A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K Hamilton

The provided text is comprised of excerpts from the urban fantasy novel "A Kiss of Shadows" by Laurell K. Hamilton, focusing on the protagonist, Meredith "Merry" NicEssus, who is sidhe royalty in hiding among humans. The narrative follows Merry as she navigates a dangerous investigation involving malignant magic and a man using spells to harm women, revealing that Merry is part human and secretly possesses hidden powers, though she is considered weak by sidhe standards. Later sections show Merry's forced return to the Unseelie Court—a realm of dangerous and powerful fae, including her rival cousin Cel and her manipulative Aunt Andais, the Queen—where she contends with political intrigue, violent conflict, and the queen's decree that she must choose a consort from the royal guards to conceive a child and potentially secure the throne. The text also includes a brief author biography and publication details confirming the source as a 2000 novel.