REVIEW: Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8)

Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8), by Patricia Briggs
Published March 11, 2014
Publisher: Ace
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult urban fantasy/paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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.

Frustrations abounded in Night Broken, the latest Mercy Thompson book, as Adam's evil ex-wife crashes Mercy's and Adam's new happy life with a crisis that she needs help with. Faeries, vampires and evil volcano gods are out for Mercy's head on a platter, and the ex tearing up Mercy's kitchen is like pouring salt on the wound. 

Mercy's busy trying to get Adam's wolves on her side when Christy, Adam's ex-wife, shows up beaten with a story about a lover getting killed by another man who is now after her. She asks for protection, and Adam being Adam, gives it to her. Meanwhile, one of the Gray Lords has come to Mercy requesting to take possession of the walking stick that has attached itself to her. If he doesn't get it back, he'll wreak havoc on the Pacific Northwest. Mercy enlists the help of her sort-of-brother to not only get the walking stick back, but to thwart the evil volcano god who is after Christy. Because, the sooner her threat is removed, the sooner she can get out of their house. 

One of my favorite parts of the Mercy Thompson series - the werewolf pack bond - was in full force in Night Broken. Mercy still is struggling to be accepted by Adam's pack because she's not an actual werewolf. Despite that, as Adam's wife, she has access to the pack bonds and wields a fair amount of power over the others. I loved seeing Mercy manipulate those bonds when she needed them. 

Once again, there was a really cool mystery to be solved. There was the question of the identity of Christy's attacker, and once they found out who he was, how to stop him. There was also the case of the murdered women and animals and what they mean. I love how Mercy taps into her friends and uses their strengths and connections to help her. And, lots of her friends make appearances. Samuel and his mate, Stefan, Kyle and Tad all play key roles in Night Broken. Tad had a particularly elevated presence - it was awesome getting to know him better, especially since I have a feeling the next book will be more about him. 

There were a few things I felt were a little lacking. First, Mercy didn't turn into a coyote even once in this book, although we did see all the werewolves in their altered form. Second, Christy's presence caused a lot of irritation. On one hand, I LOVED the introduction of her presence and the conflict it introduced. On the other hand, I kept waiting and waiting... and WAITING for someone (namely, Adam) to put that bitch in her place. There was one scene where Mercy had some words with her, but I so wanted someone to just go totally off on her. It never came, and it made me feel largely unfulfilled. I think a lot more could've been done with Christy in Night Broken. I'm also really ready for the wolves to get over their major attitude problems toward Mercy. It's getting a little old now.

The big bad guy was one seriously evil dude. I really liked that it seemed impossible to beat him. It made for a really poignant and explosive final battle. I liked how that all played out, although it was a bit disconcerting that, once again, Mercy ended up in critical condition. How does this girl continue to get herself into situations where her life comes this close to ending? 

Despite that, Night Broken is a fantastic book. Mercy and Adam are at a perfect place of love and trust in their relationship, and the best parts of the entire book were when they were alone and shared comfortable, sweet moments with each other. They've come a long way, and it's so satisfying to read about. I'm totally hooked on this series and can't wait for the next book to come out.
 

REVIEW: Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7)

Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7), by Patricia Briggs
Published March 5, 2013
Publisher:  Ace
Format: audiobook, borrowed from the library
Genre:  urban fantasy
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) 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.

Finally - Mercy is back! I must admit, after the last two books in the series, I was feeling a little disenfranchised. I mean, the books were still good, but they really seemed to be missing that spark that the first few books had. But, with Frost Burned, the spark is back, and it's hotter than ever.

I think a lot of why I loved this book so much more than the past two is because of the presence of the pack. You know, initially werewolves weren't really my thing. I thought - how can dogs be sexy? But, awhile back I changed my mind, and I think werewolves are my new favorite supe. I think it's because of the pack aspect. There's something so awesome about a bunch of people who stick closer together than family, always helping each other out to the point of risking their lives for each other.

The pack aspect is alive and well and so strong in Frost Burned. When Adam and the rest of the pack go missing for no apparent reason, Mercy uses her bond to the pack in ways that they have never been used before. It was exciting and I found myself totally cheering Mercy on from my car seat.

Can I just say... how did I not know that Frost Burned was a dual POV? I just about lost my stuff when Adam started talking. I mean, how cool was that?!

I just love Adam's and Mercy's relationship. They love each other and support each other so much. I also love Warren's and Kyle's relationship. What a hoot Kyle is - I love that we got to see so much more from him in this book than in previous ones.

Mercy is exploring her newly discovered Coyote's Daughter abilities, and that is super fun to see. Her ability to "see" magic comes in handy several times, especially at the end during the epic final battle. It's a really cool twist to make Mercy evolve and not grow stagnant as a character. I totally buy it all. Patricia Briggs is a genius for doing this.

Most of our old friends make an appearance in Frost Burned - Tad, Zee, Gabriel, Stephan. There were two very distinct characters who were completely MIA - Samuel and Bran. I was so disappointed that they didn't even make a cameo appearance. Hopefully that means that we'll see tons of them in the next book.

Frost Burned was exactly what I needed to reinvigorate my love of the Mercy Thompson series. 

Book #129 - Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3)

Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
293 pages
Started 11/21/12
Finished 11/24/12
4 STARS

One of my biggest pet peeves in book series happened in Fair Game. It was a bummer, too, because I do really love Patricia Briggs and her werewolf series.

Charles is having a rough time of it, being Bran's master enforcer of the law. To give him a break, Anna and Charles are sent to Boston on a mission. They are asked to work with the FBI to find a serial killer and dispose of him or her. Anna gladly takes the assignment hoping that, if Charles has the opportunity to do away with an honest to goodness bad guy, that it might bring him back from his demons.

So, back to my irritation. Fair Game picks up a few YEARS after the conclusion of the last book. Anna is a very different person. Over the years she has strengthened and come into her own. And, I totally feel gyped. We spent two books seeing Anna and Charles get to know each other and lean on each other, and all of a sudden, everything is different. We, as readers, missed so much of their lives. It's all summed up in a few paragraphs. Not cool.

Other than that, it's a great story. For once, Charles is the one conflicted and Anna is the glue holding them together. The mystery, as always, was really good, as was the cast of supporting characters. And, the ending was a little ca-razy! I think the impacts of the ending will be felt in the last Mercy Thompson book, due out in the spring of 2013. Makes me even more eager for it to be released.

I hope that this isn't something that I see happening in future A&O books or Mercy books. I like reading about these characters' lives as they happen, not a recap later. Take note, Ms. Briggs. 

Book #122 - Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2)

Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega #2), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
286 pages
Started 11/4/12
Finished 11/6/12
4 STARS

I've reached the end of my Patricia Briggs book collection with Hunting Ground. There is one more to go in the Alpha & Omega series that I'll most likely borrow from the library. And then that's it until March 2013! I think I may go through withdraw.

Anna and Charles have been married for just a short while when Bran sends them on a trip to an out-of-state summit meeting with the werewolf leaders from Europe. It's a trip that should bring them closer together, and while sometimes it seems to have done just that, the stress of being away from home, being around hostile alpha males and being afraid for their lives makes them question everything.

The best part about this book is that insta-love hasn't proven to be, well, instantaneous. I know - that sounds confusing. See, in Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1), Anna and Charles' wolves fell instantly in love. By the end of the book, their human selves were along for the ride. Although there's no doubt that they love each other, they don't know each other. Anna is insecure and Charles is in uncharted territory. I love that despite their love, it's not all rainbows and puppies for them.

The mystery is interesting. There were a few characters who were not what they turned out to be. I love surprises like that. Not much surprises me anymore in books.

I enjoyed Hunting Ground. It was heavy and a little dark and sad at times. But, I enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it.

Book #119 - Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1)

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1), Patricia Briggs
paranormal romance, urban fantasy
294 pages
Started 10/31/12
Finished 11/1/12
4 STARS

I think it was a foregone conclusion that, after completing all six Mercy Thompson books, I would move on to the spin-off series, Alpha & Omega. I am so predicable.

Anna is newly mated to Charles Cornick, son of the most alpha werewolf in North America (and brother to Samuel from the Mercy series). But, the facts that she barely knows him, knows next to nothing about being a werewolf and an Omega werewolf at that, and is still traumatized from how she was treated in her old pack make getting comfortable with each other difficult. A mystery in the snowy woods seems like the perfect opportunity to tackle all those issues. And it would be, if it wasn't for that darn murderous witch.

Because Cry Wolf was written by Briggs after she had a few Mercy books under her belt (and it takes place chronologically after the events in the first Mercy book), this read just like a Mercy book. The world is the same, many characters are the same, the rules are the same. It's very seamless, and as a result, has almost the feel of a Mercy novella.

I absolutely love Anna. She's the perfect blend of timid and brave, snarky and sweet. I'm not sure what is up with Briggs' female characters succumbing to some sort of rape and battery, but it seems to be a common denominator. Although I'm not keen on these characters I like so much having to go through such a trauma, I do like the fact that Briggs doesn't gloss over the psychological aspects of it. Anna has to deal with some serious baggage, and I loved watching her do so with Charles' careful help. It made for a very sweet, romantic story, murderous witch notwithstanding.

Thanks to my Goodreads peeps, I learned that a prerequisite to this book is the anthology, On the Prowl, which includes Alpha & Omega (Alpha & Omega #0.5). So, I got it from the library and read it first, and then understood why they had all given me such good advice. If you're interested in trying out this series, I'm not passing on this tidbit to you. Seriously. Read the prequel novella first. Otherwise, many things in Cry Wolf will be hard to understand. Alpha & Omega laid the groundwork perfectly so that there wasn't a big learning curve when I started Cry Wolf.

It was a good book. A good mystery. Everything I've come to expect from Patricia Briggs. 

Book #113 - River Marked (Mercy Thompson #6)

River Marked (Mercy Thompson #6), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
326 pages
Started 10/17/12
Finished 10/19/12
4 STARS

With River Marked, I come to the end of the Mercy Thompson series - at least for a little while. Frost Burned, the seventh and final book in the series, releases on March 5, 2013, and with it comes the end of a really fun journey for me. One that has proven that I can love urban fantasy as much as paranormal romance, which was something I didn't think was possible.

Back to River Marked. Mercy and Adam went to the chapel and got themselves married. In true werewolf/shapeshifter fashion, they decide to go camping for their honeymoon. And, in true Mercy fashion, trouble follows in their wake.

To be honest with you, River Marked was my least favorite of all the Mercy books. Many of my favorite characters - Samuel, Warren and Kyle - were largely absent. But, beyond that, the pack dynamic as a whole was missing. Just as it seemed as if Mercy was finally starting to get a handle on her end of that - after the dynamic ending of Silver Borne - that aspect of this series was removed. It happened at an inopportune time, in my opinion.

In a series as long as this one, you need momentum to continue carrying the story forward. Up until this point, this series has had momentum in spades. Although each book has been encapsulated with its own mystery, the relationship dynamics between Mercy and Adam, Mercy and Samuel, Mercy and the pack at large and Mercy and her strange menagerie of friends has spurred the story forward and kept me interested. Once you remove everyone but Adam, even the introduction of some new characters can't stop the sound of screeching brakes.

But, no matter, because I have full confidence that Briggs will bring all our favorites back for the very last Mercy book and send her off with several exclamation points.

Book #112 - Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson #5)

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson #5), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
342 pages
Started 10/14/12
Finished 10/15/12
4 STARS

This was such a fun book! More weirdo fae. More Mercy and Adam. More SAMUEL. Need I say more?

Mercy has a fae book that apparently someone wants back. But, Mercy's learned a thing or two from her recent misadventures with the supernatural community, and she's not about to just hand it over. But now someone is after her to try and get it back. Complicating matters, Samuel is a wolf - and I mean A WOLF. And, that's not a good thing.

I'm making my way through the Mercy series, and like most series that include a lot of installments, some books in it are better than others. This was one of the better ones. There is more progression in Mercy's and Adam's relationship, which has born into something so wonderful and strong. The way Adam loves her is the stuff of only the absolute best romance stories. And Mercy's insecurities and hang-ups after what happened are made better every day because of him. This is good stuff, my friends.

And then there's Samuel. He's been Mercy's best friend for a long time, but he's struggling. It was good to see him trying to work through his stuff too. And, the out that he finds is very satisfying.

One book to go until the few months long wait for the seventh and final book. As much as I've loved this series, I think it's about time for Mercy and Adam and their friends to settle down and enjoy their lives. Don't you? 

Book #109 - Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson #4)

Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson #4), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
300 pages
Started 9/30/12
Finished 10/2/12
4 STARS

After the major events at the end of the third Mercy Thompson book, I moved immediately on to the next one in the series. I am really loving this series and wanted to see what would happen next in Mercy's life. 

Mercy has decided to let Adam in and accept him as her mate. But, she is still reeling from the trauma she experienced, so that's easier said than done. To complicate matters further, the vampire queen is on to Mercy's misgivings and is gunning for her now. Sounds like a good time for a vacay. So, Mercy heads to visit an acquaintance from college. And, in true Mercy fashion, ends up in worse trouble than if she had just stayed at home.

I think the third book was just too damn good. I don't think it can be topped, honestly. So, in my opinion. it paled in comparison. My favorite part was seeing Mercy actually struggle with something. Her character always seemed so strong and competent. Of course, after something like what happened to her happens to someone, it affects you in some serious ways. I'm so glad that Briggs didn't gloss over that.

It was equally refreshing to see her man stand by her. They cross another major bridge in their relationship, and Adam proves he's definitely worth waiting and fighting for. Love that.

The mystery itself wasn't as compelling as the others in the past. It felt a little contrived. And, the bad guy didn't scare me like the other baddies had. It could've been done better. In any case, I'm looking forward to finishing out the last two books that are out now and then hunkering down and waiting for the seventh Mercy book to come out next year.

Book #108 - Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson #3)

Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson #3), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
Started 9/27/12
Finished 9/29/12
5 STARS

Iron Kissed is the perfect demonstration of why you should never judge a book by its cover. Someone please tell me that I'm not the only one who thinks the cover art for this book is icky. Not only does Mercy not look anything like I pictured, she actually spends very little time fixing cars and lots of time doing other kick ass stuff. Despite the lacking cover, this book was So. Good. The best Mercy book yet.

 Mercy's good friend, Zee, has been framed for murder, so of course, Mercy can't leave it alone. She's determined to find out who is setting him up, even though he doesn't want her to. Meanwhile, she still has two werewolves vying for her affections, and the time has come for her to make a choice.


This is urban fantasy for cripes sake. It really shouldn't make me emotional. But, Mercy's snark makes me laugh, Sam's overbearing demeanor makes me wish so much that he was MY roommate, and the events in the last 15% of this book made me bawl like a baby. Now that is good writing.

What I think it the coolest part of these books is that the plot doesn't suffer for lack of anything else. The mystery, especially in this one, is intriguing and complex. I love that I can't figure out who did it right away. And, I love how Mercy goes about her sleuthing.

This is such a great series, and this is the best one of the bunch yet. If you haven't read any of these books yet, what are you waiting for?

Book #107 - Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2)

Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
Started 9/25/12
Finished 9/26/12
4 STARS

After falling in love with Mercy Thompson and her merry band of misfits in Moon Called, I didn't waste any time devouring book #2 in the series. I started it the very next day and 24 hours later, I had two Mercy books under my belt. I'm finding this series to be so much fun!

Stefan, Mercy's vampire friend, calls in a favor and asks her to accompany him on what is supposed to be a peace meeting with a big, bad nasty. The peace meeting doesn't go so... peaceably. I mean, this IS Mercy after all. She learns that there's a demon-possessed sorcerer vampire running amok in Tri-Cities. And, now he's gunning for her. Good thing she has two very hot werewolves to protect her.

My favorite part about this book was more Stefan. In book #1, we got a good look at Mercy, Sam and Adam. This book is our chance to learn about Stefan, and he is one cool vamp. And, it appears that he, like the aforementioned weres, cares a lot about Mercy.

And, once again, Mercy is called upon to save them all. I love the irony in that. Oh sure - Sam and Adam have saved Mercy's bacon a few times themselves. But, in the end, it's all up to the little coyote. That's one of the things about this series that's so endearing. Mercy is so strong and capable that she ends up in situations where she can dispose of the bad guy and save her main men. I love that about her.

Book #106 - Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1)

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1), Patricia Briggs
urban fantasy
Started 9/20/12
Finished 9/24/12
4 STARS

Oh, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. Where have you been my whole life? I approached Moon Called with a measure of trepidation. Urban fantasy is not my favorite genre. Previous attempts at connecting with books in that vein have fallen a little short. I'm not sure why - I suspect is has something to do with the significant lack of romance, which is my favorite part of most books. And, although that was no different in this case, obviously something was, because I was grabbed from the first page.

Mercedes Thompson is a VW mechanic by trade and a shapeshifter by nature. She is brave and tough with a soft heart. And, as it turns out, a magnet for trouble. When she stumbles on a plot by someone to capture young werewolves, she is determined to get to the bottom of it, come hell or high water. Luckily, she has friends in high places, like Dr. Samuel Cornick, the son of the most powerful werewolf in the country (and her ex-boyfriend), and Adam Hauptman, the Alpha werewolf of the local pack.

Briggs has an amazing imagination. The pack dynamics that she describes seemed so well thought out - they made perfect sense to me and helped deepen the understanding and connection to the world the characters live in. I love the fact that Mercy is as normal as possible... without being normal. I always forget that she's something supernatural as well, until she shifts into a coyote.

Even all that wouldn't have been enough for me to love this book as much as I did. I think what really did it for me were the characters. I fell in love with Mercy immediately. She's the perfect blend of hard and soft, snark and sweet. And, she's a cat lover. Who is a coyote. I love that bit of irony.

And then there's the boys. Samuel. Bran. Adam. Stefan. All handsome, strong and brave. And all love Mercy in different ways. They're fleshed out so well - I feel like I know them all.

Lucky me, I own all six Mercy Thompson books that are currently out. Be prepared for a Mercy marathon, people.