Darkest Mercy

“Send the messengers for the faery courts. This is the end.”

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 to 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 thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

My Thoughts:
Wow. Just….wow. This may be one of the best conclusions to a series I have ever read. Ever. It really blew me away. I was hesitant to read it because I really love the Wicked Lovely books. Everything about them appeals to me… the titles, covers, story line, characters… all of it. I didn’t want it to end. Melissa Marr is one of the first authors I read when I really started getting in to YA lit. She was also one of the first “faery” authors I read. Nobody does faeries like Melissa Marr.

I love that each of the books in this series is it’s own story yet they also flesh out the series as a whole. I mean, obviously they’re connected; they’re in the same series. But, it’s like each book is a new season rather than a different episode within one season (to use a television analogy.) Darkest Mercy really draws the issues and conflicts from each of the books together. The plots from the previous four books intersect more fully than ever. I absolutely love the way Marr wove the characters lives and stories together to create a complete picture. Readers are brought full circle.

In this final book the faery courts are in transition. The issues and changes brought about by the first four books have radically changed the faery world. Traditionalists are not pleased and new factions are breaking off. Keenan is wandering alone. He feels he has failed both Donia and Aislinn as well as the Summer fey. Aislinn is feeling abandoned by both Seth and Keenan. She’s still torn between them. Donia is uncertain in her role as Winter Queen. When she imagined herself as a faery ruler it was as a co-ruler of the Summer Court… not the sole ruler of the Winter Court. Niall is still accepting the changes in his position and dealing with Irial. And Seth, ever the problem solver, is trying to navigate all the courts he’s affiliated with.

This book just did it for me. As I said, I was hesitant because I didn’t want the series to end. However, when I finally put the book down I felt it was complete. I wasn’t left with any burning questions or outraged responses. Now, if there hadn’t been an epilogue that would not have been the case. The last few chapters were pretty tense for me. I wasn’t sure I was going to be okay with the end an frankly I was worried. Had the epilogue not been there I think I would have been writing Ms. Marr an emotionally charged email begging for (demanding?) answers! Instead I closed the book with a contented sigh.

Also, can I just say how much I adore the fact the the term “wicked, lovely smile” was used? Totally made me smile.

So, as bittersweet as the ending to a beloved series can be, Darkest Mercy is a must read for Wicked Lovely fans. If you’ve never read the Wicked Lovely books I suggest you give them a try. I read them at a time when I didn’t think I was interested in faery stories Melissa Marr (and Holly Black!) proved me wrong. I’m ever so glad that they did!

I plan to re-read the entire series when Darkest Mercy is released. I can’t get enough of the oh-so-crushworthy Seth! Check back around the release date for a Wicked Lovely prize pack giveaway!