In WINTER LOST fans greet again Mercy Thompson Hauptman, coyote shifter mate to the alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack werewolf Adam in a new adventure. As if the almost unending duties of keeping pack and humans safe who live in the Tri-Cities in the state of Washington aren’t enough they are about to embark on a trip that could make all that a cakewalk. 

Mercy’s half-brother (we have learned she has several half-siblings) Gary appears at their home under the influence of a magic spell that no one can remove. It is up to Mercy to travel to Montana to approach the one person who might – or might not – be able to remove it. She plans to go alone but this time Adam isn’t going to let her. He is upset and worried as she is getting more calls from a former antagonist, Bonarata – the Lord of Night, even though she had changed her number and done all the proper blocking needed. She is also still weakened from the last battle with old magic. What is ahead of them is a storm – magical and real, while isolated in an inn. 

WINTER LOST is the 14th in author Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series and is a fantastic urban fantasy. A lot of this series has dealt with Mercy being integrated into the pack and dealing with their antagonism. That seems to have calmed down as she has proven herself enough to them to be invited to join in on a pity party by one of the female pack members. (Read WINTER LOST to find out who and why.) Adam has always tried to defend Mercy, but he was wise enough to know that she wouldn’t take kindly to a blanket threat to his people. So, she ended up suffering a bit of abusive nonsense from some of them. Now she feels that she has been accepted. 

WINTER LOST gives readers a chance to see this couple, who are stronger together, work in tandem while trying to save Gary and perhaps the world. In my opinion, as a fan of the series, it was nice to see them spending time together without the pack surrounding them. Even if it meant setting them in a dangerous situation, but then situations of danger are very much a part of their lives. This magic that has her brother could be just the thing to end the world if they are not careful. 

Ms. Briggs is an amazing storyteller, with the ability to use words that help readers see it all very clearly and easily. There are inclusions of other pack members to enjoy and meeting new people that might be enjoyed or not at all – that is for the reader to decide. 

I would suggest that readers not familiar with this series read these books in order to get the full effect and understanding of all the details, people and situations they find themselves in. Fans will just want to grab WINTER LOST as quickly as possible.