Rating: 
Summary: Not a stand alone book
Review: After finishing the Anita Blake series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I started reading it and kept waiting for the story to start. I love Hamilton's writing style and feel that she developed her characters IN DETAIL. The only problem was that was what the book was about-a set-up for a series. We now know everything about all the characters and the conflicts, but still no story. Maybe after a sequel or three, this book will become absolutely fantastic-but if it never goes anyplace-it is definitely not worth the hardcover price.Others have commented on the sex scenes, and I guess that depends on where you are coming from in your reading. It doesn't make erotica criteria in my mind, and but it would rival authors like Bertrice Small, Susan Johnson, and Robin Schone in the romance field. A bit hard, but there are worse. Bottom line-unless you are a hard core fan, wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: Each plot twist came as a surprise. I enjoyed the faerie theme and it provided a nice change from Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Series which involves vampires and werewolves. Altogether it was a engrossing and unique plot. However, as much as the author tried to differ Merry, heroine of Kiss of Shadows, and Anita, there were many common lines and familiar scenes. Hamilton tends to re-use dialog and character structure. Still, Kiss of Shadows is definitely worth a read for the fresh plot and exciting action. Perhaps in Hamilton's next book we will encounter new dialog and ideas.
Rating: 
Summary: good book
Review: this book is so amazing so real life I think everybody should get this book and read, you don't know what your missing!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting start, though I blushed the entire way through..
Review: In this novel, we find Merry Gentry, a faerie princess hiding from her aunt, the Queen of Air & Darkness, Ruler of the Unseelie Court, who she believes will kill her. As would absolutely have to happen, of course, her mother finds her. Or, rather, agents of her mother do. And, we find not all is as it seems. This, in what is one of the most sex-drenched novels I've ever read. I sincerely believe that the lack of sex scenes from Obsidian Butterfly is a direct result of this novel; Ms. Hamilton was saving them up, it seems. What's good? Well, first, Ms. Hamilton is a very talented first-person writer. She's simply a pleasure to read. Also, her alternate history gets fleshed out quite nicely, and the picture of a magic-heavy America is also a fun sight. What didn't I like? Hrm...some of the alternate history seemed a bit, well, lame. (The fey in WW2 is what I'm thinking of here). Also, it is a tad predictable at times. I knew most of what was going to happen from relatively heavy foreshadowing. And, of course, I'm not exactly happy with the sheer mass of sex present; it's not nearly enough to turn me away from this book (it did get a 4-star rating), but I'd've preferred it toned down. All in all, I recommend this, especially to anybody interested in modern-day fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I really loved this book, although it took me a while to get use to the fae people and their way of life, which is VERY different from ours. Once I did I fell in love with this book. Although I did feel that the ending was a little abrupt, but no fear there is a sequel in the works. Meridith is suppose to be dead for she ran away fearing for her life years ago. Once found her Aunt who is Queen and the rest of the Fae world finds out she is still alive. It is a race to see who gets to her first, with her life in the balance she has no idea who to trust. The Queen does turn a fast one on Meridith that left her having no choice but to return to the life she left behind.
Rating: 
Summary: A Feather in a Whirlwind...
Review: One of the things I enjoy the most in Laurel K. Hamilton's 'Anita Blake' series is that the characters, no matter how hard the situation, act out upon their world as much as it acts at them. Faced with troubles, Anita Blake and her companions find a way to turn the tide, or to react to the troubles with their usual skill, and more importantly, style. Not so in this new series. Meredith Gentry seems like she'll be an interesting character at the start, and the set up of her as a Private Investigator in a company where the workers are in some ways of fairy blood is quite striking. A case is introduced, and then everything goes poorly from there. Merry seems to be written as a reactive character. She never seems to do anything, only to react to what is done to her - she's tossed along this story like a feather in a whirlwind. Granted, she admits it - constantly Merry bemoans that she is a very weak fairie compared to the rest - but it gets to be too much. Add to that that every other chapter involves some sort of S&M sex scene, many of which don't seem to be thematically or narratively necessary (or even important), and you'll get an idea of why this book did nothing for me. I'm not sure if anyone could manage to eroticize the eating of flesh and the drinking of blood, but Laurel K. Hamilton tried in "Kiss of Shadows," and it sure didn't work for me (unless the point was to nauseate). I will not be following the rest of this series, it is simply too weak in my opinion. If you're looking for Anita Blake, she's not here. Merry is barely a shadow of the things that we love in Anita, no pun intended.
Rating:
Summary: HAMILTON CREATES ANOTHER DELIGHT
Review: LAURELL HAMILTON'S A KISS OF SHADOWS WAS A PURE DELIGHT. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE AVID FANS OF THE ANITA BLAKE SERIES, THE NEWS OF A NEW HAMILTON "WORLD" WAS A MIXTURE OF DREAD AND ANTICIPATION. SHE HAS CREATED A NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS WHO ARE THREE DIMENSIONAL AND CAN BE TAKEN INTO OUR HEARTS. MERRY IS A LOVELY HEROINE WHO BRINGS YOU ALONG ON HER ADVENTURES INTO THE FAERIE COURT'S ROYAL FAMILY. WE ARE RIGHT THERE FOR THE RIDE AS SHE LEARNS OF HER NEW POWERS AND HOW TO USE THEM TO HER ADVANTAGE. WITH AN INVENTIVE CAST OF SIDHE, TROLLS, BROWNIES, GOBLINS, PIXIES, AND A HOST OF EVERY MYSTICAL CREATURES YOU REMEMBER FROM CHILDHOOD. AS WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE SEELIE COURT, WE MEET BEINGS WHO ARE UNABASHED, SEXUALLY UNINHIBITED, BACKSTABBING, SADISTIC, AND EVEN VULNERBLE. BE PREPARED TO TRY TO FINISH THIS IN ONE SITTING. LIKE HER OTHER WORKS, HAMILTON HAS CREATED A DREAM AND INVITED US TO COME ALONG. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTLY WONDERFUL BOOK THAT I HOPE YOU WILL GIVE A TRY. FANS OF ANITA BLAKE SIMPLY NEED TO REALIZE THIS IS ANOTHER WORLD AND GO IN EXPECTING A WILD AND EXHILARATING RIDE.
Rating:
Summary: Could have done better
Review: I was really excited to be reading a new book by Hamilton. A new world a new plot! Cool! Evil wizard using unlawful magic, fairy in hiding, damsel in distress, orgers and brownies and pixies, Oh My! Then after a while I was beginning to wonder if there was really a plot and not just sex scene after sex scene after sex scene. I just started flipping over them hoping to find the storyline. Which seemed pretty rushed in the end, if you ask me. I couldn't tell if it was because these were new characters or what. But I think, and hope, the next book lets me learn to care about the characters. And not just their sex drives.
Rating:
Summary: Sex and pale green men
Review: I found this book to be a disappointment. Don't misunderstand me having sex with pale green men with silver hair is naturally high on everyone's fantasy meter but page after page after page became a bit boring. Hamilton's alternative history theme is wonderful and I would have liked more of the lifestyle, the ways of the fey, etc. that she has given us in the Anita Blake series. I felt she was trying to prove how daring she was by her soft erotic approach, which was initially intriguing, but I missed her excellent plotting and storytelling. She seemed to be struggling to find the story between sexual romps. She can do better. Although one must admit her acceptance of all men regardless of appearance is cheerful.
Rating:
Summary: Informative
Review: All the Drama and Action and preternatureal studs of Anita Blake, in Sidhe style! Merry could be a cousin of Anita. I've heard several people say it's just porn, and that's kinda true to an extent. The plot and whole world behind it are very origonal and fascinating. I am obsessed with arcane preternatureal stuff so I found it interesting. The sex thrown in wasn't all that terrible.
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