ARC Review: Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs

Blind Date with a Werewolf
Author: Patricia Briggs
Publication: Ace (October 21, 2025)

Description: When the deadly werewolf Asil is gifted five blind dates by some anonymous “friends,” his reclusive life will never be the same, in this enthralling novel in stories from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series.

Includes two all-new stories as well as three previously published stories.

Dear Asil:

We are worried about you. A werewolf alone is a sad thing, especially at Christmastime. So we have a challenge for you: five dates in three weeks. We have taken the work out of it and connected you with five people from online dating sites. You should also know that we have informed the whole pack and instigated a betting pool. Have fun!

Sincerely,

Your Concerned Friends

My Thoughts: This story collects the existing Asil stories and adds a couple of new ones. The premise is that some "concerned friends" have gifted Asil with a series of blind dates because they are worried about him. Asil is a very old werewolf who has come to the Marrock's territory because he wants to die and only the Marrock is strong enough to kill him. However, the Marrock has uses for Asil as an executioner who can take out werewolves who need to die before they give all werewolves a bad name. 

Asil has become reclusive and depressed, and he struggles to keep control of his wolf who is becoming more and more distant. 

The first date has Asil attending a Vampire Ball in Missoula. Young people who are pretending to be vampires have set this up. Asil's date has also been set up. It turns out that Kelly is a gay young graduate student and not the female that he was purported to be. And some of the vampires are not pretending. 

The second date has Asil rescuing a tiger shifter and a lioness who is also an ancient goddess. His foster daughter Mariposa, who was a black witch, has a role to play in this one.

The third date has Asil meeting a social worker named Tami who seems to be a white witch and helping her rescue some of her clients from a wyrm. But things are not quite what they seem and Asil needs to save the day again. 

The fourth date has Asil meeting a ghost hunter who is the victim of an ancient fae. She's a woman who resonates with both Asil and his wolf and completes his reentry into life and love. 

The fifth date concerns rescuing Mariposa's daughter from a very old vampire who was living in Spokane unknown to the local alpha. 

These were entertaining interrelated stories. I have always thought Asil was an intriguing character and loved learning more about him. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.