River Marked
Jill McDole reviews book number six from the Mercy Thompson series.
Author: Patricia Briggs
Publisher: Orbit Books
Availability: Out Now
Price: £7.99
River Marked is book number six in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is a mechanic with a passion for both VW’s and her husband, Adam. Mercy is also a shapeshifter, a coyote, while her mate is a werewolf. She has been begrudgingly accepted by his pack… finally. After a small wedding ceremony, she and her new husband embark on a quiet honeymoon in the solitude of a remote canyon near the Colombia River, but - of course - trouble manages to find them.
Mercy is attacked by a river monster while she and her husband rescue a man that has been attacked in the water. Locals are dying, and once she is marked, Mercy begins to have premonitions. As she looks into the legend of the monster, she begins to uncover secrets about her Native American Heritage. As they are away from the pack, they meet many new and interesting characters, including a group of shape shifters.
I have read some reviews complaining about Mercy’s lack of ass kicking in this novel. I maintain, however, that the pending marriage needed to be addressed at this point. The scenery is different, the characters are different, and I think rightfully so. The book serves a two-fold purpose-to sort out Mercy’s background and to solidify her relationship with Adam. Mercy’s character has been evolving throughout the series; anyone who missed the changes in her behaviour as she began to trust Adam and accept love from him won’t understand the point of the novel.
I’ve no doubt Mercy will soon be back to kicking ass and taking names. The plot wasn’t as tense in this novel, I will grant you. I think Brigg’s made a grand choice with this novel, allowing Mercy to be more than a fighter and a survivor - to be a woman in love with a man she trusts.
8/10
