Merry Gentry, Book 9
Synopsis: I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. Legal name Meredith Gentry, because “Princess” looks so pretentious on a driver’s license. I was the first faerie princess born on American soil, but I wouldn’t be the only one for much longer…
Merry Gentry, ex–private detective, now full-time princess, knew she was descended from fertility goddesses, but when she learned she was about to have triplets, she began to understand what that might mean. Infertility has plagued the high ranks of faerie for centuries. Now nobles of both courts of faerie are coming to court Merry and her men, at their home in exile in the Western Lands of Los Angeles, because they will do anything to have babies of their own.
Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, is a more dangerous problem. He tried to seduce Merry and, failing that, raped her. He’s using the human courts to sue for visitation rights, claiming that one of the babies is his. And though Merry knows she was already pregnant when he took her, she can’t prove it.
To save herself and her babies from Taranis she will use the most dangerous powers in all of faerie: a god of death, a warrior known as the Darkness, the Killing Frost, and a king of nightmares. They are her lovers, and her dearest loves, and they will face down the might of the high courts of faerie—while trying to keep the war from spreading to innocent humans in Los Angeles, who are in danger of becoming collateral damage.
Review: It took a long time for this volume to be released. Yes, it took several years to finally have a sequel to the Merry Gentry’s adventures. I know that a lot of people were waiting impatiently and I confess that it was the same for me. When the novel came out in the US, I was very curious to discover the reviews of the readers before immersing myself in the story, unfortunately the reviews were not so good. Yes, because many appeared very mixed and I confess that it made me a little anxious … Of course I saw one or two good reviews but it was not a lot in a whole. So it’s true that finally that I did not read the book right away and I waited for a moment before doing so. The volume was then released in France and there some new reviews appeared, making me curious again and then someone loaned me the novel. I had therefore no more reasons to wait to make up my own mind.
I think that I understand people and their disappointment. Perhaps I expected too much, especially after so long. It is true that unlike for the Anita Blake series, I had high hopes because I loved each of the volumes. Alas, we have an end for every good thing, right? I’m not saying that this volume was not good because it is, it’s even great to find again the characters and the universe, but I think that I too expected too much. The novel gives a feeling of lack of events that I had not had with the others, or perhaps it is me who wanted things to go faster. It must be said that we have the birth of the babies, the threats made by Taranis and the death of a main character. Yes these are the three frames of the story which ultimately do not do enough for me. It’s true that the fact that we have the death of a character I liked, especially in this manner and as quickly, was a little disturbed and I did not really understand the reason. But we’ll perhaps understand all that later. We can not predict what will happen. I also wondered if the novel finally was not a transition, a way to just get things done in the next volume but it’s the same, we will see about that later.
Am I too negative? I’m sorry, that’s not necessarily what I want to show. As I said I loved following Merry as it’s a character I have grown to love over the years and it’s true that seeing her evolution is always a pleasure. Of course, I was also curious to see what would happen with her children and who the fathers would be! It was nice to see our heroine slowing down a bit and showing a maternal instinct, like her companions, which we did not expect necessarily about. But it was also fascinating to discover the characteristics of these little ones to see the beginning of their powers and to understand that there would be a lot of work with them. Of course, we also find all our men and I must admit that I had forgotten that there were so many of them. Besides after childbirth everyone is waiting impatiently for our heroine to be ready to reiterate as quickly as possible. No, it does not really change from the other previous volumes regarding that. By cons I enjoyed seeing a different side of Andais, this terrible woman and yet with still many surprises.
To conclude, I had a mixed feeling about this book. It was a pleasure to have a novel in the series, as well as seeing the characters, but I expected more.
blodeuedd
These are just too crazy for me
Melliane
I can understand that
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
It sounds like this installment felt more like filler than anything else which is too bad, it’s always disappointing to pick up a book that’s been a long time coming and find it’s simply setup for the next book. I’m glad Merry was a highlight though!
Melliane
yes I knew the feeling of others but I wanted it to be more
Tracy Terry
What a shame and especially given how long people have been waiting for this. Hearing lots of less than glowing reports about this book. My friend normally has nothing but good to say about this author but even she is bitterly disappointed.
Melliane
yes it’s a bit sad
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
It’s so sad when a series we have enjoyed kind of fizzles out rather than continue being exciting to the end, Melliane! I hope you have some other books around to cheer you up from the disappointment of A Shiver of Light!
Melliane
thanks, it’s ok I’ll see how the next one is
Heidi
So disappointing that you waited so long and the book was a disappointment. I hate that!
Aurian
I totally agree with you Melliane. I was so happy with a new book, and although I loved the story, it lacked in the action department. A lot was just told, and not shown, and it was very slow, lots of dialogue and such. For instance, I wanted to know more about Rhys and his new sidhen, and now it was only told he visits there and had fights with a gang and such.
Melliane
It’s so surprising… and sad, I totally agree with you on that one
kimbacaffeinate
Sometimes, I think we build a book up we are waiting for. While this sounds like it had some good aspects I can see why you were disappointed especially in this genre.
Melliane
yes it wasn’t as good as the others
LilyElement
You’re not too negative at all. I feel you gave justice to the mixed feelings you had, highlighted the negative as well as what you enjoyed. Great review 🙂
Melliane
thanks Lily!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I’m so behind on her work. I’m still in the early books of the Anita series. I’ve heard mixed reviews for this series so I wasn’t sure if I would dive in. I can see why you expected more from this book. Sad it didn’t deliver. I hope the next is so much better if you decide to continue.
Melliane
the first books are good until this one…
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
It has been so long since I read a LKH book. I never really tried her Merry Gentry series but I did read for Anita Blake for years and gave up once the books started going downhill. It is unfortunate you are feeling like this for this series too, though at least it is good to hear it wasn’t completely all negative.
Melliane
yes I wanted one to remain better
kindlemom1
Sorry you expected more from this and didn’t get it. Always disappointing.
Joy // Joyousreads
The wait probably didn’t help, too. I mean, too much time and so much anticipation built up.
Melliane
yeah…
Lekeisha
This being do far into the series, I would have wanted it to be an awesome read. I’ve seen this around but haven’t read any of the books.
Melliane
it’s a nice series in a whole
Lorna
I hate it when that happens-sorry it wasn’t a better installment for you. I have never read anything from this author but of course have heard about her books for years. Maybe it is a transition book as you say, and the next will be better. Hope so!
Melliane
maybe, we’ll see with the next one
Lover Of Romance
oh I want to read this author so badly, and this one sounds very fascinating.
Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons
I had mixed feelings about this book too. Since it had been so long between books, I relistened to the entire series before this one came out. Because of that, I found several inaccuracies in the story. Little things that really don’t affect the story as a whole, but really made me feel a lack of editing for continuity editing.
I also agree with pretty much everything you said above too. I think I’m just over LKH. I’ve stayed with her for years, but after this book and the last novella and full length Anita book, I’ve just been very unhappy with them. It is time for me to move on. If you choose to stay with her, I hope you have better luck.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
Melliane
you’re right but I don’t know, I think we’ll see…
Carole Rae
I love the other cover more.
AND I do really like this author. I need to get back to reading her stuff
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
This is one of my favorite series but I DNFd this one. I was so bummed. Maybe that was some of my issue as well. After waiting so long I was so excited and expecting too much.