Divine Misdemeanors (Merry Gentry, Book 8) by Laurell K. Hamltion

Publisher:  Random House Publishing
Pages:  352

Following on the heels of the heart-stopping conclusion to Swallowing Darkness, Laurell K. Hamilton and Meredith Gentry are back!

Between dark faerie magic and the deepest desires lies the world of Meredith Gentry, princess, private eye, and powerful player in a game of supernatural sexual intrigue. The tension in this extraordinary saga continues to mount as Merry, pregnant with twins, refuses the throne of faerie and retreats with her bodyguards to Los Angeles in an attempt to protect the new life growing within her. Both the deadly destructive factions of the faerie courts -- as well as those who would worship her -- will be equally dangerous to her attempts to create a peaceful haven for her unborn children. Filled with riveting twists, this new novel adds yet another unforgettable chapter to a story that is both epic and breathtaking.

Princess Meredith Nic Essus is finally bringing Faerie to fruition.  She's the first royal in more centuries than the fey of old want to remember, to bring new life to either court, the Unseelie (Dark Court) or Seelie (Light Court).  She's expecting twins from a multitude of fathers, her Royal Guard, her lovers.  Faerie is slowly being driven mad with it's fading magic and fading numbers as Merry and her men become stronger and more powerful; their magical being reborn.  The Goddess has blessed them, chosen them to bring life.  But the madness in leaking away from Faerie and into the human world.  Someone or something is killing the fey of fairytales and leaving the pretty pictures of the pretty little death behind, and it's up to Merry and her men to solve the crime before it comes to their door.

Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton is the eighth book in the Merry Gentry series, giving us the continuing tales of Princess Meredeth Nic Essus whose father was murder when she was only a child, leaving her the only opposition to the madness Queen Andais and equally insane son, Prince Cel.  Andais has sworn the crown to Merry if she conceives, but Merry realizing she'll never be safe in either Court, abdicates.  She has killed Prince Cel in the battle between good and evil, sickness and insanity versus peace and health.  Queen Andais is more insane than ever with the loss of her son, torturing those she thinks are in alliance with Merry and those who deny her desires, the Queen's favor is not relished.  Assassins will soon claim her life, and then Merry's life may be in jeopardy.  She has left the Faerie Mounds, taking with her all she can claim, her men, the ladies of Prince Cel, Kitto the Snake Goblin, Royal and his twin sister-the demi-fey in alliance with her.  Galen, the green knight, Darkness, Killing Frost, Barinthus, the sea-god, Rhys, the death-god, Nicca and Biddy all have come with her to the lands of Southern California, L.A. and the Gray Agency.

 Divine Misdemeanors is a multi-faceted tale of what can happen when fey reach the breaking point, human and fey alike are their prey and only Merry can stop the killing.  It's twisting tale and just when you think you've discovered the answers, it twists again.  Laurell K Hamilton's very persona comes through in the voice of Merry.  I don't know how closely their personalities reflect each other, but LKH's voice is the voice I hear when reading Merry.  She's strong in her small stature and commanding.  There's a little more sex in the book than I'm usually comfortable with, but fey takes lovers easier than humans, and it brings their magic to life with the power of release.  It's a little more toned down than some of the books in the middle of the series, but if multiple partners and sharing isn't for you, try something else.  I felt it was a good read, a page turner, and recommend for urban fantasy and paranormal romance readers.  I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. 

I picked this book up for  my own enjoyment.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Just A Wee Bit Stressed Out ---- Or How I Spent My November

EEK!!! It's Friday the 13th!!!



Okay, some of you have noticed that I've been AWOL for a bit. I hope I have more time for blogging soon.... I'm trying the NaNoWriMo this year for the first time. I'll still be blogging, but at a slightly slower rate. NaNoWriMo is organization that encourages all writers of all types, fledgeling writers like myself or even the published authors that we all love to read, to write. Write a complete book in one month, granted it is a short book at 50000 words, but it's still a massive piece of writing in 30 days. So from November 1st through the 30th, you're encouraged to write everyday. I started with an idea of what I wanted to write about, but it took three different attempts before I could come up with something that I thought I could carry through to the finish line. It's now the middle of November and I've passed the halfway point at 52 percent completed. I hope I can keep going to at least complete the challenge. It's so much harder than we as readers think it's going to be. And as I quickly read through what I've written so far, a lot of it is crap and will have to be edited. But, it's a satisfying feeling to see 50 pages of something that could one day work it's way into being a book or a novella. Thanks everyone for your support and patience!!! It is more than appreciated!

Now, some fun stuff from around the blogosphere.

Laurell K. Hamilton's newest entry into the Anita Blake Vampire Series is being display, shown off, etc. I personally can't wait for the next installment. I enjoyed Skin Trade as LKH creeps back to the roots of the Anita Blake Saga. The necromancer is back and just as good as before. I only hope that this entry brings us closer to those roots once again. (But I'd read just for another taste of Jean-Claude, lol!) Released Date: February 2010


The next entry into the Merry Gentry Series, Divine Misdemeanors, will be released December 2009. I hope this series follows Laurell K. Hamilton's need to find her roots as well. It a magically fun series of light and dark fae.

From the Cover: You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin’s treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir—all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world—and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.

New Moon Love!!!

In exactly one week, (please, if you haven't already, mark your calendars), Stephenie Meyer's second installment in the Twilight Saga will be released on the silver screen. I can't wait to gaze upon the characters one more time.


Release date: November 20, 2009
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
Directed by: Chris Weitz
Written by: Melissa Rosenberg
Synopsis: Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.
(I never knew so many guys to leap through one window, but damn, Bella's window gets a workout!!)


I can't freaking wait!!