Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Ace Books (2012), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 293 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML:#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs' third Alpha and Omega novel brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could turn the hunters into the prey� It is said that opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son�and enforcer�of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant Alpha. While Anna, an Omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind. When the FBI requests the pack�s help on a local serial-killer case, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to join the investigation. It soon becomes clear that someone is targeting the preternatural. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer�s sights...… (more)
Media reviews
Fair Game is the 3rd book in the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. If you want to read these books in order and have not started them yet, I would recommend starting with the short story titled Alpha and Omega in the book On the Prowl.
Charles is the enforcer and son for the leader of
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the North American Werewolves. It is a job that has changed dramaticlaly now that werewolves have come out to the public. Charles is becoming conflicted about enforcing new rules and expectations of werewolves everywhere. When his mate, Anna, is sent to help law enforcement find a serial killer that is now murdering werewolves he finds himself dangerously close to the edge. Anna is an Omega and can calm the wolf inside. Can Anna convince Charles to let her help when it is the man that is in trouble?
I really liked Fair Game. The deepening of the story line to this whole world has me craving the next book (don’t want to give spoilers so I really cannot say more). Anna has grown as a character and it great seeing her keep everyone in check. The story flowed very well and the ending was great! I would recommend reading this series in order, although I do think that Fair Game could be read interdependently as well. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kr15tina
What I Loved
Characters
Anna: She is pretty awesome character. I love how well Anna takes care of Charles, I love that she isn't going to let herself ever be the victim again and she will fight. I enjoy reading how others can be so protective of her because of her omega "powers". She is one of those
Charles: Truly the Big Bad Werewolf, not the one to ever mess with. I love reading how vulnerable he is with Anna, they truly are the best mated pair for each other.
Story
Years of murders, now the fae and werewolves are being targeted, a big mystery to be solved and Anna and Charles are here to help. The victims are being raped, carved up with magical symbols and being harvested by blood magic. There is never a dull moment in this awesome book, something interesting in always happening.
Didn't Like
I have to wait forever for another Briggs book
Recommendation
Part of a series that is awesome, must read both this series and the Mercy Thompson series. Awesome urban fantasy series
Characters
Anna: She is pretty awesome character. I love how well Anna takes care of Charles, I love that she isn't going to let herself ever be the victim again and she will fight. I enjoy reading how others can be so protective of her because of her omega "powers". She is one of those
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genuinely loving and caring characters that even as a reader never want anything bad to happen to her.Charles: Truly the Big Bad Werewolf, not the one to ever mess with. I love reading how vulnerable he is with Anna, they truly are the best mated pair for each other.
Story
Years of murders, now the fae and werewolves are being targeted, a big mystery to be solved and Anna and Charles are here to help. The victims are being raped, carved up with magical symbols and being harvested by blood magic. There is never a dull moment in this awesome book, something interesting in always happening.
Didn't Like
I have to wait forever for another Briggs book
Recommendation
Part of a series that is awesome, must read both this series and the Mercy Thompson series. Awesome urban fantasy series
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LibraryThing member zannyvix
Patricia Briggs books are like sweet, addictive candy to me, and this one was no exception. I could not put it down. If you prefer your paranormal fiction to be more action and emotion than the same old sex between boring characters, this is a series for you. I finished it the day after it arrived
I love the emotional tug-of-war the characters go through, and it was really interesting to see Charles as the vulnerable one this time around instead of Anna. Anna kicks butt. She's grown so much from the quivering scared-of-her-own-shadow wolf we saw in the first Alpha and Omega story.
And the ending... The ending will change everything for this universe. These books, the Mercy books. Nothing can be the same again after what happens. I am looking forward to the next developments this world has to bring with extreme interest.
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in the mail, and I'm already seriously contemplating reading it again.I love the emotional tug-of-war the characters go through, and it was really interesting to see Charles as the vulnerable one this time around instead of Anna. Anna kicks butt. She's grown so much from the quivering scared-of-her-own-shadow wolf we saw in the first Alpha and Omega story.
And the ending... The ending will change everything for this universe. These books, the Mercy books. Nothing can be the same again after what happens. I am looking forward to the next developments this world has to bring with extreme interest.
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LibraryThing member skylerashcraft
My favorite of the Alpha & Omega so far. Of course, I get more attached to the characters as we go but this story had a far more daunting bad guy, an intense twist in Charles & Anna's relationship, and a shocker of an ending; one that makes me very glad I read theses before diving into the new
I also have to say: What is with the book cover pictured here. Is that supposed to be Anna? With a gun, straight hair, and leather duster?
There's nothing of Anna in this picture anywhere and it is very misleading about the feel of this book. Really bugs me when covers are so obviously created by someone who knows nothing about the story. Thank god this isn't the cover generally seen. Dan dos Santos has created the most wondrous covers for Brigg's books and I hope to see that continue.
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Frost Burned. I wouldn't have that shock ruined.I also have to say: What is with the book cover pictured here. Is that supposed to be Anna? With a gun, straight hair, and leather duster?
There's nothing of Anna in this picture anywhere and it is very misleading about the feel of this book. Really bugs me when covers are so obviously created by someone who knows nothing about the story. Thank god this isn't the cover generally seen. Dan dos Santos has created the most wondrous covers for Brigg's books and I hope to see that continue.
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LibraryThing member IfYouGiveaGirlaBook
Before Reading:
I had read the other books in this series after I had started and did not finish the Mercy Thompson series. The Mercy series is set in the same world but at a later time and also focuses more on Mercedes Thompson in a completely different state. That was fine with me because while I
That was my reasoning for reading the first book of this series and the fact that I am now reading the third book should most certainly tell you that I had enjoyed the ones before it. However because this is the third book not counting the prequel in the anthology this review will have spoilers. That means that if you can't stand spoilers you should most likely stop here and look for the novella On The Prowl instead. Sorry.
After Reading:
I like to think that I don't go into a book with expectations unless it is really popular and everyone tells you how amazing this book is and then you read it to find it the exact opposite. I don't like to set myself up for a fall when it comes to books. I like to be realistic and I had already read a bit of the sample so I knew a bit about what the book was going to be about before I went in.
There were the things that I had known beforehand were going to be there:
Charles is killing werewolves for the smallest infractions because the werewolf community cannot get any negative public opinion, check.
Charles has to deal with the fact that he blames himself for what he feels are wrongful deaths, check.
Crime, check.
Really awesome FBI woman who got her love from solving crimes from her neighbor as a child, check.
Me completely glued to the pages and unable to look away, no check.
I think that it is clear that something went wrong. There was nothing wrong with the story. It followed the same pattern as the first two books. It had adorable couple moments with Anna and Charles and yet there was a point near the beginning that I found my attention wandering. I think it had a bit to do with the fact that I had wanted Leslie and Anna and Charles to be best buds. Okay, let's be realistic, not best buds so much as I wanted them to trust each other and yet it took a really long time for them to even really have a real conversation.
So I found myself loosing interest at some points because my imagination on how I wanted things to go kept intruding but that was my problems because when I was actually able to sink into the book and shut off my could of, should of, would of brain I found myself just as immersed as I was for the books before but the problem was that I was waiting for something that could never happen and for that I wish I could go back and slap myself.
Now that I have that out of the way I am going to talk about what I really liked about the book. I am trying out book review formats so here come the lists. I really like to make lists.
1. NO LOVE TRIANGLES. Oh my gosh, I hate love triangles. I want to see an author for once have the guys say that they are not going to let the girl string them along in that way and leave her or a threesome.
2. The main characters are in a relationship and while it is not perfect they are working things out a little at a time and the books don't have that two steps forward three steps back feel in them. I just hate when it seems like the characters are going somewhere only for the next book to have them back at square one.
3. Leslie. She was awesome and I wished that she had been shown in a better light for more of the book besides just in the beginning and the end.
4. Bran is told that he is wrong by Anna and she sticks to her guns and is able to stare him down. I love the fact that she is neither a dominate or a submissive. It is awesome because it means that she can stand up to Bran but we don't have to worry about her trying to overthrow anyone and the politics when it comes to her are more lax and less annoying.
6. The Gray Lord Prince. There is nothing about the Gray Lord Prince that was not awesome in so many ways. I didn't even see it coming. I knew that he would make an appearance but he was the person that I least expected because I had expected it to be him if that makes an ounce of sense. I can't wait to read the next book to see how that is handled. That or Patricia Briggs could always start another series but this time have it centered on the fey world with the other two books making an appearance or two.
Short Version:
While I enjoyed this book immensely for some reason I had these expectations that were not really realistic. It was a great next book to follow the last one but there seemed to be something lacking because I did not find myself as glued to the pages as I should have been. However my problems should not stop you from reading this series however and I hope that you find yourself a copy. P.S. My favorite thing about Patricia Brigg's werewolves is the fact that they turn into actual wolves. If you are going to make werewolves real I want them to be able to turn into a real wolf and not only a half-man, half-wolf thing. In fact that is the fastest way for a werewolf story to lose me.
I had read the other books in this series after I had started and did not finish the Mercy Thompson series. The Mercy series is set in the same world but at a later time and also focuses more on Mercedes Thompson in a completely different state. That was fine with me because while I
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had started the Mercy Thompson series with plenty of steam I found myself quickly becoming annoyed with all love triangles in general mostly because of other YA books that were coming out during the same time that I was reading the series. I just wanted to scream when I found out that the author had agreed to not only put a love triangle in the books but that the love triangle was going to be there for a while. Which is why the series Alpha and Omega was so perfect for me. It is set in the same world but it did not have any pesky love triangle for me to trip over.That was my reasoning for reading the first book of this series and the fact that I am now reading the third book should most certainly tell you that I had enjoyed the ones before it. However because this is the third book not counting the prequel in the anthology this review will have spoilers. That means that if you can't stand spoilers you should most likely stop here and look for the novella On The Prowl instead. Sorry.
After Reading:
I like to think that I don't go into a book with expectations unless it is really popular and everyone tells you how amazing this book is and then you read it to find it the exact opposite. I don't like to set myself up for a fall when it comes to books. I like to be realistic and I had already read a bit of the sample so I knew a bit about what the book was going to be about before I went in.
There were the things that I had known beforehand were going to be there:
Charles is killing werewolves for the smallest infractions because the werewolf community cannot get any negative public opinion, check.
Charles has to deal with the fact that he blames himself for what he feels are wrongful deaths, check.
Crime, check.
Really awesome FBI woman who got her love from solving crimes from her neighbor as a child, check.
Me completely glued to the pages and unable to look away, no check.
I think that it is clear that something went wrong. There was nothing wrong with the story. It followed the same pattern as the first two books. It had adorable couple moments with Anna and Charles and yet there was a point near the beginning that I found my attention wandering. I think it had a bit to do with the fact that I had wanted Leslie and Anna and Charles to be best buds. Okay, let's be realistic, not best buds so much as I wanted them to trust each other and yet it took a really long time for them to even really have a real conversation.
So I found myself loosing interest at some points because my imagination on how I wanted things to go kept intruding but that was my problems because when I was actually able to sink into the book and shut off my could of, should of, would of brain I found myself just as immersed as I was for the books before but the problem was that I was waiting for something that could never happen and for that I wish I could go back and slap myself.
Now that I have that out of the way I am going to talk about what I really liked about the book. I am trying out book review formats so here come the lists. I really like to make lists.
1. NO LOVE TRIANGLES. Oh my gosh, I hate love triangles. I want to see an author for once have the guys say that they are not going to let the girl string them along in that way and leave her or a threesome.
2. The main characters are in a relationship and while it is not perfect they are working things out a little at a time and the books don't have that two steps forward three steps back feel in them. I just hate when it seems like the characters are going somewhere only for the next book to have them back at square one.
3. Leslie. She was awesome and I wished that she had been shown in a better light for more of the book besides just in the beginning and the end.
4. Bran is told that he is wrong by Anna and she sticks to her guns and is able to stare him down. I love the fact that she is neither a dominate or a submissive. It is awesome because it means that she can stand up to Bran but we don't have to worry about her trying to overthrow anyone and the politics when it comes to her are more lax and less annoying.
6. The Gray Lord Prince. There is nothing about the Gray Lord Prince that was not awesome in so many ways. I didn't even see it coming. I knew that he would make an appearance but he was the person that I least expected because I had expected it to be him if that makes an ounce of sense. I can't wait to read the next book to see how that is handled. That or Patricia Briggs could always start another series but this time have it centered on the fey world with the other two books making an appearance or two.
Short Version:
While I enjoyed this book immensely for some reason I had these expectations that were not really realistic. It was a great next book to follow the last one but there seemed to be something lacking because I did not find myself as glued to the pages as I should have been. However my problems should not stop you from reading this series however and I hope that you find yourself a copy. P.S. My favorite thing about Patricia Brigg's werewolves is the fact that they turn into actual wolves. If you are going to make werewolves real I want them to be able to turn into a real wolf and not only a half-man, half-wolf thing. In fact that is the fastest way for a werewolf story to lose me.
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LibraryThing member AmberFIB
This was, in my opinion, the darkest novel that Briggs has written to date. It was a difficult read for me because the killers were so brutal. It was like reading Law and Order: SVU - Paranormal Division, or something. I generally like the Alpha and Omega series better than the Mercy Thompson
Charles and Anna have hit a rift in their marriage, so they weren't as close as they have been in previous novels. This isn't because they don't like each other anymore; it's simply because Charles' guilt at being his father's unquestioning assassin is taking a toll on Charles since he's more about justice than mindless killing. Since the chemistry between them is non-existent for most of this novel, and the majority of the book was set in Boston, this crossed over into the realm of Urban Fantasy rather than Paranormal Romance. The sweet romance of this series is supposed to be what sets it apart from the Mercy series. I'm sure you see the problem with this crossing over. However, there were some extremely interesting developments in the story.
One of the newer things I noticed is that Charles and Anna are working with humans to solve a crime. Now that the werewolves have come out, it's important to have good public relations with the humans. I really liked Leslie, and I hope to see more of her in future books. She was a fantastic character. She was strong, intelligent, and open-minded. Also, Charles grew a lot in Fair Game. He developed more than I expected him to, and I can't wait to see what these developments mean for his and Anna's relationship, as well as his relationship his father. Bran changed a little as well, and Anna really stood on her own two feet. She has become much stronger and will not let herself be victimized again. She's healing by leaps and bounds.
I liked the developments with the fae, and the ending has ensured that there will be a lot of turbulence in the Mercy/Alpha and Omega world. I'm interested to see how these developments affect Mercy and company in Seattle, as well as how they affect Bran and the Marrok's pack in Montana. These two series just got a lot more complicated, and the next few books for each series are going to be intense. One thing about the ending really bothered me, though, and I just feel like more people should have died. I know that sounds harsh, but once you read the book, you'll probably understand what I mean. Of course, maybe death was too good for the bigots. Yea, I got angry at quite a few people while reading this, haha.
The pacing of the book was done pretty well, though it did drag and some places. I felt like some of the parts were a bit uncalled for and just used for padding to make sure the book was long enough, and parts that would have shown Anna and Charles trying to fix their relationship or developments in the serial killer case were skipped over. I think that maybe some of those parts could have also been replaced with parts from Leslie's perspective, since Briggs did 3rd person limited with switching viewpoints. The POV wasn't confusing though, and it added some depth to the story. I'd also like to know why I was able to figure out who the killer was before a centuries old werewolf. Maybe Charles needs to watch more of Anna's detective shows. Because I knew who the killer was, the big reveal wasn't a big reveal, but it was still suspenseful because of how brutal the killer was.
Overall, this book was well done, but it just didn't live up to what I am used to when it comes to Briggs' writing. Usually, she'd get an A+ instead of an A-. Still, there was tons of character growth, the plot was intriguing, and the pacing wasn't too terribly off. Even when I'm not as blown away as I should be, Briggs is still better than most of the authors out there today. I'd definitely recommend this book to any adult who enjoys suspenseful werewolf stories, and especially to fans of the Alpha and Omega and Mercy Thompson series. Because of how dark this book was, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 18.
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series, though I love them both, but this novel reminded me more of the Mercy series. This is my least favorite of the Alpha and Omega series, for sure, and my third least favorite by Briggs. It was pretty obvious who the bad guy was, and Briggs is usually better at keeping me guessing. I just didn't feel the level of suspense that I'm used to when reading a Briggs novel. To me, this was one of those books that was necessary to move the story forward, and that usually makes for a less than amazing story. However, I still enjoyed the book, and it was still well-written. I just hope the next one is better.Charles and Anna have hit a rift in their marriage, so they weren't as close as they have been in previous novels. This isn't because they don't like each other anymore; it's simply because Charles' guilt at being his father's unquestioning assassin is taking a toll on Charles since he's more about justice than mindless killing. Since the chemistry between them is non-existent for most of this novel, and the majority of the book was set in Boston, this crossed over into the realm of Urban Fantasy rather than Paranormal Romance. The sweet romance of this series is supposed to be what sets it apart from the Mercy series. I'm sure you see the problem with this crossing over. However, there were some extremely interesting developments in the story.
One of the newer things I noticed is that Charles and Anna are working with humans to solve a crime. Now that the werewolves have come out, it's important to have good public relations with the humans. I really liked Leslie, and I hope to see more of her in future books. She was a fantastic character. She was strong, intelligent, and open-minded. Also, Charles grew a lot in Fair Game. He developed more than I expected him to, and I can't wait to see what these developments mean for his and Anna's relationship, as well as his relationship his father. Bran changed a little as well, and Anna really stood on her own two feet. She has become much stronger and will not let herself be victimized again. She's healing by leaps and bounds.
I liked the developments with the fae, and the ending has ensured that there will be a lot of turbulence in the Mercy/Alpha and Omega world. I'm interested to see how these developments affect Mercy and company in Seattle, as well as how they affect Bran and the Marrok's pack in Montana. These two series just got a lot more complicated, and the next few books for each series are going to be intense. One thing about the ending really bothered me, though, and I just feel like more people should have died. I know that sounds harsh, but once you read the book, you'll probably understand what I mean. Of course, maybe death was too good for the bigots. Yea, I got angry at quite a few people while reading this, haha.
The pacing of the book was done pretty well, though it did drag and some places. I felt like some of the parts were a bit uncalled for and just used for padding to make sure the book was long enough, and parts that would have shown Anna and Charles trying to fix their relationship or developments in the serial killer case were skipped over. I think that maybe some of those parts could have also been replaced with parts from Leslie's perspective, since Briggs did 3rd person limited with switching viewpoints. The POV wasn't confusing though, and it added some depth to the story. I'd also like to know why I was able to figure out who the killer was before a centuries old werewolf. Maybe Charles needs to watch more of Anna's detective shows. Because I knew who the killer was, the big reveal wasn't a big reveal, but it was still suspenseful because of how brutal the killer was.
Overall, this book was well done, but it just didn't live up to what I am used to when it comes to Briggs' writing. Usually, she'd get an A+ instead of an A-. Still, there was tons of character growth, the plot was intriguing, and the pacing wasn't too terribly off. Even when I'm not as blown away as I should be, Briggs is still better than most of the authors out there today. I'd definitely recommend this book to any adult who enjoys suspenseful werewolf stories, and especially to fans of the Alpha and Omega and Mercy Thompson series. Because of how dark this book was, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 18.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
Have you ever been torn between racing through a book to find out what happens and wanting to read a book slowly to savor every moment? That was where I was when I began this story. It is the third book in the Alpha and Omega series. I was already invested in these characters before I opened the
Because of the political change that outed the werewolves Charles has been very busy cleaning up mistakes before they went public. But, being the werewolf executioner, is starting to do bad things to him. He is withdrawing from his mate and being haunted by the ghosts of the werewolves he has been forced to kill. Anna doesn't know what to do to help him. He wants to protect her from what he feels he is becoming and she wants to protect him from breaking. She finally convinces Bran that he has to do something before Charles breaks. The Marrok has a plan...
Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to work with the FBI to solve the case of a serial killer who has been active for years and who has just added three werewolves to his victims. Anna is to be the point person with Charles as her guard. They have two purposes - to aid the FBI and to get some good publicity for werewolves. Anna, looking rather soft and gentle, is a good wolf to send. Being an omega disposes both wolves and humans to like her and want to help her.
The case quickly escalates when the human daughter of one of the fae is captured as the next victim. Alistair Beauclaire is one of the old and powerful fae. The fae and the werewolves don't really trust each other but can work together because of this common goal. The FBI, Homeland Security, and a new agency CNTRP (Combined Nonhuman and Transhuman Relations Provisors) get involved in the case. Though it seems like the werewolves are the reason for CNTRP's involvement more than the serial killers.
For the human side is FBI Agent Leslie Fisher who had an encounter with the fae when she was a child that makes up the prologue of this story. There was an interesting and varied cast of characters in this story. I liked both the police procedural aspect of the story and the emotional aspect of the story as Charles tries to battle his demons and Anna battles for him.
I recommend this story to all lovers of urban fantasy, romance and werewolves. I can't wait to read it again and savor every situation. Do read Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground too to learn more about these fascinating characters.
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book. I want to race through it to find out what was going to happen. But I also wanted to savor the relationship between Charles and Anna. Outwardly they seem so different. Charles is a dominant alpha werewolf who everyone is afraid of, and rightly so. He has been his father's enforcer for many, many years. If a werewolf causes trouble, Charles is the one Bran sends to take care of the problem. And Anna is an Omega wolf. She was forcibly changed, tortured, and abused before Charles rescued her. She saw herself as weak. But Charles has an sensitive side and Anna has plenty of strength and stubbornness.Because of the political change that outed the werewolves Charles has been very busy cleaning up mistakes before they went public. But, being the werewolf executioner, is starting to do bad things to him. He is withdrawing from his mate and being haunted by the ghosts of the werewolves he has been forced to kill. Anna doesn't know what to do to help him. He wants to protect her from what he feels he is becoming and she wants to protect him from breaking. She finally convinces Bran that he has to do something before Charles breaks. The Marrok has a plan...
Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to work with the FBI to solve the case of a serial killer who has been active for years and who has just added three werewolves to his victims. Anna is to be the point person with Charles as her guard. They have two purposes - to aid the FBI and to get some good publicity for werewolves. Anna, looking rather soft and gentle, is a good wolf to send. Being an omega disposes both wolves and humans to like her and want to help her.
The case quickly escalates when the human daughter of one of the fae is captured as the next victim. Alistair Beauclaire is one of the old and powerful fae. The fae and the werewolves don't really trust each other but can work together because of this common goal. The FBI, Homeland Security, and a new agency CNTRP (Combined Nonhuman and Transhuman Relations Provisors) get involved in the case. Though it seems like the werewolves are the reason for CNTRP's involvement more than the serial killers.
For the human side is FBI Agent Leslie Fisher who had an encounter with the fae when she was a child that makes up the prologue of this story. There was an interesting and varied cast of characters in this story. I liked both the police procedural aspect of the story and the emotional aspect of the story as Charles tries to battle his demons and Anna battles for him.
I recommend this story to all lovers of urban fantasy, romance and werewolves. I can't wait to read it again and savor every situation. Do read Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground too to learn more about these fascinating characters.
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LibraryThing member dearheart
When a serial rapist/torturer/murderer who has been operating for decades takes out three werewolves, the FBI requests a werewolf to consult with the interdepartmental manhunt. Bran sends Anna with Charles as her back-up. She's the perfect PR for the werewolves with her calm demeanor and young,
But Bran has all werewolves on a tight leash to present a safer image to the general public. The guilt Charles feels over some of the kills has the ghosts of his victims hanging around and they are a threat to his sanity. And as they get stronger could and would hurt Anna. He pushes her away in an attempt to keep her safe. Their marriage is in trouble and with his age and what he's dealing with, Charles is close to losing his grip.
The fae become involved when the daughter of a really old and powerful one becomes the latest victim to be taken. The race is on to try to find her. Who would be able to take out and hang on to either a fae or werewolf for a week before killing them? The local werewolf pack also becomes involved as does a black witch to find the missing young woman.
Anna has now been with Charles for a couple of years and she's more confident in her abilities to protect and stand up for herself, except when it comes to being pushed away by her husband. She's got a lot of spunk and is no longer afraid to use it, even to stand up to Bran's anger. And Charles is learning to get along with others as he's forced to act less threatening while dealing with everyone involved. We see him opening up a little and becoming somewhat of a team player as the story progresses.
There are places that move along somewhat slowly, especially with regards to what Charles is dealing with, although the story on the whole moves along at a good clip and I read it in one day. The setting is in Boston so we get a little bit of geography and history, although thankfully not as much detail as we were given in the last Mercy Thompson book, River Marked. I really hope we get to see the characters from either series working with the FBI again in future stories, especially Special Agent Leslie Fisher; a very smart, level-headed individual who had never met a werewolf before.
And finally, the timeline between this series and the Mercy Thompson one is now in sync. This story takes place over a year after Hunting Ground, yet immediately after River Marked. The climatic end to this book adds a new degree of challenges the werewolves and the fae will be facing in both series.
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innocent look. And Bran is hoping to save Charles by giving him something more positive to do. In the year since the werewolves have gone public, he's been sent out to kill three times as many werewolves for infractions that younger werewolves used to get a pass on.But Bran has all werewolves on a tight leash to present a safer image to the general public. The guilt Charles feels over some of the kills has the ghosts of his victims hanging around and they are a threat to his sanity. And as they get stronger could and would hurt Anna. He pushes her away in an attempt to keep her safe. Their marriage is in trouble and with his age and what he's dealing with, Charles is close to losing his grip.
The fae become involved when the daughter of a really old and powerful one becomes the latest victim to be taken. The race is on to try to find her. Who would be able to take out and hang on to either a fae or werewolf for a week before killing them? The local werewolf pack also becomes involved as does a black witch to find the missing young woman.
Anna has now been with Charles for a couple of years and she's more confident in her abilities to protect and stand up for herself, except when it comes to being pushed away by her husband. She's got a lot of spunk and is no longer afraid to use it, even to stand up to Bran's anger. And Charles is learning to get along with others as he's forced to act less threatening while dealing with everyone involved. We see him opening up a little and becoming somewhat of a team player as the story progresses.
There are places that move along somewhat slowly, especially with regards to what Charles is dealing with, although the story on the whole moves along at a good clip and I read it in one day. The setting is in Boston so we get a little bit of geography and history, although thankfully not as much detail as we were given in the last Mercy Thompson book, River Marked. I really hope we get to see the characters from either series working with the FBI again in future stories, especially Special Agent Leslie Fisher; a very smart, level-headed individual who had never met a werewolf before.
And finally, the timeline between this series and the Mercy Thompson one is now in sync. This story takes place over a year after Hunting Ground, yet immediately after River Marked. The climatic end to this book adds a new degree of challenges the werewolves and the fae will be facing in both series.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: An intense manhunt for a serial killer. A story about people, or werewolves, who are haunted by their ghosts, sometimes literally.
Opening Sentence: “Go home,” Bran Cornick growled at Anna.
The Review:
At last! The third installment of the Alpha
It’s been a few years in the timeline from the last book, Hunting Ground. The wolves are known to the humans now and werewolf rules are strictly enforced. They cannot seem out of control to the humans and no longer allow small transgressions to go without punishment. Charles has been sent on more “enforcer” jobs than ever before, and they are taking a toll on him. Bran, the Marrok and Charles’s father, won’t give Charles a break and Anna is pissed about it. Can no one but Anna see that anymore kills might just break Charles?
A chance arises for Anna to play consultant for the FBI on a serial killer case and Charles goes along to play bodyguard. Their relationship seems to have hit a rough patch and Anna hopes this is an opportunity to reconnect with her husband and mate. She pushes Charles to confide in her throughout the story but he takes his sweet time doing so. She wants him to view her as an equal, and not someone to coddle. Can Charles give Anna what she needs? Can Anna stay strong and not bend to Charles’ will?
Charles is being haunted, literally, by his ghosts. His guilt has allowed the spirits of those he feels he has killed unjustly to follow him around. He worries that these spirits and their doubts will attack Anna through their mate bond and hurt her. He is forced to rely on his inner wolf, aptly named Brother Wolf, for help in controlling the spirits and protecting those around him. Normally, werewolves who let their wolves take over is usually considered a bad idea, but the relationship/bond between Brother Wolf and Charles is anything but. Is it truly a good idea to let the wolf take over in the middle of a manhunt? Is this the only way Charles can take care of business? I think not. In his misguided attempt to protect Anna, he instead alienates her from himself. Oh the tangled webs we weave, Charles. I just want to yell at the book, “Don’t do it, man! You’re gonna lose her that way!” Usually, I only get this worked up with horror movies so in my opinion that means; God Job, Ms. Briggs!!
If Charles and Anna’s relationship woes are not enough for you to go out and read this book, the creepy serial killer should do it. According to the FBI, the man known as the Big Game Hunter, has been on a killing spree since 1975. His latest victims have all been werewolves and the FBI need a little help to catch him. With the help of Anna, and therefore Charles as well, they finally feel like they have a chance to catch this psycho and his possible accomplices. But at every turn, they are foiled. Does that mean there is an insider that’s helping the Big Game Hunter? Which one of their inner circle is a bad guy in disguise?
Interesting new characters of note include Issac Owens, Alpha of the Olde Towne Pack, and Alistair Beauclaire. Issac is rash and impetuous for an Alpha but is a good guy to have around. He tries to do right by his pack and that’s good enough for Charles. Alistair is another fish entirely. His daughter is the latest victim to be taken by the Big Game Hunter and he will do anything to get her back. He has his own secrets, one of which is that he is a powerful fae. Not a bad guy to have on your side when hunting something that can take out werewolves. The alliance of the FBI, fae, and werewolves adds a wonderful dynamic to the book as a whole. I love it when people band together to fight evil; makes me tear up every time. *sniff*
What a worthy sequel to an equally worthy series. If you can’t seem to get enough, I recommend picking up the sister series, Mercy Thompson. A mischievous coyote shifter raised in the Marrok’s werewolf pack that is now mated to an Alpha of another? A woman that constantly challenges men that no one else in their right mind would? Good times.
Notable Scene:
Then he snarled at her. “You are not leaving me.”
It was an order, and she didn’t have to follow anyone’s orders. That was part of being Omega instead of a regular werewolf – who might have had a snowball’s chance in hell of being a proper mate.
“You need someone stronger,” Anna told him again. “So you wouldn’t have to hide when you’re hurt. So you could trust your mate to take care of herself and help, damn it, instead of having to protect me from whatever you are hiding.” She hated crying. Tears were weaknesses that could be exploited and they never solved a damned thing. Sobs gathered in her chest like a rushing tide and she needed to get away from him before she broke.
Instead of fighting his grip, she tried to slide out of it. “I need to go,” she said to his chest. “I need – “
His mouth closed over hers, hot and hungry, warming her mouth as his body warmed her body.
“Me,” Charles said, his voice dark and gravelly as if it had traveled up from the bottom of the earth, his eyes a bright gold. “You need me.”
The Alpha and Omega Series:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game
FTC Advisory: Penguin/Ace Books provided me a copy of Fair Game. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment I received were hugs and kisses from my two little boys.
Quick & Dirty: An intense manhunt for a serial killer. A story about people, or werewolves, who are haunted by their ghosts, sometimes literally.
Opening Sentence: “Go home,” Bran Cornick growled at Anna.
The Review:
At last! The third installment of the Alpha
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and Omega series is here. Oh, how I have longed to find out how Charles and Anna are doing. Well folks, let me tell you that not that much has changed. Charles still is trying to protect Anna from himself; not believing in her enough to trust her not to freak out and leave him. Anna is still haunted, though not as much as before, by the events described in the novella “Alpha and Omega” found in the On the Prowl Anthology. Her abuse still shapes her emotional reactions. Given that…It’s been a few years in the timeline from the last book, Hunting Ground. The wolves are known to the humans now and werewolf rules are strictly enforced. They cannot seem out of control to the humans and no longer allow small transgressions to go without punishment. Charles has been sent on more “enforcer” jobs than ever before, and they are taking a toll on him. Bran, the Marrok and Charles’s father, won’t give Charles a break and Anna is pissed about it. Can no one but Anna see that anymore kills might just break Charles?
A chance arises for Anna to play consultant for the FBI on a serial killer case and Charles goes along to play bodyguard. Their relationship seems to have hit a rough patch and Anna hopes this is an opportunity to reconnect with her husband and mate. She pushes Charles to confide in her throughout the story but he takes his sweet time doing so. She wants him to view her as an equal, and not someone to coddle. Can Charles give Anna what she needs? Can Anna stay strong and not bend to Charles’ will?
Charles is being haunted, literally, by his ghosts. His guilt has allowed the spirits of those he feels he has killed unjustly to follow him around. He worries that these spirits and their doubts will attack Anna through their mate bond and hurt her. He is forced to rely on his inner wolf, aptly named Brother Wolf, for help in controlling the spirits and protecting those around him. Normally, werewolves who let their wolves take over is usually considered a bad idea, but the relationship/bond between Brother Wolf and Charles is anything but. Is it truly a good idea to let the wolf take over in the middle of a manhunt? Is this the only way Charles can take care of business? I think not. In his misguided attempt to protect Anna, he instead alienates her from himself. Oh the tangled webs we weave, Charles. I just want to yell at the book, “Don’t do it, man! You’re gonna lose her that way!” Usually, I only get this worked up with horror movies so in my opinion that means; God Job, Ms. Briggs!!
If Charles and Anna’s relationship woes are not enough for you to go out and read this book, the creepy serial killer should do it. According to the FBI, the man known as the Big Game Hunter, has been on a killing spree since 1975. His latest victims have all been werewolves and the FBI need a little help to catch him. With the help of Anna, and therefore Charles as well, they finally feel like they have a chance to catch this psycho and his possible accomplices. But at every turn, they are foiled. Does that mean there is an insider that’s helping the Big Game Hunter? Which one of their inner circle is a bad guy in disguise?
Interesting new characters of note include Issac Owens, Alpha of the Olde Towne Pack, and Alistair Beauclaire. Issac is rash and impetuous for an Alpha but is a good guy to have around. He tries to do right by his pack and that’s good enough for Charles. Alistair is another fish entirely. His daughter is the latest victim to be taken by the Big Game Hunter and he will do anything to get her back. He has his own secrets, one of which is that he is a powerful fae. Not a bad guy to have on your side when hunting something that can take out werewolves. The alliance of the FBI, fae, and werewolves adds a wonderful dynamic to the book as a whole. I love it when people band together to fight evil; makes me tear up every time. *sniff*
What a worthy sequel to an equally worthy series. If you can’t seem to get enough, I recommend picking up the sister series, Mercy Thompson. A mischievous coyote shifter raised in the Marrok’s werewolf pack that is now mated to an Alpha of another? A woman that constantly challenges men that no one else in their right mind would? Good times.
Notable Scene:
Then he snarled at her. “You are not leaving me.”
It was an order, and she didn’t have to follow anyone’s orders. That was part of being Omega instead of a regular werewolf – who might have had a snowball’s chance in hell of being a proper mate.
“You need someone stronger,” Anna told him again. “So you wouldn’t have to hide when you’re hurt. So you could trust your mate to take care of herself and help, damn it, instead of having to protect me from whatever you are hiding.” She hated crying. Tears were weaknesses that could be exploited and they never solved a damned thing. Sobs gathered in her chest like a rushing tide and she needed to get away from him before she broke.
Instead of fighting his grip, she tried to slide out of it. “I need to go,” she said to his chest. “I need – “
His mouth closed over hers, hot and hungry, warming her mouth as his body warmed her body.
“Me,” Charles said, his voice dark and gravelly as if it had traveled up from the bottom of the earth, his eyes a bright gold. “You need me.”
The Alpha and Omega Series:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game
FTC Advisory: Penguin/Ace Books provided me a copy of Fair Game. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. The only payment I received were hugs and kisses from my two little boys.
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LibraryThing member ReginaR
I freaking loved this book! I loved the mystery, I loved Charles and Anna! I loved the glimpses of Adam and the Mercy Thompson world. Bran was amazing and Briggs gave us a good amount of Bran.
Patricia Briggs has that special something that makes me feel so happy and contented to slip into her world
Fair Game picks up a few years after Hunting Ground and starts right after River Marked. There are references to the resolution of River Marked, readers who have not yet read River Marked and plan to do so, be warned there are spoilers to the ending of River Marked in Fair Game. Based on the timing, Charles and Anna have been together a few years and Anna has been in Montana for awhile. Like any couple, there are issues and Charles and Anna are no exception. Unfortunately, their problems have more to do with Bran and the outside world.
Okay, so what about Charles and Anna? I have a strong preference for urban fantasy and fantasy with creative world building, intricate worlds and rich characters but if you throw in a romance, I will enjoy it. Well, Briggs does more than just throw in a romance, the story of Charles and Anna is not the driving force of these books – the characters, the world and the storyline are – -but Charles and Anna provide the structure and vehicle for telling the story. There would be no story without their relationship. Fans of Charles and Anna will not be disappointed, readers are treated with quite a few very sweet scenes and a few issues the couple has to work through. Maybe I say that too lightly – the issues facing the couple are dark, twisted and well, Briggs came up with a truly unique storyline of what was stressing Charles and Anna. Readers will not be left on a cliff wondering if Charles and Anna can resolve their problems though, Briggs wraps up these issues by the end of the novel.
The ending was fantastic. I loved it. Many writers in this genre put out installment after installment of books that do not push the story arc further or change the game at all. Fair Game is not like that nor is Briggs a writer like that. What Briggs does so well is to continue to develop her world, she doesn’t ever rest on what she has already written – -she pushes her world building and her characters. Readers learn more about the Fae and their crazy world, more about the werewolves — and the characters and the worlds come to a very dramatic ending that leaves off in a way that makes me beyond excited for the next book!
I have two complaints. First, I wish it was longer. Fair Game is a decent length novel, but I wanted more. Briggs definitely did not skimp on storyline or character development, I just am greedy and want more. Second, I fear it will be another 2 years or more until we get the next installment. Mercy Thompson #7 is due out Spring 2013, I guess I will have to be content with re-reading both Mercy and Alpha and hoping for some short stories from Briggs along the way.
Patricia Briggs has that special something that makes me feel so happy and contented to slip into her world
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and read any one of her books. The characters may be scary and the subject matter disturbing, but Briggs writes them in such a rich way that I wish I was there. The supernaturals in Briggs’ world are scary, not just spooky but frightening. They are strong, not entirely in control of their strength and quite a few of her supernaturals operate around a completely different moral compass than humans do. I love this about her books. The vampires are scary, the Fae are an unknown and usually powerful and scream-worthy and the werewolves? They are strong, beautiful, loyal but definitely not human. The Fae are not my favorite characters in Briggs’ books. Some of her past books have dwelt to heavily with Fae characters, in my opinion; Fair Game strikes the perfect balance. There is Fae intrigue but it takes place in the human world and involves human beings, werewolves and sociopaths. The focus of the story never strays from the werewolves and Anna and Charles are front in center.Fair Game picks up a few years after Hunting Ground and starts right after River Marked. There are references to the resolution of River Marked, readers who have not yet read River Marked and plan to do so, be warned there are spoilers to the ending of River Marked in Fair Game. Based on the timing, Charles and Anna have been together a few years and Anna has been in Montana for awhile. Like any couple, there are issues and Charles and Anna are no exception. Unfortunately, their problems have more to do with Bran and the outside world.
Okay, so what about Charles and Anna? I have a strong preference for urban fantasy and fantasy with creative world building, intricate worlds and rich characters but if you throw in a romance, I will enjoy it. Well, Briggs does more than just throw in a romance, the story of Charles and Anna is not the driving force of these books – the characters, the world and the storyline are – -but Charles and Anna provide the structure and vehicle for telling the story. There would be no story without their relationship. Fans of Charles and Anna will not be disappointed, readers are treated with quite a few very sweet scenes and a few issues the couple has to work through. Maybe I say that too lightly – the issues facing the couple are dark, twisted and well, Briggs came up with a truly unique storyline of what was stressing Charles and Anna. Readers will not be left on a cliff wondering if Charles and Anna can resolve their problems though, Briggs wraps up these issues by the end of the novel.
The ending was fantastic. I loved it. Many writers in this genre put out installment after installment of books that do not push the story arc further or change the game at all. Fair Game is not like that nor is Briggs a writer like that. What Briggs does so well is to continue to develop her world, she doesn’t ever rest on what she has already written – -she pushes her world building and her characters. Readers learn more about the Fae and their crazy world, more about the werewolves — and the characters and the worlds come to a very dramatic ending that leaves off in a way that makes me beyond excited for the next book!
I have two complaints. First, I wish it was longer. Fair Game is a decent length novel, but I wanted more. Briggs definitely did not skimp on storyline or character development, I just am greedy and want more. Second, I fear it will be another 2 years or more until we get the next installment. Mercy Thompson #7 is due out Spring 2013, I guess I will have to be content with re-reading both Mercy and Alpha and hoping for some short stories from Briggs along the way.
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LibraryThing member Radella
I'm a bit addicted to the world that Patricia Briggs has created. I just can't seem to put the books down!
There are many new characters to introduce, and some of them are mundane humans (gasp!) Yet it manages to fit neatly into the rest of world she has created.
Charles isn't in a very happy place,
I liked how Charles and Anna have grown and changed. It makes them seem more real, that they have to face their problems, and not everything is sunshine and roses. Their love for each other is still consistent and strong, but they aren't instantly "fixed" by it... refreshing, because that doesn't seem to happen a lot in this sort of literature. I also liked the bit players, it was almost like many of them are also quite real, more developed than the quick glimpse you see in this story. And the ending. Dear gods, THE ENDING!!! I loved the ending. It neatly resolves the story, but turned into a complete surprise. I didn't see it coming, and it makes me really, REALLY curious as to what the future holds. I tend to read the ending of a story first, but for whatever reason, I didn't.
Minor quibbles... It was fairly obvious to me who the bad guy was going to be. I pegged him for the guilty party almost immediately. I was sort of hoping it would be a red herring, and it was a little disappointing that it was so obvious to me. I also feel like in all of the books set in this world, someone is kidnapped. While it is important to the storyline and shows the bad guys being bad guys while the heroes embrace their inner strength, I've come to expect it, which lessens the suspense and makes it feel a bit tired.
But, hey... The spectacular ending more than made up for those minor quibbles.
There are many new characters to introduce, and some of them are mundane humans (gasp!) Yet it manages to fit neatly into the rest of world she has created.
Charles isn't in a very happy place,
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haunted by what he has done to protect the werewolves secrets.... and a miserable Charles makes for a miserable Anna. Hoping they can fix their problems before more drastic measures nee to be taken, Bran sends them off to Boston, to aid the FBI and various other government agencies in tracking down a serial killer. This isn't just your ordinary serial killer, though. This one takes out fey and werewolves with little trouble. I liked how Charles and Anna have grown and changed. It makes them seem more real, that they have to face their problems, and not everything is sunshine and roses. Their love for each other is still consistent and strong, but they aren't instantly "fixed" by it... refreshing, because that doesn't seem to happen a lot in this sort of literature. I also liked the bit players, it was almost like many of them are also quite real, more developed than the quick glimpse you see in this story. And the ending. Dear gods, THE ENDING!!! I loved the ending. It neatly resolves the story, but turned into a complete surprise. I didn't see it coming, and it makes me really, REALLY curious as to what the future holds. I tend to read the ending of a story first, but for whatever reason, I didn't.
Minor quibbles... It was fairly obvious to me who the bad guy was going to be. I pegged him for the guilty party almost immediately. I was sort of hoping it would be a red herring, and it was a little disappointing that it was so obvious to me. I also feel like in all of the books set in this world, someone is kidnapped. While it is important to the storyline and shows the bad guys being bad guys while the heroes embrace their inner strength, I've come to expect it, which lessens the suspense and makes it feel a bit tired.
But, hey... The spectacular ending more than made up for those minor quibbles.
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LibraryThing member rhonda1111
Love it. Another great entertaining book.
I had read some reviews that had made me wonder. I cant wait for the next book.
Anna is making Bran angry. She won't give up and go like he tells her. than she goes to Asil he tells her to grow up and accept charles as a killer. but her parting last words
Asil gets through to Bran but does not know the way out either.
Charles gets told to go help the FBI but that Anna was the one out in front.
Their is a serial killer that has been killing for decades and last 3 where werewolfs. So Anna meets with 6 goverment agents and tells a little about them. Anna & Charles get more involved and a Fae and fbi all work together to stop them. Others do not want to work with them.
Anne and Charles work on their relationship but need more time. Charles will do anything so he won't loose Anna.
I had read some reviews that had made me wonder. I cant wait for the next book.
Anna is making Bran angry. She won't give up and go like he tells her. than she goes to Asil he tells her to grow up and accept charles as a killer. but her parting last words
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convince him.Asil gets through to Bran but does not know the way out either.
Charles gets told to go help the FBI but that Anna was the one out in front.
Their is a serial killer that has been killing for decades and last 3 where werewolfs. So Anna meets with 6 goverment agents and tells a little about them. Anna & Charles get more involved and a Fae and fbi all work together to stop them. Others do not want to work with them.
Anne and Charles work on their relationship but need more time. Charles will do anything so he won't loose Anna.
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LibraryThing member AnnieMod
The wolves revealed themselves to the world and now the mistakes and errors cannot be hidden. So the bogeyman of the Marrok need to kill more and more wolves - a lot of which would have been left alive before the changes. The problem of course is the bogeyman - because Charles is everything but. He
This is how the novel opens - with Anna shouting at Bran and demanding that he stops all that. Of course it cannot happen and it will take Asil, a remark which Anna makes almost in passing and an old book to get everyone back in thinking about the real situation. But at the end Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to assist with a serial murder investigation. And things start unravel -- black witches, fae, ghosts, FBI, new agencies and the local pack (with an Alpha that is way too young and seem careless... until it turns out that he is a lot more like Bran than anyone believed him to be). Gradually we learn what had happened and how Anna and Charles had grown almost apart (and through half the book I wanted to snap at him and tell him to stop behaving as a knight and just behave as a man). Somewhere in the middle of the whole murders' investigation, our wolves manage to break the wall between them and Charles finally figures out what everyone else had been knowing for a while (at least the readers) - his behavior was damaging their marriage a lot more than anything else that had been done. The scene on the island was sweet and reminded me of the earlier books - this one is a lot darker but these moments held the sweetness of the romance between the two wolves.
Of course Anna will get in trouble and he will decide to go save her, of course Charles will get mad when he cannot help. The killer will be found of course and brought to justice. Except... is this justice enough? The topic of justice is central to the book and will lead to the end of the book. And it is everyone's idea of justice that drives the story.
The book also contains a lot of nods to the previous books - Anna's comment for him to think of England for example. or Charles thinking himself as justice - these were Anna's words for him, when they were not even married yet. Small moments that make you smile and remember the previous books.
The end changed everything - for the world, for the wolves and for both series that are centered on the Marrok's world. And I cannot wait to see what happens next - in both series.
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goes out and kills but he does not feel that he is justified in doing it anymore - and it wears him down. And he tries to protect Anna - which makes things even worse. And Anna does not like it one bit. This is how the novel opens - with Anna shouting at Bran and demanding that he stops all that. Of course it cannot happen and it will take Asil, a remark which Anna makes almost in passing and an old book to get everyone back in thinking about the real situation. But at the end Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to assist with a serial murder investigation. And things start unravel -- black witches, fae, ghosts, FBI, new agencies and the local pack (with an Alpha that is way too young and seem careless... until it turns out that he is a lot more like Bran than anyone believed him to be). Gradually we learn what had happened and how Anna and Charles had grown almost apart (and through half the book I wanted to snap at him and tell him to stop behaving as a knight and just behave as a man). Somewhere in the middle of the whole murders' investigation, our wolves manage to break the wall between them and Charles finally figures out what everyone else had been knowing for a while (at least the readers) - his behavior was damaging their marriage a lot more than anything else that had been done. The scene on the island was sweet and reminded me of the earlier books - this one is a lot darker but these moments held the sweetness of the romance between the two wolves.
Of course Anna will get in trouble and he will decide to go save her, of course Charles will get mad when he cannot help. The killer will be found of course and brought to justice. Except... is this justice enough? The topic of justice is central to the book and will lead to the end of the book. And it is everyone's idea of justice that drives the story.
The book also contains a lot of nods to the previous books - Anna's comment for him to think of England for example. or Charles thinking himself as justice - these were Anna's words for him, when they were not even married yet. Small moments that make you smile and remember the previous books.
The end changed everything - for the world, for the wolves and for both series that are centered on the Marrok's world. And I cannot wait to see what happens next - in both series.
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LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
There is a special excitement that comes around every time Patricia Briggs publishes a new book whether in her genre defining Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series, or more recently in her more romantic spin-off series, Alpha and Omega. Briggs is a master
It’s taken me a bit of time to warm up to Anna and Charles and not begrudge them for taking the place of a new Mercy book, but after FAIR GAME, this series has really distinguished itself—in a good way—from Mercy. While characters and certain large scale events do overlap between the two series, the Alpha and Omega series is really a paranormal procedural, and a good one at that. In FAIR GAME, by far my favorite installment to date, Anna and Charles join forces with the FBI to help track down a supernatural serial killer. The investigation is intelligent, and the hunt and mystery of the killer is both scary and gripping. Readers looking for a greater focus on the werewolf pack may be disappointed, but I actually preferred the subtle shift away from pack politics.
My only real gripe with FAIR GAME is that it feels like the relationship with Anna and Charles is stuck on repeat. They don’t seem to grow as a couple, and any progress they may make in one book doesn’t carry over into the next. Anna is still relying on her wolf to allow intimacy with her husband, Charles is still shutting down their bond in order to protect Anna from his problems…The serial killer plot and an epically powerful ending that’s going to affect the Mercy Thompson series just as much as this one, was strong enough to mostly compensate for this romantic shortcoming, but I’ll be hoping for some serious developments between these two in the next book. There is no info yet about the next Alpha and Omega book, but based on the previous publishing schedule which alternates one Mercy book with one A&O book each year, we can expect it sometime in 2014.
Sexual Content:
A couple brief sex scenes. References to rape, sodomy, molestation & torture
There is a special excitement that comes around every time Patricia Briggs publishes a new book whether in her genre defining Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series, or more recently in her more romantic spin-off series, Alpha and Omega. Briggs is a master
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storyteller and her deft handling of mythology makes even the most fantastical supernatural worlds feel not just plausible, but every bit as real as our own.It’s taken me a bit of time to warm up to Anna and Charles and not begrudge them for taking the place of a new Mercy book, but after FAIR GAME, this series has really distinguished itself—in a good way—from Mercy. While characters and certain large scale events do overlap between the two series, the Alpha and Omega series is really a paranormal procedural, and a good one at that. In FAIR GAME, by far my favorite installment to date, Anna and Charles join forces with the FBI to help track down a supernatural serial killer. The investigation is intelligent, and the hunt and mystery of the killer is both scary and gripping. Readers looking for a greater focus on the werewolf pack may be disappointed, but I actually preferred the subtle shift away from pack politics.
My only real gripe with FAIR GAME is that it feels like the relationship with Anna and Charles is stuck on repeat. They don’t seem to grow as a couple, and any progress they may make in one book doesn’t carry over into the next. Anna is still relying on her wolf to allow intimacy with her husband, Charles is still shutting down their bond in order to protect Anna from his problems…The serial killer plot and an epically powerful ending that’s going to affect the Mercy Thompson series just as much as this one, was strong enough to mostly compensate for this romantic shortcoming, but I’ll be hoping for some serious developments between these two in the next book. There is no info yet about the next Alpha and Omega book, but based on the previous publishing schedule which alternates one Mercy book with one A&O book each year, we can expect it sometime in 2014.
Sexual Content:
A couple brief sex scenes. References to rape, sodomy, molestation & torture
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LibraryThing member Cats57
Fair Game (Alpha And Omega) by Patricia Briggs
I knew that Patricia would ultimately find a way to take both of her series and bring the time-lines together. This is great and I think that it is going to make both of these series much more interesting. Especially if each couple can ‘invade
Anna and Charles need to make a trip to Boston to help the FBI with a serial murderer that has taken out a few werewolves as well as many Fae. Anna is a great choice to send (along with Charles) for this job since she is much better at PR than anyone else is. Moreover, why wouldn’t she be? Her Omega-ness will calm almost anyone and have them eating out of her hand, so it stands to reason that she will be great at PR.
Now Charles is having a problem that he (naturally) has not discussed yet with Anna. It has to do with the ghosts of the last wolves he has had to ‘discipline’ and what it is doing to him mentally AND physically. It is not good. Charles guilt has the ghost feeding off him almost like vampires and this will hinder him at critical times.
It is great to see that Charles is able to use his Brother Wolf when Charles feels he can no longer handle things.
.
The story moves at what I think is a perfect pace, and allowed for the perfect amount of time to deal with everything on Anna and Charles’s plate . Yet, I have to agree with one of the other fans…why wasn’t this book longer?
Patricia has allowed Anna growth in very few books, and that is almost unparalleled with any other author and she has allowed us in this novel, to see Charles being vulnerable. This was an amazingly emotional novel as far as Anna and Charles goes, but it does have its usual humorous bits, informative bits and even occasional snarky bits.
I knew that Patricia would ultimately find a way to take both of her series and bring the time-lines together. This is great and I think that it is going to make both of these series much more interesting. Especially if each couple can ‘invade
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territories’ occasional! Anna and Charles need to make a trip to Boston to help the FBI with a serial murderer that has taken out a few werewolves as well as many Fae. Anna is a great choice to send (along with Charles) for this job since she is much better at PR than anyone else is. Moreover, why wouldn’t she be? Her Omega-ness will calm almost anyone and have them eating out of her hand, so it stands to reason that she will be great at PR.
Now Charles is having a problem that he (naturally) has not discussed yet with Anna. It has to do with the ghosts of the last wolves he has had to ‘discipline’ and what it is doing to him mentally AND physically. It is not good. Charles guilt has the ghost feeding off him almost like vampires and this will hinder him at critical times.
It is great to see that Charles is able to use his Brother Wolf when Charles feels he can no longer handle things.
.
The story moves at what I think is a perfect pace, and allowed for the perfect amount of time to deal with everything on Anna and Charles’s plate . Yet, I have to agree with one of the other fans…why wasn’t this book longer?
Patricia has allowed Anna growth in very few books, and that is almost unparalleled with any other author and she has allowed us in this novel, to see Charles being vulnerable. This was an amazingly emotional novel as far as Anna and Charles goes, but it does have its usual humorous bits, informative bits and even occasional snarky bits.
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LibraryThing member hailelib
About a year after some of the werewolves have 'come out' to the public, Charles has become worn down with the harsh disciple he must mete out to those who are endangering the other wolves by their uncontrolled behavior. Anna is very worried and at last gets Bran to consider than perhaps Charles
Thus Charles and Anna find themselves in Boston as consultants to the FBI agents who are tracking a serial killer. It turns out that the killer is targeting fae and werewolves primarily. I figured out the killer before they did but the story was kept interesting by Charles' difficulties and by Anna's attempts to help him. There was also the relationships between the various Feds and the supernaturals and, at the end, the general public. Will all the effort that Bran and his Alphas have expended trying to generate good public relations be for naught? I will be eagerly awaiting Ms. Briggs next installment in her world of the Marrok to find out what happens next.
The Alpha and Omega series is a good companion series to the Mercy Thompson series and both are recommended for readers of urban fantasy.
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should be given fewer or at least different assignments as his Enforcer.Thus Charles and Anna find themselves in Boston as consultants to the FBI agents who are tracking a serial killer. It turns out that the killer is targeting fae and werewolves primarily. I figured out the killer before they did but the story was kept interesting by Charles' difficulties and by Anna's attempts to help him. There was also the relationships between the various Feds and the supernaturals and, at the end, the general public. Will all the effort that Bran and his Alphas have expended trying to generate good public relations be for naught? I will be eagerly awaiting Ms. Briggs next installment in her world of the Marrok to find out what happens next.
The Alpha and Omega series is a good companion series to the Mercy Thompson series and both are recommended for readers of urban fantasy.
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LibraryThing member susiesharp
From the first chapter of this book we see Anna has grown much stronger since we last saw her and is all about standing up for her mate! We also see a little softer side of Bran but not near enough of him (IMHO)! Also we get a little glimpse of what poor Adam is going through nursing Mercy through
I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed this whole series, we see Charles struggling with his job as Bran’s enforcer and Anna trying everything in her power to help him through it including going to Bran and Asil (who I just loved in this book!).
I don’t want to give too much away so this review will be short because there is a lot going on and the repercussions of what happens in this book, I believe, are going to affect the next Mercy book and probably go into the next Charles & Anna book too. I am also hoping because of the set-up to this story arc we will see a lot of Bran in the next Mercy book and possibly even Charles and Anna, since what happens will affect everyone in some way. Ok that is all I will say on that front!
As always Patricia Briggs brings the characters to life so well that you can’t help but love them and a new character from this book I think will play a part in the next Mercy book too and I look forward to seeing more of him! I loved, loved, loved Brother Wolf in this one he was definitely my favorite character in this installment! This is a great series that you want to read in order and you will be glad you did!
4 ½ Stars
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her injuries from the end of River Marked.I enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed this whole series, we see Charles struggling with his job as Bran’s enforcer and Anna trying everything in her power to help him through it including going to Bran and Asil (who I just loved in this book!).
I don’t want to give too much away so this review will be short because there is a lot going on and the repercussions of what happens in this book, I believe, are going to affect the next Mercy book and probably go into the next Charles & Anna book too. I am also hoping because of the set-up to this story arc we will see a lot of Bran in the next Mercy book and possibly even Charles and Anna, since what happens will affect everyone in some way. Ok that is all I will say on that front!
As always Patricia Briggs brings the characters to life so well that you can’t help but love them and a new character from this book I think will play a part in the next Mercy book too and I look forward to seeing more of him! I loved, loved, loved Brother Wolf in this one he was definitely my favorite character in this installment! This is a great series that you want to read in order and you will be glad you did!
4 ½ Stars
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LibraryThing member omnia_mutantur
Patricia Briggs never disappoints me.
LibraryThing member STACYatUFI
I absolutely love Patricia's Mercy Thompson series. I knew Patricia had another series in the Mercy world but had never picked them up to read them. That is until her publicist sent me a copy of FAIR GAME book 3 in the Alpha and Omega series. I went back and read the previous books and instantly
The best thing about the series to me is Anna and Charles relationship. They definitely have things to work out between them, but they have a really strong connection and I really love there romance and devotion to each other when either doesn't let his ghosts get in the way. They fit perfectly together and complement each other. I enjoyed the interaction between the wolves and the humans as they worked side by side to try and find the killers. I had absolutely no clue who the villain was and I loved every minute of getting to the point in finding out.
The emotion that Patricia is able to bring forth is excellent. One minute I'm happy as can be while something good is happening, or my heart is pounding with the situation trying to figure out what will happen and then the next I'm bawling my eyes out sad right along with the character. It is beyond easy to get lost in the emotions of the story. With all that Anna has been through its tough seeing her yet again become the victim of a psychopath but she continues to come out of these situations stronger then she went in.
You really should pick up the books in this series, I'm really glad I got a copy of FAIR GAME in the mail to review. The Alpha and Omega series has become a must have on my book shelf.
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became attached to both Anna and Charles. In book 3 the mated pair travel to Boston to consult with the FBI about a serial killer case they are working on which once again doesn't go as smoothly as they would have liked.The best thing about the series to me is Anna and Charles relationship. They definitely have things to work out between them, but they have a really strong connection and I really love there romance and devotion to each other when either doesn't let his ghosts get in the way. They fit perfectly together and complement each other. I enjoyed the interaction between the wolves and the humans as they worked side by side to try and find the killers. I had absolutely no clue who the villain was and I loved every minute of getting to the point in finding out.
The emotion that Patricia is able to bring forth is excellent. One minute I'm happy as can be while something good is happening, or my heart is pounding with the situation trying to figure out what will happen and then the next I'm bawling my eyes out sad right along with the character. It is beyond easy to get lost in the emotions of the story. With all that Anna has been through its tough seeing her yet again become the victim of a psychopath but she continues to come out of these situations stronger then she went in.
You really should pick up the books in this series, I'm really glad I got a copy of FAIR GAME in the mail to review. The Alpha and Omega series has become a must have on my book shelf.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Charles is the son of the Marrok, or head of all the werewolves in North America. He also serves as his father’s enforcer, meting out justice [a.k.a. death] to werewolves who are threatening the good of all by doing politically incorrect things, like eating humans. Since the werewolves “came
The Marrok thinks it might help if Charles goes with Anna to Boston, to help solve a crime involving a serial killer who is targeting werewolves and fae in addition to humans. In Boston, the two work as consultants for the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and a new organization, Cantrip – the Combined Nonhuman and Transhuman Relations Provisors. The investigation heats up when Lizzie, the daughter of the important fae Alistair Beauclaire, goes missing – presumably the next victim of the killer they seek. As they all struggle to find out who and where the serial killer has taken Lizzie, their own lives become endangered as well. And worse, Anna and Charles are not communicating through their mate-bond, which not only impacts their relationship but inhibits the investigation. The fact that one can be fairly confident how the story will end does not diminish the page-turning suspense of the denouement.
Good things:
I love how the paranormals make fun of one another qua paranormals. For example, Isaac, the hip and streetwise alpha wolf of the Boston pack, calls Alistair Beauclaire Lord of the Elves. He is full of admiration for and even trepidation of Charles, but this doesn’t stop him from making jokes about him as well.
I love how the Marrok, the most fearsome leader of all the werewolves in North America, makes breakfast pancakes in the shape of deer for his son and his son’s wife.
I love how Charles, uniquely among the werewolves, has a self that is separate from his “brother” wolf, and the two communicate with each other, sometimes even disagreeing with one another.
And I love the relationship between Anna and Charles – at least when it’s working! In this installment of the series, there’s a great love/sex scene in the woods while they are tracking the serial killer, but otherwise, romance unfortunately takes a back seat to politics and crime solving. (As you may know, according to "Entertainment Weekly," a “shipper” is “a fan who’s deeply invested in the romance-or the possibility of romance – between two characters.” Well, you might call me a were-shipper of sorts, so obviously my favorite aspects of this series are the sequences when Anna and Charles are bonding, physically or otherwise.)
Evaluation: This is a fun series that fans of Charlaine Harris and Kelley Armstrong would have no problem coming to love. You could read this without reading the previous books in the series, but why would you want to? :--)
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out” to humans and the Marrok imposed stricter rules on their behavior, there has been too much killing for Charles to do. Charles feels overrun by the ghosts of those he has dispatched, and fears that they will make their way through his mate-bond to his beloved Anna, and threaten her sanity as well. Therefore he virtually cuts her off, to protect her: no soul-to-soul communication, no sex, no cuddling, no nothing. Anna is not happy.The Marrok thinks it might help if Charles goes with Anna to Boston, to help solve a crime involving a serial killer who is targeting werewolves and fae in addition to humans. In Boston, the two work as consultants for the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and a new organization, Cantrip – the Combined Nonhuman and Transhuman Relations Provisors. The investigation heats up when Lizzie, the daughter of the important fae Alistair Beauclaire, goes missing – presumably the next victim of the killer they seek. As they all struggle to find out who and where the serial killer has taken Lizzie, their own lives become endangered as well. And worse, Anna and Charles are not communicating through their mate-bond, which not only impacts their relationship but inhibits the investigation. The fact that one can be fairly confident how the story will end does not diminish the page-turning suspense of the denouement.
Good things:
I love how the paranormals make fun of one another qua paranormals. For example, Isaac, the hip and streetwise alpha wolf of the Boston pack, calls Alistair Beauclaire Lord of the Elves. He is full of admiration for and even trepidation of Charles, but this doesn’t stop him from making jokes about him as well.
I love how the Marrok, the most fearsome leader of all the werewolves in North America, makes breakfast pancakes in the shape of deer for his son and his son’s wife.
I love how Charles, uniquely among the werewolves, has a self that is separate from his “brother” wolf, and the two communicate with each other, sometimes even disagreeing with one another.
And I love the relationship between Anna and Charles – at least when it’s working! In this installment of the series, there’s a great love/sex scene in the woods while they are tracking the serial killer, but otherwise, romance unfortunately takes a back seat to politics and crime solving. (As you may know, according to "Entertainment Weekly," a “shipper” is “a fan who’s deeply invested in the romance-or the possibility of romance – between two characters.” Well, you might call me a were-shipper of sorts, so obviously my favorite aspects of this series are the sequences when Anna and Charles are bonding, physically or otherwise.)
Evaluation: This is a fun series that fans of Charlaine Harris and Kelley Armstrong would have no problem coming to love. You could read this without reading the previous books in the series, but why would you want to? :--)
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LibraryThing member cranberrytarts
Can I just say, I did NOT see that twist at the end coming. Whoa. I'm so anxious for the next book to find out what happens next!
Anna and Charles are still learning each other. I like that the going is slow, but I'm a little surprised they aren't doing better with each other since they've now been
I really like the world Briggs has created. We saw more of it in this novel, since the conflict is away from the pack.
Another strong entry in the series. I couldn't put it down.
Anna and Charles are still learning each other. I like that the going is slow, but I'm a little surprised they aren't doing better with each other since they've now been
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together two years. I really like the world Briggs has created. We saw more of it in this novel, since the conflict is away from the pack.
Another strong entry in the series. I couldn't put it down.
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LibraryThing member jadestar31
This was a solid addition to the Alpha and Omega series. I’ve always loved the dynamic between Charles and Anna and this novel really stays true to their relationship. They’re tested in this book more than they were in other books. Charles is pulling away in his misguided attempt to protect
Another fine book from Patricia Briggs and I look forward to reading more from her.
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Anna, but in the end, they come out with a stronger relationship. Hunting a serial killer together brings a couple together…who knew?Another fine book from Patricia Briggs and I look forward to reading more from her.
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LibraryThing member Shaiha
Wow! I have been a fan of Patricia Briggs since her very first book and I do have to say that FAIR GAME has to be her best book yet. And with such a stunning ending, I am already impatient for the next book in this series.
I think what really made this book so spectacular to me was the characters.
There were also some characters introduced that I wouldn't mind seeing in other books such as Lucas, the Boston Alpha, and the FBI agent Leslie Fisher who should be appointed to work with the werewolves as needed. There was also an interesting fae character that you will learn more of when you read the book.
This book blew me away enough that even though I do run across one glaring content error I would still have to say that it is the best book I have read in 2012.
I rate this book a 5.
**I borrowed this book from the public library.
I think what really made this book so spectacular to me was the characters.
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Charles is usually the tough guy but he was really dealing with a lot of issues in this book. One that could have severe consequences on his relationship with Anna. Seeing him so vulnerable (at least in his thoughts) really was an eye opener about this strong man. And Anna is a character that I have always loved from the get-go.There were also some characters introduced that I wouldn't mind seeing in other books such as Lucas, the Boston Alpha, and the FBI agent Leslie Fisher who should be appointed to work with the werewolves as needed. There was also an interesting fae character that you will learn more of when you read the book.
This book blew me away enough that even though I do run across one glaring content error I would still have to say that it is the best book I have read in 2012.
I rate this book a 5.
**I borrowed this book from the public library.
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LibraryThing member Kaetrin
Why I read it: I'm a fan of this series.What it's about: (from Goodreads) They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has
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the rare ability to calm others of her kind.Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...What worked for me (and what didn't): Well, first off, the blurb is wrong - not all of the victims were werewolves, some were humans and some were fae/half-fae. The rest is okay though. :)Starting around the time River Marked (Mercy Thompson book 6) finishes this is a clever, tightly plotted story, where the romance aspects between Charles and Anna are neatly interwoven between the investigating-the-serial-killer part. I'd say that the romance aspect wasn't quite as much to the forefront as has been the case in other books, but it was definitely there and the rest of the story was so absorbing anyway that it was engrossing right from the start. I kept finding excuses to listen to it - more housework, more cooking, taking the long way home! :)I did manage to pick the identity of the bad guy about 2/3-3/4 of the way through which I was quite pleased about - the clues are there but I don't think the reader is hit over the head with them and while I thought I knew who it was, I wasn't 100% until the big reveal. It was just as possible those "clues" were red herrings to throw me off the scent. Patricia Briggs is tricky like that.I enjoy the world Ms. Briggs has created, where fae and werewolf are monsters but where they can also be kind, generous and loving. But, they are always monsters. Charles is a werewolf with extraordinary control for the most part, but he is a dominant wolf and he is super protective of Anna (without smothering her) and he can be, he is a monster. I like that the author doesn't shy away from it, while at the same time making the characters sympathetic. Brother Wolf, Charles' wolf half features more strongly in this story and that was fun as well, although there isn't much of Anna's wolf at all.I haven't listened to Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground in a little while, but I remembered there being a change in how Holter Graham performed Charles' voice from book 1 to book 2. I preferred the first version, but I understand there is some debate amongst fans about which was better. In this book, if my auditory memory is correct, the voice he uses for Charles is closer to that used in book 1 than book 2 while not being exactly the same, and I found it a good balance. (The only downside was that there was a similarity to that voice and the voice used for one of the bad guys and that was a bit disconcerting).There were a couple of niggles for me. First, I don't think it's a spoiler that Charles, Anna and the FBI led team catch the killer. There is a trial and I am unsure as to the reality of the trial and its process. It certainly served the story but was it realistic? I'm not sure. Maybe, but I had questions about it that were not answered in the story. I'm being intentionally vague here because to do more would be spoiler-y and I don't want to ruin it for anyone.The other thing is that my memory of the earlier books is that Charles was able to Change much faster than other wolves due to his Shaman heritage; unless there were repeated changes in a short time or he was wounded. It seemed to me in this book that his Changes were more akin to those of a normal werewolf, except that it remained that he was able to use his magic to clothe himself when he reverted to human. It's not a big deal, but I did notice there seemed to be a difference. Did anyone else notice this? Am I remembering wrong? (ETA: No, I re-read and Charles can Change much more quickly than other wolves, or at least he could back then.) I think I'll have to re-read Alpha & Omega (no hardship!) to refresh my memory of how Charles was in the beginning (actually, I was planning on doing it anyway) - oh, how I wish that Alpha & Omega were available on audio! ... moving on.I would also have liked to hear the conversation between Anna and Charles about his ghosts which they never quite got to have. But, these are small things in the bigger picture. Overall, this is an excellent book. It also sets up some exciting changes for the future of both this and the Mercy Thompson series which will shake things up and mean that fans will be champing at the bit for the next book. Such is the lot of a great author - fans are satisfied for so short a time!What else? Holter Graham is an excellent narrator. He doesn't do female voices like a bad drag act - he softens his tone and lightens his pitch a little but it is a voice which could be used for a male or female - he lets the context of the story provide the "missing links" so the correct gender/age of the character is placed gently in your brain. He does accents quite well too - I'm not super familiar with the Boston accent but from what I do know, the accent he used was pretty accurate. The character differentiation Mr. Graham uses is excellent and it was, with only rare exception, easy to understand who was talking in a fairly large cast of characters. I think the experience of this series on audio enhances the enjoyment of it and I recommend this series to any who'd like to give audio a try. However, the series does have to be read in order to truly appreciate it (and this book is actually one where I feel that having read the Mercy Thompson books helps too, as Adam plays a part, but I think you can get by without) and the start of the story is the novella Alpha & Omega. As mentioned above, sadly the novella is not available (yet?!) on audio but it is available as a stand alone e-novella or as part of the On the Prowl anthology in paperback. Grade: A- Show Less
LibraryThing member Kaetrin
Why I read it: I'm a fan of this series.What it's about: (from Goodreads) They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has
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the rare ability to calm others of her kind.Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...What worked for me (and what didn't): Well, first off, the blurb is wrong - not all of the victims were werewolves, some were humans and some were fae/half-fae. The rest is okay though. :)Starting around the time River Marked (Mercy Thompson book 6) finishes this is a clever, tightly plotted story, where the romance aspects between Charles and Anna are neatly interwoven between the investigating-the-serial-killer part. I'd say that the romance aspect wasn't quite as much to the forefront as has been the case in other books, but it was definitely there and the rest of the story was so absorbing anyway that it was engrossing right from the start. I kept finding excuses to listen to it - more housework, more cooking, taking the long way home! :)I did manage to pick the identity of the bad guy about 2/3-3/4 of the way through which I was quite pleased about - the clues are there but I don't think the reader is hit over the head with them and while I thought I knew who it was, I wasn't 100% until the big reveal. It was just as possible those "clues" were red herrings to throw me off the scent. Patricia Briggs is tricky like that.I enjoy the world Ms. Briggs has created, where fae and werewolf are monsters but where they can also be kind, generous and loving. But, they are always monsters. Charles is a werewolf with extraordinary control for the most part, but he is a dominant wolf and he is super protective of Anna (without smothering her) and he can be, he is a monster. I like that the author doesn't shy away from it, while at the same time making the characters sympathetic. Brother Wolf, Charles' wolf half features more strongly in this story and that was fun as well, although there isn't much of Anna's wolf at all.I haven't listened to Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground in a little while, but I remembered there being a change in how Holter Graham performed Charles' voice from book 1 to book 2. I preferred the first version, but I understand there is some debate amongst fans about which was better. In this book, if my auditory memory is correct, the voice he uses for Charles is closer to that used in book 1 than book 2 while not being exactly the same, and I found it a good balance. (The only downside was that there was a similarity to that voice and the voice used for one of the bad guys and that was a bit disconcerting).There were a couple of niggles for me. First, I don't think it's a spoiler that Charles, Anna and the FBI led team catch the killer. There is a trial and I am unsure as to the reality of the trial and its process. It certainly served the story but was it realistic? I'm not sure. Maybe, but I had questions about it that were not answered in the story. I'm being intentionally vague here because to do more would be spoiler-y and I don't want to ruin it for anyone.The other thing is that my memory of the earlier books is that Charles was able to Change much faster than other wolves due to his Shaman heritage; unless there were repeated changes in a short time or he was wounded. It seemed to me in this book that his Changes were more akin to those of a normal werewolf, except that it remained that he was able to use his magic to clothe himself when he reverted to human. It's not a big deal, but I did notice there seemed to be a difference. Did anyone else notice this? Am I remembering wrong? (ETA: No, I re-read and Charles can Change much more quickly than other wolves, or at least he could back then.) I think I'll have to re-read Alpha & Omega (no hardship!) to refresh my memory of how Charles was in the beginning (actually, I was planning on doing it anyway) - oh, how I wish that Alpha & Omega were available on audio! ... moving on.I would also have liked to hear the conversation between Anna and Charles about his ghosts which they never quite got to have. But, these are small things in the bigger picture. Overall, this is an excellent book. It also sets up some exciting changes for the future of both this and the Mercy Thompson series which will shake things up and mean that fans will be champing at the bit for the next book. Such is the lot of a great author - fans are satisfied for so short a time!What else? Holter Graham is an excellent narrator. He doesn't do female voices like a bad drag act - he softens his tone and lightens his pitch a little but it is a voice which could be used for a male or female - he lets the context of the story provide the "missing links" so the correct gender/age of the character is placed gently in your brain. He does accents quite well too - I'm not super familiar with the Boston accent but from what I do know, the accent he used was pretty accurate. The character differentiation Mr. Graham uses is excellent and it was, with only rare exception, easy to understand who was talking in a fairly large cast of characters. I think the experience of this series on audio enhances the enjoyment of it and I recommend this series to any who'd like to give audio a try. However, the series does have to be read in order to truly appreciate it (and this book is actually one where I feel that having read the Mercy Thompson books helps too, as Adam plays a part, but I think you can get by without) and the start of the story is the novella Alpha & Omega. As mentioned above, sadly the novella is not available (yet?!) on audio but it is available as a stand alone e-novella or as part of the On the Prowl anthology in paperback. Grade: A- Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Good book. I'm clearly going to have to get back to reading Mercy - this is a universe I want to see all of. I prefer Alpha and Omega - and this book is an excellent example - but if Patricia is going to integrate the stories like this, I need to know the whole story. There are events, which must
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have been depicted in Mercy's stories, that lay the groundwork for this story - for Charles' employment as executioner, and the effects he suffers from that. Then as distraction, he and Anna - or Anna and he - get sent off to help the FBI (and other agencies) deal with a serial killer who is apparently targeting werewolves. Turns out that's not all his targets, he's also hitting fae and witches and all the peoples that have "come out" recently. The mystery is beautifully seeded - I knew who it was with one clue, all the rest snapped into place, especially the livestock tags. Several climaxes - a rescue, a kidnapping, another rescue of sorts - then the end of the story, with _major_ consequences for this universe. I'm trying not to spoil it, which is hard! Yeah. So I need to catch up on the Mercy books (I've only read the first two or three), then I think I want to reread the Alpha and Omega ones, including the short story that started it. I give up, I like Patricia Briggs' urban fantasy too (though I still think her high fantasy was better! Or as good, at least). Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2012-03-06
Physical description
293 p.; 9.06 inches
ISBN
0441020038 / 9780441020034
Local notes
The FBI in Boston requests the pack's help to solve a serial-killer case. Charles and Anna soon learn that the two most recent victims were werewolves and others, originally thought human, fae. They find themselves in the sights of a killer targeting the preternatural.