Book 5), Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson

This is the best of the Mercy books. I loved them all but Mercy finally admits that she is in love and starts to make a life with Adam. Also loved the new storylines for Samuel and Jesse. If you like urban fantasy you'll love this.

The book arrived.in great.condition. It was delivered quickly. If you like fantasy, action and or romance I recommend this series. Start with moon called. I an a fifteen year old and I approve this message.

Patricia Briggs has done an outstanding job creating a world for her characters to live and grow in. The series flows nicely through each book but could easily stand alone. This installment is another step up the ladder in a ever expanding fantastic world. It keeps getting better and better. My only wish is that the books were longer.
Can't wait for the next Alpha and Omega book.

Silver borne introduces you to a new bunch of Fae, another insight to Mercy and Adam's bond, and more great reading. Patricia Briggs has done another great job with this one! Pssssst....Samuel gets interesting too...guess who he finds?

First, let me say that Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors. I've read most of her books. I enjoy the world she's created, but I don't think I'll be reading the next book in this series. Nothing really notable happened. Most of the book was predictable and the "twists" were feeble. I'm actually surprised that there are so many favorable reviews. The last book was much better, and I somewhat wish that the series ended with that book.

First, let me say that Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors. I've read most of her books. I enjoy the world she's created, but I don't think I'll be reading the next book in this series. Nothing really notable happened. Most of the book was predictable and the "twists" were feeble. I'm actually surprised that there are so many favorable reviews. The last book was much better, and I somewhat wish that the series ended with that book.

I get tremendous enjoyment from the Mercy Thompson stories, I think I've read them all--I only wish I had read them in the right order. I've started on the Alpha/Omega series. I'm looking for fantasy when I read these, I spend most of my time on things that are all too relevant.

Briggs promised that 'Silver Borne' would be Samuel's book, and it certainly is. Early on in the book Samuel tries to commit suicide. He is only saved by his wolf, 'Sam', who takes the reigns to ensure human/wolf survival. So while Mercy is dealing with the fae and a 'hot' fae book, she has to keep an eye on Sam and figure out what will ignite Samuel's will to live.

`Silver Borne' is the fifth Mercy Thompson book, and I think this was a very important installment in the Mercy series. `Silver Borne' marks Mercy's true transition to pack-member, thus opening up a whole new world for Briggs to explore.

In previous books Mercy has been on the outside of Adam's pack, looking in. Werewolf `business' was always something Mercy heard about from the likes of Warren, Jesse and Adam. In `Silver Borne' Mercy, and readers, become integral and witnesses to Adam's pack.
One big change in `Silver Borne' is that quite a few of Adam's pack members, who have been secondary characters in previous books, are brought to the fore and fleshed out. Characters like Darryl, Mary Jo and Auriele who only ever had minor roles and little characterization in previous books are given their own personalities, histories and future storylines because they are now firmly in Mercy's world.

Beloved characters like Warren and Ben, the only members of Adam's pack to have had substantial roles in previous books, both have lengthy appearances in `Silver Borne'. I think their roles will only grow in future books because they are Mercy's staunchest supporters, and the pack members she is closest to.

`Silver Borne' clearly marks Mercy's transition from loner to pack - and it's a wonderful opportunity for Briggs to explore a different side to werewolf dynamic. We get to read a `challenge' - when one werewolf fights another for advancement in pack rank. Mercy learns more about her mental and metaphysical links to the pack and Adam. It makes for fascinating reading, and adds new dimensions to the `Mercy Thompson' world.

I've read a few early reviews of `Silver Borne' that said anticipation and high expectation for the book equaled disappointment when it didn't live up. I really didn't have that feeling. But then again, pretty much the only thing I wanted from `Silver Borne' was some good Mercy/Adam tenderness. And Briggs delivers tenfold. Adam and Mercy are still navigating their mateship, but they are both absolutely smitten with one another. `Silver Borne' has the steamiest Adam/Mercy coupling since the series started, and there are plenty of opportunities for fans to *squee* at the romantic-ness!

I only had 2 disappointments with `Silver Borne'. The first is, no Stefan. Arguably he had a very big role in `Bone Crossed' when the vampires were the villains... but he is a fan favorite and it would have been nice if he had an appearance.

My second complaint was to do with Samuel. In promoting `Silver Borne' Briggs promised that it would be Samuel's book, but I wasn't 100% satisfied.
For those who have read the book, let me explain.

**SPOILERS**

I think it was kind of a cop-out to have Sam's love interest be someone he met hundreds of years ago. I kind of wanted an evolution like we got with Charles and Anna in the `Alpha & Omega series'. Instead Briggs conveniently (and by coincidence) throws someone in Samuel's path who he once loved, but had to walk away from. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that Samuel was `saved' and found a reason to live... but at the same time I would have preferred reading a whole contained love story, starting with `boy meets girl'.

**END SPOILERS**

I absolutely loved this book. `Mercy Thompson' is my all-time favorite Urban Fantasy series, and `Silver Borne' reinforces my love. I can't wait for book #7, `River Marked'!

Sometimes, good urban fantasy series begin to fizzle out more quickly than you'd expect. Often because of too many unanswered questions and too much politics (eg. Del Franco's "un" series). I lose the urge to open and devour the latest book upon arrival because I know if I am lucky enough to get an answer, there'll be four new questions to take its place. Thankfully, Mercy still has that "must read NOW" quality.

I think this series continues to be strong because the author has stayed true to the character she originally created. Mercy has matured, certainly, but she has not drastically changed. She's still a top notch mechanic, she's still not the biggest bad a@@ on the street, and she still worries about those she loves. Each book ties into the one before, but not with drastic cliffhangers that leave readers annoyed. More like loose ends that once pulled, unravel into a new story. Here, the plot stems from a book that Phin lent Mercy previously, and the unresolved status of Samuel. Some nasty Fae want the book, and now that Mercy has chosen Adam, Samuel's character comes to the fore front. This book has a lot of development of interpersonal relationships (Mercy is still dealing with Tim's assault), and a lot more detail on werewolf society (especially now that Mercy is part of a pack, and most of them are unhappy about it).

Briggs' writing is tight. She really gets a reader invested in the characters, and the story builds upon that. Familiar characters appear, but she resists throwing in a cameo for everyone we know. If they didn't have some say in the plot, they didn't appear. So, we get Zee and Bran, but Stefan is a no show. Though the fae plot was interesting, the strongest part of the book is the werewolf material. Adam's pack is a little dysfunctional, and it puts Mercy in some tight spots where intelligence and intuition give her the edge. She's no match physically for any of the weres, but she shows her mettle never-the-less. It was very satisfying, and leaves room for more development and plotlines in future books. The "mystery" was rather simple, and quickly resolved, but I think the character relationships were the main focus here, and on that level the book succeeded brilliantly. Overall, another excellent installment.

I've been a fan of the Mercy Thomas books, and not meaning to damn with faint praise, Silver Bourne is just a hair short of the first for in its level of suspense and excitement, and can't match the romance of the Alfa and Omega spin off books. It is however a fine story, and also resolves some of the important plot points with her room mates, Sam's issues.

I've been waiting for this book to come out and once it was delivered to my Kindle, I couldn't put it down. Who cares about sleep, I had to know what was going to happen! Absolutely loved it and didn't find any faults, to include typos in the Kindle version. Can't wait for the next one!

This book was my favorite so far; I won't go into too much detail b/c many other reviews have. The Mercy - Adam relationship is explored more deeply & both characters really grow together beautifully. There was also just enough detail about Zee, Gabriel, the Sandoval family, etc...in some of the other books I felt a little bogged down by elements that seemed overly detailed in relation to their significance in the story (if that makes any sense). The Samuel story line is heartbreaking and inspiring. I loved the way the other wolves, not just Adam, stood behind him during his difficulties. I'm only giving it 4 stars b/c while there was a great deal of build-up with Samuel's story, it all seemed to resolve itself to quickly. It felt rushed & I would have like more depth. Another thing that bothered me, which could be just me, there's a lot of info in all the books about how dangerous and violent the wolves can be, but in this book several in Adam's pack are essentially involved in treason, with varying degrees of culpability, and either through deliberate acts or omissions nearly cost several people their lives and cause a great deal of destruction. Yet, they seemed to be dealt with overly leniently. Overall, great book & I highly recommend it.

I am a fan of the Mercedes Thompson series and have thoroughly enjoyed each book. It has been so long since I read Bone Crossed last (probably right after it came out) that I had forgotten what an engrossing and talented writer Briggs is. As I read her website, I knew that this would be a Samuel-centric (in a way) story and was very glad of it. I love Mercy with Adam, but I felt so sad for Samuel, I really wanted him to have a happy ending, or at least the hope of one! Silver Borne delivers the beginnings of a happy ending for Samuel and a great story over all.
Mercy has dealt with a lot of drama in this series so far, and Silver Borne delivers even more, but each story feels authentic and keeps the reader riveted. (I admit I read this in one sitting, though as I am a student currently on Easter break I assume others don't have the kind of time I do.)
Mercy was given a book about the fae by a nice bookstore owner in Iron Kissed, so that she could learn more about the walking stick that kept following her (along with some other magical objects that crossed her path). This book turns out to be the Silver Borne of the title, though I won't spoil it and tell you what exactly that means. In practice, though, it means that once again Mercy is a target; this time for a fairy queen who desires power. Honestly, it's such a good book that unravels so nicely, I'm not sure how to share a lot without making this spoiler-ish, so I'll stop.
Mercy and Adam's relationship grows, as she becomes more comfortable with herself, with Adam, and with her place in the pack. Samuel goes through a few crises, but comes out on the other end with a brighter future. Anna, from the Alpha and Omega series, is mentioned. I always like when there is crossover between two series set in the same world, a sort of wink for those of us who read everything the author puts out for us! I will also say that when we meet Ariana (who I hope will be Samuel's happily ever after), we are given a glimpse into Bran and Samuel's past, which I found extremely exciting. For those who have read Cry Wolf, some of their history has already been spelled out, but this gives us a more vivid picture.
All in all, I would highly recommend this book, however if you haven't read any of the Mercy series, I would recommend reading Moon Called and going in the proper order.

Love the series and the characters, this book not so much. The story line never quite settles in to a heartfelt believable adventure. The biggest let down of this book is Samuel's story. After making us fall in love with him throughout the past books all of a sudden the solution to all of his problems appears out of the ether of author land wrapped up in a convenient bow. Sorry Ms. Briggs, you've led us to expect so much more than this. Please do better with the next book!!

I started this book on my lunch break at work, huge mistake :) Could not wait to get home and finish it. I have read all of Patricia Briggs books (except the hard to find Masques) and this was one of my favorites. I enjoyed the love and bond that was shown between Mercy and Adam .....no hemming and hawing over their feelings for each other.
I do hope in a future book to see her vampire friend and his Scooby Doo van again. Thanks for a great read.

As the latest Mercy Thompson book, it's pretty much what I expect. I read a lot of series books, so having multiple story lines from the previous novels isn't a big surprise in this one. Silver Borne does a good job of tying up some loose ends while setting new possibilities for continuing stories.

One problem I do have, and it has nothing to do with the written word. I found a large batch of scumming (that's ink transferred onto the margins of pages) in the middle of the book. Since I work in printing, I know what scumming is, and that it's fairly frequent in large print jobs. Most of the book my wife & I own have a little scumming in them. In this case, however, it's about 3/4" into the page, so it mulls just a bit of the type. Since we tend to collect books as well as read them, now we'll have to get a second for our collection or wait for a new printing series & hope the problems fixed.

The latest Mercy Thompson book had a great deal going on with it - Samuel's depression, Mercy's lack of acceptance by the pack, the mate bond with Adam, and numerous issues with the fae over a missing book. In fact, there was so much going on that I felt the story did not flow seamlessly. The entire book felt segmented - a couple of chapters on Sam, then a couple on Adam, then a couple on the missing book, back to Sam, over and over. It wasn't that one could not follow the story, you could, but it was almost like when you first started to learn how to drive a four wheel - jerk, stop, jerk, stop.

There were some positives. The writing was good, the editing seemed fine to me, and the characters stayed true to their previous books. However, for me the story just didn't work. I felt like the author had wrote down several ideas on random pieces of paper and then threw them together to make the book. I, personally, think we have come to the end of the road for Mercy and Adam. There is very little for them to work out. I would like to see the author leave them and start a new series about some of the fae or Sam and his new girlfriend.

Silver Borne (2010) is the fifth Fantasy novel in the Mercy Thompson series, following Bone Crossed. The initial volume in this sequence is Moon Called.

In the previous volume, Mercy had two stitches in her chin and a large bruise on her shoulder. The fae monster had also slammed Ben into Adam's Explorer. Ben is OK, but the car has a big dent. Mercy thinks that it is all her fault.

Adam had just returned to the Tri-Cities from the national's capitol. A cop had leaked an edited video of Adan shredding a serial killer. The full video showed the preceding use of a fae goblet to seduce Mercy and her subsequent killing of the man as he was raping her.

Mercy kidded Adam about the walking stick that preceded her everywhere she goes. Adam said that the stick was on her bed. She saw rings under his eyes from lack of sleep and said he looked horrible.

Adam hadn't had a chance to talk to Mercy for days. He held her and exuded a sense of warmth and comfort. They were just beginning to talk about the rape when someone rings the doorbell.

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.

Gabriel is Mercy's assistant. He is the son of Silvia and has four younger sisters.

Siebolt Adelbertsmiter is a Metallzauber fae. Zee likes to call himself a gremlin. He has a son -- Tad -- attending an Ivy League school back east.

Ben is an English Werewolf. He came to America because of the police suspected him of raping women. He is a misogynist, but was not the rapist.

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

Medea is Mercy's cat. She is a very friendly cat and even Adam lets her sit on his lap and purr. But he won't let her stay for very long.

Phineas Brewster is slightly fae. Phin runs a bookstore in a strip mall. He had lent Mercy an old book written by fae about their history and artifacts.

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

Mercy decides that the engine need the attention of Zee. She lends Gabriel the VW Beetle that she is rebuilding. It runs, but the steering wheel comes off if the driver is not careful.

Gabriel is reluctant to take her project car, but his mother needs a ride in the next few minutes. Gabriel gets her to allow his sisters to clean the garage before he goes to pick up his mother.

As Mercy is closing the garage, Tad calls with a question. Last night he had an odd phone call from Phineas. He wonders if Phin had left something with her. Mercy senses that Tad is a little worried about Phineas.

Mercy checks out Phin's apartment. He is not there and his neighbor hasn't seen him for a while. Mercy also checks out his bookstore, but finds it closed with all the lights off.

Mercy has a date with Adam in ten minutes, so she hurries home. She calls out for Stephen, but hears nothing. She knock of his bedroom door and he opens the door. Medea is draped over his neck and shoulders. When Stephen tries to lift her off, she digs her claws into his body.

Leaving the two alone to work out their differences, Mercy goes to her bedroom to change clothes. Jesse has told her that they are going bowling, but Mercy decides to wear a dress. Adam shows up in a tuxedo.

They talk about the dent in the SUV and the new truck. Mercy thinks she owes Adam for the cost of the repairs and the new pickup. Adam doesn't agree.

When Mercy lifts her head up to face Adam, she accidentally drives his jaw upward. The move cuts his tongue and he bleeds all over his dress shirt. They decide to go bowling.

The bowling alley clientele are a little anxious with the local werewolf Alpha bowling there. Mercy has the idea of seeming to lose control of her ball and sending it toward a toddler. Adam catches the ball before it reaches her.

The tension dies down after the near injury, but Mercy starts thinking about her thoughts that led to the incident. She begins to notice ideas coming in to her head from the pack.

Mercy goes out as a coyote to think about more about the incident. In coyote form, she can recognize the little nudges coming from the pack. She tells Ben that someone in the pack is trying to break up her relationship with Adam. She also asks him to pass her thoughts on to the Alpha.

Then Mercy goes to the hospital to pick up Samuel. She learns that he had almost run off a bridge. The nurse sends her to a records room where Samuel is resting.

Mercy discovers that Samuel's wolf is running the body. Samuel had tried to kill himself and his wolf took control. Sam -- the wolf -- is unusually competent. He agrees to go home with Mercy.

This tale throws Mercy into a confusion of troubles. Samuel needs help. Sylvia doesn't like Mercy bring Sam to the garage while her girls are there. Phin's bookstore has been trashed. Tad is coming home if she doesn't find Phineas.

Mercy has more problems than she can possibly handle; luckily, she also has friends. Thew next installment in this sequence is River Marked.

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

-Arthur W. Jordin

My Review:
This is a hard series to review the individual books just because the overall series is so incredible and it's hard to take the books as individuals. But there was one thing that set this book apart from the rest of the series for me...the men. Samuel and Adam...omg, I loved these two in this book. Patricia Briggs did an incredible job showing the emotional aspects to both these men's mentality. It's especially impressive just because the book is told entirely from Mercy's point of view.

Both these men have incredibly low points in this book. Samuel has lost all hope and Mercy is doing everything she can to make sure that he stays alive. And then Adam shows more emotion than I think I've ever seen from him...and I loved that. Mercy is also having to deal with more Pack politics as they are still dealing with the repercussions from having a coyote shifter thrown into the wolf pack dynamics.

There is so much to love about this series, but once again Mercy proves why she is such an incredible heroine. At her core is the fact that she doesn't feel she deserves Adam...that part of her makes me ache for her because she is so freaking strong and the perfect match for him and doesn't see it. But she's also completely honest about the fact that she loves him...totally with all her heart and although he has moments of doubts about her love for him, too, and her desire to deal with all the pack issues that he knows she hates...she NEVER wavers though. She wants Adam and will do whatever she has to, to keep him with her and keep him safe.

Once again, this was an incredible addition to the series. It's probably been my favorite so far, but I think I feel like that with every installment. But I love it when the men have vulnerabilities and give those little emotional glimpses so that put this one over the top for me in this book.

~4/5

[More of my reviews are available on my blog, Geeky Reading, to which there's a link on my profile.]

This series is so good. I only have two more books in it till I’m all caught up, so I’m trying to stretch out the reading time between books, which means that I haven’t gotten the next book yet, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to hold off for very long. I just want to read the next one so badly.

In this book, there were a lot of pack problems and dealings. Which were very good and needed. There was some very good stuff between Adam and Mercy, some of which was also needed. There was also some stuff cleared up with Samuel, which had been talked about and avoided up until now, when it was finally solved. We saw a good amount of Jesse, Adam’s daughter, as well as some stuff with Gabriel, who works for Mercy and is kind of going out with Jesse, and his family, which I am looking forward to finding out more about in the next book. Then there were some fairy problems, which was concluded well, although there will probably continue to be vampire and fairy problems in future books. Bran showed up again, as he always seems to. We also heard from Charles, which was interesting.

A good amount of stuff happened in this book, as it always does. It was all good and interesting, and now I really want to read the next book. Adam and Mercy are getting farther in their relationship, and I’m looking forward to what’s going to happen with them in the next book, although I know there will be other problems.

This is probably one of my favorite series at this point. I’m really loving it.

So Mercy is dealing with the reaction of the werewolves to her becoming part of the pack - some of them are not too happy about the situation. Then she starts having trouble with some fae, they seem to be looking for a book she borrowed from bookstore owner, Phin. On top of all that, Samuel is having some issues and Mercy has to help him figure them out, she doesn’t let a friend down when they need her. Things go from bad to worse during the course of the book, but I always know scrappy, resourceful Mercy will make it out, one way or the other, especially with her good friends at her side. This is such a great series, I love how coyote shifter Mercy holds her own against the more powerful werewolves, the fae, vampires, and anything else that gives her or her friends trouble. Now on to the next adventure.

I can’t believe how little I remembered of this book. And it is such a good one. This time it is Samuel who gets Mercy in trouble. Samuel is a very old werewolf, and he has grown weary. Being a doctor is no longer enough for him, and he decides to kill himself. Lucky for him, his wolf does not want to die and takes over, keeping him alive. Usually, a werewolf with the wolf in control, turns into a savage beast, but Sam is stronger than that, and he can control himself. But Mercy needs to keep this a secret from the other wolves, as it would mean a death sentence.
After her disastrous date with Adam, when one of the pack was unduly influencing her thoughts and actions, she has the perfect excuse to keep her distance from Adam and the pack for a while. But when an armed man comes to her garage, looking for a werewolf to kill, Adam drives to the rescue. Not that he needed to do that, as Mercy had everything well in hand. Somebody has send a television bounty hunter after Adam Hauptmann with a fake warrant to kill him. And given Mercy’s garage as the address where he could be found. Which is very strange, as Adam is a local businessman who goes to work 6 days out of 7.
As Mercy has brought Sam with her to work, Sam is the werewolf almost getting killed. For not telling Sylvia Sandoval that the big dog she brought with her, and that her littlest daughter Maria has been crawling all over and riding like a pony, she looses her friendship. Her son Gabriel is no longer allowed to work for Mercy as well, as it is not a safe environment for her son. And Mercy has no choice but to agree on that, she will sure miss his help though.

Is this really an elaborate plot to kill Mercy, and get the old Fae book she has borrowed from Phineas? Tad warned her about the book, he had gotten a strange message from Phin, and now the bookshop is closed and Phin has gone missing, and strange Fae are popping up all over the place. Mercy makes sure the book is in a safe place, and starts investigating with Sam. Which is a good thing when she is attacked by some strange and very strong kind of Fae and Sam kills him.

Of course Adam and the Marrok find out too soon about Sam’s condition, and they are very concerned about Mercy’s safety. According to Charles, Samuel’s brother, Sam has perhaps one week left before he fades and dies anyway. With only one half of the soul wiling to live, there is just not enough left. Unless Samuel finds something or someone new to live for….

A very action filled book, and I loved every page of it. The drama with Samuel/Sam, the intrigue with the Fae who is after the book, and the maker of the Silver Borne was a good story line. Add to that the stuff happening with the werewolf pack, Adam having to fight for his life and his title as Alpha while severely wounded, and the traitor in the pack being found out. Jesse is sweet on Gideon, and she helps Mercy find him when he gets abducted by the bad Fae. I really like how strong Jesse has become in this series.

Adam proves again how well he knows Mercy, and that he doesn’t want her to change. She is loyal to her friends, and he cannot fault her for that. But he will have her back when needed. I do love how their relationship is progressing.

This will be the last book I am re-reading for now in this series, on to new books, new worlds to discover.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian </p>

“Such a small thing to cause so much trouble.”

There is some dissonance in the pack. After the way that Adam introduced Mercy into the pack there has been a little fall out. It seems that some are more upset than others and they might be trying to play around in Mercy’s mind trying to stir up trouble. Samuel is also having troubles of his own. He hasn’t been right for a while and has given up. Mercy must try to find a way to save him from himself and join the wolf and man back together again. While dealing with all of that it seems the Finn as disappeared and someone might be looking for the book on the Fae she borrowed from him.

Again this is a great layering of a few stories that overlap. I really felt bad for Samuel as he has given up on his life and was contemplating death. Mercy was a true friend to him and helped in ways no one else could. I really liked seeing the vulnerable part of Adam as he tries to fix the pack and still make sure that Mercy is okay. I really didn’t expect the dissention in the pack ranks to come from where it did but that in itself was a good storyline.

A Fae is looking for the book that Mercy borrowed and everyone around her seems to be in danger yet again. Jessie really shined through in this book. I always like her little power plays with her father and how she is still so much a kid but at the same time you can tell she has been through a lot too. I adore the little romance between Gabriel and Jessie as well it is cute and not overdone.

My main man Zee is still one of my favorite characters. He is mostly a mystery even now that we have seen through his Fae glamour a few times but it is always interesting the magic he can produce. I really look forward to his grumpiness and find it so funny.

“Why is it that all cars are women?" he asked. "Because they're fussy and demanding," answered Zee.
"Because if they were men, they'd sit around and complain instead of getting the job done," I told him.”

But ultimately beside the world that I’ve immersed myself in I love the love story between Adam and Mercy. They get one another and fight so hard for each other. Adam would literally run into a burning building for her and she would do the same.

“I knew he would never leave me, never let me down-because the man had never abandoned anything in his long life. If I hadn’t taken the gold rope of our bond, I knew Adam would have sat on me and hog-tied me with it. I liked that. A lot.”

Another fun one in the Mercy Thompson series. But I still gotta know what the heck is up with that walking stick? Will we ever find out?

This is a series that just gets better and better with each book!

Mercy and Adam are finally mated together, but their relationship is in danger of cooling off. Mercy is not fitting all that well into Adam's pack. Most of the pack is uneasy with a lowly coyote being their new female leader. Someone is apparently upset enough to try and kill Mercy over it. My favorite (and most romantic) part was when Adam fights (in a to-the-death) match for Mercy's honor. Adam=Wow! ?And, now that Mercy has officially rejected Sam in favor of Adam, Sam is suicidal and quickly losing himself to his wolf side.

Mercy has been asked by the friend of a friend to guard a book. Not just any old library book, either. A book powerful enough, literally, to kill for. When the owner of the book turns up dead, what is Mercy supposed to do with the book?

One question...where is the vampire Stefan? It's like Riggs just pushed him to the side because he didn't work out. I loved Stefan! I want a Stefan series. It just feels like a loose end that needs tied up. Perhaps in the next book?

This one is full of all the action, adventure, and romance of the other books. What I really love about the character of Mercy is that she isn't a static character. She learns from her previous mistakes and changes, and yet she still makes new mistakes. She never reaches that ho-hum perfection phase that some other lead characters get. I can't wait for the next one!

This is an easy book to read - doesn't get overly complicated with plots and subplots - it's a pretty straight story. The author does not drown you in excessive details. The vocabulary is common (so no need to read it with a dictionary like some books do). The characters are pretty well developed and you quickly relate to them and the main character Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson. More of a chick fantasy book than a guy fantasy book.

IN A NUTSHELL:
Mercy seems a very likable and strong young woman with an interesting past - she had foster parents, is a shape-shifter who can turn into a coyote but was raised by werewolves. She still has some learning to do about wolves though, and being part of a "pack". Her profession is a garage mechanic. She owns the garage and runs it with a grumpy fae (fairy folk) who goes by "Zee" - he's a pretty powerful old fae with a knack for machinery. Her boyfriend Adam, and her best friend and roommate Samuel, are both werewolves. Samuel is a loner but extremely old and strong - and he is a respected/loved doctor at the hospital. Adam is an extremely strong Alpha (leader of a pack) who has a powerful career and a lot of respect in the community. They live in a modern day America, where everyone knows and accepts there are werewolves and fae etc. and they are pretty much out in the open. This story is just one small chapter in her life. (Which is great because it leaves plenty of room for a lot more books in the series!)

THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK BY PATRICIA BRIGGS THAT I HAVE READ. Generally I prefer to read "series" books in the order they were written, but I had picked this up in a bargain bin and didn't know it was the 5th in a series. Fortunately, it didn't matter as the story is written in such a way that it can be read on it's own. Although I now have the need to read the other 4 books in the order written to fill out the rest of what I now know about the characters - sounds like I've missed some interesting stuff. Patricia Briggs seems to be a good writer, and I look forward to reading a lot more of her work (probably all).

AGE APPROPRIATE?
I think this book is fine for readers as young as perhaps 14 or 15 yrs old (unless they're very sheltered) - this book was very "clean" but in the last chapter she does "get it on" with her "mate" so mom's might want to read the last chapter before giving approval. (Always a good idea for a parent to read a book first anyway, right?)

RATING:
It's not a book that I'm going to rave to all my friends and family that they MUST read because it's so good - but for those of us who enjoy fantasy books (with wizards, werewolves, dragons, fae, magic and the like) this is pretty good. I think this series would be less interesting to the guys though. I did enjoy it and look forward to reading more of this series and other books by this writer. I can't wait to share this series with my grand-niece in another year or two. I'm pretty sure she'll like it a lot.

Silver Borne is the fifth novel in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I love this series and shape-shifting protagonist Mercy. She is so tough, a real tomboy with a heart that is ten sizes too big. The world Briggs has created and the characters in it are wonderful, and I find myself delighted every time I return.

When Zee's son calls, concerned that he can't reach Phim, Mercy heads to his apartment to find he has been missing a few days. Phim is the book seller who lent Mercy a book on Fae fairytales in the last novel. Instinct tells her something is off, but she can't be late for her date with Adam. Mercy has been healing and her relationship with her bonded mate Adam has been going well. On their date, he talks about setting a marriage date. Mercy knowing that some of the pack still resent her because of the problems she has caused them and hesitates. Adam gives her a month. While bowling, thoughts enter Mercy's mind and she does something out of character. This causes her to fight with Adam. On the way home, she realizes someone was in her head influencing her...someone from the pack. Exhausted and upset with herself, she tries to get some sleep. She is awoken by a distressed phone call from Sam, "Come get me I am in the x-ray closet." The tale that unfolds is fast paced, filled with danger, and finds Mercy in the middle of it.

As much as I love Mercy and admire her fearless kick-butt attitude, I would not want to be her ( even though Adam is yummy). She can never catch a break, or even have a nice uneventful date with Adam. We see some more growth in her, as she comes to terms with letting someone in, the rough thick walls she has built around her heart. Adam is as always, swoon worthy. His pack is in trouble, he is pushed and challenged in this novel, and almost loses everything. I love the way he declares Mercy, "mine". Sam is facing great challenges in this novel, and although he is in almost every scene, and his story is central to the novel, I still don't feel I know him any better. He is so complex, and like Mercy, his heart is too large. We learn about some of his past, when they encounter a Fae who knew him. Briggs had my emotions all over the place with the events that occur with Sam. We get to know a little more of the pack and their pecking order. My feelings for Mary Jo wavered from hate to tenderness, as Mercy begins to understand where all of Mary Jo's anger is coming from. We meet more Fae and not all of them are as wonderful as Zee.

Brigg's depiction of the fairy queen's Elphame was fascinating and I could have read a whole book devoted to it. It was magical and the hierarchy of those she ruled was interesting and eerie. I absolutely loved how the Marrok showed and explained the bond a pack has to each other. Briggs' imagination astounds me. As always, Briggs brings lots of action, explosions, guns, blood and death to the tale. The romance between Adam and Mercy - all I have to say is, ooh-la-la! For more delicate readers never fear, Briggs is discreet and while it was hot, it was all implied. I consumed this in under three hours and loved every minute of it.

So, I've skipped reviewing Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) (which I believe is the most well-paced book so far), in favor of reviewing Silver Borne.
Why?
Read on and find out why this has become my least favourite Mercy Thompson book.

With Mercy and Adam's relationship blooming, Samuel is left high and dry. Of course, the relationship has been progressing that way for some time now and it was nothing new. That's not the problem here. Samuel's character is ruined in Silver Borne. Yes. I said it. Ruined. It starts with his wolf taking control- that was fine, really. It was actually pretty awesome to see how a person would be affected if their wolf took control. Since Sam has amazing control (as in, his wolf doesn't start a blood bath) and Mercy wants to save him, we get into the find-something-for-Sam-to-live-for-while-keeping-his-wolf-a-secret scenario.

I'm a huge fan of Sam, I adore his character. But he was used as a plot device. And it sucked. The whole book ultimately ended up being a way to get Sam out of the way, permanently, as a contender for Mercy. Toward the end of the book, we meet a character who had a past relationship with him and it just wasn't believable. We've been set to believe that Sam loves Mercy, and that even though Mercy has Adam, she loves Sam too. I could go on a tirade, but I'm not, I don't want to. What I will say is that Sam got the short end of the stick and his whole storyline has left me deeply disappointed (and drops my rating down a star).

Other than that, I don't really having any more grips. I do think that you-know-who getting kidnapped was pointless, but the action of the story, the edge of your seat thrill was there. Mercy gets into a pickle when someone plays around with the pack bond, making her do things she wouldn't normally do. My heart literally stopped a few times during the book- I couldn't believe some of the stuff that happened!

We do get an alpha battle, we get explosions, and most importantly, we get Bran to save the day!

While I'm upset with the way Sam is getting treated, it's still an excellent MT book and definitely worth the read.

An enjoyable story! The best so far in this series. Because I love Briggs' other series, Alpha & Omega, I decided to try one more time with the Mercedes Thompson series. I did not much care for the prior books -- just too much bloody battle scenes and not enough relationship development. This book, Silver Borne, got it right. Enough plot and plenty of action, but also character driven, and relational.

Plot: Rescue young Gabriel from the vile fairy queen, and don't let her have Silver Borne, a magical artifact of great power, crafted centuries ago by Ariana, under duress. Bran plays a part in defeating the fairy queen, towards the end. Jessie, Adam's teenage daughter, also plays a key role in the rescue.

Relationships: Samuel is ready to give up on life, for he has no mate. He nearly commits suicide. His wolf is taking over. Mercy helps him stay in the game long enough for a lost love from his ancient past to appear. That relationship was initially built over troubled waters, but the old feelings run deep, so they work it out. Nice. I wanted more of this story line, but nice.

Meanwhile, Adam and Mercy are trying to develop mating bonds and pack bonds, but someone in the pack wants Mercy dead, and someone else wants Adam's position as Alpha.

Some lovemaking in this book. ;-)

Note: There are some rather revolting, gruesome scenes. No religious cussing, which I appreciate. The sex is not graphic.

It's not surprising that mechanic Mercedes Thompson is struggling to make ends meet. She spends so much of her time fighting vampires and settling pack issues that she's not always full-time at the shop. Between working weekdays and weekends, she somehow finds time to go on dates with Adam and run errands. Mercy's life seems to be stabilizing when she makes a routine stop at fae librarian Phin Brewster's apartment to return and old and rare book. Instead she finds him missing, with little clues to his whereabouts. Turns out the book has power that the more ambitious fae are after. Meanwhile Sam is a little down and has let his wolf take over. Between convincing Sam he has reasons to live, resolving ever-present pack dominance issues and investigating Phin's disappearance, Mercy is realizing this has more to do with her than she thought.

It was very comforting to be back in Mercy's world. Patricia Brigg's smooth writing and sarcastic wit are an ease and pleasure to read. I continue to love Mercy's place in the supernatural community. There are always new complications and unforeseen benefits to a lone shapeshifter's presence in Adam's pack. The range in fae types and magic are central to the plot in this one, and I'm continually surprised by the limitless possibilities. Silver Borne sheds more light on witches, takes us to an otherworld, and introduces us to forest lords. As much as I enjoyed the new fae I couldn't help but feel something was missing in this installment. Blood Bound was what hooked me to this series, and Stefan is one of my favorite characters. Mercy needs a friend outside the pack, and I need the vampires to temper the werewolves. The aggression involved in werewolf politics has fleeting interest for me and disapproval with Mercy's alpha status amongst certain pack members is a major plot point in this book. This is also probably the reason why I secretly wished Mercy had chosen Sam, who is more dominant than Adam but doesn't have to deal with pack business. I had also read somewhere that Silver Borne was to be Sam's book, and to my chagrin he took a backseat to the development of the pack/fae plots. While resolving the pack challenges was a little tedious and I wished the first half of the book had been as exciting, I was able to enjoy the intriguing and unpredictable set-up to the conclusion. The resolution to the main bad guy was a little anticlimactic and felt rushed, but it was still awesome Mercy at her best. Although it wasn't my favorite book of the series here's hoping for the return of Stefan and the vampires in Mercy #6.

Oh Mercy, Mercy, Mercy....

I'm going to skip the chit-chat and jump right in to why I loved this book:

Mercy and Adam: I loved how we got a bigger peek into their relationship; how Mercy was struggling with the new bond and Adam's continued understanding of her psychological reaction to certain events in previous books. His refusal to accept her apology had me smiling - he "gets" her. I absolutely LOVED the scene where Mercy finds the garland and rocks and rope. That scene completely melted my heart into a big ol' puddle of "awwwww!!!".

Samuel: I've always liked his character and enjoyed seeing a different side of him in Silver Borne. I thought it was a great showcase of how deep his feelings for pack and family (especially towards Mercy) are. Also a great view into the wolf/man relationship.

Bran: While Bran did not get a lot of page-time, that garland scene got me. I've always loved Bran's character, and this book is a perfect example of why I think he's so awesome.

The Pack: Although we didn't see a lot of the characters I've gotten familiar with , some of my favorites were here: Warren and Ben are probably my two favorite pack members and I enjoyed them immensely. I love that Ms. Briggs writes a gay werewolf whose defining characteristic is not that he's gay. He's a great friend to Mercy and a kick-ass werewolf. And Ben has done a lot of growing since the beginning of the series, I think. I really like him and hope we continue to see more of him in future books. It was also interesting to see the pack dynamic with reference to female status within the pack. I'm thinking there may be some changes a'comin.

The storyline: Ms. Briggs did a wonderful job hooking me in from the beginning. From the pack messing with Mercy to Samuel's accident to the mystery of the book, I devoured it all and read the whole book in a day.

I have only two niggles: 1: I missed Stefan. Honestly, I don't know what he could have added to this particular story, but I did miss him. And 2: I'm not sure how I feel about Samuel's friend. If you've already read the story you know to whom I am referring. I'm hoping Ms. Briggs can bring me around on that character in future books.

I wholeheartedly give Silver Borne 5 out of 5 stars!

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

The Mercy Thompson series continues strong with Silver Borne. I love that the story revisits a subplot from a previous novel and focuses on the secret fae book that Mercy was given by Phin, the bookstore owner. I had been curious about that fae fairy tale book and Silver Borne did not disappoint.

I have to admit I really needed Sam's story line to take a turn as he was beginning to become a bit of a bother to read. I wanted him to stop holding Mercy hostage so to speak. His presence and his continuing to live at her trailer just seems to hold her back from moving forward with Adam. Her guilt, her worry and her care for him made her hesitant. I was super pleased to see some advancement in that respect.

Silver Borne also gave the reader a lot more insight into the pack life. With each book the readers learn more and more. I find it all so interesting. I also love to read as much about the Fae as possible. I find them all so fascinating. Since Silver Borne was a Fae based book, I simply loved it.

The challenge for Adam's Alpha's spot was awesome to read. I knew that Adam would still come out on top but it didn't prevent me from biting my nails. Once again Mercy was able to steal the spotlight but I was cheering her on with her actions.

I am feeling a bit sad because I only have one more book to go before the end of the series as it is published to date. I am forever a fan and I will continue to follow each and every Mercy Thompson book published.

Teaser - Alpha challenge, bye bye trailer, "Snowball", silver garland in the white snow

Mercy has something some Fae want, and they'll try any means necessary to get it. Even though the Fae are gunning for her, Mercy is more concerned about Samuel. He's depressed and has given up on life and decided to let his wolf take over. Normally, this would be a death sentence, so Mercy needs to figure out a way to save Sam, from himself and the Marrock.

The relationship between Mercy and Adam is still evolving and I love that they aren't just rushed into the instant perfect match. Ms. Briggs is taking the time to let them grow as a couple and it's so satisfying. The pack dynamics are still in turmoil as not everyone is pleased that Adam has made Mercy a member. As if the problems with the Fae and Samuel aren't enough, now someone in the pack is messing with Mercy's head and stirring up trouble. As usual, all the different story lines going on keep the plot exciting and fast-paced.

If we could give 1/2 stars I'd probably rate this one 4 1/2 instead of 5 stars, because of one minor complaint and one major one. The minor complaint: overall I'm getting a little tired of Adam's perfectness. He is always doing and saying just the right thing and it's starting to get unbelievable. Even when he has a reason to be upset with Mercy, um putting his daughter in mortal danger without consulting him, he never is. I don't want their relationship to be her always screwing up and him somehow putting the blame on himself for not doing something better. Now that they are coming to terms with the mate bond, I'd like to see the relationship become better balanced.

The major complaint: The wrap up with Samuel's situation. It was totally out of left field and wasn't fleshed out at all. Just here's the solution and poof, everything is perfect now. I wanted so much more for him. It also doesn't give Samuel the credit he deserves for being strong enough to come around by his own will-power and fortitude. I love his character and felt that there could have been so much more to this story line.

Overall, another great Mercy story with the action, adventure and romance we've come to love. It's book 5 and where many series are starting to go downhill, this one keeps getting better and better. I can't wait for March and the release of River Marked (Mercy, Book 6)!

Remember that book that Mercy got back in Iron Kissed that helped her learn about fae items? It was supposed to be on loan, but Mercy hasn't given it back yet. And now, the man who lent it to her is missing. And the fae are after her again. The set-up makes it sound like this is another book focused on the fae, but where it really counts, this book is about the wolves.

Mercy has agreed to be Adam's mate --and she is now a member of his pack. But there are many pack members who are not on board with that. She becomes a target for people she thought were her friends. Not only does it threaten her relationship with Adam, it endangers both their lives.

At the same time, Samuel is at the end of his rope. He is tiring of life and sees no reason to go on. We've seen this coming for a while, but that doesn't make it any easier when the time comes. I love the way his wolf continues to fight for life even when the man has given up. I love that Mercy holds on to him with both hands and even enlists Adam to her cause. What I don't love, was how this part of the story was resolved. I understand why the author chose the path she did, but it felt too easy. And nothing about this series has ever been easy. Samuel has struggled and struggled and sudden the solution just appears? It bugged me.

I did enjoy the arc of the fae storyline --and it was great seeing Mercy and Adam finally getting to explore their love for each other. I think my favorite part of the book was when Mercy was able to see the bonds in her life for what they are. I can't wait to see how the author keeps it interesting in future installments. Sometimes happy = boring. But so far, our adventures with Mercy have been anything but that. 4 1/2 stars.

Since this is the 5th in a series I won't say too much, but I will say that this book was amazing. Briggs has to be one of my favourite urban fantasy authors. It's pretty rare that I read a book and then while I'm at work all I can think about is getting home to finish it. The books in the Mercy Thompson series do that to me every time. She manages to weave in mystery, lore, and a little romance into every book and always leaves me wanting more. I can't really say which one is my favourite, I like them all, although I was missing Stefan in this book, and it's been so long since I read the previous one that I honestly don't remember what happened to him in the last one. It's a good thing I have an entire year before the next book comes out to re-read this series. What?! Do I really have to wait a whole year?! Write faster!! hehe..anyways.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not the biggest fan of novels written in first person, these books are an exception. I think it's because I like Mercy so much, she is such a kick-ass female. And as a bonus, these books don't have any porno sex scenes that seem to find their way into so many urban fantasy books these days. The only thing I don't really like about these books is that Adam & Mercy seem to be together permanently, which is all fine and good, but I'm a huge fan of when men have to woo women in books, once they get together they don't have to do that anymore then I find myself searching for a new series. I love these books too much to ever stop reading them though, so hopefully down the road there will at least be some side characters that get together so I can have my romance :)
If you have been a fan of this series I would highly recommend picking this one up. If you haven't then I'd start with Moon Called.

I give this book 5 out of 5

There's many reasons why I like to read Patricia Briggs' stuff over and beyond any other urban fantasy. Foremost is that she's excellent with setting. While others gloss over the intricacies of living in a werewolf pack or having a vampire as a friend, Briggs doesn't stop at the obvious--she goes deeper and it enriches her stories and the relationships between her characters. After two different series (if you also include Alpha and Omega, Charles' and Anna's story) to build onto the setting, there's only that much more to grab you. So while the books in the Mercy Thompson series are fine to read as standalones, it would be hard to believe any urban fantasy lover wouldn't want to read the entire series and get the full brunt of what Briggs has created. It's also kind of fun that it's set in the atypical location of Tri-Cities Washington.

Mercy is an enjoyable mixture of bold and thoughtful, loyal and independent, courageous and vulnerable. Her shape-shifting is inherited from her Blackfoot Indian father: she's a 'walker' who can become a coyote (not to be confused with weres), and as a result she's also able to see ghosts and has some resistance to magic. Adam is her werewolf alpha boyfriend, whose overprotectiveness is sometimes creepy, but oddly endearing because it doesn't stop him from letting Mercy be who she is. Sam, the son of the the North American Alpha of all Alphas, and a dominant in his own right, is a friend from Mercy's childhood. His story is a fascinating one, and it's interesting to see how his age and experience affects his behavior. He's been around since early in the series and needed a resolution, so I was glad that his story finally wrapped up in a satisfying way (ok, I admit the resolution was probably too easy, but I just went with it). Side characters, such as members of Adam's pack and Mercy's friends and co-workers, are all a diverse group without being too many to keep track of--and they're easy to care about because Mercy sees them for who they are and loves them for it anyway. Briggs has been consistent across the series with her characters and setting, yet is still true to Mercy's development as her story has unfolded from book to book.

Briggs' prose is unencumbered, and Mercy's first-person PoV is intelligent without being melodramatic or too flippant. That's one thing that drives me crazy with the current urban fantasy chit lit: authors think that the females have to be brash and kick-butt, or at the very least sassy, but it always comes off as annoying and unbelievable. That, or else they're so powerful or know-it-all that they have too easy a time coming up with solutions to problems. Mercy approaches her dilemmas in a realistic way, accepts her limitations and will work around them in order to get the job done, no matter how scary the situation is.

SILVER BORNE's plot is straightforward, although with a touch of Briggs' usual convolution to complicate things. There's a big scene about a quarter of the way in where lots of crazy stuff starts happening, and there's all these names, so I got lost--Briggs could have been more careful with how she handled the entire chapter. But there seems to be a complicated event like that in all of her books; for example, the entire end of book 1, MOON CALLED, was a confusing explanation of motives and actions that still doesn't make sense to me. You'd think she'd know better by now, especially considering how many books she's written, but I guess even experienced authors will overreach.

Briggs plans on writing two more books before finishing up Mercy's series. Fortunately, she's just starting her Alpha and Omega series, so it looks like she's not leaving that world anytime soon. In the meantime, if you haven't read any of Mercy's story, go find MOON CALLED and get to know her and her friends.

Character development continues in each book in the series. I do tend to get hooked on well written books in series, always wanting to find out what happens next. The mark of a good story teller is the ability to keep the listener or reader wanting to learn more. While magic and super powers can help everyone out of trouble, there still has to be a certain amount of logic. It can't all be instantly obtained, nor too impossibly arduous or deadly to the main characters either. A balance must be struck and maintained throughout to hold one's interest. And engage the reader to care what happens to the people in the story. Patricia Briggs holds the balance and keeps me returning for more.

Have I mentioned how much I love Patricia Briggs and her Mercy Thompson series? Oh, I have? Well, it bears mentioning again. Because like the first four books of the series, Silver Borne does not disappoint.

Silver Borne picks up six months or so after the end of Bone Crossed. Shifter and VW mechanic Mercy is working on her relationship with her boyfriend, Alpha werewolf Adam, and her relationship with her new pack. Thing are going great with Adam, who seems to have marriage on his mind. Unfortunately, not all of the wolves in his pack are happy to have a coyote shifter as part of the family, and someone is using pack bonds to manipulate Mercy's thoughts and emotions -- with some dangerous results. This problem is compounded with the arrival of a powerful Fairy Queen set on killing Mercy to get a magical fae book in Mercy's possession.

As always, Briggs' storytelling is top-notch. Her world-building is only rivaled by her stellar relationship building. I love the development of Adam and Mercy's romantic bond, and was glad to see some resolution to Samuel's sad story in this novel, too. The mysteries laid out in this book were interesting, but not quite as engaging as in previous books of the series. My only negative comment is that I missed Stefan and the other vampires in Silver Borne. But Briggs continues to expertly grow her fae world and carve out a precarious place for Mercy and the werewolves in that mythology.

In short, the only bad part about finishing a new Mercy Thompson book is the long wait for the next sequel. (sigh) Let the impatience begin.

I read to unwine. I like to read things that relax me into another world more troubled then my own that has nice relationships that make me feel happy reading them. I have to say that at first, when I read the earlier works in the Mercy Thomson series it was just not doing it for me it was missing something. I was going to stop reading her books all together. Then my friend gave me the two books Hunting Ground and Cry Wolf by this same author and they hit my spot for the urban fantasy. They were really good books. I gave Mercy Thompson another try and was not disappointed Bone Crossed was very good and this book Silver Borne was terrific. It realy took me away. So if I had to do it all over again I'd start with moon called then skip to Iron kissed. What I like about the book is that Mercy is in a settled relationship and that she can have this relationship along with being invovled in all these dangerous things that happen to her. I like that the book does'nt revolve around the relationship with the Alpha but that it is intertwined with it. I enjoy reading about love while reading about imaginary beings such as fae and werewolves. The new added flavor of the sex scenes are really good too. She is not to raunchy, it doesnt overpower the book, and she doesnt leave untied story plots or mysteries or a bunch of unaswered questions( like some writers have been doing lately to get us to buy their books Laurel K Hamilton for example). Ms. Brigg's stroies have a true ending and leaves me satisfied with the book. If she would listen to a request I wish she would have a story focused on Bran and his supernatural abitlities along with his relatinship with his wife. I am definatly going to buy more of her books.

This plotline delved more deeply into the interplay between wolf and man in the werewolf, which is interesting since Mercy does not have that issue with becoming a coyote. It also explored the way that being connected to a pack could either help you or hurt you. The complexities and interplays were fascinating, especially since Mercy had to learn to fight only "in the mind." It kind of validates being intelligent as a viable form of defense. What I did find annoying was when Sylvia and her brood would use Spanish to communicate, and their words were not translated. I studied French in high school, folks, not Spanish. It's poor form to put a foreign language in your book and not at least roughly translate it. Moving on.
I thought the way that the fairy queen operated was, put simply, stupid. She got so many basic things wrong that it did not even make sense that she was even living in the modern world. For instance, she really should have thought of the capabilities of cell phones. As "bad guys" go, she was rather pathetic, and even Bran, the Marrok agreed with me, calling her "stupid fairy queen." I loved that the fight against the fairy queen brought a past love of Samuel's to the forefront, thus giving him a reason to want to live, as well as giving me a different female character to root for. I'm also hoping that Ariana will stick around in future books.
This was not my favorite book in the series, despite centering around an actual book in the plot, as well as showing a bit more "bonding" between Adam and Mercy. The climax seemed less "climactic" than normal, thanks to a less believeable villian, but there was lots for me to like about this book despite what it lacked.

Even though the human population knows that vampires, werewolves, and fae exist, it does not preclude mortals from fearing the paranormal. Mechanic Mercy Thompson is a shapeshifter who can turn into a coyote, but is mated with her beloved alpha werewolf Adam. His pack feels a coyote is beneath them on the food chain and using their mind control powers try to persuade Mercy that she is not good enough for their leader.

While an outraged Adam is trying to ferret out who is destroying his pack and messing with his Mercy's mind, she has two other problems to contend with. Her friend Samuel the werewolf struggles with his human side so his beast keeps him alive while Mercy tries to give him a reason to live. A fairy wants her to return a powerful tome that a fae lent her; she kidnaps her friend Gabriel to insure Mercy cooperates, but the bookstore is shuttered permanently and Mercy knows the queen will try a double cross.

The fifth Mercy Thompson urban fantasy is filled with action, romance and fae intrigue; perhaps the deadliest kind on the planet. Filled with various subplots that tie deftly together, the continuing adventures of Mercy and Adam make for another entertaining entry in a strong saga. However, it is Patricia Briggs' world-building skills on a par with early Laurell K. Hamilton that make Silver Borne a winner as readers will believe in shapeshifters, fae and vampires, oh my.

Harriet Klausner

Mercy as always has gotten her self in trouble but this trouble is endangering the ones she cares about .Mercy finds her self being hunted by the Fae queen, she will stop at nothing to get what she believes Mercy has. wail trying to deal with her new found trouble with the Fae, she has to also balance taking care of Samuel. Samuel has decided hes lived to long and there is nothing left to live for. After an attempted suicide Samuel is left with his wolf in control. That the wolf is in control instead of the man is bad enough, but if his dad the the like the alpha of all alphas finds out he will be forced to terminate Samuel. And to top it all off Adams tribe had not been right since Adam brought Mercy in, and there is disloyalty brewing among the pack and if some one doesn't do something there could be a huge problem.Mercy will need to except her part in Adams life and pack to survive this and help everyone else stay alive also.

I liked this book alot. This is a great series. I love Mercy she is so strong and independent and stubborn i love it. Adam is the mega alpha male. Handsome, loving overprotective, strong and in control and never stops till he gets what he wants. Samuel is loving , smart , soft spoken but you know he has more power than any of the wolfs including Adam.

I think the ending seemed a little rushed and easy but over all the book was a great success. If you have not checked out this series yet you should its a good one.

Once again, Mercedes Thompson, coyote and Volkswagen mechanic finds herself swamped in trouble. Can't enjoy her happy moments with Adam for very long and many events are to blame.
Not everyone in the pack is happy with Mercy being part of the family and some of them will got into extreme actions to try and push her away.
Samuel falls in desperation and is having problem with his wolf, which would cost him his life if the Marrok hears of it.
Mercy finds herself in trouble once more with the fae.
And the list is still long! How can such a small woman attract so much trouble?

This installment is a great adventure full of twist and turns like only Patricia Briggs can write.

Mercy as a lot to deal with and it's great to see her trying to find her way in life. Still bothered by past psychological injuries and the pack now crowding her head, she is still more concerned by her friend's happiness than her own. She is also as resourceful as ever, and is navigating her way out of trouble as good as she can.
Samuel and Adam aren't as strong as they used to be in this book, and have to relay on Mercy to make it through, will she step up to the challenge?

Briggs supplied us with another great adventure, and I love every books in that series, if you haven't picked it up yet, you really need to. Fabulous, outstanding, breath-taking, and I could say a lot more, Mercy Thompson series is in my top favorite Urban Fantasy series!

4-4.5 stars.

The only reason this book didn't get a 5 star rating was because of the fae storyline. I find I'm not as intrigued or interested by the fae as I am with the vampire's stories or the werewolves/shifter stories. So if it weren't for the fae being the focus this would have easily been a 5 star because I loved everything else.

Loved Adam/Mercy and all the drama and issues that is going on because of Mercy being let into the pack. As with the previous books I really loved the secondary characters.

Also I love that even when a character does a bad thing they aren't necessarily a bad person. It's refreshing to read.

One moment made me irriated at the character of Sylvia, although I understand Sylvia's reactions to not being told about the werewolves and that her daughter was playing with one, it still bothered me how she spoke to Mercy. However at the same time I liked that Mercy didn't try to give excuses or change Sylvia's mind.

Over all very good book and I look forward to the next one.

Silver Borne, the 5th book in the Mercy Thompson series, brings three main problems in Mercy's life. First, she needs to find a way for Adam's pack of werewolves to accept her and they are doing their best to get her out of the picture. Second, Samuel's depression got to its limit and his lost interest in life is not shared with his wolf, if man and animal don't find a balance it will be dangerous to everyone around. And, on top of it all, Mercy is trying to return a borrowed fae book but Phin, the bookstore manager, is nowhere to be found. Seems like nothing, but the book is more important than she first thought and now there are others ready to do anything to get their hands on it.

Again Patricia Briggs managed to keep us in the dark along with Mercy, trying to understand what was happening, who was responsible and the reasons behind it. She also keeps the same quality in her writing, bringing the mystery through Mercy's perspective and using perfectly balanced amounts of description, dialogues and musings.

I believe it might work as a stand alone book but for those who've been reading this series from the beginning this book offers a certain comfort using nearly all the characters previously introduced in the series: Zee, Gabriel, Tony, Adam, Samuel, Warren, Kyle, Jesse, Darryl etc. I did miss Stefan, but I think I'm always missing him. I think it's a very interesting character with a lot of background who's not being properly used in the stories. I believe Briggs might not know what to do with him yet, but I hope she's preparing something that'll give us more on him.

I know this is not a romance series, but I can't finish this review without commenting on how charming and "sigh inspiring" Mercy and Adam's relationship is. At first I didn't really like the way she dealt with him but in this book it's cute how they are developing their partnership, basing their commitment in companionship and caring. It's refreshing finding a story with a balanced relationship between a very dominant male and an independent woman, without one diminishing the other. In a way, the development of their relationship also brings a sense of Mercy herself growing up and doing the best she can to make it work. It's becoming a rare quality in a heroine lately in the urban fantasy genre and Briggs is doing it masterfully.

Looking forward to the next installment in the series.

#5 Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson paranormal mystery set in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. Mercy is a coyote shapeshifter whose mate is the Alpha werewolf of the local pack. Not everyone in Adam's pack is happy about Mercy, a non-wolf, being mated to their leader, as she discovers when one or more of them get inside her head and attempt to influence her behavior while she and Adam are out on a date.

Mercy hadn't realized that the pack could have that much influence, and it takes her awhile to figure out what had happened--but then, she's got other problems, including her roommate Sam 'going wolf' after a botched suicide attempt and a missing friend, owner of a bookstore who left a strange looking book with her before he disappeared--only to have some very powerful fae looking for the book and for Phin. Another enjoyable visit with Mercy, Adam, and the gang as Mercy continues to feel her way around trying to make her life situation work within pack laws.

Because of all the different elements to the book (various storylines) it did feel a bit scattered at times, but the author did a nice job of tying many of those threads together into a somewhat cohesive plot. Looking forward to River Marked!

This installment in Briggs's Mercy Thompson series is a bit of a departure from the style of the previous books. While there's still plenty of drama and action, the story had a more romantic tone. It also happened to be Sam-centric which, I'll admit, I wasn't sure I would be into. Sure, I love Sam as a character, but I usually like stories to revolve around the hero or heroine. However, the way that Briggs handles the plot makes it just as intriguing as those past. Mercy's love for Sam and their close relationship makes it easy for the reader to be just as invested in his struggle with depression as they would if the tale was solely about Mercy.

Of course this doesn't mean that there's no Mercy-driven issues and her still new relationships with Adam and his pack make for some riveting stuff. I like that, now that the two of them have gotten together, there are still serious issues for them to contend with. Maybe even more so. Their bond is iffy and the tensions in the pack aren't helping matters any.

Throw in some fae intrigue and what we get from Ms. Briggs is, in my opinion, one of the best installments thus far. I love the personal feel that we get in this supernatural tale - it adds a more realistic feel to all of the otherworldly action.

Ruh Roh! Mercy has done it again! Gotten her self in one heck of a pickle! "Trouble" should be Mercy's middle name because it sure seems to follow her wherever she goes!

In this, the 5th installment of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, Mercy becomes knee deep in Fae craziness when she unwittingly becomes the possessor of Silver Borne. Silver Borne is a Fae artifact said to be able to consume the fae magic of one's enemies and give it back to whomever holds it. Unfortunately for Mercy, an evil Fairy Queen is hell bent on taking Silver Borne for her own and she's willing to do anything and attack anyone to get it.

As with all installments of the Mercy Thompson series, Briggs has once again created an excellent urban fantasy, full of action packed excitement and one kick ass heroine that readers are sure to fall in love with. Easy to read with effortless flow and an entirely logical resolution, Silver Borne made it really hard for this particular reader to set it aside to get some sleep or go to work!

Patricia Briggs is a master of the genre repeatedly delivering Urban Fantasy at it's finest!

I loved this book! This book was a great read and I enjoyed all three story lines. I know a lot of the reviews have focused on great action, Samuel's story line or the three stories going on simultaneously but for me Silver Borne tied many of the loose ends from previous books together and it was about solidifying relationships, characters and making room for new story lines. *Spoilers*
For example: Mercy's house burning down forces her to live with Adam; her being left in Elpahme(sp) allowed she and Adam's bond to be restored as strong as it should have been to start with; her being missing a month and Adam filled with the need to love her hard changed their relationship and removed/dimmed Mercy's fear that hard does not mean without love; several pack issues were identified and resolved and this restored the backing of Adam's pack thus improving his pack relationships. This book puts Mercy and Adam on solid ground. Mercy's trailer being blown up and burned also forces Samuel to find his own dwelling (Adam & Sam can't stay under the same roof for long); therefore putting more distance between Samuel and Mercy. I see Samuel moving to the background of Mercy's live and possibly starting his own with his new found love.
I think in books to come Mercy will still be followed by trouble but she will have stronger pack support than she has had in previous books. I too was disappointed that Stefan did not make an appearance but I'm not sure what roll he would have played since Mercy & Adam needed to focus on their relationship. I think everyone will take something different away from this book. Enjoy!

I've read this whole series up through book 8. All of the books are great and are best read in sequence. If you like Urban Fantasy Mercy Thompson is one of the best! I want more books about Mercy but also hope that it doesn't go on endlessly. Some authors do that and I feel there should be a beginning and end of a series. In Mercy Thompson you will always have good conquering evil even if the heroes are badly beaten up in the process. You won't have books ending on cliff hangers. Each book has a resolution even if more to come. And the romance is tastefully done without getting inappropriate and overboard. I highly recommend the series!

I thought I would prefer the books that tend to favor the vampires. But, I discovered I like Iron Kissed more than Blood Bound. The same goes for this one over Bone Crossed. The Fae continue you to amaze me. There's always something new to learn. You wouldn't think they could be the most dangerous mythical creatures, but I'm beginning to change my mind. While the stories with the vampires tend to scare me more than normal, the one's with the Fae seem to test your intelligence. They want to know if you've been paying attention. I love how Mercy doesn't fit all the typical rules. It seems no one knows quite how she will react or how things will effect her (including Mercy herself). I really loved watching her relationship with Adam and the pack grow. I was not surprised to discover the deep rooted animosity towards her within the pack. I also wasn't surprised to watch Sam struggle with his wolf. I've actually been waiting for it to come for a couple books now (especially since Mercy chose Adam). Overall, I loved it and can't wait for the next in the series!

I actually bought this book after not reading at all for a good 4 years. I loved it. I fell deeply in love with Mercy. She is strong but unsure of herself. She doubts herself but also knows her strengths. This book made me start reading again. After I finished Silver Borne which only took me 3 days because I never stopped reading it. I went out & bought every book before it. Silver Borne is not my favorite in the series. I truly love all of them. I think #1 & #4 are a tie for my favorite at the moment. Silver Borne lost me a bit in the Fairy realm. I found it hard to follow along with all of Briggs descriptions of the world. I love her descriptions but there seemed to be a lot going on for me to keep up. I plan to read this series again from start to finish. I read this book almost 1 year ago & know own a Kindle & have read several series of books. I thank Patricia Briggs for giving me a jump start on the reading trail. I have loved the adventures & worlds I have entered since then.

In the 5th book of the Mercy Thompson series, Mercy is having some problems with her new pack. They do not want her to be in the pack because she isn't a werewolf. And they are trying to get between her and Adam.
Along with this problem, Sam seems to want to end his life. He's not himself any longer, and his wolf is now in control which can mean that he may have to be killed.

Then Mercy has a Fae queen out to get her because of a book that was given to her before. She has to go all out with this one when The queen starts to take Mercy's friends away.

This one was another good one in this series. I'm not sure what I felt about all of the stuff with Sam. He's starting to get on my nerves. Other than that I really did enjoy this one, and I can not wait for more.

Patricia Briggs is undoubtedly one of the top fantasy writers today; I would even go so far as to say that her prose can successfully compete in the field of regular fiction, too. Silver Borne is another reminder of why I adore this writer. With Patricia Briggs, when you pick up any of her books, you know you're in for something special.

With this book, Patricia Briggs has done it again. I loved this entry in the Mercy Thompson series. One great thing about this author is that she never shies away from pain, and isn't afraid to put her characters through tough times. Mercy's life in the first three books was difficult to say the least. In this book, she and her friends are in peril once more, but a lot more attention is paid to her relationship with Adam and his pack. Finally, after all the trials and tribulations, Mercy and Adam's relationship becomes complete. There are many wonderful moments between the two of them in the book, when each of them realizes with growing clarity just how much they care about each other. I am endlessly amazed by how deftly Patricia Briggs handles emotions and relationships between her characters. It's never dramatic or overly sentimental; it's simple, heartfelt and beautiful. Reading this book was a breath of fresh air. In a way it has me worried - I love the characters so much, I don't want them torn apart again in the next book. As a reader, one gets completely invested in the characters and wants them to be happy. I don't know if there is a better compliment to an author out there.

As I've mentioned before, I am constantly impressed by the quality, maturity and simple beauty of Patricia Briggs's writing. I hope to see many more books from this author. In the spirit of this, if you haven't checked out her other books, they are highly recommended; Mercy's fans especially will love the Alpha and Omega series, which you must read in order, starting with the short novella in "On the Prowl". Next book in that series will come out in the fall of 2011; the next Mercy book should be out next spring. All I can say is, I can't wait!

I enjoyed parts of this book, and others not so much. The ending seemed a bit rushed without very much dramatic impact. However, due to my love of the character, I am still giving this 4 stars.

SPOILER!!!!
First of all, it took too long to get to the substance of the plot, I also think it took too long to introduce the love of Sam's life. It was too convenient that Mery's trailer burned down, just when it was getting serious with Adam. I also don't think I like the death of the fairie queen, she seemed too powerful to be killed so easily.

I may add more at a later time, after I have had the opportunity to think it over

This is by far my favorite book in the Mercy Thompson series. Returning a borrowed book should be easy, right? Well, it's far from easy in the world of Patricia Briggs. The premise of the book is that Mercy needs to return a very special book about the Fae. However, the more significant plot element is the developing relationship between Mercy and Adam, how it affects the pack, and the toll it takes on poor Samuel. From the beginning of the series, Samuel has been a sympathetic character, and old wolf, who wanted nothing more than to have a family. He lost Mercy when she was only a teenager and then once again to Adam. He's been a doctor for hundreds of years, and, simply put, is weary of the world. He takes drastic steps to end his pain, causing his wolf to take over.

Also throughout the story, Adam's pack, or rather some of the pack, has issues with Mercy's involvement with Adam, and they take action. Pack power struggles and battles for dominance take center stage here as Adam is forced to defend his position as Alpha. And once that's settled, Mercy, again motivated by friendship, finds herself in another dangerous mess facing off against the Fairy Queen. During the climatic scene where Mercy is trapped in the Queen's realm alone with no hope of escape, the reader is treated to a brilliantly depicted visualization of the pack and its bonds. After reading so many hundreds of pages about the pack bonds and how the energy flows between them, I was thrilled to have this succinct and beautiful scene that explains them so clearly. This book has definitely gone on my to-re-read list.

This installment again seems short, but it isn't. It's just that I don't want it to end and I seem to fly through them. I couldn't put this one down.

No vampires in this one, but lots of Fae issues and a lot of interesting pack bonding explanations. Samuel played a big role since he is in a bad state, mentally that is. And I also loved to get a little closer to Adam. We see some more insight into how much he feels for Mercy and how vulnerable he can be while still being a strong Alpha of his pack.

I don't think Mercy can fix the Sylvia issue though. Mama bear came out in full force on that one.

Love this series.

** read December as library kindle book

What can I say - I love Mercy - she is just so likable! This story started out a little slow, but picked up half way through and turned into a real page turner.

At first Mercy is thrown into a problem with the pack. Some of them don't like her much, so the ties that bind her to the pack and her Alfa are tested. Then Sam, her X-boyfriend and roommate, tries to kill himself. One because he's old and two he has never found a mate. His wolf takes over and Mercy is stuck with the scary task of trying to bring him back. Meanwhile she's looking for a half Fea named Phin who's gone missing, but not before leaving her with a book. A book that alot of dangerous Fea seem to want.

I don't want to spoil all the details, but the book was good. Better than average. If you've read Mercy novels before you are sure to like this book. If you like Mysteries and the Paranormal you should pick this series up. Tons of FUN!

Once again, Mercedes Thompson, coyote and Volkswagen mechanic finds herself swamped in trouble. Can't enjoy her happy moments with Adam for very long and many events are to blame.
Not everyone in the pack is happy with Mercy being part of the family and some of them will got into extreme actions to try and push her away.
Samuel falls in desperation and is having problem with his wolf, which would cost him his life if the Marrok hears of it.
Mercy finds herself in trouble once more with the fae.
And the list is still long! How can such a small woman attract so much trouble?

This installment is a great adventure full of twist and turns like only Patricia Briggs can write.

Mercy as a lot to deal with and it's great to see her trying to find her way in life. Still bothered by past psychological injuries and the pack now crowding her head, she is still more concerned by her friend's happiness than her own. She is also as resourceful as ever, and is navigating her way out of trouble as good as she can.
Samuel and Adam aren't as strong as they used to be in this book, and have to relay on Mercy to make it through, will she step up to the challenge?

Briggs supplied us with another great adventure, and I love every books in that series, if you haven't picked it up yet, you really need to. Fabulous, outstanding, breath-taking, and I could say a lot more, Mercy Thompson series is in my top favorite Urban Fantasy series!

4-4.5 stars.

The only reason this book didn't get a 5 star rating was because of the fae storyline. I find I'm not as intrigued or interested by the fae as I am with the vampire's stories or the werewolves/shifter stories. So if it weren't for the fae being the focus this would have easily been a 5 star because I loved everything else.

Loved Adam/Mercy and all the drama and issues that is going on because of Mercy being let into the pack. As with the previous books I really loved the secondary characters.

Also I love that even when a character does a bad thing they aren't necessarily a bad person. It's refreshing to read.

One moment made me irriated at the character of Sylvia, although I understand Sylvia's reactions to not being told about the werewolves and that her daughter was playing with one, it still bothered me how she spoke to Mercy. However at the same time I liked that Mercy didn't try to give excuses or change Sylvia's mind.

Over all very good book and I look forward to the next one.

Silver Borne, the 5th book in the Mercy Thompson series, brings three main problems in Mercy's life. First, she needs to find a way for Adam's pack of werewolves to accept her and they are doing their best to get her out of the picture. Second, Samuel's depression got to its limit and his lost interest in life is not shared with his wolf, if man and animal don't find a balance it will be dangerous to everyone around. And, on top of it all, Mercy is trying to return a borrowed fae book but Phin, the bookstore manager, is nowhere to be found. Seems like nothing, but the book is more important than she first thought and now there are others ready to do anything to get their hands on it.

Again Patricia Briggs managed to keep us in the dark along with Mercy, trying to understand what was happening, who was responsible and the reasons behind it. She also keeps the same quality in her writing, bringing the mystery through Mercy's perspective and using perfectly balanced amounts of description, dialogues and musings.

I believe it might work as a stand alone book but for those who've been reading this series from the beginning this book offers a certain comfort using nearly all the characters previously introduced in the series: Zee, Gabriel, Tony, Adam, Samuel, Warren, Kyle, Jesse, Darryl etc. I did miss Stefan, but I think I'm always missing him. I think it's a very interesting character with a lot of background who's not being properly used in the stories. I believe Briggs might not know what to do with him yet, but I hope she's preparing something that'll give us more on him.

I know this is not a romance series, but I can't finish this review without commenting on how charming and "sigh inspiring" Mercy and Adam's relationship is. At first I didn't really like the way she dealt with him but in this book it's cute how they are developing their partnership, basing their commitment in companionship and caring. It's refreshing finding a story with a balanced relationship between a very dominant male and an independent woman, without one diminishing the other. In a way, the development of their relationship also brings a sense of Mercy herself growing up and doing the best she can to make it work. It's becoming a rare quality in a heroine lately in the urban fantasy genre and Briggs is doing it masterfully.

Looking forward to the next installment in the series.

#5 Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson paranormal mystery set in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. Mercy is a coyote shapeshifter whose mate is the Alpha werewolf of the local pack. Not everyone in Adam's pack is happy about Mercy, a non-wolf, being mated to their leader, as she discovers when one or more of them get inside her head and attempt to influence her behavior while she and Adam are out on a date.

Mercy hadn't realized that the pack could have that much influence, and it takes her awhile to figure out what had happened--but then, she's got other problems, including her roommate Sam 'going wolf' after a botched suicide attempt and a missing friend, owner of a bookstore who left a strange looking book with her before he disappeared--only to have some very powerful fae looking for the book and for Phin. Another enjoyable visit with Mercy, Adam, and the gang as Mercy continues to feel her way around trying to make her life situation work within pack laws.

Because of all the different elements to the book (various storylines) it did feel a bit scattered at times, but the author did a nice job of tying many of those threads together into a somewhat cohesive plot. Looking forward to River Marked!

This installment in Briggs's Mercy Thompson series is a bit of a departure from the style of the previous books. While there's still plenty of drama and action, the story had a more romantic tone. It also happened to be Sam-centric which, I'll admit, I wasn't sure I would be into. Sure, I love Sam as a character, but I usually like stories to revolve around the hero or heroine. However, the way that Briggs handles the plot makes it just as intriguing as those past. Mercy's love for Sam and their close relationship makes it easy for the reader to be just as invested in his struggle with depression as they would if the tale was solely about Mercy.

Of course this doesn't mean that there's no Mercy-driven issues and her still new relationships with Adam and his pack make for some riveting stuff. I like that, now that the two of them have gotten together, there are still serious issues for them to contend with. Maybe even more so. Their bond is iffy and the tensions in the pack aren't helping matters any.

Throw in some fae intrigue and what we get from Ms. Briggs is, in my opinion, one of the best installments thus far. I love the personal feel that we get in this supernatural tale - it adds a more realistic feel to all of the otherworldly action.

Ruh Roh! Mercy has done it again! Gotten her self in one heck of a pickle! "Trouble" should be Mercy's middle name because it sure seems to follow her wherever she goes!

In this, the 5th installment of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, Mercy becomes knee deep in Fae craziness when she unwittingly becomes the possessor of Silver Borne. Silver Borne is a Fae artifact said to be able to consume the fae magic of one's enemies and give it back to whomever holds it. Unfortunately for Mercy, an evil Fairy Queen is hell bent on taking Silver Borne for her own and she's willing to do anything and attack anyone to get it.

As with all installments of the Mercy Thompson series, Briggs has once again created an excellent urban fantasy, full of action packed excitement and one kick ass heroine that readers are sure to fall in love with. Easy to read with effortless flow and an entirely logical resolution, Silver Borne made it really hard for this particular reader to set it aside to get some sleep or go to work!

Patricia Briggs is a master of the genre repeatedly delivering Urban Fantasy at it's finest!

I loved this book! This book was a great read and I enjoyed all three story lines. I know a lot of the reviews have focused on great action, Samuel's story line or the three stories going on simultaneously but for me Silver Borne tied many of the loose ends from previous books together and it was about solidifying relationships, characters and making room for new story lines. *Spoilers*
For example: Mercy's house burning down forces her to live with Adam; her being left in Elpahme(sp) allowed she and Adam's bond to be restored as strong as it should have been to start with; her being missing a month and Adam filled with the need to love her hard changed their relationship and removed/dimmed Mercy's fear that hard does not mean without love; several pack issues were identified and resolved and this restored the backing of Adam's pack thus improving his pack relationships. This book puts Mercy and Adam on solid ground. Mercy's trailer being blown up and burned also forces Samuel to find his own dwelling (Adam & Sam can't stay under the same roof for long); therefore putting more distance between Samuel and Mercy. I see Samuel moving to the background of Mercy's live and possibly starting his own with his new found love.
I think in books to come Mercy will still be followed by trouble but she will have stronger pack support than she has had in previous books. I too was disappointed that Stefan did not make an appearance but I'm not sure what roll he would have played since Mercy & Adam needed to focus on their relationship. I think everyone will take something different away from this book. Enjoy!

I've read this whole series up through book 8. All of the books are great and are best read in sequence. If you like Urban Fantasy Mercy Thompson is one of the best! I want more books about Mercy but also hope that it doesn't go on endlessly. Some authors do that and I feel there should be a beginning and end of a series. In Mercy Thompson you will always have good conquering evil even if the heroes are badly beaten up in the process. You won't have books ending on cliff hangers. Each book has a resolution even if more to come. And the romance is tastefully done without getting inappropriate and overboard. I highly recommend the series!

I thought I would prefer the books that tend to favor the vampires. But, I discovered I like Iron Kissed more than Blood Bound. The same goes for this one over Bone Crossed. The Fae continue you to amaze me. There's always something new to learn. You wouldn't think they could be the most dangerous mythical creatures, but I'm beginning to change my mind. While the stories with the vampires tend to scare me more than normal, the one's with the Fae seem to test your intelligence. They want to know if you've been paying attention. I love how Mercy doesn't fit all the typical rules. It seems no one knows quite how she will react or how things will effect her (including Mercy herself). I really loved watching her relationship with Adam and the pack grow. I was not surprised to discover the deep rooted animosity towards her within the pack. I also wasn't surprised to watch Sam struggle with his wolf. I've actually been waiting for it to come for a couple books now (especially since Mercy chose Adam). Overall, I loved it and can't wait for the next in the series!

I actually bought this book after not reading at all for a good 4 years. I loved it. I fell deeply in love with Mercy. She is strong but unsure of herself. She doubts herself but also knows her strengths. This book made me start reading again. After I finished Silver Borne which only took me 3 days because I never stopped reading it. I went out & bought every book before it. Silver Borne is not my favorite in the series. I truly love all of them. I think #1 & #4 are a tie for my favorite at the moment. Silver Borne lost me a bit in the Fairy realm. I found it hard to follow along with all of Briggs descriptions of the world. I love her descriptions but there seemed to be a lot going on for me to keep up. I plan to read this series again from start to finish. I read this book almost 1 year ago & know own a Kindle & have read several series of books. I thank Patricia Briggs for giving me a jump start on the reading trail. I have loved the adventures & worlds I have entered since then.

In the 5th book of the Mercy Thompson series, Mercy is having some problems with her new pack. They do not want her to be in the pack because she isn't a werewolf. And they are trying to get between her and Adam.
Along with this problem, Sam seems to want to end his life. He's not himself any longer, and his wolf is now in control which can mean that he may have to be killed.

Then Mercy has a Fae queen out to get her because of a book that was given to her before. She has to go all out with this one when The queen starts to take Mercy's friends away.

This one was another good one in this series. I'm not sure what I felt about all of the stuff with Sam. He's starting to get on my nerves. Other than that I really did enjoy this one, and I can not wait for more.

Patricia Briggs is undoubtedly one of the top fantasy writers today; I would even go so far as to say that her prose can successfully compete in the field of regular fiction, too. Silver Borne is another reminder of why I adore this writer. With Patricia Briggs, when you pick up any of her books, you know you're in for something special.

With this book, Patricia Briggs has done it again. I loved this entry in the Mercy Thompson series. One great thing about this author is that she never shies away from pain, and isn't afraid to put her characters through tough times. Mercy's life in the first three books was difficult to say the least. In this book, she and her friends are in peril once more, but a lot more attention is paid to her relationship with Adam and his pack. Finally, after all the trials and tribulations, Mercy and Adam's relationship becomes complete. There are many wonderful moments between the two of them in the book, when each of them realizes with growing clarity just how much they care about each other. I am endlessly amazed by how deftly Patricia Briggs handles emotions and relationships between her characters. It's never dramatic or overly sentimental; it's simple, heartfelt and beautiful. Reading this book was a breath of fresh air. In a way it has me worried - I love the characters so much, I don't want them torn apart again in the next book. As a reader, one gets completely invested in the characters and wants them to be happy. I don't know if there is a better compliment to an author out there.

As I've mentioned before, I am constantly impressed by the quality, maturity and simple beauty of Patricia Briggs's writing. I hope to see many more books from this author. In the spirit of this, if you haven't checked out her other books, they are highly recommended; Mercy's fans especially will love the Alpha and Omega series, which you must read in order, starting with the short novella in "On the Prowl". Next book in that series will come out in the fall of 2011; the next Mercy book should be out next spring. All I can say is, I can't wait!

I enjoyed parts of this book, and others not so much. The ending seemed a bit rushed without very much dramatic impact. However, due to my love of the character, I am still giving this 4 stars.

SPOILER!!!!
First of all, it took too long to get to the substance of the plot, I also think it took too long to introduce the love of Sam's life. It was too convenient that Mery's trailer burned down, just when it was getting serious with Adam. I also don't think I like the death of the fairie queen, she seemed too powerful to be killed so easily.

I may add more at a later time, after I have had the opportunity to think it over

This is by far my favorite book in the Mercy Thompson series. Returning a borrowed book should be easy, right? Well, it's far from easy in the world of Patricia Briggs. The premise of the book is that Mercy needs to return a very special book about the Fae. However, the more significant plot element is the developing relationship between Mercy and Adam, how it affects the pack, and the toll it takes on poor Samuel. From the beginning of the series, Samuel has been a sympathetic character, and old wolf, who wanted nothing more than to have a family. He lost Mercy when she was only a teenager and then once again to Adam. He's been a doctor for hundreds of years, and, simply put, is weary of the world. He takes drastic steps to end his pain, causing his wolf to take over.

Also throughout the story, Adam's pack, or rather some of the pack, has issues with Mercy's involvement with Adam, and they take action. Pack power struggles and battles for dominance take center stage here as Adam is forced to defend his position as Alpha. And once that's settled, Mercy, again motivated by friendship, finds herself in another dangerous mess facing off against the Fairy Queen. During the climatic scene where Mercy is trapped in the Queen's realm alone with no hope of escape, the reader is treated to a brilliantly depicted visualization of the pack and its bonds. After reading so many hundreds of pages about the pack bonds and how the energy flows between them, I was thrilled to have this succinct and beautiful scene that explains them so clearly. This book has definitely gone on my to-re-read list.

This installment again seems short, but it isn't. It's just that I don't want it to end and I seem to fly through them. I couldn't put this one down.

No vampires in this one, but lots of Fae issues and a lot of interesting pack bonding explanations. Samuel played a big role since he is in a bad state, mentally that is. And I also loved to get a little closer to Adam. We see some more insight into how much he feels for Mercy and how vulnerable he can be while still being a strong Alpha of his pack.

I don't think Mercy can fix the Sylvia issue though. Mama bear came out in full force on that one.

Love this series.

** read December as library kindle book

What can I say - I love Mercy - she is just so likable! This story started out a little slow, but picked up half way through and turned into a real page turner.

At first Mercy is thrown into a problem with the pack. Some of them don't like her much, so the ties that bind her to the pack and her Alfa are tested. Then Sam, her X-boyfriend and roommate, tries to kill himself. One because he's old and two he has never found a mate. His wolf takes over and Mercy is stuck with the scary task of trying to bring him back. Meanwhile she's looking for a half Fea named Phin who's gone missing, but not before leaving her with a book. A book that alot of dangerous Fea seem to want.

I don't want to spoil all the details, but the book was good. Better than average. If you've read Mercy novels before you are sure to like this book. If you like Mysteries and the Paranormal you should pick this series up. Tons of FUN!

I got this book on the day it came out and was curiously reluctant to read it. I had this weird fear that this was the book where the series takes a bad turn. Seriously, in looking back at my PNR/UF reading history, Book #5 in the series is where it all turns sour for me.

Silly girl! I devoured it in one night. Briggs did not let me down. I loved the Mercy/Adam stuff and the pack politics the most. I was really riveted on what was going on and mildly resented anytime the Fae stuff intruded.

Speaking of the Fairy queen. Meh. She was a piker compared to Marsilia and even crazy rapist Tim. That part of the story was almost anticlimactic.

And as an added Bonus we got some Bran.

Great book

In this next installment of the Mercy Thompson series I was definitely not let down! Mercy has been one of my long standing favorites and I am already looking forward to RIVER MARKED #6 to be released in 2011. I love that Mercy has the feel of someone I could see walking down the street, her character has such a rich quality that you feel that she is a friend that you would love to just hang out with. Her down to earth personality and devotion to her loved ones makes her one of the most likable heroines that I have ever read.

In SILVER BORNE we get to see a new side to the relationship between Mercy, the coyote shifter auto mechanic, and her main squeeze, sexy alpha werewolf for the local pack, Adam Hauptman. The dynamics of their relationship as they work through the obstacles of dealing with the pack being in on every part of their it causes strain and shows them that they have to work for the things they truly care about. The pack has been through a rough couple of years and these new transitions cause a lot of conflict within the ranks as they learn who they can trust and how to make it work for everyone involved.

With Mercy being her usually self she takes on a lot of things by herself, not wanting to make things worse for those around her. When she receives a mysterious message in regards to an old fae book that she has in her possession, she tries to return it to it's owner Phin, but no one seems to no where he's gone... or maybe they're just being evasive, as so many fae can be. Mercy finds herself in an extremely difficult position as she tries to right whatever wrongs have been done in the search for a missing artifact that is the only bargaining chip she can use when up against some of the most powerful magic she has yet to encounter. Her journey to save her friend and not disrupt the pack even more turns out to be more than she bargained for.

We also get to know more about Samuel, the Marrok's son and Mercy's current room mate. As a powerful alpha werewolf living next door to Adam and under the same roof as Mercy the tension between the men in her life is thick enough to choke on at times. Samuel is also someone very close to Mercy's heart and with him going through a difficult time she finds herself wanting to help and unable to find a clear way to do so. Afraid of losing him without giving it everything she has she finds a way to keep the problems under wraps as much of possible but with the clock ticking down she doesn't know if she will have enough time to find the answers before it's too late to save him from destroying himself.

I loved this book! The plot was exciting, the characters are enchanting and the romance between Mercy and Adam was a soft touch that just made me smile as I read. Patricia Briggs has a masterful way of merging reality with fantasy that makes you want to believe in the unbelievable. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the pack dynamics and seeing Mercy progress as she learned how her bonds with the pack worked. I have to say that I loved seeing a softer side to Adam where Mercy was concerned... and then at the end when he showed how animal he could be... wow! Overall, still one of my favorite series!

Today's novel, Silver Borne, begins with Mercy T's roomie Sam finally give in to his brokenness. After trying to drive himself off a bridge, his wolf takes over, and Mecry finds herself in a political battle with her lover's pack and Sam's father, both of which, really don't want Sam running around with a wolf in charge.

Although, then in a bit of a stretch the plot actually becomes about a fae queen kidnapping Mercy's young intern, and the overall story becomes more of a werewolf fae cross-over, which I have to say starts blurring the lines of understanding the magical mumbo thats going on.

Good book though, the prose is solid, except for one page where Brigg's editor obviously gave up on removing - hypens - and a slightly purple sex scene at the end (in saying that most readers are probably hoping for purple sex scenes so this could be a good point.)

Silver Borne was a great story but I missed the suspence and excitement that the previous ones made me feel. It's still worth 4 stars cause like all the Mercy stories it was a great book!

Mercy is finally safe from all the vampires but her troubles don't seem to be over yet.
She gets a phone call from Tad who is worried about a friend and after checking some things out, Mercy can't shake the feeling that this friend is in trouble. Unfortunately it seems the Fae are involved...

It's really not a good time for Mercy to get into it because she's dealing with some other major stuff involving Sam. And on top of that there is someone from Adam's pack who is trying to sabotage their relationship through the pack link.
So as usual Mercy has a lot on her plate!

In this book our beloved Mercy is having to face some pretty scary adversaries with her usual panache. She faces humans with guns and Pack members with grudges and through most of it she is accompanied by one sad wolf with an existential crisis. But despite all the other troubles, when the life of a loved one is in jeopardy, we can count on Mercy to come through disregarding the danger to herself. We get to meet some new fae and not all of them are bad. We get to learn a few more things about the nature of werewolves and Mercy's new place in the Pack. Sam will get a new reason to live, you'll just have to read the book to find out what it is. Have fun!

Another excellent addition to this series. I'd give it 5 stars if it weren't for the overwhelming sense that I had read it before....which I hadn't. There were just some things that were obvious which is something I don't normally expect from these books. Still, I read it in less than a day so it couldn't have been too distracting.

Mercy Thompson, a coyote shapeshifter, is now part of a werewolf pack and mate of the Alpha. This causes more trouble because some of the wolves are unhappy with a coyote joining their pack. At the same time, Samuel fails to committ suicide and his wolf takes over. The fae also start to mess with Mercy because of a book she'd borrowed. Patricia Briggs interweaves the storylines and keps the action moving as usual.

Along the way we learn more about Mercy, Adam, and Samuel. Even the lesser wolves are fleshed out more throughout the novel. Each bit of this world that the author reveals just makes it more interesting.

SILVER BORNE has been my most anticipated novel of the year (and already the River Marked, Mercy #6 is my most anticipated book for next year). Everything I've loved about the previous books are here again. Mercy is just plain cool. She is laid back, resilient, tough without being pushy, and brave enough to risk her life for those she loves (which she inevitably does several times in this book). If you want to know exactly how cool Mercy is, check out the Character Profile I've compiled for her HERE.

The world building is as rich and nuanced as ever. Werewolf, Fae, and Walker lore are all explored with more detail (sadly Stefan and the vampires are no shows this time out). And a pretty significant piece of Samuel's past is revealed that will have definite repercussions on future books. I have to say how impressed I am with Patricia Briggs' ability to showcase her--rather large by this point in the series--cast of characters without making SILVER BORNE feel crowded. Every scene is full and satisfying even though most of the characters only have minor roles, they still have impact.

Well deserved praise aside, I'm sorry to say that I wasn't as blown away by SILVER BORNE as I expected to be. Maybe I built it up to much, maybe I missed the character of Stefan too much, or maybe it was the lack of romantic tension between Mercy and Adam. They became mates in the previous book, but because of Stefan, there was still plenty of romantic tension. But Adam and Mercy are in full blown couple mode throughout SILVER BORNE constantly telling each other how much they love the other one. Mercy has previously been pretty gun-shy with her feelings, and I didn't expect her to be this mushy (for Mercy) so quickly.

That all came out harsher than I intended. The Mercy Thompson books are still my pick for best urban fantasy series out there. They set the bar for every other urban fantasy series I read, and no one has dethroned Mercy yet (though Kate Daniels comes close). Even with the minor criticism, SILVER BORNE was an excellent read, and even at hardcover prices, you should put it at the top of your to-buy pile. The next Mercy book is called River Marked, it has a tentative release date for Spring 2011.

Sexual Content: References to a previous rape, references to homosexuality. A brief non graphic sex scene.

Mercy is back. I find that these books are either vampire heavy or werewolf heavy. This book is a good mix of all of the preternatural beings. Mercy is forced to help Samuel, who is having problems, face the Fae, who are pissed at her, and deal with being in love with the Alpha wolf. I wont spoil it by telling you the whole story, but let's just say that she is never far from trouble and being a shifter doesn't always make her immune to things. This novel also has the first wolf fight for dominance (which I had been waiting to read). Over all not the best in the series but it did move the story along.

So love this amazing book. Now Mercy is so my favorite of course how could you not love her. Then there Adam the so hot alpha. And of course if Mercy near by so is trouble sure to find her. To know more about this book grab your copy today a so so so must read!!!

I absolutely love the characters and Briggs' eye for detail (and accuracy) in the settings in the Mercy Thompson series. However, as the series progresses, it seems that climax is lacking in depth of detail more and more, and we are just thrown into the resolution. For example, we get a beautiful blow by blow account of the struggle for werewolf dominance that was very engaging in the middle of the book which helped add depth of character and substance to the main story. Contrast this with the main resolution in book where we are given Mercy's surreal dream awareness of rocks and ropes that had to do with her romantic connection to Adam, and then a quick gun fire to dispatch the bad guy. It felt so unfulfilling. These books have vast potential, but the endings are needing more work so they don't feel like they were just thrown on to complete the book by the deadline. To top it off, it feels like Mercy is giving more excuses for being dominated by Adam now that she is in a relationship with him, and is no longer the strong female character she used to be. If you love these books don't skip this one, but it isn't as good as the first couple in the series.

I have to say that I think that this has to be my favorite book in the series. I love how the relationship between Adam and Mercy is tested and grows and also seeing the tensions between Mercy and the rest of the pack as well. I feel by the end of the book, the pack have accepted Mercy a little more as she starts to accept them.

I also loved reading about the fae. It's always interesting to see there world and even though I wouldn't want to be on there bad side (or owe them anything) I like seeing glimpses of their world.

The characters are strong, valiant, courageous & smart. Pack magic creates loyalty and self sacrifice. Good triumphs over evil and the ending is clearly set to open the way for the continuing saga.

Another good book in the series, but it is the fifth book, so new readers should begin with earlier books. The paranormal elements are nicely interwoven with the mystery aspects. The characters are strong, positive characters, although the female protagonist takes a few too many hits for my taste. I immediately started the sixth book after finishing this one.

Mercy just cannot catch a break, except for the fact that her good luck at the end of books is just as powerful as her bad luck at the start. Bringing together Fae, werewolves and humans this book drives home what it means to live and to be pack.

I really enjoy this series and the variety of characters PB has Mercy involved with. We get books about werewolves, books about vampires and books about the fae so it never gets boring. I was hoping for some more of the vampire Stefan in this book since I can see him causing problems between Mercy and Adam. And I think that for the books to remain fun there needs to be some tension in that relationship instead of just having her move into Adam's house and become one of his pack. Over all I really liked the book and look forward to the next.

I'm proud to say I was reading Brigg's books before she became the all-powerful urban fantasy writer she is today with her Mercy series. Yes, I was there for the Raven books, the Dragon Books, When Demon Walks, and so on. She was great then, but she truly came into her calling when she removed herself from the past fantasy and turned to the present fantasy.

Each book in this series has the deep substance and rounded characters that makes this series less "mass-produced" and just "more." I found Silver Borne to be less suspensful than her previous books in this series. There was not as much on the run and scary characters as there had been. Yet, Briggs deepens the relationship been Mercy and Adam without all the sex that other author's turn to. There is no doubt how the two feel about each other in the end. Samuel goes further into depression, Gabriel get's into trouble, and the fae are causing problems are a few of what Mercy has to face in this one.

I found the book thoroughly enjoyable and have recommended this series already to several of my friends who enjoy a good book.

Clear a day because you won't be able to put this book down. I have loved the this series and this is my favorite so far. Patricia Briggs built a rich and wonderful setting and with well developed characters. She is very visual in her writing style and balances it well with dialog. The tone is a bit moody without being depressing. It took 5 books to finally have Mercy put her trust in Adam and take their relationship to a whole new level. Don't want to give too much more away so I'll end this here.

I love the Mercy Thompson series, but this book was not very good. I felt as if she rushed through this one. It usually only takes me a few days to read one of these books and this one took me over a week. It was just not written well. It was choppy and hard to follow. I found myself looking back into the pages and re-reading to make sure I didn't miss anything. I just feel as if maybe she's trying to pump these books out a little too fast lately. I would love to see another Alpha and Omega book.

**May contain spoilers**

Mercy has two important men in her life. She is in love with her mate and head werewolf, Adam Hauptman, and worried about her roommate, Samuel. Samuel is the Marrok's son, and outranks Adam, but is not part of his pack, which causes some tension between the two men. Samuel is very old (although never ages due to being a werewolf) and very tired in life. Mercy knows he has been struggling with these issues, and doesn't know how to help him. She is currently letting him stay with her, as she is not quite ready to move into Adam's house, although he lives right next door. Mercy is not a werewolf, but a coyote shifter, but she is also part of Adam's pack. This doesn't necessarily make her welcome to all the wolves. She is also getting used to her inconsistent mate bond with Adam, having him being able to read her thoughts and vice versa. So she feels, not moving in yet is a good plan at the moment.

Adam is willing to concede...for now. Mercy knows eventually she will have to face the pack, and her reservations. Mercy gets a call from Tad, the son of her good friend Zee, who is fae. Tad received a message from a friend Phin, that Mercy has to "take care of that thing I gave her." Mercy remembers she borrowed a book from Phin on the history of Fae, and she sets off to return it to him as she tries to solve his message. Problem is, no one can find Phin and there are suspicious fae being evasive.

While Mercy starts to worry about Phin, she gets a call from Samuel, or from his wolf I should say. Samuel, the person, tries to commit suicide, and the wolf takes over, not wanting to die. In most cases, Samuel would be put down immediately due to the violence a wolf in control is capable of, but Mercy decides to give Samuel a chance. Now she has a possibly violent wolf, a fae book with a lost owner, and a lover who is just a bit overprotective of her.

Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite heroines and she continues to be at the top of my list after Silver Borne. I love her spirit, and how she handles all the political maneuverings of the alphas in her life. She is independent, yet fiercely loyal to those she loves. I read these book more for her relationship with Adam and the politics within the werewolf clan than for the mystery. I will say though I think the mystery in this book is probably my least favorite out of all the books. It just didn't feel as fleshed out or intriguing than the previous ones. However, like I said, I read it more for the werewolf interactions and we get a lot of that in this book.

We see Mercy and Adam in love. There are some very tender moments between these two, which is a wonderful change from the unbearable sexual tension Patricia Briggs put us through in the first four books. We not only see Mercy in love, but we see a very vulnerable side of Adam. Fear that Mercy might one day decide to walk away from him. We find her reassuring the big bad alpha, that he is hers. "Mine" is used very often when Mercy thinks of Adam. And thank you to Patricia Briggs for the last few pages in the book. For as tender as Adam is throughout, the last few pages - the real wolf comes out to play.

Sam plays a very big part in this book as well. Sam is at the end, and Mercy refuses to let him go..but she has no idea how to bring him back. I felt like the way he is recovered is a bit rushed. It doesn't happen until the very end, so I am sure it will be explored in the next book more, but I would have liked to have more page time devoted to his recovery, especially since it is built up in the book so much.

Silver Borne and the entire Mercy Thompson series is fabulous. Patricia Briggs can write werewolves with such subtle nuances, that make them have such a real feel. They are brutal and have a wild, violent side, yet their human side can be so vulnerable. She is really a remarkable writer. If you have not read this series, start with Moon Called, book one in the series. One of my favorite books I have read.

Love this series and the characters that Patricia Briggs brings to life in the Mercedes Thompson books. My two favorite characters are Adam and Samuel, both play large parts in Mercy's life and I believe they are the balance she needs in her life. Their interaction is what draws my interest to the series the most, even though Mercy is a strong character in her own right. Recommend the book and the whole series.

I love the whole series of the "Mercy" books. Patricia Briggs has the ability as a writer to pull you into the story and make you wish the fae, werewolves, and vampires were real and you were part of the whole group. The stories are interesting and the characters are likeable, humorous, and you feel and understand their happiness and pain. Can't wait to read more with Mercy, Adam, and the pack.

Mercy Thompson may be a werecoyote, but her entire life has been tied to the werewolves around her -- and now she's a part of Adam's pack.

So of course, she starts experiencing some major trouble in "Silver Borne," the fifth book about a mechanic with a knack for getting into supernatural trouble. Patricia Briggs deftly weaves together werewolf pack problems with a fae hunt for a mysterious book, while also turning her focus to Mercy's troubles with the pack, and Samuel's inner turmoil. It's a bit scattered at times, but still brilliant.

After a disastrous date with Adam, Mercy learns that Samuel has tried to kill himself -- and the only thing that saved him was his inner wolf, who is now in control of his mind and body. Whenever that happens it leads to madness and death, and the Marrok will kill his own son if he finds out. To make matters worse, she's faced with subtle magical sabotage from the wolf pack, and a TV bounty hunter shows up in town gunning for werewolves.

But Mercy's biggest problem is that the fae are trying to kill her, so they can get their hands on a mysterious book called the Silver Borne, which has been entrusted to her -- and then they capture a young friend of hers as a hostage. As she struggles to save Samuel from his hopelessness and the pack from internal strife, Mercy will have to take on a fairy queen who wants the Silver Borne for herself. But she has some allies who aren't about to just give in...

"Silver Borne" isn't quite as even as the last few Mercy Thompson books, mainly because Briggs swings between pack politics and the whole fae book disaster, spending a little too long on each for long periods (come on! There's a hostage! This is no time to infight!). But that unevenness isn't enough to stop it from being the sort of urban fantasy that Briggs writes best -- bloody, grimy, but with plenty of heart and passion at its core.

Briggs' prose is as solid as her storyline -- lean and muscular ("he was a tall, sleek warrior with skin dark as wet bark. Sunlight tinted his hair gold"), with moments of humor (Sam as a "pony"), and some wonderfully tense fight scenes spattered with blood and magic. And compared to many authors, she juggles the werewolf politics and fae plotting very smoothly, never letting the plots drift too far from the "real world" of reality TV, broken-down cars and trailers in the desert.

And as usual, Mercy has a lot on her plate in this book -- she finds out that joining the pack won't make all the people in it accept her (some are even plotting against her!), and finds that even people she knows well might turn their backs because of the danger that follows her. And her new relationship with Adam hits its first road bump, which Briggs handles with just the right mixture of passion, bickering and heartfelt love. And most of the fae and werewolves are nicely fleshed out, although I seriously miss Stefan.

But the most striking Samuel's personal issues finally hit the breaking point -- he no longer wants to live because he has nothing to live for, and his inner wolf "Sam" emerges for much of the book. Briggs doesn't shy away from this thorny, painful issue, and she handles it very well.

"Silver Borne" is a bit more back-and-forth than some of Briggs' other Mercy Thompson books, but it's still a solid, beautifully written urban fantasy with plenty of heart. A must-read for werewolf fans.

Is there anything like holding the latest Mercy Thompson novel in your hands? Especially when it's all large and hardback and glowing? Because the window on this book seriously glows. And the spine and back are warm and golden and it's just so much prettier than the online images led me to believe. These are the simple things that make me happy. A beautiful dust jacket. A favorite author doing well. Spending time once more with characters who are friends now and who are none the worse for wear for our time apart. In fact, just a handful of pages into SILVER BORNE it was like we'd never been apart at all. After reading the first three books in the series, I convinced DH he wanted in on this action. So we've read them all aloud together now and it's so nice having that to look forward to each night. Suffice it to say, neither of us was disappointed in the slightest. This is the series that started my love for urban fantasy and so it will necessarily always hold a special place in my heart. But what a feat to be able to say that five books in Patricia Briggs still owns. Mercy and Co. haven't missed a step and it was infinitely delightful to sink back into this world that I love and get up to all sorts of mischief with these characters who continue to make me smile no matter how dark the day.

Mercy keeps her life busy these days. Her days filled to the brim working at her garage with Gabriel and Zee, her nights taken up looking out for her roommate Sam, hanging with the local pack, and dating their Alpha. She stays busy enough that things like the lingering effects of recent trauma and returning that book she borrowed awhile back get shoved to the back of her mind. Until something triggers her flinch reflex, that is. Or someone comes looking for the book who perhaps should not be allowed to have it. So when Samuel starts displaying more worrisome tendencies than is normal for a lone wolf and Mercy starts hearing voices and feeling dangerous impulses not her own, she knows things are bound to get worse before they get better. On her side she's got Adam and the members of his pack who do not resent her for bonding with their boss and snagging a coveted spot in the pack hierarchy. She's also got Zee--the crotchety old fae mechanic who is older than dirt, watches out for her, and should not be underestimated. On the other side Mercy's got a handful of wolves who've got no reason to love her, a powerful unidentified fae who wants something she's got, and a pack of demons riding her friend Samuel--all of whom prove darker than she at first thought. But in the end it's up to Mercy to put the pieces together and beat the clock to save her friends and those who rely on her from their monsters--both the ones they can see and the ones they can't.

I don't know what goes on in Ms. Briggs' head when she sits down to write a new installment in this excellent series, but what comes out is pure, unadulterated magic. SILVER BORNE lived up to my every expectation and then some. There were a whole host of loose threads left lingering around at the end of Bone Crossed and, though they are not all tied up here (oh, Stefan, how I miss you), the pacing and development of plot threads here is masterful. Patricia Briggs is unparalleled when it comes to consistently strong characters, forward-moving plot lines, and heart-palpitating climaxes. There are no stagnant elements, no pointless meanderings, no annoying red herrings. There is only adrenaline and affection and a burning desire to find out what happens. Fifty pages from the end I turned to Aaron, just shook my head, and said, "She seriously crafts the best endings. They're always so genuinely exciting." And it's to do with the endlessly clever ways in which she weaves together classic mythology with her characters' personal histories and wraps them all up in an unfailing sense of urgency. The villains are smart, dark, and not necessarily operating under the assumptions you think they are. The good guys are brave, torn, and absolutely worth staying up late to root for. But most of all there's Mercy. She's the beginning and the end as far as I'm concerned. She's got dirt under her nails and independence running through her veins. She's as playful as the coyote she shifts into and good to the core. No wonder we love her. SILVER BORNE is one headlong dose of action and surprisingly sweet interpersonal exploration. Finest kind.

If I needed a reminder as to why Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors, 'Silver Borne" would be it.
The Mercy Thompson series is fantastic on so many levels, and the story line gets impossibly richer and the characters more dear with each addition.

I loved the way she took the story in a different direction this time. No spoilers, but it is very rewarding to see Mercy continue to grow in her understanding of herself and her significant others. The relationship of Mercy and Adam continues to be the focus, yet the author has deftly managed to have relationships and interactions impact their new-found intimacy (and who hasn't had fallout over new loves from friends and family?)

Note: I am very happy to walk into a bookstore and see Ms. Briggs in hardbook, and featured at the entrance. Well worth the wait and price!!

I've enjoyed the series, but was fairly underwhelmed by this book. The plot and action were generally fine (although the ending felt sudden, with an unhealthy dose of deus ex machina) but the characters felt flat and one dimensional. Mercy, for instance, other than periodic expressions of romance-esque passion for Adam (which felt more like an animal in heat than real attraction) just sort of hovered around blithe annoyance. Ditched by someone she did a lot of favors for, she accepts it with a shrug. Betrayed by a pack member? Mild irritation. Even tortured, she seems basically nonchalant about the situation. Just felt like Briggs wrote a plot without paying much attention to the characters in it.

We find out about pack bonds and energy borrowing, and there's a bunch of emotional turmoil involving Sam. The action involves the fae and the book of artifact-fairy tales Mercy borrowed in "Iron Kissed". This was a book about Mercy settling into a werewolf pack as a coyote/skinwalker, and the drama (thought the bowling alley scene was dumb) lacked that unique twist.

You'll like it if you like the series. Transition book.

Mercy Thompson is one of my fav characters in fantasy. In this installment she learns a lot about relationships and bonds. Her weaknesses and more importantly her strengths. I admit there was a couple of times in this book where it seemed like the author got a little carried away towards another plot in the story and forgot the main plot but as always Patricia Briggs pulls it all back together and it all makes sense. And of course there is the fun of Adam and Sam and all the crazy cast that Mercy hangs out with.

I have loved the world-building Patricia Briggs has completed for her Mercy Thompson Novels. This one does not contradict previous materials. I also loved that there were real emotions in this book of people having trouble forgiving others and/or needed time to recover from emotional trauma. Great job on the situation and people being real.

Briggs' fifth book holds a number of changes for Mercy and her friends, not all of them welcome.

The most anticipated change is Mercy's relationship with Adam, the werewolf Alpha. Adam's pack is still not completely welcoming to a troublesome coyote and in this book a few pack members decide to meddle in Adam's and Mercy's relationship. One of the best aspects of Briggs' books is the real and growing relationship of Adam and Mercy. Briggs has declined to throw these two into each others arms instead giving her readers the pleasure of watching two people become a couple. Love does not conquer all but a strong Alpha werewolf and a coyote with a gun can sure reduce the number of their detractors. Loyalty to pack is a good thing, but for some it takes a well-placed bullet.

Mercy receives a call from Zee's son, Tad, about the fae bookseller she borrowed a book from in the last book. Phin gives Tad a cryptic message about Mercy and the book and now he isn't answering his phone. Mercy promises to look into it and quickly realizes that Phin might be in serious trouble or dead. And it isn't too long before Mercy realizes that if she can't figure out what happened to Phin the same thing might happen to her. A powerful and nasty fae wants the book and isn't about to let a little thing like a coyote stand in her way.

To add to Mercy's full calendar Samuel, Mercy's friend and the Marrock's son, has spiralled into a deep depression. If he can't be pulled out of it the Marrock or Adam will be forced to kill him before he falls into homicidal insanity.

Maybe Briggs tried to put a little too much into this book because Samuel's storyline was not very fleshed out. It came across as flat and forced. And it just occurred to me why. Briggs gave us an instant HEA and it didn't work. I hope that in the next book she will give this couple a more fully realized relationship.

Even with this problem Briggs still gives her readers a must-read book that has a strong loving relationship, good and loyal friends, betrayal, mystery, and a few changes of address. And Medea, the cat who loves werewolves.

After the last book that seemed and felt too episodic for me and bouncing back and forth between different cities for their plots... this book flowed far better with furthering along Mercy and Adam's relationships, the problem with Samuel and the Fae out looking to get a lost book back.

The series continues to be enjoyable and I look forward to its next installment and seeing where Brigg's takes Mercy.

I really enjoyed the first three books in this series but am in no way a fangirl of Patricia Briggs. I just like good stories and up until Book 4, I thought I could count on Briggs to deliver in this series. I thought that book started off with a bang and ended with a fizzle. This book, on the other hand, was dull from beginning to end. Halfway through the book, the plot was still just meandering along with very little action and a whole lot of talking, with lots of dialogue that felt like filler and didn't do anything to advance the plot. Adam and Mercy are a snooze now that they are mated and it really makes me wonder if Briggs just has no idea what to do with these characters anymore. My favorite supporting characters from past books were either completely absent or given nothing to do. Halfway through I considered just not finishing it but I hung on just to see what would become of Samuel. I won't spoil that ended but will say that it was also lackluster. I know that most ongoing serial novels fall into ruts every now and then but after the last two books of this series, I definitely will not be rushing out to buyBook 6.

Love this series and the latest book didn't disappoint. Well paced story with new twists and turns dealing with a new variety of characters and races. I didn't put it down when I got it, and can't wait for the next book to come. The Mercy series is a good fusion of fantasy (fae, vampires, wearwolves, shape shifters and the like)and reality.

Another great Mercy Thompson book. This one had more emphasis on the relationship between Mercy and Adam. It also dealt with the pack dynamics which have been wonky with the whole Mercy is not a werewolf thing. There was also a conflict with a fae but it was not a major problem and the resolution played into the whole pack thing. I loved Samuel's story until the end. I was disappointed that he didn't get more of a story for himself like Charles did in Cry Wolf. Still a good fast satisfying read.

Kind of hooked on the series. The author has created an inviting fantasy world inhabited by all the creatures that go bump in the night. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre.

Love love love it's I read alpha and omega first but to see bran who was a wee bit stuffy in that one be funny and all in the mercy book s is just great . Love mercy and Adam and Sam finally finding hope .... so glad the next one is out and Jan is right around the corner .....squeak
!!!!!!!

Best book of the series so far and best urban fantasy book of the year so far!

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

This is book five in the Mercy Thompson series and in my opinion, the best one of the series so far. Deeply satisfying. This was just brilliant in every way from the first page to the last. There are simply no words to express how good this book was and how much I enjoyed it. It might sound a little bit like I'm gushing but you what, I am and I don't care. I went into this book looking forward to it sure, but I wasn't quite so happy with the ending of the last book and there were some things I just did not like in book three, so I was really hoping it was going to make me feel a whole lot better about Mercy, Adam, the pack, the future of the series.

Well it did that in spades. If you follow the series you will already know the background and the story so far, and this has been covered by the other reviewer, so I'll not waste your time by repeating it. If you are reading this review, not having read the previous four books in the series, and thinking it sounds great, well it IS great, but please stop reading any spoilery information and go read the other four books first. You will appreciate and enjoy this one so much more if you do!

In a lot of ways this is Samuel's book and I just loved the way the author handled that situation. It was just brilliant, scary, sad, worrying, funny, heart-breaking and ultimately rewarding. But of course it is Mercy's series and she does take centre stage and quite rightly, so it's also about the continuation of her relationship with Adam and the pack, relationships with her friends and with the Fae. She's still dealing with the aftermath of events in previous books, as well as resentment and hostility from pack members, a romantic relationship that is not without it's stresses and strains, and some seriously major league Fae who is out to get her. No vampires in this book by the way, it's all about Mercy and Adam, the pack, the bonds, Samuel and the big bad Fae.

Definitely the best urban fantasy book I've read this year so far. I haven't started on Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12) yet and I have high hopes for that one but this was just wow! Thank you Patricia Briggs, I'm so happy with the direction this series is taking.

This book is made of awesome!!!

Book Review from Book Addicts Book Group blog 31 March 2010
Paranormal Social Club book discussion for April 2010 - feel free to join us to discuss this fantastic book!

I've enjoyed the series, but was fairly underwhelmed by this book. The plot and action were generally fine (although the ending felt sudden, with an unhealthy dose of deus ex machina) but the characters felt flat and one dimensional. Mercy, for instance, other than periodic expressions of romance-esque passion for Adam (which felt more like an animal in heat than real attraction) just sort of hovered around blithe annoyance. Ditched by someone she did a lot of favors for, she accepts it with a shrug. Betrayed by a pack member? Mild irritation. Even tortured, she seems basically nonchalant about the situation. Just felt like Briggs wrote a plot without paying much attention to the characters in it.

We find out about pack bonds and energy borrowing, and there's a bunch of emotional turmoil involving Sam. The action involves the fae and the book of artifact-fairy tales Mercy borrowed in "Iron Kissed". This was a book about Mercy settling into a werewolf pack as a coyote/skinwalker, and the drama (thought the bowling alley scene was dumb) lacked that unique twist.

You'll like it if you like the series. Transition book.

Mercy Thompson is one of my fav characters in fantasy. In this installment she learns a lot about relationships and bonds. Her weaknesses and more importantly her strengths. I admit there was a couple of times in this book where it seemed like the author got a little carried away towards another plot in the story and forgot the main plot but as always Patricia Briggs pulls it all back together and it all makes sense. And of course there is the fun of Adam and Sam and all the crazy cast that Mercy hangs out with.

As usual, Ms. Briggs has written another story of Mercy and her world that is completely unique and yet a seemingly natural progression. She ties up loose ends amidst a fascinating story. Each book in the storyline is so different and each is a great read. I can't separate the books as they each tell a complete story of Mercy, her friends and foes. Each book stands alone and yet moves the complete story forward. So far each book makes me impatient to get the next and yet I mourn finishing the current book. I look forward to many more. If you haven't read any of the series, I can't think of a better one to start. Again, thank you Ms. Briggs for allowing us to share Mercy's world.

I have loved the world-building Patricia Briggs has completed for her Mercy Thompson Novels. This one does not contradict previous materials. I also loved that there were real emotions in this book of people having trouble forgiving others and/or needed time to recover from emotional trauma. Great job on the situation and people being real.

Briggs' fifth book holds a number of changes for Mercy and her friends, not all of them welcome.

The most anticipated change is Mercy's relationship with Adam, the werewolf Alpha. Adam's pack is still not completely welcoming to a troublesome coyote and in this book a few pack members decide to meddle in Adam's and Mercy's relationship. One of the best aspects of Briggs' books is the real and growing relationship of Adam and Mercy. Briggs has declined to throw these two into each others arms instead giving her readers the pleasure of watching two people become a couple. Love does not conquer all but a strong Alpha werewolf and a coyote with a gun can sure reduce the number of their detractors. Loyalty to pack is a good thing, but for some it takes a well-placed bullet.

Mercy receives a call from Zee's son, Tad, about the fae bookseller she borrowed a book from in the last book. Phin gives Tad a cryptic message about Mercy and the book and now he isn't answering his phone. Mercy promises to look into it and quickly realizes that Phin might be in serious trouble or dead. And it isn't too long before Mercy realizes that if she can't figure out what happened to Phin the same thing might happen to her. A powerful and nasty fae wants the book and isn't about to let a little thing like a coyote stand in her way.

To add to Mercy's full calendar Samuel, Mercy's friend and the Marrock's son, has spiralled into a deep depression. If he can't be pulled out of it the Marrock or Adam will be forced to kill him before he falls into homicidal insanity.

Maybe Briggs tried to put a little too much into this book because Samuel's storyline was not very fleshed out. It came across as flat and forced. And it just occurred to me why. Briggs gave us an instant HEA and it didn't work. I hope that in the next book she will give this couple a more fully realized relationship.

Even with this problem Briggs still gives her readers a must-read book that has a strong loving relationship, good and loyal friends, betrayal, mystery, and a few changes of address. And Medea, the cat who loves werewolves.

After the last book that seemed and felt too episodic for me and bouncing back and forth between different cities for their plots... this book flowed far better with furthering along Mercy and Adam's relationships, the problem with Samuel and the Fae out looking to get a lost book back.

The series continues to be enjoyable and I look forward to its next installment and seeing where Brigg's takes Mercy.

I really enjoyed the first three books in this series but am in no way a fangirl of Patricia Briggs. I just like good stories and up until Book 4, I thought I could count on Briggs to deliver in this series. I thought that book started off with a bang and ended with a fizzle. This book, on the other hand, was dull from beginning to end. Halfway through the book, the plot was still just meandering along with very little action and a whole lot of talking, with lots of dialogue that felt like filler and didn't do anything to advance the plot. Adam and Mercy are a snooze now that they are mated and it really makes me wonder if Briggs just has no idea what to do with these characters anymore. My favorite supporting characters from past books were either completely absent or given nothing to do. Halfway through I considered just not finishing it but I hung on just to see what would become of Samuel. I won't spoil that ended but will say that it was also lackluster. I know that most ongoing serial novels fall into ruts every now and then but after the last two books of this series, I definitely will not be rushing out to buyBook 6.

Love this series and the latest book didn't disappoint. Well paced story with new twists and turns dealing with a new variety of characters and races. I didn't put it down when I got it, and can't wait for the next book to come. The Mercy series is a good fusion of fantasy (fae, vampires, wearwolves, shape shifters and the like)and reality.

Another great Mercy Thompson book. This one had more emphasis on the relationship between Mercy and Adam. It also dealt with the pack dynamics which have been wonky with the whole Mercy is not a werewolf thing. There was also a conflict with a fae but it was not a major problem and the resolution played into the whole pack thing. I loved Samuel's story until the end. I was disappointed that he didn't get more of a story for himself like Charles did in Cry Wolf. Still a good fast satisfying read.

Kind of hooked on the series. The author has created an inviting fantasy world inhabited by all the creatures that go bump in the night. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre.

Love love love it's I read alpha and omega first but to see bran who was a wee bit stuffy in that one be funny and all in the mercy book s is just great . Love mercy and Adam and Sam finally finding hope .... so glad the next one is out and Jan is right around the corner .....squeak
!!!!!!!

Best book of the series so far and best urban fantasy book of the year so far!

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

This is book five in the Mercy Thompson series and in my opinion, the best one of the series so far. Deeply satisfying. This was just brilliant in every way from the first page to the last. There are simply no words to express how good this book was and how much I enjoyed it. It might sound a little bit like I'm gushing but you what, I am and I don't care. I went into this book looking forward to it sure, but I wasn't quite so happy with the ending of the last book and there were some things I just did not like in book three, so I was really hoping it was going to make me feel a whole lot better about Mercy, Adam, the pack, the future of the series.

Well it did that in spades. If you follow the series you will already know the background and the story so far, and this has been covered by the other reviewer, so I'll not waste your time by repeating it. If you are reading this review, not having read the previous four books in the series, and thinking it sounds great, well it IS great, but please stop reading any spoilery information and go read the other four books first. You will appreciate and enjoy this one so much more if you do!

In a lot of ways this is Samuel's book and I just loved the way the author handled that situation. It was just brilliant, scary, sad, worrying, funny, heart-breaking and ultimately rewarding. But of course it is Mercy's series and she does take centre stage and quite rightly, so it's also about the continuation of her relationship with Adam and the pack, relationships with her friends and with the Fae. She's still dealing with the aftermath of events in previous books, as well as resentment and hostility from pack members, a romantic relationship that is not without it's stresses and strains, and some seriously major league Fae who is out to get her. No vampires in this book by the way, it's all about Mercy and Adam, the pack, the bonds, Samuel and the big bad Fae.

Definitely the best urban fantasy book I've read this year so far. I haven't started on Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12) yet and I have high hopes for that one but this was just wow! Thank you Patricia Briggs, I'm so happy with the direction this series is taking.

This book is made of awesome!!!

Book Review from Book Addicts Book Group blog 31 March 2010
Paranormal Social Club book discussion for April 2010 - feel free to join us to discuss this fantastic book!

Let me start out by saying that in general, I adore this series. There's a lot to love about the way Briggs writes, and I can honestly say that I haven't been disappointed by any of her books to date. She does a great job at balancing realism with fantasy--you believe that Mercy is a real person, that Adam and her have a real relationship, that Bran, Sam, Charles are all a real surrogate family to her. She does an excellent job at crafting realistic relationships in addition to making sure that the series doesn't become a paranormal romance; plot isn't sacrificed for romance, romance is just an added benefit of the natural evolution of the story's character development.

Which is why I was completely shocked when I read this book and found it completely sub-par to the standards I typically hold Briggs to.

The realism that typically defines her relationship was somewhat lacking here. I continue to enjoy the slow, steady development of Adam and Mercy; my primary complaint here is the way that the Samuel situation was "resolved." This is five books of buildup, constantly alluding to his depression, his desire for a family, and the only mention of any form of significant relationship throughout it's entirety being his wife and Mercy. Then suddenly, out of the blue, a woman that he's apparently been madly in love with for centuries shows up and saves him from suicidal depression?

Why was she never mentioned? Not just by Sam, but Charles, Bran? Not even once was it mentioned or built up to, in this series or the Alpha and Omega one. It felt completely slapdash, something thrown in at the last minute as a quick solution to a five book plot. Honestly I was hoping that Samuel would learn to heal himself. Depression, especially depression on the level he's written with, isn't resolved by getting a girlfriend. All that happens is that you desperately cling to this one person and make them into your personal hero. Samuel is a strong character, and I'd have liked to see him learn that life is worth living on his own, not only worth living if he's got a girlfriend.

Or at least if his character was going to be so cheapened, it should have been better planned. There was no buildup here, and it left me with the same feeling in my mouth that the last Harry Potter book did. One that smacks of "the book is drawing to a close and I need to close this plot up quick! Let me throw something in there arbitrarily!" Which is so very unlike Briggs, and why this book was a terrible disappointment to me.

Overall I'd peg this as the weakest in her series. I went from loving Samuel and hoping to see him develop further to not wanting to read anything about him at all anymore.

Usually I find authors lose track of detail when juggling so many separate story lines, but not Briggs. Her three subplots twist together quite well in this entry and will leave readers both satisfied and eager for more.

I have read this book three times now. I love how Ms Briggs has characterized Mercy and the wolves. She is a gifted story teller. Mercy has spunk and Adam appreciates her for who she is. I am sure I will read this book (and the series) over and over again for years to come!

Patricia has us following Mercy through numerous adventures providing the reader with no wish to put down the book. I find whenever I get half way through a chapter, I can't put the book down. I keep getting less sleep.

I have really enjoyed the Mercy Thompson series. Action packed and not too much recap. The story just continues on. This series has everything, action, romance, magic, and mythical creatures. On to the next book. Yay!

This is another awesome installment in the Mercy Thompson series. You just can't go wrong with a Patricia Briggs book! She is a wonderful storyteller..I have read every book she has written and they are all excellent. Highly recommend!

I really loved this latest installment in the Mercy Thompson series. What I enjoyed and others may be critical of, is that this story was less about an outside vilan attacking Mercy ( though there was a bit of that), but dealt more with pack elements. In the last book, Mercy was mated and made pack by the ultra hot and manly Adam. This was not without struggle and consequences. This book examines that thoroughly. I was delighted to read about pack dynamics and hierarchy in the detailed manner in which Briggs writes. The separate battle within Sam/Samuel was equally amazing. Loved it!!!

I love Patricia Briggs! She is one of my favorite authors. She is a great story teller and her writings never cease to entertain. This book does not disappoint. I loved Mercy's narration of Christy. As always, lots of action and interaction as in every Mercy book.

Did I enjoy this read? Yes.
Was it the best in this series? No. (It was just okay/good. No wow factor.)
Is this a "must read" if you're reading this series? Absolutely yes.

This installment kept me entertained and it's an important book in the series because it wraps up important details on Samuel. However, it wasn't my favorite of Patricia Briggs' books.

(BTW Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors. I've read almost everything she's written.)

Silver Borne is not the best of the Mercy Thompson series, but it is not the worse either. Overall the series is a good one, the plots run smoothly, and the characters are very likable. Then why only four stars instead of five; the reason because I feel that the main character, Mercy, is not being allowed to come into her own. Too much about this story has Mercy at the...well..."mercy"...of too many around her, and there is no obvious increase in her abilities. Mercy doesn't really fight any of her own battles for the most part, and she doesn't kick any ass. Yeah, she shoots people from time to time, but her status as just a lowly coyote weighs dull after a while. Give the girl some more gifts; let her be able to stand on her own against the werewolves. The character is just too weak and eventually a werewolf or a fae is just going to kill her.

I absolutely love this series! This is book five (out of 7) and still not a disappointing storyline yet from Patricia Briggs! This woman can write a kick but story. If you like shape-shifters canoodeling with were-wolves, fae (kick-but fairies), vampires and how they all deal with each others existence and meddling with a more adult storyline then this is the series for you. The characters are well created with very unique personalities that even the ones you are suppose to hate you end up liking or just respecting them for how funny they really are. A MUST READ! I can't wait for the next book!

SPOILERS **********************SPOILERS!!!
You've been warned......

So, what a crock this book was. I have mentioned in other reviews I absolutely hate it when authors want a "cool premise" or come up with a "talent" or something and completely fail to think through the logistics of what they are writing. So we are to believe that jacket that someone cares about could be sufficient to track down someone who owned it or valued it, but a pet, a treasured pet that Mercy cried over is not a sufficient link to track her down? REALLY?? Mercy supposedly loved the cat, but it can't be used to find her in the end. I call BS, on every level.

Not to mention, I really, really disliked the way Sam's story was oh so conveniently solved, with hey, I've been suicidal and life-weary for years and am ready to kill myself but oh hey, how convenient a long lost love pops up and, now, all my troubles are over and life is once again worth living. Way to write yourself out of a tough corner by completely avoiding the issue. I have overlooked the preachy, religious pro-life hammering Briggs puts into her books, because usually the story is sufficient to make me overlook it, but it's becoming slightly ridiculous at this point.

Briggs continues to write wonderfully interesting books without compromising the personality of her main characters. I love that about these books because that can sometimes be the biggest let down to following a series. Once again I couldn't put the book down, and when I had to I was eager to pick it back up.

I thought that this was one of the better Mercy Thompson books in the series. It was quick paced and didn't disappoint. I hope there is another one soon. Would definitely recommend to others to read if they like werewolves, vampires, faes, witches, etc.

I'm not going to give anything away like some of the other reviews have but I have to say that I was really excited to get this book and kind of let down by it. It seemed like Briggs tried to go into so much detail in the writing that you lost big traits of the characters. It really doesn't have the same feel as the other Mercy novels because it's almost like Mercy loses her spunk once she decides to allow herself to be claimed as Adam's mate. The chemistry between Mercy and Adam just isn't there in this one like in the others and I think it's because so much is focused on Samuel. Why couldn't Briggs just do a separate series for Samuel like she did for Charles? Plus, it really seemed to me like she was trying to tie up all the loose ends in this book. I think all of us Mercy fans would prefer that she keep Adam and the other werewolves on their toes instead of just becoming meek and frankly, girly like she has in this novel.

Patricia Briggs has conjured up another enjoyable escapade for Mercy Thompson. The reader receives additional insight on the Werewolf family and the Fae community. As usual, the author makes it all sound logical and therefore, believable and leaves the reader to wonder!!

It addresses a myriad of  conflicts between various protagonists and a unique plot that I did not see coming.

I can't say another thing without spoiling it for you, so read for yourself. It's worth it.

Great book. What I loved about the fifth installment of the Mercy Thompson series is that Ms. Briggs did what few series authors dare to do: she didn't go over the top. Many authors feel like the next book must be more spectacular than the last, which frequently leads to lots of spectacle with little substance. Ms. Briggs manages to develop a book heavy on character and series development, while keeping the lighter tough girl essence of the earlier books. Kuddos. Can't wait for the next one.

I am in love with this series and didn't think the books could get any better, well I was WRONG! Patricia Briggs did a wonderful job with Silver Borne. The worst thing about this book is that I'm done reading it and now have to wait what seems like forever for the next one to release. I would suggest reading these book's from the beginning (Book #1 Moon Called) to really appreciate them. I have given these book's to my friend's to read and gotten them equally hooked on this awesome book collection. My hat go's off to you Patricia Briggs, you are one of my favorite authors ever.

If you have read this far into the series then you will not be disappointed to see what Mercedes has gotten into this time. Patricia Briggs keeps us interested and up to date with the many characters of she has developed so far.

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

Patricia Briggs brings Mercy Thompson to life in this book.

Mercy finds herself drawn into a mystery with a phone call regarding a book she had borrowed. She finds that returning the book is going to be difficult.

Not only does she have that mystery to solve, but Sam is also in a crisis. His wolf has taken over and is trying to keep things from getting out of hand.

It was a very quick read that drew me into the story and lives of the charactors. I had a hard time putting the book down.

I highly recommend this book and all the books in the series.

I've read all the Patricia Briggs books in the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega series. They are all excellent - well written, with characters and situations you can really care about. Briggs and Jim Butcher are my favourite urban fantasy authors and if you like the genre and haven't read them, you have a treat in store. Can't wait for the next in the series.

A terrific, terric book. Exciting and fast paced. Briggs has created characters that can be followed and appreciated. This is a wonderful book for all who love the world(s) of were people and the fae.

PNJ

If you are a fan of the paranormal, then this book is for you. Patricia Briggs brings the characters to life and makes you wish you lived next door to them. Mercy is a coyote and the big bad alpha wolf is her boyfriend. She is a brave, independent and strong woman with a femine side that does not get the way of getting the job done.She has ties to the Fae world through Zee which is the Fae who sold her her shop as well as vampire ties. I like Mercy and though I'm no good at reviews I felt compelled to write this one because I like the series so much.

Loved this series but, looking back, I think I officially lost faith when Mercy chose Adam over Sam.

I still keep reading since I love the author, have nothing else to read, and can borrow the book from the library. That said, I really felt this one had a major flaw with the way Sam's situation --- which has been going on for the entire series --- is practically solved in once sentence and wrapped up a few chapters.

Sort of exactly like how the Mercy-Sam-Adam triangle was also dragged out then too neatly wrapped up in a sentence and resolved in a few chapters.

IMO, the absolute best book in the series and I love them all. We saw lots of the pack and things that may have been hazy before are explained clearly and perfectly. A couple things happened that I suspected might, but even still when they happened they took me completely by surprise. I find myself beyond words, really, because this story drew me in from the beginning and never let me go.

Mercy continues to deal with being member of a pack that doesn't want her, a bond mate that is difficult to adjust to and the outcome of her past harm. Now she faced the fae once again when the book that she had borrowed turns out to be something they want and they would do anything to get it.

I really like Mercy Thompson series, but this installment is one of my favorites for many reasons; first we have the evolving relationship with Adam that I have to say is the first time that I really see him as the right mate for Mercy (I just love Sam better, I still love him better but not as Mercy mate anymore, what can I say sometimes I like to cheer for the underdog) anyway there was deal with such deep and understanding along the book that it was beautiful. Secondary characters as always are amazing, it's fun for me how you can love so many of them besides the lead one, Ben is by far one of my favorites and has been since the beginning, I can't explain how I knew there was this great guy under that misogynist pig of the first books and the friendship that he's developed with Mercy is fantastic. Another was how everybody seems to love Sam as much as I do, it was heartbreaking, the loyalty is one of the greatest virtues there are, so for me it was sweet beyond words.

There was a couple of things that bother me but not really to deter me from liking it, there was this thing that I couldn't put my finger around but since English is not my first language maybe it was lost in my translation, for you who read the book it has to be with the challenge of dominant wolves and the rules about three places down to challenge (it really didn't work out as smooth as PB tried), for you who hasn't read it I can elaborate because I will give away one of the big things happening. And the second there was no Stefan *sniff*

Now the reason why not five starts, maybe many people won't agree but here are my two cents: There was this fabulous increase tension on Samuel's story, about how he's been sad for a long time and being an old wolf and how old wolves tend to go suicidal and then... the climax was so rush that I felt so disappointed by it, yes, I know that probably PB is going to see those things in the next two books but that didn't mean that I wasn't let down here, I'm all for Samuel being happy but come on that was thrown at us almost at the last minute and it was all but believable. And to top my disappointment I was so sure that some wolves were going to die, I even picture Charles coming and sweeping the floor with them, what good is a super scary enforcer if you are going to show leniency to people who don't deserve it, I needed some werewolf blood to satisfied my betrayed feelings, I'm not usually into that but here it merit some.

Another wonderful addition to this series, Mercy really kick-ass, if you're fan of the series I'm sure I don't have to tell you to read it, because probably you already had or are about to and if you're not I have to tell you that I don't understand how is that possible it's a great world with wonderful characters, the Mercy Thompson series as the Alpha and Omega go pick them up.

P. S. Timeline the Alpha and Omega are a little behind Mercy Thompson, so you can read Moon Called the first in Mercy and then the Alpha an Omega series and then continue on Mercy again, but it's not necessary, the stories can be followed without that order.

Hi, Another deeply satisfying entry in the series. Don't bother to plan doing anything else once you sit down to read this one. It just grabs you and keeps going. Before you know it, you're reading it cover to cover. The characters deepen, rivalries are revealed and the story moves forward. I won't give away any secrets and spoil the fun but this one is a keeper. Enjoy.

I found this book very disappointing. The relationship between Mercy and Adam just drags on for me. It has been known for some time how it would end so why not concentrate on other story lines instead of investing so much time it? I became very impatient with it. On the other hand, I would have loved to have Sam's story developed further. He is by far my favorite character followed by Stefan who was MIA. I feel that the story is finished for me. I am willing to accept this as a conclusion to the series.

I've enjoyed the Mercy Thompson series. I've listened to them through audiobook and have been disappoint with their choice of Lorelei King as voice talent. She's okay as the heroine and generally okay as the hero's but the supporting cast is made to sound like morons. I'd recommend buying this book and series rather than spending money on the audiobook.

In this next book in the series, Mercy rocks a series of conflicts and proves herself out as a strong heroine and an interesting character with depth.
This is not a stand alone book, and you will want to read it in the context of the rest of the series. Sexy, fun this is an entertaining ride.

I LOVE Patricia Briggs's books and this one is no exception. Although I have to say I was very surprised to find the text to speech function was diabled on this book and many other kindle books. I emailed the store about this problem and got very lame excuse. Then I went back to this book's page to write a review and I noticed that you can now buy the audiobook from Audible through the store for $20.98.Now it makes sense. the store is screwing us out of a funtion that used to be on nearly ALL their kindle books to being barely on any of them. I'm hoping if this is irritating to others as much as it is to me that they will write to the store as well so maybe something can be done about it.PS- This is a awesome book and series. A real must have for any SCIFI geek.

Read first book a week ago to see if I would like it and just had to have the next and the next and finished Silver Borne today. Liked Mercy about as much as Rachel Morgan. Will be anxiously awaiting more in this series!

I started this book on my lunch break at work, huge mistake :) Could not wait to get home and finish it. I have read all of Patricia Briggs books (except the hard to find Masques) and this was one of my favorites. I enjoyed the love and bond that was shown between Mercy and Adam .....no hemming and hawing over their feelings for each other.
I do hope in a future book to see her vampire friend and his Scooby Doo van again. Thanks for a great read.

And, I'm done. Stick a fork in me even. This series has been a complete struggle for me. I hated the first book, really enjoyed the second book, and tolerated books three and four. Book five will be my last attempt to like this series because it was an epic fail. So what's my problem with these books? They are so boring. The storyline, which is thin at best, is drawn out and out and out. I find myself thinking, "wow, this book could have been 50-100 pages shorter!" That's never a good thing!

Plus, I really don't like the characters. Mercy is dull. The romance is dull. Even the vampires and fae are stupidly boring!

This series is not for me. I know other people really enjoy these books, but I am not one of them and won't be reading anymore.

I was hesitant to begin another series in this genre. Here I am on book 5 and I just love Mercy! She's a believable heroine. The characters are rich and likeable and they keep me interested. I was a huge Anita Blake fan, until the last few books. She went off the rails and out of character. I'm hoping Mercy stays the course...