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Elena Michaels is women going places. She has a great job as a journalist, a nice apartment in Toronto, a very attentive boyfriend, and a serious problem. She is a werewolf. The only female werewolf in existence.

So starts Bitten, Kelley Armstrong's first book in the Women of the Otherworld series. Elena is summoned by her old pack's alpha, Jeremy, to return to Stonehaven, his estate. With much trepidation, Elena embarks on a journey that will alter her life once again. The pack represents all that Elena resents -- male domination and treating women like dirt. In addition, there is Clay -- who longs to possess Elena completely once again.

Kelley Armstrong's werewolves are feral and strong. They hunt and run at will. These beasts are wild -- but still retain a trace of humanity. There are only two ways to become a werewolf -- by bite or heredity. Only males can inherit the werewolf tradition. The werewolves spend a good amount of time procreating, only interested in their male progeny.

Nipping at the heals of the pack are the mutts -- usually lone werewolves who challenge the stability of the pack. Mutts have been known to indulge themselves in killing humans and the pack does its best to guard against this. This indiscriminate killing has the potential of exposing werewolves to the world. Elena finds herself drawn into the pack once again and as she struggles to accept her nature.

Bitten is a wonderful, fresh look at werewolves. The pack is like a close knit family unit with all different types. Elena is written as a strong woman and werewolf. Yet Elena has many emotional barriers that do not allow her to evolve. She is unable to truly let others care for her. She fights her feral instincts and tries to conquer them.

Throughout the book, Elena is in constant struggle with Clay. This relationship is very complex and wonderful to read about. While reading the book, you find yourself wanting Elena to give into Clay -- at other times you want Elena to cause him bodily harm. This seesaw of emotions is laced with love, bitterness, lust, loneliness, and so much more. Upon finishing this book, all you want to do is read the next installment, Stolen.

Alisa discovered science fiction at the tender age of eight. She devoured The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and never looked back. She lives in Chicago with her husband, cat, and 5000 books. For more information please visit her website at alisaandmike.com.