Book Review: Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham must discover what could make an entire community disappear — before it's too late — in this thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Alpha and Omega series.

In the wilds of the Northern California mountains, all the inhabitants of a small town have gone missing. It's as if the people picked up and left everything they owned behind. Fearing something supernatural might be going on, the FBI taps a source they've consulted in the past: the werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham. But Charles and Anna soon find a deserted town is the least of the mysteries they face.

Death sings in the forest, and when it calls, Charles and Anna must answer. Something has awakened in the heart of the California mountains, something old and dangerous — and it has met werewolves before.

Wild Sign is the sixth installment in Patricia Briggs‘ captivating Alpha and Omega series, a spin-off from her amazing Mercy Thompson series. The series follows the story of Charles and Anna’s relationship and adventures.

This story starts with a whole community vanishing out in the middle of nowhere, up in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Marrok wants Charles and Anna to investigate this bizarre disappearance. As they dig deeper, they uncover unsettling ties to ancient powers, dark magic, and horrible acts, some of which are appear to be connected to Charles’ enigmatic stepmother, Leah.

The relationship between Charles and Anna remains firmly rooted at the heart of this series. Their bond is as strong as ever. One of the most appealing aspects of Charles and Anna’s relationship is the lack of angst and a higher level of maturity. It’s a pleasant departure from the classic angst-causing dominant, overprotective alpha werewolf trope.

“He pulled her tight against him. “I will defend your heart and your soul with everything in me.” -Charles

In addition, Anna’s evolution as an Omega werewolf was also a joy to see. She’s learning more about her abilities as she continues bringing peace to the pack’s damaged wolves.

“The pack was better with Anna in it, in ways far more subtle than he or his da had expected. They had hoped for calm—they had not expected happy.” -Charles

The supporting characters, particularly Leah, Marrok’s mate, add layers to the narrative. Leah has been a despised character since the creation of the world of Mercy Thompson, and this book partly explores her backstory, offering insights into her complex personality. This is probably the darkest book in the Alpha and Omega series. Briggs doesn’t pull any punches when exploring themes of trauma, survival, and healing, which enrich the overarching storyline.

The epilogue was the only downside to giving it a full 5 stars. It came out of nowhere and was over so quickly that I couldn’t follow. It felt like the author only remembered to connect this book to the seventh installment at the last minute. Note that I haven’t read the entire Mercy Thompson series yet, so that could be why I was left confused.

Wild Sign is a thrilling addition to the series and again showcases why Patricia Briggs remains a powerhouse within the urban fantasy genre. The novel offers a balanced mix of suspense, some seriously dark elements, laughs, and sweet romance. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves urban fantasy.