Iron Kissed

November 5, 2007
Shape-shifter Mercy Thompson has a complex life, juggling two werewolf lovers and a job working for a fae mechanic; things get even more hectic when her boss and mentor is arrested for killing a citizen of the fae reservation. As the fae seem content to let him rot, Thompson takes it on herself to clear her friend's name, beginning a lone-wolf investigation that may cost her life. Briggs's third novel featuring Thompson (after Blood Bound
) is another top-notch paranormal mystery; her well-balanced contemporary world, where humans live uneasily among werewolves and fae, is still a believably lived-in world; the ever-present threat of government legislation against nonhumans (though familiar to X-Men
fans) adds weight to her paranormal elements, and thoughtfully researched mythology adds rich detail. Thompson is a sharp, strong heroine and her lycanthropic love triangle is honest and steamy. Briggs never shies from difficult material, and she moves effortlessly from werewolf pack psychology to human legal proceedings, making this a tense, nimble, crowd-pleasing page-turner.

February 1, 2008
Shape-shifting Mercedes Thompsons old boss, forced to admit he is fae and move to a fae reservation, is accused of murder. No one else on the reservation will investigate, so Mercy lands the job, which entails working primarily as a coyote, literally sniffing out the criminal. Meanwhile, she finally has to choose which werewolf to take as a mate, for, dithering between two alpha males, shes upsetting the balance among the fae. The plot is good enough to keep you turning pages, especially if you liked Mercedes first two capers, Moon Called (2006) and Blood Bound (2007).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)