The final volume of a trilogy. I enjoy Carey's storytelling so much that I've decided to forgive her for thinking that "yolk" and "yoke" are synonymous. (Her editor, however, remains on my sh*t list for that.)LATER: Done. Will miss this particular set of characters, but Carey wrapped it up well. She provides a satisfying conclusion to the series, without going too far, as fantasy writers tend to do (I'm looking at you, J.K. Rowling). ( )

Jacqueline Carey excels in delivering edge-of-the seat tales of sex and politics in exotic worlds where nothing is ever straightforward. The story is, as usual, mind blowingly intricate. However, rather than irritating me as the insanely convoluted plots would with other authors, these twists and turns are actually part of the attraction.

Once again, Carey skilfully brings everything full circle. In the past, Melisande Shahrizai has been the greatest threat to Terre d'Ange and the one impediment to the happiness of both Phedre and Joscelin and Imriel and Sidonie; now she is only hope for salvation for both the realm and the star crossed lovers. In "Avatar," Phedre and Joscelin sought the secret name of God in order to bind an angel; here, Imriel and Sidonie must find the magic word that will free a demon. In "Chosen," a loyal Barquiel l'Envers held the City of Elua while Queen Ysandre raced with her army to avert a coup; in "Mercy", l’Envers redeems himself after some questionable (and treasonous) decisions.

Part of the magic of “Dart” was the anticipation - you knew what Phedre was going to be, but it took her a long time to get there. It works again in “Mercy” - you know Imriel and Sidonie will get back together, but what will happen to them along the way and how they will survive it isn't certain, so it keeps you reading furiously until it's done. As this second trilogy comes to a close, we know that, while Imriel and Sidonie may live happily ever after, it is inevitable theirs will not be an uneventful existence.

Please Elua, this will not be the final cycle of the Kushiel's Legacy series. There are so many threads to be pulled. What will become of Alias and Tarcan? Perhaps we could explore the story between Delauney and the young Melisande? Or a new era in Terre d'Ange with Imriel and Sidonie's children? What is the important role Kratos is clearly destined to play? Will Melisande be content on Cythera with her ugly Ape? And what of Leander?

"All knowledge is worth having" and I can’t wait to learn more of these intriguing characters and the wonderful world Carey has created in this series. ( )

Jacqueline Carey's talent as an author has grown considerably over the six novels of her Kushiel series. She makes page after page fly by so easily that her novels feel half as long as their page count. She is a master (mistress?) of characterization; I often feel even her most briefly encountered characters have a spark of life to them that other authors can't achieve over hundreds of pages. As a further display of her talent, a third of the way through this novel she does something very risky with her point of view narrator that could have been a disaster, but she pulls it off very well and kept me invested.

I like how Kushiel's Avatar has been continuously referenced throughout this second trilogy, unlike the way many series seem to dismiss the long-term effects of past events. This trilogy doesn't suffer from the comparison, and what's completed here is a potentially stronger overarching story than was constructed for the original trilogy: the growth and redemption of Imriel.

Political intrigue, military strategem, dark magic - these fantasy elements are again all present, layered over with fascinating world-building that's easily among my favourites. I'm hoping for many more return journeys to Terre d'Ange in future. ( )

It'd be easy to pick apart the flaws of this book - most noticeably, it's heavily padded, especially the first and last 100 pages or so; and Carthage and Aragonia aren't the most interesting countries in Carey's generally engaging alternate world - but the fact is I read this through in about eight hours and barely noticed the time passing. I don't think I've been so absorbed in a book since the last Kushiel novel. ( )

I have enjoyed this series tremendously. I am a little sad to see it over with. I was really surprised when I discovered how much I liked it. Carey is really a good writer of intrigue, politics and love. I am excited to read the first book in her new series, [Namaah's Kiss]. I do have to wait for paperback though. ( )