logo

Alpha Showdown 2016 Round 5: Mercy Thompson vs. Merit

logo

VBC: Home of Alpha ShowdownThe Alpha Showdown is underway, and already proving to be a good one. There’s stiff competition this year, just look at the bracket!

It’s badass alpha woman against badass alpha woman in Alpha Showdown Round 5. Coyote shifter Mercy from Patricia Briggs’s books will take on vampire Merit from Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires.

Who will advance in the Alpha Showdown, though?

We’ve lined up excellent bloggers to fill you in on why each alpha deserves to advance. Read the pitches, and then make the call.

MERCY THOMPSON

You know her from: The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
First appeared in: Moon Called (VBC ReviewAmazon)
Supernatural status: walker/coyote shifter, daughter of the trickster god Coyote

Championed by: Margaret from VBC

In Patricia Briggs’s latest Mercy Thompson novel, Fire Touched, Mercy describes herself as, as vulnerable as any human. My superpower consisted of transforming into a thirty-five pound coyote. Why do we think she deserves to be an Alpha Showdown champion then?

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs // VBC ReviewRight after she said that, Mercy went off to battle a troll. She rescued an injured woman and her baby, shot the troll in the eye, and stabbed it in its big, green troll junk. She defended her unconscious husband with nothing but a stick and a bottle of essential oil. Mercy’s faced vampires, river monsters, and Fairy Queens and come out on top.

Mercy has a unique relationship with magic. She can see ghosts, where most supernaturals in her world can’t. She can tap into pack magic, even though she’s not a werewolf. And she can wield weapons meant for only the Fae. Her god-forged walking stick always appears when she needs it. She’s kind of a special snowflake, but it also makes her unpredictable.

I would also argue that shapeshifting is not Mercy’s only superpower. She’s also incredibly stubborn. Mercy never gives up, even though she winds up nearly dead at the end of so many of her books. She doesn’t do what’s expected. I mean, she’s an auto mechanic. She defies authority, mostly the Marrok’s, by knowing the rules and finding the loopholes. So she’s not only smart, but sneaky. She has to be to survive in a world where everyone else is bigger and stronger. That’s why she also carries a gun.

Mercy’s got a werewolf pack at her back and allies in every corner of the supernatural world—vampires, witches, and Fae. She stands up against evil, even when it’s kicking her ass. So while she may be the underdog, don’t count Mercy out. This coyote’s still got plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

MERIT

You know her from: Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill
First appeared in:
Some Girls Bite (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: 
Vampire and Sentinel of Cadogan House

Championed by: Amanda from VBC

Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill // VBC We’re all familiar with a certain blond-haired, green-eyed Master vampire, with his imperious eyebrow and his penchant for designer suits.

Allow me to direct your attention to someone you’ve probably overlooked. You know, that blue-eyed, dark-haired vampire that he named Sentinel of Cadogan House? The alpha who should have been in this tournament long before this year?

Yeah.

MERIT.

It’s easy to forget she’s only been a vampire for a year, but what a year it’s been. She’s taken on other Master vampires, shifters, crazy-pants sorcerers, uptight mayors, and random nefarious criminals (McKetrick, anyone?) And while they might knock her down temporarily, she always gets back up and charges full speed ahead.

She’s a katana-wielding, ballet-dancing badass who’s not afraid to throw herself into the line of fire (though she might snark about it in the process). There’s a reason Ethan named her Sentinel, and there’s a reason he recognized she’s a future Master herself. She’s strong, smart, and savvy, and knows where the best pizza in Chicago is. She makes mistakes and learns from them, growing with each challenge presented to her. She’s lived through losing her Master and lover, almost losing her best friend, massive upheaval within the vampire ranks, and the near-miss explosion that landed her beloved grandfather in the hospital. She knows how and when to employ diplomacy and tact, thanks to her snooty-rich upbringing, but at the end of the night, she’s the girl you want to hang out and eat Mallowcakes with.

Being an alpha isn’t always about being the toughest guy in the room. Sometimes, it’s about knowing your strengths, and knowing what your resources are—and how to use them. Merit’s got a couple of sorcerers, shifters, an Ombudsman, and a former mayor in her pocket, as well as her fellow House guards. She’s stood up to Ethan (and triumphed!). Not just anyone can be consort-turned-fiancé-soon to be wife to a Master. Fiercely loyal and willing to do whatever it takes to protect her House, The Ponytailed Avenger is a force to be reckoned with. And she’s only been a vampire for a year.

She might be a newbie, but Merit’s more than ready to fight for her rightful place as the winner of this year’s tournament.

 VOTE!

Who are you putting your money on: shifter or the vampire?

At the request of Alpha Showdown voters, we’re leveraging traditional polls for the voting, but also keeping reading for your chance to win awesome books. Your to-be-read pile could always use more. Trust us. Each poll will be open for 48 hours.

WIN!

Participating in the Alpha Showdown is all about fun, and free books equal fun, right? We hope you’ll find lots of great new reads during this year’s Alpha Showdown, and to help that along, we’re giving away some stellar reads.

For Round 5, we have a copy of Shanna Swendson’s Rebel Mechanics for one lucky VBC reader to take home. This one has the VBC seal of approval.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

50 Responses to “Alpha Showdown 2016 Round 5: Mercy Thompson vs. Merit”

  1. Brad says:

    Mercy all the way I really like how she has the gumption to take on those that she should not. Who else would put Peanut Butter on the Marrok’s seat.

  2. Dayna Winge says:

    Go Mercy!

  3. Tilly says:

    Absolutely love them both but I’ve picked Mercy this time.

  4. Leona says:

    Mercy without a doubt! That chick is super badass

  5. Maggie says:

    Absolutley love, love, love Mercy. Love anything by Patricia Briggs. Love Charles from the Alpha and Omega series too. <3

  6. Alison R says:

    NO brainer for me, I ducked out of the Chicagoland Vampires after the first few books but Mercy keeps going strong, the arc is only just developing!

  7. Yvonne A. says:

    Mercy.
    I like Merit but Mercy I like more 😉

  8. Aliyah says:

    Not fair! I love both but for me Merit is the one who wins.

  9. Laur says:

    No contest…Mercy’s got this!

  10. Tais says:

    Why is it that I keep voting for the loser *long suffering sigh*? I like Mercy, but I like Merit way more.

  11. Denise Hebert says:

    Mercy all the way! Like has been said previously… who else would peanut butter the Marrok’s seat, and she just keeps coming out alive (if barely… I’m looking at you River Devil!) of situations without all of the nifty healing and whatnot of a werewolf…

  12. Faye says:

    Mercy! I feel bad for poor Merit. I will say that my vote is that I love Mercy but also because I haven’t read Some Girls Bite!

  13. christine gervais says:

    Mercy for sure….

  14. Liliane says:

    I love both of them but I just relate more to Merit.

  15. Clare says:

    Mercy for the win!! I love Mercy, one of my favourite characters!

  16. Shannon says:

    Always putting my favorites against each other. I went with Mercy because she is the true alpha of the pack. Though I do love Merit.

  17. Amanda Stella says:

    mercy!

  18. Pam Blome says:

    Why can’t I vote for both!!! I voted for Mercy…

  19. karina says:

    I like both these characters, they are both strong will women

  20. Kimberly Curington says:

    I love both, but this time around, it’s Mercy!

  21. Kinga says:

    Merit. What a pity that she is out of the running because Chicagoland Vampires is less well known series than the other(and the same applies to Ethan Sullivan). For me she is the best heroine ever. 😉

  22. Karen says:

    Mercy!!! Love, love, love her!

  23. Sarah says:

    Merit, of course!!! She’s kick ass awesome

  24. Victoria Sloboda says:

    Had to go with the underdog – Merit.

  25. Jessie H. says:

    Oh man! I love both Mercy and Merit but I’m going to have to go with Mercy because Mercy.

  26. Kyndall Overstreet says:

    Lets get mercy threw and put her up against her hubby.

  27. Carol Gilreath says:

    Mercy Thompson and Patricia Briggs are awesome!

  28. Susan says:

    Mercy! But where is Katr Daniels!!

    • Margaret says:

      Kate’s round is coming up soon! Click on the Showdown logo at the top of the post to see the bracket.

  29. Kamelia says:

    Mercy!

  30. Elizabeth says:

    I like merit buuut I like mercy for the win here

  31. Liz S says:

    Mercy gets my vote but it was tough. Merit is awesome too!

  32. erinf1 says:

    mercy all the way 🙂 thanks for sharing!

  33. Meggin says:

    I like Merit but I LOVE Mercy. She is totally the winner here!

  34. Mary Preston says:

    Come on Mercy!!

  35. Lori A Hill says:

    Mercy ROCKS! Loyal to a fault, she faces whatever is thrown at her and deals with it, and she cares deeply about those she’s responsible for…even if she wants to smack them upside the head for being an idiot!

  36. Corrina says:

    Merit is great but Mercy is better1

  37. Katie says:

    I need to catch up on my TBR list!

  38. Janie McGaugh says:

    I vote for Mercy!

  39. Lynne says:

    Mercy to win.

  40. miki says:

    Mercy without hesitation how she can stay strong and compassionate after all what happened to her is admirable. teh perfect alpha

  41. This was a bit tough for me! I like Merit a lot, but I voted for Mercy. I just finished binge reading her series so far and I’ve come to admire her because she lives her unconventional life with humor, guts, honor and a never-say-die attitude. An Alpha woman for sure!

    • Margaret says:

      That’s a great definition of Alpha woman! All of those would probably fit an Alpha male too, but so many people try to make it all about sex appeal.

  42. Literally impossible to choose between 2 of my all time favorites !

  43. Dawn Roberto says:

    Got to be Mercy. Love her and her badassness

  44. Raine says:

    Well…at least a woman will win a round. Some of these women should so be in the top of the final round but sadly that won’t happen. We need to have another Alpha Showdown with women only because they deserve it! Might be a good way to get some lesser known kick ass heroines out there and find some new heroines for us. IE: Rune Alexander series by Laken Cane….lots of other examples….How about it???????

    • Sarah says:

      Oh my gosh, I would absolutely love to see an all female alpha showdown!!! Maybe in the summer months? With Cat Crawfield, Celaena Sardothion, Mac Lane, Merit, etc etc Yes!!! Lets do it!!!

  45. Anne R says:

    I finally read the Mercy Thompson series (well, listened to it). Absolutely fantastic, I can’t believe I waited this long to read this one. Love it. #teammercy

  46. BookLady says:

    Mercy Thompson is a winner!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo
logo
Powered by WordPress | Designed by Elegant Themes
Malcare WordPress Security