Veena’s review of Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson, Book 12) by Patricia Briggs
Urban Fantasy published by Ace 17 Mar 20
In my humble opinion, I feel that this series has continued to increase in the intensity of the threat level and, by default, the adrenaline ride to the finish line. Now it’s time for double the intensity as Mercy faces significant internal threats to her bond with her mate and the pack, while contending with an external threat that can seemingly bypass her considerable coyote magic and actually cause her harm. Get set, ready, and go for a thrill ride beyond compare.
Ms. Briggs wastes no time in getting into the meat of the story from the get-go. An innocent human couple in the neighborhood is horrifically murdered and there appear no seeming clues, other than an allusion to smoke. Underhill opens a portal to faerie in Mercy’s backyard in an attempt to sustain the closeness of her friendship with the rescue from Underhill, who now makes a home with the pack. Adam seems to be distancing himself from Mercy, with the pack once again taking sides between Mercy and Adam’s ex-wife. If these three apparently random events were not enough, the scariest, the craziest vampire Wolfe is hanging out in Mercy’s backyard, and, even if his knowledge saves Mercy from being destroyed by the smoke threat, it doesn’t change the fact that he is crazy scary.
Mercy, of course, in her indomitable fashion, attacks each of the threats, simultaneously reaching out to her vast network of friends, family, and allies on identifying and neutralizing the threats. This is a great story, and for the first time I actually held my breath and crossed my fingers as the odds against Mercy seemed insurmountable. It’s true; fairy tales are truly dark and sinister and not the happily ever afters that I remember from my childhood.
An absolutely superb thriller from Ms. Briggs.
Grade: A
Summary:
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 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.
No excerpt available.
