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Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML:I am Meredith, princess of faerie, wielder of the hands of Flesh and Blood, and at long last, I am with child–twins, fathered by my royal guard. Though my uncle, Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, claims that he is the true father since he abducted me from my home, betrayed, and defiled me. And now he has branded my guards as a threat to my unborn children.Bearing an heir has placed me halfway to my aunt’s throne, that much closer to my reign over the show more Unseelie Court–and well ahead of her son, my cousin Cel, in this race. Now I must stay alive to see my children born and claim my place as queen.
But not all in faerie are pleased with the news, and conspirators from every court in the realm plot against me and mine. They seek to strip my guards, my lovers, from me by poisoned word or cold steel. But I still have supporters, and even friends, among the goblins and the sluagh, who will stand by me.
I am Meredith Nic Essus, and those who would defy and destroy me are destined to pay a terrible price–for I am truly my father’s daughter. To protect what is mine, I will sacrifice anything–even if it means waging a great battle against my darkest enemies and making the most momentous decision ever made as princess of faerie.
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I am genuinely torn about whether this instalment in the Fairy Sex Saga deserves a fourth star. Probably because Stockholm Syndrome results from reading 500 pages of this nonsense within just over 24 hours. In some ways, though, this is the most satisfying of the Merry Gentry books to date. There is some actual resolution to several plotlines and only one (somewhat perfunctory) full sex scene. Merry continues to collect magical powers like free pens, whilst constantly reflecting on her pregnancy and wondering at her stomach still being flat. (Yes, we get it. You’re still conventionally hot.) Nonetheless, the theme of faerie being obsessed with appearance and according status only to those considered beautiful is given more depth. As show more the whole narrative isn’t a series of sex scenes strung together, there is room for some world-building amidst the strung together scenes of brutal violence.
Early on, Merry finally acknowledges that absolute monarchy and immortality are a terrible, terrible combination. The sluagh (how the hell is that pronounced?) seem the least dysfunctional of fairy regimes as they have a slight semblance of democracy. As well as a monarch who is intermittently sane and sensible, rather than perpetually mad and sadistic. On the other hand, Merry herself murders more people than she has sex with in this book, which is a first. Much like the universe of 'Fargo', in Merry Gentry world being pregnant seems to make one significantly more badass. I enjoyed that, although Merry’s self-awareness about her own bloodthirstiness seemed rather variable. I was also somewhat unsettled by her thought that Doyle is a psychopathic assassin, but it’s OK because he is her psychopathic assassin. The Darkness (the guy, not the band) gets horrifically injured on several occasions in this book, but [not really spoilers since his name is in the book title] walks it off.
Regarding the men in Merry’s life, Sholto is a major presence and the reader is treated to many descriptions of his pastel-shaded tentacles. Indeed, there is a hilariously awkward abortive sex scene when Merry just wants to give Doyle a blowjob but is derailed by Sholto getting his tentacles involved then Mistral becoming self-conscious. They all promptly get sidetracked into discussion of where they are, whether magic has married Sholto to Merry, and why Mistral and Sholto gave each other static shocks. We also learn at the beginning of the book that Doyle and Frost have exchanged locks of hair - just bros being bros. At one point, Merry contemplates home furnishings whilst Mistral lies insensible and wounded. In fact, Mistral’s facade of being an absolute jerk seems to have evaporated completely. He is the only one of the baby daddies to cry about it and hides from Merry behind his hair. Lazily inconsistent characterisation or a comment on the brittle nature of toxic hyper-masculinity? You decide. One of the funniest moments in Merry’s stream of consciousness refers to Doyle giving Mistral a manly shoulder clasp: 'I’d noticed that when nude, the men were less open to hugs from one another.' (I’m not convinced about that comma placement, incidentally.)
This brings me to the main problem I have with ‘Swallowing Darkness’. It has not been well copy-edited. I kept noticing little errors, then in the space of twenty pages the typo ‘solider’ appeared four times! That’s just careless. The ‘soliders’ themselves were an appealing addition, though, as their impatience with fairy nonsense is amusing. I was sympathetic to Gregario, who just wants Merry and her harem to stop kissing and get in the goddamn humvee. There was also an intriguing reference to ‘Persian’ monsters, to complement the fact that military wizards apparently saw action in Iraq. It was nice to get a hint of the wider magical world beyond Merry’s sexual shenanigans and deranged relatives. Talking of which…
I’m glad we finally found out who killed Merry’s dad and that at long last Cel got murdered. His death was somewhat rushed, though, and I’d thought it would likely be at Andais’ hand rather than Merry’s. After all, Merry had got on her high horse about kin-slaying earlier in the book and now she’s exploding her cousin to death? The lack of interest from the wild hunt in said bloodshed suggested that Merry is just a special case in all respects. Cel was terrible, anyway, but Andais’ characterisation did not seem to fit with the earlier books. She barely appeared, despite her previous heavy involvement in Merry’s business. As Merry in fact says, Andais is the kind of person to do her own dirty work, because she enjoys it. Not this time, though.
The final development in the story made me happy despite myself. Frost returned from his little holiday as a stag and both Merry and Doyle hugged him and cried about it. Laurell K. Hamilton apparently agrees with me that their threesome is the best, because Frost and Doyle actually care about each other as well as Merry. Thus it isn’t as unbalanced as the other relationships that boil down to, 'I'll put up with you, bro, because I want to bang the princess'. Doyle even admits on TV that he loves Frost, which is adorable. In the epilogue-like final chapter, once the gang are back in LA, Merry tells us that, ‘My Darkness and my Killing Frost find their way to me more often that not. No-one seems to argue about it, as if they’ve worked it out among them all.’ I bet that was an interesting conversation. Wonder if it involved diagrams on a whiteboard? Thus the book ends on a restful note that I’d have thought might mark the end of the series, if I didn’t know better. Presumably the next will chronicle Merry’s pregnant adventures in LA, getting Doyle to fetch weird foods for her and Frost to massage her feet. I look forward to the arguments about baby names and Mistral complaining about air pollution.
Early on, Merry finally acknowledges that absolute monarchy and immortality are a terrible, terrible combination. The sluagh (how the hell is that pronounced?) seem the least dysfunctional of fairy regimes as they have a slight semblance of democracy. As well as a monarch who is intermittently sane and sensible, rather than perpetually mad and sadistic. On the other hand, Merry herself murders more people than she has sex with in this book, which is a first. Much like the universe of 'Fargo', in Merry Gentry world being pregnant seems to make one significantly more badass. I enjoyed that, although Merry’s self-awareness about her own bloodthirstiness seemed rather variable. I was also somewhat unsettled by her thought that Doyle is a psychopathic assassin, but it’s OK because he is her psychopathic assassin. The Darkness (the guy, not the band) gets horrifically injured on several occasions in this book, but [not really spoilers since his name is in the book title] walks it off.
Regarding the men in Merry’s life, Sholto is a major presence and the reader is treated to many descriptions of his pastel-shaded tentacles. Indeed, there is a hilariously awkward abortive sex scene when Merry just wants to give Doyle a blowjob but is derailed by Sholto getting his tentacles involved then Mistral becoming self-conscious. They all promptly get sidetracked into discussion of where they are, whether magic has married Sholto to Merry, and why Mistral and Sholto gave each other static shocks. We also learn at the beginning of the book that Doyle and Frost have exchanged locks of hair - just bros being bros. At one point, Merry contemplates home furnishings whilst Mistral lies insensible and wounded. In fact, Mistral’s facade of being an absolute jerk seems to have evaporated completely. He is the only one of the baby daddies to cry about it and hides from Merry behind his hair. Lazily inconsistent characterisation or a comment on the brittle nature of toxic hyper-masculinity? You decide. One of the funniest moments in Merry’s stream of consciousness refers to Doyle giving Mistral a manly shoulder clasp: 'I’d noticed that when nude, the men were less open to hugs from one another.' (I’m not convinced about that comma placement, incidentally.)
This brings me to the main problem I have with ‘Swallowing Darkness’. It has not been well copy-edited. I kept noticing little errors, then in the space of twenty pages the typo ‘solider’ appeared four times! That’s just careless. The ‘soliders’ themselves were an appealing addition, though, as their impatience with fairy nonsense is amusing. I was sympathetic to Gregario, who just wants Merry and her harem to stop kissing and get in the goddamn humvee. There was also an intriguing reference to ‘Persian’ monsters, to complement the fact that military wizards apparently saw action in Iraq. It was nice to get a hint of the wider magical world beyond Merry’s sexual shenanigans and deranged relatives. Talking of which…
I’m glad we finally found out who killed Merry’s dad and that at long last Cel got murdered. His death was somewhat rushed, though, and I’d thought it would likely be at Andais’ hand rather than Merry’s. After all, Merry had got on her high horse about kin-slaying earlier in the book and now she’s exploding her cousin to death? The lack of interest from the wild hunt in said bloodshed suggested that Merry is just a special case in all respects. Cel was terrible, anyway, but Andais’ characterisation did not seem to fit with the earlier books. She barely appeared, despite her previous heavy involvement in Merry’s business. As Merry in fact says, Andais is the kind of person to do her own dirty work, because she enjoys it. Not this time, though.
The final development in the story made me happy despite myself. Frost returned from his little holiday as a stag and both Merry and Doyle hugged him and cried about it. Laurell K. Hamilton apparently agrees with me that their threesome is the best, because Frost and Doyle actually care about each other as well as Merry. Thus it isn’t as unbalanced as the other relationships that boil down to, 'I'll put up with you, bro, because I want to bang the princess'. Doyle even admits on TV that he loves Frost, which is adorable. In the epilogue-like final chapter, once the gang are back in LA, Merry tells us that, ‘My Darkness and my Killing Frost find their way to me more often that not. No-one seems to argue about it, as if they’ve worked it out among them all.’ I bet that was an interesting conversation. Wonder if it involved diagrams on a whiteboard? Thus the book ends on a restful note that I’d have thought might mark the end of the series, if I didn’t know better. Presumably the next will chronicle Merry’s pregnant adventures in LA, getting Doyle to fetch weird foods for her and Frost to massage her feet. I look forward to the arguments about baby names and Mistral complaining about air pollution.
I'm not even sure I can say why, but this installment in the Meredith Gentry series didn't live up to the earlier books for me. For the second half of the book, I was just as wrapped up in the book as I usually am when it comes to Hamilton's writing, but the first half felt... I'm not sure. Somewhat rushed and scattered, as if chapters were being written to get characters from one moment to the next, but without the same depth as I'd expect from this author and series. There was just less weight to everything, and I had a hard time re-engaging with the series. Towards the middle, things picked up and I didn't want to put the book down--it felt like what I'd expected all along--but then the ending went back to feeling rather rushed, and show more didn't have the emotion I might have expected.
So, I don't know... readers couldn't start with this book in the series regardless, as this really is a series you need to read from beginning to end and not jump into. Perhaps it was just me, and the span of time between reading books 6 and 7. This also might just have been a lull in the series. I'd still recommend the series to readers of urban fantasy and readers who love Hamilton's Anita Blake series, and I'll be curious to see whether book 8 is more in line with what I've come to expect from the Meredith Gentry books. show less
So, I don't know... readers couldn't start with this book in the series regardless, as this really is a series you need to read from beginning to end and not jump into. Perhaps it was just me, and the span of time between reading books 6 and 7. This also might just have been a lull in the series. I'd still recommend the series to readers of urban fantasy and readers who love Hamilton's Anita Blake series, and I'll be curious to see whether book 8 is more in line with what I've come to expect from the Meredith Gentry books. show less
After the ridiculousness of Blood Noir, the latest Anita story, I was pleasantly surprised by Swallowing Darkness, at least it had a plot! Things are moving along magically, the Goddess is ever more present and Merry's band of loyal men keeps expanding. It's still all about the magic of sex, and how fair Meredith is and how she shares nicely but also loves Doyle and Killing Frost best. Because I really can't tell the men apart, I don't love Killing Frost at all and kind of like Doyle, but not more than anyone else, so the love story part is actually the weakest for me.
Certain plot lines come to an end with an engaging battle at the end. I'm curious to see what happens with the babies. One of the things I liked best about the book was show more how becoming pregnant did not make Merry all weak and maternal, it made her understand that her enemies see kindness as weak and she became a lioness, and actually killed people and ordered their death, using her fearsome hand of power (not quite sure how you could really turn someone 'inside out' and still alive, but she can) to protect her unborn children. Glad to see her get some backbone!
Will keep reading this series... show less
Certain plot lines come to an end with an engaging battle at the end. I'm curious to see what happens with the babies. One of the things I liked best about the book was show more how becoming pregnant did not make Merry all weak and maternal, it made her understand that her enemies see kindness as weak and she became a lioness, and actually killed people and ordered their death, using her fearsome hand of power (not quite sure how you could really turn someone 'inside out' and still alive, but she can) to protect her unborn children. Glad to see her get some backbone!
Will keep reading this series... show less
The most recent installment of Laurel K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry series, “Swallowing Darkness,” answered some lingering questions…and then asked a whole bunch more…
When we meet up with our heroine in this installment, she is newly pregnant with twins. (Fathered by not one but FIVE of her royal guards. Oh, and Sholto the King of the Slaugh. Lucky girl.) Her pregnancy is both a blessing and a curse as it secures her position as heir to the Unseelie throne but also increases the pressure on her enemies to end her life before she can become queen. After her beloved grandmother dies in her arms, she makes the decision to return to self-imposed exile in California to protect her life and the lives of her babies.
But nothing in Faery show more is that easy, and Merry’s treacherous cousin (and rival for the throne) Cel has a final trick up his sleeve. He refuses to be graceful in his defeat. And despite his cruelty, many among the Unseelie Sidhe would prefer his leadership to that of a mixed-blood mortal.
So the insanity ensues. There is a singularly bloody battle that reminds all of us of Laurel K. Hamilton’s vampire executioner roots. Magic and mind-bending glamour abound. Traitors are exposed, and familiar faces return. I can’t say much more about the climax because I don’t want to spoil the carefully woven surprises that make this book so satisfying. Needless to say, it is a close victory for Merry and crew (come on, there’s another book coming out in October. You already knew her team won.)
I have to say, this ended up being one of my favorite books in this series. It really did tie up some big loose ends that have been hanging around since the beginning. Most importantly, it kept her from having to choose a single member of her royal guard as her King. She is clearly in love with several, and in serious like with a couple more. The development of her twins having multiple fathers (three each) really saved her ass. Here’s to hoping the next book in the series, “Divine Misdemeanors” allows some of her good fortune to continue.
On my scientifically proven rating scale, I give “Swallowing Darkness” a very respectable 4 ½ stars. show less
When we meet up with our heroine in this installment, she is newly pregnant with twins. (Fathered by not one but FIVE of her royal guards. Oh, and Sholto the King of the Slaugh. Lucky girl.) Her pregnancy is both a blessing and a curse as it secures her position as heir to the Unseelie throne but also increases the pressure on her enemies to end her life before she can become queen. After her beloved grandmother dies in her arms, she makes the decision to return to self-imposed exile in California to protect her life and the lives of her babies.
But nothing in Faery show more is that easy, and Merry’s treacherous cousin (and rival for the throne) Cel has a final trick up his sleeve. He refuses to be graceful in his defeat. And despite his cruelty, many among the Unseelie Sidhe would prefer his leadership to that of a mixed-blood mortal.
So the insanity ensues. There is a singularly bloody battle that reminds all of us of Laurel K. Hamilton’s vampire executioner roots. Magic and mind-bending glamour abound. Traitors are exposed, and familiar faces return. I can’t say much more about the climax because I don’t want to spoil the carefully woven surprises that make this book so satisfying. Needless to say, it is a close victory for Merry and crew (come on, there’s another book coming out in October. You already knew her team won.)
I have to say, this ended up being one of my favorite books in this series. It really did tie up some big loose ends that have been hanging around since the beginning. Most importantly, it kept her from having to choose a single member of her royal guard as her King. She is clearly in love with several, and in serious like with a couple more. The development of her twins having multiple fathers (three each) really saved her ass. Here’s to hoping the next book in the series, “Divine Misdemeanors” allows some of her good fortune to continue.
On my scientifically proven rating scale, I give “Swallowing Darkness” a very respectable 4 ½ stars. show less
TENTACLES: CHECK. TENTACLE PORN: CHECK. POORLY-TIMED THREESOMES: CHECK. otoh, this book is sort of amazing because Merry finally does a lot of bad ass shit, like literally blowing some assholes up? THANK GOD I'M DONE, THOUGH, I couldn't take much more.
Looking for a kickass heroine? "Swallowing Darkness" by Laurell K. Hamilton gives us a pregnant heroine with awesome powers and raging hormones! How can I not love it?
Seriously, in this 7th book of the 'Meredith Gentry' series Meredith is finally pregnant...with twins no less. But instead of becoming softer Merry has had it with her enemies. No more bargaining or backing down. She will do whatever she needs to protect her mates and her unborn children. All I can say is...about time.
In previous books in this series Merry has been reactive, now she's going proactive and I loved the whole book. If you haven't read any of this series, don't start with this book as you'll just end up confused.
Merry is half fae and if she can survive to show more give birth, she's the new ruler of the seelie court. Her aunt, the current insane ruler, set a challenge between her own son and Merry. The first to get pregnant and begat an heir will win the crown. Of course, her aunt is a totally insane, bloodthirsty, sexually sadistic monarch whose whim is law. And her son is an apple who didn't fall far from the tree. So Merry is caught between these two with pretty much no choice but win or die.
That's the basic premise of these books, but there is so much more. I should certainly warn you that I consider these books erotica as there's a LOT of sex and most of it isn't exactly tame or vanilla! But this series is also a really engrossing fantasy tale...for adults. My only gripe is now I have to wait another year for the next chapter in Merry's life. show less
Seriously, in this 7th book of the 'Meredith Gentry' series Meredith is finally pregnant...with twins no less. But instead of becoming softer Merry has had it with her enemies. No more bargaining or backing down. She will do whatever she needs to protect her mates and her unborn children. All I can say is...about time.
In previous books in this series Merry has been reactive, now she's going proactive and I loved the whole book. If you haven't read any of this series, don't start with this book as you'll just end up confused.
Merry is half fae and if she can survive to show more give birth, she's the new ruler of the seelie court. Her aunt, the current insane ruler, set a challenge between her own son and Merry. The first to get pregnant and begat an heir will win the crown. Of course, her aunt is a totally insane, bloodthirsty, sexually sadistic monarch whose whim is law. And her son is an apple who didn't fall far from the tree. So Merry is caught between these two with pretty much no choice but win or die.
That's the basic premise of these books, but there is so much more. I should certainly warn you that I consider these books erotica as there's a LOT of sex and most of it isn't exactly tame or vanilla! But this series is also a really engrossing fantasy tale...for adults. My only gripe is now I have to wait another year for the next chapter in Merry's life. show less
The Good: Another painful book for Merry. Another book where she proves she's strong enough to handle all that is thrown at here, even when she doesn't always believe in herself. A huge amount of action in a relatively short period of time means the book is extremely fast paced. Now down time, no opportunity to emotionally deal with all that's being thrown at us. Hamilton is on a role with consistent plot progression in the last few books and Swallowing Darkness takes us into some very unexpected places. Choices are made. Serious choices. Choices that readers will love and hate at the same time. The main question after this book is - where do we go from here? Merry's future is completely turned upside down, again, and while I don't know show more if that's a good or bad thing, I do know that it'll be a hell of a ride.
The Bad: Not a thing. show less
The Bad: Not a thing. show less
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Author Information
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Laurell K. Hamilton was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas on February 19, 1963. She received degrees in English and biology from Marion College, which is now Indiana Wesleyan University. She writes the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series and the Meredith Gentry series. (Bowker Author Biography)
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- Canonical title
- Swallowing Darkness
- Original title
- Swallowing Darkness
- Original publication date
- 2008-11-04
- People/Characters
- Meredith NicEssus (Merry Gentry, princess); Doyle; Rhys; Galen; Sholto, Lord of That-Which-Passes-Between, King of the Sluagh; Mistral (show all 8); Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness (Queen, Unseelie Court, Merry's paternal aunt); Cel, Prince of Old Blood (Andais' son, Merry's cousin)
- Epigraph
- I feel like one,
Who treads alone
Some banquet hall deserted.
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but her departed!
—From "Oft, in the Stilly Night"
By Thomas Moore
(National Air... (show all)s, 1818) - Dedication
- To Jonathan, who walks the empty places with me, and turns on the lights as we go.
- First words
- Hospitals are where people go to be saved, but the doctors can only patch you up, put you back together.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I am Princess Meredith NicEssus and I finally have my happy-ever-after ending in the City of Angels on the Shores of the Western Sea. Sometimes Fairyland is where you make it.
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