Finished Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. This is the first in the Mercy Thompson series, about a car mechanic who’s a “walker” and can take the shape of a coyote at will. I’d heard a lot about this urban fantasy series and decided to try it.

Mercy Thompson doesn’t live an ordinary life. In addition to being a walker herself, Mercy also has to deal with a variety of magical beings, including her werewolf neighbor, Adam, and the runaway werewolf teenager who shows up on her doorstep begging for work. The teen is in trouble and being chased by some bad guys. Soon, Mercy is caught up in a conspiracy that involves werewolf experimentation, pack leadership, and much more.

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. It was refreshing to see a woman working and succeeding in what’s thought of as a man’s field (auto repair). I honestly can’t remember ever reading another story featuring a female mechanic. Not only that, Mercy knows and recognizes her strengths and her limitations, both when it comes to repairing cars and going up against other paranormal creatures. But that doesn’t keep her from protecting her friends, no matter what the odds are.

Briggs has created an interesting urban fantasy world where some species, like the fae, are known to humans and others, like werewolves, are not. The werewolves are the main focus of the book, and there’s a lot going on with them. There are also a lot of characters to keep up with — probably a dozen that are important to the story and this is not a long book (288 pages). Several people mentioned in passing turn out to have big roles later on. So, if you read this book, pay attention. Small things matter.

One thing I got a little tired of was all the shows of strength/rank within the werewolf community and how women were pretty much left out of the picture. Other than Mercy, the only other really prominent female character is Jessica, Adam’s daughter who gets kidnapped during the course of the book. Why couldn’t we have an alpha female leading a pack somewhere?

Another thing I wonder about is the men around Mercy. I hope Briggs doesn’t have every guy that Mercy meets fall in love with her or want to make her his mate. That’s a plot device I just don’t enjoy. There are two men interested in Mercy in this book, and evidently, the love triangle plays out over the course of the next two books.

Overall, if you’re looking for a new fantasy read or are burned out on vampires, check out Briggs. You’ll probably enjoy her world.

Thumbs up.

Up next: Not sure. Maybe Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs.

Finished Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward. This is the fifth and latest book in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Warning: This posts contains some spoilers, so if you haven’t read the book, you might want to skip this post.

This book is about Vishous, a vampire haunted by his past and unwanted destiny to become the Primale — the warrior who will take 40 wives and ensure the continuation of the vampire race. One night after Vishous is shot and left for dead, he’s taken to a human hospital where he meets Dr. Jane Whitcomb. Vishous is immediately attracted to Jane and has his fellow vamps kidnap her when they spring him from the hospital.

I liked a lot of things about this book. Nobody makes messed up characters more likable than Ward, and I’m always amazed how she can juggle so many plotlines — and make them all interesting,  engaging, and give everyone a unique voice. In addition to Vishous and Jane, we also get to see a lot of other vamps — like Phury, Cormia, and John Matthew. Some folks complained this book was a little light on the main romance between Vishous and Jane, but I like the continuing stories and setups for new couples.

But there were also a lot of things I didn’t like about the book. Ward writes alpha male characters well, but I’m just not a fan of them in general. I don’t like the possessiveness and jealousy that seems to define alpha male behavior. (My agent says I write alpha female characters. But that’s a post for another time). For example, Vishous wants to kill a human doctor who’s interested in Jane the second he sees the doctor. Not cool. 

Then, there’s Jane. I understand she’s a doctor and has sworn an oath to save lives. But if a six-foot-something vampire and his friends kidnapped me, I’d be looking for weapons — not saving their lives, no matter what they promised me. (Jane does get a razor at one point, but Vishous almost immediately takes it away from her). And I don’t think I’d be daydreaming about macking on said vampire, no matter how hot he was. At least, not at first. 😉

And the ending. Lots of reviewers have talked about the ending. Some love it. Some think it’s a copout. Basically, Jane gets shot by a lesser (bad guy) and dies. But the Scribe Virgin (vampire goddess) brings her back to life and makes her a ghost, so she and Vishous can live happily ever after.

So the question is why doesn’t the Scribe Virgin do the same for Tohrment, a vampire who lost his wife in a previous book? I think the answer is supposed to be because Vishous is the Scribe Virgin’s son, and she owes him for making his life so miserable. But that’s really just my own interpretation.

What about you? What did you think of the ending of Lover Unbound?

Also, something I always think about when I read Ward is one of her primary world-building rules — that vampires can’t turn humans into vampires. You’re either born a vamp or not (unless you’re like Butch and are really half-vamp anyway, but just didn’t go through your transition). As a writer, this seems limiting to me. I always wonder how she’s going to pull off the next vampire-human romance, without having the Scribe Virgin make everything okay in the last chapter. Maybe it’s just me.

So, I’m going split decision on this one. Thumbs up to the overall writing and continuing character storylines. Thumbs down to the Vishous-Jane romance and the ending. 

Up next: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs.