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Mercy Thompson #2
Blood Bound
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 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.
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.
292 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 2007
1992 people are currently reading
19284 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Briggs
115 books29.8k followersLibrarian 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 natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses and writes full time, much to the delight of her fans.
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 natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses and writes full time, much to the delight of her fans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,151 reviews
November 5, 2017
Re-read on audio 2017 and still 5 stars! ❤️
April 18, 2020
Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Owing a favor to a vampire is pretty much always going to be asking for trouble. Stefan, a vampire who’s been a help and even a friend to Mercy Thompson, calls her at three a.m. to go witness his confrontation with a new vampire in town. But Stefan gives Mercy his word of honor that she won’t be hurt, and asks her to shapeshift into her coyote form to accompany him. The new vampire, Cory Littleton, has a rather mundane name, but his nature is anything commonplace: there is a demon inside of Littleton, and it’s not entirely clear whether the vampire is controlling the demon or is possessed by him.
In any case, their meeting turns out to be fraught with danger and death, since Littleton possesses demonic-enhanced sorcerous powers that make him extremely dangerous to everyone in town, including vampires and werewolves as well as humans. As Mercy, Stefan and other vampires and werewolves combine to try to track down and kill or neutralize Littleton, it becomes apparent that there are some characters with a hidden agenda whose goals may not align with Mercy’s and humanity’s best interests.
Blood Bound, the second book in the Mercy Thompson series, is a strong urban fantasy and mystery that builds on the world Patricia Briggs created in Moon Called. It’s bursting at the seams with vampires and werewolves, with a few fae characters for additional flavor, as well as Mercy herself, who is a “walker” and can turn into a coyote at will. Somehow Mercy, a hard-working, down-to-earth automobile mechanic, once again ends up in the middle of serious trouble, as the vampires and werewolves try to sort out the mystery involving Littleton, who’s leaving a trail of bodies behind him with a complete disregard for vampire rules.
The one failure for me in Blood Bound is its subplot involving the overused love triangle trope, as Mercy continues to waffle between two werewolves who are each determined to make her their mate. Worse, there are hints that this might be turning into what might be best described as a three-pronged love trident, since now there are actually three different paranormal males interested in Mercy.
Vampire society and culture take center stage in Blood Bound, as Mercy visits not only the main vampire compound but some of their personal dwellings, at great risk to herself. Briggs has created a detailed, layered world, with some intriguing twists on vampire characteristics and the standard mythology. The capabilities and shortcomings of Mercy and other supernatural beings, initially simply interesting facts, resurface later in the story and play a role in the development of the plot in a highly satisfying way. The plot and the underlying mystery in Blood Bound are a clear step above that in the first volume, Moon Called.
Content notes: Lots of death and violence, but the gore factor isn't overwhelming.
Owing a favor to a vampire is pretty much always going to be asking for trouble. Stefan, a vampire who’s been a help and even a friend to Mercy Thompson, calls her at three a.m. to go witness his confrontation with a new vampire in town. But Stefan gives Mercy his word of honor that she won’t be hurt, and asks her to shapeshift into her coyote form to accompany him. The new vampire, Cory Littleton, has a rather mundane name, but his nature is anything commonplace: there is a demon inside of Littleton, and it’s not entirely clear whether the vampire is controlling the demon or is possessed by him.
In any case, their meeting turns out to be fraught with danger and death, since Littleton possesses demonic-enhanced sorcerous powers that make him extremely dangerous to everyone in town, including vampires and werewolves as well as humans. As Mercy, Stefan and other vampires and werewolves combine to try to track down and kill or neutralize Littleton, it becomes apparent that there are some characters with a hidden agenda whose goals may not align with Mercy’s and humanity’s best interests.
Blood Bound, the second book in the Mercy Thompson series, is a strong urban fantasy and mystery that builds on the world Patricia Briggs created in Moon Called. It’s bursting at the seams with vampires and werewolves, with a few fae characters for additional flavor, as well as Mercy herself, who is a “walker” and can turn into a coyote at will. Somehow Mercy, a hard-working, down-to-earth automobile mechanic, once again ends up in the middle of serious trouble, as the vampires and werewolves try to sort out the mystery involving Littleton, who’s leaving a trail of bodies behind him with a complete disregard for vampire rules.
The one failure for me in Blood Bound is its subplot involving the overused love triangle trope, as Mercy continues to waffle between two werewolves who are each determined to make her their mate. Worse, there are hints that this might be turning into what might be best described as a three-pronged love trident, since now there are actually three different paranormal males interested in Mercy.
Vampire society and culture take center stage in Blood Bound, as Mercy visits not only the main vampire compound but some of their personal dwellings, at great risk to herself. Briggs has created a detailed, layered world, with some intriguing twists on vampire characteristics and the standard mythology. The capabilities and shortcomings of Mercy and other supernatural beings, initially simply interesting facts, resurface later in the story and play a role in the development of the plot in a highly satisfying way. The plot and the underlying mystery in Blood Bound are a clear step above that in the first volume, Moon Called.
Content notes: Lots of death and violence, but the gore factor isn't overwhelming.
April 19, 2021
✘ Now You See Me Now You Don't Express Buddy Read (NYSMNYDEBR™) with Nafeeza, Layla and Ange ✘
💀 DNF at 21% *pats her little self on the exoskeleton for making it that far*
Okay, I was going to do the Cut the Crap Thing (CtCT™), but I just noticed the cover for this book and am consequently slightly pissed off, so this might take longer than originally planned. You're welcome.
That bloody shrimping cover! What the bloody shrimping fish?! Why the holy barnacle does Mercy have to display her boobs like that?! Because her being a mechanic makes her less feminine, and she has to reassert her womanly womanhood by flaunting her freaking assets?! Just in case the readers have a doubt as to whether she is male of female? Or is it just that is it super HAWT (both literally and figuratively) in Washington State and our dear girl just NEEDS to keep her work coveralls open at all times? You know, for the sake of ventilation and stuff? Right. I'm sure that's what this is about. Damn I hate that kind of crap. The cover would have beenjust as hot way hotter, had Mercy shown just a little cleavage. Because, YES, a chick can look hot in coveralls even when she is NOT showing off her boobs! This probably comes as a shock, I know. I'm sorry I had to break it to you so brutally, my Little Barnacles, but you couldn't be left in the dark any longer. Your mental sanity was at stake here, whether you realize it or not. Someone had to do something about it!
Why you're very welcome, my dears. I absolutely lurve that cute kitty, by the way. You know my tastes so well, it's touching, really
Anyway, I know exactly what happened here. This was yet an evilly cunning plan to demolish a book by its cover, courtesy of the lovely people at Ace. They've been doing such a wonderful job of it with Ilona Andrews' books, they just couldn't resist the temptation here! They just had to try and ruin yet another series via (choose allthat apply) pathetic/ridiculous/eyeroll-worthy/worthless book cover! The problem is, Ms Briggs is no Ilona Andrews, which means Immutable Law of the Universe #1 (ILotU1™) doesn't apply to her. Yeah, life sucks, I know. Sorry? What? "What is ILotU1™," you ask? Simply this: the crappier the cover, the gloriouser the book. The Andrews recently passed the Blue Abs From Hell Cover Test (BAFHCT™) with flying colors, by the way. And if that isn't the proof that ILotU1™ was created just for them, I don't know what is. Okayyyyy, I seem to vaguely recall that there was originally a point to this paragraph. There must have been something, right? Because everything I say always has a point, right? Right. So glad we blissfully agree, my Little Barnacles. Oh yes, I remember now! The point to this paragraph, I mean! Here it is: Patricia Briggs is no Ilona Andrews and this book sucks just as much as its cover!
As you Lovely Decapods very well know, I am quite thespecial snowflake dedicated masochist. Yes, it is true, I love to read crap stuff I know I will want to kill dead not necessarily enjoy. But what happened here is not my fault. Oh no, absolutely not. Because you see, I loved book 1 in this series SO much, I decided to do the Pre Emptive DNFing Thing (PEDT™) on this one. Which loosely translates to: "I'd rather die at the hands of a thousand lethally ferocious dinoflagellates than continue with this series." More or less. But then Deviously Cunning Angela (DCA™) happened. She put a gun to my lovely little head and made me read this thing book, or else... Horrific thing to do, is it not? Such lowly, disrespectful behavior coming from someone with such despicable book taste wouldn't have been tolerated back in the good old days of my lovely dictatorship. This is pretty disgraceful, if you ask me. I'm telling you, my Tiny Athropods, it is no wonder that this world is going to hell, and that some of you chose to vote for Trumpy instead of electing Craig Schaefer is Slightly Awesome as POTUS #45 *shakes head in desperation* But I ever so slightly digress. So I found myself in the despicable position of having to DNF read this thing book against my better judgement. And here we are.
[This is were the supposedly crap-cutting review supposedly begins]
Sooooooo, I only read three chapters of this fascinatingly delightful little book because:
① It's boring to death. And it's boring to death. Yeah, that too. 3 chapters = 21% of this book = 61 pages in Briggs world = 1,225,586 pages in the real world. Give or take a few hundred thousand pages.
② The blah blah blah crap is strong in that one. Most of the above mentionedthree chapters 1,225,586 pages are filled to the brim with 1/useless dialogues, 2/pointless ramblings and 3/meaningless descriptions of meaningless things. Such a treat.
③ The Gloriously Captivating Relationship Crap Extravaganza (GCRCE™), aka the stuff I liked best:
➽ There are no Love Triangles of Doom and Destruction (LToDaD™) in this world, oh no, that would be way too lame. Ms Briggs has Love Quadrangles of Annihilation and Obliteration (LQoAaO™) instead. It is much, MUCH cooler.
➽ Mercy Thompson is such a cool, independent young woman that she is very logically defined by her exponentially multiplying suitors. All she does, all she is, seems to be dictated by thedull, boring, flat douchebags delicious males in her life. And that is just SO cool. Go feminism! Go!
➽ The LQoAaO™ thing is super exciting. Which is logical. There are, after all, threelacklustre losers hot dudes lusting after Mercy Dear here: one is a doctor (wow) who wants Mercy Dear for her reproductive organs (how positively charming), another is her neighbour who takes her on hot dates with his teenage daughter tagging along (thrilling) and the last one is a vamp with a Mystery Machine à la Scooby Doo (how exquisitely modern of him), who likes to play dead sleep in Mercy Dear's bedroom closet once in a while (riveting). What can I say? I'm jealous. I'd gladly give up all the sex slaves cultural attachés in my harem if it meant having just one go at one of these cardboard-like idiots luscious babes. Yes, absolutely, this is the truthful truth. These uninteresting fools most edible guys here are that irresistibly irresistible.
Is it really? Strange. Have you had your bullshit-o-meter checked like I told you the other day, Spidey dear? I personally smell no BS in a 12,000 mile radius from this review.
The End.
» And the moral of this I Have Done the Patricia Briggs Thing FOUR FREAKING TIMES Now even Subaquatic Masochists Have their Limits I am Done Done Done Crappy Non Review (IHDtPBTFFTNeSMHtLIaDDDCNR™) is: Ange is getting a penance read for putting me through two successivepieces of crap slightly unenjoyable books. She will therefore be held at gunpoint shrimp pincers until she turns the last page of The Long Way Down. I have the weird feeling I got somewhat ripped off here, and that she got the better part of the deal. Don't know why.
· Book 1: Moon Called ★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
You Silly Barnacles pretty much all love this series, don't you? Right. That's what I thought.
Wait. No. Why the shrimping fish would I deprive the world of my most glorious persona when YOU are the ones who keep reading books wrong?! I shall therefore stay right here and continue to graciously enlighten you Tiny Arthropods of the Despicable Book Taste (TAotDBT™) one crappy read at a time. You are very much welcome.
►► Not so full My Dear Ms Briggs I Am Sure You Are a Wonderful Person But I am Officially Done Done Done with your Books Yay Go Me Crappy Mini Non Review (MDMBIASYAaWPBIaODDDwyBYGMCMNR™) to come.
✉ A very private message to my friendly neighbourhood trolls: don't even think about it. Unless you want to die a slow, horrible, painful death, that is.
💀 DNF at 21% *pats her little self on the exoskeleton for making it that far*
Okay, I was going to do the Cut the Crap Thing (CtCT™), but I just noticed the cover for this book and am consequently slightly pissed off, so this might take longer than originally planned. You're welcome.
That bloody shrimping cover! What the bloody shrimping fish?! Why the holy barnacle does Mercy have to display her boobs like that?! Because her being a mechanic makes her less feminine, and she has to reassert her womanly womanhood by flaunting her freaking assets?! Just in case the readers have a doubt as to whether she is male of female? Or is it just that is it super HAWT (both literally and figuratively) in Washington State and our dear girl just NEEDS to keep her work coveralls open at all times? You know, for the sake of ventilation and stuff? Right. I'm sure that's what this is about. Damn I hate that kind of crap. The cover would have been
Why you're very welcome, my dears. I absolutely lurve that cute kitty, by the way. You know my tastes so well, it's touching, really
Anyway, I know exactly what happened here. This was yet an evilly cunning plan to demolish a book by its cover, courtesy of the lovely people at Ace. They've been doing such a wonderful job of it with Ilona Andrews' books, they just couldn't resist the temptation here! They just had to try and ruin yet another series via (choose all
As you Lovely Decapods very well know, I am quite the
[This is were the supposedly crap-cutting review supposedly begins]
Sooooooo, I only read three chapters of this fascinatingly delightful little book because:
① It's boring to death. And it's boring to death. Yeah, that too. 3 chapters = 21% of this book = 61 pages in Briggs world = 1,225,586 pages in the real world. Give or take a few hundred thousand pages.
② The blah blah blah crap is strong in that one. Most of the above mentioned
③ The Gloriously Captivating Relationship Crap Extravaganza (GCRCE™), aka the stuff I liked best:
➽ There are no Love Triangles of Doom and Destruction (LToDaD™) in this world, oh no, that would be way too lame. Ms Briggs has Love Quadrangles of Annihilation and Obliteration (LQoAaO™) instead. It is much, MUCH cooler.
➽ Mercy Thompson is such a cool, independent young woman that she is very logically defined by her exponentially multiplying suitors. All she does, all she is, seems to be dictated by the
➽ The LQoAaO™ thing is super exciting. Which is logical. There are, after all, three
Is it really? Strange. Have you had your bullshit-o-meter checked like I told you the other day, Spidey dear? I personally smell no BS in a 12,000 mile radius from this review.
The End.
» And the moral of this I Have Done the Patricia Briggs Thing FOUR FREAKING TIMES Now even Subaquatic Masochists Have their Limits I am Done Done Done Crappy Non Review (IHDtPBTFFTNeSMHtLIaDDDCNR™) is: Ange is getting a penance read for putting me through two successive
· Book 1: Moon Called ★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
You Silly Barnacles pretty much all love this series, don't you? Right. That's what I thought.
Wait. No. Why the shrimping fish would I deprive the world of my most glorious persona when YOU are the ones who keep reading books wrong?! I shall therefore stay right here and continue to graciously enlighten you Tiny Arthropods of the Despicable Book Taste (TAotDBT™) one crappy read at a time. You are very much welcome.
►► Not so full My Dear Ms Briggs I Am Sure You Are a Wonderful Person But I am Officially Done Done Done with your Books Yay Go Me Crappy Mini Non Review (MDMBIASYAaWPBIaODDDwyBYGMCMNR™) to come.
✉ A very private message to my friendly neighbourhood trolls: don't even think about it. Unless you want to die a slow, horrible, painful death, that is.
January 17, 2021
Reread in June 2020
This is still a scary book. It's scary in that the vampire sorcerer is conjuring up demons but also the vamps themselves, and the fact that they are so freaky and deadly. Also, I think of werewolves as being extremely powerful, but a vampire sorcerer can wrap one around its fingers. I love that Mercy is considered one of the more frail supernatural creatures, but her Walker nature makes her more resistant to magic. She shows incredible courage in the face of the extremely lethal and horrifying vampires. There are some really hair raising parts in this book. It's not considered horror, but to me, it's definitely horrific in parts, although not gory.
I hate love triangles, but the Mercy-Adam-Samuel love triangle makes the most sense out of any I've encountered. I want Adam (love him so much) for Mercy, but I still adore Samuel.
I think these books are fantastic, and I highly recommend listening to the audiobooks!
****************************************************************
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!
This is still a scary book. It's scary in that the vampire sorcerer is conjuring up demons but also the vamps themselves, and the fact that they are so freaky and deadly. Also, I think of werewolves as being extremely powerful, but a vampire sorcerer can wrap one around its fingers. I love that Mercy is considered one of the more frail supernatural creatures, but her Walker nature makes her more resistant to magic. She shows incredible courage in the face of the extremely lethal and horrifying vampires. There are some really hair raising parts in this book. It's not considered horror, but to me, it's definitely horrific in parts, although not gory.
I hate love triangles, but the Mercy-Adam-Samuel love triangle makes the most sense out of any I've encountered. I want Adam (love him so much) for Mercy, but I still adore Samuel.
I think these books are fantastic, and I highly recommend listening to the audiobooks!
****************************************************************
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!
August 24, 2024
BLOOD BOUND was another amazing read in the Mercy Thompson series. I love how Briggs can continue to write about the wolves, but bring other lore into the story as well. This novel focused more heavily on the vampires, bringing in Mercy's friend Stefan, who is in danger. I really enjoyed Stefan and learning more about the vampire seethes, and also enjoyed the ways in which the vampires are written very traditionally, and also how they're quirky (Stefan's bus, for example). It all just added another layer to Briggs' world building, which is always top notch. Things are developing between Mercy and Adam and Samuel is still around. The tension between this pseudo-love triangle is interesting to read, particularly as we learn more about Mercy's history in Bran's pack. I completely love this series!
April 8, 2020
Re-read for the 3rd time April 2nd, 2020. I notice more to love with every re-read!
Re-read March 21st 2017. Even better the 2nd time around!
4.5 Stars
Blood Bound, the second installment in the Mercy Thompson series has me officially addicted!
This begins as Mercy’s friend, Stephan the vampire, calls in a favor owed. Little does she know that repayment puts her and the pack in grave danger, not something Stephan intended, either. What they stumble upon is a powerful threat that Mercy can’t let stand and before you know it, she’s waist high in dangerous vampire politics. Trying to distinguish the truth from subterfuge is difficult and vital if Mercy plans on staying alive.
Like most UF’s I’ve picked up, Mercy Thompson has a new mystery/problem to overcome with each book and also a continuing story arc that progresses, bit by bit in each installment. The new mystery is the vampire/sorcerer-crazy with massive amounts of power and wicked intent. There were parts of this story that genuinely made heart race from fear! Vampires are scary (and not sparkly), especially in the end!
I love Mercedes Thompson! She’s intelligent, a master of reading complicated situations and handling them with care. She reads between the lines and looks beyond the obvious, making her a force to be reckoned with.
The continuing arc is the romance, and it’s the part I love best! There is sort of a love triangle with Adam and Samuel in the mix, but not in an irritating way. Samuel has decided to stay in Washington, more specifically, with Mercy, when she’s made it clear she’s not interested. Samuel makes it clear he is. He was her first love but finding out exactly why he was interested her sent her running years ago. Now that Mercy looks back, though, she doesn’t regret the situation, because she realizes now that Samuel, as dominant as he is, would’ve wrapped her up in a protective cocoon and stifled her independent spirit.
Adam, the Alpha of the pack is domineering but still respects and appreciates Mercy for who she is rather than what she can do. He’s attracted to Mercy the woman, and isn’t looking for a pack brood mare. Mercy knew that Adam claimed her as his mate but thinks this was in name only, just for protection. A lone “walker” coyote like Mercy without protection would be a target for the wolves and probably wouldn’t last long. A few things happen that make it apparent that Adam’s “claim” has more power and sincerity behind it. This puts Mercy in a bind with Samuel back. Poor Mercy, *not* with two handsome, possessive, alpha males after her!
This was an exciting, and sometimes frightening read. Parts at the end gave me chills and goose bumps! I tried to force myself to put it aside just for my commutes. Something I wasn’t at all successful at! I’ve just finished book three: Iron Kissed, and I have to say the series just gets better!
I loved Lorelei King as the narrator. She has a warm, rich voice with a slightly sarcastic and humorous tone that I find perfect for Mercy. Her male voices are also quite good, as well, and the story flowed seamlessly because of it. I highly recommend the audio version!
You can find this review and more at The Readers Den.
May 24, 2016
The second book in the Mercy installment centers upon the vampires. Stefen, good friend and Scooby-lovin, t-shirt wearing vamp, calls in a favor. Favors among the supernatural are always tricky. When Mercy goes with him to a hotel to meet a suspicious new vampire, they both get more than they bargained for. Yucky stuff follows, but Stefen has a different memory of the horror in the hotel. Mercy must share her memory with the vampire seethe in a bloody and creepy way so that the queen Marsilia does not kill Stefen for bringing unwelcome attention to the vampires. From there, Mercy is kicked out of the action while the menfolk look for the crazy vampire, until the queen vampire contacts Mercy and lends her Andre after the men go missing.
I'm really not a horror reader. Ever since Pet Sematary when I was thirteen, I've stayed far away from the genre, only coming close when urban fantasy flirted with things that go bump in the night. Oh, and Sherri Tepper, who does the science fiction version of the creepy dark side of humanity. At any rate, this opens with Mercy trapped as a psychotic vampire kills someone in front of her and hardly lets up. Well, I say 'hardly lets up' because I felt like there was a lot of description about eating bloody people as well as general descriptions of blood, torture and killing. But perhaps Briggs needed the horror to keep readers awake, because in between events there is an unbelievable amount of info-dumping. In a side plot, a reporter hounds Mercy, and she ends up giving him a lecture and a half about werewolves, while in the main storyline, Mercy and the reader learn almost everything there is to know about vampire politics, vampire skills, sorcerers and demons.
Characterization continues to be one of Briggs' stronger skills with Mercy being the most interesting voice. Plotting has interesting stops along the way, although the overall arc is almost identical to the first book. The editors must not have expected readers to have read book one, as much of chapters one through three review Mercy's identity, her history with Samuel and her recent history with Adam. The crazy vampire bites Mercy, which is an unpleasant bit of rape-foreshadowing. Once again, the book virtually fails the Bechdel test, with the exception of a brief conversation with Honey the werewolf and a grade-school girl who gives her a clue. Even Mercy's talks with an elderly female ghost is about men. It also introduces the idea that Stefen might also have an unusual affection for Mercy, competing with both Adam and Samuel for her attention. Apparently, I was wrong--to know Mercy is to love her. It is also becoming clear that while Mercy may be shuffled to the side by the wolves, she will usually be put into a position where she is 'forced' to circumvent them or to go off on her own. In this case, the crazy vampire was so strong, he "brought out the wolf" in everyone. This will become a theme through the series.
This one does not hold up as well on re-read, for both personal and critical reasons. It was the book that had me considering giving up on the series, and if I wasn't such a completist, I probably wouldn't even have it on my shelves. Two stars and a half stars, rounding down for both the info-dumping and lukewarm gurrl-power message.
Re-read May 2016
March 22, 2025
Loving this series even more on a re-read! Mercy is fiercely independent, loyal, intelligent, and resourceful. Not the type to sit around waiting to be rescued, no simmering wallflower here. I love how she navigates the dangerous supernatural world with grit, quick thinking, and a healthy amount of sarcasm.
Still, no romance, but don’t let that deter you, this series is fantastic.
Like with the first book, I have to complain about the cover. Seriously, does anyone believe Mercy would work on cars with her coveralls unzipped to her stomach? Because, you know, getting engine grease on your breasts is just so practical. Also, when did she find time to get that giant new chest tattoo?
PNR/Urban Fantasy
Werewolves, gremlin, and vampires
Excellent world-building
Demon/vampire serial killer
Violence/gore
Strong fmc
Fighting action
No steam
Mystery
Still, no romance, but don’t let that deter you, this series is fantastic.
Like with the first book, I have to complain about the cover. Seriously, does anyone believe Mercy would work on cars with her coveralls unzipped to her stomach? Because, you know, getting engine grease on your breasts is just so practical. Also, when did she find time to get that giant new chest tattoo?
PNR/Urban Fantasy
Werewolves, gremlin, and vampires
Excellent world-building
Demon/vampire serial killer
Violence/gore
Strong fmc
Fighting action
No steam
Mystery
January 15, 2022
I liked book 2. It was fasted and had more action and plot than book one, but I got to be honest I don't really like the paranormal world that Patricia Briggs is building. I can't stand the vampires. Their rules, laws, the way they feed, how they change people, the way they act.... all of it I don't like. I do like Stefan though. I also really don't like the way the werewolves act. How they treat women, gays, and Mercy like shit. Especially Mercy and Warren. The fact that Bran's mate tried to kill Mercy even though he pretty much adopted her, or that all the pack treats her like shit really pisses me off. I normally really like Paranormal worlds because of all the cool powers, long life, and stuff like that, but this world is kind of a bummer. The only thing that redeems it in my eyes is Mercy, Stefan, Honey, Adam, Zee, Warren and Kyle. Also I feel like the books are more about what's going on in the paranormal world then really building up the relationships between the main characters. The romance part is so lacking. I am hoping the next book gives deeper relationships. I need more meat. I need to feel more of a connection to Mercy and Adam or Kyle and Warren anyone really. I think my hopes were too high going into this book. I was looking for another Cat and Bones and I'm a bit disappointed that I'm not madly in love with this series.
March 20, 2016
I couldn't resist - I wanted to wait and leave more time between books in this series, but after reading the first book, I'm hooked and it's going to be difficult not to binge read these all!
My only complaint
My only complaint
March 25, 2020
Re-read: Still 3.5 Stars
I'm still a little behind on the Books of my Heart Read Along but catching up fast.
I had forgotten everything from this book, literally everything. Vampire in league with a Demon you think I would have remembered something. Oh well. This was a solid read and I noticed a lot of repetition this time just in case you didn't remember stuff from the first book but other than that very nice read.
I forgot that all the guys love Mercy. Adam, Sam and Stephan she is pretty cool but that is a lot of dudes longing for her. Wolfe again was a cool character and while I don't remember a lot about him I liked how he helped Mercy in the end.
3.5 stars
“We'd spent years as adversaries, two predators sharing territory and a certain, unwelcome attraction. Somehow, during all those years I spent outwardly acquiescing to his demands while making sure I held my own, I'd won his respect. I'd had werewolves love me and hate me, but I'd never had one respect me before. Not even Samuel. Adam respected me enough to act on my suspicions. It meant a lot.”
There is something about this series that I really like. I can’t seem to put my finger exactly on it whether it is the plethora of alpha males, the different supernatural creatures that are a little different than other series, the plot of the story or just Mercy herself. There is something that makes this fun and better than some of the other UF out there.
I enjoyed Blood Born just as much as Moon Called. The world around Mercy is opening up and letting us in a little at a time. In this book, we get a better look into the life of Vampires and all the politics that go along with it. Stefan helped Mercy in moon called and now she wants to return the favor. But Stefan’s problem turns out being bigger than he first thought it might be. What’s worse than a vampire or a demon? How about a vampire possessed by a Demon. Yep, that is worse.
The things I like about Mercy: She is strong willed and quick to react. She doesn’t sit and ho hum like some of the other characters in novels. She doesn’t have super strength or Buffy moves. She takes martial arts and can hold her own in a fight but isn’t a high flying kick ass superhero or anything. She is smart and uses her instincts to solve problems. Sure there is something a little magical about her but even she isn’t sure what that is. She is not perfect, she has so many trust issues and is afraid that giving into Adam or Samuel will mean that she will lose her in independent self. Mercy is self-aware, kind and doesn’t take herself too seriously. When push comes to shove Mercy pushes right back.
Again the side characters are great. I really love Stefan, the vampire who is kinder than most but still a vampire. Getting a look into Samuel‘s character I started to like him more, don’t get me wrong I’m still team Adam all the way, but I get where Sam’s character is coming from and see that he truly cares for Mercy still. Adam, well *sigh* I love Adam. He is strong and protective, however he tries not to stand in Mercy’s way and let her be her own woman and help her friends. He trusts and respects her, he seems to know who she is and doesn’t try to change that.
The Fae are definitely interesting, they are not the fairies of other books. They are dark, mysterious and seem to have a lot of power. Zee is my favorite, he is like a father to Mercy and I have to love that. Grumpy and cantankerous are just a bonus.
The Demon possessed vampire story line was well thought out and scary enough. Mercy will go a long way for her friends. It was horrifying the depths of evil that seemed to be incorporated into the demon aspect and I was really scared for the characters in the story.
All and all enjoyable and another nice addition to the series.
I'm still a little behind on the Books of my Heart Read Along but catching up fast.
I had forgotten everything from this book, literally everything. Vampire in league with a Demon you think I would have remembered something. Oh well. This was a solid read and I noticed a lot of repetition this time just in case you didn't remember stuff from the first book but other than that very nice read.
I forgot that all the guys love Mercy. Adam, Sam and Stephan she is pretty cool but that is a lot of dudes longing for her. Wolfe again was a cool character and while I don't remember a lot about him I liked how he helped Mercy in the end.
3.5 stars
“We'd spent years as adversaries, two predators sharing territory and a certain, unwelcome attraction. Somehow, during all those years I spent outwardly acquiescing to his demands while making sure I held my own, I'd won his respect. I'd had werewolves love me and hate me, but I'd never had one respect me before. Not even Samuel. Adam respected me enough to act on my suspicions. It meant a lot.”
There is something about this series that I really like. I can’t seem to put my finger exactly on it whether it is the plethora of alpha males, the different supernatural creatures that are a little different than other series, the plot of the story or just Mercy herself. There is something that makes this fun and better than some of the other UF out there.
I enjoyed Blood Born just as much as Moon Called. The world around Mercy is opening up and letting us in a little at a time. In this book, we get a better look into the life of Vampires and all the politics that go along with it. Stefan helped Mercy in moon called and now she wants to return the favor. But Stefan’s problem turns out being bigger than he first thought it might be. What’s worse than a vampire or a demon? How about a vampire possessed by a Demon. Yep, that is worse.
The things I like about Mercy: She is strong willed and quick to react. She doesn’t sit and ho hum like some of the other characters in novels. She doesn’t have super strength or Buffy moves. She takes martial arts and can hold her own in a fight but isn’t a high flying kick ass superhero or anything. She is smart and uses her instincts to solve problems. Sure there is something a little magical about her but even she isn’t sure what that is. She is not perfect, she has so many trust issues and is afraid that giving into Adam or Samuel will mean that she will lose her in independent self. Mercy is self-aware, kind and doesn’t take herself too seriously. When push comes to shove Mercy pushes right back.
Again the side characters are great. I really love Stefan, the vampire who is kinder than most but still a vampire. Getting a look into Samuel‘s character I started to like him more, don’t get me wrong I’m still team Adam all the way, but I get where Sam’s character is coming from and see that he truly cares for Mercy still. Adam, well *sigh* I love Adam. He is strong and protective, however he tries not to stand in Mercy’s way and let her be her own woman and help her friends. He trusts and respects her, he seems to know who she is and doesn’t try to change that.
The Fae are definitely interesting, they are not the fairies of other books. They are dark, mysterious and seem to have a lot of power. Zee is my favorite, he is like a father to Mercy and I have to love that. Grumpy and cantankerous are just a bonus.
The Demon possessed vampire story line was well thought out and scary enough. Mercy will go a long way for her friends. It was horrifying the depths of evil that seemed to be incorporated into the demon aspect and I was really scared for the characters in the story.
All and all enjoyable and another nice addition to the series.
September 24, 2016
Okay friends...I'm sorry, but this is it. I don't plan to follow this series any farther. This is not because Patricia Briggs is a bad writer. It's not because the idea behind the book is bad or the plot is bad.
Then why? Many of you probably already know if you've read any of my reviews. The plot, the story idea, the characters are there, but they are constantly smothered by Mercy going on and on about her hormones when she's around either of 2 alpha werewolves. It's about this continually overwhelming the said story and dominating the book.
I wanted to like this book as I'm always looking for a good UF but FOR ME..I repeat FOR ME this is just more a PNR (paranormal romance) than it is UF. Mercy comments on how "hot" here vampire "friend" is even though she's up front about how deadly that can be. Like SO MANY OTHER female protagonists from Stephanie Plum to Dagny Taggart she can't seem to decide on one man. This can be a fatal flaw for a book if you (the reader) detest long constant dialogues, monologues and any other kind of "logues" taking up 50%+ of the book.
I'm sure the parts of this book that have brought about my dropping the series are the very parts that will keep some reading (I almost named a friend here who I know loves romances paranormal and otherwise...but I don't want to get into trouble).
If you like this and it's your cup of tea, enjoy. I'm through, gone, don't plan to follow the series any farther.
At least I didn't buy this one.
Then why? Many of you probably already know if you've read any of my reviews. The plot, the story idea, the characters are there, but they are constantly smothered by Mercy going on and on about her hormones when she's around either of 2 alpha werewolves. It's about this continually overwhelming the said story and dominating the book.
I wanted to like this book as I'm always looking for a good UF but FOR ME..I repeat FOR ME this is just more a PNR (paranormal romance) than it is UF. Mercy comments on how "hot" here vampire "friend" is even though she's up front about how deadly that can be. Like SO MANY OTHER female protagonists from Stephanie Plum to Dagny Taggart she can't seem to decide on one man. This can be a fatal flaw for a book if you (the reader) detest long constant dialogues, monologues and any other kind of "logues" taking up 50%+ of the book.
I'm sure the parts of this book that have brought about my dropping the series are the very parts that will keep some reading (I almost named a friend here who I know loves romances paranormal and otherwise...but I don't want to get into trouble).
If you like this and it's your cup of tea, enjoy. I'm through, gone, don't plan to follow the series any farther.
At least I didn't buy this one.
August 14, 2015
[4.5 Stars]
I'm honestly completely loving this series!
I'm honestly completely loving this series!
January 6, 2016
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.)
I'd give it a one for this sexism alone but I did finish it because it was compelling. And I love that vampire.
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.)
I'd give it a one for this sexism alone but I did finish it because it was compelling. And I love that vampire.
May 24, 2010
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' world of vampires, Fae and werewolves.
The world Briggs has built is absolutely fantastic and so real! And she does not glorify her supernatural characters. Her vampires are scary and unpredictable, the werewolves are bound by their hierarchic rules and old-fashioned prejudices and the Fae are not to be trusted. And still we feel for them, fear for them en get to love them.
I’m really starting to love Mercy. I'm beginning to get the Mercy-Adam-Samuel triangle. But I must say: my favorite by far was Stefan!
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' world of vampires, Fae and werewolves.
The world Briggs has built is absolutely fantastic and so real! And she does not glorify her supernatural characters. Her vampires are scary and unpredictable, the werewolves are bound by their hierarchic rules and old-fashioned prejudices and the Fae are not to be trusted. And still we feel for them, fear for them en get to love them.
I’m really starting to love Mercy. I'm beginning to get the Mercy-Adam-Samuel triangle. But I must say: my favorite by far was Stefan!
July 29, 2015
Blood Bound, the 2nd book in Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson Series is just as good as the 1st book, Moon Called.
Mercy Thompson is a heroine that I absolutely love.
Mercy’s attraction towards Adam are is undeniable…
The story is fast paced and moves rapidly as we learn more about the characters in Mercy’s world and their politics.
I loved this book and I am totally hooked on the series.
My favourite quote:
Mercy Thompson is a heroine that I absolutely love.
She has the qualities I admire – strengths and flaws and not afraid to face the obstacles in her life.
She is evolving and discovering her power…..
The plot revolves around Mercy being asked by Stefan, her vampire friend, to help him hunt down a vampire/sorcerer in league with a demon and a danger to the people she cares and loves. Even though Mercy feels torn between helping Stefan and perhaps betraying her friends, she can’t refuse someone who has stood by her and helped her in the past.
Mercy’s attraction towards Adam are is undeniable…
and she is conflicted further by her feelings for Samuel, the werewolf from her past and Stefan, her vampire friend. I love the chemistry and tension between Mercy and Adam and I am hoping that they will eventually become a couple.
The story is fast paced and moves rapidly as we learn more about the characters in Mercy’s world and their politics.
I loved this book and I am totally hooked on the series.
My favourite quote:
December 19, 2018
2018 Review:
As I continue my reading journey down memory lane, I realize that right here in book two is where Patricia Briggs and I go separate ways regarding who we want to see Mercy shacked up with. This was the book that to me said, “Go vampires! Stefan all the way!”
You see, I’m just not into being bossed around. Eldest child, bossy in my own right, don’t need to butt heads with some stubborn werewolf every damn day. In fact, every now and then, my gentleman friend will ask me, “Not a vampire yet?” Now I think he mostly asks just to get me to nibble his neck, but he has obviously been studying my bookshelves and has recognized a significant theme.
I’m not sure what the lure of the vampire dark side is for me. But it’s there and I plan to indulge it again in 2019.
Original review:
More Stefan and more vampires. Yay! And these are dangerous vampires, not cutesy ones. Mercy faces them all bravely and it turns out that her feminine ways of doing things are more effective than all the macho werewolf snarling in the world. My impressions of Stefan (a character I like very much) are morphing—he is changing from a supernatural buddy into someone tall, dark, and dangerous!
The more I learn about Briggs’ paranormal world, the more I like it. She takes the stereotypical vampires, werewolves and fae and does interesting things with them. Despite the changes, it is fairly easy to keep up with who can do what and why—but the explanations are worked into the book well, not as annoying info dumps.
I guess I’m older than the usual target audience for urban fantasy—I’m well beyond the stage of thinking that competing men, vying for my attention, is a wonderful romantic thing. So I’ll be very glad if Mercy chooses one of them in the next book or two and we can get on with sub-plots that are of more interest to me. Fingers crossed.
As I continue my reading journey down memory lane, I realize that right here in book two is where Patricia Briggs and I go separate ways regarding who we want to see Mercy shacked up with. This was the book that to me said, “Go vampires! Stefan all the way!”
You see, I’m just not into being bossed around. Eldest child, bossy in my own right, don’t need to butt heads with some stubborn werewolf every damn day. In fact, every now and then, my gentleman friend will ask me, “Not a vampire yet?” Now I think he mostly asks just to get me to nibble his neck, but he has obviously been studying my bookshelves and has recognized a significant theme.
I’m not sure what the lure of the vampire dark side is for me. But it’s there and I plan to indulge it again in 2019.
Original review:
More Stefan and more vampires. Yay! And these are dangerous vampires, not cutesy ones. Mercy faces them all bravely and it turns out that her feminine ways of doing things are more effective than all the macho werewolf snarling in the world. My impressions of Stefan (a character I like very much) are morphing—he is changing from a supernatural buddy into someone tall, dark, and dangerous!
The more I learn about Briggs’ paranormal world, the more I like it. She takes the stereotypical vampires, werewolves and fae and does interesting things with them. Despite the changes, it is fairly easy to keep up with who can do what and why—but the explanations are worked into the book well, not as annoying info dumps.
I guess I’m older than the usual target audience for urban fantasy—I’m well beyond the stage of thinking that competing men, vying for my attention, is a wonderful romantic thing. So I’ll be very glad if Mercy chooses one of them in the next book or two and we can get on with sub-plots that are of more interest to me. Fingers crossed.
January 24, 2020
I enjoyed the Audiobook for Blood Bound. I've previous read this story and own the eBook. I liked it all over again. Full review to come
Merged review:
Blood Bound is book two in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Each book continues the ongoing adventure with our coyote shifter, Mercy. It continues to develop the characters, relationships, and world.
I LOVE this series. I LOVE Mercy! She’s a kick-ass heroine. She knows she shouldn’t play with the big boys, but she can’t help wanting to help those she cares about.
In Blood Bound we dive into the dean of the Vampires and learn about their structure. Mercy gets involved with the seethe and a demon-riding vampire. She handles herself well in that she uses her connections and knowledge to locate the threat and save her friends. She’s capable and smart.
The relationships between the characters are intense. We dig deeper into exploring the Vampire world and her friendship with Stefan which is a forbidden relationship for both of them. Biggs isn’t afraid to show the amazing side of the vampires, but also the darker and edgier side. We also dig into Adams pack. I love the friendship Mercy has with Warren. I like that we learn how Adam and Warren became friends and how Warren joined the pack. We see that many don’t like Warren’s sexual preference and treat him as less or they want him out. We also see that most in the pack only tolerate Mercy, but when things get dicy she can dominate them, even Adams’ second. Mercy feels that she is despised and that a coyote has no place in a pack, but as the reader we see that she does have a place, but that she just hasn’t seen it yet.
The developing romance or romances. I am not one for love triangles and since I've read this series many times I know which direction Mercy goes, but here at the beginning we see that Mercy is not one to lead anyone on, so what will she do when her X, Samuel, comes back into her life. He’s the man she was going to be with until she found out the real reason he wanted her now she’s not sure what she feels for him. Then theirs Adam the packs Alpha and his claim that she is his mate. My heart broke for Samuel when he reveals the truth about what happened in Texas. Then theirs Adam and the developing feelings Mercy has for him. Oh my that work-out scene with Adam. Swooning! We see how she feels about Adam, but also her struggle with being controlled or losing her free will. She grew up around the wolves. She knows their structure, how the Alphas are and she’s scared. Briggs isn’t afraid to leave us in a love triangle with Adam and Samuel at the end. What will Mercy do?
We also get to learn more about what Mercy can do and why Vampires don’t like her kind. I enjoyed learning more about the coyote shifter and what her abilities are. No one really knows what she can do or they know, but don’t tell it all and just give us and Mercy bites of information. It’s these kind of tidbits of knowledge that I love and enjoy how the author weaves them in.
Narration: Lorelei King is a spectacular narrater. She does a wonderful job with the storyline and characters. I love her voices for everyone.
This is one of my favorite series and I’ve re-read and listened to it multiple times. It’s a delight and each time is always like the first. I highly recommend this Urban Fantasy series. Don’t hesitate to pick it up.
Rate: 4.5 Stars
March 19, 2021
I thought this was a good follow up to the first book, you get to know the characters better - such as Mercy, Adam and Samuel.
I really like the first person writing style when you get into Mercy's head and hear what she secretly thinks etc.
I'll continue reading this series because of her, she's a cool character.
I'm hoping the storyline will get better as the series goes on because this felt like a repeat of the previous plot with some small changes and never added anything new to the overall storyline.
I really like the first person writing style when you get into Mercy's head and hear what she secretly thinks etc.
I'll continue reading this series because of her, she's a cool character.
I'm hoping the storyline will get better as the series goes on because this felt like a repeat of the previous plot with some small changes and never added anything new to the overall storyline.
March 21, 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 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!
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!
August 15, 2016
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life
I have so much love for this series! This was my second time reading this book and I can honestly say that I liked it just as much as I did the first and maybe even a bit more. One thing that I enjoy about re-reading books in series that I love is seeing how many things have changed for the characters. I love how some of the groundwork for future events takes root in earlier books.
The characters in this series are wonderful. Mercy is awesome. She has a wonderful sense of humor and she is tough. She knows that she is not as physically strong as many of the people she surrounds herself with but she more than makes up for it in mental toughness. She isn't afraid to take risks especially if it is the right thing to do. This book actually has a pretty big cast of characters and I really love them all. Adam and Sam are both great characters. The members of Adam's pack are all so well defined that they really stand out as individuals. I think it takes real skill to bring such a big group of characters to life.
The world building in this series is phenomenal. Everything just fits perfectly. It seems like each book adds another layer to the whole picture with complete consistency. I love all of the pack politics and learning about how all of these different groups have learned to live with each other. There were moments in this book that were quite creepy and I loved every moment of it.
I really enjoyed Lorelei King's narration. Her voice fits Mercy's character quiet well. It was really easy to follow and I thought she did a great job differentiating between all of the different characters. I also thought that she did a great job in displaying all of the different emotions of the story. I can't wait to continue this series in audio.
I would highly recommend this series to others. I think that anyone who enjoys urban fiction or paranormal stories should check out this series. I am a huge Patricia Briggs fan and can't wait to see what she can come up with next.
Initial Thoughts
This was a re-read for me. I love this series and I think that I might have liked this book even more the second time around.
I have so much love for this series! This was my second time reading this book and I can honestly say that I liked it just as much as I did the first and maybe even a bit more. One thing that I enjoy about re-reading books in series that I love is seeing how many things have changed for the characters. I love how some of the groundwork for future events takes root in earlier books.
The characters in this series are wonderful. Mercy is awesome. She has a wonderful sense of humor and she is tough. She knows that she is not as physically strong as many of the people she surrounds herself with but she more than makes up for it in mental toughness. She isn't afraid to take risks especially if it is the right thing to do. This book actually has a pretty big cast of characters and I really love them all. Adam and Sam are both great characters. The members of Adam's pack are all so well defined that they really stand out as individuals. I think it takes real skill to bring such a big group of characters to life.
The world building in this series is phenomenal. Everything just fits perfectly. It seems like each book adds another layer to the whole picture with complete consistency. I love all of the pack politics and learning about how all of these different groups have learned to live with each other. There were moments in this book that were quite creepy and I loved every moment of it.
I really enjoyed Lorelei King's narration. Her voice fits Mercy's character quiet well. It was really easy to follow and I thought she did a great job differentiating between all of the different characters. I also thought that she did a great job in displaying all of the different emotions of the story. I can't wait to continue this series in audio.
I would highly recommend this series to others. I think that anyone who enjoys urban fiction or paranormal stories should check out this series. I am a huge Patricia Briggs fan and can't wait to see what she can come up with next.
Initial Thoughts
This was a re-read for me. I love this series and I think that I might have liked this book even more the second time around.
March 3, 2017
Buddy read with some friends at Buddies Books and Baubles
So I still haven't fully warmed up to this series. Book 2 was definitely better than book 1 and there were more actual emotional reactions.
But while I like Mercy, I cannot get myself to care for most of the other characters.
Take Adam, for instance. I think there is room for improvement. I don't care much about Samuel or Bran or Stefan either.
I like the fae though. Both Zee and Uncle Mike have a certain potential...
So what with Mercy living with Samuel, making out with Adam and letting Stefan kiss her...
If she has to date anyone (and we both know it's going to happen), I vote for a Grey Lord.
Let's give book 3 a try.
So I still haven't fully warmed up to this series. Book 2 was definitely better than book 1 and there were more actual emotional reactions.
But while I like Mercy, I cannot get myself to care for most of the other characters.
Take Adam, for instance. I think there is room for improvement. I don't care much about Samuel or Bran or Stefan either.
I like the fae though. Both Zee and Uncle Mike have a certain potential...
So what with Mercy living with Samuel, making out with Adam and letting Stefan kiss her...
If she has to date anyone (and we both know it's going to happen), I vote for a Grey Lord.
Let's give book 3 a try.
February 9, 2015
My notes reading this book:
5% - Boring
20% - I already know that
50% - Still boring
65% - Hmm... okay.
70% - Cool!
90% - This chick is awesome!!
100% - Why all I can remember is being bored?
I can definitely see there's something great going on with this series. I love UF, great female characters, action-packed scenes... so why is this not working for me?
I'd love to say this series just didn't work for me and move on. And I was about to after 70% of this book (this book could have been shorter, btw) when finally exciting things happened. The villain was a complete win and Stefan freaking adorable. Mercy's decision of was so welcomed, I really needed her to be on her own, making the hard decisions. Stop just letting shit happen to you, girl and take control.
I think my problem is I'm still trying to connect with the characters. I can't describe Mercy. She's what? stubborn? brave? fragile? intelligent? She's had a hard past and she knows nothing (doesn't seem to care anyway) about what she is and what she can do. She's excusing the wolves' behavior 30% of this book.
"It wasn't his fault, werewolf instincts are very strong."
I'm getting tired of that shit.
LOVE SQUARE, YOU SAY?
Samuel is up, he's down. One day he's all about possessiveness, next day he's crying? He wants to leave but not before an unforgettable kiss? You know, he could do us all a favor and just go home. Why is he here in the first place? How does it work that the one who used to be the love of your life is living in your trailer, sleeping next to your bedroom and checking on how you smell all the time? You can't even have a private conversation!
SHE WON'T HAVE YOUR BABIES, YOU JERK
Adam is the most decent option in this mess. He protects Mercy, points for that and his fierce love for Jessie melt my insides. My problem is how they treat Mercy. With werewolves, if a weak male mates with a strong female, she has to tune it down and be submissive because of his mate. Not fair at all. If a dominant male is in front of her, he can use his dominant effect on her and she will feel the need to please him. When Mercy asks Adam about that he excuses himself with the old "Not my fault! you make me feel this way!" card.
Never read a book about skinwalkers so I can't say much about that but I'd like a more proactive Mercy in the future, I respect her more now and I need to see her as the strong heroine I know she is.
March 4, 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 is scary as fuck! The scene where he was pressed up against Mercy’s bedroom window, scratching the glass with his teeth made me want to go screaming for Sam. But Mercy handles her fear well. She does this countless times within this book, playing detective and using her connections to her advantage. Not only she is capable, but she’s smart as hell too!
Briggs knows how to tease me. She loves ending books with the Mercy-Adam-Samuel love triangle. My heart broke when Samuel revealed the truth about what happened when he was in Texas. Aww, the poor guy! And then there’s the fact that he kisses Mercy! TWICE!!
And what about that work-out scene with Adam? That scene served two purposes. One, readers get to read about a sweaty Adam. Cue swoons. And two, it furthers the storyline with the dom/sub issue between Mercy and Adam. I don’t see it as a problem since neither of them can control themselves around each other.
I have no idea who Mercy is going to choose because I adore both wolves equally! I don’t think Mercy is a girl who’ll leads men on. But if there’s one thing that’s got me hooked about this series, it’s the love triangle! I can’t help myself!
But this book wasn’t without its imperfections! I thought some scenes dragged on a little too long, such as Mercy’s second visit to Stefan’s menagerie. Nevertheless, this book was damn entertaining and since River-Marked releases tomorrow, I don’t have to wait long to find out what happens!!
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 is scary as fuck! The scene where he was pressed up against Mercy’s bedroom window, scratching the glass with his teeth made me want to go screaming for Sam. But Mercy handles her fear well. She does this countless times within this book, playing detective and using her connections to her advantage. Not only she is capable, but she’s smart as hell too!
Briggs knows how to tease me. She loves ending books with the Mercy-Adam-Samuel love triangle. My heart broke when Samuel revealed the truth about what happened when he was in Texas. Aww, the poor guy! And then there’s the fact that he kisses Mercy! TWICE!!
And what about that work-out scene with Adam? That scene served two purposes. One, readers get to read about a sweaty Adam. Cue swoons. And two, it furthers the storyline with the dom/sub issue between Mercy and Adam. I don’t see it as a problem since neither of them can control themselves around each other.
I have no idea who Mercy is going to choose because I adore both wolves equally! I don’t think Mercy is a girl who’ll leads men on. But if there’s one thing that’s got me hooked about this series, it’s the love triangle! I can’t help myself!
But this book wasn’t without its imperfections! I thought some scenes dragged on a little too long, such as Mercy’s second visit to Stefan’s menagerie. Nevertheless, this book was damn entertaining and since River-Marked releases tomorrow, I don’t have to wait long to find out what happens!!
February 18, 2021
4 ☆
Blood Bound #2 can be read as a standalone as the Mercy Thompson stories feel episodic in nature. Mercy's life changes as the series progresses but she doesn't have a major life quest, unlike other main protagonists in urban fantasy series.
Mercy is an underdog within the supernatural pantheon as she shifts into a 35 pound coyote. So she's learned to straddle a fine line to keep her independence and to remain safe among the human-eating Fae, the blood-drinking vampires, and the much larger and stronger werewolves with their chauvinistic attitudes. Werewolves aren't soft and fluffy, but as Mercy can also become one of the furry creatures, sympathy veers toward them. This just makes Briggs' focus on vampires in Blood Bound all the more terrifying as the ante is upped with a supercharged vampire as the villain. Horror isn't a common genre for me, so a couple of scenes caused my pulse to accelerate in a nervous fashion.
Mercy is a proactive woman with a strong moral code. She's not one to seek trouble but it easily manages to find her. Blood Bound begins with Mercy paying back a favor to Stefan, her sole vampire friend, who wants her to witness a meeting with a vampire stranger. Mercy survives the meeting but emerges with extensive bruising and a commonsensical terror of the vampire who reeks of blood and sulfur. As the demon-ridden vampire continues his serial murder spree, the magnitude of the danger to all ensnares the werewolves' involvement. The ensuing events become so dire that not even a brave underdog can wait patiently at the sidelines.
The pacing of Blood Bound felt occasionally uneven as Briggs used brief respites to flesh out more details about the werewolves or other people in Mercy's circle. Overall though, it was a good and scary installment in the series.
#0.3 Homecoming 3 ☆
#1 Moon Called 3.5 ☆
#3 Iron Kissed 4 ☆
#4 Bones Crossed 3.5 ☆
#5 Silver Borne 3.5 ☆
#6 River Marked 4 ☆
#7 Frost Burned 3.5 ☆
#7.5 Hopcross Jilly 3.5 ☆
#8 Night Broken 4 ☆
#9 Fire Touched 3.5 ☆
#10 Silence Fallen almost 4☆
#11 Storm Cursed 4 ☆
#12 Smoke Bitten 3 ☆
Even after all this time, I keep forgetting that heroes can be found in unlikely places and persons - like mechanics who can turn into coyotes.
Blood Bound #2 can be read as a standalone as the Mercy Thompson stories feel episodic in nature. Mercy's life changes as the series progresses but she doesn't have a major life quest, unlike other main protagonists in urban fantasy series.
I struggled to live in a world with no place for me... I'd been raised by the pack but I wasn't one of them. My mother loved me, but I didn't belong in her mundane human world either... I had to make my own path in life rather than finding someone else's to join.
Mercy is an underdog within the supernatural pantheon as she shifts into a 35 pound coyote. So she's learned to straddle a fine line to keep her independence and to remain safe among the human-eating Fae, the blood-drinking vampires, and the much larger and stronger werewolves with their chauvinistic attitudes. Werewolves aren't soft and fluffy, but as Mercy can also become one of the furry creatures, sympathy veers toward them. This just makes Briggs' focus on vampires in Blood Bound all the more terrifying as the ante is upped with a supercharged vampire as the villain. Horror isn't a common genre for me, so a couple of scenes caused my pulse to accelerate in a nervous fashion.
Mercy is a proactive woman with a strong moral code. She's not one to seek trouble but it easily manages to find her. Blood Bound begins with Mercy paying back a favor to Stefan, her sole vampire friend, who wants her to witness a meeting with a vampire stranger. Mercy survives the meeting but emerges with extensive bruising and a commonsensical terror of the vampire who reeks of blood and sulfur. As the demon-ridden vampire continues his serial murder spree, the magnitude of the danger to all ensnares the werewolves' involvement. The ensuing events become so dire that not even a brave underdog can wait patiently at the sidelines.
"Then again, maybe you couldn't have killed me," he said, crawling out of the stairway. He moved very slowly, like a lizard who had gotten too cold.
I heard a whimper from behind one of the closed doors next to the bathroom, and sympathized. I wanted to whimper, too.
"I'm not hunting you," I told him firmly, though I stepped backward until I stood in a circle of light at the end of the hallway.
He stopped halfway out of the stairway, his eyes were filmed over like a dead man's.
"Good," he said. "If you kill I won't tell and no one will ask."
And he was gone, withdrawing from the hallway and down the stairs so fast that I barely caught the motion, though I was staring right at him.
I walked out of his home because if I'd moved any faster, I'd have run screaming.
The pacing of Blood Bound felt occasionally uneven as Briggs used brief respites to flesh out more details about the werewolves or other people in Mercy's circle. Overall though, it was a good and scary installment in the series.
#0.3 Homecoming 3 ☆
#1 Moon Called 3.5 ☆
#3 Iron Kissed 4 ☆
#4 Bones Crossed 3.5 ☆
#5 Silver Borne 3.5 ☆
#6 River Marked 4 ☆
#7 Frost Burned 3.5 ☆
#7.5 Hopcross Jilly 3.5 ☆
#8 Night Broken 4 ☆
#9 Fire Touched 3.5 ☆
#10 Silence Fallen almost 4☆
#11 Storm Cursed 4 ☆
#12 Smoke Bitten 3 ☆
June 4, 2022
This is where Mercy‘s story gets really interesting for me.
“I was already a freak, a shapeshifter not tied to the moon who turned into a coyote. Neither human nor werewolf nor fae. I didn’t like thinking I might be even odder than I’d thought.“
I like the plot of this second Mercy novel. It‘s believable and doesn‘t feel as convoluted as the Alpha & Omega novels I read before this. The plot makes sense. The vampires are scary.
The beginning was a little too much recounting and summarizing of the first book for my taste.
And, again, amazing how little I remembered of the story!
What Samuel and Stefan go through and how they interact with Mercy also works for me. I get it. Stefan, not so much, he seems to be a little arbitrary and insta-something. But I enjoyed this enough to stick to my previous 5-star rating. I loved Ms. Hanna!
————
Chronological reading order and progress for my Mercyverse re-read:
-
Moon Called
, ★★★★★, 1st Mercy novel
- extra-
Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson: Moon Called Vol. 1
, ★★★☆☆, comic adaptation of the same...
-
Alpha & Omega
, ★★★★☆, novella, start of the Alpha & Omega spin-off
-
Cry Wolf
, ★★★★☆, 1st Alpha & Omega novel
-
Hunting Ground
, ★★★★☆, 2nd Alpha & Omega novel
-
Blood Bound
, ★★★★★, 2nd Mercy novel
- Iron Kissed next...
———���
1st time read, 2008:
Mercy is special. She's not a shapeshifter from the old world, but rather a walker from the new one. And as such vampires don't hold a thrall over her. Good enough for her undead friend to take her along to a possibly dangerous meeting with the new vampire in town. She's going undercover, too, as her shapeshifted self - a coyote.
Obviously things go downhill quickly from there and get messy. Very entertaining, read it on a weekend on my sofa, couldn't put it down! Second in series.
“I was already a freak, a shapeshifter not tied to the moon who turned into a coyote. Neither human nor werewolf nor fae. I didn’t like thinking I might be even odder than I’d thought.“
I like the plot of this second Mercy novel. It‘s believable and doesn‘t feel as convoluted as the Alpha & Omega novels I read before this. The plot makes sense. The vampires are scary.
The beginning was a little too much recounting and summarizing of the first book for my taste.
And, again, amazing how little I remembered of the story!
What Samuel and Stefan go through and how they interact with Mercy also works for me. I get it. Stefan, not so much, he seems to be a little arbitrary and insta-something. But I enjoyed this enough to stick to my previous 5-star rating. I loved Ms. Hanna!
————
Chronological reading order and progress for my Mercyverse re-read:
-
- extra-
-
-
-
-
- Iron Kissed next...
———���
1st time read, 2008:
Mercy is special. She's not a shapeshifter from the old world, but rather a walker from the new one. And as such vampires don't hold a thrall over her. Good enough for her undead friend to take her along to a possibly dangerous meeting with the new vampire in town. She's going undercover, too, as her shapeshifted self - a coyote.
Obviously things go downhill quickly from there and get messy. Very entertaining, read it on a weekend on my sofa, couldn't put it down! Second in series.
June 3, 2022
When a new vampire enters the area without paying his respects, Mercy's vampire friend Stefan asks her to provide him with back up while he lays down the law. What they discover is a whole lot more than either of them can handle –– a demonically possessed sorcerer who has been turned into a vampire. As the carnage increases Mercy, Stefan and the werewolves from the trip-city area join forces to hunt down the demon-vampire before the demon takes over and the real carnage begins.
March 24, 2016
Great story! Not a fan of the love triangle tension (and it irks me doubly because I actually like both guys at this point, gods damn it) but otherwise I was fascinated. At one point there was the image of a vampire flanked on either side by werewolves and that was just SO badass. Looooooove this genre and really looking forward to the next Mercy book! In the meantime, I gotta hunt down the first two A&O books. (bc CHARLES, okay << don't mind me drooling over here)
April 14, 2020
Blood Bound is just an amazing book, and Mercy Thompson an amazing series. From the very first pages of the book, I am constantly hooked to the story.
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