(Merry Gentry 1) (A Merry Gentry Novel) - A Kiss Of Shadows

I was introduced to the Anita Blake series first, and I enjoyed all but the last few books in that series. The lack of plots, action, and the repetitive and dull sex killed the AB series for me. However, since I did like the earlier AB novels, I decided to give LKH another try and picked up A Kiss Of Shadows.

Unfortunately, the Merry Gentry series has very little action in these books that isn't sexual or doesn't interrupt sexual activity. Merry is once again a small woman with corpse white skin and every man wants to bed her. Sound familiar?

It had a lot of potential, with the whole "former god" sidhe characters and the court intrigue, but little attention is paid to the characters other than they are all gorgeous, they all have "ankle-length hair of silk", one of the newer overused descriptions LKH is attached to, and then the whole thing degenerates into poorly-written sex.

I have no problems with sex in books if it doesn't detract from the story line, but this is laughable at times and outright pathetic in others. The sex "has to hurt to be good", so again it appears that LKH is foisting off her tedious multiple partner S&M sexual fantasies on her readers.

Also, overuse of phrases about pulses, being breathless, and the extreme overuse and misuse of the word "spill" makes this book seem extremely amateurish, which coupled with the thin plot to promote sex, makes this a dull and sometimes aggravating porn read.

If you don't mind extremely repetitive and often violent sexual descriptions with 2D characters who only change skin and eye color, then this series could be one you'd like. If you are hoping for action of the type seen in the earlier and IMO more well written Anita Blake novels, it's not apparent in the first book of this series.

Since I think LKH has started this one off the way she appears to write everything these days, I'm going to avoid the rest of this series, as having read some of LKH's reaction to readers' comments on the graphic sexual turn in her AB series, I think she's going to avoid writing action in favor of her poorly-written sex, which is really just the same tired scene every time.

this book reminds me of roger zelazny's great "nine princes in amber" but written from female point of view and with lots of sex. i really enjoyed it, its concept, and the writing, and hope hamilton writes many more. a few quibbles: the characters are a bit too color-coded: one is tempted to think of them as the green guy, the black guy, the blue guy, the silver guy, etc. Surely even in among the sidhe not everyone has a unique skin/eye/ hair combo (this is one of the zelazny reminders; i always kept those characters straight by color, too). Second, i would like to see a little development of what andais is queen OF; she is queen of the unseelie; but her kingdom seems to consist of a single underground castle in illinois. Is this it? do all the sidhe who arent hiding among the humans living in that mound? if so, the "alternative worlds" of amber were more satisfying.

This book is entertaining, plain and simple. You got Merry, a strong and powerful character trying to survive in the lonely human world trying to avoid being killed by her Sidhe Aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness.
The book starts off like a detective film or book. Two beautiful vixens need help. Suddenly you have dark demonic creatures, lots of blood, then sex sex sex and more sex and some sadism and blood drinking thrown in for good measure.
Not to mention butterfly winged little psychos. I love them.
Yes, it's not Tolstoy, but it's filled with engaging characters (DOYLE!) interesting images, one has to admire how imaginative the writer is to come up with these things.
Hand of Flesh? Male models with tentacles coming out of... various parts of them and a whole array of weapons and stranged coloured creatures.

A Kiss of Shadows is the first in a new series by Laurell K. Hamilton of Anita Blake fame. Like the Anita Blake books, it takes place in a modern-day USA where magic is real and everybody knows it. Instead of focusing on vampires, the supernatural community in this series is Faerie - magical, beautiful, immortal beings who are headquartered in St. Louis (for reasons that are not completely clear other than that Hamilton lives there). Our hero Merry Gentry is a mixed-heritage Faerie princess who is on the run from her people. She's working in a magical detective agency in LA. I'm a big Dresden Files fan, so I thought I would give this new series a try.

But once Hamilton sets the scene in LA, the action is moves to the Faerie Court and centers on Merry (Princess Meredith NicEssus)and her stepchild relationship with the court and her aunt, Queen Andais of the Unseelie. Without spoilers, Princess Meredith comes into her magic through sex. Apparently faeries are very sensual beings, and Merry has many opportunities to explore various aspects of faerie sensuality and the different forms that faeries take. A Kiss of Shadows has lots of hot scenes.

If you enjoy supernatural romance and adventure, but are a little put off by bloodsucking, you will enjoy this new series.

Interesting story line that has me wanting more. Merry's life is more the stuff of nightmares but add a bit of mystery, death and destruction, and hot body guards you are bound to have a great new series. I love Ms. hamilton's writing which effortlessly pulls me into the story and I don't want to put the book down. You will like this one, Happy reading.

The jacket on this book intrigued me and knowing how wonderfully complete this author is at creating a believable alternative to our current society - I bought this book in hardback with high expectations. What I quickly found was a very interesting writer who had decided to take on the morals of our society concerning sex. Unfortunetely, I feel that Hamilton gave away a piece of incredible storytelling in order to continually shove our society's sexual conservatism in our faces. The sensuality gets lost admist the varied attempts to seduce the reader into Merry's sexuality. How many different creatures can she have sex with? How many men? How many times? The author tells us, with a written shrug, that it is Merry's ancestry from 5 different fertility deities that make her Playboy Bunny of the epoch. Ultimately Merry is only as strong as those who support her - strong, immortal, gorgeous men. And all that she has to offer them is sex (which after 800 years of celibacy becomes fairly important). This is her power and her weapon. She is truly "of the Flesh". I found Hamilton's message disquieting - that her heroine's triumph is due to her ability to offer up her body as payment and reward. As a woman I recognize the kernal of truth in this and applaud the author for her moxie. I would have liked to see Merry rise above this truth and become something more inspiring.

Laurell K. Hamilton used to be one of my favorite writers. She combines the supernatural with erotica and dark humor in a way that few writers can match. Unfortunately, I think her newfound popularity has gone to her head and is causing her writing to veer down the same path that Anne Rice took when she stopped being interesting.
Still, when I read that her new novel was about the Sidhe, I was totally psyched. Irish mythology has always fascinated me, and there are few writers who can do it justice. One of the best novels ever written about the Sidhe is "Winter Lord" by Jean Brooks-Janowiak. It's long out of print, and the writer disappeared from view.
OK, so what about this book? Well, Merry *is* a new character, but she's not nearly as interesting as Anita Blake. She's short and has red hair but seems rather helpless at defending herself and is far more adept at having sex with every tom, dick, and selkie that comes her way. I am no prude, and I am far from an unsophisticated reader (as one reviewer would like you to believe if you found the sex offensive), but this book is so polluted with gratuitous sex that it overwhelms the rather tenuous plot that Hamilton offers up. Oh, right, I don't get it. Sex magic is what the fey are all about, isn't it? Well, sure, that's one facet, but there are a whole host of other things that Hamilton could have done in this story and she missed a golden opportunity to weave the Sidhe into a modern day story and make it work.
As a long-time fan of hers, I feel betrayed by this tripe. She can do much, much better and be glad you didn't waste your money on this one. I suggest you seek out her earlier Anita Blake novels and stay far, far away from Merry and her perverted friends at the Gray Detective Agency.

I had been interested in Laurell K. Hamilton's books for a while. I started with Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) and I just couldn't get into the first book. I was disappointed, because I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get into it! So I dropped Laurell K. Hamilton all together. There were a lot of other things I'd rather be reading anyway!

During my weekly raid through Borders (R.I.P) I found an amazing book (A Kiss of Shadows) and it was my kind of fantasy! I bought it and later found out it was by Laurell K. Hamilton, and it was erotica to boot! It took me a while but I tried Meredith Gentry.

It was a slow beginning, but once I reached the halfway point of the first book I was like, "Whoa! This is amazing!" It blew my mind to pieces. The politics, the magic system, the dark fantasy, the likable characters, the lush detail, the beautiful magic described so beautifully I felt like it was real - it's an AMAZING series!! I LOVED it so much that I endured the drawn out sex scenes (it gets crazy - one of the books seems to be made up entirely of two sex scenes, and at least one of the characters in completely naked at all times.)

But it's amazing! It is one of my favorite book series ever! (Which is saying something, because I read a lot.)

(Oh, yeah, and after reading Meredith Gentry and falling head over heels in love with it, I retried Anita, and I'm currently on the 10th book. I love that too - though Meredith is still the best.)

I highly recommend this series!! 5 stars, and I'd give more if I could.

Laurell Hamilton has a wonderful ability to create interesting characters. However, I would point out that the tone of the book is similar to her Vampire Hunter series. We have a petite (in stature) tough female lead, with accompanying otherworldly studs as back up. A big change in this book is where Anita Blake was somewhat frigid and not comfortable with the blatant sexuality - Princess Meredith, to quote her, has "no designs on monogamy." Nevertheless, if you enjoyed Ms. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, you will certainly enjoy this new book.
If you have not read any of the Vampire Hunter books and enjoy non-stop action with pretty cool characters - you'll like this book. Ms. Hamilton creates a fascinating world where the land of Faery exists along side our modern times and all the complexities that might entail.
For you guys - this is not a "CHICK BOOK!" Meredith doesn't fight like any girl I know and the sex sequences are no where near soft lighting and sweet words!
I only gave it 3 stars, not because I didn't enjoy it thoroughly, but because there were many similarities in character and plot development to her previous series.

My all-time favorite [fantasy] author to date, Hamilton has written a series on the Elven ( faeries) that creates a parallel world to ours where all things mythical are everyday. Meredith Gentry, aka Meredith NicEssus (princess of the Unseelie Court) remains in hiding this past three years from her sadistic aunt, Andais, Queen of the same court. Meredith is mixed-blood (Seelie, Brownie and human) and as such is not "fit" for the court. She has paid a handsome and terrible price during her lifetime for not fitting into the narrow vision of what is "acceptable" to the Unseelie Fae.

When Meredith's Los Angeles detective agency discovers a man is draining Fey women of their energy, Meredith's cover is blown and she finds that her aunt has designs on her for the future of the court that she cannot escape from.

This is sexually explicit (a tad overdone, robbing the review score from a "5" to a "4.5") and violent right "out-of-the-box;" it is appropriate for adult readers only. Do not be put off by this however, as the characterizations and wonderful world of royalty, mystery and subterfuge is worth the read in this seven-book series. The very best thing about Hamilton's writings is the natural evolution of the protagonist. In this way, there is no stagnation; Meredith continues to grow, mature and change based on the challenges and circumstances of her life, a much more believable premise in a multi-book series that spans years and not usually done as seamlessly as Hamilton manages.

Look for a future review on Hamilton's other, wildly popular paranormal series about Anita Blake, zombie raiser and vampire executioner.

Ever since the Anita Blake series took a wrong turn down Tedious Alley, I've been purposely avoiding the Merry Gentry books because everything I've heard about them idicates that they have all the elements that makes later Anita Blake bad times three. Let's just say that while I didn't hate the book as much as I thought I would, I didn't exactly like it either. See, it's kind of like saying being hit by a truck isn't as painful as I thought it would be.

I can sum up the plot of this book in one sentence: Merry Gentry aka Princess Meredith NicEssus must have sex with many beautiful men and have a child before her cousin does to claim the Unseelie Court throne. Sounds more like the premise for an adult movie on CineMax than a plot from the author who was once known for twisting, fast paced plots. If Hamilton wants to write erotica that's perfectly fine, but the problem is her erotica is ridiculously set-up and lots of talk, little action. In short it's boring because of long-winded set-ups that usually end up being a tease and the act itself often will make you cringe or laugh.

Meredith is also called Princess of Flesh because of a horrific power in her hand that allows her to reduce people into a gory blob of flesh. I think it's also a pretty accurate moniker becuase this character doesn't have much to her character besides being a heartless ammoral sex-machine. Her conflicts are usually something of the long of how can she get out of having sex with this fey creature and have sex instead with her harem of perfect fey men. It doesn't exactly fill me with sympathy for this character especially when she's so callous that she doesn't care much for the people she does sleep with but absolutely positively refuses to do it with others because they aren't physically pefect.

Her harem of men don't show up until the second half of the book, so they aren't really developed that much beyond one note personalities. There is Galen, Merry's childhood friend whom she'd really like to bang. There is Doyle, the strong silent protective type. There is Rhys, the charismatic happy-go-lucky one. And there is Frost, the distant one. The one thing they have in common is they are all desperate for sex, some of them having been celibate for several hundred years.

If it seems like I've talked a little to much about the sexual content of this book, I'm sorry but there isn't much else to talk about. Seriously, the plot is just a bunch of often ridiculous events that usally culminate into Merry having sex. Merry has to go on a stakeout for a case her detective agency is working one: Merry gets raped by the suspect and loves every minute of it. Merry goes to police station: She drives the cops mad with lust and is nearly raped again by the entire presinct then goes home to boff a seal man. Merry is on the run from fey assasins: Merry takes time out to have sex with a guy whose got tentacles growing in strange places and is shocked when an assasin interupts them. The ridiculousness of the sex of toned down for the second half but then we go through pages and pages of tedious fey politics that ultimately lead to Merry doing her new harem. As much as I hate to say it, sex is about the only thing to this book and there isn't enough of it.

I'm almost tempted to give this book the lowest rating possible because this tedious dime store erotica spilled into Anita Blake series and completely ruined it, but A Kiss of Shadows isn't quite bottom of the barrel quality. And if Merry "Every Hot Guy Wants Me Bad" Gentry isn't totally LKH's Mary Sue Avatar I'll eat this book.

Having read and (thoroughly) enjoyed all of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels, I am convinced that Laurell K. Hamilton possesses a strong talent for writing and an imagination that is a force to be reckoned with. However, "Kiss of Shadows" is a disappointment partly because I know what Laurell is capable of producing and partly because it is so weak.
The characters and the character development are the primary elements that draw me into a book, and unfortunately, I did not connect with the heroine, Meredith Gentry. After much considering, I think there are several reasons I did not connect with her character. 1) Too much telling and not enough showing. What I mean is that I felt there wasn't enough dialogue in "Kiss of Shadows." Through dialogue, not only do I learn about the thoughts and feelings of the characters but it can be much more captivating than when the characters just tell you, in narrative form, what they think or feel. Speaking of dialogue, I noticed that some of Meredith's lines were exact duplicates from Anita. I think it shows a weak effort on the part of the author when they copy exact dialogue from one character to another. 2) Not enough background about Meredith. I find that nothing can help establish a connection more so than describing the past in some detail. Yes, she does include some flashbacks, but I always felt entrenched in the present rather than taken back to a time of Meredith's youth. 3) The sex in the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the development of sexual tension and satisfaction in a novel. I enjoyed Meredith's emancipated attitude and behavior when it comes to sex. I don't even mind it so much when an author uses sex as a means for moving the plot along. I do mind it when the sex is so superficial, as I felt it was between Meredith and (fill in the blank).
The plot is another element that will sustain my interest. The plot in "Kiss of Shadows" is a weak one. The idea of Meredith fighting back against her aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, is very promising. However, there doesn't seem to be a grand confrontation, nor any surprises, nor any mysteries to figure out which is disappointing.
I enjoyed the opportunity to delve into a realm that blends fantasy, political scheming and confrontation (as when Merry lures the goblin into stealing a taste of her blood), sexual chemistry (between Galin and Merry), and the friendships between the characters. But overall, I did not feel satisfied or impressed or empowered after reading "Kiss of Shadows."

A KISS OF SHADOWS by Laurell K. Hamilton (2 stars). Rape. Sex. Sex. Rape/sex and liking it. What? Yeah. That's what I thought too. Just pass this whole series unless you want to read the kinky. Just don't expect there to be any decent dialog, character development, or plot.

I'm pretty sure Merry either humped, sexed, licked, bit, or out-right prostituted herself out to every male in this book, or she tried. I mean really! When do you draw the line? The guy had tentacles for Christ's sake! And testicles too, I'm sure. I was so distracted by this that I can't even remember what the plot was. Something about a fey queen? I dunno. I can't recall.

Regardless, I know I will pick up book two eventually and give this series another try. Where's the Hamilton writing goddess I fell in love while reading the Anita Blake series? Bring her back, please.

Ahem. I can't believe so many people have given this book such a high star rating. Unless you're rating it as being an erotica novel?

I've been a big Anita Blake fan, but I felt that series was going about as far as it was going to, so I was really looking forward to this new series. I wasn't disappointed! I love the fantasy world Hamilton creates here--this is not taking place in our world. This is a world where faerie princess sightings are up there with elvis sightings and where the new fad is to look like you have faerie blood in you (pointed ears and such). I liked Merry from the get go, though I did feel like, espeically at first, she was too much like anita blake. That changed, however, as the book progressed. Merry is a sexual woman, one who isn't afraid to show her sexual nature in her everyday life. I thought that the sex scenes worked with the story--while there were several, none were out of place within the context of the story. Sensuality is paramount here in this world, and so when Merry does have sex, I wasn't surprised. I like, too, that Hamilton doesn't shy away from mixing a little pain with sex--she does it in a way that is erotic and interesting, even if you're not into that kind of thing.
I really like the fantasy elements of this book--the non-human characters, the magical powers, the faerie courts and lore. So many of the characters were so original, their motivations and backgrounds so interesting. I think this is what made this book so enjoyable--though it was a lot of expository writing at times, it was interesting enough to keep you involved.
I also like the plot, though I did feel this was mostly a set up for the next book. That's not really a downside--I've read the book a few times already and I enjoy it every time. I look forward to seeing this carefully set up world in the next book, now that Merry is back at the detective agency. There is a lot that could happen...
I personally highly recommend this book, though I would defidently get this book from the library first if you are not sure about it--Hamilton is going in a new direction from the old Anita Blake books, so you might want to try before you buy!

I was intrigued by the concept, but found the book came up a little short. It was mildly entertaining. There really was no plot until somewhere past the middle of the book, when our heroine finally returns to Faerie. Before that, it seems to be all sex and action. I probably won't read any more in the series, but then again, I did read the book and not just quit halfway through it.

My star ratings:

One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five start - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.

I've read back through other reviews of this book and the general concensious (by the ones who don't like it)is that it has that it has to much sex. Yes it has sex and lots of it but there is a point to it contrary to what most think. If they had been paying attention it's nessisary to the plot line not to mention it's a rather important part of fairy life. Sex leads to little fairies and that is the entire point behind all of it. The fae are NOT prone to having children so anything that makes children is very important. Fairly simple actually. That and politics, Hamiltion does a wonderful job explaining and pointing out the hidden aspects of it all, if your paying attention to whats not being said. All in all its a wonderful book full of plot twists and detailed characters. Dark and sensual yes but worth the time and money if your thoughtful in your reading.

_A Kiss of Shadows_ was quite enjoyable -- I wasn't sure I wanted to read another LKH book because the angst that Anita Blake has been going through (and, to be even more blunt, the over-done sexuality and clothes fixation of Anita) had burnt me out on her character and it seemed like the books were definitely in a rut. But once I started reading this first book in a new series, I was captivated. While the plot and characterization were on the thin side, I did feel that it set up a world very well, and that the next book should show some fascinating developments, given that we have (all? most?) of the players on the board and ready to strut their stuff in the next book.
While there was eroticism in this book, it felt appreciably different from the Anita Blake books -- more integral to the characters, less kinky, and definitely with a lighter hand than the last several Blakes! I enjoyed the depictions of the Unseelie court and found the interactions of the various fey consistent with the myths and legends that I've known.
All in all, a promising start, and I look forward to the next installment.

I gave A Kiss of Shadows, the first in Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series, a try because it was the only fantasy novel available for free download from my public library that I hadn't read yet. The story sounded interesting and I figured that I should give an LKH book a try. So, this was my first LKH book. And my last.

I read 100 pages before I quit. It was competently written, the dialogue seemed natural, and the pace was quick. But, the purpose of the book was glaringly clear from the first page. Let me sum up the major "plot" points of the first 100 pages for you (it's written in the first person):

* A description of how hot I look at my professional job in my way too short skirt, black thigh-high stockings, and high heels.
* My graphic conversation with the wife and mistress (who may be lovers) of a man who's a sadist.
* A very long description of my getting dressed up and wired (by a man), while everybody watches and admires how hot I look, so I can go meet the sadist.
* My kinky evening with the sadist which ended up with him being murdered and me going to the police station.
* How all the policemen couldn't keep their hands off me 'cause I'm so hot, even though they think I might be a murderer.
* How I went home and wanted to sleep, but my lover Roane [hee hee] wouldn't let me 'cause I'm so hot.
* The details of my night with Roane and how it was so good that Roane turned into a seal and left me for the ocean, but I'm fine with that.
* How my boss woke me up so he could get me out of town because the faerie queen now knows where I am, and I was naked and he admired me 'cause I'm so hot.

I gave A Kiss of Shadows a fair chance, but this one obviously fits into the category of "I really want to write erotica but I don't want to be called an erotica writer so I'll stick a faerie princess in it and call it fantasy instead." Yuck.

Lesson learned, and I didn't have to spend any money.

I am hopelessly hooked on Laurell K Hamilton. Every book that I pick up that she has written sucks me in and keeps me enthralled until the last page. I have read all of her Anita Blake books, but this was my first taste of The Merry Gentry series. Needless to say, it was very entertaining and action packed...things Ive come to expect from any Hamilton book. There was a bit of sexual overkill as well, but Hamilton does tend to go overboard in that area and I was not surprised or offended by it.The book oozed with a steady supply of unbearably hott men as Merry made her way from one adventure to the next...trust me, even though her life was constantly in danger, she was one lucky girl. All in all, this was a fabulous read. A definite keeper.

I am a big fan of Laurell Hamilton. I picked this book up with an open mind, expecting to like it even though it wasn't part of the vampire series. I'm sorry to say, I was sorely disappointed.
I didn't care for the plot. It existed, and in the beginning I understood the direction the story was headed in. But after reading more, I began to wonder if there really was a plot. The story seemed to meander around -- or maybe that was just me since the book barely held my attention. Unfortunately, rather than enjoying the story, I found myself trying to figure out what the point of the story was, and what type of book this was supposed to be. A sci-fi romance, a sci-fi adventure, a sci-fi mystery... what? I never figured it out.
Beyond that, the characters were okay, but not very exciting. I think I was too distracted by the descriptions of these "creatures" who sounded like something out of the twilight zone, to get to really know them.
And the sex. Please... I read erotica, and I definitely don't mind sex in the books I read, but this was grotesque. I found it hard to find the sex scenes erotic or enjoyable when most of them appeared to involve pain or the desire for it. And to top that off, the descriptions of the elves, goblins and whatever else that were engaging in sex was a turn off because these creatures were described as having extra body parts that were non-human in description, extra beings living on a single body, etc. No turn-on here!!
The story didn't have the kick or the "fun" that I get from Ms. Hamilton's vampire series. No, I wasn't looking for that same story line, but I was looking for the type of writing exhibited in those books. It just wasn't here.
Bottom line, I did not care for this book. If you want to read it, I'd recommend a trip to the library rather than spending your money. Save that for something else.

One of the things I enjoy the most in Laurel K. Hamilton's 'Anita Blake' series is that the characters, no matter how hard the situation, act out upon their world as much as it acts at them. Faced with troubles, Anita Blake and her companions find a way to turn the tide, or to react to the troubles with their usual skill, and more importantly, style.
Not so in this new series. Meredith Gentry seems like she'll be an interesting character at the start, and the set up of her as a Private Investigator in a company where the workers are in some ways of fairy blood is quite striking. A case is introduced, and then everything goes poorly from there.
Merry seems to be written as a reactive character. She never seems to do anything, only to react to what is done to her - she's tossed along this story like a feather in a whirlwind. Granted, she admits it - constantly Merry bemoans that she is a very weak fairie compared to the rest - but it gets to be too much.
Add to that that every other chapter involves some sort of S&M sex scene, many of which don't seem to be thematically or narratively necessary (or even important), and you'll get an idea of why this book did nothing for me. I'm not sure if anyone could manage to eroticize the eating of flesh and the drinking of blood, but Laurel K. Hamilton tried in "Kiss of Shadows," and it sure didn't work for me (unless the point was to nauseate).
I will not be following the rest of this series, it is simply too weak in my opinion. If you're looking for Anita Blake, she's not here. Merry is barely a shadow of the things that we love in Anita, no pun intended.

I never put spoilers in my reviews.
All my brain keeps saying is fascinating. I've been a fan of fairy tales since I started reading at 3 and even more so when, as an adult, I found out the truth behind the sanitized versions told to children. This book stands firmly in that genre along side the best...the brothers Grimm would have been pleased, or maybe not, as it's tough to be outshined (outshone?).
Imaginative, believable world building; I've said before that to build a world so close to ours but so different, and so believable, is much more difficult than building one from scratch and Ms. Hamilton does a stellar job. The characters are distinct with 3, sometimes 4, dimensions and come to life in this wonderfully, masterfully told modern fairy tale. The story and dialogue simply hold you spellbound.
Not for the faint of heart. A wonderful, fascinating read.
Now for book #2!

The second series from Laurell K Hamilton is big on sensuality and sexuality. Merry Gentry, a Los Angeles detective, is actually Princess Meredith NicEssus, a faerie princess who's part human and whose family just happens to want to kill her. Then everything changes. Her aunt, the queen of air and darkness, wants her back at court. She offers Merry the chance to claim the throne if she, Merry, can get pregnant with a child before the queen's wicked son, Prince Cel, can create his own heir. Merry sets out to do so, dodging assassination attempts and getting down and dirty with some of the most beautiful immortal men in the world, in the hopes of conceiving a child.
That's about it for the story. Hamilton takes a decided break from her Anita Blake series here. Merry is more feminine, more helpless, although still decidedly clever and brave. Merry also has fewer problems with sex, and rather strange, aggressive sex at that. Reading about the faerie courts and the goblin army, you can see that Hamilton's imagination is working hard and having a great time.
There are two major problems. First, the sex is gratuitous. It's not WRONG, or BAD, or UGLY, but simply unnecessary. There's too much of it too often, and it becomes almost absurd after a while.
Secondly, Hamilton spends as much time explaining about what's going on as she does showing the action. Obviously, this is a political situation, and that makes it tricky. It's a world where the slightest glance can have many meanings, and that's fine. But the description and explanation go on for pages. We do need to understand what's going on, but Hamilton has never been good with subtle explanation. She likes to lay it flat out for us, taking up ten pages to explain why someone shouldn't have lifted their arm at that moment or something, and it gets tedious. She has the same problem in her Anita Blake books, except there it's because the arguments go on forever. It's like a traffic jam you think you're out of, but then you're not. (OK, just a minute, let them fight about her having a gun, ah here's an opening, let's go let's go AH CHRIST now they're arguing about where to PUT the gun, come on, come on.)
Despite its flaws, this book is an often engaging and interesting read. The opulent descriptions of the surroundings are quite beautiful, and it's all meant to be fun, which it really is. It had its problems, but I liked it.

Laurell K. Hamilton does it again. KISS OF SHADOWS features Meredith Gentry, who fled the court of Faerie years ago in fear for her life. Half mortal/human and half fey, "Merry" finds new life in L.A. working for a detective agency specializing in supernatural cases.
But her old life is about to catch up with her, in some very interesting ways. Her aunt (and enemy?) The Queen of Air and Darkness, wishes her to return to the land of Faerie. But why? This is an exciting, erotic, well-written fantasy adventure, and is definitely a bit removed from Ms. Hamilton's other series, the Anita Blake novels.
If you enjoy sensual (let's say VERY sensual) fantasy/adventure, dive into Merry's adventures; you'll be glad you did.

Kiss of Shadows' Merry Gentry is reminiscent of Anita Blake--only she has no qualms about sleeping with all the gorgeous men in her life. I wonder if Hamilton finally got sick of writing Anita and just worked out her inner erotica. In any case...

This is definitely a good book if you don't mind gratuitous sex. It's even fun gratuitous sex (Merry has a harem!), but it defiantly doesn't need to be there. Hamilton's portrayal of the faerie court and all its weird politics is original and imaginative. I especially liked the sluagh and Sholto. Hamilton's Andias also takes a new spin on the "wicked stepmother" archetype by making Merry's aunt at once Machiavellian and still somewhat likeable.

Hamilton doesn't really do much in terms of the P.I. aspect of this novel except use it as a way to get Merry back to court, and that's fine since this novel is really about fey politics, not mystery.

Overall this was a good, fun book. It's nothing meaningful or inspired, but it is definitely a good quick read.

My friend has been persistently recommending Laurell K. Hamilton to me and never having been able to get through the blake series,I've decided to try the fey fantasies.Now,I might have been spoiled in the past by reading authors,who can actually write,do so well and without using 50 cents magic words,and that could explain my dissapoitment,but there definetely others factors,such as
1.is she absolutely incapable of writing stand-alones?I'm sure what writing series is far more commercially sound,but the artistic integrity goes right out of the window.
2.the characters were persistently inconsistant and not overly compelling either.
3.does every major statement have to be made with such redundancy and proven to us as though we're creatures of far inferior intellect then that of Ms.Hamilton.
Having that been said,if you are a fan,get it,cause I'm sure although the settings are different,the book still has plenty of whatever it is you liked about the rest of her books.She doesn't seem original enough to have it be any other way.
If you've never read her books before,save your time and money and get a book that will actually stimulate more than your erogenous zones.
this is only an opinion,no offence or disrespect was meant:)read on

Laurell K. Hamilton branches out from her bestselling Anita Blake novels with a new, fae-oriented series. She really shouldn't have bothered. While "Kiss of Shadows" starts off dark and intriguing, the plot rapidly degenerates into a NC-17 fantasy without much more than sweaty gyrations to recommend it.

Part-mortal Princess Meredith NicEssus -- undercover as Merry Gentry -- is a P.I. in Los Angeles, which apparently is swarming with fey and fey-wannabes. Keeping her identity a secret is vital, since she knows the dangers that would follow being uncovered. But while investigating a supernatural date-raper (and falling prey to him) Merry's identity leaks out.

Before you can say "bonk 'em all," she is given an ultimatum by her aunt, the queen of the Unseelie Court: she and her evil cousin Cel are both going to try to have a baby. The one who succeeds will be the next ruler -- the other is toast. Merry is assigned a harem of fae men, all of whom want her as much as she wants them. Physically, anyway.

Here's a warning: "Kiss of Shadows" has a lot of sex. A LOT of sex. A sufficient amount that, among other things, Merry hops in the happy sack with any guy lucky enough to meet her. Oh, and she has a male harem. Sound like an adult movie? Well, it pretty much is -- lots of excuses to have sex, including an enjoyable rape (did a woman really write this book?) and Merry nearly being molested by the entire L.A.P.D. And that's before it gets really raunchy.

For anyone hoping for more than soft-porn, the book is lacking. It starts off strong, with a battered woman and a magical want ad, and Merry going undercover to lure out the magic-sucking guy involved. But once she bonks her selkie boyfriend, the plot goes down the tubes. What is worse, the sex obscures the mysterious cultures and subcultures of the fey and sidhe -- Hamilton hints at interesting cultures, rituals and different races, but seems to lose interest in the idea.

Without a developed backdrop, the actual plot feels rushed and half-finished. Hamilton also could use a better editor, since her writing quickly becomes repetitive -- lots of hair, unusual eye color, strange powers. All the men are madly attractive, chiseled, and devoid of any individual personality. All the women are beautiful, usually dainty.

Merry isn't terribly interesting -- she starts off as a moderately entertaining P.I. with a barbed sense of humor. Then it just sort of fades away. Queen Andais is also moderately interesting, as the villain of the piece. Merry's harem guys have paint-by-numbers personalities, and after the initial introductions they just become a heap of interchangeable sexy bodies.

Buried somewhere in "Kiss of Shadows" is a really good novella, but it's choked by a poorly thought-out soft-porn movie. Hamilton had the right idea, but the execution is a painful "Kiss."

Pretty good stuff in here.. I was borderline 3 or 4 stars for this, so when in doubt, I will give the benefit... I like the Faerie princess who is displaced angle, and the palace intrigue and strange bedfellows can keep you guessing.
Plus what guy wouldnt like to read about a woman who likes it a little rough ? Come on, the sex in this book is HOT, if sometimes a bit overblown. Sometimes even to the point of the sex scenes seeming like the sex in a slasher movie, in that they can detract from the story, rather than move the story forward.

Though many people like this book, I must conclude that it's not my thing. Laurell Hamilton promises a story of modern-day faeries and their complex court intrigue, which in theory is right up my alley, but I didn't really get into it.
I agree with a previous reviewer who complains that "every developing scene is a sex scene". By about page 100, my significant other was laughing because I kept yelling aloud, "Is she going to sleep with HIM TOO?" The entire plot of the book seems to consist of Merry's sexual adventures. That would be OK if it were good erotica, but there is far too much gory violence to sustain the sexy mood. To sum up the book: Sex scene, gore scene, sex scene, gory sex scene...well, you get the picture.
For urban faerie adventures with more plot, try Charles de Lint (Jack of Kinrowan), Emma Bull (War for the Oaks), James A. Hetley (The Summer Country), Diana Wynne Jones (Fire and Hemlock), or Nancy Springer (Fair Peril).

If you extrapolate the degeneration of the Anita Blake series from its beginning as a neat mystery/fantasy series to its current status as bad fantasy to its no doubt logical and ugly conclusion as a sort of Hellish amalgam of bad Anne Rice novel and Harlequin romance you have "Kiss of Shadows". Our heroine and protagonist, Merry, is a mortal elf-princess who is on the run from her aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, the leader of the Fey court. At the beginning of the story Merry is working as a private investigator and is hired for what looks like a straightforward domestic abuse case. This turns out to be more than it seems though, the abuser has links to dark magic from the courts of the Fey, and in the process of investigating this Merry's cover is blown and her aunt finds out where she is. Merry decides to stop running, go back to the courts of the Fey and face her aunt and the other members of the court. Now, under other circumstances this might have been a pretty good story. What makes it utterly gag-worthy though are the sxe scenes, which at best are boring and detract from what little plot there is and at worst are gruesome and sickening and the heroine's ruminations on relationships matters saxuel (why can't you use the "s" word in an the store review?) and which go on and on and on and on and which are neither interesting nor well-written and which the rest of the novel can, in no way, compensate for. Summary: Avoid.

All I have to say about this book is that it is the BOMB! I could not put it down and when I finally did finish it I went directly back to page 1. I almost read it a third time, but thought that was a bit obsessive. I am waiting with bated breath on the sequel. This is actually the 1st fantasy book I have read and as strange as it may sound it changed my life in more ways then one...literally. The characters are wonderful and add a slightly different twist on the Fae that you are not used to seeing. This book is filled with lust, passion, danger, action, comedy...need I really go on. My favorite was Doyle. UUHH!!! He made me wish I was Meredith. I really can't wait for the sequel.

The fey of legend are deadly, beautiful beyond words, sensual and magical. Laurell K. Hamilton has captured the flavor of the old legends while deftly placing them in a modern context. The Unseelie court is vividly drawn and the characters of the book spring to vivid life. It seems that this series has every promise of being just as vivid and breathtaking as the Anita Blake series. Like the Anita Blake series it is about adults and for adults. There is sex, blood and violence just like all the good fairy tales but this fairy tale by LKH makes the fey live breath and die in the imagination. Sometimes the stories do get better after you grow up. All I can say is More Please!

Laurell K Hamilton's books have always been captivating. Hamilton features strong, self-sure women who aren't afraid to stand up and fight for what they believe. Kiss Of Shadows' Princess Meredith Nic Essus is no different. A mortal princess caught up in the immortal world of Faerie, "Merry Gentry" has spent years hiding from her blood-thirsty relatives. When her identity is revealed, she has no choice but to return to court and face her inherited destiny. As an heir to the throne however, she has many enemies, and few friends who can be trusted. This alluring first-look at an intriguing world of sex, lies, deceit and magic will draw you in and have you begging for more!

i wish i could say that there had been something that i liked about the story but there really wasn't a story just one sex scene to the next, which would have been fine if the sex scene had been entertaining and the book was advertised as just porn, because the plot was missing.

I have read all of Ms. Hamilton's Anita Blake stuff. I really enjoyed them, and I even re-read them when I'm low on reading material. In a moment of weakeness, I decided to give her Faery/detective tales a try. Oy veh, that's $6.50 I won't see again. Hell, that's lunch.
Kiss of shadows was a combination of all the things I DON'T like about the later Anita Blake books. There's TOO much sex going on and not enough story line. There are interesting faeries, but they are all busy trying to get in each other's pants to really move the story along. First 40 pages is almost exactly like my least favorite part of "Narcissis in Chains." It's so purile and hormonal that it borders on a bad Romance novel. Frankly, if I wanted to read Romance/sex novels, I would, and not worry about the extras, like a plot. I expected so much out of Hamilton that the last few books have been so disappointing . I wish she'd get her mind off her hormones and get back to the storylines!

Employing a savory blend of fantasy and reality, "A Kiss of Shadows" will fascinate and horrify simultaneously. Laurell K. Hamilton's story of a faerie princess with a sardonic wit and an overactive libido is a unique blend of magical and mundane, beauty and beastliness, sensitivity and sexuality. Princess Meredith must forge a path through the tangled intrigue of the Faerie Court, when all she really wants is to remain obscure and at peace in today's modern, human world. The tale will draw you in, and keep you, spellbound. Beware of faerie magic!
A warning to those sensitive to such things -- Hamilton's writing includes numerous violent and sexual situations.

To be frank, I actually prefer the Anita Blake books, but only because I really enjoy the gritty, bloody world portrayed therein. However, _A Kiss of Shadows_ certainly has its place on my bookshelf. The prose is definitely sexier than in the AB books, and much of it is actually sensual and erotic as opposed to out-and-out sex (as one of the other reviewers pointed out). Ms. Hamilton has painted a twilit world of sensual beings in this book, intertwining fey politics and Unseelie violence. I would love to see where Ms. Hamilton is going to take this series -- I'm quite sure that her readers will be in for an adventure. That said, I found that this first book is setting up the backdrop for the rest of the series.
All in all, though, I really did enjoy this book.

This book took me on a wild ride . It did not disappoint .
Meredith goes thru so many scary adventures , I was
holding my breath . Her " Magic " pulls her through .
My favorite part of the book is when Meredith helped Roane
get his sealskin and made him whole so he could return to the Ocean . I think Meredith' s Aunt " Queen Andais " and her cousin deserved more pain and misery than they got .
Can't wait to read the next book .

Incredibly hard to listen to the narrator. She makes all the male characters sound like Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz and there is precious little difference in each character's voice (if any). The author should kick her editor square in the rump for letting her repeat the same things over and over. I found myself skipping forward 30, 90, 120 seconds at a time and the characters were still discussing the same concept with only a minor change in wording. Utterly yawn inducing. The author must think her readership is composed of idiots. Terrible writing and a god-awful narrator. I'm going to ask Audible for my $ back. I listened to three quarters of the book and couldn't stomach any more.

This is the first book I have read by Laurell K. I did enjoy it, and thought that it rolled along nicely, though I do agree with some of the other reviewer's opinion's that the plot was a bit thin. However, I think have found what I think the problem is, (at least for me) with her writing. Laurell K is what I would consider a lazy writer with a heavy hand in her use of grammer and ability to turn a phrase. Despite that, I was drawn in by the character of Merry Gentry. I found the book engaging enough that I finished it in record time for me, (under a week), and I enjoyed the sex scenes for their lyrical prose, as they were strangely unstirring. Some of the best writing in the book was about the descriptive context of the sex scenes, so obviously a strong suit for Laurell K. Now if she could just extend that turn of phrase and descriptive ease toward the rest of her writing. Hmmm.
I will read the other book(s) in this series, at least the one that just came out in paperback, but because I had to wait for 'A Caress of Twilight' to come out, I had to placate myself and as a stop gap in the waiting process I went ahead and bought the first book in the Anita Blake series, 'Guilty Pleasures'. My first assessment of her writing abilities were affirmed. There were so many annoying elements, too numerous to mention, the clunky grammer being the worst. Finishing this book was like pulling teeth, but finish it I did in hopes that I would somehow be rewarded in the end. No such luck.
So if you are an Anita Blake fan, this book has a completely different tenor. If you haven't read any Laurell K before, then be forewarned, this book has a strong pulp factor but is enjoyable nonetheless. Personally, I wouldn't spend money to buy these in hardcover, and if I could get them used in paperback, all the better.
Even despite this admittedly lackluster review, if you are looking for a book to read just for enjoyment purposes, the action rolls along well and there are enough interesting characters to keep one intrigued. Granted, many of those characters never get the full treatment and tend to just get left by the wayside. Still, a page-turner.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series brought us a strong woman and a host of alpha males populating a world that is impossibly fantastic and yet gritty, dark and real.
Now Hamilton has done it again with her new series built around the fairy princess, Meredith Gentry. In this world, the fairy kingdom is real and maintains diplomatic ties with the United States. There is more bickering and backstabbing in the fairy court than you'll ever see in Washington, and "Merry" seems to be just as strong and conflicted as Anita Blake. It will be fun to see where Hamilton leads us with the future installments of this exciting new series.

It's not that I'm prudish that the erotic elements of this novel annoy me-- they annoy me because they're irrelevant to the plot and don't add anything to the atmosphere of the book. If I want stroke fiction, there are other places to find that-- if I read a novel, I'm looking for elements that are interrelated.
Merry Gentry is a faerie princess on the run, hiding in the mortal world pretending to be a mostly-human private investigator. All is well with the world until she takes the case of a woman being preyed upon by her ex-husband. Suddenly Merry's cover is blown and she's forced to deal with her loving family once again.
Hamilton makes this concept of faerie more believable than you have a right to expect-- she's a slick writer and you won't have any complaints about the diction or style.

I loved the Anita Blake series so I was excited to meet a new Hamilton heronie. As I was rather late to this party, I wasn't as impressed as other folks.. It took me a long time to get to like the characters. I had to work at it to stay with the story and that's not my usual routine with Hamilton.
I have to give credit where credit it due though. It's nice to meet a character who is sexually aware and comfortable. I enjoy the idea that sex can be as much a pass-time as watching a ballgame or playing poker. Hamilton always empowers her women and I appreciate that.

Perhaps it is just that I'm tired of "series" writers. It's not that I'm tired of Ms. Hamilton's creativity and voice. I read this book in one setting. However... "A Kiss of Shadows" does not contain the depth of characterization Ms. Hamilton has shown in the Anita Blake series. I had not realized how greatly I had enjoyed watching the growth of Ms. Blake's character throughout the series AND within each book. The protagonists and antagonists all make human choices no matter their "monstrosity." "Kiss's" new character, Merry, merely has things happen to her. They affect her to a limited extent. And I never got much feeling for the antagonists in the book at all. I didn't even care if they got their come-uppance or learned their lesson. Not only is there not a lot of character development, but there isn't a lot of plot development. The future of this series is laid out for the reader in such detail that maybe adding some of a plot was too much. Finally, the sensuality typical of Ms. Hamilton's earlier books went too far for me in this book. Perhaps because there is no reference for having romance with monsters who have limited human characteristics and no human physical characteristics. If you are as much of a lover of Ms. Hamilton's past works as I, then this review will not stop you from purchasing the hard back edition. If you are a new reader, I urge you to read any and all of her other works before this one. This is her one book, that would not start a Laurell K. Hamilton addiction, and it's an addiction well worth starting.

This book leaves you craving for the dark sensuality of this world, the torment the pleasures the unspoken rules of this mysterious reality where magic lives. Which again is a parallel of our own world of dreams and myths and legends made into a written believable creation. Goblins, faeries, brownies oh my. I can only hope that this will be a long lived series. If the fate of the 'Nightseer' (Keleios Incantare) will be forever unfinished I will be more than happy to visit Merry & Anita in their world. A wonderful dark book for the senses. A must for those who don't always stick to fairytales and enjoy L.K. Hamilton's work.

Although I enjoyed this book, I found myself thoroughly bewildered at many points. What was badly needed was a guide to the kingdoms and creatures of faerie, their appearances, their powers, their lifestyles, etc. I am at sea about a lot of these things, particularly "Seelie" and "Unseelie." I also felt there were just too many characters, and I had a hard time keeping them straight. Some kind of reference would have been very helpful. And I'm not totally able to get involved with a character who enjoys pain with her sex. I may or may not read the next book, but I will definitely wait until it's out in paper.

Laurell K. Hamilton is best known for her Anita Blake novels. And deservedly so. However, A Kiss of Shadows starts a new direction for Hamilton. Away from the death and discord of the Vampire Hunter novels, into a sheer, sensually oriented world where a single touch can haunt you forever, and a lover's kiss will steal your mind.
Where the Anita Blake novels are like trying to surface from a world where dark embraces you with light, A Kiss of Shadows is a place where you embrace the dark with the light. And make sure that the darkness is never at your back.

The book was good, but it was missing something. I enjoyed most of the characters other than the main one much more than I enjoyed Merry. Doyle, Frost... All of the men in this novel were much more interesting characters that I would love to get to know more about. Meryy, on the other hand, just seemed bland and flat. In fact all of the women in this novel seemed very colorless compared to the male characters.
It is a good book to sit down and read on a rainy day when you don't have anything else to do. I enjoyed the read, but I would have prefered another Anita book.

Laurell K. Hamilton's story lines are marvelously addictive. When the first of this new series came out, I was concerned because I couldn't believe that Hamilton was going to be able to create a character as fantastic and admirable as Anita Blake. Well, she did it. Meredith is just as amazing as Anita. I loved every single page of Kiss of Shadows, and now that I've finished it, I feel like I'm about to go into withdrawal or something. Don't read Hamilton's works if you don't want to rush through a book and then savor the last few pages because it's almost over.

The first novel of Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series is not, actually, that terrible a book. It's by far the best in a not particularly great series, actually. What made it almost impossible for me to read is that the basic premise, the set-up, is one of the most grotesquely, ridiculously stupid things I've ever read.

Princess Meredith NicEssus has fled Faerie, in fear of death at the hands of her aunt, Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness and ruler of the Unseelie Court. High profile fae in this world are major public figures, like rock stars or the royal family of England. The sudden disappearance of one of the Unseelie royals is a very big deal indeed. Every news media in the world reports the story....and it never goes away. We are told solemnly that reports of Princess Meredith being spotted are right up there with Elvis sightings. Meredith's image, the story of her mysterious disappearance, is everywhere. I mean, neolithic pygmies living in deepest Africa know who Meredith is, and what she looks like.

Meanwhile, Princess Meredith has disguised herself as a mortal private eye. Thing is, she hasn't disguised herself very much at all. Her supernaturally pale skin is now humanly pale skin. Her fae red hair is now human red hair. Her facial features remain the same. And with everyone on the planet wondering where is Princess Meredith, for years on end, no one recognizes her. Let me hasten to add, there is no magic involved in this, they honestly simply don't recognize her. And the crowning touch to this masterful disguise, the name chosen for her pseudonym to hide the fact she's actually Princess Meredith is....wait for it....Merry Gentry.

Jesus wept.

And for years, none of her co-workers, no one who knows her, says to themself, "Hey, wait a minute, that women who looks almost exactly like Princess Meredith....Merry Gentry....Princess Meredith....oh my God, Merry Gentry is Princess Meredith!" Nope, she's just incognito, baby.

At which point I almost threw down the book and said, "You have GOT to be kidding me." It's absolutely amazing to me this made it through the editing process. Do Laurell Hamilton's editors do anything other than rubber stamp her writing? Given her past six or eight novels, including this one, I'm tempted to say: no, actually.

When I realized that the next Laurell K. Hamilton book would not feature Anita Blake, I was disappointed and angry. I needed my Anita, Jean-Claude and Richard fix. I bought the book anyway, and my disappointment soon turned to joy. Although no one in A Kiss of Shadows is quite as sexy as Richard or Jean-Claude, the book was as captivating as the the Anita Blake series. The story of Merry, her history and her adventures, is engrossing and exciting. Merry may actually have more depth than Anita. Where Anita is the straight man for the other charcters, Merry is the central character. This is a must read.

(Sigh...) I wish I could say I loved this book, but I didn't. I didn't hate it either. I think it had the potential to be a wonderful book, but somewhere between the sheets,(of paper or satin - your choice), the story line got lost. I am not a huge Stephen King fan, but I read something he said once, and it stuck with me. It was something like "you can tell a good book from a bad one by how many times you are jolted out of the story and into the awarness that you are just reading a book." Well, I was aware all too frequently that I was just reading a book. I don't think that this would be as frustrating if I didn't know what a capable story-teller this author can be. LKH has one of the best imaginations in the field and I KNOW that she is capable of building support characters with more depth than 'I'm beautiful, you'r beautiful, let's get laid.' I, for one, would hold out for less frequent books if the plot quality and character lines were more fully realized. No, this was NOT a bad book, but I wish Ms. Hamilton would go back and re-read her first three books and re-discover the talent that netted her fan base.

Each plot twist came as a surprise. I enjoyed the faerie theme and it provided a nice change from Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Series which involves vampires and werewolves. Altogether it was a engrossing and unique plot. However, as much as the author tried to differ Merry, heroine of Kiss of Shadows, and Anita, there were many common lines and familiar scenes. Hamilton tends to re-use dialog and character structure. Still, Kiss of Shadows is definitely worth a read for the fresh plot and exciting action. Perhaps in Hamilton's next book we will encounter new dialog and ideas.

I know some people complained about the sexual context but that didn't bother me. After reading Anita Blake I can see where it would bother some people though. What bothered me was feeling like this must be the 2nd book in a new series because she never explains about how things operate. I would like a lot more background on the courts, the people who serve it, etc... You do get brief descriptions but did anyone else feel like that wasn't enough? I notice she does this quite a bit, never varying off the storyline to full you in on the background descriptions. With that said I did enjoy this book and I will be looking forward to the next book.

I really loved this book, although it took me a while to get use to the fae people and their way of life, which is VERY different from ours. Once I did I fell in love with this book. Although I did feel that the ending was a little abrupt, but no fear there is a sequel in the works. Meridith is suppose to be dead for she ran away fearing for her life years ago. Once found her Aunt who is Queen and the rest of the Fae world finds out she is still alive. It is a race to see who gets to her first, with her life in the balance she has no idea who to trust. The Queen does turn a fast one on Meridith that left her having no choice but to return to the life she left behind.

I read this book a while ago, and I have read it again since, more than once. However, this isn't saying much, because I read a lot of books many times over- I'm always running out of things to read. The trouble with this book is the sex. Allow me to clarify that: I have no objection to sex in novels, but like every other element of a plot, it must be used constructively. It must add to the novel. The sex in this book does not add to it- like the later Anita Blake novels, it actively detracts from it. This is because the entire plot is swallowed into a series of flimsy premises for sex, or sexual acts. I don't mind reading about sex, and I'm probably disappointed if a novel does not contain any sexual/romantic tension, but hell, the sex in this book simply takes it over. It's not a part of the plot, it IS the plot, which is a shame, because the mythology of the novel [i.e. the world and characters and magic it's based on] could have made a much better narrative. Now, don't get me wrong. It's not all consumingly awful, and I suppose it's a fine enough distraction for a few hours. But it is nowhere near on a par with the early Anita novels.

Another problem with this book is that the main character is too similar to Anita. I get the feeling that Hamilton tends to base her characters somewhat on herself, or an idealised version of herself. Anita is short, with curly black hair and brown eyes. Having seen a photo of her creator, you can see where her colouring and hairstyle come from. Meredith may not have black hair and brown eyes, but she is still pale skinned, small of stature, big busted, and it would seem, universally desired by... well, virtually every male character in the novel.

And the comparisons are not merely physical. Merry does not have as many moral hang-ups as Anita, nor as many situations which would cause them [well, in terms of violence, although that's not to say that she doesn't accidentally turn some people inside out] but, broadly speaking, if you were to remove Anita's spirit and stick it in Meredith's body, in Meredith's situation, with Meredith's personal history, you can imagine her reacting and sounding much the same.

So, altogether, this is a pretty good book, if you ignore the fact that the plot becomes a two dimensional premise for sex or sexual demands of the main character, and that Merry is basically a slightly less-tough Anita, with red hair and less hang ups about sex.

This book leaves you craving for the dark sensuality of this world, the torment the pleasures the unspoken rules of this mysterious reality where magic lives. Which again is a parallel of our own world of dreams and myths and legends made into a written believable creation. Goblins, faeries, brownies oh my. I can only hope that this will be a long lived series. If the fate of the 'Nightseer' (Keleios Incantare) will be forever unfinished I will be more than happy to visit Merry & Anita in their world. A wonderful dark book for the senses. A must for those who don't always stick to fairytales and enjoy L.K. Hamilton's work.

Although I enjoyed this book, I found myself thoroughly bewildered at many points. What was badly needed was a guide to the kingdoms and creatures of faerie, their appearances, their powers, their lifestyles, etc. I am at sea about a lot of these things, particularly "Seelie" and "Unseelie." I also felt there were just too many characters, and I had a hard time keeping them straight. Some kind of reference would have been very helpful. And I'm not totally able to get involved with a character who enjoys pain with her sex. I may or may not read the next book, but I will definitely wait until it's out in paper.

Laurell K. Hamilton is best known for her Anita Blake novels. And deservedly so. However, A Kiss of Shadows starts a new direction for Hamilton. Away from the death and discord of the Vampire Hunter novels, into a sheer, sensually oriented world where a single touch can haunt you forever, and a lover's kiss will steal your mind.
Where the Anita Blake novels are like trying to surface from a world where dark embraces you with light, A Kiss of Shadows is a place where you embrace the dark with the light. And make sure that the darkness is never at your back.

The book was good, but it was missing something. I enjoyed most of the characters other than the main one much more than I enjoyed Merry. Doyle, Frost... All of the men in this novel were much more interesting characters that I would love to get to know more about. Meryy, on the other hand, just seemed bland and flat. In fact all of the women in this novel seemed very colorless compared to the male characters.
It is a good book to sit down and read on a rainy day when you don't have anything else to do. I enjoyed the read, but I would have prefered another Anita book.

Laurell K. Hamilton's story lines are marvelously addictive. When the first of this new series came out, I was concerned because I couldn't believe that Hamilton was going to be able to create a character as fantastic and admirable as Anita Blake. Well, she did it. Meredith is just as amazing as Anita. I loved every single page of Kiss of Shadows, and now that I've finished it, I feel like I'm about to go into withdrawal or something. Don't read Hamilton's works if you don't want to rush through a book and then savor the last few pages because it's almost over.

The first novel of Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series is not, actually, that terrible a book. It's by far the best in a not particularly great series, actually. What made it almost impossible for me to read is that the basic premise, the set-up, is one of the most grotesquely, ridiculously stupid things I've ever read.

Princess Meredith NicEssus has fled Faerie, in fear of death at the hands of her aunt, Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness and ruler of the Unseelie Court. High profile fae in this world are major public figures, like rock stars or the royal family of England. The sudden disappearance of one of the Unseelie royals is a very big deal indeed. Every news media in the world reports the story....and it never goes away. We are told solemnly that reports of Princess Meredith being spotted are right up there with Elvis sightings. Meredith's image, the story of her mysterious disappearance, is everywhere. I mean, neolithic pygmies living in deepest Africa know who Meredith is, and what she looks like.

Meanwhile, Princess Meredith has disguised herself as a mortal private eye. Thing is, she hasn't disguised herself very much at all. Her supernaturally pale skin is now humanly pale skin. Her fae red hair is now human red hair. Her facial features remain the same. And with everyone on the planet wondering where is Princess Meredith, for years on end, no one recognizes her. Let me hasten to add, there is no magic involved in this, they honestly simply don't recognize her. And the crowning touch to this masterful disguise, the name chosen for her pseudonym to hide the fact she's actually Princess Meredith is....wait for it....Merry Gentry.

Jesus wept.

And for years, none of her co-workers, no one who knows her, says to themself, "Hey, wait a minute, that women who looks almost exactly like Princess Meredith....Merry Gentry....Princess Meredith....oh my God, Merry Gentry is Princess Meredith!" Nope, she's just incognito, baby.

At which point I almost threw down the book and said, "You have GOT to be kidding me." It's absolutely amazing to me this made it through the editing process. Do Laurell Hamilton's editors do anything other than rubber stamp her writing? Given her past six or eight novels, including this one, I'm tempted to say: no, actually.

When I realized that the next Laurell K. Hamilton book would not feature Anita Blake, I was disappointed and angry. I needed my Anita, Jean-Claude and Richard fix. I bought the book anyway, and my disappointment soon turned to joy. Although no one in A Kiss of Shadows is quite as sexy as Richard or Jean-Claude, the book was as captivating as the the Anita Blake series. The story of Merry, her history and her adventures, is engrossing and exciting. Merry may actually have more depth than Anita. Where Anita is the straight man for the other charcters, Merry is the central character. This is a must read.

(Sigh...) I wish I could say I loved this book, but I didn't. I didn't hate it either. I think it had the potential to be a wonderful book, but somewhere between the sheets,(of paper or satin - your choice), the story line got lost. I am not a huge Stephen King fan, but I read something he said once, and it stuck with me. It was something like "you can tell a good book from a bad one by how many times you are jolted out of the story and into the awarness that you are just reading a book." Well, I was aware all too frequently that I was just reading a book. I don't think that this would be as frustrating if I didn't know what a capable story-teller this author can be. LKH has one of the best imaginations in the field and I KNOW that she is capable of building support characters with more depth than 'I'm beautiful, you'r beautiful, let's get laid.' I, for one, would hold out for less frequent books if the plot quality and character lines were more fully realized. No, this was NOT a bad book, but I wish Ms. Hamilton would go back and re-read her first three books and re-discover the talent that netted her fan base.

Each plot twist came as a surprise. I enjoyed the faerie theme and it provided a nice change from Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Series which involves vampires and werewolves. Altogether it was a engrossing and unique plot. However, as much as the author tried to differ Merry, heroine of Kiss of Shadows, and Anita, there were many common lines and familiar scenes. Hamilton tends to re-use dialog and character structure. Still, Kiss of Shadows is definitely worth a read for the fresh plot and exciting action. Perhaps in Hamilton's next book we will encounter new dialog and ideas.

I know some people complained about the sexual context but that didn't bother me. After reading Anita Blake I can see where it would bother some people though. What bothered me was feeling like this must be the 2nd book in a new series because she never explains about how things operate. I would like a lot more background on the courts, the people who serve it, etc... You do get brief descriptions but did anyone else feel like that wasn't enough? I notice she does this quite a bit, never varying off the storyline to full you in on the background descriptions. With that said I did enjoy this book and I will be looking forward to the next book.

I really loved this book, although it took me a while to get use to the fae people and their way of life, which is VERY different from ours. Once I did I fell in love with this book. Although I did feel that the ending was a little abrupt, but no fear there is a sequel in the works. Meridith is suppose to be dead for she ran away fearing for her life years ago. Once found her Aunt who is Queen and the rest of the Fae world finds out she is still alive. It is a race to see who gets to her first, with her life in the balance she has no idea who to trust. The Queen does turn a fast one on Meridith that left her having no choice but to return to the life she left behind.

I read this book a while ago, and I have read it again since, more than once. However, this isn't saying much, because I read a lot of books many times over- I'm always running out of things to read. The trouble with this book is the sex. Allow me to clarify that: I have no objection to sex in novels, but like every other element of a plot, it must be used constructively. It must add to the novel. The sex in this book does not add to it- like the later Anita Blake novels, it actively detracts from it. This is because the entire plot is swallowed into a series of flimsy premises for sex, or sexual acts. I don't mind reading about sex, and I'm probably disappointed if a novel does not contain any sexual/romantic tension, but hell, the sex in this book simply takes it over. It's not a part of the plot, it IS the plot, which is a shame, because the mythology of the novel [i.e. the world and characters and magic it's based on] could have made a much better narrative. Now, don't get me wrong. It's not all consumingly awful, and I suppose it's a fine enough distraction for a few hours. But it is nowhere near on a par with the early Anita novels.

Another problem with this book is that the main character is too similar to Anita. I get the feeling that Hamilton tends to base her characters somewhat on herself, or an idealised version of herself. Anita is short, with curly black hair and brown eyes. Having seen a photo of her creator, you can see where her colouring and hairstyle come from. Meredith may not have black hair and brown eyes, but she is still pale skinned, small of stature, big busted, and it would seem, universally desired by... well, virtually every male character in the novel.

And the comparisons are not merely physical. Merry does not have as many moral hang-ups as Anita, nor as many situations which would cause them [well, in terms of violence, although that's not to say that she doesn't accidentally turn some people inside out] but, broadly speaking, if you were to remove Anita's spirit and stick it in Meredith's body, in Meredith's situation, with Meredith's personal history, you can imagine her reacting and sounding much the same.

So, altogether, this is a pretty good book, if you ignore the fact that the plot becomes a two dimensional premise for sex or sexual demands of the main character, and that Merry is basically a slightly less-tough Anita, with red hair and less hang ups about sex.

After reading the Anita Blake: Vapire Hunter novels I was somewhat skeptical when the subject material shifted from the Undead to the new topic of faeries. Granted, vampires, werewolves, etc. tend to have the same relative credibility, but faeries are typically given a stigma as being somewhat lighter, diluted content by comparison. My fears were thankfully unfounded. The characters whom Hamilton introduces are complex, three-dimensional, and bursting with conflict. As I had hoped, Hamilton delved into the mythology and fantastical history of the Sidhe legends of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and achieved a depth of drama and intrigue which matched accordingly. As I said, the characters are complex and the specific court politics, racial prejudices, customs, and perspectives present an even more impressive facet for readers to enjoy. Add to that the constant action, riveting interpersonal relationships, magical phenomena, and the rich fictional history that Hamilton creates -such as the mass exodus from Europe to America by the allowance of Jefferson- and the novel is highly enjoyable. I recommend this book to anyone who has read and enjoyed any of Hamilton's previous works, or even for a first-time Hamilton reader. Her style is unique, intimate, and possessed of stylistic elegeance that is never detracted from by the occassional, um......roughness of her characters. If supernatural thrillers with dashes of vibrant, romantic -and quite frequently borderline erotic- encounters are your cup of tea, curl up with this book; you will not be left wanting.

* As an avid fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, I was excited to hear that she was beginning a new series. In reading "A Kiss of Shadows", I have found that Hamilton has once again captured that unique flavor that crosses the genres. A fantasy book set in a modern day United States, it also contains elements of political intrigue, suspense, elemental magic, private investigation, and sexual elements that push the envelope. As readers we are given a glimpse into the social and political world of the faerie court. In much the same way as vampires and lycanthropes are common to the world of Anita Blake, so to are magic and the faerie courts to the world of Meredith 'Merry' NicEssus. * In the person of Meredith, we are presented a woman of strong will, who walks the fine line between human and something else. As we come to discover the environment in which Merry grew up, we can begin to understand what motivates her. Whether it is her interaction with her aunt (Queen of the Unseelie Court), her aunt's personal guard, her cousin Cel, or those around her in Los Angeles, we find that her reactions adjust to the situation around her. * The aspect of "A Kiss of Shadows" that intrigued me the most, was the manner in which it approaches the good/evil aspects of society. What humanity might think of as evil in human society, Merry might view as necessary to have survived her years in the Unseelie Court. Meredith's views on sex are also rather unique. Because of her upbringing, she lacks a certain sense of modesty that extends itself further into her relationship views. * Never to be outdone; Hamilton breathes life and personality into every character in her books. From the heroine to the supporting characters, and in the case of this book, even things and places like 'The Black Coach" and the mounds of the Unseelie Court. Even the diverse races have their own unique feel. * As you enjoy the rollercoaster ride of emotions "A Kiss of Shadows" takes you on, you arrive at the end with an insatiable hunger for more. If I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of this book, I find I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. * Despite all of the enjoyment I got from reading/experiencing "A Kiss of Shadows", I was left with one unanswered question. Does this book take place in the same world as the Anita Blake series, or are the similarities merely cosmetic? Additionally, if both characters (Anita and Meredith) do live in the same world, might we some day have them meeting to overcome a common foe?

I`m a long time reader of Laurell K.Hamilton`s Anita Blake novels,and so I must admit I was a bit sceptical about this new direction.But as it turns out,I had nothing to worry about.The first book in a new series,"A kiss of shadows" was just as exciting,action-packed,erotic and thrilling as her previous books.She introduces a host of new characters you can`t wait to get to know better,and a heroine not unlike the Anita Blake of old (that`s not a critiscism,by the way!).All in all ,I would recommend this book to both first-time readers of Hamilton as well as die-hard fans(who like me probably bought the book without even looking at the back-cover!).

I must warn those that have already taken the leap into the imaginary world of Laurell K. Hamilton's wonderful mind in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. This book can in no way compensate for it's predecessor's many books, characters, and plots. This book only displays a minimum view into the life of Meredith Gentry.
The book does, however, reveal many specific characteristics about Merry that differs incredibly from Anita Blake. Her attitude towards people and the situation that surrounds her, her strengths and weaknesses, and her constant chase for sexual attention from the men around her. The sex scenes written into this book are explicit, yet, no where near pornographic. The lead character simply explores her sexuality more openly than Anita Blake. Does it make this book hard to read? Definitely no.
If the reader is searching for a character who isn't as hard headed as Anita Blake, then this book is perfect.
My suggestion would be to pick this book up before you take the plunge into the world of Anita Blake. If you already have taken Anita by the horns, then approach "A Kiss of Shadows" with a very open mind and you will not be disappointed.

Fairies and magic, goblins and brownies, buff, handsome males and bold sensuous women all make up the world of A Kiss of Shadows; a fun imaginative fairy tale for adults.
On reading the first few pages it takes some getting used to the writing style and content, but once you are drawn into this world of magic and atypical characters you will find it nearly impossible to put the book down. This book makes you want to belong to this mystical imaginative melee of a world where anything is possible and no one is as they seem.

The story really grabbed me! I really enjoy Laurell Hamilton's work. Her characterization of the main character is always great, Although some of the secondary characters are a little flat - but that can be pretty hard to accomplish with this many and at this point. It's written as a series, I guess, so I'm assuming they'll be fleshed out more in subsequent books. I ordered the next one.

LAURELL HAMILTON'S A KISS OF SHADOWS WAS A PURE DELIGHT. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE AVID FANS OF THE ANITA BLAKE SERIES, THE NEWS OF A NEW HAMILTON "WORLD" WAS A MIXTURE OF DREAD AND ANTICIPATION. SHE HAS CREATED A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS WHO ARE THREE DIMENSIONAL AND CAN BE TAKEN INTO OUR HEARTS. MERRY IS A LOVELY HEROINE WHO BRINGS YOU ALONG ON HER ADVENTURES INTO THE FAERIE COURT'S ROYAL FAMILY. WE ARE RIGHT THERE FOR THE RIDE AS SHE LEARNS OF HER NEW POWERS AND HOW TO USE THEM TO HER ADVANTAGE. WITH AN INVENTIVE CAST OF SIDHE, TROLLS, BROWNIES, GOBLINS, PIXIES, AND A HOST OF EVERY MYSTICAL CREATURES YOU REMEMBER FROM CHILDHOOD. AS WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE SEELIE COURT, WE MEET BEINGS WHO ARE UNABASHED, SEXUALLY UNINHIBITED, BACKSTABBING, SADISTIC, AND EVEN VULNERBLE. BE PREPARED TO TRY TO FINISH THIS IN ONE SITTING. LIKE HER OTHER WORKS, HAMILTON HAS CREATED A DREAM AND INVITED US TO COME ALONG. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTLY WONDERFUL BOOK THAT I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE A TRY. FANS OF ANITA BLAKE SIMPLY NEED TO REALIZE THIS IS ANOTHER WORLD AND GO IN EXPECTING A WILD AND EXHILARATING RIDE.

Hamilton brings us in to a world of magic, politics & lustful sex. Merry the main character is an independant strong female who is thrust back in to her fey world. The faeries are very different from those of childhood novels they are ruthless and also terribly sensual, with many extremes. This book is what sexual fantasies are made from, yet it has a strong story line, which is very fast paced. I was up until 4am reading this and it was done in 2 nights and I was left wanting the next in the series immediately. Sometimes books are just not long enough :)
I would reccommend this to fantasy and erotica lovers alike.

For readers of the Anita Blake series:

The Merry Gentry series, which opens with 'A Kiss of Shadows,' is not (thank goodness) the Anita Blake series. Merry is much less complicated than Anita, which makes her considerably more tolerable as the series wears on. If the excessive gore and irritating love-polygons led you to Anita-burn-out, this new series, which concentrates more on Merry's sex life and the political intrigue of the faerie court, may redeem LKH for you. Unfortunately, the writing is still less than stellar and by the end of the third book in the series ('Seduced by Moonlight') there are enough one-dimensional characters to warrant a reference list. But I'd still rate this series (so far) well above the later Anita Blake entries.

For new readers of Hamilton:

Hamilton is a sophomoric writer with inept editors. Her novels are rife with redundant descriptions, underdeveloped characters, and unnecessary back-filling. But if you're looking for a quick, steamy summer read (and don't mind that Hamilton writes at an eighth-grade level) this series will keep you thoroughly entertained. Approach the writing with forgiveness, and you won't be able to put this series down. It's not Shakespeare, but it's definitely a page-turner.

Bottom line:

Entertaining, sexy, supernatural beach novel.

I really liked Hamilton's Blake series, but I've noticed a trend... the more recent the book, the more sex! This one was allright, but the sex did get a little....over much. I can understand that perhaps Hamilton wanted to get across to the reader that sex is a important part of Sidhe culture but I don't think she had to have so much of it. Not that I'm complaining-- I like some steamy sex scenes, but instead of enhancing the story and the plot's credibility, it detracted from it slightly. I do like that the story went somewhere... unlike anita blake, instead of sticking around and investigating, we get a nice view of both L.A. and Merry's roots in the fairy mounds. Too many authors find a setting for their characters and stick with it. I'm glad this wasn't the case....I hope the next book in the series gets Merry back to the Unseleigh court for a time....

I checked out the audio version of A Kiss of Shadows from the library. I only made it through Chap 6 before I gave up. The lack of plot, repetitive (read: on and on and on and on...) descriptions of body parts, clothing, hair, etc. were agonizing. And, what was worse is that with an audio book it is pretty much impossible to skip to the next actual development in the plot (such as it is, and as of the end of Chap 6, it isn't much). Because I enjoyed the Anita Blake series, I really wanted to like this series, too. I thought of trying again with a hardcopy version of the book, but then I checked out the other reviews. Uh-oh, looks like reading this un-edited drivel is just as bad as listening to it. I'd give this book zero stars if there were such a rating.

An easy reading page-turner providing a new twist in the horror/fantasy genre. Laurell's latest effort is quite similiar to her current Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. A strong female central character with special magic powers set in our normal world modified slightly to contain all the horror characters you can imagine. For example, the milkman might be a werewolf and the night bartender at the local watering hole might be a vampire. The difference betwen this series and others in the horror genre is that everybody knows about it! The monsters fit into life with everyone else: pay taxes, have jobs, etc. "Kiss of Shadows" moves into the subject of the faerie society in the U.S., with a tough young faerie Princess on the run. Like Anita, she rapidly develops a body count, unlike Anita she sleeps with half the cast members of the book. The descriptions of sexual activity in the book are fairly strong, so it is not recommended for younger readers. But the story rocks along and stays interesting through the explosive conclusion. On the downside, the book needs a good edit and should be about 50 to 75 pages longer (I suspect it WAS, and the economics of the game shortened it, causing most of the technical problems I had with the book). To list a few: 1, inadequate development of the central villan. 2, Inadequate resolution of conflicts of the protagonist's own nature and character. 3, oddly, since it really does read well, the plot has a few skips and misses before settling down to a real direction. Overall I recommend "Kiss of Shadows" and give it 3 and 1/2 stars.

I really enjoyed the first four Anita Blake books with their combination of alternate history, fantasy, mystery, and romance so I was deeply disappointed when I picked up Kiss of Shadow, looking forward to a new fantasy outing from the same author, and found simply an erotica story dressed up (or undressed) in fantasy clothes. In the first 50 pages, Meredith Gentry, the hot-to-trot faerie princess of our story, has three different sexual encounters all of them the cliched stuff of most erotica fiction--she gets hit with an aphrodiasic, almost has an orgy at the police station, and has kinky sex with her selkie boyfriend. Hamilton sets up an interesting fantasy background for her heroine and could have made a really riveting story from it, but the plot is simply a device to get Meredith from one sexual situation to another. Hamilton has appeared to have moved away from fantasies with a strong mystery element to erotica set in a fantasy world. The later Anita Blake novels have also devolved in this manner to the point where they are no longer readable. I have read and enjoyed erotica in the past, but Hamilton's attempt to meld it with serious alternate history fantasy has resulted in a very unsatisfactory hybrid of the two. If you like erotica, you'll enjoy this book. If you're looking for a well-plotted fantasy novel, avoid it.

I've read this book four times and I enjoy it more every time. Laurell K. Hamilton is an excellent author. A Kiss of Shadows is about Merry Gentry, a faerie princess and her ordeals with her aunt, the Queen of Darkness, and her cousin, Cel as she and her cousin begin a competition to become heir to the throne. The book is very fast paced, and the plot never gets dull as the story progresses. I can't wait to see what A Caress of Twilight will bring.

Merry Gentry has a secret...she's not just your everyday detective. She's also a fairy princess. A princess who's been hiding out for the last three years because somebody wants her dead. Now her aunt, the queen, has found her and wants Merry back at court. But whoever wanted her dead three years ago, still is working toward the goal.
Intrigue and twisted family relationships mix with fairies and other mythical creatures to create a great introduction to a new series by this talented author of the Anita Blake vampire books!

Complex, sophisticated, erotic. I love the entire Merry Gentry series or as my boyfriend calls it my "Fairy porn." The descriptions of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, the characters, the fey and their lives are brought to life in such a way that you can "see" them all in your mind. Thank you Ms. Hamilton for a fantastic read!

I remember reading my first Anita Blake book by Laurel K. Hamilton so many years ago and thinking that Guilty Pleasures was one of the best books I had ever read, I have not been disappointed by the books that have followed. Anita Blake is everything I have ever wanted to be in a person and she lives in a world that is so unreal that you just want to be a part of it. There is about a 6mnth to a year between books and my only regret is that Laurel cannot put them out faster! This is one series that is sure to please no matter what you love: horror, romance, comedy, tragedy, science fiction and drama. This series has it all.

The book is full of rich descriptions. Page long descriptions. However, if this book was a movie, by watching the trailer you would feel you have seen the whole thing. Reading the review gets you the story completely!
After reading some reviews and the store recommending this book based on my liking of the Kushiel trilogy, I was eagerly waiting to read this book.
I loved the Kushiel Trilogy. It has great characterization, and sex scenes (even some crude ones) that really add to the story. A Kiss of Shadows has shallow characters that are mostly interested in having sex. Again, if this book was a movie, it would be an adult film with some story in it to justify the sex, and not the saga I was expecting.

I love the early Anita books, but this was ghastly. In the Anita books, there are two kinds of sex. Sex between Anita and characters the author has developed and made me care about and sex with characters who have been given no introduction except 'he was a hunk', whom I do not care about. The first kind are really good, the second kind I skip because they're dull.

This book had only the second kind.

It would have been easy to spend the first half of the book introducing the boys and raising tension by having her unable to touch her Aunt's guard, however much she wanted to, then saved all the sex (except for Roane) for the end, or even the next volume, after I had some reason to care about these characters.

Very disappointing. Hoping later books in the series will improve.

Kiss of Shadows is entertaining enough in a lurid, trashy/gothic romance kind of way. However, I am of the distinct impression that Hamilton relies so heavily on physically describing the characters that she overlooked the actual "character" development. These people are quite shallow and unconvincing as thought bearing creatures. The plot is not really all that fabulous either. Even still, Kiss of Shadows is a good enough book to take on the bus or to your lunch break. Skip it if you want to sit down for some quality reading time. Get it if you want a quick, uninvolved read.

Overall: I'd give it two stars, only because it is a great example of world building.

Characters: Two stars, because Laurell does have a knack for creating interesting characters at the beginning, but somehow it always goes downhill after the first couple of books.

Plot: I wouldn't give the plot any stars, because there really isn't a plot, just excuses for Merry to sleep around and get power.

Writing: The actual writing gets two stars, because while it is pretty blunt, (Descriptions aren't really Hamilton's strong point. Everything is either "big/small", "pretty/ugly", "long/short", "black/white". And her fashion sense is horrible. White cat suits for men, with cutouts?), the writing does move fast and is better edited than the Anita Blake series.

I guess the best part of this book is that it's a fun escape, at times. It would be more fun if Hamilton wouldn't take things so seriously all the time. Every other event is a life or death situation, there's really no light moment or break in all the tension.

The worst part of the book, to me, is Merry. To me, she is a grand example of a grown woman's wish-fulfillment. A fairy princess, who looks astonishingly like the author herself, (sans green eyes), and is sought after by all the hottest men in the faerie world. Mary-Sue, thy name is Merry.

And it seems the whole world was built around this self-insertment. Everything revolves around and centers on Merry. I find myself being more interested in the things that have nothing to do with Meredith than I do in her struggles and triumphs. I would very much love to learn about the fey and the sidhe, without the princess sticking her 'curvy' butt into things.

Another thing that irritates me is the lack of any female character that isn't either 'weak' or a 'female dog'. While men are a dime a dozen, you'll be hard pressed to find more than a handful of important female characters, (excluding Merry herself).

The sex in the book leaves something to be desired. Except the scenes with Merry and Doyle at the beginning, any sexual tension after that disappeared. We know Merry is going to sleep with these men, so there's no tension or desire to see what happens. Most of the time you'll be flipping pages wanting to get back to the plot.

Which isn't much. Here is the formula for this series: To stay alive = baby X power. To get baby = sex X every male in the book. To get power = sex X every male in the book. So what you are left with is a lot of sex and politics and little else.

So all in all, I'd say, skip this book -- actually skip the series entirely. There really isn't much to enjoy in these books.

I have read every book of the Anita Blake series. I had my favorites, but I enjoyed the overall series. I bought "Kiss of Shadows" with no expectations beyond the hints that the characters were even better than that of the Anita series. I have an interest with supernatural tales, and this book makes a good start. No, not every character was detailed, nor was every lead in the plot explained. I simply remember that this is a start to a series and those little hints will grow into wonderful new tales. I don't think it is fair to compare this book with the Anita Blake series because this is just one book, just starting.
Meredith, the missing fey princess, is dragged back into UnSeelie Court life. Surrounded by beautiful, backstabbing fey, she must determine who is friend or foe in order to survive. Finding her powers just in the nick of time, Meredith earns her born right of princess of the UnSeelie fey.
Give this book a try and read it all the way through. I found it to be worth every penny.

I found Kiss of shadow at a Garage sale and decided to give it a try. I loved it. I have read all the Anita Blake books so it's no surprise that I love Merdith as well. Laurell has a way with making you see with words what is meant to be seen. I love all the differnt creatures and how she makes them real and makes you fall in love with them. Great Story and Great people.

LKH's new one, Kiss of Shadows, is a phenomenal read. I read all of her Anita Blake novels, but not one of them engaged me the way this book did. On the intellectual/imaginative plane, this ranks up there for accuracy and recreation of faerie lore with the Brian Froud series of Faeries, Good Faeries/Bad Faeries, and the Pressed Fairy book! The characters are all distinct and colorful. The plot moves fast enough to keep the reader enthralled until the last page. I couldn't put this one down! And yes, the world Hamilton creates is a very sexual one, appropriately so. Her writing is classy and erotic. This book would give anyone who appreciates well done erotica shivers and tingles. I needed a cold shower after reading this one. Those who criticize it for being overdone or raunchy should now proceed directly to the young adult section of the bookstore. Her writing is descriptive, her images clear, and that's all her writing, not just the erotic bits. All I can say is Bravo....and it's not nearly enough...

_Kiss of Shadows_ is the first book in a series set in an alternate reality featuring the Fey. Meredith Gentry, an Unseelie Court princess and heir to the throne, is a private investigator in Los Angeles. When her aunt Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness, *forces* her back home(which is Cahokia, Illinois), all manner of fascinatingly sexy things happen. Numerous wonderful and charismatic supporting characters.

Most of the early Anita Blake stories were fine examples of fantasy writing, coupling interesting plots with a host of well defined characters. Her vision of a world where technology, magic, and spiritualism coexist was refreshing. Late in the series, though her focus shifted from what was happening to Blake to with whom (or what) and how she was having sex. The writing remained strong, but the devices of plot and character suffered greatly.
I am saddened to report that A Kiss of Shadows (and it's probable sequels) continues this trend. Her heroine (Meredith Gentry) is a mortal sidhe (a contradiction in terms) who has earned the enmity of her aunt, who is queen of the unseelie court. The plot of the book is primarily about her running and hiding from one threat or another. This could have been a very interesting book, but Merry becomes so enmeshed in having some form of sex with nearly each and every creature she meets up with. She becomes so involved in the sexual antics that the plot simply becomes a device to get to the next sex scene.
If you are into kinky sex you will love this book. Especially kinky sex with wierd creatures. If you prefer characters who have brains as well as sex organs you will be a bit disappointed. And it is quite possible that some scenes may be offensive to more conservative readers.
Another irritating problem with this book is that Hamilton invents her worlds out of whole cloth, paying minimal attention to the traditional mythology from which she borrows. Just as her vampires and weres are somewhat unusual, her fey world echoes the traditional folk tale world, but deviates from that model whenever Hamilton feels the need. All in good fun I'm sure, but I have trouble with mortal sidhe, the peculiar use of fey and the strange racism the book flirts with.
I have read my share of soft core pornography, and can honestly say that Hamilton is one of the best in that genre. What disappoints and worries me is that she has established herself as a popular author based on her tamer novels, and is now using that popularity to promote writing which would not normally have been considered mainstream.
Each reader will have to decide for him or herself. I have decided to remove Hamilton from my 'hardcover' list. For now, I'll continue to pick up her novels in softcover, in the hope that she will learn how to balance sexuality and fantasy prose.

I admire Laurell K Hamilton's style, wit and creativity. In my opinion she is a truly talented and gifted writer. Which is why I am disappointed. I accept mediocre from many authors, because that is the limit of their abilities. Poor character development and thin plot are marks of many of the books I read, simply because they are all that is available. Many authors are using sex to disguise these weaknesses. I can accept that from poor writers. However, I just can't seem to accept that from someone as gifted as Ms. Hamilton--I approach her work with expectations. Rightly or wrongly, I expect a plot, well crafted and interesting characters---characters I am interested in, even if I don't like them. I expect a vivid world, with rich depth and detail. I expected to be provoked to thought and new ideas. Unfortunately, I found the old reliable trick of using sex to try and hide the dearth of plot, characterization and detail in this Kiss of Shadows. Perhaps I might have fallen for it, if the sex scenes hadat least been titilating.
Yet, all of that said, IF this were a book by a untalented author, I would have said, "its ok". It was readable, I didn't stop after the first chapter, which I have done with many other books.

Meredith Gentry is a faerie princess. Not the disneyfied children's version either. This one lives in Los Angeles, and much like Angel, is a private investigator of sorts, and looks into problems associated with the supernatural world a lot of the time.

She is also involved with the politics of the faerie realm, and this is why she is hiding out. She gets discovered, and has to fight back against the relatives that want to bump her off.

I have loved some of Hamilton's other works, specifically the early books of the Anita Blake series. She has created an entire reality that incorporates the creatures of myth and legend into every day life, and has done so in an entertaining, engaging and believable manner.
That said, this book was not up to par. I felt like Hamilton was more preoccupied with what everyone was wearing and how much bonking was going on than with, say, writing a story? With a plot? I was bored and had to force myself to finish it.
Merry has the potential to be a great character, but she needs to be in more than an erotic fashion show to lure me back.
Next!

Laurell K Hamilton continues her lively stories with the first book of the Meredith Gentry series. Some complain about the sex aspect of the book, but those of you who have read the later books in the Anita Blake series done by her, are quite more graphic to say the least. The plot and characters behind that which is Laurell K Hamilton's new series still holds strong, and is yet another greatly unique book, and series that i will eagerly continue to read.

This book was a little slow on some of the actions/detail im used to with Hamilton's other books, but it had what was done to succesfully boost of her new series. It will be much more of a fantasy ride with this new series as Meredith goes further away from mechanical arms and moer into the magic (Unlike Anita from the other series who still favors her browning). Def. a great book to read!

I too accidently ran into Laurell K. Hamilton's work. My ex husband bought it for me, assuming it was something I would like... and boy was he right!
From the moment I picked up "Kiss of Shadows", I could NOT put this book down. Merry was exactly the kind of release I needed from the typical Anne Rice novel. I loved how the storyline curved in all sorts of directions and I loved the introduction to Andais and Doyle. The [physical] scenes were daring and creative and not at all like a typical romance novel.
I've always been a lover of fantasy novels and Ms. Hamilton did a BRILLIANT job with this novel. I've been a VERY devoted Hamilton fan since this book and now own every novel she's written.
I recommend this novel to anyone who has an open mind for fantasy, [physical activity] and magic.

I would just like to say that I really enjoyed this book. A lot of the reviews make strong mention of the sexual content found in this novel. However, I believe that these encounters are very important to the overall tone of the book; the society is much easier to understand with the encounters included. I also believe that the frequency is important, and that they are not included for excitement. If the encounters are unenjoyable or distasteful to you as a reader, imagine how Merry must feel! Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I do not believe that it is "porn," because the sexual encounters are vital in setting the tone of the fairie society.

A friend introduced me to this series, i am a big reader but a particular one. I went out and bought all of the series that was out and ordered one of the Anita Blake Series. I now have them all in hardcover and a few in audio as well. If you want a good book, that is part of an ongoign series with a romantic, sexual, and paranormal twist i suggest you pick this book up. Hot immortal men, magic, mystery, and suspence....what more could ask for.

Hamilton has an excellent imagination and ability to make the supernatural feel natural. The way she blends her fairy world with the real world is amazing. She reminds me a lot of Anne Rice and Rice's fans will appreciate this book. I felt the book could have been a bit longer at the end a followed up on Merry and what happens to her back in LA but that was the only bad side. Hamilton gives readers a good overall understanding of Celtic mythology especially if they have no prior knowledge of it.

...is a different story(pun intended).
CHARACTERS- 9/10. Frost was just cool.(pun unintended) Doyle and the other characters are fascinating. No problems there.
DESCRIPTION- 10/10. Very nicely described. The scenes are powerfully written.
PLOT- 4/10. What plot? Cel was not too interesting a villian. Could be cos' he was only onscreen for about 5% of the book. The plot left me feeling like this book was just the prologue, setting the stage, if you will.

Merry Gentry is a character who I think has the potential to become bigger than Anita Blake. When I started reading this new book I was captivated from the start. Merry is sassy, but sofisticated, and she is not afraid to embrace her magic. The book takes some turns that aren't expected, but all in all was mildly predictable as far as story goes, but this is the first book and the characters and storylines must be set up for any future books. I think that there was some overkill with all of the in detail sex in this book, sometimes a little should be left to the imagination. All in all I was very impressed with LKH effort in this new series, and I am sure that Merry, although she is not as brutal as Anita Blake was, will be the next heroine for all of us who love (or loved) Anita Blake.

Though this is a seriously sexy new look at the world of faery Laurell Hamilton's 1st in her new series does not live up to the promise of her Anita Blake books.
The story line seems promising with the heroine a mixed blood elven princess who is a private eye at the start of the book and stumbles across a case which draws her back into the political intrigue of the elven court. A fight for succession to the throne means she becomes both politically and sexually entangled with various factions within the court. During this she discovers she has longhidden talents for faery magic.
However the storyline is poorly worked out focusing so heavily on the erotic side of the story that the relationships and characters become flat and unengaging. Buy it as a good erotic read and it fairly steams! Don't read it for the scifi/fantasy element.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book. I have to admit, I'd stopped reading fantasy a long time ago, because I found it was getting formulaic. But I'm very glad to have been introduced to this particular world.
It's refreshing to read a book about the fairy folk that doesn't use Tolkien as a template. Here, Hamilton goes back to celtic tradition in bringing her characters to life. The machinations of the Courts are especially a treat.
This is clearly intended to be the first book in a series (or perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part), and is a compelling start.
The first book hasn't been published yet, and I can't wait for the second!

I read this book in 2 days. I wanted to know what would happen. I think the sex stuf was a wee bit much, but it did not keep me from reading and wanting to know what was going on and what would happen. I can not wait to read the next one. I like the way the real world and fantasy are melded together so, seemingly logically ;)

I have read many books about fairies. But this series is about "Faeries". Merry Gentry changes everything for her people. She brings a kindness and love they have never known and gives of herself like nothing any of the men from her real home have ever experienced. This is the series for adults who don't mind pure, heated, sensual, sometimes rough, not always romantic, setting rules and not mind being vulnerable heroin who takes us into worlds and places we will not soon forget. The first 3 books in the series are my favorite. This is when she gets to know her people and a side of herself I feel she kept hidden.

I really enjoyed Hamilton's Anita Blake series. I actually read Narcissus in Chains first. I was so intrigued with the world she had created that I then went back to the beginning of that series. It's rewarding to read a writer's works that thoroughly develop characters in each volume yet continues to introduce interesting new characters and complex situations in each succeeding volume. The relationships that develop are multi-faceted and the dark yet moral world that Anita thrives in is stimulating and humorous. The sleuthing into murder mysteries keeps the the reader guessing and Anita growing as a character. Sex, when it occasionally appears, is intrinsic to the plot line and character development, and unique. I want to find out more about Anita and her pard, her relationship with Damian, Jean-Claude, Asher and Micah. I want to find out what the triumpherate will become. In Hamilton's excursion into the fairie world, A Kiss of Shadows, I was annoyed and disappointed by characters who do not have any depth. Sex seems to be the favorite past-time of the characters rather than any plot development - the more bizarre the sex and the characters the better. Who are these characters and why should I care about them? I enjoy Hamilton's prose and creative genius; her plot developments, on the whole, are clever and most of the time, unanticipated. I enjoy her pushing the boundaries of "what is acceptable" be it gore or wild sex, but it must support the plot. This latest series seems tired and not up to the complex depth that I have become accustomed to in Hamilton's previous work. I hope Hamilton returns soon to her unique world of preternatural crime, Necromancers, Master Vampires and Nimar-Ras.

The book was excellent as only LKH can do. I love her writing - always imaginative and with well developed characters. I was disappointed that Merry Gentry reminded me so much of Anita Blake. It was my hope that a strong female character could exhibit strengths that would differentiate her from others. Some details in the book also took me back to Anita - the discussion on how to draw, where a holster is best placed, the male characters seemed to be reflections of Jean Claude, et al, and other little details that I so enjoy in the Anita Blake books distracted me by appearing in a different story line. The book would have benefited greatly from an editor who could help strain out the Anita Blake similarities.

A Kiss of Shadows is a fast paced complex book that invites the reader to share in the characters longings for home and of acceptance. The main character Princess Meredith NicEssus has run from her relatives in fear of her life. Now however she has been found and the excitement begins. I was not a reader of Mrs. Hamilton's writtings but after reading this book I went out and bought three other books she has written. If you like a book that grips the imagination and take you on a journey to a place your mind has never been to before then buy this book it is truly a page turner. I found no weak spots in the plot from the first page till last it was a joy to read. At times I found myself thinking this is the way fairy stories are suppose to be written.

It drives me crazy (in a BAD way) when people fall in love with an author, and then don't want them to grow beyond a single character or series. Laurell K. Hamilton proved herself to be the Queen of sexual tension in the Anita Blake series (I don't think there was any actual SEX until the 6th book)...but THIS book shows that she is in the running for Queen of fantasy erotica as well. And there is a LOT of sex in this book...perhaps too much. The character of Merry is a typical Hamilton heroine - petite, gorgeous and TOUGH! I would read another Merry book...even if I do have to wade through all that SEX!

A friend introduced me to this series, i am a big reader but a particular one. I went out and bought all of the series that was out and ordered one of the Anita Blake Series. I now have them all in hardcover and a few in audio as well. If you want a good book, that is part of an ongoign series with a romantic, sexual, and paranormal twist i suggest you pick this book up. Hot immortal men, magic, mystery, and suspence....what more could ask for.

Hamilton has an excellent imagination and ability to make the supernatural feel natural. The way she blends her fairy world with the real world is amazing. She reminds me a lot of Anne Rice and Rice's fans will appreciate this book. I felt the book could have been a bit longer at the end a followed up on Merry and what happens to her back in LA but that was the only bad side. Hamilton gives readers a good overall understanding of Celtic mythology especially if they have no prior knowledge of it.

...is a different story(pun intended).
CHARACTERS- 9/10. Frost was just cool.(pun unintended) Doyle and the other characters are fascinating. No problems there.
DESCRIPTION- 10/10. Very nicely described. The scenes are powerfully written.
PLOT- 4/10. What plot? Cel was not too interesting a villian. Could be cos' he was only onscreen for about 5% of the book. The plot left me feeling like this book was just the prologue, setting the stage, if you will.

Merry Gentry is a character who I think has the potential to become bigger than Anita Blake. When I started reading this new book I was captivated from the start. Merry is sassy, but sofisticated, and she is not afraid to embrace her magic. The book takes some turns that aren't expected, but all in all was mildly predictable as far as story goes, but this is the first book and the characters and storylines must be set up for any future books. I think that there was some overkill with all of the in detail sex in this book, sometimes a little should be left to the imagination. All in all I was very impressed with LKH effort in this new series, and I am sure that Merry, although she is not as brutal as Anita Blake was, will be the next heroine for all of us who love (or loved) Anita Blake.

Though this is a seriously sexy new look at the world of faery Laurell Hamilton's 1st in her new series does not live up to the promise of her Anita Blake books.
The story line seems promising with the heroine a mixed blood elven princess who is a private eye at the start of the book and stumbles across a case which draws her back into the political intrigue of the elven court. A fight for succession to the throne means she becomes both politically and sexually entangled with various factions within the court. During this she discovers she has longhidden talents for faery magic.
However the storyline is poorly worked out focusing so heavily on the erotic side of the story that the relationships and characters become flat and unengaging. Buy it as a good erotic read and it fairly steams! Don't read it for the scifi/fantasy element.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book. I have to admit, I'd stopped reading fantasy a long time ago, because I found it was getting formulaic. But I'm very glad to have been introduced to this particular world.
It's refreshing to read a book about the fairy folk that doesn't use Tolkien as a template. Here, Hamilton goes back to celtic tradition in bringing her characters to life. The machinations of the Courts are especially a treat.
This is clearly intended to be the first book in a series (or perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part), and is a compelling start.
The first book hasn't been published yet, and I can't wait for the second!

I read this book in 2 days. I wanted to know what would happen. I think the sex stuf was a wee bit much, but it did not keep me from reading and wanting to know what was going on and what would happen. I can not wait to read the next one. I like the way the real world and fantasy are melded together so, seemingly logically ;)

While I was prepared to be disappointed with the shift away from the Anita Blake series, I must say that my husband had to DRAG me to bed at 2:30 in the morning. Laurell has created a definately surreal, erotic storyline in this new series. She takes a no-holds-barred approach to her descriptions of the Unseelie Court and what the politics of an ancient, sometimes amoral people can be like - something Merry wants away from desperately. While this book may look to be straight out of a fairytale - this is NOT a book for children. Prepare to be shocked, amused and sympathetic to Merry Gentry. Sometimes staying alive can be the greatest challenge and the greatest fun! This was one of the few books that I could not put down and wanted more pages when I reached the end. Hopefully, the next installment in this series will be available soon.

I have read many books about fairies. But this series is about "Faeries". Merry Gentry changes everything for her people. She brings a kindness and love they have never known and gives of herself like nothing any of the men from her real home have ever experienced. This is the series for adults who don't mind pure, heated, sensual, sometimes rough, not always romantic, setting rules and not mind being vulnerable heroin who takes us into worlds and places we will not soon forget. The first 3 books in the series are my favorite. This is when she gets to know her people and a side of herself I feel she kept hidden.

I really enjoyed Hamilton's Anita Blake series. I actually read Narcissus in Chains first. I was so intrigued with the world she had created that I then went back to the beginning of that series. It's rewarding to read a writer's works that thoroughly develop characters in each volume yet continues to introduce interesting new characters and complex situations in each succeeding volume. The relationships that develop are multi-faceted and the dark yet moral world that Anita thrives in is stimulating and humorous. The sleuthing into murder mysteries keeps the the reader guessing and Anita growing as a character. Sex, when it occasionally appears, is intrinsic to the plot line and character development, and unique. I want to find out more about Anita and her pard, her relationship with Damian, Jean-Claude, Asher and Micah. I want to find out what the triumpherate will become. In Hamilton's excursion into the fairie world, A Kiss of Shadows, I was annoyed and disappointed by characters who do not have any depth. Sex seems to be the favorite past-time of the characters rather than any plot development - the more bizarre the sex and the characters the better. Who are these characters and why should I care about them? I enjoy Hamilton's prose and creative genius; her plot developments, on the whole, are clever and most of the time, unanticipated. I enjoy her pushing the boundaries of "what is acceptable" be it gore or wild sex, but it must support the plot. This latest series seems tired and not up to the complex depth that I have become accustomed to in Hamilton's previous work. I hope Hamilton returns soon to her unique world of preternatural crime, Necromancers, Master Vampires and Nimar-Ras.

The book was excellent as only LKH can do. I love her writing - always imaginative and with well developed characters. I was disappointed that Merry Gentry reminded me so much of Anita Blake. It was my hope that a strong female character could exhibit strengths that would differentiate her from others. Some details in the book also took me back to Anita - the discussion on how to draw, where a holster is best placed, the male characters seemed to be reflections of Jean Claude, et al, and other little details that I so enjoy in the Anita Blake books distracted me by appearing in a different story line. The book would have benefited greatly from an editor who could help strain out the Anita Blake similarities.

A Kiss of Shadows is a fast paced complex book that invites the reader to share in the characters longings for home and of acceptance. The main character Princess Meredith NicEssus has run from her relatives in fear of her life. Now however she has been found and the excitement begins. I was not a reader of Mrs. Hamilton's writtings but after reading this book I went out and bought three other books she has written. If you like a book that grips the imagination and take you on a journey to a place your mind has never been to before then buy this book it is truly a page turner. I found no weak spots in the plot from the first page till last it was a joy to read. At times I found myself thinking this is the way fairy stories are suppose to be written.

It drives me crazy (in a BAD way) when people fall in love with an author, and then don't want them to grow beyond a single character or series. Laurell K. Hamilton proved herself to be the Queen of sexual tension in the Anita Blake series (I don't think there was any actual SEX until the 6th book)...but THIS book shows that she is in the running for Queen of fantasy erotica as well. And there is a LOT of sex in this book...perhaps too much. The character of Merry is a typical Hamilton heroine - petite, gorgeous and TOUGH! I would read another Merry book...even if I do have to wade through all that SEX!

Having read all of the books in the Anita Blake series, I was curious about her new series. I was a little doubtful...Fairy's?!? But from the first page I was hooked.
Meredith is refreshing after Anita Blake's constant litany of being a one man woman (and then proceding to sleep with 3 men). Meredith is honest and feircely independant and descended from FIVE fertily dieties. I don't understand why everyone complains that there is too much sex in the novel. Throughout the novel, Meredith states that the sidhe (the fairy folk) are comfortable with sex, VERY comfortable. She has to get pregnant or face death. Last time I checked getting pregnant required sex. The love scenes between her and various men actually give us glimpses into the characters and their fears and hopes. Frost's hidden humour and vulnerability, Sholto's need to be accepted in the glittering Sidhe world while forced to lead in the feared and tolerated Sluagh world. The one time Doyle loses control. Many critical plots points happen in the bedroom for Meredith. If you could get off the prude wagon and look at what's really being revealed you'll see that it's not only skin.

Merry is the American Farie Princess. The thing is she's hiding from her kind instead of living the dream most little girls have. Soon enough she is forced to go back or face terror filled concequences. Once there her aunt, the queen, tells her her shocking plan.

This book got me hooked to the series. I've seen that the main focus of Hamilton's recent books have been sex and reading this book and its sequel it is true, but the books do not lack a good plot. The only thing that makes this book worthreading if you are not looking for a sex scene is the plot. The plot is gripping and makes you want to stay up until you finnish the book until the very end.

I thought Kiss of Shadows was going to be great. You had Merry, a Faerie Princess in hiding and as a detective. It was a great setup and had lots of potential for a great series with Merry on the run, working behind the scenes, trying to be a detective and not be detected....
Too bad LKH threw it all away in one fell swoops, early in the book.
The rest of the book was simply sex scene after sex scene. I was very disappointed.

If you, like me, found Kiss of Shadows because you were an Anita Blake fan, you may be disappointed in Laurell K. Hamilton's new series. In the first few chapters, it just felt WAY too similar to the Anita Blake series, both in style and characterization. Which is fine, if you are a fan to begin with, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. But I quickly realized that what kept me intrigued in the Anita Blake books was the driving force of the mystery-based plot. I felt that was very much lacking in this book, as the mystery of Alistair Norton was quickly resolved 1/4 of the way in. The court intrigue could've been more interesting, but instead just ended up as 4 or 5 rapid-fire assassination attempts without even the slightest break for Merry. Ms. Hamilton's substitution of physical description and clothing for real character development is extremely frustrating as well.
I have no problem with the overtly erotic, and at times, kinky nature of the multiple encounters Merry has, but they would be best served with more tightly-drawn characters, backstory, and a stronger driving plot or intrigue.

I did not think LKH could get any better than her vampire series, but she has. This book has political intrigue, beautful men and women and a great plot. This book is outstanding and I cannot wait for Caress of Twilight. LKH cannot write them fast enough for me.

I enjoyed this, because the ANITA BLAKE, VAMPIRE HUNTER
series were way too violent for my sister (prone to nightmares -even from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS).
The Merry Gentry novels are written for more gentle
sensibilies, but Merry is smart, brave and independent (but much
less of a troublemaker).
If you're a guy, read Anita. Else, try Merry.

Where does Laurell Hamilton find the guys she bases the men in her books on? If you thought Jean-Claude and Richard were hot in the Anita Blake series, wait till you find some of the males in this one! Frost, Rhys, Galen, Doyle. I dreamed about Eduardo, but these guys kept me awake! Definitely not a book for the faint-hearted, but if you have a vivid imagination, and need a little inspiration, this is definitely a good place to start!

The same fast paced thrill ride you get from her Anita Blake series. However NOT just a methadone fix until Anita next adventure - this series stands on its' own. If you liked Laurell K.'s other books you'll like this.

Once again, Ms. Hamilton has brought imagination alive with the characters in this book. A little diferent from her usual vampire genre, A Kiss of Shadows is the story of the sidhe princess, Meredith. A must read if you're a fan of Laurell Hamilton. Can't wait to read the sequel!

Wow. I was really looking forward to reading something by Anita Blake as I heard so many great things about her books, but I could not even finish this book. (that is not common for me). I read over half of the book hoping that it would improve and it did not.

This started off sounding pretty promising....a case that involved a dead man's wife and mistress (who are now friends). Quickly though, the case seems to be left behind. I found Meredith was having (mostly meaningless) sex with pretty much every male creature she encounterd. I like the supernatural type books, but some of the creatured were a bit over the top.

Very disappointing. I did purchase the audio version of this book (I was pretty sure I would like it) and the reader was okay, but did not like the way she portrayed the male characters.

I would not recommend this book.

I love all Laurell's books. I believe I prefer the Anita Blake series to this one so far. However, if you like fantasy and fey then you should read the first 2 before you make a decision on this series.

I won't go into a plot summary, since others already have. I will say that, rightly or wrongly, I feel that Laurell Hamilton was very influenced by Mercedes Lackey (the Diana Tregarde series) and Emma Bull (War for the Oaks) -- okay, with some serious Anne Rice (her erotic "Beauty" trilogy) thrown in. But hey, this all works for me, since I loved all of the above. This book doesn't break any new ground, but it was certainly an enjoyable read.

I must admit that I was skeptical of this book before I started, but I absolutely LOVED it! I am a huge fan of this genre and have read several different series; my favorite is the Mercy Thompson books but I am all out so I thought I would give this one a shot. It was a very gripping and intriguing novel from the start! The author does an excellent job developing the heroine and all her connections to the other characters. Once I started I could barely stand to put it down long enough to sleep!!!

Let me preface this with saying that I am a huge Laurell K Hamilton fan.

In particular, this book took me three tries to start, and with force I finish it. It was difficult to keep track of all of the characters. The 468 pages were devoted mostly to lengthy descriptions about each characters clothes or body features.

As a relatively recent reader of this genre, I found the whole Sidhe/Fey/Faere/Goblin/Brownie culture difficult to understand. Hamilton didn't provide enough information to help me separate each unique culture and then see their inter-relationships.

I hope that Hamilton rescues my waivering trust and salvages the storyline in A Caress of Twilight.

Wow. For the first in her new fae series the yum factor is so very high. L Hamilton has the ability to pull you in to her world without overworking the feel and makes you never want to leave. I was hanging out for another dose as soon as I was done.

"Yeah its that good", is definately an understatement! How often does anybody actually get to read a good book with non-vamp/were/ghost/etc.... And actually UNDERSTAND it! Well since you asked, ALMOST NEVER!!!! I can't even begin to say enough grrreat things about this book,(cuz if i do i wont stop) I think I passed this book up in the store a Guzzilion times (cuz i usually am more into the Vampire/Carpathian and/or Shapeshifter books. But I had no new books at home except for a new Anne Rice novel I bought a week earlier (which ya know big whoop i was havin' problems followin' the the web that she weaveth) Sooooo I boughteth this Booketh And I just have one thing left to say... "I REGRETETH IT NOTTETH"! BUY ME I'M A MUST HAVE! (not for kids)

This Laurell Hamilton was a little too much for me. Chapter 31 was a gross out. It was interesting and non-stop action, but, altho I am very impressed with LH's imagination, I think I'll wait until Merry's next adventure comes out in paperback.

This is a great book to read. The only part i didn't like was that everyone was stronger then merry But everything else was great.Laurell always leaves you guessing and waiting for the next book to come out.She is just a great authur.

I ordered this book on a whim after reading a review of it on Charlaine Harris' website (she is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse "True Blood" books) I have to say I am enamored by this book. The sexual content is strong so if you are adverse to that then dont bother. It is so beautifully written I find myself putting it down because I want to save it! It makes me sad to know it will soon come to an end! Hanilton has a SERIOUS imagination and the way she weaves it all together is seamless. Get lost in this magical adventure. You will never think of fairy princesses the same again!

This started out as a pretty good detective novel then just gave that up and became a long winded description of Fairie royal court. Like the Anita Blake series, which I can't get enough of, Hamilton seems to use mysteries as background noise in teh story. Why even bother setting up a mystery if you aren't going to see it through. On the other hand, I admit I'm hooked. Hopefully the next one will be better.

I have been reading Laurell K. Hamilton for a couple of years now and am a HUGE fan of the Anita Blake series. I went out and purchased this new book hoping that it would be as good, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it had it high points and it had it's not so great points, it just wasn't the "stay up all night to finish it" kind of book. I don't know if it is that I have been spoiled by the Anita Blake books or if that I just expected something different, but I guess you have to just take this one for what it is......the first in a series that needs some fine tuning and some deeper character development. I look forward to reading the next one to see how things evolve.

Loved this book! When it first came out I held off reading it because I couldn't imagine anything better than the Anita Blake series. About 2 months later I read it and was blown away! What an imagination!

I like all of L. Hamilton's work, but I like this series a little better because there is less crime scenes and violence.

The Best thing about her books is you never know what is going to happen.

This may be a problem with my expectations, but after reading the description of the plot I was really looking for a more tongue in cheek attitude in telling this story. The author really seems to take the whole plot too seriously and needs to infuse a little more humor to make the book work for me. I lost interest in the characters about half way through the book, and in the story shortly after that point. The sex scenes are fun, but not enough to carry the book.

Although the first book is intriguing, I had to give the series as a whole only one star. Each book was worse than the previous one, primarily because:
(1) too many plot threads dangle forlornly
(2) Those that she bothers to address are wrapped up too neatly, as an afterthought
(3) The characters do things unexpected and out-of-character. If her Guards inspire such fear in Fairie, why are they so bad at it?
(4) The middle books introduce so many characters Merry has sex with, I struggled to keep track of them all -- and then they inexplicably disappear
(5) the last book (7 -- Darkness) is truly awful.
I found these at my library, thank goodness... if you want to read them, be sure not to spend too much!

The charactarization and plot are fine, so long as you don't mind that every developing scene is a sex scene. The story follows the formula of a standard smut romp and manages, stunningly, to do it without any heat.
Is this what "Bestseller" has come to?

Employing a savory blend of fantasy and reality, 'A Kiss of Shadows' will fascinate and horrify simultaneously. Laurell K. Hamilton's story of a faerie princess with a sardonic wit and an overactive libido is a unique blend of magical and mundane, beauty and beastliness, sensitivity and sexuality. Princess Meredith must forge a path through the tangled intrigue of the Faerie Court, when all she really wants is to remain obscure and at peace in today's modern, human world. The tale will draw you in, and keep you, spellbound. Beware of faerie magic! A warning to those sensitive to such things -- Hamilton's writing includes numerous violent and sexual situations.

I own every book in this series....so far. This is the only set of books I have re-read many many times. I sit on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. I also cannot hardly put these books down.
This 1st book is just soooo great. If you are into tales of fairies, fantasy fiction (all with a little sex) get these books.

I found "A Kiss of Shadows" the most exhilarating and liberating book I'd read in a long time. LKH's themes and references are complex and sophisticated, and the use of the word "ribald" was an excellent choice by one professional reviewer.
Meredith Gentry is compassionate and warm, clever and vulnerable. This is a quest story, with the narrator seeking to survive politics and find her life path.
The reviews here at the store are informative, in that they seem to be by readers who are angry. Either angry that LKH verged into a new series instead of writing Anita Blake books more-better-faster. Or the readers are dismayed at LKH's frankness and Meredith's pleasure in sexuality.
Of course, we don't see reviews at the store (or too many other places, since Amie is not a message board) complaining that the violence and action sequences, the crime scenes and the magic, and the blood in the Anita Blake:Vampire Hunter are grotesque and perverse and that reader is never buying another book from the author.
As LKH has said several times in print: "There isn't that much sex in this book."
She is correct. But unsophisticated readers will only notice the erotic elements. (And these are really, really, good.) They might miss the fascinating magic that occurs (entirely different from the Anitaverse), the strong family and loyalty bonds that fill Merry's life, the wit, the Celtic lore that has played out with the Fey living in the USA, the sense of the team at the Grey Detective Agency in LA, the range of diverse characters (not all male) at the Unseelie Court and throughout the novel, plus the Queen of Air and Darkness who is terrifying.
This is an adult book. I mean, it is for anyone who brings their mature, inquiring mind to a novel of speculative fiction. What if everyone around you is immortal? How do they spend eternity? And how precious is life to you (Meredith) as a mortal in their midst?
What would it mean for you if physical pleasure, the life of the senses, a bond with nature, and a search for a mate to awaken your personal magic and link to your fertility were key in your life as a woman?
I highly recommend this book. It is extremely unusual.

It was bad enough when the Anita Blake series degenerated into a horny hick needing to bonk one of the two hot, prissy, whiny men with the personality of cardboard. I thought that was as bad as this author was going to get.

But this? LKH seems to think 'pretty' is a personality, 'sex' is a plot, and its okay for characters to forget about life-threatening other plot points that don't involving 'tab A into slot B.'

Nothing is resolved in this book, no characters are developed, and the only thing entertaining about this book is the cheese factor of half the scenes.

My first book from the author and I can say one thing, I cannot help but want more.

Meredith is a great character. The plot is unexpected. One cannot guess what is coming next. The romance isn't like, I see you and I will love you forever, what is great in my opinion.

It hasn't got to what Kushiel's dart means to me, since Pedhre is my all times favorite heroine. But, it was a great reading nonetheless.

This book was the 9th in a series and takes you into the incredible imagination of Laurell Hamilton. I couldn't put it down - the addiction seemed to worsen with each book. I find it a cross between horror, romance, science fiction and humor. It is difficult to explain to someone who has not read the series, but when you find a comrad, words just pour out. I can't wait to read the next one (have it on order)!

The Meredeith Gentry series has it all; magic, mystery, murder, family dysfunction/political intrigue, and lots of sex with several gorgeous and adoring personal guards. It's like Cinderella meets Hamlet via Tracey Lords! Incredible!

First and foremost, I could care less about the main character, Meredith. She's a big egoistic woman who can do no wrong who keeps discovering she's more and more powerful. And she apparently has the power to "inadvertently" seduce everyone around her. If you like soft-core porn and one-dimensional characters, then you might enjoy this book. If not, then I'd recommend not reading it.

As an opening book to this series it's very powerful. It took me a little longer than some books to read that are this length, but it was well worth getting through it. I really think if you can look past the flesh themes and read it as a whole you will enjoy this book.

The charactarization and plot are fine, so long as you don't mind that every developing scene is a sex scene. The story follows the formula of a standard smut romp and manages, stunningly, to do it without any heat.
Is this what "Bestseller" has come to?

Employing a savory blend of fantasy and reality, 'A Kiss of Shadows' will fascinate and horrify simultaneously. Laurell K. Hamilton's story of a faerie princess with a sardonic wit and an overactive libido is a unique blend of magical and mundane, beauty and beastliness, sensitivity and sexuality. Princess Meredith must forge a path through the tangled intrigue of the Faerie Court, when all she really wants is to remain obscure and at peace in today's modern, human world. The tale will draw you in, and keep you, spellbound. Beware of faerie magic! A warning to those sensitive to such things -- Hamilton's writing includes numerous violent and sexual situations.

I own every book in this series....so far. This is the only set of books I have re-read many many times. I sit on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment. I also cannot hardly put these books down.
This 1st book is just soooo great. If you are into tales of fairies, fantasy fiction (all with a little sex) get these books.

I found "A Kiss of Shadows" the most exhilarating and liberating book I'd read in a long time. LKH's themes and references are complex and sophisticated, and the use of the word "ribald" was an excellent choice by one professional reviewer.
Meredith Gentry is compassionate and warm, clever and vulnerable. This is a quest story, with the narrator seeking to survive politics and find her life path.
The reviews here at the store are informative, in that they seem to be by readers who are angry. Either angry that LKH verged into a new series instead of writing Anita Blake books more-better-faster. Or the readers are dismayed at LKH's frankness and Meredith's pleasure in sexuality.
Of course, we don't see reviews at the store (or too many other places, since Amie is not a message board) complaining that the violence and action sequences, the crime scenes and the magic, and the blood in the Anita Blake:Vampire Hunter are grotesque and perverse and that reader is never buying another book from the author.
As LKH has said several times in print: "There isn't that much sex in this book."
She is correct. But unsophisticated readers will only notice the erotic elements. (And these are really, really, good.) They might miss the fascinating magic that occurs (entirely different from the Anitaverse), the strong family and loyalty bonds that fill Merry's life, the wit, the Celtic lore that has played out with the Fey living in the USA, the sense of the team at the Grey Detective Agency in LA, the range of diverse characters (not all male) at the Unseelie Court and throughout the novel, plus the Queen of Air and Darkness who is terrifying.
This is an adult book. I mean, it is for anyone who brings their mature, inquiring mind to a novel of speculative fiction. What if everyone around you is immortal? How do they spend eternity? And how precious is life to you (Meredith) as a mortal in their midst?
What would it mean for you if physical pleasure, the life of the senses, a bond with nature, and a search for a mate to awaken your personal magic and link to your fertility were key in your life as a woman?
I highly recommend this book. It is extremely unusual.

It was bad enough when the Anita Blake series degenerated into a horny hick needing to bonk one of the two hot, prissy, whiny men with the personality of cardboard. I thought that was as bad as this author was going to get.

But this? LKH seems to think 'pretty' is a personality, 'sex' is a plot, and its okay for characters to forget about life-threatening other plot points that don't involving 'tab A into slot B.'

Nothing is resolved in this book, no characters are developed, and the only thing entertaining about this book is the cheese factor of half the scenes.

My first book from the author and I can say one thing, I cannot help but want more.

Meredith is a great character. The plot is unexpected. One cannot guess what is coming next. The romance isn't like, I see you and I will love you forever, what is great in my opinion.

It hasn't got to what Kushiel's dart means to me, since Pedhre is my all times favorite heroine. But, it was a great reading nonetheless.

Laurell K. Hamilton whips up another book..and once again,I love it. The main character in this book is so unique,and so interesting,that it makes this book twice as good. "A Kiss of Shadows" is well written,and it looks like she has done quite some research to write this book. This book caught my attention rather quickly,and once again I love all the characters. It was oddly sad to me when I read it,but it is none-the-less a great book. I highly recommend it.

This book was the 9th in a series and takes you into the incredible imagination of Laurell Hamilton. I couldn't put it down - the addiction seemed to worsen with each book. I find it a cross between horror, romance, science fiction and humor. It is difficult to explain to someone who has not read the series, but when you find a comrad, words just pour out. I can't wait to read the next one (have it on order)!

The Meredeith Gentry series has it all; magic, mystery, murder, family dysfunction/political intrigue, and lots of sex with several gorgeous and adoring personal guards. It's like Cinderella meets Hamlet via Tracey Lords! Incredible!

First and foremost, I could care less about the main character, Meredith. She's a big egoistic woman who can do no wrong who keeps discovering she's more and more powerful. And she apparently has the power to "inadvertently" seduce everyone around her. If you like soft-core porn and one-dimensional characters, then you might enjoy this book. If not, then I'd recommend not reading it.

As an opening book to this series it's very powerful. It took me a little longer than some books to read that are this length, but it was well worth getting through it. I really think if you can look past the flesh themes and read it as a whole you will enjoy this book.

This is a fun book to read. It is definately for the adult mind. Very erotic. The writing was easy to read. This is book 1 in a series that currently contains three books. It is a series that you will enjoy reading.

I've already read this book several times and enjoyed it every time. I can't decide which series I want her to write in next, but since I already know she is finishing up number ten in the Anita series I don't have to decide.

This is a well-written book starting a new series by the author of the "Anita Blake, vampire hunter" series. In terms of explicit sexuality, it starts at about where the Anita series was at book ten; pretty explicit, but not up to X-Rated yet. In terms of characters and plot, this series seems to me to start somewhat more slowly than the Anita series did, but that may just be a prejudice on my part in favor of the character of Anita; I simply like Anita better than I like Princess nicEssus. The secondary characters are about on a par with the secondary characters in the Anita series, and if I'm not much taken with the background plot, I really haven't seen enough of it yet to judge. I don't think it's quite as compelling as the background plot for the Anita series, but perhaps it will grow on me. Certainly, the series is worth continuing to read.

Laurell K. Hamilton combines two worlds in her novel, "Kiss of Shadows," the first in a series of books about a fariy princess. Her vivid storytelling takes you into a world full of hidden agendas and amazing occurances. This a wonderful book to pick up if you like science fiction and the fae.

I was not expecting to like this book. It's a begining of a new series, and I'm really an Anita blake fan. I decided to give it a shot, and of course afterwards, I just had to read the other books of this series. It was well written, the story and characters are really well described. I really enjoyed reading this book.

After reading my first Anita Blake book, I immedeately called the book store and ordered all the rest. What a treat! I couldn't wait for the next anything written by this unbelievable mind. I was not in the least disappointed. I read A Kiss of Shadows in 2 days(only because work got in the way). Fairies with attitude! What an idea! What solid Hamilton. When is the next installment?

A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry Novels)
Excellent laurell took to new ground and made a great book. I love it Merry is a wonderful character I can't wait to find out more about

Honestly this book was so bad that it holds a special honor in my life, it's the only book I ever actually threw in the trash.

Sure it has erotica and no it's not on every page so I guess it's not "filled" with it...

I'm not a prude to be bothered by erotica, heck I'm an artist who gets paid to do erotic images. It's just that in this case it seemed that the majority of the book is all filler around those portions where it seems she put the most of her effort.

Kiss of shadows is the 2nd in the series. However, it ended with unanswered questions. Now it seems that at this time there is no ending in sight since there seems to be no 3rd book in the series. I would not recommend you start this one until the next in series is released or you will be left bbhanging there with unanswered questions (will Merry get pregnant? will she inhert the throne?)

This books opens a 'new' view into the fey courts, and what is allowed, enjoyed, and avoided...

A thrilling, erotic adventure that is set in motion from the very first words on the page. could not put it down, even when i finished it.

LKH has created a vivid, spectacular world in A Kiss of Shadows. It's more than an entertaining read, it's an experience. I've read a couple of LKH's Anita Blake novels and thought they were great, but this book blew me away. Creative, ingenious, and progressive are words that come to mind. An incredible read.

I first read the anita blake series and now that i am waiting for the latest to come out i figured what the heck why not try the Merry Gentry series,,, didn't think much about it, but once i got to reading i couldnt stop. Now every paycheck i find myself buying to get the next in the series... if your looking for exotic you found it!

I didn't think I would like the new Meredith Gentry books, but I loved it. It was sexy ,sensual,with lots of realy cool people in it. I read the hole book in two sittings, I just could't put it down.Laurel K Hamilton has got my son to enjoy reading that is worth all the world to me.He has read all her books at least four times.

Laurell K. Hamilton's books, especially her Anita Blake series, has obviously captured the hearts of thousands of fans around the world. What I love about them is that they are very fast paced, not dull and dragging like your normal series books would be, but exciting, new, and very enticing. The wait is always well worth it. I've never been bored by any of her books, in fact, the longest I've ever taken to read one of her books is five days. "Once you pick it up, you'll never be able to put it down." Daniell had once told me, and guess what? She was right. I've stayed up all night reading these, and I've never regretted doing so. Her books are just the best. I've never met up with any book that rivals hers, and I don't think I ever will...or at least not within the next two or three or maybe even more years. She's just got the best of imaginations, really. She mixes and blends like a great chef, never really measuring, simply judging, so that each batch comes out a bit different, but still perfect. I think the difference between Hamilton and the rest is that she has attitude. This shows up in her characters. Unlike several authors, Hamilton's characters say what they mean...well, all except Jean-Claude. If Anita's not happy, by God she'll let you know. In the past, the heroine has always been perfect, sweet, etc. Well, in real life, there's no such thing as "perfect", but Anita gets damn close, and she's not sweet unless she needs to be, she's got her own mind. Unlike other books, everything doesn't "work out perfectly and everyone lives happily ever after" type thing. There's friction between a few characters, and she lets that be included. Hamilton's the best author you'll find in this division, "on this, I do not lie"--Jean-Claude. Her characters are all so unique, her plot so original, and her way of weaving all of this together into her books is absolutely baffling. All of her books are so exhilaratingly fresh and so very new and different from anything you've ever seen before...
Yes, I recommend this book. Of course, I recommend this book. I HIGHLY recommend this book and I really, really suggest you try to find it ASAP, because you've got quite a bit to catch up on, about 8 books in the Anita Blake series already, and several others scattered here and there. Don't worry, you'll be able to finish them within the month, the only problem is finding them.
I know you'll love these books, just remember to share them...oh, and do try to sleep at least three hours or four. I know, I know, they're really really good, but you do need some rest every now and then.
Au revoir, mes amies.
Amicalement, *Grins* Moi

I have a new favorite character. FORST! He's so cool. He's the greatest nonperson since Jean-Claude from the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter books. He's wonderful. This series is going to be soooooo good. I can't wait until the next one comes out.

I've followed the Anita Blake series from the start, and am eager to see where she goes from here-so many possibilities-She owes Edward a favor, Richard & Jean Claude, her own growing powers, Larry, her position as Lupa-I've no doubt that there will be at least another 3-4 books coming-my only problem with Laurell Hamilton is that she doesn't write them fast enough!

My first exposure to Laurell Hamilton's writing was the Anita Blake series. That series was mildly entertaining but, at the end of the day, I just wasn't connected enough to that series to continue reading it. When I expressed my disappointment with Anita to a coworker, she suggested that I try Meredith Gentry and I'm sooooooooooo glad I took that advice!!! Hamilton's writing is as dazzling and exciting as it is intense. She does such a wonderful job building her character's that I can't decide which one of them I love the most!!

The plot in the beginning of this book was a touch slow and the terminology a bit confusing. As the book progresses, you slowly discover the differences in the terminology; however trying to figure out the difference between the Seelie and Unseelie Court, what a `sidhe' is and what all is included in the term `fey' is a bit confusing at first. Example: Meredith refers to herself as being a Sidhe Princess (which makes her a member of the royal court) but then refers to herself as `less than true fey'. I wish Hamilton had elaborated a bit more on what Merry's mixed heritage consisted of as well as the differences between the good and bad Sidhe Courts. (Even they both seem equally as horrible) I also thought it was a little weird that her lover Roane is a roane; like naming a tiger, Tiger or a dog, Dog. I thought perhaps Hamilton could have given him a different name, but maybe I'm just knit picking.

Having gotten those few little things off my chest, I thought this book was GREAT!! For me, it was everything the Anita Blake series wasn't and yet, so much more. Both of them are insightful and incredibly progressive in terms of feminism. I don't know why I find Meredith's character more relatable than Anita as they are so similar in nature. Perhaps I'm just more intrigued by her than Anita; maybe I like the plot better; maybe it's the hot men and sinful erotica. Then again, maybe it's just personal preference. This book was like a breath of fresh air, bringing new life to the world of fantasy romance and was the much needed break I was looking for from the vampire/werewolf books I predominately read.

***To Those Who Are On The Fence*** If you are a fan for dark, fantasy romance and have a pretty open mind to `dark creatures of the fey', I think you will enjoy this series. To those who love Anita Blake.......Meredith Gentry is nothing like it!!! Aside from the obvious difference in characters (i.e.: vampires vs. fairies) this series has quite a bit of erotica where the Anita Blake series does not. Meredith is also a border line sexual sadist; meaning that she seeks pain in her pleasure which might be disturbing for some people. If you aren't into that, you will not enjoy Meredith. If you are (or think you can handle it and want to give it a go) I think you will thoroughly enjoy Merry and her sexy gang of Royal Guards!!

PS: I love Frost and I want to have his babies

This is a well-written book starting a new series by the author of the "Anita Blake, vampire hunter" series. In terms of explicit sexuality, it starts at about where the Anita series was at book ten; pretty explicit, but not up to X-Rated yet. In terms of characters and plot, this series seems to me to start somewhat more slowly than the Anita series did, but that may just be a prejudice on my part in favor of the character of Anita; I simply like Anita better than I like Princess nicEssus. The secondary characters are about on a par with the secondary characters in the Anita series, and if I'm not much taken with the background plot, I really haven't seen enough of it yet to judge. I don't think it's quite as compelling as the background plot for the Anita series, but perhaps it will grow on me. Certainly, the series is worth continuing to read.

I love Laurell's Anita Blake series, and I went into reading the Merry Gentry series with high expectations. I was not disappointed. I'm currently re-reading the series... I had left off reading it the first time around at "Swallowing Darkness," and it had been so long since I'd picked them up the first time that the story was mostly lost to me and merited a second reading. While the Anita Blake series starts off slowly, being mostly a lot of violence and a lot of strong, independent woman, the Merry Gentry series skips all the dancing-around-the-sexuality and just dives right into it. From the get go, we see Merry engaged sexually with various men and being fabulous while doing it, all while holding onto morals and ideals that are dear to her. I'd definitely, strongly recommend this series to almost anyone, so long as they can stomach a lot of violence and sex.

I wish I was able to give more than five stars because this book definitely deserves more! If you haven’t read it or any of the Merry Gentry series then I highly recommend you do, because this book and the others are AWESOME!

I love laurel Hamilton books ,the I've read almost all of the Anita Blake books up to dead ice I still haven't been able to get into it so I went to her other seres I've got all of them in hard back books but I've found it is easier to read them on kindle I am really injoying them .