Mistral's Kiss by Laurel K. Hamilton
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
When you've got a cash cow, milk it. That would seem to be the ethos behind this series. The books are getting significantly
shorter with each iteration, and the plot more ephemeral. Mistral's Kiss once again sees Meredith Gentry -- Princess
of the Unseelie Court -- attempting to screw her way to the top. For only by becoming pregnant with one of her many Sidhe lovers,
can she be named heir to the Unseelie throne, presently occupied by her aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness.
This time around, the man who literally makes the earth move is Mistral, a sadistically inclined fey.
Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse and Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
Guilty Pleasures is where Laurell K. Hamilton began what was to become
her vampire franchise, a kind of fast food version of Anne Rice,
but with more mouthwatering ingredients. Here, readers got their first glimpse of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. The character
is the type of woman -- most often an American woman -- that has risen to prominence in recent years.
A Stroke of Midnight by Laurel K. Hamilton
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The fourth book in the Meredith Gentry series is a curious mixture. No doubt many of the readers who have made
Laurell K. Hamilton a New York Times bestselling author will lap this one up, but for those who are interested primarily
in a good read, the reception might not be so warm.
A Caress of Twilight by Laurel K. Hamilton
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
All of the main players from the first novel are back, with the exception of prince Cel,
who is away being tortured for months on end as punishment for earlier indiscretions. Meredith, is now constantly accompanied
by her band of immortal Sidhe warriors, all of whom she is required to take as lovers. Merry's lust filled nights have the
aim of getting her pregnant, before the evil Cel is set free to either assassinate her, or produce a child of his own.
A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
The Sidhe now have a murky coexistence with te modern world, based in North America. A nation within a nation, they
are in some ways similar to Native Americans. The
central character, and narrator, is Meredith Gentry, a runaway from the Unselie Court. Merry as she is known to her
friends, has been in hiding for three years, establishing herself as a glamour shrouded member of The Grey Detective Agency,
a firm specialising in cases involving magic.
A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Alisa McCune
Continuing on where Seduced by Moonlight left off, Merry is the subject of a press
conference. During it, a double homicide occurs -- a lesser Fae and
a human reporter. Merry insists that a human investigation be done, and manipulates Queen Andais to this end. The
importance of this investigation is never completely clear, other then as a way for Merry to avenge her father's murder.
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Incubus Dreams by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Alisa McCune
The book opens at a wedding -- Tammy and Larry's. This is not a church event as the blushing bride is not only a
cop, but a witch as well. Not to mention that the groom raises the dead for a living. It would seem a Halloween theme has been
somehow made to fit for a wedding -- orange bridesmaid dresses, orange and black decorations, and so on. Thankfully, Anita is on
the groom's side and allowed to wear a tux as a 'groomsman.' The Anita we know has been forced into many a bridesmaid
dress -- but the orange creations for this wedding are horrid in every way.
Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Alisa McCune
It begins a few weeks after the end of Caress of Twilight. Merry and her guards have moved onto
the estate of the fey actress Maeve Reed, who is pregnant due to fertility rites performed by Merry and Galen. Public interest
and political intrigue seem to be weighing down all her guards, and Merry herself is frustrated. King Kurag figures prominently
in the book, as he attempts to thwart his alliance with Merry.
A Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Cindy Lynn Speer
Merry Gentry is more than just an employee of a detective agency. She is also Princess Merideth NicEssus, heir to the
Unseelie throne. She'll be able to claim the title of queen only if she is able to become pregnant... and stay alive
long enough to give birth. She is surrounded by sidhe guards, all of whom are also prospective fathers. The one who
gives her a child wins her hand, and a place of power.
Narcissus In Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Charlene Brusso
Vampire hunter Anita Blake's sensitivity to paranormal forces, including her necromantic ability
to raise the dead, first drew her into the supernatural demi-monde.
In this volume and throughout the 8 previous books of the series, her relationships with Richard and Jean-Claude
have deepened and continue to get her into trouble with dangers both human and inhuman -- sort
of Modesty Blaise meets The Exorcist.
Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Kim Fawcett
Who is she? Anita Blake is Saint Louis' own tough-talking, zombie-raising,
vampire-slaying force of nature. Life used to be simple for her --
get up, raise the dead, stake the undead, and go back to bed. But lately
Anita has found that life gets a bit more complicated when you date
the monsters instead of just beheading them.
Nightseer by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Steven H Silver
Steven felt that, while Hamilton's legions of fans might applaud the re-release of her first novel, this really is
only a novel for the die-hards among them. For the rest, it is, he's afraid, a reminder of why many first novels
disappear from the shelves, only to be found in used bookstores.
Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton
reviewed by Katharine Mills
Katharine feels this novel rises above your average pulpdom with lots of vivid description, plenty of fast
and dry sardonic humour, and some really good character definition; even the monsters and various
monster-bait bit parts manage to take on a life of their own.
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