Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)
by Patricia Briggs
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Book Reviews of Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)
Book Review: Almost as good as the first
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the second book in the Mercy Thompson novels and it lived up to my expectations. After borrowing the first one from the library I couldn't wait to read the rest so I went out to buy them. This is rare for me because I search through so many to find the one that I can't wait to finish.
After the first story I just loved the character. She's strong, stubborn and has strong loyalties. I will admit there are some points where I didn't understand her for example instead of searching for clues or something she would go to work....I know I know the bills must be paid but still. Anyways from the first story I knew she was a shape shifter in the form of coyote. She was raised by a pack of werewolves then she was on her own at a young age but she was under watchful eyes.
In this book Stephan calls her in to return the favor that she owed him. And like the good person she is she does but that ends up being a bigger problem than expected. There is a new vampire in town and there is more to him than just that. There is something inside him....A lot of events take place and Mercy is the only one that can take care of business.
This book was non stop fun. I couldn't put it down at all just waiting for the next event or conversation. It had plenty of action and some really cute scenes. I still can't pick what team I'm on. After the last book I was starting to say she should go with Stefan so she doesn't have to pick between Adam and Sam...This one it turns into more choices...
Team Adam?
Team Samuel?
Team....well you'll have to read it
I just can't pick..I love them all. Yes they all have their flaws but that's what makes them likable. There is just something about each of them that I wish they can be combines into one person. I have usually been able to lean towards one and I was close until this book and now I'm in limbo.
Overall I'd give this a 4.5 because of the lack of the werewolves which is what I thought was going to be the focus of the story. Event wise thought it was great and Mercy learns more about herself and what powers she posses and the story is resolved nicely.
Book Review: Better than the first one
Summary: 5 Stars
"Moon Called," author Patricia Briggs' introduction to the shapeshifting Mercy Thompson, was good. "Blood Bound," the sequel, is better.
Mercy lives among werewolves in a society that knows they -- as well as various fae populations -- exist. But Mercy isn't a werewolf; lycanthropy is a culture based in European roots, while Mercy's coyote shape is rooted in Native American lore. She is far less powerful in her coyote form, but has certain advantages, such as a natural resistance to vampiric mind games.
That will prove to be a useful trait in "Blood Bound," which pits Mercy, the local werewolf pack and the community of vampires -- who have not been revealed to the public at large -- against a rogue vampire with a demon in thrall and powerful sorcerous abilities at his command. As the body count rises and key characters are taken out of play, Mercy finds herself fighting an enemy she can't even find, much less defeat with any certainty. To add a delicious layer of tension to the story, her allies may prove as deadly as the sorceror she's hunting -- she definitely can't trust them to watch her back.
And all she really wants to do is keep her garage open for business and tinker in her spare time on her beloved VW Rabbit.
Refreshingly, the romance aspect of the story -- Mercy has two powerful werewolves and maybe a vampire vying for her affections -- is subdued, almost inconsequential to the plot. Some folks might be disappointed, but romance is making such a heavy push into contemporary paranormal fiction, it's almost a relief to see it de-emphasized for a change. Mercy is no heart of stone, but she certainly doesn't feel the need to have a man in her life, for love or protection against the greater dark.
"Blood Bound" is a compelling story with a strong, capable heroine who defies expectations in an increasingly crowded genre. Characters, action and suspense work together smoothly to drive the plot in interesting directions, and readers will hug the pages as Briggs takes unexpected turns.
by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor
Book Review: Mercy Thompson 2: Blood Bound
Summary: 4 Stars
Mercy Thompson #2: Blood Bound, by Patricia Briggs
Owing a vampire a favor can be a very dangerous thing, as Mercy is about to find out in this sequel to "Moon Called."
Stefan comes to Mercy in the middle of the night, needing the special defense against magic that being a walker provides to her. He is going to meet with another vampire, but fears that the other vampire may be able to manipulate his memories. Stefan's fears turn out to be right, leaving Mercy the sole witness to a dangerous bloodbath. The other vampire turns out to be a sorcerer - a magic user possessed by a demon. And he's been busy killing.
Though Stefan and the werewolves tell Mercy to stay out of it, she knows she can't. Especially not when one of her favorite werewolves, Warren, is severely wounded by the sorcerer. But how can one little coyote face off against a demon-vampire?
In the second book of the Mercy Thompson series, Briggs introduces us more thoroughly to vampires. Her vampires are much like those of legend - they can't go out in the light and sleep during the day, some have superpowers, and they can be killed by using a stake and burning the body. But Briggs' vampires also keep menageries - humans that have willingly agreed to be vampire food. Stefan is probably the most atypical vampire - he drives a van painted like the Scooby Doo van and is kind to his menagerie; he's experimenting to find how vampire blood can help blood-borne illnesses. But the rest of them...well, I'd be scared to meet them in full daylight, let alone in the dark.
"Blood Bound" fleshes out more of Briggs' supernatural world populated with werewolves, vampires, fae, and more. I didn't think it was quite as captivating as "Moon Called," but it was still a very solid book, with lots of action and an intriguing plot that will keep you reading. I'm a little over-saturated with vampires, that may be why I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book. But don't let that keep you from picking this up, as the story in "Blood Bound" will keep you bound to the pages.
4/5.
Book Review: Decent story; many spelling errors and grammatical faux pas
Summary: 3 Stars
Generally speaking the story and plot was good enough to keep me interested and wanting to finish the book. Not a good, in my opinion as the Charlaine Harris "Sookie Stackhouse" books (True Blood), but still a nice escape. I think the first book, Moon Called, was a bit stronger and - though these are fantasy - a bit more "believable."
My only qualm with the story itself was that, particularly towards the end, it felt as though Briggs was struggling to meet a page quota by rehashing ideas that had already been covered quite well at least once previously (if not twice or more).
Now for the spelling and grammar issues...
Extremely disappointed in the editing of this particular book. As with the story feeling stretched at the end, the editing in the last 100 pages (paperback) just dropped off completely in quality. I will forgive a few throughout (and the earlier portion had at least a few), but when I start seeing things like the word "judgment" misspelled as "judgement" twice in the same sentence (yes, I know British English allows for the E after the G, which I had to look up prior to writing this review; however, this is an American author, and a story set in the Pacific Northwest), followed on the next page with the word "faired" instead of "fared" (as in "she fared well") I just cringe and begin to focus on the errors instead of the story.
Grammatically, there were many times that I had to reread sentences to be sure I knew who was completing the action. I'm no grammar expert, but I think these are considered "dangling participles"? For instance, there was a sentence like, "The man was lying on the floor when I opened the door muttering and whimpered..." Now, I GET it. I know the GUY was muttering and whimpering, but it did cause me to go back and figure that out. Perhaps a better sentence would have been, "When I opened the door, a man lie there muttering; he whimpered..." (If my use of LIE is incorrect, I apologize - I recognize that is a tough one).
So, good enough story. Just don't expect a well-written or edited one.
Book Review: Vampires and Werewolves and Demons....Oh My!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Like most people that own their own businesses, I work long hours that start early in the morning. So when someone calls me in the middle of the night, they'd better by dying. "Hello, Mercy," said Stefan's amicable voice in my ear, "I wonder if you could do me a favor." Stefan had done his dying a long time ago, so I saw no reason to be nice."
Stefan is Mercy's vampire friend. If you could possibly call a vampire a friend, that is. And yes, she owes him a favor. He had gone to bat for her with his seethe when she had some werewolf trouble, and now he is calling in that favor. Stefan has been asked to investigate the appearance of a new vampire in town. One that didn't ask permission from the seethe, which is a big no-no in the vampire community. And Stefan wants Mercy to come along as a witness, in case something happens. He needs her for 2 reasons. Because she is a Walker, she is virtually immune to the powers of a vampire. And she can shapeshift into a coyote and no one will know who she is.
So Mercy goes along on the meeting. But when they meet up with this vampire, she knows that trouble has come to the Tri-Cities. Not only is he a vampire, but a sorcerer.....that has let a demon inside. He actually had the ability to control Stefan, and he's about the most powerful vampire around. And now this new vampire's bloodlust is causing a rather large body-count. Which for a group of vampires that don't want the human world to know their existence is big trouble.
What can I say? This is one fantastic series!! Mercy is tough as nails, funny, and exceedingly humble. I just love her! Strong female characters are always good for me, and Mercy is definitely one of the best. The main storyline is fascinating, as we learn a lot more about the vampire community. And Mercy's lovelife is only getting weirder. Not only is she caught in the middle between 2 dominant werewolves, now there is a little something with Stefan the vampire! Blood Bound is ever bit as good as the first book, Moon Called. Maybe better. I can't wait to see where Mercy goes next!!