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Publication
Plume (2011), Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mystery. HTML: One of the most popular writers of paranormal fiction and the #1 New York Times bestselling author returns with a rollicking new novel in her Otherworld series. At twenty-one, Savannah Levine-orphaned daughter of a notorious dark witch and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer-considers herself a full-fledged member of the otherworld. The once rebellious teen has grown into a six-foot-tall, motorcycle-riding jaw-dropper, with an impressive knowledge of and ability to perform spells. The only problem is, she's having a hard time convincing her adoptive parents, Paige and Lucas, to take her seriously as an adult. She's working as the research assistant at the detective agency they founded, and when they take off on a romantic vacation alone, leaving her in charge, Savannah finds herself itching for a case to call her own. (She's also itching for Adam, her longtime friend and colleague, to see her as more than just a little girl, but that's another matter.) Suddenly, Savannah gets the chance she's been waiting for: Recruited by another supernatural detective, she travels to Columbus, Washington, a small, dying town. Two troubled young women have been found in an abandoned warehouse, murdered. Now a third woman's dead, and on closer inspection small details point to darker forces at play. Savannah feels certain she can handle the case, but with signs of supernatural activity appearing at every turn, things quickly become more serious- and far more dangerous-than she realizes..… (more)
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member Mardel
from an ARC
Kelley Armstrong has been one of my favorite authors ever since I picked up Dimestore Magic. After I read that novel, the next time I went to the bookstore I looked for other novels by her. I had seen the phrase "Women of the Otherworld" on the cover, and that gave me a clue that there
Because of all of this out of order reading, I first read about Savannah, this novel's main character in Dimestore Magic. I enjoyed the rather smartassed character of the teen-aged, very powerful young witch. Throughout a lot of the coming books we get to read about Savannah, but Waking the Witch is told from Savannah's point of view.Savannah is now 21 years old, and is trying to remain a good person, but it's evident that she doesn't quite think like Paige (her guardian). In fact, one of the things I like about this series is that Ms Armstrong seems to be able to write first person from a variety of character's POV, and each star of each book has her own "voice". Savannah's voice is sarcastic, young and assertive. She's not quite human either, and therefore doesn't have quite the same ethics or morals that humans are supposed to have, though she does work at maintaining some ethics.
In Waking the Witch, Paige and Lucas have finally taken a long vacation. They own an investigations company (Cortez-Winterbourne Investigations) and Savannah has worked as "executive assistant slave" to them for a few years. She's been more than ready to take on a case on her own and finally gets a chance when a half-demon PI named Jesse brings a case for Lucas to look over. Savannah ends up taking the case, agreeing to do the "legwork" while Jesse finishes up another case he's been working on. Savannah goes to a small town, driving there on her hog (a motorcycle, not a bespelled pig - LOL) which of course, brings her to the attention of the town sheriff, as well as a few other townspeople.
What follows is an interesting mix of urban fantasy and an old-fashioned detective novel. Three women have been murdered in two separate incidents. There are questions about whether the murders are connected, though some are trying to make it seem that they aren't similar at all - though the women were all found in the same spot. There is no lack of suspects either. Suddenly, Savannah meets another man who is also trying to investigate, and the police chief at first wants nothing to do with either PIs. Someone also starts taking shots at Savannah - dangerous things keep happening to her. There are the beginnings of romantic feelings, without overwhelming the story - nicely handled. I find that I still enjoy Savannah's personality - both the grown-up personality in this book, and the previous books' teen-age Savannah.
The story is entertaining. There are some very colorful characters, a commune, a small girl that is more mature than some of the townspeople, some intense situations and some comical situations. The dialogue is good, with snarky bits between some of the characters and some touching dialogue with the youngest character in the book. It's been a while since I read a detective style novel - every urban fantasy always has a bit of mystery to them, but this one focused on the detecting of a mystery, with Savannah working out clues, motives, etc. Kind of reminded me of an up-to-date, rather dangerous magical Nancy Drew, but with edge. I liked the mix of urban fantasy and detective novel vibe.
As with most of the novels in this series, this can be read as a standalone novel - but there are 10 other books with differing main characters and narration styles. I have enjoyed all of Kelley Armstrong's books - some better than others, yet all of them are interesting and entertaining.
Kelley Armstrong has been one of my favorite authors ever since I picked up Dimestore Magic. After I read that novel, the next time I went to the bookstore I looked for other novels by her. I had seen the phrase "Women of the Otherworld" on the cover, and that gave me a clue that there
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might be other books....that, and the page with the other book titles lists. LOL. I found Stolen, Bitten and Industrial Magic. I believe I read them out of order, but since two out of the first four books were about Clay and Elena, and the other two were of Paige and Lucas, it didn't seem to matter too much if I read one before the other. It all seemed to work out. Because of all of this out of order reading, I first read about Savannah, this novel's main character in Dimestore Magic. I enjoyed the rather smartassed character of the teen-aged, very powerful young witch. Throughout a lot of the coming books we get to read about Savannah, but Waking the Witch is told from Savannah's point of view.Savannah is now 21 years old, and is trying to remain a good person, but it's evident that she doesn't quite think like Paige (her guardian). In fact, one of the things I like about this series is that Ms Armstrong seems to be able to write first person from a variety of character's POV, and each star of each book has her own "voice". Savannah's voice is sarcastic, young and assertive. She's not quite human either, and therefore doesn't have quite the same ethics or morals that humans are supposed to have, though she does work at maintaining some ethics.
In Waking the Witch, Paige and Lucas have finally taken a long vacation. They own an investigations company (Cortez-Winterbourne Investigations) and Savannah has worked as "executive assistant slave" to them for a few years. She's been more than ready to take on a case on her own and finally gets a chance when a half-demon PI named Jesse brings a case for Lucas to look over. Savannah ends up taking the case, agreeing to do the "legwork" while Jesse finishes up another case he's been working on. Savannah goes to a small town, driving there on her hog (a motorcycle, not a bespelled pig - LOL) which of course, brings her to the attention of the town sheriff, as well as a few other townspeople.
What follows is an interesting mix of urban fantasy and an old-fashioned detective novel. Three women have been murdered in two separate incidents. There are questions about whether the murders are connected, though some are trying to make it seem that they aren't similar at all - though the women were all found in the same spot. There is no lack of suspects either. Suddenly, Savannah meets another man who is also trying to investigate, and the police chief at first wants nothing to do with either PIs. Someone also starts taking shots at Savannah - dangerous things keep happening to her. There are the beginnings of romantic feelings, without overwhelming the story - nicely handled. I find that I still enjoy Savannah's personality - both the grown-up personality in this book, and the previous books' teen-age Savannah.
The story is entertaining. There are some very colorful characters, a commune, a small girl that is more mature than some of the townspeople, some intense situations and some comical situations. The dialogue is good, with snarky bits between some of the characters and some touching dialogue with the youngest character in the book. It's been a while since I read a detective style novel - every urban fantasy always has a bit of mystery to them, but this one focused on the detecting of a mystery, with Savannah working out clues, motives, etc. Kind of reminded me of an up-to-date, rather dangerous magical Nancy Drew, but with edge. I liked the mix of urban fantasy and detective novel vibe.
As with most of the novels in this series, this can be read as a standalone novel - but there are 10 other books with differing main characters and narration styles. I have enjoyed all of Kelley Armstrong's books - some better than others, yet all of them are interesting and entertaining.
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LibraryThing member MelHay
Nine year old Kayla is sneaking into the guarded building her mother was killed in. She had done this a hand full of times before, but this time would be different. Claire Kennedy was killed here a week ago and there had to be a connection between Claire's death and her mothers murder.
Lucas and
This book was a great quick read for me. The pacing was constantly moving forward and it wasn't diluted with heavy unneeded material, and the mystery kept growing in suspense for me driving me forward to read more and faster. This is a great book to jump in the series at even though it's the eleventh book. I learned a lot of history of Savannah and start off with her on her own adventures. Through the book you learn of the additional characters around Savannah; Page, Lucas, Adam, and a few others. In meeting a few of the characters in this deprived town there was one I hope to see more of as I just fell in love with, Kayla.
I liked how Kelley answered my thoughts when I had a question. Like when Savannah easily uses several spells in a row in a short time frame, Kelley acknowledges this and explains it. A great style I enjoyed here is in reading this book from Savannah's view, you get glimpses of her history and heritage. I am very curious to learn more about her and when Paige and Lucas became her guardians. Savannah has moments where she compares what she is doing to what Lucas or Paige would do or what they would say to her. I felt I got to know them through Savannah.
Kelley's writing style is easy to visualize and follow. The story starts off easy, but pulled me in to Savannah quickly. She really felt like a relatable character and one that was personable. I wanted to read more about her. The further I went the more in depth the mystery got. I enjoyed how the mystery turned around in the book. I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread sections to try and piece it together myself.
This book could be read by some mature Young Adults. Savannah is responsible with alcohol even though she is old enough to drink. There is mention of sexual activity and acts, but no details. Savannah does have a moment in the book where she is kissing, but she does not let it go further - she has her limits.
I really enjoyed the case with Savannah and look forward to reading more with Savannah, as the way this book ended Kelley has to come back to write more on Savannah and I will be waiting. But I am also ready to go buy the other books in the series as I loved what I learned of all the characters.
Lucas and
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Paige are out of town for the week on a vacation - in which Savannah smuggled their cell phones away from them - and now twenty-one year old Savannah is trusted to be in charge of the PI office in their absence. Jesse Aanes, a half demon PI from Seattle who has worked with Lucas before, shows up wanting to run a few cases past Lucas. Jesse is investigating the murder of 3 twenty-something year old girls - two from last fall, one from 10 days ago - abandoned in the same vacant building appearing similar, in a quite small depressed town - Columbus Washington. This poor little town hasn't seen a murder in ten years. Jesse believes there is a supernatural connection to these cases from the crime photos he has. Savannah is excited. This would be her first solo case after five years of working under Lucas and Paige. She offers to take this case for Jesse while he finishes up the current case he's on.This book was a great quick read for me. The pacing was constantly moving forward and it wasn't diluted with heavy unneeded material, and the mystery kept growing in suspense for me driving me forward to read more and faster. This is a great book to jump in the series at even though it's the eleventh book. I learned a lot of history of Savannah and start off with her on her own adventures. Through the book you learn of the additional characters around Savannah; Page, Lucas, Adam, and a few others. In meeting a few of the characters in this deprived town there was one I hope to see more of as I just fell in love with, Kayla.
I liked how Kelley answered my thoughts when I had a question. Like when Savannah easily uses several spells in a row in a short time frame, Kelley acknowledges this and explains it. A great style I enjoyed here is in reading this book from Savannah's view, you get glimpses of her history and heritage. I am very curious to learn more about her and when Paige and Lucas became her guardians. Savannah has moments where she compares what she is doing to what Lucas or Paige would do or what they would say to her. I felt I got to know them through Savannah.
Kelley's writing style is easy to visualize and follow. The story starts off easy, but pulled me in to Savannah quickly. She really felt like a relatable character and one that was personable. I wanted to read more about her. The further I went the more in depth the mystery got. I enjoyed how the mystery turned around in the book. I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread sections to try and piece it together myself.
This book could be read by some mature Young Adults. Savannah is responsible with alcohol even though she is old enough to drink. There is mention of sexual activity and acts, but no details. Savannah does have a moment in the book where she is kissing, but she does not let it go further - she has her limits.
I really enjoyed the case with Savannah and look forward to reading more with Savannah, as the way this book ended Kelley has to come back to write more on Savannah and I will be waiting. But I am also ready to go buy the other books in the series as I loved what I learned of all the characters.
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LibraryThing member PhoenixTerran
When it comes to paranormal suspense fiction, Kelley Armstrong is a name I frequently hear mentioned. Armstrong is probably best known for her series Women of the Otherworld (often shortened to Otherworld), beginning with her debut novel Bitten, written in 2001. I have been meaning to read some of
The orphaned daughter of an infamous witch and a disreputable sorcerer, Savannah Levine is now twenty-one and ready to prove herself to her adoptive parents. Paige and Lucas are taking a much needed and well-deserved vacation, leaving Savannah to tend to their detective agency while they're gone. When a series of murders, possibly involving occult rituals, strikes the small town of Columbus, Washington, Savannah sees it as an opportunity to finally work on an investigation on her own. She's not the only one interested in these murders--a Dallas detective, brother to one of the victims, is also in town and the local police are being less than helpful despite some obvious suspects. Not surprisingly, things get complicated fast and it truly seems as though there is something supernatural going on. Soon, Savannah finds herself in more danger than she anticipated, but she is still anxious to take care of things without having to depend on others.
I liked the character of Savannah quite a bit and, aside from her supernatural abilities, found her to be realistic in addition to being sympathetic--she's smart and sexy, but not without a few flaws and personality quirks. She can be pushy at times, and doesn't hesitate to bend and stretch the rules, but ultimately she's got her heart in the right place. One thing I never really got a good handle on was the magic system. Obviously, rituals can be involved to some extent, but frequently Savannah just stated that she was using a spell without explicitly establishing how. Personally, I like my magic systems to be a little more thoroughly explained. There also were some minor inconsistencies, although maybe I'm just not knowledgeable enough about the Otherworld world. Particularly, I was surprised that Savannah wasn't able to tell when she was in the presence of another witch, especially after stating that sorcerers and witches could recognize each other on sight.
Overall, I enjoyed Waking the Witch--it was a quick read and the mystery was interesting and engaging. For the most part, I didn't feel that I was at much of a disadvantage even though this was my first Otherworld novel; references were made to previous books and events, and while these will certainly mean more to established readers of the series I was never confused by them. However, some of the major twists toward the end of the story will make much more sense to someone who is already familiar with Otherworld and its characters. Still, even without that knowledge, I enjoyed the plot twists and was able to follow what was going on. All in all, Waking the Witch wasn't a bad place to start the series. Of course, while the book is a complete story within itself, Armstrong does leave things off with a bit of cliffhanger, so I expect we'll be hearing more from Savannah again sooner rather than later.
Experiments in Reading
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Armstrong's work for quite some time now but it wasn't until I was offered a review copy of Waking the Witch that I finally got around to it. Technically, Waking the Witch is the eleventh book in the Otherworld series, but it is the first to feature Savannah Levine as the main protagonist. Generally, I like to start a series at the beginning, but Armstrong has tried to write Otherworld in such a way that the books can largely stand on their own, and for the most part she succeeds in this. The series is written chronologically with the narrators changing from book to book. Until now, Savannah has been an important secondary character, but Waking the Witch allows her to take the spotlight.The orphaned daughter of an infamous witch and a disreputable sorcerer, Savannah Levine is now twenty-one and ready to prove herself to her adoptive parents. Paige and Lucas are taking a much needed and well-deserved vacation, leaving Savannah to tend to their detective agency while they're gone. When a series of murders, possibly involving occult rituals, strikes the small town of Columbus, Washington, Savannah sees it as an opportunity to finally work on an investigation on her own. She's not the only one interested in these murders--a Dallas detective, brother to one of the victims, is also in town and the local police are being less than helpful despite some obvious suspects. Not surprisingly, things get complicated fast and it truly seems as though there is something supernatural going on. Soon, Savannah finds herself in more danger than she anticipated, but she is still anxious to take care of things without having to depend on others.
I liked the character of Savannah quite a bit and, aside from her supernatural abilities, found her to be realistic in addition to being sympathetic--she's smart and sexy, but not without a few flaws and personality quirks. She can be pushy at times, and doesn't hesitate to bend and stretch the rules, but ultimately she's got her heart in the right place. One thing I never really got a good handle on was the magic system. Obviously, rituals can be involved to some extent, but frequently Savannah just stated that she was using a spell without explicitly establishing how. Personally, I like my magic systems to be a little more thoroughly explained. There also were some minor inconsistencies, although maybe I'm just not knowledgeable enough about the Otherworld world. Particularly, I was surprised that Savannah wasn't able to tell when she was in the presence of another witch, especially after stating that sorcerers and witches could recognize each other on sight.
Overall, I enjoyed Waking the Witch--it was a quick read and the mystery was interesting and engaging. For the most part, I didn't feel that I was at much of a disadvantage even though this was my first Otherworld novel; references were made to previous books and events, and while these will certainly mean more to established readers of the series I was never confused by them. However, some of the major twists toward the end of the story will make much more sense to someone who is already familiar with Otherworld and its characters. Still, even without that knowledge, I enjoyed the plot twists and was able to follow what was going on. All in all, Waking the Witch wasn't a bad place to start the series. Of course, while the book is a complete story within itself, Armstrong does leave things off with a bit of cliffhanger, so I expect we'll be hearing more from Savannah again sooner rather than later.
Experiments in Reading
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LibraryThing member hailelib
The latest installment of 'Women of the Otherworld' series. Savannah Levine, now that she is 21, thinks she's all grown up and ready to tackle an investigation on her own. However she still has a lot to learn...
This is only a so-so installment in the series and I was a bit disappointed that the
This is only a so-so installment in the series and I was a bit disappointed that the
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book ended on something of a cliffhanger for Savannah. Still, we did catch a glimpse of some of the continuing characters from the Otherworld, especially Adam. Show Less
LibraryThing member thewalkinggirl
Two words for you: cliffhanger ending.
Other than that, it was fine. I guess. I wasn't really expecting a young adult novel to pop up in the middle of this (not YA) series. I can understand why, in that Savannah is transitioning from her role as a kid in the series to becoming an adult. And I like
Other than that, it was fine. I guess. I wasn't really expecting a young adult novel to pop up in the middle of this (not YA) series. I can understand why, in that Savannah is transitioning from her role as a kid in the series to becoming an adult. And I like
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Adam a lot, so hurrah for his being included. But this really wasn't what I was hoping for in terms of character movement and story lines. Paige and Lucas are completely absent, and Jaime only appears briefly. The clues scattered through like breadcrumbs also made me remember why I don't like mysteries. If you like YA novels or are a die-hard fan of the series, it's worth the read. I wish I hadn't paid hardcover price for it, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I'm a fan of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, page-turning paranormal mysteries with romantic elements told from the first person point of view of a female supernatural: a werewolf, witch, angel, necromancer, half-demon... In this case it was Savannah Levine, daughter and ward of
For quite a while I was happily being pulled along by the mystery. Armstrong has a deft style and strong world-building that sucks you in, good plotting and pacing, and above all, an ability to make you care about her characters. It's what made her a favorite author of mine--one of those few that I go read as soon as a new book by her is on the shelves. All that is true of this book, and I like Savannah and her character arc in the book.
But this is the first time I've been disappointed by Armstrong--by the last line on the last page... Cliffhanger. Not something Armstrong has done at the end of the previous Otherworld books, and I went back and checked. Yes, it's a series, but previously they'd worked well as stand alones, and when I reached the end of this one, I wanted to throw the book against the wall. Mind you, I'll be reading that next book in the series as soon as it comes out...
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two previous protagonists. She's a witch and a private investigator. For quite a while I was happily being pulled along by the mystery. Armstrong has a deft style and strong world-building that sucks you in, good plotting and pacing, and above all, an ability to make you care about her characters. It's what made her a favorite author of mine--one of those few that I go read as soon as a new book by her is on the shelves. All that is true of this book, and I like Savannah and her character arc in the book.
But this is the first time I've been disappointed by Armstrong--by the last line on the last page... Cliffhanger. Not something Armstrong has done at the end of the previous Otherworld books, and I went back and checked. Yes, it's a series, but previously they'd worked well as stand alones, and when I reached the end of this one, I wanted to throw the book against the wall. Mind you, I'll be reading that next book in the series as soon as it comes out...
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LibraryThing member generalkala
This just isn't as good as Kelley Armstrong's usual works.
Firstly, the story barely revolves around the supernatural. It's added almost as an after thought. It read just like any normal murder mystery and even contact with other supernaturals is very limited. It's boring and I've never said that
To be fair, I've never clicked with Savannah. She's selfish, stubborn and whiny. The case is solved by her incredible leaps of faith - she makes assumptions and guesses based on almost nothing at all. The 'twist' at the end is ridiculously predictable, but afterwards Savannah just shrugs and claims that she knew it along. If she did, then she's an idiot for going along with it.
A strange criticism, but the author seems to have no concept of age. Kayla is eight, but talks like she's fifteen. Savannah is 21, but talks like she's 33. She constantly refers to when she was 'young' and talks about how she's ashamed of living at home when she's so old. A small thing, but it really bugged me.
Normally, the romance in Kelley Armstrong's book is subtle and slowly developed - it's part of the reason why her books are so good. But in Waking the Witch, it's just shoved in there. We don't know if/why Savannah/Michael like each other, we're just told that they do. There's no build up, just suddenly they're making out against a tree.
I think the author should focus on the supernatural more, and try avoid bog-standard murder mysteries.
Firstly, the story barely revolves around the supernatural. It's added almost as an after thought. It read just like any normal murder mystery and even contact with other supernaturals is very limited. It's boring and I've never said that
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about a Kelley Armstrong book before.To be fair, I've never clicked with Savannah. She's selfish, stubborn and whiny. The case is solved by her incredible leaps of faith - she makes assumptions and guesses based on almost nothing at all. The 'twist' at the end is ridiculously predictable, but afterwards Savannah just shrugs and claims that she knew it along. If she did, then she's an idiot for going along with it.
A strange criticism, but the author seems to have no concept of age. Kayla is eight, but talks like she's fifteen. Savannah is 21, but talks like she's 33. She constantly refers to when she was 'young' and talks about how she's ashamed of living at home when she's so old. A small thing, but it really bugged me.
Normally, the romance in Kelley Armstrong's book is subtle and slowly developed - it's part of the reason why her books are so good. But in Waking the Witch, it's just shoved in there. We don't know if/why Savannah/Michael like each other, we're just told that they do. There's no build up, just suddenly they're making out against a tree.
I think the author should focus on the supernatural more, and try avoid bog-standard murder mysteries.
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LibraryThing member flemmily
Kelley Armstrong departs from her formula a bit on this one. Usually her books are individually complete, but Waking the Witch has a "tune in next time for more adventures" ending. It is also short on the romance angle, and has no "adult content."
I enjoyed this book. At the start of the Women of
I enjoyed this book. At the start of the Women of
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the Otherworld series, I wasn't a huge fan of Armstrong's writing. It felt a little generic/airport book in style. But now I always enjoy her characters. She creates people you really feel like you know, and it makes for great escapist books. Show Less
LibraryThing member DLester
Waking the Witch (Women of the Otherworld series - Book 11) by Kelley Armstrong
(For review from Dutton/Penguin)
Synopsis:
The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight
Soon Savannah is in over her head. She’s run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn’t her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she’s ever had to learn.
Thoughts:
I have decided that I really like, Kelley Armstong. She is almost on par with writers like Charlaine Harris and Patricia Briggs in my book. Her, Women of the Otherworld series got me interested in the Paranormal and the 11th book in the series, Waking the Witch, reminded me of what I love about her writing. I would consider this book, paranormal suspense. It isn't a romance, it's definitely Urban Fantasy and the paranormal elements permeate the whole book. Her style is eclectic and different. It's a breath of fresh air from your typical paranormal tale.
The main character, Savannah is part sorcerer, part demon and all independent! She is headstrong and bull-headed. She wants to do things her own way and prove that she has what it takes to make it as a supernatural detective. But, she bites off a little more than she can chew with this mystery. Three women have disappeared and it's up to her to find out what happened to them. At first the bad guys seem like normal goons, but then signs of the supernatural begin to appear. Savannah is a great character, she's a very kick-butt kind of chick, who can take care of business. I liked that about her, despite the fact that it made some of her decisions seem a bit rushed. Full speed ahead and not turning back.
Armstrong's fans will adore this new addition to the series. It may be a little hard to follow for readers who are jumping in on number 11 without, first reading the other 10, but the mystery alone will make figuring it all out, worth while. Readers will be swept away with all of the supernatural elements in this book. From shaman to stalkers, to occasional cult member, readers will get their dose of the paranormal with this novel.
All eleven novels in the Women of the Otherworld series are available NOW from your favorite bookseller. Including # 11, Waking the Witch.
I liked this one a lot and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
(For review from Dutton/Penguin)
Synopsis:
The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight
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around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.Soon Savannah is in over her head. She’s run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn’t her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she’s ever had to learn.
Thoughts:
I have decided that I really like, Kelley Armstong. She is almost on par with writers like Charlaine Harris and Patricia Briggs in my book. Her, Women of the Otherworld series got me interested in the Paranormal and the 11th book in the series, Waking the Witch, reminded me of what I love about her writing. I would consider this book, paranormal suspense. It isn't a romance, it's definitely Urban Fantasy and the paranormal elements permeate the whole book. Her style is eclectic and different. It's a breath of fresh air from your typical paranormal tale.
The main character, Savannah is part sorcerer, part demon and all independent! She is headstrong and bull-headed. She wants to do things her own way and prove that she has what it takes to make it as a supernatural detective. But, she bites off a little more than she can chew with this mystery. Three women have disappeared and it's up to her to find out what happened to them. At first the bad guys seem like normal goons, but then signs of the supernatural begin to appear. Savannah is a great character, she's a very kick-butt kind of chick, who can take care of business. I liked that about her, despite the fact that it made some of her decisions seem a bit rushed. Full speed ahead and not turning back.
Armstrong's fans will adore this new addition to the series. It may be a little hard to follow for readers who are jumping in on number 11 without, first reading the other 10, but the mystery alone will make figuring it all out, worth while. Readers will be swept away with all of the supernatural elements in this book. From shaman to stalkers, to occasional cult member, readers will get their dose of the paranormal with this novel.
All eleven novels in the Women of the Otherworld series are available NOW from your favorite bookseller. Including # 11, Waking the Witch.
I liked this one a lot and I'm giving it 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
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LibraryThing member DonnerLibrary
Savannah and her guardian, Paige, have been two of my favorite of Armstrong's characters since they were introduced to the series. Usually Paige and Lucas are the stars of the show so I was really excited to find out Savannah was going to be the main character for the next few books. I was glad to
Savannah is really put through a lot in this book while trying to put the pieces of the murder together. While following up with the usual suspects, she also has the insight to dig deeper into the story and go at things from another angle. In the end though, the killer was someone I never saw coming and Savannah didn't see it until it was almost too late. I think I need to re-read some of the earlier books as I'd clearly forgotten some of the back story that would have helped me understand the big reveal a little more. I still wouldn't have put things together any faster but at least I might have remembered the events Armstrong was building from.
The ending really left me wanting more and I can't wait until Spell Bound comes out in 2011 to continue with Savannah's story.
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see that Savannah hasn't lost her attitude even as she has matured. Waking the Witch really shows Savannah coming into her own as she takes on more than her share of the responsibility while eventually learning to admit when she needs some back up.Savannah is really put through a lot in this book while trying to put the pieces of the murder together. While following up with the usual suspects, she also has the insight to dig deeper into the story and go at things from another angle. In the end though, the killer was someone I never saw coming and Savannah didn't see it until it was almost too late. I think I need to re-read some of the earlier books as I'd clearly forgotten some of the back story that would have helped me understand the big reveal a little more. I still wouldn't have put things together any faster but at least I might have remembered the events Armstrong was building from.
The ending really left me wanting more and I can't wait until Spell Bound comes out in 2011 to continue with Savannah's story.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
Savannah Levine has been waiting for her chance to prove herself a capable private investigator, so when a job presents itself while her guardians are on vacation, she leaps at the opportunity. Three murders, months apart, all young women in a small town seems an easy job at first, but as Savannah
Savannah showed up in the Women of the Otherworld series early on, as a young, trapped and vulnerable witch, and despite growing up strong and capable, she still bears the emotional scars from those days. She's a complex character, and the stresses she undergoes during the course of the investigation pushes her to her limit, and it's an exciting and intriguing journey. Savannah is a temperamental, foul-mouthed bad-ass (despite the obviousness of her motorcycle riding and probable tattoo collection), yet still manages to be sympathetic. I look forward to more of her!
Highly recommended.
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uncovers links to the supernatural, she realizes she may be in over her head.Savannah showed up in the Women of the Otherworld series early on, as a young, trapped and vulnerable witch, and despite growing up strong and capable, she still bears the emotional scars from those days. She's a complex character, and the stresses she undergoes during the course of the investigation pushes her to her limit, and it's an exciting and intriguing journey. Savannah is a temperamental, foul-mouthed bad-ass (despite the obviousness of her motorcycle riding and probable tattoo collection), yet still manages to be sympathetic. I look forward to more of her!
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member sithereandread
WAKING THE WITCH, by Kelley Armstrong, is the eleventh book in the Women of the Otherworld series. I really love this series. I have only read a few books (and some out of order) but that is the beauty of this series. You can read the books out of order ( I usually choose the book by character )
We first met Savannah in Stolen (WoO#2) as a young girl. In this book, she is twenty-one and ready to start her own cases as a Private Investigator at Paige and Lucas's firm. She is sassy, clever, and full of life and I absolutely love her. Savannah was asked to help with a murder case while Paige and Lucas were on vacation. Soon enough she is whisked away to a town in the middle of nowhere and mysterious events occur all around her. With her powers on the fritz she is challenged but manages to push through.
This book was fast-paced and kept me going back and forth on who I thought was the villain. Surprises popped up in every dark corner and I was left dizzy with awe. Armstrong has really done it again in this book and I am excited that Savannah's story will continue for the next two books.
Audiobook-wise, Parker did an excellent job narrating this book. She is extremely talented and she really made Savannah come alive. I hope to hear more from her in the future.
Overall, great book, fans of the series will definitely love it!
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and not be totally confused.We first met Savannah in Stolen (WoO#2) as a young girl. In this book, she is twenty-one and ready to start her own cases as a Private Investigator at Paige and Lucas's firm. She is sassy, clever, and full of life and I absolutely love her. Savannah was asked to help with a murder case while Paige and Lucas were on vacation. Soon enough she is whisked away to a town in the middle of nowhere and mysterious events occur all around her. With her powers on the fritz she is challenged but manages to push through.
This book was fast-paced and kept me going back and forth on who I thought was the villain. Surprises popped up in every dark corner and I was left dizzy with awe. Armstrong has really done it again in this book and I am excited that Savannah's story will continue for the next two books.
Audiobook-wise, Parker did an excellent job narrating this book. She is extremely talented and she really made Savannah come alive. I hope to hear more from her in the future.
Overall, great book, fans of the series will definitely love it!
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LibraryThing member pither
I've got to admit, Savannah isn't my favourite Woman of the Otherworld, but I really enjoyed discovering what she's gotten up to. It's great seeing her mature into her powers a little more, rather than running around wreaking havoc (though she does get up to some of that too in this book). I can't
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wait for "Spell Bound" to find out what happens to her! A quick yet enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member saramllr
Great series. Savannah Levine has grown up! Nice to see her as a lead character in this one.
LibraryThing member lizard_698959
This was another great book from Kelley Armstrong. This book is from the point of view of Savannah. Savannah is left alone to take care of Paige and Lucas’s PI business while they are on vacation. It is her turn to prove that she able to take care of herself in there dangerous supernatural world.
Savannah’s character is another great strong supernatural female lead. Savannah is smart, funny, and extremely motivated to make her life work. I can’t wait to hear more from savannah and she if she will untimely end up with Adam or some other supernatural hunk.
ETA: After reading other reviews: I love the fact that Savannah is portrayed a little more timid than she has been in other books. She is just coming into her own and is not sure what her next move is. Her life so far has not been an easy one and she still has many things that she needs to work through. With everything that she has been through in her other books one would not expect to find a fully happy well rounded functioning adult. You would expect to find exactly what the author writes. Savannah is working though her phobias and her fears through this book while trying to get a better handle on whom she is exactly. Armstrong always writes great female characters most of the time though her characters are greatly damaged individuals. It is her forte and she will cling to it which is great that she continued this with Savannah. I would not have enjoyed this book as much had savannah been the happy bubbly self assured individual everyone else seemed to what to see
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However things are not what they seem to be when Savannah goes to work three related murders that have a supernatural angle. She needs to prove to herself that she can go solo from Paige and Lucas. Will Savannah be able to prove to everyone that she can be trusted to work on her own or will it all blow up in her face in a deadly way. Savannah’s character is another great strong supernatural female lead. Savannah is smart, funny, and extremely motivated to make her life work. I can’t wait to hear more from savannah and she if she will untimely end up with Adam or some other supernatural hunk.
ETA: After reading other reviews: I love the fact that Savannah is portrayed a little more timid than she has been in other books. She is just coming into her own and is not sure what her next move is. Her life so far has not been an easy one and she still has many things that she needs to work through. With everything that she has been through in her other books one would not expect to find a fully happy well rounded functioning adult. You would expect to find exactly what the author writes. Savannah is working though her phobias and her fears through this book while trying to get a better handle on whom she is exactly. Armstrong always writes great female characters most of the time though her characters are greatly damaged individuals. It is her forte and she will cling to it which is great that she continued this with Savannah. I would not have enjoyed this book as much had savannah been the happy bubbly self assured individual everyone else seemed to what to see
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LibraryThing member angelicacraig
21 year-old Savannah is a kick ass supernatural investigator who is working her first case while her bosses are on vacation. As she struggles to find the answers on her own, she’s met by obstacles around every corner. She encounters a possible cult, what looks to be satanic ritualistic killings
I was a little disappointed that I didn’t realize this was a series right away. It didn’t take anything away from the story. I’m just weird though. I hate to read a series out of order, even if it doesn’t matter to the plot. I’m sure that I’ll go back and start with the first book. If she’s written 11, they must be worth reading!
Savannah was such a fun character that I really wanted to BE her. She was just the right mixture of confidence and hesitation. She’s 6 foot tall and still wears heels. How fun is that? Not to mention that she rides a motorcycle and has spells to light the room and unlock doors. You can’t get better than that. I also really loved the chemistry between her and the male characters. I won’t say more, because I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Do you like Supernatural stories with strong female leads? You’ll like this!
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and a cute detective from Dallas who she gets a little too close to.I was a little disappointed that I didn’t realize this was a series right away. It didn’t take anything away from the story. I’m just weird though. I hate to read a series out of order, even if it doesn’t matter to the plot. I’m sure that I’ll go back and start with the first book. If she’s written 11, they must be worth reading!
Savannah was such a fun character that I really wanted to BE her. She was just the right mixture of confidence and hesitation. She’s 6 foot tall and still wears heels. How fun is that? Not to mention that she rides a motorcycle and has spells to light the room and unlock doors. You can’t get better than that. I also really loved the chemistry between her and the male characters. I won’t say more, because I don’t want to spoil it for you.
Do you like Supernatural stories with strong female leads? You’ll like this!
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LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
Armstrong kicks off the final trilogy before her Otherworld series goes on hiatus with another strong entry. Savannah is tough and confident in many ways, but still young and eager to establish herself. She quickly gained a place as one of my favorite narrators in the series. The mystery was full
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of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end. Add a cliffhanger ending and I am eagerly awaiting Savannah's next appearance. Show Less
LibraryThing member RavenswoodPublishing
Kelley Armstrong is a progeny when it comes to supernatural writing. Her books leave you breathless with their racy romances, the constant struggles, and the exciting stories. She does all of this effortlessly and you have no choice but to plummet without stumbling straight into her world. She has
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created such a strong presence in all of her characters that everything about them makes them seem real! You get so caught up in their stories that you feel you are a part of them. I cannot say enough good things about Kelley! Show Less
LibraryThing member CraigStepp
I have enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series since I read "Dime Store Magic". "Waking The Witch" is the eleventh book in this series.
Savannah is a young and powerful witch. On her own for the first time she looks into the murder of two young women. A murder that appears to involve the
Will Savannah survive, a small town, a young interloper, a cult and a witch hunt.
Best author and best series in urban fantasy.
Savannah is a young and powerful witch. On her own for the first time she looks into the murder of two young women. A murder that appears to involve the
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occult.Will Savannah survive, a small town, a young interloper, a cult and a witch hunt.
Best author and best series in urban fantasy.
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LibraryThing member Nikk1s
I've been looking forward to Savanah's transition from child to woman. She has incredible potential as a main character and I look forward to her interactions with the all the Women of the Underworld. She has been influenced by all the women in the series and she is funny, flawed, impulsive, loyal,
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and exciting. I am a little upset that this was classified as a YA novel as it changes the course and audience the books have been written for. I feel that it opens the doorway for the characters to be more shallow and less developed. I'm looking forward to reading book #12, in the hopes that my worries will be put to rest. Show Less
LibraryThing member allureofbooks
In my opinion, this is one of the most (if not THE most) highly anticipated novels of the series. Faithful Women of the Underworld readers have known Savannah for around ten books now, and I have been very anxious to finally get her story!
I am happy to say I was not at all let down. The way things
The book moves quickly, and the mystery is fascinating. I definitely didn't get it all figured out before the end. It is a nice mixture of the supernatural and good old fashioned suspense: the combination makes the book a very fast read because you won't want to put it down.
If you haven't read the series, I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning (with Bitten) and reading them all...but you can pick this book up and read it as a stand-alone without a problem. Reading the rest of the series just gives you a bigger frame of reference for the world the characters live in and makes you more invested in what is happening with Savannah.
The world Kelley Armstrong has created for this series (and the young adult Darkest Powers trilogy) is fascinating. The magical characters and witchcraft all work together and make the world so complex and thrilling. I love all these books! This particular book features witchcraft mainly, but other characters featured in the books include werewolves, ghosts, physics and vampires.
I am happy to say I was not at all let down. The way things
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end make it clear there will be another book featuring Savannah (and Adam! *swoon*)...and I can't wait for it either. Don't worry, it is not an annoying cliffhanger that will either make you mad or make you want to break in to Kelley Armstrong's house for an unfinished manuscript...it just leaves you wanting more.The book moves quickly, and the mystery is fascinating. I definitely didn't get it all figured out before the end. It is a nice mixture of the supernatural and good old fashioned suspense: the combination makes the book a very fast read because you won't want to put it down.
If you haven't read the series, I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning (with Bitten) and reading them all...but you can pick this book up and read it as a stand-alone without a problem. Reading the rest of the series just gives you a bigger frame of reference for the world the characters live in and makes you more invested in what is happening with Savannah.
The world Kelley Armstrong has created for this series (and the young adult Darkest Powers trilogy) is fascinating. The magical characters and witchcraft all work together and make the world so complex and thrilling. I love all these books! This particular book features witchcraft mainly, but other characters featured in the books include werewolves, ghosts, physics and vampires.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
I adore grown-up Savannah. On her first solo case, she runs into some ritual murders, commune life, and grudges in a small town. Excellent!
LibraryThing member reannon
Eleventh in Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, which is one of my favorite paranormal series. Each book stars a different set of characters from Armstrong's universe. This time the main character is Savannah, a 21 year-old witch, who is the foster daughter of Lucas, a sorcerer, and Paige,
Paige and Lucas have finally gone on a well-deserved vacation. Another investigator, Jesse, wants their help investigating the murders of three young women that might have a supernatural angle. Savannah decides to take the case on her own.
Savannah has been a character in other books, but this is the first one in which she is the main character. She is a welcome addition to the other strong women characters in an excellent series.
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a witch. Savannah is a powerful witch, and has been working at Paige and Lucas' private detective agency, which deals with cases involving supernaturals.Paige and Lucas have finally gone on a well-deserved vacation. Another investigator, Jesse, wants their help investigating the murders of three young women that might have a supernatural angle. Savannah decides to take the case on her own.
Savannah has been a character in other books, but this is the first one in which she is the main character. She is a welcome addition to the other strong women characters in an excellent series.
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LibraryThing member Mags_Standi
The first book featuring Savannah was better than I expected. She really has grown up and matured from when we first met her in Stolen. Overall, another great work by Kelley Armstrong.
LibraryThing member AnnaKay21
WOW! There were some slow parts to this book but that cliffhanger left my jaw dropped and my hands waiting for the sequel! Kelley Armstrong hardly ever disappoints.