2008: #102 – Swallowing Darkness (Laurell K. Hamilton)

Book #102 was Swallowing Darkness, the seventh (and final?) book in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Meredith Gentry series.  The back of the book reads:

I am Meredith, princess of faerie, wielder of the hands of Flesh and Blood, and at long last, I am with child–twins, fathered by my royal guard. Though my uncle, Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, claims that he is the true father since he abducted me from my home, betrayed, and defiled me. And now he has branded my guards as a threat to my unborn children.
Bearing an heir has placed me halfway to my aunt’s throne, that much closer to my reign over the Unseelie Court–and well ahead of her son, my cousin Cel, in this race. Now I must stay alive to see my children born and claim my place as queen.
But not all in faerie are pleased with the news, and conspirators from every court in the realm plot against me and mine. They seek to strip my guards, my lovers, from me by poisoned word or cold steel. But I still have supporters, and even friends, among the goblins and the sluagh, who will stand by me.
I am Meredith Nic Essus, and those who would defy and destroy me are destined to pay a terrible price–for I am truly my father’s daughter. To protect what is mine, I will sacrifice anything–even if it means waging a great battle against my darkest enemies and making the most momentous decision ever made as princess of faerie.

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.

Page count: 384 | Approximate word count: 96,000

2007: 16 Lighthouse Road (Debbie Macomber)
2006: A Death in Vienna (Daniel Silva)