Fair Game: An Alpha & Omega Novel (Book 3) by Patricia Briggs

Fair Games by Patricia Briggs

Completion Date: March 2, 2012
Reason for Reading: Carry on with the series.

Patricia Briggs, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, New York Times bestselling author) Now her 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...

I did not do Friday Reads yesterday because the mail came and my calculations had deduced this book would be with it. I have been waiting since 2009 for another book in this series; so I was pretty excited when it was finally in my hands. Any and all plans went out the window yesterday as I immediately tore the package open and dove into this book. The thing is, I could have easily finished this book in one sitting, but I kept putting it down yesterday.  I knew I was going to read it way too fast and then regret it because no idea when there will be another book in the series and there is no book out in the Mercy Thompson series this year. So, I read it in starts and stops yesterday, but I still finished it in the end. Now I have a long wait ahead of me.

This series is starting to pick-up for me more now. I have always found it wasn't quite as good at the Mercy Thompson series. I just like Mercy, Samuel, and Adam better and find myself more engaged in their story. I think part of it is the fact that with Mercy you have to work your way up to everything, but this series all happened really fast. In the latest in the Mercy series things that have been on-going for a while all come together, so I found myself very engaged in the story and its outcome. Charles and Anna are just very different. Their story is more about the rights of werewolves and how hard it has been for them since they came out to the humans. That being said, Charles and Anna are starting to grow on me. I found myself very caught-up in this story and watching it all play out. That could partly be because I have been waiting 3 years to find out exactly what happens next. This book actually takes place very soon after the events in River Marked because when Adam makes a brief appearance Mercy is still recovering.

The one thing I have always appreciated about this series is that while it is about werewolves, it can easily be imagined for sub-groups of human culture. In this book they are discussing making werewolves classified as 'endangered species' because then they are animals instead of people. This will limit their rights. The fae have also 'came out' and they are forced to live on reservations. You can't help thinking about the treatment of people while you read this book. I enjoy that the book has far-reaching themes that are very easy to relate to. Then something bad happens and because it involves werewolves and Fae the wrong-doers are basically let off easy. We are talking rape and torture, but it was rape and torture to a Fae. It really illustrates how not everyone is equal no matter what the law says. And, it leads to one of my favourite scenes in the book. We get a taste of the Fae that I found captivating and could easily picture in my mind. It should also mean even more interesting events in the future.

It is hard to talk about this book without spoiling anything for either the series or this individual book, so I am just going to stop trying and say how much I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Patricia Briggs is an awesome author. I look forward to more from her period!

Alpha & Omega Series:
Alpha and Omega - Short Story (review)
Cry Wolf (review)
Hunting Ground (review)
Fair Game

'Fair Game' by Patricia Briggs

When the FBI request a pack consultant on a serial killer case they're following in Boston, Anna and Charles are sent in. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves – all of them were.

Someone is targeting their kind. And if Charles and Anna can't get to the bottom of this mystery, they may be next...

There hasn't been a new book out in this series since 2009. I am so excited that there finally is a cover for the book due out February 7, 2012. I am still disappointed there is not a new Mercedes Thompson series in 2012, though.

Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs

Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs (Sianim #4, Aralorn #2)

Completion Date: January 14, 2011

Reason for Reading: Sequel to Masques.

Shapeshifting mercenary Aralorn leads a dangerous existence. Now she must return home for her noble father, the Lyon of Lambshold, has passed away. But when Aralorn and her companion Wolf arrive, they find he's not dead, but ensorcelled by the ae'Magi, using him as a conduit to destroy Aralorn and Wolf. She must overcome this mysterious mist or fall to the blackest of magic.

I read this book back in January for a buddy read, but sadly the person that was going to review it with me has stopped blogging. When I was doing my post for the Once Upon a Time Challenge V, I was very annoyed that I was so bad at reviewing books. I really want to at least say something about all of the ones I read this year, so we will see how that goes. I am really behind right now, so if I don't catch up soon things will get bad. The further behind, the harder it is to get a grasp of the situation.

Patricia Briggs actually wrote this book many years ago and never imagined it would see the light of day. With her popular series, though, she felt she had the fans that would be interested in seeing what her early books were like. This one was never published and Masques was very hard to find. She even admits that they are not perfect, but die-hard fans, like me, are going to read them anyway. I enjoyed this book for the most part, but it is mostly because you knew it wasn't going to be perfect. When you get that out of the way, you can just enjoy the story. I would have rather had a new book in the Alpha & Omega series, but that doesn't mean I am not glad I read this.

This is another story of Aralorn and Wolf. She had left her family home, but with the death of her father she has a reason to return home. Things are not quite that simple, though. Her father is not actually dead, but is being used as a trap. As a result, the book becomes a bit of a fantasy version of a mystery novel. They have to get to the bottom of everything. I think it all came together quite well, though. I am glad I had the chance to read it and you can really see the early influences on Briggs' later books. There are actually many elements in these books that she uses in her later books. Likely because she didn't expect the book to ever see the light of day. I have to say that for her first two books, she did a really good job and managed to write interesting stories. I am looking forward to reading the last two books in the series very soon.

I still wish she had concentrated on her on-going series before releasing these, though. There was no Alpha & Omega book last year as a result and now it has been pushed back until 2012!

River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson Series, Book 6)

River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson Series, Book 6)

Completion Date: March 12, 2011

Reason for Reading: Next Book in the Series.

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…

New Mercedes Thompson book. YAY! I wait for these yearly and will be incredibly disappointed when the series comes to an end. They just keep getting better and better. This is by far my favourite in the series. I was a little worried at first because I did know that a lot of the secondary characters that I love play a minor role, but it all worked out. This was a chance to get to know Mercy and Adam better, so they had to be alone in order for that to get the attention it needed. There were still other characters, though, and I thought they were done really well.

Has anyone ever read Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King? That is probably one of my favourite Canadian novels of all time. It is about Native mythology, so characters like Coyote play a key role. I unfortunately read it before blogging, but I strongly recommend it to those that haven't read it. Anyway, this book by Briggs reminded me a lot of King's novel. Or, actually, Charles de Lint. He writes from the same ideas, but he puts his own spin on it. Briggs does about the same. She takes commonly held beliefs and does her own fictional account. She may have almost toppled King off my pedestal, but not quite. She did write my favourite Mercy book so far, though. I love history and mythology, so a book that includes both will have me very excited to begin with. If you can pull if off in a great way, though, I will be in love!

This paragraph will be a bit spoilerish for the previous books, so if you haven't read the series yet, don't read this paragraph. This is the book where Mercy marries Adam. I thought how that all came together was a fun idea. It was also a good way for the secondary characters to have a little bit of page time. The next Alpha & Omega book has been pushed back again, so you need to take what you can get. After this it is just short stories until 2012. There is also some continuation from Stefan after the events from the previous book. That's the thing I like about Briggs, though; she always tries to address on-going story-lines. Stefan is a different sort of vampire from the others in the book. The Scooby Doo idea is hilariously brilliant. It was good that in the midst of everything else that Briggs is trying to address, she finds time to fill the readers in on Stefan.

Okay, safe again. What I absolutely loved about this book was the addition of characters like Coyote. I think that Briggs captured them really well! She kept me glued to the book, so I wound up easily finishing it in essentially one sitting. If you haven't read this series yet, you are really missing out! If you have read this series before and just haven't made it to this book yet, you are in for a treat!!

Many thanks to Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

Mercedes Thompson Series:

Moon Called (reread)

Blood Bound

Iron Kissed

Bone Crossed

Silver Bourne

Masques by Patricia Briggs (Aralorn Series, Book 1; Sianim Series, Book 1)

Masques by Patricia Briggs

Completion Date: January 12, 2011

Reason for Reading: Buddy Read with Vanessa from Reading in Bed

After an upbringing of proper behavior and oppressive expectations, Aralorn fled her noble birthright for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. Her latest mission involves spying on the increasingly powerful sorcerer Geoffrey ae'Magi. But in a war against an enemy armed with the powers of illusion, how do you know who the true enemy is-or where he will strike next?

Today is a buddy read with Vanessa, from Reading in Bed. I have known Vanessa since I was a teenager, so it is fun that we are now reading and blogging together even if we hardly ever see each other anymore!

I have the first part of the review, and then you have to head over to her blog to read the second part. Enjoy!

Kelly: I have to admit I have always been curious about this book, but it was largely out-of-print for a while. When I saw at one point last year that she was going to edit it a bit and reissue it I was excited to finally get a chance to read the whole series. Did you think this book was worth being reissued?

Vanessa: I think it was worth it. Since the Mercy Thompson series is very popular, Patricia Briggs is gaining lots of new fans who may be curious about her older work (I know I was). While it certainly wasn’t her best book it was interesting to see how she has progressed as a writer since she started out. A lot of the foundations of her later work were there - strong heroine, romantic tension without being overtly romantic, interesting and memorable supporting characters and a story with a clear ending that also leaves an opening for future adventures. How did you find this book compared to her later work?

Kelly: I agree with a lot of your points. This was obviously a very strong influence on her later books. She obviously had the right ingredients determined from the very beginning, but she had to grow as a writer in technical areas. I know that when we were reading this book I commented to you how you could tell she never expected these books to be reissued because she borrows so much from them. Aralorn reminds me a lot of Mercy. They have different skills, but their attitude is very similar. The biggest difference is maturity, I think. Aralorn acts a bit younger than Mercy in some situations. Then, Wolf reminded very strongly of Charles from the Alpha & Omega series. While Wolf wasn’t exactly a werewolf, he had a lot of the same characteristics and moods that we see from Charles. What did you think of the characters?

Vanessa: I liked them but they were definitely a tad more 2 dimensional than her later characters. Their reactions to situations were quite predictable for the most part. Aralorn definitely seems like a younger Mercy especially how she jumped into all situations without thinking first. What made her seem more immature was the fact that when something happened that bothered her or made her wonder she never voiced it. She always put up a front. Wolf was made to seem wise in a lot of ways but in others he was almost like a scared little boy especially when it came to his feelings about Aralorn. I understand that caring for someone else is alien to him but the way his fear and confusion was conveyed was a little much. Myr was ok but also a little bit too flawless as a character. The people at the camp were interesting but would have been better if she’d written them now. As a villain the ae’Magi was...kinda boring. Don’t get me wrong I wanted them to triumph over him but his whole premise was a bit weak and we didn’t really get to the true root of his motivation. This all makes me sound like I didn’t like the characters but I really did they just had some flaws. How long did it take you to figure out who Wolf really was?

Kelly: Yes, I can see a lot of what you are saying. The ae’Magi was pretty dull. I didn’t like him, but I didn’t have as strong a reaction to him as I would if he was written with a bit more skill. On Wolf, though, Charles is a lot like that in the beginning to when it comes to his feelings. That’s part of the reason why Wolf reminds me of him so much. The book was a bit predicable, I must say. I had a very strong suspicion who Wolf was the minute we were introduced to him as a human and it didn’t take me long to deduce that I was right. So, even though she tried to keep it a big secret it was a bit obvious to me... I don’t want to spoil anything, but just the way she reveals things leads it to only be possible for it to be one person. Hopefully I am not giving too much away with that! What about you? And, what did you think about the magical aspects of the book?

Now head over to Vanessa's Blog to read Part Two!

This book counts for the TwentyEleven Reading Challenge.

Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson Series, Book 5)

All-new action in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series

When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

Do you ever read the last page of a book and feel like you could cry? Not because the end was sad, but because everything is over and you have leave the characters behind. There are a few authors and series that make me feel like that; so that's part of the reason why I am so slow in reading in series. Some series, though, I have read to completion and have to wait for each new book. Then, it is torture when the book comes out. Should I read it right away or wait until the next book is closer. I just finished the latest book in one series: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs. This is the fifth installment in the Mercedes Thompson series. With this one, I chose to read it right away, but it was agonizing! I consider Mercy Thompson one of my favourite literary characters, so I am sad that now that I have finished this book I have to wait a year for another one.

One of the problems with reviewing books that are part of series is spoiler issues. If you haven't read this series at all, most anything is a potential spoiler. If you are still a couple books back, I could give away the big plot issues that you are waiting for. I think that is why I am slack in reviewing books lately. I never know what to say. The simplest thing is that this is another fantastic addition to the series. Once again Briggs managed to write a story that was a page-turner and kept you waiting for what was going to happen next. There is a fantastic cast of characters and storylines that have run through the entire series that she chooses this book to start to sum up. This is a paranormal fantasy series, but it is also a bit of a romance, thriller, and adventure story.

When the first book came out I got caught up in the paranormal fantasy genre and read a bunch of different authors and series. Now that it has died down a bit there are only a couple authors that have survived the test of time. Patricia Briggs is one that tops the list, but she joins the company of Kelley Armstrong and Colleen Gleason (even though this series is actually finished, I have not finished reading it...). There are a few others that have potential that I might look into in the future, but as it stands right now this is my 'best of' list. The new book did nothing to destroy that, so I am very happy to once again tell people to really give this series a try. You won't be disappointed!

My thanks to Penguin Canada for sending me this book! This book also counts as a read for the Once Upon a Time Challenge.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega Series, Book 2)

Cry Wolf unlocked the doors to a unique urban landscape in "a great... new werewolf series." Now Patricia Briggs invites readers to follow her even deeper into that seductive realm of the unknown...

Anna Latham didn't know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son--and enforcer--of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn't know how dangerous it could be, either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran's controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan--and it seems like someone else might be, too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all--or risk losing everything...

Quote taken from the Back Cover.

For a year I have been waiting for the new Patricia Briggs' novel. At the beginning of the year, I read Bone Crossed, the fourth book in the Mercedes Thompson series. Normally that would be all from her for the year. Now, though, we have the Alpha & Omega series. The series starts with a novella in the On the Prowl anthology and then is followed up by the first novel, Cry Wolf. With this newest book I think I am pretty much as in love with this series as I am with the Mercedes Thompson series.

This series centers around Anna Latham and her husband, Charles Cornick. Charles has been mentioned off and on during the Mercedes Thompson series because his brother is Sam, who lives with Mercy, and his father is the Marrock. In this series, though, Briggs has the opportunity to develop his character. Anna is a new character that Charles has only known for about a month. While Charles, Sam, and Bran have been doing some crossing over, though, Briggs has said that she doubts Mercy and Anna will ever appear in each others books. I really don't care, though, because it means that we get two books a year instead of just one. Mind you, it is about 6 months until the new Mercedes Thompson book and another year before the next Alpha & Omega, but it could be worse!

In this book we see a lot of Charles and Anna. The story switches back and forth between their point of view, with a few other characters thrown in for variety. Charles has had a bad feeling about the summit and argues with his father until he sees reason and does not attend. This means that Charles and Anna are left with the task of convincing the other werewolf packs that the plan to reveal themselves is a good one. Things are a lot more complicated than that, though. One thing I really like about this series is that werewolves will always play a strong role, but Briggs also works in vampires and the fey. With Mercy, each of the books in the series has so far centred around one paranormal group. In this series, she seems to just concentrate on the werewolves and works the other groups in as she goes along. It adds some variety between the two series.

There is a lot going on in this book. It was nice to get to know Anna and Charles better. They are both very interesting characters. Charles has never been married before, even though he is in his two-hundreds, so he has a lot to learn. Anna is a very young werewolf and an Omega, so she has a lot of things to discover as well. I think they are doing very well learning them together. Their relationship is also really new, so they are still in the 'getting to know each other' stage. Charles is often worried that he has ruined things with Anna, but I think she is there for the long-term. She is still haunted by her past, though, which makes her vulnerable at times. Then, she does something amazing and reminds everyone just how strong she is. Briggs has done a wonderful job with her storyline.

In conclusion, I am very happy that I read this book, but now I have to wait six months for anything more! The good thing is that Briggs is my comfort read, so this new book came at a perfect time. I hope others will give her a chance because she is a wonderful author that everyone should read!

This book is my first read for the R.I.P. IV Challenge.

Sunday Book Coveting - Patricia Briggs Author Love

The problem with me and a bad or depressed mood is that I always want to buy books so I feel better. For this reason I must not think too hard about books that I want, because then I will surely buy books. Take today for example. I received an email on Friday saying my books from Amazon had shipped. The problem is that the new Patricia Briggs was not listed as part of the shipment... And, of course the bookstore here has it. So, you know I am very very tempted to run to the bookstore and get a copy today. At the same time, I really shouldn't rush. According to online bookstores, the new Mercedes Thompson book has already been pushed back to March instead of its normal February release. So, if I read this new book really fast than I have a long wait ahead of me for the next one. Patricia Briggs is very much my comfort author, so she would be right what I needed about now. You would think in between releases I would read her other books that are residing on my TBR pile. This is why the library is very bad on my TBR pile.

So, what are Patricia Briggs other books?
Her very first book is called Masques, but while her other older books are being rereleased, this one has not. She says on her website that it is going to be, but she is not sure when.

Then, there is Steal the Dragon. Set in the same world, it can be read alone. I have had this book in my hands so many times at the bookstore. I really think I should just bite the bullet and get a copy next time I see it.

It's the same story with When Demons Walk. I even had the new cover preordered, but now I can't remember why I didn't buy it in the end... Getting these two books are very much on my priority list.

I read The Hob's Bargain last year and really liked it. This is why I have to read her other books because she is a really good author!

Then, there is Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood. I read Dragon Bones an embarassing long time ago, but still have not read the sequel. Will have to make that a priority!

Her other duology is Raven's Shadow and Raven's Strike. Both are on my TBR pile. I have picked the first book up a couple times to read it, but something else was always calling my attention away.

The Mercedes Thompson Series is as follows:
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne (forth-coming)

The Alpha & Omega Series is as follows:
Alpha and Omega found in the On the Prowl anthology
Cry Wolf
Hunting Ground

Then, there are two more short stories. Star of David is related to the Mercedes Thompson series and is found in the anthology Wolfsbane and MistleToe. I am not big on anthologies, so I actually found out that the library has this one. Even though it is Christmas, I have it on hold right now. The other anthology is Strange Brew. It is related to the Alpha & Omega Series. I might buy this one... Chances are I will buy the Christmas one, too, because I am a bit of a completist when it comes to certain authors, but I will probably wait until Christmas.

Lastly, there is the Mercedes Thompson series of Graphic Novels. It used to be listed on Amazon and I had it on my wish list, but now it is gone... I hope to get a copy as soon as I figure out how to do so! I am very excited!

So, as you can see, with just one author I can have a lot of coveting going on... Even still, I really want to go get the new book...

Cover of 'Hunting Ground' by Patricia Briggs

I noticed that the cover of Patricia Briggs' new book is up on amazon. I never like the covers for Briggs' books. Especially the rereleases of her older books. They have released some really bad covers! I would prefer to find the old ones second-hand. They just never represent the characters to me.

So, for those that have read the series so far, what do you think of the cover? For those that haven't read the series yet, would you pick this book up judging by the cover alone?

Hunting Ground is set to release July 28, 2009.

Mercy Thompson Series - Book 4 - Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

*Okay, last post for Monday, I promise! I just had to catch-up a little!*

Books Completed: 38
Completion Date: February, 2009
Pages: 309
Publication Date: February 3, 2009

Reason for Reading: Next in the series, Series Challenge Season 3, 2009 Pub Challenge

New in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series.

In a world where "witches, vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters live beside ordinary people" (Booklist), it takes a very unusual woman to call it home. By day, Mercy Thompson is a car mechanic in Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shape-shifter with some unusual talents, Mercy's found herself maintaining a tenuous harmony between the human and the not-so- human on more than one occasion. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

New Patricia Briggs! I waited a year for this book, so I was so excited to get around to reading it! The big problem with reading it in a day, though, is that now I have to wait another year for book 5... At least there is a comic strip about Mercy that is being collected into one book; that is due out in the summer, and then there is the second book in her other series that is due out in July. Still, no more Mercy for another year!

Anyway, so I was really excited about this book. I think people have got that impression, huh? I don't know what it is, but I just love this series! Mercy is definately one of my favourite fictional characters right now, and Briggs is easily one of my favourite paranormal authors. She writes such believable characters. I love both the main characters and the secondary ones. This book is a lot about cleaning up from the previous book. There is still action in it, but there were still some loose ends that needed to be cleared up. Mercy has always prided herself on being really strong, but she is finding it hard to find the strength that she needs after the events that happened to her. A person can only take so much, and Mercy is easily at her breaking point. This makes her relationship issues that much more harder to handle. As we all know, if you have at least read the first book, Mercy is faced with making the decision between Adam, the local pack leader, and Samuel, the Marrock's son and her childhood sweetheart. The decision has been made, but I will just leave it at that. I don't want to spoil it for someone either new to the series or still back on earlier books.

Anyway, this book has some very angry vampires in it. Stefan, the vampire in Mercy's life, drops in the middle of her living room to warn her that the leader of the local vampires, Marsilia, is after her because she successfully hunted down and killed a monster that would have returned the favour if he hadn't been stopped. They were apparently too successful for Marsilia, though. Then, an old friend from college shows up on Mercy's doorstep because she has a ghost problem, something that Mercy is able to see, and would like Mercy to help get rid of them. While not eager to job at the chance, it turns out to be the chance she needs to get out of harms way and leave the vampires to the werewolves. The only problem is that trouble seems to find Mercy wherever she is, which is something that she quickly finds out.

The Marrock, Bran, and his son Charles also have momentary appearances. Not a lot, though, just enough that you know they are there. They are more central in the other series. I still love Stefan, the vampire that drives a Scooby-Doo inspired bus. Such a cool idea and great imagery! So, even though the story is supposed to be a clean-up from the previous books, it still has plenty of action! Another great book from a great series! I don't think it was my favourite, though. Still, I loved it! Now, if the next one could come out just a little bit faster...

Mercedes Thompson Series - Book One - Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Books Completed: 13
Date Completed: January 10, 2009
Pages: 304
Publication Date: January 31, 2006

Reason for Reading: I was in the mood for some Mercedes Thompson. I love the series, this was a reread, and I am impatient for the new book!

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

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

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

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

My original review of this book was back in August of 2006. You can read it here.

Rereading is not something that I have done a lot of over the last few years, but I decided to try and reread at least a couple books this year. I selected a little pile that I wouldn't mind rereading (all of which are series, for the most part. Even when I reread I start series!). Patricia Briggs is sort of a given. I really need to read some of her backlist, but I am loving her new series. The only complaint I have is the covers... They are eye-catching, which I am sure is the point, but they do not represent the books very well. I hate that marketing scheme. I really think the covers should show that the person that drew them actually knows what the book is about, but apparently that is not criteria.

Moon Called is the story of the werewolf community in Mercy's town. She lives in a community that is not exactly what you might expect just by looking at it. Briggs has chosen to write a novel with lots of different supernatural characters all interacting together. I have read several different authors takes on the paranormal, and I have to admit that I enjoy how they can be so original while tackling the same topic. In this book, the leader of the local werewolf pack has been attacked and his daughter has been kidnapped. In an attempt to find her we get a look at the vampire community, a gremlin, a brief appearance by a troll, and some witches. The different species are built on with each successive book. I think that I might reread the other two before the new comes out, but we will have to wait and see. Part of the reason I was so caught up in this book is that I hadn't read it in over two years, so I didn't really remember what was going on at times. The other two I have read a bit more recent.

I still love this book! Patricia Briggs is a fantastic writer, and I really hope that I can get to the rest of the backlist this year, because I am sure there are lots more treasures that I haven't had a chance to enjoy yet! As always, I totally recommend this book! It's a great series, and lots of other people agree!

The Series:
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed (forth-coming)

(People are wondering how many series I have on the go... I don't actually know myself! Guess I will have to see what 2009 brings and do some counting!)

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Now Briggs begins an extraordinary new series set in Mercy Thompson's world-but with rules of its own.

INTRODUCING THE ALPHA AND OMEGA NOVELS...

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. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf: an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country will recognize her value as a pack member-and as his mate.

Dear Ms. Briggs,

I decided to do this review in letter format because I have a few things to address. It is highly unlikely that you will ever stumble upon my blog, I know you are very busy, but in the off chance that you ever do, I have a few things to address. Firstly, bravo! I have to admit, while I wanted to read this book since it came out, I was a bit worried. I love Mercedes Thompson and the world that you have created for her, so I was not sure what reading this series would lead to. I gathered from the short story that I read over the summer that it would be more romance involved because Anna actually knows (or we assume anyway) that she wants Charles as her mate. Mercedes has been working out her relationships and we are still waiting for a conclusion on that. I am not a big fan of romance unless it is worked into the story correctly. It was for this book, so I have no complaints!

I obviously found myself comparing characters. Do I like Mercedes better than Anna? Charles better than Samuel? The truth is, I really don't know. Anna has some gumption that she is working on having present all the time, but she is not the live-wire that Mercedes is. So, it probably wouldn't be fair to compare the two. As to Charles and Samuel, I feel like I know Charles better. Samuel has been in all the books (including this one), but not in the same way as Charles. So, again, it is not fair to compare the two. What I will say, then, is that I like all the characters. I think I am going to like this new series about as much as I like the Mercedes one, so I am happy that I finally read it! It is not like I haven't read other books by you and enjoyed them, I am quite a fan actually, but there is always a bit of worry when you start a new series by a beloved author.

I am so happy that you decided to write a series set in the same time and place as the Mercedes books. The characters in this book, with the exception of Anna, have been mentioned in the other series and I am happy that we got the chance to get to know them better. Authors really should do this more often when you think about it! It also means two books a year instead of only one, another thing that I wish other authors did! That being said, it is great that you included an excerpt from the new Mercedes Thompson book. I didn't read it, of course, because I am looking forward to the book anyway, so while make the wait even harder!

What I did note was that it is going to be coming out in hardcover! While I must congratulate on hardcover status, I wish that publishers wouldn't do this in the middle of series. I like my books to match, and now I either will have the first ones softcover and the rest hardcover, or I am going to have to wait an extra year to buy the book! Considering I am rather impatient, I am imagine my books will just not match! So, I am both happy for you and annoyed about the change. It happens all the time, I know, but it would be so nice if they could decide the authors worth in the beginning, not halfway through!

Really, though, I have to say that you are a very good author! I have obviously introduced other bloggers and friends to your books, and that makes me happy! I like getting the word out there and seeing people thanking me for introducing them to books that they might not have read otherwise. You are worth the hardcover price, so I hope that people will continue to take my recommendation and pick up your books! Now, I do have to say that I really have no idea what is up with the cover on this book... That is not how I pictured Anna at all. Actually, there is not a scene in there where she is dressed anywhere near the person on the cover of the book, she actually dresses pretty conservative, I thought, so I really wish I knew what the thought process behind covers on your books are! Very eye-catching, I give them that, but still...

Anyway, thank you for continuing to write such excellent books! I cannot wait until February 3rd when the next Mercedes book comes out!

Sincerley,

Kelly

The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs

Hated and feared, magic was banished from the land. But now, freed from the spells of the wicked bloodmages, magic-both good and evil-returns. And Aren of Fallbrook feels her own power of sight strengthen and grow...

Overcome by visions of mayhem and murder, Aren vows to save her village from the ruthless raiders who have descended upon it-and killed her family. With the return of wildlings to the hills and forests, she strikes a bargain with the Hob, a magical, human-like creature imbued with the power of the mountains. But the Hob is the last of his kind. And he will exact a heavy price to defend the village-a price Aren herself must pay...

I love Patricia Briggs. This book was exactly what I needed for the reading mood that I have been in lately! I actually have finished a few books in the last few days, but I just finished this one a matter of hours ago and decided that I would review it while it was fresh in my head. I have a few of her books, but I just grabbed this one for whatever reason. I have an older copy of it and I have to say that I really do not like the cover for the new release... This whole attempt to make books by female authors look like romance novels is rather annoying when you think about it... Meaning, the cover does not do a lot for me!

Anyway, this is not a very long book, but a lot happens in it. It reminds me a bit of modern times because we hear stories about trolls, dwarfs, hobgoblins, etc, but as far as we know they either never existed or they died off long ago. This is the situation that the people in the novel find themselves in. They are just a group of people working their fields and keeping their families fed, but then the magic of the world awakens and they find their world turned upside-down. It would be very similar if the same thing were to happen to us, we would not really know how to handle all these 'new' species and learn to live in harmony with them...

Magic does exist in their world, though, it is just not something that you admit that you possess. If it is found out that you do have it, you are taken over and eventually go insane. It is better to just pretend that you are like everyone else. Aren has magic, though, and with the reawakening of the world, she finds that he magic becomes a lot stronger. She has visions and she can speak with spirits, ghosts, etc. With the help of the Hob, another magical creature, she learns more about the powers that she has always possessed, but never acknowledged. The Hob is a great character, I have to say. He is reawakened into a world very different from the one that he last lived in, so he has to relearn a lot of things, too. He is also the comic relief to the story, which is needed from time to time.

All I can say is that this was another excellent book from an author that I have come to greatly enjoy. It is not paranormal, like her present series are, but it stretches the imagination and has a very readable storyline. Aren was a likeable character, too, which is always good. She was not too stupid to live, that's for sure! She has help along the way, but mostly she has to rely on herself. She is living in a town where she is feared for the powers that she possesses, but at the same time she will do anything to save these people based on what they have done for her in the past. I also really enjoyed her horse... There are a few good secondary characters, but the story is mostly Aren's and her Hob.

Short Story Friday... For the First, and probably last, Time

I'll admit it... I am not a big fan of short stories. I hardly ever read them, actually. They are just over too fast and I often find myself wishing for more. If you look at my sporadic history of book reviews, you will see just how rarely short story collections appear in my lists. I did have to read a short story this week, though, because it is technically the first part of Patricia Briggs new series and I wanted to know what was going on before I started Cry Wolf, which arrived in the mail yesterday! (As did the other three books I ordered. Yay!)

Instead of the back cover thing... Go to Patricia's web site to read an excerpt!

Anyway, what can you really say about a novella? Not much! It was only like 70 pages... If I talk too much, well, then you won't even have to read it and then people will be getting mad at me for ruining it for them, etc, etc... In any case, it was a promising beginning. I think this series is going to be a bit more of a romance-type thing than the Mercedes Thompson series, but that is not necessarily a bad thing! I suppose I can handle a bit of romance. Especially since this series will be my tiding over series while I wait for new Mercedes' books.... (February is soooo far away!)

Here's the thing... Those that read my blog should know by now that while I read a lot (don't say it, I know this should be past tense, but shhh), I don't really back anything that I don't love. I love Colleen Gleason, so I do interviews and give things away. I love Michelle Moran, so I am dedicating a week to her in September (details to come soon!). And, I love Patricia Briggs because I am willing to read ROMANCE to tide me over until the new Mercedes book. Now, if that is not the best way to tell someone what I think of an author, I really do not have any other way to put it. That being said, reading Colleen Gleason means visiting the romance aisle. Do you know I didn't even know where it was in the bookstore when I bought her first book? That is how much time I spend there... (I keep mentioning Colleen because I am catching up with her right now! In reading, I mean. I mean, there I am mentioned in the acknowlegments and I haven't even read the book! Do I suck or what?!?)

Anyways, I didn't read the rest of the stories in the anthology because they don't really interest me. Am I making a mistake here? Anyone else read them and think I should spend time on them, or what? Thoughts?

So, now I can start Cry Wolf, which means walking around with this cover.... You know, if the person on the cover is the woman I just read about... Well, she's not what I expected at all!

And in the meantime, Patricia has another story coming out in an anthology in December. I will read it, but man, I wish she would stop doing that to me! I won't read the other stories.... And then *drum roll* NEW MERCEDES BOOK IN FEBRUARY!!! Yay! I have no idea why I am such a fan girl about her series... probably because I am actually caught up in it instead of a bunch of books behind, like I am with most series... A bunch of books behind, I mean, not caught up.

Does she not have nice covers? I can't see I need to look at half-dressed women, but I mean, other than that the covers are nice and bright and eye-catching... You know, I am so un-girlie when it comes to this stuff, I HATE being caught with covers that look like that... I mean, I have a rep to protect... and people keep thinking I broke down and became a 'typical girl' and started reading romance novels. Now, please don't get me wrong, romance novels can be good, I just like action and adventure more than a guy and a girl (and difference variations on that theme) getting it on for a million pages. But, I do read J.D. Robb and things of that sort, so it is not like I am TOTALLY against it... It is just not my thing. And, I mean, I do go in the romance aisle for Gleason books.... So, see, I am not trying to be rude, so don't get mad at me!

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

Books Completed: 17
Completion Date: February 2, 2007
Publication Year: 2007
Pages: 304
Purchased in 2007
Book Two in the Mercedes Thompson series

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.

To see my review of this, all you have to do is click here and it will take you over to Twisted Kingdom.

Authors Gender:

Female: 16

Male: 1

I have previously read Patrica Briggs before. To see the review for the first book in this series, click here. I also read another book from her Hurog Duology, the review can be read by clicking here. I hope to read the sequel to that one very soon.

R.I.P. Present

For completing the R.I.P. Challenge, I ordered my book...s... from Amazon. I bought my boyfriend a present, on a whim, hopefully he will like it! But, for myself, I decided that I needed to read some Patricia Briggs before her sequel to Moon Called comes out in January.

So, I got the Dragon duology. I was only going to get the first book, but if I like it and want to read the second, then I would just order it anyway. This way, I have both at the same time. And, I got the sequel to the Brigg's novel I already have. The reason I haven't read it yet is because I wanted to have the sequel all ready, before I did. So, okay, I stretched my present, but free shipping from Amazon is so very annoying... and tempting....

The list is as such:
Dragon Blood
Dragon Bones
Ravens Strike

Moon Called - Patricia Briggs [August/06]

I have heard of Patricia Briggs before, as many people I am sure have picked up on, as I like fantasy novels. I even own a book by her in my to be read pile, I just hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. Then, Dance Chica talked about Moon Called on her blog, because the sequel is going to be released in the New Year. So, I thought I would forget about the book I have by her to read, and pick this book up if I saw it. Well, I found it yesterday and started it in the car on the way back home from the bookstore.

From the back of the book:

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

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

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

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

I was very happy to be recommended this book, as it as a very worthwhile read, let me tell you. Better than Laurell K. Hamilton, I hope. Yes, there are chances that it could get bad because there are men and women involved, so sex could become a very Anita Blake type of novel. I just hope that it is tasteful, because she is a strong character like Anita Blake started out, but she is not turned away from relationships like Anita was, so it wouldn't have been as bad if it changed. I just think this series is more hopeful right now than I have been hearing Laurell Hamilton is.

It is one of those books that you can not easily put down. It starts out rather innocently, but by the end of the book the action has you glued to the pages. It is a novel of Mercy, a shape-shifter, able to take on the shape of a coyote. Her abilities are traced back to Natives and their magic, but as far as she knows and is told, all of her people have been erradicated. Her neighbour is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf, but the leader of the local pack in the town that she lives in.

Then, there is the witch that is in the werewolves pay roll to clean up what they don't want the public eye to see, and the other supernatural characters that are friends with Mercy and her friends. Some are known by the public world, while others remain in hiding as a species. Mercy is a badass, it is a novel where the women are making advancements in the world, but the werewolves are still about male dominance. Mercy refuses to do what is expected of her. She fixes cars for a living, nothing too amazing, but she is a very interesting character.

A very worthwhile novel, be sure to read it if you like supernatural or paranormal characters. Book 2 will be out in January.

4.5/5