Car mechanic and sometime shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has learned, the hard way, why her race was almost exterminated. When European vampires immigrated to North America, they found Mercy's people had a hidden talent - for vampire slaying. Unfortunately for Mercy, the queen of the local vampire seethe has discovered her true identity. She's also furious when she learns Mercy has crossed her and killed one of her vampires. Mercy may be protected from direct reprisals by the werewolf pack (and her interesting relationship with its Alpha), but that just means Marsilia will come after Mercy some other way. So Mercy had better prepare to watch her back.Mercy is just one of those characters you can't forget. She's strong and full of conviction, but she's a catalyst for unbelievable change. Things just happen around Mercy almost without her doing anything, and all of Patricia Briggs' books are filled with Mercy reacting to her environment - and of course the people in them. I love shapeshifters. Call them whatever you want, the primal energy that authors can give to characters so intrinsically bound to nature is amazing, and Mercy, her Alpha werewolf buddy Adam, and all the different kinds of Fae that are introduced exemplify this perfectly. But I think part of what makes me so happy to read this series are the emotions of everyone involved. I mean, Briggs writes great mysteries, full of suspense and murder and excitement, but like all good authors, the relationships that she creates for her characters draw me back. The emotional upheavals that Mercy experiences (trying hard for no spoilers here!) are almost excrutiating to read, but I couldn't stop! It's like a compulsion. Unsurprisingly I recommend this book, along with the others that come beforehand.
