Silver Borne

February 22, 2010
Coyote-shifting garage mechanic Mercedes Thompson, now mated to Adam, the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, embarks on her exciting fifth dark fantasy adventure (after 2009's bestselling Bone Crossed
). Three subplots—Mercy's attempt to return a magical book to a fae friend-of-a-friend, her difficulties integrating into Adam's pack, and her roommate Samuel's misery over being a lone Alpha—come together seamlessly, and excitement builds as Mercy and her loved ones go through ever more intense experiences, including a house fire, a suicide attempt, a death sentence, and a reunion between long-ago loves. Briggs creates both well-rounded characters and a complex mythology, resulting in a rich read that's far more than a series of action adventures strung together. Fans of the series will be thrilled; new readers should start at the beginning or risk drowning in the immersive world-building. 6-city author tour.

March 1, 2010
The fifth Mercy Thompson yarn has the garage mechanic-to-coyote shape-shifter, who could use a little relaxation after whacking all those vampires in Bone Crossed (2009), up to her armpits in romantic and supernatural trouble. Her housemate Sam, a lone werewolf, has developed suicidal depression from the conflict of his two natures. Mercy herself is still working out the relationship with Adam, her bonded mate and the leader of a werewolf pack, which has been put in the danger posed by a jealous female werewolf. Then Mercy gets a call asking her to check on a comrade who may have gone missing. The Fae may be involved. Ai-yi-yi. Theres a lot going on in Silver Borne, but its pacing is practically perfect as it shifts between introspection and sudden action. Mercy is back in the West after the New Orleans setting of Bone Crossed, so most of the characters will be familiar to readers of the first three of Mercys now eagerly awaited adventures as well as their graphic-novel prequel, Homecoming (2009). A must for anyone following the series, one that should also be popular among fans of paranormal romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)