Review: Raised by wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Goodreads Summary:

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?

Review: this review contains spoilers

The book starts with Bryn in trouble an this just sets the tone for the rest of the book. We meet Bryn the girl that is raised by wolves but isn't a wolf herself. The Alpha of the pack rescued her from a rabid wolf. But we don't get much of the backstory.

The book tells us about Bryn in the present and at the present she is fifteen years old and goes to highschool just like any other teenager. At home she is in constant battle with the Alpha of the pack Callum. Callum gave Bryn to Ali, Ali takes care of Bryn like she is her own daughter and like Bryn, Cali isn't a werewolf.
Cali is married to one and very pregnant, something Bryn fears because there aren't many human women that survive the birth of a werewolf baby.

Bryn finds out that Callum has been keeping a secret, the rabid wolf that killed her parents isn't dead and is recruiting more wolves. She finds this all out from Chase the boy Callum brought into the pack, he was attacked by the same rabid wolf and survived. But he changed into a wolf. Bryn turns against her pack and she is punished for it. Ali decides it is better to leave the pack and together with her twins and Bryn she moves to the borders of the pack ground.

In the mean time Bryn tries to find out about the rabid wolf trough her bond with Chase. With the help of her friend Lake she finds out that the rabid has been attacking more children and they decide to hunt him down. But to do so she needs Chase with her, and Chase brings with him Bryn's friend Devon. Together with Chase, Bryn reforms the pack ties and now she can hear and communicate with Lake and Devon through their minds. This means that the bond they had with Callum;s pack is fading. As a new pack they make plans to kill the rabid wolf.

But their first attempt fails and they have to regroup and come up with another plan. But that plan goes wrong when Bryn is caputered by the rabid wolf and he wants to make her one of his pack. Bryn fights agains this and after she escapes the rabit wolf she and her own pack try to break the bond that the rabit has been holding over his other victims. It works and one after the other the kids turn against their maker. Leaving him dead and Bryn their new Alpha.

Verdict

I had a little trouble getting into this book at first, I liked it but it just didn't grab me untl one sentence: Before  I loved cars, a bedroom that locked from inside and you. From the moment I read that sentence I was so hooked to the story I couldn't put it down.

It's really great to read about the werewolf structure and how they function as a pack. I loved Bryn as a character and I really hoped that she would find her place in the pack and still be herself. The other characters were strong and through the things Bryn told in the story you got to know them a little better. But the main focus stayed on Bryn. And I really liked that because to be honest I wanted to know her story and wanted to know everything about her, not about all the other people in the pack. So for me it was a good thing that the story focused mostly on Bryn's story. And I can't wait to read more about her in the next book!

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