This thrilling Urban Fantasy Romance is book 14 in the Mercy Thompson series.The romance is already an establish relationship. The romance is not the main focus in the book Instead it is used to add depth to the story, while delivering an amazing plot. The spice is very mild in this book, with the fade to black style incorporated The book moves at a more steady pace following Adam, and Mercy, as they search for a missing object to help Mercy's brother..
Things take an unexpected turn, where things turn cold quickly. The Characters as expected with this series were written with utter perfection. They are diverse, endearing, and amusing. The world building was done expertly. It builds as the story goes on, on top of whats been built in previously books. It makes slipping back into the series a wonderful delight.

Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs is the 14th book in her wonderful Mercy Thompson series. I am a big fan of this series, and its heroine, Mercy Thompson. It is always fun to spend time with Mercy and Adam, and their pack. Refresher: Mercy has always been independent, and she continues to surprise many as she always manages to find a way to outsmart her enemies, who constantly underestimate her. Mercy is strong, savvy, smart and a coyote shifter, but it is her love for Adam that makes her very loyal to the pack also; she will do anything to protect those she loves.

Winter Lost picks up not too far when the last book ended, with Mercy still feeling the effects of what the Soul Taker did to her. She still hides some of the symptoms left over, but those close to her still try to find a way to heal her. When her brother Gary shows up, they discover he has been cursed. The local frost giant Ymir is called in to find out why Gary was cursed, but he tells them his other brother, Hrimnir created the curse. Mercy and Adam embark on a journey to Montana to find the person behind the curse, to help her brother.

When they meet Hrimnir, he explains that Gary had stolen an important artifact; in retaliation, he has brought a major blizzard to the hotel, where a wedding will take place. No one can leave the resort until the artifact is returned, or all will die. Mercy and Adam go to stay at the hotel and try to find the artifact; while there they meet a host of supernatural beings, such as fae, vampires, wolves, etc. We also learn about the myths and traditions, such as the wedding, as well as end of the world threats. I did like some new characters, such as Liam (Fae), and Grandmother Spider, who was a great addition, with her magical abilities.

What follows is an exciting, non-stop, tense, action packed adventure that captivated me from start to finish. Winter Lost was a tense, exciting, wild, pulse pounding climax. To tell too much more would be spoilers, which would ruin the story.
Winter Lost was a page turner, and so very well written by Briggs, with so much action throughout. I loved every moment of it. I love Adam and Mercy together, as they have a wonderful bond. This is a fabulous series. If you have not read the Mercy Thompson series, and love paranormal, shifters, wolves; it is time to start reading this series.

Thank you, Ace, Berkley and NetGalley, for my free E-book for review.

As a newcomer to the Mercy Thompson series, I wasn't sure what to expect with "Winter Lost." But I was pleasantly surprised that this 14th installment stood on its own quite well, with the author providing helpful context whenever past events were mentioned.

The story really grabbed me from the start - Mercy's brother unexpectedly showing up, cursed by a Frost Giant, sets off a thrilling quest for Mercy. I love a good quest, and the urban fantasy setting made it feel refreshingly familiar yet still magical. The lodge, the supernatural wedding party, the vampire and ghost with their tragic backstory - the diverse cast of characters and their unique dynamics kept me thoroughly engaged.

The mystery surrounding the missing harp that Mercy must retrieve had me hooked. The twists and turns, the blizzard adding an extra layer of tension, kept me guessing until the grand reveal. I have to admit, I never saw it coming! That the creature's fate was so tragic and guttural really hit me, but I'm glad it ultimately worked out for Mercy and her own healing.

This was exactly the kind of quest adventure with an imperfect protagonist that made me fall in love with fantasy in the first place. "Winter Lost" has solidified my interest in diving into the rest of the Mercy Thompson series. I can't wait to see what other surprises are in store!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
Once again, this series has kept me on the edge of my seat, and I really appreciated the unique narrative POV. Lots of fresh perspectives and new voices telling their version of events, which meant some interesting character unveiling.

I won't say much, but the relationship between Mercy and Coyote is developing bit by bit, and I am loving it.

In this book, we see Mercy utterly depleted by her most recent adventures, and it was hard to bear, watching her curled up and needing to be rescued. I guess we all run out of steam sometimes.

Definitely a strong next chapter in the series, so I unequivocally recommend it to anyone that enjoys urban fantasy with strong female leads and steam sex scenes- start at the beginning, you'll get to Winter Lost in no time!

Winter Lost, by Patricia Briggs, is the 14th installment in the author's Mercy Thompson series. So, right off the bat, I should warn readers that this book has a plethora of interludes with various characters like a character named John Hunter, Zane, Coyote, Jesse, Hrimnir, and of course, Adam. There are lots of intermingling storylines in this book that will eventually come to a head with some powerful Norse myths making an appearance, plus Coyote who is up to his machinations that could lead to some very bad news for the world.

Mercy is still recuperating from the attack she suffered in the last book. She is not doing well. Her mind and her magic were affected by the Soul Taker. No one really knows how to fix her. Not even Zee. Adam knows she is not well but no one he knows can help her. So, on top of worrying about Mercy's health, they also have to have eyes on the back of their heads for fear that Bonarata, Lord of the Night, will once again come for Mercy and there's nothing that Adam can do to stop him.

To make things even more twisted, Mercy's half brother Gary seems to have been cursed into not being able to speak. Mercy and Adam embark on a perilous journey where they confront not only a killer storm but also a sinister force threatening to unleash chaos upon the world unless its demands are met. Their trip is not an easy one. The winter storm is a powerful one. Someone is behind it. But why? By whom? To discover that means going up against yet another powerful being and quite possibly Mercy's father, Coyote.

As they arrive at the Lounge, they are met by a wedding party. It's not a typical one, and once they realize what is actually happening, Mercy and Adam come to the realization that more than Gary's life is in danger. As I need to repeat, instead of focusing on Mercy and Adam's struggles, including something that is happening in New Mexico, and the threat from Bonarata, the story itself suffers from an overabundance of narrators, making it challenging to keep track of who is telling the story. This, my friends, is why you need to take notes so you don't get caught in not understanding what is happening and why.

I do a re-read of the entire Mercy series every year because it is one of my all-time favorites. That being said this is the first time I have ever struggled getting through one of her books. Usually, I will read a new Mercy book in a day or two but this one took me a couple of weeks. I think this is because there were multiple POVs and time jumps throughout the book which my ADHD could not handle. If I could leave 3.5 stars I would but I love Mercy/Patty too much to leave anything less than 4. I still got new insight into the characters and we wrapped up some issues from previous books. However, I felt like new storylines were opened which left me with a lot of questions. I'm sure they will be wrapped up in the next book but until then I am left wondering and wishing these books came out every month instead of every year.

Shout out to NetGalley and Pattys team for approving my ARC request. I was beyond excited. Patricia Briggs and one other author got me hooked on this genre and I will love her for it always.

Mercy is somewhat back to normal except for residual damage to her magic and soul by the ancient artifact known as the Soul Taker, a harvester of souls. Mercy hoped that when the Dark Smith of Drontheim, Zee, had destroyed it, her side effects would stop. While Mercy is trying to hold it together and pretending she is okay, half-brother Gary shows up on her doorstep under a bad curse. Mercy and Adam discover Gary has recently been caretaker of a ranch in the wilds of Montana. They head out to discern what happened to him, reaching Montana during a growing major blizzard that is anything but normal.

Once Mercy and Adam make their way to the area known as the Cabinets, mountains that are very remote and difficult, they get trapped in with a wedding party at a hot springs lodge near Gary’s place. Some of these folks are not normal humans, they include a vampire, assorted fae, a Green Man, and other interesting supernaturals. The most dangerous being in the area is a Frost Giant, who can take more than one form; he is causing all the problems. If Mercy does not find a way to return his stolen musical instrument, and this unusual wedding does not happen because of the blizzard, the hound of Ragnarök will be set loose possibly signaling the end of the world.

The Twilight of the Gods is no joke where this guy is concerned; he sets a seemingly impossible task for Mercy and Adam while she is trying to deal with all the Soul Taker's harm. And to add in more fun, Mercy is also being taunted and harassed by Bonarata, the decidedly evil Lord of the Night vampire king, who nearly killed Adam and was responsible for setting the Soul Taker lose in the world.

The book has several POVs including what are referred to as interludes where different characters add in to the story, past and present making it a bit choppy. A lot is going on including the pack’s handling of Gary back in the Tri-Cities and Darryl, Adam’s second, in New Mexico on a problem for Adam’s security company. Since we all know Mercy is chaos, she always contributes challenges to the mix especially when her father, Coyote, and Gary are involved. I always enjoy it when Mercy and Adam work together on the main problem in these tales. The focus on the Norse mythology adds an interesting dimension to their ever-expanding pantheon of creatures, critters, and assortment of magical folk.

Mercy and Adam find themselves battling the elements in the latest Mercedes Thompson title, Winter Lost. After Mercy's brother Gary shows up disoriented and literally cursed, Mercy and Adam take off through the blizzard of the century to retrieve what Gary has stolen ... and to pacify the ancient force who is smothering the Western US in winter weather.

As usual, Briggs shows humor and excellent pacing. Unfortunately, this go around, the plot somehow fizzled. The premise was exciting, but the characters just didn't pop as they usually do. Winter Lost is still a must-read for fans of the series, and I look forward to seeing what the hand of Coyote is going to mean for future stories.

It takes a truly talented author to keep a long-running series fresh and I'm always amazed and grateful that Patricia Briggs is such an author.

Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs is #14 in the series. At this point, I'd urge a new reader to start with Book #1 because you can only really appreciate how beautifully everything is coming together if you've experienced it from the beginning.

Patricia Briggs delivers yet another captivating urban fantasy novel with Winter Lost. This book, set in her familiar supernatural world, follows the gripping tale of intrigue, danger, and magic that fans have come to expect.

The story centers around strong, relatable characters. Our protagonist, Mercy Thompson, is a compelling heroine who balances vulnerability with strength, navigating a world where every decision can mean life or death. Briggs excels at character development, and Mercy's journey of self-discovery is both engaging and poignant.

One of the standout features of Winter Lost is the richly detailed world-building. Briggs weaves together elements of mythology and modernity seamlessly, creating a vivid backdrop that enhances the narrative. The winter setting adds a unique, almost haunting atmosphere, with the icy landscapes reflecting the chilling encounters Mercy faces.

The plot is well-paced, filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The interplay between suspense and action is masterful, ensuring that the story never drags. Briggs has a knack for creating tension, and the stakes feel genuinely high throughout the book.

However, there are a few minor drawbacks that prevent Winter Lost from being a perfect read. Some secondary characters could have been fleshed out more, as their motivations and backgrounds occasionally feel underdeveloped. Additionally, while the climax is thrilling, it wraps up a bit too neatly, leaving a desire for more complexity in the resolution.

Despite these minor issues, Winter Lost is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Patricia Briggs continues to be a master of the urban fantasy genre, and this book is a testament to her storytelling prowess. It's a must-read for fans of the genre and a solid addition to Briggs' impressive bibliography.

Overall, Winter Lost earns a well-deserved four stars for its engaging plot, strong character development, and immersive world-building. It's a spellbinding adventure that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Spending the weekend with Mercy and Adam and crew was a delight. Picking this title up was just like meeting old friends. I love the continuity between the titles. It's easy to keep up reading them so far apart. As usual, this story did not disappoint and built on the foundation of fables and mythology of the others. A great read!

★ ★ ★ • 3

Somehow I mistakenly thought that this was a stand-alone that could be read without having closely followed the series by having read the prequels… Obviously, I was wrong. Despite that I did finish the book and tried to figure things out based on context, but that definitely affected my reading experience.

The characters were endearing and the writing itself wasn’t bad, but the ending seemingly left a lot of loose ends despite not finishing on a cliffhanger.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series that has read all of the other books in the series. Winter Lost isn’t really geared towards anyone other than that. Still, anyone who can appreciate urban romantasy with werewolves would probably enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review!

I'm a huge Mercy fan, and I own every single book in the series. I have mixed feelings about this one though. I can safely say it was my least favorite.

I'm always happy to revisit Mercy and the gang, and I usually read her books in one afternoon, but I feel like this book was slower and less action-packed than usual. The way the mystery was handled also felt kind of weird I'm afraid, and the tons of POV didn't really bring more to the story. I did enjoy Adam's POV though, that was nice.
I also liked the little Sherwood / Warren side story, but if I'm being honest, it didn't actually bring anything to the main plot line. Will it have some significance in future books?

Overall, this book was missing a spark for me, but I still enjoyed it. I will definitely buy the print for the collection!

*I will also post about it on tiktok, no links yet.

Winter Lost is another propulsive, character driven, action-fantasy by Patricia Briggs.

Mercy is afraid. Bonarata has her number, the Artifact has altered her magic, she and Adam are keeping secrets from each other and brother Gary Laughingdog has appeared on her doorstep blind, incomprehensible and uncomprehending.

Mercy is afraid but that won’t stop this coyote shapeshifter and her werewolf husband Adam from seeking a cure for Gary, facing legendary beings and discovering a role in saving the world.

Patricia Briggs adds another worthy entry to her Mercy Thompson series as Mercy and her husband Adam head off into a magical Montana blizzard to try to rescue her bespelled brother. The story continues to flesh out Mercy's complicated world in fascinating directions...

The beloved Mercy Thompson series makes a triumphant return with "Winter Lost," the fourteenth book in the series!
To truly enjoy a Mercy novel, there are some personal rules I follow to ensure a satisfying read:
Mercy and Adam must not be separated for too long (the exception being "Silence Fallen," a fantastic book!)
It's essential to have pack interactions in the story
Zee and Tad should make multiple appearances

Patricia Briggs really knows how to develop her characters, she lets them grow and change, and in these later installments to the series we are even getting other POV's. Seeing Mercy from an outside perspective is amazing, getting to know what is in Adam's head is a dream, and learning pack dynamic through supporting characters expands the world. Especially when we get to know little critical breadcrumbs about these characters, because readers know that it will all pay off.

The story might jump around a bit too much- especially in the timeline, but there are several payoffs within. The magic always makes sense, Briggs explains it so well, crafts the mystery and the monster to need Mercy's mysterious and ever illuminating power. Mercy is as fragile as ever, as tough as ever, and way way way too pragmatic as always. I'd love to see the girl splurge on herself at least once.

Good mystery, great action, incomparable love story, too much magic- and I love it that way!

Once again, Patricia Briggs has blended urban fantasy, action, suspense, and a little romance into another fantastic novel. Winter Lost is the fourteenth book in the Mercy Thompson (Hauptman) series. Mercy is a car mechanic, coyote shapeshifter, and mate to Adam Hauptman, the leader of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack. Mercy needs to travel to Montana to help her half-brother Gary, but now that she’s not alone, Adam goes with her. In the Montana wilderness, they become trapped with strangers at the Looking Glass Hot Springs lodge. The storm isn’t your average storm and neither is Gary’s problem. Ancient magics abound. Will Mercy and Adam solve the problems and escape unscathed?

Mercy is a strong female lead character. She’s independent, kind, thinks the best of others, and has a sense of humor. She doesn’t get mad, she gets even when crossed and she doesn’t like people to worry about her, so she doesn’t always communicate what she should. Adam is a strong alpha werewolf and is good at walking tight ropes. However, his temper isn’t always his strong suit. They do a great job of supporting each other and are stronger together. The other pack members play minor roles in this story line, but occasional interludes keep readers up-to-date with some of them, but the interludes have a slight adverse effect on the overall flow of the story.

I was quickly drawn into Mercy’s life once again. It was easy to visualize the scenes and be transported to them throughout the story. The author is a wonderful storyteller who kept me turning the pages with a great plot, gripping scenes, and strong characters. The plot is twisty, the pacing is fast, and the mystery unfolds and culminates in a fascinating conclusion.

Overall, this is an excellent urban fantasy novel with great characterization and fantastic world-building. I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Those who enjoy urban fantasies, supernatural suspense, and books by this author will likely enjoy this series. Since the story line as well as the characterization builds over the course of the series, I recommend reading it in order.

Berkley Publishing Group – Ace and Patricia Briggs provided a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be June 18, 2024.

This is the 14th book in the Mercy Thompson series and finds Mercy's brother Gary on her doorstep and he is in bad shape and it seems that magic is to blame. So Mercy and Adam head to Montana to investigate what happened to leave Gary in his current state, and hopefully discover how to help him. This leads to being trapped in a lodge during a snowstorm that is a little more supernatural than the average storm. And her brother's current problems are just a small part of a much larger problem. Mercy must literally save the world with the help of her mate and a few other fae and nordic characters.

The good: Anytime you get Mercy and Adam together is a good storyline. They are always encountering some major challenge, but they have each other's backs and are much stronger as a whole. Also like how the pack survives and can deal with issues without the alpha. Very interested if Gary might be woven into more storylines in the future. The not so good: Mercy is still suffering from the aftereffects of the soul sucker from the previous book in the series. She also gets banged around in this one too. I also missed the other pack members in this edition, they played a more minimal role.

This is a great series and I recommend that this book be read in order as the storylines follow a sequence that may not be as enjoyable if read as a stand alone. I will definitely be listening to the audiobook when it is released. Thank you Ace via #netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for June 18, 2024. #WinterLost #NetGalley

Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs
Book 14 of the Mercy Thompson series
Loved it!
Another action-packed adventure from Patricia Briggs!
Mercy's brother, Gary, shows up and can't communicate. In the middle of a snow storm, Adam and Mercy head to Montana to fix the problem. If they don't fix it, it could be the end of the world.
We meet wonderful new characters while others in the pack handle other problems. The pack is growing in strength, but not necessarily in numbers, preparing for Bonarata, the Lord of Night. As always, I can't wait for the next adventure.

Action-packed winter storm!

For the hard-core readers of this series, this installment doesn't disappoint.

Mercy is still recuperating from the attack she suffered in the last book. She is not doing well. Her mind and her magic were affected by the Soul Taker. No one really knows how to fix her.

Adam knows she is not well but no one he knows can help her.

Then, Mercy's half-brother, Gary shows up. He is unable to talk or comprehend. Something happened to him while he was taking care of a ranch in Montana. Despite her own problems, Mercy knows she has to help him.

Mercy and Adam decide to take a trip to Montana to find the answers. Their trip is not an easy one. The winter storm is a powerful one. Someone is behind it. But why? By whom?

As they arrive at the Lounge, they are met by a wedding party. It's not a typical one. Mercy and Adam come to the realization that more than Gary's life is in danger.

I love Mercy and Adam together. They have learned to trust each other and to let the other be independent when the right occasion arises. My one complaint is that I missed the rest of the pack and I also miss Bran.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.