River Marked by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson Series #6)

Back of the Book Blurb: 
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...

Review:  Ah, it feels so good to be back in Mercy's world, in the sixth adventure for our coyote shifter and walker.  She is now Adam's fiance and mate, after surviving the faerie queene, a pissed off vampire Mistress, and various and sundry supernaturals, plus one psychotic rapist.  But living Mercy's life vicariously is the ONLY way I want to live it, because by page 7 she is once again getting the crap beat out of her.  Her strength and stubbornness are exceeded only by her loyalty to her friends.  Gotta love the girl!

Patricia Briggs is a masterful storyteller, and River Marked is an elegant example of how a story should unfold.  The pace is swift, the characters an interesting mix of the familiar and the new, and as the mystery is revealed the menace and danger continue to increase.  Mercy is once again caught up in a swirling mix of supernatural freakiness and adventure, as she and Adam try to enjoy their honeymoon while figuring out who or what is killing people in the river.  Soon Mercy meets other Native American shifters, and a good bit of her father's lineage is revealed as well, explaining her nature and abilities.  The revelations about her father explain so much, making the reader realize just how beautifully crafted the entire storyline has been up to this point.  Every clue, every little piece of Mercy's history, has a place in the puzzle that is assembled here.
Mercy and Adam learn they were manipulated by the fae (there's a shock!) to spend their honeymoon near the River Devil's hunting ground, and they soon join forces with local Native American medicine men to defeat the monster.  As the River Devil gains in strength, she pushes Mercy to her limits in a violent final showdown.


Urban fantasy does not get better than these books.  Mercy's world perfectly straddles the real and the supernatural, creating its very own magical "between" place capable of transporting readers.  By having Mercy so involved in normal daily living, the author has created a much more believable world, and allows for a smooth addition of the supernatural.  The blending of Native American and European folklore and mythology is seamless, highlighting the common themes and variations between the pantheons.  Those of us who grew up reading the original Grimm's fairy tales will recognize the often terrifying European fae (as opposed to the sanitized, Disney versions), and they are a great addition to a world of vampires, shapeshifters, werewolves and more.  Ancient legends pop up frequently in these books, and casual readers and students of folklore alike will devour them.

For more information about Patricia Briggs' novels, visit her website at http://www.patriciabriggs.com/.
She has many, many books in print, but is perhaps best known for the following series:

Mercy Thompson Series                           Alpha and Omega Series
Moon Called                                            On The Prowl (short story in this anthology)
Blood Bound                                            Cry Wolf
Iron Kissed                                              Hunting Game
Bone Crossed                                          Fair Game (January 2012)
Silver Borne
River Marked
#7 ??  Spring 2013

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

 

The Back of the Book:

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.

My Review:

Charles and Anna were originally introduced in a short story anthology, and this is their first stand-alone novel in the Alpha and Omega series.  Readers can jump right into Cry Wolf, though, as Patricia Briggs has done a great job of explaining how they met without the reader feeling like she’s being “caught up”.

Cry Wolf is a fast-paced blend of paranormal mystery and suspense with a bit of romance all mixed together.  As with Briggs’ previous novels, the worlds she creates are rich, and multi-layered, with believable characters who don’t always make the wisest decisions, just as in real life.  

Charles and Anna are trying to figure out the nuances and capabilities of their mate bond while adjusting to life as a couple.  Anna is particularly compelling, as she is dealing with the effects of being abused by her pack while simultaneously trying to trust her instincts about believing in Charles.  When their lives are threatened, her true inner strength is revealed, and we understand how she was able to survive her past.  Charles is a very sexy character, mysterious, quiet and lethal, with magical shamanistic abilities he inherited from his Native American mother.  Although we meet Anna at a low point in her life, there is more to her than meets the eye. When Charles is in danger, she embraces her werewolf strength and learns to kick some butt of her own.  The plot twists and suspense kept me reading late into the night, as Charles and Anna figure out who their enemies are.  The Montana wilderness is a powerful and  image-evoking backdrop as Charles and Anna try to survive both it and powerful supernatural enemies.  This book was well worth reading and highly recommended.