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Night Broken (Mercy Thompson) by Patricia Briggs (view source)
Revision as of 14:54, 13 March 2014
, 14:54, 13 March 2014no edit summary
It still feels a little odd to be holding a hardback Mercy Thompson book, however. I credit the decision for giving the series the prestige it deserves – this is a well-loved franchise, and even after all this time I can't see any reasons to quibble about it seeming nowhere near ending. But by doing it now it seems to be suggesting this is a reasonable place to start, when I can't see it as being as a particularly easy ride for the newcomer. The series is, and has always been, exceedingly rich, in the balance of power throughout society of witches, fae, vampires, werewolves, humans – and others. Too many people could be too disadvantaged if they hoped to absorb it all. It's a completely realised world, and that once again includes the working life and domestic details of Mercy's narration – not for nothing does the opening paragraph feature her doing the washing up. That balance of mundane and much more exotic is spot on once more here, as the 'real life' detail feeds into the fantasy adventure plot and vice versa.
As a result, quibbles are very minor. Seeing as we here at the Bookbag lapsed in not reviewing didn't review book seven, ''Frost Burned'', I'll compare the two to prove my case. That had a brilliant set-up, a mediocre middle that felt eminently disposable, before something much more typically riveting to close. This book has more of the slow-build, although it is still quite early on when we learn of the threat. This time round, however, the execution of the author matches her ambition, there is no lapse or ignoring of relevant characters, and a fluid, much more sustained approach to a conclusion that ties just enough up. Yes, once again, you could justifiably say Mercy doesn't do enough to defeat the big bad, but that seems routine for her stories now she's married. This is the Mercy Thompson series after all, and as is often pointed out here, that's no longer her surname. But that change can be ignored, as can the initial change in publishing format. This is a Patty Briggs book and that does tend to mean sheer quality and well-thought-through fun, and that's once more what she's offered.
I must thank the publisher for my review copy.