REVIEW Fair Game (Alpha and Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs

Fair Game (Alpha and Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Format: eBook (Personal Library) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Ace Books 

Check out my review of the sixth book in the series, Wild Sign

For as long as he can remember (and since he was first introduced by author Patricia Briggs in the original Mercy Thompson series), Charles Cornick has been his father’s right hand and the bogeyman of all werewolves. When a problem needed fixing, it was always Charles that was sent out. However, the job he’s done for decades has started weighing on him after werewolves came out to the public. Thankfully, Omega wolf Anna (his loyal and steadfast mate) is not willing to give up her husband to his demons without a fight, so when an opportunity comes up where Charles can mete out justice (instead of a seemingly endless stream of death), Bran sends out Charles and Anna to assist the FBI in hunting down a serial killer that has started targeting supernatural victims. Once there, things get much more complicated than expected (with fae lords coming into the mix) and Charles and Anna have to be careful not to find themselves next on the killer’s hit list. 

Charles and Anna have a very different relationship than Mercy and Adam, and that’s a big part of what sets the two series apart. Theirs is more a relationship of opposites, balancing each other out. Adam and Mercy’s relationship, on the other hand, is more one of equals and their differences stem largely from their species (and the fact that Mercy is such a trouble magnet). Anna, in Charles’ words, is “...a miracle that had saved him from a lifetime of aloneness.” Anna’s Omega gift balances out Charles’ Alpha tendencies, and his love for her is what keeps him afloat when things get dark in his job as his father’s hatchet man. Charles’ Alpha tendencies and reputation protect Anna from those who would try to use her for her powers and give her a place of shelter after so long being afraid. Both are quite willing to let the other take the lead when the situation demands, and it was quite nice to see as a reader. 

Unlike some of the other books in this series, this reads a bit more like a paranormal suspense book than a true fantasy. If you’re a fan of detective shows or true crime documentaries, this would be a great book for you to read! It’s also different in that bad guys are not all supernatural - some of them are human. A large amount of the story revolves around the fear of those that are “different”, and that plays heavily into the case and the overall book. 

Fair Game is an enjoyable read and a fantastic addition to the larger Mercy Thompson + Alpha and Omega universe. I’m amazed at how the series continues to improve over time, and how Ms. Briggs continues to develop Charles and Anna’s characters. Audiobook narrator Holter Graham did a great job bringing both Anna and Charles’ perspectives to life -it’s uncommon for male voice actors to voice both genders so well, and he was excellent. If you are an audiobook fan, I think you’re in for a treat with this book.  

Urban fantasy and paranormal readers who are looking for a book with great worldbuilding, a well-developed set of main characters and ensemble cast, and a heart-pounding case at the center of the story should definitely pick up the Alpha and Omega series ASAP. 

About the Book

It is said that opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son—and enforcer—of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant Alpha, while Anna, an Omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

When the FBI requests the pack’s help on a local serial-killer case, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to join the investigation. It soon becomes clear that someone is targeting the preternatural. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer’s sights. . . .

About the Author

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana, to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses and writes full time, much to the delight of her fans.