Rating: Summary: Filler Review: It would be nice to think that a popular author of a briskly selling series would begin writing a new book with the intent of giving us our money's worth. I can only assume that Laurell K. Hamilton, possibly low on plot ideas, is intent on dragging out this series as long as possible and as long as she continues to sell, doesn't much care that we aren't getting much out of it. The result of this rather mercenary approach is a book with no plot. All we got out of this book consisted of: -many very tiresome and utterly endless conversations that went nowhere, -the murky idea that somehow via sex or touch Merry is turning her fairy studs into gods, -repetitive re-counting of plot points from the previous two books in the series, -more very tiresome and utterly endless conversations that went nowhere. I don't object to the sex, because we knew from Book One that this series was all about the sex. But essentially, this series is looking like it's going to become nothing more than what the Anita Blake series has become: an excuse for Ms. Hamilton to write out her fantasies in public. I would have no quarrel with that, except that in both series, the fantasies consist of nothing much but many, many supernatural, long-haired Fabio lookalikes with no other sexual outlet but playing puppy pile on the bed with our heroine. Plus, let's face it: the plot points between the two series are pretty much the same at this point. It would seem that all she's doing is switching the names. Sigh. Part of what is troubling me about Laurell K. Hamilton is that I do think she can be a good writer. But something has changed. She seems to have traded the nice, tight narratives punctuated with exciting action sequences evident in some of her other books for meandering, near-pointless books that do little or nothing to advance the plot of the overall series arc. Just because you are dealing with a huge arc meant to encompass several books doesn't mean that 90% of each book in the series has to consist of filler. At Book Three in this particular series, why not have Merry get pregnant already? I am sure that there are several books that could be written afterwards - it's not like a TV sitcom when the writer accidentally ends the unresolved sexual tension by having the two characters kiss too soon. Maybe a good editor could help? Or head back to that writer's group that she used to mention in the acknowledgements?
Rating: Summary: Erotic fantasy Review: This series is probably the most successful attempt that I've seen to write erotic novels in the fantasy genre. Most of the major plot developments involve explicit sex. In fact, the book is mostly sex scenes (with some violence at the end), and when the characters aren't actually having sex, they are talking about it; much of the the plot involves who gets to have what kind of sex with whom. However, Hamilton manages to keep the sexual/political intrigues interesting, and the magical element helps to add some diversity to the sex scenes, and keeps them from becoming repetitive (as is so often the problem in erotic writing). And there is a real story here, with enough twists and turns that it avoids the predictable. I did find the parade of beautiful men a bit hard to keep track of (there is little doubt that the series is written by a woman). There is also quite a lot of set-up and not all that much resolution, so it doesn't really stand alone very well.
Rating: Summary: Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed Review: First of all, if the people who read this book dont like the sex scenes, why are they even reading this series? From the very first chapters of A Kiss of Shadows, the stage was set for a culture that embraced sex in a much more liberated manner than our own society. LKH made it obvious that there WAS going to be a lot of sex with different people and that some/most of it would be plot related. And this book is no different. In fact, the sex scenes are actually shorter than in the previous two books (there is only one long sex scene, the other two are short/metaphysical). And they are more than an excuse to get Merry pregnant and has more to do with bringing the characters into their powers. The reason some people felt that there was too much sex was probably because there wasnt much action to give the first half of the book more substance. I agree that this book wasnt as exciting as A Kiss of Shadows, which had the right blend of sex and plot. This feels more like a transition, but I think it is essential reading if you are a fan of the series. There are a lot of important things taking place, however, though most of it serves to set the backdrop for the next book rather than making this one as action-packed as we were hoping. For example (some spoilers): 1. Character development: We see a lot more of the main characters and their personalities, especially Frost and Andais (not all of it good) 2. We are shown that the powers of the Fey are returning- which is established through the chalice (v. exciting potential), the heightened power of Merry's ring, and the increasing powers of the characters themselves 3. Merry's relationship with the mother goddess (ambiguous, unexplained...intriguing) 4. More assassination attempts on Merry 5. We are also shown that Merry will have a lot of trouble convincing other members of the Unseelie court that they should let a 'half breed' like her rule 6. Merry's visit to the Unseelie court 7. Merry's fantastic duel with a powerful Sidhe 8. Introduction of new characters, such as the Half sidhe Goblin twins (one of my few complaints is that there were too many characters introduced at the end of this book to keep track of!) So, in my opinion, there IS a lot going on and comments that LKH is giving us 'porn without plot' is a little on the unfair side. On the whole, it is a great book, though it is not as self-contained as it should be. I do wish that the visits to the Goblin and Seelie courts had been included in this book. It would have made Seduced by Moonlight a lot more intense. Oh well, at least we know what's in store in the next book...
Rating: Summary: Review Review: Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton is the third book in the Merry Gentry series. While this book is the weakest in this series, a Hamilton fan will enjoy it. Seduced by Moonlight begins a few weeks after the end of Caress of Twilight. Merry and her guards have moved onto the estate of the fey actress Maeve Reed, who is pregnant due to fertility rites preformed by Merry and Galen. Public interest and political intrigue seem to be weighing down all her guards and Merry herself is frustrated. King Kurag figures prominently as he attempts to thwart his alliance with Merry. Assassination attempts affect Merry and her guards in ways never imagined. Seduced by Moonlight does have some problems. It does not appear to further the storyline arc started in Kiss of Shadows and continued in Caress of Twilight. Merry seems to have discontinued her PI work and no mystery plot was worked into the story line. I was disappointed to find the early plot development to be of little or no importance to the ending. While Seduced by Moonlight does have some problems, many things are done extremely well by Hamilton. The characters do develop deeper emotionally and it was very refreshing to read about strong male leads that are also eye candy. Hamilton has an amazing imagination that is thoroughly explored in Seduced by Moonlight. While I found the ending to be a let down, I did enjoy Merry's triumph of power. It was very moving to experience Merry's emotions as she faced some of her worst fears. Queen Andais also experiences an emotional change not hinted in the previous two books. Laurell K. Hamilton is the author of two other books in the Merry Gentry series, Kiss of Shadows and Caress of Twilight. She is also the author of the highly successful Anita Blake series. The twelfth book in the series, Incubus Dreams is due to be released in October 2004. Be sure the visit the author's website at http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/
Rating: Summary: Ho hum. Review: I rarely do not finish a book that I've started reading, especially if it's one by an author that I like. I just could not finish this one. Hamilton used to be one of my favorite authors, but not any more. Too much sex, not enough plot, and too much of what Merry doesn't know but everyone else around her does know and has to explain. Substitute "Anita" for "Merry" and you've got my feelings on her latest Anita Blake novels, too. Such a shame to see a good author degrade her work to this level.
Rating: Summary: Good read Review: The plot moved along smoothly enough in this novel, but my only complaint was that the dialogue (and there was a lot of it) got to be a bit "chatty." Still, the characters were wonderful and overll I'd give it four stars. Also recommended: THE LAST JUROR, POMPEII, BARK OF THE DOGWOOD, DROP CITY
Rating: Summary: Sorry I bought it.... Review: A very disappointing third book in what started as a good series... I did not enjoy this book; even the sex was not interesting.
Rating: Summary: Only 2 chapters worth of plot-get this one at the library Review: compared to the density of the first book about Merideth Gentry this one was hopelessly watered down. So much time was spent discovering new powers that no one had a chance to USE them.and the sex scenes were loooooong. so long i got bored-and i'm always up for a little titillation in a novel. The last bit started to get good but it was really only one conflict and resolution in a book that deserved three or four. I hate to say it but i was disappointed. Get this one at the library
Rating: Summary: I'm very close to done. Review: I ADORED the first Merry Gentry book - so I pined away waiting for the next. When it came out, I read it, and thought "ho hum". It was just sort of blah. It wasn't bad enough to make me not want to read the 3rd, though, so like a trooper I gave it a shot. Dear God. I don't know who told Laurell that her books needed more sex, but I'd like to get my hands on them and wring their neck. I don't read a book so 6 pages can be dedicated to somebody's sex life and then 2 to the plot. That's not what I read for. Other people must, because there are a whole heck of a lot of good reviews out there. One more book, Laurell, and then I'm through with you. I would have been better off to light 30 dollars on fire than waste time and money on this.
Rating: Summary: Must be setting the stage for the next book. Review: The latest Laurell K. Hamilton "Seduced by Moonlight" I'd give 3 Stars. It is interesting enough. The characters are developing a little more with their new powers (set only a month after the Nameless event) and her relationship with the Queen improves. There are several lengthy descriptions of new character attributes. But nothing major happens until the end of the book, then its over. It, more or less, seems this book is just setting the stage for the next, rather than having any major events in itself. I began to feel a little disappointed when I had only 30 pages to go and the story was just picking up. If the next one is a year in coming and doesn't show more progress, I could be a very old woman before Merry has a breakthrough.
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