Moon Called
Book #1 of the Mercy Thompson Series
by Patricia Briggs
Published: ACE – February 2006
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 288 (paperback)
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Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Summary
Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they’ll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I’m not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.
Mercy Thompson’s sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.
She’s tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.
But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself … and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.
The Good
Briggs brings us into a world were the lesser fae have been revealed to the public. Ever advancing technology and forensic investigation has given them no choice. But the greater fae, vampires, werewolves, and the many other superantural beings have remained hidden.
The protagonist, Mercedes Thompson, is a mechanic and a skinwalker–a Native American shapeshifter who turns into a coyote.
The story begins with a werewolf teenager who comes looking for a job in Mercy’s garage. She gives him one, realizing he’s not from the local pack and is alone. Determined to help her new friend, she introduces him to the local pack alpha, Adam, who also happens to be Mercy’s neighbor.
But soon things start to heat up and Mercy is forced to revisit her childhood home to ask the Marrok, leader of werewolf packs in America, for help. And things go downhill from there as the local vampire seethe and a witch takes interest in the mess Mercy has found herself in.
This book really surprised me. I was drawn in from the beginning and couldn’t put the book down.
Mercy is a very likable heroine who is both strong, courageous, and humble. She understands the supernatural order of things and tires her best to find a place for a lone coyote.
All the other characters caught my interest right away. The vampires are creepy, the werewolves are both reasonable and savage (which is an odd mix). The fae just leave me puzzled. Not sure how to read them yet. We have potential love interests with Adam and Sam (and old werewolf boyfriend). Briggs has set herself up for a great series.
This book has mystery, horror, and fast-paced action. But it’s the characters and Briggs amazing ability of character development that really made this book. Moon Called is very refreshing compared to the many urban fantasy novels out there. Briggs found a way to write an entertaining story without a whole lot of sex and an unrealistic, overly powerful protagonist.
The Bad
Absolutely nothing.
The Snuggly
Nope, no sex. Just a little nakedness.
Overall
Wow. This book blew me away. It had so many interesting elements and storylines that can be expanded on in the future of the series. Moon Called provides a believable alternative reality to our present day that made me want to live in that world. I would recommend this book to all readers of urban fantasy.
