Friday, September 05, 2008

Review: _Cry Wolf_ by Patricia Briggs

Fantasy author Patricia Briggs has done it again. She has added a new offshoot to her Urban Fantasy books with the beginning of the “Alpha and Omega” series. Set in the same world as her Mercy Thompson books, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs is an entertaining beginning due to the point of view, characters and the plot.

The author begins this new series by providing a different point of view. In the Mercy books, readers learn about the werewolves from an outsider’s view. This book lets readers see the werewolves from inside the pack. Readers get an inside look into pack dynamics from their viewpoints, helping make the book a strong, interesting start for the new series. Ms. Briggs brings the book to life with this shift of point view. The new viewpoint strengthens the characters too.

The characters make the book entertaining by having interesting lives. Anna Latham has been a werewolf for three years. Her life is in upheaval by finding herself in a new place with a new mate. She must deal with learning to be an Omega wolf and trying to overcome victimization from her previous life. Charles, Anna’s mate, is a dominant wolf. He is the son of the pack leader Bran and considered the wolf who cleans up messes. His Native American heritage gives him an edge with some magic ability. Having a new mate changes him throughout the book. Ms. Briggs creates realistic characters with understandable problem for werewolves.

Finally, the suspenseful plot makes the book a good beginning to the new series. The book starts with Anna arriving in Montana with Charles. She attends a funeral and gets confronted by pack members. Her discomfort increases with her many doubts of fitting into the new pack. Charles is sent after a rogue werewolf near the pack’s territory. Anna goes along to get to know her mate better. Another pack member has a problem with a witch, adding more complications to the situation. Exciting events happen that lead to a satisfying ending thanks to the author’s deft weaving of the plot.

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs is an entertaining beginning to the “Alpha and Omega” series. A different point of view, interesting characters and suspenseful plot brings the lives of werewolves in this Urban Fantasy to life. The book stars with Anna And Charles in Montana, but another first story can be found in On the Prowl. This story tells how Anna met Charles. Ms. Briggs delivers another thrilling Fantasy for readers.

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