Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Synopsis taken from author’s website:

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?



Bryn has the ability to mentally bond with the Pack that has raised her since she was a child. However, she has refused the bond, knowing that if she submits to it, she will be forever attached to the Pack and they will know her every thought and every move. She doesn’t want to lose that privacy. That part of herself that separates herself from the wolves.

When she learns that a boy locked in Callum’s basement might be able to tell her more about her parents’ death, she and Callum seal a deal that will set off a chain of events that will test both Bryn’s personal boundaries and the boundaries of the Pack.

The characters in this book are wonderfully complex. You are constantly wondering what someone’s agenda is. Sometimes it is simple. Other times…not so much. A favorite of mine were Bryn’s friends. Devon, the young metrosexual werewolf that will sometimes break into a show tune. And then there is Lake. The young female werewolf with a shotgun named Matilda. Seriously. Any character that is reminiscent of Jayne and Vera from Firefly, has my undying devotion.

The writing is unique in that the Pack mentality is often put into words. The scenes where the reader see’s the inner workings of a wolf’s thoughts are fascinating. They are simple and succinct. The writing during these moments is purposely primitive allowing you to get inside the Pack bond. This primitiveness also promotes an intensity to the story that would be missing otherwise.

I do warn readers that this book is violent and there are scenes that will seriously make you cringe and wonder how any good will come out of it. Just keep reading and watch the game of chess that is this book play out. You won’t be disappointed.

~ Nat