journey_sloane's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
4.0
There's not really much to say about these books. Objectively, they're not great. They are, however, fun and filled with smut.
wisecraic's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
autismreading_mom's review
5.0
This book has a great plot line can’t wait to meet more characters and see what happens next. Love this book
dreamofbookspines's review
3.0
Re-reading the Merry Gentry series: a review.
The introduction of Maeve Reed/Conchenn complicates Merry's story in fascinating ways, but I think Hamilton spends a little too much time in her books rehashing that which was established in the first book. I understand the drive to want to make each book independently readable, but as a series, this is filled with repetition that gets frustrating when you try to read the series straight through.
The ending was good in terms of plot, but rushed. If she'd cut out more of the rehashing, and added in more time for the wrap-up, it would've been 4.5 stars.
The introduction of Maeve Reed/Conchenn complicates Merry's story in fascinating ways, but I think Hamilton spends a little too much time in her books rehashing that which was established in the first book. I understand the drive to want to make each book independently readable, but as a series, this is filled with repetition that gets frustrating when you try to read the series straight through.
The ending was good in terms of plot, but rushed. If she'd cut out more of the rehashing, and added in more time for the wrap-up, it would've been 4.5 stars.
amyiw's review
4.0
I shelved this in 2011 not 2019! Own and on shelf for that long. I added it to a shelf "next" and GR decided to add a new edition as read not add next to my current TBR edition why? because that is what it does since Amazon has been fooling around. I didn't notice and reshelved it as TBR. Then I realized that it must have been a duplicate. This is a problem of theirs NOT mine. The book said TBR and changed to READ after I added it to a shelf. That is stupid, add it to my TBR already shelved book. I then deleted but the wrong book. Now I cannot put back the shelved date to 2011, only started reading and finished, not shelved why? This is my data and I know when I "shelved it". Urgh!
Finally got to this series years after it has been on my shelf as it is on my actual book shelf and I've only been a member of GR since 2011. Hey that is when I "shelved" this book. Fwads.
Finally got to this series years after it has been on my shelf as it is on my actual book shelf and I've only been a member of GR since 2011. Hey that is when I "shelved" this book. Fwads.
lettemeread's review against another edition
5.0
If you like your gothic romance mixed with your "smut" books - you'll like Laurell K. Hamilton's Gentry series. The sex scenes are spectacular. What's great is there's even a plot. Got to like that.
bookfessional's review
3.0
3.5 stars
As is common with a lot of second-in-series books, this one didn't quite live up to it's predecessor. Oh, there was still tons of fairy goodness, but I found this one to be significantly less entertaining.
In book 2, Merry has once again left the midwestern Sithen for SoCal, this time with her aunt's blessing, and with her "Guard" ("Guard" is a euphemism for "harem") in tow.
After returning to her home, Merry is almost immediately propositioned by an excommunicated Seelie Fae who desperately wants to become pregnant.
Wut?
Oh, and this excommunicated Fae was excommunicated b/c she insinuated to the Seelie King that he had a virility *ehem* problem, which is slightly-more-than-a-problem, b/c apparently the fertility of the monarch is representative of the rest of his people, so he's knowingly kept the Seelie infertile for at least 100 years.
Well . . . that sucks, but it's not really exciting, is it?
Ominous though, and the King has eyes everywhere, so when he finds out that Merry has been talking with the banished whistle blower, Merry begins to experience the unpleasantness of his "attention" ("attention" is a euphemism for "thinly veiled attempts to end her life").
And rather reckless attempts at that: he unleashes a centuries old accumulation of power that was created when the Fae were given citizenship in America and the most other of the Fae gave up that which made them other.
Anyway, Tanaris (King) lets this thing loose, but can't control it, and havoc is wrecked.
So some action, I suppose, but not very much, and not until the very end.
Oh, and Merry has sex with Kitto (the 4 ft tall half snake goblin), and I'm sorry, but that has got to give even the most veteran LKH readers pause.
Also disappointing was the complete absence of Sholto from this installment . . .
On the bright side, Cel's insanity after enduring his 6 months of torture-as-punishment is foreshadowed, so more thrilling times are clearly on the horizon. *crosses fingers and hopes*
As is common with a lot of second-in-series books, this one didn't quite live up to it's predecessor. Oh, there was still tons of fairy goodness, but I found this one to be significantly less entertaining.
In book 2, Merry has once again left the midwestern Sithen for SoCal, this time with her aunt's blessing, and with her "Guard" ("Guard" is a euphemism for "harem") in tow.
After returning to her home, Merry is almost immediately propositioned by an excommunicated Seelie Fae who desperately wants to become pregnant.
Wut?
Oh, and this excommunicated Fae was excommunicated b/c she insinuated to the Seelie King that he had a virility *ehem* problem, which is slightly-more-than-a-problem, b/c apparently the fertility of the monarch is representative of the rest of his people, so he's knowingly kept the Seelie infertile for at least 100 years.
Well . . . that sucks, but it's not really exciting, is it?
Ominous though, and the King has eyes everywhere, so when he finds out that Merry has been talking with the banished whistle blower, Merry begins to experience the unpleasantness of his "attention" ("attention" is a euphemism for "thinly veiled attempts to end her life").
And rather reckless attempts at that: he unleashes a centuries old accumulation of power that was created when the Fae were given citizenship in America and the most other of the Fae gave up that which made them other.
Anyway, Tanaris (King) lets this thing loose, but can't control it, and havoc is wrecked.
So some action, I suppose, but not very much, and not until the very end.
Oh, and Merry has sex with Kitto (the 4 ft tall half snake goblin), and I'm sorry, but that has got to give even the most veteran LKH readers pause.
Also disappointing was the complete absence of Sholto from this installment . . .
On the bright side, Cel's insanity after enduring his 6 months of torture-as-punishment is foreshadowed, so more thrilling times are clearly on the horizon. *crosses fingers and hopes*
ccoleman813's review against another edition
4.0
~*~Book Description~*~
“I am Princess Meredith, heir to a throne—if I can stay alive long enough to claim it.”
After eluding relentless assassination attempts by Prince Cel, her cousin and rival for the Faerie crown, Meredith Gentry, Los Angeles private eye, has a whole new set of problems. To become queen, she must bear a child before Cel can father one of his own. But havoc lies on the horizon: people are dying in mysterious, frightening ways, and suddenly the very existence of the place known as Faerie is at grave risk. So now, while she enjoys the greatest pleasures of her life attempting to conceive a baby with the warriors of her royal guard, she must fend off an ancient evil that could destroy the very fabric of reality. And that’s just her day job. . . .
~*~My Review~*~
Ok, book #2 in the Merry Gentry series!
I still am a little hesitant with this series, just because I see some seriously mixed reviews. Between my Goodreads friends, real-life friends, and other bloggers...there really is no consistency.
That being said...I really did like the second book.
I felt more comfortable in A Caress of Twilight than I did in A Kiss of Shadows, mostly because the main characters we've finally met and gotten to know more as well as the life of being a sidhe.
I've read fantasy books before that revolve around the fae (mostly Karen Marie Moning's Fever series), so I understood most of it. But the first book did have a lot of important information that I probably didn't pay enough attention to, but now I understand a whole lot more after reading this book.
Ok...
So, Merry is back in LA with all of her guards/lovers. We have Frost (yum), Doyle, Galen, Rhys, Nicca, and Kitto (not a guard but more 'pet'). She is having her fun romps on the sacks with all so far except Doyle and Galen...both for very different reasons. Though, in this book we finally get to the bottom of what's going on with Galen as well as some unexpected turn of events in the sack for our little Miss. Meredith.
Merry and the boys have had to take a step back from the PI business because of the bad stuff going down with the Nameless and some crazy group deaths. Lots of time for plotting and planning without having to go into work for now, huh?! Or maybe, just some extra time for some lovin...yea, not so much really. LOL
We still have our little humor bits here and there, and we even having feelings of love floating in the air.
Merry is definitely a very special heroine. She is very educated and knowledgeable about the faerie life and those that live in it. I love her brain and her personality! Dare I think I like her more than Anita Blake.....no....not yet, but she's could be in the running!
Great book. Laurell K. Hamilton did another great job!
“I am Princess Meredith, heir to a throne—if I can stay alive long enough to claim it.”
After eluding relentless assassination attempts by Prince Cel, her cousin and rival for the Faerie crown, Meredith Gentry, Los Angeles private eye, has a whole new set of problems. To become queen, she must bear a child before Cel can father one of his own. But havoc lies on the horizon: people are dying in mysterious, frightening ways, and suddenly the very existence of the place known as Faerie is at grave risk. So now, while she enjoys the greatest pleasures of her life attempting to conceive a baby with the warriors of her royal guard, she must fend off an ancient evil that could destroy the very fabric of reality. And that’s just her day job. . . .
~*~My Review~*~
Ok, book #2 in the Merry Gentry series!
I still am a little hesitant with this series, just because I see some seriously mixed reviews. Between my Goodreads friends, real-life friends, and other bloggers...there really is no consistency.
That being said...I really did like the second book.
I felt more comfortable in A Caress of Twilight than I did in A Kiss of Shadows, mostly because the main characters we've finally met and gotten to know more as well as the life of being a sidhe.
I've read fantasy books before that revolve around the fae (mostly Karen Marie Moning's Fever series), so I understood most of it. But the first book did have a lot of important information that I probably didn't pay enough attention to, but now I understand a whole lot more after reading this book.
Ok...
So, Merry is back in LA with all of her guards/lovers. We have Frost (yum), Doyle, Galen, Rhys, Nicca, and Kitto (not a guard but more 'pet'). She is having her fun romps on the sacks with all so far except Doyle and Galen...both for very different reasons. Though, in this book we finally get to the bottom of what's going on with Galen as well as some unexpected turn of events in the sack for our little Miss. Meredith.
Merry and the boys have had to take a step back from the PI business because of the bad stuff going down with the Nameless and some crazy group deaths. Lots of time for plotting and planning without having to go into work for now, huh?! Or maybe, just some extra time for some lovin...yea, not so much really. LOL
We still have our little humor bits here and there, and we even having feelings of love floating in the air.
Merry is definitely a very special heroine. She is very educated and knowledgeable about the faerie life and those that live in it. I love her brain and her personality! Dare I think I like her more than Anita Blake.....no....not yet, but she's could be in the running!
Great book. Laurell K. Hamilton did another great job!
seawitchindisguise's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I love book one in this series but this one was slow and didn’t deliver on the characters I really like (Sholto). The mystery was there with Maeve but honesty disappeared for the middle to almost end of the book and then all wrapped up too quickly at the end. Not enough smut to be good for that reason, not enough of the characters I love to hold me for that reason, and not a good enough mystery plot to win for that side either.