It has been too long since I've had a new Alpha and Omega novel in my hands. Dead Heat was a solid entry on my Best of 2015 list, and I have missed Anna and Charles (and Bran) ever since. Burn Bright is, if you can believe it, the fifth installment in the series. So it's no wonder I began reading and instantly felt how good it was to be back in Aspen Creek again with all of Bran's crazy foundlings. By now, Patricia Briggs' books are firmly comfort reads for me, whether they're brand new or not. They feel like home. Which is probably why the dedication in this one made me tear up. I'm so glad we go on. I'm so glad words go on. And that we are connected to one another through them.

Anna and Charles are somewhat housebound in Aspen Creek since the Marrok up and took off for Africa to see how Sam is doing. And, in his absence, it is Charles the pack looks to for leadership, enforcement, and otherwise keeping things in line until Bran returns. Which is fine. Except it means little time alone and their days spent making sure the various shifting relationships and dominance issues don't get out of hand. But when a distress signal from the mate of one of the outlying wildlings comes in, Anna and Charles are forced to go on the hunt for the mysterious attacker. To say nothing of the fact that Charles is increasingly concerned about the real reason his father left and why he's not responding to any of Charles's calls for help.

Burn Bright is an extremely satisfying installment in the series. I love that it takes place entirely at Aspen Creek, because I am so fascinated by the machinations among that group and thoroughly enjoy being allowed to watch Charles on his home turf and Anna integrating further into her life there. When I realized Bran was going to be MIA for the majority of the novel, I was all set to be properly irritated. Until. Until I realized just how much in the way of insight his absence would bring us, most especially with regards to Leah. The Marrok's mercurial mate has been one of my favorite aspects of both the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series ever since we initially met her way back in Moon Called. And, even as she was being awful, I just never could buy that there wasn't a darn good reason why she was his mate and that we would eventually become privy to it. Well, we're not all the way there yet, but we do take several steps forward on that front in this volume. Personally, I can hardly stand the wait for more. In the meantime, Anna and Charles make such a good team. They genuinely bring out the best in each other, and their respective individual inner dialogues with regard to caring for and supporting (and affectionately teasing) the other are such a pleasure to read. Real humor, real love. They form the backbone of their arc together. A snippet from one of my favorite conversations:

***

Charles was kneeling beside the couch. One hand on her face. The other hand was holding . . .

"That," Anna said, "is a really big axe that you didn't have this morning when you left." And it had blood on it. Not his blood, she didn't think. It didn't smell like his blood.

Not ours, agreed Brother Wolf happily.

Charles grunted, then when she raised her eyebrows, he answered her implied question.

"When you contacted me the first time, I'd just stolen the axe from the Viking who attacked me and broke his leg with it."

"I see," she said.

"It took me awhile to take out his twin brothers, or I'd have gotten back to you sooner."

She considered that statement and decided he wasn't trying to be funny. He looked apologetic.

"I would rather you not get hurt by Viking twins . . . " she had to say it again, "because Viking twins are apparently a thing here."

***

I always laugh at these classic Briggs exchanges. Like Mercy calmly explaining about the werewolf throwing her against a packing crate while she's trying to rescue the girl from the evil witch and the drug lord, Charles earnestly describing the Viking twins he had to dispatch before he could get to Anna is so endearing it fills me with fondness. For him. For this world. And for the integrity with which Ms. Briggs's sees to it all. As ever, the pacing is note perfect, the stakes high, and the consequences far-reaching. I'm in it for the long haul.

BURN BRIGHT wasn't the best story in the Alpha & Omega series but it achieves what it seems to set out to do and acts as a well thought out bridge to the next book. The plot of BURN BRIGHT is kind of slow at times and relies on mostly exposition or characters sitting trying to figure things out. But that exposition is mesmerizing and almost like a whole story within a story which makes up for not having a whole lot of action. The plot is so well executed with an awesome plot twist that was well and truly hidden until the right moment. That's the marker of an excellent mystery.

Much of the plot revolves around the wildlings; werewolves who are too broken or dangerous to be out is society. I really liked getting to learn more about them in this story and seeing Anna and Charles work together to help one of the wildlings was really fun. Anna continues to hone her Omega powers and it was cool to see how her powers evolve in each book as she learns more. Anna and Charles' relationship is extremely sweet and charming. I enjoyed the other non-wildling secondary characters, but could have done without Charles' step-mom, Leah. She comes off as incredibly combative and toxic which I suppose was intended. I just really did not care about her and had an immediate eye roll any time she came up.

BURN BRIGHT takes its time with its story and while it was indeed too slow at times the unraveling of new information and unique stories was well worth it. The story ends on a cliffhanger of sorts and I am after a really eye-opening twist I am looking forward to seeing what the next book has in store.

BURN BRIGHT is fantastic! I have loved author Patricia Briggs Alpha and Omega series from the beginning and love watching as the characters grow, evolve and come together. In this one, it was really interesting how the Marrok was missing, and it all fell to Anna and Charles. Anna has changed so much over time with the help, love, and support of Charles that it is amazing. (For those new to the series she was forced to become a werewolf and horribly abused by her former alpha in the hopes of saving his mate's sanity.) Charles too has changed, he's found a bit of a sense of humor and with the help of Anna has delved into his feelings more, though I guess you can't be expected to be an executioner and feel too deeply.

You won't be able to help yourself - you will be pulled into this story with your heart touched by these broken people - because everyone knows someone who just doesn't fit the mold. The intrigue is full-blown, the action high and the traitor is a really big shock! I was kind of hoping it was someone else so we can be rid of her but alas Ms. Briggs had other ideas.

BURN BRIGHT is the book you want if you are looking for intrigue, suspense, danger, love, action, werewolves, witches, and Fae. I am already looking forward to the next offering in this series!

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

The complete review may be found at: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=65186

Bran, the Marrok is away and has left his son Charles in charge, when one of the Marrok's special pack of wolves is attacked. Charles, Anna and the rest of the pack rush to to avert tragedy and track down a traitor among them.

The story was intense, full of grief and powerful magics. It is a story about marriages and loss and it was simply beautiful. The story was filled to the brim with little character moments, full of insight into long-standing relationships in the series. It was completely engrossing and I highly recommend it. I love these characters and the ways Briggs has lets us grow to get to know them, sometimes transforming the way I thought about a character through small reveal.

This story starts as Brigg's Mercy Thompson's Silence Falls ends and I had fallen behind in my Mercy Thompson series reading, and this made me eager to catch back up again, although like the previous Alpha and Omega books, its stands apart. After going off and catching up, I found it particularly fascinating how Charles and Mercy revisit memories of the same time period, persons and relationships and see them so differently.

I understand two more Mercy Books and one more A&O book, with Moira and Tom are under contract and I am eager for more stories in this world.

(An ARC of Burn Bright was provided by the Publisher for review consideration. Burn Bright's expected publication date is March 6th, 2018 and it is available for at all the usual places).

Burn Bright intertwines mystery and magic for a thrilling new installment of the Alpha and Omega series that changes everything. From the opening scene to the final word, Briggs sets an intense pace that reveals heartbreaking betrayals that may just cost the pack everything. With a stellar use of wit, Briggs brings new and secondary characters to the forefront in unforgettable ways. I was captivated, crushed, caught off guard and ready for the next installment as soon as I read the last sentence.

♦

Burn Bright Kicks Everything Up A Notch
Anna and Charles Cornick are back in Burn Bright and things are about to get interesting (again) in Aspen Creek. Bran’s away on vacation leaving Charles in charge. Before I was even a chapter in, I was laughing and completely involved in this world all over again.

Charles and Anna are my favorite couple. There are too reasons to list but, mostly because they are a matched set. They love and care for one another in ways that confound but feel perfectly balanced. Their dynamic brings a lively energy to every story. I get a little more attached to Charles the more Anna pulls him out of his shell. I was intrigued by the deeper look behind the curtain into pack dynamics. Learning more about Leah’s personality and feelings was welcome (I still don’t like this broad). I’m always up for gaining insight into the complicated history that always accompanies the introduction of a new threat or unexpected ally in this series.

Aspen Creek Gets Complicated
This story, like most in the Mercedes Thompson world, quickly takes an unexpected turn. What should be merely a struggle not to kill his stepmother Leah, becomes a life and death battle to keep everyone safe. Because someone’s come hunting reclusive pack members. I’m always curious about the people surrounding Bran and Briggs never disappoints when she chooses to bring the action and drama by way of secondary(ish) characters. Briggs always finds a way to defy expectation and give you exactly what you need in character development, plot progression and world-building. You can always see events as they unfold on the page.

Anna and Charles face ever-increasing danger. New enemies wearing familiar faces are revealed. A centuries-old grudge leads to a violent conspiracy. Patricia Briggs has a sharp-witted, invigorating voice that keeps the action moving, your emotions in turmoil and your sense of humor satisfied. Burn Bright changes everything for Bran and the packs on multiple fronts which means we’re guaranteed some exciting adventures and magical mayhem in the future.

Burn Bright is a perfect example if why I pimp (books) for Patty without a qualm.

Hands down 5 out of 5 Stars.

Patricia Briggs.... has once again shined in Burn Bright. The Alpha and Omega series is truly a unique story based on love, and redemption.

As always Briggs books resolves around mystery filled with adventure. So many twists and turns you least expect.

Even after so many years we learn something new about Charles and Anna. We the readers also find out more of Mercy and her upbringing.

Don’t even get me started on the romance in Burn Bright. It flowed flawlessly, and never shadowed the plot itself. Charles and Anna are soul mates, and just seeing them together.... the sweet and tender moments, took my breath away.

Fans of this thrilling series will not be disappointed!
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

Another FANTASTIC read by this author.
Bran is away in Africa? Well maybe, maybe not...
It's up to Charles and Anna to deal with all at the pack. The Wildlings are in massive trouble but by who? and why?

There is so much going on and you really can't tell who the traitor is but there is one within the pack at Aspen Creek.
Is it Leah? the Marrok's mate?
Is it Sage?
This book is so good and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a lot of angst in their stories.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Patricia Briggs is one of the best urban fantasy authors I’ve ever read. I adore her Mercy Thompson series, but the Alpha & Omega series is what I LIVE for. Charles and Anna are two of my all-time favorite beloved characters – the beginning of their romance was slow and sweet, but with each book, they prove just how much they are meant to be mates. I honestly could read about them forever, so to say I was excited about Burn Bright would be an understatement. If you’ve been a fan of the series, you’ll definitely want to pick up Burn Bright.

Ours, said Brother Wolf. She is perfect, our soul mate, our anchor, the reason we were created. So that we could be hers.

I don’t want to go much into detail about the plot because the blurb explains it perfectly. I do want to say that this book shouldn’t be read as a standalone – this is a complex, fascinating paranormal world that Patricia Briggs has created, and it’ll be easier to understand if you start from the beginning. Plus, more Anna and Charles 😉

Anna slipped her hand under Charles’ tee, just at the small of his back, and let her fingers rest against the skin there. Brother Wolf relaxed. Anna made Brother Wolf happier than killing their enemies would have.

The author’s writing always amazes me every time I open one of her books. It reads simply but beautifully, every word holding significance. I love the way she writes all the little details, especially about Anna and Charles, because it makes me more immersed in their world and in love with the characters. It’s usually hard for me to dive back into a series after a year or two wait, but Patricia Briggs is so skilled in bringing me back into the series as if no time has passed. It almost has me not minding the wait… almost.

Anna started to agree but then stopped and shook her head. “No. Then I wouldn’t have Charles. He’s worth all the rest.”
“Charlie?” said Sage. She started to say something else, but she shook her head and gave Anna a rueful smile. “Charlie sure thinks the sun rises and sets on you, that’s for sure.”

Each book in the A&O series is suspenseful and action-packed, and Burn Bright is no different. I loved reading about Charles and Anna again, and already want more of them. This book is a fantastic addition to an incredible series and I can’t wait to see where Patricia Briggs will take us next!

Burn Bright is the 5th book in Patricia Briggs’ Alpha & Omega series, which is part of the Mercy Thompson world. This much anticipated installment follows Dead Heat, released in 2015. Briggs still enthralls me with her beautiful storytelling, but somewhere this book fell short of my expectations.

Burn Bright gives us some more in depth insight into various pack dynamics, including Leah, the Marrok’s (Alpha of all packs) mate. The depth certainly gave me a greater understanding of Leah and I enjoyed obtaining the understanding for her resentment of Mercy. Unfortunately it also added a new and uncomfortable creepy factor of the Mercy / Marrok dynamic, which caused some unease. I didn’t want it to get creepy. And it did. <Especially if you read the last Mercy Thompson book>

Charles and Anna are a beautifully unique pair. Their interactions translate well onto the page and their love for one another warms my heart. Burn Bright has a bit of an unusual conflict going on and Anna and Charles were certainly the best team to deal with it. Meeting some extremely unique new members of the world was probably one of the things that will stick with me the longest. These members also appear to be the bridge into an entire new series arc, but only time will tell if I am right or not. Learning about the members living on the outside of the pack dynamic provided a layer of understanding of how some don’t fit and how they were cared for and also, how they were put as risk. Burn Bright is a good read. Beautiful writing allowed me to fall into the story and added a lot to the world building, but feeling unsettled left me a bit deflated and I think Burn Bright felt a little disconnected from the last two books.

5 Hearts, Recommended Read!!!!
SJ, Romance Junkies.

The fifth in Patricia Briggs' amazing Alpha and Omega series, BURN BRIGHT follows werewolf mates Charles Cornick and Anna Latham, the pack Omega, as they head to help a wild werewolf fight an ancient curse. With their alpha out of the country, it's up to them to take care of Pack business, even when the werewolves in question live on the outskirts of the wilderness, apart from the pack.

It'll take both Anna's Omega nature and Charles's witch-born strength to stop the evil coming for them. Patricia Briggs has done it again with this outstanding urban fantasy. Charles's power is tempered by Anna's peacefulness, and their developing relationship grows even stronger as they're tested by forces from within, and from without.

The Marrok's pack gets a closer scrutiny, and the rich secondary characters (Leah, Asil, Sage...) provide depth to the story. Briggs is a master at pacing and plot, and the BURN BRIGHT races at the perfect speed, rising and falling with gathering suspense until a shocking climax steals the show.

BURN BRIGHT is a definite keeper and the perfect addition to the Alpha and Omega series. A shining example of urban fantasy at its finest. 

Recommended Read!

Charles Cornick is less than thrilled to be left in charge of his father’s pack while Bran is away, but when the wildlings – the werewolves too broken to live safely even among the Aspen Creek pack – are attacked, the Marrok’s absence becomes an even bigger problem. For Charles and Anna are about to discover that the attack on the wildlings isn’t random, isn’t a crime of opportunity. There’s dark magic at play and the clock is ticking. Charles and Anna must use all their power to unravel a plot that could tear the heart of those they hold dear.

Burn Bright is part mystery, part fairytale, part action-packed adventure. It’s imaginative and interesting, as one would expect a Patricia Briggs story to be. I adore Charles and Anna and they are as solid as ever, so any time spent with them is time well spent.

Burn Bright keeps Charles and Anna closer to home and I loved getting to see more of their pack, the interactions among members, and the internal politics. Also, the fact that the newest attack against werewolves is in the heart of the Marrok’s territory gives the threat an added intensity. Characters we know and care about are in danger and it made me incredibly eager to jump into this book’s mystery. The one downside of this story is that – after the initial attack – it does take a while for momentum to build. At times the book seems to meander into side stories, but keep with it because Ms. Briggs makes sure the climax packs a punch. I likely had a death-grip on my book for the last quarter of the story – it was just that exciting. I wish I could say more, but I want to avoid spoilers since every detail plays into the resolution of the mystery.

Burn Bright is the fifth full-length book in the Alpha & Omega series, and you should at least be familiar with the world before diving into this story. As I mentioned before, the relationships and politics of the pack play an important part in this book and that was one of my favorite aspects of it. I really enjoyed getting to see more of characters we normally wouldn’t, like Leah, Charles’s stepmother. She’s not a beloved character, but I liked getting to see a different side of her. Burn Bright is also part of the larger world of Mercy Thompson and fans of that series will likely be excited that this book is woven closely with concurrent Mercy Thompson storylines. As I have not yet read Mercy’s books, I felt like I was missing something; not enough to detract from my enjoyment of this story, but enough to be noticeable. Burn Bright did definitely make me move Mercy’s books up in my proverbial to-be-read pile so that I can go back and more fully enjoy the little things in the Alpha & Omega series I missed the nuances of.

If you’re a fan of Patricia Briggs, you definitely don’t want to miss Burn Bright. Charles and Anna are strong, engaging characters and the world Ms. Briggs has developed is – to put it mildly – seriously awesome.

I love taking a break from traditional romance to visit the wonderful world of Patricia Briggs. Charles and Anna, a spin-off world of the Mercy Thompson world, have solidified themselves as the Marrok's most dependable within the wolf pack. As one of two Omegas in existence, Anna's spent time as a commodity in this series. I loved that Burn Bright gave us a lot more insight to Charles and even his own father, Bran the Marrok.

As Bran is out of town and has left Charles in charge of the pack, a mysterious phone call from the wildlings (outcast or "broken" wolves) sets the pack in a panic. As more bodies are discovered and a plot begins to reveal itself from inside the pack, Briggs does a fantastic job of making readers second guess every character they've either loved or hated. Anna does have her moment with pushing the mystery narrative when she helps a dissociated wolf. Beautifully written, the way Anna breaks through mental and physical barriers with her Omega side is something powerful to read.

Briggs had me second guesses throughout the whole novel! Watching our Alpha and Omega try to save their pack was like peaking in to a world I could never imagine. Anna and Charles connection is so ingrained and strong. Their instincts are sharp and o point when it comes to one another that watching them investigate or even fight an enemy is like watching a beautiful dance. Another stellar chapter to the shifter world of Patricia Briggs!

I guess the only way to do the book the deserved justice is to tease people enough that they will stop whatever they are doing right now and rush to get the book, IMMEDIATELY!
 
Ready?
- It makes you rethink the Mercy Thompsom books - that's right. There is this tiny tiny detail, that had me WHAT?! Sure, I'm a bit plot naive, since there's a lot of stuff I never see it coming, but WHAT?! That.. that makes me want to re-read all Mercy books in a different light and try to see things in the right framework.

- It shows you Leah as you never seen her before. Does it make you like her? Is she really mean at heart or did she turn that way by lack at choice? Do she thinks about the pack about everything else or has her own reasons? I guess you'll have to read to find it out.

- It focus on Mates. Mate Bonds. Mate Connections. Death of a Mate. You want to see your heart shattered into pieces? This is the book for you.

- Wildlings are as interesting as scary and getting to know more about them is something you don't want to miss out.

- Charles and Anna are amazing. I keep saying I prefer this series to Mercy, and as much as it pains me saying it, this book solidifies that preference.

- Bran. We learn a few more Bran layers. And the jury is still out about them.

5 fiery stars. I said it before, and will say it again. This is Patricia Briggs’s world and I’m just visiting. I will continue visiting. Will you?

Charles and Anna are holding down the fort in Aspen Creek, while Bran, the Marrok is off on vacation. The story takes off quickly when one of the “wildling’s” (old wolves that are no longer safe to associate around Pack on a regular basis) mate calls for help. Anna and Charles go to investigate and find a lot more than they bargained for. There’s a lethal threat, assisted by a traitor in the Pack, and Anna and Charles must figure out if the traitor is one of the “wildlings”, or a closer Pack member. Either way, they must warn all the “wildlings” of the danger, and so begins the thrill ride!

Got some surprising insight on Bran (never suspected that!), and his abilities, which clarified something he was able to pull off in Silence Fallen (the previous book in the Mercy Thompson series). Anna’s abilities as an Omega wolf get more awesome as the series progresses. Especially as she investigates and understands her power more.

As usual, Charles and Anna face the conflicts and danger as a united front, lending power or support to each other whenever needed. Theirs is a mature romance, without unnecessary drama, or petty jealousies. There’s plenty of love and passion between the two of them, when they’re not battling for their lives, that is!

A big betrayal, Pack dynamics, Asil and Sage, and a slightly different view of Leah all factor in, as well, in this exciting installment of the Alpha & Omega series. There’s never all dull moment, even when the action is a bit on hold, because trying to discover the culprit behind the attacks kept me guessing! Alpha & Omega continues to be one of my all-time favorite urban fantasy series’, so of course I gobbled Burn Bright up! Even though the mystery wraps up here, I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book!

PATRICIA BRIGGS DOES IT AGAIN!!!!! I AM OBSESSED WITH HER BOOKS!!!!! With each book, she continues to create unique and dynamic stories with her memorable characters.

In traditional Briggs fashion, the mystery and adventure elements of this story were exhilarating. I loved trying to solve the crazy mystery alongside the characters. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, and I enjoyed every moment of it. The storyline of this book is definitely memorable!

I was shocked at how much the characters developed in this story. There have been so many books in this world, yet Briggs continues to find new ways to develop her characters even more. Not only did we learn more about Charles and Anna, but we also got to learn more about Mercy. It was such an unexpected and delightful surprise to see some more of Mercy's upbringing.

The romance was perfectly placed throughout the story. Charles and Anna had some really sweet moments, but it never overshadowed the intense plot of the story. Their romance continues to blossom and grow throughout each book, just like they do. I SHIP IT SO FREAKING HARD.

I don't want to spoil anything about this book, so just do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK! Fans of this series will not be disappointed.

5/5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

Burn Bright takes place just after the events in Silence Fallen. With the Marrok out of the country on a vacation after dealing with the ordeal with Mercy, Charles has taken up the temporary role as Alpha of the Aspen Creek pack and a phone call from one of his father's Wildlings leads him and Anna on an investigation that just escalates from there. I know I say this every time I read a book in these series, but I loved everything about this one! I read it pretty much in one sitting and I was hooked from the start.

One of the things I've loved about the Alpha & Omega books is that we get to see a lot of the world because Charles and Anna are always traveling. This book felt like a throwback to the early Mercy books but with the A&O crew. We're finally back in Aspen Creek and this book delivers on feeding my curiosity about the members of the Marrok's pack.

We know that the Aspen Creek Pack is full of wolves that are wounded and broken and who wouldn't survive in any other pack. But what I didn't realize it that Bran's pack held even more broken wolves called the Wildlings who are too damaged to even interact with the pack. They are such intriguing characters! I loved learning more about them as much as I did learning more about Tag, Asil, Sage, and Leah.

Yeah. I just said Leah. If you would have told me that I would come to like and respect Leah after pretty much despising her character for the last fourteen or so books, I would have said you were crazy. But Briggs did the impossible. She may not have made me love Leah in this book, but I certainly respect her and even kind of like her now. We even got to learn more about Mercy's time in the pack which was interesting, as is everything with Mercy.

One thing I noticed a lot in this book was the emphasis placed on the bonds between mates. Many of you may not know but Patricia Briggs lost her husband unexpectedly in 2017. This is the first book published since she lost him and it was clearly influenced by his loss. I loved that it focused heavily on the different matings and bonds of the characters, even the ones who have lost their mates. Burn Bright was dedicated to her husband and it really was a fitting tribute to the man who was her own mate and such a delightful man in real life. RIP Mike.

This book was a real roller coaster of feelings for me. It made me laugh. It made me kind of tear up. And it had me on the edge of my seat a majority of the time reading it. The mystery was so good! I thought I had everything figured out and then I got hit out of left field with the reveal. I never saw it coming and all I can say is: Bravo, Patricia Briggs! Bravo!

The events in this book have consequences for both series and I'm intrigued to see what it does to this world. I think it's really going to shake things up.

This is the fifth book in the Alpha & Omega series. I fall more in love with Anna and Charles with each book. I love all the wolves. I even tolerate Leah!

I will say my line of thinking was the same as Bran and Charles. I may have even wished for that person to be the traitor a few times.

Boy was I wrong!

I loved meeting the Wildings. I hated what happened to them. Wellesley’s back story is so sad.

What Anna did with Wellesley was nothing short of amazing and life saving. She’s really becoming a powerful Omega.

Of course there are some twists. I didn’t see them coming.

I will admit that I was mad at Bran for not being there at first. But once we got the reasons, I understood why he couldn’t be there.

Plus Charles is more than capable of running the pack, even if he doesn’t want that responsibility.

This is my favorite of the series.

Charles Cornick with his Omega mate Anna has been left in charge of the pack while his father the "Marrok" is out of the country. A panicked phone call out of the blue sends Charles and Anna on a mission where Anna's painful past intersects with a powerful enemy. The author reaches out to take her readers on a wild ride guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Someone with expensive surveillance equipment has been spying on the pack. To add insult to injury they are armed with a powerful weapon that even has he power to fell Charles himself. Unfortunately for Anna and Charles their mission turns FUBAR from the moment they arrive on the mountain top leaving them unable to save the old couple one of whom is a powerful fae lord.
It's Anna's Omega powers that play a strong role in this story as she first uses her powers and perseverance along with her mating bond and Charles pack powers to save an old wolf who has been fighting evil for decades. She brings a dogged persistence as she does all she can to support her husband and even saves him a few times when he gets in over his head because he underestimated the evil that is hunting them.
I am awed with Ms. Briggs imagination as she weaves in witch craft, skin walkers, body walker and shape shifters into her colorful cast of characters. This series featuring Charles and Anna is a deeply insightful series that gives us action adventure plus a relationship that deepens and grows with every book.

With the Marrock out of town, werewolves Charles and Anna are in charge of their pack- which means when trouble arises, they're the ones who have to deal with it. Someone is making trouble for the most damaged of their pack members, hunting them, and killing them. Charles and Anna will have to use all their skills and trust in each other to solve the problem because something even worse than death is stalking them now.

I ended up having very mixed reactions to this book, which surprised me. I'll start by admitting, I haven't read all the books in the Alpha and Omega series yet. The short story that started it off ("Alpha and Omega" in On the Prowl) is a favorite of mine, although I've only followed it up with the first two books in the series so far. So it was frustrating reading Burn Bright when things would get referred to that happened in one of the earlier books (or Briggs' Mercy Thomson series) but Briggs never filled out what those events were, so you were left not sure if it was important or not. There were also a lot of things happening that I never figured out if they were red herrings or actually important: why were there so many surveillance devices hidden around Jonsey and Hester's home? How did the people planting them never get caught when werewolves are supposed to be so sensitive? Was it a coincidence that Anna knew several of the attackers from her time in Chicago or was there something else going on there that I never figured out? Was some of what was happening so subtle and tricky I wasn't smart enough to figure it out, or did it leave everyone confused?

The beginning of Burn Bright got off to a slow start- strange because we start with an attack on a werewolf and a Fae. I kept waiting for Hester, and especially Jonsey, and their pasts to become more important to the story. Jonsey had a house full of hoarded Fae artifacts after all! By the end of the book I still had no idea if some of the loose threads to the story were going to be picked up in the next book or were just never going to be dealt with, which was frustrating. Nearly three quarters of the way through the book I was still waiting for things to really get started. But when things got going it was impossible to put the book down until the last page. You figure out pretty much at the same time as Anna and Charles who the bad guys are and I was just as surprised as they were!

There was a lot of unnecessary repetition throughout the book, although as much as some things were explained over and over there were other things that seemed to be dropped. I think the reader would definitely get more out of this book if they read the rest of the series first. If you're like me and dropping into this series late in the game I think you have to just accept that you're not going to follow all of it completely and enjoy the book for what it is- a book you'll understand more the second time around, after reading the rest of the series. But for all its frustrating bits, Burn Bright was very clever and compelling, with some wonderfully dry and witty humor, and made sure that once you got caught in its spell, you didn't want to come out.

I really look forward to every release from Patricia Briggs whether it's a Charles/Anna or a Mercy story. I've said it before, but every book is like coming home to old friends, and BURN BRIGHT was no exception. In fact in preparation for this release, I did an audio re-read of both of the entire Mercy and Alpha & Omega series. I just love these books that much. So after reading this newest installment, I'm happy to report I'm still just as enamored as ever with the series.

BURN BRIGHT brought a whole lot more depth to the characters of Aspen Creek that really enriched the series. Sure we get plenty of Charles and Anna time, but there's a whole lot of other side characters that came to the forefront, like the Wildlings. Also, Leah in particular surprised me. In the previous books in both series she's portrayed as bitter and vindictive, overall a nasty person. And yet in BURN BRIGHT we got to see a whole lot more of her personality and who she really is. I definitely enjoyed seeing more into her character.

There is one small twist regarding Bran and Mercy and the reasons why Leah despises Mercy so much. While I won't spoil things, I'm not sure how I feel about the revelations. Some things just didn't sit with me right and had me second guessing a lot of past things from previous books. I won't say that it ruined anything, just made me see things in a different light and I'm just not sure how I feel. I'll get over it, and I do commend Patricia for writing such multi-faceted characters. While the twist may not be my favorite, it made the characters all the more real for it.

All in all, BURN BRIGHT was a very enjoyable installment in the Alpha & Omega series. Fans of Ms. Brigg's books will be more than pleased!