REVIEW Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson #13) by Patricia Briggs

Soul Taken (Mercy Thompson #13) by Patricia Briggs
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Ace

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Patricia Briggs’ latest book in the Mercy Thompson series, Soul Taken, is another dynamic tale of our fearless heroine, coyote shapeshifter Mercy and the rest of the Columbia Basin pack. The semi-stable powerhouse vampire Wulfe has gone missing, bodies are dropping all over the Tri-Cities area, and the pack must once again figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.

Mercy, is, of course, once again smack dab in the middle of everything happening in the Tri-Cities. Thankfully, she has Adam and the rest of the pack to back her up whenever necessary - and it’s very frequent she needs the backup since she’s such a magnet for trouble. Personally, I’ve loved seeing Adam and Mercy’s relationship develop over the course of the series. They balance each other well, and they are a great team. The pack bonds were also a highlight for me - the scene at the beginning of the book was fun, and I love any scene where they get to tease Mercy and Adam about their sex life. Happy Alpha wolves translate to strong healthy packs!

One of the strengths of this series has always been how well-developed the ensemble cast is, and that trend doesn’t stop with Soul Taken. Readers get to discover more about some of the major players in Mercy’s life - specifically, Zee, Wulfe, and Sherwood Post. Some stories get dropped about Zee and Sherwood Post’s past (there is a major development in discovering who Sherwood was before the witches took his memory). The major reveals, though, are all about Wulfe. Those who have read previous installments to the series will know that Wulfe has never exactly been stable in the time Mercy has known him. Soul Taken dives into his past, gives perspective on how he came to be as we know him today, and also gives a hint about how he earned his title of ‘The Wizard’. 

Wulfe’s background plays a big part in the story, but readers are also treated to more world-building with more info on how pack bonds work and clashes between different paranormal groups in the Tri-Cities area. First of all, there’s some more shifting in the ranks of Adam’s pack, specifically the order of dominance. Warren and Daryl clash a bit, and Sherwood’s dominance level comes into question. I was also intrigued by the power plays between the pack, the goblins, the fae (specifically Underhill), and the vampires. I can’t wait to see what happens as a result of the choices Mercy and Adam made in this book - it seems like the ramifications of their decisions may cross over to the Alpha and Omega series as well. 

Soul Taken is a fantastic book and an awesome addition to the series and larger Mercy Thompson + Alpha and Omega universe. I’m amazed at how this series continues to get better with every new release. Lorelei King once again did a great job with the audiobook narration. Urban fantasy and paranormal readers who are looking for great worldbuilding, a well-developed set of main characters and ensemble cast, and a witty, headstrong heroine should definitely pick up the Mercy Thompson series ASAP. 

About the Book

Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, must face her greatest fears in this chilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

The vampire Wulfe is missing. Since he’s deadly, possibly insane, and his current idea of “fun” is stalking me, some may see it as no great loss. But, warned that his disappearance might bring down the carefully constructed alliances that keep our pack safe, my mate and I must find Wulfe—and hope he’s still alive. As alive as a vampire can be, anyway.

But Wulfe isn’t the only one who has disappeared. And now there are bodies, too. Has the Harvester returned to the Tri-Cities, reaping souls with his cursed sickle? Or is he just a character from a B horror movie and our enemy is someone else?

The farther I follow Wulfe’s trail, the more twisted—and darker—the path becomes. I need to figure out what’s going on before the next body on the ground is mine.

About the Author

Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana, to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children, and six horses and writes full time, much to the delight of her fans.