Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson Book 5)

Top positive review

Another great installment!

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017

I really enjoyed this book. Anyone who has been following my reviews probably already knows how much I love this series and this book was no exception. It was so nice to re-visit this wonderful story and spend more time with characters that I have grown to love. This wasn't the most exciting book in the series or my favorite but it was still a very solid read.

Mercy has a lot to deal with in this installment. She needs to find the owner of the bookstore where she borrowed a very special book in a previous installment. It seems that he might be in some kind of trouble and someone wants to get his hands on the book. Samuel is in crisis and his wolf is in control. Mercy knows that if he doesn't come around quickly then it will be the end for Samuel so she wants to give him some time to sort things out.

There are also a few issues concerning the pack and Mercy's relationship with Adam. Not everyone in the pack is happy to have Mercy as a member. Being a part of a pack is new to Mercy and she isn't used to how easily they can get in her head. Adam and Mercy do love each other and take some steps to get things worked out.

My favorite parts of this book were the sections that dealt with the pack and Adam. It is kind of fun after reading the whole series to see how much things have changed over the course of the series. I think that both Mercy and Adam took some major steps in this book to strengthen their relationship and Mercy's place in the pack. The issues with Samuel were also very well done. I really do enjoy his character and he is really in a bad place for much of this book.

Lorelei King is the voice of Mercy Thompson. She does such a wonderful job narrating this series that I usually want to move to the next book just as soon as I finish a book. The character's emotions really come across perfectly with her narration and she is able to voice a large number of characters very well. I look forward to listening to this narrator many more times in the future.

I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a series that really needs to be read in order since the character relationships are a large part of the story. I look forward to continuing with my re-read of this series very soon.

9 people found this helpful

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Amadhi

Two plot lines: one great, one meh

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017

SPOILER ALERT

At the culmination of one of this book's twin plot lines, (the plot-line for which this book was named,) ONCE AGAIN Briggs relies far too heavily on the cheap motif of Mind Control, AND Mercy's lost time due to her having her mind controlled.

The first time, in book 3, it was new for Briggs and she wrote it with horrific beauty that fit with the far deeper message/issue of date-rape. (For which I've praised Briggs in the highest possible terms for having the courage to raise such a challenging and important topic in the public awareness.)

However...

With it also being used in the previous book in the series in the very same manner as in this book, (to save time and pages,) the continuing use of mind control and memory subsequent time-loss of such a such a beautifully strong female lead has long begun to feel LAME, TIRED, and like so much Deus ex Machina crutch to help Briggs write herself out of a corner or otherwise TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT.

The saving grace for this book is the plot-line That deals with the Pack and Mercy's relationship with Adam. That plot-line feels like Briggs at her best.

The Pack plot-line feels fresh, alive, immediate, and like we're dealing with real, living people making real, living choices -- people who just happen to also be the most respectfully imagines werewolves I've ever read.

If you can slog through a lame, filler plot-line to enjoy the good stuff in the other, concurrent plot-line, you'll enjoy this book.

6 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Carole Wooten

Another great installment!

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2017

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9 people found this helpful

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TeresaTop Contributor: Fantasy Books

This series just continues to get better and better

Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2019

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This series just continues to get better and better. I am just flying through these books and they are all so easy to devour.

Mercy just feels like my new best friend now and I just adore her so much. She’s just so much fun and so feisty and so strong. She continually finds herself in trouble, but she is always up for the task. And now that she’s in the pack she is dealing with all the ramifications of that and dealing with those who are not thrilled she’s there. But she’s up for it and she’s got this. And Adam is worth the trouble. I adore Adam. He is just so good and he clearly worships the ground Mercy walks on. These two have such great chemistry and they work so well together. And as they both open up more their bond just gets stronger and stronger. They’re seriously one of my favorite couples. And then the side characters. Ben has sealed the spot as my favorite. Which did not see that happening but I love him now. Warren is still wonderful and Bran is just such a great character. And then Sam. Oh my heart Sam hurt me in this one but I love him so.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. It was action packed from beginning to end and there was just so much constantly going on. I love all of these storylines and how it all wove together. And certain things come back to play here and just OH MAH GAH. ALL THE THINGS.

All in all, Silver Borne was an addictive book from beginning to end. This series has such a great cast of characters and is such a fun world and I’m ready to keep diving in.

2 people found this helpful

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Amadhi

Two plot lines: one great, one meh

Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017

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6 people found this helpful

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Dannan Tavona

Mercy Thompson Rocks

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2020

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Urban Fantasy
Another entry in the addictive Mercy Thompson, mechanic and shapeshifter and wife of Adam Hauptman, security consultant and alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolves. Alliances and friendships are tested as Mercy leaps headlong into the fray once again. Absorbing series.

My only criticism is that because this is from a mainstream publisher, they charge twice as much for a book that has already recouped its expenses more than ten years ago for a digital book that costs nothing further to make other than writer royalties; their cut is pure profit. I haven't tried the Alpha and Omega series yet, but I really like Mercy; she always tries to do the right thing even if it costs her personally.

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Boundless Book Reviews Sara

I loved it

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2019

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If you haven’t read or listened to any of Briggs’s novellas one that is extremely relevant to this tale is Silver. You can find it in the Shifting Shadows collection of stories. I am glad I did because it gives so much more depth to Samuel’s story.

If you are trying to start the series here at book five, stop go back and start from the beginning, you are going to be lost. I think you should read Silver, but it isn’t necessary.

In Silver Borne Mercy has firmly come to a decision and Adam is her mate. What about poor Samuel? He and Mercy agreed in Iron Bound that they weren’t mates. However, the pack isn’t happy, and Samuel is back to being suicidal. To top it all of Mercy has a group of Fae looking for a book that she borrowed and now missing people on her hands. Trouble and chaos follow Mercy.

This was another story that I remembered from 9 years ago. Not all of it, but I remembered that Samuel wasn’t left hanging. He is a favorite character of mine, and I am glad he gets a reprieve.

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JLD

Not my Genre; but has plenty to whet the SFF fan's appetite.

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2015

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Silver Borne [Mercedes Thompson] by Patricia Briggs

This is book 5 in a series of books and I've not read any of the others so I'm not coming from the position of being a fan and some people might even wonder why I'm even bothering to try to pick up in the middle or even far end of something. The good news is that this stands well alone and there is plenty of information to bring a reader up to speed enough to understand this novel. I've no idea yet whether there's enough to understand the series, but it was a pretty fair read and since my usual genre reading doesn't touch much on Fae, Faries; and Shape-shifters; and werewolves; and witches. I don't come in with a whole bunch of baggage and expectations of what it means to be great urban fantasy.

I have read some of the samples of the first books and was already interested in this shape-shifting mechanic with an odd assortment of friends. While I was putting together a packet of paper books to have delivered to me, I was touched by a note that indicated I could get this bound edition for much less than an e-book or trade paper edition so I decided to give it a try before realizing that it was number 5 in the series. It sat with several others on my desk in a neat stack waiting patiently always trying to push itself to the top of the stack.

When I started reading it; it was much the same as the samples; with a sort of smooth story telling style that sucked me into the world of Mercedes Thompson. It didn't take long to find that she was owner of a specialty repair shop for imports and had a helper, Gabriel, who seemed quite normal and a few other helpers that seemed a bit more than what they appear. She also has access to Zee, the former repair shop owner, who stops by now and then to help bring wrecks back from the brink of death; sometimes he does this by way of his Fae Magic. Mercy has a bit of magic of her own; or at least she has a cane that follows her around and appears and disappears at the most opportune of moments. She has other magic friends and one of those has lent her an old book of Fae written by a Fae and this is what starts the story as she gets a call from a relative of the book owner, who gives her a strange message from Phineas Brewster about the book. When she attempts to return the book she finds that Phin might be missing and that begins a small mystery.

A more important aspect of this story is that Mercy is a coyote shape-shifter and her boyfriend Adam is a Werewolf and that relationship makes her a part of the pack: because Adam is the Alpha. There are pack members who are not happy with this and it creates a tension and subplot in the story that eventually converges with the main plot. Mercy lives in a motor home with a Werewolf roommate who has no pack and seems to be a long acquaintance; and though there are none apparent in this novel she has a few vampire connections, which show up as part of the contention between her and the Pack. Samuel the Werewolf roommate has his own subplot that also will converge with the main plot.

When someone mistakes Samuel's wolf for Adam’s and tries to collect an inexplicable bounty, someone has deadly intent, and Mercy eventually comes to the conclusion that the real target was her; and then begins the search for the reason that someone is trying to kill her.

To say that this has everything that a fan of Urban Fantasy could want would be a bit high handed of me since it's not my usual genre. But it has plenty enough for me with some tight writing and interesting plotting. The action and pace were good, though not the usual high octane stuff I see in today’s fiction; it was balanced well and kept the tension at the right amount in the right moment so it passes my test; but I'm not a great fan of the usual blood and gut carnage that seems to follow some of this genre.

Great urban fantasy in my limited opinion and well told story that might keep a few SFF fans happy.

J.L. Dobias

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A Non E-Mouse

Another great book in the Mercy Thompson series.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2015

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I absolutely love the Mercy Thompson series. I feel like she is a wonderful main character with a great personality. She ends up in all kinds of dangerous situations, but to her credit, they are rarely her fault and more often brought on by someone pulling her in or her extreme sense of loyalty and friendship. She is interesting, funny, spunky, brave (but not unaware of the danger, just more of a necessity thing. The situation requires her to be brave so she finds the strength) smart, resourceful, loyal and just an all around well written character. I find myself wishing she were real so I could know her and hang out with her. To me, that is the ultimate test of any main character in a book is whether I'd ever want to know them.

This book (the 5th in the series) did not disappoint one bit. It was fast paced and kept me interested the whole way through. I have loved Ms. Briggs unique way of representing the supernatural characters in these books, especially the werewolves. They are the "good" guys but are still dangerous. It is an interesting juxtaposition. She doesn't romanticize them, and yet, you love and care about them because of the way that Mercy sees them and interacts with them. Mercy can get along with anyone though, as witnessed by the fact that she is not only friends with werewolves, but with vampires (or at least A vampire) and the fae (who are arguably the most dangerous beings around) I think her ability to befriend almost anyone is one of the things that I love about her.

I don't want to get in to the specifics of this book, but if you haven't read her previous books, I highly suggest reading them all! I wouldn't hesitate to suggest this book to pretty much anyone I know. I am not quite ready to have my 10 year old daughter read them only because they are rather violent and although Ms. Briggs is very tasteful when she covers sexual matters, they are alluded to at different points and there is some language. Overall however, it is a book that I would be good with recommending to teenagers and adults.

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Red-Haired Ash

Another great addition to the series

Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019

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Mercy is trying to find an acquaintance and ends up right in the middle of trouble in this book. Not only is she trying to stop a evil fae, she is also dealing with pack issues and trying to help Samuel find his will to continue.

Overall a very emotional and stressful book for Mercy. She has gone through so much emotional trauma and yet she is adapting and overcoming it. I really love how strong mentally Mercy is. She is a very powerful character that sticks with me because she shows that you can overcome traumas. It might take a while but it’s doable.

I am very interested in learning more about Ariana and Samuel’s relationship. Especially since they do have a past history that they will have to overcome together.

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Angela

Mercy is one of the best heroines ever!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2014

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Mercy's newly mated to Adam and brought into their pack. There are some wolves that aren't at all happy about this, and use Mercy's unawareness of pack magic to make trouble. Maybe they just want Mercy out, maybe they want Adam out too and are using Mercy as a stepping stone.

When Samuel ends up seriously needing Mercy's help, she realizes she needs to take a step back and try to get a handle on everything. A call from Tad to look after that fae thing that was given her (and I just had a flash of the scene from Hackers "It's in that place where I put that thing that one time..."). Now Mercy's the target, along with the pack, of someone who wants it badly.

Lots of things going on in this one. The pack politics, followed closely by Samuel's story-line, were my favorites here. Which is what nearly makes it a five-star read for me. I loved how the pack stuff moved and was resolved (even if I'm a little grumpy at the light punishment some transgressions got).

Samuel nearly broke my heart, and that's pretty much all I can say without spoiling the hell out of it. I also liked that it wasn't dragged out for a long time (more than one book). I really liked that we got the further depth that we did into the wolf psyche in this one though. And that's about as non-spoilery as I can keep it.

Previously I said that the fae "mystery" story-line was probably the weakest. I thought it didn't hold my attention as much as everything else, like Adam&Pack/Pack&Mercy/Mercy&Adam/Samuel&Mercy/etc, dynamics going on with everyone else I cared about. But on this re-read it was made apparent to me that I enjoyed it a great deal more than the first time. It gives a nice counter-point to everything else that's going on, and it really showcases that Mercy can be smart and strong, and not rush into things in a too-stupid-to-live capacity (unlike quite a few heroines I've read).

I love how strong and smart Mercy is, but that's she's not infallible. She does make mistakes, but there are consequences for them. And she pays them without complaint. There is one mistake in particular that seemed to just be dropped when she was rescued - and I'm still irritated about it. It was irresponsible and dangerous and I can't believe it's never mentioned again. Just because I've come to expect it, I'm sure there was something that was said/happened because of this, but I would have really liked to see it. Otherwise it feels like a dropped thread that was put in there for no real purpose.

Overall, another great installment in the Mercy Thompson world with some minor things to niggle at me.

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Larissa

Lovely!

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2013

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4.5 stars

*Contain spoilers if you haven't read the previous books in the series

I am such a huge fan of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series and I had been awaiting this book for so long with so many expectations, that I am glad I wasn't disappointed.

Us, Mercy fans, have been waiting for what it seems like forever to get to see her and Adam together at last and after the happenings of the previous books, all that I personally wanted was to see them blissfully in love.

I got my wish in spades, but I also got to see them dealing with the dysfunction inside Adam's pack that has yet to be completely dealt with and with a fey object that is bringing nothing but trouble to Mercy' life.

I love Mercy and I have since the beginning, however she was never an easy person to love. She is tough, stubborn and even caustic at times, but she is also loyal, smart and strong. After all that she has been through, we get a different Mercy in Silver Bone and the change was absolutely for the better in my opinion.

Adam is the ultimate Alpha male and has been in love with Mercy for a long time, being able to see them finally together and even working out their problems together, was amazing, a dream come true. He fought for her and won her over with a lot of love, Adam is definitely a sigh worthy man.

I read Silver Bone in one sitting and I wanted more and more after I was done. Patricia's writing has such an incredible easy flow and rhythm that you can't help but being captivated. I can't wait for the next novel, though I know my wait will be a long one.

The only thing that bothered me in the novel, was something that I noticed a lot of fans didn't like as well. Samuel is in deep depression in this book and even though I found it extremely interesting to see his wolf in the forefront and watch the man/wolf relationship so deeply, I found that the way his situation was resolved was too easy and too fast, I don't know, it was hard to swallow.

All in all, Silver Bone is a fantastic book and definitely a solid addition to this amazing series. If you are a Mercy fan, you cannot miss this one!

Originally Posted at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life [...]

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Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson Book 5)

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