I almost gave this book a four on finishing it, but that wouldn't have really been a reflection on how much I enjoyed it but how great my sense of relief at finally being done. It felt like it took absolutely ages to get through but that may have just been due to the first 2/3 of the book being almost exclusively taken up with Anita having the usual boring pissing contests with everyone that she meets. Having said that, the last 1/3 does pick up the pace rather excitingly, and it was refreshing to read an Anita Blake book where she isn't easily the most powerful thing around at all times.

Edward is one of the more interesting characters for me so it was a welcome change to spend some time in his world, and I was endlessly thankful that the Anita/Jean-Claude/Richard sex/power triangle was kept to an absolute minimum, but as it appears as though we're heading back for more of that in the next book I think I'll bow out now while the going's good.

P.S. It's been bugging me ever since reading this, but was the graphic child abuse really necessary?