Review: Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Raised By Wolves

Written by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Available Now!!

Published by Egmont USA

I was really looking forward to reading this book!  I love a good werewolf story and the synopsis for Raised By Wolves sounded intriguing.  I was not prepared to open this book and remained glued to its pages!  I can honestly say that Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the best werewolf story I have read to date!!

Summary from Goodreads:
"Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?"

My Thoughts: 
This book was incredible!  Jennifer Lynn Barnes crafted a beautiful tale that went far beyond your typical story of a human girl and a werewolf boy.  Instead, she wrote a story about what it means to be part of a 'pack': the good parts, the bad parts, the scary parts, and the romantic part.  No stone was left unturned in Bryn's world.  I believe that the true strength of this novel was found within its characters.  The main characters were fully developed and complex.  Bryn was a strong female protagonist.  The circumstances of her life required her to be tough, both mentally and physically.  Bryn was never afraid to stand her ground, even though she was supposed to be submit to the pack rules and way of life.  She desperately wanted to hold on to her individuality and privacy.  This was not easy for Bryn because she was a human immersed in a world that revolved around the 'pack bond' with shared thoughts and feelings and allegiance to the pack's Alpha, Callum.  The rules that govern their kind were supreme and the law.  Bryn pushed her boundaries and the patience of Callum and the rest of the pack with her lack of regard for these rules.  Things get even more complicated for Bryn when she feels drawn to Callum's basement. There she discovers Chase, a cute teenage boy being held in a cage, who also happens to change into a wolf that wants to kill her!  Bryn wants answers about Chase- why he is there, why she feels so drawn to him, and why she was kept in the dark about his presence.  What entails is a thrilling journey of danger, suspense, and self-discovery for Bryn- resulting in Bryn truly having  her eyes opened to what 'pack' really means.

The author did such a great job with all of the characters.  I loved how the female characters were portrayed in the story.  All of them, Were and human, were smart, strong and able to take care of themselves.  I loved Ali.  She stepped in as Bryn's 'mother' and was human as well.  She was fiercely protective of Bryn and not afraid to challenge 'the pack' when it came to Bryn's safety.  Callum's character was one of my favorites too.  He was not only the pack's Alpha and the oldest, most powerful Werewolf, he was also Bryn's guardian.  The bond and the love between him and Bryn was obvious, but 'pack business' always took presidence over being a 'father figure' to her.  He always did the best that he could for her, although I found myself questioning his decisions at different points in the book.  I would love to hear more of his long history in future installments in this series.  Oh Devon, Devon, Devon!  He was just a riot!!  He was Bryn's best friend and the only known metrosexual werewolf that enjoyed belting out show tunes and putting on theatrical performances!  He provided comic relief when needed and would lay his life down for Bryn.  I can't wait to see what is in store for him in this series!  I would love to tell you about Chase, the teenage werewolf Bryn is so drawn to, but I feel like anything I say would be too spoilery!  So I will just say this.... He is one hot hunk of wolf!!


This was such a good book that the pages seemed to turn themselves!  The pace was perfect and there was just enough action, suspense, romance and humor to make this a 5 star read!  The ending was satisfying and answered most of the book's burning questions and properly set the stage for the next installment.  I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE- I bet you'll love it too!  I cannot wait for the next book in the series titled Trial By Fire which is due for release in 2011.