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A new novel by Patricia Briggs guarantees a good reading time. (Crescent Blues)
SirBunch
Posted April 15, 2009
Despite being a strong, contemporary, female lead character Mercy Thompson is not overly feminist. Briggs has created a gutsy, true-to-life type of female protagonist which is rare. Beyond that the book is fun to read, well paced, littered with laughs, and entertaining. I'm going to read the rest of the series for sure.
30 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.OK, I know, that's a cheesy title for a review, but I hate trying to pick out titles for these things. That's probably why I'm an avid reader, instead of a writer. I read about a book a day these days, mostly stuff that makes my husband tease. There was no hurrying through this book, though. It was so different from the rest, and totally lacking in anything resembling smut, that it had to be savored slowly.
Mercy is such a real, and totally developed character that I found myself looking at the cover and wondering who that was they had drawn - it certainly wasn't the character the Briggs described. Being the only one of her kind that she knows of, Mercy is a strong, independent woman despite being raised, and almost constantly surrounded by the pack. I love the way she handles the men in her life thoroughly and, amazingly, shows them that she can overcome all of the things that they see as her weaknesses.
I laughed out loud when she walked out of the trailer at the end leaving them both behind. Serves them right. I'd explain better, but you really need to read this one for yourself.
26 out of 27 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I wasn't sure what to expect from Briggs after reading so much praise for her books but it didn't take long to feel as if I passed out and woke up in werewolf heaven. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love werewolf anything so this was such a treat, totally unexpected because urban fantasy these days is such a wide mix, usually with witches and vampires with a wolf here and there, but this beast of a book has teeth, muscle, wit, charm and plenty of brawn. Briggs did an incredible job of floating the reader in a sea of incredibly perceptive werewolf folklore that was simply stunning and extremely interesting and she made it feel primordial and Earthy, the instincts, thrills and even some passion was intelligent and very deep. This book is merely a perception that its fantasy and fun, everything reads so realistically that I had a hard time believing that this world was made up. It was a lot to get through as the plot thickened very quickly, the main heroine had no other choice but to plunge and run wild with the pack and troubles never seemed to stay far behind.<BR/><BR/>Basically this novel is about Mercedes, a seemingly young girl (you never know how old those creatures really are) that can turn into a coyote at will. An echo of Native American folklore runs thorough the tale as she keeps herself busy running a car repair shop, pretending that she's nothing but an ordinary citizen. Never mind that her next door neighbor Adam is an alpha male, that's the big werewolf on campus, running a large pack of fluffy, irksome and very volatile werewolves. There is also Stefan, her vampire friend whose care she's fixing, and if anyone reads these kinds of books seriously, then they know that vampires are so much more devious and complex than the cunning and ultra sensitive weres and they can never get along! It isn't long when the two sides start to merge into Mercy's life when a strange boy shows up at her door, smelling like a wolf. He brings trouble with him and pretty soon something happens and Mercedes has no choice but get closer to the wolves and vampires to try and fight a new enemy, trouble is no one knows who the person is and why they are killing werewolves with strange drugs. When trust and loyalty issues come up between friends and pack members things get ugly as no one ever wants to refuse a fight, and fight they do.<BR/><BR/>I can't even scratch the surface of how freaking awesome this book was, so rich and intricate, totally delectable and gut stirring- a definite hit in my opinion. Now all I have to do is read the rest of the series to quench my thirst, I'm very curious future that unfolds in front of Mercedes and her very cool albeit dangerous friends. Briggs makes the life of a wolf almost beautiful, of course I don't know if I'd want to be one but it would be lovely to turn into one and run like a dog into the sunset once in a while.<BR/><BR/>Happy Halloween `08<BR/><BR/>- Kasia S.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I read all of the true blood series, so a B&N employee recommended i tried out this series. I just couldnt get into it. Not enough drama, action, or rommance to make this book worth while. I was hoping for a good series to get into, but decided after the first book that it would be the last of that series for me.
11 out of 38 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is the first novel of the Mercy Thompson series, out of four so far I believe. I thought it was a really good read. Usually I read vampires but a friend recomended this author. She is very descriptive but not too much that you get bored. There is plenty of action and Mercy is a very strong-willed herione. Comedy and sarcasm are a definite. A love triangle that keeps you guessing till the end. The book was very entertaining and kept me interested, turning the page till the end. There are no sex scenes but the romance is there in a sense. But this book does well without it. The plot and story line are excellent and have me eagerly reading the rest of the series or any other books of hers. Defintely has me interested in the were/shapeshifter novels now.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.spookittyboo
Posted May 9, 2010
I Also Recommend:
This book is urban fantasy at it's finest. Prepare to be introduced to an exciting world that will leave you wishing it were real. The Mercy Thompson character is down to earth and very believable. The magical world thought up by Briggs is tightly woven, unlike some other urban fantasy novels I've read that leave huge holes in the setting. That is the challenge with fantasy writing: creating something unreal that is believable; it must be written as though it DOES exist. Otherwise it's just someone's shoddy daydream.
I must admit, I was at first deterred by the book cover. Her unrealistic breasts and her provocative attire made me feel like I was buying a book aimed at young men. I think the author is selling her books short with this cover. (I am a 28 year old female, married, Software Developer, with five kids). The Mercy Thompson character doesn't seem like a gal that would be traipsing around with her breasts hanging out either, so the young men who would be attracted to the cover may be disappointed.
This book has it all: Adventure, Mystery, Magic. It is full of life; a great read.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My first Patricia Briggs book was Cry Wolf, in the Alpha and Omega series. I enjoyed it but was not overly impressed. Then I read a review that said Read The Mercy Thompson Series First!, which I had not. Oopsies. Thats what I get for impulse buying instead of doing a little research. . .
So I hmm'd and haw'd for a few years, then recently purchase Iron Kissed. I was expecting anoughther read like Cry Wolf; good, but not gripping. Instead Iron Kissed gave me all the details that went understood, and therefore not detailed, in Cry Wolf. And I have to agree with the guy who reviewed; now that I have read Iron Kissed, Cry Wolf allready makes loads more sense, and I haven't even gotten to where that story picks up.
I really liked the way the opening flowed, as though Mercy Thompson truly did exist, and we just happened to tune into her life one day. Mercy Thompson's character was the rough and tumble kind of women I've grown up around, and didn't have the soft, nuggety, and conveinant center that are often thrown into "tough" girl books. Sam intrigued me, Adam won my sympathy, and Jesse's quirks were endearing. Basically, all the stuff in good characters. The ending was a little shaky. While the plot took a twist and a went where I wasn't expecting it to, it was too much so, landing me out in right field somewhere. But the rest of the book, and the characters, are enough to make me anxious to purchase the second.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I picked up the series a few years ago on a whim and so glad I did. Every book get's better and this is the best by far. I like it that the main characture isn't rich, she lives in a trailer, and has tatoos. She is a normally characture that worries about having clean jeans on the floor, if her mom comes over and the dishes are clean, and wants to make sure she has enough cash in the bank to make the bills. We can all relate to her as a person trying to make a living and live herself in a world full of wolves, vampires, ghost and Fey. If you like vampire, things that go bump in the night, and a girl that can take care of herself, then read the series and make sure you get your friends to read it so you can have someone to discuss the books with; you are going to want to!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the relationship that's starting between Mercy & Adam. Staying with the series to see where that goes. But I like Mercy, she's not so annoying with the, "I'm independent, i don't need nobody" attitude. cause that gets old in female characters. cause male or female you can't do everything on your own.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is the first book in the Mercy Thomas series. Mercy is a shifter who can become a coyote. She was raised in Montana by a pack of werewolves. She currently lives away from the pack of wolves and own her own (in a small desert town). Mercy is a mechanic in her own garage where she works on vehicles for the local vampires, wolves and regular humans. Since her departure from the pack in Montana she has gotten along just fine but she is a bit lonely. Her life changes when a young boy, who is a werewolf but doesn't know it, shows up in her town. She knows that he is hungry and has no idea what he is. While trying to help him her simple world is torn apart. She kills a werewolf, her neighbor wolves are injured badly and she has to borrow a vampires van to transport bodies around. I can't wait to get to book 2. Great fun read
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 30, 2009
I Also Recommend:
This book had me hooked by the first chapter. Patricia Briggs is a genius in creating a whole world were you don't have to be a werewolf or vampire to be completly awesome. I loved the characters and the plot! I was hooked on the whole series and then some. Mercy is a very strong and sometimes stubborn character who makes sure everyone knows that she doesn't have to play by their rules. I love this series and can't wait for the next book to come out!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I absolutely love Mercy Thompson! She is a strong female lead, able to hold her own in the male-dominated werewolf world.
In this book we find Mercy caught in the middle of a power struggle created by the werewolves. I really like the pack dynamics in this book and how Mercy is an integral part of the pack, and yet still does not quite fit in. She is her own person and is not afraid to be herself.
I think the author created a wonderful fantasy world in these books, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I know Moon Called has been out for years now, but I only just discovered Patricia Briggs. My whole reaction to this book was, "Wow." I love everything about Moon Called and I can't pick out a single thing I dislike. Mercy is just the kind of character that's easy to like. I never got tired hearing her talk back or say something funny. She's an excellent heroine, and I really liked that she knew how to say, "No." or she simply went ahead and did what she thought was right. She's also a Walker. She can easily shift into the form of a coyote. While she doesn't have super strength, she's doing pretty good for herself. She owns a garage and has Adam, the sexy werewolf neighbor (Can I get one too? ...A sexy neighbor, that is.) and a vampire friend named Stefan. Adam is the neighborhood pack leader and a hunky love interest- well, not exactly, but almost. The werewolves are portrayed as hot tempered, but they're also given this quality that makes them human...or should I say more relatable than what you thought a werewolf would be. From what I've read of this book and her other book Cry Wolf, Patricia Briggs has a way with words and making characters appeal to you in a way that they become your friends. If they get hurt, you want to kill them yourself, if they cry, well, hey, you're bawling your eyes out too. All in all, why hadn't I found out about Mercy Thompson sooner? Blood Bound is calling me to continue on this amazing series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AngeliqueAC
Posted May 20, 2011
There's room for improvement in book 1 of the series. Considering the popularity of Ms. Briggs I'm betting that the characters develop and the story improves as the series goes along. I'll pick up book 2 and keep my fingers crossed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.navywife001
Posted May 17, 2011
What a great heroine! Mercy is tough but not perfect. I love that she stands her ground even against werewolves, vampires, and other fae. She is brave but not so much that she can't admit fear. She is a very 'human' character....for a coyote :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I really enjoyed this book. With the mixture of her past and present coming together. It made for an interesting read. I am really looking foward to reading more of the series. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Paranormal Romance!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This was a super series. I couldn't wait to read through the series. I can't wait for the next book to come out. It is a must read.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 14, 2011
Love this series and love Mercy. I prefer my heroines to not only be able to kick ass but also know when they need help. Mercy is a realistic hero in an unrealistic world. Also recommend the Alpha and Omega series. My only real complaint is that Briggs doesn't write fast enough! :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.i love mercy as a charecter i think some of story was drawn out some. I like how mercy in neutral in a world full of vampires, warewolves, witches, and everything else imaginitive. she does not pass judgement on anyone unless they hurt her or someone she cares about. mercy is very tough but also very loving, she kinda sticks her neck out for people and she always feels like she is not good enough but it does not stop her from doing what she feels is right. there are some sexy parts in the book, some romance, mercy describes the men in her life as all being goodlooking in some way. i think she has several love interest its hard to tell who she will end up with... if she does not end up alone with just her run and friendships to keep her company.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I am halfway through this book, but I find it hard to stay interested. The style of writing and the progression of the storyline, in my opinion of course, seems to drone on in a somewhat bored tone, almost as if the author was not truly passionate about the story and characters herself. I also find that many times a statement is made, like mannerisms or feelings toward characters, but tends to leave you hanging so long before it explains that you find that you forgot it left you hanging and no longer really care about the answer. The storyline to me is imaginative and a great concept though, and I will finish reading it.. I just find it lacking passion and excitement.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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