I absolutely loved Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray! From the first page, I was drawn in by the fast-paced story, the gripping tension, and the incredible characters. The mix of romance, danger, and mystery kept me hooked—I just couldn’t put it down!
Vanessa is such a strong and compelling character, and I loved following her journey
The world-building was so immersive, and I felt every moment of excitement, suspense, and emotion. The twists kept me on my toes, and the chemistry between the characters was so well done. I was completely lost in the story and already can't wait for the next book!

If you love books that pull you in and don’t let go, a must-read. Highly recommend!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I really did want to love this. It felt at first a lot like a twilight version, only with werewolves instead of vampires. And I was a huge twilight girl back in the day. But in the end, it felt very unoriginal, and i struggled to feel engaged. I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters, so it couldn't keep my attention.

Once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down! Vanessa showed so much growth throughout the book, and is not anything but fiercely loyal. I'm really hop9ng this turns into a series because I need to know what happens next!!

Werewolves are back, baby!!!! I have been following Jordan for years now and just YEARNING for exactly her energy in a book and when I tell you I actually cried reading this because of how good it was! I am truly just smitten with the romance, in awe of the world building and cannot wait for more from her! You never know if they people you follow will write great books, but man, Jordan is insanely talented and I already know this book is going to be the next booktok sensation!

This book was a wild ride for me! This is a werewolf book and is top notch. This is in the young adult genre. It left me feeling surprised! This book has twists and it’s a very fast paced read. What initially caught my attention was this book cover, but I had no idea how much I would enjoy reading it! It is action packed, exciting, entertaining and twisty. You really have no idea what comes next, after the girl is bitten! It is a dark forbidden romance.

The book Bitten is about a teenaged girl who gets bitten by a werewolf! This girl is named Vanessa. She just lost almost everything before the werewolf attack happened. She then turns into a werewolf herself and is out to seek vengeance! As this dark werewolf story unfolds, it will leave you in shock and wanting more! Please read the content warnings before reading this book. I give this a 5 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jordan Stephanie Gray and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is set to be published on September 30, 2025!

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book, purely based on the fact that I’ve never been much of a werewolf lore kind of person, but Jordan Stephanie Gray made me reconsider that. BITTEN is the kind of read that leaves you riveted and wanting more. I loved it, and I can’t wait for the sequel!

If you want a dark paranormal academia with werewolves, steamy romance and alll the twists and turns, then this is the book for you!

YA paranormal is SO BACK with this nonstop-action story from debut author Jordan Gray!

Run to pick up this one!!!

Thank you to Little Brown Books and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.

FIRSTLY -- This book is a weird blend of YA and NA, I'm not sure it knows what demographic its trying to target. I would say that you should be about 17+ to really enjoy this book. I wouldn't consider it smut because for the most part its fade to black, but it does occasionally get a bit descriptive before it finally fades out. Which is where the majority of my confusion about its "rating" is coming into play. I feel like this falls on the publisher to clarify as much as the author. This book should NOT be read by anyone under the age of 15 in my opinion as an almost 30 year old.

As far as the story goes, I love the murder mystery, fish out of water that we get in this book. Our FMC, Vanessa, is enjoying life as a burgeoning 17 year old, just trying to make it day by day. Her best friend, or "soul sister" is murdered in front of her by a werewolf and she is subsequently bitten and whisked away from her life to live with the "Born" Wolves. What follows is a topsy-turvey story that has you second guessing even your own understanding as it keeps you on the edge of your toes.

Vanessa struggles to accept her place in the world, knowing that someone in the castle is responsible for her being bitten and the death of her best friend. She overcomes her emotions, her plans and dreams for her life and eventually accepts her place in this new world. The death of her friend drives her to try to uncover the secret that is looming behind the walls of the castle.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the love triangle? If you can even call it that. The book tries to shove you back and forth between Sin, the Wolf Prince and his broody guardian cousin, Calix. I'm not sure if this is a love triangle because aside from some heated glances and the occasional touch, Calix very much doesn't like Vanessa and wants nothing to do with her. Sin on the other hand, makes his feelings very well known and actively tries to court Vanessa. Regardless, the ending of the book blows everything out of the water as you have to reorganize all of your thoughts.

This was unfortunately not for me. It was YA attempting to be New Adult and New Adult written as YA. I honestly do not know who to recommend this to, as it doesn’t seem sure of itself.

I honestly devoured this book, and I'm still reeling from the experience. This YA read is an awesome blend of action, treachery, romance, and supernatural intrigue, set in a super-detailed world of werewolves and their complex courts. At the story's heart is Vanessa, who was strong and relatable and who finds herself thrust into a world of magic and monsters after losing her best friend and being bitten by a werewolf. As she deals with this new reality, Vanessa has to confront treachery, secrets, and her destiny. Something that stood out to me in Bitten is its intricate plot which was full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.
Jordan's writing kept me engaged which made it impossible to put the book down (literally finished in a few hours). The romance was a big highlight, with Vanessa being torn between two love interests: Sinclair and his cousin Calix. I loved them both but honestly, I'm thoroughly Team Calix – his brooding intensity and wit had me hooked from the start. Overall, this was a fantastic debut from Jordan, and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. If you're a fan of supernatural YA fiction, complex world-building, and slow-burn romance, do yourself a favor and sink your teeth into Bitten ASAP. Thank you so much for this arc!

Wow! What a great read. I couldn't put it down and I was having such a great time with the twists, turns, pacing, and romance that was threaded throughout this romantasy read. The cliffhanger was killer and I'll be running to read it once it's out haha. There are a lot of questions that need answers and will be leaving you on the edge of your seat wanting more. the love triangle as well? Ate it up. Every moment! If you love morally grey character this one is it for you too!

This book was way more emotional than I anticipated for a warewolf fantasy book 1. So many unanswered questions for book 2! I cant wait to experience this level of emotional turmoil and pain from the plot twists in the next books.

I need this book injected into my veins immediately. PLEASE. I loved this book so much oh my god. It's been so long since I've found a werewolf book to obsesse over.

The novel’s pacing is brisk, making it hard to put down. The romance is woven naturally into the plot, adding depth without overshadowing the primary conflicts. Additionally, Gray’s prose is fluid and evocative, creating vivid imagery that enhances the tension and mood.

I love a werewolf book. Everyone has a thing that they're really into, and that's mine. When I started Bitten, I was obsessed with it. The beginning was exactly what I was craving of supernatural elements in a "real world" setting. I loved the relationship between Vanessa and Celeste (even knowing she was going to die). The first part of the book had me not wanting to put it down.

Unfortunately, it kind of lost me after that. The setting became very reminiscent of ACOTAR, and with as much of the same romantasy/fantasy tropes being used over and over again, I wanted something new and different for this one SO BAD. I wanted it to stay in the real world setting and while I knew from the description that likely wasn't the case, I still hoped.

Those feelings aside, Bitten gradually lost its appeal between the weak characters, hinted love triangle, and the same thing happening over and over again. It was slow. I usually love an academic setting, but this missed the mark for me. We were learning things, but everything relating to the main plot was so disjointed, it ended up being confusing. It's a bit strange when the twist is pretty obvious but all the hints laid out don't fit together well enough for you to actually figure out what's happening. Or maybe that's what Jordan Stephanie Gray wanted and it's a good thing?

I really hoped that Sin would be end game, considering it's so rare for the blond boy to get the girl when he's up against the dark, broody stereotype. I don't have strong feelings for him or Calix, so it's hard to care how the love triangle plays out, but it would've been nice for the (seemingly) non toxic guy to be The One so that this type we don't actually want in real life stops getting pushed on teenagers. Of course, doing that would change the plot entirely and impact the twist JSG laid out for her series.

I will say the chaotic ending was a fun time (to read) and definitely shocked me with how brutal it was. I wish Vanessa had been less of a spectator, but let's be honest, girl would Not have survived. I was surprised at the amount of deaths, but didn't have any emotional connection to anyone, which might have something to do with the fact that each character only had one notable characteristic. (Vanessa is anger and vengeful, Sin is obsessed with her, Calix is the angry brooding one, Evie is the mean one, Oona is the support friend, etc.)

While reading, I did see that there were some negative responses to the book from people who haven't read it. I don't agree with that and while I haven't researched JSG myself, I can say that the "smut" is relatively vague. More descriptive than I prefer in YA books, but I've seen worse in others that are in YA or are marketed toward it (ex Serpent & Dove, Kingdom of the Wicked). While personally I would choose fade to black in YA, I don't think the reviewers who are making negative comments about this specifically should do so without reading the book.

Did I find myself pausing to consider what I just read because I was in total shock? Yes. Could I put it down? No way. If you’re looking for something attention-grabbing, easy to read, and full of twists - you’ve found it. That cliffhanger though….. can’t wait to see how Vanessa’s story ends.

A fast-paced, cutthroat, romantic fantasy that reminds me of the heyday of paranormal romance—tension, betrayal, and a love triangle to die for!

Oh. My. Moonlit. Wolves. Bitten by Jordan Gray is the kind of book that makes you want to throw your entire TBR pile out the window and never look at anything else again (sorry, other books, I’m just not that into you anymore…jk but seriously)

From the very first page, I was HOOKED. I mean, who doesn’t love a good “tragedy at a birthday party” plot twist? Vanessa Hart starts out with a pretty standard teen angst vibe….except, you know, her birthday is marred by being bitten by a werewolf, losing her family, and finding out the world is full of magic, betrayal, and good-looking men with complicated emotional baggage. Same, girl. Same.🥲

The world-building here is chef’s kiss. Castle Severi is equal parts breathtaking and terrifying, with its vines, stars, and magical creatures lurking around every corner like something straight out of a fever dream. The Court itself? A lethal, cutthroat blend of political intrigue and fairy-tale drama that made me wonder if my own high school experience was missing a few supernatural creatures. It was giving Teen Wolf in the best way possible. (Why wasn’t I invited to that kind of prom?)

And don’t even get me started on the love triangle (or maybe it’s a love square? I honestly lost count). We’ve got Sinclair, the golden prince who might steal your heart, or your soul (and I’m so obsessed with him but I’m scared), and Calix, the brooding cousin whose smoldering gaze is, apparently, a powerful form of emotional manipulation (who I’ve grown TOO fond of) I found myself rooting for both of them, which is exactly the kind of chaos I’m here for. Does Vanessa deserve both of them? Maybe. Does she want both of them? Definitely. Does she end up in an emotional wreckage because of it? Absolutely. But hey, who said being a werewolf princess was easy? And honestly I struggled so badly picking between the two😭 like I love both. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME JORDAN???

Add in a dash of vengeance, betrayal, and serious supernatural court politics, and you’ve got yourself one wild ride. The plot twits truly had me flabbergasted that I’m still genuinely trying to process it all. Don’t get me wrong, I guess most of it right. But experiencing it was a whole other level. Vanessa may have started this journey as a victim, but by the end, she’s plotting and scheming her next move.

If you love dark, enchanting worlds, morally grey characters, and the kind of angst that makes you both laugh and cry, then Bitten is the book for you. It’s the perfect blend of magic, mayhem, and messiness that I didn’t know I needed in my life. I loved every dramatic, chaotic second of it, and I can’t wait to dive into whatever Jordan Gray has in store next because u know damn well waiting for book 2 is going to be me through so much pain! This is for the girls who loved Teen Wolf. I’m living the life.