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Sunday, October 12, 2008

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs


It's no secret that I love the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I thought the 3rd one in the series, Iron Kissed, was brilliant in terms of character development. (My review is here, on my other blog We'd Rather Read. The next posted review is of the same book, but by my good friend Gina.) Briggs put Mercy through things that are usually avoided in this type of book, and had her come out stronger for it. So when I saw the first reports of Cry Wolf, I was nervous. I don't always like it when my favorite authors have more than one series. I almost always think the second one pales in comparison and then it's even longer before I get to read more of the one I enjoy. Regardless of this, I put Cry Wolf on my wishlist as soon as I heard of it. Cry Wolf is the first book in the Alpha and Omega series but there is also a short story about the main characters in On the Prowl. I read both back to back, and have a bit of a hard time telling which detail comes from which story. They flow seamlessly together, with Cry Wolf picking up where the short story leaves off.

Anna is an Omega werewolf. This means she has none of the dominance of an Alpha, but doesn't naturally feel submissive either. An Omega is rare and a great asset to the pack. They have a calming influence on the other wolves and can often diffuse a dangerous situation.

The short story in On the Prowl sets up Anna's history. It explains how she came to be a werewolf and explains in greater detail a lot of her responses in Cry Wolf. It also introduces Charles and Anna to each other. Charles is the son of the Marrok, the werewolf leader. He is his father's hitman, sent in to take care of things when a wolf goes rogue. Cry Wolf takes place in the same world as the Mercy Thompson series, with several of the characters overlapping each book. You absolutely do not have to read both, Briggs does a great job of keeping them separate while having characters in common. (Though I'd recommend you read both, because I love them both.)

In Cry Wolf, Anna has returned to Montana with Charles. There is a rogue werewolf in the nearby moutains, and Charles is sent to deal with it. Anna goes with him to help and to learn how a real pack works. Her wolf has mated with Charles's wolf and they are still learning how the human part of them will come together. This book is very much focused on the characters of Anna and Charles. They are already a couple when the book opens and over the course of the book they will learn what exactly that means. They have to learn how their past changes their responses to each other. You know from the beginning that they are together, this is not the point of the book. The point is to learn how these two distinct wolves will come together. Oh, and I guess there's the whole story line of the rogue wolf as well, but it really just serves to highlight the relationship between the other two.

I thought this one was great. Briggs has a way with her characters that really makes you understand them, and feel what they are feeling. I thought she did it better in Iron Kissed, because she did it in such a very short time (in one scene) but she does a great job in this one as well, without beating us over the head with the facts. At no point do you think, "Ok, got it, her history made her do that. MOVE ON." I am very happy to be wrong about this author writing a second series. They are very different series, but she does them both very well.

Do you want to read these? I'm going to give away both On the Prowl AND Cry Wolf. This is a package deal, because you should really read both of them. To win, leave me a comment telling me your favorite paranormal book or series, or if you haven't read any and are interested in starting one, tell me that. If the winner I choose has already read or owns one or the other, I'll split them up. If the winner has neither, they'll get both. I'll pick a winner next Sunday.

26 comments:

  1. The Mercy books are one of my top favourite paranormal series. And I think Charles and Anna may well end up there too.

    My totally guilty pleasure, squirm in embarrassment paranormal series is Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters.

    Don't enter me in the competition - I have both books.

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  2. Ok, my favorite paranormal series is the In Death series by J.D. Robb. I'm sure that is subject to change as I'm reading more and more paranormals. I would love to win these books as I just read the 1st book in the series recently and loved it.
    samantha.1020@yahoo.com

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  3. Lisa, Thanks!

    I've posted this at Win A Book. No need to enter the contest, though.

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  4. My current favourite paranormal series is Vicki Pettersson's Signs of the Zodiac.

    Have a lovely day! :-)

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  5. I do not have a favorite paranormal series but after reading your brief comment about Cry Wolf last week and now reading the review - I want to read Cry Wolf!

    Hope I win it otherwise...to the library I go. :)

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  6. kerry, thanks for visiting. I have not read and don't even HAVE the Kenyon books. I hope you love Anna and Charles.

    Samantha, I love the In Death series too, but I'm a couple books behind on it as well. You're in the drawing.

    thanks, bridget.

    tez, I have the first one of the signs of the zodiac. Maybe one day I'll get to it!

    ibeeeg, make sure you read the Mercy Thompson ones too!

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  7. To be honest, I've only really read the Twilight series, so these books sound like a great place to get into the genre! Thanks for the chance to win!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    And thanks for reading my blog!! =)

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  8. my favs would be the undead series by mary janice davidson

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  9. I am interested in starting one and your review told me where to start! :D

    lone_hammy(at)yahoo.com.sg

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  10. I need On the Prowl. I am reading Cry Wolf and am in need of the first part of the story.

    :)

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  11. librarian, I think most adult paranormal stuff is so different from Twilight that you can't even compare. I was one of the few that wasn't impressed with Twilight, but I think it was because I'd seen vampires done better.

    katayoun, rb, ya'll are in, thanks for visiting.

    gina, if you win, you'll make someone else very happy to win Cry Wolf!

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  12. I really like Jeaniene Frost's book Halfway to the Grave--I imagine I'll like the others but that's all I've read so far

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  13. I have lots of paranormal books and series favorites so I'll just tell you my top three at the moment. Kim Harrison's Hollow series, C.L. Wilson's Tairen Soul series and Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series.

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  14. I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I'm starting to get into the Twilight series.

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  15. I like Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series.

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  16. I liked On the Prowl and now have Cry Wolf in the TBR, so don't enter me. I definitely want to read more of her books.

    My top paranormal series of the moment- Nalini Singh's Psy Series (Caressed by Ice my favorite just edging out Slave to Sensation, and CL Wilson's Fading Lands series, and Kresley Cole's Immortals. Then I'm also liking a lot Jeaniene Frost and Moning's new series

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  17. I love C.L. Wilson's Tairen Soul series. It's one of the best to come along in years. Also love Moning's Highlanders, Kathryn Smith's vampires, and Kresley Cole's Immortal series. And Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series is something else! All terrific!

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  18. Mercy Thompson is one of my top paranormals, along with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters, Lara Adrian's Breeds.

    Please enter me in the competition.

    I even heard that they are doing the comics to Mercy Thompson, guess another one I will just have to buy!

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  19. Hello! I would love to win, I don't have either of these! My fav. series has to be Christine Feehan's Dark Series, she's so awesome!
    crystaladkins722@gmail.com

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  20. I came on over from LadyVampire Lair's blog. I couldn't resist entering this paranormal book contest.

    I just finished Any Given Doomsday and reviewed it. It's the first book I've read with a witch doctor in it. I've read Tanya Huff's Blood books, and those have elements of the paranormal in them. I haven't read any paranormal only books, but I am definitely interested in branching out.

    savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com

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  21. Bookspot, LadyVampire, Mandy, Jackie B, Sandra, Raonaid Luckwell, Crystal and Serena are in for the books.

    Thanks everyone for stopping by, be sure to tell your friends too!

    Mandy, I read Twilight, but was a little underwhelmed. Don't say that in a review though, unless you want all the rabid fans to call you names.

    Jackie, I just finished Cerulean Sins by LKH. I'm undecided on if I want to continue.

    Raonaid, I LOVE Mercy. I think that might be my current favorite series.

    Serena, I have Any Given Doomsday in my TBR, I hope to get to it soon.

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  22. I've read the Twilight series and I'm currently reading her other book "The Host" ...which I love.
    I haven't read any books like Cry Wolf, yet would love to win these two in order to get started reading in this category and what better way to start than to have a pro in the area (you) start me off with two great reads!!
    thank you!
    Darby
    darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

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  23. I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER THE CRY WOLF CONTEST, I HAVE ON THE PROWL. ITS A GREAT BOOK, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT



    BLACKROZE37 @YAHOO.COM

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  24. My favorite series is Rachel Vincent's werecat series. Stray, Rogue, Pride and Prey coming in July 2009


    I have not read either books. thanks Cheryl

    clbstitch at yahoo dot com

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  25. I've only read the first one so far in this series, but I am working on #2 right now, Blood Bound. I would love to win these.
    One of my favorite series is Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series.

    Deidre

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  26. betsy the vampire queen, mary janice davidson and the atlantis warriors by alyssa day


    forgot that on my post

    blackroze37@yahoo.com

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