River Marked (Mercy Thompson Book 6)

I have long awaited this most recent book in the Mercy Thompson series and was not disappointed. In my opinion, Patricia Briggs is one of, if not THE best writer in this genre. Pooey to those who say they were disappointed. I enjoyed seeing Adam and Mercy finally delve deeper into their relationship now that they are married. As for the rest of the story...how could anyone NOT enjoy...the complexity of the characters and all the action was still there! Can't wait for the next installment, and there had better be more!!!

The book was in great condition. One page did have a silver dollar sized spot on it that appeared as though it was rubbed out. The page was very thin there and almost a hole was formed. Other then that, the book was exactly what I wanted and I am completely thrilled and satisfied with it.

I love the Mercy Thompson Book's. It's as good as the others. I can't wait to see what gose on next. Patrcia Briggs is one of the best. I have just about all of her work and they are just as good as this book is.

This was a great story about Mercy and Adam's honeymoon. After a surprise wedding (surprising to the bride at least!), Mercy and Adam head to a campground on the Colombia River for a honeymoon. Naturally, trouble follows. Mercy learns that they are honeymooning there because of a vision one of the fae had. She also finds that some of the people there knew her father. She even sees his ghost. The gets involved with a number of Native American legends including Thunderbird and Coyote. She learns a lot about her past as she and Adam look for a way to defeat a fae monster who is snacking on those who venture near the Colombia River.

I enjoyed the interactions between Mercy and Adam as they get used to their new roles as husband and wife. I love Mercy's personality as someone who is quite willing to tweak the vanity of anyone who comes near her no matter how powerful they might be. I also loved the character of Coyote who may or may not be Mercy's father.

I recommend this urban fantasy series to anyone who likes a feisty female character and a well-developed fantasy world. Besides a lot of deadly danger, the book is filled with humorous moments. I found it an all-together great read and one story that I will likely re-read often.

Patricia Briggs never lets me down!!!! Mercy Thompson continues to be my top female character in ANY book. What I loved most about RIVER MARKED was that Mercy got to spend an entire novel with Adam. Briggs managed to explore their wonderful and equal partnership in this book without losing site of the main mystery. I recently saw Briggs at an author signing and was thrilled to hear that there will be at least 3 more Mercy Thompson books. I could not be more thrilled. I think there is so much more to be explored in this fantastic world with a true heroine front and center!

Patricia Briggs is on my short list of goddess writers whose books I snatch up without even reading the back blurb. I know anything she writers will be delicious, fun, and action-packed -- generally everything my ADD heart desires. She didn't disappoint with River Marked, starting off with Mercy's marriage to Adam, her gorgeous werewolf. After that, Briggs plunged us into the dangerous world of river monsters and supernatural gods/avatars, one of which may or may not be Mercy's father. Sorta. It's complicated. I devoured the book like a plate of brownies, only without the caloric guilt afterward. As to the $12 -- Briggs gave me my money's worth, just as she always does. Check out her older fantasy novels too. I also enjoyed DRAGON BLOOD and DRAGON BONES, just to name two of her delightful books. Masques and its sequel are equally fun. These books are very different from the Mercy books, but if you're jonesing for more Briggs -- and I can't blame you -- why don't you nibble your way through the rest of her collection? Clever heroes, resourceful heroines, lots of fascinating creatures, and great adventures await.Dragon Blood (The Hurog Duology, Book 2)

*Some spoilers! Be wary!*

I *loved* the Mercy Thompson books when I found them a few years ago. Mercy was a nice mix of sassy but also sensible, and the world was vivid and interesting. I think Patricia Briggs is #zomgawsome.

However, I think the series is at its apogee and has nowhere to go but down. The progress of the series stopped eliciting feelings of "zomgawsome!" with Silver Bourne and while River Marked is a nice easy read (there are some fantastic descriptions, vivid consequence filled action scenes and whatnot)that is all it is. A nice easy read.

My main problems were with the Adam/Mercy relations and the overall Jump the Shark feeling of the supporting plot.

I always liked Mercy and Adam as a couple, but in this story they read like stereotypes of urban fantasy romance rather than individuals. There is lots of "mine"ing and general goings on about mystical bonds that cheapened their whole dynamic, as well as bringing unpleasant flashbacks of Laurel K. Hamilton-esque nonsense. Some might find it romantic, so try it out for yourself, but personally it makes me cringe to read such pablum coming out of the mouths of characters who until now I adored.

As far as Jumping the Shark...I had always liked that Mercy wasn't capital 'S' special. (You know what I mean - Superman, Harry Potter, John Connor 'only you can save us' kind of Special) Unlike the hordes of other urban fantasy what-if-our-world-was-also-magical stories out there, Mercy knew Special people (Bran, granddaddy of all Werewolves etc), but wasn't Special herself. She was just special (little s) because she was a Walker, which doesn't come with superpowers. I really liked that. Sadly River Marked blows all that out of the water, IMO entirely unnecessarily. Walkers, Mercy and even her trusty walking stick seem less unique by the end of it.

Perhaps this is a growth book, where certain shifts must be made to launch off into a far greater end of series arc, but the feeling I walked away with was this is another book like Obsidian Butterfly (An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 9). The book that seems to say "I ran out of ideas".

I like the secondary characters a lot and missed them in this book. I found the plot line was pretty slow and unsatisfying. I understand her wanting to get into Mercy's Native American heritage but I did not think it was done well. I don't have much to say about it because there isn't much story. I will give the next one a try but I get the feeling the author has tired of the series and simply has nothing left to say.

I would say to save your money, as this book does nothing to move the series forward and contains no new information.

I ordered this book for myself as an avid Patricia Briggs reader, not only was the sellers shipping speed fast, but the way it was packaged made certain that my book came to me in Perfect condition. This is also a great read, I always love Patricia Briggs's work, keeps you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to put it down! I would highly reccomend the Mercy Thompson series to any fantasy-romance-action book lover.

Well, I loved all the other books in this series, so I was kind of disappointed in this one. What I loved about the other books was the diversity in the dialogue, getting to know all the main characters and everything involving the pack. This book had none of that. The book starts off good with the marriage of Adam and Mercy. Then the go on their "honeymoon" and things go down hill from there. They basically go camping for their honeymoon, and that is where the rest of the story takes place. There is very little interaction with the pack, Jesse, Gabriel, or other characters I have come to love. There was no Samuel, Bran, Charles, Zee,etc, though they were mentioned some. There was the introduction of some new characters, and Mercy learns some more about her father. It becomes pretty violent and action packed near the end, but this book just drug along for me. I really just didn't enjoy the plot which was basically a lochness monster type theme. I can typically read a book in a day or so. This one took me 4 days to get through. It was easy for me to put down until near the end. I will continue to read the series because I do enjoy it, but I hope the next book refocuses on the pack, and the original characters.

Don't get me wrong,I love all the Mercy Thompson books and have reread them many times. Patricia seem to be uninspired with this book. There wasn't any real energy in the writing and it plodded along. The first 25% of the book in my Kindle was description of the Columbia basin and historic sites. I wanted to read about Mercy not a history lesson! I am sad after all this time that Adam and Mercy get married and it was a hum drum affair. Mercy states at least several times that " Adam is hers!" OK, so lets get on with it already. The river monster was lame and Coyote showing up was the only interesting thing in the book. Please Patricia, take all the time you want to come up with something like all the rest of your books, and leave filler writing to someone else, I am begging you! You are too good of a writer to churn out drivel!!

Fabulous book; the character development is amazingly real, and even though it's 324 pages long, the book just flew by--it didn't feel drawn out, and Brigg's ability to bring in myths and legends and make them incredibly modern and terrifying is astounding. As I said, possibly the best addition of the Mercy Thompson series.

I really love Briggs' Mercy T. books and her Alpha/Omega books! They always have great plot with tons of action/adventure that is WELL developed and a touch of romance. I have to admit, the only thing the series seems to be lacking is recuperation time - while a book may open saying that it has been a few months or weeks since the last Big Event, as readers, we are left feeling adrenaline pumped from start to finish of each book; there is no break, we don't ever get a chance to slow down and enjoy 'everyday life' with Mercy and Adam except for the first and last 2-3 pages. I don't want you to leave thinking it is a bad novel, just busy - action packed. Loved it though!!! Thanks!

This series is great, but this book had me annoyed, it was border lining "twlight" turned into a love story way too much, and the lead character isn't this mushy. i can only read about how much she wants her model like husband so much.

I didn't really care for "Silverborne" as much as the previous Mercy Thompson books, and I was a little reluctant to buy the latest installment. "River Marked" was very enjoyable, funny, romantic, and exciting--an all-around good read. I look forward to buying the next book in the series!

I loved the beginning of the book. Sweet, romantic, and funny. At around page eighty, when you're ready for typical Mericy trouble, the plot begins to form...if you can call it that. The book reads slow, the characters are confusing, and honestly...I just didn't care enough about the book as a whole to figure it all out.

I did finish it, and I'll definitely buy the next Mercy Thompson book. I'm just going to count this one as Patricia Briggs one allotted dud.

If you picked this book up because it was on the bestseller shelf, put it aside and go back and read the previous 5 books. They are incredible!!!!

I have loved this entire series. Many of the reviews disliked River Marked, but I disagree. It was a great story, and I love seeing the Mercy/Adam relationship develop so well. The new character, Coyote, was funny and added to the story well. I can't wait for Mercy's next adventure and to see what further develops with the Pack, the vamps, and the fae! Absolutely a great read, I read it one day and I have an infant at home to take care of, if that tells you anything!

I love all of the books that Patricia Briggs writes, especially the Mercy Thompson series. River Marked is less than her best. If you don't collect her books, then this one is better gotten from the library.

What do you do when your mother wants to have pigeons and doves and butterflies and golden balloons released at your wedding? If you're Mercy and Adam you decide to elope. Of course that doesn't work out as planned, and you just know if they can't control the wedding, there's no way the honeymoon is going smoothly.

Mercy and Adam's life together is never going to be boring, thank god, but it makes for some great reading as we share their lives.

Patricia Briggs continues to deliver well written stories. My only complaint is she doesn't write them fast enough.

Well, I loved all the other books in this series, so I was kind of disappointed in this one. What I loved about the other books was the diversity in the dialogue, getting to know all the main characters and everything involving the pack. This book had none of that. The book starts off good with the marriage of Adam and Mercy. Then the go on their "honeymoon" and things go down hill from there. They basically go camping for their honeymoon, and that is where the rest of the story takes place. There is very little interaction with the pack, Jesse, Gabriel, or other characters I have come to love. There was no Samuel, Bran, Charles, Zee,etc, though they were mentioned some. There was the introduction of some new characters, and Mercy learns some more about her father. It becomes pretty violent and action packed near the end, but this book just drug along for me. I really just didn't enjoy the plot which was basically a lochness monster type theme. I can typically read a book in a day or so. This one took me 4 days to get through. It was easy for me to put down until near the end. I will continue to read the series because I do enjoy it, but I hope the next book refocuses on the pack, and the original characters.

Don't get me wrong,I love all the Mercy Thompson books and have reread them many times. Patricia seem to be uninspired with this book. There wasn't any real energy in the writing and it plodded along. The first 25% of the book in my Kindle was description of the Columbia basin and historic sites. I wanted to read about Mercy not a history lesson! I am sad after all this time that Adam and Mercy get married and it was a hum drum affair. Mercy states at least several times that " Adam is hers!" OK, so lets get on with it already. The river monster was lame and Coyote showing up was the only interesting thing in the book. Please Patricia, take all the time you want to come up with something like all the rest of your books, and leave filler writing to someone else, I am begging you! You are too good of a writer to churn out drivel!!

Fabulous book; the character development is amazingly real, and even though it's 324 pages long, the book just flew by--it didn't feel drawn out, and Brigg's ability to bring in myths and legends and make them incredibly modern and terrifying is astounding. As I said, possibly the best addition of the Mercy Thompson series.

I really love Briggs' Mercy T. books and her Alpha/Omega books! They always have great plot with tons of action/adventure that is WELL developed and a touch of romance. I have to admit, the only thing the series seems to be lacking is recuperation time - while a book may open saying that it has been a few months or weeks since the last Big Event, as readers, we are left feeling adrenaline pumped from start to finish of each book; there is no break, we don't ever get a chance to slow down and enjoy 'everyday life' with Mercy and Adam except for the first and last 2-3 pages. I don't want you to leave thinking it is a bad novel, just busy - action packed. Loved it though!!! Thanks!

This series is great, but this book had me annoyed, it was border lining "twlight" turned into a love story way too much, and the lead character isn't this mushy. i can only read about how much she wants her model like husband so much.

I didn't really care for "Silverborne" as much as the previous Mercy Thompson books, and I was a little reluctant to buy the latest installment. "River Marked" was very enjoyable, funny, romantic, and exciting--an all-around good read. I look forward to buying the next book in the series!

I loved the beginning of the book. Sweet, romantic, and funny. At around page eighty, when you're ready for typical Mericy trouble, the plot begins to form...if you can call it that. The book reads slow, the characters are confusing, and honestly...I just didn't care enough about the book as a whole to figure it all out.

I did finish it, and I'll definitely buy the next Mercy Thompson book. I'm just going to count this one as Patricia Briggs one allotted dud.

If you picked this book up because it was on the bestseller shelf, put it aside and go back and read the previous 5 books. They are incredible!!!!

I have loved this entire series. Many of the reviews disliked River Marked, but I disagree. It was a great story, and I love seeing the Mercy/Adam relationship develop so well. The new character, Coyote, was funny and added to the story well. I can't wait for Mercy's next adventure and to see what further develops with the Pack, the vamps, and the fae! Absolutely a great read, I read it one day and I have an infant at home to take care of, if that tells you anything!

I love all of the books that Patricia Briggs writes, especially the Mercy Thompson series. River Marked is less than her best. If you don't collect her books, then this one is better gotten from the library.

What do you do when your mother wants to have pigeons and doves and butterflies and golden balloons released at your wedding? If you're Mercy and Adam you decide to elope. Of course that doesn't work out as planned, and you just know if they can't control the wedding, there's no way the honeymoon is going smoothly.

Mercy and Adam's life together is never going to be boring, thank god, but it makes for some great reading as we share their lives.

Patricia Briggs continues to deliver well written stories. My only complaint is she doesn't write them fast enough.

To give context to my review, I have to admit that during my recent Mercy Thompson series re-read, I focused only on the Mercy/Adam interactions. (I blame my romantic sentiment on my husband being gone for a week and leaving me alone with the dog.) I realized that these two characters were meant for each other even from the beginning, but they unfortunately never really had much page time together. Something would always come up to cut their scenes together short, or make them hurried.

Yay for River Marked! This book is all about Mercy and Adam - their love for one and other, their respect, their fears, their happiness. I was completely thrilled by the second chapter, especially since I was worried that I would have to wait until the end of the book, or (gasp!) the next book, for it to happen. At times it did seem to go a bit over board with the I-love-yous and I'll-die-for-yous, but I could deal with that. All the other major characters make an appearance, but to my delight, Mercy and Adam take center stage.

In addition to the romantic element in this book, River Marked also delved into Mercy's parentage and answered a lot of questions about her coyote form and her father. There is a healthy dose of Native American heritage mixed in with the usual magic and monsters that we've come to expect from a Mercy book.

This book is worth 4 stars, easily. I am eager for the next book to read what else the author has in store for Mercy.

The latest installment of the adventures of Mercy Thompson, or rather Mercy Athena Thompson Hauptman ended with a bang, but the journey through this book was significantly less exciting that her other novels and lacked her friends and relationships that we've grown to love. River Marked focused on the solidarity that has grown between Mercy and Adam, but this novel really belonged to Mercy alone. Having said that, this recap contains light spoilers, light in the aspect that they all pretty much happen right in the beginning so I'm not giving away the finale.

The beginning of the novel opens with Mercy going to vampire Stefan's house to run interferance over his depression With the previous book having Stefan MIA, I'm sure readers were pretty excited to see him back. Right after that, the book takes a turn with a surprise wedding event for Adam and Mercy. Soon thereafter, Mercy and Adam take off for their honeymoon in a camper that Adam borrowed from Uncle Mike and this is where it really veers off course. Mercy is concerned that Adam took a favor from the Fae which is a huge no no, but Adam sees it as a message that they're meant to go where the Fae have sent them. To me, this seems so out of character for an overly protective Alpha werewolf, especially since it's their honeymoon, but there you have it. At their campsite, Mercy sees the ghost of her father, starts having terrible nightmares, Adam and Mercy find a dying man on a boat in the river, and ultimately, they find themselves at ground zero where dozens of people are disappearing to a horrible legendary river monster.

This book introduces many new characters from Mercy's Indian heritage and she ultimately meets her spirit father, not to be confused with the ghost of her actual father. The concept is intriguing, however the lengthy explanations, dreams, walking through the woods, secrecy, and other elements leading to the mystery seem to drag on and on and on. 4/5ths of the book is spent on learning the various Indian cultures and icons and essentially all the save the day action is left for the last pages. Aside from the mention of Zee, Warren, Uncle Mike, Jesse, et al, there was absolutely no interaction or development of these characters since the whole book is spent away from them, the Stefan time is minimal at best, and when it came down to the big battle, Mercy has to go it alone without Adam. When reading a series, I've grown to love the supporting cast every bit as much as the main character, and oftentimes more so, and this book lacks all of that. Regardless, it is still a good story, if not slow moving, with some rather poignant moments, and dare I say, the departure of one of my favorite "characters", the walking stick. I guess we'll just have to see what happens...

I was so excited to get the new mercy thompson. I have read them all and really enjoyed them. This one just did not do it! not even close to the previous books in the series. It was very slow and boring. Near the end the excitment picked up a little but this one did not hold up to the rest. disapointed in this one :(

Although there is little urban here. Mercy and Adam finally tie the knot and it is pretty funny. One of the Fae suggests that they go to a particular campground and loans them a rather palatial trailer for her honeymoon. Lots of good characters well drawn some old and some new (one of which is a walking stick). A good strong plot to go with the characters and an interesting monster(s). Big revelation about Mercey's ancestry. Overall excellent story well told.

This is a great read but not the place to start the series if you want to get the best out of it. Start at the beginning, not all home runs but all good to excellent reads.

BTW Ithought the comparison of Star Wars to Cowboys and Indians was both great and funny.

I love this author and this series. I can never put it down and am sad that I have to wait 6 months to 12 before another book is available. It helps that Mercy's story is set in an area I know and have been to multiple times, and the author describes it so perfectly. I hope this series continues a long time!!

I love this series. It started out as a paper back series and it should have stayed that way. That way when one of the books bombs you don't feel like you were ripped off by greedy publishers trying to sqeeze every last ounce profit out of an overpriced dud. The story started out just fine. I laughed out loud during the first couple of chapters, but then its like pod people took over the story writing. I'm not going to drop any spoilers, the story is predictable enough as is. If it was a movie, I'd say wait for it to come out on DVD. Get it at half price or the library. Don't waste your money on the $12.99 kindle edition.

I like Patricia Brigg's writings. Every time I finish one of Mercy's books I can't wait till the next one comes out. If you like Mercy and Adam's story you have to read this book. The plot is somewhat different than Ms. Brigg's usual writings when it comes to Mercy. This time Mercy isn't facing any monsters from the old country but she's facing monsters from new world. It did feel a little slow in places and a little bumpy but I still enjoy Ms. Brigg's writings and the series so much I still gave it 5 stars.

The price is a little steep like one reviewer mentioned but the book did just come out and it's still cheaper to buy it electronically if you can't go to the book store and buy it in person (you save money on shipping).

As always, Patricia Briggs does not disappoint! Simply excellent. I've yet to read a bad Mercy Thompson book. Loved her and Adam's closer relationship. Loved the place they found themselves in. Loved the new and old characters. Loved the story. And, yes, loved the book. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed all the previous books in the series, but this one was a bit of a letdown. The story itself was interesting, and I enjoyed the insight into Mercy's heritage, and her relationship with Adam, but the lengthy explanations really bogged down the story. Yes, I know they were necessary, but even after that I was still a little confused and had to reread some parts. It didn't grab me like some of the previous books. I was pretty easily able to put the book down and go to bed! The Kindle version was pricey, but I'd rather be able to get it right when I want than to have to wait for a cheaper Kindle book.

I have to tell you that everytime Patricia Briggs comes out with another Mercy story I get excited. She never fails to pull me right back into this world of warewolves and mystical creatures. This book was different from the others. Mercy is married to Adam! Hot sexy alph male he is, her life has forever changed. She's not single anymore!! But the action and story line in this book are great. I can't wait for the next installment.

This is my favorite Urban Fantasy series. The event, in the beginning, was a great surprise. And, it was great to have a lot of Adam and Mercy time, in this book. And learning more about Mercy. I would have liked to know more about Samuel, Gabriel, Ben, but maybe in the next book. Just hate the wait.

I usually like all of Patricia Briggs books as the story is usually so wonderfully woven together. This story was just silly and the dialogue between Adam and Mercy was not believable and Mercy didn't seem like the same person she was prior to marrying Adam. I lost interest quickly and couldn't finish the book. I wish I wouldn't have wasted my money.

love the book it came on time in specified condition my only complaint is that anytime I pre-order books from this site I'm charged for and sent 2 books instead of 1 or at least I have for my last 2 pre-orders though I'm hoping it was just a glitch caused by my old computer. Either way love the book

So, I have loved all of the Mercy Thompson books so far. The series ranks in my top 3. But this one just wasn't as good as the first four I thought. I still love her writing style, and I love that we got to learn more about Mercy's background - Coyote is a great character, but so many of the other characters were left out or just showed up as cameos. I really thought that the book needed a second plot or a sub-plot. Maybe more about Stephen or Jesse and Gabriel...

I really like Adam and Mercy together, but there is so much more going on in Mercy's world I finished the book feeling a little short changed.

Especially at $12.99 for a Kindle edition!

What was there was good, but it just wasn't enough...

Um, well, it was definitely different from her other books. It was shorter, less cohesive, and I felt as if the author was distracted while writing this book. I get the feeling she rushed through this one just to meet her deadline. At first I didn't blink about spending $12.99, but now after reading the book, I would like at least half of it back! Even though I am not thrilled about this book, I will still continue to follow the series. I just love Mercy's humor, selflessness and courage.

I so love this series. It just keeps getting beter and beter. I now have all my guy friend reading it too. Love all the true Washington history in the books. I live here and I find new places I just have to visit every book.

I really, really love Patricia Briggs and all of her books especially the Mercy series. I believe good books take two things: well written characters and strong plots. Ms. Briggs has the characters - Mercy, Adam, Stefan and all the others who inhabit her Mercy world are interesting and delightful. Previously her plots have also been as strong. This one though has slipped in the plot department and I hate to say it. It felt like a short story strecthed (beyond its rightful length) to a full novel. The book is about 30% through before you get the first indication of the plot and there is never much to it. In addition, Mercy and Adam newly married seem to be not themselves. All in all, nice to see our charachters again and to learn something of Mercy's heritage but the plot couldn't hold it all up. A few days after I finished the book i could hardly recall it - I remember every detail of the previous 4 Mercy books. So, all in all a pleasant little visit but a plot not nearly good enough.

This book felt like it was ghostwritten by a teenager, as if the author decided to only write the first and last chapter (the only enjoyable parts of the book), gave the general plot to someone else and then decided to have a lie down.

I am genuinenly shocked that I was bored reading a Mercy Thompson book. To be frank I didn't think this book would be as good as the previous books in the series. I do acknowledge that it would be a challenge to continue to make a series interesting particularly when the love interest(s) are resolved but this book was badly written. I thought that the plot WAS interesting, there was no reason for this book to be boring but it was in fact very boring.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The language and turns of phrase used by each character were identical. Given the different cultural backgrounds of the characters this is lazy and made the characters unbelivable in some parts. One example was Coyote using the phrase "Point to you". Not everyone keeps score during a conversation - its not a tennis match.

The author spent an inordinate amount of time on inconsequential minutae (ie the baskets and the jeans) and not enough on character development.

Things that really irritated me were:
1) The fake stonehenge. If you are going to pursue an Indian storyline give it justice, why the fake celtic influence? It felt discordent to the rest of the ritual.
2) Changing goal posts, particularly in regards to power. Adam gets shot with a lead bullet - ONE bullet and he seems to struggle to recover but in previous novels he gets hit with a lot more damage and is able to bounce back instantly. Bran and Charles seem to get more and more powerful with every book and this time they weren't even in the book. Bran gets older and more powerful, I'm expecting in the next book he is 4000 years old and single handedly built the pyramids. Charles while admittedly has witch powers is still only a werewolf and that Coyote was scared of him was unbelievable.
3)The premise for the location in Colarado. The fact that Adam took Mercedes camping in a trailer on their honeymoon alone is ridiculous (he has an internationally successful business but a borrowed trailer is the best he can do?). To make it seem more believable its really a favour for Uncle Mike where at best its a security job and at worse Mercy could get hurt. That's supposed to be beliveable??
4) The monologue by Coyote about how progress isn't a bad thing to Mother Earth its just different. It was such a stupid naive unnecessary speech that I almost stopped reading there and then.

I hope this book isn't marking the beginning of the end of the Mercy Thompson series because if this book is an example of things to come, I'll stick to re-reading the previous books in the series.

First off, I love this series and the spin off series Alpha and Omega. However, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others.

It was kind of pricey too. I get why the hardcovers are so pricey but $12.99 for the Kindle version just seems like a lot.

I love the Mercy Thompson series and have looked forward to each book, but I have to say this installment fell short. The title refers to an ancient evil monster that Mercy doesn't even learn about until more than halfway through the book. So, what happened in that first half? Not a whole lot, as it turns out.

The first half is almost a house-keeping exercise. We haven't seen Stefan since the devastating events of Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson). So, Mercy visits him only to learn that he, and consequently his menagerie, are wasting away in apathy; he needs a friend to shake him out of it. Then we have Adam and Mercy's long delayed wedding and honeymoon. Readers get cameos from just about everyone important to Mercy. It's not to say I didn't enjoy reading the first half (especially the wedding) - I love the characters and even their mundane activities kept me turning the pages. But, as far as plot goes, this book felt like a short story stretched unnecessarily into a novel. There was a lot of incredibly detailed, and I think unnecessary, description in the story. It felt like every character and setting introduced was described down to the smallest stitch of clothing.

The second half was an exciting read. Readers get more information on Mercy's heritage, the return of Coyote and his contemporaries (Hawk, Wolf, etc.), a great battle and more world-building. The book also had a lot of the humor that makes Mercy so much fun to read - she's not kicking a$$, she's winning through courage and cunning, with a lot of help from friends. Overall, fans will no doubt enjoy this but I'm not sure it's worth the price of a hardcover. Here's hoping the next book gives these wonderful characters, and readers, a more complex plot to chew on.

I was able to put this book down several times. In fact, I started to look at finishing it as a chore. I am glad that Ms. Briggs will only be writing one book a year, I can only assume this one suffered from being written too quickly. It was almost as if someone else wrote it, since all the characters we have grown to love are suddenly out of the picture.

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I really liked River Marked. While I'm really enjoying the series as a whole, I'm definitely enjoying some of the books more than others. River Marked was great because it felt almost like a fresh start to the series. Considering it's the sixth in the series, that would make since.

So Adam and Mercy get hitched. This was great, but it really gives us small step back from action packed, preternatural creature crazyness. While I love this about the books, I always love the romance aspect and what is more romantic than a wedding? Even an improtu wedding?

But no worries, the action isn't missing for long. While on their honeymoon, Adam and Mercy have their share of action...double meaning. ;) But what I loved the most about this book is that they get into trouble together. Gone is the story where Mercy finds her self in a bind and needs saving or is on her own to save others. They are in it together.

I really look forward to the rest of the series now that Adam and Mercy are a team. I think they've been a team for a while, but River Marked really made that feel real. Second favorite book in the series for me.

River Marked (2011) is the sixth urban Fantasy novel in the Mercy Thompson series, following Silver Borne. The initial volume in this sequence is Moon Called.

In the previous volume, Mercy was working on the engine of Sylvia's car. Gabriel had been working on it until it stops running. Now he was afraid that he had done something wrong.

Mercy decided that the engine need the attention of Zee. She lent Gabriel the VW Beetle that she was rebuilding. It ran, but the steering wheel came off if the driver was not careful.

Gabriel was reluctant to take her project car, but his mother needed a ride in the next few minutes. Gabriel got Mercy to allow his sisters to clean the garage before he went to pick up his mother.

As Mercy was closing the garage, Tad called with a question. Last night he had an odd phone call from Phineas. He wondered if Phin had left something with her. Mercy sensed that Tad was a little worried about Phineas.

In this novel, Mercedes Athena 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 next door to Adam.

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. He is now her mate and a member of the pack.

Margaret Thompson is Mercy's mother. Mercy inherited her walker genes from her deceased father, but her perseverance comes from her mother. Margi is now married to a dentist, who is a very understanding person.

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.

Darryl is second in command of the local Werewolf pack. He really hates vampires.

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

BBran 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.

Marsilia is a vampire and the head of the local seethe. She was exiled to the New World a couple of centuries ago and wants to return to Milan.

Stefan is a vampire, but is not traditional. He drives a VW Vanagon painted like the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine. His menagerie has a low death rate and is loyal to him. He eases them into new vampires on a regular basis.

Naomi, Rachel and Ford are member of Stefan's menagerie. They are partially turned vampires.

In this story, fishermen are disappearing from the Columbia River between John Day and The Dalles dams. So are the fish.

Mercy pays a visit to Stefan's mansion. She finds only four members of the menagerie and they are looking bad. Rachel is looking a little better than the others.

Rachel says that Marsilia had broken Naomi. Stefan had left Marsilia, but then Naomi had died. That had broken driven Stefan into depression.

Stefan himself is emaciated. He has been brooding since Naomi died. He doesn't want to recruit any others into the menagerie, but they will all die if he doesn't.

Mercy gives Stefan a firm talk on his responsibilities. Stefan is the only vampire she knows that will listen to such a speech. Mercy donates some blood to Stefan and he shares with the menagerie.

Mercy was on her way to Bad Movie Night at Kyle's house. When she doesn't get there on time, Darryl calls her cellphone to ask what is keeping her. Mercy manages to suppress his -- and Adam's -- overprotective instincts.

Mercy takes Stefan with her to the Bad Movie Night. They talk about Margi's plans for the weddings. Stefan cracks up on the notion of releasing thousands of butterflies

Warren picks Shadows of the Vampire. As they watch the film, they talk about Max Schreck. Warren says that he was a very scary vampire in real life.

After the movie, Warren decides that they have time for another. While Kyle and Mercy are looking for the next film, Warren takes Stefan to the kitchen. Mercy and Kyle both know that Warren is feeding Stefan.

Later, Mercy and Jesse pick up Adam at the airport. Adam asks what she is doing to stir up Darryl. Mercy tells him about Stefan. She also convinces Adam to call Stefan and encourage him to add a few more to his menagerie.

Then she tells Adam about her mother's plans for their wedding. She convinces him to get married right away. The minister has a few other ceremonies, so they get married two days later.

When she reaches the church, everybody that had invited to the big wedding was already there. It had been a setup. People were betting on how long it would take her to break.

So Mercy weds Adam and they go on their honeymoon. Adam's truck is hauling a huge trailer lent to them by Uncle Mike. They are camping out in a private park near the Columbia River between John Day and The Dalles dams.

This tale puts the honeymoon couple into the middle of an undeclared conflict between the fae and humans. They find a terrified fisherman in his boat under some trees. His sister has been taken by a monster.

Uncle Mike wants them to find some otterkin fae who had been in the area, but are now gone. These otterkin have been observing Adam and Mercy from the river. Then Mercy finds kinfolk in the area.

Mercy and Adam have an interrupted honeymoon. The next installment in this sequence is Frost Burned.

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

-Arthur W. Jordin

You could start with this book (and catch up with all characters when they get back into the story).

Yes, it starts out with a lot of station-keeping, but fully engaging without starting in immediately with violence and mystery. I respect a writer who can pull that off. This is also book six and we see many elements continuing to be developed from the very first book. There's some rarely crafted writing here. There's some serious development of Mercy's back story and a well-crafted expansion of mythology that rings true to me. Climax? No spoilers, but you can hear her friends going "Tell me you didn't do that!". Mercy seems to always be breaking the rules in her world and she seems to delight in breaking them--in this book we begin to finally understand what makes Mercy tick. And why she is center of it all.

Patricia Briggs also has Mercy repeat that she only has the one tattoo and will never get another--covers could be more accurate!

As much as I enjoy the MERCY THOMPSON series, the last few books have been rather dark, although I understand that Briggs is staying true to her character, as a reader I've been wanting the old Mercy back. In the opening chapters Thompson cracks a joke about that-horrible-thing-that-happened-to-her which I took as a good sign, this is also the quasi-essential "vacation" installment--another clear indication that the heroine is finally ready to move. It's worth mentioning that this is the first time I've listened to one of these novels in audio, and Lorelei King's narration was also a big factor in lightening up the story line. RIVER MARKED is all around entertaining with great Mercy/Adam moments, a formidable big bad to defeat, and Coyote the trickster god wreaking havoc on all fronts.

Vacations never go as planned in Urban Fantasy, if anything, they usually blow-up spectacularly which is exactly what happens in this book, only instead of explosions its otter kin and a river devil, but we'll get to that. Luckily there's a bit of calm before the storm. Mercy and Adam finally seem to have accepted their bond; I liked how lovey-dovey they were to each other in this installment, and I absolutely adored how Briggs gives them a mini-HEA before the Columbia River tries to eat them. There's also a goodbye letter from Mercy to Adam in case their plan fails and she dies which Briggs cruelly reveals at the very end, and it will make you bawl your freaking eyes out. It's beautiful and sad, and I want to listen to it again.

RIVER MARKED is the first novel that actually revolves solely around Mercy's heritage which I loved. We learn more about her Native American roots including info about her deceased father, what she really is, and how Coyote fits into the mix. There's also some interesting mythology surrounding the river devil; my favourite was the real reason a beaver's tail is flat. According to the lore, after eating a bunch of people the monster was defeated from the inside, and when the beaver escaped through the creature's butthole his tail got smushed. Seeing how this rodent is practically Canada's mascot, I couldn't help but giggle at this.

I rarely switch back-and-forth between reading and listening to a series because typically I prefer to pick a format and stick with it. So I really didn't know what to expect from this audio when I jumped-in at book 6, but when I found out that Lorelei King was the narrator, I knew that it just had to be good. Listening to Mercy is very different than reading her, however I enjoyed the bubbly tone that King brings to Thompson's POV. Her delivery helped draw attention this installment's lighter tone, and gave me a whole new appreciation of how sarcastic one of my favourite heroines truly is. Although, in my opinion, her narration may have been a little too happy-go-lucky for this protagonist; I'm going to listen to FROST BURNED as well before I pass judgment.

RIVER MARKED is the ray of sunshine that this series needed with borderline epic action scenes, and enough mushy moments to make readers fall even further in love with the Mercy / Adam duo.

First, let me say that I'm a Mercy Thompson fan. She's one of my favorite heroines and Briggs is one of my favorite writers. There's a divide in the fan base on this one. This is either your favorite Mercy or you think something felt a little, well, off.

I'm in the latter camp. Don't get me wrong, picked it up and read it straight through, but measuring Mercy against Mercy, River Marked had a palatable aura of change to it. There were some interesting non-paragraph breaks in this book that were out of character and therefore stood out as well. You can almost split this book into to parts; before the monster appears and after. On to River Marked.

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has finally nailed down her werewolf Alpha Adam Hauptman, or should I say he finally nailed her down. Mercy was the one heading to the altar with lukewarm feet. Not because she doesn't love Adam, and certainly not because he isn't worth it, but because she's always felt a little bit outside of things and being this included sends the hairs on her neck rising. Mercy Thompson is independent, strong, and having grown up in a pack, knows exactly how possessive and dictatorial things can get.

In River Marked she makes it down the aisle. We get snippets of the ceremony in flashbacks while she and Adam are on their honeymoon in the Columbia River Valley, as isolated from the chaos that is their lives as they can get. But Mercy being Mercy, the tranquility doesn't last for long. She has a vision of her dead father, a character we knew existed - he's the one that she inherited her coyote from - but so far in this series we hadn't met.

Until now. The first part of this book was all about Mercy and Adam, and yet I still got a sense of distance between the two characters. That disappears after an ancient River fae starts killing innocents and Mercy and Adam jump into action. These two simply are not meant to be on vacation. As an Alpha, Adam makes a pretty good sidekick. This leads us into the second half of the book, the typical Mercy story we all love.

Protecting people on the Columbia River leads Mercy on a journey into her past and the past of her father's people. That's what I loved about this book. We're well into a series and we're still learning who this character is and why. So is she, and that's part of what makes Mercy so darned interesting.

River Marked is the 6th in the Mercy Thompson series, an urban fantasy that takes place in the Pacific Northwest (mostly). And the first of the series that I read. As you might imagine, it was a pretty straightforward story, so I'll break my review down for simplicity:

The Good
Mercy's voice was snarky without being annoying, and I appreciate the Coyote personality traits she has.
There was a nice amount of exposition for a first-time-reader like myself, without the story getting bogged down in it.
The dynamic between Mercy and Adam felt natural and nicely balanced.
It takes place on the Columbia River, and there were references to areas of Eastern WA that I got a kick out of.

And Not So Much
Patricia Briggs doesn't believe in contractions. All of the dialogue felt stilted and forced, and it was borderline racist that no Native American character ever used a contraction in conversation, despite the fact that they're speaking English in 2010. Listening to the audiobook, this drove me nuts.
Speaking of listening, the narrator kept squeezing her voice into a girlish flatness at the end of her sentences- it was super distracting and annoying. Open your throat, Lorelei, and speak like a narrator.
Honestly, while some parts were fun, I didn't feel invested in any individual character, and the life-and-death stakes fell flat because of it. Kind of trope-ish, really.
All the potential emotional impact was basically undone at the end. I'm not a huge fan of wrapped-up-happy-endings.

Overall, it wasn't by cup of tea. But if you're in the mood for some light reading urban fantasy, then starting with Book 1 in the series might be a nice way to get there.

If up until this point you were unsure whether Mercy Thompson was a series that was worth continuing, your doubts are completely obliterated and forgotten with River Marked. Easily the best book of the series so far. I could not believe Patricia Briggs was hiding this from us for so long. The skill at which the story is told is amazing and the understanding it gives us into Mercy’s background is everything one could want and more.

River Marked opens with a surprise wedding, followed by Adam and Mercy taking a trip out of town to a campgrounds Adam’s company completed work on. Things are fun and we see Adam and Mercy as we’ve never seen them before, comfortable and at ease with one another. They’re playful and finally at the point in their relationship that they understand one another and trust each other. So, of course something has to come along to rock the boat, so to speak.

When alone in the woods near the campground, Mercy has a vision of an Amerind (American Indian) man performing some sort of ritualistic dance. She recognises the man as her father, but is confused as the vision does not feel like a ghost. It would be great if that were the only thing she had to worry about during her trip there, but after a brief jump to conclusion between Adam and Mercy and a late night coyote/wolf run, they happen upon a boat with a cowering man terrified beyond belief. Mercy jumps in to help him, and is attacked by a mysterious unseen creature. The only fauna she can see in the area is a group of otters suspiciously swimming about the area.

This small act of kindness opens the door to learning about her background, about her father, and about her coyote abilities. This is where the story excels. Patricia Briggs does an amazing job bringing to life Amerind stories* and characters. Mercy’s background reveal was expertly done, as it could have easily pushed on-the-fence readers towards the wayside had it been crafted tactlessly. I am really hesitant to say anymore because it was seriously such a great read, I don’t want to ruin it for readers that have not yet given it a glance.

If you’ve been reading the series thus far, THIS is the book that will make everything you’ve read so far worth it. Just the absolute best Patricia Briggs has to offer and a definite must read.

*I am not an Amerind, and as such I cannot speak with any such authority as to the veracity of the stories only to say that within the context of the series and with the little bit of knowledge I do have regarding certain Amerind spirituality, it seemed well done and believable.

This is probably one of my favorites of the series.
Mercy and Adam finally get married AND manage a vacation!
Except..where ever they go there is always trouble. Especially when Uncle Mike suggest a nice place to honeymoon.
Not only are they put on Fae business, but also Native American business. Mercy must join forces with other "walkers" (its a joke) and First People to battle a lake monster.
In the process she meets/doesn't meet and learn more about her Father Old Joe Coyote. A new world is opened up to Mercy when the First People and her past are revealed to her.

I've recently reread all the previous books in both the Mercy Thompson and the Alpha & Omega series and I've loved them all as much, if not more, than the first time I read them. I can't tell you how much I love the world that Patricia Briggs has created and it's been like taking the time to catch up with old friends. As much as I've enjoyed rereading the earlier books I was excited to get to River Marked though, I never got this far when I read the series for the first time so I was looking forward to that exciting first read where everything is new to you and I have to say the author didn't let me down and this is another fab instalment in the series.

I have loved watching Mercy and Adam's relationship grow throughout the series, I just love the way Adam totally gets Mercy and has never once tried to change anything about her. She might drive him crazy with the way she always manages to get into trouble because his instincts are to protect her and keep her safe but he understands her need to take care of the people she loves and he supports her in that which is something I really respect him for. He's also been so incredibly patient and supportive of her as she recovers from the ordeal she went through in Iron Kissed, it's not something she'll ever completely forget but she has come a long way down the road to recovery and that is in part because of Adam. Anyway, I don't want to say too much about what happens between them in this book but I will tell you that the first few chapters were so good that I had tears of happiness in my eyes as I read them. In fact, they were so good that I had to reread them before I could continue with the rest of the book! It's absolutely fantastic to look back at how far they've come as a couple but I also loved seeing Mercy realise how many other people love and care for her. She's always felt like she was alone and didn't quite fit in anywhere so it's wonderful to see her look at her friends in a new light.

A lot of this book is spent with Mercy and Adam away from their home and I have to admit that I did miss spending time with the side characters I've grown to love. It wasn't quite the same without Samuel, Warren and Kyle or even Zee and Stephan but we do get to meet some interesting new characters and we get to find out more about Mercy's Walker heritage which I really enjoyed. There is one new character in particular that I really hope we're going to end up seeing a lot more of as the series continues - he has the potential to become a new favourite! As much as I missed the other characters I did really appreciate getting to spend more time with Mercy and Adam, seeing them grow more comfortable as a couple and start to really figure out how to communicate properly, in fact just seeing how much they mean to each other was brilliant.

Only Mercy could go on holiday to the middle of nowhere and find herself facing an enemy that not even Adam can help her with so of course it's not long before she's up to her eyes in trouble. She may have found some new allies but she's got to face this one alone to a certain extent and it's not going to be an easy task. There are some brilliant fight scenes towards the end of the book and what turns out to be quite an epic battle which had me on the edge of my seat. River Marked had a slightly different feel to it compared to the previous books but it made a nice change and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When a Coyote goes on a honeymoon what can you expect besides trouble? And, dare I say it, right here in River City. (I apologize)

This story takes place down on the Columbia River somewhere on the Washington side of Biggs, Oregon. Mercy, a shape shifter to coyote, also sees ghosts, and of course, trouble.

On her honeymoon with Adam, at a camping site closed to all but them, they start off rescuing a man who is terrified, and has had his foot chewed off by a river monster. His sister was killed, but comes to Mercy with information.

The fey are involved, Coyote is involved, and the replication of Stonehenge at Maryhill Museum plays a role.

Mercy Thompson Hauptmann does have her honeymoon with the man she loves more than life, but Coyote blesses it, and that's never good.

OMG!!! I loved this book! I know, I say that with all of the Mercy Thompson books but they just keep getting better and better. As usual, my badass Mercy (yes - Mercy and I are SOOO BFF's) is in all kinds of s*** hitting the fan shenanigans. But, of course, my girl conjures up all her ass kicking magic mojo to protect her and hers.

HURRAY!!! Adam and Mercy FINALLY get married!!! They're on their honeymoon and SOOO adorable. I also so loved how Mercy got to meet her father (kind of, sort of) and that it appears as though he may stick around (goodie - he seems SOOO interesting). We get to see more glimpses of Mercy's childhood as well as how her mom and dad got together.

As usual, can't wait to read the next one.

4.5 rating. River Marked is the sixth novel in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Despite mixed reviews it was perhaps one of my favorite in this urban fantasy series. Unlike its predecessors most of the action takes place in the second half of the novel. Briggs brings us more of Mercy's story and a captivating look at Indian lore. I consumed this in a single afternoon and loved every minute of it.

In this novel Mercy and her mate the yummy alpha male Adam are camping off the Columbia river, when they stumble upon a man injured on a boat. They soon find themselves dealing with a creature capable of living in this world and the next. They quickly discover it is feeding off humans and Mercy may be the only one to stop it.

What I loved about this particular novel was the character growth we see in Mercy. She has always guarded her heart, never allowing herself to get to close. Here she completely opens up to Adam. She accepts him as her mate and realizes the benefits of their bond and those of the pack. She acts as a mother figure for Adam's daughter and seems to be more at peace. It was awesome to see Mercy rationalize things, to take a moment to figure out why Adam reacted to something. Previously she would react or shut down. To see her trust in him completely was refreshing. When faced with death, she is ready. She prepares letters to those she loves. The most difficult was Adam's. I loved that at the end of the novel Brigg's shared that letter with us. We get to see the softer side of Mercy. The one we all knew was there, under her kick-ass, never care attitude.

The battle they faced was intense. The last part of the book, had me turning the pages, and at times going back to make sure I completely understood what was happening. Through a ghost Mercy gains a better understanding of her father. We do not see all of the characters. Sam is absent, as well as most of the pack. This tale was really all about Mercy and Adam. I think that is one of the reasons I loved it so much. We have waited years to see these two sort things out and get together. To finally see them working as a team and gaining a more intimate knowledge of each other was delightful. Seeing Adam smile and goof off and hold hands was smokin' hot.

I have been a long time fan of this series but since I own all of the books in paperback, I waiting to read this one until it came out in paperback as well. The first sixty or so pages in this book were really slow and I am not sure that I really understand how life just picked so easily after the end of the last books. I can get over that, but there was such a slow start that I almost put the book down.

We pick up as Mercy and Adam decide that they are just going to elope but find out that Mercy's mom has planed a surprise wedding for them. Adam sweeps Mercy out of the reception and off they go in a huge RV. They head to the Columbia River where strange things start happening. First, Mercy finds out that the Fae lent them the RV and that makes Mercy angry because they always want something in return or to make a bargain. Adam quickly realizes that there is something more going on and that is why the Fae ensured that they would be there when it did. From there the action finally picks up

We do get to learn more about Mercy's background which is something that we have not gotten a good feel for in the past. As well as, the way that Mercy and Adam will handle their relationship. It gets touchy sometimes but the future is a little bit clearer. I think what was missing for me is so many of the other characters I have come to love. This book was really about Adam and Mercy and other make appearances but never for long.

I was a bit disappointed in the slow start and overall series progression of this book. It felt like a bit of filler for me. I am hoping the next book will pick up and be a stronger reflection of the things that I have come to love about Patricia Brigg's writing and style. Even though I did not enjoy this as much as previous books in the series, I will for sure pick up the next one.

So Mercy & Adam finally make it official, off for some well deserved time alone...except for the....well, I cannot spoil it! As all Patricia Briggs' novels, this is very well written with wonderful characters and great story line. Her characters are strong, well developed and easy to keep straight. That is very important! I so love how PB allows her Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series' to run together yet not loose the things that make each series individual. While this is not my first time reading this book and it will not be the last time I read it - I have enjoyed the re-read almost as much as the first time I read it. This could pretty well be said for both of series.

If you want to know what married life is like for Mercy and Adam, River Marked definitely has you covered. Patricia Briggs' latest effort kicks off with a shot gun wedding. We follow Adam and Mercy for a majority of their honeymoon, which was for the most part was uneventful. When the story does pick up, Mercy will take on a journey to discover her heritage and meet her father along the way. A reconnection to her past and ancestry will help her to battle an ancient evil.

While we get some great insights into the evolving relationship between Adam and Mercy, and I love seeing them work through their emerging problems, and how the alpha persona and wolf pack complicates things. Their relationship takes on a new richness, but the overall book seems disjointed. One part is this great in depth look at our love birds then there is the actual story. I felt like the story was tacked on, and not really developed fully. The book was a typical 336 pages but the real story line didn't seem to start until halfway into the book. The beginning started with Stefan and his human stable, and you would think that the storyline is going to follow along those lines then that resolves rather easily and we move on to family issues, nuptials, and the honeymoon. Sometime after we settle into marital bliss and after a few bread crumbs here there that hint at the bigger picture to develop, we actual get into plot. But it seemed very short. I think if Briggs had integrated the plot earlier in the story it would've blended into the usual standard we have come to have expected. Even the little bits introduced during the start of the honeymoon were too little and too far between. Though I loved the stuff with Jess and Mercy's family, and wedding I think the overall story should have been threaded within or in between the stuff with Stefan, and her wedding.

Overall River Marked has some great background on our favorite were-coyote couple. The actual story is good, just a little to short seeming, better integration from the start of the book would have the whole thing gel better and read like one book instead of two stories. The background on Mercy's father was great too. This is a must read for Mercy fans.

This is book 6 in the Mercy Thompson series. Therefore there are MAJOR SPOILERS in this review for the series. You have been warned.

Mercy is no stranger to trouble. It seems to follow her everywhere she goes. Even, on her honeymoon. After barely surviving some serious fae magic, Mercy & Adam, the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Werewolf Pack, decide that it is time to take the next step in their long-awaited romance & get engaged. Mercy is in the midst of wedding planning, with everything really starting to get to her when Jesse, Adam's underestimated teenage daughter, innocently suggests that they get hitched early. After this "elopement," the happy couple decide to camp in a newly established, but not yet open to the public, campground to test it out for the fae owner.

Of course nothing could be that simple in a world where vampires love Scooby Doo motifs & fae can be mechanics. On the very first day they notice that something is different. Mercy sees her father's ghost dancing on their campground & they save a terrified man from the "monster" he has been injured by & is currently hiding from. It turns out that this man is not the only to fall victim to the river. Something is stalking & killing people with no real pattern. The police are stumped & the Native Americans aren't really talking. Striking a cord with the newlyweds, they embark on a turbulent journey filled with revelations about local Native American powers, what one will really do for life& love, & how much of who you are is determined by your family.

I love this series so much! Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman has to be one of my all-time favorite characters. Between her demeanor, her sass, her humor, & her complete dedication (to a number of things) she just rocks my world!

All that being said, I must admit that this is definitely not one of my favorite books in this series. This being the sixth book, I honestly felt like it was a filler story. There was very little personal action taking place to move the story forward, but at the same time the action wasn't directly related to the characters' actions. This time the trouble came looking for them & they did something about it. It was engineered action that felt kind of forced, although it allowed the reader to gain a deeper appreciation & understanding of Mercy's family history & why she is what she is.

The writing was definitely on par for what you expect in a Mercy novel (witty, pointed, & metered). There was a bit of disappointment, this being a honeymoon and all, that the romance was almost non-existent. It practically pulled a Breaking Dawn on the reader. Granted, there has been a lot of romance between these two characters in some novels (enough to make even a married woman blush) & that I did appreciate it being toned down. I guess it's just a balancing act.

Overall, as always, a fun, light read. P.S. The best part about these books are that they are stand alone novels. You don't necessary have to have read the others to understand what is going on in this one. All the background is provided. I highly recommend Bone Crossed. It remains my favorite of the series.

4.5 stars
Reviewed by ANN & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Even after five books, Briggs is able to keep the Mercy Thompson world fresh. ~ Under the Covers

Even after five books, Briggs is able to keep the Mercy Thompson world fresh. I found that this book was very different from the others. It's set in an entirely different place. No garage here, even though I kind of missed that. The Pack is set on the sidelines, while Mercy and Adam take centre stage and new characters are introduced. The newbies are very interesting because they are the first Native Americans we've encountered in this series apart from Mercy. River-Markedexplores Mercy's Native half and it was a natural change in the course of her life.

But things happen in Mercy's life that make change inevitable. I thought that as Mercy entered a new phase in her life, her friends were also dealing with changes in theirs. Some are tragic like Stefan who is having trouble dealing with Marsilia's betrayal while others are more trivial like Jesse trying to figure out ways to outsmart Darryl and let her go out on a date with Gabriel.

While the very beginning and the very end caught my attention, I thought it was a bit slow somewhere in the middle. All the Native stories were getting confusing after awhile. Also, Samuel is not in this one at all! There's a brief mention of him, but I would have liked to read more about him. Certainly he hasn't just dropped out of Mercy's life after all that they've been through, no matter that Mercy is married to Adam now.

But my favourite part of the book has to be the letter Mercy wrote for Adam at the very end. It broke my heart! Mercy isn't fond of expressing her feelings in words, so the fact that she took the time to sit down and do this makes it even more special. I just adore Adam and Mercy together. They're so perfect!

I don't rate books by a number system, but if I did, I would rarely assign a 5 out of 5 star. A great book for me is usually a 4, a good book is a 3. River Marked would be a five-star book for me, which I might only find a handful or less of a year.

I loved every moment of it, and I can't wait to go back and read it again. The book had it all, romance, excitement, a crazy twist, Ancient gods, Native American culture and mythology, all capped off with brilliant writing. My husband just watched me laughing and crying while I read it and shook his head.

I know some people are uncomfortable with change, and this book marks a major change, as Mercy and Adam make a commitment to each other and then leave town together. Their Honeymoon leads them right into an ancient evil that is preying on the people near the Columbia river. This incredibly frightening creature has the ability to do unspeakable damage extending outwards, and it will literally take mythological heroes to bring it to an end. Luckily, Mercy and Adam just ran into some.

For those who have wanted more Adam and Mercy time, they get it. Some people may miss the time away from the cast of characters that usually create the conflict, Adam's and now Mercy's Pack, his daughter, her friends, Stefan. I will look forward to spending more time with them in the next book but this book was about several things.

* How would Mercy handle being married to an Alpha? (which unsurprisingly had its issues)

* How would Mercy handle finally knowing about her father and her heritage (and it was mind blowing...just the greatest twist ever),

* how would Mercy and Adam overcome and defeat a foe so evil it could take over the world

* Would they survive their honeymoon?

I went to college for two years in near Spokane and I knew exactly where she was talking about, which made it even more satisfying as I knew the terrain. There is a scene so damn amazing, I just have to take my hat off to Ms. Briggs and I can't describe the scene without giving spoilers which kills me, but in the middle it has this line at the end of a chapter.

`And he knocked me into the river.'

I died. I had to put the book down because I was just laughing so hard and shaking my head, it was such a brilliant twist.

Anyone who read it please comment if you loved it too. The next chapter was just brilliant, scary, funny, maddening, and horrifying. Having a trickster God on your side can have its disadvantages.

Briggs is such a deft hand at not over blowing the action. Some authors can't help but make everything a cartoon, in Brigg's books you think, IF this was real, it would be like this. It is almost hyperrealism in fantasy. There is a great sacrifice near the end, one that literally had tears in my eyes.

The last few pages put a smile right back on my face. Seriously, if you only buy a couple books a year and your thinking, well its hardback, I can't afford it, do not let that stop you. This is easily, hands down, one of the best, most exciting and satisfying Urban Fantasy books I've ever read and it is easily my favorite of the series, despite the fact that so little time was spent with all the other characters I've grown to love. It proved just how strong and well written Mercy and Adam are, that they can carry an entire book, with a little help from Coyote, who I am totally obsessed with now.

Purchased in my local book store.

I haven't written any reviews of any of Patricia Briggs's books, but I have decided that any book I read gets a review now. I have all of the Mercy Thompson series and let's just say that her books are the reason I am reading as much as I am. I picked up the first one while I was pregnant with my son and then searched high and low for all the rest. I am a book behind, but happy to have finally found time to read this one.

This book starts off with Mercy Thompson and Adam Hauptman finally getting married. After reading about the mutual dislike (i.e. complete infatuation) of each other for five books, it was about time the two finally had a happy ending. Of course that isn't really the case since the wedding was at the beginning of the book. Instead this book focuses on the honeymoon. Now before you go thinking that it will be full of hot steamy scenes, Patricia Briggs doesn't write like that. There's enough for your imagination to get started. Their honeymoon has been arranged by a couple of friends who just happen to be Fae. If you have read any of the other books, you know that the Fae never do anything for free. This is a very odd situation, but it brings Mercy to her "father". She sees his ghost and learns all about her creation. It's something she has always dreamed of discovering. She learns a lot more than that though! She finds herself fighting for her life against an ancient evil. I am not going to tell you about this battle, because you should read it for yourself.

The sixth in the series and by far the worse. Was it terrible compared to other mysteries out there - no, but compared to the other Mercy novels - yes. I love Mercy's character, she is the most likable heroine I have yet to come across. I also love Patricia Briggs, even though I am use to a more spicy fare I like that Briggs is able to write a good story minus sex and hard core violence - its says something about her story telling skills.

That being said ...this installment however was pretty boring comparatively. It was ok, and that's why I gave it 3 stars.

It follows Mercy thru her wedding to Adam (which honestly is of little interest to me) and then on to her honeymoon. I waded thru the wedding hoopla because I thought once I got a few chapters in the mystery would start. Sadly the mystery took awhile.

The moral of the story is Mercy and Adam head to the Colombia river to camp for ten days. Adam makes the huge mistake of borrowing a trailer from a Fae named Big Mike. If you follow the Mercy series you would know that anything to do with the Fae causes problems. That proves once more to be true when Mercy is attacked in the River while trying to save a traumatized and wounded man.

First, the River...It just happens to have a monster living in it. A river monster that the Native Americans have been aware for decades upon decades. The monster loves human flesh and does a good job eating humans alive. It also has a knack for marking them as slaves to which the "river marked" bring more people to be eat. Second...to top this off you also have some Fea who look like otters and live in the river doing the River Monsters evil bidding, sound odd yet? 3rd...the better part of the story involves Mercy and her roots. She is half Native American and never knew her Native American father who died right before she was born. This half of her has always been sort of a enigma; its also the half of her that gives her the ability to shape sift into a coyote. Speaking of which, WARNING SPOILER, turns out her Dad is not really dead at all...turns out her Dad is the mystical Native American being Coyote. That was pretty cool.

Anyway, some of the book is spent exploring her past and how she came to be, that part is interesting and a nice twist. The mystery behind the river monster was a bit corny and ho-hum. Examples: it looks like a large cobra with the face of angry cat, the river-Fea-otter-things travel to Wal-Mart to attack Mercy in a dressing room, one of the "river marked" Native American guys shoots Adam almost killing him and then its like it never happened??? Also her relationship with Adam is very awkward, their dialoged was off. I had to go back and re-read some of it because it did not make a whole lot of sense. Also, this is their honeymoon, so as far as honeymoons go I'd say it was a disaster.

The only reason anyone gave this 4 or 5 stars is because they are a diehard fans...period.

First, let me say that I'm a Mercy Thompson fan. She's one of my favorite heroines and Briggs is one of my favorite writers. There's a divide in the fan base on this one. This is either your favorite Mercy or you think something felt a little, well, off.

I'm in the latter camp. Don't get me wrong, picked it up and read it straight through, but measuring Mercy against Mercy, River Marked had a palatable aura of change to it. There were some interesting non-paragraph breaks in this book that were out of character and therefore stood out as well. You can almost split this book into to parts; before the monster appears and after. On to River Marked.

Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has finally nailed down her werewolf Alpha Adam Hauptman, or should I say he finally nailed her down. Mercy was the one heading to the altar with lukewarm feet. Not because she doesn't love Adam, and certainly not because he isn't worth it, but because she's always felt a little bit outside of things and being this included sends the hairs on her neck rising. Mercy Thompson is independent, strong, and having grown up in a pack, knows exactly how possessive and dictatorial things can get.

In River Marked she makes it down the aisle. We get snippets of the ceremony in flashbacks while she and Adam are on their honeymoon in the Columbia River Valley, as isolated from the chaos that is their lives as they can get. But Mercy being Mercy, the tranquility doesn't last for long. She has a vision of her dead father, a character we knew existed - he's the one that she inherited her coyote from - but so far in this series we hadn't met.

Until now. The first part of this book was all about Mercy and Adam, and yet I still got a sense of distance between the two characters. That disappears after an ancient River fae starts killing innocents and Mercy and Adam jump into action. These two simply are not meant to be on vacation. As an Alpha, Adam makes a pretty good sidekick. This leads us into the second half of the book, the typical Mercy story we all love.

Protecting people on the Columbia River leads Mercy on a journey into her past and the past of her father's people. That's what I loved about this book. We're well into a series and we're still learning who this character is and why. So is she, and that's part of what makes Mercy so darned interesting.

River Marked is the 6th in the Mercy Thompson series, an urban fantasy that takes place in the Pacific Northwest (mostly). And the first of the series that I read. As you might imagine, it was a pretty straightforward story, so I'll break my review down for simplicity:

The Good
Mercy's voice was snarky without being annoying, and I appreciate the Coyote personality traits she has.
There was a nice amount of exposition for a first-time-reader like myself, without the story getting bogged down in it.
The dynamic between Mercy and Adam felt natural and nicely balanced.
It takes place on the Columbia River, and there were references to areas of Eastern WA that I got a kick out of.

And Not So Much
Patricia Briggs doesn't believe in contractions. All of the dialogue felt stilted and forced, and it was borderline racist that no Native American character ever used a contraction in conversation, despite the fact that they're speaking English in 2010. Listening to the audiobook, this drove me nuts.
Speaking of listening, the narrator kept squeezing her voice into a girlish flatness at the end of her sentences- it was super distracting and annoying. Open your throat, Lorelei, and speak like a narrator.
Honestly, while some parts were fun, I didn't feel invested in any individual character, and the life-and-death stakes fell flat because of it. Kind of trope-ish, really.
All the potential emotional impact was basically undone at the end. I'm not a huge fan of wrapped-up-happy-endings.

Overall, it wasn't by cup of tea. But if you're in the mood for some light reading urban fantasy, then starting with Book 1 in the series might be a nice way to get there.

If up until this point you were unsure whether Mercy Thompson was a series that was worth continuing, your doubts are completely obliterated and forgotten with River Marked. Easily the best book of the series so far. I could not believe Patricia Briggs was hiding this from us for so long. The skill at which the story is told is amazing and the understanding it gives us into Mercy’s background is everything one could want and more.

River Marked opens with a surprise wedding, followed by Adam and Mercy taking a trip out of town to a campgrounds Adam’s company completed work on. Things are fun and we see Adam and Mercy as we’ve never seen them before, comfortable and at ease with one another. They’re playful and finally at the point in their relationship that they understand one another and trust each other. So, of course something has to come along to rock the boat, so to speak.

When alone in the woods near the campground, Mercy has a vision of an Amerind (American Indian) man performing some sort of ritualistic dance. She recognises the man as her father, but is confused as the vision does not feel like a ghost. It would be great if that were the only thing she had to worry about during her trip there, but after a brief jump to conclusion between Adam and Mercy and a late night coyote/wolf run, they happen upon a boat with a cowering man terrified beyond belief. Mercy jumps in to help him, and is attacked by a mysterious unseen creature. The only fauna she can see in the area is a group of otters suspiciously swimming about the area.

This small act of kindness opens the door to learning about her background, about her father, and about her coyote abilities. This is where the story excels. Patricia Briggs does an amazing job bringing to life Amerind stories* and characters. Mercy’s background reveal was expertly done, as it could have easily pushed on-the-fence readers towards the wayside had it been crafted tactlessly. I am really hesitant to say anymore because it was seriously such a great read, I don’t want to ruin it for readers that have not yet given it a glance.

If you’ve been reading the series thus far, THIS is the book that will make everything you’ve read so far worth it. Just the absolute best Patricia Briggs has to offer and a definite must read.

*I am not an Amerind, and as such I cannot speak with any such authority as to the veracity of the stories only to say that within the context of the series and with the little bit of knowledge I do have regarding certain Amerind spirituality, it seemed well done and believable.

This is probably one of my favorites of the series.
Mercy and Adam finally get married AND manage a vacation!
Except..where ever they go there is always trouble. Especially when Uncle Mike suggest a nice place to honeymoon.
Not only are they put on Fae business, but also Native American business. Mercy must join forces with other "walkers" (its a joke) and First People to battle a lake monster.
In the process she meets/doesn't meet and learn more about her Father Old Joe Coyote. A new world is opened up to Mercy when the First People and her past are revealed to her.

I've recently reread all the previous books in both the Mercy Thompson and the Alpha & Omega series and I've loved them all as much, if not more, than the first time I read them. I can't tell you how much I love the world that Patricia Briggs has created and it's been like taking the time to catch up with old friends. As much as I've enjoyed rereading the earlier books I was excited to get to River Marked though, I never got this far when I read the series for the first time so I was looking forward to that exciting first read where everything is new to you and I have to say the author didn't let me down and this is another fab instalment in the series.

I have loved watching Mercy and Adam's relationship grow throughout the series, I just love the way Adam totally gets Mercy and has never once tried to change anything about her. She might drive him crazy with the way she always manages to get into trouble because his instincts are to protect her and keep her safe but he understands her need to take care of the people she loves and he supports her in that which is something I really respect him for. He's also been so incredibly patient and supportive of her as she recovers from the ordeal she went through in Iron Kissed, it's not something she'll ever completely forget but she has come a long way down the road to recovery and that is in part because of Adam. Anyway, I don't want to say too much about what happens between them in this book but I will tell you that the first few chapters were so good that I had tears of happiness in my eyes as I read them. In fact, they were so good that I had to reread them before I could continue with the rest of the book! It's absolutely fantastic to look back at how far they've come as a couple but I also loved seeing Mercy realise how many other people love and care for her. She's always felt like she was alone and didn't quite fit in anywhere so it's wonderful to see her look at her friends in a new light.

A lot of this book is spent with Mercy and Adam away from their home and I have to admit that I did miss spending time with the side characters I've grown to love. It wasn't quite the same without Samuel, Warren and Kyle or even Zee and Stephan but we do get to meet some interesting new characters and we get to find out more about Mercy's Walker heritage which I really enjoyed. There is one new character in particular that I really hope we're going to end up seeing a lot more of as the series continues - he has the potential to become a new favourite! As much as I missed the other characters I did really appreciate getting to spend more time with Mercy and Adam, seeing them grow more comfortable as a couple and start to really figure out how to communicate properly, in fact just seeing how much they mean to each other was brilliant.

Only Mercy could go on holiday to the middle of nowhere and find herself facing an enemy that not even Adam can help her with so of course it's not long before she's up to her eyes in trouble. She may have found some new allies but she's got to face this one alone to a certain extent and it's not going to be an easy task. There are some brilliant fight scenes towards the end of the book and what turns out to be quite an epic battle which had me on the edge of my seat. River Marked had a slightly different feel to it compared to the previous books but it made a nice change and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When a Coyote goes on a honeymoon what can you expect besides trouble? And, dare I say it, right here in River City. (I apologize)

This story takes place down on the Columbia River somewhere on the Washington side of Biggs, Oregon. Mercy, a shape shifter to coyote, also sees ghosts, and of course, trouble.

On her honeymoon with Adam, at a camping site closed to all but them, they start off rescuing a man who is terrified, and has had his foot chewed off by a river monster. His sister was killed, but comes to Mercy with information.

The fey are involved, Coyote is involved, and the replication of Stonehenge at Maryhill Museum plays a role.

Mercy Thompson Hauptmann does have her honeymoon with the man she loves more than life, but Coyote blesses it, and that's never good.

OMG!!! I loved this book! I know, I say that with all of the Mercy Thompson books but they just keep getting better and better. As usual, my badass Mercy (yes - Mercy and I are SOOO BFF's) is in all kinds of s*** hitting the fan shenanigans. But, of course, my girl conjures up all her ass kicking magic mojo to protect her and hers.

HURRAY!!! Adam and Mercy FINALLY get married!!! They're on their honeymoon and SOOO adorable. I also so loved how Mercy got to meet her father (kind of, sort of) and that it appears as though he may stick around (goodie - he seems SOOO interesting). We get to see more glimpses of Mercy's childhood as well as how her mom and dad got together.

As usual, can't wait to read the next one.

4.5 rating. River Marked is the sixth novel in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Despite mixed reviews it was perhaps one of my favorite in this urban fantasy series. Unlike its predecessors most of the action takes place in the second half of the novel. Briggs brings us more of Mercy's story and a captivating look at Indian lore. I consumed this in a single afternoon and loved every minute of it.

In this novel Mercy and her mate the yummy alpha male Adam are camping off the Columbia river, when they stumble upon a man injured on a boat. They soon find themselves dealing with a creature capable of living in this world and the next. They quickly discover it is feeding off humans and Mercy may be the only one to stop it.

What I loved about this particular novel was the character growth we see in Mercy. She has always guarded her heart, never allowing herself to get to close. Here she completely opens up to Adam. She accepts him as her mate and realizes the benefits of their bond and those of the pack. She acts as a mother figure for Adam's daughter and seems to be more at peace. It was awesome to see Mercy rationalize things, to take a moment to figure out why Adam reacted to something. Previously she would react or shut down. To see her trust in him completely was refreshing. When faced with death, she is ready. She prepares letters to those she loves. The most difficult was Adam's. I loved that at the end of the novel Brigg's shared that letter with us. We get to see the softer side of Mercy. The one we all knew was there, under her kick-ass, never care attitude.

The battle they faced was intense. The last part of the book, had me turning the pages, and at times going back to make sure I completely understood what was happening. Through a ghost Mercy gains a better understanding of her father. We do not see all of the characters. Sam is absent, as well as most of the pack. This tale was really all about Mercy and Adam. I think that is one of the reasons I loved it so much. We have waited years to see these two sort things out and get together. To finally see them working as a team and gaining a more intimate knowledge of each other was delightful. Seeing Adam smile and goof off and hold hands was smokin' hot.

I have been a long time fan of this series but since I own all of the books in paperback, I waiting to read this one until it came out in paperback as well. The first sixty or so pages in this book were really slow and I am not sure that I really understand how life just picked so easily after the end of the last books. I can get over that, but there was such a slow start that I almost put the book down.

We pick up as Mercy and Adam decide that they are just going to elope but find out that Mercy's mom has planed a surprise wedding for them. Adam sweeps Mercy out of the reception and off they go in a huge RV. They head to the Columbia River where strange things start happening. First, Mercy finds out that the Fae lent them the RV and that makes Mercy angry because they always want something in return or to make a bargain. Adam quickly realizes that there is something more going on and that is why the Fae ensured that they would be there when it did. From there the action finally picks up

We do get to learn more about Mercy's background which is something that we have not gotten a good feel for in the past. As well as, the way that Mercy and Adam will handle their relationship. It gets touchy sometimes but the future is a little bit clearer. I think what was missing for me is so many of the other characters I have come to love. This book was really about Adam and Mercy and other make appearances but never for long.

I was a bit disappointed in the slow start and overall series progression of this book. It felt like a bit of filler for me. I am hoping the next book will pick up and be a stronger reflection of the things that I have come to love about Patricia Brigg's writing and style. Even though I did not enjoy this as much as previous books in the series, I will for sure pick up the next one.

So Mercy & Adam finally make it official, off for some well deserved time alone...except for the....well, I cannot spoil it! As all Patricia Briggs' novels, this is very well written with wonderful characters and great story line. Her characters are strong, well developed and easy to keep straight. That is very important! I so love how PB allows her Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series' to run together yet not loose the things that make each series individual. While this is not my first time reading this book and it will not be the last time I read it - I have enjoyed the re-read almost as much as the first time I read it. This could pretty well be said for both of series.

If you want to know what married life is like for Mercy and Adam, River Marked definitely has you covered. Patricia Briggs' latest effort kicks off with a shot gun wedding. We follow Adam and Mercy for a majority of their honeymoon, which was for the most part was uneventful. When the story does pick up, Mercy will take on a journey to discover her heritage and meet her father along the way. A reconnection to her past and ancestry will help her to battle an ancient evil.

While we get some great insights into the evolving relationship between Adam and Mercy, and I love seeing them work through their emerging problems, and how the alpha persona and wolf pack complicates things. Their relationship takes on a new richness, but the overall book seems disjointed. One part is this great in depth look at our love birds then there is the actual story. I felt like the story was tacked on, and not really developed fully. The book was a typical 336 pages but the real story line didn't seem to start until halfway into the book. The beginning started with Stefan and his human stable, and you would think that the storyline is going to follow along those lines then that resolves rather easily and we move on to family issues, nuptials, and the honeymoon. Sometime after we settle into marital bliss and after a few bread crumbs here there that hint at the bigger picture to develop, we actual get into plot. But it seemed very short. I think if Briggs had integrated the plot earlier in the story it would've blended into the usual standard we have come to have expected. Even the little bits introduced during the start of the honeymoon were too little and too far between. Though I loved the stuff with Jess and Mercy's family, and wedding I think the overall story should have been threaded within or in between the stuff with Stefan, and her wedding.

Overall River Marked has some great background on our favorite were-coyote couple. The actual story is good, just a little to short seeming, better integration from the start of the book would have the whole thing gel better and read like one book instead of two stories. The background on Mercy's father was great too. This is a must read for Mercy fans.

This is book 6 in the Mercy Thompson series. Therefore there are MAJOR SPOILERS in this review for the series. You have been warned.

Mercy is no stranger to trouble. It seems to follow her everywhere she goes. Even, on her honeymoon. After barely surviving some serious fae magic, Mercy & Adam, the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Werewolf Pack, decide that it is time to take the next step in their long-awaited romance & get engaged. Mercy is in the midst of wedding planning, with everything really starting to get to her when Jesse, Adam's underestimated teenage daughter, innocently suggests that they get hitched early. After this "elopement," the happy couple decide to camp in a newly established, but not yet open to the public, campground to test it out for the fae owner.

Of course nothing could be that simple in a world where vampires love Scooby Doo motifs & fae can be mechanics. On the very first day they notice that something is different. Mercy sees her father's ghost dancing on their campground & they save a terrified man from the "monster" he has been injured by & is currently hiding from. It turns out that this man is not the only to fall victim to the river. Something is stalking & killing people with no real pattern. The police are stumped & the Native Americans aren't really talking. Striking a cord with the newlyweds, they embark on a turbulent journey filled with revelations about local Native American powers, what one will really do for life& love, & how much of who you are is determined by your family.

I love this series so much! Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman has to be one of my all-time favorite characters. Between her demeanor, her sass, her humor, & her complete dedication (to a number of things) she just rocks my world!

All that being said, I must admit that this is definitely not one of my favorite books in this series. This being the sixth book, I honestly felt like it was a filler story. There was very little personal action taking place to move the story forward, but at the same time the action wasn't directly related to the characters' actions. This time the trouble came looking for them & they did something about it. It was engineered action that felt kind of forced, although it allowed the reader to gain a deeper appreciation & understanding of Mercy's family history & why she is what she is.

The writing was definitely on par for what you expect in a Mercy novel (witty, pointed, & metered). There was a bit of disappointment, this being a honeymoon and all, that the romance was almost non-existent. It practically pulled a Breaking Dawn on the reader. Granted, there has been a lot of romance between these two characters in some novels (enough to make even a married woman blush) & that I did appreciate it being toned down. I guess it's just a balancing act.

Overall, as always, a fun, light read. P.S. The best part about these books are that they are stand alone novels. You don't necessary have to have read the others to understand what is going on in this one. All the background is provided. I highly recommend Bone Crossed. It remains my favorite of the series.

4.5 stars
Reviewed by ANN & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Even after five books, Briggs is able to keep the Mercy Thompson world fresh. ~ Under the Covers

Even after five books, Briggs is able to keep the Mercy Thompson world fresh. I found that this book was very different from the others. It's set in an entirely different place. No garage here, even though I kind of missed that. The Pack is set on the sidelines, while Mercy and Adam take centre stage and new characters are introduced. The newbies are very interesting because they are the first Native Americans we've encountered in this series apart from Mercy. River-Markedexplores Mercy's Native half and it was a natural change in the course of her life.

But things happen in Mercy's life that make change inevitable. I thought that as Mercy entered a new phase in her life, her friends were also dealing with changes in theirs. Some are tragic like Stefan who is having trouble dealing with Marsilia's betrayal while others are more trivial like Jesse trying to figure out ways to outsmart Darryl and let her go out on a date with Gabriel.

While the very beginning and the very end caught my attention, I thought it was a bit slow somewhere in the middle. All the Native stories were getting confusing after awhile. Also, Samuel is not in this one at all! There's a brief mention of him, but I would have liked to read more about him. Certainly he hasn't just dropped out of Mercy's life after all that they've been through, no matter that Mercy is married to Adam now.

But my favourite part of the book has to be the letter Mercy wrote for Adam at the very end. It broke my heart! Mercy isn't fond of expressing her feelings in words, so the fact that she took the time to sit down and do this makes it even more special. I just adore Adam and Mercy together. They're so perfect!

I don't rate books by a number system, but if I did, I would rarely assign a 5 out of 5 star. A great book for me is usually a 4, a good book is a 3. River Marked would be a five-star book for me, which I might only find a handful or less of a year.

I loved every moment of it, and I can't wait to go back and read it again. The book had it all, romance, excitement, a crazy twist, Ancient gods, Native American culture and mythology, all capped off with brilliant writing. My husband just watched me laughing and crying while I read it and shook his head.

I know some people are uncomfortable with change, and this book marks a major change, as Mercy and Adam make a commitment to each other and then leave town together. Their Honeymoon leads them right into an ancient evil that is preying on the people near the Columbia river. This incredibly frightening creature has the ability to do unspeakable damage extending outwards, and it will literally take mythological heroes to bring it to an end. Luckily, Mercy and Adam just ran into some.

For those who have wanted more Adam and Mercy time, they get it. Some people may miss the time away from the cast of characters that usually create the conflict, Adam's and now Mercy's Pack, his daughter, her friends, Stefan. I will look forward to spending more time with them in the next book but this book was about several things.

* How would Mercy handle being married to an Alpha? (which unsurprisingly had its issues)

* How would Mercy handle finally knowing about her father and her heritage (and it was mind blowing...just the greatest twist ever),

* how would Mercy and Adam overcome and defeat a foe so evil it could take over the world

* Would they survive their honeymoon?

I went to college for two years in near Spokane and I knew exactly where she was talking about, which made it even more satisfying as I knew the terrain. There is a scene so damn amazing, I just have to take my hat off to Ms. Briggs and I can't describe the scene without giving spoilers which kills me, but in the middle it has this line at the end of a chapter.

`And he knocked me into the river.'

I died. I had to put the book down because I was just laughing so hard and shaking my head, it was such a brilliant twist.

Anyone who read it please comment if you loved it too. The next chapter was just brilliant, scary, funny, maddening, and horrifying. Having a trickster God on your side can have its disadvantages.

Briggs is such a deft hand at not over blowing the action. Some authors can't help but make everything a cartoon, in Brigg's books you think, IF this was real, it would be like this. It is almost hyperrealism in fantasy. There is a great sacrifice near the end, one that literally had tears in my eyes.

The last few pages put a smile right back on my face. Seriously, if you only buy a couple books a year and your thinking, well its hardback, I can't afford it, do not let that stop you. This is easily, hands down, one of the best, most exciting and satisfying Urban Fantasy books I've ever read and it is easily my favorite of the series, despite the fact that so little time was spent with all the other characters I've grown to love. It proved just how strong and well written Mercy and Adam are, that they can carry an entire book, with a little help from Coyote, who I am totally obsessed with now.

Purchased in my local book store.

I haven't written any reviews of any of Patricia Briggs's books, but I have decided that any book I read gets a review now. I have all of the Mercy Thompson series and let's just say that her books are the reason I am reading as much as I am. I picked up the first one while I was pregnant with my son and then searched high and low for all the rest. I am a book behind, but happy to have finally found time to read this one.

This book starts off with Mercy Thompson and Adam Hauptman finally getting married. After reading about the mutual dislike (i.e. complete infatuation) of each other for five books, it was about time the two finally had a happy ending. Of course that isn't really the case since the wedding was at the beginning of the book. Instead this book focuses on the honeymoon. Now before you go thinking that it will be full of hot steamy scenes, Patricia Briggs doesn't write like that. There's enough for your imagination to get started. Their honeymoon has been arranged by a couple of friends who just happen to be Fae. If you have read any of the other books, you know that the Fae never do anything for free. This is a very odd situation, but it brings Mercy to her "father". She sees his ghost and learns all about her creation. It's something she has always dreamed of discovering. She learns a lot more than that though! She finds herself fighting for her life against an ancient evil. I am not going to tell you about this battle, because you should read it for yourself.

The sixth in the series and by far the worse. Was it terrible compared to other mysteries out there - no, but compared to the other Mercy novels - yes. I love Mercy's character, she is the most likable heroine I have yet to come across. I also love Patricia Briggs, even though I am use to a more spicy fare I like that Briggs is able to write a good story minus sex and hard core violence - its says something about her story telling skills.

That being said ...this installment however was pretty boring comparatively. It was ok, and that's why I gave it 3 stars.

It follows Mercy thru her wedding to Adam (which honestly is of little interest to me) and then on to her honeymoon. I waded thru the wedding hoopla because I thought once I got a few chapters in the mystery would start. Sadly the mystery took awhile.

The moral of the story is Mercy and Adam head to the Colombia river to camp for ten days. Adam makes the huge mistake of borrowing a trailer from a Fae named Big Mike. If you follow the Mercy series you would know that anything to do with the Fae causes problems. That proves once more to be true when Mercy is attacked in the River while trying to save a traumatized and wounded man.

First, the River...It just happens to have a monster living in it. A river monster that the Native Americans have been aware for decades upon decades. The monster loves human flesh and does a good job eating humans alive. It also has a knack for marking them as slaves to which the "river marked" bring more people to be eat. Second...to top this off you also have some Fea who look like otters and live in the river doing the River Monsters evil bidding, sound odd yet? 3rd...the better part of the story involves Mercy and her roots. She is half Native American and never knew her Native American father who died right before she was born. This half of her has always been sort of a enigma; its also the half of her that gives her the ability to shape sift into a coyote. Speaking of which, WARNING SPOILER, turns out her Dad is not really dead at all...turns out her Dad is the mystical Native American being Coyote. That was pretty cool.

Anyway, some of the book is spent exploring her past and how she came to be, that part is interesting and a nice twist. The mystery behind the river monster was a bit corny and ho-hum. Examples: it looks like a large cobra with the face of angry cat, the river-Fea-otter-things travel to Wal-Mart to attack Mercy in a dressing room, one of the "river marked" Native American guys shoots Adam almost killing him and then its like it never happened??? Also her relationship with Adam is very awkward, their dialoged was off. I had to go back and re-read some of it because it did not make a whole lot of sense. Also, this is their honeymoon, so as far as honeymoons go I'd say it was a disaster.

The only reason anyone gave this 4 or 5 stars is because they are a diehard fans...period.

While honeymooning in a riverside campsite, shapeshifter Mercy Thompson saves a man from being devoured by an enormous tentacled creature lurking in the Columbia River's dark waters. This voracious supernatural beast must be stopped, and, with the help of several Yakama Indian men she befriends, Mercy does what must be done. More importantly, while she and new husband Adam search for clues about the nature and vulnerabilities of the scourge of the Columbia, Mercy discovers surprising truths about her father Old Joe Coyote, the Native American rodeo champion who gave Mercy her magic abilities.

The book's central plot involves a routine but action-packed struggle to neutralize the monster du jour, the "Floating Spaghetti Monster" (which Briggs calls a "river devil"). However, just as the real focus of the previous book "Silver Borne" was Mercy's deepening relationship with werewolf Adam and integration into his pack, in "River Marked" the spotlight is on Mercy's parentage, powers, and Native American heritage. What Briggs has to say on these topics may not awe readers with its extraordinary imaginative scope or cultural depth, but at least she says something.

Despite the thinness of the plot, one of the book's better features is a renewed emphasis on fantasy action over romance. Briggs dispenses with Mercy's wedding in just ten pages, and she allows Mercy few opportunities to lose herself in admiration of Adam's rippling muscles. Although it will displease many readers, this is a relief to me. Another highlight of "River Marked" is a fairly straightforward narrative, a blessing after the scattershot storytelling of "Bone Crossed" and "Silver Borne". Together with the long-anticipated exploration of Mercy's background, these features make "River Marked" the best book in the Mercy Thompson series since "Iron Kissed".

I so love Mercy and Adam, but Mercy always seem to find herself in trouble or should I say trouble has a way of finding her. This was another good and funny read as always with Mercy being as stubborn as she is. And Adam being the Alpha of the wolf pack can sometimes find himself worked up when dealing with his mate, but no one had better bother with his mate. I really love this series.

This book takes a different direction than previous books in the series, because Mercy is doing something that I think is quite rare in the typical Urban Fantasy heroine -- she is getting married. As a married woman, I quite like this turn and the extra confidence and sense of permanence it gives Mercy, but I don't think this is something that every reader will fully appreciate. Still, it feels fresh and new to me, and I think it has the potential to "breathe new life" into the series.
The loose ends of Stefan's mess from the previous book are quickly tied up, and the plot swiftly moves on to a "surprise" wedding for Mercy. The set-up of the wedding was quite endearing, and I even teared up a bit over it. These two sub-plots take place rather quickly, though, as the main focus of the book is what occurs during Mercy and Adam's honeymoon.
Mercy figures out quickly that they have been set up by certain fairy acquaintances for reasons that no one really knows. I was laughing at this, as it feels like a bumper sticker motto: If the world needs saving - send Mercy! So of course, Urban Fantasy heroine Mercy does not get a typical honeymoon, but one fraught with peril and impending doom.
While it may seem on the surface to be a random way to introduce new characters and magical elements into the series, I think that the events that happened at the Columbia River were a great way to focus on Mercy's native heritage and answer many of the questions that I have been harboring through the series about her ability to transform into a coyote. She makes some new friends of native descent that are able to help her tackle her looming battle with the river monster, and she discovers that she is not the only native who can become another animal. She also learns more about her father and his relationship with her mother. The walking stick also plays a major part, though I hope this is not the last we've seen of it. That stick has too many quirks to just let it go.
The river monster itself was quite a creation - as much fantasy as I have read, I've never come across anything quite like it, though some creatures of Greek mythology comes close. Abominations like that remind me why I avoid watching horror movies. The behavior of the otterkin also reminded me of the way members of a cult exalt their leader - creepy. I can't wait for the next book!

Fun read. Good blend of action and relationship. Interesting setting -- a campground and a national park with tons of petroglyphs and pictographs carved into the stone walls in the area along the Columbia River Gorge. I enjoyed this story, even though it was quite different and I missed the characters from the Tri-Cities pack in Kennewick.

plot Mercy and Adam get married and honeymoon at a campground with a new RV, where they battle bad fae otterkin and an evil Native American river monster.

Mercy meets her father (sort of) who died (sort of) about 32 years ago, before she was born. She also must confront Adam's wolf, when the wolf is in control.

A bit hokey -- all the Coyote legends -- but hey, it's fantasy. Also, I wanted to see more of Samuel and Ariana in this book, given how the prior book -- Silver Borne -- ended, and given that we have kept our fingers crossed for poor Sam for 5 books. Sadly, the couple was given no air time, and only mentioned as possible companions for Jessie while her dad and Mercy were on honeymoon.

Note: Children are eaten by the river monster. I wish Briggs would leave children and babies out of the violence.

When River Marked first came out, I didn't want to pay $12.99 for the Kindle version, so I didn't buy it. Then, by the time it dropped to $7.99, a year had gone by and I'd lost the urgency to read it. Since Frost Burned is coming next month, I finally picked up River Marked, and I loved it. I'm thrilled that the next book is right around the corner. It's true that it was all Mercy/Adam and very little of all of the other characters, but in a long running series, I don't think that's a bad thing. I loved seeing the two of them on their own with no distractions (and more Adam is always a good thing!). I also loved finally getting more of Mercy's background, and I feel that this was a necessary piece of the puzzle in order to keep expanding her character. Mercy is always true to herself - she's never the strongest person in the room, but she always manages to come out on top, almost by sheer strength of character and because she never gives up, no matter how bad the odds are. I read a lot of urban fantasy and reading River Marked reminded me of just how good this series is in comparison to most of the others on the market. I'm now re-reading the whole series and I will definitely be buying Frost Burned as soon as it is released, even though I hate the price and wish it wasn't in hardcover.

Like the Lord of the Rings established a plethora of fantasy standards Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series is hallmark of urban fantasy. In this sixth book of the series Mercy has made her commitment to local werewolf alpha, Adam. In fact after a surprise wedding (like a surprise birthday party) Adam whisks Mercy off on a ten day camping trip in a plush trailer lent to them by the fae. Seeing as the fae never give anything for free both Mercy and Adam are suspicious, but determined not to let that ruin their alone time. Until a river monster, and ancient Native American cannibal, rises and claims Mercy as its own.
Briggs is excellent at drawing in both readers and multicultural magical elements. In this story she isolates Adam and Mercy from their pack, and sets them up against what might as well be a god. Briggs reminds readers that they don't need European vampires and Nordic werewolves for intrigue and adventure, American land has plenty of secrets all its own.
This series is very popular, for good reason. It strikes a perfect balance between urban fantasy elements--romance, mystery, horror and magic. It is led by strong, but not perfect characters whose power might set them apart with a less talented literary hand. Instead Briggs keeps them human, valiant, noble, challenged and even light-hearted. Readers looking to try the UF crazy would do good to start here and librarian on a tight budget will most likely see this series gives a high interest value for their money.
Contains: violence, language, sexual situations

I am a huge fan of Patricia Briggs, especially the Mercy Thompson series, but this book fell short. I hate to say it, but it was the worst book of the series - not terrible - but definitely now in par with the other 5 extraordinary books that was before it.

Let's start with the bad news:
It took at least 60 pages of dull reading to finally get to the real action. Instead of the normal start-off action, we received the overly long catch-up on what happened (none of which was very interesting), a few happy moments (here comes the bride!), then the history of her heritage. While I enjoyed the intro into her Native American roots, it was sometimes overly written and unnecessarily long. I also missed the rest of the gang who is missing for much of the book.

The good news
After the first half of the book, the action starts and you are reminded of why you love the series and Mrs. Briggs writing so much. You go from dull to over-time action when Mercy and Adam encounter a sea creature who marks Mercy and many of the residents near Columbus River. A person who is river marked does the creature bidding and soon the murders are adding up and in the middle of it all is Mercy with Adam by her side. Mercy can see visions of the murders and right now the creature has it's sights set on one person - Mercy. She is stronger than the rest of the river marked people, but she needs help and that's where the Native Americans come into play. They reside by the river and have a close connection to Mercy, closer than she realizes. Her father was one of them and one person in particular knows all about him - Coyote. He not only knew her father, he also knows how to defeat the creature. Coyote heads up the team set out to destroy the sea creature, including many of the old Spirits, but it will costs many their lives. With innocents dying and the creature in Mercy's thoughts, can they stop it in time or will the creature overpower them, changing the world forever?

The introduction of Coyote was brilliant and I absolutely fell in love with his character. He is witty, funny, strong and is pure entertainment. I also loved that we are introduced to more shifters and adored the fact that we saw more of Adam and Mercy.

This is definitely not up to par with the rest of the series, but after the initial 60 or so pages, it does pick-up and we are reminded of why we love the series.

It pains me to do this to what is normally a 5 fang series, but this series is rated: 3 1/2 fangs.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I definitely enjoy the Mercy series and have been hooked since book 1, but I found the others to be slower reads for me. I don't really know why, maybe its the inflection in which it is written, but it always took me a week or longer to read each one.

That was not the case with this one. I flew right through it - it seemed to flow very well and was quite enjoyable with all the dialogue, which I think there was quite a bit more dialogue in this one than in previous books. I am happy about the relationship continuing on with Adam, and think it's great about all the support they have when everyone was fighting against it at first. It was a very interesting place for them to go, and for all the drama to occur outside the Tri-Cities in this book.

I will say that I was alittle disappointed about all the secondary characters that we have come to know and enjoy in each book did not have much of a showing at all in this one. However, Briggs does make up for some of it by allowing us to really learn more about Mercy's background, who she is, where she comes from, and about her mysterious father. All in all, a very solid book, definitely a 4 star read for me! I hope Briggs brings back the secondary pack characters and we get to see more Stefan (and heck, even Marsilia too!)

Originally posted at WickedLilPixie Reviews
Mercy is just a girl trying to make her way in life being split in to four different worlds: coyote walker, human, Native, and white. She has spent her entire life reconciling all 4 parts of herself, never feeling accepted by anyone. In River Marked, she has the opportunity to finally learn more about her Blackfeet father and learn more of where she came from. And with Adam by her side as her Mate. We have not had a whole heck of a lot of information on Mercy's dad in the previous books, aside from his being Native American and dead. This is the book where we get to learn about her Dad! Something nasty and evil is happening down at the Columbia River and some of the locals and her father's people may know how to fight it. And what do you know? Mercy and Adam just happened to be there when everything starts to go down.

I was at first nervous that Mercy and Adam were finally getting some away time to just themselves, because I didn't know how the book would stand without all the awesome secondary characters. I quickly learned that I worried for naught. River Marked is huge for Mercy in her own personal growth, and in that she was way more expressive of her feelings and affection towards Adam. It seems that she is truly healing and moving forward since the awful violent crime perpetrated against her in Iron Kissed.

The overall tone of this book is unlike any of the previous, and even though I missed so many of the secondary key players, I loved getting the very long-time-coming Mercy and Adam alone time. The only thing that could have made it better was more smexy-time scenes, but I know that isn't Ms. Briggs's style. The plot involves a monster in the river and it was really frightening at times! I am especially afraid of water when I can't see anything in beneath the surface, and there are some scenes that had me totally freaked the hell out. Also, for the first time Mercy meets other walkers and learns that she is not the only one out there.

Stefan has been absent from the storyline lately and we finally get to see what has been going on with him. I didn't realize just how much I had missed him until we find out the opposite-of-awesome state he is in. I really wish he could have had more screen time. In fact, I am surprised by how much I did love this book even without all the secondary characters we've all come to love and expect, and that shows you just what a good story this is.

The Mercy Thompson series is one beautiful example of how the heroine in a series can find love and yet the series continues to grow and remain as entertaining and interesting, if not more so. The worlds and characters of the series are so well built and multi-dimensional that the fact that Mercy and Adam are now married only adds to the experience, it doesn't remove any of the suspense or tension. It is one of the first Urban Fantasy series I was ever introduced to and it continues to remain one of the closest to my heart.

Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked

After reading the reviews and since the last book was such a dog, I took this book off my wishlist. But, killing time in a book store, I passed it on the shelf and just couldn't help myself. I read the first few pages and was hooked. I'm not sure why people have a problem with the current nemesis not being on page one, but it's referred to right in the beginning with a couple of news articles of missing people. You clearly know something is up and are expecting monster at the river. Good lead up, the book flows well! Old characters do get some read time, but aren't center-stage and I can deal with that, since the protagonist is out of town. I have no idea why that's a problem for so many people here. BFD.
I have questions about the overall plot. Sure, Mercy is important to us, the reader, but why does Bran care so much? He seemed fairly lukewarm in the beginning of the series but now he's gotten to the point of calling her his treasure? He's been alive centuries and she's mortal, he didn't even raise her. She's just a blip in the radar.
And speaking of werewolf aging, that's another problem that's beginning to rear it's ugly head. Mercy is 33 now and Adam looks 25. Plus, like Sookie Stackhouse, Mercy is gaining new scar tissue with every book. She's going to look really really ugly if this keeps up--plus she's just getting older and Adam is not. And 33 is a bit long in the tooth for having a first child--which usually follows marriage. Surely the next book will be about that and how can she fight the next monster while pregnant? Sadly, I wish she was younger. I wish she had super healing powers. Once you start mentioning the age of the main characters, it's a downward slide. The author has very nearly written herself into a corner and I hope she has the skill to pull us all out of it.
It's a great book. Because there is so much back story (too much, if you ask me, I hate having to skim paragraphs of old news) anytime anyone is mentioned, I don't think you need to read the whole series to enjoy this book. The Indian fellas in this book were pretty interchangeable and I could never tell anyone apart. No development there, but they were just fluff anyway so I guess it doesn't matter. This book does move the series along, it's not a wasted read. It's not a very thick book, urban fantasy never is, but you'll enjoy it if you're out camping this summer!

This is going to be one of those rambling reviews where I just throw all my thoughts in the air and let them fall were they may. I can't seem to get them to form into any coherent form:

There are mysterious deaths and disappearances in the Columbia Gorge area, which is "coincidentally" where Mercy and Adam are going camping for 10 days. A few days after they get there, they find an injured man in a boat. His friends, who are Native American, show up to help get him to the hospital. They know Mercy is also Native American, and she gets a mysterious visitor who knows who and what she is. As they piece together what's going on in the water, Mercy also learns about her father - who and what he really was.

Thoughts: I love this series! Let me say up front that I don't think this book would make a good stand-alone. I think you could do it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I loved seeing Mercy and Adam interact in River Marked. The wolf/coyote nuances, signals, and feelings that they deal with, showing their feelings beyond just saying "I love you" or "I'm upset right now". I like that their bond doesn't just automatically make things perfect between them, that there are issues they'll have to work through, just like any other couple (okay, maybe not just like any other couple, lol).

I liked that Mercy got some insight into her heritage as a Native American and as a Walker. She doesn't see herself as such, but it was a fun twist that in River Marked, Mercy was more accepted and Adam was the outsider. The Native American lore was interesting, although I was frustrated that a running joke was that several of the stories supposedly had a naughtier version, and when Mercy was finally told the naughty versions, the reader was not privy to the stories. I felt like I was missing an inside joke. The scene in mini-Stonehenge was fascinating on so many different levels.

The villain was pretty bad. Like creepy bad. And cruel. The fact that the victims walked
complacently to their deaths made it worse. Mercy's tough decision regarding the girl and her brother was heartwrenching to read.

Confession: I've been fascinated with Mercy's "pimp stick" since the day it appeared. I love that it has been a constant through several books and am intrigued by the potential changes to the stick in River Marked.

I want more Stefan!!! I'm frustrated that we didn't see much of Stefan in this book or the last. The end of River Marked left me feeling hopeful about Stephan - both that we'll see more of him in the next book(s) and that things are going to work out for him.

I would have also liked to see more Warren/Kyle...I was glad she was able to work in the few scenes they did appear in.

All in all, I couldn't put it down. It will be a long, long wait until 2013 for the next book!

Why are all the good books such quick reads? Why can I finish a book I love in no time at all and then have to wait a year, or more!, to read the next installment? Why can't the authors of books I love focus only on the series I enjoy and crank out book after book all year long? This is how I feel about the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. (Although, to be honest, I also enjoy Briggs' Alpha & Omega series, so she'll need to start splitting her time between the two :)

River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6) is a book I'd been waiting to read for quite a while. It had been almost a year since Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) and I was dying to catch up with Mercy, Adam, Stefan, Zee and the Pack. Things open with Mercy under considerable stress regarding her impending wedding. Her mother's continued outrageous suggestions leave Mercy crying for, well, mercy. She decides that she and Adam should get married right away, before the planned wedding, without all the bells and whistles. Mercy's simple ceremony turns into a rather pleasant surprise provided by her family and friends--OK, maybe that was a bit of a spoiler, but I didn't tell everything. The real action starts when Mercy and Adam leave for their honeymoon--outside forces have even managed to manipulate where they honeymoon, but Adam assures her that they are in the area for a reason and that the reason will show itself soon enough and, sure enough, it does. At least they get a few days of peace before Mercy finds herself facing a Native American river monster that is terrorizing the area. She and Adam connect with a very interesting group of Native Americans to try and set things right.

What I liked most about this book is that Mercy finally connects with her father's side. She finds out a lot about her father and gains some powerful allies in the Native American world. This is the first time the reader really gets to see this side of Mercy, where her magic comes from and where her roots lay. I also really enjoyed the bond between Mercy and Adam. We get to see them as a couple, without work or pack business getting in the way. Their relationship is explored and explained on new and different levels and they really hone their communication skills. The story is great--lots of action and magic involved, including new magical elements for Mercy to explore. Overall, I really enjoyed River Marked (Mercy Thompson, Book 6), it's a great addition to the Mercy Thompson series. I hope Patricia Briggs is busy writing the next Mercy Thompson book because I can't wait to read it!!

For anyone out there unfamiliar with this series, start with Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1). Once you've started the series, you won't be able to put it down! Also, check out Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1), a companion series to the Mercy Thompson series which focuses on one of Mercy's pack mates from her childhood.

Follow my reviews at readerbarbara.blogspot.com

This book was not anywhere near as good as the first 5. It felt like I was reading a second or third draft copy at best. A problem that this author has had from the start is that her writing is not always as coherent as it needs to be. I sometimes found myself having to read the same paragraph over again to understand what's really going on. This incoherence was more prevalent in this book than in her previous efforts and this also points to a book that was rushed to publication. I wish that the series will continue because I enjoyed the first 5 quite a bit, but my statement is true only if the quality goes back to what it used to be. I quit the Anita blake series after 8 or 9 books when it became clear that Laurell K hamilton had suddenly turned into a complete lunatic. The last 3 books or so of the true blood series were terrible. Maybe something happens to authors after a certain number of books! I will read the next one but I can't help but to cross my fingers on that one.

I've really enjoyed this series to date, but I was beginning to wonder what else could their possibly be that Mercy could go through. How in the world could the author makes the fresh and new and not the same old things. I'll be honest, I was completely surprised and blown away by River Marked.

I was really surprised and enjoyed seeing Mercy get all worked up at planning her wedding to Adam. She freaks out on her mom and soon everyone has a bet on how long before they elope to avoid everything. Instead, she gets a surprise wedding which I loved! Adam wisks her off to a camping honeymoon, which I thought was really perfect and fit with who they are. A secluded camp ground with plenty of open grounds to run and hunt. What more could a girl/coyote ask for?

My favorite part of the story was the full acceptance of Mercy's Indian heritage. We've dealt with wolves, vampires, and the fae to this point. But, in this book we learn more more about Mercy's father and Indian folklore. I found myself fascinated with it. I love Coyote and how he was connected to Mercy. I enjoyed the "father" spirits like Wolf Thunderbird and how they were connected to The Great Spirits. I enjoyed their reactions to modern society.

I really liked the story of the monster lurking in the Columbia river. The legend behind it was wonderfully constructed. I liked the idea of what it wanted and how it was taking people who were using the river. But the story lost points for me with the actual destruction of the monster. I liked how it was done, I guess it was the after math. It lost some of its credibility for me at that point. But, I guess in a society were the fae and wolves are out to society a huge ancient monster is no big deal.

I'm anxious to see were this story could go next and when it might end. I'll continue reading until then I'm sure!

I read this series for two reasons. One, I adore Mercy and Adam. Both separate and together. Mercy is such a strong, level-headed heroine who can claim her independence while surrounded by pack, vampires etc, yet she is so polite and warm. And Adam - well - he fulfills all my dirty needs when it comes to an alpha male. In River Marked we get a lot of Adam and Mercy. And by that I mean, almost the entire book is the two of them together. I was shocked, and I loved every second of it. We get a very intimate glimpse into their relationship. We see another side of Adam, and wow. What a sweetie. I love him even more.

We also learn a lot about what Mercy is. Her heritage is presented in much detail. At times I found these parts to be very slow. There is a point towards the middle that the pacing slows down so much I got worried for the rest of the book. But then something big happens and the rest finished quite nicely.

The second reason I read this series is for the amazing intricacies of pack life Patricia Briggs has created. I love her wolves, and their politics. How they live so closely as pack, yet are always on the verge of violence. I adore their dynamics and how Mercy has come to fit in. But - we don't get that in this book. Adam and Mercy are removed from pack (or as much as they can be) in this one. I miss that. I know I sound greedy because we do get awesome Adam and Mercy stuff, but I will be looking forward getting back to pack life hopefully in the next one.

Overall I enjoyed this book. Like I said, we see a side of Adam that made me smile. Don't worry, he totally loses it a few times and his alpha, growly, wolf takes over. But it is a very romantic, quieter side we see.

The mystery and conflict are interwoven into Mercy's ancestry and I think this look at who Mercy is and where she comes from really makes you understand Mercy better.

Patricia Briggs continues to write one of the best written urban fantasy series out there. If you don't read this series, pick up Moon Called immediately. You will not be disappointed.

For me this had a different tone to it than the previous books. Not in a bad way, just different. I think its because this is the first time that Mercy and Adam spend that much time together without any of the other pack or vampires or the usual clan that surrounds them.

Besides the very beginning where we see Stefan and again at the end, most of the book is set in a kind of national park that is run by Native Americans.

I really liked that we got to know more about Mercy's heritage, or should I say didn't get to know. I am confused about all of it a bit, just like Mercy. :)

Crazy new creatures and Mercy once again having to get bloodied. What else is new. I think Adam said something to the effect that Mercy doesn't start most of the stuff, but she finishes it. So true. Trouble does seem to follow her.

Another great installment in this very interesting world.

** read February 2014

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and all of the wonderful characters within the world Patricia Briggs has created. Even though it is a very "PG" series, I love Mercy, who is tough on the outside but squishy on the inside. She always strives to do the right thing and takes care of those she loves and who love her.

River Marked was a great book. I read this one in like a few days! It has a lovely pace and you get to see the warm bond between Mercy and Adam. I had thought at first that the marriage was a bit fast and forced but by the time I was even two thirds into the book, there connection seemed right. The pack is not really present in this one and I did miss them. I look forward to seeing how Mercy and Adam relate together in the pack setting. I do agree with others in the fact that if ever Mrs. Briggs was to write a sex scene, this would have been the book to do it.

I loved the historical and Native American aspects to this story. I found it interesting to see Mercy's background and the native lore. I love how Mrs. Briggs took real Native American lore and culture, real places and built something special.

Overall this is a fabulous series and I recommend it to anyone! Now I must wait a year for the next one!

I am re-reading this series and book five is such a favorite! Obviously anyone who has made it this far into the series knows how great it is and is reading on your own and don’t need my encouragement, but I just had to take a few minutes to write how much I love this book in particular. I wish we could see more of Coyote in future installments!

I have to say that this wasn't as interesting as the other books in the series. There were moments that were action packed and crazy with suspense but it was mostly based on Mercy finding out more about herself and who/what she is. The plot moved quickly which is a plus because you don't get stuck with one point where you are actually bored and just waiting for something to happen.

Adam didn't have as big of a role as in the other books I feel like. He was just there in the background wanting to protect her all the time. And then he was just wolf thanks to Wolf. There were some characters that weren't in the story at all such as Sam. He was mentioned maybe twice the whole book but that was it. Something else that sort of bothered me was that we never actually find out what river marked means. It's open to interpretation from the reader, I guess. Some of you might like that.

The crazy monster this time was actually interesting. And all the background of the myths and legends of the Native Americans actually inspired me to go look up some legends that they have and I will be doing that. It was interesting overall and I think this is the best cover so far in the series. Can't wait for the next one to come out!

River Marked starts out with the normal cast and crew from the previous Mercy Thompson books, even bringing Stefan back. (whom I love). Mercy is very busy and stressed planning her wedding to Adam. I absolutely loved the way Mercy's mom, and Adam's daughter Jessie worked to pull the wedding off, and what the Bran says to Adam before they say there vows.

We are finally alone with Adam and Mercy, or so we think. Adam has barrowed a camper for the two of them to be completely alone, and takes Mercy to a camp ground that is not open to the public as of yet. After only a day they relies things are not as they seem. It's not that the action makes River Marked feel rushed, but I would have liked just a little more Adam/mercy time. Before the monster, gods, and fae.

The bulk of this book is centered around learning Mercy's heritage. Patricia Briggs is an amazing story teller. I was enthralled from beginning to end, To learn about each god and how they once defeated the river monster that is now after Adam and Mercy. I also enjoyed learning the truth about Mercy's father, and hope we get to see Coyote in future books.

In the end I was happy with this installment. I liked that when the battle was fought and the day was over Adam and Mercy are on equal ground as they should be, and you know the love between them is real.

I really enjoyed this book compared to previous darker installments of the series. A highly debated concept of mine, I know, wanting to keep the story more "fun" than "dark." I am looking for fun/fantastic entertainment that will offer an escape rather than leaving me feeling depressed about things that would happen in real life (translated as heroes usually die and really bad s*** happens to good people every day.)

Having said that, this one really worked for me. I love the Loch Ness monster, I love lake monsters. I love monster stories. Godzilla even. Anyway, this one had it, I loved it. Best. Honeymoon. Ever. Just kidding but it was a great juxtaposition for an epic monster battle story. If I can think of any cons, I could only wish Mercy did not have to get so banged up in this one --- she could really use a "power up" gimmick to even the playing field if she is going to keep on taking on the big guys. I think PB could pull it off without being too deus ex machina.

As the sixth book in the Mercedes Thompson series Briggs has still got it. Mercy has been through quite a journey in the past five books, and the trouble seems to still be lurking around every corner. As the girl that began as a loner; she can now find herself surround by many friends that continue to show their support and loyalty. Along with the growing number of friends she seems to steadily increase or enemies. As a alpha pack mate Mercy is learning further the importance of her strong and independent nature. Although, it seems that with each additional book Mercy is learning to depend and rely with heart and soul on her Alpha and lover. With trouble allows lurking Adam's patience is tested time and time again. Though, it is obvious that the love this man carries would force him to walk through fire if necessary. I was surprised by the abruptness of change in the first few pages of this book. While I welcomed the change I had never expected it so easily. Suspense was not the nature of this book, as I have come to expect in the past novels. This book seems to focus primarily on Adam and Mercy to deepen the readers knowledge of these two characters. Without the intensity and fast pace this book was entertaining, but lacked the urgency that I have come to expect with a Briggs story.

4.5/5.0

*warning* a huge torrent of gushing admiration about to commence...

I now understand people who are so blinded by their love of an author, they truly believe they can write no wrong (listen closely Lisa Kleypas fans) The eye rolling is over, I am officially capitulating and stand repentant... I am now one of you - with Patricia Briggs. I love everything about the way she writes. Her Mercedes Thompson series is humorous, suspenseful, touching, warm, scary, inventive, romantic - everything, just everything I love in a story! Even with six of them now under her belt, the quality is never better.

In River Marked, Mercedes and Adam's relationship is given the much needed attention it deserves. Briggs ability to write a couple so real yet so sigh-worthy while keeping their animal natures in tact is incredible. They are both strong characters, allowed to be even stronger through their love for each other. While the plot-line of a water monster was not as riveting to me as others have been, the interest and page-turning suspense was still present right along with the touch of humor that makes Mercedes such a beloved character.

Mercy and Adam get some much needed relaxation on their honeymoon. Just kidding! Of course they take a seemingly innocuous escape from the stresses of the pack, the fae and the vampires. Only to be thrown into the path of some big Native American oogie boogie.

My favorite bit about this book was the fact that there was a lot of discovery about Mercy's Indian heritage. For the fact that she these unique abilities, up until now, Mercy hadn't known anything about her father and whether or not there were other Walkers.

There are only some quick guest appearances from the supporting cast. (Jesse, Stefan, the pack, Zee, ect) So we finally get some much needed development of Adam and Mercy's relationship. Up until it'd been: Disaster, Other Disaster, Fae are a pain in the butt, Adam and Mercy give each other googly eyes, disaster. )

One thing I'd really appreciate if Patricia Briggs did, though, is give us a list of sources or something about all the Native American legends she used. There were a lot of offhand remarks about stories I wasn't familiar with. But other than that? I'm still hooked and still LOVING Mercy. Now...when is the next Alpha and Omega book out?

I got this book at the same time I got Kim Harrison's Pale Demon and while each series deals with strong women in a world populated by Vampires, Werewolves, and other paranormal creatures, my experience couldn't have been more opposite. I started reading Pale Demon first and while I had enjoyed the earlier adventures of Rachel Morgan, I was bored by the book and the heroine's never changing behavior. Finally, after a couple of days I put it down unfinished and picked up River Marked. What a huge difference! Mercy grows with every book, and while she always survives her ordeals, she is never unscathed. The changes to her and her world follow into each new story and this installment is no different. River Marked, while another brush with the Fey, gives more information on Mercy's background before her life with Bran and "The Pack" and answers why Vampire's so hate Walkers. I started reading on a Sunday afternoon and even though I had to get up the next morning at 6 am, I finished the book in 1 reading. I know some will have issues with the "villian" of the piece, but not all of us want to read "War and Peace" all the time. I was taken into the entertaining world of paranormal and spiritual beings for a day, and out of our world with it's own very real and very scary disasters. My only complaint....it wasn't longer! ps I still haven't finished Pale Demon

Courtesy of Lost Art Audiobook Review

Native American Folklore & Suspense:
In the first 5 Mercy Thompson books, Patricia Briggs does an incredible job researching and weaving in historical folklore, especially with the faeries who in Mercy's world have revealed themselves to the public. We've seen every kind of fairy in the prior books, but we haven't seen any Native American folklore, with the exception of Mercy herself. This audiobook delves right in. River Marked includes the different tribes in the Washington area (Mercy is half Blackfeet), and includes the spirit animals of Thunderbird, Snake, Wolf, so on and so forth, and, of course, Coyote. We learn a lot about Mercy as she learns a lot about herself.

River Marked starts out much slower than the previous books. After the wedding, there is a ton of information. The action builds up a lot slower and the result is haunting suspense. Unlike the previous books, parts of River Marked aren't just entertaining but down-right terrifying. In one part, for example, Mercy hears about the death of a girl whose brother tries to save her. The girl says "it's so peaceful here" and then the brother discovers her body below her waist has been ripped off. The way it's described in the audiobook is nightmare-inducing. The prior books had scary moments and scary monsters, but they didn't haunt you like these scenes.

On Narration:
This is what makes a great audiobook: great writing plus great reading. Lorelei King is fantastic in the prior Mercy Thompson audiobooks and she doesn't disappoint in River Marked. I mention above that parts are very suspenseful, and that's a result of the way the book is read. One example is a scene in third-person that recounts the river monster taking over a school teacher who leads her family to their death in the river. In the middle of this dream, Lorelei King adds Adam's voice, disjointing the dream with "Mercy" over and over again, while the narration ignores him until Mercy wakes up. When this scene began, I thought I was in a different audiobook. Lorelei King reads the scene with a new voice, giving life to a new character and her new family. It is exactly how the scene should be read. Then, when Adam's voice starts breaking in to the internal dialogue, it brings not only Mercy back to her reality, but the listener back into River Marked. It becomes obvious that the scene is a dream. I recommend listening to that specific scene twice just because of how technically perfect the reading is.

I loved the first three books, but felt disappointed in books 4 and 5. Mercy was just reacting to everything, and had very little control over her life. If I wanted a heroine who was hypnotized/controlled by magic or kidnapped, I'd be reading something else. And it happened in books 3, 4, AND 5!! So I was pleased with book 6. Contrary to some of the other reviews, I thought the plot of River Marked made more sense than some of the previous installments. It felt like people were growing up and finding their places in the world. I am a little concerned that it was all Adam/Mercy--I just don't want Mercy's world to become primarily a romance. We already have that dimension in Alpha/Omega. Part of what I like about Mercy is that she has all these complex relationships she needs to juggle--friends, family, lover, clients, co-workers--just like the rest of us. Not too worried, though, because Briggs emphasizes several times how special this honeymoon "alone" time really is. Anyhow, I really enjoyed it, and am very satisfied.

Oh how I do not like giving this book only 3.5 stars. This is one of my favorite series and up until now, IMO, every single book has been amazing. For me this story started out very slow and you didn't even really get an idea of where the storyline was headed until about midway through. Don't get me wrong, I loved all of the page time that Mercy & Adam were given, but this series is not strictly romance and their scene time was very muted. I would have loved to feel their love more, not necessarily sex, just chemistry. The lack of the usual secondary characters was also disappointing, they have become just as much a part of this storyline as Mercy & Adam are & I missed them. What I did like was that Mercy finally has some answers where her father is concerned. She learned some valuble information not only for herself but for the magic world in general. This was a good addition to the series, just not my favorite. We'll wait & see what the next addition brings.

First off, I want to say I really like this series. I would give every book previous to this one five stars. However, the new one left me completely underwhelmed and so bored, I couldn't even make myself finish it.
There was barely any action, and I could not care less about all the new characters that were introduced. The relationships with the characters are getting stagnant and boring, too. I was surprised when I realized I was halfway through it, and nothing had really happened. All the new characters were hard to keep straight, and I kept wondering why I was supposed to be emotionally invested in them enough to care what happened to them. Mercy and Adam going on and on about whether it was otters or a plant or whatever that injured that guy's foot was enough to put me to sleep. When you try to make cute, little otters out to be dangerous, you know your story is going downhill.
I cannot believe during the whole writing, editing, and publishing process, nobody noticed that this story was pointless. Briggs actually spent pages upon pages describing a museum visit Adam and Mercy made and all the exhibits they saw. It did not add to the story, and I was bored to death! Shortly after that, they were given a petroglyph tour by one of the new characters that went on for way too long, and I finally just gave up. I'm taking the book back today.

This is a very entertaining entry in the Mercy Thompson series.
Mercy has just married Adam, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack. They set out for a campground honeymoon on the Columbia River, where they quickly find that the fae have set them up. Something evil is in the river, and it wants Mercy. She's always known she's unique, but this isn't a distinction - or job - she wants.
In a series of fast-paced (sometimes, mis-)adventures, Mercy discovers much about her own heritage. But she's also tested - this is, on the whole, darker than most of the other novels.
The romance between Adam and Mercy is a strong element, intense and sexual without any leering and nary a hint of treacle.
I loved this, definitely worth your time. (This is part of a series; you could start here, but why? Go get Moon Called, and join this tough VW mechanic as she explores what it means to be a shapeshifter in a world of gremlins, werewolves, vampires and other fae.)

This book has it all- intrigue, romance, supernatural, and a bit of humor. I've loved the entire series. Patricia Briggs knows her way around a keyboard, a plot, and a mystery. I love it that she has a supernatural being who goes to church every week and doesn't bandy about four letter words like they were water falling off a dam. Usually, a book with a Christian flavor will have a plot that is very weak, and the protagonist seems to be a bit lacking in intelligence- or at least in common sense. I love it that this protagonist is a lady with a conscience who does what she feels is the right thing, even though it results in lots of trouble for her. Mercy Thompson is one savvy lady with a loyal heart who will stop at nothing to help a friend. And as for the romance- things are finally beginning to heat up- and I say GREAT!

I hope Patricia Briggs never stops writing- I'd love to see more stories and series like this!

So i just started and I'm like wtf Mercy and Adam are engaged,and 2 seconds later married. But this is again so far is a continuing look at the development of their relationship and romance.
So this one is by far the most different than all the rest. It's just Adam and mercy mainly in this book. No pack ,zee, uncle mike, Sam or Stefan to jump in and save the day. And finally we learn more about "the father" mercy never knew. I have to say I really missed Sam in this one, it felt empty without him in this. And the one thing that keeps bothering me is how will the whole mercy Adam thing work when he is forever young and she ages like a human. . Hopefully she somehow becomes immortal in the next book... Maybe..

I gave this installment of the adventures of Mercy five stars because I wasn't allowed to give it 10!! This is, by far, the best book in the series. While I have loved every one of Briggs' books, for me Silver Bourne was a little slow. I feel very much like she came back with a vengence in River Marked. Briggs' wit and flair for making Mercy believable was so hard to put down this time, and I was very sad when the last page was turned because I could have kept reading and reading.
I loved the Native American side of this book...finally we got to explore Mercy's heritage a little bit. Loving how that turned out. I also love how strong Briggs writes Mercy. She has softened her up a bit since with the love affair with Adam, but Mercy is no shallow "save me" type of gal. She knows how to take care of herself, and even though she has some pretty formidible friends she isn't always begging to be saved. Great inspiration!
Definitly read this book!!! It's worth it!!!!

This one is slow, but not in a bad way. I was still enthralled, and it was nice to have a break from the intensity of the others. This departs from the fae/paranormal lore and delves into Native American lore, which is fascinating. Mercy's allies are impressive and the climactic fight is awesome. We also learn more about Mercy's family, and a minor plot point comes to fruition.

I'm going to be honest and say that after reading all of the books in this series, I was getting bored with the story. Although, I liked Mercy and found the whole coyote - shapeshifter issue fascinating, the Adam and Mercy love affair was just not up my alley. So in reading that they got married in this book, I grudgingly continued, thinking this would be the last one in the series for me. Reading this one, however, changed my mind completely. It was the best of the Mercy books written and had the added advantage of getting me interested in the series again.

In this story, Mercy and Adam get married and decided to go on a camping trip to spend time together as a couple. During their stay on the grounds, they meet some of Mercy's people, strange things start happening and there is something mysterious about the river. All of this builds up to an amazing climax, and provides a true showcase for Mercy's supernatural powers.

I read this book in one sitting and the only complaint is that the story ended and that it wasn't longer. The story grabs from the very beginning and the action in it was non-stop. The Mercy of this book is at her very best: strong, assertive and confident. More information about Mercy's background and her abilities is given. It shows Mercy's heritage in a different light and gives more insight about her powers. It was also interesting to see the reaction of Mercy's people to her abilities and to Adam's werewolf. An amazing read and one that I recommend heartily.

I have to say I was disappointed by this book. Taken away from the pack, I just felt this book delved a little too deeply into myths and legends, and I didnt get the same feel of wonder that I do reading the other books in the series. I actually gave up on this book about half way through the first time, only to come back to it a few months later determined to finish. I was sorely disappointed. If rating after only this experience I'd give it 1 star. However, in my love for the Mercy Thompson series, I was making my way through all the books once again in preparation for Frost Burned, and have to say that it was better this time. I dont know whether it was because I'd read it directly after the other books in the series this time or what, but I generally found the book more likeable. Still not mind blowing, but better.

So to sum up, a bit of a mixed review, but definitely not one of my favourites in the series. I think id be able to give this one a miss and continue on to the next book without any problems in terms of plot, so that tells me in and of itself that it wasn't such a great addition to the series.

Okay, as anyone can tell by now, I am a huge fan of this series. However, I simply was not as into this particular installment as I had been the other ones. Perhaps it was because I had gotten on the Mercy bandwagon a bit late, so I was spoiled to go through the books as fast as I could read them without waiting for the next one to come out. On the other hand, I had pre-ordered this one, and, I was more than a little sad when the publication date was pushed back. Maybe I ruined it for myself by waiting so long. Maybe it couldn't have possibly lived up to my expectations.

However, I have another theory. As much as I hate to say this, perhaps it's time for this series to come to a close. I'd miss it. I really would. But, Mercy and Adam are married. Samuel's issues have been resolved. And, if this book is any example of what I can expect in the future, the other characters just became obsolete. Much of the story, actually 90% of the story focused on Mercy and Adam's honeymoon, which was rudely interrupted by the river devil. Of course, the suspense was high, the danger intense, the mystery interesting, and the battle fast-paced, but where was everyone else? Mercy and Adam, as much as I love them, can't sustain an entire book on their own, especially when the sexual tension has mostly turned to newlywed sex. That of course is all well and good and even welcome after sticking with the couple for five books, but I got so weary of the river and the trailer that I was thrilled when they went to a Wal-Mart. Not a good sign. I know I'll endure a storm of Mercy fans telling me that this was one of the best in the series and that they'll never tire of reading them. But, as a writer myself, I can sense a story coming to a close. I only hope the publishing company doesn't milk the series so long that it loses its audience entirely.

If you haven't read it yet, I recommend Briggs's other series, the Alpha and Omega series. There are two installments of it so far, not including the novella that started it, and the third book is due out in January 2012. For now, I'll try to refrain from pre-ordering it or searching for any details about it on Google.

Mercy's Native American heritage is the focal point in this story, and it was really interesting - as both a plot line for the book and Mercy's further character development.
After SO MUCH push and pull between Mercy and Adam, it was wonderful to see them wholly accept each other and finally, finally! feel and accept the peace and love they bring each other. Well, maybe not peace, not with Mercy around! ;)

I really like this series it is always full of adventure, action and mystery. Mercy is always involved in something that puts her life in danger. This installment of the series is actually the first one that doesn't involve the wolf pack or anyone else in previous books but Adam and Mercy. We meet new characters that provide many answers to questions that I have been wondering about which includes information about who walkers are, Mercy's heritage and proof that Mercy isn't the only one. I loved watching Adam open up and relax since he didn't have to be the Alpha in front of his pack and it really brought out a whole new Adam. I have always liked Adam but now I like him so much more. I dont want to give away any spoilers but I love this series, will continue to read every book it produces and would highly recommend starting it if you haven't already.

I like that this series has been making it a point to evolve the characters. They are more like real people, even when dealing with all the magical problems they face. This book felt like a big set up for a lot of new stories. The conclusion and final confrontation came in fast though and I would have liked to have seen it appear to be harder and a little.longer in that aspect.

The book continues with its paranormal super heroine, with the addition of her marriage into the werewolf pack. While I do not normally like werewolf books, the pantheon of supernatural creatures is intriguing, and all of the characters are well developed. The male and female characters are well developed, characters that one enjoys visiting. Suspense, humor, and romance are nicely intertwined. This book would not work well if you failed to read the prior five books in the series. I immediately ordered the seventh book after finishing this one.

I have yet to come across a Mercy book I haven't loved! Each seem so different that it is like starting a new story all over again. Each theme different. I loved that in this book we get to see more insight into Mercy's heritage and what that means exactly.

I would have loved to see Bran a bit more in this, but you know, it isn't his book. But I'd just like to reiterate just how much I love Bran. But, I love Mercy and Adam too, so I was very happy to read about the both of them and their shenanigans.

The story was great. We've dealt previously with a lot of bad guys, but none quite like this. And the help along the way was unexpected, but I loved it. I loved the idea behind it and the symbolism. This book is definitely another keeper. I can't wait for another, the ending left some promising openings for another great book!

This series has been amazing! They were so good that I read through all of the books up to River Marked in less than two weeks. With that said, I am halfway through River Marked and I am quite disappointed. It's very slow and still I have yet to find out what this "evil" is that is being referred to. I've had this book a week and haven't had the need to keep reading it every waking moment like I have the others. I will keeping reading because I do enjoy the relational aspect of Mercy and her Alpha in this book. I think Patricia Briggs has developed some great characters in this series, that is what I love the most from the series, and what I miss the most from this book. I'm hoping it get more interesting as the book progresses, but I hope that the next book brings back our beloved pack and the rest of the characters we have come to love.

In this book, we find exactly what a skin walker is, and more about Mercy's father. After finally getting married to Adam in chapter two, they take their honeymoon in a national park camping ground, where they encounter native American tribesmen and an ancient monster pre-dating the Americas. Much of the book involves Mercy's family history, so I won't spoil it here.

On a minor note, Mercy also shakes Stephan out of a stupor/fugue from past events.

One of the better books in this series, though I found the constant stream of Native American tribal legends, sacred site descriptions, and character clothing on the tedious side. Was the museum visit really necessary? This felt more like an expanded short story than a novel, but I still liked it for answering questions I've had since I started reading the series.

When the paranormal/urban fantasy genre first started to become popular, I gobbled up everything I could find. But just like all series are wont to do, over the years most of the series I used to follow avidly have become stale. Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson books is about the only series I still follow; and, sadly, even this series have started to show some signs of aging over the last couple of books.

In Mercy's latest adventure, Mercy is on her honeymoon with her new hubby, the sexy alpha wolf Adam Hauptman. But because Mercy is still Mercy, trouble seems to follow her everywhere; and it wasn't long after they arrived at a campground near a Native American reservation that weird things started to happen. People getting attacked by weird creatures in the middle of the night, Mercy having visions of people drowning...and seemingly mixed up in all of these are a mysterious Native American medicine men, his equally mysterious cohorts and some wild otters...yup...otters. So just what exactly is going on and just what kind of monster are they dealing with this time?

This book reads a lot more like a stand-alone book than a book in the Mercy Thompson series. All of the characters we have become familiar with and grown to love - Darryl, Warren, Stefan - all only make cursory appearances. Even Adam, who was present throughout the book, was nothing but a big and strong presence next to Mercy as she fought to defeat the monster of the week alongside her new Native American friends. Gone are the building and furthering of the complex relationships between Mercy and Adam's wolves, the intricate political maneuverings that the werewolves, the fae, and the vampires engage in to co-exist peacefully in the Tri-Cities area. Instead, we get a history lesson on Native American folklore, a monster that belongs more in a 50's monster movie than a well-constructed urban fantasy, and a lot of filler as Mercy tries to adjust to her marriage to Adam. The book took so long to get off the ground that when the central mystery finally rears its head, we are almost 1/3 through the book. And even then, when the mystery is finally revealed, most of these were told to Mercy and Adam by a Native American tour guide in the guise of telling them folklores, that I was completely bored with the manner in which it was revealed. Native American folklore can be interesting, but the manner in which it was told in this book was definitely not.

To me, the greatest joys of reading an urban fantasy novel is in reading about the world that the author has created, a world with rules and complex relationships that operates within the set of established rules. Too much of what happens in this book seems arbitrary, as if the author is just making up rules as she goes along. And that is why I think this book will be more of a detriment than an asset in the serie's bid to remain one of the best urban fantasy series out there.

Finally! One of UF's most loved couples has wed! Woot Woot! Way to go Mercy & Adam!

Of all the trials and tribulations Mercy has faced, it's quite endearing that the one thing that utterly terrifies her is her mother's garish wedding plans! Lol, I can totally understand why! Seriously! Can you picture Mercy's wedding complete with 100's of Butterflies and Golden Balloons?...Tee hee...No way! Never fear, Mercy's angst is for not and it all turns out perfectly, in the end. Well, that is except for the honeymoon!

Having already faced many a dangerous foe, Mercy now confronts the terrifying reality that she may not come out of this adventure alive. In a coup to place Mercy once again in the position to "save the day", Uncle Mike has loaned the newlyweds his luxurious trailer and they camp in a, yet un-opened to the public, trailer park owned by another Fae named Edythe (aka Yo Yo Girl)...And we all know that nothing is ever freely offered by the Fae! Oh Dear! Looks like Mercy is into "it" but good once again! As it turns out, there is something very suspicious and extremely dangerous going on in the Columbia River and, of course, it seems it's up to Mercy to take care of business!

In book 6 of the series, the information shared about Mercy's heritage is spectacular. While in previous installments we were treated to just a glimpse, this time `round Briggs delves deeper, shedding much more insight into Mercy's past and the history of her people.

Complete with lots of laughs, plenty of "Mercy & Adam" time, and the ever present "trouble" that seems to follow Mercy like a lost puppy, River Marked is yet another example of Briggs mastery of the genre. With plenty of nail-biting excitement, fast-paced action and all sorts of new friends and foes, River Marked culminates perfectly in what appears to be a significant turning point promising much more excitement in Mercy's adventures to come!

While there are plenty of laughs and just as many dangerous endeavors within River Marked, Patricia Briggs included a treat for readers, within the final pages of the book. Now, I can't spoil the surprise because I really don't want to ruin the effect. Suffice it to say, readers will see a new side of Mercy and may even be grabbing for the nearest tissue box! Way to go Ms. Briggs! You always seem to find an amazing way to blind-side your readers! One way or another, you always have something totally unexpected up your sleeve!

I love Patricia Briggs and the Mercedes Thompson series. It was my first introduction to the urban fantasy genre and I've just fallen in love with her writing style and the worlds she creates. This series is super entertaining and full of great characters, kick-butt action, and great twists and turns. I can’t wait for her to write more books!

Mercy Thompson is one of the few urban fantasy heroines who isn't all lily-white -- she's half Amerindian, from whence her coyote shapechanging comes.

And Patricia Briggs' sixth urban fantasy "River Marked" delves into that oft-neglected side of her heroine. The plot is patchy and rather meandering at times, but Briggs keeps it moving with her strong earthy prose, likable characters, and some new insights into the world of shapeshifters. It's nice to get away from the Tri-Cities area!

When her mother starts overplanning her wedding to Adam (doves! Balloons! BUTTERFLIES!), Mercy decides to have a small, intimate ceremony instead. And they immediately embark on an idyllic honeymoon in a remote canyon on the Columbia River. But Mercy soon stumbles across some connections to her long-dead father -- other Amerindian shapechangers, ghosts, and true dreams.

As she searches for connections to others of her kind, Mercy stumbles across something much nastier, when she is "river marked" while rescuing a wounded man (who was bitten by something barracudaesque). The secret to dealing with the river creature will send Mercy back through ancient lore -- and the discovery of her father's true identity...

The previous five Mercy Thompson books all took place in the same general area, so it's a little refreshing to get out of town in "River Marked." Oh, the regular supporting cast makes appearances -- from the mopey Stefan to Mercy's cutthroat mama -- but most of the action takes place in the rugged canyons and murky rivers.

The biggest problem is that that the plot is pretty patchy. The main focus is on Mercy's search for her roots, so the river-monster and otterkin subplots sometimes get shoved to the sidelines. But Briggs' prose is strong and earthy, with some warmly snarky moments ("You stop baiting him -- or I'll call my mom") and some otherworldly ones (Mercy's talks with Coyote).

And it's good to see more exploration of Mercy's roots -- we know she was raised by werewolves, but Briggs really delves into her mystical, mysterious heritage here, and it adds a new dimension to her without seeming Mary-Suesque. Almost as important: she and Adam are now a full-fledged couple in every sense of the word, but they still have some wrinkles to iron out.

Patricia Briggs' "River Marked" is light on plot, but heavy on atmosphere, characterization, and a suitably monstrous magical foe. It's not the best of the series, but it's a powerful book.

Spoilers ALWAYS included

Patty Briggs is one of my favorite writers, and I think Mercy is one of my favorite characters. She is ballsy and doesn't take any prisoners. But she is not super woman, I think one of the hardest scenes I ever read was where Mercy was sexually assaulted in a previous book, her recovery from that incident I think is some of Briggs' best writing.

But on to the actual book, it started out a little slow for me. I think Briggs was trying to establish an intimate relationship with Adam and Mercy, but it honestly just felt to drag on. The last half of the book picks up and became a very enjoyable read. Briggs is one of the fantasy writers that doesn't stay in one or two of the supernatural categories, she is willing to include any and all supernatural elements, and she blends them in such a way that is still cohesive for the reader as well as entertaining. This book is no exception. There is interaction with her vampire friend who needs Mercy's help, the werewolf pack Mercy is no married into, the fae sending Mercy and Adam to the honeymoon spot as well as the Fae villains, as well as the exploration of Mercy's heritage which brought in a whole new supernatural element never explored before.

Mercy has always been an outsider in the books, she is the only one of her kind, or so she thought. As a coyote raised by wolves, I believe that Mercy has always been content with the road her life went down. She has even mentioned in prior books that she has looked in mildly to her heritage but never really took it further. This book changes all of that, her heritage rises up to meet her.

I love the Native American culture, and I love that Briggs did not just make this about one specific tribe, in fact in the end Mercy is the child of all of the tribes because her father is one of the remaining immortal figures Coyote that serve the Great Spirit that all of the Native Americans believe in. The extensive culture that Briggs explores in this book is amazing, and it is great that she was able to not only make a plot that was interesting to the reader but also gives Mercy more depth and a clear and remaining link to her past, that is sure to show up in the following books.

The book was full of small sentimental moments that long time fans of these series would appreciate. I believe my favorite of these moments would be Bran at Mercy's wedding, acting all parts of the father he really feels he is to Mercy. Seeing the bond Mercy had developed with the most powerful werewolf in the world is something so sweet and special. I also love that Mercy is becoming more and more like a mother to Jesse, they have always had a good dynamic together, but it has begun to really evolve into a parent and child dynamic that has been so great to watch evolve.

I also really love the small moments Mercy has with Stefan. Stefan was a main element in the prior book. One of my biggest issues with a lot of series writers is they forget the prior books existed for some characters, the main character always remains changed but the others just seem to be along for the ride. Briggs never does that to her characters. While Stefan was not a main player this time around, she didn't forget him and showed him as the damaged vampire he should be. And true to her form Mercy does everything she can to help him heal. And in the end when Mercy herself is healing from the situation within this book, Stefan comes along to help her as well. The moment between the two of them at the end was sweet not just because of Stefan caring for Mercy when he was still clearly not completely well himself, but also the interaction Coyote and Stefan have together. Mercy is clearly a character that has the ability to unite elements of the supernatural that prefer to remain separate and also typically at odds.

Over all this is a book I loved reading, even though it to in my opinion, took far to long to pick up. The continual mundane activities that Mercy and Adam go through for so much of the beginning of the book reminds me almost of how Harry Potter's last book seemed to go on forever when they were on the run, it was just more and more of the same over and over again for far to many pages. I also think she made the river monster far to large, I think she could have made the monster even slightly smaller and way more believable within that context. But overall I think the book was great, probably my second favorite of her books.

An excellent book, coming from Patricia Briggs I expected no less but I was so entranced with this book I could not put it down. I found it was like being on a carnival ride. It just grabbed me and took off and I enjoyed it to the very end. If you have not gotten into the series you absolutely need to look into all of the Mercy Thompson books.

It is the fate of all urban fantasy series to be compared to Hamilton's Anita Blake. I initially compared the Mercy Thompson books quite favourably as uncomplicated and focussed on action.

Of late however I have been unsatisfied. The first 100 pages of River Marked are all about Mercy's relationship with Adam (nothing interesting or tense just purple lovely dovey stuff about how hot his abs are etc...) This is after a brief chapter about Stefan (her local friendly vamp) which (spoiler alert I suppose) goes nowhere, the the main plot has nothing to do with vampires.

The next 200 pages is yawn worthy mythology and confusion intermixed with adam randomly getting shot and wait for it....

Otters.

Yes the big bad in River Marked are Otters, and yes Briggs did her best to make them a decent foe - even to the point where Mercy ups the drama by penning a 'if I don't come back letter to Adam' something which I feel would be more meaningful if their relationship wasn't so shiny and perfect there was actually something to say other than 'I'll miss your abs.'

In short I guess I'll find myself continuing with this series as there is still plenty of potential for an increase in enjoyment - however every successive book I read reduces that probability.

Just a few comments. I loved this book for the Native American history/myth. I enjoyed meeting Coyote and the rest of the walkers... I appreciated it for the description of the Columbia River near Maryhill... and the no pack drama...BUT I HATED the story line what has Briggs killing 4 children... Wasn't happy when she killed a young boy in Fair Game (Alpha And Omega)... okay I hated that also... but in River Marked she spends pages on the slaughter of these children by the people that love them. I HATED the killing of the children so much I gave this book 3..

Mercy and Adam finally get married. It is suppose to be in 6 weeks, but she ends up having a surprise wedding because of her mother pushing her.

On their honey moon Mercy and Adam help the local Indian tribe with some problems they are having. And Mercy meets more people who are like her, and even someone who might be related to her.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved getting to see more of Mercy and Adam together. And I loved finding out more about Mercy's heritage, and all of the cool walker gifts. This book has lots of different surprises as well, and Mercy's vampire friend is back in action finally.

** spoiler alert ** In Book 6 we have a nice change of scenery and major focus on Adam and Mercy as a married couple. I have to say that I was a bit nervous that we'd never see them walk down the aisle, but thank god they did and did so quickly at the beginning of the book. The timeline of the book was during their honeymoon. I'm glad they got to spend some time together enjoying marital bliss before the drama started. I know that some readers were disappointed about the lack of other characters that we've come to love like Samuel, Stefan, Jesse, Warren, Zee, the Pack, etc. I was a bit sad too, but I also understood the necessity of their absence. First, we see even more development of the relationship between Mercy and Adam as a married unit. Normally Mercy goes out to fight some evil and Adam is brought in last minute. Sorta. Now that they are a team, you see them tackling the evil together and they're both in the loop from start to finish, for the most part. Second, how much drama will the Pack tolerate, right? It's not Mercy's fault that trouble follows her, but I'm sure they want a breather and lets not give them more fuel. So overall, it was a great book. We learned more about Mercy's past and I think she feels more secure and happy amongst her wolves. I look forward to the next book, but wish it wasn't so far away!

BTW, for those of you who have read it, do you think Mercy is preggers? I believe it was Jim that said she's taking something special home with her. I hope she is! I would totally read a spin-off focused on their child. :)

I have loved all of the Mercy Thompson books so far but this one really hooked me. I think it was all the Native American lore that it contained.

I also love the romance and interaction between Adam and Mercy.

Patricia Briggs has eclipsed Laurel K. Hamilton and others in this genre. Her Mercy Thompson series gets better with each book, and she has the rare ability to combine good writing with a story and characters we genuinely care about.

I read this book in one sitting and bought the hardcover, I couldn't wait for the paperback. I'm glad I found Patricia Briggs only months ago -- I had six book in this series to read, and the other books as well, although I admit to a strong preference for this series, followed by Alpha/Omega (same world but the focus is on different characters, well worth reading if you haven't).

While I would never want quality to be compromised, I'd love to see two books a year ;) It's so wonderfully refreshing to have someone write well (another author in this genre speaks of "a large amount of people" in one of her books - and I cringe, because presumably the editor also missed the error?) just flat out good writing, not adequate, legitimately good writing, something that is becoming more and more of a rarity -- especially in genres such as this which aren't entirely "respectable"; ridiculous, but nonetheless true. Patricia Briggs makes it seem easy... great world-building skills, characters we care about, laugh and cry with, and writing that is clear, error-free, and entirely readable.

Very enjoyable, and I look forward to the next book.

I have read probably everything Patricia Briggs has written and I love her characters, detailed worlds, and particularly her voice.

Mercy Thompson is certainly one of my favorite characters of her and I ran out and bought this book in hard cover when it first came out. But I must say it fell short of the mark for me, particularly as Mercy seemed to be at her most passive in this book.

It just didn't all gel, and the ending felt ultimately both too easy and straight-forwards for me. Something was just unsatisfying about it all, but I'll still get the next Patricia Brigg's book and she is still one of my favorite authors.

One of Briggs’ best. I went into this book not knowing a thing about the plot--my copy didn’t have any blurbs--so it was a pleasure to see the story unfold and not know what was coming next. I did skip over reading Mercy’s letter to Adam. I know there are plenty of fans out there who would go crazy if Briggs’ hadn’t included it, but I’m not one of them. Maybe it was meant as a “extra” for the really diehard fans.

I've read every single one of the books in this series and have loved how PB continues to shake things up for the heroine. While I've sighed with the rest of her readers when the heroine seemed to finally get her man, I've been very pleased with how PB has so deftly woven new story lines while tying up others. I simply love her writing style and, in this day where everyone seems to end a book on a cliffhanger, I ADORE that she ends each of her books solidly. Anyway, this review is coming now because I'm preparing for her next book, to be published on Tuesday. Yay!!!

Out of all the books i never found my self having to force myself to read. This was so boring and just not the mercy feel I know and love. I know this was a way to give a better understanding of her but it was not a good one. I don’t know what happened! But none the less I’m continuing the series because the author is an artist (usually ) and I wouldn’t dare not read the next ones!

Many times while reading a book series, after the fourth or fifth book I will need to find something fresh to read for a while before going back to finish the series. This is not one of those! I love how the Mercy Thompson series, even after reading the sixth book, still leaves me wanting more.

The things I enjoyed most about this book were reading about Mercy and Adam (I love Adam!) and their ever-growing relationship and also finding out more about Mercy's background. And, Stefan was back in this book! The thing I really missed in this book was more of the pack. I love the pack life and dynamics, conflicts, and ties, and even though I know we needed to see Mercy and Adam on their own for a while (their honeymoon, in fact), I still missed it. We got glimpses here and there, but the overall feeling was gone.

Briggs has made in Mercy a heroine who so easy to like. She is strong and independent. She can hold her own around the wolf pack, the vampires, and the fae. I can't wait for the next book...but sadly, I'm going to have to.

Geez, too many other people hating on this book!

I thought it was GREAT. As good as any other book in the series.

Firstly, it covered the whole marriage thing without dedicating an entire book to it.

And then it moved on to piles of interesting stuff that the previous five books have hinted at (starting heavily with book 4, I'd say) and really got in depth with it. I don't think this series could live without this book any longer than it has done! Having dedicated a lot of words towards firstly werewolves, then the vampires, then the fae. By the end of book 5 I was wondering when first nation myth would be covered because it was seeming like a big fat void, AND THEN THERE WAS BOOK 6. <3 Yeah.

Maybe some of the downer comments are about a book mainly dedicated to a romance, less from supporting characters, just Mercy and Adam. But this was totally important. The absence of the supporting characters makes me miss them and love them more in preparation for book 7. Seriously though, Mercy and Adam deserved the amount of text they just got after 5 books of build up. Without this accomplishment, I don't think I'd be ready to move on to book 7.

There's still so much ground to cover in this series. I'm totally excited. The world that's been developed still has gaps that could be filled (or ignored,) like the nasties in asia and africa that have caused fae to be a European centered group. Or plot driven open ends that could be left open or tackled, like the Gray Lords, Marcilia's exile, and Bran could probably go off and have his own pile of books somewhere (but I guess he wouldn't like that much.) <~ There's so much more that could be written. *__* Not that it has to be, there could never be another book and the six book series would stand as it is, but I'm ready to throw money at the next thing, whatever it may be. I completely trust Patricia Briggs to write the thing that needs to be written.

I, like many other reviwers love the Mercy series, this book however was my least favorite in the series. Usually when I read Patrioia Briggs I can't put the book down, with this book I kept putting the book down. I love to read about the pack and the interaction between them, and this book had very little of that. I enjoyed the wedding, but the secenes at Stefan's house just seemed like "filler" to me. The second half "honneymoon" part of the book went a lot faster than the first, but I got bored reading the detailed descriptions of every person and place in the book. I will continue reading the series because overall it is one of the best series out there, I just hope the next book stays closer to home.

1. It's about time that the poor girl got some well deserved healing after what has happend to her in her history, and spending it alone with Adam, num numm numm! I am almost torn in my choice of favorite star for this series - Mercy herself or the wonderfully wicked yet innocent intelect that is she who shares my name - Jessi.

2. Patricia also brings in the introduction of Mercy's parental heritage and just what she really is in a novel and smooth way that it flows so beautifully into this paralell world to ours, that it begs the mind to truely question, "are you SURE that these people are not out there?"

please - pick up this entire series, and enjoy all 6 books, and throw in the two books and short story that comprise the "Alpha & Omega" series (note: The introduction to the series is in a short story, which can be found in the book "On The Prowl", a compilation novel.) Ignore the few timeline inconsistancies and get to know the warewolf and shifter world as they come out into the open.

I've read this series for years. I re-read the prior books in the series and rolled right into River Marked.

I won't go into the plot, which is well described by other viewers. Essentially, Mercy and Adam go on a road trip, and Native American paranormal/magic stuff happens. I thought Mercy really rocked in this story.

After the last few books about serious relationship and political entanglements with the vampires, fae, Samuel and the Pack, I found this book a refreshing change. Especially after the scary Monster Blackwood of Bone Crossed and the Fairy Queen and Pack angst of Silver Borne, I found the change of pace really, really, welcome in the series.

So yes, it's different from the earlier books, but I found it just as wonderful a story, and just what the series, as a whole, needed.

Life is changing for coyote-shapeshifter Mercy Thompson. She is now living with fiance, Adam, the werewolf alpha. And at the moment, no one seems to be gunning for her death. But Mercy wouldn't be Mercy if she could stay out of trouble.

As she and Adam embark on a week-long trip to a campground, Mercy learns quickly there is more to the vacation than meets the eye. The fae have actually orchestrated the trip, because one of them had a vision that Mercy needed to be there. It turns out there is a monster in the water, and Mercy is integral in the chain of events needed to kill it.

But while previous installments of this series have focused on the werewolves, the vampires or the fae, this one is really about Mercy's Native American heritage. About the shapeshifting line she hails from and the magic it entails. I have to admit, some of it was confusing off the bat, especially when we got into who her father really was. By the end of the book, I pretty much got the idea, but it didn't sit easily with me.

I was happy to see the continued progression of Mercy's relationship with Adam. But I did miss the supporting characters we've come to know and love. Sure, we got a glimpse of them at the beginning, but for the most part, they were noticeably absent. Of course, they couldn't all cram into the RV and go along with Mercy & Adam, but the family of characters Patty Briggs has created --are really one of the best things about these books. I felt its absence.

When all was said and done, though, it was a good read. Not the best the series has to offer, but one I wouldn't miss. 4 stars.

I recently found Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson books and have read through them all (and the Alpha and Omego spin-off series) in about two weeks. I love Mercy's strength, spunk, and loyalty to those around her. This latest book has almost no references to the other characters that we've read in previous books - it's entirely Mercy and Adam. Some of the reviews I read rated the book poorly and thought the story was too slow; however, I found it to have the same great writing style and exciting pace that I've come to expect with the series. The relationship between Adam and Mercy develops nicely, and we learn more about Mercy's heritage and why her magic is so unique. I'm a little bummed now that I found out that the next book in the series doesn't come out until spring 2013 - that's just under two years away.

Patricia Briggs delivers another story that packs a wallop in River Marked! While on their 10-day Honeymoon, Adam and Mercy get caught up in a mystery which leads the reader into some of Mercy's American Indian roots. This includes more background on her biological father. The Fae are involved in the periphery of the story, as well. Along the way, Adam and Mercy are put into a situation where they must contend with a water-dwelling monster lurking in the depths of a river near where Mercy and Adam are staying for their Honeymoon. In order to eradicate the evil river monster, she and Adam must join their new-found allies against the monster in order to conquer it.

This novel is a great addition to this series. Patricia Briggs does not disappoint her fans in this intricate story.

Happy reading from Bona Fide Reflections!

I love the series and waited impatiently for this installment. I was surprised at the marriage, but okay with the fact that neither Mercy nor Adam seemed to become a sidekick. Loved the Demigods. As usual the story was chocked full of mythology. This is one of best feaures of this series. My biggest gripe was that the "Big Bad" - wasn't. The monster was mostly non-descript and limited by its habitat. I know it could reach out direct a few people, it just didn't feel that threatening. At least not in the same way that other Fae, were's or even the odd human in other stories were threatening. It wasn't personal to Mercy - she was there, so she was threatened. I missed the other were's they make a good back-drop for Mercy's coyote. But it was readable and I'll look forward to book 7 as long as Mercy and Adam stay true to themselves.

Why does it always feel like Christmas come early when a new Mercy Thompson book comes out? Oh right, because it's Mercy Thompson. Mercy has changed drastically over the course of this series going from someone who was wary, tough, and very independent to a much softer, more playful, and embracing woman. It's taken me a little while to adjust to this new Mercy, but I think RIVER MARKED is probably my favorite Mercy book since IRON KISSED. Mercy is a lot more emotional this time, and not without reason, as she has to deal with revelations about her father, her heritage, and what the future of her relationship with her mate will be like.

The majority of RIVER MARKED takes place outside of the Tri-Cities, and as much as I like all the wolves, vamps, fey, and human characters we've met since MOON CALLED, it was nice to pare down to just Mercy and Adam. We do meet some rather significant new characters who provide real answers and explanations about Mercy and Walkers in general. I know Briggs has said that she was nervous about delving into Mercy's Native American origins, but she' needn't have been. It never felt like information overload. Most of the explanations--apart from one about Joe Old Coyote--felt logical and interesting.

And after missing Stefan in BONE CROSSED, I was very pleased with the scenes he got in RIVER MARKED (including my favorite description of him to date: "He was like Superman, but with fangs and oddly impaired morals"). I'm guessing here, but I'd be surprised if Mercy #7 didn't deal heavily with Stefan and the Seethe. We'll have to wait until 2012 to see if I'm right.

The Mercy Thompson series is one of the best in the urban fantasy genre for good reason. The mythology of the series is rich and complex, borrowing just enough fact to feel real, and mixing just enough fantasy to feel magical. Mercy's world is about to get much bigger in RIVER MARKED when she learns, in a lot of ways, that she is not nearly as alone in this world as she thought. Overall, Mercy 2.0 may be more domesticated than the, pardon the pun, lone wolf mechanic we met in MOON CALLED, but her transformation into the woman we see now has been believable and hard won.

Mercy is happy now in a way I don't think she imagined possible. And I'm happy for her. Of course Mercy's happiness is about as far from boring as it gets. In RIVER MARKED she battles river monsters, Otterkin, and Native American gods armed only with her wit and walking stick. And she does it all with the same cool and tenacious attitude that endeared her to so many of us six books ago, and hopefully for many more books to come.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex. References to homosexuality. References to rape.

I love these books, but it took me half way through before I was enjoying it. The fact that you can use your imagination to make the romance real, with out having to be graphic in her books is the best part, I really didn't get it in this one. Most everything she writes sucks you in from the first, and this one was scattered thoughts, some really didn't even pertain to the story line. It was almost like they were thrown in their to make it longer. I hope the next in the series is better.

I have Really enjoyed all the books in the series, and this one didn't disappoint. I did miss the frequent interaction support characters have had in the past, but loved the introduction to new ones. I was happy to see some alone time for our pair, and thought it was well done.
This isn't a really a stand alone book. I recommend reading previous books in order for max enjoyment.
This is a great author, who I hope continues sending us great reads.

I suppose it was bound to happen. Usually a series hits a pit in the second or third book. I suppose it is something that it took five for this one.

What makes this series so likable is the main character. She's not overly beautiful or desirable. She doesn't have a mountain of sexy men all fighting for her attention. She's not incredibly witty or athletic. She's as normal as normal could considering she's a coyote "walker." Mercy is a VW mechanic that grew up with a family of werewolves. All her life she thought she was the only walker, and regardless of her background, she grew up healthy and well-loved by her real mother as well as her foster parents. She's a good girl who tries to do right. She is someone that a reader could relate to easily. And yet, trouble has seem to land on her head in every book regardless of how hard she tries to avoid it.

Mercy and Adam get married and go on their honeymoon in this book. Like every book before, trouble finds Mercy. there is "monster" living in the river eating people. Mercy, like normal, won't turn her back on those in need and risk her life to solve the problem. In addition, Briggs introduces Coyote, the Native American Mythical character, into the story. I liked that Briggs brings in the mythos, but I thought the story was a lot slower than her previous books. The story centered more around Mercy and Adam telling each other that they love each other than it did around the problem of the story. The conflict of the story seemed to be left by the wayside while the two characters made moonie eyes at each other.

Otherwise, I still feel like Mercy Thompson series is one of my favorites and I look forward to the next one. Hopefully, there would be more development.

I have all the Mercy books and loved every one of them. Patricia Briggs is a great fantasy writer that makes you believe in werewolves, vampires and the fae and spins a totally logical and interesting story. She uses humor as well as interesting challenges to keep you reading until the end. I'd highly recommend this and any other book by her to anyone who has an interest in the magical lives of her characters.

Amongst the plethora of urbanfantasinites plaguing the modern reader there only a few whose works have been inspired, involving, exciting... consistently good reads. People like Jim Butcher, Kim Harrison, Ilona Andrews, Jennifer Estep and Patricia Briggs. I've enjoyed reading their works believing them often to be not only the best of a usually poor genre but genuinely good and worthwhile literature.

Which made it all the more disappointing when not only did I not like Ms. Briggs' latest Mercy Thompson novel, but in fact could not even bother finishing it. I usually know within the first 10 or so pages if I will enjoy the book or not so I rarely find myself in a position where I've invested time reading a book that was not worth it but this is the case here. I pushed myself to read just another page, just another chapter, hoping that the pace will pick up, that an interesting character will appear, that there will be some drama or mystery or... something. Nope. Perhaps I am unfair. Perhaps I expected too much from a series and a writer who has always delivered. Perhaps if I had stuck just for another chapter or a few pages finally something noteworthy would have happened. Perhaps not.

To me River Marked feels like an archetypical series book - not a worthwhile work in its own right but rather the fruit of a writer's contractual obligation to a publisher to deliver a preordered and preapproved novel. Yeah, perhaps they had to cut quality a bit but they got their product on the street and that's all us poor addi... uh... fans need, right?

Anyway. Fans of the series will buy the book regardless, most will probably be happy regardless. I just hope this will be a bump on the road not a new direction. It would be disappointing to see one of the truly good urban fantasy series go the way of mediocrity.

That said - to those of you who do buy and read the book - I hope you like and enjoy it more than I did. Cheers :)

I switched between the ebook and audio book. I've enjoyed the narrator for this series. What I loved about this installment was finding out more about Mercy and how it centered more on Adam & Mercy.

I have no complaints about this book or this series. There has been no overdramatic frustrating phases to work through as with other series I have read and the main character, Mercy, is absolutely kick-ass, awesome. What made this book so great was the amazing storyline involving Mercy's heritage and getting to learn about her father while watching she and her new husband bond further on their Honeymoon. I don't want to give spoilers but would love to let the Author know that I love her writing and her charachters. I live in Western WA where the landscape is very different from Mercy's (like in Twilight). Briggs' descriptions of this beautiful place make me want to relocate. LOVED IT. Thanks Patricia Briggs!

I bought River Mark via Audible and loved it. I waited impatiently for this one and wasn't let down. I, unlike a few of the other reviewers, loved the love story part of Mercy and Adam. (I think that is why I love the Alpha and Omega series so much - more emphasis on the relationship.) I knew there had to be more to their relationship than what we had been given in the other books. Patricia had almost made it seem that they fell into a relationship due to living next door, but this one showed that there was more involved then just familiarity. I loved finding out more about Mercy's background. That answered a lot of questions. I will say that this one didn't come across with the evilness that some of the other did - that was ok for me, evil isn't my thing anyway. I wish I had reread the last book before this one because of all the references to things that happened in the last one. There were references to the other books as well, but for some reason it was the one before this one that threw me a little. I enjoyed this book. It was worth the wait. NOW we have to wait again for the next one. If that wasn't bad enough it will be another year before we get the next one in the Alpha and Omega Series - way too long! UGH!!!

I won't go in to the details of the storyline, as it seems everyone before me has, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at the more intimate nature of this installment of the Mercy Thompson series. You learn a lot about Mercy's past and her heritage, as well as get an emotional look inside her relationship with Adam. I thought Patricia Briggs did a great job bringing history, fantasy, and romance together to create an intriguing and captivating story. My mainly complaints were that some story lines did seem to start and then suddenly leave off halfway through the book and sometimes the conversations and explanations would get a little too wordy. Overall, however, I would highly recommend this book and the series in general.

I am so glad this story finally was told. I have been waiting to learn more about the Native American story and Mercedes connection to it. This book was the most rich is Native American lore and Ms. Briggs once again wove a vivid tale, moving her characters through their stories with great finesse and creativity. I enjoyed this book tremendously.

I am new to the Mercy Thompson series, so I have spent the last two weeks reading as many as I can. This is as good as the first, second, third. The characters are someone you want to be friends with, be they werewolf, walker or vampire. Well plotted, suspenseful and a pleasure to read

I've been a fan of this series and thought I'd enjoy Mercy and Adam getting more time together. I don't really believe I got any more in depth feelings from either character or their connection even though they were together. I honestly found this a little boring and have been wondering if I'll continue reading this series as a result..

I agree with the reviews that say the first half of the book was a little slow with the wedding, honeymoon..etc. but it really picked up when we understood what the river devil was. I thoroughly enjoyed the action later in the book but the first half leaves me wondering where future installments in this series are going to go. I feel that the author rushed the relationship between Mercy and Adam way too fast instead of building on the sexual tension and the game play between the two. It was amusing the way she defied him and the pack, wanting to be independent and on her own. The author also could have explored Mercy's relationships with Stefan and Samuel to create conflict between her and Adam. I don't like books that stretch the conflict or romantic triangles out too far. But when characters settle into domestic bliss it can sometimes become boring for the readers who enjoy a little sizzle with their mystery. I'll certainly give the next book a chance!

As other reviewers have noted, this book is a bit different from the earlier Mercy books in that Mercy's relationship with Adam and revelations about her heritage are explored in more depth. Personally, I very much enjoyed the continued evolution of her character. It's the sixth book - it make sense that the story is moving more deeply into relationships and history. The Native American lore was facinating and the story/plot was great fun. Yes, it was a different Mercy story, but I enjoyed it every bit as much. Congratulations to Patricia Briggs for continuing to explore Mercy's story rather than relying on rehashing and recycling the same-old-same-old from previous successful Mercy books!

***** CONTAINS SPOILERS *****
Let me start off by saying that I truly enjoyed this book, as I do all of Patricia Briggs' novels. And, because she was my first paranormal/urban romance heroine, Mercy holds a special place in my heart. But . . . after finishing the book, I found myself wanting more of something, but I'm not sure what.

The story if very well written (of course!), yet I think there is, perhaps, too much back-story given and, too much of other unnecessary things going on (for instance, I didn't see the need for the altercation in Wal-Mart -- did that further the storyline at all?). As always, the characters were richly fleshed out, but perhaps there were too many players? I absolutely adored Coyote, and I truly hope we see him again. And, Gordon Seeker was a hoot! But there were a few too many medicine men for me to keep track of.

I loved being a member of the wedding party and honeymoon! That was so clever, and I can totally believe that Mercy would end up with the honeymoon-from-hell. At last, we find out about Mercy's heritage, and meet her father(s) -- and I'm including Bran in that count! Those of us who adore him, fell a little bit more in love with Adam (though I'll be glad when he gets a handle on his Mercy-anxiety, which a strong alpha like him should be able to overcome). We meet a cool cast of "avatars," and I totally want to visit this area and view the waterfalls, now! Yet, I kept thinking that at any moment Bran would show up and lend a hand, and I wish that had happened. I would have LOVED to see some interaction between Bran, Coyote and old Gordon Seeker!

Someone mentioned that perhaps this would have been better as a short story. I disagree. I think this had enough meat to work as a full novel. I think the integration of established, well-loved characters is what was lacking here, but that in no ways means that this wasn't a very excellent read, and I've re-read it through all ready. I'm sorry AND VERY DISAPPOINTED to learn that we'll have to wait until 2013 for the next chapter in Mercy's life, but I understand the pressures Ms. Briggs faces as she creates quality work. Mercy, along with Kate Daniels (Ilona Andrews), Jane Yellowrock (Faith Hunter) and Allie Beckstrom (Devon Monk) are my alter egos! <smile>

While I was mildly entertained, this novel just seemed very shallow (no pun intended). The plot was nothing great, the romance nothing great. It's almost like the author isn't even trying...she's written some great characters, who I absolutely adore...but I feel like I might be able to write a more interesting story than she did on this one...and I can't write at all. I gave it 3 stars because even when Briggs isn't trying very hard, she's still better than most.

I really like Patricia Briggs as an author. I even liked Masques, which she kind of dismisses in the forward of the same book. Her books have been my favorite in the genre until this one. It was truly lackluster. I usually read the Mercy books in a day because I can't put them down. This one took me the better part of two weeks. In the beginning, Mercy and Adam didn't even read like themselves. The other characters, wonderful to read in the past, were so ancillary in this story, it seemed silly to have them in the book at all. As far as exploring Native American culture or myth, the characters were there, but they were shallow and marginalized. The last few chapters were a bit of a recovery, but not enough to pull it out of the 2 star range.

This book was outstanding!! Action... New creatures and people-- good and bad! !
The bulk of this novel was set with Mercy and Adam and the other surprisingly interesting people.. You will enjoy this book

This book is part of a fantastic series. River Marked does not let you down. It's a different twist on the supernatural than the other books-- definitely a nice change up and still keeps past themes going.

I have read the whole series as each book has came out and have been a fan. However, this book seemed to be written a lot differently than the others. I enjoyed seeing Mercy have some alone time with her wolf but I thought that the wedding was rushed. I will read the next book in hopes that what is missing will be returned back into the series.

The werewolves outed themselves and while humans debate the politics of the species living in their midst, car mechanic Mercy Thompson is a walker who can turn into a coyote at will. She is busy trying to elope with Adam the alpha werewolf of the Columbia Basin Poole. Her friends and family want to throw a wedding for the couple before they depart on their honeymoon along the banks of the Columbia River.

When Mercy finds out the Fae gave them a luxurious camper; she is upset because the Fae do not do favors without an exorbitant price. The fae wants her to investigate the disappearance of several people along the river. What they find is that there is an essence known as the river devil that is in a symbiotic relationship with the fae otterkin that looks human but is a deadly predator. She distances herself from the river devil who has marked her. The God Coyote informs Mercy about her parentage and she has a role to play as part of her heritage to end the river devil's reign of terror while a frustrated Adam must back away.

River Marked is a wonderful urban fantasy that has characters who touch the souls of readers especially the lead couple; a loving duet who lives for today as they may not see the morrow. Coyote the Trickster and the other gods of Native American mythology enhances the Mercy mythos. With a strong cast including other walkers and a terrific malevolence, fans of the saga will relish Mercy's honeymoon.

Harriet Klausner

I've been reading Mercy since the first book came out, and I've loved how Briggs has stuck to her character. While Mercy may have grown up, undergone trauma and matured, at her heart she is still the same character she we were introduced to in Moon Called. The last book proved to us that Adam and Mercy could get a big romantic and a little more lovey dovey. Well Briggs has kicked that up a notch. Mercy's mom is planning an extravagant wedding... whose mother would love to? Mercy and Adam decide that's not for them and get married in a smaller ceremony, then comes the honeymoon! This is where the true meat and bones of the plot comes in. Mercy and Adam discover clues and connections to her true heritage, and more importantly her father.

What I loved about River Marked was that Mercy and Adam traveled farther away from the pack and they're typical scene. Together they and the reader explored different areas and ancient lore without the pack comfort and security. Having said that I also missed the regular characters, but it was worth it to see Adam and Mercy in new situations. Sometimes I felt though that the main plot was so focused on Mercy and her heritage that some of the smaller subplotletts got left hanging in the wind. Who knows perhaps Briggs will revisit them later.

All in all it was a new path for Mercy, and I really enjoyed learning and discovering about her roots. In the previous books all we heard was how rare Walkers were and in the past how they were all killed, but we never really understood who that made Mercy and more importantly her absent father. Briggs has just gotten better, and I'm looking forward to more Mercy as well as another Anna and Charles. Enjoy!

I have grown to really like Mercy Thompson and her pack. If I had the imagination that Patricia Briggs has I would be doing the same thing but I don't so I read her books. I have read 6 of these so far and enjoyed them thoroughly.

Usually this far into a series it getting a little boring. Not true with this series. I have really enjoyed every book so far, an this one was no exception. Action packed and grealt story the characters I've grown to love, and new one to add.

A slight departure from the normal setting of the Tri-City area, Patricia Briggs expands the universe of the Mercy Thompson series, introducing new characters and developing the strange and amazing life of Mercedes, bringing us a little further into a world where modern life sometimes slams sideways into the supernatural.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the expanding mythology Mrs. Briggs is introducing s to. Very different characters from myth and legend being brought to us by our familiar heroine, and a great, exciting search for an enemy that ends in one of Patricia's best combat scenes. It was a pure joy reading this story,and I am eager for the next book to come out.

I dont know why people are giving this 2 and 3 star reviews I loved this book and am now on my 4th rereading. This is the book that got me started reading Mercy Thompson. Saw it at my local library and was interested. Only problem for me is that I dont read books out of order. Eventually found first book and then raced through the rest of the series. Cant wait for March!

I had the hardcover on my bookshelf for a bit. I needed something to read and found it. I'm so glad I did. I had forgotten how much I loved the series. This book is probably one of my favorite of the series now. I like that we get to learn more about where Mercy comes from.

Probably the only problem I have with this book is the cover. Quite a few times Mercy's tattoos are described and the cover looks quite wrong. Ah well. Very minor thing compared to how much I enjoyed the inside :)

I really like Patricia Briggs as an author. I even liked Masques, which she kind of dismisses in the forward of the same book. Her books have been my favorite in the genre until this one. It was truly lackluster. I usually read the Mercy books in a day because I can't put them down. This one took me the better part of two weeks. In the beginning, Mercy and Adam didn't even read like themselves. The other characters, wonderful to read in the past, were so ancillary in this story, it seemed silly to have them in the book at all. As far as exploring Native American culture or myth, the characters were there, but they were shallow and marginalized. The last few chapters were a bit of a recovery, but not enough to pull it out of the 2 star range.

This book was outstanding!! Action... New creatures and people-- good and bad! !
The bulk of this novel was set with Mercy and Adam and the other surprisingly interesting people.. You will enjoy this book

This book is part of a fantastic series. River Marked does not let you down. It's a different twist on the supernatural than the other books-- definitely a nice change up and still keeps past themes going.

I have read the whole series as each book has came out and have been a fan. However, this book seemed to be written a lot differently than the others. I enjoyed seeing Mercy have some alone time with her wolf but I thought that the wedding was rushed. I will read the next book in hopes that what is missing will be returned back into the series.

The werewolves outed themselves and while humans debate the politics of the species living in their midst, car mechanic Mercy Thompson is a walker who can turn into a coyote at will. She is busy trying to elope with Adam the alpha werewolf of the Columbia Basin Poole. Her friends and family want to throw a wedding for the couple before they depart on their honeymoon along the banks of the Columbia River.

When Mercy finds out the Fae gave them a luxurious camper; she is upset because the Fae do not do favors without an exorbitant price. The fae wants her to investigate the disappearance of several people along the river. What they find is that there is an essence known as the river devil that is in a symbiotic relationship with the fae otterkin that looks human but is a deadly predator. She distances herself from the river devil who has marked her. The God Coyote informs Mercy about her parentage and she has a role to play as part of her heritage to end the river devil's reign of terror while a frustrated Adam must back away.

River Marked is a wonderful urban fantasy that has characters who touch the souls of readers especially the lead couple; a loving duet who lives for today as they may not see the morrow. Coyote the Trickster and the other gods of Native American mythology enhances the Mercy mythos. With a strong cast including other walkers and a terrific malevolence, fans of the saga will relish Mercy's honeymoon.

Harriet Klausner

I've been reading Mercy since the first book came out, and I've loved how Briggs has stuck to her character. While Mercy may have grown up, undergone trauma and matured, at her heart she is still the same character she we were introduced to in Moon Called. The last book proved to us that Adam and Mercy could get a big romantic and a little more lovey dovey. Well Briggs has kicked that up a notch. Mercy's mom is planning an extravagant wedding... whose mother would love to? Mercy and Adam decide that's not for them and get married in a smaller ceremony, then comes the honeymoon! This is where the true meat and bones of the plot comes in. Mercy and Adam discover clues and connections to her true heritage, and more importantly her father.

What I loved about River Marked was that Mercy and Adam traveled farther away from the pack and they're typical scene. Together they and the reader explored different areas and ancient lore without the pack comfort and security. Having said that I also missed the regular characters, but it was worth it to see Adam and Mercy in new situations. Sometimes I felt though that the main plot was so focused on Mercy and her heritage that some of the smaller subplotletts got left hanging in the wind. Who knows perhaps Briggs will revisit them later.

All in all it was a new path for Mercy, and I really enjoyed learning and discovering about her roots. In the previous books all we heard was how rare Walkers were and in the past how they were all killed, but we never really understood who that made Mercy and more importantly her absent father. Briggs has just gotten better, and I'm looking forward to more Mercy as well as another Anna and Charles. Enjoy!

I have grown to really like Mercy Thompson and her pack. If I had the imagination that Patricia Briggs has I would be doing the same thing but I don't so I read her books. I have read 6 of these so far and enjoyed them thoroughly.

Usually this far into a series it getting a little boring. Not true with this series. I have really enjoyed every book so far, an this one was no exception. Action packed and grealt story the characters I've grown to love, and new one to add.

A slight departure from the normal setting of the Tri-City area, Patricia Briggs expands the universe of the Mercy Thompson series, introducing new characters and developing the strange and amazing life of Mercedes, bringing us a little further into a world where modern life sometimes slams sideways into the supernatural.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the expanding mythology Mrs. Briggs is introducing s to. Very different characters from myth and legend being brought to us by our familiar heroine, and a great, exciting search for an enemy that ends in one of Patricia's best combat scenes. It was a pure joy reading this story,and I am eager for the next book to come out.

I dont know why people are giving this 2 and 3 star reviews I loved this book and am now on my 4th rereading. This is the book that got me started reading Mercy Thompson. Saw it at my local library and was interested. Only problem for me is that I dont read books out of order. Eventually found first book and then raced through the rest of the series. Cant wait for March!

I had the hardcover on my bookshelf for a bit. I needed something to read and found it. I'm so glad I did. I had forgotten how much I loved the series. This book is probably one of my favorite of the series now. I like that we get to learn more about where Mercy comes from.

Probably the only problem I have with this book is the cover. Quite a few times Mercy's tattoos are described and the cover looks quite wrong. Ah well. Very minor thing compared to how much I enjoyed the inside :)

In the latest installment of Patricia Briggs fabulous Mercy Thompson series Mercy finds herself facing a rather large beast. The wit that fans have come to associate with Mercy is all there, as well as the steamy romance between Mercy and the hottest alpha wolf to grace the page in a very long while.
This novel has quite a few differences than the others in the series. Adam and Mercy have much more romantic time together, and it only adds to the love we feel for the couple. We are also shown a new facet of the wacky world that Mercy calls home. It is an introduction to Mercy's walker heritage, and with it a new group of characters to grow fond of.
The story begins with the honeymoon of Mercy's dreams with Adam, her newly mated husband. But like everything in Mercy's life it goes any way but smooth. She is quickly introduced to a new monster to face, and a new group of friends to battle the monster with. But don't worry the great characters from previous novels make appearences, Warren and Kyle, Jessie, Mercy's mother, Stefan, and the strange walking stick that tends to show up in random places.
Briggs weaves into the novel rich Native American stories, and history to go along with the discovery of Mercy's heritage. It is easier to understand than some of the other mythology that can be found earlier in the series. It does justice to Mercy's story, without creating an unbeatable new addition to the series,.
All in all the novel rates a 4.5. And it left me eagerly awaiting the next installment in the wonderful world of Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman.

To me, this fell far below the obvious talent of Patricia Briggs, and I've read just about everything she has written. Someone else wrote that it seemed like an expanded short story. That's what it felt like to me also. There was no real hint to the plot/problem until well into the halfway point. I enjoyed the wedding of Mercy and Adam (finally), but everything else felt disconneted and disjointed. I know Ms. Briggs was trying to give a peek into Mercy's ancestry, but I felt it went a little overboard. How many tribal names were mentioned and then discounted? Did we even really decide on one? I can't even remember. I liked the insight into Coyote, Wolf and the other "walkers" and would have liked more of this.

Worth a read, but not the price of the hardcover or the Kindle price. Wait for the paperback.

I love the Mercy Thompson series! Always a page turner for me so when this book came out, I guess it got over excited about it cause it wasn't what I thought it would be.

It's more like a short story that was dragged out a little to much to make into a full book. I don't know if she ran out of ideas and tried to make this work or not but just didn't do it for me. I was disappointed in it and hope the next one is better then this one.

I like that her books are based in the Pacific NW where I live. I love her characters and imagination and the plot line. This book was set in the Columbia Gorge, one of my favorite places. I'll never go swimming in the Columbia again though!

I.devour these books..entertaining read. Recommended. I just discovered Patricia Briggs and am quickly devouring her entire oeuvre. Lucky for me she's been so prolific especially since sookie retired.

I love the Mercy Thompson series and this book is my favorite so far. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. And I sobbed like a sap during the last pages. Definitely read this one, you won't regret it.