Night Broken: Library Edition (Mercy Thompson, #8)

by Patricia Briggs

Lorelei King (Narrator)

• ISBN10: 1455820075
• ISBN13: 9781455820078
• Publish Date: 11 March 2014
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Brilliance Audio
• Edition: Unabridged
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 10 hours and 6 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com

In this installment of Mercy's story, we have Adam's ex-wife and Jesse's mom calling because she has a stalker and is scared for her life. Christy, who plays a major role in this story, left Adam because he was "a monster", which is pretty much what Adam feels too. Christy is a person who overplays her vulnerability, which is what drew Adam to her in the first place. She starts all of this before she even arrives at Adam's house. I have to hand it to Mercy, I couldn't stand the woman before she even showed up. Jesse sees her for what she is, but many of the pack want to fall back into protection mode over her.

While I hated Christy, a lot of the faults lie with other members of the pack and even Adam himself. Mercy gets to the point where she doesn't want to answer the phone when he calls, because it is more likely to be Christy telling her to pick something up on the way home. Mercy then also tries to call Adam and Christy picks up the phone and refuses to let Mercy talk to her husband. What I want to know, why was Adam letting his ex-wife anywhere near his cell phone? He knows what a manipulator she is, but lets her do it anyway. Mercy is in a lose, lose situation, if she lays down the law, she would be an evil bitch to the poor human who is scared out of her mind by the stalker. If she lets it lie or lets Adam deal with it, she is weak, which is something that that pack already believes, as does she. Adam does frequently tell Mercy how much he loves her and says all the right things, but actions speak much louder than words and he was still letting Christy get away with entirely too much. Mercy does get the last laugh in the end, as if there was any doubt that would happen.

We get to see a lot more of Coyote in this book and even meet another relative, Gary Laughingdog. I'm very interested to see where Briggs takes this character, because I don't think we've seen the last of him. We also get some time with Stephan. While his part in this story isn't large, a big truth comes out about him. Not sure where that is going, it will be interesting to see. I've always like Stephan, even if he is a vampire and vampires in this world are not good people and really can't be. I think he tries to be as good of a person as his "condition" allows.

I do feel like the pack rallies really well right before they go into battle with the big bad creature. Adam's speech beforehand was moving. It was great to see this unity that the pack showed right before this battle. Warren, who has always been a bit of an outsider to the pack, despite being third because of this homosexuallity, finally got the pack support that he deserves. It was great to finally see that and I think it surprised him more than anyone else, including myself.

While this isn't the best book in the series, and the relationship angst is a little much, I did enjoy the overall storyline. It proves once again, that Mercy is best alpha female out there (much better than Leah, Bran's mate, will ever be). There is a great story from when Mercy was a teenager and Leah pissed her off, which proves that the working smarter will always win out. Sneaky coyotes can outfox strong werewolves. Not sure how much this story builds on the overall arc of the series, but I feel like we see some real growth in character in Mercy and in many of the other characters. I think in the end, the events in this story will help bring Mercy further and more accepted into the pack.

The narration was great as always. The first time I heard Lorelei King it was with the Mercy series and I later found her again the Charley Davidson series (if you haven't tried that one yet, be sure to check it out, it is wonderful). I'm not sure that I've listened to a Mercy book since I started listening to the second series, and I'm amazed at the difference between the two. It is almost like two different people. She changes the tone between Mercy and Charley so much, because they are two completely different characters and that comes out in the narration. Charley's stories are full of a lot more snark and that is shown when you listen. Mercy's is much more serious, with a little snark thrown in for good measure.

[EBookObsessed]

Mercy has fought vampires, grey lords, demon-vampires, river devils, fae queens, government mercenaries, but this time she might be facing the one enemy she has no power to fight – Adam’s ex-wife.

Adam receives a call from his ex-wife, Christy. Her new lover has turned out to be a psychotic stalker and she thinks he killed a man she had dated. She needs Adam’s help and protection and she wants to come ‘home.’

Not all of Adam’s pack has welcomed Mercy with open arms and now the line is drawn between those who support Mercy and those who would rather see Adam take Christy back. Christy is demanding and manipulative. She knows when to use tears to get the protective wolves in her corner, and if Mercy fights back, she will come off as jealous and petty. Mercy might be losing the pack to Christy’s half-truths and gourmet cooking, but she’ll be damned if she’ll let Christy try to take Adam back. Christy walked away and now Adam is Mercy’s, for better or for worse.

When Christy’s stalker can’t get to her, he arrives at Mercy’s shop ready to take away Adam’s love since Adam is responsible for keeping him from his. In a fight for her life, Mercy learns that there is nothing human about Christy’s stalker and there just might be nothing that Adam and the pack can do to protect either Mercy or Christy.

THOUGHTS:
I have spent the last few weeks immersed in the world of Mercy Thompson-Hauptman and I am heartbroken that I have caught up with the series. It will be a year before I will be back again with Mercy, Adam, Stefan and the gang. *sob*

Here Mercy have to deal with Adam’s ex-wife (Jesse’s mom) who comes racing back to Adam for protection, a man she divorced because she couldn’t deal with his being a werewolf. Now that werewolves are out in the open, Christy is happy to shout that she was the ex-wife of pack Alpha, Adam Hauptman, and even without the stalker, she might come back so she could share the spotlight with Adam since he has become such a familiar face. Poor Mercy is avoiding her own home because can’t stand Christy and she can’t even hit her with the walking stick. Speaking of the walking stick (who is making an appearance on this cover), the fae have come looking for the walking stick that Mercy gifted to coyote after it seemed to be getting a little blood thirsty. Opps…now she has a week to try and find coyote to get it back.

In this story Mercy finds out she has a half-brother, another one of coyote’s children, and Gary Laughingdog is no fan of coyote. In fact, he tells Mercy not to do anything interesting which will catch coyote’s attention and she might just be able to live a long and healthy life. Since trouble always finds Mercy, we know that’s not going to happen. Like Mercy, Gary turns into a coyote and sees ghosts, but he also is cursed with ‘seeing’ and foresees what is coming for the pack.

The fae are still on lock down and the reservation is still ‘missing’ after the fae confrontation with the government, so Mercy can’t get any help from Zee or Uncle Mike.

Mercy once again escapes death, but as the only non-immortal in the group, she takes a hell of a beating. Since she has had one in every book, there soon won’t be a bone she hasn’t broken. We do learn that half-brother Gary is much, much older than he looks so Mercy can look forward to a long and happy life with Adam if she can stop getting her ass handed to her by more powerful preternatural creatures.

We do learn for certain that Stefan has been hiding the fact that he still has a bond with Mercy, which we find out from creepy vampire-boy, Wulfe, who wants just a taste of Mercy’s blood in exchange for some information that the pack needs.

We will have to wait another year to find out what else Patricia Briggs has planned for Mercy and the gang.

This is a definite must read series for the paranormal lovers out there.

[kimbacaffeinate]

There are some significant arc developments surrounding Coyote in Night Broken and Briggs’ hints at things to come. A lot of key players are present, and we see continued growth in Mercy along with a hint of the kick-ass coyote-shifter we have come to love. She has begun to think in terms of the pack and you cannot help but admire the girl. The threat incorporates culture myths, and I found the blending of them into the tale fascinating. There is quite a bit of relationship angst, and while I never broke out in a sweat about it we see it both solidify and damage Mercy’s relationship to the pack. Favorites make an appearance including Stephan, Sam and Tad. *happy dance*

Night Broken had several threads woven throughout and at times I felt one or another suffered as the tale progressed. Each was interesting, but the overall result was that I felt torn and pulled throughout. I wanted more details and page time dedicated to each thread. Banter, tender moments and relationship strengthening made me smile, and I was proud of Mercy’s patience. Gary was an interesting character, and I pictured him as Marty Deeks, from NCIS Los Angeles both in his personalityand mannerism. Despite a few bumps, and my desperate need for more Briggs’ left me with a smile and drooling in anticipation for the next book. I am really excited to see how she develops these story arcs, and I predict some intense times ahead.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer