Challenge Review: Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs

Title: Alpha & Omega
Series: Alpha & Omega #0.5
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Berkley Books
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B001IZC3LU
Release Date: October 20, 2008
Source: Amazon.com
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Hardcover

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Anna Latham never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack...and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the Chicago pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But when she discovers wrongdoing in her pack, she has to go above her Alpha's head to ask for help.

Charles Cornick is the son--and enforcer--of the leader of the North American werewolves. Now his father has sent him to Chicago to clean up a problem there. Charles never expected to find Anna, a rare Omega wolf--and he certainly never expected to recognize her as his mate...

Review:

Alpha and Omega takes place during the Moon Called storyline in Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. Alpha and Omega shows us what happens when Charles is sent to Chicago. Anna calls the Marrok about Alan Mackenzie Frazier, a young boy who has been reported missing. Only he's not missing--Anna has seen him in a cage for new werewolves in her Alpha's home.

When Charles arrives in Chicago and meets Anna, he realizes right away that she's not a submissive but a rare Omega. By the way that her pack treats her though, Charles knows that something isn't right within her pack. What he never expected though, was to find his mate. Now he'll do anything to protect Anna.

I absolutely loved Anna. She acts submissive because that's what she's been told she is, but she's got fire inside her, and Charles sees it. He has shown more emotion in this novella than in any of his appearances in the Mercy Thompson series. I'm really happy to see him with someone. He always seemed so alone and Anna brings Charles alive. I hated the way Anna's pack treated her. They made her think and feel that she was less than she is, and that's just not right. With Anna headed to Montana with Charles, I'm really excited to see what happens next for these two.

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

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Challenge Review: Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Title: Bone Crossed
Series: Mercy Thompson #4
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Hardcover, 309 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01676-1
Release Date: February 3, 2009 
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan--and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends'.

Review:

In Bone Crossed, Mercy struggles to cope with the terrible sexual assault she suffered at the hands of a power-hungry murderer. She is plagued by terrifying panic attacks and flashbacks that leave her gasping for air. But life continues to move on and past actions have repercussions.

Marsilia, Mistress of the local vampire seethe, knows that Mercy killed her left hand man, Andre. And she's out for blood. But with Mercy's protection guaranteed from the local werewolf alpha and his pack, it's Mercy's friends who are the targets.

To give Adam a chance to negotiate with Marsilia and to take some time away for herself, Mercy goes to Spokane to help an old college acquaintance with a ghost haunting her house. But in escaping one vampire, Mercy lands right in the path of another, aptly nicknamed The Monster.

Mercy will have to fight mentally, emotionally, and physically to make it home in one piece.

Is it just me or does it seem like lately Mercy is the target of victimization? In the previous book, she is attacked and sexually assaulted, and now in Bone Crossed she has her shop vandalized with derogatory words and images, and she's attacked again in her sleep by The Monster! She leaves the memory of one attack behind in the Tri-Cities and walks right into another in Spokane. It's one thing after another and I'm wondering how much Mercy will be able to take before she breaks. She's tough, but there is only so much one person can take.

Adam and Mercy really start coming together in this book. After Adam comes to understand what Mercy was feeling after her attack, he tried to help Mercy work through it. Now that Mercy has accepted Adam's mate claim, he's been able to relax some and is more patient than before. Adam doesn't walk on eggshells around her, but he exudes a gentleness that let's Mercy know that he's there if she needs him, but he also knows she can take care of herself. I'd say that this is the real beginning for Adam and Mercy, and I can't wait to see how their relationship continues to grow.

There was a great quote said by Adam about who Mercy belongs to that further shows how much he understand her that I really liked:

"Like a coyote, Mercy is adaptable. She belongs to whom she decides. She belongs everywhere she wants to, for just as long as she wants to." (Page 212)

I love Bran! I mean, who doesn't? You can really tell how much he cares about Mercy when he visits her in this book. He may not voice it, but his actions speak louder than his words ever could. Mercy may not be Bran's biological daughter, but her definitely sees her as if she were. Bran is one of my favorite fictional fathers. I can't help but love him!

We get a look at the power struggle within the vampire seethe when both Estelle and Bernard approach Stefan to join them in their rebellion. Estelle basically just wants power, where Bernard really seems to have the seethe's well-being in mind. But Stefan shows unwavering loyalty to Marsilia when he refuses them both, even though she hurt him. He truly is a Soldier at heart, and like a good soldier, the good of the whole outweighs the good of one.

Though Mercy's trouble with the vampires is resolved, there is no hatred lost between her and Marsilia. The next book, Silver Borne, brings us back to the fae and someone really wants the book Mercy borrowed when trying to free Zee in Iron Kissed. The adventures continues and they are bound to be even more exciting that the last.

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

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Challenge Review: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

Title: Iron Kissed
Series: Mercy Thompson #3
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 287 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01566-5
Release Date: January 2, 2008 
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled me upper lip so she could get a good look as my sharp teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape--but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

Review:

In Iron Kissed, Uncle Mike and Zee call in the debt Mercy owes them for borrowing fae objects to kill two vampires. Someone has been murdering fae on the reservation, and with Mercy's nose she may be able to sniff out who did it. BFA agent O'Donnell was present in each of the victim's homes, but when Uncle Mike and Zee pay the guard a little visit, they find him dead in his home. Now Zee is being framed for the murder of O'Donnell. Mercy, great and loyal friend that she is, will not let Zee go down for something he didn't do. At least not without a fight.

Mercy couldn't have gotten herself in a more dangerous situation than sticking her nose (literally) into fae business. Though she was asked to help, she has gained the attention of some very powerful fae, ones who aren't very happy with her knowing their secrets.

First, there is the Great Carrion Crow, who goes by the name Nemane, who also happens to be blind. She finds Mercy sniffing around O'Donnell's place and having possession of one of their treasures. Then there is The Fideal, who catches Mercy sniffing around the local Citizens for a Bright Future chapter. He decides that since he hasn't had a good meal in a while, Mercy will make a great snack. It's amazing that Mercy is still alive considering how much trouble that nose of hers gets her into.

The treasure that I mentioned Mercy being in possession of is a walking stick that is supposed to cause its owner's sheep to bear twins. For some reason the walking stick has grown attached to Mercy and will show up wherever she is. I thought it important to mention the walking stick because it appears in future books and sometimes plays a key role in saving Mercy's life.

We learn about a couple anti-fae groups in Iron Kissed. The first is the one O'Donnell was a member of, Citizens for a Bright Future. This anti-fae group is more for the common, blue-collar person. Whereas the John Lauren Society, which is the largest anti-fae group, is geared toward those of the high class variety. Coincidentally, the lawyer Mercy hired to represent Zee is a member of this group.

Another cool thing that is revealed to us is what Zee really looks like beneath his glamour. By my mental image, he looks pretty awesome!

The side story in Iron Kissed centers around Mercy's indecision concerning Adam and Samuel. Warren warns her that she needs to choose one or neither of them before one of them loses control. They both have been in pretty good control of themselves, but Adam is more restless and his temper more volatile.

We learn the reason for this lies in Adam's mate claim being unfulfilled. When Adam claimed Mercy, a spot was opened for her in the pack, and that opening (which has not been filled) is a weakness within the pack. Adam is absorbing the effects and that leaves him constantly on edge. So there is a lot more to Adam's claim than Mercy thought, so she needs to really think about her choice.

Ben was a character that I had a love-hate relationship with. But when Ben had a one-on-one talk with Adam it really made it easier to understand him. His hatred of women and his feelings about the rape he was accused of really make sense after this. Ben even seems to soften toward Mercy after this point. Ben is probably one of my favorite characters in thise series now.

Mercy shows great strength in the face of a terrible circumstance. But it will take time for her to heal completely and I can't wait to see how she grows after this point.

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

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Challenge Review: Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Title: Blood Bound
Series: Mercy Thompson #2
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Shapeshifters, Witches, Ghosts, Sorcerers, Demons
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 292 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01473-6
Release Date: January 30, 2007  
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places--and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary--and neither is the demon inside of him... 

Review:

In Blood Bound, Stefan calls in the favor Mercy owes him and asks her to accompany him (as a coyote) to act as a witness to his meeting with a vampire in town without permission. When they arrive at the vampire's hotel room the situation quickly deteriorates, leaving Stefan incapacitated and Mercy trapped. When the sun begins to rise, Mercy is left injured and Stefan has altered memories of what happened in the hotel room. The hunt is on for the vampire-sorcerer, and until he's caught, no one is safe.

Though Blood Bound is about the vampires and the sorcerer terrorizing the Tri-Cities, what really stood out for me was the relationships between the characters. Whether the relationship is romantic or just friendly, they seem to take more a front seat than the hunt for the evil vampire-sorcerer. This gives us more insight into the characters and even the reasons behind why they do what they do within these relationships.

Tensions within the Mercy, Adam, Samuel triangle are at an all time high with the arrival of the sorcerer. Mercy is avoiding Adam because the power he has over her makes her uncomfortable. What time she does spend with Adam is making Samuel jealous, especially when she comes home smelling like Adam. Samuel and Adam try to stay out of each others way except when it's necessary for them to be in the same place. And now it seems like this triangle may become a quadrangle when Stefan tells Mercy that she's "important" to him.

The sorcerer being in town is causing those beings with a volatile nature to lose control, especially the werewolves. Samuel seems to be affected the most but also he is showing signs of a werewolf that wants to die. It gets really bad when he has to care for an infant who was a victim on a car accident. It's well known how much Samuel loves children and this incident brought back to the forefront what happened to him in Texas before he returned to Montana. Samuel's painand heartache are so heartbreaking, especially when it's causing him to lose control and just want to give up. Also the fact that Mercy can't give Samuel what he wants adds to that heartbreak.

There was a moment that I found just as terrifying as Mercy did. I think it would terrify just about anyone to wake up and find that your creepy enemy has found you while he's outside slicing your trailer to ribbons trying to get in. It's definitely a good thing that vampires can't enter your home without permission or invitation.

It was interesting to see how much power Mercy actually has within the werewolf pack. Because Adam publicly claimed her as his mate in front of the entire pack in order to protect her, she now has his rank within the pack, and since Adam is the alpha Mercy is next in rank in the pack. It's easy to see how most of the pack would not be happy having a coyote dominant over them.

When Warren is brought back severely injured and Adam and Samuel go missing in search of the sorcerer, Mercy comes to the rescue (really, what would they do without her?). While one enemy is destroyed, another is given pardon. Mercy can't accept that and goes hunting. What this action will mean for the future we won't know until later books, but it's bound to be another adventure.

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

Challenge Review: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Title: Moon Called
Series: Mercy Thompson #1
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Shapeshifters, Witches, Ghosts
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 288 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01381-4
Release Date: January 31, 2006
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Review:

Patricia Briggs brings us a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride of an urban fantasy in the first book in her Mercy Thompson series, Moon Called. Mercy Thompson is a mechanic in the Tri-Cities area, but she's so much more than that. Hidden within the mundane world of humans is a world of werewolves, vampires, witches, and the fae. Then there is Mercy. She's a Walker, a Native American shapeshifter who changes into a coyote.

Mercy is very independent, fiercely loyal, and she knows her strengths and limitations. She was raised by the Marrok, the alpha of the alphas--so she knows her place among the werewolves; she has friends among the fae and vampires, and acquaintances among the witches. With hostility rising after the Gray Lords revealed the existence of the fae to the humans, Mercy needs all the friends and connections she can get.

A young man named Mac, who is running from some pretty bad men, shows up at Mercy's shop looking for a job. She knows right away that Mac is a werewolf, a newly made one at that. When he tells Mercy of a group doing experiments and drug testing on newly created werewolves, Mercy calls in help from the local alpha, Adam Hauptman. But things quickly go wrong when Adam brings Mac into his pack and his house is attacked by the very group Mac was running from--Adam's daughter, Jesse, is kidnapped, and Adam is almost killed. This leads Mercy back to her childhood home for help from the Marrok--and her first love, Samuel.

I've been wanting to read the Mercy Thompson series for a while, but hadn't had the chance until now. But I'm really glad that I finally picked up Moon Called. I'm already addicted to this series, and I've recently gotten Blood Bound and Iron Kissed so I can continue reading right away.

We have a straightforward, sassy, and fearless heroine in Mercy. Two alpha werewolves vying for her attention. And a conspiracy that erupts into and all-out battle for survival. All these create an engaging story I wasn't able to put down. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more romance. I know that urban fantasy doesn't usually have a lot in the romance department, but in Moon Called we only see hints of the love triangle forming.

We know that Mercy cares about Adam--she wouldn't have done so much  to save his life otherwise--but we don't really know what she's feeling for him. With Samuel in the picture, Mercy is conflicted by her past feelings for him resurfacing. There's a nice kiss toward the end, but it's more sweet than steamy. There's isn't any depth to the romance, so it's left kind of vague and flat.

But since it is a love triangle, we know that Mercy will eventually have to choose between Adam and Samuel. Other than that I loved Moon Called and I can't wait to continue the series with Blood Bound. 

About this Author:

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.

Moon Called was read during the Bout of Books 4.0 Read-A-Thon

Challenge: 2012 Patricia Briggs Werewolf Challenge

The 2012 Patricia Briggs Werewolf Challenge hosted by Darlene's Book Nook!

The books in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs are:

1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned (expected publication: Spring 2013)

The books in the sister series, Alpha & Omega, by Patricia Briggs are:

1.  Alpha and Omega: A Companion Novella to Cry Wolf (originally published in the 'On the Prowl' anthology by Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, Karen Chance, and Sunny)
2. Cry Wolf
3. Hunting Ground
4. Fair Game

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from April 10, 2012 to April 9, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read during the challenge period count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks (unabridged only). 

6. There are three levels for the challenge:

a. One Paw In: Read 1-3 werewolf books.

b. Running With The Pack: Read 4-7 werewolf books.

c. Alpha: Read 8-11 werewolf books.

7. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

8. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

9. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the challenge, which will be posted on THIS page. 

10. Create a sign-up post and link back to this post. Sign up with Mister Linky below! Be sure to use the direct url to your sign-up post and not the url to your blog.

11. Grab the challenge button and post it in your sidebar. 
 

For this challenge I'm going to start at the lowest level: One Paw In: Read 1-3 werewolf books. And depending on how it all goes I'll move up the levels.

I'll keep track of my progress below:

1.