In the book 'Night Broken' by Patricia Briggs, the story revolves around the protagonist, Mercy Thompson, a skinwalker mechanic who is adjusting to life as an Alpha werewolf's wife. When Adam's ex-wife, Christy, seeks help due to a stalker, Mercy's position in the pack is threatened. Alongside dealing with Christy's manipulative intentions, Mercy also faces challenges from the Fae demanding the return of a Walking Stick she gave to Coyote for safekeeping. As Mercy navigates through personal troubles and dangerous threats, the plot unfolds with intricate mythology, complex relationships, and unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of stalking, violence, emotional manipulation, and references to past trauma.
Has Romance?
The book contains a high level of romance, focusing on the dynamic between Mercy and Adam, despite the presence of Christy.
From The Publisher:
#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.
Ratings (46)
Incredible (12) | |
Loved It (29) | |
Liked It (5) |
Reader Stats (54):
Read It (50) | |
Want To Read (1) | |
Not Interested (3) |
3 comment(s)
I have to admit, when I first read the blurb for
Night Broken I was worried. Well, FIRST, I was thrilled because the release of the book's blurb means the book's release day is closer than forever-and-a-day away. THEN, I was worried when I digested the bit about
"... Christy [Adam's human ex-wife] has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy." I was worried because I knew that despite all that she'd done for the pack, Mercy still struggled for acceptance from some of the Pack. She did not need the manipulative abandoner (I'm aware that's not a word, but it fits, yes?) to return - to their home, nonetheless - and cause chaos.
Throughout the first half of the book I cringed whenever Mercy had to deal with Christy. But, she handled her taunts with grace. Further, Mercy's explaining of Pack magic freaked me out. I mean, I knew it existed, but wasn't thinking that it could be
used against her.
Pack magic ... was real. And if enough of the pack wanted you to do something, it was difficult not to do it. [She] could feel them pressing upon [her]. [She] suspected that if enough of them wanted [her] out of the pack badly enough, they would succeed.
Oh.No. Is this foreshadowing? They wouldn't. Would they?
Thankfully, at every turn Adam is quick to reassure Mercy whenever her uncertainties regarding Christy creep into her thoughts. He's thoughtful, understanding and loving; always reminding her that HE IS HERS. Damn skippy!
Finally, I realized I had nothing to worry about. The Pack gets their head out of their collective asses, Christy can only manipulate others for so long until she has to face the truth, and Mercy is a survivor whether she's facing flaming baddies or whiny exs.
In
Night Broken, Mercy learns more about herself, Coyote, Tad, and Stefan (he's baaack!). She's faced with several challenges in this installment - a visit from a Gray Lord, a freaky fire-demon-god and the aforementioned abandoner. During the battles, Ms. Briggs had me on the edge of my seat flippin' pages fast enough to give my Kindle a momentary meltdown. I'm already anxious for [b:Untitled|18369753|Untitled|Jessica Sorensen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|25978599], which is due out sometime in 2015. Forever-and-a-day away stinks, but I'll wait because I know the wait is worth it.
[Original post: 27 Aug 2014
Edited: 07 Jan 2016 to fix typo]
Another of my very favorite series.
Though I have to say, I am SERIOUSLY tired of the pack, and how they undervalue Mercy. I don't know how many times she has to prove herself to them. And how is it that they adore someone who hurt Adam so terribly? Ugh.
So yeah, lots about this book pissed me right off. But I love this world, and I love Mercy. I'd just like her to start kicking out people who don't deserve her. Soon, please.
Re-read March 2017 - Really loved it. More exploration of Mercy's heritage, and more Coyote. But like I mentioned in the original review, it's tough to see the pack be so shitty with her. She has more than proven herself - she's done more to save their asses than anyone, except possibly Adam - and this shitty attitude is unforgivable. Especially from Mary Jo. IMO, she already fucked up majorly in that regard, and was given a second chance. Frankly, she should never be anything but groveling and nice to Mercy, given that Mercy forgave her for her bullshit. So when she started up again, she should have been thrown out of the pack. Period.
Re-read July 2024
I love the Coyote and volcano god aspect of this story, but Christy and the pack dynamics are really hard to read. I think this is the one I was least looking forward to on the re-read, because of it. Even Adam is disappointing in this book - he lets Christy just do whatever she wants and even when he realizes it was a mistake (like letting her invade their bedroom to put her shit in their ensuite) he does nothing to fix it. It is unacceptable.
Even though this is an urban fantasy series, and clearly werewolves, fairies, and shapeshifters aren't real, I love how real these stories are. Mercy is a real rape survivor - her experiences and reactions even a few books after the assault are not swept under the rug. Christy is a real bitch - one with an agenda, but also a deeply troubled person who manipulates others because she doesn't know how else to interact. Mercy and Adam's relationship is very real, with both of them knowing each other so deeply, but still making the wrong calls sometimes. And finally, people really get hurt - this is no "shake off the bullet wound because you're an urban fantasy BAMF" situation. Mercy is not as physically strong as many of her friends and family, and while she often makes up for that in cleverness, she also recognizes her limitations.
This book has a great plot on its own, and it does well to further the series as a whole. Everything you want in a series installment.
What can you read after
Night Broken?
About the Author:
Patricia Briggs is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series and the Alpha and Omega novels.
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