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Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, Book 7) | 
 enlarge | Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy New: $15.94
You Save: $10.06 (39%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  95 reviews
Sales Rank: 549
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.1 x 1.6
ISBN: 0345495934
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780345495938
ASIN: 0345495934
Publication Date: November 4, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: R20081202004544H
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Product Description
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 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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| Customer Reviews: Read 90 more reviews...
 The Motherhood Factor December 5, 2008
Swallowing Darkness (2008) is the seventh fantasy novel in the Meredith Gentry series, following A Lick of Frost. In the previous volume, Meredith restored full powers to all the Red Caps. Ash and Holly got a dog of their own. Frost was transformed into a white stag.
King Taranis of the Seelie Court tried to seduce Meredith in the guise of Amatheon, but Merry discovered who he really was. Then Taranis used force and probably raped her. But he didn't know that she was already pregnant with twins.
Meredith was having an unusual pregnancy. Apparently, each to the twins had three fathers. This was not totally new to the sidhe, but Merry accepted the knowledge a lot faster that Doyle, Galen, Rhys and Sholto. Frost never knew prior to becoming a white stag and Mistral hadn't yet been told.
In this novel, Meredith Gentry learned that the DNA evidence supported her suspicion that her uncle had raped her. She was planning to charge Taranis with rape and ruin his reputation with the media. Then she and her sworn guards were leaving for Los Angeles. Merry has too many enemies among the Fae.
Doyle is going with his Princess if she has to kidnap him to get him away from Faery. The Darkness is thinking seriously about challenging Taranis to a duel. Merry has to order him to leave Taranis alone. She doesn't want to lose another father of her twins like she has Frost.
King Sholto of the Sluagh is also thinking about killing Taranis. He is not as likely as Doyle to survive the attempt, but he is really affected by becoming a father of her twins. Merry has almost as much trouble keeping him From going after Taranis as she does with Doyle.
Then Galen and Rhys join the Taranis termination party. After finding out about his paternity, Mistral is also in favor of knocking off the Seelie King. The rest of her guards and some of his own retinue aren't too happy with her uncle either.
In this story, Merry has calmed down the guards in her vicinity and is plotting their escape from Faery. Then her grandmother -- Hettie the Brownie -- appears and asks about Merry's well-being. For some reason, Merry is reluctant to touch her beloved grandmother. Hettie seems to carrying a grudge against several of her guards, mostly with Doyle.
Merry sees a golden thread in Hettie's brown hair and her men remove it. Hettie begins to calm down, but suddenly she becomes very agitated and raises a hand of power against Doyle and Sholto. Galen holds Merry down on the floor until Hettie is overpowered.
Hettie is gravely wounded and does not survive long. Merry is very upset, but she knows that Hettie had not done this wicked deed of her own volition. Someone has placed a spell on her.
Merry calls the Wild Hunt and leads it to the Seelie Court. There she finds the instigator and slays her with Sholto's spear. Then she finds that others in her informal court are being stalked by killers and she leads the Hunt out to save her people.
This tale ramps up Meredith's ruthlessness. Threat to her children brings out a willingness to do whatever is required to protect them. She is still friendly and generous to her friends, but anyone who tries to attack her children or her friends is likely to die in the attempt.
A main sidhe complaint about Merry as the future Queen of the Unseelie has been that she is too nice. Being pregnant has changed that attitude. Merry is in full protective mode and has more magic than ever. The lords and ladies of the sidhe are now afraid of her anger. Sometimes you get what you wish for and regret your wishes.
This story takes Merry into new emotions and concepts that she has never had before. Some people cross her and she eliminates them. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Hamilton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Faery Courts, enhanced magic, maternal feelings, and more than a touch of sex.
-Arthur W. Jordin
 WELL???? December 5, 2008
This was interesting. It kinda felt like it was cut and pasted together. Like there could have been more, and there should have been, but it needed to get out. I have read all of the books in the series and this one was my least favorite. There could have been at least two books out of this one with story lines that were just thrown in to end the book. I say read it if you have read all the others but it was kind of a let down.
 Is it over yet? December 4, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read this because I found the series to be entertaining and I wanted to see what happens to the characters. After reading previous books, I got a feeling that this series would never end because each book covers a day or less. I do not like that the main character gets anything she wants. It's like the author is writing her own personal fantasy. The main character gets power after power after power, everyone else gets powers, she brings people back to life, the people that hate her really don't hate her, people that want her dead die, etc. Just when you thought something bad happened to one of her lovers, SURPRISE! they are back! It's disgusting. Even the rape was glossed over like it was no big deal.
Sigh. There were some good things, there had to be, because I finished the book. I've read other Laurell K. Hamilton books and the characters keep me interested. I had no problem reading some 800 pagers that took place over a day or two, but I can't handle this. I can't read any more of these stories about a stupid spoiled princess who gets EVERYTHING she wants. Grow up.
Portraying a Goddess as someone who grants every single whim of one person is ridiculous. Please Goddess heal this person, bring this person back from the dead, give me super awesome weapons, make these people have powers. DISGUSTING! Hopefully the Anita Blake novels continue to be ok, I don't know after Blood Noir and this garbage. I'll cross my fingers.
Read this is you are a fan of the series, just to get a tiny bit of an update on the plot. Though, I warn you, you may get highly annoyed. Part of me thinks this book isn't any different than the others, just more of the same. I was annoyed with the others, and I'm annoyed with this. I won't continue reading this series.
A Very Good Book December 2, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was an excellent book. It was hard to put down once I started it. I don't know if this was the end of the series, but if it is, it's a great ending. It tied everything together nicely from the beginning of the series. The book itself was in perfect condition when I received it. And the delivery of the book was fast. It arrived within five days, or so, of the email that was sent.
All in all, it was a great book, and the service was fast and expedient.
My view - Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry, Book 7) December 2, 2008
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have been waiting on MG's story to get to this point. Laurell K. Hamilton did not disappoint. She told a wonderful, dark, sad, teary, sensual, bloody, fairy tale. If I start writing what is in the story, this review will be 5 pages long. So I won't give it away. Suffice to say you won't waste your money on this buy. She wasn't just writing to get a book out there.
5 stars!
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