A LIKE OF FROST

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton ISBN: 034549590X 10/2007 PARANORMAL Publisher: BALLANTINE

I am Meredith Gentry, princess and heir apparent to the throne in the realm of faerie, onetime private investigator in the mortal world. To be crowned queen, I must first continue the royal bloodline and give birth to an heir of my own. If I fail, my aunt, Queen Andais, will be free to do what she most desires: install her twisted son, Cel, as monarch . . . and kill me. My royal guards surround me, and my best loved—my Darkness and my Killing Frost—are always beside me, sworn to protect and make love to me. But still the threat grows greater. For despite all my carnal efforts, I remain childless, while the machinations of my sinister, sadistic Queen and her confederates remain tireless. So my bodyguards and I have slipped back into Los Angeles, hoping to outrun the gathering shadows of court intrigue. But even exile isn’t enough to escape the grasp of those with dark designs. Now King Taranis, powerful and vainglorious ruler of faerie’s Seelie Court, has leveled accusations against my noble guards of a heinous crime—and has gone so far as to ask the mortal authorities to prosecute. If he succeeds, my men face extradition to faerie and the hideous penalties that await them there. But I know that Taranis’s charges are baseless, and I sense that his true target is me. He tried to kill me when I was a child. Now I fear his intentions are far more terrifying.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Amazing!

This book is number seven in Laurell K. Hamilton's series about Meredith Gentry. Merry is a half-human, half-faerie princess. Her aunt, Queen Andais, has commanded Merry to conceive a child so that she has an heir to succeed her on the throne. While her aunt sends one after another consort to Merry's bed, none have been successful. Merry leaves the faerie society to return to Los Angeles, surrounded by body guards. While in Los Angeles, Merry continues her search for someone to provide her a much needed heir. However, Merry and her lovers must face their fate, one that could be worse than death.

I am a huge Laurell K. Hamilton fan, so it was a real treat to be able to review A LICK OF FROST. As usual, Hamilton goes above and beyond the abilities of most writers and delivers a story that cannot be put down until it is finished. The audience can feel Merry's desperation and the fear she is facing while trying to meet the demands that are forced upon her. Hamilton shows no mercy when dealing with her characters, which I think is one reason I enjoy her so much. The story becomes real while you are reading it, and it's great to escape true reality into Hamilton's world for even a few hours. A LICK OF FROST is a definite Top Pick.

Kym Oetting