I couldn’t put it down even when it made me cry, shocked me and when it was over. I just didn’t want it to end, which is the hallmark of a really great book.
The Faerie Courts are full of political intrigue as an outside entity begins to chip away at loyalties, relationships and even lives. The mortal girls who saw faeries in Wicked Lovely is now the Summer Queen and her court is weakened by the missing Summer King and more so by the fact that she is in love with the mortal boy who is now a faery with powers of his own. Ash will have to choose between love and her court if she and her faeries are to survive the oncoming war.
You do need to read the previous books in the series to fully enjoy and understand this final book in the series. Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Radiant Shadows are all part of the series and each one of them is a joy to read (and addictive).
I read a LOT. And I have very little time for it so what I read needs to be special. This series is that. It is one that you think about long after you’ve read it. So I highly recommend Darkest Mercy. Those following the series already are going to be surprised, but I think in the end they will be happy. And it will give us all something to do while we wait for the Wicked Lovely movie to come out!