Rating: 
Summary: Refreshingly different
Review: I bumped into Laurell Hamilton's work by accident - I needed an inexpensive item to bump up my order to qualify for free shipping, and "A Kiss of Shadows" was a "bargain book". It had some pretty good reviews, so I thought I would give it a try.I loved it ! I was immediately hooked into a whole new world of faeries and magic in the modern world. I loved the escapism it offered and combined with the erotica (ok, hot sex !), I just couldn't put this book down. Whether you like a mystery with some fantasy and sexuality thrown in, or you like your sexual fantasy stories with more than just the same old plot, this book is a good, fun read. I can't wait to read the next book in this series - "A Caress of Twilight", and then maybe I'll venture over to Ms. Hamilton's 'Anita Blake' series as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing But Fluff
Review: First and foremost, I could care less about the main character, Meredith. She's a big egoistic woman who can do no wrong who keeps discovering she's more and more powerful. And she apparently has the power to "inadvertently" seduce everyone around her. If you like soft-core porn and one-dimensional characters, then you might enjoy this book. If not, then I'd recommend not reading it.
Rating:
Summary: catharsis, perhaps
Review: There are big similarities in all of Hamilton's books--and between her main characters. From Nightseer to Caress of Twilight... This book contains all that readers of Hamilton appreciate, a witty, intelligent, strong-minded female main character not afraid of her own sexuality--and a variety of mystical powers and sexy supernatural beings... However, these novels are a little different from Anita Blake's series. Any reader who's read Anita Blake from the begining realizes that Hamilton has paid less and less attention to Anita's job(s) as an Animator and a police contact. The police mysteries so integral in the first novels are still there, but the focus is now on increasing Anita's power, repetative internal moral debates, and sex, sex, and...more sex... (Which has compromised the integrity of Anita's character.) A Kiss of Twilight presents us with something different. The characterization of Merry Gentry and the other characters in this series is a little lacking compared to Anita Blake. However, it seems like Hamilton may be letting all out in this series. Mostly with the sex. Unabashed, fan-service type sex. This novel doesn't try to have many higher morals or purposes--from page 1, it's focused on magic, violence, and sex. Almost as if Hamilton tailored her character and setting to allow her to focus, with Merry Gentry, on things that compromise Anita Blake. It's not as deep, sure, but it's fun. Very fun. The fun of Anita Blake without the moral debates.
Rating:
Summary: STOP! BUY! REEAAD!!!
Review: "Yeah its that good", is definately an understatement! How often does anybody actually get to read a good book with non-vamp/were/ghost/etc.... And actually UNDERSTAND it! Well since you asked, ALMOST NEVER!!!! I can't even begin to say enough grrreat things about this book,(cuz if i do i wont stop) I think I passed this book up in the store a Guzzilion times (cuz i usually am more into the Vampire/Carpathian and/or Shapeshifter books. But I had no new books at home except for a new Anne Rice novel I bought a week earlier (which ya know big whoop i was havin' problems followin' the the web that she weaveth) Sooooo I boughteth this Booketh And I just have one thing left to say... "I REGRETETH IT NOTTETH"! BUY ME I'M A MUST HAVE! (not for kids)
Rating:
Summary: A most excellent book
Review: I've read back through other reviews of this book and the general concensious (by the ones who don't like it)is that it has that it has to much sex. Yes it has sex and lots of it but there is a point to it contrary to what most think. If they had been paying attention it's nessisary to the plot line not to mention it's a rather important part of fairy life. Sex leads to little fairies and that is the entire point behind all of it. The fae are NOT prone to having children so anything that makes children is very important. Fairly simple actually. That and politics, Hamiltion does a wonderful job explaining and pointing out the hidden aspects of it all, if your paying attention to whats not being said. All in all its a wonderful book full of plot twists and detailed characters. Dark and sensual yes but worth the time and money if your thoughtful in your reading.
Rating:
Summary: What do you want?
Review: If you want a soft (or not-so-soft) porn adventure story with lots of abs and mouths then go for it. The author writes fairly well, but the plot is repetitious. The heroine can't touch a man (and she touches many, many men) without having an orgasm. In the next book, lucky her, she must bed 27 men who are forced celibates, some of whom haven't had sex in 1000 years. If the thought of this turns you on....
Rating: 
Summary: Laura loses her touch
Review: I'm a fan of the old Laurell K. Hamilton. That being said, I'm rather disappointed in A Kiss of Shadows. It seems as though one of my favorite authors is losing interest in "fiction fantasy" and taking interest in "sexual fantasy". There are a few fantasy elements here and there, but in the end, this is just another sex book.
Rating:
Summary: Imagination at it's best
Review: Having read all of the books in the Anita Blake series, I was curious about her new series. I was a little doubtful...Fairy's?!? But from the first page I was hooked. Meredith is refreshing after Anita Blake's constant litany of being a one man woman (and then proceding to sleep with 3 men). Meredith is honest and feircely independant and descended from FIVE fertily dieties. I don't understand why everyone complains that there is too much sex in the novel. Throughout the novel, Meredith states that the sidhe (the fairy folk) are comfortable with sex, VERY comfortable. She has to get pregnant or face death. Last time I checked getting pregnant required sex. The love scenes between her and various men actually give us glimpses into the characters and their fears and hopes. Frost's hidden humour and vulnerability, Sholto's need to be accepted in the glittering Sidhe world while forced to lead in the feared and tolerated Sluagh world. The one time Doyle loses control. Many critical plots points happen in the bedroom for Meredith. If you could get off the prude wagon and look at what's really being revealed you'll see that it's not only skin.
Rating:
Summary: Action, erotica and magic
Review: Being of a science fiction bent, I am normally not a fan of fantasy novels but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. The action was well-paced and the erotica sufficient to grab my attention in the most basic visceral way! The plotline was consistent and sufficiently well-developed to be logical (as a science fiction afficionado, I can think of no higher compliment). Kudos to Ms. Hamilton on her writing and I look forward to further adventures of Merry in paperback! Based on this example of her writing, I will explore her Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series as well even though I think Buffy the Vampire Slayer stupid beyond description (the actresses being hot and delectable can not save the basic premise of the series).
Rating:
Summary: Pulpish but enjoyable.
Review: I have tried to get into Laurell K. Hamilton's other series but without sucess, more about that later, so this is actually the first book I have read by her. I did enjoy it, and thought that it rolled along nicely, though I do agree with some of the other reviewer's opinion's that the plot was a bit thin. I however, have found that Laurell K is what I would consider a lazy writer with a heavy hand in her use or grammer and ability to turn a phrase. Despite that, I was drawn in by the Merry character, as I was not by Anita Blake. I found the book engaging enough that I finished it in record time for me, (under a week), and I enjoyed the sex scenes for their lyrical prose, as they were strangely unstirring. Some of the best writing in the book was about the descriptive context of the sex scenes, so obviously a strong suit for Laurell K. Now if she could just extend that turn of phrase and descriptive ease toward the rest of her writing. Hmmm. I will read the other book(s) in this series, at least the one that just came out in paperback, but because I had to wait for 'A Caress of Twilight' to come out, I had to placate myself and as a stop gap in the waiting process I went ahead and bought the first book in the Anita Blake series, 'Guilty Pleasures'. My first assessment of her writing abilities were affirmed. Finishing this book was like pulling teeth, but finish it I did holding out the hope that I would somehow be rewarded in the end. No such luck. So if you are an Anita Blake fan, this book has a completely different tenor. If you haven't read any Laurell K before, then be forewarned, this book has a strong pulp factor but is enjoyable nonetheless. Personally, I wouldn't spend money to buy these in hardcover, and if I could get them used in paperback, all the better.
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