River Marked (Mercy Thompson No.6) by Patricia Briggs

Title: River Marked (Mercy Thompson No.6)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages: 326
Published: March 1st, 2011
Read: March 1st, 2011

Synopsis: 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…(from goodreads.com)

I hope you all haven' t missed me too much *wink wink*. I've been super busy with work and reading that I just hadn't had enough time to update the blog. It's only sad because I miss the interaction with the other bloggers, but in all reality, I have more time for reading and writing when I don't blog as much (even though I do miss it when I'm away).

Anyhow, this brings me to my post which is my review of River Marked *squee*! I've been waiting forever for this book to be released. Okay, well, maybe not forever, but it seemed way too long which isn't saying much because I'm ridiculously non-patient. Anyways, it was finally released and I had it downloaded to the good old Kindle immediately.

I really really really enjoyed this book. All those fans of Mercy Thompson know what I mean when I say that I just can't ever get enough of her. If you are not a Mercy fan, I'm sorry. If you'd like to be, but don't really know what it is, you can check out my review of books 1-3 HERE and books 4 & 5 HERE. Needless to say, I adore her and all the characters made up of Mercy Thompson, Walker.

This book in the series, albeit a bit different than the others, was still wonderful. I won't go into too much detail because I don't want to give anything away, but we do get to meet a lot of new characters AND we get to find out some detail about Mercy's past. Well, actually, this is a bit of a surprise, the part we learn, but still, it's good. Most of the story takes place while Mercy is on vacation so we don't get to see a lot of the characters we've grown accustomed to.

That is my biggest complaint about the book and only because I love all the characters that Briggs has created and written. I wholly miss Stefan and Warren the most and we didn't even get to see Sam at all, which I was kind of looking forward to getting a glimpse of him with Arianna since he was such a huge part of the series for all five books.

It's definitely understandable why we didn't see a ton of them as Mercy and Adam were on vacation away from it all, so Briggs is definitely forgiven on that front. Especially because we were able to see so much more of Adam *prrrrrr*. That man is truly lickable in all sorts of ways. Thinking about him is getting a bit hot and sweaty, especially thinking about his lean body with all those contorting muscles moving...*clears throat*...sorry, my mind has run away to Adam land. Back on track now, forgive me.

As I was saying, this book takes place with mostly Mercy and Adam and we get to meet a slew of new characters including Coyote (kind of like spirit Coyote but really alive in a physical form). I know for a fact I'm really REALLY going to like that man/Native America Spirit Guide. Also, we got to meet 2 more walkers - but I'm not going to tell you who - and we learn a lot more of how the walkers came to exist on Earth and how they work. By that I mean how they are created and what kind of things they can do and so on. It was very very cool to read about and I felt that it added to the already wonderful character development of Mercy.

So, to finally cut this review off because I could possibly go on all day, I loved the book and recommend it to Mercy Thompson fans everywhere. Anyone looking for an excellent series that is amazingly well written and there is a uniqueness to the werewolf/vampire/fey world that you haven't quite seen before, you should pick up Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series.

Rating: 5/5
Quotes:

I wiggled my hips into a more comfortable position and tried to think like Adam--a very smart person poisoned by testosterone. (Mercy)

The old man grunted. "Indians go anytime they want to--it is our place." He tapped me. "She's Indian, no matter what she believes. My grandson is Indian. The two of them can take one Anglo wolf who belongs to an Indian coyote girl."

He stretched and tossed the empty pop can to Adam--who caught it. "Time for this old Indian to go." He looked at me again. "If you are going to use white man's words to describe yourself, 'avatar' is more accurate than 'walker.'"

He took his bad and indicated the little pot with his chin. "Better you keep that, little sister. A coyote will get herself hurt a lot if she runs with wolves."

And then he left.

Adam kissed my knee, which should not have done anything to my pulse. I mean--the kneecap is as far from an erogenous zone as I know of. But it was Adam, so my heart rate picked up nicely.

Coyote told me a few stories about himself. He used the rude versions, too. Potty humor shouldn't be funny to anyone over the age of twelve--and then only to the male half of the species. But somehow it was different when Coyote told it, both sly and innocent at the same time.

Mercy Thompson Series (Part II) by Patricia Briggs

So, I've kinda been slacking on my blog posts. Well.... slacking by my standards. So I'm making up with it with this double post for Mercy Thompson.

Could I just tell you how much I loved this series. If you read the first book and you aren't hooked (because I wasn't either), then you have to keep going. By the third book I was so hooked that no amount of money or Husband could have kept me away from books 4 and 5. However, lucky on both counts, the library had them ready for me to pick up. Good thing I thought ahead and put them on hold the previous week. :D

Title: Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson No.4)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages: 304
Published: February 5th, 2009 by Orbit
Read: July 27th, 2010
Rating:

Synopsis: By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan—and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends (from goodreads.com)

Title: Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson No.5)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages: 342
Published: March 30th, 2010 by ACE
Read: July 28th, 2010
Rating:

Synopsis: When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the...more When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson 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. It seems the book contains secret knowledge-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 Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live... (from goodreads.com)

On to the review:

These last two in the series were my favorite, especially the very last one. I had checked them out from the library and even after I read them kept renewing them because I just didn't want to part. I actually kept going back and rereading them. If anyone knows anything about me, that is something I do when I need some comforting. I turn to books to comfort me so much of the time and this story line and words just had this power to sooth me, pulling me into its fast paced story with hints of love everywhere.

Briggs has this way of telling about her characters that is just enthralling. I love how her characters seem to be true to their character personalities. Sometimes characters change randomly without development just to fit the story or to further the story. Briggs doesn't do that. I mean, yeah she has character development and her characters do change, but it flows with the story and is gradual. You can feel the change and it's appropriateness with the character. I think that is what makes the characters seem so real to me. I love how we get to see into Mercy's thoughts and see what leads to her decisions and it totally makes sense.

There is this kind of huge cliff hanger at the end of book 3 and then book 4 starts off at the exact same scene. I loved that. I loved how she didn't start later when the scene had already passed. I'd been craving that romance for the first three books and if Briggs would have taken away the taste of it that she gives at the beginning of Bone Crossed, well, I don't know what I would have done. Probably kept reading, but still that little morsel of deliciousness at the very beginning of the book is like the sauce on my flank steak... not necessary, but OH so YUMMY! I know you are wondering what I'm talking about, but you will have to read the series to see because I'm so not giving it away here.

However, I will say that the book only gets better as it keeps going. You get to see all the ways Mercy gets her chance to develop and how she grows with her surroundings. You get to see her kick some ass and keep up with the big wolves. I loved every minute of it, every minute of the suspense. Especially this particular scene at the beginning involving a broken down VW Rabbit, Mercy, a Werewolf and a particularly crazed best friend Vampire. It was intense. (I know I'm evil, but you should read it.)

Then there is Silver Borne. I just don't have all the words to express my feelings for this one. I think it's because Briggs was so creative with the way she flipped the story all over the place with so many twists that you couldn't guess what would happen. I love stories like that. Where you try and try to figure it out, but you just don't know where it will take you except to a place of wonder and delight. And, to top it all off, the very very end has this scene that will make you sweat and fall in love and possibly cry. I just wanted to reread it, which I did, and never give the book back to the library.

I always like to go through my favorite characters, but as I've kind of already done that in Part I, I will reiterate and tell you about one other character. As I've said before, I love, love Mercy. She is just so strong and doesn't let people push her around... or werewolves for that matter. Wolves don't like the coyote in her and she still stands tall and has a stare down or two. She is just such a lovely character.

Adam, he is just a hunka hunka burnin' love, I tell ya that much! Yes, I just said that, don't judge me. :D I love that he is protective and strong and is so worried about Mercy and the wolves, but he still doesn't try to force Mercy to do anything and he never controls her. I think that above all else is my favorite aspect. To be loving and protective and still give her the independence that she needs to be herself. Seriously, he is my dream guy. Plus, his smokin' abs don't hurt the senses.

Sam is Sam. He is like this comforting caring soul who has the power to comfort those who need it. He has this power to love and look past the faults of Mercy and others and see what needs to be seen. He is a very interesting character in these last two books and I think he was excellently written and his story was amazing to read.

The one other character I wanted to mention was Zee. He is in these books about as much as he was in the first several, but he is just such an interesting character. I love his gruffness and how he says what he thinks no matter who he may piss off. I think I love it because I can still feel how he cares for Mercy even though its not a common thing among the Fae. When his "glamour" dropped, that was pretty cool too, nothing like a super sweet death sword to really make a story!

These last 2 books bring oakmen, forest lords, walking sticks, attempted suicides, possible child crushings with a bowling ball, pack bonds and a wonderful collaboration of werewolf and coyote that you may never want to put them down.

Series Rating (last 2 books):5/5
Quotes:

"That’s a pretty lame superhero name,” I told him.

Scooby-Doo is already taken,” he said with dignity. “Anything else sounds lame in comparison."(Stefan - Best Friend Vampire)

"Are you going to tell me what that was about?" Adam asked as we went back upstairs.
Sometime," I told him. " When we're telling ghost stories around a campfire, and I want to scare you."

"Hey, Adam,” I said.
I thought you’d want to know that Warren and Darryl made it out of the vampire den alive.”
I sucked in my breath. “You didn’t actually agree to their meeting on Marsilia’s grounds?”
He laughed. “No, it just sounded better than saying they made it out of Denny’s alive. It might not be romantic, but it’s open all night and set in the middle of a brightly lit parking lot with no dark places for skulking parties to ambush from."

He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopeless a thing as it might have been.

"Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he asked.
”Enough to accept my apologies?” I suggested in a small voice.
”Heck no,” he said, and pushed off from the wall, stalking forward.
When he reached me, he put his hands up and touched the sides of my neck with the tips of his fingers – as if I were something fragile.
”No apologies from you,” he told me, his voice soft enough to melt my knees and most of my other parts.

There is something incredibly arousing about being wanted

Mercy Thompson Series (Part I) by Patricia Briggs

Okay, so this particular series is currently a 5 book series (soon to be 6, YEAH!!). I was recommended to read it by my friend Heather on Goodreads and it has become one of my favorite series. I've decided to review the currently released portion of the series in 2 parts because I want to give it its due grace. Plus, there is so much I want to tap that I don't know if I could do it all in one series review.

Title: Moon Called (Mercy Thompson No.1)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages: 304 pages (mass market paperback)
Published: January 31st, 2006
Read: July 20th, 2010
Rating:

Synopsis: Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself ... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.(From Goodreads.com)

Title: Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson No.2)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages: 292 (Mass Market Paperback)
Published: January 30, 2007 by Ace
Read: July 25th, 2010
Rating:

Synopsis: Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him. (From Goodreads.com)

Title: Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson No.3)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Pages: 287 (Mass Market Paperback)
Published: January 2nd, 2008 by Ace
Read: July 26th, 2010
Rating:

Synopsis: When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not. (From Goodreads.com)

So, as I said above, I was recommended to read this series by a friend on Goodreads and needless to say I absolutely loved it!! The main character Mercy Thompson is a half Native American, half white, Volkswagen mechanic. She also happens to be a shapshifter of sorts, technically she is a walker. I think the term is based off of the term "skin walker" from the Native Americans. Mercy (Mercedes is her full name...Yeah, she is a VW mechanic and her name is Mercedes :D) is my favorite character. She is one of the main reasons that I loved this series so much.

She is like this super tough, snarky lone coyote who gets into all sorts of mischief and still tries to take care of everyone around her. She just cracks me up with all of the things she says and does. She lives in this 1978 trailer on three acres of land and Adam Hauptman lives in the giant house behind her... and he also happens to be the alpha werewolf in the area. Which, apparently isn't a good thing when you are a coyote walker, which is what Mercy is.

Mercy was actually raised by werewolves because her mother didn't quite know what to do with her and her father died before she was born in some freak accident. So Mercy knows how to get by without being killed, but that doesn't stop her from ticking them off whenever she can. Just to piss off Adam, she keeps a VW Rabbit in her backyard with only three of the wheels on it and at one point she takes off the rest of the wheels and spray paints, "For a good time call: *insert Adam's phone number here*", onto the side. I was laughing so hard at that part, I thought I was going to cry.

The first book in the series, Moon Called, sets up the series and the relationships between all of the characters, namely Mercy, Adam and Samuel. Adam and Samuel are both werewolves who both want Mercy and Mercy just can't figure out which one she wants. Oh, what would that be like? Mercy takes it in stride thank heaven, I think that's why I love her, she kicks ass and is still humble about it. I love the way Briggs wrote this portion on it, because it had me holding on waiting to see what would happen between the three and who would get the girl. I'm not going to really tell you who, and you don't actually find out til book 3, so don't cheat to find out, but I will say that the way Briggs wrote it, it just really really... works.

I love how she has so totally described and helped me to understand werewolves and how they are like 2 different species inside one body working together. The human brings different aspects as does the wolf. The human is supposed to control the wolf because of the human aspect of not killing everything. I'm not doing the best of explaining it, but Briggs does such an amazing job of helping you to feel and see everything in your mind, I felt like I was sitting there making out with 2 different men... ummmm... yeah, nevermind.

Blood Bound, the second in the series, still has a lot of werewolf, but it also has a lot more vampires in it than the first. Stefan, Mercy's best vampire buddy, was a hilarious character who has a huge obsession with Scooby Doo. Yes, that's right...Scooby Doo! He even had his VW Bus painted the same as the mystery machine. That I loved!

Iron Kissed, the third in the series, has a lot to do with the Fae and her really good friend Zee. If you have any previous knowledge of Fae, you know that most of them cannot touch iron. Well, Zee is one of the very very few exceptions, and that is where the term Iron Kissed came from. This book was where I really started to love this series! It was so intense and fast moving and kind of twisted that it had me addicted from chapter 1. The ending was fabulous and the romantic bits thrown into the story were some of my favorite of the series. And might I say, I would love nothing more than to make out with Adam in a dark alley, especially with his hard muscles pushed up against.... *clears throat* sorry bout that...

This brings me to my favorite character section. As I've already said, I loved Mercy. She was such a strong character who didn't take crap from anyone, even werewolves. I mean, she wasn't stupid, but she knew what she wanted and how to get it, but she didn't play the submissive little wolf - Thank HEAVEN! Plus, the way she was described sounded very... HOT (motor oil and all).

Adam, the Alpha werewolf, was like sex on a stick to an acute degree and had me wishing for my transfer into the tri-cities. He was characteristically strong and knew what he wanted and at the same time seemed to know when to tone it down. I loved how he could take his bossiness and shove it aside for Mercy and let her know that he loved her for who she was and exactly how she was and no different.

Dr. Samuel Cornick, the super shmexy male dominant werewolf under the Marrok. He was more dominant a wolf than Adam, but not Alpha because his father (the Marrok) was the most dominant wolf in North America (therefore the super super alpha). He was the McDreamy Doctor who was sweet and kind and somehow sensitive. He also loved Mercy, and knew how to deal with her eccentricities.

Overall, the first three books in this series helped to set the scene for the story. They carved a triumphant tale of magic, werewolves, vampires, fae, walking sticks, oak trees and mischievous coyotes. It was nice to have the new story of the walker coyote mixed into the story line and the romance had me heated up all over. All I can say is I absolutely love this series, I love Mercy Thompson and I can't wait for book 6 to be released next year.

Overall Rating (first 3 books): (4.5)
Quotes:

"Mine" he said.
Adam's eyes narrowed."I don't think so.She is mine."
It would of been flattering,I thought,except that at least one of them was talking about dinner and i wasn't certain about the other."

Adam swore harshly. "New werewolves are dangerous, woman. Especially when they are cold and hungry." He looked at Mac, and his voice changed completely, the heat and anger gone, "Mercy, come here."

I didn't look down to see what he'd noticed in Mac's face. I took a step, but Mac was wrapped around my left leg. I stopped before I fell. "Uhm. I'm a little stuck for the moment."

A dominant wolf's desire to protect was a strong instinct- Samuel was very dominant. Give him an inch, and he's take over the world- my life, if I let him.(Mercy)

It Wasn't Hard To Follow The Scent Of Blood To The Living Room Where The Fae Had Been Killed. It Had Been A Violent Death, Perfect For Creating Ghosts.

"She sees ghosts,” said Samuel, impatient with my whining.
"I see dead people,” I deadpanned back. Oddly, it was Uncle Mike who laughed. I hadn’t thought he’d be a moviegoer.