"Laurell K. Hamilton revitalized vampires, werewolves, and zombies in the popular Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books. In this new series, she updates faeries. A Kiss of Shadows introduces Merry Gentry, a.k.a. Meredith NicEssus, a faerie princess of the Unseelie Court, where politics is a blood sport. Merry, who's part sidhe (elvish), part brownie, and part human, never really fit in. She's short, not skilled in offensive magic, and mortal because of her human blood.
These are real liabilities when your family, especially aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, is out to kill you. Merry has been in hiding for three years, living in Los Angeles and working for the Grey Detective Agency, which specializes in "supernatural problems, magical solutions." A new case sets her against a man who uses forbidden magic to seduce fey women and drain their power. A plan to trap him goes awry and Merry's cover is blown. Now Andais knows where she is.
But things have changed in Andais's court, and Merry is changing too.
Despite the selkies, brownies, goblins, and ogres in this book, it's not for children. The fey are "creatures of the senses"--and in the Unseelie court, sex and pain go together. Merry is sexually adventurous and surrounded by gorgeous, powerful males, most of whom want her badly. She's politically savvy and no coward, though she's not the warrior Anita is. Hamilton fans and readers of adult fairy tales like Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy will want to give Merry a look."
From GoodReads (A Kiss of Shadows)
Since I am waiting for the 8th Book of this series, coming out in a few days, I decided to review the rest of the series. =)
I have to say, I love Laurell K. Hamilton's writing style. One Book of her Anita Blake Series was my first introduction to the paranormal. At the the end of 2008, after I finally got to read the whole Anita Series, I decided to check her out her Meredith Gentry one.
I have to say, I was not disappointed. Merry is a very strong character. I felt that throughout the series she has learned more and more to use her strength and be proud of who she is and see herself for what she has and not what she is supposed to have.
Merry is of the fey. She is a Sidhe, part Brownie, part Unseelie court and part Seelie court. That mix brings a lot of problems to Merry's life and after a long time in "hiding", she has to face the music and deal with them.
Meredith's is a journey of discovery. Finding out who she is, who wants her dead, who she loves, who loves her, her place in the world and her purpose. She is pulled in many different directions in this journey, but her heart has the strongest pull and that is the ultimate force that drives our Heroine.
There is a LOT of hot, steamy sex in these books. However, it is so, in no detriment to the story, in my opinion. Laurell has been able to present us with intricate and intriguing plots, that keep your eyes glue to the page.
Merry's man are so freaking hot LOL. Seriously, she practically acquires a harem in time and that can make any women out there so jealous hehe.
I love this series and am looking forward to Book 8, Divine Misdemeanors, coming out Dec. 08.
I give it 4 Loveys and Smut level is 4/5 hehe =)))
The Books from the Merry Gentry series:
Thanks for tuning in and I'll see you soon!
xoxo
Why are you doing this to me!!! I have read bk 1 and 2 when they were translated in Dutch...of course I have them all on the shelves now in english but still have to revisit Merry Genrty and her men. I love her, I love her men and enjoy the world Hamilton has created.
If only I could stop buying books and just read, read, read *wink*
Yep, I'm hanging out for 'Divine Misdemeanours' too.
I'm not Laurell K Hamilton's biggest fan, because I don't have a very high opinion of her as a person... but I am a fan of her earlier Anita books, and I actually prefer her Merry books to Anita.
I like that in the Merry universe LKH was upfront about the erotica. It made sense in the plot for the fae to be a highly sexed people, and with the race to produce an heir it was plausible that Merry would have to take multiple lovers. As opposed to Anita's sudden slide into sluttiness after she preached about commitment and monogamy in previous books.
I do like the Merry books (I love Frost + Doyle - SO hot!) but Merry is a total Mary-Sue and sometimes it's hard to read about how beautiful she is and how many men want her - lol.
I've seen mixed reviews about this series. I've read her Anita books and like them, I should probably add this series of books to my TBR for next year.
I can't wait to start this series!!! Great post =)