Moon Called

Moon Called introduces Mercedes Thompson, a mechanic who can shapeshift into a coyote, as she navigates life among the werewolves, vampires, and fae in Washington's Tri-Cities area. She becomes involved in investigating threats against the local werewolf pack while trying to maintain her independence as a lone supernatural being. The story centers on Mercedes's efforts to help a young werewolf in trouble, which draws her into escalating violence and pack politics. Her connections to both the werewolf Alpha and her vampire friend Stefan become crucial as she works to uncover who is targeting werewolves and why. The novel establishes a world where supernatural creatures live openly but uneasily among humans, regulated by laws and ancient hierarchies. Mercedes must balance her loyalty to her supernatural allies with her need to protect herself and maintain boundaries within this complex social structure. Through Mercedes's outsider perspective, the book explores themes of power, belonging, and the cost of protecting those in need. The narrative examines how individuals navigate between different communities while remaining true to themselves.

Readers consistently mention the strong world-building and character development, particularly appreciating Mercedes Thompson as a practical, capable protagonist who solves problems through intelligence rather than special powers. Liked: - Fast-paced plot with detailed supernatural politics - Complex relationships between werewolves, fae, and other creatures - Realistic dialogue and character interactions - Balance of action and mystery elements Disliked: - Slow start in first 50 pages - Some found the romance subplot underdeveloped - Multiple readers noted confusion about certain werewolf pack dynamics - Several mentioned wanting more backstory for supporting characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (183,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (3,800+ reviews) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (1,900+ ratings) Common reader quote: "Not your typical urban fantasy - the main character feels real and doesn't rely on convenient magic to solve everything."

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🌙 Though Moon Called launched the Mercy Thompson series in 2006, Patricia Briggs wrote traditional fantasy novels for a decade before creating her urban fantasy world. 🐺 The main character, Mercedes Thompson, is a "walker" - a Native American shapeshifter who turns into a coyote. This type of shapeshifter is based on real Native American folklore about skinwalkers. 🔧 Mercy's occupation as a Volkswagen mechanic was inspired by Briggs' own experience - her first car was a VW Beetle that constantly needed repairs. 🎨 The cover art for Moon Called sparked controversy in the urban fantasy genre, as it was one of the first to feature a tattooed, midriff-bearing heroine - a style that became widely imitated. 📚 The book's success helped establish urban fantasy as a major force in publishing, with Moon Called spending four weeks on USA Today's bestseller list despite being Briggs' first urban fantasy novel.