By Patricia Briggs; narrated by Holter Graham

Place: Publisher & Year: [New York, N.Y.]: Penguin Group (USA), Inc., 2008

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance

Format: Digital download – audio

Series: Alpha and Omega series; 1

ISBN: 9781429526609

Audience: Adult

Length: 10 hours, 6 minutes

Setting: Cabinet Mountains Wilderness & Aspen Creek, MT (opening scene takes place in the Chicago area)

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Anna spent her first three years as a werewolf being brutalized and abused by the other wolves in her Chicago pack.  She is finally freed from her tormentors when her pack leader is killed by The Marrock’s enforcer, Charles.  Charles recognizes Anna as a rare Omega wolf – someone who can bring peace and healing to others wolves even while she is wounded.  Charles’s wolf also recognizes Anna’s wolf – as his mate.  Will Anna’s wolf recognize his?

Appeal factors:

Pacing: Very swift pace with lots of action

Characterization: Told in third person primarily from Anna’s viewpoint.  Other perspectives come from Charles, Walter, and Asil.  Other important characters include Bran (The Marrock), Mariposa, and Sarai

Language: Graham’s voice and character accents, highlight the story rather than detracting from it.

Frame: The title of the story sets the frame; the focus of the story is on werewolves – specifically on Anna as an Omega wolf and learning what this means.  There is an element of mystery in this book which make the variety of meanings the title implies, all relevant.

Story line: A surprisingly, sweet love story interwoven with lots of teeth-baring action.

Subject headings:

From Pima County Public Library:

Thompson, Mercy (Fictitious character) — Fiction.

Werewolves — Fiction.

Audiobooks.

Occult fiction.

Similar works:

Kelley Armstrong – Women of the Otherworld series

Ilona Andrews – Kate Daniels series

Jim Butcher – The Dresden Files series

Personal notes: I love this story.  And I really like how the narrator does Charles’s voice, as well as the other characters.  I didn’t realize when I started this book that the story starts right where the first Mercy Thompson book (Moon Called) leaves off – with The Marrock sending Charles to take care of things in Chicago. Mercy Thompson isn’t in this story, but she is referred to a couple of times.   I put On the Prowl  on reserve so I can read  the story (Alpha and Omega) written prior to this book before I read the next one (which I definitely plan to do).

Other: Diversity – werewolves of various descent (including Native American & Moorish), Omega werewolf, witch, Vietnam veteran

Patricia Brigg’s website