Fire Touched

Love your stories and the characters and word pictures you create!!! The legends and tales of some of them are reminiscent of the tales told in other countries that I have come across during my folklore readings and you have brought new aspects of those back to life!! Your books are very well written and a great read. Thank you again and please keep it going.

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs is a worthy addition as the ninth book in the Mercy Thompson Series. Coyote shapeshifter, Mercy Thompson Hauptman and her mate Alpha of the Columbia Basin Werewolf Pack, Adam Hauptman, help the humans battle a troll. They wind up involved in politics, trying to stop a war with the Fae; simultaneously, trying to protect a human boy, Aiden, that has been Fire Touched. This contemporary urban fantasy takes place in Tri-Cities, Washington and in Underhill (Fairyland). The scene at the beginning of the book with Mercy and Izzy’s mother is pretty amusing. I like how it ended up tying in with the rest of the book, very creative. I like the introduction of Aiden. He has endured a lot throughout his life and is a survivor. His powers are impressive. He is a fascinating character with a lot of depth. I enjoyed his bantering with Jesse. I would like to see more of him in future books. I love that the walking stick has taken on a personality. I hope we haven’t seen the last of it. I also appreciated Baba Yoga. She is clever and you never really know what to expect from her. The pack dynamics was interesting; both with the Columbia Basin Pack and Bran’s Pack. I enjoyed the plot. I like the use of characters from mythology in a modern setting. The story was convincing and believable. It had an excellent conclusion. You can always count on the Mercy Thompson series to have a great combination of action, fantasy, humor, and imagination. Each story is significantly different, but feels consistent with the series. Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A revisit of beloved favorites, the Christy we hate, a few newbies, and a tie in of a short story. Poor Bran, Mercy once more assumes he has deserted her only to find he's had her back all along. I was aghast at the death of Luhg's creation. I hardly knew ya Walking Stick! The story could stand alone though, obviously, is best if you read previous books for undertones/back history, yet leaves open many avenues for further development.