Patricia Briggs is a consistently strong and engaging writer, and this latest instalment does not disappoint.

This book was amazingly good! I honestly loved every page of this story. It should probably come as no surprise to anyone who follows my reviews that I am a huge fan of Patricia Briggs. I was incredibly excited to get my hands on this book and went into it with really high expectations. This book exceeded every one of those expectations.

Charles and Anna are back at home with the Marrock's pack but this time Bran is away. Charles has taken on some additional responsibilities with Bran's absence and he is working hard to keep the peace with Leah. When a call comes in from the mate of a wolf that lives in the wilderness on the outskirts of the pack, they are pulled into a much deeper mystery.

I loved so many things about things about this book but the characters are really at the top of the list. Charles, Anna, and Brother Wolf are some of my favorite characters. I really liked getting to see the bond between Charles, Anna, and Brother Wolf. Yes, Brother Wolf is the wolf side of Charles but he really does see things differently at times and is a distinctly different character. I love how Briggs is able to define these parts of Charles so seamlessly.

The secondary characters were also great. Asil has been a character that I really enjoy and he played a very large role in this book. He was so strong in this book and I love the way that he watches over and protects Anna. Leah has always been a character that I loved to hate. She has always seemed more difficult than anything else in previous installments and she still has her moments in this book. I feel like I understand Leah a lot more after reading this book and now that I know why she acts as she does it is a bit more forgivable. I also thought that the wildlings that live on the outskirts of Bran's pack were very interesting and added a nice touch to the book.

The mystery in this book was very solid and kept me guessing. There were more than a few surprises along the way and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. There were quite few action scenes and there were a few moments that I was worried about how things would work out. It really was an exciting story filled with much loved characters. I did miss Bran at times but I do think that his absence let others take a turn in the spotlight.

I would highly recommend this series to others. This is the fifth book in the Alpha and Omega series and works best when read in order. This series takes place in the same world as the Mercy Thompson series with a lot of overlapping characters. This was a very solid installment in the series that I found to be incredibly entertaining. I cannot wait to read more from Patricia Briggs very soon.

I received an advanced reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

This is book #5 in the Alpha and Omega series. I strongly recommend reading the books in order, this book will make a lot more sense if you know the characters' backgrounds.

I really enjoyed that we finally have a book back in Aspen Creek! I love seeing some of the day-to-day life that Charles and Anna share. Not much at home though, mostly at Bran's because of his absence or they're out visiting the pack.

There is a betrayal within the pack and Bran is out of touch. Leah is still around though, and yes, you see a lot of her in this book. Asil and Sage also make appearances and help with the wildlings' research. Charles and Anna must figure out what is happening when the wildlings begin to be attacked. Who would be interested in them and why? Are they targeting individuals for a reason or the wildlings as a whole? There is a lot of Anna's history in this book because the wildlings have no concept of barriers when it comes to her (the Omega) and it results in horrible (rape) flashbacks for her.

Anna is also thinking about the future; in previous books there's been discussion of them eventually having children. She's also thinking of what she can do with the many potential years ahead of her, though I don't know why she discards music (too connected to what happened to her before? Avoidance of the spotlight?). I appreciate the careful steps that Briggs has shown in her character growth throughout the series. We have Charles learning how to be her significant other and changing his ways, and Anna growing into what being a werewolf means for her.

Ultimately, there's a lot more going on in Aspen Creek and surrounds than Bran thinks, and you'll enjoy trying to figure out who is behind it all. I had different theories throughout the book and one of them turned out to be right, but I had the reasons why all wrong. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, Ms. Briggs!

Burn Bright picks up immediately after the latest Mercy Thompson book, Silence Fallen. Bran has decided to extend his trip and visit Samuel, leaving Charles to run the Aspen Creek Pack for a little while longer than he expected. But the Marrok’s pack is unusual in that it includes the Wildlings, wolves who are too old or damaged to be part of a regular pack but live nearby under Bran’s supervision. It’s one of those ancient wolves whose mate reaches out to Charles for help when their home is attacked. On their mission to rescue Hester from commandos, Charles and Anna discover that they have a traitor in the pack who may be connected to a familiar enemy.

There are big action sequences at the beginning and end of the book, but most of it is made up of character-driven moments. And I love the characters in the Mercyverse, especially the old wolves. Fans of Asil (like me) will be happy to see that he plays a big role in the story. We also meet Tag, an Irish wolf who fought for Napoleon, who I hope to see more of. And I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens with a certain Wildling.

Another thing I love about Alpha and Omega is stories about Mercy from someone else’s perspective - Charles tells one to Anna at the beginning of the book. We also get to see Bran’s mate Leah, who Mercy hates, in a new light.

Since the beginning of the series, Anna has grown so much. It’s great to see her become a badass in her own right. It’s even better that she does it in such a low key way. Dealing with the Wildlings gives her opportunities to do new things with her Omega powers. Those scenes reminded me of the way Jane Yellowrock’s magic is depicted. But Anna is also still healing and some of their actions remind her of the abuse she suffered before Charles rescued her from her old pack.

And I love seeing Charles’s POV as well. He’s different from most of the werewolves because his human side and his wolf side are so well-balanced. His magic is also different, though it’s similar to Mercy’s in a lot of ways. His romance with Anna is so charming and it’s allowed him to grow as much as she has. When we first met Charles in the series he was kind of a lone wolf, isolated by his role as pack executioner. I like seeing him interact with the rest of the wolves more in this book.

Burn Bright actually feels more like a Mercy Thompson novel than it does the previous Alpha and Omegas. Instead of assisting the FBI on a magical case in the human world, Charles and Anna are staying home and working within the pack. I suspect that’s a conscious choice by Briggs because the timelines have finally merged. There are some loose ends in Burn Bright that may very well be picked up in the next Mercy book. I’m tempted to reread Alpha and Omega and revisit those “old enemies” before that happens.

4.5 stars

While Mercy Thompson is a huge favorite of mine, the Alpha and Omega series has a special place in my heart. I love how Anna and Charles have overcome difficulties to become a cohesive unit. They have come a long way from Anna’s first terrified days as Charles’ new bride. They have become a couple, they have learned to trust each other, and they will do anything to keep the other safe. I have enjoyed watching as their marriage has solidified, giving each of them strength, as well as helping to ground their wolves.

Burn Bright took a few chapters to really find its stride, but once it did, I couldn’t put it down. Charles has been left in charge of the Aspen Creek pack, while Bran is on vacation, visiting Samuel in Africa. When two of the wildings are attacked and killed, Charles is determined to protect the rest of the vulnerable outcasts of the pack. The wildings are just that – they have a tenuous hold on their wolves, and because they pose a danger to the world at large, they live in isolation near the rest of Bran’s pack. The wildings are so dangerous that only a handful of trusted wolves even know them. When Charles determines that there is a traitor in the pack, and that the wildings might be being hunted by their enemy, he decides that they need to be warned.

Most the action in the book takes place during one eventful day, when Anna helps to use her powers to break a curse, save Charles, and root the evil hunting the pack out into the open. While the action is exciting, I enjoy the interactions between the characters the best in this series. As werewolves a hairsbreadth away from violence, it’s always an iffy proposition to get a group of them together. Leah, Asil, and Charles are not the best of buds, and Anna and Leah just rub each other the wrong way. All four of them have to cooperate if they hope to save the wildings and keep the pack safe in Bran’s absence. When some of them go out of their way to annoy the living snot of each other, it’s always an unsure thing as to who is going to lose control and lash out at their antagonizer.

I thoroughly enjoyed Burn Bright, and am now impatient for the next Mercy Thompson book. There is just enough overlap with the bad guys and their plot to take down the werewolves (and the vampires and the fae), to whet your appetite for the next book, but the series are different enough to stand on their own. I think that the Alpha and Omega books are more focused on Anna and Charles’ relationship, while the Mercy books are more about how the paranormal beings interact with the rest of society. Both are fun reads.

Grade: 4.25 stars

I forget how much I enjoy Patricia Briggs’ writing until I get another one of her books, and Burn Bright is no exception. Charles is left in charge of the pack when Bran leaves to help Mercy (Silence Fallen) and then decides to take a vacation in Africa. Everything is going fairly well until a team tries to abduct a werewolf and her fairy mate. The attempted abduction leaves few clues but plenty of questions, the biggest being the identity of the traitor.

Burn Bright gives us some insight into Bran character and more specifically Bran’s relationship with Mercy. Although I very much enjoyed the second hand stories I was slightly apprehensive about what exactly Briggs was setting up for the future. I loved learning more about the pack and always enjoy scenes with Ansil (of which there are many). It has been a few years since book 4 but luckily Burn Bright is more than worth the wait. I finished the book and immediately wanted to reread the entire series.

Burn Bright, by author Patricia Briggs, is the Fifth installment in the author's Alpha & Omega series. Even though it has been 3 years since the last Charles and Anna book, the stories never get old, nor does the romance between the couple. I dare say that I enjoy Anna and Charles a whole lot more than Mercy and Adam because neither has to deal with an ex-spouse who continues to show up at the most inopportune times.

Burn Bright is a curious story about a group of werewolves called wildlings, and a danger that comes to Aspen Creek, Montana. They are the wild and the broken. The werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. For their own good, they have been exiled to the outskirts of Aspen Creek. Close enough to the Marrok’s pack to have its support; far enough away to not cause any harm.

With their Alpha (Bran) out of the country helping Mercy, Charles and Anna are on call when an SOS comes in from the fae mate of one such wildling. Heading into the mountainous wilderness, they interrupt the abduction of the wolf–but can’t stop blood from being shed. Now Charles and Anna must use their skills–his as enforcer, hers as peacemaker–to track down the attackers, reopening a painful chapter in the past that springs from the darkest magic of the witchborn.

They must deal with a brutal mystery and a shocking twist that will really blow readers minds. This is a story filled with some interesting background noise, but not in a bad way. There is some explanation as to why Bran's mate Leah hate's Charles so much, and gives Anna so much attitude. But, if you know anything about Anna, you know that she gives as good as she gets. There is always a questions about Anna's past and how she came to be with Charles thanks to things that happened in Chicago.

One could say that Anna is a much stronger character now than when we first met her. When things come up, she doesn't automatically look towards Charles for help in dealing with things. Although, Brother Wolf absolutely understands her emotions and really is amazing to have around. The story also contains a bit of background, via Charles, on Mercy's time spent with Bran's pack, which we knew by reading Mercy's series, and also the fact that Bran holds a special place in his life or Mercy which is the reason he isn't around until the end of the story.

I am glad that the two series are basically separate and there really isn't all that much need to have the characters continually crossing over. In fact, although we know the difficulties Mercy is dealing with, it doesn't affect what is happening in this book. I loved Asil, and Brother Wolf, and Wellesley who is one of the broken wolves that becomes part of the mystery as to what, or who is going after the wildlings. The ending IMHO saved the story for me. Then again, it leaves plenty of room for more stories. Pretty interesting secondary characters introduced in this book. We shall see if they are used again, or will fade away into the sunset. I also see a war on the horizon between Bran's pack and another villain that I will not spoil. You will have to read Wellesley's story to figure out what I am referring to.

4.5

I always love when Patricia Brigg's publishing schedule rolls around to an Alpha & Omega release. I hadn't realized that the last book in the series, Dead Heat, was released in 2015! I find myself taking better to Charles and Anna's story than Mercy's. Don't get me wrong, I love Mercy, but there's something that's just so satisfying in Charles and Anna's relationship.

Burn Bright begins with Charles watching over the pack while Bran is away. Of course, this is going to be a time when things go wrong, and this "wrongness" manifests itself when two of Bran's "Wildlings" are attacked. Wildlings are those of the Marrok's pack who are unable, for various reasons, to function in society. They mostly live in the secluded areas of Aspen Creek dealing with only the most dominant wolves of the pack. It seems as though someone is searching for something specific to the Wildlings, and as Anna and Charles investigate, they discover there might be a traitor in their midst, and a darkness that's been brewing for centuries.

Right off the bat, I loved that this story was centralized to Aspen Creek. Most of Charles and Anna's stories in the past have involved them travelling somewhere or another, but I liked that this one remained close to home. The "close to home" idea also enhances the fact of the traitor and really brings to mind how deep of a blow this is to the Pack.

I love how Patricia Brigg's entwines the Alpha & Omega / Mercy storylines so the timeline is set up pretty nicely, we know generally where things have left off in the Mercyverse which is kind of important for understanding why Bran is away at the beginning of this book.

I wasn't expecting how much Burn Bright ruminates on the past, and how we still see Anna, not struggling, but contemplating her life as a werewolf. It seems like it's been a lot longer, but in bookworld, Anna has only been a werewolf for a few years. It was interesting, to say the least, to be reminded of this, and also to be reminded of how Anna still struggles with what was done to her by her former Pack. I feel like I lost sight of how bad that was for her. While not happy about the trauma Anna suffered, I liked putting these things back into perspective because the theme of the past popping up again runs throughout the story not just where Anna is concerned.

One of the only issues I had was that I wish I was able to go back and re-read the books again. I think Burn Bright stands well on its own, and three years after the previous book was released it's certainly not difficult to get into the story and understand it, but I feel like I missed some of the nuances due to the fact that I'd forgotten some of what I thought her minor details from the previous books. I look forward to doing a re-read of the series as soon as I can though!

Probably my favorite thing about Burn Bright is Leah. Specifically, getting a more in-depth look at her character. She's been a character I think a lot of readers love to hate. Knowing her history with Mercy and up to this point seeing how she's been portrayed it's been easy to dislike her. I loved that Patricia Briggs was able to show us another side. I didn't finish reading with a sudden love and / or sympathy for her character, but I liked that we get to see her act without Bran, we get to see her making the alpha decisions. Even though Charles is technically more dominant than her, she's still the second, and we get to see how effective her place in the Pack truly is. Plus, the glimpses we get of the relationship between Bran and Leah make me hope that one day we'll get a short story featuring them because they have an interesting dynamic / arrangement between them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this installment in the series. I wish we now didn't have to wait another 2-3 years for the next one. As is typical, the main storyline is tied up pretty well, but there are always threads left hanging waiting for Patricia Briggs to pick up in the next book.

This was a little tricky. I expected it to grab me from the start as most set in the world of Mercy and the Marrok do. It started slow. I kept waiting for the punch and was half way through before I even got into the story. Now, don't get me wrong, it was great but I didn't get emotionally involved as I usually do.

Hello, Hello!

Glad to be back in the Mercyverse with Charles and Anna again! It has been a while since Patricia Briggs gave us a new Alpha and Omega.... but better late than never, right?

Burn Bright's plot is an interesting one. For once, Charles and Anna are with the pack in Aspen Creek instead of having to go somewhere else to "fix" a problem. Charles is in charge of the pack while Bran is out of the country. Then, a distress call comes from the mate of one of the wildings. The couple is under attack and they're asking for the pack's help. Soon, the danger is closer to home and Charles and Anna are in a race to find the answer to the question of Who's behind the attacks on the pack?

So who are the wildings? The wildings are the more unstable and older werewolves who need/ have agreed to Bran's protection. They live in isolation from the rest of the pack. Some of them have a past full of pain and misery. There's a reason why Bran offers them sanctuary. However, if one becomes to too lost to his wolf then Bran won't hesitate to take care of the threat. Yet, this time, the threat comes from outsiders and since Bran is not available, Charles will have to deal with the mess.

Anna and Charles's relationship keeps on moving forward. Their mate bond is a strong one. They complement each other. Despite Charles being what he is, he's never overprotective. He doesn't overshadow her either. Anna is becoming a much stronger werewolf. She's becoming much more comfortable with her Omega side. She's not a victim and she doesn't want anyone to see her that way. Brother Wolf as always is just great. He can be quite scary but he also brings some needed levity at times.

Also, Patricia Briggs let us into a big revelation or at least it was to me. I'm pretty sure I was as clueless as Mercy was/is. Not sure if this information is going to affect the Mercy books. Why bring it up if there is no importance to it? Yet, I don't want Mercy to find out.

I love how we get more details in regards to Mercy's upbringing. She was a force to be reckoned with and I'm glad Charles helped her in whatever way he could.

Now to the whodunit part....I was with Charles with his suspicion but I was glad I was wrong. Nevertheless, it hurt to see the pack hurting with their losses.

Another surprise was Leah, someone who I thought (and might still think) is not the best choice of mate for Bran. Yet, in this installment, she was much more tolerable and even useful. If you don't think so, ask Charles.

Asil was one of my favorite secondary characters in Burn Bright. He can be funny but don't underestimate him. He can also be quite scary when he wants to be. He enjoys teasing Charles by using Anna but he loves Anna and would be there to protect her in a heartbeat.

One last thing, the cover of Burn Bright is amazing. Certainly a winner.

I do hope we don't have to wait three years for the next one and long live the Mercyverse.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ace Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, thank you very much for the ARC. It is appreciated. I cannot make this review public because I'll get trolls hating on me, as I seem to be in the minority of other readers. I have read/listened to all of Ms. Brigg's books. I have recommended her titles to hundreds of people. I have bought my kids her books. She's a great writer, can pull you in with her world building and characters. Of course, she can have her characters behave however she wants and determine what direction her series should go. I completely understand that. However, this title did not work for me and I am still pissed. The only characters I may even like now in the two series are Adam, Charles and Anna.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW


1) Mercy was not seen but, per usual, was still in the picture. Mercy the brave, funny, clever. stubborn, smart coyote, who bakes great brownies is loved by all, including: Adam, Stefan, Samuel (well, he mainly wanted to breed with her) and now Bran was "funny" about her? WTH. Mercy is becoming one of those characters that is too fabulous and amazing and I am starting to actively dislike her.

2) Leah is hundreds of years old. She married Bran and KNEW he was heartbroken over his mate dying in childbirth, as we hear again and again. And again. She became his mate anyway. However, Leah was cruel to two children - Charles, the son of the guy she supposedly loves, and loathed Mercy and even tried to have her killed as a child- accidentally on purpose. So Leah, the adult, was jealous of the affection Bran gave two kids. One, his child, and the other Bran may have been eyeballing for a future mate (like Samuel)?? Ick. Be pissed at Bran for all of this! Like a jerk, Bran didn't intervene, so Leah looks like the bad gal. She is, and trying to make her seem devoted to the pack and loving Bran doesn't change the fact that she's a B. If she was so crushed Bran didn't love her, then leave. But she did not, as she enjoys the power/status she gets from being his mate. No sympathy for her, she chose her path.

3) Bran. *sob* I know Bran can be cold, and he's ancient, and makes difficult choices for the entire pack. I had hopes Leah would be killed off and Bran would meet someone else. Now? Anna said Bran's feelings for Mercy was kind of creepy, what, like Humbert Humbert?! Another Team Mercy guy. Seriously. Why tell us this? Bran was one of my favorite characters EVER. Bran let his son and adopted "daughter" be treated like crap by his wife, and then he treated his wife like crap. I became sick of hearing about the dead former mate thing for the last few books, but now it's not really true and he DOES care for Leah? Ugh. Apparently they DO deserve each other. None of the things that came to light made me think of any of these werewolves as more "other" or supernatural behavior. It doesn't make them easier to understand, or more complex. It made me think of them as more human and crappier ones at that. If I want to read about shitty people making stupid and/or horrific choices I can pick out any article when I read the newspaper. Definitely not what I expected, or hoped for.

I received this as an advanced copy from Netgalley.com for an honest review.

When I first started reading this novel I felt pretty strongly that the story could have stood a trim and be better served as a novella. The plot felt too small and specific to carry an entire novel. This may be because I haven't read books 2, 3, and 4 of the series and I am not as familiar with the characters as some. However, Patricia Briggs is, in general, a fantastic writer. I am a rabid fan of the Mercy books and pretty much anything she writes in that world. I didn't think it would be a problem coming into the novel a little out of sequence, and it wasn't. This is how I felt for the first 100 pages or so. It slogged a bit and the characters and setup just didn't gel. Why is this plot important? Why do I care? What is the mystery that is trying to be solved? None of these questions came to much of a head till about 250 pages into the story. It is worth the wait. The climax of the story is absolutely worth the wait. But, I just don't think this is one of her best books. It is heads above most writers out there, but all in all, it felt to slow for her normal pacing.

Not my favourite Patricia Briggs novel. Still fast paced with great storytelling, but as this one takes place over (maybe?) 48 hours it felt a little fast to me.

There was one scene that kind of really killed the rating for me.

*SPOILER AHEAD*

There's a scene early on where Anna & Charles are discussing the events of "Silence Fallen" (which BB apparently picks up only a few days after). There are some inferences about the relationship between Bran & Mercy having some mild one-sided romantic interest that just really creeped me the hell out. Especially when other characters have described them as having an almost father-daughter dynamic. So very ICK. What the hell, Patrica?

In book #5 of the Alpha and Omega series, Charles acts as pack leader for the absent Bran while doing not only his regular job as enforcer, but also as caregiver for the wildings; a disparate group who are too damaged to live with even the Marrok’s Aspen Creek pack known for its collection of near crazy and difficult werewolves. The wildings live on the fringes of the pack so that Bran can still keep watch over them. Since apparently he has decided to take a vacation after helping with Mercy Thompson’s latest “adventure,” Charles and Anna are left to deal with the kidnapping of one of the strongest wildings and to protect the rest from the same fate. Because Bran is away, they also have to deal with his mate, Leah, who often causes more trouble rather than helping. Someone or some group that Bran and Charles have been tracking has targeted these wildings specifically to do harm to Bran’s pack and those he controls. Thus far, the identity of this enemy has been elusive. Readers will have the usual joy of adventure and excitement in this story, but what amps it up even more, something is revealed about Mercy Thompson that I did not see coming and left me stunned! Fans of the series will likely feel the same way and have much to say about this revelation. Adding to that, it seems there is a traitor from within the pack whose identify is another shocker.

Charles and Anna have several challenges once they, Leah, Asil, and Sage set out to check on and warn the other wildings about the danger. Not only do these damaged wolves live remotely in difficult to access mountain wilderness, but they are volatile and take werewolf crazy to a whole new level. Anna’s calming abilities as an Omega can be problematic as well as helpful. She is still finding her footing as the pack wolf whisperer while Charles has to reign in his and Brother Wolf’s natural protective nature with her. Since Leah plays a large role in this story, more about her relationship with Bran is revealed. Readers often have wondered why they are together and, this story-line offers more explanation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover; it felt as if every page was riveting. I think this is my favorite Anna and Charles book which is saying something since this is one of my favorite series. Ms. Briggs's writing continues to bring much pleasure with her special talents to this urban fantasy world she has created. Fans will be well pleased with this story.

This is kind of a problem because I give this book 5 Stars but barely 5, it had action, romance, mystery and pretty much everything you want in any book and Patricia Briggs writing was great BUT the only reason I am not just gushing all over the place is so much was going on at times I had a problem keeping everyone/everything straight which may be more of a problem with me than the book since I loved it.

For those of you who read Silence Fallen (the ONLY book of hers I have EVER given less than 5 Stars) this was a MUCH better book (see my review here www.goodreads.com/review/show/1929165292 ) so considering the last book and her personal tragedy I see this as a great accomplishment and can say I did NOT scan any pages in this book and it had me hooked by the 5% mark.

There was a big "whodunnit" to this book and I had pretty much figured it out before the big reveal but there seems to be a few other things going on also like maybe a spin-off with a new character, an overarching plot with Bran and some "big bad thing"?

One thing I am still not sure how to feel about is Bran's mate Leah, seemed a bit inconsistent with things in past books but still enjoyable and again left a few questions open about that also in retrospect. Lot of questions still there.

One of the things I DID really like is that Anna is not that fragile thing she was for so long and it shows a lot more in this book, she is coming into her own finally.

Anyway not going to give out any spoilers but this is probably the best book in either of the series in the last 4 books or more so grab it and enjoy. This book is more like the ones that made us start loving her writing and stories. (I have loved her books since WAY back with The Hob's Bargain ) and still loving her stories.

Burn Bright is the fifth Alpha and Omega book and while it can be read as a stand-alone, it’s best to start at the beginning of the series for maximum enjoyment.
In this outing, werewolf Anna and her mate Charles are minding the Marrok’s pack in Aspen Creek, Montana while the uber-werewolf is traveling. After a call from one of Bran’s very special, very dangerous, nearly wild wolves, Charles and Anna rush off to investigate and find themselves in the middle of a perplexing mystery.
Danger, intrigue and betrayal run deep in this installment and there are some surprising twists. The novel reaches a satisfying conclusion and while I was left puzzled by a few threads left hanging, this story introduces a whole new conflict and exciting possibilities for future stories. A must read for fans of Patricia Briggs, the Alpha and Omega series and Urban Fantasy lovers. 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!! I've waited two years for this book and I wasn't disappointed it was a slow start but eventually it picked up. As per usual with Patricia's books a lot of shock and twists I did not see coming. A lot of oh shit moments too. This book went from slow your dragging it out pace to No. Effing. Way. I honestly cannot wait to see what else Briggs has in store for Bran's pack.

Character breakdown;

Charles; how do I describe Charles to you? It's hard because his so complex yet his not. I love the strength he carries the way he carries himself and how all he needs is to just stand there and everyone is shitting bricks lol. I love the native side of him, the magical side that lets him be more of the aware of where he is. On a personal level I love how he cares and loves Anna. From the prequel to this book I've loved the romance between the two of them. And the way he can understand a situation but not underestimate it.

Anna; I always liked Anna the way she overcame so much and fought so hard for not just the one's she loved but those who needed defending. Despite her reborn beginnings she managed to find her strength and her courage. She's a bad ass in her own right. With that said it did kinda bothered me that in this book she was somewhat having those panic attacks, then again I've never suffered anything like she had. Despite that Anna was awesome here too, facing her fears and doing her best to keep strong. I've never admired a book character like I do Anna. And with her power growing I'm looking forward towards seeing how far she will go.

This book had so many truths and turns and twists it literally refreshed the series because honestly? The last book was good but not great not like the ones before dead heat. I thank you Patricia for this book and please don't make us wait another two years for another one especially with how great you ended this one. I honestly did not want it to end and I'm reeling from that ending. Awesome book will not disappoint guarantee!

While Bran, the Marrok and packleader of the Aspen Creek werewolves, is absent, son Charles and his mate Anna are in charge, including responsibility for those werewolves who are too broken to live safely among others, even of their own kind. When one of the wildings is killed, it becomes apparent that there is a conspiracy to track down some type of information from one or more of the wildings, and that there must be a traitor among the pack.
As Charles, Anna, and a few other select pack members begin tracking down and contacting the wildlings, they continue to run into evidence of witch magic, one of the few forms of magic that can possibly affect werewolves negatively. It also become more obvious that the reason Bran has excluded himself at this time is because the traitor is someone at the very highest level of the pack – and someone the Marrok cannot bring himself to kill.
This is Briggs’ fifth novel starring Charles and Anna, the pack’s enforcer and its Omega. While Briggs has brought up witch magic tangentially in her other novels, this is the first one where it stands front and center. Although the traitor is found and handled, the primary group that attacked the pack has not yet been addressed, and so I expect to see that in her next novel or I will be greatly disappointed.
Otherwise, Briggs writes a tight novel, with small conversations and actions occurring in the beginning of the book becoming critically important later in the story. Her characters, Charles and Anna, are more fully formed now, after five novels, and the readers understand why Anna is so sensitive to being touched or grabbed unexpectedly and how Charles and his Brother Wolf become distracted by Anna’s comments or a slight touch. Other characters such as Asil and especially Leah are more fully fleshed out, with the reader becoming more understanding of the odd relationship between Bran and his mate, Leah.
Overall, this was a quick read, well-written and fast-paced. Again, I look forward to seeing how the protagonists deal with the entity behind the attacks that occurred in this story.

With every newly published story in the Alpha and Omega series I fall more in love with Charles and Anna's love. It would be hard to find a literary couple with more respect and devotion in their relationship. These two could have been a warning of what not to do in a relationship with a vulnerable woman, but instead it is like a guide for what TO do. With every new book Anna has grown in strength and confidence and Charles has encouraged her, helped her, and then also stayed out of her way when needed. I utterly adore them.
That there is a nice little mystery to solve in every book just adds to my delight with this series.
So well done!