Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it. Despite the many great reviews, it didn’t hold my interest. I did like the audio, especially having both male and female voices. Some moments felt dragged or repetitive, and I didn’t really connect with Vanessa’s character, which made it harder to stay engaged. I went in really wanting to like this.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early arc!

🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
Whoa! This book, Bitten, took me by surprise. Surprise in the best way possible. I really enjoyed this story and now I have to wait until the next book is released. The pacing in the middle was a little slow and I wanted a little more, but that ending had my mouth on the floor. Did I see the twist coming? Yes, I did! Did I still act surprised by it? Yes, I did! The lies and betrayal. Yes, I need book two.

*Forbidden Romance
*Werewolves
*Paranormal Romance

The audiobook is a multi-cast, with duet style! Phenomenal is all I'm going to say. Loved it! Listened at 2x speed.

Let me first say: while this is marketed as a YA, the level of spice, gore, and language are all better suited to a New Adult book. The fact that the comp titles are very spicy New Adult books is an indicator of this book's vibes. Also, the main character JUST turned seventeen and has several very spicy scenes with a nineteen-year-old in a modern day paranormal romance. If that makes you feel ick, this is not the book for you.

If you can pretend she is eighteen, then this is a very compelling werewolf tale. I loved me a good Teen Wolf episode back in the day, and I would be shocked if the author is not a fan too because those vibes were strong. Our hero, Vanessa, is attacked by werewolves at a beach party and is (literally) dragged into the secret world of werewolves courts. Think Fey courts but werewolves and you'll get the vibes. Court intrigue, love triangles, and two mysterious deaths round out an exciting and at times gory story with a plot twist I did not see coming.

I took a star away because Vanessa was underaged and, as an adult woman, I felt super uncomfortable reading those scenes. Actual teens will probably eat it up (have you read teen-authored fanfic?) and yes, I know they are reading Fourth Wing and Colleen Hoover because that is what they are asking me for. Recommended for fans of spicy Romantasy, Teen Wolf, and the ability to pretend everyone involved is over eighteen.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

It all start with a vicious werewolf attack. Then Vanessa's life collapses. This is a dark & sexy romance. Vanessa is given no choice but to join the Wolf Queen's Court. But Vanessa is still set on vengeance for the life that was stolen from her. Can she find a new life, or will it be stolen away from her by members of the court?

Bitten by Jordan Stephanie Gray pulled me in right away. Vanessa is fierce and vulnerable, and I loved the dark, gothic world around Castle Severi. The romance is intense with plenty of tension and betrayal, and the mix of magic, politics, and werewolves kept me hooked. Some parts felt a little uneven, but overall this was a dark, twisty, and addictive paranormal romance.

A book that shows tropes are classics for a reason.

Vanessa Hart is an ordinary teenage girl until her best friend is killed by a wolf and Vanessa is bitten. Suddenly, she’s swept away to the Wolf Queen’s court where she must pledge her loyalty or die. Not only is Vanessa a werewolf now, her newly transformed eyes indicate she has unusual powers that make her an unexpected player in a dangerous political game. But Vanessa is determined not only to survive but to find her best friend’s murderer.

This book is a love letter to teenage paranormal romance with a lot of familiar tropes and references to its predecessors, and a reader’s enjoyment of the book is probably going to depend on their tolerance of those elements and the subsequent predictability. The court is of course also a magical boarding school (reminiscent of Tracy Wolff’s Crave). Some classes take place in a magical open-world environment that instantly reminded me of Holly Black’s Cruel Prince. Vanessa is a special snowflake, the only werewolf with purple eyes. There’s a forbidden romance and promise of a love triangle in which one male character is blond (and we know what that means). You get the idea.

I suspect a lot of fans of the genre will enjoy this, but there are two big caveats:
- The main character is 17, and there’s on-page sex. I really wish the author had aged up the characters just a bit or let that scene fade to black. Those genre labels are really helpful for booksellers and librarians to recommend age-appropriate books to their patrons. The book feels very YA except for that section.
- The prologue spoils too much.

Bitten is a fast-paced, dark, and addictive start to a new werewolf fantasy series. Vanessa’s journey from ordinary teen to reluctant member of the Wolf Queen’s Court is filled with danger, intrigue, and just the right amount of forbidden romance. The worldbuilding is vivid, the court politics are tense, and the love triangle adds plenty of drama. (Y'all know how I feel about a love triangle though... ugh.) At times it leans more New Adult than YA, but overall it’s a thrilling and entertaining read that sets up the series well. Fans of Fourth Wing and Crescent City will want this on their radar. (PS- There is some spice going on here. I wouldn't shelve it in school. Meh. Adjusting my review because it's absolutely ridiculous that this is shelved as YA.)

I'm not sure where to start with this review, because I'm seeing quite a few "reviews" by people who state outright that they haven't read and won't read the book, so I feel like I should address some of the statements made by those people.

Is it too sexy to be a YA? 6-7; YMMV

While this is definitely a YA that is more appropriate for 16+, I wouldn't say that it contains R-rated or adult romance-level "smut." I would actually put the sexual content more on par with the later books in Tracy Wolff's Crave series. The words "breast" [SPOILER("He cups my breast" and "he sweeps his thumb over the tip of my breast") (hide spoiler)] and "nipple" [SPOILER("Mutt, I can see your nipples.") (hide spoiler)] are used, but those are the only anatomical descriptors.

There is one intercourse scene, and it's in Ch 40, 83%. The most risque lines, IMO, are the following:
[SPOILER
"His lips punish mine, unforgiving and sweet and sinful, his tongue sweeping inside my mouth and devouring what's left of me as his fingers curl into the center of my desire."

"Inch by inch, he fills me, and it's... so much."

"I match his pace, meeting him thrust for thrust. Once the sting vanishes, I force him to move faster. Harder. I need more. And he hitches up my legs, holding them prisoner between those wicked black claws as he plunges inside me again, again, again. He smirks, and the sight of it makes my stomach clench and my thighs tighten. "There's my good girl," he purrs.
(hide spoiler)]

Is it too violent to be a YA? No. This is a book about werewolves, so of course there is going to be some biting and clawing. I don't think this book is overly gory. The content is what you'd find in any YA horror. It's definitely not as shocking or violent as THG.

What about profanity? There are 111 instances of the f-word. The book is 400 pages.

Is this another Twilight? No. There are werewolves, and pack politics, and humans changed into werewolves. There is a love triangle, but it's between 3 werewolves.

Did I like it? I was entertained enough to want to know when the sequel is coming out, because it does end on a cliffhanger. (Will there be a sequel? If not, then I'll be mad.) It is wayyyyy too long. The pace drags in the second act. There is a lot of world building that I didn't understand and I don't think really matters at all anyway? At the end of the day, this is a pretty low concept paranormal romance, but it tries to be a lot more by adding in a bunch of random side stories that don't contribute to the overall plot whatsoever. There is nothing new or noteworthy about the characters or the main story arc. You've seen it all before and as a result, it's predictable. It gets repetitive and the FMC spends a lot of time hand-wringing when she could be out actually doing something interesting.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have skipped it until the sequel is out, and then waited for reviews of the entire series before diving in.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication. I was not compensated in any way for this review, and all opinions are my own.

Bitten was one of the books I was anticipating reading this year. I really like the cover of the book and edges as well. Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations at all. While the pacing of the book was decent, the writing left something to be desired and couldn't sustain my interest. A big challenge was that this book was identified as YA and approved for ages 14+. While the FMC is age 17, there were many times where she and other characters read as if they were much younger, which wouldn't have been such a bad thing if there weren't also some explicit sexual scenes that should have made this book be classified as New Adult instead. Another challenge was the predictability of the story, the "love" triangle was obvious, and so many others things. This story ended up reading as a story that I've read on numerous occasions where we can substitute the werewolves for any other magical creature (witch/warlock, vampire, monster, etc.). The characters weren't that unique either and then were poorly developed as well. Dont get me wrong, I am sure plenty of people will enjoy this book. The explicit sexual content in a YA book makes me unsure about recommending this to others, because I can't imagine someone in the younger end off the YA range reading this book.

DNF. I was originally intrigued by the plot, a girl bitten by a werewolf, but I was not liking a few things that were happening. I do not like how she was essentially kidnapped by the werewolves with no opportunity to resist after her friend was killed, and then she somehow ends up in a love triangle between two guys. Before I started reading I did not know that this was advertised as having smut in it... as a YA book... that should not exist. I should not hear smut and YA in the same sentence. I am sick of all these YA books coming out with explicit sex scenes in them. There is a difference between what is age appropriate for the genre and explicit smut. I just can not carry on with the book.

I was really intrigued by the premise, but the writing and intensity didn't really work for me. i just couldn't get absorbed into it like I had hoped.

That being said, there were definitely some fun qualities to this. it was very fast-paced and there's a fun love triangle. While I didn't love this one, I could still recommend it to someone looking for a gripping upper-ya werewolf story.

An upper YA paranormal romance you'll want to sink your teeth into!

"Bitten" follows Vanessa Hart after a vicious werewolf attack results in the death of her best friend. Bitten and imprisoned without explanation, she has no choice but to survive ruthless werewolves, a glittering court, and deadly politics to exact revenge on the monsters who destroyed her life.

I love fantasy books with murder mystery subplots and Gray's debut is a hit! She drops subtle hints surrounding the killer's identity throughout and while I pieced together much of the puzzle, the end still caught me by surprise. The story's detailed setting and intricate plot paired with the elements of mystery made it impossible to put down.

Vanessa, Gray's fmc, is complex and flawed, which I love. I saw aspects of myself in her as she struggled to come to terms with her new life without her best friend. Her strength lies not in her physical capabilities, but instead in her fierce love for those closest to her and her rage for what she has lost. I can't wait to see her character grow and hone her abilities in the next installment. I just know that she is going to be a force to be reckoned with!

Vanessa's forbidden entanglement with prince Sinclair Severi was one of my favorite parts of the story! The physical attraction is near instant, but their emotional connection is slow to burn. Despite her sizzling chemistry with Sin, Gray hints at a possible relationship between Vanessa and Calix, the prince's brooding bodyguard. Their charged interactions left me begging for more. There truly is so much pining and tension with Vanessa caught in the middle of it all. My heart fluttered until it was ultimately shattered in the final few chapters. Ending on a cliffhanger as jaw-dropping as this one should be a criminal offense. I can't wait for even more revenge, angst, and romance in the next one!

Wow what a wild ride!! The cover and premise was what drew me to this book but once I started reading it was the unexpected twists that hooked me! So good!!

I enjoyed the idea with the bitten werewolves and the different gifts. It was interesting. I really loved the mystery and trying to figure out what was what! The surprise twists I didn’t see coming made the book for me!

Vanessa was a great character. From the start I was rooting for her. She had a great heart and a fiery rage for justice.

Sinclair was a protective and loving prince. I enjoyed his protectiveness!

Calix was mysterious, brooding, and rude. I enjoyed his character the most!

The story blending a bit of politics, werewolves, royalty, dark academia into a refreshing young adult fantasy.

Tropes for this one were; forbidden romance, love triangle, mystery, nothing is as it seems, werewolves, unique magical system, banter, unexpected twists, mystery, feminine rage, betrayal, secrets, high stakes, and so much more!

I heard about this book months (and months) ago, and it immediately shot to the top of my TBR. It became one of my most anticipated reads of 2025—and that’s saying a lot, because this is a ridiculously strong year for books.

It more than delivered.

Bitten is seriously impressive, especially for a debut. (Though honestly, it feels unfair to call it just a “great debut”—this book stands tall beside seasoned authors. Talent is talent, full stop.)

Jordan Stephanie Gray is a force. They manage to breathe fresh, wildly addictive life into a trope that’s often been run into the ground—werewolves.

The characters? Unforgettable. In a landscape where main characters often blur together or come off insufferable, Vanessa stood out with her kindness, loyalty, and entirely justified feminine rage. I adored her.
Sin and Calix? Equally enthralling. Nuanced, layered, and—let’s be real—sexy.

It goes without saying that I loved this book. The plot was fast-paced, the mystery had me fully hooked (I had to know what happened next), and the romance? The romance was romancing like nobody’s business.
So. Much. Yearning.
👏🏻 Fellow writers, take notes: this is how you build and execute a subtle love triangle. 👏🏻

And the ending? I’m still recovering. It wrecked me in the best possible way—and left me absolutely desperate for book two.
Feral doesn’t even begin to cover it.

No notes. Just pure, unfiltered praise. Completely obsessed—and already dying for more.

Thank you @netgalley @hachetteus @littlebrown for the chance to read Bitten. It’s fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to sink their teeth into it.

I devoured this book and had a great time reading it. The story is greats both male characters are fantastic. The story is really fast paced and it’s a world of werewolves.
I would give this one a 4.25-4.5 stars. I did predict one of the twists in this book pretty early on but still had a fun time with it.

This was a hell yes for me. I’m usually very particular with how the good old werewolf vibe is in a book. This one was really well done. I ate this book up and would like to read more in this world!

Thank you so much to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an early copy of Bitten! 🐺
As someone who was really excited for this book after reading this summary, I mean love triangles, werewolves, a werewolf school, and prince love interests all in one book sounds super fun!!! Although, I will say, while all those things are in this book, this book isn't a fun, frivolous werewolf paranormal romance... Bitten has some pretty serious vibes and I think this is due to how to first couple of chapter play out (iykyk) BUT I did really love how this kind of plays into the mystery vibes that come in the middle and end of the story!
I will say, I don't think this book went exactly how I expected it/imagined it was going to but I really loved the idea and had a fun time with some of the aspects: princely cousins (who are like brothers) who are kinda fighting for the same girl, big plot twists, and werewolf school. I will also say, I think this book would be better recommended for teen/new adult readers compared to the average young adult reader! This book definitely covers come serious themes of loss and love so I would keep an eye out!
I am super intrigued how the sequel will turn out! 👀

Bitten had an intriguing premise with a storyline that sounded like something I’d love. However, although the story moves quickly and there were parts of the world that caught my attention, overall it didn’t completely pull me in.

Vanessa is a determined lead, and I liked the fierceness in her character, though some of her choices and emotions felt a little sudden. The romance also didn’t leave much of an impact for me. I think the writing style just wasn’t quite the best match for me personally, which made it harder to stay fully connected.

In the end, this was an okay read—I appreciated some of the ideas and atmosphere, but it didn’t land as strongly as I’d hoped. I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series, but I can see it resonating more with readers who connect with the style.

I won't lie, I haven't read a werewolf paranormal romance that I've actually enjoyed, but the cover and blurb convinced me to give this chance. I'm so glad I did! When reading a YA book, I feel like I have to turn off the part of my brain that argues the writing is a bit juvenile, to be fair we are seeing the story unfold from a high schooler's POV. I did find Vanessa a bit immature at times, but is that really an issue when Bitten is a YA novel? There were also times I felt like Sin and Vanessa's relationship felt a bit insta-love, but this is a little bit explained towards the end. I didn't enjoy the first ~50% as much as I did past it - like, wow!! The author did a great job reeling me back into the story and mystery. When things started unraveling, action began, and confusion mixed with possible betrayal surrounding what I thought were real events the whole time, I WAS SHOOK. I was actually taken by surprise regarding the twist and I am absolutely invested in where this story continues. (I'm also totally rooting for Calix lol)

Please be warned, even though Bitten is classified as YA, there is minor to moderately descriptive sexual content.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

Vanessa and Celeste are the best of friends, they do everything together, they support each other, they complement each other, they are always there for each other. So the night that Vanessa is dragged to that fatal beach party instead of spending a more staid evening at the cinema seems particularly unfair. Celeste is drawn into a heated exchange with a group of gorgeous strangers which turns into a fight. In the ensuing chaos and before the girls can escape, Celeste is killed by a huge creature, Vanessa is bitten and then kidnapped under her father’s eyes. Vanessa enters a magical and brutal world of werewolves as a ‘Bitten’, struggling to survive a place full of rules and guile she doesn’t properly understand. Determined to find out who killed her friend and bit her, Vanessa makes mistake after mistake as well as plenty of enemies, letting her emotions instead of her head rule her actions. In this hostile environment she seeks solace in friendship with her maid whilst falling for the gorgeous and powerful Prince Wolf Sinclair Severi, who whilst being promised to a Princess Wolf is in danger of falling in love with Vanessa. Then there is the prince’s cousin and bodyguard, the sombre and hulking Calix tracking her every move. Against a backdrop of deceit, power alliances and rules alongside the gruelling schedule of lessons and always the Obedience of the Pack, Vanessa has to navigate her survival both now and for the future.

This is a good YA escapism read with all the prime ingredients of forbidden love interests, scheming intrigue, unexpected twists, flavours of danger and at times the frustration of wanting to shout at the main character and tell her to get it together and stop repeating the same mistakes.
The end leaves one knowing that this is the start to a fantastic series, without creating a cliffhanger on the last page, something that I really appreciate.