June 7, 2014

Book Review: A Shiver of Light

A Shiver of Light 
Merry Gentry, Book 9
LKH


Released: 03 June, 2014
ePub copy used for review

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.
 
 
 
I'm not going to prattle on about this book as you've most likely read the rest of the books - mandatory if you're reading book 9 - and if you didn't like them, well you wouldn't be reading this review.  However, since I have been eagerly awaiting this book for more than 3 years I was in such a rush to motor through my E-copy, that I rushed headlong towards the long hoped for confrontation between Merry and Taranis and what do I get...LKH killed off someone else!  What the frack?!  

Okay, my above gripe is not really a negative.  I really did love this book.  Merry has her children {a scene I would loved to have read if it had of been included!} and all the fae are starting to gather around Merry and her Western mound.  There are a few new faces - the babies are so cute and scarily magical even at only a few days/weeks of age - and most of our old favourites pop up for a brief mention.  Queen Andais is more surpisingly saner in this book.  She's not as out of her gourd insane and bathing in the blood of the UnSeelie Courtas as she has done in previous books, but there is still a real hate-hate relationship between her and Merry that has the potential to blow up in future books.

Taranis is still as bat shit crazy and delusional as before, and he once again uses his power of Illusion against Merry and her men.  But this time, Merry has a real surpise waiting for him ;-D  {such a great way to get even in the Sidhe world}.  Then there is the confrontation between Merry and her uncle, King Taranis, that has been brewing for more than a few books and in the end it got totally overshadowed by the death of a well known and loved character.  Pushing Taranis' much anticipate and very much deserved dethroning into an almost footnote in the epilogue?  {my other WTF moment}  
 
Aisling and some of the her father's old guards are back, another one of Merry's guards are pregnant - much to the annoyance of the Seelie Court - and an unexpected oath throws the cat amongst the pidgeons as Andais demands her Ravens back.  Jonty and Co. are still with Merry however there is a situation in the Goblin mound that bears watching.
 
I can't tell you much more for fear of giving away some truly great scenes, but after having Merry Gentry withdrawals for such a long time, it was great to sink my teeth into the story.  As always, I can't wait for the next book.  This is truly a fabulous series and unlike Anita Blake, Merry hasn't done a complete 180° shift from the woman we were introduced to.  Her integrity has stayed the same, and she is as moral as possible when facing some of the most heartbreaking choices.  So as long as LKH keeps writing books in this series I'll keep buying them.
 
 

June Book Club


After and extended, yet unitentional, hiatus from the Book Club we met yesterday to discuss the books chosen from our March list, and decide on this months titles. There were some great titles to choose from but in the end we settled on three:
  • Better Homes and Haunting by Molly Harper
  • Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman, and
  • Fright Court by Mindy Klasky
We wanted something light and fun to read this month, and I'm hoping that these all live up to their hype ;-D.  Hopefully I can avoid all reviews until I've finished reading them as I don't want any spoilers or negatives to influence my own opinions.

In the meantime, Happy Reading my lovelies!

Coming Soon


The last book in Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy is available next month and to read a sample from the Book of Life {Sample here} just makes you want to have the rest of it in your hands NOW!  Not only are there characters from Matthew and Diana's trip back to 1591 - Gallowglass is a sweetie! - but there are also a few surprises in this first chapter that I wasn't expecting... let's just say that they are being watched over by lost loves and leave it at that ;-D 

Read it.  I know you'll enjoy it.

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #3) is available in all good book stores from July 15th, 2014.

June 5, 2014

Winter's in the air


After some very unseasonably warm weather, Winter has finally decided to make an entrance after a truly mild Autumn.  That means that for the past week or so every morning I've woken to find my place surrounded by thick fog.  Such a magical, yet eerie, atmosphere.  My only question is why, when you can hardly see the road in front of you, does it never show up as well in photo's?

June 3, 2014

She killed him off!


Okay I will post a review soon, but this is just a quick FYI as I couldn't believe my eyes.  I just finished reading the latest book in one of my all time favourite series, Merry Gentry, by LKH and I couldn't believe the ending!  She actually killed one of them off!  I won't give anything away because the book is such a good read if you've been following Merry Gentry for all these years - but she killed him off! ... I think I'm in shock :-O

June 2, 2014

Just a quick update

Hi there, just a quick update as I haven't posted in what seems like forever.

I'm having some down time from reading.  It helps every now and then to just put the books aside and focus on something different before diving back into the huge stack of TBR books I have dotted around the bookshelves.  To that end, I've pulled out the sewing machine so I can get a some more done on gifts for upcoming birthdays and looking ahead for Christmas.  I just bought some fabulous red/black/and white charm packs for a big quilt that I want to make for my mum this year.  I'm aiming for a double/queen size (?) so that she can use it on her bed.  A bit of a step up from my first ever project of a large lap quilt, but I can do this in stages and I've chosen a fairly simple pattern that can be altered and adjusted to suit if I get a little bored doing the same blocks over and over again ;-D