Customer Reviews

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5)

5 star:		(148)
4 star:		(48)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Silver Borne was a easy and quick read. I can't say I was disappointed by the writing. Patricia Briggs weaves character that you truly come to care about. I was, however, very let down by the story. Mrs. Briggs takes three storylines and tells them almost simultaneously. Note the word "almost." Each thread is unrelated to the next, except in the end when two of the storylines coincidentally collide. I thought the coincidence was contrived. For me, because the three different threads, the book felt like reading separate stories, that just happened to have the same beloved characters. The waiting for one story to finish, so the next one could pick up where it left off seemed stilted. Why would one antagonist wait while the pack duke it out with a second antagonist? Because the author needed her too.

The greatest disappointment of this book was Samuel's storyline. Mrs. Briggs has taken great care over the past five books making sure her readers grow attached to each and every one of her characters. This is one of her greatest talents. However in Sam's darkest moment we are given a resolution that we care nothing for. There is no emotional investment in "the answer." I wanted to care about the solution as much as I care about the character, Sam. I found myself detached from what could have been a very touching story.

If you love Mercy, you will undoubted enjoy this book, but like me you may find that the story was secondary. If you can, I would recommend waiting for the paperback. If you are a first time reader of the Mercy Thompson series start with the first book, fall in love with her and all her friends first. If you start here I doubt you will be back for more.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

The main dilemma in Silver Borne makes it a Fae-centric offering, but since trouble comes in threes: Mercy's also having issues with the pack bond and some pack members who are unhappy with a coyote in the pack, also things are not right with Samuel and Mercy's going to find out just how serious a problem that is. Mercy is a magnet for trouble as always - that's a given - but the resolutions to problems with the pack, and the kidnapping of a friend are good. Also Mercy's relationship with Adam finally solidifies.

I had a few really nervous moment while reading Silver Borne. I was really worried for a while that we were going to lose Samuel - old werewolves loose the will to live after awhile and Samuel is really old. Fortunately, while Samuel the human has given up, Sam the wolf doesn't want to die and the wolf takes over for awhile and even though having 'the wolf in charge' is normally an immediate death sentence, Mercy manages to buy Sam some time while she desperately tries to find a 'win' in what is rapidly becoming a 'no win' situation.

I loved the whole story, both the character and plot elements were well crafted but one thing that I found extremely interesting in Silver Borne is that with Samuel's dilemma, the pack problems and a later piece related to the pack in the story (Mercy calls it Pack 101 after the fact), we get to learn a lot more about the weres in Briggs' universe.

I love Briggs, and read this way too fast. Now the long wait for the next one begins.