Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, #5)

by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, never knows what the day—or night—may bring. But in the fifth novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, she's about to learn that while some secrets are dangerous—those who seek them are just plain deadly… 
 
Mercy is smart enough to realize that when it comes to the magical Fae, the less you know, the better. But you can’t always get what you want. When she attempts to return a powerful Fae book she’d previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.
 
It seems the book contains secret knowledge—and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn’t take enough of Mercy’s attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side—leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam’s life forfeit.
 
All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn’t careful, she might not have many more to live...

• ISBN10: 044101996X
• ISBN13: 9780441019960
• Publish Date: 25 January 2011 (first published 1 March 2010)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 304
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780441019960

Reviews

[booksandcats]

Mercy has to deal once again with Adams pack who try to break them up, she has to deal with the fallout from the last book, as always (a leftover book, given to her by a fae) and Samuel seems to go off the rails. All in all, I really enjoyed the book, I liked to see how Mercy was clearly healing and how well she was doing in her relationship with Adam. I get why some problems still showed up but I think after this book, I will be a bit annoyed if the same trust- and relationship issues come up again, it seems like she should be over her trouble trusting Adam and their mating bond and so should he. I am ready for their relationship to grow past that point.

Also, the pack. I get that they were trouble and they didn't like Mercy, and that it needes a few storylines to get them together again, but I think it has been dealt with fine and should be resolved.

One thing I wasn't too fond of, was how they resolved Samuels issue. I really liked how they dealt with mental problems so far in this series, but I don't think it's healthy to be depressed and suicidal and then decide to be fine again because you met an old love from long ago... love doesn't work that way and it shouldn't and it isn't healthy and I hope that gets adressed. If his partner is his only reason to live, that puts way to much pressure on her (and she was already traumatized herself) and it doesn't feel good, especially given the context that other mental illnesses and traumas were resolved far more realistically. Oh well, I'm hoping that it will be adressed in next books, just as Mercy's recovery was.

Also, can we please get some female friends for Mercy? Aside from a teenager? That would be lovely!

All in all, 3.5 star, rounded up because I love this series so much.

[Berls]

So much for slowing down and reading with the Readalong! I'm enjoying this reread so much, I can't stop.

I loved reading the development in Adam and Mercy's relationship and the changes in her bonds to the pack, as well as the mating bond. I had forgotten the pack drama! I find myself picking up on details that I had completely overlooked (or maybe just forgotten). Mercy is healing from my the events of Silver Borne, and it's leaving its mark on their relationship.

I think the real treat, though, was reading this after having read the short story "Silver"! The book makes sense without it, but I understood things involving the fae, the silver borne and Samuel so much better because of having read "Silver".

Noticeably absent are the vampires. Immediately following a book where they were front and center, it was kind of shocking that they aren't in it even a little. But I didn't miss them that much either, maybe stephan a bit.

I love Loreli King as a narrator and she's absolutely perfect for this series. I listen at 2x speed easily with this series.

[Rowena]

Patricia Briggs just keeps writing fabulous paranormal stories for Mercy and everyone in her world. I enjoyed this new adventure and am really loving how Mercy is fitting herself into Adams world and accepting him and everything that comes with him. I really enjoy Ben, And the other wolves (except Henry, Mary Jo and Paul) and I love Jesse and Gabriel. Can’t wait to start the next one.

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4 ★⎮ Series review to come.

[littleread1]

This book was all about problem solving - working with people who may not like you for the "right reasons" is never easy, and is made even more difficult when they could eat you. Add on top of that a friend with major problems you are trying to hide, and a search for a missing powerful artifact ... no one can accuse Mercy of taking the easy way out. I really enjoyed this story, and feel like Mercy moved forward with accepting the things life keeps throwing at her, and the things she is being gifted with as well. She is looking for her place to belong, and we can all relate. Fortunately for Mercy she has some amazing people in her corner, and in this story she really really starts to realize it.

[nitzan_schwarz]

Kickstarting June with a re-read of this lovely! I have two more books to read in this re-read before I continue with the books I haven't read int the Mercy Thompson world!

Anyways, this one is one of my absolute favorites. We've got Adam and Mercy relatively secure in their relationship--and this book cements that and deals with the last remnants of the unease.

We've also reached the end of the Samual storyline in that we finally tackle head first his issue and solve it. The first time around I was kind off iffy on the fact Ariana came out of nowhere, since Samual never mentioned her before so it felt like an easy out for him BUT in this re-read I kind of realized that, considering the book was given to Mercy two books ago, Briggs probably knew what she wanted to do with it from way back.

I also enjoyed the Gabriel storyline, in as much as I think it's super important to see THAT side of things as well. Since we spend most of our time with Werewolves, Fae and Vampires, we kind of tend to forget that to everyone else... they're scary monsters they don't really understand.

Anyways, really enjoyed this re-read, as evident by the fact I re-read it in a day ;)

[EBookObsessed]

Mercy Thompson has always tried to keep out of the way of other preternatural creatures. When you know that goes bump in the night, you know it is best not to let them notice you. Growing up in a werewolf pack, Mercy has always been in and around pack business. Recent events have caused Mercy to now owe favors to the vampires and to the fae and she is making a lot of friends and enemies with both groups. The vampires calling in that favor didn’t go so well for Mercy, so what makes her think helping out the fae would be any better?

The Grimm brothers had it right. Fae are not nice creatures and everything they do comes with a price.

Uncle Mike and Zee, Mercy’s friend and mentor, have asked for Mercy’s help to find out who has been killing fae on the fae reservation. In her coyote form, Mercy’s nose can pick up the scent of anyone who has been at all the crime scenes. Except Mercy’s immunity to some magic allows her to see some things on the reservation that the fae don’t want outsiders to know about.

When Mercy points out the killer, Uncle Mike and Zee go to have a talk with him (fae code for make him disappear forever) only to find out someone beat them to it. Someone with enough strength to rip off a man’s head. Surprising the police arrive at the door just as Zee and Uncle Mike arrive and Zee is arrested for murder.

The Grey Lords who rule over the fae are more than willing to sacrifice Zee to the humans so that no more attentions is focused in on the fae, but Mercy is not willing to sacrifice her friend and let the real killer go free and the Grey Lords aren’t very happy with Mercy’s decision to get in their way.

THOUGHTS:
I am really getting into this series, but this was a much darker story than the two prior books. In the last one Mercy is helping the vampires but learning things that the vampires don’t want her to know, like how to kill a vamp. In this one Mercy is learning too much about the secretive and mysterious fae. Vampires each have different gifts and abilities, but that is nothing to the broad spectrum of the fae.

Even Zee becomes angry with Mercy in this story, but whether it is because she is drawing the attention of the Grey Lords by fighting Zee’s imprisonment or whether he is angry because Mercy tells fae secrets to the attorney she hires, Mercy isn’t sure. When Zee calls due the note on the garage (which is a serious fae spit-in-the-face), Mercy is heartbroken that she has lost her friend and mentor.

It is a much darker story since Mercy does not get away unscathed from this adventure. Fae magic is used against her in the most brutal way. This leads to anxiety attacks and PTSD issues in the next story. She is now being watched by the Vampire Mistress and the Grey Lords and being under the protection of the wolves may no longer be enough to keep Mercy safe.

Another great book in the Mercy Thompson series. I loved seeing the Mercy and Adam relationship develop more in this book. I didn't like a few small details in this book, but overall I still loved it. The ending was fantastic.

[MurderByDeath]

This was my favorite book of the series until the last fifth or so the time spent in Elphame and that only because fae is my least favorite of the supernatural, I think. Still, this was an excellent read and I loved it. I really enjoyed the time spent on developing Mercy and Adam's relationship, the pack, and definitely on Samuel. This book felt a lot less high-intensity than the ones before it in many ways, and I appreciated the break.

I can't say a whole lot about the plot beyond what's written on the back cover without going spoilerish. As I mentioned above, not a fan of the typical fae mythology - although I really like Zee and the way the author weaves the truth behind the fairy tales into this series. I just prefer them more when they aren't taking center stage and this book - at least the last half, they are definitely center stage.

I have the next one on it's way to me now and I can't wait to read it.

[Chelsea]

Once again, Patricia Briggs entertains us with an amazing book. These reviews are starting to get repetitive I think. She can’t write a bad book!

The characters. I don’t even know what to say about them. You’d have to read these books to get a complete understanding of my love. The character development in this book is really nice. I like that we see a little bit into Samuel’s mind and what’s going on there. He hasn’t been around as much since Mercy choose Adam. It’s unfortunate because I really enjoy him. No worries though, we saw lots of him in this book. I also loved that we saw more of Mercy and Adam’s relationship and just how much Adam cares for her. Mercy grew a HUGE amount in this book. She finally accepts the pack and starts to become a part of it but she still stays the same old Mercy. I can’t get enough of her.

The plot is fantastic as always. I LOVED that we got to see more wolf politics and how the pack works. That’s probably one of my favorite things about this book. There’s not really anything else I can say. There was nothing bad about this book in my opinion except that it ended. You’ll have to read it for yourself!