Comments on: REVIEW: Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:19:45 +0000

Thanks Jane! I love Charlaine’s Sookie and Harper series, but I’ve not yet read some of her earlier work (which I assume is what you are referring to?). I do think Sookie has far too many suitors to be truly believable, but I also think that she falls short of true Mary Sue-ism since she is not a perfect character who gets everything her way (other Mary Sue red flags). Mercy is likewise flawed; I only hope rumors are untrue and the 3rd potential suitor will at least have a fair shot at winning her over.

You know, I agree that Harris did not give any clues that Bill was going to turn out to be a bad apple. I suspect that she changed from her original plan with respect to him because there are several things in the first 2 books that don’t add up to the whole “Bill on a mission” storyline that she later inserted. And while that’s her prerogative as author, I can also see where some readers would cry foul on it.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to expand on what you meant.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:59:31 +0000

Penny – sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I don’t think that Mercy is yet a Mary Sue but if everyone and their brother starts falling for her, then I do start seeing Mary Sue-ish behavior which is what I felt was happening in the Sookie series.

I really liked the first few Sookie books and I think Harris is a very good writer, but I don’t trust her because of her past books and so I didn’t want to get caught up caring for characters (like Bill) only for them to turn almost villianous.

By: Penny

Penny — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:44:48 +0000

I agree with much of your review (just started this series last week and now I’m hooked). I was wondering if you could elaborate on what you mean in labeling Sookie Stackhouse as a “Mary Sue.” I’m a big fan of Harris’ Sookie series, and while she certainly seems to be a magnet for every eligible, hunky supe character in her universe, I’m not sure that in and of itself makes her a “Mary Sue.” I searched this site to see if you’d reviewed one of the Sookie books, since that question might more properly be put there, but I didn’t find anything. When I think of “Mary Sue,” I think of a character that is close to an authorial self-insertion and/or a character who has everything going their way. Sookie may attract plenty of suitors these days, but she’s clearly flawed and things have not always worked out the way she’d like. I think she and Mercy from the Briggs series are actually quite similar. Just curious!

I’m rooting for that third potential suitor myself. :) I know he doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance it would seem, but ‘twould be my preference.

By: skatergurljubulee

skatergurljubulee — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:01:36 +0000

I am hoping that this series doesn’t collapse. I love Mercy and her intelligence. It’s refreshing to see a level headed heroine. It’s refreshing to see the love interests have 3-D personalities and that they admit how topsy-turvy their feelings can be ( Sam admitting he didn’t want her when she was 16 for love- Adam admiting that he doesn’t know how to react to her as a dominant male ). Though the story hasn’t completely unfolded, I’m looking forward to seeing the results. As for male lead favorite, I have to say Adam. He’s a ggod man and he has great qualities. He cares about his people, his daughter and Mercy and he doesn’t have a severe problem letting others know. Sam is great also. It took courage to say that he was with Mercy for her “brood mare” possibilities, but just because he admitted it doesn’t mean she should throw herself at him. *s*
As you can see this series has me and others thinking a little bit about its outcome and I believe that shows that it has promise.
We’ll just have to see what the future holds.

By: Jorrie Spencer

Jorrie Spencer — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:54:17 +0000

Late to this, but I quite like the way Mercy saves the day, especially in this one. It took a lot of legwork and determination. And I also like the way she’s a were-coyote who doesn’t know the extent of her powers. If handled well, that leaves open lots of interesting mysteries. I’m really impressed by this series.

Oh, and while Sam has a certain appeal, I’m all for Adam. And not just because I’m not crazy over how Sam manipulated Mercy in the past.

By: Mike Noland

Mike Noland — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:00:46 +0000

COME on you just got to love a were-coyote in WASH state!,,,,,,,,and surprize!!!!!!!,,,,it is set on the dry side not the Starbucks wet side!..this series has got me!

By: Shiloh Walker

Shiloh Walker — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 06:00:29 +0000

I started BB last night and finished it, too. and I loved it.

Mercy did save the day again, but not in the uber-powerful way a lot of characters end up doing in these sort of books, so I’m cool with it. She didn’t appear to pull a new power out of her tail or anything, just realized that one power she’d always had was useful and she used it.

I’m tyring to decide who I like more… Sam or Adam.

By: Dracona

Dracona — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 03:02:44 +0000

Excellent review. Very good points about Mercy’s character. I’d seen this book in the bookstore several times and was a little leery about the whole supernatural mechanic aspect. Once I read the book, though, I was very impressed with the way Mercy’s character was developed. She is very well-rounded in many ways, and has a certain likability to her that is easy to fall prey to.

Like many other readers, I’ve also become wary of copycats of the Anita Blake fiasco, since I had been so deeply disappointed by the quality of Laurell K. Hamilton’s recent books. The way the love interests are being developed thus far, though, is promising. Samuel and Adam each seem to be well-balanced characters that have their own merit regardless of any relationship with Mercy. Also, the third potential love interest really came out of left field, although there is some prior warning in a few scenes.
Here’s hoping Patricia Briggs can sustain the quality of Moon Called and Blood Bound in the next two books she’s been contract for, unlike so many other series that have started with high hopes and have ended with disappointment.

By: Dear Author.Com | USA Today Bestseller List, Week Ending January 28, 2007

Dear Author.Com | USA Today Bestseller List, Week Ending January 28, 2007 — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:25:55 +0000

[...] There were only a few new books appearing on the list, the notable one being Patricia Brigg’s Blood Bound. [...]

By: Keishon

Keishon — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:19:42 +0000

Ah, you, too? I went looking for it, too. I wanted to reread that scene where Samuel loses control when they leave Stefan’s seethe. And a couple of other scenes. Alas, I couldn’t put my hands on my paperback copy but I do have the ebook. Too lazy to search through it since I didn’t bookmark any pages.