First, I probably should let any potential readers know that there is a first person rape scene in this book that could be massively triggering to any rape or sexual assault survivors. Secondly, I'm a huge Briggs and Mercedes Thompson fan, and this book greatly disappointed me, with both what was done to her as a character, and also the clumsy and ham-handed way something that serious was handled (if it had to be handled at all). The ending especially, is incredible in how tone-deaf Briggs is to the issues survivors face regarding sexual intimacy. I hear she patches this up a little in the fourth book, but it doesn't excuse ending a book in this manner since anybody reading this book might not necessarily have the fourth book immediately there for reading, and especially not when it was first published. I was incredibly disappointed by what was a huge let down after a great second book that built on a wonderful first book and built up an incredible and powerful heroine in Mercedes.

The third title of the MERCY THOMPSON series. You can't go wrong with Patricia Briggs. She's a great story teller and a master plot builder, and she has created an unforgettable set of characters. If you like the MERCY THOMPSON series, be sure to read the ALPHA AND OMEGA series, which tells the story of the “country” side of this werewolf pack. Here are the MERCY THOMPSON titles in reading order: Moon Called (2006); Blood Bound (Ace, 2007); Iron Kissed (2008); Bone Crossed (2009); Silver Borne ( 2010); River Marked (Ace, 2011); “The Star of David” in Wolfsbane & Mistletoe anthology (2010) "Red with Pearl" in Down These Strange Streets anthology (10-2011) Mercy Thompson: Homecoming (graphic novel, 2009)

Entertaining enough plot with an emotionally shocking development near the end which was entirely not what I expected. We learned a lot about the fae's secretive existence without really believing we know it all. The fae are very strange and scary... A big focus of the book was her "choice" between her two men. We know what her choice will be but, maybe I've read too many romance novels, but I think the author did us a disservice by her shortcuts whenever things heated up! Maybe it's out-of-her-comfort-zone to write a sex scene (or a necking scene) but, come on, you can't simply skip things that important. I felt like I was left hanging when I had been anticipating a mushy scene at the very least. Well maybe Briggs intended to develop this in the next book to keep the reader coming back...so we'll see. I can't help but love Mercedes and all the unique characters Briggs' created in this series. On to the next. I had to edit this review as I started to read #4 only to realize that Briggs did not skip anything...left us hanging but literally carried on in #4. Already loving #4...lots going on already only 50 pages in.

Fantastic series, this is the third book. Patricia Briggs isn't afraid to take her characters to dark places, and in this book she does. A great read, though dark and a bit depressing.