Has anyone read this? I'd really like to hear your thoughts.  It's book #5 in the Merry Gentry series.

Mistral's Kiss

I am Princess Meredith, heir to a throne of faerie. My day job, once upon a time, was as a private detective in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, princess has now become a full-time occupation.

My aunt, Queen Andais, will have it no other way. And so I am virtually a prisoner in faerie–trapped here with some of the realm’s most beautiful men to serve as my bodyguards . . . and my lovers. For I am compelled to conceive a child: an heir to succeed me on the throne. Yet after months of amazing sex with my consorts, there is still no baby. And no baby means no throne. The only certainty is death at the hands of my cousin Cel, or his followers, if I fail to conceive.

Now Mistral, Queen Andais’s new captain of the guard, has come to my bed–defying her and risking her terrible wrath in doing so. But even she will hesitate to punish him in jealous rage, because our joining has reawakened old magic, mystical power so ancient that no one stands against it and survives. Not even my strongest and most favored: my Darkness and my Killing Frost. Not even Mistral himself, my Storm Lord. But because Mistral has helped to bring this magic forth, he may live another day.

If I can reclaim control of the fey power that once was, there may be hope for me and my reign in faerie. I might yet quell the dark schemes and subterfuges surrounding me. Though shadows of obsession and conspiracy gather, I may survive.

it fits in with the rest of the series.  so if you've enjoyed those, you'll probably enjoy this.  if you haven't read the rest of the series, you'll be totally lost.

I'm familiar with the series. But this one just totally bewildered me. No plot to speak of, just an endless array of sex scenes - which weren't really even interesting. (It's pretty sad when sex in a romance novel is boring.)

It made me think of someone trying to document their version of an orgy while on LSD.

I'm trying to figure out - is it just me or do others think this book was pitiful.

It did seem more like a stop gap then the other books.  I still like the Merry Gentry series however, and the following book a Lick of Frost was much better than Mistral Kiss....if you have been reading the series and want to conitnue it...I think you have to read Mistral's Kiss. 

(It's pretty sad when sex in a romance novel is boring.)

They aren't actually romance novels.

They aren't actually romance novels.

You are right, they aren't in the traditional sense, nor was I expecting a "happily ever after" story.  But they do tend to get cross categorized among Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, and Erotica.

My point was that it was sad that a book so devoted to sexual encounters managed to convey it as boring and repetetive rather than erotic.

I read a lot, usually one full novel per day.  Some are better than others. But rarely do I read one that just leaves me feeling I totally wasted my time. When I finished this one (and when I posted here) I was baffled that an experienced author and editors could churn out something like this and expect it to be successful.

I'm not sure why this distubed me so much. Normally, I'd think "oh, well" and move on. But it seemed like such a terrible waste for all concerned - writer, publishers, stores, and readers. Maybe it's because Hamilton is capable of so much more.

I was truly wondering if it was "just me". Since then I've checked Amazon and some other sites for reviews and it appears many readers were equally disappointed. 

Overall, I do like the Merry Gentry story and would like to see how her story progresses. So I'll have to think about "Frost".

Meanwhile - thanks everyone for the feedback.

Well, it doesn't surprise me. LKH became a bad writer years ago, and thankfully I stopped reading her then.

Laurell K. Hamilton is one of my favorite authors, I am a loyal fan and I have made it a personal goal in life to own at least one copy of every book she ever published - and save books #4 and up in the Merry Gentry series, I've come close to succeeding. Every author comes across a "lull" in their series when their newest book isn't their best, she had it for Anita Blake with Micah, and I suppose Mistral's Kiss must be it for the Merry Gentry series.

Lull?  She had a crash and burn.  It's sad because she was such a great author.  Her last book was better...in both series but certainly not up to the standards I expect.  I sometimes think I read her newest releases more out of habit than anything else...maybe it's a bit of hope too. 

I'm in admiration of anyone who can successful write and publish a book. To continue on and write multiple books is even more amazing.  And I can certainly understand a writer being too myopic to step back and realize when a story isn't quite up to par.

What I can't understand is how the people around her, especially the editors and publishers let it be released.  I realize that what one person likes another may hate, so tastes aren't universal.  But this one was bad - really bad. Many of the reviews I've since read are totally disqusted, and I don't blame them. It was not worthy of Ms. Hamilton's talents.  I think the people around her really failed to protect her and her reputation.

I read Lick of Frost last night and really enjoyed it.

It was night and day different than Mistral's Kiss. Frost actually seemed to have a plot and compartively few sex scenes.  Not that I mind sex, but that was pretty much the entire storyline of the last book.

The characters had more depth and some of them were quite endearing.  It made me want to read the next installment.

To echo what Jo B. just said ....

Mistral's Kiss was a disappointment to me.  I love the Merry Gentry series - all the fairy politics and history and the gorgeous men - and yes, the sex.   But Mistral's Kiss seemed like several chapters continuing from the previous book, not a book in itself.  And almost a third of the book was sex (which is too much for even me LOL).

But A Lick of Frost was totally different.  A major improvement. Almost the polar opposite in terms of the amount of sex in the book (although there definitely is some or it wouldn't be a Merry Gentry book).   This book is a lot more about everything else in the series.   And, surprisingly, about love.

So ... read Mistral's Kiss because if you don't then A Lick of Frost won't make a lot of sense.  But it's not the best book in the series.

But it seemed more like she was just writting it to get something out. I love LKH's series and will continue to read anything she puts out BUT, is it just me or has she become a real bitch personally?? Same thing happened to Anne Rice.

Wasn't Sholto and the wild hunt in Mistral's Kiss? I enjoyed that part at least. Looking forward to Swallowing Darkness when it comes out. I still like LKH although I have not enjoyed her Anita series of late. I hope Blood Noir is more interesting then the last few others have been. I've bought all her books because I like both series but I don't know much about the author. From what I've read she seems a bit weird, but I think any good author is a bit weird. I don't mind all the sex but I miss Anita doing her zombie-raising and police work. Right now it seems Anita is stuck in a rut of vampire politics. The Merry storyline has gotten interesting, with the end of A Lick of Frost.

Yes, Sholto and the Wild Hunt were in Mistral's Kiss.     For as short as Mistral's Kiss was, some key things actually happened in that book.  That's why I'm saying that a person still needs to read it.

Yes, Mark the same thing did happen to Anne Rice. She slammed readers for slamming her later vampire books, and that is what is happening with LKH.  They say "Don't buy our books if you don't like them", and I see what they are saying, but as authors they have a responsibility to give readers some kind of substance for their money, especially at a price of $27 per hardback (which I refuse to pay). LKH calls them negative readers, and I am one I guess. I keep reading on hoping that the books will get better; sometimes they do sometimes they don't. Anne Rice actually reimbursed readers for books bought I couldn't believe it!

"They say "Don't buy our books if you don't like them", and I see what they are saying, but as authors they have a responsibility to give readers some kind of substance for their money, especially at a price of $27 per hardback (which I refuse to pay)."

But the truth is that they can't please everyone. All she can do is write the world that's in her head. And From what I've read, she hasn't said that with an F off attitude or anything. ;) It's been more the idea of, "I'm not going to be able to make everyone happy. I'm know I'm not that good. So if you no longer enjoy my books please don't waste you're money on them. Why torture yourself reading a book you don't like (I think that's what she means by "negative reader"). Find someone new you DO like." Some people still feel the story she is writting is worth the $30 price. I happen to be one of them.  Do I think everyone should like her and keep reading? Heck no! No one author can make every reader happy.

For me, and this is just how I see it, when I buy a book I'm not buying a definate good read. I'm taking a gamble that I will enjoy the book. A gamble that is worth the price of the book. The higher the price, the better I need to feel about my odds of likeing the book before I'll buy it. For me, the odds I will (at least) enjoy the next book in the AB series are still high enough to warrent the $30 gamble. But it's something I evaluate everytime I buy any new book. Based on past books, what are the odds I'll enjoy this one? Are they still high enough to warrent a $30 dollar risk? Or is it only worth a $15 risk when it comes out in paperback? Or have they dropped so low that I'll wait for Mass Market paperback to come out before I buy it? Or has it hit the bottom of the well and I'm not going to spend any money on it till I read a copy from the library first. But that's just how I see it.

Yes, the story has changed and the characters have too. But I would be even more disappointed and annoyed if after 16 books they hadn't changed. I mean, talk about lack of character development. ;) But it's not "my" world. At the end of the day, IMO, it's Laurell's. Sometimes I'll like the things that happen there. Sometimes I won't. And maybe one day I'll find her world an annoyance to visit, rather than a privilage. (Sort of how I used to love Epcot but really don't think it's worth the money anymore) On that day, the only thing I can choose to do is walk away and go play in the world of yet another author or,  better still, go play in my own.

*applauds loudly* Wow Kris. Beautifully put! I enjoyed reading that and totally agree with you. :D

Thank you. :)