RAISED BY WOLVES (RAISED BY WOLVES, BOOK #1) BY LYNN BARNES: BOOK REVIEW

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5 star rating
Raised by Wolves
Raised by Wolves, Book #1
By Jennifer Lynn Barnes
ISBN # 9781606840597
Author’s Website: http://www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com/

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Valerie

raised-by-wolves-jennifer-lynn-barnesSynopsis:

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?(Goodreads)

Review:

I’ve had this one on my to-read shelf for eternity. I really just couldn’t bring myself to read it for some unknown reason. I read rave reviews about it, but I still didn’t read it. I read praises for Raised by Wolves from Ally Carter, but I just didn’t read it. Finally, I saw it on the shelves at my library, and I got it. Of course, I put off reading it until the last minute.

And as you can tell, I got addicted.

One major part of the 5 star rating is that it’s CLEAN. Raised by Wolves is one of those few YA books that combines action and romance and awesomeness without adding swear words. There are not any inappropriate scenes either. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a great YA book without swear words. If you’re dying to find one of those, Raised by Wolves is a must-read. I like how Bryn’s able to express herself without having to use them at all.

Bryn is one of those memorable characters. She’s snarky, smart, sassy and strong. She also happens to be unnaturally fearless and caring. She might be a little impulsive, but that’s what makes her so fun to read about. I love how interesting she is. A lot of the time I get really bored by the protagonists, but Bryn is fun. She’s able to have a good time, save her world and get in a ton of trouble at the same time, which totally works. I love how she’s not annoyingly bad either. Believe it or not, Bryn has a good soul that reeks love, care and perseverance.

As for the other characters, let’s just say Lake is pretty amazing. I love her part in the story and how she’s not just “Bryn’s best friend.” She’s a crucial part of the story, just as Chase and Dev are. They are all so entertaining and hilarious and amazing! I love how their dialogue isn’t boring; I actually feel like I could read a whole book containing it (well, I just did).  Honestly, the supporting characters make you love Raised by Wolves even more. It’s not just Bryn; it’s Bryn and her amazing friends. That’s what makes up a truly great story.

Plot is a huge portion of my obsession with Raised by Wolves. It’s crazily amazing how Jennifer Lynn Barnes can turn a werewolf story into something actually interesting and exciting. I mean, murder and an insane, good-looking wolf? You’ve got to count me in. It’s not that though. Every single part of the plot is fine-tuned to the point that I actually did not predict the ending. I almost always do.  Honestly, I was way off in my idea. It’s just one of those plots that twists all the time in 179.2 degree turns.

Basically, don’t make my mistake. Go get your library card and check it out. Or go buy it! I don’t care how you get it; just get it and read it and fall into obsession. Yup, that’s the story of my life.