Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, Book 7)

I've been wary, like so many others, of Hamiltons' books; both MG and AB. It seems like for far too long the books were endless orgys with little or no plot so I didn't really have much hope that this book would be different, but suprisingly it was! There were some odd moments, other reviews have touched on them (how the Rape which was so climatic at the end of LoF was little more than an afterthough, how things that MG has been waiting to come to pass happen, but seem to have little significance, etc.) but overall I thought this was one of the best MG books I've read in a while. At this point my only real complaint is that these books, both MG and AB don't span enough time. They all take place within a matter of days, never months and after a while it grates. Sure there was plot movement, but it seems like the goal that was so all important to both Merry and her men is nothing more than filler. I'm much more drawn to how Merry has been able to draw out the 'human' side of her men and wish Hamilton would spend more time on them getting back more of their powers, growing farie and the develpment of the children. I guess LKH will draw out the next 8 months for 10 more books. Maybe then I'll be able to read the books from start to finish and get the full picture in one take. If you haven't read any of the previous MG books I suggest you get them from your library or fellow readers 'cause you need to read them to follow the story. Overall I found this book worth the $$ I paid for it and it's been far too long since I said that about one of LKH's books. Hope this is a portent of good things to come from her.

Lots of action and all of the various storylines tied up. Particularly liked the Wild Hunt and the Goddess/Divine Twin "magick" at the end of the novel. A very satisfying conclusion to the Meredith Gentry pursuit of the Unseelie Court Crown.

The Princess series has been unbelieveably fantastic to follow and read and when I finished this book I had a feeling of 'completeness'. It was not 'billed' as the end, but I really had the feeling that we had certainly come to the end of something. Whether it was or not, the book is marvelous and full of fantasy of the richest kind.

I haven't been a huge Laurell K Hamilton fan lately, and after reading Blood Noir I was incredibly leery of reading Swallowing Darkness. Curiousity eventually got to me though, and I am happy to share it was a step up from what I expected.

First off, bit of a spoiler here, but I think this sums up why some readers feel like it was nothing like previous books: Meredith has one orgasm.... Just one. Some other sexual reference, etc., but it is a big step away from all sex all the time.

The book is basically a series of scenes, stepping from one set and situation to the next. Same as the last two books in the series were. The less sex gave more room for other stuff to happen in, which was nice.

The treatment of the rape was frustrating to me, but it often is. Especially in Laurell K. Hamiltons books. She has a tendency to give a couple paragraphs to "that was so horrible" then forget it ever happened to her character. And when it's the main character, where you're actually party to her internal monologue... it's extra frustrating. Of course, since nearly every character of both the Merry Gentry and Anita Blake series' has been a victim of some sort of sexual horribleness, maybe it's a good thing for book flow that they rarely see an attempt at emotional follow-through and conclusion? (note, sarcasm).

I do feel like the author spent this book tying up some loose ends (there sure are enough out there), and possibly even decided to abandon whatever her original intention was with the series. There was a lot of getting character/plotline A scurried over to ending E when I had originally envisioned a little more to B through D. At the end, though, I was satisfied with where it looks like things are going... so I can forgive the scurrying.

So I'd say the book was lukewarm, but with enough potential that series fans will probably want to read it anyway.

The latest book in the Meredith Gentry series is absolutely amazing. After reading it, I could not help but be amazed by all that happened and how much I love this series. There are some rumors that this is the last book, but luckily Laurell K Hamilton announced that it was not. I think in a way this book does close the door on some important events within the series. However, there are still so many questions left unanswered that Hamilton would not leave us with. I think a new phase within the series is starting and I cannot wait to see what happens.