Burn Bright (Alpha and Omega)

Love it, really loved the stories about mercy when she was growing up with the pack. Would love to read a book about that. Loved Ana & Charles as always. And it was nice to see a different more likeable side leah.

I always long for a Charles and Anna adventure between each book in their series. I feast on each book ravenously and then begins the crave. As usual Patricia delivers just the right balance of adventure, mystery, and romance

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I've read this series as well as the Mercy Thompson series and most of Patty's other books. Love them all. Plot twists made me go re-read a section to be sure I'd really read it right. Such a great book!

By far, Patricia's Mercy and Alpha and Omega books are !y favorite books. Everyone I have told about them instantly fell in love with them also. Can't ask for a better series, and this book is just as great as the rest. Major fan!

Good plot and some good background on characters. Good action and introduction of the wildlings. Couple good twists. Felt like the book could have been longer just because I didn't want to put it down and read through it in 2 days.

I’ve read all the books in the omega series as well as the Mercedes series since they were first published and the stories in both series just get better and better with every book. I can’t wait for the next one!

I feel like I should be writing the captions for a movie poster "ACTION" "ROMANCE" "MYSTERY "INTRIGUE" "BETRAYAL". Yep, they are all there in this 5th Alpha and Omega book by Patricia Briggs. Mysterious deaths begin this adventure as Charles is subbing for Bran as pack Alpha. Bran says he is heading to Africa for a vacation (huh?), so you KNOW something is wrong with that comes out. And, why has Bran cut off all communication with the pack? The murder victims are "wildings" (almost feral werewolves) and Anna, as Omega, is one of the few who can reach out to them. Who--and why--is someone killing the wildings? Anna learns more about her power, Charles is pushed to his limits to protect her and someone is betraying the pack--who? OK, OK, I LOVED it. Enjoy.

This continued journey of evolving complex werewolf relationships in the Marrock’s family is deeply satisfying. The magical interactions and adventures added even more. Plus, it’s a fun, exciting read. I love these books. Thank you Patricia Briggs.

5 stars
I Loved the complexity of the plot and new characters. It kept me guessing and was definitely a page turner.
I Can't wait for the next book. I only wished they came out faster. It's hard to wait but worth it.

I loved every moment of this book, but I'm a biased fan of Patricia Briggs. The conflict in the end chapters came out of nowhere it seemed which made it feel face paced as though the reader is right there in the middle of it.

Brings a whole new dimension to the Mercy world, but makes it Charles and Anna's own.

Would love to see a novella or book about Anna and her family when the werewolves came out...here's to hoping

It could have been a little bit more exciting I enjoyed reading it I will tell my daughters about it and my friends few though they are on some of the wildlings add a little bit more about Leah and the morck

There have been a few possibilities that could have happened in this book (based on things that were said in previous books) and I'm SO glad they didn't happen!!! Anna and Charles WERE NOT bit by the baby bug and Charles didn't have ANOTHER old flame pop up (this is a first in this series!!!) THANK YOU BABY JESUS!!! Those two things NOT happening pretty much made this book for me, everything else was just gravy.

I love that we got to meet all the wildlings! I thought the interaction with Anna and the wildlings was pretty fantastic! I also loved how this book took place in the Marrok's territory. This book focused mostly on: Charles, Anna, Asil, Leah (of all people), Sage, Tag and a few new wildlings. And once again NO EX FROM CHARLES' PAST. YAY!!!

I really loved how affectionate Charles and Anna were. In the past Charles has always been very aloof to me and I saw a warmth to him that I haven't before.

I was also pretty suprised about how much Mercy was brought up (no appearance though). It gives very mild spoilers about the latest Mercy Thompson book, so fair warning. I haven't read it yet but I didn't feel like I was missing information while reading.

All in all, I think this was an absolutely fantastic addition to the series!! I think it's my new second favorite (my favorite is Alpha and the Omega in the anthology). Happy reading!!!

'Burn Bright' was on pre-order and that pretty well says it all. I love the way Patricia Brigg's books unfold. There's lots of plots, counter plots, crossovers, clues, and these amazing characters.

So Charles and Anna are on another 'mission' yet this time they're at home in Montana, taking care of Bran's pack. What I loved is the tie in between her two series: Alpha and Omega linking to Mercy Thompson. A few characters have always overlapped but now the world view is kicking in, a deeper look at Bran's pack, at characters we know and love, and incidents from both worlds affecting each other and. . . All coming together. Yet the Alpha and Omega Series is distinctly different than Mercy's, it's still fresh, interesting, and enthralling. Well, they both are. But in different ways.

Anna now accesses her omega abilities, has learned and is confident to use them. Well done and I don't mean that due to the ' Burn Bright' title. Although burning. Yes. Threats are always there in some form or another, but when they hit close to home, it's even worse. Amazing story. Well worth every penny, recommended and a definite re-read. - Dan's Wife

Once again, Briggs did not disappoint. This book was nearly impossible to put down. Bran Cornick, the Marrok, is away helping rescue Mercy and has left Charles in charge. A distress call comes in from an ancient fae, one of the wildings living up the mountain from the pack, under Bran's protection. The fae and his werewolf mate, Hester, were attacked and she was captured. Charles and Anna arrive and free her, but Hester is then killed by a rifle shot. They soon realize they have a traitor in their midst, but who? And why are they unable to reach Bran?

I like these characters so much, I have to give it give it five stars, though someone more analytical might disagree. The story takes place over a couple of days, in and around Aspen Springs. We get to spend this time with The Marrok's pack and meet some members we haven't before plus learn more about those we know. Part of the plot links in to the Mercy Thompson novels and the long-running plot against the werewolves by a shadowy figure, possibly part of or connected to the U. S. government, who has been getting others to do the dirty work. Anna's story ties into this through Leo and his dealings with Gerry and we learn a bit more about what Leo has been doing.

I tore right through this, and am eager to re-read the others in this series and then come back to this one, when I'm sure I will pick up on something I missed on the first read-through!

Patti Briggs has toughened up her Alpha and Omega series, and it is amazing. I've always felt that this series was an easier cousin to her KICKASS Mercy Thompson series. Not any longer. Charles, Anna and the Columbia Basin Pack have achieved adult status. There is love, pain, betrayal, hope ,and insight. No more surface level coasting; we dive deep. Patricia Briggs has opened up a more expansive plot line for quite a few future books. And with some of the surprises that were thrown at us here, they can only be meaty.
I'm not giving away any spoilers, and I'll even be reading it again. Don't want to miss any nuances! If you are brand new to Alpha and Omega, not a problem. You can start here. This book is the starting point of something new, something I need more of.
Thank you, PB!

Just like every other book in this and the Mercy Thompson series, the author keeps you intrigued and surprises you with some twists and turns. I learned more about principle characters in this book and about Bran’s wildlings. Anna learns more about her gifts and Charles falls even more in love with his mate.

The most surprising thing is the small window she gives us into Bran’s mind. I don’t remember there ever being a narration from Brian’s perspective, but it was cool. Overall a fantastic read!

How will I get my Charles and Anna fix- it could be months or years or decades or centuries before the next story comes out!! Ok so I exaggerate a bit, lol!

In this book, Charles is left in charge while Bran went away to help Mercy. After Mercy was rescued, he decided to go to Africa for some unknown reason and extend his trip. Charles, knowing his father is not the type to take a vacation, knows something is up.

Meanwhile, someone is targeting Bran’s wildings, the werewolves a little too wild and crazy for the regular pack hierarchy, who live in the mountains near Bran’s land.

Will Charles and Anna be able to solve the mystery and handle the pack while the Marrock is away? You will have to read to find out!!

I don’t want to spoil the story, but Alpha and Omega has a theme going through it that ties it all together. While the book was just as well paced as the other Briggs book, and is slowly building the weight of history that weighs the Mercy Thompson series down, it is currently at the spot where the interconnections and the arc continuations from the other Alpha and Omega series are very fulfilling and satisfying. There wasn’t as much character conflict in this one, as the words went in service of moving the plot forward, but nevertheless it was not one wasted scene. This book does not stand alone and has some uncomfortable revelations about Mercy, but is worth reading and buying (after all the rest of the Alpha and Omega series).

I really enjoy the Alpha and Omega series. Charles and Anna are two of my favorite characters. Both are very complex and appealing characters. This book was a little somber. It provided some interesting historical background, but I missed the occasional humor that has lightened earlier stories. This book certainly revealed some new twists and secrets to the werewolf community. You definitely need to read this series in chronological order to fully appreciate it.
I hope Ms. Briggs will continue to write the Mercy Thompson and the Alpha and Omega series. They are two of my most favorite series, and I am eagerly waiting the next installments. I highly recommend this book and Patricia Briggs.

i think im done with this author. The last couple of books seemed to get increasingly more melancholy and then coupled with revelations about Bran's character in relation to Mercy and how Bran handles the pack in this book just ruined this story for me and taints the Mercy books as well. I understand trying to balance Leahs character out but why do it that way? Especially given that (from both series) Anna, Sage, Mercy and Ben have all dealt with rape and that Mercy dealt with Samuel wanting to bed her when she was 16. So why add this avoided sexual abuse into the storyline through Bran as her father figure?

I am a fan of Patricia Briggs. Have been reading a lot of her books since college.

The alpha and Omega books are a great series but they sometimes do lag.

This book was a total left field for me. I didn’t see the ending or towards the ending of the book that it took. I think I feel betrayed along with the characters in the book. I cried, but I’ll never admit it out loud.

With that said, I think people need to read this series to understand the ending to this one. It is a great book on its own. But read the series to become emotionally attached towards the end of this book.

Sigh....I loved it. I just wished for something different. Let's face it, everyone loves this series but I'm ready for some magnetism with the characters. With Mercy it stretched out with the feud between Adam and Mercy, here between Charles and Anna. As the series goes on I feel like the story is still there but the attraction between the characters is dying a horrible death. We get a great story, witches looking for an object to control werewolves is an amazing story but the characters are slowly dying to me. Makes me not want to pay 20$ for the book. Call me cynical.

Anna, as an Omega wolf, has the ability to calm other wolves and is essential in the wellbeing of a pack. She neutralizes all the high strung emotion prevalent in dominant wolves. She is asked to assist her mate, Charles, who is serving as pack leader for his father, who is away on vacation. I have loved these characters forever. Charles is feared by others and Anna adds levity and love to their union. Charles seldom shows emotion to others but is devoted to Anna. They are my favorite couple in this shifter world and this book shows them to the power couple they are.

Briggs books, both Mercedes and Anna line are like donning my favorite pajamas and settling on the couch with noone to please but myself. Everyone has already mentioned the major points so I'd like to state my appreciation for the audio narrator, Holter Graham. He had the ability to flesh out my mind's depiction of the characters I so love. It was especially refreshing since I had a hard time with the nasal vocalization another narrator had of Charles.

My only way to relieve my impatience is to go back and listen to them once again from the beginning.

Hurry Patricia, release the next one :)

Charles is not happy. Bran is on vacation and Bran never takes vacation. Leah is being, well, Leah. So the job of an omega wolf never ends. There's another side of the pack, wildings, apart and dangerous. A terrified phone call and a letter stating that there is a traitor in the pack! Anna and Charles are once again heading into danger. I once again couldn't put it down and you won't either! If you were waiting for another of Patricia Briggs great books look no farther! Thank you Patricia! If only you could write as fast as I can devour your books!

This 5th book in the series delivers. Without providing any spoilers, there was action, romance, betrayal, and several unexpected reveals! I'm still in shock over the traitor in the pack. Old favorites are back and we get a bigger insight into Bran's mate, Leah plus more information on the peanut butte incident! Though the Easter bunny incident is still a mystery! Read from the short story that started this spin-off! Read, read, read!

I'm a big fan of Patricia Briggs' werewolf series. They are all cleverly written with compelling multideminsional characters that hold my interest. This book had just a bit more comic relief than is typical in this collection. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are a fan of the genre, then this book, and the rest of the series too of course, is a must read!

Good story. Opened a lot of doors for more stories. I liked learning more about Bran's home and pack. Some good surprises I didn't see coming.
I still like Mercy books better. Can't wait for more books.

I am a big fan of Briggs. I have read her books multiple times. This is not a favorite. I feel like she is doing too many shocking things that don’t feel true to the characters I’ve grown to love. To suggest that a long time father figure to a girl now has a thing for her seemed so wrong, and a little sick. This didn’t feel true to me at all. Big yuck factor. And then to take a character that was very likable and flip the script so we no longer like her. Why? This wasn’t a surprise that I appreciated. It leaves a bad taste. I was actually hoping she’d have a love story roll in the future with the old wolf that needs a happier ending than waiting around to be killed. Rather than walking away waiting for the next book, it makes me wonder if she’s just done with the Marrock’s pack. By the way, the hints of a better relationship status with Bran’s mate does not make up for the character damage to others. I love the Mercy books and the others with Charles but just not this one.

I've been eagerly awaiting this books release upon hearing about it and i can say i most certainly was not dissapointed! Patricia has created this world with such amazing depth with complex and well rounded characters. What i enjoyed a lot about this book was seeing more into the lives and characterizations of a lot of background characters all the while adding more depth to characters like Bran and Leah(both of which i hope to see more of in future books). This book had me at the edge of my seat, keeping me hooked and ready to turn the page. I enjoyed figuring out who the main antagonist was in this book. By creating such well developed characters i found myself becoming quickly attached to some of our new and not to new friends in this book. I give this book 5 stars and i eagerly wait to delve into whatever Patricia delivers to us next!

The audio book package was so damaged when it arrived that I thought the cds were probably going to be broken. The story was enjoyable to listen to, but I expect to receive a product that is in good condition, and this definitely was not. 4 stars for the story, but the 1 star is because the product was in such bad condition.

Patricia Briggs is still one of my favorite writers and she just gets better. Read some of the other reviews where people thought this wasn't as good as past books but I disagree. Thought exploring Anna and Charles's own backyard deepened our understanding of the Marroks pack and was very satisfying/interesting to peel back the layers. I don't want to spoil anything with details. Only other thing is... Patricia if you read reviews - Thank you for your books. I really hope the ending in Burn Bright means there will be a spin-off/expansion of the Mercy Thompson Universe with a new hero. If there is, as I always do for your novels, I will pre-order and wait on the edge of my seat.

I am an avid fan of Briggs, but I have some terribly mixed feelings about this book. In the end, the bad feelings were strongest.

Good points: about five chapters in I liked Anna again and her relationship with Charles was excellent. Interesting developments for furthering both series. Lots of backstory on all the major characters.

TLDR; pedophilia(yes really, despite what the author's assistant has said, if you look at it timeline-wise), victim blaming, world rule breaking, not a lot of action, out of character actions, the outright destruction of a great character, and the tainting of the other series in the universe. Felt like a filler book.

To start with, The Conversation:
It was just a blip, a short conversation that occurred early in the book to provide a building point to changing the readers view about Leah, who was a strong presence in this book. And it was one of the most reader/character relationship breaking things the author could have included.

***MINOR SPOILERS BUT WORTH NOTING**** Anna and Charles have a conversation about Bran and Mercy, focused on Mercy's past with the pack and particularly Leah. It was designed to give the reader a plausible reason for Leah's dislike of Mercy (which we already had, she hated all of Bran's children fairly equally because he cared about/relied on them more than her). It went on to state that Bran had "funny" feelings for Mercy, referencing his rescue of her, the battles of wills they engaged in throughout her years with the pack (Mercy lived with them from age 3 months to 16 years old) and how he treated her. Anna mentioned those "funny" feelings to Charles who denied it at first, then admitted he had noticed it and others, including Leah, had as well. The overt tone of the conversation was that Bran harbors romantic feelings for Mercy.

Problem one: This just dripped with pedophilia. Mercy was 16 when she left. The battles of wills, the car wreck, the peanut butter incident, and music nights all happened BEFORE she left. These "funny" feelings were the product of their time together.... when she was a CHILD. We learned in Moon Called (or Mercy book 2, I'm not sure) that Mercy had not even seen the Marrok after she left Aspen Creek, which was around ten years before the series started. Therefore, this insinuates that he had romantic feelings for a child. It gave me worse heebie jeebie squicky feelings than Samuel trying to convince Mercy to elope at 16 because at least that was presented in a way that clearly showed that everyone knew what Samuel did was wrong, including Bran who stopped it. I read in a post that another reader had contacted the author's assistant asking if Bran was a pedophile, and the response was that he was not, all these romantic feelings developed later, not while she was a child. However, if you look at the timeline through the lens of Anna and Charles' conversation, that just is not possible. Most, if not all, of the things mentioned were when Mercy lived in Aspen Creek. Details given about Leah show that she hated Mercy from infancy. Mercy left at 16. She had little to no time spent together with Bran after leaving Aspen Creek, so even ignoring the specifics of the conversation, the timeline adds up to a really disgusting and pervy answer. Charles says that Bran would "never act on these feelings," but that feels like an author cop out and the mere existence of said feelings is gross.

Problem 2: Bran is Mercy's father in the ways that matter. After rereading the previous books, I found no mention or hint of any other type of relationship. Mercy views him that way. Samuel and Charles view them that way, and have outright stated it. Bran walked her down the aisle. He came to rescue her when she was kidnapped, and to support her after she was assaulted. He helped her with the vampires. He comes when she needs him to, but otherwise he lets her live her own life with very little interference, just like a good father should. When Bran disowned Adam's pack, Mercy felt abandoned by him. When he came to help her, she was relieved that her father hadn't abandoned her after all. All of the sweet moments between the two are reflective of a complicated father/daughter relationship between an overbearing man and a rebellious woman who didn't know how to give up and never stopped doing what she felt was right. It was fantastic and difficult, shaded by the confusion of a thousands of years old, fairly sexist, dominant male who was somehow both impressed and annoyed by her sneaky defiance. Their interactions, both the alluded to past and the present, were heavily influenced by Bran's feeling of responsibility for Mercy's well being because at 3 months old, he pretty much became her father. He said so to her face, that he knew she was his the moment she was handed to him at 3 months old (I'm trying very hard to not view that statement through a perv lens now). Mercy had her foster father Bryan, who was an important part of her childhood. Yet he killed himself when she was 12, and Bran as Alpha of the pack took on an even more direct role from there. From the stories told, he was very involved in Mercy's early upbringing. He was her father. Not to mention how on Earth would Mercy miss that undertone in their relationship as she got older? Especially if it was obvious to everyone else in the pack, as implied by Charles. Even if Mercy missed it, how could Samuel have? Surely Charles would have told him? And if Samuel had known, I cannot imagine that he would make a move on someone his father wanted but couldn't have. Samuel was never painted as a cruel character and that would be cruel to everyone involved. All of this added up to make the "funny" (read pervy stepdad) feelings for Mercy feel like an overly contrived plot device, and now every interaction between those two characters has gone from reconciling father/daughter to slimy and gross to think about. The adorable stories and memories now read as Bran "grooming" Mercy. All of this to try and give the reader a reason to hate Leah just a little less.... which leads to the next issue.

Problem 3: The victim blaming..... I had no words at first.... the victim blaming had me wanting to cry. The tone of "the conversation" was that Leah hated Mercy because Bran is in love with her.... This was painted by the author as an acceptable reason for Leah to hate Mercy. So that was a HUGE hit for me. The author was obviously making excuses for Mercy's tormentor and using a man's inappropriate behavior as an established, valid reason for hating Mercy. Briggs portrayed this as something the reader should accept without question too, and I was heartbroken. The characters themselves all used the gross stepdad feelings as an excuse for Leah as well. Mercy was a child who in no way could control the creeping done by a thousands of years old werewolf, so why would Leah blame her? Leah and EVERYONE else in the situation should have protected the innocent kid and tried to stop the pervy guy. Instead, they all accepted it and hated Mercy? I guess that blaming the other woman(woman used loosely here cause it should be child) does happen by the other half of a couple and by friends I suppose. However, I absolutely REFUSE to believe that Anna would pile on. Yet she flat out states that if Charles had the same kind of "funniness" towards Mercy, she would feel the same way about Mercy as Leah does. Anna is a survivor of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. She has always been portrayed as kind and giving. She is a nurturer, which was so strongly cemented in her personality that when she became a werewolf, she was an Omega. As a survivor of all that, I cannot believe that she would EVER blame the victim for the choices of others. Anna is strong and is learning how to stand up for herself again, she is more outspoken and vocal. To have her blame Mercy and side with a woman she dislikes felt so wildly out of character that I was (fortunately) pulled right out of the book. Anna is a strong enough woman to place the blame squarely on the shoulders of the man it belonged to, and if she found Charles was in love with another woman, she would not make excuses for him to escape all blame. There is no excuse for the emotional and sometimes physical torment that Leah meted out against Mercy. End of Story. By the end of the book, I still had no respect or liking for Leah who deserves no happily ever after. I also now feel the same about Bran. He has become a perv who should be removed from power over vulnerable people. Which killed me. Bran is one of my favorite characters, deeply flawed, highly intelligent, with a tragic backstory that caused damage he had to learn to compensate for as best he could. Now he is none of those things, just a pedophile who (fortunately) "wouldn't act" on his urges. To try and make the reader swallow a hateful message of victim blaming as an excuse was the most destructive thing Briggs could have added to a series I have loved due to the strong women.

Second major issue, OOC actions and Rule Breaking:
There were so many out of character actions and what felt like rewrites of the rules that govern the world, particularly magic. The who done it reveal was poorly executed, as I knew before I got there. It was also incredibly out of character for the villain to have lived for YEARS in within Aspen Creek with all of these powerful werewolves who just so happen to be able to smell lies. Did someone hit Charles, Samuel, and Bran over the head after every interaction they had with this character? Did their noses fall off when they met the character in the street and have to regrow? Did the very intrusive, in other books at least, pack bond just fall apart in the Marrok? So I guess they just somehow missed this evil in their midst.. Charles also just spontaneously kills someone for following the orders of their alpha. It was completely out of character for a man who has always been so concerned with justice. Then there was some nonsense about this wolf "could have disobeyed an order from his alpha if he really wanted to". It read as another cop out. That has explicitly never been the case in other books. Bran was portrayed as, not only gross, but also weak. He put off managing his pack and made other people do it for him. It was really weird because if that was the norm over the centuries, then someone would have killed him by the present. And finally, Anna was mean. In the first few chapters she was just mean... for no reason. She rubs the Mercy thing in Leah's face in a very passive aggressive manner and does several things that are, at best if you squint really hard, thoughtless. That is not the Anna I love from the previous books.

All in all, this was not a book I consider an addition to the series, either A&O or Mercy. If I could bleach my brain of the squick factor and douse my rage at the victim blaming, I would still have a hard time getting past the over narration in this book, the constantly switching points of view that included minor characters I could care less about, and most importantly, the weird out-of-character actions and crazy rewrites of magical rules already well established.
I am not sure where this series is going. I am afraid to read any more by this author because I reeeally don't want the wonderful associations I have for both this and the Mercy series to die a painful death. I'm terrified that there is going to be some story arc on the Bran/Mercy thing and that would be the worst thing I can imagine. IF I can somehow scrub away(brillo pad maybe?) the memory of "the conversation," I think I can keep enjoying the books published so far and just forget Burning Bright ever happened. I will delude myself into believing both series ending after Silence Falls. Kind of like how I did with How I Met Your Mother.

I really like this series, enjoy the characters and character development. I would have liked more about the wildings vs regular pack members since Briggs does such a good job of describing the psychological effects of being a werewolf.

I am not going to put in any spoilers. Just suffice it to say that it is clear that the alpha and omega series I is taking off to new, ancient places that sound like they are going to make extremely interesting reading!

It felt like forever that I waited for this book. The Alpha and Omega series are to me possibly believable maybe. I truly become lost in the story. I read to enjoy an adventure and this series is all adventure.

Patricia Briggs delivers another excellent book. I couldn't put it down. Her characters are compelling, the mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end, and her writing draws you in until you feel like you're on the Montana mountainside too. I highly recommend this entire series.

Most of this review is because of the first few chapters, unfortunately I just couldn’t shake them.

I didn’t like this book, and that makes me sad. I felt that characters I have grown to love were changed on a whim or to suit a new plot: Anna was mean in the beginning of the book though she has always been kind and sweet, Leah the lead bitch is suddenly dumb though she has survived as the Alphas mate for centuries, Charles is a murderer (he killed a submissive without even talking to him and we all know submissive wolves can’t disobey dominants) and kind of a jerk, and Bran is a pedophilia (yeah I just can’t) and he is suddenly too weak to handle problems in his own pack? Seriously..this is Bran now???

Then the rules of the world keep changing, Charles tells a story of how he couldn’t disobey his father because he’s alpha. Then Charles gets mad at another wolf for not disobeying his alpha. What? Literally the same thing. It’s like in this book Anna and Charles live by a different set of rules and judge people who do the exact same things that they did. Oh and Anna, she is so smart. Everyone else, is so dumb. I started to not like them after the first chapter which didn’t help. I always loved them but Anna started to grate on me and why is everyone so afraid of Charles? Isn’t a dominate suppose to protect not frighten everyone!

Please let this book be a fluke, I normally love this world. But if this is the new normal I don’t think I want to keep visiting here.

I've put off writing this review for weeks because every time I think about this book I get mad all over again. I honestly don't think I've ever been so disappointed in the direction an author has decided to take a story and while I totally get that it is Patricia Briggs' right to do whatever she chooses with her characters and her world I don't have to continue investing my time and money in her series. I suppose I should probably point out that before Burn Bright I would have considered myself a Mercy Thompson / Alpha & Omega superfan. I reread all of the books and short stories in the MT world at least once a year with a friend and we have spent countless hours sending each other favourite quotes and discussing everything about these characters and this world. The reason I'm so upset and the reason I feel so betrayed by the author is because I feel like I know this series inside out and there was nothing, absolutely not one single hint to make revelations in this book seem even slightly plausible, let alone palatable.

I can't really talk about my biggest issue with this book without giving spoilers so continue reading this review at your own risk, but since I'm reviewing this so long after the release date I expect most fans have either already read this book or at least seen others mention the controversy. The absolutely 100% series ending revelation for me is that Bran has always had romantic feelings for Mercy. This is the man who has raised her since she was eight months old, the man who is the only consistent father figure she's ever really had, the man she turns to for advice and the one she looks up to beyond all others. This is the same man who watched over her while she slept as she recovered from a sexual assault, the man who gave her away at her wedding and made Adam promise to protect her, the man who has ALWAYS, in all circumstances treated her like a daughter.

And now we have Anna and Charles having a casual conversation about how Bran is "funny" about Mercy and Anna even saying she would hate Mercy as much as Leah does if Charles felt the same way about her that Bran does. Anna, who was herself a victim of rape and the worst kinds of treatments at the hands of her previous alpha is now blaming Mercy, who was a CHILD when this was all happening! I'm sorry but in no circumstances is Mercy to blame no matter what Bran does or doesn't feel for her, Mercy has never led Bran on, she's never had an affair with him or tried to lure him away from Leah and even if she had that doesn't excuse Leah from child abuse. Because lets face it the way Leah treated Mercy, the way Bran has flat out stated in previous books that he couldn't adopt Mercy himself because Leah would have killed her, the way Leah attacked Mercy many times when she was a child and how the entire pack used to go out of their way to keep the two of them apart because they knew what would happen if they didn't. That's all because Leah is an abuser who would have happily KILLED A CHILD because she felt that child was competition for her mate.

I get that Patricia Briggs has written herself into a corner, she's said many times and shown in many ways that Bran is bonded to Leah and I think she's left herself with no option of ending their relationship. That's a bit of a problem when fans have been screaming for years that Leah is an awful, awful character and begging to see Bran get a happily ever after with literally anyone else. Now, in my opinion, a skilled writer would have been able to turn around Bran and Leah's relationship. I've seen other authors do that in the past and I so badly want to see Bran happy that I probably would have forgiven Leah far quicker than she deserved. But I won't forgive Leah because Bran has been turned into someone that I can no longer respect or even like. That just makes me hate both of them, it makes me look at every single interaction between Bran and Mercy throughout the entire fifteen book series and feel physically sick because I can no longer see the loving father figure that has always wanted what is best for Mercy. Now all I can see is the sick pedophile who has been grooming her.

This book contradicts itself in so many different ways when it comes to Leah. First it tries to make us feel sorry for her because her mate is in love with a child. Then Charles talks about how abusive she was to him when they first met too, how horrifically she treated him when he was also just a child who was just desperate for someone to love him, he specifically states that he would have adored her if she'd only been nice to him. So it wasn't just Mercy Leah abused then, this conversation also confirms that it was Charles too. So she's jealous of anyone that Bran gives love to and that shows what a petty and nasty person she is. To be honest you only have to look at the way she treated Anna the first time they met to see Leah's true colours! But then the book backtracks again and tries to show how nice she is because she saves Charles' life, I could have cheered for her at that point but only if we hadn't just been reminded about how awful she's been in the past.

If Patricia Briggs hadn't turned Bran into a pedophile but had instead just had Leah saving Charles in this book I would have stared to warm to her. If she'd then had both Bran and Leah make some big changes over the next few books (because lets face it he's never treated her well really so neither of them are perfect and they're both to blame for their issues!) then I think in time I would have softened to them as a couple and might have been able to want to see them happy together. It could have been so easy, especially since we get a better idea of the fact that Bran does actually love her in this book. Unfortunately for me it's too little too late and the way Bran's character has been totally and utterly destroyed has ended any love I ever had for this series.

The first time I read Burn Bright I was horrified by that conversation but I still had faith in PB and I was convinced that Anna and Charles had misread things and it was all going to be a horrible misunderstanding. I was positive that in the next book this would all be fixed with a few well placed revelations and that I could continue loving this world. I even went back and immediately reread the previous fourteen books specifically looking for signs that Bran felt anything but fatherly towards Mercy. I read fourteen books LOOKING for that and couldn't find a single thing that made me suspect it was true. Not one single word. Everything points to a father daughter relationship, every single interaction between them. Every single conversation with Samuel, Adam, any other character they always refer to Bran as Mercy's father. I actually managed to convince myself I'd read Burn Bright wrong and stressed myself over nothing.

Then unfortunately Patricia Briggs made public comments about it confirming my worst fears were true, Bran does have romantic feelings for the child he raised. Oh, we're supposed to see him as noble because he didn't act on them, and we're supposed to ignore it because apparently Mercy will never know how he feels. But that doesn't sit well with me, especially when she's made it clear that everyone else knows this but Mercy, so not only is Bran lying to her but so is her husband Adam, so is her childhood love Samuel, so is her brother Charles and her sister-in-law Anna and so is the entire Aspen Creek Pack - people she grew up with and was raised by. That breaks my heart for Mercy and it makes me so angry with everyone else that I can't see straight.

So that's the story of how Patricia Briggs destroyed the Mercy Thompson world for me, the series that I have loved for many, many years. The series that has been a huge comfort to me over the years. The series that I'm honestly not sure I'll ever be able to look at in the same way again. I hope that one day, in a few years time, I'll be able to forget that Burn Bright ever existed. And if I ever reach that point then perhaps I'll be able to reread the first 14 books again and remember how much I loved them but I will not be buying any new books in this world, and honestly I'm still more than a little heartbroken about that.

I waited along time to start this series, now I wish I had not done so. One paragraph in this book ruined ever rereading the Mery Thompson series which I LOVED! Anna and in the end Charles turn Brans relationship with Mercy into something sick. Bran helped raise Mercy along with his sons, and Mercy's foster parents from infancy. He has always been betrayed as a protective father /authority figure in Mercy's life. To even insinuate he has any mating thoughts for a 5 or 8 year old is SICK. To say this is why Brans mate abused her at those ages is wrong. All through the Mercy Thompson series his mate is portrayed as selfish and self centered. Her problem with Mercy was no different than with Charles and Sam. Bran loved them, and gave them more respect. His mate acted out of pure jealously!! To turn it into something else sadly ruins the whole way you look at both series! Intern ruining them entirely for me. Why did Bran and Mercy's relationship even need to be brought up in this series? It was not needed for the plot! Was simply a total serie ruining filler. It also made me dislike Anna, I hope she doesn't have kids. Because if Charles loves and feels protective of them is she going to look at that in a sick way also. Maybe this is the real reason werewolves women can not have kids, they are unable to share the love of a mate. Done with anything Anna!

After waiting a few weeks to write a review, my overall feeling about this book is sad. As a Patricia Briggs fan, I simply DO NOT understand why she felt it necessary to destroy Bran's character thru revisionist history and cowardly behavior. Non of the earlier books support these statements nor does it forgive Leah's actions against a child. It's also unnecessary for the plot line of this book.
So whats the point? This book is a bridge to a new story line and new characters. What's going to happen to Bran and Mercy? After a decade of following Mercy's life, I don't think I want to know.

Revelations are made in this book, and supported by the author in discussions about it post-publication, that are just really hard to accept and ended up tainting not just this series but the Mercy Thompson world as a whole.

[Mild spoilers below]

“The conversation” enlightened readers about a certain character’s feelings for another. Okay, I guess, seemed a little OOC but that doesn’t make up for Anna’s or Leah’s reactions and Leah’s subsequent treatment of CHILDREN. They both end up blaming the victim who was (and still remains) in the dark about the truth.

In the end the worst part is having another really great author fall into the trap of making women enemies of each other when it’s the men around them who cause the abuse and issues. Sigh.

SPOILERS!!!
1. Bran's character has been ruined in the most irredeemable way possible. Briggs has turned what was a perfectly understandable and acceptable father-daughter relationship into a pedophile grooming his victim. One might argue that Bran was raised in a different era or that he was a good guy for not acting on the "funny" feelings Anna and Charles spoke of him having for Mercy who was a CHILD, but none of this excuses the fact that he had such feelings to begin with or that he was a complete coward for abandoning his pack when they needed him most and all because he didn't want to have to put down his mate who is a sorry waste of skin anyway.
2. Leah is a narcissistic sociopath who abuses children! She mistreated both Charles and Mercy (and Samuel too most likely) all because her mate gave them love and respect instead of focusing all his attention on her. She also blames Mercy (the real victim) for Bran's pedo feelings when she should've protected Mercy by chopping Bran's d*** off! There is NOTHING likeable or redeemable about Leah. She only went back to save Charles because she wanted to stay in Bran's favor.
3. How the h*** did Charles, Bran and Asil not sense that Sage was the traitor amongst them?! She lived with them for twenty-odd years! They have heightened senses and are supposedly able to tell when someone is lying! Charles and Bran also have ways of sensing witchcraft and other forms of dark magic (like blood magic)! Sage's treachery should've been easy to spot! A no brainer! What? Did the entire Aspen Creek pack drink the kool-aid? Take stupid pills? Plus Sage should've given off warning signs because anyone who suffers abuse or neglect (sexual, physical, emotional, mental or spiritual) is going to show symptoms or signs or have things that set them off. If Sage was supposedly abused/neglected/tortured by anyone, especially Grandma Daisy, it would show somewhere in her character. People who are exposed to such suffering don't just wake up one day and feel all better. The experience follows them for the rest of their lives so they have their good days and their bad days. And why would Sage help the skinwalker who tortured her even if they were supposedly related? Why would she blame Bran/Charles for her suffering just because she was turned into a werewolf? If skinwalkers are naturally evil, Daisy would've treated Sage like s*** anyway and used her in some other way, just like she had all the slaves on the island. You think after spending time with the Aspen Creek pack Sage would've pulled her head out of her a** and realized werewolves aren't to blame and maybe she could've tried to stop Daisy by warning Bran about the skinwalker, but no. Briggs chose the old some villains are bad just because they're born that way shtick and others are bad just because the author needs them to be a convenient plot device.
4. Anna was a royal bi*** which is way out of character for her. The Anna we met in previous books wouldn't have wasted her time or energy on Leah. She also wouldn't have blamed Mercy (the victim) for Leah or Bran's feelings or actions, especially after being a victim of abuse/neglect herself.
5. Asil. Give this guy a break! He's already been through h*** and back! The least Briggs could do is give him a companion/love interest who isn't a psychopath. And I'm all for Asil being Islamic, but I don't think he'd pick and choose who is deserving of a funeral prayer. I have muslim friends who are Islamic and they know my faith is nondenominational, but they have never judged me for it, and several have said they'd gladly say an Islamic prayer for me at my funeral. Asil doesn't strike me as the judgemental type, and he really has no right or reason to judge others, especially given some of the things he's said and done in his past as The Moor. Asil is a great character. Briggs needs to stop trying to turn him into a cryptic stereotype. People can be complex and broken without being judgemental, cryptic or stereotypical. Stop trying to ruin Asil! He's fine just the way he is! If you want to include diversity and different religions in your writing, I'm all for it, but do your research and have respect for the characters you create and their beliefs.
This book was a terrible installment to the Alpha and Omega series. The plot was alright and Wellesley was interesting, but the way Briggs totally ruined well-established characters that we all know and love makes me question whether I'll continue reading what has, until now, been one of my favorite book series.

I've rated this 3 stars, because Ms. Briggs writes so well and because I might not finish the book or read another of hers again. It feels unfair to rate a book I didn't finish.

I read the prologue of this book I've been looking forward to for a long time. Like many of the prologues in this series, it sets a dark and faintly creepy tone. Then, in chapter one, the reader is treated to the perspective of another tortured creature frightened for his mate, reintroduced to Charles, who shows a flash of similarity to his little sister Mercy.

And then, we get new characterization for Anna, Bran, Leah, and Charles that made me like them so much less I'm not sure I will finish the book or read any of the series again.

Patricia Briggs paints realistic and evil situations in her books. Her skill grips you and sucks you into her worlds. Fantastic talent. I just don't know if I want to be in this world again.

My Review:
The alpha and omega series is the best of Patricia Briggs. I read it before Mercy's series and always loved the thread of romance that ran through it from the very beginning. So I was incredibly excited that another volume was coming out in the series.

If you've been reading the Mercy series and this one then you know that the two are fairly tightly intertwined as events happening in the Mercy series are happening in the background of this one...same with this book.

In this story, Bran has been away on business as the Marrock so Charles has been in charge. They get a distress call from one of the packs "wildings". The wildings are pack who are more than a little broken. They are under the protection of the pack, but it's not safe for them to be around the pack because overall, they are fairly unstable. What I found most interesting in this book is that for a few of them...there are fixable things about them being unstable. (I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.)

And of course, I always love to get to see Charles and Anna together. As their relationship has deepened, they have a true partnership and trust between them that you don't often get to see in romance and it's fabulous to read. There is a lot of pack politics in this one...something that Charles never deals well with. There also seemed to be some developments for the pack overall that will play out over the entire series. I'm interested to see where all this goes.

I am not a fan of Leah's (because the reader isn't supposed to be), but she went up a few notches for me in this story. This woman is tough and it's hard not to feel some empathy for her situation.

Overall, this was a highly entertaining read that sucked me and didn't let me finish until way too late into the night. This world that Patricia Briggs has created is amazing and I enjoy every single journey into it.

I highly recommend both this series and the Mercy Thompson series. The author is good enough that you can read any of the books alone, but to get the full effect of the world you need to commit to devouring the entirety of both series. They are wonderful books and this one was no exception to that.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This was very expensive for what is essentially a novella. With such a long wait between books I did not expect it to be so short. There were several things wrong in this book but the most glaring is Anna’s assertion(and Charle’s grudging confirmation) that Bran has wrong lusty feelings for Mercy...that is just gross. He has always been presented as a father figure and this switch is ugly and unwelcome. Anna is more annoying than usual in this book, but I read the books for Asil and Charles, and just skim over Anna’s musings and grumbling.
I won’t purchase anymore of these books in advance, but rather will wait for reviews to see if they are full length...and if not, I will wait until I can get them from the library.

Seriously, just don't. This may be the last Mercy-verse book that I read.

**SPOILERS**

I've read all of the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega books. I wish I had NOT read this one. Dagnabbit give me the brain bleach. If you love Bran (which I do/did), DO NOT READ this installment. With a simple conversation, PB changed the crucial Bran/Mercy relationship dynamic in a horrible way. I don't appreciate it at all. PB has betrayed her readers by doing this. I definitely feel betrayed.

Also, what Bran did to his family in this installment just blows my mind. He essentially abandoned them.
While believing Leah to be the traitor, he abandoned his son to discover the injustice and execute her. He did this knowing that after Charles executes her, his wolf would cause him to hunt Charles down and kill him in retaliation. During his cowardly self-exile (and possibly b/c of it), several of his "Wildlings" were murdered.

There are just so many out of character problems in this this novel.

Sage didn't make sense. Neither Bran nor Charles figuring Sage out didn't make sense. They both tend to have psychic visions/dreams/thoughts about matters of black magic and yet this came out of nowhere for them.

I'm angry with this book.

I have listened to many of Patricia Briggs’s books multiple times. I own most of them. I … found this book to have some unnecessarily creepy elements. Not spooky creepy, but squicked out about people’s motives creepy. And I think the book could have (& should have) omitted them because it wrecks some relationships readers have with some characters is it stays canon. I’m going to think that there will be a “director’s cut” type revision later and go on my merry way.

Most of the book was pretty good though. I listened to it twice (partly to see if I still felt the wrongness was wrong) and the non-creepy parts were pretty neat and could lead to better/worse things in future novels when reactions to characters’ deaths or recoveries become known outside the local area.

The main characters, Charles & (A/O) continue growing in their relationship and Leah does some things that aren’t terrible. If you can get past the squick factor the rest is worth reading, although I’m not sure if the Mercy insights wrt the piano belonged in this series instead of hers. (You *do* want to know about the piano war details.)

First off let me just say I didn't purchase this book. Mainly because it is 13.99 which is crazy, and secondly because I didn't like dead heat. To much horses and too many ooc moments. Because of those things I decided to hold off and read the reviews first, and boy am I glad I did. However with the ooc moments in this book and the thing with Bran not sure if I will ever buy another alpha and omega book. That is very sad to say as I loved the first 3 books and have read them many times. I will probably not buy the next Mercy book right off either, will wait for reviews to make sure the ickieness factor of this book don't spread to that book.

Original rating 3.5
Burn Bright is the 5th book in Patricia Briggs’ Alpha & Omega series, which is part of the Mercy Thompson world. This much anticipated installment follows Dead Heat, released in 2015. Briggs still enthralls me with her beautiful storytelling, but somewhere this book fell short of my expectations.

Burn Bright gives us some more in depth insight into various pack dynamics, including Leah, the Marrok’s (Alpha of all packs) mate. The depth certainly gave me a greater understanding of Leah and I enjoyed obtaining the understanding for her resentment of Mercy. Unfortunately it also added a new and uncomfortable creepy factor of the Mercy / Marrok dynamic, which caused some unease. I didn’t want it to get creepy. And it did. <Especially if you read the last Mercy Thompson book>

Charles and Anna are a beautifully unique pair. Their interactions translate well onto the page and their love for one another warms my heart. Burn Bright has a bit of an unusual conflict going on and Anna and Charles were certainly the best team to deal with it. Meeting some extremely unique new members of the world was probably one of the things that will stick with me the longest. These members also appear to be the bridge into an entire new series arc, but only time will tell if I am right or not. Learning about the members living on the outside of the pack dynamic provided a layer of understanding of how some don’t fit and how they were cared for and also, how they were put as risk. Burn Bright is a good read. Beautiful writing allowed me to fall into the story and added a lot to the world building, but feeling unsettled left me a bit deflated and I think Burn Bright felt a little disconnected from the last two books.

I've been away from the MercyVerse for a while. I don't know why, other than maybe I was reluctant to read these later books because so often authors with long series mess things up. It's hard to have powerful main characters and truly challenge them without creating some enormous, even more powerful evil.

I should have trusted Briggs. Burn Bright is bound to be a bit controversial, mainly because of the way she spins the Mercy Thompson series on its axis by some speculative ruminating about Bran's feelings for Mercy, but regardless of how you feel about this, you can't help but be pulled in by the twin revelations of evil in this book: a hidden, insidious old evil from the past and a current unexpected evil.

Briggs excels at creating groups of people who might be dangerous and tricky, but who you just want to spend time with. There's a scene about halfway through Burn Bright, where Anna and Charles split up to go search out Bran's Wildings-- the wolves so crazy and powerful they must be kept directly under the Marrock's thumb and far away from anyone else.

Anna ends up with the Moorish Werewolf, Asil, who is extremely powerful and old driving in a car to find an even more powerful and old and crazy werewolf. On the way they discuss Johnny Cash.

"Johnny Cash was an uneducated, backwoods man with a deep voice. You are wasted on Charles."
"Cash was a national treasure," she said, starting to feel a little hot. "He took folk music, church music, and rock, and fused them into something that spoke to a lot of people. And I"m so lucky I found Charles that I must have been blessed by leprechauns in a former life."
"You've never met leprechauns or you wouldn't say that."

This, for me, is Brigg's genius at work: a little scene on the way to exciting action where two people discuss something mundane--like music preferences-- and reveal their biases and central loyalties. Love it.

Briggs not only kind of changes Bran and Mercy, he changes Bran and Leah as well. There is an awesome scene at the end of the book that kind of sums up why Leah resents Charles so much, and it has a powerful impact. I was relieved to find out there was more to Leah than just being awful to Mercy. Okay, I'm ready for the next Mercy book now, with all these emotional revelations plus the reveal of terrible enemies!

4.5

I always love when Patricia Brigg's publishing schedule rolls around to an Alpha & Omega release. I hadn't realized that the last book in the series, Dead Heat, was released in 2015! I find myself taking better to Charles and Anna's story than Mercy's. Don't get me wrong, I love Mercy, but there's something that's just so satisfying in Charles and Anna's relationship.

Burn Bright begins with Charles watching over the pack while Bran is away. Of course, this is going to be a time when things go wrong, and this "wrongness" manifests itself when two of Bran's "Wildlings" are attacked. Wildlings are those of the Marrok's pack who are unable, for various reasons, to function in society. They mostly live in the secluded areas of Aspen Creek dealing with only the most dominant wolves of the pack. It seems as though someone is searching for something specific to the Wildlings, and as Anna and Charles investigate, they discover there might be a traitor in their midst, and a darkness that's been brewing for centuries.

Right off the bat, I loved that this story was centralized to Aspen Creek. Most of Charles and Anna's stories in the past have involved them travelling somewhere or another, but I liked that this one remained close to home. The "close to home" idea also enhances the fact of the traitor and really brings to mind how deep of a blow this is to the Pack.

I love how Patricia Brigg's entwines the Alpha & Omega / Mercy storylines so the timeline is set up pretty nicely, we know generally where things have left off in the Mercyverse which is kind of important for understanding why Bran is away at the beginning of this book.

I wasn't expecting how much Burn Bright ruminates on the past, and how we still see Anna, not struggling, but contemplating her life as a werewolf. It seems like it's been a lot longer, but in bookworld, Anna has only been a werewolf for a few years. It was interesting, to say the least, to be reminded of this, and also to be reminded of how Anna still struggles with what was done to her by her former Pack. I feel like I lost sight of how bad that was for her. While not happy about the trauma Anna suffered, I liked putting these things back into perspective because the theme of the past popping up again runs throughout the story not just where Anna is concerned.

One of the only issues I had was that I wish I was able to go back and re-read the books again. I think Burn Bright stands well on its own, and three years after the previous book was released it's certainly not difficult to get into the story and understand it, but I feel like I missed some of the nuances due to the fact that I'd forgotten some of what I thought her minor details from the previous books. I look forward to doing a re-read of the series as soon as I can though!

Probably my favorite thing about Burn Bright is Leah. Specifically, getting a more in-depth look at her character. She's been a character I think a lot of readers love to hate. Knowing her history with Mercy and up to this point seeing how she's been portrayed it's been easy to dislike her. I loved that Patricia Briggs was able to show us another side. I didn't finish reading with a sudden love and / or sympathy for her character, but I liked that we get to see her act without Bran, we get to see her making the alpha decisions. Even though Charles is technically more dominant than her, she's still the second, and we get to see how effective her place in the Pack truly is. Plus, the glimpses we get of the relationship between Bran and Leah make me hope that one day we'll get a short story featuring them because they have an interesting dynamic / arrangement between them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this installment in the series. I wish we now didn't have to wait another 2-3 years for the next one. As is typical, the main storyline is tied up pretty well, but there are always threads left hanging waiting for Patricia Briggs to pick up in the next book.

It has been too long since I've had a new Alpha and Omega novel in my hands. Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega Book 4) was a solid entry on my Best of 2015 list, and I have missed Anna and Charles (and Bran) ever since. Burn Bright is, if you can believe it, the fifth installment in the series. So it's no wonder I began reading and instantly felt how good it was to be back in Aspen Creek again with all of Bran's crazy foundlings. By now, Patricia Briggs' books are firmly comfort reads for me, whether they're brand new or not. They feel like home. Which is probably why the dedication in this one made me tear up. I'm so glad we go on. I'm so glad words go on. And that we are connected to one another through them.

Anna and Charles are somewhat housebound in Aspen Creek since the Marrok up and took off for Africa to see how Sam is doing. And, in his absence, it is Charles the pack looks to for leadership, enforcement, and otherwise keeping things in line until Bran returns. Which is fine. Except it means little time alone and their days spent making sure the various shifting relationships and dominance issues don't get out of hand. But when a distress signal from the mate of one of the outlying wildlings comes in, Anna and Charles are forced to go on the hunt for the mysterious attacker. To say nothing of the fact that Charles is increasingly concerned about the real reason his father left and why he's not responding to any of Charles's calls for help.

Burn Bright is an extremely satisfying installment in the series. I love that it takes place entirely at Aspen Creek, because I am so fascinated by the machinations among that group and thoroughly enjoy being allowed to watch Charles on his home turf and Anna integrating further into her life there. When I realized Bran was going to be MIA for the majority of the novel, I was all set to be properly irritated. Until. Until I realized just how much in the way of insight his absence would bring us, most especially with regards to Leah. The Marrok's mercurial mate has been one of my favorite aspects of both the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series ever since we initially met her way back in Moon Called. And, even as she was being awful, I just never could buy that there wasn't a darn good reason why she was his mate and that we would eventually become privy to it. Well, we're not all the way there yet, but we do take several steps forward on that front in this volume. Personally, I can hardly stand the wait for more. In the meantime, Anna and Charles make such a good team. They genuinely bring out the best in each other, and their respective individual inner dialogues with regard to caring for and supporting (and affectionately teasing) the other are such a pleasure to read. Real humor, real love. They form the backbone of their arc together. A snippet from one of my favorite conversations:

***

Charles was kneeling beside the couch. One hand on her face. The other hand was holding . . .

"That," Anna said, "is a really big axe that you didn't have this morning when you left." And it had blood on it. Not his blood, she didn't think. It didn't smell like his blood.

Not ours, agreed Brother Wolf happily.

Charles grunted, then when she raised her eyebrows, he answered her implied question.

"When you contacted me the first time, I'd just stolen the axe from the Viking who attacked me and broke his leg with it."

"I see," she said.

"It took me awhile to take out his twin brothers, or I'd have gotten back to you sooner."

She considered that statement and decided he wasn't trying to be funny. He looked apologetic.

"I would rather you not get hurt by Viking twins . . . " she had to say it again, "because Viking twins are apparently a thing here."

***

I always laugh at these classic Briggs exchanges. Like Mercy calmly explaining about the werewolf throwing her against a packing crate while she's trying to rescue the girl from the evil witch and the drug lord, Charles earnestly describing the Viking twins he had to dispatch before he could get to Anna is so endearing it fills me with fondness. For him. For this world. And for the integrity with which Ms. Briggs's sees to it all. As ever, the pacing is note perfect, the stakes high, and the consequences far-reaching. I'm in it for the long haul.

When this popped up on NetGalley, I hit the request button so hard I might have hurt myself a little. I’ve been a huge, huge fan of the Mercy Thompson series for a while now, and so, after I ran out of those to read, I naturally moved to the Alpha and Omega series. It takes place in the same universe, but follows different characters. How could I not?!

Bran, the Marrok (the leader over all the werewolves in North America this world, for those unaware. He’s sort of the Alpha of all the Alphas) is away in this volume, leaving his son Charles in charge of running his pack. He gets a phone call from one of the wildlings, the unstable wolves who can’t live in a pack so are housed separately from Bran’s pack, saying there’s been some sort of incident, and that he needs to come check it out.

Well, wildlings are known for being aggressive and unstable, so the best thing to do if you’re a very dominant werewolf is to bring an Omega, the sort of werewolf that is so far out of the pack hierarchy that most wolves (and other beings besides) feel an instinct to protect them. They’re great for calming the crazies down, more or less. Good thing that Charles’ mate Anna is an Omega.

So off they go to the wildlings to investigate. Cue shenanigans!

It’s actually pretty arguable at this point that I like Charles and Anna as much as I like Mercy and Adam. It’s about equal at this point. I love, love, love that this series gives us a bit of a behind the scenes look at some of the things that are mentioned more in Mercy’s books, but as things in the background, or from Mercy’s past. For example, some of the root of the conflict between Mercy and Bran’s mate Leah is explained a bit in this one, and we get some insight into Bran’s relationship with Mercy, and things that she, but not everyone, are oblivious to… so that was interesting.

This was one of those books where I just picked it up and then read it all in one go. I didn’t even entertain the thought of putting this book down, because from start to finish, it was entertaining. I find that (mainly because both are largely present throughout the whole stories as they are the titular Alpha and Omega) these books tend to focus a little more on the relationship between Charles and Anna than Mercy’s books typically focus on her relationship with Adam. They’re… romancier, in a way. I really like this though. Charles and Anna’s relationship is freaking adorable at times, and I still find it a little weird to say that about Charles Cornick, who has always been presented as a very powerful but largely stoic character. They just *get* each other. It’s not overly lovey-dovey, in terms of comparing it to what can be found in a lot of other books in the same or similar genres, but it’s often cute, and quite a bit sexy sometimes too. The POV switches between Charles and Anna, for the most part, with a few exceptions, and it’s nice to get to see the story unfold from both perspectives.

It was an interesting look at some of the parts of this world that you don’t typically get to see, because in this case, the wildlings are quite hidden away for good reason. Some of the more damaged wildlings are featured. The dynamics of Bran’s pack were fleshed out a bit more for me. Characters like Asil and Leah played a pretty decent part in this story. Even Anna’s Omega powers and Charles’ witchborn powers were explained in more details here.

The twist, or climax of the plot was well thought out and amazingly well executed. It kept me in the dark until it was good and ready to be revealed, and that doesn’t always happen. When it *did* reveal, and I had guessed at it with varying levels of success, I was… well, I was a lot of different emotions. This book had ups and downs and twists and turns. I got teary-eyed for characters I’d really just met. I got angry, and I smiled.

This might be one of my favorite novels in this universe. I cannot WAIT for more.

Thanks to the author, as well as Berkley via NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

I’ve been a fan of Patricia Briggs for a long time, even before she began writing the Mercy Thompson series. I don’t think she’s capable of writing a bad book at this point, but I do think this one is not among her best.

The plot revolves around a traitor living among the werewolves of Aspen Creek and a threat to the wildings, old and mentally ill werewolves that live under the supervision of the Marrock, Bran Cornick. Since Bran has not yet returned from his trip to rescue Mercy in Silence Fallen, Charles and Anna have to try to protect the wildings and figure out who is providing information to the outsiders who are hunting them.

I didn’t get very engaged in the storyline, mostly because the search for the traitor never really got started. The story seemed to consist mostly of Charles and Anna attempting to rescue or warn the wildings of potential danger in a very scattershot way. The traitor gets outed without any real effort on their part.

However, I did enjoy getting to see more of the lives of the werewolves living in Aspen Creek. The wildings were a fascinating glimpse into the effects of extreme age/trauma on very dangerous creatures. It was also interesting to learn more about the relationships between Bran and his wife Leah, Bran and a very young Mercy, and the other werewolves living in Aspen Creek.

The end of the story seems to set up future books, because although the immediate enemies are vanquished, they are part of larger group that may be targeting the werewolves. I’m definitely curious about what’s going to be happening next with that.

So, even though this book isn’t necessarily the strongest in the series, it’s still a good read for anyone who is invested in what happens next to Charles, Anna, and the other werewolves.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Please let’s keep in mind that this is the first book Patricia Briggs has written since her husband died. Heavy on romance, the first bit of action is all about love with a “man” trying to save his lady love. [SPOILERS!!!]. Later, Anna, for example, enters a new world to save a man battling a powerful curse placed on him by a vicious coven of witches, and having loving assistance arrive not only from her husband but her lifelong protector, super Alpha, and father-in-law, Bran. Even Asil, the isolated curmudgeon protected her from someone he’d cherished for 20 years.

I can see all of this through the lens of tremendous loss. Was it perfect? Nope. But with a bit of compassion for a writer who lost her own true love so suddenly...can you imagine how that might affect some of the choices she made?

Her husband was her partner in everything, including writing. Maybe he would have guided certain events differently. I’m willing to give her a complete pass on whatever felt off about this particular book. I’m astounded that she could manage it at all. I’m proud of you, PB. Your bravery is not lost on me. Congratulations on meeting your deadline during the worst year of your life. I pray you find your way through the pain and return to the voice that has made your one of the most popular writers of your genre.

I really look forward to every release from Patricia Briggs whether it's a Charles/Anna or a Mercy story. I've said it before, but every book is like coming home to old friends, and BURN BRIGHT was no exception. In fact in preparation for this release, I did an audio re-read of both of the entire Mercy and Alpha & Omega series. I just love these books that much. So after reading this newest installment, I'm happy to report I'm still just as enamored as ever with the series.

BURN BRIGHT brought a whole lot more depth to the characters of Aspen Creek that really enriched the series. Sure we get plenty of Charles and Anna time, but there's a whole lot of other side characters that came to the forefront, like the Wildlings. Also, Leah in particular surprised me. In the previous books in both series she's portrayed as bitter and vindictive, overall a nasty person. And yet in BURN BRIGHT we got to see a whole lot more of her personality and who she really is. I definitely enjoyed seeing more into her character.

There is one small twist regarding Bran and Mercy and the reasons why Leah despises Mercy so much. While I won't spoil things, I'm not sure how I feel about the revelations. Some things just didn't sit with me right and had me second guessing a lot of past things from previous books. I won't say that it ruined anything, just made me see things in a different light and I'm just not sure how I feel. I'll get over it, and I do commend Patricia for writing such multi-faceted characters. While the twist may not be my favorite, it made the characters all the more real for it.

All in all, BURN BRIGHT was a very enjoyable installment in the Alpha & Omega series. Fans of Ms. Brigg's books will be more than pleased!

I love taking a break from traditional romance to visit the wonderful world of Patricia Briggs. Charles and Anna, a spin-off world of the Mercy Thompson world, have solidified themselves as the Marrok's most dependable within the wolf pack. As one of two Omegas in existence, Anna's spent time as a commodity in this series. I loved that Burn Bright gave us a lot more insight to Charles and even his own father, Bran the Marrok.

As Bran is out of town and has left Charles in charge of the pack, a mysterious phone call from the wildlings (outcast or "broken" wolves) sets the pack in a panic. As more bodies are discovered and a plot begins to reveal itself from inside the pack, Briggs does a fantastic job of making readers second guess every character they've either loved or hated. Anna does have her moment with pushing the mystery narrative when she helps a dissociated wolf. Beautifully written, the way Anna breaks through mental and physical barriers with her Omega side is something powerful to read.

Briggs had me second guesses throughout the whole novel! Watching our Alpha and Omega try to save their pack was like peaking in to a world I could never imagine. Anna and Charles connection is so ingrained and strong. Their instincts are sharp and o point when it comes to one another that watching them investigate or even fight an enemy is like watching a beautiful dance. Another stellar chapter to the shifter world of Patricia Briggs!

PATRICIA BRIGGS DOES IT AGAIN!!!!! I AM OBSESSED WITH HER BOOKS!!!!! With each book, she continues to create unique and dynamic stories with her memorable characters.

In traditional Briggs fashion, the mystery and adventure elements of this story were exhilarating. I loved trying to solve the crazy mystery alongside the characters. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, and I enjoyed every moment of it. The storyline of this book is definitely memorable!

I was shocked at how much the characters developed in this story. There have been so many books in this world, yet Briggs continues to find new ways to develop her characters even more. Not only did we learn more about Charles and Anna, but we also got to learn more about Mercy. It was such an unexpected and delightful surprise to see some more of Mercy's upbringing.

The romance was perfectly placed throughout the story. Charles and Anna had some really sweet moments, but it never overshadowed the intense plot of the story. Their romance continues to blossom and grow throughout each book, just like they do. I SHIP IT SO FREAKING HARD.

I don't want to spoil anything about this book, so just do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK! Fans of this series will not be disappointed.

5/5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It Book Reviews

Patricia Briggs was one of the first authors I read when I was introduced by a friend to the PNR genre.  I am a big fan of both the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series so I was thrilled to have an opportunity to review Burn Bright.

I have loved watching the relationship between Ann and Charles develop over the series and adored that in Bur Bright we get to see how much Anna had grown.  Anna was so broken when she first came to Charles so I loved that in Burn Bright Anna was so much stronger and got to be someone who was actively protecting some of the most vulnerable members of the Morrok's pack.

The Wildlings were such an interesting group of wolves and I hope we get to see them in the future.  It's a fascinating contrast to have characters that are simultaneously broken in some fashion while still being incredibly dangerous.  Briggs did an outstanding job of making the reader feel both compassion and fear for each of the Wildlings we met.

Bram's wife Leah is a character I have mostly despised through both series, but in Burn Bright my feelings have softened a bit.  In Burn Bright we get to glimpse the  softer side of Leah.  Ultimately Leah makes decisions that are for the best of the pack and I think I finally understand that the reason that Leah is so hateful is because she truly loves Bran and doesn't get the same love back from him.  Therefore everyone else that Bran shows any affection for is just a reminder of what she doesn't get from him.  Seeing that Bran had to leave rather than deal with Leah himself when he believed that she was the traitor gives me hopes that perhaps we will get to see the two of them get closer in the future.

I won't spoil who the traitor was, but I will say I was so disappointed to find out who it was.  I would never have guessed that it was this wolf which I suppose was the point.  It's just hard to find a character that you have enjoyed wasn't at all who you thought they were.  My only consolation was that the back story that explains why this wolf was a traitor was masterfully done.

As always I look forward to the next installment into the world of Mercy, the Marrok, Charles and Anna.

I enjoy every other Patricia Briggs book. This was a mixture between a snapshot in the lives of these individuals and completely twisting the personalities of these people (wolves).
For instance, Leah in previous books has been in love with her husband and crazy jealous of his sons - that, in part, carried over. But she was also accused of abusing people weaker than herself if she thought they weren't giving her proper respect (which seemed to be a moving goal post), being unlike by everyone, shallow, angry and bitter, and not someone her husband relies on to do any work in the pack (which is part of why she's jealous of his sons). In this story, she puts pack matters first, it's implied she has previously had responsibilities in the back, instead of all the other descriptors, she's more straight forward and blunt (rather than nasty and rude, as she has been in other stories).
There were similar issues with Bran, Asil, and Sage, though not as obvious.
This book felt like it was filled to get the characters in position for the next story. It happens, but it didn't live up to the standard she's set in her previous books.
Still well written with some new characters I hope to learn more about in the future.

BURN BRIGHT didn't pull me in like the Alpha and Omega books of the past, but still does a good job of continuing the series and setting up the next chapter in Charles and Anna's story.

My biggest issues with BURN BRIGHT was the pace and the way that information was just sort of chaotically thrown around. The pace was slow and I had a hard time getting excited when I just wanted things to happen. It left me a bit bored which made it hard to get into when things actually did start happening. Information was thrown out so willy-nilly that it made things a little confusing at times. Thankfully the plot twists and the action helped me get back into the story.

The plot as a whole was interesting. There was a lot of character driven moments and the mystery actually stayed a mystery. There are some things that are revealed about Mercy's past and some things about Bran that were a bit shocking. I am interested to see if this information comes out again in future stories.

Like I said, not my favorite Alpha and Omega installment, but it furthered the series. BURN BRIGHT definitely ends in a way that makes you want more though so here's to hoping that the next book doesn't have these same issues.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a fan of PB since the first Mercy Thompson novel many years ago. Over the years, I’ve notuced two glaring things about her writing. 1. I can’t help but suspect that PB might not like women, or at least her female characters. Between the Madonna/whore complex she tends to employ in regards to her female characters and Her justifications for always writing the women in the Mercyverse to fit the Smurfette principle, I find her suspect. She writes the male characters with such care and attention to their human and interiority. I really want her to do the same for the female characters. Women in Mercyverse are often are subject to thin sexist and gendered stereotypes. She doesn’t seem to care all that much she created this world and she can make the women more equitable with the men. But I digress.

Burn Bright is a frustrating book. Characters often act out of character, turns out Bran is a pedophile and Charles’ abilities are endless and he seems to gain new ones when it’s convenient for the story. A note- I find it incredibly ugly and disheartening that Mercy for years was subjected to abuse by Leah because her adopted father was sexually interested in her. To have Anna and Charles justify Leah’s abuse of Mercy (essentially saying Mercy was asking for it) is deeply troubling, given Anna’s abuse history. If Bran was sexually attracted to a child, making him a pedophile btw, and that child was abused by others because of Brans interest in her, then the people who abused her are wrong and don’t deserve to have their actions talked about as understandable.

A very frustrating and uneven book to read.

The writing is sad. I am having trouble understanding, the pace and the tempo are distorted by spelling and punctuation errors. I am confused how such writing was permitted to be released. This is a work that needs a thorough once over by a professional editor

As Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite urban fantasy writers, I love that I have a new release from her to look forward to every year. Reading her books always feels like cuddling up with a warm fuzzy blanket when it’s snowing outside. Burn Bright was a nice installment in the Alpha & Omega series. Perhaps not quite as strong as the last couple of books, but still loads of fun all the same.

The positives were abundant: an interesting mystery to solve (one which I’m sure we’ll see repercussions from in the next Mercy book), plenty of Anna and Charles awesomeness (because their relationship dynamic is still one of my favorites), Marrok werewolf pack politics (a topic of which I never tire reading), and an easy flow of writing that absorbs you for a good ride. Essentially, all of the basics I’ve come to expect from a Briggs novel in abundance.

All that said, I wish the book could’ve had tighter pacing, most notably in the second half. The main story halted several times so other stories could be told and, while they were all interesting and completely relevant to the plot, they effectively killed any building momentum for me. It wasn’t a deal-breaker by any means (because the stories were good), but compared to the last two novels where the story practically careened towards the finish in a can’t-put-it-down-for-anything manner, Burn Bright was just okay in that regard.

Overall, anything Briggs produces is a good read, and this wasn’t an exception. I delighted in learning more about the dynamics within the Marrok’s pack (and especially loved the inclusion of Asil – one of the most interesting side characters in the saga). I love enigmas in books, and Briggs has several she’s been slowing revealing more about for years. It keeps me coming back with gusto!

Recommendations: I’m a huge fan of this series (and Patricia Briggs herself – you won’t meet a more gracious author) and would recommend them to both urban fantasy fans and those new to the genre. At this point, the link between the Alpha & Omega and Mercy Thompson books is strong enough that you should consider reading both series simultaneously by publication order to avoid major spoilers. Additionally, I would encourage you to pick up Shifting Shadows, a brilliant short story compilation, before diving in to Burn Bright.

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller

I like this series and it was a chance to explore the Alpha and Omega world more. I was surprised to see so much of the pack in this story as previous novels have been Anna and Charles centric. About Anna and Charles as a couple, getting to know each other better, Anna coming into her power as an Omega and letting us (readers) see what Charles job is in the pack. This novel went in another direction. It is letting us see how Anna and Charles interact within the pack versus seeing how they act in the outside world. While hints about pack characters have been established the author starts to expand. I do think we are already familiar with Asil (sp). I was surprised where the author was going with Leah, Bran's mate, Charles step-mum. It's seemed a bit off and unexpected, but Leah had been a very flat character in previous books, so let's explore who she is. I was OK with that. I like finding out more about Mercy's childhood. I did feel the story was short, incomplete and that it was only half a novel. It is obvious now that the author is setting up a story arc with this family of witches. The Bran/Mercy thing was a bit
weird, a bit off, but I will wait and see where the author takes the story.

I noted that many reviewers who gave this story one star were put off that it was revealed that Bran who is approximately 2,000 yrs old is or was attracted to Mercy Thompson and many have stated he is a pedophile. Well, considering the average lifespan of a human until relatively recent times was around 30 to 35 yrs of age and that girls were considered marriageable at 12 yrs of age and boys at 14 yrs old and that this is the circumstance that Bran and many of his wolves have grown up with that explains a lot.

I was really looking forward to a new A&O book, and overall I did enjoy it. But not as much as her previous books. I liked how she fleshed out some of the secondary characters, especially Leah. It was nice to see her as not just the Supreme Bitch who had somehow trapped the Marrok into marriage, but as a real person with quirks and flaws just like everyone else. That was probably my most enjoyable aspect of the story. The rest - as I said, without giving away any spoilers, I did like it. But I just feel like it doesn't hold up to the rest of the A&O series, and that makes me sad.

I absolutely love Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson is a great series, but the Alpha and Omega series stole my heart. Anna is one of my favorite characters EVER. (Though this book reminded me that I want to know more about one of the side characters, Asil, because he's always amused me.)

This is the fifth book in the Alpha and Omega series. It actually started as a short story that  was originally published in an anthology in 2007. I own the anthology - somewhere - but it's available as a separate ebook on the store. If you want to read the series, you really need to start there. It's where Anna and Charles meet and explains Anna's backstory. But in Burn Bright, Anna and Charles have been mated for a few years and gone on a number of adventures already. Now Charles' father, Bran, "the Marrok" is out of town, leaving Charles in charge of the pack, and of course, they're attacked.

In between pack dominance fights, unraveling curses, and pack bond magic, Anna and Charles track down attackers, heal wounds, and discover people aren't always who they seem to be.

The Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series have both been hinting at a grand, over-arching plotline that gets revealed a little more in this book, so that's exciting, and I'm eager to see where this goes. I've enjoyed how the two series are very much their own series, but still exist in the same world and have events going on that affect both sets of characters. I think we'll see a crossover book soon.

I feel a little weird calling it urban fantasy- that IS the genre, but the Alpha and Omega series, in particular, usually takes place out in the sticks. Not exactly urban. (You could call the Mercy books the city and Alpha/Omega the country and not be too far off.)

It's a great addition to the series, if you've been reading them. Not good as a standalone if you don't know the rest of the world already, though!

‘Burn Bright’ is the fifth instalment in Patricia Brigg’s urban fantasy series ‘Alpha & Omega’, a spin-off to her ‘Mercy Thompson’ series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book in Charles and Anna’s story, and I’m so glad because I haven’t been on the greatest reading streak with Patricia Briggs lately ... I was pretty “meh” on the last ‘Alpha & Omega’ book from 2015, ‘Dead Heat’ and thoroughly unimpressed with Mercy’s from last year, ‘Silence Fallen’. But Briggs is one of my favourite authors, and this is one of the few urban fantasy series that I’ve loyally stuck with, when others have fallen by the wayside – so I always feel a little discombobulated when I’m dissatisfied with my once-every-two-years dose.

‘Burn Bright’ follows on from the events of ‘Silence Fallen’ – when Mercy was kidnapped, and werewolf Marrok Bran left his Aspen Creek home to help with her rescue mission. When ‘Burn Bright’ begins, Charles has been left in charge of his Da’s pack for a month, acting as pack leader – and it’s all going relatively smoothly, until he receives word that some of the pack’s wildling werewolves are in trouble in the Montana mountains, seemingly being hunted by a covert operation for purposes unknown …

All of Patricia Brigg’s books are whodunits, that’s a given. But I find myself tending to favour those that stick close to home – both in the ‘Alpha & Omega’ series, and ‘Mercy Thompson’. So I was really happy that ‘Burn Bright’ takes place entirely in Aspen Creek, and reveals more than any other instalment about Bran’s werewolf pack and operations. I just tend to find that Briggs is less likely to go off on unnecessary tangents, introducing superfluous secondary characters and settings we have no connection to (as indeed, I thought she did in ‘Dead Heat’ with a trip to Arizona). ‘Burn Bright’ is brilliant twofold, not only because it’s firmly grounded in Aspen Creek and works to pull readers into the Marrok’s ordering of his werewolf pack – but also because the entire ‘whodunit’ mystery is centred in that pack, and builds upon the relationships with many established secondary characters … like Bran’s mate Leah, and the Moor, Asil.

The mystery in ‘Burn Bright’ is such a good one, and I was buoyed to see a hint of potential to build a bigger bad-guy arc around it in coming books. If that is the case, I certainly have more faith that this could give readers the layers and subterfuge lacking from the fae/Greylords build-up across both series in recent years …

So the plot in ‘Burn Bright’ worked for me, in a way that the last couple of Briggs books hadn’t been. This one felt very tightly plotted, and like it was serving a wider series purpose overall.

The character-building in this instalment though, was sometimes a tantalising mix of too much, and not enough.

For one thing, with Bran not around in this book – it gave Charles and Anna a chance to talk out some things about the Marrok that certainly Anna probably wouldn’t have felt comfortable airing, had he been closer to the pack bonds. In particular, Anna drops some bombshells regarding her observances of Bran that BLEW MY MIND ... so this was just a whole lot of revelations coming thick and fast and then just left to sit, simmering on readers minds, probably until the next ‘Mercy Thompson’ book most likely (March 2019, for anyone who is counting down).

These revelations also made me yearn, more than ever, for Bran to get his own spin-off. But I think Briggs has repeatedly nixed that idea, citing that he’s just too commanding a presence and would overwhelm any book. But still – Briggs threw these big character reveals about him out there, and now I kinda want her to pick them up and run with them.

But ‘Burn Bright’ also stumbles somewhat with continuing to advance Charles and Anna’s relationship, and in highlighting how loving one another is changing them, for the better. Charles briefly mentions Anna’s restlessness at not knowing what to do with her life. Seeing as werewolves are very hard to kill and can live immortal (or – more likely with all that could try and kill them – at least hundreds of years) it helps if a person can figure out what they’d like to do with all that time on their hands. Charles mentions Anna half-heartedly looking into finishing her music studies, and Bran offering to help them look into adoption … this particular aspect is key, since past books have given readers Anna’s interiority and desire for children (possibly even in defiance of Charles, similar to how his own mother sacrificed herself to have him). I totally accept Charles’ assessment that Anna isn’t the sort of person to feel restless and think that a child will solve all her problems of self – but I still feel like that aspect of Charles and Anna’s relationship (foreshadowed really, by the story of Charles’s mother) will have to come around again, and ‘Burn Bright’ might have been the book to continue laying that groundwork …

But, honestly, these are minor quibbles about Anna and Charles and their relationship. Overall, ‘Burn Bright’ is one of the best Briggs instalments in recent memory. Tantalising character tid-bits are dropped, secondary characters advance in my estimation and a whodunit to sink your teeth into make this a stellar instalment.

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs is the 5th book in her Alpha & Omega series. The Alpha & Omega series is another fascinating werewolf storyline that takes place in the world of Mercy Thompson. Only this series revolves around Charles Cornick, who is the enforcer for his Alpha father ( Bran), and his wife Anna, who is an Omega wolf.

This story begins shortly after the last Mercy Thompson story ended, and Bran (The Marrok), is away on a secret trip. In his absence, Charles is in on call for problems, and when he receives a call for help from a fae mate to a wilding wolf; he and Anna take the 20 minute ride to the mountains. The wildings are somewhat broken, damaged and unstable wolves, who live separately from the pack in the wilderness.

When Charles and Anna arrive at their destination, only the fae mate can explain what has happened. His wolf mate has been kidnapped, and is being held in a cage; due a promise made to his mate, the fae cannot go help his mate, as has no control over his dangerous powers, if he sees her being harmed. Charles and Anna will find Hester (the mate) and help her escape, and in so doing, will kill those who threatened her. But before they can get her back home, another group attacks, unfortunately Hester is killed, as well as the attackers. When they come back to the house, the fae mate has killed himself, and has left a clue that there is a traitor among Bran’s pack.

When Charles, Anna, Leah (Bran’s mate) and the rest of the pack devise a plan to send three teams to visit all the wildings, to warn them and try to find the traitor. What follows is an intense exciting adventure, where multiple times Anna will find herself very much in danger. Being an Omega wolf brings her right in the middle of the unstable wolves. The first wolf, felt the draw of an Omega (they can calm them and bring peace), and takes Anna into his mind to try to fight off a curse set by a witch. It takes Charles help to allow Anna to break the curse and save herself. In the midst of all of this action, Charles comes to realize why Bran is away, technically in hiding, and is determined to prove his theory with Anna’s help. But most importantly, they must stop the traitor before more wildings are killed. This is monstrous task, as the evil villain is much stronger than any of them realize.

I love Charles and Anna together; the chemistry between these two is electric and the way they balance one another out is amazing, especially in his role as enforcer.

I love Brother Wolf’s talking to Charles, and his love of Anna. Asil and Wellesy were very good, and surprisingly so was Leah, whom most of us do not like. We also get to learn more information our Mercy’s early years as a member of Bran’s pack, as well as learning more about Anna’s powers and Charles’s witchborn powers.

As we race to a wild climatic finish, we find ourselves holding our breaths as there are some surprises that shock us as to who the traitor is, and how powerful and evil the villain is

But most of all, it is the love of Anna that keeps Charles sane, and her ability as an Omega to be able to calm wolves. They make such a great couple, working together to solve any crimes within the pack range, not to mention their chemistry is very hot. Burn Bright was an exciting, pulse pounding, fast paced, captivating read, with some surprising revelations and a wonderful couple.

Fifth (and a thriller) in the Alpha & Omega urban fantasy series (fifteenth in the overall Mercyverse) and revolving around a mated werewolf pair: Charles Cornick and Anna Latham.

My Take
The start yanked me right in, such a contrast of power as this powerful being flees at his mate’s behest. It's that third person multiple points-of-view, which allows for a number of characters to provide their perspective, including the first to show up in the story. A very handy device as we hear what they’re thinking, fearing, hoping…and planning, bwa-ha-ha. It also provides insight into Anna’s growth and understanding of her Omega powers, of the changing relationship between Charles and Brother Wolf, a softer perspective on Leah, a fearful look in at Bran and vulnerability(!), and Sage’s thoughts on the events in Burn Bright. Those are the primary characters whose voices we read along with a few other characters.

I love how Briggs uses these bits of humor to bring color to the characters and bring us up to speed on the dynamics of a werewolf pack. The interactions between Leah, Charles, Anna, and yes, Mercy, entertained me. As did more background on Mercy’s prankish childhood, lol. In every story, Briggs refers to some stunt Mercy pulled, and each time we get a bit more insight. Tricky plotting there, Briggs.

We do learn more about Bran and Leah’s relationship, and I suspect it undergoes a sea change in Burn Bright. I had always felt as though theirs was a recent mating, but not when Charles thinks back to his childhood! Of course, there is that complication Briggs introduces with Bran’s interest in Mercy! Holy cats. But going back to Leah. It’s sad, for Leah reveals how she feels and sees her mate. Good thing since it plays into whether she saves the day or not!

There’s more growth on Anna’s part in understanding more about her Omega power. It appears that Charles and Brother Wolf are also evolving with Brother Wolf speaking to Charles. As for Wellesley, his descent and then escape from slavery was a horror followed by a series of horrors!

More horror, but the good kind, I think was that “hello, hello” of Asil’s that got my imagination soaring, or should I say plunging?

I gotta say that I felt things dragged in Burn Bright, even though I loved the introduction of the wildings and the deeper back history on more of the characters, and still, it is a series of pivotal events, including the flash forward into the next series of events that will keep the Mercyverse on its toes.

The Story
Bran still isn’t back from helping to rescue Mercy, in hiding, but from what Charles can’t tell. A concern that fades when word of a sneak attack reaches Charles.

The mental state of the wildings is precarious, their power terrifying, and something or someone is killing them.

The Characters
Charles Cornick, a born werewolf, is his father’s youngest son, his intimidating and silent Enforcer, and a financial genius. Brother Wolf is his wolf side, and the two share their thoughts and instincts. Anna Latham is his Omega mate, looking for a purpose in life. Heylight is Anna’s new horse ( Dead Heat , 4). Anna’s father is a high-profile lawyer who defends protestors.

The Aspen Creek Pack in Aspen Creek, Montana, is…
…led by Bran Cornick, the Marrok, who rules most of North America. He has a third aspect, the berserker, the stories of whom gave rise to the myth of Beowulf. The mean Leah is his unhappy mate. Colin “Tag” Taggart is a tracker and had fought for Napoleon. Sage Carhardt is a close friend to Anna, Charles, Leah, and is dating the very old Asil the Moor who grows roses and believes his wolf’s rage will lash out and destroy.

Juste emigrated from France, from Jean Chastel’s pack. Kara is the youngest werewolf ( Bone Crossed , MT 4) and friendly with Asil. Peggy is a female werewolf, an artist, mated to Carrie, a long-distance truck driver.

Samuel Cornick is Bran’s oldest son, a doctor mated to a fae and usually living on the perimeters of Adam Hauptman’s pack in Washington state. It seems, though, that Samuel is in Africa right now. Christy is Adam’s pain-in-the-tush ex-wife. Mercy Thompson is a coyote skinwalker raised in Bran’s pack. Bryan and Evelyn were Mercy’s foster parents. The one-legged Sherwood Post has Asil’s respect.

Buffalo Singer had been Charles’ uncle. Bonarata is the vampire who rules Europe.

The wildings are…
…broken supernatural beings whom Bran watches over with the understanding that there is no killing, no using their power to harm. Hester is a werewolf mated to Jonesy, a fae with an earth magic, one of Lugh’s children. The scary Wellesley is a famous artist who cannot control his wolf. Chloe had been his wife, who died. Rhea Springs is where everything went wrong. A pair of Viking twins and their younger brother — Geir and Fenrir and Ofaeti — are lucky Bran didn’t kill them. Jericho is barely there. Devon is his friend and had once been close with Asil. Frank Bright is another wilding who knows about that collar spell.

The Chicago pack was…
…Anna's original pack (Shifting Shadows: "Alpha & Omega", 0.5 (Mercyverse, 1.1)). Boyd Hamilton is the current alpha; the unstable Leo had been the previous. Ryan Cable and several others were human soldiers who volunteered to be Changed.

The Hardesty family is…
…led by Grandma Daisy Hardesty and is the first powerful witch family in 300 years, that they know of.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a dark scene from the story, a slathering wolf behind Anna, both trapped by thorny, yellow flowering vines. The info blurb at the top, the embossed title at the bottom, and the series information below a ragged orange line are all in white. The author’s name is at the top in an embossed orange.

The title is cleansing as well as evil’s goal, to Burn Bright, and what evil does.

While I’ve been a huge fan of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs for a long time now, I haven’t enjoyed the Alpha and Omega books nearly as much and tend to only read them to keep up with whats goign on elsewhere in the Mercyverse. So I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I loved this book. Burn Bright (Alpha and Omega #5) by Patricia Briggs was a fantastic read that I was unable to put down once I had picked it up and easily one of the best books in both series so far.

I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone so I’m going to keep things fairly vague here and just say that Burn Bright was a fantastic book that answered many of the questions the last few books in the series left me though. Though it also gave me at least a dozen even bigger ones and spawned what is probably a crazy theory that I can’t wait to discuss with other fans of the series. There was just so much that I enjoyed about this series that it’s been a bit of a struggle to actually pick one of two and write this review.

One of the things that surprised me the most about this book and really made it stand apart from all the previous books is how much the story focuses on characters other than Charles and Anna. Now don’t get me wrong, I like Charles and Anna but I think fleshing out the secondary characters and really letting them shine in this book was a great choice big the author. Though I have to admit that by the end of the book I was more than a little irritated with Patricia Briggs. She somehow managed to take characters that I absolutely loathe and humanized them in ways that makes it all but impossible for me to keep on hating them the way that I have,while also taking characters that I adore and showcasing their flaws in some really unflattering and sometimes icky icky ways.

I think everything that happened in Burn Bright is going to lead to some extremely interesting events in the next Alpha and Omega book as well as the Mercy Thompson series. I know the book only just realized today but I’m already dying to read about what happens next and don’t know how I’m going to wait till the next book!

I would definitely recommend this book to just about anyone looking for some fantastic new urban fantasy or paranormal romance to read, though I would also suggest they read all the previous books in this and the Mercy Thompson books first. They are all amazing books worth spending the time and money to read!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Patricia Briggs is one of the best urban fantasy authors out there. Her books are captivating, and engrossing from beginning to end. Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1), was actually the first book I ever read by Patricia Briggs, and I loved it immediately. So getting back into the Alpha and Omega series after three years left me giddy and excited.

The relationship between a pack enforcer and an omega has always been fascinating to me. On top of that I love Charles’s Native American heritage. As the son of a witch and the packs Alpha, plus being the pack’s enforcer he is quite alluring. A perfect example for a very protective, big bad wolf. Anna, a truly appealing and endearing character, is a pure delight. Her backstory is heart-breaking, but her spine of steel is evident in everything she does. She is tough when needed, sensitive, empathetic, and seeing her interact with Charles has been pleasure ever since the first book was published in 2008.

The author usually writes an Alpha & Omega book every two years with two Mercy Thompson novels in between. Since both of her series play in the same world, and are connected, it feels to me like I’m reading one long entire series, from two different angles. Which is FABULOUS!!!

Burn Bright continued almost exactly where Silence Fallen ended. Bran Cornick, the alpha of all North American werwolf packs, and Charles’s father, was absent when Charles and Anna received a distress call about one of the wildlings, and from there on the story took off.

Charles and Anna were as strong and steady as ever, their relationship was an unadulterated joy. I loved that Anna was front and centre, using her Omega power, with noticeable effect. It was even better when Anna and Charles worked hand in hand. Their compatibility was wonderful and heart-warming.

It’s always interesting when a natural alpha, but not necessarily the leader is pushed into a leading roll. The sudden change of status quo, the careful handling of pack hierarchy, and the importance of not stepping on too many toes – was a source of delightful tension.

Even though the big story arc seems to continue, with many new questions to be answered, it’s exciting to see how far the enemy will take it. It all points towards a longer story arc, a nemesis that will persist, and maybe even give Mercy a headache or two.

To sum it up, this book was very much a HIT. I enjoyed it from beginning to end, and was able to spend an entire day on the sofa, bundled up, watching the rain outside and reading a Patricia Briggs novel. That pretty much sums up an awesome day if you ask me.

I keep seeing reviews where people are freaking out about Bran's feelings for Mercy. That line if thinking is excluding key story points from both of the series.

#1 - Sam is nearly as old as Bran. It's easy to forget because Mercy didn't know when this all started, but Sam was born while Bran was still human. If you've been with the series this long I'm assuming you didn't have a problem with the Mercy/Sam relationship, and if so, you can't claim age issues with Bran being too old.

#2 - Bran doesn't see himself as a Father figure to Mercy. This is a role some readers have stuck him in, but he gave that job to Bryan. Bran actually does a lot of unfatherly things to her, like letting his wife be a jerk to a teenager. Whenever Mercy reaches for fatherly or parental memories, she thinks of her foster parents. Bran cared for her as she grew, but in the same way he cares deeply for all the wolves in his pack (I know she's not a wolf, but she's still pack). He's not her father, and doesn't think of her as his daughter, so freaking out about that is putting your own labels on the situation.

#3 - Mercy has an inner strength that is miles deep. I bet some people scheme for centuries to try to get the better of Bran and he still runs rings around them. Mercy did it repeatdly as a teenager. There's something solid and I'd say ancient about her (heritage from her actual father who was not exactly human). That strength and uncompromising spirit that caused Bran to forget himself and have to apologize in front of the pack, something that in all his long life he's probably only seen in anyone a few times, that would be attractive to him. I'd say Mercy could be his equal, if not currently, then at some point in her potentially long life.

#4 - There's no indication that Bran's even aware of his feelings. This all came from people talking about him. And even if he is, you can feel love for someone without ever acting on it.

#5 - I can't ever see him acting on these feelings. A driving force of his existence is to never love as deeply as he loved Charles' mother. He wouldn't do that to his wife, and I doubt his wolf would allow him to do that to their mate.

The point is, when you step back and look at the entire history as we know it, his feelings actually makes sense. I'm not shipping Mercy and Bran. They would be HORRIBLE for each other and Adam is such a wonderful match for her. But you can't help who you love. This reveal is another layer in a beautiful and complex world. People very rarely fit into neat packages, they are complicated and messy. It breaks my heart that so many readers can't look past their own initial reaction to see how this fits and works and makes the whole story feel more real.

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs
Fantasy -March 6th, 2018
4 ½ stars

In the latest installment of Patricia Briggs’s Alpha and Omega series. Charles and Anna must deal with dangerously unstable werewolves and treachery.

Charles and Anna are werewolves and mates. Charles is his father’s enforcer. His father is the Marrok, a very old and very powerful werewolf. But his father has mysteriously disappeared and Charles finds himself dealing with the Marrok’s ‘special’ members. These packmates live separated from the rest of the pack because they are unsafe to be around regular members. But when one of them comes to Charles for help he can’t turn him away. Soon Charles finds himself trying to discover who is targeting the isolated pack. Especially because it seems the attacks are coming from someone with special ops capabilities and lots of money. As they try to visit all of the pack members they discover that there may be someone within their pack betraying them. Can Charles and Anna discover the traitor and save the rest of the pack before it is too late?

Charles and Anna make an incomparable team. I like that Anna and the reader get to see glimpses of the real Charles - who is the boogie man of the werewolf world. In each of the the Alpha and Omega books Charles and Anna are sent by the Marrock on missions but this time they are on their own. This leads the reader to wonder what has happened to the Marrock and the tantalizing idea of how Charles might lead the pack. Reading about the more extraordinary members of the pack made me want to know about them and which leads to the possibility of future unexplored books. This story seemed shorter and more unfinished than prior books in the series. Perhaps this is because the author leaves a lot areas left hanging. I enjoyed reading it but felt that there could have been three to four more chapters added at the end. This story felt like a solid side story instead of a full novel.

Another winning paranormal from Patricia Briggs I only wish it were longer!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I've been a Fan of Patty B ever since I checked out Moon Called from the Mid Manhattan Library over 7-8yrs ago. I loved the writing and the characters and I appreciated that the series included ethnic characters. But Burn Bright is the first one that really has an Black character take stage with the main characters the way Wellesly does in burn Bright. Although Wellesley isn’t a main character he’s definitely a significant one who becomes integral to the conclusion of the story. I could be wrong but I can't recall any prominent black characters in any of the Mercy books or the Alpha & Omega series. Aside from just enjoying the writing in general, as a Black women it felt good to read a series I already love that has characters that also reflect my ethnicity. I both enjoyed and appreciated the back story behind Wellesley’s character it was interesting and realistic.

I definitely enjoyed the dynamic between Anna and Charles. And how even though Anna is Omega she isn’t the cliche omega from every werewolf book ever who just can instinctively soothe the pack and everything is rainbows and gum drops. Anna’s power is complicated and doesn’t always affect the wolves in a uniform or expected way.

I also enjoyed getting deeper look in the relationship between Leah and Bran the dynamic it creates between the people that Leah interacts with. But like some other reviewers I definitely could’ve done without the extra info about Bran and Mercy’s “relationship” I found it both unnecessary and weird. Leah definitely became for a lack of a better word more “Human” to me she has a drive and motivation that was widely misunderstood. And these revelations open up a world or possibilities for the series. I could definitely see Leah getting more screen time in either series. It would be interesting to see how Leah and Mercy interact now with all of the changes that have occurred in Mercy’s life.

Any way I don’t want to be long winded. Read the book! The storyline as usual was interesting and original. It wasn’t by any means cliche or predictable. I would’ve loved to have gotten to know Hester and Jonsey better as well but I’m definitely looking forward to more of Wellesley’s story somewhere down the line. GREAT JOB PATTY!!!

I experienced this book as an audiobook. I own a complete collection of every one of Patricia Briggs' books and I am a huge fan. I am particularly fond of Charles and Anna and the Alpha and Omega offshoot series of the Mercy Thompson Series.

The plots of all of the books in this series are essentially a combination of murder-mystery and action-adventure, which is very much an expected feature of the urban fantasy genre.

As always for the author's stories in this magical world, each book builds upon the other, with events in the Mercy series spilling over into the Alpha and Omega series, and vice versa. In that regard, it was particularly fascinating to me learning even more about Bran's love for Mercy, which builds upon the new information in that regard we learned in the most recent book in the Mercy series.

I adore the relationship between Charles and Anna, which is the centerpiece of this book and every book in this series. It is always co-equal and cooperative, with each always there for the other, rescuing each other from physical danger and supporting each other emotionally. I particularly love the way that Charles's wolf spirit within him, Brother Wolf, can communicate mentally via ESP with Anna. Charles and Anna enjoy a romantic and eternal kind of soulmate relationship.

Because this series began and has continued throughout with the two of them in partnership, as co-protagonists, versus one of them being the protagonist and the other a subcharacter as in the Mercy series, Briggs has not found it as necessary as in the Mercy series to orphan either of them from the other as Mercy is often orphaned from her husband, Alpha werewolf Adam, forcing her out on her own, having to save herself from horrendously deadly villains. I find that a fascinating uniqueness within the urban fantasy genre with its first-person point-of-view storytelling of a lone protagonist, up against a hostile world. Though, granted, a commonality in the plotting across both series is that each presents a support network for the protagonist of fascinating, compelling, and sympathetic magical characters. The difference is that Mercy accumulates her support network over time, across the whole Mercy series, and a support network is already in place for Anna and Charles that is systematically added to with each successive book.

My one disappointment with this particular book was that a subcharacter I had grown very fond of across the five books of this series is revealed as a villain. I found that quite personally painful to experience. But, since this sort of thing is not uncommon in any action-adventure plot, I am not downgrading my rating of this book because of it.

The mystery and action at the core of this book are well done and very compelling. I also enjoyed the introduction of some new and fascinating characters to this series whom I am very sure will appear in future books and add to the emotional intensity as well as fast-paced storytelling we have come to expect and greatly enjoy in this wonderful urban-fantasy series.

Finally, the narration of this entire series has been done by Holter Graham, who is phenomenal. He is capable of doing male and female voices ranging from falsetto to deep bass. He can excellently portray old people, middle-aged people, young adults and children, all with equal believability. It is pure pleasure listening to him.

Several years ago, I devoured Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson series and its spinoff, Alpha & Omega Series. Her world full of shifters, fae, and all kinds of different beasties held me enthralled. As happens sometimes with these long-running series, I got behind and never caught up with the new releases. When Burn & Bright came available, though, I thought it might be fun to see what some of my favorite characters were up to, so I snagged it. Immediately I remember all the reasons why I became enamored with this world, to the point I think I’ll be settling in for a massive reread soon.

I have always loved Charles. He’s seriously sexy, very mysterious in a mystical way, and kind of scary, well, really scary if you are a wolf who’s gotten on the wrong side of the Marrok, Charles’ father and the leader of all the North American werewolves. As his father’s enforcer, he is feared by almost everyone and for good reason. As the only born werewolf, he’s extremely powerful, and more than a bit magical. All this makes him very formidable, and a bit forbidding. What makes Charles such a good hero is the fact that he loves his mate, Anna, in such a way that will melt even the most hardened heart.

Anna is a very rare Omega wolf. Revered among werewolves, Omegas have the power to calm the wolf within—like a wolf whisperer. Turned against her will and then horribly abused by her first pack, Anna’s introduction into werewolf society was the thing of nightmares but Charles’ rescued her. He became her very own sexy Native American knight in shining armor. She tamed Charles’ wolf and stole his heart while she was at it. Their story is the stuff fairy tales are made of.

For this installment, Charles’ father, Bran, is out of town and Charles is left in charge of the pack. As the Marrok, Bran’s pack consists of the wolves that won’t fit well in other packs. They’ve been broken in some way and need extra care that most alphas aren’t strong enough to provide. The most hardened cases, the wildlings, live outside of the main pack, in remote areas up in the mountains. Close enough for Bran to keep an eye on, but far enough away they can have the isolation they need to survive. This, of course, is when all heck breaks loose and someone targets the wildlings in the worst possible way.

I haven’t read books 3 and 4 of the series and had no problems keeping up with what was happening. I loved how Charles’ and Anna’s relationship has progressed since I last checked in. With his Anna, we got to see glimmers of Charles playful side and his humor, no matter how deep down it’s been buried. Anna has grown from the abused woman she was that was conditioned to not cause waves. She’s gained some confidence in herself and in Charles. I love books like this!

Ms. Briggs took us on a quite the adventure, with twists and turns I didn’t see coming. At times, I found myself wondering why we were being led down some strange pathways, only to be enlightened later on down the road. I did correctly guess who the traitor was fairly early on, but truly it was a shot in the dark that panned out, making me shout with glee when it was confirmed.

This isn’t an easy breezy series. It has some darkness in places with good people dying occasionally and bad people getting the end they deserve. It was good to step back into an Urban Fantasy world. It had the action, suspense, and grit that I’ve been needing, plus it was steamy, sexy, and chock full of chemistry. I’ll be keeping my eye out for more books in this wonderful world Ms. Briggs has crafted for us.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I am fairly new to author Patricia Briggs and only have a few books under my belt of hers. What I have read I have thoroughly enjoyed and really look forward to reading more of her works. When Burn Bright came up for a possible review book, I didn’t let the fact it I knew nothing of the Alpha & Omega Series stop me. I had to have it and was not disappointed. To be exact I enjoyed so much when I went to write this review, I doubled back to the book for a note reference I wanted to look up and ended up re-reading Burning Bright. Yup, call me crazy but I enjoyed it that much! There are so many parts to this book that drew me in; I’ll just hit the ones that stand out the most in my mind.

Charles and Anna. Enforcer and Omega. Charles and his position in the pack is an old familiar. But, Anna and her Omega ability, that’s a game changer for me. I’ve grown so use to omegas (little o) being at the bottom of the pack and her she is (A big O) valued, important and possessing of abilities. The dynamics between them really has me wanting to know more about them.

Wildlings – This is a new and fascinating concept to me. Werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. How is that even possible and yet, here they are. When every other story seems to have them portrayed as almost super beings, I love the idea of shifters less than perfect. Does that make them old and senile, I don’t know. It doesn’t seem to be the case with Wellesley.

Oh my gosh, Wellsley! His story is probably my favorite part of the whole book. All I want to do is talk about it and I can’t. Soooo many secrets around him and as every layer pealed back and exposed, I found myself getting more and more excited. Just when I think no more could be revealed… I could honestly read a whole book just about him and still want more.

The book, overall, was top-notch excitement. Loaded with great characters, mystery and action, Burn Bright has everything I want in a book. Even the lack of any sex didn’t stop me from thoroughly losing myself. So far, what I have read has worked great as stand-alones. The hardest part for me is knowing there are so many more books in the series, multiple series in fact that cross over with each other that need to be read, and not knowing where to begin. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books!

It's really difficult to review this book. Or rather it's difficult to review one particular scene that at first glance changes everything one knows about this world.

Warning untagged spoilers ahead!!!

As most other people I was shocked and a bit enraged at the implication that Bran has more than paternal feelings for Mercy. And it gets worse because it's implied that he had those feelings while she was a child in his care. I had to put the book aside for a few hours until I calmed down and had time to process this conversation. A few things surfaces during that time that make me give Bran the benefit of the doubt. I can see some of my friends being outraged at this but bear with me for a second. Let’s start with the fact that regardless if this is true or not Bran never made a move at Mercy. He had and still has his faults, he’s a bastard for letting Leah treat Mercy the way she did, but he never used Mercy. In fact when his own flesh and blood tried to do so he interfered. Why he interfered doesn’t matter because in the end this was good for Mercy. I know some of you will say that just having inappropriate thoughts is crime enough but hey if we get judged for all the things that go through our minds that we never express or act upon we’d all be in jail. This leads me to my second argument in Bran’s defense if he’s had those ideas – he was born thousands of years ago and in most of that time girls as young as 14 were considered old enough to marry. Sure we find it disgusting but you can’t change someone’s way of thinking, a way of thinking he’s been told it’s totally okay for centuries in a couple of decades. The fact remains he never did anything even if he did indeed have these feelings. You’d have noticed by now that I doubt he has them at all. All of this is based on how others interpret his motives. Leah’s jealousy is a big reason why people think Bran has romantic feelings for Mercy and that pisses me off a bit because apparently a man can only has these type of feelings for a female. And while Charles agrees that Bran acts “funny” around Mercy he himself has spent so much of his time protecting her that I’m having a hard time believing that he wouldn’t have noticed or ignored it. Don’t forget that werewolves can’t hide arousal, the scent of a male’s arousal leads to aggression in other males which is one more reason I’m having a hard time believing no one would have noticed and said something if Bran had that scent around him when in Mercy’s presence. And we all know that arousal is not something we can control. And even if by some miracle no one from Bran’s pack dared say something Adam, who’s Mercy’s mate, would have found it objectionable at the very least. I mentioned Leah’s jealousy before and something she said to Charles at the end of the book explains it. As I said most people just assume that if one female is jealous of another it’s because of a male’s affections. And this is the case here but not in the conventional manner that in my opinion led to this misunderstanding. Leah is jealous of Mercy because Bran loves her but she’s also jealous of Charles for the same reason. But no one jumps to the conclusion that Bran has improper thoughts about his son. In fact I bet that if Mercy was a boy no one would have thought that Bran acts “funny” about her. So in the end I don’t believe that Bran had these thoughts and feelings for Mercy and I’ll continue to see their relationship as that of a father and daughter until and if other concrete evidence is shown.
With this out of the way I can comment on the rest of the book. I never expected to get thrown back to a plotline that was left unfinished in a way since the very first book set in this world. I liked that because it was never finished quite to my satisfaction. I knew that there must have been a bigger plot against the werewolves with someone pulling the strings but I kind of expected it to be someone from the government/military. And with all the things that happened since Moon Called I completely forgot about it. I really wanted the traitor to be the main suspect because I dislike this character even if I feel sorry for it (it’s a deliberate use as I don’t want to tip you about the identity of the traitor). And while I wanted it to be true and to finally get rid of it I knew it was unlikely for a variety of reasons.
What I liked most about this book was getting to know more about how the Marrok works. From the get go we knew that this pack is different and that Bran collects the broken wolves and keeps them sane for as long as possible. However, when we visit Aspen Creek we don’t really see them. Sure Asil is crazy but not as broken as I expected the really old ones to be. So I wondered where the too broken to live in the modern world wolves are. And now we got to meet some of them *happy dance*. I enjoyed that as I enjoy every little scrap of everyday life in the Marrok. I just find that pack extremely fascinating and when this series originally started I was ecstatic because I though we’ll spend more time in Aspen Creek. So far this isn’t the case but hope springs eternal ;)
A note on the audio: I really didn’t like the way Holter Graham narrates. Sure it’s nowhere near the worst narrators I’ve had the misfortune to listen to but he made a lot of scenes sound flat. I found it difficult to distinguish between characters as all the characters of the same sex sounded alike and this greatly diminished my enjoyment of the book. After a few chapters I got the hang of it but it was still annoying.

This book was amazingly good! I honestly loved every page of this story. It should probably come as no surprise to anyone who follows my reviews that I am a huge fan of Patricia Briggs. I was incredibly excited to get my hands on this book and went into it with really high expectations. This book exceeded every one of those expectations.

Charles and Anna are back at home with the Marrock's pack but this time Bran is away. Charles has taken on some additional responsibilities with Bran's absence and he is working hard to keep the peace with Leah. When a call comes in from the mate of a wolf that lives in the wilderness on the outskirts of the pack, they are pulled into a much deeper mystery.

I loved so many things about things about this book but the characters are really at the top of the list. Charles, Anna, and Brother Wolf are some of my favorite characters. I really liked getting to see the bond between Charles, Anna, and Brother Wolf. Yes, Brother Wolf is the wolf side of Charles but he really does see things differently at times and is a distinctly different character. I love how Briggs is able to define these parts of Charles so seamlessly.

The secondary characters were also great. Asil has been a character that I really enjoy and he played a very large role in this book. He was so strong in this book and I love the way that he watches over and protects Anna. Leah has always been a character that I loved to hate. She has always seemed more difficult than anything else in previous installments and she still has her moments in this book. I feel like I understand Leah a lot more after reading this book and now that I know why she acts as she does it is a bit more forgivable. I also thought that the wildlings that live on the outskirts of Bran's pack were very interesting and added a nice touch to the book.

The mystery in this book was very solid and kept me guessing. There were more than a few surprises along the way and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There were quite few action scenes and there were a few moments that I was worried about how things would work out. It really was an exciting story filled with much loved characters. I did miss Bran at times but I do think that his absence let others take a turn in the spotlight.

I would highly recommend this series to others. This is the fifth book in the Alpha and Omega series and works best when read in order. This series takes place in the same world as the Mercy Thompson series with a lot of overlapping characters. This was a very solid installment in the series that I found to be incredibly entertaining. I cannot wait to read more from Patricia Briggs very soon.

I received an advanced reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

4.5-5 stars

This was a great addition to Charles and Anna's story. The book description does pretty well at explaining the basic premise of the story. It surprised me a bit because the whole story takes place in a relatively small area and over a very short period of time. That said, it was still a very good and interesting story that kept me seriously engaged until the end. I did go to sleep partway through the story but started back on it as soon as I woke up.

From previous books you'll be familiar with Charles and Anna and their relationship is pretty settled in this story. They've been together long enough that they're solid so there wasn't a much drama (at least between Charles and Anna). I liked what they've developed in to and am happy with their relationship. I wouldn't have minded a bit more coverage of their relationship but the story mostly focused on the action plot with the relationship as a secondary part of the story...more as a supporting factor than a central plot device. Still, I liked that Charles and Anna are settled enough that they can be supportive and helpful to each other like true partners should be.

Although there were a few "I wish" moments I already mentioned, overall the story was great and I really enjoyed it and seeing how things turned out. Charles and Anna are a great couple and it was super to see them again and handling things so well. I'm not sure if it is enough of a standalone for those unfamiliar with the series but I would recommend it for people that have already read the previous books and would recommend the series in general. :D

* note - I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a good job.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors. She consistently produces top-notch books, both in her Mercy Thompson series and in this one, the Alpha & Omega series, which is a spinoff of Mercy's stories and intertwines back and forth.

This novel picks up right around the events of the most recent Mercy book, Silence Fallen, and follows Charles and Anna as they handle some events surrounding the wildlings of the Aspen Creek pack. To me, Briggs is at the top of her game when she's writing Charles and Anna stories. I'm not sure what it is, but just like with Faith Hunter and her Jane Yellowrock series and Nell Ingram spinoff, as much as I love the main series, the spinoff set in the same world really works for me in a much deeper and more satisfying way. I think I just love the connection between Charles and Anna and their wolves and how they balance each other out.

As many of you may not know, Briggs lost her husband unexpectedly in early 2017, and this is the first book she's published since losing him. This book was very clearly influenced by this loss, and focuses heavily on the bonds between mates - Hester and Jonesy, Charles and Anna, Bran and Leah, even Asil and Wellesley and their lost mates. She also dedicated the book to her husband. It was an amazing book, and such a fitting tribute to the man who was, in fact, her own mate, and she couldn't have done a more beautiful job. "But that is the dual gift of love, isn't it? The joy of greeting and the sorrow of good-bye." ~from Patricia Briggs' Dead Heat, the prior book in this series.

If you haven't picked up Briggs and her Mercyverse, you're doing yourself a disservice. Start at the beginning and lose yourself in the beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, deep world that Briggs has created. You won't regret it. (And if I may offer a tidbit of advice, follow this reading order: Moon Called, Alpha & Omega [short story], Cry Wolf, Hunting Ground, Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed, Silver Borne, River Marked, Fair Game, Frost Burned, Dead Heat, Night Broken, Fire Touched, Silence Fallen, Burn Bright)

Brilliant, suspenseful and filled with characters that make made me laugh, pull my hair out in frustration and admire the heck out of them. I adore Charles Cornick and Anna Latham. The two have great chemistry and work together perfectly. She is the yin to his yang. Bran has left Charles in charge of his pack and has specifically requested he and Anna stay in his home. Of course, Charles and Anna would prefer to be in their quiet cabin far away from Leah…LOL

When Charles answers Brans’ phone he receives a panicked message from one of the Wildlings. The Wildlings are broken or damaged werewolves who live in the mountains of Aspen Creek, Montana. They are close enough for Bran for him to keep an eye on them and provide aid when needed, but a safe distance from the pack and humanity. The tale that unfolds was action-packed and filled with magic as Charles soon discovers the reason for Bran’s absence.

Burn Bright delivered tidbits and history as it gave us a closer look at some key characters. Leah had a strong presence and dare I say I warmed up to her? How is that even possible? The Wildlings are an interesting bunch and the murder-mystery that developed was captivating and suspenseful. While the immediate case wrapped up it presented us with a new threat and I am anxious for the next installment. The last few lines of the story left me humming with curiosity. The book also sparked an interest in rereading the Mercy Thompson series as I am curious to see if I pick up on things I hadn’t noticed before.

Witchy things, lies, betrayals, ties to main characters’ pasts and so much more await you in this addictive tale. Briggs is brilliant and sets the bar high when it comes to urban fantasy. She wears her crown well. Now hurry up and read it, so we can chat. There is so much I want to discuss, but ya know spoilers, darling!

I listened to the audio version because I love the narrations of Holter Graham. Graham is perfect for this series and brings another level of enjoyment to the story. If you haven’t begun the series, I recommend listening.

Oh how I have missed Charles and Anna!

I love this series and the very fact that it coincides with my beloved Mercy Thompson series just makes it all the better.

I loved being immersed back into this world and more importantly getting to see Charles and Anna together again. The bond and relationship they have it amazing and the love and understanding between them even more so. I love that they make each other stronger and while they want to protect each other, they also don't smother or hold the other one back from being the best they can be. It truly is one of my most favorite relationships in the genre and I adore them.

The mystery in this was intriguing and again, I loved that it kind of went hand in hand with what is happening in her Mercy Thompson series without it feeling like it is the same story or the same exact drama. It's a separate situation with a mystery that is all tied together and I love it. It was so fascinating and so much fun.

Getting to learn more about the wildings and their purpose and place in the pack was even more entertaining than I imagined it would be. I loved seeing Asil step up and help out so much. He really is one of my favorite misfit characters.

Truly a wonderful story full of rich history, not only about the werewolves but about magic and Charles people, and just so much more. I truly loved it all, right up to the satisfying and thrilling end and was not ready for it to be over. I can't wait for the next book, I'm so ready for it!

Charles and Anna are left as heads of the pack while Bran is off on a vacation to Africa, without this mate. Yeh it something is weird, but I'll not tell you what. So Charles if left with his mate and Leah. with all their issues and snipping at each other. Talk about a rock and a hard place, ouch. I know you're thinking poor Charles, hah ! those were the easy times. There are some wolves who live on the edge, the windings, bare sane if at all, there are under the pack protection, aka his. One very old and very powerful wolf is captured, her mate who holds enormous power asks for help. This is were you should start feeling sorry for Charles and Anna because things go really bad and have many strings attached. Somebody has betrayed them, perhaps somebody close. But they are not alone, they have the pack, and my favorite big bad wolf is prominent, Asil, the Moor.
Oh my, what a twisted knot. Charles and Anna , aww what a cute mated couple , blah blah blah. Asil, dark quiet mysterious and powerful is finally explored more in this book. His history, the glimpse allowed left me thirsty for more. He is such a tease. I want an Asil book, no I need one. The rest of the pack was interesting, and played well together.
I enjoyed it all, except Bran and... Bran went AWOL and acted out of character from what we've seen of him in the past. Something revealed about his possible motives for something way off base was sort of weird, I hope it doesn't lead anywhere. The mystery of who was pretty easy to figure out, the why wasn't. I was scratching my head going "Hey Wolf ?!?!? Didn't you get that ??? Hello ?" But they didn't hear me or Captain Obvious when he spoke to them.

Patricia Briggs has done it again. The only bad thing about this book is that now I have to wait, again, for a new one in this series. I love all Ms. Briggs's books, and almost hate to read them until I have another one waiting.
In this Alpha and Omega installment, Charles and Anna find themselves fighting adversaries in their own community. Bran has seemingly disappeared, and Charles is in charge until his father returns. However, before this happens, problems arise with the wildlings, werewolves that are so broken that they can't even live in Bran's community, they have been exiled to the outskirts of the town, 20 - 30 miles away. When Charles gets a call from the Fae mate of Hester, one of these exiles, he and Anna find themselves on the trail of a killer, and become immersed in the histories of the wildlings themselves.
When it appears that witches are involved, and someone from Bran's town is knee deep in the problem, they have to get things sorted out before they loose any more of Bran's beloved werewolves.
I was instantly drawn into the story (but that always happens with this author) and could not put the book down until I finished it. Bad move since we were on a vacation weekend and the people we were visiting wondered why I found them so boring. Not them, just the fact that 2 hours sleep wasn't cutting it!
If you love paranormal, I totally recommend this series, and her Mercy series too. Just please start both at the beginning, because you don't want to miss out on the character development.
Happy Reading!!

I'm a big fan of the Mercyverse, but it had been quite a while since I had read the Alpha and Omega books, so in preparation for the release of Burn Bright I did a quick re-read of the first four books of the series. I had forgotten how the pace and tone of Charles and Anna's stories differs from Mercy's. It was refreshing, not only to recall the details from the previous stories but to see more in depth some of the characters who are only mentioned briefly in the main storyline.

I really enjoyed this most recent book. I think that I especially liked it because it was set in Aspen Creek and we got to see more of the inner workings of the Marrok's pack. This is also the first book, in either series, in which I have not had a nearly uncontrollable urge to strangle Leah. Much. As usual I loved the dynamic between Charles and Anna. The longer they are together the more I like them as a couple. I think because, unlike romance novel relationships, their story isn't about the initial attraction and getting together, but how their relationship grows and strengthens over time. And isn't that really what real relationships are about? They also have to navigate family and community and weird life threatening situations, sometimes simultaneously. Speaking of weird life threatening situations, there were a lot, and I mean a lot, of revelations in this book which should keep both storylines hopping for some time to come. I'll have to do at least one re-read, possibly two, to make sure I caught all the details that needed highlighting. I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

Caring about the characters makes the difference between an engaged reader and a disengaged reader - between an engaging novel and one that just sits there. I find most of Briggs's novels - certainly including the Mercy Thompson novels - engaging, but I could not care about the characters in this book. Charles and Anna are not nearly as interesting as Mercy Thompson - they are defined by their talents and their traumas - and the supporting cast is mostly new-and-uninteresting.

There is an attack on a Werewolf who is fringe-associated with the Aspen pack. Charles and Anna deal with the attack, resolve the immediate crisis, and learn that there are additional shadowy enemies lurking. Not very promising - unless you care about the characters.

Bran, the Marrok is away and has left his son Charles in charge, when one of the Marrok's special pack of wolves is attacked. Charles, Anna and the rest of the pack rush to to avert tragedy and track down a traitor among them.

The story was intense, full of grief and powerful magics. It is a story about marriages and loss and it was simply beautiful. The story was filled to the brim with little character moments, full of insight into long-standing relationships in the series. It was completely engrossing and I highly recommend it. I love these characters and the ways Briggs has lets us grow to get to know them, sometimes transforming the way I thought about a character through small reveal.

This story starts as Brigg's Mercy Thompson's Silence Falls ends and I had fallen behind in my Mercy Thompson series reading, and this made me eager to catch back up again, although like the previous Alpha and Omega books, its stands apart. After going off and catching up, I found it particularly fascinating how Charles and Mercy revisit memories of the same time period, persons and relationships and see them so differently.

I understand two more Mercy Books and one more A&O book, with Moira and Tom are under contract and I am eager for more stories in this world.

(An ARC of Burn Bright was provided by the Publisher for review consideration. Burn Bright's expected publication date is March 6th, 2018 and it is available for at all the usual places).

Whilst Bran is away in Mercy Thompson world Charles and his mate Anna are in charge of the Aspen Creek pack. When a strange call comes in from one of the Wildlings, wolves so broken they can no longer function even in a strong pack like Bran's, Anna and Charles uncover a sinister plot to kill or capture the Wildlings. It then becomes a race against time to save the Wildlings and uncover the traitor who has been selling the pack's secrets to persons unknown.

This has all the characters we know and love/ hate. Charles and Anna, Leah, Asil, Tag, even Bran. We also meet a small group of badly damaged wolves, men who are in constant battle with their wolves, where one of the pair is insane, or worse. Many of the Wildlings are very old and hold deep dark secrets which 'someone' will stop at nothing to uncover.

I liked this, it had all the brilliant characters and great writing that I have come to expect from Patricia Briggs, and yet I didn't love it. It didn't blow me away with joy the same way as Anne Bishop's Lake Silence did, maybe it was because I had trouble understanding why the baddies used such a hammer to crack a nut?

Nevertheless, Patricia Briggs is an awesome writer, her plots and storytelling are outstanding and she has created two wonderful characters in Charles and Anna.

It was ok, I love this series so much and what I liked the most was Charles and Anna's relationship and closeness, there was very little of that in this book I am getting pretty tired of the black witch thing too. This plot was very twisted and complicated it had its good parts though but like I said I was disappointed in I wanted to hear how the main characters relationship would continue to develop I hope in future books more of that will be present and we don't have to bring a kid into the picture to ruin their relationship. The first books in this series addressed how two damaged characters come together to form a strong bond and a healing of each other and it was written in a very touching a believable way I miss that in this book.

First, if you haven't read the other books in at least the Alpha & Omega series you won't appreciate this nearly as much. It can be read alone if you like paranormal, especially werewolves, but there are certain relationship and world building things that impact the overall story.
So, I had to dock this one star for the whole conversation Charles and Anna had about Bran & Mercy in chapter 1. I was all 'what the heck?, that just doesn't fit with previous books'. If you want spoilers, there are other reviews that go into greater detail.
Meeting some of the wildings and learning a little more pack history, and I guess world history, was good.
I liked the way Anna stretched herself and was able to help certain people. I like that she is showing her strength and trusting herself. She and Charles compliment each other well.
I liked getting to know Leah a bit more, although I don't completely buy into the reasons given as to why she is so mean to Mercy. I always like Asil, and wish I knew if I was pronouncing his name right in my mind.
I look forward to more Wellesley. Seems like he has some useful skills, to put it mildly.
I am even more impressed that this book was on time due to the personal tragedy she experienced last year.
I got this from my local library.

So, straight up. I’m a Mercy Thompson girl and not an Alpha/Omega girl.

I remember reading the first Alpha and Omega novel, being completely put off by Anna, and simply stopping there. However, when I was given the opportunity to read Burn Bright, I thought I would give it a chance.

And I liked it.

Now, I say this having read ONLY book one of Anna’s series. It’s possible that devoted readers of this one may have a different reaction. But I found that I liked Anna. She was Omega, yes, but not the submissive I thought she was in book one. No, she’s not the scrappy, always ready for a fight Mercy Thompson, but she’s got strength, dignity, and humor that I didn’t see in book one.

While I do still prefer Mercy (I like my heroines badass fighters), I found that Anna’s nurturing nature and quiet strength were nice and If found myself thinking that I just may return to the prior books to see what I missed.

The book has drama, heartbreak, betrayal, and Charles. I like Charles. I want my own Charles.

While I’d like to see Anna rip out a throat or two (maybe she does in the books I missed?), I found this a thrilling adventure and will definitely read the next book in the series.

I guess I’m back.

• ARC Provided via Net Galley

My thoughts on BURN BRIGHT in ten points:

1. I love Anna and Charles so much. Their bond makes me so happy. And I love seeing them work together through this series.

2. I swooned every time Brother Wolf told Charles that Anna was made for them.

3. Despite the intensity of the mystery, I laughed several times while reading this book, and all the small character and relational moments make this series for me.

4. I enjoyed spending this book back in Aspen Creek with the pack.

5. I did not guess the traitor.

6. I ended this book feeling more positive towards Leah than I ever felt possible.

7. I also love Asil. He is an interesting mix of charming and caring and brutal.

8. The second half got a little bogged down for me in some backstories. Though ultimately they all made sense and were important.

9. Still, I was completely into this story and kept wanting to get back to it.

10. I generally fatigue reading a series around 5 books or so, but I'm pretty sure I could read about Anna and Charles forever.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Low. This story wraps well, but there are always more mysteries for Anna and Charles to solve.

Patricia Briggs returns to the Alpha & Omega world with BURN BRIGHT. If you have not read the previous Mercy Thompson book, I would suggest that you do. Although they are different series, you’ll get some mention of events that I think are important to know between these two series.

BURN BRIGHT is much more mellow than the fast-pace of the Mercy Thompson series. Written in third person, it also gives readers a much more broader view of the world. I really enjoy this because we get a lot more POVs with this series than in the Mercy one, which allows for us to get some answers and/or clues for what’s going to happen next.

I will say that the very beginning of the book was a little slow, but once Charles and Anna are on the scene, that’s when things start to pick up. If you’re a fan of Mystery, I think you’ll also enjoy this series. There are a ton of unsolved mysteries in this series and it’s always a pleasure to see how they all pan out.

While most of the major cast is present, a few favorites may not be. Briggs gives a lot of insight into a lot of different people, creating a well-rounded narrative that feels all inclusive. As a great addition to the series, BURN BRIGHT will certainly brighten up any reader’s day!

I’d give a 4.5 stars but not 5 simply because it didn’t have the vibe the earlier books had. I am thrilled that we are back with Charles and Anna and the Aspen Hill pack but the mission to resolve the wilding problem doesn’t come together for me until about mid-way in the story. I just didn’t care about Hector and Jonesie until they wound up in trouble and then everything went crazy. There was too much dialogue and not enough action until we got to the thorny vine containing the artist. Then things began to pick up. It is always interesting to see just how real all of these characters have become. I can actually imagine being a werewolf and a skin walker. Although not all skin walkers are bad, look at coyote. But back to A&O, Mercy was kidnapped and the Marouck got sidetracked. He is on a vacation to Africa?!!!! That sounded far fetched but could have been. Anyway, the ends justified the beginning and I am looking forward to the next book in this riveting series. Anna is such a soft werewolf but not really. She must be strong to absorb the bad energy generated by the strong willed wolves. When Wesley grabbed her, I almost fainted. I listened in audible and love the voice of Holter Graham.

All of Patricia Briggs' men are special, sexy, dreamy - but Charles will always be the one for me. He just makes my heart beat faster. Him and Brother Wolf, so dangerous, so lethal and at the same time so caring. How he treats his Anna, how he takes himself back, battles his instincts, lets her be the strong woman she is, supporting her, believing in her, never caging her in but always there for her, that's such a heavy concoction that I regularly swoon while reading, sigh dreamily and just can't get enough.

And Anna - I love her dearly. She has survived so much and still came out caring and loving and brave. I adore her. Being Omega can't be easy and in this book she learns how hard it is sometimes, I felt for her and wanted to protect her and cheered for her because despite all her fears she is so strong.

Bran and Leah. Oh, my heart broke for them. I never imagined somehow but it was so clear then.

The story was heartbreaking, thrilling, enchanting, I had problems putting the book down but I needed to stretch my reading time to not inhale it in one go but really enjoy it. And enjoy I did. This series is always a pleasure to read and this book, with all its cruelty and pain, was one of the best.

Burn Bright isn't the worst book I've ready in the Mercy world, but it's not among the best either. Overall it feels more like filler than anything else. Most of what happened in this book felt like set-up for future books rather than something important in and of itself.

As others have mentioned as well, there's seems to have been a bunch of things inconsistent with previous books, or new things that have never been mentioned before. We've always known how the Marrok's pack is made up of wolves too broken for anyone else to have in their pack. Now we discover that there are wolves too broken to live even in the Marrok's pack - basically either Wolven Hermits or exiles. Ok, so that's new. There's also an attempt to redeem Leah which is odd, with how she's been portrayed through the rest of the books.

Overall I didn't feel strongly about the inconsistencies or new things, but between that and the filler nature of the book, I'm left feeling lukewarm about it.

Bran has left the pack to Charles while he heads to Europe to deal with an emergency with Mercy. Once that emergency is over Bran extends his absence from the pack by stating he is going to visit Samuel leaving Charles and his mate, Anna, to deal with an emergency call from a wilding’s fae mate.

You’ve gotta love the bond between Charles and Anna and in Burn Bright Briggs shows not only that bond but the wildings, extremely unstable shifters, and even Charles and his bitch mate (yes, she is a bitch, but still his mate). These mate bonds come into play like never before making for some swoon worthy reading.

Reading every book Briggs has published, I am still amazed, surprised and in awe of her imagination and unexpected machinations that she throughs our way and that is just a few factor why I love her writing. In the end, I flat out loved it! I don't think I can ever get enough of Briggs' storytelling! A re-read and a go to author for recommendations because I know everyone of those urban fantasy fans out there that picks up one of her works is going to enjoy it.

I received this ARC copy of Burn Bright from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I love Charles and Anna. I would read just about any story that involves them, so another Alpha and Omega book was a pleasant surprise.

We join Charles as he fills in for the Marrok, who has suddenly decided to go on holiday after some usual Mercy drama. While that would not seem so very strange, it is oddly timed with a concerning call from one of the Marrok’s wildlings. The Marrok is known for taking on “strays” that cannot stand to live completely on their own. While the Marrok is gone, Charles must attempt to wrangle them as best as he can – luckily he’s also got Anna to help temper his brother wolf.

What may have simply been a case of the wildlings living up to their name is quickly discovered to be an act of magic and betrayal. With Anna and Charles stories there is always a mess of emotion, magic, and love. This combination kept me eagerly devouring the chapters and so very sad when it came to an end. I love every extended glimpse we get of their relationship, their life, and how well they work together. Bring on more Alpha & Omega books!

Let me first say that this is the first audio book in the alpha and omega series that I've listened to... and my new favorite narrator is Holter Graham. He delivers a fantastic performance, and he voices the characters so well that I fell in love all over again, with both Patty, and Holter (apologies to my husband of 32 yrs)... I'll need to keep my eyes peeled for more books narrated by Holter, and I'm ALWAYS ready for a new Patty Briggs story! 

This is the 5th and final book slated for the Alpha and Omega series, so this is Anna and Charles' send-off tale... and boy what a send off!!!
Patricia Briggs really out did herself, making this book land on my Top Reads for 2018 (most likely, a permanent position!)... I loved the by-play between Anna, Charles, and Brother Wolf,  as well as between Leah, Anna, and Charles... Wow!  We also see so much more of the Marrok's pack and its  inner-workings... we even learn some history of how the dynamics of the pack changed with the inclusion of Mercy, a Coyote Walker!

Go out and get this action packed book now... and if you haven't already read the series, hurry up and get to it!  You won't be sorry!

I really enjoy the Alpha & Omega / Mercy Thompson universe, and this book was no exception to that. I love the characters and the stories. It's all great. I don't know if I have anything else that's good to say that I haven't said in all the other books she's written. Overall, really entertaining and a good read.

I will say that the first half of it dragged just a touch. Because most of the story is reactionary, it feels like there's a lot of drawn-out scenes that don't really serve a purpose, but I love the characters enough that I enjoyed it. The second half made up for it, but it isn't my favorite of this series. Still really great book and way, way, way better than the last one of the series, but not as good as some of the others.

I will say one small thing that kind of bugs me is that there are times where I swear the author never bothers to fact check her own book. It happens from time to time where she'll basically go back on something she's written before but it happened a little more often than normal in this book. That said, I still love Patricia Briggs and her books.

Patricia Briggs delivers a wonderful book. I pretty much read it in two days and I work, of course now I am very bleary eyed. Charles, Anna and some others in the pack are investigating the wildlings that are part of the Marok’s pack in Montana. They tend to be old but have problems calming their inner wolf. I hope we hear more about these wildings because the few of them we meet are very interesting characters. We also get to know a few others in the pack. The Marok is also away and left Charles’s in charge of the pack. The Moor is present and as always an extremely fascinating character.

Some parts seemed a little contrived to make it all work. The possibility of a bad guy is made real a couple of chapters later. It was too abrupt. Bran missing seemed a little odd, especially when we find the reason for it. Still a very enjoyable read

I particularly like Anna’s views on the treasure she has in Charles. As much as she is cherished and loved and how much Charles’ inner wolf wants to over protect her , he understand that she needs to stand on her own two ( or four) feet. She is not a victim but a strong survivor.

Anna and Charles' books are ones that I like a bit more than the Mercy Thompson's series books only by the fact that it is told in third person. Aside from that, I love both series as Mrs. Briggs puts this characters thru the wringer and then some.

Charles receives a call from one of the wildlings (Bran's more damaged of werewolves) to come help. He and Anna are then racing against time to find out what is going on and who's fault it is. There is a traitor on the pack and they have to uncover him/her before they can find what they're looking for.

The beginning of the book was slow and gave some information that I think was more to fill out the pages than it was part of the story plot but once Charles and Anna got to their destination the story picked up and it was one oh sh*t moment after the other.

I find the way Brother Wolf is evolving very intriguing and I hope that it develops into something that will give us more plots, twists, and turns than just wanting to communicate with Anna.

All the things that go bump in the night are coming out to play in this world now.

Charles is in charge of the Marrok's pack while the Marrok is off rescuing Mercy. They get word that something is happening to the wildlings that live near the Marrok but are not part of the pack - they have ties to the Marrok only. Charles and Anna go investigate and run smack into a conspiracy that shows them they have a traitor in the pack.

We learn much more about the oldest of the wolves, their practices and why they are wildlings. We also discover who the traitor is. By the end of the book, Bran is back. Charles and Anna are in a good place with each other as Anna decides she has learned at least one thing from the old ones and shares that knowledge with Charles.

I like how the two series are now in sync with each other. I wonder if that means a crossover with Charles & Anna with Mercy & Adam.

Ms Briggs has a good grasp on her world and the little touches that keep the world cohesive and each couple's story separate.

I am going to keep my review about this book short and sweet for once in my life. The story in itself was great, I was engaging, suspenseful, and at times, heart-breaking. Charles and Anna’s relationship continues to blossom into some more beautiful with each book.

But the revelation that has sparked the fires for readers of both the Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series has literally thrown me for a loop. Bran’s feeling toward Mercy. Yes, it was short and sweet passage of a conversation, but something feels completely off about it. Bran has always been portrayed as a father figure for Mercy. Daughterly love, etc. But this. This one passage has me questioning everything about that relationship now. Maybe this was a slip-up or a double entendre of a conversation, but holy Christ on a cracker. How do readers come back from a revelation like that? My head is still spinning and it has been days since I finished this book.

Recommended Read, 5 Hearts
SJ, Romance Junkies

The fifth in Patricia Briggs’ amazing Alpha and Omega series, BURN BRIGHT follows werewolf mates Charles Cornick and Anna Latham, the pack Omega, as they head to help a wild werewolf fight an ancient curse. With their alpha out of the country, it’s up to them to take care of Pack business, even when the werewolves in question live on the outskirts of the wilderness, apart from the pack.

It’ll take both Anna’s Omega nature and Charles’s witch-born strength to stop the evil coming for them. Patricia Briggs has done it again with this outstanding urban fantasy. Charles’s power is tempered by Anna’s peacefulness, and their developing relationship grows even stronger as they’re tested by forces from within, and from without.

The Marrok’s pack gets a closer scrutiny, and the rich secondary characters (Leah, Asil, Sage…) provide depth to the story. Briggs is a master at pacing and plot, and the BURN BRIGHT races at the perfect speed, rising and falling with gathering suspense until a shocking climax steals the show.

BURN BRIGHT is a definite keeper and the perfect addition to the Alpha and Omega series. A shining example of urban fantasy at its finest.

Recommended Read!

This is the fifth book in the Alpha & Omega series. I fall more in love with Anna and Charles with each book. I love all the wolves. I even tolerate Leah!

I will say my line of thinking was the same as Bran and Charles. I may have even wished for that person to be the traitor a few times.

Boy was I wrong!

I loved meeting the Wildings. I hated what happened to them. Wellesley’s back story is so sad.

What Anna did with Wellesley was nothing short of amazing and life saving. She’s really becoming a powerful Omega.

Of course there are some twists. I didn’t see them coming.

I will admit that I was mad at Bran for not being there at first. But once we got the reasons, I understood why he couldn’t be there.

Plus Charles is more than capable of running the pack, even if he doesn’t want that responsibility.

This is my favorite of the series.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley.

I say this everytime, but I love these books. All of the Marrok's universe is wonderful. Mercy, Adam, Anna, and Charles and all of the gang are some of my most loved characters which is saying something because I read all genres, not just urban fantasy. I love how extremely protective Charles is of Anna still and she protects him right back. This book is dealing with a traitor in the Marrok's pack while Bran is away and Charles is in charge and has to deal with yet another execution once the traitor is found. It is rather surprising who the traitor is and how they came to be in the pack. The only problem I had with this book was how they are spending time trying to figure who the traitor is and all of sudden we know and the book ends soon after. I love the ending, but it felt it was rushed all of sudden. This wasn't a major problem for me and may be because of my love of these books and I just didn't want it to be over that soon.

Burn Bright intertwines mystery and magic for a thrilling new installment of the Alpha and Omega series that changes everything. From the opening scene to the final word, Briggs sets an intense pace that reveals heartbreaking betrayals that may just cost the pack everything. With a stellar use of wit, Briggs brings new and secondary characters to the forefront in unforgettable ways. I was captivated, crushed, caught off guard and ready for the next installment as soon as I read the last sentence.

♦

Burn Bright Kicks Everything Up A Notch
Anna and Charles Cornick are back in Burn Bright and things are about to get interesting (again) in Aspen Creek. Bran’s away on vacation leaving Charles in charge. Before I was even a chapter in, I was laughing and completely involved in this world all over again.

Charles and Anna are my favorite couple. There are too reasons to list but, mostly because they are a matched set. They love and care for one another in ways that confound but feel perfectly balanced. Their dynamic brings a lively energy to every story. I get a little more attached to Charles the more Anna pulls him out of his shell. I was intrigued by the deeper look behind the curtain into pack dynamics. Learning more about Leah’s personality and feelings was welcome (I still don’t like this broad). I’m always up for gaining insight into the complicated history that always accompanies the introduction of a new threat or unexpected ally in this series.

Aspen Creek Gets Complicated
This story, like most in the Mercedes Thompson world, quickly takes an unexpected turn. What should be merely a struggle not to kill his stepmother Leah, becomes a life and death battle to keep everyone safe. Because someone’s come hunting reclusive pack members. I’m always curious about the people surrounding Bran and Briggs never disappoints when she chooses to bring the action and drama by way of secondary(ish) characters. Briggs always finds a way to defy expectation and give you exactly what you need in character development, plot progression and world-building. You can always see events as they unfold on the page.

Anna and Charles face ever-increasing danger. New enemies wearing familiar faces are revealed. A centuries-old grudge leads to a violent conspiracy. Patricia Briggs has a sharp-witted, invigorating voice that keeps the action moving, your emotions in turmoil and your sense of humor satisfied. Burn Bright changes everything for Bran and the packs on multiple fronts which means we’re guaranteed some exciting adventures and magical mayhem in the future.

Burn Bright is a perfect example if why I pimp (books) for Patty without a qualm.

Hands down 5 out of 5 Stars.

Every now and again Patricia Briggs writes a book and the characters don't really fit with the previous books - that's to say they are totally out of character. I have loved all the Anna and Charles books, but this one felt a little off, as one reviewer said one part of this story became a little creepy and I hope she fixes it in the next installment. It was also trying to explain Leah a bit more, but it didn't quite reach the mark. Basically it's saying Leah hates anyone that Bran has affection for and I was really hoping she got killed off in this book and then PB could write a Bran story
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OMG(!!!) Book Lovers, this was so good!
As we know Charles and Anna, are a power couple. I think if Bran and Leah were not the "alpha team" that Charles and Anna would be perfect to be in charge of it all.

This story had me shook, I was literally on the edge of my seat half the time I was reading this, I couldn't believe the twist and turns and the plot twist, the magic and the characters that set everything into play.

I love the mystery, suspense feel of this continuation in the Alpha and Omega series, the only thing it was lacking was a little more romance, but hey that just me!

I think if you are like me, and are a loyal Patty reader and you love this world like we do, YOU are going to LOVE this one. Now that I am finished I cant wait to see what happens next with this story and to get another Mercy book at some point this year too!

Overall I gave this one 4.5 out of 5

Burn Bright felt like an attempt by author Patricia Briggs to meld the worlds of Charles and Anna with Mercy Thompson's. It does bring the characters in a new direction, but simply does not go far enough. I was underwhelmed by the lack of character development and the plot was lackluster at best. The book seemed more like a bridge, a way for the author to bring her two universes together. Burn Bright is not a book for readers unfamiliar with either series, as they would be hopelessly lost with regards to the backstories to which the author alludes.

***SPOILERS***
(mild, but still)

I am going to join the "the first chapter ruined this book for me" camp. Not only did it ruin this book, but it retroactively ruined Silence Fallen and River Marked, as well. (Maybe others, it's just that those are the ones I've reread recently and appreciated the father/daughter relationship within.)
I always knew that Bran was a ruthless and sometimes uncaring character, and even Adam describes him as a zealot, but to turn him into a pedophile at this stage in the game is just a terrible decision. And if an adult has romantic or sexual feelings for a very young child, that person is a pedophile. Whether or not they act on their sick thoughts and feelings. And Bran did act on them, to a certain extent, with the recitals and the battles of will. That could be viewed as textbook grooming behavior through the lens of this one conversation between Anna and Charles. And if that conversation happened to start redeeming Leah, it did the opposite. Leah will never deserve an HEA, and now neither does Bran. (Honestly, after really examining the greater implications in that conversation, I'm not sure Charles and Anna deserve theirs.)

All in all, I'll still read a library copy of the next A&O book that comes out, but I'll wait a week or so and read reviews first so I can brace.

I love this series, and every book gets better. Charles and Anna make a great team. Some of their adventures have taken away from the pack. This one seemed to involve most of the pack we know, and some of the Wildings that we don’t.
I am not going into any details and give anything away. I know it is one my great pleasures in life to read a new Patricia Briggs novel. I will say this is must read for fans of this series. If you have only read The Mercy Thompson Series, this it set in the same world and begins with a short story from an anthology called On The Prowl which was called Alpha and Omega. This is also available in a digital copy available. This is Anna’s story, and how she met Charles. As I enjoy reading a new Patricia Briggs I also enjoyed the  Audiobooks which is narrated by HOLTER GRAHAM who brings this wonderful book to life for me.

Ahhhh...the satisfied, cuddle down into the blankets and tuck your feet under a cushion feeling that come with roaring fireside and a cup of cocoa that is reading a Patricia Briggs book.... there’s just a frisson of joy that come with the first word to the last punctuation! I love all of her books but Anna and Charles, Mercy and, of course, Bran Marrok ...well their world is my favorite. I have read and reread every book in these series so many times and now I have another one to add to them! So, yes, this particular book dives so much deeper into the old world while expanding into the new that I got a bit twisted about trying to run both routes. The wildlings stories and fates, the mysterious ancient and yet new enemy, betrayals and surprising loyalties... I won’t tell you more. You have to read it. Enjoy!

Title: Burn Bright
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Adult, Paranormal
Format: Hardcover – Library Loan
Pages: 308
Rating: 5
Heat: 3

Thoughts: I have got to stop reading any of this author’s books on a work night. There was just no way that I could put this down. Every time I was about to stop and go to bed something would happen that just kept me glued until the very last page. Anna is one of my favorite characters and Charles is definitely one of my book boyfriends. If you haven’t started this series I suggest you do so, I love this world that the author has created, and the fact that it’s the same world as Mercy Thompson is also a bonus! The only bummer now is I’m going through withdrawals now and have to wait for the next book.

Of Briggs' series, Alpha and Omega is my favorite. I love Mercy, but something about Charles, Anna, and the Marrok keeps me rereading this series repeatedly. I'm sad to say Burn Bright does not live up to the rest of the books in this series. Its almost as if the editor went on vacation, as inconsequential descriptive banter was given free reign over story and plot. Its weird, because she has struck such a nice balance on this front in the other books. That said, there is some interesting plot lines and character development here, including the uniqueness of the wildling personalities, and some depth added to Bran's mate Leah. For that reason, I'm still giving it 3 stars. But I tried to reread this one a couple of times and uncharacteristically fell asleep each time.

I have enjoyed watching Charles and Anna evolve over the years as they grow into their relationship. Looking back at the beginning of this series, they have come a long way.

Bran, their Alpha, is out of the country and Charles is in charge. Things are going fairly well until he receives a distress call from one of the wildlings that live apart of the pack but under Bran's supervision. This is the first time we get to meet a number of the wildlings and hear their stories. And it was interesting to see the effect of Anna, an Omega, on some of the wildlings.

I really liked meeting some of the wildlings, and anytime Ansil is part of the story is like the icing on the cake for me. I missed Bran, but I did get to see a lot of him in the last book. I miss Samuel, so hopefully, he'll turn up in another book soon.

Burn Bright is a thrilling tale of magic, betrayal, deception and loss. It has parts that break your heart and other parts that have you perched on the edge of your seat with your breath held. The excitement of battle, the devastation of loss and the pain of betrayal are all tangled within an intriguing mystery. In this book we see the depth of the mate bonds and discover the old, less stable wolves in the pack. The relationship between Anna and Charles warms your heart with its beauty and leaves you wanting more. This is an intriguing, complex story that adds depth to both the characters and the world as a whole and you are left knowing that there is much more trouble brewing on the horizon. I received an early copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way influenced my review and all opinions expressed are solely my own.

Patricia Briggs.... has once again shined in Burn Bright. The Alpha and Omega series is truly a unique story based on love, and redemption.

As always Briggs books resolves around mystery filled with adventure. So many twists and turns you least expect.

Even after so many years we learn something nee about Charles and Anna. We the readers also find out more of Mercy and her upbringing.

Don’t even get me started on the romance in Burn Bright. It flowed flawlessly, and never shadowed the plot itself. Charles and Anna are soulmates, and just seeing them together.... the sweet and tender moments, took my breath away.

Fans of this thrilling series will not be disappointed!
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

4 Stars... The pack is threatened when it is invaded by an unknown assailant focusing on the "Wildlings", sending Charles and Anna on a witch hunt... This book felt like a push forward for the overall storyline of the threat against the werewolves with the underlying presence of witchcraft that seems a constant in the series... I enjoyed learning more about the pack members and watching their interactions and hierarchy at work... I continue to enjoy witnessing the developing relationship between Charles and Anna as they challenge and support one another while continually discovering themselves in the process... This series continues to develop in intriguing ways leaving me craving more:)

The first half of this story dragged a bit for me and it wasn't until the last half that it came into its own and I ended up really enjoying it. I'm not sure what the issue was with the first half of the story, I guess I didn't feel like the character motivation was strong enough and I didn't know where the story was going or what the story goals were and that made it feel like the characters drifted around a bit. At the end, it was a lot clearer what the characters were after and what they had to do to keep the pack, and the world, safe and I liked the bit of mythology that pulled the story together at the end.

This is a good series and this book is an enjoyable addition to it.

4.5 stars. Burn Bright is a well written story involving subterfuge, intrigue, death, history, and black magic. Charles and his mate Anna are in charge of the pack while Bran is away. The pack is faced with finding out why a Wildling and her mate died. What is discovered rocks the pack at its core. A few new characters and an enemy are introduced. This story reminds me of unfinished business, that if left unresolved it will come back to bite you. I took a half star off because I felt that more story could have been provided regarding Bran, Asil's hunt, Leah, Hester, Devon, & Jericho. I borrowed the book from my local public library.