Patricia Briggs never disappoints...

Mercy is dealing with repercussions after her tangle with the Soul Taker. Plus Bonarata is subtly tormenting Mercy with horrific phone calls.

In true Mercy style, she's hiding the worst of it from Adam and the rest of her loved ones. Of course, they know she's more damaged than she's letting on so they're trying to find ways to help her.

Then her brother Gary shows up, unable to communicate and seeming to be in the thrall of some kind of curse. They enlist help from unlikely Fae sources who possibly made things worse while showcasing a weakness in the pack (which will probably come back to bite them in the ass later as it wasn't fully explored in this book).

Gary's troubles send Mercy and Adam into an unnatural snowstorm in the middle of nowhere Montana to save Gary. The mission ends up being more complicated than they thought with much more on the line than they could have possibly imagined.

New characters and multiple points of view depart from the usual format of the Mercy books but Briggs weaves everything together seamlessly. Briggs has multiple characters with their own needs and desires, all creating little plot bunnies of story threads woven together to create arcs that will reach throughout the series into future books. Incredible.

Action packed from cover to cover. The main story line was wrapped up but all the little threads left dangling are sure to be pulled into future books for exploration. I can't wait to read what's next.

Patricia Briggs does it again. Mercy and Adam and old gods, what is there not to love? Add in a satisfying answer to a problem from previous novel, and an appearance of Coyote and you have annoyed excellent addition to this series that readers will love!

Mercy Thompson is a coyote shifter, daughter of the Coyote. She has a half brother whose coyote half gets him into trouble more often than not.
One day Mercy's brother shows up being unable to communicate and clearly in trouble so it's Mercy to the rescue.

This is number 14 in the Mercy Thompson series and is a great addition to the story. I can't wait to complete my collection with the audiobook.

Another stunning book by Patricia Briggs in the Mercy Thompson series. I ready this thoroughly and relished the writing and plot development. Excellent story and characterization.

Absolutely adore Patricia Briggs and Winter Lost is a new favorite. Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections.

I've been reading Mercy's series for a LONG time and caught up on the two books in the series prior to Winter Lost just before diving in. A new view (pun intended) from Briggs that we get is multiple POVs; traditionally she's told these stories from Mercy's POV. Winter Lost has so many views, almost too many, but I think it may have helped as this was readers' first foray into the world of Norse mythology in a modern world. I've loved that Briggs has always kept multiple culture and mythology influences when she chooses a new mystery for Mercy and Adam to overcome but those have seemed to match to the backgrounds of characters they've interacted with through out the current or prior book. While I enjoyed this winter wonderland mystery, with more of the focus on Mercy & Adam teaming up, especially after prior books' struggles, versus Mercy & Adam utilizing the pack and the fae, I would've liked a lot more build up into what was happening with her brother and how it came to be before we dove into the mountains and knew very little of the dynamic going on. I do love that the cabin/inn gave the story a feel of Clue-esque puzzles with new characters and environments which I think still left it feeling refreshing. All in all a solid dip into a new type of storytelling in the Mercy series....but i would LOVE to know what's going to happen with Bonarata and that open plot. Next book, perhaps?!

Winter Lost is the 14th book in the mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs and let me just start off by saying I didn’t know this was part of a series but didn’t find that encumbered my enjoyment of the story. I found the author told me everything I had to know about the book and with the on going story. With the exception of her stalker I really wasn’t lost at all. In this book mercy has to help her brother Gary who lives in Montana and who she recently found but soon his problems become hers and drama and violence ensue. There was something I truly enjoyed about this book especially with Mercy and her not being the biggest and the baddest but just a plain coyote shifter with a family that is deadly. I love the fact she is a bad ass mechanic can take care of her self but can also be female caring and kind I love the story about her brother I wish I would’ve read this Siri‘s from the beginning and chances are I probably will I will definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author and in this series. I also love the fact even though her boyfriend was supposed to be the biggest and baddest that he almost got killed in the last book I think Patricia Briggs brings as much reality into her Shapeshifting fantasy stories and it makes it that much more enjoyable as it these are flawed characters as well. I truly enjoyed this book and since I read it as a standalone I can honestly say it can definitely be read as that just now she is being stalked by a lunatic who calls her constantly as if she doesn’t have enough on her plate lol! Can I just say I absolutely loved her uncle who owns the bar hope to see him in future books. I also love that they have Faye’s in the book and vampires and it’s not just focused on shifters there’s just a lot to love about Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs. I want to thank Berkeley publishing for my free ARC copy via NetGalley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for access to this arc.

I hadn’t realised it’s been more than a year since Soul Taken came out but it was released in August 2022 and I read an early copy. That probably explains why my memory of the plot was a bit vague. After I started Winter Lost I realised I needed to back up the truck and refresh myself on what happened in the previous book – key plot points are pivotal. By the time I realised that however, I was too invested in Winter Lost to re-read all of Soul Taken. I found the Wiki entry plus the last few chapters of the book were enough.

I was engrossed in the story as I was reading, finding every excuse to read and staying up too late to finish. Definitely the sign of a good book. But, once I finished, I realised that there were story threads that didn’t really go anywhere (Jessie/Tad). Perhaps they will in future books. Others were wrapped up in a couple of paragraphs which had me questioning why they were in the book at all (New Mexico). The dominance issue between Darryl/Warren and Sherwood was only lightly canvassed. I had thought there might be some links between some of these things to bring the whole thing together but there were not. It left me feeling a bit like things were unfinished. Perhaps that was deliberate. There will be (I hope!) more Mercy books in the future. But it did feel a little “bitty” to me in places.

Given the polarisation in US politics I wonder whether some things in the book will bother both sides. Personally I appreciated a trans character appearing in the story but it felt a little like the trans character was only in the book to show that Adam is not transphobic. It’s a thing I appreciated about him but for story purposes, I think it would have worked better had the character been more intrinsic to the plot.

The thing is, because Adam is fictional I can hand-wave his politics to sufficient degree to love him regardless in a way I could not if he were a real person. Even so, I’d rather not think about his politics at all and keep the Mercyverse to the various supernatural factions. Other than his politics, Adam is one of my favourite heroes. I love the way he loves Mercy. I love the way she loves him. I love them as a team. I love that the last few books have had Adam and Mercy working together a lot. Mercy still gets to do things Adam can’t do and be the centre of the story. But over time, Adam has become a more central character and I (mostly) enjoy his POV sections.

As much as I enjoyed Winter Lost as I was reading, when I thought about it later, the lack of cohesion in some of the story parts bothered me and kept the book from being an A read. It’s not the best book in the series but it is regardless, a very good book and a solid entry to the Mercyverse.

Another great book by Ms. Briggs. Love the mix of characters, especially bringing in a short story character from Chicago. While I miss a couple of my favorites, we can’t have it all. Mercy’s character stayed true to form, and hopefully we are on path to vanquish Bonarata. Enjoyed the new villans/foes/allies and trying to ascertain which category they really were. As usual twisty plot, Coyote after all, holes filled in, and wonderful finish. Very much eager to tell my patrons about this latest episode of vampires, werewolves and fae.

The fourteenth book in the Mercy Thompson series starts out in familiar territory- with Mercy home with the pack and working in her garage. When her brother suddenly shows up, unable to communicate and seemingly under some kind of curse, Mercy and Adam must travel to Montana to not only save Gary, but maybe the world.

Despite this series being fourteen books in, the world-building keeps growing and expanding. With their mission into Montana, Mercy and Adam face a killer snowstorm and a winter god bent on retrieving a lost artifact, all while Mercy is still suffering the lingering effects of the Soul Taker.

When the book opens Adam and her friends are looking for ways to help heal her, but they haven’t found a way to help. Mercy is still afraid of Bonarata, who continues to harass her with phone calls, keeping her on the edge, worrying about when he will carry through on his threats to kill those she loves. Then Gary enters the picture and Mercy and Adam quickly realize the only way to free him from the curse is to travel to Montana and confront the entity responsible.

This book is pretty much centered around Adam and Mercy and their journey, with other POVs told in interludes, sprinkled in throughout the book. At times it was challenging to keep track of all the narrators, but as all the plot threads are tied up and the whole story comes together, it all starts to make sense.

This couple is stronger than ever, a united front against every threat that comes their way. There are some side stories, broadening some relationships within the pack, hinting at future stories to come and I am here for it. This is a solid entry into the series, full of action, adventure, magic, and love. I look forward to the next installment.

I have been a fan of the Mercy Thompson series since book one. Mercy is a strong willed, Native American woman with a gift: she can shapeshifter into a coyote. Her character is well developed and she has a spark for getting mixed up in the chaos. One thing that makes her special is her strength of character; she can be surrounded by powerful supernatural beings and still hold her own.

In Winter Lost, Mercy is once again thrown into the chaos of being a Coyote. Her brother, Gary, sets the story into motion, sending Mercy and Adam on a quest of mythical proportions. Old acquaintances and new friends join the slow building mystery; a mystery that has dire consequences if not solved. The question is: will Mercy’s solve the mystery in time to save the world?

I was very excited to jump back into Mercy’s life but the introduction felt drawn out. The recap of previous events and characters was a tad long for the book fourteenth in the series. However, once the recap was complete and the quest began, the story became very engaging.

An interesting aspect of this novel was the mix of characters. From vampires to witches and gods, you never quite knew how the story would add up. However, my favorite part was seeing some forgotten faces- and if you’ve read Shifting Shadows, you’ll agree.

Mercy’s struggle with magic in the aftermath of Soul Taken made for another interesting plot line. It changed the perspective of the story in a unique way, letting the reader see a side of the supernatural world that was not possible to express in past narratives. Without this new take on magic, the duality of this story would be impossible to tell.

Briggs did an excellent job in concluding the story. Sometimes an ending can feel rushed but this had a fulfilling end. Plot holes were answered and loose ends were tied up, all while sparking thoughtful questions about the world and its fate.

When Mercy's brother Gary shows up out of the blue suffering from a magical curse, she and her mate Adam travel to the wilds of Montana to find a solution. On arrival to Gary's home and the nearby lodge, Mercy and Adam learn that their problems are much larger than they appeared and failure could be catastrophic.

Verdict: This is the #20 book in the Mercy Thompson world and felt like a bridge between the previous arc and the upcoming one. Most if not all of our favorite characters made at least one customary appearance, and left plenty of room in future books for a Adam/Mercy rematch with Italian vampire Bonarata. Can't wait until the next release to find out what happens next.

*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review!*

I mostly enjoyed this book, but did have some slightly mixed feelings. It was engaging and absorbing - as compulsively readable as all of Briggs work. It definitely moved the series plot forward. However, I would have liked a little more on why Sherwood still doesn't have his memory back when Leah and everyone else affected did. Also, the ending felt fairly rushed after quite a lot of build up.

Hold on to your hats, this is a good one! As a long time reader, I am always excited for a new Mercy book. I loved that this took them to a new location and I love how it all worked out!

Absolutely amazing story! Patricia Briggs never disappoints and sucks me in from the very beginning, like always. There is just something about revisiting Mercy and Adam and her world that is so comforting and exciting at the same time. I love the build up in this book, the mystery is doing its thing for sure! I also love all the little crumbs that is foreshadowing for the showdown with the current big bad, Bonarata! My only con in the entire book - I want more Ben! Can't get enough of that crusty werewolf!

When I was approved for the arc for this book, I honest-to-god did a triumphant fist pump. I love the Mercy Thompson series, and if you’re a fan of urban fantasy, don’t let this one pass you by.

In Winter Lost, Mercy is still dealing with some pretty negative effects from the last book; her magic and her soul took a hefty beating and she’s not yet recovered. What she really needs is some time to rest, but when her half-brother shows up on the doorstep, cursed and freaking out, he takes priority. She and Adam drive up to Montana where Gary was staying to try to find the cause and remove the curse, only to be pulled into a winter storm that isn’t entirely natural. And this storm could have serious consequences for the entire world.

A series this long (14 books!) will have lots of backstory informing the plot. In between books it’s easy for the reader to forget things, which is why you often get a “previously on…” style infodump in the first few chapters. Briggs is great at getting you caught up without it feeling like a firehose of information, and doing it in an organic way that doesn’t take you out of the story. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate that and the skill it takes.

Winter Lost gives us more of the great bond between Mercy and Adam, a good plot balanced with emotional character beats, and new mythologies – Nordic this time! The rest of the pack isn’t very involved in this one; they get a little time early on, but the focus is really on Mercy and Adam, with a sprinkling of Gary.

We get resolution for a couple of big plot issues, but there’s still plenty to address in the next book. Overall I liked this book a bit more than the previous two, and it’s a fantastic addition to a beloved urban fantasy series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy! It made my day to get the chance to read and review this.
Winter Lost will be released on June 18. If you like urban fantasy, don’t miss out on this series!

Well it seems that Soul Taken was not the end of this story and it is continued in Winter Lost to a great extent. While the main plot is new the background plot that is left over from the previous book is not and both plots converge in the book for resolution and it was done masterfully by one of the better writers of fiction. There are bits of damage that Mercy took from the Soul Taker in the last book and a supernatural "Winter King" that is going to kill everyone if he cannot get back an item that was stolen from him. Trying to solve both problems and a bit of whodunnit along the way make for an exciting story and I had to stop everything else I was doing for the last 25% of the book since things were happening at a rapid pace.

Bottom Line: An exceptional story done by a master but make sure you read Soul Taken first or you may be a bit confused as to what is going on.

If you can count on one thing is that Patricia Briggs is going to write a fast-paced fantastic book. In this volume, Mercy's brother gets into some trouble (shocker!) and Mercy has to go with Adam to figure out what happened. They have graduated to nordic gods which is so much fun because I love nordic mythology. We also get a great new array of new characters and some reoccurring ones. I'm not going to lie, I was a little worried that we were leaving the Tri-Cities because it felt like something Anna and Charles would do but the story totally makes sense. I also really enjoyed switching POVs between different characters. It really allowed you to understand their motivations and made the book feel really fresh even if we are deep in the series. I wish I was as good a writer as Patricia Briggs to truly explain it but it was so so good! Anyone who knows m or follows me knows I love these books so much and I will re-read them constantly so know that I'm being serious when I say that this is one of my favorites and I think it would read great even as a standalone. I highly recommend!


Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and Patricia Briggs for giving me the amazing opportunity to review this book as an ARC. All opinions are my own.

The good. We get to see what has been going on since Soul Taker and the repercussions Mercy has been facing. We also get to visit some of our favorite characters and get their point of view as well. The not so good. I'm conflicted. While I did enjoy this book, I felt like there were too many points of view. I did love getting Adam's, but I feel like some of them were not needed or wanted. I put this novel down multiple times, which has never happened with a Mercedes Thompson novel! I have read this series so many times over the years. It's one of my favorite worlds to revisit. Overall, I did enjoy the novel, but I do hope the next one will hold my attention better.

A new Mercy book is almost always a good time. Mercy and Adam have but a few of their known allies to call on in this one, but it works well. Definitely recommended for lovers of the series. New readers, go back to the beginning and start there!