Black Lament

Black Wings #4

by Christina Henry

As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black deals with loss every day. But when tragedy touches her own life, Maddy will have to find the strength within to carry on. Devastated and grieving, Maddy unexpectedly finds hope with the discovery that she is pregnant.

But Maddy’s joy is short-lived when Lucifer informs her that he wants the baby, hoping to draw on the combined power of two of his bloodlines. Maddy is determined that her grandfather will never have her child, but she’s not sure what she can do to stop him...

Being pregnant is stressful enough, but Maddy suddenly finds herself at odds with the Agency—forbidden from meddling in the affairs of the supernatural courts. When a few of her soul collections go awry, Maddy begins to suspect that the Agency wants to terminate her employment. They should know by now that she isn’t the sort to give up without a fight…

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Angels, Paranormal, Demons, Vampires, Fae

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include GOOD GIRLS DON'T DIE, HORSEMAN, NEAR THE BONE, THE GHOST TREE, LOOKING GLASS, THE GIRL IN RED, THE MERMAID, LOST BOY, RED QUEEN, ALICE, and the seven book urban fantasy BLACK WINGS series.

Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies ELEMENTAL FORCES, CURSED, TWICE CURSED, GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE and KICKING IT.

She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

You can visit her on the web at
www.christinahenry.net
Facebook: authorChristinaHenry
Threads: authorChristinaHenry
Instagram: authorChristinaHenry
Goodreads: goodreads.com/CHenryAuthor

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have problems making up my mind about whether I like this book or not, to be honest. I can say that I like some parts and dislike the others. Thus, I'm still giving it my so-so/standard 3-stars rating. Because I cannot say outloud that I dislike it ...

----

On one hand, I started warming up to Maddy in book #3 and my heart broke for her when Gabriel was killed in the hand of her father, Azazel. Even if I never actually cared enough about Gabriel and Maddy's relationship in the first place. Still, killing off the main love interest was uncommon and that was the reason why I was waiting for this story.

HOWEVER, as the story moved along, I remembered why I didn't particularly warm up to Maddy. She was acting reckless, she created enemies left and right, she chose the way of the sword without thinking about the consequences that were brought to herself and the people who cared about her (for example J.B. got the hardest brunt, when Maddy defied the authority of the Agency's top management).

Maddy was all "f*ck the rules" and she was impulsive and closed her ears to advices or warnings from her close friends. More than one time, Beezle told Maddy to be careful but she always justified her actions with "it's kill or be killed - and that I didn't have any choice in this matter". She didn't even TRY to think things through!! So much that I wonder why the others were still fiercely loyal to her. I mean, she was pregnant here, for God's sake.

That is one of my issues with some of the heroines in urban fantasy/paranormal romance series. The author wants the heroine to kick ass but ends up making her feel ridiculously unlikeable.

I am also not particularly too excited with Ms. Henry throwing various mythologies here, like Titania & Oberon's court (which of course, gave Maddy an excuse to create MORE enemies), and then suddenly there were vampires who were immune to the sun due to Azazel's formula. It was too many things at once, and the Titania & Oberon's story felt so sudden, coming out of the field. Then poof, it disappeared because Maddy got back on her revenge track towards Azazel plus the Agency's management was on her trails as well.

Oh, and everything that is thrown Maddy's way, she easily killed them all. There wasn't even any suspense in it. She got it easy, EVERY TIME even when Maddy was able to kill Azazel and blown away his army ...

It felt like a mess.

On the other hand ... the other guys, I loved. I loved reading about Samiel (he's definitely one of my favorites) and Beezle (who kept giving comic relief) and Jude. I even warmed up towards Nathaniel, though I wondered where the relationship between him and Maddy would go on. I liked J.B. too, but I was a little turn off with him stating his love for Maddy so quickly after Gabriel died just few weeks previously. It's sad that I care more about the guys than the main heroine *sigh*

---

Soooo ... VERDICT?

I am not sure if I want to read the next book. If I don't get the urge to know, I will just stop right here.

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

The Black Wings series started out relatively strong with the first installment. In fact, I gave book one 4 stars out of 5. The two follow-up novels, Black Night and Black Howl, were only so-so, but Black Lament was absolutely atrocious. The main plot is trivial at best, the protagonist is a childish, arrogant, crazy person and the action is over-the-top ridiculous. This series went from good, to ok, to really bad and, as a result, I'm giving up on Madeline Black. There's just no coming back from this. I gave Christina Henry 4 chances to win me over and she failed so I can't say that I didn't give it my best shot.

Madeline comes across as a 4 year old throwing a temper tantrum for most of this novel. She just goes around pissing on everyone and then kills them when they oppose her. No matter how powerful and/or ancient her opponent is, she somehow manages to slice through them like butter. It's ridiculous. "Oh hello millennia old fae king... *BAM* I win." I mean, what the hell kind of battle is that!?! "Look at me, I'm Madeline Black, granddaughter of Lucifer and I can do whatever the f#@k I want." Normally a heroine is supposed to grow with every installment not deteriorate. Towards the end I think that Black actually turns evil. I somehow doubt that that's what Henry was going for but that's what I got out of Black Lament. Also, why did the author make her an Agent of Death when she doesn't collect any souls? Maddy's asked to do one, maybe two pick-ups (which she botches) but other than that... this aspect of her character is completely ignored and seems pointless.

"Too bad I don't think anyone is superior to me," I said. - Page 193.

The main plot was, for lack of a better word, insignificant. First off, there are so many competing story lines that it's hard to identify which one is the main one. Secondly, the only reason why any of these problems exist to begin with is because of Maddy. If she'd stop mouthing off and killing people for no good reason, maybe just maybe, they'd stop trying to off her! All of her allies are aware of her bad habits and they just shrug them off or make jokes about them. Ooh, it's just Black, she has a tendency of burning things to the grown. Eeumm, hello? Does no one else see a problem with this? Lastly, the plots from the four books don't really seem to follow each other overly much. I still haven't been able to figure out the direction in which this story is going. The only reason why I've persisted with these novels for as long as I have is because of the cliff hanger endings but even those won't be able to save this series this time. I refuse to fall for it again; I'm not even slightly curious about what comes next. I just don't care. She's probably going to blow up the world at this rate.

All of the elements that I disliked in previous installments are magnified in Black Lament. Madeline Black is one of the most annoying characters that I've ever had the displeasure of reading about. The plot is a senseless mixture of nonsense and the flow reminds me of being in a car where the driver doesn't know how to work a stick shift. Farewell Black Wings and good riddance.

[Michelle Leah Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

I am absolutely in love with this series, so when Christina sent me an ARC of Black Lament to get me through a tough time following back to back surgeries, she couldn't have given me a better gift.

After crying my eyes out following the conclusion of Black Howl and just KNOWING that Christina had amazing things in store for not only us but her characters, I was chomping at the bit to start Black Lament. Let me tell you that Miss Henry did not disappoint, not even a bit!

My first words upon completing the book were this: "Holy cow! Another amazing read by Christina Henry. Dark, intriguing, action packed, emotion laced, & jam packed with goodness. I can't wait for the next book!"

As the synopsis says, after tragedy strikes, Maddy finds some comfort in the fact that she has something to look forward to. The only problem is that she just can't seem to stay out of trouble, and everyone wants a piece of her for their own personal gains. She's pretty much made enemies in all the supernatural courts, and now she's getting heat from her bosses bosses to boot.

This is an incredibly difficult review to write because SO much happens in this installment and I refuse to spoil any of it. Many, many things change, characters that you hated you have to learn to like, characters that were always Maddy's rocks are beginning to waiver, numerous new characters are introduced and muddle up the already delicate balance that Maddy is desperately trying to hold on to (both for better and for worse), and Maddy discovers and nurtures a darkness within herself that has those closest to her a bit on edge.

One of the best lines is towards the end of the book and sums up a lot of the feeling throughout the tale. Maddy and Lucifer are talking and Lucifer asks "Do you really believe you can defeat whatever comes your way?". Maddy replies with, "I have to believe that, because every time I turn around there's something else". That, in a nutshell, sums up this series thus far, and especially this installment.

In Black Lament, Christina changes things even more than she did in Black Howl (and I wasn't sure that was even possible). She also opens up the series for an entirely new sub-plotline, and I am dying to see how Black City turns out!

Love, love LOVE this series!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Black Lament a well deserved 5 Skulls and would recommend it to all Urban Fantasy lovers. I do suggest that readers take in the whole series and start with Black Wings, Black Night and Black Howl before Black Lament, however. There is just too much history that you'll miss, and you don't want to miss them anyway; they're too fantastic.

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how this picked up straight from book 3, with a slight recap/same paragraphs from the previous book.

Of course, Maddy can't even take a moment to grieve the loss of Gabriel without some new big bad coming after her. Evidently she's pissed of Titania & Oberon and ends up battling the hob and becoming indebted to Puck.

The Agency joins in on the "we hate Maddy" fan club by putting their head in the sand even when their own agents are in jeopardy.

Probably would have given it a 5, but knocked it down a point for not even letting her grieve an entire book before having her already be sought after by a few of the other male characters.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5

*Review*

Madeline (Maddy) Black has had enough of being pushed around and targeted just because of who she is and what she carries. She is suffering from a loss of the heart, and everyone around her is worried that she might take a leap over to the dark side and be just what Lucifer has always wanted; a protégée.

“Every time you try to cross me (Lucifer) you just get pulled further into my orbit.”

If you’ve read Black Howl (Black Wings # 3), you know that it ended with a shocking death and a surprise revelation that left readers wondering what else we can expect from Christina Henry. Every time Maddy tries to extract herself from the Fallen and her own father’s viciousness, and plots to unseat Lucifer, she somehow finds more enemies and more entanglements than one person should be allowed to face in one lifetime.

Maddy’s job as an Agent of Death is severely tried and tested and she ends up making a decision that left me wondering what will happen next.

Black Lament is filled with intrigue, darkness, action, new characters and their threats, as well as questions that will have to hold readers over until the next installment of this series. We see an entirely different side to Maddy than we’ve seen before.

It’s a story that you will either love or hate because of the way Maddy decides to become something of a vigilante after losing the love of her life. She goes after her enemies with a sort of reckless abandonment and somehow survives despite all the odds which is truly miraculous considering they are supposedly more powerful and have been around since the beginning of time.

In a way, Black Lament is hard to review without spoiling what happens over the course of its pages. The usual suspects are back: Beezle, Samiel, Jude, J.B, and Nathaniel who has been given the job of protecting Maddy from harm at the expense of his own life by Lucifer. There are, of course, new characters that come into the picture and whose own agendas are not fully revealed.

Naturally, there is a cliffhanger, of sorts, that left me screaming and wanting to read the next book asap!

Expected publication: October 30th 2012 by Ace

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Does anyone else feel like they just got hit with the 'WTF' stick? Maddy hated and I mean HATED Nathaniel and now she has these mysterious feeling for him? It seems as though since Gabriel is gone she has just clings onto someone else. It's like she NEEDS to be in love with someone. Oh and JB all 'I love you and I want to be the father of your baby' and all that shit. No, just no. To both JB and Nathaniel. As a great someone who's name I don't know said, 'WHAT IS THIS FUCKERY?!!!!'

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'est mieux niveau émotion, et il y a pas mal de choses qui se passent et se résolvent. La suite est commandée!

[Gianne Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaser From Christina Henry's Website!

CHAPTER ONE

Lucifer put his arm around me. It felt comforting, like the act of a parent, a parent I’d always wanted – a father. The air filled with the scent of cinnamon. It reminded me so strongly of Gabriel that the tears that always hovered beneath the surface spilled over.

Lucifer said nothing, only held me as I wept. After a long while, it felt like there were no more tears to be cried. I lifted my head and saw Lucifer watching me with great compassion in his eyes.

“If there is one human emotion I truly comprehend, it is grief,” Lucifer said. “I lost Evangeline and my children so long ago, and I never stopped grieving for them.”

“So it doesn’t stop hurting, then,” I said dully.

“The pain becomes, perhaps, not quite so sharp. In the future, you may find that days may pass when you do not think of him at all, but when you do there will be a tenderness there, like a bruise that has never healed.”

I didn’t need Lucifer to tell me that. A piece of me had been taken forever when Gabriel died. You can’t replace the missing parts of your heart.

Lucifer released me. I felt lost again, empty, except for the flame that burned bright with anger at the thought of Azazel. He would not be able to run far enough.

“Still, all is not lost. Gabriel lives on inside you,” Lucifer said.

“Yes, I’ve heard all the clichés,” I sighed. Beezle and Samiel had been repeating them ad nauseum.

“No, I mean Gabriel really does live on inside you,” Lucifer said. “Here.”

He put his hand on my abdomen, and I looked up in shock.

Far below, deep inside, I felt it.

The beating of tiny wings.

A child. Gabriel’s child. Wonder smothered the grief, just for a moment.

“My grandchild,” Lucifer said.

There was such possessiveness in his voice, in his face, that I pulled away from his touch, covering my stomach with my hands.

“So that’s why you wanted me to marry Gabriel,” I said angrily. “So I can be a part of your supernatural breeding program?”

“That sounds so…indelicate,” Lucifer said.

“And yet still true,” I said.

Lucifer didn’t bother to acknowledge this. Instead, he said, “You and Gabriel are powerful beings born of my line. Your child, no doubt, will be magnificent.”

“You can’t have him,” I said fiercely. “He’s mine.”

Mine and Gabriel’s.

Lucifer took me by the shoulders and kissed me on the forehead. I stayed perfectly still, my hands fisted at my sides, until he released me.

“Careful, my dear. Every time you try to cross me you just get pulled further into my orbit.”

He climbed down the steps of my front porch and walked away down the snow-covered sidewalk. I watched him until he was out of sight, his words echoing inside my head.

Every time you try to cross me you just get pulled further into my orbit.

It was true that I hadn’t managed to beat Lucifer at his game yet. It was also true that when I tried, something horrible would happen, like my being named the Hound of the Hunt.

But I was not going to let Lucifer use my child as part of his plan for total world domination. I was not going to let Lucifer take my last piece of Gabriel away.

Gabriel.

I felt my shoulders sagging, the familiar weariness settling on me. I wanted to go to sleep, which was pretty much all I’d wanted to do since Azazel had killed Gabriel right in front of me.

I went back inside, locked the front door and climbed the steps up to my apartment. Beezle and Samiel were nowhere to be seen, which meant that they were probably in Samiel’s apartment downstairs watching a movie.

I took off the coat that Lucifer had given me. For half a second I contemplated folding it up and tossing it in the trash, but practicality won. Both of my coats had been ruined in various battles with monsters, and I was too broke to afford a new one. On my best day I couldn’t have bought a coat as nice as this.

I hung the coat up carefully by the back door and wandered down the hall to the kitchen. The idea of a nap suddenly had less appeal. I didn’t want to climb in bed and find myself lying awake thinking about Gabriel or about ways to keep Lucifer from taking my baby.

My baby.

How was I supposed to raise a baby? I was surrounded by enemies who tried to kill me on a regular basis. The only reason I was still alive and hadn’t died of my injuries yet was because Gabriel had been around to heal me.

And now he wasn’t. And I was back to where I’d started, the place I was always trying to escape but found that I circled back to, endlessly.

Azazel’s sword in Gabriel’s chest. Gabriel falling to the ground.

I was on my knees, my arms wrapped around my body, trying to stop the pain that never left me, the grief that hung over me like a cloud.

I put my cheek on the cold tile floor and closed my eyes, hoping I would not dream of Gabriel’s blood in the snow.



I woke to the insistent tapping of a little gargoyle hand on my cheek.

“Maddy, wake up,” Beezle said.

My eyes felt glued shut. My chest hurt, like I’d run a long way taking gasping breaths of air.

I didn’t open my eyes or sit up. “Go away, Beezle.”

“You need to eat something,” Beezle said.

“It won’t hurt me to lose a few pounds,” I mumbled.

“No, but it will hurt your baby.”

I opened my eyes. It was dark in the kitchen. Light streamed in the back window from the streetlamp in the alley behind my building. Beezle sat frowning on the floor in front of my face.

“How do you know about the baby?” I asked. My voice sounded rusty and unused.

“Gargoyles can see the true nature of things,” he said gently. “I’ve known since the morning after your wedding night.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I said, sitting up slowly. I was tired right into my bones.

Beezle shrugged. “You had enough on your plate. Besides, I figured you’d find out soon enough from…”

He trailed off.

“Gabriel,” I finished. “Yes, I suppose he would have known.”

It was hard to know how to feel about that. Gabriel had probably figured out immediately that I was pregnant, just as Lucifer had. But he hadn’t told me.

“Will all the fallen know as soon as they see me?” I asked.

Beezle shook his head. “They can sense children of their own line. Lucifer, especially, is sensitive to the presence of children of his blood. Evangeline would never have been able to disguise Lucifer’s children from him without Michael’s help.”

Evangeline, my crazy ancestor who’d started everything by falling in love with Lucifer millennia ago. She’d been kidnapped by Lucifer’s enemies while pregnant with his children. The archangel Michael had found Evangeline and convinced her that he could keep the twins safe from her lover’s enemies. Michael had covered Lucifer’s presence so thoroughly that the Morningstar never found the children of Evangeline, or the descendants of those children. Until he found me, daughter of Katherine Black, last direct descendant of Evangeline’s line.

He had other offspring, of course. I didn’t know how many. Two of his sons had been insane monsters, and they’d both tried to kill me. I wasn’t in a big hurry to meet any more of Lucifer’s progeny.

“Wouldn’t Azazel have known I was pregnant?” I asked. “I am of his line, too.”

“If he knew, it would only have made him angrier than he already was about your marriage,” Beezle said. “He was never happy with your inability to fall in line.”

“I wasn’t very interested in being a good little soldier for a father who never acted like one,” I snapped.

“And you don’t need to get angry with me about it,” Beezle said mildly. “I’m on your side.”

I rubbed my forehead in the place where a headache was starting to form. “I’m sorry, Beezle. I just…I don’t know what to do.”

“About what?”

“About anything,” I said. “I just want to go to sleep and never wake up. I don’t want to face the day. I don’t want to get up in the morning knowing that Gabriel’s not here.”

I was crying again. I couldn’t seem to stop.

“And the baby?” Beezle looked very grave.

“There is a part of me that’s happy,” I said, wiping my face. “A small part. But the bigger part of me is scared, because I know that if I live long enough to deliver this child he will have a target on his back for the rest of his life. Every enemy that Lucifer has will be after this baby.”

When I thought about it that way, my future looked overwhelming. Was I ever to have a normal relationship with this child, or would I always be on the run, always fending off new threats?

“You’ve got to secure a future for the baby now,” Beezle said. “You can’t wait until the demons are at your door. You have to find a way to make sure he is protected.”

I stared at him. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

“Make a pact with Lucifer,” he said. “Now, while you can still dictate your own terms.”

“I can’t believe you’re telling me this,” I said. “You know that I don’t want to be another one of Lucifer’s pawns. Besides, he wants the baby for himself. I can’t trust him.”

“No, you can’t trust him,” Beezle said. “But if you wait until you have no other option for the child’s safety then Lucifer will make you pay more dearly than you can imagine.”

“Did you have to tell me this today?” I said tiredly. “Don’t I have enough to worry about already?”

“Your problems won’t go away just because you want to put a pillow over your head and pretend they’re not there,” Beezle said.

“You don’t have to tell me that,” I said grimly. “My problems never seem to go away no matter what I do. They just grow and multiply like gremlins.”

We both sat in silence for a few moments, contemplating the sad truth of this statement. Every time I attempted to extricate myself from the fallen I found that I’d gained more enemies and more entanglements than I had before.

Subtlety is not my best thing. Politics requires a delicate hand. Those qualities are stock-in-trade for the fallen. I’m more of a hack-and-slash-and-then-burn-it-all-to-the-ground kind of girl.

I pushed to my feet, and Beezle fluttered up to the kitchen counter. I stood there for a moment, feeling lost.

“Food,” Beezle reminded me.

“Yes, food,” I said.

I opened the refrigerator door and looked in. There was absolutely nothing in it – not even a jar of mayonnaise.

“When was the last time I went shopping?” I wondered.

“The day that you and Gabriel followed Amarantha’s ghost to the park,” Beezle said.

“Well, that was…a while ago,” I thought, trying to count backwards and failing. “I guess I have to go to the store.”

“And I’ll come with you,” Beezle said.

“OK,” I mumbled.

“What? No protest? No smart remark about my being a home guardian?” Beezle asked.

“You can come if you want,” I said tiredly. I couldn’t think of any smart remarks. I just wanted to get through this task so that I could eat something and go back to sleep.

I shuffled down the hall, pulled on my boots and coat, stuffed some cash in my pocket.

“Are you coming?” I asked, turning to Beezle.

He hovered in the hallway, watching me with an indefinable expression on his face.

“You can’t wander around in a fog like this forever,” he said.

“I know,” I said softly.

I did know. Sooner or later, the world would come knocking at my door. Sooner or later, some enemy would appear, some new threat would manifest, and I’d have to wake the hell up and deal with it. But not now. Not yet.

“Let’s go,” I said.

Beezle landed on my shoulder, and we went out the door without another word.



Beezle took advantage of my total lack of energy and convinced me that we needed a lot of junk food that neither one of us should be eating. I was too tired to argue so I just bought whatever he pointed at, paid for it and trudged home.

I had my head down, watching my boots pushing through the snow, and wasn’t thinking of anything in particular except more sleep.

We were almost to the front porch when Beezle tapped me on the shoulder.

“Maddy,” he said. His voice was urgent.

I looked up. There was a figure standing in the shadows on the front porch. Someone tall, wearing an overcoat…

“Gabriel?” I said, my heart thundering in my chest.

“No,” the person said, and stepped into the light.

It was Nathaniel.

[bouquet_de lectures · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.virtuellementvotre.fr/2019...

Il est des séries dont les tomes se suivent et ne se ressemblent absolument pas. C’est ce ressenti qu’il me reste en refermant ce quatrième opus de Black Wings. Je vis vraiment cette saga en dent de scie et je vous avoue être partagée entre mon attachement pour Madeline et mes interrogations quant à la suite des événements.

Après tout ce que l’agente a vécu, je pense que j’imaginais un déroulement bien différent. Non pas que la trame n’est pas respectée, mais je m’attendais à plus de difficultés lors de certains combats et de ce fait, je reste sur ma faim. Il y avait un gros potentiel et à mon sens, il n’a pas été totalement exploité. Certes, beaucoup de choses s’expliquent et une montagne d’obstacles se dressent sur le chemin de Maddy et sa bande or je reste dubitative sur la direction prise par l’autrice.

J’ai donc avancé dans cette lecture, la peur au ventre, non pas pour les personnages, mais pour mon engouement pour les deux précédents ouvrages. Heureusement, l’originalité de l’histoire est sympathique et la myriade de nouvelles créatures intéressante. Christina Henry introduit des protagonistes puissants qui s’ajoutent aux précédents et relancent un peu la machine. Est-ce que cela a suffi ? Pas pour ma part, mais je ne doute pas que bon nombre de lecteurs seront charmés par cet aspect du roman.

Maintenant que le pansement est arraché comme on dit, je tiens à dire que contrairement au tout début de la saga, j’aime l’évolution de Madeline, sa franchise et la force qu’elle puise au fond d’elle en toutes circonstances. Avec son groupe pour le moins éclectique on se dit qu’elle peut se sortir de n’importe quelle situation sans trop d’égratignures. J’apprécie le lien qu’elle a forgé avec les siens et j’ai adoré la manière dont ils s’épaulent les un, les autres malgré les doutes qui persistent et la menace qui plane.

De plus, Black Wings ne serait pas Black Wings sans sa dose de trahison et de machination diabolique. Je me pose toujours beaucoup de questions sur Lucifer et ses réelles motivations. Je m’interroge sur la présence providentielle de certains et essaie d’élaborer mille et un scénarios possibles. Je garde d’ailleurs pas mal d’espoir concernant un jeune homme en particulier même si mes rêves semblent irréalisables au vu des sentiments confus qui naissent dans cet épisode.

« Black Lament » est un livre qui me laisse perplexe sur plusieurs plans, mais qui m’interpelle malgré tout, car je me suis attachée à Maddy et que je suis curieuse de connaître le fin mot de l’histoire. Toutefois la série possédant sept tomes, l’épilogue ne sera pas pour tout de suite alors tout n’est pas encore perdu et j’ai envie d’y croire encore.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It appears I ping pong a lot with ratings for this series. Perhaps, it depends on my mood. With a 5 star rating this one obviously hit my happy spot.

It's been awhile since I read the previous books in this series and I had forgotten most of the storyline. As I read on it all started coming back to me. How could I have forgotten about her heartache? I liked the way Christina Henry dealt with Maddy's grief. It wasn't over the top, but it also wasn't pushed to the side.

Several issues were dealt with. I'm glad those issues aren't forever going to be dragged along. Most importantly, we were introduced to Puck! In every fantasy I've read about Puck I loved him! Puck and Loki are my favorites. Cheers to Christina Henry for finding one of my weak spot with Puck.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it ... just ... everyone is after her. Either to kill her or to be her cuddle bunny, and her husband JUST DIED and seriously .... she makes stupid decisions and states that they are stupid decisions then keeps asking how she gets into these messes. So ... too much. Just too much.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book four in the Black Wings series and still fun.
We got a glimpse of Gabriel which gives me hope that there may yet be a happy ending when this concludes.

[LeslecturesdeMylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

17/20 - https://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/2...

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books was just a mess. The girl is still dumb as a rock. She spends most of the book in fights with creatures that would terrify everyone else in this world except maybe for her great-great-(how many greats?)-grandfather, Lucifer, but she never shows one moment of fear or concern. She never stops to consider that her antagonism and childish behavior is putting her friends at risk. She just keeps bulldozing along, ignoring politics, politeness, and any form of good judgement. And the abilities that she has can't be explained by her heritage. How are we supposed to believe that this woman with no experience at all can fight a sword duel against Oberon, King of the Fairies for who knows how many millennia, without using any magic? She's dumber than a rock to even consider it.

I get annoyed at people who write crappy reviews but keep reading the books in a series, but here I am and I just don't know why I keep reading this. I still have a little bit of curiosity about where it goes, I guess, but if I had to pay for it instead of getting them from the library I'd never have read past the second book when it became clear that Maddie was just a giant Mary Sue and just keeps getting more and more perfect as every book gets turned out with less and less justification. The only interesting thing to happen in the series is the thing that most fans probably hate, the spoiler that happened at the end of the last book that has Maddie so depressed during this book. At least it shook things up and made them less predictable, I appreciate that the author took the risk to do something that a lot of fans would freak out about. I hope it isn't temporary like in a certain Chicago Vampire series I know.

J.B. even tries to convince her to do something and she says, "You're talking logic here, I don't do logic." Nope, she just does stupid. Childish brat. The idiot has absolutely no fear of anyone. The entire fairy court wants to slaughter her, the boogymen of the Agency, the Retrievers, are being sent after her for her outright defiance and bad attitude, and she can't ever be bothered to just shut the hell up. It isn't witty banter, it just stupid, stupid, stupid. Why would a smart, ambitious and dedicated guy like J.B. be in love with this woman, it makes no sense?

If she had the tiniest bit of humility, showed any learning curve to her powers and abilities, or even just once considered the consequence of her actions then I wouldn't be so frustrated with this book. Once again it has all of the right elements to be really good, I really like the supporting characters like Samiel and Beezle, but it's so darn irritating that it's nuts. I do know that I forgot how irritating it was going to be, but I must have remembered on some level because I got the book from the library and renewed it four times before I forced myself to read it. And that no one else reserved it and forced me to read it or take it back sooner isn't such a good sign for the series, it's obviously not in such high demand.

I gave it two stars only because I like the supporting characters, and for some reason I keep reading the books, so it must not be a one star. But I would never spend money for these books.

[Kt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..

As an Angel of Death, has seen countless souls ferried to the other side, and has become a little numb to the pain and loss associated with it. But all that changed when that loss stuck home and she is left a grieving mess. But there is a small matter of hope with the new life growing inside of her, a happiness that is lessened once Maddy realizes her unborn child would be a mighty temptation for Lucifer. A child of two of his bloodlines would have untold power, and Maddy is determined to keep that from his hands no matter what that takes. Meanwhile, the rest of the courts are still stirring trouble and Maddy has had about enough. This time she'll be taking the fight to them.

This was an incredibly difficult and emotional read for me. Heart ache absolutely kills me in a book, especially when it comes from something as permanent and devastating as death. My heart was in every bit as tatters as Maddy's was, and each time she broke down, my heart bled for her. I cannot count the number of times there were tears in my eyes when everything became too much for Maddy. That being said, the ability to affect my emotions that strongly shows just how good these books are and how real the characters are. If the emotion didn't impact me, well then it wouldn't be worth reading.

After reading Black Lament, my respect for Maddy has seriously ratcheted up another notch. Despite the immense emotional pain she was in, she still found a way to stand strong, especially once threatened. It didn't take long at all for her to go all "Momma Bear" and start eliminating current and future threats to herself and her unborn child. At several points throughout the book, her gargoyle companion, Beezle, seems to worry that she is turning over to the dark side, but I don't have the same worry. Sure she is making decisions she never would have in the past, but her actions are justified by the means. She hasn't sought out the trouble that finds her, she only refused to back down when others wanted to either control or destroy her. Granted, she has become a little more proactive in her defense as she began to take some steps to prevent future attacks rather than waiting to be ambushed, but in all honesty I can't blame her one little bit for that. She has no desire for world conquering and if everyone would just leave her alone, she wouldn't be a threat to any of them.

I have to admit that a part of me didn't want to continue on with this series after the heart shattering ending of the previous book as I just didn't want to face the reality of the horrible changes Maddy would have to face. But in the end it was more than worth it to push through it and keep reading, as Maddy and the gang are still some of my top favorite sets of characters. I highly recommend Black Lament as it is full of both emotion and action that will keep you sucked in from the very start. This series just keeps getting better!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though Maddy has been through hell and lost much she is incredibly strong and level headed most of the time. The Agency is breathing down her neck and the Fae are trying to kill her at every turn. She is pregnant and has lost her husband but she is not alone and with so many behind her she continues to fight against those that are against her.

Maddy is in a lot of emotional pain throughout BLACK LAMENT. She broke down a few times and was depressing at many points. Madeline acted a bit like a child once or twice and killed without remorse at others. She was kind of all over the place but that should be expected after losing the person she loves and then finding out she is pregnant while dodging murder attempts at every turn. BLACK LAMENT is filled with action and danger. Maddy has grown a ton in her fighting skills and she continues to amaze me when she beats down those that should be stronger than her. Beezle continues to be a constant source of entertainment and comic relief, you never know what will come out of his mouth next. I still have no clue what to think of Lucifer. He seems to genuinely care for Madeline but he is Lucifer and his motives are anything but clear. Nathaniel is back and in the thick of the story again. Not really happy that he is once again getting close to her but I will continue to see where that all leads.

So much can happen next and I'm to invested in the story and the characters not to pick up book 5. BLACK CITY is set to release in February of 2013.

[Whitney Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am having a hard time deciding how to best rate this series, so I give it 3 stars. I honestly enjoy reading it, it is a quick, easy, and entertaining read but when I sit back and think about it certain things start to fall apart.

The main one I will discuss here is character development. To me, it seems rushed in places. For example, you spend two and a half books building up a forbidden relationship, finally allow it in book 3 only to have it taken away 8 chapters later.

The main complaints I have with the series would be technical things like that, but overall still a good series you could finish quickly.

[Angeloflight · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know if I'll keep reading this series, it died to me together with Gabriel, if he doesn't come back I'm dropping this. The author sadly did the worst decision ever possible.

It doesn't matter if she end up with someone else, the author stupidly killed the coolest character in the series, God knows why. Good way to destroy a series *sigh*

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wait to read this one.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tahle série mě nepřestává překvapovat! Schválně co nového se dozvím v dalším díle 💣

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

http://www.my-bo0ks.com/2019/11/black...

Ami lecteur, si tu n'as pas lu le tome précédent, ne continue pas de lire cette chronique car les spoilers sont inévitable.

L'histoire de Black Lament, reprend exactement là où on l'avait laissé. Maddy est dévastée par la mort de Gabriel et autant dire que moi aussi. Je ne m'attendais pas à ce que l'auteure, Christina Henry bouleverse son histoire avec la disparition d'un des personnages principaux.

Le début de ce quatrième tome est donc essentiellement centré sur cette disparition. Maddy doit composer avec le fait qu'elle ait perdu son mari et qu'elle soit enceinte. Un bébé qui intéresse déjà bien du monde. Comme si elle n'avait pas assez de soucis, elle va devoir redoubler d'effort et de courage pour affronter la suite.

Si dans le tome précédent j'avais trouvé que l'histoire gagnait en intérêt avec des rebondissements à s'en décrocher la mâchoire et surtout en développement, dans celui-ci, c'est un peu l'inverse. J'ai trouvé qu'une bonne partie de ce quatrième tome de Black Wings assez répétitif. Une fois de plus Maddy s'en sort haut la main et sans vraiment de grosses complications. Elle enchaîne les démonstrations de pouvoirs avec brio et fait peur à des anciens dont les talents sont plus qu'avérés le tout avec beaucoup de facilité.

Mais pire encore, Gabriel partit, tous les mâles de l'histoire sautent une fois de plus sur notre héroine. Non, vraiment, c'est carrément usant. A croire qu'ils n'ont aucune dignité ou quoi que ce soit. Ils sont prêts à avoir la moindre petite miette. La palme du ridicule revient à son ex - soit disant - fiancé de force qui revient sur le devant de la scène comme un cheveu dans la soupe. Je pensais être débarrasser de lui mais... non.

Fort heureusement, Beezle et Samiel, rattrape le tout in-extrémiste. J'ai aimé les avoir toujours aux côtés de notre héroïne, toujours avec cette pointe d'humour et de légèreté.

En conclusion, ce quatrième tome de Black Wings s'est révélé un peu en dessous des précédents. Malgré sa fluidité, il souffre de quelques longueurs. Maddy fait des choix que je ne comprends pas toujours et notamment concernant ses relations amoureuses et ses nombreux prétendants. Je trouve dommage que l'auteure focalise à ce point sur ce détail qui au final, m'a gâché la lecture. Trop de prétendants, tue les prétendants. Je suis assez déçue de la tournure que prend l'histoire et regrette le côté répétitif de ce quatrième tome de Black Wings .

[Steve Martinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just found this series last year, and I'm really enjoying it. I noticed that one reviewer called the action sequences "over-the-top ridiculous". You're reading a book about demons, evil fairies, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, spirits and all sorts of fantasy creatures. What do you expect?!?! If you are reading fantasy, and it doesn't pull you away from your everyday problems for a little while, it's not doing it's job. For me, this series does that, in spades! The action IS over-the-top. It's supposed to be. I enjoy almost all of the characters I've been introduced to; the heroes, the villains and the who-knows-for-sure yet characters. One character that I do NOT like is Beezle, Maddie's gargoyle house guardian. So far, in four books, I can't really remember much that he has contributed to the team. All he does is whine constantly about there not being enough donuts for him to eat. I am a 64 year old guy who has enjoyed all genres of books (except strictly romance books); but I have always enjoyed fantasy the most, and this is one of the best fantasy series I've read in quite some time.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing keeping me reading this is I want to see how it all ends. Yet, I really don’t care about the main character. I wasn’t invested in her relationship with Gabriel and didn’t care when he died. I think this is because so much happens in the books, non stop action, that there’s no time for relationships to develop. I’m more invested with Nathanael than I ever was with Gabriel, simply because he has gotten way more book time and the chance to develop.

I’m also not worried about any “big bads” that appear in the story. Not once has she been defeated. She just magically finds a deeper power source within herself and blasts everything. Not once has she survived by using wits or a deeper skill. It’s just this bottomless well of power she seems to have whenever need arises. The consequence is any fight she enters we just know she’s going to win.

[Teshai · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only issue is Nathaniel. He tried to kill you girl, you need to block out these idiots feelings you think you are having and get with J.B.

So much happens in these novels that it keeps you interested, Maddy has powers she has not tapped into as of yet and continues to meet characters that want to be around her. Obviously Lucifer is helping her out, or some other mystical being that we have not even seen yet, it would just make sense, there is no other way for her to be this lucky all the time, she knows it and her males know it too, shit they mention it all the time.

Puck made an appearance..yeah..I love Puck in whatever or whoever writes about him, now he has a long time feud going with Lucifer, I need to know more.

James..Judas..HA

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series man ... 😂😂😂 I love it, don't get me wrong, and I ordered the whole series after I was halfway through the first book, so this isn't a criticism ... but wow does the author throw everything but the kitchen sink into each book! Not only do we revisit characters but there are at least three more brand new fantastical creatures or places introduced in each book! Not only demon courts, but faerie courts, then ancient faerie courts, then vampires and werewolves and hobgoblins and Hounds of the Hunt and super soldier Agents of Death ... on and on and on. It gets a little crazy each book, like where are we gonna now? And who are we gonna meet next?

A wild ride for sure, but I do enjoy it🎢

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think things are complicated now…

There have been many complications in Madeline Black’s life up until now. Or at least she thought so. But now she has to deal with Faerie, her “dear old Dad” and of course her dear brother. Along with those issues she is getting no support from the Agency which wants to keep out of the situation.
Of course she is more leery about the machinations and outright deceit & trickery coming from Lucifer AKA the Master of Lies. She still must deal with Nathaniel while vacillating with her initial assessment that he is unredeemable despite the times he’s had his chance to stab Maddy in the back but abstained.

Then she’s working diligently on developing her skills & abilities before she winds up as lunch for a Nephilim…

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a struggle between 3 and four stars but since I liked it less than the previous books, the rating has to go down.
As in the previous books, everything is still moving very fast, a lot of action scenes, the allies are coming together but also so much more enemies. And it feels like the enemies don’t even have time to stick around, they become enemies, Maddy hunts them and they die. Then they also seem to die too fast and too easily. I did enjoy the development with the agency, something definitely not right there.
And the relationship between Maddy and Nathaniel and Maddy and JB, is dragging for me.
But I’m still looking forward for the next book to see how all this mess turns out.

[Leisa Feda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same good story, Maddie keeps getting beat up but winning. I'm have one problem with her personality. I realize that not much time has passed from the first book till now (1 month or so) yet she has no growth. She keeps insisting she's tougher than the men there to help her. That her plan is always the best. She has temper tantrums that are dangerous and doesn't seem to care that she keeps hurting the men helping her in some way. It's getting a bit annoying!
On to the next book.

[Artemissia G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Après les surprises du 3e opus, on continue dans la foulée... On peut dire que Madeline ne fait pas les choses à moitié... Ici, j'ai un faible pour JB et Nathaniel... Et j'aime toujours autant l'univers même si j'aurais aimé que ce soit mieux développé... Mon seul bémol avec cette série, c'est que tout va trop vite... Ça manque un peu de développement psycho je trouve, mais bon... Une lecture bonbon ça ne se refuse pas.

[Zarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather meh. Maddy has an eating disorder, like most of the female "strong" leads seem to (rarely the men though. They don't really discuss food much at all, do they?) and her wishy washy almost, but not quite, love triangle bores me. She is also way too cold and blood thirsty for my taste. And what happened to those people, after the return, anyway?!