Lynda S. Robinson

I've really enjoyed the Lord Meren series.. up until the last 2 books, that is. The writing, which had previously been assured and engaging seemed to go rapidly downhill like a lumber truck with a brake problem. I found myself cringing, wondering whether the series was going to conclude successfully or end up in flames at the bottom of a ravine. (It did the latter, unfortunately.)

It's as though the author suddenly got sick of Meren and company and simply went into a rush job ending in the show more last 2 books. It's a shame because these characters have been nicely developed over the course of the series.* We know how smart they are, or how smart they should be. However, the major mystery arc of the series gets wrapped up in such an unsightly and ramshackle way, that it absolutely requires the characters we know and care about to drop a bunch of IQ points all at once. Especially poor Meren, who we've followed faithfully all this time. He ends up looking like a chump and the author treats the readers like chumps too. We all deserved a bit better than that.

* Except for some of the same annoying stock female characters which seem to be on a rotational basis. show less

Book #2 in the Lord Meren mystery series is yet another capably executed whodunnit. It moves quickly and confidently through twists and turns in the pursuit for certain murderous individuals, and you're never entirely sure where those turns will take our world-weary hero.
As usual the complicated relationship between the boy king and Meren is a highlight, as well as the solid period details of Egyptian life and courtly intrigues.

The hippopotamus hunt made me nervous.. (It is never a good idea show more to mess with hippos.) and a certain scene with cobras was satisfyingly unsettling. Worth a read. show less

Probably my favourite of the Lord Meren mysteries because of how much we get to see of family politics and dynamics. Really first-class historical fiction -- Robinson really invokes ancient Egypt with all the reader's senses.

This kind of book is tough for me. The hero is a complete asshole and is unforgivably awful to the heroine. The heroine is a spineless doormat. Actually, I think I know where Stephanie Meyer gets her inspiration from... Basically, I would hate for any girl to read this and think it is what love should be like. But, for me personally, there is something that resonates. I had someone I loved tear me down in a not dissimilar manner to what the heroine in this book experiences. There is part of show more me that found satisfaction in the hero coming to terms with his betrayal of the heroine. However, he is still a jerk and I can't bring myself to forgive his behavior.

On re-read: I still relate so much to the heroine's experience of being wrongly accused and betrayed by the hero to not feel deep satisfaction in reading this. I liked the grovel, but I would have liked it more if he had worked to earn her love back, and tried to heal the wounds he inflicted. Instead, he just showered her with gifts and was sad until she felt sorry enough for him to forgive him. Also, she gives him BJs so many times in bed, and he never goes down on her - that is inexcusable, especially since he is trying to earn her forgiveness!

On re-re-read, though, I am much more satisfied with the grovel. To be fair, he does work for it. Sure, there should have been more, but in Romancelandia, heroes never quite get their comeuppance, and the bar for remorse and repentance on their part is quite sadly low. This has some nice moments of regret. show less