Storm Cursed: Mercy Thompson Novel Series, Book 11

Witches, Fae, and Zombies, oh my! Mercy and her friends are confronted by caldron roiling with trouble and I was riveted from cover to cover to discover how they were going to handle this latest dangerous problem.Storm Cursed is the eleventh book in the fabulous Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series where all things that go bump in the night are part of a marvelous series-long adventure that must be taken in order.It's been some months since Mercy returned from her fateful adventure to Europe and the confrontation with the big bad European vampires and more. Life is just getting back to normal for Adam's pack where a pirate game and the occasional outing to police the new territory Mercy claimed as a supernatural neutral haven is the excitement of the day. But, then a murdering goblin, zombie miniature goats, and dark magic rises to remind Mercy that it might have been better to keep her mouth shut back on that bridge when she claimed the Tri-Cities because things are starting to get real. The US government want to parley with the Fae Gray Lords on this neutral ground and there are plenty who don't want this meeting to happen. It's a sad day when corralling zombies is the easy part.There was an opening action scene before things start getting going slowly and then the avalanche of danger picks up the pace to slide faster and and faster. I love this series as a whole through and through. The world, the characters, the twisting supernatural action. And, then there is the fact that no matter how wonderful the Mercy Thompson world already is; a new element shines forth or a new layer is peeled back to reveal that all is not as it seemed. In this case, the spotlight was on black magic, zombies, and the witches along with how their culture fits in with the other races.The ongoing plot thread of the humans adjusting to the knowledge that they are not the apex predator on the planet as more and more about the hidden world of the other races comes out is furthered a bit more as the US government works to help keep people safe with policy rather than war. Adam, Mercy and the Wolves are right in the middle of the human-fae relations.Though this was a witch-related book meaning that Elizaveta was a big part, Zee, Tad, Stefan, Marsilia, Wulfe, Uncle Mike, Coyote, and more had their moments to shine.I confess that my memory was wrecking havoc on my enjoyment and I wish I had done a re-read to remind me of where some things were at and who some of the characters were (I totally drew a blank on Sherwood, the new wolf in their pack and Lucia). I eventually remembered, but it was a good reminder of just how much the series installments tie together. The few intriguing threads left dangling including some new reveals about Mercy and others left me just as thrilled as ever to pounce on the next future installment.The final scene was breathtaking and amazing as they usually are. I doubt even a home invasion would have motivated me to put down the book at that point.Lorelei King is a powerhouse narrator for me. I've listened to her narrate two of my favorite series including this one and other books. In my mind, she is the voice of Mercy and all who people the books. She's caught the author's voice and the tone of the novels so that I barely notice a voice presence and my imagination fires with the story and it's world. She has a nice, husky low voice that works well with kick butt characters and action scenes.All in all, my hunger was barely sated for more and more of Mercy Thompson and all who are in her world. Mercy is a heroine who is smart, believable and gets tough when she's beaten down. She has a sense of humor and common sense. And, a female mechanic along with being a coyote shifter in a werewolf pack. Urban Fantasy fans cannot go wrong by picking up this series.

As I have noted elsewhere, the three pillars of magical society in Patricia Briggs's Mercyverse are werewolves, vampires, and fae. However, she also feels free to import any folkloric creatures that anyone has ever told stories about. Thus Mercy herself is descended from First Nation not-quite-a-god Coyote. Aside from the big three, most of these other magical beings are one-offs. And since Briggs is all about the politics and palace intrigue, they don't have the standing to become pillars of Mercyverse magical society. In fact, the first three books, Moon Called, Blood Bound, and Iron Kissed, served as introductions to werewolves, vampires, and fae, respectively.If there is a fourth pillar, it is witches. Witches are important in the Mercy Thompson series and even more in the companion Mercyverse series Alpha and Omega. Columbia basin witch Elizaveta Arkadyevna has appeared before, most recently in Silence Fallen. However, there has not, until Storm Cursed, been a book-length introduction to the witches.Witches, like fae, are hereditary magical creatures. (That is, you get to be a witch or fae by having parents who are witches or fae, in contrast to werewolfism and vampirism, which are transmissible conditions contracted by bite.) Unlike werewolves, vampires, and fae, witches are too fractious to form polities larger than a family, hence their relative freedom from political maneuvering.Witch magic is powered by pain. (Pain-powered magic appears often enough in fantasy that I suspect it has roots in folklore.) Mercyverse witches come in three colors: white, gray, and black. White witches, the least powerful, derive their power from self-inflicted pain. Gray witches derive their power from pain inflicted on others with the consent of the tormented party. Black witches, the most powerful, torment others without consent. Black witches are not nice at all, at all.Storm Cursed begins when black witches show up in Mercy's territory. Are they there to give everyone flowers and hugs and goodwill? I'll let you guess.Parts of Storm Cursed were emotionally difficult to read. As you might expect in a story about witches who power their magic by inflicting pain, very bad stuff happens. Briggs is not a safe author. If you have read the previous Mercy Thompson books, you will remember the very painful scene in Iron Kissed when Tim caught Mercy in her garage. The second half of Storm Cursed is almost that painful.In a way, I think that the way Briggs makes it hurt is what justifies these scenes. They are far from gratuitous -- essential to the plot, in fact. If you're going to tell a story like that, it *should* hurt. It mustn't be lightly brushed off -- readers should feel it.Well, it worked for me. Storm Cursed is dark. When you get through it, you feel that important things have happened, and that it was worth it.

I just have one question. What did Coyote mean at the end of Storm Cursed?Arg, I wish I understood him. He's such a mystery. He's powerful, a trickster, very smart and he loves his daughter, Mercy, even though he has a weird way of showing it.The Mercyverse is one of my favorite places to go back to. I adore Mercy and Adam. After this many years, Patricia Briggs has demonstrated that a couple can be together and still attract readers without the need for an unnecessary love triangle. To this day, Iron Kissed is still one of my favorite books.Also, I love the side characters like Stephan, Zee, Sherwood Post, Tad, Joel, Ben, Wulfe, Larry (Goblin King), etc. I wish we could spend more time with each of them. They are fantastic! Mercy keeps on bringing on strays that make her life so much more interesting (and deadly..LOL).When I start a new Mercy book, I always wonder where Mrs. Briggs is going to take her this time. Yes, Mercy has been hurt and almost killed so many times but she's fast, resourceful and she has learned to trust her mate and friends to help her out. She continues to grow as a character. She's my girl crush.Storm Cursed is mostly about witches. Bad witches. Black Magic witches. Mercy is not a fan. She knows they are trouble and she must intervene. She must do it. Her job is to help the humans and the Fae meet without the witches killing them all.I hated those Bad. Bad. Witches.Storm Cursed is full of action, intrigue, suspense, and amazing characters. Unputtable down. The stories are only getting better.Cliffhanger: no4.5/5 Fangs

I have read the series a few times now. It never ceases to entertain me, I find new things each time. Great books, awesome story telling by a very good author.

Loved it. Absolutely love where mercy stories/life have developed.Would be interesting if mercy became pregnant but not sure that’s in cards

Como sempre a estória é perfeita!!! E como sempre é uma tortura esperar pelo próximo volume 💖💞

Almost all of the people, fay, vampires, withches, wolves and even mister Coyote himself, so all of whom I liked from the former books, appeared in this book. You get to know a bit more about Vampire Wolf, although not all...mystery is still surrounding him. The only thing that I didn't like were the parts about torture. I mean, I can see the reason why it had to be explained in detail, we should know how bad those witches are, but I really can't stand torture and certainly not torture of animals. So if you are like me, be warned, skip those pages or fly quickly over it and enjoy the rest of the book.

The author has an eye for detail and knack for imagination.. a brilliant supernatural series.. I m looking forward to the next book of this series..