Audiobook review: Storm Cursed
Author: Patricia Briggs
Narrator: Lorelei King
Audio Speed: 1.25x
Series: Mercy Thompson #11; Mercy Thompson Universe #16
Source: Penguin Random House Audio
Mercy is back my friends! Interweaving in time with Alpha and Omega, Mercy Thompson’s sister series, Storm Cursed takes place after the events of the previous two “Mercy Universe” books. Mercy and Adam are back in the Tri-Cities area of Western Washington. Adam is working to set up a high-level meeting between the Gray Lords of the Fae and the U.S. government. And while Adam is away, Mercy must deal with a mischievous goblin, miniature zombie goats, and high-level black witches making a power grab in their territory.
Honestly, the more I listen to Mercy Thompson, the more I love this series. Storm Cursed is a strong entry and one of my favorites. The book brought out the best in both Adam and Mercy, while addressing some personally difficult situations for the pair. We get so many wonderful aspects of Mercy (and Adam). I love that at different times in the story, Mercy works with the Pack, Z and Tad, and Adam, as a pair. The couple always helps one another first, but does what is best for the pack, and then does what is morally best. And there are some tough moments in this one. Seeing how Mercy and Adam deal with these blows just causes me to love them more.
Narration: While I enjoy reading this series nearly as much as listening to it, Lorelei King IS Mercy to me. As soon as I hear that first sentence, I fall into a familiar happy place. Ms. King nails everything about Mercy from her confidence to her uncertainty; from her love for Adam to her distrust of those outside her inner circle. She is young yet wise, which all comes through in Ms. King’s performance. But it’s not just Mercy, Ms. King alters her voice effectively to convey a large cast of characters, each with his or her own voice, accent, emotional responses, and inflections. My favorite this time around was Ms. King’s portrayal of Z speaking German spells. It gave me the chills. I cannot sing enough praise for Ms. King’s narration of the Mercy Thompson series.
With its theme of doing the right thing even when it’s difficult, Storm Cursed is a whirlwind adventure with a powerful emotional punch. I loved learning more about the witches of this world, and seeing Mercy grow both emotionally and in abilities. And Ms. Briggs has left open enough interesting threads that I cannot wait to see what Mercy and Adam encounter next.
My Ratings:
Story: A-
Narration: A+
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House Audio
Jen
About the Book:
My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.
And a coyote shapeshifter . . . And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.
Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn’t stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.
The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.
But we are pack, and we have given our word. We will die to keep it.