A Book Obsession..: Patricia Briggs

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Early Review: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson #11

In this new installment in the No. 1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves . . .

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.

I absolutely love Mercy and the entire series. Each new installment is like coming home to old friends, and STORM CURSED was no exception. Mercy has such an entertaining knack for getting herself both in and out of trouble, which is a delight to read. This time around she's found herself tangled up with the blackest of witches. And if that weren't enough there's things afoot with the government trying to control the pack. Plus all the continued repercussions from Mercy's declaration that the tri-cities were her territory and you have a whole lot going on in Mercy-land. As always she handles things with her normal wit and perseverance, and it made for one heck of an enjoyable read.

There were a whole lot of moving parts in STORM CURSED with so many different factions and issues Mercy and co were facing. It really made for and interesting read, and it felt great to return back to the tri-cities after the overseas hijinks from the previous book. As they say there's no place like home, and there's nothing like a Mercy book. Fans of the series will really enjoy this installment for all the action, comedy, familiar faces, and typically Mercy fun. Definitely a great read!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Gizmo's Reviews
Mrs Leif's Two Fangs About It
The Bibliosanctum

Previous Books:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned
8. Night Broken
9. Fire Touched
10. Silence Fallen

Early Review: Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

Alpha & Omega #5

Mated werewolves Charles Cornick and Anna Latham face a threat like no other--one that lurks too close to home...

They are the wild and the broken. The werewolves too damaged to live safely among their own kind. For their own good, they have been exiled to the outskirts of Aspen Creek, Montana. Close enough to the Marrok's pack to have its support; far enough away to not cause any harm.

With their Alpha out of the country, Charles and Anna are on call when an SOS comes in from the fae mate of one such wildling. Heading into the mountainous wilderness, they interrupt the abduction of the wolf--but can't stop blood from being shed. Now Charles and Anna must use their skills--his as enforcer, hers as peacemaker--to track down the attackers, reopening a painful chapter in the past that springs from the darkest magic of the witchborn...

I really look forward to every release from Patricia Briggs whether it's a Charles/Anna or a Mercy story. I've said it before, but every book is like coming home to old friends, and BURN BRIGHT was no exception. In fact in preparation for this release, I did an audio re-read of both of the entire Mercy and Alpha & Omega series. I just love these books that much. So after reading this newest installment, I'm happy to report I'm still just as enamored as ever with the series.

BURN BRIGHT brought a whole lot more depth to the characters of Aspen Creek that really enriched the series. Sure we get plenty of Charles and Anna time, but there's a whole lot of other side characters that came to the forefront, like the Wildlings. Also, Leah in particular surprised me. In the previous books in both series she's portrayed as bitter and vindictive, overall a nasty person. And yet in BURN BRIGHT we got to see a whole lot more of her personality and who she really is. I definitely enjoyed seeing more into her character.

There is one small twist regarding Bran and Mercy and the reasons why Leah despises Mercy so much. While I won't spoil things, I'm not sure how I feel about the revelations. Some things just didn't sit with me right and had me second guessing a lot of past things from previous books. I won't say that it ruined anything, just made me see things in a different light and I'm just not sure how I feel. I'll get over it, and I do commend Patricia for writing such multi-faceted characters. While the twist may not be my favorite, it made the characters all the more real for it.

All in all, BURN BRIGHT was a very enjoyable installment in the Alpha & Omega series. Fans of Ms. Brigg's books will be more than pleased!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Bad Bird Reads
Tome Tender
My Guilty Obsession

Previous Books:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game
4. Dead Heat

Early Review: Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson #10

In the #1 New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson novels, the coyote shapeshifter has found her voice in the werewolf pack. But when Mercy's bond with the pack and her mate is broken, she'll learn what it truly means to be alone...

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...

I had a lot of fun while reading SILENCE FALLEN. The author gives fair warning at the start to pay attention to Mercy’s notes at the start of the chapters, and that the timeline would be less than linear. This back and forth in the timeline made the book even more interesting in my opinion. Rather than detracting from the story, it added an interesting element to see how it all panned out. Very fun!

I’ll keep things vague to avoid spoilers, but I have to talk about my absolute favorite part of this book. There’s one hell of a twist near the end of MERCY BOOK that is simply utter perfection. I was thoroughly enjoying every moment while reading, especially all of Mercy’s penchant for trouble, but once we got to the twist part, I literally cheered out loud, disturbing my husband in his sleep in the wee hours of the morning. It just answered a long running question/issue for me with the series, and I couldn’t adore the author possibly any more for her choice in this matter. In fact, this twist was so incredible that as soon as I finished the book, I already made plans to start a re-read the next evening in order to catch all the clues that had been leading up to that incredible twist. If it says anything about the quality of this book, it was even better the second time.

I adore each and every Mercy book, but this one? It simply blew it out of the park for me. This book proves once and for all the Mercy series is by far one of the best there is. Run, do not walk, and get this book immediately!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Books Over Coffee
Just Read
SnoopyDoo's Book Review

Previous Books:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned
8. Night Broken
9. Fire Touched

Release Day Review: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson #9

Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer...

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?

I absolutely love this series. I start counting the days until the next release as soon as I finish the latest installment as I could read endless books in this world. There's just something about Mercy and her world that is so entertaining, and yet comforting that keeps me craving more. Each book makes me feel like coming home, and in fact this series is one of my favorites to listen to on audiobook as a re-read. So before I even get started fully into this review, if you haven't read this series, stop right here, run and start a binge read, as once you start you won't be able to stop.

It amazes me how the stakes continually get higher and yet different in each new installment. Some times when books try and outdo the previous installment, the constant one-upmanship only leads to unbelievable and unrealistic states. And yet, Patricia Briggs seamlessly writes each new obstacle and challenge where they are all unique, more dangerous, and yet in no way outlandish. She stays well within the rules she has set in her world and I truly admire her for that. There's no shortcuts here. This time around the threat brewing is an all out war between the fae and the werewolves, and the humans as a side result. Mercy takes some rather both actions as she is wont to do, and Adam ever the amazingly supportive hero backs her up soundly. In fact his actions throughout this book were incredible to put it mildly. Fans of the series will be delighted at the new road and choices the two of them have made in this round, and the new pack dynamics that result as a fact. All I can say is that it's about time.

One of the other great things about this series is that it weaves in its sister series, the Alpha and Omega as well, tying them together perfectly. There was one large character from that series that made a pretty terrible decision and actions towards Mercy. And while I understand them, they left me reeling alongside her. There's a lot of long reaching consequences from those choices, and I can't wait to see how that turns out in the next book in either series, whichever comes first.

Yet another brilliant installment in the always fantastic Mercy Thompson series, FIRE TOUCHED is one you'll want you'll want to get your hands on as soon as possible. Make sure to set aside a nice long block to read as once you start, you simply won't be able to put it down.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
Under the Covers

Previous Books:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned
8. Night Broken

Early Review: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Alpha & Omega #4

THE NEW CHARLES AND ANNA NOVEL

Praised as “the perfect blend of action, romance, suspense and paranormal,"* the Alpha and Omega novels transport readers into the realm of the werewolf, where Charles Cornick and Anna Latham embody opposite sides of the shifter personality. Now, a pleasure trip drops the couple into the middle of some bad supernatural business…

For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

I really love Patricia Briggs' books. Each new one feels like coming home to old friends, and I've never been disappointed. Dead Heat was no exception. While this series has a bit of a different feel to it than the Mercy Series, I look forward to these books every bit as much. Charles and Anna have something inexplicable that just draws you in. Charles is so gruff and hard on the outside and everyone has a hard time understanding how Anna is not terrified of him as well. It makes for rather hilarious moments when she sasses at him or teases him and anyone who is around, their eyes bug out of their head. It's just great to see this hard man in a newer, softer light for her alone. As much as I love how Charles is portrayed in this series, I have to confess that Anna really steals the show for me. She's come so far, and yet you still see the vulnerabilities from what she's faced.

The plot behind DEAD HEAT was incredibly enthralling. It starts out calmer with Charles and Anna taking a much needed personal break to go horse shopping. This also brings them to a very old friend of Charles, which added another depth to his character. Previously we've only seen him be soft towards Anna, with a just a bit of affection toward his father, brother, and Mercy as well, but no further than that. So like I said earlier, seeing Charles care about someone else other than his very very short list was a treat to see. This book also showed why he is so reserved from caring about others, aside from the enforcer bit of course. It added a new depth to his character which I loved. But getting back to the plot, the Fae are at it again wreaking havoc. This time around was pretty horrific, and it kept me on the edge of my seat watching it all unfurl.

So all in all, this book and this series is the total package, great plot, incredible characters, and a swoon worthy romance that sucks you right in. I cannot recommend these books any higher!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Dark Faerie Tales
Carole's Random Life

Previous Books:
1. Cry Wolf
2. Hunting Ground
3. Fair Game

Early Review: Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson World

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…

Includes the new stories…

“Silver”
“Roses in Winter”
“Redemption”
“Hollow”

…and reader favorites
“Fairy Gifts”
“Gray”
“Alpha and Omega”
“Seeing Eye”
“The Star of David”
“In Red, with Pearls”

I feel I should start off this review with two disclaimers. One, I'm a huge fan of both the Mercy Thompson series and Alpha and Omega series, so I'm excited to read anything that has to do with them. Two, I'm not the biggest fan of short stories, especially the ones that aren't directly tied to characters that are well established in a series. I just don't think there's enough of a word count to fully develop things enough for me to get sucked into things. So that being said, I enjoyed some of these stories much more than others. I'll touch briefly on each of them.

Silver - I'm one of those readers who have been dying to see more behind the man that Bran is, especially a look into his past. This story tells the very beginning of his and Samuel's lives as werewolves. It was an interesting addition to the series, but in true to character form, it left more than a few things secret, and I'm not sure if I truly know anything more about Bran from this story than before. Samuel yes, but Bran know. I guess he'll continue to remain a mystery. Oh and P.S. this one's pretty depressing, but I pretty much knew that going into things. Their past had been said to not be a happy one...

Roses in Winter - This was another one that involved a character I wanted to know more about. The young werewolf from early in the Mercy series, Kira. I wanted to see what became of her after she went to the Marrok, and this tells that story, along with a better look into Asil. Very enjoyable.

Redemption - This one's about Ben. While he's a rude and messed up werewolf, and has very little respect for women, I've always loved his character. From the point where he stood by Mercy after the terrible thing that happened to her, I was forever sold on him. This story shows a bit deeper look into this surly man, and also showed him moving on the path towards healing.

Hollow - A Mercy story. What can I say other than I simply loved it. And when Adam came in while Mercy was yet again hurt and in the thick of things, well that just summed everything up perfectly for them. Loved it!

Fairy Gifts - This one was a bit harder to me connect to as the characters weren't anyone I was attached to from the series, but it did show an interesting journey between a vampire and a fae. Just a little bonus story as it were.

Gray - This was another that I didn't quite connect to as it wasn't any characters on my list of favorites, but putting that aside, it was an interesting story.

Alpha and Omega - This is Charles and Anna's beginning, and the story that completely sucked me into their series. I've re-read this opening and the entire series multiple times, and I couldn't help myself but to read it again. I forsee another re-read of their books in my near future.

Seeing Eye - I loved Moira and Tom in the Alpha and Omega books, so it was nice to see how they met. I do wish the story had been a bit longer however, as all we got to see was the attraction between them. I would have loved to have seen the beginning of their relationship, but this story was enjoyable nonetheless.

The Star of David - I really liked David's character from Moon Called, and I always wished to have seen more from him. That wish came true in this story, and I especially liked the way it ended, making it a good outtake in my book.

In Red, with Pearls - Ah Warren, I really adore him. He's so strong yet vulnerable all the same, and I loved seeing this extra story from him. The moral is not to mess with his mate, and it's a lesson hard learned.

All in all, if you are a fan of the world behind these two series, then you definitely won't want to miss this compilation. If you haven't read either series yet, you don't know what you are missing, but that being said, I wouldn't recommend starting here (with the exception of the Alpha and Omega story), as these stories would be better enjoyed with the full knowledge of the rest of the books. So either way, yet again the Mercy Thompson world earns my stamp of approval, and are a must read for any Urban Fantasy fan.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
Stormy and Somnomancy

Previous Books:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned
8. Night Broken

Early Review: Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson #8

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.

NIGHT BROKEN feels like a big reunion. From Mercy and Adam, to the Pack, Stefan and the vamps, Coyote, and Tad/Zee and the Fae, everyone is one big happy family. Or well unhappy family depending on how you look at it, but Mercy is at the center of it all, all the same, which of course is her coyote nature, and probably what makes this series so interesting. There isn't really a faction that Mercy doesn't somewhat have her hand in. And I have to admit that it's more than a little entertaining to sit back and watch the sparks fly. Even though the focus of NIGHT BROKEN was on other things, there still were hints at the troubles with the Fae and the troubles the Weres have with Cantrip. As I said, sparks are flying, and you won't want to miss it.

I have to admit that I was more than a little caught off guard with the path this book took as far as the pack politics. For some reason, I had though that after everything that had happened in the past couple of books that the pack had finally accepted Mercy. Yet, as soon as Adam's ex, Christy, walks back into their lives, all of a sudden Mercy is back to being the outsider and mistrusted. I honestly did not care for it at all. There's nothing Mercy wouldn't do for any of them, so it just left a foul taste in my mouth at how little it took for them to turn their back on her. Don't get me wrong, it in no way lessened the book, it just elicited a strong anger from me, which just proved how far I was sucked into the story. Speaking of anger, man do I loathe Christy. There were times where I thought I was almost about to feel sorry for her as her situation was truly terrible, but then she would do yet another underhanded vindictive thing that on the surface looked guileless but underneath were rather malicious. That being said, it did provide for some pretty hilarious moments as remember the antics Mercy committed against Bran growing up. Christy didn't stand a chance.

It's very telling that no matter how long between installments, I have no trouble picking up one of these books and diving right in. In so many series there is at least a small "re-learning" curve as you get back into the world and try and remember what happened previously, but that's not the case here. I eagerly look forward to these books as it feels like coming home each time, and NIGHT BROKEN was no exception. From politics, to romance, to heartbreak, to danger, and suspense, this book has it all and then some. Fans of the series will be more than pleased with this fantastic installment.

(Received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley)

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Other Reviews:
Bibliophilia, Please
Booked & Loaded
read what i like

Previous Books:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned

Review: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

, by KT

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson #7

Mercy Thompson returns in the seventh novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

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.

Over the past several years, Mercy's life has changed drastically. She's used to be able to keep her head down and stay out of the supernatural politics, but trouble seems to have a way of finding her now. Of course now that she's the mate of the local werewolf alpha, she doesn't have to fight her battles alone anymore. At least that is when Adam and his entire pack haven't been abducted leaving Mercy behind scrambling to hold things together. With the relations between humans and supernaturals so strained, more than ever the wolves cannot afford an incident. She'll have to enlist the help of friends old and new to get to the bottom of things fast, before it is too late.

I have to say that I was pretty surprised at the direction this book took. I mean after the insane game changing events of FAIR GAME, I had figured this book would have to mainly focus on the aftermath of the fae's actions. However, while there is some focus on the issues with the fae withdrawing and becoming almost hostile, it doesn't steal the show. Mercy and the gang have enough problems on their own. I won't get into any details, but from the blurb, it's obvious that Adam and the rest of the pack have gone missing. That in itself was a whopper of a hijinks as Mercy scrambled to find allies who could help her get the pack back. But, as I've come to expect from Patricia Briggs, things are not so simply cut an dry as a simple kidnapping plot. There's a whole lot more going on that made FROST BURNED really take the cake in the end, but you'll have to read it for yourself to find out.

I have to say that I really enjoyed FROST BURNED. It had the best of both worlds, the original Mercy, where she most played "lone ranger" and also the new Mercy who has Adam and the pack at her back. Don't get me wrong, I love the romance between Adam and Mercy, and think they are the perfect fit for one another, but it was really good to see her spend sometime on her own saving the day. It just really reinforced everything I have grown to love about her. She truly is one of the best urban fantasy heroines out there. I also LOVED LOVED LOVED that two of my favorite characters, Ben and Stefan, got a good bit of screen time in FROST BURNED. What can I say, I have a thing for dangerous, tortured males. Speaking of which another favorite of mine, this time from the Alpha and Omega series, makes an important appearance, and I loved his addition. I won't say who, to avoid ruining the surprise, but I really enjoyed the way it strongly tied the two series together for me.

I have to admit that I've been a bit disappointed that the books have been cut back to only one per year, where we used to get at least one per series each year. So now, the wait between books for either series is two years or more. However, despite my grumblings I have to admit that these books are more than worth the wait. I know that with each new installment released, I'll have a guaranteed block of entertainment as Patricia Briggs has never once let me down. This time around was no exception as FROST BURNED brings everything that made this series so spectacular right back to the forefront. You simply cannot go wrong with a Mercy Thompson book.

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Previous Books:

Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked

Moon Called Volume 1

, by KT

Mercy Thompson: Moon Called Volume 1

Patricia Briggs, David Lawrence, & Amelia Woo

Five Mercy Thompson novels have topped the New York Times best-seller list, and her premiere graphic novel did the same. Now Patricia Briggs' heroic shape-shifter returns to comics! Mercy Thompson inhabits two worlds without truly belonging to either. To the human inhabitants of the Tri-Cities she's an oddity, a female mechanic operating her own garage. To the town's darker residents, werewolves, vampires, and fae, she's a walker, a last-of-her-kind magical being with the power to become a coyote. Mercy warily straddles the fine line dividing our everyday world from that darker dimension... 'till a boy, mauled by vicious werewolves and forever changed by the attack and on the run from those who committed the crime, appears at her door. Now her two worlds are about to collide! Outnumbered and out-muscled, can Mercy possibly save the boy... or even herself?

This was a very accurate retelling of the first Mercy Thompson book, at the bare bottom minimum. I haven't read a whole lot of graphic novels, but out of the ones that I have I would say this one was done pretty well in comparison. I will say that while it was nice to see our favorite characters brought to life, I couldn't help buy feel that it was lacking something. It just didn't have that "rich" and full feeling that reading the actual books gave me. I do think that it is a really nice graphic novel to be read in addition to the real books, but in the end it pales in comparison to the original. Aside from Sam and Adam, I think the characters images were portrayed well. The guy's images just didn't fit what I had in my mind at all. If you like graphic novels, then this would be a perfect start into the series, otherwise I would say stick to the original books. In then end it was a decent read, but nothing overly spectacular like I have come to expect in the Mercy Series.

(Received from Netgalley)

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Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson: Moon Called Volume 1 TP

River Marked

, by KT

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson #6

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 shapeshifter, 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, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

Mercy Thompson doesn't have the sense to be really afraid of anything. She's faced so much in the past, from kidnapping werewolves and demon possessed vampires to killer fae queens and other villains with delusions of grandeur. So, it is a little amusing that the one thing that terrifies her the most is just an ordinary human, her mother. Margi has gone a little overboard in the wedding ceremony planning, so Mercy is determined to elope. Yet like all of good laid plans, that doesn't work out so well either. But what can you do when you are a magnet for trouble? Their honeymoon vehicle, a ginormous trailer courtesy of the fae sends them to a private campground. Mystery lurks in the nearby river, with a monster that destroys everything in its path. In their trials to find a way to stop the monster, Mercy runs into others of her kind. Despite the sting of their knowledge of her, she knows they will need help to stop the monster before it consumes them all.

One of the things I loved most about this series was the tension, both sexual and otherwise between Adam and Mercy. His controlling nature and her general rebelliousness always clashed making for some very interesting interactions between the two, especially when her more sneaky or snarky side came into play. So, I was a little worried that this book would be lacking that great dynamic now that the two of them are truly together. However, I am very happy to say that I should not have worried. While they are much more "mushy" in the past, neither of them have lost who they really are at the core, which means they will still have those great interactions that typically wind up in arguments. As Mercy says in this book, she loves fighting with Adam, and I'm so happy to see that we won't lose that. The only difference now is that the end of the fight typically turns a little "physical" as they work out their frustrations. There is nothing like a good round of make-up sex, as these two now well know.

This book had a different feel to it than its predecessors, yet that did not detract from the book at all. I think a lot of that had to do with the change in setting and the fact that most of supporting characters just didn't play a big role in the action. The focus of this book was also more on Mercy and her heritage rather than the issues of the three other "big bad" groups that she has dealt with in the past. Without spoiling anything, I will say that I found the truth about her father and her direct heritage made for a very intriguing surprise. However, when you look at Mercy's personality and general contrariness, it makes complete sense. I won't say any more on that, you'll have to read the book to find the rest out.

As always when it comes to this series, I highly enjoyed this book. However, the ending of this book sets it slightly apart from the others, as it left me with a great sense of satisfaction and happiness. Typically when I finish a good book I'm instantly desperate for more. While I will still eagerly await the next one, this one just left me feeling complete, making that wait a little easier. I highly recommend this book to any Urban Fantasy fans, being one of my top favorite series. Fans of the series will be delighted at the look into Mercy's heritage. However, if you have not read the series, this is definitely not the place to start. You'll need that foundation from the previous books to really appreciate the characters and their progressions. All in all this was a fantastic read that I cannot possible recommend any higher.

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