Merciless by Robin Parrish

Reviewed by Karri Compton

"...deep themes run throughout this trilogy, and in the midst of explosive action is a bond with characters--their joys and failings, pain and triumph."

“I love it when a plan comes together,” says Hannibal Smith of “A-Team” fame. I say, “I love it when a plot comes together. Finally.” And finally it does. Thankfully, Parrish saves the best for last.

Beginning with Relentless and continuing with Fearless, Parrish draws the reader into a gigantic superhero tale. The ring-wearers, people who have been shifted into a new identity, use their special powers to help those in need. In Merciless, the Dominion Stone foretells his transformation into Oblivion, an agent of cataclysmic destruction. As the world rushes towards collapse, secrets are revealed as to Grant Borrows’ role in the seven-thousand-year-old prophecy. Is he destined to become the most powerful man on the planet? To what end? Can he resist his fate? And what of the other ring-wearers? Can they save the world together?

As all superhero tales are, this one is massive and involves the attempted annihilation of the whole earth. We’re talking apocalypse here. There’s lots of blood, blackness, death, and vengeance to go around. In fact, the first half or so of the book is downright depressing. Readers will stay with the story, though, because they want to know what happens to Grant, Payton, Alex, Daniel, Lisa, and the gang.

And the end is worth everything that led up to it. I enjoyed the last third of the book the most. Maybe it’s just me. I like finally knowing all the secrets, how every plot and sub-plot has come together to bring all to its conclusion.

But it’s not just feel-good fiction. As with all good fiction, deep themes run throughout this trilogy, and in the midst of explosive action is a bond with characters--their joys and failings, pain and triumph.

No one who has read the first two installments will be able to stay away. While Merciless could be enjoyable by itself, I recommend readers complete the previous novels to get the full impact of the story.

Karri Compton, wife and mother of three, devours Christian fiction whenever possible. Her favorite genre is suspense/thriller, especially Ted Dekker novels. Since promoting biblical worldview fiction is dear to her heart, she reviews on her blog, Fiction Fanatics Only! and is a staff reviewer and interviewer for such sites as The Christian Suspense Zone. Her latest published work appears in Peculiar People's novel collaboration, Delivered. She is a member of such writers' groups as The Lost Genre Guild and FCW. Editing the completed first draft of her novel keeps her busy, as well as performing in musicals put on by her local community theater association.