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Cover of A kiss of shadows

A kiss of shadows

637 pages

A gritty, sensual plunge into a world where fae politics are as deadly as they are seductive.

What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping from a gritty, neon-lit Los Angeles alleyway straight into a dark, velvet-draped fae court where every glance is a threat and every touch is a promise. The narrative moves at a brisk, confident clip, balancing hardboiled detective cynicism with lush, unapologetic eroticism. It is a deeply decadent experience, soaking the reader in an atmosphere of constant danger and intense sensuality. The prose lingers on the terrifying beauty of immortal creatures while never losing its sharp, street-smart edge. It is perfect for readers who want their urban fantasy to be genuinely dark, fiercely sex-positive, and steeped in treacherous political maneuvering where survival depends on embracing one's most dangerous desires.

Mood
  • decadent
  • shadowy
  • danger-laced
  • erotic
Tone
  • cynical
  • sultry
  • hardboiled
  • unapologetic
Pace
brisk
Themes
reclaiming power · embracing sexuality · survival at all costs · treacherous court politics
The writing
The writing blends the gritty, clipped cadence of hardboiled detective fiction with lush, decadent descriptions of fae magic and sensuality.
The arc
The protagonist moves from a life of cautious, cynical hiding to embracing her dangerous heritage and unapologetic desires.
Who it's for
Readers who crave dark urban fantasy where deadly political intrigue is inextricably linked with intense, unapologetic eroticism.
Content notes
  • graphic sexual content
  • violence and gore
  • torture
  • dubious consent

About the book

"All it would take was my true name being mentioned after dark, and it would float back to my aunt. She was the Queen of Air and Darkness, and that meant that anything said in the dark was hers to hear, eventually. The fact that spotting the missing Elven American Princess had become more popular than spotting Elvis helped. Her magic was always chasing blind leads. Princess Meredith skiing in Utah. Princess Meredith dancing in Paris. Princess Meredith gambling in Vegas. After three years I was still a front-page story for the tabloids, though the latest headlines had been speculating that I was as dead as the King of Rock and Roll..." In fact, Meredith has been posing as a human in Los Angeles, living as a private investigator specializing in supernatural crime. But now Doyle, the Queen's chief bodyguard and assassin, has been dispatched to fetch her back - whether she likes it or not. And suddenly Meredith finds herself a pawn in her dreaded aunt's plans... plans that affect the future of the entire UnSeelie Court. The requirements of the job: to enjoy the constant company of the most beautiful - and immortal - men in the world. The reward: the crown - and the opportunity to continue to live. The penalty: death.

Description from Open Library.

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