A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry, Book 1)

Amazon.com

Laurell K. Hamilton revitalized vampires, werewolves, and zombies in the popular Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books. In this new series, she updates faeries. A Kiss of Shadows introduces Merry Gentry, a.k.a. Meredith NicEssus, a faerie princess of the Unseelie Court, where politics is a blood sport. Merry, who's part sidhe (elvish), part brownie, and part human, never really fit in. She's short, not skilled in offensive magic, and mortal because of her human blood. These are real liabilities when your family, especially aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, is out to kill you. Merry has been in hiding for three years, living in Los Angeles and working for the Grey Detective Agency, which specializes in "supernatural problems, magical solutions." A new case sets her against a man who uses forbidden magic to seduce fey women and drain their power. A plan to trap him goes awry and Merry's cover is blown. Now Andais knows where she is. But things have changed in Andais's court, and Merry is changing too.

Despite the selkies, brownies, goblins, and ogres in this book, it's not for children. The fey are "creatures of the senses"--and in the Unseelie court, sex and pain go together. Merry is sexually adventurous and surrounded by gorgeous, powerful males, most of whom want her badly. She's politically savvy and no coward, though she's not the warrior Anita is. Hamilton fans and readers of adult fairy tales like Anne Bishop's Black Jewels trilogy will want to give Merry a look. --Nona Vero

Book Description

"All it would take was my true name being mentioned after dark, and it would float back to my aunt. She was the Queen of Air and Darkness, and that meant that anything said in the dark was hers to hear, eventually. The fact that spotting the missing Elven American Princess had become more popular than spotting Elvis helped. Her magic was always chasing blind leads. Princess Meredith skiing in Utah. Princess Meredith dancing in Paris. Princess Meredith gambling in Vegas. After three years I was still a front-page story for the tabloids, though the latest headlines had been speculating that I was dead as the King of Rock and Roll . . ."

Three years ago, Princess Meredith fled the court of her cruel Aunt Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness, leaving that garden of decadent delights and backstabbing intrigues for the comparative calm of Los Angeles. Using her magic to pass for human, Meredith began a new life as a private investigator specializing in supernatural crime. But now Doyle, the Queen's chief bodyguard and assassin, has been dispatched to fetch her back--whether she likes it or not.

The product of a marriage designed to cement peace between the rival Seelie and Unseelie courts, Meredith has always been scorned by both factions in spite of her royal blood. But that blood is behind the Unseelie Queen's surprisingly urgent summons.

For ever since the fey's exile from Europe to America, their power and purity have been fading. Desperate to renew her race, Queen Andais now pins her hopes on a contest between Meredith and her own son, the sadistic Prince Cel. The first to produce a child will win the throne.

The loser's reward will be death . . .

Laurell K. Hamilton's bestselling series of novels featuring Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, established her as one of the hottest new writers of dark fantasy and erotic horror. Now, in a thrilling adventure of unbridled imagination, Hamilton turns her talents to the glittering, myth-drenched lands of Faerie and brings them brilliantly into the postmodern age. Enter a thrilling, sensual world as threatening as it is beautiful, replete with the titanic passions of immortal beings once worshipped as gods or demons. Full of earthly pleasures and dazzling magic, Laurell K. Hamilton's A Kiss of Shadows will hold you under its hypnotic spell.

Download Description

All it would take was my true name being mentioned after dark, and it would float back to my aunt. She was the Queen of Air and Darkness, and that meant that anything said in the dark was hers to hear, eventually. The fact that spotting the missing Elven American Princess had become more popular than spotting Elvis helped. Her magic was always chasing blind leads. Princess Meredith skiing in Utah. Princess Meredith dancing in Paris. Princess Meredith gambling in Vegas. After three years I was still a front-page story for the tabloids, though the latest headlines had been speculating that I was dead as the King of Rock and Roll . . . Three years ago, Princess Meredith fled the court of her cruel Aunt Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness, leaving that garden of decadent delights and backstabbing intrigues for the comparative calm of Los Angeles. Using her magic to pass for human, Meredith began a new life as a private investigator specializing in supernatural crime. But now Doyle, the Queen's chief bodyguard and assassin, has been dispatched to fetch her back--whether she likes it or not. The product of a marriage designed to cement peace between the rival Seelie and Unseelie courts, Meredith has always been scorned by both factions in spite of her royal blood. But that blood is behind the Unseelie Queen's surprisingly urgent summons. For ever since the fey's exile from Europe to America, their power and purity have been fading. Desperate to renew her race, Queen Andais now pins her hopes on a contest between Meredith and her own son, the sadistic Prince Cel. The first to produce a child will win the throne. The loser's reward will be death . . .

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Meredith Gentry is a faerie princess. Not the disneyfied children's version either. This one lives in Los Angeles, and much like Angel, is a private investigator of sorts, and looks into problems associated with the supernatural world a lot of the time.

She is also involved with the politics of the faerie realm, and this is why she is hiding out. She gets discovered, and has to fight back against the relatives that want to bump her off.

Could've been a lot better..........2007-09-03

I'm new to LKH. Read all of the Anita Blakes I could and stomached the ones I couldn't to the best of my ability while letting go of the books then picking them back up to try again. They get sooooooo dull, I swear. Couldn't even finish the lastest one because all they did was sat in a tomb or room and talk about getting a tiger and all this other stupid uninteresting stuff with swarms of animals running in and out the door. Sometimes I just skip chapters all the way. Then I decided to try lil' Merry out just to see what could be happening in her corner...

Which ended up being...

Nothing.

Don't get me wrong. I thought this book was GREAT! - In the beginning. I was having a great time reading about Merry on the run! Nothing was better than her hiding out in the van, jumping through the van while she's on the run, her being chased and those witches coming down on her, her sorting wards on the bathroom door to keep her enemies at bay. Guys! Was I the ONLY one having fun during those parts until it got DULL. I was so steamed. Why couldn't the first book BE about Merry on the run using her powers to stop her foes THEN toward the end her next book be about the point of this book? Man, all the fun was sucked out and all I remember reading about after that was descriptions, descriptions, descriptions.

I got soooooooo sick of Merry describing how some guy's different colored hair "spilled" over his shoulders. Why does EVERYBODY have to have LONG hair farie or not? Get a personality, ya know. I got so tired of her describing EYES over and over again and chest, and thighs, breast, legs, the whole BUCKET of chicken! I was wondering when she was gonna FIGHT something and about time the end came when she was attacked I didn't even care anymore, I lost touch with the girl from the beginning, all alone, hiding, who was trying to stay alive. Hell, Frost and whatnot were there anyway.

What happened! Where was the power? Where was Merry on the run using wit to divert her foes. And am I the ONLY one who thought Roane was the more interesting males than any of the guys in this book. When she encountered him I was actually drawn to the page, then all these other people were just flat. Personally, I didn't care about anybody else. They didn't sick out to me like Roane. Nor did they stick out to me like Jeremy and Ringo and everyone else at the agency. All the other characters are just THERE, seriously, except the Queen (I do love the Queen). Even Cel was dull to me, there just wasn't enough of him. I expected Sholto (SP) to be Cel at first, guess not.

Merry visiting her Grandmother, short and sweet when it could've been fulfilling and made things interesting. Merry got all her men and she's ready to go. Guess she's not exactly fertile with the sixth book coming out this year. I really don't think I can stick around if this is it. It's like I liked her at the very beginning of this book and about time the end came I was like "well, she got her men, no need in me sticking around, they can handle it".

Someone! Please give me a reason to keep reading this series! Please!

Princess Meredith gets lucky...often!.......2007-08-23

A Kiss of Shadows is the first in a new series by Laurell K. Hamilton of Anita Blake fame. Like the Anita Blake books, it takes place in a modern-day USA where magic is real and everybody knows it. Instead of focusing on vampires, the supernatural community in this series is Faerie - magical, beautiful, immortal beings who are headquartered in St. Louis (for reasons that are not completely clear other than that Hamilton lives there). Our hero Merry Gentry is a mixed-heritage Faerie princess who is on the run from her people. She's working in a magical detective agency in LA. I'm a big Dresden Files fan, so I thought I would give this new series a try.

But once Hamilton sets the scene in LA, the action is moves to the Faerie Court and centers on Merry (Princess Meredith NicEssus)and her stepchild relationship with the court and her aunt, Queen Andais of the Unseelie. Without spoilers, Princess Meredith comes into her magic through sex. Apparently faeries are very sensual beings, and Merry has many opportunities to explore various aspects of faerie sensuality and the different forms that faeries take. A Kiss of Shadows has lots of hot scenes.

If you enjoy supernatural romance and adventure, but are a little put off by bloodsucking, you will enjoy this new series.

Not impressed....and a ripoff of another book...........2007-08-07

This was a boring, boring book. Did not engage me at all, didn't keep my interest. In addition, it is written in the 1st person, which I loathe.

It also reminded me that this series is a ripoff of the Highlander Series by Karen Marie Moning. Yes there is a subtle twist in the fact that the story focuses on the female fae (so not a COMPLETE ripoff) but still not impressed. The original idea for the book came from another author. That's pathetic.

I've been looking for a great book for a long time, and I keep being disappointed. I guess anyone can publish a book now-a-days.

The Princess Returns.......2007-06-07

A Kiss of Shadows (2000) is the first fantasy novel of the Meredith Gentry series. Merry Gentry is the alias of Meredith NicEssus -- the mortal daughter of Prince Essus -- and the niece of Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness. Three year ago, Princess Meredith had run from the Unseleighe Court because she knew that her cousin Cel wanted her dead and his minions would keep challenging her until she died in a duel.

In this novel, Merry is an agent of the Grey Detective agency. While she is only partially sidhe, her talents are much greater than most humans. Jeremy Grey -- owner of the agency -- has a great deal of faith in her mystical abilities and asks her to listen to two women who would like to become their clients.

The agency does not do divorce work, but Jeremy is reconsidering for this particular case. The wife, Frances Norton, is carrying a nasty death spell put on her by her husband. The mistress, Naomi Phelps, is part fey, but untrained in magic. The husband has taken Polaroid shots of his mistresses and shown them to his wife. When Frances sees Naomi is a restaurant, she introduces herself and the two have become close friends due to their common victimization.

Merry is not able to refuse the two victims and becomes a decoy to ensnare Alistair Norton in the use of magic to seduce women. All goes well until Merry finds herself falling in lust for Alistair. Yet she retains enough clarity to recognize that the oil being smeared on her is Branwyn's Tears, a magical substance that bestows sidhe-like powers and lusts on humans.

Merry escapes from the trap, but Alistair becomes very dead. However, her true identity has become known to the police. They are hesitant to believe her about the Branwyn's Tears until several of them become enflamed with lust after the oil touches their bodies. Although Merry is released and smuggled out of the building, Queen Andais now knows where she is and sends for her.

In this story, Merry returns to the Unseleighe Court with trepidation and distrust. After all, someone has sent the Slaugh out to kill her and she is attacked two more times on the way to the court. OF course, Cel is definitely out to kill her and thinks that his favored position will protect him from his mother the Queen. Yet Merry has other enemies besides Cel and his toadies.

The attacks have one good effect: she has come into her powers. She has the Hand of Flesh and is welcomed back by the sithin and the earth itself. Then Queen Andais announces that the celibacy geas on her Guard has been lifted, but only for Merry; many of the guards are now hoping to get her pregnant and thus become the King. Of course, some sidhe males have long since excluded themselves from this privilege by their past treatment of the young princess.

Merry has a few sidhe that she trusts and they soon decide to transfer their allegiance to her. She also gains some other allies, including the King of the Goblins -- and a small, common goblin named Kitto -- as well as the Queen of the Demi-fey. Even Sholto, the mixed blood King of the Slaugh, has swung to her side, at least for a while.

This story is full of sex and blood. Since Merry is descended from five fertility deities, some of her magic is based on sexual acts; in fact, she is beginning to discover that she can heal and be healed during sex. Indeed, she finds herself able to heal more than the fey.

Blood, however, is both less important to the quick-healing fey and more significant because of the sadistic tendencies of the Unseleighe. Dueling to the death is a common way for the sidhe to get rid of their enemies. Moreover, the queen tortures her enemies and even her subjects -- sometimes for millennia -- and casually kills minor offenders.

Highly recommended for Hamilton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of sidhe magic, court intrigue and sexual powers.

-Arthur W. Jordin

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Wonderful find
An instant favorite!
This "Kiss" doesn't miss a thing
A great find
Cute bedtime book

The Kiss That Missed
David Melling
Manufacturer: Barron''s Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0764154516
Release Date: 2001-12-08

Amazon.com

This disarmingly cute bedtime story from writer-illustrator-dad David Melling (Where Are You?) follows a busy king whose misfired good-night kiss flies right past his son and out the window.

"Once upon a Tuesday the king was in a hurry as usual. 'Goodnight,' he said and blew his son a Royal Kiss." But after rattling around the young prince's room and finding its way out the window, the Royal Kiss hurtles off into a dark and snowy forest. "Follow that Kiss!" commands the king to his loyal knight, and so begins a lengthy, silly chase scene. Even the putative bad guys in this story-- "growly" bears, "swoopy" owls, "dribbly" wolves, and a gigantic dragon--get a shot at providing comic relief, as the kiss streaks and swoops its way through the woods with the not-too-brave knight in hot pursuit.

The inspired illustrations and excellent design alone make this book a fun one, but it's Melling's restrained but infectious sense of fun that will ensure many repeat reads. From the comically animated lion emblazoned on the knight's shield to the forest creatures who seem to dance as they flee the dragon, Melling is clearly having a good time as he tucks us in--and when it comes to ensuring sweet dreams, that almost beats an accurately delivered good-night kiss. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

One evening, when the King is in a hurry, his goodnight kiss to the Little Prince goes astray. After rattling around the Prince's bedroom, it flies out the window and floats into the dark forest, where it has no business to be. The King decides to do something about it. He orders the Knight to climb on his horse, ride into the forest, and bring back the kiss. But the forest is filled with spooky things that frighten both the Knight and his horse. How will they ever succeed in bringing the kiss back to the castle? This funny story features Daivd Melling's atmospheric and richly colored illustrations on every page. It makes a great bedtime story for kids who are about the same age as the Little Prince. (Ages 4-7)

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful find.......2003-08-14

I took this out from the library and boy did we enjoy this book. The illustrations remind me of Disney cartoons. The plot is so fun and everything ends up happily ever after. Whats wrong with that? Shouldn't bed time be peaceful and funny? Even this parent enjoyed it. A great good night read. I'm going to purchase one for me and my 5 year old.

An instant favorite!.......2003-07-17

I bought this book as a birthday present for my two year old daughter. She and her three year old sister have decided it is their new favorite bedtime book! The writing makes it easy for grown-ups to add a little pizazz with voices and excitement, and there are not too many words on each page which lends itself well to younger children's attention spans. The artistry is excellent and serves as a perfect backdrop to the comedy of the tale. A perfect bedtime story!

This "Kiss" doesn't miss a thing.......2003-04-07

What might happen if a king's goodnight kiss is blown to his son, but accidentally misses...and lands on a dragon instead? In this funny picture book for little princes everywhere, that's exactly the dilemma at hand. The king is in too big of a hurry to give his son a proper tucking in bed, so the kiss goes astray, floating out the Prince's bedroom window. The king orders his knight to mount his horse and give chase, but the forest is filled with spooky things. Faced with bears and wolves, they loose sight of the kiss, which flies right up the nose of a giant green dragon. As the knight ponders the problem, a bigger problem finds him when the dragon takes chase. Will this the tragic end of the knight and his horse? The big kiss off? Author/illustrator David Melling ("Gerda The Goose") builds the climax into a grin-worthy story twist, and the moral of the story is one that will not be taken lightly by all those too-busy dads out there. This "Kiss" doesn't miss a thing.

A great find.......2003-02-03

I picked this book up by chance, and my son will not let me put in down! It is great. The illustrations are very detailed and lead to great conversations. It is almost a shame it is a "bedtime book" because we get so involved in talking about the story and the pictures that he doesn't really get sleepy. It is a favorite of us both. I am sure that this will be the gift we bring to every birthday party we are invited to in the future.

Cute bedtime book.......2002-10-15

I read this to my 4 year old before she goes to sleep each night. It's become one of her favorites. It's the story of a hurried goodnight kiss that a king blows to his young son. Of course the kiss misses and the king sends his loyal knight to retrieve it. The knight and his horse have a little adventure ending with the kiss being returned to it's intended recipient. The book has cute, well executed illustrations, but the ending just doesn't seem like an end. Otherwise I would have given a full 5 stars. Still, I'd recommend it.

Average customer rating:

WONDERFUL LITTLE GIFT BOOK - GREAT ART WORK!
So beautiful!

Fairy Kisses
Becky Kelly
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0740731548

Book Description

Some believe that fairies are all around us, if we only have the eyes to see them. Watercolor artist Becky Kelly shares her fairy world with us in her latest gift book Fairy Kisses. In this uplifting verse, readers are encouraged to "believe in what you cannot see...and maybe then you'll see it." That's the power that the fairies give to us...the power to believe whole-heartedly in what we can't see. What are some of the magical things that fairies do? "They paint the grass with morning dew and light the stars at night" just for starters. Loads of kisses and wishes come your way in this charming little book.

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL LITTLE GIFT BOOK - GREAT ART WORK!.......2006-05-05

Recentl read this one at a friends office. The art work alone is worth the price of the book. The author/artist presents her subject as it should be presented, innocent, nice and, well...just pretty. I was particularly impressed with the author's presentation of various wild flowers..granted, they are an artist's impression, but are actually quite accurate. This is just a nice, sweet book, well illustrated and well written. Good for young and old alike and a great message. Recommend this one highly.

So beautiful!.......2003-06-21

This whimsical book is so sweet, and so glorious. If you like the enchanting world of faeires, or you enjoy her beautiful work with watercolors, this is a must have for you, and everyone on your gift list!!

Average customer rating:

fairy kisses: An art extravaganza
Fairy Kisses - My wife & I love this book!

Fairy Kisses and Stork Bites
Kenneth T. Brown , and Karen Brown
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0740704680

Book Description

A compilations of dozens of the most unusual and fascinating facts about babies. Using a simple question-and-answer format and a style that's sweet, funny, and simply incredible, this book is a stimulating 'trivia' challenge and unique gift for parents or parents-to-be. It covers world records, vital statistics, growth and development, baby care, famous firsts and inventions, famous babies, and folklore.

Customer Reviews:

fairy kisses: An art extravaganza.......2001-03-24

Oh my God! The text is interesting, but the ART! The subtle shading and soulful eyes seem to leap from the page! This book is a treasure. When can we see more? I give these books regularly as gifts to expecting parents and families with young children. The kids, too, love the art.

Fairy Kisses - My wife & I love this book!.......2000-04-21

Fairy Kisses and Stork Bites is such an original, beautiful book! What the description doesn't tell you is that it's full of illustrations that are really unique. The author creates thousands of little hand-drawn dots that look almost like black and white photographs, but better. And the facts are funny and fun. We bought 10 copies as gifts for our various pregnant friends and new parents.

Average customer rating:

Love endures all

Butterfly Kisses
Sheraleen, Braganza
Manufacturer: Athena Press Publishing Co. UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1844018121

Book Description

Can a little girl overcome the tragic loss of her mother? Will she ever be happy again? Share in her dreams and follow Sheraleen's adventures after she finds her true love, Prince Hayden. On her way, she encounters a magical kingdom, an army of sunflowers and an evil sorcerer. Can she break the enchantment and live happily ever after?

Customer Reviews:

Love endures all.......2007-02-04

Thank you S for writing this touching story of love which endures all circumstances, in good and bad times both. Your heartfelt story shines through for all who read it, child and adult alike - love and hope prevails. Through your writing, poems and drawings you open your life to us all who read this inspiring tale. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. May you continue to be showered with "Butterfly Kisses".

Don't Kiss the Frog!: Princess Stories with Attitude

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Don't Kiss the Frog!: Princess Stories with Attitude
ANNA CLAYBOURNE
Manufacturer: Kingfisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Move over, Cinderella! Here comes a sparkling story collection that throws fairy tale conventions out the window. The princesses in these stories don't need to be rescued by a prince. They can defeat dragons and win sports trophies while keeping their tiaras firmly in place. Designed with playful typography, these six exuberant stories are a visual delight and a joy to read aloud. This fun and funky treasury is the perfect present for any little girl who likes her "happily ever after" endings to come with an unexpected twist.

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Fairy Kisses
Renée Luffman
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1412093880

Product Description

Fairy Kisses is a 'why' story that was originally part of my culminating activity for grade 11 English. With encouragement from my teacher, and his kindergarten teaching wife, it has become my first published work.

I hope young children will enjoy Becca's curiosity lead adventure, but I have a feeling that parents might enjoy it just as much as their children.

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Fairy Kisses and Pixie Dust
Kat Rothra
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413736084

Book Description

It all starts in the fairy realm. Faye is a warrior for the queen of the fairy realm, but lately, she has been having visions. One night, she sees a vision of a girl dying by the river. Faye doesn't know what is going to happen when she finds Shadow lying near the river nearly bleeding to death. She doesn't know it will change her life forever. She gets turned into a pixie and has to journey to get turned back into the fairy that she is meant to be. But when two humans get dragged into the scene, things change. She makes new friends, falls in love, and loses some of the closest people to her because of Shadow's nemesis Ontario. They will uncover the past and take one more step into the future.

Kiss a Frog! Jokes About Fairy Tales, Knights, and Dragons (Make Me Laugh)

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Kiss a Frog! Jokes About Fairy Tales, Knights, and Dragons (Make Me Laugh)
Rick Walton , and Ann Walton
Manufacturer: Lerner Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0822509709

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Kiss Away My Boo-Boo (Dual-Language)
Margarita Robleda
Manufacturer: Alfaguara Infantil / Juvenil
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 159437841X

Book Description

This title presents the Hispanic traditional rhyme "Sana, sana, colita de rana…" (Heal, heal, frog's tail) with a twist, proving that hugs and kisses can cure any soul.

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