Recruit

Otherworld Stories #9.7

by Kelley Armstrong

A piece of free online fiction available on Kelly Armstrong's website at www.kelleyarmstrong.com.

The introduction to the story reads:
This was a very short story written as an extra for Frostbitten.
It takes place before the book begins, and launched the investigation that eventually led Elena and Clay to Alaska.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Short Stories, Werewolves, Paranormal, Supernatural, Shapeshifters

5 pages, ebook

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Kelley 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.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recruit is a short story, Otherworld Stories #9.6.

This is a short story written as an extra for Frostbitten. Recruit takes place before Frostbitten (Women of the Otherworld #10).

It has been many years since I read Frostbitten (I read it when it was released). But I adore Kelley Armstrong and the Women of the Otherworld series. I've gone back to try to find any stories that I've missed out on reading.

Recruit takes place before Frostbitten and features Clay and Elena. The story takes place in Buffalo. Clay and Elena are trying to recruit a new member into The Pack (they are werewolves).

This was a cute short story. It was really nice to see Clay and Elena again.

[Ayse · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little too short to really be of interest but nice interaction of elena and clay

[Mimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow I missed this 5-page Otherworld story. It's too short and doesn't seem to add much to the series.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elena a Clay get a tip about a potential man-eating mutt that leads into Frostbitten.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A free short story, 9.7 in the Women of the Otherworld urban fantasy series, revolving around Clay Danvers and Elena Michaels. The focus is on gaining new members for the pack. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Women of the Otherworld books on my website.

My Take
It's an inside look at how the Stonehaven Pack recruits new members, who're eager to be a part of the pack, whom Jeremy doesn't want.

Armstrong uses first person protagonist point-of-view from Elena's perspective as she reacts to Clay's behavior and Paul's snark. That picky Paul. Clay was right, he's stupid.

It's really an intro to Frostbitten , 10, and puts that sense of adventure to the test.

The Story
It's tricky getting word out for new members for Stonehaven. It's usually the mutts who need help from Stonehaven. So it's a surprise when Elena and Clay meet up with Paul Forbes.

He's got his own questions . . .

The Characters
The Stonehaven Pack . . .
. . . are werewolves based in northern New York, Jeremy Danvers is the alpha. The dangerous Clay is his "son" who's married to Elena.

Lucas Cortez, a lawyer and sorcerer, is the illegitimate and youngest son of Benito Cortez, the head of the Cortez Cabal.

Buffalo, New York
Paul Forbes has lived in Mexico.

The Title
The title is all about who Elena and Clay intend to "Recruit".

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free online very short story found on the author’s website. #9.6 of the Otherworld stories.

Takes place just before the book Frostbitten begins launching Elena and Clay’s trip to Alaska. They’re in Buffalo checking out a possible recruit for the pack.

[Anniken Haga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to say about this story. Again, I like Clay and Elena's dynamic, and it's well written. It also shows a bit of the political world around the American Pack and werewolves - although it's from before Frostbitten and not "now.
More than that, though? Not that I can think of.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very short story written as an extra for Frostbitten.
It takes place before the book begins, and launched the investigation that eventually led Elena and Clay to Alaska.

Heather's Notes
This show how Elena and Clay found out about Reese.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Another very short story of typical Clay/Elena vs. mutt interaction. This one is a prequel to Frostbitten, setting Elena on Reese's trail.

[Girlgeorge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another short online story with Clay and Elena about the events leading up to the novel Frostbitten. This one involves a mutt who brings them the information about possible man-killers.

[Maria Defensor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitten once again by Kelley Armstrong's "pen".

Converted, addicted to anything written by her. Now scouring bookstores, the internet for her published work.

You can never get enough of Elena and Clay. Even after reading Frostbitten, a back story on the novel, no matter how short is still a welcome read.

The playfulness elicits a smile, the rough-and-tumble raises the suspense and every banter, every tender gesture tickles, with all the naturalness of true love between supernaturals.

[Francesca the Fierce (Under the Covers Book Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was extremely short!!!!! It takes place before Frostbitten. As usual when I read Elena & Clay I think they're so great together, they have chemistry, they know each other. They are now looking to recruit new pack members and go to Paul Forbes, who in turn gives them information on man-eaters, which leads them to Alaska.

[MommaBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave this 2.25 stars, rounded up out of necessity. This was a 5-page PDF that was at least more interesting than Checkmate had been. Still, seemed like a passage that certainly could have been added to a novel and expanded to perhaps a chapter. We'll see if it shouldn't have been added to Frostbitten after all, where the author says this scene was mentioned. Another too-brief disappointment, but at least we got to see Clay be Clay.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clay and Elena have a meeting with a mutt who claims to want to become a pack member. However he instead indicates that he has evidence of a man eating mutt and is preapared to sell the information to them. Is it really a good idea to do that with Clay?

This was an amusing story that shows how dumb some of the mutts can be! I wish the story was a bit longer but it is nice to see some Pack activity again!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a couple page prologue to the book Frostbitten, but it was not included in the book.
I would have preferred to read it just before reading frostbitten than happening to find/read it online after I have finished the whole series.

Here is the link to the copy on Kelley Armstrong's website (it's free):

http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/PDFs/R...

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great short story, and loved how stupid the mutt was, that he would consider joining the pack, that his information that led to Frostbitten merited 10 grand. Great story!!!

*November 18th 2012*
Great short story, to see how Frostbitten's plot was set off, and nice!

[L-D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short highlights a situation that leads to the events in Frostbitten. Clay and Elena are still trying to recruit pack members but they find a lead that sends them looking for a rogue mutt with man-eating appetites.

[gremlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, but extremely short, story of Elena and Clay meeting up with a mutt who gives them a tip on a man-eater that leads to .Frostbitten

[Lacey]

Super fast, only 5 pages. But I did like hearing about the recruiting problem, it was hinted at in Frostbitten but this clarifies some of the difficulties in actually finding a good recruit to join the pack.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little quick read showing how Clay and Elena end up where they do in Frostbitten. There is a lot of discussion about how the pack is "recruiting" and looking for viable members. As usual, Clay and Elena are more than able to handle a mutt looking to extort money from them.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm literally not even going to count this is my book count... it's like three pages long.

At least this KIND OF introduces Reese who we've only really seen in Novellas which bothers the heck out of me.

Two starts for giving me literally three pages...

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ultra short story about Elena and Clay on the lookout for new Pack recruits. It's a prequel to Frostbitten.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet and classic Clay/Elena interaction.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very short story written as an extra for Frostbitten.
It takes place before the book begins, and launched the investigation that eventually led Elena and Clay to Alaska.

[Sandra]

Free on: http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/free-o...

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, enjoyable read. I really love Elena's voice and I miss her character every time I read a different Otherworld book.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

ooh really got into this, I wish it was longer, guess I have to read frost bitten!

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute characters...had me smiling...

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story introducing another book. Not needed but because it part of the series I read it.

[Michelle Tempted By Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

A VERY short extra before Frostbitten. It is merely an insight into how Elena and Clay come by information leading them to investigate in Alaska. It was alright, only a couple pages.