I'm really enjoying the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I'm almost all caught up with the series, just need to read Silver Borne, before the latest book River Marked is released in a few weeks. The Mercy series is a unique urban fantasy series in that while there is lots of action and mystery, I can't help but be more vested in learning about the politics involving the paranormal creatures such as the werewolves, vampires, and the fey. I recently finished the fourth book in the series called Bones Crossed.
Description: Werecoyote and car mechanic Mercy Thompson can't get a break. While recovering from a recent trauma, she is put through the grinder once again when her past comes to haunt her and a whole slew of problems, nasty vampire politics to be exact, arise. How can she protect those she loves without getting killed in the process?
Review: Bone Crossed picks up about a week after the horrific events in Iron Kissed. Mercy is still recovering physically, mentally, and spiritually. While the series involves magic to erase problems or make them better, Briggs refuses to make things easier for her heroine. As a result, Mercy becomes that much more attainable and real. Mercy is coping and dealing with her new role as the mate of the local werewolf pack. She is also suffering from side-effects of previous events such as panic attacks and re-establishing her self confidence and trust. While it may seem to some, including Mercy, of being weak, I think it's the exact opposite. Mercy has established herself as a fighter. A fighter of justice, regardless of the person's race or how harmful it might be to her. She refuses to give up and in my eyes that makes her admirable.
Briggs does a great job of keeping the story moving by introducing not only new elements in her story but she also refers back to the recent changes in Mercy's life that forces her to re-evaluate and adjust her lifestyle. It's great to know that life's problems, even in urban fantasy, aren't solved by the last few pages in the book or even by magic, but they are continous and our protagonists keep trying to work them out. I don't want to give the impression that Mercy's life is a constant hell, but rather Briggs refuses to make things easy for our heroine.
While all of the main characters reappear in Bone Crossed, I think the book really spotlights Stefan, Mercy's vampire friend. In the previous books, Stefan makes a fleeting appearence that just makes an impression on the readers. In Bone Crossed, we get to witness his internal struggle of what it means to be good and loyal. His comment of him being more Spike than Angel in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series made me think. I never saw him as either male character in Buffy, but rather a mixture of the two. Stefan's and Mercy's friendship is a definitely a highlight for me and I hope to see more of them together in the future books.
Bone Crossed is a quick read, filled with lots of action, chilling moments, warmer moments with Adam and Stefan, and humor. One of the many moments that made me laugh out loud is the comment about carpeting: "What kind of stupid person puts white carpet in a house frequented by werewolves?". What I love about the Mercy books is that the mystery goes beyond the traditional and over-used conflict of werewolves vs. vampire. The mystery and/or conflict is more about the politics played by each paranormal race and therefore emphasizes the human tendencies and behaviors rather than the 'beast' part of their nature.
Although Briggs provides plenty of detail about Mercy's complex world without large, boring information chucks, which will satisfying both new and longtime readers, I would highly suggest that you start this series from the beginning or at the very least with Blood Bound, the second book of the series. If you're thinking of trying out the urban fantasy genre, I think reading the Mercy Thompson series would be a terrific choice.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is some language, violent scenes, and an allusion to sex. The series is marketed to adults, however, mature teens should have no problem with the series.
If you like this book try: Silver Borne (Mercy #5), Kate Daniel series, Study series by Maria V. Snyder, Fray by Joss Whedon, Graceling or Fire by Kristin Cashore
Review: Bone Crossed picks up about a week after the horrific events in Iron Kissed. Mercy is still recovering physically, mentally, and spiritually. While the series involves magic to erase problems or make them better, Briggs refuses to make things easier for her heroine. As a result, Mercy becomes that much more attainable and real. Mercy is coping and dealing with her new role as the mate of the local werewolf pack. She is also suffering from side-effects of previous events such as panic attacks and re-establishing her self confidence and trust. While it may seem to some, including Mercy, of being weak, I think it's the exact opposite. Mercy has established herself as a fighter. A fighter of justice, regardless of the person's race or how harmful it might be to her. She refuses to give up and in my eyes that makes her admirable.
Briggs does a great job of keeping the story moving by introducing not only new elements in her story but she also refers back to the recent changes in Mercy's life that forces her to re-evaluate and adjust her lifestyle. It's great to know that life's problems, even in urban fantasy, aren't solved by the last few pages in the book or even by magic, but they are continous and our protagonists keep trying to work them out. I don't want to give the impression that Mercy's life is a constant hell, but rather Briggs refuses to make things easy for our heroine.
While all of the main characters reappear in Bone Crossed, I think the book really spotlights Stefan, Mercy's vampire friend. In the previous books, Stefan makes a fleeting appearence that just makes an impression on the readers. In Bone Crossed, we get to witness his internal struggle of what it means to be good and loyal. His comment of him being more Spike than Angel in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series made me think. I never saw him as either male character in Buffy, but rather a mixture of the two. Stefan's and Mercy's friendship is a definitely a highlight for me and I hope to see more of them together in the future books.
Bone Crossed is a quick read, filled with lots of action, chilling moments, warmer moments with Adam and Stefan, and humor. One of the many moments that made me laugh out loud is the comment about carpeting: "What kind of stupid person puts white carpet in a house frequented by werewolves?". What I love about the Mercy books is that the mystery goes beyond the traditional and over-used conflict of werewolves vs. vampire. The mystery and/or conflict is more about the politics played by each paranormal race and therefore emphasizes the human tendencies and behaviors rather than the 'beast' part of their nature.
Although Briggs provides plenty of detail about Mercy's complex world without large, boring information chucks, which will satisfying both new and longtime readers, I would highly suggest that you start this series from the beginning or at the very least with Blood Bound, the second book of the series. If you're thinking of trying out the urban fantasy genre, I think reading the Mercy Thompson series would be a terrific choice.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is some language, violent scenes, and an allusion to sex. The series is marketed to adults, however, mature teens should have no problem with the series.
If you like this book try: Silver Borne (Mercy #5), Kate Daniel series, Study series by Maria V. Snyder, Fray by Joss Whedon, Graceling or Fire by Kristin Cashore
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"The mystery and/or conflict is more about the politics played by each paranormal race and therefore emphasizes the human tendencies and behaviors rather than the 'beast' part of their nature."
Couldn't have said it better Rummanah! That sums up perfectly what I like so much about these books:) I was really glad for more Stefan in this one, he's a character I'm a big fan of and I look forward to seeing more of his odd but sweet relationship with Mercy:)
I sort of stumbled upon this review by accident, and I had to read it an comment since this is my favorite of the series. I loved that Stefan got more attention here, he is my favorite character (well, not counting Adam because who could resist HIM?), and the plot was interesting, certainly better than book 5 or 6. In book 5, I liked the werewolf part of the plot, but hated the fae thing.
Wonderful review! I never reviewed this, and you make me wish I did.