Rating: 
Summary: Anita Blake with a libido
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: I miss Anita.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A solid and sexy beginning
Review: _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.
Rating: 
Summary: New addiction
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Laurell K. Hamilton keeps getting better and better.
Review: I've been a fan of Mrs. Hamilton for a long time and like many of the good authors, she's develop into a great author. Her books fascinate you with their world mythological beings come real. Her heroine is strong, intelligent and will have you begging for more. If your a fan of the dull less inspired tv series Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK. This one book is better than a whole season of those shows.
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't like it...
Review: 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.
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Summary: Laurell K Hamilton fan
Review: Let me start by saying that I LOVED this book and frankly, I was prepared not to. I was introduced to the author by a co-worker who thought the Anita Blake series was one of the best vampire stories going. I was hooked after the first book and now that I've read Ms Hamilton's newest heroine, I feel compelled to share just how wonderful Kiss of Shadows is. The reason I felt I wouldn't like the new series was because I couldn't imagine an author coming up with a more diverse and interesting alternative universe than the one Anita Balke inhabits. Boy was I wrong. Merry Gentry and the "people" who orbit around her are some of the most inventive, unusual charcters that it has been my pleasure to read about. I can't wait for the next installment. Please, Laurell, write faster!!!
Rating:
Summary: nine princes in amber revisited
Review: 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.
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Summary: When's the next Merry book coming out?!
Review: Absolutely one of the best books I've read in a while. (With the exception of the Anita books, of course!) I picked up the book and couldn't put it down! "Kiss" is really a well-written book with great possibilities. Seriously... I read the book, and when I got to the end, I pondered on the fact that the next one won't be out for at least a year, and then proceeded to turn back to page one! I really, really recommend this book to anyone who likes "dark fantasy" and especially to anyone who likes the Anita Blake series that Laurell Hamilton's also written. A really great read!
Rating:
Summary: An awesome read!
Review: As a fan of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, I had no doubt that Hamilton's endeavours to write a new character would be intense. I wasn't disappointed! I believe Hamilton is the best writer of fanasy and sexual tension on the market - and no story is the same. Her newest creation, Merry Gentry, is a strong, but vulnerable figure amidst a world of charming, strange, funny and often frightening men of many species. I don't believe in giving too much away, but never underestimate the power of a woman - character or author! Enjoy!
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