fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsurban fantasy book review Patricia Briggs Mercedes Thompson 6. River MarkedRiver Marked by Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson has been through a lot. Patricia Briggs has not spared her heroine anything and, in River Marked, if feels like Mercy is finally going to get a break… This feeling, however, is not to last…

The first quarter of River Marked focuses on Mercy’s plans to marry alpha werewolf Adam Hauptmann. She’s also still dealing with some of the lingering problems from previous books, like the recovery of her vampire friend Stefan and her continued adjustment to being a coyote in a wolf pack.

After the wedding, Mercy and Adam head out on a honeymoon that is fated for disaster. With the usual lead-up, Mercy must eventually confront and defeat a truly Lovecraftian monster. I have to give Briggs credit for dreaming up such a nasty creature!

MERCY THOMPSON Series

MERCY THOMPSON Series

The best part of River Marked is the interaction between Mercy and Coyote, a legendary Native American trickster and hero. Mercy’s long-term issues regarding not knowing very much about her father and having been raised by a werewolf pack have been a recurring theme in this series. As she gets to know Coyote and finds out how her past has been touched by him, a lot of murky things start to clear up while Patricia Briggs gracefully ties up some loose ends in Mercy’s history.

River Marked is a great installment in the Mercy Thompson series. Though Briggs spends a good deal of time developing the relationship between Mercy and her new husband, she doesn’t neglect the importance of an interesting, dramatic story. As always, Mercy leads with her heart and pays the price… but that’s why we love her.

~John Hulet

fantasy book review Patricia Briggs Mercedes Thompson Moon Called, Blood Bound, Iron KissedThe audiobook edition, read by Lorelei King, is excellent. A great choice for narrator. 

~Kat Hooper

Published in 2011. In the sixth novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, coyote shifter Mercy Thompson and Alpha werewolf Adam finally reach the alter. But when they make the Columbia River their honeymoon destination, their newlywed bliss turns into a fight for survival… Being a different breed of shapeshifter—a walker—Mercy can see ghosts, but the spirit of her long-gone father has never visited her. Until now. An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—and innocent people are dying. As other walkers make their presence known to Mercy, she must reconnect with her heritage to exorcise the world of the legend known as the river devil.

Authors

  • JOHN HULET is a member of the Utah Army National Guard. John’s experiences have often left a great void that has been filled by countless hours spent between the pages of a book lost in the words and images of the authors he admires. During a 12 month tour of Iraq, he spent well over $1000 on books and found sanity in the process. John lives in Utah and works slavishly to prepare soldiers to serve their country with the honor and distinction that Sturm Brightblade or Arithon s’Ffalenn would be proud of. John retired from FanLit in March 2015 after being with us for nearly 8 years. We still hear from him every once in a while.

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  • Katherine Hooper

    KAT HOOPER, who started this site in June 2007, earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience and psychology at Indiana University (Bloomington) and now teaches and conducts brain research at the University of North Florida. When she reads fiction, she wants to encounter new ideas and lots of imagination. She wants to view the world in a different way. She wants to have her mind blown. She loves beautiful language and has no patience for dull prose, vapid romance, or cheesy dialogue. She prefers complex characterization, intriguing plots, and plenty of action. Favorite authors are Jack Vance, Robin Hobb, Kage Baker, William Gibson, Gene Wolfe, Richard Matheson, and C.S. Lewis.

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