Iron Kissed: Mercy Thompson, Book 3

SummaryMechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape - but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice fir her...The GoodThis was an amazing book. The plot was exciting and the twists were genuinely surprising. Iron Kissed has Mercy trying to prove her fae friend Zee is innocent of murder. The fae don't seem to want to help their fellow brethren, so Mercy sticks her nose into fae business, and the fae are not happy. But Mercy soon finds herself on the real killer's trail and stolen magical pieces seem to be the link.This book concentrates on the fae and the werewolf pack. I missed Stefan (vampire) in this book. With him being such a big part of Blood Bound, I missed the vampire element just a little. But it didn't take away from the book at all.The character development was the best out of all the books. Adam, Mercy, and many of the werewolves have become so real to me that I find it hard to admit that they are not walking amongst us in the real world.The Gray Lords, the rulers of the fae, freak me out. The more I learn about the fae and their past, the more I am intrigued and creeped out. They are a scary race that have no limits.Briggs excels at dramatic writing. There is a depth of emotion the she portrays in this book that we don't often find in urban fantasy. Although we get the the mystery, action, and ever-creative world-building, this book also brings a darker side of the real world that I think will only strengthen Mercy as a character for future books.I want to point out that this book had a more serious tone than the previous two novels. I liked the change of pace. It felt real and seemed the right time to have a huge event change the course of future novels. Like many, I want my novels to entertain me and leave me satisfied as I turn the last page. But if the whole happy-happy joy-joy endings continue, the series starts to feel unrealistic (yes, I know this is all fantasy, but you know what I mean). I like when a book shocks me with it's direction. I don't want to read a formula that will ensure everyone enjoys the book. I want to read words from an author who takes risks, makes me cry, causes me to cringe by what she does to her characters. This is why I read. So, yes, a very traumatic experience happens to Mercy and Briggs handles it in both a sensitive and considerate way that in no way offends me as it has others.The BadAfter the previous two novels that built up who Mercy would finally choose as a mate, Adam or Sam, I felt the final decision in this book was a little anticlimactic. The quick-resolution made the Adam/Sam/Mercy triangle a little pointless as a plotline.The SnugglyThe horrible experience Mercy goes through in this book is done tastefully and without detail as to not upset readers.OverallI have truly fallen in love with this series. Mercy is one of the best protagonists out there in the urban fantasy world. I truly did love the build-up of the potential romantic interests in the previous books, even if I wish the resolution in this book was a little more...well just more. I could not put this book down. And the darker side at the end had me entranced even when I wanted to cry. A big, huge recommendation to all readers out there.

This book left me with all kinds of feelings. I have had a hard time getting it out of my head since I finished it hours ago. This was a re-read for me but it has been roughly 6 years since the first time I read this book and it really had a bigger impact on me this time around. I have so much love for this series having read all of the books set in the Mercy world and now working on re-reading them as time allows. This book felt like a really pivotal book this time around since I know how things do work out. I am in awe of the magic that is the Mercy Thompson series.Mercy is asked by Zee to help out with an investigation investigation involving the fae. Things get a whole lot more complicated almost immediately after when Zee is arrested and charged with murder. Mercy knows that he is innocent so she is going to do everything in her power to set the record straight even when she is told to leave things alone. I will be honest and admit that I didn't remember who the bad guy was in this mystery and was trying to puzzle through everything right along with Mercy and she discovered new pieces of information.The other major point in this book focuses on Mercy's love life. In the previous books in the series, Mercy has had both Adam and Sam showing interest in her. Sam ended up moving in with her as roommates and Adam has declared her as his mate. Sam and Adam are both very strong Alpha wolves and a choice has to be made. Mercy does finally figure out where her heart is in this book and she does it in a way that reminds me why I love her character as much as I do.The final section of the book really got to me. It was intense to say the least. I was emotionally all over the place as I listened to the everything that happens to Mercy. I was angry for her. I wanted to cry for her. I wanted to help glue back all of the pieces or try to do something to make it be that things didn't really happen. I think that the way that Patricia Briggs decided to share how Mercy was feeling during the aftermath of the big event is genius. I am in awe of her writing ability. Mercy dealt with the pain by turning into her coyote. In doing so, the way she acted and her body language took on a very obvious meaning. It was powerful stuff to say the least.I loved the narration of this book. Lorelei King did a spectacular job in narrating this story. There are quite a few characters in this book and she did a fantastic job in using different and consistent voices for those characters. She really showed the emotions of the characters during this story. The pacing of her reading was really nice and I found myself being able to listen for hours at a time.I would highly recommend this series to others. I do think that this is a series that is best read in order since the relationships between the character grow and change over the course of the series and events from earlier books do come up from time to time. I can't wait to continue with my re-read of this fantastic series!

I love this series and while I would give the whole series a solid 5 stars, I went back and forth on my rating for this book. It’s just as well written, cleanly edited, with great plot and character development, as the other books. But the level of violence against Mercy goes up a notch higher than I’m comfortable with. If you are triggered by nonconsensual intimate assault (sorry, trying not to get my review rejected), then you should give the last 1/3 of the book a pass. Not trying to spoil the story, just trying to give a trigger warning.To be fair, the scene itself is very undefined and hazy, as that is the character’s state of mind at the time. So nothing overly graphic, which is how Briggs is anyway. So if you can stick around and keep reading, the rest of the story is powerful and handled with the kindest touch.

Great writing and characters. Am loving the series. Would highly recommend!!!

Mercy é uma das minhas protagonistas favoritas e ler AQUELA CENA acontecendo doeu horrores e estou feliz que ela tenha acabado e estou mais feliz ainda que a Mercy tenha mais ou menos superado (você nunca supera uma coisa dessas. Você só aprende a lidar com isso, para ser honesta) e entendeu que ela não é a culpada (nunca é a culpa da vítima. Por isso que ela é chamada de "vítima" e não "criminosa"). Ela foi uma vítima, não importa o quanto tenha gente que tente distorcer isso e Mercy total merece ser feliz.E queria dizer que eu sabia que eu gostava do Ben por algum motivo... Bom, tudo bem que foi depois que o Adam conversou com ele e disse que ele não era o culpado dos crimes em Londres, mas... Ben é um dos lobisomens mais legais e um dos meus personagens favoritos da série.E sobre o Adam...? Não tenho nem palavras para descrevê-lo, mas ele definitivamente é ♥♥♥♥♥♥

So far the best and more complete installment in this series. I very much enjoy Mercy's knack for finding trouble and her contrary nature but in this book, i think she grew, reluctantly but she did. As a person and as a woman, she will never be the same... and i think she will do better. I love Adam, such a gentleman... such an Alpha! So hot!I will continue reading the series, it promises to be greater 😀C. C.

Bello, peccato nn ci sia in italiano. Una serie che merita di essere letta x gli amanti del genere. Bello anche in inglese comunque

With this novel Patricia Briggs has managed to deliver another book in a series that i am begining to think i will love to the very last. Mercy Thompson is another excellent strong female character who (unlike many strong female characters in novels) manages not to become a bit of a jerk because of that strength. All the characters have subtle facets which continue to develop in each book, which makes them an easy if not uncomplicated read.In 'iron kisssed' Mercy is once again sticking her nose where it doesnt belong, in order to help a friend. But it seems the number of enemies she is collecting may end up making her the one in need.Another great book by Patricia Briggs, which i will follow immediately by reading the next one.