Customer Reviews

Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1)

5 star:		(108)
4 star:		(64)
3 star:		(38)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Though it is not absolutely necessary, readers should definitely start with Briggs' short story in the On the Prowl anthology. She introduces Anna and Charles, and the events in "Cry Wolf" begin immediately following that story. Patricia Briggs really hit her stride with the Mercy Thompson series. Great urban fantasy with a smart, resilient heroine. So, I was surprised to find I enjoy her new "Alpha and Omega" series just as much. It is set in the same world as Mercy; she is mentioned and characters from her books make an appearance. Mercy is a great heroine, but she is somewhat an outsider looking in on (and getting dragged into) paranormal affairs. Anna is a were, and knee deep in werewolf society.

In the short story, Anna was changed against her will and has been beaten down and brutalized by her pack ever since. When a local young man turns up dead, Anna recognizes him as one killed by her pack. She drums up the courage to call Bran, the Marrok and leader of all alpha werewolves. I was intrigued by this character when he was introduced in the Mercy books and was happy to see more of him. Bran sends his son and enforcer, Charles. When Charles meets Anna, he recognizes what she is - a rare and precious Omega wolf with the ability to calm wolves and keep their violence in check. Anna returns to Montana with Charles to join The Marrock's pack. Charles is needed almost immediately to investigate a possible rogue were killing people in the mountains. But, the problem is much more than a rogue - dark magic is targeting the pack. And only Anna and Charles stand in the way.

I think I enjoyed this book so much because we got a deeper look into how Briggs' has formed her werewolf society. Every paranormal series has its own "rules" for weres and vampires, and this is no different. Here the author expands on pack hierarchy, the role of the Marrock, Anna's Omega status and more. Yet, this book also leans far more toward paranormal romance than urban fantasy. Though Mercy has some great sexual tension with Adam and Samuel, she doesn't have a romantic relationship with either. So, the opportunity for witty repartee with someone she loves is missing (though the first chapter of book 4 included here indicates this will change). Anna and Charles make a great couple. Briggs' takes time to build the relationship, while simultaneously weaving her plot around them. Obviously, Anna's abilities as Omega will make her vital to the story's resolution, but the author makes it more than a plot device. Though they are mates, Anna was raped by members of her old pack and is uncertain of herself and Charles. Charles has never let himself have a long term relationship because a human mate would grow old and die. They have issues to overcome. Another big bonus for me was the direct inclusion of Bran in the story. Though he has a history with Mercy, his role in those books is very minor and in the background. Here, he takes center stage for a time and we learn more about him and his family. Though this is more romance than Mercy's series, I think that will change in subsequent books. Now that Anna and Charles are committed, and resolved many of their issues, a more straightforward adventure/mystery is possible without losing their closeness.

The book is well-paced, with great dialog and likeable characters. I could not put it down. The ending was so good, I re-read it twice after I actually finished! Highly recommended.

In Cry Wolf we finally get to see more of the members of the werewolf pack who fostered coyote-shifting Mercy Thompson during her youth. I had been intrigued by several of the characters from the brief glimpses in the early Mercy books and I've been eagerly awaiting more of Charles and Anna since I read their short story in the On the Prowl anthology.

If like me you've read these too, you'll have a head start reading Cry Wolf because we've already had glimpses of Bran the Merrick (alpha to the alpha's) of North America, and his sons, Samuel, who only has a bit part here since he's headed off to invade Mercy's home, and Charles, who is a werewolf but also has magic from his shaman mother. And you'll have already met Anna and know that, while she is not another Mercy incarnation, she is an extremely interesting combination of vulnerability and strength and has a rare power coveted by wolf packs everywhere. But if you're unfamiliar with the Mercy books or the short don't despair, Briggs does a perfectly fine job of bringing in all the significant bits into this story so you won't be totally lost and confused if you just start here, just be patient -it's all here if you keep reading.

The story starts out with Bran retrieving Anna and a wounded Charles from Chicago and give us a brief glimpse of Anna's former pack just to let us know what she's escaping. But when she reaches Charles' Montana home everything is not all hearts and flowers, though their wolves have already bonded its going to take a bit for Anna's human side to catch up, especially when communication is not a strong point for either of the leads - Anna because hiding has been the only way she's survived and Charles because even though he's hundreds of year old, as his father's executioner/enforcer he's been solitary, feared by all of the other werewolves. And the `honeymoon' is going to be an odd one because Charles' father needs the still healing Charles to investigate a human death and subsequent attack on another human that appears to be the work of a werewolf and Bran decides that Anna is to accompany Charles on the hunt to find the rogue. But there is a reason why Bran is Merrick, besides being older than dirt, he is pretty savvy and this physical journey into the wilderness for Charles and Anna may be just what is needed to build Anna's strength and confidence and to cement her bond with Charles, that is if they survive the unexpected danger that is waiting for them in the snowy wilderness.

Though it has some romantic elements, Cry Wolf doesn't just focus on Anna and Charles and their relationship. Briggs has several great characters making significant contributions to this story and she has shifted from the first person voice of her Mercy books into a third person narrative which works very effectively to keep us in the loop so that we get to know the nuances and inner thoughts of all these important players. Along with Charles and Anna and Bran, a damaged old wolf Asil has a fascinating back story that is the catalyst for much of the action and a rogue Walter, with his own tormented past, also has a key part to play. And though we only get to see a small part of Bran's pack in this book, we've been told that Anna's powers are sorely needed by many of the members who walk the edge of sanity and wildness, so I am sure that Anna has her work cut out for her as her story continues in the next books.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cry Wolf, I just loved this journey into another part of Briggs' Mercy-universe. So you can bet that the rest of the Alpha and Omega books are going to be on my must buy list as soon as the links come up. I think that Briggs' website said that she was going to be doing one Mercy and one Charles and Anna story a year. Can't wait! But until then I'll be checking out Briggs' backlist, I'm starting to see them being rereleased with new beautiful covers, but I already have most of them in my TBR pile.

This is a continuation of the novella involving Anna and Charles. Anna is not kick a** like Mercy so the mood of the story is quite different then the Mercy Thompson stories. Having said that it is still a wonderful new series starter. I honestly hope that Briggs will continue this story-line as well as she has with Mercy's.

Anna is moving in with Charles and learning what having a real pack is like. The mating bond just isn't connecting between her and Charles though because of what her old pack leader did to her. (rape and abuse) Since she's an Omega (basically a werewolf who transcends the dominant/submissive code as well as having the ability to soothe the inner wolf on others) the abuse hit her harder. There's also a rouge wolf on the loose and a sinister witch from a pack member's past.

The plot is a little slower in the beginning but picks up right away after that. The tone of the book is more subdued and nervous but that's perfect for Anna's story. This is definitely not a knock off of Mercy's books. Anna is strong in her own right and readers everywhere are wondering when her next adventure will be taking place.

This is set in the same universe as the Mercy Thompson novels (which I love), but follows the Omega wolf, Anna, and Charles Cornick, son of the Biggest Baddest Alpha of them all, Bran Cornick. We get a much closer look inside the Cornick family with all their thorny complications, and some very interesting back story on each of them.

I really loved the story from the On the Prowl anthology which was the basis of this novel, so I was eager to read this one. It's good, I liked it, but it didn't strike me as being as well-paced as most of Ms. Briggs' books--perhaps because the entire opening of the novel was sliced off and turned into a story for the anthology. This novel would have been better off if the marketing folks (or whoever) left that part with this and cut down some of the "talky talky" stuff and extended "What do you think he/she meant by that?" emotional analysis used to stretch this book out to novel length. The pacing in the last half is definitely better than in the first, and overall and enjoyable read. I'll read the next book in the series, probably, and hope the pacing issues improve.

For Mercy Thompson fans, there's also a little blurb at the end of this edition for the next Mercy book, Bone Crossed, which addresses some of the issues some people had with the ending of Iron Kissed.

'Moon Called', 'Blood Bound' and 'Iron Kissed', the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, are excellent books. 'Cry Wolf' is a book in a different series but with many characters the same. At the beginning of the story the hero and heroine have already met each other and discovered that they are 'mated' - these events took place in the short story in the anthology 'On The Prowl'. Although I've read that story it was some time ago and I couldn't remember all that much about it, I think it would have been helpful for it to have been printed at the beginning of this book to set the scene.

However part of Patricia Briggs' writing skill is that her books work as standalone novels, even when part of a series. It doesn't take too long before the reader learns about the life of Anna Latham who was Changed to a werewolf three years ago and kept under the thumb of the evil Alpha Leo. She was rescued eventually by Charles Cornick, brother of Samuel who appears in the Mercy Thompson series and son of Bran, the Marrok or top werewolf of North America. Charles is taking her back to their home in Montana and as they arrive Anna starts to wonder what her place will be in this world, what skills she has and whether she can fit in.

Charles is his father's enforcer, hired muscle to deal with problem werewolves, and he's worried that gentle Anna who has been badly treated by werewolves might struggle with this. However before they have any real time to settle in Charles is sent out into the Cabinet mountains in Montana to investigate reports of a vicious werewolf attack, and Anna comes with him. As they uncover evidence of what took place it becomes clear that there are links to events that took place hundreds of years ago, that some other wolves in Bran's pack may share some responsibility for events, and that they are working against an evil person.

Although I enjoyed this story I didn't engage with it in quite the same way as the Mercy Thompson series. This tale is told in the third person so we see events from Anna's and Charles's view, sometimes from other characters too, which gives us perhaps a more rounded but less involved take on events. The relationship between Anna and Charles didn't entirely work for me and I felt that I didn't learn a great deal about their characters. However the book was very informative about Bran and the werewolf structure and history and there were some interesting side characters such as the briefly-met Leah, wife to Bran.

I don't think that Patricia Briggs can write a bad book. However this one wasn't quite to the standard of 'Moon Called' and 'Blood Bound' in my opinion and it's not one for my keeper shelf. The teaser excerpt from the next Mercy Thompson book, Bone Crossed, looked very good though, and I look forward to her next novel with great anticipation.

The protagonists are well written and compelling. There are some bobbles, Walter (a new wolf) started with 2 tours in Nam and wound up with three and started as a gray on gray wolf and became a black wolf. But they aren't really annoying and overall the author and editor are to be congratulated. Congratulations are also due the author for the clear distinction between a bandage and dressing. A dressing is like a telfa pad and a bandage holds it in place, important when you are looking at serious trauma. But the major problem that I have is that Charles is his father's uber enforcer and from previous books a financial genius; but he gets viewed as a simple thug? Over all that inconsistency and a good but not excellent plot keep the book from 5 stars.

Slightly annoying in that if you didn't read the Charles and Anna short this book can be hard going at first.

Still a very good read though.

BTW this book was on the stands 2 weeks before Amazon shipped it.

If you have followed Briggs, Mercy Thompson series you know who Charles is. If not he is the son of the Marrok, the leader of all the werewolves. He met and mated Anna in a short story in the anthology ON THE PROWL. Now they have their own book and it is rich and full of the mysteries of the Pack.

Anna is an Omega wolf, she is above and outside the Pack. She brings calm and peace to the ever anxious wolf. That is why the leader of the Chicago Pack had her made into a werewolf. But she was never told what she was only that she was a submissive wolf and because she fought, she was subjected to many tortures and rapes. Only when Charles came to find out what was wrong with the Chicago Pack did she find out she was an Omega and she has not yet come to realize who and what she is. She is still scared of the males in the Marrok's Pack.

Charles found Anna being abused in Chicago. He finally had to kill the alpha of the Chicago Pack and he was shot with silver bullets at that time. He has not quite recovered when they return to Montana. The only thing he is sure of is that his wolf has claimed Anna.

Bran is trying to decide whether to reveal the existance of the weres. Someone has killed a hiker in the mountains. He was killed by a were and Bran needs Charles, who is his enforcer and son, to go to the mountains and if necessary kill the rogue werewolf. Anna asks to go with him and against Charles will, Bran agrees.

The problem is that it is not just a were but also a black witch who is looking for one of the wolves in the Pack. She has hunted him for many yrs. The rogue wolf is not alone and there may be more than one.

I liked the story about Anna and Charles, some of the part about the black witch and her motives left me abit disturbed. I really didn't like that part as much. But this is a good series and it can only get better.

I really like this book. I like the slow, stumbling and tender development of Anna and Charles' relationship. It's an immense relieve from the typical romance books of the strong, brooding dark hero that gets saved by the sweet, sometimes strong heroine. Charles is strong and has his dark side but he doesn't act like a caveman, which seems to be how many romance authors like to portray these type of heroes. I also like the fact that he's Native American Indian.

Also, while I like reading books with good sex scenes in it, I'm getting very, very tired of all the books out there that has the "we look at each other and suddenly, I'm so horny I can't stand it so let's have sex and then suddenly we're in love" plot. Perhaps I'm being old fashioned here but there's something to be said about reading romance books that has those sweet tender moments that makes you go, yeah.... which makes the sex feel like icing on the cake.

That there's an important plot outside of the budding relationship of Anna and Charles just adds to my liking of this book. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I like reading from diff. characters' perspectives. I think it makes the story richer and more interesting.

My one and only complaint is that you really should read the short story from "On the Prowl" first. I didn't realize this and thought I was reading the story from the beginning. I later went back and read the short story and then re-read "Cry Wolf" because I liked the book that much. Waiting for the next book with baited breath and am just as eagerly ready to read the Mercy books now.

Now this is more like it! I knew Briggs could do urban fantasy and romance combined. I love the Mercy Thompson series, but I was griping on my review of Bone Crossed that Briggs doesn't deliver on the romance/sex side as I'd wish. Happily, this does not apply to Cry Wolf.

Charles is the spooky assassin who enforces alpha-wolf Bran's directives, and he's also Bran's son. When Charles visits a dysfunctional wolf pack, he discovers Anna, a rare Omega wolf who is neither dominant nor submissive, she's just zen. Supposedly an Omega wolf can calm the violent inclinations in other wolves, and stop the despair that comes with living forever and alone. Unfortunately the pack leader hated Anna and had her brutalized for being different. Charles sees more than a valuable wolf for Bran, he sees his mate as well. The story focuses on their growing connection while they're tracking an evil threat to the pack.

When reading this, I felt like I had missed a prior book, but this is book one in the series, so I thought I must be wrong. Briggs plops us right in the middle of Charles extracting Anna from her tribe of misfits, and it's obvious that a lot has happened. Charles has already told Anna that she's his mate when the story begins. I find out later that Briggs started this series with a novella, which you can read if you buy On The Prowl, an anthology with short stories, including other authors. Grrrrrr. Frankly, I'd prefer to save the eight bucks, since I always feel short-changed by novellas. They aren't long enough to develop the kind of character interaction I'm after. Your choice though.

Correction: My intrepid sister tells me that you can buy "Alpha and Omega", the prequel novella as an Ebook, and low and behold, she's right. So now it's more like a $3 gamble instead of $8.

***Okay, since writing the above, I have read the prequel novella, and I have to say I WISH I HAD READ IT FIRST! It really enhances the story in Cry Wolf, and you get to experience Charles and Anna's first week together. Don't be cheap, just buy them both together.

I've read two of the Mercy Series books, and enjoyed one of them- that being BloodBound. I have also read the On The Prowl short story collection, of which the Alpha/Omega-Verse was started in. I enjoyed the short story contained therein and looked forward to reading Cry Wolf based on that beginning.

However, once I started reading the book I felt that the Mercy Universe which Alpha/Omega is predicated on dropped away completely. The closest impression as to the change evidenced in this Cry Wolf novel is the change in CBS television show CSI after Grissom(a lead character) left the show and was replaced by Fishbournes character; which resulted in the show changing from what I felt had been a scientific and mystery universe to one that was dominated by emotions, and theme. The same change I think is evidenced here in the Alpha/Omega world.

The jump in this story from the Mercy world is more of theme, and mood. There is very little action in the book, and the primary focus is on the relationship building of Anna and Charles. Not that the Mercy world was without it's share of hijinks in this area, but the Alpha/Omega world sees relationships as the driving force in werewolf life; be it Anna/Charles, Charles/Asil, Asil/Witch, Asil/Sarai, Leah/Bran, Bran/Charles etc. etc. This is a pretty big shift in the development of the story, as the Mercy books deal principally with events and intrigue, whereas the Cry Wolf book deals more with gradually developing feelings, revealed histories and the understanding of relationships.

This is not to say that this is a bad avenue for one of PBriggs works to go down, but as a reader it just left me with little pulling me forward in the book. I enjoy the supernatural aspects of her writing, and the supra-extraordinary abilities of her characters, but turning them into human-relationship building was not something I was looking for. The only character I felt was interesting was Asil, as he had some of the missing supernatural-ness about which the Mercy novels revolve around. Even the villain, the witch, was more a psychological evil than physical one.

Overall, the book left me wanting more action and intrigue and more supernatural motives rather than pathos-driven plot mechanics. The novel itself was written well enough, but again it lacked a supernatural pull to me, that the Mercy novels had left me expecting.