Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

[sparkymonster]

So. I read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. It's the first book in a series that is sort of a mix of urban fantasy and romantic paranormal adventure. The lead character, Mercy Thompson, is a shapeshifter who can turn into a coyote (the book uses the terms "skin walker" and shifter). She is also half native. Which is where things get sticky.

Mercy's mom had a random one night stand with a native guy she met at a rodeo. She got pregnant and kept the baby (obvs). When she went to track him down, she found out he died a few days after they hit it. When baby Mercy starts shapeshifting as a baby, the mom takes her to the tribe the dad belonged to because they know how to raise shifter babies. So...she barely knows who the baby daddy is, but she knows what specific tribe he is from and how to find them?

I've been looking for information about how successful/accurate/respectful is the depiction of native characters in the series, but have been drawing a blank. Has anyone read these books that can give me some insight? I found the backstory bit about her parents and rearing to be suspicious, but beyond that I don't know.

Also, I can not lie, I am giving her some side eye based on the wolf illustration on her official site