Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Jun 13, 2010 Katyana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: uf, shapeshifters, fantasy

Re-read #1, 3/2011

Just plowed through a re-read, because after Mercy #6, I admit I was craving some Bran. I really do like this book. This first in the series makes a great companion to the Mercy series, because it gives you so much more information about some of the dominant (no pun intended) people in Mercy's world. Tons of Bran info in the book, as well as stuff about Samuel and Charles (obviously, with Charles being the hero). But there is also MUCH more info about pack hierarchy and overall Re-read #1, 3/2011

Just plowed through a re-read, because after Mercy #6, I admit I was craving some Bran. I really do like this book. This first in the series makes a great companion to the Mercy series, because it gives you so much more information about some of the dominant (no pun intended) people in Mercy's world. Tons of Bran info in the book, as well as stuff about Samuel and Charles (obviously, with Charles being the hero). But there is also MUCH more info about pack hierarchy and overall structure.

It is funny because the least compelling character in this book, to me, is Anna. It was fabulous getting to know Charles though - he is very withdrawn in the Mercy series, the depths of his character only hinted at, because he's an intensely private man. He's a great hero, and the book is a sweet romantic story... while still having an exciting arc with the witch and Bran.

Strangely, this re-read left me feeling some sympathy for Leah. I mean, no doubt she is a bitch, but... I can't help but feel that she's that way because of Bran. I suspect she loves him, and has settled for as much of him as he is willing to give her... which is almost nothing beyond the physical. It has left her bitter and intensely jealous of any attention he gives to anyone else. I understand why he felt he had to do that - he was deliberately seeking a mate he could never love - but still, what a shitty position for her to be in. And in this book, it says Bran sought her out a few years after his beloved wife died... so she's been this taken-for-granted second-choice of a mate for nearly 200 years. I can't even imagine it. Pretty sure I would also be a total raging bitch by then.

Re-read #2, April 2017
It's funny, I still have no interest in Anna. I think she's ... too perfectly stereotypical a heroine. Vulnerable, damaged, survivor with some super rare power... who is pulled out of her shell by an intense need to help/protect people. I don't know. I just don't find her to be compelling. Compared to Mercy ... who is equally compassionate (she's never met a stray that she didn't take in) but also flawed, strong, funny, doesn't take shit... just so much more 3-dimensional than Anna... Anna falls a bit flat. She feels more like wish-fulfillment for Charles than a fully realized character of her own.

But the other thing Anna is is an excuse to dig into the story of the Cornicks, and the structure of the pack, how pack magic works, etc. This book has more Bran than you get anywhere else in the Mercy series, and for that alone, I've re-read it repeatedly. But even if you aren't a raging Bran addict like I am, it is worth a read because you get so much more information on the pack and their magic. And the bit of Samuel perspective, prior to him heading to Mercy to move in, is nice too. :)

Re-read March 2020
Years later, re-reading my review above, I don't feel even a smidge different. Anna is the least compelling thing about this book (and this series as a whole). I read it because it is the best look we get at Bran, and the Cornicks, their history, and general werewolf rules.

I hated the most recent A&O book, though, and it has sort of killed this Mercy-verse series for me. I liked the overall plot, but the retconning of (view spoiler) just splashed against the series as a whole, and the only way I can deal is by basically erasing that from my memory. I'm wasn't sure I'd enjoy this re-read of book 1, but because I've been doing a re-read of the Mercy books, there were scenes and conversations I missed from these books and so I decided to dip in again. I enjoyed this one on the re-read, probably because it cemented for me what bullcrap the retcon was. But I don't think I'll be able to read past book 4, because I just can't even with book 5. Oh well. It is nice revisiting the Marrok I know in the early books. ...more

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Sep 10, 2009 Literary Ames rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, weres-shifters, favourites, 1st-in-series, dtb, urban-fantasy, m-tbr, read-in-2017

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I’m a big fan of the Mercedes Thompson series and was intrigued by Charles and Anna’s short story in the anthology On the Prowl.

Charles and Anna are polar opposites. Anna was made a werewolf against her will, her status as an Omega and her ability as such were kept from her, she was brutalized by her pack to keep her submissive and was forced to sever all ties with her family for fear of their safety. Charles on the other hand is an Alpha and assassin for his father the Marrok, the leader of all I’m a big fan of the Mercedes Thompson series and was intrigued by Charles and Anna’s short story in the anthology On the Prowl.

Charles and Anna are polar opposites. Anna was made a werewolf against her will, her status as an Omega and her ability as such were kept from her, she was brutalized by her pack to keep her submissive and was forced to sever all ties with her family for fear of their safety. Charles on the other hand is an Alpha and assassin for his father the Marrok, the leader of all the American werewolves.

When Charles found out about Anna, he killed the Alpha of her pack and brought her home with him. Charles and Anna’s wolves are attracted to one another and I can sort of understand why. Anna’s wolf wants someone strong to protect her from more harm and someone who will not hurt her. Charles when confronted with Anna finds he doesn’t just want to be a seemingly unfeeling murderer anymore. He sees the opportunity for more and attempts to make Anna feel safe. He does his best to protect her and to be honest even when it could cost him her affections. He even goes so far as to seek advice from Asil, a very old wolf with a grudge against him, whose former mate was also an Omega.

Anna is a mess, she’s physically very thin and emotionally scarred by her experiences with her former pack and finds herself in unfamiliar territory with a stranger she is attracted to. It is incredibly difficult for her to trust and to remain calm in the presence of dominant wolves due to her past negative experiences with them. She has low self-esteem and constantly doubts others’ especially Charles’s feelings and intentions towards her. Anna sometimes uses her wolf to give her courage and during one of these times she decides to become Charles’s mate and sleeps with him. However it turns out the bonding didn’t work as planned, her wolf bonded to Charles but her human side was still unsure which showed the next morning when she becomes nervous around Charles again. It’s only when Charles and Anna are alone in the wilderness searching for the rogue werewolf that Charles and Anna become more comfortable with one another.

Walter gives Anna a purpose to her life. He is a Vietnam veteran who hides in the wilderness after his flashbacks led to him killing a civilian. During his time there he protected a hiker from a werewolf attack and in turn became one himself. His memories haunt him night and day so when he approaches Charles and Anna, she sees he is hurting and reaches out to him with her gift of giving a sense of peace and he falls into a dreamless sleep. He in turn becomes very protective of Anna which Charles accepts without challenge because he realises it’s not sexual.

Another very interesting character is Asil. He is haunted by his mate’s death and is worried that at his age he could lose control of his wolf at any moment and persistently seeks the Marrok’s mercy by asking for his death. The Marrok refuses and has continued to refuse for the past 15 years, he doesn’t believe Asil is as close to insanity as Asil feels he is. Cry Wolf dealt with his obsession with the past and his inability to see anything beyond his own nightmares. I noticed that Sage spent the most time with him and wondered whether there would be any romance between them in future books. She seemed to be waiting for Asil to look up from his roses and notice her interest in him. Good thing she seems patient!

Even though we have Samuel in this book, the link between this Alpha & Omego series and the Mercedes Thompson series is Bran, the Marrok. My question over his loveless bond with the awful Leah was answered but I found it saddening. Due to his evil mother he compromises his own happiness to protect the wolves.

I know someone with post-traumatic stress disorder so I was impressed with the way Walter and Anna’s characters were portrayed. I’m going to be honest. I didn’t care too much about the story. I cared about the characters and the way their lives unfolded in the pages. This book for me was about character development which was portrayed extremely well by Patricia Briggs. ...more

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May 13, 2009 Lisarenee rated it really liked it

I love Pattricia Briggs' books and while my favorite series of hers is Mercedes Thompson this was is a close second. Look forward to reading her second in this series. ...more

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Aug 26, 2009 Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson rated it liked it

Shelves: female-lead, twice-read, reviewed, 2011, paranormal, 3-stars, not-manga, 2015, werewolves, can-i-live-in-this-book

This was an all right read. I'm not to into Charles. I'm about to start the next book, and hope that the plot won't feel to awkward.
Read this a second time, and I can tell that my memory is lacking both characters and plot.

...more

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Jun 16, 2011 Rachel Willis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: witch, shifter

I love Patricia Briggs. I love the world she's created in both this and the Mercy Thompson series. I love the way that not everything is okay because hey, life isn't always okay. I love everything, absolutely everything about her books. She rocks. So this book was no exception.

I'd read this series before but somehow either skipped or skimmed this book (the skimming occurring after I'd skipped it accidentally) but I have no idea which it was. Either way, just like everything else I've ever read ...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Roshio added it

Shelves: couldn-t-finish

This was my first urban fantasy in a while and I forgot what some of them can be like. Honestly it seemed interesting but I couldn't stomach all that 'dominant' 'submissive' crap. I hate that, lowering your eyes before your 'mate' blah blah blah, it really rubs me the wrong way. I know thats how its done in the werewolf world but I get zero enjoyment reading stuff like that. it wouldn't have been too bad if Anna herself wasn't so blah about everything. ...more

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