"All it would take was my true name being mentioned after dark, and it would float back to my aunt. She was the Queen of Air and Darkness, and that...
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reviews
Jul 15, 2011
Kat
rated it: 
There was a lot about this book that I didn't like, but only some of it can be legitimately complained about.
I can't really complain about the amount and type of sex in this book like I could for Anita Blake because, unlike Anita Blake, this book is meant to have sex in it! It is Erotica.
Sure, the silent, gaping, hole where my soul is shrieking over the tentacle sex would be fun to discuss, but I really can't. I highly doubt many people would pick this book up without k More...
I can't really complain about the amount and type of sex in this book like I could for Anita Blake because, unlike Anita Blake, this book is meant to have sex in it! It is Erotica.
Sure, the silent, gaping, hole where my soul is shrieking over the tentacle sex would be fun to discuss, but I really can't. I highly doubt many people would pick this book up without k More...
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Nov 28, 2008
John
rated it:
When Lauren and I prepared to go to upstate NY a little over a week ago, we looked around the Providence library's website for audio books we could download. Although I wasn't familiar with her work, I'd heard an interview with Laurell K. Hamilton on one of the podcasts to which I listen, and the first book of her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series wasn't available, but the start of her newer Meredith Gentry series was available.
We've very much enjoyed Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden s More...
We've very much enjoyed Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden s More...
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Nov 21, 2008
Daniel
rated it: 
I would rank Hamilton as one of my favorite writers, but for her fatal flaw. She creates wonderful characters and settings, but inevitably she has to bog them down with in your face sexual situations.
Kiss of Shadows is no different. In this book Hamilton does a wonderful job of creating a strong female protagonist, Merry Gentry, and describes an intricate fairy world that she belongs to, full of strange creatures and filled with political intrigue. But in order to enjoy Hamilton's More...
Kiss of Shadows is no different. In this book Hamilton does a wonderful job of creating a strong female protagonist, Merry Gentry, and describes an intricate fairy world that she belongs to, full of strange creatures and filled with political intrigue. But in order to enjoy Hamilton's More...
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Apr 05, 2009
Jess
rated it: 
Very interesting story line. Much different from the Anita Blake series. This features Meredith Gentry who is a princess of the Unseelie court. However, she has been missing from that court for 3 years because her aunt (the queen of the Unseelie court of Darkness and air) had tried to kill her, and the others in court had been challenging her to duels. So she's been in hiding, forced to wear glamour so that no one recognized her.
She took a job in a detective agency, and in the course More...
She took a job in a detective agency, and in the course More...
Feb 03, 2010
Adrianna
rated it: 
When my friend first recommended this author to me, I wasn't expecting much. If Laurell K. Hamilton was so good, why hadn't I heard of her before? One of the main reasons she remained under my book radar was because I usually stick to historical romances and even then specific authors of the genre. The first couple of pages in A Kiss of Shadows left me blown away. Hamilton creates a world that blends multiple genres: fantasy, science fiction, suspense/thriller, and even romance. I knew it would
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(6 people liked it)
Dec 04, 2008
Bernard
rated it:
Similar to Stackhouse's Southern Vampire series, Butcher's Dresden files , or the author's other series – Anita Blake. A modern/fantasy tale, where magical elements are present and well known in the story setting. Our world, our technology, but with magic.
In this case it's the fairies. The Seelie & Unseelie Courts (and goblins etc) came to America back in President Jackson's time and live among us. They're also tabloid fodder. The protagonist is a private detective, who is actua More...
In this case it's the fairies. The Seelie & Unseelie Courts (and goblins etc) came to America back in President Jackson's time and live among us. They're also tabloid fodder. The protagonist is a private detective, who is actua More...
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Apr 09, 2008
Michael
rated it:
I have enjoyed Laurell K. Hamilton's work for many years now, starting with the redoubtable Anita Blake. However, that series has devolved into what amounts to a sexual free for all (not that I have anything against sex, but I tend to like story more) in which she spends hundreds of pages in self-analysis over whether or not to have sex with this or that new person, animal, fay-thing, god, demon or whatever. The trouble with established bestselling authors is the power they began to weild over
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Dec 14, 2011
Diane
rated it:
4.5
It's like "Game of Thrones", but with fairies and sex. I love it.
It's like "Game of Thrones", but with fairies and sex. I love it.
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Mar 13, 2011
♥gια∂α♥
rated it:
Ammetto di aver fatto una cosa che non si dovrebbe mai fare: comprare un libro per via della copertina. Appena poi ne ho letto le recensioni, mi sono spaventata, convinta di essermi andata a prendere un libro assurdamente spinto, volgare e senza una buona trama... invece mi sono totalmente ricreduta!!!!
Non posso negare che sia spinto (gli ultimi libri che sto leggendo sono tutti così o.O... forse dovrei iniziare a preoccuparmi XD), però sinceramente pensavo peggio, molto peggio.
E' un fantasy/ More...
Non posso negare che sia spinto (gli ultimi libri che sto leggendo sono tutti così o.O... forse dovrei iniziare a preoccuparmi XD), però sinceramente pensavo peggio, molto peggio.
E' un fantasy/ More...
Jan 27, 2009
Penelope
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 27, 2011
Roberta
rated it:
Un bacio nell’ombra inaugura la nuova serie della Hamilton, basata sulla protagonista Meredith Gentry. Meredith è una principessa sidhe, ovvero appartiene al mondo fatato e nello specifico alla Corte Unseelie. Seconda nella linea di successione al trono, al momento occupato da sua zia, la Regina, dopo il cugino Cell, Meredith è sempre stata trattata come un outsider presso la Corte Unseelie in parte per la sua ascendenza mista che l’ha resa anche mortale, in parte per la mancanza di una mano del
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Oct 13, 2011
***Dave
rated it:
(Original review 3/7/02)
Summary: [2] LKH starts a new series, seemingly because she couldn’t portray enough rough sex in her Anita Blake books. This new set of tales, of a mortal faerie princess, fleeing the dangers of the Unseelie Court only to have them catch up with her, could have used a prequel novel — “Here’s how Meredith’s life is like before it gets completely changed.” Instead, we have to settle for a few chapters of that before things get turned completely upside down. LKH, a More...
Summary: [2] LKH starts a new series, seemingly because she couldn’t portray enough rough sex in her Anita Blake books. This new set of tales, of a mortal faerie princess, fleeing the dangers of the Unseelie Court only to have them catch up with her, could have used a prequel novel — “Here’s how Meredith’s life is like before it gets completely changed.” Instead, we have to settle for a few chapters of that before things get turned completely upside down. LKH, a More...
Jul 15, 2011
Jason
rated it:
This book came out just before the market was flooded with urban fantasy books, and before "paranormal romance" was even a term (I don't think Twilight was around either, but I'm going to be lazy and not look :-) ), and I checked it out of the library at that time over 5 years ago. I foolishly picked the book up expecting something Buffy-esque. I was quite incorrect.
Kiss of Shadows gets two stars for having a pretty well designed fae culture and politics, and the main idea More...
Kiss of Shadows gets two stars for having a pretty well designed fae culture and politics, and the main idea More...
Apr 29, 2011
Dan
rated it:
Ok, I'm ashamed to admit I read this one. It was picked at random as part of a dare out of the collection of books I received for my kindle. Basically its about fairies living in modern times among the humans. Even though they were called fairies, you could really think of them as like mystical wizard types sorta...maybe not. Anyways, they weren't fairies like Tinkerbell anyways. Think Harry Potter, but much much much more sex. Like too much sex. The whole book revolved around the main cha
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Oct 28, 2010
Jennelle
rated it:
*A review of each book will come eventually, but for now I'm just going to review the series*
If you have seen my review of Hamilton's Anita Blake series you will know that I found Anita unlikable, Merry on the other hand though, is quite like-able. She wants what is best for her people and is willing to do almost anything to protect them. In Anita Blake I complained about the sex, and there is quite a bit of that in this series as well, but it doesn't bother me. The reason? In Anita More...
If you have seen my review of Hamilton's Anita Blake series you will know that I found Anita unlikable, Merry on the other hand though, is quite like-able. She wants what is best for her people and is willing to do almost anything to protect them. In Anita Blake I complained about the sex, and there is quite a bit of that in this series as well, but it doesn't bother me. The reason? In Anita More...
Sep 19, 2010
OpenBookSociety.com
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Brought to you by OBS Member Deannerenee
This is the first book in the Meredith Gentry series and I really liked it. It is the first series I’ve read that had to do with the Fae, so I was unsure of what to expect. When I started reading the book, I was prepared not to like it, but to my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The author did well in explaining the background without being too much and too boring. The characters were defined and you knew who and what they are.
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This is the first book in the Meredith Gentry series and I really liked it. It is the first series I’ve read that had to do with the Fae, so I was unsure of what to expect. When I started reading the book, I was prepared not to like it, but to my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The author did well in explaining the background without being too much and too boring. The characters were defined and you knew who and what they are.
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Aug 13, 2010
James
rated it:
Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series were the only books I've read of hers before diving into the Gentry series, the first book of which is Kiss of Shadows.
When I read lines like: I heard someone scream: it was me! – then I knew I was reading a Hamilton novel. Her Gentry book was similar to Anita Blake's books in many ways. We have a young woman who is coming into her own in discovering her new-found powers and abilities. For Anita, she was more than just a raiser of the dead. More...
When I read lines like: I heard someone scream: it was me! – then I knew I was reading a Hamilton novel. Her Gentry book was similar to Anita Blake's books in many ways. We have a young woman who is coming into her own in discovering her new-found powers and abilities. For Anita, she was more than just a raiser of the dead. More...
Jul 02, 2010
Tara
rated it:
Ok. So if you read the quick blurb up the top you get the idea of the book.
Merry, fae, magic and sex. Its Laurell!
I enjoyed the book and excepted it for what I suspected it to be.
I don't open these books for anything other then a quick break from the world.
You open the cover and its drama drama with a touch to much politics for me. But still 6 books later. I like the series.
I must say, I don't get a clear picture of it all. I don’t r More...
Merry, fae, magic and sex. Its Laurell!
I enjoyed the book and excepted it for what I suspected it to be.
I don't open these books for anything other then a quick break from the world.
You open the cover and its drama drama with a touch to much politics for me. But still 6 books later. I like the series.
I must say, I don't get a clear picture of it all. I don’t r More...
Apr 10, 2010
astried
rated it:
Bodice ripping with faery veneer. Everything happened in this novel were aimed to show Merry bedding each and every fey existed one after another. A new creature would come, given explicit description about every inch of his body, shoved to Meredith, then get rid off to allow the story to continue and new fey to take his place. How the story dragged.... or should we say, action filled.. Merry couldn't walk from one part of the mound to the other without losing her blood to butterfly fey, woken-u
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Dec 12, 2009
Leeanna
rated it:
Meredith Gentry #1: A Kiss of Shadows, by Laurell K. Hamilton
I think this is either a book you love, or a book you hate. There's not much of an in-between. Personally, I rather enjoy this book and have reread it a few times - generally once a year, before I read the newest book in the Merry series.
The basic concept is that Merry Gentry is a faerie princess living in voluntary exile in Los Angeles, working as a private detective. She'd fled the royal courts after she real More...
I think this is either a book you love, or a book you hate. There's not much of an in-between. Personally, I rather enjoy this book and have reread it a few times - generally once a year, before I read the newest book in the Merry series.
The basic concept is that Merry Gentry is a faerie princess living in voluntary exile in Los Angeles, working as a private detective. She'd fled the royal courts after she real More...
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Dec 06, 2009
Alice
rated it:
This book was a freebie for my Ereader, so I downloaded it and didn't get to it right away. I started reading something else, and it wasn't really working out, so I switched to this on a whim. It took a while to get into, but eventually I found myself really liking it.
Caveat: Smut.
This is pretty darn explicit, and the sex is not secondary to the plot. Kind of like the Kushiel books by Stephanie Carey, this takes place in a world where sex is a primary political and soc More...
Caveat: Smut.
This is pretty darn explicit, and the sex is not secondary to the plot. Kind of like the Kushiel books by Stephanie Carey, this takes place in a world where sex is a primary political and soc More...
Oct 07, 2009
Kisha
rated it:
Let me first say that i adore the Merry Gentry series, and once i read K.O.S i couldn't rest until i'd read the rest of the series. I love the characters in all their sidhe glory. I'm not usually one to like the female main character but i must say that Merry does it for me. She's the most relatable female character i've ever encountered and i thoroughly enjoy the fact that she doesn't whine unless its called for. Ms Hamilton got it right with her. I also have to say that the men are...amazing.
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Sep 11, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
Good: The set-up and the world. I liked the alternate history, the laws for use of magic, the different kinds of fey creatures, the hybrid breeds and how they fit into the court. Bad: Uh...shouldn't there be a more interesting way of inserting the background? Can't they expound in a more interesting setting than a description of them walking down a hallway? Or sitting in a car? Occasionally Hamilton tries to remedy this and in the middle of an exciting chase scene she will stop the action d
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Aug 19, 2009
Mel
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In this book we explore the world and life of a true faerie princess in Los Angeles, California, the life in fact of Princess Meredith NicEssus under the assumed name of Meredith 'Merry' Gentry. Merry is working for the Grey Detective Agency in an alternate reality to that of our own where the Seelie and Unseelie Courts of the faeries are a very real and very public―to an extent that is. The faerie courts are like the lives of modern superstars in that the public image is intended to be only
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Feb 04, 2009
Katrina
rated it:
I first read a Hamilton book in high school. I was interested in Aztec culture and ended up borrowing her Obsidian Butterfly book from a friend. I was immediately fascinated by her unique and detailed world. She is a gifted world builder and makes wonderful places for us to explore. The world of Merry Gentry is no exception. Here's a place we've only dreamed about and her interpretation of faeries is one of the closest to my heart.
Merry Gentry is the lost Elven American Princess, hid More...
Merry Gentry is the lost Elven American Princess, hid More...
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Jan 26, 2012
Jink
rated it: 
I must confess that after reading the first 70 odd pages of KoS I skimmed through the rest. Why? While I find Hamilton can be one of the better urban fantasy writers, too often her plots consist of a long string of sexual encounters loosely knitted together by a character whose personal circumstances, experiences and character traits are all exercised in service of reinforcing the credibility of a thin sex-driven plot. KoS is the perfect example of this. Meredith Gentry, despite being a firm mon
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Jun 19, 2011
Crystal
rated it:
The first book in the Merry Gentry series setups a series filled with assassination attempts, detective work, mysteries, faeries, goblins and oh yeah...a LOT of mystical sex.
So yeah, right up my ally. Overall my impression was "Eh, it's ok" which is why it got 3 stars. I think the next books are going to be better though. This one seemed to be a lot of setup...which is understandable.
What I'm diggin:
Merry herself. I like how she's not all powerful when w More...
So yeah, right up my ally. Overall my impression was "Eh, it's ok" which is why it got 3 stars. I think the next books are going to be better though. This one seemed to be a lot of setup...which is understandable.
What I'm diggin:
Merry herself. I like how she's not all powerful when w More...
Feb 22, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I really did enjoy descriptiveness of the characters and the back story but it really seemed more background and history than actual events and actions. I kept on thinking so what is going to happen what is the really big event that is going to happen the big action, development or turning point but that never really seemed to happen. the book was comprised more of little rises to action and then falling and then building and falling continuously throughout the book. This may be due to when it g
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Nov 12, 2009
Beanbag
rated it:
Just a quick one here. I got this as a Kindle freebie and I'd never read Laurell K. Hamilton so I was thrilled to take a look. It wasn't a totally exciting, satisfying read. But it's very good and the world is nice and specific.
It's not a romance. There's a lot of sex, but this is a story about fae politics, so it's all done with a different intent. It's also obviously the first in a series because we're left with many questions. A lot of characters are introduced and they can More...
It's not a romance. There's a lot of sex, but this is a story about fae politics, so it's all done with a different intent. It's also obviously the first in a series because we're left with many questions. A lot of characters are introduced and they can More...
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Jun 18, 2009
Leanne
rated it:
There are certain aspects that appear in all of Laurell K. Hamilton's books. For example:
Anita and Merry are both short. - Now, I don't mind this because I'm short too, so it makes me feel nice and at home.
Anita and Merry both have big boobs. - Okay, sure, I guess if we all had our wish we'd all have an ample bosom too.
But then we start getting a little more ridiculous...
Anita and Merry both like their men to be softer looking, more effeminate. - What is More...
Anita and Merry are both short. - Now, I don't mind this because I'm short too, so it makes me feel nice and at home.
Anita and Merry both have big boobs. - Okay, sure, I guess if we all had our wish we'd all have an ample bosom too.
But then we start getting a little more ridiculous...
Anita and Merry both like their men to be softer looking, more effeminate. - What is More...
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