Silver Borne

Written by Patricia Briggs

Narrated by Lorelei King

The fifth novel in the international No. 1 bestselling Mercy Thompson series - the major urban fantasy hit of the decade

MERCY THOMPSON: MECHANIC, SHAPESHIFTER, FIGHTER

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 . . .

The Mercy Thompson books:
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked
Frost Burned
Night Broken
Fire Touched
Silence Fallen
Storm Cursed

Shifting Shadows (Stories from the world of Mercy Thompson)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little, Brown (Hachette UK) Audio
• Release date: Apr 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781405541213

Patricia Briggs

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs lives in Washington State with her husband, children, and a small herd of horses.

Reviews for Silver Borne

[reading_fox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun outing in the series. The Fae are playing again, an Elfqueen wants a Magic Trinket, but Mercy doesn't play nicely. Pack troubles dominate and I think this has now been resolved and we might start getting into deeper waters again.

[starknits_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So Mercy is a part of the pack and they don't like it. Some more than others.
I'm still really annoyed with Mary Jo.
Sam is depressed and doesn't want to go on living, his wolf, however, does. Mercy is helping him but desperate to find something to spark life back in him before he goes on a killing spree.
Mercy need to return the book she borrowed but can't find Finn.
There's a Fairy Queen and lots of fae in this book.

I have to say I loved seeing Ariana and Sam.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

read 3 times so far. The audio book versions are good, too!

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like this series with Mercy and Adam. Interesting main characters and well fleshed out side characters. Usually when I pick up a book in this series I can't put it down. The book has the right amount of plot, characters and actions and moves along at a good pace.

[angelajmaher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have to give this 5 stars. Some series bog down by the time you get to part five, but once more I found the story utterly absorbing. Threads from the previous books come through without any factor being done to death, while the book is a full novel in its own right.

[lara9it · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series never disappoint me!!!
This book will probably end up to be my favorite in Mercy's series...I liked the more adventurous plot, I really liked the more romantic one -in particular the way Mercy and Adam interacted to each other even when they were under duress- and I really really liked the opening on the pack way of life!!!

In 3 words: I LOVED IT!!!

[payday1999-430350 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great book in the Mercy Thompson series. I loved seeing the Mercy and Adam relationship develop more in this book. I didn't like a few small details in this book, but overall I still loved it. The ending was fantastic.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this fifth in the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series. Mercy has three problems to solve. First of all, her friend and roommate Samuel who is a very old werewolf has lost his will to live and tries to commit suicide. With his wolf now in control, Mercy has to find a way to give Samuel a reason to live or he will be executed. Second, Mercy was given an old fae book to read by a local part-fae bookstore owner and now she needs to return it. But the bookseller has disappeared and various fae all want the book back and are willing to murder Mercy and her friends to get it. Third, Adam's pack is in disarray because of the mating bond between them. Many in the pack don't want to accept a coyote either as the Alpha's mate or in the pack at all. Sneaky plots try to disrupt their relationship and lead to a challenge against Adam - a fight to the death - when he has already been injured when rushing into Mercy's burning trailer home to try to save her. The plotting wolves hadn't mentioned that Mercy wasn't at home and that they saw no reason to stop the fae from burning her out. This was another great episode in an engaging and well written urban fantasy series.

[bell7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has dealt with a lot, from her werewolf neighbors and becoming the mate of the local Alpha, to vampires conspiring against her. Now, the local bookseller who recently loaned her a book about the Fae goes missing and someone's looking for the book. And Samuel, her werewolf roommate, is struggling with his wolf side and depression.This was the perfect e-book/audio to have available on a sick day. In fact, I listened to and read most of it in one day. The plot was perhaps a little weaker than some of the others and I never really felt like the stakes were particularly high, but it was enjoyable and not too taxing of a read. This is the sort of series where I don't necessarily have to remember all the details of the previous books - each one will catch me up on the more important aspects - so I can dip in and out without worrying too much about not being able to follow what's happening.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Silver Borne
4 Stars

As with the previous books in the series Silver Borne has its pros and its cons.

Adam is an incredible hero, and he and Mercy have the potential for an intense and spell binding relationship. Unfortunately, Briggs fails miserably on this front as the chemistry that builds up in the first two books never comes to fruition. Any and all intimate moments between the two either fade to black or devolve into the abstract. Yes, this is UF and romance is not the focus but if the author has decided to include this element, she should make a good go of it.

Moreover, the misogynist undertones have not improved. Once again, the secondary female characters are not presented in a good light. Aurelia seems to have accepted Mercy but I wouldn't call her a friend, Mary Jo is revealed to be behind the mind manipulation because she wants Adam for herself - could this possibly be more of a cliche? Finally, Sylvia who has actually been a sympathetic character turns out to be so prejudiced against werewolves that she disowns her own son. I'm starting to lose hope that Briggs will write a strong and likable female other than Mercy.

As in the earlier installments, several plot threads are introduced at the outset including the mystery surrounding the fae book, the conflict within Adam's pack, Samuel's emotional issues, and the attack at Mercy's garage. Nevertheless, these all come together quite quickly and the story is the most linear and cohesive in the series thus far. Of particular note is the manner in which Mercy's problems with the pack ultimately come to her aid against the fae and the resolution of Samuel's problems, which does seem to come out of nowhere but is satisfying nonetheless (looks like there is more to Samuel's past than meets the eye).

In sum, while Mercy and gang are an entertaining bunch, my difficulties with some of the ongoing themes in the books are preventing the series from moving beyond the realm of the simply enjoyable and into the realm of the truly spectacular.

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. Anyone who has been following my reviews probably already knows how much I love this series and this book was no exception. It was so nice to re-visit this wonderful story and spend more time with characters that I have grown to love. This wasn't the most exciting book in the series or my favorite but it was still a very solid read. Mercy has a lot to deal with in this installment. She needs to find the owner of the bookstore where she borrowed a very special book in a previous installment. It seems that he might be in some kind of trouble and someone wants to get his hands on the book. Samuel is in crisis and his wolf is in control. Mercy knows that if he doesn't come around quickly then it will be the end for Samuel so she wants to give him some time to sort things out. There are also a few issues concerning the pack and Mercy's relationship with Adam. Not everyone in the pack is happy to have Mercy as a member. Being a part of a pack is new to Mercy and she isn't used to how easily they can get in her head. Adam and Mercy do love each other and take some steps to get things worked out.My favorite parts of this book were the sections that dealt with the pack and Adam. It is kind of fun after reading the whole series to see how much things have changed over the course of the series. I think that both Mercy and Adam took some major steps in this book to strengthen their relationship and Mercy's place in the pack. The issues with Samuel were also very well done. I really do enjoy his character and he is really in a bad place for much of this book. Lorelei King is the voice of Mercy Thompson. She does such a wonderful job narrating this series that I usually want to move to the next book just as soon as I finish a book. The character's emotions really come across perfectly with her narration and she is able to voice a large number of characters very well. I look forward to listening to this narrator many more times in the future.I would highly recommend this book to others. This is a series that really needs to be read in order since the character relationships are a large part of the story. I look forward to continuing with my re-read of this series very soon.

[tysonadams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Returning overdue books has never been quite this dangerous.

Mercy borrowed a book to help her understand the fae. But when she tries to return it she finds the bookstore owner has disappeared and several nasty foes who wouldn't mind eating her. If only Samuel was feeling himself and someone wasn't trying to sabotage date night with Adam she could deal with this situation.

Despite their standalone nature, the plot of the books in this series overlap a lot. While you could jump into the series with Silver Borne and enjoy it without any problems, the significance and development of the plots would be a little incomplete if you hadn't read the previous instalments. That said, this novel feels like a turning point in the series, with Mercy starting to come into her own. Hard to comment without spoilers, and it really is just easier to read and enjoy.

[kimfalconer · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am enjoying Patricia Briggs immensely, though this is not my top in the series. I think my feminist upbringing is a little miffed at the 'mine' style ownership and loss of independence we see here BUT the writing is good, the characters believable and the story rips along. I wonder where Briggs will take us next?

[sarah_buckley-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have always loved this series. I think Patricia Briggs does a great job rounding out all her characters and giving them real emotions and problems we can care about. Nothing particularly huge happens here, in terms of event wise, but the book is filled with smaller battles that add up to something great.

Mercy's problems with the Pack are realistic and depicted well. I've always liked how Briggs setup the different groups --The fae, the werewolves, the vampires-- and the conflicts are presented well.

The only storyline I didn't care for much was Sam's story. It was still presented realistically and I could understand and empathize with his struggles, but the ending came out of nowhere and seemed like an afterthought. "oh, I still need to do something with Sam.....um, his love will heal him!" It just seemed lazy and forced.

Other than that I really liked the story and thought it was the best one yet!

[theyodamom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mercy and Adam finally are acting like a mated pair. They are dating, with all the excitement that goes with it. (it's sweet) Ah, but his/her pack is not so happy with the union. Samuel may finally give in to his wolf. There is an evil force that is looking for something that it thinks Mercy has, and it will kill to get it. Adam is hurt badly and Mercy is gone....The Merock steps in to try to help.
Fabulous addition to the series, loved the action and the sweetest of romances between Adam and Mercy. The only thing missing was Stephan.

[emblue-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd say 4.5 stars. :)

[rosetyper9 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Patricia Briggs writes UF at it's very best. Perfect for anyone who wants a nice, action-packed read, a kick-ass heroine, and just the right amount of steam. I think this was a wonderful bounce back from the last book, which wasn't my favorite by Patricia Briggs.

I can't wait to jump into River Marked after reading this one. I think that this book is the defining point for all her male type relationships. In the last book I felt a little unsure about her relationship with both Sam and her other wolf, I was very happy with her decision. I was also happy not to see any crazy vamps in this book...but I am sure they are still out skulking in the background waiting. There were however, some crazy Fae. I think this series returns to the scary, creepy, who knows what sort of Fae, Which is good and bad, good because it's classic and it fits, bad because it creeps me the heck out. I think of the Hell Boy 2 Fae for this book when I read it.

Anyway, I very much enjoyed this book and will willingly get sucked into the next one in this series.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

And now for something completely different. No threat from any of the great powers - only from a fae more powerful than Mercy. But then everyone is. Still, no Gray Lords, no vampire queen, just a minor threat. Or two, or three - from multiple directions and for multiple reasons. Samuel loses it - and regains it. Sort of. And sort of a happy ending for him, too - though it's another one in process, like Mercy and Adam. Which, by the way, makes considerable progress - Mercy being kidnapped and held by a fairy queen (the book is being helpful, though it has its own problems) is quite a driving force. You'd think that being unable to (successfully) lie would cut down on the miscommunications, wouldn't you? And werewolf politics, in at least two forms, play a major role. Samuel and Adam's pack both have matters they need to work through. It's sort of being nibbled to death by ducks, instead of the grand threats of the previous books - but the threats are real, the solutions are satisfying and solve more than the immediate solution, and _not_ constantly escalating feels much more realistic than a lot of fantasy series. Love it. I can't read the next book right now - need to go do family stuff. Soon, though.

[anyaejo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved it years ago!

[librarycatnip · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

SPOILERS!








I enjoyed this book very much, Briggs strikes an excellent chord between the elements of Urban Fantasy. I appreciate very much that Mercy time and again saves herself, the cavalry is there, it just isn't often needed.

[grapeapril75-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an awesome book!! We saw more into the connection between Mercy and Adam. Love them as a couple!! Also found out more about Sam's past! Fantastic story, well written and a great pace.

[cynical_ames · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My three-star rating is down to personal preference. I'm not into the fae and they were a big part of the second half of the book, which I found myself skimming. I didn't particularly like the way Samuel's problems were resolved so quickly and easily with the introduction of Ari, it didn't feel right. Of course Samuel deserves happiness but Ari came out of the blue and Samuel falling immediately in love with someone he hadn't seen in decades or more wasn't very realistic. However, the writing was great and I enjoyed the Pack politics but this book isn't one of my favourites.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my favorite book of the series until the last fifth or so the time spent in Elphame and that only because fae is my least favorite of the supernatural, I think. Still, this was an excellent read and I loved it. I really enjoyed the time spent on developing Mercy and Adam's relationship, the pack, and definitely on Samuel. This book felt a lot less high-intensity than the ones before it in many ways, and I appreciated the break.

I can't say a whole lot about the plot beyond what's written on the back cover without going spoilerish. As I mentioned above, not a fan of the typical fae mythology - although I really like Zee and the way the author weaves the truth behind the fairy tales into this series. I just prefer them more when they aren't taking center stage and this book - at least the last half, they are definitely center stage.

I have the next one on it's way to me now and I can't wait to read it.

[raselyem7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

SPOILERS!








I enjoyed this book very much, Briggs strikes an excellent chord between the elements of Urban Fantasy. I appreciate very much that Mercy time and again saves herself, the cavalry is there, it just isn't often needed.

[dpappas_25 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"All things die, Mercedes. Some just take longer than others."What a great installment to the series! The thing that really shines the most in this one is the depth of all the characters (not just Mercy). You really get to see different sides to the main characters. Readers get to see Adam's vulnerability (finally) and see that he will stop at nothing to keep Mercy safe. We see Samuel's overwhelming despair and what it will turn him into. We also get to see Adam's pack fractured and what it will take to unite them once again.I could go on and on all day talking about my love of Adam and Mercy's relationship. In this installment you can really see their deep connection and their deep love. Some of the pack may want to tear them apart but they'll fight to be together. Honestly I felt like those pack members should have been punished more.I was just heartbroken for Samuel throughout this book. I had felt that something was going to happen with him but it was still hard to see him struggling so much. I have to say that I am ecstatic with where he was at the end of the book. I am really looking forward to seeing what happens with him next in the series.The plot was definitely interesting and I loved the events towards the end. I am rushing through this review because I just can't wait to start the next one.

[nicolefromcarmel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Love this whole series. Urban fantasy that doesn't take it's self seriously and over do the sexual content. I do a re-read each time a new one comes out. Mercy is all about doing what is right and for the right reasons even when it is hard. This is why I love this series.

[rabidreads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsFor the past few installments, Mercy’s been having a rough go at it and things don’t look like they are going to improve anytime soon. I’m relieved that Thompson is still reeling from the after effects of what happened in IRON KISSED because, in my opinion, that’s something that takes time to recover from. However, I think her damaged state is beginning to take away some of the enjoyment that I’d otherwise be getting out of this series. It’s kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t type of situation. The sad tone of these books is getting to me and I’m starting to become frustrated with the lack of a resolution on any front. I don’t expect Mercy to get her HEA anytime soon but I would like her and Adam to be ok, or for her life in the pack to stabilize, or just… something to help balance out all of the bad.Samuel was by far my favourite character in SILVER BORNE; for reasons that I won’t list because of spoilers, he spends most of this novel as a wolf which helped ensure that there were plenty of furry moments in this story’s fae driven plot line. In Briggs’ universe, werewolves’ dual natures actually have two separate identities and the author further differentiates them by having Mercy call his wolf “Sam”. I loved watching Thompson’s upbringing kick-in; she always watches her behaviour around alphas but doubly so in this case because of Samuel’s temporary lack of humanity. His refusal to shift also causes some rather entertaining moments like when a little girl mistakes him for a dog and tries to ride him like a pony. The look on Mercy’s face must have been priceless!As I mentioned previously, Thompson is still struggling to keep her head above water―between dealing with her personal issues, adjusting to her new mate bond and overcoming the hostility directed at her from the pack―she just can’t seem to get a break. I adore Adam, he made my list of top fictional book boyfriends of 2013, and I think they are well-suited for each other, if only outside forces would quit adding to their problems long enough for them to catch their breath. This is Urban Fantasy, so I don’t expect flowers and chocolate, but how long must we wait for a conflict-free installment? I don’t expect happily-ever-after just happy-for-right-now.This book’s plot line is as action-packed as ever and I like how the author is constantly switching her focus from one paranormal group to another. It helps keep the story fresh and means that there’s always something new to learn in each novel. The mystery surrounding the book that Mercy loaned transformed this installment into a real page turner but admittedly, I was a little saddened when Gabriel got dragged into the supernatural world. I was really hoping that Thompson would get to retain some normalcy in her life. But, now that both her trailer and her only human friendship have gone up in smoke; I fear that there’s to be no light at the end of the tunnel for Mercy anytime soon.Patricia Briggs delivers another solid installment with SILVER BORNE; albeit, a little darker than usual. I’m excited to read RIVER MARKED as I suspect that a few new walker secrets are about to be revealed!

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read from October 12 to 13, 2013Read for Fun (HardCover)Overall Rating: 4.25Story Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.50First Thought when Finished: Oh how I love being back in Mercy's world!Story Thoughts: Quick and Dirty because that would be the Mercy way! Silver Borne was fantastic and sad. I was glad to get more Sam. He is who I watch for in this series because he is such a broken character. His story meshes well with Mercy's latest "problem". Who says a book can't be dangerous? I guarantee that Mercy doesn't feel that way. She knows stuff about the Fae, stuff she shouldn't and someone wants that book bad. Everyone gets involved and it is action pretty much from beginning to end. The pack politics are high in Silver Borne too! I enjoy that aspect of the series and it was good to see it play a center role in the story. I haven't been disappointed by one of these books yet!Character Thoughts: Who couldn't love Mercy, Adam, Sam, and the gang. Oh there are members of the pack that I would like to strangle, hang up on a tree, and never toss a bone but I think some of that was taken care of Silver Borne. Not enough Bran but there never is! Of course, I probably wouldn't think there was enough Bran if he had his own book. He truly is my favorite overall character just because he is so darn mysterious!Final Thoughts: I am already reading River Marked and thanks to Amy have the next one after that. Mercy and I are going to catch up this month!

[aoibhealfae · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this fifth installment of Mercy Thompson series, Mercy is happily mated with the alpha of the wolves, Adam Hauptman but her status in the pack is being threatened from the inside. In the previous novels, Mercy had borrowed a book from Phin, a fae whom owned a bookstore and had helped her on various occasion. However, when Phin disappeared with the only clue is within the book she held, things went awry for Mercy. On the other hand, Samuel is beginning to become emotionally destructive from the inside that he couldn't be in his human form without feeling suicidal. For werewolves, this usually the first sign for the wolf to overpower the humanity which resulted in full on cannibalistic psychopath.

Mercy does have her plates full in this book and although I do enjoy the solemn dramatic mystery acts in this book, it does get dysfunctional when you try to rationalize what Briggs try to expose with this book. But I do think that Mercy Thompson's story as herself was beginning to thin out like Sookie Stackhouse did. She seems to be a guest actor in this book instead of moving the plot. She just go on with the flow and things just happens to her with a rather small connection that ties her up with everything. I do think the alpha thing within the pack was forced, I know it works lovely with the storylines but I just felt Alpha & Omega is much better purview on the werewolf world than Mercy Thompson series.

I do wished Samuel's story would worsened as a cliffhanger at the end of the book with the revelation of Silver Borne at the end. It does feel like the author is trying to find an easy way out of the failing love triangle. Samuel deserved a full on graph storylines than just a subplot. Sorry Mercy, you're quite boring in this book and I'm not sure I will read 'River Marked'. Except maybe for more Samuel's subplots.

[cranberrytarts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like the books that deal with the Fae. This one was well done. The mystery plot was interesting and fast paced. On the personal front, I like the way Mercy's relationship with Adam progressed and the changes in her relationship with Samual.