Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Title: Silence Fallen

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 10

371 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: March 7, 2017

Source: Personal Library

Buy|AMAZON|B&N

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...

MY THOUGHTS

In Silence Fallen, Mercy is taken from her usual stomping grounds of the Tri-Cities to Europe, where vampires and werewolves operate very differently from what she's used to. The action starts almost immediately, and within the first couple of pages, we not only find Mercy in a completely new place, but she's also alone and literally cut off from her pack bonds and allies. I had grown so accustomed to seeing Mercy with Adam and the pack that I never imagined this could actually happen, but the change of scenery was refreshing.

Mercy is a magnet for trouble, and being kidnapped was the least of her worries. After finally escaping the vampires, she immediately falls into the hands of werewolves and then straight into an even worse group of vampires. But Mercy, ever resourceful, quickly rescues herself and navigates unfamiliar territory with relative ease or at least as much ease as one can without clothes, food, or money. During her time apart from the group and she spends most, if not all, of the book on her own, we get to see more of what she's capable of, including her powers over spirits and other newly discovered abilities that neither she nor the reader knew she possessed. It was cool to see.

However, I did have a few complaints this time around. I wasn't fond of the alternating chapters between Adam and Mercy, although I understand why they were necessary. We needed to see both what was happening to Mercy and what Adam and the others were doing as they searched for her. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just didn't particularly enjoy reading Adam's point of view. I also wasn't interested in the history of the European supernaturals. They mention Zach and the falling out between the European pack leader and the Marrok, but I didn't remember any of it from previous books, nor did I really care. The explanation for why Mercy was taken and how everything had been orchestrated by the vampire Jacob also fell flat for me. He's supposedly the scariest, strongest, and most ruthless vampire in the world, yet his grand plan was to trick Adam into flying all the way to Europe just to clean up his little coup? That was so dumb and underwhelming. Also, why bother with mentioning how easy it was for Mary to create Vampires, only to have it not matter in the end. It didn't really move the story forward. I don't know, I thought it was pointless.

While I enjoyed Mercy's storyline, the highlight of the book was probably the little twist at the end when Mercy recognized one of Adam's men. That was both funny and clever. Overall, it's still a solid installment, but it's not one of my favorites in the series.

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Title: Fire Touched

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 9

320 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: March 8, 2016

Source: Personal Library

Buy|AMAZON|B&N

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?

MY THOUGHTS

The last Mercy book that went in-depth on the Fae was the third installment, Iron Kissed. But the Fae take center stage once again in the ninth installment, Fire Touched, when Zee is broken out of Underhill along with a human child touched by the Fae who is seeking sanctuary with Mercy and Adam from the Gray Lords.

I'm surprised to say this, but I think Fire Touched is my favorite Mercy novel in the series so far and I'm only a little more than halfway through. I loved seeing many of the key players again. We have Zee, Tad, and the entire pack, but we're also introduced to new characters such as the other Gray Lords, Baba Yaga, and Aiden, the human child.

To be frank, this far into the series, I was afraid the story would start to feel repetitive or monotonous, but that wasn't the case at all. I love that I can still enjoy the series and continue to be surprised by it. The last time I read a Mercy book, her relationship with the pack was still rocky, and in Fire Touched we still see some of that strain while also watching those relationships slowly improve.

It was cool to see Adam's pack making unprecedented changes that could affect all packs across the U.S., although I'm sure that will bring even more trouble in future books. The Fae politics were also interesting. Many of the Fae were hoping to go to war with the humans, indirectly through Adam and Mercy, so we got to see how that all played out and how it affected the Marrok.

Another thing I appreciate about this book and the series overall is seeing the evolution of Mercy and Adam's relationship. Most of the time, especially in newer books, we don't get to see the "after" in happily ever after once the lead couple finally gets together. Stories usually end too early. And even when we do get to see it, it's often poorly done, treated as unimportant, or pushed to the back burner.

That's not the case here, though. Seeing their relationship continue to grow and strengthen is so refreshing. I love how honest and open their communication is. They're mature, supportive, and always have each other's backs. It's just wonderful to see in fantasy books.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, and I hope this is the last time we see Christy because she is nothing but bad juju and drama.

Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

Title: Night Broken

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 8

320 Pages, Hardcover

Publication: March 4, 2014

Source: Libby Library

Buy|AMAZON|B&N

An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from a stalker. 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 furthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get him, 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 stalker 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.

MY THOUGHTS

In Night Broken, Mercy’s standing within the Pack is still fragile as everyone continues dealing with the fallout from the previous book’s events. To make matters worse, Adam’s ex-wife seeks shelter in their home while fleeing an abusive man and there’s a serial killer on the loose in the Tri-Cities.

I enjoyed Night Broken much more than I expected. I loved meeting all the new characters, especially ones we had heard about before but had never actually seen on the page, such as Christy and a Gray Lord. There were also some unexpected appearances, including more of Coyote and the introduction of a supposedly lost sibling, which was a pleasant surprise. Mercy and the Pack’s interactions with this newcomer added a fun and interesting dynamic to the story; it was probably one of my favorite parts.

The plot was great, and I loved how Briggs tied two seemingly unrelated subplots into one cohesive storyline. Clever! I also appreciated the ongoing development in Mercy and Adam’s relationship. With Adam’s ex moving in, Mercy could have reacted very differently, but her maturity really stood out. Readers also learn alongside Mercy as she discovers more about her evolving abilities. She has certainly come a long way since the first book, when we believed she was just a simple shapeshifting mechanic.

I can’t wait to continue with the next books in the series. I’ve loved the Urban Fantasy genre ever since discovering it in the early 2000s. If you enjoy books with rich world-building, strong character development, and intriguing elements of Native folklore, I highly recommend checking out the Mercy Thompson series.

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Title: Frost Burned

Author: Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Mercy Thompson # 7

Publication: January 1, 2013 

352 pages

Source: Personal Library

Buy|AMAZON|B&N

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, 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. But she fears Adam's disappearance may be related to the political battle the werewolves have been fighting to gain acceptance from the public - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outmatched and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

MY THOUGHTS

It’s been over ten years since I last read the Mercy Thompson series, so naturally, I decided a re-read was in order. I’m so glad I did; it reminded me just how much I love this world and these characters. Frost Burned is the seventh installment in the series, following Mercy, a coyote shifter, and her husband Adam, the local werewolf Alpha, as they navigate their new mate bond while dealing with the usual highs and lows of supernatural politics.

The story kicks off with a bang when Mercy and Jesse are ambushed during a Black Friday outing, and things only get worse when she discovers the entire pack, except Ben, has vanished. It turns out they’ve been taken by mercenaries, setting the stage for an action-packed ride.

If you’ve ever read this series or really any Urban Fantasy, you’ll know the protagonist rarely gets any downtime, and Mercy is no exception. Even seven books in, I was happy to find that the characters, writing, and plot remain just as strong as when I first started the series. There wasn’t a single lull; I stayed engaged and invested all the way through. I especially enjoyed this plot compared to some of the previous installments, and I liked seeing the mix of both familiar and fresh faces playing active roles in the story.

Now that I’ve finished my re-reads, it’s on to the books I haven’t yet read. I’m excited to see what Briggs has in store for Mercy and the crew.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Title: Silver Borne
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Mercy Thompson # 5

Hardcover, 342 Pages
Publication: March 30, 2010 by Ace Books

Source: Personal Library

Buy|Amazon|B&N|

Mercy is smart enough to realize that when it comes to the magical fae, the less you know, the better. But you can't always get what you want. When she attempts to return a powerful fae she previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secrets - and the fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side - leaving Mercy to cover for him lest his own father declare Samuel's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she may not have many more... 

I can’t believe it’s been eight years since I read the last Mercy book. With that said, going in and starting Silver Borne was effortless. To my own surprise I remembered exactly where things left off and what occurred in the previous books. That’s a true testament to Briggs for creating such an amazing world and characters. You honestly cannot define the Urban Fantasy Genre without the Mercy Thompson series. It’s truly a UF staple, must have and reading requirement for everyone that loves the genre.

After a traumatic attack on Mercy’s person in Bone Crossed, both Mercy and Adam are trying to work out their relationship; trying to get back to how things were before the attack. But the momentary reprieve from trouble is short-lived when Mercy’s friends get kidnaps and a dangerous fae searches for a book…a book that Mercy is in possession of.

There were multiple subplots happening simultaneously but Briggs weaved the plots seamlessly that every single contained situation fit perfectly all together. In addition to deal with the fae kidnapping, Mercy had to attend to the the usual business of her business, pack business and help her friend, Samuel and his wolf through a crisis. Mercy definitely had her plate full, but then again when doesn’t she?

I really enjoyed Silver Borne and learning more about the supes in Mercy’s world. I am amazed at how much Briggs was able to pack in one single book without it feeling like too much or info-dumped. Silver Borne was a great addition to the series and a solid read. If you haven’t read this series yet; I highly recommend it!