The Alpha Showdown is underway, and already proving to be a good one. There’s stiff competition this year, just look at the bracket!
Often the Showdown comes down to vampire versus shifter, and we’re already getting a dose of that pairing today as vampire Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series takes on werewolf alpha Charles Cornick from Patricia Briggs’s Alpha & Omega Series (and Mercy Thompson, too, if we’re getting technical).
Who will advance in the Showdown, though?
We’ve lined up excellent bloggers to fill you in on why each alpha deserves to advance. Read the pitches, and then make the call.
You know him from: The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
First appeared in: Halfway to the Grave (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural Status: Master Vampire
Championed by: Jannelle from VBC
Okay, I’m just going to jump right out and say it: Nobody deserves to win the Alpha Showdown more than Bones does. Not only is he an Alpha Showdown regular, but if you place your faith in him, you won’t be disappointed. He’s unapologetic about who he is and has complete confidence in himself and those around him, even when they don’t. He was unrelenting with his pursuance of Cat when she left him. That’s four years of merciless devotion, people!
For Bones, it’s all about the preparation. Somehow, Bones is continuously primed for whatever life—or in his case, the afterlife—throws at him. For a vampire that’s come back from being shot, burned, beaten and even staked and left for dead, he obviously has the kind of experience that merits respect and a following. Just look at his posse: Ian, Mencheres, Spade, Cat, and [sometimes] Vlad are alphas themselves. If these alphas are backing up Bones, shouldn’t you?
In all honesty, there are many other alphas in the showdown that can come back from almost anything (or everything, if I’m completely honest). Not only is Bones one of these nearly invincible alphas, but he fights dirty and he owns it. If you’re looking for an honorable fight, one with Bones is a bit questionable as he takes all cheap shots and always kicks people when they’re down.
Bones also always comes through on his promises… and threats.
“Bones didn’t share any of my qualms about suddenly holding an arm that wasn’t attached to a body anymore. He just grabbed the ghoul by his other arm and began thumping him over the head with the loose limb. I’d heard Bones threaten to beat someone with their own limb before, but I’d always assumed that was a figure of speech. Apparently not.” — Cat, This Side of the Grave
And while it has nothing to do with his mad fighting skills, I’m going to drop a cheeky Chapter 32 comment here (#Chapter32) because I can. Besides, you seriously can’t avoid his sexy British accent and undying passion for Cat, which is half of why we’re here, isn’t it? His love for Cat defines his actions, connecting his past life (pre-Cat and hitman) to who he is now—a continuous badass with a soft spot for his Kitten.
Bones’ victory has been a long-time coming and if his nominations in the Alpha Showdown are any sign of it, he’s definitely part of our home team.
So who’s it going to be?
You know whom I’m voting for.
You Know him From: The Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs
First Appeared In: Charles first shows up in Moon Called (VBC Review | Amazon), the first Mercedes Thompson book, but later appears more prominently in Cry Wolf (Amazon)
Supernatural Status: Werewolf shifter
Championed by: Felicia from Geeky Bloggers Book Blog | @TheGeekyBlogger
Charles Cornick=Sexiest Werewolf EVER!
I mean who can resist the strong silent type when they are part witch, natural shifter, former assassin, and all heart? He is the enforcer of the North American werewolves. He has that methodical get-the-job done attitude but is all heart. He is Native American, Werewolf, and so deeply in love with Anna that you just melt in his presence. So…..
Why I love Charles and you should too: (I am a list girl so you guys just go with me)
So basically you should vote for Charles because really he is the man/werewolf for the job. He is a complete package and really what more could you ask for?
Who are you putting your money on: the vampire or the werewolf?
At the request of Alpha Showdown voters, we’re leveraging traditional polls for the voting, but also keeping reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us. Each poll will be open for 48 hours.
Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books equal fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during this year’s Alpha Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.
For Round 2, we have a copy of Kristi Charish’s Owl and The Japanese Circus for one lucky VBC reader. VBC’s Margaret loves this series (see her review of book one), and if you like either Bones or Charles, you’re probably going to dig this book.
This is a tough choice, love Charles but will always be bones every time!
Charles!! And how awesome: a copy of Kristi Charish’s Owl and the Japanese Circus! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love them both for different reasons,but I have to go with Bones.
Oh, two good ones, can’t believe one of them will be knocked out in the first round!
Bones will always stand out for me.
Everything he does just makes me want my own Bones.
So hands down- Bones it is.
I’ve got to go with Bones. It’s hard to beat him.
This one was a hard choice for me. I love both of our alphas. I have followed both of their stories from the beginning. In the end, I chose Bones. I love Charles but he is so closed off that you can barely get to know him. Bones is all in from the beginning.
Bones… it’s a bit old but always true
Why, Oh Why, do you make the choices so difficult this early in the competition?????
CHarles this time
Although I love Bones, I think Charles is the stronger character.
Bones, my lovely lovely Bones. You sir are what fantasy’s are made of. I do kind of dig Charles though.
I soo agree with everyone here, why do it has to be so hard so early?!
I love them both but Bones always seem to come back from whetever gets thrown at him so I’ll think I have to go with hime.
It will ALWAYS be Bones!
I adore both but I chose Bones.
Love both characters, but I loved Bones first so it will always be Bones for me.
Dear lord I’ve been waiting all year for this!!!!!!! BONES BONES BONES
<3 Love hearing how much y'all enjoy the Alpha Showdown!
This was tough, but now I think a re-read of the Night Huntress is due, so Bones it is!
Team Bones 100%!!!
It was a hard choice but then I had to remember that Charles held my attention more than Bones did since Cat was always the focal point in their stories. Charles is the manifestation of ALPHA.
I love Charles, he is one of my all-time favourite characters, however, I had to vote for Bones. He was one of my first book crushes,and I am yet to read about another character like him. I recently re-read the Night Huntress series and it reminded me how much I love Bones and how unique he truly is – the perfect combination of loving, loyal and brutal when he needs to be.
I’ve not read either series, but Charles gets my vote, just love a wolf shifter and he sounds like my type of shifter!!!
Bones holds my heart. Bones all the way! 🙂
Sorry, but Charles gets my vote. I just adore him. I have read the Owl books and loved them.
Charles is just so deliciously practically perfect.
I love alpha showdown time!!! Bones!!
This one is a tough choice, but I will have to take Charles.
I have to say I really love both of them. I love them for completing different reasons because they are sooo different, not just species! 😉 But I met Bones first and he always makes me laugh so I have to go with Bones! Go Bones!
If anyone has ever listened to the Huntress series on audio, listening to Bones telling his Kitten, he loves her, will melt your heart…..Bones all the way!
I love them both. This bracket is killing me but I loved Bones first,
Go Bones!!
Bones, all the way. Though this is really like choosing between chocolate or lemon meringue pie…there IS no bad choice.
I voted for Charles since I was never a big fan of Bones for at times how he treated Cat as not considering how she would react on items. For example when he pretended dead in the last book of their series so he would be taken into custody. It was a bit like how Curran treated Kate with the whole Lorilie (sp?) issue in Europe in book 6.
Tough round. Both are favorites of mine but since I just finished the Alpha & Omega series, I am going with Charles.
Bones is just…..magical ! Every girl’s dream alpha !
Charles all the way
Charles stole my heart before I started Bones’ books so it has to be Charles all the way 🙂
WOOT WOOT 🙂
Bones will always have a special place in my heart.
This is such a tough choice!! But I think Bones just pips Charles to the post!!
Bones all the way!
Charles!
Woot! 🙂 🙂
Bones
WhooHoo!!
Thank y’all for getting Charles into the next round! (Though I love Bones and was heartbroken we couldn’t both make it!)
These results deeply pain me. I’m so sorry, Bones.
Tough choice but I would have to go with bones all the way!!!!!