Rating: 
Summary: Awesome intro for a new series!
Review: I love all of Laurell K. Hamilton's previous writings, and sure enough, A Kiss of Shadows didn't fall short of any expectations I had. It's true that the ending left things hanging, but to those that haven't been following up on the news of this book, it's an introduction into a series and has to leave things hanging for the next book! I love the way she combines actual mythology and historical references to create her fey world, making it somewhat believable. Merry and her friends are an awesome group of characters unlike any other I've ever read and the images that Laurell paints throughout the book are breathtaking and very imaginative. If anyone is looking for a book with a lot of mystery, suspense, action, and last but not least sex, then you should definately pick up A Kiss of Shadows ASAP!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Hamilton is back with a vengeance, oh happy me.
Review: Thank you Laurell K. Hamilton for not writing a BAD book. The last few Anita Blakes had me worried there for a while. But this, well, A Kiss of Shadows is . . . Wow.I'm a big fan of the first 7 or so Anita Blake books, and when I saw that Hamilton had a new book/series starter about the fae, I was instantly drawn to it, though a tad bit skeptical (Narcissus in Chains was painful to read). Oh thank heavens, I was not disappointed! The story itself follows the life of a Fairy Princess on the lam from her cruel and unusual Aunt Andais, the Fae Queen. Andais has been trying to kill Merry since Merry was born, but in this instance, Andais needs Merry's help and sends Doyle (one of her best guardsmen) to retrieve the missing royal. From there, you follow the story of Merry's return to court and her unusual lifestyle, which includes a rather nasty interlude with a rather nasty cousin (Cel) and A LOT of guardsmen. A LOT. Unlike Anita Blake from Hamilton's Vamp. Hunter series (who is portrayed as a moral character with rigid views regarding sex), Merry is a very sexual being (repeat - VERY sexual being) and the book does concentrate on her unearthly appetites a bit too much for my tastes. However, it's ignorable as the story itself is solid and very interesting. I especially like some of the guards (Frost, Doyle, Barinthus) and I hope that the next book goes more into the men themselves as opposed to just portraying them as potential playthings for Merry - they deserve more than that. As for the main character, Merry is not as much of a physical butt-kicker as Anita Blake, but she is powerful in her own right and well flushed out in the first book. She's quite likable and interesting. I look forward to the sequel to this book, and hope that good things come from this very good beginning. Hamilton may have hooked me onto another series! Happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: What a great book.
Review: This is a great book to read. The only part i didn't like was that everyone was stronger then merry But everything else was great.Laurell always leaves you guessing and waiting for the next book to come out.She is just a great authur.
Rating:
Summary: Being a Faeire Princess is not all its cracked up to be...
Review: I wonder what I would have thought of "A Kiss of Shadows" if I had not read Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake novels. Of course, for anybody who has read any of the ten novels about the Vampire Hunter and her complicated love life the similarities are blatantly obvious. We are presented again with a diminutive young woman with a strong sense of personal honor who discovers she has come into powers she never suspected she had, told in first person by our heroine so we always know everything she is thinking, including why she selects her clothing and how she hides her weapons. So Hamilton's fans will surely have the feeling they have been here before, and will be denied the perspective of fresh eyes when reading this first novel in Hamilton's new series (the next of which appears in March 2002). This time Hamilton's heroine is an insider to the tumultuous political intrigue, third in line to the throne of her people. The Princess Meredith NicEssus fled from the courts of Faeire, knowing that because of her mortality she would not survive another duel as she was unwillingly drawn into a power struggle over the question of succession. For three years she has lived among the humans, working as Merry Gentry for the Grey Detective Agency ("Supernatural Problems, Magical Solutions"), while sighting of the missing elfin princess became as popular as Elvis sightings in the tabloid press. Once again we are presented with a world "in media res," where the back-story on the heroine's circumstances are doled out during the narrative (along with some interesting references to what the fey did to Eva Braun with Hitler ticked them off). We assume this is the same alternative reality as the Anita Blake books since she has encountered the fey. But while part of "A Kiss of Shadows" takes place in the St. Louis area, there is never any mention of vampires, werewolves or animators. Early in the novel Meredith is "outted" by circumstances, and is stunned to find that things have changed at the high court and that apparently her aunt, the Queen of the Air and Darkness, no longer wants her dead. Or is this simply intrigue wrapped up in intrigue after intrigue?
Yes, the sexuality of these characters is prominent throughout the novel, as has increasingly been the case in the Anita Blake novels, although here it is tempered somewhat by the idea that sex has political implications to the fey. Certainly Princess Meredith embraces the joys of sex, as well as the prices it demands at times, more willingly than Anita has for the most part. But then Hamilton, who has created some of the most intense scenes in contemporary horror literature, has been writing for mature readers almost from the start. There is growing concern about the sex in her books, but the violence has almost always been more excessive and ultimately more compelling. The main difference between this and the Anita Blake books is that here there is a definite story arc, having to do with whether Princess Meredith will be able to stop her cousin, Prince Cel, from inheriting the throne. As the mists of uncertainty are swept away, what is revealed is a much more black and white world, where the battle lines are clearly drawn. Certainly there are a lot of recognizable features to this new beginning, but Hamilton has always been an engaging writer and I will be interested to see what happens next.
Rating:
Summary: more PLEASE
Review: I refused to put down the book until I had finished it in one reading, even though I it meant that I was going to the office the next morning bleary eyed!
I've read all of Laurell's Anita Blake series and have made sure that I have a soft cover copy of each of them as they become available. I'm just waiting for a soft copy of this one to add to my collection.
Just loved it. Please keep them coming.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Bubblegum for the reading mind.
Review: Reading this book is just fun. I won't take the time to review all of LKH's books, but this is one of her better ones and deserves a special mention. Suspend your disbelief, enter the alternate universe that the author has created, and just enjoy reading the book. On par with the alternate "modern" universe Piers Anthony created for the Incarnations of Immortality series, this book is worth a look for carrying on a fine tradition of "what-ifs". LKH has an entertaining writing style akin to older gumshoe detective novels in some cases and Harlequin pot-boilers in others. Nevertheless, her voice is her own. For a fast, fun read, pick up this book and check out some of her others.
Rating: 
Summary: An Ok read
Review: I admire Laurell K Hamilton's style, wit and creativity. In my opinion she is a truly talented and gifted writer. Which is why I am disappointed. I accept mediocre from many authors, because that is the limit of their abilities. Poor character development and thin plot are marks of many of the books I read, simply because they are all that is available. Many authors are using sex to disguise these weaknesses. I can accept that from poor writers. However, I just can't seem to accept that from someone as gifted as Ms. Hamilton--I approach her work with expectations. Rightly or wrongly, I expect a plot, well crafted and interesting characters---characters I am interested in, even if I don't like them. I expect a vivid world, with rich depth and detail. I expected to be provoked to thought and new ideas. Unfortunately, I found the old reliable trick of using sex to try and hide the dearth of plot, characterization and detail in this Kiss of Shadows. Perhaps I might have fallen for it, if the sex scenes hadat least been titilating. Yet, all of that said, IF this were a book by a untalented author, I would have said, "its ok". It was readable, I didn't stop after the first chapter, which I have done with many other books.
Rating:
Summary: An Intriguing Dalliance With the Sidhe
Review: Well, having been a fan of Mrs Hamilton's since 1993 and the discovery of Guilty Pleasures, I bought this hardback when it first came out. Her style of writing is certainly addictive...and very visual. Her female characters are strong (usually in more ways than just the obvious) and appealing by their actions. Having said that though, let me add that the Anita Blake books and this new series are not for the young. Why? To not be too harsh or chase away a prospective reader, these books are soft-core porn. This one most especially. Understand that I don't say that in a derogatory manner, but to put the cards on the table. The one thing that is disconcerting is that, in reading it, it's like watching a fashion show. All the people are beautiful and well-dressed. An interesting fantasy world to dive off into though.
Overall, I think the new series, if it does turn out to be one, shows promise. Especially if Merry can stay out in Los Angeles and away from the "stand by" that Mrs Hamilton has of St Louis. She lives there though, so that can be forgiven.
Rating:
Summary: Can't wait for the next book!
Review: I've been a big Anita Blake fan, but I felt that series was going about as far as it was going to, so I was really looking forward to this new series. I wasn't disappointed! I love the fantasy world Hamilton creates here--this is not taking place in our world. This is a world where faerie princess sightings are up there with elvis sightings and where the new fad is to look like you have faerie blood in you (pointed ears and such). I liked Merry from the get go, though I did feel like, espeically at first, she was too much like anita blake. That changed, however, as the book progressed. Merry is a sexual woman, one who isn't afraid to show her sexual nature in her everyday life. I thought that the sex scenes worked with the story--while there were several, none were out of place within the context of the story. Sensuality is paramount here in this world, and so when Merry does have sex, I wasn't surprised. I like, too, that Hamilton doesn't shy away from mixing a little pain with sex--she does it in a way that is erotic and interesting, even if you're not into that kind of thing. I really like the fantasy elements of this book--the non-human characters, the magical powers, the faerie courts and lore. So many of the characters were so original, their motivations and backgrounds so interesting. I think this is what made this book so enjoyable--though it was a lot of expository writing at times, it was interesting enough to keep you involved. I also like the plot, though I did feel this was mostly a set up for the next book. That's not really a downside--I've read the book a few times already and I enjoy it every time. I look forward to seeing this carefully set up world in the next book, now that Merry is back at the detective agency. There is a lot that could happen... I personally highly recommend this book, though I would defidently get this book from the library first if you are not sure about it--Hamilton is going in a new direction from the old Anita Blake books, so you might want to try before you buy!
Rating: 
Summary: A Sexy Faerie Princess
Review: Merry is a real life fairy princess. Her royal family has this little hang-up about her mixed parentage, and has spent the past three years looking for her. Once they find her, she's dead meat. To avoid being killed, Merry hides out in Los Angeles, using glamour to disguise her appearance. She works as a private detective specializing in supernatural cases. Unfortunately, the first case the reader is exposed to is the very one that exposes Merry to her family. Upon her return to the Unseelie Court, Merry
is pushed into an unexpected political situation, one that could affect the future of the Fey. Merry is an interesting character, full of spirit and experience (most of which seems to be sexual and/or violent). Her interaction with the other characters, both human and Fey, is unfortunately lackluster due to the dialogue. It's clear Laurell K. Hamilton wants to show Merry as a witty, intelligent person, but the words that come out of her mouth rarely provide back-up to this contention. However, Merry's guards, Frost and Doyle, are wonderful characters, particularly when shown side by side. They provide an intriguing dynamic of light and dark, and their attitudes toward court politics (of which they've experienced for over 800 years) certainly leave the reader wanting to know more about them. The plot of "A Kiss of Shadows" also leaves something to be desired. In essence, the book is really just a series of sexual situations interspersed with a lot of running. The mystery and horror elements so common in Hamilton's other books are missing from this one, although the encounters between the sheets are certain to leave any reader a bit breathless. Hamilton has a gripping writing style. Her words pound into your brain with staccato drum beats. Though she tends to spend a great deal of time "telling" rather than "showing" the reader what's happening, Hamilton knows how to dig into the latent fantasies of her readers. Her erotic descriptions are breathtaking, and make for some uncomfortable incidents when read in public. Those of a more sexually free nature will revel in her characters' escapades, and enjoy this tense little romp of pleasure and pain. Fans of Hamilton's Anita Blake vampire hunter series should definitely pick up this book, if only to support the author. The story is not the greatest, but it's clear Hamilton intends to lead Merry into her own series. If you've not been exposed to her writing before, skip "A Kiss of Shadows" for now, and read the Anita Blake series instead. Merry is an interesting character, but she pales in comparison to Hamilton's vampire hunter.
|
