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Hit List (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #20)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 12,662 ratings · 1,238 reviews

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A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect "monsters" are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, U.S. Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer.

ebook, 336 pages

Published June 7th 2011 by Berkley (first published January 1st 2011)

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Mar 18, 2012 The Holy Terror rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Nobody - please, stop reading this series, they won't get better, we've all wasted our time

Shelves: vampires, werewolves, wtf-is-wrong-with-me, borrowed, hated-this-book, you-are-dead-to-me, hate-this-series, terrible-writing, shifters, color-yellow, color-orange, dumb-females, dumb-males, paranormal, 2011

DON'T READ THESE BOOKS.

Here is the "plot" of this installment: The Harlequin are killing people. Anita teams up with Edward and they become BFFs. Bernardo and Olaf are called in for shits and giggles. Jean-Claude, Micah, and Nathaniel are not even mentioned until page 175. Laurell K. Hamilton STILL has not bought a thesaurus. Anita has sex with a new guy for fuck knows why. Her animals "inside her" react to other shifters and save the day, and the actual main plot of the story doesn’t rear its u...more

244 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Marissa marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, series, shifters, vampires, borrowed-library

Ive been on this train wreck for so long I might as well ride it out.

133 likes · like · see review

Jul 19, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-releases, series-anita-blake, paranormal-romance, vampires, shifters

*Rating* 3.0
*Genre* Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/Erotica

*Review*

Hit List is the twentieth installment in the Anita Blake series and it nearly made me rethink my desire to abandon this series. Why? Because it actually felt like Hamilton was trying to return to the old Anita Blake that I knew and enjoyed for the first eight to ten books before it turned into Erotica Incorporated. With other more enjoyable series out there, something had to be done to change the course of this series. Did it ch...more

42 likes · like · see review

Jun 02, 2011 Roxanne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Now there's the Anita Blake I've been looking for! This book was great and I loved every moment.

This book felt more like the earlier books in terms of trying to solve murder cases and focusing on the storyline instead of Anita's romancing troubles. There's alot of Edward in this one and we got to see another side of him in little glimpses. The action scenes were great aswell. Full of blood and screaming...ahhh music to my ears. We do meet a new addition in this book called Ethan. He was quiet an...more

26 likes · like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 Hitandmiss rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Simple review - If you read all the books up to this one, let’s be honest you are going to read this one too... It’s an average story at best and fails to build to anything that the conclusion deserves.

Complex review - I took up reading the series as I loved the initial concept of necromancy + Crime + fantasy, sounded great and a lot of the initial books had a solid plot line with some good action scenes and a decent world to be based in. While the whole area of vamps/weres/differing flavours of...more Simple review - If you read all the books up to this one, let’s be honest you are going to read this one too... It’s an average story at best and fails to build to anything that the conclusion deserves.

Complex review - I took up reading the series as I loved the initial concept of necromancy + Crime + fantasy, sounded great and a lot of the initial books had a solid plot line with some good action scenes and a decent world to be based in. While the whole area of vamps/weres/differing flavours of horror is nothing new, I enjoyed the stories. I didn’t even mind too much when it turned into a hard romance series as the plots/cases Anita was working on still held some adventure.

However this latest book has no real plot/case. Anita knows who, what and why the baddies are doing the killings straight away, so the plot is just wandering around for 75% of the book waiting for page count to get high to trigger a confrontation and the ending.

The typical filler subplots are being rehashed way too much;
Problems with Olaf, Edwards family probs/he’s a murderholic
The tired old ideas/stereotypes are played out again after being talked about in nearly every book so far, some cop not liking her cause of the rumours she’s a slut/has a higher kill count.
Anita is really a prude but her powers force her to sleep with any tiger colour she hasn’t banged yet.
Explaining to the latest rookies/local cops how much of a badass/powerful she really is and how monsters aren’t really all bad there just misunderstood.
However the totally worst point of this book is as follows,

SPOILER

Anita is finally confronted with the mother of darkness, and wipes the floor with her and kills her in less time than it takes for me to write this out... After building this massive fight for several books now were left with a simple fight and wash of the hands. The most fearsome enemy that has existed before there was cavemen and it’s killed without a fanfare or even outsider help... I can’t describe how much of a let-down this plot point is after the massive build-up in power/partners Anita has had over the entire book series, the "fight" she has with a tree is more discussed and considered in an earlier chapter.

The whole book reeks of a short story turned into a book for money and when the later chapters come and there’s been little to no progression in the overall story LKH pulls the biggest monster she has out and kills it with less consideration then it would take for Anita to kill a fly.

I really hope this is the last book she writes in this series as I don’t see how she can come back from this without Anita being queen of anything not human and feared by everything. The fact that there isn’t much of a conclusion to all the characters and there’s still several minor subplots left open shows there probably will be a follow up, and who am I kidding if I said I wasn't going to read it, and its generally agreed we jumped the shark a while back but I still have hope there’s something left to care about in the next one.
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Jun 09, 2011 Tonya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-urban, paranormal-weres-vamps-fae-etc, anita-blake

Anita Blake has grown to a fully mature woman, finally!

Hit List brings a confident Anita back to her faithful readers who rolled along with her emotional self- discovery and her seemingly endless sexual hang-ups.

I understood in previous novels we were all watching a character develop as if she was a real human being working through major emotional issues and questioning her own morality. Many people have complained she and her paramours are too whiny, too demanding, too… much and I have always...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Tilly Slaton rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews-completed

I love Laurell Hamilton. I have been seduced and enthralled with the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. I have been looking forward to the release of Hit List for some time.

With that said, this book has profoundly disappointed me.

The phrase “love’s triangle” is a silly understatement when it comes to the relationships in Anita’s life. Although her latest books have become somewhat repetitious with the lustful scenes and never-ending additions to her sec life, it was a nice change to read a bo...more

12 likes · like · see review

Jun 12, 2011 Cat Russell (Addicted2Heroines) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: highly-recommend

"Lately, I didn't have to disassociate to pull the trigger. That probably should have worried me, but it didn't. Olaf worried me. One monster at a time, even if one of them is yourself."

I enjoyed the change in Edward and Anita's relationship. He's finally admitting that he cares for her and wants to keep her safe. Edward's character has been one of my favorites ever since I started this series, so I was glad to see that he played a larger role in this story.

I'm not afraid to admit that I love O...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2011 Jane rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, the good; one sex scene! One! And it was tiddy tiny and quick. True, the good feeling was ruined by Anita actually using the phrase 'dangling bits' somewhere in the book, but you can't have everything.

Editing. Again, just appalling amount of repetition on the page.

Again, slow, slow, slow, nothing happening as the pages unread diminish and you think, hang on, is it a two-parter? Then suddenly, wham-bam, they're kidnapped by the baddies with like three chapters to go and bam, it's over and...more

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Jun 12, 2011 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Some reviews said this was a return to the Anita of old (that's why I gave it a chance) but it wasn't. Yes, there was less sex and something pretending to be a plot, but there was far too much of Anita's rambling internal monologue going on, and it was nothing we hadn't heard before.

I'd also like to share a few examples of stunning writing from the book:

"It was cold. Cold and hard. I was lying on something hard and cold."

"The room was about the size of an average bedroom". Er, what size is an av...more

9 likes · like · see review

Jun 14, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

SO SO SO SO Much better than the last few books! I felt like the old Anita we had loved in the beginning was starting to peek her head out a little in this new book.

I received this book yesterday in the mail and just couldn't wait to read it so two other books got put on hold so I could have time to speed through it. I've already finished it though and I'm dying for more.

This book brought Anita back in the field doing her work the fact that it also happened to revolve around the Harlequin as b...more

6 likes · like · see review

Dec 18, 2011 Jared Vincent Lacaran rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-did-i-even-bother, books-that-i-fucking-hate, gave-up-on, skimmed, unfinished

ANITA'S A FILTHY HOEBAG THAT SCREWS EVERY GUY THAT SHE MEETS. CALL ME A CHAUVINIST, BUT I REALLY HATE WOMEN THAT USES THEIR – PARDON MY FRENCH – PUSSY AND TITTIES TO MANIPULATE GUYS INTO DOING THINGS THAT THEY WANT.

description

ANITA IS LIKE THAT, A WHORRIBLE SKANK THAT USES HER BODY AS A WEAPON.

description

SHE’S A NECROMANCER, SO, OBVIOUSLY, SHE HAS POWER OVER THE UNDEAD (VAMPIRES & ZOMBIES), SHE ALSO HAS SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH, SPEED, STAMINA, AND A DOZEN OTHER ABILITIES. SHE ALSO PARTICIPATES IN ORGIES, SADOMASOCHIS...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Kaza rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Seriously, why did I bother. There was a definite attempt by Hamilton to get back to her previous writing (for example only one sex scene) and before reading this I saw a few reviews saying this was a better book than what she had been recently writing but for me it was still really flat. Mostly because she just keeps repeating herself and has made Anita annoyingly condescending and unreasonable; but I also have no idea where the romance in her relationships have gone. I never had a problem with...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2012 Karina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lkh_anita-blake

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! This one was really disappointing. I read Bullet and Hit List back to back, and the two don't make any sense at all together. Its clear that Hamilton was writing one story, decided midway to break it into two then couldn't figure out how to make them work so she threw a bunch of nonsensical subplots into the mix (trying to increase page count no doubt) and now neither story makes any sense at all. So frustrating!

Hit List drags along with very little of any consequence hap...more DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! This one was really disappointing. I read Bullet and Hit List back to back, and the two don't make any sense at all together. Its clear that Hamilton was writing one story, decided midway to break it into two then couldn't figure out how to make them work so she threw a bunch of nonsensical subplots into the mix (trying to increase page count no doubt) and now neither story makes any sense at all. So frustrating!

Hit List drags along with very little of any consequence happening for 90% of the book. LKH pulls out her tired standbys/stereotypes to drag out the page count. Why is it that in every single case that Anita works, there is some chauvinist cop who is so judgmental of Anita's love life that he is willing to risk his career to show her up? Why is it that every single person Anita comes into contact with either despises her for no apparent reason or is so completely enthralled with her that they can't resist her? Anita started out as a slightly insecure badass warrior, now she's somehow become a narcissistic nymphomaniac pansy who can only defeat her enemies through the power of her magic vagina!

Oh, and guess what - Anita adds yet another male to her harem (because she is completely irresistible, and god-forbid she have a one night stand!). Seriously? This author loves to go on and on about female empowerment and sexual freedom, but she won't let her main characters have any freedom at all - they're all just shackled to one another in an plural marriage that is constantly increasing in size. With this number of partners, no one can possibly be happy because it simply isn't possible for anyone's physical or emotional needs to be met. I could care less if Anita has sex with multiple partners - but she does't need to bring every single one of them home! How are we, as readers, supposed to keep up?

Finally, about 90% through the book, we reach the conclusion that has been building for the past eleven books...and it's all wrapped up neatly and easily in about two paragraphs. What a let down. Most of what was built up in Bullet, wasn't even used or needed for the conclusion in Hit List. The book concludes with a tiny (3 page) epilogue in which LKH quickly wraps up the entire situation - without actually explaining any of it. Its like, she reached her minimum page count and decided she was done. Lazy and pathetic!

I want to give up on this series, I really do, but I've stuck it out for twenty freaking books now - I'm invested and its driving me crazy. I can say this though, don't waste your money - this one can definitely wait until its in paperback or better yet, wait until its available for free at the library.(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hit List by Laurell K Hamilton

Is this series nearly over after 20 books or will Ms Hamilton keep trying to push for more? It seems to me that Ms Hamilton may be getting somewhat tired of Anita and her Harem and it shows in the writing of this novel. In addition, if Laurell is tired at this point can you imagine just how her longtime fans feel? Luckily, this book is not as horrid as some of her previous attempts at writing action/erotica. It goes a long way in making up for the previous books th...more Hit List by Laurell K Hamilton

Is this series nearly over after 20 books or will Ms Hamilton keep trying to push for more? It seems to me that Ms Hamilton may be getting somewhat tired of Anita and her Harem and it shows in the writing of this novel. In addition, if Laurell is tired at this point can you imagine just how her longtime fans feel? Luckily, this book is not as horrid as some of her previous attempts at writing action/erotica. It goes a long way in making up for the previous books that have so insulted her fans intelligence and hopefully Ms Hamilton may have finally given up on the assumption that we (her long-time fans) will stick with the series no matter how faulty the writing.
One of the biggest problems in this book is that there is a lot of repetition both in dialogue and in character types. Some dialogue and descriptions seem to be reproduced nearly word for word in the space of two chapters. It is as if Ms Hamilton is too tired to think of anything new to throw at Anita and Crew. Perhaps her beta readers and editor fell down on their jobs. Marshal Raborn seems to be a caricature or a regurgitation of Dolph. Dolph when he was at his worst. Remember the books in which he is angry and takes it out on Anita? I’m tired of these kinds of repetitive ‘macho’ men and Anita having to defend herself; as if Ms Hamilton really needs to remind us that Anita is MORE than just a sex object now. Oh wait…maybe she does?
One good thing about this book is that the excessive descriptions of long hair are missing since none of her “sweeties” is in it, but we do get descriptions of ‘anime’ hair. Also missing are the ramblings of Anita discussing her wardrobe and the ever-popular lengthy dialogues and soliloquies just before she deigns to have sex with anyone. Amazingly, sex takes a backseat to the other goings on in this book. No sex until half way through the book!!!
But Anita’s nearly constant need to size herself up against all the other women, to constantly be reminding us of how cute, curvy and large breasted she is, how desirable she is, is taking a major toll on this reader. It’s annoying and makes me wonder just how insecure the author is in her own life.

Now for the ending and my thoughts-------------SPOILERS---------SPOILERS--------SPOILERS

So we have a conclusion to the Mother of All Darkness, but did we have an ending? Is this a true death of Marmee? On the other hand, will this be a red herring? Why did Ms Hamilton choose to end the “Big Bad” but not the series? I’m annoyed that we’ve gone through twenty books with perhaps ten of them building up to this and then it being such a letdown. Although I do find it interesting that Olof/Otto is now going to be a lion.
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Mar 13, 2012 Hanife rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, e-books, er-romance, pnr, reading-english, favorite-author, shifters

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Bu yorum aynı zamanda Romancekolikte yayınlanmıştır.

English Review;
Yay! finally wait is over and I read twelve book in the series. Yeah I finished but I want to read more and this is not possible :( I kind of miss Anita in charge. This book contain much of that. Anita little bit sore of her lost of Haven and in the few scene feeling over come her and make me sad again about the things what happened in the Bullet.

I was loved Haven but Anita underestimate him and almost Haven kill her most belo...more
Bu yorum aynı zamanda Romancekolikte yayınlanmıştır.

English Review;
Yay! finally wait is over and I read twelve book in the series. Yeah I finished but I want to read more and this is not possible :( I kind of miss Anita in charge. This book contain much of that. Anita little bit sore of her lost of Haven and in the few scene feeling over come her and make me sad again about the things what happened in the Bullet.

I was loved Haven but Anita underestimate him and almost Haven kill her most beloved. And with that reason I couldn't forgive her. Anyway new man come in her harem. I like him, his name is Ethan and he can form 4 different type of tiger.

Yeah Ethan is cool and quite because he keep away with his pack they didn't even touch him because he is not poor tiger. And he feels lonely for some a time but Anita took away that feeling and make him happy first time in a two year. But he is a little jealousy issue, for in time that will less I think.

Edward all around the book at least 3/4. But in this book Edward different then the other books. He over protective against to Anita and love her than the shows everyone feeling toward her. And I love him - not a fanatic - but like Anita's he creep me out! He can act 2 different role and switch between these in the instant! I really will never get used to such a thing.

This books contains one and long sex sciences. And in the sciences Anita sex with Ethan.

J.C and the rest of Harem in the St. Lois go on their life. But in the final scene J.C show up Anita's mind and says "Ma petite" yeah I felt relief :D However I doesn't like J.C's preferences but I do like him he is the my first love in the series.

And Olaf get hurt by werelion and infected. He will turn a werelion next month but don't worry he will never come after Anita at least he says so.

Well finally Mothers of All Darkness dead ! Yes truelly dead! Anita and metaphysical bond with her took energy for Mother of All Darkness. But questions wandering my mind.

What happening in the after? Who will be the next enemy? etc. etc.

Türkçe Yorum;

Kitabı çok beğendim diğer anita hikayelerine göre daha az seksüel sahneler daha çok iş başında olan Anitayı gördük. Bence bu güzel bir değişiklik oldu. Yanılmıyorsam en son 16. kitapta böyle bir uğraş içindeydi :) Evet bu kitapta haremine yeni bir tane daha eleman katmayı becerdi.

Bu seferkinin adı Ethan. 4 farklı tip kaplana dönüşebilme özelliğine sahip. Kızıl kaplanlar için korumalık yapan biriydi ama safkan değil diye çocuğu çok horlamış dışlamışlar elemana dokunmuyorlarmış saf kan değil diye o derece ! Anitada 2 yıllık hasreti sona erdirdi adama şefkat gösterdi hoştu o sahneler anitadanda bunu beklerdim. Elemanın biraz kıskançlık sorunu var gibi gibi gerçi 2 yıl sonradan sonra onu sevecek bir kadın bulup kıskanmamak elde değil hak veririm.

Onun dışında Edward kitabın her yerinde ama bu seferki daha değişik. Anitaya karşı çok fazla korumacı ve gösterdiğinden daha fazla seviyor onu. Harlequinler anitayı kaçırmaya çalıştıklarını anladıkların itibaren destek çağırıyorlar ve böyle Bernardo ve Olaf hikayeye dahil oluyor. Evet koca adam gene problem çıkarıyor ama azıcık.

Fare adamlar, Nicky ve Domino dışında diğer tanıdıklarımız yoklar bu kitapta. Yani bi J.C, Rich, Micah ve Nathaniel'i göremiyoruz. Çünkü anita başka şehirde avda. Ama kitabın sonunda J.C bir ma petite dedi de içim rahat etmedi değil :D

Ve sonunda Karanlıkların Annesi nalları dikti cidden bak bu sefer ruhunu parçalama filan zımbırtısınıda beceremedi oh oldu ona :D Anita ve metafiziksel olarak ona bağlananlar enerjisini her bir haltını emdiler :D Ama bu onları kötü mü yaptı umarım ki yapmamıştır. Anlayacağınız son sahneler bol aksiyonlu. Eğer hala okumadıysanız ve bu yorumu okuyorsanız durmayın derim ;) (less)

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Jul 14, 2011 Bee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal

Warning: rant about the Anita Blake series in general about to commence.

I'm a long time fan of Laurell K. Hamilton. I started reading when she only had three books out, and despite my current frustration with her writing I have faithfully continued to read the entire series.

I don't mind reading about sex, even graphic depictions of sex. I do mind when an author starts turning a strong, interesting female character into a two-dimensional woman with a magical vagina who everyone loves and desires....more

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Aug 12, 2011 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay...I wanted to really like this for all kinds of reasons:

- it wasn't an utter boink fest like the last few books
- Anita isn't whining so much
- There was no whining from: Richard, Asher, Damian, etc. (I've never known a heroine to be surrounded by so many sucky/whiny heroes who make her sucky/whiny)
- Edward
- Edward
- Edward
- Edward

I love me Edward. Seriously. I want him to be the whip cream of my sundae of life.

So why not 4 stars?

The ending.

It wrapped up...really fast. I had to flip back to s...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Luciana added it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, vamp

I reallly hope the book is longer then the last few one's. They always take me only a day or two to read and i wait a year for the next one =(

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May 31, 2011 Stine marked it as to-read · review of another edition

The last one was pretty bad, but when you hit rock bottom the only way you can go is up. Right?

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Sep 14, 2011 WillowBe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dont-listen-2-the-haters

I would give it 3 1/2 stars, so far, 3/4 of the way through.

This book is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT over the last 10 or so!! MUCH less repetition- though it's repetition of themes, not adctual words-, MUCH less gratuitous sex, MUCH less talking during sex, MUCH less talk about what a psycho she is. I was shocked when I read " I don't need to dissociate anymore to get to the killing place" what great insight by AB! Rather than " I am psychobitch and it scares me bec maybe I'm a monster", She realizes it...more I would give it 3 1/2 stars, so far, 3/4 of the way through.

This book is a HUGE IMPROVEMENT over the last 10 or so!! MUCH less repetition- though it's repetition of themes, not adctual words-, MUCH less gratuitous sex, MUCH less talking during sex, MUCH less talk about what a psycho she is. I was shocked when I read " I don't need to dissociate anymore to get to the killing place" what great insight by AB! Rather than " I am psychobitch and it scares me bec maybe I'm a monster", She realizes it's a state that she goes into. Something she can choose to be or not be. That's important. She's acceptiing herself more, feeling more in control.

If future books got rid of the requisite dick law enforcement boss who says without fail- you're a whore!- at every turn, why, I wouldn't even know it was LKH writing. And good job, more females and more females in positions of power who are not rivals or particularly bitchy. Good job.

The characters are CHANGING, which I never expected she could let go of her own wishes and let them evolve as they choose. But it's appropriate for their ages, for Edward to be more tired and human, Bernardo to be less of a man-toy, for Anita to really just want to go home and not have to face the ugliness of destruction.

All in all, I found the new book encouraging that she is finally being edited appropriately and focusing on character development. Anit's acceptance of herself means she has fewer arguments about her "lifestyle" and fewer knee jerk arguments. I may actuallly go back and read Bullet, though I expect I will have to skip a lot. I will DEFINITELY read LKS nxt book and hope the trend toward improvement continues. Now if we could get the actual story to feature more prominently in the narrative.... Iguess she needs a new boogyman.

So, whle there is much improvement, I can tell she is going to do as she often does which is the whole story is supposed to be about the Harlequin, but it really focuses on the minutia of interactions of characters wtih AB.

In earlier books, I often felt there was too much action- who could go through all that in 48 hrs? But while the timeline is more believable now- she actually sleeps! And eats!- the purported main events are almost an afterthought to the emotional/interpersonal issues. Not sure that is better. I guess after so many complained she was psychobitch, or a user/abuser, LKH felt obliged to make hermore human, and reflective of her gender. But I lked her being a mean-ass psychobitch. I liked her lack of remorse. I am glad she doesn't just rush in where fools fear to tread- yea maturity!. But she doesn't have to love and care about everybody. Then again, I guess, it reflects her role as benevolent Queen and the response to the rampant abuse of power she sees everywhere. You have to care about your subjects for them to care about you.

Then again, I am happy that the pressure to make her less of a psycho has resulted in her being more responsible about use of the arduer, and less of a raping succubus. THIS IS A GOOD THING! How can you admire heroine who uses and throws men away like tissue? I really think that people who called Anita a Mary Sue and bitched about her ever increasing powers really didn't take into account what a toll these new powers took to maintain. I think they reallyl just didn't like her being out of control. She was like a ticking time-bomb, hurtiing people, but always forgiven. The balance of power was just too out of whack.

But to be honest? I could have used more sex in the book! Ethan was a very delicious specimen and satisfyingly sub.
Oh, and would love her to get back to zombie raising AND to go down to Florida and explore her past. My fantasy is that she will encounter her grandmother and discover that she is in fact, NOT a voodoo preistess- puhleeze!- but a practitioner of Palo or Candoble, subsets of Santeria.That makes infinitely more sense thatn Voodoo, with her being Mexican. But what would a woman from St Louis (LKH) know about Santeria? Or perhaps, readers would know Voodoo, less likely Santeria. But now with True Blood, maybe they'll be more familiar (Jesus' background)? So, next book, NO EDWARD- he's become a crutch- just JC, her new Tigers and time spent in Hileah,FL interacting with the Santeria crowd. That'd be great!(less)

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Jun 30, 2011 Melliane rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

J'étais assez pessimiste étant donné certains avis que j'ai lu. Personnellement je dirais que le livre se lit tout seul et que l'histoire est assez prenante. Aprés, reste les points négatifs qui je dois le dire sont assez présents.

En fait j'avoue que la première chose qui me vient à l'esprit c'est l'incohérence avec le fait qu'Anita explique presque tout le temps qu'il ne faut pas prononcer le nom de l'harlequin mais qui bien sur le fait au moins une fois dans un passage du livre. Ce n'est vraim...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bodice-rippers, not-fade-away, part-of-series, personal-library, stack-challenge-2011

Gradually, over the last few books, LKH has been rebuilding my faith in this series. It'll never be where it was after Obsidian Butterfly, but this outing has been the closest yet. It helps that it is also the closest to OB in terms of plot.

There is massive helpings of Edward, my favorite, but not enough in the end. Bernardo and Olaf are back as well doing what they do best. Although there aren't any of the main squeezes (Jean-Claude, Nathaniel, Micah or Richard) we do get a glimpse of some of...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. 7/10 on the blog.

This has to be one of the best Anita Blake novels I have read in a long time. Fans of Jean-Claude, Micah, Nathaniel and co. may miss their total absence. But I actually enjoyed the change & the absence of complicated relationship discussions. For the most this book was just Anita, Edward and lots and lots of guns! Oh yes....!

It does help that Edward has to be one of my favourite characters of the series. The fact that his and Anita's r...more Reviewed by Laura for Book Chick City. 7/10 on the blog.

This has to be one of the best Anita Blake novels I have read in a long time. Fans of Jean-Claude, Micah, Nathaniel and co. may miss their total absence. But I actually enjoyed the change & the absence of complicated relationship discussions. For the most this book was just Anita, Edward and lots and lots of guns! Oh yes....!

It does help that Edward has to be one of my favourite characters of the series. The fact that his and Anita's relationship is platonic is just so refreshing. I would class 'Obsidian Butterfly' as one of my favourite of the series, when Anita enters into Edward's world. I also like how their friendship has developed in this book, from more than just work colleagues with admiration from each other's skills, but genuine friends.

There are some scenes that took me back with pleasure to Hamilton's early writing. One particular in the woods, just Edward & Anita stranded with darkness approaching, had me rubbing my hands together in gruesome, violent anticipation.

The Harlequin play a very important part in this novel, and it's great to get some baddies that pose a serious challenge to Anita and Edward. We get some real monsters and proper edge of your seat action scenes.

About three quarters of the way through, the tone of the book changed with the arrival of bodyguards from St. Louis. Let's face it, it was quite remarkable that Anita was 'allowed' to travel without them anyway. But while it annoyed me a little, and the whole police politics around their arrival took away from the story, they definitely add to the big showdown at the end so I won't complain too much ;-)

Side note... Am I the only one that cannot abide Nicky? He is like a simpering, wet puppy who fawns unattractively over Anita. What I don't understand is why this tough, uncompromising woman, who let's face it can have any man she chooses puts up with it? Can he meet an unpleasant end somewhere please Ms Hamilton?

Then there's Olaf, I do hope we get a book with a big, bloody showdown between him and Anita, the man so has it coming! And I just know it will also be edge of your seat stuff. Bring it on!

VERDICT:

This is definitely the best Anita book I've read in a long time and it's really got me excited, I hope this is the start of things to come. I don't mind the relationships with all the men, although I wish there were a few less. But I love the action scenes, because Hamilton does really know how to write them and give you the proper chills.

RATING: 7/10 - Very good, would definitely recommend(less)

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Jul 10, 2011 Veronica~Nhaughty rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: anita-blake, vampire

Anita, Anita, Anita...what has happened to the series I loved so dearly? Let me start by saying that I am NOT one of those fans that complained about LKH writing too many 'naughty' scenes in the books! In fact, I loved them!! I also loved how Anita balanced sex w/her multi-partners w/her kick ass ability to solve crimes/hunt monsters. I honestly can't get my thoughts organized enough to write a decent review, but here it goes...
*FEW SPOILERS*

I think this was a 'filler' book. I liked the beginnin...more

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Jun 08, 2011 mlady_rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author__laurell_k_hamilton, genre__urban_fantasy, genre_sub__lycanthropes_and_shifter, genre_sub__vamps, fiction__part_of_a_series, series__anita_blake, abvh__us_hb_v2__horror, pov__first_person_female, 2011, genre_sub__necromancers_or_reapers, fiction__speculative, troupe__mindlink_mates, genre_sub__incubus_succubus, in_retrospect__remember_it_fondly, format__hardback

This was one of the most self-contained books since "Obsidian Butterfly". If you're going to trip over a later book in the series, this is one of the better ones to trip over. Not that I'd ever recommend reading this series out of order.

Anita is in Washington state, as a Federal Marshall, tracking the string of clanless weretiger deaths that the Harlequin has left in it's wake. Only she and Edward know that the bodies are all clanless weretigers, and why they are being killed.

In fact, for a good...more This was one of the most self-contained books since "Obsidian Butterfly". If you're going to trip over a later book in the series, this is one of the better ones to trip over. Not that I'd ever recommend reading this series out of order.

Anita is in Washington state, as a Federal Marshall, tracking the string of clanless weretiger deaths that the Harlequin has left in it's wake. Only she and Edward know that the bodies are all clanless weretigers, and why they are being killed.

In fact, for a good half of the book, Edward is the only long term character on stage. Although Bernardo and Olaf, and some of the wereanimal guards from St. Louis, are called in after Anita has to take some downtime to heal a serious injury.

The red weretiger clan is located in Washington, but there is less interaction with the red tigers than we had with the white tigers in "Skin Trade". We do see Alex, the reporter we first met in "Blood Noir", briefly.

I think this is my favorite of the out-of-town Edward books. While Edward hasn't mellowed in the least, I was happy to finally see the depth of his affection for Anita. And, no, that affection isn't the least bit romantic.

We do get some new insights into the preternatural branch of the Marshall service. Some good, some bad. It is pointed out that Anita and Edward are two of the only eight "old timers" still in the field. Most Marshalls are now all book learning, and very little practical experience. In fact, we see some newbies in action.

Without going into details, it felt like there was a more satisfying ending to this book than to say "Skin Trade", where the ending felt rushed.

Overall, it was a very satisfying book, but I find myself disappointed that I won't get to see some of the characters back home for another year.

For those opposed to the amount of sex in the later books, this was the most mild we've seen since the arduer was introduced. Although, we find out that not feeding the arduer has its price.

Edit 12/19/2011: Came across someone rating this on my flist and I decided I should re-visit it long enough to drop my star rating. This is the first book in the Anita Blake series I didn't re-read immediately. In fact, over six months later and I haven't picked it up again. I liked it at the time, but this particular chapter wasn't at all memorable. To be honest, the last few books haven't been all that memorable either. "Blood Noir" was the last book I really enjoyed and found memorable.(less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Nita rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampires, weres-shifters, witches-magic-users, read-2011

I really did like the storyline. It felt a bit more like the old Anita Blake. The Harlequin are going around to different cities killing weretigers and Anita and Edward are called in to help find the killers and figure out why. But I felt like this was a storyline that could have been rearranged a bit to work in St. Louis. I don't know if Hamilton is just sick of writing about the same old characters - Jean-Claude, Nathaniel, Micah, etc., but she keeps adding and focusing on different characters...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Not as good as Skin Trade but better than the previous books. Of course Anita has to sleep with someone and add more men to her already growing collection, not like we didn't see that coming. All the conversations she has with her various men before she has sex with them is hilarious (who says half that stuff?), the pillow talk just makes me laugh. The whole thing with Olaf is getting ridiculous (I know all men want Anita) and now how it ended with him is even worse. The whole book was leading u...more

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May 13, 2013 Ravin Maurice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow. After reading the other reviews of this book on Goodreads, this is really hard to do.
On one hand I want to comment on what some other reviewers are saying, on the other I don't.
What I will say, starting this review off, is that I am a die hard Laurell K Hamilton and Anita Blake fan, and those of you who have been okay with the general progression of the series and want to read a review that doesn't have a lot of hate/anger/ranting, you can read mine.

I really feel that all the 'stuff' tha...more Wow. After reading the other reviews of this book on Goodreads, this is really hard to do.
On one hand I want to comment on what some other reviewers are saying, on the other I don't.
What I will say, starting this review off, is that I am a die hard Laurell K Hamilton and Anita Blake fan, and those of you who have been okay with the general progression of the series and want to read a review that doesn't have a lot of hate/anger/ranting, you can read mine.

I really feel that all the 'stuff' that people have become annoyed with in the previous books is part of the progression of this long going series. All of that happened to build to something and I think we're getting there.
This book is about Anita and Edward out working as marshals investigating the murders of shapeshifters, and it turns out they were committed by (one of my favorite additions to the Anita Blake cannon) The Harlequin. Anita has to deal with a lot of flack from the other marshals because of her reputation, and in the end has to face off against the big bad herself, Marmie Noir. Her and Edward's relationship has evolved into something that, I think, is more human then either of them would like to admit, and I think its building to something big.

So, in general the plot was good. Hamilton threw in a big curve ball that has to do with Olaf, the nutty as a fruit cake serial killer with a Marshal badge, that I was not expecting. I won't give away any spoilers but its going to make for really interesting reading.
The 'stuff' I referred to earlier, I think we got a taste of what the repercussions are going to be in this book, and I think that was an important part of why it all happened. Its going to force something to happen to Anita that she may not like or want, I think. I noticed some similarities between the tv show Lost Girl and what Anita was doing, I would like to see her true progression into a succubus, and I think that's where it's heading.
I liked this book, and I thought it was well balanced. I do miss Anita's old cop friends, like Dolf and Zebrowski (I know I spelt it wrong). My only complaint about this book is the ending...it seemed to wrap up quickly but not really wrap up at the same time. I wouldn't call it a filler book, but it seemed like it was putting certain things in place to build to something bigger.

Fans of the series might be torn about this one, because people seem to be torn between wanting the guys around and wanting Edward. I think we're coming to something where there will be both, so everyone will be happy.

But I enjoyed this adventure with Anita. Kiss the Dead will be out in paperback in june then Affliction to follow shortly after in hardcover. I'm looking forward to it.

(less)

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May 01, 2013 Me Lin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2-stars, modern, supernatural-paranormal, weapon-toting-hh, z-hamilton-laurell-k

I've decided to make this the end of the Anita Blake series for me. I know that there is at least one other book currently published after this one, but I'm finished for several reasons.

1) Anita finally beat (view spoiler). Now that the baddest of the bad is dead, I don't think Hamilton can convincingly come up with anything harder for Anita to beat. Anita is so powerful with her harem of men that no enemy can conceivably kill...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Which one of anita's men do you like best!	27	90	Mar 18, 2013 06:14am
Jean Claude or Richard??	26	121	Feb 14, 2013 12:26pm
Anita Blake Vampi...: Hit List (Book 20)	34	60	Apr 11, 2012 03:33am
The Ultimate ABC ...: Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton	1	3	Mar 14, 2012 04:48am
Anita Blake Vampi...: Like book 10 ( Narcissus in Chains), do you think that book 20 (Hit List) is a huge turning point in Anita's life?	21	27	Sep 28, 2011 12:22pm
What were you opinions on this book?	13	120	Aug 19, 2011 11:22am
LAURELL K HAMILTON INTERVIEW	4	131	Jun 19, 2011 11:16am

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About Laurell K. Hamilton

Laurell K. Hamilton is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two series that mix mystery, fantasy, magic, horror and romance. Her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels from Berkley Books began with GUILTY PLEASURES and continues to thrive with over sixteen volumes to the series and an comic adaptation. There are now more than 6 million copies of Anita in print worldwide, in 16 languages. Hamilt...more

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Books by Laurell K. Hamilton

Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #1)

Circus of the Damned (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #3)

The Laughing Corpse (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #2)

The Lunatic Cafe (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #4)

Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #5)

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“Never throw stones if you think they're going to come back and hit you.” — 45 people liked it

“Edward's grief if you die will be a terrible thing. It will hurt him, a lot, and men like him never grieve alone. He will spread his grief all over us, not because we failed, but because it'll give him something to focus on so he doesn't have to feel the pain.” — 37 people liked it

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Hit List (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #20)

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