HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
FROST BURNED BY PATRICIA BRIGGS
Mercy Thompspn #7
Ace Hardcover/Penguin
March 5, 2013
Hard Cover/e-book 352 pages
Galley provided by publisher for review purposes.
No remuneration exchanged and the opinions expressed herein are my own unless otherwise noted.
Galley provided by publisher for review purposes.
No remuneration exchanged and the opinions expressed herein are my own unless otherwise noted.
Because it is such a Special Day I wanted to review a book in one of my favorite series, the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. We've all been eagerly awaiting this book which I am fairly certain will sell off the shelves in brick and mortar book stores and the Cyber stores as well.
Here's some information about the book:
Shapeshifter Mercy Thompson's life is calming down, at least enough that she can focus on mundane matters like Black Friday sales. But on her return, Mercy is unable to contact her mate, Alpha Adam Hauptman, or the other members of their pack. All she knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.
Goodreads.com
Long Snippet at Patricia Brigg's Website Hurog.com
MY TAKE
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| Briggs tackles Black Friday Shopping. |
In the first few chapters of this book Briggs seems to perfectly capture the hell that is Black Friday shopping. The Hell then centers around other things. If you're seeking the physical sexiness of the relationship between Adam and Mercy, well you will be disappointed here. Adam is missing. In fact the entire pack is missing save one.
What is most interesting here is the importance of the spiritual/emotional relationship between Mercy and Adam. Also of major import is the connection Mercy discovered in the last book between her coyote and the mystical, archetypal Coyote.
Even for werewolves and shifters it can be hard to believe a personal form of magic. And when that magic saves the day it can actually cause resentment.
I like that Briggs doesn't paint governmental agencies as evil on their own. Because, you can't say that one type of generalized entity like the fae, or werewolves, are all bad or all good and then say all members of another entity , like the government are all bad.
It's a similar oppositional relation as we see in the magic issue i mention above.
Mercy is an interesting heroine. She doesn't really believe she has all the answers, powers or abilities she needs to win; but she does believe in the power of the pack and of friendship. She is very loyal and has matured and learned throughout the series. Here she seems to be looking at the difference between lying and just not revealing everything. This is wrapped up in how the fae are unable to lie, but tell the truth very selectively. These lessons lead to Mercy and her friends dealing with people from the government or who "couldn't handle the truth," differently than perhaps Mercy would have in her younger days.
Even as factions in society and rogue government agents are attacking supernaturals, supernaturals have to come to grips with divisions withing their own societies and between species.
Even as factions in society and rogue government agents are attacking supernaturals, supernaturals have to come to grips with divisions withing their own societies and between species.
I also noted the change in the relationship between Mercy and, her now step-daughter, Jesse. Before while she was caring it was different. Now there's a little more authority, but not authoritarian, feeling to their behavior with each other. Marriage does make a difference.
At one point Briggs pays homage to the TV program TRUE BLOOD, when she deals with a necromancer vampire who could force control over all the dead including vampires. This was reminiscent of TRUE BLOOD season four when the vampires learn that there is a necromancer in the area who want to destroy vampires. Since vampires, in some instances, are technically counted among the dead this could be, and is in both instances.
After her marriage to Adam, a heroine like Mercy might worry about being subsumed by the strength of her alpha male husband. In FROST BURNED Briggs fortifies Mercy as a power in her own right, whose abilities and strength are enhanced by her relationship. When he feels he has failed the pack she succeeds in shoring up his self-esteem.
Briggs delivers almost no backstory in this fast paced entry in the series line-up; it is not where you want to begin the series. I do consider the series a must read and this book, like each book in the series is a MUST, MUST, MUST READ. REALLY.
