Monday 13 September 2010

ARC Review: Raised by Wolves - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

He's in a cage, I reminded myself, but the words meant nothing to me, because I just couldn't stop staring into his wild eyes and playing the last words he'd said before he shifted, over and over again.

I GOT BIT... I GOT BIT... I GOT BIT...

At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf murder her parents.  She was taken in by the mysterious Callum, the alpha of his pack.  Now fifteen, Bryn's been a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule.  Little fazes her.

But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage.  Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them.  Suddenly, all allegiances to the pack no longer matter.  It's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

Raised by Wolves Series:
Raised by Wolves (releasing in the UK on 16th September 2010)
Trial by Fire (due to be published in 2011)

For more information visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes' website


Review:
When Bryn was just four years old her family was attacked by a rabid werewolf, she only survived because of the arrival of Callum and his pack but they weren't in time to save her parents.  Despite the fact that Bryn is human Callum adopted her and marked her as a member of the pack for her protection.  She has been brought up as one of just a few humans living amongst the werewolves and has never quite felt she belonged.  When Bryn finds Chase - a newly turned werewolf - locked in Callum's basement she begins to realise that the pack has been keeping secrets.  She is determined to uncover the truth and needs to work with Chase to do that.

I'm a huge fan of paranormal stories so have read a lot of books in this genre both adult and YA.  I was really looking forward to reading Raised by Wolves but was expecting the story to be similar to others I've read before.  I thought I'd seen pretty much everything that could be seen when it came to werewolves but Jennifer Lynn Barnes pulled out all the stops and created a story that had me hooked from the very first page.  She has created a captivating story with a first class heroine and plenty of twists that took me completely by surprise.  If you're a fan of paranormal stories then this is a must read book, one that I would highly recommend - I'd rate it right up there with Shiver, in fact I think I liked Raised by Wolves even more!

Bryn is a fantastic character, as one of the only humans in the pack she is used to being physically weaker than everyone around her. That doesn't mean Bryn is a pushover though - she is a rebel through & through and is constantly pushing the boundaries of the pack rules.  She needs to know about her past and about how Chase became a werewolf and will do whatever it takes - including breaking Callum's rules, which will have severe consequences if she is caught - to find out more.

Alongside Bryn there is a host of likable and fun characters.  I loved Bryn's adopted mother Ali, another human amongst the wolves she is someone else who is prepared to stand up for what she believes in no matter what the cost to herself.  She wants to keep Bryn safe and only joined the pack to be able to protect her.  I also loved Bryn's friends Devon and Lake, Devon has been Bryn's best friend since she first joined the pack, he is the strongest of the younger werewolves and an alpha in the making.  Lake is one of a very few female werewolves and has been brought up by her father away from the rest of the pack, she is very independent and knows how to protect herself.  Alongside Devon, Lake looks out for Bryn and wants to help her dig into her past and solve the mystery of where both Bryn and Chase came from.

The story is fast paced and has plenty of action and Jennifer Lynn Barnes has created an interesting world with an unusual twist to the werewolf mythology.  The story sucks you in and takes you along a roller coaster journey until the very last page.  Although the story ended well things have definitely been left open for the next book Trial by Fire and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  I'm very much looking forward to reading more of this series and will definitely be looking up some of the author's other books in the meantime.  This is definitely a book I would recommend to urban fantasy / paranormal fans.

Source: Received from publisher Quercus in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
Ms. Martin Teaches Media
I Was A Teenage Book Geek
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

51 comments:

  1. I'm glad to hear this one is good! I've been looking forward to reading this one, and on a petty note...I love the cover ;) Great review, as always!

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  2. It's a beautiful cover isn't it Melissa, I'd definitely recommend the story too! I'm glad you liked my review :o)

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  3. Glad to hear that you loved this book and that it has a fast-paced story with an unusual twist on werewolf mythology. :) Raised by Wolves is on my TBR list.

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  5. Great review! I'm glad you liked the book. I did too. I also liked Bryn's character and the way Barnes used the werewolf trope. My review is here. Happy reading!

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  6. I've been wanting to read this one for a while now. I'm really into paranormal books at the moment and this sounds like one I would really enjoy. Great review :)

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  7. @ Violet - I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did :o) It was definitely a fun read!

    @ Kathy - I'm glad you liked my review, I love the quote you picked to use in yours! I've added your link :o)

    @ Chrissie - I'd definitely recommend this one, it is one of my favorite YA werewolf stories of the year so far :o) I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

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  8. OMG I so wanna read this book now!!
    Thanks for the review!

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  9. @ Yllektra - I'm glad you enjoyed the review & hope you get to read this one soon :o)

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  10. Great review! I'm really looking forward to this one! I'm glad it's better than Shiver.

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  11. I want read this book! Now that I read your wonderful review interested me even more. This book is on my wishlist, I can not get a clear idea of history, that has me intrigued. Although I didn´t like "Shiver", so I hope that this is really good.

    Thanks for the honest review.

    ~Yelania

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  12. I can't wait to read this! It's been on my wishlist for a while. The last wolf related book I read was Claire de Lune.
    Great review :)

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  13. Wow great review! It sounds really good! I'm hoping to read it soon :)

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  14. Thanks for the review! I really want to read it now.

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  15. What a great review! This one has been recommended to me a few times...I need to read it sometime soon!

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  16. I was hooked reading the first paragraph of your review. Never has been a ware wolf fan but this book I can't wait to read!!

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  17. Nice review! I can't wait to read RbW! It sounds fabulous. A story needs to be fast-paced, and a page-turner, especially if it's paranormal!

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  18. Thanks for the review. I thought this was a fantastic read also and am glad it wasn't too cliffhangery:)

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  19. Can't wait to read this! Love the cover.

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  20. I've really been wanting to read this since I loved Tattoo/Fate by her. Your review makes me want it even more!

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  21. Fab review ;) I loved this one, can't wait for Trial by fire to release!! :D

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  22. Great review. I definitly want to read this!
    chaarmedone1512@aol.com

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  23. I'm so excited! This book sounds amazing.

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  24. Great review. Thanks for sharing!

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  25. This book is definitely going on my TBR list!

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  26. I've been looking forward to reading this and I really liked your review. I love werewolves and love even more stumbling upon stories that portray them in ways unlike what we normally see. After reading what you thought, I'm looking forward to reading even more!

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  27. Wow! Sounds like a great read! I hadn't heard of this series yet, thanks for sharing!! It's going on my BTR list!!

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  28. great review deff have to check this one out is first ive heard of it or its author so ill deff be looking for it ty for posting

    !

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  29. I heard a lot about this book but I haven't got a chance to read it yet. Thanks to many good reviews it's on my TBR list. There is just never enough werewolf stories :)

    Thanks for the review!

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  30. Great review! very simple but inevitably good.. Thanks for the review. Now I'm quite fascinated about this book. Thanks again, Have a great day!

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  31. Great review! very simple but inevitably good.. Thanks for the review. Now I'm quite fascinated about this book. Thanks again, Have a great day!

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  32. Great review I have been wanting to read this one for along time. It's on the top of my wish list!

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  33. Thanks for your review :) I liked the idea of this book but it got a little iffy for me. I'll definitely read the next one though :)

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  34. Great review! definitely adding this on my tbr pile.

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  35. Thanks for the review! I'm a big fan of werewolves in adult paranormal books but I haven't read many YA ones. This one sounds really good.

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  36. I just read Golden by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I really liked it then I'll look forward to read Raised by Wolves as well... I usually dont read books with werewolf-stuff but I LOVED SO MUCH Shiver and if this book is even better...

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  37. Thanks for sharing :)
    I've been wanting to read this book, so I'm glad you think so highly of it, and you say you liked it more than Shiver...well I loved Shiver, so now I'm expecting to love this too ;)
    Great review :D

    ♪♫Ambur
    Burning.x.Impossibly.x.Bright

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  38. This book looks awesome. Great review!!

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  39. Thanks for the review! I've only heard positive reviews about this book. Can't wait to read it :)

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  40. Very cool book. I love the idea of werewolves, always have. This takes it one step further and I like that idea.

    Thanks

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  41. Adopted mother? O_O Anyway, I've heard a lot great things about this book, plus the title really caught my attention, the pretty cover is a great bonus :D

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  42. I've only read a few YA books and gotta say you have me interested. This book sounds amazing and I love finding a story that sucks me in and doesn't let go. Great review

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  43. Oh I've been wanting to read this for so long now:) Your review just makes the need more urgent:D

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  44. I've been wanting to read this book for so long but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for the review, I'm definitely going to try to move this up my TBR list.

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  45. Raised by Wolves is on my I'm-dying-to-read list. I really, really want to read this book. Thanks for the review!

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  46. I had not heard of this book, but now I'm anxious to read it.

    seriousreader at live dot com

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  47. Raised by wolves was already on my tbr pile ...but i've heard only how good the book was,or haw captivating...i think i may have to read it too,and soon :)

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  48. I've been looking forward to reading this one for awhile and after reading your review I really need to read it!

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  49. Boy, after your review and GLOWING recommendation, I've added it to my TBR!! Thanks for the review.

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  50. Great review! I really want to read this one.

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