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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The thing I enjoyed most about this book is that Mercy is a strong, smart female character, without being over the top, wishy-washy, boy-crazy or otherwise annoying. She, and the other main characters, are believable and well-drawn out, some more than others. I found the story's world to be an interesting twist on the existing werewolf/paranormal mythos in fiction, especially the incorporation of Native American culture. I would definitely read more in this series.
I read this because I liked Patricia Briggs' short story in an anthology I read. It was called "Gray," and it was well-written and touching. This Briggs is one who hasn't yet evolved to that point, evidently.
Moon Called introduces Mercedes (Mercy) Thompson, a skinwalker who shifts into a coyote form at will. She doesn't know anyone else like her; apparently her father is dead, and, if there's a coyote-shifter community about, she hasn't found it. She does hang out with werewolves, though, and when a young, untrained one shows up at her door, calling himself Mac, she offers him her help.
Mac's had it rough, and the people behind his difficult transition come to track him down and make trouble in Mercy's little corner of the world. They nearly kill the local alpha werewolf, and kidnap his daughter, then dump a dead body on Mercy's doorstep.
What follows is something of a meandering journey to rescue the girl and figure out why all this happened. I felt like the narrative lacked a sense of danger, because Mercy kept assuring us that werewolves heal too quickly for any of the damage dished out to slow them down for long. Mercy's bravery in the face of chaos takes away from the reader's sense of immediacy. She stops to explain a lot of things in the middle of the action, either leaving them feeling tacked-on, like kids playing make-believe, or deflating the narrative tension. Also detracting from the narrative tension was that, rather than let mysteries lie where they will, to be continued in later narratives, perhaps, every single question was answered in painstaking detail.
It doesn't help the book's case that it has a strong emphasis on alphas, a trope that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The notion of being able to control people because of one's ranking in a violent society was difficult for me to stomach, and it bothered me when it affected Mercy.
Add to this mix a love interest that feels tacked on for the sake of creating a love triangle, a confusing ending, and Mercy's status as an Exceptional Female (the only other female character she doesn't hate or who doesn't hate her is fifteen years old) left me with the feeling that this was amateurish writing.
There are glimmers of potential, though. Mercy's "holy symbol" was clever, and Mercy, herself, is likable. I'm interested in learning what happens to her.
I just hope "Gray" reflects Briggs' evolution as a writer, and that these improve as the series goes on. While this book has potential, if they're all written like this, I can't see myself adding future volumes to my must-read list.
Moon Called introduces Mercedes (Mercy) Thompson, a skinwalker who shifts into a coyote form at will. She doesn't know anyone else like her; apparently her father is dead, and, if there's a coyote-shifter community about, she hasn't found it. She does hang out with werewolves, though, and when a young, untrained one shows up at her door, calling himself Mac, she offers him her help.
Mac's had it rough, and the people behind his difficult transition come to track him down and make trouble in Mercy's little corner of the world. They nearly kill the local alpha werewolf, and kidnap his daughter, then dump a dead body on Mercy's doorstep.
What follows is something of a meandering journey to rescue the girl and figure out why all this happened. I felt like the narrative lacked a sense of danger, because Mercy kept assuring us that werewolves heal too quickly for any of the damage dished out to slow them down for long. Mercy's bravery in the face of chaos takes away from the reader's sense of immediacy. She stops to explain a lot of things in the middle of the action, either leaving them feeling tacked-on, like kids playing make-believe, or deflating the narrative tension. Also detracting from the narrative tension was that, rather than let mysteries lie where they will, to be continued in later narratives, perhaps, every single question was answered in painstaking detail.
It doesn't help the book's case that it has a strong emphasis on alphas, a trope that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The notion of being able to control people because of one's ranking in a violent society was difficult for me to stomach, and it bothered me when it affected Mercy.
Add to this mix a love interest that feels tacked on for the sake of creating a love triangle, a confusing ending, and Mercy's status as an Exceptional Female (the only other female character she doesn't hate or who doesn't hate her is fifteen years old) left me with the feeling that this was amateurish writing.
There are glimmers of potential, though. Mercy's "holy symbol" was clever, and Mercy, herself, is likable. I'm interested in learning what happens to her.
I just hope "Gray" reflects Briggs' evolution as a writer, and that these improve as the series goes on. While this book has potential, if they're all written like this, I can't see myself adding future volumes to my must-read list.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great diversion - lots of setting up for a long series with intricate relationships, a well-built world, and tons of detailed mythology. Mercy is a fun, snarky, strong character and I enjoyed the politics between the different groups and the hierarchies within them. I could do without the love triangle vet that’s a small quibble. The “why” for everything that happened was very convoluted and seemed a little far-fetched, but that didn’t stop me from reading this in one day and really enjoying it.
This series is for everybody who likes a female hero who has her faults, but knows how to fight to live another day. I like Mercy's sass, her drive to remain independent and her ability to see when she needs other people to help her get to her goals.
The way the werewolf society works is both cruel and mercyful. I really like stories that show the good and the bad about people and the way their society works. No black and white here.
I have read this book before, and I will read it again. It is a great series and this book is just the beginning. It isn't the best book of the series (but still a nice read) so I have a lot to look forward to.
The way the werewolf society works is both cruel and mercyful. I really like stories that show the good and the bad about people and the way their society works. No black and white here.
I have read this book before, and I will read it again. It is a great series and this book is just the beginning. It isn't the best book of the series (but still a nice read) so I have a lot to look forward to.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
been real immersed in the vampires for a while now so shaking things up dipping a toe into the werewolves pool… i feel adrift… i dont think im about to really get into wolves but its nice to try new things
I’ll be honest i didnt know patricia briggs was a freak like that… good for her…
It was a super quick read and I wasnt locked in the whole time but i dont think the mystery plot wrapped up with a lot of sense or satisfaction given how many clues and lore was dropped along the way. i feel sad the girl werewolves were all mean :(
Maybe once i read more werewolf books i will have more reference to decide how i feel about this one. I think it felt very 2006 werewolf, whatever that means
I’ll be honest i didnt know patricia briggs was a freak like that… good for her…
It was a super quick read and I wasnt locked in the whole time but i dont think the mystery plot wrapped up with a lot of sense or satisfaction given how many clues and lore was dropped along the way. i feel sad the girl werewolves were all mean :(
Maybe once i read more werewolf books i will have more reference to decide how i feel about this one. I think it felt very 2006 werewolf, whatever that means
This book immediately caught my attention and held it through the entire book. The characters and story were attention grabbing and I couldn't wait to see what happened next!