I joined a book club a few weeks, and we all decided to read another series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I was not really familiar with the series, but I knew it had something to do with the faie. I dont normally read books with that genre, but I decided to give it a try. I do like Hamiltons writing style a lot. She tells a very good story through internal dialogue.
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.(Amazon.com)
Where as the story started out promising, I was sorely disappointed by the end of the first book. Mary had a great sense of humor at the beginning but it disappeared as the story progressed. I guess I would have to say that the number one problem I had with the book was that Mary had very little personality. There was no mystery or depth behind her. She just kinda was there. Anita Blake had such complexity right from the start. Hamilton rambled on and on how Mary did not feel like one of the Sidhe, because of her human roots. However, she never had a conflict of moral, or rules, or ideas, when it came down to making choices. She just went along with what ever the Sidhe did. I did not see any dilemma. Hamilton should have just made her part something else. I really disliked how Mary just went along with every thing her Aunt told her to do. Personally I would have a problem with some one telling me to have a child against my will. I thought Mary was going to be more independent. I want her to argue more. I wanted her to fight against going back to her aunt, even if her aunt still wanted her dead. Mary was just to weak a character in my opinion.
The second issue I had was the lack of any real background on the universe in which it was set. I am not sure if it is set in the Universe of Anita, or something completely different. If it is set in Anita's world, I hope to see a little bit that thrown in the mix. I want to see Vampires and Lycans from Mary's perspective. We shall see.
The sex in the book was fantastic though. I do have to sat that Hamilton is very creative. I am not sure if Tenticles sex is the best idea, but if she can make it work, why not. Even the near rape at the end was interesting enough. I give Hamilton kudos for trying it.
The idea of Mary is interesting enough to continue onto the next book. I am not really sure what will happen next. Though I can say that if the next book doesnt grab my attention I will will move on.
I give a 3 out of 5
