Rating: 
Summary: Just a good fun read
Review: This is a great book! Like many others, I'm a huge fan of the Anita Blake Vampire books, but it took reading a few of the books to actually think that the series offered more then the cookie-cutter Vampire Books. A "Kiss of Showdows" doesn't have that problem. While the plot is a bit winding -- and it is -- Hamilton needs to create a complex character and set up a spring board for the the rest of the series. So, cut her a bit of slack The plot has been described, so I'll skip that. I actually like Merry a bit more that Anita, who is a bit uptight about life. Just know, that you need to enjoy erotica to like this book. All, hope this helps. Laurell, thanks for the begining of another great series and a change from a Vampire series to something that has not been explored much in pop-culture.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent start to a sensual, exciting new series
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Talk About A Sellout!
Review: I've been reading Laurell K. Hamilton since the Nightseer book came out and I was in Middle School. I would buy the Anita Blake books the first day they were available at the book store and stay up until 5 am reading them. I love the writting style and the plots within both Nightseer and the Anita Blake books. This new series is a serious disappointment to me. It seemed as if sex was the focus of the book and plot and character development were thrown to the wayside. Everytime I thought the book was moving toward character development or "gasp" plot, more sex! This is nothing like I expected and I think that Ms. Hamilton could do a lot better. I realize that it's hard to stay creative with editors breathing down your back, but that's the way to keep an audience - stay true to your genre and don't sell out for a buck.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastical Erotica
Review: I absolutely adored this book. Laurell caught my attention at the beginning of her writing career and she just gets better and better. This book combines the fantastical world of the Faerie and the modern world. Fay, sidhe, goblins, roanes, and many other mystical beings interact within our world. The main character, Princess Meredith NicEssus, or aka Meredith Gentry in the "real world", is running from her aunt, The Queen of Air and Darkness because she wants Merry dead. However, when the Queen wants something, no one can stop her. Princess Meredith is part sidhe, which makes her an extremely sexual creature, and an extremely interesting read. I did not want to stop reading! Merry is very magical and is finding out new things about herself and her magic every day. I do not normally read fantasy novels, but this one is a must!!!
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent Hamilton novel
Review: I've read several of Ms. Hamilton's "Anita Blake" novels, but this excellent dark fantasy may be her best yet. A very sensual, exciting tale introducing Merry Gentry, a.k.a. Meredith NicEssus, a faerie princess of the Unseelie Court, where politics is a blood sport. For reasosn spelled out in the novel, Merry had to flee the court. She's been hiding out in California working as a private detective, until her old life catches up with her in some very interesting ways. Her aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, wants her to return to the Court. Of course, up til now, Merry thought her aunt wanted to kill her - so what's going on now? You'll enjoy sifting through the various plot twists, the great characters, and a LOT of sensuality and sexual content. This one's not for the kids, folks. A bit different from the Anita Blake series, but great escapist fun.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Escapism
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written - - - Pornography??
Review: 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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition
Rating:
Summary: great introduction -- where's the story?
Review: I love Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series; the books move fast, have monsters, magic, action, mystery, sex, moral dilemmas, and are narrated by Anita, my favorite tough woman...what more do you want? Unfortunately, I found it impossible to keep Anita out of my mind while reading "Kiss of Shadows," which is narrated by Merry Gentry, another tough woman with weird powers. Merry and Anita sound alike, are surrounded by gorgeous supernatural men, and look alike -- allowing for Merry's tri-colored eyes and glowing white skin; she is part sidhe, after all. I think, on the whole, I prefer Anita. This has little to do with Merry herself, but more with the two women's respective worlds and Hamilton's plotting, or lack thereof. Anita has a sense of purpose and reality, despite her crazy circumstances. Merry has a job at the beginning of "Kiss of Shadows," but it's only used to introduce a sex scene and reveal her as the missing Princess Meredith NicEssus, niece of the Unseelie Court's Queen of Air and Darkness. The whole book is like that; it lacks purpose, and meanders through tenuously connected episodes. After Merry's cover is blown, the sluagh come to town, and there is fighting. Then Doyle, the Queen's messenger, arrives to take Merry home. Then Merry meets some old friends at the airport. Then she confronts her cousin. Then she talks to her aunt, and the conversation takes odd turns. Then she is attacked by magic. And so on. Things just happen, one after another. The episodes work well by themselves, and the society of the Unseelie Court is interesting, but the story lacks cohesion. Each Anita book coheres around a mystery, and often a change in Anita's character. If there's a uniting plot thread in "Kiss of Shadows," I couldn't find it. "Kiss of Shadows" feels like a drawn-out introductory chapter. I assume it's the setup for a series, and the next book will do something with this book's exposition. But I think I'll wait to buy the sequel in paperback.
Rating:
Summary: Everything But A Plot
Review: This book contains a unique premise, interesting characters, many scenes that are tense, exciting, hot and even is decently written. BUT, all of the development and plot are missing. If you were to flip through this book and read any couple of pages, chances are good you would be mesmerized and want to read the whole thing. Unfortunately, having read the whole thing, I was left with the sense that I had just spent hours reading pieces here and there from different stories, but never got a complete package. Relationships don't evolve between her characters, they just pop into existence. Plot lines appear, never to be heard from again. And at the end, well it just stops out of the blue for no particular reason. If you read a book for the mood it can set and like to have a new universe to add to your imaginings, then you will probably love this book as much as many do. If you want a well crafted story, with a beginning, middle and end, then like many others you will be terribly disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Almost too hot for bedtime reading
Review: I was turned on to the writings of Laurell by a good friend, Greer. I started reading the Anita Blake series when travelling with my friend. As soon as I know a new book is going to be released, I put in for an advanced copy. I believe I had my name on "A Kiss of Shadows" for almost 1 1/2 years before actually getting a copy in my hands. I started reading this book while laying in bed one night. It is a wonder my husband didn't wonder why the sheets almost caught fire. My sister called while I was reading this book, and I told her I would have to call her back. I just couldn't talk until after I finished the book and enjoyed my husband's company for awhile. I recommend this book to anyone who thinks there isn't a spark left in the world. Believe me, after reading this book, it will be apparent. I even let my daughter read it. She read it while on breaks at work, and her fellow nurses wondered why here face was so red. I will eventually send the book to my sister. She lives in Maryland. I am going to have to read it at least a few more times. I might just have to buy my sister her own book. She might not send this one back. I can't wait for the series to continue. I am still following Laurell's Anita series too. Now I just don't know which series of books I want her to finish the next book first.
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