Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Hello,


I've found another Top Ten Tuesday I can, somewhat, accomplish.
Thanks to The Broke and the Bookish for creating this meme.
When working on this list I realized that I really need to read the classics.  So, this list is short.  Sadly, I didn't make it to 10.
Here are my Top Dynamic Duos:


1.  Harry, Hermione, & Ron
From JK Rowling's Harry Potter series
Yes, I'm aware that duo means two, but I think we can all overlook that because it's Harry Potter. Harry Potter will always have a special place in my heart.  I love rereading them.
We can all agree that these characters have had their disagreements, but they always looked out for each other.  They would have died for one another.


2.  Frodo & Sam
From JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series
I haven't read The Lord of the Rings.  Please don't yell at me.  I will read them!
Based on the films Frodo and Sam build an incredible bond.  I still hate watching when Frodo turns on Sam.  However, Sam never gave up on his best friend, and that made the story even better.


3.  Taylor Swift & Music
Whoever gave that girl a microphone is a genius.

4.  Percy & Annabeth

From Percy Jackson

The son of Poseidon and daughter of Athena should have been mortal (or immortal, haha) enemies.  They certainly had there unfriendly moments, but I loved seeing their friendship grow.  You couldn't tell what Annabeth was thinking, because she wasn't only loyal to Percy.  In fact, they barely trusted one another for the longest time.  It was wonderful seeing it turn around.

5.  Irial & Niall

From Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series

It's strongly eluded that these two had a romantic relationship.  However, I'm blind and didn't realize this until the fifth and final book.  Whether Irial and Niall are romantically involved or otherwise they make an unstoppable pair.  They had a long history, and even found a way back to each other after a fallout that lasted centuries

6.  Benson & Stabler
From Law & Order SVU
I love this show, and I have no idea what that says about my personality.
Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler are partners working with Manhattan SVU.  They've known one another for years.  They've saved each other's lives.  They've wanted to kill the other person.  They've covered each other's butts.  They're one of my favourite duos to watch.


7.  Ross & Rachel
From Friends
I shouldn't even have to explain this one.
Ross loved Rachel for years, but the timing was never right, or one of them did something very stupid.  You loved them when they were together, and you loved them apart.  I, personally, loved how they ended up.


8.  Miley Cyrus & Hannah Montana
From Hannah Montana
Same girl.  Two worlds.  The only difference is her colour of hair.  I haven't found two sides of one person displayed so obviously.  I'm a fan of the catchy tunes, and it's perfect for kids too.  When you're older you can understand the themes of the show.


Song of the day:  Blah Blah Blah by Ke$ha


PS:  Did YOU see Glee?


Love,
Terri

Early Book Review: Darkest Mercy

Title: Darkest Mercy

Author: Melissa Marr

Series: Wicked Lovely

Length: 336 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins

On-Sale Date: February 22, 2011

Format: ARC paperback

If you have read the other Wicked Lovely novels then this review will not spoil anything.

Darkest Mercy is the fifth and final book in Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series.
Each Wicked Lovely book tells it’s own story, and Darkest Mercy is the perfect conclusion.

Each book is a story revolving around four faery courts:  Winter, Summer, Dark, and High.  The Winter and Summer Courts are the embodiment of their seasons, the Dark Court is surrounded by emotion, and the High Court is bound to provide order.  Order and Discord take form in the High Queen, Sorcha, and her sister Bananach.  But, Bananach, being no longer content with discord, wants war, and War will go to any length to get what she wants.  The only way to stop her reign of terror is to kill her.  It is said, however, that if Order or Discord were to die than it would end the lives of all faeries.  It is too dangerous to leave Bananach alive, but can she be killed?

The Regents waited too long to act and now War is upon them literally and figuratively.  Everyone, (including in the readers) suffers.   War has power and she is winning.  The Courts have to pull together or they will crumble, and every Faery will either have to serve fealty to Bananach or die.

Every character is hanging off a cliff at the end of Radiant Shadows, and Darkest Mercy ties all the threads together.   There are choices to be made, allies to be found, battles to be fought, and loves to be won.

I'm writing this immediately after finishing the book, so please bear with me.  The only words I was able to utter 10 minutes ago were, "Oh my God", over and over.  I am shell-shocked.
I can tell you this right now:  I will not be able to do Darkest Mercy justice.

A while ago I was wondering if Melissa Marr was heartless.  She has no problem killing, (or torturing), any character, and I was reminded of JK Rowling’s Deathly Hallows.  I am warning you:  if you love these characters, as I still do, you will not read Darkest Mercy in a public place.
This is the final book of the series, so you already have favourites.  You are attached, and you love certain characters.  On the flip side, there are characters you want to burn in the fiery pits of hell.  Yes, I am personally holding a grudge towards Bananach.

Putting it lightly, I was (and currently am) very emotional.  This book broke my heart.  What happened to these characters broke my heart.  At one point in this book, I have felt sorry for every faery that is NOT War.  Right now, I cannot form words, but what they had to face ... it was avoidable and undeserved.

Melissa Marr has created amazing characters.  I want to live with them.  I want to keep reading their stories, but I think it is best that it ended they way it did.  I do not want to say anything that would spoil the ending for you, but I will say this:  If you do not cry, you will scream.  (I did both).
These characters, and the writing caused so many strong emotions that I couldn't contain myself.  Darkest Mercy is the first book that ever made me scream.  And I wouldn't have ended it any other way.

There was one relationship that I believe had a definite destination throughout the entire series, but EVERY other one surprised me.  You would have never seen what was coming, and then it changed direction again.  I was wrong in nearly all of my predictions.  You will not see anything coming, and I am so happy for that.  Everything was a shock.  And I love it to pieces.

Melissa Marr is as cruel as she is kind.

Keenan is a fool in love, but we already know that.
Irial is my favourite character and it is rare that I can choose.
Seth is driven, and kind, and the most pure.
Donia is strength.
Aislinn is hard and bright.
Niall is as terrible as he is vulnerable.
Sorcha is out of her element.
Bananach is crazy … As if I needed to point that out.

Darkest Mercy is a love story.
Is it tragic?  Yes, at times it will rip your heart out.
Is it lovely?  The loveliest.

I’m sorry that I didn’t talk much about the book’s content. But sometimes books make you feel, and I’ve learned that that’s okay.

Rating:

Premise: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Goodreads after winning a contest. Receiving this ARC did not influence my review in any way.

Page number is tentative and subject to change.