BLOOD BOUND by Patricia Briggs

Title: Blood Bound
Series: Mercy Thompson #2
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

After saving Adam, the alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack, and his daughter, Jesse, from the werewolves that had captured them, Mercy is ready to return to her life as a mechanic.

The only problem is that Mercy asked for Stefan's protection when she faced his vampire seethe, so she now owes him a favor.  When Stefan calls Mercy and asks for her help, she has no choice but to agree.

Stefan and Mercy visit a vampire who is visiting town without the permission of Marsilia, the Mistress of the Seethe.  Stefan doesn't trust this vampire, and with good reason.  Death surrounds his visit, and as she digs deeper in to the world of the vampires, Mercy learns that this one may not be an ordinary vampire.  But Mercy has proven that she can handle bad guys, and she'll need every bit of strength to save her friends from the monster that's now living in the Tri-Cities.

My Impression

This book goes deep into the world of the Mid-Columbia Seethe.  I liked that I got to learn more about the vampires in Mercy's world, especially since she is friends with Stefan, despite the warnings she receives from the wolves and fae.  The vampires are very political, much like the werewolves, but it is obvious that everyone who is aware of the existence of vampires is against revealing their existence to humans. I like that Briggs paints the darkness of the vampires in a way that clearly makes them seem monstrous but still allows us to see the moral side of certain vampires, such as Stefan.  As much as I liked this book, and I liked learning about the vampires, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Moon Called.

There is also more development in the love interest in this series, though it does take a back seat to the vampire plot.  It's clear that Adam has feelings for Mercy, but Samuel also has an interest in Mercy, so she has to deal with the competition between the two dominant werewolves, as well as decide which one she wants to be with.  I both love and hate this development.  I think it's realistic that Mercy would still have an attraction to her first love, and that as a dominant werewolf, Samuel would want another shot at having Mercy as his mate; however, I really like the chemistry and understanding that Mercy and Adam have, and Samuel is just getting in the way.

Something I really liked about this book is that Mercy is a unique character, and though she is not always certain that she will come out on top, she is always willing to do what she can to save her friends.  Though some characters have more confidence in her strength and her ability to defeat monsters that the werewolves, vampires, and fae can't, there are still some that doubt her because she can turn into a coyote. Nevertheless, Mercy seems to be able to get herself out of the trouble that she gets into, even if she isn't sure that she can.

Why I Picked Up This Book

After reading Moon Called I wanted to find out what happened to Mercy.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Four Stars

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

STAR OF DAVID by Patricia Briggs

Title: "Star of David"

Anthology: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
Series: Mercy's World
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

David is a lone wolf and a mercenary. Though it has been a long time since he learned to control his wolf, time cannot undo the unfortunate events of his first shift, which left his wife and her lover dead and his daughter forever fearful of his monstrous side.

When his daughter, Stella, calls asking for his help, he can't pass up the chance of connecting with his daughter. But when the help she needs involves other monsters, David will have to choose who to protect his daughter from: the monster out to get her, or the monster he becomes.

My Impression

Overall, I thought this story was okay.

On the one hand, I liked reading about a werewolf who is not part of a pack, since the other werewolves in the Mercyverse are all members of packs.  I also felt a connection to this particular character because he appears in Moon Called, and is an old war buddy of Adam Hauptman. The plot was also different because instead of being about a romantic relationship (like all of the other books/stories in the Mercyverse), this story was about family.

However, the one thing I didn't like about this story was the ending.  I felt that it was too abrupt and that it was unrealistic given the past between David and Stella. (I won't go in to details because I don't want to spoil anything.)

Why I Picked Up This Book

I love Patricia Briggs, and I wanted to read every part of her Mercyverse.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
My Rating: Three Stars

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

HUNTING GROUND by Patricia Briggs

Title: Hunting Ground

Series: Alpha & Omega #2
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

The Marrok has decided that the time has come for the werewolves to reveal their existence to the rest of the world; it is only a matter of time before technology proves their existence, and some of the wrong people already know that werewolves are real.  But before this happens, Bran has arranged a meeting in Seattle for all of the European Alphas where they can express their concerns and receive assurance that the Marrok will aid all of the wolves in any way he can.

When Charles has the bad feeling that things will go horribly wrong if Bran attends the conference, Bran concedes by sending the newly mated (and married) Charles and Anna in his stead.  Though this eases Charles' feelings of dread, his and Anna's presence also causes more problems.  Not all of the werewolves are happy about the big reveal and Charles, for all that he is his father's hitman, is not the authority and many of the Alphas do not respect him as they would his father. Anna is still not comfortable around dominant, male werewolves, and a conference full of them is not the best place for her.  And though their mate bond has finally settled in, there are still many aspects of their relationship that both Anna and Charles are still learning to navigate.  Add in a group of vampires using pack magic to attack werewolves, and Charles and Anna have their work cut out for them.

My Impression

I loved this book.  I still love Anna and Charles, and though their relationship seems to be moving pretty fast (after all, they are now mated and married), their problems are far from over.  Their human sides are still learning how to navigate their relationship and how to read the other person.  Charles still has his need to close himself off and his fear that Anna will run any time she sees the killer in him, while Anna still has to call on her wolf during intimate moments and is still learning what it means to be an Omega.  And all of these problems are offset by their love and protectiveness of each other.

I also really enjoyed the expansion of Briggs' werewolf sociology. It's the first time we get to see werewolves from outside the United States and how their governing structure varies from the Marrok's rule.  There is also further development of the varying personalities of werewolves and what it means to be a good vs. bad dominant.  I also liked seeing another pack from the United States, as well as seeing Moira and Tom, the werewolves from "Seeing Eye".

Another thing I liked about this book is the use of Arthurian legend. I love mythology and folklore, so I really liked seeing how King Arthur is discussed in relation to werewolves and the fae.  However, the book keeps the reference simple and explains most of the relevant details, so you don't need to be an expert on King Arthur in order to appreciate or understand the reference.

Something I would have liked to see more of in this book is the Emerald City Pack.  I really liked Angus, the Alpha, and I want to know more about how his pack is run, as well as more about Tom, Moira, and Alan (the doctor and submissive of the pack).

Why I Picked Up This Book

I fell in love with Anna and Charles, and I wanted to see more of them.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Five Stars

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

CRY WOLF by Patricia Briggs

Title: Cry Wolf
Series: Alpha & Omega #1
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

With the death of Leo, the Alpha of her Chicago pack, Anna is finally free of the abuse that has come with her three years as a werewolf. Now she is heading back to Montana with Charles, and though her wolf has no problem trusting Charles, Anna's human half still carries the scars of her abuse and finds it hard to trust anyone who is male, dominant, and wolf.

Charles is protective of Anna, and as much as he (and his wolf) wants to claim Anna for his own, he is willing to given her as much time as she needs to be comfortable around him...even if that means giving her the option of finding another mate.

But their relationship is put on standby as reports come in about a rogue werewolf in The Cabinets, one that has been attacking and killing people.  Charles may still be injured from his recent visit to Chicago, but he is the only wolf besides his father that is dominant enough, and controlled enough, to face down a rogue.  Though he is initially reluctant to have Anna come with him, the rogue wolf is not what he expects, and he soon learns that having an Omega along can save his life.

My Impression

This book introduces a new pack of werewolves: the Marrok's Pack of Aspen Creek, Montana.  Though this pack appears briefly in Moon Called, Cry Wolf adds more depth to the characters we have already met (Bran and Leah), while also introducing many other members.  Since I had already seen the dynamics of Adam's pack (from the Mercy Thompson series) and Leo's pack (from "Alpha and Omega"), I liked seeing another pack and the varying personalities among werewolves.  I think Patricia Briggs does a great job of creating a variety of characters.

I also really liked how Charles and Anna try to navigate their relationship.  Both characters have some demons (metaphoric) that haunt them, and I like that they don't suddenly disappear simply because the two found each other.  Both characters have a hard time reading the other person, and they struggle to understand each other and avoid miscommunication. I also liked that there were moments when each character had to put aside their own insecurities in order to comfort the other.  Their relationship seems authentic and realistic, and as much as I want things to be great and perfect between them, I think their relationship becomes more valuable because of the work they put in to it.

Though the mystery plot of this book was complex and not something I could easily solve, and there were times when I was truly worried about the safety of Anna and Charles, I felt myself a bit uninterested in it.  My main interest in this series is seeing the relationship develop between Anna and Charles, and while there is progress in that area, I felt that the plot of the book didn't revolve around them enough.  The rogue wolf is a threat to the Marrok's pack, as well as to werewolves in general, but I just didn't care as much about the outcome.  That's not to say that it wasn't well written, but there were times when I just wanted to read about Anna and Charles' mate bond.

Why I Picked Up This Book

After reading "Alpha and Omega", I wanted to read more about Charles and Anna.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Four Stars

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

ALPHA AND OMEGA by Patricia Briggs

Title: "Alpha and Omega"
Anthology: On the Prowl

Series: Alpha & Omega #0.5
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

Anna Latham has been a werewolf for three years, and for three years she has been abused by her pack.  But when she sees a picture of a missing boy in the local newspaper, even the threat for abuse doesn't stop her from calling the Marrock, the head of all of the werewolves, and telling him that her pack is responsible for his disappearance.

When Charles Cornick, the Marrock's enforcer, arrives in Chicago to investigate the pack's involvement with the boy's disappearance, he is also charged from protecting Anna from her own pack.  Though at first glance she seems to just be submissive, he soon learns that she is an Omega, and his wolf is determined to do more than just protect her.

My Impression

I love this story. Though I typically find novella's lacking in plot, this one had a complete story arc, one that I felt was fully developed and left me wanting to read more.

I also love Anna and Charles.  While the main focus of this novella is discovering the problem with Anna's pack, the attraction between Anna and Charles is present from the beginning, and I loved seeing how they both attempt to navigate their interest.  Charles is not a werewolf who is comfortable being emotionally close to someone and Anna doesn't trust werewolves because of her abusive pack.  It's clear that there is still a lot to negotiate between the two, but I liked seeing the mutual interest between the characters.

Why I Picked Up This Book

One day I was browsing the "Teen" section of Barnes and Noble when my mom noticed this anthology on a display board in the store.  Knowing my love for books with magic and werewolves, she showed it to me.  I'll admit that "Alpha and Omega" was, and still is, the only story I read in the anthology.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Five Stars

**Note: This story was originally published in the anthology On the Prowl. It has now also been published in the hardcover edition of Cry Wolf, as well as in Alpha & Omega: Call of the Hunt, an omnibus containing this story and the first three novels of the Alpha & Omega series.

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

Patricia Briggs Book List

Patricia Briggs is the author of many series, duologies, short stories, and a stand-alone novel.  Her most well known works take place in "Mercy's World".

Mercy's World

An urban fantasy world where werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires, witches, fae, and other creatures all exist in our modern world.  This universe contains two series (Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega), as well as a couple short stories, and a prequel graphic novel. For a timeline of how all of these works fit together, click here. 

Mercy Thompson

In a world full of werewolves, Mercy Thompson stands out. Not only does she change into a coyote, but her change is the result of her heritage: she is a walker, born with the ability to sense and resist magic, communicate with ghosts, and transform into a coyote.  Though Mercy would like nothing more than to stick with her day job as a mechanic, her friendships with Adam (the alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack), Stefan (a vampire), Zee (a fae), and the other supernatural creatures of the Tri-Cities area make it hard for her to ignore the magic of the world; especially when it is often up to her to save the day.

• Moon Called
• Blood Bound
• Iron Kissed
• Bone Crossed
• Silver Borne
• River Marked
• Frost Burned
• #8
• #9

Alpha & Omega

Anna is an Omega wolf, one who stands outside the pack structure and brings peace to the wolves of her pack.  Originally brutalized by her Chicago pack, she escapes their abuse with the help of Charles, the Marrok's son and executioner.  Though her wolf has chosen Charles as her mate, and Charles' wolf has chosen her, the human-halves have trouble following along; both are used to separating themselves from the people around them in order to protect themselves.  But when it comes time to protect those around them, they learn that they make a pretty perfect team.  

• "Alpha and Omega"
• Cry Wolf
• Hunting Ground
• Fair Game

Short Stories

The short stories that focus on characters introduced in Mercy Thompson or Alpha & Omega.

• "Seeing Eye"
• "Star of David"
• "In Red, With Pearls"

**Update: As of now, Briggs is under contract for two more Mercy novels (#8 and #9), as well as another book from Mercy's World.  This mystery project might be another Alpha & Omega novel or it could follow another character.  Either way, Briggs has stated that should would like to write another Alpha & Omega novel, though she isn't currently under contract for another book in the series.  She also has plans for a Mercy's World anthology, which would include the currently published stories, as well as some stories following additional characters, including Samuel and Ben.

Other Works

Sianim

• Masques
• Wolfsbane
• Steal the Dragon
• When Demons Walk

Raven Duology

• Raven's Shadow
• Raven's Strike

Hurog Duology

• Dragon Bones
• Dragon Blood

Stand-alone Novels

• Hob's Bargain

Short Stories

• "Wishing Well"
• "The Price"
• "Fairy Gifts"
• "Gray"

MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs

Title: Moon Called
Series: Mercy Thompson #1
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

When a werewolf named Mac shows up at Mercy Thompson's garage looking for work, she's hesitant to hire him.  Mercy is no stranger to werewolves and their instincts, after all, she was raised by them. And while Mercy may look like an ordinary mechanic, she is a walker, born with the ability to transform into a coyote.  She can tell that Mac is new and unfamiliar with his new instincts, and even in coyote form she is no match for a determined werewolf.

After she learns Mac's story and sees the trouble that has followed him to Tri-Cities, Mercy has no choice but to contact Adam Hauptman, alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack.  But when Adam's house is attacked and he is severely injured, Mercy has to decide who she can trust, all while saving the alpha, rescuing his kidnapped daughter, and discovering who is targeting the werewolves.

My Impression

Mercy is an interesting character. While she is involved with the world of the werewolves (as well as the vampires and the fae), she is seen by many as weak.  However, as the book progresses, it is obvious that many people underestimate her and that very few actually understand what she is capable of. I liked that she has to make tough decisions and doesn't have solutions easily fall in her lap.  I think Mercy is a great heroine, and I admire that she sometimes gets herself in over her head because of her determination to save the people she loves.

However, I did get a bit frustrated because many of the people around her acted like she wasn't able to protect herself.  While most of their judgement of her was because she is not a werewolf (and thus doesn't have as much strength as they do), it was a little frustrating to see people not take this obviously intelligent female character seriously.

The other character I loved in this book was Adam.  He seems to be the person that could scowl at Mercy the most because he is a very strong and dominant male werewolf; however, he seems to be one of the few characters that completely trusts and depends on Mercy, and he actually believes that she is capable of a lot of things.  Plus, he just seems like a great character. (I will admit that my high opinion of him might be slightly influenced by later books, but I do still think he is a great character in the context of this book.)

I also really liked the conflict in this book.  Because this is the first view in to Mercy's world, it is almost impossible to predict who the villian is and what is motivating them.  I liked it this way because as Mercy tries to solve this mystery we learn a lot about the world of the werewolves, and it was in a way that didn't feel like I was just being told the information.

Why I Picked Up This Book

After reading "Alpha and Omega" and loving it, I wanted to read more books by Patricia Briggs. Once I learned that this series takes place in the same world with some of the same characters, I was hooked.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Five Stars

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

SEEING EYE by Patricia Briggs

Title: "Seeing Eye"
Anthology: Strange Brew

Series: Mercy's World
Author: Patricia Briggs

Summary

Moira is a white witch, but that doesn't mean she is happy when Tom Franklin, the second in the Emerald City Pack, rings her doorbell in the middle of the night.  Though she is ready to slam the door in his face, she hesitates when she learns that Tom's brother has been captured by Kouros, the leader of the Samhain Coven.  Moira knows that Kouros practices black magic, and she refuses to let the death of Tom's brother be her fault.  And along the way, they may learn just how much a blind witch and a werewolf can do when they team up.

My Impression

These are two characters that appear in Hunting Ground, the second book in the Alpha & Omega series.  I liked the way Moira and Tom interacted in the book, so I was excited to see how the pair got their start.

On one hand, I really enjoyed this story.  Moira and Tom are secondary characters in Hunting Ground, and it was awesome to learn more about them as a couple and as individuals.  I also liked that this story was not about their romance; it sets up the potential, but the story is more concerned with Tom's brother being captured, so the romance is just a fringe element.

However, I was also a bit disappointed with the conclusion of this story.  I didn't feel like I had seen enough of these characters, and there was no clear indication that the two end up having a future together.  I wanted a more obvious nudge that something would become of these two characters.

Why I Picked Up This Book

I have been a fan of the Mercyverse since I first read "Alpha and Omega", and I decided that I wanted to see how Briggs expands some of her secondary characters.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Three Stars

Interested in other books by Patricia Briggs?  Check here to read my reviews of other books from this series.

SHAPESHIFTER'S QUEST by Dena Landon

Title: Shapeshifter's Quest

Author: Dena Landon

Summary

Years ago, the King had the shapeshifters confined to Carlbine Forest. Every birthing season, the King's priests enter Carlbine Forest and place a tattoo on the cheek of every infant; if any shapeshifter with a tattoo attempts to cross the forest's boundary, the ink in the tattoo will poison them.

But when one of the Elders has a vision that the shapeshifter Brytha will have twins, they make preparations to hide the first of the twins from the priests.

Now Syanthe is eighteen, and she is the only shapeshifter without a tattoo.  Though she has been ridiculed for her difference, the time has come for her to pay her debt.  The King's death magic is leaking into Carlbine Forest, and if Syanthe can't find a way to stop if from spreading, the shapeshifters will die with the forest.

My Impression

I really enjoyed how this book played with the concept of magic. While shapeshifters and death magic aren't new to the fantasy genre, this is one of the first times I have seen them both appear in one book as a sort of opposition to each other: the shapeshifters promoting healing and nature, while the King's priest promoting violent, death, immortality, and the unnatural. I honestly couldn't predict where the novel was going, or how Syanthe could even begin to fight the destruction.

I also liked the little bit of romance that appeared in the book. While the romantic element isn't central to the book (and I would have honestly liked to see more between them), I appreciated that these two characters had obligations that took priority over their romance. When it came down to duty and the fates of their own homes/community, they both chose the community.

My one problem with this book: the ending. The book does a good job of tying up the story arc pretty well, and I wasn't unhappy with how things ended; however, the book leaves a lot of uncertainty about what happens next.  Though the events of the book are clearly a step in the direction towards saving Carlbine Forest and the shapeshifters, there is no guarantee that suddenly everything will be okay.  Syanthe also makes some significant discovers about shapeshifters, but because they are not part of her main quest, there is no resolution to these discoveries.  Basically, this book is in need of a sequel (or two), but since this book was published in 2005, I'm not sure if that is a possibility.

Why I Picked Up This Book

I first saw this book in my high school library. It was on the shelf of "New Arrivals" and I loved the cover/title.  It was a book that I read in one day because I got hooked.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: Four Stars