Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)
by Patricia Briggs
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Book Reviews of Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)
Book Review: Grabbed my attention, but convenient plot turns were disappointing.
Summary: 3 Stars
Iron Kissed, the third in the Mercy Thomas series, finds Mercy owning another favor, this time to the Fae. So far, the Mercy books have expanded on the werewolf race and the vampire race - in this book the fae come into light. Personally I find Brigg's take on the fae to be very unnerving. Were's tear out your throat, vamps will suck you dry...but there is something about the threat of being eaten alive by a slime covered horse that just sets my hair on end.
Iron Kissed is a mystery wrapped in urban fantasy, unfortunately the blurbs sometimes tend to portray it as another paranormal romance., which it is not. Mercy's goal is to find out who killed a bunch of fae and then to get Zee out of jail for the murder of a human. As in the other books she finds herself in over her head and threatened with an untimely and uncomfortable death. Also, like in the other books she is warned off by all her close, personal friends, but her tenacity keeps her focused on finding the killer, no matter how badly she could get injured, or whom she might anger.
There is an underlying romance, in fact a triangle, but it has little to do with the plot and more to do with the characters frame of mind.
Now comes the reason I gave this book a 3 star instead of 4 - (SLIGHT SPOILER).
REASON #1 - The Love Triangle
The Sam/Adam triangle has been in the works in all 3 books. Throughout the 3 books there has been threats of violence and hints that Sam and Adam would probably end up killing each other - or Sam would commit suicide. Brigg's dissolution of the triangle was a complete cop out. To have one of them just "give up" was unbelievable and had me rolling my eyes. It was way too convenient and for an author that wrote such an emotionally trying ending, could have easily pulled of the death of one of the characters - but then they wouldn't be able to reappear in later books or other series.
REASON #2 - The Murderer
The fact that the killer just pops up in the book - via a never before mentioned talent of Sam's - way too convenient.
Overall the book was well written and the plot twists were good and threw me off track a lot. The ending was emotional and twisted but I think it was handled well. The ending scene had me beating my head against the wall in frustration (I feel like a guy at prom who bought a hotel room and his date left him for the bellhop)...but hey Ms. Briggs probably doesn't want to muck up the novels with gratuitous rutting.
Hats off to the author though, well done. Just next time, the easy way out is not necessarily the better way.
Book Review: Third in the Mercy Thompson Series
Summary: 5 Stars
Iron Kissed has two main plotlines. The first deals with Mercy having to make a choice between the two men in her (love)life. Adam - the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, and Sam her childhood sweetheart (also an Alpha). It's a decision she needs to make soon, before there's bloodshed.
The second plot is the mystery of the book. Several Fae have been murdered out at the Fae reservation and Zee (her old boss) takes Mercy there, to see if her 'coyote' nose can track the murderer. Although it initially seems like everything is resolved, Zee ends up being charged with murder and Mercy feels it's up to her to prove his innocence. Whether he wants her help or not.
Although I don't think it's essential to have read the previous books in the series to follow Iron Kissed. You'd be missing out on two great stories if you didn't read Moon Called (Bk1) and Blood Bound (Bk2). Plus the build up to the Adam/Mercy/Samuel plotline and a lot of the background as to how the Mercy Thompson Universe works and the relationship/family set ups of the various species groups is in those books.
One thing I very much enjoy about the series is how in each book we learn more about the characters and their relationships. One of my favourite things is how the dynamics of the werewolf pack is explored. The scene between Ben and Adam at the end was one of the most powerful in the book, especially when Ben is having trouble expressing himself.
"It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."
For me this quote is at the heart of the book. In a way this has been Mercy's attitude since we first met her in Moon Called, and probably has a lot to do with growing up as a coyote in a werewolf pack. It's a very easy thing to say when you have no way of knowing what the consequences of your actions will be.
Some of Iron Kissed is very difficult to read. Patricia Briggs doesn't pull back, her characters have to deal with the consequences of their actions. There are no get out clauses here. Sometimes there isn't an easy solution and it isn't always easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Especially when the person you have to forgive is yourself.
The temptation to skip ahead when reading this book to see where the story is going, is almost overwhelming. It's a story that once you start reading you can't stop. The Mercy Thompson series gets better with every book and in my opinion it's one of the best urban fantasy series around at the moment. If you love urban fantasy and you aren't reading the Mercy Thompson series, then I really think you should be.
Book Review: What the...? - Disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars
I loved the first two books and this one, until the end. I like how each book has mostly focused on one of the types of supernatural beings in Mercy's world, and it was interesting learning more about the fae.
***SPOILER ALERT***
However, if I'm reading reviews and find that there's a sexual assault in a book, I stay away. I know it happens in real life, but it's such a horrible thing that I don't understand why an author would write it into the storyline (I'm sure there are a few exceptions in fiction), particularly so far into a series, and for a main character. I didn't start the Alpha and Omega series after reading reviews and I was glad she hadn't gone that route in this series. Then I read Iron Kissed.
Someone said that the build up made it clear what was going to occur, but I disagree. When not much happened at the house, I thought that was it. Given the time it took trashing the garage, talking, etc., I thought help would arrive or Mercy would find some way out herself. Like another reviewer, I wasn't even sure it happened because the writing got jumpy and vague (believe me, though, I didn't need graphic). One minute Mercy seems to be fighting the magic, then the next thing she, and the reader, knows, she's being raped. I don't know what Patricia Briggs' reason for it was, but it wasn't necessary to illustrate that bad things happen to good people, or to make Mercy more sympathetic or real. Then, we find that another character had been sexually abused, and as a kid, no less (this seemed tacked on to explain his ability to help Mercy).
I also didn't get the point of Fideal's character, unless it's a set-up for him showing up in a later book. It seemed like the author remembered he'd been in the book earlier and his final appearance felt like an afterthought, especially after what had already happened.
Finally, I had a very hard time believing that a woman who'd been raped would hop into bed with someone less than a week after her attack, man of her dreams or not. It seemed thoughtless and out of character for him (okay, for anyone) to expect her to let him know if she was going to be his mate so soon after the attack.
So, two sexual assaults in this series (so far) and one that I know of in Alpha and Omega. Seriously, what's up? I don't expect puppies and rainbows in my books, but I'm definitely a (relatively) happy ending girl, and this series has been seriously messed up for me. I don't know if I'll be buying the fourth novel, but I'll definitely not read any other books by Patricia Briggs.
Book Review: Fantastic!
Summary: 5 Stars
My Thoughts
This book was fantastic! Many said it was their favorite in the series, and I have to agree that out of the first 3, this one takes the win.
We get a very big dose of fae mythology in this book, and it was great fun to learn more about them and their society. Mercy owes the fae a favor, and it's called in via her mentor and friend, Zee. Zee needs Mercy to use her nose to help him figure out who is killing fae on the reservation. Unfortunately, someone gets to the murderer before Zee, and Zee takes the fall. Now, we all know Mercy isn't going to sit around and let Zee rot for a crime he didn't commit. She is all about ethics, and I love her for that. So needless to say, she ends up ass deep in fae politics and has quite the adventure.
Mercy's personal dilemma (which looks very much like 2 adult Alpha males) comes closing in on her and it starts to look as though she will need to make a decision between Samuel and Adam --- before heads roll. Mercy isn't so keen on giving up her independence, however, and it is something she feels is likely to get kicked to the curb in a relationship with either of the dominant males. However, a revelation occurs between Samuel and Mercy, and things start to click...
I love the title. It is the perfect description for fae that can work with iron. I don't know if it's been used before, but it's brilliant. While I did think the foe in this book was quite obvious, it didn't detract from the story. The mystery that Mercy had to uncover was quite interesting and entertaining, as well.
My Favorite Quotes
A second floor window opened, and Kyle stuck his head and shoulders out so he could look down at us. "If you two are finished playing Cowboy and Indian out there, some of us would like to get their beauty sleep."
I looked at Warren. "You heard `um Kemo Sabe. Me go to my little wigwam and get `um shut-eye."
"How come you always get to play the Indian?" whined Warren, deadpan.
"Cause she's the Indian, white boy," said Kyle.
The warmth of his body shouldn't have felt good. He was angry and every muscle was tense. It was like being leaned on by a very heavy, warm brick. A sexy brick.
"Some people are like Slinkies. They aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to my face when I push them down a flight of stairs."
Check out this review and more at Smash Attack Reads! [...]
Book Review: Best of the three books so far!
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading this book I wanted to read it again and again. I even went back and reread the first two books to help me remember more details that had happened previously. This definitely helped to create more significance for me the choices our heroine, Mercy, made in this one...most specifically which love interest she ended up choosing by the end of this book. Not only was I happy with who she chose and that it made sense which one she picked but I was very glad a choice was made and that the love triangle at this point does not seem like it's going to get dragged out like it tends to in other fantasy novels I've read (ie. Laurell K. Hamilton).
I read that the next Mercy book will be much "lighter" than this novel. I actually had no problems with the serious tone this book took on. In fact if every one of Patricia Briggs' books can be as great as this one then I say keep the seriousness of the novels the same. Everything that has happened to Mercy has helped to mold her into the strong character that she is and in doing so has placed her at the top of my list for fantasy heroines. I would put her up there with Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan and most definitely she has surpassed who used to be my all time favorite: Hamilton's Anita Blake. This character has become someone to truly root for and so far the author has done well to not ruin who and what she is. She seems to be the same Mercy that was in "Moon Called" only becoming much smarter and stronger with each story. She learns from her mistakes and doesn't get stuck in a rut or wallow in indecisiveness.
I liked how each of the Briggs books concentrates on a different aspect of the paranormal starting with the werewolves in "Moon Called", the vampire world in "Blood Bound" and now the fey world with "Iron Kissed". As with the other books Mercy tends to make new friends and allies as she goes and slowly learns a little bit more along the way what powers she has as a walker.
There is also plenty of action along the way and each of the minor characters introduced in previous books is still given plenty of "screen time" and have not been forgotten such as Jesse, Gabriel, Ben, Warren, Kyle, etc. It's annoying to read a book and get introduced to new characters to only have them disappear later on in the book's series...or to be introduced to so many new people that it becomes impossible to make time for all the old ones. Other writers should take a lesson from Patricia Briggs.