Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs Series: Mercy Thompson #14
Published by Ace on June 18, 2024
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 416
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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In the supernatural realms, there are creatures who belong to winter. I am not one of them. But like the coyote I can become at will, I am adaptable.My name is Mercy Thompson Hauptman, and my mate, Adam, is the werewolf who leads the Columbia Basin Pack, the pack charged with keeping the people who live and work in the Tri-Cities of Washington State safe. It’s a hard job, and it doesn’t leave much room for side quests. Which is why when I needed to travel to Montana to help my brother, I intended to go by myself.But I’m not alone anymore.Together, Adam and I find ourselves trapped with strangers in a lodge in the heart of the wilderness, in the teeth of a storm of legendary power, only to discover my brother’s issues are a tiny part of a problem much bigger than we could have imagined. Arcane and ancient magics are at work that could, unless we are very careful, bring about the end of the world. . . .
I chose the Mercy Thompson series for the Read-along in 2020 and it was an amazing reread for me. With complex plots and mysteries, along with many great characters it was helpful to read from the beginning, all the books close together rather than a year apart. In 2021, we had a book in the companion series, Alpha & Omega, which features Charles & Anna. Then in 2022, the last Mercy book, Soul Taken.
As urban fantasy with long on-going plots, I would not start here. I would read the series starting at the beginning. The world-building and plot are as detailed and incredible as always. Winter Lost is like a side trip. We see only brief bits of the pack. There are still the dangerous issues with the fae and Bonorata. Mercy is still recovering from her encounter with the Soul Taker. Zee has tried and can’t fix her.
Then her brother shows up and he has been cursed. She tries to get help from a frost giant but that goes badly. So she and Adam go to where Gary was living to try to figure it out. There is a very bad storm which is not surprising because the brother of the frost giant she tried for help is there. There are also goblins and a green man, a vampire and a ghost, and more fae. They are all gathered at the lodge for a wedding which is a renewal of a spell to stave off Ragnorak.
Mercy gathers information although others try to stop her. An artifact has been stolen and she is trying to find it, then the frost giant here will uncurse her brother. Adam tries to be her backup and keep her warm. Mercy gets help from several unexpected sources and does figure things out. She goes through some pain and danger to get there.
I would have liked more on the series story lines. I was thrilled to get a bit with Warren and Sherwood, but really wanted to see Kyle. I’m on edge about the Marrok, Charles & Anna or Samuel with barely even a mention of them. There was no progress on the vampire front, either.
I still feel unsettled with many things not resolved. The pack is in a precarious position with Mercy’s claim to protect the area. Underhill is an ongoing threat. Sherwood will always be kind of a question mark. Bonorata is not going to let things go. There aren’t any easy answers, so I look forward to the author’s solutions to issues as we go forward.
About Patricia Briggs
Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
I’m SO looking forward to reading this one as soon as my library hold comes in. I love this series. Mercy and Adam and the whole gang are such great characters. 😀
This author does a stellar job with world and character development, detailed without being too much.
Just a quick peek-in since I still have this one to read. I’m so glad it really had things stirred up nicely.
yes I still want more.
Yay….I am glad to see you loved it as much as I did.
yes but I am already ready for more.
This series seems to remain as complex and interesting as I remember. Really hoping I can resume it this year. Wonderful review, Anne💜
Thank you. I hope you can also. I recommend interspersing the Alpha & Omega in as they were released because it is all the same world.
I haven’t read this author but I’ve heard good things.
This is one of my absolute favorite authors and series in the top 5
And next we will probably get a Charles and Anna book if Briggs keeps up with her release pattern. I’ve been dying for more ever since the end of Wild Signs. EEp!
YES! The books have stretched to about 2 years so it’s almost 4 years. I accept that but I definitely love getting the books.
I’m almost done with this one and will have my review up Friday. Glad to see your 5 stars!
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I’m working my way through my Feedly as I got behind yesterday.
Yes, this story was sort of a side story. Kind of like River Marked, IMO. I don’t know if you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but they did the same thing. There were episodes that dealt with the series arc and then side stories like this one. I’m enjoyed both, but I like the ones with the Pack and dealing with the continuing series arc. Bonarata is a definite growing concern! I wonder if we’ll get a Charles and Anna story next. I’ve been wondering what’s going to happen with them since the ending of the last one! Crazy stuff!
Great observation. This definitely felt like a side story. It dealt with primary issues for Mercy but I do like the ones with the pack and Kyle and the main series arc stuff. It’s been 4 years since Charles & Anna if we get one in 2025 so I’m looking forward to a book in their world.
I have seen so many fantastic reviews about this book – and pretty much everything else by this author. I have the first book in this series on my TBR and if I don’t get to it this year I think Patricia Briggs will be at the top of my Must Read Authors list for 2025.
It is one of my top 5 series of all time but urban fantasy is my favorite genre. I hope you enjoy them.
I’m itching for the next book. There is a LOT looming over everyone.
YES! I am feeling very unsettled about some things.
Some day I hope to get started on this series. Especially with how much everyone likes it!
It’s in my top 5 series of all time. I love it.