Raised By Wolves

Raised by Wolves
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Series: Raised By Wolves (#1)?
Publisher: Egmont
How Received: publisher

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?

I knew I loved this book within the first seventy pages. Reading all 432 pages did nothing to change that knowledge.

First off, I love Bryn. Not just because she's a kick ass character, a "scrappy" underdog in a world of wolves, but because she's real. Yes, she has to deal with werewolf pack heirachy and tracking down the Big Bad Wolf that killed her family, but she's also worried about her grade in algebra.

[SPOILER ALERT]

And I liked how she treated her relationship with Chase. Yes, she may have had those ridiculously intense feelings right away, but she stepped back and went, "Whoa. Why am I feeling this? What the hell, this has to slow down. Now."

[/SPOILER ALERT]

The book was slightly predictable for me - not because it was obvious what was going to happen, but because I was forced to stop reading for a day and all my free time was spent figuring out every potential plot line. And even then I was surprised.

Also, SO MUCH CHARACTER LOVE IN THIS BOOK. I absolutely adore Callum. I don't know why. But I do. And I need Devon to be my best friend and/or future boyfriend. He's my male counterpart, down to the theatrics. Lake also kicks some serious butt. (Who else but her would think to name their gun Matilda?)

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 10/10. I didn't want to put it down, and the characters are fantastic.
Cover Notes: Originally, I liked the ARC better (which is what I own). But I saw the official copy at my library the other day - we had just ordered it - and now I'm dying to own it. It's so very pretty.

I'm hoping Jen might set another book in this same world - maybe with Shay's pack? I think it'd be pretty awesome. I THINK she is doing a sequel, but... I'm not sure... so... pretty please?

[EDIT] Yes; the second in the series is called Trial by Fire. So excited!