I’m not sure where to start. I love Hamilton, have loved her for years. But honestly, she’s writing porn. And it’s not even good porn. It’s porn trying to be literature and failing miserably. It’s not bad writing, she seems to have improved from the 650 page exposition that was Incubus Dreams, but it still feels like the plot is trying to claw its way out of the bloody pages of the book. I’ll still read the next one because, no matter what else she does, she’s made me care about and be fascinated by these characters. But I’ll probably borrow the next one again and wait for the paperback to come out.

The one thing I actively disliked about this book is that it takes place immediately following the last. Virtually no time has passed between Caress of Twilight and The Stroke of Midnight and where does she come up with these titles? It feels as if she could have made the two books into one longer one, worked a bit more on the oh--plot and still kept all the sex (metaphysical though it appears to be) intact.

Okay, so what did I like? I saw hints that perhaps not all is as hopeless for our Merry’s remaining guards as it would appear should she become pregnant. I liked that power is returning to the faerie and that even the rather unflappable Doyle is mystified by some of it. (And I am, if nothing else, firmly rooted in the Doyle/Merry camp.) I enjoy the political wrangling that Merry has to do and the force of power she seems to wear easily. And isn’t that at base the reason so many find these books readable? A woman with power that isn’t afraid of it, a woman that enjoys sex and isn’t afraid of that either. It certainly can’t be all the sex she’s getting; how many of times have I heard the complaint about too much sex not enough plot? How many times have I made the same complaint? Yet we’re still reading.

This was another amazing book in this series. I love the court intrigue that Hamilton adds to the faerie world and the depth of the characters and the environment. The writing is sensual and breathtaking. Just an excellent book that is fast-paced and leaves you wanting to read more!

Book #4 in the Meredith Gentry series. Two murders occur at the same time in faerie. For the first time, the police is invited in to help investigate with their forensics, hopefully providing a lead to the killer(s). A lot happens in this book but much of the action is slowed down by discussions among Meredith and the other fey before the action takes place. Some of it is necessary but I think this book could have been at least 50 pages shorter without the unnecessary dialogue. It's peculiar to read a threesome sex scene with Meredith which is preceded by lots of questions, discussions, explanations, and so on. That's why I don't find this series particularly erotic. Fantasy, yes there's lots of that too but often it seems out of context. Something of the fantastic occurs but it happens all of a sudden with no background or fantasy logic to make it seem plausible. The best part of this series, including this book, are the characters. I read on to the next just to find out what happens to them. In each book, Meredith gains more power as do her guards. I'm looking forward to the day when her sadistic queen aunt and her equally evil son, Cel, are destroyed. I started reading this series in a haphazard order and I was able to get the gist of the stories but I think it's best to read them in order since each one builds on the other.

Book #4 in the Meredith Gentry series. Two murders occur at the same time in faerie. For the first time, the police is invited in to help investigate with their forensics, hopefully providing a lead to the killer(s). A lot happens in this book but much of the action is slowed down by discussions among Meredith and the other fey before the action takes place. Some of it is necessary but I think this book could have been at least 50 pages shorter without the unnecessary dialogue. It's peculiar to read a threesome sex scene with Meredith which is preceded by lots of questions, discussions, explanations, and so on. That's why I don't find this series particularly erotic. Fantasy, yes there's lots of that too but often it seems out of context. Something of the fantastic occurs but it happens all of a sudden with no background or fantasy logic to make it seem plausible. The best part of this series, including this book, are the characters. I read on to the next just to find out what happens to them. In each book, Meredith gains more power as do her guards. I'm looking forward to the day when her sadistic queen aunt and her equally evil son, Cel, are destroyed. I started reading this series in a haphazard order and I was able to get the gist of the stories but I think it's best to read them in order since each one builds on the other.

Now I'm anxious to read number 5! I can't wait to see what happens to Merry and her men next. Takes up exactly where the last one left off. At this rate it will take another 28 books to get through an entire month! Not as much about Doyle, Rys and Frost in this one but still a very good and entertaining read!

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My favorite paranormal romance novel writer. But, I like her Anita Blake series best.

couldn't put it down

Takes place DIRECTLY after the previous book, and really NO time passes in this one. Some interested character background info. Follows Hamilton's pattern of "female gets continuously more powerful through sex and/or violence", similar to the Anita Blake series.

Part of the Meredith (Merry) Gentry Series
1. Kiss of Shadows (10/00)
2. Caress of Twilight (3/01)
3. Seduced By Moonlight (2/04)
4. Stroke of Midnight (4/05)
5. Mistral's Kiss (12/06)
6. A lick of Frost (10/07)

Very good read.

4th in series, really need to read them in order. Good book.

Book 4 of the Meredith Gentry series.

Full of a lot of sex, sometimes too much... A good read and a good followup for the last book.

I was so pleased to read a LKH that wasn't entirely incredibly boring sex scenes. I fear this will be the last book she writes that relies on some sort of plot.

Enjoyable but bittersweet.

Very good. Typical Laurel K., sex, action and treachery!

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