, 2017
Novella about Nick Sorrentino, one of my favorite characters in the Women of the Otherworld series.
February 25, 2018
Just picked this book at random. A fun action packed werewolf adventure.
June 15, 2017
One of my favourites! I love seeing Nick grow up and taking responsibilities.
January 23, 2014
ยอมรับว่ากำลังติดซีรีย์ชุด Bitten อย่างรุนแรง ทั้งที่ก็ไม่ได้ถึงกับสร้างดีอะไร (หรือกระทั่งการเคสติ้งก็ไม่ได้โดนใจ นั่นไม่ใช่เคลย์ของฉัน) แต่เท่าที่ดีไปสองตอน ก็ถือว่า สร้างมาตรงกับเนื้อหาในนิยายเลยล่ะ เราก็เลยนั่งดูไปแบบห้ามตัวเองไม่อยู่
ที่พูดถึงเรื่องนี้ เพราะหนังสือที่เรากำลังจะรีวิวถือเป็นส่วนหนึ่งในชุด Otherworld ด้วยค่ะ แต่เป็นเรื่องของคาแร็คเตอร์ที่ถูกลืม เรื่องราวของพระรองที่โดนขโมยบท ดังนั้นหากใครจะจำเขาไม่ได้ก็ไม่แปลกค่ะ ขนาดในเล่มสุดท้าย (ขนาดยาว) ของเรื่องชุดนี้อย่าง Thirteen คนคนนี้ยังถูกคนแต่งส่งไปอยู่ยุโรป ไม่ต้องมารบราต่อสู้กับผู้ร้ายเลย
นิค ซอเรนติโน่มาจากตระกูลหมาป่าที่ยิ่งใหญ่ ปู่ของเขาคือผู้นำฝูง พ่อของเขาเป็นนักสู้ที่เก่งที่สุดในรุ่น แต่นิคคือนิค เขาเป็นนักรักไม่ใช่นักสู้ ตลอดชีวิตนิคถูกบิดาปกป้อง จนไม่มีใครเชื่อในความสามารถ ยิ่งการทำตัวของเขาเองอีก ที่ใช้ชีวิตเสเพลไปเรื่อย ก็ยิ่งตอกย้ำภาพลักษณ์นั้นกับทุกคน
แต่มีอะไรมากกว่านั้นในตัวของนิค และเขาถือเป็นคาแร็คเตอร์ที่เราสนใจมากที่สุดคนนึง ไม่ง่ายนะคะที่จะเขียนเรื่องราวของตัวละครที่เป็นไก่รองบ่อน และแม้จะมาจากตระกูลอันยิ่งใหญ่ แต่นิคเป็นลูกไล่ของเคลย์มาตั้งแต่เด็ก ครั้งแรกที่เจอกันเคลย์ก็ข่มเขาจนฉี่ราด แต่นิคก็คือเพื่อนสนิทที่สุดของเคลย์ เขาไม่มีความอิจฉาเพราะเขารู้และเข้าใจตัวเองดี รู้ขีดจำกัดของตัวเอง เขาไม่มีวันเป็นนักสู้ที่เก่งเท่ากับเคลย์ แต่เขาก็รู้ว่า ตัวเองไม่ได้อ่อนแออย่างที่คนอื่น ๆ เข้าใจ
ดังนั้นเมื่อเขาได้รับมอบหมายให้ออกตามล่าตัวมัลคอล์ม ศัตรูของเผ่าที่ถูกเข้าใจว่าตายไปแล้วหลายปี นิคจึงทุ่มเทให้กับภารกิจทีได้รับอย่างเต็มที่ และเมื่อมีบางอย่างผิดพลาด ทำให้เขาต้องเดินทางไปตามหามัลคอล์มด้วยตัวเอง (แทนที่จะเป็นการจ้างคนอื่นทำอย่างที่วางแผนไว้) เขาก็พร้อมที่จะไป
เราชอบที่เรื่องนี้ซื่อสัตย์ในคาแร็คเตอร์ของนิค คนแต่งไม่ได้ทำให้กลายเป็นซุปเปอร์แมนขึ้นมาเพียงชั่วข้ามคืน นิคยังคงเข้าใจข้อจำกัดของตัวเอง และรู้ว่า หากเผชิญหน้าตรง ๆ เขาไม่อาจเอาชนะมัลคอล์มได้ และเมื่อเรื่องดำเนินมาจนถึงจุดสุดท้าย เราชอบนะคะ
ส่วนที่เราไม่ชอบก็คือ เราไม่ค่อยเข้าใจว่า อะไรที่ดึงดูดนิคเข้าไปหาวาเนสสา เรารู้สึกเหมือนชุดนี้กำลังมาสู้ช่วงโค้งสุดท้าย และนิคก็เป็นตัวละครดั้งเดิมคนเดียวที่ยังโดดเดียวไร้คู่ คนแต่งก็เลยต้องหาผู้หญิงมาให้เขาสักหน่อย ไม่ได้มีอะไรเลวร้ายกับวาเนสสานะคะ แต่เรานึกไม่ออกว่า เธอมีอะไรโดดเด่นจึงทำให้เพลย์บอยอย่างเขาสนใจได้ เรารู้สึกเหมือนปฏิสัมพันธ์ระหว่างนิคและเธอไม่เป็นธรรมชาติ กระนั้นเราก็ว่า คนแต่งฉลาดที่ไม่ได้สรุปเรื่องของทั้งคู่ให้จบภายในเล่มนี้
โดยรวมเรื่องนี้ตอบสนองความต้องการอยากอ่านเรื่องราวของนิคได้ แต่ไม่พอค่ะ โดยสาระของเรื่องเราว่า น้อยเกินไป แต่นั่นก็เพราะว่า นี่เป็นเรื่องสั้น เราไม่แนะให้กับคนที่ยังไม่เคยอ่านเรื่องชุดนี้มาก่อน แต่สำหรับแฟนหนังสือชุดนี้ อ่านเถอะค่ะ เพราะนี่คือเรื่องราวของตัวละครดั้งเดิมของชุด
คะแนนที่ 70
ที่พูดถึงเรื่องนี้ เพราะหนังสือที่เรากำลังจะรีวิวถือเป็นส่วนหนึ่งในชุด Otherworld ด้วยค่ะ แต่เป็นเรื่องของคาแร็คเตอร์ที่ถูกลืม เรื่องราวของพระรองที่โดนขโมยบท ดังนั้นหากใครจะจำเขาไม่ได้ก็ไม่แปลกค่ะ ขนาดในเล่มสุดท้าย (ขนาดยาว) ของเรื่องชุดนี้อย่าง Thirteen คนคนนี้ยังถูกคนแต่งส่งไปอยู่ยุโรป ไม่ต้องมารบราต่อสู้กับผู้ร้ายเลย
นิค ซอเรนติโน่มาจากตระกูลหมาป่าที่ยิ่งใหญ่ ปู่ของเขาคือผู้นำฝูง พ่อของเขาเป็นนักสู้ที่เก่งที่สุดในรุ่น แต่นิคคือนิค เขาเป็นนักรักไม่ใช่นักสู้ ตลอดชีวิตนิคถูกบิดาปกป้อง จนไม่มีใครเชื่อในความสามารถ ยิ่งการทำตัวของเขาเองอีก ที่ใช้ชีวิตเสเพลไปเรื่อย ก็ยิ่งตอกย้ำภาพลักษณ์นั้นกับทุกคน
แต่มีอะไรมากกว่านั้นในตัวของนิค และเขาถือเป็นคาแร็คเตอร์ที่เราสนใจมากที่สุดคนนึง ไม่ง่ายนะคะที่จะเขียนเรื่องราวของตัวละครที่เป็นไก่รองบ่อน และแม้จะมาจากตระกูลอันยิ่งใหญ่ แต่นิคเป็นลูกไล่ของเคลย์มาตั้งแต่เด็ก ครั้งแรกที่เจอกันเคลย์ก็ข่มเขาจนฉี่ราด แต่นิคก็คือเพื่อนสนิทที่สุดของเคลย์ เขาไม่มีความอิจฉาเพราะเขารู้และเข้าใจตัวเองดี รู้ขีดจำกัดของตัวเอง เขาไม่มีวันเป็นนักสู้ที่เก่งเท่ากับเคลย์ แต่เขาก็รู้ว่า ตัวเองไม่ได้อ่อนแออย่างที่คนอื่น ๆ เข้าใจ
ดังนั้นเมื่อเขาได้รับมอบหมายให้ออกตามล่าตัวมัลคอล์ม ศัตรูของเผ่าที่ถูกเข้าใจว่าตายไปแล้วหลายปี นิคจึงทุ่มเทให้กับภารกิจทีได้รับอย่างเต็มที่ และเมื่อมีบางอย่างผิดพลาด ทำให้เขาต้องเดินทางไปตามหามัลคอล์มด้วยตัวเอง (แทนที่จะเป็นการจ้างคนอื่นทำอย่างที่วางแผนไว้) เขาก็พร้อมที่จะไป
เราชอบที่เรื่องนี้ซื่อสัตย์ในคาแร็คเตอร์ของนิค คนแต่งไม่ได้ทำให้กลายเป็นซุปเปอร์แมนขึ้นมาเพียงชั่วข้ามคืน นิคยังคงเข้าใจข้อจำกัดของตัวเอง และรู้ว่า หากเผชิญหน้าตรง ๆ เขาไม่อาจเอาชนะมัลคอล์มได้ และเมื่อเรื่องดำเนินมาจนถึงจุดสุดท้าย เราชอบนะคะ
ส่วนที่เราไม่ชอบก็คือ เราไม่ค่อยเข้าใจว่า อะไรที่ดึงดูดนิคเข้าไปหาวาเนสสา เรารู้สึกเหมือนชุดนี้กำลังมาสู้ช่วงโค้งสุดท้าย และนิคก็เป็นตัวละครดั้งเดิมคนเดียวที่ยังโดดเดียวไร้คู่ คนแต่งก็เลยต้องหาผู้หญิงมาให้เขาสักหน่อย ไม่ได้มีอะไรเลวร้ายกับวาเนสสานะคะ แต่เรานึกไม่ออกว่า เธอมีอะไรโดดเด่นจึงทำให้เพลย์บอยอย่างเขาสนใจได้ เรารู้สึกเหมือนปฏิสัมพันธ์ระหว่างนิคและเธอไม่เป็นธรรมชาติ กระนั้นเราก็ว่า คนแต่งฉลาดที่ไม่ได้สรุปเรื่องของทั้งคู่ให้จบภายในเล่มนี้
โดยรวมเรื่องนี้ตอบสนองความต้องการอยากอ่านเรื่องราวของนิคได้ แต่ไม่พอค่ะ โดยสาระของเรื่องเราว่า น้อยเกินไป แต่นั่นก็เพราะว่า นี่เป็นเรื่องสั้น เราไม่แนะให้กับคนที่ยังไม่เคยอ่านเรื่องชุดนี้มาก่อน แต่สำหรับแฟนหนังสือชุดนี้ อ่านเถอะค่ะ เพราะนี่คือเรื่องราวของตัวละครดั้งเดิมของชุด
คะแนนที่ 70
April 18, 2015
I was so excited to finally get a novella from the POV of Nick, who is one of my favourite wolves in urban fantasy. I have loved him as a supporting character in the Otherworld but it's great to see him get his own full adventure here! And how gorgeous is that book cover? I've bought the hardback book and I can't stop looking at the cover art!
Getting back to the story now, Nick is tasked with finding Malcolm Danvers, the most dangerous wolf in America. He hires a group of supernaturals to track Malcolm down but they ignore warnings about how dangerous he is and that following him must be left to the Pack, and one of their agents goes missing. Nick and the agent leader, half demon Vanessa, decide to go and find the missing agent-and Malcolm. The Pack agree to stand by as his backip as needed.
This was such a great story. Nick is getting annoyed that everyone is underestimating him. Malcolm doesn't rate him as worth his time and Nick feels as if he is two steps behind the older man. Vanessa seems to regard him as a playboy who sleeps with anything-not realising that she was trying to seduce, not insult him. Malcolm is outwitting him every step of the way but he is determined to prove himself to the Pack.
This novella is action packed. Nick and Vanessa have some near misses with bounty hunters and cops who have been skillfully set on them by Malcolm. There is always something happening in this book and you just want Nick to be successful and show that he is an asset to the Pack. His interactions with Vanessa are interesting and in some ways her awkwardness reminds me of the early days with Jaime and Jeremy, which was kind of endearing! I liked the fact that Elena is showing faith in Nick by letting him handle the situation but being ready to come and help if needed.
This book really showcases how good Kelley Armstrong is at writing characters that you care about, and I feel that she is at her best when she is writing about the Pack. We get emotion, action and an exciting plot.
Loved it!
Getting back to the story now, Nick is tasked with finding Malcolm Danvers, the most dangerous wolf in America. He hires a group of supernaturals to track Malcolm down but they ignore warnings about how dangerous he is and that following him must be left to the Pack, and one of their agents goes missing. Nick and the agent leader, half demon Vanessa, decide to go and find the missing agent-and Malcolm. The Pack agree to stand by as his backip as needed.
This was such a great story. Nick is getting annoyed that everyone is underestimating him. Malcolm doesn't rate him as worth his time and Nick feels as if he is two steps behind the older man. Vanessa seems to regard him as a playboy who sleeps with anything-not realising that she was trying to seduce, not insult him. Malcolm is outwitting him every step of the way but he is determined to prove himself to the Pack.
This novella is action packed. Nick and Vanessa have some near misses with bounty hunters and cops who have been skillfully set on them by Malcolm. There is always something happening in this book and you just want Nick to be successful and show that he is an asset to the Pack. His interactions with Vanessa are interesting and in some ways her awkwardness reminds me of the early days with Jaime and Jeremy, which was kind of endearing! I liked the fact that Elena is showing faith in Nick by letting him handle the situation but being ready to come and help if needed.
This book really showcases how good Kelley Armstrong is at writing characters that you care about, and I feel that she is at her best when she is writing about the Pack. We get emotion, action and an exciting plot.
Loved it!
June 2, 2014
This is a slim book, barely more than a short story. And it's a pricey short story at that - they are charging as much as a full size hardcover, and the excuse for it is apparently the illustrations. All three of them. They're in black and white with touches of red, and they're not really action scenes, and they don't add a single thing to the story - they don't illustrate any details that weren't described in words or give any clues to other things that are going on.
SPOILER ALERT:
.
.
.
.
.
You can go on to the next book without ever reading this, and you won't have lost track of the series.
SPOILER ALERT:
.
.
.
.
.
You can go on to the next book without ever reading this, and you won't have lost track of the series.
March 21, 2015
Brazen is a Women of the Otherworld novella (set after the final book Thirteen).
The narrators are Nick (pack member) and Vanessa (new character who is a P.I.).
I am not sure why it has taken me so long to get to this novella. I absolutely adore the Women of the Otherworld series. But it was quite interesting to read this after having seen Season 1 and half of Season 2 of the tv show Bitten. There are a bunch of characters either in this novella or mentioned who have different fates in the tv show. So it's interesting/slightly confusing to try to keep the two mediums separate in my head.
I do like Nick Sorrentino so it was nice to have him as the main narrator. I also like that we got to see a bit of Clay and Elena.
The story was enjoyable. If you like The Women of the Otherworld series then all of the novellas are must reads!
February 17, 2023
REREAD 2023
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REREAD 2020
Nick is a fun character. Do I think he's a good MC? Not really, but for a short like this, it works. I enjoyed Vanessa and how the two interacted, and the story clearly leads to more, but also works as a stand alone. Especially to build Nick into a fuller fleshed character.
My biggest problem with this book was the narrator. She messed up every accent she tried, and her ''voices'' were grating, but she wasn't bad enough to ruin the story for me. Had it been any longer, though, I might have had a problem.
Keeping the original rating.
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Original rating: 4/5 stars
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REREAD 2020
Nick is a fun character. Do I think he's a good MC? Not really, but for a short like this, it works. I enjoyed Vanessa and how the two interacted, and the story clearly leads to more, but also works as a stand alone. Especially to build Nick into a fuller fleshed character.
My biggest problem with this book was the narrator. She messed up every accent she tried, and her ''voices'' were grating, but she wasn't bad enough to ruin the story for me. Had it been any longer, though, I might have had a problem.
Keeping the original rating.
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Original rating: 4/5 stars
February 10, 2014
Meh- there were inconsistency in the story- a character had on boxers and then, briefs- not end of the world, but I noticed.
Also, the plot was very weak Nick going after Malcolm, only to find out where he is so Clay can finish him off? And then there are bounty hunters- Kelley you can write a better story than this! You were done with the series with Thirteen, stick with that and move on! Create other characters!
Disappointed
Also, the plot was very weak Nick going after Malcolm, only to find out where he is so Clay can finish him off? And then there are bounty hunters- Kelley you can write a better story than this! You were done with the series with Thirteen, stick with that and move on! Create other characters!
Disappointed
December 26, 2013
Age: Nick - 50, Vanessa - 38
POV: two (Nick's, Vanessa's)
Narration: from a third person
Tense: past
I loved Nick's story! It would be even better if there was a proper ending. As it is, I hope it means that Ms. Armstrong plans to continue writing about Nick.
POV: two (Nick's, Vanessa's)
Narration: from a third person
Tense: past
I loved Nick's story! It would be even better if there was a proper ending. As it is, I hope it means that Ms. Armstrong plans to continue writing about Nick.
January 31, 2014
I felt kind of meh about it. It very much seemed like a short story posted on the author's website, and then later published in print format, as it had little in the way of character development or movement forward in the Otherworld storylines. Definitely for fans only or possibly as a quick read to possibly get someone interested in reading more?
December 23, 2013
Jag älskar fina Nick
May 28, 2014
Excellent book. It ties up all the loose ends from her Otherworld books.
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