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{{infobox
|title=Frostbitten
|author=Kelley Armstrong
|reviewer=Jill Murphy
|genre=Fantasy
|summary=It's back to the werewolves in this latest volume in Armstrong's immensely popular series. It's great value - easy to read with lots of fights, some goodly dollops of wolfish sex and a twisty turny plot. You just can't help but like these books.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|format=Hardcover
|pages=352
|publisher=Orbit
|date=October 2009
|isbn=1841497762
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841497762</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0553806629</amazonus>
}}

It's back to the werewolves in this latest volume in Armstrong's immensely popular ''Women of the Otherworld'' series, and I must say I'm relieved because the werewolves are my favourites. Time's moved on a little since we were with them last. Elena and Clay are now utterly settled in their wolfish marriage and their twins are three years old. Elena has just found out that Jeremy is looking to retire and also to make her the new pack Alpha. Ambitious and competitive, she's the ideal pack member for the job - but how will it affect her relationship with Clay, the pack enforcer? To add to this worry, a contact from the past has churned up some unwanted memories.

Personal worries are going to have to take a back seat though - reports of maulings and murders are coming through from Alaska that may well impact on the American werewolves. It appears there are some mutts on their territory...

... cue chases, fights, sex - all the stuff we've happily come to expect from one of Armstrong's enjoyable urban fantasies. And enjoyable ''Frostbitten'' is. There are some horribly mean villains in the form of Eastern European mutts (non-pack) werewolves, some brand new supernaturals in the form of shape-shifting backwoodsmen and some wayward pups to rescue and reform. Behind the action - which is pacy and satisfying as ever - Elena and Clay's relationship is tested and emerges as strong as ever, and the dwindling pack finds some potential new blood for its future.

Armstrong always gives great value for money and it's no wonder that fans of urban fantasy absolutely lap up her books. She's got an easy and comfortable style and writes a great fight scene. Still better, her sex is always credible and never embarrasssing - quite a feat when you've wolves and demons and ghosts to write into the panting and gasping! Recommended for fans - but newbies should probably start at the beginning with ''Bitten''.

My thanks to the nice people at Orbit for a) sending the book and b) giving it a nicer cover than the US edition!

Adult readers might like to extend their ''Otherworld'' reading by getting acquainted with Armstrong's related young adult [[The Summoning (Darkest Powers 1) by Kelley Armstrong|sequence]]. Those who are more interested in the wolf aspect of ''Frostbitten'' than its urban fantasy shouldn't miss [[The Wolf by Joseph Smith]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1841497762}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6350955}}

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