Radiant Shadows by Melissa MarrPages: 340
Grade: 9+ (these books are aimed at a more mature audience, sex and violence are predominant themes)
Description: Hunger for nourishment. Hunger for touch. Hunger to belong.
Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.
Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.
Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?
Darkest Mercy by Melissa MarrPages: 327
Grade: 9+ (sex and violence)
Description: 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.
Thoughts: Both of these books lived up to the previous ones. Overall, this series is just amazing. I love how it's a series, but each book is it's own story. I also love how each book shifts focus to a different set of characters. I wish more authors wrote series this way. It's fun to be immersed in a world like this without being stuck with the same people over and over.
I must confess that my favorite part of the entire series was Niall and Irial's relationship. Ink Exchange and Darkest Mercy were my two favorite books thanks to them - their relationship was so complex and a little decadent, it was just so well done.
There was a lot of action in these final two books and the danger for everyone was heightened. It was interesting to watch the reactions of each of the fey as their lives were truly threatened. Keenan and Donia were featured prominently in the end and fans of the series will be thrilled with the conclusion to their story.
The final book brings the focuses back to Ash and Seth, but by the time we got to this book, I no longe cared what happened to Ash and Seth. I'm glad it got wrapped up and the end of their story was satisfactory, but the other characters and stories ended up being so much more compelling than anything Seth and Ash ever did.
The series wraps up nicely but not too neat and tidy. I really loved this series and thoroughly enjoyed the final two books. If you haven't read these yet, you really should - it's a wonderful dark series.
Excellent finale to an amazing series. Go read it now.
