Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3) by Patricia Briggs
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Book Reviews of Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3)
Book Review: Perfection!
Summary: 5 Stars
Iron Kissed is the third installment in Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. This one grabbed me from page one and I read it straight through in one six hour sitting.
Mercy Thompson, the mechanic and occasional coyote, proves just how gutsy and caring she is when she risks everything to save her fae friend Zee, who is imprisoned for a murder that she knows he did not commit. She wades deep into fae territory and uncovers some of their secrets, which makes her a target for murder by many in the fae community. In the end, Mercy is badly hurt, but I believe it will make her stronger as the series goes on. The steamy Adam-Mercy-Samuel triangle heats up and comes to a perfect end, but I won't spoil it by revealing who she chooses.
This book was perfect, I can't think of one thing that was wrong here. Briggs achieved a perfect blend of paranormal mystery, storytelling, emotional realism and romance in a story full of twists and turns. In addition to creating a world full of magical, but believable characters, Briggs perfectly captures the depth of human emotion. The scenes between Mercy and Adam after Mercy's horrible ordeal were so touching that they drew a tear (or two). And when Ben started talking and we finally saw what happened to him, the tears really started to flow.
If you're new to the series, I highly recommend that you start with book one, Moon Called. It was a little slower for me than the second and third books, but the payoff is well worth it. Enjoy!
SPOILERS BELOW
Some reviewers have griped about what happens to Mercy at the end. While it was graphically described and the violence that followed was brutal, I think it was handled well by the author. This is a character that surrounds herself with violent, dangerously magical beings and I have to admit that I feared something like this was coming for Mercy - I actually thought it possible in Blood Bound. It was hard to read, and yes, I do think it odd that after all of the chemistry building, she finally gives in to Adam days after a rape. But I was glad to see that she rebounded and think she will come back from it stronger than ever - she will not give her attacker the power over her that he sought by running away or stopping her life after the attack. All in all, I think that the scene with Adam should have come much later, but I think Briggs handled it well.
UPDATE: I just read the first few chapters of Bone Crossed (Book 4) and I have to take back what I said above. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but the scene between Adam and Mercy at the end is not at all what we thought. Adam is much smarter, stronger and more considerate than I gave Patricia Briggs credit for.
Book Review: Not For The Faint of Heart
Summary: 5 Stars
This third book in the Mercy Thompson series is set in a more serious tone than the first two -- fair warning to those who prefer their novels to be lighthearted with a happily ever after ending, this book is not that. This story is somber with grim overtones, but unlike some others, I found that this was appropriate for the third novel because it shows Mercy's character growing in depth and experience.
*SPOILER ALERT* I was, however, disappointed like some other reviewers before me in the conclusion of the romantic build-up between Mercy, Samuel, and Adam (and not just because I was a pro-Sam fan). I found it very anticlimatic and somewhat confusing that both characters (Samuel and Mercy) just suddenly seemed to wake up and say "you know what, you're right. I'm not attracted to you, I don't desire you, and I do love you but I'm not IN love with you." It just seemed weird to me. Maybe I could understand that kind of attitude from Mercy, especially given their past history, but Sam as well? It just seemed to me that he would have felt a lot more for her since he'd been pursuing her for the better part of a year. Given his prolonged courting of her -- you would have thought he'd have realized long before then that he wasn't even attracted to her!!!! I mean that's a long time to chase someone only to then do an about face and then say he wasn't physically attracted to her, didn't desire her, and didn't want her for his mate. If that was the case why did he pursue her in the first place? Ms. Briggs anticlimatic conclusion to the love triangle just didn't make much sense to me. I would have understood more if Sam had been upset at not being chosen, that would at least be logical. But to just have Sam shrug it off with the excuse that "I don't desire you anyway -- oh but I do care for you like a sister/packmate" was crazy considering he had been previously obsessed with her.
Regardless of that minor complaint, this was an excellent book that showed us a great deal about all of the characters involved, Mercy, Adam, Sam, Honey and her husband, Jesse and Gabriel, Zee, Uncle Mike, and especially Ben. Ms. Brigg's shows us her wonderful ability to capture her characters in depth and realism. And while this is definitely the best thing about her novels, Iron Kissed also keeps us hooked with the mystery solving, Mercy's sleuthing abilities, and the tantalizing glimpse into the Fae world. The trauma that Mercy goes through, and Adam's reaction to it, moved me to tears at times. Though the cliffhanger-like ending did irritate the heck out of me, it definitely did its job. I can't wait to read the next in the series and hope I don't have to wait another agonizing year to find out!
Book Review: Third in the Mercy Thompson Series
Summary: 5 Stars
Iron Kissed has two main plotlines. The first deals with Mercy having to make a choice between the two men in her (love)life. Adam - the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, and Sam her childhood sweetheart (also an Alpha). It's a decision she needs to make soon, before there's bloodshed.
The second plot is the mystery of the book. Several Fae have been murdered out at the Fae reservation and Zee (her old boss) takes Mercy there, to see if her 'coyote' nose can track the murderer. Although it initially seems like everything is resolved, Zee ends up being charged with murder and Mercy feels it's up to her to prove his innocence. Whether he wants her help or not.
Although I don't think it's essential to have read the previous books in the series to follow Iron Kissed. You'd be missing out on two great stories if you didn't read Moon Called (Bk1) and Blood Bound (Bk2). Plus the build up to the Adam/Mercy/Samuel plotline and a lot of the background as to how the Mercy Thompson Universe works and the relationship/family set ups of the various species groups is in those books.
One thing I very much enjoy about the series is how in each book we learn more about the characters and their relationships. One of my favourite things is how the dynamics of the werewolf pack is explored. The scene between Ben and Adam at the end was one of the most powerful in the book, especially when Ben is having trouble expressing himself.
"It's easier to get forgiveness than permission."
For me this quote is at the heart of the book. In a way this has been Mercy's attitude since we first met her in Moon Called, and probably has a lot to do with growing up as a coyote in a werewolf pack. It's a very easy thing to say when you have no way of knowing what the consequences of your actions will be.
Some of Iron Kissed is very difficult to read. Patricia Briggs doesn't pull back, her characters have to deal with the consequences of their actions. There are no get out clauses here. Sometimes there isn't an easy solution and it isn't always easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Especially when the person you have to forgive is yourself.
The temptation to skip ahead when reading this book to see where the story is going, is almost overwhelming. It's a story that once you start reading you can't stop. The Mercy Thompson series gets better with every book and in my opinion it's one of the best urban fantasy series around at the moment. If you love urban fantasy and you aren't reading the Mercy Thompson series, then I really think you should be.
Book Review: Fantastic!
Summary: 5 Stars
My Thoughts
This book was fantastic! Many said it was their favorite in the series, and I have to agree that out of the first 3, this one takes the win.
We get a very big dose of fae mythology in this book, and it was great fun to learn more about them and their society. Mercy owes the fae a favor, and it's called in via her mentor and friend, Zee. Zee needs Mercy to use her nose to help him figure out who is killing fae on the reservation. Unfortunately, someone gets to the murderer before Zee, and Zee takes the fall. Now, we all know Mercy isn't going to sit around and let Zee rot for a crime he didn't commit. She is all about ethics, and I love her for that. So needless to say, she ends up ass deep in fae politics and has quite the adventure.
Mercy's personal dilemma (which looks very much like 2 adult Alpha males) comes closing in on her and it starts to look as though she will need to make a decision between Samuel and Adam --- before heads roll. Mercy isn't so keen on giving up her independence, however, and it is something she feels is likely to get kicked to the curb in a relationship with either of the dominant males. However, a revelation occurs between Samuel and Mercy, and things start to click...
I love the title. It is the perfect description for fae that can work with iron. I don't know if it's been used before, but it's brilliant. While I did think the foe in this book was quite obvious, it didn't detract from the story. The mystery that Mercy had to uncover was quite interesting and entertaining, as well.
My Favorite Quotes
A second floor window opened, and Kyle stuck his head and shoulders out so he could look down at us. "If you two are finished playing Cowboy and Indian out there, some of us would like to get their beauty sleep."
I looked at Warren. "You heard `um Kemo Sabe. Me go to my little wigwam and get `um shut-eye."
"How come you always get to play the Indian?" whined Warren, deadpan.
"Cause she's the Indian, white boy," said Kyle.
The warmth of his body shouldn't have felt good. He was angry and every muscle was tense. It was like being leaned on by a very heavy, warm brick. A sexy brick.
"Some people are like Slinkies. They aren't really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to my face when I push them down a flight of stairs."
Check out this review and more at Smash Attack Reads! [...]
Book Review: Best of the three books so far!
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading this book I wanted to read it again and again. I even went back and reread the first two books to help me remember more details that had happened previously. This definitely helped to create more significance for me the choices our heroine, Mercy, made in this one...most specifically which love interest she ended up choosing by the end of this book. Not only was I happy with who she chose and that it made sense which one she picked but I was very glad a choice was made and that the love triangle at this point does not seem like it's going to get dragged out like it tends to in other fantasy novels I've read (ie. Laurell K. Hamilton).
I read that the next Mercy book will be much "lighter" than this novel. I actually had no problems with the serious tone this book took on. In fact if every one of Patricia Briggs' books can be as great as this one then I say keep the seriousness of the novels the same. Everything that has happened to Mercy has helped to mold her into the strong character that she is and in doing so has placed her at the top of my list for fantasy heroines. I would put her up there with Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan and most definitely she has surpassed who used to be my all time favorite: Hamilton's Anita Blake. This character has become someone to truly root for and so far the author has done well to not ruin who and what she is. She seems to be the same Mercy that was in "Moon Called" only becoming much smarter and stronger with each story. She learns from her mistakes and doesn't get stuck in a rut or wallow in indecisiveness.
I liked how each of the Briggs books concentrates on a different aspect of the paranormal starting with the werewolves in "Moon Called", the vampire world in "Blood Bound" and now the fey world with "Iron Kissed". As with the other books Mercy tends to make new friends and allies as she goes and slowly learns a little bit more along the way what powers she has as a walker.
There is also plenty of action along the way and each of the minor characters introduced in previous books is still given plenty of "screen time" and have not been forgotten such as Jesse, Gabriel, Ben, Warren, Kyle, etc. It's annoying to read a book and get introduced to new characters to only have them disappear later on in the book's series...or to be introduced to so many new people that it becomes impossible to make time for all the old ones. Other writers should take a lesson from Patricia Briggs.