I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS SERIES!

Mercedes Thompson, Mercy to all who love and want to kill her, is a walker. She is half-human, half-coyote. Her father was part of the Blackfoot tribe but he passed before she was born. Once her mother learned of her daughter's hidden talent, shifting into coyote form, she contacted the dad's family and was sent to live among a pack (The Alpha of Alpha's, leader of all North America) werewolves.

Now Mercy has issues mostly of not fitting in anywhere. She wasn't quite wolf enough to be fully accepted into the pack even though Bran, The Marrok/super Alpha) loves her like one of his own. She doesn't fit in with her mother and her new family seeing that she's just a bit more than human. So once she has permission she goes off on her own.

In Washington state she, unknowingly, moves into the territory of the next dominate Alpha, Adam Hauptman. Might I just say I could learn to love a werewolf. And this is not the Twilight version... these guys don't do the instant shift, they have issues, suffer from depression after living long lives, they have old world views on hierarchy and just exactly what the pack rules are and what happens if those get broken.

Also living in Mercy's world is Zee....it's short for something that I can't remember how to spell and basically a German description for what he is...a fae who can stand the touch of iron and other metals. He has strong magic but doesn't use it too often. He took Mercy in when she wandered into town and even though she has the education to be a teacher has taught her how to be a very good mechanic. Her specialty, German automobiles.

But that's not all folks, we have our obligatory vampire, can't have wolves and fae without them. Stefan is Mercy friend and resident good guy vamp. She is working on rebuilding his VW van that is painted like the Mystery Machine from the Scooby Doo cartoon.

Finally there is Samuel, he was Mercy's first love who at age sixteen broke her heart. He is Bran's eldest son and centuries old. I'll let you find out just how he broke her heart and the price both paid for it.

Here is the fun part of these books....the fae are known to the general public. Zee has "come out" as have quite a few fae. They don't show all their secrets or different types of magic. Some fae are still in "hiding" but pose as humans in certain occupations that will help the fae's cause...politicians, police, fire fighters, military...you get the idea. Doesn't mean they are easily accepted or don't cause mischief. I will say the government in all it's wisdom to try and keep track of the registered fae have moved them to reservations.

Towards the 2nd or maybe 3rd book a selection of wolves "come out" and let themselves be known. They aren't put onto reservations for they are still an unknown entity so for right now it's just about the public getting used to the idea that they exist. No the vamps haven't gone public nor do they plan to seeing as they are mostly "evil" since they do indeed feed on people, yea, not a good PR point.

We learn that not only is Mercy a rarity seeing as no one can remember the last "walker" and it seems she has some hidden talents. She can see and communicate with ghosts. Not all fae magic works on her. Oh and she seems to find trouble pretty easy.

Moon Called- the 1st book is where we learn the main characters and find out that unbeknown to her, Adam has claimed her as his mate to the pack. She thinks it's to protect her since Bran asked him to keep an eye on her. Did I mention Mercy can be a little thick headed and slow on the uptake sometimes? And Samuel makes a return into Mercy's life.

Blood Bound---she owes Stefan, the vampire, a favor and he's needs to collect. There is a demon-sorcerer running around and they (the Vampire Seethe) need help to track it and destroy it. Sounds pretty straight forward but we know these things never are. The Mistress, Marsilia, has been playing games and will end up becoming an enemy to Mercy even though it is she who asked Stefan to enlist Mercy's help.

Iron Kissed---Zee is held for the murder of a human and Mercy feels it is her duty to save her mentor. Zee and Uncle Mike (another powerful fae is disguise) asked Mercy for help in investigating some murders that have taken place on the Walla Walla Fae Reservation. This story criss crosses the different types of fae, what kind of magic each uses and why sometimes it doesn't work on Mercy. It all leads us to an evil man who thinks using fae relics will bring him ultimate power and money. He does something so horrendous that ....just thinking about it makes me want to cry all over again.
Ben, one of the wolves, proves himself a good friend when he talks to Adam about the situation and let's him know just how badly and guilty Mercy is feeling after this. It shocked me that the author went there with the story but the way she handled it, it wasn't pretty but she didn't gloss over it like some folks do when rape is involved.

Bone Crossed---Mercy is still healing and trying to learn to trust herself, her feelings for Adam and his feelings for her. Before she thought herself unworthy of being part of the pack and now...even more. It's during this time that Marsilia has discovered Mercy's secret and what it means to the Seethe. Marsilia has punished Stefan for his part in protecting Mercy and what he did to make sure the secret wasn't discovered. Here we meet The Master, James Blackwood is his human alias, and he controls all of Spokane....no other vamps or fae are allowed in his territory. Want to talk about a mixed up gobbly gook of political posturing and chaos! So not what I had worked out in my mind. Like it when a book can catch me off guard.

Silver Borne---Samuel has tried to commit suicide, it happens in older wolves, so for now his wolf has claimed dominance. Now usually this means that Samuel would be killed because a wolf in control means uncontrolled violence and numerous deaths. Samuel is anything but ordinary so Mercy tries to keep this under wraps for as long as possible to see if she can get Samuel over the depression and give him a reason to want to live. But our paranormal story centers around the disappearance of Phin. He owns a bookstore and had let Mercy borrow a book (back when she was trying to save Zee) about different fae and their magic. Now someone wants that book and are willing to kidnap and kill for it. Can Mercy survive capture this time? Will Adam and the pack find her? Just how strong are those mate and pack bonds? And who is Ariana, other than Phin's grandmother, and what role does she have in Samuel's life and recovery?

Oh I know there are other that will say I forget to mention so and so but here's the kicker, I don't give too much away so that folks will read and discover on their own. Is there such thing as a gay werewolf? Who can challenge an Alpha and what's the best time to do it? Does silver really work on werewolves? And just what does one do with an enchanted walking stick that appears in the oddest of moments? ( )

I have only read the first 4 in the series, but I have no reason to think I won't like the rest. A supernatural world with well developed characters. Well written. Kelley Armstrong is my usual go-to author for this genre, but Patricia Briggs is a great stand in.