Review: Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Synopsis: 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.

But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were.  With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.

Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

SPOILERS FOR RAISED BY WOLVES AHEAD. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUIN IT FOR YOUSELF STOP READING NOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I would like to start by mentioning that I almost never like a sequel more than the first book but this is an exception. I loved Raised by Wolves and found the world that Barnes built was believable and spectacular. In Trial by Fire I found myself second guessing the world I knew because things that had never happened in this world were happening. Bryn was not only a female alpha, but human as well. In her world this is unheard of and there are a lot of people who are working against her.

Trial by Fire is a book with so many twists it will leave you reeling. I found myself caught up in the decisions that Bryn was making because I felt for her and her position in the pack's protection. When Lucas shows up on Bryn's territory you instantly feel like he needs to be protected just the way anyone in the position would feel. Although it isn't Bryn's place to take care of another pack's wolf, she still wants to take on the obligation, even if it means starting a war in the world of the alphas.

This story teaches morals and about making the right decision, even if it means pushing boundaries and crossing lines. Bryn's struggle may be the product of another world but it still makes you consider the things you would do in tough situations that have boundaries clearly set but could use some breaking to do what's right for others. Bryn's choices in this book are extremely troublesome but deeply admirable. Some decisions are wise while other include issues you would never expect, this story will keep you reading until you've made it to the final pages.