Mistral's Kiss : A Novel

The Barnes & Noble ReviewThe fifth installment of Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry saga (A Stroke of Midnight, Seduced by Moonlight, et al.) is unquestionably the most unadulteratedly erotic novel yet to feature the sexy fairie princess. In order for Merry (a mortal princess in the Unseelie Court) to become fey queen, she must ''get with child soon'' -- or at least before her insane cousin Cel impregnates someone. The first one to prove their fertility wins the throne -- and the other most certainly dies. With more than a dozen handsome immortal royal guards protecting her, Merry is, ahem, striving diligently to achieve her goal and save the diminishing Sidhe race; but after a particularly powerful encounter that includes (among others) Mistral, the queen's new captain of the guard, the impossible happens: Merry's men begin regaining their declining powers, and the long-dead gardens that were once the heart of Sidhe power start to spring forth with life! But in the midst of this awe-inspiring, realm-changing transformation, longtime enemies of Merry step forward at the worst possible time While previous Merry Gentry novels have been a relatively equal blend of supernatural suspense, romance, and dark fantasy, this one almost exclusively focuses on Gentry's more, ahem, carnal plot threads. But that isn't to say that nothing thematically significant transpires in Mistral's Kiss; on the contrary, there are several jaw-dropping twists that will irrevocably change the course of future installments. Featuring utterly unrestrained and graphically detailed erotic sequences that rival those in Hamilton's sexy Anita Blake series, Mistral's Kiss will appeal to romance and fantasy fans alike. A line from the novel concisely describes the book's dark supernatural charm: ''One man's nightmare [is] another's fantasy '' Paul Goat Allen 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.From the Hardcover edition. 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 faerietrapped here with some of the realms 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 Andaiss new captain of the guard, has come to my beddefying 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. 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 My aunt, Queen Andais, will have it no other way. And so I am virtually a prisoner in fairie - 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 Meredith Gentry Struggles To Fulfill Her Obligation To The World Of Faerie By Conceiving An Heir To The Throne Of The Unseelie Court, But Her Quest Is Threatened By The Intrigues Of Her Scheming Uncle As Well As By Her Own Unpredictable Powers. Laurell K. Hamilton. If I can reclaim control of the fey power that once was, there may be hope for me and my reign in fairie. I might yet quell the dark schemes and subterfuges surrounding me. Though shadows of obsession and conspiracy gather, I may survive I am Princess Meredith, heir to a throne of fairie. My day job, once upon a time, was as a private detective in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, princess has now become a full-time occupation