Reviewer: Holly and Ames Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercy Thompson #8
Also in this series: Frost Burned , Shifting Shadows, Blood Bound, Fire Touched, Silence Fallen , Moon Called, Blood Bound , Iron Kissed, Bone Crossed , River Marked , Frost Burned, Storm Cursed , Night Broken, Fire Touched, Storm Cursed, Smoke Bitten
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: March 11th 2014
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 304
Add It: Goodreads
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Series Rating:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series has been hailed as “one of the best” (Library Journal). Now Mercy must deal with an unwanted guest—one that brings a danger unlike anything she’s ever known.
When her mate’s ex-wife storms back into their lives, Mercy knows something isn’t right. Christy has the furthest thing from good intentions—she wants Adam back, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get him, including turning the pack against Mercy.
Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. As the bodies start piling up, she must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.
Summary: Mercy is still trying to find acceptance in the pack when Adam’s ex-wife, Christy, calls and says she needs help. Her current boyfriend turned psycho and she needs to get away from him. Adam isn’t one to walk away from someone in need, especially someone he considers his responsibility, and agrees she can come stay with the pack until things settle down.
Mercy isn’t thrilled with the idea of her husband’s ex-wife living under her roof, but she’s willing to put aside her own feelings for the good of the pack. Especially once the pack makes it clear they want Christy there. More than they want Mercy.
Christy makes it clear right away she isn’t just there for protection. She wants her old life back…she wants Adam back. Too bad for her Mercy isn’t giving him up. But dealing with Adam’s jealous ex-wife becomes the least of her concerns when it turns out Christy’s ex isn’t human.
Holly: This is a hard one for me. I liked the story. I fell into it right away and was swept up in the world like I always am. But…I lost some respect for Adam along the way. I never thought that would happen, but it did.
Ames: I liked the story too. There was a lot going on. At first it didn’t seem like what was happening with the walking stick and Beauclaire was connected to what was happening to Christy and her stalker ex. I was wondering why there were these two stories going on…but of course Coyote likes chaos.
Adam…I am torn. I don’t want to give too much away but Christy is a master manipulator. And Adam did give her shit but we didn’t get to see it. I think we needed to see it.
Holly: There was a lot going on. It felt like Mercy was more on her own than usual, didn’t it? Maybe that’s why the correlation between Mercy’s walking stick and Christy’s ex wasn’t readily apparent?
I think my big struggle with the way the pack and Adam acted toward Christy is that she left him, and in the process really hurt him and her daughter. Master manipulator or not, neither the pack nor Adam should have been so quick to look past that. She already betrayed the pack. SHE LEFT. She BETRAYED THEIR ALPHA. And still the pack chose her. Even when Mercy called her out on it, the pack still chose to side with Christy. No. Just no.
I did like that the pack was forced to see how Mercy put them before herself. I think she gained some respect from them in this book. I don’t think they accept her, but they can’t dismiss her as they did before.
Ames: Mercy is always very aware of the politics of a werewolf pack. And she knew that she’d have to fight off the stalker guy as the Alpha’s mate. That definitely went a long way to gaining respect from the pack. They also saw her as not quite as vulnerable as they thought she would be. Not so much a liability. I like how one of the wolves talked about how they don’t like change and Mercy is a big change.
Holly: I also hated that Mercy called Christy out on her crap in front of the pack and they still sided with Christy. Every single one of them knew Mercy was right, but Auriele rushed to Christy so the rest did too.
Ames: Auriele is a bitch. I saw her inability to see Christy’s true nature and the way she treated Christy as a big part of why Christy got away with how she acted. As Darryl’s mate, a lot of the pack would take their cues from her. I freaking wanted to punch Adam though when he let Christy keep playing that little game with the phones. Like would it have freaking hurt him to keep his cell phone in his pocket? ARGH
Holly: That’s one of the many things that made me so angry with Adam. That and Christy moving her things into the master bathroom. I don’t care what Christy said to him, he should have told her no. For himself. Not because Mercy would be upset but because HE was. Had he said “no, I don’t want your things in the bathroom I share with Mercy” the pack would have accepted that and not put it on Mercy. Ugh. Adam. He needed a swift kick to the ass for that.
Ames: I agree about Adam. He was too forgiving of his ex. He should have thought about how Mercy would have felt about everything. I mean, they have the bond, so he would probably feel how some of the stunts Christy was pulling would hurt her. But couple that with how he did reassure her and they did seem as close as ever. Christy was pulling small stunts but Adam did stand up and speak his piece when it came to Mercy’s safety. I would have like to have seen that on-page.
Holly: We definitely needed to see that on page. I understand that Adam has a lot of hang-ups about himself as a werewolf. He thinks of himself as a monster and Christy plays right into that. Remembering that did help me to forgive him – just a little – for not standing up for Mercy.
Ames: I think Christy will lick her wounds a bit after Mercy’s latest stunt. And there’s definitely more coming down the line in regards to the pack. Mercy changes things, especially when it comes to Honey’s place in the hierarchy. And I like the pack politics, so I’m looking forward to more developing there.
I expect to see Adam having to face his feelings about himself in the near future. I also thing things will come to a head with Christy, the pack and Mercy.
Holly: I didn’t like how abruptly the story ended. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m so unsettled about this book. Briggs usually cuts the story off before I’m ready, but things aren’t usually left unresolved. I felt like things were definitely unresolved.
Ames: I thought the book ended abruptly too. The main mystery was solved, but there were a few plot points that were left open ended. So that made Night Broken feel very transitional.
Holly: Transitional is a good word for it. I did like the return of Coyote. He makes me laugh.
Ames: I love Coyote. Remember in River Marked when he threw Mercy into the river? That’s so indicative of this chaos-driven character. And he does make me laugh too. I like that he was brought back into Mercy’s life. I also like who else he brought into Mercy’s life. I can see more shenanigans there in Mercy’s future with this new character.
Holly: Ha. I do remember that. Coyote definitely likes chaos. I liked the new character Mercy connected with, too. I think he helped Mercy see Coyote in a different way. I look forward to more shenanigans from them both in the future.
Ames: Another thing I like is that the walking stick is back! I love that stick. Always where it needs to be.
Holly: I’m curious to see what happens next with the walking stick. Is it odd that I kind of think of it as Mercy’s friend? Or maybe a pet?
Ames: I don’t think it’s odd to think of the walking stick that way. Look at how she talks to it. “Behave.” She tells it. LOL
Holly: What are you grading it? I think I’m going to give it a 3.5 out of 5. The business with Adam’s ex left a bad taste in my mouth and marred my enjoyment.
Ames: I would give it a 3.5 as well. It furthers the plot but some stuff left me disturbed. Mercy still continues to kick ass however.
Final Grade
Holly: 3.5 out of 5Ames: 3.5 out of 5This book is available from Ace. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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