Hoping For More: Darkest Mercy

Title: Darkest Mercy
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely, Book #5
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Page Count: 336 Pages (Hardcover)
Pub. Date: Published 2011 by HarperCollins
Rating: 5/5

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.

The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

~Twisty Series Sum-up~

(warning: spoilers if you haven't read the first 4 books)

Seth became a Faery (son of High Queen Sorcha) so that he could be with Ash - who is the Summer Queen and is fighting the feelings she developed for the Summer King Keenan, while Seth was away. Keenan is in love with the new Winter Queen Donia - who has pushed him away in fear of killing him for his closeness to Ash. Seth is also a declared brother to Niall, the new Dark King who used to be Keenan's advisor, is currently an ally to Donia, and is in love with the former Dark King Irial (who is now dying). Both Dark kings are in love with Leslie - who is Ash's mostly mortal friend from before she became Faery. They are all unstable and confused but one thing is for sure, they all want Bananach dead.

~My Review~

Everyone has to face their demons in Darkest Mercy. Melissa Marr pulls in all of the main characters from the mortal side of the veil and makes them face the consequences of their actions - or inactions in some cases.

A collection of love-sick and mourning regents have to face off with War, or risk losing everything to her. I was happy to finally get to the fight that was looming ominously over the fey for the entire series.

I won't go into too much detail on the events of the book , as I wouldn't want to ruin anything, but I will say that even with the losses and compromises, this book (and series) ended perfectly for me.

Melissa Marr was already on my favourites list but she managed to impress me even more in Darkest Mercy. The action was intense, the love threads were all tied up, and the overall plot brought everything together from the whole series, just wonderful. I am so glad I read this series, not only are they beautiful on my shelf, but they are beautifully written.