Book 3), Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson

I held off buying any more of the Mercy books, as I really needed my sleep. Caught up on the sleep, I started #3 three days ago. I forced myself, two nights running, to turn my light off at a reasonable time, and thereby stretch the fun of the book out a little longer. Last night, I threw caution, and sleep, to the winds, and finished the book.

No vampires in this book, which is too bad, though I'm sure they'll reappear, and soon. This book dealt with the fae, and who was killing them, and why. Mercy, of course, finds herself right in the middle of the investigation, wanted, not wanted, warned away, and eventually in deep trouble. What would you do if your good friend was wrongfully accused of murder, and no one would or could help him? Especially if he was fae and the fae were willing to sacrifice him?

Living in the Tri-Cities, about half way between Mercy's garage and the seethe of vampires, I find Ms. Brigg's world most fascinating. As well as illuminating. Strange things go on in my neighborhood, and though her books are marvelous fiction, I'm not so sure some of the people she writes about are. But, my neighbors are not your concern.

I love a book where the author invites me to come in and play with her characters, rather than forcing me to sit in the chair and watch them play. I love a good book that I can, for a while, become totally lost in, and when I come out of that book and that world, feel better than when I entered. The Mercy Thompson books are just that. Great escape, marvelous stories, and the endings leave me feeling satisfied, and wanting more. (Kind of like a certain potato chip ;-) )

In this book, Mercy also comes to a decision regarding Samuel and Adam. I'm still deciding how I feel about that.

Lately I’ve been craving some alpha-shifter-romance novels and I stumbled upon my Mercy Thomson shelf. There was a time before my kindle, you know, when I ordered books and never really read them resulting in me hording a full shelf of Patricia Briggs novels that are now morphing into dust catchers in my basement. I’ve been reading Mercy Thompson a few years back but never went further than book nr. 2. Unfortunately, this hasn’t kept me from pre-ordering every book which leaves me no other option but to admit that clearly I suffer from compulsive book hoarding syndrome. There you have it, I need help, medical care, psychological therapy.

The first Mercy Thompson book was even better than I remembered and I was sucked right back into this world. Then I skipped the second book, Blood Bound, because it was all about the vamps and went right to the third book Iron Kissed, which focuses on the fey. I love Briggs’ fey, especially Zee. Why? I am just so impressed about the accurate German references in this book. As you might know, Briggs graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and her love for German cars, German language and German fairy tales shows. I adore it!

But the more the story in Iron Kissed progressed the more it got difficult for me to really like it. Some of the scenes were just so bewildering.

"Ménage-à-trois" or "Curtain up for alpha monstrosities":
A love triangle is not per se something I dislike, but in this case both male characters and the execution of the romance were more than perplexing. Mercy switches her "love/affection" between her childhood sweetheart Sam and her more recent attraction to Adam. I was into neither of them.

Sam a several hundred years old Werewolf tried to seduce her at age 16 not because he loved her or anything but because Mercy in his eyes was the only female worldwide (talk about specialness, yo!) who can give birth to werewolf puppies. What a creepy, pedophile, manipulative man. And now he is Mercy’s roommate and wants to win her back? And she lets him court her, because she has these First Love memories? He coldly manipulated her into falling in love with him when she was just 14, he wanted to marry and mate with her when she was 16/17. This is just something … simply no! And there is this moment after a party when they both laugh it off and decide they are not in love with each other and never will be? This was the lamest solving of a love-triangle I ever heard of. You just don’t fall out of love one night after being in love for more than 15 years. Just no!

And then there is Adam, Alpha supreme. He is constantly invading her personal space, he showers his unwanted affection on her, he declared her his mate before his pack and now she has to deal with the ramifications. And everybody pesters her to decide although she never wanted to be his mate in the first place. Example: He installs a security system in her garage without even asking her. I never for one second felt emotional attached to their “romance”. I just couldn’t care less about his character. There is a scene at the beginning where his daughter comes home after being beaten by some high-school’ers and he doesn’t care that she is bleeding and hurt, he doesn’t call a doctor … What he does is shouting and intimidating her further into telling him who did it so he can go and murder them. Mercy has to constantly tiptoe around his volatile character and play submissive wolf just so that Adam doesn’t turn HULK punching walls.

I mean really this is sooooo not romantic: a pedophile creep on the one side and an aggressive cave-man who barely controls himself on the other. My bull***-o-meter alarm is blaring.

How to change from awesome to stupid female
Mercy’s character also made a 180 degree turn from the first book to this one. She gets herself non-stop into stupid and dangerous situations and then runs screaming to Adam for help where in Moon Called she was the one who saved Adams life and helped save his daughter. It’s like she digresses from a smart and inventive, albeit impulsive heroine into an emotional instable bunny that needs constant saving and pampering. It was very sad to witness her decline.

Conclusion
The mystery elements and the overall storyline as well as the world of shifters, witches and vampires really kept me engrossed. But the romance and character development annoyed me.

Iron Kissed (2008) is the third Fantasy novel in the Mercy Thompson series, following Blood Bound. The initial volume in this sequence is Moon Called.

In the previous volume, Mercy got a call at three in the morning from Stefan. He wanted her to go with him as a witness. Mercy owed him a favor, so she agreed.

Stefan was dressed in traditional black and flowing vampire garb. He wanted Mercy to change to a coyote and provided a leash and collar. He drove them to a hotel near the freeway.

Stefan headed directly to a room on the first floor. He stopped in front of a door and waited for it to be opened. Cole let them in.

Stefan sat down and seemed in a daze. Cole tortured a maid in his presence. Mercy tried her best to attack Cole. She got in one terrible tasting bite and he slammed her against the wall.

In this novel, Mercedes Thompson is an automotive mechanic and a walker. She can change to a coyote. Mercy owns a garage in Kennewick and a single-wide trailer in the Finley neighborhood.

Tony Montenegro is an undercover cop for the Kennewick Police Department. He is half Italian and half Venezuelan, so his dark skin color allows him to pose as anything from Mexican to Afro-American. He uses different body languages to change how he is seen.

Michael McNellis is a fae. He owns Uncle Mike's tavern, a fae hangout.

Siebolt Adelbertsmiter is a Metallzauber fae. Zee likes to call himself a gremlin.

Adam Hauptman is the Alpha of the local Werewolf pack. He is divorced and has one human daughter, Jesse. He lives next door to Mercy.

Warren is third in command of the local Werewolf pack. He is gay and in love with Kyle, a local divorce attorney.

Bran Cornick is the Marrok -- King -- of the North American werewolf packs. He has two sons, Samuel and Charles. He is at least several centuries old.

O'Donnel is a guard at the Bureau of Fae Affairs reservation at Walla Walla. He is overbearing and a bully.

Jean Ryan is a defense attorney in Washington state. She doesn't like the fae.

Stacy Altman is a blind professor at the University of Oregon. She is an advisor with the KPD on fae affairs.

In this story, Mercy is visiting with Warren and Kyle for Friday Night at the Movies. This evening, they are watching Queen of the Damned, a flick selected by Kyle. Despite its name, the film has more half naked men than women.

They are laughing at a shirtless vampire in the movie. So many things are wrong about the presentation and the dialogue is inane. When Kyle goes into the kitchen for drinks, Warren brings up Mercy's love life.

Then Mercy's phone plays "The Baby Elephant Walk". Zee is calling to ask Mercy to go with him to the reservation at Walla Walla. Mercy owes him a favor, so she tells him where to pick her up.

A guard at the fae reservation gets officious. O'Donnel takes Mercy's driver license and walks back to the guard shack. Then he returns her license and says that they have to be out within two hours.

Zee takes her to a neat little house within reservation. The most recent murder has taken place in the house. Mercy absorbs all the smells. She also notices that the back windows overlooked a huge forest that wasn't on the reservation.

Then Zee takes her to the first murder scene. Mercy memorizes all the scents. After two more houses, Mercy notices some common scents. She also finds an ocean in a bathroom.

Uncle Mike joins them after the last house. They leave the reservation and Mercy tells them that the only scents at all four houses were Uncle Mike and O'Donnel. Mercy drives back to Warren's house in Zee's truck and the two fae go to have a conversation with the BFA guard.

Mercy attends the Tumbleweed Music Festival with Samuel. One of his nurses had entered him in the festival, but he had not refused. Samuel plays several musical instruments and has a good voice.

After Samuel's performance, Mercy receives a phone call from Uncle Mike. He says that the police have arrested Zee for the murder of O'Donnel. He states that he was with Zee when they found the body, but had hidden himself behind a glamour when the police arrived.

Tony also contacts her about Zee's arrest. Mercy tells him some of the story. She also points out that the KPD expert is wrong about some issues.

Mercy asks Kyle for the name of a good defense attorney. He accompanies her to the initial meeting with Jean. Mercy tries to convince her that Zee had not committed the murder, but Jean says it doesn't matter.

The Gray Lords of the fae apparently decide to sacrifice Zee to quickly clear up the bad publicity. Zee will not speak to Mercy and threatens to call in her debt. Uncle Mike also washes his hand over the murder.

Mercy covertly visits O'Donnel's house and checks the scents. She sees his ghost repeat the murder event, but she can't see the murderer. Mercy also watches a fae raven retrieve a walking stick and fly off through the wall.

This tale puts Mercy in opposition to the Gray Lords. She meets their representative and is impressed with her fairness. In fact, Altman recommends to the Gray Lords that they help find the true murderer.

Mercy has some risky contacts with fae creatures. The next installment in this sequence has is Bone Crossed. This novel is also included in the omnibus volume Preying for Mercy.

Highly recommended for Briggs fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of paranormal creatures, magical politics, and a bit of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

My Review:
Wow...I did not see this book going where it did and the events that happened to Mercy at the end broke my heart.

The one thing that I absolutely love about Mercy is her loyalty to her friends. She may not be part of the pack, but she's created her own pack that she will fight to the death over. This book focuses on Zee, who the fae are determined to sacrifice to hide their secrets, but Mercy won't let that happen to him...or she will die trying to save him. This is one tough girl and I just love being able to cheer her on through these books. And the thing is...she doesn't see herself as particularly brave. She just does what she has to do and tries to keep her brain engaged so she doesn't do stupid things.

And talking about the pack, I don't think anyone can discuss this book without talking about Ben and what he does for Mercy. These books are told entirely from Mercy's POV and she's never been a big fan of his, but wow...who knew there was such an incredibly tragic reason behind his prickly facade. And I loved that he put himself out there at great risk to protect her...someone that he owed no loyalty to. I love him for that. His revelations broke my heart, but I love him so much more for them.

And then there's Sam and Adam. I love Sam and feel so hard for him, but I love how he and Mercy are with his feelings. It's a complex relationship between the two of them and after so much dishonesty from them when she was a teenager, I love how open they are with each other even when it hurts. I have a few more books in this series to read yet, but I'm hoping one of them has more positive things happening in his life. I'm worried about him.

Again, I'm loving this series. I'm so glad I'm reading it late so I can read so many of the books back to back. I love doing that!

I've read many raving reviews for this series but had yet to write one myself; well, all that's about to change with Iron Kissed. Briggs kicks things into high gear in this installment by delving deeper into her Fae mythology, resolving the love triangle in a very satisfying way and filling every space in-between with endless action. This book is your one-stop shop for pure awesomeness.

I'm not a huge fan of love triangles, especially ones that drag on and on for countless installments but the one featured in this series is brief (only three books) and Mercy's reasons for being torn between two men are genuine and legitimate. I've been in Adam's corner since the get-go however; my opinion of Sam definitely did change for the better after reading this novel. The ending was my favourite part about this story; it's one hell of a tease and will have you one-click buying Bone Crossed seconds after you finish this third installment.

After exploring werewolves in the first book and vampires in the second, Briggs shines her spotlight on the Fae in this novel. Generally speaking, faeries are one of the more complex supernaturals in paranormal fiction. Their mythology is so vast that a talented author can really use that to their advantage by incorporating some very unique elements into their world-building. Briggs not only ceases that opportunity but actually uses it to its full potential. The main plot of this story revolves around the Fae, so that combined with the usual werewolf drama pretty much guarantees that you'll finish this book in one sitting. And yes, in case you're wondering, the is a showdown between the wolves and the faeries, and it is spectacular!

The very sensitive topic of rape is brought up in this installment; my knee-jerk reaction was "oh, no!" because, like most female readers, it's not a subject that I enjoy coming across in my fantasy worlds. Usually when this taboo issue does rear its ugly little head I automatically disconnect from the story. I don't care if the heroine is a survivor or if she gets her revenge and chops the bastard's man-bits off; I simply don't want this harsh reality intruding on my "me time". Ever. I have to hand it to Briggs though, she's one of the few authors I've come across who not only raises this sensitive topic but actually writes a better book because of it. I was impressed by her willingness to take risks and even more so by her ability to turn a negative into a positive.

Mercy Thompson may have had to wait 3 books before earning 5-stars from this reviewer but, I suspect, she will be keeping them for many future installments to come. I highly recommend Iron Kissed.

Mercy Thompson is just enjoying a quiet movie night with her two best friends, Warren and Kyle, when Zee calls and asks for her help. Someone has been murdering Fae at the reservate, and he needs her good nose to see what she can sniff out. As she still owes Zee a favor for using the Fae artifacts for killing to evil vampires instead of just the one she was allowed, Mercy agrees to come right away. She has never been to the Fae reservate before, and is surprised there is a guard at the gate. And an obnoxious one at that, who treats them as very inferior.

Zee takes Mercy to the houses of the murdered Fae, in the hope she can sniff out a common visitor or something they missed. But Mercy is a walker, with even to her unknown skills. She has some kind of partial immunity to most magic, and concentrating on her sense of smell, she manages to break through the glamour that has been hiding the true Fae world from human eyes. Scent is the one thing that glamour cannot correctly duplicate. And so she sees more than she is supposed to, and even stumbles into one of the Gray Lords. And drawing the attention of the Gray Lords, is not a good thing.
Lucky for Mercy, Zee and Uncle Mike find her, and take her back to the mundane world. After four houses, she has smelled the one person that has been to all of them, the one person who should not have been inside at all. The guard at the gate. Zee sends Mercy home in his van, while he and Uncle Mike go and “talk” to the man.
But the next morning Mercy finds out that Zee and Uncle Mike were too late to talk to him, he was already brutally murdered. And Mercy is to stay out of it; she is not to put herself in more danger. Of course Mercy hates following orders, so she arranges for a great lawyer for Zee, she refuses to have him sacrificed for something he did not do, while Uncle Mike hid behind his glamour and was overseen by the police. Of course, they had all the intention of killing the man themselves, but they did not. So who is the real killer? No human would be strong enough to literally rip a man’s head from his shoulders.

Finding the real killer is not the only problem Mercy has to solve. She needs to make a choice between Samuel and Adam, before they get into a fight together. They are both very dominant alpha wolves, and they both want her as their mate. But Mercy doesn’t want Samuel as her mate, she is not that naïve 16 year young girl anymore, and he would completely smother her if she accepted him. She has come to love who she is, and her own independence. But Adam frightens her, his power makes her want to give up control to him, and she doesn’t want to loose herself to him either. Although he would not keep her locked in the house, he doesn’t hesitate to ask for her help when it is needed, Adam also does not think she is strong enough to fight others.

Okay, I won’t spoil the rest of the story. The mystery part was very well written, and absolutely heartbreaking. The dead guard did not just kill Fae, he stole Fae relics, and now his crony is abusing them. Making Mercy do as he wishes …
I cried buckets over the ending, but I am happy to say, it does end well. I love all the many characters in this series, they are lifelike, and some are nice and some are not. One of my favourite’s is Adam’s daughter, it is not easy growing up with a father who is a werewolf, and a mother who forgets you when it is more convenient. She is fun and smart and resilient.

I enjoyed learning more about the Fae, who really are not nice and friendly at all. Well, except for Zee. I am looking forward to re-reading Bone Crossed soon.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian </p>

The third installment in the Mercy Thompson series was quite a ride. It left me emotionally spent and unable to start another book immediately.

Mercy is called upon to help Zee clear his name. He has been accused of a murder he didn't commit. At the same time, she is investigating several other robberies and murders that Zee and Mike were trying to solve prior to Zee being arrested. And, oh yeah, Sam and Adam are starting to get territorial. If Mercy doesn't make a decision soon, they may just decide to fight to the death once and for all.

My favorite urban fantasy heroines have several traits in common. First and foremost is loyalty. Mercy considers Zee a friend and father-figure. There is no way she is going to stand aside while he is railroaded by the legal system. She knows that she is putting herself in danger but she doesn't consider it an option. While she does make some decisions that are questionable, you cannot fault her motives. The rift between Sam and Adam is also causing her a lot of heartache. She loves them both and truly doesn't know who to give her heart to. It is heart-wrenching when she finally realizes what she needs to do and why.

Mercy goes through the ringer in this installment. UF is usually a pretty light read but Patricia Briggs really packed an emotional punch with Iron Kissed. It was unexpected, tear inducing and so powerful. If I didn't love Mercy before, I fell in love with her here. Both Ben and Adam also surprised me. Especially Ben. Ms. Briggs handled the subject matter with grace while keeping it grounded in reality.

A must-read. 5/5 stars.

I just love this series! It gets better and better with each book and each book contains everything necessary for a great read.

When Mercy's mentor Zee is arrested and framed for murder, Mercy is called in to sniff out some clues, literally. Being a shape-shifting coyote does have certain advantages. Mercy's stubbornness and meddling finally get her into trouble she can't get out off, with tragic results. (Adventure, excitement, thrills.)

Mercy's love triangle with Sam and Adam is really heating up. Sam is currently her roommate and there is clearly an attraction there, but Adam is under her skin and she just can't resist him anymore. (Romance, unrequited love.)

This is one of the darkest books I think I've read. I can't give away too much due to plot spoilers but I can say I was stunned and shocked and had to walk away from the book for awhile. It bothered me deeply--the violence and horror and tragedy and aftermath. And, this is the very thing that made this book the best one yet. It's as if this event must happen to Mercy. I truly can't see any other alternative to the story. Brilliant. (Emotional upheaval.)

The ending of this book makes me want to rush to the next one. It has romance, sure, and adventure, sure, but for pure thrilling danger, this is one of the best I've read. (Plot addiction)

Mercy is so stubborn and this new development leaves her vulnerable. She is off-balance so I know the next book will be very interesting! (A cliff-hanger.)

In Iron Kissed, Uncle Mike and Zee call in the debt Mercy owes them for borrowing fae objects to kill two vampires. Someone has been murdering fae on the reservation, and with Mercy's nose she may be able to sniff out who did it. BFA agent O'Donnell was present in each of the victim's homes, but when Uncle Mike and Zee pay the guard a little visit, they find him dead in his home. Now Zee is being framed for the murder of O'Donnell. Mercy, great and loyal friend that she is, will not let Zee go down for something he didn't do. At least not without a fight.

Mercy couldn't have gotten herself in a more dangerous situation than sticking her nose (literally) into fae business. Though she was asked to help, she has gained the attention of some very powerful fae, ones who aren't very happy with her knowing their secrets.

First, there is the Great Carrion Crow, who goes by the name Nemane, who also happens to be blind. She finds Mercy sniffing around O'Donnell's place and having possession of one of their treasures. Then there is The Fideal, who catches Mercy sniffing around the local Citizens for a Bright Future chapter. He decides that since he hasn't had a good meal in a while, Mercy will make a great snack. It's amazing that Mercy is still alive considering how much trouble that nose of hers gets her into.

The treasure that I mentioned Mercy being in possession of is a walking stick that is supposed to cause its owner's sheep to bear twins. For some reason the walking stick has grown attached to Mercy and will show up wherever she is. I thought it important to mention the walking stick because it appears in future books and sometimes plays a key role in saving Mercy's life.

We learn about a couple anti-fae groups in Iron Kissed. The first is the one O'Donnell was a member of, Citizens for a Bright Future. This anti-fae group is more for the common, blue-collar person. Whereas the John Lauren Society, which is the largest anti-fae group, is geared toward those of the high class variety. Coincidentally, the lawyer Mercy hired to represent Zee is a member of this group.

Another cool thing that is revealed to us is what Zee really looks like beneath his glamour. By my mental image, he looks pretty awesome!

The side story in Iron Kissed centers around Mercy's indecision concerning Adam and Samuel. Warren warns her that she needs to choose one or neither of them before one of them loses control. They both have been in pretty good control of themselves, but Adam is more restless and his temper more volatile.

We learn the reason for this lies in Adam's mate claim being unfulfilled. When Adam claimed Mercy, a spot was opened for her in the pack, and that opening (which has not been filled) is a weakness within the pack. Adam is absorbing the effects and that leaves him constantly on edge. So there is a lot more to Adam's claim than Mercy thought, so she needs to really think about her choice.

Ben was a character that I had a love-hate relationship with. But when Ben had a one-on-one talk with Adam it really made it easier to understand him. His hatred of women and his feelings about the rape he was accused of really make sense after this. Ben even seems to soften toward Mercy after this point. Ben is probably one of my favorite characters in thise series now.

Mercy shows great strength in the face of a terrible circumstance. But it will take time for her to heal completely and I can't wait to see how she grows after this point.

~4-4.5/5
[Also available on my blog.

I really enjoy this series. I like every book, always want to start the next one immediately after finishing each book.

This book... this one was a bit of a surprise, in how bad the contents were to the characters. Something very dark and horrible happened in this book.

I don't want to spoil it, but it was bad, and rather unexpected. I like Mercy, and I feel really bad for her, and am really interested in finding out what's going to happen to her next. How badly this is going to scar her in the long term. It definitely scarred her in the short term.

While I do understand how horrible what happened was, and I do understand how badly it affected Mercy and the people around her, I feel like the actual events didn't affect me, as the reader, as much as they could have. And I think part of that is because of how little description there was of the actual events. I think Mercy was trying not to pay too much attention to it, and she was trying to distance herself from it, but I think it distanced the reader and the effect on me because of it. Also, later on, when she was trying to hide and was listening to the conversations the people around her were having, it just didn't seem like I was inside her head and feeling the pain she was feeling, but instead that I was getting an overhead view of it all. And I just... I wanted to feel more emotion than that.

Even saying that, I did really like this book, and I was interested in what was happening to her, and really want to read the next book.

Aside from the big event, some stuff did happen between Mercy and her two boys. Things between her and Sam come to a conclusion, which I was a little surprised by but did like, and so things with her and Adam are able to fully start. I liked the moments between her and him in this book, and am looking forward to seeing what develops between them in the next book. As well as seeing her and his daughter, Jesse, get closer. Also, how the other wolves will react around her, if they react differently.

There was also some fae business, and a problem with her friend/fellow mechanic Zee, and a problem with Jesse, some of it entwined with the Big Problem, which was interesting, but wasn't as big of a problem or as attention getting as the Big Problem.

I'm just generally looking forward to the next book.

I got these from the library - the first five of the series in one bundle. This book was the most intense. The ending was crazy. I dove right into the next book...

I love the main characters - Mercy, Adam, Samuel, Stefan, Zee - all the players are well developed. Mercy is such a strong, intelligent woman (coyote) and loyal friend. I love how real she comes across - a mechanic, living in a trailer; athletic - not too pretty as she describes herself, but charismatic in her own way, and strong willed. Her associations with werewolves, vampires, and fae get her into some scary situations.

This particular installment gets Mercy into a particularly dangerous predicament and as a result, she needs some serious attention once she is rescued. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but the ending of this book is amazing. Briggs takes a very touchy subject and dances around it without graphic detail, but with enough gut-wrenching dread for the reader to appreciate the gravity of the situation. Mercy's reaction after breaks your heart. She withdraws in her coyote form for days. Again, how this is described is well done.

When I first began to read these, I read that Briggs was compared to Larell K Hamilton and I suppose I can see that, BUT preface that with the early days of LKH. Briggs does not spend an exorbitant amount of time on the sexual details - leaving that up to the reader is better in many ways.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Briggs writes excellent mysteries and chilling, scary villains. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Iron Kissed started off as my least favourite in the series. I read about 80 pages until I stopped. Months went by before I picked it up again and read through it some more. After about halfway through, I can confidently say this is my favourite Mercy Thompson book.

The main reason I quit reading was because of the fae. I didn't find the beginning to be interesting and it started to feel repetitive. Have Mercy go out and do this, have Mercy do that. Bundle that with the fae, and it just didn't mesh for me. I really had to drag myself through the first hundred pages. I don't know what it is about the fae in this series, but I just don't like reading about them. Maybe it's cause I'm more of a vampire/werewolf person?

After that, Briggs becomes super awesome and gives us loads of development and a slight setback.
* We finally see Mercy become 'real'. Up until Iron Kissed, I felt her character was too perfect. Sure, she made mistakes, but with this book, I finally feel as though I know her.
* We finally get development in the relationship front and issues get resolved (mostly). Being the third book, I'm glad Mercy finally made a choice. As much as I love a love triangle between these three (I have no hope for you Stefan, take your love elsewhere, k?), I am glad a decision was made.
* We finally get Ben's past cleared up. Finally. I love him and his foul mouth.

This book is loads darker than the previous two. It has more violence, it has more blood, it's more emotional, especially when you get over halfway through. I would almost say the ending is not for everyone, that is, if you didn't have Bone Crossed to pick up next and see what happens next. I was very shocked at the ending, and of course I made assumptions. Don't be shocked at the ending and just pick up the next book. It will calm you. I promise.

Definitely have the next book available after reading Iron Kissed and if you're like me, and don't like the fae, just give it a chance and push through it, you won't be disappointed.

I can't say that I was too happy with this one. I will give it a 5/5 because I love the story line and some parts were beyond great for me.
Zee and Uncle Mike call in the debt that Mercy owes them for use of the medallion that she used to kill not one but two vamps in the last book Blood Bound. There is someone killing Fae and Mercy has a great nose in coyote form. So she goes traipsing off with Zee to smell the murder scenes and see if there is a scent that was at all of the murders. She ends up only searching the last and the first two, but soon figures out exactly who it was killing the Fae.
Zee and Uncle Mike go to have a little "chat" with the killer and find that the human is already dead. Zee is picked up on murder and it seems that the Fae are content to let him take the fall. So even after being told to stay out of it by Uncle Mike ( he should really know better), Mercy takes it upon herself to go to the murderer's home and sniff out what she can. While there she learns a few things and meets a crow ( who you just know is Fae).
Once Mercy figured everything out, I was upset with the path that things went down; though I can understand it. And really PROPS to Mercy for the way she took care of that one!!
The side story of this book is all about Mercy needing to choose between Adam; Alpha of the local pack who has already claimed her as his mate in the pack, and Samuel; first love and werewolf. I really am glad that she made a choice in the end and I am happy with her choice even though I do love them both.
There were a lot of tears on my end in the last few chapters of the book, but it is a great read and I couldn't put it down!!

To read more reviews like this one, check out Obsessive Book Nerd!

I listened to Iron Kissed in one day. I was hooked and this book is my favorite in the series so far. This story deals with the Fae and so far, I'm loving how the author is really introducing us in stages into the Mercy Thompson world. With eight books in counting, I think this is a spectacular move on the author's part.

I think the reason I loved this book so much is because there was a lot of emotion. Bad things happened and Mercy had to deal with the consequences. And those around her had to adjust as well.

Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is asked to assist in figuring out who is murdering Fae on the reservation. Zee, Mercy's friend and mentor is later arrested for the murders. Mercy steps in to clear his name and the Fae make it very clear they do not want her help. This novel is my favorite in the series thus far. Briggs blends folklore and fiction to enhance this tale and the effect is delightful. Mercy's character growth is awesome as she is tested by some of her biggest adversaries. In this novel, Mercy make a much anticipated decision regarding the men in her life.

Protagonist Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite kick-ass female heroes. So often the female leads in urban/paranormal fantasies are whiny and need a man to take care of them and save the day. Mercy is; fearless, thoughtful, painfully independent, smart, loyal and just. She is also a shape-shifter and takes the form of a coyote. In her coyote form she is able to investigate and go unnoticed by others. Her sense of smell is heightened and she is able to detect lies and danger.

Mercy has a unique set of friends. Handsome, Dr. Sam, is a lone wolf whom Mercy crushed on most of her teen life. She was raised in his pack and he broke her heart. He is back in the picture and wants Mercy in his life. Smoking hot, Adam, is the Alpha of the Were pack and lives directly behind Mercy. In an attempt to save Mercy in the last novel, he declared her his mate. Now Mercy must decide between them.

I loved, Iron Kissed and can't wait to sink my teeth into book four entitled Bone Crossed. Iron Kissed delivered a great mystery, an in-depth look at the Fae in this fascinating world Brigg's created. We see Mercy in so many different lights. She is growing stronger and sorting out her feelings for Sam and Adam. Mercy is also tested in this novel as a horrible event seeks to destroy everything. I love the other characters Brigg's has created and look forward to learning more.

Mercy's mentor, Zee, has been accused of murder. Zee is an iron kissed fae (a metal worker), which is a breed that humans have little understanding of and therefore fear. When the fae community fails to jump to Zee's rescue, Mercy is determined to find the real killer herself.

Positive Comments:

I had some pretty strong emotional reactions to this book. I've resolved to keep these reviews as spoiler free as possible, so I can't get too specific. I'll just say that Mercy goes through quite a lot of trauma, which I did not see coming. I really felt for her, and I applauded her recovery. The visceral reaction that I had to this book is something that I don't think was present in the previous books, so I'm counting it as a major positive. Maybe it was an intentional ploy on the part of the author, but if so, it worked on me.

The character development is intense, but without being overdone. Obviously, Mercy's world view is altered several times throughout the story. But equally impressive, to me at least, was the efficient way that Briggs started to develop her secondary and background characters. From the important one like Samuel and Adam, to the minor characters of Ben and Zee, you gain insights into what makes them who they are.

Critical Comments:

The world building part of the plot gets buried in drama. There's some interesting mythology being invoked in this book, but it was in no way explained to my satisfaction. There are a lot of magical objects being used, and we are given very little information as to their origins or how they actually work. Since these things were extremely important to the plot, I felt they deserved more page time.

I also had some issues with the pace of the book. It jumps from mundane things into action so abruptly I felt dizzy. Overall, the tone of the novel just isn't consistent. It goes from intellectual murder mystery, to action/chase scene, to tragic drama, all with very few transitions.

I'm having trouble grading this one. Going purely on emotional impact, it would be a 4. Taking that out of the equation, it's more like a 3. I'll split the difference: 3.5 stars. In any case, the Mercy Thomson series is a must read for any urban fantasy fan.

Patricia Briggs created the wonderful world of Mercy Thompson and her sexy and frustratingly brilliant characters. Filled with emotional character progression, inner struggles with traumas and reluctant relationships, Mercy Thompson and her sidekicks will wholeheartedly bring smiles to your face while all along leave your heart pounding in anticipation of what is to come.

Iron Kissed is an important book in this series. Profound back stories are revealed for many of the characters. Why is that one guy an ass? This book answers a few of those questions.

Fae magical relics have been stolen by an unknown murderer. Zee is arrested and Mercy is warned to leave matters to the police and Fae community. Well, telling Mercy not to do something is like putting fire underneath a teenager. Explosive things happen. Funny stuff.

Adam, the local werewolf pack Alpha is temperamental to say the least. Leaving himself and his pack vulnerable due to his claiming of Mercy, her reluctance to accept his claim hurts her friends in a way she discovers in this book. Always knowing that Adam's claim was a political move, a decision to keep her self and to ensure other werewolves do not attempt to claim her as their mate, she is blind to the truths that are life shattering.

Samuel, still struggling with himself and his past heartaches, continues to live with Mercy as her roommate. Reminding her with unexpected kisses that leave her body throbbing, questioning herself and her feelings floating between Samuel and Adam, keeps things interesting. Confusion is a good word for this little triangle of smiling yumminess!

The pitter patter of the lust and love filled triangle between Adam, Mercy and Samuel comes to an end. I can say that much without spoiling the book

If he'd wanted to take me right then and there, I would have let him. I'd have done anything for his touch, anything to please him.

Iron Kissed is incredibly seductive. I recommend this book to all mature adults who have read this series from the beginning. If you have not, please do so. The first book is Moon Called. If you begin mid-series, you will not really appreciate what Patricia Briggs has created for us.

Semi mild sexual content without too much description, rape and mild to moderate violence are included in this amazing tale.

In the third book of the Mercedes Thompson series, Mercy's friend and apprentice, Zee, is arrested for a series of murders on the Fae reservation, and Mercy gets involved with the Fae in a way that does not make them happy.

This book delved deeper into the Fae world and showed us their way of life. I love the different worlds the author has created in this book series. From the Fae to the werewolves to the vampires, each group has its own set of rules/laws to govern them, and they each interact more or less independently from one another, but yet they all make up the world of Mercy Thompson. This book was expertly written and executed and able to keep the reader's attention through all its twists and turns.

One thing I really liked about this book was it pretty much put an end to Sam/Mercy/Adam situation. I'm always game for a good love triangle, but sometimes they get drawn out too long and get boring. I liked that we got to see through Mercy's eyes and hear her think through her decisions so we knew why she chose the way she did. Mercy has proved again and again to be a great friend and ally, but in the end, Mercy is always true to herself.

I thought the author also did a great job with the rape scene, which can be a very touchy subject to write about. She went through this, and the aftermath, with great care. After the rape Mercy did not just go back to "normal," but took some time to get over it. I liked that we got to watch her do that and be inside her head to see her way of thinking things through.

In this book we also got to go deeper into the wolf pack and also into some of the individual wolves, which helps to make them seem more real.

Its a real hit to my manly pride to have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I wish I were above sappy romance, vampires, werewolves, that whole genre of gooey gumph. This whole series is popcorn guilty fun. Let me just say here and now, 'Iron Kissed' is NOT going to be gracing any classroom of higher learning any time soon. This is perfect for a young high-school kid. But I am well into my adult years and still, as you can see, enjoyed it very much.

OK, this is the third book in the series. Its kind of hard for me to fathom, but this might also be the best of the series that I have read so far as well. Mercy, a shape shifting coyote/human, who runs with a pack of werewolves, fights vampires, and sees ghosts is up against a local pack of Fae this time. Fae are what you would have read about with the Brothers Grimm. The old European childrens tales like Hansel and Grettle, or the troll under the bridge.

This time Mercy is brought in to investigate a series of Fae murders. She quickly solves who killed the Fae and the story gets going when her friend is falsely accused of murdering the murderer.

I wont give any more of the plot away. All of that occurs in the first few pages. The whole story moves fast. If you are like me and think that the last thing in the world you would enjoy is this story, I dare you to try the series.

If you've read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them as a diversion from a world where everything is too violent and too real (after all you're reading FANTASY for a reason, right?) I've got news for you, with this book Patricia Briggs has completely and irrevocably changed her main character and the nature of these books. Unless you enjoy reading the kind of violence to women with which our society is already overly saturated DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. You'll have to find some other extremely talented author to read; one who doesn't get tired of her character and takes the easy way out for the last 50 or so pages of her book. By the way, good luck with that search, let me know how that goes. Oh and by the way, don't you think publishers should give you your money back when you buy one thing and get another? Kind of truth in packaging?

~4-4.5/5
[Also available on my blog.

I really enjoy this series. I like every book, always want to start the next one immediately after finishing each book.

This book... this one was a bit of a surprise, in how bad the contents were to the characters. Something very dark and horrible happened in this book.

I don't want to spoil it, but it was bad, and rather unexpected. I like Mercy, and I feel really bad for her, and am really interested in finding out what's going to happen to her next. How badly this is going to scar her in the long term. It definitely scarred her in the short term.

While I do understand how horrible what happened was, and I do understand how badly it affected Mercy and the people around her, I feel like the actual events didn't affect me, as the reader, as much as they could have. And I think part of that is because of how little description there was of the actual events. I think Mercy was trying not to pay too much attention to it, and she was trying to distance herself from it, but I think it distanced the reader and the effect on me because of it. Also, later on, when she was trying to hide and was listening to the conversations the people around her were having, it just didn't seem like I was inside her head and feeling the pain she was feeling, but instead that I was getting an overhead view of it all. And I just... I wanted to feel more emotion than that.

Even saying that, I did really like this book, and I was interested in what was happening to her, and really want to read the next book.

Aside from the big event, some stuff did happen between Mercy and her two boys. Things between her and Sam come to a conclusion, which I was a little surprised by but did like, and so things with her and Adam are able to fully start. I liked the moments between her and him in this book, and am looking forward to seeing what develops between them in the next book. As well as seeing her and his daughter, Jesse, get closer. Also, how the other wolves will react around her, if they react differently.

There was also some fae business, and a problem with her friend/fellow mechanic Zee, and a problem with Jesse, some of it entwined with the Big Problem, which was interesting, but wasn't as big of a problem or as attention getting as the Big Problem.

I'm just generally looking forward to the next book.

I got these from the library - the first five of the series in one bundle. This book was the most intense. The ending was crazy. I dove right into the next book...

I love the main characters - Mercy, Adam, Samuel, Stefan, Zee - all the players are well developed. Mercy is such a strong, intelligent woman (coyote) and loyal friend. I love how real she comes across - a mechanic, living in a trailer; athletic - not too pretty as she describes herself, but charismatic in her own way, and strong willed. Her associations with werewolves, vampires, and fae get her into some scary situations.

This particular installment gets Mercy into a particularly dangerous predicament and as a result, she needs some serious attention once she is rescued. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but the ending of this book is amazing. Briggs takes a very touchy subject and dances around it without graphic detail, but with enough gut-wrenching dread for the reader to appreciate the gravity of the situation. Mercy's reaction after breaks your heart. She withdraws in her coyote form for days. Again, how this is described is well done.

When I first began to read these, I read that Briggs was compared to Larell K Hamilton and I suppose I can see that, BUT preface that with the early days of LKH. Briggs does not spend an exorbitant amount of time on the sexual details - leaving that up to the reader is better in many ways.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Briggs writes excellent mysteries and chilling, scary villains. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Iron Kissed started off as my least favourite in the series. I read about 80 pages until I stopped. Months went by before I picked it up again and read through it some more. After about halfway through, I can confidently say this is my favourite Mercy Thompson book.

The main reason I quit reading was because of the fae. I didn't find the beginning to be interesting and it started to feel repetitive. Have Mercy go out and do this, have Mercy do that. Bundle that with the fae, and it just didn't mesh for me. I really had to drag myself through the first hundred pages. I don't know what it is about the fae in this series, but I just don't like reading about them. Maybe it's cause I'm more of a vampire/werewolf person?

After that, Briggs becomes super awesome and gives us loads of development and a slight setback.
* We finally see Mercy become 'real'. Up until Iron Kissed, I felt her character was too perfect. Sure, she made mistakes, but with this book, I finally feel as though I know her.
* We finally get development in the relationship front and issues get resolved (mostly). Being the third book, I'm glad Mercy finally made a choice. As much as I love a love triangle between these three (I have no hope for you Stefan, take your love elsewhere, k?), I am glad a decision was made.
* We finally get Ben's past cleared up. Finally. I love him and his foul mouth.

This book is loads darker than the previous two. It has more violence, it has more blood, it's more emotional, especially when you get over halfway through. I would almost say the ending is not for everyone, that is, if you didn't have Bone Crossed to pick up next and see what happens next. I was very shocked at the ending, and of course I made assumptions. Don't be shocked at the ending and just pick up the next book. It will calm you. I promise.

Definitely have the next book available after reading Iron Kissed and if you're like me, and don't like the fae, just give it a chance and push through it, you won't be disappointed.

I can't say that I was too happy with this one. I will give it a 5/5 because I love the story line and some parts were beyond great for me.
Zee and Uncle Mike call in the debt that Mercy owes them for use of the medallion that she used to kill not one but two vamps in the last book Blood Bound. There is someone killing Fae and Mercy has a great nose in coyote form. So she goes traipsing off with Zee to smell the murder scenes and see if there is a scent that was at all of the murders. She ends up only searching the last and the first two, but soon figures out exactly who it was killing the Fae.
Zee and Uncle Mike go to have a little "chat" with the killer and find that the human is already dead. Zee is picked up on murder and it seems that the Fae are content to let him take the fall. So even after being told to stay out of it by Uncle Mike ( he should really know better), Mercy takes it upon herself to go to the murderer's home and sniff out what she can. While there she learns a few things and meets a crow ( who you just know is Fae).
Once Mercy figured everything out, I was upset with the path that things went down; though I can understand it. And really PROPS to Mercy for the way she took care of that one!!
The side story of this book is all about Mercy needing to choose between Adam; Alpha of the local pack who has already claimed her as his mate in the pack, and Samuel; first love and werewolf. I really am glad that she made a choice in the end and I am happy with her choice even though I do love them both.
There were a lot of tears on my end in the last few chapters of the book, but it is a great read and I couldn't put it down!!

To read more reviews like this one, check out Obsessive Book Nerd!

I listened to Iron Kissed in one day. I was hooked and this book is my favorite in the series so far. This story deals with the Fae and so far, I'm loving how the author is really introducing us in stages into the Mercy Thompson world. With eight books in counting, I think this is a spectacular move on the author's part.

I think the reason I loved this book so much is because there was a lot of emotion. Bad things happened and Mercy had to deal with the consequences. And those around her had to adjust as well.

Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is asked to assist in figuring out who is murdering Fae on the reservation. Zee, Mercy's friend and mentor is later arrested for the murders. Mercy steps in to clear his name and the Fae make it very clear they do not want her help. This novel is my favorite in the series thus far. Briggs blends folklore and fiction to enhance this tale and the effect is delightful. Mercy's character growth is awesome as she is tested by some of her biggest adversaries. In this novel, Mercy make a much anticipated decision regarding the men in her life.

Protagonist Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite kick-ass female heroes. So often the female leads in urban/paranormal fantasies are whiny and need a man to take care of them and save the day. Mercy is; fearless, thoughtful, painfully independent, smart, loyal and just. She is also a shape-shifter and takes the form of a coyote. In her coyote form she is able to investigate and go unnoticed by others. Her sense of smell is heightened and she is able to detect lies and danger.

Mercy has a unique set of friends. Handsome, Dr. Sam, is a lone wolf whom Mercy crushed on most of her teen life. She was raised in his pack and he broke her heart. He is back in the picture and wants Mercy in his life. Smoking hot, Adam, is the Alpha of the Were pack and lives directly behind Mercy. In an attempt to save Mercy in the last novel, he declared her his mate. Now Mercy must decide between them.

I loved, Iron Kissed and can't wait to sink my teeth into book four entitled Bone Crossed. Iron Kissed delivered a great mystery, an in-depth look at the Fae in this fascinating world Brigg's created. We see Mercy in so many different lights. She is growing stronger and sorting out her feelings for Sam and Adam. Mercy is also tested in this novel as a horrible event seeks to destroy everything. I love the other characters Brigg's has created and look forward to learning more.

Mercy's mentor, Zee, has been accused of murder. Zee is an iron kissed fae (a metal worker), which is a breed that humans have little understanding of and therefore fear. When the fae community fails to jump to Zee's rescue, Mercy is determined to find the real killer herself.

Positive Comments:

I had some pretty strong emotional reactions to this book. I've resolved to keep these reviews as spoiler free as possible, so I can't get too specific. I'll just say that Mercy goes through quite a lot of trauma, which I did not see coming. I really felt for her, and I applauded her recovery. The visceral reaction that I had to this book is something that I don't think was present in the previous books, so I'm counting it as a major positive. Maybe it was an intentional ploy on the part of the author, but if so, it worked on me.

The character development is intense, but without being overdone. Obviously, Mercy's world view is altered several times throughout the story. But equally impressive, to me at least, was the efficient way that Briggs started to develop her secondary and background characters. From the important one like Samuel and Adam, to the minor characters of Ben and Zee, you gain insights into what makes them who they are.

Critical Comments:

The world building part of the plot gets buried in drama. There's some interesting mythology being invoked in this book, but it was in no way explained to my satisfaction. There are a lot of magical objects being used, and we are given very little information as to their origins or how they actually work. Since these things were extremely important to the plot, I felt they deserved more page time.

I also had some issues with the pace of the book. It jumps from mundane things into action so abruptly I felt dizzy. Overall, the tone of the novel just isn't consistent. It goes from intellectual murder mystery, to action/chase scene, to tragic drama, all with very few transitions.

I'm having trouble grading this one. Going purely on emotional impact, it would be a 4. Taking that out of the equation, it's more like a 3. I'll split the difference: 3.5 stars. In any case, the Mercy Thomson series is a must read for any urban fantasy fan.

Patricia Briggs created the wonderful world of Mercy Thompson and her sexy and frustratingly brilliant characters. Filled with emotional character progression, inner struggles with traumas and reluctant relationships, Mercy Thompson and her sidekicks will wholeheartedly bring smiles to your face while all along leave your heart pounding in anticipation of what is to come.

Iron Kissed is an important book in this series. Profound back stories are revealed for many of the characters. Why is that one guy an ass? This book answers a few of those questions.

Fae magical relics have been stolen by an unknown murderer. Zee is arrested and Mercy is warned to leave matters to the police and Fae community. Well, telling Mercy not to do something is like putting fire underneath a teenager. Explosive things happen. Funny stuff.

Adam, the local werewolf pack Alpha is temperamental to say the least. Leaving himself and his pack vulnerable due to his claiming of Mercy, her reluctance to accept his claim hurts her friends in a way she discovers in this book. Always knowing that Adam's claim was a political move, a decision to keep her self and to ensure other werewolves do not attempt to claim her as their mate, she is blind to the truths that are life shattering.

Samuel, still struggling with himself and his past heartaches, continues to live with Mercy as her roommate. Reminding her with unexpected kisses that leave her body throbbing, questioning herself and her feelings floating between Samuel and Adam, keeps things interesting. Confusion is a good word for this little triangle of smiling yumminess!

The pitter patter of the lust and love filled triangle between Adam, Mercy and Samuel comes to an end. I can say that much without spoiling the book

If he'd wanted to take me right then and there, I would have let him. I'd have done anything for his touch, anything to please him.

Iron Kissed is incredibly seductive. I recommend this book to all mature adults who have read this series from the beginning. If you have not, please do so. The first book is Moon Called. If you begin mid-series, you will not really appreciate what Patricia Briggs has created for us.

Semi mild sexual content without too much description, rape and mild to moderate violence are included in this amazing tale.

In the third book of the Mercedes Thompson series, Mercy's friend and apprentice, Zee, is arrested for a series of murders on the Fae reservation, and Mercy gets involved with the Fae in a way that does not make them happy.

This book delved deeper into the Fae world and showed us their way of life. I love the different worlds the author has created in this book series. From the Fae to the werewolves to the vampires, each group has its own set of rules/laws to govern them, and they each interact more or less independently from one another, but yet they all make up the world of Mercy Thompson. This book was expertly written and executed and able to keep the reader's attention through all its twists and turns.

One thing I really liked about this book was it pretty much put an end to Sam/Mercy/Adam situation. I'm always game for a good love triangle, but sometimes they get drawn out too long and get boring. I liked that we got to see through Mercy's eyes and hear her think through her decisions so we knew why she chose the way she did. Mercy has proved again and again to be a great friend and ally, but in the end, Mercy is always true to herself.

I thought the author also did a great job with the rape scene, which can be a very touchy subject to write about. She went through this, and the aftermath, with great care. After the rape Mercy did not just go back to "normal," but took some time to get over it. I liked that we got to watch her do that and be inside her head to see her way of thinking things through.

In this book we also got to go deeper into the wolf pack and also into some of the individual wolves, which helps to make them seem more real.

Its a real hit to my manly pride to have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I wish I were above sappy romance, vampires, werewolves, that whole genre of gooey gumph. This whole series is popcorn guilty fun. Let me just say here and now, 'Iron Kissed' is NOT going to be gracing any classroom of higher learning any time soon. This is perfect for a young high-school kid. But I am well into my adult years and still, as you can see, enjoyed it very much.

OK, this is the third book in the series. Its kind of hard for me to fathom, but this might also be the best of the series that I have read so far as well. Mercy, a shape shifting coyote/human, who runs with a pack of werewolves, fights vampires, and sees ghosts is up against a local pack of Fae this time. Fae are what you would have read about with the Brothers Grimm. The old European childrens tales like Hansel and Grettle, or the troll under the bridge.

This time Mercy is brought in to investigate a series of Fae murders. She quickly solves who killed the Fae and the story gets going when her friend is falsely accused of murdering the murderer.

I wont give any more of the plot away. All of that occurs in the first few pages. The whole story moves fast. If you are like me and think that the last thing in the world you would enjoy is this story, I dare you to try the series.

If you've read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them as a diversion from a world where everything is too violent and too real (after all you're reading FANTASY for a reason, right?) I've got news for you, with this book Patricia Briggs has completely and irrevocably changed her main character and the nature of these books. Unless you enjoy reading the kind of violence to women with which our society is already overly saturated DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. You'll have to find some other extremely talented author to read; one who doesn't get tired of her character and takes the easy way out for the last 50 or so pages of her book. By the way, good luck with that search, let me know how that goes. Oh and by the way, don't you think publishers should give you your money back when you buy one thing and get another? Kind of truth in packaging?

Someone's killing fae on the Umatilla Reservation. Mercy (Mercedes) Thompson gets called in by her mentor, Zee, to help see if she can scent out the killer. She's a skinwalker, possibly the only one in existence, and her sense of smell could provide the fae with information to solve the case.

While she's investigating, she also discovers a secret and now she understands far better why the fae were so willing to have permitted themselves to be locked up on reservations. Unfortunately, the rulers of the fae, the Gray Lords, know she knows and that could pose a problem since they keep their secrets close.

Very shortly after, a reservation guard is savagely murdered. Zee is the prime suspect, literally caught red handed while the guard's blood is cooling. Zee goes to jail and refuses to speak a word in his defense despite Mercy hiring the best criminal defense lawyer she can for him.

Despite warnings from the fae, Mercy takes the case. In order to find the killer, she's going to have to use more than just her nose.

Mercy Thompson novels are some of the best serial fiction in urban fantasy. Patricia Briggs excels at character development and not rushing relationships or even growth on her people. Her characters are also good at staying in character.

The mystery in this plot is almost as good as the fantasy. Ms. Briggs has a talent for dramatic writing and she can sink a barb deeper than a mad porcupine. She also did keep me guessing until very near the end of the novel, which is not that common even for hardcore mystery writers.

What is most interesting about Briggs' writing is her worldbuilding. What happens to the world when the supernaturals come out? Many authors have posited an alternative world with this type of scenario. In many ways, I think Patricia Briggs' guess is one of the most interesting and accurate. And as the old saw goes, "those who do not study history are destined to repeat it." Well, those who do study history will strongly recognize the common patterns from Ms. Briggs' books to our history, particularly reservations and the level of hate group activity.

Mercy Thompson Books in Order:

Moon Called (Book 1)
Blood Bound (Book 2)
Iron Kissed (Book 3)

This was a great continuation of the story, and I was relieved there was finally a break-through in the romance. I'm a sucker for a great bad-a heroine, alpha-male romance, and while these books have moved a little slower than I like, the wait was worth it. As usual, the plot was thoroughly gripping, the danger real, and the conclusion satisfying. Definitely recommend!

My Thoughts

This book was fantastic! Many said it was their favorite in the series, and I have to agree that out of the first 3, this one takes the win.

We get a very big dose of fae mythology in this book, and it was great fun to learn more about them and their society. Mercy owes the fae a favor, and it's called in via her mentor and friend, Zee. Zee needs Mercy to use her nose to help him figure out who is killing fae on the reservation. Unfortunately, someone gets to the murderer before Zee, and Zee takes the fall. Now, we all know Mercy isn't going to sit around and let Zee rot for a crime he didn't commit. She is all about ethics, and I love her for that. So needless to say, she ends up ass deep in fae politics and has quite the adventure.

Mercy's personal dilemma (which looks very much like 2 adult Alpha males) comes closing in on her and it starts to look as though she will need to make a decision between Samuel and Adam --- before heads roll. Mercy isn't so keen on giving up her independence, however, and it is something she feels is likely to get kicked to the curb in a relationship with either of the dominant males. However, a revelation occurs between Samuel and Mercy, and things start to click...

I love the title. It is the perfect description for fae that can work with iron. I don't know if it's been used before, but it's brilliant. While I did think the foe in this book was quite obvious, it didn't detract from the story. The mystery that Mercy had to uncover was quite interesting and entertaining, as well.

My Favorite Quotes

A second floor window opened, and Kyle stuck his head and shoulders out so he could look down at us. "If you two are finished playing Cowboy and Indian out there, some of us would like to get their beauty sleep."

I looked at Warren. "You heard `um Kemo Sabe. Me go to my little wigwam and get `um shut-eye."

"How come you always get to play the Indian?" whined Warren, deadpan.

"Cause she's the Indian, white boy," said Kyle.

The warmth of his body shouldn't have felt good. He was angry and every muscle was tense. It was like being leaned on by a very heavy, warm brick. A sexy brick.

"Some people are like Slinkies. They aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to my face when I push them down a flight of stairs."

Check out this review and more at Smash Attack Reads! [...]

I'm so glad this series was recommended to me. I knew coming into this book what would happen to Mercy. I have a difficult time reading things like that so I was really tempted to just skip this book all together. I'm so HAPPY I didn't. Patricia Briggs is amazing. Mercy is a strong character but we got to see a broken side. It was well written and I didn't skip through anything. I'm a huge fan of Mercy and Adam so I can't wait to see what book 4 brings.

Mercy's fae friend Zee has called in his favor. He needs Mercy to enter the home's of murdered fae in her coyote form to try and sniff out the killer. Finding out who it is and telling Zee, Zee is arrested for the murder of the murderer. She knows he is innocent and Mercy being Mercy will not stay out of fae business till he's proven innocent, even at the risk of her own life.

Of course that is never her only trouble. She still has were Sam and Alpha were Adam vying for her love. Honey, one of the pack's females has explained that by not accepting Adams offer as his mate she is weakening the whole pack and takes the time to explain just what Adam's declaring that has done for her besides protecting Mercy from other weres killing her. She'll need Adam's help more than once here as the fae put a hit out on her for seeing too much of their secrets, and she gets herself in a situation that nearly breaks her and had me tearing up for what she suffers.

Mercy is just a fantastic female protagonist. She is so strong, yet not obnoxiously so. She makes just enough mistakes that you can't help but say "oh Mercy when will you put a cork in it?" The other characters are great as well, Warren and Kyle are great friends, and Sam is not so bad himself. You also get to see another side of Ben that redeems him completely in my eyes. Briggs has really scored with this series, I read them with as much gusto and enjoyment as I do Sookie's books and can't wait to read #4, Bone Crossed which is sitting on my shelf. If I knew how to do a 1/2 star this would be 4 1/2 *'s!!

Mercy takes on the Fae to defend Zi who has been wrongly accused of murder. The Fae are prepared to abandon Zi to protect the larger interest but Mercy isn't going to abandon her friend no matter who tells her, even Zi, to stop looking for the real killer. Mercy draws the attention of powerful and dangerous fae who put out a contract on her. That is until the fae learn that they will be taking on the local and regional werewolf packs who claim her.

Mercy loves Sam and Adam in rather different ways. She makes important decisions regarding her relationship with each, knowing she has to pick one, or neither, sooner than later. I am careful here not to say who she picks (although there are spoilers in other reviews).

When Mercy suffers magical enslavement and rape she is convinced that she is unworthy and has betrayed her werewolf love. The enslaver has instructed her that she is unlovable and should go drown herself. Yet Mercy's strengths shine through and help her fight even the strong fae magic.

Mercy thinks she is alone but learns that she has more "family" than she realized. Ben shows surprising insights that help him explain Mercy's feelings in order to save her relationship.

I listened to this in two days. Again, the author brought tears to my eyes, considering the pain and emotions Mercy has to cope with. The threats and action don't stop till the end and the story ends on an expectant note of relationship that left me ready for the next installment.

If the first book in the Mercy Thompson series focused on the world of werewolves; and the second book revolved around the vampires; this third installment is book that gives us an inside look at the fae.

Mercy is a shapeshifter, who can turn into a coyote. And she owes the fae a favor for the use of some vampire killing tools she used at the end of Blood Bound. So when her friend and former boss, Zee, asks her to come to the fae reservation to help sniff out a murderer, she agrees. Using her coyote senses, Mercy makes quick work of her task. But things get really complicated when the perpetrator ends up dead and Zee is accused of his murder. That sends Mercy on a mission to clear her friend's name. And she has to go against the wishes of powerful fae to do it.

Mercy's also got a lot going on her personal life. She finally makes a decision between the two werewolves fighting for her love. And she's afraid of how that choice will change her life. And in the course of the book, Mercy is dealt an enormous, unexpected blow that will be very difficult to recover from. It was bad enough to witness the events on page, but the aftermath is even more crushing. How it was handled shows us what Mercy is made out of... and the reaction of the pack shows us where she really stands with them all.

This isn't a series for cursing or hot sex scenes. But the author makes some very bold choices. And this is an exceptionally strong installment to a very solid series. 5 stars.

Mercy has been through a lot the past six months, but she's not prepared for the deaths she is asked to sniff out. But she owes the Fae a favor, and she's not one to not return favors. Mercy finds herself torn when her ex-boss and mentor, Zee, is arrested for the murders and says for her to stay out of it. She doesn't want to leave her friend behind bars no matter what him or the Gray Lords say. When Mercy finds out secrets about the Fae while investigating, she then understands why the Fae conceded to staying on the reservations. But the Gray Lords also know that she knows their secrets and they aren't going to stand by while she tries to solve this puzzle and find the real killer. They want Zee to be the fall guy, and pay the price so there will be no further investigations by the human police.

This was by far the best Mercy book yet. Relationships are expanded upon, and Mercy finds herself having to finally choose between Adam and Samuel. It's pretty obvious that she's known all along who she will end up with. I loved this mystery Mercy was working on. There were so many players and the Fae are quite intriguing. There was a good 10 pages where I was shedding a few tears even - last time I did that it was during Rachel Vincent's Prey. Mercy definitely shows a vulnerable side here, but it's not her own doing which makes it such a difficult read.

Briggs continues to make the secondary characters have their own roles to play, and I think that's the most important part. Without the Werewolves, Vampires or Fae Mercy wouldn't be who she is today, well, and she probably wouldn't be in as much trouble either. That's besides the point though. I really liked the addition of the Fae hate group, it adds a whole new dimension to the series. I'd wondered when the humans would get more involved, and here they are!

This one is a gripping page turner, and I was up way too late on a school night to finish it! Can't wait to get my hands on book 4!

This was a good one, better than Blood Bound, because the key supernaturals in this one live up to their hype, unlike the mostly-likable evil vampires in Blood Bound. The Fae are mostly insular and private, wanting to keep their secrets and using their magic and an inhuman ruthlessness to accomplish that. But since humans now know about Fae, there's no way the Fae can live quietly enough to keep humans from sticking their noses into Fae business, because that's what humans do: when we discover a new animal, we need to observe and record it. When we find a new star, we need to map it, name it, and figure out its composition, color, strength, age, height, weight, and hair color. When we find a new element, we have to mix it up with other things to see if it'll explode. And, because our fascination with newness and our insatiable curiosity are results of our fear of the unknown, we also tend to form hate groups opposing the very things we have discovered. Like people who think of the snowy owl as an enemy, because it represents the conservationist movement. I mean: they actually hate a fluffy little owl. Along with the bleeding-heart liberals who protect it, but still.

So this one focuses on a string of Fae murders. Mercy is brought in to help investigate, because she has both a coyote's powerful nose and a human's mind and memory, and so she is an excellent scent tracker -- which makes sense. I also liked the comment that there are not many Fae who could do the same, because that was a gift mostly given to the beast-like Fae, most of whom are gone. Mercy figures out the culprit, and Zee and Uncle Mike, the two Council members who brought Mercy in, go to take care of the problem -- only to find the problem's already been taken care of, because the murderer's been beheaded. Uncle Mike vanishes, but Zee is left to take the fall for the murder of the murderer, and the Gray Lords, who have that wonderfully pragmatic and evil policy of sacrificing any individual in order to protect the group, want Zee to die in prison just after he confesses: an open-and-shut case.

But Mercy won't let it go. She investigates, and pokes her nose in, and fights for Zee even when Zee doesn't want her fighting for him -- Zee accepts the Gray Lord's absurd policy (Absurd because the line becomes ever more blurry over time: you sacrifice one person to save the lives of many, and then sacrifice two people to save the lives of five -- and then one to save one? Or you sacrifice one to save lives, then one to save homes, then one to save Christmas presents, and then one to save -- what, lawn ornaments? At some point you lose what you're trying to save.) and is willing to die for the Fae. Though I notice he didn't kill himself as the Gray Lords would surely have preferred.

And, of course, Mercy gets to the bottom of it. One of the greatest strengths of these books is in the climactic action sequences: the fight with Littleton and the hunt for Littleton's creator in Blood Bound, and the last few chapters in this one. They are a great strength because Briggs doesn't overdo it; as well as she writes an action scene, the character is not action oriented; she's a mechanic with a kinda screwed-up love life involving her neighbor and her roommate (I was also glad to see that resolve in this one, and now I'm eager to see where it goes from here). Mercy wouldn't be in the thick of things all day every day, and so she isn't; this book starts out with her watching "Queen of the Damned" with Warren and Kyle, a hilarious but quiet and peaceful scene. But the final fight in this one was fantastic, both in terms of how Mercy wins, and also how Mercy suffers at the hands of the villain -- please note that I mean it was well-written and therefore fantastic; it was extremely hard to read because it was well-written, but that is ever a strength for me, particularly in books that can so easily fall into sensationalism or fluff. And, of course, the resolution was fantastic, as well. And we also got to meet some seriously scary Fae, and Zee with his cloak off, which was super-sweet. It was a great book, and I will be reading more of these.

Mercy Thompson #3: Iron Kissed, by Patricia Briggs

When Mercy's former boss, Zee, is accused of murder and arrested by the police, it's up to her to figure out just what's going on and clear his name. Mercy has enough obstacles to overcome while trying to do that, including Zee - he doesn't want her help. Mercy fears that the Gray Lords, the rulers of the fae, are setting Zee up to take the fall for a crime he didn't commit, and they don't care that he's innocent - they just want it to be over, and quickly.

But Mercy has her own trouble with the Gray Lords; while sniffing for evidence at a crime scene, she drifts into the Underhill, the magic land of the fae. That, and her fight for Zee's innocence lead to a death sentence on her head...luckily she has the werewolves to help when things get a little swampy with a dangerous fae. And if that isn't enough, Mercy also has to make a choice between Adam and Samuel, two dominant werewolves who both want her as a mate.

This third installment of Briggs' excellent paranormal series focuses on the fae, as book 1 focused on werewolves and book 2 focused on vampires. In her world, the fae have been out to the public for over 30 years, but that hasn't made them any less dangerous, as Mercy quickly comes to find out. We finally also learn Zee's background, something that has been tantalizingly hinted at throughout the other books.

"Iron Kissed" kept me captivated; I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out just what was going to happen. The last 60 or so pages blew me away, I read them with a sick, but eager feeling in my stomach - I knew Mercy would triumph, but what she had to overcome was gut-wrenching. I absolutely love how Briggs writes her characters; rarely do I feel such affection and emotion in this short of a book. I also like how the author handles romance - Mercy has two men interested in her, but it isn't the focus of the book, it's just a nice side plot that isn't overpowering.

I wish that "Iron Kissed" was longer, but it doesn't need to be; I'm just greedy for more!

5/5.

I decided that instead of back-posting all of the reviews back to when I read them, I would just slowly post the reviews in the here and now so that we can keep a review going every day even though it usually takes me a few days to finish a book.

Today's review is on Iron Kissed, the third in the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Mercy is a Walker possessing the ability to change into a coyote at will. Unlike her adoptive family and occasional guardians her change happens quite quickly as opposed to the longer and more painful process of changing into a wolf. Mercy definitely has the quickness of a coyote, both in physical function and in wit. She's smart, funny, and has quite the ability to kick some serious butt!

Iron Kissed brings us through the world of Mercy Thompson to visit the Fae, a very visible set of characters, yet one that we haven't got to visit in much detail yet in the series. When Mercy's former boss and current friend is indicted for murder, life turns topsy-turvy for Mercy. She finds herself in the position where she wants to help but is being kept from doing just that. What's worse is that the force keeping her from investigating the crime and freeing her friend are the Fae themselves. They don't like outsiders meddling in their affairs and despite Mercy's ability to change into the mischievous coyote, that includes her.

When Mercy ignores the warnings surrounding her and delves farther into the mystery, she'll be confronted with much more than she is able to handle. Will she be able to conquer the Fae magic in order to protect those she cares for or will their own stubborn nature keep her from doing that? How far will she go and what exactly is she willing to lose to find the truth?

As always, Adam and Samuel are very present in this book. Really, there's nothing better than a spicy love triangle to sweeten things up. Who will Mercy choose? The man she loves but is afraid to lose herself to or the man she loves but can never forgive? It's a difficult choice, but one that has to be made soon to protect the sanity of the entire pack.

I will give warning: there are adult themes in this book. There are a few scenes that may be difficult for younger readers to handle. Although I LOVE the Mercedes Thompson series, I would suggest parents scan through the book first before giving it to their younger readers.

Warnings aside, I will say that I thought this was a truly fantastic book! I loved the story and I loved the development of Mercy, Adam and Samuel especially. We really get another look into these characters and come even closer to understanding what's truly going on in those minds! By far my favorite character is Mercy. In fact, I'd have to say that she's right up in my top five favorite female characters. She's beautiful without being overly so, strong without being invincible and she has her own set of flaws. Mostly I love Mercy because she is a survivor. She shows us that life can go on after tragedy and although it's not easy, although life may never be the same, she can go on. Okay, enough spoilerness from me! The last thing I have to say is that it was great getting to see a little bit more of the Fae part of the world. I'm super excited to see where Briggs is going to go with the tidbits she left us with.

Iron Kissed has two main plotlines. The first deals with Mercy having to make a choice between the two men in her (love)life. Adam - the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, and Sam her childhood sweetheart (also an Alpha). It's a decision she needs to make soon, before there's bloodshed.

The second plot is the mystery of the book. Several Fae have been murdered out at the Fae reservation and Zee (her old boss) takes Mercy there, to see if her 'coyote' nose can track the murderer. Although it initially seems like everything is resolved, Zee ends up being charged with murder and Mercy feels it's up to her to prove his innocence. Whether he wants her help or not.

Although I don't think it's essential to have read the previous books in the series to follow Iron Kissed. You'd be missing out on two great stories if you didn't read Moon Called (Bk1) and Blood Bound (Bk2). Plus the build up to the Adam/Mercy/Samuel plotline and a lot of the background as to how the Mercy Thompson Universe works and the relationship/family set ups of the various species groups is in those books.

One thing I very much enjoy about the series is how in each book we learn more about the characters and their relationships. One of my favourite things is how the dynamics of the werewolf pack is explored. The scene between Ben and Adam at the end was one of the most powerful in the book, especially when Ben is having trouble expressing himself.

"It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."

For me this quote is at the heart of the book. In a way this has been Mercy's attitude since we first met her in Moon Called, and probably has a lot to do with growing up as a coyote in a werewolf pack. It's a very easy thing to say when you have no way of knowing what the consequences of your actions will be.

Some of Iron Kissed is very difficult to read. Patricia Briggs doesn't pull back, her characters have to deal with the consequences of their actions. There are no get out clauses here. Sometimes there isn't an easy solution and it isn't always easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Especially when the person you have to forgive is yourself.

The temptation to skip ahead when reading this book to see where the story is going, is almost overwhelming. It's a story that once you start reading you can't stop. The Mercy Thompson series gets better with every book and in my opinion it's one of the best urban fantasy series around at the moment. If you love urban fantasy and you aren't reading the Mercy Thompson series, then I really think you should be.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

Iron Kissed was AWESOME. So, so good! Iron Kissed advanced the series forward. We learned more about the Fae, we understand Samuel's feelings toward Mercy and we are proud of what Mercy had to overcome in Iron Kissed. The entire book was based around Mercy's loyalty and what she is willing to do and how far she willing to go for her friends.

Iron Kissed was more of a puzzle and murder mystery and the villain wasn't clearly defined until near the end of the book. Mercy acted like a private investigator and the villain wasn't really interested in Mercy until she got to close to the truth. An excellent read and a plot that commanded my attention. I didn't want to put Iron Kissed down for one second.

Because it is a continuous series I don't want to provide any spoilers but I am truly excited about the advancement of all the various pack members. Even the secondary characters were more interesting in Iron Kissed.

Iron Kissed ended on a really high note and I forced myself to stop to type my thoughts before moving forward but I really want to pick up Bone Crossed right now. *stares at cover* As much as I loved Blood Bound I think I loved Iron Kissed more.

Teasers - Sam's epiphany, fae artifacts, brave Mercy, Zee's real form is shared.

In the 1st book in the series, Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1) the author introduces Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson. In the 2nd book, Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2) Stefan Uccello, a vampire and friend, called in on a favor. Things turn bad and soon Mercy gets involved in a hunt for a vampire-sorcerer. Several of her friends are kidnapped and held hostage by Cory Littleton, the vampire-sorcerer. She comes to the resources and kills Cory, and his maker, Andre, using items that Zee and Uncle Mike provided. Now in the 3rd book, Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3) Siebold Adelbertsmiter "Zee", her former gremlin boss and mentor, calls in on his favor. He wants her to help sniff out a killer. Mercy identifies O'Donnell, a BFA agent, to Zee and Uncle Mike. Zee is later arrested at the house of O'Donnell, he is found with the body, and is charged with murder. Zee doesn't want her involved he is afraid she will get in trouble or worse arguer the Gray Lords. But of course - Mercy can help but put herself in danger by finding O'Donnell's killer and exonerating Zee.

Mercy also finds herself needing to desperately make a decision between Adam Hauptman, the Alpha of Columbia Basin Pack, and Dr. Samuel Llewellyn Cornick's "Sam", a lone wolf but is still 3rd in rank of all North American packs. Warren and Honey warn her that they are both are extremely dominant werewolves the territorial contentiousness is weakening the pack - which is dangerous for everyone.

The story tugs you along; I was unable to see a satisfying outcome. I was also unable to figure out who the killer was and that is rare. This is the best of the series so far. I only hope the series can continue at this momentum. This book way exceeded my expectations. I really missed the vampires in this book - I am hoping they return in the next book.

The other book in the series...
Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)

Though painful at times, Iron Kissed is a must read for series fans -- choices and events in this book will change Mercy's life forever. When Mercy's Fae friend and mentor Zee is wrongly accused of murdering a human, the Fae Lords cover-up evidence which would clear him, offering up Zee as a sacrificial lamb to protect the Fae from human retribution. Mercy courageously pursues the truth and puts herself in grave danger as she delves into forbidden Fae knowledge in her search for the real killer. But to find the killer and free her friend, the price Mercy is going to have to pay is much greater than Mercy could have ever imagined, because Mercy doesn't find the villain - the villian finds her.

The aftermath of the physical and emotional trauma inflicted on Mercy by the villain was heartrending and it didn't loose its intensity even though I cheated and read the spoilers, so I was somewhat prepared for what was coming. Mercy experienced personal destruction at such a primal level that I wondered how she was going to survive. It was very difficult to read, even more so than the incident itself, which was very subtly handled, no graphic details. Amazingly, on her road to recovery Mercy finds a champion key to her emotional and psychological survival in the most seemingly unlikely character, Ben. While aiding Mercy, we get startling look into Ben that takes him from the scary character we have seen through out the series, exposes him in a way that explains so much about why he is the way he is, and makes him a much more sympathetic character. Ben has always had sort of an adversarial relationship with Mercy, but it looks like his advocacy for Mercy which prevents misunderstandings that would further damage Mercy -- when he takes a risk to stand up to Alpha Adam and force Adam to see past Adam's own feelings of guilt and self incriminations -- forges another strong pack bond between Mercy and Ben.

There had been hints that Mercy would choose between Sam and Adam in this book and while I thought that resolution of this issue made sense within the context of the series, I am still mixed in my feelings over Adam pushing his claim on Mercy when she was so distraught. A significant part of the damage done to Mercy was the utter hopelessness caused by the suggestions planted by the villain which magnified the painful feelings of being abandoned and unwanted that Mercy has carried with her much of her life. On one hand, Adam's claim was an unmistakable acceptance which helped to banish some of those ghosts with the clear message that she belonged, but when Mercy finishes recovering, I can't help but believe that she won't be a little bit of resentful for being pushed into the choice. Even though it looked like it was the one she was going to make from scenes earlier in the book and though the last scene in the book was supposed to be Mercy choosing. It really wasn't choosing -- she only got to accept the choice that was made for her.

While it made for a powerfully emotional conclusion to Mercy's quest for the real killer and created such a profound debt that the Fae lord was forced to help clear Zee, I can only guess why Brigg's needed Mercy to go through such a devastating life altering experience. In the past books Mercy has been playing with the `Big Paranormal Bad Boys' and luckily had come out relatively unscathed but with so many powerful players luck isn't always enough and it is realistic that if you are a battle survivor scars are inevitable. Or it might be that since Mercy was headed for a `happily-ever-after' with a mate and acceptance by the pack to overcome her past of not fitting in, that Mercy needed to have something else to overcome in future books. But how will this affect the character we have grown to love and admire? I am thinking that the Mercy in the next book can't possibly be the one that started this one, but will she still boldly go forward and act with stubborn courage gaining strength from the knowledge that she was the one to save herself even when she was nearly powerless, or will she be more cautious in the future?

I am looking forward to the rest of the Mercy books yet to come and I hope that between this series and Brigg's new one with Charles and Anna set in the same world, that Samuel gets a HEA, he was a very interesting character with such a well of sadness that it would be nice to see something good happen to him.

Ever since Laurell K Hamilton started writing her books more & more as erotica rather than a supernatural thriller, I've been jonesing for writers who have strong female leads and aren't afraid to use them. I picked up this series on the recommendation of a friend and I've been entranced ever since. The character of Mercy is an interesting anomaly in the world of supernatural fiction. She's just as strong, willful, and supernatural as the rest of them, but unlike her counterparts, Mercy is for the most part unaware of what she can do & has a job that doesn't rely on her Walker skills.

In this particular entry, Mercy's good friend & fellow mechanic Zee has been accused of the gruesome murder of a human. While this is already a very bad thing, it comes in the midst of strong anti-magical being legislature and it looks very bad for Zee. Mercy of course decides that she isn't going to allow Zee to be railroaded into paying for a crime he didn't commit and investigates, unaware of the true danger that she'll be putting herself into. Also in this novel Mercy finally makes the decision that everyone has been waiting for: Adam or Samuel?

I really enjoyed this book. I had to pace myself so I wouldn't devour it all at once (I wanted to savor it). I am honestly surprised at several of the things that happen in this book, the least of which involves what Mercy suffers at the hands of the villain of the book. Briggs really took the uncommon road in this novel as she allows her main character to suffer harms that usually do not befall the main heroine (only her friends or others), which gives us a truly new look and respect for both author & her creations. More often than not most authors make their characters all powerful and above most harm, choosing to rather have their heroines suffer hurts that can be easily wiped away by the next volume.

Would I recommend this to a friend? Sure! While it may be a little difficult for them to jump in on the 3rd book, the main story can stand by itself easily.

In Iron Kissed, Mercy is recruited by her fae friends to help sniff out (literally) a killer on the fae reservation. When friend and former boss, self-proclaimed gremlin, Zee, is later arrested, Mercy's search for the killer becomes more frantic -- and dangerous. In other (werewolf) news, Mercy comes to a resolution about Samuel and Adam, but will she live to see it through?

This book crystallized in my mind for me some of the reasons that I love this series so much. Briggs seems to intuitively understand restraint. She doesn't pad her books and draw every scene out, milking ever last drop. As a writer, it's tempting to make the reader see exactly what you want them to by writing every little detail. Briggs understands that sometimes, things are better left to each individual's imagination, and so she uses a light hand during crucial situations. This doesn't mean the books are bland and description less; rather, there is a base to work off of in the readers' mind so that they can supply all of the extraneous details. This is effective for two reasons: 1), the reader inherently makes the story better for his/herself when applying imagination and preference -- this is why the book is always better than the movie. 2) all of the excess scenework that you have to wade through as a reader isn't there. I know that scenework can be pretty, and you may love how someone describes something in such detail, but when they constantly do that, it gets old. I can tell you how many times I've read Anne Rice or Laurell K. Hamilton and rolled my eyes or said "get to the point already!" A 300-400 page book is often padded our to 600-700 pages. Briggs doesn't do this. The result is that the books fly by and leave you engaged the whole time, and leave you hungry for the next. Everything seems so brilliantly paced, and everything is necessary.

Now, one thing that almost knocked this particular book back to a 4 for me was a couple of Scooby Doo scenes. It drives me nuts when a villain spills their guts to the good guy, thereby tying up all the loose strings that had you wondering; b) I hate it when one character in conversation to another summarizes the whole book, essentially recapping, and thereby tying up loose strings. These things seem lazy to me, generally. But the reason that this didn't end up knocking the story back to a 4 was that in both cases where Briggs does this, there was a reason that actually made it work and made sense in the context of the story, as well as expanding the readers` understanding of the characters in a way that worked, when anything else would have shown less and seemed clumsy. I ended up being sort of impressed by something that normally drives me insane. (More on this, but it gets spoilery, so it will be on the blog, here:
[...])

In this latest installment Mercy is thrust directly into fae affairs as she struggles to clear Zee of murder. Someone has been stealing fae relics and killing those who owned them-a transgression that not even the Gray Lords will stand for. Someone will have to pay the price and that means Mercy and Zee might end up being the fall guys.

It is not necessarily the plot line that attracts readers to this series but the tenuous relationships between the characters. It strongly conjures up similarities to Moning's "Fever" series and Hamilton's "Meredith Gentry" series with one striking difference; while Moning might take us to the front lines of the fae/mortal battle, Brigg's provides only an intoxicating glimpse, concentrating her creative talents on character development.

But that shouldn't discourage readers-this is where Brigg's strength lies. But there is a tone of seriousness to this story not present in earlier novels and fans might be taken aback. For those who have read Kim Harrison's series-remember Rachel and Kisten? Well the tone is just as serious because this 3rd book is the catalyst, and important decisions and events occur.

Mercy finally chooses between Samuel and Adam. Mercy, Adam, Samuel, Ben, Zee and pack politics are fleshed out enough to both satisfy and leave readers clamoring for more. Briggs also touches on a seriously traumatic event that Mercy experiences, and handles it both in a sensitive and cautious way. This event, and the subsequent actions of her characters lend a permanence that will stay long in readers minds.

Brigg's has proven she can stand with the best writers of supe fiction. Mercedes Thompson is just as enigmatic and strong has Armintrout's Carrie Ames, Armstrong's Elena Michaels, and Moning's Mackayla Lane. After waiting a while for this third novel to come out, I was deeply satisfied with the outcome-read it twice in one day though the ending seemed somewhat incomplete-perhaps a ploy to keep us wanting more-at least it worked for me. It delivers on many levels and I can't wait for the next one. Kudos!Copyright(c)Nicola Mattos

Wow. So this series just keeps getting more and more intense. And in such unexpected ways. I love it when an author has the ability (and the guts) to slip in a real shocker without compromising her characters or the story as a whole. In a series, that's particularly hard to do without making it seem like a gratuitous plot twist inserted merely to keep the series going. Patricia Briggs has a 7-book deal for her Mercy Thompson series and book three has shown that not only does she know exactly what she's doing, but that we can trust her. To keep her characters and her world consistent. To take them down the right paths and introduce them to the right people...or werewolves and vampires in this case.

Mercy lives in a world where werewolves, vampires, and the fae exist side by side with humans. The first book, Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1), focuses on the werewolves. The second, Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson, Book 2), centers on the vampires, including Mercy's quirky Scooby Doo loving friend Stefan. In this third installment, coyote shape shifter and VW mechanic Mercy Thompson is called in to help the fae solve a series of murders on the local fae reservation. Soon after, her friend Zee is arrested for the murder and, just like that, Mercy's in the thick of it, determined to clear Zee's name no matter what. Add to that the increasingly imperative choice she must make between the two werewolves in her life: Adam Hauptman (the Alpha of the local pack who's already claimed her as his mate) and Dr. Samuel Cornick (the wolf she fell in love with at 16). In what is becoming classic Briggs style, IRON KISSED combines an intriguing mystery with a streak of compelling romance, interspersed with glimpses of your worst nightmares. The combination is the height of entertainment. And what holds it all together is Mercy herself. The girl doesn't know the meaning of the words back down. I absolutely love these books.

Okay, so normally I don't read reviews before I read books that look interesting. Especially bad ones. I check the star rating but never actually read the details. With this series, I broke that. I did read the bad reviews before I read the book - mostly because when these love triangles come into play they tend to not turn out the way I like. I was really apprehensive about this book. I knew that there was going to be some story line resolution in it and a large traumatic event for Mercy. Thank goodness that this author knows what she is doing. The entire event was handled VERY well, and the after part when Adam is fighting with Ben is the best part of the whole book. It gives a great chance to see how Adam really feels about Mercy, teaches us about Ben, and lets us understand what is going on a little better!

The only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because some part of the book got a little to sluggish. All of the Fae stuff just kept dragging on - there was a lot of stuff that was unnecessary and the way the killer was discovered was really unrelated to the searching Mercy had done. Not that what she was doing didn't lead her to where she end up, but it was just seemed like too much of a coincidence. It would have been better if it had tied in with all of the running around that she did.

Overall, this book gets 4.5 stars (but the store doesn't allow 1/2 stars). I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next book. Oh one more thing.. I wish the last page wouldn't have been cut off so soon. I have been waiting for the event for 3 books - a couple of details wouldn't have been so bad... **wink wink**

If you haven't been reading this series stop right now and pick up Moon called (book 1) and Blood Bound (book 2). If you like the paranormal genre I doubt you'll be disappointed. That clarified, Iron Kissed is the third installment in an already popular series. Blood Bound left us with Mercy in danger from the vampires she had worked for and not feeling any comfort regarding her current living situation. With Samuel as her current roomate and Adam still her neighbor the love triangle has certainly not gotten any less pointy around the edges.

But who has time for sorting out man troubles when there's a mystery to solve? Enter Mercy's mechanicing mentor, Zee, with some dirty, little fae secrets. There've been a handful of murders out on the Fae reservation and since they govern themselves they don't want the police involved. Sometimes it's better not to have the humans know things- like just how powerful the fae really are. Here Briggs gives us our first real glimpse into the world within a world that are her fae. Mercy sniffs out the murderer and when Zee and Uncle Mike, the bartending fae we met in the last book, go to handle the murderer someone has gotten to him first. Conveniently the police arrive just in time to catch Zee with blood on his hands and he is arrested.

From here on out Mercy has to prove Zee's innocence, find the murderer's killer and stop them, and if she's lucky sort out her love triangle. Briggs hits it out of the ballpark again with her original story and world-building, vivid depiction of south-eastern Washington (which she uses greatly as its own character in this series), and of course, making her secondary characters an important part of the book. If you loved Moon Called and Blood Bound you shouldn't miss out on this one! Expect lots of nail-biting suspense and some very satisfying resolution to threads that have carried over from earlier in the series.

The third book in the Mercy Thompson supernatural series, Iron Kissed centers on Mercy's former boss Zee, a gremlin who is taking the fall for a series of murders that have taken place on the fae reservation. Mercy, called in to help Zee locate clues as to the real killer, becomes angered and entangled in the investigation because she knows Zee is innocent. Unfortunately, the fae community doesn't appreciate her meddling in their affairs, and Adam isn't pleased to know Mercy's not being safe as well. Of course Mercy doesn't back down easily, and when a friend is in danger, she places herself in the line of fire in attempting to exonerate him.

Iron Kissed is a thoroughly gripping novel, with lots of different kinds of fae involved and plenty of death defying incidents. Mercy's tough girl personna takes a major hit after a nasty trick leaves her physically and psychologically harmed. There is still a romance in the air, however; Adam's possessiveness forces Mercy to take a hard look at what she actually wants. Simply put, this novel has many layers, with characters taking unexpected turns and gut-wrenching plot twists. Ms. Briggs handles her story well, giving us enough information to understand but helping us to figure things out along with Mercy. This series just keeps getting better!

Book three of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, Iron Kissed brings another side to the ongoing saga that is Mercedes Thompson's life. Mercedes is taken deep into the mysterious world of the Fae to help investigate a murder of several Fae on the Fae Reservation and to help free Zee.

This book is a different speed of the previous two. There isn't as much action but is just as thrilling as the first two. I was glad to learn more about Zee and more about him as a "gremlin", more about the Gray Lords and also, more about Mercy's relationship with Adam and Samuel. This book is difficult to review without giving away too much. I just finished this last night and can't tell you whether it's my favorite of the series, but it definitely broke my heart. The first two books Mercy was tough and independent, in this book she hasn't lost either of those traits but she did get broken. Badly. I felt for her so much. Iron Kissed brought out a different side of Mercy, some people didn't like it but I liked it. She showed she can be broken down to the lowest form and rise above tragedy without completely losing herself. All of the main players in this series are crushed and show different sides in this book. This is definitely one to ponder after reading.

In my book, Mercy rocks and so does Patricia Briggs.

Third installment in the Mercy Thompson series, Iron Kissed brings Mercy again involved in a mess she shouldn't meddle in. After the werewolves and the vampires, now her problems involve the fairies. Zee, her mentor as a mechanic and a gremlin fae, asks Mercy to help him sniff (literally) the responsible for a series of murders in the fae reservation, a place filled with secrets that could get her killed for learning too much. Seemed like a simple task until the body count grows and the human police is involved.

Different from the previous books of the series, in this one Mercy finally deals with her feelings and instead of growing into a sweet love story, she's caught by surprise in her adventures trying to catch the killer and the consequences might create psychological wounds that will never heal. Although it's an emotionally hard read for those who've grown to like Mercy, specially the final parts of it, it's superbly well-written.

It was unexpected for me, considering the last two books were very focused on the action, but Briggs managed to describe emotions and reactions with the same great skill she uses to create the mysteries. And, thankfully, she did it without underplaying the later, keeping us, readers, engaged and in the dark until the very end.

Once again I found one ''subplot'' that was not used. The same happened in the previous book but I'm starting to think it's one of the author's tactics to make us blind to the answer of the puzzle. It's clever, since I only discard these characters after the end when they don't come back. I just expected them to be at least mentioned in the last pages, even a single phrase would kill the feeling that they were simply forgotten.

It doesn't change the fact it's another great addition to the series and I'm eagerly waiting to read the next.

YES, THIS IS A GREAT BOOK, I THOUGHT SO WHEN I READ IT IN PAPERBACK IN JAN. 2008! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD COME OUT IN HARDCOVER IN JAN. 2012? I THOUGHT IT WAS NEW, SO I ORDERED IT. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW PLEASED I WAS TO FIND OUT I AREADY HAD IT! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH AUTHOR'S AND THEIR PUBLISHERS? AREN'T BOOKS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH WITHOUT HAVING TO SNEEK OLD BOOKS OUT IN COLLECTIONS, AND HARDCOVER VERSIONS FOUR YEARS AFTER IT COMES OUT IN PAPERBACK? I READ ALLOT, ABOUT ONE BOOK IN 24 HOURS, I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL OF THEM. I DON'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF TREATMENT FROM MY FAVORITE AUTHORS. WHO EVER HEARD OF HARDCOVER COMING OUT YEARS AFTER IT COMING OUT FIRST IN PAPERBACK? the store ONLY TELLS YOU YOU HAVE ALREADY ORDERED IT FROM THEM IF YOU CLICK ON THE RIGHT VERSION. IF YOU BOUGHT IT FROM THEM IN PAPERBACK, AND CLICK ON WHAT YOU THINK IS A NEW VERSION IN HARDCOVER, NOTHING. HOW ABOUT THE AUTHOR'S TELLING YOU IT IS NOT A NEW BOOK? SOME, IF IT IS IN A COLLECTION, DO. I WANT IT SPELLED OUT CLEARLY IF THEY ARE RELEASING AN OLD BOOK IN A NEW VERSION!

I've been spending a lot of time with my new friend Mercy Thompson lately, having read the first three books in her series in the past two weeks. I had a hard time getting engrossed in Iron Kissed, and was concerned that the spell was broken.

Then the story got going and forced me to stay up until 2 a.m. frantically turning pages, because I couldn't go to sleep until I had unravelled the story's mystery.

Like all of the other books in Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series, the story is rooted in a magical world where werewolves, vampires and walkers live among humans in relative harmony. This installment focuses on the fae world, as Mercy is forced to defend her mentor and surrogate father Zee, a "gremlin" that has been framed for murder. Mercy, of course, is bent on sniffing out the real killer and exhonerating her friend -- but there are powerful forces at work against her.

The relationships in the series move along (finally!) in this installment, which made me happy. Briggs tends to focus more on the supernatural mystery aspects of her stories and sometimes neglects to also progress the secondary romance storyline, but Iron Kissed finally answered some long-awaited questions on that front -- and built some major anticipation for the newly released fourth book in the series, Bone Crossed.

Zee calls in the favor Mercy owes him. She has to walk around murder scenes on a fae reservation and use her coyote senses to try to sniff out the scent of the murderer. She figures it out, and Zee and Uncle Mike go to confront the murderer, but find him dead instead. Police arrive and pin the murder on Zee. The fae are content to let Zee rot in jail and be executed so humans will not probe into their world. Mercy cannot let Zee go down for something she knows he didn't do, so she investigates on her own ... and in the process angers the Gray Lords, the fae leaders. She also stumbles upon some very dangerous people and creatures, but will not stop her search for the true killer, even though her life is in danger.

I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but Mercy grew on me. I didn't care for her in the first two books, but in this one, boy oh boy, it changed. I loved Mercy. She has a heart of gold and is loyal and brave and loving. She will walk through fire for someone she cares about. I'm really happy she finally made a choice between Sam & Adam. Towards the end, Mercy went through a very horrible experience, and I cried all the way through it and straight through to the end of the book. What happened to Mercy is something that's very hard for me to read about, but it was handled well and helped me to relate more to Mercy and truly care for her character. Iron Kissed was a roller coaster ride from start to finish and I definitely recommend it.

Mercedes is a trouble magnet. Still under vampires radars for killing one them, Mercy gets her nose in fae business 'cause she owes a favor to Zee, fae, friend and ex-boss. She's summoned to the fae reservation to investigate a series of murders, but warned that seeing to much would be dangerous. What happens next? Mercy sees too much! She identified the murderer but it gets Zee into deep trouble and Mercedes will do everything she can to get him help.

I'm really in love with that series and even if it was just for Mercy's attitude it would be worth reading the series, but of course there's much more then that! In that book Mercy will finally pull her love life together and make a pick, which is great, I've been holding my breath to know who she would finally end up with! We also get to see some of her weaker sides which is hard to bear at some point, makes her as real as it gets.

When I started reading the series the titles didn't quite make sense but now that I can see the bigger picture it all make sense. In the first book, Moon Called, Mercy dives in werewolves troubles. In the second, Blood Bound, she stirs problems with the vampires. Third, Iron Kissed, is about fae ( weak to iron). I wonder what will she get herself into in Bone Crossed.

This series by Ms. Briggs is truly wonderful. She has created a vibrant, believable & likeable character in Mercy Thompson. This is the third book in the series & it is definitely the darkest, but that is not a criticism. To me, that shows the depth & strength of these characters & the mythology Ms. Briggs has created within Mercy's world. The plotting is tight & well paced. I would say, though, that if you have not read the first 2 books (Moon Called & Blood Bound, in that order) you should check them out, first. This is a series that builds on each new book (it has layers, like a parfait, not an onion. <g>) If you are thinking of this for a young adult reader (or you ARE a young adult reader reading my review) please note that the subject matter is somewhat adult in nature. I do not mean in the sexy, "heaving cleavage" gothic romance kind of way; I just want parents to note that they should be aware. The subject matter (I do not want to give away a plot point, so that's all I can say, here) is handled very tastefully, and respectfully. And realistically. Definitely realistically. (Not in the details, but in the human aspect/response to the situation.)
I zoomed through all three books in the series in a matter of 4 days. They are addicitve reading, these books.
If you have already met Mercy & her friendly neighborhood Weres (and to accoasional odd vampire or fae) then you know you're in for abumpy, spooky, delightfully vivid good ride, uh, I mean read. <g>

There's only one thing I can say about this book for people like myself: Skip pages 227 to 276. The little "tragedy, traumatic experience, etc" that Mercy goes through will give you nightmares and put you in an emotionally bad place if you've experienced her "tragedy" and aren't prepared to read about it.

So here's the spoiler/needed warning: Mercy is manipulated, controlled and violated in mind, body and spirit (raped) by the killer. The werewolf Ben understands completely since he was sexually abused as a child.

The book is good. If you're at a point in your life where you can watch this type of "trauma" on TV or read it in a book without going back to that place, than you don't need to skip any pages. If you haven't reached that point, skip it. You'll still get the gist of everything and understand the ending if you skip those 49 pages; but with your psyche intact.

DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND: If you have first-hand experience with one or (like me) both of these situations, there is nothing gentle, kind or cautious in these 49 pages for those who have been there and definitely not for those that still have moments where the memories come out of nowhere and deliver a sucker punch to your spirit. This is a great book, but you'll hate it if you haven't "recovered" enough to recognize and deal with the fact that your misery is simply a great plot point for the media at large.

If you know someone who has experienced this, DO NOT be dumb enough to give them this book as a way to "deal" or give them hope. The book is fiction and so is Mercy's way of "dealing with it" and blindingly fast "recovery" for the majority of the people who've actually been in Mercy's shoes. Ben is the figure for someone who's "recovered and learned to deal," not Mercy.

I think I've repeated myself enough to hopefully give warning to those who need it. The story is great, I saw nothing wrong with the love triangle and I think the overall tone of the book makes sense when you combine the events of the first two books with this one. This is a true book series, so you need to read the books in order to understand the dynamic of the various character relationships.

In final reference to my warning, I think a friend summed it up best: "The rape was pointless. I think losing her arm would've been more traumatic for Mercy."

Iron Kissed is the third book in Mercy Thompson's world. Let me just say I really enjoyed the first two books but wasn't putting too much thought into them because I thought they served mostly as character development along with love story interests. This book I am not sure what I feel about it at all...I am confused is a good way of putting it.

It may have been me thinking too hard about the plot and how the story developed or it could be the book itself. The story revolves around the arrest of Mercy's friend and former boss Zee on murder charges. Mercy being the loyalist she is (and I love her for it) tries to clear his name even when he asks her to stop. In the first book we got to learn mostly about Brigg's vision of werewolves, the second we learned about vampires and in this one we learn a little about the Fae world. I am only familiar with the first two and I think she has maintained a good amount of what is known about them along with adding some of her own twists and visions. The Fae I really have no idea about them except that they have glamour so I am taking what she says as researched and then her own vision of it.

I enjoyed learning about the Fae and their magic and some of the stories that were told in the book. I enjoyed the characters as usual especially when they used their very well known sense of humor.

I knew before I started that the love triangle would be resolved from the author's notes. I was actually very fond of both if not all 3 men in her life. But when I got around to the part where the choice was made I felt like it didn't flow. I don't even think she really chose it seemed like it just resolved itself for her. I was very disappointed in not seeing Stefan at all (but I think that's explained in the next book) after he was thrown into the mix. Back to the main point though the resolution didn't add up to me without giving anything away I just didn't feel like it was real and sorta felt like it was just thrown in there so no body's feelings get hurt. I also didn't understand the need for Mercy to decide that quick...she wasn't even dating them (I know the wolf part might be the reason but still).

Onto the main story this is the first book where I noticed that Mercy never actually solves anything (except for finding Andre in book 2). But the first book the solution was thrown to her by a new character (that never appears again). The second time she actually does that on her own because of her ghost seeing ability and a lot of detective questioning. This time follows the first book and she can't figure it out based on her senses or her questioning around.
Mercy in this book seemed to have lost her usual character. She's usually independent and does what she wants. she still maintains a little of that but seems to worry a lot about the guy's reaction or what he (not giving away who) would react. I found myself being very bothered by that because it's not her.

Over all I found the story lacking and not up to par with the other ones so hope when I get the next one it fits better.

This time around it isn't one of the members of her friends and family that gets broken up by Mercy's discoveries - it's her.

Patricia Briggs had me so involved in the story that when it happened and I finished this book 3 I took a day to understand the lesson taught to us as readers.

The world Mercy lives in is full of magical and non-magical beasts. No safe caution can stop the insidiousness of this attempt to break Mercy.

It doesn't work for long as our heroine is strong and able to start to heal with the help of her loved ones. The lesson I found though from such a great worldbuilder and intrigue with the Fae was that no matter what happens to you if you don't let yourself love others and be loved you won't survive any world.

Such a great journey and discovery of the kind of evil that can exist. Great characters, fantastic setting and well developed plot.

The latest Mercy book is a thrilling read. As the back of the book says Mercy is determined to help out her former boss, Zee, a fae who has been accused of mudrer. Mercy knows he's innocent, the facts just don't add up. Against everyone's wishes, including the rest of the fae and Adam and the pack she sets out to find the murderer and try to have Zee released and the real killer put to justice. Not as easy as it may seem.

Mercy is still trying to deal with her ever confusing feelings over Samuel and Adam. She doesn't know who to choose for she loves them both in different ways. Everyone among the pack tells her she needs to choose in order to put Adam in his right mind again. Eventually Mercy does make a decision that may or may not be what you might have expected.

As Mercy digs deeper into the murder that Zee is charged of she finds herself attracting unwanted attention from a fae and quite possibly the murderer himself. Then Mercy does the unthinkablea and loses herself, will the wolves she's come to trust be at her side to rescue her...or even forgive her after what had happened?

A thrill of a read! The ending was kind of a disappointment and yet not one. The last little section kept leading up to the event and then "poof", novel over. So that was proably one of the things that made me go what! that's how it ends? But still it was a good ending if a little abrupt.

This was a beautiful novel. There are times when an author shows extraordinary skill and talent- this was one of those times. I have read the previous two books in the series and though I liked them, I won't go into them because this is the review for Iron Kissed. Suffice to say that Mercedes Thompson as a character has, for me, become The character above all others.

I loved this book. Yes, the author deals with a serious issue but the manner it is done, the emotional and physical upheaval, the way the characters handled it... I am in AWE of this author. I NEVER could have written with such sensitivity, such skill. The book kept me hooked cover to cover, and I have to say that I see so many future possibilities for not just Mercy but the other characters. I feel I know Ben so much better now and am hoping to see more of him. Not to mention Zee and the Nekane. And seeing more of Adam and Mercy in an actual relationship just thrills me to no end. (I was rooting for Adam) who does not hold her back in any way and in fact, encourages her to be who she is.

Sometimes an author hooks you on the basis of a book- well, I am well and truly hooked. I will buy her work from now on based on this one book and I am sure that I will enjoy it. Thank you, Ms. Briggs, for this foray into the world you created.

This was by far my favorite book in the Mercy Thompson series. I loved the in-depth introduction into the Fae culture without losing the werewolf focus of the series. I did not like so much the complete lack of anything vampire, but I suppose one can't have it all.

The scene in which Mercy is made to drink from the Fairy cup and the aftermath was incredible, powerful writing and not likely something I will forget anytime soon. I don't recall if I have ever read a rape scene from a perspective such as Mercy's, and it really opened my eyes to such a nightmarish experience.

I also found the dynamic between Ben and Mercy afterwards to be both moving and fascinating, since I got to see beneath Ben's shell to who he really is and what makes him tick. Even though I disliked Ben intensely at the start of the series, he is growing to become one of my favorite characters.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending, as the whole book was building up to her joining with Adam, and then when the book finally gets to the point, I don't get so much as a single kiss. Boo. Hopefully in the next book, Bone Crossed, a little more romance takes centerstage.

I really liked this book it was darker then the others in the series. I think each of her books could stand on its on, but this one more then the first or second. Where the first in the series develops her charater and the Werewolves. The second delves into the Vampire side of things. This one, "Iron Kissed" is more about the Fea and paints a darker light on Mercy's and her life.

I often get a light hearted feel from her books, but Briggs is a great writer and can easily pull of disturbing without missing a beat.

For anyone who has not read the other books. This is written in first person about a Shape-Shifter named Mercy who's father was Indian. She lives in the tri-city area and has a whole mess of friends that include pretty much anything that goes bump in the night. Mery is down to earch, caring, and pratical. She is currently involved in a love triangle between two Werewolves, yet in this book she makes a choice it seems. The story line of this 3rd installment with out any frills is that Mercy is asked by a Fea friend to look into the murder of several Fea and some missing artifects. This leads her on a chase where some very bad things happen, sorry -- I won't give it away.

It is sort of hard writing a review of this book without getting into heavy spoilers...nevertheless, I will try.

I did enjoy it. We get to see a lot more of the fae, who are very interesting to me (I love old Celtic legends about them).

The mystery itself is a good one, with a lot of twists and turns.

Mercy makes a choice between the men in her life, which is a relief (I think another well known series of books has turned me off of paranormal fiction love triangles for life).

But all that said, this is a much darker book than the first two in this series. Since I do not want to get into spoilers, I will only say that some pretty horrible things happen to Mercy over the course of this book. Bad enough that I could see some people having trouble with them. Thankfully, they are not graphically described and are handled very sensitively (especially in the aftermath).

However, I can also see Mercy becoming a stronger character in the long run due to the troubles she encounters here. I could see it leading to some great character development in future books in the series.

Such a great story! The fae are some scary creatures and Mercy has her hands full with them, but it's not the fae that give her the most trouble. Mercy goes through a lot in this one, but comes out the other side with strength and courage and the support of her friends. I'm glad to see her finally make a decision on the man she wants, it all makes such perfect sense, she just needed to finally think it all through. I'm so glad I finally began this series, I'm loving it so much. Now it's on to the next book, Bone Crossed.

Whew! Talk about putting it all out there, whether appreciated or not, Mercy is not about to sit and twiddle her thumbs, er, claws, when Zee's life is on the line. Mercy also picks up an interesting new friend who cannot seem to leave her and shows up at the oddest times. Venture into the fae reservation and mystery ensues.

I am glad the book was thorough in it's storyline. It wasn't just about the choice between Mercy's wolves. It was also about the murder mysteries and then it all tied together at the end with a surprising twist in Ben's backstory. Thanks for a great read, even if I WAS sobbing near the end.

I LLLOOOVVVEEE Mercy Thompson!!! I sooo want to be her! Anyway, I liked this story because it now completes the full circle of all the types of beings that she deals with on a daily basis. The first book was about werewolves, the second about vampires and this third book about the fae. So now Mercy's fans have a well rounded education of Mercy's world.

Can't wait to read the next book to find out what kind of trouble she's gotten herself into now. Lastly, as a die-hard Team Adam fan I am so glad that her and Adam finally go together. So looking forward to seeing how their budding relationship develops.

Summary: 5 stars. Great world building, characters, and plot. Definitely a more emotional read than the previous books.

Each Mercy Thompson book gets better than the last. The urban fantasy world Patricia Briggs has created is interesting and deep, and her characters feel so real no matter how supernatural they are. In Iron Kissed we get to see more of the very intriguing fae as Mercy tries to figure out who killed a number of their kind. The book is an emotional rollercoaster for our heroine (especially near the end when she’s left broken), but it’s well worth the ride.

A fantastic read for fans of urban fantasy that’s both plot and character driven.

Still enjoying the series, and now I won an advance copy of book 8. Need to read faster... We have some resolution of the love triangle in Mercy's choice, but Stefan is still out there and I wonder how their friendship is going to be affected by the events of the last book and who Mercy has ended up with. This is a dark world the author has created, sure it is full of good people and some lighter moments, but this is a tough society Mercy is a part of and this book has some disturbing events at the end. Mercy ended up hurt and her world shaken. She is a tough girl though and while I think it will shake her resolve a bit and leave her vulnerable she is a survivor and will end up stronger than she was before.

I finished this book in a weekend. It was fast paced, action packed, further developed my strong connection to the characters through books one and two. Mercy Thompson, mechanic and Walker coyote extraordinaire, gets thrown into an issue on the fae reservation. It seems as though someone is killing fae and they hope Mercy can help. But then her good fae friend, Zee, gets wrongly accused. So Mercy, who isn't one to sit back and let others handle things, throws herself into the investigation and, again, into the fire. What I liked about this installment is that it really got down to the human element of Mercy. It delved into her feelings, her fears, and her passions, leaving her vulnerable and at the same time very easy to identify with. We already know that she kicks supernatural butt. But this book let us see that underneath she is a girl with many of the same vulnerabilities as all of us.

I read a review here that said the ending was bittersweet. I am a romance novel reader first and foremost and almost always require a satisfying (read happy) ending to my books and I felt that Iron Kissed delivered on that regard.

I won't provide a summary because I think other reviews and the blurb does a good job. This book, more than the previous two, is packed with emotion, mystery, romance, and fantasy providing a full bodied read for the urban fantasy fan. Mercy is at a crossroads in her relationships with the two men in her life, Samuel and Adam Hauptman. Both are alpha werewolves although Samuel has no pack and Adam is the alpha of Tri Cities werewolf pack. Mercy must decide which one she loves more because Adam has declared his feelings for her and her lack of definitive response is weakening the clan.

When her mechanic mentor, Siebold Adelbertsmiter aka Zee, calls upon her to repay a favor to the Fae, she is grateful for the distraction. There have been several unsolved murders on the Fae reservation and the magic which the fae can call on without incurring the wrath of the Grey Lords has been insufficient in finding the perpetrator. Mercy is called in to use her nose to see if she can find an identifying scent of the murderer.

She does and completes her task only to receive a call that Zee has been accused of murder himself. Zee is a surrogate father figure for Mercy and it spurs her into finding out who is the real murderer. This investigation triggers a whole set of terrible consequences for Mercy.

Mercy eventually figures out who did the killing but not before something tragic (and I know this is an overused word but it is totally appropriate here) befalls her. In order for her to move on, she must come to terms emotionally and physically with this tragedy. The way in which this tragedy was worked into the story was organic to the mystery. I never felt manipulated.

As a reader of primarily romance, this hit all the right buttons for me. There is a depth of emotion in this book not often found in the urban fantasy trope. Many times urban fantasy is compelling for external motivations: world building, mystery, action. The last third of this story, though, was truly emotional. I was moved to tears at Mercy's struggle with the aftermath of her tragedy and grateful for her eventual triumph.

The love triangle was resolved beautifully and not in a way that I saw coming. I generally hate love triangles, particularly when the author is skilled in making me believe that both are good choices. Samuel and Adam are both decent, honorable men. They also both have their overbearing negatives. I was torn going into the story about which Mercy should choose and while I wanted her to choose someone, I wasn't sure which one and when. The way in which the triangle was resolved was subtle and satisfying. I felt <em>good</em> when I read how the triangle concluded.

If readers haven't picked up a Mercy Thompson book, I think they could start with Iron Kissed although I am sure reading one will spur the desire to read the previous two in the series. It's definitely a series I recommend to romance readers, particularly those that enjoy strong fantasy elements.

I hesitate to give out perfect grades, but I've read this book three times since I received it and each time was transportative. I don't know that it was a perfectly crafted book but it was perfect for me.

Just a note to clarify some speculation that this is the end of the Mercy Thompson series. It is not. Patricia Briggs is contracted for 4 more Mercy Thompson books and has started book 4.

Still reeling from the bloodfest that included beheading a vampire, Mercy Thompson suffers from the nightmares that send shivers down her spine. Although no vampire, friend or foe, has come calling since that dreadful incident, Mercy knows that the best thing to do would be to lay low and not get into any more trouble. But it's always easier said than done...

When her old mentor Zee, the gremlin fae, asked for her help in investigating a series of murders in the local fae reserve, it never occurred to Mercy that it would involve more than the use of her coyote "nose". Hours after her visit, she finds out that Zee has been arrested by the local police and it looks like the fae have turned their back on him. While Mercy knows that sticking her nose into fae's business could mean a death sentence for her, she also knows that she is the cantankerous gremlin's only hope of proving his innocence.

And if that isn't bad enough, Mercy is also under pressure from the local werewolf pack to choose between Adam and Samuel. The temperature rises as the pack grows restless waiting for a possible bloodshed as the two dominant werewolves vie for her heart. Mercy knows that the pack is right and she cannot afford to keep the men waiting. One is bound to lose control and it could mean death for either one. So, what's a woman to do?

IRON KISSED is the third instalment in Patricia Brigg's fantastic Mercy Thompson series. Briggs has created an intriguing world where werewolves, fae and vampires co-exist with humans, a world so effortlessly created that one cannot helped but be enticed and be part of the make-believe. The author also continues to display her flair for wonderful characterization as the reader gets sucked into each character's life and personality. And you know you have a good thing on your hand when you start caring for the characters. I was shocked and pleased with the ending; shocked at the life-changing event that our favorite coyote has to go through, but pleased with the resolution to the love triangle. I haven't read any of the reviews but I suspect that the last few chapters would probably leave a bitter taste in some reviewer's mouth. I personally thought that Briggs handled it with care but you'll have to read it and form your own opinion. I did feel that some parts dragged, but I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next.

Iron Kissed is about Mercy's old boss (who is a Fae) being put behind bars. It is up to Mercy to prove he is innocent even when he's telling her to back off.
There are a lot of things in this book that seem like the first two. But things change between Mercy and Sam, and Mercy and Adam. She finally picks one of them. But who does she pick?

You just have to read to figure it out, and I was so happy with her choice. Yay!

There was also a really horrible part towards the end.
It really proves how awesome Mercy is that she was able to come out of this situation still standing. I love her! She is one of my favorite heroines ever. And this is my favorite book of this series so far. i can not wait to read more.

I got into the Mercy Thompson series by accident. I have never read a fantasy novel before. I picked up Moon Called on a whim because I liked the cover. Then I slowly became infatuated with Mercy. I thought Moon Called was a 3.5 star book due to all the tangents the story took. However, I liked Mercy enough that I decided to give her another shot. I Loved Blood Bound. I gave it 5 stars. The story in Blood Bound was a lot more focused and fast paced and the action scenes were a lot more fulfilling than in Moon Called. Blood Bound is by far my favorite so far.

Which brings us to Iron Kissed. I loved this book. The story is intriguing with a dangerous urgency. I could not put this book down. I think the Fae are the most evil adversary Mercy has faced so far because they don't operate with any guiding principles like vampires or werewolves, and their loyalties remain unclear.

Although I loved this book and gave it 5 stars, I think the unfortunate chain of events that involve Tim hurt the book and the series. I kept saying to myself, "Say it ain't so!!" As a guy, I enjoyed the tension between Samuel, Adam, and Mercy. I was enthralled by the romantic sub-plot of who would finally "get" this very cool chick. We find out who finally "gets" Mercy, BUT the magic of the romantic story was destroyed because of what Tim does. Which to me, fundamentally changes the allure of this series. After I finished reading Iron Kisses, I said that "I loved this book, but I think this was the last Mercy Thompson novel that I will read." Would it have killed Patricia Briggs to have had Adam save the day? HONESTLY? All the books in the series following this one are not going to be about an underlining love story, but a trauma survivors story. That's just not appealing to me. Mercy's world was dreamy, dangerous, and infused with the magic of exotic friendships and finding love. Unfortunately, it will never be the same.

Goodbye Coyote Girl........................

With IRON KISSED Patricia Briggs picks up where MOON CALLED and BLOOD BOUND left off...only she steps it up a notch. A favor is called in, and Mercy Thompson finds herself involved in the pursuit of a killer - the victim is human, but the killer is almost certainly fae. The powers-that-be in fairyland want the case closed with a minimum of fuss and publicity. They'd like to see the killer punished, too, but that's a secondary concern.

When Mercy's friend and mentor Siebold Adelbertsmiter (Zee) is fingered for the crime, Mercy can't sit back and watch him take the fall. But clearing him means mucking up the open-and-shut case against Zee, thereby drawing added negative attention to the fae - which makes a lot of very powerful fairies wonder if getting rid of Mercy, too, would be the best way to keep things quiet. To make matters worse, the killer doesn't much want to be found either.

Briggs portrays the world of the fae - beautiful and brutal, enticing and alien - very well indeed. Mercy is bewildered, thwarted at every turn, and frequently outclassed. Although she proves herself a true friend to the fae through her unswerving dedication to Zee, she does so at great cost to herself.

Meanwhile, the competition between Adam and Samuel for Mercy's affection has reached a boiling point and Mercy finally makes her choice. I have to say I found this the least convincing part of the book; though not because I disliked her choice. Adam and Samuel are both pretty dreamy so I would have been happy either way, but the resolution is a little too easy.

The stakes are higher here, and there's no room for playing it safe or indecision. This is the case in her romantic life, and in her efforts to help Zee. I loved IRON KISSED as much as the earlier books, I found it just as fun to read, and Mercy just as sharp and likable as a character, but this is a more dramatic and a more difficult book than they were. I think Briggs is doing great things with this series, and I can't wait for the next installment.

I love the series, Briggs usually holds the balance between information, story and characters in a perfect blend and keeps you on the edge of your seat pretty much from start to finish. Other reviewers can give you more detail, but the point I want to put forth is the enormous sucker punch towards the end of the book. This is one of those books that sucks you in and then twists your guts until you want to quit reading just to make it stop, but you can't stop because then you're leaving that world in a terrible situation. If you like that kind of thing, this is a great book, if you don't then skip this book and maybe even the next one.

I am in love with this series, so I was very excited when this book came out. This third installment is my favorite so far! I loved all the fae drama and folklore. The plot was great in this book! Patricia Briggs has such an awesome imagination. I actually liked that the end of the book was darker than the others. It was something different for this series and I thought the author did a good job with it.
I'm glad that Mercy finally made a decision between her two guys. I get so tired of series in which the heroine has a hundred love interests and she keeps going back and forth. I hope Mercy and her "chosen guy" have a long-lasting relationship. It's refreshing to have a female character who's tough and independent, but who will also let herself rely on her man sometimes. I can't wait for the next book in this series and I hope it's a good as this one!

"Iron Kissed" is so much better than the other two Mercy books, which is to say a lot since both earlier books are well crafted, well written and the characters are so likeable. However, in this book, Mercy comes up as a real heroine, not because she is the main character, not because she kicks butts (she doesn't really), but because she puts true values above and beyond everything from intimidation to fear. For her friend, she is willing to walk distances, even when it leads her places no woman should have to go. And without regrets too!!!!
As a couple of reviewers put it, Ben's plea for Mercy put tears in my eyes and will stay with me for a while.
Patricia Briggs introduced me to the world of warewolves and I couldn't ask for a better introduction.
You can't go wrong with the Mercy Thompson books. Get'em!!!

Patricia Briggs has given readers of paranormal fantasy another winner. 'Iron Kissed' is just as enjoyable as the first two books in her Mercy Thompson series.

Picking up where 'Blood Bound' leaves off, 'Iron Kissed' finds Mercedes (auto-mechanic extraordinarie and shape-shifter who becomes a coyote at will) up against the Fae and humans alike to try and clear her friend and former boss Zee from a murder charge.

Ms. Briggs knows how to tell a story and in Mercy Thompson has given us a main character that is engaging and fully-fleshed. You get into Mercy's world and care about her and her encounters with the things that go bump in the night. Three books & still going strong I hope! We want more.

I recommend this series highly, try all three and I hope coyote will return again for another run.

This entire series is absolutely fantastic. There are my favorite books ever. For me, they beat out Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the idea of the Twilight series and anything else I have ever read. This book in particular is great. If you read it and get to the end-ish when the villian of this book and Mercy finally have they confrontation, you'll be shocked. As embarrassed as I am to say it, I actually cried when I read what happened to Mercy and the converstation that Ben had with Adam. It's touching and wonderful.

Possibly THE best thing about this entire series is that it is written by Patricia Briggs who, though she leaves you craving more, she never leaves you with a cliff hanger. It's great that she does that because it makes the wait that much more bearable without taking away the desire to keep reading.

I've read the series about 10 times now and I'm still not bored of them. I have them in book form and eBooks. That's how much I recommend this series

Reviewed by Ann (Under the Covers Book Blog)

Wow. I don't think I can write a review without gushing about this book! Iron Kissed completely surpassed my expectations, went beyond anything I could have conjured up in my mind about Mercy and seriously left me in shock by the time I flipped the last page. Seriously. Blown. Away.

As the first book dealt primarily with werewolves and the second with vampires, Iron Kissed focused mainly on the fae. Now I'm not usually a fae fan, but Briggs writes about a world that isn't too different from ours. Mercy has to get up each morning and go to work. She's got bills to pay and so on, but Briggs incorporates fantasy element flawlessly into her narrative and it just makes the Mercy Thompson world more appealing. I think that's why I love Mercy so much. She's just a regular girl who just so happens to be a coyote shifter that gets caught up in another world.

New characters are introduced in this book and I knew from the moment that Tim was introduced that he would be some major trouble. What I didn't know was how he had the power to break someone as strong and resistant as Mercy. I've noticed that rape is popular in a lot of UF series. I don't know why and I don't see the appeal in making your heroine endure something so traumatic, but it got to me. Out of the three books so far, this one had the most heart in it. And if I didn't love Mercy already, I think this book would have made me love her even more. It wasn't just because I felt sympathy for her, though I did, it was the fact that she still fought Tim despite her believing that he was her love. It showcased an inner strength of true love and will more so than any other book I've read in awhile.

Briggs finally addressed the whole Adam/Sam debacle and she did it well. She managed to write it so that Mercy finally chooses Adam, but still doesn't disregard Samuel as a person she once loved in the past. I thought the car scene with Sam was perfect. It was sometimes tense and angry, but also lovable. It makes it believable that Sam and Mercy can go on as friends.

And then there's that bathroom scene with Adam and Mercy. I wish I could have Adam's werewolf babies! I just adore him and I love how he takes care of Mercy. With Mercy so vulnerable after everything that has happened, you can see the change in Adam already. He's still fiercely possessive and has that temper, but there's tenderness when he's with Mercy. I can't wait to see how their relationship works out!

My favourite quote from this book is as fiercely passionate as the Alpha who said it. A little territorial and very honest, it's almost as if he's telling her he loves her. *sigh*

His hands, which had been moving in circles in my fur, stopped and took a good hold. "Ben says you might run. If you do, I will find you and bring you back. Every time you run, Mercy. I won't force you, but... I won't leave or let you leave either. If you can fight that cursed fairy drink, you can certainly overcome any advantage being an Alpha gives me if you really want to. No more excuses, Mercy. You are mine, and I am keeping you."

This series improves with each book... and after the gut-wrenching story here, I can't wait to see what is next. This episode has everything that you've seen earlier in the way of action and characters, but this one has an emotional impact that leaves you stunned. Brilliantly written - and most complimentary, the most difficult scene was handled so expertly when it could have been R-rated or worse. No doubt about my reading the entire series. Really, really great stuff.

I really wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. I just wasn't that crazy about the Fae story line.
As with some of the other reviewers, I found the sexual assault distasteful. However, I think Patricia Briggs handled it quite well. Maybe her incredible writing, that truly brought the act to life, is in fact, a compliment to her writing abilities? And the interaction towards the end between Mercy and Ben was a tear jerker. Readers really learn a lot more about Ben.
Not a book to be skipped.

I highly recommend the cross-over series, Alpha and Omega. The first two full books in the series are very good!! But start with the Alpha and Omega short story in the anthology, On The Prowl- you'll need the back story of Anna and Charles' relationship.

I couldn't disagree more with the negative reviewers, but I guess tastes differ. I absolutely loved the book and couldn't put it down. The plot was well developed, and there were enough suspense to keep me from putting the book down until I was completely done. P. Briggs is a wonderful writer. She made this book incredibly entertaining and was true to Mercy's character to the end. I personally didn't feel that the final resolution to Mercy's love life was rushed, and I really liked how it turned out. There was no duel, no sacrifice, no cliffhangers there - just a well developed resolution to a scenario that was being built up for the past two books. If you reread the other books, you will see that this was the only solution to the mounting problem and in my opinion it couldn't have ended any other way.

I won't go retelling the plot as I'm sure other reviewers could do a much better job. I just wanted to say that this book was very entertaining and the only problem that I found with it was that it was too short.

This book has it all: Mystery, well developed characters, and tragedy. How to review this without spoilers? I picked this up for my kindle and it was hard to put down. The mystery aspect was great. Also, the love triangle was satisfactorily resolved. The way that the heroine deals with a tragedy in the book is also very realistic and tastefully done. However, I have a question for some of the readers. On the one hand, the main character transforms into a cougar and so a certain desire for a strong pack leader might be understandable (especially since she grew up with weres). But, I wonder how healthy the desire to be dominated is for her human half...But it takes a good author to make you even think about such questions....I'd be curious what others thought!

This series gets and holds your interest. Characters are the main reason for this. Our heroine, Mercy Thompson, knows and is involved with a lot of people, but Ms. Briggs manages to make each character distinctive enough that you remember them after a brief absence. In this book she fills out a character we see (or who is mentioned) frequently in the two previous books, Mercy's friend and mentor, Zee. In the previous two books we get well into Ms. Brigg's take on werewolves and vampires, and with this one we learn more about the fae. Some of Mercy's personal problems get resolved and new ones crop up. These are the problems of the hairy, scaly, taloned, fanged, more-bad-news-than-you variety. Then again, a lot of Mercy's friends fall into that description, too. Characters make this book. They are the sort you care about and root for. Solid paranormal urban fantasy. For those who may not be familiar with this series, the two previous books are: Moon Called, and Blood Bound. Read them first, or you'll be a bit lost.

I have read all 3 books and "WOW", i am continuing to be impressed. Patricia Briggs has hit the proverbial nail on the head. Mercy, main character, is a solid lead character. Throughout the book in your mind you keep picking the right mate for Mercy. Mercy chooses the right one. Ha Ha. The book addresses a tough topic, Abuse. If the characters were not so well developed, the abuse in this book would feel fictional, like many other books. Briggs has a great way of touching the subject and leaving an imprint on your heart about her charcters.
Patricia Briggs brings a great story with great characters. After reading one book you are hooked. After reading this book, you hope she is writing #4 and is almost done with it. This book rocks. She brings closure to some issues and opens up others. That is what a series is about. Not dragging it out forever. If you want a book you can't put down, pick this one up. You'll enjoy how refreshing Patricia Briggs is.

If the first book was about werewolves, and the second about vampires, this was the Fae's from title alone. And so it was, and it reminded us that the Fae are not nice, are not tame, and contain much violence. But that humans can be evil. While the book resolves the Sam/Mercy/Adam triangle it makes Mercy go through hell.

I always love ms. Briggs novels in this series but this wasn't my favorite. It moved the love story along and showed the darker side of some of the characters and resolved some issues from other stories but I had more difficulty staying involved with the story. I guess I like Mercy more in control of her life than she seems in this book. I did get much deeper insight into some characters that had parts in other stories but not from their point of view. Overall I liked the book and recommend it to anyone who has read other books in series but it is not a stand alone book.

I will not rehash the synopsis: read someone else for that. The 1st book was quite enjoyable: fun, fresh, entertaining; the 2nd book lagged a bit for me but was still a nice pleasure trip away from reality; THIS book slapped you in the face with everything Briggs could get her hands on (it seemed). It is almost not the same idea but deeper, darker, richer, and yes, quite questionable towards the conclusion of the book. Briggs reminds you she's not just writing fluffy fiction for plane trips or holidays. Overall, it was very well written & thought-out. BUT it kind of ends in a cliff-hanger/unfinished/"to be continued" style. It made me cry. Seriously, make sure you have the next one in the series on hand or you will shoot yourself in the foot.

I loved this book!! I have been a fan of the Mercy books from the beginning, but this one really touched my heart. I can definatly say that not many bring me to tears - but this one did. The traumatic end broke my heart, and when Mercy believes that none of the Pack - especially Adam - will accept her after it happens, I actually found myself shedding tears. Adam handled it beautifully, and made me love his character even more than I did already. Best writing I have read in a long-time....and this is a book I will be reading over and over again! Excellent book!!

Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. The first being Moon Called and the second being Blood Bound. From the start of this series I knew it was going to be great and the series has not disappointed me. Mercy has grown as a character and finally in the third book we get to find out the long awaited choice. Which werewolf will she choose: Sam, her first love who betrayed her but she can't help but still love or Adam, the local pack leader who she loves but is afraid of the power he holds. Personally I had always liked Adam but that's just me. This book also gives you a closer look at the Fae and let me tell you. They are very scary. You will enjoy this book and this series!

I was disappointed with this book. Blood Bound, the previous installment in the Mercy Thompson series, was so excellent that maybe I was destined to be disappointed with whatever came next. The characters and writing style were still very good, it was the plot that was lacking in Iron Kissed.

The plot of this novel centers around the fae, primarily Zee who is Mercy's former boss and mentor. Zee is found at the scene of a homicide and is charged with the crime. Mercy tries to clear Zee's name without stepping on too many fae toes in the process. I guess my problem with this book was that the plot was dull. It lacked punch and pull. I wasn't riveted by the storyline, nor did I particularly care about the outcome.

Overall, this book was just OK. It's part of a series, so I guess I would recommend it. There is a substantial plot point for Mercy's overall story in this novel, so you probably don't want to miss that. Just don't expect fireworks from this book.

In most series, there comes a time when the writing starts to falter or the characters just aren't interesting anymore. Not so with this one. The Mercy Thompson books have all been Keepers with intriguing characters and meaty plots. There are no awkward parts to skim over. From their first pages, the books draw you in and swiftly make you care about these characters. I don't read these books; I absorb them. Iron Kissed involves none of the vamp characters from previous books, which was nice, as I feared that they would overpower the series. Instead, we learn more about the werewolves and the fey and revisit cool humans like Adam's daughter Jesse, Mercy's garage assistant Gabriel, and Warren's partner Kyle. Mercy finally chooses between Samuel and Adam in a way that is satisfying and feels right and creates an interesting launching point for the next book. Ms. Briggs, you've given me hours of pleasure with this series.

I couldn't disagree more with the negative reviewers, but I guess tastes differ. I absolutely loved the book and couldn't put it down. The plot was well developed, and there were enough suspense to keep me from putting the book down until I was completely done. P. Briggs is a wonderful writer. She made this book incredibly entertaining and was true to Mercy's character to the end. I personally didn't feel that the final resolution to Mercy's love life was rushed, and I really liked how it turned out. There was no duel, no sacrifice, no cliffhangers there - just a well developed resolution to a scenario that was being built up for the past two books. If you reread the other books, you will see that this was the only solution to the mounting problem and in my opinion it couldn't have ended any other way.

I won't go retelling the plot as I'm sure other reviewers could do a much better job. I just wanted to say that this book was very entertaining and the only problem that I found with it was that it was too short.

This book has it all: Mystery, well developed characters, and tragedy. How to review this without spoilers? I picked this up for my kindle and it was hard to put down. The mystery aspect was great. Also, the love triangle was satisfactorily resolved. The way that the heroine deals with a tragedy in the book is also very realistic and tastefully done. However, I have a question for some of the readers. On the one hand, the main character transforms into a cougar and so a certain desire for a strong pack leader might be understandable (especially since she grew up with weres). But, I wonder how healthy the desire to be dominated is for her human half...But it takes a good author to make you even think about such questions....I'd be curious what others thought!

This series gets and holds your interest. Characters are the main reason for this. Our heroine, Mercy Thompson, knows and is involved with a lot of people, but Ms. Briggs manages to make each character distinctive enough that you remember them after a brief absence. In this book she fills out a character we see (or who is mentioned) frequently in the two previous books, Mercy's friend and mentor, Zee. In the previous two books we get well into Ms. Brigg's take on werewolves and vampires, and with this one we learn more about the fae. Some of Mercy's personal problems get resolved and new ones crop up. These are the problems of the hairy, scaly, taloned, fanged, more-bad-news-than-you variety. Then again, a lot of Mercy's friends fall into that description, too. Characters make this book. They are the sort you care about and root for. Solid paranormal urban fantasy. For those who may not be familiar with this series, the two previous books are: Moon Called, and Blood Bound. Read them first, or you'll be a bit lost.

I have read all 3 books and "WOW", i am continuing to be impressed. Patricia Briggs has hit the proverbial nail on the head. Mercy, main character, is a solid lead character. Throughout the book in your mind you keep picking the right mate for Mercy. Mercy chooses the right one. Ha Ha. The book addresses a tough topic, Abuse. If the characters were not so well developed, the abuse in this book would feel fictional, like many other books. Briggs has a great way of touching the subject and leaving an imprint on your heart about her charcters.
Patricia Briggs brings a great story with great characters. After reading one book you are hooked. After reading this book, you hope she is writing #4 and is almost done with it. This book rocks. She brings closure to some issues and opens up others. That is what a series is about. Not dragging it out forever. If you want a book you can't put down, pick this one up. You'll enjoy how refreshing Patricia Briggs is.

If the first book was about werewolves, and the second about vampires, this was the Fae's from title alone. And so it was, and it reminded us that the Fae are not nice, are not tame, and contain much violence. But that humans can be evil. While the book resolves the Sam/Mercy/Adam triangle it makes Mercy go through hell.

I always love ms. Briggs novels in this series but this wasn't my favorite. It moved the love story along and showed the darker side of some of the characters and resolved some issues from other stories but I had more difficulty staying involved with the story. I guess I like Mercy more in control of her life than she seems in this book. I did get much deeper insight into some characters that had parts in other stories but not from their point of view. Overall I liked the book and recommend it to anyone who has read other books in series but it is not a stand alone book.

I will not rehash the synopsis: read someone else for that. The 1st book was quite enjoyable: fun, fresh, entertaining; the 2nd book lagged a bit for me but was still a nice pleasure trip away from reality; THIS book slapped you in the face with everything Briggs could get her hands on (it seemed). It is almost not the same idea but deeper, darker, richer, and yes, quite questionable towards the conclusion of the book. Briggs reminds you she's not just writing fluffy fiction for plane trips or holidays. Overall, it was very well written & thought-out. BUT it kind of ends in a cliff-hanger/unfinished/"to be continued" style. It made me cry. Seriously, make sure you have the next one in the series on hand or you will shoot yourself in the foot.

I loved this book!! I have been a fan of the Mercy books from the beginning, but this one really touched my heart. I can definatly say that not many bring me to tears - but this one did. The traumatic end broke my heart, and when Mercy believes that none of the Pack - especially Adam - will accept her after it happens, I actually found myself shedding tears. Adam handled it beautifully, and made me love his character even more than I did already. Best writing I have read in a long-time....and this is a book I will be reading over and over again! Excellent book!!

Iron Kissed is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series. The first being Moon Called and the second being Blood Bound. From the start of this series I knew it was going to be great and the series has not disappointed me. Mercy has grown as a character and finally in the third book we get to find out the long awaited choice. Which werewolf will she choose: Sam, her first love who betrayed her but she can't help but still love or Adam, the local pack leader who she loves but is afraid of the power he holds. Personally I had always liked Adam but that's just me. This book also gives you a closer look at the Fae and let me tell you. They are very scary. You will enjoy this book and this series!

I was disappointed with this book. Blood Bound, the previous installment in the Mercy Thompson series, was so excellent that maybe I was destined to be disappointed with whatever came next. The characters and writing style were still very good, it was the plot that was lacking in Iron Kissed.

The plot of this novel centers around the fae, primarily Zee who is Mercy's former boss and mentor. Zee is found at the scene of a homicide and is charged with the crime. Mercy tries to clear Zee's name without stepping on too many fae toes in the process. I guess my problem with this book was that the plot was dull. It lacked punch and pull. I wasn't riveted by the storyline, nor did I particularly care about the outcome.

Overall, this book was just OK. It's part of a series, so I guess I would recommend it. There is a substantial plot point for Mercy's overall story in this novel, so you probably don't want to miss that. Just don't expect fireworks from this book.

In most series, there comes a time when the writing starts to falter or the characters just aren't interesting anymore. Not so with this one. The Mercy Thompson books have all been Keepers with intriguing characters and meaty plots. There are no awkward parts to skim over. From their first pages, the books draw you in and swiftly make you care about these characters. I don't read these books; I absorb them. Iron Kissed involves none of the vamp characters from previous books, which was nice, as I feared that they would overpower the series. Instead, we learn more about the werewolves and the fey and revisit cool humans like Adam's daughter Jesse, Mercy's garage assistant Gabriel, and Warren's partner Kyle. Mercy finally chooses between Samuel and Adam in a way that is satisfying and feels right and creates an interesting launching point for the next book. Ms. Briggs, you've given me hours of pleasure with this series.

IRON KISSED is everything a reader of the previous two novels has a right to expect. Although elements of the plot are completely predictable -- Mercy will get involved in a dangerous magic-related situation, she will do it against the advice of friends and enemies, she will require the assistance of her friends, and this will put some kind of strain on her relationships with her hunky, handsome, much-much-older, paranormal sort-of boyfriends -- many of the details and some of the plot twists are not predictable. The latter are enough to keep a fantasy reader who is not a romance reader happy, but the romance portion is enough to make even some romance readers (I would think) a little bit queasy--not simply because the romance is important, and not because it is pukey (which it isn't, although it may come close), but because of the undercurrent of violence against women and capitulation to that violence.

When I talk about violence, I am not referring primarily to the rape that some reviewers have made negative comments about. I am talking about the violence that, Mercy tells us, is implicit in male-female relations among the werewolves she was raised with and hangs out with now. Females are expected to defer to males and they can be subject to male violence at any time, particularly when they don't show due deference. Females are not allowed to live alone--and trying to live alone could be a death sentence. Females may be able to choose their own mates, but only within certain constraints, and they must choose someone. Mercy is not technically subject to these constraints, but she would have to leave her current life and her business and friends to escape them. In making a choice to be with a werewolf -- which she does, although I won't say who -- she capitulates to violence.

Returning to the topic of rape, given the sexual subjugation of female werewolves and the constant undercurrent of violence, it would not be surprising if one of the male werewolves commit a rape. To have Samuel or Adam rape Mercy, for example, would have been much powerful (albeit devastating and cruel), and it would have followed logically from what has gone before. I think, however, that Briggs is actually fond of the violent edge of the werewolves and ambivalent about their sexual politics, and she doesn't want to spoil their edge by having one of their leaders commit such an atrocity. Instead, the rapist is a secondary character we have little or no attachment to. While virtually everything else in the novel reveals something about the world Mercy inhabits, this rape seems more like an opportunity for Briggs to be didactic. She gets to teach us that rape is at least as much a psychological violation as a physical violation, and that a woman who knows her attacker and doesn't resist is nonetheless not guilty of inviting the rape. Those are important lessons, but given the pervasiveness of violence (actual and threatened) against women in Mercy's world, they are (narratively) almost beside the point.

Anyway, my "real" rating is 3.5. It's a (mostly) enjoyable book with some interesting plot twists, but not more than that. People mostly satisfied with the series should pick this one up, but those who got bored with book 2 can safely leave it alone.

Oh poor Mercy. :(.

Some heartbreaking stuff there.

But when I finished I thought I was missing some "pages" on my Kindle. It just ends? There? I mean really? Not even a kiss, a hug, nothing? After all this turmoil not even a tinsy bit of payoff? Slammed the bedroom door right in front of my nose. What the hell.

And wouldn't we all love to have a friend like Mercy on our side. She just will not give up. Loyalty is her middle name.

** read November 2012

When I first read Moon Called, I really hoped there would be more coming on Mercy and the other characters Patricia Briggs created. So far, I haven't been disappointed.

Iron Kissed continues the quality story-telling I enjoyed in the first two books in this series. Mercy continues to be a smart-mouthed, feisty, lady mechanic who gets herself in trouble for the best of reasons - she's helping her friends.

Her friends are mostly other than human and so's the trouble. I appreciate that Mercy appears to be gaining in confidence (which she didn't lack to begin with) and the men in her life are interesting.

I can't wait to see what happens next.....

This is the third book in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I think this is the strongest book in the series so far; although it still didn't blow me away with its quality and creativity.

In this book Mercy is contacted by Zee to see if she can come to the fairy reservation to help sniff out a serial killer that is on the loose there. As the mystery unravels, Mercy finds that she is not only putting her own life in grave danger with her involvement in the case but also the lives of her friends.

The writing for this book follows the first two books in the series. The book is decently written, if nothing special. There were a couple typos in the book which I found distracting. I was happy that Briggs made progress in the Mercy, Adam, Samuel deal; I was worried that she was going to string that out forever. Hopefully the issue is not continually visited in future books.

I thought that this book had more action than the previous books and put the characters in more dire situations, especially Mercy. What happened to her was horrible but should serve to add some much needed depth to her character. It was again a quick read and a fun read, if not a very involved read.

Having Mercy deal with the fairy folk made the book more interesting. Although I was disappointed at the lack in creativity when dealing with the fairy-folks special powers. Mercy made some slight progress in finding out what a walker is, but not as much as I would have liked to see.

So while this book was, in my opinion, the best of the series; the series is still mediocre. It is not horrible and I get some enjoyment from the books; I still don't see anything all that special here. I am not sure if I will continue to read this series or not, we will see.
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Iron Kissed is the best book of this series so far.

In this book we finally get to know more about the mysterious Fae, although a lot still remains a mystery.
Zee is in trouble and Mercy is dead set on helping her friend, even if everyone tells her she should stay out of Fae business.

Unfortunately for Mercy it has some very bad consequences for her near the end of the book.
My heart was aching and felt so very sad for Mercy... I read that whole bit with tears running down my cheeks.
But Mercy is strong and I know she'll get true it!

I read this in less than 2 days---over the holidays---and I must say this one was amazing. Mercy's confusion over Samuel and Adam develops really well in this book---into a resolution I was very pleased with. Mercy herself is continually developing dimension as a character and the events of this book had me reading with rapt attention, wanting to see her through the trouble she finds this time.

I dislike reviews with any spoilers, so I'm limited on the specific praises I can heap here. The events which occur in this book in the series are handled very well, continuing the development of Ms. Briggs' universe where werewolves and fae are coming out of the closet. As a newer reader of werewolf/vampire/fae fiction, I'm glad to see real relationships and not excuses to romp in bed. I think Ms. Briggs handles the stripping-to-Change events with class and style, unlike many of the wanna-be romance authors out there mucking up good werewolf or vampire novels.

Ms. Briggs is to be commended for her handling of a very sensitive event in this novel---and though I don't like spoilers, I think the word "rape" should be mentioned, in case a reader wants to avoid such exposure. With this book, this series has climbed a few notches on my list of favorites. I wish the wait between books wasn't so long!

Ever since I started the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, I've wondered about the fae reservation. I always thought it was an unfortunately logical idea that our country might do something like that to such a different population, but Briggs never really went beyond mentioning that it existed outside of Walla Walla. In this book we finally get a glimpse of that world and it is intriguing. Mercy, as her coyote alter ego, can see beyond the glamour set up for humans and, of course, this gets her smack dab in the middle of a mystery and into trouble, as she must work to prove Zee is not a murderer. The final solution of this murder mystery is SUCH a gut-wrencher, as Mercy is attacked. Her emotional response to the attack was very well written and made me shed a few tears. Also, the love triangle between Mercy, Samuel, and Adam is satisfyingly resolved (hey, what about Stefan the vampire though?!?). I see from the product information that book four returns to vampires and book five perhaps expands our understanding of the fae, so I can't wait to read them as well!

It seems like a lot of the reviewers here are discussing major plot points, so I'll go ahead and do so (somewhat vaguely), but stop reading if you don't want to know anything about the plot. :)

The last quarter of this book does take a particularly dark turn, and I thought it overshadowed an otherwise excellent book. I have no opinion about what Briggs "should" have done to her character, or whether it was a good or bad idea to introduce these elements into Mercy's life. I also don't think it was handled in a way that particularly untrue to Mercy's character (as some reviewers do). I simply think that the turn was, for me, too dark, too fast, in a series that I didn't expect to be quite so intensely and intimately disturbing. The pleasure of reading a novel which I otherwise liked was offset by intensity of the ending, which for me was emotionally upsetting in a way that stretched beyond just my immediate investment in the book. Different readers (and especially different women, with our wide range of experiences) will obviously respond differently. The takeway message, as it were, is essentially positive/empowering, I think, there's no problem there, in my opinion. But if you know you are sensitive about reading intense depictions of sexual assault (even though not physically graphic), you might want to consider skipping this one.

Mercy Thompson again gets involved in things she shouldn't and this time its fae murders. She is asked to try and find the murderer of the fae and when she does the murderer is found dead. Zee is arrested and Mercy investigates to find the real murderer.

There are many aspects to this story including the love triangle between Mercy, Adam, and Samuel finally gets resolved. This book is non-stop action and Mercy is kickass as usual. The story brings you on an emotional roller coaster that you don't want to get off and the end makes you want to read the next book right away.

Okay, I'm hooked now. Iron Kissed is by far the best in the Mercy Thompson series I've read so far. Really interesting developments in the Fae community bring out some new problems and legends that go far beyond the extraordinary (even in this extraordinary genre). We finally have a resolution of the love issue, we get to see a bit more of Zee in action, and at one point, little Mercy the coyote had me in tears. The first two books in the series were interesting and mildly entertaining, but had quite a few problems with the plotting and timeline that detracted from the story. This book grabbed me from the beginning and twisted me in knots at the end. I'm a new fan!

The third book in this series about mechanic Mercy Thompson is a great continuation. That's saying something, since there are a lot of paranormal books out there that have good beginnings and just lose their way (or their inspiration!). Not Briggs. I was very pleasantly involved in the story as Mercy gets called in by her old boss and mentor "Zee" to investigate some murders on the Fae Reservation. Soon, Zee is in jail for the murders and Mercy knows that she is the only one who cares enough to try and clear his name. Meanwhile she is still torn between the two werewolves who love her; Samuel, the lone doctor who was her first love; or Adam, the local pack alpha who ignites her body as well as her heart. Briggs knows just how to play this and finally has Mercy make her decision. (And she chose the right one too!) Overall, these books work because Mercy is not only sympathetic, but she captures the reader's heart. I would put Briggs right at the top of the paranormal writers because even though she's on book four, she is skimping on quality or plot or heart.

create such a multi-faceted, heart-wrenching and ultimately healing book.
Newbies--this is NOT a stand alone book--you'll follow everything but you WON'T get it when so many relationships are revealed, concluded and begun.
Superb knowledge of Western European mythos coupled with a razor-sharp knowledge of modern post traumatic stress disorder wound into a tapestry of the paranormal and the healed heart of all creatures able to love. Stick with it--the last 50 ppgs or so are deep, intense, and you may need to take a break or re-read. Completely worth the effort and you might even keep a couple of sets of this triology around for that occasion that a friend in need in deeply troubled and needs to believe it will all work out. Five Plus Stars!

I read this book in one day and was so moved by the last few chapters that I had to write this review before going to bed.

In the 3rd installment of this series, Patricia Briggs introduces us to the Fae. Mercy continues to grow into a character that is deeply loyal and strives to do the right thing.

There are some poignant scenes towards the end of the book that had tears streaming down my face. I won't ruin it for you, but I will say that we see a side of Ben that makes him a whole lot more likeable.

Patricia Briggs has earned her way onto my auto-buy list.

After reading this book I wanted to read it again and again. I even went back and reread the first two books to help me remember more details that had happened previously. This definitely helped to create more significance for me the choices our heroine, Mercy, made in this one...most specifically which love interest she ended up choosing by the end of this book. Not only was I happy with who she chose and that it made sense which one she picked but I was very glad a choice was made and that the love triangle at this point does not seem like it's going to get dragged out like it tends to in other fantasy novels I've read (ie. Laurell K. Hamilton).

I read that the next Mercy book will be much "lighter" than this novel. I actually had no problems with the serious tone this book took on. In fact if every one of Patricia Briggs' books can be as great as this one then I say keep the seriousness of the novels the same. Everything that has happened to Mercy has helped to mold her into the strong character that she is and in doing so has placed her at the top of my list for fantasy heroines. I would put her up there with Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan and most definitely she has surpassed who used to be my all time favorite: Hamilton's Anita Blake. This character has become someone to truly root for and so far the author has done well to not ruin who and what she is. She seems to be the same Mercy that was in "Moon Called" only becoming much smarter and stronger with each story. She learns from her mistakes and doesn't get stuck in a rut or wallow in indecisiveness.
I liked how each of the Briggs books concentrates on a different aspect of the paranormal starting with the werewolves in "Moon Called", the vampire world in "Blood Bound" and now the fey world with "Iron Kissed". As with the other books Mercy tends to make new friends and allies as she goes and slowly learns a little bit more along the way what powers she has as a walker.
There is also plenty of action along the way and each of the minor characters introduced in previous books is still given plenty of "screen time" and have not been forgotten such as Jesse, Gabriel, Ben, Warren, Kyle, etc. It's annoying to read a book and get introduced to new characters to only have them disappear later on in the book's series...or to be introduced to so many new people that it becomes impossible to make time for all the old ones. Other writers should take a lesson from Patricia Briggs.

The third book in this series was just as entertaining as the first two although darker. Mercy is growing as a character and we got to learn more about others in the series such as Honey, Ben and Zee. The fae world is prominent and intriguing. The mystery was well crafted although I did suspect that one of the early characters in the book was involved and that proved to be correct.

**SPOILER** The love triangle appears to be solved. One of the characters in this triangle seems to have an epiphany about his feelings for Mercy that comes out of nowhere as far as the reader can tell based on the previous 2 books. It seems that what Mercy knows about werewolves from growing up with them and at the knee of the Marrok is not exactly accurate, or so she is told by Sam. Also, her keen senses in her coyote form tell her Sam is not well, fragile in fact, maybe from age. All this plus Sam's history concerning Mercy made me suspicious when he tells her that he is not in love with her. There is a lot of tension between Adam and Sam concerning this love triangle and it effects the pack's stability. If the Alpha ain't happy, nobody's happy. It is only a matter of time before the situation erupts into violence. I had to wonder if someone in Adam's pack called the Marrok and he in turn called Sam and told him to solve the problem before things deteriorated further, thereby bringing the situation back into the series in the future. Maybe I am too suspicious and there is nothing more to it than what it is, but if so, then I found the solution too pat, convenient, as if the author just wanted to get this situation out of the way and go on to something else. I hope not.

There is also a tragic consequence for Mercy when solving this mystery that was not easy to read but I think Ms. Briggs handled it very well. There is a long conversation between Adam and Ben concerning this incident that was very hard for Ben but necessary for Adam to understand completely Mercy's feelings and her reactions after her ordeal. I thought it was done very well and an eye opener for Adam who didn't realize all the ramifications for Mercy.

I gave it 4 stars because the ending was a little abrupt and the book somewhat slow until about halfway through. Even so, for the most part I couldn't put it down and was glad I spend the money.

Unlike some other *cough* noted paranormal series, this one is making significant progress. The current mystery is good. The tension stays high. The world-building is still excellent. But better yet... Mercy makes her choice this book. No more dangling.

Thank you, Ms. Briggs. For that I very much applaud you.

And... you've hooked me good now.

Because I look forward to seeing how Mercy will make this work in future books. Given her fierce sense of independence, I don't see this new relationship instantly becoming sunshine and flowers. *wink* I predict plenty of continuing tension as Mercy clings to her loner ways even in the face of her new commitment. And there are still past entanglements due to rear their heads again.

This one is my favorite of the whole series, although it has a wrenching scene - no spoiler - that was tough. But following that scene was a lot of stuff that expended some one-dimensional characters. And the walking stick following Mercy around is so cool. There is so much action in each book and it is all written well. Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors and I read everything she writes.

I've gotten sick and tired of so many of the books in this genre. They are all the same for the most part.

However, I really enjoy the way Patricia Briggs as brought attraction to her characters. I find I'm so caught up in their lives. While I detest soap operas, I find my attraction to this series is no less addicting. Each book gets better.

I especially enjoy the reality of the situations. OK yes, I know, werewolves, vampiers, fae - not reality. But what I mean is, it is refreshing to find a writer who is not beyond harming the main character. I'm sick and tired of heroines who miraculously get themselves into trouble over and over and over and always come out without a scratch.

I think that the only other book series in this genre that holds my attention is E.E. Knights "Vampire Earth", I know I'll be looking for the next of this series anxiously!!

An exciting story where Mercy, the strong female lead, is both strong and vulnerable. Less predictable than the previous book, I was also glad to see progress on the romantic storyline (as opposed to drawing this out Stephanie Plum style). 3.75 stars

Briggs’ writing style (especially the scene between Ben and Adam toward the end) has improved leaps and bounds since her first book in this series. Be warned, though. Some terrible things happen to Mercy in this book. I won’t spoil anything here, but this is by far the most graphically violent entry so far. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to enjoy in this book. But there’s a lot to cringe over too.

Those who have happened to read my earlier reviews of the previous two novels in this series will know that I consider the Mercy Thomson books to be largely derivative (mostly of Laurell K Hamilton) unimaginative and poorly written.

In saying that, unlike her predecessors, Briggs appears to be writing a series that actually improves as is progresses (unlike some).

Iron Kissed sees Mercedes somethingarather, brought onto a fae reservation to investigate a series of murders. After an obligatory "Hmmm there's something more to this protaganist than meets the eye" Mecry solves the murders surprisingly quickly and goes to a concert.

Then the story really begins. On his way to confront the murderer, Mercy's mentor/boss Zee is arrested by human police after witnessing the perp get torn a new one by a mystery bad-guy.

While I would have been content to dive right into this plotline, we have to spend several chapters dealing with Mercy's also obligitory love triangle, which is resolved a little too easily, when the dude who loses pretty much reveals that he had already had gotten over the whole thing.

Once we get back to the real action, we see some surprising twists, a rather awkwardly prosed action chase-scene where the Swamp Thing tries to take Mercy out, and a surprise injection of plotline from the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. While I enjoyed the murder mystery plot, things get pretty clunky as Briggs tries to get emotional with the sticky events leading towards the conclusion. Also the ending drags out as we experience another battle with jilted mr Swamp Thing who is upset after being revealed as a minor thug rather than the antagonist.

All in all, Iron Kissed is definitely a step up from earlier instalments, however there is quite a hole to be climbed out of, still with a couple more novels to read and a new release on the 2011 horizon things don't look too bad.

I enjoy this series very much and I particularly like the character Mercy. She's a no nonsense kind of gal. This book was more of a "Who done it?" It had less action, but really took off at the end.

SOMEWHAT OF A SPOLER! I was glad to see Mercy finally resolved her romance issue, but only because she came to the realization that one of the men really did not love her like a "mate." Otherwise, I think waffling between the two would have gone on forever. Another reviewer pointed out that she liked that one of the climatic scenes was "glossed over", and frankly, that is the part that bugged me. While I did not want in depth detail of the event, it was so glossed over I did not even know what had happened. I had to re-read that part after I was told later what had transpired in the garage. Anyway, with that said, this was a good book, but it did not quite carry me away as the first two in this series did.

I first picked up Patricia Briggs' "Dragon Bones" a year ago based on a recommendation. The ending was so good it made tough guy me cry. Since then I've been picking up everything I can get by Briggs. Her most recent release "Iron Kissed" is her best yet and has put her up there on my list of favorite authors with Lois McMaster Bujold, Rob Thurman and Jim Butcher. Once again she's crafted a exceptional story with believable, relatable characters. I loved the other books in the Mercy Thompson series but this moved me in a way the others didn't. Once again I found myself crying at a sensitive thoughtful ending. If Briggs keeps this up she's going to totally ruin my tough guy image. But if she keeps writing at this high level it will be worth it.

I'm agreeing with all the people who've said that it's a great book. It is. The character development in it is amazing, and I didn't see the twists coming at all. However, I think that the sudden change in tones in the series might be too much for some readers who've loved the previous books. It worked for me, but that's my personal taste. It is much more somber in tones, and I can see why someone would call it depressing. That said, with a good friend and mentor in prison for a murder he didn't commit, what other tone would Mercy take? She's been through a lot in the last two books, and there are going to be some emotional backlashes from it.

The end of the love triangle was bittersweet. I was disappointed at first, I'll admit. It had been built up and built up, and you could practically smell the testosterone in the air, and even the other pack members warning of impending danger if Mercy didn't decide between them soon, and then...it was over before anything really happened. But the more I think about it, I think about how perfect it was. I don't think Briggs wrote one of the guys out just because she didn't know how else to end it. Briggs is a clever woman, she could have done anything with him. If nothing else, she could have had the fae kill him off. I think (SPOILER) she had Sam back down because it was the honorable thing to do. Sam is an old werewolf, and we all know that old habits die hard. Even in this book, it's mentioned how much werewolves hate change, so is it really that hard to believe that Sam had a hard time admitting his true feelings? And even then, he's still a guy, of course he's going to give Adam hell just because he can.

The ending did feel abrupt, especially after the trauma Mercy goes through. That is my biggest bone with the book, and the reason it received four stars instead of five. I'm definitely happy to hear there are more coming along.

This was absolutely amazing! I couldn't put it down, not even to eat. I was so into this book and it was well worth it. While this book goes to a much darker place then the other two and its a little bit put on fast forward through some of it; it is still an outrageously good read! Plus we learn of whom she chooses as mate, if any at all. :) Someone said that it was a depressing read, and I'll admit that the near ending is a little depressing but recovers well with good news so not all is bad. Still a good ending and as always, the culprit is a complete mystery until they revile themselves!

I might actually go back and read this one again!

Ms. Briggs is one of the best Paranormal authors out today, She's a great writer who knows how to make her readers connect to the story!! Not only does she leave you hanging on the edge of your seat with the crazy scenes and situtations she has mercy get into, she also makes everything so believable. Mercy is a lovable Heroine who isn't too whiny or weak but instead shes a down to earth girl who's also clever. The relationship that she has between Sam and Adam drives me mad but not in a bad way like some other authors do that will just leave you hanging.. or only include the spicy stuff with no substance, instead her relationships are believable and when she finally does decide who she wants, it's not a huge let down and theres no hard feelings which was great because I think both the guys are great and add alot to the story.

I guess all I'm saying is that Iron Kissed is just as good as the other two books and that this series' is shaping up to be one of the best series' I've ever read. THIS BOOK WON'T LET YOU DOWN!!! check out the first two books in the series if you haven't. I'm sooo excited for the next book in the series =o)

Other reviewers here frankly have done a better job than I can do, so I don't feel up to creating my own review. Actually, I don't feel like writing a review at all - I just want to rant.

This book is cliched - especially the villain. You *just* know who the murderer has to be as soon as you meet him.

SPOILER: Is it the mightly, magical fae? NAY! Is it a powerful master-vampire? NEIN, NEIN! Still can't guess? When the impossible is ruled out in literary fiction, the only thing left is the obvious possibility. It, therefore, is self-evident and irrevocable that the murderer is .. GASP.. your local, neighbourhood nerd!! - the computer geek!! (Heads nod sagely in understanding. Whispers pass around: ..he can't get girls, so he rapes them...who else could it be?...the bad geek is seriously gimped even with a magical cup to subvert other people's wills..

Suffer Not a computer geek to live!! Geez, can't someone say anything positive about us even in fantasy? (I belong to that cadre incase it wasn't obvious). I got that deep, sinking feeling as the poor computer geek is setup to be yet another BAD, EVIL guy in yet another story - a character that is fast becoming a convenient fall guy for authors, since they appear to get little sympathy from any fiction reader out there.

Just fantastic. I'm a Briggs fan of long standing but I'll be the first to admit a few of her earlier books are a bit spotty. I greatly enjoyed the first 2 books in the series but with this offering I feel the series has found it's voice. The character and relationships of primary cast grows and builds with consistency and believability. Mercy remains true to herself: there are no shocking explosions of unlikely new talent or bizarre changes in her love life (ring any bells....LKH?). She is a mechanic, a walker, a loyal friend and, above all, an empahtically independent and admirable woman.

Minor niggles: I wish it was longer, though the story is in no way incomplete or unresolved. I just wanted to read longer. There are a few typos that probably only irritate us English-major types. I didn't think the reveal of the bad guy's identity was too shocking, then again there wasn't a huge field of candidates who could have done the crime.

Huge kudos: I didn't see the ending coming. I don't want to reveal too much but it involves a significant trauma, and is handeled with compassion and realism without glorifying the viloence it represents. Just superbly written. Highly recommend this engrossing book for anyone who enjoys this genre. More Mercy!

I think that this a wonderful book. It has been a long time since i have found an author who wrote so well that i was completely immersed in the story and the characters. Briggs's characters are so wonderful, strong and compelling that i felt as if i was living the story along with them. Other reviews have explained the story so i won't go there... but i cried and cheered for Mercy and the man/wolf of her choosing, all through this book.
If you have not read the first two books in this series i recommend that you read them first, as some parts can be confusing if you read IRON KISSED first. A+ to Patricia Briggs, i can't wait for the series to continue.

Absolutely loved this book. This series gets better and better with each book-I couldn't put this one down. Patricia Briggs has a gift for scaring the hell out of you when you least expect it, and the next minute you find yourself knee deep in a unique romance between Mercy and her oh so hot werewolf boyfriend. I love the fact that the author makes you fall in love with the "bad guys"-Stephan is not exactly innocent, but you feel sympathy for him and his "people". This series is a must read!

The plot in this book had a much better twist than the last 2. and thingheated up between Mercy and "man's name you'll have to read to find out". its the first time i read a book involving a love triangel where i want the woman to stay neutral so she can have both men!. kinda wrong sounding but yes thats my opinion. i like sam and adam both. its impossible to choose

This book had a minor slow start but once it got moving it never slowed down. I was so happy w/ the outcome of Mercy's relationship between Sam and Adam. I hated the trama that Mercy went through but i'm glad she was able to work through it. I was impressed at how sensitive Ben was to her situation and shocked at how Adam needed Ben to spell it out for him. Hopefully Mercy's financial situation will improve from here on out. I highly recommend the this book and the rest of the series.

Someone's killing the Fae and her old pal Zee asks Mercy to come and take a sniff and see if she can figure out who the killer is. Not that there aren't Fae with as good a nose as Mercy, but it's not a good idea to ask Fae for favors. It turns out that the Fae aren't being killed by another Fae though, and when Zee ends up framed for killing the murderer, Mercy ends up neck deep in trouble again. Of course her werewolf pals all want to help keep her safe and she can't keep the two sexy Alphas from trying to protect her, or being a nuisance and growling at each other over her while they do it. Once again, Patricia Briggs serves up a story with a great plot, lots of interesting characters, emotional upheaval, and just enough twists and turns to keep you interested without seeming too contrived. There's plenty of romance, but Mercy is never too needy or quick to let any man just take over and run the show. I like that Patricia Briggs can write a strong female character that knows her own limits (she can't beat up the werewolves and she knows it, but that doesn't mean she won't stand up for herself). Finally here's an independant female character who isn't whiny or bitchy. She knows when to drop her eyes, when to go her own way and when to tell the bossy men to kiss her a**. She's not kicking butt all the time, but she manages to get done what needs to be done. And this time she really goes through hell to do it. Long live Mercy Thompson! I can't wait for the next book!

The series just keeps getting better. I have so fallen for Mercy Thompson. Sadly, I must wait for the rest of the series to arrive from family in Michigan. I tried to convince my physiotherapist to read my "werewolf smut" but he just rolled his eyes. What is wrong with people?!

I read this book immediately upon its release but it left such an impact that it has taken me until now to articulate my thoughts on this title.

To keep things simple, Iron Kissed is a MUST READ! I will not waste your time with a synopsis. There are plenty here already.

The only thing you need to know is that PB is a consistent and wonderful storyteller. If you haven't read any of PB's titles outside of this series get them immediately!

If you don't enjoy all of Patricia Brigg's efforts to date, you are simply in it for cheap thrills.

I just finished reading the newest Mercy Thompson book, Frost Burned (or something like that) and it raised an enormous amount of nostalgia in me, so I decided to go ahead and re-read the whole series again. Book 3 - Iron Kissed is the best of the series. You don't really understand how close you've grown to the characters until this book. You cry for Mercy and Ben. You feel Adam's frustration, and you feel loved by Zee and Bran and Samual. This is the book that brings you fully into their world, and brings them into your hearts.

This is the third installment from Patricia Briggs about the complicated life and loves of VW mechanic "Mercy Thompson".

This story revolves around the choice Mercy must make between the two Werewolves in her life; Sam, the Alpha who broke her heart when she was a child, but is now determined to win her back, and Adam, the local Alpha who has been slowly but surely pursuing her since book one.

As Mercy tries to prove the inoccence of her mentor and friend, Zee, who has been arrested for murder. She finds, she will go to great lenghts for her friend, even putting herself in a dangerous position with the Fae community and hate groups which surround the supernatural community, which results in terrible and shocking consequences for Mercy.

I love these books. Not only is Mercy a real woman, getting on with dealing with whatever life throws her way, but she is funny, stubborn, loyal, and independant. The characters in the books have grown, and you learn a little more with each book about them and what makes then tick, and why they are the way they are. One of the strongest scene's in the book is between Mercy and Ben, then Ben and Adam. It was filled with so much pain, made me cry.

Well done Ms Briggs another fantastic story, I can't wait for the next one!

I started the Mercy Thompson series recently, and I can't put them down. There is a great blend of the fantastical - fae, vampires, and werewolves- and the reality of being human. Patricia Briggs gives us front row seats to the inner workings of her heroine's mind as she figures out who she is.

I'm rereading the series and as before I loved this book. I laughed, I cried. Patricia Briggs is an artist. I'll keep rereading these books for the rest of my life and this is one of my absolute favorites in the Mercyverse.

Wow, I am trying to figure out what book the "negative nellys" are reading because it isn't the book I read. Iron Kissed is a very pleasing third book for me - yes, it is much more serious than the other two - but it is so well written and necessary to advance the characters and the overall story. I will admit I was mad when the book ended because I wanted more, but not mad in the sense that I was disappointed. I think this book showed the depth to Mercy and opened up the character of Ben for me. I say well done!

This is a great series with interesting and dynamic supernatural characters living and surviving in today's world. Iron Kissed is the third book of the series and the development only gets better. I read "The Hob" first and was so taken with the writing I hunted down all her other books and have enjoyed and kept them all. I'm looking forward to her next series with Anna and Charles who had their story introduced in the anthology, "On The Prowl".

A strong installment in this series that does not disappoint. Some more serious themes and a bit darker experiences are handled well in this book, but the occasional touches of humor and the mystery/adventure/paranormal elements are still intertwined effectively.

I don't normally write book reviews, I read a lot and I don't have that kind of time but this book is special. This series is as good as Sookie, it feels inspired by Sookie and the Author writes a like Charlaine Harris, fast reads with incredible characters with depth and feeling. I loved this book, I am hooked on this series and it's a keeper, even has a special place on my bookshelves. I won't ever sell them.

The third book in the Mercy Thompson series is Dark. Though I knew the terrible price Mercy has to pay ahead of time (I looked it up), I was still on pins and needles from page one. Iron Kissed has delicious world building and great story telling, although it lacks the humor and light-hearted moments of the previous books. I especially like the world building about the fae that Ms. Briggs brings to life. Forget Tinkerbelle - Ms. Briggs has resurrected the original fairy tales in all their gruesome glory.

All is not right in fairyland. Mercy Thompson is called in to use her superhuman nose to find a killer as grisly murders rock the fae reservation in Eastern Washington. The lords of the fae will do anything and sacrifice anyone to keep the humans from finding out. Humans are already wary of the fae, and no one wants to give fodder to the fae hate groups. But when Mercy's old mentor Zee, who taught her everything she knows about cars and sold her the garage, is arrested for the murders, Mercy refuses to let an innocent man die. She hunts for the real killer even as the fae issue warrants for her death and fae-hate groups plot nefarious schemes around her. Will her loyalty cost her her life? By the skin of her teeth, Mercy tackles her most dangerous mystery yet. But the price is high.

Iron Kissed is great and I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE. What - 2009??? Are you kidding me? I am not a patient person. At least Cry Wolf comes out in August. It is the sequel to the novella in On the Prowl and is about Charles, Samuel's brother and the Marrok's second son.

If you have yet to read any of the Mercy Thompson series, don't start in the middle. I highly recommend them in order:

Book 1: Moon Called
Book 2: Blood Bound
Book 3: Iron Kissed

So, this review comes after reading the novel, several reviews, and sleeping on it. So, first things first. It is probably a 4 3/4 star book, but that's not an option =) I liked this book very, very much. Patricia Briggs tops my list as an author that I love to read, and more importantly, re-read. She writes at a satisfying length (though I do wish for longer books sometimes, so I can keep reading), with complex characters that are nonetheless tangible and realistic. Also, she resists going with the "happy-happy" trend I have observed recently. Her characters go through difficult, or possibly destroying, events, yet they always end with a note of hope, fragile though that may be. In this I find her writing to be reminiscent of Holly Lisle or Ann Bishop, who often use their characters with a brutal lack of care for "gentler" conventions. However she never leaves them dangling (or in some cases reveling) in their pathos, to their (or our) annoyance. She leaves us with a clean taste, and in some cases a deeper thought about "what-if's" and the unusual ways possible to triumph over tragedy.

So, on to Iron Kissed.

As referred to in other reviews, there were interesting conclusions in this book for previously established thread plots. She further developed some characters, most notably Ben (in my opinion). Ben is almost developing into an anti-hero, whom you like in spite of himself. In a broader view he reminds you that people who act awfully often have been the victims of awful events, but that the choice to move beyond the event instead of being consumed by the event is completely up to the "victim".

I do agree that in many ways Samuel was marginalized, but also understand that there are four more books coming (as well as novellas, etc). Within these four books Ms. Briggs has been "gently advised" to keep Mercy's love life "complicated". Ah, commercialism at its best. So, personally I am willing to put up with that in order to see more of Mercy's world. Additionally, I believe that Mercy and Sam discussed there being attraction (not the lack). If this was resolved a bit abruptly I applaud Ms. Briggs for not dragging the resolution on into the next 11 novels (oh wait, she's only contracted for four more, I must be thinking of someone else). As an audience I appreciate the cauterization, as it were.

This book is a more serious examination of Mercy, which allows her to continue to mature and develop as a character. In some ways it is grim, and I admit to re-reading the last 50 pages or so 3 times, to better absorb the emotional impact. To those who thought that the event was "trivialized" by Mercy's "quick recovery and playing ghost whisperer", I would suggest waiting, as well as considering another thought. When a person feels helpless, taking action where possible makes the helplessness less unbearable.

On a side note, I would suggest that her acceptance by the Adam's pack is perhaps an illustration of how much circumstances differ between his and the Marrok's Pack. Even in Moon Called Mercy was treated somewhat courteously by the local pack females, as opposed to Leah (and subsequently Leah's subs) who openly persecute Mercy. Adam has made it clear that he will not tolerate such treatment, where Bran did no such thing.

Overall, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. No book is perfect, and I have always enjoyed Ms. Briggs' writing. If this book had moments that were not all I hoped, I can honestly say no book or author has ever been everything I hoped for. But, I don't want perfection, because perfection is boring. So, sit back, get comfy, and enter Mercy's world, if you dare.

Iron Kissed is the latest book in the "Mercy Thompson Series" by Patricia Briggs. I got turned on this series somewhere between Kelley Armstrong's "Women of the Otherworld" and Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" and I would rate these books as some of the best Urban Fantasy fiction you can find.

There is plenty of mystery in Iron Kissed and a lot of good writing. Ms. Briggs is building a great setting that just gets better with each book. I do think someone should read Moon Called and Blood Bound to get a complete look at the characters, but Iron Kissed makes it worth it. I think my biggest complaint with this book is the cover (and some of the marketing I've seen), it suggests more of a Paranormal Romance than it really is. This book definitely belongs in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section of your favorite bookstore.

I LOVE the Mercy Thompson books.I first found out about it on the store.com.I found the first book here.It sounded really interesting so I ordered Moon Called.The book was great and I wanted so much to find out if there was a second book.I looked it up and found out there is a second book.This time I bought it from a book store.I was just browsing and saw "Blood Bound" and who the author was and got so excited that I had found the second book.I didn't have to wait for it in the mail.I could buy it right there and I did.
Of course I loved that book just as much as the first.The story is just great!The third book is even better I think because it finally tells us who Mercy will be with.O how I hope there is another book after "Iron Kissed".

Iron Kissed:
This was a great book.Of course Mercy was bound to get into trouble again even though she wasn't looking for any.She is asked for help and needing to pay back her friend Zee for his help in Blood Bound she can't refuse.Knowing she is in way over head and could possibly lose it from the Grey Lords for knowing to many secrets of the Fey.But caring to much for Zee for that to stop her.Doing what she can and trying not to tell too much information about the Fae to any human that would get her and them killed.I was also more than pleased to finally find out who Mercy chooses.
I just hope that there is a fourth installment to the Mercy Thompson series and that it continues where it left off and tells us how Mercy and the one she chooses are doing and tells us where there going exactly.

This one had me after the first chapter. The mystery had me total in the dark. I loved finding out more about fae . Even the romantic element was appreciated. Every book about Mercy that I read is better and better. Five out of five

I like the world building and plotting of these books. The werewolves are more believable than in some other series and Briggs has created several very strong characters to move the story along. Mercy is refreshing in her realism. Finally, while there is romance throughout these books, you don't have to wade thru pages of tedious sex to get back to the plot, as in so many others of this genre. I rate Patricia Briggs with Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong for writing interesting stories that you can immerse yourself in again and again.

I seem to enjoy the werewolf culture more than the fae or vampire. For that reason I like book one better than 2 & 3 so far. That being said it won't stop me from continuing the series, love the characters too much.

I just love this Mercy character and the trouble she gets into without trying The story just takes you along for the ride and before you know it, you're at the end of the book, but you still want more. I can't get enough of these books.

I will admit, I wasnt a big fan of Moon Called. I think it lacked a lot of detail with regards to character interaction. Mercy went about her business in saving Adam but I still felt a lot was lacking and all the detail went into Mercy's attempt at solving the crime. I would have put the book down but given all the reviews of this series I felt maybe things may get better in the second book. And Im glad I took the chance. They really do get better and better.
Blood Bound was great but Iron Kissed is by far my favorite. The characters are well fleshed out. We are given more of an idea about each characters personality. A lot of the underlying emotions and political ramifications are also allowed to come to light. The author really did a delightful job of with this book. And the last couple of chapters were particularly heart wrenching. Not to spoil it for any one but there were a few parts where I wanted to jump through the book to strangle Tim and really really felt for Mercy. Good thing theres going to be a book four, book three's cliff hanger doesnt ask but demands for more.

I can't say much more than what has been already added here in other reviews. I must say that this book is my favorite of the three in the series. The 'tragic' scene mentioned in other reviews was unexpected and handled with amazing sensitivity and it had me in tears for much of the remainder of the book. I think Mercy's reactions were realistic and only enhanced her character and that of Adam's and the other wolves. Brigg's characters now feel more flesh and blood to me and I am going to eagerly await the next installment.

The Mercy Thompson series is set in an incredible world created by the author. Love the interactions with the old Fae as they operate on a different set of rules that have to be carefully walked upon. As with the other two books this is a greatly enjoyable novel.

Brigg's continues to draw us back into her world of Walkers, Werewolves, Fae and Vampires.

This time, the plot is aimed towards the Fae with someone killing them in order to steal items from them.

Mercy does finally choose between Samuel and Adam after a harrowing scene in which she fends off and kills her rapists as well as the one who's been stealing from the Fae and killing them.

This book still carries strongly just as its predecessors in the series have. While some dark moments, I still did enjoy this book.

I have read all of the Mercy books and I absolutely love them! There are so many series that start out great, but then become dull - and you feel like you have an obligation to keep reading them. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE BOOKS! The books and characters continue to develop and the plot is still intriguing. I am always anxiously awaiting the next Mercy book - and I always enjoy them. I would definitely recommend that you buy this book.

In some ways this was not as great a mystery as the first two books, but on some level, Patricia Briggs wrote a much more compelling story demonstrating her protagonist, Mercy Thompson, vulnerability and strength in a way not shown before in the two previous books. I highly recommend this series for young women to read.

This book was so good. I actually thought it was a little slow at first. Because she goes back over things that you should already know if you read the previous books. Other than that it was a hottttttt book. I am ready for a sex scene. It gets spicy.

This book hooked me in and didn't let me go. I had to stay up late while my husband and daughter slept just to finish the book. My tears of sadness turned to happiness at the ending. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I really love this series and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good werewolf/vampire/fantasy series. I am definitely hooked on the Mercy Thompson series now.

I draw the line at the story's heroine being raped. And there's a recording of it. A recording most everyone watched. DISGUSTING AND VILE. I'm getting rid of books 4 and 5. I bought them in anticipation of binge reading all the mercy thompson books, but not any more. F you, Patricia Briggs for bringing rape into a story that really didn't need it.

I just finished 'Iron Kissed' this morning and I have to say it was the best Mercy book yet. I couldn't stop reading it, I had to see what was going to happen! This book focuses a lot more on the story of the fae in Mercy's world, but there is no lack of werewolves (thank you Adam & Samuel) and even a bit more romance then before. One of the most addictive page turners I've read in a while!

I have stormed through the first two books, and I am so glad I did because they led me to the third, Iron Kissed. I seriously could not stop reading once I started. The story never lags, it is so very interesting, and terribly touching. I cannot WAIT to begin the fourth book, I HAVE to know what happens next!!!!!!!

I loved the first two books and this one, until the end. I like how each book has mostly focused on one of the types of supernatural beings in Mercy's world, and it was interesting learning more about the fae.

***SPOILER ALERT***

However, if I'm reading reviews and find that there's a sexual assault in a book, I stay away. I know it happens in real life, but it's such a horrible thing that I don't understand why an author would write it into the storyline (I'm sure there are a few exceptions in fiction), particularly so far into a series, and for a main character. I didn't start the Alpha and Omega series after reading reviews and I was glad she hadn't gone that route in this series. Then I read Iron Kissed.

Someone said that the build up made it clear what was going to occur, but I disagree. When not much happened at the house, I thought that was it. Given the time it took trashing the garage, talking, etc., I thought help would arrive or Mercy would find some way out herself. Like another reviewer, I wasn't even sure it happened because the writing got jumpy and vague (believe me, though, I didn't need graphic). One minute Mercy seems to be fighting the magic, then the next thing she, and the reader, knows, she's being raped. I don't know what Patricia Briggs' reason for it was, but it wasn't necessary to illustrate that bad things happen to good people, or to make Mercy more sympathetic or real. Then, we find that another character had been sexually abused, and as a kid, no less (this seemed tacked on to explain his ability to help Mercy).

I also didn't get the point of Fideal's character, unless it's a set-up for him showing up in a later book. It seemed like the author remembered he'd been in the book earlier and his final appearance felt like an afterthought, especially after what had already happened.

Finally, I had a very hard time believing that a woman who'd been raped would hop into bed with someone less than a week after her attack, man of her dreams or not. It seemed thoughtless and out of character for him (okay, for anyone) to expect her to let him know if she was going to be his mate so soon after the attack.

So, two sexual assaults in this series (so far) and one that I know of in Alpha and Omega. Seriously, what's up? I don't expect puppies and rainbows in my books, but I'm definitely a (relatively) happy ending girl, and this series has been seriously messed up for me. I don't know if I'll be buying the fourth novel, but I'll definitely not read any other books by Patricia Briggs.

This was another great book about Mercy. It's got a lot to keep you reading. There is a really dark scene in it that could have been different or totally left out, but overall a great book. I really enjoy the descriptions and the way you're kept guessing until close to the end. It does seem a little like the author is/or could be ending the series to me, although I really hope not. I've really enjoyed all of the Mercy books so far and would love to read more.

This series is for Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, and early Anita Blake fans. This book is not the best I have ever read, but the series is up there. It includes werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, faes, etc. The heroine of the series, Mercy, is a great character. The romance is intriguing, yet subtle.

I don't know why it took me so long to get to this one, because I've really liked all of her other books. I think it was sold out whenever I passed the bookstore and I had to wait to be given as a Christmas present before diving in. It was well worth the wait. The series reminds me of the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris because the paranormal stuff is less important to the story than the believable regular world and the people who inhabit it. It gives you the feeling that, even if the Were stuff was taken away, there would be a basis for a good story here. Recommended to romance and fantasy lovers.

A good story with a mix of well developed characters, a plot with just enough twist, a good helping of romance spiced with a healthy dose of wit.

Patricia Briggs' Mercy books have all been entertaining for me, but this is the first that touches me to tears in addition to the chuckles and the avid need to read to find out what happens next.

The story walks that fine line between seriousness and humor, touching a dark area that was not in the previous two books. It was done with sensitivity and skill - and made the story that much better for it.

In a crowd of supernatural heroines, Mercy stands out for being likable. She has personal conflict (wouldn't be much of a book without it) but manages to convey that she genuinely cares about the people involved, considering how her actions will affect them before she proceeds. I love that Mercy can be a strong and stubborn female protagonist without running roughshod over the people close to her. It is this that makes her stories a pleasure to read on all levels, unlike those in some other series who make me wish I could slap some compassion into them with increasing regularity.

As for the action, the romance, the bittersweet tone to the ending? There are other more detailed reviews, of course, but the 5 stars speak for my opinion. Another fantastic installment in an enjoyable and very worthwhile series.

This book was a bit slower than the previous 2, but still good. I like that each book so far has had different paranormal theme while still being connected. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

This is the first book in the Mercy Thompson series that I've read. I have to admit I've come across Patricia Briggs books several times at the book store but never picked any up due to the length. I never wanted to spend eight dollars on a book I could finish in a day. This book is definitely worth it. Characterization is excellent. The characters in the book are interesting and feel real. Briggs is also great at world-building. After reading this I had to go out and buy the next book. The plot is also excellent. It's complex, it fleshes out more of Mercy Thompson's world, and keeps the reader interest from the first page to the last.

Obviously, Mercy is the heroine of this series, but in this book she is a true HERO, as well. I'm not going into the synopsis of the novel as others have already (just scroll down)... I only want to mention that anything readers may find "controversial" is the direct result of the hero, Mercy, trying to save someone. Sometimes, being a hero means taking risks. Sometimes being a hero means suffering a devastating loss, even of one's life. I, for one, appreciated that Mercy, though not human, is still vulnerable. I'm sick of over-powered supernatural "heroines" who never really suffer (you know who I'm talkin' about). Kudos, Ms. Briggs.

Iron Kissed is a fantastic continuation of the Mercy Thompson Series. The 2nd book felt a little drawn out to me with a lot of unneeded angst. This book gets the story back on track and reestablished Mercy as a tough girl who knows how to run her own life. A fun, if very fast read!

Bought this one today and have read it twice already!! I read alot of paperbacks as the bins in my garage attest to but very few do I continue to read over and over. The first two in the Mercy series have not left my bedside book stacks since I bought them and this one is staying there as well. Can't wait for the next and I am just as impatient for Cry Wolf which I believe is Charles and Anna's story continued from the anthology book "Prowl". Thankfully this one come out in August.

This book has it all...Read it, you'll like it. Patricia did it again! I loved the further character developement. Each time you learn more about one of the minor characters in this series, you can just imagine her writing a whole new series based on that one character. That's a sign of GREAT writing! I started and finished this book in one sitting, couldn't put it down. What a great way to use a Saturday!

I have had Moon called for months and never wanted to read it, but a lady I worked with said read them you will love them! Well I read Moon called, ran out the next day and got Blood blound and Iron kissed and I am so looking forward to her next book!!! I loved the triangle with Mercy, Sam and Adam and I am sad to see that end, but I am looking forward to see how Adam and Mercy's relationship will go and to see what happens to Sam. I am always wondering how Mercy will handle her rape in coming books!!!Patricia Briggs is becoming one of my favorite authors!!

Patricia Briggs is my favorite shape shifter writer. I'm so sucked into this whole story and Mercy and her friends and how the writer brings it all together. My only complaint is her books don't come out fast enough ;)

The third book in the Mercy series, Iron Kissed, is darker than the first two. Again, I thought the strength was in the character development, but I really liked what she did with the bad guys, it was unexpected. Some readers may not like the ending - it gets a little dark and could possibly change Mercy for the worst, but I liked the author taking it somewhere different. Briggs was brave in taking her story somewhere most authors wouldn't go, and I'm glad she did.

I look at Mercy as a strong independent woman. Patricia Briggs' story shows how even the strongest individuals, after such an emotional traumatic event, need someone to lean on. She won't let them take care of her forever, but for a while it is nice to know you have people willing to do things like that for you.

Ben's explanation to Adam at the end of the book is some of the best writing I have ever read. The emotion in those few pages will stay with me for a long time.

The world building is great and I like that she has limited powers, it makes her experiences that much more exotic. I'm kind of tired of reading about the 'all powerful' masters of the universe. To work within a more limited confine of power and still be thrilling is refreshing.

This book is all about choices. Mercy is called to help Zee find a killer, and learns things about the Fae that she might be better off NOT knowing. When Zee is accused of murder, Mercy must decide how to use that knowledge. During the time she is working, she is reminded by more than one that she needs to make a decision between Samuel and Adam.

This book develops the characters even further and is equally as well written. You won't regret buying this one!

I absolutly loved this book! I love the whole series actually.
I'm a little bit sad at Mercy's choice in the end, but I understand it. I'm glad the love triangle doesn't go on forever.
I can't believe we have to wait another year for the next book! I need to start reading series after they are finished lol.

I think this is the best of the 3. Really good, but too short! The series is a lot like the early Anita Blake stories. Good dialog, good story, interesting characters and relationships. Can't wait for the next one.

I am enjoying this series alot. Every book shows not only character advancement, but also the plot building of the writer. This is no "super woman who can conquor all" heroine, but instead one who has to deal with real issues even in a supernatural world. And sometimes that makes a character more powerful than being able to leap tall buildings with a single bound.

i love this series! in this third installment, mercy helps her mentor, and deals with the two men in her life. i thoroughly enjoyed it and cant wait for the 4th! my only complaint is that it goes too quickly!

Most of what I wanted to say about this book is already said. It's good, and strong, and it even gave me tears in my eyes on a scene in the end, when Ben holds his "speech". Good work from the author! .. and I love that she didn't go into too much detail on the specific event that made the speech necessary..

This book is all about choices. Mercy is called to help Zee find a killer, and learns things about the Fae that she might be better off NOT knowing. When Zee is accused of murder, Mercy must decide how to use that knowledge. During the time she is working, she is reminded by more than one that she needs to make a decision between Samuel and Adam.

This book develops the characters even further and is equally as well written. You won't regret buying this one!

I absolutly loved this book! I love the whole series actually.
I'm a little bit sad at Mercy's choice in the end, but I understand it. I'm glad the love triangle doesn't go on forever.
I can't believe we have to wait another year for the next book! I need to start reading series after they are finished lol.

I think this is the best of the 3. Really good, but too short! The series is a lot like the early Anita Blake stories. Good dialog, good story, interesting characters and relationships. Can't wait for the next one.

I am enjoying this series alot. Every book shows not only character advancement, but also the plot building of the writer. This is no "super woman who can conquor all" heroine, but instead one who has to deal with real issues even in a supernatural world. And sometimes that makes a character more powerful than being able to leap tall buildings with a single bound.

i love this series! in this third installment, mercy helps her mentor, and deals with the two men in her life. i thoroughly enjoyed it and cant wait for the 4th! my only complaint is that it goes too quickly!