I picked up the third volume of the Mercy Thompson series in the library and loved it. I picked up another of her books through Amazon and realized that I loved that book too. So I bought all three of the books in this series so I could own them and read the series from the beginning.

I expected the first two books to be less well written than the third one, but I was wrong. All of the books in this series, and the related Alpha and Omega series are very well crafted. And reading the series from the beginning made a lot of things that I had not quite understood in my first reading of the third book a lot clearer.

This is really a review of the series as a whole. She has built a universe focused on Werewolves, although the main character is not one, but something else somehow not quite related. Mercy is a very strong female character, dominant although she doesn't seem to realize it. In the underlying story arc she is trying to find her own place in a very dangerous world, and also choose between two very dangerous men.

Each of the books in the series has a complex plot, moving through its own story while simultaneously moving through the multi-book arc.

Yes, I did read Moon Called, the first in the series & loved it! Why write the review for the second book? Because it really rocked me. Moon Called successfully shows Briggs as an inventive, captivating storyteller w/ intriguing characters in an interesting world. In Blood Bound, she took it a few steps further for me & intertwined a genuinely creative monster that actually gave me the freaks. And I don't scare easy. It was the perfect amount of mayhem added to this already gripping read. I thoroughly enjoy this series & anxiously/impatiently await the next book...

I like the Mercy Thompson books, though I remember liking the first one better than this; Briggs does a wonderful job of world-building here, particularly with the society of the werewolves, and Mercy's a great character -- the underhanded sneaky one in a world of serious power-brokers. I also like that she's a mechanic who lives in a single-wide, and that she has apparently no ability, or any particularly overwhelming need, to deal with romance. But in this book, it focuses on the vampires, and in particular on a demon-possessed vampire, and the vampires don't work as well. It's like Briggs wanted to make them evil, but she couldn't help but write them sympathetically; almost as if she chose people she liked as the mental models for some of the vampires. So while the vamps are certainly intimidating and alien, particularly the bad guy, Littleton, they're also pretty okay folks. Stefan painted his van like the Scooby Doo Mystery Wagon. Wulfe, the Wizard, is freaky and all, but he turns out to be a good guy. As nasty as the Mistress can be -- and was, in the first book -- she takes Mercy's side in this one, and comes off as much more human and likable. The whole seethe (and I like "kiss" better) are not the blood-soaked villains they are portrayed as, which is odd since Briggs is the one who portrayed them as the consummate evil.

But I like the chair of truth, and the way Mercy takes advantage of the vampire's traditional weakness to gain the upper hand, and Littleton, at least, was extremely scary -- I love the part when he's hiding under the floorboards, and Mercy shoots him, and he pushes the bloody bullets back through the holes. That's a great image. And to be sure, part of the problem I had with this book was that I've been spoiled, a bit, in reading the Anita Blake books, which have absolutely the best (IMO) depiction of vampires that I've ever read, so these end up paling in comparison despite having their own strengths. It was still a good book, and I enjoyed it.

Book Two, "Blood Bound", of the Mercy Thompson story is just as good as the first book, while expanding the world Mercy inhabits. In "Moon Called", Mercy is called upon to repay her debt to Stefan, her vampire friend who helped in the first book. When dealing with vampires and other supernatural creatures, repaying debts is important. Honor matters.

Mercy repays the debt, but ends up getting more than she bargained for, as usual. What is nice about this novel is that mercy really doesn't want to be a hero. She tries to stay out of the main fights/investigations, but unfortunately, due to her specific talents and the nature of the evil they are facing, she has to throw herself into the fray once more.

Without going into the plot, as much can be ruined that way, this novel is just as good as the first, mainly due to pacing and Mercy. She is by far my favorite heroine in a long time. When reading novels I'm usually thinking "What doesn't she just do ?" Well, Mercy almost always does what a person with some common sense would do, while also going the extra mile to a bit more. I like it when the main character is intelligent enough to have contingency plans.

The romance is still there, but very much a back burner to the mystery and suspense of the story. My only complaint is that I have only one more book in this series before I have to spend 4 months waiting for book four, "Bone Crossed", to come out. Sad, that.

If you like urban fantasy or tough women, you should be reading this series! Heck, if you just like characters written as if they were real people, instead of supernatural creatures alone, you will love this entire series.

This series is so strong and chock-a-block with interesting characters, backstories, settings, etc., that it makes me want to write the author and beg her to write faster. I noticed that she stepped away from this series to create another book, but I'm anticipating that means the next book in THIS series will only be better. We have the expected paranormal background--the outsiders inching towards a place in society--but the spin on this series is the level of detail in Western European myths (world of the fae, etc.)and the touch of Native American stories of "walkers"--individuals able to assume the identity of native animals. Great bits like all smaller "animals" must wear dog tags so they can be returned to their owners and not impounded, the wish to be playful in animal form, returning sticks and balls with little children all create a different world than the more typical paranormal book soaked in too much blood, gore and questionable sexual activity. This series I would recommend to a teen finishing up the "Twilight" series rather than others in this genre. Every book in the series is a keeper.

This book was exciting from start to finish. I would have loved to see more of some Mercy and Adam interaction though.

Mechanic and walker Mercy Thompson just can't get a break. A rogue vampire-daemon-possessed killer is on the loose, leaving a trail of bodies hard to miss in the small town of Tri-Cities, WA. Worse, Stefan is collecting her debt to him. At the same time opening the door for the Mistress of the seethe to use Mercy as she sees fit, and she's got a hungry eye on a woman who can see ghosts, slip through the magical pull of most supernatural beings and has more loyalty and guts than most normal human beings. They hope. And good thing she's not really that human.

To add to the stress, she's not only fighting between the attraction between two dominant werewolves, Adam and Samuel, but Mercy also has to contend with a third, and surprising potential love interest. But romance takes a deep backseat when her friends go missing, and the daemon-vampire Cory Littleton only has eyes for Mercy.

This second installment, while pretty good and considering most second books in a series tend to be much weaker, Blood Bound made for an exciting and pulse-pounding tale of a woman who just can't back down when the people she cares about are in trouble. What scant restrained romance element there was, it was well done and keeps me hanging on. And I need more.

This one was more horror than real fantasy or otherwise, which is fine. And there were a few scenes with the vampires that was so well done, it gave me the creeps, a Clive Barker-esque sort of chill.

That being said, the weaknesses in Book 2 falls into the category that all authors tend to fall into. It seems that in order to reduce the candied and emptier versions of most vampire/were/witch/ghost series, and to make it more substantial with real emotional weight and character driven plots to ensnare the reader (and she's quite effective anyways), Mercy herself and other characters tended to 'talk' a lot. Talking about the mechanics of their world, its functions, explanations, to understand what is going on with the story at hand, is necessary but Briggs tended to just go on and on in several places. While inherently, that's almost unavoidable, because too little and it's just as tedious, Mercy herself became much more impersonal than she should have, considering the state of things in the story. At one point, all her friends are either mortally hurt or MIA, yet she's so calm and detached, almost not really that worried that they could all be dead. I hope Briggs doesn't fall into the fatalistic female heroine trap (think a la Eileen Wilkes. And, yes, LKH--and we all know how that series went down real south). Mercy is in danger of becoming that focal point in story where she's this invincible hero, but y'know, with everyday and girly problems, and men throwing themselves at her, minus the sex. Mercy went from girl next-door neighbor mechanic to Wonder Walker. Book 1 was so intriguing because Mercy really WAS a normal person, messing up but handling it a realistic way that I could relate too. She's not as relatable in this book, just...very supernatural and removed from that elemental normalcy that Book 1 had in spades. Stories that try to have booth vulnerable female leads but tough as nails hard-liners is a hard thin line to walk upon, but hopefully Briggs can manage the balance a bit better in Book 3. She's very talented and a fresh breath of air, so I have great hopes.

Also, there are also two endings which, after reading it complete, I didn't mind. But when you get to where it 'feels' like it should be done, and the movement completely stills because it's a scene with Adam, and you know what that werewolf wants and is thinking. But you can't help thinking: there's still thirty pages left? Even though you know what she's planning, it threw me. Then again, it's the calm right ahead of the storm before the final calm, and is a primer for Book 3.

All in all: a well-worthy second book. And I can't wait to start the third, something I both relish and dread.

"Like most people that own their own businesses, I work long hours that start early in the morning. So when someone calls me in the middle of the night, they'd better by dying. "Hello, Mercy," said Stefan's amicable voice in my ear, "I wonder if you could do me a favor." Stefan had done his dying a long time ago, so I saw no reason to be nice."

Stefan is Mercy's vampire friend. If you could possibly call a vampire a friend, that is. And yes, she owes him a favor. He had gone to bat for her with his seethe when she had some werewolf trouble, and now he is calling in that favor. Stefan has been asked to investigate the appearance of a new vampire in town. One that didn't ask permission from the seethe, which is a big no-no in the vampire community. And Stefan wants Mercy to come along as a witness, in case something happens. He needs her for 2 reasons. Because she is a Walker, she is virtually immune to the powers of a vampire. And she can shapeshift into a coyote and no one will know who she is.

So Mercy goes along on the meeting. But when they meet up with this vampire, she knows that trouble has come to the Tri-Cities. Not only is he a vampire, but a sorcerer.....that has let a demon inside. He actually had the ability to control Stefan, and he's about the most powerful vampire around. And now this new vampire's bloodlust is causing a rather large body-count. Which for a group of vampires that don't want the human world to know their existence is big trouble.

What can I say? This is one fantastic series!! Mercy is tough as nails, funny, and exceedingly humble. I just love her! Strong female characters are always good for me, and Mercy is definitely one of the best. The main storyline is fascinating, as we learn a lot more about the vampire community. And Mercy's lovelife is only getting weirder. Not only is she caught in the middle between 2 dominant werewolves, now there is a little something with Stefan the vampire! Blood Bound is ever bit as good as the first book, Moon Called. Maybe better. I can't wait to see where Mercy goes next!!

Second in Brigg's Mercy Thompson series, I think I liked this one better than the first- and that's saying something!

In Blood Bound, mechanic and part/time magical world protector- Mercy Thompson, agrees to return a favor for Stefan, the vamp who assisted her in Moon Called (mercy Thompson Book 1).

Stefan needs her to be his eyes and ears while she's in coyote form when he sets out to confront a character who has the appearance of a vamp but is actually much more. When the encounter goes awry, Mercy finds herself firmly entangled in the intrigues of the vamp seethe living nearby- a morass she certainly doesn't like finding herself in.

Adam and Samuel, the two alpha werewolves competing for her affection, don't like it either. Naturally, they all become involved, because the last thing they need is for the world to discover that Vampires really do exist, let alone for the knowledge to get out that they are far less tame than the other magical beings all ready "out" seem to be.

The something-more-than-vamp is definitely a creature that needs to be neutralized and however helpful the leaders of the vamp seethe seem to be in reining in the rogue creature, their motives are not all together pure. It falls to Mercy, whose shapeshifting nature vampires fear and loathe, seems to be the only one to take him down. In the end, it is indeed she who gets the job done.

Briggs does a wonderful job of plotting her novels so that everything ties together without breaking her own rules and in the process having it all make sense.

What keeps me coming back, however, is the love triangle (who will she choose?) subplot of Mercy, Samuel, & Adam. (Yeah, I'm that easy.)

Another excellent addition to a great paranormal series!

This is the second book in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. It was about on par with the first book. It was okay but nothing special.

In this book Mercy is contacted by Stefen who calls in a favor that Mercy owes him and asks her to accompany him on a short trip. Stefen is supposed to check in on a vampire who entered the area unannounced. Stefen is nervous about the encounter and wants Mercy to come along because her Walker abilities should make her immune to any magic effects that this vampire has. Well, the vampire is more than he initially seems to be and the remainder of the book is dedicated to hunting him down and destroying him.

The story is straight forward and is a quick, fun read. I am still having trouble really liking any of the characters. The tension in the relationship between Mercy, Samuel and Adam is getting old. The vampires seemed kind of boring and predictable. The writing is still nothing special. Mercy's walker abilities are also nothing really interesting so far. The bright spots in this book for me were Mercy's dealings with the fey and the interesting weapons they gave her. I also though that the Wizard was an interesting character and I hope we see more of him in the future.

All the above being said, I'll read the next book because I already have it. Hopefully the next book will really draw me in. If not that's it for this series and I won't read anymore.

Awesome book! I really was looking for a good writer after Anita went down hill and Kim Harrison killed her series for me. There are few in this genre that keep my interest enough to make me a loyal reader but this book did. Mercy is unique and fantastic, a total individual. I like how she's not at all like some of the strong female characters in paranormal romances where if you changed the she to a he it wouldn't make any difference. Mercy is a strong femanine female despite being an automachanic and still very much a child inside. She is extremely nurturing and warm hearted, I have missed that alot in my books lately.

I am a Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris fan. The world created in this book is very similar to the Sookie Stackhouse and Rachel Morgan series. I did not like this book as much as the first book in the series, but I liked it enough to want to read the third book. I usually get all my books from the library, but purchased Books 1 and 2 of this series because they reminded me so much of the Kim Harrison, Rachel Morgan series, which I also own. Easy reading and leaves you wanting to read the next book in the series.

Blood Bound, the second book about mechanic Mercy Thompson, is more suspenseful and bloody than the first, but has the same fabulous world building, dash of humor and heart that made Moon Called a Desert Island Keeper.

Blood Bound, which I read first (do not repeat - read them in order!), delves into the world of the vampires. And a scary, violent world it is too. Mercy's friend Sebastian, the Scooby-Doo loving VW bus owner who shows briefly in the first book, asks Mercy for help with a vampire matter. As a Walker, Mercy can not only shift into a coyote at will, but is also immune to some magic. Sebastian and Mercy visit a rogue vampire and discover he is a psychopathic killer. They escape, but the werewolves are drawn into the hunt as the body count piles up. Everyone tells Mercy to stay out of it, but she isn't the sort of person to sit idly by while her friends are in danger. Meanwhile, tension grows in the pack as Samuel and Adam compete for Mercy as mate.

Mercy is one of the all-time greatest heroines in fiction. She is brave, loyal, and flawed. If it sometimes seems like every straight male immediately falls in love with her, I understand the appeal. The secondary characters are full and vibrant too. I really enjoy the way Ms. Briggs weaves in the psychology of werewolf behavior throughout the book, with Mercy using body language to communicate, calm tempers, and get what she wants.

Patricia Briggs is a fabulous author. Her dialogue is witty, her ideas are fresh, and her characters are well-developed. I plan to read every book she puts out.

I blasted through all three of the Mercy Thompson books over the weekend and can't wait for the next installment. Simply put, I couldn't tear myself away from the books.

Read them!

The book started a little slow but before I was halfway through it I was really into it and couldn't put it down. I went ahead and bought the rest of the series and like them all.

This is book 2 in the Mercy Thompson Series, a great set of books (there are 3 so far), well written and exceedingly entertaining. I definitely recommend reading the series in order, so you understand the characters and their histories. It makes their interactions much more understandable and interesting. I've really enjoyed all three of the books and I'm hoping the author will have a long and excellent run with this series!

Well, at least it is to me. Because this volume is all about vampires, demons, and BLOOD! And I happen to like vampires. As a subject matter for a story, of course. Not that I know any in real life. Honest.
What happens is simple - Mercy Thompson is needed to handle a problem even the vampires can't handle. That's simple enough, right?
Wrong. Buy it, read it, enjoy it.

Mercedes Thompson is awesome. She's got her first love living in her house(who happens to be a very powerful very dominant just gone lone wolf, werewolf). She knows she has some serious feelings for the local werewolf Pack Alpha who happens to be her next door neighbor, and now her vampire buddy is calling in a favor she owes him for helping her get the pack Alph's daughter back from kidnappers in the previous book. She ends up in the middle of huge vampire mess involving a demon riden vampire. All the men in her life try to protect her, but who ends up coming to the rescue? Read the book and find out!!

Not sure what the hype was about very this is I I I it made it very hard to read and really get into.

I really like this series. Mercy's character is growing steadily and her attachments to Adam and Samuel are getting a little more involved. She is also proving herself to be someone to be reckoned with both in the wolf pack and among the vampires.

This book focused more on the seethe and how they lived. I found the book to be a bit slower than book 1, but not in a bad way. It is a progressive build where as book 1 was in your face action through most of the book.

Patricia Briggs is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I hope that the Mercy Thompson series
continues for some time.

After a long day fixing cars and getting yourself covered in grease and dirt, one would think that your friends would be thoughtful enough to leave you alone to unwind. Not the case with Mercy Thompson. When her vampire friend Stefan is sent by his Mistress to deliver a message to another vampire, he asks Mercy to accompany him. As a Walker, the ability to shift into a coyote, Stefan knows that Mercy is mostly immune to vampire powers. She, on the other hand, is suspicious but unable to say no. From the moment they arrive, Mercy knows that something sinister awaits them. It doesn't take long before the true evil is revealed and Mercy finds herself pulled into the fray, the only one (human and non-human) who may be able to save the day.

Yes, Mercy and the gang are knee deep in vampire drama. A sorcerer turned vampire is demon-ridden and wreaking havoc in the Tri-Cities. The body count is rising and the police are becoming concerned. Not a good thing for the vampires whose existence remains a secret. And it is up to Mercy to save her friends even if the thought of facing a creature so powerful makes her knees shake.

Patricia Briggs continues the series with this kickass blend of fantasy and horror. The plot races along providing you with a fast-paced and entertaining read. The characters are well-rounded and I really like how Mercy seems so believable, with her share of fears and weaknesses, unlike other fantasy heroines who can do no wrong. The author hints at further developments in the romance department, but here's hoping that the romance doesn't take over the menace and mayhem that I have enjoyed in this and the first book. While it is not necessary to read MOON CALLED, it would help to gain an insight into some of the secondary characters. Not to mention that it is a slightly better book.

This is recommended reading to lovers of dark urban fantasy. Don't wait to pounce on this series.

So, I really enjoyed this book. This one was the best written out of the 3 so far. I did read the current books in this series in like 3 days! For some reason my favorite parts of the book are the ones with Adam! I really like the way Mercy and Adam relate to each other - it is very teasing. They feed off each other and it really seems like they enjoy challenging one another. Whereas, her relations with Samuel are purely sexually charged in nature and she continually says that he already used her once to try to get children. I just don't feel a connection between her and him, like I do with Adam.

Okay, away from the love story. The rest of the story is great too. I really like the details they give about vampires. I like how to the explain their menageries. This series makes vampires extremely evil. Which I don't mind, as long as she isn't trying to carry on a relationship with one while he obviously has a 12 other people he is carrying on a relationship with too.

My favorite part about this series is that it is werewolves. I especially like to read the parts when Mercy is a coyote! The way she describes things like her movements and the way she is doing things is great. It makes it very unique. I also like all of the references to dominance and the way she explains body language within the pack. It is all very interesting and gives the series the little bit of something extra that some of the others cant seem to capture. I love the way she knows exactly how to behave with the wolves to be able to maintain her independence while still being sort of the pack. She knows how to calm Adam down by being defiant! Its great and very much interesting to read about. I am sure though, if he wasn't in love with her, she wouldn't get away with quite so much. I am interested to see what happens if she does end up accepting Adam. She will definitely be part of the pack then, how will she change her behaviors to work with the pack instead of being the lone coyote! (Cause she will pick Adam - its the best way to go, and if this author turns her into some Anita Blake tramp and sleeps with them both, I am gonna be HEATED).

What can I say. A female mechanic, how cool it that. Fast paced, funny and thrilling all in one. A great read for those who like Fantasy.

As a resident of the Tri-Cities, I began reading the Mercy Thompson books because I was excited about a story being set in my community. The author does a good job of representing the area, too, but she does something else, as well: She writes a good story. The tension is palpable and the suspense is affecting. The characters are well-drawn and the story is believable in the sense that, while it's all fantasy and folk-tale, it still seems reasonable within the parameters of the world Briggs creates.

I do find the romantic aspect of the story to be lacking a bit, but am hoping that will be remedied in the third book, which I'm reading now.

As a mystery/true crime/police procedural fan, I didn't expect to enjoy these books, but I really do. I am looking forward to the next installment, and am likely to read other works by Briggs as well. I must say, too, that the Tri-Cities Briggs renders is much more interesting and exciting than the one I live in.

The Mercy Thompson series is well written, but the love story never quite goes past a 'slight' sexual tension and the story line seems to be filtered through a sieve where all the good juicy details slip though and you're left with a bunch of 'junk' which you have no idea what to do with. This is a series based around the assumption that some of the monsters of the fantasy world like vampires and werewolves are REAL. However, in Mercy's world these monsters are more cuddly than dangerous and even the 'danger' is kind of lame. Mercy is a creature in her own right and her character tries hard to be COOL by working on cars and having tattoos and being raised by werewolves, but she's actually one dimensional and boring. I would recommend this book for bathtub reading or as a way to fall asleep at night, but if you want a real story, go elsewhere. Reading this series leaves me frustrated at the good ideas which go nowhere and the terrific characters who are made to fit into a cookie cutter mold.

My 20 year old daughter was thrilled to receive this book series just based on the covers of these books. I think she'll really enjoy them.

I LOVE the Mercy Thompson books.I first found out about it on amazon.com.I found the first book here.It sounded really interesting so I ordered Moon Called.The book was great and I wanted so much to find out if there was a second book.I looked it up and found out there is a second book.This time I bought it from a book store.I was just browsing and saw "Blood Bound" and who the author was and got so excited that I had found the second book.I didn't have to wait for it in the mail.I could buy it right there and I did.


I love this story because of who and what Mercy is.She is a Walker.A Walker being someone who can change there form into the Coyote at will.A Walker who was raised by a Werewolf and not just any Werewolf but the Marrok himself.The Marrok is THE Alpha,the Alpha of Alphas.Mercy maybe being the last of her kind, because she doesn't know of any others living around her area.No one really knows much about the Walkers or if there is any of them left other than Mercy.Having been hunted and killed by the Vampires years ago.Because Mercy,like all other Walkers she is immune to some forms of magic and more because they can see and talk to ghost.Because their prey die so viciously when they feed on them that when they die and turn into a ghost they tend to linger a bit where they died,that being a way for the Walkers to track down and kill the Vampires,for that reason the Vampires felt threatened.
She is surrounded by Werewolves and others mythical creatures.Not being a Werewolf and not a Fae she was a loner.


Blood Bound:
This is also a good story because Mercy just keeps getting involved in trouble that she was not looking for.Stephan(the Vampire) ask Mercy if she could help in a small matter as a way to pay him back for his help in finding Jesse in "Moon Called".She is just to be a small security measure for Stephan with a Vampire who did not check in with the leader of the Vampires.Unknowing what they are really dealing with they go in.Things take a turn for the worse the next time Mercy wakes she is in her own home with Stephan and Sam watching her.She is soon apart of the trouble that is happening all over the city.The Demon possessed Vampire is causing everyone within the area to all the chaos is becoming very short tempered and violent...It also continues the love triangle between Mercy,Adam,Sam and possibly adding Stephan(a Vampire)into the mix.I would have liked to see where that would have gone.Vampires are to be said that they can't be trusted seeing as how they don't really care for something or someone.

I read the first book and was not disappointed with this book either. Patricia Briggs has done a great job with the on going development of the interactions between all the characters and interspecies??? interactions as well. Can hardly wait to get my copy of the next one.

I loved this book even more than I did Moon Called. Mercy is an amazing character. She is charming, without being aware she is charming. She is loyal, and strong spirited. She is what a strong willed woman should be. She is emotional about her friends, but not in the whiny,crying,overly dramatic way. This book was well-written and hard to put down. I can't even imagine how a series could get better than this (but I'd be eager to see it). Only negatives: two many beaus. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but please don't turn another Anita!

I thought the first book was outstanding. Now I think I like this one even better!!! Awesome story!!

I will admit that I haven't read much in the urban fantasy/horror/vampire genre, so I may not be as picky as other reviewers. I will say that I have only read two of Brigg's novels -- "Moon Called" and "Blood Bound" -- and both times I really got into the book. Brigg's conversational writing style makes it easy; after all, the protagonist, Mercy Thompson, is narrating the story.

Mercy has the ability to morph into a coyote. What I appreciated about Brigg's storytelling is how Mercy doesn't overuse her shape-changing ability in this book. She relies on her wits and intuition to solve the conflicts she faces.

Something else I appreciate about Brigg's story is how Mercy finds herself in the middle of life-or-death situations, yet still has to run her own business as a mechanic. In fact, Mercy wonders at one point how the heroines in movies find time to work and make a living while they are running around saving the world.

A couple of minor criticisms about this story: as the story progresses, Briggs throws in more an more of the "rules" about how vampire society is run, as well as the "rules" about demons and sorcerers. As someone who doesn't read much in this genre, it didn't bother me, but I kind of wondered how much of it Briggs made up to fit the plot. Doesn't ruin the story at all, but I just wondered about this.

Also, Briggs' male characters always seem a little too perfect. They are all ruggedly handsome, and yes they're all werewolves and vampires, but they're such hunky werewolves and vampires who got that "bad boy" thing going to entice the ladies. Even their negative qualities make them more macho. This kind of bugged me in "Moon Called" too. Briggs does keep the reader guessing as to who Mercy will ultimately fall for: Adam? Samuel? Stefan maybe? Again, it doesn't ruin the book, but it kind of makes me chuckle.

Overall, "Blood Bound" continues the fast-paced, suspenseful, creepy, action-packed storytelling that started in "Moon Called." Go for it.

I liked this one a lot better than the first one. So much so that I'm re-evaluating the first one. I'm starting to really like all the characters Briggs has created for this series. The writing is fresh and smart, and the plot was tight and suspenseful. I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this. Can't wait for the next one!

I enjoyed this book, a good follow up to Moon Called, the first book of the series. In Blood Bound, Mercy owes her vampire friend, Stefan, a favor. Mercy can shapeshift at will into a coyote and she agrees to go along with Stefan when he goes to deliver a message to a new vampire, but this vampire has a demon inside of him.

The new Vampire/Demon kills a maid and some other people in the motel and bites Mercy in her Coyote form, Stefan thinks he is the one that killed the people in the Motel. I won't go into a lot of detail, I don't want to give away any spoilers. Stefan and some of Mercy's werewolves friends are hunting the vampire/demon and this sets the tone of this book.

Mercy attempts to hunt and bring down this Vampire/Demon with the help of another Vampire. A good strong interesting book. I look forward to the third book in the series.

This is the second book for Mercy in her fight to just remain out of the surrounding monsters' radar. She is stuck between two werewolves that each want to claim her as his one and only. Adding to the mix is a customer from her garage that happens to be a vampire, a vampire that Mercy owes a big favor. I love being inside Mercy's head and the characters come off the pages.

I really am enjoying this series. Great characters, interesting plot and relationships that are intriguing without being overwhelming.

Love ya Mercy

P.S. The cover art is beautiful and the artist is having fun with Mercy's tattoos, but Mercy is not that provocative and she has only 3 small tattoos.

Briggs has created an interesting, cohesive world and does action very well. But I think Mercy is lacking something as a heroine. She's a little too by-the-book and seems scared too much of the time. I know this makes her more realistic than heroines in other paranormal series, but I personally prefer a heroine who is more of a renegade, one who is larger than life. Also, Briggs can't write romance. If you're not looking for a romance, this is a great series, but if you want steamy love scenes - or even romantic tension - you won't find it here.

"This was a great third book. I liked the characters more and more as I got to know them. I normally HATE it when I buy two books, read them, and find out I will have to wait for a third, but this one was worth the wait. Looking forward to the next one too!"

At the end of Moon Called (first book in the series), Mercy Thompson the shapeshifting mechanic, owed the local vampires a favour, and in Blood Bound they want paying back. A visiting vampire is causing problems and Stefan, (Mercy's vampire friend) wants her help whilst he tries to sort it out.

In my opinion Blood Bound is a much more tightly written story than Moon Called. We already know about the relationships, pack-conflicts and back story, so here we are able to get stuck in to the meat of the story straight away. Although I do think it's possible to read Blood Bound as a standalone, it would be much better to read Moon Called first so you've got all this rich background information in your head.

The relationships within the werewolf pack continue to evolve and I think this is far and away my favourite part of the story. Each werewolf is such an individual character and to see how they are located within the hierarchy and how they struggle or accept that, gives the story a depth it might not otherwise have had. In Blood Bound this pack structure is held in direct comparison with the more clinical vampire society, which makes for fascinating reading.

If I had a concern at all, it would be as mentioned in another review. Mercy picks up another admirer and I think this has the potential to take away from the tension in her relationship with the two werewolves already vying for her attention.

Blood Bound is resolved very nicely, but there are enough plot threads left dangling to leave me desperately looking forward to the next book in the series - especially the new werewolf who only appears off-page here.

There will be a short story set in Mercy's world in the On the Prowl anthology released in August 2007.

At the end of Moon Called (first book in the series), Mercy Thompson the shapeshifting mechanic, owed the local vampires a favour, and in Blood Bound they want paying back. A visiting vampire is causing problems and Stefan, (Mercy's vampire friend) wants her help whilst he tries to sort it out.



In my opinion Blood Bound is a much more tightly written story than Moon Called. We already know about the relationships, pack-conflicts and back story, so here we are able to get stuck in to the meat of the story straight away. Although I do think it's possible to read Blood Bound as a standalone, it would be much better to read Moon Called first so you've got all this rich background information in your head.



The relationships within the werewolf pack continue to evolve and I think this is far and away my favourite part of the story. Each werewolf is such an individual character and to see how they are located within the hierarchy and how they struggle or accept that, gives the story a depth it might not otherwise have had. In Blood Bound this pack structure is held in direct comparison with the more clinical vampire society, which makes for fascinating reading.



If I had a concern at all, it would be as mentioned in another review. Mercy picks up another admirer and I think this has the potential to take away from the tension in her relationship with the two werewolves already vying for her attention.



Blood Bound is resolved very nicely, but there are enough plot threads left dangling to leave me desperately looking forward to the next book in the series - especially the new werewolf who only appears off-page here.



There will be a short story set in Mercy's world in the On the Prowl anthology released in August 2007.

At the end of Moon Called (first book in the series), Mercy Thompson the shapeshifting mechanic, owed the local vampires a favour, and in Blood Bound they want paying back. A visiting vampire is causing problems and Stefan, (Mercy's vampire friend) wants her help whilst he tries to sort it out.

In my opinion Blood Bound is a much more tightly written story than Moon Called. We already know about the relationships, pack-conflicts and back story, so here we are able to get stuck in to the meat of the story straight away. Although I do think it's possible to read Blood Bound as a standalone, it would be much better to read Moon Called first so you've got all this rich background information in your head.

The relationships within the werewolf pack continue to evolve and I think this is far and away my favourite part of the story. Each werewolf is such an individual character and to see how they are located within the hierarchy and how they struggle or accept that, gives the story a depth it might not otherwise have had. In Blood Bound this pack structure is held in direct comparison with the more clinical vampire society, which makes for fascinating reading.

If I had a concern at all, it would be as mentioned in another review. Mercy picks up another admirer and I think this has the potential to take away from the tension in her relationship with the two werewolves already vying for her attention.

Blood Bound is resolved very nicely, but there are enough plot threads left dangling to leave me desperately looking forward to the next book in the series - especially the new werewolf who only appears off-page here.

There will be a short story set in Mercy's world in the On the Prowl anthology released in August 2007.

This book was wonderful. It captures your attention right from the start and is impossible to put down. I love to reread books, and I am happy to say that it only improves each time.

I enjoyed this installment of the new series. The characters evolved, as did the storyline. I will be looking forward to the next book.

Mercy Thompson, mechanic and shapeshifter (coyote). I like Mercy because she's not the strongest or the badest woman in this book/series. Nor is she trying to be. She has many friends in low places (mostly male - a girl after my own heart) and of all persuasions; vampires, werewolves, a witch, a ghost, and many more. Mercy is clever not relying on shear brute strength or strength of power to get her out of jams. I'm thoroughly enjoying Patricia Briggs books and am anxiously awaiting the next book(s).

Okay, now to my only criticism of the book/series. She seems to have almost all males in the story sniffing around her. Maybe this is like the saying that men can't "just be friends". Or that they are pretending to be friends till the time is right. It could just be me, but I would like to see more story than love triangles between numerous suitors. (I get that in heaping doses from another author I read.)

Briggs can't write a bad book. Match that with the ground she's covered with her fantasy over time, well, her published works are like eating at a really nice buffet. :) While some authors get bogged down in one same type of book after another, Briggs is someone who keeps bringing out new ideas. It's always a treat to see what she's come up with each time. She's one of the more enjoyable authors out there and her books always end up on my keeper shelf. What more can you say?

I have read every single Patricia Briggs book I could find, and the Mercy series is by far my favorite. It's action packed from page one, and every page after that. I absolutely could not put this book down. Definitely A must read!

An excellent read, as is the first book, "Moon Called". Love those tattoos!

"Moon Called," author Patricia Briggs' introduction to the shapeshifting Mercy Thompson, was good. "Blood Bound," the sequel, is better.

Mercy lives among werewolves in a society that knows they -- as well as various fae populations -- exist. But Mercy isn't a werewolf; lycanthropy is a culture based in European roots, while Mercy's coyote shape is rooted in Native American lore. She is far less powerful in her coyote form, but has certain advantages, such as a natural resistance to vampiric mind games.

That will prove to be a useful trait in "Blood Bound," which pits Mercy, the local werewolf pack and the community of vampires -- who have not been revealed to the public at large -- against a rogue vampire with a demon in thrall and powerful sorcerous abilities at his command. As the body count rises and key characters are taken out of play, Mercy finds herself fighting an enemy she can't even find, much less defeat with any certainty. To add a delicious layer of tension to the story, her allies may prove as deadly as the sorceror she's hunting -- she definitely can't trust them to watch her back.

And all she really wants to do is keep her garage open for business and tinker in her spare time on her beloved VW Rabbit.

Refreshingly, the romance aspect of the story -- Mercy has two powerful werewolves and maybe a vampire vying for her affections -- is subdued, almost inconsequential to the plot. Some folks might be disappointed, but romance is making such a heavy push into contemporary paranormal fiction, it's almost a relief to see it de-emphasized for a change. Mercy is no heart of stone, but she certainly doesn't feel the need to have a man in her life, for love or protection against the greater dark.

"Blood Bound" is a compelling story with a strong, capable heroine who defies expectations in an increasingly crowded genre. Characters, action and suspense work together smoothly to drive the plot in interesting directions, and readers will hug the pages as Briggs takes unexpected turns.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

_Blood Bound_ by Patricia Briggs is the second book in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is a walker, who can change shape between coyote and human at will. She has a few other minor abilities, but generally keeps a low profile around other more powerful types of supernatural creatures. In the Tri-Cities area of Washington state (where she lives), this includes fae off of the local fae reservation, where the various elves, goblins, faeries, etc. went after outing themselves to the general public a few years ago; a local werewolf pack, who are still unknown to the general public but will probably have to reveal themselves as well in a couple of years; and a number of local vampires, who have no intention of outing themselves to the public anytime soon and who see regular humans as nothing more than meat.

_Blood Bound_ covers the incidents that start when Mercy is asked for help by Stefan, a local vampire. Mercy generally stays clear of vampires, but Stefan is sort of cuddly for a vampire -- he even drives a VW bus painted like The Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. And she owes him a favor.

After going along with Stefan in coyote form to check on a vampire traveling through the area, things quickly spin out of control. The new vampire is a vampire, a sorcerer who is likely losing control of the demon he possesses for his power, and an all-around brutal sadistic [...]. Mercy's injuries from that encounter bring in Adam, the alpha of the local werewolf pack who is Mercy's local protector (when she lets him be that), and Samuel, a lone werewolf living with Mercy who has known her since she was a child.

I'm not going to go into much more detail about the plot, as quite a lot happens and it gets a bit desperate at times. Mercy is in a unique and unpleasant position -- as a walker, she has some abilities and personal control that both the vampires and werewolves lack. But she also has much less physical power than the vampires and werewolves, so she must tread carefully when she does decide to act.

For me, this book really stood out for two reasons: one is Mercy's need for thought before she acts and the things she has to figure out along the way. The revelation of why vampires hate walkers was both stunningly simple in its facts and almost mind-boggling in the implications. The second is the depth of some of the male characters. Many novelists will create only one- or two-dimensional characters of the opposite sex. But with _Blood Bound_, Briggs did a good job exploring the struggles of Adam, who is a rather authoritarian figure that has a hard time learning how to be both honest and willing to compromise with a couple of independent women he really cares about (Mercy being one of them); and Samuel, who is a strong-willed loner with some very old and very deep emotional wounds that are starting to kill him. The scene on the bed where Samuel talks about what happened in Texas with the woman he was living with was well-written and heart-breaking because of that; Mercy's subsequent call to Samuel's father Bran was also a conversation that was well-scripted, well-written, and almost painful to read because it's such a messy situation.

Overall, _Blood Bound_ is a much darker book than _Moon Called_, but it's also deeper and it's a good sequel. I am looking forward to book 3.

I would definitely suggest new readers pick up _Moon Called_ first; there are a lot of details that will be missed otherwise.

This is the second of a new series by Patricia Briggs. I haven't read her other books. I really enjoyed it. It's a thriller. This is a very violent book. I was a little turned off by the violence of the werewolves and the blase evil of the vampires but it is different from the usual romaticization. This a romantic book without any sex or real romance. The characters have flaws but they remain likeable. This book is also pretty scary.

This author has never disappointed me, and she certianly didn't start now. This book is highly recommended for urban fantasy fans, of which I am unflinchingly one. If you are as disillusioned with LKH as me, this will restore your faith in the genre. I felt that Blood Bound was actually better than the prequel, more cohesive and realistic. The right mix of pacing and characterization. No complaints. Waiting (impatiently) for the next installment.