Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)
by Patricia Briggs
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Book Reviews of Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2)
Book Review: Paranormal fantasy needs more heroines like Mercy!
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, I'll admit it. I am totally hooked on this series. I finished Blood Bound last night and immediately -- without even taking a break -- picked up book three of the series, Iron Kissed. That's the sign of an addictive read.
Blood Bound picks up the story of Mercedes Thompson six months after the conclusion of book one, Moon Called. Mercy is a walker -- a human that can turn into a coyote at will -- and immune to many of the magics of the preternatural community. That makes her a valuable ally against the new Big Bad in town -- a demon-possessed sorceror that's been turned into a vampire. Mercy's vampire best friend Stefan and both of her could-be werewolf loves are missing, tempers and crimes are on the rise because of the heat wave and the evil in town, and Mercy's trying to figure out how her ability to talk to ghosts can help her find the monster that threatens everything that's important to her.
I read a lot of books in this genre, and Briggs writes some of the most believable characters out there. Even though they're werewolves, and walkers, vampires and fae, they're all people first. You won't find flat stereotypes here -- Briggs characters are the kind you find yourself thinking about long after the final page has been turned.
Another thing to note -- for paranormal romance/adventure books, Briggs' Mercy Thompson books are all very "clean." In a genre kind of known for steamy bedroom scenes and colorful language, Blood Bound includes no foul language that I can think of, and no hot-and-heavy romantic exchanges. Those elements don't detract from my reading experience, but I know they bother some people, so it's worth noting. Mercy is a surprisingly good moral model, and a Christian -- even if she does have to kill a rogue werewolf or crazy vampire every once in awhile to keep the peace. She's one of the most interesting characters I've "met" in a long time.
Book Review: One of the best in UF
Summary: 5 Stars
Owing favors is not something Mercy likes to have on her plate, but when vampire friend Stefan asks her to go with him to speak to a new vampire in their territory she agrees. Unaware that this vampire is also part sorcerer, they head to a motel only to end up caught in dangerous situation. with both their lives on the line. His magic doesn't work on Mercy, but it ends up putting Stefan in some kind of trance, leaving Mercy to fend for herself in her coyote form. This vampire as it turns out has a demon riding him, and this turns the city into a violent place to live. Wrecking havoc is something that comes along with this sorcerer turned vampire. Mercy must find out who made this vampire and kill it. With the help from the Fae and some of the werewolf pack they might just succeed.
I'm really enjoying the progression of these novels. They start with only the werewolves involved, and now we have the vampires involved. It's good to mix things up, because werewolf politics can be exhausting! Having Mercy get involved with the vampires seems like the next logical step in the series. I hope in the future she will get involved with other species. It's also nice that just because she's entrenched in vampires, the wolves don't automatically drop out of the picture. They still have Mercy's back and try to help as much as possible. We're still having trouble with this love triangle between Adam, Samuel, and Mercy. It also looks like Stefan might be a little infatuated by our favorite Coyote.
Again, this series is easy to fall in love with. I enjoy how, like Kim Harrison's Series, these books aren't just based around the magic, monsters, or drama, but instead around the relationships. It's so important to have fantastic secondary characters. Sometimes I think Briggs writes the other characters better than she does Mercy.
Great series, a definite must read for Urban Fantasy fans!
Book Review: Even better than the first!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was so excited to hear Briggs had finally come out with the second in the series featuring Mercy. I thought the first was excellent and now have discovered the second to be even better. I love this tough, intelligent, educated character. How wild to have a college degree in history only to have to make a living fixing VWs and living in a 20 year old trailer. (I don't mean wild and in good-but typical of some college degrees. I mean, really, how much can you do with a degree in history, but teach history?) Mercy is not just a pretty great mechanic, but she's also a skin-walker who can turn into a coyote at will. She's the only skin-walker that she know of. As a young girl, her mom brought her to a local werewolf tribe and asked their help in raising her. She was lucky when they agreed and did right by Mercy (most wolves would kill a coyote outright). Now Mercy is being looked after by the local werewolves of the new town she lives in as a favor to her foster father. She's living with her childhood sweetheart (holding him off at arms length) being courted by the local alpha (holding him at arms length) and being recruited by the local friendly vampire (being totally freaked out). Then there is the serial killer who's come to town. Mercy is told by just about every male in rock throwing distance to stay out of it (which she agrees wholeheartedly) but when all those same males turn up missing, she's all that's left to rescue them.
Overall I find it fabulous and I absolutely cannot wait for the next. Great characterization with extremely well rounded and versatile characters. The plot is to die for. The scene where Mercy is alone in her little trailer and the demon/vampire is right outside her window looking in left me at the edge of my seat, holding my breath. My eyes could not travel across the line fast enough. Great! Great! Great!
Book Review: Once again, Mercy is kicking A** and taking names..
Summary: 5 Stars
After a strong first book, Mercy comes back full force in Blood Bound. This time instead of a rogue Werewolf, we have a rogue Vampire. Moon Called was a great intro to the Tricities underworld and brought us deep in to the world of Werewolves but this time, we are taken in to the world of Vampires. Mercy is nearly immune to magic and due to this gift, Stefan asks her to join him in visiting a vampire who is new in town and has visited the Seethe and Stefan knows something isn't right and asks Mercy to stay in Coyote form. This creepy new vampire is one scary creature, a sorcerer turned Vampire and being ridden by a demon is a bad combination. Every where he goes, evil follows. He can over power Vampires, werewolves, fae and the witches. Not a good combination.
Mercy gets asked by Marsilia, the vampire head, to help after Warren (I love him! I hope he gets more focus in the coming books) is nearly killed and a weaker vampire was also killed. Mercy also learns more about what being a walker is. I don't want to share anymore details as I don't want to spoil the plot but I loved Blood Bound. It was strong, Mercy was strong and I felt my adrenaline rush. Also, I have to throw this in, when the Demon/Vamp/Sorceror thingy finds out who and what Mercy is and finds her at her trailer, that was a scary scene. I could visualize his face pressed against her window and his fangs scratching the glass, and could hear him destroying her trailer and shredding it. Ouch.
Either ways, I can't wait for more. I have Iron Kissed coming which is #3. I have a feeling that one will have the focus on the Faes. Once again, another two thumbs up to Patricia Briggs. She has created an awesome heroine, strong, independent and a positive influence amongst all the dominant/submissive play of the weres.
Book Review: Looking forward to more books in this series
Summary: 5 Stars
It's difficult to find good urban fantasy these days, but Patricia Briggs has started a new series. The first book, "Moon Called" which came out last year, introduced us to Mercedes 'Mercy' Thompson, a girl who was raised by wolves--well, werewolves to be exact. It seems Mercy is a skinwalker. She appears to be human, but can change to a coyote form at will. In this society, the fae have come out and many are restricted to reservations. Weres and vamps are also in the process of coming out, but there's quite a bit of politics and public relations involved in this process.
Mercy isn't in your typical glam profession, either. She's a mechanic, a VW mechanic to be precise, named "Mercedes."
The second book, "Blood Bound" returns to Mercy's world. Stefan, a friend and not your typical vampire (he drives a VW bus decorated as the "Mystery Machine"), asks Mercy to come along as witness in her coyote form. He suspects a vampire-sorcerer is loose in the Tri-Cities area. He's right--Mercy witnesses a vicious murder.
Worse, as the heat increases, tempers everywhere are flaring and the body count is rising. Marsilia, the Master Vampire, comes to Mercy and tells her that she's the only one who can stop this sorcerer. Between the vamps and the fae, Mercy has the skills and the tools to do the job.
Just before she can, the vampire-sorcerer has taken the Alpha Werewolf and her close friend, Samuel. Mercy's pretty sure by nightfall that the two of them will be added to the death toll.
Mercedes is definitely a likeable heroine. I enjoy reading about a VW mechanic's life juxtaposed into a fantasy situation. The world she's created is interesting and mostly believable. Briggs definitely knows how to keep you turning pages. I certainly did til I was done with the book.