Hunting Ground: Alpha and Omega: Book 2 (Alpha and Omega, #2)

by Patricia Briggs

Anna Latham didn't know how complicated life could get - until she became a werewolf. And now she's not just part of any pack, but under the direct supervision of Bran, leader of the North American werewolves. And her mate is his son Charles, the pack enforcer. With all the advances that have been made in forensics, the werewolves will not be able to hide their existence from humans much longer - and Bran wants their coming out party to be on his terms. But his European counterparts don't see things the same way. Anna and Charles are chosen to represent Bran at a key meeting. But when a French werewolf, one of Bran's most vocal opponents, is found murdered, Charles's reputation shoots him to the top of the suspect list. And among the wolves, there is one penalty for breaking the law: death. The killer must be found, or Charles will take the fall.

• ISBN10: 1841497959
• ISBN13: 9781841497952
• Publish Date: 1 October 2009 (first published 25 August 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Orbit
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[booksandcats]

I enjoyed this much more than the fist book of the Alpha&Omega series, Anna was much much more a character of her own, growing past her trauma and hurt and growing as a couple with Charles, it was wonderful to see them develop a relationship and slowly building actual trust between them.

[Berls]

4.5 stars. If possible, I enjoyed this even more on reread with audio. Narration was fantastic and having read the shorts gave me insight into some of the characters that I didn't have before. So good.

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4.5 ★ Audiobook

[Angie]

I didn't enjoy Hunting Ground as much as Cry Wolf, but it was still an interesting sequel. It's about a month later, and Anna and Charles have been asked to attend a conference for the werewolves. The Marrok plans on having the werewolves make themselves known to humans, but of course, not all of the alphas are supportive of this idea. While there, Anna is nearly kidnapped and several other wolves wind up dead or injured. They know it's vampires, but the magic doesn't feel quite right, and why would the vampires bother with them?

Hunting Ground started out very slow and kind of confusing to me. We're introduced to a lot of wolves from across the world. We're told their name, their country, if they're an alpha or not, if they came with a mate or not, if their mate is human or not, whether they support coming out, and other miscellaneous information. It was a lot, and it was hard to keep them straight at times. I suppose this helps to keep the mystery a mystery, since there's so many new faces who could possible be the ones behind the attacks.

It wasn't until about two-thirds into Hunting Ground that I really got into it. Another murder occurs, it's very gruesome, and Charles is framed for it! It becomes a race against the clock to find out who did it and prove his innocence. I didn't figure out who was behind it or why or who they were working with. It made total sense though and I loved how it was all brought together. There's some very interesting mythology thrown in as well. It felt a bit random at first, but I ended up liking it.

In the end, I did enjoy Hunting Ground. The pacing is uneven, but that ending was very exciting and kept me hooked. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get much about Anna and Charles' relationship. They're together and figuring out the mate bond, but that's about it. Hopefully there will be more time for romance in the next book.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[littleread1]

Ok seriously. SERIOUSLY. I am freaking loving these books. Like, I can find nothing to complain about. Not one thing. I love everything about them. The characters, the world, the story, the budding romance - and I say budding because though they are mated, it is still new. GOD they are so good together. Bring out the best in each other, I can't even tell you. 3

[EBookObsessed]

As exciting as the whole werewolf politic issue is, what I love best is watching Anna and Charles trying to build their relationship. It has only been a few weeks since Charles has returned from Chicago with Anna, but he is starting to break down some of her barriers and they are strengthening their bond. They are such opposites but they are definitely mean to be together.
It is time for the werewolves to come out to the world but not everyone shares Bran’s feelings on the matter. The European werewolves are not convinced that it is necessary so Bran has scheduled a conference. Charles is determined that Bran not attend this meeting. He has a feeling that something bad will happen if Bran is there when the tension is so high between the Marrock and the powerful European Alphas. Bran always listened to Charles’s mother’s feelings about things and he never regretted that decision. So Bran sends Charles and Anna to make nice with the European wolves, and to let them know in no uncertain terms that Bran will be bringing the werewolves out to the world and that the conference is not a vote, just a courtesy for them to air their grievances.

Charles and Anna face an uphill battle not only convincing the European alphas that this course is for the best, but also on a personal battlefield as well. Anna is having problems being surrounded by so many angry alphas and the alphas are even more agitated by the fact that there is an omega in distress and they can’t figure out why. When Charles sends Anna off sightseeing and shopping for everyone’s peace of mind, Anna is attacked by vampires who seem to have more planned than just a feeding. They are hunting like a pack of wolves and their plan is to kidnap Anna. This little omega wolf isn’t going to go quietly. Anna has been working on self-defense with Charles and she fights back like a werewolf possessed.

As if the trouble with the alphas isn’t enough, Charles and Anna now need to figure out who was behind the kidnapping attempt and why someone wants Anna so badly.

THOUGHTS:
I love seeing the growing relationship between Charles and Anna. Although it is still new for both of them, you can see they are growing closer and starting to work together as a team.

I try not to read other reviews before I have written my own, but I did catch someone’s complaint that someone was trying to kidnap Anna once again. To me it made a lot of sense and I didn’t see it as we do in some series that Anna is soooo irresistible that everyone has to have her. I think it has more to do with the fact that she is an Omega and the nature of an Omega’s is to calm the inner wolf. Anna was changed by her original alpha to calm his mate who was going crazy. Many of the more powerful werewolves are very, very old and with age comes a bit of insanity. It makes perfect sense that these very old, powerful and slightly crazed wolves would want to kidnap Anna and keep her calming presence for themselves. Omegas are very rare and to have one in a pack makes it special. So no, it would not surprise me to see werewolves trying to grab Anna in each and every story. She is a rare treasure that many would be willing to go against Charles to get her.

Anna might be a bit afraid of her own shadow, but she is growing more powerful in her confidence and if you try to hurt her Charles, she will bring down the wrath of God on your head. I loved seeing her fight for him with such passion.

We also had a visit from the werewolf and his blind witch who we met in one of the short stories in Shifting Shadows.

[kimbacaffeinate]

“Women are the bloodthirsty sex," said Ric sadly. "We get the reputation, but it is only because the women stand behind us, and say, 'Kill it. Squish it.”

Hunting Ground had a little of everything from relationship growth to a crime in which Charles ends up the prime suspect. Witches, Fae, Vampires and plots abound. While Briggs’ gave us several suspects, I will admit to piecing things together before the reveal.

“Charles looked at her thoughtfully.” People talk to you," he said. "That could be useful.”

Anna continues to grow even as she struggles around so many dominant alphas. Being Omega and its impact on the others wolves is always fascinating. Anna is dubbed the “rabbit” and rightly so, but we see her inner strength and she can be formidable.

The relationship between them continues to strength and we get moments of tension, humor and heat. Charles is not a hallmark kind of person, and his tenderness and patience had me swooning. It does not come naturally to him, but for Anna he tries and what more could a woman ask for. Anna has issues, but she knows it and tries to correct it unlike other female leads who take full advantage of the “woe is me card. “ I appreciated this, admire her and cannot friggin wait to see her reach her full potential as an Omega.

“She was his and he hers.”

I loved how Briggs’ weaved in the Fae, Vampires, witches and King Arthur’s story. Heck even Bran ends up involved. While the summit ends up in the background, it was interesting to see the different personalities and negotiations. As for the murders, and chaos I loved it all but I am not sure I wholly bought the perpetrators’ reasons. Perhaps because I am not cray-cray.

“My grandfather would have loved to have met you," Charles told her huskily. "He would have called you 'She Moves Trees Out of His Path.'"
She looked lost, but his da laughed. He'd know the old man, too. "He called me 'He Who Must Run into Trees,'" Charles explained.”

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

This is the second book in the series continuing the romance between Anna and Charles. I loved this book and seeing all the different packs from around the world and how different they run things compared to Bran and seeing how each group operates. The world she has created with her wolves is fantastic, one of the best structured werewolves societies I have ever read.

These are a great series of books.

[MurderByDeath]

A very good read. The characters are what sucked me in - I really liked reading about Charles; how his Native American heritage plays out in his daily life, how he works to balance power and morality. Anna's struggles are less interesting, but still worth reading about. She adapts quickly, and I appreciate the minimum amount of wallowing the author allows (practically none) a character with such a dismal, black experience in her past.

 

[nitzan_schwarz]

2018 re read: I STILL HATE WHO THE VILLIAN TURNED OUT TO BE! It's so saaaaaaaad. But I still adore these characters and their relationships.

I wish people stopped being scared of Charles when he is such a sweet, good person!

And Anna is a total badass. Just throwing that out there.


To read a series review of Alpha and Omega series, go to my blog; Drugs Called Books

I'm kind of mad right now because I ordered this book on Ebay, and the photo there showed the pretty cover and what I got is the UK cover. That's really annoying!

Oh, I'm still smiling broadly from that ending. This was a great, great read. I have fallen in love with both Charles and Anna, truly.
I hated the person who was the villain. I couldn't believe he did that thing to Sunny - she was so sweet, and she loved him! he was her freaking husband, for crying out loud! Makes my skin crawl and love the fact he's dead
The Fae annoyed me as hell. The reason for her doing everything... God, is she stupid? It was a gift, given in good will and she just goes and... Urg!
Anna and Charles's romance in this book was even sweeter than the first book. I really liked it, and the ending was so darn sweet.
Love this series!