Veena’s review of Silence Fallen (Mercy Thompson, Book 10) by Patricia Briggs
Urban Fantasy published by Ace 07 Mar 17
Adam feels his mate bond sundering, while Stefan feels his blood bond in peril. When the two, followed by the entire pack, get to the scene, all that remains is a totaled SUV, traces of Mercy’s blood, and her broken necklace with her lamb’s foot charm, wedding ring, and Adam’s dog ties.
The first chapter got my blood pounding as various possible scenarios played across my mind. It takes a master storyteller like Ms. Briggs to keep her readers’ blood pumping while sitting in a chair for several hours continuing to read the story she has to tell. So where is Mercy?Kidnapped and transported to Europe, she wakes up in a freezing cell that is guarded against magic, a guest to one of the most dangerous vampires in the world. When her captor leaves her with temptation in the form of an open door, Mercy takes the chance and a long forgotten memory of Charles’ advice to escape. Her escape is ingenious as only a coyote like Mercy can be. For Mercy’s sake I’m glad that the traveler left their Kindle in the luggage compartment and not with them as most readers who own Kindles are wont to do.
Through a series of coincidences Mercy ends up in Prague and ultimately to the door of the Pack Alpha, Libor, where she bargains for her safety until Adam can come for her. She’s done pretty well on her own without clothes, without money, without speaking the language, even if she has to leave some promissory notes for items she has to help herself to. There are kind people in the world and I’m glad to see some of that during Mercy’s adventures in a strange country. Mercy is a vampire target and she’s being actively hunted. She is definitely going to have to call on all her gifts to survive this particular adventure. I like that we get a lot more insights into Mercy’s own personal gifts as well as learn a little more about Coyote.
Adam has his own set of challenges to get past before he can make it to Mercy. He, along with Stefan and Marsilia, quickly learns the bare bones of the plot and are on their way to Europe as Mercy is breaking out of her cell in Italy and making her way to Prague. As it turns out, Adam and Mercy are central characters in vampire politics and a battle for leadership, so there will be some political maneuvering and blood letting that will be in order before Adam can make it to Prague. The story develops along two parallel lines with both Adam and Mercy having to complete their own set of challenges before they can come together.
Wulfe was right, “Mercy is the most powerful person” in the tri-cities area. This is true not only because she holds Adam’s heart and the Marrok’s protection and both would level the world to keep her safe but because of her own strengths and gifts.
It’s getting a bit repetitious, but another another winner for Ms. Briggs.
Grade: A
Summary:
In the #1 New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson novels, the coyote shape shifter has found her voice in the werewolf pack. But when Mercy’s bond with the pack—and her mate—is broken, she’ll learn what it truly means to be alone…
Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes—only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe…
Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise…
Other books in this series:
