Update: This was a close one, which is the best kind of finale. With 58 percent of the vote our 2017 Alpha Showdown Champion is Kate Daniels!
It’s finally time to decide who will be the Alpha Showdown 2017 Champion. Every year this is the favorite match, and I love seeing how many readers love these characters.
This time is extra special, though. For the first time in the seven years I’ve been hosting the Alpha Showdown, there are women in the finale. We’ve never had a female contender make it this far, and this year we have two.
A female alpha will win the Alpha Showdown this year.
Will it be Mercy Thompson or Kate Daniels? They both had to defeat significant others to make it here. They both are utterly badass and beloved.
Who gets crowned champion is up to VBC readers. So, let’s do this thing.
This round is open for 48 hours.
You know her from: The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
First appeared in: Moon Called (VBC Review | Amazon)
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?
Right 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.
You know her from: the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
First appeared in: Magic Bites (VBC review | Amazon)
Supernatural Status: It’s complicated.
Championed by: Margaret from VBC
It’s about time a woman won Alpha Showdown. I know I said that last year, but I’m going to keep saying it every year until it happens. And there is no one more qualified to take the title than Kate Daniels. I mean she’s a half-witch demigod, even though she doesn’t see herself that way. She’s just beginning to admit how powerful she truly is.
Yes, that’s Kate’s picture next to the Wikipedia entry for “badass.” (No I don’t know which of the 27 different cover models they used.) Just look at all the adversaries she’s defeated. Vampires, rakshasa, ancient gods, a bone dragon, a djinn. Sure, she gets beat up a lot. But that’s okay because even Kate’s blood is a weapon. She can turn it into blades to attack an opponent or form it into armor for defense.
Kate’s earned the respect of everyone in the supernatural community first by defeating 22 shifters to secure her place at Curran’s side and then by cleaning up all of their magical messes. She’s claimed the city of Atlanta as her territory and has powerful allies to help her defend it. The Pack, the Guild, the Witches and Volvs, the People, and even a few gods fight by her side.
Kate’s a perennial Showdown favorite. She even made the championship round last year. Her hubby’s already won the title—he took the crown in 2012—but why should Curran get all the glory? Kate’s the one who brings all of those groups together. She’s the one they all look to lead them into battle. She’s the ultimate alpha and she deserves to be recognized for it.
For the final round, we had to up the prize. Vote in this round of the Alpha Showdown, and you’ll be entered to win three urban fantasy books: Cormorant Run by Lilith Saintcrow (just released!), Borrowed Souls by Chelsea Mueller (signed copy!), and Staked by Kevin Hearne.
I read the Mercy books first, so she got my vote.
I went with Kate since I read her books first. Mercy is a really close second.
Mercy!
Mercy! One of the only series that I’ve read more than once (so many books, so little time!). Absolutely love everything by Patricia Briggs.
Kate, I love both but Kate has more of the take charge attitude
Dang this is a hard choice, but I have to go with Kate.
Kate. Daniels.
Mercy, because coyotes change the rules to win!
Mercy Thompson
Kate. There really isn’t any question here.
Mercy!
Kate Daniels!
Love both but vote Kate
Kate
Kate
Mercy
Kate!
Mercy
Kate!
I love them both – but this is a versus battle and I’m going with Kate.
This is hard. Kate can kick ass but Mercy uses her head more— ugh
Mercy! She always comes out on top, I hope this time is the same
Mercy all the way
This is the absolute best! Although definitely not an easy decision, Kate is my pick.
I love that this year BOTH contenders are female! We will finally have a female Alpha winner!
Kate Hands Down!
LOVE them both and they are Alpha to the core! When it comes to them going head to head though, my money is on Kate. She just has that bit of extra that I don’t believe Mercy could withstand.
Mercy!
Mercy!
Mercy is sneaky good but Kate has my vote! Either way, a good win.
Sorry Mercy I have to go with Kate. Go Kate!
I love them both so much! It’s like asking a child who do you love more mom or dad! But I choose Kate)))
Mercy for sure
Mercy Thompson
Mercy for the win….she is my all time favourite character…love her and the books
Killing me!!!!!
It’s so cool to have two women for the finalists — I’d say that means *we* can’t lose! It’s a difficult choice, though, since both series are high in my “favorite re-reads” list.
I think I love Mercy just a little more (I wish I could know her for real!) but in this showdown, I have to give it to Kate, for both knowledge and power.
Kate. She was my first. There is no loser here, though. Both of these series are SO good…
Wow two of my current favorite Urban Fantasy series. Going to have to go with Kate…love Mercy though. Can’t lose on this one.
Kate – she’s funnier 😛
Difficult, difficult choice, but ended up with Kate
Wow hard one. Going to have to go with Mercy since Coyote changes the rules.
Oh my this is the hardest vote so far
Both series are great!
I vote for Mercy!
Mercy!!
This one is so hard. Two of my all time favorites! I honestly flipped a club…
Mercy all the way!!!!
This is so tough. I love them both but I got to go with Kate…
Mercy!!!!!
Kate all the way it s time for her to win this.. She is the best Alpha I have read about in ages. Mercy is a pretty close 2nd but no one touches Kate!!!
They are both survivors, strong, and badass, but mercy is my girl.
This is a very tough choice as I LOVE them both. They are in my heart and mind. I hoped this year would be about strong women and my hopes have happened. I have to go with Kate.