Ack! I know I said I’d post this on Tuesday but I kept thinking that Tuesday was the 31st! I’m so off on my dates! So here it is in all its glory. lol
For this month’s challenge I decided to re-read both Alpha and Omega and Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs. I guess it was kind of in honor of the release of the newest story in the Alpha and Omega series, Hunting Ground.
Alpha and Omega (in the On the Prowl anthology)One day as she reading the local paper she sees the picture of a missing man. Knowing that the missing man was changed into a werewolf by her pack she contacts the Marrok, the head werewolf of all werewolves.
Bran, the Marrok, sends his son Charles, his executioner, to investigate. When Charles meets Anna his wolf instantly recognizes her as his mate and wants to take care of her. What Charles also recognizes is that Anna is not a submissive wolf, as her pack would have her believe, but an Omega. Omega’s are neither a submissive nor an alpha werewolf but kind of outside of the pack, while still being a part of it. Charles is infuriated with what has happened to Anna and is determined to find out what is going on in her pack.
This is such a short yet wonderful novella. With Anna and Charles meeting and Charles taking care of the pack situation it’s a very satisfying story even though Charles and Anna don’t get an HEA. It’s just the beginning of the relationship and that’s totally ok. You just don’t feel that there is anything left undone. This was my first read from Patricia Briggs and when I was done I immediately started reading Cry Wolf. I have to say I loved the story just as much with this read as I did the first.
Original rating: 4 out of 5
Current rating: 4 out of 5
Our story begins with Anna moving to Montana with Charles. She’s hoping that life will be better in the new state. She’s accepted that her wolf wants Charles as her mate as well and Anna is trying to deal with her life being in upheaval. She’s moving to a new state, she knows no one, she’s scared out of her mind of Charles even though she wants to be near him, and she’s going to be that much closer to the Marrok, which scares her shitless. What she doesn’t realize is that the people in Charles’ pack are still werewolves. It’s a hard lesson to learn that these people are still “monsters”, just in a different location.
Charles is trying to recover from bullets wounds and trying to make Anna comfortable. It’s taking all of his strength to try to be calm, but his wolf wants him to complete the mating bond with Anna. Charles knows she’s not ready. When the Marrok assigns Charles to go into the Cabinet mountains to hunt down a rogue werewolf Charles knows that he has to take Anna with him. As an Omega Anna might be able to calm the rogue and then Charles won’t have to kill once again. But the rogue is not what they thought. They end up facing down a witch and it’s not like anything either one of them had dealt with before.
I love this story. I loved it the first time and I loved it this time. Patricia Briggs has such a way of pulling us into her characters that I feel like I’m with them on their journeys. I actually got teary-eyed this time around where I didn’t before. It’s just good stuff.
Anna shows such amazing growth in this story. She goes from a scared, almost submissive woman to a strong Omega. By the end of the story she knows who she is, what her place in the pack is and what she needs to get done. I just admired her strength so much!
Charles *sigh* (lol) he’s just an incredible man and a pretty smart werewolf. He was born a werewolf to an Indian medicine woman and has not only his werewolf magic but a little more besides. He’s the kind of man I’d want around in a tough spot. Not because he’s an executioner, but because of his inner strength and intelligence. I love his playfulness mixed with his steadfastness – just a great combo.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good werewolf story, loves Patricia Briggs or just wants to read a well written novel. Does that cover everything?
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5 original review here
Current Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I admit, I'm not a fan of werewolf paranormals, but I adored these 2 stories, and got Hunting Ground last week. I loved how Charles is with Anna, how much she's respected, and how being with his pack has really given her the confidence to be her true self. My heart broke for the abuse she suffered, but Anna is resilient, and such a wonderful character. You make me want to drag out these books for a re-read 🙂
Stacy – when I got Hunting Ground last week I started talking to a friend of mine about A & O and Cry Wolf who hadn't read them yet. The more I spoke of them the more I wanted to re-read them! lol
My heart broke for Anna too and it just shows how well Briggs' characters are written that you can have those feelings for someone in a book. She makes them so 3 dimensional. I'm reading Hunting Ground now and I'm loving it so far.
Very good decision to re-read A&O and Cry Wolf before Hunting Ground. LOL, I read Hunting Ground and it made me want to re-read the two other books… so that's what I did 🙂
Also, the timeline is very close, so it's good 😀 Glad that you're still enjoying them 😀
Okay that does it! I'm re-reading these. As you know I tried them right after I read the Mercy books and they were okay, but the didn't really light me up. Now that I know there's another book out, I have to give these another whirl.
I'm not a huge fan of the paranormal, but these sound really good. I may have to give them a try.
I re read Cry Wolf a wee while ago and it was just as good the 2nd time around. Charles – *sigh*
Tracy, I actually have Cry Wolf in my TBR pile and haven't read it yet. 🙂 must get the A&O novella first… thanks for the review!
Oh, I've just ordered this! Can't wait for it to arrive!
Nath – I was glad that I re-read these two when I began Hunting Ground. I didn't NEED to but it was nice to have the story flow so well from one book to the next.
Rosie – haven't read the Mercy Thompson series yet. Soon though. I really liked these two a lot – hope you like them the second time around. 🙂
Lori – I think you'd like these but I can't say for sure. They're very well written so that's a huge plus but I'm not sure how the non-paranormal reading crowd would think. 🙂 I can lend you my copy of Cry Wolf at the get-together. 🙂
Sarah – Absolutely. Some books just lose their umph once you've read them but these didn't at all. Very enjoyable second time around reads.
Hilcia – Yes, you must read these! lol As you can tell from my reviews I really liked them, both times.
Tumperkin – hope you like them!
*SIGH* I just love Anna! Your description of her got me to thinking what it is I like about her. She isn't a typical UF heroine – she's strong on the inside, rather than overtly.
I can't wait to read Hunting Ground!
I loved both of these! Ana is the type of heroine I want to see more of 🙂 Maybe I'll give these a re-read when I get a breather.
I love, LOVE, love the Alpha and Omega series. I just received 'Hunting Ground' the other day and I can't wait to dive in.
Fantastic re-read choices Tracy!
😉 VFG
See everyone wants to re-read them now! lol They really are wonderful. 🙂