Review: Worth the price
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 15, 2012
Disclaimer: Recieved copy for a review.I would love to say that I have been a fan of Armstrong's Otherworld series since the beginning.  Sadly, however, that wouldn't be true.  I started reading the series with the books that introduced Paige and the other witches.  I quickly become a fan and brought the other books.  While I'm sad to see the series end, I am happy that Armstrong has enough sense to end it and resist the temptation to keep writing the series simply to make money.  In some ways, Armstrong's series belongs to the vast amount of "tough woman" urban fantasy; however, the Otherworld series stands out for several good reasons, and the series will be sorely missed.  One of the best things about the series is Armstrong's use of a different heroine every two or three books.  Not only are the women different in terms of power, but they are different in terms of strength.  Elena's physical strength is matched by Paige's strength of character and magical skill.  Jamie's ability to communicate with the dead takes a third type of strength, but she isn't any less brave or any less of woman because she isn't as physically strong or able to make fireworks.  In a genre where the central character usually has a power and use of gun, it's wonderful to see a series where the characters are different but equal.  Another wonderful thing about the series is the fact that Armstrong ages her characters and ages them from book to book.  Readers have seen Clay and Elena become parents; Paige and Lucas marry among other developments.  Lastly, Armstrong has gone has a writer, and she is not afraid to experiment.  It's nice to see an author grow over the course of a series.  In short, the Women of the Otherworld series is a cut above the rest of the genre.This slim eBook contains two stories of the Otherworld as well as the first few chapters of Thirteen, the last book.  The teaser chapters do their job well and if Thirteen delivers on their promise, it should be a good ending to a good series.The first short story, "Stalked" appeared in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon.  This is quite clear from the start, so the eBook is NOT guilty of false advertising.  It is always nice to read a story told from Clay's point of view, especially when it features both Clay and Elena.  What makes Clay such a good narrator is that he knows who he is and doesn't care what you think about that?  Instead of coming off as rude and mean, he comes off as rude but with reason and with a strong streak of humanity (though he wouldn't like to be described thus).  This is because he knows he isn't perfect.  He accepts his imperfections and deals with it.  He doesn't make an excuse.  This stops him from being a "Marty Sue" or a "Macho Sue".  This story is no different, and are about two people trying to have a normal honeymoon.  Of course, Armstrong being Armstrong she takes a simply concept that has been done to death by Lifetime the Channel of Women in danger and turns it on its head.  Particularly refreshing is to read a story where husband wife are truly partners and truly in love, not the lust that seems so come in many books today.  Yes, Elena and Clay lust for each other, but they love each other.  Instead of telling this ad nausea and making the reader want to throw up because of the cuteness of it, Armstrong shows us and brings out a mature and loving relationship.  It is also nice to see a married couple be active in a story that doesn't involve one of them cheating on the other or having to hide from the mob.  There's tension, but not because the relationship is at risk.The second story, "Off-Duty Angel" features everyone's favorite demonic angel (or angelic demon) Eve who hasn't given up working just because she's dead.  Like "Stalked", the story does feature a couple that cares about and truly knows each other.  There is less love and more action in this story than in the first (which features equal amounts of love and action).  Armstrong takes a standard quest story and adds elements that make it funny as well as an interesting read.  Combining religion, Japanese myth, and Eve's force of personality could make a mess of a story, but all parts are treated with respect.  The human is more in the characterization not only of Eve, Kristof, and Trisel, but in the Fates and other creatures that they run into.  I always thought moles were cute in a blind and furry way.  Armstrong has made me rethink that conclusion.In short, with these two short stories, Armstrong showcase what makes her series great - believable relationships, different types of strength, different types of people, and  a sense of humor.