Review: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Title: Moon Called
Series: Mercy Thompson
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Author: Patricia Briggs
Authors Website

Purchase Links:

Amazon
Book Depository
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Books in the Series:

Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked
Frost Burned

Brief Synopsis (from the authors website:

Moon Called is the beginning of the story of Mercedes Thompson a coyote shape-shifter who is also a pretty decent mechanic. Mercy's world looks a lot like ours except that the Otherworld is begining to be forced out of hiding by our modern technologies. Mercy shares her back fence with the local Alpha werewolf and works evenings on the vampire Stefan's VW bus. She's safe and content -- which doesn't make a very good story, does it? So, of course, matters begin to change on the first page. In this book Mercy faces trolls and gremlins, old boyfriends and older vampires.

Sample Chapter (from the authors website)

WHAT I LIKED:

As most of you know, I have very eclectic tastes when it comes to books. I read everything from Paranormal Romance to Christian Fiction. And I have a special place in

my heart for Cozy Mysteries and Urban Fantasy. With this particular book, I was indulging my Urban Fantasy cravings. Patricia Briggs is an author that I was excited about reading. I had heard so many good things about this series and I most certainly was not disappointed. There were specific things that I really liked about this books. The characters and the world building. 

Mercy is of course the main character. She is a strong female lead who knows who she is and how to get what she wants. I liked her Native American heritage and the fact that Briggs chose to make her a coyote shifter instead of the normal vampire or werewolf characters that Urban Fanasty is known for. Mercy has more than one love interest, in the book, all three of which are very interesting characters themselves. There is the old boyfriend, Sam, who broke her heart. The neighbor, Adam, who is the Alpha werewolf of the local pack and a vampire client, Stefan, who may or may not win Mercy's heart. The secondary characters are just as interesting, from Mercy's ex-boss who is fae, her former pack leader, who controls all the werewolves in North America and her friend, a gay werewolf seeking acceptance in his new pack. Each one of these characters is well developed and has a great back story. I can't wait to read more about them.

The world building was awesome. Briggs creates a world where the old rules and ways of doing things is slowly going by wayside. Technology and advances in forensics and DNA are making hiding the truth about the preternatural world nearly impossible. Faced with the fact that people will soon know that Vampires, Werewolves and other paranormal characters exist, Briggs chooses to set her story right on the cusp of great change. It gives a sense of urgency to the plot and gives the reader a glimpse into what is going to

happen in future books. As the first book in the series, it sets everything up nicely. It gives just enough to whet the appetite and keep the reader coming back for more.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

Usually, I can tell if I am going to like a book within the first few pages. Sometimes the

writing just draws you in and doesn't let go. With this one, I was little slower to warm up. I wanted to like it, but I wasn't sure for the first chapter or two. There were some parts that dragged a little bit or seemed slightly unnecessary at the time, but as I continued to read, I realized where Briggs was going and her mode for getting there.

Sometimes it's all about figuring out the writers style and then determining if that style is for you. 

YOU SHOULD BUY THIS BOOK IF:

~ You like the Urban Fantasy Genre
~ You like strong female lead characters
~ You enjoy a great back story and potential for future books in the series. 

IN A SENTENCE:

I loved it!

Five out of 5 apples!