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A Stroke of Midnight (Merry Gentry #4)
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie. Now there are those among me who whisper I am more. They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them? I’ve awakened the dazzling magic that’s slumbered in them for thousands of years. But the thing is, I can’t figure out why.
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far...more
I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far...more
ebook, 0 pages
Published
April 12th 2005
by Ballantine Books
(first published February 1st 2005)
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It's official. My love affair with Laurell K. Hamilton is at an end. I should send her flowers and tell her how nice the journey was. We’re going different places, you and I, Ms. Hamilton – we need to part ways, literally.
Both of Laurell K. Hamilton's series have devolved into orgies – all sex, no plot. In her most recent Anita Blake release there was no time for other things to happen, because everyone was too busy getting laid – Anita more than anyone. Things aren’t much different in fairyland...more
Both of Laurell K. Hamilton's series have devolved into orgies – all sex, no plot. In her most recent Anita Blake release there was no time for other things to happen, because everyone was too busy getting laid – Anita more than anyone. Things aren’t much different in fairyland...more
Dudes! I'm setting myself free. I feel the same pain that I felt during the later Anita Blake books. There's just way too much description, metaphysics, and over indulged sex scenes whilst not moving the plot along quickly enough. Since I'm not familiar with the method of the madness, I'm bidding this series adieu'. I'm only reading one more Laurell K. book and that will be the last one in the Anita series that's due out soon.
I mean seriously...I was okay until the idea of goblin sex, or tentac...more
I mean seriously...I was okay until the idea of goblin sex, or tentac...more
Well - I am not actually sure why I keep reading these books. I am a huge fan of the Anita Blake character... yes, sometimes the sex is a bit much, but I enjoy the characters and am looking forward to each new book. I like the suspense, the plot development, the relationships and the fear (I am a big chicken).
I finally decided to read the Meredith Gentry books. I am actually listening to them, unabridged of course. The narrator is pretty good. The only complaint I have for her is that she change...more
I finally decided to read the Meredith Gentry books. I am actually listening to them, unabridged of course. The narrator is pretty good. The only complaint I have for her is that she change...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Dec 04, 2011
Kathryn
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
sci-fi-fantasy
I don't know if there's much I can say in this review that I haven't said in the other three reviews. Slow pace blah blah blah, obsession with descriptions of clothing blah blah blah, Mary-Sue who's passionately hated by half the characters and passionately desired by the other half (if someone's indifferent then they're not featured in this book), and did I mention the slow pace? This one didn't even get two days of real time; apparently now the magical dwelling place of the fairie host is movi...more
This one takes place the day after the last book, and covers less than one full day in the life of our heroine. During this period, she investigates a murder, survives several attacks (both physical and political), has amazing and magical (literally) sex with several new partners, and gains and shares new magical powers. In other words, a typical day.
I both loved this one, and was disappointed in it. I loved it because I love spending more time with Merry & Co. (all those gorgeous men!), and...more
I both loved this one, and was disappointed in it. I loved it because I love spending more time with Merry & Co. (all those gorgeous men!), and...more
Meredith Gentry #4: A Stroke of Midnight, by Laurell K. Hamilton
I just finished "A Stroke of Midnight," the fourth book in the Merry Gentry series. I'm still not sure what I read. I feel like I need a roadmap with step-by-step directions to keep up with all the new sidhe figures introduced, and their "adventures" with Merry.
There's an attempt at a plot in this novel, when a fey and a human reporter are found murdered in the sithen after a press conference. Merry persuades the queen to allow her...more
I just finished "A Stroke of Midnight," the fourth book in the Merry Gentry series. I'm still not sure what I read. I feel like I need a roadmap with step-by-step directions to keep up with all the new sidhe figures introduced, and their "adventures" with Merry.
There's an attempt at a plot in this novel, when a fey and a human reporter are found murdered in the sithen after a press conference. Merry persuades the queen to allow her...more
Warning: Quite a Harsh Little Review Ahead. Actually, less a review and more a roasting. In fact, not so much a roasting as a napalming. Plus, what could be considered spoilers. If you don't already know about all the sex.
I've been hearing about Lauell K Hamilton's Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series' for a while, so was curious to see what the fuss was about. Thank god I found one of the Merry Gentry books at a $5 book sale. If I'd spent any more I'd be even MORE disappointed.
Maybe it's because...more
I've been hearing about Lauell K Hamilton's Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series' for a while, so was curious to see what the fuss was about. Thank god I found one of the Merry Gentry books at a $5 book sale. If I'd spent any more I'd be even MORE disappointed.
Maybe it's because...more
4 likes · like · see review
I liked this more than the previous book, but not enough to gain another star.
This book suffers from long drawn out plot that doesn't even move after the initial tease that there was a plot, too much crazy earth shattering sex, too long and too many conversations. And worst of all too many emo pout fests from everyone. It was a bit tiring.
But Hamilton has done her job because I still want to know what happens next, but I feel that's more because I'm very unsatisfied from the lack of plot movemen...more
This book suffers from long drawn out plot that doesn't even move after the initial tease that there was a plot, too much crazy earth shattering sex, too long and too many conversations. And worst of all too many emo pout fests from everyone. It was a bit tiring.
But Hamilton has done her job because I still want to know what happens next, but I feel that's more because I'm very unsatisfied from the lack of plot movemen...more
Mar 01, 2012
Margit Sage
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
urban-fantasy,
shifters,
romance,
horror,
kick-ass-heroine,
1st-person-pov,
fae,
magic-sorcery-witches
2.5 *'s: the plot is falling apart at the seams in this book. The "romance" is taking over. I still find it redeeming to read because the universe Hamilton has created is so colorful and interesting. All of the different fae with their varying shapes and growing powers, and the fairy mounds that they live in coming back to life after hundreds of years of stagnancy; it's all quite intriguing and inspiring.
Parts of the books seem really repetitive too, because she repeats the descriptions of the u...more
Parts of the books seem really repetitive too, because she repeats the descriptions of the u...more
May 25, 2011
♠ Sharon is an emotional book junkie ♠
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2011
I don't even know how to review this! Except for at the beginning, this book was non-stop action....and not all sex ~ believe it or not. Although I must say, if threesomes or multiple partners bother you then don't read this series.
It is a bit overwhelming with all the new characters but still very interesting with how LKH can come up with so many different variations of types of Fae. The threesomes were a bit much but if you have read any LKH's books then its pretty much par for the course. I w...more
It is a bit overwhelming with all the new characters but still very interesting with how LKH can come up with so many different variations of types of Fae. The threesomes were a bit much but if you have read any LKH's books then its pretty much par for the course. I w...more
2 likes · like · see review
I can't get away from her. Seriously. The Anita Blake books ought to be a lost cause for any intelligent reader, but something about them keeps drawing me (and various other incredibly intelligent folks I know) back into the fold. This, the fourth installment of the Merry Gentry series, makes up for its lack of plot devices, overabundance of (apparently) sexy-looking supernatural men, and abundance of sex-for-power scenes by the use of the biggest plot device of all, the cliffhanger. About thirt...more
I have to give this one a 3 1/2 as the sex was just a little too much in this book. It seemed as though everytime some major political issue and problems with assassination and the throne was overshadowed with Merry having "random" sex with one or two or more of her guard and allies instead of dealing with them. Ultimately we never got answers to some of the topics brought up like Sholto and his injuries or what happened to the guards who ambushed Galen or what about Peasblossom, the demi-fae, o...more
Feb 16, 2011
Tara Van Beurden
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-2010,
borrowed
Not as good as the previous ones. I can see where it is starting to decline. This series is like Twilight for grown-ups (grown-ups with reasonably strong stomachs, that is). It's strangely addictive, though on little merit. I think I read for the men - mostly Doyle, Frost, Rhys and Galen, but the others have their appeal too. The plot seems to just jump from one sexual encounter to another without anything much in between. Everything is an excuse to have sex and nothing seems to be solved withou...more
I was disappointed with this book ...What can you say about Laurell K Hamilton that hasn't already been said? Yes, "A Stroke of Midnight" is full of graphic, gratuitous sex and yes, the plot crawls along to a rather unsatisfying climax (no pun intended) there is a definite story arc here, Merry is still trying to get pregnant and her twisted cousin Cel is nearing the end of his imprisonment. Plot threads that began in earlier books are continued and expanded, and Hamilton has created a delicious...more
I have no idea why i keep reading these. I think it's to break up the actually decent stuff I've been reading lately and remind myself that they are awful. Or maybe I'm just masochistic.
I have little to no idea what happened in this book, someone was killed, but mostly Merry, or princess Meredith, had a lot of badly written sex with men with bizarre and very long hair. I'm sure some other stuff happened but the entire narrative, such as it was, whizzed by with such speed that I felt like the Sit...more
I have little to no idea what happened in this book, someone was killed, but mostly Merry, or princess Meredith, had a lot of badly written sex with men with bizarre and very long hair. I'm sure some other stuff happened but the entire narrative, such as it was, whizzed by with such speed that I felt like the Sit...more
Jun 24, 2010
Carolyn F.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobook,
paranormal-romance
This is the audiobook. Loved the narrator. I like it the second time going through it than the first. Although it's a 3.5 stars as it's not the best. Usually she has a summation of what happens at the end of the book, but this goes straight through to Mistral's Kiss (Meredith Gentry, #5), which I started this am.
Merry is back at the Faery mound and is trying to solve a crime, stay one step ahead of the queen, make then men happy and try to heal as many of the guards as she can. In between all t...more
Merry is back at the Faery mound and is trying to solve a crime, stay one step ahead of the queen, make then men happy and try to heal as many of the guards as she can. In between all t...more
Or maybe I should say "mystery" since there's not a whole lot of mystery solving going on. My biggest gripe, though, is not with the plot, which I've come to accept for what it is and what it never will be (namely, well-crafted) but with Hamilton's inconsistencies and repetition.
Perhaps I've mentioned before that Hamilton really needs a better editor. Someone that will tell her that a unique turn of phrase used once is an asset to any book, but that phrase used multiple times in the same book q...more
Perhaps I've mentioned before that Hamilton really needs a better editor. Someone that will tell her that a unique turn of phrase used once is an asset to any book, but that phrase used multiple times in the same book q...more
The further i get into this series the worse it gets. I appreciated it for what it was, to begin with (a light, quick read with some well written erotic scenes) but at the end of this book she barely even bothers to resolve the plot she threw together. it all wraps up in a sort of "oh, well, i guess that's how that turned out" feeling, and then the book just kind of.... stops.
i've also realized that the chronology of these books is incredibly short. often, the books only cover a span of days, an...more
i've also realized that the chronology of these books is incredibly short. often, the books only cover a span of days, an...more
I give this one 2.5 stars.
I had taken a liking to the world of Merry Gentry. The plot was okay, in that there was a mystery to solve but it felt as though the overall storyline hasn’t really progressed much. Yes, Merry was still trying to get herself pregnant, and yes, Cel was still imprisoned, and of course Merry was still under constant assassination threats. But really, the overall story hasn’t changed or advanced much from the last book.
Additionally, Merry was having more sex with her guard...more
I had taken a liking to the world of Merry Gentry. The plot was okay, in that there was a mystery to solve but it felt as though the overall storyline hasn’t really progressed much. Yes, Merry was still trying to get herself pregnant, and yes, Cel was still imprisoned, and of course Merry was still under constant assassination threats. But really, the overall story hasn’t changed or advanced much from the last book.
Additionally, Merry was having more sex with her guard...more
★★★★★
I really did not expect myself to love this series so much but the more i read the more i love it!
The only thing which i dont really.like is there are too many characters. At times, when a new name popped out. I would have to think who this person is. Or maybe it is just me. However, did author is still able to handle it. She primarily focus on several character always inclusive of either frost or doyle.
This book might probably be my favourite
It is when Doyle showed his weak side and conf...more
I really did not expect myself to love this series so much but the more i read the more i love it!
The only thing which i dont really.like is there are too many characters. At times, when a new name popped out. I would have to think who this person is. Or maybe it is just me. However, did author is still able to handle it. She primarily focus on several character always inclusive of either frost or doyle.
This book might probably be my favourite
It is when Doyle showed his weak side and conf...more
So this is how I would describe a Meredith Gentry book: Merry almost gets killed, then she has sex with one or more people, something mystical and mysterious happens from aforementioned sex, followed by a long conversation about how amazing it is and how it hasn't happened in many centuries and then the whole thing repeats. It gets a bit repetitive and its really kind of sad when the sex scenes are so numerous and similar that they just get boring and you find yourself skimming through them.
That...more
That...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
After returning to the Unseelie Courts Meredith survives not one but 2 assignations plots in 24 hours. And now she is awakening long lost Fairy magic and the court is alive and granted Meredith’s every wish. But a human report is killed and Meredith invites police into to the fairy mounds for the 1st time to solve the mystery. Now more than ever her life is in danger. Someone is trying to kill her Guard and her Aunt the Queen is acting more and more erratic. Is there something more going on or i...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I am Meredith Gentry, P.II am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne.
The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time...more
The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time...more
I used to love Laurell Hamiltonand Anita Blake, bit htings started going south with "Micah" or as I call it "Ode to a Penis." The Meredith Gentry series was, I thought, supposed to be were all the sex came out, but like a bad veneral disease it spread to Anita.
Anyway, while the plot moved along, you'd really have to have some of the earlier books to have a clue obout some characters and situations. And you call this one "Lessons in Oral Sex for a Woman." I think Merry serviced quite few and I sk...more
Anyway, while the plot moved along, you'd really have to have some of the earlier books to have a clue obout some characters and situations. And you call this one "Lessons in Oral Sex for a Woman." I think Merry serviced quite few and I sk...more
A Stroke of Midnight begins with Merry and the Ravens attending a press conference in the sithen. This is highly unusual as the home of the sidhe is usually off-limits to the human press. However, it is felt that it is more secure than holding the conference elsewhere. This opinion is challenged almost immediately by the deaths of Beatrice, one of the lesser fae, and a human reporter. Merry, assigned to solve the murders by her aunt, Queen Andais, opts to bring in human forensics in the hope tha...more
With this book it became clear that an interesting and unique (at the time) series was on a downhill slope. Bad enough it's a fairly short book, it was absolutely frustrating to reach the end, only to realize that nothing of much significance happened. Sure, there was the usual angst and drama, but the time frame for this book is a mere snippet of time stretched out to a very lagging pace. Pages and pages of people standing around talking, weeping, whining. There's no urgency, no driving need to...more
This is the 4th book of the Meredith Gentry series and I really liked it. There was a lot going on, a murder mystery, more powers are resurfacing and the sithen is becoming alive again. It was suspenseful and I didn't feel overwhelmed with the sex as I usually am.
But, I am having a hard time keeping track of all the new and old characters. Meredith seems to be getting more and more men and with everyone getting their powers back I am getting confused.
This book also ends right before the good st...more
But, I am having a hard time keeping track of all the new and old characters. Meredith seems to be getting more and more men and with everyone getting their powers back I am getting confused.
This book also ends right before the good st...more
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Laurell K. Hamilton is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two series that mix mystery, fantasy, magic, horror and romance. Her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels from Berkley Books began with GUILTY PLEASURES and continues to thrive with over sixteen volumes to the series and an comic adaptation. There are now more than 6 million copies of Anita in print worldwide, in 16 languages. Hamilt...more
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“My father had taught me to be nice first, because you can always be mean later, but once you've been mean to someone, they won't believe the nice anymore. So be nice, be nice, until it's time to stop being nice, then destroy them.”
—
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“Love is too precious to be ashamed of.”
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Nov 08, 2010 12:17pm
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