Review: Raised by Wolves (Raised by Wolves #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Goodreads Description:

Adoptted 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 Review: I randomly snatched this book off my shelf while waiting for my frozen computer screen to load. I did not expect to close the book to check on the computer's progress half an hour later, wondering how sixty-eight pages had flung past my fingertips. From the moment I opened the book, I was enraptured - engulfed by the story immediately. I fell into this book, and had to bite and claw myself out before I could even consider dog-earring a page and slipping away.

In the beginning? The first thing I noticed about the book was the feistiness of the heroine -  the hilarious, facinating, and intelligent Bryn. The second thing was how well-written it was - every once in a while, a sentance left me with a lot of "woah" and "damn". I really loved the natural, realistic ferocity of the wolves. There was always something beautiful and clever in the little things. How Bryn would notice that when she'd snort, instead of soft and indignent like most girls, it was animalistic despite her humanity. (The nature versus nurture concept was really original!) Or even when her brother/protecter/father-figure Callum would tousle her hair and nuzzle her cheek.

Deeper in, you begin to really meet Bryn. She's a human girl, the first to be raised by a pack of werewolves. At four years old, a rabid "lone wolf" murdered her parents. Callum, who is not only her werewolf guardian but also the most powerful alpha in North America, rescued her from the rabid's grasp. He marked her as his, and left her in the care of the only other human pack member (or the only other that wasn't married in by a werewolf mate, at least) Ali. Bryn's constantly haunted by the memories. It isn't until she stumbles upon Chase, the first werewolf who had been bitten, not born, that she realize that her ghosts demand answers.

Once you get past the first bit of 'world-building', the book explodes and doesn't quite slow down. I really loved this book, and I can't wait to buy the next one. Parts of later confrontation scenes could be called anti-climatic, but the reasoning and writing was so well done, it is hardly a problem. The relationship between Bryn and Chase, while romantic and affectionate, it is not all-consuming passion. Don't expect it to be a romance. I've heard the complaint of miniscule romance, but it was definately there. Considering the age of the main character, it definately has appropriate and realistic boundaries. Overall, this is definately one of my favorite books. In fact, it reminds me of my favorites! If you enjoyed Wicked Lovely (Marissa Marr), Fate Fixed (Bonnie Wheeler), or even Blood and Chocolate (Annette Curtis Klause), I recommend this to you, expecially.

Loved, loved, L-O-V-E-D! :)

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