casseyt's review against another edition
3.0
The joy of a series falls in visiting with old friends. The problem with this book, is that too much time is given to explain past events. This left very little room for new things, and it felt rushed. Hopefully there'll be another book, and it'll give enough time for new things and rounding out the stories of the characters. After all, we want good things for old friends.
halfpintreads's review against another edition
2.0
I was so disappointed with this. Not only was there a huge plot twist that I hated... the writing and dialog was awful. after following this and the anita blake series for so long... I might be done.
lesliethewanderlust's review against another edition
3.0
Merry is finally back! The eight book was published back in 2009, so its safe to say this book is long overdue. I loved reading about Merry and her men again and I devoured the book in a few days— as I tend to do with all Laurell K Hamilton books.
In A Shiver of Light the group is still living in Los Angeles away from Merry's crazy, murderous relatives in faery. Merry's pregnancy finally comes to an end and to her surprise she delivers triplets. Each child has some sort of magical gift and Merry becomes worried they are way too powerful for newborns.
Throughout the book Merry sets out to learn more about her powerful children while dealing with the ever-present threats from faerie. Her psychopathic aunt has decided she wants a relationship with her grandchildren and is attempting to play nice—so far it isn't looking promising. Merry is also trying to avoid her Uncle Taranis who has deluded himself into believing not only is he the father her children but that she really loves him and just doesn't realize it (barf).
The plot was engaging, especially for MG/LKH fans. It's not all roses though. Although we read about new life being brought into the world, there's also a death in the book. I actually kind of felt like there would be...but it wasn't the person I thought it would be.
I can't wait to see if Merry returns back to faerie with her children one day and if her aunt is actually capable of change. Hopefully book #10 doesn't take as long as the last one!
In A Shiver of Light the group is still living in Los Angeles away from Merry's crazy, murderous relatives in faery. Merry's pregnancy finally comes to an end and to her surprise she delivers triplets. Each child has some sort of magical gift and Merry becomes worried they are way too powerful for newborns.
Throughout the book Merry sets out to learn more about her powerful children while dealing with the ever-present threats from faerie. Her psychopathic aunt has decided she wants a relationship with her grandchildren and is attempting to play nice—so far it isn't looking promising. Merry is also trying to avoid her Uncle Taranis who has deluded himself into believing not only is he the father her children but that she really loves him and just doesn't realize it (barf).
The plot was engaging, especially for MG/LKH fans. It's not all roses though. Although we read about new life being brought into the world, there's also a death in the book. I actually kind of felt like there would be...but it wasn't the person I thought it would be.
I can't wait to see if Merry returns back to faerie with her children one day and if her aunt is actually capable of change. Hopefully book #10 doesn't take as long as the last one!
kaziteega's review against another edition
4.0
I loved it but I am not happy with some of the details that happened in the book. I still loved it.
bookworm2913's review against another edition
5.0
This one had me bawling on more than one occasion!!
So much happened in Shiver! Sad and happy! I cannot believe one particular event that still has me in shock! So incredibly sad. I am anxious for the next book but know it’s nowhere on the horizon as of yet. I sincerely hope Laurell is hit with some inspiration from a muse ASAP because this wait is painfully long so far!
Come on Muse!!!
So much happened in Shiver! Sad and happy! I cannot believe one particular event that still has me in shock! So incredibly sad. I am anxious for the next book but know it’s nowhere on the horizon as of yet. I sincerely hope Laurell is hit with some inspiration from a muse ASAP because this wait is painfully long so far!
Come on Muse!!!
wisecraic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amateur_reader's review against another edition
3.0
A little disappointed in this book. Waited several years for it come out. Not much happen in this book. I believe she just wrote it to get her fans what they wanted and to stop badgering her about writing it.
rouver's review against another edition
1.0
Dammit. I somehow accidentally had Jared pick this up for me. Having barely made it into book 1 of this series, I couldn't stomach #9, either (4 chapters was enough). This one starts out with the main character pregnant with triplets. Fathered by 3 different men (what?!) with one infant being several weeks younger than 2 of them (WHAT?!). Merry is having lots & lots & LOTS of sex. She was able to narrow the potential fathers down to 6, but after the birth, realized that two others had likely fathered one of the infants. Surprisingly, the author, Hamilton, has a child; parts of the birth story led me to believe that she had no idea how pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding worked. Gah!
Seriously. Don't waste your time w/ these.
Seriously. Don't waste your time w/ these.
sumayyah_t's review against another edition
3.0
Princess Meredith is finally giving birth...to triplets. Her uncle, King Taranis, who raped her, is attempting to lay claim to the children and Merry in order to keep his throne. Merry and her men must keep the children, and themselves, safe from his plots.
After such a long wait for this book, I am disappointed with the work. The writing is redundant, the (many, many, and oft repeated) descriptions are overdone, and the (long winded) dialogue does little to advance the plot. 2.5 stars, and only because the ending (rushed, convoluted, and out of left field) almost redeems the effort of reading this book. Almost.
After such a long wait for this book, I am disappointed with the work. The writing is redundant, the (many, many, and oft repeated) descriptions are overdone, and the (long winded) dialogue does little to advance the plot. 2.5 stars, and only because the ending (rushed, convoluted, and out of left field) almost redeems the effort of reading this book. Almost.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
A Shiver of Light is the ninth book in Laurel K Hamilton's Merry Gentry series featuring an exiled fairy princess, the descendant of a fertility goddess, and her multitude of handsome consorts. It has been a long wait for the return of Princess Meredith NicEssus, five years in fact, since the publication of [b:Divine Misdemeanors|6098691|Divine Misdemeanors (Merry Gentry, #8)|Laurell K. Hamilton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327878336s/6098691.jpg|6502183].
A Shiver of Light picks up a short time after the events of Divine Misdemeanors with Merry now heavily pregnant with what was assumed to be twins but is quickly revealed to be triplets. The babies are born, a boy and two girls, fathered by not one but six of her lovers, each child sharing genetic traits with at least two of the men, though paternity has not yet been formally established. It is this uncertainty that has Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, who raped Merry early in her pregnancy, insisting he also has a claim on the children, and with his powers newly restored he begins a frightening campaign to take Merry away from her lovers, and make her his queen.
I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed in the story. There is so much potential that just seems wasted between repetitive descriptions of Merry's men, far too much talk and very little action. There are a couple of confrontations through the story with Taranis and Queen Andais but most of the excitement, and the single twist, is crammed into the last 30 pages or so.
The only characters to show any real growth in this installment are Galen, who is galvanised by fatherhood, and Queen Andais who is trying to curb her psychotic tendencies in order to forge a relationship with Merry and the babies. Merry is either drowning in hormone induced hysteria for a lot of the novel, or desperately horny. She doesn't spend a lot of time with her children, leaving their care to their fathers and a phalanx of nannies despite apparently breastfeeding. I am really interested to see how the babies play into the continuing story though. At only a few days old, all three are displaying immense magical abilities.
Despite devouring A Shiver of Light in a couple of hours, in retrospect it was a fairly weak story which failed to live up to expectation. Still I know I will be picking up the next one simply because I am not quite ready to say goodbye... even if I have to wait another five years.