Review: Taken by Storm

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Date of Publication: May 22 2012
Pages: 314
Source: Library Ebook
Series: Raised by Wolves #3

Bryn knows first-hand that being the alpha of a werewolf pack means making hard decisions, and that being human makes things a thousand times worse. She's prepared to give up her humanity, but the wolf who promised to Change her is waiting - though for what, Bryn doesn't know. Still human, she must take her place in the werewolf Senate, the precarious democracy that rules the North American packs. Standing side by side with werewolves who were ancient long before she was ever born is enough of a challenge, but Bryn soon learns that the Senate has been called to deal with a problem: the kind of problem that involves human bodies, a Rabid werewolf, and memories that Bryn, Chase, and the rest of their pack would rather forget. With bodies stacking up and political pressure closing in from all sides, Bryn and her pack are going to have to turn to old enemies and even older friends for help - especially when it starts to look like this time, the monster might be one of their own.

Review:

*insert very colourful collection of curse words*

Taken by storm was just cruel. It was brutal because it was the finale to one of my favourite series and I hate that I don't feel done with this series. There's more I need to read and know about Bryn's world because this book was way too short.

I just read two books that were too long and now this one, at a little over 300 pages, that just doesn't cut it. Did Jennifer Lynn Barnes just get bored with the series or something? Bryn and the premise remain as strong as ever. It was addicting to read about pack politics and Bryn's responsibilities and powers as alpha. It was a fascinating part of her and I enjoyed it.

I can't help thinking however that this was not a strong end to the series. There was one storyline that finished very fast, and another that while it did make sense, was barely explained. I blinked and the story was gone. It could have been drawn out. The plot could have been more ambitious so I could have time to say goodbye to these characters, but this just felt abrupt.

The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am with Taken by Storm. The specifics to the ending don't bother me too much (well, in terms of reviewing the story. Emotionally is different). It just again feels like the timeline just got cut and there's no more story. I can't even comment that much about plot and characters because Taken by Storm was so brief that it never really went too in depth with any of them except Bryn.

I adore Bryn. She's one of my favourite protagonists and I loved every second of her perspective. I could empathize with her completely, and the choices she made as alpha were tough but ultimately she did what she had to.

I'm still trying to grasp why the series ended like this. The first book was amazing. The second was good, but this one barely had enough of its own plot and felt like an addendum to the second. In fact, if this story had been added to Trial by Fire it wouldn't have been that out of place. Is a message being sent? Sometimes life is abrupt and painful? If so, lesson learned. Realistically, something like this ending could always happen. Maybe I've read too many books though and have certain expectations for endings that weren't met here.

I'm really sorry to have spent most of this review whining about how I wish this was longer. Everything to the story was good, especially for the length of the novel, but at the end of the day I can't get over how I don't feel like this was a good ending to the series. I actually thought there was a mistake when I flipped to the next page on my Kobo and the story was gone.

-P.E.