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Jun 18, 2012

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2) by Patricia Briggs review

Hunting Ground coverAnna 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...


From Goodreads

The Marrok (Bran) is ready to announce to the world that the Fey are not the only supernatural creatures that walk amongst the humans. It is becoming increasingly difficult to hide the truth & he thinks it will hurt their image if they are discovered because of a violent action, rather than a heroic one. As more of a courtesy than anything else, he sends Anna & Charles to Seattle to present the case for mostly-full disclosure to the rest of the packs from around the world.


Naturally this doesn't sit well with some of the other wolves. There are threats dealt & words exchanged, but what surprises the newly married werewolf couple even more is that the most violent attack on them comes from a whole separate group. Vampires are using pack magic against them & trying to cover for someone else. It takes both of their special talents to root out the source of the trouble before anyone else can be harmed.


Walking back into the world of Alpha & Omega feels like coming home. The characters are so all-encompassing that I can't imagine how I could read books without them. The Marrok is such a strong and yet compassionate man/wolf that it's hard to believe that anyone could question his decisions, but that's exactly what happens in this story. Despite still getting to know one another, Charles & Anna find themselves in the middle of a dangerous situation. I am enamored with the way these two interact. They lean on one another while still taking a stand when needed. They seem to have hits & misses because they're still learning each others rhythm.


What was truly awesome to see in this book was the inter-species & international exchanges. One can often forget the role that politics can play even in our fictional worlds. I found myself shocked, appalled, disheartened & then revived by the actions of members of each party. Also, the dialog & setting were impeccable. Ms. Briggs has a way with words that I find highly intoxicating. Even better is her use of those words to create her world. I have never been to Washington state, but through her stories I sometimes feel like I could navigate the city blindfolded. 


All in all this was a wonderful follow up to Cry Wolf & a great continuance of such a wonderful series. If you haven't given her a try, I would suggest doing so.

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