Description: My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic. And a coyote shapeshifter. And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.
   Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn't stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae. The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death. But we are pack, and we have given our word. We will die to keep it.

Review: The eleventh book in the Mercy Thompson series, Storm Cursed, continues to be strong and suspenseful. I would highly recommend new readers who are interested in picking up this excellent urban fantasy series to start at the very beginning as there are a large cast of characters and this book refers to many past story lines. In this book Mercy faces a dark coven of witches intent on displacing the current witch family, which may have a profound impact on the delicate alliance between the paranormal races in the Tri-City. While Elizaveta, head of the Tri-City witches, is still in Europe after having helped to free Mercy from Milan's master vampire, her family is attacked. Elizaveta isn't quite the victim they think she is at first. Mercy and Adam face some hard choices with what they find in the witch's home. 
 Like Mercy I had a strange feeling about Elizaveta. I was glad to have her as an ally yet I did not trust her one bit. I am still a bit unclear with the Elizaveta and Adam relationship, but my understanding is that Adam saw Elizaveta as a motherly type figure. This book in particular takes a closer look into loyalties, especially when it impacts pack members. I enjoyed the growing relationship with Mercy and Honey, which was distant and cold in the last few books. I was also glad to see the return of Stefan as I missed him and his Scooby van. The enemies in this book are terrifying yet complex figures which Briggs does so well in her books.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence in the book and language. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk

Description: Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe.
  Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise.

Review: With ten books in the series, the Mercy Thompson series is still going strong. Silence Fallen is different than the earlier books in the series but it still maintains it trademark action, humor, romance, and suspense. Unlike the other books in the series, Silence Fallen primarily takes place in Europe and it was fun to step outside the Tri-Cities. Briggs does a good job in providing enough details about the new setting's history and folklore to make the countries come alive. I'm being vague on purpose as to avoid spoilers.
 Silence Fallen refers to Mercy's removal from her pack and from Adam. While I missed several my favorite pack members, it was nice to get Mercy on her own. This book really examined Mercy's fear of abandonment and showed how incredibly resourceful she is as a survival. Where many of us would cry and given in to our fears, Mercy doesn't have many "woe is me" moments but rather keeps a cool head and thinks things through rationally although she may not necessarily have control as to what comes her way.
Silence Fallen also has a different narrative structure than the other Mercy books. The story is told in two different timelines and switches point of views between Mercy and Adam. Mercy is still written in the first person point of view whereas Adam's point of view is written in the third person. While I understood the rationale of having two timelines I felt it disrupted the story for me mainly because the chapters for Mercy were a bit too long and then it would quickly switch to Adam's timeline. Had the chapters been a bit shorter it might have flowed better. The other thing that was jarring for me was Adam's point of view being written in the third person, which made it less intimate. While his perspective was a nice surprise and added to the story, I would have liked to get inside his head a bit more. It was also nice to get back to the vampires. I forgot how tricky they can be! Overall, Silence Fallen is another great installment of the Mercy Thompson series.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence and some language. Suitable for mature teen readers and adults.

If you like this book try: Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews, Others series by Anne Bishop

  I have several books that I need to finish, but I set those all aside when I got my hands on an advanced copy of Fire Touched, the latest book in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, many thanks to Penguin and Netgalley. If you have been thinking of taking a dive into the urban fantasy subgenre or just looking for a fantastic series with wonderful world building and amazing characters be sure to pick up the Mercy Thompson series. You should definitely start at the beginning. Each book in this series gets better and better.

Description: Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.
  Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

Review: An impending conflict with the fae has been hinted at in the last few books in the Mercy Thompson series and in its spinoff series, Alpha and Omega. In Fire Touched we finally see the strife between fae and the rest of the world escalate. The book begins with a heart-pounding, epic battle scene as Mercy and the pack are called in for reinforcement to handle a troll that is wreaking havoc on a bridge and threatening the lives of everyone in its vicinity. The battle scene made me nervous watching favorite characters get injured. After all of the debris settles, a young boy who is fire touched and has been a captive of the fae for many years appears and seeks sanctuary. Mercy stands tall with her unpredictable walking stick, claims the Tri-Cities to be the pack's territory, and gives the boy asylum as long he agrees not to hurt anyone in the pack for 24 hours.
 With this powerful declaration, Mercy has inevitably shifted the politics of her world. As the fae and werewolves fight for dominance (in the case of the fae) and protection of humankind (werewolves), we finally get a better understanding of the various motives of the fae and their desires. I thoroughly enjoyed watching both competing species play their game and move their pieces after much consideration. Mercy's announcement has strong repercussions for her pack too. The pack is still divided in accepting her as their alpha's mate. In a very alpha-like move, Adam sets an ultimatum for his pack in regards to Mercy much to her ire, but I felt the move was very much necessary in order to move the pack beyond the pettiness that we saw in Night Broken.
 The relationship between Mercy and Adam is a perfect balance of both of their strengths and weaknesses. Mercy once again proves why millions of readers are her ardent fans. She is fiercely independent, resilient, brave, and recklessly loyal. In Fire Touched we get to see her vulnerability, particularly her ability to reach out and ask for help, without being a damsel in distress.  I was really pleased how she proved to the pack that she is a leader, not a leader by default, by being assertive and making quick yet important decisions. Like Mercy, Adam retains his position as one of the best book boyfriends ever who strives to listen to Mercy and reigns his desire to be overly protective of her.
  In addition to an already strong cast of main and secondary characters, Briggs continues to increase her world by adding new characters. We are introduced to new characters such as Aiden, the fire touched, the very powerful fae Margaret, and the vampire Thomas Hao. While we learn a good amount of detail about each of them, I am confident that they will become much stronger as the series progresses as Briggs adds characters that add value and purpose to her worlds. I would very much like to see what Bran, Samuel, and Arianna are up to as they continue to be mentioned in the books. I also am curious to see what Gary and Coyote have been up to.
  While the book does not end with a cliffhanger, we are left with lingering questions and wondering when we will meet these wonderful characters that Briggs created again. Fire Touched is another great installment in the Mercy Thompson series with plenty of action, tender and sad moments with just the right amount of humor.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong violence, some language, and implied sex scenes which take place off screen. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews, Others series by Anne Bishop

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine! This week I'm eagerly awaiting the release of two books: Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios and Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs. Both of these books will be published next month so the wait isn't too terrible. 



Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios 
Publish date: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray 


 Exquisite Captive was my favorite YA paranormal romance that I read in 2014. It has been a long time since I read a book that completely sucked me in right from the start. I hope to find out more about Nalia's world along with her dangerous quest along with Malek's past. I am, however, disappointed that the publisher changed the book cover. Maybe they wanted to get away from the exotic stigma?

A jinni who's lost everything.

A master with nothing to lose.

A revolutionary with everything to gain.

When Nalia arrives in Morocco to fulfill Malek's third and final wish she's not expecting it to be easy. Though Nalia is free from the shackles that once bound her to Malek as his slave, she's in more danger than ever before.

Meanwhile, Malek's past returns with a vengeance as he confronts the darkness within himself, and Raif must decide what's more important: his love for Nalia, or his devotion to the cause of Arjinnan freedom.

Set upon by powerful forces that threaten to break her, Nalia encounters unexpected allies and discovers that her survival depends on the very things she thought made her weak.




Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs 
Publish date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Ace

 The Mercy Thompson series is an auto-read urban fantasy series for me. I loved watching Mercy grow as a character as well as immersing myself in the world that Patricia Briggs created. With the potential war with the fae seems to be just around the corner, I'm sure Fire Touched will be filled with non-stop action and political intrigue.

Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

 Shifting Shadows is a great short story collection for both the Mercy Thompson fan as well as new readers who are interested in picking this wonderful urban fantasy series. The stories presented in this collection give a really good context of Mercy's world and the types of characters that inhabit it.


Description: Mercy Thompson’s world just got a whole lot bigger. A collection of all-new and previously published short stories featuring Mercy Thompson, “one of the best heroines in the urban fantasy genre today” (Fiction Vixen Book Reviews), and the characters she calls friends.

Review: With the exception of Alpha and Omega, all of the short stories presented in this collection are new to me. I appreciated the prefaces to each of the story, explaining the author's intent as well as where these short stories fit in the Mercy Thompson series.
  Some of the stories filled in the blanks to some questions I had for quite some time such as when did Samuel and Bran become werewolves and at what age? There other stories that were a bit of a departure from the Mercyverse but were still pleasant to read. My favorite short story in this collection is Roses in Winter which allows us a glimpse of the softer, kinder side of an off-kilter character named Asil also known as The Moor who believes he is on the verge of insanity. Asil is a character that fascinates but also scares me. You never know what is going to set him off, but like many of Brigg's characters there are many layers to him. In Roses in Winter we see Asil cling to humanity by becoming a mentor to a young werewolf. This story, particularly the character of Asil was a nice surprise. Another character who at first seemed to be standoffish and menacing that has grown to be caring is Ben, who also goes through a great character growth and transformation in his aptly titled short story called Redemption. If you are a fan of the Mercy Thompson series do pick up this collection and if you have been considering reading this series but haven't been sure, read a few of the stories get so you can get acquainted with the wonderful world and characters. 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong violence, language, and allusions to sex scenes. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Chicago Vampire series by Chloe Neil, Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

   Reading a beloved book series is like coming home to friends and family. Night Broken is the latest book in the Mercy Thompson series. With new characters, mythology, and villain, Night Broken is one of the highlights in this series.

Description: An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right. Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.
  Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

Review: Night Broken is the eighth book in the fabulous Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs. I highly suggest reading this series in order in order to get a better appreciation of the character growths and plot arcs of this story. Mercy and Adam aren't known for their relationship dramas and any misunderstandings between them get aired out quickly, which is one of the reasons why they are one of my favorite couples. When the synopsis of this book came out, particularly the mere mention of Christy, Adam's ex-wife I was really curious to see how Briggs would create a bump in the road for Mercy and Adam without being overly melodramatic. I was very pleased to find out that not only did the Christy subplot added much needed tension in the wolf pack, it actually moved things forward both plot and character growth wise. Instead of resulting to sulking and jealousy, Mercy takes Christy's surprise visit with grace and lots of patience, more than any of her fans can muster. Mercy remains in control and proves to the pack that she is indeed the wife of the Alpha. The dynamics of the wolf pack were really interesting to read as they struggle to figure out their own loyalties and preconceived notions. I was really surprised by the development of Honey, whom I really liked in this book.
  In addition to the Christy's sudden arrival and the mystery behind her stalker, we are introduced to a new coyote walker who has a lot of things in common with Mercy. I can't wait to learn more about him and his connection to Mercy. We also get more sightings of Coyote, the trickster and father of Mercy who always manage to make an appearance at the wrong place and wrong time.
  Unlike the previous books, Night Broken is filled with nonstop action, few unexpected surprises, and it was hard to put down. With the series possibly coming to an end, I'm really curious to see where Briggs takes her character and world to next.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, strong fantasy violence, and disturbing images. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Chicago Vampire series by Chloe Neil

  For those of you who are thinking about dipping your toes in the vast water of the urban fantasy genre, I would suggest starting with the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. The characters and world building are excellent. There are currently 7 books in the series with book 8 coming soon next year. I highly recommended reading the series in order before Frost Burned to really see the character growth arc and prevent any big spoilers.

Description: Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more.…
  After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted. Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

Review: With the entirely forgettable and disappointing, River Marked, Frost Burned returns the action and great characterizations to the Mercy Thompson novels. Mercy is now adjusting to her new life, being the mate of an incredible alpha male in a wolf pack. She is liked, wholly accepted by some and others can't wrap the idea of a coyote being in charge of them. Briggs does an excellent job in creating both main and secondary characters who you care for just like your own family. The absence of the secondary characters was largely and immediately felt in River Marked and though present in Frost Burned they are remote.
  The story starts off with a bang as Adam and virtually his entirely pack are kidnapped and interrogated. The fey have declared a basically all out war and any one who is associate with the fey are in danger. The action is constant which made the pages fly by, however, we didn't get a chance to catch our breaths and really process all the changes that were going on. Mercy has to act the part of second in command, find help from unlikely allies, and move beyond her comfort zone to protect the man she loves and the pack.
  I loved being back with Mercy and company, but I couldn't shake off a nagging feeling that something was missing in this book. I couldn't really pin point it, but the story just seemed a bit too tame and easily solved despite the huge odds that the pack faces. While I like the romance between Adam and Mercy, I just think the couple has lost its spark and chemistry. I hope that spark returns in the next book. I did like, however, the exploration of the significance of being a pack in this book. I also liked that we got a chance to get better acquainted with a special character that we met in Silver Borne, but I really missed Sam in this book. Where was he? Overall, Frost Burned is an enjoyable read and a good addition to the Mercy Thompson series but I think the author could do better.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong violence and language. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thomspon #8) due out March 2014, Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Chicago Vampire series by Chloe Neil

 The Mercy Thompson series is a great urban fantasy series written by Patrica Briggs. Out of the series so far, my favorite has been Silver Borne which I burned through in a night. River Marked, while enjoyable, didn't meet my expectations.

 Description (from Goodreads): Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shape-shifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.
  An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate will need their help.

Review: Compared to the adrenaline rush of Silver Borne, River Marked is much more mellow and easy going. Mercy has taken a big step in her life, ready to settle down and marry her mate. Things are great with a lovely wedding and the start of a romantic honeymoon until a man is found in a boat on the Columbia River with a bitten-off leg and his sister is missing and presumed dead, that's when things get interesting and a bit weird.
  While there is not much character growth for Mercy, we do learn a lot about her Native American background which had been shrouded in mystery until now. I really enjoyed the Native American mythology and thought it was woven nicely into the story.  Though the usual cast in Mercy's world, which I love are missing after the wedding, the stand-in cast is funny and likable.
  The mystery surrounding the river creature was a bit ho hum for me. There wasn't intricate or dare I say complicated enough to resolve. I wasn't really excited and drawn into the story as much. After finishing the book, I thought River Marked might have worked better if it was a novella instead of an actual book. The pacing was a bit slow and the tone was different (not necessarily a bad thing) compared to the other books. Overall, I enjoyed River Marked but it's not my favorite book in the Mercy series.  

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, strong violence, and a few non-descriptive sex scenes which take place off the page. Recommended for older teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, Stray by Rachel Vincent

 I have mentioned before that book characters, especially those who I have a strong connection or response to, feel real for me. I care for them as if they were a personal friend. I hate to see them hurt and go through terrible times in their lives. I get angry at them when they are being stupid (I'm looking at you, Edward Cullen). So when I heard that Sam, one of my favorite characters from the Mercy Thompson series, was headed for some major trouble in Silver Borne, I got worried and anxious. Bracing for the worst as I watch him slowly deteriorate from the first book, I just had to know if he was okay or at least on the road to being okay which is why I burned through Silver Borne.

Description: When Mercy attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. The book seems to contain some powerful and secret information about the faes and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't make matters worse, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side. Mercy has to help him before Samuel's own father declare Sam's life forfeit. 

Review: I have been having a hard time adjusting to the time change for daylight savings and quickly get exhausted after a long day at work. I was looking forward to reading Silver Borne since the next book in the series, River Marked, has been released last week, but I was afraid my exhaustion would detriment my enjoyment of this fabulous urban fantasy series. I am thrilled to say that this book sucked me in right away. In fact, I had to force myself to sleep in order to get up for work in time, but I couldn't put it down until I found how it ended. Silver Borne is the fifth book in the Mercy Thompson series and currently my favorite book in the series thus far.
  Briggs has maintained her well plotted mysteries and world building, but also upped the action and romance while furthering character development in this installment. Unlike its previous installments, Silver Borne tackles many different plot lines that left me on the edge of my seat. I tend to frown upon multiple plot lines because they are generally boring or they don't seem to fit the overall tone of the book, but this is not the case in Silver Borne where all the subplots make up not only the plot but also several character arcs. I did not find myself skimming any parts of the book, in fact, I had to slow done into to absorb the snarky humor and the romantic tidbits in the book.
  Mercy continues to be an awesome and humble heroine. I like that she feels uncomfortable being in the spotlight and finds herself ordinary. There is no air of arrogance surrounding her. She can take care of herself yet call on others for help. In the past books, Mercy has struggled with the mentality of the wolf pack. She's terrified of losing her own identity and power. Mercy doesn't do submission and she never will. In Silver Borne she comes to realize the importance of pack, which I seem to understand in our layman terms would be family. While the pack does have it's social and political structure, it also has intimacy and affection which Briggs excellently demonstrated in the romance and the lack of for certain key characters in the book. 
  I have been a bit disappointed with the mystery aspect of the previous Mercy books, however, with Silver Borne I didn't have any idea of what would happen next. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I was truly in the dark along with Mercy. I did, however, miss Stefan, Mercy's vampire friend, but thought he needed some time off considering what he went through in Bones Crossed.
  If you do decide to pick this series up (I really don't know why you wouldn't), I would highly suggest that you start at the beginning or at the very least with the second book in the series, Blood Bound, in order to get a sense of how Mercy's world works, and most importantly how the characters interact with one another. I love these characters and can't wait to see what happens next. Silver Borne is a must read for all Mercy fans. And yes, Una, you were right on when you told me that I would love this book. Thank you again for introducing this series to me!

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and some strong fantasy violence. There is also a small sex scene that is not overly graphic. Recommended for mature teen readers only and adults.

If you like this book try: River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #6), Kate Daniel series by Ilona Andrews, Fray by Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer series by Joss Whedon

  I'm really enjoying the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I'm almost all caught up with the series, just need to read Silver Borne, before the latest book River Marked is released in a few weeks. The Mercy series is a unique urban fantasy series in that while there is lots of action and mystery, I can't help but be more vested in learning about the politics involving the paranormal creatures such as the werewolves, vampires, and the fey. I recently finished the fourth book in the series called Bones Crossed.


Review: Bone Crossed picks up about a week after the horrific events in Iron Kissed. Mercy is still recovering physically, mentally, and spiritually. While the series involves magic to erase problems or make them better, Briggs refuses to make things easier for her heroine. As a result, Mercy becomes that much more attainable and real. Mercy is coping and dealing with her new role as the mate of the local werewolf pack. She is also suffering from side-effects of previous events such as panic attacks and re-establishing her self confidence and trust. While it may seem to some, including Mercy, of being weak, I think it's the exact opposite. Mercy has established herself as a fighter. A fighter of justice, regardless of the person's race or how harmful it might be to her. She refuses to give up and in my eyes that makes her admirable.
  Briggs does a great job of keeping the story moving by introducing not only new elements in her story but she also refers back to the recent changes in Mercy's life that forces her to re-evaluate and adjust her lifestyle. It's great to know that life's problems, even in urban fantasy, aren't solved by the last few pages in the book or even by magic, but they are continous and our protagonists keep trying to work them out. I don't want to give the impression that Mercy's life is a constant hell, but rather Briggs refuses to make things easy for our heroine.
    While all of the main characters reappear in Bone Crossed, I think the book really spotlights Stefan, Mercy's vampire friend. In the previous books, Stefan makes a fleeting appearence that just makes an impression on the readers. In Bone Crossed, we get to witness his internal struggle of what it means to be good and loyal. His comment of him being more Spike than Angel in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series made me think. I never saw him as either male character in Buffy, but rather a mixture of the two. Stefan's and Mercy's friendship is a definitely a highlight for me and I hope to see more of them together in the future books.
  Bone Crossed is a quick read, filled with lots of action, chilling moments, warmer moments with Adam and Stefan, and humor. One of the many moments that made me laugh out loud is the comment about carpeting: "What kind of stupid person puts white carpet in a house frequented by werewolves?". What I love about the Mercy books is that the mystery goes beyond the traditional and over-used conflict of werewolves vs. vampire. The mystery and/or conflict is more about the politics played by each paranormal race and therefore emphasizes the human tendencies and behaviors rather than the 'beast' part of their nature.
 Although Briggs provides plenty of detail about Mercy's complex world without large, boring information chucks, which will satisfying both new and longtime readers, I would highly suggest that you start this series from the beginning or at the very least with Blood Bound, the second book of the series. If you're thinking of trying out the urban fantasy genre, I think reading the Mercy Thompson series would be a terrific choice.


Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, violent scenes, and an allusion to sex. The series is marketed to adults, however, mature teens should have no problem with the series.

If you like this book try: Silver Borne (Mercy #5), Kate Daniel series, Study series by Maria V. Snyder, Fray by Joss Whedon, Graceling or Fire by Kristin Cashore

  I have mixed feelings about reading series. I like well developed plot arcs, meeting and seeing characters grow with each volume, and getting a clearer picture of the world that the author has created. What I don't enjoy is reading a series where the story and characters go no where, which is why I dropped the House of Night series by mother-daughter duo, P.C. and Kristen Cast, despite the fact that I already read 7 books in the series. I'm lenient with series than with any other books because I know how difficult it is for an author to set up their world and establish their characters. The series may have its flaws but eventually the author finds his/her stride, the writing becomes clearer, and the characters become alive, which makes the book take flight. As my friend Kayla mentioned once to me (I'm paraphrasing here. Sorry, Kayla, if I jumbled your words): "Give me fascinating characters and I will follow the author where ever he/she goes". I feel the exact same way with the Mercy Thompson series and the third book, Iron Kissed, especially.

Description: When her former boss and mentor, a fae, is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, Mercy is determined to clear his name and show he is innocent regardless of how dangerous it is for her. Time has also come for Mercy to decide which of the two alpha male werewolves, Sam or Adam,  she will claim as her mate, because if she doesn't one of them will decide for her. Mercy has got a lot on her plate, what will she do?

Review: The Mercy Thompson series gets better with each book. The world building becomes sharper, the plot arc slowly builds, the pacing gets better, and the writing is a smoother. Like the previous books, Moon Called and Blood Bound, which focuses on a specific paranormal community, werewolves and vampires respectively, Iron Kissed continues the trend and spotlights the fey. The paranormals live amongst the humans yet they face discrimination and strict laws that are pretty similar to Marvel's Xmen. With each book, I enjoy the new mythology and folklore that Briggs introduces. 
  Iron Kissed picks up where Blood Bound leaves off. Mercy is still haunted by her actions in the last book, which Briggs nicely sums up to bring the reader new to the series up to speed without slowly down for those who are already updated. A new mystery arrives when Mercy receives a frantic call from her former boss about powerful fae instruments stolen and murders occurring on the fae reservations. Things get worse when her boss is framed for murder and is thrown in jail. There are a lot of twist and turns in the plot, some of which I had anticipated before hand and others that took me by complete surprise, but it is Briggs' dynamic characters that bring this series to life and the only reason why I continue to read this series.
  Mercy is a heroine that I admire. She is a complex and strong. I appreciate Briggs creating a character of color, who for once is the main lead and not a sidekick character. Mercy is utterly loyal and will do anything to help those who she loves. A child of a single teenage parent, she was raised by a pack of werewolves and has always fought to stay independent. While she is physically strong, she is also vulnerable. She is constantly trying to fit in and create a place to call home. We see more of this come to light in this book. Unlike the two previous mysteries, this current conflict is much more personal to Mercy. To her, her boss is like a surrogate father who has guided and cared for her, which is why she doesn't hesitate to put her live in danger in order to save him. Mercy goes through strong emotions and turmoil in Iron Kissed, but how she maturely deals with her problems is what makes her real, appealing, and admirable.
  Sam and Adam, Mercy's love interests, are honorable men who also have a fair share of flaws. To be honest, I have been conflicted with both of them. It is clear that both of them care deeply for her and have to come to her aid regardless if their own lives are at risk. While there is a traditional love triangle in this book, I thought Briggs did a great job in not dwelling on the angst or have a character walk off because of the outcome, which took me by surprise. The love triangle wasn't solved completely out of emotion, but rather logic. While it may come across as anticlimactic for some, I loved how maturely it was dealt with and how the characters stayed true to themselves throughout it. Finally, there is a resolution but no baggage that characters carry.
  As for the mystery, I figured out the identity of the murderer ahead of time but I did not expect how it unfolded nor the emotions that were revealed after. I won't mention what happened exactly because that would be a huge spoiler, but I will say that it was very powerful and made me reread the section quite a few times to really understand what had happened. What took me off guard completely, but in a good way, is the character of Ben. Ben, in the first two books, came off as being prickly and shady. I didn't care for him at all, especially with how he acted around Mercy. My opinion of him, after reading Iron Kissed however, completely changed how I see him now. Ben is a man who has a dark and tragic past, who is working on his recovery. I have warmed up to him and now understand him better.
  If you are considering to read the urban fantasy genre or looking for a book that has mystery, suspense, romance, and great characters, I think you will really enjoy this series. I really look forward to reading the next books to see what else Briggs has in stored for me.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and an allusion to rape. Although the series is marketed to adults, I think this a pretty clean series to recommend to strong teen readers.

If you like this book try: Bones Crossed (Mercy Thompson #4), Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews or  Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

  The Mercy Thompson series is my second urban fantasy series that I have read this year. Although I enjoyed the first book in the series, Moon Called, I thought its pace was a bit too slow for me. Since I loved the characters, I was willing to read Blood Bound, the second book and hoped that things pick up. I was advised by friends of mine that this series starts a little bit slow but quickly picks up. They were right.

Description: Mercy Thompson is a mechanic and walker, she has the ability to turn into a coyote at will. She has friends who happen to be werewolves, vampires, and the fae, which can be both a good and a bad thing. Well, at the rate that Mercy's going, it's more of a bad thing. When a sorcerer-turned-vampire wreaks havoc and goes on a killing spree in Washington's Tri-Cities, the paranormal community attempts to stop the destruction and fails. Mercy, who will do anything for her friends and to save the innocent, finds herself pulled into the fray. It turns out that her unique abilities make her an excellent candidate in taking out the new evil in town, but can she save them all? 

Review: Blood Bound picks up right where Moon Called finished. Although this book is a stand alone, I think readers should read Moon Called first to get a better handling on the various characters and their communities in Mercy's world. That being said, Blood Bound finds Mercy's vampire friend Stefan calling on her to fulfill one of her favors from Moon Called. Stefan need's Mercy's help in bringing down the sorcerer turned vampire down. From here the narrative involves the various paranormal communities and their politics and their plans to stop this evil.
  What I love about this series is that Briggs allows her readers to get involved in the paranormal politics. Even though there are definite tensions amongst werewolves, vampires, and the fae, they all get together to fight a common evil that threatens the shaky peace they have with humans. Another thing that I absolutely love about this series is that characters from both genders are equally powerful and strong in their own way and refreshingly come from diverse backgrounds. For example, Mercy is half Native American, which makes her more interesting and appealing.
   Mercy is once again an excellent, strong female heroine who is constantly struggling to keep her own stands in midst of the alpha males around her. She refuses to back down when she is faced with a challenge. Finally there is a series where a woman saves the day instead of a man. Mercy is resourceful and smart. Although there is romantic tension between two central alpha male characters, I am thankful that Briggs does not dumb down Mercy nor her story so that she can be with one of the heroes.
   If you enjoy a good paranormal tale with a plethora of paranormal creatures and a combination of mystery and suspense, then this is the series for you. Briggs characters truly make the book come alive and
fosters my desire to continue the series.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is language and some strong violence. Although it is marketed to adults, I think teens will be interested in this series.

If you like this book try: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #3), Magic Bites and Magic Burns by Iona Andrews, Fray by Joss Whedon, or Paranormalcy by Kristen White

  I started another series. I know, I know. I always say that I won't start another because I have so many series that are going on and I have a hard time keeping track of them all. My book buddy, Una, recommended that I check out the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs that has a similar feel to them as the Kate Daniel series. Well, how can I argue with that?

Description: In Mercy's world, paranormal beings live amongst humans. Due to a popular murder case, the the lesser fae have been forced out of hiding and are consequently placed in reservation-like areas. The greater fae and other beings with powers (i.e. werewolves, vampires, witches) remain hidden from society's eyes and like to keep their identities unknown.
  Mercy is not normal. She's actually a skin walker, who can easily shift to being a coyote. She has several friends from the paranormal community and runs her own car shop. When a runaway teen named Mac, who happens to be a werewolf arrives at Mercy's shop looking for work, Mercy immediately senses he  is not part of the local pack. She gives the kid a job and looks into finding him refuge with the local weres. Unfortunately, trouble is following Mac around, and Mercy finds herself knee-deep in a paranormal conspiracy! Someone is trying to "out" the werewolves and has kidnapped the Alpha's daughter. It's up to Mercy and her friends to find out what happens before things really start getting bad.

Review: I enjoyed reading Moon Called. It is a very different adult paranormal book that I have read so far. The focus of the book and probably the series is politics surrounding the paranormal beings. They have their own set of rules and are trying to live peacefully amongst each other. The book sets up this back story in great detail without ever being preachy.
  I instantly loved the characters, which is always a good sign. I was immediately drawn to our heroine, Mercy, who is compassionate, smart, loyal, stubborn, strong, impulsive, and down right funny. She is constantly reminding the men around her that she can handle her own without being making them feel stupid. The characters of two central male characters, Adam and Samuel, are both very intriguing and have interesting back stories. They are both have a connection with Mercy, which will definitely heat things up as the series continues and I look forward to exploring a bit more as I continue the series.
  The mystery and plot of  the book had lots of twists and turns that kept me on my feet while reading. My biggest problem with this novel is the inconsistent pace of the book. The story starts off very slowly in the beginning with Briggs providing lots of back story and information about werewolves and vampires, which is helpful in understanding the characters but it slowed the story almost to a halt. The book does pick up, however, in the last half of the book. Since I really liked the characters, I will continue with this series and hope that each book gets better. Bottom line is: if you're looking for a smart and strong female character and enjoy urban fantasy, definitely check this series out. 

Rating: 3.5 stars


Words of Caution: There is some language in the book. The action scenes are PG-13. Although the book is marketed towards adults, I can definitely seen teens reading this series.


If you like this book try: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews, Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Book 2)