laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Cry Wolf
4 Stars
Series note: It is necessary to read the prequel novella, Alpha & Omega, to understand the events at the beginning of the book. Moreover, I recommend reading the first three Mercy Thompson books in order to get a feel for the world Briggs is creating.
The plot is intriguing and assists in fleshing out the world building initially established in the Mercy Thompson series. The witches, for instance, are mentioned in Mercy's books, however, it is only after reading Cry Wolf that the full impact of their natures and powers becomes apparent.
Unlike Mercy's series, there is greater focus on the romance than the action of the urban fantasy plot. Anna and Charles are a likable couple and it is easy to root for them, but their relationship lacks chemistry. While Anna is slowly coming into her own as a werewolf and an Omega, she is not nearly as independent or confident as I would like. Nevertheless, she has her kick-ass moments and will hopefully develop in this regard as the series progresses. Charles is hard and uncompromising, which is completely understandable given his role as the pack's assassin, but Anna manages to bring out the love and compassion that he has aways tried so hard to conceal.
The secondary characters, particularly Walter and Asil, are the highlight of the book. Asil's backstory is riveting and Walter's basic humanity and dignity is only highlighted by the internal conflict that he struggles with both before and after his change. For this reason, Walter's. The villain is suitably malevolent and creepy, and the revelations about Bran's past provides some fascinating insight into his role as the Marrok and his relationship with his sons.
In sum, Briggs is very skilled at creating a complex world with characters that come to life on the pages. Unfortunately, the writing style is somewhat problematic as there is the occasional disjointed sentence with ill placed commas and appositions, which interrupts the flow of the narrative. Nevertheless, the Alpha & Omega series is shaping into an entertaining spin-off and I am eager to see what happens next with Anna and Charles.
4 Stars
Series note: It is necessary to read the prequel novella, Alpha & Omega, to understand the events at the beginning of the book. Moreover, I recommend reading the first three Mercy Thompson books in order to get a feel for the world Briggs is creating.
The plot is intriguing and assists in fleshing out the world building initially established in the Mercy Thompson series. The witches, for instance, are mentioned in Mercy's books, however, it is only after reading Cry Wolf that the full impact of their natures and powers becomes apparent.
Unlike Mercy's series, there is greater focus on the romance than the action of the urban fantasy plot. Anna and Charles are a likable couple and it is easy to root for them, but their relationship lacks chemistry. While Anna is slowly coming into her own as a werewolf and an Omega, she is not nearly as independent or confident as I would like. Nevertheless, she has her kick-ass moments and will hopefully develop in this regard as the series progresses. Charles is hard and uncompromising, which is completely understandable given his role as the pack's assassin, but Anna manages to bring out the love and compassion that he has aways tried so hard to conceal.
The secondary characters, particularly Walter and Asil, are the highlight of the book. Asil's backstory is riveting and Walter's basic humanity and dignity is only highlighted by the internal conflict that he struggles with both before and after his change. For this reason, Walter's
Spoiler
death hit me hard as I really wanted him to find a home with the packIn sum, Briggs is very skilled at creating a complex world with characters that come to life on the pages. Unfortunately, the writing style is somewhat problematic as there is the occasional disjointed sentence with ill placed commas and appositions, which interrupts the flow of the narrative. Nevertheless, the Alpha & Omega series is shaping into an entertaining spin-off and I am eager to see what happens next with Anna and Charles.
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think anyone does pack structure and the dominance hierarchy of werewolves quite like Briggs. The subtleties in behaviour and body language she showcases are so incredibly well written and the depth of her research on wolf behaviour so evident, even from the very first page.
I've just re-read this, the first full-length novel in the Alpha and Omega series, and have upped my rating from 3 stars to 4. I think at the time of my original reading it paled in the shadow of the main Mercy Thompson series that I'd just finished. I found it lacking the humour and wit that I'd so recently fallen in love with in Briggs' writing. But now, having re-read it a good two or three years later, I have to once again applaud Briggs' writing of these supernatural creatures. Both in their animal natures, and their very human ones.
Anna is an almost broken character when we first meet her, having suffered terribly at the abusive hands of her former "pack mates". This back story all takes place in a novella, Alpha and Omega, and in that short story is also where Anna and Charles (Bran's son and Samuel's brother from the Mercy series) meet for the first time and realise their wolves have mated.
Now, this is something that I feel should have been handled better because if anyone wasn't aware of the novella, and that it's essential to read it first, their enjoyment of this book is really going to suffer. I really am not a fan of series' starting with a novella unless the story is optional. In my opinion, if you are going to start with a short story it should just be a teaser, an example of writing style for people that actually like buying anthologies. Not a necessary read in terms of plot and character development. Me, personally, I can't be doing with anthos so I am a bit disappointed that something so vital as your main couple meeting, was covered in such a way.
Anyway, they meet, and their wolves mate. This is the exact opposite of how the mating bond is supposed to work. It's meant to be that the human side chooses a partner, and the wolf then decides to accept, or not. Doing it this way around means the pair to have to deal with an instant bond with a complete stranger. Add into that Anna's recent abuse, and Charles' "I am an island" mentality, and you've got the recipe for some great scenes.
Charles is a gentle giant of a wolf where Anna is concerned, which I found incredibly endearing. Considering he is also the Marrock's enforcer/executioner, the fact that she brings out this gentler side of him, and his child-like excitement over the newness of it all, is just too cute. He delights in little things such as making her walk with a bounce in her step. Making people happy is not normally part of his day to day life, given his job. I really think they were perfectly suited characters and Charles is probably the only one who could have helped her overcome her past demons in such short a time. He was so patient with her, even when his own inner wolf was screaming at him to make her his.
The plot after this point wasn't the strongest I've ever read from Briggs, but it was interesting enough and lay a great foundation for Anna and Charles to spend some quality time together, getting to know one another and exploring their new bond.
Overall, I still prefer the Mercy series, but I would urge anyone that hasn't already to give this spin-off a try too. Even if just for the incredible insights you will get into Bran's character!!!!
4 Stars! ★★★★
I've just re-read this, the first full-length novel in the Alpha and Omega series, and have upped my rating from 3 stars to 4. I think at the time of my original reading it paled in the shadow of the main Mercy Thompson series that I'd just finished. I found it lacking the humour and wit that I'd so recently fallen in love with in Briggs' writing. But now, having re-read it a good two or three years later, I have to once again applaud Briggs' writing of these supernatural creatures. Both in their animal natures, and their very human ones.
Anna is an almost broken character when we first meet her, having suffered terribly at the abusive hands of her former "pack mates". This back story all takes place in a novella, Alpha and Omega, and in that short story is also where Anna and Charles (Bran's son and Samuel's brother from the Mercy series) meet for the first time and realise their wolves have mated.
Now, this is something that I feel should have been handled better because if anyone wasn't aware of the novella, and that it's essential to read it first, their enjoyment of this book is really going to suffer. I really am not a fan of series' starting with a novella unless the story is optional. In my opinion, if you are going to start with a short story it should just be a teaser, an example of writing style for people that actually like buying anthologies. Not a necessary read in terms of plot and character development. Me, personally, I can't be doing with anthos so I am a bit disappointed that something so vital as your main couple meeting, was covered in such a way.
Anyway, they meet, and their wolves mate. This is the exact opposite of how the mating bond is supposed to work. It's meant to be that the human side chooses a partner, and the wolf then decides to accept, or not. Doing it this way around means the pair to have to deal with an instant bond with a complete stranger. Add into that Anna's recent abuse, and Charles' "I am an island" mentality, and you've got the recipe for some great scenes.
Charles is a gentle giant of a wolf where Anna is concerned, which I found incredibly endearing. Considering he is also the Marrock's enforcer/executioner, the fact that she brings out this gentler side of him, and his child-like excitement over the newness of it all, is just too cute. He delights in little things such as making her walk with a bounce in her step. Making people happy is not normally part of his day to day life, given his job. I really think they were perfectly suited characters and Charles is probably the only one who could have helped her overcome her past demons in such short a time. He was so patient with her, even when his own inner wolf was screaming at him to make her his.
The plot after this point wasn't the strongest I've ever read from Briggs, but it was interesting enough and lay a great foundation for Anna and Charles to spend some quality time together, getting to know one another and exploring their new bond.
Overall, I still prefer the Mercy series, but I would urge anyone that hasn't already to give this spin-off a try too. Even if just for the incredible insights you will get into Bran's character!!!!
4 Stars! ★★★★
anotherhel's review against another edition
4.0
This, this is amazing.
I really really enjoyed it. You should totally read the novella before reading this! (if you don't you loose a lot of backstory like how they meet and what happened to Anna)
Finally we get to see Charles and Bran a little bit more. I really enjoyed his character. Bran is really interesting and I almost wish we got to read his story with Charles' mother and afterwards with Leah. And the time before it too! When is mother was alive!
Anna's character is really good too. She's getting to know herself, and I hope she keeps growing.
To be honest I enjoyed reading this more than some books of Mercy's series. And that is my favorite urban fantasy series, so...
I really really enjoyed it. You should totally read the novella before reading this! (if you don't you loose a lot of backstory like how they meet and what happened to Anna)
Finally we get to see Charles and Bran a little bit more. I really enjoyed his character. Bran is really interesting and I almost wish we got to read his story with Charles' mother and afterwards with Leah. And the time before it too! When is mother was alive!
Anna's character is really good too. She's getting to know herself, and I hope she keeps growing.
To be honest I enjoyed reading this more than some books of Mercy's series. And that is my favorite urban fantasy series, so...
geo_ix's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
Definitely recommend reading the Alpha & Omega novella first, which I DID do and I’m so thankful because even WITH reading that, I was thrown into a world of me not knowing shit but it was expected of me. I guess reading the Mercy Thompson series first MIGHT fix that, as there’s characters in this, that are in that, and that series started first? But honestly, I felt like I was meant to know who half these people are.
I don’t really think this book was any good until past the halfway mark. Mainly because it’s showing all the characters and explaining all that crap. I just felt like I wasn’t told stuff properly or something. Like when you read a spin off and it’s assumed you’ve already met people so they give a glossed version and if you only started there then everyone seems two dimensional and boring?
It also had more of a PNR feel than UF, and I went into this thinking I wouldn’t like it all that much as I don’t tend to love UF, and then I was kinda disappointed I guess because the romance part was everywhere and nowhere at the same time and all the action at the end was much more interesting than these two wondering why the mating bond isn’t happening straight away.
I felt her trauma wasn’t REALLY talked about except in passing here. I felt he would still feel rage over what happened to her and the conditions she was in. I just felt it lacked some of that dramatic animal emotion because everyone wanted to not blow up ever.
Overall I do think the writing was good, I am tempted to read another in this series, and now I’m not so scared to try Mercy’s series either. Whether I read all of these books I don’t know as I don’t tend to read books with the same couples etc but we shall see.
Definitely recommend reading the Alpha & Omega novella first, which I DID do and I’m so thankful because even WITH reading that, I was thrown into a world of me not knowing shit but it was expected of me. I guess reading the Mercy Thompson series first MIGHT fix that, as there’s characters in this, that are in that, and that series started first? But honestly, I felt like I was meant to know who half these people are.
I don’t really think this book was any good until past the halfway mark. Mainly because it’s showing all the characters and explaining all that crap. I just felt like I wasn’t told stuff properly or something. Like when you read a spin off and it’s assumed you’ve already met people so they give a glossed version and if you only started there then everyone seems two dimensional and boring?
It also had more of a PNR feel than UF, and I went into this thinking I wouldn’t like it all that much as I don’t tend to love UF, and then I was kinda disappointed I guess because the romance part was everywhere and nowhere at the same time and all the action at the end was much more interesting than these two wondering why the mating bond isn’t happening straight away.
I felt her trauma wasn’t REALLY talked about except in passing here. I felt he would still feel rage over what happened to her and the conditions she was in. I just felt it lacked some of that dramatic animal emotion because everyone wanted to not blow up ever.
Overall I do think the writing was good, I am tempted to read another in this series, and now I’m not so scared to try Mercy’s series either. Whether I read all of these books I don’t know as I don’t tend to read books with the same couples etc but we shall see.
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
Patricia Briggs is pretty much a genius. This is an off shoot of the Mercy Thompson world, with the wolves only. Great story--I'm totally hooked!
reading_brooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kendallthefire's review against another edition
3.0
I really am not sure how I felt about this book. I liked it enough... there was not anything outstanding or terrible in the book so I guess it was good. It just felt like a set up for more to come which I guess it is since there are at least 6 more books in the series that I am aware of.
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
After I powered trough the Mercy Thompson series I was having bad case of series withdrawal. No more books but I wanted to read more about the characters I learned to love. I thought that series set in the same world would be the next best thing...
Well I guess I was wrong. Cry Wolf could not compare even to the weakest book in the Mercy Thompson series. Why?
- Heroine is very meek and doormatty. Anna was seriously abused and she usually covers in the corner. I think her recovery will take a long time.
- Charles is too cold and closed off to be an attractive hero for me. He's not your usually growly and passionate werewolf. And his Native American looks are nothing spectacular to me.
- The relationship between Anna and Charles didn't have any chemistry.
- It's more Paranormal Romance then Urban Fantasy, because they talk more about their feelings, their relationship etc. then about the world, paranormal creatures or action. The mystery plot was neglected.
On the other hand...
+ Book is well written as anything by Patricia Briggs I have read.
+ I loved finding out more about Bran and his pack.
Cry Wolf was very boring to me. (I gave it 3 stars but it's very very veryyy low 3 stars...)
I am not sure how much the book is to blame and how much it was due to me constantly comparing it to Mercy Thompson series. I will probably read second book in Alpha & Omega series to give it another chance, but I don't have high hopes.
Well I guess I was wrong. Cry Wolf could not compare even to the weakest book in the Mercy Thompson series. Why?
- Heroine is very meek and doormatty. Anna was seriously abused and she usually covers in the corner. I think her recovery will take a long time.
- Charles is too cold and closed off to be an attractive hero for me. He's not your usually growly and passionate werewolf. And his Native American looks are nothing spectacular to me.
- The relationship between Anna and Charles didn't have any chemistry.
- It's more Paranormal Romance then Urban Fantasy, because they talk more about their feelings, their relationship etc. then about the world, paranormal creatures or action. The mystery plot was neglected.
On the other hand...
+ Book is well written as anything by Patricia Briggs I have read.
+ I loved finding out more about Bran and his pack.
Cry Wolf was very boring to me. (I gave it 3 stars but it's very very veryyy low 3 stars...)
I am not sure how much the book is to blame and how much it was due to me constantly comparing it to Mercy Thompson series. I will probably read second book in Alpha & Omega series to give it another chance, but I don't have high hopes.
holl3640's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0