**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Mercy and her friends are back in another fantastic installment of the Mercy Thompson series. Make sure to read this series in order because each book builds on the previous, be it the world building or the character dynamics.

I really loved this story and I could not, would not put it down. Where as with the last book it was super intense with Mercy as a captive of some scary European vampires or on the run alone, this was more of a slow burn installment. There was still a lot of action, it was just not in your face, more subtle innuendos and blink and you missed it. I really liked having this break from everyone out to get Mercy- for once a character who is usually seen as strong and capable was the target for the new kind of crazy. Mercy gets to be the hero this time and I appreciate that.

I also loved getting a slower look into the relationship dynamics now that the whole world is upside down. Humans know what is really going bump in the night and not everyone is happy with the discover, be it human, wolf or fey. And there is the pack dynamic, where Mercy and the wolves are still trying to decide where everyone ranks and can be comfortable with. It also didn't hurt that Zee and Tad (one of my absolute favorite side characters that is never around enough in my opinion) had a big role here, and the way that Mercy is family to them both made my heart happy.

I loved having Stefan back in Mercy's corner, having the tension between them made me sad since he was one of her very first friends. OOH, and WULF! yep, he gets capitalized because dang! I really hope there will be more crazy from him in the future. And Coyote always makes things more interesting, but usually not for Mercy, just for me. See, this book was like a family reunion- you know, if everyone in your family was a potential monster that may or may not want to kill you...

Another wonderful visit to the world of Mercy Thompson! The Ms.. Briggs storytelling makes the book hard to put down once you've started. It is both a pro and a con that she has "peopled" her world with so many characters, making it rich and interesting, but also making you desire a side-story exploring each of the characters. May she continue to write until she covers them all! :)

It had been a....while, since I'd read Mercy (as I'd read the latest Alpha/Omega one more recently), so it took me a few chapters to remind my foggy brain of prior events. But, the pacing and storyline was very congruent and Storm Cursed picks right up where we were at the end of the last Mercy book. While this had a feel of a "bridge" book (meaning, the main plot line doesn't do much towards overall story arch), I do think the events in Storm Cursed could be important as the story arch moves forward. Another wonderful and well-written novel from Patty.

This is book 11 in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is a coyote shapeshifter and the mate of the alpha werewolf pack in Washington state. Adam, Mercy and their friends try to maintain the peace as the Grey Lords and the local politicians come to blows. With some evil witches dealing out death and the vampires conflicted about who to help the world is about to spin out of control. This is a great addition to the series and you catch up with all your favorite characters. Put out your DO NOT DISTURB sign, you won't want to stop. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An absolutely wonderful book! I always love this series but this one truly took it's story to new heights.
Brigg's writing style keeps you invested in the story from start to finish. And this book will keep you guessing what'll happen next the whole time.

The Mercy Thompson series is not only one of the most fun series in its genre but also one of the most kick butt with lovable characters that are memorable. It is also why this series has, from the very first book, been in my top ten favorites in UF and will remain there.

It is so much fun, so addicting, and so freaking entertaining. It truly has a little bit of it all. Humor, action, magic, beasties, a family bond, danger, baddies...truly, all of it. Every single thing I love about this genre is always packed up tightly and effortlessly in these books. And even though it shouldn't be possible, each book just gets better and better. I adore them. I speed read through them and then kick myself for not savoring them more and making them last. But, can you blame me? They are fantastic and fans of the series know, they are impossible to ignore. It's like Christmas every time a new release comes out and this new release, let me tell you, was so worth the wait!

I adored it. I devoured it. I tried really really hard to make it last but I flew through it because it was just so good, just so everything I missed. I love Adam and Mercy and how they support one another, love one another and take care of one another without being overbearing or alpha male even though Adam is so. Alpha. Male.

The pack, the friendships, the supernaturals beings, just everything about this series screams perfect and Briggs once again did an amazing job. I was completely in her power as I read each page taking very little breaks from anything else. I was hooked and once again, in love.

Truly another wonderful installment and I'm so thrilled this series is still going strong.

There is no possible way that I couldn’t love this book. Uh, hello, zombie miniature goats. Come on! The second those this ravenous creatures bounced their way onto the pages, I was hooked. The imaginary is too cute to even think about, and I might have asked my husband about mini goats. Not zombie ones because they don’t exist… yet.. and they’d be hell on the insurance premium. Any way…. Enough about the zombie oats, and more about the story.

After Mercy’s declaration a few books back and her claim of their city, things have not been going as smoothly as she would have liked. Between magical creatures far and wide claiming asylum within their city limits, and tensions between the government and said creatures, Mercy’s life is far from boring. Save for the fact that she and Adam have been seeing each other less and less. Adulting sucks.

Storm cursed revolves around a pivotal character from Mercy’s overseas kidnapping and her family. It seems that the upcoming conference with the government is the least of their worries with curses and black magic zinging through the town like uncontrollable lightning. I have to admit that adding in the witch perspective to the normally furry or fangy story villains is a refreshing concept. All the other players are still there of course to help Mercy, but it was nice for once that a new kind of big bad came into town to cause Mercy and gang all kinds of trouble. The gore factor is definitely up in Storm Cursed, but so is the heartbreak as well. Not everyone comes out of this fight alive sadly.

Can’t wait for the next one!

As always Patricia Briggs has another great book about Mercy Thompson and you need to make sure that you have time set aside because you wont want to put this book down. Fast paced and fun if you have been reading the series.

Oh, Mercy! How I have missed you! The longer than normal wait just about killed me. You all know that I'm a huge fan of the Mercy Thompson series. I've loved every book wholeheartedly so far and I think that Storm Cursed is going to be a front runner for my favorite book in the series. I loved it! We got witches and goblin kings and fae politics and miniature zombie goats. Oh, my!

This book like previous Mercy books was full of action and humor and surprising twists but this book was significantly darker than most of the previous books and definitely has a higher body count. I liked that this book was darker. Mercy claiming the Tri-Cities area as hers was bound to bring trouble and a lot of change and I'm glad that the book's tone reflects that. I'm loving where this story arc is going and I love learning more and more about this world. Like always, some of the twists surprised the heck out of me but I did call one thing and I'm proud of myself for seeing it coming.

With every book in this series, we get to see Mercy come more and more into her own and accepting and owning her place in the pack. Now, she's also the center of the Tri-Cities and supernatural political scene and I am here for the Pack becoming the area's protectors. I really enjoyed the politics a lot and I loved learning more about the witches and the covens even more! It was so fascinating.

One of the things I love about this series is the romance between Mercy and Adam. I need more books with established couples because these two are one of my favorite OTPs. One of the best things about this series has been watching their relationship change and grow into what it is now. Unfortunately, their responsibilities keep them separated through most of the book but when they're together they are relationship goals.

Another thing I love about this series is the side characters and they really shine in this installment. It was also fun to be reunited with some of our old favorites as well as meeting some new faces. I love so many characters in this series and with each new installment I end up loving them all a little bit more. Tad and Zee are back in the garage helping Mercy. The pack is the pack. And the vampires are still, well, the vampires. I just love how all the characters play off of each other and I can already tell that Larry is going to be a favorite. And I was absolutely delighted to learn more about Sherwood Post and his past!

While reading this book, I got the impression that Patricia Briggs is setting the stage for something major in the future and I think it's going to revolve around the witches. Maybe that's how Tom and Moira come back into the storyline? I'm just hazarding a guess.

I've said it before. There's a reason Patricia Briggs is one of the best Urban Fantasy authors out there and one of my all-time favorites. Reading her books is like coming home. They're comfort reads and I feel immediately at home in the world no matter how long it's been since I last picked up a Mercy or an Alpha & Omega book. The ending of this book just makes me want the next one in my hands right now! I just want to know what happens next!

I really enjoyed this book. I had always wondered what happened to a certain character and now I know. I won't specify who, because of spoilers. I was a little saddened by some choices a different particular character made and I'm interested to see how that will play out further in the future. I'm trying to be vague so that people won't be spoiled, but I did enjoy it. I'm really interested in the development of a few of the side characters - I hope they show up in extra books. I love this series in general though. Can't wait for the next one!

[2.5/5 stars] Storm Cursed had a lot of the elements I’ve come to love from the Mercy Thompson series. Pack dynamics (I love it when they don’t get along lol), fun mysteries (in this case involving miniature goat zombies), and a world filled with so many interesting characters it’s hard to find page-time for them all.

Alas, despite having all the same ingredients, Storm Cursed was my least favorite since Frost Burned. I have some thoughts as to why:

The main character, Mercy is where I see my most prominent dissatisfactions here. For one thing, she just doesn’t seem like the same Mercy I fell in love with at the beginning of the series. Her character seems very different these days, at least to my perceptions. And not because of how her profile has evolved (because character growth is essential to any good series), but more from a writing standpoint (i.e. what Briggs chooses to have Mercy’s POV focus on). She’s very concerned with mundane things that don’t add any real character value for me – such as making sure to not use her phone while driving, or taking care to wear gloves while working on an engine. Moments like that are clear moments, and I’m finding them distracting. The sentiments are all good, for sure, but there are other ways to convey a character’s practical nature without sounding like an after school special. I read a really good article by Chuck Wendig about why including the mundane, even to establish character, can work against you, and much of what he warns against was present in this book (I’m referring specifically to his “Not Everything is Interesting” section).

Maybe it’s just me. Most of the readers in my Goodreads group didn’t have any of these same objections. Maybe all these mundane things add to the experience for others and I’m just being too picky. For whatever reason, it’s just didn’t work for me in this book.

The problem compounds even further for me. Mercy used to be a catalyst! An instigator of change who took her destiny into her own hands and made things happen. But in these last two novels, she was kind of a non-factor when it came to the conflict resolution… very reactionary. This issue doubles down in Storm Cursed because many of the conflicts happened off-page (on the periphery of the story, where the characters find out about them after the fact), which only served to increase the distance I felt. Maybe that’s why I had more time to scrutinize the characters – there wasn’t as much active engagement.

Now for some positive talk (because, after all, I still love the series). What definitely didn’t let me down were the side characters and the overall advancement of the series. Between Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega, this world has so much depth! The number of stories and characters Briggs could expand on are boundless. Every side character is interesting. Every backstory compelling. Every supernatural faction is still mostly an enigma. The care paid to its overall construction and development is brilliant, and it’s also why Briggs is one of my favorite authors (not to mention she’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Working as a bookseller, I’ve met countless authors over the years, and she’s still responsible for my favorite interaction to date, by far. If you can catch her at a signing – go!!).

My point is, even though Storm Cursed didn’t quite tickle my fancy like past novels have, I’m still a huge fan of this series and will definitely be reading anything Briggs decides to write next. Which, incidentally, is NOT going to be a random spinoff novel about Christy… apparently Briggs & Co. played an April fools joke where they announced she’d be taking a break from the main characters for a while. Unfortunately I didn’t see the original post, just a summary in a weekly newsletter… meaning I read about it on April 7th and had no reason to suspect it wasn’t legit. So I spread the word… and then facepalmed when I found out it was a joke. But I suppose it’s a testament to this author that I would’ve been totally on board with a Christy novel! I’m not sure how I feel about jokes in general on that scale, but considering that’s how the Hugh books in Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series got started (Iron and Magic was bomb), I won’t complain too much.

Recommendations: while Storm Cursed contained many of the components I’ve come to love from this series, a bit of the magic was missing for me, making it my least favorite in a long while. However, it advances the plot nicely and will give you a few laughs along the way. Definitely don’t pick it up unless you’re up to date with the series. :)

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller

I have been a fan of the Mercy Thompson series since book one. I remember well the days she drove her neighbor Adam crazy by adding another junker car in the field between their homes. Now they are a happily married couple, partners juggling work, home, and pack life. That is right pack life. Adam is the alpha of a pack of werewolves and Mercy is a coyote shifter, a walker of lore, a hunter of vampires. She doesn't know her full powers and likely never will because her father Coyote is not one for full disclosure.

When we last left Mercy she had promised protection to those living in pack lands and had defeated a troll on a bridge in full views of cameras assisted by the wolves. What a coming out party, also outed were the Fae population. Now the Fae and the American government was to meet to negotiate a treaty and Mercy and the pack are in the middle of both sides.

You think this book will be all about this Fae meeting but enter stage right zombie miniature goats. Yup. Mercy had the same thought. Full of fast paced action and adventure plus well placed humor and not a little danger this book zips along. Fans of the series will not be able to put it down.

Vampires, werewolves, and witches, oh my! This is another action-packed installment in Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. The children's rhyme in the first pages sets the tone for the entire book (Creepy! In a good way!). This book is filled with cool characters kicking ass...and MINIATURE ZOMBIE GOATS! I'm pretty sure I would buy the book even if that was the only thing listed in the description. Pull up a comfy chair and your favorite beverage, and be prepared to be entertained!

I received an advance copy for review from Netgalley.

I love the way Patricia Briggs writes. I will forever giggle when I hear the word Nudge. There were a few things that I felt I needed to read the series again to remember what the referenced.

You can't go wrong with little zombie goats to start out a book about magic gone horribly awry. Long time readers of the series will find this book extremely satisfying in many ways. Mercy and her relationship with Adam remains strong, Stefan is back in a bigger role, and the crazy Wulfe makes an appearance. Also, Mercy's garage is open again, with Zee and Tad back to help. Great underlying mystery as well, overall a really good installment.

Patricia Briggs returns with book eleven in the Mercy Thompson series. I was so excited to be back in this world. Normally, I do think that this series has a slower vibe compared to some other Urban Fantasy series that I usually read, but that has always been okay for me.

However, I did notice that this book has a slower pace than usual. Because this is the eleventh book in the series, the author spends some time in the beginning to recap past events. This is always helpful because it jogs the reader’s memory, but also fills in the gaps for any new readers. However, I did feel like it really bogged down the earlier chapters, especially because it seems that Mercy was going off on tangents as well. It seemed a bit out of character and frankly, for a moment there, I wondered if I was reading a Mercy Thompson book.

As a result, I didn’t feel like the book was written as tightly as the previous books in the series. There seemed to be a lot of dialogue, which I didn’t necessarily feel added to the book in any way. I also thought that the humor was a bit off in this book. Instead of being charming or funny, the jokes seemed to be a bit of the har-har kind. I don’t know. Something felt off for me.

I know this review makes it seem like I didn’t enjoy the book but I did. However, it just didn’t have the same feel as the others. So while there are some really great moments in the book, it just wasn’t my favorite.

Great story line, but I felt it was rushed. It was one event after the other. I loved the books that really took the time with Mercy and the supporting characters. Part of the reason I fell in love with this series in the beginning was the time and detail the author put in to each character and the development of the relationships. I feel that this element is missing or lacking, but still an entertaining reading.

I have been a fan of the Mercy Thompson series from the very beginning, with MOON CALLED, and always look forward to a new entry into the series. I appreciated the change up last time around when the action took place in Europe, but it was enjoyable to get back to the home front in this latest entry.

This time around the plot focuses on the witch who the Pack uses, Elizaveta Arkadyevna Vyshnevetskaya (and that's a mouthful)! When her entire family is slain while she is out of the country, Elizaveta relies on Mercy and her pack connections to figure out who is using black magic for nefarious means in the area. The action in this installment excludes a number of the usual crew, but we readers don't mind, so long as they show back up in the next title in the series!

STORM CURSED has some descriptions of torture that were hard to read (and I skimmed); and though I know this has been present in other books in the series, it was a bit over the top for me, with human and animal torture included. That is why I have withheld one start, as a 5 star read is one I can recommend with NO reservation.

I'm thrilled that STORM CURSED made the LibraryReads list, and apologize that I couldn't get this one read before publication. This series always circulates well here, and I buy multiple copies when they are released. Thanks for the opportunity to read a digital galley! Always appreciated.

Four stars: Another riveting installment in Mercy’s world. This time an encounter with some dark and powerful witches.

Mercy is on a mission. Tonight she and her fellow pack mates along with the local Goblin King, are tracking down a goblin responsible for murder. The group gets the deed done, only to get a call that there are some zombie goats on the loose. Something strange is going on in the pack’s territory, and it is up to Mercy to figure out who is behind the paranormal happenings. It doesn’t take long to find out the culprit. It seems some powerful dark witches have come to town with the intent to take over. These witches can throw some dark spells, and they turn their victims into zombies. Can Mercy and company destroy this foe or will they die trying?
What I Liked:
*Eleven books in and the Mercy Thompson series is still going strong. I love this UF series set in the Pacific Northwest. You never know what to expect when reading a Mercy book, but I promise it will be entertaining. This one doesn’t disappoint.
*I love the dynamics between Mercy and the pack. It is enjoyable to watch relationships evolve and develop as they all continue to get used to Mercy being the Alpha’s mate. In this one, we see some fun movement in Mercy’s relationship with Honey. I enjoyed the banter between these two who were once at odds. I especially enjoyed watching Mercy’s bond grow with Sherwood Post.
*Speaking of Sherwood Post, there are some fascinating developments with his character. This time, there are some hints to his back story, and Sherwood is not what he seems. I liked seeing Sherwood step in and help save the day a time or two. I am curious to know more.
*Zee, Tad and Uncle Mike, all fae residents play big roles in this one. Zee has always been a favorite character of mine, and I was delighted to see him step up and take a big part in this one.
*The dark witches were downright scary. They are evil and vile and they practice black magic. Shivers!
There is, as always, plenty of action in this book. Prepare for lots of fight scenes, loads of action and magic and mayhem.
*I appreciate that Ms. Briggs always manages to throw in some enjoyable down time with the pack letting it loose and hanging out, it adds much needed comic relief.
The ending ties up the loose ends, no cliffhangers. I can’t wait for more.
And The Not So Much:
*One thing about Briggs’ books is that they can be very dark. This one has disturbing scenes of torture and animal abuse that are not for the faint of heart. Sometimes, I think this series gets almost too dark. I am not a fan of the ritualistic killings and abusive scenes that happen in this series.
Even though I liked that this book was mostly about Mercy acting on her own with the help of some friends, I missed the pack dynamic. Adam is noticeably missing for a good chunk of the book. What was up with all those mysterious meetings?
*This is a series that you can’t pick up at anytime as so much of it is built on the foundation of the previous books. I get lost at times because it is usually two years in between book releases.
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Lorelei King. Ms. King is one of my all time favorite narrators, but I struggled with her narrating this book. I think mostly because I have read all the other books in this series. Picking up the eleventh on audiobook may not have been the best choice. Lorelei King narrates the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. I kept mixing up Mercy for Charley.
*I say this all the time when reviewing a Mercy book, we need more Bran. There was no Bran at all in this one!!

Storm Cursed proved to be another exciting installment in the series. Mercy goes to battle with some dark witches along with the help of some friends. I love watching the characters grow and evolve. Never a dull moment in this series. My one hesitation with this series as a whole is that at times it gets dark, but it is still a fantastic series that I continue to enjoy after eleven books and counting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

The Mercy Thompson series is one which continues to be a winner for me. Mercy is such a fantastic heroine. I love how her gifts keep evolving, while she still considers herself one of the weakest supernaturals in any given room. But what she may lack in brute strength, she makes up for in smarts and her ability to read a situation. This installment is no exception.

In many of the past books, the storyline surrounded a Mercy-in-Danger plot. That’s not so here. There is danger, to be sure, but Mercy is no more at risk than the pack as a whole.

Someone is raising zombie animals and since Mercy claimed the Tri-Cities under the protection of her pack, she is tapped to neutralize the threat. Somehow, though, Patricia Briggs makes the zombies here cute. They are miniature zombie goats. Zombie cows. Mercy not only has to take the animals out, but must figure out who raised them and why.

This ends up being a very witch-centric book. Although the fae do hover on the edge of the story. Leaders of the Grey Lords want to meet with the human government and Adam’s pack is part of the negotiations. But the witches are planning something nefarious and Elizaveta’s family is collateral damage. There are a lot of moving pieces, from the new wolf Sherwood to Stephan, to even Coyote. I loved it all.

Bonus points. Christy is gone from the picture. None of the squicky Bran stuff from the last Alpha and Omega book comes up. And we even get a little quality time with Mary Jo and Ben. Plus, I am reminded of how much I like Mercy and Adam together. They are so much stronger together than apart.

Over all, this was a really solid book and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Fans will not be disappointed.

Rating: A