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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Paranormal Series Pick: Raised by Wolves, Trial by Fire, Taken by Storm


Raised by Wolves (2010) 418 pages
Trial by Fire (2011) 357 pages
Taken by Storm (2012) 314 pages
By Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Egmont

I can’t believe I almost missed this series! It wasn’t until the publication of book 3, Taken by Storm, that I heard increasing buzz over Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ paranormal romance series; now I’m a rabid (ha, ha, pun intended), avid fan of Bryn and her pack of strays. You won’t want to miss this exciting series.

In book 1, Raised by Wolves, Bryn is orphaned when a Rabid kills her parents. An alpha male saves Bryn and allows Ali to raise Bryn as her own daughter. Bryn grows up human but “raised by wolves.” She begins to feel the pack’s mentality, strength, and sense their thoughts and wild desires. Callum, the pack’s Alpha, promises to keep her safe no matter what.

When Bryn disobeys Callum and discovers a teen Were who’s been turned by a rogue wolf, memories of that bloody attack on her parents begin to haunt Bryn. Chase and Bryn are too much alike, and soon they are sharing thoughts without needing to speak them aloud. The man who turned Chase is the same man who killed Bryn’s parents and now he’s after her.

Bryn needs Chase’s help to save newly turned werewolves; when she does, she becomes the pack’s alpha. She can’t go home because she is home for all new, young wolves. Callum has a strong bond with Bryn, but from this day forward she is in charge of her own problems.



Trail by Fire (book 2) continues this fascinating story. In fact, the second book is my favorite. I could not stop reading once I turned the first page. Fair warning: don't open this book unless you have a few hours to read it cover to cover!


Old enemies deliver strange packages and send cryptic messages. When a teen wolf shows up broken and bleeding and between shifting back to his human form, Bryn knows it is the work of Shay, her arch-rival and Alpha male of another pack. He’s been gunning for Bryn for a long time, and she knows she will have to face him and defeat him if she is to keep her own pack safe and free.


New characters are introduced and new threats move into the pack’s sphere—a threat that may take them all down.



Taken By Storm is a brilliant tour de force! Bryn continues to fight off enemies and comes into her own as a leader. She remembers the lessons Callum has taught her and tries to emulate his energy and wisdom in tough situations. Byrn’s pack is in danger—wolf females are rare and Bryn’s pack is mostly female and weaker than the other large packs. She will need help to defend them. In order to survive and defeat her strongest foes, Bryn must decide to pay the ultimate price to save her pack.

Brilliantly conceived, masterful storytelling, a deft hand that controls a taut and thrilling plot, and simmering passion and tension between the main characters makes this series the most compelling paranormal series in recent memory. Barnes manages to make me believe in werewolves and long for their pack mentality. Bryn is a strong female protagonist who chooses to save her pack no matter the threat to herself. Readers will devour this series and growl for more!

Highly, highly recommended grades 7-up with this warning: book 1 is harmless, books 2 and 3 talk more about mating. Chase and Bryn begin to spend the nights together. Also, when a human changes from wolf back to human, he/she is naked. No details about anatomy though. No language. Book 3 has one example of language.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received these titles from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)









34 comments:

  1. I haven't seen this series before. I will definitely look into it for my school.

    Heidi Lewis
    Guinyard-Butler Middle School
    779 Allen Street
    Barnwell, SC 29812

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would be interested in reading this as well. Please put me in the contest.

    Brenda Lemon
    Chapman Kansas
    blemon@473mail.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please put me down. Looks like a nice addition to our library.

    Belann Earley
    Union Middle School
    Sandy, UT
    belannearley@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to share these books with my students.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Haven't read it yet, but would be more than happy to accept one of the sets. I am a new Media Specialist at a small charter school in Minneapolis that is building their library from scratch and all of the books we have are donated.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can't wait to read them.
    Tanya
    Rosenberg, TX
    bookworm7517@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Josephine sorrell
    I omitted information about me in order to win this series.
    449 Camp RockRosd
    Boone, NC
    Mabel School grades K- 8
    Jothebookgirl@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. My students are chomping at the bit :)
    Lynette
    Crystal River, FL
    Crystal River High School
    mitchelll@citrus.k12.fl.us

    ReplyDelete
  9. Delana Smith
    Martin, TN
    smithd81@k12tn.net

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hoping to win some books for

    Teays Valley HS
    Ashville, Ohio 43103
    Lisa Campbell
    lcampbell@tvsd.us

    ReplyDelete
  11. My avid readers love series and they love paranormal plot lines. These would be perfect in my library. With virtually no book budget this year, a new series would be welcome!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yay - not vampires!

    Ellen
    Putnam City High School
    Oklahoma City, OK
    edefehr@putnamcityschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  13. We would LOVE them
    Mary Geenen
    Redmond High School
    Redmond Oregon
    mary.geenen@redmond.k12.or.us

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fantastic offer!
    Terrie
    San Jacinto Intermediate
    Pasadena,Tx
    thinojosa@pasadenaisd.org

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sounds perfect for my "rabid" middle school readers. Would love to win a set.
    Janice Gumerman
    Independence, MO
    Janice_Gumerman@isdschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  16. My middle schoolers would love this��

    Thanks,
    Lynne McHale
    Library Teacher
    Ventura, ca
    olateachtech@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I just had my first request for these books in my high school library this week. One of my "stops in once a week to tell Mrs Mathu what she's reading" patrons just requested the second book. And we don't even have the first book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Help save my professional pride!
      Ashwaubenon High School
      2391 S.Ridge Rd.
      Green Bay, WI. 54304
      Nadine Mathu, Lms

      Delete
  18. My name is Emily, I'm from Santa Fe, NM, and my email is sampsontheunicorn@gmail.com, and I want to enter the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you for making these wonderful books available for a free drawing. My MS/HS students would grab these up in a flash!

    Joy Walker
    Librarian
    Ithaca School District
    Richland Center, Wisconsin
    joywalker@centurytel.net

    ReplyDelete
  20. This will definately interest my students.

    Mindy Linthicum
    Newman Middle School
    355 S Osage
    Skiatook, OK 74070
    mlinthicum@skiatookschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  21. This will definately be an addition to this library

    Jerrilyn Miller
    San Marcos High School Library
    2601 Rattler Rd
    San Marcos TX 78666
    jerrilyn.miller@smcisd.net

    ReplyDelete
  22. These titles would be a great addition to our library
    Katherine Wright
    Norwich, CT
    wrightk@nfaschool.org

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sounds like something our kids would love! We have a lot of students that love paranormal reads!!

    Marcie Irvin
    Northridge High School
    2901 Northridge Rd.
    Tuscaloosa, AL 35406
    mirvin@tusc.k12.al.us

    ReplyDelete
  24. Neilann Thomas
    nthomas@tusc.k12.al.us
    Northridge High School
    2901 Northridge High School
    Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

    Our students are really getting into this genre! They sound great and I know they would love them.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sounds like a great series. I look forward to reading it and sharing it on my blog, on Twitter, with my students,and with my daughter. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

    Kara Arndt
    Weslaco East High School
    810 Pleasantview Dr.
    Weslaco, TX 78596
    karndt@wisd.us or karaarndt@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ooh, sounds intriguing! We'd love to win.
    Thanks for your great reviews, Pamela. :)

    Gregory Taylor
    Hillside JHS library
    Boise, Idaho
    gregory.taylor@boiseschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love them! So will my students.

    Melissa
    Ephrata, PA
    mzawaski@ptd.net

    ReplyDelete
  28. My Students will enjoy these books. Thank you for this opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oooo! A new series my students will love!

    Lisa
    Portland, OR
    lisajust820@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Looking for another good wolf series!

    Susan Findlay
    sfindlay@fallscityps.org

    Falls City, NE

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow. What a great concept for a story line. Can't wait.
    Janice G.
    Independence, MO
    Janice_Gumerman@isdschools.org

    ReplyDelete
  32. Man I wish I had seen this giveaway earlier! I just finished Raised by Wolves and agree that this series is not one you want to pass up. I'm beating myself up for missing this giveaway!
    wendyrailey@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sorry you missed it, Wendy! Stay tuned . Great giveaway coming soon:) Pamela

    ReplyDelete