Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, Book 7)

The new book in this series carries on from A Lick Of Frost as the internal politics of the sidhe turn to open conflict.

When's the next one out?

I have to agree with others about the ending of this book. It appears that this is the end of the series and it doesn't end at all the way you think it will or want it to. But...I was upset enough to go on Laurell K. Hamilton's website and guess what... this isn't the end of the series! "Rumor Control: Swallowing Darkness is NOT the last Merry book. Her saga has not yet ended." (quoted from her website). That being the case, this book it OK.

We've gotten used to sex,sex, sex in the other books of this series and this book does not follow true to that rule at all. There are only 2 intimate sections and only one actually comes to fruition. As far as that goes, it's lukewarm. But WOW! Merry got a real backbone when she became pregnant. She's determined to keep her children and lovers safe at ALL cost! She uses her magic more and destroys more of her enemies in the book alone than in all the other books combined. If they tried to harm her or hers, she mowed them over! I think she's well proven herself capable of pulling Faerie in line. And apparently the Godess and God think so too. But I won't spoil it.

We don't see much of Andais in the book and I'm fine with that. I think it was time to let Merry come into her own power and not compare her to the current Queen of the Unseelie Court. We know Andais is a B****! Now it's time for Merry to show she can be one too! She shows she's strong not only with her compassion but her willingness to throw compassion to the wind and stand up for what she believes. Her enemies believe that her mixed heritage and the "taint" of mortality makes her week but she proves without a doubt that she's actually a bit stronger for it. I mean, she can use her powers in places that the Sidhe cannot because of her human blood. And she's brought lost magic back to Faerie and some they never knew.

Merry was pretty frank about her feelings about her kings/lovers but I'd really like to see her LOVE all of them, not just a couple. Also, some of you may be somewhat apalled about what happend between Merry and Sholto but I have to say-I like him. Tentacles excluded, he is about the most "real" lover she has. He's not so arrogant that he isn't prepared to defend himself, he has "real" emotions and insecurities and he makes mistakes and ADMITS to them. And let's not forget that, although he obviously loves/respects/admires Whichever is the case, I'm not sure) Merry a great deal, and he deosn't really care to share her with the others, he's willing to to make her happy. He has a depth of character that I find lacking in the others. I'd like to see a closer relationship between him and Merry in the next novel.

The pace did seem a little rushed and frantic but it leads credit to the fact that they are literally in a race for their lives in this book. They have taken care of some of their enemies and it seems like their happily ever after has finally come, but they certainly still have adversity to overcome. Although this was my least favorite book in this series so far, I'm still anticipating the next one.

I really liked the Merry Gentry series in the beginning. Hamilton gave us a new reality with the normal world existing in the same sphere as the supernatural. But the last few books have been bad, and this one is the worst of all. Thank goodness I read it at the library. If I had paid for this garbage I would have been really p*ssed.

FINALLY, some resolution! This entry in the Merry Gentry series plods along a bit at first, as the characters in this series tend to overanalyze and thoroughly discuss everything, but the major battle between Meredith and her enemies is Laurell Hamilton at her finest. If you read these for the sex, you'll be a bit disappointed with this one. But, if you're reading for the story, you'll be happy to see some conclusions here. This series is far from her best and I think that with some serious editing it would have made a much better trilogy than a seven-book series, but if you are as hooked on Hamilton as I am you will read it regardless of quality.

Each book in this series is better than the last. I simply adore Merry. Can't wait to see what happens next!