Bitten

Bitten #1

by Jordan Stephanie Gray

Crescent City meets Fourth Wing in this fast-paced and romantic debut, in which a teenage girl must survive ruthless werewolves, a glittering court, and deadly politics to exact revenge on the monsters who destroyed her.

After a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday party, Vanessa Hart loses everything she loves in a split second. Her best friend, her father, and even her home.

Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, Vanessa endures an agonizing transformation into the very beast that maimed her, and her captors make it clear she cannot escape: she will either swear her life to the Wolf Queen’s Court, or she will die.

With no other choice, Vanessa joins their enchanted Castle Severi—where flowering vines grow through the walls, gifts are bestowed by the stars, and a claw can break through skin as easily as silk—but she hasn’t forgotten what they stole from her.

Vanessa still seeks vengeance, scheming in the shadows even as she finds herself mesmerized by the golden prince Sinclair Severi, who threatens to steal her heart though he is promised to her nemesis. And by his brooding, disgraced cousin, Calix, whose smoldering gaze hides even darker secrets. Immersed in the magic of their whimsical yet cruel society, Vanessa soon learns not all is as it seems.

The Court is at war, and she may simply be a pawn in its lethal game.

For Fans of:
Forbidden Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Werewolves
Paranormal Romance

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Werewolves, Paranormal, Young Adult, Audiobook

399 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Grace Quan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot in good conscience recommend this book. At least to a YA audience. I don't care if the main character is technically a "young adult", this should be shelved as 18+

Listen, I like my books a bit gory, but even this was too much for me. I just was not expecting it to be in a "YA" book. And it's not just the gore that caught me off guard. It was the excessive swearing, the sexually explicit content and mature themes that completely surprised me.

This book was also so unnecessarily long. I feel like most of the middle could have been cut out. Can I also mention that the romance in this book felt icky. It was not only completely not age appropriate for the reader, but also for the character. Vanessa is only 17 years old and some of the things she does in this book I feel a 17 year old should not be doing. I'm all for fade to black in YA and this is why. It just doesn't feel right reading about a minor in a sexual context. It's young adult for a reason, do we even have standards anymore? I want younger teens to be able to pick up a YA book and be confident that there's not going to be anything crazy in it.

1/5 stars
------------
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

 Thank you Netgalley and Hatchet Audio/ Little, Brown Young Readers for an ALC of this book!! 




NOOO, GOD! NO, GOD, PLEASE, NO! NO! NO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!.. My inner Michael Scott has been set allllll the way off 😭..

 My TBR list is so freaking long alreadyyyyy..and I was already struggling without indulging in on the whole Wolf/Werewolf trope 😭😭😭😭😭.. now I know at least a few of you will think.. " but your dumbazz requested the book in the first place".... Yes, I'm aware of this lol.. and while I was obviously expecting a good time.. I wasn't expecting to take a full tumble down the rabbit hole..Check on me in about a month and I bet you my personal library has its own werewolf section.. it's just all starting to feel very expensive 😭


This was.. just absolutely great honestly. It's easy to follow, it's not over complicated, the storyline is addicting, the peppered in humourous one-liners are on point, the twists are jaw dropping,we have a lil Academia, enemies to lovers to enemies. 


The ending was also great and leaves a lot of room to make this a series, which I hope happens!! I definitely need another book or two of this .. like give me 14 of em right now 👇🏼


The Audio for this really adds to the experience, the special effects were great. 


Now, I have been known to do a pretty decent job at seeing both sides of the coin. While I absolutely loved this book and I'm 90% sure, when I look back on my life, I will be able to use this moment to pinpoint my financial decline. This is also my first real wolf book to be fair. So if this is a genre you're super seasoned in, obviously you might have a different standard. However, new to the topic or not this is definitely worth the read! It may just have a different effects.. If you're new to the genre this is going to be a stepping stone that leads you to a land of new obsession you didn't think was possible. If you are more seasoned in the genre this is going to be a great "feel-good"(while still having your heart ripped out), reminiscent/throwback vibe.. This was very much giving True Blood, Vampire Diaries, etc. Either way this will definitely be a book you're glad you read and the book itself is absolutely stunning! I'm already preplanning where I want to put my hardcopy book trophy



Until next time,
Hades
🩵

[_booktique2_ D Amora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Teen Wolf in book format and I ate it the freak up🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜🐺💜


This was such an unexpected surprise and I can tell you with absolute certainty that it’s worth reading. The book was filled with so much mystery and intrigue with equal parts of swoon-worthy and sexy romance that will keep you at the tip of your toes.

~Vanessa-our fmc- gets attacked and bitten by a wolf and is now thrown inside the wolves den. Quite literally. She’s trapped inside a court filled with ruthless werewolves thats held by a evil queen and deadly politics. Unfortunately she cannot escape. She either has to swear her life to the wolf queen or die. So in order to exact her revenge and escape, she has no other choice but to join. ~

I genuinely could not stop reading. I was so desperate to know who was the killer (yes this book was literally a murder mystery). I was desperate to know what was going to happen next and how this book would possibly end. It truly did not disappoint, however, I need book 2 now. Because that ending? OH MY GOD😭 WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT?? I need this like NOWWW.


***I just want to say for anyone who is reviewing this book without actually have read it…please get a grip. You guys are treating this author so unfairly because everything you guys are saying is based off assumptions.

I actually did read this book. And a lot of you didn’t. The book isn’t even out yet. You guys are not even giving constructive criticism. Yall are just coming for the author and it’s absolutely disgusting. Jordan is one of the nicest people ever, actually take the time to learn rather than making assumptions.

[Lucie V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an audio copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you, Hachette Audio). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✅ Pace
✅ Werewolves
✅🆗 World-building
🆗 Writing
🆗(❌) Plot
🆗(❌) Romance
🆗(❌) Characters
❌ Teenage mean girl drama
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: death of a loved one

DNF at 50%

1.5 stars

Meh.
This one wasn’t for me. I'm too old to enjoy this amount of petty jealousy and mean-girl high school drama.

At first, I didn’t really care, but I forced myself to continue. When the petty mean girl drama and awkward flirtation became the center of the plot, though, I just couldn’t force myself to push through anymore.

I will start by saying that the narration is good. Even though this book is all told from Vanessa’s point of view, there is more than one voice actor, and it was nice for the guys to have their own voice, instead of having the one narrator voice everyone.

The world-building and the ideas have potential, but were underdeveloped, thus rendering the book underwhelming and frustrating. The world-building is the usual paranormal one, with werewolves living in secret among humans, but there were other pieces of information about their history and politics that were told, but not explained. We were just told the information in a “it’s just the way it is” manner, which annoyed me because some things didn't make sense to me, and I needed more explanation and background to understand and accept it.

This book is compared to Crescent City in the blurb, but honestly, the only similarity is that Vanessa’s best friend dies at the beginning of the book, and it sends Vanessa on a quest for revenge. She says Celeste is the other half of her soul, but we didn’t get enough time to feel their connection. Vanessa is obsessed with finding her best friend’s killer, but personally, I was not invested in her investigation and didn’t care about who the murderer was. The fact that Vanessa was forced to attend school with the rest of the high-class werewolves immediately after being bitten, and spent more time and energy dealing with petty high school drama than actually investigating her best friend’s murder, didn’t help either.

Vanessa is a bland main character. Her inner monologues were basic and repetitive, and she got a completely new personality after her transition. She started as a shy girl who couldn’t even talk to a cute boy, and suddenly became super confident. She also considers asking personal questions and being borderline rude, “standing up for herself”… The fact that Vanessa just turned 17 years old does not help either; I struggled to connect with her because she felt immature at times, and she lacked depth overall. I didn’t connect with her or any other character.

The writing was jarring at times, and the mean girl drama is something I hate in books. Characters would go from calling each other “bitch” to using words such as “acquiesce” on the same page. The whole teenage, jealous mean girl drama was also too juvenile for me to enjoy or get invested in. Reading about teenagers going to school, insulting each other with their posse of friends, and throwing paper balls with insults written on them when the teacher isn’t looking is not what I was looking for. I am getting too old to enjoy these juvenile characters and immature behaviors.

I know that many readers disliked the fact that this book is sold as a YA, but there is explicit smut involving the 17-year-old main character. I will be honest; I didn't make it far enough into the book to read the smutty scenes, but seeing how the flirty dialogues made me either cringe or roll my eyes, I have a feeling that I would not have enjoyed the spice, no matter how graphic or age-appropriate it was.

The romance is as underdeveloped as the rest of the book. Vanessa hates Sinclairtr on sight, but he makes her feel things whenever he touches her, and he sometimes flirts with her, even though he is engaged to the mean girl of the court. Actually, none of the two boys she is interested in (because yes, there is a love triangle) has been particularly nice to her, but that’s okay, I guess, because they are hot.


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[dak ⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆

💜 🐺 ⚔️ 🌊 🏰 🌿 ✨𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ✨

this was so fun!! (minus the beginning ouch💔💔)
werewolves have me sat every single time and these ones are in a urban fantasy setting with magic abilities uhhh yes pls🤏🏻

celeste and vanessa’s friendship my heart🥹🫶🏻

the tension the romance the banter✔️✔️✔️
the vibes were high!!

that ending took the book from a 4☆ to a 4.5☆ going to need book 2 immediately cause what the fuck??! WHAT THE FUCK… jaw on the floor

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

‧₊˚✧ “𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚎𝚛.” ✧˚₊‧

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently when i'm really annoyed by a book, I'm reduced to bullet points.

-The writing has potential, the story had potential, but this book didn't know what it wanted to be or who it was written for.

- Context: this book is YA. It read very YA. Makes sense. IT'S YA. The FMC turns SEVENTEEN at the beginning of this book.

-She has a complete personality transplant after she is bitten.

- She falls in love with a walking red flag/someone she said was her enemy after 2 conversations.

- I got so tired of the repetitive inner monologue of the FMC.

-One minute the dialogue is very much typical catty high school "yeah, bitch" while they walk about in combat leggings and crop tops, the next they're in medieval style gowns and the same character will start speaking like this: "The mansions with ever-burning flames— glowing orange embers— in the windows. The homes that bustle with decadence and life in equal measure." Yes, that's dialogue.

-WHY THE SPICE?! Ok, 17 years olds do have sex, but the *vibe* is way off. There's like 5 "good girls" in this (including one during an open-door sex scene where he "purrs" "there's my good girl". There's a scene where the MMC and his cousin lace up her corset and fasten her garter at the same time and it's giving purely sexual energy - all "his fingers on my inner thighs so close to my desire" and "It feels so good. They both feel so good." and my brain was just screaming SHE'S SEVENTEEN. She couldn't even string a sentence together in front of a boy she had a crush on at the beginning. It makes me cringe to consider this content is targeted at 14+ 😬

-The character relationships were underdeveloped and so was the world-building.

-Nothing really happens for the majority of this book. She's bitten at the beginning, things are revealed at the end. The middle added nothing of great value.

-I called the twist from the beginning.

I could go on. The characters should have been aged up, but then I try to picture characters in their early twenties interacting and conversing the way these characters do and that wouldn't fit either.

A disappointment for me overall, sadly.




Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this earc.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wild ride for me! This is a werewolf book and is top notch. This is in the young adult genre. It left me feeling surprised! This book has twists and it’s a very fast paced read. What initially caught my attention was this book cover, but I had no idea how much I would enjoy reading it! It is action packed, exciting, entertaining and twisty. You really have no idea what comes next, after the girl is bitten! It is a dark forbidden romance.

The book Bitten is about a teenaged girl who gets bitten by a werewolf! This girl is named Vanessa. She just lost almost everything before the werewolf attack happened. She then turns into a werewolf herself and is out to seek vengeance! As this dark werewolf story unfolds, it will leave you in shock and wanting more! Please read the content warnings before reading this book. I give this a 5 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jordan Stephanie Gray and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!

[Julezreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich muss zugeben: Eigentlich bin ich kein Fan der Werwolf-Thematik in der Romantasy. "Bitten" wollte ich aufgrund des Klappentextes dennoch lesen und insgesamt konnte es mich positiv überraschen. Und das obwohl der Einstieg auf mich eher abschreckend wirkte. Die ersten Kapitel waren sehr rasant, beinahe übereilt, sodass ich (emotional) nicht alles nachvollziehen konnte. Das änderte sich allerdings mit Fortlauf der Handlung. Mehr und mehr konnte das Geschehen am Hof der Werwolfkönigin mitsamt seinen Intrigen mich fesseln. Ich liebe es, wenn Figuren sowie ihre Intentionen lange undurchschaubar bleiben, sodass man Theorien aufstellen kann. Hier haben meine starken Zweifel jedoch auch dazu geführt, dass ich die Beziehungen der Protagonistin zu den Love Interests bislang nicht so sehr mitfühlen konnte - das kann sich allerdings in den Folgebänden entwickeln. Das Ende hat mich schließlich durch Wendungen überrascht. Das Buch habe ich mit dem Gefühl geschlossen, Spaß an der Geschichte und beim Lesen gehabt zu haben. Ein, zwei Punkte an "Bitten" entsprechen zwar nicht gänzlich meinem persönlichen Geschmack (z.B. standen Frauenfiguren im Kampf um einen Mann gegeneinander, Vanessas eher sprunghafte Art ...), insgesamt mochte ich das Buch trotzdem so gerne, dass ich Band 2 definitiv lesen werde!🥰🐺

[inescapablebooks♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 2025 truly is the year of the wolf in my eyes, from dire-wolves to werewolves, I’ve been obsessed. From the cringe factor of Teen Wolf to the addictiveness of “The Cruel Prince,” this book had it all, hooking me all the way through. If you’ve been looking for a fast-paced, werewolf romantasy with court politics, betrayals, enemies-to-lovers, love triangles, and the ultimate female rage, look no further, y’all, Jordan Stephanie Gray has got you!

Premise: Vanessa, just shy of her 17th birthday, gets brutally turned into a werewolf and immediately transported to the vicious and magical wolf court, hidden in plain sight. She slowly uncovers secrets, harnesses her power and strength, falls in love, and plots her revenge, but will that be enough to survive the evil of the wolf court?… dun dun dunnnnnn

My thoughts: Was this a work of art? Well, no… but I had such a fun time reading this that it’s hard not to call this a masterpiece. I don’t even know why I was giggling and kicking my feet so often, because if anything, the romance was pretty fast-paced (and we all know how I feel about insta-love), but Sin, the main male character, simply had that aura about him. Vanessa, as a main character, was well-developed, and while extremely impulsive and emotional at times, was still so realistic and lovable. Genuinely a good person despite everything terrible that happened to her, but not shy of revenge when needed. The ending was additionally absolutely insane. I honestly never could have predicted that, and I love that. I can’t wait for book 2, I just know it’s gonna eat when Vanessa uses everything she’s learned to turn the werewolf world upside down.

My only complaint is that I don’t see why this was marketed/written as a YA. There were incredibly gory scenes as well as explicit moments (non fade to black). The plot wouldn’t have suffered from aging the characters a bit; if anything, it would have made more sense and have been less uncomfortable for both younger and older readers.

[Romantasy Ruined Me Cherice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Right, so… first, a few concerns. This book is categorized as Young Adult, but it definitely shouldn’t be. The spice is light, yes, but it’s still there and the language and mature themes make this feel way more adult than YA. Just because the author uses metaphors to describe intimate scenes doesn’t mean it’s not sexual. The rating needs to be adjusted.


Now, let’s talk about the positives. The book itself is beautiful the wolves, the roses, the sprayed edges with that wolf design? Gorgeous. 🌹🐺🌹🌹🐺🌹

As for the story, we meet Vanessa, who’s thrown into a werewolf society full of rulers and titles. The idea had great potential, but it needed more worldbuilding. The ending felt super rushed, and the romance didn’t make me swoon it felt a bit forced, like the chemistry was missing. Honestly, they could’ve cut that part out or developed it more naturally.

I have to be real it took me a long time to finish because I kept losing interest. The concept was good, but it needed stronger story structure and a clearer tone. Either make it a true YA fantasy and remove the adult themes, or lean all the way in and make it an adult book.

Verdict: Definitely not ruined. No big alpha wolf daddy energy here, and I’m disappointed. 😩 I was happy to finally finish it, but it just didn’t deliver the bite I wanted. I’m still searching for that perfect wolf book… I really thought this could be it. 

Still out here hunting for my alpha wolf daddy 🐺💔 Someone please recommend a werewolf book that actually ruins me! 😭🔥

[Anna]

Author used HP to promote (in 2025?!?!), used two very problematic books by Zionist authors to promote, and is saying this YA book has smut. Adults writing teenagers in explicit scene is icky. Sexual content in young adult can be done tastefully and that means fade to black, references, etc, but to call it smut is actually gross.

Also, to complain that people are tagging this as harmful and then say you don't support JKR and are pro-palestine doesn't help. If you don't support JKR then don't use HP references. If you are pro-palestine, don't use Zionist authors to promote your work. It truly is that simple. Do better.

[Lia Carstairs]

DNF @ 43%

I couldn't get into this unfortunately. I'm just bored :(
I don't really like/care for Vanessa's character and going into this, I did know it would be a love triangle (and lowkey sometimes a love triangle will win me over... very rare now but it happens) but I did not like it here. I will say though that the worldbuilding was really cool.
Might pick this up another time but idk we'll see!

Thank you Hodderscape for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

[angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was truly everything oh my god

[tahaslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

campy werewolf romance is so back, y'all.

south asian drama directors were definitely consulted for that ending.

and my win rate for picking the right guy and hating the annoying one stays undefeated.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a fun time reading this! It really took me back to the 2010s paranormal era! I had my favourite in the love triangle as I always do and the ending!!! I figured out majority of the twist but not all of it, I’m intrigued to see what happens next!

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eArc and a chance to read Bitten early.

Firstly, I want to say a big hallelujah for the return of werewolves!🙌 As teen in the 2000s I grew up loving paranormal romance authors like Kelly Armstrong. And was even team Jacob when everyone else was team Edward.

Vampires and witches have been dominating the fantasy genre lately so I was excited to read a werewolf story. Unfortunately, Bitten didn't live up to my expectations.

The writing was good and definitely has potential. The beginning immediately drew me in and the ending took me on a wild rollercoaster ride.

However, the in-between I just didn't connect to the story at all. The world building was lacking and the author heavily relied on the "it's just the way it is" to explain away any questions. For a YA book, the content could get a little too graphic and the sex-scenes were too explicit for the genre. I was very surprised this wasn't marked as NA as Vanessa easily could have been 18+. Also, it felt like Vanessa had a complete personality transplant after she was bitten. She started off as a shy good girl and then all of a sudden became a confident girl with attitude. There wasn't much character growth for her.

On the plus side, her rage was absolutely palpable and I constantly wanted to punch people on her behalf. However, there really wasn't much relief from that. Everyone was just so MEAN, seemingly for no reason other than they're scared of the queen and that's just the way things are. No one has a mind of their own or are way too scared to change things. This is usually fine if in the end there's a coup or something but the court felt more like a cult than a "kingdom".

And don't get me started on the love triangle. What love triangle?! Both Calix and Sinclair treat Vanessa like garbage. Sin is a complete coward and we didn't have enough moments between Calix and Vanessa to justify their connection.

Bitten will hit with a certain reader group and I'm here for the 2000s paranormal romance vibes but sadly this book must wasn't for me.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review will come. I need to process my thoughts for now just know I screamed and cried and loved it. 🐺

Okay I’m back. It’s been a couple days and I’ve been able to let the thoughts marinate. For starters this is Jordan’s debut novel and I was blessed and lucky enough to be picked for her street team and be a beta reader for Bitten and I’m so glad because this book devoured me. If I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it.

Vanessa is just a normal girl who went to a party with her best friend but that is the night that her life changed and she ended up bitten by a werewolf. She gets dragged to the Wolf Queen’s court and is expected to participate in their daily life while being consumed with heightened emotions and the need for vengeance against the wolf who ruined her life.

Sinclair is the crown prince of the court and Calix is his cousin and his body guard. Both are swoon worthy. This book is filled with intrigue, mystery, feminine rage, and so much yearning. I’m not kidding when I say if I wasn’t reading the book I was thinking about it and counting the minutes until I could get back to it.

Of course there were twists and turns but I’m not going to tell you guys about those you have to read them for yourself. 🤭

If you like forbidden romance, werewolves, court antics, a FMC who is the embodiment of female rage, books filled with angst, intrigue, and mystery this is your sign to read this when it’s published.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordan’s debut Bitten was *everything* !!!! Read it in 2 days and was utterly un-put-downable. I swooned, teared up, yelled and screamed and felt ALL the emotions. Vanessa is a stunning MC, flanked by an amazing cast of characters and a nail biting, twisty plot.

Simply adored it and that ENDING. Bring on book 2 🐺🐺🐺🐺

[Lavinia Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

O poveste cu potențial mare. Mi-a plăcut premisa și lumea creată - nu cred că am mai citit ceva cu vârcolaci - dar execu��ia nu a fost ce trebuie pentru mine. Se vede că e carte de debut.
Dar potențial există - m-a făcut curioasă să aflu cum continuă povestea.
Sunt multe muuulte asemănări cu alte cărți. Dar am trecut peste.

Recomand cartea celor care iubesc genul fantasy. Dar să vă lăsați surprinși :)
Mi-au plăcut anumite personaje (secundare, ofc) și de abia aștept să văd ce urmează. Fiindcă normal că ne-a lăsat în plop la final :))

[Jean Takeshima · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It begins with a bite.”

I thought I was signing up to read a fun werewolf fantasy, but Bitten is so much more than that.
It starts with Vanessa, an average girl just getting through life and school. She follows the rules and helps to reign her best friend, Celeste, in, except when her friend is able to convince her to bend and break the rules with her. This is where the story takes a cruel twist. To celebrate Vanessa’s upcoming birthday, Vanessa and Celeste attend a party in the rich side of town. Little do they know, werewolves are in attendance. After Vanessa is humiliated and Celeste starts a fight with another girl, they decide to head home before any real trouble befalls them. Except, they’re too late. On the way to their car a giant wolf follows them and attacks. Celeste is brutally killed and Vanessa is bitten. This is where the life she thought would always be hers is ripped away.

“This can either be an ending, or a beginning. Don’t let the torture win. Fight it.”

Vanessa is brought to the Wolf Queen’s castle, which is tucked in a fold in time. Surrounded by luminous stained glass and decadent clothes, Vanessa has to navigate the cruel world of werewolves, where everyone is intent on her downfall. As a new werewolf, Vanessa struggles with her transformations and is consumed with rage at Celeste’s death. She will stop at nothing to find the murderer, even if it means spying on those she should avoid and attracting the wrath of the Wolf Queen herself. As Vanessa searches the castle for clues, Sin and Calix, the prince and his guard, seem to always be near and watching her every move. While Calix refuses to trust Vanessa and won’t hesitate to kill her if she disrupts the balance, Sin is seductive and off-limits. In a castle full of possible killers and those who would love to see Vanessa killed, Sin and Calix are the only ones Vanessa can trust. Which may just end up being her undoing.
This book was not at all what I expected, but it’s safe to say that Jordan Gray has created a masterpiece. The characters are full of emotion and the setting is exquisite. Vanessa begins as a quiet girl but as the story progresses, she becomes more sure of herself and holds onto the rage she feels at her friend’s death. Too often in books, the characters lose their rage quickly and seem unemotional. Vanessa radiates female power and her love and desire for justice is clear in her actions. I felt like I could truly connect with her and was rooting for her the whole time.
Have you guessed it yet? There’s a love triangle. And some incredibly steamy scenes. I’ll leave it at that.
Jordan’s imagery is magical and lyrical - there were so many times I just had to stop to appreciate the writing. The first sentence drew me in and the descriptions throughout the book made me feel like I was there. I can’t help but include this line about the moon:

“It hangs in the blackened sky like a mermaid’s scale, glowing bright as candlelight against the darkness.”

Isn’t it just perfect?! And the WHOLE book is like that.
Finally, if all that wasn’t enough to convince you to read this marvelous book, perhaps the banter will. Vanessa, Sin, and Calix are so good at going back and forth they should enter some kind of competition. They would totally win. I was smirking and laughing so much through this book, it was truly a delight to read.
In conclusion, Jordan Gray has created a unique world with a feisty heroine who is sure to steal your heart. And if she doesn’t, the prince and guard definitely will. Before I sign off, here’s one last quote that about sums up how I feel after finishing this explosive read:

“What is wrong with both of you?”

“A very long list, Vanessa. Where would I even start?”

[Sam (FallingBooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really thought that this would be a 5 star but after the first part this quickly lost me. Also if people are telling you to read this after Direbound... Not sure about that. I'm reading Direbound by Sable Sorensen after reading Bitten and it is so much better. In fact we can't even compare them. Their similarities start and end with the inclusion of wolves.

The premise sounded great and the vibes reminded me of the good old 2013 paranormal romance days. Girl gets bitten by a werewolf > turns into a werewolf > gets taken to the secret werewolf courts > forced to go to werewolf school > outcast and everyone hates her apart from the hot prince > mean girls > also she's trying to find out who bit and killed her best friend

It went downhill because the writing style wasn't there for me. This was more fun/cringe than it was anything to blow my mind. The romance was not it and there was zero chemistry or tension or anything for me to even be able to root for. I kept reading because I wanted to uncover the murder mystery but even then the twist wasn't much of mindblowing moment.

This also should of been a new-adult with aged up characters because it didn't make sense that they were only 17 and also could of leaned into more of the explicit romance aspects, which it was seemingly trying to do at times but in the YA space? just didn't feel right.

Might pick up the sequel, we'll see.

[_blondebooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky, Savage, and Absolutely Bitten ✨🐺
Audio ARC Review — Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray
Narration: Avery Caris; Katharine Chin; Matt Mercurio; Chase Brown; Marni Penning; Jordan Stephanie Gray

🎧 THE AUDIO = ICONIC
The full narration team — Avery Caris, Katharine Chin, Matt Mercurio, Chase Brown, Marni Penning, and the author Jordan Stephanie Gray — delivered a flawless, immersive performance. Every voice, every breath, every growl elevated the story. Chef’s kiss. 👏🏽🔥

🩸 WHAT IT’S ABOUT
On her seventeenth birthday, Vanessa Hart is viciously attacked and everything she loves is ripped away. Bitten and imprisoned, she’s forced into a brutal choice: swear loyalty to the Wolf Queen’s Court or die. Pulled into the opulent and dangerous Castle Severi, Vanessa schemes for vengeance while being pulled toward two impossible men — the golden prince Sinclair Severi and the brooding, disgraced Calix. Magic, war, betrayal, and forbidden desire collide in a world where a claw can break skin as easily as silk. 🌙🐺

💥 WHAT I LOVED
✨ The worldbuilding is lush — whimsical and cruel in equal measure.
✨ Vanessa’s rage and hunger for justice drive the whole book; I was invested from page one.
✨ Romance dynamics (enemies→slow-burn→forbidden) are chef’s kiss and utterly addictive.
✨ The Celeste chapter at the end was a masterstroke — needed, delicious, and very Brice & Danika energy. 😭💫

⚠️ CONTENT NOTE / AGE
Tagged YA, but real talk — between gore, language, sexual content, and mature themes, I’d confidently shelve this as 18+. I would not hand this to a 13-year-old. Side-eye to the YA tag. 👀

👎 CRITIQUES (REAL TALK)
⚠️ The ending cliffhanger? Not cute. The final hour felt rushed — too much, too fast — and after everything Vanessa endures, she deserved a little reprieve. That pacing stumble cost the book a half star for me. But even so — the writing is strong and I was absolutely here for it.

🕯️ FINAL THOUGHTS
Dark, savage, and utterly delicious — I devoured this and I’ll be first in line for book two. If you love forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, and paranormal/werewolf fantasy, this will scratch that itch hard. Just be prepared for blood, heartbreak, and a cliffhanger that will make you hate-read the wait. 😈

For fans of:

Forbidden Romance ❤️‍🔥
Enemies to Lovers 🗡️
Werewolves & Paranormal Fantasy 🌙🐺

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Jordan Stephanie Gray for the early access ARC and the chance to share my honest thoughts.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

after a vicious werewolf attack on the night of her seventeenth birthday, vanessa hart loses everything in a split second - her best friend, her father, her home. with no other choice, vanessa must endure an agonizing transformation and swear her loyalty to the wolf queen’s court in the enchanted castle severi. driven by rage and vengeance, vanessa schemes in the shadows while navigating both werewolf politics and the desires of her own heart. but the court is at war - and she may just be a pawn in its lethal game.

I love this book. the setting is lush and darkly whimsical, which makes for an immersive and vivid world - despite the literal cutthroat atmosphere of the court, I still found myself wanting to explore the secret passageways and hidden alcoves of castle severi.

vanessa is full of rage and focused on revenge, and honestly, good for her. I love that she is angry, and brash, and even that it can cloud her judgement, because it makes her more compelling and real.

sin and calix are such good foils of each other, and their banter is so much fun. it can be easy to fall into a golden/chosen one vs. an outcast/edgier one trap when it comes to love interests, but both characters have depth and dimension that paint them solidly morally gray (which is right where we like them, am I right).

spoiler-free, as always, but that. ending. it takes my breath away every time, and like I was screaming after the first time I read bitten, I have never seen this particular type of arc (one of my favorites) executed this flawlessly.
bitten is perfect for spooky season, fans of the mortal instruments, twilight, stephanie garber, and shelby mahurin.

*********************************

This review is based on an advance copy of Bitten.

We have a werewolf renaissance on our hands, brought to us by the haunting gothic world created by Jordan Gray in her debut novel, Bitten.

If you love a morally gray love interest (who doesn't?) who's blond and broody, a fmc who's allowed to be full of rage and vengeance (literally female rage: the musical), searing tension and yearning (seriously, the book is hot to the touch), complex court politics and intrigue, and oh, how could I forget? It's also true enemies to lovers (complete with a corset-tying scene).

The plot twist is one of the best I've ever read - my jaw was on the floor and I've never seen this particular arc executed that perfectly.

Bitten has the vibes of early-mid 2000s YA paranormal romance in all the best ways. Perfect for fans of Twilight, Shadowhunters, The Hunger Games, and authors Shelby Mahurin and Stephanie Garber. It's unputdownable and I can't wait for it to be on the shelves!

[Shelby | shelbyandherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

THAT ENDING!!!!!!! Oh my heck!!!!!! I REALLY enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book two!!

And now for my formal review:

I was thrilled and honored to receive an advance copy of this book late last year, and when the end of the prologue had me literally YELLING, I knew I was in for a treat. Bitten is a YA romantasy where main character Vanessa is thrown into the vicious world of a werewolf court. As she grapples with grief and is held at the court against her will, she must learn who she can trust while she tries to solve a mystery and exact revenge on the people who destroyed the life she once had.

I loved the political machinations Vanessa has to navigate and her journey to understand her new life and powers in the midst of the Wolf Queen’s Court. Vanessa’s relationships with Sinclair and Calix and her other classmates also kept me interested; I was never sure who she should trust! I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys werewolves, angry young women, and court politics. Thank you to the author for the advance copy!

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Buckle up buttercups because Bitten is about to take you for one hell of a ride!

Vanessa’s story is a tragic one—she’s lost so much, forced to become a monster, and caught up in the schemes of a cruel shifter court.

If you’re a big fan of werewolves, political intrigue and court drama, lies, betrayal, and one hell of an unexpected ending—then Bitten is for you!

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- paranormal romance
- werewolves
- forbidden romance
- enemies-to-lovers
- love triangle

[Ifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

4.5 stars - what a WILD ride! A brutal werewolf court, twists and turns, mind games, and feminine rage, this was a gripping read! I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook which was fantastic. The narrators kept me enthralled and I couldn’t put it down! I was entirely immersed in this story and felt like I was right there in Castle Severi!

After a vicious werewolf attack that caused Vanessa to lose everything she’s known, and turn into a werewolf herself after being bitten, she’s forced into swearing her life to the cruel Wolf Queen’s Court. Vanessa swears she will get vengeance and channels all her energy into rage as she tries to navigate the Court. Caught in brutal werewolf politics, not knowing who to trust, and distracted by the Prince Sinclair and his cousin Calix, Vanessa seeks to get revenge and uncover everything that happened the night of the attack.

This is a dark and brutal werewolf YA fantasy (though I’d say it’s more NA) that will keep you turning page after page! My favourite part of this book was the feminine rage and I truly felt everything Vanessa was feeling throughout the book.

And that ending??? I need book two ASAP to know how this story will continue to unfold!

[Dai de labibliotecadedai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me tuvo pegada desde la primera página. Hacía años que no leía algo de hombres lobo y la verdad es que… me volví a enamorar del género.

La historia sigue a Vanessa Hart, una chica que lo pierde todo en una noche y termina atrapada en una corte tan mágica como peligrosa. Entre conspiraciones, secretos, un sistema político brutal y una sociedad donde las garras mandan, Vanessa busca una sola cosa: venganza. Pero claro, en el camino aparecen Sin y Calix, dos hombres lobo con demasiadas sombras y más secretos de los que uno puede manejar sin perder la cabeza.

El libro es adictivo, oscuro y con un worldbuilding impecable. Me encantó cómo está desarrollado el funcionamiento de la corte. Vanessa es una protagonista fuerte, compleja y muy fácil de empatizar. Otro de mis personajes fav fue Evie, espero mucho de ella en la segunda parte porque estoy segura que va a ser CLAVE.
Ahora, te digo la verdad: no terminé de confiar en ninguno de los dos protagonistas masculinos (aunque con Calix tengo mi corazoncito dividido 👀).

Y ese final… ¡ese final te pega una piña emocional de las grandes! Cerré el libro gritando que necesito la segunda parte YA.

[thelilcloseddoorbookgal]

I opened this YA book at the bookstore to a random page, and the first thing I saw was the FMC talking about how horny she was…so I did a little research.

I’m going to quote a summary from Common Sense Media regarding the sexual content in this book. This is a YA novel, and this is not okay. Common Sense Media is a reliable source I’ve used many times.

“Lots of romantic tension and some sensuous making out with descriptions of cupping breasts and implying playing with nipples, manual stimulation and penetration to orgasm, an erotic threesome when two characters help a third get dressed, and genital sex described vaguely with "moving inside" and thrusting. Mention of erotic asphyxiation and a character implies that being fast with a video game controller is a valuable skill for manual stimulation. Sex and violence are briefly paired when a couple making out kiss and bite each other.”

Erotic threesome and sex and violence paired?? For a book with a 17 yr old FMC with the intended audience being 14+?? “Well, teens already know about sex.” Duhhhh but do you really think that equating sex with violence is good?? Is this really how you want teen girls to view sex?

[rinconcitodevi✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ha sido un libro que me ha mantenido súper enganchada a partir de la mitad, los giros han sido adictivos. Pero eso no quita que me ha resultado demasiado juvenil, repetitivo y muy efecto película de antena 3. El final sí me ha gustado y me quedo con ganas de saber como sigue la historia. Entretenido.

[letsgosupernova · Rating 4 out of 5]

review to come