Reviews
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨
“It's only fair to warn you that you sealed your fate tonight. When you knew you were in trouble, you came to me. That makes twice, Mercy, and twice is almost as good as a declaration. You are mine now.... Ben says you might run. If you do, I will find you and bring you back. Every time you run, Mercy. I won't force you, but. .. No more excuses, Mercy. You are mine, and I am keeping you.”
First Impressions
Iron Kissed is the third installment in the "Mercy Thompson" series and this is the story where we see the results of the love triangle finally come to an ending between Mercy, Adam and Sam. There is also a plot that builds with Mercy in her attempts to assist a friend from the fae reservation. It starts out with a very simple mystery, but the story quickly develops into something so much different than you would expect. I am not going to lie, this book is a hard one to read. I would recommend checking out the trigger warnings for this one, because it does have some scenes of non consent and sexual violation and mental violence that will not work for everyone. I felt like it was very true to the story and the author crafted it just right. The romance truly comes together and this is where the decision is made and I was not surprised at all, this love triangle wasn't super equal all between all parties involved, even from book one I knew who she would end up with in the end and very fascinated to see where it goes from here on out.
It was Adam, but he was too late. He couldn’t love me anymore. He would be so angry with me. I had to hide. He didn’t love me so he might hurt me when he was angry. When he calmed down, that would hurt him. I didn’t want him hurting because of me. There was nowhere for a person to hide. So I wouldn’t be a person. My eyes fell on the shelves that lined the far back corner. A coyote could hide there.
First Line
"A coboy, a lawyer, and a mechanic watched Queen of the Damned," I murmured
Summary
Mercy is reached out to for help by a old mentor, Zee, when there are a series of murders happening on the fae reservation, she is asked to come out and investigate them. But through a course of events, her mentor ends up being the sacrificed lamb for his own people and Mercy knows he isn't guilty and is determined to help him, no matter the cost to their friendship. She is still living with Sam, her oldest friend and childhood lover. But her soul is crying out for the alpha next door, who while he scares her at times, he also makes her feel things she never imagined she could experience. But she will have to make a choice before the worst happens between two dominant werewolves....but there is an enemy, one she won't see coming, one that could ruin all the hope and love she is craving for the future...
“Just as I’ve always known there are monsters in the world, monsters and things even more evil, I’ve always known that it is God who keeps evil at bay.”
What I Loved
Iron Kissed is the story I have been waiting for with this series. I have never been a fan of love triangles and even thought its not a true equal three way love triangle, its still a love triangle and I always wanted her to really get things going with Adam and this is the book where their relationship takes a new turn. While she does have a good history with Sam and friendship with him, they don't have a true passion and connection like what she has with Adam and seeing this turn of events really worked for me. I have always been on Team Adam and glad she finally got her choice made, although how it happens is NOT how I expected it to happen. But I did find it a refreshing turn of events.
There is something about having someone take care of you, even when you don’t need it – maybe especially when you don’t need it.
Then we have the actual plot of the story. Mercy is really put through the ringer in this book. To be honest I was NOT expecting that third act, not at all. I was really expecting something totally different and seeing what Mercy goes through and how she has to work through these self doubts and learning what it takes to heal from such trauma was truly so poignant at times. The way we see Adam care for Mercy throughout the book was a delight. I love his mannerisms around Mercy, its very true to who he is as a dominant alpha but also the caretaking moments just left me breathless. But also in return the way that Mercy knows how to handle Adam even when she is scared of him, was brilliant. She knows her place in the pack world and she understands the complexities of the pack dynamics and works around those issues. She knows when to stand up for herself to Adam, but she also knows when she needs to submit and be accepting of his nature. They truly balance each other out so well. I am not sure what I was expecting from these two, but they were full of surprises in this one.
The warmth of his body shouldn’t have felt good. He was angry and every muscle was tense. It was like being leaned on by a very heavy, warm brick. A sexy brick.
What I Struggled With
I just wish the ending was a bit longer with them finally embracing their relationship, like come on....I need more than a kissing scene haha I am crossing fingers the next book in the series will have a bit more focus on their intimacies.
Narration
This narrator is just perfect for these books, she really brings out the character dynamics just right and the vibe of the world building is portrayed just right for the reader.
Overall View
Iron Kissed is a story that kept me spellbound, the culmination of breathless emotion, vibrant world building and the delicate storytelling that builds into a crescendo of brilliant connection and thrills captivated this reader from beginning to end! A TRUE MASTERPIECE!
He took two quick steps forward, wrapped a hand around the back of my neck, and held me for his kiss. I hadn’t expected it—not while he was still so close to changing. I’m sure that’s why I didn’t pull out of his hold.
The first touch of his lips was soft, tentative, asking where his hands had demanded. The man was diabolical. I could have resisted force, but the question of his kiss was an entirely different matter.
I leaned into him because he asked with the light touch and the gentle withdrawal of his lips that begged me to follow where he led. The heat of his body, welcome in the over-cooled house, rewarded me as I leaned closer to him, as did the hard planes of his body, so I was drawn to press even tighter against him.
He danced like that, too. Leading instead of pulling. It had to have been deliberate, something he worked at, because he was as dominant as they came—Alphas are. But Adam was more than just dominant: he was smart, too. And he didn’t play fair.
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Urban Fantasy
Character Types: Alpha Male, Single Dad, Kick Ass Heroine, Blue Collar Heroine
Themes: Heart/Touching, Book Boyfriend, Leading Lady, Laughs/Giggles, PTSD Abuse
Tropes: Fated Love, Love Triangle
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend of both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Ilona Andrews
Ileen Weeks
Nalini Singh
Song This Book Inspires
Million Reasons by Lady Gaga
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Narrators:
Lorelei King
I was conflicted at first with this book, as I have been with this entire series mainly because of the terrible love triangle. But once Mercy decided for one guy it got better for me. I honestly think that love triangle should never have existed as it was clear who she was going to choose in the end.
Rating: 4 I really loved this book! I loved how Briggs pushed readers deeper into the world of the fae. Zee is so sweet and such a father to Mercy. Mercy tried so hard to clear his name and make things right for him. Mercy is such a relatable character. Briggs never fails to portray her humanity and I especially love how Briggs does not make Mercy seem invincible. The story line continued with the love triangle and although I usually despise them, the triangle between Mercy, Adam, and Samuel does not bother me. I was really happy with her she ended up choosing and I also loved how we saw her make her choice. It wasn't like she picked one over the other, but it was more like she choose herself and listened to what she was feeling. As always, I always enjoy the pack dynamic and learning more and more about it. The world of fae is so interesting. I love how Mercy never gives up and always finds her own ways in worlds that are technically not hers. Spoiler below I was so nervous when Briggs did what she did at the end of this book. I was scared she was going to ruin the story or do it distastefully. But, she actually didn't and I had so much respect for her for that. The rape scene was not triggering for me, however, everyone has different triggers, so if reading the scene makes you uncomfortable, you can skip it without fear of being lost. Mercy's initial response to her rape was literally so important. Again, I commend Briggs so much for portraying such a thing. It was amazing to see Briggs give representation to the survivors of rape not only with females, but males too. Reading the scene where Ben describes and explains the dynamic of rape, specifically, rape that makes the victim feel like they didn't put up enough of a fight was so powerful! And the bonding moment between Adam and Ben directly after that made my heart burst! The ending was so great! I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book!
OK, these Mercy books keep getting better and better!! This one centered around the fae segment of Mercy's world. Each book has you learning more and more about those that keep Mercy company and you learn a little more about just what being a Walker is all about. The world is rich, the mystery is deep, and the adventure is fast.
This was beyond hard to listen in the latter parts. I just wanted to weep with both frustration, rage and sorrow. I love this character, I love these books! Patricia Briggs knows her people. Kudos to her for not taking the easy path and delivering a compelling read.
I love this series.
SA warning
** spoiler alert ** Wow, I thought the Mercy Thompson books couldn't continue to keep getting better but this one was brilliant. It had me hook line and sinker from the start. I seriously didn't want to stop reading. If I hadn't wanted to get some sleep I would have read it all in one sitting. This book was that good. I admit, the first two books had been good but had put me off a little with the potential love interests for Mercy and these people pursuing her. It felt a bit much... but this time it was all about Mercy seriously considering those around her and what she in fact wanted. It was about her looking at first love and how it is so nice and how you never really lose your love for that person... but being in love and loving someone is very different. Her exploring her feelings for Adam and Samuel was really interesting. I enjoyed that seeing her realise her need for each of them is very different and wanting to have someone in your life doesn't mean you want to share your future with them. I liked that. The book did turn dark, though. I enjoyed seeing the exploration of Celtic and European folklore as Mercy works with (and against) the fae. I could tell real research went into looking at folk tales and the story behind fae and the objects which appear in stories too. I really liked how Mercy cracked out her history degree too whilst investigating (that woman definitely learnt more during her time at college than I did because I didn't learn half the stuff she did). In her investigations for the fae to free Zee she interacted with a lot of different people and although I was totally surprised by who the killer was I also wasn't. The reason I say this book got dark is that this book also involves rape and the struggles which a rape victim has to overcome as they come to terms with what happened. I admit, Mercy being raped is not a thing you expect, she is a strong woman and those are the people you don't expect these things to happen to which is why I appreciated it being included in the book and that Briggs very firmly didn't victim blame and explored the psychological impact it would have on Mercy as she blamed herself. It was so smart. I hate rape being included in a book for shock impact and so appreciated how well it was handled within this. I am certain that the impact of the rape will continue within other books as well but it was handled well here. I am excited to start the next book.
I love this series!
3.5
I'd give this 5++++ stars if I could. I cried at the end of this book (and I've only cried TWICE out of all the books I've read, so that's saying something). I stayed up all night reading to finish, and this is by far the best of the series and one of the best books I've read this year.
