Rating: 
Summary: Does it get worse?
Review: Narcissus in Chains is the tenth book in the AB:VH series and like all of the books it is never what you might be expecting. It's a lot more like riding a roller coaster than reading a book. A large part of the series sensuality has been the potential of dark deeds hinted at, implied but kept just out of sight despite the graphic levels of horror and sexuality that lay waste to the page. NiC marks an abrupt end to a reserve that many readers may not have realized was there. Anita returns from vacation after six months of learning to control her powers and a near death experience garnered while helping out her sociopath assassin pal. Anita wants to work it out with her boyfriends; Jean-Claude, master vampire and Richard, leader of the local werewolf pack. As if dating two men at once wasn't complicated enough, they are bound by Jean-Claude's marks that hold them together in a triumervate of power which goes far beyond basic romantic intimacy. Like most things in life or unlife, Anita has found that running away did little to solve any problems but only made them far worse. By separating herself from the boys she left herself vulnerable to mystical attacks. Not good since she's not only the world's most powerful necromancer but also human servant of Jean-Claude, queen of Richard's werewolves and protector of the wereleopards. So it's no surprise she's off to rescue said wereleopards from a DS club by chapter two and what better backup than your sex-in-a-coffin boyfriend, Jean-Claude. Thus beings the ride called NiC. AB:VH is a mix of fantasy, horror, mystery and paranormal romance. Narcissus however crosses a fine line from elements of erotic romance to scenes best described as erotica. The sexually explicit scenes are littered without thought across the pages possibly giving this book the highest body count in the series. Sadly, they have as much impact as another bullet-ridden body on Anita's porch. Some may wonder what happened to Anita from Guilty Pleasures who claimed she didn't date vampire but killed them. The erosion or evolution of Anita's morality, depending on your own personal point of view, has been a long process. Anita's B&W vision of the world is now putrid fog gray. The events within the pages of Narcissus in Chains forever alter the world of Anita Blake as readers have come to know it. The delivery of these events is over the top and always at the expense of the plot. The mystery is thin, used as a vehicle to introduce even more characters into Anita's world that is already groaning, full to capacity. Fans of the series are going to have to judge the events within this book for themselves. Like riding a roller coaster, you may feel a bit ill at the end or you may have had the time of your life, getting back in line for another go round. I found myself looking for the barf bag.
Rating:
Summary: How could she do this
Review: I was a huge fan of the series and in fact I got others hooked too. Now, I'm just too embarrased to say it. Anita is no longer anita. She's a slut, doesn't do any animating, and jumps half the characters. It's a frustrating book to get through. I woudn't recommend it to anyone, period. Ms. Hamilton should be ashamed of how awful this book was. With that and the new trashier covers I'm suprised she has any new readers. Anyone who said this was a good book can't have much taste. Not only was the proofing poorly done, but the plot devices were obvious. Anita has changed, and really..that wouldn't have been a problem for readers except that the person she became is unrecognizable at all. She's vicious, unafraid or unashamed of killing, has rather promiscious sex, and cares little for others. I respected the original character for her moxy in sticking to her morals, that's a hard thing to do nowadays, regardless of what your morals are. This character though changes her morals every other day. Really, save your money. Buy a nifty CD. Don't bother with the book. It's a bastardization of the original.
Rating:
Summary: ARE YOU KIDDING?!
Review: I first discovered the Anita Blake series this year and loved all of them. WHAT HAPPENED? This is without a doubt the worst book I have EVER read. This book has no plot, familiar characters that wandered off into never-never land, page after page of scenes and sex that do not make sense and are not relevant to what little plot there is in this book. The new "Micah" character (bye the way - where did he come from?) is just creepy. Richard and Jean-Claude are only peripheral characters this time around and when we do see them, their personalities are so altered that you almost don't recognize them. Jean-Claude, for example, was acting like Anita's personal pet poodle. What happened to the smart mouthed master vampire that we all loved to be annoyed by? As one who eagerly awaited this installement of the series, I was greatly dissapointed. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY !!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Its an Anita book...... but could have been so much more.
Review: NIC is a good read. I just re-read Ob. Butterfly before reading the new book. Transition is good and references are good. It does have some slow parts, but they are easily skimmed. Sex is quite prevalent in the book, similar to Kiss/Shadows, but is not the theme. However, I think the author is leaving the series open to explore the new side of Anita. It also covers the lych. politics in depth. I do agree with a reviewer who wrote the entire book seemed to be wrapped up too quickly at the end. The plot was good...... but could have been expanded to so much more. The subplot between Asher and JC could have been expanded or maybe Belle Morte? Maybe in the next books....... Overall, Anita is always a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Boring Bloated Blake Boink-A-Thon...Bleahh!
Review: Yes, folks, Hamilton has achieved the near-impossible --
she's turned the original, amusing series idea of a vampire-
whacking heroine who falls in lust with a hunka-hunka
vampire kingpin into total dreck poo-poo ca-ca doodie. And
those are its good points! After 100+ pages of dreary,
squishy, soft-porn hijinks with the Knee-High Nimrod
or whatever the hell he's called I gave up. But wait --
there's more!! Intermixed with the hokey-pokey we are treated
to page upon page of the inner workings of WerePolitiks!
Yessir, you've got your werewolves, your wererats, your
wereleopards, your wereswans...SWANS did she say?
Afraid so. ( I await with bated breath the introduction
of the fabulous werecootie.) And this one can't call that
one because the wererules say that one can only call
the other one or maybe his first cousin twice-removed
and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. So, you ask, did I like this book
or what? Would a short video of me jumping up and down
on it while going "ptooie! ptooie!" answer your question?
Warning to Ms. Hamilton -- muck up the sequel to the
fabulous and funny Kiss of Shadows, sister, and I'll
sic the werebunnies on you! So there!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing!!!!
Review: I am a major Anita Blake fan, and NiC was very disappointing. Although the book was pretty interesting overall, it was so far from the entertainment of the other Anita Blake books. I don't see how anyone could read this book and not be SICK of hearing about the stupid "ardeur" that rules Jean-Claude's world and now Anita's world. The graphic and icky sex scenes were offputting and frankly disgusting and I'm fairly open-minded about sex in books, movies, etc. Mainly, I like sex to be more about a relationship and not just sex, sex, sex. Also, I am wishing my 13-year-old niece hadn't begun reading Anita Blake books. While they are risque at times, I wasn't too concerned. But this is one Anita Blake book I think she shouldn't read. Well, maybe she'll be closer to 15 by the time she gets to book 10. Though, I can't like the idea of her reading this one. I mean, the sex is just so yukky and it isn't caring, loving, relationship sex. It doesn't turn me on, it repulses me. I'm all "eew, gross!" And thinking..."THIS is Anita Blake? What the f--- happened to her?" Excuse the f pun.
If you are crazy about Anita Blake, you will have to read this book, because you just have to. And you will probably find it readable and make it through the gross sex and you will be disappointed. I wish I'd waited to get it from the library. I have the whole collection, and have read them all several times (except for Obsidian Butterfly which I read only once), but I don't think I want to reread NiC.
Rating:
Summary: Stake me--please!
Review: I used to compare Anita to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Both slayers were small and gutsy and could crack one-liners with the best of them. Both universes were darkly inventive and sensuous and always underscored with a deep well of black humor. While that is still true for Joss Whedon, Laurell Hamilton walks in the shadows of her own failings as a writer. She is her own Mary Sue, stalking through the pages into one sex game after another. Hordes of faceless shapeshifters with black hair and leather dominate this book and after awhile, it becomes an interminable trek. The rot started in Obsidian Butterfly and spread to her new heroine in Kiss of Shadows and migrated over to this latest effort. Reading this is like watching a badly made porn film. Don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed and feeling cheated....Worst book of series
Review: Like many others, I too found this book extremely disappointing. I only got hooked on the series this year. I read the first five with much relish, loving the emphasis on plot and characterization. However, some time along book Six, things went from moderate eroticism to basic pornography. I appreciate the sensuality of the world Anita lives in, BUT, it seems like EVERY confrontation turns into an opportunity for Anita to either be sexxed up or sex someone else up. Can't Ms. Hamilton come up with some more imaginative ways to develop energy in a scene? The things which bothered me the most with this book: Anita, who used to be rather old fashioned (and that's a compliment!) in her views on pre-marital sex has now become the most promiscuous person around. I just don't buy the sudden switch. I was floored when she slept with Micah only minutes after meeting him! That's not the Anita Blake we've grown to know! WAY too much sex/porn. I mean, EVERYONE is always dying to sleep with Anita. Whatever. I prefer a more honest/realistic approach to sensuality. All the men are skinny with long hair. Um, to me, that seems sort of like out of a bad porn/cheap goth movie to me. I don't find skinny, long haired men that attractive. They're too effeminate for me. How about a REAL man? No animator stuff. Zilch. It was 90% sex in this book. VERY little characterization and too much gratuituous sex/violence without reason... Much of what I read sounded familiar and I realized much of it was verbatim from her previous books! Shame on you, Ms. Hamilton! Plot....There wasn't any, unless you count how many men can worship Anita Blake as the plot. I mean, EVERY man in the book wants to sleep with her. That's getting old. Basically, this book just seemed to lack focus, plot, and the characters were so radically different that I wondered why she bothered to write this one. It was a waste of my time/money. Incredibly disappointing since I really loved her earlier books.
Rating: 
Summary: Anita just gets better and better...
Review: I read this book in about 3 days. Which is pretty good. It means I was never anywhere without it. For probably the first time in my reading career, after I was done with the book, I picked it up and read it again! It's a breathless read: adventure, humor,horror and sex. Plenty of sex. Let's just say Anita has finally decided to "open" herself up to being part of a trimuvarte. But it may *not* end up being the three you think.
The only real missing piece in the book is the lack of Edward, but I'm sure he'll show up soon. This is a strong book for the Vampire series and makes me hunger for the next one! Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: coming into her own
Review: This book was a wonderful escape. It has action, romance and psychoanalysis all from a female point of view. The plot kept me turning the pages. I loved Michah. I think Anita is beginning to come into her own. Don't believe the hype read this book. The only semi- down side may be if you're a Richard fan, but even that is left hopeful.
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