Reviews

Alpha & Omega, by Patricia Briggs

rellwood74's review against another edition

5.0

This was a part of the "Shifting Shadows" anthology that I read on the same date I listed as reading this book

melodicfate's review against another edition

4.0

This was a really good novella. I've always heard good things about this series, and since I'm 4 books into the Mercy Thompson series and liking that, I figured I would try these. I loved Anna, with her quiet strength despite how people had abused her. Charles was an interesting hero, too. I need more, so I think it's on to book 1 for me. This novella leaves these two at an interesting stage. Overall, this was action-packed, and it introduced some characters I can't wait to get to know better.

cost0979's review against another edition

4.0

Good prequel, although it wasn’t necessary for me to understand what happened in book one, it was still nice to see what happened between these two.

4 stars!

mugsandpugs's review against another edition

2.0

This was such a bitter disappointment after the Mercy Thompson series. I'm used to so much better from this author. What I didn't like about it:

- poor helpless waif of a protagonist who is Good and Pure and needs to be SAVED BY A MAN (constantly). This is just yet another Cinderella retelling and I'm so tired of it. (Also: She's not VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS like those other icky wolves. She's a VERY SPECIAL, RARE KIND. Because of course she is. Ffs.)

- I'm... I have very iffy feelings about sexual abuse in fiction. Some media, such as Netflix's Jessica Jones, gets it RIGHT. And then there's this... wEIRD sensationalized, almost romanticized crap I see in books like Twilight, or the Cassandra Clare books, or a million other things. It exists just so the protagonist has an excuse to be rescued. (Note: I didn't like it in the Mercy Thompson series either. There's a reason #3 was my least favorite. It was gratuitous and unnecessary... However, I did feel some kinship for Mercy's recovery in the following books, including the occasional panic attacks and how well she learns to handle them.)

- Charlie. Everything he does is so possessive and so creepy. He barely KNOWS this woman and already he's CLAIMING her, calling her "MINE", demanding she EAT MORE and making unasked-for appraisals of her body ("You're too skinny." Buddy, did she ASK?! GAG ME.) Saying that he WOULD court her gently and win her heart (without asking.) Sniffing her freaking hair. Pulling her out of her chair and kissing her without asking, or any warning whatsoever. And she's tOTALLY COOL with it, just. BECAUSE there's "SOMETHING ABOUT HIM." It makes me feel gross when I realize there are so many people out there that like this kinda thing... there must be, because I see it everywhere. (Also: Note- if someone tells you they don't like sex, your response needs to be "I respect that." If you can't live in a relationship without it, thank them kindly for their time and break up. You do not, EVER, try to convince them or say they WILL enjoy it with you.)

- Weird racial stereotypes throughout. The (presumably Hispanic) gang that hassles them on the train. The black neighbor who is LOUD AND SASSY AND JUST WANTS ANNA TO GET A MAN. The list goes on. (Don't even get me started about how the only other female characters are MEAN AND SLEEP AROUND WTH ALL THE GUYS (Isabelle) or MOTHERLY AND MATERNAL AND JUST WANT TO PROTECT POOR BABY ANNA BUT JUST CAN'T (Kara)).

This is the sort of drek I'd expect from Sherrilyn Kenyon's work- not Patricia Briggs'. I'm... feeling quite sour about it all. I'm going to be lenient on this and give it two stars, instead of the one that it deserves, because it's a very short novella and it's possible there were parameters placed on Patricia when it was incorporated in an anthology book with other authors. I'm going to go into "Cry Wolf" with an open mind when it's available at the library and give it a fair shot.

lord_farquaad's review

fast-paced

3.0

setaian's review against another edition

5.0

KABLAM!!! This book totally blew me away! It's 61 Pages! How can a book 61 pages long be this good?

rebeccasreadingcorner's review against another edition

5.0

I really like Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson books, so it is no wonder that I enjoy the intro to the spin-off Alpha & Omega series. It is short but shows a new aspect of this world. Charles and Anna are a fun, new couple with a different dynamic. As always, Patricia does not shy away from the aftermath of trauma. Anna is beaten down but blossoms once she knows that she has someone in her corner.

I look forward to reading more from this spin-off series.

bookishvalkyrie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

hollie313's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

reading_cat's review against another edition

2.0

Content warning:

Spoiler

mentions of rape, sexual and physical assault

This is the very short start to the spin-off series taking place in Mercy Thompson's world, featuring the infamous Charles, Samuel's brother and recurrent character in Mercy's story.

Leaning towards 2.5 stars, as this was a bit too (trope spoiler ahead, be warned)

Spoiler

insta-love

for me. Even for werewolves. And, again with this theme of

Spoiler

rape

...

In retrospect, I would have really preferred this to be a full-fledged novel and not just a novella. The only way to be sure would be to read the next book in the series, but, sadly, so far, not really impressed.

I hope Patricia Briggs mixes it up a little bit, because I like her writing and really don't want to stop reading her main Mercy Thompson series.