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Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2)

4.29 of 5 stars 4.29 · rating details · 42,778 ratings · 1,734 reviews

Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since...more

Mass Market Paperback, 292 pages

Published January 30th 2007 by Ace

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May 24, 2010 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’m beginning to understand why this series has such a large fan base!

The first book in this series certainly was promising but I found that a combination of Mercy’s dry tone narrative and a lack of action made it hard for me to get into the story.
This time around I had a little trouble in the beginning, but soon after I got drawn into an engaging and exciting story in where the ever helpful Mercy gets sucked into vampire business (no pun intended). In the mean while, we learn more about Briggs...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Bubbles Hunty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-f

Review from first read 06/26/11 to 06/28/11

Make up your mind Mercy, pick one of the guys (Adam please)

Mercy was not as funny this time around, but for a girl she was still al’ight

Mercy was still really fast

Mercy was still pretty smart, for a girl ;)

Mercy still wasn't completely helpless; she uh might put a stake in your heart, cut your head off and watch your body burn (just sayin') she crazy like that

Mercy sees dead people and they draw her pictures

Mercy still never even mentions her man eat...more

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Jun 24, 2011 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: scars-and-tats-and-piercings-oh-my, damn-that-cover-is-smokin, come-here-baby-so-i-can-lick-you, love-triangles-can-kiss-my-booty, author-patricia-briggs, series-mercy-thompson, king-of-the-harem, in-my-harem, queen-of-the-harem, by-george-thats-awesome, thats-some-funny-shit, quotes-quotes-everywhere, 5-stars, bad-boy-take-me-away, second-mate

Okay, so now I am really glad I finally started this series. Blood Bound was just as good as, if not better than, Moon Called. There still wasn't a lot of real action in this book, but there was definitely more of it than in MC. Also, there was a little bit more development in the romance department with BB: Sexy Time with Adam (No, not sex unfortunately. Don't I wish!), Macking with Samuel, and Whispering Sweet Nothings with Stefan. Speaking of, does that mean there's a semi-love square now? Be...more Okay, so now I am really glad I finally started this series. Blood Bound was just as good as, if not better than, Moon Called. There still wasn't a lot of real action in this book, but there was definitely more of it than in MC. Also, there was a little bit more development in the romance department with BB: Sexy Time with Adam (No, not sex unfortunately. Don't I wish!), Macking with Samuel, and Whispering Sweet Nothings with Stefan. Speaking of, does that mean there's a semi-love square now? Because that's just ridiculous.

I continued to love all the characters in this continuance of the series. Mercy remains badass. Adam is still sexy as hell. Samuel is still awesome (Even if I did want to punch him for his dick move towards the end-ish). Stefan, well, he drives the Scooby Doo van. Enough said? Jesse is adorable, and I think it's so cute that she and My Young Lover Gabriel are going out. Warren rocks, and I even came to like Ben! I don't think I need go on. The characters in this series rock.

One thing I noticed while I was reading Blood Bound--and that I love--is that Mercy always seems to be saving Adam. It's almost as if she is the Knight in Shining Armor and he is the Damsel in Distress. Did anyone else notice this? Yes? No? I think it's hilarious, and quite a change from other typical books where the males always have to rescue the females.

So. Another winner from Mercy Thompson and Patricia Briggs. Can't wait to read the next one.

Favorite Quote:
"Even with my willpower, his lure was too great," I said melodramatically, complete with wrist to forehead. If I made a joke of it, he'd never realize how truthful I was being.

A slow smile spread across her face and she quit looking like she was ready to bolt back into the house. "Dad's kind of a stud, all right."

"Jesse," warned Adam, his voice muffled only a little by the mat. She giggled.

"I have to agree," I said in overly serious tones. "Maybe as high as a seven or eight, even."

"Mercedes," Adam thundered, surging to his feet.
(Mercy, Jesse, and Adam; page 92)(less)

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May 18, 2013 Keertana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines

Rating: 3.5 Stars

As with most UF Series, Blood Bound marks the moment where this series really begins to take off and, to be honest, I am more than a little excited to see how much better each installment gets. Patricia Briggs has solidified herself as another favorite urban fantasy writer of mine with this installment and although she may have made her way into that list rather quickly, I don't regret my quick decision.

While Moon Called was solely focused on the werewolves in Mercy's world, Bl...more

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Mar 04, 2011 Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Urban Fantasy fans, Fans of Alpha werewolves and vampires

Shelves: books-i-go-rabid-over, books-i-own, covers-to-covet, drinks-on-me, favorites, fae, king-of-the-harem, lgbt, my-hottie-harem, shifters, genre-urban-fantasy, vampires, werewolves, wraith-or-ghosts, read-in-2011

Minor Spoilers!

Blood Bound, the second book in the Mercy Thompson series was definitely better than the first! I thought the story was much more engaging in this one. There was a purpose straight from the beginning and of course, I can’t complain since Stefan has a considerable amount of page time!

Mercy, my new favourite heroine, finds herself in a bit of a situation involving the seethe and a certain demon-riding vampire named Cory Littleton. The guy ended up with a wuss name, but this creep...more

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Dec 17, 2009 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-pnr-uf, species-vampires, species-weres-and-shifters, character-mechanic, species-wolf-shifter, sexual-mix-mf, a-series, zz-reviewed, genre-paranormal, i-love-this-old

Yep! This was another good one for the Mercy T series. I love her simplistic lifestyle--this (as I said in my review of #1) is a pleasant change for the world of vamps and shifters and it is really working for her character.

I love her men--from the ones who love her romantically (Samuel & Adam) and those who love her as a friend (Warren, Kyle, Bran, Zee, Stefan...well, Stefan is questionable as of the end of the book) and those who just love to hate her (Darryl and Ben...although I am sensi...more

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Mar 21, 2010 The Holy Terror rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: shifters, owned, color-red, werewolves, urban-fantasy, vampires, demons, 2010

A wonderful series that could use a smidge more romance although I'm enjoying the slow build-up between Mercy and her men. The only thing is though, has this love-triangle turned into a love-square?

Stefan, Mercy's Mystery Machine bus-driving vampire friend, asks her for a favor. She owed him after the events of the last book so she reluctantly agrees. Mercy goes with Stefan to a hotel to meet with a vampire that entered the area without checking in with the queen first. Stefan asks Mercy to acc...more A wonderful series that could use a smidge more romance although I'm enjoying the slow build-up between Mercy and her men. The only thing is though, has this love-triangle turned into a love-square?

Stefan, Mercy's Mystery Machine bus-driving vampire friend, asks her for a favor. She owed him after the events of the last book so she reluctantly agrees. Mercy goes with Stefan to a hotel to meet with a vampire that entered the area without checking in with the queen first. Stefan asks Mercy to accompany him as a coyote in a harness and to act as his pet, she's merely supposed to be part of his costume so he can intimidate the other vampire. Once they get to the hotel though they realize that things aren't as they seem. The hotel is all but empty and Mercy smells something amiss. The creature they meet there isn't just any vampire and Mercy, Stefan, and the rest of her close friends all get thrown into a conflict with a being more evil than they could have imagined.

This series's best quality is the characters. They're very well-developed and they feel real; I want to know and I also care about what's going to happen to them. Mercy is likable and down-to-earth; she's the type of girl you'd want to be friends with and have at your back. I'm not sure how I feel about Samuel, but at least he's there to make sure Mercy is safe, even though he really just wants her to have his kids. Adam, though, is delicious. I love how he takes care of his women (Mercy and Jesse) and also manages his pack as a true Alpha. I think he's finally figured out how to deal with Mercy and get through to her without her feeling controlled by him. I hope the next book proves this and their relationship moves forward.

I normally like vampire stories better but I have to say this is my favorite werewolf series. I like Briggs's wolves and I think she does one of the best jobs at describing their behavior and making them seem real.

On top of the great characterization of the main characters, the side characters do their job of fleshing out the story as well. I normally have a hard time when there's a huge cast but Briggs does a great job of describing them and giving them all a unique personality. And even if she's reintroducing a character we didn't spend a lot of time with she gives a bit of information that jogs the reader's memory. If only all authors would do this! There's been so many series I've gotten frustrated with because I'd forgotten who a character was and I'd sit their with it in the back of my mind trying to figure out who they were and this would kind of ruin the story for me.

The villain in this book was actually scary too! I'm not embarrassed to say that I was home alone reading this at night and when I got to a certain part I actually got kind of jumpy. My house is old and makes all kinds of noises and I know this but I kept thinking back to a certain scene in this book and freaking myself out.

A great second book and a great story in general. I can't wait to read more about Mercy and her friends!(less)

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Dec 07, 2011 Lady Jaye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, stars-5, authors-patricia-briggs, pb-vampires, pb-demons, fantasy-urban-fantasy, favorites, keeper, loved-it, series-by-patricia-briggs, awesome-heroines, pb-werewolves-or-shapeshifters, pb-ghosts

Patricia Briggs writes like Sharon Shinn: with a very quiet, understated elegance that engulfs you and immerses you in the story without you realising it. Very subtly she manages to make you care about all her characters (well, all of the ones that matter, anyway) and make you invested in both the story and their HEA.

I will admit to being underwhelmed by MOON CALLED, but boy am I glad I continued. This was such a good book! The suspense and intrigue built up soooooo slowly, and ended in a roari...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-urban-fantasy, genre-paranormal, buddy-read, m-adobe-digital, m-library-sj-audio-ocd, setting-usa-washington, theme-ghosts, genre-shapeshifters, zz-fall-colors, challenge-disney-princess-reading, reviewed-by-me, zzcover-red

★★★★½ I listened to the audiobook and it was well narrated by Lorelei King. She did the VW bus driving vampire’s, Stefan’s, voice and another vampire’s in that “I want to drink your blood…” cadence that was a bit amusing – and confusing, as they both sounded similar. Still, she did a good job overall and I like her voice as Mercy.

Just love this series! Love Mercedes, her world, and so many of the secondary characters. Three things you should know: 1) I’m not a big Urban Fantasy reader; 2) I’m no...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Francesca the Fierce ~Eyelet Ecstasy~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series-mercy-thompson, werewolves-shifters, vampires, books-read-2010, genre-urban-fantasy, read-audio-books, fae

This book was better than the first one! I actually cared about Mercy more. And, all in all, it delivered a pretty good urban fantasy story.

Adam claiming Mercy as his mate for pack politics? Great, if she would've kept going out with him past just a few dates. Now, the scene that got interrupted by his daughter.... That I wouldn't have minded reading a bit more about ;) Mercy talking to ghosts? That brought in some humor and a fun character. Mercy allowing Sam to kiss her? Twice?!!?!?! Gotta put...more This book was better than the first one! I actually cared about Mercy more. And, all in all, it delivered a pretty good urban fantasy story.

Adam claiming Mercy as his mate for pack politics? Great, if she would've kept going out with him past just a few dates. Now, the scene that got interrupted by his daughter.... That I wouldn't have minded reading a bit more about ;) Mercy talking to ghosts? That brought in some humor and a fun character. Mercy allowing Sam to kiss her? Twice?!!?!?! Gotta put an end to that. And wait... this is no longer a triangle? We don't need to add any more issues here, let's keep it simple!

Sam - He is still living with Mercy, he is growing on me, but more as a friend. I wasn't to thrilled with his original mentality of wanting Mercy because that was almost a sure ticket to getting kids. He is a good guy, and I admit he does love Mercy now, and genuinely cares for her, and I wish I could find a character that would suit him better. I was sad to read about his past history and his girlfriend losing his kid.

Adam - Where do I start? He is hot. He's all alpha, possessive, dominant, protective, and he should be more aggressive and forward with Mercy. Come on!!!!!

Stefan - What happens in this book threw me for a loop, specially at the end, once you read the book, or if you've read it, you'll know why. WHAT?!?!?!!? Anyway, he gets Mercy involved in all this vampire politics drama. I wonder if there really will be lasting effects... Vampire politics are a mess.

Warren - I was really sad about him getting injured. I'm glad to know he is more dominant than we thought, and that he gets back with Kyle in the end.

Mercy - I felt that she had more of a backbone in this story. She's growing, experiencing more things, and starting to feel more comfortable in what she can do. Just please give Adam a chance already! She played it smart, used the resources at her advantage, created a beneficial association with a cop that could help them in the future and at the end saved the day. She did good!(less)

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Feb 02, 2010 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of urban fantasy, werewolf fiction, great heroines

Shelves: urban-fantasy, owned-copy, shapeshifter, heroine-i-adore, favorite-or-autobuy-author, favorites, hero-to-die-for, werewolf, vampire, faerie, demon, part-of-a-series

There is something so wonderful about Patricia Briggs's writing for this reader. She is able to create a world in which I am completely drawn in, but she writes with such simple elegance. Without a doubt, this is my favorite urban fantasy series so far.

Mercy Thompson is the kind of heroine that earns my devotion. She is so brave, but has the same fears and uncertainties that us readers have. She wants a simple life, even though she's a walker, a coyote shapeshifter, who is up to her neck in were...more There is something so wonderful about Patricia Briggs's writing for this reader. She is able to create a world in which I am completely drawn in, but she writes with such simple elegance. Without a doubt, this is my favorite urban fantasy series so far.

Mercy Thompson is the kind of heroine that earns my devotion. She is so brave, but has the same fears and uncertainties that us readers have. She wants a simple life, even though she's a walker, a coyote shapeshifter, who is up to her neck in werewolf politics, not to mention vampire and fae issues. She has to go to work the next day even after staying up all night, dealing with demon-possessed vampires and the like, knowing that some of her close friends might be dead. I think Ms. Briggs has really tapped into the wellspring of what pulls me in as a reader in this genre. She is able to give me a fantastic world that is imbued with the real life things, and the combination is very satisfying.

Mercy could not be more admirable. Not a perfect person, but who is? Nevertheless, she has qualities that earn my respect. She is strong, and loving, empathetic, and willing to do the dirty jobs. Her courage in a truly harrowing situation spoke to me. She could have just moved on, and took things as they ended, but her conscience told her she had to finish things. Which she did, despite her fear, her guilt about doing something that went against her code, and her disgust at what she had to to. And Mercy is surrounded by men (wolves/vamps) who are used to exerting their dominance, but she navigates her way through this testosterone-laden world without losing her sense of self, or control over her own life.

The men in this series. Oh, the men. Adam is the keeper of my heart. I just love that man. I believe he is the right man for Mercy, hands down. The chemistry between Mercy and Adam is divine. There is a naturalness to their relationship, full of tension, but so organic. I loved all their scenes together, reading the subtext of their complex relationship. How Adam has to suppress his compelling power as the alpha, but his feelings for Mercy make it difficult. How Mercy wants to submit, but doesn't want to, at the same time, out of fear of losing herself and disappearing into the pack hierarchy. So intense! And then there's Samuel. He was Mercy's first boyfriend, the man she almost mated to. He still wants her, even more than ever. But he knows he messed up the first time, and his fight to give Mercy the choice of who she wants, takes its toll on him. And then there's his pain at what he has lost, and fears he will never have again.

The vampires in this series are scary! They are predators, pure and simple. They have powers that make them formidable enemies and uneasy allies. Mercy's 'so-called' friend Stefan has an ambiguosity to him that is inherent because of his being a powerful vampire, but at the same time, having a humaneness that the other vampires lack. He's one of the good ones, but he's still a predator at the end of the day. Mercy knows she's in over her head when she has to deal with the vampires, and particularly a demon-possessed sorcerer vampire. But Mercy has the power to resist the vampires to a degree that the other preternaturals lack, even though her small size and lack of strength as a coyote shifter leaves her at a disadvantage. There are parts in this book where I felt the tension like a knife edge. The evil that these creatures were capable of was always clear. Yet some hid it behind an urbane facade.

But more than anything, I love the wolves. The pack dynamics are utterly fascinating. The basic and primal nature of the wolves always played a factor in how Mercy dealt with Samuel, Adam, Bran (the leader of all the werewolves in North America), Warren (Adam's third, a good friend of Mercy), and some of the other wolves in this book. I felt envy that this was not real. But at the same time, I'm not sure I could handle being in love with a werewolf, and knowing that his control is what keeps him from eating or killing you, if that inner wolf nature takes full control. Not to mention dealing with the dicey pack politics that Mercy gets sucked into, despite her desire to do her own thing.

I'm gushing. I know I am. I can't help it. I love this book, and this series. I think I will have restrain myself from speeding my way through it too fast. I don't think I could handle having to wait a long time for the next books in the series, then!

If you're looking for a really good urban fantasy series with a heroine that you will fall in love with, I recommend this series. If you are into werewolf fiction, you are really missing out if you don't read this one. These werewolves are the best in fiction (in my opinion). Thumbs way up!(less)

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Sep 27, 2010 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, adult, urban-fantasy, favourites

"Damn it" I said "I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to kill Littleton" He smiled at me, his teeth very white in the darkness of his face "Eat him" he said."

To me this is Urban Fantasy at it’s best. Clever writing, action packed plot, great characters, witty dialogue and subtle romance, Blood Bound has it all. This series is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.

In this second instalment Mercy’s vampire friend Stefan asked her for a favour. She is to be a witness in her coyote form while...more

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Sep 24, 2008 MelissaB rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-paranormal-romance, paranormal-romance, mercy-thompson-series, shapeshifters, werewolves, paper-books-i-own, urban-fantasy

I enjoyed the second book in the series as well. There was one really creepy scene where a scary vampire was trying to get into Mercy's trailer at night while she was alone. There wasn't very much progression with Mercy's feelings toward Adam or Samuel but she does figure out some things. The action scenes were good and the story was fun to read.

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Nov 23, 2010 Bry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, urban-fantasy, mystery, 2010, audiobook

Review for book March 2009:
This is the 2nd book in the Mercy Thompson series. This time around Mercy is up against a vampire who is a sorcerer and is also inhabited by a demon...Confused? So was I! You do get to learn a whole lot about the vampires and their society, ways, politics, how you turn them, kill them, etc in this installment.

It is official though, my favorite characters in this series are Warren and Kyle! Their relationship, dialog, and interaction are sweet and just hilarious and wo...more Review for book March 2009:
This is the 2nd book in the Mercy Thompson series. This time around Mercy is up against a vampire who is a sorcerer and is also inhabited by a demon...Confused? So was I! You do get to learn a whole lot about the vampires and their society, ways, politics, how you turn them, kill them, etc in this installment.

It is official though, my favorite characters in this series are Warren and Kyle! Their relationship, dialog, and interaction are sweet and just hilarious and wonderful! I always either Awwww or laugh whenever they are in a scene!

I was also glad Ben seemed to pull through there at the end. Maybe his character isn't as bad as you weren't meant to think in the first book. Because as much as I think Ben hates women he really does like and respect Mercy. I am hoping his character will eventually be released from guilt from whatever happened in London to force his joining Adam's pack.

The Adam/Sam thing is definitely heating up in this book. I am finding myself rooting for Adam, but that may be because I know she ends up with him (from reading the flaps on books 3 and 4) and don't want to be disappointed by going for Sam. Sam just isn't coming across as genuine in his feelings for Mercy where as Adam seems really upfront about everything. I also like that Briggs addressed Mercy's submissiveness to Adam and am glad she isn't just giving into his control. It'll be interesting to see how those factors affect their relationship and how it plays out.

*****
Review for audiobook November 2010:
I was much less confused this time around in terms of the logistics behind a demon possessed sorcerer vampire, but I still just don't enjoy the vampires face time in this series as much as the other species so installment while fantastic is still one of the lesser favorites.

Vampire politics are what rules this book, that and revenge. Both add considerably to the characters and their actions. While I understand Stephan more, I still don't particularly like him.

Super disjointed review I know...but seriously just read it. The series is awesome! (less)

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Jul 01, 2008 Rachael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Rachael by: Jared

Shelves: fantasy, urban-fantasy

I like these books, but I could do without the swearing.
There are little ideas here and there that I really love- one example- She wears a lamb around her neck instead of a cross with the logic that why would you want to carry around the object that caused the death of Christ. And the object protects (from vampires) just like a cross would.

I also like that the main character, Mercedes prays and believes in God. They also mention briefly that she is saving her self for marriage (or her future h...more

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Mar 18, 2008 Andy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: speculative-fiction

I will admit that I haven't read much in the urban fantasy/horror/vampire genre, so I may not be as picky as other reviewers. I will say that I have only read two of Brigg's novels -- "Moon Called" and "Blood Bound" -- and both times I really got into the book. Brigg's conversational writing style makes it easy; after all, the protagonist, Mercy Thompson, is narrating the story.

Mercy has the ability to morph into a coyote. What I appreciated about Brigg's storytelling is how Mercy doesn't overus...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pnr-urban-fantasy, books-i-own, read-2011

I'm liking Mercy more and more !!
And LOVING the twist Stephan is bringing into the story ! lol

The more I read this series, the more I'm convinced that this could be the suitable substitute for Magic Bites series. Although I think that Mercy is far more fragile "physically" than Kate and has less strength in magic in any possible way. I like her spirit and mind, easily scared yet unyielding.

She is likely my second favorite character I've read about in PNR genre. =)

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Mar 12, 2009 Katy-Del rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mercy is something rare. From her father's side she inherited the ability to change into a coyote. Not a big scary were- animal, but something that looks like a real coyote. Unfortunately, her Indian father died in a car accident before they even knew she had been conceived. Her Mom didn't know any of his family, but she had a distant aunt who was a were-wolf. The aunt had sent her mom to a good pack when Mercy started to be more than she could handle. Mercy owns an automotive shop and focuses o...more

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Jan 20, 2010 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, urban-fantasy, featured, weres-and-shifters, fae, vampires

There's not much new to say about this book that I didn't say in the review for Moon Called. I still love these characters and this world. I still really like Mercy as heroine and narrator, she's smart and real and appropriately stubborn and sometimes insecure, but very normal.

Blood Bound deals more with the vampires than the werewolves and based on the title of the next one I suspect it might deal more with the Fae. After reading this book, I have a little more insight in Stefan, but really all...more

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Jan 17, 2009 Nymphsin rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone who likes preternatural fiction with wolves, vampires and sexy people!

Recommended to Nymphsin by: Hunter's Haven Forum

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 10, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, romance

4.5 stars.

I'm really liking this series. Mercy is a practical, down-to-earth heroine and she's pretty honest with herself and the readers. I don't think I've found a heroine I love more yet.

In this book she comes to the rescue of her vampire friend Stefan. Vampires in Mercy's world are pretty sleazy creatures and it's not so easy to understand the rules that move their world. The supernatural creatures in general are not all good or all bad, they live in their own society (the Fae, the werewolve...more 4.5 stars.

I'm really liking this series. Mercy is a practical, down-to-earth heroine and she's pretty honest with herself and the readers. I don't think I've found a heroine I love more yet.

In this book she comes to the rescue of her vampire friend Stefan. Vampires in Mercy's world are pretty sleazy creatures and it's not so easy to understand the rules that move their world. The supernatural creatures in general are not all good or all bad, they live in their own society (the Fae, the werewolves, the vampires, the witches) and their interaction is not always smooth, there's a lot of politics going on. I liked the way the pack's dynamics is explored.

Mercedes doesn't belong to one of the main groups, she's a half-human Walker who can shift into a coyote, and I think we still have to know what's really special about her (in this book, she talks to ghosts, but everyone keeps hinting at something more).

Each secondary characters is given enough page space to be interesting and my favorite is Warren, because he's a kind of underdog and he has to fight to be accepted and respected by those around him. Ben is another fascinating character with a hot temper and I'm looking forward to his adventures in the future and to how he'll relate with Mercy.

The action in the book was really good and entertaining. The romance part is compelling. Mercy lives with her ex-lover, the werewolf Samuel, who's still interested in her (it's not clear if he's in love, but he surely can't let her go). The Alpha of the local pack, the delectable Adam, has staked his claim on her. This is the most intriguing part because the attraction between the two is there and it's sparkling and yet they tread around each other very carefully. In this book Stefan, the vampire, lets transpire he feels something deeper for Mercy, but vampires are really strange creatures, so we don't really know what that is.

I am not giving five stars because, as you can see, Mercy is starting to attract a whole lot of attention and I am afraid she'll turn into a Sookie-like heroine, with everyone pining after her. I hope not. (less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Kelly Maybedog Hawkins rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: what-modern-fantasy, what-danger-danger-wilma-robinson, what-shapeshifting, what-vampires

Ugh. I am so unhappy with Ms. Briggs. She created an intelligent, strong, interesting protagonist; a mostly believable world; and engaging supporting characters. Her writing is smooth and keeps you turning the page, wanting to see where the plot is headed. But the sexist drivel just makes me want to puke. On the surface it doesn't seem to be sexist: Mercy abhors the way women are treated in the werewolf pack; she is strong and resourceful and of course has to save the day. But when I delved deep...more Ugh. I am so unhappy with Ms. Briggs. She created an intelligent, strong, interesting protagonist; a mostly believable world; and engaging supporting characters. Her writing is smooth and keeps you turning the page, wanting to see where the plot is headed. But the sexist drivel just makes me want to puke. On the surface it doesn't seem to be sexist: Mercy abhors the way women are treated in the werewolf pack; she is strong and resourceful and of course has to save the day. But when I delved deeper, I realized that this is the annoying Heinlein-esque sexism: you know the guy is a jerk and you know better but let's just humor him. The reality is that in humoring, he gets all the power and control. Just because you're going along voluntarily doesn't make it okay.

The women in this society are virtually slaves, she freely admits it. The men have magic that can control women and force them to submit, particularly sexually. Mercy knows this and tries to distance herself somewhat but she keeps getting sucked in. She even lives with one of them who wants her. She is constantly in the middle of a tug-of-war with several studs wanting her at once and she doesn't do anything about it. Instead, she continually ends up trying to calm them down by being meek and submissive around them.

Don't get me wrong: I believe the society she's created is realistic. It makes perfect sense that people who struggle with a primal beast would succumb to the feral hierarchy directed by testosterone. What I have a problem with is that the character not only tolerates it, she keeps getting herself sucked in. It's the stereotypical bodice-busting romance story of a woman who wants a dangerous man who doesn't treat her well but she knows she can save him. It's disgusting. Why can't these strong women like strong guys who are comfortable in their masculinity and their status in society who treat them well and who respect the woman's own strength and power?

I almost stopped reading when I got to a line that went something like, "You know you submitted because you wanted to." The line was referring to a situation where this strong woman was mentally and emotionally controlled through magic and almost forced to have sex against her will (they were interupted which broke the spell) but it was okay because he didn't really have control of his magic because he wanted her so much and secretly she really wanted it? Are you kidding me?!

The worst part is this: (This spoiler is about character relationships and not about plot or conflict resolution.)
(view spoiler)

I'd give it a one for this sexism alone but I did finish it because it was compelling. And I love that vampire.(less)

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Mar 22, 2013 t'irla ~The BookSlayer~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: patricia-briggs, owned, 5-star-read

Another great ready from Patricia Briggs. Our heroine Mercy finds herself facing a crazy sorcerer vampire with a demon riding him...can it get worse than that???? ..Asked by the Vampire Mistress to help rein him in after he goes on a killing spree we have Mercy at her loveable best. Kickass in a insecure way:)....

PB gives us plenty of action in this book and a much more indepth knowledge of the Vampires in her TriCity world. We also learn new facets of Mercy and her capabilities. Still in the da...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites, books-i-own, tear-jerkers

Wow. This review is sooo late but whatever. Although I was hesitant to read this after reading Moon Called, I decided to give it a shot since I'd already bought all six books. And thank god I did. For some reason, this book was just so much more enjoyable than the first one.

For starters, Adam was in this way more. I absolutely LOVE Adam. He is just sexy and manly and everything a good werewolf lover like me likes :) Plus its obvious he adores Mercy. They are just the perfect couple. I just wish...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mercy-thompson, urban-fantasy

There are some sequels that can't measure up to the potential of a good series. Blood Bound is not one of those sequels. In fact, I enjoyed it even more than the first installment in the Mercy Thompson books.

A little backstory: Mery is a shapeshifter (a walker) who can transform herself into a coyote. She was raised by werewolves and is tight with their leader, Bran. She is living with Bran's son, Samuel, who was her first love. Things ended badly between them years ago when she found out he on...more

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Jan 12, 2012 VampireNovelFan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vampires, urban-fantasy, shifters, love-triangle

Mercy 2 Finds a Groove

The second installment of the Mercy Thompson series shifts focus from the werewolves to the vampires. This time her vampire friend, Stefan, decides to call in a favor from Mercy. She risks life and limb to thwart an evil sorcerer-turned-vampire (as if vampires weren't evil enough on their own) causing numerous deaths all around the city. The supernatural cream of the crop are all involved to take this sucker down, from head vampires to head werewolves. And even still, some...more Mercy 2 Finds a Groove

The second installment of the Mercy Thompson series shifts focus from the werewolves to the vampires. This time her vampire friend, Stefan, decides to call in a favor from Mercy. She risks life and limb to thwart an evil sorcerer-turned-vampire (as if vampires weren't evil enough on their own) causing numerous deaths all around the city. The supernatural cream of the crop are all involved to take this sucker down, from head vampires to head werewolves. And even still, somehow Mercy's abilities prove useful to help save them all.

While I'm still not totally hooked, it's definitely a step in the right direction. This book is a lot better in terms of action and the characters are more established, so I could relate to them a bit more. The love triangle (or maybe quadrangle?) is definitely kicked up a notch and confirmed here. Adam seems to be becoming my Were of choice, but there is enough argument for her other suitor(s?) as well, so I will just see how Mrs. Briggs decides to develop that angle. I liked the incorporation of ghosts this time around, and their use is quite intuitive and sensible. The vampire politics are somewhat more interesting than the first book since I didn't find myself zoning out quite as much.

Stefan, has potential to be an extremely interesting character as the series progresses. It's hard to tell what motivates him which will only keep everyone guessing. That's a good sign of complexity considering that vampires are inherently evil in this series.

So all in all, it was certainly better than Moon Called, but I don't really have the urge to want to inhale it like I've had with some of my favorites. Of course, that's not necessarily a bad thing since I can be a much more productive human being, but this doesn't necessarily need to be shot up to the top of your TBR list, even though it's a decent read. I am still interested enough to want to continue and see what unfolds for Mercy and her friends, so that's a good thing. Onto Book 3!

*Review also posted to Amazon (less)

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Sep 04, 2010 Cortney rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

The second installment of Patricia Briggs's paranormal fantasy saga to feature feisty heroine Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson, Blood Bound (sequel to 2006's Moon Called), pits the butt-kicking mechanic/coyote shape-shifter against a foe that is as rare as he is ruthless -- a demon-possessed sorcerer who is also a vampire!

When Mercy agrees to help out friend Stefan (a bloodsucker from the local vampire clan in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State), she has no idea that she is about to inadvertently...more

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Sep 19, 2011 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, 4_stars, author_american, mystery, paranormal, read_in_2011, reviewed, setting_us, strong_females

Mercedes Thompson is a mechanic who just happens to walk in two worlds. There's the mundane world where she spends her time fixing VWs, and there's the supernatural world that she was born into. See, Mercy is a walker. She can shift into coyote form at will. She's not as physically strong as a werewolf, but she has other strengths to make up for it.

So when local vampire Stefan needs some unobtrusive help in sniffing out a new vampire in town who is poaching on his seethe's turf, he asks Mercy to...more Mercedes Thompson is a mechanic who just happens to walk in two worlds. There's the mundane world where she spends her time fixing VWs, and there's the supernatural world that she was born into. See, Mercy is a walker. She can shift into coyote form at will. She's not as physically strong as a werewolf, but she has other strengths to make up for it.

So when local vampire Stefan needs some unobtrusive help in sniffing out a new vampire in town who is poaching on his seethe's turf, he asks Mercy to shift and go with him. They both get more than they bargained for. This vampire is unknown, and so must be fairly young, but his strength is unimaginable. He is wreaking havoc in the Tri-cities, and it's going to take more than one vampire and a shifter to bring him down.

I like Mercy a lot. (And I loathe these covers. Loathe them, I tell you.) It would be very, very easy to fall in with the local werewolf pack and start to lose her independence. She has fought hard to gain that independence and she fights hard to keep it. It's just so hard to keep fighting when the werewolves are so damn sexy. I would purr if that were appropriate when talking about werewolves. Adam is hot and a great alpha. He doesn't just throw his weight around and beat on those who are submissive to him. He cares for them and ~~tries to be~~ is a true leader. Samuel is a little outside the local pack, for some very complicated reasons, but he is every bit as dominant as Adam is. And he's Mercy's roommate. And they have a history. *Arching of the eyebrow here.*

*Shakes head* Anyway. Enough about the guys. I was trying to write about Mercy.

I guess it could be due to the coyote part of her nature, but she is so damn loyal. She would do absolutely anything within her power for those she cares for. Heck, she would (and does) do anything for someone she doesn't even know. Her vendetta against this new vampire is as much about the nameless maid she sees him kill as it is about anything else.

Stefan is getting very interesting. Okay, he's a vampire who drives a Scooby-Doo van, so he's been interesting, but he's starting to show some surprising depth and emotions that I did not expect to find. Seeing his "menagerie" was revealing of his character as well. While other vampires keep unwilling victims bound and in inhuman conditions, Stefan keeps willing...let's call them roommates, in a very nice house and they can come and go as they please.

Okay--the bad guy. Turns out, he's a sorcerer vampire and that's where he gets his strength (not a spoiler--you find out around page 30). The sorcerer part comes from a demon. Ugh. Demons scare me to death. Don't ask me why. Needless to say, I got a little worried. My husband did too. If I'm not sleeping, ain't nobody sleeping. That's all I'm saying. But there weren't any demonic, spawn-of-Satan kind of parts. He could have just been a vampire with strong magic and it would have turned out the same way. Whew. I was relieved.

The storyline just rocketed along, revealing more about Mercy and company as it also revealed more about the baddie. It was perfect summer reading. Not too much brain power required but hard to put down.

Recommended for a fun page-turner. I'll be reading Iron Kissed, the next in the series.
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Cathy OMG, I love the covers! I want to buy all of the books just to own the covers, how funny that we're so different! Oh well, that least the publisher in...more
Sep 19, 2011 05:09pm

JG (The Introverted Reader) That's true. At least there are elements of Mercy here. I just don't think she's going to be marching around work with her coveralls unzipped to her n...more
Sep 19, 2011 05:20pm

Cathy OK, I'm with you about the bra, I get that they want to show off her tattoos but the only time she'd be dressed like that is if they got her while she...more
Sep 21, 2011 10:48pm

Dec 27, 2010 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, mystery, urban-fantasy

Looks like I’m eating crow today. I know, I know, after reading Moon Called I said that I wouldn’t be continuing with the series, if it helps, I meant it at the time. And to be honest, I still can’t figure out what made me eat my words. I think it had something to do with the fact that I could at least finish Moon Called whereas I cast aside many an urban fantasy pick after only 30 pages or so and I really needed a good urban fantasy pick. No other genre would slake me. At any rate, I’m glad I g...more Looks like I’m eating crow today. I know, I know, after reading Moon Called I said that I wouldn’t be continuing with the series, if it helps, I meant it at the time. And to be honest, I still can’t figure out what made me eat my words. I think it had something to do with the fact that I could at least finish Moon Called whereas I cast aside many an urban fantasy pick after only 30 pages or so and I really needed a good urban fantasy pick. No other genre would slake me. At any rate, I’m glad I gave Mercy another go, she surprised me.

Perhaps Briggs writing progressed with her second endeavor into Mercy’s realm, or maybe the story was just more interesting, regardless, I found Blood Bound impossible to put down. Mercy is, or has become, a noteworthy heroine. She is ordinary, with a wee bit of extraordinary mixed in for good measure. She may be able to shift into the form of a coyote, but she reacts to the supernatural world that surrounds her as if she were human. Granted, there are some wolfie instincts thrown it, but they are woven well with her human thoughts and feelings. She knows her limitations, and doesn’t press to exceed them. She isn’t putting others in danger because she can’t grasp the reality of her circumstances. With that said, she is still able to kick a little arse, even though she is of average human strength and intelligence. I like that her character is still able to hold her own even though she lives among supernatural beasties. More important, Mercy isn’t a whiner, nor does she behave in the typical grating manner that plagues most heroines. You know the type, they live entirely in their own head, and can’t comprehend the reasons behind others reactions other than whatever craziness said heroine has concocted for herself. Mercy doesn’t do that. She is logical. She doesn’t take things personally. She isn’t foul, or particularly edgy, but is still just alternative enough to be interesting. All in all, I like her. I would befriend her. I just wish she would curse a little more. But I know that’s petty, so I am going to let it lie.

As for the story, it was much more interesting this time around, I loved learning more about the vampires, because the werewolves of Briggs universe are just a wee bit on the dull side to carry a story on their own at this point. Though I do enjoy reading about the interactions within the pack, especially this Ben character. I hope he is able to play a larger role in later installments, and I’ll be honest, he is the only hot guy in this series thus far.

Lastly, the creepy/dull love interests have lost a bit of their creepiness (I’m talking about you Samuel) and become just a tad intriguing (yes Adam, that last bit includes you). They still don’t smolder. They would be smote by my urban fantasy favorites (shout out for Clayton Danvers, Curran and Jericho Barrons!). Nonetheless, I kinda like them, the way you kinda like the guy that you have been flirting with casually for years and notice that he has suddenly become better looking while bantering with him over something silly. You don’t exactly find yourself wanting to rip his clothes off, but you notice you’ve begun thinking about kissing whenever you watch his mouth. This is a major improvement from previous encounters with Samuel and Adam, as both had me yawning, or mentally ewwwing in Sam’s case.

Overall, I’m starting to enjoy Mercy’s world. It is becoming more and more convoluted while also becoming more established. The vampire and fae lore is traditional and well researched. There’s a strong host of well drawn characters. The overall arc is beginning to take shape and am looking forward to the next installment.
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Mar 01, 2010 Zeek rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites-all-time, favorites-uf, urban-fantasy, alpha-hero, favorite-author, kick-ass-heroine, favorite-hero, favorite-heroine

Second in Brigg's Mercy Thompson series, I think I liked this one better than the first- and that's saying something!

In Blood Bound, mechanic and part/time magical world protector- Mercy Thompson, agrees to return a favor for Stefan, the vamp who assisted her in Moon Called (mercy Thompson Book 1).

Stefan needs her to be his eyes and ears while she's in coyote form when he sets out to confront a character who has the appearance of a vamp but is actually much more. When the encounter goes awry, Me...more

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About Patricia Briggs

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a na...more

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“Never trust a mechanic who drives new cars. They're either charging too much money for their work, or they can't keep an old car running - maybe both.” — 331 people liked it

“His heart's occupied elsewhere," said Ben from behind me. "And even if it weren't he's not interested in your kind. But, I'm available and ready."
"You don't have a heart," I told him.” Just a gaping hole where it should have been.
"
"All the more reason for you to give me yours.
"
I pounded my forehead against Warren 's back. "Tell me Ben's not flirting with me.
"
"Hey," said Ben sounding hurt. "I was talking cannibalism, not romance.” — 204 people liked it

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Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2)

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