Book Review: Bitten by R.A. Kauffman
If you’ve ever found yourself captivated by the allure of supernatural beings, you might understand why Bitten by R.A. Kauffman caught my attention. The promise of werewolves lurking beneath the surface of our ordinary lives is always a tantalizing hook. Plus, who wouldn’t be curious about a protagonist diving headfirst into a world of hidden politics and revenge? However, what started as an exciting venture quickly became a frustrating journey for me.
I received an audio copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you, Hachette Audio), and while I appreciate the opportunity, I must be honest about my experience. I made it a solid 50% through before I decided to officially DNF. The pacing of Bitten is decent, maintaining a steady rhythm, but the plot spirals into an all-too-familiar young adult trope—mean girl drama. At that point, I realized I was too old to be enthralled by this amount of adolescent pettiness.
The world-building presented some intriguing snippets about the werewolves’ secret lives among humans. Unfortunately, it was riddled with under-explained details that left me more annoyed than curious. The history and politics of this paranormal society felt like an afterthought; important facts were merely stated without further context. I craved depth and connection to the lore—something that could have truly elevated the story.
The protagonist, Vanessa, had potential but fell flat for me. Her transformation from a shy wallflower to a confident yet often rude character felt jarring and unrealistic. Her inner monologues, repetitive and uninspiring, failed to evoke any sense of empathy or connection. Throughout her hunt for her best friend’s killer, I found myself more invested in the idea of revenge than in her journey, especially as the narrative became mired in high school drama rather than meaningful investigation.
The writing style was a mix of intriguing moments and puzzling choices. There were times when characters would transition from playground insults to using sophisticated vocabulary in the blink of an eye, which left me scratching my head. As a reader, I sought substance and found myself surrounded instead by juvenile antics—a stark contrast to what I had been hoping for.
Although Bitten was compared to Crescent City, I didn’t find the similarities to ring true past the shared theme of loss. Both stories touch on deep emotional connections, yet Vanessa’s relationship with her deceased best friend felt shallow and underdeveloped. The romance was no better; the tension felt forced, and the tropes of love triangles and bad boys didn’t pique my interest like I hoped they would.
While I wouldn’t recommend Bitten, especially for seasoned readers looking for rich narratives and fully fleshed-out characters, I can see why younger audiences might find it engaging. If you enjoy fast-paced reads filled with supernatural elements and can overlook some typical YA pitfalls—like melodramatic relationships and friend groups—this might be worth a try. However, for me, this book missed the mark, leaving me feeling unenthused and a bit frustrated with its missed opportunities.
Do you enjoy werewolves and revenge stories? What are your thoughts on YA tropes? Let’s chat!
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