Status Updates From Kushiel's Mercy (Imriel's T...

Oh, wait…I was wrong. We’re back to tedious to’ing & fro’ing. I really DO NOT CARE about Euskarria & Aragonia’s problems—I just want to see Big Baddie #2 killed off & the breaking of the damn spell so this trilogy will be over at last.

Story arc is finally picking up momentum. 🫢 I don’t mind slowness, but there needs to be building suspense—boring slowness is just, y’know, boring.

‘Sidonie de la Courcel, terrified & uncertain, was nonetheless playing a cautious & meticulous game of her own.’ ….Which would be very interesting to read about through HER eyes, but of course we’re stuck with the Imriel/Leander mashup. And lo, we have yet another character who’d have been a better trilogy fulcrum. *adds to tally*

Logic: this plot has none of it. 🙄 You can’t tell me the stupid Unseen Guild—with all their super-shadowy spy knowledge + Godfather favors of D00M—couldn’t get Imriel physically close enough to steal a magical necklace, seduce his amnesiac lover, and/or kill the Big Baddie. Why is this body-swapping bullshit necessary? WHY DOES THE GUILD EXIST IF NOT FOR THIS LEVEL OF INTRIGUE?? 😒

I wish this trilogy was about Mavros. Or Maslin. (Hell, I’d even settle for grumpy aging uncle L’Envers. 🙄) I hate typing this, but: IMRIEL IS A REALLY BORING HERO. I like Sidonie, but Imriel…STFU. The only genuinely interesting thing about him is that he’s Melisande’s son, so why couldn’t Mavros or Maslin have had that role & gotten with Sidonie instead? 😢

So…this magic gave mass amnesia to a city, but only re: Sidonie & Imriel’s affair, Sidonie’s willingness to marry an enemy king, & that his kingdom is now their bff instead of a frenemy. Huh? It doesn’t change anything else about their personalities or desires. It doesn’t even work outside the city. 😶 Missed opportunity alert! Why use the amnesia twist if you’re not going all-in, Carey?!

And then the Big Baddie did some sort of magic that we don’t see or understand because Imriel is feverish & raving the entire time. How handy. 🙄😒 I swear, the Phedre trilogy was so good—esp the first two books—but the Imriel trilogy has been a sprawling mushed-around snooze.

Not much happening yet. Hopefully it picks up when the Big Baddie makes his appearance… 🫢

I always knew future-queen Sidonie wanted to relinquish responsibilities & control to Imriel in the bedroom. Methinks EVERYONE knew that except mimbo Imriel himself. 😂

I feel somewhat sorry for Imriel at this point. He can be whiny & oblivious, but his heart is in the right place & always has been. I mean, jfc…what more does he have to suffer to prove he’s not his mother? LET IT GO, YSANDRE.

The final Imriel book. 😶 Let’s hope it’s better than #2.