Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Ace (2021), 336 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML:Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham must discover what could make an entire community disappear�??before it's too late�??in this thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Alpha and Omega series. In the wilds of the Northern California mountains, all the inhabitants of a small town have gone missing. It's as if the people picked up and left their possessions behind. With a mystery on their hands and no jurisdiction on private property, the FBI dumps the whole problem in the lap of the land owner, Aspen Creek, Inc.�??aka the business organization of the Marrok's pack. Somehow, the pack of the Wolf Who Rules is connected to a group of vanished people. Werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham are tasked with investigating, and soon find that a deserted town is the least of the challenges they face. Death sings in the forest, and when it calls, Charles and Anna must answer. Something has awakened in the heart of the California mountains, something old and dangerous�??and it has met werewo… (more)
Media reviews
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Whoa, what a gread story I just read. I suggest you join NovelStar’s writing competition, you might be their next big star.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AnnieMod
Leah had been the werewolf to hate in both subseries of the Marrok world but we never got her backstory. In the 6th "Alpha and Omega" book, Briggs finally gets around to that story - and as usual, that ends up changing pretty much everything.
An old Evil seems to have awakened in California and
A few random observations:
- Briggs is using music more and more in this series - which makes sense considering who Anna is.
- The world of the Marrok is brutal at the best of days and all the women we meet seem to have tragic histories. While it works for these characters and may be partially due to the type of pack Bran leads, it is a bit on the nose...
- Bran can be cruel. Not that we did not know that but we had not seen him in that light in the series before.
- Sage's betrayal is still being felt sharply.
- Charles being kept asleep while Anna is being abducted is getting a bit old - it had happened before. On the other hand, with so much magic all over the place, it is not unexpected...
Now with Leah and Bran in a different place mentally, I really want to see where we are going to go next in this series.
If you had read the previous books from the series (and from its sister series), this one will probably work for you. But it does not stand as a standalone in any way or form so do not start here - or a lot of the stuff that carries the emotional load of the book will just not work and that will probably leave the book feeling flat.
An old Evil seems to have awakened in California and
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Anna and Charles are sent to try to solve the problem (with the berserk Colin Taggart tagging along). The reason why the werewolves get involved is two-fold - FBI ask them to and the disaster happened on land owed by Bran (or by Leah really). And the solution requires the old history to be steered and all painful memories to be brought back to the fore. A few random observations:
- Briggs is using music more and more in this series - which makes sense considering who Anna is.
- The world of the Marrok is brutal at the best of days and all the women we meet seem to have tragic histories. While it works for these characters and may be partially due to the type of pack Bran leads, it is a bit on the nose...
- Bran can be cruel. Not that we did not know that but we had not seen him in that light in the series before.
- Sage's betrayal is still being felt sharply.
- Charles being kept asleep while Anna is being abducted is getting a bit old - it had happened before. On the other hand, with so much magic all over the place, it is not unexpected...
Now with Leah and Bran in a different place mentally, I really want to see where we are going to go next in this series.
If you had read the previous books from the series (and from its sister series), this one will probably work for you. But it does not stand as a standalone in any way or form so do not start here - or a lot of the stuff that carries the emotional load of the book will just not work and that will probably leave the book feeling flat.
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LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
Oh, how I loved this book! I feel almost giddy when I get the chance to read a new Patricia Briggs book because I know that it is going to be something special. This book was as good as I had hoped it would be and my expectations were extremely high. I was completely entertained from the very first
All of the residents of a small town in the California mountains go missing and the FBI brings the issue to the Marrok since the land is owned by the pack. Charles and Anna, along with Tag head out to investigate. They find the town of Wild Sign empty and it appears the residents had magic but something in the woods has even more. Things get very complicated quickly as the trio tries to discover what has happened.
I love these characters! Charles and Brother Wolf are the perfect mate for Anna. I love the two distinct personalities that makeup Charles and his wolf and how they are always watching out for Anna. Anna had some challenges in this book but she never quit fighting and I loved how resilient she is time and time again. Tag was a great addition to the team and I loved the bond that he had with Anna. Leah played a larger role in this story and I was thrilled to get to learn a bit more about her history and see a different side of her character.
There was plenty of action and excitement in this story to keep things moving along. There were a few times that I was worried about how things might work out so I was glued to the pages. The mystery behind the lost residents of Wild Sign kept me guessing until the very end. It was great to see Charles, Anna, and the rest of the characters in action. I would highly recommend this series to others and cannot wait to read more from this talented author in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
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page and the excitement never lessened. I had a fantastic time with this story. All of the residents of a small town in the California mountains go missing and the FBI brings the issue to the Marrok since the land is owned by the pack. Charles and Anna, along with Tag head out to investigate. They find the town of Wild Sign empty and it appears the residents had magic but something in the woods has even more. Things get very complicated quickly as the trio tries to discover what has happened.
I love these characters! Charles and Brother Wolf are the perfect mate for Anna. I love the two distinct personalities that makeup Charles and his wolf and how they are always watching out for Anna. Anna had some challenges in this book but she never quit fighting and I loved how resilient she is time and time again. Tag was a great addition to the team and I loved the bond that he had with Anna. Leah played a larger role in this story and I was thrilled to get to learn a bit more about her history and see a different side of her character.
There was plenty of action and excitement in this story to keep things moving along. There were a few times that I was worried about how things might work out so I was glued to the pages. The mystery behind the lost residents of Wild Sign kept me guessing until the very end. It was great to see Charles, Anna, and the rest of the characters in action. I would highly recommend this series to others and cannot wait to read more from this talented author in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member kmartin802
This episode of the Alpha and Omega series has Charles and Anna along with Colin Taggart traveling to the mountains of California because some people who had been squatting on land owned by the Pack have disappeared. This story finally tells us more about Bran's mate Leah who has been a side
It has always been sort of a mystery how Bran came to mate Leah and bring her back home to the Pack. Charles's mother died giving birth to him which put a barrier between Bran and Charles since Blue Jay Woman was Bran's mate and the love of his life. Since Charles was so young, he doesn't know Leah's story. Neither she nor Bran have ever discussed it though everyone can see that the mating wasn't a love match.
The FBI comes to Anna and Charles and asks for their help since the disappearance of the town has come to their attention. They want to propose some sort of alliance with the werewolves - but not an official one. They are hoping that sharing the information they have about the town will ease relations.
Bran isn't interested in an alliance but he does want to know what happened in the Wild Sign settlement. He sends Charles who is his enforcer and who is a werewolf who uses Native American magic along with Anna who is an Omega wolf and Tag who is in danger of going berserker and who is somewhat resistant to magic.
They travel to the town meeting some Sasquatches along the way and discover an empty town. Evidence suggests that the inhabitants were mostly white witches who were hiding from black witches. But there is something else magical going on. Apparently the people had made some sort of bargain with, in Anna's words, a "creepy primordial god."
That primordial god is still looking for people that he can turn into walkers to recruit people to his service and he uses music to attract his victims. Anna is especially musical herself having been in college for music when she was first turned into a werewolf. Charles is also quite musical. Their playing and singing in the settlement attracted the god known as the Singer in the Woods to Anna.
It was creepy that the Singer in the Woods could attract with music and could also remove memories or bring long-buried memories to the forefront of a person's mind. Anna relives a time when she was captive and hunted in the Chicago Pack that Charles rescued her from and she also goes back to age seventeen before any of the werewolf stuff had ever happened to her. Both episodes caused both Anna and Charles a lot of pain since Anna forgot about her mate bond with Charles.
The part of the story involving the black witches and the "assisted living facility" where one of Charles's old enemies was now being held and tortured was interesting and also creepy especially since some of the witches were Hardesty witches. Members of that family have had roles in other books in the series.
This was an intriguing story that kept me reading late into the night. I'm sure I'll be rereading it often. It also had me visiting YouTube to hear some of the musical selections that were mentioned in the story.
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character in a number of the stories in this series and in the Mercy Thompson series too. It has always been sort of a mystery how Bran came to mate Leah and bring her back home to the Pack. Charles's mother died giving birth to him which put a barrier between Bran and Charles since Blue Jay Woman was Bran's mate and the love of his life. Since Charles was so young, he doesn't know Leah's story. Neither she nor Bran have ever discussed it though everyone can see that the mating wasn't a love match.
The FBI comes to Anna and Charles and asks for their help since the disappearance of the town has come to their attention. They want to propose some sort of alliance with the werewolves - but not an official one. They are hoping that sharing the information they have about the town will ease relations.
Bran isn't interested in an alliance but he does want to know what happened in the Wild Sign settlement. He sends Charles who is his enforcer and who is a werewolf who uses Native American magic along with Anna who is an Omega wolf and Tag who is in danger of going berserker and who is somewhat resistant to magic.
They travel to the town meeting some Sasquatches along the way and discover an empty town. Evidence suggests that the inhabitants were mostly white witches who were hiding from black witches. But there is something else magical going on. Apparently the people had made some sort of bargain with, in Anna's words, a "creepy primordial god."
That primordial god is still looking for people that he can turn into walkers to recruit people to his service and he uses music to attract his victims. Anna is especially musical herself having been in college for music when she was first turned into a werewolf. Charles is also quite musical. Their playing and singing in the settlement attracted the god known as the Singer in the Woods to Anna.
It was creepy that the Singer in the Woods could attract with music and could also remove memories or bring long-buried memories to the forefront of a person's mind. Anna relives a time when she was captive and hunted in the Chicago Pack that Charles rescued her from and she also goes back to age seventeen before any of the werewolf stuff had ever happened to her. Both episodes caused both Anna and Charles a lot of pain since Anna forgot about her mate bond with Charles.
The part of the story involving the black witches and the "assisted living facility" where one of Charles's old enemies was now being held and tortured was interesting and also creepy especially since some of the witches were Hardesty witches. Members of that family have had roles in other books in the series.
This was an intriguing story that kept me reading late into the night. I'm sure I'll be rereading it often. It also had me visiting YouTube to hear some of the musical selections that were mentioned in the story.
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LibraryThing member jshillingford
Alpha & Omega has become my favorite of Briggs' series, though I still love Mercy of course. The romance between Anna and Charles is a joy to read, mainly because they are very much in love but also more of equals. Charles may be physically more powerful, but Anna's Omega power gives her an agency
I was glad to get to know Leah, and the end of the story made me want to see more of her in future books. Anna and Charles face off against a formidable and disturbing enemy, with some help from another of Bran's "Old Wolves," Tag. He was a fun sidekick and, like Asil, I hope we see him again. Overall, this was a great read and I cannot wait for more!
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that allows her to stand toe to toe. This installment was especially good because in addition to our fabulous protagonists (and more Bran!), the story was a well done mystery. The plot also explored a character often mentioned, usually in a negative light, but that has never been fleshed out: Leah. Bran's mate doesn't really get on with most of the characters, but she is also known as a good leader in Bran's pack. Now, we finally get her story, interwoven with a missing village of white witches and some eerie music. I was glad to get to know Leah, and the end of the story made me want to see more of her in future books. Anna and Charles face off against a formidable and disturbing enemy, with some help from another of Bran's "Old Wolves," Tag. He was a fun sidekick and, like Asil, I hope we see him again. Overall, this was a great read and I cannot wait for more!
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LibraryThing member TheYodamom
Loved it, huge reveals on main characters. "It tastes like ell" - best line
LibraryThing member quondame
Well paced horror lite, with some of our favorite werewolves Anna and Charles, with significant appearances of Leah and Bran, with Tag along for the ride and a special guest appearance. This tries to get chthonic but tentacles aren't enough when you have series leads going up against the darkness.
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The witches were pretty scary though. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Hmm. Excellent story, of course - interesting opponent, some new bits of history from multiple wolves, a serious threat. But it seems to have been concluded, which makes the whole thing minor - except for the aftereffects. Coyote is going to cause trouble (well, that was redundant), and I really
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want to see Leah after all this. And the last chapter...that's going to be really interesting. On several levels - family and greater family, and on a broader plane. And her herself, of course. Though it'll take years to shake out (I hope!). A good read, and I suspect it will reward a reread in a while. Show Less
LibraryThing member hcnewton
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post is to catch up on my "To Write About" stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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My first reaction to the setup for this novel was An Answer to a Question No One Asked...
In the end, I like what the book did
I'm sensing a trend here in the Mercy-verse, for the longest time, Vampires were the major threat, then we dabbled with the Fae, but it didn't stick as much as it could've--now we've had a couple of novels in both series where witches are behind all/most of the trouble. I wonder what the end game is...
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My first reaction to the setup for this novel was An Answer to a Question No One Asked...
In the end, I like what the book did
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for the relationship between Bran and Leah (and hopefully gets rid of some of the "ew" factor from Burn Bright). It didn't wow me, but I really enjoyed my time in this world again.I'm sensing a trend here in the Mercy-verse, for the longest time, Vampires were the major threat, then we dabbled with the Fae, but it didn't stick as much as it could've--now we've had a couple of novels in both series where witches are behind all/most of the trouble. I wonder what the end game is...
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LibraryThing member murderbydeath
Given recent challenges of life, I’d forgotten all about this book coming out until I saw it on the shelves, which just goes to show how un-nerving the times are; this is one of my top 5 current series favorites, and normally I’m counting down until release day, with the hardcover on
No matter – I found it and I have it and I’ve read it, and as always I find it intolerable that I’ll have to wait another 2 years for the next book, which I’m assuming was foreshadowed at the end of this one. If so, I guess Samuel will finally get a bit more page-time.
I enjoyed the book as much as the others with one caveat: I do not understand this need Briggs has developed over the last half-dozen books or so to incorporate violence against animals. I mean, yes, I get it – black witches, feed off pain, suffering, yada, yada. But what’s with the focus on black witches over so many books? Even though she pretty much always mentions it after the fact, not making the reader live through it, she’s a talented enough writer that the stink of it remains and leaves me feeling rotten. That’s not why I read these books.
I read them for Charles and Bran. Charles because I thoroughly enjoy the incorporation of his Native American heritage in the story lines (though I wish there was more), and Bran because I find him endlessly fascinating. So much history and so much darkness to have overcome, and to be such a thorough master of himself, owning everything he is, is just catnip to me.
The plot of Wild Sign got my hopes up that we’d be seeing more Native American beliefs worked into the plot, but alas, this mystery seemed not to really have much basis in any known mythology, or else, Briggs felt disinclined to name it. But she more than made up for it with the inclusion of Tag, Sasquatch(es), and a cross over with Coyote. The book also goes a little deeper into Charles being witchborn on his father’s side, and events in Wild Sign force him to tap into this darker, more dangerous reserve of power.
Overall it was a good story, though not one of the best ones. Saying that, it’s still better than average, and has me hankering for a re-read of the earlier books.
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pre-order.No matter – I found it and I have it and I’ve read it, and as always I find it intolerable that I’ll have to wait another 2 years for the next book, which I’m assuming was foreshadowed at the end of this one. If so, I guess Samuel will finally get a bit more page-time.
I enjoyed the book as much as the others with one caveat: I do not understand this need Briggs has developed over the last half-dozen books or so to incorporate violence against animals. I mean, yes, I get it – black witches, feed off pain, suffering, yada, yada. But what’s with the focus on black witches over so many books? Even though she pretty much always mentions it after the fact, not making the reader live through it, she’s a talented enough writer that the stink of it remains and leaves me feeling rotten. That’s not why I read these books.
I read them for Charles and Bran. Charles because I thoroughly enjoy the incorporation of his Native American heritage in the story lines (though I wish there was more), and Bran because I find him endlessly fascinating. So much history and so much darkness to have overcome, and to be such a thorough master of himself, owning everything he is, is just catnip to me.
The plot of Wild Sign got my hopes up that we’d be seeing more Native American beliefs worked into the plot, but alas, this mystery seemed not to really have much basis in any known mythology, or else, Briggs felt disinclined to name it. But she more than made up for it with the inclusion of Tag, Sasquatch(es), and a cross over with Coyote. The book also goes a little deeper into Charles being witchborn on his father’s side, and events in Wild Sign force him to tap into this darker, more dangerous reserve of power.
Overall it was a good story, though not one of the best ones. Saying that, it’s still better than average, and has me hankering for a re-read of the earlier books.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
I love this series so much, and this new installment has it all -- suspense, creepy things in the woods, some more revelations of the Bran's history, and even better, Leah's. Finishing up with a totally fascinating set up for the next phase of the larger story. Can't wait to read it again.
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reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. Show Less
LibraryThing member sriddell
Loved this latest entry into the Alpha & Omega series.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
This sixth in the Alpha and Omega series has Anna and Charles traveling to Northern California to look into the disappearance of a town that just happens to be on land owned by Leah, Bran's mate and Charles' step-mother.
They discover that the town, now empty, was once populated by white witches.
When he learns that the black witches have made a deal with the Singer in the Woods, the need to kill that entity becomes even more necessary. But how does one, even one as formidable as a werewolf, kill a god?
When Anna is kidnapped to bring her to the Singer in the Woods, Charles and Tag and Leah who has run from Montana to California have a battle on their hands. Luckily Bran is on the way with a sword made by the Dark Smith which has already killed one immortal if they can just survive until he gets to the fight.
A quick visit from Coyote helps to seal the deal too.
This story gave a look at Leah's past and at her relationship with Bran and made an unsympathetic character through all the earlier books more understandable and maybe more likeable. I love watching Anna grow into herself and love watching how her relationship with Charles is changing both of them.
Urban Fantasy fans will enjoy this new episode in a great series.
They discover that the town, now empty, was once populated by white witches.
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They also discover from the local sasquatches that the area is one they avoid because of some ancient evil that lives there. The more they explore the deeper they get into trouble. Anna's musical ability provides a link for the ancient being to grab a hold on her. And clues in the empty town lead to a nursing home staffed by black witches who are sucking the magical power from other witches they are holding prisoner. Since one of the prisoners is a man Charles has been looking for after he discovered that he led a very large child trafficking ring which turned the children into empty husks, Charles feels that the man is getting what he deserves. When he learns that the black witches have made a deal with the Singer in the Woods, the need to kill that entity becomes even more necessary. But how does one, even one as formidable as a werewolf, kill a god?
When Anna is kidnapped to bring her to the Singer in the Woods, Charles and Tag and Leah who has run from Montana to California have a battle on their hands. Luckily Bran is on the way with a sword made by the Dark Smith which has already killed one immortal if they can just survive until he gets to the fight.
A quick visit from Coyote helps to seal the deal too.
This story gave a look at Leah's past and at her relationship with Bran and made an unsympathetic character through all the earlier books more understandable and maybe more likeable. I love watching Anna grow into herself and love watching how her relationship with Charles is changing both of them.
Urban Fantasy fans will enjoy this new episode in a great series.
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LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
Anna and Charles receive a visit from the FBI agent they met in one of the previous books. It seems that there were people living on land that is owned by the Marrok’s wife but they have now all disappeared. Because this far enough away from Montana, the pack didn’t know about any of it
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
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happening. Once the FBI tipped them off they pretty much stayed out of it for the rest of the book. Anna and Charles head out and Tag comes along as backup. There are several references to past events in previous books but a reader doesn’t need to know any of it to understand what is going on in this book. There is one event that does happen in this book that I can’t wait to find out more about in future books. There is insight to Leah and Bran’s relationship in this book. Only downside is there isn’t much Asil in this book.Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
Enjoyed this continuation of the Alpha and Omega series. I liked how Anna has become a stronger character and also that Leah's character and beginnings has beem further illuminated.
LibraryThing member StarKnits
YES!!!! More insight into Lea also the wolf that rules them all...he's such a bastard too.
I cracked up when Leslie and Goldstine were talking to Anna
I really liked this story and it's hard to write a review with out a spoiler.
Also that epilogue!!!!
I cracked up when Leslie and Goldstine were talking to Anna
I really liked this story and it's hard to write a review with out a spoiler.
Also that epilogue!!!!
LibraryThing member reading_fox
This is the last of the currently written series, even though the plot hook at the end very much suggests that further books are forthcoming, but currently Patricia is writing in other worlds.
Charles and Anna are met by the FBI who are still pushing overtures of friendship, and they've come with
Charles and Anna find that something strange indeed has befallen Wild Sign, and that werewolves are not immune to the power of music from the Singer in the Woods. Anna being particularly susceptible, but it's very much a hallmark of the series, that weakness are merely strengths in disguise.
Fun no better or worse than the others.
Charles and Anna are met by the FBI who are still pushing overtures of friendship, and they've come with
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some information that isn't a crime and that they can't investigate - but that someone ought to. A town/camp called Wild Sign has been found abandoned. It was never a formal place, just a gathering of like minded souls, but when family tried to visit, no-one was there. And, as the FBI know full well, the land on which it was founded, was actually pack land. Owned by Bran's wife Leah. This is the history of how she came to be in the Pack, and Bran's abnormal relationship with her - and not inconsequently that of Mercy's stray - Sherwood Post. If, like me, you've not been reading these as intertwined stories, you'll just have to remember as best you can because few reminders are given.Charles and Anna find that something strange indeed has befallen Wild Sign, and that werewolves are not immune to the power of music from the Singer in the Woods. Anna being particularly susceptible, but it's very much a hallmark of the series, that weakness are merely strengths in disguise.
Fun no better or worse than the others.
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Awards
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — Hall of Fame — March 2021)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2021-03-16
Physical description
9 inches
ISBN
0440001587 / 9780440001584
Local notes
Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham must discover what could make an entire community disappear in the wilds of the Northern California mountains.