layawaydragon
Written on Jan 13, 2023
'Patricia Briggs is an incredible writer . . . I love hanging out with the amazing characters in this series!' Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling series
'It is always a joy to pick up a new Briggs novel' RT Book Reviews
'Patricia Briggs never fails to deliver an exciting, magic and fable filled suspense story' Erin Watt, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Royals series.
I am Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman. My only 'superpowers' are that I turn into a thirty-five-pound coyote and fix Volkswagens. But I have friends in odd places and a pack of werewolves at my back. It looks like I'm going to need them.
Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill. When they were cast out, they left behind their great castles, troves of magical artefacts . . . and their prisoners. Without the fae to mind them, those creatures roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc. Only the deadliest survived.
Now one of those prisoners has escaped. It can look like any creature it chooses and if it bites you, it controls you. It lives for chaos and destruction and can make you do anything - even kill the person you love the most. Now it is here, in the Tri-Cities. In my territory.
It won't - can't - remain. Not if I have anything to say about it.
Mercy Thompson returns in another thrilling instalment from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs.
Books by Patricia Briggs:
The Mercy Thompson books
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked
Frost Burned
Night Broken
Fire Touched
Silence Fallen
Storm Cursed
Smoke Bitten
Shifting Shadows (Stories from the world of Mercy Thompson)
- ISBN10 0356513610
- ISBN13 9780356513614
- Publish Date 28 January 2021 (first published 17 March 2020)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Orbit
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 352
- Language English
Reviews
booksandcats
Written on Jun 26, 2021
What I possibly love most about Patricia Briggs is that her books have consqeuences. Almost everything happening in this book is some sort of payoff of previous ones and often not from obvious things, but just little things that happen in life and influence the future in ways you wouldn't expect.
It's also interesting to see the pack dynamics and how so many different people change and grow together, how everyone is so different and still form a whole.
As for the plot, there is a mysterious figure, who escaped from Underworld and who can force his will onto people and make them do anything it wants, so very dangerous, very scary. I'm not sure if I was disappointed or excited about who the figure was since I'm from central europe, the plot point of Rumpelstiltskin and having to say his name and all that is just used so often. But I figure it's not as well known for others and I generally like Ms. Briggs inclusion of folkstales and her version of Rumplestiltskin is different enough that I like it in general .
Berls
Written on Oct 19, 2020
Underhill takes center stage in a way "she" hasn't ever before (is she the right pronoun? I'm not sure, maybe they... hmm). One of Underhill's creatures has escaped and is causing all kinds of havoc. I enjoyed not just the way Mercy works to defeat it, but the mystery behind who/what the creature is. I did not see the answer coming at all.
There's also some leftover consequences from the witches - not a huge shocker right? - but the way they are impacting Adam and Mercy's relationship was a surprise for me. It was a little heartbreaking to see, honestly. But that's another piece that I love, how real their relationship is. It's not a fairy tale. Shit happens and it impacts them. Like any other married couple - minus the ability to become werewolf and coyote - they have to be vulnerable and work through it to protect their marriage.
And have I mentioned that I love Ben? His role is always a bit understated in my opinion, and yet it's also always impactful.
All in all a great read and I look forward to the next one for next month's read-a-long.
MurderByDeath
Written on Oct 5, 2020
Finally! A Mercy Thompson book that didn't include storylines with animal sacrifice. The last few books before this had me seriously hesitant to continue with the series, and even after buying this, it stared at me for about a week before I picked it up with the intention of putting it right back down again if it even looked at an animal the wrong way.
Fortunately – and unfortunately – I never had to put the book down. At least, not until 2.30am when I finally gave into sleep, only to pick it up again the next morning and finish it off.
That's not to say the story was perfect; it was good, but the sub-plot between Mercy and Adam was meh, and got terribly schmaltzy towards the end (keeping in mind I have a low tolerance for "the power of love").
The main plot concerned something that got out of Underhill and started possessing people, making them kill others, before it killed them and moved on. This was more interesting to me, although it never really achieved 'gripping'. And towards the end, but long before the climax, I guessed who the smoke demon was, which was both a tiny bit disappointing, and also - YAY! I was right! - making it a wash overall.
Generally, I enjoyed the story and it restored my faith in the series. I hope book 13 stays away from the witches, although with that number, I don't like my chances.
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
Written on Apr 8, 2020
No series has ever held my attention as well or as long as Mercy Thompson. Rich and powerful and steeped in lore and legend, every page of every book transports me, and Smoke Bitten is no exception. Thank you, Ms.Briggs for this fascinating and edgy world. More, please!
Quirky Cat
Written on Mar 31, 2020
Mercy, aka Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, is used to finding herself in strange predicaments. She's a shapeshifter, daughter of Coyote, raised by the Marrock, and now wife of Adam Hauptman, pack alpha. She's come up against witches, werewolves, vampires, and fae.
It's going to take all of that knowledge and experience to work her way through the latest threat For a prisoner of Underhill has escaped, and they are not content to play nice with the people in the Tri-Cities. Or the people in Mercy's life.
“And that, children, is why ultimatums are a bad idea, said a memory speaking in the Marrok's voice.”
I know I say this a lot, but I absolutely devoured Smoke Bitten. And I have no regrets on that count! It was yet another fantastic read in one of my favorite series. Once again, it's a delight to dive back into Mercy's world.
A month or two back the first chapter (or two?) was made available for readers. I opted not to read it because I knew that it would make the wait for the whole novel that much worse. Having now read the introduction (and everything else that followed)...I feel like I made the right choice. I could not have survived the wait to see what was going on, had I been given a sneak peek.
Honestly? I loved everything about this novel. It was intense and fun, just like all of the other Mercy Thompson novels. Though I might be slightly biased, since I've been really enjoying Patricia Briggs' take on the fae, and thus am always happy to see them pop up again.
One thing that did surprise me about Smoke Bitten is how deeply personal it felt. Mercy (and Adam) has been through a lot these past few books, in particular. And it's starting to show. This novel dove right into the personal ramifications and consequences of trauma.
Actually, make that two things that surprised me. Though the second is arguably related to the first. I was surprised to hear of a certain character's actions, and how they were still getting under the skin of everyone around. I don't know why it surprised me, other than that I honestly thought that Mercy would get a break from that. How foolish of me, right?
Along with several really tense moments, I feel like this novel did a fantastic job of capturing the lives of the pack, Mercy, and everyone involved. And of course, I love that Aiden was given a couple of cute moments as well. He really needed that.
Speaking of, anybody else dying of curiosity about what is going on with Wulfe? I'm looking forward to seeing that progress in the next novel or two – because there's no way it isn't building up to something dramatic.
My one regret about Smoke Bitten is that it is now over, and the wait has begun again. All things considered, that isn't a bad complaint to have. So I will take it. And probably reread the series (or get caught up in the Alpha and Omega series, which I have been neglecting).
Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
littleread1
Written on Mar 22, 2020
Rowena
Written on Mar 21, 2020
Linda
Written on Mar 20, 2020
I enjoyed the overall story as it unfolded, though, and I loved the way Mercy unraveled the various mysteries. However, my enjoyment was tainted by that beginning that almost made me put the book down to read later.
EBookObsessed
Written on Mar 7, 2020
Having one of the scariest vampires ever actively stalking you, should have been the worst thing to happen to Mercy. But at least Wulfe isn’t actively trying to kill her. At least she doesn’t think so. Not yet anyway.
Something has slunk out of the fae home of Underhill; something that can take over your mind and turn you into a killer. Since it tried to control Mercy and failed, it is now pissed off. Immensely pissed off. Fear and the fae don’t go well together and now this smoke beast wants to get rid of Mercy and is using her friends to do his bidding. Everyone Mercy loves is under attack and she can’t protect them all. The worst part for Mercy is once that smoke beast takes you, you die and several of our favorites are taken over with only one goal, get close to Mercy and destroy her.
It is especially hard for Mercy to concentrate on Wulfe or Underhill or this smoke monster when all she can think about is the fact that her husband has started choking off their mating bond. Things have been strained between them since the night they destroyed the zombie horde. Is it the pressure of her declaration that the Tri-Cities was under the protection of the Pack or Mercy’s odd nature being such a draw to more and more supernatural bad guys? Has Adam simply had enough of the trouble that she has brought into his life? If so, why won’t he simply tell her that instead of avoiding her?
Once again, poor Mercy is taking a beating from all sides, and not all of them figuratively.
I am not saying that the smoke monster wasn’t an interesting story plot and didn’t keep me biting my nails but what was going on with Adam had me more distracted than any mind-controlling monster. The monster you know Mercy will destroy, eventually, but was Adam really done with his relationship with Mercy? Can you break a mating bond? Is this some way to bank on that statement Anna makes in Burn Bright questioning Bran’s actual feelings for Mercy? No, no, NO! She can defeat any monster which comes but if Adam wants out? WTF? I was very stressed about this book.
And the thing with Wulfe — you might think “Oh, he’s a great character. I love him. It’s awesome he’s on our side now.” No, no, DEFINITELY NO! He is definitely interesting but I wouldn’t trust his sudden willingness to play nice with the pack for an instant. Wulfe is a great character but he is also crazy and unpredictable. Like many of the older supernatural creatures, he finds Mercy to be interesting? Like a fascinating bug they want to keep in a jar. And in Wulfe’s case, when will his fascination turn to actually trying to keep Mercy in a jar and cutting off her toes for fun? We will need to wait and watch.
I love the Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series and want more, more, more! I definitely need to make the time to start this whole series again and do a straight re-read.
Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review:
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