Frost Burned: Mercy Thompson, Book 7

Well, if the review title didn't make it clear - I really do LOVE these books and highly recommend them! This author is very EASY TO READ - by that I mean that you don't have to dredge through too much info (some authors get crazy in the little details and descriptions) and though it is not "dumbed down" there aren't any times you don't feel as fully up-to-speed as the characters, the story seems to flow quickly like a good movie. HOLDS YOUR INTEREST ALL THE WAY. :-) ** It should be noted that this book series is meant to be read IN ORDER ** which is really nice for the readers who DO because she doesn't make you rehash everything that happened in the previous books (author Terry Goodkind drove me nuts in his "Sword of Truth" series because by book 4 he was constantly repeating himself and it not only wasted the loyal readers' time, but you also felt some ripped off that most of the new book was rehash of the previous ones, and not done very well - so I really appreciate that this author does NOT put you through that). Another reason I like her writing is that she doesn't try to throw in as much stuff from left field as possible to have all kinds of confusing sub-plots going on (like the awful "Game of Thrones" series, aggggh!) The story is kept pure and on-track. In this series - Mercy Thompson is a bit of a tough loner and (as far as we know) basically the last of her kind (she can shape-shift into a coyote and/or back to human in a brief moment - can sense magic, see ghosts, and is immune to vampire magic). She is an auto-mechanic and grew up under the protection of a prominent werewolf pack. She is the kind of person you'd want as your friend. She also has werewolf, vampire and fae friends (and enemies). At times in these books I catch myself wondering at how/why she can instantly register' so many details and think so logically about some things in the midst of a crisis situation - but growing up around volatile werewolves would make you get good at that real quick or you'd end up real dead. It's just part of what makes her special and part of why she has so-far managed to survive against the odds. There is action, heart, warmth, great human and "other" characters and good story-telling in these books. I hope you enjoy all the books as I have. I can't wait until the next book comes out!! ENJOY!! :-)

Frost Burned was a high action installment. The entire Columbia Basin Pack – Adam included has been kidnapped. Everyone except Mercy and Jessie, who were out doing some Black Friday shopping, Kyle who just hadn’t managed to get scooped up yet and Ben who got away with a silver nitrate, ketamine tranquilizer dart in the patootie. Bran has called Samuel away and is dealing with “disturbances in the force" and sending cryptic texts. He knows something is up; but he’s also embroiled in werewolf, Fae, vampire and human politics of his own. Zee is holed up in the fae reservation in Walla Walla per order of the Gray Lords who declared the fae to be a separate and sovereign nation due to Fae-Human politics, and who forbid Zee from helping Mercy due to Fae-Werewolf politics. Zee, however, is able to provide some assistance through his half human son Tad, Stefan is always a reliable ally, and Bran manages to send his scary, scary, wolf Asil the Moor to lend a paw when Mercy manages to get word to him though Ariana, Samuel’s mate. It's up to Mercy and her band of Scoobies to save the day with her pack magic, mating magic and Coyote magic. And the stolen (or borrowed, depending upon semantics) dark blue Mercedes S 65 AMG that Mercy was supposed to be fixing for Marsilia Mistress of the Tri-Cities seethe. Through her connection to Adam, Mercy learns that the pack was kidnapped by renegade Federal CANTRIP agents (Combined Nonhuman and Transhuman relations provisors) who want to force Adam into killing a Senator to destroy Werewolf/human relations. Things of course turn out to be even more complicated and Vampire politics are at the heart of things. Mercy may not be able to physically hold her own as the little coyote shifter playing with the big dogs; but she has a special brand of walker, coyote magic that neither werewolves or vampires possess.

Summary: Mercy never catches a break. First her step-daughter drags her black Friday shopping, then she gets in a car accident. But to make matters worse, she can't get in touch with Adam, her alpha werewolf husband, or the rest of the pack. She may be on her own, but she will find them. But not without some costs. Review: The last few Mercy books dragged on. As much as I love Mercy and Adam together, their romance is boring to me. The last few books also moved at a slow pace. However, reading Frost Burned was a return to the first few Mercy Thompson books. We had action, a balanced dose of romance, and good dosage of my favorite characters. It is the seventh book; therefore the world is pretty much built. However, there are little bits changed and added here and there. I have not read the sister series, Alpha and Omega, but from what I understand, their world has turned upside down. The stories have moved to a new direction, of more global politics than just local pack issues. And now they are being tied in with the vampires and the Fae. The plot is fantastic, with every scene unfolding to a bigger and scarier problem. When it comes to the characters, I'm not that fond of Mercy and Adam. Mercy is a very inconsistent character. One moment she listens to other people, and in the next she loses common sense. She's one of those characters that never makes "mistakes", and that's boring. However, I love the supporting cast in the series. My favorites, Stefan, Ben, Kyle, Jesse, etc. are all in this book and play key roles. These characters are more interesting than Mercy and Adam. One thing that annoys me throughout all the books is how Mercy forgives the wolves for their sins, but always holds Stefan to this high standard that he can never meet. If werewolves can be forgiven because of instinct, that so can vampires. If vampires are evil because they kill, then so are werewolves. I think it's more of a personal pet peeve because Stefan is my favorite character. The world Briggs made is breathtaking, and we see a return to that original vision. There are still problems in the book for me, but a lot has since the last 3 books. Violence: killing, a werewolf dies, fighting, etc. Sex: Kissing and references to sex Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Quote: You will eat this and go to sleep, so your pronouns get their antecedents back.

Patricia Briggs can write the most down to earth, loveable and yet fascinating characters and put them into stories that begin with the most innocuous scenes, but then bam!!! It leaps into a ferocious do or die story where the heroines and heroes are so tested in action and emotion. Frost Burned is the seventh book in an Urban Fantasy series that must be read in order. My review does contain some series spoilers for those who haven't read the first six so keep that in mind if you choose to continue reading. Ever since the very first time I met Mercy Thompson in 'Moon Called', I was hooked. A female VW mechanic who consorts with werewolves, fae and vampires, but is herself a lightweight supernatural in the paranormal community. She's a coyote shifter and the only one of her kind. Mercy doesn't let her lack stop her from charging in and doing what she thinks is right even when the big baddies outnumber, outclass her and can kill her every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Battered and left for dead, she picks herself up, dusts off and tenaciously fights on. She is also kind, loyal and loving to her friends, her family that includes her new husband Adam and his daughter Jesse. Yes, I adore Mercy! Now, in this latest installment of Mercy's story, it opens just on midnight Black Friday with Mercy and Jesse out hitting the sales. Just when they are heading to yet another store, Mercy experiences what feels like a panic attack and gets in a wreck. By the time they deal with the wreck, Mercy and Jesse discover that the werewolf pack including Adam have been kidnapped by men who claimed to be federal agents. Only Ben escaped to tell the tale and he's fighting the silver poisoning he received from the darts that were shot into him when he got away. Mercy is scared when she uses her mate bond with Adam and discovers he and the others are being held helpless and in pain from silver poisoning. The captors want Adam to do something for them with his pack and the threat to his family as leverage. The unknown enemy is targeting all who are connected to the wolves so Mercy has to hide Jesse and Gabriel, free Warren's Kyle from the men holding him, stay one step ahead of those who want to kidnap her too all the while trying to find Adam and the pack and take down whoever or whatever is big and bad enough to capture a werewolf pack. Mercy's list of allies is thin now that the fae have retreated back into their sanctuaries. But thin doesn't mean non-existent so Mercy sets out with Ben, Stefan the vampire and a disgruntled Tad her half-fae friend. Oh and naturally, much more is going on than it seems when Mercy discovers that her enemies number more than she thought as do their motives. Mercy needs a ton of luck, wily Coyote reminding of what strengths a coyote possesses and a few moments of timely help to get her people and herself through this mess. I am pleased to report that Mercy is back from her honeymoon, healed up from her last tangle with a monster and ready to go. The plot was action driven and mostly from Mercy's perspective. However, big news here- Adam gets a few scenes to tell the story. Loved it! Hope we get more of his perspective in the future, but I would never give up Mercy's narrative voice because it is her voice that sets the tone of these stories making them the wonderful things they are. I was glad that Stefan the vampire was back though it saddens me that he's still not the same after Marsilia did her number on him. Oh and just a piece of advice, have a tissue handy because this adventure does have a casualty that will just break your heart. For those who enjoy the Alpha & Omega series, there is one character crossover and references to what is going on in the other series. On a side note, I personally don't really think of these as two separate series just installments in the same series with two separate sets of main characters. I find it more enjoyable to read them that way. Sometimes when the main character and love interest in the series finally get together, it can get a bit problematic because the tension is gone in the romance plot line. That is not the case in this one. Yes, Adam and Mercy were married for most of the last story, but it was told in isolation and with a different backdrop. This was the first story where they're back on their home turf amidst their people. Much of the story Adam and Mercy are physically separated due to his kidnapping, but it didn't interrupt their story line because of the mate bond they share. Adam's still the strong protective alpha who will do anything to keep his wife, child and pack safe and Mercy is still the determined woman who will deal with matters and get her husband back even if it means ignoring his orders and making him mad because she's putting herself in danger. I was thrilled to see that marriage hadn't changed much of anything for these two. That grand finale just before the ending left me with the whole 'wow,didn't see that coming' that I usually get from these stories. I'm coming to almost expect such awesomeness from this series each book that I pick up which is why I try not to grow impatient for the next book to come out. Good stuff just can't be rushed. I recommend this series and this latest installment to all Urban Fantasy fans who love an underdog -er undercoyote heroine who grits her teeth and makes her own luck.

Frost Burned - Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. One of the best Mercy Thompson books yet and they've all been good. This was a great read. For the first time, we got a little insight into Adam's point of view and it was great. Once again, Mercy is going about her business when her world turns upside down. As usual, she rises to the occasion and proves herself a worthy heroine and one of my personal favorites. River Marked was just a little "off" to me. Still a good read, just not as good as the other Mercy Thompson books. However, Frost Burned is... many different kinds of awesome! We got to see a little creepier side of the vampires. Although Bran and Charles did not show up, Bran sent someone to help Adam's pack and Mercy. I love to see the relationships within the pack. That is one of the most fun things about this series. But the romance between Adam and Mercy... very hot! I loved every minute of it. The fae were there in a limited capacity since they've declared war on the humans and are hiding in the "reservation" areas. The former garage owner's son showed up and was a lot of help eventually. I think he has some issues, most probably due to his being half fae. Adam is awesome. This book elevated him to a true hero status in my estimation. That is mostly due to his insight because we got to see his intelligence and what he was thinking. The vampires... it's hard to say how I feel about them right now. I don't even trust Mercy's former vampire friend anymore. It will be interesting to see where the next book goes and... once again, I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I'm also a big fan of the Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs. These books are some great reading if you like paranormal romance. Frost Burned was as good as the last Alpha Omega book which completely blew me away. Mercy Thompson is my all time favorite heroine and Adam is... my all time favorite alpha werewolf! I don't know how Patricia Briggs can top this but... I hope she tries. I am so looking forward to her next book. If you haven't done it yet, start at the beginning and read the Mercy Thompson series and then read the Alpha and Omega series. This is one of the best paranormal series available! I highly recommend!

***I have refrained from adding any spoilers to this review*** I love to read series, and the Mercy Thompson books are one of the best paranormal series out there. Patricia Briggs doesn’t disappoint with her new installment featuring our favorite coyote shifter. Briggs is an excellent writer, and her fast paced story, filled with danger and action, pulls you in from the very beginning. It feels like I have been waiting for the release of this book forever! I read Frost Burned in two days, and if I didn’t have to work or run a home, I would’ve sat in one spot and devoured it in one sitting. Yes, it was that good. I enjoyed that Briggs continued to focus on Mercy’s understanding and growth of her powers. Briggs began to explore this in the previous book, River Marked, where we learned about Mercy’s past and her true father. This added insight opened up a world of possibilities and has translated into Mercy becoming more comfortable in her own skin. In this installment, Mercy finally settles into her role as the Alpha’s mate of the Columbia Basin Pack, and she embraces her mate bond with Adam. I love the dynamic relationship between Mercy and Adam, and even though they spend most of the book apart, Briggs is still able to advance and strengthen their relationship. I enjoyed the two scenes written from Adam’s POV. They provided insight into his character and added depth to the book. Their support and dedication to one another is more romantic than any love scene. Briggs managed to seamlessly incorporate Asil from her sister series, Alpha and Omega, and I like how the two series are advancing simultaneously. Also, I enjoyed the appearance of Stephan, and I am glad to see that he is finally on the road to recovery after Marsilia’s brutal treatment. I miss the old Stephan and his witty humor, and hopefully he will be back to full form in the next book. Another secondary character that I enjoyed learning more about was Kyle Brooks, Warren’s live in boyfriend. Briggs really developed his character and he has permanently won a place in my heart. My only complaints about the book are that the story arc was disjointed toward the end, and there were several plot threads left dangling. The last 20% almost felt like a separate book. I understand that Briggs was trying to throw in a few plot twists, but somewhere along the way she dropped several important threads. Also, the conclusion of the story (the last ten pages or so) was written out of order, which only confused me. I am not sure why she decided to write the ending that way, there were no stylistic gains from the jumpy scenes. Despite the minor issues listed above, I absolutely adored this book. I had no problem falling back into the world of shifters, vampires, fae, and witches that Briggs has created. I can’t wait for the next book!!! If you haven’t read this series, you should definitely pick it up. I also recommend that you read her sister series, Alpha and Omega. Briggs is an excellent story teller and weaves an amazing tale that you will lose yourself in. http://literarybaxspace.com/2013/06/10/book-review-frost-burned-mercy-thompson-book-7/

http://bookbutterflyreviews.blogspot.ca/ For those who have read the Kate Daniel Series, the Elemental Assassin series, The Walker Papers series, or the Kitty Norville series, this is another series that you will love. Especially for those werewolf lovers! Patricia Briggs is one of the few authors that consistency writes great books that satisfy that inner junky while always keeping you wanting more. As stated above, this is the Seventh instalment of the Mercy Thompson series. If you haven't read the fist six, I suggest that you don't read this... it may give things away. As always, we will start with the characters. Being the seventh book, all the main characters have been well established already. Yet somehow, Briggs manages to bring new depth to all of these characters and her ability to do so astounds me. Ben especially, I found, to be so much more matured and well liked in this novel. I must admit, I miss his potty mouth, but his growing fondness for pack and his warming up to the new Alpha's mate, Mercy (our main character) warms me up a little. Especially for such a hard man... werewolf... whatever. Hell, even KYLE gets more awesome.. and I didn't think that was possible. The only think I didn't like was that absence of Coyote. After seeing so much of him in the previous novel, I was looking forward to seeing more of him in this instalment as well. He was in it, do't get me wrong, but to such a minor degree it was almost unnecessary to have mentioned him at all. That and the fact that a character that I was fond of died in the book, those were my only complaints. Plot- What I love about Brigg's books is that she has a way of cooking up a plot, and leaving hints here and there without making the ending obvious. I can honestly say, I did not expect the ending at all. In fact, a lot surprised me in this book. Adam gains unsuspecting allies, Mercy makes new friends, and for once, Mercy doesn't do ALL the saving... a majority of it, but not all. The final scene though, brava! I loved it. Didnt see it coming, but very well thought out and written. I think the only other complaint I had is that [warning, slight spoiler here] Jessie mentions Mercy and her dad having a baby at the beginning of the book... it was said in such a way that I assumed she would be pregnant by the end of the book when Adam was home safe and the newest Big Bad had been defeated. I was extremely disappointed she wasn't... that would have been a really nice touch.

It’s been over ten years since I last read the Mercy Thompson series, so naturally, I decided a re-read was in order. I’m so glad I did; it reminded me just how much I love this world and these characters. Frost Burned is the seventh installment in the series, following Mercy, a coyote shifter, and her husband Adam, the local werewolf Alpha, as they navigate their new mate bond while dealing with the usual highs and lows of supernatural politics. The story kicks off with a bang when Mercy and Jesse are ambushed during a Black Friday outing, and things only get worse when she discovers the entire pack, except Ben, has vanished. It turns out they’ve been taken by mercenaries, setting the stage for an action-packed ride. If you’ve ever read this series or really any Urban Fantasy, you’ll know the protagonist rarely gets any downtime, and Mercy is no exception. Even seven books in, I was happy to find that the characters, writing, and plot remain just as strong as when I first started the series. There wasn’t a single lull; I stayed engaged and invested all the way through. I especially enjoyed this plot compared to some of the previous installments, and I liked seeing the mix of both familiar and fresh faces playing active roles in the story. Now that I’ve finished my re-reads, it’s on to the books I haven’t yet read. I’m excited to see what Briggs has in store for Mercy and the crew.