Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega Book 1)

Briggs tells a great tale as usual. I love Mercy and this is a nice addition to her universe.
But what I DON'T Like is that in the Kindle edition there is NO COVER ART. For that I would buy the paperback and skip the Kindle.

I enjoyed the other books in the world created by Briggs. But, this one too me was boring and redundant. Far too much time was spent on apprehension Anna and Charles had toward each other. It got so old and I just sat there thinking "I get it...you are unsure of how each other feel, move on with the actual story please!". So much time was spent on them sorting each other out the actual meat of the book which to me should have been the rogue shifter they ended up looking for just couldnt make up for all the wasted time. I would have liked more backstory on the witch and her connection. How she got to where she was her motives etc than was given.

I don't know what I thought I'd be getting myself into, but I never expected it to be this.
So, basically, it's a very chauvinistic world, where women have no say, they are forced, men are bad and have no moral sense, and the main characters...what can I say about them?
Anna...How could I relate to her? She's got no fight in her. I get that the whole idea is that she's a calming presence, that that's her strength, but I just wanted to get some sense into her. She's got no will. She gets caught up in stuff, but makes no attempt to change herself. I thought it was a terrible story. She had to wait until Charles showed up to save her? That's not a heroine I want. That's not a female character I want to root for. If he helps her out while she's running, then that's one thing. But for her to endure emotional, physical and psychological torture for THREE YEARS and do nothing about it?
And Charles...I didn't see him as a character at all. I thought he followed every cliché of the rugged hero who's trying to stay apart from everyone. I don't know. Maybe I had too many expectations.
The writing was okay, I don't want the author to think it isn't a good book either. It's just that it didn't do it for me. I thought I was getting something else.

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

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

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

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

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

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

IF i bought it and its rated 4 or 5 STARS then YOU should WATCH it or READ it. and if your don't end up liking it then you have no sense of good movies so i really don't know how found any of these amazing products

This "hardcover" version of Cry Wolf is NOT the same book as the paperback even though the the store links indicate that it is. This is a graphic novel version. I'm sure it is very nice, but I certainly didn't intend to pay $18 for a comic book.

I love the Mercy Thompson series and other books by Patrica Briggs. I don't generally read short stories so I missed the first Anna & Charles installment, though, and that made getting into this book seriously annoying--especialy since this book is listed as the first book of a series. As the first book of a series, the story needs to be clear from the beginning and NOT read like a sequel. Other than that, great book.

The book looked good when I opened the package but fell apart when it was opened. It was not expensive so I can't complain too much. I can read it but won't be able to share with my family if I lose any pagea.

Waring, warning,warning! This is the graphic novel version of this title. Do not be mislead. Truly disappointing when you are expecting the original novel and received the graphic novel in it's place.

I have written another review for this book. In short, if your into books like the Sookie Stackhouse series, then this could be a book for you. For those who are curious, this is not a book for advanced readers who enjoy intriguing characters, plot twists, good romance and good werewolves. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT buy this book until you read more honest reviews on how bad it is. No matter how bad you want to know, it just is not a very original or satisfying read. It will be a waste of your time. I am being completely honest. I have no authority other than reading on how to write by James Scott Bell, and even Patricia Briggs fails to accomplish the most simple tasks in writing good fiction. Maybe read her later works to see if she has improved, but this is not a good book.

I was extremely unimpressed by this book, after buying the book that's supposed to be a prequel I thought the book content would only go up from there but I found myself bored and not wen wanting to touch my kindle after buying this book. Very very disappointed.

BEWARE!! This is NOT a hardcover copy of the book! It is a Graphic Novel, aka a comic book style with hard covers. If you see this picture as what you are ordering, you will NOT receive a hardcover book. Check the picture of the cover in paperback. That is what the hardcover book photo should look like! Very deceptive!!

It took Anna Latham three years of torture and abuse at the hands of a power crazy Alpha wolf who forced the change on her, before she finally reached out for help to the Marrock of the whole country. But it was almost too late for Anna until she is saved by Charles, Bran's son.

She realises she is Charles mate and is free to go with him to join his new pack. Everything she has suffered at the hands of her first Alpha come in to play when she is faced with a whole new pack and a whole new place within the new pack order, but it is discovered early on that she is an Omega, a wolf with the ability to stand outside of pack hierarchy power and bring calm to wolves who have lost control.

With the major changes happening all around her and a mate that is both powerful and injured, Anna must figure out where she belongs before she makes more mistakes. Then a rogue wolf starts killing trampers and forestry staff in the ranges of the pack land and Charles is sent in to take care of the problem and Anna is asked to go along. But what they encounter is far more deadly than one lone rogue and the person behind the killing spree is far more powerful than anyone ever thought possible, and the worst possible danger to a most powerful wolf pack.

Anna Latham is a strong and powerful woman who has to overcome the worst possible back story that I can ever think of. Then she has to figure out who she is with the new found freedom and what is means to love a man she has just met.

Strong, resilient, precious and powerful, Patricia Briggs has created a character that I both love and enjoy reading about.

5 stars out of 5 for Cry Wolf, and 5 for the series – I love Patricia Briggs' books!

Wonderful start to a new series from the amazing Patricia Briggs.

Patricia Briggs writes strong female characters that survive and thrive, even while being less physically strong.

I love the world Patricia Briggs build in the Mercy Thompson series, whose rules also apply to the Alpha & Omega series.

Anna is thrust into a world she didnt know existed, she was abused and used, but she had the courage to start a new life by trusting Charles Cornick, the feared enforcer.

Charles is a mystery. An enforcer , a bringer of death , but for Anna, her salvation.

Charles learns what its like being in a relationship, trusting, sharing and realizing he is so much more with Anna by his side.

After my reread of Alpha and Omega it only reminded me of how much I loved the short that started it all! So I was convinced that maybe my initial disconnect from Cry Wolf was just a bad reading funk, or I was too young to enjoy it. Sadly I found out quickly what the disconnect was. Anna and Charles were amazing together in the 0.5 short! The chemistry and slow burn of their romance was palpable. It saved their mating at first sight story line. It transcended a stereotype.

Here all that connection and build up felt like it was tossed out the window. Especially for the first half of the book. They both continually miscommunicate and basically not talking to each other. Letting their imaginations run wild with doubts instead of talking to each other. Honestly I fell out of love with them. So when they finally got together physically it felt so hollow.

Thankfully seeing the Marrok's pack from Anna eyes was awesome. Even better is that Briggs stayed with the format of both Charles and Anna alternating like before. Also Bran, Asil, and some other amazing characters get to narrate. It really fleshes out characters that I had always wanted to know more about, but understood that they couldn't all be packed into the Mercy books.

The second half of the book started to patch things up. Apparently there's nothing like hunting down a rouge in dangerous mountains to bring a couple back together. Not to mention the threat of a black magic witch. Nothing makes the romance sizzle!

Ha-ha! No honestly I did love everything else about this book. The story felt so clever and I enjoyed exploring the magic presented here. Briggs has a natural flare for storytelling. Just like the Mercy Thompson books the Alpha and Omega books have that organic flare that makes me buy into the world. While I felt like Anna and Charles' characters took a giant step backwards at first as a couple and developing characters. Perhaps it was because of how busy the plot and book is even! Things shaped up and I'm actually looking forward to the next book. The Alpha and Omega books will probably be just as awesome as Mercy's.

Sexual Content: Sex scene, memories of rape and torture. Dark themes, but nothing too graphic.

3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

Originally reviewed at Book Whipsers.

After the events in Chicago (novella Alpha and Omega) Charles Cornick takes Anna home with him to Montana. There is nothing left for Anna in Chicago, but she has no clue what she will do in Montana. Sure, Charles claims she is his mate, or his wolf has claimed her, and that she is a rare Omega wolf, but Anna has no idea what that entails. And when she is frightened, like about sleeping with the still wounded Charles in his bed, she calls upon her wolf for help and strength.

But there is no time to rest and heal for Charles, a stray wolf is killing humans in the territory of the Marrok, and he has to be found and stopped, by any means, before more humans are killed. Bran is about to come out of the closet with the wolves, and he does not need bad publicity. In this modern day and age, it is getting harder to keep themselves hidden from the humans.

And so Charles and Anna set out into the frozen forest to find the killer. But first they will have to attend the funeral mass for a beloved werewolf Bran had to kill recently. And that was not easy, as the man was his friend. His children blame Bran for killing their father, but Charles and especially Samuel,(Bran’s other son) know how to change their opinion of what truly happened. Still, when Asil, another ancient wolf bothers Anna, just to get a rise out of Charles, her Omega qualities kick in, and she quiets Asil.

Anna and Charles take Bran’s car out in the wilderness and from where they can’t drive any further, they will hike. Anna has zero experience with this, but she hopes her wolf’s strength will let her keep up with Charles. Charles is happy that Anna is with him, and that she is not a chatterbox. And how she can appreciate the beauty of it all.

But when they are kissing in a little valley that feels wrong, something attacks them. A new wolf, who doesn’t know how to fight as a wolf yet, and Charles runs him off. But while Anna is alone, a strange woman and her wolf/dog approach her. It is a witch, looking for Asil, and she quickly bewitches Anna and Charles to find out what she wants to know. This witch is pure evil, and she has done something strange to the mating bond between Asil and his late wife, somehow she has stolen it!

When the Witch enslaves both Asil and Bran, the wolves are in trouble, and it is up to Anna and Charles and their new friend, to save them all …

It has been a while since I read this book for the first time, so I had forgotten the story about Bran and his evil witch mother who turned him and Charles. I thought that what I read in the anthology last year, was completely new to me. I was wrong. So it was nice to catch up again.

The story is a strong one, and Charles and Anna grow closer together, and even find the mating bond between them. Not through making love as Charles thought though. I like Asil as a secondary character a lot, and I know there will be more stories where he will have a nice part, I look forward to reading those.

This is a good Urban Fantasy series, it has werewolves and vampires, Fae and witches, and this book has a particularly evil Witch, and I hate what she did to animals to gain power. To learn more about the history of Witches and Asil and Bran was very nice though.

If you like Urban Fantasy and if you like it a bit darker, you really need to read this series. But it is a lot different than the Mercy series, even though it has some of the same characters and the same worldbuilding.

9 stars.

A wonderful offshoot of the Mercy Thompson books, the Alpha & Omega series features Mercy’s foster brother Charles, son of the Marrok, and his recently discovered mate, Anna. In the prequel, Alpha & Omega, Anna was intentionally made a werewolf and then abused by her pack in Chicago until Charles rescued her and took her to his pack in Montana. In Cry Wolf, we learn more about Anna, in that she is a rare Omega, who is able to calm the most angry and volatile werewolf, and doesn’t have to obey the dominant Alphas. When Charles and Anna go after a rogue werewolf in the mountains, they run across much more than they expected, which leads to a very suspenseful and action filled adventure, exposing a danger that could affect the entire pack, including the Marrok. I’ve always liked the character of Charles and I was happy to learn more about him and his life as the Marrok’s enforcer. Anna was so beaten down when Charles first encountered her and it was great to see her get more confidence in herself and her ability and to begin to feel safe with the very dominant Charles. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

First in the Alpha & Omega urban fantasy series (second in the overall Mercyverse) and revolving around the wolf pack in Montana. The couple focus is on Anna and Charles.

This story carries on directly after On the Prowl: "Alpha & Omega", 0.5 (Mercyverse, 1.1), which I seriously recommend that you read first.

In 2008, Cry Wolf won the P.E.A.R.L. (Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature) award, and in 2009, it won the DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/SF Romance.

My Take
I adore Patricia Briggs' work!! She's taken an interesting twist on the werewolf trope and includes a great cast of characters with a tremendous amount of back history while Anna gets an introduction to how a pack really works..

It'll be a hunt: one for a killer and one for trust, confidence. A tale of confidence-building and an unusual courtship as Charles works to gain Anna's trust and love while Anna struggles to find self-worth. And again Briggs twists this with Anna's being an Omega wolf who discovers her inner stubbornness as she stands up to other wolves. It's a beautiful evolution that heartens.

I do love Anna's assessment of Charles:
"'I know about killers,' she told him. "Leo's pack had Justin … a killer.' … 'You are justice.'"

Yes, Briggs pulls in the insta-love but only as a glancing tap. It's Charles and Brother Wolf who are dumbstruck with want while Anna is attracted, doesn't know why, and shies away (or is it recoiling in distrust?) from the whole idea.

It's such a dichotomy. Bran is characterized as a powerhouse, capable of cowing any wolf, and he looks "like a college student, a computer geek, or maybe an art major". It's a concept that throws me off, and I find myself wishing I could see him for real. I know, how unreal a thought is that!? Then there's Charles. A man/wolf whom everyone but his father and brother fears. It's what makes his changes so fascinating to read.

I love how angry Bran and Charles are in this. The lengths to which they go to ensure Anna's safety. Well, Charles does have an extra incentive in this, and it is funny how possessive he is about this new mate who is quite unsure about the whole situation. And I adore how Charles reacts to Anna. How protective, worried, and gone he is, *laughing softly*. He's also worried how Anna will react when she's exposed to one of his duties for his father. It's this bit that felt overdone and annoying.

"Charles was amused to find he preferred the pink because she had put it on him."

The werewolves have not yet come out of the closet, but Bran is planning to do it soon, which creates a nasty PR problem.

I love how Briggs introduces the pack. No info dumps, but a series of show scenes that explain how the pack operates, the rules, the consequences, and introduces the core characters. It's a be-yoo-ti-ful example for writers on providing background data that fills the reader in on the story universe.

Whew, that scene with Leah was i-n-t-e-n-s-e. What. A. Bitch! Ya can't help wondering why Bran ever married her, an explanation that occurs at the end and will wring your heart.

What can I say? If you like werewolf stories, you do not want to miss the combined Mercyverse!

The Story
Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack…and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer — and son — of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf — a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

The Characters
Anna Latham is an Omega wolf, forcibly turned in On the Prowl: "Alpha & Omega", 0.5 (Mercyverse, 1.1), who managed to survive.

The two-hundred-some year-old born-werewolf, Charles Cornick, is half-Salish through his mother, Blue Jay Woman, and serves as the pack's investment advisor and his father's Enforcer. Brother Wolf is Charles' other half, and they work together, using each other's skills to achieve their goal.

The rest of the Aspen Creek pack in Montana
Bran Cornick is the leader of the North American werewolves to whom all the Alphas answer — and Charles' father. Samuel is his other son, a medical doctor, who is hundreds of years older than Charles and suicidal. Bran sent him to Mercy (Moon Called, 1) in hopes of shaking him out of his depression. Leah is the Marrok's mate. Her nature and attitude provide an alternate look-in at the negative effects of the mating bond.

Aspen Creek is also a sanctuary for wolves on the edge, including Hussan, Asil "The Moor", who wants to die. He has lived too long — 1,300 years — and doesn't trust his ability to control himself. He maintains some control by cultivating his roses. His mate, another Omega, Sarai, was murdered a few hundred years ago. Linnea is the witch who promised to teach Mariposa.

Dr. Carter Wallace had been a human veterinarian in Aspen Creek and Bran's friend. Gerry had been Carter's son (his betrayal and fate are revealed in Moon Called ). Shawna Carter is Carter's angry granddaughter. Henry Carter had been Carter's father and a werewolf.

Sage Carhardt is a sweet woman, er, werewolf, who had been brutalized. Hank is the Montana pack's human pilot. Reverend Mitchell led the funeral service. Heather Morrell is a human who was raised in Aspen Creek and works for the Forest Service. Her uncle, Colin Taggart, is also a ranger and a werewolf. Jack, a former policeman, is one of Heather's coworkers who saw too much.

The Tri-Cities in Washington state is…
…where Mercy Thompson , a coyote shifter, lives, and Adam Hauptman is the Columbia Basin Pack Alpha. A nice bit of tension there, lol.

Walter Rice is a former veteran of black ops who atones by living as a hermit in the wilderness in northwestern Montana. Jimmy had been a teammate in Vietnam.

The Western Suburb Chicago Pack was…
…sick for a very long time. Boyd Hamilton is the new Alpha now that Leo is dead. Isabella was Leo's mate. Members of the pack include George and Joshua who were inclined Leo's way while Thomas, a submissive wolf, will drive Anna's things to Montana. Rashid is a doctor.

Mick was Anna's boss at Scorci's, a Chicago restaurant. Kara lives in the same building as Anna and is a good neighbor and friend. The Torvalis bloodline had interbred with gypsies and was the only Western European line of witches to survive the Inquisition.

Mary Alvarado, a.k.a., Mariposa, is a witch, a dark witch hunting Asil.

An Omega wolf is born that way and is outside the pack hierarchy with "all the protective instincts of an Alpha and none of the violent tendencies"; a wolf's instinct normally leads him (or her) to protect an Omega at all costs. A submissive wolf doesn't feel the need to fight and can be trusted. An Alpha draws on pack magic to give himself an edge in speed or quicker healing, lets him control his wolves or find them, or feeds off their rage. Guardians are the result of a witch torturing a human to death; one witch family in Europe had held the spell that made it possible close to their black hearts.

The Cover and Title
The cover makes me think "graphic novel" with its comics-like Anna in a short black jacket over her red bandeau top and jeans and a snarling Charles in his wolf guise. Behind them is a range of fluorescent greens creating an eerie background of swaying tree trunks and stalking wolves.

I think the title reflects the emotions of a number of the characters with Cry Wolf expressing Bran's and Asil's grief and Anna's and Charles' fears and hopes.

Before you say anything, I KNOW. Any werewolf nut worth their salt should be up to date on all things Patricia Briggs. Well, this is me fixing it, ok? The delay actually worked out in my favour because I tackled the SHIFTING SHADOWS anthology prior to this audiobook, and it contained this series’ prequel which really helped to put this story into context, and as a result I avoided the whole lost feeling that many readers experienced. That point aside, I’m still kicking myself for having postponed CRY WOLF for so long because as much as I adore MERCY THOMPSON, she can’t hold a candle to Charles & Anna! I loved the characters, learning more about what it means to be omega, and the author’s switch to the third person POV writing style. It was howling good!

I’ve always been drawn to Bran, Charles & Asil, so no arm twisting was necessary in order to convince me to spend more time with these alpha males. I enjoyed digging deeper into Cornick’s Native American half, and getting a closer look at the aspects that make him so unique among his kind including his ability to spawn clothing, and his Brother Wolf. Up until this point I hadn’t interacted much with The Moor, but I really liked him in the ROSES IN WINTER short, and was ecstatic when I discovered that this novel’s main plot line revolved around him. The reasons behind Asil wanting Bran to kill him are now crystal clear, and I loved that Anna was able to bring him some much needed peace. And, hanging with the Marrok is always a pleasure, even when he goes Beowulf.

Mercy went through some tough times in Briggs’ other series, however she’s got nothing on Anna—the poor girl! Who would have thought that she’d find solace in the arms of a hitman among a pack of psychotic werewolves, but that’s true love for ya. Exploring what makes her character tick was a real delight, and I enjoyed learning about her omega traits. She’s also a rarity among weres, and when combined with Charles’ oddities, the two satisfied my fur craving to the nth degree. I liked how the author took her time in developing their relationship, and transformed Anna’s unfortunate past into a healing balm for the Marrok’s misfits. Her confrontation with Leah was extremely gratifying, and this book’s ending made a big puddle of goo out of my heart.

I had some concerns about the male narrator because I’ve had problems with their female voices in the past; however Holter Graham quickly proved his worth as Anna and Charles. The former was soft without being breathy, and I adored his Native / Welsh lilt, it was very well-done. The third person POV certainly helped on both accounts, and he definitely added an extra layer of enjoyment to my listening experience. I always use the first installment to gauge a narrator’s performance, and Graham’s suitability for this series is uncanny. When I reached the midway point, I was already downloading HUNTING GROUND to my iPhone because I just couldn’t get enough of Briggs’ characters or his voice.

CRY WOLF left its mark on this audiobook buff! *muah*

Cry Wolf (2008) is the first Fantasy novel in the Alpha & Omega series. This volume is set in the same milieu as the Mercy Thompson series, but takes place in Detroit and Montana. This story follows the third Mercy volume.

Bran and his sons are involved in both series, although Charles is more important in this sequence. Mercy and Adam are mentioned in this story, but otherwise are not involved in the action. Most of the other characters live in or near Aspen Creek.

In this novel, Anna Latham has been a werewolf for three years. She is an Omega, not bound to an Alpha.

Bran Cornick is the Marrok -- King -- of the North American werewolf packs. He has two sons: Samuel and Charles. He is consorted with Leah and is at least several centuries old.

Charles is his father's enforcer. Werewolves can go wild when they are newly changed and psychotic when they are old. Sometimes they must be killed to protect the normals. Charles kills as he must, but hates it.

Samuel is Bran's older son. He is a medical doctor and has been for centuries.

Hasan is a very old werewolf of Muslim ancestry. He was mated to Sarai, but she was killed by a witch.

Walter Rice is a Vietnam veteran. He is having flashbacks to his combat experiences. He has been living within the Cabinet Mountains for three decades.

In this story, Anna has called Bran and reported her sexual and psychological abuse by the Alpha and other pack members. Bran sends Charles to investigate the situation and take any required action. Charles is shot with silver bullets, but still takes out the Alpha and the pack second.

Bran flies to Detroit to clear up the aftermath. He appoints a new Alpha and helps Anna pack up for the move to Montana. Charles' wolf has accepted Anna as his mate and Charles has no problems with his choice. Anna and her wolf also accept Charles as her mate.

Charles has been locked in the pack safe room. He has greatly damaged the room and is about to escape. Bran drives Anna over to the pack house to calm down Charles. Then they all fly to Aspen Creek.

Anna is uncertain about her new pack. She gets to meet most of them the next day at the funeral. Hasan teases her and discovers that she is an Omega.

Leah doesn't come to the funeral, but Anna meets her afterward. Leah comes over to the house while Charles is away. Anna is not impressed with Bran's mate.

Bran wants to send Charles into the Cabinet Mountains after a rogue werewolf. Yet he also wants to have Samuel check out Charles' wounds. Samuel finds some silver in the leg wound and removes it.

The next day, a member of a search and rescue team is wounded by a werewolf. Charles is still healing from the Detroit shooting, but Bran cannot wait any longer. Anna insists on going with Charles.

Anna has been on camping trips in Wisconsin, but she has never experienced such a cold and wild place as the Cabinets. The trip gives the couple time to work out some of the abuse problems. She loves Charles, but they have known each other for less than a week. Her wold is certain about Charles, but she has doubts about his love for her.

Meanwhile, Walter has been observing a young man taking samples on the local fauna. Walter is aware of a storm coming to the area and wonders whether he should warn the man. He is leaning toward letting him die in the storm.

Then a large dog starts to attack the greenhorn. Walter charges to the rescue, warning the youngster to run. The dog is wounded by Walter's large knife and leaves Walter to die of an abdominal wound.

This tale presents Anna with more than the usual problems within the winter wilderness. She finds herself tending to Charles, who has opened his wounds by overexertion. She also finds Walter, who has survived his wounds and is now a werewolf.

Charles has never mated and doesn't understand Anna. Her abuse problems are also new to him. He treats her with due caution.

Other problems arise in the wilderness. The next installment in this sequence is Hunting Ground.

Highly recommended for Briggs fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of wilderness survival, abuse treatment, and a bit of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

~ 4.5 Cry Wolf Stars ~

Cry Wolf is book one of the Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs. I recommend reading the novella Alpha & Omega before reading Cry Wolf , so you get a feel for the context and Anna & Charles's, relationship in this story.

I am a big fan of the Mercy Thompson Series by Ms. Briggs. I love her characters and the world she has created. Both Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series over lap each other in their timelines. You meet some of the characters in MT and others in A&O. You don’t have to have read both series to enjoy them. It’s just nice as a fan to get that connection and timeline over lap.

Cry Wolf is a re-read for me.

We have an interesting plot that takes our characters deep into the Montana woods in order to solve the case of a rouge werewolf, but they find much more then just a rouge and things get intense. Life is never easy especially as a werewolf and when you add other supernatural creatures into the mix it gets chaotic. I love how the author describes her wolves. It’s not what we have come to expect.

Anna, was turned not by her choose into a werewolf. She has been used and abused by her pack in Chicago until Charles comes along to ad her. Seeing her character develop and learning what makes her tick was delightful. She is a rarity among werewolves and learning about this and the Omega traits are fascinating. Charles has never had a real love in his life, so he is new to the mating idea. He is also an interesting & unique character, in that he is different from his kind with an ability to spawn clothing and his Brother Wolf. As for Anna and Charles's relationship. The wolves are attracted to one another, but the human side takes it much slower. I liked how these two are taking it slowly and I look forward to seeing how the relationship develops throughout the series.

Cry Wolf was a fabulous start to the Alpha & Omega series. I am looking forward to re-reading this and all the other books by Patricia Briggs. If you have not picked up either series. I highly recommend you do.

A very strong start (*kind-of, will get back to that) to the Alpha Omega series. First go round I was little disappointed with where this book took place. The majority of this book takes place out deep in the forest investigating some strange animal attacks. However after re-reading this book I was more than pleased that Charles and Anna got to spend this time together without a large amount of side characters. We do get to meet a few characters that have a lasting place in the series as well as a fellow who sadly is only in this book. Here we, along with the main couple get to try and settle comfortably (though the terrain may not be) into this new fledgling relationship. These are two people whose wolves claimed each other as their mate before their human half got a chance to get to know one another. I wont get too much into it because I do not want to spoil anything but I felt that in this environment Anna was able to see a part of Charles that would not have been possible anywhere else, and Charles was able to see that though Anna may look fragile she is in fact just as strong and capable as any other female werewolf, maybe more so.
*Though technically this is book one in the series, if you have not read the prequel Alpha & Omega, which you can purchase on its own or in the Anthology On the Prowl, I strongly recommend you start there. I know in a lot of series the prequel rarely has a strong tie-in to the first book but that is not the case here. I think any reader would really be missing out if they started here with this book instead of the prequel. And while it is in the same world as the Mercy series its not necessary to read those books, though they run somewhat parallel and are excellent.
Happy Reading!

While this book is the first in the Alpha and Omega series, it's set in the same world as the Mercy Thompson books and has a prequel in the form of a short story that explains how Charles and Anna met. I haven't read either of those. Cry Wolf was my first introduction to this world and these characters, and I was surprised at just how much I loved them.

I think it mostly has to do with the fact that their relationship is exactly the sort I like to read about. It's a solid partnership between two mature, albeit damaged people who make actual efforts to work through their problems together and gain each other's trust and acceptance. Amongst the sea of one-sided, often abusive relationships we see in the paranormal romance books nowadays, stories like that are a sip of fresh water on a parched throat.

It also has a lot to do with how wonderfully complex those two characters are.

So many things could have gone wrong with this relationship. Charles is his father's Enforcer. He has the reputation of a ruthless killer, ready to put down anyone who threatens the Alpha's rule and the safety of the pack and not lose sleep over it. He is feared and even covertly despised even by his own pack because of what he does and how seemingly remorseless and even emotionless he is about it.

He rescues Anna from a horrible situation, but at the same time, he yanks her out of a town where she had at least some kind of support system: a job, a few acquaintances that might have been friends, the familiarity of the big city. Now she has no job, no money and is in a werewolf village in the middle of nowhere with nobody to help her if things go wrong. In other words, she is absolutely and totally dependent on him.

When I first picked up the book, I was scared that this would turn into one of those toxic and abuse relationships with Charles being the typical "alpha male" - possessive and jealous, disregarding Anna's wishes and opinions and depriving her of her own agency for her own protection. Thankfully, this wasn't the case at all.

Charles might lead a violent life and be forced to do horrible things out of duty to his Alpha father, but he is always treats Anna with respect. She is his mate, but that doesn't put her in a subservient position in his eyes. To him, she is an equal partner in this relationship. She has a voice and an opinion that he listens to.

Anna is also not your typical female protagonist. She doesn't go through life kicking ass and taking names. In fact, she is not a fighter at all. And, surprise of all surprises, she actually thinks before she opens her mouth, can assess a situation and knows when saying nothing might be the best course of action. She is the slow and steady river current to Charles' firestorm. A soothing presence that can ground him. She helps him remember that no matter what the rest of the pack thinks of him, he is not a monster. That all those glances of fear and barely veiled contempt are directed at the façade he has created, not the man that hides behind it.

It's never a one-sided relationship, because they both give as much as they take. They complement each other and manage to build something beautiful out of the broken pieces of their lives.

… and this is the first review in which I managed to wax poetic about a love story while saying absolutely nothing about the actual plot! It's not because the plot was lacking depth, I can assure you. It's just that it paled in the face of those two wonderful characters, at least in my eyes.

So would I recommend his book? Definitely. But I would suggest reading Alpha and Omega short story in the On the Prowl anthology first, otherwise the beginning of the book might seem a bit confusing.

You will fall in love with Charles almost immediately. You will love Anna. When Bran shows up you will laugh and fall for him as well. Can't wait to get my hands on more of the Alpha and Omega series..

My absolute favorite and will read again and again. I strongly recommend! It has outstanding qualities. The characters are wonderful and surprising and multi-dimensional. The writing is luring, engaging, and well-crafted enough to keep me interested from cover to cover and beyond. The plot is astonishing with twists and turns weaved into a well thought and planned story. There’s no pretense and romance was well balanced and done entirely correctly with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors and incredible, undeniable chemistry. Predictability is at an all-time low. With the exception of series based books that follow the same path but are just as good. Overall, Favorite, must read again, recommend!!!

I am a huge Patricia Briggs fan. Before I started reading a lot of romance and indie reads, Urban Fantasy/PNR was my genre of choice. I started reading her Mercy Thompson series in 2006 when I was still in college and I was hooked. I’m not sure what took me so long to read this spin off series, but I’ve really enjoyed the first book!

If you’ve read the Mercy books, you’ve met Charles. He’s the only ‘born’ werewolf, brother of Samuel, and son of the Marrok. Charles is also known as the ‘enforcer’. He keeps wolves in line. He’s also called his da’s ‘Pet Assassin’. Apparently there is a prequel novella I missed (luckily my husband read it and filled me in) where Charles goes on a mission and ends up saving Anna. More than that, their wolves decide to mate. This is not a normal way of doing things. Usually, its the people who mate first, then the wolves see if they’re comparable. Things are different for Charles and Anna. Everything is happening so fast and backwards and it’s confusing for her.

Anna is a rare breed of wolf. She is an Omega. This is not the same as submissive. She can calm other wolves, it keeps a pack in line. It’s so useful to have. When Charles goes to his next mission to track down a rouge wolf causing trouble, Bran (aka the Marrok) decides it would be best for Anna to come along. Maybe she can defuse the situation before the enforcer has to come out.

While on the hunt, they find a newly turned wolf named Walter. I adored Walter. He doesn’t know much about what’s going on, but he wants to help.

This is were things start to really get interesting. A rouge wolf out in the woods killing is what they signed up for. What’s really going on is so much more!

Charles and Anna must work together to fix this with as few casualties as possible. And while they’re doing this, they’re also working on them. Figuring out their relationship as they go.

I love love love Charles. I was such an Adam fan in the other series, not caring much for Samuel, that I didn’t pay much attention to Charles. I love his protectiveness, dominance and I love when his wolf takes over. Anna was great too. She has been through so much and is finally healing.

I think it’s worth mentioning that you get multiple pov’s in this story. Not just Charles and Anna, but also Bran, Walter, and another wolf who plays a large part, Asil (aka the Moor). I think that the writing was great and the narration in the audiobook was fantastic. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is I just didn’t feel this was focused enough on Charles and Anna, their actual relationship etc. Also, there was one or two rushed sex scenes and I wanted more than that. I’m hoping as the series continues, there is more steam and we get more of a focus on the main couple! Still, this was good read for me and I’m looking forward to reading more of the series.

I enjoyed it immensely! It was a very thrilling and exciting story to read. Patricia Briggs has done it again with Cry Wolf as a surprising, wondrous series of an Alpha Omega Novel. It sure to take you through new territory in Aspen Creek, Montana; wolf packs, magic and witches keeping you enthralled .
Anna starts a new life not sure if she wants it or not because things for the past three years have not been good and trusting anyone is very hard, she feels somewhat uncomfortable not knowing if and where she belongs. She notices Charles starts making her feel safe and happenings start making changes in her inner wolf that bring out some extraordinary innate gifts like no other wolf. Others claim she is a gift. Charles wants and needs Anna to join his pack. She brings peace to the other wolves and can overcome the power her adversaries have. Charles takes Anna on a treacherous hike through the uninhibited mountain Cabinets searching for a rogue wolf, working as a significant team in the most coeval way complimenting each other's weaknesses and strengths. All these things are kept in secret from the humans of creatures that live among them.
It's one of the best werewolf stories I have read and I am looking forward to the next book of Hunting Ground. I didn't buy the book, but was able to get it at my local library on loan.

Book 1 of a series that I can't wait to get into! Loved this! This ties into the Mercy Thompson series with some of the same characters. Mostly set in Montana, my home which is just a bonus, we have a werewolf town. Anna is a city girl, turned into a werewolf in Chicago and then abused by the Alpha and his entire pack. Not normal behavior but Anna only knows what she's been exposed to. When she is "rescued" by Charles, the enforcer from Montana, she finds out that treatment like she's been subjected to is not the norm. And Charles falls for her hard. Once they get to Montana, the story really takes off with rogue werewolves killing folks, the local band trying to prevent the killings, Charles & Anna thrown right in the middle of it all. Great story!

Note: This review encompasses both v. 1 and v. 2 and is copied to both.

I'm not a regular graphic novel reader, but for a favorite author, it becomes a must read. I found this graphic version of Cry Wolf just a delight to my visual senses. The storyline wasn't bad either though I will warn other readers that there is some flashback stuff that can make things confusing if you're not paying close attention. I won't say you have to read the novel first, but I think without having already read Cry Wolf the novel then I would have been lost in places particularly during the flashbacks. Others who are regular graphic book readers probably would fare better.

The graphic work is done by three different artists. The cover art, issue covers, and the story pages are all separate artists. The work is exquisite and I loved how facial expression, body language and movement were vividly portrayed so that words were almost unnecessary in places.

Briefly, the storyline begins just after Charles Cornick, mystic werewolf and son of the Alpha of all alphas and an alpha wolf in his own right, brings his new mate, Anna Latham back to his home town in the Montana wilderness so that she can continue to recover from the abuse she was dealt in her old pack and they can adjust to their new mating. Anna is a rare omega wolf and doesn't even no how special she is because of the way her old pack kept her ignorant and abused. Charles knows that things will take time since it was his wolf and her wolf that began the mate bond and not their human sides. Anna doesn't know the full extent of who and what he is as his dad's enforcer and he worries that it will drive her away after all the violence she was subject to before.

Anna is made of sterner stuff than anyone realizes so when Bran Cornick sends Charles out to investigate the suspicion of a rogue werewolf attacking humans in the mountains, she insists on going with him. Their trek takes them into danger and really tests them conjuring up their pasts as well as the past of another pack member, Asil. The future of the entire werewolf race may be at stake when they realize the full extent of their enemy's plotting. It's Anna's gifts that may save them all.

I read volumes one and two together and they contained the full set of issues to this story so I've also combined them together in the review here. The volumes are split pretty much at the half-way point of the original novel story where Charles and Anna encounter a werewolf and Asil realizes that he needs to get to Charles and Anna because he knows what they are dealing with. The first volume is largely establishing the backstory and characters with most of the action taking place in the second volume. There is a lot of backstory in both because there is Anna, Charles, Bran and Asil's histories to cover which play a part on the present so as I said before, the reader must pay attention.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience to see the story after having already read the novel. It was a visual treat that I encourage all Patricia Briggs fans to try on for themselves and I would also recommend this to Urban Fantasy graphic novel lovers in general.

WARNING: This is NOT the first story in the "Alpha and Omega" series. The first (and essential) story is contained in the anthology "On the Prowl," and is titled "Alpha and Omega." If you wish to start Briggs's "Alpha and Omega" series, start with "On the Prowl," or you will be very frustrated and irritated since "Cry Wolf" picks up at the end of the short story without explaining how the characters got to where they are. The publisher should be ashamed of doing this to readers.

As for "Cry Wolf," it is an exciting story with engaging characters. Briggs knows how to weave a tale that draws in the reader and make you care about the characters. I love her Mercy Thompson series, and this series has definitely captured my interest.

I was totally caught up in this couple. I started the audio and then decided to read the Alpha & Omega .5 book first. I'm glad I did that. It really helped with the understanding of our couple, and the world of our werewolves. I'm guessing the author realized it was needed after the book was published. I may not have been so invested in the couple if I hadn't read it. Charles was a totally swoon worthy Alpha, the sweet gentle kind. Anna, once she was out of her pack became all she was meant to be as an Omega. I remember trying the first book of the Mercy Thompson series, and it did nothing for me, so I quit reading after the first few pages. So, I was very surprised with how much I enjoyed this story. The story was told from an alternate POV, and the narrator did a very good job. There was very little sexual content, but I enjoyed the tale anyway....LOL... Very Good story.

The Good: Anna is important and that in itself is important. She has a reason for being special and it factors into the story in a major way. The characters are great, all of which making you want to know more about them at every opportunity. Charles and Bran, especially, but also Sage and even Charles's stepmother. This series is set in the same universe as Brigg's Mercy Thompson series which leads to a huge, very fleshed out world. You're fully immersed in a unique werewolf culture here and it's truly something to experience.

The Bad: Anna is weak for the majority of the story and it takes some getting used to. Urban fantasy readers are used to strong female leads and Anna is not what most of us would expect. Cry Wolf is the first in the series, yet there was a short story prequel that most readers will have missed before starting this book. The short story would have been a very smart addition in this book as it involved major backstory that readers need to get into the beginning of this book.

Note: This review is for the edition published by InkLit, released Octover 2, 2102. It contains new artwork and a different version of issue #1.

I love Anna and Charles' romance. From the novella that started it all to the newest book, Fair Game", I think they are a wonderful pair. When this series was first issued I waited too long and it sold out. Then I waited too long for the original compilation. But now, now I have it!

Briggs was involved with adapting the story and, while necessarily condensed due to the different format, it's well done, with nothing crucial missing, and some of my favorite lines and scenes remained intact. The story flows and makes sense, though if this is your introduction to the series, there might be some mild confusion.

The artwork, I'm not so in love with. Mostly, it has to do with how the characters look. Sam and Charles fit the descriptions given in the original books AND they pretty well match my mental images of them. Bran, in my opinion, does not match. He is repeatedly described as slender, pleasant looking, and nondescript in the books but here he's muscled, and gives off a bad ass vibe. Anna fits the book description but I think I've been strongly influenced by the book covers; she looks different from those and to my mind, looks wrong. Obviously, that and the others are a matter of personal taste and your opinion may vary wildly. Additionally, some of the facial expressions on Anna and Charles are just plain weird. As far as supporting the text and working with it to tell the story, the art does that very well.

In all, it's a well done adaptation and I'm looking forward to the second volume.

I received this hardcover from the publisher.

A very strong start (*kind-of, will get back to that) to the Alpha Omega series. First go round I was little disappointed with where this book took place. The majority of this book takes place out deep in the forest investigating some strange animal attacks. However after re-reading this book I was more than pleased that Charles and Anna got to spend this time together without a large amount of side characters. We do get to meet a few characters that have a lasting place in the series as well as a fellow who sadly is only in this book. Here we, along with the main couple get to try and settle comfortably (though the terrain may not be) into this new fledgling relationship. These are two people whose wolves claimed each other as their mate before their human half got a chance to get to know one another. I wont get too much into it because I do not want to spoil anything but I felt that in this environment Anna was able to see a part of Charles that would not have been possible anywhere else, and Charles was able to see that though Anna may look fragile she is in fact just as strong and capable as any other female werewolf, maybe more so.
*Though technically this is book one in the series, if you have not read the prequel Alpha & Omega, which you can purchase on its own or in the Anthology On the Prowl, I strongly recommend you start there. I know in a lot of series the prequel rarely has a strong tie-in to the first book but that is not the case here. I think any reader would really be missing out if they started here with this book instead of the prequel. And while it is in the same world as the Mercy series its not necessary to read those books, though they run somewhat parallel and are excellent.
Happy Reading!

While this book is the first in the Alpha and Omega series, it's set in the same world as the Mercy Thompson books and has a prequel in the form of a short story that explains how Charles and Anna met. I haven't read either of those. Cry Wolf was my first introduction to this world and these characters, and I was surprised at just how much I loved them.

I think it mostly has to do with the fact that their relationship is exactly the sort I like to read about. It's a solid partnership between two mature, albeit damaged people who make actual efforts to work through their problems together and gain each other's trust and acceptance. Amongst the sea of one-sided, often abusive relationships we see in the paranormal romance books nowadays, stories like that are a sip of fresh water on a parched throat.

It also has a lot to do with how wonderfully complex those two characters are.

So many things could have gone wrong with this relationship. Charles is his father's Enforcer. He has the reputation of a ruthless killer, ready to put down anyone who threatens the Alpha's rule and the safety of the pack and not lose sleep over it. He is feared and even covertly despised even by his own pack because of what he does and how seemingly remorseless and even emotionless he is about it.

He rescues Anna from a horrible situation, but at the same time, he yanks her out of a town where she had at least some kind of support system: a job, a few acquaintances that might have been friends, the familiarity of the big city. Now she has no job, no money and is in a werewolf village in the middle of nowhere with nobody to help her if things go wrong. In other words, she is absolutely and totally dependent on him.

When I first picked up the book, I was scared that this would turn into one of those toxic and abuse relationships with Charles being the typical "alpha male" - possessive and jealous, disregarding Anna's wishes and opinions and depriving her of her own agency for her own protection. Thankfully, this wasn't the case at all.

Charles might lead a violent life and be forced to do horrible things out of duty to his Alpha father, but he is always treats Anna with respect. She is his mate, but that doesn't put her in a subservient position in his eyes. To him, she is an equal partner in this relationship. She has a voice and an opinion that he listens to.

Anna is also not your typical female protagonist. She doesn't go through life kicking ass and taking names. In fact, she is not a fighter at all. And, surprise of all surprises, she actually thinks before she opens her mouth, can assess a situation and knows when saying nothing might be the best course of action. She is the slow and steady river current to Charles' firestorm. A soothing presence that can ground him. She helps him remember that no matter what the rest of the pack thinks of him, he is not a monster. That all those glances of fear and barely veiled contempt are directed at the façade he has created, not the man that hides behind it.

It's never a one-sided relationship, because they both give as much as they take. They complement each other and manage to build something beautiful out of the broken pieces of their lives.

… and this is the first review in which I managed to wax poetic about a love story while saying absolutely nothing about the actual plot! It's not because the plot was lacking depth, I can assure you. It's just that it paled in the face of those two wonderful characters, at least in my eyes.

So would I recommend his book? Definitely. But I would suggest reading Alpha and Omega short story in the On the Prowl anthology first, otherwise the beginning of the book might seem a bit confusing.

You will fall in love with Charles almost immediately. You will love Anna. When Bran shows up you will laugh and fall for him as well. Can't wait to get my hands on more of the Alpha and Omega series..

My absolute favorite and will read again and again. I strongly recommend! It has outstanding qualities. The characters are wonderful and surprising and multi-dimensional. The writing is luring, engaging, and well-crafted enough to keep me interested from cover to cover and beyond. The plot is astonishing with twists and turns weaved into a well thought and planned story. There’s no pretense and romance was well balanced and done entirely correctly with properly distributed amounts of hints, behaviors and incredible, undeniable chemistry. Predictability is at an all-time low. With the exception of series based books that follow the same path but are just as good. Overall, Favorite, must read again, recommend!!!

I am a huge Patricia Briggs fan. Before I started reading a lot of romance and indie reads, Urban Fantasy/PNR was my genre of choice. I started reading her Mercy Thompson series in 2006 when I was still in college and I was hooked. I’m not sure what took me so long to read this spin off series, but I’ve really enjoyed the first book!

If you’ve read the Mercy books, you’ve met Charles. He’s the only ‘born’ werewolf, brother of Samuel, and son of the Marrok. Charles is also known as the ‘enforcer’. He keeps wolves in line. He’s also called his da’s ‘Pet Assassin’. Apparently there is a prequel novella I missed (luckily my husband read it and filled me in) where Charles goes on a mission and ends up saving Anna. More than that, their wolves decide to mate. This is not a normal way of doing things. Usually, its the people who mate first, then the wolves see if they’re comparable. Things are different for Charles and Anna. Everything is happening so fast and backwards and it’s confusing for her.

Anna is a rare breed of wolf. She is an Omega. This is not the same as submissive. She can calm other wolves, it keeps a pack in line. It’s so useful to have. When Charles goes to his next mission to track down a rouge wolf causing trouble, Bran (aka the Marrok) decides it would be best for Anna to come along. Maybe she can defuse the situation before the enforcer has to come out.

While on the hunt, they find a newly turned wolf named Walter. I adored Walter. He doesn’t know much about what’s going on, but he wants to help.

This is were things start to really get interesting. A rouge wolf out in the woods killing is what they signed up for. What’s really going on is so much more!

Charles and Anna must work together to fix this with as few casualties as possible. And while they’re doing this, they’re also working on them. Figuring out their relationship as they go.

I love love love Charles. I was such an Adam fan in the other series, not caring much for Samuel, that I didn’t pay much attention to Charles. I love his protectiveness, dominance and I love when his wolf takes over. Anna was great too. She has been through so much and is finally healing.

I think it’s worth mentioning that you get multiple pov’s in this story. Not just Charles and Anna, but also Bran, Walter, and another wolf who plays a large part, Asil (aka the Moor). I think that the writing was great and the narration in the audiobook was fantastic. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is I just didn’t feel this was focused enough on Charles and Anna, their actual relationship etc. Also, there was one or two rushed sex scenes and I wanted more than that. I’m hoping as the series continues, there is more steam and we get more of a focus on the main couple! Still, this was good read for me and I’m looking forward to reading more of the series.

I enjoyed it immensely! It was a very thrilling and exciting story to read. Patricia Briggs has done it again with Cry Wolf as a surprising, wondrous series of an Alpha Omega Novel. It sure to take you through new territory in Aspen Creek, Montana; wolf packs, magic and witches keeping you enthralled .
Anna starts a new life not sure if she wants it or not because things for the past three years have not been good and trusting anyone is very hard, she feels somewhat uncomfortable not knowing if and where she belongs. She notices Charles starts making her feel safe and happenings start making changes in her inner wolf that bring out some extraordinary innate gifts like no other wolf. Others claim she is a gift. Charles wants and needs Anna to join his pack. She brings peace to the other wolves and can overcome the power her adversaries have. Charles takes Anna on a treacherous hike through the uninhibited mountain Cabinets searching for a rogue wolf, working as a significant team in the most coeval way complimenting each other's weaknesses and strengths. All these things are kept in secret from the humans of creatures that live among them.
It's one of the best werewolf stories I have read and I am looking forward to the next book of Hunting Ground. I didn't buy the book, but was able to get it at my local library on loan.

Book 1 of a series that I can't wait to get into! Loved this! This ties into the Mercy Thompson series with some of the same characters. Mostly set in Montana, my home which is just a bonus, we have a werewolf town. Anna is a city girl, turned into a werewolf in Chicago and then abused by the Alpha and his entire pack. Not normal behavior but Anna only knows what she's been exposed to. When she is "rescued" by Charles, the enforcer from Montana, she finds out that treatment like she's been subjected to is not the norm. And Charles falls for her hard. Once they get to Montana, the story really takes off with rogue werewolves killing folks, the local band trying to prevent the killings, Charles & Anna thrown right in the middle of it all. Great story!

Note: This review encompasses both v. 1 and v. 2 and is copied to both.

I'm not a regular graphic novel reader, but for a favorite author, it becomes a must read. I found this graphic version of Cry Wolf just a delight to my visual senses. The storyline wasn't bad either though I will warn other readers that there is some flashback stuff that can make things confusing if you're not paying close attention. I won't say you have to read the novel first, but I think without having already read Cry Wolf the novel then I would have been lost in places particularly during the flashbacks. Others who are regular graphic book readers probably would fare better.

The graphic work is done by three different artists. The cover art, issue covers, and the story pages are all separate artists. The work is exquisite and I loved how facial expression, body language and movement were vividly portrayed so that words were almost unnecessary in places.

Briefly, the storyline begins just after Charles Cornick, mystic werewolf and son of the Alpha of all alphas and an alpha wolf in his own right, brings his new mate, Anna Latham back to his home town in the Montana wilderness so that she can continue to recover from the abuse she was dealt in her old pack and they can adjust to their new mating. Anna is a rare omega wolf and doesn't even no how special she is because of the way her old pack kept her ignorant and abused. Charles knows that things will take time since it was his wolf and her wolf that began the mate bond and not their human sides. Anna doesn't know the full extent of who and what he is as his dad's enforcer and he worries that it will drive her away after all the violence she was subject to before.

Anna is made of sterner stuff than anyone realizes so when Bran Cornick sends Charles out to investigate the suspicion of a rogue werewolf attacking humans in the mountains, she insists on going with him. Their trek takes them into danger and really tests them conjuring up their pasts as well as the past of another pack member, Asil. The future of the entire werewolf race may be at stake when they realize the full extent of their enemy's plotting. It's Anna's gifts that may save them all.

I read volumes one and two together and they contained the full set of issues to this story so I've also combined them together in the review here. The volumes are split pretty much at the half-way point of the original novel story where Charles and Anna encounter a werewolf and Asil realizes that he needs to get to Charles and Anna because he knows what they are dealing with. The first volume is largely establishing the backstory and characters with most of the action taking place in the second volume. There is a lot of backstory in both because there is Anna, Charles, Bran and Asil's histories to cover which play a part on the present so as I said before, the reader must pay attention.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience to see the story after having already read the novel. It was a visual treat that I encourage all Patricia Briggs fans to try on for themselves and I would also recommend this to Urban Fantasy graphic novel lovers in general.

WARNING: This is NOT the first story in the "Alpha and Omega" series. The first (and essential) story is contained in the anthology "On the Prowl," and is titled "Alpha and Omega." If you wish to start Briggs's "Alpha and Omega" series, start with "On the Prowl," or you will be very frustrated and irritated since "Cry Wolf" picks up at the end of the short story without explaining how the characters got to where they are. The publisher should be ashamed of doing this to readers.

As for "Cry Wolf," it is an exciting story with engaging characters. Briggs knows how to weave a tale that draws in the reader and make you care about the characters. I love her Mercy Thompson series, and this series has definitely captured my interest.

I was totally caught up in this couple. I started the audio and then decided to read the Alpha & Omega .5 book first. I'm glad I did that. It really helped with the understanding of our couple, and the world of our werewolves. I'm guessing the author realized it was needed after the book was published. I may not have been so invested in the couple if I hadn't read it. Charles was a totally swoon worthy Alpha, the sweet gentle kind. Anna, once she was out of her pack became all she was meant to be as an Omega. I remember trying the first book of the Mercy Thompson series, and it did nothing for me, so I quit reading after the first few pages. So, I was very surprised with how much I enjoyed this story. The story was told from an alternate POV, and the narrator did a very good job. There was very little sexual content, but I enjoyed the tale anyway....LOL... Very Good story.

The Good: Anna is important and that in itself is important. She has a reason for being special and it factors into the story in a major way. The characters are great, all of which making you want to know more about them at every opportunity. Charles and Bran, especially, but also Sage and even Charles's stepmother. This series is set in the same universe as Brigg's Mercy Thompson series which leads to a huge, very fleshed out world. You're fully immersed in a unique werewolf culture here and it's truly something to experience.

The Bad: Anna is weak for the majority of the story and it takes some getting used to. Urban fantasy readers are used to strong female leads and Anna is not what most of us would expect. Cry Wolf is the first in the series, yet there was a short story prequel that most readers will have missed before starting this book. The short story would have been a very smart addition in this book as it involved major backstory that readers need to get into the beginning of this book.

Note: This review is for the edition published by InkLit, released Octover 2, 2102. It contains new artwork and a different version of issue #1.

I love Anna and Charles' romance. From the novella that started it all to the newest book, Fair Game", I think they are a wonderful pair. When this series was first issued I waited too long and it sold out. Then I waited too long for the original compilation. But now, now I have it!

Briggs was involved with adapting the story and, while necessarily condensed due to the different format, it's well done, with nothing crucial missing, and some of my favorite lines and scenes remained intact. The story flows and makes sense, though if this is your introduction to the series, there might be some mild confusion.

The artwork, I'm not so in love with. Mostly, it has to do with how the characters look. Sam and Charles fit the descriptions given in the original books AND they pretty well match my mental images of them. Bran, in my opinion, does not match. He is repeatedly described as slender, pleasant looking, and nondescript in the books but here he's muscled, and gives off a bad ass vibe. Anna fits the book description but I think I've been strongly influenced by the book covers; she looks different from those and to my mind, looks wrong. Obviously, that and the others are a matter of personal taste and your opinion may vary wildly. Additionally, some of the facial expressions on Anna and Charles are just plain weird. As far as supporting the text and working with it to tell the story, the art does that very well.

In all, it's a well done adaptation and I'm looking forward to the second volume.

I received this hardcover from the publisher.

Another fabulous series from Patricia Briggs. This is a spin-off from the Mercedes Thompson, but gives more insight into side characters from the Mercy series. I love being able to see more from them. This series focuses more on romance than Mercy’s world, but it still delivers a solid story. I love the hero and heroine and find their story super endearing.

***Content warning: this is not a sexual story, but there is a vague sex scene in it, so I feel like I need to put the warning out there, in case you don't care for any of that funny business. It is not graphic, but it is there, so fair warning.

I have read this book VARIOUS times. That shows you how much I truly LOVE this book. I have read the whole series (even though book 3 left A LOT to be desired) I love the first book in this series. It features everything I look for in a book: a) Abused yet strong heroine; b) A caring yet dominant Alpha/Mate/Hero; c) A little action and background story so the story isn't ALWAYS focused on the relationship of said Hero & Heroine.

I adore Charles (AKA Charlie, when he isn't around). He's got everything going for him. He's good looking, caring, just the right amount of possessive and most importantly he doesn't treat his Mate like a maid and doesn't order her around. If anything he does his best to help her out and he wants her to feel comfortable to talk to him freely about anything. Unlike most Alphas out there he actually asks/considers her opinion on stuff.

Anna has been misled since she was turned (against her will) into a wolf. Why you ask? Well, she's a super rare type of wolf: an Omega. She doesn't have to listen to the Alpha and doesn't have the urge to be submissive to everyone who ranks higher than her in a pack. Because of that her original Alpha abused her and tried to break her. It didn't work. Finding Charles was a light at the end of the tunnel for her and what a light he is -wink, wink-.

Favorite Quotes:

"You follow rules, carry out justice and - try not to hate yourself for being good at your job."

"And just where would I have gone? And what would it have mattered to you if you'd managed to bleed o death?"

"He'd gone through all that because he was worried she'd leave him? Romantic... and stupid."

I started this series backwards. I checked out Fair Game as an audio book. I did not realize that it was a side series instead of a Mercy Thompson book. I am glad I didn't because I loved Anna and Charles and wanted to know more about them. I put Cry Wolf on reserve at my local library. I waited a month but whoever had the book never returned it. (I hate that when it happens). I had a 15% off coupon so I purchased Cry Wolf instead of hoping the book would ever be returned.

World Building: Most of this world was created in the Mercy Thompson series. Cry Wolf is set before the start of the Mercy series but because it was written after that series there is little world building in Cry Wolf. There is some cross-over between the two series. I did feel I might have missed some references as I have only read the later Mercy books.

Characters: Charles is his father's enforcer or paid assassin. He has little softness in him, is a dominant wolf and seems an odd mate for Anna. Anna is an Omega wolf who has been told she is a submissive. In truth she is the one wolf who cannot be ordered by anyone. She brings an odd calm to any wolf she is around and is a balm to Charles battered soul. They are the two main characters in the book. The one thing that is jarring in the book is the fact that you do not get to see Anna and Charles meet. That story is in On the Prowl an anthology published a year before Cry Wolf. It is not included in the copy of the book I purchased although I think it is in some later editions. I suggest you find and read that short novella before you start Cry Wolf. If you do not you will feel a little lost as the story starts where the novella ends with no backstory or introduction. There are other important characters in the story: Bran Cornick, the Marrok, or leader of all werewolves in North America and Charles father, Walter Rice who has hidden in the mountains near Charles house for 30 years, and Ansil an old werewolf whose secret is the basis for the plot in the story. While character development is not at the heart of the story I did feel I knew enough about each character and they fit the story.

Plot: Bran's pack is a mix of werewolves who have problems as well as secrets. Ansil has hidden much of his secret from Bran and now it has come back to haunt Ansil, Bran and Charles. As the enforcer Charles is tasked with going into the mountains to fix the problem and Anna insists on going with him. Nothing is as it seems and as the story progresses everything begins to unravel and everyone is in more and more danger.

Tension: The hunt in the mountains provided the external tension in the story. That tension just continues to build as the book progresses. The internal tension comes from the Charles and Anna. They are new mates, do not know each other that well, and the mating bond is not in place. The hunt does not leave them time to sort some of the issues out in a calm manner and produces tension between the two.

Writing: All of Patricia Briggs' books are well written and Cry Wolf is no exception. While some scenes are written in the passive most of the book is very active. Dialog and action keep the story moving. The passive fits the story as it comes from both Charles and Anna's internal struggle with the mating bond.

I am looking forward to future books featuring Charles and Anna. They are both great characters with the potential for many future stories.

urban-fantasy, werewolves, witches, ptsd, relationships, mercyverse, series

Come sideways into the Mercyverse. This is a side series of the Mercy Thompson books. Charles is a foster brother several hundred years old, and Anna is his very recently found mate. While Charles and Anna are trying to get used to each other, a crisis arises in the Montana mountain area that they call home. The publisher's blurb gives hints and there is no need for spoilers. Just read it for yourself and get caught up in the world of the werewolf.
Holter Graham is perfect as narrator for this branch of the books.

~4-4.5/5
[Also available on my blog.]

I ended up picking this book up because, (1) my local bookstore had this book and On The Prowl in (which has the beginning story to this series), and (2) the bookstore didn’t have the next Mercy book in. Oddly enough, I’d had my eye on this series before I even thought of reading the Mercy books, but couldn’t seem to find On The Prowl, and somehow ended up with the first Mercy book instead. I wasn’t even sure if I was going to read this one soon, but started the first short story and liked it, and so continued onto this one immediately.

When I started this one, I hadn’t realized that it was about Sam’s brother, and that it would be based in the place that Bran lives. I was pleasantly surprised by this, especially to see all the ways that this story intertwines with Mercy’s.

I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed the two main characters, Anna and Charles. Anna is the omega, which I didn’t know what meant until I started this. An omega is someone who is kind of left out of the hierarchy in a pack. They have an alpha, and they’re part of the pack, but they don’t have to succumb to commands, and they tend to calm the people around them very easily, and can help with unruly and/or hurt werewolves. It’s awesome, really. One of my favorite parts to this was how easily Anna is able to stand up for herself, to anyone, and how she grows into being able to do that.

I love reading about characters that have been abused in some way, and Anna has definitely been abused, and I like seeing the ways in which she grows from that. She’s having a bit of a hard time, but she’s dealing really well, and she’s growing and not letting anyone push her back down, which is great. I was surprised by it, but I really like Anna, and am really looking forward to seeing how she continues to grow in the next book.

Next: Charles. He’s the, um, ‘enforcer’ of the pack? He takes care of unruly werewolves; he’s the one that has to go and kill them, or deal with the messy situations, when there is no more avoiding it. And I really like Charles. He’s strong, and protective, and sweet to Anna.

I love the relationship between Anna and Charles. Now, I’m a big sucker for romance, and I definitely like that their romance started right from the beginning, given that their wolves decided they wanted each other (also, how it didn't feel, or act, like insta-love). And how Anna and Charles have to deal with that, and accept each other after the fact their wolves want to mate. I like their dynamic, too, and seeing how they’re growing used to each other, getting to know each other more. I also liked seeing Anna stick up for herself, not let Charles be the big dominant man (not that he's particularly possessive or pushy in a jerk way). (I also liked, in the anthology story, how she told him that she doesn't like sex, and the anticipation that gave me toward some nice sex and how he's prove her wrong -- I believe there was one sex scene in this story, kind of skipped over, although I'm not surprised.)

There was a big case in this book, and we got to see Sam and Bran, including Bran worrying over Charles and Charles worrying about Bran, and there was a very-not-nice death. At the end of the book, the official mating happened, and Anna got to see her family after two/three years, which I would have liked to actually have seen instead of gotten a recap in the last chapter.

I like how quickly these books go, even if there are some slow parts. I would like more romance, but I know that’s not a big part of what Briggs’ tends to write. The writing was a bit different in this book as opposed to the Mercy series: this book was written in multiple points-of-view third-person. So, aside from being in Anna’s head, we also get to be in Charles’, and Brans’, and maybe some other people… I like multiple points-of-view, so I did enjoy this.

I really liked this book; surprisingly so, and I am really looking forward to reading the next one. It's actually rivaling with how much I like the Mercy series, and I'm not sure which one's winning, because I'm wary to say it's this one. I think the main reason is the relationship between Anna and Charles, and just Anna herself; I just really liked them.

This book was awesome. Werewolves, witches, and spirits all in one. This book is about a werewolf who was abused by her previous pack named Anna finding her inner strength. Anna is an Omega which means neither dominant or submissive. She is meek and timid but underneath that she has a strength that is born from her inability to ever hurt anyone. Her strength comes from her need to help everyone around her. Her mate is the Marrok's son Charles. He is a trained killer and has a hard time letting others in, until Anna. Now he has a hard time keeping his cool at all, (The power women have on their men can be frightening). The Marrok is the leader of ALL the werewolves in North America. He is very old and with being as old as he is he has a dark power and madness that he must keep in a cage deep within himself. This book was well written. I read the entire thing in 1 day. Couldn't put it down. The villain was a little weird but overall I like the underlying moral of everyone has their own inner strength all you have to do is find it. Anna's character also reminded me so much of myself I could relate to her which made it all the better.

My Review:

I haven't listened to many audiobooks done by men, but I definitely have a new favorite male narrator. Holter Graham did a wonderful job creating completely different voices and inflections for all the different characters. It was incredibly enjoyable to listen to and I really liked the nuances that the voices he created and what they added to the characters.

And these are truly wonderful characters. I'm probably one of the few that hasn't read the Mercy Thompson series. I've only read the first book and am a little overwhelmed by the size of that series so when I discovered there was this other series set within the same world, I jumped on it. I ADORED Charles and Anna and the difficulties that they faced as they learned to deal with their unexpected mating. Everything about this book held me enthralled just because these characters were so well-done. There is a vulnerability to both of them. They never expected this and both are so confused and floundering. It certainly doesn't help matters that their mating is completely different from how it normally works.

Anna is an Omega werewolf...a rare and treasured entity, although she has NO IDEA because she's spent the last 3 years abused and torn down with NO INSIGHT into the werewolf world and the way that it's supposed to be. Charles is an Alpha, a dominant, and his father's assassin. For everything that Anna is, Charles is the complete opposite, but he treasures her and she him....although they are both so unsure of that bond between them. I got completely caught up in the romance between them. It's such a gorgeous story and I loved the back and forth between their POV's within the story so that we could see just how unsure they both are, even when they are both completely committed to the other. It's just all so new and unexpected for them.

Charles is protective and so purely alpha, but he lets Anna push back and tease him. He's so careful of her. I love how upset he gets about her when he feels she is threatened. I also love how worried he is about scaring her. His job within the pack is to create fear, but he absolutely does not want that to happen with Anna. He does NOT want her to see him that way. I loved the care and fragility of that feeling between them. It created such a magical feel to their relationship.

It is not Anna's nature to fight back, but she does when she needs to. I've never heard about Omegas within the wolf world and I LOVE this introduction of their purpose within the pack. She soothes the pack...both dominants and submissives. She is also the only wolf within the pack that can push back against the Alpha...she's not unquestionably ruled by the Alpha. She is so strong especially after what she has survived over the last three years. Just by nature, Charles should always be the one standing in front of her to protect her, but I love how she was just as protective of him as he is of her. Like I said...MAGIC!

I'm already in love with this series and have downloaded the next two audiobooks in the series. It's just a great story and I am sold!

Although Cry Wolf is the first full length novel in the Alpha and Omega series I would strongly recommend reading the novella in the On the Prowl anthology before starting this book. You could probably pick things up without reading the novella but you really would be missing out by not seeing how Anna and Charles first met and experiencing first hand the things that Anna goes through at the hands of her previous pack members. This is shaping up to be a fantastic series though so I would highly recommend giving it a try, especially if you are already a fan of the Mercy Thompson books (but you can read these books even if you've not read anything by Patricia Briggs before).

Anna didn't even know werewolves existed until she was turned into one during a brutal attack. Ever since then she has been treated as the lowest member of her pack, used and abused by all of the others with the full consent of her alpha. She hates what she was turned into, she has been given very little information about the rules of her new life and she has developed a deep distrust of any other werewolves - particularly the dominant males. Charles is the son of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, and works for his father as the pack enforcer. He met Anna when he was asked to investigate her pack and his wolf instantly recognised her as his mate. He was horrified by what he witnessed of Anna's abuse and rescued her from the Chicago pack and took her home with him. Now Charles has been asked to investigate werewolf attacks close to his home but as he is still recovering from the injuries sustained during Anna's rescue he is going to need Anna's help to take down the rogue werewolf.

Anna was always told that she was the most submissive member of her pack, she was treated as the lowest of the low and her self confidence is through the floor. But Anna isn't a natural submissive at all and Charles immediately recognised her as a very rare omega wolf, someone with the ability to calm the wolves around her and someone who would be an important member of any pack. He is determined to help her build her confidence and show her just how special she is. He is equally determined to show her that she has nothing to fear from him and that if she'll let him he will always be there as her mate to protect her. Having seen how badly Anna has been treated it is impossible not to feel sorry for the way she was brought into her new life but she isn't a character who is looking for sympathy. As much as she is wary of trusting people she is also a very strong woman - she had to be to have survived for as long as she did. She is understandably nervous around strangers but she instinctively knows that she can trust Charles not to hurt her. As she gets to know him better she becomes much braver at standing up to him when she knows he putting himself at risk and I was really pleased to see that she has an important role to play in the investigation of the werewolf attacks. Anna is never going to be the kind of woman who sits at home waiting for her man while he is out facing something dangerous which makes her perfect for Charles.

Charles is a great hero and someone who is incredibly protective of his friends and family but it doesn't take him long to realise that Anna is going to be the most important person in his life from now onwards. He never once pushes her though and is so patient and caring with her that it is a joy to watch. Charles is an old and incredibly powerful werewolf but he also has magic that was passed down to him from his Native American mother and I'll be really interested to learn more about his abilities. He isn't very good at expressing his emotions and as someone who has always been a bit of a loner words aren't his strong point which leads to some misunderstandings between him and Anna but I was glad they were able to resolve things in this first book so we aren't going to have a whole series of will they / won't they.

Anna and Charles are such a fab couple but the romance isn't actually the main focus of the story and there is plenty of action and intrigue to keep urban fantasy fans happy. The story kept me turning the pages and if I hadn't been in the middle of moving house I would have happily devoured this book in one sitting. Patricia Briggs is one of my favourite urban fantasy authors and I would highly recommend not only this book but also her entire Mercy Thompson series. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Anna and Charles when I pick up Hunting Ground.

Cry Wolf was possibly better than any of the Mercy Thompson books (which I absolutely love). I found Anna to be an amazing main character and liked that we got to know a lot of her background story. The Marrok's rules are told to us and it makes the werewolf world seem to make more sense. Although a relationship with Anna will be a little more work Charles doesn't shy away from it. I absolutely love the chemistry between the two. Cry Wolf has many characters that are very two dementional and you can see parts of them in people you have met. I found that this helped me to feel much closer to a lot of my favorites in this book.

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

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

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

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

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

Read from March 06 to 15, 2012

Read for Fun!
Challenges: Audiobook, TBR Challenge, Read for Fun
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 4.50

First Thought When Finished: Charles has to be one of the most perfect Alpha men I have read!

What I Loved: Charles! Charles! Charles! He was such a wonderful Alpha Male with the combo of toughness and giving. Each time he gave Anna a choice on whether to be with him or not, my heart melted. I also loved Anna! She has a lot of healing to do but she faced things head on with only a little trepidation. She was very tough indeed. I also loved Bran and Samuel though I am sure those that have read the Mercy series know more about them. (I haven't read that series). I really loved Walter too! I could go on about the story but I don't want to give anything away.

What I Liked: Patricia made me feel like I was there with Charles and Anna. Her descriptive storytelling hooked me and kept me mesmerized till the end.

Audio Review: Holter Graham did a really good job though it took me a bit to "warm up" to his audio. Towards the end though, it is his voice as Charles that made me love this audiobook.

Final Thought: Since I am probably the last person in the world to read a Patricia Briggs book---I don't imagine there is much I can say. Other than, I love that this is a UF about a couple (kind of like Bones and Cat) which means there is a REAL romance. I love that!

Started with this book, but should have started with the short story that is numbered .05. I knew a little of what had happen in Chicago from reading Mercy's series. This one takes place more in Bran's pack and centers around Anna and Charles. I think that I might end up enjoying this series more than Mercy's I had wanted to know more about Bran and his pack while reading that series. I really like Anna and Charles. I look forward to getting to read about their bond I also like how this series takes place in more than one character's p.o.v. We get to be in Charles, Anna and even Asil's mind for much of the book. We also get to meet Walter who was changed against his will, he is a good man and wolf. It broke my heart what happen to him and to Asil as well. Asil has a small role in one of Mercy's books and it was nice to learn more of his past and heartache. I hope that he eventually get to move on and find new happiness.

I truly enjoyed Cry Wolf, the first book in Patricia Briggs's Alpha and Omega series. (Technically, Cry Wolf is a continuation of her "Alpha and Omega" novella found in the On the Prowl anthology. Definitely read the novella prior to beginning this series.) The story is set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson series, but on a slightly earlier timescale. If you are planning on reading both of these, I suggest you read the Mercy Thompson books first, then immediately continue with the Alpha and Omega series. The overlap in characters was very interesting - some were briefly mentioned in one series then became the main characters in the other, and vice versa.

**Contains Spoilers
A little info from the "Alpha and Omega" novella:

The story begins with a young woman, Anna, who never knew werewolves existed before she survived a violent attack three years ago and changed into one. She had been at the bottom of one of the Chicago werewolf packs since her change, tortured, raped, and taught to fear dominant males. She was truly a useless, submissive wolf, or so she thought...
The Marrok's enforcer and youngest son, Charles, was sent to Chicago to investigate some allegations against the Chicago pack's alpha that Anna, among others, have brought to his attention. Upon meeting Anna, Charles is completely taken with her, something that no other female wolf has ever done to him throughout his long life on earth. He soon discovers that Anna is not the submissive wolf she thought she was - she is an Omega - a rare and highly valued member of werewolf society.

There are a few more details that occur in the novella, but I'll leave them for you to find out on your own.
Cry Wolf begins after the events in Chicago, and turns into a beautifully written paranormal romance centered on Charles Cornick and the new apple of his eye, Anna. Their story is one of compassion, trust, and depth - a genuine love story. I appreciated the sweet, gentle actions that Charles performs for Anna, something that you wouldn't expect from a man whose primary job is to enforce werewolf politics and execute those who refuse to comply. And I empathized with Anna's character, a woman whose life had been taken away from her, her dignity and spirit crushed. The calm that surrounded her life prior to her change is only a memory as she now fears any male who looks her way, a result of the Chicago pack's brutality upon her. She's then uprooted and has to adjust to an entirely new environment, and she once again feels that she does not belong. Briggs does a wonderful job of developing these two characters. They definitely fit the cliché "opposites attract" - Anna brings calm and companionship to Charles's life, and his wolf, and Charles brings experience, stability, and strength to hers.

I loved the way this story develops Bran's character. You get a glimpse into the Marrok's life in the Mercy Thompson series, but he is a much more central part of the Alpha and Omega books. Facts about his childhood and early life are brought to surface, and you now understand the "real" Bran, who is much different than the image he somewhat hide behinds. This story also revisits the immortal aspect of life as a werewolf, but on a much deeper level. Several characters tell stories of how difficult it was to go on living after having lost their one true love, one true mate, as well as how difficult it was to adjust to the changing times.

I also enjoyed the theme of magic in this book. Charles has been given a subtle gift of magic from his mother, a medicine woman, who died shortly after his birth. He isn't capable of any spectacular magic, but the magic he possesses gives him a very unique "spirit". I love the way this book brings to light the different types of magic -some influence the natural world, others influence non-living things, while witches influence the mind and body, which can be a very dangerous thing.
Lastly, this book focuses on the depth of relationships - the relationship between father and son, husband and wife, wolf and mate, as well as the bonds between members of a pack. This theme illustrates the difficulty for werewolves to achieve balance in their lives, since they are often pulled in many different directions at the same time, as well as the difficulty keeping one's "wolf" and "man" in harmony with one another.

Overall, I give Cry Wolf a 4/5. It brought the life of a werewolf into a new light. I just started reading the second book, Hunting Ground, and I am loving every page.

Anna Latham may be a rare Omega werewolf (as opposed to an Alpha/pack leader), but it hasn't done her a bit of good. Abused and degraded by her Chicago pack, she's at once freed and claimed by Charles, a strapping son of the Marrok (the North American werewolf lord) with rare abilities of his own. Anna returns with Charles to the Montana wilderness, both eager and hesitant to begin her life anew; but even the Marrok's home territory isn't exempt from the prowling of a rogue werewolf--and an even older and more sinister evil ...

Cry Wolf is the first book in Patricia Briggs's Alpha and Omega series. However, it's important to note that it's a spin-off from her Mercy Thompson series (which includes the Marrok and his sons and references the purifying of Anna's pack) and a continuation of the short story "Alpha and Omega" in the On the Prowl anthology; and even though it can be enjoyed on its own, I'd recommend reading at least Moon Called (Book 1 of Mercy Thompson) for an introduction to the normal/paranormal setting and the common characters.

One noteworthy difference between the two series is the viewpoint. Whereas Mercy narrates her own series, Cry Wolf is told from the third-person perspectives of Anna, Charles, and others--e.g. the Marrok (Bran) and Asil, a Moor, who are both extremely old, powerful, and savvy wolves. Asil's character in particular is well-developed, while a nice thread of history/myth is woven into Bran's background. The multiple viewpoints appear to allow for the story to develop in the most interesting and best-paced way possible; and if anything, Ms. Briggs's writing is both richer and smoother than in the Mercy books.

Overall, this is a solid, paranormal thriller with some nice touches of character (again, mostly from the older werewolves--I don't think Anna or Charles has quite found herself/himself yet, and Anna's just learning what an Omega is). Recommended as a new paperback purchase (perhaps for vacation) or as a library loan for fans of this genre (who, due to some sexual content, are at least of high school age). But again, the best starting point would be Moon Called or the "Alpha and Omega" short story. Four curiously large pawprints in the snow.

Alpha and Omega #1: Cry Wolf, by Patricia Briggs

"Cry Wolf" is the first in a new series by Patricia Briggs, one that's a spinoff from her Mercy Thompson novels. In this novel the author introduces us more thoroughly to werewolves, including the Marrok, Charles, and a brand new wolf, Anna. Anna is a new wolf in more ways than one, she's what's called an Omega, a wolf that isn't focused on pack structure. She doesn't have the urge to be dominant or submissive that most wolves do - instead she's a sea of calm. Being an Omega provides her with unique abilities, but also unique challenges.

Charles Cornick is the Marrok's son, his enforcer, his assassin. He's over two hundred years old, but has never had a mate, and doesn't really have friends in the pack. Instead he's more of a loner, and prefers it that way - it's easier to kill someone you don't have an attachment to. But that all changes when he meets Anna, formerly of the Chicago pack. Charles' wolf immediately picks Anna to be their mate. He rescues her from her abusive pack and takes her to Montana with him.

The two, barely acquainted with each other, must immediately set off into the wilds of a Montana winter, to search for a rogue werewolf in the mountains. The trip gives them a chance to bond as they run into a threat greater than imagined.

I love Briggs' Mercy Thompson novels; I didn't think I could've found anything better in the paranormal genre. But I found that better novel in "Cry Wolf." Briggs is in her element when writing about werewolves - even though werewolves are fantasy creatures, when I read her descriptions and actions I feel as if they are real. She's complete down to the last detail, from how the change from human to wolf is agonizing, to the playfulness the wolves feel when they're on a hunt. The little itch behind a left ear. A dominant wolf scolding a submissive wolf by biting him gently on the nose. It's clear Briggs has spent some time researching wolf behavior and she weaves it into a fantasy concept to create something believable.

As always with Briggs, the plot is excellent, full of twists and action. We're introduced to black witches and the evil they happily engage in. Briggs fleshes out a character mentioned peripherally in the Mercy Thompson novels, Charles, and he shines in a novel of his own. The only naturally born werewolf, Charles has a unique relationship with his wolf - they are two spirits sharing one body. Anna, the Omega, is also intriguing. Briggs hints at abuse, and slowly reveals the details over the course of the book.

This is my second time reading "Cry Wolf," and I enjoyed it more than I did the first time. Briggs' werewolves aren't to be missed; if you like paranormal fantasy, I think you'll enjoy this series.

5/5.

To start things off I didn't read the short story that originated this novel (Alpha and Omega in the 'On the Prowl' anthology) nor the Mercy Thompson books until after reading this book. They've never appealed to me (kind of like the Aisling Grey novels by Katie MacAlister never appealed to me, but the Silver Dragons trilogy does...) and honestly speaking I wouldn't have picked up Cry Wolf if I didn't desperately need a quick fix. Not a werewolf person overall--I'm more of a vampire as the romantic hero girl.

I'm not sure if that was a bad thing or not though. I'm going to look up the short story to see if the events that are so carefully stated, but largely not in detail, were part of that story or not. Pretty much the first page of chapter one landed us at the tail end of a battle, when heroes are cleaning themselves up and preparing to fix their lives around the new circumstances. The battle that had happened was between Charles and an alpha of a seperate pack. Apparently that Alpha had been abusing Anna, Charles' mate, for three years. No wait. What was the distinction that Aisil makes later...that's right. Abuse has lost meaning over the years, whereas brutalize has not. Leo, the Alpha of the pack, had brutalized Anna for 3 years.

This is another case of lots of events in a short period of time. At the start of the story Anna has known Charles for three days, by the end of the novel its been a little over two weeks. I loved Anna. I loved her with a fierceness that I didn't expect. To survive everything and still manage to have a sense of humor at times...oh I just love her! Its not that she immediately rallied and went from being a timid, scared and beaten woman to a strong, fearless warrior chick either. Everything was new to her even though she had been a werewolf for 3 years. Leo had told her so little about what that meant that she was naive in so many ways. But she tried. What she lacked in knowledge she made up for in persistence. Or patience. Or in some cases with Charles, impatience.

By her very nature Anna is accepted by practically every wolf she meets (its part of being Omega, she's like the eye in the middle of a storm), but she doesn't want the attention or adoration. She's largely wary of dominant males--after her experiences with them in Leo's Pack, but over the course of the novel she learns to trust some. To trust in her instincts and learn from what they are telling her. I found it sad that she was both afraid of Charles (he's a VERY dominant male) and only felt safe around him. He too had to earn her trust, just like everyone else. Which made for some emotional moments between the pair of them.

Of the story--the rogue werewolf terrorizing the Cabinents and making it hard for law-abiding werewolves everyone--that took a turn for the not so great and easily fixed variety about halfway through. I suspect half the people who read the book would have made the connection a little earlier, and I was hitting myself for not picking up on the clues littered throughout that are eventually made clear, but for everyone else let's say shocker! Bad shock. Very bad shock. Not bad as in the writing was bad, bad as in 'oh dear lord that poor character has had enough happen to them!' bad.

I hope that in the second book (due out in August called 'Hunting Ground') more of Anna is explained. They teased at it a little, how because of what she endured she was different other then being an Omega. Since Omegas are, by nature, not dominant or submissive, apparently all werewolves--Dominant or Submissive--feel a protective need to keep them safe. Omegas have all the fierce protective instincts of an Alpha, but none of the aggression in other words, so they are more fragile then submissives (they won't, inherently, fight back if they can choose a more peaceful option). Anna's wolf-self however seemed to protect her during the worst of her treatment--not help her fight, but instead shield her human mind and sensibilities from the worst of what was happening to her. Charles notes at one point that when she is feeling playful, or less guarded or fearless, clearly her wolf is bolstering her spirits, but not really taking over (kind of like Blended Drink of Anna and Wolf!Anna--not really one or the other).

I'm making a bungle of it, and I suspect the author has explained it in better ways elsewhere, but that is what I understood of it.

This book has, if not changed my general opinion of werewolves, at least made me rethink not giving books with them as the forefront a chance (I can't rightly say that Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels series did that since its about weres in general, not just werewolves). I am looking forward to book 2!

I love the Mercy series and think Briggs is a fun writer so naturally I bought this book and for the most part enjoyed it.

The plot:

Anna is a an Omega wolf which means she doesn't have to take orders, she naturally a leader, yet not dominant, and can calm most crazed werewolves if she can possibly calm herself before hand. She is pretty, shy, jaded, and in love with Charles.

Charles is the son of the Marrock (Bran, the Alfa of all Alphas in North America). He is Bran's assassin or enforcer, however you want to look at it. Charles is half Native American and there for he has a little magic on his side. He is stoic, quite, intimidating, and doesn't like to be touched by anyone but Anna.

This book fills in the holes of the first Mercy novel by showing the reader what was going on with the Chicago pack. In the first Mercy book Charles is sent by his father to Chicago to see if Leo the Alpha of that pack was indeed selling young werewolf's for experiments. Turns out he was and that he is also crazy. Charles has to kill him, but he meets Anna in the process. Charles' wolf recognizes Anna's wolf as his mate so he brings Anna back with him to Montana to be just that. What Charles doesn't know is that Anna was beaten down and raped by Leo and his pack for the last 3 years, so she has some baggage.

While attending a funeral in Montana another werewolf named Asil makes a move on Anna. Bran and Charles blow it off by telling Anna that Asil is a very old wolf and wants to die so he is always causing problems. Yet, there's more to it then that, Asil is Spanish and his mate was killed by a witch (Mary) whom is hiding out in the mountains not far from his home waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Mary has a great deal of interest in Asil; she was orphaned at a young age and lived with Asil and his mate until she began to act up. Asil then sent you to live with other witches so they may train her and give her some discipline. It didn't work and in fact made things worse, Mary returned to his home on her 16th year and killed his mate using his mates werewolf form as her guardian. The witch now waits for Asil in the mountains to take control of him as well.

Mary has her werewolf guardian kill a few people in order to get the packs attention and have Asil sent up to take care of what the pack would most naturally think was a untaught rouge. Of course they do, but Bran does not send Asil, he sends Charles and his mate instead.

Meanwhile a old Vietnam vet (Walter) who has been living off the forest for years (total hermit type) gets attacked by the guardian while trying to defend a grad student in the woods and is in fact turned into a rouge werewolf.

When Charles and Anna get up into the mountains a battle of wills ensues where the witch almost kills them a few times, and they make nice with Walter. Asil figures out that the witch is in the mountains and join the fray. Bran whom can communicate telepathically does as well. So there is a big blow put where someone dies (won't tell who), and of course in the end "ding dong the witch is dead".

So anyways, what I did like about this book was seeing through the Mar rocks (Brans) eyes, he is a bit of an enigma in the Mercy novels so that was cool. Also, all and all Anna and Charles are a good pair and pretty fun to read about. Not too mention they got it on pretty nicely, something that is missing in all the Mercy novelsJ

If you're interested in reading this series (and why wouldn't you
be?!), I strongly recommend reading the companion novella to Cry Wolf.
It will save you much time and confusion. Trust me.

There is so much to love about this book, so, so much. Every character
is amazing- not as in 'perfect' but as in essential. Anna, our leading
lady, is probably one of my favourite main characters. She's not only
strong, she can be weak, but she's not without backbone. Anna has been
through so much. She was changed against her will, brutalized, truly
her life has been hell since she was changed and even then, she was
never really beaten down.

You'd think the story would be about Anna falling in love with
Charles, becoming his mate, etc. The description doesn't do the book
justice. It's not just about that, but discovering the secrets that
lay beneath certain members of the pack, of Anna learning what an
Omega is, and of finding out just what exactly is hiding in the
Cabinet Wilderness.

I love everything about Cry Wolf, with my favourite characters being
Bran and Asil, I'm glad they get a lot of face time. I think Cry Wolf
is a good example of getting over abuse, moving on, and becoming apart
of something big. I definitely recommend this if you want something
different to read.

Oh Patricia Briggs, how you distract me. When I have a book of yours in my possession, I just can't seem to get anything else done until the last page has been turned.

I was not at all surprised to find Cry Wolf, the first book in Briggs' new Alpha and Omega series as deliciously addictive as its companion series starring herione Mercedes Thompson. I quickly got sucked into the story of Anna, a rare and precious "Omega" werewolf recovering from abuse suffered at the hands of her former pack. Anna isn't quite as compelling of a lead character as Mercedes, but the romance written between Anna and Charles, a dominant wolf and son of the Alpha of all Alphas -- the Marrock -- is great stuff.

The book follows Anna and Charles as they learn to navigate their unexpected relationship while tracking a black witch trying to harm the werewolf pack. Much of the novel takes place as the pair wander through the backwoods of Montana -- but readers don't need to be concerned about boredom. This is a page-turner.

I think fans of Briggs' Mercy Thompson books will most enjoy this book, but you don't have to have read that series to get lost in this story. Some of the characters from that series do make an appearance in the book, and the events of both series are supposed to be occuring simultaneously. I hope that at some point, the series will converge.

The one caveat I would add: make sure to track down the novella "Alpha and Omega" that preceeds this novel. I didn't read that short piece first, and in the first few chapters, I repeatedly checked the front cover just to make sure I really was reading the first book in the series. It really feels like readers are thrown into the story mid-stream. The novella apparently explains Charles and Anna's meeting and her forced Change at the hands of the Chicago pack. I'll have to read that eventually just to plug in the missing pieces.

The second book in Alpha and Omega, Hunting Ground, is due out in August 2009. It's a long time to wait... but that's the curse of these addictive book series, I guess.

I have not run across an author who chooses to write a parallel novel in the midst of what is an otherwise very successful series. I am not complaining, because the series has been really good, but it's something of a surprise.

Patricia Briggs opens Cry Wolf without a lot of explanation of what has happened in the story so far(the story is actually part of a short piece she wrote in a different book). We are taken to a scene in Chicago where Bran, the Marrok or Werewolf Overlord, is cleaning up the mess caused by his son Charles rescuing Anna, the heroine of the story. Anna is a different type of werewolf than we have known of before and it makes for some interesting changes as her specialized abilities become clear. The first 60 pages or so are spent on establishing a relationship between Charles and Anna while providing a smattering of background information on how she came to be in the horrible situation from which she was saved.

The best parts of this story are in the last half of the book as the adventure takes off. There are some really well written moments as Briggs continues to build the world that Mercy Thompson lives in. Anna provides a new set of experiences and a completely different personality against which the story is set. Briggs does a really good job of this and it demonstrates her superb writing skill set. She doesn't have to rely on the same character types over and over in order to write a book.

On the whole, this is a good book for a new reader of Briggs Urban Fantasy work, but it's a really good book if you have enough background information to appreciate what's going on. For me the additional insight into the world and some of the history that is depicted was more than worth the rough first section of the book. Briggs is doing some really great stuff and for her fans, the addition of a parallel series is nothing less than a treat.

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

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

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

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

I liked this book very much. After reading the prequel I was expecting less awkwardness between Anna and Charles, less miscommunication and more getting to know each other, with Charles helping her through the years of abuse she had to endure in order to be able to face a new pack. Asil and Leah provide the external conflict, while Anna and her wolf have to settle into the mating with Charles.

The first half of the book is slower and more focused on the main couple, the second half has more action. Mercy has to deal with wolves in her series too, but in this series the reader is immersed in the pack magic and dynamics and Bran becomes a prominent figure. At the end of the book, he almost eclipsed the rest of the story for me. He is deceptively wise and calm, what stands out is his ruthlessness. I didn't like the character of his mate Leah, but by the end I had to conclude that he was a manipulator, and the instability of his mate is due to him and his coldness.

The prequel was perfect, because in a few pages we have a lot of action and emotion. The slower pace made this book less memorable, but the story of Charles and Anna is very romantic and their bond is very beautiful and intense to read.

I love this book series. When I heard they were making it into a graphic novel I was excited. I already fell in love with The Mercedes Thompson Graphic novels and book series I thought that this would be just a great. However I was a bit disappointed.

The adaption was great it followed the book along great. The cover artwork is amazing. I feel it captures how I saw Anna perfectly. However when it actually came to the story telling artwork that's when I felt the artwork was a bit juvenile. It was nowhere near a well done as the Mercedes Thompson artwork. I know its a different illustrator but however I thought they would have been able to find someone on the same scale. The characters don't look anywhere near how I imagined them. They look very unattractive. Trust they can make characters very good looking in comics/graphic novels. I will say this though it wasn't too bad I just hope the art progresses in the next one.

Despite the artwork downfall I still recommend it if you are a fan of the books. It's nice to see some of the scenes come to life.

I did not start with the short story in "On the Prowl" although I think I will get that so I can get a better idea of how Charles and Anna met and the attraction they have for each other. All that aside...I love this book. It has action, an awesome plot and a lot of romance. I love how Briggs has created this couple. From the very beginning they are together and even though they don't know each other that well they both know that they want to be together. There is really no triangle where the heroine is going from one guy to another and can't decide. Anna knows she wants to be with Charles and he wants to be with her. That is really where all the simplicity ends though. They both have their own troubles since Anna has been abused since becoming a werewolf and was raped and brutilized for years to try to force her into submission by her original pack and alpha, Leo. Although Charles killed him, soothing her fear and her memories is a lot harder. Charles himself has been closed off for so long, not wanting to get close to or be touched by anyone because he is his father's enforcer and because he couldn't bare to see someone he loved get old and die.

The story and development of their relationship is sweet and more on a realistic scale. They have to take time to get to know each other, even though their wolves have already chosen each other, the human side of the relationship still needs to develop.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what happens with the next one. I have also gotten the first Mercy Thompson book and hope I enjoy it as much as I enjoyed this one.

I've had this on my TBR pile for quite a while, but put off reading it due to the reviews. Although I enjoyed the book overall, other reviewers have valid points. I could see how it was confusing to new readers (if you didn't read the prequel - I did), and to those who don't have some background by reading the Mercy Thompson series. I think that Briggs relied a little too heavily on the hope that readers would read the other series before coming to this one. I understand the characters and the world they live in only because of my experience with Mercy (a wonderful series, by the way). I can see how they would seem shallow to new readers. Also, the pacing was a little off with this book, the tension lacking, the believability a little off (I think a longer adjustment to her new circumstances after being abused for so long would've made this a much stronger book). I was able to put it down several times to read other books - never a good thing. I'm a big fan of Ms. Briggs, and I adore her Mercy Thompson series, but this one just doesn't have the same spark. I already have the second book in the series, so I'm going to give that a shot. I hope it has better pacing, more tension, and deeper (and more believable) characterization.

Urban Fantasy is a newer subgenre that has splintered off from the main genre of fantasy, and they can be quite a trip. Basically, an urban fantasy author focuses on what kind of hidden world could exist within the shadows of our society. And no, just writing about the weirdo next door doesn't cut it. Weell, unless that weirdo happens to be a werewolf. Or a witch. Or a fairy. Or ... oh, you get the idea.

One of the funnest aspect of urban fantasy is the plausibility factor. If werewolves did exist, how would that work? How would they function? Would they have jobs? What kind of rules would they have to follow? And most important of all, how would they remain hidden? When this is done well, the reader has this moment of belief. Where magic is not only possible, it is real. Monsters could come out of you closet at any time. And hey, global warming... yeah we know the real cause of that. Yep, there's nothing like it. And when done by a master of the writing art, it is a real pleasure to read.

Ms. Briggs is just such a master. She really gives her readers the whole package: believable worldbuilding, intricate plots and memorable, lovable characters. It is this last one that will especially have you coming back for more. Anna and Charles are the most adorable, sweetest couple I've ever read about. It just the way they are with each other; their softness with each other. In so many romantic couplings, it's all about sex and passion, and they forget about the caring and tender part of having a relationship. Anna and Charles don't have that problem. Not at all.
For more of my review, please visit my blog at [...] It will be worth your time, if only to discover other great reads. Happy Reading!

Anna Latham was turned werewolf against her will because she is an Omega - a werewolf that is neither dominant nor submissive, but lies outside the normal chain of command. Omegas are highly valued for their ability to soothe the wolfish part of werewolves, making them more tractable and preventing or minimizing fatalities when humans are turned. She is rescued from a horribly abusive pack situation by Charles, the son of the head werewolf, who tells her that his wolf has claimed her as its mate. Together, they must track down a 'rogue' werewolf who is victimizing hikers on his father's turf.

Ugh, it's so hard to give a good synopsis. Much of what I've written above sounds trite or like too much of an obvious romantic set up, and maybe in the hands of a less skilled author, this book would fall prey to those flaws. However, Patricia Briggs is dynamite. The characters are sympathetic and well-drawn and the pacing in this book is exquisite. I'd recommend "Cry Wolf" without reservation.

The only caveat that I want to throw out there is this: Do not read this book until you read her short story "Alpha and Omega" in the short story collection "On the Prowl." If you don't want to buy the entire book, it's easy to find her short alone for download for a couple dollars from any online provider like Diesel or ebooks. You can also buy it from the store if you have a kindle. If you go straight for "Cry Wolf" without reading "Alpha and Omega" you miss the full back story of how Charles and Anna meet, and it's WELL worth the time to find and download it. The book would lack some of the wonderful emotional resonance it has.

Happy Reading!! Five out of five stars.

Before you read Cry Wolf, you should read the anthology, On The Prowl. There is a short story in there of Anna and Charles, and its basically the background for their beginning in Cry Wolf. A big fan of Brigg's Mercy series, I dove into this new series with high hopes. While its good, its not great. I never could find that relation to the heroine or hero. I felt like I watched them from a distance, never feeling for them. Brigg's writing style keeps the action flowing smoothly, and there are a few characters I came to really enjoy. I will be reading the next in the series, hopefully I can find that link between myself and the main characters.

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

Over the course of a few years now I've seen the Mercy Thompson books and watched as each new book released and read how much loved the series is. When I saw that there was a new series which spawned from that one, I thought I'd finally give it a try. I bought Cry Wolf and it sat on my shelf for over a year! I was recommended to read Alpha and Omega in the Anthology On the Prowl. I did and I would recommend it now too. Cry Wolf opens immediately after the events of the novella. But I do think there is enough information given over the course of Cry Wolf to fill you in on what did transpire in the novella, that if you chose not to read, you'd be okay.

I did really love Cry Wolf. The events and the world building flowed seamlessly. Not being familiar with the Mercy Thompson books yet, I wondered if I would feel lost with the world and the rules, so I was pleased that Patricia Briggs did a wonderful job building the world in a way that wouldn't feel redundant to the Mercy fans or confusing for the first timers to this world of werewolves, witches, magic and apparently Fae and Vampires!

Cry Wolf is fluent and page-turning, with rich characters. Anna and Charles were a pleasure to read about, as Anna learns to trust Charles after the brutality she suffered in her original pack. I look forward to reading the next book, Hunting Ground, as well as reading the Mercy Thompson books too!

I started reading the Mercy Thompson novels and completely fell in love with Patricia Briggs and her writing. While waiting for the next book in the Mercy series, I was happy to learn that I could keeping reading about the world Patricia has created in this new spin off series Alpha & Omega.

The Alpha & Omega series like the Mercy Thompson series keeps true to Patricia's knack of keeping her stories and characters both grounded in reality so readers can easily relate but also providing this wonderful supernatural world full of scares and plenty of action allowing readers to easily escape to.

While reading Cry Wolf, I loved getting to know Bran more and how he rules his pack. I also loved learning about Charles and the more gentle side of him by how he unconditionally loves his new mate Anna (For those of you that want some more background on Anna and Charles, I suggest you read the short story about them in the anthology On the Prowl) and his father Bran. Cry Wolf was a nice mix of romance and action.

For those of you that love the Mercy world You won't be disappointed with Alpha & Omega and the book Cry Wolf. I highly recommend it.

'Cry Wolf' is an interesting addition to Patricia Briggs' werewolf/shapeshifter series. I enjoyed the concept of the Omega wolf and its role in regards to pack hierarchy. The relationship between Anna and Charles has much potential for development and to get a closer look at Bran's pack and the dynamics between its members gives a refreshing perspective on Briggs' fictional world.

My reason then for giving the book only 3 stars: in order to get the beginning of this story, the reader has to purchase/borrow/or check out from the library a collection of novellas called 'On The Prowl'. I resent being forced to (in my case) invest in a 341 page book that I only read/wanted to read 69 pages of. I don't read the other authors, I don't want to read the other authors and I certainly don't want to buy their material. Yes it was only 8 dollars, but that was 8 more on top of what I spent for 'Cry Wolf'. I'd rather have spent the money on a FULL book by Ms. Briggs.

I do look forward to subsequent novels in the Alpha & Omega series and I am curious to see if A & O characters will interact with Mercy & Adam in the future.

I read the e-book, but I accidentally created a review for audible format, and now I cannot change the format.

As others have said, this is a jolly good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I will not summarize, as others have done so. I have to say, even though Walter's role in the book was secondary, I grew fond of the old war veteran and was glad he found peace.

I did not read the Alpha and Omega prequel, and had no problem following the story.

One question: Unless I missed it, we never learned the nature of the mating gift, at the end of the story. Do we find out in book 2?

Sometimes, there was too much introspection.

This is not a complaint, just an observation: It was rather odd, the mix of were lore, Native American spiritualism, and Christianity (reading from Corinthians or something like that, and the conversation: "Do you believe in God?"...... "Like Baalam's ass, I do."

This series is a spin-off of the Mercy Thompson series, which is about a walker/mechanic (shape-shifter, not were, that changes into a coyote) who was literally raised by wolves. Well, were-wolves. Cry Wolf, the first book, is written from the perspective of Charles Cornnick, son of and enforcer to the North American werewolves, and Anna, an Omega wolf (definition of Omegas are a bit sketchy, but it seems that they are a wolf that acts as a calming influence to wolves. Helping them repress their baser wolf instincts.)

Anna was unwillingly changed into a werewolf by her astoundingly abusive former pack. Her and Charles meet as he comes in to clean up after her pack's corrupt Alpha. As fate has it, they are inevitably drawn to each other as mates. You can practically feel the chemistry between Charles and Anna. I also really enjoyed watching Anna's character develop from a reluctant submissive to fulfilling her role as an Omega.

**FYI: Before reading this, ideally read the short story that prefaces this series in On the Prowl (anthology)On the Prowl

This story is amazing! I really enjoyed it. It is rare to find paranormal romance, especially a shape-shifter series that remains focussed on a single relationship. As with the Mercy Thompson series, Alpha and Omega continues to leave me smiling.

Cry Wolf picks up only 24 hours after the last book, On the Prowl left off. Moving to Montana to be with her mate and his pack, Anna is forced to confront and accept help from her former packmates. This is no easy thing considering most of them brutalized her.

Panicking as she entered Charles' home, they both tip toe around each others fears, overwhelming emotions and the undeniable need for one another.

You would think struggling through the beginnings of a relationship were hard enough. Nope! After a werewolf makes his intentions known that he will challenge Charles for the right to become Anna's mate, Charles is forced to explain to her that she does indeed have options if she does not wish to choose him as her mate. This enrages his beast, of course.

A rogue werewolf is slaughtering hunters in the mountains. Bran, the Marrok and Charles' father sends him and Anna to search, hunt and more than likely kill the threat.

Witches. Black magic. Ghosts. Spirits. Funerals. Mating. This book will not leave you wanting.

I recommend this book to mature adults only. Although there is moderate to semi extreme violence and mildly nondescript sexual content, I do not believe this book should be read by younger eyes.

I then went on to pick up Cry Wolf, the first in the spin-off Alpha and Omega series, and was surprised at how awkwardly it opens. I got partway through the first chapter and had to stop and go check to make sure it was the first book. I felt like I’d gotten dropped right into the middle of a story and something was missing. I’ll keep at it – I recognize characters like Charles and Asil and I’m interested to see where she goes with the story. She’s playing off trust built with the other series, and had I picked this book up first instead of the Mercy Thompson series, I would have given up on the author right there.

I really like Briggs's Mercy Thompson series so I thought I would try the Alpha and Omega series to get a little more insight into the other characters. Anna is an Omega wolf and Charles's new mate. Charles and Anna must hunt what they believe is a rogue wolf in the woods of Montana. Danger, mystery and magic ensue.

I really liked the romance and there is also a lot of action in Cry Wolf. There is a big eye opener at the very end of this book in regards to Bran and his mate (something that is questioned in Mercy Thompson series but never answered). When I started listening to Cry Wolf audio book I was a little lost. Turns out there is an Alpha and Omega novella that precedes Cry Wolf. I recommend reading it first so you have background on how Anna and Charles were mated. The other thing that stumped me is (and I'm sure this will be answered in the next book) is Anna the Omega to Charles's Alpha or Bran's?

Over all a really great book. If you like the Mercy Thompson series you will absolutely like the Alpha and Omega series.

Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1)

On the Prowl

"Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack...and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer - and son - of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life...."

Althought I started with the Mercedes Thompson series and hadn't read On The Prowl yet, I was immediately drawn into Cry Wolf. I found myself feeling Anna's pain as she demurely sought to exist in a world not her own. When she began to find the courage needed in order to get closer to Charles, I fell in love with her character and rooted her on.

When the powers of the Omega came to light, Anna began to believe in herself even more and made for a formidable wolf. Her sweet, shy character grew right before my eyes and I couldn't put the book down.

This is a must read, even if you haven't read any of Patricia Briggs' books.

I started reading Patricia Brigg's book Moon Called. I am perfectly at home in the wonderful world she has created, it is rich and delightful. I picked this book up under the same impression thinking that since it shared some of the same characters the quality would be equal.

I was hardly able to get through the first 2 chapters; not because anything was wrong with the writing, but because I was absolutely 100% lost. I stopped about 20 times to re-read the intro, look for mention of a book that preceded this, assumed I had book 2 of some series or that there was a horrible mistake at the printers and left out about 10 chapters. Half way through the book and you still have no idea what is going on. I felt like an intruder on a story I had no business being it.

There is no mention in the book that you **HAVE** to read "On the prowl" first. No, really -- you do, because nothing makes sense in the book otherwise. I was pretty pissed off by the end of the book only to find out there was some prequal story that isn't mentioned ANYWHERE else on the book.

This is the first of the full-length Alpha & Omega novels (set shortly after the novella Alpha & Omega ends). Once again, it is another fabulous novel by Patricia Briggs. The story is interesting and the story world is richly detailed and feels complete. It feels like this world and these characters actually exist. This is the same story world as her Mercy Thompson stories, but a different couple, Charles and Anna, take the spotlight. This book is also more of a love story than the action-adventure Mercy Thompson stories are. Love is what may save Charles--and Anna too.

The plot is interesting, but the story world and the character development are what make this book truly outstanding. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Cry wolf picks up right where Alpha & Omega: A Companion Novella to Cry Wolf ends. Anna is heading home with Charles and about to embark on a whole new world. She was abused and ignorant by her previous pack. After 3 yrs of being a werewolf she's not only learning about what it means to be part of a pack but also what it means to be mated. However, she doesn't get much time to settle in to her new surroundings. There is a rogue werewolf on the loose and Charles and Anna have been sent out to take care of it.

This book deals a little bit about the difficulty with their wolves being mated while their human halves try to cope with it. They don't start out in love and with the way Anna was treated previously, she is still very skittish. However, with the task at hand to find the rogue in the woods they start to come together and Anna continues to feel more comfortable with Charles.

Patricia Briggs has created an alternate urban fantasy reality where the things that go bump in the night really do bump...and has created a society where werewolves (Where Wolf?) are real.

She takes her Melody Thompson series and flips it to give us a look inside a carefully constructed werewolf society that realistically depicts the way incredibly long lived shape changers behave when they are confronted and sometimes controlled by their Inner Wolf.

Anna finds herself not the low dog on the totem pole, but the Omega wolf, with power and capabilities that her previous pack leader, the Alpha wolf Leo, now fortunately deceased, trid to hide from her, and torture her out of.

I can't wait for Book 2. Briggs has hooked me again, dammit. This isn't a romance novel masquerading as science fiction. This is good, hard urban fantasy, with enough romance to satisfy anybody.

If you've never read a Patricia Briggs book before, you have a wonderful adventure ahead of you...and it will cost you. Go buy all her books and read them all.

I love Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, so decided to pick up this first volume of a spinoff series, Alpha and Omega. This is set in the pack where Mercy was raised and centers around Anna Latham, a rare Omega wolf, which means she can inject calm and peace into those around her. She has been hopelessly abused in the 3 years that she has been a werewolf and when Charles Cornick, the son of the head Alpha and pack executioner, comes to take care of Anna's pack he falls for her and claims her as his mate. Now Anna has to learn to let someone in and adjust to her new life. I didn't like this book nearly as well as I do the Mercy Thompson series, probably because Anna just isn't a very strong character. She has a strength to her that may show up in later novels, but she was just so fragile in this book. So while it was a decent novel and I appreciated the different perspective in this world, it wasn't my favorite.

I am a huge fan of Patricia Briggs work as anyone who has read my reviews can see. However, this book had a slow and confusing start. The prologue begins with a character, Walter that is not introduced until a good bit later in the book and then the first two chapters were dedicated to confusing backstory and the tentativeness between Charles and Anna. The mating bond is slow to kick into place between the two of them. We do get to see a different side of Bran that I found fascinating.

The story later picks up and becomes just as good as the Mercy series, with a 200 year old witch as the villian and a new type of wolf, the omega. I ended up enjoying the book very much. I think that Briggs could have handled the intro much better, but she does get into her groove pretty quickly and then the story really flys. After a certain point I found that I didn't want to put the book down, but it took a few chapters to get there. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the Mercy series simply because it is a part of that world.

3.5 stars

Anna is an Omega wolf but she doesn't really know what that means and no one has explained it to her. Charles is his packs hit man and they go into the woods looking for the wolf that is killing people.This was an okay read that dragged in spots, but I am curious to what happens between Charles and Anna.
I enjoyed the prequel better.

I really enjoyed this book. The first half+ really set up the characters, scenery, and situation to allow the plot to develop in the last half of the book. Everything was sculpted very well. By using choice words and phrases, we really get the opportunity to get to know Charles and his Omega, Anna.
I "read" the audiobook version of this book. I have to say that the narrator was fabulous! He had the native american accent (for lack of a better word) down pat. Every character had accurate accents, different voices (well, him doing a different voice) and had the emotion conveyed very well. A+ for him, too!

Overall: 4 stars
Character Development: 5 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Detail: 5 stars
Writing Style: 5 stars
Flow: 5 stars
Recommend?: Yes
Audience: YA and up

This book is supposed to be the start of a new series, but unless you read the anthology that includes a short with these same characters, you will be in the dark. I have read the first Mercy Thomas book but no others, I decided to try this book because it was related to that series but supposed to be heavier on the romance. I did not know anything about the anthology until after reading this. The first fifty pages were so confusing. I kept reading the back and then checking the store to make sure I had the first book not one in the middle. The action starts off and we are supposed to already know things about the main characters that you WOULD NOT KNOW unless you read the short. I figured things out, but you do not want to start a series by feeling like you are missing the first half of a book. I was so confused. I did not feel drawn to the characters. I did not even understand what it meant to be an Omega for awhile. Also, because I had not read the short, when the hero/heroine first mate, I did not feel any passion and it felt forced and almost out of place. I undertand they have this whole huge background between them that would make the intimacy seem real, but without the short, it didn't feel right. I don't think the publishers did Briggs any favors by taking the first half of the book and making it a short. Or if you are going to do that, let the prologue be a brief catch up of what happened! It ruined the whole book for me. So unless you have read On the Prowl, do not read this book!

I initially thought that Cry Wolf was a new series in Patricia Briggs' ever expanding repertoire of books and was quite pleasantly surprised to find out that it was based on Mercy Thompson's ongoing series. Also I'd like to point out, as many have already done, that this book builds on Patricia Briggs' short story published last year in the 'On the Prowl' collection. I did not purchase that book since I'm not a fan of some of the other co-authors, but I feel that I was not disadvantaged by the missing knowledge. Mrs. Briggs did a wonderful job providing enough background to the story for even those completely unfamiliar with her works.

Now to the actual review. This story flows differently from Mercy's fast paced first person accounts. The main heroine Anna is a woman whose life for the past three years has been filled with nonstop abuse - both physical and emotional. She was forcefully infected with lycanthropy, threatened to give up her only family to live in near poverty within one of Chicago's werewolf packs with a violent Alpha Leo, his psychotic mate and sadistic second. Anna's wolf was the only protection keeping her from breaking, even though she secretly hated her loss of humanity. Leo's intentional cruelty over the years worked to masquerade her innate power as Omega that made her very unique and important to any pack. Unluckily for him though, that ability was also what allowed her to involve the Marrok and his youngest son Charles, by contacting him against her Alpha's orders. That prompted Charles, who is the Marrok's main enforcer, to impose a change of management in the Chicago pack by killing Leo and his second. In the process Charles' wolf recognized Anna as his true mate, which is where the story really began.

The mating bond between Anna and Charles was unusual in its nature, since normally a human bond occurs first and in time the wolf's acceptance cements the mating union between two people. Anna and Charles were initially drawn to each other for their own reasons - Anna was looking for protection and acceptance while Charles found peace through her Omega power. But is it enough join two people together for potentially eternity? Considering Anna's victimized nature and Charles' long life as his father's hit man, they have many obstacles in their way. And to add to the emotional mix, Charles is sent by his father to investigate a rogue werewolf that's been killing unsuspecting hikers in the Marrok's territory. All this comes at a time when the Marrok is preparing to publicize the existence of werewolves and tensions are running high for those who oppose that decision. Could it be a simple plot of diversion designed to stop the Marrok or a much more dangerous scheme that could potentially destroy everything? Read and find out :)

I found this book extremely entertaining. There was a lot more romance then in Patricia Briggs' previous books, although most was left to the reader's imagination (just the way I like it). I felt different personalities of leading character clearly when the author switched POVs, and they came out authentic and well realized. Anna's struggles to gain control over her fears could be felt throughout the book and her final acceptance of Charles was genuinely touching. The mystery at the center of the book is well set up and foreshadowed since the first few chapters. There were no surprises but a well developed plot and a set of likable characters.

I was so impressed by the works of Mrs. Briggs that I went out and bought most of the books she has out - this woman can do no wrong!

SYNOPSIS:
Anna Latham was changed into a werewolf against her will and then forced by the Alpha wolf in one of the Chicago packs to be used by any wolf he chose. For three years Anna has been brutalized and abused. Now Bran Cornick, the Marrok and the Alpha all wolves in North America answered to, has sent his son Charles to find out what is happening within one of the two packs in Chicago. Charles is the enforcer for his father, the wolf who will kill any wolf deemed to be a danger to the greater pack's health and safety.

OPINION:
This is going to become a review of two different stories. Because of some questionable decisions on the part of the publishers of this book, "Cry Wolf", and a short story, "Alpha and Omega" in the anthology "On the Prowl" it is confusing to try to read this story as a stand alone book. In "Alpha and Omega" Charles Cornick arrives in Chicago already knowing that the Alpha of one pack, Leo, has broken pack rules and that he will have to kill at least one wolf, perhaps more to insure the safety of all the other wolves. What Charles had not expected to find is a terrified, undernourished, submissive female who isn't what she seems at all. Charles instantly recognizes Anna Latham as an Omega wolf, a peacemaker, who has a place within pack structure that makes her totally unique. Leo and his subordinate wolves have hidden this information from Anna and from all other wolves for their own perverted reasons. And in an unusual circumstance, Charles' wolf immediately chooses Anna as his mate. Now all Charles has to do is overcome Anna's terror of all male wolves and convince her that she and other werewolves are not monsters.

"Cry Wolf" begins literally minutes after "Alpha and Omega" finishes and that causes many of the problems, and frustration, experienced by other readers. I knew there was an issue here so I bought both books at the same time. I began reading "Cry Wolf" to see if it bothered me in the same way it had other readers but found that there were many questions I had about what was happening in the story. I finally gave up when I had read three chapters and still had not the faintest idea of what Charles looked like and stopped to read "Alpha and Omega". Then I went back and continued with "Cry Wolf". The decision to have the two stories dovetail like that was not necessarily a bad decision. It would have been fine if Ms Briggs had just filled in some of the blanks more fully. Blanks such as the physical description of Charles, which wolves were killed by Charles and why, the reason for Bran coming to Chicago when he had already sent Charles. While it is true that most of this can be guessed by reading "Cry Wolf" it is my opinion that it was an unnecessary burden to place on the readers. And as if that wasn't enough to make me irritated, I did not enjoy any of the other three stories in the anthology "On the Prowl". Essentially I paid $[...] for a short story of only approximately 70 pages long.

Now, on to "Cry Wolf". I thoroughly enjoyed reading Anna and Charles' story and am looking forward to the next book in this new series from Patricia Briggs. She gives the reader a really substantial mixture of werewolf and magic in this novel that added a lot of interest for me. I liked being introduced to other characters such as Sage, Asil, Walter, and Leah. Leah is Bran's mate and I had wondered about her and why Charles and Bran's other son Samuel didn't like her. Now I know. This story fills in huge amounts of information which is suggested but never quite filled out in the Mercy Thompson series. Since I'm new to the stories about Mercy (I've only read the first book so far) I think I will enjoy them even more after having received this history lesson.

RECOMMENDATION:
I highly recommend reading "Cry Wolf" because it is the beginning of a new series which promises to be just as exciting as Patricia Briggs other writings. This book relies on plot and character development to keep the reader interested. There are no explicit sexual scenes in this book so if you are looking for that specifically you will not find it here. I cannot in all good conscience advise buying the anthology "On the Prowl" just to have the "Alpha and Omega" story unless you just want to have the complete series of stories for your keeper shelf. Personally, if I had it to do over I would get the anthology from a used bookstore, borrow it from a friend or get it from my library.

I never been much on fantasy/sci-fi books. But I liked Harry Potter, The Twilight series, and recently the Sookie Stackhouse series. And technically speaking those could all fall under that category. I decide to branch out a bit and see what else I might like. Patricia Briggs seems to be a popular author in that category, so I added a few of her books to my to read list. I happened to notice this one in the library last week and picked it up. I was pleasantly surprised by it. The story line was a lot like those by my favorite authors, it just so happens the main characters are werewolves and the antagonist is a witch! The only reason it's 3.5 instead of 4 stars is I kind of felt like I should have read the Mercy Thompson books first. It's the start of a new series, but it seemed like there were things that the author assumes you know because you've read the other series already. But overall, I enjoyed it.

This Alpha Omega series book takes place in the same world and similar time frame as Mercy Thompson. For fans of the Mercy Thompson series, Charles is Samuel's brother. However, the story focuses on the developing relationship between Anna, a newly turned werewolf who has been abused by her pack and Charles, son of the Marrok. To be more accurate, their story begins in a novella found in a compilation titled On the Prowl. This is a rather quick read but fairly necessary for the series. Cry Wolf begins with Anna moving to Charles's home and Charles a being bit incapacitated from the events in the novella. Anna has a special gift. She is an Omega wolf, which is a pretty spiffy concept that I won't ruin for you here.

Their tenuous, budding romance is interrupted when, as one would expect from a Patricia Briggs novel, chaos ensues. The villain in this case is a witch, which makes for a pretty interesting final battle. However, the joy for me in this book was in watching Anna develop. She didn't benefit from Mercy's upbringing or current support system. She was changed against her will and brought into a pack for their pleasure in abusing and raping her. Charles, like Samuel and Adam, is a strong, patient man who makes few mistakes and usually says the right things. This is one of my few beefs with Briggs. Her male characters are wonderful, the stuff fantasy love stories are made of, but their power and age bring with them a sense of perfection while the women are flawed emotional creatures prone to human mistakes.

Let me first say that this is the second part of the Alpha and Omega-series by Patricia Briggs. The first part is a novella in the anthology 'On the prowl', and I think it would be best to have read that story first, although this novel does make sense on its own. This series is also loosely connected to the popular Mercy Thompson-series by the same author. In respect to that series it's fun to see the connections, but it's not necessary to know those books. Now to the novel itself:

Three years ago Anna was made a werewolf in a brutal attack and was afterwards badly abused by the pack who changed her. She was finally saved and the responsible werewolves punished by Charles, a 200-year-old werewolf and enforcer for the leader of all the American werewolves. (That's the backstory from the novella in 'On the prowl'.) She and Charles leave Chicago and go to the mountain village that's his home - and that of the werewolf leader's pack. Their situation is made difficult due to the emotional scars Anna suffers from, which also make it difficult for them to join in a full mating, which they would both like to do. As if that weren't enough, there have been killings in the surrounding wilderness that hint at a rogue werewolf. Charles, still suffering from the injuries he incurred when he fought the Chicago pack, has to find and confront the culprit. But as it turns out, he and Anna have to face something far more dangerous than a rogue werewolf...
I generally enjoy Patricia Briggs' books because they are intelligent, well-written and have interesting characters. In this case it's also fascinating to see how she takes something that's been written about ad nausea, the werewolf myth, and turns it into something interesting, convincing and even original. I like this, as well as the fact that her characters and complex and realistic. So I'd definitely recommend to give this series a try.

Moon Called (9780441013814) Blood Bound (9780441014736) Iron Kissed. Ace Books (9780441015665) Vulnerable (9780595337460)

This book actually brought home the fact that the Mercy Thompsonverse skillfully balances on a *very* fine line, with me, which I hadn't realized. Currently, Briggs' werewolves are just about the only ones I can put up with, and that's because Mercy herself is such a genuinely unique creature -- she doesn't have the bestest of all magics, she doesn't heal or overpower or bend people to her will, she isn't the prettiest or the most powerful -- she is simply unique, the only one of her kind, and she is pretty darn good at turning her uniqueness to her advantage (in an action-packed way) even where it might be a disadvantage -- and more, pretty darn good at using her mundane, everyday human smarts and resilience.

In contrast, Anna of "Cry Wolf" is a bit sparkly for me; her uniqueness is slightly pretty-pretty princess for my taste (not to mention the old chestnut where she is abused because she is so special, until she is rescued because she is so special), and it's a testament to Briggs' *excellent* writing chops that Anna does not cross the Sue line but remains interesting and sympathetic. I do wish, though, that the original short story had been reprinted here -- it's a powerful start to Anna's tale (GO, find it and read it if you haven't already; it's a heart-racer), and I was more attached to Anna in it. She was more concrete.

Plus, including that as a first chapter might have mitigated some of the excessive mellowness in pacing; as it stands, the plot of "Cry Wolf" only gets suspenseful and really picks up more than halfway through the book, when the danger is defined and trouble mounts. Before this, there's a lot of "are we really together or aren't we?" gumming up the works, which I thought had already been settled (in light of the short story, it's hard to take Asil's play for Anna very seriously at all, even for a moment -- which depletes the tension).

(There is a LOT of POV-bouncing in this one. Briggs has written in 3rd-person before, but I've never before had to go back to make sure whose head I was supposed to be in.)

This is a romance (which I wasn't expecting, and which isn't really my genre), and as such it doesn't quite succeed on the action-packed fantasy level that Briggs' other novels do. As a romance, though, I'd say it succeeds quite well. I do like the lovers and really want them to make it as a couple. I liked the extra stuff too -- the exploration of what makes a dominant, what makes a submissive -- and particularly enjoyed the revelation that a dominant's instinct is to protect, and that a submissive lacks not strength, but the will to fight much. And an Omega is a REALLY great thing to have around!! I love Briggs' concepts, here. Werewolf pack dynamics in other recent fiction tend to annoy me or outright offend me with misogyny (I guess I would be a lone wolf? Not bossy, but also really bad at taking BEING bossed :-D), so kudos to Briggs for making it all more interesting and palatable.

And I did like the ending. Quite a lot. Special-snowflake powers and all. *g*

Once again, where Briggs shines her brightest is in characterization. She doesn't skimp, not even on the bit players. Walter is a moving, complex new addition; Asil is amazing and touching; and I feel I really got to know Bran, the Marrok (aka, leader of all North American werewolves), much better here. Not to mention the lovebirds -- lovewolves? -- really do have nice, believable chemistry. (I do get that Charles is a hottie without being told fifty times, though.) Even the people you don't see much of at all seem real and multidimensional: angry daughter Shawna, conflicted and flawed Marrok's wife Leah, calm and reasonable (yet maybe a little mischievous?) Sage, and others -- even Shawna's father, who does not appear in this book alive.

Bran in particular has become a much more textured character. (His and Asil's points of view were absolutely the most compelling portions, for me. So much cool history to explore.) The personal decisions he has made are harsh, to him and to others -- but in *all* but the luckiest lives, there are these small, private compromises and sacrifices. It's clear that "perfect" relationships are a luxury that someone in a position of so much power simply cannot afford -- no different than a thousand arranged royal marriages throughout history, both fictional and non. It's tragic, bittersweet.

More than anything, this book makes me miss Briggs' "Dragon Bones/Dragon Blood" universe, for that rich characterization. Really, she does so much with just the right amount of words, neither too flat nor overkill. In terms of my own personal enjoyment, this would be about a 3-star read. However, in terms of Briggs achieving the story SHE set out to tell with craft, style, and good prose, definitely a 4 to 4.5 star effort. (And including the short story -- because you gotta! -- easily zooms it all up to 4.9.)

So in short... more please!

(Extra props for the inclusion of the first chapter of "Bone Crossed" which reminds us just how strong, complex, and human Mercy T is.)

With the release of CRY WOLF (the first in a new series), Patricia Briggs fans can now look forward to two Briggs books coming out per year. A Mercy Thompson in the winter and an Alpha and Omega in the summer. So. Very. Awesome. After inhaling the original "Alpha and Omega" short story in On the Prowl last year, I could hardly wait to follow Anna and Charles's story in full-length book form and now, having finished it, I can honestly say it was a treat.

Picking up immediately after the events of "Alpha and Omega," Anna finds herself and her few belongings bundled up and on her way to Montana with a wounded Charles and his father, the enigmatic Bran, otherwise known as the Marrok, aka leader of the entire werewolf population of North America. Nervous and unsure of just what she's gotten herself into, Anna suddenly finds herself living at Charles's house, attending werewolf funerals, and embroiled in the same kind of wolf politics she was assiduously kept out of during her time with the Chicago pack. Unsurprisingly, it's one step forward, two steps back for Anna as she attempts to settle into her new life and decide whether or not she even wants to carve out a place for herself with Charles--a still waters run deep sort of man who is reserved, doesn't like crowds, but is also the Marrok's chief assassin.

Anna is a very different breed of heroine from Mercy. After being changed, she was never given the chance to get her bearings and accept her new life. The cool thing about being an Omega (something she is only just beginning to figure out about herself) is she has all of the protective instincts of an Alpha, without any of the violence. This makes her strong and able to influence the mood of every wolf around her. The lame thing is that without those violent instincts, she can be taken advantage of and manipulated to a rather spectacular degree. I liked that this first book didn't rush things. There is plenty of ground left to cover as far as Anna's untapped abilities go and whether or not she and Charles will be able to bridge the still vast gulf between them. I loved the extra time we got to spend with Bran--one of the most interesting characters in this world. I'm looking forward to more on his background and his mate. Because, even though she's heinous, I feel particularly sorry for Leah. It's no kind of life she's got right now and I find myself harboring a little hope for her and her Marrok.

Lastly, CRY WOLF just happens to include a sneak peak of the first chapter of Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)--the fourth Mercy Thompson book. Did I skip to the back and read it first before delving into CRY WOLF? Maybe...

_Cry_Wolf_ is the first book of Patricia Briggs' new series, Alpha and Omega. The book is set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson series, but focuses more on the werewolf pack located in the mountains of Montana. This pack and its leader Bran regularly appear in the Mercy Thompson series, along with Bran's sons Samuel and Charles.

This book has a fairly slow pace and is very "emo", for lack of a better word. There are two main characters, Anna and Charles, and the book is mostly about them trying to work out some relationship issues. Anna was severely abused for three years by her first werewolf pack (as in other reviews, I have to wonder -- why does urban / contemporary / dark urban fantasy genre suddenly have this fixation with sexual assault and the emotional trauma that comes from that?!?) while simultaneously learning nothing of werewolves besides that they were sadistic brutal bastards who enjoy hurting people. The book opens with the aftermath of Charles having saved Anna from her tormentors and taking her home with him and Bran to Montana. Anna has severe issues (as anyone would under those circumstances), including problems with self-esteem, guilt, anxiety, and wondering who's going to beat her up next. Charles is an old wolf who has never really found a mate, so he is as surprised and unsure of how to deal with his emotions as Anna is. There is some suspense and action which show up in the last third, but the first two-thirds are mostly a romance novel about two very hopeful but frightened people trying to learn how to love and trust each other.

I did enjoy the novel, but I didn't love it. I think a lot of Mercy Thompson fans will have mixed feelings about it too. But overall a good book.

On a side note for Mercy Thompson fans -- there is some information in the book about Bran and his sons, particularly Samuel, which makes some parts of the Mercy Thompson series quite a bit more interesting.

This is my first Briggs book! Wow! Did I say Wow? I could not put it down and I had to reread so many parts because they were so well done. Let's start with the characters, Bran, the alpha of the alphas. He is like the Japanese SHOGUN. Oldest, wisest, most powerful, loving, protective, great father, great leader and visionary for his werewolf kind. Charles, his father's assassin. Alpha MALE, swoonworthy hero, superwerewolf. Anna, brutalized and beaten by her original pack, she is slowly and surely introduced to her new pack with respect and deference given for the suffering she had endured for 3 years. She did not know she was Omega, special and precious. Asil, the Moor, powerful ancient werewolf, sly, witty, hiding deadly secrets that threaten the safety of the pack. Samuel, the doctor, the eldest son who shares with his father Bran, history that is essential to the pack's survival. There are so many great characters in this story. There are so many interesting levels of lore, not only about werewolves, but also about other supernatural beings, spirits, the land, the mountains. I love how the author wove in seamlessly information not only about Montana, but about wilderness, Native American lore and European history of werewolves and witches.
The scene in the church for the funeral of the Doctor that Bran had to kill was "on the edge of your seat" drama. I love how the author wove in and out the ceremony and the interactions and reactions of the protagonists and antagonists. Great tension and release.
I love the slow pace of Anna and Charles' romance. Stop the whining you whiners. Anna is a sexual assault victim suffering from PTSD. Look what Vietnam did to poor Walter Rice!! Let the girl have some healing space before you want her jumping on the bones of Charles. I love how tender and considerate Charles was, never rushing her, respecting her, cherishing the gift he had not expected to get. He thought he would never mate, no one for the master assassin and then, here is Anna, tiny and beautiful Omega for him. The pace of their growing love and bonding was pitch perfect. I love how he taught her survival skills in the snow and as a wolf, blocked the icy wind for her with his body. Sigh.
This is one of the best romances I have ever read. Even if Briggs does not write another one in this series, I am a fan forever.

This novel is a spin-off from the Mercy Thompson universe. The leading characters, Charles and Anna, actually were created for a short story in the "On the Prowl" anthology.

The story centers upon the werewolf enforcer, Charles, and his at first unwilling mate, Anna. In the short story, Charles freed Anna from an abusive pack. She was attacked and turned into a werewolf because she possessed a skill outside of the pack, she's an Omega or a 'calmer.' Charles' father, the Marrok who is the chief of the werewolves in this country, values Anna's talent and wants her with them. Charles' wolf has claimed Anna as mate, but he has not taken her against her will.

The mystery revolves around a black witch who seeks a rogue wolf in the Marrok's pack. There may actually be more than one.

I got interested in Briggs' writing with the Mercy Thompson stories I confess my bias is toward that type of tale. I found the beginning of this story long and there was too much 'relationship angst' to really hold my attention. In my opinion, the interesting part of the story (the mystery) got short shrift. I honestly was about to give up reading when the story captured my interest about halfway through.

If you like books which delve more into relationships, "Cry Wolf" is going to be the book for you. You want a faster pace, look at the "Mercy Thompson" books:

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 1)

Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2)

Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)

My suggestion is to read "On the Prowl" before you read this story. "Cry Wolf" will make a lot more sense with this background material covered.

On the Prowl

Rebecca Kyle, September 2008

this series is more of Charles and Anna and in this book we see them out on a mission to find out about a possible Rogue Wolf attacking and killing people. As always there's more to the story, and what seems like a simple excercise ends up being a dangerous one, involving people thought long dead and a very evil witch. There's real danger here and even Bran is brought to the edge...
We see more of Bran's misfit pack and I enjoyed that too. We hear and make assumptions about them when references occur in other books, but its great to learn more about some of the individuals that make up the pack.

The book is about Anna who is a werewolf. She is abused by her pack leader and really has no self respect left in her by the time he is done abusing her. Along comes Charles who discovers her and also discovers that she is a rare Omega wolf. He takes her away from her current pack leader and takes her back with him. He feels she is his mate and he is bound and determined to get her to trust him and love him. While they are getting to know each other, a rogue werewolf goes on the hunt killing people and Charles who is the enforcer of his pack goes out to find and kill the rogue. The story overall was a good one, I did find the character of Anna a bit way to weak for my liking. Yes she is abused but she seemed to not have much of a personality for being one of the main characters in the book. Charles was ok, but I felt that we should have seen more about him then we did.

I'm a fan of the Mercy Thompson series, so I already had some background understanding as this new series takes place in the same universe. Taking the advice of another reviewer, I did first read Briggs' short story in the On the Prowl anthology which introduces the characters, and I'm glad I did as the story explained how Charles and Anna met. If reprints are made of this particular book in the future, I hope Briggs will include the story in the book.

Although explained what made an Omega special, it wasn't until the end of the book that I fully understood what made an Omega so special, and I'll be interested to see how Anna's special abilities are put to use in future books. Are they effective only with werewolves, or can they possibly affect other were creatures?

I enjoyed the book and I look forward to the next in the series.

3.5 for me
Overall I enjoyed this story. There were parts of the story were I felt the flow was moving slowly and it made the story drag for me. Other than that I thought the story had good characters, action and romance. I was drawn in enough that I care what happens with Charles and Anna. I want to know what happens next.

When.. I started reading the book I was felt like I was coming in on the second book or something. So I flipped back a few pages to see if there was a book one listed. I realized no this is book one its just somehow started on the tail-end of another story and I feel left behind and confuse. I think things would have went much smoother had the author skipped the first chapter where Charles is injured and Anna is getting her things from her apartment. I mean I kinda get why she did it to showcase Anna's past and the reasons for her behavior, but things would have gone alot better if she'd just given a brief synopsis somewhere or used flashbacks to get it across. So the reader doesn't start out feeling like their missing something like say oh how the relationship intially began. I just don't feel like I really got to know either of the characters EXCEPT Asil.. who wasn't even one of the main characters.
Another critique that I have in that the book moved a little ssslllooooww. There wasn't much action to move the story along. The Villainess came off mostly as a petulant child. I don't think I would rush to buy the next book. This is the first briggs book I actually chose to read I've been skipping the Mercy thompson series, however; after reading about Samuel I'm tempted to give them a try, but If I end up feeling the same about them.. Then i'm not just not meant to be a Briggs fan.

I didn't find this book to be as well-written as the primary series about Mercy. There was more focus on the romance which is nice because Mercy's romances are somewhat subsumed by the action, but the rest of the book seemed somewhat extraneous.

Anna's personality is supposed to be strong but because of her trauma, it's pretty toned down which, in the end, makes her somewhat boring especially in comparison with Mercy. Charles, though, is somewhat interesting with his public personality as the Marrok's assassin and his personal personality with Anna.

This book might have been likeable on its own, but because it is in the same universe and set of people as the Mercy Thompson series, which is pretty good, this book seems like it's lacking.

I loved Brigg's Mercy Thompson series, so I was SOOO excited when I found out about this series. I really liked this book because in the Mercy series, she's tough and strong-willed. The same goes for all of the werewolves in that series. But with Cry Wolf, it's alot different. Granted, Charles is tough and stong-willed like most of the other werewolves, but Anna is something totally different. She was abused and made to feel worthless, and now she views herself that way. Charles is the one that tries to change the way she views herself. If you read the Mercy series first, you learn about the structure of Alpha's in a pack. But in Cry Wolf, you learn Anna is an Omega. Someone that is much different than all other werewolves. She's someone who can soothe the others when they have trouble controling their animal sides and instincts. You see a completely different side to the pack that you didn't see in the Mercy series. What I really liked was that Brigg's let readers see what all of these characters are like, that you only got bits and pieces of in the Mercy Series. Anna and Charles' characters have an amazing relationship. Their characters are so well developed that you almost feel like you know them personally. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy books. But I would suggest reading all Mercy series books first. Even though Cry Wolf's timeline takes place somewhere around the end of the first, and beginning of the second Mercy series. Mainly because then you know who the characters are in that series before you read about them in Cry Wolf when mentioned.

I read copy of Cry Wolf at the public library and have gone on to purchase more of Patricia Briggs books. I only had one problem with this novel. It's starts off like it is the continuation of another book. I felt as if I had missed out on a lot of things that had happened to Anna. As the story unfolds you get bits and pieces of what previously went on but it's not enough. Other than that, I enjoyed the book.

Yes, you really do need to read Charles and Anna's story in the On The Prowl anthology first as it is the preface to this full length novel. I was hoping for a little more development in Charles/Anna's relationship. And, while I was hoping for a longer story I really have no complaints.

A significant positive for Cry Wolf contrary to other novellas turned novels I have read is the story continues right where the novella ends rather than novel embellishing and almost entirely changing the storyline as happens with other authors. I don't understand that strategy!

I have stated this in other PB reviews but it bears repeating for those who have not read anything else by Patricia Briggs. PB is truly the ultimate storyteller. She knows how to enthrall you so that you enjoy every bit of what she's written. Go out and find everything by PB you can get your hands on. She will not disappoint!

I don't know what is planned for C&A as a series but I'd definitely continue with this one.

I loved the Mercy Thompson series and think it's helpful to read those before reading the spin off Alpha and Omega series. In Cry Wolf, I enjoyed seeing more of Bran and his sons who act as the overall leaders/enforcers of the werewolves in the US. We met them in the Mercy Thompson series, but it's great to read more about them. The main character's back story is sad in that she was abused but it's good to see how her relationship with Charles is helping her to heal and be a stronger person. And I liked seeing how Anna softens Charles and brings him happiness. This is a great new series! It's a mix of paranormal action, suspense, and romance.

I agree with one of the other reviewers who suggested reading the short story from On The Prowl before reading this book. I didn't, and I felt like the book didn't give me as much back story on Anna and how she and Charles met. Then I later learned that it was covered in the short story.

I have been on the hunt for books similiar to the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series. The new Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill has the same sort of style...strong, likable female lead, good plotline, lots of action and suspense and a little romance. Give them a try after reading Biggs.

Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

Let me preface this by saying, I'm a big fan of Patricia Briggs' Mercy novels. (I love love LOVE them.) So of course the first thing I did was to compare Anna to Mercy as it is basically impossible not to. Of course I prefer Mercy! Although to be fair, she's had 3 books to win my heart, while Anna's only had 1 (and a ¼).

I think the problem I had with Cry Wolf is that in comparison to Brigg's other characters; Anna just really isn't as interesting. I found myself perking up at the mention of Mercy's name and wanting to reread those books instead of finish this one! I wanted to find out more about Bran's and Leah's situation, instead of Anna's and Charles'!

Anna reminded me of another of my favorite werewolf heroines, Carrie Vaughn's Kitty. They both start off in very bad situations, but throughout the course of the book (or in the case of Kitty... books) they are able to overcome their abuse. I found that the Kitty books improved as the series progressed, and that I liked the main character more as she developed more of a backbone. (Or perhaps, I just like smartass characters?)

That being said, this is not a bad book; in fact I quite liked it. There was definitely enough interest that I will buy the next one when it comes out. (I'm not so secretly hoping for more Leah!) I just miss Mercy and can't wait to read more of her story.

CRY WOLF by Patricia Briggs is a spin-off from her Mercy Thompson novels. If I hadn't read MOON CALLED, book one of the Mercy Thompson series, there would have been more gabs in the story.

My only regret is not knowing about the anthology titled ON THE PROWL, which gives the background on Charles and Anna, the major characters in this story. I felt a bit lost at the beginning, like I missed something and I did. It's the showdown between the pack who kept Anna a prisoner and Charles, the enforcer who is also the son to the leader of the North American werewolves.

In CRY WOLF, Charles heals from his wounds. He believes Anna is his mate, but she has been abused. This book digs deep into how life has been for Charles as he wonders if Anna can accept the violent side of his job. As the enforcer, he has to take care of werewolves who have gone rogue. Charles believes Anna to be a rare Omega wolf who could be the key to preventing the illness that has plague their kind, turning werewolves into crazed beasts.

Originally, I didn't plan on continuing with the Mercy Thompson series. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the author's writing style, but having so many paranormal species was a bit too much for me. After reading CRY WOLF, I plan to continue on. I loved it.

I like that Patricia doesn't show away from the horrors of being fragile in a world of menace. Instead she helps the characters find the strength in themselves with the support of relationships around them

The book is about Anna who is a werewolf. She is abused by her pack leader and really has no self respect left in her by the time he is done abusing her. Along comes Charles who discovers her and also discovers that she is a rare Omega wolf. He takes her away from her current pack leader and takes her back with him. He feels she is his mate and he is bound and determined to get her to trust him and love him. While they are getting to know each other, a rogue werewolf goes on the hunt killing people and Charles who is the enforcer of his pack goes out to find and kill the rogue. The story overall was a good one, I did find the character of Anna a bit way to weak for my liking. Yes she is abused but she seemed to not have much of a personality for being one of the main characters in the book. Charles was ok, but I felt that we should have seen more about him then we did.

I'm a fan of the Mercy Thompson series, so I already had some background understanding as this new series takes place in the same universe. Taking the advice of another reviewer, I did first read Briggs' short story in the On the Prowl anthology which introduces the characters, and I'm glad I did as the story explained how Charles and Anna met. If reprints are made of this particular book in the future, I hope Briggs will include the story in the book.

Although explained what made an Omega special, it wasn't until the end of the book that I fully understood what made an Omega so special, and I'll be interested to see how Anna's special abilities are put to use in future books. Are they effective only with werewolves, or can they possibly affect other were creatures?

I enjoyed the book and I look forward to the next in the series.

3.5 for me
Overall I enjoyed this story. There were parts of the story were I felt the flow was moving slowly and it made the story drag for me. Other than that I thought the story had good characters, action and romance. I was drawn in enough that I care what happens with Charles and Anna. I want to know what happens next.

When.. I started reading the book I was felt like I was coming in on the second book or something. So I flipped back a few pages to see if there was a book one listed. I realized no this is book one its just somehow started on the tail-end of another story and I feel left behind and confuse. I think things would have went much smoother had the author skipped the first chapter where Charles is injured and Anna is getting her things from her apartment. I mean I kinda get why she did it to showcase Anna's past and the reasons for her behavior, but things would have gone alot better if she'd just given a brief synopsis somewhere or used flashbacks to get it across. So the reader doesn't start out feeling like their missing something like say oh how the relationship intially began. I just don't feel like I really got to know either of the characters EXCEPT Asil.. who wasn't even one of the main characters.
Another critique that I have in that the book moved a little ssslllooooww. There wasn't much action to move the story along. The Villainess came off mostly as a petulant child. I don't think I would rush to buy the next book. This is the first briggs book I actually chose to read I've been skipping the Mercy thompson series, however; after reading about Samuel I'm tempted to give them a try, but If I end up feeling the same about them.. Then i'm not just not meant to be a Briggs fan.

I didn't find this book to be as well-written as the primary series about Mercy. There was more focus on the romance which is nice because Mercy's romances are somewhat subsumed by the action, but the rest of the book seemed somewhat extraneous.

Anna's personality is supposed to be strong but because of her trauma, it's pretty toned down which, in the end, makes her somewhat boring especially in comparison with Mercy. Charles, though, is somewhat interesting with his public personality as the Marrok's assassin and his personal personality with Anna.

This book might have been likeable on its own, but because it is in the same universe and set of people as the Mercy Thompson series, which is pretty good, this book seems like it's lacking.

I loved Brigg's Mercy Thompson series, so I was SOOO excited when I found out about this series. I really liked this book because in the Mercy series, she's tough and strong-willed. The same goes for all of the werewolves in that series. But with Cry Wolf, it's alot different. Granted, Charles is tough and stong-willed like most of the other werewolves, but Anna is something totally different. She was abused and made to feel worthless, and now she views herself that way. Charles is the one that tries to change the way she views herself. If you read the Mercy series first, you learn about the structure of Alpha's in a pack. But in Cry Wolf, you learn Anna is an Omega. Someone that is much different than all other werewolves. She's someone who can soothe the others when they have trouble controling their animal sides and instincts. You see a completely different side to the pack that you didn't see in the Mercy series. What I really liked was that Brigg's let readers see what all of these characters are like, that you only got bits and pieces of in the Mercy Series. Anna and Charles' characters have an amazing relationship. Their characters are so well developed that you almost feel like you know them personally. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy books. But I would suggest reading all Mercy series books first. Even though Cry Wolf's timeline takes place somewhere around the end of the first, and beginning of the second Mercy series. Mainly because then you know who the characters are in that series before you read about them in Cry Wolf when mentioned.

I read copy of Cry Wolf at the public library and have gone on to purchase more of Patricia Briggs books. I only had one problem with this novel. It's starts off like it is the continuation of another book. I felt as if I had missed out on a lot of things that had happened to Anna. As the story unfolds you get bits and pieces of what previously went on but it's not enough. Other than that, I enjoyed the book.

Yes, you really do need to read Charles and Anna's story in the On The Prowl anthology first as it is the preface to this full length novel. I was hoping for a little more development in Charles/Anna's relationship. And, while I was hoping for a longer story I really have no complaints.

A significant positive for Cry Wolf contrary to other novellas turned novels I have read is the story continues right where the novella ends rather than novel embellishing and almost entirely changing the storyline as happens with other authors. I don't understand that strategy!

I have stated this in other PB reviews but it bears repeating for those who have not read anything else by Patricia Briggs. PB is truly the ultimate storyteller. She knows how to enthrall you so that you enjoy every bit of what she's written. Go out and find everything by PB you can get your hands on. She will not disappoint!

I don't know what is planned for C&A as a series but I'd definitely continue with this one.

I loved the Mercy Thompson series and think it's helpful to read those before reading the spin off Alpha and Omega series. In Cry Wolf, I enjoyed seeing more of Bran and his sons who act as the overall leaders/enforcers of the werewolves in the US. We met them in the Mercy Thompson series, but it's great to read more about them. The main character's back story is sad in that she was abused but it's good to see how her relationship with Charles is helping her to heal and be a stronger person. And I liked seeing how Anna softens Charles and brings him happiness. This is a great new series! It's a mix of paranormal action, suspense, and romance.

I agree with one of the other reviewers who suggested reading the short story from On The Prowl before reading this book. I didn't, and I felt like the book didn't give me as much back story on Anna and how she and Charles met. Then I later learned that it was covered in the short story.

I have been on the hunt for books similiar to the Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series. The new Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill has the same sort of style...strong, likable female lead, good plotline, lots of action and suspense and a little romance. Give them a try after reading Biggs.

Some Girls Bite: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel

Let me preface this by saying, I'm a big fan of Patricia Briggs' Mercy novels. (I love love LOVE them.) So of course the first thing I did was to compare Anna to Mercy as it is basically impossible not to. Of course I prefer Mercy! Although to be fair, she's had 3 books to win my heart, while Anna's only had 1 (and a ¼).

I think the problem I had with Cry Wolf is that in comparison to Brigg's other characters; Anna just really isn't as interesting. I found myself perking up at the mention of Mercy's name and wanting to reread those books instead of finish this one! I wanted to find out more about Bran's and Leah's situation, instead of Anna's and Charles'!

Anna reminded me of another of my favorite werewolf heroines, Carrie Vaughn's Kitty. They both start off in very bad situations, but throughout the course of the book (or in the case of Kitty... books) they are able to overcome their abuse. I found that the Kitty books improved as the series progressed, and that I liked the main character more as she developed more of a backbone. (Or perhaps, I just like smartass characters?)

That being said, this is not a bad book; in fact I quite liked it. There was definitely enough interest that I will buy the next one when it comes out. (I'm not so secretly hoping for more Leah!) I just miss Mercy and can't wait to read more of her story.

CRY WOLF by Patricia Briggs is a spin-off from her Mercy Thompson novels. If I hadn't read MOON CALLED, book one of the Mercy Thompson series, there would have been more gabs in the story.

My only regret is not knowing about the anthology titled ON THE PROWL, which gives the background on Charles and Anna, the major characters in this story. I felt a bit lost at the beginning, like I missed something and I did. It's the showdown between the pack who kept Anna a prisoner and Charles, the enforcer who is also the son to the leader of the North American werewolves.

In CRY WOLF, Charles heals from his wounds. He believes Anna is his mate, but she has been abused. This book digs deep into how life has been for Charles as he wonders if Anna can accept the violent side of his job. As the enforcer, he has to take care of werewolves who have gone rogue. Charles believes Anna to be a rare Omega wolf who could be the key to preventing the illness that has plague their kind, turning werewolves into crazed beasts.

Originally, I didn't plan on continuing with the Mercy Thompson series. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the author's writing style, but having so many paranormal species was a bit too much for me. After reading CRY WOLF, I plan to continue on. I loved it.

I like that Patricia doesn't show away from the horrors of being fragile in a world of menace. Instead she helps the characters find the strength in themselves with the support of relationships around them

Leslee of Night Owl Romance - 4 / 5 Hearts

This was a wonderful continuation of the story of Anna and Charles which was started in the anthology On the Prowl. Cry Wolf takes place immediately after the close of Alpha and Omega. Anna is moving to Montana with Charles and finds it hard to adjust to all the changes happening in her life. Charles, for all his age and experience is also struggling to adapt to being mated as well as being around an Omega. Omegas are so rare that it isn't well known what their powers are and how others react to their presence. They arrive in Montana but before they can settle in, The Marrok has to send Charles out into the wilderness to handle a problem that has rogue wolf written all over it. He sends Anna to help with the ulterior motive of bringing the mated pair closer to making it official. But a rogue isn't the only thing waiting in the woods.

For all the mystery and the fighting off evil, this falls into the category of a paranormal romance more than urban fantasy. The focus is most definitely on Anna and Charles. They are an unusual pair in that their beasts mated first and their human side is trying to catch up. What also interferes is that Anna was abused for the last three years and it shows in her reactions to everything, including Charles. Ms. Briggs is a fabulous writer. She seamlessly blends the behavior of characters with their animal parts so that you really believe that they are more than human. I also really enjoyed getting to know more about the Marrok, his pack, and their home in Montana. We have gotten little tastes of it from the Mercy Thompson series but it was really nice to finally hear more about the Marrok and his past. I would highly recommend this to any fans of paranormal romance, the Mercy Thompson series, and Laurell K. Hamilton. I would, however, recommend reading the short story from On the Prowl first so that you experience Charles and Anna's first meeting.

[...]

© Night Owl Romance 2007-2008

Cry Wolf is the first in the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. The characters are based on the world of Mercedes Thompson, another stellar series by Briggs.

Anna is an Omega - a rare and powerful wolf. Charles is an alpha, less rare but no less powerful. When Charles is sent on business to Anna's pack, he discovers that horrific conditions that she is forced to endure. As her knight in shining armor he saves her and takes her far away from the terrors that have been her life the past few years. How could life get any better for Anna? Taken away from her nightmare, bound to a brilliant and handsome man - life should be perfect, right? Only problem is that Anna has been taught to be submissive for so long that she doesn't know how to be anything but. Will her own fear keep her from finding the love that she so desperately desires?

Briggs has created another set of fantastic characters here set amid a compelling storyline. I love Anna because she is a fighter - a woman, thrown headfirst into the unimaginable and yet despite everything she manages to keep her soul together.

Patricia Briggs has a wonderful writing style, with clear plot lines and prose, exciting events and terrific stories. I enjoy the crossover references to her other series but it is not necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this one.

I've read Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series and enjoyed them greatly. The problem with this book, which I picked up without having read any reviews, is that the "prequel" the other reviews list seems to contain the introduction to the characters. It was very disconcerting to be thrown into the story shortly after so many important events have occurred, but before the main characters have settled into a relationship. Without being there for the "reveal" of their intended relationship, past problems, etc it was very hard to establish an emotional connection to any of the characters. Although you are told about these in the shorthand recap style of a second book, it's just not enough to invoke reader sympathy. I couldn't see how the characters bonded (if they did) in the previous dramatic action and therefore, I cared very little if they continued to stay together. Bothered by this, I found it hard to care at all and didn't finish the book. For a book clearly labeled the first of the series, splitting the formative action off for an anthology entry was just a really bad decision.

Really I'd give this 3 and a half stars.

First, read the short story in the Anthology On the Prowl that is the beginning of this book. It's a five star short! And the rest of the anthology is equally good.

Charles is the very dominant second of his father, Marrok to all North American werewolves. On a trip to Chicago to sort out some bad wolves that Mercy( Brigg's very popular heroine of a parallel series) has tattled on, he finds Anna a brutalized and subjugated Omega wolf. Omegas bring peace to all around them and are considered near sacred.

Finding that they are Mates the two struggle to find the path of their relationship. Anna struggles to understand herself and the Marroks pack. And together they hunt down a possible rogue and a very scary witch who has her sights on the Marrok and his people in a two hundred year old grudge against a pack member.

It's a good story, it just didn't leave me salivating for more like Mercy's books do. And BTW this book actually happens just after book one of the Mercy series I believe.

This book is a pretty sound action romance from Patricia Briggs, with the unique, added bonus -gem, I should say- of Briggs' gripping, all too human characters and atypical situations and histories. There are a few points that readers have problems with. I'll sum up them here for potential readers:

- The short story in the On the Prowl anthology is pretty much a must-read before beginning this book. It explains a lot about Anna's character and introduces you to the interesting and different relationship between her and Charles, which is continued here. If you don't believe me, read the first chapter of Cry Wolf. You'll immediately notice the reference to past events. They were confusing and important enough to Anna's character to make me pick up the short story pretty quickly.

- If you've read the Mercy series, this book concentrates more on the relationship between Charles and Anna than the action, per se-- although a strong plot is definitely present, for those concerned, along with her trademark character development. Briggs didn't get sloppy or anything. She just shifted the focus. It is not like the Mercy books, where the romance is more of a small subplot. Mercy begins her series single; Anna meets her mate in her short story. I'm not sure whether this trend will continue in the next Alpha/Omega books. Personally, I liked the romance. Just a note: If you've read the Mercy series, this does explain quite a bit about some of the characters in those books as well so it's worth reading.

- The action is influenced by past events related in this book. The histories of several characters have a large part to do with the present situation the characters find themselves in. It doesn't take away from the current characters or the action; the flashbacks are ultimately few and brief. Indeed, I found it very interesting to learn more about the werewolf world (much is explained), and also about some of my favorite characters' backgrounds. The histories themselves are developed, engaging stories, not just planted in after the fact.

At any rate, I really liked the book, I loved Briggs' unique werewolves and characters and her integration of folklore like the Berserker legend, and I can't wait to read the next A/O book, hopefully another romance from one of our favorite characters, perhaps Bran?

"4 out of 5 stars. I wasn't sure at first how I would like this world and it's characters but as soon as I started reading the book I couldn't put it down. Great setting ... I liked how you can every point of view so the story is that much more believable!!"

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
-- read more of this review on my blog: frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com --

This came up as a recommendation with another book. I thought I would give it try. It has been good but this is not really the first book. Yes you can follow along just fine but I find myself wondering about the events before this books. I will go back and read it before reading book 2. Yes good enough to continue reading this series. I was also interest in her Mercy series too. Interesting world Patricia Briggs has created and has been a enjoyable reading experience

I thought I loved the Mercy Thompson series by the same author, but "Cry Wolf" may just have surpassed them. Although not strictly necessary, I'd highly recommend reading the prequel to this series found in the "on the prowl" anthology and now available separately as an ebook from this author. "Cry Wolf" is the story of Anna, a once promising music student forcibly changed into a werewolf and then abused terribly. Things are looking up for Anna in the beginning of this story as she is rescued from the clutches of the Chicago pack and thrust into a relationship with not only Charles -the number two wolf in America- but with a functioning pack and is forced out of her shell and begins to reclaim the person she may have otherwise been.

Read it! In fact, I think I'm going to go read it again (for the fifth time I think).

Generally viewpoint is either Anna's or Charles' with the vet and a few others coming in. Does an excellent job of explaining what is going on in the viewpoint she is in and the author doesn't randomly switch. Story is a good mystery and explain the reality very well. You could even read this story and easily follow and enjoy it, without out reading the short story that preceded it and explains how the characters get together (I did).
I didn't really think I'd enjoy urban fantasy, but I like all of Briggs stuff.

I love the author's Mercy Thompson series and flew through it. So I was really surprised to find that Cry Wolf wasn't able to hold my attention very well. It took me over a week to read, which is extremely unusual for me. I liked the characters (most of whom are from the Mercy Thompson series, and I like the series of events. I'm very puzzled why I couldn't fly through it. Hopefully the second book will have that spark I was missing.

First off, I must adamently state I love Patricia Brigg's novels. The Mercy books are near and dear to my heart. What I love most about the Mercy books are the fabulous and intricate characters. "Cry Wolf" met that criteria. This story of Anna, the Omega werewolf and her new mate Charles has a firmly placed foundation based on the characterization and complexities of these characters, along with Bran, the Marrock and Charles' father. Two other chracters were also strongly drawn and immediate dear to me, and I felt strongly about their possible adventures and fates. Brigg's writing, per usual, is delicate and beautiful. She creates some of the best narrative in the genre. I feel like this is going to be another 'must buy the minute it hits shelves' series. So why the three star review? (Which by the way, it did pain me to give). First, what so many others have already said...the back story being in an anthology which I didn't read hurt. It took me awhile to piece together what happened with Anna prior to the start of this novel. Secondly, "Cry Wolf" took a long time to get going. I can reasonably agree that its because Briggs was so exhaustive in detailing out our characters...but it did hurt the story that the adventures and excitement really didn't start until the 7th or 8th chapter. Another point is that when the adventure did begin, I felt a little confused by what was going on. The witch and the whole explanation of what the witch's guard was and wasn't left me slightly bewildered. I had to re-read parts to get a good idea of what she was. I see the mega potential these character's have and the power this story has to lead to an amazing series...but I felt that this book didn't make the most of what potential was there.

I couldn't resist that. Another engrossing tale from Patricia Briggs. I am being forced to reread all her wonderful books as it's so much quicker for us readers than our favorite authors. Any fan of her Mercy series is going to love this new one.

I am am a big fan of Mercy Thompson series and I love the spin-off of Charles Cornick her foster brother. I can see Anna becoming one of my favorite heroines as well. I can feel her strength of character building in this book. Can't wait to see how she and her relationship with Charles develops.

I just recently read where people were saying to read On the Prowl first, so needless to say I read Cry Wolf before I ever heard that! I don't agree with those that say there isn't enough back story! If you read the Mercy Books, you know this falls right between the first two and it the world is already familiar. I liked the way the back story was left out, it gave more depth to the characters. It created a mystery as to why she was the way she way. I really thought this was a very emotional book. The way she reacted as fall out of her abuse - it was very touching the way her and Charles were with each other. I really enjoyed the book - it will be added to my favorites with Mercy Thompson and Aishling Grey books!

After reading the Mercy Thompson series, I needed/wanted something new to read on vacation. I would say the Alpha & Omega series is a prequel to the Mercy Thompson series. I actually listened to this book on my way from Texas to Colorado. It is very well written, catching and holding your attention the whole way through the book! My driving time seemed to fly by! The voices seemed like the true characters speaking not just a voice! This is a new start for Anna and for Charles! You will not be disappointed! I give this book 5 Stars!

I loved this book when it was first released, as well as "Hunting Ground". It's a wonderful addition to the Mercy Thompson world which is one of the best urban fantasies out there. Well, I just read "Alpha & Omega" in "On The Prowl", the short story that details Anna and Charles meeting for the first time and how they ended up mated. When I finished it, I HAD to re-read "Cry Wolf" and I must tell you...I loved it even more the second time around. "Alpha & Omega" enhances this book SO much that I really think it should be the included in this book. Trust me...read "Alpha & Omega" first. I'm now off to re-read "Hunting Ground". :-)

I am huge a Mercy fan and and one of the reasons why is because she is a rare coyote shifter where werewolves seem abundant. So, I have to admit that because of this I started reading Cry Wolf with a chip on my shoulder ;) I mean after reading about the 'rare', why be satisfied with the seemingly 'common'. ;)

Boy was I surprised! I ended up LOVING this book -- maybe even better then the Mercy ones (I feel like such a traitor)! Anna was an honest and strong woman who had survived a horrible time in her life yet managed to keep her integrity. The hero was also wonderful and love how he cared for Anna -- their romance was very beautiful and realistic. I will be snapping new books from this series as soon they come out!

Turned against her will and abused by her pack back in Chicago, Anna was saved by Charles Cornick. Son of the Marrok, the leader of all North American werewolves, Charles is an enforcer and killer for his father. When his inner wolf chose Anna as his mate he brought her back to Montana with him. But the honeymoon isn't over... it hasn't even begun.

There's trouble stirring in the winter-kissed woods of north-western Montana. People are being attacked by what must be a werewolf and Bran, the Marrok, wants to know for sure. It's possible the attacks may be an attempt to scare Bran because he has been talking about revealing the existence of werewolves to the rest of the world. Who better to send than his enforcer and his Omega? When Anna and Charles set off into the mountains to uncover the truth they end up meeting up with something even scarier than another werewolf. If they can't defeat this new evil every werewolf in North America is in danger.

While some reviewers will disagree, having read Cry Wolf, I feel that it is essential that the short-story "Alpha and Omega" from On the Prowl be read before reading this book. Even having read the short-story I was a little lost trying to understand the dynamic of the Omega wolf. Maybe I'm a bit thick but even now that I've finished Cry Wolf I find myself with questions and confusion. Doh!

I wanted to love this book. I'm a huge fan of the Mercy Thompson series, which is also set in this world, and living in Montana I was hoping that Briggs would give the same loving care to it she has to the Tri-Cities in Mercy's series. But I just didn't feel it. The story felt almost... drawn from a hat. I loved Asil, Sage, Tag and Walter, it had great supporting characters. Anna is alright, but I felt like she was closed off from me as a reader, as if we really didn't get to see too much into who she is. Charles was much the same but having read of him in Mercy's series I've never liked him and found him dull as a hero. I'll give the series another shot certainly, but this opener just didn't win my heart as I had hoped.

I am rating this 4 out of 5 stars because I felt a bit lost and confused when I first started this book. it wasn't until I was three chapters in that someone told me that there was a short story that was basically the first two ok r three chapters of the book. When I heard that input a pause on my reading of this book and read the short. After I read the short and understood things be I was able to truly immerse myself into the book.
Even though there are a few characters from the Mercy Thompson series I liked that it didn't feel like it was part of the story because of the different storyline and characters that aren't mentioned in the Mercy books and you could read this book with reading the Mercy books. Atthe same time it ties in nicely to those books. I feel likeI know more about Bran and Charles and understand them better especially Charles.
I would recommend this book to people who like books about werewolves with a bit of an underlining of a love story, and to Mercy Thompson series readers who want to know more about two characters who have an Impact in those books but who we don't get to know too well.

This is the first book in a new series tied to the Mercy Thompson series which is now coming to book four.

Mercy Thompson Series:
1. Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 1)
2. Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2)
3. Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)
4. Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) (February 3rd, 2009)

In this new series we get to meet Sam's brother Charles who is a born werewolf. His mother was a Native American and a wise woman. Anna and Charles actually first meet in the Anthology book On the Prowl which you might want to pick up and read because there are a few references to it in Cry Wolf. Anna is a very rare kind of werewolf called an Omega. She has the will power and strength of a dominant werewolf with none of the aggression. However, since she was turned three years ago against her will she has been abused by her pack and her alpha. Now that she is free of them she is learning to trust in herself and her mate Charles. In this book there is a rogue in the forest and Anna and Charles have to hunt the wolf down and save or destroy it. I like Patricia Briggs and I like the Mercy Thompson series but I had a few problems with this book. First of all it seems to be set in the past. This isn't really something that she warns us about and it was something that you had to figure out for yourself. It also kind of ruins the end. It just didn't have the suspense that it could have because I knew that people would be okay. The second problem I had with this book was the sentence structure. I'm not claiming to be some kind of English major. I'm sure that you can tell that by just reading this. However, I did get mixed up when reading the book and I hate to have to go back and read something. It ruins the flow of the book and takes me out of the scene. I'm interested to see where she goes with this series and if she advances it to present time or if she leaves it in the past.

I ripped through this book in a day and enjoyed it tremendously. The characters are dimensional and avoid being over-powered caricatures, the situations gripping and I was gripped almost from the beginning. In fact, it's the beginning that keeps me from giving this an enthusiastic five stars.

It's a given, since this is a series spun off of another series, that rather a lot has come before the events of this book and I felt that Briggs did an excellent job in explaining enough of it to convey recent events without resorting to long-winded exposition. Of course Anna would only hear the bits and pieces of the story without any one character sitting her down like an Edwardian drama: "As you know Anna, Samuel, the oldest son of the Marrok who also..." and so on and so forth. Even if you hadn't read any of her other series, the book would be enjoyable.

No, what bugs me is that this is a continuation of a novella found in another anthology, On The Prowl. The story, "Alpha and Omega", is a great introduction to the characters and obviously makes Anna's predicament and the initial meeting of Charles and Anna, which are only hinted at in Cry Wolf, a much more tangible series of events. While Briggs does a good job of making all this clear (again, without too tedious exposition), I can't think of any reason -- apart from marketing -- to not include those eighty pages here and that's a shame. Because while I'm not certain I'd be willing to pay cover price for that story, it's definitely worth reading.

"Cry Wolf" presents a disturbed young lady, A--, who was rescued from three years of being gang raped by her now fiance, C--. This all happened in the previous novella (see On the Prowl) which is a lot better than my 1-sentence summary makes it sound. "Cry Wolf" starts right where that novella left off. A-- and C-- are werewolves. They are traveling to C--'s home and werewolf-pack out West. There is an evil villain, A--'s unique mystic powers, new insights into characters from other Briggs werewolf books, and all sorts of fun fantasy elements. But don't get your hopes up because ... these are all sub-plots. The main story centers upon the romance between A-- & C--, and the mental issues A-- has resulting from her past abuse. This book is, above all, a tortured romance right down to the obligatory sex scene at the mid-point. It has a whole lot of emotion and reflection on feelings and self examination.

If you're a fan of Brigs' other works, you'll find this one quite different. I'm all for a bit of "poor me" occasionally, but this isn't a book I'd read twice. Teens and sensitive reader may not enjoy this book, and if you can't imagine reading a Romance novel, this is NOT the book for you! This is the second book in a series, and reads better in order -- sorry to reiterate, but some 1-star and 2-star reviewers didn't know about the previous Novela. The storyline has a neat ending that only lacks when you stop to think about it. Namely, the climax and conclusion focus on the Fantasy sub-plots, while C-- and A--'s relationship plot is miraculously resolved in half of a page (poof!)

All told, I found this book to be a fun, engrossing read; worthy yet not up to Briggs' 5-star reputation.

I've read all of Briggs novels including the Mercy series (Which has become one of my favorites). I did not realize upon getting this one that it would be an off-shot of the Mercy series. What a fantastic surprise! I did not read the short story that precedes this novel, so I was a little peeved when I did not know the story behind Anna And Charles and it was not explained fully throughout the story. Regardless, I still enjoyed Cry Wolf. Briggs did not write a romance novel...she wrote a mystery/romance/paranormal/magical tale. I would definitely recommend ANY of Briggs novels to anyone who enjoys a good storyline with believable and interesting characters.

I love Patricia Briggs. Her Mercy Thomas series is something I've keep reading over and over again...so naturally when I bought this book, I put the same kind of expectations on it.

My favorite thing about this book is that it intertwines with the Mercy series. It has a good story line and I'm happy to get to know some of the Marrock's pack (besides Samuel). The concept of an Omega wherewolf is a genius idea.

I loved reading this book. Definitely a good read. It has the potential to be a great series...just needs a little more emph to it (but it's only the first book so far). I am excited about the next book in the series.

I started reading this book just to see where it would go, being as I really enjoy the Mercy Thompson stories. What I found was this this series is just as entriging and delightful to read. Anna is a very good character to get to know. A werewolf with a checkered past, who has intimacy issues and has just found her mate. She really has her work cut out for her to get comfortable with him. And she could not have asked for a better one. Charles is very understanding of many of her issues and doesnt push her to be or do anything that isnt her. They really work well together to find a comfortable pattern and solve the issues at hand

How can I be objective when I own everything Briggs has written. I love her books and I reread them constantly. This book is another winner. The main reason is because like all of her other heroines Anna is the real star. She may have been victimized and she may have trouble connecting, but she manages to defeat the villian and save the men (well almost all of them). A strong willed woman who refuses to cower, Anna makes an intersting character. The only disappointment is that the book ends and you have to wait for the next one. I also like Briggs books because the men are honorable (as opposed to the men in Sookie Stackhouse books, Kim Harrison or Anita/Merry books). Don't miss this one - buy it now!!

I love the Mercy series and was looking forward to this spin off of sorts. The main character is not your typical kick ass heroine and it shows from page one. I felt so sorry for and hell depressed that I wanted to put the book down. I was more relieved than happy when she was taken out of the environment but that's about it.

I like the "everyone doesn't have to be typical" and world building but I want to read someone I want to be like if weres ruled the world not someone I feel sorry for, at least not in an urban fantasy.

Ok if you are thinking of reading this book do so, but if you haven't read the short story in the anthology PROWL. Go out get it and read it first. That was a good story and the basis of this series. That is where you first meet Charles and Anna. In Cry Wolf it picks up immediately after that one. This story is about Charles and Anna, each of there abilities and learning about each other. It also have a good story which brings danger to the whole pack. It interweaves people from the Mercy Thompson books and makes it so the two storylines mesh perfectly. I can't wait for the next book in the series

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

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

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

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

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

While this wasn't as amazing as the Mercedes Thompson series (set in the same world with the same- more or less- characters), it is worth a read. It explains some things the Mercedes books don't (or haven't yet) and gives you more of an understanding of Bran, who is, quite simply put, the patron saint of awesome. Don't mistake me, though. This book is focused on Charles and his new mate Anna, who is a rare and most welcome Omega in the werewolf world.

I feel as if the book was more concerned with their relationship, and the troubles and changes there-in, than the mystery-bad-guy-evil-plan part of the plot. So it is more quiet than the Mercedes books in that way. But again, still worth a read.

I am a big fan of this genre and wildly enthusiastic about Briggs as an author. I was prepared to LOVE this book as I already considered myself an afficianado of the Mercyverse and was elated by this paralell addition. This is where the "however" is usually inserted, where I list my disillusions, etc. But my objections don't quite rate a "however" nor are they minor enough for the "niggles" pile.

It was...fine. But failed to excite my passion. But better than many offerings in this genre. But not what I've come to expect from this author. But sill entertaining. But missing that extra something. Alpah and Omega felt more commercial and less passionate than the excellent Mercy series, as if it were written for the deadline instead of for the joy of the story. But maybe it caught me wrong, or on a bad day, so I give it 3.75 stars plus .25 starts becasue I think Briggs rocks and I love the integrity she's added to paranormal fiction, which took a big hit when LKH went south.

Specific comments: I felt the action and devices to advance the plot were too pat, that everyone got where they were supposed to be and knew what they were supposed to know without sufficient story-line to support it. The concept of the Omega was vague to me and needed fleshing out IMO. However (a good however), I was floored by the suggestion that Bran was the impetus behind the Grendle in the Beowulf epic, and I'd love to hear more....like a book or 3.

The bottom line: good but not great, be SURE you don't miss any of the Mercy Thompson books as they are fantastic, and the teaser for the 4th Mercy book at the end of A&O definiately whetted my appetite.

Yes, I will buy the next one of the series because the first one was good. But it wasn't as good as I thought it would be based on my experience with the Mercy Thompson series. One learns a lot about the head of the wolf clan. And that leaves Charles and Anna in the dust. I can imagine it being hard with a set so rich in intersting characters to focus on the couple that is supposedly the heros of this book. Instead it looks like the book features Bran. Bran this and Bran that... What about Charles and Anna? Why do they even care for each other? What makes them special for each other? At the beginning of the book it was as if there was a chapter missing... What sets Charles apart from al the other hunks in this setting? I hope the next book answers some of these questions and is not another trip down Brans beginnings.

Set in the same world as Briggs' other supernatural series, this one features werewolf Anna, who is an "omega" wolf, above the pack hierarchy and capable of disregarding alpha orders and calming the violent tendencies of the alpha wolves. The plot is detailed elsewhere so I won't repeat it. It's basically a fun romance, nothing unique. I'd give this book 3 1/2 stars if i had the option - it's well-written, but not as good as the author's "Mercy Thompson" series, which is much more unique and "fresh" feeling (and not primarily romance centered). I had not read the short story in the anthology On the Prowl that is the actual beginning of this book, so while I was provided enough of the backstory to move along in the book, I think it was more difficult to become emotionally engaged with the main characters. The special "omega wolf" premise is interesting yet the designation felt somewhat unearned by the main character. Felt like a "special power" awarded the character to move the plot along rather than a carefully constructed part of the world. Also, not that a fantasy world around werewolves has to be true to actual wolf pack dynamics, but it would be nice if the "omega" wolf idea in the story corresponded somewhat to reality. From what I've read, an actual "omega" wolf is the weakest member of the pack and bears the brunt of the wolves' aggression. Fits in with Anna's abuse by her original wolf pack but not at all with what an "omega" werewolf is defined as in the story.

One of the best books written by Patricia Briggs! I just can't get enough of her stories, and this one was no exception. I highly recommend this book and any of her other books. If you have not read her books yet I would recommend reading the Mercy Thompson series and the prequel to this book Alpha and Omega "On the Prowl" first. At the very Least "On the Prowl" will give the beginning to this book and lets you know how the two main characters meet. The Mercy Thompson series will help with some of the back ground that is slightly refered to in this book, but there is not enough reference to cause any confusion, but it is nice to see how these two series overlap. Either way the main characters in this book and Brigg's Mercy Thompson books are beyond my favorite characters and Briggs Keeps you entertained with her character development and story plots.

I loved this book! I read On the Prowl's Alpha and Omega before reading this book. It's not really necessary to read it though it helps.
I love Anna & Charles together. What I love even more about this book is it doesn't have that really annoying love triangle that most books have that drive me crazy! The book kept me interested and wanting more. It had a really good plot that kept me guessing. I loved learning more about Bran too! I cannot wait to see the adventures Anna & Charles have!

started reading Cry Wolf and finished it in about a day and half - must recommend On The Prowl - if i would have read the short story in it about Charles and Anna i would not have been so lost in the first couple of chapters - that being said and that i didnt read it Briggs did a great job of explaining what happened with out rewriting what she had already written - very impressed with this series and hope it continues - this one make my list of books that are great to read a second or third time around :) - havent started on the mercy thompson series so i am looking forward to that - but all in all well written and keeps your attention -Fair Game (Alpha And Omega)Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2)

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

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

Still a very good read though.

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

I am writing this review to share one firm opinion: on the advice of the "most useful" reviewer for this book, I bought "On the Prowl," after I had read and LOVED "Cry Wolf," which is an awesome book. Honestly, the short story in "On the Prowl," which is "Alpha and Omega," is not worth buying the book for. It should be included in "Cry Wolf," it's only 50 pages, and I read it in 45 minutes. It left me disappointed and moderately annoyed.

However, Cry Wolf is an awesome book, I love Anna and the characters that Patricia Briggs referenced in the Mercy Thompson series and is now bringing to vivid life, and I cannot wait for the second book!

Well, like most everyone else reviewing here, I truly looooooove the Mercy Thompson series. Briggs is very talented at making me feel something for all of her characters in that series, and I am easily immersed in the emotions and dynamics of the relationships between them, and I care what happens to them. She very delicately communicates the sexual tension between Mercy and Adam, without a bunch of sex scenes, and how they just "get" each other without her having to write chapters about it.

I felt only a tiny speck of the magic between Anna and Charles that I was expecting. The short prequel story in On the Prowl had that magic, so I was very disappointed.

First of all, the story didn't flow well. There were too many different storylines in it for me to really grab on to any of them. The book is only 294 pages long, and since it's supposedly about the development of Charles and Anna as a couple, I was baffled at how much of the book focused on Bran and Asil's histories - I feel like I learned more about Asil than I did about Charles. And then there's the witch storyline. Truthfully, the witch part of the story annoyed me - I didn't think the guardian wolf thing was explained well, her being all-powerful bugged me, and the way her part of the story ended came out of the blue and didn't make sense to me.

I did really like the story of Walter. I sympathized with him immediately.

I didn't like the way things abruptly came together in the end. I didn't feel like it was earned - I couldn't see the "why" of it. I just didn't feel it.

I'm giving this story three stars because even though I didn't like the way she arranged it, Briggs is a good writer. I suppose if anyone can turn this loss around and bring the magic to the next two books in this series, it is Patricia Briggs. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Cry Wolf." In this novel, Patricia Briggs expands the universe she created for Mercy Thompson to embrace the Marrok and his pack. Anna Latham--uprooted from her life in Chicago and taken to Montana--has to quickly find her place in the Marrok's pack as an Omega and as Charles's mate. She meets both friends and enemies in her new home, often in surprising ways. One of the more colorful members of the Marrok's pack she meets is a long-lived wolf named Asil, who proves to be a key element in the mission Charles and Anna undertake to find a rogue wolf. Asil is something of a paradox: a dangerous, powerful man who grows roses with tender care; and a wolf who has pinned for his dead mate for two hundred years. Ms. Briggs consistently shows a deft hand in crafting such well-rounded characters.

In addition, the reader is given an in-depth look at Bran Cornick and his son Charles. The Marrok proves to be a complicated man of formidable prowess and gravitas cloaked in an unassuming façade. Bran's Wolf is as much the stuff of legends as is Zee's fae form, "Siebold Adelbertkrieger." What I find most compelling about the Cornick males in this novel is the close bond between them. It is a treat to see Dr. Samuel Cornick in a different light as he is viewed through the eyes of his father and brother. New characters are introduced and the reader cares about them because they are well-crafted, with creative and intriguing back-stories. This is a wonderful novel with strong, complex characters. I highly recommended "Cry Wolf."

**Those of you who haven't read "Alpha and Omega" in the "On the Prowl" anthology can find an excerpt from the novella at Patricia Briggs's Blog.

This book is really good. Let me start with that. It's not even just good for the paranormal romance genre, it's just a good book. The writing is great and very solid, there are none of those weird quirks that lesser writers are cursed with. Things like repeating certain adjectives too often or "making up" heretofore unmentioned things to move the plot along (like someone is stuck in a cave and then - oh, great, the author inserts a magical cave sprite or something willing to show our hero the way out, even though cave sprites never existed in that imagined world until the character was in a bind and needed help). And cliches were, blessedly, kept at a minimum. For that reason alone this book is worth reading. In a phrase, the writing never detracts from the story. It's polished until it shines.

The thing that's missing is the humor. Don't get me wrong, it's not a dry book. There are funny moments and amusing phrases and it's fun to read. But Patricia Briggs has taken a different approach with this series than she did with the Mercedes Thomson series. Instead of a first person POV, this book utilizes the perspective of almost all the major characters (at least four). This is nice, because we learn back stories on many of the characters and begin to understand the impressively conceived intricacies of werewolf society. But my favorite part of the Mercy Thomson series is Mercy Thomson. She's just an interesting character; fragile and strong and warmly expressed. Her individual narration lends so much to the story, including a great deal of the humor. It's a little kitsch at times, but she's charming as well. None of the characters in Cry Wolf are unlikable, but it seems the multiple points of view work better to add tension and interest to the plot than depth to the characters.

Now just a few things I would like to comment on briefly. First, the covers of all her books are ridiculous and misleading. That woman on the cover is the antithesis of the character of Anna in the book. Just read it and you'll see what I mean. I realize authors have no control over the cover art, don't judge a book by its cover, etc, etc. It just bothers me. So don't let that woman's dubiously plump bosom dissuade you. Second, the book seems to start in the middle following Brigg's contribution to an anthology (On the Prowl). I haven't read it and it did take me a while to catch up. But it's certainly doable. Lastly, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed Briggs' characterization of the landscape. Much of the book takes place in the snowy Cabinet Mountains in Montana, and they were so eerie and forbidding even in daylight that there was a constant whiff of menace. The sense of unease never let up. It was great, and unusual to find such a deft touch with nature in a book featuring marauding werewolves.

*(Mild Spoiler Alert) I am worried about future books in the series. This was more a romance than Mercy Thompson, and by the conclusion of this novel, the romance part is neatly concluded. If the two main leads are the stars of the next novels, are they just going to go around solving crimes? Or what? Because that would be a little boring. I hope there will be a book about Bran. This book left me wishing there was some hope for him, as he's obviously unhappy with his mate. Plus, he worked as a distant, enigmatic leader, so why reveal his inner thoughts if he wasn't going to play a major role in later books?

It was a great read, my personal criticisms aside.

Werewolves and lovers, ancient secrets and new rumors, and life as death and death as life. Patricia Briggs spins humanity into the stuff a monster's nightmare is made of, and it works. I couldn't stop turning pages. Sensual and enchanting, then terrifying and thrilling. I am going to read all of her Alpha and Omega novels now.

There are a number of good things to recommend about this book: great villain, strong secondary characters, and the setting reads true. But I have one problem with the main character, Anna, and the reality of her actions in this book. The character was introduced in a short story anthalogy, Prowl, with Anna's entire history as a werewolf consisting of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse from members of her dysfunctional pack. When I say "members," it is made clear her abusers were multiple and a time line of 1-3 years for this period is described. Now, I simply find it a bit difficult to swallow the romance which develops in "Cry Wolf" between Anna and Charles. I was willing to suspend my disbelief that a woman so victimized could, as a werewolf, instantly feel in Charles a combination of her mate and in a sense, her savior. But when the author depicts the sexual consummation of their relationship within supposedly days of meeting? I have a number of complaints regarding what I feel is a very misleading vision to depict to female readers of this book (of which I am one). I think it is irresponsible to show a woman abused sexually, emotionally, mentally, and physically for "years" and then magically all of the damage from said abuse is "resolved" to the degree of being a willing and happy partner to her "soul mate." Not buying swampland here today, sorry. As for the argument that werewolves do not act in ways humans would, I see it like this: as long as fictional werewolves are shown spending time in human form expressing human emotions, I expect them to act in ways consistent with what I might see in reality. A romance including intercourse, following a lengthy history of recent abuse in a supposedly emotionally stable woman seems like a far cry from reality. Aside from this, the story itself has a number of good points - plenty of information about the Marrok, his pack, and an intro to the role of other paranormals in this world.

I have read this series multiple times along with the Mercy Thompson series which is part of the same universe P. Briggs has created. The 'universe" is one of the most in depth creations I have experienced. Here characters are not shallow by any means and it makes for a very good read.
The story may be classified as romance, but its more playful and internal feelings than out right sex. The action is believable and it's nice not to jump through hoops and make leaps of faith to get through the story.

Aside from Jim Butcher's Dresden files, Alpha/Omega and Mercy Thompson are my favs.

One of the best books written by Patricia Briggs! I just can't get enough of her stories, and this one was no exception. I highly recommend this book and any of her other books. If you have not read her books yet I would recommend reading the Mercy Thompson series and the prequel to this book Alpha and Omega "On the Prowl" first. At the very Least "On the Prowl" will give the beginning to this book and lets you know how the two main characters meet. The Mercy Thompson series will help with some of the back ground that is slightly refered to in this book, but there is not enough reference to cause any confusion, but it is nice to see how these two series overlap. Either way the main characters in this book and Brigg's Mercy Thompson books are beyond my favorite characters and Briggs Keeps you entertained with her character development and story plots.

I loved this book! I read On the Prowl's Alpha and Omega before reading this book. It's not really necessary to read it though it helps.
I love Anna & Charles together. What I love even more about this book is it doesn't have that really annoying love triangle that most books have that drive me crazy! The book kept me interested and wanting more. It had a really good plot that kept me guessing. I loved learning more about Bran too! I cannot wait to see the adventures Anna & Charles have!

Cry Wolf continues the story of Charles and Anna begun in the short story Alpha and Omega (from the On the Prowl Anthology). Anna is moving to Montana to live with Charles, and take her place in the Marrok's pack. However, when you live as long as werewolves do, you can make a lot of enemies. Before they have time to resolve the issues between them Charles and Anna are on the hunt for a rogue werewolf and a whole lot of history is about to smack them in the face.

I think Cry Wolf works best if you've read Alpha and Omega first, there is a catch up at the beginning of Cry Wolf but I think you'd get more out of the story if you read about Charles and Anna's first meeting and how Anna became a werewolf. This book also slots into the Mercy Thompson Universe following up some events that happened after Mercedes returned to the Tri-Cities.

I love Patricia Brigg's heroines. They're not superwomen, they're doing the best they can in difficult situations.

"She wondered that hope was so much harder than despair."

Anna is an Omega wolf. She's previously been told she's a submissive, the lowest of the low, but that just isn't the case. What we experience in Cry Wolf is Anna starting to learn exactly what it means to be an Omega. Charles and Bran will only help her so far, part of being in a werewolf pack means she has to find her own place.

Charles and Anna's relationship as humans is much more wary than their relationship as wolves. Their wolves have already decided they are mates, however their human halves have not. Kind of a unique situation in werewolf society as it usually happens the other way round, with the wolf being more wary.

Patricia Briggs has fleshed out the relationships between the various members of the Montana pack, how they work together as a unit, as a dysfunctional family. It's interesting that Anna thinks of the pack as a bunch of psychotics, in a way the Montana pack is a pack for werewolves who can't fit in anywhere else - they're too damaged, too set in their ways, too broken, but very interesting to read about.

Because Cry Wolf is written in third person rather than first. It also gives us the opportunity to see situations from more than one point of view. It's nice to be able to see what both Charles and Anna are thinking, and also be to see the way Bran thinks and to learn more of his history. There are more complex relationships being explored here rather than just that between Charles and Anna. We also have Bran & the pack, Asil & Bran, Asil & Sage. Each one unique and revealing something different.

I did find the middle of the book a little slow, however with this being the first book in the series, everything has to be set up here, so that didn't bother me too much. And as it seems only book will be released for this series a year, I have a long and impatient wait for the next book. Recommended.

This was my first book of Patricia Briggs and I have to say I enjoyed it. The back cover makes it sound like it's a stand alone book, but it's apparantly an off-shoot of her Mercy books. It's complete enough though that you can read it without the other and not miss anything. She sums up what happened in the other book pretty quickly.

Anna and Charles' inner werewolves have mated and now their human sides are trying to get to know one another and forge some kind of relationship. Anna was abused by her other pack and so has some issues to work through. Charles is very thoughtful of her and I liked his character a lot. Their interactions ran the gammut from humorous, sweet, friendly, passionate, serious, etc. THe author tried hard to put some honest emotion in a situation of a fantastical world. I think she did very well with it.

The main conflict in the book was explained and resolved completely in the book with a few minor exceptions (how the witch did what she did was never explained, nor was there given any way to protect themselves against it) so it wasn't a continuous series book like many paranormals are now. I liked that as well. I'm not a big fan of series' that continue the same storyline on and on. I like some closure when I finish a book.

This book I would say had a strong romance in it. From what I've seen of her other books (I haven't read them yet so I can't be certain) they were more paranormal with a smidgin of romance while this one really focused on Anna and Charles' growing relationship. On that note, there are love scenes but no details. I like that a lot. I've gotten a little tired of paranormals being little more than eroticas. I've got an imagination and I don't need or want every little detail. I prefer to imagine things as I want them to be. The author got lots of pluses on that score from me.

My complaints with the book were relatively minor. Charles' stepmother was a horrible person and Bran's reasons for mating with her were not only frustrating but really, really sad and possibly dangerous for the pack I would think. I kept hoping she'd die or something.

The last quarter of the book where they were dealing with the witch and her influence over them dragged on a little too much for me. Plus, she was too all-powerful. Bran is supposedly the Alpha of alphas-meaning all the other packs are under his control and yet he was so easily taken over by this witch. I would have liked more of an even power struggle between the werewolves and the witch.

Overall it was worth my time, my money and my emotional investment in the characters. I liked them both and hope to see more of them in the future. Seeing how this book is billed as Book 1, I can only assume there's more to come and I look forward to it.

3 1/2 Stars.

I think my expectations came high for this book. I have heard a lot of great and wanted to read it myself. Since I am a fan of werewolves and the paranormal, it couldn't have been a bad match. I was confused with the book right off the bat, the first chapters felt like I missed something, like I been thrown into the middle of the story. I know now that there was a short prelude to this series, but it still feel offs. Still, I found some characters likeable, even if for the first book of the series, it didn't feel like the first book. At least some of the questions where answered late in the book.

I did like Patricia Briggs writing, and because of the likeable characters that had me drawn to them - despite their awkward and suddenly relationships - I think I will eventually give this series another shot.

started reading Cry Wolf and finished it in about a day and half - must recommend On The Prowl - if i would have read the short story in it about Charles and Anna i would not have been so lost in the first couple of chapters - that being said and that i didnt read it Briggs did a great job of explaining what happened with out rewriting what she had already written - very impressed with this series and hope it continues - this one make my list of books that are great to read a second or third time around :) - havent started on the mercy thompson series so i am looking forward to that - but all in all well written and keeps your attention -Fair Game (Alpha And Omega)Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2)

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

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

Still a very good read though.

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

I am writing this review to share one firm opinion: on the advice of the "most useful" reviewer for this book, I bought "On the Prowl," after I had read and LOVED "Cry Wolf," which is an awesome book. Honestly, the short story in "On the Prowl," which is "Alpha and Omega," is not worth buying the book for. It should be included in "Cry Wolf," it's only 50 pages, and I read it in 45 minutes. It left me disappointed and moderately annoyed.

However, Cry Wolf is an awesome book, I love Anna and the characters that Patricia Briggs referenced in the Mercy Thompson series and is now bringing to vivid life, and I cannot wait for the second book!

I've read all of Mercy books before I started this one. Which means I knew that Bran Asil and Charles would be alive. I noticed that it was the same time as Mercy first book when Samuel moved in with Mercy.

The book started right off after the novella. Anna moved in with Charles and felt like she wasn’t belong there. I enjoyed the book until around the half it felt a little slow.

The Multiple POVs gave me more information and understand the story. I was used to first POV so it was a change and I liked it. I was glad that I finally knew why Bran took Leah who was a bitch as his mate.

Well, like most everyone else reviewing here, I truly looooooove the Mercy Thompson series. Briggs is very talented at making me feel something for all of her characters in that series, and I am easily immersed in the emotions and dynamics of the relationships between them, and I care what happens to them. She very delicately communicates the sexual tension between Mercy and Adam, without a bunch of sex scenes, and how they just "get" each other without her having to write chapters about it.

I felt only a tiny speck of the magic between Anna and Charles that I was expecting. The short prequel story in On the Prowl had that magic, so I was very disappointed.

First of all, the story didn't flow well. There were too many different storylines in it for me to really grab on to any of them. The book is only 294 pages long, and since it's supposedly about the development of Charles and Anna as a couple, I was baffled at how much of the book focused on Bran and Asil's histories - I feel like I learned more about Asil than I did about Charles. And then there's the witch storyline. Truthfully, the witch part of the story annoyed me - I didn't think the guardian wolf thing was explained well, her being all-powerful bugged me, and the way her part of the story ended came out of the blue and didn't make sense to me.

I did really like the story of Walter. I sympathized with him immediately.

I didn't like the way things abruptly came together in the end. I didn't feel like it was earned - I couldn't see the "why" of it. I just didn't feel it.

I'm giving this story three stars because even though I didn't like the way she arranged it, Briggs is a good writer. I suppose if anyone can turn this loss around and bring the magic to the next two books in this series, it is Patricia Briggs. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Cry Wolf." In this novel, Patricia Briggs expands the universe she created for Mercy Thompson to embrace the Marrok and his pack. Anna Latham--uprooted from her life in Chicago and taken to Montana--has to quickly find her place in the Marrok's pack as an Omega and as Charles's mate. She meets both friends and enemies in her new home, often in surprising ways. One of the more colorful members of the Marrok's pack she meets is a long-lived wolf named Asil, who proves to be a key element in the mission Charles and Anna undertake to find a rogue wolf. Asil is something of a paradox: a dangerous, powerful man who grows roses with tender care; and a wolf who has pinned for his dead mate for two hundred years. Ms. Briggs consistently shows a deft hand in crafting such well-rounded characters.

In addition, the reader is given an in-depth look at Bran Cornick and his son Charles. The Marrok proves to be a complicated man of formidable prowess and gravitas cloaked in an unassuming façade. Bran's Wolf is as much the stuff of legends as is Zee's fae form, "Siebold Adelbertkrieger." What I find most compelling about the Cornick males in this novel is the close bond between them. It is a treat to see Dr. Samuel Cornick in a different light as he is viewed through the eyes of his father and brother. New characters are introduced and the reader cares about them because they are well-crafted, with creative and intriguing back-stories. This is a wonderful novel with strong, complex characters. I highly recommended "Cry Wolf."

**Those of you who haven't read "Alpha and Omega" in the "On the Prowl" anthology can find an excerpt from the novella at Patricia Briggs's Blog.

This book is really good. Let me start with that. It's not even just good for the paranormal romance genre, it's just a good book. The writing is great and very solid, there are none of those weird quirks that lesser writers are cursed with. Things like repeating certain adjectives too often or "making up" heretofore unmentioned things to move the plot along (like someone is stuck in a cave and then - oh, great, the author inserts a magical cave sprite or something willing to show our hero the way out, even though cave sprites never existed in that imagined world until the character was in a bind and needed help). And cliches were, blessedly, kept at a minimum. For that reason alone this book is worth reading. In a phrase, the writing never detracts from the story. It's polished until it shines.

The thing that's missing is the humor. Don't get me wrong, it's not a dry book. There are funny moments and amusing phrases and it's fun to read. But Patricia Briggs has taken a different approach with this series than she did with the Mercedes Thomson series. Instead of a first person POV, this book utilizes the perspective of almost all the major characters (at least four). This is nice, because we learn back stories on many of the characters and begin to understand the impressively conceived intricacies of werewolf society. But my favorite part of the Mercy Thomson series is Mercy Thomson. She's just an interesting character; fragile and strong and warmly expressed. Her individual narration lends so much to the story, including a great deal of the humor. It's a little kitsch at times, but she's charming as well. None of the characters in Cry Wolf are unlikable, but it seems the multiple points of view work better to add tension and interest to the plot than depth to the characters.

Now just a few things I would like to comment on briefly. First, the covers of all her books are ridiculous and misleading. That woman on the cover is the antithesis of the character of Anna in the book. Just read it and you'll see what I mean. I realize authors have no control over the cover art, don't judge a book by its cover, etc, etc. It just bothers me. So don't let that woman's dubiously plump bosom dissuade you. Second, the book seems to start in the middle following Brigg's contribution to an anthology (On the Prowl). I haven't read it and it did take me a while to catch up. But it's certainly doable. Lastly, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed Briggs' characterization of the landscape. Much of the book takes place in the snowy Cabinet Mountains in Montana, and they were so eerie and forbidding even in daylight that there was a constant whiff of menace. The sense of unease never let up. It was great, and unusual to find such a deft touch with nature in a book featuring marauding werewolves.

*(Mild Spoiler Alert) I am worried about future books in the series. This was more a romance than Mercy Thompson, and by the conclusion of this novel, the romance part is neatly concluded. If the two main leads are the stars of the next novels, are they just going to go around solving crimes? Or what? Because that would be a little boring. I hope there will be a book about Bran. This book left me wishing there was some hope for him, as he's obviously unhappy with his mate. Plus, he worked as a distant, enigmatic leader, so why reveal his inner thoughts if he wasn't going to play a major role in later books?

It was a great read, my personal criticisms aside.

Werewolves and lovers, ancient secrets and new rumors, and life as death and death as life. Patricia Briggs spins humanity into the stuff a monster's nightmare is made of, and it works. I couldn't stop turning pages. Sensual and enchanting, then terrifying and thrilling. I am going to read all of her Alpha and Omega novels now.

There are a number of good things to recommend about this book: great villain, strong secondary characters, and the setting reads true. But I have one problem with the main character, Anna, and the reality of her actions in this book. The character was introduced in a short story anthalogy, Prowl, with Anna's entire history as a werewolf consisting of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse from members of her dysfunctional pack. When I say "members," it is made clear her abusers were multiple and a time line of 1-3 years for this period is described. Now, I simply find it a bit difficult to swallow the romance which develops in "Cry Wolf" between Anna and Charles. I was willing to suspend my disbelief that a woman so victimized could, as a werewolf, instantly feel in Charles a combination of her mate and in a sense, her savior. But when the author depicts the sexual consummation of their relationship within supposedly days of meeting? I have a number of complaints regarding what I feel is a very misleading vision to depict to female readers of this book (of which I am one). I think it is irresponsible to show a woman abused sexually, emotionally, mentally, and physically for "years" and then magically all of the damage from said abuse is "resolved" to the degree of being a willing and happy partner to her "soul mate." Not buying swampland here today, sorry. As for the argument that werewolves do not act in ways humans would, I see it like this: as long as fictional werewolves are shown spending time in human form expressing human emotions, I expect them to act in ways consistent with what I might see in reality. A romance including intercourse, following a lengthy history of recent abuse in a supposedly emotionally stable woman seems like a far cry from reality. Aside from this, the story itself has a number of good points - plenty of information about the Marrok, his pack, and an intro to the role of other paranormals in this world.

Cry Wolf picks up where the mini story from On the Prowl finished. We are in Montana with one of the strongest wolf packs and an Omega has joined. She is a calming element that helps everyone feel just a bit less wolfy. Charles Cornick (the heads son) is in love with her and plans to mate with her when a witch shows up. The story is fast paced and spends most of its time in the cold snow covered mountains.

I have read this series multiple times along with the Mercy Thompson series which is part of the same universe P. Briggs has created. The 'universe" is one of the most in depth creations I have experienced. Here characters are not shallow by any means and it makes for a very good read.
The story may be classified as romance, but its more playful and internal feelings than out right sex. The action is believable and it's nice not to jump through hoops and make leaps of faith to get through the story.

Aside from Jim Butcher's Dresden files, Alpha/Omega and Mercy Thompson are my favs.

I love the Mercy Thompson stories but I really loved this story line better. I really liked how the author really gave us a lot of background on Charles and Anna and didn't just throw them together and everything was HEA. I liked seeing them struggle and try to fall in love with each other despite their backgrounds. I must say that this is a touchy subject with the abuse but the development of the romance really felt real to me. I read the other review about there being 4 more books and hope that the author continues the slow build but not drag it out too much!

I read the short story in the anthology before reading this book as many had recommended in the reviews. I enjoyed the short story, it had a lot of action and made me want to read Cry Wolf. Unfotunately, the interest in the story slowly started to die as I was reading the book. I did not feel any real connection between Charles and Anna. It felt strained, cold and forced. I was expecting more emotion between them since they both wanted to be mated to eachother. This is the first time I have read this author's work and I don't now if it is me or her style of writing but at times I had a hard time understanding what she meant and who it was that she was writing about. I had to re-read many sentences over. Unfortunately, I will not be starting her other series....I am disappointed as I wanted to like this author. I know from the reviews listed she has many fans, I wish I could say I have become one of them.

I love Patricia's Mercy Thomas books, so I decided to look her up to see if she has written any other series. When I saw this book I thought I would give it a try.

It was a very quick read, as I read it in a couple of hours. It was an interesting take on the main character being not quite an alpha status but still seen as above all else because of her ability (I don't want to spoil anything if you have not read the book). The one thing I disliked is that the main character, a female, seem weak and depended on the males to rescue her. Other than that it was an enjoyable read and I will continue to read this series. I'm excited to see where the author takes her characters in this book series.

Shame about Walter though, I thought he was by far the most interesting and I would have liked to have learned more about him and seen how he dealt with the world he'd found himself thrust into. Nothing against Charles or Anna but they are new twists on themes that have already been explored extensively in Urban Fantasy and Werewolf stories. I enjoyed this books and the series only gets better but I thought letting Walter go was an opportunity missed.

So many reviews already, mostly just want to add my rating to the overall score.

Initially, I wasn't too sure about this series. The heroine is understandably scarred by her experiences but I prefer to read about someone who kicks@$$ rather than has the power to calm people and is struggling to overcome her own demons.

That said, this turned out to be a very enjoyable story.

I was reluctant to try this book because werewolves are not my favorites. I am so glad I did! I couldn't put it down. I love how much they love each other and the bond between the mates. The story line and other characters are very interesting as well.
Highly recommended!

Cry Wolf offered another view into the world of werewolves. Feeling comfortable with some of the characters after reading the Mercy Thompson series was relaxing. The intensity of the bond between Charles and Anna and the imagery that Briggs offered allowed the story to flow seemlessly. I fell in love with the characters and was eager to read Hunting Ground, the next Alpha and Omega series. I recommend this book as much as I recommend the author. Patricia Briggs is an amazing author that has this ability to draw you into the story. Her work is enchanting and satisfying while leaving you wishing for just one more book! ENJOY!

I won't do a summary of the book, that's been done and done very well already. So, I'll just give my opinions on it.

This book is such a wonderful expansion of the world Patricia Briggs created. I LOVE Mercy, but I honestly have to say I think this series really has the potential to be even better.

The reader learned alot more about the interaction between the pack in this book, as well as some very interesting back stories on bit players in the Mercy books.

I was completely hooked by chapter two and cannot wait for the the next book.

I enjoyed this book but wasn't blown away. I liked it well enough to order the second book. I guess she was just cutting her teeth on this first one, as I could not put the second or the third book down. It's a great series that starts good and gets better.

This is the first book that I've read by this author and since it was supposed to be the first in a series decided to give it a try. It was pretty obvious from the start that I'd missed something...a short story that introduced the characters! Maybe you don't need to read that first but I have to think that it would have helped. There were also characters mentioned who I've since discovered were from an earlier series. So my advice...read the earlier series - then the short story - then this book!

I am a Mercy Thompson, Rachel Morgan, Sookie Stackhouse fan, so I had high hopes for this book. I was disappointed with the story line like sometimes happens with TV drama spin-offs. I did not fall for either Charles or Anna, or the in-depth view into Bran's family. It felt contrived. However, I think the series has potential. Perhaps a second reading at a different time would help.

I believe that you should read the short story that came before this book. I did not read it and was a little confused in the beginning of the book. The story starts off giving small snipets of what had previously happened and it was confusing and being a first time reader of a Patricia Briggs book, it made me want to stop reading the story and go get the previous book. But after sticking with the story it became much more interesting and I enjoyed it. I will read the next book in this series.

I found this book o.k. It wasn't spectacular by any means, and is much like many other such books I've read. It was entertaining to read, but that's about it.

However, throughout the book I felt like I had picked out a book from the middle of a series- And while you can kind of piece it together, you are always feeling like you should put it down and find the book before it. I realize that there is a short story that covers that type of stuff... But I think it was very poor on the author's part to make the short story so important to getting the most out of this book. It was very annoying, honestly.

Overall, I wouldn't buy this book again. It's worth reading from the library or downloading for free online- But I wouldn't waste my money on it again.

I too love Brigg's "Mercy" series so when I ran out of books to read, naturally I thought Brigg's Alpha/Omega books would be a sure thing. While I liked the background information on minor characters in the Mercy universe the story itself was a little too heavy on the romance and light on the action for my taste. At times I felt like I was reading one of those "Exotic" Native American Man/Confused White Women romance novels (which I definitely do not care for.)

I also agree with other readers who think the short story that inspired this novel should have at the very least been included with this book...or at least mentioned on the back cover. Without it, Anna is just a simpering and annoying character. I really couldn't have cared less about her relationship with Charles who also seems flat.

Patricia Briggs is a very good writer (especially in this genre) but from now on, I'll sick to Mercy and leave the Omega romance alone.

The opening scene of this book is absolutely wonderful. Patricia Briggs brings a sense of playfulness to her characters and keeps the interest with excitement and drama. A must read for lovers of paranormal fantasy.