Cry Wolf review

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs is the first full length novel in the Alpha and Omega series but you definitely should read the novella, Alpha and Omega, first or it is a little confusing.

I have been devouring this series compulsively - it's just addictive and that starts with Cry Wolf! The more I read about Anna and Charles, the more I want to read. The people and events surrounding them are always interesting and often dramatic but never seem to go too far, in the sense that it never seems over the top or eye roll inducing.

The relationship between Anna and Charles is an interesting read because the two characters are so different and each have their own issues that need to be overcome. Charles is an alpha and an enforcer, not exactly an emotionally available guy, plus he's several hundred years old. Anna is in her twenties, has only been a werewolf for a few years, and was severely abused during that time. However, as an Omega, Anna is learning about her place and her power now that Charles has told her what she is. For his part, Charles wants to protect Anna but is trying hard not to smother her or scare her.

Add in Anna meeting the members of Charles' pack, a witch with evil plans, and a new werewolf haunting the mountains near the pack's home, and you get a novel with a fast paced plot and a lot of emotional turmoil. Cry Wolf has a little bit of everything - action, romance, plot twists, beautiful location, and fantastic characters.

I highly recommend the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs but definitely read the novella, Alpha and Omega, before reading Cry Wolf.

Synopsis

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

Hunting Ground review

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs is the second full length book in the Alpha and Omega series after Cry Wolf. Hunting Ground takes us closer to Bran's plan for the big reveal that werewolves exist.

In Hunting Ground, Charles and Anna travel to Seattle in Bran's place to meet with the European pack alphas about problems with revealing werewolves to humans. We meet lots of wolves - including Tom and Moira, Tom's witch mate and the Beast, a French werewolf who is basically a serial killer. I liked meeting more of the North American wolves that owe Bran fealty as well as the alpha wolves from Europe because Briggs does such a great job of giving each one a unique personality.

Briggs builds more supernatural into the series with Hunting Ground. In Cry Wolf, there were werewolves and witches and in Hunting Ground, Briggs brings in vampires, the Fae and the legends of Arthur, which may not be legends after all. It's a neat twist, especially since the Alpha and Omega series is set in the same world as Briggs' Mercy Thompson series but has focused more specifically on the wolves because of the isolated setting of Bran's pack in Montana.

I liked that Anna is clearly growing into her role as Omega and her increasing understanding of who she is and what being an Omega means is underscored by her remaining mental and emotional issues from being changed and her early years in the Chicago pack. It's an interesting dichotomy and one that a less skilled author would not be able to balance as well as Briggs does.

Hunting Ground is an excellent entry in the Alpha and Omega series and I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy and paranormal stories with interesting characters.

Synopsis

Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son — and enforcer — of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything...  

Alpha and Omega review

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs is the novella that kicks off the Alpha and Omega series. It was first published as part of the On the Prowl anthology but is available as a stand alone ebook. Seriously, if you want to check out this series, read the novella first or you will be confused!

Briggs introduces Charles and Anna, werewolves though different from others of their kind in unique ways. Charles is the son of the Marrok, the werewolf alpha who rules North America, and Anna is a recently turned wolf who has been used and abused by her pack.

I wasn't sure at first if I'd like this series because I tend toward much stronger female characters but the more I read, the more I realized that Anna is a very strong character just in more subtle ways rather than my more usual "kick ass and don't bother with names" way. I also like that, while Charles is an alpha, he is honest that he doesn't know everything and that emotions are not his strong point.

The novella Alpha and Omega is an intriguing short story that can be read alone but I couldn't wait to dive into the first full length book that is really a continuation of the novella. I definitely recommend checking out this series if you enjoy shifter books and interesting characters.

Synopsis

Anna Latham never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the Chicago pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But when she discovers wrongdoing in her pack, she has to go above her Alpha's head to ask for help.

Charles Cornick is the son — and enforcer — of the leader of the North American werewolves. Now his father has sent him to Chicago to clean up a problem there. Charles never expected to find Anna, a rare Omega wolf — and he certainly never expected to recognize her as his mate...

Moon Called review

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series and I really enjoyed it.

The Mercy Thompson series is loosely connected to the Alpha and Omega series with crossover characters but I don't think you need to read the Alpha and Omega series to understand and enjoy the Mercy Thompson series.

Mercy, or Mercedes, is a coyote shifter and is fairly kick ass. She was raised with werewolves, not easy for a coyote shifter, and doesn't put up with much from anyone. She also runs a successful garage. Mercy also lives next to the local Alpha, Adam, who she enjoys annoying for being too controlling. But when Adam is attacked and his daughter kidnapped, Mercy takes charge and doesn't give much of a damn what the Pack thinks about it. Of course, there is the small problem of the wolf who broke her heart showing up but what's one more thing to deal with, really? :)

Briggs gives us a lot of different kinds of paranormal characters in the series beside shifters. There are also vampires, who are hidden from humanity like the shifters, and fae, who revealed themselves to humans with not so good consequences. She also builds an interesting world that is pretty much like our own but with these hidden communities of paranormals. It makes me wonder who the new neighbors might be!

If you enjoy a strong female lead and like a variety of paranormal characters, I recommend you check out Moon Called and the Mercy Thompson series.

Synopsis

Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water...