Twisted Kingdom

I have heard of Patricia Briggs before, as many people I am sure have picked up on, as I like fantasy novels. I even own a book by her in my to be read pile, I just hadn't gotten around to reading it yet. Then, Dance Chica talked about Moon Called on her blog, because the sequel is going to be released in the New Year. So, I thought I would forget about the book I have by her to read, and pick this book up if I saw it. Well, I found it yesterday and started it in the car on the way back home from the bookstore.

From the back of the book:

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.

I was very happy to be recommended this book, as it as a very worthwhile read, let me tell you. Better than Laurell K. Hamilton, I hope. Yes, there are chances that it could get bad because there are men and women involved, so sex could become a very Anita Blake type of novel. I just hope that it is tasteful, because she is a strong character like Anita Blake started out, but she is not turned away from relationships like Anita was, so it wouldn't have been as bad if it changed. I just think this series is more hopeful right now than I have been hearing Laurell Hamilton is.

It is one of those books that you can not easily put down. It starts out rather innocently, but by the end of the book the action has you glued to the pages. It is a novel of Mercy, a shape-shifter, able to take on the shape of a coyote. Her abilities are traced back to Natives and their magic, but as far as she knows and is told, all of her people have been erradicated. Her neighbour is a werewolf, and not just any werewolf, but the leader of the local pack in the town that she lives in.

Then, there is the witch that is in the werewolves pay roll to clean up what they don't want the public eye to see, and the other supernatural characters that are friends with Mercy and her friends. Some are known by the public world, while others remain in hiding as a species. Mercy is a badass, it is a novel where the women are making advancements in the world, but the werewolves are still about male dominance. Mercy refuses to do what is expected of her. She fixes cars for a living, nothing too amazing, but she is a very interesting character.

A very worthwhile novel, be sure to read it if you like supernatural or paranormal characters. Book 2 will be out in January.

4.5/5