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Available
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Publication
Ace (2009), Edition: First Printing, Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML:#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs invites readers to follow her into the seductive realm of the Alpha and Omega series�?� Anne Latham didn't know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf and was mated to Charles Cornick, the son�??and enforcer�??of 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 losin… (more)
Media reviews
I'm not going to spend a lot of column space on [Hunting Ground]. It's more to let you know that the second "Alpha and Omega" novel is just as strong a contender as any of Briggs's previous Urban Fantasy books.
User reviews
LibraryThing member London_StJ
Readers who enjoyed Patricia Briggs' first Alpha and Omega book will likely enjoy the second installment, Hunting Ground. Following the introduction of Anna and Charles' relationship, Hunting Ground takes the pair to Seattle where Charles works as his father's spokesperson at a conference called to
Like Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, the Alpha and Omega novels are fairly consistent in tone and style, and Hunting Ground allows for further insight and character development while avoiding deep introspection. Hunting Ground is intended to be a popular fiction book, and delivers the entertainment such books promise.
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discuss the consequences of werewolves taking their existence public. Not everyone is pleased with Bran's decision to go public, and a series of extreme events send the werewolves scrambling to find the culprit - for individual reasons. Like Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, the Alpha and Omega novels are fairly consistent in tone and style, and Hunting Ground allows for further insight and character development while avoiding deep introspection. Hunting Ground is intended to be a popular fiction book, and delivers the entertainment such books promise.
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LibraryThing member Akaria
Anna and Charles continue to be my favorite couple. They complement each other so well. I enjoyed the continuing evolution of their relationship. Anna continued to struggle with the after effects of the abuse she endured in her first three years as a wolf but in this book she really began to find
The only negative with this book is that the end felt a little rushed. There was plenty of mystery and intrigue in the first 240 pages then it felt like all of a sudden the story needed to be over RIGHT NOW. Then again, maybe that's just how wolves are. They have no past or future. The only thing that matters is the present and when mates are in danger time is of the essence.
I believe there's one more adventure left for Anna and Charles. Can't wait to see what happens to them next!
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her own true power. This Omega is one tough chick and getting quite a body count of her own. Charles was wonderfully patient, understanding and supportive as usual. I especially liked how the two of them talked to each other about things that bothered them or made them insecure. No stupid misunderstandings for the sake of plot. Anna and Charles have only been together a few months?(weeks?) but their relationship is very loving and mature. I just love these two together!The only negative with this book is that the end felt a little rushed. There was plenty of mystery and intrigue in the first 240 pages then it felt like all of a sudden the story needed to be over RIGHT NOW. Then again, maybe that's just how wolves are. They have no past or future. The only thing that matters is the present and when mates are in danger time is of the essence.
I believe there's one more adventure left for Anna and Charles. Can't wait to see what happens to them next!
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LibraryThing member BeckyJG
Hunting Ground is the second Alpha & Omega novel, a spinoff from Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series. Alpha & Omega follows Anna Latham, a rare Omega wolf, and her mate Charles, son of the Marrok and his enforcer as well. In the second book Charles has been tasked to lead a conference in
Because werewolves are so long-lived and because they tend to hold grudges for centuries, tension runs high when so many of them come together. Anna, still coming to terms with her status, as well as to the fact that she is now safely mated to life to Charles, has much to contend with: vampires, trolls, evil fae, werewolves who want to kill her and werewolves who want to possess her. She does a bang-up job of coping, defending herself and defending her mate. It can be said that heads literally roll once she gets going.
Alpha & Omega is urban fantasy at its best: both action-packed and character-driven, with nice spins on legend and myth.
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Seattle, in which the American wolves will try to win over their reluctant European cousins to the idea of werewolves coming out to the general public.Because werewolves are so long-lived and because they tend to hold grudges for centuries, tension runs high when so many of them come together. Anna, still coming to terms with her status, as well as to the fact that she is now safely mated to life to Charles, has much to contend with: vampires, trolls, evil fae, werewolves who want to kill her and werewolves who want to possess her. She does a bang-up job of coping, defending herself and defending her mate. It can be said that heads literally roll once she gets going.
Alpha & Omega is urban fantasy at its best: both action-packed and character-driven, with nice spins on legend and myth.
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LibraryThing member jayble
As a huge fan of the Mercy Thompson series, I am always excited when Patricia Briggs releases a book in this setting. I enjoyed the first Alpha and Omega book as well as the short story in "On the Prowl", but wasn't certain if I would end up liking this series as much as I do the Mercy books, as
This book was every bit as enjoyable as the Mercy Thompson books. Anna and Charles, newly mated to each other and still uncertain with their relationship, have to attend a large gathering of werewolves from around the world. Bran, Charles' father and the Marrok - leader of the North American wolves, has decided to make knowledge of the wolves public. Many do not agree with this decision, thus the large gathering to discuss this.
As a romance reader as well as a science fiction/urban fantasy reader, this book melded the two genres perfectly, but those who are not fond of romance may not appreciate the focus on Charles' and Anna's relationship. Part of the joy of the book for me was the interaction between the two main characters, as they learn more about each other.
Another aspect of the book I enjoyed is the teamwork. One of the reasons this werewolf world is so enjoyable is the people don't make stupid mistakes. Important information is shared and discussed among the characters, and the bad guys don't win out because someone forgot to tell another person something important, or just decided to keep an important detail to themselves. Many authors use this contrivance, and it is so refreshing to have intelligent characters behaving intelligently. It makes the danger, and the whole novel really, seem more real and interesting.
I must say that I am also a big fan of Bran. I like that the Marrok is present in the books - both this series and the Mercy Thompson series - and that he is hands down the most powerful creature out of all of them. It is nice to have a big gun off in the distance, as it keeps the main characters from being *too* powerful, or for power creep to over shadow the story. He is also just a wonderfully drawn character who is really fun to read about.
The mythology of the wolves as well as the fae and other supernatural creatures in this series is fun and refreshing. I really like how Briggs depicts the fae in her books, from nice to scary, but always tricky.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was finishing it and knowing I had to wait for more books to be released. After finishing this book I went through and reread all of the rest of the werewolf books, and today I plan on rereading this book again.
Oh, this book has very few places where you can simply set it down. The plot moves along at a pretty good pace, and there is plenty of action. I read it all in one night, staying up WAY too late just so I could see what happened next. I hope for many more great books in this series, as Patricia Briggs has spoiled me by writing such great stories.
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the first full length novel was extremely enjoyable but just a hare off of perfect.This book was every bit as enjoyable as the Mercy Thompson books. Anna and Charles, newly mated to each other and still uncertain with their relationship, have to attend a large gathering of werewolves from around the world. Bran, Charles' father and the Marrok - leader of the North American wolves, has decided to make knowledge of the wolves public. Many do not agree with this decision, thus the large gathering to discuss this.
As a romance reader as well as a science fiction/urban fantasy reader, this book melded the two genres perfectly, but those who are not fond of romance may not appreciate the focus on Charles' and Anna's relationship. Part of the joy of the book for me was the interaction between the two main characters, as they learn more about each other.
Another aspect of the book I enjoyed is the teamwork. One of the reasons this werewolf world is so enjoyable is the people don't make stupid mistakes. Important information is shared and discussed among the characters, and the bad guys don't win out because someone forgot to tell another person something important, or just decided to keep an important detail to themselves. Many authors use this contrivance, and it is so refreshing to have intelligent characters behaving intelligently. It makes the danger, and the whole novel really, seem more real and interesting.
I must say that I am also a big fan of Bran. I like that the Marrok is present in the books - both this series and the Mercy Thompson series - and that he is hands down the most powerful creature out of all of them. It is nice to have a big gun off in the distance, as it keeps the main characters from being *too* powerful, or for power creep to over shadow the story. He is also just a wonderfully drawn character who is really fun to read about.
The mythology of the wolves as well as the fae and other supernatural creatures in this series is fun and refreshing. I really like how Briggs depicts the fae in her books, from nice to scary, but always tricky.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was finishing it and knowing I had to wait for more books to be released. After finishing this book I went through and reread all of the rest of the werewolf books, and today I plan on rereading this book again.
Oh, this book has very few places where you can simply set it down. The plot moves along at a pretty good pace, and there is plenty of action. I read it all in one night, staying up WAY too late just so I could see what happened next. I hope for many more great books in this series, as Patricia Briggs has spoiled me by writing such great stories.
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LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
I adore Patricia Briggs, so it was a big bummer when I read the first book in the Alpha and Omega series - Cry Wolf - and didn't like it. I have enough faith in the author that I gave Hunting Ground a try - and boy am I glad I did! I thought the book got off to a slow start, but by the end I was
The first quarter of the book or so is slow - like Cry Wolf, it has a lot of telling instead of showing. Anna and Charles are endlessly discussing the status of their relationship, testing out the psychic bond they have as mates, and mooning over one another.
Once the conference in Seattle gets started, however, things pick up and the book really hits its stride. A team of vampires is out hunting in Seattle, and after they use werewolf magic to ambush Anna while she's out shopping, it's clear there's some very scary inter-species cooperation going on. Anna makes a lot of progress in Hunting Ground - she's more courageous after the events of the first book, and ready to flex her muscles a bit. It's great to see her standing up for herself more, and exploring what it means to be an Omega. And Charles does his bit, too - he's exactly the kind of caring, supportive partner Anna needs, and I really enjoyed reading about how they faced down challenges together. Their developing trust is one of the sweetest and most satisfying plotlines in the book.
I figured out who the villain was just one or two pages before the big reveal. That was very satisfying! It kept me guessing for a long time, then all the clues came together and I had a big aha! moment, and only a couple of pages later my suspicions were confirmed. That's a sign of good pacing to me, so kudos.
I'm glad to be on board with the series now, and I'm excited about the next installment. I'm worried that Anna might be a little too similar to Mercy at this point - they're both outside the pack structure yet part of a pack, both need good sense to compensate for certain natural weaknesses - but no need to borrow trouble.
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really wrapped up in the characters and the story. The first quarter of the book or so is slow - like Cry Wolf, it has a lot of telling instead of showing. Anna and Charles are endlessly discussing the status of their relationship, testing out the psychic bond they have as mates, and mooning over one another.
Once the conference in Seattle gets started, however, things pick up and the book really hits its stride. A team of vampires is out hunting in Seattle, and after they use werewolf magic to ambush Anna while she's out shopping, it's clear there's some very scary inter-species cooperation going on. Anna makes a lot of progress in Hunting Ground - she's more courageous after the events of the first book, and ready to flex her muscles a bit. It's great to see her standing up for herself more, and exploring what it means to be an Omega. And Charles does his bit, too - he's exactly the kind of caring, supportive partner Anna needs, and I really enjoyed reading about how they faced down challenges together. Their developing trust is one of the sweetest and most satisfying plotlines in the book.
I figured out who the villain was just one or two pages before the big reveal. That was very satisfying! It kept me guessing for a long time, then all the clues came together and I had a big aha! moment, and only a couple of pages later my suspicions were confirmed. That's a sign of good pacing to me, so kudos.
I'm glad to be on board with the series now, and I'm excited about the next installment. I'm worried that Anna might be a little too similar to Mercy at this point - they're both outside the pack structure yet part of a pack, both need good sense to compensate for certain natural weaknesses - but no need to borrow trouble.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A game of one-upmanship and intrigue with a bunch of top dogs fighting over the ultimate prize; be it women, power, or prestige. But is the prize worth the price?
Opening Sentence: She observed him from her chosen cover, as she’d done twice
The Review:
Charles and Anna are back for more in book two of the Alpha and Omega series, Hunting Ground. Bran, the Marrok and the head of the North American werewolves, wants to bring werewolves out of the closet. He feels that it is only a matter of time before the wolves are found out. This way, he can spin their “reveal” to their advantage; heroes instead of monsters. Bran, being the benevolent alpha he is, has called a meeting with the heads of the European werewolves to listen to their concerns. Representing the North American Pack will be Charles and Anna.
Charles and Anna are getting comfortable in their mating. It’s been a month in the timeline since the last book, Cry Wolf, and Anna is learning to be more relaxed and secure with her new husband. Charles is still adjusting to sharing his feelings with someone else, but he would do anything to make Anna happy. The problem arising in this book for the couple is separating the personal and professional faces of Charles. He must maintain his “bogeyman” status in front of the other Alphas or they will not listen to him. How can he accomplish this and not scare Anna in the process?
New players in this book include a Grey Lord ex-lover, a man-eating werewolf, and the possible reincarnation of King Arthur. Dana is the impartial third-party mediator for the Alpha conference. Her status as a Grey Lord, ruling fae, allows her to keep the werewolves from fighting out their differences instead of talking them out. But, how impartial is she? We learn there is a history between the fae and Charles. Will Anna be okay with that? How about Dana?
Jean Chastel is called the Beast of Gevaudan, and is the unofficial Alpha of the European wolves. Unofficial because he has no desire to protect his wolves like a good Alpha would. Instead of ruling his wolves with patience and wisdom, he rules with fear. That doesn’t endear him to anyone, including Charles and Anna. He also happens to be one of the main bad guys for this book. He enjoys terrorizing women and children before he eats them. So when he meets Anna, who still exhibits fear around too many dominates, he senses his next victim. Can she escape the claws of the Beast? Will Charles have to kill an Alpha to protect his mate?
Arthur, the head of the British werewolves, is among those attending the conference. He is one of Bran’s, and therefore Charles’s, supporters. He is charismatic, good looking, and smart. And believes himself to be the reincarnation of the “Once and Future King,” Arthur of Camelot. Old wolves tend to fixate on things so no one pays any mind to Arthur’s claims. But is their truth to his words? If he really is Arthur reborn, who else could be a reincarnation from King Arthur’s tale?
With all these “big dogs” around, can Anna keep it together? Can being an Omega help Charles with negotiating with the other werewolves? And can the other packs resist the idea of bringing an Omega into their own pack, by invite or force? This installment delivers all I’ve come to expect from Patricia Briggs. The love story of Charles and Anna coupled with the overall tension of werewolf politics is a heady combination.
Notable Scene:
“Omega,” said Charles formally, “it is the privilege of the dominants to protect our submissive ones, the heart of our packs. Alphas are called upon to protect even more strongly. An Omega calls to us strongest of all.”
Anna gave a puzzled nod. She already knew that, Charles thought. She just couldn’t see what it had to do with the situation. She was too used to looking at the dominant wolves as threats.
“Sweetie,” said the witch, “while you were up here getting the cold shakes from all those nasty wolves staring at you – they were trying to figure out why you were upset and who they had to kill for you.”
“Whoops,” said Anna as she comprehended the scope of the problem.
The Alpha and Omega series:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game
FTC Advisory: No one gave me a copy of Hunting Ground, I bought it myself. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment I received is hugs and kisses from my little boys.
Quick & Dirty: A game of one-upmanship and intrigue with a bunch of top dogs fighting over the ultimate prize; be it women, power, or prestige. But is the prize worth the price?
Opening Sentence: She observed him from her chosen cover, as she’d done twice
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before. The Review:
Charles and Anna are back for more in book two of the Alpha and Omega series, Hunting Ground. Bran, the Marrok and the head of the North American werewolves, wants to bring werewolves out of the closet. He feels that it is only a matter of time before the wolves are found out. This way, he can spin their “reveal” to their advantage; heroes instead of monsters. Bran, being the benevolent alpha he is, has called a meeting with the heads of the European werewolves to listen to their concerns. Representing the North American Pack will be Charles and Anna.
Charles and Anna are getting comfortable in their mating. It’s been a month in the timeline since the last book, Cry Wolf, and Anna is learning to be more relaxed and secure with her new husband. Charles is still adjusting to sharing his feelings with someone else, but he would do anything to make Anna happy. The problem arising in this book for the couple is separating the personal and professional faces of Charles. He must maintain his “bogeyman” status in front of the other Alphas or they will not listen to him. How can he accomplish this and not scare Anna in the process?
New players in this book include a Grey Lord ex-lover, a man-eating werewolf, and the possible reincarnation of King Arthur. Dana is the impartial third-party mediator for the Alpha conference. Her status as a Grey Lord, ruling fae, allows her to keep the werewolves from fighting out their differences instead of talking them out. But, how impartial is she? We learn there is a history between the fae and Charles. Will Anna be okay with that? How about Dana?
Jean Chastel is called the Beast of Gevaudan, and is the unofficial Alpha of the European wolves. Unofficial because he has no desire to protect his wolves like a good Alpha would. Instead of ruling his wolves with patience and wisdom, he rules with fear. That doesn’t endear him to anyone, including Charles and Anna. He also happens to be one of the main bad guys for this book. He enjoys terrorizing women and children before he eats them. So when he meets Anna, who still exhibits fear around too many dominates, he senses his next victim. Can she escape the claws of the Beast? Will Charles have to kill an Alpha to protect his mate?
Arthur, the head of the British werewolves, is among those attending the conference. He is one of Bran’s, and therefore Charles’s, supporters. He is charismatic, good looking, and smart. And believes himself to be the reincarnation of the “Once and Future King,” Arthur of Camelot. Old wolves tend to fixate on things so no one pays any mind to Arthur’s claims. But is their truth to his words? If he really is Arthur reborn, who else could be a reincarnation from King Arthur’s tale?
With all these “big dogs” around, can Anna keep it together? Can being an Omega help Charles with negotiating with the other werewolves? And can the other packs resist the idea of bringing an Omega into their own pack, by invite or force? This installment delivers all I’ve come to expect from Patricia Briggs. The love story of Charles and Anna coupled with the overall tension of werewolf politics is a heady combination.
Notable Scene:
“Omega,” said Charles formally, “it is the privilege of the dominants to protect our submissive ones, the heart of our packs. Alphas are called upon to protect even more strongly. An Omega calls to us strongest of all.”
Anna gave a puzzled nod. She already knew that, Charles thought. She just couldn’t see what it had to do with the situation. She was too used to looking at the dominant wolves as threats.
“Sweetie,” said the witch, “while you were up here getting the cold shakes from all those nasty wolves staring at you – they were trying to figure out why you were upset and who they had to kill for you.”
“Whoops,” said Anna as she comprehended the scope of the problem.
The Alpha and Omega series:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game
FTC Advisory: No one gave me a copy of Hunting Ground, I bought it myself. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment I received is hugs and kisses from my little boys.
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LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
A good, solid, second book to this spin-off of her original series. Well written with a murder mystery plot that hung very well on the motivations & psychology of her fantasy creatures. It was a page turner & a quick read. She's still writing one of the better paranormal-urban fanatasies out
The book could be read as a stand alone, although reading the first book in this series is a good idea. Reading the first three books of the original series even better. There is a depth of knowledge that helps make the story pop, but she does provide enough history here without getting repetitive.
I can't wait for the third!
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there.The book could be read as a stand alone, although reading the first book in this series is a good idea. Reading the first three books of the original series even better. There is a depth of knowledge that helps make the story pop, but she does provide enough history here without getting repetitive.
I can't wait for the third!
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LibraryThing member jshillingford
I started this series because I love the Mercy Thompson series. Though the first Alpha and Omega book was more of a paranormal romance, this is firmly an urban fantasy the way Mercy is. Anna and Charles still have some issues to resolve as a couple, and they work through them in the story, but that
Bran wants to reveal werewolves to the human population. But, not all weres are convinced it’s a good idea. So, Charles goes to Seattle for a diplomatic convention of sorts. I love how this book expanded on the werewolf society by introducing weres from outside the US, while simultaneously introducing the political structure. Bran is not Marrock for all weres, just the ones in the US. He has counterparts in Europe, though none as secure and powerful. Bran has hired a Gray Lord fey to arbitrate the meetings to ensure good behavior. All the players have a hidden agenda. When a mercenary pack of vampires begins attacking and killing, Anna and Charles must solve the mystery of who and why.
There was a lot of growth in this novel from the first. Anna still has problems stemming from the abuse she suffered from her old pack, but it hasn’t crippled her. She’s not the whiner she sometimes came off as in the first book. She knows she has strengths, and happily, Charles does as well. They work as a team to discover what is happening, and accept help form one another. More interesting to me were the interactions between her, her wolf, and “Brother Wolf” – Charles’ werewolf spirit. In addition to adding depth to the paranormal world the author has built, it was a great tool for giving readers insight into their relationship and their werewolf nature.
Overall, this was an excellent book and I can hardly wait for the next installment.
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is not the basis of the plot. Bran wants to reveal werewolves to the human population. But, not all weres are convinced it’s a good idea. So, Charles goes to Seattle for a diplomatic convention of sorts. I love how this book expanded on the werewolf society by introducing weres from outside the US, while simultaneously introducing the political structure. Bran is not Marrock for all weres, just the ones in the US. He has counterparts in Europe, though none as secure and powerful. Bran has hired a Gray Lord fey to arbitrate the meetings to ensure good behavior. All the players have a hidden agenda. When a mercenary pack of vampires begins attacking and killing, Anna and Charles must solve the mystery of who and why.
There was a lot of growth in this novel from the first. Anna still has problems stemming from the abuse she suffered from her old pack, but it hasn’t crippled her. She’s not the whiner she sometimes came off as in the first book. She knows she has strengths, and happily, Charles does as well. They work as a team to discover what is happening, and accept help form one another. More interesting to me were the interactions between her, her wolf, and “Brother Wolf” – Charles’ werewolf spirit. In addition to adding depth to the paranormal world the author has built, it was a great tool for giving readers insight into their relationship and their werewolf nature.
Overall, this was an excellent book and I can hardly wait for the next installment.
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LibraryThing member thesmellofbooks
Danged if this woman isn't one of the most appealing genre writers I've come across. She tells a good story, her characters and their milieu are convincing, but she also has a sense of good will that feels genuine and never manipulative. Great reading for days when you want to kick back.
LibraryThing member sharrow
Incredibly good. On the edge of my seat, well bed, right till the end and kept me suspense. Lots of twists and turns in the story and great character development. Excellent reading and highly recommend the series.
LibraryThing member Badass_Book_Reviews
I think what I like most about this series is that the characters are believable. Charles and Anna are insecure, moody, loving, scary, fighters and confused. While Charles is an Alpha male, he is as confused by the emotions of Love as Anna, they learn from each other. They grow together in this
This book was rather short at 286 pages, but it was well written. The plot was fairly simple, someone was trying to Kidnap and Kill an Omega or Two, as well as a few scary Alpha's. The interesting parts of the plot were based in lore, Excalibur, King Arthur and the rest of the story was integrated.
I enjoy Patty Brigg's stories.
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book, their relationship is fascinating.This book was rather short at 286 pages, but it was well written. The plot was fairly simple, someone was trying to Kidnap and Kill an Omega or Two, as well as a few scary Alpha's. The interesting parts of the plot were based in lore, Excalibur, King Arthur and the rest of the story was integrated.
I enjoy Patty Brigg's stories.
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LibraryThing member flemmily
Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors. The Mercy Thompson series is the best series in the current paranormal trend/genre. Cry Wolf, the first book in the Alpha and Omega series, was a little disappointing, mostly because it wasn't about Mercy. But with Hunting Ground, I had greater
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familiarity with the characters and am falling in love with them the way I did with Mercy and her friends. There is a really good mix of action, love, mystery, and character development. Show Less
LibraryThing member laurenbethy
Hunting Ground is the sequel to Cry Wolf. It follows Anna and Charles as they travel to Seattle to deal with the international Alphas in preparation for the American wolves revealing themselves to the public. Surprisingly, I actually liked this book better than Cry Wolf. In the first book Anna,
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although definitely a heroine, was mostly scared of everything including her shadow, and her sudden and frankly weird mating with Charles was awkward to say the least. Hunting Ground, however, went even further into Anna and Charles relationship (which I craved) and had an exciting adventure where Anna kicked some serious arrogant butt. Of course, many of the plot "twists" were easy to see coming, but I rate books on how much I enjoy them, and I had a lot of fun reading this book. Recommended to anyone who likes some werewolf/fantasy/romance! Show Less
LibraryThing member pacey1927
"Hunting Ground" was a definte improvement on "Cry Wolf" in my opinion. I read the book and thouroughly enjoyed it. I found the drama in the werewolf negotiations to be thrilling. I found myself completely drawn to, or repulsed by each character with whom I was introduced. Again Briggs does an
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AMAZAING job of fleshing out her characters. I think Anna and Charles are very unique characters and its intresting to me to watch them interact and to see their love continue to grow. I thought the mystery was enjoyable and I didn't 'guess who' very much before Charles, so kudos for that. I was never bored during the story and many times I would think to myself what a great writer Briggs is. I don't know that she could write a bad story. That said, I thought the book was too short. I really wished the end could have been more fleshed out. I missed Bran and wish we could see him more. I think he needs a book of his own (hint, hint~) I can see from the other reviews that I wouldn't be the only one buying it. This is a wonderful series, but it is different from the Mercy series. In my opinion the Mercy series in faster paced and more exciting but Alpha and Omega is an intriguing look at the werewolf clans and their inner workings. Show Less
LibraryThing member romsfuulynn
I love Briggs. More about Charles and Anna. Interesting werewolf story, nicely realized characters. Briggs is one of the few authors that manages to give me characters with long lives who actually are believable, and that is one key for me in this and the Mercy Thompson books. It's subtle, but very
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well done. Show Less
LibraryThing member justchris
The next book is the latest Patricia Briggs novel, Hunting Ground, the second featuring Anna and Charles. I was quite surprised to see this in paperback, since as far as I know the fourth Mercy Thompson book (Bone Crossed) is still only in hardcover. I often don't bother to read the advertising on
Before reading it I scanned the available reviews on LT. Most were short and fanatically positive. One was long, analytical, and mixed (thanks devilwrites!), so I went into it with a general idea of the plot and key characters.
This is the sequel to Cry Wolf, which takes place around the same time as the later events in Moon Called, the first Mercy Thompson novel. This .takes place some indeterminate time soon after Cry Wolf and kinda also during Moon Called, if that's possible. The two Alpha and Omega books are very similar to each other and fairly different from the Mercy Thompson books. Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground feature Anna and Charles primarily, introduce assorted secondary werewolf characters, and serve to elaborate how her werewolves work in terms of magic, pack dynamics, and so on. In some ways these stories are somewhat gratuitous vehicles for revealing the mechanics of her fantasy world. Meet new character. Meet unexpected danger that is associated with that new character. Overcome obstacles and save the day. Flesh out the protagonists some more, show how their relationship is developing, give some depth to the key secondary character, but everyone else--minimal characterization to forward the plot. While fast-paced, action-packed, and engrossing, the flow of events doesn't really mean anything personal to the heroes. They're just responding to larger events and aren't necessarily transformed by the experience. Still quite enjoyable, but not as satisfying as the Mercy Thompson novels.
Third-person narration allows jumping among various POVs including Anna, Charles, and a couple of throwaway victims, which is necessary to share important plot points that are outside our protagonists' range. The gist of the story: the representatives from the European packs are meeting in Seattle to negotiate concessions to ameliorate the negative repercussions of the U.S. werewolves going public. Charles convinces Bran to let him and Anna represent the Marrok, thanks to premonitions of some danger. Sure enough, a squad of vampires attacks Anna and her escorts during a shopping trip, and it proceeds from there. The weird part was Anna turning criminal psychologist at a crime scene. I liked further development of Anna's musical background and the costs of being the official enforcer. But there were way too many new faces, and it's so hard to tell which ones are keepers and which are just background scenery for this story alone. Once again, a couple of strong women characters whom the men underestimate, a few minorities salted through the mix. I liked it well enough and will doubtless reread it.
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the end pages, so I wasn't aware of Hunting Ground until I was browsing the bookstore last week.Before reading it I scanned the available reviews on LT. Most were short and fanatically positive. One was long, analytical, and mixed (thanks devilwrites!), so I went into it with a general idea of the plot and key characters.
This is the sequel to Cry Wolf, which takes place around the same time as the later events in Moon Called, the first Mercy Thompson novel. This .takes place some indeterminate time soon after Cry Wolf and kinda also during Moon Called, if that's possible. The two Alpha and Omega books are very similar to each other and fairly different from the Mercy Thompson books. Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground feature Anna and Charles primarily, introduce assorted secondary werewolf characters, and serve to elaborate how her werewolves work in terms of magic, pack dynamics, and so on. In some ways these stories are somewhat gratuitous vehicles for revealing the mechanics of her fantasy world. Meet new character. Meet unexpected danger that is associated with that new character. Overcome obstacles and save the day. Flesh out the protagonists some more, show how their relationship is developing, give some depth to the key secondary character, but everyone else--minimal characterization to forward the plot. While fast-paced, action-packed, and engrossing, the flow of events doesn't really mean anything personal to the heroes. They're just responding to larger events and aren't necessarily transformed by the experience. Still quite enjoyable, but not as satisfying as the Mercy Thompson novels.
Third-person narration allows jumping among various POVs including Anna, Charles, and a couple of throwaway victims, which is necessary to share important plot points that are outside our protagonists' range. The gist of the story: the representatives from the European packs are meeting in Seattle to negotiate concessions to ameliorate the negative repercussions of the U.S. werewolves going public. Charles convinces Bran to let him and Anna represent the Marrok, thanks to premonitions of some danger. Sure enough, a squad of vampires attacks Anna and her escorts during a shopping trip, and it proceeds from there. The weird part was Anna turning criminal psychologist at a crime scene. I liked further development of Anna's musical background and the costs of being the official enforcer. But there were way too many new faces, and it's so hard to tell which ones are keepers and which are just background scenery for this story alone. Once again, a couple of strong women characters whom the men underestimate, a few minorities salted through the mix. I liked it well enough and will doubtless reread it.
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LibraryThing member Aeyan
Sorely disappointed in this exploration of the Omega wolf, which struck me oddly as all of Brigg's previous urban fantasy have been wonderfully engaging. For some nebulous reason I had difficulty even finishing this one. The characters seemed slightly off, as did the plot. The central conceit of
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this series is the dynamic between Charles as an uber-Alpha wolf and Anna the Omega wolf and I felt like there was much more to be mined. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
Still working out the tensions in their relationship, Anna and Charles go to a key meeting with the European werewolves in Seattle, moderated by a powerful fae who just happens to be one of Charles’ former lovers. There’s shopping, a wolf who thinks he’s the reincarnation of King Arthur,
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another Omega wolf, and a French madwolf who starts stalking Anna, et cetera. It’s a good adventure, and it’s really nice to see people who love each other but still have serious problems working through those problems, but the series fundamentally doesn’t move me. Show Less
LibraryThing member lewispike
The second book in the Alpha and Omega series. This book runs fairly rapidly after the first one, and remains in parallel to the Mercy series.
Anna is starting to come to grips with what being an Omega means ("You're an alpha, just a very zen one") and she and Charles travel to a conference with
There are a mix of obvious and less obvious villains and a plot that twists and turns suitably frequently to keep it working. There's more talking relationship stuff than sex, but there's a strong feeling of romance running through it still.
The various sub-plots are satisfying. I can't help but wonder if it would be a slightly better fit if it wasn't running in parallel to the Mercy books, but it rarely feels forced, and the book is fun.
Anna is starting to come to grips with what being an Omega means ("You're an alpha, just a very zen one") and she and Charles travel to a conference with
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European werewolves about the Marrok's decision to take the werewolves public.There are a mix of obvious and less obvious villains and a plot that twists and turns suitably frequently to keep it working. There's more talking relationship stuff than sex, but there's a strong feeling of romance running through it still.
The various sub-plots are satisfying. I can't help but wonder if it would be a slightly better fit if it wasn't running in parallel to the Mercy books, but it rarely feels forced, and the book is fun.
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LibraryThing member EvaElisabeth
The pace on this one never really picks up much, its familiar favored characters in a cool world but not as good as the previous iterations.
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Very good. I thought I'd read it before, but apparently not. Anna blooms quite a bit - in self-confidence, and in knowledge of her abilities. The one kind of leads to the other, actually - when she can handle a disaster (like an ambush), it really helps her believe in herself. And the more she
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grows into herself, the more she and Charles mesh - it's great. A very confusing plot, with random stuff coming in in all directions - vampires with wolf magic, an unusually powerful white witch, a fae who's untrustworthy even by the standards of the fae, not to mention minor things like a very dominant wolf determined to sabotage the conference. He wouldn't turn down a chance to kill Charles, either... All the threads come together beautifully at the end, though. Poor Sunny. Yet another mad wolf...he is quite insane, of course. How _does_ the Marrok do it? Maybe he got all his madness over at the beginning of things. A great story, nice development of that universe, interesting new characters that I hope we see more of (Moira in particular). Fun. Now I need to find and reread Fair Game - and catch all the comments about this one that I thought I was missing because I'd _forgotten_ the story, not because I hadn't read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member susiesharp
Another great book by Patricia Briggs. This time Charles & Anna are sent to Seattle to oversee a werewolf conference about Bran's decision to bring the werewolves out of the closet. Anna ends up fighting vampires & the Fae this time. I was excited by the addition of Tom & Moira from the short story
I will be curious to read Silverborne and see if any of the characters from Alpha & Omega make an appearance.
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in Strange Brew and hope they make another appearance in the World of Marrok, because it would be nice to see Anna & Moira's friendship continue to grow.I will be curious to read Silverborne and see if any of the characters from Alpha & Omega make an appearance.
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LibraryThing member C.Ibarra
Alpha & Omega was even better than Cry Wolf. Charles and Anna continue to grow as a couple. I love seeing how they interact. Anna still doesn’t fully trust her feelings but she’s trying hard. Charles is so patient with her. He is seriously swoon worthy. I hope Briggs plans to continue this
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series. I can’t wait to read more about Anna and Charles. Show Less
LibraryThing member stars_2z
In the second installment of the Alpha and Omega series, Charles and Anna are off to Chicago. Charles goes as Bran's representative to reassure and answer questions on the upcoming revelation of werewolves to the human population to a delegation of European packs. But at the conference, the French
Charles and Anna are becoming closer, both overcoming their fears to trust each other. Anna meets another omega wolf at the conference. Tom and his mate, the white witch Moira, from "Seeing Eye," a story in the Strange Brew anthology, make an appearance.
Hunting Ground was a good read. I love all of Patricia Briggs's novels, especially the werewolf ones. I like seeing more about the fears and concerns of Charles and how he deals with being Bran's enforcer. The European werewolves were interesting. Arthur in particular, with his stories of being King Arthur reincarnated and finding Excalibur. I can't wait for the next in the series along with the next Mercy Thompson novel, Silver Borne, coming out next March.
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alpha is murdered and a group of vampires, acting as a pack, seem to want Anna.Charles and Anna are becoming closer, both overcoming their fears to trust each other. Anna meets another omega wolf at the conference. Tom and his mate, the white witch Moira, from "Seeing Eye," a story in the Strange Brew anthology, make an appearance.
Hunting Ground was a good read. I love all of Patricia Briggs's novels, especially the werewolf ones. I like seeing more about the fears and concerns of Charles and how he deals with being Bran's enforcer. The European werewolves were interesting. Arthur in particular, with his stories of being King Arthur reincarnated and finding Excalibur. I can't wait for the next in the series along with the next Mercy Thompson novel, Silver Borne, coming out next March.
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LibraryThing member Rhinoa
Werewolves Charles and Anna are back. They are still discovering their love and getting used to being a couple after Charles was alone for so long and Anna was abused in the past. Charles' father is the Marok and he wants the werewolves to come out to the media and general public. Charles has a
Charles was right to be cautious. There are certain European werewolves who do not wish to become public, one French werewolf in particular nicknamed The Beast, who also has set his sights on Anna (a coveted Omega werewolf). Helping at the meeting is one of the Fey who complicates matters by also being an old lover of Charles. Vampires are also rife in the city and are causing their own problems. Can Charles and Anna survive the conclave without things getting more complicated... Seems unlikely.
A gripping story, I really like the two central characters and enjoyed meeting some of the European werewolves plus another Omega. I am glad to see Anna becoming more comfortable in her own skin and Charles getting used to sharing his life with her. I look forward to many more of their adventures in the future. Maybe one day they will have their own pups too.
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feeling that is his father attends the meeting to discuss this something terrible will happen, so Charles and Anna go in his place.Charles was right to be cautious. There are certain European werewolves who do not wish to become public, one French werewolf in particular nicknamed The Beast, who also has set his sights on Anna (a coveted Omega werewolf). Helping at the meeting is one of the Fey who complicates matters by also being an old lover of Charles. Vampires are also rife in the city and are causing their own problems. Can Charles and Anna survive the conclave without things getting more complicated... Seems unlikely.
A gripping story, I really like the two central characters and enjoyed meeting some of the European werewolves plus another Omega. I am glad to see Anna becoming more comfortable in her own skin and Charles getting used to sharing his life with her. I look forward to many more of their adventures in the future. Maybe one day they will have their own pups too.
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Awards
Chesley Award (Nominee — 2010)
Endeavour Award (Finalist — 2010)
Language
Original publication date
2009-08-25
Physical description
304 p.; 6.7 inches
ISBN
044101738X / 9780441017386
Local notes
Alpha and Omega, 2
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Briggs |