Patricia Briggs.... has once again shined in Burn Bright. The Alpha and Omega series is truly a unique story based on love, and redemption.

As always Briggs books resolves around mystery filled with adventure. So many twists and turns you least expect.

Even after so many years we learn something new about Charles and Anna. We the readers also find out more of Mercy and her upbringing.

Don’t even get me started on the romance in Burn Bright. It flowed flawlessly, and never shadowed the plot itself. Charles and Anna are soul mates, and just seeing them together.... the sweet and tender moments, took my breath away.

Fans of this thrilling series will not be disappointed!
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

Another FANTASTIC read by this author.
Bran is away in Africa? Well maybe, maybe not...
It's up to Charles and Anna to deal with all at the pack. The Wildlings are in massive trouble but by who? and why?

There is so much going on and you really can't tell who the traitor is but there is one within the pack at Aspen Creek.
Is it Leah? the Marrok's mate?
Is it Sage?
This book is so good and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a lot of angst in their stories.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Patricia Briggs is one of the best urban fantasy authors I’ve ever read. I adore her Mercy Thompson series, but the Alpha & Omega series is what I LIVE for. Charles and Anna are two of my all-time favorite beloved characters – the beginning of their romance was slow and sweet, but with each book, they prove just how much they are meant to be mates. I honestly could read about them forever, so to say I was excited about Burn Bright would be an understatement. If you’ve been a fan of the series, you’ll definitely want to pick up Burn Bright.

Ours, said Brother Wolf. She is perfect, our soul mate, our anchor, the reason we were created. So that we could be hers.

I don’t want to go much into detail about the plot because the blurb explains it perfectly. I do want to say that this book shouldn’t be read as a standalone – this is a complex, fascinating paranormal world that Patricia Briggs has created, and it’ll be easier to understand if you start from the beginning. Plus, more Anna and Charles 😉

Anna slipped her hand under Charles’ tee, just at the small of his back, and let her fingers rest against the skin there. Brother Wolf relaxed. Anna made Brother Wolf happier than killing their enemies would have.

The author’s writing always amazes me every time I open one of her books. It reads simply but beautifully, every word holding significance. I love the way she writes all the little details, especially about Anna and Charles, because it makes me more immersed in their world and in love with the characters. It’s usually hard for me to dive back into a series after a year or two wait, but Patricia Briggs is so skilled in bringing me back into the series as if no time has passed. It almost has me not minding the wait… almost.

Anna started to agree but then stopped and shook her head. “No. Then I wouldn’t have Charles. He’s worth all the rest.”
“Charlie?” said Sage. She started to say something else, but she shook her head and gave Anna a rueful smile. “Charlie sure thinks the sun rises and sets on you, that’s for sure.”

Each book in the A&O series is suspenseful and action-packed, and Burn Bright is no different. I loved reading about Charles and Anna again, and already want more of them. This book is a fantastic addition to an incredible series and I can’t wait to see where Patricia Briggs will take us next!

5 Hearts, Recommended Read!!!!
SJ, Romance Junkies.

The fifth in Patricia Briggs' amazing Alpha and Omega series, BURN BRIGHT follows werewolf mates Charles Cornick and Anna Latham, the pack Omega, as they head to help a wild werewolf fight an ancient curse. With their alpha out of the country, it's up to them to take care of Pack business, even when the werewolves in question live on the outskirts of the wilderness, apart from the pack.

It'll take both Anna's Omega nature and Charles's witch-born strength to stop the evil coming for them. Patricia Briggs has done it again with this outstanding urban fantasy. Charles's power is tempered by Anna's peacefulness, and their developing relationship grows even stronger as they're tested by forces from within, and from without.

The Marrok's pack gets a closer scrutiny, and the rich secondary characters (Leah, Asil, Sage...) provide depth to the story. Briggs is a master at pacing and plot, and the BURN BRIGHT races at the perfect speed, rising and falling with gathering suspense until a shocking climax steals the show.

BURN BRIGHT is a definite keeper and the perfect addition to the Alpha and Omega series. A shining example of urban fantasy at its finest. 

Recommended Read!

Charles Cornick is less than thrilled to be left in charge of his father’s pack while Bran is away, but when the wildlings – the werewolves too broken to live safely even among the Aspen Creek pack – are attacked, the Marrok’s absence becomes an even bigger problem. For Charles and Anna are about to discover that the attack on the wildlings isn’t random, isn’t a crime of opportunity. There’s dark magic at play and the clock is ticking. Charles and Anna must use all their power to unravel a plot that could tear the heart of those they hold dear.

Burn Bright is part mystery, part fairytale, part action-packed adventure. It’s imaginative and interesting, as one would expect a Patricia Briggs story to be. I adore Charles and Anna and they are as solid as ever, so any time spent with them is time well spent.

Burn Bright keeps Charles and Anna closer to home and I loved getting to see more of their pack, the interactions among members, and the internal politics. Also, the fact that the newest attack against werewolves is in the heart of the Marrok’s territory gives the threat an added intensity. Characters we know and care about are in danger and it made me incredibly eager to jump into this book’s mystery. The one downside of this story is that – after the initial attack – it does take a while for momentum to build. At times the book seems to meander into side stories, but keep with it because Ms. Briggs makes sure the climax packs a punch. I likely had a death-grip on my book for the last quarter of the story – it was just that exciting. I wish I could say more, but I want to avoid spoilers since every detail plays into the resolution of the mystery.

Burn Bright is the fifth full-length book in the Alpha & Omega series, and you should at least be familiar with the world before diving into this story. As I mentioned before, the relationships and politics of the pack play an important part in this book and that was one of my favorite aspects of it. I really enjoyed getting to see more of characters we normally wouldn’t, like Leah, Charles’s stepmother. She’s not a beloved character, but I liked getting to see a different side of her. Burn Bright is also part of the larger world of Mercy Thompson and fans of that series will likely be excited that this book is woven closely with concurrent Mercy Thompson storylines. As I have not yet read Mercy’s books, I felt like I was missing something; not enough to detract from my enjoyment of this story, but enough to be noticeable. Burn Bright did definitely make me move Mercy’s books up in my proverbial to-be-read pile so that I can go back and more fully enjoy the little things in the Alpha & Omega series I missed the nuances of.

If you’re a fan of Patricia Briggs, you definitely don’t want to miss Burn Bright. Charles and Anna are strong, engaging characters and the world Ms. Briggs has developed is – to put it mildly – seriously awesome.

I love taking a break from traditional romance to visit the wonderful world of Patricia Briggs. Charles and Anna, a spin-off world of the Mercy Thompson world, have solidified themselves as the Marrok's most dependable within the wolf pack. As one of two Omegas in existence, Anna's spent time as a commodity in this series. I loved that Burn Bright gave us a lot more insight to Charles and even his own father, Bran the Marrok.

As Bran is out of town and has left Charles in charge of the pack, a mysterious phone call from the wildlings (outcast or "broken" wolves) sets the pack in a panic. As more bodies are discovered and a plot begins to reveal itself from inside the pack, Briggs does a fantastic job of making readers second guess every character they've either loved or hated. Anna does have her moment with pushing the mystery narrative when she helps a dissociated wolf. Beautifully written, the way Anna breaks through mental and physical barriers with her Omega side is something powerful to read.

Briggs had me second guesses throughout the whole novel! Watching our Alpha and Omega try to save their pack was like peaking in to a world I could never imagine. Anna and Charles connection is so ingrained and strong. Their instincts are sharp and o point when it comes to one another that watching them investigate or even fight an enemy is like watching a beautiful dance. Another stellar chapter to the shifter world of Patricia Briggs!

I guess the only way to do the book the deserved justice is to tease people enough that they will stop whatever they are doing right now and rush to get the book, IMMEDIATELY!
 
Ready?
- It makes you rethink the Mercy Thompsom books - that's right. There is this tiny tiny detail, that had me WHAT?! Sure, I'm a bit plot naive, since there's a lot of stuff I never see it coming, but WHAT?! That.. that makes me want to re-read all Mercy books in a different light and try to see things in the right framework.

- It shows you Leah as you never seen her before. Does it make you like her? Is she really mean at heart or did she turn that way by lack at choice? Do she thinks about the pack about everything else or has her own reasons? I guess you'll have to read to find it out.

- It focus on Mates. Mate Bonds. Mate Connections. Death of a Mate. You want to see your heart shattered into pieces? This is the book for you.

- Wildlings are as interesting as scary and getting to know more about them is something you don't want to miss out.

- Charles and Anna are amazing. I keep saying I prefer this series to Mercy, and as much as it pains me saying it, this book solidifies that preference.

- Bran. We learn a few more Bran layers. And the jury is still out about them.

5 fiery stars. I said it before, and will say it again. This is Patricia Briggs’s world and I’m just visiting. I will continue visiting. Will you?

Charles and Anna are holding down the fort in Aspen Creek, while Bran, the Marrok is off on vacation. The story takes off quickly when one of the “wildling’s” (old wolves that are no longer safe to associate around Pack on a regular basis) mate calls for help. Anna and Charles go to investigate and find a lot more than they bargained for. There’s a lethal threat, assisted by a traitor in the Pack, and Anna and Charles must figure out if the traitor is one of the “wildlings”, or a closer Pack member. Either way, they must warn all the “wildlings” of the danger, and so begins the thrill ride!

Got some surprising insight on Bran (never suspected that!), and his abilities, which clarified something he was able to pull off in Silence Fallen (the previous book in the Mercy Thompson series). Anna’s abilities as an Omega wolf get more awesome as the series progresses. Especially as she investigates and understands her power more.

As usual, Charles and Anna face the conflicts and danger as a united front, lending power or support to each other whenever needed. Theirs is a mature romance, without unnecessary drama, or petty jealousies. There’s plenty of love and passion between the two of them, when they’re not battling for their lives, that is!

A big betrayal, Pack dynamics, Asil and Sage, and a slightly different view of Leah all factor in, as well, in this exciting installment of the Alpha & Omega series. There’s never all dull moment, even when the action is a bit on hold, because trying to discover the culprit behind the attacks kept me guessing! Alpha & Omega continues to be one of my all-time favorite urban fantasy series’, so of course I gobbled Burn Bright up! Even though the mystery wraps up here, I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book!

Burn Bright takes place just after the events in Silence Fallen. With the Marrok out of the country on a vacation after dealing with the ordeal with Mercy, Charles has taken up the temporary role as Alpha of the Aspen Creek pack and a phone call from one of his father's Wildlings leads him and Anna on an investigation that just escalates from there. I know I say this every time I read a book in these series, but I loved everything about this one! I read it pretty much in one sitting and I was hooked from the start.

One of the things I've loved about the Alpha & Omega books is that we get to see a lot of the world because Charles and Anna are always traveling. This book felt like a throwback to the early Mercy books but with the A&O crew. We're finally back in Aspen Creek and this book delivers on feeding my curiosity about the members of the Marrok's pack.

We know that the Aspen Creek Pack is full of wolves that are wounded and broken and who wouldn't survive in any other pack. But what I didn't realize it that Bran's pack held even more broken wolves called the Wildlings who are too damaged to even interact with the pack. They are such intriguing characters! I loved learning more about them as much as I did learning more about Tag, Asil, Sage, and Leah.

Yeah. I just said Leah. If you would have told me that I would come to like and respect Leah after pretty much despising her character for the last fourteen or so books, I would have said you were crazy. But Briggs did the impossible. She may not have made me love Leah in this book, but I certainly respect her and even kind of like her now. We even got to learn more about Mercy's time in the pack which was interesting, as is everything with Mercy.

One thing I noticed a lot in this book was the emphasis placed on the bonds between mates. Many of you may not know but Patricia Briggs lost her husband unexpectedly in 2017. This is the first book published since she lost him and it was clearly influenced by his loss. I loved that it focused heavily on the different matings and bonds of the characters, even the ones who have lost their mates. Burn Bright was dedicated to her husband and it really was a fitting tribute to the man who was her own mate and such a delightful man in real life. RIP Mike.

This book was a real roller coaster of feelings for me. It made me laugh. It made me kind of tear up. And it had me on the edge of my seat a majority of the time reading it. The mystery was so good! I thought I had everything figured out and then I got hit out of left field with the reveal. I never saw it coming and all I can say is: Bravo, Patricia Briggs! Bravo!

The events in this book have consequences for both series and I'm intrigued to see what it does to this world. I think it's really going to shake things up.

This is the fifth book in the Alpha & Omega series. I fall more in love with Anna and Charles with each book. I love all the wolves. I even tolerate Leah!

I will say my line of thinking was the same as Bran and Charles. I may have even wished for that person to be the traitor a few times.

Boy was I wrong!

I loved meeting the Wildings. I hated what happened to them. Wellesley’s back story is so sad.

What Anna did with Wellesley was nothing short of amazing and life saving. She’s really becoming a powerful Omega.

Of course there are some twists. I didn’t see them coming.

I will admit that I was mad at Bran for not being there at first. But once we got the reasons, I understood why he couldn’t be there.

Plus Charles is more than capable of running the pack, even if he doesn’t want that responsibility.

This is my favorite of the series.

Charles Cornick with his Omega mate Anna has been left in charge of the pack while his father the "Marrok" is out of the country. A panicked phone call out of the blue sends Charles and Anna on a mission where Anna's painful past intersects with a powerful enemy. The author reaches out to take her readers on a wild ride guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Someone with expensive surveillance equipment has been spying on the pack. To add insult to injury they are armed with a powerful weapon that even has he power to fell Charles himself. Unfortunately for Anna and Charles their mission turns FUBAR from the moment they arrive on the mountain top leaving them unable to save the old couple one of whom is a powerful fae lord.
It's Anna's Omega powers that play a strong role in this story as she first uses her powers and perseverance along with her mating bond and Charles pack powers to save an old wolf who has been fighting evil for decades. She brings a dogged persistence as she does all she can to support her husband and even saves him a few times when he gets in over his head because he underestimated the evil that is hunting them.
I am awed with Ms. Briggs imagination as she weaves in witch craft, skin walkers, body walker and shape shifters into her colorful cast of characters. This series featuring Charles and Anna is a deeply insightful series that gives us action adventure plus a relationship that deepens and grows with every book.

With the Marrock out of town, werewolves Charles and Anna are in charge of their pack- which means when trouble arises, they're the ones who have to deal with it. Someone is making trouble for the most damaged of their pack members, hunting them, and killing them. Charles and Anna will have to use all their skills and trust in each other to solve the problem because something even worse than death is stalking them now.

I ended up having very mixed reactions to this book, which surprised me. I'll start by admitting, I haven't read all the books in the Alpha and Omega series yet. The short story that started it off ("Alpha and Omega" in On the Prowl) is a favorite of mine, although I've only followed it up with the first two books in the series so far. So it was frustrating reading Burn Bright when things would get referred to that happened in one of the earlier books (or Briggs' Mercy Thomson series) but Briggs never filled out what those events were, so you were left not sure if it was important or not. There were also a lot of things happening that I never figured out if they were red herrings or actually important: why were there so many surveillance devices hidden around Jonsey and Hester's home? How did the people planting them never get caught when werewolves are supposed to be so sensitive? Was it a coincidence that Anna knew several of the attackers from her time in Chicago or was there something else going on there that I never figured out? Was some of what was happening so subtle and tricky I wasn't smart enough to figure it out, or did it leave everyone confused?

The beginning of Burn Bright got off to a slow start- strange because we start with an attack on a werewolf and a Fae. I kept waiting for Hester, and especially Jonsey, and their pasts to become more important to the story. Jonsey had a house full of hoarded Fae artifacts after all! By the end of the book I still had no idea if some of the loose threads to the story were going to be picked up in the next book or were just never going to be dealt with, which was frustrating. Nearly three quarters of the way through the book I was still waiting for things to really get started. But when things got going it was impossible to put the book down until the last page. You figure out pretty much at the same time as Anna and Charles who the bad guys are and I was just as surprised as they were!

There was a lot of unnecessary repetition throughout the book, although as much as some things were explained over and over there were other things that seemed to be dropped. I think the reader would definitely get more out of this book if they read the rest of the series first. If you're like me and dropping into this series late in the game I think you have to just accept that you're not going to follow all of it completely and enjoy the book for what it is- a book you'll understand more the second time around, after reading the rest of the series. But for all its frustrating bits, Burn Bright was very clever and compelling, with some wonderfully dry and witty humor, and made sure that once you got caught in its spell, you didn't want to come out.

I really look forward to every release from Patricia Briggs whether it's a Charles/Anna or a Mercy story. I've said it before, but every book is like coming home to old friends, and BURN BRIGHT was no exception. In fact in preparation for this release, I did an audio re-read of both of the entire Mercy and Alpha & Omega series. I just love these books that much. So after reading this newest installment, I'm happy to report I'm still just as enamored as ever with the series.

BURN BRIGHT brought a whole lot more depth to the characters of Aspen Creek that really enriched the series. Sure we get plenty of Charles and Anna time, but there's a whole lot of other side characters that came to the forefront, like the Wildlings. Also, Leah in particular surprised me. In the previous books in both series she's portrayed as bitter and vindictive, overall a nasty person. And yet in BURN BRIGHT we got to see a whole lot more of her personality and who she really is. I definitely enjoyed seeing more into her character.

There is one small twist regarding Bran and Mercy and the reasons why Leah despises Mercy so much. While I won't spoil things, I'm not sure how I feel about the revelations. Some things just didn't sit with me right and had me second guessing a lot of past things from previous books. I won't say that it ruined anything, just made me see things in a different light and I'm just not sure how I feel. I'll get over it, and I do commend Patricia for writing such multi-faceted characters. While the twist may not be my favorite, it made the characters all the more real for it.

All in all, BURN BRIGHT was a very enjoyable installment in the Alpha & Omega series. Fans of Ms. Brigg's books will be more than pleased!

I’ve been a fan of Patricia Briggs for a long time, even before she began writing the Mercy Thompson series. I don’t think she’s capable of writing a bad book at this point, but I do think this one is not among her best.

The plot revolves around a traitor living among the werewolves of Aspen Creek and a threat to the wildings, old and mentally ill werewolves that live under the supervision of the Marrock, Bran Cornick. Since Bran has not yet returned from his trip to rescue Mercy in <i>Silence Fallen</i>, Charles and Anna have to try to protect the wildings and figure out who is providing information to the outsiders who are hunting them.

I didn’t get very engaged in the storyline, mostly because the search for the traitor never really got started. The story seemed to consist mostly of Charles and Anna attempting to rescue or warn the wildings of potential danger in a very scattershot way. The traitor gets outed without any real effort on their part.

However, I did enjoy getting to see more of the lives of the werewolves living in Aspen Creek. The wildings were a fascinating glimpse into the effects of extreme age/trauma on very dangerous creatures. It was also interesting to learn more about the relationships between Bran and his wife Leah, Bran and a very young Mercy, and the other werewolves living in Aspen Creek.

The end of the story seems to set up future books, because although the immediate enemies are vanquished, they are part of larger group of natural enemies of the werewolves. I’m definitely curious about what’s going to be happening next with that.

So, even though this book isn’t necessarily the strongest in the series, it’s still a good read for anyone who is invested in what happens next to Charles, Anna, and the other werewolves.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Another great binge read from Patricia Briggs. Charles and Anna are taking care of the werewolves of Aspen Creek, when one of the wildest of the old wolves is killed. This starts a mystery that Charles and Anna must face alone, with out Bran, The Marrok, and it just might tear apart the Aspen Creek pack.

Charles and Anna often investigate strange goings on in their pack, but also act as liaison’s to the federal government, traveling across the US to do so. Burn Bright stays very close to home. Bran, the Marrok, is off in Europe having helped Mercy when she was kidnapped in the novel Silence Fallen. Charles, acting Alpha until Bran’s return has to investigate a call he gets from one of his fathers wildlings. Wolves who live in the wild because they are kind of crazy and can’t live among the pack. He and Anna travel into the wilderness and find themselves in a magical fight for their lives and the lives of their pack.

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of Burn Bright because Anna and Charles are two of my favorite characters and one of my favorite couples. Since being introduced to them we have seen Charles Cornick, son to the Marrok and his enforcer, take on some really tough enemies. To the werewolves of North America he is one truly scary guy, brought in when something needs to be cleaned up. When he meets Anna and realizes she is his mate you see a subtle shift in his intensity. To those who don’t know him, he’s still intimidating as hell, but to those who do know him there is a slight softening. Anna, an Omega wolf, has a calming effect that’s often called upon in difficult moments, but Charles’ need to protect his mate and soothe her in return makes a difference in how his family and close friends see him and you can see that difference evolve as each book progresses. I love this progression in not only their relationship but in them as a couple with each novel showing their growing love and closeness.

Each novel in the Alpha and Omega series can be read as a stand alone with the central story a mystery that has a beginning, middle, and conclusion in each novel. However, I do think you’ll miss the subtleties in these characters and that is a huge part of my enjoyment in reading them. This series is a spinoff of the Mercy Thompson series. The timelines in both series are connected and if you read both series I think you get a boost of enjoyment, but once again, if you haven’t read Mercy’s stories I don’t think it will take away from enjoying Charles and Anna’s and Burn Bright was a really engaging story on it’s own merit.

❤❤❤❤❤
I received an ARC of this novel for my honest review and it was honest

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Review:
Bran has left the pack to Charles while he heads to Europe to deal with an emergency with Mercy. Once that emergency is over Bran extends his absence from the pack by stating he is going to visit Samuel leaving Charles and his mate, Anna, to deal with an emergency call from a wilding’s fae mate.

You’ve gotta love the bond between Charles and Anna and in Burn Bright Briggs shows not only that bond but the wildings, extremely unstable shifters, and even Charles and his bitch mate (yes, she is a bitch, but still his mate). These mate bonds come into play like never before making for some swoon worthy reading.

Reading every book Briggs has published, I am still amazed, surprised and in awe of her imagination and unexpected machinations that she throughs our way and that is just a few factor why I love her writing. In the end, I flat out loved it! I don't think I can ever get enough of Briggs' storytelling! A re-read and a go to author for recommendations because I know everyone of those urban fantasy fans out there that picks up one of her works is going to enjoy it.

I received this ARC copy of Burn Bright from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review. Burn Bright is set for publication March 6, 2018.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Patricia Briggs
Series: Alpha and Omega
Sequence in Series: Book 5
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy

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I always eagerly await the newest Patricia Briggs novel. No matter if it's an Anna/Charles book or a Mercy book in the larger world. It has never mattered, because I've always loved the world and loved the characters. Which isn't to say that I haven't had any concerns or issues with the books over the years; I have. They've remained a bright spot in my reading each year. Looking back, Sarah and I have re-read this entire series every single year for the past several years. We can never resist. Once we get a fresh book in our hands, it's time to re-read. To re-visit everyone we love and see the story thus-far, again.

This time is no different for me, I've finished Burn Bright and I'm immediately diving back into Moon Called. But I have some different motives this time, too. And this one - spoiler ridden - thought is overriding all other thoughts about this book. It's a small moment, no more than a background conversation while the story gets rolling. And yet, I can't stop thinking about the implications and what it means. Not for the series, or world, because I think it means little in the grand scheme of things. But for me? For me, it may mean the end of my enjoyment of this series.

You may think that's a bit dramatic. And perhaps it is. But this is a fairly big deal to me. And I'll get into it more below - and mark where I'm talking spoilers very clearly. Before I do, let me talk a little about the story that was told here. And, to be clear, if it wasn't for this conversation (that I quote below), this book would get a solid 4 stars from me. But this conversation could take it down to 2.

First, timeline-wise, this book takes place immediately following the events of Silence Fallen, and thus Bran is out of the country. Which leaves Charles in charge of the Pack for at least a little while. But Bran's absence extends, making me very suspect as to what's going on. I loved this twist. I loved the build-up to it, and the implications of it as well. And I will say that I didn't see the twist coming. I'm not entirely sure that I buy that someone could fool the Marrok, or Charles, for long, but ... it worked for me.

I think that it's fascinating that Patricia Briggs has found a way to expand the world, right in and around Aspen Creek. I love the addition of the Wildings, and hope that we get to see more of, at least some of, them in the future. They add a further depth that I wasn't expecting.

There are multiple POVs in this book. More than the normal of just Anna and Charles. We get a few secondary characters that have only short-term roles, and at least one from a character that I wasn't ever expecting: Leah. That POV, in particular, added a lot of depth to her for me. I never really expected to feel anything but hatred for her, and trust me I still can't forgive her treatment of Charles and Mercy, at the very least, but I think I could grow to understand her. Maybe. Probably not, but I do like at least being able to see why Bran's wolf picked Leah. I think it begins to show here, whereas before I never even had the slightest inkling or understanding why.

HERE BE SPOILERS...






You've been warned.
Speaking of Leah, the issue that I had early in the story ties directly back to her. I think, and this is only my assumption or guess, that we're supposed to start feeling somewhat sympathetic towards her. To start forgiving her. Maybe I could have - but I could have done it without this. I don't feel too badly sharing this since it occurs in the first chapter, and I'm going to quote it here. Charles and Anna are talking about having a musical night in Aspen Creek again. Charles is telling Anna about the history of it - with Mercy in particular - and how they came to be the center of a battle between Bran and Mercy. All bold emphasis are mine.

(Charles) "The musical evenings were the center of a battle between my da and Mercy -- and you know how Leah feels about anything that had to do with Mercy."

"I do," she said. "I even understand it, much as it pains me to say so. Bran is funny about Mercy. If you were that funny about Mercy, I would feel the same way Leah does -- no matter how likable I might find her."

"Bran's not funny about her," he told Anna, feeling uncomfortable. "He thinks of her as his daughter, and he doesn't have any other daughters still alive. There's nothing strange about it."

"Or so everyone is much happier believing," agreed Anna blandly. "Including Bran. We'll leave it at that. So the musical evenings were a thing between Bran and Mercy?"

"Not like that," Charle said, feeling defensive because Anna put her finger right on something that he'd been ignoring for a long time. He took a deep breath. "All right. All right. You may have a point about Da and Mercy."

She smiled, just a little.

He threw up his hands. "Okay. Yes. I saw it, of course I did. As did Leah. But my da would never have moved on Mercy. Say what you will about him -- but his wolf has accepted Leah as his mate, and he will not cheat on her. And Mercy has never seen him as anything except a father figure and her Alpha. That's what she needed, and that's what he gave her. I don't think Mercy has ever recognized that it could be more than that."

"Yes," Anna agreed, to his relief. "That's how I read their relationship, too."

Um. What? I've been reading and re-reading this series for years. This is the 15th book in the series (not counting short-stories). I've dissected, examined, and discussed this series with friends - both fans and non-fans - many times. I've never, not once, read anything more than fatherly love in Bran's actions towards Mercy. Yes, she had more leeway than anyone else would have. But she was a coyote in a pack of wolves. She was a child, brought under his protection when she was very young, basically abandoned by her mother. And she had a never-quit attitude that grew along with her. I always read Bran as charmed by Mercy, loving her spirit and ability to get herself out of trouble as much as she got herself into it. And the fact that she could pull one over on him, made him proud of her. But always in a fatherly way.

Keep in mind that she was 16 when he sent her away. And he didn't see her again for years. Leah acted this way towards Mercy from Mercy's earliest memories. Bran once said that he couldn't have brought Mercy into his house because he knew how Leah would treat one he cared for, so he gave her to her foster parents. SHE WAS A CHILD. Bran is thousands of years old. The idea that he harbored any feelings other than fatherly towards her...it squicks me out.

I have the feeling this was added to make us feel some sympathy towards Leah. I'll never say that I couldn't come to adore Leah - because honestly, I love Jamie Lannister who pushed a child out of a window - but I didn't need this. This doesn't affect how I feel about Leah. How she treated Charles and Mercy when they were young is inexcusable, to me. You don't take you frustrations out on a child. I don't care if you think your mate has some sort of creepy love for her. Rather than give me sympathy for Leah, it makes me question my love for Bran.

*ETA after re-reading the entire series in preparation for posting this review: There is not one, single hint in the entire series that Bran feels anything more towards Mercy than fatherly love. I've always, always, felt the love and care that he had for Mercy, but it was ALWAYS parental. You canNOT tell me that Samuel wouldn't have noticed anything in Bran's feelings towards Mercy. He says, in one of the books, truthfully I might add (because Mercy can feel  the truth of it) that Mercy is "like a daughter" to Bran. I'm sorry, but this conversation - the more I think about it - makes me mad. It feels like manipulation, because....

I know that Patricia Briggs has previously shown that characters aren't always reliable at reading other characters motivations (as evidenced by the fact that Mercy thought Bran barely tolerated her for years - when we all knew better). But these two characters agreeing on something like this makes me unable to just dismiss it as a misunderstanding. Especially when coupled with some other more minor things I noticed that made me go 'Hmmm...'

These things all together make me wonder if Patricia Briggs is re-evaluating the truth of her world and rewriting the rules. A couple of quick examples:

Sage and Leah are presented as best friends in Burn Bright. But in Cry Wolf Sage nearly mocks Leah to her face to protect Anna from her first visit. Going so far as calling her their "queen bitch." It wasn't in the friendly, joking way that women can sometimes do, it was meant to mock. I find it hard that Leah, sometime over the last couple of years decided to become best friends with anyone, much less Sage. But it's plausible. I'm curious as to how it came about though.
Charles states that any of the wolves in Anna's old pack (in Chicago) could have, if they really wanted to, defied their alpha and contacted Bran. He goes on to say that they're human, too, and could have used that to override the instincts of the wolf. But, again in Cry Wolf, we're explicitly shown and told (many times) about how werewolves (in human or wolf ascendance) cannot disobey their alpha. Even Charles can't disobey when his alpha, Bran, tells him to stop. Asil, someone we know to be incredibly dominant and strong, is forced home, to stay there, and to rest (which makes his eyes sleepy), by Bran's simply statement. So much so that he can't put his hand on the doorknob to try to leave and go talk to Bran again. Charles ruminates on how much respect submissives deserve to put themselves under the total possible control of someone else. How on earth could any wolf in Leo's pack have disobeyed his order to not contact the Marrok and called the Marrok? And, on a related note, if they could have and just didn't...why the hell aren't all those wolves that abused Anna dead. Because that means that their brutalization of Anna was a choice, not an order they had no choice but to obey (and I honestly don't think Leo ORDERED them to abuse her, just encouraged it, anyway). If they truly had a choice....they don't deserve life. At all.
It makes me wonder if I can trust the rules of the world. It makes me worry. And it's going to continue to make me incredibly uncomfortable for the next couple of books that I read - until I'm sure that Adam and Mercy's HEA isn't in any danger.

So, now I'll re-read the entire series, and I won't be able to stop myself from looking for any evidence that these feelings were there on Bran's part. And, honestly? If I see them, I may never be able to enjoy this series again. (ETA: already did. saw nothing.)

If I don't see them...well, I might be able to put it down to Charles and Anna reading the situation wrong. Patricia Briggs has made clear throughout this series that characters misinterpret events, peoples' feelings, and emotions all the time. Hell, for the longest time Mercy thought that Bran thought of her as an obligation that he didn't really like at all.

I'm a huge fan of Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series but I have not read all of the Alpha & Omega books. Despite Burn Bright being the fifth book in the Alpha & Omega series, I had no problems diving right in. That is the beauty and magic of Patricia Brigg's writing. Her stories have such compelling characters (and just the right amount of background exposition) to hook the reader. Every book explores another character that I want to know more about. The wild wolves are fascinating. And perhaps even more importantly, we learn more about the enigmatic Marrok even without him being present. Am I the only one who wants an entire series from Bran's viewpoint and/or about his past? Burn Bright gives you a wonderful story with love at its core. There is such strength in Anna and Charles, both separate and together which is demonstrated perfectly as they work to find a traitor and save one of the wild wolves. I loved Burn Bright so much that I want to finally go back and read the Alpha and Omega series from the beginning!

Where to start - first and foremost, I prefer this series over Mercy Thompson. The plots and characters work well and it has good movement through out each book. Usually I get to about 2 chapters in and I'm hooked. I don't like to put it down after that if I can help it HAHA. Burn Bright was no exception. :)

The Alpha and Omega series follows Anna, an Omega Werewolf, and Charles, an Alpha werewolf. (THUS the series name... see what they did there....hahaha)
Their dynamic is interesting as Anna, with her Omega standing, does not have to follow dominant wolves orders, and Charles, although an Alpha, is not the head of a pack. They balance each other well and their banter is adorable.

Burn Bright gives us a story of 'What if the pack Alpha were away and all the drama hitteth the fan?" ......The answer is a lot of drama haha and I freaking ADORED it. *victory dance*

A majority of this series is stellar and I definitely re-read the first 4 books to get to this 5th one and give it a fair chance and review. Patricia Briggs met all my expectations in Burn Bright and I honestly have no real downers to state about it. The plot was excellent, I always love a good terrifying fae and werewolf story, and the writing is beautiful.

Briggs did a wonderful addition to the series with this book. Is it my favorite? I'd say book 4 still has my heart as I cried like a baby, but book 5 is right up there. haha

If you're iffy about paranormal romance type books, something to keep in mind with this one is the romance is a side note. These books ARE mainly plot driven. There is a touch of romance and it's very light in comparison to others in it's genre. I take this as a good thing and the author does a wonderful job balancing it.

Overall Rating: 4.0 Stars
Plot: 4 stars
Character Development: 4 Stars
Dialogue: 4 Stars
Writing: 4 Stars
Hmmmm who would I recommend this too? Anyone that enjoys fae lore and political intrigue.~ It has a good dose of a few different angles - paranormal, intrigue, romance, contemporary, etc... The books are easy to read and also quick to read.

Give it a chance if you're on the fence and Happy Reading!!
~Ash