Divine Misdemeanors by LK Hamilton

I read some other reviews of Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K Hamilton, and because of that, I chose the library for this book rather then buying it.  I have to say that I do not understand why people did not like it as it was a wonderful read. I personally think that people were expecting a Merry/Frost/Doyle love story and when that didn’t happen that they didn’t like it.

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin’s treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir—all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world—and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.

I have always felt that this series was about Merry and her world, which means all of the people around her and in and out of her life. Divine Misdemeanors solidifies that feeling and I think it was perfect. I loved seeing more of Royal, I have always felt he needed more page love and I am so glad she has given it to him! I loved the plot and the twist in the story that Hamilton added in there.  I thought about discussing the party involved but then realized it would spoil the book for those who haven’t yet read it.

I loved the car scene with Merry defending Sholto and one of her guards breaking down in front of them both. It shows a side that we hadn’t really seen about a group of people we didn’t know before and what they went through in the hands of bad people. Having to get used to a different type of leader for them is something that will take time and I think they are genuinely happy to have been saved by Merry.

I know a lot of people probably expected more of Frost and Doyle, I know I did, but I really do love how Divine Misdemeanors turned out. I love the introduction of the new people and I loved getting to know some of the others we didn’t know that well in past books. I think if it was just about Frost and Doyle than I would have gotten bored.  I think Hamilton giving a few other characters some story time was a great thing for this series, as I have always wanted to know more about the side characters then most authors seem to care to write about.

I can’t wait for the next book, LKH has redeemed herself to me in this latest installation of the Merry Gentry series and has once again moved near the top of my favorites list.

3 Comments

  1. I enjoyed this book as well. There are things I wanted to see that weren’t in there, but that will come later, I think. And I’m thrilled with what was in the book.

    I did mention in my review though, that I think LKH is blurring the lines between Galen and Nathaniel (from Anita Blake series), and I wish she wouldn’t do that.

    Other than that complaint, I enjoyed Divine Misdemeanors.

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