Mercy Thompson #3
“I could have stopped them all, but I let them take Siebold Adelbertskrieger, the Dark Smith, to jail.”
Uncle Mike
While still good, I did not enjoy this book as much as the first two in the series. This entry in the Mercy Thompson series has more angst and less sass than the previous two books. A large part of this heaviness is caused by the weight Mercy is feeling as Zee is accused of murder, and the love triangle she is embroiled in finds a resolution.
The fae take center stage in this book and their sense of fair play is decidedly different from the werewolves and vampires. This book is much more psychological than Moon Called or Blood Bound. It makes sense, given the fae can alter reality through their magic. It’s hard to have a knock-down, drag-out fight with something that can control minds.
Beyond that, Patricia does not shy away from tough subject matters. Mercy and Co. deal with how to handle bullying and physical violence towards a teenager, and the trauma and aftermath of rape. Mercy has to deal with friends trying to push her away because they know that their leaders are ‘kill first, ask questions later’ types of beings.
Mercy’s tenacity shows through as she refuses to give up on proving Zee innocent. Like in the previous books, she is not afraid to go up against those more powerful than her to do what she believes is right. She is smart enough to know when she needs help and reaches out for it, even when severely incapacitated.
I am glad that the love triangle was finally brought to a conclusion. There is only so long that can play out before it gets to the point that it’s annoying. Fortunately, this triangle did not drag out long enough to reach that point. A large part of Mercy’s difficulty with it in this book is how to let one of them down without losing them as a friend. I am happy with how that situation finally resolved itself.
It is also neat to see more of the political forces at work. It’s not all hearts, stars, and rainbows now that the fae and werewolves have revealed themselves to humanity. Anti-fae activist groups are on the rise, and both supernatural groups are more on edge with a fae accused of killing a human. After the events of Blood Bound, the emotional aftermath felt by the Tri-cities population is also adding to the strain between species.
Mercy does not leave this book unscathed, but she has a loyal group of friends around her. She may miss her quiet life, but she’s got more adventures ahead starting in Bone Crossed.
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