Alpha and Omega series

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega -1) — Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1)-2008

The Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. This is a companion series to the Mercy Thompson series, set in the same story universe and running concurrently.

News: Dead Heat just released: March 3, 2015.

Genres and Sub-Genres[]

Urban Fantasy

Series Description or Overview[]

This series is set in the same world as the Mercy Thompson series, but on a slightly earlier time line. Cry Wolf is the first novel in the Alpha and Omega series. The series itself is set in the same world as the Mercy Thompson series and is loosely connected. The protagonists of the Alpha and Omega books are Samuel's brother Charles and his newly acquired mate Anna.

It begins with a novella titled Alpha and Omega published in the On the Prowl anthology. The decision to continue the story was made after the anthology had already been published, which has caused some confusion, since "book 1" is a actually a continuation of the short story. The series has plenty of action, but there's more emphasis on the romantic attraction between the hero and heroine. On a romance-readers scale, this series is sweet rather than steamy. ~ Published Works

Books in Series[]

Alpha and Omega series:

Cry Wolf (2008)
Hunting Grounds (2009)
Fair Game (March 6, 2012) ~ Excerpt: prologue & chapter one
Dead Heat (March 3, 2015) ~ Excerpt: prologue & chapter one

Shorts, Anthologies and Guides[]

o.5. "Alpha and Omega" in On the Prowl anthology (2007)
2.5. "Seeing Eye" in Strange Brew anthology (2009) - [Tom and Moira of the Alpha & Omega series]
Shifting Shadows (September 2, 2014) - Collection of Mercy and Alpha stories - Link

Companion Series, Spinoffs, Sequels or Prequels[]

Alpha & Omega series is a spin-off of the Mercy Thompson series.

World Building[]

Fang-tastic Fiction: Patricia Briggs: ALPHA & OMEGA SERIES

Setting[]

Chicago: this is the town where Anna lived after her Change.
Aspen Creek, Montana: The Marrok's home. ~ Link: Mercyverse
Seattle, Washington
Boston, MA ~ Map: Boston Harbor ~ Fair Game

Supernatural Elements[]

Werewolves, shifters, witches, faeries, Indigenous spiritual abilities,

Glossary:

Omega wolves: are rare and highly valued because they have a soothing, calming influence on other werewolves, and on fae and even humans as well.
The Marrok: The alpha of all the werewolves in North America.
Mercyverse: Canon

Groups & Organizations:[]

CNTRP: (pronounced 'cantrip') - Combined Nonhuman and Transhuman Relations Provisors. A new agency formed specifically to deal with the various preternaturals

World[]

✥ The all-inclusive series title is WORLD OF THE MARROK (the Marrok being the head of the werewolf clan that is the focus of the series), but there are two subseries, each focusing on a different part of the clan: the Washington State werewolves (Mercy Thompson series) and the Montana werewolves (Alpha and Omega series). Several characters overlap the two series, particularly Bran Cornick, the Marrok, his sons Charles and Samuel, and Adam Hauptman, the Seattle pack leader who is Mercy Thompson's husband.

Readers should begin with "Alpha and Omega," in On the Prowl, where Briggs introduces Anna and Charles in a soul-mate romance story. In this short story prequel, Charles, the executioner for his father's pack, rescues Anna and becomes her mate. Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground continue the couple's story in a manner that is more UF than SMR. Also, in shifting shadows by Patricia Briggs, is Alpha and Omega the story on how Charles and Anna met.

Protagonists[]

✥ Anna Latham is an Omega werewolf who was abused for years by a dysfunctional pack. According to this mythology, Omega wolves are rare and highly valued because they have a soothing, calming influence on other werewolves. Charles is the son of Bran, the Marrok of all the werewolf packs, and he is the only born (not made) werewolf, which gives him more strength, better senses, and faster shifting abilities than other werewolves. For hundreds of years, Charles has served as his father's enforcer/executioner.

✥ Charles Cornick:

Sidekick[]

Name: / What: / Sidekick-to: / About: / Book First Seen:

Characters Chart[]

Character List ~ from Author's site
Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega 1) ~ Shelfari

Characters	What	About
Charles Cornick	Werewolf (born not made), witch-born	Half Native American, Spiritual sensibilities, Marrok’s Enforcer. Mate: Anna.
Anna Latham	Werewolf, Omega	Omega helps calm the wolf part of werewolves; Mate: Charles;
Leah	Werewolf	Bran's mate.
Mercy Thompson	Coyote, Walker	Half Native American. Mate: Adam.
Adam Hauptman	Werewolf, Alpha	Pack Alpha. Mate: Mercy.
Bran	Werewolf, witch-born	The Marrock. Leader of all werewolves in North America. Mate: Leah.

To expand the table, in Edit–Visual mode, right-press on a Row of the table (Control-press on a Mac)—choose add Row or Column. Or, in Source Mode: copy-paste rows.

Author[]

Patricia Briggs

Website: Patty's Home Page
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

Bio: 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. ~ from: Goodreads | Patricia Briggs

Full Bio: Briggs | Biography

Cover Artist[]

Artist: Dan Dos Santos
Website: The Art of Dan dos Santos
Artcle: Embodying Mercy Thompson In Person and In Paint | Tor.com

AND:

Maurizio Manzieri - Cover for the "Alpha and Omega" eBook (2009)
Website: MANZIERI ART | The Fantastic Art of Maurizio Manzieri

Publishing Information[]

Publisher: Ace
Author Page: Patricia Briggs Books - Books by Patricia Briggs - Penguin Group (USA)

book data:

Bk1: Paperback, 294 pages, Pub: July 29-2008 by Ace—ISBN: 0441016154
Bk2: Pb, 286 pages, Pub: Aug 25-2009—ISBN: 044101738X
Bk3: Hardcover, 293 pages, Pub: Mar 6-2012—ISBN: 0441020038
Bk-3: Paperback, 280 pages, Pub: January 29th 2013 by Ace—ISBN: 0425256189

Book Cover Blurbs[]

✤ BOOK ONE BLURB—Cry Wolf (2008): Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life. Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack ~ Cry Wolf: Author Comments & sample chapters

✤ BOOK TWO BLURB—Hunting Grounds (2009): Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son — and enforcer — of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be either... Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything.. ~ Cry Wolf: Author Comments & sample chapters

✤ BOOK THREE BLURB—Fair Game (March 6, 2012): Patricia Briggs, the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, "New York Times" bestselling author) Now her Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey... They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind. Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles. Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights. ~ Fair Game: Author Comments & sample chapters

✤ BOOK FOUR BLURB—Dead Heat (March 3rd 2015): For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way... Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire. ~ Goodreads | Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega, #4) by Patricia Briggs — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

First Sentences[]

Cry Wolf (2008) — Cry Wolf: No one knew better than Walter Rice that the only safe place was away from other people.
Hunting Grounds (2009) — Hunting Grounds: She observed him from her chosen cover, as she'd done twice before.
Fair Game (March 6, 2012) — Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Leslie.
Dead Heat (March 3, 2015) — The fae lord stalked back and forth in his cell of gray stone.

Quotes[]

Cry Wolf:

Cry Wolf Quotes by Patricia Briggs ~ GR

Hunting Grounds:

Fair Game:

Fair Game Quotes by Patricia Briggs ~ GR

“Is there a doctor? Or a medical person who knows more than I do around here somewhere? Like maybe a ten-year-old Boy Scout?” ~ Anna, Cry Wolf

“Samuel, this is Anna. Anna, my brother, Samuel,” Charles said in introduction. Apparently deciding Charles’s brief introduction wasn’t good enough, his brother reintroduced himself. “Dr. Samuel Cornick, elder brother and tormentor. Very nice to meet you, Anna—” ~ Charles and Samuel, Cry Wolf

“You know,” said Samuel reflectively, “you just proved your point better by arguing against it than you did arguing for it. I wonder if that says anything about how your mind works.” ~ Samuel about Bran, Cry Wolf

“I need to go," she said to his chest. "I need – " His mouth closed over hers, hot and hungry, warming her mouth as his body warmed her body. "Me," Charles said, his voice dark and gravelly as if it had traveled up from the bottom of the earth, his eyes a bright gold. "You need me.” — Anna and Charles, Fair Game

~ Source: Shelfari