A Kiss of Shadows Audiobook By Laurell K. Hamilton cover art

A Kiss of Shadows

A Merry Gentry Novel, Book 1

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A Kiss of Shadows

By: Laurell K. Hamilton
Narrated by: Stella Hunter
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Meet Merry Gentry, paranormal P.I., and enter a thrilling, sensual world as dangerous as it is beautiful, full of earthly pleasures and dazzling magic, and ruled by the all-consuming passions of immortal beings once worshipped as gods . . . or demons.

Merry Gentry, princess of the high court of Faerie, is posing as a human in Los Angeles, working as a private investigator specializing in supernatural crime. But now the queen’s assassin has been dispatched to fetch her—whether she likes it or not. Suddenly Merry finds herself a pawn in her dreaded aunt’s plans. The job that awaits her: enjoy the constant company of the most beautiful immortal men in the world. The reward: the crown—and the opportunity to continue to live. The penalty for failure: death.

©2001 Laurell K. Hamilton (P)2024 Random House Audio Fantasy Paranormal Paranormal & Urban Urban Royalty

Critic reviews

“One of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field.”—Charlaine Harris

“Sexy . . . Merry’s adventures are engaging and keep the reader turning the pages.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Stunning . . . steamy . . . an exciting and original world.”—San Jose Mercury News

“I’ve never read a writer with a more fertile imagination.”—Diana Gabaldon
Brilliant Narrator • Fabulous Story • Great Worldbuilding • Creative Complexity • Engaging Series • Capable Voice Acting
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I read and listened to all of the Anita Blake series. This series is just as good!

love LKH

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This is just as good (if not better) than the modern obsession that is ACOTAR and its ilk, except it came out many years before those particular trendy titles.

My only real complaint is that the narrator’s male voices are so low and soft that I cannot hear what’s being said without turning the volume way up, which makes everything else way too loud. I’d suggest some post-process volume adjustments for the “male” voices.

Excellent storyline—dark, smutty fantasy that was way ahead of its time

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My fingers and toes are crossed in the hopes that all of the titles in this series are re-recorded with Stella Hunter narrating, which i will absolutely re-purchase as they are released. I've already stated in other reviews that the capable Laural Merlington is wildly miscast for this series -- too old for Princess Meredith, and really terrible with (most of) the male romantic leads.

Ms. Hunter, however, does a fine job in this newer recording, and I'm definitely here for it. She's the right age for Merry, and does a capable job with the male voices and various accents.

Regarding the book series itself: it's very much Paranormal Erotica, with tons of sex on the page, which becomes more frequent as the series continues. If that's not your jam, look elsewhere.

Despite the fact that the genre now has many excellent series that are better than this one, LKH was a trailblazer, and many of those newer series wouldn't exist if she hadn't paved the way. Props.

I still have a soft spot for Merry and her Many Men. I care about these characters, have mourned (later in the series) a few significant deaths, and hope that LKH plans to continue the series at some point.

I'm so very glad that it's been re-recorded ❤️

Great new narrator for an old favorite series

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The author really did some great world-building in connecting classic fae stories with urban magic and action. A different culture that’s recognizable and characters who feel real. I’m so glad the series has finally come to Audible!

LKH classic. Love the Merry Gentry books!

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I love this series
I keep reading it again and again

I have yet to come across anything like it

I keep re- reading

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Loved it! Narrator was brilliant and story was fabulous , I cannot wait to listen to more of this elder’s

Great!

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I was so immersed in this book I literally forgot where I was sitting until I realized I was in the middle of a lobby with a class standing around me cus using the plaque above my head! :)

Pace

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I wasn’t into the fact that within the first hour every guy she came into contact with wanted to, tried to, or succeeded in sleeping with her. It made the relationships she had feel less meaningful. It is an interesting story though so for now I’ll stick around and see what happens. I know she’s going back to the LA PI thing but there was definitely enough going on at court to keep me interested in that line without having any PI stuff at all. Hopefully that doesn’t ruin it.

Worth a listen

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Creativity and complexity of merry gentry’s world draws you in can’t wait for book 2!

World of Fairies as we’ve never seen!

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The narrator chosen for this was perfect. My only note is that some of the voices are quieter than others and so I had to adjust my volume sometimes. Otherwise, perfection.

Loved the book, love the audio more

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