Hit List (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #20) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Aug 24, 2011 Daffodil rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampires, shifters

Much like the series itself, this book started out with so much promise. There was an actual case to work on, even if Anita and Edward already knew the identity of the killers before we the readers even showed up. Edward was present. I even managed to get through all the dead-eye flirting without too much cringing. The writing style itself is still rough, repetitive words/phrases throughout and Hamilton still can't write a good sex scene. I'm not a prude, I like plenty of other author's efforts. Much like the series itself, this book started out with so much promise. There was an actual case to work on, even if Anita and Edward already knew the identity of the killers before we the readers even showed up. Edward was present. I even managed to get through all the dead-eye flirting without too much cringing. The writing style itself is still rough, repetitive words/phrases throughout and Hamilton still can't write a good sex scene. I'm not a prude, I like plenty of other author's efforts. I just don't find what she writes sexy or hot. And I could have looked past all that, because it really seemed as if there would be an actual plot to this book.

Then she lost a brownie point for the change in Edward. Hamilton's portrayed him as a sociopath in the past. His kinder, gentler attitude (in an Edwardesque way) toward Anita just doesn't fly. A minor point, but a point none the less.

Hamilton lost a few more points in not utilizing Anita's skills to their fullest. She's a necromancer for God's sake and not once were those talents even thought of as an option. (view spoiler)

Then I reached the ending and Hamilton lost all her brownie points, in fact her badges were revoked completely. Mommie Darkness is the big bad of the vampire universe, the name used to frighten all the vampire children into behaving, the ... you get the point. And Anita defeats her in just a few paragraphs. What?!? It would be like Harry Potter clicking his heels three times, wishing Voldemort dead and it happening. No final battle, no sacrifice, no cost at all, it just happens. I feel perfectly justified using the HP analogy, Edward brought up the subject first.

I'd like to think I'll sustain this feeling of overall disappointment and be able to give the next book a pass. Realistically, I probably won't be able to quit hoping for a return to better days and I'll once again check it out from the library. ...more

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Jan 29, 2012 harlequin {Stephanie} rated it it was ok

2.5 To quote our favorite contradiction "I was use to it, but sometimes it still creeps me".

I am torn on this one. On the one hand it does have a plot, yeah!! You would automatically assume that, but the last 7 books or so it's been a toss up as to whether you even got a plot at all. On the other hand literary wise this is sloppy & disappointing.

From the first book I loved anita, she is upfront and bitchy which works when your a killer by profession. The author underestimates the intelligence of ...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Missyb rated it it was amazing

Great book, much better then the ones lately. A full story and it was a story instead of just sex sex and more sex. Miss Jean Claude and the other vampires (Damien, Asher, etc.), they were mentioned in this one but that was it. This book was pretty much a Edward & Anita US Marshall story. No Richard, Micah, Nathaniel, etc. either. The tigers were still a focus. Even with so few characters, it was still a non-stop action story. What will happen with Olaf? Should be interesting. You'll see Edward ...more

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