Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, faces a threat unlike any other in this thrilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling 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 … going to need them.
Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill—until she locked her doors against them. They left behind their great castles and troves of magical artifacts. They abandoned their prisoners and their pets. Without the fae to mind them, those creatures who remained behind roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc. Only the deadliest survived.
Now one of those prisoners has escaped. It can look like anyone, any creature it chooses. But if it bites you, it controls you. It lives for chaos and destruction. It 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.
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Smoke Bitten is book twelve in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and narrated by Lorelei King.
This series does need to be read/listened to in order.
As most of you know I’m a HUG Mercy Thompson fan. I just love this series and love that Lorelei King narrates it.
Mercy has a lot to deal with in Some Bitten. I felt it was a bit much. More than she’s ever had to deal with before. We’ve got a runaway Fae from Underhill, a new pack in town causing problems and then there are the issues with Adam.
I was very frustrated at times with Adam and the Pack. By now I feel the Pack should have accepted Mercy. She’s done so much for them and yet there are still issues. As for Adam he treated her un-kind and this blew me away. I was so shocked at Adam and his behavior. I thought Mercy and Adam had a better bound than this.
Another thing I noticed is that Mercy cried a lot in this installment. It felt way out of character for her. Mercy is strong, capable, has it together, and can kick-butt. All this crying made me wonder if she was pregnant; since she was so emotional in this installment. Thou it turns out she isn’t. Maybe one day. Thou I’m still puzzled by her crying in this one.
As always the story moves fast and we get a lot of action and drama. I am happy everything worked out, but Adam really upset me this time around. I was also worried for Ben. I love Ben and something happens to him, which scared me; because we’ve already lost so many of the Pack.
Narration: I can’t tell you enough how much I love listening to Lorelei King narrate the Mercy Thompson series. She does a spectacular job. Her performance is out of this world! I just love all the voices for each character. King gives them each a unique personality that you never feel like you don’t know who is talking. I highly recommend the audiobooks and/or reading the Mercy Thompson series.
Smoke Bitten was more emotional than ever; yet it still had all the high stacks adventure as previous installments. As always I’m looking forward to seeing where things go next.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
Narration: 5 Stars
It’s been a while since I read a Mercy Thompson book and I was a little out of touch when I picked up Smoke Bitten, which is already a twelfth in the series. But that didn’t matter at all. Briggs has a very reader friendly writing style and I was soon brought up to speed about what had happened and who was who, and had no trouble following the story.
This book is slightly smaller in scale than some of the previous ones when it comes to the size and lethalness of the enemy and attack on Mercy and her werewolf pack. Not that a killer who can turn into a smoke is easy to face. To add tension, a portal to Underhill opens to Mercy’s backyard, a rouge pack threatens Mercy’s, and Adam is suffering from a magical problem he’s not willing to discuss with Mercy, creating tension between them.
The story opens with an emotional punch, followed by a deceptively slow unfolding of the main plot. Little things happen here and there, and all of a sudden it’s time for the final confrontation. Everything works out to satisfaction in the end, and Mercy learns new things about herself and Adam. All in all, a good addition to the series.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adore this series and devoured this one. Great characters and an action-packed and original plot. Highly recommended.
The Unbreakable Couple Might Not Be so Unbreakable After All ! Say it isn’t so !!!
Mercy and Adam the dynamic duo are having marital troubles. Something is very wrong adam has closed their bond, and isn’t sharing his life with her like he used to. Things get real bad when he sides with his Ex during a confrontation. OMg, he sides with his ex WTH ? That’s only the beginning, it gets worse. I just wanted to hug Mercy, she had it rough in this book. It felt like Mercy was always up for sacrifice from one bad to another. She is Coyote’s daughter and will not let these take her down easily. I really love Mercy. 😀
So there are dangers on top of dangers all arriving at the same time. Lives are lost, lives are barely held onto, friends/family in danger. The neighborhood has good crazy. Yup it’s hitting the fan. Something new and unknown is in town and it’s not going to be an easy fight.
I loved it ! One of my favorite characters comes back at the end. I’m so happy to see ____ back ! Mercy was a kick arse woman, she’s getting stronger with each book. I can’t wait for the next one
As per usual, Patricia Briggs’ latest Mercy book does not disappoint. The way she weaves a story makes me happy every time. Highly recommend.
This was a very satisfying read. The world has depth (as you would expect 12 books into the series) but what makes this series so compelling is the accessibility of Mercy’s emotions. She may be inhabiting a reality populated by werewolves, vampires, and fae, but she grapples with familiar feelings of love, anguish, jealousy, and betrayal.
I continue to love the stories of Mercy Thompson and her husband Adam. Here, the couple are menaced by a new fairy tale monster that has abilities unlike anything they’ve seen before and a renegade werewolf pack out for their territory. It’s an okay story with some solid elements but I didn’t much care for the trouble in the heroes’ marriage. I’m also a bit tired of Christy constantly making trouble for her ex-husband as well as the pack siding with them. I like how Jesse has grown up and is already preparing for college. That’s a nice reminder of how the characters are aging in real-time. So, while not my favorite Mercy book, I am glad I read it. 4/5
I enjoyed this book. It has adventure, dark deeds, monsters and, oh yeah, marital problems.
We all want more Mercy and Adam, this book delivers! Briggs gets down to the nitty gritty in a slightly darker twist into things. There were times while reading all I could say was WHAAAAT? Not in a bad way. Never under estimate Mercy, she’s the energizer bunny of heroines. I love her. I loved the book! I want MORE! Isn’t that how we should all feel about a book?
Right from the start of this book I had to wonder what the heck was up with Adam. The man was closing off and jumping to conclusions, truly out of character especially where Jesse and Mercy are concerned. Of course Christy is in the middle, even from a distance Adam’s ex causes problems.
Auriele is putting her nose where it doesn’t belong again. Darryl is pissed off and Adam isn’t pleased either. Mercy gets mad and before she says something she can’t take back she goes for a run. Her destination the house that replaced her burnt out trailer, where Gabriel lived until he left for college.
This of course lead to the nature of this book, a ghost, what seems to the police to be a murder/suicide, but totally smells off to Mercy. Her sweet neighbors Anna and Dennis, gone, magic of some kind, a single word ‘Smoke’ the only clue.
Adam does follow her, and they have a bit of a discussion while waiting for the police to finish up. His real apology doesn’t happen until they are home.
Now things start heating up in more ways than one. Not only is there a gate to Underhill in their backyard, Wolfe is stalking her, and an unknown entity is biting folks and causing havoc.
Lots of interaction with Adam’s wolf which is as unusual as it is interesting. Of course we also see many of our favorite wolves. But Ben seems to end up in the thick of things.
Plenty of action, suspense, magic and that unique romance that is Mercy and Adam.
I wish these books came out more often, I love them so very much!
I’ve been a fan of this series for a while, and while I quite enjoyed the last book, there was a certain something missing. Not so this one; this was the greatness that I’ve always expected. Mercy is still probably one of my favorite characters and one of the attributes that draws me in is her ability to not jump to conclusions and get angry about assumptions about the people in her life. She’s patient, tries to find out what’s going on, and works towards that goal unlike some characters who if they’d just ask questions then everything would work out. Not only that, this book has an interesting villain who I couldn’t figure out, great pack dynamics with some great characters, and some kick-butt action which equaled a great book. It’s nice to see Mercy back to her greatness. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
I loved this book! I have to admit that I am a giant fan of this series. These are books that I can read over and over without ever growing tired of them. When someone asks me for book recommendations, this series is at the top of my list. I went into this book with really high expectations and they were all met. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book.
Mercy always seems to have a lot of things going on in her life and things are no different in this book. The book starts off with some pack and ex-wife drama and that is before the fae leaves a doorway in their backyard. Before you know it, lives are at risk from the new enemy on the loose. It is a lot for a Volkswagon mechanic to handle.
Mercy is an amazing character. I love how calm she is in even the most extreme situation. When the situation seems to be almost impossible to manage, she is able to make reasonable decisions that have a big impact on the final outcome. Mercy turns into a small coyote but she has the bravery of an entire large pack. I love that if there is a problem with her mate or someone else in the pack, she will address it and if someone or something is threatening those she feels responsible for, she will do something about it.
This was an exciting story. There was plenty of action scattered throughout the story to keep things interesting. I thought that Mercy, Adam, and the rest of the pack had already faced every monster imaginable but Briggs was able to conjure up something really unique that I did not see coming. I loved the way that the book wove together several different threads that I found equally entertaining.
I would highly recommend this series to others. This is the twelfth book in the Mercy Thompson series which really should be read in order. Trust me, all the books in this series are so good that you don’t want to miss any of them anyway. I cannot wait to read more from this amazing author!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
This story takes you for a ride at a great pace just go with it and you won’t be disappointed. I would recommend reading earlier books involving Mercy to place the characters in this story. Mercy is a great character that you will wish to follow into future adventures.
Centuries ago the Fae dwelt in Underhill now the one of the prisoners has escaped! Or was he let loose? Mercy is mated to Adam leader of a pack of werewolves. When her friends are been Bitten and enveloped in smoke chaos occurs. Will Mercy’s heritage or special powers help her?
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting addition to the series. Before the villian was revealed, I had guessed who it was, though. So it wasn’t a surprise but it was fun reading about a familiar fairy tale character on steroids!
And hey, Adam actually answered his phone, though the whole shutting down the bond and such because of being cursed was so stupid. But everyone has their insecurities, even the main characters, which makes for the best stories.
I really felt for Mercy in this one!
Smoke Bitten is book 12 in the Mercy Thompson series and I feel like I have been waiting forever to read it. Mercy is back and in more of a dilemma than usual. Not only have we got the Underhill turning up outside in her garden, we also have a new monster, rouge werewolves, a psychotic vampire and a tension between her and her hunky werewolf husband, Adam. Let’s break it down….at the end of the last book and their battle with the witches, everything seemed to be up in the air with Mercy and the pack.
In Smoke Bitten, we see that things still haven’t calmed down and even though Adam’s ex-wife Chrissy isn’t in this book, she still manages to cause issues between Mercy, the pack and Adam, with Mercy bang in the middle when she tries to act as a go between, between Jesse and her father. Enter a lot of things being said and Mercy being truly hurt by how Adam treats her. This seems to be a theme throughout this book and we as a reader see true vulnerability coming from her as she worries about her marriage and why Adam has been acting the way he has. (No spoilers….but that story was really cool, heart-breaking and different).
To make matter worse, Underhill has also opened right outside in the packs garden and we know that it isn’t going to go smoothly, especially when we find out that something evil has been released from there. You can’t speak its name as names have power, especially with the fae. The monster is also complex, devious and evil and we have to watch Mercy fighting it in reality and her subconscious too.
There is also a sub-plot going on with rouge werewolves who are trying to cause trouble for the pack, a psychotic vampire (Wulfe) whose endgame we don’t know and a plethora of characters who all have an opinion on literally everything.
This series just keeps getting better and better and even though there is a lot going on in this book, it does all tie together with a few story-lines being left open, hopefully to be answered in the next book? Secondary characters also help to make this book, from Ben, to Jesse and even Wulfe, everyone has a place and a reason for being in this story and I just can’t recommend this series enough. You may want to start with the first book though, just so you know who everyone is and what place they have in the story. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Mercy and Adam and the rest of the ‘Scooby gang’.
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
is it briggs’ merccy thompson? yes. read it! nuff said.
Mercedes (Mercy) Thompson Hauptman is a coyote shifter, a mechanic, and mate to the werewolf pack alpha. As the pack is settling down into their new normal after Mercy claimed the tri-cities as their territory, they are now faced with trouble on a couple fronts. First is the escapee from Underhill who bites with smoke and takes over bodies then there’s the small group of rogue werewolves who are invading the territory. Can Mercy figure out who the Fae creature is and save the ones he’s taken?
I’ve loved this series from the beginning and this book does not disappoint. Patricia Briggs keeps the series fresh. Welcome to a world where you find Fae, shifters, werewolves, vampires, and more supernatural beings. The book’s well-written with well-rounded characters whether you like them or not. Full of action and intrigue, you’ll be caught up in the story from the start and kept hooked until the end. I’m really hoping that there’s more to come in this series which is a wonderful read. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
Fans of Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thomson series won’t be disappointed in the latest installment (#12!) in the series. Mercy, Adam, and their pack, will have to deal with the mess the Fae left behind when they left their world for ours when Underhill emerges again, embodied as a petulant and unpredictable child.
I don’t know if it was me or the story itself but this was a miss for me. I rarely have any problems with Patricia Briggs storytelling, so I’m a bit saddened that Smoke Bitten just didn’t do it for me. I liked the beginning well enough with the tense atmosphere in the pack and mating bond, the Christy-drama and the unknown struggle Adam was dealing with. Briggs isn’t usually much for drama in her books, but I love it, so it drew me into the story immediately … until it didn’t anymore.
What I have always admired about this author’s writing is how cleverly planned and executed it is. No matter how many twists and conflicts it always comes together beautifully and I usually cannot predict the direction the story takes nor the twists and revelations along the way. It makes it in a way unique and complex enough to blow me away every time. Smoke Bitten however, well it was all over the place and all three major conflicts they were facing never really complemented each other or came together nicely. No matter how much I liked the drama it felt messy with having to jump from first Adam’s issue, then the smoke weaver and then the intruders. Then back and forth with this even though neither seemed to have that much to do with the other. Sure, there were of course connections between all three, but it never gave me that “Aha!” moment when the conflicts interloped in some way. Instead of all three conflicts becoming one they pretty much stayed separate and then checked of as solved one by one.
That unpredictability that I like was also a bit of a letdown, but not as bad as what I mentioned above. The story was thankfully plenty unpredictable with Adam, Fiona and the outcome of Underhill and the bargain business with the smoke monster. However, the way the story was told made it easy to guess the smoke weaver’s real identity early on, so when we finally came to that point in the story that revelation was underwhelming. Firstly because of the big rant about fairy tales and how all of them held some truth to them. Then of course the revelation that the smoke “Weaver” (his name in it self is a big context clue) makes bargains. The jump was too easy to make for his name to give a satisfying disclosure.
Because of the whole fairy tale theme this book was following I can see why so many other reviewers complained about the Disney feel to the book. I don’t know if I personally had an issue with that, but I did feel that how the conflicts in the books were solved were too … I don’t know, too convenient perhaps? It felt like everything was just solved by magic, because that’s pretty much how it went. Into the otherness, magic some rocks give it some words and then solved. I exaggerate of course to get my point across, since there were a bit more to it than just magic. I just felt though, that that cleverness I tend to find to the conclusions in Patricia Briggs book weren’t there because all solutions were in mind only with imagination as the weapon.
Hopefully and most likely Smoke Bitten was just a hit and a miss for me and the next books will be dripping in cleverness and mind blowing storytelling. Not all books can be winners.
Audiobook & ebook review: Nice addition to the Mercy Thompson series. Pack and marriage drama followed by shenanigans of outside forces make for an interesting story. Love the characters! The narrator did a fantastic job as always!