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Update: With 76% of the vote, Mercy has claimed victory in this round! She will advance in the Alpha Showdown 2017.
Are you ready for more Alpha Showdown? We’ve made it through the preliminary rounds, which means it’s about to get a whole lot harder here.
Like so much harder that we’re pitting couples against one another. This could require counseling.
Today we have two alphas who are, you know, usually fighting together: Adam Hauptman and Mercy Thompson both from Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series. Adam took out newcomer Cat Fisa already, and Mercy crushed Reyes.
Now only one of them can move forward in the Alpha Showdown.
The battles don’t get easier (peek at the bracket), but the winner is all up to VBC readers. Each round is open for 48 hours. The winner advances.
You know him from: The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
First appeared in: Moon Called (VBC Review | Amazon)
Supernatural status: Werewolf, Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack
Championed by: Suzanne from Under the Covers Book Blog
In the world of romance you can’t swing a cat (shifter or otherwise) without knocking down a few ‘alphas’, they are created and stuffed into almost every book in the genre. You read one…you forget about him…you read another, yep he’s disappeared from memory as well. Then you come across the Mercy Thompson series and Adam Hauptman…and you remember.
So, what makes Adam so different from all those cookie cutter, chest pounding, over bearing alphas that romance readers and authors love so much? Adam is one of the most powerful alphas in that world, he controls a large pack of half tamed, dangerous werewolves with the sheer power of his will alone. He talks, they shut the hell up and listen. And it isn’t just because he could wipe the floor with them in a fight, which, make no mistake he could, would and has. The man is intelligent and protective, aggressive but with an iron control. He also rocks a suit…or wearing nothing at all.
So, if you want a male that truly manages to encompass all the best aspects of an alpha; strong, loyal, smart and sexy…as well as that chest pounding arrogance, of just knowing he’s the strongest male in the room. Well then, pick someone you will remember, pick Adam Hauptman Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack.
MERCY THOMPSONYou 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.
When you vote in this epic battle, we’ll reward you. We have a copy of Devon Monk’s Death and Relaxation (which the VBC team gave a thumbs up to) for one lucky VBC reader. Vote in this round to be entered to win, and you’ll have the opportunity for additional (optional) entries there after.
That’s just mean lol. Adam!
Adam
I voted for Mercy even Adam admitted in the newest book that Mercy is the most powerful! With out Mercy the tricity Wolfs would not be as close to the Fey, and some ways the Vampires. Again, her deeds are told as legends in the Muroc pack in Montana. She survived crashing his porsche, placing Muroc’s wifes shoes on the Christmas tree, peanut butter on his seat. She even gets Charles to cover up her deeds to his father!
Voting Mercy because Adam took way too long to bring his pack in line concerning Mercy. Especially since she has saved their butts before.
Mercy, but this just SO wrong…….. 🙂
I´m voting for Adam even though I love both equally. Just for the record, this is an unfair pair.
I agree with the previous comments! This is an especially hard decision but I think it needs to be Mercy this time (sorry Adam). She definitely puts her life on the line every time & the alliances wouldn’t be there without her!
So hard to choose They are as one! Mercy I guess
Hard to choose. Mercy 🙂
Cruel! To make a decision between the two? But I guess Mercy, even though I adore Adam!
So wrong! But I had to go with Adam.
Hardest one yet, but I have it to give my vote to Mercy. She’s come through so much and keeps getting stronger for it.
It’s got to be MERCY. Yes, Adam is probably THE male alpha. Mercy, however,kicks even more ass than Adam yet weighs about half, and doesn’t have werewolf strength to use! She picks up strays who end up loving her and will fight to the death to protect her…but she usually won’t let them! She does all she can to keep them safe and out of harm’s way. Unfortunately, being Coyote’s daughter seems to come with certain influences towards finding trouble!
Mercy
Too hard!! I went with Adam but I didn’t like it.
Mercy– Women know all the weakness of there Husbands!
Wwwhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Mercy for sure but
Wwwwwhhhhyyyyyyyyyyy
Mercy.
This is wrong on so many levels. LOL
Gotta go with Mercy! Only read the first couple books but it seems like she usually has to save Adams butt all the time
I agree with everyone!!! This is really mean! But I guess I’ll have to go with Mercy too.
I really disliked this series so i have no idea who to go for
Adam …. there was a new side to adam that we saw in this last installment … loved him tho mercy is still a badass …and agree totally unfair pair up
I don’t think it’s fair that they pitted couples against one another, but I had to choose Adam for this round.
Finally we pit them against each other! I voted for Mercy. She gets kidnapped less than Adam and has saved him, herself, and everyone else more than Adam has saved anyone. He makes a good sidekick though. 😉
Mercy because she is very good at saving herself.
Mercy …… but love Adam as much !!!
Tough round! And so unfair! But Wulfe was correct in saying that Mercy was the most powerful!!
Mercy
Mercy
Adam
This is a cruel and unfair match…love them both but I will pick Mercy..she had been my favourite series since the first time I read the first book
Omg how do you choose! I’m going to go with Mercy because she is wily.
Wrong wrong wrong! But, Mercy.
mercy
Mercy! I have to support the women. I think Kate and Curran are up against each other too. And I love Devon Monk btw
Mercy.
Voting Mercy!
Mercy!
That’s SOOOO WRONG!
Mercy
Poor couple but i love my Mercy
Mercy
Ah man, that’s a hard one. Love Adam but I’m going with Mercy.
Adam! because Mercy would be very upset if we voted otherwise and I don’t want an angry coyote coming after me…..but still…..MOST of the time, it is Mercy coming to Adam’s aid….just saying Mercy….stay cool girl!
This was intentional, wasn’t it? Mercy.
Mercy
Mercy!
This is cruel and unusual punishment. But I will have to go with Mercy. Love them both.
Mercy because of what happened when Adam’s ex-wife came to stay. He did not handle her well.
Adam. Sorry Mercy.