Anita Blake Series Buddy Read

[Adele, Moderator]

obdisian butterfly is my LEAST favourite book.
things happen in this book are quite vital to the rest of the series... I think this is where anita realises she can be truly a predator... scary as it may be but handy in life or death situation.
there is a part in this book which is very very disturbing.
ok there is a couple of parts but one really stuck out. little reading tip, when you get to the part the flesh eating zombie is loose in the hospital. ... try to skip it.skim over it. do what you can because I feel its the worst in the book.
I had tears and had to really compose myself over a few days before I was able to continue the book.
I was disgusted, and horrified.
but if I read it now I may not react so badly. so lets see how I go.

positives to this book, we meet harleys replacements, and one of them is more scary than harley.
more ted in this book(yay!)
and Anita meets another Necromancer. .. or is he?

[Adele, Moderator]

oh and zombies exist in my everyday life, just go to a coffee shop, or place of public gathering and you find mindless slaves to mobile phones/electronic devices aka modern zombies.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "oh and zombies exist in my everyday life, just go to a coffee shop, or place of public gathering and you find mindless slaves to mobile phones/electronic devices aka modern zombies."

So true.

I'm in the middle of Blue Moon, and I'm finding the scenes in the cabin where (view spoiler)[ the wereleopards Zane and Cherry, in human form, crawl toward her (hide spoiler)] very creepy.

[Adele, Moderator]

Ah yes the wereleopards.
Get used to having the wereleopards in the series.

[Norma, BOM & Co Moderator]

Adele wrote: "oh and zombies exist in my everyday life, just go to a coffee shop, or place of public gathering and you find mindless slaves to mobile phones/electronic devices aka modern zombies."

Einstein predicted this. When technology surpasses the human mind, then all humanity is lost. And it shows a picture of dozens of teens all talking on their phones, texting. That is not a quote.. BTW.


FYI, almost done with Lunatic Cafe. Not sure if it was because it the abridged version, so it was shorter and to the point, or because she wasn't just a moron... but either way. So far it is good, but she needs to figure out what is going on between her and Richard.. You cannot take a vow of celebacy and then lust over someones body... You also can't love someone for only their human side... WTF!?

[Adele, Moderator]

if you are squeamish do not read chapter 39.
there is another bit in the book I'll have to find (view spoiler)[ the kids ge kidnapped and abused ... its another thing about this book I do not like (hide spoiler)]
so read at your own risk.
or just during the day
or just read it a little and the take a coffee/tea break... no stuff that you need hard liquor for this one.

[Adele, Moderator]

but the chapter I hate and usually aviod is chapter 40.
ok thats all the warnings I'll give.
consider yourselves warned.
I'll be back to tell you the chapter I mentioned in the spoiler but that is it.
I cant wait till I'm done with this book, I still don't like it.

[Oleander]

Still reading the Killing Dance. There has been an obvious series turn here where the focus is on Anita's relationships rather than a crime or mystery. Pack politics are ughh. So far the only thing I'm really liking is that each chapter has ended with a humorous line.

[Amyiw, Challenges Moderator]

I'm so glad that others have posted where they are at with this series. Now I don't feel so bad about taking a break. I find that I always like, and sometimes really like, the books in the end but the reading of them has me on edge and tense.

I'll probably get back to this series in the next month. I stopped 1/2 way through Burnt Offerings when I figured I was avoiding reading altogether. I have other series like this and I do get back to them so I'll plan on July.

@Oleander - I think I liked The Killing Dance the most so far. I like relationship interaction though.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "if you are squeamish do not read chapter 39.
there is another bit in the book I'll have to find [spoilers removed]
so read at your own risk.
or just during the day
or just read it a little and th..."

Are you referring to Blue Moon or Obsidian?

[Adele, Moderator]

katy im referring to obdissian.
oh and chapter 58/59 is the other bit I hate.

blue moon I have read on a couple of occasions. as for a favorite book so far? well its definitely not obdissian butterfly!

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "katy im referring to obdissian.
oh and chapter 58/59 is the other bit I hate.

blue moon I have read on a couple of occasions. as for a favorite book so far? well its definitely not obdissian but..."

OK. Getting close to the end of Blue Moon. With all the comments on Obsidian, it seems like that's a big one in the series. That's the next one for me.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "katy im referring to obdissian.
oh and chapter 58/59 is the other bit I hate.

blue moon I have read on a couple of occasions. as for a favorite book so far? well its definitely not obdissian but..."

Just started Obsidian Butterfly. So this is an Edward book...and something's scaring Edward.

[Norma, BOM & Co Moderator]

I am on hold until Bloody Bones comes to my phone and is available...

[Oleander]

Hope it is soon Norma

[Oleander]

The series turned a corner in The Killing Dance. The focus moved off of a crime/mystery and onto Anita's relationships. We got to see Anita move toward more progressive attitudes towards weres, vamps, and killing. Anita also got in touch with her sexuality. It was interesting because she did so out of need, rather than the control that she seems to have over everything else.

[Oleander]

Anita noticed JC is uncircumsized *chuckles*

[Adele, Moderator]

well if thats chuckle worthy wait until you get to cerulean sins, now I think that really is the start of the more relationship and sex focus rather than mainly having mystery to solve. they still have it but it isn't as major theme as it used to be in the series.

[Katy]

Norma wrote: "I am on hold until Bloody Bones comes to my phone and is available..."

So I finished Obsidian Butterfly, and it's on to the next one. This book got intense on a lot of levels. (view spoiler)[ Scenes with killing newborns and raping teen-age boys were disturbing. <\spoiler> Do these continue?

She certainly is coming up with new kinds of vampires...and ways they inflict maximum damage on their followers and the mortals around them.

On to Narcissus in Chains. (hide spoiler)]

[Adele, Moderator]

Katy, Obdissian butterfly was the most extreme book in my opinion.
Yes they come up against bigger and badder vampires.
but I don't think anything as disturbing as obdissian butterfly.

Narcissus in Chains does have a bit which is gruesome but seriously after O B it kinda pales in comparison.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "Katy, Obdissian butterfly was the most extreme book in my opinion.
Yes they come up against bigger and badder vampires.
but I don't think anything as disturbing as obdissian butterfly.

Narcissus..."

Glad to hear she didn't try to outdo the extreme of Obsidian Butterfly. Not sure I would have wanted to continue the series if it kept going in that direction. And I want to keep going, because of...Jean Claude!

[Adele, Moderator]

yeah I think I would have chucked in the towel too if she had written something more extreme than OB.
we are actually a book or two behind.... but they are more a guideline then a rule.
but saying that I have put up dates for the rest of the series.
Novellas are also up but are only an optional extra if you want to read them or not.

[Norma, BOM & Co Moderator]

Ok..Finished Bloody Bones. It was better than the others.. but I still wanna kick her! Stupid... Just stupid... Just got the Killing Dance, but I need to do a few reviews before I continue.

[Oleander]

You are so right Norma. How does that woman stay alive?

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "yeah I think I would have chucked in the towel too if she had written something more extreme than OB.
we are actually a book or two behind.... but they are more a guideline then a rule.
but saying..."

OK. I know we're behind, but I'm on page 211 of 620 of Narcissus in Chains, so I hope that means were starting to catch up.

Maybe.

Whoa. Werehyenas and snakes. And they had wereswans...

[Norma, BOM & Co Moderator]

Katy wrote: "Adele wrote: "yeah I think I would have chucked in the towel too if she had written something more extreme than OB.
we are actually a book or two behind.... but they are more a guideline then a ru..."

I'm sorry.. did you say Narcissus in Chains is 600+ pages?!

[Adele, Moderator]

norma, yeah they get bigger! its not like it stays that way but there are a couple of really thick books to get through.

katy have you got to Micah yet? mmmm that man.
we have a few anti Richard moments in this book too.
oh and this book is one of those that set the tone for the rest of the series.

did you want spoilers on the icky moment in this book? i'm limited to my phone at the moment as my tablets usb port had broken and its in for repairs. so i'm not sure if it will work but i can try.

[Katy]

Norma wrote: "Katy wrote: "Adele wrote: "yeah I think I would have chucked in the towel too if she had written something more extreme than OB.
we are actually a book or two behind.... but they are more a guidel..."

It's over 600. But I'm 1/3 of the way in.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "norma, yeah they get bigger! its not like it stays that way but there are a couple of really thick books to get through.

katy have you got to Micah yet? mmmm that man.
we have a few anti Richard ..."

Yes. Micah.

[Adele, Moderator]

Micah comes a very close second after Jean Claude in my heart. Nathaniel and Jason are also pretty awesome. i have a big girly crush on a few of Anita's men.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "Micah comes a very close second after Jean Claude in my heart. Nathaniel and Jason are also pretty awesome. i have a big girly crush on a few of Anita's men."

Still on Narcissus in Chains.

Haven't made a lot of progress lately, as I'm working on some other things as well. Like work, where I've done a few 10 hour days. I've ordered and received books through the Harlequin (which is probably what we're supposed to be on at this point, LOL!

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "Micah comes a very close second after Jean Claude in my heart. Nathaniel and Jason are also pretty awesome. i have a big girly crush on a few of Anita's men."

Still on Narcissus in Chains, though I'm about 50 pages from the end.

The fight between Micah and Jean-Claud was intense!

[Adele, Moderator]

LKH would have been in my bad books if Micah was killed off then!
Anita finds instant happiness with him.
but if you are only at that point, you aint seen nuthing yet !
the best/worst is yet to come!

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "LKH would have been in my bad books if Micah was killed off then!
Anita finds instant happiness with him.
but if you are only at that point, you aint seen nuthing yet !
the best/worst is yet to come!"

That was an intense ending to an intense book.

So, I've stared Cerulean Sins. This mess with Musette is not going to end well. (view spoiler)[ I did like that she turned Musette's knife back on her. And she didn't like it one bit. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Adele, Moderator]

Ah Cerulean Sins, is very Asher orientated if im not mistaken.
I'll reserve my thoughts about him for later.
You'll notice the books go in a very different direction. Its not just about Anita trying to be the good guy/Hero of the day/saving herslf from trouble...and belive me there is a lot of that in this book. But its also has its erotic moments more and more (view spoiler)[ i think due to the ardour and her body trying to shapeshift (hide spoiler)]

Lots of Vampire Politics in this one!


And we are also introduced to the Marmee Noir /Mother of all darkness Storyline which spans over the next few books.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "Ah Cerulean Sins, is very Asher orientated if im not mistaken.
I'll reserve my thoughts about him for later.
You'll notice the books go in a very different direction. Its not just about Anita tryi..."

I'm about 1/3 way in, and there's lots of Asher, and lots of vampire politics. Dolph appears to be going over the deep end. Good thing his partner, Zerbrowski, is on hand.

But they shouldn't have (view spoiler)[ refused Jason access to the crime scene. He was holding her up, after all. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Adele, Moderator]

I agree.
Zebrowski is my Favourite cop after this book. My heart hurts for Dolph.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "I agree.
Zebrowski is my Favorite cop after this book. My heart hurts for Dolph."

I think I'm at the halfway point - there's a "souvenir postcard" of Guilty Pleasures in the book, and I just passed that. Quite the car ride (view spoiler)[ Anita, Caleb, Jason and Nathaniel, and Belle...yikes! <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Katy]

OK. This car ride has lasted for over 40 pages. I'm seriously ready for something else now...like for them to get to their destination, get out of the car and stay out of the car, something...

[Norma, BOM & Co Moderator]

Katy wrote: "OK. This car ride has lasted for over 40 pages. I'm seriously ready for something else now...like for them to get to their destination, get out of the car and stay out of the car, something..."

OMG...Her books do that and drive me nuts! No one sits in a car that long... EVER

[Adele, Moderator]

it wasn't 40 pages was it? i know lkh is prone to long paragraphs of descriptions. but a long car ride???? must have taken a while to get there. I'm going on a 4hr car ride this weekend. but i'll probably sleep majority of it.

[Katy]

Adele wrote: "it wasn't 40 pages was it? i know lkh is prone to long paragraphs of descriptions. but a long car ride???? must have taken a while to get there. I'm going on a 4hr car ride this weekend. but i'll p..."

Nobody was sleeping. Jason managed to shift while he was in the driver's seat.

[Adele, Moderator]

ok i have read the latest books.
here is what i think
Jason:
Sex sex semi plot sex sex sex.
really thats is pretty much what it was.
i don't mind a bit of smut/sex/dirty stuff. but seriously over done in this case.
never have i felt so frustrated by anita blake series.. i have read and re read them all. but seriously after this one i felt ready to drop the series entirely!!!!!
now we do get a little character development, but you have to wade through sex to get there!


Dead Ice:
LOVED IT! totally redeemed herself. seriously if you had given up on the series at least read this one. sex scenes.... i don't think there was any (may need to re read to make sure lol!)
major development with the characters.
this book centered on police work/zombie raising/necromancy, (view spoiler)[ and Anita's engagement a the political stuff that has come with it(with jean claude being king etc.....see this is why it is in the spolier! (hide spoiler)]
with a little vampire politics, a bit of shapeshiftery stuff. two big things happen (and not to anita, yet i think she is the cause of it).
Asher Makes an appearance too. and so does Richard.
(view spoiler)[there was a turning point a few books back where Richard slowly becomes the good guy, and stops hating himself and finally steps up. i no longer cringe when i see Richard mentioned. (hide spoiler)]
but if you want to skip a few books, with LKH's habit of retelling what has happened you might actually be able to follow the book.
Seriously this book might actually be my favorite of the series.

[Connie]

Ditto for me. I am so glad that I decided to read Dead Ice.

[Lindsey]

The last book I managed to read in this series was Blood Noir, so that puts me 8 books behind, I haven't read any of these for quite a few years. Given the reviews of Dead Ice above though, perhaps I will consider it. :)

[Adele, Moderator]

I have altered this read along and really you just read what you want and post your review.
Lindsey, Blood Noir huh? well yes i'd say you are a little behind. if you see the very start of this topic i have listed all books. so with novellas you are looking at being a bit further behind than 8 books! but don't stress i suggest read dead ice.... and then if your curious enough to find out how things came to that point... well then go back to Skin Trade, or whatever book you want to read next.