Title: Darkest Mercy
Author: Melissa Marr
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
*If you have not read the previous books in the Wicked Lovely series this may contain spoilers.*
The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.
Aislinn tends the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.
Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the faery courts, and in the final conflict, some will win…and some will lose everything.
The exhilarating conclusion to Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.
Summary from Goodreads.com
My Review: When I got this book in the mail, I will totally admit to squealing! I am beyond in love with this series so I could not wait to read the final book. I was a little sad since I knew once I was finished I would not get to go in this world again, but I knew the book would be amazing so I curled up in my favorite chair and began reading.
I think I am going to have a hard time putting everything I feel about this book into words because it was just that good. Melissa’s books are so beautifully written I get lost in the language and the way all of them seem to flow so easily.
On the brink of war, every fae in Huntsdale has something they are fighting for and I don’t think there is anyone who comes out completely unscathed in some way. Which made the story realistic, no one gets through a war of this magnitude without repercussions. Melissa has done such an amazing job of bringing life to so many characters, you cannot help but grow found of them! The downside: it sucks when they get hurt and since they are in a war, they do get hurt.
The format of this book shifts point of views quite a bit, which I thought was really interesting. As a reader, you get to experience life through the eyes of some familiar characters and some not so familiar characters. I know it sounds like it might be confusing, but it really isn’t. You get a well rounded reading experience this way and it makes the story richer. The reader gets to view the climax of this series from so many angles that you feel as though you are there experiencing it as well.
The craziest thing to me was the ending, which of course I will not share, but when you read it I think you will get what I mean. Melissa is brilliant! As soon as I read the final pages I was immediately taken back to my first thoughts on Wicked Lovely. The way Melissa has weaved all these story lines together is flawless and it is amazing to watch all the pieces just fall into place and fit.
If you are a fan of this series like I am, I think you will love this last installment as much as I have. It exceeded my expectations and after I read it I literally hugged the book because I was so sad to see it end. Melissa did a fantastic job of bringing this series to a close. I know I will be re-reading this series again to pick up on hints I think I missed the first time through and that is when I know I truly loved a book. So thank you Melissa for a beautiful and enchanting series. I am sad to see it end, but was thrilled to be along for the ride.
Language Love:
“He leaned back for a moment to tug her shirt down her arms, with the same wicked, lovely smile that had first stolen her breath years ago.”
No, I am not going to tell you who the characters involved in this scene are, but I will explain why I like this quote. I have noticed that the titles of Melissa’s books seem to work their way into the text and when they do it is always in a clever way. This is a feature I have enjoyed throughout this series, so I thought I would spotlight one. Plus I just think this one is really sweet!
FTC: I received this ARC as part of a tour organized by Melissa Marr and her assistant Donna. (Thank you both so much!!)
