I love Patricia Briggs! Smoke Bitten is a perfect example of why. Her plots are action-filled and engaging; this is the kind of book that you want to stay up all night reading. Her characters are true-to life and real. The relationships they build are endearing. The fantasy elements are exciting. This is why I will always read anything Patricia Briggs writes.

Mercy is back in a heart wrenching addition of the Mercy Thompson series. Do not get me wrong, this was one amazing read but from the start you quickly learn all is not well between Mercy and Adam. I have to say this was a big concern for me that Briggs was messing with this dream and long-lasting pairing. I am leaving it to Brigg’s to know what works best for artistic creations...but, please don’t break something that was so masterfully already created.

That being said…

Mercy is facing a mystery monster that might have ties to Underhill. She must uncover the identity of this murderous creature before it not only destroys her but the people around her. I must admit trying to uncover the identity was exciting for me as a reader and kept me guessing till the very end.

Smoke Bitten is a fresh new direction with a wonderful mind-twisting mystery, heart-wrenching moments and packed full of the characters we’ve all come to love.

I received this ARC copy of Smoke Bitten from Berkley Publishing Group - ACE. This is my honest and voluntary review. Smoke Bitten is set for publication March 17, 2020.

My Rating: 4.5 stars
Written by: Patricia Briggs
Series: A Mercy Thompson Novel (Book 12)
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Ace (March 17, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440001552
ISBN-13: 978-0440001553
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Smoke-Bitten-M...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/smok...
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Absolutely wonderful! The pacing of this book was just the right speed- quick enough to keep me on my toes but not too fast that I couldn't pick up on the finer details. The romance was made my heart swoop and the action kept me guessing what would happen next.
All in all another great addition to a wonderful series.

Recommended Read, 5 Hearts!
SJ, Romance Junkies

Patricia Briggs, New York Times bestseller, has done it again with SMOKE BITTEN, her outstanding twelfth novel in the Mercy Thompson series. Mercy, a coyote shifter, car mechanic, and married to the alpha of the local werewolf pack, once again lands in trouble when a monster starts murdering innocents on her territory. 

Though this book can be read as a standalone, it's much better read as part of the series, as several consequences of the previous book (STORM CURSED) are found in this one.

Something is going around possessing and killing people, which in itself is a bad thing. But when it infects members of Mercy's pack, then Mercy herself, she needs to find out who they're up against and why. Unfortunately, the enemy turns out to be a fae prisoner who escaped Underhill (a sentient fae land that has no concept of morality or playing nice.)

As if all that wasn't bad enough, there's trouble in the pack. Specifically, in Mercy's bond with her mate, Adam. Something's broken, and it's going to take all her power to save her marriage, her mate, her pack, and herself.

But as usual, Mercy is not alone. She has friends who can help, as well as some surprise appearances from characters we've met before. There are rogue werewolves, witches, a curse, and the monster roaming the pack's territory to keep Mercy more than occupied and the reader rushing through page after page to see what happens next..

Briggs' depiction of Mercy's relationship with Adam continues to grow, never stagnating, and it's refreshing to see a couple flourish while also suffering some extreme downs. There are also pack relationships changing, and that's where Briggs really shines, keeping the characters fully fleshed out. Some continue to make the same mistakes while others mature, making different ones. All in all, the characters feel incredibly real, and you can't help but to root for them.

A must-read for Mercy Thompson fans, and a Recommended Read from Romance Junkies!

Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson #12). By Patricia Briggs. 2020. Ace (ARC eBook).

Car mechanic and coyote shifter, Mercy Thompson, responds to a disturbance at neighboring house and discovers that a dangerous fae has escaped Underhill. If it bites you, it controls and ultimately kills you in order to grow in power. It can also look like anyone, or animal, is chooses. And it turns out that this chaos could not have erupted at a more inconvenient time. There is an outside werewolf pack attempting to take over Adam’s territory, Adam has cut off his and Mercy’s mate bond and the changing pack dynamic is creating some tension. And a vampire named Wulffe is amusing himself stalking Mercy. And what else might Underhill be up too?

This series seems to have slower vibe compared to some other Urban Fantasy series that I have/am read(ing); and that is not necessarily bad, but this book’s plot seemed to be plod with a whole lot of filler. Still, the series has interesting lore and the mystery behind the “smoke” monster was a new take on a fairy tale.

Smoke Bitten takes place roughly a month after the terrible events of Storm Cursed, where it seems like the relationship between Adam and Mercy has taken a beating and the pack is unraveling. Add to the everyday stress, it seems like the Fae home Underhill has created a doorway into Mercy's backyard, Mercy has herself a self-proclaimed scary vampire stalker, and a new kind of creature is on the prowl. It is just another day for the pack...

Anyone that knows me, knows that Mercy is my girl. She can do no wrong and escaping into a book in this series is the highlight of any day. Before the book came out, the author released the first chapter to read on her website and the facebook fan pages I am a member of were up in arms about the story. It did make me super nervous to actually start the story but I finally gave into my Mercy withdrawal and started the story. Ok, sure the first chapter started with some angst but the story in general had all the most compelling angsty and twisty moments and resolved in the best of ways. The author is always able to make such well-rounded plots, where the hurt and mystery gets counter balanced by the paranormal crazy and humor, causing me to not be able to put the story down. I read through it once quickly because I could do nothing else, but then I instantly reread the story slowly to draw out the book and savor the moments. Yes that seems intense but every minute spent in this Urban Fantasy world is worth it.

Overall this was a fantastic installment in one of my favorite series. Mercy is one of the best Urban Fantasy characters and I loved seeing her in action as well as the group dynamic for all side characters that I have come to love. I would change nothing about the book, except maybe the unreasonable hope to have another new book to read right now.

This is book 12 in the Mercy Thompson series and it's another winner. Mercy and her husband's wolf pack are in a war with witches and a Fae who has escaped Underhill. You probably want to read some of the previous books in the series to fully understand all the paranormal politics. Patricia Briggs knows her fans and gives them exactly what they crave. Each ending is a new beginning for the next book in the series. This book lets you escape your quarantine isolation into a world of fantasy and mystery. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It is always a pleasure to have a new Mercy Thompson book to read and Smoke Bitten doesn't disappoint.

Another solid entry in the Mercy Thompson series. I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Mercy and Adam return in another installment. This time a strange creature appears at the same time as a group of werewolves threaten the pack. ARC from NetGalley.

Patricia Briggs has another hit on her hands. Mercy and Adam's mate bonds are being tested in this new entry to the Mercy Thompson series. As if the tension between she and her mate isn't enough, there is a shape shifting enemy and rogue werewolves that the pack must deal with. In the beginning of the novel, I was a little apprehensive because Mercy was not her usual sarcastic, witty self. However, as soon as she meets the new enemies, our old Mercy is back and ready to jump into action. By the end, she saves the day and gets her man. Even though Mercy is the protagonist of this story, Wulfe stood out more to me. I hope that Patricia Briggs goes more into his story and his fascination with Mercy. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.

I've kept up with and love the Mercy Thompson books from the start but I have to say, I struggled a bit with Smoke Bitten. I think there was almost TOO much going on in this book and rather than keeping me on the edge of my seat, I was often confused. 

I could tell this book was pulling on past events from vague recollections but without re-reading all the previous books fairly recently, making the connections was a bit more difficult and a bit of a headache. The number of subplots going on kept the pages turning and I appreciated how everything connected in this world. At the same time, I didn't remember enough for those subplots to have their full effect.

I did really enjoy the Underhill aspect of this installment. I have a slight obsession with the lore and found the inclusion a fun surprise. But I don't want to say much more without spoilers because this book is so far in the series. I can add that Briggs masterfully handles these characters book after book and I love Mercy as much as I did in Moon Called. I'm also curious to see where the story goes next because more conflicts were left unresolved compared to usual so I wonder how many more books we can expect in the series.

I expect most people interested in Smoke Bitten have read some or all of the preceding books. Smoke Bitten is the twelfth in an urban fantasy series about Mercy Thompson,  part-time coyote, full-time auto mechanic, Volkswagon owner, seer of ghosts, and neighbor to a werewolf alpha.

So if you're checking reviews because this book looks interesting, you're right! It is!

I always recommend starting at the beginning of any series as well=established as this one--or at least with a book closer to the beginning.  That said, if this is the only Mercy Thompson book you can find, it's a great chapter in the ongoing saga, and a decent introduction to the complex, entertaining dynamics between members of an ever-increasing cast.

Honestly, any plot summary without spoilers would be either redundant or too vague to be useful. The important points. First, as with most other books in the series, the events in Smoke Bitten take place over a very short time frame.  Second, the action is local, and the stakes more personal than world-changing.

The plot shines brightest when Mercy is dealing with her friends and family. Often she's making hard choices between people and rules, between principle and practicality. In this book, a problem arises from the solutions to problems resolved in previous books.

It's a tangle of big personalities, old grudges, and buried mysteries, with all the emotionally satisfying, complicated I've come to expect from this author.

Love Love Love. This was such an amazing addition to the Mercyverse. I feel like we are setting up for another complication and I can't wait for it.

We’re deep into the Mercy Thompson world with Patricia Briggs’ newest addition, Smoke Bitten. Mercy is a mechanic, shapeshifter, and all-around trouble maker in the supernatural community. Or maybe she’s a trouble finder? Either way trouble surrounds her and her people in the form of a smoke demon from another world. With pack drama thrown in, its another wild ride with Briggs at the steering wheel.

Something has escaped from Underhill. Something with the power to assume control over anything with a single bite—and then take their form. It's up to Mercy to stop it, before it can kill anything else.

3.5 stars, rounded down—and I'm kinda sobbing to be admitting that I didn't love a Mercy Thompson book nearly as much as the rest of the series.

After the stunning previous two installations, this felt more like filler for a Big Showdown of Something.

The set-up for a Later Thing:

-Underhill established a door so that she can visit Aiden.
-The witches' curse on Adam is coming into power.
-Mercy is realizing the power of her pack bonds and how to use them.
-The relationship with the Marrock and everything else is being realized/established.
-Jesse decides to go to college close to home, instead of at the U of O near her mother (boooooo, Chrissy) or U Dub (because things are Shaking Up and she needs to be safe).
-Girl Power™ in the form of highlighting the female werewolves and their power.
-Stefan is out of action, as Stefan always is.
-Wulfe is weird and has a kink for Mercy, but every cishet man has a kink for Mercy so that's not new.

And really not much else happens. There is a lot of talk, a lot coordinating and double coordinating and running around trying to figure out what the fuck is going on and what is happening with Adam and much Congratulations about Mercy and Adam boning At Long Last So the Alpha Chills the Fuck Out.

The Big Bad is as nebulous as the smoke that curls out of its bites. That whole plot (and it's kinda ridiculous revelation???) felt more like something that should have been kept into a novella instead of expanded into a whole-length book.

Overall, there were good points, but most of the plot and reasoning went around its ass to get to its elbow and therefore it felt like very little was revealed or accomplished.

Here's hoping that something Big (and actually consequential) happens in the next book, because I will be very disappointed if this long-running series gets stale. And I hope that the next book has Big Things that happen that...actually change the dynamics of the world, because despite the Columbia Gorge crew being out of the Marrock's protection and on their own, nothing really has changed. And Adam's curse felt more like a gimmick than real angst and suffering.

Anywho, I'll read the next one because I love this series to death, but fingers crossed that there's an end in sight before it rehashes old plot points and stretches a tiny plot out into a novel.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review

While the beginning was a little slow in places, the action picks up and it becomes impossible to put the book down—and the walking stick is back! It may be initially confusing for new readers, but they no doubt will enjoy it enough to read all the previous books as well.. As usual, excellent writing and world building, a very satisfying read.

Another fine addition to the Mercy Thompson series. Patricia Briggs delivers quality urban fantasy and believable characters.

Smoke Bitten was a fun romp in the world of the Mercy Thompson series. I liked the villain being something they couldn't immediately fight or control or even see. That was a new challenge for the characters to confront. I wonder where the series will be going next.

J: At the start of every book, I wonder what bit of myth or fairy tales Patty is going to twist into a fun new story. I really loved this one. I hadn't come across it in over a decade, so it actually stumped me to the end.

B: I figured out the fairy tale, based on clues another character gave Mercy but I was less certain of other motivations, villains, and events. Patty's use of the fairy tale was creative for sure. Like Jax, I'm always curious about what myth or fairy tale Patty will use. It's fun to try and identify them.

J: Another fantastic aspect of these books is watching Adam and Mercy - they do and don't have their happily ever after. Life and marriage don't work that way, and it's wonderful to see them find their way through insecurities and the aftermath of trauma.

B: Maybe it's because I've never been married, but I get worried when my fictional friends have marital problems. I know it's more realistic, and when reading romance I actually like the marriage in trouble trope, but not in my series! My heart hurt for both Mercy and Adam. There wasn't an easy fix though better communication would have helped. Neither are the sort to complain or share their feelings and boy, did that cause problems.

J: It is hard to watch the strain between them. It's funny, because I like this trope in my series better than in one shot romances. :)

J: Speaking of Adam - for those who are long time fans - does anyone else get the feeling that Bran is grooming Adam to be his replacement? Maybe not just Adam, but Adam and Mercy as a team. Let's face it, the Marrok has been around for a very long time. We all hate to think of a world without him, but he's not immortal.

B: I have had that feeling for a few books now. Charles and Anna would be good replacements but so would Adam and Mercy. I wonder if Bran would step down and retire? It seems unlikely, he can't mind his own business, but it would make for a heck of a story.

B: One thing I didn't like, and this is a frequent problem in Patty's books, is how overly convoluted the plot was. I long sometimes for a plot, a story, that's simple. The story felt at times like it was tripping over itself. I know that every story needs a Big Bad, a threat that is severe enough to challenge Mercy and the pack, but honestly, I think Patty could scale back a little. The story did move the overall series arc forward, added to previous story threads, and I am looking forward to seeing how things shake out, Now that I think about it some more, most of what happens in this story is the result of previous events and issues. While it was good to see them addressed, it also felt a bit repetitive at times. I'd like to see new problems, new issues, and new angles.

J: I agree - it's hard to do a simple plotline in a series that has lasted as long as Mercy's. Each book has to up the ante. I would like to see Mercy finally be accepted by the pack. There needs to be another reason for there to be trouble in the ranks. (B: YES!!!)

Bea's Verdict: A good story, interesting, moves the series forward, but not a must-read for me. 3 stars.

Jax's Verdict: A fun read. I always enjoy the Mercy Universe. But not the best book in the series. 3 stars

Some of our favorite quotes from the digital ARC:

Adams's alpha dominance didn't make me want to drop to my belly in instant obedience--it made me want to stick out my tongue or smack him on the nose.

I snorted. "You underestimated your mother's ability to get people to perform in the Stupid Olympics for her."

"Mercy wanted it to be at three in the morning," said Aiden. "But Adam told her that he wanted everyone functional."

He took a sip of his coffee and then exploded into expletives that had a couple of the wolves taking out their phones to look up a few of the words he used.

"I just need to quit hitting people with my cars and we'll be good," I told him. "If only," he murmured, "you don't run into any more who need to be hit." Proving he knew me.

"My car is fine," Jesse said cheerfully. "Dad, you and Mercy have got to take better care of your stuff. Do you think that money grows on trees?"

Check out more quotes at Bea's Friday memes post.

Previous reviews:

#3, Iron Kissed
#7, Frost Burned
#8, Night Broken
Shifting Shadows, anthology
#9, Fire Touched
#10, Silence Fallen
#11, Storm Cursed