Alpha and Omega [Hardcover]

Patricia Briggs (Author), Maurizio Manzieri (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2009

Anna, four years a werewolf, raped, beaten, half-starved and handed from one male to another, places a call from Chicago to the wilds of Montana. She reaches the Marrok, North America's werewolf ruler, telling him she's seen a boy, one reported missing and possibly injured. He was in a cage her pack's Alpha keeps for confining new werewolves.

The Marrok says that his enforcer is flying from Montana to O'Hare. Anna meets the plane, and, Charles, enforcer, as well as the Marrok's oldest son, insists on staying with her. He has seen she is not the Submissive she thinks she is. Charles is a supreme Alpha, and she is his antithesis, a rare Omega; her very presence lowers tension, calms and soothes. Despite centuries as a Solitary, Charles would wed young Anna. His brother wolf, he says, has already taken her as his mate.

There are, as investigation and confrontation reveal, reasons both for the capture of the boy and for what has been done to Anna. It's a surprisingly tender story.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This terrific little story, originally published in a 2007 anthology, is the first in Patricia Briggs's Alpha and Omega series. Changed against her will three years earlier, frightened, beaten-down Anna Latham doesn't know she is an omega werewolf, revered for the ability to soothe alpha inclinations at opportune moments. Powerful alpha Charles Cornick, son of the North American werewolf leader, heads to Chicago after the patriarch receives a phone call from Anna, informing him of an unsanctioned murder of a young werewolf. Anna's pack leader feared her abilities, approved her degradation and kept her ignorant of pack lore, which allows readers to learn alongside Anna as Charles teaches her what she needs to know. Spare writing and strong descriptions will entice readers to continue following Anna and Charles in two forthcoming novels. (Dec.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Subterranean; Signed, Limited Edition edition (October 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596062878
• ISBN-13: 978-1596062870
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,139,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Briggs is the author of the New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series. She lives in Washington state with her husband, children, and a small herd of horses.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The alpha and his omega, October 31, 2009

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alpha and Omega (Hardcover)

A lot of urban fantasy makes a big deal about alpha werewolves, often on the assumption that "alpha" means big, strong and sexy among wolves.

But Patricia Briggs explores the opposite end of the spectrum in the novella "Alpha and Omega," which also serves as a springboard for her new series (a sort of spinoff in the same universe as the Mercy Thompson series). It's a tightly written, open-ended little story about an abused Omega werewolf and the unexpected love between her and a very powerful alpha.

When a boy is kidnapped by her abusive pack, a terrified Anna finally dares to call the Marrok, the leader of all werewolves. He ends up sending his son Charles Cornick to deal with the troublemakers, and Charles is shocked when he realizes that Anna isn't a super-submissive wolf -- she's a rare Omega wolf, and the disgusting Leo and savage Justin have been abusing and molesting her all over the place.

And now Charles is determined to change all that, especially by showing Anna the way a werewolf's life is REALLY supposed to be, about her status as an Omega, and the connection between them. But there are some truly nasty secrets at the heart of the Chicago pack and the strange absence of female werewolves -- and now that Anna knows who she is, she isn't going to take it lying down.

"Alpha and Omega" is set in the same world as several of Patricia Briggs' other urban fantasy stories (most notably the ongoing Mercy Thompson series) -- for example, the ancient werewolf lord known as the Marrok seems to hang over this novella like a thundercloud. But the opening novella of the Alpha and Omega series works quite nicely as a story on its own, with new characters and problems.

Briggs brings a lush, atmospheric feel to this particular story ("Though he smelled of anger, he also smelled like spring rain, wolf, and man"), as well as some unexpected plot twists and an ending that paves the way for future stories about Anna and Charles. And she does a good job dealing with the concept of "omega wolves" -- sort of a lupine "class clown" of very low rank -- and their importance to werewolves.

Personally I'm sick and tired of "forced" relationships wherein magical forces MAKE the characters have a relationship. It's usually a sign of a writer's laziness in writing about love, or worse. But Briggs actually pulls it off -- despite the mystical wolf-mating between Charles and Anna's lupine sides, their budding relationship is a genuinely touching one, full of protectiveness, respect and growing trust.

"Alpha and Omega" was a solid start to a new urban fantasy series, and it leaves you wanting to know what will happen next for Charles and Anna. A pleasant little read, but have "Cry Wolf" close at hand.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars alpha & omega, January 2, 2009

By 

Sarah Banks "sarahlen1980" (Madison, MS) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alpha & Omega: A Companion Novella to Cry Wolf (Kindle Edition)

"Alpha & Omega" is a short story by Patricia Briggs set in the world of her Mercy Thompson series. While it is certainly not necessary to read Briggs' Mercy series, "Alpha & Omega" will be richer if you do. The two main characters are Charles Cornick (Samuel's brother & Bran's son) & a new werewolf, Anna Latham. Charles instantly recognizes Anna as his mate & an Omega wolf. The Omega wolf was a new concept to me & is a wolf who is outside of the pack structure & provides a calming influence to, among other things, wolves who have trouble with the change.

"Alpha & Omega" mainly serves to set up Briggs' new series involving Anna & Charles, but it is a great little story in its own right. I have read "Cry Wolf," the first book in the Anna & Charles series, & I definitely think that you should read "Alpha & Omega" first.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subterranean Press, December 10, 2009

By 

Kim (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alpha and Omega (Hardcover)

While I understand why some reviewers think the book is too expensive, they miss the point of ordering books from a publisher like Subterranean Press. They print books on acid free paper, full cloth boards, and add illustrations. They are a small press that prints limited quantities of quality editions of your favorite authors. Their books won't fall apart in ten to twenty years from glue and paper that has turned brittle with age. Their books are for collectors and readers who enjoy holding a well made book. If you want Wal Mart prices, stop shopping at Neiman Marcus.
As for the book, it is wonderful! The story is a great short story, and essential to read first before the other books in the series. Patricia Briggs just doesn't write a bad book. The book itself is beautifully made. I loved holding it and looking at it as I read it. Another great job from Subterranean Press.