A KISS OF SHADOWS is the first book in Laurell K. Hamilton's new series on the fey. It features Princess Meredith NicEssus, aka Merry Gentry, a politically-savvy, kick a** heroine. Merry, a mixed-blood, has been hiding in Los Angeles for three years, from her wicked Aunt Andais, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After botching up a case at the Grey Detective Agency where she works, Merry is discovered and forced to go back to the Unseelie court at Cahokia, Illinois, accompanied by Andais's personal Darkness, Doyle. There, Merry discovers that times have changed at the court. The fey grows weak, and the Queen wants Merry to bed some of the most gorgeous sidhe men in the world. In a race for the throne against her sadistic cousin, Cel, Merry has to produce a child within three years. The loser will die...
I think that this book was even better than LKH's Anita Blake series. Why? Well, Ms. Hamilton introduces a bunch of gorgeous sidhe males, like Doyle, Frost, Rhys, Barinthus, Galen, etc. Most of the Ravens (Queen's Guards) lust after Merry badly, since the cruel Queen makes all of them celibate. My personal fave is Prince Cel, Andais's darkly handsome, evil son. I just LUV bad guys in black! However, this book is NOT for kiddies. Meredith seems to have sex or sexual activities with almost every male in the book. All in all, it is definitely much more erotic, much more sensual than the Anita Blake books. Merry is 33, and not shy at all with men in sexual matters, whereas Anita had been initially uncomfortable with her sexual status. Throughout this book, readers get a sense of Merry's growing powers, as the Princess of Flesh (just as Anita's power had grown). I can't wait to read CARESS OF TWILIGHT, the 2nd book in this fascinating series!!!
