Okay, I know that this series is kind of dead from the start, but this book just killed it for sure. I think all should have ended up with Swallowing Okay, I know that this series is kind of dead from the start, but this book just killed it for sure. I think all should have ended up with Swallowing Darkness, which puts a very decent end to Mary's story. ...more
It took seven books to get some decent action and some plot development. I am glad to finally see how Merry behaves like true royalty and make some goIt took seven books to get some decent action and some plot development. I am glad to finally see how Merry behaves like true royalty and make some good political moves, although I'm not sure about her final decision and makes me wonder where the story will take us in future. Undoubtedly, Swallowing Darkness is the best book in the series so far. I should admit to Laurell, that she's probably the only author who can interrupt the long-awaited epic battle scene of fairy creatures, only to include in between threesome with goblins. ...more
Merry Gentry's series is such a row of ups and downs. When I read one of this books and ended up really liking it, I usually can't wait to start the nMerry Gentry's series is such a row of ups and downs. When I read one of this books and ended up really liking it, I usually can't wait to start the next one, which in most cases turns out to be a total disappointment. So, I felt very letdown by Mistral's Kiss, and I did't have much of expectations about this one, but fortunately it turned out to be one of the bests. A Lick of Frost finally offers us some development of the storyline and we finally get more action. I've always wondered who would be the father of Mary's child , but I certainly did't expect that twist at the end, and Laurell K. Hamilton once again surprised me for sure. So, I really hope that with the next few books this series will improve to better. ...more
It's been almost five years since I last read a book of Merry Gentry's series, and I may say that I missеd her a little bit. The beginning of "A StrokIt's been almost five years since I last read a book of Merry Gentry's series, and I may say that I missеd her a little bit. The beginning of "A Stroke of Midnight" promised a wonderful storyline, but somehow it did't go in the way I wanted to. For me this novel is built on 3 major components:
Plot The story begins very interesting with the attempt of assassination on Princess Meredith and later with the murder of two characters - one human and one fae. To find out who is behind the murders, Mary must cooperate with the human police authorities. I enjoyed this part from the novel very much, but unfortunately the murder investigation somehow took a second place, and was pushed away by silly sex scenes and meaningless dialogues.
Erotica I have nothing against the graphic sex that Hamilton offers us in her books, but it irritates me when they just replace the main subject of the novel and took over the hotspot into the story. Also, I just couldn’t take serious the negotiations that take place before every sexual performance. It’s just seems so stupid and too unreal to me. The reason of why Mary is sleeping with so many men is supposed to be to get pregnant and to choose a worthy king to rule with her. That's why is so hard for me to understand why she keeps adding more useless and weak men to her bed. This fills the pages with unnecessary characters which are uninteresting and difficult to remember.
Characters When you read a long series like this one, the main thing that makes you keep going is the interesting characters and their development. I have always admired how Hamilton manages to create these unique and strange creatures and to put them in her dark and magical world. Definitely is requires a rich imagination to visualize some of them. My personal favorites, of course, are Doyle and Frost and I wanted to see more development from their side, but unfortunately they do not get one here. I enjoyed very much the chapter with Queen Andais in which she remembers her deceased brother, and maybe for the first time we can see something good in her personality. I think the Queen has the potential to be an excellent anti-hero, and I hope to read more about her storyline in the future books.
I suppose Laurel K. Hamilton will always remain my little guilty pleasure, despite the direction she took for the past few years. In future I will keep reading her works, trying to enjoy the good parts and ignore the bad ones. ...more
