A Kiss of Shadows is Laurell K. Hamilton's introduction to readers to the life and world of Merry Gentry, part-fey detective in the United States, where humans and fey (the people of Faerie) live side by side, mostly in tense discomfort. Of course, Gentry isn't her true last name–it's the name she chose when she escaped the high court of Faerie three years prior–and she is a Faerie princess. Merry is petite and gorgeous, and has been using magic to keep herself hidden. In this story, the detective agency she's been working with takes on a case that reeks of fey magic. The case leads to Merry's true identity being exposed. The case is sexy (literally). Despite the constant bombardment by fey tropes, Merry isn't a Mary Jane (though she tries to be). Merry is promiscuous, as every faerie princess is and should be, so don't be surprised at the graphic and ongoing theme of sex. If you're only in it for the sex, beware that there is a story involved and you might have to wait a few pages–maybe a chapter–here and there.

Perfect, I think, for people interested in reading a fantasy story about the fey in all their guises, with great characters and mysteries all around. However, the reader must be comfortable with sex and blood, because it is about the fey.

I liked Merry. The author lets us know that she's strong and tough when she's in her element or she remembers who she is, but she also gets frightened and allows others to help her when she needs it. She pushes herself to her limits (body and mind) before she backs down.

This one is a spoiler: the case is about a human who uses a fey potion to make women have sex with him and allow him to abuse them (while they have the potion on their skin-and it's addictive). Non-consensual sex appearing in the porn industry is illegal (I'm pretty sure). I don't like that it was included in this book, though the man did get his comeuppance. *Apparently it was written subtly enough, because I kept reading and went on to the next book in the series.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and the characters in it–the fey are beautifully created and "real." I went on to begin reading the next book in the series the following day.

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Created Oct 31, 2023 at 9:29am • Submit your own review...