Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7) by Patricia Briggs review

Obviously MAJOR SPOILERS abound as this is the 7th book in a series.

Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

From Goodreads

If you've read my blog long, or even if you're new around here, you might know that I ADORE the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I found this series fairly early in the game, right before the 4th book was published. I devoured them all and eagerly await the next installment every time. Unsure if they were "appropriate" for my blog audience, I refrained from reviewing them for quite some time. When I finally did bite the bullet, I did 2 sets of mini-reviews that cover the first 5 books (1-3, 4-5) and have subsequently reviewed each released book since then. Even more exciting was the fact that I finally got the chance to meet Patty at a signing for this book! It made all the difference in the world to hear her talk about her characters and actually read to us in the voices of those characters. But enough rambling, let's dig into the review!

Some time has passed between the ending of River Marked and the beginning of this book. Mercy has healed from her wounds and is settling in as the alpha's mate. Now residing in the Hauptman household, she is also officially step-mother to Adam's daughter Jesse. The easy-going nature of this relationship is what lulls you into a fall sense of security because right from the get-go we know something is wrong when no one from the pack can be reached.

There is a lot of suspense and detective work that has to go into discovering just what has happened to the pack. Making things even more difficult is the shear number of those involved. Despite these obstacles, and being a bit out of her element being the one solely in charge of the well-being of any and all pack members, Mercy shines throughout the book. Her dedication to the ones she loves can lead her into trouble if she's not cautious, as it naturally does in this book, but she wouldn't be Mercy if she didn't fight tooth and claw.

What made me really love this book, as opposed to the "meh" feeling I had for the last one, was the reappearance of some long-missed companions. There are a lot of beings and characters in Mercy's world and we don't often get to see many of them as often as we'd like due to other storylines. This book however saw the return of many characters that I had missed and their interjection allowed us to see how Mercy has grown and changed since the series first started. She is no longer just a shapeshifting mechanic working for a fae in a local shop, aggravating her werewolf neighbor with broken down vehicles, but otherwise trying to stay out of the supernatural world. Rather than hide from this world that she can't help but be a part of, Mercy has embraced her role in it and is a bit more careful in her actions.

If you haven't read the series yet, give it a go. There's hardly any romance, but lots of supernatural action that will keep you wanting to read. If you're a bit squeamish though, be forewarned, as these are werewolves, vampires, & fae who don't always necessarily have the best interests of humans in mind.

Do you read this series? What do you think? Do you have any other series that are like it that you love? 

Mercy Thompson Series Mini-Reviews Part II

So I'm back with next next two installments in the Mercy Thompson Series Mini-Reviews. If you missed the first part from Tuesday, just click here to catch up.

In this post you will find a very brief synopsis with my thoughts on the fourth & fifth books in this series. Naturally as we moved from one book to the next, there are spoilers, so be aware if you don't want to ruin the series for yourself, steer clear now.

Bone Crossed
You would think after barely surviving the attacks of a demon-possessed vampire that Mercy would decide to take it easy for a while. Although she plans to do just that, by spending more quality time with the ever-tempting werewolf Alpha Adam, some people have other plans for her. Marsilia, the Vampire Queen of the local coven, wants a nice coyote hide to replace her coven member. Since Mercy seems inaccessible to her, she'll go for the next best thing & poke at Mercy's weak points: those closest to Mercy. Can Mercy protect everyone? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice to save another?

This book was intense from the get-go. There is almost no room to breath because there is so much going on with the vampires hunting Mercy, her strained relationship with her new roommate/old boyfriend Samuel, & the tenuous relationship with Adam. Magic is flying all over the place & it was difficult to just enjoy the story. Reading it twice allowed me to get just the facts & then go back & re-read for more of the minutia. A wonderful book, despite my reading hardships. Side note: of all of them, this one is my favorite cover.

Silver Borne
Vampires, fae & demons are nothing compared the an uncontrolled wolf. Mercy was raised by Bran the Marrok (the Alpha to end all Alphas of the werewolves) & grew up in a pack. This affords her a deeper understanding of not only the people, but of their wolves too. When it becomes painfully obvious that Samuel, Mercy's old flame & the son of Bran, is losing the battle with his wolf, she knows she has to do something to protect him from being declared a danger & forfeiting his life. Unfortunately since she still seems to be holding an extremely powerful fae relic, they aren't making her duty as Samuel's friend any easier. Things have been worse, but they'll also been a lot better & time is a wolf's worst enemy.

Silver Borne really delves deeper into the history & magic of the werewolves. We learn a lot about their livelihood, their culture & what dangers they bring versus those they subdue. Our knowledge of Mercy is also greatly expanded because we meet her father-figure & hear tales of her wild teenage years. While I think the Fae's involvement in this book was extraneous & really should have been trimmed down, I think it was a great read. Not to mention the romance has steadily increased to the point of explosion! Such a fun book!

Check back for my thoughts on the latest Mercy Thompson novel River Marked on Monday at 10 AM!

Mercy Thompson Homecoming by Patricia Briggs

Since YA is a stepping stone to crossing over into the realm of adult fiction reading I figure that I can introduce y'all to a few good books.

If you like Shiver and Twilight, then this series is right up your ally. Mercy Thompson is a strong female character, a rarity in the male character dominated world of sci-fi/fantasy. In this graphic novel, we learn how it is that Mercy came to position that we find her in in her first novel Moon Called. Homecoming was just released this August and it is a prequel to the four existing novels in the series. A bit confusing, but worth it in the end.

We meet Mercy, unemployed and frustrated, during her travels to the Tri-City area of Washington state for a bust of a job interview. Unfortunately her presence in the area has not gone unnoticed as planned. During a run as a coyote she crosses paths with two feuding werewolf packs. Did I lose you? Mercy is one of a kind, a walker: able to take the shape of a coyote at her leisure.

The direct result of this confrontation is a busted car that needs to be fixed. Mercy stumbles upon a local repair shop and intervenes on behalf of the child working there against a vampire. Again, not unnoticed. Thus begins the adventures, and misadventures, of Mercy Thompson in the Tri-Cities area.

Fast-paced and a great introduction to the series for those who weren't already fans, this graphic novel really lays the ground work for what comes later in the series. So far there are four books out, with a fifth one due March 30, 2010. So far we are guaranteed at least seven, but Patricia Briggs says she may go farther. The books are dynamic in that they shift between focusing on the werewolf/walker interactions and the "bad guys" change in each book. Fae, vampires, werewolves, witches, and all manor of spectacular creatures exist in this one series. A great variety with strongly defined and engaging characters. Enjoyable and expressive!

Mercy Thompson Series Mini-Reviews Part I

Before I delve into my review of the latest installment in the Mercy Thompson series, I thought I would go back & give you mini-reviews of the other books. I absolutely adore this series & have found that it really influences what else I am likely to read. Originally, this was quite far out of my comfort zone (an adult book, in the sci-fi section) & I really didn't think I would like it, but my friend convinced me to read it anyway. I'm not sure how I've managed NOT to review these until now, except to say that I have tried to keep the adult books reviewed on this blog to a minimum because I feel that there are plenty of books in YA to read & that moving over into the adult section of reading is something that I have put off for quite a while.

In this post you will find a very brief synopsis with my thoughts on the first three books in this series. Naturally as we moved from one book to the next, there are spoilers, so be aware if you don't want to ruin the series for yourself, steer clear now.

Moon Called
Mercedes Athena Thompson isn't your typical female mechanic. Not only is she currently fixing a vampire's van while working in a Fae's auto repair shop, she's also living next door to the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack. Did I forget to mention that she can also shape-shift into a coyote at will? Thought so. Well there you have it, Mercy's life all tied up in a nutshell. Too bad there are some people who don't really like the company she keeps. When the Alpha is injured & his rebellious teenage daughter kidnapped, it's up to Mercy to save the day. Now if only that didn't involve so much flying fur.

This was a great jump start to the series. Despite the relatively delicate world that these creatures all share, there is a very simple readability to the content. So much seems to be going on between setting descriptions & character building that I was truly surprised to find myself not overwhelmed with information. Mercy has accepted her reality & really wishes things wouldn't change, but she's ready to do what needs to be done with little regard for her own safety. That's the kind of heroine I can get behind.

Blood Bound
Picking up where she left off, Mercy is at it again; digging her nose in other people's business. This time, it is Stefan (a Scooby Doo fanatic vampire) who is receiving her assistance. While the Fae have openly admitted their existence to the world, all the other creatures that go bump in the night have refused & Stefan has been charged with checking up on a rogue vampire, at risk for exposing them all. Too bad this big, bad vamp has been possessed by a demon & will stop at nothing to quench his blood thirst. She's got to pull out a lot of stops to get this one under control.

Mercy puts on her heroine cape again & defies all sanity to help someone she cares about in this second installment. There was more character depth in this book because instead of having to introduce several different kinds of creatures, Briggs got to focus mostly on the vampires. It was quite enrapturing to watch her carefully build this world & realize all the details she put into it. It's pretty amazing to watch the characters grow & really start to develop on their own, especially Adam (the Alpha werewolf & next door neighbor).

Iron Kissed
There is no such thing as a normal day anymore. Just when she was hoping to getting back into the shop & really settling into her routine, something has to go wrong. For once though, it's not Mercy looking for trouble. This time it found her, by way of Zee, the fae mechanic who owns the repair shop where she works. In order to clear him of a murder charge, Mercy must use all her abilities & sacrifice one of the most important things to her: her self-assurance.

This has got to be one of the most powerful books. It is both magically & emotionally charged with events transpiring that I couldn't fathom. Not only do we really get to peek into the Fae realm & begin to understand how complex & precise these creatures are, but we also learn how exacting & demanding they can be towards everyone, not just their own kind. Zee was so much fun to learn about in this book! He is a seriously kick-butt fae! I must admit that there were some intense scenes for which sensitive readers might want to prepare themselves. It was very intense, but the werewolves' reactions were all over the place & really gave some dimension to their personalities & histories.

There you have it folks, the first three mini-reviews of a fabulous paranormal series. I'll be back on Thursday with the next installment!

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs review

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer- and son- of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf- a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

From Goodreads

First & foremost, while you can completely understand what is going on in the story without preamble, I think it is in your best interest to read the short story Alpha & Omega in On the Prowl. It's a compilation book including Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, & a few other authors. This is Anna's true introduction & beginning in the werewolf community. It details her life, her infection, & her subsequent new life among shapeshifters. It leaves off where this one picks up.

While both Anna & Charles may be a little confused as to what exactly Anna is, their wolves have no doubt. She is an Omega, often mistaken for a lowly, weak wolf, an Omega actually has the power to calm other wolves without being seen as a huge threat. Charles' Alpha wolf may have spotted her out right, but he's not so sure what to do with the fragile semi-shell of a woman he sees in front of him. We begin to learn more about their world (partially introduced by the Mercy Thompson series) as we watch their relationship grow. They can't fight the mating match their wolves have introduced, but that doesn't mean the human halves are 100% certain about the other party.

Naturally there is some dangerous villain trying to hurt the wolves & that's when we get to see what the Alpha & Omega relationship is really all about. By the time the book is through you'll have a better comprehension of werewolf nature, the fluctuating status of the wolves in society & a respect for this couple's determination to find out what's best for them & their pack.

I really loved this book. After being introduced to this world via the Mercy Thompson novels I was ecstatic to read another character's perception of this dynamic group. While the diversity of fictional creatures is diminished in this novel compared to the sometimes over-populated storylines of Mercy Thompson, I found the focus on the wolves necessary. This whole book is about discovering who the main characters are at their essence. It is only fitting that the character list be centered around a major part of their essences.


The humorous nature & witty banter that I have often enjoyed in these types of books is just as prevalent here, lending a light-hearted hand to some otherwise heavy situations. I personally enjoy the time spent further developing the book's world. It may be set in the present day, but the structure & interactions of the wolf world are beyond our everyday experiences. By spending the extra pages working on that development, the reader gains a better base for the future of the series.


One of my new favorite urban fantasy series, Alpha & Omega is off to a great start with Cry Wolf.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

This is book 6 in the Mercy Thompson series. Therefore there are MAJOR SPOILERS in this review for the series. You have been warned.

Mercy is no stranger to trouble. It seems to follow her everywhere she goes. Even, on her honeymoon. After barely surviving some serious fae magic, Mercy & Adam, the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Werewolf Pack, decide that it is time to take the next step in their long-awaited romance & get engaged. Mercy is in the midst of wedding planning, with everything really starting to get to her when Jesse, Adam's underestimated teenage daughter, innocently suggests that they get hitched early. After this "elopement," the happy couple decide to camp in a newly established, but not yet open to the public, campground to test it out for the fae owner.

Of course nothing could be that simple in a world where vampires love Scooby Doo motifs & fae can be mechanics. On the very first day they notice that something is different. Mercy sees her father's ghost dancing on their campground & they save a terrified man from the "monster" he has been injured by & is currently hiding from. It turns out that this man is not the only to fall victim to the river. Something is stalking & killing people with no real pattern. The police are stumped & the Native Americans aren't really talking. Striking a cord with the newlyweds, they embark on a turbulent journey filled with revelations about local Native American powers, what one will really do for life& love, & how much of who you are is determined by your family.

I love this series so much! Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman has to be one of my all-time favorite characters. Between her demeanor, her sass, her humor, & her complete dedication (to a number of things) she just rocks my world!

All that being said, I must admit that this is definitely not one of my favorite books in this series. This being the sixth book, I honestly felt like it was a filler story. There was very little personal action taking place to move the story forward, but at the same time the action wasn't directly related to the characters' actions. This time the trouble came looking for them & they did something about it. It was engineered action that felt kind of forced, although it allowed the reader to gain a deeper appreciation & understanding of Mercy's family history & why she is what she is.

The writing was definitely on par for what you expect in a Mercy novel (witty, pointed, & metered). There was a bit of disappointment, this being a honeymoon and all, that the romance was almost non-existent. It practically pulled a Breaking Dawn on the reader. Granted, there has been a lot of romance between these two characters in some novels (enough to make even a married woman blush) & that I did appreciate it being toned down. I guess it's just a balancing act.

Overall, as always, a fun, light read. P.S. The best part about these books are that they are stand alone novels. You don't necessary have to have read the others to understand what is going on in this one. All the background is provided. I highly recommend Bone Crossed. It remains my favorite of the series.

Author Signing: Patricia Briggs with Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson #7)

On Sunday, March 10, something that I have been hoping to happen for 6 years finally came true. I got to meet Patricia Briggs! I happened to see a tweet about her being out on tour & on a lark decided to see if she'd be nearby. Having lived in NC for most of my life, I was accustomed to getting passed over on many author's tours. Now that I live near St. Louis, I was hopeful and boy did I luck out. Patty was making a stop in Fenton, MO at a Barnes & Noble. My adoring husband was kind enough to drive me the almost hour, in the pouring rain, to make sure I could meet her.


While I arrived on time, I had a little snafoo while trying to buy my book. Once that was settled it was smooth sailing. I took my place among the attendees, seated to the front right side on the floor like a school child at story time. Patty was reading a chapter to us from Frost Burned and we all listened completely engrossed. It was quite amusing because as she read, she paced. She also self-edited as she read because, "I just can't help it." I think my favorite part was her pausing to tell us we were "sick" after we giggled at a particularly gruesome scene. Someone shouted out "well you wrote it!" and her reply was "I never said I wasn't sick!" 

Once she let us dying for more, she moved forward into a Q&A session. This is what I learned from that:

• Night Broken will be the title of the next Mercy book in 2014; there will be another Mercyverse book (she's not sure if it will be Mercy or Alpha & Omega because she feels like A&O is just at a good holding place
• There is no end in sight for either series; she promises to stop writing them 1 book before she gets tired of it.
• In her upcoming short story collection we'll get to see Ariana & Samuel's story, Asil & Kara's story, and we'll finally get to hear about Bran's werewolf transformation.
• She wants to write something with Moira & Tom
• As far as her writing style is concerned she's a pancer which mean she doesn't outline.
• She wanted Mercy to have tension & extra reality so she gave her the garage. It doesn't matter what happens to her, she still has to get up in the morning and go to work to earn her living. Mercy's garage is based on real garage practices that actually happened to Patty & her husband.
• Dan dos Santos (the INCREDIBLE artist who does the Mercy covers has partnered with the Briggs to sell quality, affordable prints of the covers. I'm super excited!

After all that questioning it was time for the big event: the signing! I followed my signing etiquette & since I was one of the last to arrive, I made sure to stick towards the back of the line. Little did I know how fortunate that would make me because Mike (Patty's super awesome husband) decided to keep us company by hanging out, talking, and answering more of our questions. It was so much fun to hear personal stories about his view on the writing business. These two are the most genuine, down-to-earth people I have met that are pseudo-celebrities. They were very real and very open to discuss just about any topic imaginable. 

I was so excited when I finally got my book signed. Patty was even awesome enough to take a few minutes to talk to each of us & she even let us choose what color she used to sign our book. When I told her this made been a dream in the making for 6 years for me, she was flattered and shocked that it took so long. When I explained about never being near enough to a tour stop she let me and everyone in the group know that if we'll tell them where we want to see her, that her manager will try to take that into consideration the next time they're working up a tour schedule.

I was over the moon and beyond appreciate to my husband for sticking it out the whole time. I want to thank Patty & Mike for making my trip more than worthwhile and for being so wonderfully attentive.

Waiting on Wednesday: Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, or have had the chance to scan my archives, you might have seen a fair bit of the name Patricia Briggs. I absolutely adore her work & she is the reason I began to branch out of my comfort zone in reading. Fair Game is the 3rd installment in the Alpha and Omega series that was born of her ever-popular Mercy Thompson series. This latest story will be released to the masses on March 6th. Be forewarned, there is a bit of spoilery type information, but nothing major in the summary. Enjoy!

Patricia Briggs' Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey...

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and
Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North
American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

From Goodreads

While I absolutely adore the Mercy Thompson series, this one has a richer dynamic between the main characters that I just can't resist. Charles & Anna are mesmerizing to watch no matter what they're doing. Not to mention the events that beleaguer them are always unique. I hope you're as excited for this one as I am & if you haven't started yet, now is the time!

What are you waiting on this week?

Armchair BEA Day 3: Giveaways & Literature

Welcome back to Armchair BEA! If you're not sure what it's all about be sure to visit the Armchair BEA headquarters.

Before I jump right into the giveaway, I want to talk about what I'm giving away. Something we haven't talked about officially all week are series! If you have had time this week to check out my archive, then you'll see LOTS of series. I'm a pretty big fan of book series. To me they are like a television show with seasons, multiple episodes featuring the same core characters that I love to hate and just flat out love and my heart breaks when it's over, either for the season or series ending. Some of my favorite series are: Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater, Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs, Revenants by Amy Plum, & Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent. I've been fortunate enough to meet some of these women (it's not intentional that they're all ladies, I promise) and I've even hosted a week celebrating one of these series.

Now here's where the fun part comes in. While I don't have a first copy of all of these to give away, I've got something just as good. There will be two giveaways. The first one is for US residents only and will allow you to win your choice of one of the following books:

• The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
• My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
• Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
• Die for Me by Amy Plum
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

The second giveaway is open internationally! I'm giving you the chance to pick your own book(s)! I will pay up to $15 (US) for you to choose your own book(s). You tell me your selection and I will pay for it on your behalf.

Contest rules: You must be over 13 years old to enter; if you submit an entry into the US only giveaway, you must have a US address for me to ship to; if you submit an entry in the international giveaway you must tell me your book selection(s) within 72 hours of receiving my winning notification email; both giveaways close at 12:00 AM (CST) on June 1.

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway
If you're still with me, we'll now progress to the more "high brow" portion of today's segment. :) General literary fiction is a term I associate with assigned readings in high school and college. That being said, there are still a few great ones that really had a profound impact on my life or helped me to see another point of view:

• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood was the first book I read about women's roles in society that actually frightened me; and it's fiction! There were so many parallels between this book and our world that caused me to take pause and reevaluate how I was thinking and behaving in regards to what's going on this world. I also think this book started me on my post-apocalyptic/futuristic world kick. It also encouraged me to educate myself about real women's roles & lead me to reading more women's memoirs (like Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali & Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi).
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett doesn't always get the credit it deserves. While the content wasn't earth-shattering, the execution was incredible. Told from three very distinct points of view, we follow the events of a few months in the lives of a non-traditional Southern belle writing a book about "The Help", her maid, and another maid. This book shone a fairly accurate light on the reality of life in the South during this time period. It had such a profound impact on me because of the conversations it opened up with other people about that time period. 
• L'assommoir by Émile Zola was one of the first books I read completely in French. In my literature class during my semester abroad we read selections from several time periods and only a few select books. This one was one of the books we read. It was a whole new way for me to learn a language. By reading it on my own, digesting what I thought was the meaning, and then dissecting it in class I gained a new respect for writers, their craft, and second language apprehension. If you've never tried it, give it a shot some time!

There you have it folks. Three of my most influential, and most non-required by school, reading assignments. What books did you choose?

Bringing in the Loot

This is part of the In My Mailbox series hosted by The Story Siren.

So yeah, apparently I have empty weeks and then plentiful weeks. Last week I got nada and this week the library came through BIG time. I'm so excited and I can't wait to share my thoughts on some of these books. :D

Library:

Set 1: Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater, Fire by Kristin Cashore, Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan, & Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Set 2: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent, & Tempted by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Set 3: Stray, Rogue, Pride, Prey, & Shift by Rachel Vincent

As I said, a BIG haul. I am so excited to read Ballad since I just finished Lament and I have been on the waiting list for Fire for forever it seems like! Tempted and Leviathan look very promising & I decided to get the whole Shifters series by Rachel Vincent because they look to along the same lines as the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I'll let you know what I think soon.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's choice is a day late of the release, but I'm still really excited! My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent. This is the second book in the Screamers series, the first being My Soul to Take, so obviously there may be spoilerish stuff below.

“If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.”

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....
From Goodreads

I absolutely devoured My Soul to Take and I was fortunate enough to score a copy of My Soul to Save at the local book store with my Christmas gift cards. Rachel Vincent has a magnetic writing style that I can't seem to move away from and I truly hope she keeps it up. If you haven't checked her books out yet, you should definitely get on that. She has the Soul Screamers YA series and then she has an adult werecat series along the same lines as Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series.

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

I have discovered a lovely new paranormal/urban fantasy book series to devour! The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning has a lot in common with some of my other favorite leading ladies, Mercy Thompson & Faythe Sanders, because she herself is not technically human & she fights things (completely against her will) that definitely aren't human. Yet she is totally rocking! And while, just like the Shifters series, it is technically considered a "romance" book, so far there is more action & adventure than sheet-romping. Without further adieu, I give you Darkfever.

MacKayla Lane has a very easy going life. Pool lounging & occasional classes by day & bar tending at night have afforded her that luxury. While living at home still, she does have greater aspirations for her life. They may not be as high as those of her currently-studying-in-Ireland sister Alina, but Mac can hold her own. Her sun kissed world is shattered though when the Irish police call to inform Mac & her currently-on-an-extended-vacation parents that Alina has been murdered.

At first Mac, like any caring soul, is blinded by grief, though that doesn't last long. When she finally receives a perplexing & mysterious voicemail from her sister the day she died. This settles Mac's mind to travel to Ireland & help the police hunt down Alina's killer. Fortunately while living at home she has been able to save up quite a little nest egg & will make it on her own. Despite the police labeling this a "no leads" case (meaning they have no evidence, witness, or even a suspect), Mac is determined to see justice brought forth on Alina's behalf. At first Mac spends a lot of time orienting herself, analyzing just how far her money will get her & what she needs to do to accomplish her goal; but weird things keep happening to her. She seems to suffer from double-visions as well as having a knack for getting in trouble with little old Irish ladies. They keep telling her not to give herself away & to have some survival instincts.

It's not until she meets Jericho Barrons that she realizes just what she is supposed to be surviving. Barrons reluctantly ushers her into a world of fae, magic, & danger. A long-standing member of this society, Barrons really just wants to use Mac to further his own pursuits & thwart those who in competition with him. When Mac finally relinquishes her death grip on everything she has held to be true. There really are things that go bump in the night... and she has to fight with them to get the justice that Alina deserves.

This was a captivating read! I was sold from the very beginning, not just for the characters, but for the writing as well. Karen Moning has a way with words that really allows the reader to develop their own sense of place & purpose. She does not spell every little thing out for you, but she'll give you just enough to allow you to formulate your own understanding. That being said, Mac & Barrons are such demanding characters! Their interactions are much along the same lines of some other great "partnerships" I could list (Booth & Bones, Mulder & Scully, etc) & really display their personalities in an amusing light.

The story itself was equal parts fascinating & frightening. There was enough gaiety to help counterbalance the fae doom & gloom. Rest assured that these are NOT your average fae. They are meaner than many that I have encountered in books recently & that probably has to do with the fact that the cute, helpful fae are few & far between. The "worst" part is that there is a sexual element to these fae that I haven't really seen addressed even in the adult realm. Think about what happens when you ask a fae for a favor & the consequences that brings & you're along the same lines. Maybe I just haven't read enough. Also, the descriptions of these creatures sent shivers down my spine & really made me feel the same things as the main character. If that's not a resounding endorsement for quality writing, then I don't know what to tell you.

If this is your thing, then add the Fever series to your TBR pile. Happy reading!

Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs review

SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES!

Anna has felt Charles drifting away from her recently. She knows what's causing it, but even confronting the wolf responsible, her own father-in-law & leader of the North American werewolves, hasn't eased his burden. Since revealing their existence to the human population, the werewolves have been extra diligent in their justice system. Charles, as his father's enforcer, is the one doling out the punishments. He has taken on an extra large burden & it is wearing on him.


As a kind of relief from the strain, Charles & Anna are sent to Boston to help the FBI in a local serial killer case. Since Anna's Omega tendencies are to calm & protect those of her kind, this seems like a perfect opportunity to work on Charles. Little did they expect that they would be of irreplaceable value to the FBI because the killer is methodical & exacting. Soon enough Anna & Charles start to piece things together, all the while fighting his personal demons. Too bad they didn't see the real demon aiming right for them.


Fair Game picks up not long after Hunting Ground leaves off. We come back to a world where werewolves are now known to exist by the general population and as a result, Bran (the Marrok) has had to be less lenient in the enforcement of their laws. In doing so, he has put undue strain on his son Charles. As his father's enforcer, Charles has had to be the one to dole out his father's punishments. These sentencings are wearing him down & eating away at him. He's starting to lose himself to his wolf because it's the only way they will survive. Not even his lovely Omega wife Anna can really bring him around. He's distanced himself from her as much as possible so that he does not burden her with his pain.

Briggs has continued her amazing storytelling with the third installment in this series. Every book has allowed us to get to know the werewolf couple better & better while they are still discovering themselves and this one is no different. A lot of times characters will grow & develop in books, but to continue to allow your characters to change throughout a series is what makes it worth reading. Anna & Charles has a complicated, multiple layer situation that requires a delicate but deft hand at crafting.


On top of having to make the characters believable, the author also makes sure you feel the places you are in her books. I sometimes swear I can smell the forests or water where they go & there is not better feeling than to be so totally engrossed in a book. While I did find the book to rehash things a bit frequently (as if the reader might have forgotten something) you still weren't beaten over the head with it.


The best part of the whole book was the ending. I absolutely cannot tell you anything about it, but suffice it to say that I did not see that coming at all. You'll just have to read it to find out what will forever change the Mercy Thompson world as we know it. :)





 

Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent Mini-Reviews Part 1

I did a similar post on the Mercy Thompson series that I love so much by Patricia Briggs a few months ago. Well seeing as how I have managed to fall in love with yet another shifter series, I figured I would do a post about it as well.

Rachel Vincent's werecat Shifters series, staring the completely fallible and wonderful colorful Faythe Sanders, is a fun, quickly-paced series covering six novels. We meet Faythe when she is summoned home from grad school for her own protection. Needless to say, she doesn't go back to school what with all the kidnappings, attempted murders, oh and over-protective ex-fiances hanging around. The books follow Faythe as she tries to navigate her very modern self-existence within the rather 1950's view of a tabby in her pride.

She's smart, she's sassy, she's stubborn, and most of all she just wants to live her life without it being dictated to her. I feel that all women can relate to her, and even some men can, on some level or another. Below you'll find a synopsis/mini-review for the first three books. The other three will be provided in a later post.

See my full review of Stray.

Stray
All Faythe wanted was to be left alone. She was working on her graduate degree, but the werecat community just couldn't leave her alone. After fighting off a stray (a once human, made into a werecat through an illegal attack; no pride) Faythe is summoned home for safety. Someone is snatching tabbies and they're not giving them back. Despite all precautions to the contrary, Faythe becomes one of the snatched. In a race against the clock, Faythe must work quickly to figure out who is behind this, what their plans are for the tabbies, and then set them straight.

Rogue
We pick up where we left off in Stray with Faythe being cooped up in the house of werecats trying not to go crazy. Now as enforcer though, she's getting to see some action and prove her worth. She doesn't want to be seen as weak, so she does whatever is necessary to prove that fact. Even if it means working with her on-again boyfriend/ex-fiance Marc as a partner. While out on a mission, the two come across a dead stray. They do their job of covering it up, so the humans don't find out, but as more toms (male werecats) start to die, the trail becomes hotter than ever. Someone's killing toms in the same places that human girls go missing and it's up to Marc and Faythe to stop them. But who do you look for when anyone's a suspect?

Pride
Faythe Sanders is mischievous at her best, but certainly not intentionally combative. Well, only when the situation calls for it, and the situations she is on trial for were just that. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the council, Faythe has broken some of their major rules and must now pay the price. Only in this world, you are presumed guilty unless you can prove otherwise. Faythe is struggling to keep her temper in check while trying not to freak out about that fact that if found guilty the best outcome is the loss of her claws and the worst being execution. Given that she's one of the few tabbies in the US, that speaks volumes about her alleged crimes. It just so happens though that Lady Luck has not abandoned Faythe yet. The large number of hostile strays in the area is suspicious and the council wants answers. If Faythe can prove her worth, she can keep her life.

Tune in on Thursday for the next three books!