Something is rotten in Los Angeles and the realm of the Fey (Faerie) Realm, as Merry Gentry, Princess and heir to the Seelie (Faerie Throne) and her guards find themselves trapped in a legal battle as three of her guards are accused of rape by King Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, also known as the Unseelie Court and Merry's quite insane Uncle. The Unseelie Court are the outcasts from the Fey world and the ying to the yang of the Seelie Court. Hoping to talk some sense into the King as it's only his word against them, the negotiations fall apart and Taranis ends the meeting in a rage. Worried for the safety of her guards' well-being, Merry confides in Sir Hugh, the head of the King's guard and his top counselor. Sir Hugh informs Merry the Seelie Court (the good Faeries of the world) is plotting a coup and hope to hold a vote in which to overthrow King Taranis and place Merry on the throne.
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Unsure of how to proceed or who to trust, Merry confides in her aunt, Queen Andais, who is also losing her sanity, regarding the day's events and informs her of the Court's plot to place her on the throne which throws Andais into a fury as she is convinced Merry has already agreed to rule. Thankfully, Merry is able to prove to her she has not nor would she question Andais' authority as she knows to defy her would mean certain death.
Fearful of Taranis finding out about the plot and retaliating against her, Merry requests Holly and Ash from Andais' guard to join her in Los Angeles, to which Andais reluctantly agrees. Holly and Ash are half-goblin half-seelie (faerie) twins and outcasts of the court, and Merry knows they will be safer with her than with Andais. When Holly and Ash arrive at Merry's home, they are accompanied by Jonty, a Red Cap and goblin who begs Merry to return the Red Caps to their former glory. The Red Caps are a guard of sorts within the goblin race who are outcast and made to live in exile. Merry promises she will do her best, and in doing so unleashes a powerful magic that turns her home into a powerful and magical hub, in the fey world known as a sithen or "heart of magic." Unfortunately, during the transformation of her home into a sithen, Frost, Merry's guard and lover was sacrificed to the magic and turned into a white stag, leaving Merry devastated.
The creation of this new magical hub reacts with Merry's fertility ring and reveals she is pregnant with twins, and each has three fathers. This is due to Merry being a fertility goddess and having taken six lovers over the past few months as she took on more guards. The fathers being Frost, Galen, Doyle, Rhys, Mistral and Sholto. Frost being a descendant of the god of winter, Galen a god of the earth, Doyle the god of night, Rhys the god of wine, Mistral one of Queen Andais' pets and Sholto the Lord of Slaugh (nightmares and demons). At first Merry is shocked and her guards alarmed of their new found fatherhood, but they soon are accepting to the idea.
Succumbing to her grief that Frost will never be a part of their family, Merry flees into the gardens and is kidnapped by King Taranis and raped and beaten. During the attack Merry comes to the realization that Taranis had accused her guards of rape in an effort to hide his own guard's misdoings. After the attack Taranis is convinced he is the father of Merry's twins.
Doyle and her other guards rescue Merry in a daring attempt and she holds an impromptu press conference where she reveals the truth to the public and condemns Taranis of rape and treason. She then collapses from a concussion and whisked a way to the hospital where she agrees to a rape test in an effort to truly seal the fate of King Taranis and prove to the public he is the monster he hides behind Light and Illusion.
Best part of story, including ending:
I disliked Merry becoming a political pawn and having to use her sexuality as a bargaining chip. So much happens to this woman you would think she would have had a psychotic break by now.
Best scene in story:
I loved the scene where Merry discovers she is pregnant. It is such a wonderful moment as her guards and lovers realize they will be fathers but also sad as they mourn the lost of Frost.
Opinion about the main character:
Merry tends to be passive and let the world dictate her actions. I wish she would step up and take control of her own fate.
