Merry Gentry: A Merry Letdown

I loved the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I loved the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I even loved the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter. You see where I’m going with this?

I thought that because I loved those series I would also love the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. It was even a recommendation based on my “already read” shelf. It has a strong and powerful heroine, faeries, and mysteries to be solved. It sounded like the next great series to me. 

Unfortunately, I think I just fooled myself.

The Gist

I read the first two books in the series – A Kiss of Shadows and A Caress of Twilight. The books follow Princess Meredith NicEssus (Merry Gentry), a half-human half-faerie, whose turbulent time in the Unseelie court forces her to live as a human in Los Angeles, California. Of course, faerie trouble comes knocking on her door, taking her right back to the court she tried so hard to escape. As her powers grow and political intrigue builds, Merry Gentry tries to navigate her new life and her new personal harem.

Not as Good as It Sounds

As I mentioned before, I did think I was going to like this book. I knew it was smutty going into it and I’m not opposed. But the books could not keep my attention. They both followed the same kind of sedate pacing and had the same general story line – investigate some mysterious creature/murder, stay away from the evil Queen, sleep with lots of men. I wasn’t surprised by anything and I definitely wasn’t seduced.

No Passion

I’m not afraid of some smut. I prefer when it’s tastefully done but no judgment here. Generally, if it’s sexy it’s going to be sexy. And there were so many sex scenes in these books. I mean how can you not have it with a reverse harem situation going on?

But it was dull! I didn’t feel any passion in the writing or feel any passion coming from the characters. And maybe that’s the point? The faerie don’t have any puritanical hang-ups on sex and treat it rather blasé. And that’s exactly what it felt like. Merry and her guard just seemed really blasé about it.

I just found myself reading these scenes and skimming them because they weren’t that good. There was just no oomph.

Not Sticking with the Series

I gave this series two tries because I thought the concept was cool. And the writing isn’t too bad but it’s not my cup of tea. It’s got great ratings on Goodreads and Amazon so if you’re into female-led urban fantasy you might still want to give it a try. Just go into it with your eyes wide open.