Review: Hunting Ground

I love Charles and Anna Cornick. They are both powerful and flawed; both effectual and socially awkward. Each is engaging and interesting as an individual, but together, they are so much more than the sum of their parts. Together they are magic.

This story picks up just a few weeks after the events of Cry Wolf. Anna and Charles are happy together, but still learning their way around their relationship. Bran is making plans to expose werewolves to the human world and not all of his fellow wolves are on board with the plan. So he organizes an international conference to address their concerns. Charles and Anna travel to Seattle to mediate the talks.

They must deal with conflicts right away, both from the inside and out. Internally, Anna is still struggling to overcome the damage caused by the abuse from her first pack. It's getting in the way of the relationship she wants to have with Charles. And on top of that, she is still trying to figure out what it means for her to be an Omega wolf. Meanwhile, Charles is struggling with his protective nature and his fear that Anna will one day see him for the killer he is and reject him.

As for the external problems, there are plenty. From quelling fights between the packs... to dealing with the murderous European Alpha, Charles already had his work cut out for him. And that was before a group of vampires showed up targeting Anna and other vulnerable prey. Toss in a volatile Fae and a wolf who thinks he's King Arthur and you've got yourself a tangle of trouble.

The plot is fast moving and the world-building remains solid, but the book is really character driven. Even while one crisis pops up after another, Briggs never lets us lose sight that this book is about Anna and Charles. The two are so different, but they compliment each other beautifully. They build each other up and are unwavering in their love and devotion to one another.

A great romance, set against a roller coast ride of action and a suspenseful who-dunnit. A little more than 4 stars.

Click to purchase: Amazon

Hunting Ground

by Patricia Briggs

Release Date: September 1, 2009

Publisher: Ace