The sequel to Moon Called continues the story of were-coyote mechanic Mercy Thompson. Woken at three in the morning by vampire Stephan, to whom she owes a favour, Mercy agrees to accompany him to a hotel – he wants to check out something unusual which has damaged Daniel, one of his converts; Stephan thinks that the entity responsible has managed to implant false memories in his protégé; if it does the same to him but ignores her then Mercy can serve as an impartial witness. Transforming into her alter ego, Mercy is secured in a harness that is too small to allow her to change back into human form but which means she’s not connected to Stephan by the throat, as would be the case if she wore her usual collar and leash. They drive to a hotel and Mercy senses that something is wrong from the moment they get out of the car.
Entering the deserted hotel Stephan goes directly to one of the rooms, where they encounter Cory, a demon-ridden vampire who immobilises Stephan with a glance, kills a chambermaid in front of them, and leaves them both for dead. As well as helping the vampires defeat Cory, Mercy must help prevent mass destruction of the local werewolf pack, and try to keep her business afloat.
So far Briggs has managed to maintain the quality of this series – both character- and plot-driven, her universe (though it contains familiar elements) is original and interesting, and the dynamics between members of the fey and the human population are well conveyed. I’m wary that demand for new novels will mean a deterioration in Briggs’s work, but so far I’m impressed. – Alex
Click here to read Lynn's review of Blood Bound
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