A Kiss of Shadows

Meredith Gentry, Book 1

By: Laurell K. Hamilton

Narrated by: Laural Merlington

Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

" 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 as dead as the King of Rock and Roll."

In fact, Meredith has been posing as a human in Los Angeles, living 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. And suddenly Meredith finds herself a pawn in her dreaded aunt's plans...plans that affect the future of the entire UnSeelie Court.

The requirements of the job: to enjoy the constant company of the most beautiful - and immortal - men in the world. The reward: the crown - and the opportunity to continue to live. The penalty: death.

Fairie tales: listen to another Meredith Gentry fantasy.

©2000 Laurell K. Hamilton (P)2000 Laurell K. Hamilton

Critic reviews

"[A]n edgy story of sex, violence, and magic that manages to be both disturbing and entertaining." ( Library Journal)
"As wild as the novel's premise is, memorable characters and wicked wit make it all delicious, ribald fun." ( Publishers Weekly)
"I've never read a writer with a more fertile imagination." (Diana Gabaldon)

Good, but I won't continue the sereis

Any additional comments?

Laurell K. Hamilton had been on my TBR list forever, and when I say forever, I mean years.  I had originally thought about reading the Anita Blake series, but it never quite appealed to me; so Meredith Gentry wound up on the TBR list,  I was finally offered the first audiobook in the series for a steal, so I jumped on it. 

I’m not sure what it was, but I had trouble getting into this audiobook.  Even my husband came in and commented that he didn’t care for the narrator.  I think it was Merlington’s voice, it was like being spoken to by a scolding principal, or librarian.  It just didn’t fit my idea of a young character. 

As for the story; all I’ve ever heard was how incredibly erotic Hamilton’s books are.  Maybe I’ve just read some kinky stuff, because this book was tame, to me, it was on the verge of yawn.  The only kind of emotion I felt was revolution, and a bit of holding back bile during the blood drinking scene.  That was just disgusting; I will say spot on for the imagery! Point to Hamilton! 

The world is intricate, with many creatures and intrigue.  However, the overall plot just didn’t capture my interest enough, so I really didn’t care where the overall story was going.  This first book was good, but I didn’t fall in love with it so much that I am dying to find out what happens next....Sara 

good story start

Stories have a good premis, but unfortunately drift into more sex and less plot. Narator was good, unfortuately they swapped narators for one book then go back to the original narator.
Decent reed but plots could be stronger.

Could be so much more

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This story could be so much more if the author had focused on the court politics more and left the gratuitous sex and descriptions of everyone's eye and hair colors to a minimum. I was hooked by the intrigue of the Sidhe world...it is an interesting, fascinating world the author has created. I wanted more of that. Unfortunately, she chooses to use it as a backdrop for a very cheesy sexual fantasy set up instead.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Laural Merlington?

This narrator is not the right voice for this series. She has an old woman voice...which there is nothing wrong with...but it doesnt fit at all for this book or for the main character. And her attempts to do male voices were just sad and croaky. There are so many male voices in this novel that it honestly needed a dual cast a male and a female narrator.

Any additional comments?

It is not a bad book...but it could be so much more. If you can grab it on a sale, go for it. It wont be wasted time. I would never pay full price, though.

Book 1

Entertaining story with interesting characters and intriguing storyline and plot. I found the action scenes attention grabbing. The narrator did a great job.

Good Series, Okay Narrator

I've got to wonder why they choose these mediocre narrators for the Laurell K Hamilton books. The one for the Anita Blake series is so bad I returned them and I love that series. This narrator, Laural Merlington is okay really it's a 2.5 star in my book. The men sound kinda funny and 1st person narration is kinda flat. The queen's voice is really good though. It's a good story, a better series, and for 3.99 with whisperlink worth the extra for something to keep me entertained in traffic. Read it on kindle or paper though if you can.

Best series ever LK Hamilton pls resurrect series

best series ever pls resurrect this series Mary has more to do lol. more books needed

Great series!

Wonderful world to immerse yourself in one rainy afternoon. Enter the land of faerie and let your imagination soar.!

Typical LKH.

Lots of sexy men with long, beautiful hair lol there were a few moments where I had to be very aware of the volume in my car for fear of judgy looks. She does a great job setting the scene and describing her hunks. Narrator was great! Can't wait for Doyle's turn.

really well done

I have read and enjoyed the book so I wanted to give it a listen. I was not disappointed. The narration was excellent and engaging. will listen to rest as well.

Good plot

I enjoyed the book and the plot. My only problem with it is the voice acting at first I didn't like like but grew to get used to it but some of the voices foe the males were not pleasant to listen too. However, ill give them props for having each male a different voice