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Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson #2)

by Patricia Briggs

4.31 · Rating Details · 89,862 Ratings · 3,134 Reviews

Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since ...more

Mass Market Paperback, 292 pages

Published January 30th 2007 by Ace

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Best ADULT Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

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Dec 21, 2016 ✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, books-i-own, dnf-graveyard, urban-fantasy, my-friends-corrupted-my-soul, masochistic-little-me, bbb, pnr-would-be-more-exciting, boredom-fest, feminism-just-committed-suicide, i-must-be-mad, tbr-shelf-says-thank-you, cure-for-insomnia, br-2017, go-me, blah-blah-blah-heaven, self-preservation-is-the-key, let-s-bail-snail, i-don-t-give-a-freaking-damn, eyerolling-is-my-cardio, love-triangle-of-doom, unlikable-characters-r-us, machalo-tbr-cleaning-challenge-2017, read-2017

✘ Now You See Me Now You Don't Express Buddy Read (NYSMNYDEBR™) with Nafeeza, Layla and Ange ✘

☠ DNF at 21% *pats her little self on the exoskeleton for making it that far*

Okay, I was going to do the Cut the Crap Thing (CtCT™), but I just noticed the cover for this book and am consequently slightly pissed off, so this might take longer than originally planned. You're welcome.

That bloody shrimping cover! What the bloody shrimping fish?! Why the holy barnacle does Mercy have to display her boobs li ...more

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Nov 20, 2008 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: fans of urban fantasy, werewolf fiction, great heroines

Shelves: favorites, hero-to-die-for, vampire, shapeshifter, faerie, urban-fantasy, part-of-a-series, heroine-i-adore, owned-copy, werewolf, demon, favorite-or-autobuy-author

There is something so wonderful about Patricia Briggs's writing for this reader. She is able to create a world in which I am completely drawn in, but she writes with such simple elegance. Without a doubt, this is my favorite urban fantasy series so far.

Mercy Thompson is the kind of heroine that earns my devotion. She is so brave, but has the same fears and uncertainties that us readers have. She wants a simple life, even though she's a walker, a coyote shapeshifter, who is up to her neck in were There is something so wonderful about Patricia Briggs's writing for this reader. She is able to create a world in which I am completely drawn in, but she writes with such simple elegance. Without a doubt, this is my favorite urban fantasy series so far.

Mercy Thompson is the kind of heroine that earns my devotion. She is so brave, but has the same fears and uncertainties that us readers have. She wants a simple life, even though she's a walker, a coyote shapeshifter, who is up to her neck in werewolf politics, not to mention vampire and fae issues. She has to go to work the next day even after staying up all night, dealing with demon-possessed vampires and the like, knowing that some of her close friends might be dead. I think Ms. Briggs has really tapped into the wellspring of what pulls me in as a reader in this genre. She is able to give me a fantastic world that is imbued with the real life things, and the combination is very satisfying.

Mercy could not be more admirable. Not a perfect person, but who is? Nevertheless, she has qualities that earn my respect. She is strong, and loving, empathetic, and willing to do the dirty jobs. Her courage in a truly harrowing situation spoke to me. She could have just moved on, and took things as they ended, but her conscience told her she had to finish things. Which she did, despite her fear, her guilt about doing something that went against her code, and her disgust at what she had to to. And Mercy is surrounded by men (wolves/vamps) who are used to exerting their dominance, but she navigates her way through this testosterone-laden world without losing her sense of self, or control over her own life.

The men in this series. Oh, the men. Adam is the keeper of my heart. I just love that man. I believe he is the right man for Mercy, hands down. The chemistry between Mercy and Adam is divine. There is a naturalness to their relationship, full of tension, but so organic. I loved all their scenes together, reading the subtext of their complex relationship. How Adam has to suppress his compelling power as the alpha, but his feelings for Mercy make it difficult. How Mercy wants to submit, but doesn't want to, at the same time, out of fear of losing herself and disappearing into the pack hierarchy. So intense! And then there's Samuel. He was Mercy's first boyfriend, the man she almost mated to. He still wants her, even more than ever. But he knows he messed up the first time, and his fight to give Mercy the choice of who she wants, takes its toll on him. And then there's his pain at what he has lost, and fears he will never have again.

The vampires in this series are scary! They are predators, pure and simple. They have powers that make them formidable enemies and uneasy allies. Mercy's 'so-called' friend Stefan has an ambiguosity to him that is inherent because of his being a powerful vampire, but at the same time, having a humaneness that the other vampires lack. He's one of the good ones, but he's still a predator at the end of the day. Mercy knows she's in over her head when she has to deal with the vampires, and particularly a demon-possessed sorcerer vampire. But Mercy has the power to resist the vampires to a degree that the other preternaturals lack, even though her small size and lack of strength as a coyote shifter leaves her at a disadvantage. There are parts in this book where I felt the tension like a knife edge. The evil that these creatures were capable of was always clear. Yet some hid it behind an urbane facade.

But more than anything, I love the wolves. The pack dynamics are utterly fascinating. The basic and primal nature of the wolves always played a factor in how Mercy dealt with Samuel, Adam, Bran (the leader of all the werewolves in North America), Warren (Adam's third, a good friend of Mercy), and some of the other wolves in this book. I felt envy that this was not real. But at the same time, I'm not sure I could handle being in love with a werewolf, and knowing that his control is what keeps him from eating or killing you, if that inner wolf nature takes full control. Not to mention dealing with the dicey pack politics that Mercy gets sucked into, despite her desire to do her own thing.

I'm gushing. I know I am. I can't help it. I love this book, and this series. I think I will have restrain myself from speeding my way through it too fast. I don't think I could handle having to wait a long time for the next books in the series, then!

If you're looking for a really good urban fantasy series with a heroine that you will fall in love with, I recommend this series. If you are into werewolf fiction, you are really missing out if you don't read this one. These werewolves are the best in fiction (in my opinion). Thumbs way up! ...more

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Aug 07, 2013 ♥Rachel♥ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, audio-book, urban-fantasy

Re-read March 21st 2017. Even better the 2nd time around!

4.5 Stars

Blood Bound, the second installment in the Mercy Thompson series has me officially addicted!

This begins as Mercy’s friend, Stephan the vampire, calls in a favor owed. Little does she know that repayment puts her and the pack in grave danger, not something Stephan intended, either. What they stumble upon is a powerful threat that Mercy can’t let stand and before you know it, she’s waist high in dangerous vampire politics. Trying t
Re-read March 21st 2017. Even better the 2nd time around!

4.5 Stars

Blood Bound, the second installment in the Mercy Thompson series has me officially addicted!

This begins as Mercy’s friend, Stephan the vampire, calls in a favor owed. Little does she know that repayment puts her and the pack in grave danger, not something Stephan intended, either. What they stumble upon is a powerful threat that Mercy can’t let stand and before you know it, she’s waist high in dangerous vampire politics. Trying to distinguish the truth from subterfuge is difficult and vital if Mercy plans on staying alive.

Like most UF’s I’ve picked up, Mercy Thompson has a new mystery/problem to overcome with each book and also a continuing story arc that progresses, bit by bit in each installment. The new mystery is the vampire/sorcerer-crazy with massive amounts of power and wicked intent. There were parts of this story that genuinely made heart race from fear! Vampires are scary (and not sparkly), especially in the end!

I love Mercedes Thompson! She’s intelligent, a master of reading complicated situations and handling them with care. She reads between the lines and looks beyond the obvious, making her a force to be reckoned with.

The continuing arc is the romance, and it’s the part I love best! There is sort of a love triangle with Adam and Samuel in the mix, but not in an irritating way. Samuel has decided to stay in Washington, more specifically, with Mercy, when she’s made it clear she’s not interested. Samuel makes it clear he is. He was her first love but finding out exactly why he was interested her sent her running years ago. (view spoiler)Now that Mercy looks back, though, she doesn’t regret the situation, because she realizes now that Samuel, as dominant as he is, would’ve wrapped her up in a protective cocoon and stifled her independent spirit.

Adam, the Alpha of the pack is domineering but still respects and appreciates Mercy for who she is rather than what she can do. He’s attracted to Mercy the woman, and isn’t looking for a pack brood mare. Mercy knew that Adam claimed her as his mate but thinks this was in name only, just for protection. A lone “walker” coyote like Mercy without protection would be a target for the wolves and probably wouldn’t last long. A few things happen that make it apparent that Adam’s “claim” has more power and sincerity behind it. This puts Mercy in a bind with Samuel back. Poor Mercy, *not* with two handsome, possessive, alpha males after her!

This was an exciting, and sometimes frightening read. Parts at the end gave me chills and goose bumps! I tried to force myself to put it aside just for my commutes. Something I wasn’t at all successful at! I’ve just finished book three: Iron Kissed, and I have to say the series just gets better!

I loved Lorelei King as the narrator. She has a warm, rich voice with a slightly sarcastic and humorous tone that I find perfect for Mercy. Her male voices are also quite good, as well, and the story flowed seamlessly because of it. I highly recommend the audio version!

You can find this review and more at The Readers Den. ...more

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Aug 03, 2010 Carol. rated it it was ok

Shelves: my-library, urban-fantasy, vampires, female-lead, yuck

The second book in the Mercy installment centers upon the vampires. Stefen, good friend and Scooby-lovin, t-shirt wearing vamp, calls in a favor. Favors among the supernatural are always tricky. When Mercy goes with him to a hotel to meet a suspicious new vampire, they both get more than they bargained for. Yucky stuff follows, but Stefen has a different memory of the horror in the hotel. Mercy must share her memory with the vampire seethe in a bloody and creepy way so that the queen Marsilia do
The second book in the Mercy installment centers upon the vampires. Stefen, good friend and Scooby-lovin, t-shirt wearing vamp, calls in a favor. Favors among the supernatural are always tricky. When Mercy goes with him to a hotel to meet a suspicious new vampire, they both get more than they bargained for. Yucky stuff follows, but Stefen has a different memory of the horror in the hotel. Mercy must share her memory with the vampire seethe in a bloody and creepy way so that the queen Marsilia does not kill Stefen for bringing unwelcome attention to the vampires. From there, Mercy is kicked out of the action while the menfolk look for the crazy vampire, until the queen vampire contacts Mercy and lends her Andre after the men go missing.

I'm really not a horror reader. Ever since Pet Sematary when I was thirteen, I've stayed far away from the genre, only coming close when urban fantasy flirted with things that go bump in the night. Oh, and Sherri Tepper, who does the science fiction version of the creepy dark side of humanity. At any rate, this opens with Mercy trapped as a psychotic vampire kills someone in front of her and hardly lets up. Well, I say 'hardly lets up' because I felt like there was a lot of description about eating bloody people as well as general descriptions of blood, torture and killing. But perhaps Briggs needed the horror to keep readers awake, because in between events there is an unbelievable amount of info-dumping. In a side plot, a reporter hounds Mercy, and she ends up giving him a lecture and a half about werewolves, while in the main storyline, Mercy and the reader learn almost everything there is to know about vampire politics, vampire skills, sorcerers and demons.

Characterization continues to be one of Briggs' stronger skills with Mercy being the most interesting voice. Plotting has interesting stops along the way, although the overall arc is almost identical to the first book. The editors must not have expected readers to have read book one, as much of chapters one through three review Mercy's identity, her history with Samuel and her recent history with Adam. The crazy vampire bites Mercy, which is an unpleasant bit of rape-foreshadowing. Once again, the book virtually fails the Bechdel test, with the exception of a brief conversation with Honey the werewolf and a grade-school girl who gives her a clue. Even Mercy's talks with an elderly female ghost is about men. It also introduces the idea that Stefen might also have an unusual affection for Mercy, competing with both Adam and Samuel for her attention. Apparently, I was wrong--to know Mercy is to love her. It is also becoming clear that while Mercy may be shuffled to the side by the wolves, she will usually be put into a position where she is 'forced' to circumvent them or to go off on her own. In this case, the crazy vampire was so strong, he "brought out the wolf" in everyone. This will become a theme through the series.

This one does not hold up as well on re-read, for both personal and critical reasons. It was the book that had me considering giving up on the series, and if I wasn't such a completist, I probably wouldn't even have it on my shelves. Two stars and a half stars, rounding down for both the info-dumping and lukewarm gurrl-power message.

Re-read May 2016 ...more

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Mar 19, 2016 Maria V. Snyder rated it it was amazing

I couldn't resist - I wanted to wait and leave more time between books in this series, but after reading the first book, I'm hooked and it's going to be difficult not to binge read these all!

My only complaint (view spoiler)

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Sep 10, 2009 Mel rated it really liked it

I’m beginning to understand why this series has such a large fan base!

The first book in this series certainly was promising but I found that a combination of Mercy’s dry tone narrative and a lack of action made it hard for me to get into the story.
This time around I had a little trouble in the beginning, but soon after I got drawn into an engaging and exciting story in where the ever helpful Mercy gets sucked into vampire business (no pun intended). In the mean while, we learn more about Briggs ...more

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Jun 15, 2015 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it really liked it

Shelves: vampires-and-werewolves-oh-my, fantasy, urban-fantasy, not-another-love-triangle

Full review, first posted on www.fantasyliterature.com:

Owing a favor to a vampire is pretty much always going to be asking for trouble. Stefan, a vampire who’s been a help and even a friend to Mercy Thompson, calls her at three a.m. to go witness his confrontation with a new vampire in town. But Stefan gives Mercy his word of honor that she won’t be hurt, and asks her to shapeshift into her coyote form to accompany him. The new vampire, Cory Littleton, has a rather mundane name, but his nature i Full review, first posted on www.fantasyliterature.com:

Owing a favor to a vampire is pretty much always going to be asking for trouble. Stefan, a vampire who’s been a help and even a friend to Mercy Thompson, calls her at three a.m. to go witness his confrontation with a new vampire in town. But Stefan gives Mercy his word of honor that she won’t be hurt, and asks her to shapeshift into her coyote form to accompany him. The new vampire, Cory Littleton, has a rather mundane name, but his nature is anything commonplace: there is a demon inside of Littleton, and it’s not entirely clear whether the vampire is controlling the demon or is possessed by him. In any case, their meeting turns out to be fraught with danger and death, since Littleton possesses demonic-enhanced sorcerous powers that make him extremely dangerous to everyone in town, including vampires and werewolves as well as humans. As Mercy, Stefan and other vampires and werewolves combine to try to track down and kill or neutralize Littleton, it becomes apparent that there are some characters with a hidden agenda whose goals may not align with Mercy’s and humanity’s best interests.

Blood Bound, the second book in the Mercy Thompson series, is a strong urban fantasy and mystery that builds on the world Patricia Briggs created in Moon Called. It’s bursting at the seams with vampires and werewolves, with a few fae characters for additional flavor, as well as Mercy herself, who is a skinwalker and can turn into a coyote at will. Somehow Mercy, a hard-working, down-to-earth automobile mechanic, once again ends up in the middle of serious trouble, as the vampires and werewolves try to sort out the mystery involving Littleton, who’s leaving a trail of bodies behind him with a complete disregard for vampire rules.

The one failure for me in Blood Bound is its subplot involving the overused love triangle trope, as Mercy continues to waffle between two werewolves who are each determined to make her their mate. Worse, there are hints that this might be turning into what might be best described as a three-pronged love trident, since now there are actually three different paranormal males interested in Mercy.

Vampire society and culture take center stage in Blood Bound, as Mercy visits not only the main vampire compound but some of their personal dwellings, at great risk to herself. Briggs has created a detailed, layered world, with some intriguing twists on vampire characteristics and the standard mythology. The capabilities and shortcomings of Mercy and other supernatural beings, initially simply interesting facts, resurface later in the story and play a role in the development of the plot in a highly satisfying way. The plot and the underlying mystery in Blood Bound are a clear step above that in the first volume, Moon Called.

Content advisory: Lots of death and violence, but the gore factor isn't overwhelming. ...more

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Aug 02, 2015 Lindsey Rey rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, 2015

[4.5 Stars]
I'm honestly completely loving this series!

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Jan 16, 2017 Layla ✷ Praise the sun ✷ rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Buddy read with some friends at Buddies Books and Baubles

So I still haven't fully warmed up to this series. Book 2 was definitely better than book 1 and there were more actual emotional reactions.
But while I like Mercy, I cannot get myself to care for most of the other characters.
Take Adam, for instance. (view spoiler) ...more

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Feb 10, 2009 Shannon (formerly The Holy Terror) rated it really liked it

Shelves: vampires, urban-fantasy, werewolves, demons, shifters, owned, color-red, 2010

A wonderful series that could use a smidge more romance although I'm enjoying the slow build-up between Mercy and her men. The only thing is though, has this love-triangle turned into a love-square?

Stefan, Mercy's Mystery Machine bus-driving vampire friend, asks her for a favor. She owed him after the events of the last book so she reluctantly agrees. Mercy goes with Stefan to a hotel to meet with a vampire that entered the area without checking in with the queen first. Stefan asks Mercy to acc A wonderful series that could use a smidge more romance although I'm enjoying the slow build-up between Mercy and her men. The only thing is though, has this love-triangle turned into a love-square?

Stefan, Mercy's Mystery Machine bus-driving vampire friend, asks her for a favor. She owed him after the events of the last book so she reluctantly agrees. Mercy goes with Stefan to a hotel to meet with a vampire that entered the area without checking in with the queen first. Stefan asks Mercy to accompany him as a coyote in a harness and to act as his pet, she's merely supposed to be part of his costume so he can intimidate the other vampire. Once they get to the hotel though they realize that things aren't as they seem. The hotel is all but empty and Mercy smells something amiss. The creature they meet there isn't just any vampire and Mercy, Stefan, and the rest of her close friends all get thrown into a conflict with a being more evil than they could have imagined.

This series's best quality is the characters. They're very well-developed and they feel real; I want to know and I also care about what's going to happen to them. Mercy is likable and down-to-earth; she's the type of girl you'd want to be friends with and have at your back. I'm not sure how I feel about Samuel, but at least he's there to make sure Mercy is safe, even though he really just wants her to have his kids. Adam, though, is delicious. I love how he takes care of his women (Mercy and Jesse) and also manages his pack as a true Alpha. I think he's finally figured out how to deal with Mercy and get through to her without her feeling controlled by him. I hope the next book proves this and their relationship moves forward.

I normally like vampire stories better but I have to say this is my favorite werewolf series. I like Briggs's wolves and I think she does one of the best jobs at describing their behavior and making them seem real.

On top of the great characterization of the main characters, the side characters do their job of fleshing out the story as well. I normally have a hard time when there's a huge cast but Briggs does a great job of describing them and giving them all a unique personality. And even if she's reintroducing a character we didn't spend a lot of time with she gives a bit of information that jogs the reader's memory. If only all authors would do this! There's been so many series I've gotten frustrated with because I'd forgotten who a character was and I'd sit their with it in the back of my mind trying to figure out who they were and this would kind of ruin the story for me.

The villain in this book was actually scary too! I'm not embarrassed to say that I was home alone reading this at night and when I got to a certain part I actually got kind of jumpy. My house is old and makes all kinds of noises and I know this but I kept thinking back to a certain scene in this book and freaking myself out.

A great second book and a great story in general. I can't wait to read more about Mercy and her friends! ...more

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May 13, 2016 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, audio-book, reviewed, 2016

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I have so much love for this series! This was my second time reading this book and I can honestly say that I liked it just as much as I did the first and maybe even a bit more. One thing that I enjoy about re-reading books in series that I love is seeing how many things have changed for the characters. I love how some of the groundwork for future events takes root in earlier books.

The characters in this series are wonderful. Mercy is awesome. This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life

I have so much love for this series! This was my second time reading this book and I can honestly say that I liked it just as much as I did the first and maybe even a bit more. One thing that I enjoy about re-reading books in series that I love is seeing how many things have changed for the characters. I love how some of the groundwork for future events takes root in earlier books.

The characters in this series are wonderful. Mercy is awesome. She has a wonderful sense of humor and she is tough. She knows that she is not as physically strong as many of the people she surrounds herself with but she more than makes up for it in mental toughness. She isn't afraid to take risks especially if it is the right thing to do. This book actually has a pretty big cast of characters and I really love them all. Adam and Sam are both great characters. The members of Adam's pack are all so well defined that they really stand out as individuals. I think it takes real skill to bring such a big group of characters to life.

The world building in this series is phenomenal. Everything just fits perfectly. It seems like each book adds another layer to the whole picture with complete consistency. I love all of the pack politics and learning about how all of these different groups have learned to live with each other. There were moments in this book that were quite creepy and I loved every moment of it.

I really enjoyed Lorelei King's narration. Her voice fits Mercy's character quiet well. It was really easy to follow and I thought she did a great job differentiating between all of the different characters. I also thought that she did a great job in displaying all of the different emotions of the story. I can't wait to continue this series in audio.

I would highly recommend this series to others. I think that anyone who enjoys urban fiction or paranormal stories should check out this series. I am a huge Patricia Briggs fan and can't wait to see what she can come up with next.

Initial Thoughts
This was a re-read for me. I love this series and I think that I might have liked this book even more the second time around. ...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Mike (the Paladin) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, skimmed

Okay friends...I'm sorry, but this is it. I don't plan to follow this series any farther. This is not because Patricia Briggs is a bad writer. It's not because the idea behind the book is bad or the plot is bad.

Then why? Many of you probably already know if you've read any of my reviews. The plot, the story idea, the characters are there, but they are constantly smothered by Mercy going on and on about her hormones when she's around either of 2 alpha werewolves. It's about this continually overw ...more

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Aug 12, 2015 Wanda rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, vampires, urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance, werewolves, read-in-2016, public-library

More Stefan and more vampires. Yay! And these are dangerous vampires, not cutesy ones. Mercy faces them all bravely and it turns out that her feminine ways of doing things are more effective than all the macho werewolf snarling in the world. My impressions of Stefan (a character I like very much) are morphing—he is changing from a supernatural buddy into someone tall, dark, and dangerous!

The more I learn about Briggs’ paranormal world, the more I like it. She takes the stereotypical vampires, we ...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Kelly H. (Maybedog) rated it it was ok

Shelves: what-modern-fantasy, what-vampires, what-danger-danger-wilma-robinson, what-shifters, what-not-mm

Ugh. I am so unhappy with Ms. Briggs. She created an intelligent, strong, interesting protagonist; a mostly believable world; and engaging supporting characters. Her writing is smooth and keeps you turning the page, wanting to see where the plot is headed. But the sexist drivel just makes me want to puke. On the surface it doesn't seem to be sexist: Mercy abhors the way women are treated in the werewolf pack; she is strong and resourceful and of course has to save the day. But when I delved deep Ugh. I am so unhappy with Ms. Briggs. She created an intelligent, strong, interesting protagonist; a mostly believable world; and engaging supporting characters. Her writing is smooth and keeps you turning the page, wanting to see where the plot is headed. But the sexist drivel just makes me want to puke. On the surface it doesn't seem to be sexist: Mercy abhors the way women are treated in the werewolf pack; she is strong and resourceful and of course has to save the day. But when I delved deeper, I realized that this is the annoying Heinlein-esque sexism: you know the guy is a jerk and you know better but let's just humor him. The reality is that in humoring, he gets all the power and control. Just because you're going along voluntarily doesn't make it okay.

The women in this society are virtually slaves, she freely admits it. The men have magic that can control women and force them to submit, particularly sexually. Mercy knows this and tries to distance herself somewhat but she keeps getting sucked in. She even lives with one of them who wants her. She is constantly in the middle of a tug-of-war with several studs wanting her at once and she doesn't do anything about it. Instead, she continually ends up trying to calm them down by being meek and submissive around them.

Don't get me wrong: I believe the society she's created is realistic. It makes perfect sense that people who struggle with a primal beast would succumb to the feral hierarchy directed by testosterone. What I have a problem with is that the character not only tolerates it, she keeps getting herself sucked in. It's the stereotypical bodice-busting romance story of a woman who wants a dangerous man who doesn't treat her well but she knows she can save him. It's disgusting. Why can't these strong women like strong guys who are comfortable in their masculinity and their status in society who treat them well and who respect the woman's own strength and power?

I almost stopped reading when I got to a line that went something like, "You know you submitted because you wanted to." The line was referring to a situation where this strong woman was mentally and emotionally controlled through magic and almost forced to have sex against her will (they were interupted which broke the spell) but it was okay because he didn't really have control of his magic because he wanted her so much and secretly she really wanted it? Are you kidding me?!

The worst part is this: (This spoiler is about character relationships and not about plot or conflict resolution.)
(view spoiler)

I'd give it a one for this sexism alone but I did finish it because it was compelling. And I love that vampire. ...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Alex is The Romance Fox rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: authors-a-h, vampire-shapeshifters, paranormal, romance, series, urban-fantasy, lendable

Blood Bound, the 2nd book in Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson Series is just as good as the 1st book, Moon Called.

Mercy Thompson is a heroine that I absolutely love.

She has the qualities I admire – strengths and flaws and not afraid to face the obstacles in her life.

She is evolving and discovering her power…..

The plot revolves around Mercy being asked by Stefan, her vampire friend, to help him hunt down a vampire/sorcerer in league with a demon and a danger to the people she cares and l ...more

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Feb 04, 2011 Annie (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Urban Fantasy fans, Fans of Alpha werewolves and vampires

Shelves: genre-urban-fantasy, vampires, werewolves, fae, wraith-or-ghosts, books-i-go-rabid-over, books-i-own, my-hottie-harem, shifters, drinks-on-me, covers-to-covet, king-of-the-harem, lgbt, favorites, read-in-2011

Minor Spoilers!

Blood Bound, the second book in the Mercy Thompson series was definitely better than the first! I thought the story was much more engaging in this one. There was a purpose straight from the beginning and of course, I can’t complain since Stefan has a considerable amount of page time!

Mercy, my new favourite heroine, finds herself in a bit of a situation involving the seethe and a certain demon-riding vampire named Cory Littleton. The guy ended up with a wuss name, but this creep ...more

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Dec 21, 2015 Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kickass-ladies, fantasy-urban, written-review, audiobook-would-recommend, lgbt-characters, 2016

Great story! Not a fan of the love triangle tension (and it irks me doubly because I actually like both guys at this point, gods damn it) but otherwise I was fascinated. At one point there was the image of a vampire flanked on either side by werewolves and that was just SO badass. Looooooove this genre and really looking forward to the next Mercy book! In the meantime, I gotta hunt down the first two A&O books. (bc CHARLES, okay << don't mind me drooling over here)

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Dec 07, 2014 Liz* Fashionably Late rated it liked it

My notes reading this book:
5% - Boring
20% - I already know that
50% - Still boring
65% - Hmm... okay.
70% - Cool!
90% - This chick is awesome!!
100% - Why all I can remember is being bored?

I can definitely see there's something great going on with this series. I love UF, great female characters, action-packed scenes... so why is this not working for me?

I'd love to say this series just didn't work for me and move on. And I was about to after 70% of this book (this book could have been shorter, btw) w ...more

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Apr 04, 2010 AH rated it really liked it

Shelves: were, vampires, zzread-oct-2010, shifters

This second book of Patricia Brigg’s Mercedes Thompson series did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book. There was action, suspense, and the beginnings of a “love square” (as opposed to a love triangle).

There are so many aspects of this novel that I liked. I enjoyed the werewolf and vampire politics. I loved that Mercy was able to manoeuvre herself through the myriad of behaviors so that she would not offend or incite either werewolf or vampire.

A few more vampires are i ...more

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Sep 03, 2014 Vishous rated it it was ok

Shelves: romance, vampy, fantasy-or-urban-or-pnr-or-sf, series, werewolfs, mystery, review, shifters, romantic-suspense, buddy-read-with-glam, buddy-read-with-glass, read-2015

I have a problem.
I like all the characters.
I like how the paranormal world is building slowly.
I even like the "solving case" theme, and that means a lot because I lose interest in books like that very quickly if I don't have romance in it.
I didn't expect a magic burst of romance, but I also didn't expect the second book to show less about romance than the first.
I also did not expect (view spoiler) ...more

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Sep 22, 2008 MelissaB rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-paranormal-romance, paranormal-romance, shapeshifters, werewolves, mercy-thompson-series, urban-fantasy, paper-books-i-own, 2014-reads, audio-book-i-own

I enjoyed the second book in the series as well. There was one really creepy scene where a scary vampire was trying to get into Mercy's trailer at night while she was alone. There wasn't very much progression with Mercy's feelings toward Adam or Samuel but she does figure out some things. The action scenes were good and the story was fun to read.

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Jun 15, 2017 samantha (books-are-my-life20) rated it it was amazing

I am now absolutely a Mercy Thompson 110% fan (and a Patricia Briggs fan)!!!

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Mar 26, 2010 Leah marked it as read_liked_later-realized-harmful

Shelves: 5-stars, love-triangle, thats-some-funny-shit, m-f, 0-stars-or-cant-rate

Okay, so now I am really glad I finally started this series. Blood Bound was just as good as, if not better than, Moon Called. There still wasn't a lot of real action in this book, but there was definitely more of it than in MC. Also, there was a little bit more development in the romance department with BB: Sexy Time with Adam (No, not sex unfortunately. Don't I wish!), Macking with Samuel, and Whispering Sweet Nothings with Stefan. Speaking of, does that mean there's a semi-love square now? Be Okay, so now I am really glad I finally started this series. Blood Bound was just as good as, if not better than, Moon Called. There still wasn't a lot of real action in this book, but there was definitely more of it than in MC. Also, there was a little bit more development in the romance department with BB: Sexy Time with Adam (No, not sex unfortunately. Don't I wish!), Macking with Samuel, and Whispering Sweet Nothings with Stefan. Speaking of, does that mean there's a semi-love square now? Because that's just ridiculous.

I continued to love all the characters in this continuance of the series. Mercy remains badass. Adam is still sexy as hell. Samuel is still awesome (Even if I did want to punch him for his dick move towards the end-ish). Stefan, well, he drives the Scooby Doo van. Enough said? Jesse is adorable, and I think it's so cute that she and My Young Lover Gabriel are going out. Warren rocks, and I even came to like Ben! I don't think I need go on. The characters in this series rock.

One thing I noticed while I was reading Blood Bound--and that I love--is that Mercy always seems to be saving Adam. It's almost as if she is the Knight in Shining Armor and he is the Damsel in Distress. Did anyone else notice this? Yes? No? I think it's hilarious, and quite a change from other typical books where the males always have to rescue the females.

So. Another winner from Mercy Thompson and Patricia Briggs. Can't wait to read the next one.

Favorite Quote:
"Even with my willpower, his lure was too great," I said melodramatically, complete with wrist to forehead. If I made a joke of it, he'd never realize how truthful I was being.

A slow smile spread across her face and she quit looking like she was ready to bolt back into the house. "Dad's kind of a stud, all right."

"Jesse," warned Adam, his voice muffled only a little by the mat. She giggled.

"I have to agree," I said in overly serious tones. "Maybe as high as a seven or eight, even."

"Mercedes," Adam thundered, surging to his feet.
(Mercy, Jesse, and Adam; page 92) ...more

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May 02, 2011 Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-f

Review from first read 06/26/11 to 06/28/11

Make up your mind Mercy, pick one of the guys (Adam please)

Mercy was not as funny this time around, but for a girl she was still al’ight

Mercy was still really fast

Mercy was still pretty smart, for a girl ;)

Mercy still wasn't completely helpless; she uh might put a stake in your heart, cut your head off and watch your body burn (just sayin') she crazy like that

Mercy sees dead people and they draw her pictures

Mercy still never even mentions her man eat ...more

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Feb 18, 2017 Maggie ☘ (Reader in Wonderland) rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-uf-pnr, fae-fairies-elves, kick-ass-heroines, werewolves-shapeshifters, 2017-great-reads

*3,9/5 stars*

“Never trust a mechanic who drives new cars. They're either charging too much money for their work, or they can't keep an old car running - maybe both.”

Very addicting series! Blood Bound was far more enjoyable and intriguing (creepy) than the first book, I connected more with all of the characters (though not as much as I would like to), but am still waiting for this series to really pull me in like Kate Daniels did for example. Highly enjoyable Urban Fantasy nonetheless.

(view spo ...more

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Dec 20, 2014 Choko rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampires, i-see-dead-people, kick-ass-ladies

*** 4.25 ***

I am truly enjoying this Mercy Thompson series! It is old school Urban Fantasy, all about werewolfs and vampires, and to me, this is its draw. Well, Mercy is a skin walker coyote, but it's all in the ballpark.

This time around Mercy's gang has to deal with a demon ridden vampire and life in the tri-city aeria is dangerous for all living things. All preternatural creatures are feeling the evil hanging over them, but no one wants to get involved. Mercy is way out of her league, but ...more

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Mar 03, 2014 Anthi rated it liked it

Shelves: uf, vampires, werewolfes, series

I don't know why but I'm still not into this series for some reason, I feel like I don't care enough some times not for Mercy because I like her but mostly for the love triangle, I don't particularly care about Adam or Samuel to be honest, I find myself more intrigued with Stefan and I'm invested in Warren's relationship with Kyle. Also all these power games with the male wolves are really getting on my nerves (view spoiler) ...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Keertana rated it really liked it

Shelves: kick-ass-heroines

Rating: 3.5 Stars

As with most UF Series, Blood Bound marks the moment where this series really begins to take off and, to be honest, I am more than a little excited to see how much better each installment gets. Patricia Briggs has solidified herself as another favorite urban fantasy writer of mine with this installment and although she may have made her way into that list rather quickly, I don't regret my quick decision.

While Moon Called was solely focused on the werewolves in Mercy's world, Bl ...more

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Jan 03, 2015 Bj rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks, library-loan, 4-and-a-half-stars, 2015, paranormal-uf-dystopian, love-triangle, conquer-my-tbr-in-2015

4.5 "Kissed by Three" Stars for the story and 5 stars for the narration!

The Mercy Thompson Series is UF at its addictive best! Having finished book 1 and instantly downloading this book, Blood Bound (book 2), I've gone on to do it again and am now eagerly devouring book 3 (Iron Kissed)! The fantastic world building of Moon Called continues in Blood Bound as we get an intense look at the vampires in Mercy Thompson's world. It is no surprise then that the owner of the VW bus that Mercy frequently ...more

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Sep 18, 2010 Nic rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, 2010, adult, urban-fantasy

"Damn it" I said "I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to kill Littleton" He smiled at me, his teeth very white in the darkness of his face "Eat him" he said."

To me this is Urban Fantasy at it’s best. Clever writing, action packed plot, great characters, witty dialogue and subtle romance, Blood Bound has it all. This series is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.

In this second instalment Mercy’s vampire friend Stefan asked her for a favour. She is to be a witness in her coyote form while ...more

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About Patricia Briggs

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a na ...more

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“Never trust a mechanic who drives new cars. They're either charging too much money for their work, or they can't keep an old car running - maybe both.” — 430 likes

“His heart's occupied elsewhere," said Ben from behind me. "And even if it weren't he's not interested in your kind. But, I'm available and ready."
"You don't have a heart," I told him. "Just a gaping hole where it should have been."
"All the more reason for you to give me yours."
I pounded my forehead against Warren 's back. "Tell me Ben's not flirting with me."
"Hey," said Ben sounding hurt. "I was talking cannibalism, not romance.” — 328 likes

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