Tuesday, February 28, 2012

After Dark Review of A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton

I have added After Dark Reviews to my blog as a way of notifying you of a review of a book with Adult themes and scenes. From now on I will keep my reviews of all books I read that have explicit scenes in them for late night posts for those of you who prefer to avoid them or easy to find for those of you who seek them out ;)



Synopsis: "I am Meredith Gentry, P.I. and Princess Merry, heir to the throne of Fairie. Now there are those among me who whisper I am more. They fear me even as they protect me. And who can blame them? I’ve awakened the dazzling magic that’s slumbered in them for thousands of years. But the thing is, I can’t figure out why.

I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far from the peril and deception of my real home–because I am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. But at what price does such magic come? How much of my human side will I have to give up, and how much of the sinister side of faerie will I have to embrace? To sit on a throne that has ruled through bloodshed and violence for centuries, I might have to become that which I dread the most.

Enemies watch my every move. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne. Enemies unforeseen move against us–enemies who would murder the least among us.

The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time in our history. I need my allies now more than ever, especially since fate will lead me into the arm of Mistral, Master of Storms, the queen’s new captain of her guard. Our passion will reawaken powers long forgotten among the warriors of the sidhe. Pain and pleasure await me–and danger, as well, for some at that court seek only death.

I will find new joys with the butterfly-winged demi-fey. My guards and I will show all of faerie that violence and sex are as popular among the sidhe as they are among the lesser fey of our court. The Darkness will weep, and Frost will comfort him. The gentlest of my guards will find new strength and break my heart. Passions undreamed of await us–and my enemies gather, for the future of both courts of faerie begins to unravel."



My Review: Possibly the best of the series in my opinion! Hamilton lightened up a little bit on the magic in this one and go back to the court politics, word play and danger! I absolutely loved this one. I am not really sure about all the additional men added in this one, I am really not too fond of several of them but I think that is what is meant to be. I have to say though I really enjoy the huge diversity of the characters and personalities, she makes it easy to distinguish between each of them without having to go back and check who is talking. I have to say this book made me actually like Merry, but Doyle is still by far my favorite character. Frost is still annoying and Galen is still naive but they are all growing as the series continues.        

My Rating: Definitely a Four Paw and Stump Wag book for me!!



Warning: Adult themes, situations, nudity, danger, blood and death.

2 comments:

  1. I've never tried one of Laurell's books. I'm not too huge into this type of book but it sounds like she creates really memorable characters. That's something to be admired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not too sure you would like her main books, if I remember correctly you aren't into the sex scenes, but you might enjoy some of her anthologies. Her characters are great, but as the series go on she seems to feel then need to add more and more to the main group.

      Delete