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Fantasy

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs: What 218,000+ Readers Are Really Saying

The Cocktail Correspondent

So this urban fantasy book has been discussed. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. First in the Mercy Thompson series. Published back in 2006, and here we are twenty years later with people still yelling about it online. That got my attention.

I read through dig through the internet’s collective opinion and see if this coyote shapeshifter lives up to the hype.

THE INTEL

WHAT I FOUND (THE LEGWORK)

I researched reader discussions across Goodreads, Reddit, and Amazon.goodreads.com/book/show/71811.Moon_Called”>thousands of Goodreads reviews, Reddit discussions, and Amazon feedback. Here’s what the internet actually thinks about Mercedes Thompson and her werewolf problems.

The “She’s Not a Superhero” Factor

Here’s the most consistent thing I found: readers love that Mercy is weak. Yeah, you read that right.

One reviewer on Goodreads put it this way: “She is extremely brave in this story despite being fully aware of her limitations. She is smart and able to make good decisions under pressure.”

Mercy Thompson is a coyote shapeshifter. Not a wolf. Not some all-powerful hybrid. A coyote. She’s surrounded by werewolves, vampires, and fae who could rip her apart without breaking a sweat. And the books don’t pretend otherwise.

Another reader noted: “She doesn’t come off as invincible and inhuman in her butt-kicking abilities, yet at the same time, she is comfortable in her own skin and can hold her own.”

This is readers saying they’re tired of protagonists who can take on armies single-handedly. Mercy gets her ass kicked. She breaks bones. She needs help. And apparently, that’s refreshing as hell in 2026.

The Mechanic Thing Works

Mercedes Thompson owns a Volkswagen repair shop. She fixes cars for a living. Reviewers kept mentioning this like it was some kind of miracle.

Author Maria V. Snyder wrote: “I loved that she’s a mechanic and I also appreciated the realistic details! When she shoots a gun – it’s LOUD and she loses her hearing for a while – thank you!”

Briggs doesn’t just slap “mechanic” on Mercy as a quirky trait. The books include actual mechanical knowledge. Mercy gets grease under her fingernails. She knows the difference between a Volkswagen and a Ford. Multiple reviews specifically called out these details as making the character feel real.

The audiobook deserves its own section. Narrated by Lorelei King, who’s apparently one of the first inductees into the Audible Narrator Hall of Fame. Not surprising when you see comments like this:

From a Goodreads review: “I re-read this on audio and it was so strange listening to Lorelei King as the narrator. I was expecting Lula from Stephanie Plum to jump out at any moment!”

Another reviewer said: “Lorelei King does an Amazing job! Worth it!”

The audiobook is available on Audible and Amazon. If you’re on the fence about format, the audio crowd is loud and unified: listen to it.

The Werewolf Pack Drama

Here’s where opinions split. Briggs spends a lot of time explaining werewolf pack hierarchy. Alphas, dominance, submission, pack bonds. Some readers ate it up. Others wanted to throw the book across the room.

One frustrated reviewer wrote: “After a few chapters I was thinking ‘yeah, I get it, no one says no to the Alpha and women have zero say whatsoever.’ It was sooo slow going through all the pack rules and regulations.”

But then you’ve got readers saying: “I enjoyed the description of the pack dynamics and Mercy doesn’t quite fit into the werewolf packs, yet at the same time is an integral part of them.”

The pattern? Readers who wanted action-heavy urban fantasy found the pack politics boring. Readers who like character-driven world-building thought it was the best part. Check your own preferences before diving in.

What Reddit’s Saying

I dug through r/Fantasy and urban fantasy discussions. The consensus: Moon Called is either your gateway drug to the genre or you’ll DNF it by page 100.

One Redditor noted: “She’s the underdog in virtually every encounter, and that’s part of her appeal. I do think the early books are the roughest ones.”

Another said: “I tried to reread Moon Called and I just couldn’t get back into it. The things you’re complaining about don’t improve as the series continues.”

Reddit’s advice: if you don’t like the first book, bail. The series doesn’t massively change tone.

The Love Triangle Problem

Oh, there’s a love triangle. Samuel (the 200-year-old werewolf who wanted to marry Mercy when she was 16 for breeding purposes) and Adam (the hot alpha next door). Readers are… divided.

One review bluntly stated: “Samuel, her first love, is 200 years her senior and wanted to use her in order to have his little werebabies. Briggs could have redeemed him easily if she’d made him sexy and gave the reader the smut… However, the most excitement we get in the whole novel is a drab kiss.”

Multiple reviews mentioned there’s no sex until book 4. If you’re reading urban fantasy for steamy scenes, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re here for slow-burn romance with actual plot, you’re in the right place.

MY ANALYSIS (BASED ON THE EVIDENCE)

This series has serious staying power. Fourteen books deep and still maintaining a 4.14 Goodreads average. That doesn’t happen if the author phones it in. Briggs built a world readers want to live in.

It’s a slow burn in every sense. Slow-paced plot. Slow-developing romance. Slow world-building. One reviewer called it “an emotional wasteland” while another said it was “quick-paced and enjoyable.” Your mileage will vary dramatically.

The audiobook is the superior format. Based on sheer volume of praise for Lorelei King’s narration, if you’re choosing between formats, go audio. It adds emotion the prose doesn’t always convey.

Mercy Thompson is intentionally NOT a badass. She’s a survivor. She’s smart. She’s brave. But she’s not going to win a fistfight with a werewolf. Hundreds of reviews praise this specifically. If you want an OP protagonist, look elsewhere.

The series gets better as it goes. Reddit and Goodreads both note that books 1-3 are the weakest. If you’re on the fence after Moon Called, try book 2 before bailing.

The world-building is messy by design. Werewolves, vampires, fae, witches, gremlins – Briggs throws everything at the reader in book one. Some reviewers hated it. Others thought it created a rich, layered world. It depends whether you like your fantasy info-dumped or doled out slowly.

THE QUESTION NOBODY’S ASKING

Why is Mercy Thompson still relevant 20 years later?

Urban fantasy had a boom in the mid-2000s. Most of those series are dead. Mercy Thompson is on book 14 and readers are still showing up.

I think it’s because Briggs made Mercy weak. In a genre full of leather-clad vampire hunters who can take on armies, Mercy Thompson runs a repair shop and barely survives fights with creatures stronger than her. She’s relatable. She feels human even when she’s a coyote.

Readers in 2026 are tired of invincible protagonists. They want characters who struggle, who fail, who need help. Mercy Thompson delivers that. Twenty years ago, that was refreshing. Today, it’s a survival strategy.

THE VERDICT

Read if: You want urban fantasy that prioritizes character over action, you’re okay with slow pacing, or you’ve exhausted other series and need something with 14+ books to binge.

Skip if: You need fast-paced action, explicit romance, or you hate pack hierarchy explanations.

Start with the audiobook if: You’re on the fence. Lorelei King’s narration elevates the story significantly.

Fair warning: If you don’t like book one, the series doesn’t change tone. Don’t force it.

THE COCKTAIL: The Coyote’s Gambit

Because Mercy Thompson bets on herself even when the odds suck.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz mezcal (for the coyote, obviously)
  • 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 oz agave syrup
  • 2 dashes orange bitters
  • Pinch of smoked paprika (because werewolves and fire, get it?)
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions: Shake everything except the garnish with ice like you’re trying to escape a vampire seethe. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with lime wheel. Sip while contemplating why you’re attracted to fictional werewolves.

Tasting notes: Smoky, citrusy, with just enough bite to remind you that urban fantasy shouldn’t be safe.

THE BOTTOM LINE

218,882 Goodreads ratings and a 4.14 average don’t lie. Moon Called resonates with a huge chunk of the urban fantasy audience. But it’s divisive. You’ll either love Mercy’s vulnerability or find it frustrating. You’ll either appreciate the pack politics or want to skip them entirely.

The evidence suggests: if you like character-driven urban fantasy with slow-burn romance and detailed world-building, this is your series. If you want action-heavy plots with fast pacing, look elsewhere.

Got intel on a book the internet can’t stop talking about? Drop a title in the comments. I’ll dig through the reviews and report back. Just remember: I track down buzz. I don’t review books. There’s a difference.

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