Dead Heat: An Alpha and Omega Novel (Alpha and Omega, #4)

by Patricia Briggs

"For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles's role as his father's enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal-or at least it starts out that way... Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae's cold war with humanity is about to heat up--and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire" --

• ISBN10: 0425256758
• ISBN13: 9780425256756
• Publish Date: 3 March 2015 (first published 1 January 1960)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Ace Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[booksandcats]

I love this series so much, I love getting more and more insight into this world!

[Quirky Cat]

One of my goals in 2021 is to finally get caught up/read many of the series I've been meaning to for years. What better place to start, than getting caught up in Patricia Briggs' Alpha & Omega series? (I'm up to date with Mercy Thompson).

Dead Heat is the fourth novel in this series, which I believe makes it the eleventh book in the Mercy Thompson world. Obviously, it's set in the same world, but follows two different characters: Anna and Charles.

This is the first time that Charles and Anna have gone anywhere that wasn't related to a mission. Charles just had a wake-up call, and that means it's time to go visit an old friend before it's too late. Naturally, not even a vacation can go smoothly for this pair.

There's a Fae hunting children in the territory they're visiting, and these two wolves are not the sort to let that slide. Especially not when those they care about are being directly affected by it. Now, they must hunt the Fae in return, while also dealing with supernatural and human politics. All before it's too late.

“But that is the dual gift of love, isn’t it? The joy of greeting and the sorrow of good-bye.”

It has been far too long since I set aside some time to read about Charles and Anna. I forgot how much I love their dynamic, it's endearing and powerful all in one go. Naturally, that means I enjoyed Dead Heat a fair bit. To say the least!

One of the things I love about this series is that it really isn't afraid to show the darker side of the world – be it human, werewolf, fae, or something else that goes bump in the night. It makes for a heavier read, sure. But it also feels so thematically appropriate.

That being said, Dead Heat is probably not a read that everyone will enjoy. It revolves heavily around a Fae that hunts children, and the history of which is...disturbing. Let's leave it at that, for now. I adored the portrayal of fae lore and rules in this novel, being both dark and steeped with legend.

“Too much knowledge can make you paranoid all the time,”

At first, I was feeling a little conflicted about the...personal dilemma that Anna and Charles were going through. It seemed like there was an obvious path for them to follow, and it felt almost hurtful that they weren't talking about it – let alone considering it. Thankfully, this subject did eventually get brought up, much to my satisfaction. So if you find yourself in the same boat, it does get better (and yes, I am trying to be at least slightly vague so I don't spoil things).

Ohh! I almost forgot! The horses! Dead Heat is full to the brim of horse terminology and adoration, which brings with it major bonus points in my book. I know that I won't be the only one feeling that way, so enjoy!

Next up on the Alpha & Omega read through is Burn Bright. I can't wait to get started!

Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Berls]

Dead Heat was the My TBR List winner for September and golly gee wiz am I glad! As I was nearing the end of the book I started looking up on Goodreads where the series and I was struck dumb by the realization that Dead Heat has been out – and in my possession, because Auto Order! – for 2.5 years! Y’all this series and Mercy Thompson used to be series that NEVER fell behind. And the amazingness that is Dead Heat is why.

Even though Mercy was a first love, Anna and Charles are my favorites. I love their relationship – they balance each other in a way that is heart-warming to read. Even though this is urban fantasy and not mushy at all – the little details of their relationship are what all romance books need to find. There’s no denying true love when you read it in the little things, especially the disagreements.

I don’t just love them as a couple, though. They are amazing characters in their own right. I feel like Dead Heat really let us see how true that is because we get to see so much of them solo. For me, it was what we got to see of Charles that made this book so great. He’s the Marrok’s assassin – hard and doesn’t let anyone close to him. And now, suddenly, we’re with these people that he’s allowed himself to care for as much as his family. And one of them is dying and does not want to undergo the change. He wants to die. It’s a kind of emotion that we’re not used to seeing with Charles and it was great – especially in the way it helps him grow (yes! at 200 years old he’s still growing as a character!). And Anna just keep showing us in different great ways that Omega does not mean weak. Love her!! A pretty great laughable moment when her Omega powers go to work on a particularly bitter old wolf

[Rowena]

Gah. So freaking good. It was nice to be back in Charles and Anna’s world again. They’re one of my favorite teams and the unshakable faith they have in each other makes me so happy. They do love so right.

[Chelsea]

What an exciting book to add to this series! The Alpha & Omega series has never been about to outshine Mercy for me but with this book the playing field is a little more even. We got to learn SO MUCH about Charles who has always been a more mysterious character. Anna seems to be comfortable in her role at Charles' side and we met a ton of great new characters. Plus as a bonus this book is set on a horse ranch which only made it so much more fun for me, being the horse lover that I am.

It's always interesting when the fae come out to play. By interesting I mean it came out and killed a ton of children which is, of course, horrible. It was fun learning about this fae creature though and I loved the mystery aspect of the characters trying to figure it out. There was also a lot of family elements in this book as Charles goes to visit an old friend. We see a glimpse into a new pack AND their human offspring. It was really cool to see how that all worked even though it's sad for them to grow old.

I'm now really looking forward to the next book so see what adventures Anna and Charles get up to next.

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4.5★ Audiobook⎮Series Review to come.

[littleread1]

If I was a crier ... this book would have done me in. Getting to learn about some of Charles' past, his friends, GAH.

[Danielle Ackley-McPhail]

Love these books. I'm always sad when they are done.

With this one, though, I was just a touch disappointed as I knew who the bad guy was the moment they were introduced. Still, it did not deter my enjoyment of the book :)

[MurderByDeath]

I was late to the party for both the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series; the upside of this being I got to binge read all of them to get caught up.  At the end of it, I was a fan of both series, but the Alpha and Omega series squeaked past Mercy by a hair.  Less pack dynamics/politics in the A&O series.

What I loved about both was the strong ties to Native American cultures their respective MC’s have but was frustrated about how little the Native American cultures actually played a part until River Marked gave us more about Mercy’s heritage.  Now we’re starting to get a bit more about Charles’ in Dead Heat.

Like others, I enjoyed Fair Game less than the first two books in the A&O series so I was a little hesitant about cracking this one open, worried it might have that same dark tone overlaid with heavy tension between the two MC’s.  But we’re back to a great plot and MC’s that work together.  Once that was clear, I didn’t want to put the book down; after the scene in the classroom with Amethyst, I was riveted.

I knocked off half a star because I knew who Anna and Charles were looking for from the first scene they had together, but truly, it did not matter one whit to my enjoyment of the story overall.

(show spoiler)[The scene when Anna and Charles met Ms. Edison was very well written, but Ms. Briggs used that moment to explain in detail why Opium, more than most other perfumes, masked scents so well that Charles couldn’t smell anything else. The only reason for that detail to be explained was that it was going to have significant repercussions later on. (Ms. Edison is wearing Opium / Opium masks scents. Ergo, Ms. Edison has something to hide.)] (hide spoiler)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading it again almost as much as I am looking forward to reading the next one.

[Linda]

Dead Heat showed a different side to Charles that was very welcome, seeing how he interacted with a human friend who had grown old and was dying made Charles seem more human as well.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews