7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A smashing conclusion to the series, February 25, 2001
This review is from: Endgame (Merovingen Nights #7) (Paperback)
My only quibble with this book is that I want to know what happened next!
As with the other anthologies in the series, this is written in a braided format, with a nearly seamless flow of events from story to story. The Kamat family is particularly interesting; the policies set down by Hosni, the founder of the clan, keep their resources so spread out and diversified that they can survive anything - maybe even a second Scouring.
The 3 contenders for inheriting the governorship, Mikhail, Tatiana, and Anastasi, finally enter into open conflict, in the wake of an assassination attempt on Mikhail.
The stories below are listed in alphabetical order, rather than in the order in which they appear, to make this review easier to read.
Abbey, Lynn "Once Was Enough" - This is the byword of Richard Kamat's circle of hightown friends - that one Scouring was enough. Kamat has actually gone so far as to install radio transmitters back on Uncle Bosnou's stancia and in Richard's office on the Isle - the most forbidden of technology, since it might attract the attention of the sharrh.
Asire, Nancy "Bookworms" - Raj and Justice, as trusted students at the College, have access to the restricted volumes of the library. Since the Librarian is one of the priests who have vanished without explanation during the Bloody Cardinal's rise to power, no official notice of the many volumes disappearing from the restricted area is taken. They're better than cash, anywhere other than Merovingen, but infinitely dangerous in this Revenantist city.
Asire, Nancy "Family Ties" - Father Rhajmurti finally faces Justice with the truth about his parentage, since he will not let Justice or his 'aunt' (actually, Justice's mother) be caught in the coming upheavals of Merovingen. Meanwhile, Sonja Keisel's parents have been taken in for one of the Bloody Cardinal's little talks, since her mother has trading ties with Nev Hettek.
Cherryh, C.J. "Endgame" - Chance has been holding Mondragon prisoner for weeks now; dangerous for both of them, since Karl Fon back in Nev Hettek can never trust *anyone* who's had a chance to interrogate Mondragon at length. Jones, meanwhile, is working on getting him out without bringing the building down on top of him (firing the embassy has crossed her mind).
Lackey, Mercedes: "Proving Ground" - Marina Kamat's daughter (legally, also Raj's daughter, since they're contract-wed) has been kidnapped straight out of the Kamat nursery. Raj's best hope of finding his daughter is that she's colicky today - and that when she wakes up, the kidnapper won't have any more luck quieting her than her nurse did. We see more of Kat Bolado here, as she helps Raj search.
Morris, Janet & Chris "Escape from Merovingen - Act One: The Fool Must Die" - Finally, someone (the Sword of God, trying to destabilize Merovingen) tries to assassinate Mikhail, heir to the governorship and the most incompetent of the 3 siblings vying for power. The attempt touches off massive riots, and many hightown families flee the city for their country estates. Chance Magruder, though, has experience in riding the waves of revolution.
Morris, Janet & Chris "Escape from Merovingen - Act Two: Escape from Merovingen" - The Nev Hettek embassy attempts to flee Merovingen. We finally conclude the stories of Mike Chamoun, Sword agent married into House Boregy, and of Dr. Dani Lambert, the *real* mother of the child substituted for Cassie Boregy's dead infant.
Sinor, Bradley H. "Lost Song" - Ethan hears a song that only his lover, missing for the last 3 years, could possibly know. As a seemingly casual footnote to this story, Rattail begins a relationship with a Falkenaer sailor on shore leave from the _Coldsmith_.
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