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Books, Review

Cry Wolf: A Review

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Since I’ve talked a few times now about Patricia Briggs’ Alpha and Omega series, and recently reviewed the prequel novella, it’s time for a review of the first book. Cry Wolf is the first book in the series, excluding the Alpha and Omega novella (which is considered a prequel) and the This is my favorite of the series and is the book I have read the most.

Disclaimer

While this story doesn’t go into graphic detail, it does touch on some sensitive subjects. Mainly referenced trauma and violence against Anne while she was in her previous pack.

Synopsis

The story picks up some time after the events of Alpha and Omega. Anne is the mate of Charles, the first and only born were wolf and son of the pack leader Bram, who is trying to get acclimated to the new pack. As she tries to adjust, she and Charles go to a funeral for a pack member, she meets Asil, a downdraught with a drinking habit. Due to Anne being a rare Omega, who’s role is to be a soothing presence in the pack, she .

Positives

I think this book set up the world pretty well. Since it does it’s own thing, away from the Mercy Thompson series, this is something it would have to do to keep it as it’s own separate thing. And I think it does it pretty well. It might feel a bit more contained since it does focus a lot on Anna, Charles, their pack, and the few people they do interact with, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I see this series as really focusing on building the relationship between Anna and Charles alongside their relationship with the pack and how they handle situations that they are needed for.

I also think it sets up a number of characters really well. The dynamic between Anna and Charles is a bit different when compared to Mercy and Adam. Which I think is kind of important since they are the couple readers are following in this series. Individually, Charles

I also think that how they set up why two werewolves cannot have kids and the dangers of trying. That might seem like something that feels a bit like a trope, but I don’t think it’s set up in a way that feels bad. Plus, it also helps further explain why Samuel, Charles’ (half) brother, thought having kids with Mercy, a Coyote shifter, would be potentially safer had they gotten together. Basically, it would be very high risk and the mother would die because of it. They mention this in Alpha and Omega, which devastates Anna, who had always wanted kids even prior to her changing. And again here when explaining how Charles’ mother, who Bran changed in order to save her life, had died giving birth to Charles. So it kind of explores why it’s avoided from two different perspectives.

Negatives

Having read this book as many times that I have, I won’t say it doesn’t have flaws. I’ve narrowed it down to common tropes, some of the characters, and how Asil seems to be the only one with first hand experience with Omegas.

While not always a bad thing, it does have some of the typical tropes you would expect from the genre. Like how urban fantasy a lot of times will focus on vampires, werewolves, witches, and fae. Or how Charles is essentially the enforcer for his father, who is the head, the North American werewolves, which would probably fall into a subcategory of supernatural enforcers. Though, typically, Charles is sent to check in on or handle other werewolf packs as needed as opposed to all of the supernatural creatures. The only time he does is if his father needs him to, but usually it’s to keep the werewolves in line.

I would say this may also hit the Chosen One trope but to a lesser degree. By that I mean that Anna could fit the “chosen one” archetype because she is an Omega, which is a rarity in this universe. I feel like this could be the main trope, with the only other trope in it being the “everyone wants the MC” trope to a lesser extent. Some members of the pack do show an interest in Anna, but its dealt with pretty quickly. Plus, the only reason Asil is interested in Anna was because Anna reminded him of his late wife, who was also an Omega.

Now tropes/clichés aren’t necessarily bad. I just know that what some people might either enjoy or find annoying may vary. However, I don’t think the ones here were terrible to the point where I found it distasteful. Then again, I don’t read a lot of urban fantasy. So while I might not find it as bothersome, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t for others. That said, I feel it’s worth a mention for those of you who might find some of the common tropes in this genre bothersome.

Speaking of Asil, one of the other main complaints I had with this book was how he acted in some instances. On the one hand I do think it’s understandable that he would be a bit more closed off and grieving after his wife dies. I also understand that he and Charles might not have the best relationship at the start. Those in and of themselves aren’t bad as plot points.

However, part of me felt that Asil was being a bit too stubborn/confrontational at times. There’s a point in the story where Charles approaches him about how to approach Anna as an Omega. Since Omegas are pretty uncommon. Asil does provide some advice, but he also seems a bit confrontational, but as restrained as restrained as he has to be. And while the relationship between them does seem to improve over the course of the book, I just feel that their confrontational relationship could have been done differently. Especially since what connects them is the fact their partners are Omega.

Now, I’m not saying that every conflict that that takes this route has to end with a smooth and positive resolution. I’m just saying that this feels like one of those instances that does. Especially since Charles and Anna’s relationship with Asil improves by the end of the book. And if that was what it was going for, then I think it could have been done better.

Though I cannot think of any other flaws at the moment, these were the big ones I had. Again the clichés/tropes used may not be enjoyable depending on the reader and more than anything, I just think that how Asil was approached in regards to his relationship with Charles and working to improve their relationship through Anna could have been done better.

Conclusion

I would probably give this book an eight and a half out of ten. Overall, I think this was a solid enough first book in the series. I feel it sets up the world and characters well. And while it does fall into some of the common tropes/clichés Urban Fantasy is known, they aren’t egregious. I also would have preferred if certain interactions with Asil could have been a bit better. This is my guilty pleasure read and was a fun one at that.