Werewolves, Vampires, and Fae in Patricia
Briggs’ Dark Urban Fantasy Novels
The growth of the contemporary paranormal literary genre has led several
authors to push the boundaries of traditional preternatural storytelling. One of
these authors is Patricia Briggs, whose popular Mercy Thompson series of
novels—Moon Called, Blood Bound, and Iron Kissed—offer a fascinating twist
on twenty-first century werewolf, vampire, and fae lore. Briggs initiated her
dark urban fantasy series about Mercy Thompson in 2006 with the publication
of Moon Called. Blood Bound and Iron Kissed followed in 2007 and 2008,
respectively. Although all three novels feature preternatural characters, Moon
Called focuses on an internal struggle between two werewolf packs; Blood
Bound provides an excellent vampire mystery in the tradition of Bram Stoker’s
chilling Dracula and Anne Rice’s dark, emotionally tortured Lestat; and Iron
Kissed portrays the evils of fae (or fairy) magic gone awry. Given that in some
cultures the word for vampire means “wolf-fairy” (Wright 17), it is both logical
and intriguing that Briggs has created a United Nations of preternatural
creatures, happily at ease in the electronic age.
Bom in 1965 in Butte, Montana, Patricia Briggs has lived most of her life in
the Pacific Northwest. Her first novel, Masques, was published in 1993, but its
poor sales record almost dashed her efforts as a novelist. Subsequent novels
such as Dragon Bones and Raven s Strike showed growth in sales as well as in
her ability to write self-contained stories. The Mercy Thompson series has been
her most popular writing; the fourth novel, Bone Crossed, was published in
February 2009, and the fifth of the seven planned novels (Silver Borne) is due
out in early 2010. Another recent series, the Alpha and Omega series, is set in
the same world as the Mercy Thompson novels.
Several factors make the Mercy Thompson series highly popular and
appealing. Plots are circuitously developed, creating mysteries that leave readers
engaged, on edge, and satisfied when the mystery is resolved at the end of each
novel. Briggs creates a plethora of physicality—high-energy action, fast-paced
dialogue, and emotional suspense. Characters are well defined through physical,
emotional, and intellectual traits and identities. And the setting is a tri-city urban
area in Washington State between Spokane and Walla Walla with subplots
occurring in rural Washington or Montana. But the major factor is Mercy and all
of the characters with whom she interacts. Similar to the U SA network’s
“Characters Welcome,” the cast of characters in these novels expands the
universe of beings that populate a typical urban setting—even for the urban
fantasy genre.
First of all, the novels’ humor ranges from deadpan to darkly ironic. Some
examples are as follows: