Rating: 
Summary: The Series has finally fizzled out...
Review: I have been reading the Anita Blake series since around Christmas of this year and have been completely submerged in the action packed plots and characters of Ms. Hamilton's parallel world of America, where vampires, shapeshifters and other monsters are an every day thing. But, with Narcissus in Chaines, the series takes an unflattering turn to almost overwhelmingly boring sexuality and page after page of pointless descriptions that take the reader no where special. I found myself lightly excited when Anita found her self in a situation where she thought through the whole book she was going to become a wereleopard and truly become the Nimir-Ra of her adopted wereleopard pack...but that idea fell flat and of course, she doesn't end up being a shapeshifter in the end. Also, I feel like Ms. Hamilton has taken a wrong turn with Richard's character. Richard was my favorite male of the books and I thought he was better for Anita than the frilly, overly feminine Jean Claude (Who bores me to death with his prissy attitudes and love for tacky clothing) and it seems like Ms. Hamilton has turned Richard into a truly negative character in this book. The plot was incredibly dull and for the first time while reading a book in this series, I found myself skimming through pages to get through chapters that were dragging so bad. I am upset about the series turning out this way and from what I have heard Cerulean Sins is not any better than this installment. A dissapointing novel and definetly the worst in the series to date.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Richard. Poor, poor Richard!
Review: He's gone from idealism to alienation.
No wonder Anita is looking elsewhere.
Makes sense.
She's too much of a surviver to be dragged down by him.She's trying to resist (somewhat) this new crazy
vampire induced sexual [pleasure].
(Reminds me of some of Doctor Phil's patients.)
So, she's still not a [prostitute]. More talking, less action.
Why?
Anita's gone from being a private to being a captain.
She has more responsibilities. I love how her character is being developed,
book after book. Trust me, there's method to this madness.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing/Softcore
Review: After Obsidian Butterfly being one of the best in the Anita Blake series, you've now come to the worst. There's very little storyline, or character development. Though it has a couple of moments, there's hardly any action to speak of... apart from... action in the bedroom. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not averse to a bit of spice but I'd like some substance to back it up. At some points this seems like so much slash. And what happened to the title character?
Rating: 
Summary: entertaining, but..
Review: Yes, Im in agreement with other reviews about the sudden casualness and excessiveness of sex in NiC. Anita seems to have lost many of her morals.. I enjoyed the books a lot more when she was still trying to resist Jean-Claude, not that I dont like him. He seems to have lost his personality in this book. NiC makes me worry about where Anita is going to end up next, how many people she is going to have a supernatural tristes with in the next book. It makes me a little sad. I suppose if this is so, future books with be good for little more than light entertainment and personal ah, sexual pleasures.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I loved this book. I thought LKH did a great job with this installation of the series. I liked the character development, the story arc. I could have done with out the introduction of a new main character but even with him, I thought that it was well written and though out.
Rating: 
Summary: why don't some authors know when to stop?
Review: With obsidian butterfly so full of character development i had very high hopes for narcissus in chains. I always respected anita blake for her no nonsense attitude, her sexiness and her self discipline. LKH led us to expect nothing but strength and great things from Anita. I don't see one bit of anita in this narcissus in chains. When did anita blake become merry gentry?? Merry gentry i would expect and respect a full on orgy from.. not Anita blake.
Rating:
Summary: loss of a good friend.....
Review: I read all of the Anita Blake series within my college winter break. I was so excited devouring every word then re-reading them again. I loved the jc/ab/rz love try angel because though Anita didn't always handle the triangle with grace, she was strong and always Anita, always striving to uphold her own brand of morality not someone who just gives in (even to mystical wanton lusts.) In this book, I lost a lot of respect for one of my favorite heroines. I have no problem with the graphic sex scenes personally in the other books they were superb but within this book it seems that Hamilton put the scenes in just because she could, some times less is more (I rarely ever say that so if you knew me that is a big statement.) In addition, it was a dilemma. But, this crap with the "ardeur" it was sex for sex not for morality and Anita's abandon made me lose faith in her. In addition, I will mourn the "lose" of Richard. What happened to our Anita?!? I feel like I should mourn the loss of a dear friend..
Rating:
Summary: interesting
Review: This is my first book by Ms. Hamilton, it will not be my last. I enjoyed myself and I did not feel the need to review the previous books in this series. Because I have not read any of her other books, I can honestly say that I just stepped into a whole new world and am the better for it. I usually read romantic novels, this was such a break from my normal reading. I will continue to read her books if she delivers as well as she did with this one. Fell in love with Micah and Nathaniel, together they make for the perfect mate.
Rating:
Summary: Anita Blake to the Rescue Again and Again and Again and...
Review: This is my first Anita Blake book. I loved the imagery and the character development. The tension between all the alpha males was very well played, and the dominant/submissive aspects to their relationships was credible. HOWEVER, I am giving this book only 3 stars because some of the writing was excruciating ("pile of puppies" was used about 20 times, for example) and the entire plot consisted of: Anita rushes to save Gregory, Anita rushes to save Gregory AGAIN (this takes 424 pages!!!), Anita rushes to save Damian, Anita rushes to save Micah and Cherry, Anita saves all the werefolk in the entire city in one fell swoop (no kidding), end of book). Ugh. My other problem was with pacing. Almost every action sequence and alot of the sex/feeding scenes grind to a screeching halt so Anita can talk and talk and talk with another character for 5 to sometimes 15 pages as she's supposedly reaching for a gun or a body to take care of imminent danger/hunger. I don't mind conversation, but right when something is supposed to happen makes for very, very awkward storytelling. All that said, the book still gave me chills in some points and definitely quickened my pulse in others. So many hot men to choose from! If Ms. Hamilton can smooth out the action vs. non-action interplay of the characters (and what wonderful characters they are!), she will deliver a truly genius story.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, it's different than the others in series, but I like it
Review: Like other reviewers this was my first Anita Blake book. I'm glad I didn't read reviews by long time fans before picking up this book though. Narcissus in Chains is part of the Anita Blake series, but as I said, I didn't know that when I bought the book. I read this book in one night. It's not for the faint of heart or those with delicate natures that complain about sex and violence in a book. Laurell K. Hamilton is a vivid story teller in all aspects of her books, so there is no sweeping something under the rug. Things are out there and open. NIC is set in a S & M club at the beginning (in case you didn't guess) and the scenes are graphic. However, they didn't take away from a good story. Anita is the Vampire Hunter, which if like me you start with this book you are going to kind of wonder about that title considering one of her love interests is a Master Vampire named Jean Claude. This book does stand alone it you just wanted to read it, but really to get the full effect you need to read the previous installments from the beginning to truly understand what has brought Anita to the point she is at with Jean Claude and Richard (the werewolf). I do have issues after going back after this and starting at the beginning of the series, however, Laurell K. Hamilton writes a good story. She keeps the images vivid and well thought out so they are right there on the page just as clear as if you were watching them on DVD. I have mentioned this in previous reviews I know I enjoy a book when I am thinking of it later and talking about it. Narcissus in Chains is one of those books that I talk with friends about and have read again while rereading the series. My best advice for this series is not to get caught up all the differing opinions in which book is each person's favorite. I have enjoyed each book in one way or another. In my opinion that's what I want to read a book that makes me question and ponder after I have put it down.
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