Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs, Briggs is a fantastic writer and for me she always delivers. If you are a fan of Mercedes and the trouble she always seems to find, you won't want to miss this book!

Patricia Briggs has created characters that I love to read about and return to every year. Winter Lost is the newest book in the Mercy Thompson series that follows Mercy as she tries to save her family and friends. This book was a wonderful addition that included some new mythology that I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into. What I love is that Briggs gives us a break from the usual setting with the Pack and takes us to a new place with new people to meet and learn about in the wilderness of Montana. As always, this book was action packed and fun to read. I can't wait to see more books that involve Gary and his future with the Pack. As always, I highly recommend Patty's books for fans of action-packed urban fantasy.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this advanced e-reader's copy in exchange for my review.

Reading a Patricia Briggs book always reminds me why I am right to set aside other books when I am just finding myself not invested in the story or characters. This is just another, in a long series of examples, of wonderful story telling and character development. I couldn't put it down, so invested in what was happening and how delighted I was to be back with Mercy and Adam!

Mercy's half brother Gary, shows up on her doorstep, incoherent and in need of her help. The only thing for Mercy and Adam to do, is to head up to Montana, where Gary was last residing, to find out what he was up to in hopes of finding a cure. Of course, when both Gary and Mercy are involved, it's pretty likely that Coyote is around somewhere, messing around with forces he shouldn't be. While we didn't see as much of Coyote as I might have liked (yes, he's a trouble maker, but he's grown on me!) he was definitely a key player....
When Mercy and Adam make it to the resort, they are snowed in with several others who "should" be preparing for a winter wedding... but the groom has not arrived yet and there is a mystery that needs solving before anyone will be allowed to leave.
Overall- loved it. There were some threads from previous books that were tied up... but I hate that the vampire Bonaratta is still out there messing with everyone. I have a feeling we're gonna see that come to a head soon though! Or maybe I'm just hoping!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this book

4.5,stars
I definitely liked this more than Soul Taken and Smoke Bitten. It didn't wow me like Storm Cursed did, but I think that was an especially good installment in the series.
A couple of important ongoing problems get resolved (one for sure and the other I'm pretty sure), but one big annoyance is still looming in the background, which makes me cranky. I suspect/hope that will be resolved in the next book. I think Briggs is too good to keep this thing going indefinitely.
I was delighted that characters from a short story I thought was a one-off showed up in this book. Without being too spoilery, rereading <i>Shifting Shadows</i> before this comes out might boost your enjoyment.
The pacing was good, with a nice mix of action, intrigue, and relationship stuff. I liked the shifting POVs too. It's interesting to be in Adam's head sometimes.
I'm pretty happy with this one, and I think I'll like it even more on a second read.

As an avid fan of the Mercy Thompson universe, this book was a good continuation of the series. However, much like River Marked and Fire Touched, acted for me in the series, I feel this book was a bit more of a "background" book. Dont misunderstsnd me, please, it was also a much-needed recovery from the previous book in the series, Soul Taken. To explain a feeling is difficult but it feels slightly more light-hearted with plenty of scary monsters. You come to understand that it serves a big purpose in the stories of the Mercy-verse but at the same time it doesn't tackle any of the big bads that have previously been established despite there being multiple to choose from. Rather it is its own identity of a story.

This was a good addition to the series but not my favorite. I loved the addition of new folklore and characters, but there was a little too much happening with all the interludes that took away from the main story. It'll be interesting to see if the plot bits from the interludes come up again in future books though.

This book is much like Wild Sign (Alpha & Omega series) takes us into the forest and away from the pack. There is a purpose to this. Briggs uses several interludes to show us how the pack functions without Adam and Mercy. It is very interesting. Also, how Adam's security business functions. The main plot has to do with another big bad, Gary, Coyote, and several fae--oh, and a surprise character that had me googling mythological arachnids. Briggs always weaves an interesting tale, and I love Adam and Mercy's relationship, especially in this book when we get to be in Adam's head for certain chapters. This is definitely not for those who have never given Briggs a try, but fans will enjoy it.

Like a spider's web, the threads of the story are all connected creating a wonderful new addition to the Mercy Thompson series.

After the previous book, Mercy is left damaged due to an artifact called the Soul Taker. It's effecting her mentally and magically. When her half brother, Gary, shows up on the Hauptman's front porch unable to communicate, Adam and Mercy are off to a remote resort in Montana to find a way to cure his ailment. Of course, there is more to the illness than what they each realize. This sends them on a bit of a mystery and search for another missing artifact. Not only is Gary's well being dependent on them solving this mystery, but the world.

In Winter Lost, the format is a bit different than previous books. There are characters with their own chapters. For me, I believe these are to fill in some of the gaps in the back story of the new characters in order to eliminate the need when the mystery is the primary focus. It did throw the reading experience off for me a bit, but it wasn't so much that it changed my enjoyment of the overall book.

I am a fan of this series and always look forward to the next installments. This book is primarily all Adam and Mercy. It's nice to see the two working as a team and even at moment the more playful side of their relationship. The story also brings some new characters and mingled in with brief appearances by other past favorites. The mystery as a whole is really well constructed. I enjoyed how all of the elements twisted and wound around to connect, which, of course, it pretty on course when Coyote is involved. That being said, I do wish that the mystery elements had been a little more drawn out. For me, I think this would have created just a bit more suspense. The reveals are good, but they come a bit quickly for this reader. Despite that, it's a pretty solid book and part of the series. It was a fun quick read. The book doesn't leave any loose ends in regards to the mystery. While the story lead to does lead to some outstanding resolutions, there are still plenty remaining to be dealt with in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mercy is still dealing with the aftereffects of having her mind ripped open by an ancient magic artifact. While, on the one hand, it's rapidly destroying her sanity, on the other hand, it gives her interesting insights into the true character of some of the other people around her. Most of the book is focused on Adam and Mercy on a mission driven in part by Mercy's father and brother, and it's nice to get some quality time with them as a couple. On the other hand, you only get a few little vignettes about some of the other characters, and it feels like either not enough or too much - the side chapters don't seem to serve much of a purpose other than to remind you these characters exist. I guess this is a problem in a fully fleshed-out world - so many people to spend time with, and not a thousand pages to do everyone justice.

Thank you for letting me read this early. I have been patiently waiting for this next book. I follow the author and knew about the delay. It's nice to see how this relationship keeps growing. I gave this 5 stars on goodreads

OMG!!! I LOVE Patricia Briggs! Probably because Mercy Thompson is my all time favorite book character across all genres! I may have already read this twice and I may already have pre-ordered a copy for myself. I inhaled it. First time around, I picked it up and didn't put it down until I was done! Second time was pretty much the same, only I had to put it down once to drive to a different location. lol So, Winter Lost is exceptional.

What is is about?

Well without giving too much away...Mercy is still suffering the after effects of the artifact from the last book when her half brother lands on her doorstep, in trouble. Mercy obviously decides to help him and Adam insists they do it together.

What did I think?

Obviously I absolutely loved it. It's kind of a fantasy mystery "who done it," only it's "who has it and how do we get it back?" I really enjoyed the fact that Briggs brings it back to a Mercy (and Adam) adventure. The last few books introduced us to a lot of the pack members and had them involved, which I loved, obviously, but Mercy is my gal. Adam basically entrusts the pack with all the problems they have to deal via a few key members with particular strengths and skill sets, showing a lot of faith and trust in his people. I bet they appreciated that and you can tell how seriously they take the responsibility.

Briggs nicely ties in past books, and introduces a few new characters to have even more representation. She buttons up some open plotlines from previous books and gives us a bit more insight to the Deities that cohabit the world. It was really cool how she did it all!!

I also love how she expanded the points of views you receive the story through, bringing the other pack members plotlines along via their point of view at given points of time. I am a sucker for a well written book with multiple points of view. I love knowing what goes on in different characters heads.

Conclusion

Obviously I loved it! What else is there to say? Read it!!!

Mercy and Adam are struggling with the consequences of the Soul Collector when a series of things cause them to travel to Montana in a snowstorm. ARC from NetGalley.

This was an interesting spin on the normal adventures that you have when you read a Mercy Thompson book. I was a little worried going in reading some early reviews, but I ended up really enjoying the story. I wish that the normal side characters got more time on page for us to understand their situations within the book, but Mercy and Adam were wonderful.

As I said before this adventure is a little different, and I really enjoyed the change of getting more Adam chapters, but it was confusing with the other characters who get chapters. I wish that the chapters where titled with whose POV we were getting at the moment. I don't feel that takes away from the story if it's just label it under the number. I am looking forward to the next book and will be adding these to my yearly re read of the whole Mercy Thompson series.

LOVED IT! This installment was so different than anything previous. There were these interludes that, at first, seemed like they weren't part of the story, but they were. Long chapters from Adam's POV, which I don't remember Briggs doing much in the past. We were dealing with a bit of Norse mythology...it was just a fun, edge-of-your-seat read. Fantastic story!

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

This series just continues to stay one of my all time favorites, and this book is no exception.

Mercy continues to be a nexus for dire events, and this time the total destruction of the world will result if she is not successful. No pressure. Pretty much all of your favorite side characters are back, and a few new ones are introduced that I can see potentially linking into future plots.

Mercy is not recovering from the wound to her soul and to her magic. And her pack and friends have rallied to help her. But when her brother arrives cursed, she and Adam travel to Montana to trace his last steps... and straight in the face of a killer storm. A storm that has vowed to end the world unless his harp is returned. Now they are searching a lodge, and questioning the means and motives of everyone trapped there with them.

Why I started this book: Briggs is on my automatic buy and my stalk Netgalley list. I love her characters and worlds.

Why I finished it: This book is very staccato. It mimics the injury that Mercy suffered, and allowed Briggs to bring in several new perspectives, and some old favorites. It was also not how she usually writes. So I loved it and hated it. But as I have gone back and reread it, I think that this will be one of my favorites in the series.

Winter Lost is Patricia Briggs doing what she does best. Taking a well crafted plot and giving her readers a thrill ride with the characters we’ve gotten emotionally invested in. You get subplots that are the results of actions in past books involving the pack and the ultimate Big Bad Vampire. While Mercy uses her wits and ties to allies to prevent Ragnarock.

Bonus - guest appearances from characters in previously published short stories set in Mercy's world.

Not a good entry point for new readers but incredibly satisfying for longtime fans of the series.

It’s always great to be back in a Patricia Briggs world, especially the Mercyverse. Winter Lost has a different feel than most of the other Mercy books because this one has multiple point-of-views which can be confusing when you are not sure what it has to do with the plot. That being said, it was nice to read from some of the povs of characters we don’t really see that often. In the end the payoff is worth some of the confusion from the beginning. I think some of the povs were setting up for a bigger picture later down the line.

At the core of this book is a story about love that family members have for each other and it’s an adventure/mystery that has mainly just Mercy and Adam. It was nice to see them together working towards the same goal for all of the book. We get some nice insight into Adam and how he feels for Mercy. Also we get more insight into some of the wolves, Gary, and Coyote. In this book we really see how much everyone cares for Mercy and how she is not alone. I highlighted so many parts that I thought were beautiful. If you are this far into the series you will definitely love seeing more of Mercy and the different sides of characters we already love.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Ace for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.