Teresa

I read Ever After and am currently listening to the audio version. I like both. Having Marguerete Gavin narrate brings all the characters to life. I think I hear her voice in my head when I was reading the story.

Trent and Rachel finally stop talking passed each other and really listen to what the other person has to say. This is totally important given how much they end up having to depend on one another and stop pushing each other's buttons to come up with an aligned plan.

I think Marguerite Gavin has narrated all of the Hollows Series save one, which they really should redo with Marguerite Gavin's narration. Her performance for the series has been incredible, this narration is no exception to what she has done in the past. She is distinct with each character. Great cadence in her narration.

I really would have loved to listed to this book in one sitting but it's a long book (thank goodness). I run while listening and my runs have never gone quicker, not that my running is any faster but listening to this latest Hollows book makes the run seem to go much faster!

Rachel is coming into her own in this new book, she clearly has matured and has a better sense of who she is and much more confidence than when the series began. I'm already looking forward to the next book. I read that Kim Harrison intends for the series to be complete at book 13, not sure if that's accurate. She continues to make each book fresh and exciting.

Patricia Briggs is back with Mercy, Adam, their pack, and her allies. In addition, Patricia Briggs brings a little help to Mercy's door from Charles and Anna's world. Not only do you get to see the ins and outs of friendship, pack, and a little bit of magic, you get to see into more of what makes Mercy and Adam tick, what is in their hearts and minds.

I think Frost Burned was similar to Iron Kissed from the standpoint of all of Mercy's friends, allies, etc... are engaged in this story. You are able to see where folks are at and what is happening a little bit in their lives while Mercy is once again plunging into danger to save her loved ones.

My favorite scene is when Patricia Briggs gets inside Adam's head. You get to see how he feels about Mercy, why she is important to him, and how much she means to him. Briggs has always been good about get up close and personal in what Mercy thinks and feels about herself and those around her, this time she does the same with Adam and goes back and forth between the two of them.

"Mercy, your eyes are gold, I didn't know they could change color."

Loralie King does a great job of narrating the story. If I had any complaints at all, it was that I zipped through this book way too fast and now how to wait before Patricia Briggs puts out her next book......sigh......

I love the Mercy books, this was a perfect follow on to Silver Born and provides insight to Mercy's heritage. You get a look inside why Mercy has always felt like an outsider having an Indian half, a white half, and a coyote half with no one wanting to "claim her as their own" until Adam and the best thing about Adam is he loves Mercy for exactly who she is.

Mercy has always been my favorite character in this series because she is tough, vulnerable, smart, and tries not to take herself too seriously. I think she's had to be tough because she's never felt like she belonged with the wolves or her mom's family. She's always been a little bit of an outsider and was also told she was an outsider. It's makes her a little thicker skinned than most. She can still be hurt by not being accepted by others and can also feel like she is never quite good enough. This could have made her bitter but she's not, she's optimistic, tends to see the good in others but is in no way a pushover.

Lorelei King has been voicing all of the Mercy books and does such an awesome job voicing each character so distinctively. I really liked how she performed Coyote, he came across whimsical, silly, and powerful.

I love these books, I can't wait for the next one to release in March 2013. I find I will relisten to the series because I love the storyline and the characters so much.

Patricia Briggs is a wonderful writer and Lorelie King brings these characters to life.