'Silver Borne' Mercedes Thompson # 5 by Patricia BRIGGS

From the BLURB:

Being a mechanic is hard work. Mercy Thompson, for instance, just spent the last couple of months trying to evade the murderous queen of the local vampire seethe, and now the leader of the werewolf pack - who's maybe-more-than-just-a-friend - has asked for her help. A book of fae secrets has come to light and they're all about to find out how implacable - and dangerous - the fae can be. OK, so maybe her troubles have nothing to do with the job. But she sure could use a holiday...

I absolutely inhaled this book. I read it in about five hours, and was up until 2AM because I could not put it down. This is perhaps my most-anticipated book of 2010, and I was not disappointed.

Briggs promised that 'Silver Borne' would be Samuel's book, and it certainly is. Early on in the book Samuel tries to commit suicide. He is only saved by his wolf, 'Sam', who takes the reigns to ensure human/wolf survival. So while Mercy is dealing with the fae and a 'hot' fae book, she has to keep an eye on Sam and figure out what will ignite Samuel's will to live.

‘Silver Borne’ is the fifth Mercy Thompson book, and I think this was a very important installment in the Mercy series. ‘Silver Borne’ marks Mercy’s true transition to pack-member, thus opening up a whole new world for Briggs to explore.

In previous books Mercy has been on the outside of Adam’s pack, looking in. Werewolf ‘business’ was always something Mercy heard about from the likes of Warren, Jesse and Adam. In ‘Silver Borne’ Mercy, and readers, become integral and witnesses to Adam’s pack.

One big change in ‘Silver Borne’ is that quite a few of Adam’s pack members, who have been secondary characters in previous books, are brought to the fore and fleshed out. Characters like Darryl, Mary Jo and Auriele who only ever had minor roles and little characterization in previous books are given their own personalities, histories and future storylines because they are now firmly in Mercy’s world.

Beloved characters like Warren and Ben, the only members of Adam’s pack to have had substantial roles in previous books, both have lengthy appearances in ‘Silver Borne’. I think their roles will only grow in future books because they are Mercy’s staunchest supporters, and the pack members she is closest to.

‘Silver Borne’ clearly marks Mercy’s transition from loner to pack – and it’s a wonderful opportunity for Briggs to explore a different side to werewolf dynamic. We get to read a ‘challenge’ – when one werewolf fights another for advancement in pack rank. Mercy learns more about her mental and metaphysical links to the pack and Adam. It makes for fascinating reading, and adds new dimensions to the ‘Mercy Thompson’ world.

I’ve read a few early reviews of ‘Silver Borne’ that said anticipation and high expectation for the book equaled disappointment when it didn’t live up. I really didn’t have that feeling. But then again, pretty much the only thing I wanted from ‘Silver Borne’ was some good Mercy/Adam tenderness. And Briggs delivers tenfold. Adam and Mercy are still navigating their mateship, but they are both absolutely smitten with one another. ‘Silver Borne’ has the steamiest Adam/Mercy coupling since the series started, and there are plenty of opportunities for fans to *squee* at the romantic-ness!

He smiled at me. “You were supposed to be the Alpha’s eye candy.”

Adam laughed.

“What?” I asked him. “You don’t think I’d be good eye candy?” I looked down at my overalls and grease-stained hands. I’d torn another nail to the quick.

“Honey is eye candy,” said Ben apologetically. “You’re… just you.”

“Mine,” said Adam, edging between Heart and me. “Mine is what she is.”

I only had 2 disappointments with ‘Silver Borne’. The first is, no Stefan. Arguably he had a very big role in ‘Bone Crossed’ when the vampires were the villains… but he is a fan favorite and it would have been nice if he had an appearance.

My second complaint was to do with Samuel. In promoting ‘Silver Borne’ Briggs promised that it would be Samuel’s book, but I wasn’t 100% satisfied.

For those who have read the book, let me explain.

**SPOILERS**

I think it was kind of a cop-out to have Sam’s love interest be someone he met hundreds of years ago. I kind of wanted an evolution like we got with Charles and Anna in the ‘Alpha & Omega series’. Instead Briggs conveniently (and by coincidence) throws someone in Samuel’s path who he once loved, but had to walk away from. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled that Samuel was ‘saved’ and found a reason to live… but at the same time I would have preferred reading a whole contained love story, starting with ‘boy meets girl’.

**END SPOILERS**

I absolutely loved this book. ‘Mercy Thompson’ is my all-time favorite Urban Fantasy series, and ‘Silver Borne’ reinforces my love. I can’t wait for book #7, ‘River Marked’!

5/5