So, you've probably spent the last decade wondering if Laurell K. Hamilton just... forgot. It’s been ages since we’ve seen a new book in the Meredith Gentry series, and honestly, the fandom has been through it. We’re talking about a series that basically defined "high-heat urban fantasy" back in the early 2000s, blending gritty PI work in Los Angeles with the absolutely terrifying, shimmering politics of Faerie.
If you’re trying to figure out the Meredith Gentry series order, you aren't just looking for a list. You're likely looking for where the story actually went and if there is any hope for the future. Well, there's good news on the horizon. As of 2026, the long-awaited tenth book is finally moving through the pipeline after a massive 12-year hiatus.
Getting the Meredith Gentry Series Order Right
Don't overthink this. The series is strictly linear. Unlike some urban fantasy series that have a dozen "point five" novellas or prequels that you have to read in a specific order to understand the lore, Merry’s story is a straight shot. You start at the beginning of her exile in LA and follow her back into the treacherous Unseelie Court.
Here is how the books actually sit on the shelf:
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- A Kiss of Shadows (2000) – This is the introduction to Merry Gentry, the private eye hiding from her murderous royal family.
- A Caress of Twilight (2002) – Things get real when the Queen of Air and Darkness (Merry’s aunt, Andais) decides she wants an heir.
- Seduced by Moonlight (2004) – The competition with Merry’s cousin, Prince Cel, heats up. It's essentially a race to get pregnant.
- A Stroke of Midnight (2005) – The magic of the Sidhe begins to wake up in ways that haven't been seen in centuries.
- Mistral's Kiss (2006) – This book famously takes place over a very short window of time, focusing on the return of power to the Master of Storms.
- A Lick of Frost (2007) – Tensions with the Seelie Court (the "light" fae who are actually just as bad) become the central conflict.
- Swallowing Darkness (2008) – Many fans originally thought this would be the finale. It wraps up several massive plot points involving Merry's pregnancy.
- Divine Misdemeanors (2009) – This one shifts back toward the detective/noir vibes as Merry deals with murders in the mortal world.
- A Shiver of Light (2014) – The birth of the triplets and a massive confrontation with King Taranis.
The Long Silence: What Happened After Book 9?
If you feel like the series stopped on a cliffhanger, you're right. A Shiver of Light left us with the birth of Merry’s children and a royal mess that was far from settled. For years, fans would ask Hamilton at conventions or on social media: "Where is the next Merry book?"
The answer was always the same: Merry wasn't "talking" to her. Hamilton has always been vocal about the fact that she doesn't outline or force stories; she waits for the characters to speak. For over a decade, Merry Gentry was silent while her other major character, Anita Blake, was screaming for attention with almost yearly releases.
But things changed recently. Hamilton confirmed that the manuscript for the tenth book—which has been a massive undertaking—is finally in the hands of her editors. She’s mentioned on social media that the initial draft was over 1,000 pages before being trimmed down. It's safe to say that the wait is nearly over, with a release window finally looking realistic for the 2026 season.
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Why This Series Hits Differently Than Anita Blake
If you came here from the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books, you probably noticed the vibe shift immediately. While Anita struggles with her morality and her "monsters," Merry Gentry is the monster—or at least, she's part of that world.
The Merry Gentry series is unapologetically adult. It deals with fertility, polyamory, and the concept of "divine right" in a way that feels more like an epic fantasy wrapped in a trench coat. It’s also famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for its focus on the "Hands" of power—the Hand of Blood and the Hand of Flesh—and the way sex is used as a literal engine for magic.
The Weird Lore of the Sidhe
One thing you’ve got to understand about this world is that the Fae are dying. When the series starts, they are barely hanging on, living in their "mounds" in Illinois and Missouri because they've lost their original lands. Merry is the catalyst. Her very existence as a "mixed blood" royal—part brownie, part human, part sidhe—is what starts the magic flowing again.
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What to Do While You Wait for Book 10
Honestly? Re-read them. If you haven't touched these since 2014, you've forgotten the nuances of the court guards. Characters like Doyle (the Queen’s Darkness) and Frost (the Killing Frost) have complex backstories that intersect with centuries of Fae history.
If you’re a new reader, my best advice is to take your time. These aren't just mystery novels; they are dense political dramas. You might get frustrated with the amount of "talking" in books like Mistral's Kiss, but those conversations are where the actual world-building happens. Hamilton is obsessed with the idea that "the Sidhe cannot lie," and watching how they use truth to deceive is one of the best parts of the series.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Track the 2026 Release: Follow Laurell K. Hamilton’s official blog or social media. She’s been posting "word count" updates and edit progress that suggest the tenth book is imminent.
- Check the Collections: If you're missing physical copies, look for the omnibus editions. They often group books 1-3 and 4-6, which is a much cheaper way to catch up than buying individual paperbacks.
- Don't Skip Divine Misdemeanors: Some readers skip Book 8 because it feels "smaller" than the ones before it. Don't do that. It sets up the legal battle with the mortal world that becomes huge later on.
The Meredith Gentry series order is a journey from a girl running for her life to a mother and queen reclaiming a lost godhood. It’s been a long wait, but the magic is finally coming back.