Fair Game

I think among the 4 books I have read in this series this is my favourite with Hunting Grounds being a very close second. As that book came out right before this one I guess I could day this series is getting better as the writer gets more into the story.

I know this is a spin off of the Mercy Thompson series and that it takes place in a timeline that is interspersed within that world. But I had tried to read that series before this and it was not what I was craving at the time and when I picked up the Alpha and Omega series it just clicked for me. I fell in love with the stoic Charles who is scary to everyone but Anna, his mate. I also fell in love with Anna, who was abused relentlessly in the past but is a survivor. But mostly love how they both mesh and support each other.

This book seemed to start abruptly. In the previous books the stories were set a few weeks apart. Here it is a significant time jump ( at least a year) and though jarring it wasn't off putting. I think if I had read the Mercy Thompson series it wouldn't be so but it did not hinder me from following the story. Charles is on edge after having to constantly take on the role of executioner on the Marrok's behalf and Anna is worried for him. The way to distract him from that Bran decides to send him to help with an FBI investigation in to a serial killer where the recent victims were werewolves. I quite liked the progression of their investigation and though it was slightly obvious who the UNSUB might be there was still enough of a plot twist for it to be interesting. Also that ending was both rage inducing and satisfying at the same time.

I don't think anyone is reading these reviews and it seems stupid to put in a warning here but this book does have mention of Sexual abuse though mostly off screen and in conversations. I am not a fan of reading gratuitous violence, especially that done against women and more so SA/rape. But Briggs has a way of writing it that doesn't trigger me. At least so far. And the way she writes Anna helps too. She isn't someone who walks away from her past unscathed. It has left its marks on her. Though she is still scared she is learning to face it down and slowly move on. Like she says, Charles rescued her once. But he also taught her to rescue herself, and that more than anything makes her a hero I love.

I am quite looking forward to reading more about Charles and Anna and I am mostly also going to give the Mercy Thompson series another try.