Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1)
by Patricia Briggs
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.08 You Save: $3.91 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Moon Called (Mercy Thompson, Book 1)
Book Review: Favorite Heroine in Urban Fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
"Moon Called" is an urban fantasy about Mercedes Thompson, known as Mercy to her friends. As a "walker" Mercy shape changes into a coyote, and has friends of an otherworldly nature. The world she inhabits has seen the fae come out of hiding, so the populace knows that there is a little bit of supernatural in the world, but people like her, the werewolves, and the vampires are all still in shadows and not really out in the public view.
One of the interesting bits of the novel is that they actually track the coming out of supernatural creatures, granted it is in the background, but it certainly is refreshing to see the subject talked about as a present tense strategy than as a past tense "whee the world knows now!" Another thing I like about the novel is that Mercy is an auto mechanic, and imminently competent.
This book is what I have wanted other urban fantasy novels to be. The mistakes that other novels normally make in an urban fantasy are not made here: Mercy isn't so headstrong and independent that she doesn't know when to get help; she takes karate but isn't a black belt yet; her finances are not great, but they aren't poor either. Bascially, of all of the urban fantasy series I have read (Anita Blake, Sookie Stackhouse, etc) this series has the most likable heroine, hands down.
The novel itself is almost nonstop action, but in the best possible way. There is a slight element of romance to the book, but it is very much in the background, and the "love triangle" presented in this first book gets resolved by book three, so that is really nice. Nothing worse than having to endure 10+ books of an indecisive heroine who becomes unlikable simply because of her inability to have a spine and decide.
Mercy's world is interesting, fun, dangerous, and makes for a great read. The plot is fantastic, but since it is mainly a mystery, I don't want to say too much more about it. If you like Urban Fantasy, kickass heroines, lots of action and wrapped in mystery, get the book. You will love it.
Book Review: A new, dark urban fantasy heroine
Summary: 5 Stars
Authors the likes of Tanya Huff, Laurell K. Hamilton and Charlaine Harris have successfully peopled our modern world with vampires, lycanthropes and other supernatural beings who, to some extent, coexist politely among us mere mortals, living within complex hierarchies, bureaucracies and clan protocols.
Add Patricia Briggs to the list. In Moon Called, she gives us a world where lesser fae beings such as brownies have "come out" to an incredulous public -- were forced out, more accurately, because of increasing advances in technology and forensic investigations -- while the greater fae and supernatural buildings -- werewolves, vampires and such -- remain hidden from popular view. Briggs, best known for high fantasy, makes a smooth transition to its dark, contemporary counterpart with this novel.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Moon Called focuses on an apparent clan war among werewolves, and Briggs outlines a creative, highly detailed society in which they live. The focal point, however, is Mercy Thompson, auto mechanic and shifter.
Most of the fae population originated in Europe, emigrating to North America along with colonial settlers. Shifters, however, have their roots in Native American traditions, and their powers don't always work by the same rules. Mercy shifts at will to and from coyote form, and even in human form she has enhanced senses and speed.
Mercy becomes involved in the story when a teenager walks into her garage looking for work. She gives him one -- warily, because her senses tell he's a werewolf, and he's not from the local clan. But all too soon, men and werewolves come looking for him, the local Alpha has been attacked in his own home, and a dead body has been left as a warning on Mercy's front porch. The action just heats up from there, as the local seethe of vampires and at least one local witch take an interest. Fortunately, Mercy is quick on her feet and has a keen, analytical mind when it comes to sorting out conspiracy theories.
Book Review: A Desert Island Keeper
Summary: 5 Stars
Patricia Briggs has written one fabulous, edge of your seat adventure. I want to chat with Mercy as she fixes my biodiesel Jetta and eat popcorn with Warren and Kyle. I want to date Adam and talk about babies with Samuel. I want to move to the Tri-cities, and I've been to the Tri-cities. I felt bereft when I arrived at the last page of Moon Called. I had fallen so enthralled with the world and so in love with the characters that returning to the real world was physically painful and I had to run out and grab the rest of the books in the series IMMEDIATELY. I needed the next book like I need air to breathe.
Mercedes is a Volkswagon mechanic who was raised by werewolves in Montana. She is not a werewolf, but a Walker: she can shift into a coyote at will, is independent of the moon cycle, and is resistant to many forms of magic. When a young werewolf, hungry, homeless, and lost, shows up at her shop looking for a job, she gives him one and introduces him to Adam, the local alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack who is also her overbearing and handsome neighbor. Men bearing guns show up in pursuit and suddenly all hell breaks loose. Adam's daughter is captured, Adam is wounded, and it falls to Mercy to save the day. What else can a girl do? She wipes the axle grease off her hands and gets to work hunting down the killers, braving crazed vampires, crafty fae, and Samuel, the man who broke her heart.
Mercy is a great heroine: tough as nails but still sympathetic. She's loyal, smart, brave, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. The other characters are just as well crafted. I often have trouble relating to the heroines and heroes in Urban Fantasy, because they have too hard an edge and are too cynical. Ms. Briggs succeeds in creating dark urban fantasy with heart. The world-building is fabulous too, particularly the interactions of the werewolf pack.
I highly recommend this original and action-packed book, and eagerly anticipate following the rest of Mercy's adventures.
Book Review: Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
Summary: 5 Stars
After another well known author in this genre "Jumped the Shark" with her last book, Patricia Briggs gives us a new breath of fresh air. While many of her characters are supernatural, Patricia Briggs uses characterization rather then supernatural traits to drive her story. There are even a number of normal human characters without mystical backgrounds that are necessary for the plot.
While other authors have taken the genre into erotic directions, Briggs keeps it PG 13. One might say "PG". "Moon Called" doesn't need any eroticism to convey the story; in fact erotica isn't what the story is about.
The main character, Mercedes Thompson, is a mechanic. She's not a super powerful character. She's a "walker", a term derived from "skinwalker", who can change into a coyote. Her world is surrounded by many things supernatural. She bought her auto shop from a metal working fae, or gremlin. She helps a vampire work on a van painted like Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine. She occasionally calls for assistance from a local witch. She is also friends with a local under cover cop.
Werewolves play a major part in the story. A regular wolf would be a danger to a coyote, a werewolf more so. So Mercedes [a.k.a. "Mercy"] can't go charging in to save the day. She knows some marshal arts, but she's not a black belt pro. She has had some instruction with fire arms, though she's not a marksman. She's not looking for trouble. She'd love just to be able to work on auto repairs.
I almost didn't pick up this book. The cover, while well executed artwork, wasn't what drew me in. In fact I put the book back on the shelf and moved on. I don't know what prompted me to return and open it up. What caught my attention was the map of Tri-Cities in Washington, where the story takes place. Since that's in my corner of the country I had to pick it up.
I'm glad I did. This was a book I couldn't put down.
Book Review: Looking forward to the next book!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Please ignore the cover. Our heroine has a LOT more dignity than the illustrator gave her. Someone should ask the artist to just read a few pages of the novel before they set brush to canvas.
'Mercy,' Mercedes Thompson is a small business owner. She's a mechanic who works restoring German automobiles. She's also a skinwalker--a natural born were-coyote who was raised by wolves. Well, werewolves, to be more specific. And not just any pack of werewolves--the alpha pack.
When Mac, a young man, comes to her door asking for work 'off the books,' Mercy realizes he's a werewolf and a very young and inexperienced one at that. Despite knowing this could get her in trouble with the local Alpha wolf, who coincidentally lives behind her trailer house in a sizeable new mansion and doesn't care for her wandering pet cat, she takes 'Mac' in and tries to help.
This uncovers a plot to try to find drugs to help 'cure the curse' of lycanthropy just for starters. Let's just say the researchers' methods are less than savory.
Meanwhile, the werewolves are contemplating coming out. The fey folk have not done so well with their debut, but the wolves are thinking--PR!
Mercy's a smart, tough girl who not only knows her way around just about any car made in Bavaria, she knows her limitations and is willing to work within them. She's someone you want to cheer for, a woman with enough sense of identity and self-respect that she's not going to end up hopping into every bed that is offered.
I very much hope this is not Briggs' last foray into this world. I had not read any of her earlier works, because I tend towards contemporary novels; however, I will also check them out as well.
My only serious negative is that Briggs made me like Mac and then killed him off so fast. Of course, that's a very real thing that happens and in some ways, added to the emotional value of the work.