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Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves #2)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 6,017 ratings · 481 reviews

There can only be one alpha.

Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.

B...more

Hardcover, 357 pages

Published June 14th 2011 by EgmontUSA (first published May 26th 2011)

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Aug 16, 2011 Nic rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, wolves, review-copy, series, young-adult, read-in-2011

Rating: 4.5 stars

Favourite Quote: I could feel his heart beating, feel his mind and thoughts blending with my own as the two of us stood there, bathed in the moonlight and feeling its effects like a drug.
Whoever Chase was, he was mine.

There is a lot of good werewolves books out there but the Raised by Wolves series would have to be my absolute favourite. So I was a little nervous about book two but it didn't disappoint with it pulse pounding plot and awesome characters.

Barnes writing is fast pac...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Lilibeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

We return to the best YA werewolf series known to the genre, this is said by Melissa Marr, and me.

Bryn knew all along that the other Alphas that make up the Senate--besides Callum--would come after her at some point in time for the female Weres in her pack. And when Shay comes to the forefront of a new feud between the Cedar Ridge Pack and the Snake Bend Pack, it comes as no surprise. Shay, being Bryn's best friend's older brother and Alpha of the Snake Bend Pack, has instigated the most unassu...more We return to the best YA werewolf series known to the genre, this is said by Melissa Marr, and me.

Bryn knew all along that the other Alphas that make up the Senate--besides Callum--would come after her at some point in time for the female Weres in her pack. And when Shay comes to the forefront of a new feud between the Cedar Ridge Pack and the Snake Bend Pack, it comes as no surprise. Shay, being Bryn's best friend's older brother and Alpha of the Snake Bend Pack, has instigated the most unassuming and by-the-book tactics in order to acquire what he wants most. The rare gems in the werewolf community: female werewolves.

When a foreign wolf enters Bryn's territory badly broken in all meaning of the word, and invades her pack's lives, Bryn feels it is her duty as Alpha to protect this wolf from his previous Alpha and the others willing to fight to get him back. Only those others are nothing like anything Bryn and her Pack has ever encountered before. We're talking a whole new ballpark here.

Barnes strikes another wonder with this new installment on the insight of Bryn's new life as an Alpha. Not only does it feel like Bryn is maturing as a character but she faces some astronomically tough decisions when it comes to the safety of all those dependent on her. She always feels like she should be on the front line, fighting against future threats head-on but soon comes to realize, that though she has a responsibility toward her pack, she is not the least bit alone. Barnes is able to construct scenarios where the Alpha gets the final say, and where she also has to consider all the options and determine that the safest choice may not be the best. Being Alpha is impossible, and Bronwyn Alessia St. Vincent Clare is an impossible girl.

What was a major theme throughout the whole duration of Trial by Fire was the constant participation of other characters in almost every scene. I do love when the main character--heroine, in this case--is in a solitude state to recover from the latest fiasco, but in this book you get a dose of any and all other characters. At times, I did not appreciate the constant intrusion but, otherwise, it really helped unravel Ali's--Bryn's foster mother's--past, more information on the inner workings of Chase, and the villainous temperament of all that is Shay; among other new characters that are introduced with a deadly mindset and whose histories were interesting to flip through too. Minor twists in the plot really kept the ball rolling, and closer to the second half of the book, things got really interesting. Barnes orchestrated the events in Trial by Fire like a music director, always in sync to the outcomes and surprising the heck out of me when I read Bryn's logical solutions.

I hope that the series continues with those troubling moments because what I enjoy the most is the depth that Barnes presents to the choices that Bryn makes, and that constant possibility that she may not outlive them. (Being the only human Alpha in existence in their werewolf world.)

I would not recommend reading this book as a stand-alone, just because I thought the first book, Raised by Wolves, really holds some valuable informative issues that provides the starting point of everything Bryn.

Grade: B+(less)

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Jul 13, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-releases, fantasy, young-adult-fiction, shifters

*Rating* 4.0
*Genre* Young-Adult-Paranormal

*Review*
Trial by Fire is the second novel in the Raised by Wolves series which features Bronwyn (Bryn) Alessia St. Vincent Clare as the only human Alpha of a werewolf pack called the Cedar Ridge Pack. She was raised in Callum’s pack since the age of four after her parents were murdered by a rogue werewolf named the Rabid. I’d recommend reading Raised by Wolves first since both books tie in together and you can better understand why Shay is such an asshat...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

**This review (and the book itself) contains MAJOR spoilers for Raised by Wolves. You have been warned.**

Brynn thought spending the first fifteen years of her life living with the werewolves of the Stone River Pack was hard. Turns out being the alpha of her own pack is even harder.

Brynn is still human, she is still a teenager. But she is also the alpha of the Cedar Ridge pack meaning she is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of an entire pack of werewolves--living day to day with Were who...more **This review (and the book itself) contains MAJOR spoilers for Raised by Wolves. You have been warned.**

Brynn thought spending the first fifteen years of her life living with the werewolves of the Stone River Pack was hard. Turns out being the alpha of her own pack is even harder.

Brynn is still human, she is still a teenager. But she is also the alpha of the Cedar Ridge pack meaning she is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of an entire pack of werewolves--living day to day with Were who could just as easily kill her as choose to let her lead them.

Worse, being alpha means dealing with the other packs and their--ruthless, older, male--alphas who would mostly want nothing more than to see Brynn dealt with and her pack absorbed into their own. Callum, her former mentor, might want something else but with a Were like Callum it's impossible to know for sure.

When a battered teenage boy appears in the center of Cedar Ridge territory asking for protection things get even more complicated. Brynn can't claim another alpha's wolf without starting a war. She can't send the boy away to let him die. Strange dreams of fire and other threats start appearing everywhere.

No one said being alpha would be easy. No one said how long Brynn would last as alpha either in Trial by Fire (2011) by Jennifer Lynne Barnes.

Trial by Fire is the sequel to Barnes' powerhouse novel Raised by Wolves.

Trial by Fire is a great sequel. Barnes capitalizes on the unique world she created in Raised by Wolves while continuing to develop the world of the North American packs and some other supernatural beings to great effect.

All of the characters readers will want to see from the first book are here with further character development and expanded histories, particularly Lake and Devon. Chase, by comparison, still has a lot of question marks about his past and his general character but that is, at least, explained more in this installment.

It hardly seems possible but this book is even more exciting than the first. Brynn is facing challenges from all sides with very few options for help. With danger looming from all sides, Trial by Fire is a definite nail-biter that will draw readers in with action, adventure and even more twists than the first novel in the series. Not to mention a dynamite ending that will leave readers clamoring for a new installment about Brynn and the Cedar Ridge pack.

Possible Pairings: White Cat by Holly Black, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Clarity by Kim Harrington, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, Divergent by Veronica Roth(less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, 2011-release, mundie-moms-reviews, 2011-100-book-challenge, signed-books-arcs

This is fabulous sequel to Raised by Wolves. I loved getting back into the world Jennifer created and getting to see how much Bryn has grown and continues to grow as a character and as an alpha with her pack, of broken, lovable, and relatable characters.

Bryn is fiercely a devoted alpha and will do anything for her pack. The love and support they have for each other continues to grow stronger as they form a united front when a rogue wolf enters their territory, they're threatened by a coven of ps...more This is fabulous sequel to Raised by Wolves. I loved getting back into the world Jennifer created and getting to see how much Bryn has grown and continues to grow as a character and as an alpha with her pack, of broken, lovable, and relatable characters.

Bryn is fiercely a devoted alpha and will do anything for her pack. The love and support they have for each other continues to grow stronger as they form a united front when a rogue wolf enters their territory, they're threatened by a coven of psychics and Shay continues to dance along the lines of not breaking covenant rules and taunting Bryn. I loved everything Jennifer threw into this fabulous sequel. I loved seeing how the bonds continue to form within the pack, Ali and Bryn growing closer together and getting to know Ali more. Ali's back story is shocking and I love the twist that Jennifer throws into Ali's story and the psychics.

While I really liked the added paranormal power with the psychics, my favorite part of the story was Bryn. Bryn and her pack are powerful and unique. Not only are they young, but many of them are broken in some ways, which allows them be accepting and close with each other. What I admire most about Bryn is her ability to lead and play by her own rules. She has a talent for being able to find loopholes to the rules in the touch situations she finds herself in. She has a constant need and desire to want to save everyone in her pack, especially the emotional & physically broken lone wolf Lucas. I can't love Bryn and not love Chase, Devon and Lake who are just as fiercely protective of Bryn as she is of them. They are all well written, wonderful characters to get to know.

There is so much that goes on in this story, and I found myself a lot more emotionally invested in it than I was with Raised by Wolves. I sighed, I laughed and even cried. There are twists, there's action and some romance. Jennifer doesn't leave out some of my favorite wolves from Raised by Wolves, like Callum. There's a lot of character growth and while a lot of things were tied up perfectly, there's still a few more things that I can't wait to read about in the next installment in this must have series. Let me just say, that ending makes me wish I didn't have to wait another year to read it. I highly recommend picking up this book and the series if you haven't already read Raised by Wolves.(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-gold-star-award-winner, trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Bryn loves her new life with her pack - until a wolf enters her territory. He's badly hurt and he's asking for protection. With Shay as his Alpha, he's been used as a punching bag, until Shay gave him to a group of psychics. Bryn doesn't know what to do. She doesn't want to turn him away, but neither can she help him within the rules of the werewolves. She desperately tries to find a loophole in the rules.

Before she can figure out a solution, the p...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, pan-macmillan-sent, publisher-sent

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. **Read in July 2011**

Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of this!

This was a fantastic follow up to Raised by Wolves. Jennifer Lynn Barnes continues to create magic and builds on her world in this story. The first book was brilliant and this book really cemented this series as one of the best werewolf ones out there in my opinion. There’s such a great sense of pack dynamic and a unique type of family within this series and it’s impossible not to love the characters and get lost in the st...more **Read in July 2011**

Thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for a copy of this!

This was a fantastic follow up to Raised by Wolves. Jennifer Lynn Barnes continues to create magic and builds on her world in this story. The first book was brilliant and this book really cemented this series as one of the best werewolf ones out there in my opinion. There’s such a great sense of pack dynamic and a unique type of family within this series and it’s impossible not to love the characters and get lost in the story.
The storyline of this book was understated and yet powerful at the same time. There weren’t a lot of things going on, but the adrenaline and excitement pumped throughout the book as the story continued.

This series has an incredible range of characters and the interaction and dynamic they all have with one other is a highlight in the series. As a werewolf pack they’re all so tied to one another and that love and care that they have for each other really seeps through the pages. They all care so deeply for one another and would often die for one another; it’s so beautiful to see.
All the characters in this series continue to entertain me and make me feel for them. Bryn, Chase, Devon, Lake, Ali, Callum and all the younger ones are all wonderful in their own right. The sense of friendship and family really adds to the book and makes it all that much more of a great read.

Bryn is honestly a great heroine to follow. She has personally and depth and she truly cares about those in her life and those around her. Even if someone isn’t a part of her pack, she still tries to do right by them and this really shows the kind of character she is. Unlike a lot of the main characters you see nowadays, Bryn constantly puts others above herself. Almost everything she does is for someone else. I love the relationships she has with those around her. From her relationship with Chase, to the one she has with Ali, as well as Dev, Lake and Callum are all completely different and yet essential to who she is and what these relationships make her.
Of course I love her relationship with Chase. They’re so sweet together and just keep getting better with each book, but the relationship Bryn has with Ali continues to be a stand out for me. Bryn has so much going for her that helps her survive in this werewolf world that Ali doesn’t have and yet she puts all her weaknesses aside for her adopted daughter. Really the “adopted” part has no place within their relationship; Bryn is her daughter, blood or no blood and I think it’s so beautiful how Ali will do anything to protect and help her daughter.

Towards the end this book was explosive, as things came to light and the story began to wind down. I think the world and the characters within it are changing and growing and will continue to do so in future books. Personally, I can’t wait to see what happens next and am looking forward to more stories with Bryn and the rest of the Cedar Ride Pack!
(less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc, books-i-own, signed-arcs, signed-books

This series just keeps getting better. Barnes has written a beautifully complex and entertaining story. This is one of the best if not the best werewolf series that I’ve ever read!

The characters, this story, it’s simply amazing. It’s addicting.

Bryn continues to be a character that I admire. I thought that the girl had guts in the first novel, but now that she’s alpha there are new characteristics that began to shine through in the second installment. That impulsive girl in book one is now resp...more

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May 05, 2013 Alexandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bryn is an anomaly: the only human acting as alpha and leading a pack of werewolves. It's a tough and lonely job, with many difficult decisions to make with startling consequences. When Bryn finds another alpha's Were, named Lucas, bloody and mid-Shift on her doorstep, she doesn't know what to do. On the one hand, she wants desperately to protect him; on the other, she can't just claim one from another alpha's pack. The boy blacks out right after telling Bryn that she's his last hope for protec...more Bryn is an anomaly: the only human acting as alpha and leading a pack of werewolves. It's a tough and lonely job, with many difficult decisions to make with startling consequences. When Bryn finds another alpha's Were, named Lucas, bloody and mid-Shift on her doorstep, she doesn't know what to do. On the one hand, she wants desperately to protect him; on the other, she can't just claim one from another alpha's pack. The boy blacks out right after telling Bryn that she's his last hope for protection. But what is the boy running from? It turns out Lucas was under the lock and key of a coven of psychics. Now that he's escaped, they're hunting him, and anyone who gets in their way. As the threats begin to pile up, Bryn must decide what her priorities are. Herself? Her love? The pack? Or something else entirely...

I don't usually like werewolves. After Twilight, werewolves and vampires were written about like crazy, trying to get the Twilight junkies hooked on the same topic in a different series. It didn't work. This book however, was nothing like Twilight, which I was glad of. I hate copycat books; I crave originality! First off, the idea of Bryn being simply human threw me. Human? As in, she can't change at all, and she doesn't have the built-in Were instincts? She can't turn into anything, no; however, she does have those instincts, because she was raised by werewolves. The book stated, clearly, several times, that Bryn was just human; however, that couldn't seem to compute in my brain. How could she be alpha without being a wolf? For much of the book, I was wondering if I was mistaken about her not being Were, because she was alpha. However, by the end of the story, I truly got it: Bryn is not a Werewolf. The only thing that convinced me entirely was the fact that she asked her guardian to turn her, in time.

I enjoyed the aspect of the psychics. That is one thing that will never be overdone for me; because there are so many ways to do it. Writers who choose psychics as their topics have such an opportunity to make it new and original. Jennifer Lynn Barnes did a great job with that. I liked how they were a 'coven' of psychics; it reminded me of witchcraft, although there was technically none of that. The concept of the powers that the leader of the coven possessed made me think, which I enjoyed. How could someone have so much power that they could physically and psychically influence another person's way of thinking? Just a little bit, I could understand; but to the extent that they would kill? Very interesting to contemplate. I especially found the twist ending with the psychics and Ali, Bryn's foster mom, to be incredibly interesting.

This is the first book in the Raised by Wolves trilogy that I've read; it's the second in the series. I wish I'd gotten to read the first book prior to this one, but I didn't. There was so much back story, from what had happened in the first novel, and from even earlier, that I sometimes found it difficult to keep up. There were also a lot of names, some of them similar; Ali, Bryn's foster mother, and Alex, a werewolf, for example. Although I could call to mind each character by their names by the end of the story, when I was actually reading, it took me some time to be able to associate the name with (my version of) the face. Barnes did a good job of helping the reader (especially one new to the series, like me) to remember the characters; I just found the sheer number of people to remember could get somewhat overwhelming.

I found this book enjoyable, though perhaps not as much as I'd expected, after reading some reviews on it. I enjoyed the storyline and the ideas; werewolves overall just aren't my cup of tea. It was a well-written book with no visible writing errors. I would give it a rating of four stars. It's not quite at the level of enjoyability that some previous four-star books gave me, but I did still like it. I would recommend this story for anyone looking for some romance, tough decisions, and magic where it's least expected.(less)

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May 05, 2013 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rating: 4 stars

Before I start, I just want to ask: why must it always be a red haze? First in Blood Red Road and now this one. Why can't we have a hot pink haze or even a rainbow haze? That would be way prettier than red for sure (even though red is my favourite color)

Jokes aside, this sequel to Raised by Wolves definitely gets a solid 4 stars, maybe even 4.5 stars. I did enjoy the first book in the series, but this one impressed me more. One reason could be that I liked Bryn in this much more t...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Maythavee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Before I review Trial By Fire, can I just say that the Raised By Wolves series is now my favourite YA series about werewolves. I love it so much! Trial By Fire blew me away!

I don’t know where to even start. I love everything about this book: the characters, the plotlines, the writing style, the action, the twists etc. I really enjoy seeing Bryn in her new role as Alpha. It changed her in ways that I expected but deep down she is still Bryn and I love her for that. The pack-bonds between Bryn an...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read2012, reread, ya, paranormal

Bryn is a strong protagonist but not without flaws and weaknesses. Bryn is definitely the product of the environment she was raised in. While Ali did her best to raise Bryn in a human way, she still thinks like a wolf though she isn't one. It is a harsh world she is part of but she doesn't flinch away from it. Bryn has learned a lot and she shows a new level of leadership and determination here. We are also given some insight into Ali's past. The existence of psychics with special "knacks" also...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Lynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bryn was selected by her pack to be the Alpha in the previous book -- however, though she is strong enough mentally to be Alpha she is a human among wolves her hold is precarious and she doesn't know how precarious until a new wolf seeks sanctuary with her pack. Devon and Lake, her two best friends, are supportive and want her to be their leader -- most of the other pack members are really very young.

Her mentor Callum sends her a gift of a hand-carved horse, it's lovely and she is appreciative o...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Myla Abujan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. It may be because the author had improved in her book writing skills or that it had been a while since i read the first one thus making the comparisons of the two books a bit unfair but i just loved it. Well actually a more like a 50% love and 50% like but either way i was still sucked completely into it. This is possibly one of the best YA werewolf novel series that i had read. This author does such a great job at portraying what Bryn is going t...more

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May 13, 2012 Paranormal Reads rated it 5 of 5 stars

Trial by Fire picks up shortly after the end of Raised by Wolves, Bryn is now the alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack, well as any human can be at least. But one day a stranger shows up on her front door, literally. The new were, Lucas, brings with him trouble, not only from his alpha but also trouble that could lead to a new threat for her pack alone.

I loved this; we get to see Bryn in a different perspective, along side with Chase, Devon and Lake. I loved how you get more interaction with these 3,...more

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May 13, 2012 Julie-anne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

My first thoughts on this book were that this line ("Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he's a Were, and Bryn's protection is his only hope.") is completely false. Why do some blurbs have things like this? This isn't the way it happens in the book at all, it's all just a big lie.

My second thought was how much I love the author's writing style and her characters. I really like Bryn and Chase and Dev and Lake ..... and pretty much everyone in the book (even Caroline, you'll need to...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Cheryl Rainfield rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished Raised by Wolves AND Trial by Fire (the 2nd in the series) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and I LOVED them so much! I love strong girl characters in books–strong emotionally, strong in so many ways, and Bryn in Jenn’s books is *strong*, good-hearted, ethical, fighting against oppression, and tries to protect others, even though she’s “only” human (with an added something) among a bunch of much physically stronger werewolves.

I love fantasy, most especially when it’s well written, but I n...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Stephanie Time rated it 5 of 5 stars

Trial By Fire is my second favorite book! (Besides the first one, "Raised By Wolves") I love how Jennifer starts the book off with Dev being himself as the broadway boy not afraid to show who he really is by making the pack at high school sing! I also love how Jennifer incorperated Bryn showing her humanity by crying because Maddy left the pack because she had to kill Lucas to keep her postition as alpha, (spoiler alert to people who haven't read it) and how Chase lets Bryn hit him becuase she w...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Harmony rated it 4 of 5 stars

I LOVE this series. Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one talented writer. I absolutely adored Raised by Wolves – in fact, I think it's one of my all-time favorite paranormal books. It took me a while to get to this one and while it did not pack the punch that Raised by Wolves did, I wish that I had read it sooner.

This series is different from all other werewolf series about their because while there is a human girl involved, she's not falling mindlessly in love with a guy and then later finding out he's...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin Ichimaru rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mello-s-feb-challenge-shifters, paranormal-romance, shapeshifters, werewolves, urban-fantasy, ya, psychics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My goodness, all the political maneuverings in this book were crazy. Shay is not a likable character in the least. And I don't feel bad over what happened with Lucas. Broken or not, he forced her hand. I understand why Maddy had to leave. She'd just gotten her mate and then he was dead within minutes. Not Bryn's fault, but if she had stayed, everything would have been much worse. This book was more intense than the first to me. There was more of a sense that some of the Cedar Ridge pack wouldn't...more My goodness, all the political maneuverings in this book were crazy. Shay is not a likable character in the least. And I don't feel bad over what happened with Lucas. Broken or not, he forced her hand. I understand why Maddy had to leave. She'd just gotten her mate and then he was dead within minutes. Not Bryn's fault, but if she had stayed, everything would have been much worse. This book was more intense than the first to me. There was more of a sense that some of the Cedar Ridge pack wouldn't make it and indeed, one of them died, Bryn was forced to kill Lucas and Maddy left.

The psychics weren't much more likable than Shay is. Even if they were being mostly manipulated. Even if in the end, they feel bad about it. I just can't feel sorry for them. Anymore than Bryn could feel sorry for whatever it was that Caroline was feeling. According the Bryn, all of the psychics except Caroline and Jed left. Does that mean we'll be seeing more of them? I'm sure Shay will be hanging around to cause more trouble, too. Especially since he seems to want Lake so badly.

It seems that Bryn and Chase can argue after all. I still want to know more about him. It's obvious he feels Bryn is her mate and they admitted to loving each other, but it still seems it's mostly the mate bond that has them feeling that way. And will Bryn resent Chase again when he chooses her over the pack? He won't ever be upset that she chooses the pack over him. She is, after all, supposed to do that. Neither of them can help those parts of themselves. I admire Chase for his honesty. And for placing the pack above himself for Bryn's sake. He'd die for them. Not because of any innate sense to do so, but because Bryn wants the pack safe more than anything else. Also, he seems a little better at reading people than Bryn does. He never trusted Lucas and he was right not to.

There was a lot of us versus them this time around. Humans versus Weres. Bryn finally coming to terms that she can't continue on as if she is a normal human. She's not as physically strong as the rest, but she certainly isn't a normal human. I knew at some point, she would be asking someone to Change her. I just wasn't sure if it would be Chase or Callum. Seems she'll still be human for a while, though. I knew that She-wolf in her dreams had to mean something. I agree with her, though. As long as she remains human, alpha or no, other wolves will see her as weak and breakable. The wolves in her pack won't challenge her. They chose to be there. But she'll probably think twice before taking in any outsiders again. Harboring Lucas brought nothing but trouble and in the end, cost her 2 pack mates and a friend. Hopefully now she'll realize she really can't save everyone. Some people really can't be rescued. Bryn's a sweet girl. Loyal. But it seems she's going to have to lose more of her humanity, her naivete and grow up real fast in order to survive and keep her pack safe.

I'm really wondering what's going to happen in book three as I'm not seeing what can happen next. I'm sure it's going to be a whole lot of trouble, what ever it is. (less)

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Feb 11, 2012 Daniela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-find

Trial by fire is the second book in Barnes' Raised by Wolves series.
In it our Alpha human to a young wolf pack has to face a multi layered plot to undo her status as the only human Alpha to ever exist. Challenging Alphas of other packs, a whole werewolf Senate and a coven of psychics with different abilities are just the beginning as we will learn.
Her biggest struggle is coming down to being human and it still controlling much of ther decision making and the way it sets her apart from other Alp...more

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Nov 10, 2011 Sharon Tyler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in the Raised by Wolves series for young adults, and will not disappoint those that fell in love with Bryn and her world in the first book. The book opens with Bryn and her motley pack settling into their new life. Just when everything seems to be settling down new treats arise. A new girl at school and some crazy dreams have Bryn on edge when a young werewolf lands on their doorstep; bloody, beaten, and looking for a savior. Lucas comes f...more Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in the Raised by Wolves series for young adults, and will not disappoint those that fell in love with Bryn and her world in the first book. The book opens with Bryn and her motley pack settling into their new life. Just when everything seems to be settling down new treats arise. A new girl at school and some crazy dreams have Bryn on edge when a young werewolf lands on their doorstep; bloody, beaten, and looking for a savior. Lucas comes from Shay’s pack, which leads to enough trouble. However, he was also given to a group of humans as a play thing. Shay wants his whipping boy back, and so does the group of out of the ordinary humans that had been torturing him. Threats seem to come from all side, threatening the lives and safety of Bryn and the entire pack. Werewolf politics keep Callum from being able to help, Ali has been keeping a secret, and Bryn and her friends feel more than a little overwhelmed.

Trial by Fire is even better than the first in the series, Raised by Wolves. The idea of a human raised among werewolves to become an alpha is a fantastic premise. That that human is female with some serious authority issues but need to protect others makes the story even better. The werewolf culture of strength and dominance is perfectly built, and instinctive for those that have already read other paranormal fiction. While there might not be a whole lot unique tings in the world Barnes has created, it feels real and right. The characters are fantastic, the emotions and relations are deeply compelling. The twists and turns in the story included some that I foresaw, but others honestly took me by surprise. Barnes has a writing style and voice that draws me in and keeps me there looking for more. I am already eager to see what might come next for Bryn and the rest of the pack. Next summer seems very far away.

Readers that loved Raised by Wolves should definitely continue with this sequel. Readers that liked the first, but did not fall in love with the series should also give Trial by Fire a read. Even readers that feel like that have read all the paranormal fiction that they need to can find reasons to read and enjoy. In fact, think I just might have a new favorite series about werewolves.(less)

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Aug 22, 2011 Truly Bookish rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was not a huge fan of the first book in this series, Raised by Wolves. As my issues were with the story and not the writing (Barnes is a pretty good writer), I decided to read the sequel, Trial By Fire, because I was curious to see where the author was taking the story. I was completely unprepared for how sucked in I would get by this story!

Trial by Fire starts approximately nine months after the events at the end of Raised by Wolves. As Alpha of the young Cedar Ridge Pack, Bryn is determined...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Val rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great Sequel!

Original Review posted on:
http://www.truthbetoldblog.com/2011/0...

To be quite honest, with the way Raised by Wolves ended I wasn’t sure how there would be a sequel. It ended in a tightly wrapped package with all the plot ends closed up. I was left wanting to know more but I didn't need to know more. So in the end I was happy to hear there would be a sequel. After reading Trial by Fire, this book absolutely met and exceeded my expectations for a sequel.

This series is awesome. It gi...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Jessie Potts rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-for-adults

When I read Jennifer Barnes' novel Raised by Wolves I was blown away. She created the fiercest, most loyal and amazing heroine then threw her to the wolves (haha) and we the readers anxiously awaited the next page, wondering what Bryn would do, how she would persevere. I was so amazingly happy when I found out that Trial by Fire was coming out. I wanted to see what Bryn would do with her small pack; she is now an alpha, and very powerful in her own right.

Trial by Fire is the honing of Bryn and...more When I read Jennifer Barnes' novel Raised by Wolves I was blown away. She created the fiercest, most loyal and amazing heroine then threw her to the wolves (haha) and we the readers anxiously awaited the next page, wondering what Bryn would do, how she would persevere. I was so amazingly happy when I found out that Trial by Fire was coming out. I wanted to see what Bryn would do with her small pack; she is now an alpha, and very powerful in her own right.

Trial by Fire is the honing of Bryn and her pack. It's about going through the flames and coming out the other side better, wiser and sharper, even harder. Barnes puts Bryn's pack against not only rouge wolves, but also a coven of psychics. Then of course we must remember that Bryn is like no alpha before her... not only is she a female, but also human. Certain rules don't apply to her, while others apply more strictly. But as we learned from the last book, Bryn is nothing if not brilliant, and has lived to find a way to bend the rules, or loopholes around them. Certain dynamics of the pack change when she finds a hurt were and brings him in, Chase doesn't trust him, and Bryn doesn't know what to do about not only the new were, but her bond with Chase.

I have to say though that Raised by Wolves and Trial by Fire is not for the young. It's also not for readers who are uncomfortable with some brutality. I feel this is important to point out because in the first book Callum was brutal to Bryn in fact she was beaten raw after she went against pack and her alpha's orders. A lot of readers really hated that part, though I felt it was necessary. To be in the Were world Bryn will have to have discipline, she will have to be able to tame the animal part of her pack and animals respect dominance and yes a certain level of brutality. Older readers will understand this (most) while younger ones might just think it's about abuse, and the fact that we are emotionally invested in the `abuser' might make things a little trickier for immature readers.

All around this book was better than Raised by Wolves; the readers become more vested in the characters, all the characters, and keep rooting for Bryn. We get a back story on Ali, we see more of Callum, and we get to see each member of her pack grow a little more. The best part of this story was that each thread that tied the pack together, the violent history, the past blood, the healing, the growth, it all ties them closer together and I enjoyed reading every second of it. Barnes has topped her last book (which I thought was amazing anyway) and I am looking forward to more installments of Bryn's Pack. Enjoy!
(less)

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Jul 13, 2011 Paula Griffith rated it 5 of 5 stars

I do believe that Jennifer Lynn Barnes has written a sequel that is better than the first book, Raised by Wolves. Once again, we are in Bryn's world with deadly werewolves and the pack mentality except now Bryn is the alpha...and she is human. She knows that she has enemies, such as Shay, her best friend's brother, who wants the females in her pack so that he can expand his own power. Bryn and her pack find a boy who is caught mid Shift and bleeding on the porch. His name is Lucas, and he is par...more

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Jun 21, 2011 MaryBookSwarm rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, egmont, young-adult

Positive: The pack dynamic. I love how Bryn, the human alpha, connects to them all and really knows them. While she doesn't change with they change, she can still run with them, feels the wolf calling, and the pull of the wild. It's a visceral experience.

Positive: The characters. Bryn, the main character, is a very smart, very strong girl who's had to deal with more than any normal 16-year-old but she shoulders the responsibility beautifully. It helps that she has a wonderful support system in t...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Kami (WickedKarma) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book #2 was just as good as the first one. Loving this series. I hope Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes many more. I know that there is a #3 coming out in June of 2012.

Bryn is now an alpha. Being an alpha means lots of responsibilities & lots of protection. But no one can protect you from yourself. In this sequel the young werewolf pack goes up against an angry alpha & a group of psychics. There is action, loss, victory, betrayal, loyalty....this one has it all.

We learned in Raised by Wolves (...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Justine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: feb-book-comp-werewolves-shifters, tbr-challenge

Trial by Fire is the second novel in the series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes about a human girl named Bryn who was rescued by werewolves when her parents were murdered by a Rabid werewolf.

*SPOILER ALERT*
In this book Bryn is the Alpha of her own pack, consisting of teenagers and children who were kidnapped and turned into werewolves by the same Rabid who killed Bryn's parents.
Bryn and Chase' relationship has blossomed, Ali has made a connection with Lakes dad Mitch.

One day a stray werewolf, Lucas basi...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Shdnx rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, pack, shapeshifters, urban-fantasy, werewolves, young-adult, belonging-to-something-greater, coming-of-age, emotion-driven, favorites, paranormal

I don't often rate books 5 stars. I have read many books that I liked very much, but they have got only 4 stars from me. I've decided that for a book to get 5 stars from me, it needs to be something more than great - it has to special.
This book is definitely not perfect. I have read books with better world-building, better story, better characters. But somehow this one meant a lot more to me than most of the other books ever did.
The author managed to take everything that was good in the first bo...more I don't often rate books 5 stars. I have read many books that I liked very much, but they have got only 4 stars from me. I've decided that for a book to get 5 stars from me, it needs to be something more than great - it has to special.
This book is definitely not perfect. I have read books with better world-building, better story, better characters. But somehow this one meant a lot more to me than most of the other books ever did.
The author managed to take everything that was good in the first book, and fix everything else that was wrong. Awesome work, very well done! I wish all sequels followed the same quality.

In terms of world-building, there's not much new, but somehow I didn't miss it. The original world had some much potential in it, the author didn't have to resort to extending the world in order to bring in new threats, new conflicts.

The story is simply awesome. It is so deep, and so profound that I can barely find words to describe it. This is what it means to write a story. Hell yeah!
There's constant tension, a storm of emotions, and the pace almost never relaxes, keeps going up until the very end, where you are left off feeling small, alone, and desperately wanting - needing to read more. Very very few books ever have managed to do that to me.

There are several new characters, but the main attention is on the "old" ones. Bryn, Ali, Devon, Chase, Lake - this book is mostly about them.
It's amazing to see Bryn growing up page by page, conflict by conflict. Even when she is certain that she is about to die, she keeps her head held high, and never gives up. Most importantly, her character doesn't feel alien, or artificial. I just love her!

I would love to read a story once from the perspective of Callum. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult his life, his decisions can be.
These are the words (no spoilers) that have touched me most in the entire book, though they only gain their full meaning only at the very end:

“In the end,” Callum said, his voice soft, gentle, “it all comes back to you. You protect them [the pack], you love them, you live for them, and someday, you die. That’s what it means, Bryn-girl, to be what we are [to be Alpha]. It’s lonely. It’s impossible. It’s all-consuming.” It is what it is.

It just feels right. This is how it's meant to be.

The ending of the book is not a real cliffhanger, but it's close, and that is just not good. I can't complain though, because the story is concluded correctly, and the final thing (that's just "left hanging") is better off in its own book. It's just that I've been waiting for that during the entire book, and to see that it finally gets to that, just to see it postponed... *sigh*

I'm so looking forward to the next book, I simply can't wait! Summer of 2012 feels so, soo far away. Keep up the great work!(less)

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About Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none...more

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“Show of hands," Devon said, breaking the silence. "Who thinks we're screwed?” — 49 people liked it

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Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves #2)

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