Review: Hunting Ground (An Alpha and Omega Novel) by Patricia Briggs

Hunting Ground: Alpha & Omega series, Book 2
Patricia Briggs
August 25, 2009
Penguin Group
ISBN: 9780441017386

Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son—and enforcer—of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles’s reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer—or Charles will take the fall.


Anna Latham is mated to Charles Cornick the son and enforcer of the leader of the North American werewolves. The same werewolves who are planning to reveal themselves as more than just a fairy tale to the human world. But not every one agrees with that, especially the European ones. They're both have been enlisted by Bran, the leader, to attend a summit to talk about their reveal and what objections the Europeans werewolves have.

But of course, things are not as easier as they sound. When the most feared European Alpha is found dead; actually that's putting it mildly; things changed and Anna and Charles are right in the thick of things. They have to find whoever killed the Alpha and stop them because someone doesn't want the werewolves to come out and they're willing to do anything, kill anyone, to stop them.

I feel that Anna is the perfect heroine, in that she's flawed, she has vulnerabilities but she uses them, not in a manipulative sort of way, but to draw strength for. She's been through a lot and that has made her so much stronger. Charles is hard to describe. For a long time now, he's been feared, he's still feared by most, but with Anna, he's so incredible gentle. They're trying to get to know each other while they both have been scarred by their past and also trying to deal with the summit and everything that is going on.

While the relationship between Anna and Charles was great to read, it didn't steal away from the plot about the reveal to the humans. No matter what the European werewolves, Bran is determined to go through with that plan, because there are certain people who know they already exist that wants to use that to their advantage and Bran's main object is to protect his wolves.

The writing is simple and compelling. Ms. Briggs is just simply a fabulous writer. She's weaved a story that has plenty of action, fantasy, and romance. There's honestly not enough good things I can say about Hunting Ground. I think it more than surpass my expectations and admittedly, they were quite high. I loved Cry Wolf but Hunting Ground made me, for a little while, live in Charles and Anna's world, made me feel like I was there, seeing everything unfold. This new Alpha and Omega series is turning out to be one of the best I've read and I seriously can't wait for the next book. But in the mean time, I'm beyond satisfied with Hunting Ground. Ms. Briggs has outdone her self.

*Original review posted on NOR.