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| Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Ace
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $2.99
You Save: $5.00 (63%)
New (50) Used (35) from $2.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  105 reviews
Sales Rank: 1191
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: Ace Mass-market Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0441016154
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780441016150
ASIN: 0441016154
Publication Date: July 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Move over Mercy, make room for Charles and Anna. Miss the short in On the Prowl? No biggie, the important stuff is all here too. July 30, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
In Cry Wolf we finally get to see more of the members of the werewolf pack who fostered coyote-shifting Mercy Thompson during her youth. I had been intrigued by several of the characters from the brief glimpses in the early Mercy books and I've been eagerly awaiting more of Charles and Anna since I read their short story in the On the Prowl anthology.
If like me you've read these too, you'll have a head start reading Cry Wolf because we've already had glimpses of Bran the Merrick (alpha to the alpha's) of North America, and his sons, Samuel, who only has a bit part here since he's headed off to invade Mercy's home, and Charles, who is a werewolf but also has magic from his shaman mother. And you'll have already met Anna and know that, while she is not another Mercy incarnation, she is an extremely interesting combination of vulnerability and strength and has a rare power coveted by wolf packs everywhere. But if you're unfamiliar with the Mercy books or the short don't despair, Briggs does a perfectly fine job of bringing in all the significant bits into this story so you won't be totally lost and confused if you just start here, just be patient -it's all here if you keep reading.
The story starts out with Bran retrieving Anna and a wounded Charles from Chicago and give us a brief glimpse of Anna's former pack just to let us know what she's escaping. But when she reaches Charles' Montana home everything is not all hearts and flowers, though their wolves have already bonded its going to take a bit for Anna's human side to catch up, especially when communication is not a strong point for either of the leads - Anna because hiding has been the only way she's survived and Charles because even though he's hundreds of year old, as his father's executioner/enforcer he's been solitary, feared by all of the other werewolves. And the `honeymoon' is going to be an odd one because Charles' father needs the still healing Charles to investigate a human death and subsequent attack on another human that appears to be the work of a werewolf and Bran decides that Anna is to accompany Charles on the hunt to find the rogue. But there is a reason why Bran is Merrick, besides being older than dirt, he is pretty savvy and this physical journey into the wilderness for Charles and Anna may be just what is needed to build Anna's strength and confidence and to cement her bond with Charles, that is if they survive the unexpected danger that is waiting for them in the snowy wilderness.
Though it has some romantic elements, Cry Wolf doesn't just focus on Anna and Charles and their relationship. Briggs has several great characters making significant contributions to this story and she has shifted from the first person voice of her Mercy books into a third person narrative which works very effectively to keep us in the loop so that we get to know the nuances and inner thoughts of all these important players. Along with Charles and Anna and Bran, a damaged old wolf Asil has a fascinating back story that is the catalyst for much of the action and a rogue Walter, with his own tormented past, also has a key part to play. And though we only get to see a small part of Bran's pack in this book, we've been told that Anna's powers are sorely needed by many of the members who walk the edge of sanity and wildness, so I am sure that Anna has her work cut out for her as her story continues in the next books.
I thoroughly enjoyed Cry Wolf, I just loved this journey into another part of Briggs' Mercy-universe. So you can bet that the rest of the Alpha and Omega books are going to be on my must buy list as soon as the links come up. I think that Briggs' website said that she was going to be doing one Mercy and one Charles and Anna story a year. Can't wait! But until then I'll be checking out Briggs' backlist, I'm starting to see them being rereleased with new beautiful covers, but I already have most of them in my TBR pile.
Excellent new series following the pack Mercy was raised in! July 29, 2008
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
After ready the Mercy Thompson series and wishing it wasn't over... this was a welcome surprise. I love the new angle and addition to the Werewolf Universe the author has created. This book really starts to show the authors personal stamp on her wolves. This isn't your run of the mill paranormal universe. We get to learn all about the other son of the Marrok, Charles. Although I wish there was a bit more info at the start of the story, I fell into it quickly and wolfed it down. :)
And a bonus for those of us who want more Mercy! There's an excerpt of the next one in the back!!!!! And I thought Mercy was a trilogy. Only too happy to be wrong!
Cry Wolf July 29, 2008
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a continuation of the novella involving Anna and Charles. Anna is not kick a** like Mercy so the mood of the story is quite different then the Mercy Thompson stories. Having said that it is still a wonderful new series starter. I honestly hope that Briggs will continue this story-line as well as she has with Mercy's.
Anna is moving in with Charles and learning what having a real pack is like. The mating bond just isn't connecting between her and Charles though because of what her old pack leader did to her. (rape and abuse) Since she's an Omega (basically a werewolf who transcends the dominant/submissive code as well as having the ability to soothe the inner wolf on others) the abuse hit her harder. There's also a rouge wolf on the loose and a sinister witch from a pack member's past.
The plot is a little slower in the beginning but picks up right away after that. The tone of the book is more subdued and nervous but that's perfect for Anna's story. This is definitely not a knock off of Mercy's books. Anna is strong in her own right and readers everywhere are wondering when her next adventure will be taking place.
 If you want romance August 3, 2008
7 out of 12 found this review helpful
I love Patricia Brigg's "Mercy Thompson" novels. Wonderful characters, exciting plots and relationships beyond stereotypes. I've never been a fan of werewolves but I thought that Ms. Briggs succeeded where authors like Laurell K. Hamilton failed on that point. So I dared myself to buy "Cry Wolf".
Unfortunately the front cover didn't tell me that the book was based on a short story not included in this book. I had no idea what had happened, how Anna and Charles met and nothing about Anna's background. That made me lack sympathy for the character when she whined about how weak and pathetic she was because she got scared all the time. I didn't quite feel anything for Charles either. Did the man have any other feelings or thoughts aside rage, angst and lust for Anna?
Secondly, I had assumed that the book would be focused on action and mystery, like the Mercy Thompson books, but a great part of the book is just romance. Heteronormative and mono-centric romance, in a way that didn't quite suit me.
I wanted to like this book but unfortunately I found the excerpt from the next Mercy Thompson book to be the best part of the novel.
If you want a werewolf romance book then buy "Cry Wolf". If you want supernatural action I would recommend reading some of the author's other works.
Best Spin-off Series Ever! July 29, 2008
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
`Cry Wolf' is a spin-off from the Mercy Thompson Series. The book picks up right where it left off in `Alpha and Omega', the novella in the `On the Prowl' anthology. Charles is severely wounded with silver after eliminating Leo, the alpha of Anna and the Chicago pack werewolves. The two depart for Montana with Charles's father Bran, who is also the North American Alpha known as the Marrok.
Charles - the Marrok's one man jury, judge, and executioner - has always remained distant from all other werewolves (and humans for that matter), based upon the knowledge that he may one day be ordered to kill them. With his exotic looks thanks to his Indian heritage, and magical capabilities, it wasn't all that hard to become a mysterious outsider. For two hundred years he has never been close to a soul except for his father, the Marrok, and his brother Samuel. Isolated, he has craved for the day he may finally be gifted with his mate.
Anna, a werewolf and former brutalized member of the Chicago pack, has zero trust for male werewolves, especially dominant ones. Needless to say, this trust issue becomes quite complicated for our heroine. Although her wolf side has bonded immediately with Charles's wolf, her mind rebels against the thought of being mated not only to an alpha werewolf, but an alpha that is second to the alpha of all the North American wolves. This also causes problems in regards to completing the mating bond between Charles and Anna. Although their wolves have mated, the human side of Anna has refused.
In addition, Anna is not your typical werewolf. She is known as an Omega. In other words, she embodies all the fierce protectiveness of an Alpha, but without any of the violence. Anna is a natural healer and the thought of being the cause of death and destruction disturbs her deeply. Also, she has the ability as an Omega, to calm or put a werewolf's wolf side to sleep, allowing them to no longer feel the need for rage and violence in her presence. This ability is especially strong when Anna is able to physically touch a wolf.
The mating bond has left Charles and Anna with little time to reconcile their feelings of one another. Charles wants Anna desperately and is relieved to finally have his mate but he is tortured with her minds refusal. Anna hasn't necessarily said no to his suite but she is emotionally unstable and needs time to work things out. Charles is nothing but patient but outside factors have put pressure on Anna to make a decision. This reconciliation on Anna's part is agonizing to read, but as a reader who knows her past, one can understand her hesitation. Thankfully, since her wolf has already completed with mate bond with Charles's, this gives Anna much needed strength.
While coming to terms with their mating, Charles and Anna have been dispatched into the Montana Mountains surrounding the packs central home of Aspen Creek. Their mission, find the rogue werewolf that is killing human hikers. I hesitate to add more for fear of ruining the plot but this supposed rogue werewolf turns out to be a much greater challange than what was originally thought.
I absolutely loved this novel. After devouring it in one sitting, I went back through to re-read all my favorite chapters. The romance between Charles and Anna is superbly written, and the story is told in 3rd person which is just an added bonus. From what I've gathered from Patricia Briggs forum, this book is part of a 4 book series following Charles and Anna. I can't wait to see them continue working through their problems and building upon their rocky but romantic start.
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