I LOVE everything I've read by Hamilton so far (Which includes all available Anita Blake and Meredith Gentry novels) and I love this one too! Granted, I may be a bit biased... but if you're into dark fantasy, Vampires, Erotica, Sci-Fi, Romance, Horror, faries, or any combination... these are WONDERFUL books! Laurell is a very good writer with wonderful attention to detail! This is book #4, I would STRONGLY suggest beginning with book #1 of course, but in my opinion any of Laurell K Hamiltons' works are a real treat!

A Stroke of Midnight is the fourth in Laurell K Hamilton's Merry Gentry series. They are best read in order, so I recommend you go back and start with A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry Novels). The series is a fun ride, so you might as well start from the beginning.

Merry Gentry is a princess of Faerie, where the Faerie are an ancient magical race that had powers which caused humans to think of them as gods. The Faerie are faded from their ancient glory and live among us, with unearthly beauty and superhuman powers bound by their treaty with our government. This fourth installment takes place over the course of a few days before the Yule holiday, when Merry returns from Los Angeles to her Faerie home.

Although Merry herself is mortal (dubious heritage on her mother's side), mysteriously she is belatedly awakening into a power that has not been seen for centuries in Faerie. Her power is manifested through sex - she is able to catalyze power in others and in her surroundings during lovemaking. This makes for erotic reading as Merry's primary mission, set by her Queen, is to have as much sex as possible with as many eligible Faeries in order to get pregnant. Pregnancy will secure Merry's place in the succession.

What makes this not pornography is that there actually is a plot and character development. The reader ends up caring about Merry and the future of the Faerie people. Even the internal Faerie politics, normally a snoozer for me, was well done and kept my interest. However, this is not a book for people who only want to read about sex inside committed relationships.

Meredith's Sidhe bodyguards, of all types and flavors are keen to have
sex with her as much as possible, as if any of them win the faerie bun
in the oven lottery, prestige awaits.

Also, it appears that doing so, brings back long unused and dormant
powers from the time when the Sidhe were top dog, not the humans.

Apart from this, they have to solve the murder, in public, at a press conference, of two people, and the Sidhe are involved.

Princess Meredith, the private detective and not-so-private Princess of Faerie, is back in this 4th installment in the Merry Gentry series.

The race for the throne is underway, and Merry gets busy fulfilling her royal duties of trying to get pregent by one or more of her royal guards (all of the previously celtic dieties in centures and millenia past, when the primal forces of magic were much stronger in the world) ... and in the process, the Goddess (and the presence of magic along with her) begins to show more signs of returning, and restoring vitality to the faerie realm ... a vitality that has withered over the millennia under the cruel sadism of the Queen of Air and Darkness.

Prince Cel is still in prison, but his followers (and other elements opposed to having a half-breed like Meredith take the throne) have not been idle ... there has been foul murder done within the halls of the sidhe, and further murders are attempted - and neither Princess Merry nor her Elite Guards (even as they begin to reclaim some of their old strength from ages long past) are safe.

The author tells her tale with her usual mix of steamy magically-enhanced sex, mythological fantasy, court intrigue, and forensics. It's a highly enjoyable romp.

My only memorable nit is the authoress' tendency to write, at times, in extremely short and fragmentary chapters ... such as breaking up a single continuous scene into 5 chapters, of only 3-5 pages each. There's no apparent rhyme or reason to her chapter divisions.

Reading this as I am hot on the heels of George R. R. Martin's excessively long-winded and overly complex "A Song of Ice and Fire", encountering back-to-back chapters of only 3-5 pages each, and all of them a seemingly unbroken continutation of the parahraphs immediately before ... it caused an involuntary nervous twitch, and I had to repress the urge to laugh hysterically.

The Meredith Gentry series makes me wish I were not such a nice person. I don't want to keep reading these books. Truthfully, they keep disappointing me. But I am a person who finishes what she starts, and four books into a series I won't give up. I just won't.

That being said, A Stroke of Midnight is by far the second best Meredith Gentry novel after the first. The last two books were more a "Faerie Court Politics for Dummies" course rather than actual novels. I get so sick of reading about how the fey will never lie. Really? I've only had it beat into my head 1,000 times, I almost forgot. Also, you should always compliment a sidhe who is trying to look nice. And when they look for comfort they touch one another. I get it! Can we get on with the story now please?

A Stroke of Midnight almost went on with the story. I'll say... about 50 pages out of the entire 366, which is a lot considering the drivel contained in the last two stories. At least this book gave me a little info about why faerie started fading, what the sithen means to the future queen, and FINALLY a taste of what Queen Andais is all about. I'm still not satisfied. I still think I'm being strung along so that I will continue to shell out $8-$20 (depending on whether I spring for the hardback) for a series that has no clue where it's going and just expects me to go along for the ride. I have to be honest, though. This ride is a little boring and I might try to get off at the next station.

Laurell Hamilton used to write fiction with the occasional steamy scene - now all she writes is porn with just enough storyline for a back-cover synopsis. I wouldn't even call it "soft" porn.

This particular book was especially disappointing because the resident PI character (Meredith Genry) does absolutely no detective work on what by now has become the story's token murder. She decides to call in human police because the fey, over the centuries that they've had to live, are apparently unable to hide their mischief from forensic science. At this point, because with all there is for Merry to do, there just isn't enough time for her to have all the sex she wants, time within the sithen speeds up so that she can. That's all which takes place until the last chapter, when we learn that the Queen has solved the crime in her unique psychopathic idiom...she picked a suspect and tortured a confession out of him, making the entire investigation moot.

I've been reading Hamilton's work since the beginning of the Anita Blake series, when I lived in St. Louis myself. The local flavor and the unique blend of genres was extremely attractive. The memory of the experience held me to the series, and the author, long past the point of enjoyment.

And at this point in her career, I doubt that Hamilton could stop writing porn. She has already alienated the audience which enjoyed her books for the stories - if she were to try to go back to that style, then she'd stop selling books altogether. So I propose that she pull out all the stops with an Anita Blake/Meredith Gentry crossover, consisting entirely of swapping sex partners surrounding a lesbian love-fest centerpiece. The fanbois will love it.

Ok, where is the ending? This is the second book in a row that didn't end. I mean, come on. LKH wrote 3 (THREE) chapters on one sex scene and she could only afford 1 measly chapter to finish the so-called "plot." That is if you call that a finish. It's still up in the air if they got the right murderer or not. I was upset after I finished reading Seduced by Moonlight because it wasn't a finished book. Then I picked up this book thinking that she would at least get Merry to the Seelie court and finish that storyline before starting a new one. Lo and behold, not only did she not finish the Seelie court storyline, she started a new one and didn't even finish that storyline as well. Does Laurell not care about her readers at all and only cares about making money?? She could have easily combined these 2 books into one and still have enough room for a decent ending. Instead she stretched these books into 2-3 and filled it up with sex scenes after sex scenes after sex scenes.... I mean how many men must Merry have sex in one day? And the sex scenes... At least write a decent scene. Don't get me wrong, I like erotic novels and don't mind reading about oral sex. But Merry's obsession with it is just yuck. And two men in the same hole at once are stretching it (no pun intended). So to sum it up, to say I'm disappointed is an understatement. I don't think I can take it anymore. It is really apparent that LKH doesn't care about her readers as much as making money. It's so sad that one of my favorite authors sold out like that.

Hamilton has done it again. She has taken a series that started off promising and lost it in the sexuality. I'd normally write a more wordy and intelligent review but this time I just don't care to try and say all that flowery stuff.

The first book of Hamilton's I read was A Kiss of Shadows. I had accidentally bought it with a handful of the early Anita Blake books so I figured I'd just read it first. I enjoy good erotica and I love a contemporary fantasy just fine so I enjoyed it and the following two installments.

Having recently read Danse Macabre and decided not to continue with Anita, I was hoping Merry would still bring something to the table for me. And indeed in some ways she does. I enjoy the characters in this series very much... but I'm starting to see where Anita's harem of men has become confusing with it's MANY members (pun not intended) suddenly Merry's harem is starting to feel much the same.

I still love Hamilton's ability to create a great "fantasy" world and give it depth. What is starting to concern me is that while Anita has no plot and is all sex, Merry's sex is the plot. In some ways that is okay because she has written the world to work with it... but it sure would be nice to have something other than porn style group sex to read. There's no real passion in it anymore. It all feels forced and perhaps it is just my romanticized ideal but I enjoy an erotic scene much more when the characters are lead up to it with some fiery tension.

On a side note. I am sick and tired of people calling Hamilton's writing erotica. It is NOT erotica. It gives erotica a bad name. It isn't even romance material IMHO. It's not even particularly sexy. As an erotica reader for several years I happened to stumble upon a book a while back about how to write erotic scenes that are good. One of the key elements is not to sound clinical, like a doctor describing how the medical details, or sound like you're giving a sports commentary on a porn film. Which is EXACTLY what I feel like I have read in the last two Hamilton books I've tried.

I'm done with Anita but I'm going to give Merry another try because at least her sex scenes are the plot. LOL

This series has rapidly going down hill since Ms. Hamilton's infatuation of sex in each and every novel. As many people have stated in other reviews...Where's the Plot? You know...a story that involves the cast of characters? What no plot and just sex? Not good. Pretty much this series has gone from good to crap. I recommend the first three but stop after those three. Ms. Hamilton really falls off the horse then...plus the main character having sex with women? I know it's todays society but jeesh people it's freaky. 1 out of 10.

I'm not sure where to start. I love Hamilton, have loved her for years. But honestly, she's writing porn. And it's not even good porn. It's porn trying to be literature and failing miserably. It's not bad writing, she seems to have improved from the 650+ page exposition that was Incubus Dreams, but it still feels like the plot is trying to claw its way out of the bloody pages of the book. I'll still read the next one because, no matter what else she does, she's made me care about and be fascinated by these characters. But I'll probably borrow the next one again and wait for the paperback to come out.

The one thing I actively disliked about this book is that it takes place immediately following the last. Virtually no time has passed between A Caress of Twilight and this book and where does she come up with these titles? It feels as if she could have made the two books into one longer one, worked a bit more on the oh--plot and still kept all the sex (metaphysical though it appears to be) intact.

Okay, so what did I like? I saw hints that perhaps not all is as hopeless for our Merry's remaining guards as it would appear should she become pregnant. I liked that power is returning to the faerie and that even the rather unflappable Doyle is mystified by some of it. (And I am, if nothing else, firmly rooted in the Doyle/Merry camp.) I enjoy the political wrangling that Merry has to do and the force of power she seems to wear easily. And isn't that at base the reason so many find these books readable? A woman with power that isn't afraid of it, a woman that enjoys sex and isn't afraid of that either. It certainly can't be all the sex she's getting; how many of times have I heard the complaint about too much sex not enough plot? How many times have I made the same complaint? Yet we're still reading.

The first Merry Gentry novel was a great Who-dunnit. The following novels began to slow to a stand still. Where is the Story in this story? As erotic prose Ann Rice does it better and still delivers a plot. It would be a welcome change if the characters ate a meal or had a non-foreplay conversation. I am not sure I will bother with the next book.

This book has slowed down in terms of plot as outside of some nicely written erotic scenes the plot is not developing very fast. Merry Gentry is back in the sithen and home for the Solstice. The press conference is amusing and the4 double murders that start the book off are intriguing. But then the book slows to: Merry is having sex with her ever increasing harem and gaining power and giving them powers, There is more mystical interaction and as it looks like she may be the next Queen more fanatic opposition. While there is more mystical interaction with the Goddess and Merry gains considerable power the show down with her uncle is still pending and however well written how many 3 somes and 4 somes does it take before they start seeming alike?

There is some character development but its as slow as the plot and now there are getting to be too many characters for the story and they are getting in the way.

This series is going down hill and unfortunately needs saving and refreshing. Still better than average for the errotic romance fairy genre but needs improving.

The men in Meredith's life bring new excitement and the growth of the fairie bring the biggest challenge to the queen. An excellent story that has me anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

This book is soo rivetting! I can't wait for the next one to come out!!

I enjoyed this as well as the other Gentry Novels, however, it dragged on a bit too long. Some of the story lines from the past book was just left off completely. I was expecting them to pick up in this book, but instead whole new concepts were introduced making the whole sega confusing. I understand the next book (Minstrel's Kiss) is pretty much a repeat of Stroke, so not looking forward to it, but I'm going to read it just the same. I'm ready for Meredith to finally resolve a few things, then move on, and then get into some new and exciting action!!!

It lets up right were the last Merry Gentry book, Seduced by Moonlight, leaves off. It really just seems like one large novel. It is the same story-people trying to kill her and the people she is close to. On top of that her guards are gaining new powers. It has an interesting plot with meeting new characters too. The book takes place all in a days time roughly. The next book, Mistral's Kiss, also flows right where this one leaves off. Pretty much from Seduced by Moonlight to Mistral's Kiss is just one large novel. All before she goes to the Yule Ball at the Seelie Court too.

I find Laurell Hamilton's charictars a bit touchy, combative for my taste. It irritates me all the way through the books. I can hardly wait for the next one. Two good series. Very well written. Very different format and style from what I am used to (science fantasy) I have no problem putting out money for one of her books.

I enjoy the Meredith Gentry novels....but I am starting to feel like I need to list of the characters that Merry has not had a sexual encounter with. There are way to many encounters in the hallways for one book.
About half way through I was screaming someone get her pregnant so that we can get to the next plot.

I did however give it four stars. I enjoy the Queens Darkness and Killing Frost. I think that those are the only two memebers of the guard that did not get any action in this one book, but the two who deserve a lot more attention than they get.

I am getting ready to start the next book and maybe there will be less encounters in the hallways and more getting the crazy queen off the throne.

I have to say I've become horribly disappointed in the last several LKH books. I've been pushing myself to read them though, because I've been a die-hard LKH fan for years now, and I've been hoping that eventually these books will get back on track with the twisted and intelligent plot-lines. The Merry Gentry books were definitely gentler than the AB books from the get-go, but the potential with the sidhe was so fantastic. I know Merry's magic is based in sex, but geez.... I love erotica and sex hardly makes me wince when I come across it in a book. But I wince every few pages now in this book because that's all it is. Sex. And its not well-written sex either. Its actually quite boring. LKH gives you just enough hints into the awsomeness this book COULD be in between the sex scenes to keep you reading, but not enough for me to even consider getting the next book. I'm afraid that unless she gets this crappy sex out of her system, her books won't be adorning my bookshelves anymore.

Laurell K. Hamilton has proven she can write a book following the three unities.

Unity of action: The story revolves around a murder in the sithen, with no real subplots other than the sex, although it might be more truthful to call the sex the main action and the murder the background.
Unity of place: The whole book takes place in the confines of the sithen or on the grounds immediately outside it.
Unity of time: The whole thing takes place in 24 hours.

Good for her. Bad for us. What she fails to realize is that by restricting her novel with such narrow boundaries, it leaves the reader unsatiated, and unsatisfied. Much as I love the series, I felt almost as if I'd wasted my time when I got to the end and said, "This is it?"
This is a book I always read immediately after the third in the series. It is not strong enough to stand on its own.

Sometimes you really can judge a book by its cover. Judging by the swooning, cleavagey woman who seems to be in the initial stages of ecstacy, with a bit of soft purply lighting, "A Stroke of Midnight" looks like a fantastical romance novel. And that... is what it is.

The cover aside, Laurell K. Hamilton's latest Merry Gentry novel is, like many of her latest novels, a minor disaster. "Stroke of Midnight" is actually better than most of them, with the complex political machinations that Hamilton is so good at. But smothering those machinations are sex and a glacial plotline.

After the events of the third book, the human media has been called into the sithen for a press conference centering on Princess Meredith. But no sooner has the conference ended than a pair of corpses -- one human, one fey -- are found. Merry convinces the Queen to let her investigate the human way, and begins delving into whodunnit.

To make things even more complex, the Goddess has been doing wonky things with Merry's powers -- now when she has sex with fey, their powers are reawakened, and then become godlike once more. Needless to say, this is doing lovely things for her obedient harem. But Merry also has to focus on the mysterious murders -- and the plot that may be forming against her aunt.

Sounds intriguing? Well, in theory it is. Unfortunately, the entire plot is not only inundated in softcore porn, but it also takes place in about twenty-four hours. As a result, the plot is so drawn-out and glacially slow that I kept wanting to bang the book against my head.

And, of course, the sex. Hamilton's writing has gotten downright nymphomaniacal in recent years, and "Stroke of Midnight" is no exception. There's virtually nobody Merry doesn't have elaborate and varied sex with, or hasn't had sex with in the past, except for close relatives. Really, she must have supernatural powers if she isn't walking funny by now.

On a more serious note, though the sex has a part in the plot, it's so frequent and detailed that it all blurs together into one throbbing, ecstatic, orgasmic blur. These things are not Hamilton's strong point, and it sabotages the book to have so much of it made up by Merry's sexual gymnastics with men, women, fey, demi-fey, and anything else that walks and talks. (If she has sex to get pregnant, why women?)

And the writing is much in the vein of the sex scenes -- boring, filleresque and rather uninvolving. This is probably because Hamilton is setting it in one day, no more, and so she has to flesh it out with a lot of repetitive dialogue and endless internal pondering. The more supernatural scenes are interesting, but they are also nothing new to readers of this series. And at the end, it merely feels like a teaser for book number five.

What "Stroke of Midnight" does to redeem itself is revive some of those Machievellian power tangles. Sure, Cel is in his cell, but there is plenty of hostility and plotting. This is where Hamilton shines, and if there had been less sex and more plotting, this book might well have blosssomed.

"A Stroke of Midnight" has a few steps in the right direction, but they are baby steps. In the end, it feels deeply unsatisfying, more suited for a drinking game (if Merry has sex with a weirdly-appendaged fey, take half a sip) than for serious fantasy reading.