Well, I read the short story and liked it, and I liked the first book in the series. In truth, this book is FINE if you're looking for a fast read, but after reading so much from Briggs, I've realized I'm starting to get disappointed. Others may have a differing opinion, and I rather hope they do so they can set me straight. :)
I was really looking forward to this book - I like this universe a lot.
It..almost feels like a novella to me, or a long short story. Now, her books aren't massive in general, but I agree with you - the setting, the plot, all sort of seemed like an interlude, an excuse for us to see Charles and Anna together, without the rest of the pack around.
I do enjoy Anna and Charles together - I agree with you that I loved how Anna is maturing and growing - and to some degree it almost seems like *that* was the reason for the book, and all else was window-dressing.
I'm keeping it, and I'm sure I'll read it again in the future - but it was a bit of a disappointment.
Yeah, I won't actually "give this away" or put it up for sale unless I truly give up on this series as a whole (and I consider BOTH Briggs's UF to be one series, oddly enough). But in terms of people looking to spend money, I feel it's a fair rating, though Briggs fans will read it regardless.
I consider this series more paranormal romance than urban fantasy, because the emphasis is not so much on the fantasy elements. The meat of these stories is in the relationship between Anna and Charles and the way it's growing. With that in mind, I thought this one was more solid than Cry Wolf, since book 3 dealt with things that felt like book 2 had tried to sweep under the carpet, like Anna using her wolf to deal with sex.
And I really like the pointy fingernails on the cover. She had claw-ish nails on the front of Cry Wolf, too, and it's kind of nice as a hint that she's just as supernatural as her wolf husband.
My problem with considering it a paranormal romance is the marketing and shelving. Granted genres are reader and publishing labels anyway, but I've never once seen Ace market these or any of Briggs's books as paranormal romance, and I base that one the fact I've never seen these books on the romance shelves, which is how I personally define the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance (but that doesn't mean that's true across all bookshelf boards). Urban describes the fantasy and paranormal describes the romance. There's a lot of overlap due to the current trends in the two genres, but to me in regards to this specific series, there's not enough romance to justify calling it paranormal romance for my taste (my basis for comparison are Frost's Vampire Huntress series, which are definitely paranormal romance), even though the focus on the couple is the ONLY consistent thing in the book. The rest of the plot is lacking though, and that's not good since Briggs is marketed as urban fantasy
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To be fair, Briggs isn't the one marketing the books, it's the publisher who decide what to write on the spine and how to sell it to the stores and the public. Ace publishes fantasy and wouldn't know how to market a romance, but since they've been Briggs's publisher since before she started writing in a contemporary setting, it would make sense she'd offer it to them first instead of taking on a new and unknown publisher/editor/team. A number of the e-book sellers have it listed as a romance, though, since publishers don't pay them for shelf space.
That's a good point. I was thinking more about your comment last night, and whatever Briggs intends with this book or this particular spin-off, I don't think it's very firmly in either genre. It would be cool if the spin-off series WAS paranormal romance and marketed there so that way people interested in her books would have to shop in both sections.
I never liked the Mercy Thompson books, and it was a twist of fate that I picked up Cry Wolf to begin with and I loved it. I loved Hunting Ground too. Hmm...I think because I love Anna so much that it makes a good book to me
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Thanks. :) I'm very interested to meet a reader who hasn't read the M.T. books but IS reading the Anna/Charles books: do you ever feel like you're missing something in terms of world-building or details, or do you feel you have just enough to get through the books? :)
The only issues I came across in Cry Wolf was when Bran or Charles would mention how deeply Sam hurt and how Bran tried to get Mercy to mate with him. Otherwise I haven't had any other problems that didn't solve themselves within the framework of the two books (and SS). I was kind of interested when I saw that Charles (and of course Bran's pack) had appeared in the Mercy books, but it didn't seem as if that was a major plot point.
It wasn't like within the Buffy Universe how Spike died in Buffy series finale, but came back as a in ghost in Angel season 5--how it was important to know the particulars of why/how he died. It was more like when Willow would make a guest appearance on Angel for five minutes and its explained in Buffy as 'Oh Angel needed help'. Not a big deal, just an interesting sidenote.
I'm a huge Briggs fan and suggest you read her non UF books, which I've loved.
I've only read the first Mercy book 'cause just as Patty started writing UF I got tired of it. Even so, I thought it was pretty good.
I went to one of her signings a couple of months ago and I suspect 2 books/year may be stretching it for her. She's had a lot of stuff going on in Real Life the last year or so(an operation for a bad back and the move from Montana).
I've thought about trying out her fantasy. I might do so one day, thanks for the rec!
Yeah, Real Life does have a way of GETTING in the way. Deadlines, especially two books a year, don't allow a lot of wiggle room when you've got a lot going on outside of writing.
my guess on the order of books is just that - only a guess. (i tend to always think of the "best", most forgivable reasons that people did things i don't like. i don't know if it's a character flaw or just a character trait
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It..almost feels like a novella to me, or a long short story. Now, her books aren't massive in general, but I agree with you - the setting, the plot, all sort of seemed like an interlude, an excuse for us to see Charles and Anna together, without the rest of the pack around.
I do enjoy Anna and Charles together - I agree with you that I loved how Anna is maturing and growing - and to some degree it almost seems like *that* was the reason for the book, and all else was window-dressing.
I'm keeping it, and I'm sure I'll read it again in the future - but it was a bit of a disappointment.
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And I really like the pointy fingernails on the cover. She had claw-ish nails on the front of Cry Wolf, too, and it's kind of nice as a hint that she's just as supernatural as her wolf husband.
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It wasn't like within the Buffy Universe how Spike died in Buffy series finale, but came back as a in ghost in Angel season 5--how it was important to know the particulars of why/how he died. It was more like when Willow would make a guest appearance on Angel for five minutes and its explained in Buffy as 'Oh Angel needed help'. Not a big deal, just an interesting sidenote.
If that makes sense at least.
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I've only read the first Mercy book 'cause just as Patty started writing UF I got tired of it. Even so, I thought it was pretty good.
I went to one of her signings a couple of months ago and I suspect 2 books/year may be stretching it for her. She's had a lot of stuff going on in Real Life the last year or so(an operation for a bad back and the move from Montana).
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Yeah, Real Life does have a way of GETTING in the way. Deadlines, especially two books a year, don't allow a lot of wiggle room when you've got a lot going on outside of writing.
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