Rating: 
Summary: Uneven, but still worth a read
Review: I can only applaud the trickle of novels now coming out that aren't Tolkienan rip-offs. Finally, fantasy has found its footing again, and we're seeing some more inventive and original plots.Unlike some of the reviewers, I actually found the sensuality of this novel to be one of its strong points. Hamilton has a good feel for open-minded sex between sentient humans, sidhe, and other fey. Sex fits into the culture of the sidhe rather importantly. Anyway, it's not often you can get fun sex in a fantasy novel. There's such a tendency to be so lilly clean, something pushed by publishers who want to target a younger audience. There's definitely a place for mature, adult fantasy for all of us who grew up on the tamer stuff! The problem I have with the book is the uneven plotting and pacing. It's almost as if she started the book with one plot and story and ended up with another. However, don't let that detour you -- those are mere technical flaws. There are a host of characters you'd like to learn more about. The machinations of the Unseelie court and human-sidhe relations are fodder for quite a few more novels. We can only hope there are more books coming in the series. If for no other reason than to see how Meredith handles so many studly sidhe. Hey, and I was disappointed that the scene with the tentacles didn't go further!
Rating: 
Summary: kiss of shadows
Review: I didn't think I would like the new Meredith Gentry books, but I loved it. It was sexy ,sensual,with lots of realy cool people in it. I read the hole book in two sittings, I just could't put it down.Laurel K Hamilton has got my son to enjoy reading that is worth all the world to me.He has read all her books at least four times.
Rating: 
Summary: A Kiss of Shadows
Review: Perhaps it is just that I'm tired of "series" writers. It's not that I'm tired of Ms. Hamilton's creativity and voice. I read this book in one setting. However... "A Kiss of Shadows" does not contain the depth of characterization Ms. Hamilton has shown in the Anita Blake series. I had not realized how greatly I had enjoyed watching the growth of Ms. Blake's character throughout the series AND within each book. The protagonists and antagonists all make human choices no matter their "monstrosity." "Kiss's" new character, Merry, merely has things happen to her. They affect her to a limited extent. And I never got much feeling for the antagonists in the book at all. I didn't even care if they got their come-uppance or learned their lesson. Not only is there not a lot of character development, but there isn't a lot of plot development. The future of this series is laid out for the reader in such detail that maybe adding some of a plot was too much. Finally, the sensuality typical of Ms. Hamilton's earlier books went too far for me in this book. Perhaps because there is no reference for having romance with monsters who have limited human characteristics and no human physical characteristics. If you are as much of a lover of Ms. Hamilton's past works as I, then this review will not stop you from purchasing the hard back edition. If you are a new reader, I urge you to read any and all of her other works before this one. This is her one book, that would not start a Laurell K. Hamilton addiction, and it's an addiction well worth starting.
Rating: 
Summary: This was NOT worth the wait !!!
Review: I LOVE the Anita Blake series- Kiss of Shadows, however, is a bad blend of that series and Anne Rice's pseudo-erotica Sleeping Beauty series with the faerie court thrown in. Meredith comes across as a dog in heat, and the other characters are just dull. Hopefully Laurell's next book will be a more enjoyable read!
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Beginning to a New Series
Review: Most of us who have remained single for a certain period of time experience The Hints from the relatives that grandchildren/nieces/nephews ought to be produced. These normally consist of pictures, baby stories, subtle sighs, loud conversations about how nice it would be...but not, normally, a dagger at the throat. That's because we're not related to Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, as Princess Meredith is. And what the Queen wants, the Queen gets. And babies mean sex, and if you happen to be of limited fertility as the Sidhe are, well, then, it means lots of sex, with lots of partners, right now. Or else! Anyone who, after reading Hamilton's Anita Blake series, wondered if she could write erotica will be gratified to learn that the answer is an unqualified "yes!" There is quite a bit of sex, but for this reviewer the best-written and most erotic scene in the book involved no sex at all, that being a wonderfully tense tete-a-tete in which the Queen lays down the law to her errant niece. That one leaves the reader only slightly less drained than it did poor Meredith. "There now, was that so difficult?" Brrrr... No male character in the book (or, for that matter, anywhere in the Anita Blake series) is as finely-drawn as either the Anita-like Meredith, or Queen Andais, who is a dark and complex woman with a delightfully nasty streak. Meredith's offhand comment that she still doesn't understand men might well be applied to Hamilton herself, in this reviewer's opinion, but when it comes to crafting many-faceted female characters she has few peers. I do not believe I am the only reader who develops a sneaky sympathy for the evil Queen, despite the unpleasant objects behind her curtain. The book is not deep, but it is fun, a bawdy, action-filled, wisecracking romp. Unfortunately Hamilton leaves many threads incomplete which she attempts to tie up in a couple of paragraphs at the end, and which other editors might have preferred in an afterword or epilogue of some sort. Enough remain untied to guarantee a succeeding volume, which Hamilton will write...or else!
Rating:
Summary: Scary, sexy, funny, fascinating new world!!
Review: If you loved the Anita Blake series, you will love this first book in Ms. Hamilton's new series, as well. Everything that is great about the Anita series is present here in full force--the excitement, action, wit, fright, and fabulous characters! The protagonist, Merry Gentry, is different from Anita, to be sure, but what fun would it be if she were exactly the same?! Nevertheless, she's sassy and smart, and you'll cheer her on just like you do the Executioner. She's got big family problems, interesting men issues, emerging personal power to deal with, a steady job, and, yes, plenty of enemies. Merry isn't the only fascinating character, however. Each new character, whether bad, good, or somewhere in between, will keep you hooked and waiting for the next installment in the series. This book kept me up all night, and I'm sure it'll do the same for you!! Definitely a keeper.....
Rating:
Summary: An excellent new series that I look forward to more in.
Review: Wow. Where to begin? I normally don't buy hardbacks because of the expense but I pre-ordered this book without even knowing the plot because Laurrell K. Hamilton wrote it and I have loved the Anita Blake series since the beginning. That said, I am happy to say that I don't regret buying the book in hardback. This book is definitely much more adult-oriented that the Anita Blake books and readers should definitely be ready to accept the fact that sex is a central theme and motivator in this book and if they are offended, should probably avoid the book. Those who can maintain an open mind though are in for an excellent book that is next to impossible to put down. Merry does remind you somewhat of Anita in the terms of physical desription and some of her attitude (I did have a twinge of irritation with the fact that Merry also likes to carry weapons...a concealed gun (with kick) and knives...just like Anita) but I'll overlook these overly similar character attributes by just chalking then up to an homage to her other series and giving people more of what they like. Merry is definitely not Anita Blake though. Merry has a more, shall we say, "open" attitude towards sex thanMs. Blake.The world is obviously not the same as the Anita Blake world of vampires, werewolves and other lycanthropes as being fey or partly fey is way too common to not have been mentioned in the Anita Blake world. This world is more involved with the sensual, otherwordly and decidely non-human realm of the celtic faeries and fey-like creatures of legend and much of the coldness and seeming inhumanity remarked by other reviewers can be attributed to the fact that Merry and the rest of the sidhe and fey peoples are NOT now human and never have been (at least mostly) and therefore don't have the same attitudes as humans or those who came from human roots (i.e., vampires before being turned, lycanthropes before being bitten, etc.). I will agree that there was a heck of a lot of plot thrown into this book to be completely satisfied with it as some parts and the MANY characters were just not as well-developed as they could have been but will hopefully be explored in greater detail in later books. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series and seeing more of Doyle and Frost especially. Both of these characters show great promise in the terms of being very interesting once they are fleshed out in greater detail (and no, I don't mean sexually). Merry is fun and hopefully will develop a little bit more depth also. Overall the book is a great read and one I will recommend to friends.
Rating: 
Summary: Talk About A Let Down
Review: I had been eagerly awaiting the new series by Laurel K. Hamilton as her earlier releases with the Anita Blake character where spell-binding. I found myself turning page after page of her new release KISS OF SHADOWS hoping to come to some plot or purpose to the book. I was sorrly disappointed and felt that she introduced an assingnation plot that was a big flop--It went no where and left you wondering what was the point of the book. The book was also filled with reminants and reminders of Anita Blake melded into her new character Meridith Gentry not to mention the unbelievable even laughable non-plausable historical references. All in all I would say if your expecting anything close to Hamilton's earlier work don't bother reading KISS OF SHADOWS unless you enjoy big letdowns!!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but uninspired.
Review: I was looking forward to something new and different, given that this is a new series. What I found was Anita Blake with a different hair color and minus the inhibitions. Even some of the lines the main char uses comes verbatim from Anita Blake, and that's where it started going down hill. It started of with an interesting premise -- Merry on the run from relations and a potentially dangerous situation. In the middle of the book, the mystery is ripped away, and you get a rather bland plot of stay alive while we race for the throne. Where one expects some glamour of the faerie lands to come through, you get funny colored folks (lilac skin and pink hair) with magic, and very little to give you the feel of this is something old and special. Part of this is because of the main character's point of view. She is not an outsider, these things are normal to her, and all the chars you deal with for the most part are *in* this world. If you're a LKH fan, wait for the paperback. The book is worth a read, but if you're expecting new and different, you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for that style and flavor that is very much LKH, with strong female characters and that air of darkness and action she's good at, you'll find the book entertaining in its own right.
Rating:
Summary: Oh My God!!!
Review: I did not believe that any series could be better than the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series but this one does the trick. I am in heaven. Merry and the Fey are my kind of people. Keep em coming, Laurell!
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