Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is book 8 in the Meredith Gentry series by Laurell Hamilton. It was an okay book, about par for the course in this series. It was entertaining, but had some plot problems and some pacing problems.
This book takes up where the last book left off. Merry and crew have chosen to move back to LA. After choosing to save Frost instead of become the King and Queen of the Unseelie court, Merry and Doyle (along with Merry's male harem) are in exile from fairy. They are working on setting up a place for themselves when Merry's contact at the LA police department, Lucy, calls and asks Merry to investigate a crime scene with multiple fey dead. The scene of the crime leads both Merry and Lucy to believe that a serial killer is loose. Can Merry and her guys figure out what is going on before more fey are killed?
Like many of the previous book this book has a loose plot interrupted with numerous mediocre sex scenes, as Merry tries to keep all six fathers of her unborn twins (and a few other new guys) happy. The murder plot goes on pretty well for the first 100 pages and then for the last fifty-or-so pages. In between that is a lot of sex, and a lot of Merry trying to get her overemotional man harem in check. Merry uses her normal combination of sex, pleading, humor, over-the-top proclamation, and prayers to the Goddess to do this.
I liked the murder investigation overall, despite the fact that it took backseat to the management of Merry's household for parts of the book. Reading about how Merry keeps her household running and how she deals with all these emotionally scarred guards from the Queen of Darkness, was somewhat interesting. Although, like previous books, too much time is spent on this and too many new characters are added in. It is like Hamilton has just added so many players to this story that it just takes up way too much time to juggle them all and there is no way she can give each character good page space.
I did like that there was less of Merry praying to the Goddess to solve all her problems, Merry actually had to work some of the issues out herself. I did like that some of her male leads (Frost, Doyle, Rheas) have overcome their insecurities and are actual acting like stable, supportive people.
I wasn't sure if I would keep reading this series of not. I thought "Swallowing Darkness" would have been a great stopping point for this series. This book is very much a transitional one; it deals with all the characters adjusting to their new lifestyles. There really isn't much of an over-arcing storyline that makes you interested in the next book...it makes me wonder what future books hold in store for Merry. I enjoyed the book some, I liked some of the characters. So, I will probably read the next book in the series just because these are a quick read and somewhat entertaining.
This book takes up where the last book left off. Merry and crew have chosen to move back to LA. After choosing to save Frost instead of become the King and Queen of the Unseelie court, Merry and Doyle (along with Merry's male harem) are in exile from fairy. They are working on setting up a place for themselves when Merry's contact at the LA police department, Lucy, calls and asks Merry to investigate a crime scene with multiple fey dead. The scene of the crime leads both Merry and Lucy to believe that a serial killer is loose. Can Merry and her guys figure out what is going on before more fey are killed?
Like many of the previous book this book has a loose plot interrupted with numerous mediocre sex scenes, as Merry tries to keep all six fathers of her unborn twins (and a few other new guys) happy. The murder plot goes on pretty well for the first 100 pages and then for the last fifty-or-so pages. In between that is a lot of sex, and a lot of Merry trying to get her overemotional man harem in check. Merry uses her normal combination of sex, pleading, humor, over-the-top proclamation, and prayers to the Goddess to do this.
I liked the murder investigation overall, despite the fact that it took backseat to the management of Merry's household for parts of the book. Reading about how Merry keeps her household running and how she deals with all these emotionally scarred guards from the Queen of Darkness, was somewhat interesting. Although, like previous books, too much time is spent on this and too many new characters are added in. It is like Hamilton has just added so many players to this story that it just takes up way too much time to juggle them all and there is no way she can give each character good page space.
I did like that there was less of Merry praying to the Goddess to solve all her problems, Merry actually had to work some of the issues out herself. I did like that some of her male leads (Frost, Doyle, Rheas) have overcome their insecurities and are actual acting like stable, supportive people.
I wasn't sure if I would keep reading this series of not. I thought "Swallowing Darkness" would have been a great stopping point for this series. This book is very much a transitional one; it deals with all the characters adjusting to their new lifestyles. There really isn't much of an over-arcing storyline that makes you interested in the next book...it makes me wonder what future books hold in store for Merry. I enjoyed the book some, I liked some of the characters. So, I will probably read the next book in the series just because these are a quick read and somewhat entertaining.
I really enjoyed this book but it left me wanting more.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 724 more book reviews
I didn't want the story to end.Was really good
Heather B. (habrewer) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 43 more book reviews
Divine Misdemeanors is the 8th installment in the Merry Gentry series and is best if read in order. You miss out on a lot of character information and backstory if you pick this series up in the middle.
Princess Merry and her group have returned to LA and are working for the Grey Detective Agency. There have been some Fey murders and the LAPD need the help of Merry and her gang to solve them. We are introduced to Glinda the Fairy Godmother of LA and new members of Merry's royal guard. The guys are all back and as protective as ever of Merry.
This book starts out good with the fey murders. The group is called in to assist the LAPD and see if they can figure out who is killing the fey. Merry feels responsible for the fey that are in LA but Glinda , the fairy godmother thinks that Merry is "stealing" her subjects away from her. I loved Glinda, she is what every little girl thinks of as a fairy godmother, complete with all the sparkling clothes and the magic wand. Merry seems to grow a little as a leader in this book with the help of Barinthus. He is angry with her and challenges some of the choices she makes. One of my favorite scenes involve a lot of reporters and a plate glass window.
As the story progresses, it gets weaker and weaker. It seems rushed and thrown together and was very choppy to read. A lot of back story was used as filler, we are reminded of the abuse that Merry suffered at the hands of her Aunt and Uncle over the years multiple times. There are references that something bad is going on in the Unseelie court but they never carry that story forward and one of her guards acts totally out of character going off the deep end.
In the Merry books you come to expect a lot of sex and you do get a fair amount in this book. The purpose of all the sex is for her to get pregnant with an heir to the throne of the Unseelie court before her cousin does. She is still having sex with random men and bringing out unique abilities in them and at one point she has sex with 2 of the guards to prove that she is not "crazy" like the rest of her family.
Overall I liked the mystery of the fey murders and enjoyed seeing all of the characters we have grown to love throughout this series. I would suggest this book to anyone that is a fan, just be aware that there is a lot of sexual content in this series. I give this book 3 flaming hearts.
Princess Merry and her group have returned to LA and are working for the Grey Detective Agency. There have been some Fey murders and the LAPD need the help of Merry and her gang to solve them. We are introduced to Glinda the Fairy Godmother of LA and new members of Merry's royal guard. The guys are all back and as protective as ever of Merry.
This book starts out good with the fey murders. The group is called in to assist the LAPD and see if they can figure out who is killing the fey. Merry feels responsible for the fey that are in LA but Glinda , the fairy godmother thinks that Merry is "stealing" her subjects away from her. I loved Glinda, she is what every little girl thinks of as a fairy godmother, complete with all the sparkling clothes and the magic wand. Merry seems to grow a little as a leader in this book with the help of Barinthus. He is angry with her and challenges some of the choices she makes. One of my favorite scenes involve a lot of reporters and a plate glass window.
As the story progresses, it gets weaker and weaker. It seems rushed and thrown together and was very choppy to read. A lot of back story was used as filler, we are reminded of the abuse that Merry suffered at the hands of her Aunt and Uncle over the years multiple times. There are references that something bad is going on in the Unseelie court but they never carry that story forward and one of her guards acts totally out of character going off the deep end.
In the Merry books you come to expect a lot of sex and you do get a fair amount in this book. The purpose of all the sex is for her to get pregnant with an heir to the throne of the Unseelie court before her cousin does. She is still having sex with random men and bringing out unique abilities in them and at one point she has sex with 2 of the guards to prove that she is not "crazy" like the rest of her family.
Overall I liked the mystery of the fey murders and enjoyed seeing all of the characters we have grown to love throughout this series. I would suggest this book to anyone that is a fan, just be aware that there is a lot of sexual content in this series. I give this book 3 flaming hearts.
Jennifer A. (JenniferA) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 7 more book reviews
I love L.K. Hamilton books and will continue to read them, but this one was not her best. Just too much "by the way" love scenes and not much of a plot focus.
One of the things that I most love about reading Hamilton's series is that even though it's been awhile since I've read the previous books in one, it's so easy to once again become submersed in the story again. This book was no different. It had an intriguing plot and steamy and creative sex scenes. My only complaint is that I wish the book were longer because I didn't want it to end!
I love this Fairy series of stories about Princess Merry Gentry. Unfortunately, I think that Laurell Hamilton was distracted when she wrote this one. Whereas she usually builds tension, and one entire book takes a day, this story, at least for me was a struggle, she didn't really advance/develope any character, unless you negatively count the sea king, and it was often boring, as though the author was distracted. This is the first book where she kind of implies her world is like ours, in a recession and at war.
Unless you read the previous 7 stories, I doubt you will understand or like Divine Misdemeanors, but they are keepers for me, and I am out of space on the bookshelf. I hope that next time Ms. Hamilton will just get on with it and let Merry have her babies, then maybe she will be more interested in what happens next. I know I am always looking forward to her next book, and waiting almost a year to find out what happens to Merry is always difficult.
Unless you read the previous 7 stories, I doubt you will understand or like Divine Misdemeanors, but they are keepers for me, and I am out of space on the bookshelf. I hope that next time Ms. Hamilton will just get on with it and let Merry have her babies, then maybe she will be more interested in what happens next. I know I am always looking forward to her next book, and waiting almost a year to find out what happens to Merry is always difficult.
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
I find that I loathe Queen Andais more and more with every book I read. She is truly an abomination and someone needs to assassinate her before the entire Fey are destroyed by her malevolence. Merry on the other hand would be a wonderful ruler since she is so compassionate and loving as her many lovers could attest. She has lovers from every walk of Seelie and Unseelie Fey. Some of the men (and I use that term rather loosely) that she sleeps with really creep me out. Especially King Sholto of the many arms/legs/whatevers. YUK!
Merry is helping out the LA police at otherworldly murder scenes for a Fey point of view. The Fey murders which are currently being investigated are disturbing as hell. I like that Merry gets involved eventhough it could (and does) endanger herself and her unborn children. Her many men try their best to keep her from harm but she has final say on what she does and doesn't do. As I said, she would make a terrific royal. It's too bad she's not interested as that could be an interesting plot twist.
Merry is helping out the LA police at otherworldly murder scenes for a Fey point of view. The Fey murders which are currently being investigated are disturbing as hell. I like that Merry gets involved eventhough it could (and does) endanger herself and her unborn children. Her many men try their best to keep her from harm but she has final say on what she does and doesn't do. As I said, she would make a terrific royal. It's too bad she's not interested as that could be an interesting plot twist.
Diana L. (zzonielady) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 90 more book reviews
I absolutely love Laurell Hamilton's books. Nothing rates below a 4 for me.
Divine Misdemeanors, just by it's name suggests a lull in the story and it was. We are introduced to knew characters and as Merry struggles to set up court in America in the human world interactions between human and human/fey mixed blood present some interesting new plot potential. I also am very curious about the Goddess and the soldiers being developed more in detail - hopefully next book.
There is some history of the different "lesser" fey and about the Darkness. And how will Andais be assinated because it has to be done.
I liked the interaction in the fey murder investigation, but I think this needs more development and there was brief mention of other fey crimes that exist and may affect the detective agency.
So much in this book that needs to be developed. All in all I like and will continue reading.
Divine Misdemeanors, just by it's name suggests a lull in the story and it was. We are introduced to knew characters and as Merry struggles to set up court in America in the human world interactions between human and human/fey mixed blood present some interesting new plot potential. I also am very curious about the Goddess and the soldiers being developed more in detail - hopefully next book.
There is some history of the different "lesser" fey and about the Darkness. And how will Andais be assinated because it has to be done.
I liked the interaction in the fey murder investigation, but I think this needs more development and there was brief mention of other fey crimes that exist and may affect the detective agency.
So much in this book that needs to be developed. All in all I like and will continue reading.
Ok I put off reading this book because of all the negative reviews I had read, however let me point out that we know from the Anita Blake series that Laurell goes into detail about sex and her lovers a lot That being said I don't understand the criticism.
I thought the book was interesting brought out a few more characteristics of the new guys and the case was a bit thrown together I thought the way they found out who the killer was was kind of cheap there wasn't a lot of detecting going on but that happens in real life doesn't it? Once you get pregnant everything kind of takes a back seat and you are always tired so you are not going at full steam. Now I will admit that after the last book I took a break and it helped I have read about 4 or 5 books between this one. The book itself was good althoug I could have done without the description of sleeping with Kitto (yuck)but you should read it don't go by the negative reviews because it is part of the story and if you skip it you will be wondering whats going on.
I thought the book was interesting brought out a few more characteristics of the new guys and the case was a bit thrown together I thought the way they found out who the killer was was kind of cheap there wasn't a lot of detecting going on but that happens in real life doesn't it? Once you get pregnant everything kind of takes a back seat and you are always tired so you are not going at full steam. Now I will admit that after the last book I took a break and it helped I have read about 4 or 5 books between this one. The book itself was good althoug I could have done without the description of sleeping with Kitto (yuck)but you should read it don't go by the negative reviews because it is part of the story and if you skip it you will be wondering whats going on.
Ok. She did it again. She lost me. I found her with "Anita Blake," muddled through until "The Harlequin" and gave up. Then I found Merry and loved the fey/fairy spin. The sex was even ALMOST tolerable, albeit multipled, but tolerable. But the books finally had a story again! Then I bought this one, barely being able to wait to read it on vacation... I wish I would have waited longer. :P
It starts out gripping you with a murder of demi-feys on the first page. Chapters 2-30 were then background on Merry and her multiple husbands/fathers of her children that she is currently carrying, and a few new characters. Finally, we get back to the story! ("YES") Um, no, lets just wait until Merry has rough, graphic sex with a few new characters she has never F'd before, so that they can go out and have sex with others. (She is the Princess/Queen, depending upon who you ask, after all, so why not?!?!)
I gave up before I ever found out if the story resurfaced. I am glad that I brought 8 other books on vacation with me and glad that others of you are wishing, so at least I can get a credit for my troubles. :) It is truly a shame. Ms Hamilton is creative and CAN write great books. It is just a shame that she has forgotten that her readers would like more than porn in their stories.
Life is too short to read bad books.
It starts out gripping you with a murder of demi-feys on the first page. Chapters 2-30 were then background on Merry and her multiple husbands/fathers of her children that she is currently carrying, and a few new characters. Finally, we get back to the story! ("YES") Um, no, lets just wait until Merry has rough, graphic sex with a few new characters she has never F'd before, so that they can go out and have sex with others. (She is the Princess/Queen, depending upon who you ask, after all, so why not?!?!)
I gave up before I ever found out if the story resurfaced. I am glad that I brought 8 other books on vacation with me and glad that others of you are wishing, so at least I can get a credit for my troubles. :) It is truly a shame. Ms Hamilton is creative and CAN write great books. It is just a shame that she has forgotten that her readers would like more than porn in their stories.
Life is too short to read bad books.
Kathryn P. (ladysarina) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 38 more book reviews
Divine Misdemeanors is book 8 in Laurell K. Hamilton's Merry Gentry series, where pregnant Merry returns Los Angeles to contribute as a private investigator in the Grey Detective Agency in solving brutal murders of Demi-fey.
Merry is hounded by paparazzi generating lots of theatrics and Seelie court and Unseliee politics along with Demi-fey. How about that snakegoblin? And of course tall folks like Barinthus make the story more interesting.
This book was an improvement over previous stories in this series, but somehow felt that some plot lines were unresolved. Adult fans of LKH would enjoy this book.
Merry is hounded by paparazzi generating lots of theatrics and Seelie court and Unseliee politics along with Demi-fey. How about that snakegoblin? And of course tall folks like Barinthus make the story more interesting.
This book was an improvement over previous stories in this series, but somehow felt that some plot lines were unresolved. Adult fans of LKH would enjoy this book.
Cynthia L. (ceeceelandau) reviewed Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Bk 8) on + 282 more book reviews
I have mixed feelings about this book. Don't get me wrong. I still love this series. Still if a few things don't change I'll probably stop reading it.
This book has less no action and only mystery. I guess after she killed the Queen's son, Cel, suddenly they appear to be no threat to the Unseelie Court, or perhaps that's just for this book because that's surly not what were lead to believe.
I still love all the characters. I love the fact that Kitto is still in the picture and that he's the one who's so excited about the babies that he's cleared out a room and has started getting it ready as a baby room. I also love how "The Lord of Shadow", one of the fathers is active in her life even thou he's has to travel back and fourth. He's gotten close to Meredith and has started showing her his true self with small things like his smirk when he's happy and he's feeling more secure with himself now that he knows that Meredith is not repulsed by his other bits.
I still love her beloved Frost and Darkness and I'm ecstatic that their more comfortable sharing her together now that he's come back. He's more willing to share. Their relationship's gave become stronger within the father's.
The only thing I'm having a problem with is this: I was under the impression that after Princess Meredith became pregnant she'd merry the father of her child. Now that her twins have multiple father's why has she not married them. If she cannot merry them because there are 6 then why is she not monogamous with the six. Why is she still sleeping with new people. In this book three new characters sleep with her and I'm starting to get a little tired of it. I understood it when she was trying to become pregnant and the rules/laws stipulated that she had to sleep with the Queen's guards and as many of them as possible. Still the fact remains that now Meredith has become pregnant and she's still sleeping with others.
I understand the Polyamory relationship but what I don't understand is the fact that it's not a closed Polyamory relationship. I would have figured with so many Alpha males that they'd be against her sleeping with other's outside of the fathers of her children. Maybe that's just my opinion....
Other than that I loved the story line. It turns out that all the human's she saved can now contact her when their in trouble and some can even heal with the laying of their hands. It's amazing that she now has the gift to give humans their own power......
I know that if you like Laurell K. Hamilton books, you'll enjoy this series.
This book has less no action and only mystery. I guess after she killed the Queen's son, Cel, suddenly they appear to be no threat to the Unseelie Court, or perhaps that's just for this book because that's surly not what were lead to believe.
I still love all the characters. I love the fact that Kitto is still in the picture and that he's the one who's so excited about the babies that he's cleared out a room and has started getting it ready as a baby room. I also love how "The Lord of Shadow", one of the fathers is active in her life even thou he's has to travel back and fourth. He's gotten close to Meredith and has started showing her his true self with small things like his smirk when he's happy and he's feeling more secure with himself now that he knows that Meredith is not repulsed by his other bits.
I still love her beloved Frost and Darkness and I'm ecstatic that their more comfortable sharing her together now that he's come back. He's more willing to share. Their relationship's gave become stronger within the father's.
The only thing I'm having a problem with is this: I was under the impression that after Princess Meredith became pregnant she'd merry the father of her child. Now that her twins have multiple father's why has she not married them. If she cannot merry them because there are 6 then why is she not monogamous with the six. Why is she still sleeping with new people. In this book three new characters sleep with her and I'm starting to get a little tired of it. I understood it when she was trying to become pregnant and the rules/laws stipulated that she had to sleep with the Queen's guards and as many of them as possible. Still the fact remains that now Meredith has become pregnant and she's still sleeping with others.
I understand the Polyamory relationship but what I don't understand is the fact that it's not a closed Polyamory relationship. I would have figured with so many Alpha males that they'd be against her sleeping with other's outside of the fathers of her children. Maybe that's just my opinion....
Other than that I loved the story line. It turns out that all the human's she saved can now contact her when their in trouble and some can even heal with the laying of their hands. It's amazing that she now has the gift to give humans their own power......
I know that if you like Laurell K. Hamilton books, you'll enjoy this series.
