Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Book... of Erotica
Review: Anita Blake, vampire slayer and necromancer, recently became the head of a small pack of wereleopards. Little did she know this new duty was going to be so much trouble. When several wereanimals are kidnapped, including one of her own pard, Anita is forced to jump into the world of shapeshifter politics. In order to save the day, Anita has to cement the connection between her two lovers, master vampire Jean-Claude and Richard, the leader of the local werewolf pack. The plot of "Narcissus in Chains" is very thin. Once the triad of Anita, Richard and Jean-Claude is forever bound, the rest of the story is really just a series of intense bed-hopping. The writing of these scenes is quite sensual, but leads the story into a continuous stream of erotica, rather than the adventurous crime stories of old. Laurell K. Hamilton's characters are so familiar now that avid readers of the series will feel as if they're reading fan fiction. Newer readers, however, should start from the beginning. Though a great deal of background is provided in this book, it serves more as a reminder to the previous books' events. Those new to the series will not understand the nuances of each characters' reactions, particularly Anita's motivations or why she constantly fights everyone around her. Ten books have made her hard, more sexual, definitely sociopathic, but these changes make sense when her history is known and understood. View her from here and Anita takes on a very harsh and promiscuous appearance. "Narcissus in Chains" is a wonderful book of erotica. But since it takes a full 300 pages of sex scenes to even get to the plot, readers eager for more of Anita's horrific adventures will be left cold.
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous
Review: I found Laurell Hamilton late (i.e. in 2001) and read my way straight through the first 9 books in the Anita Blake series, just in time for the 10th, Narcissus in Chains, to emerge in hardcover. (This marks me immediately, I suspect, as not an aficianda of the genre, but as someone who savors a good, richly imagined, escapist read on Saturday afternoons.) This book is worth it, meaty enough to keep me hanging until the next installment in Anita's adventures. Part of Hamilton's success is due to her ability to create two parallel, yet overlapping, worlds to which Anita belongs. The *normal* world of everyday police, civic rules, and familiar locales, and another populated with paranormal creatures - werewolves, vampires, fairies, and more - who must live (and die) according to their own logic of order and power. The dissonance between the two worlds makes Anita fascinating as a character who straddles these worlds and who evolves a proprietary sense of right and wrong. Hamilton took risks in Narcissus in terms of character development. Highly satisfying risks, but those who treasured the mystery aspects of her previous novels may not be as pleased. The suspense of who-dun-it - never the critical ingredient for me as a reader, give me good characters and their complex, humorous interaction with a dose of suspense and romance any day - takes a backseat to the tension of who does she love? feel safe with? will fight for and protect? and, yes, for those dismayed by Anita's prurient turn, will have sex with and why? Read in sequence, Hamilton's novels strain to contain the array of characters and possibilities she has created. This is not a series in which one protagonist and 1-2 sidekicks reliably center the action, with mystery guests coming on board each novel for their Love Boat appearance only to disappear forever. Rather, the imaginative possibilities are left, to a reader's great satisfaction, wide open. Don't start with Narcissus if you've never read of Anita Blake before; start at the beginning of the series, enjoy the evolution of her world, and judge for yourself its culmination in this book. I, for one, can't wait to see what happens next.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected!
Review: This story was not what I expected. I have been hoping that Anita would loosen up with Jean-Claude and Richard. In this new installment, she does a 360 and goes from prudish to borderline hussy. She went from not being able to handle Richard and Jean-Claude together to acquiring a "harem." Also, Anita grown even more powerful because of the marks that bind her with Jean-Claude and Richard. She finally returns to St. Louis, because she can no longer deny she must make a decision about Jean-Claude and Richard. Also, she returns to take her place as the Nimir-Ra to her pard of were-leopards. This is a still typical Anita Blake novel. There are many twists and unexpected turns. I think that if you've read her series thus far, you'll wonder what caused such a dramatic change in Anita's character. I guess if you can't beat the monsters, you join them? If you want Laurell Hamilton at her best, I suggest Obsidian Butterfly.
Rating:
Summary: Embracing the darkness
Review: In Narcissus in Chains, we seem to come to the climax of Anita's downward spiral into the dark, violent world of the preternatural. Instead of the Executioner, we now have the champion. Like all alphas, though, Anita finds her authority challenged on all sides (vampire and were.) To overcome she must change, in more ways than one, it seems. On top of vampire and were politics, Anita finds her love life becomes even more complicated--if it's possible! NiC is an excellent read, if a definite departure from the Anita novels we have come to expect.
Rating: 
Summary: Has anyone seen the real Anita Blake?
Review: I eagerly pre-ordered this latest in the Anita Blake series and had been waiting very impatiently for its release...boy was I disappointed. Narcissus in Chains bears little resemblance to the series fans know and love. There were a number of things I didn't like about this book: the plot was weak, there were WAY too many sex scenes (Ms. Hamilton, leave this stuff to Princess Meredith and her series, please!) instead of Hamilton's usual tastefully erotic love scenes, and too many series "regulars" were nowhere to be found. Where was Edward? Willie? Larry? Animators, Inc? (Not to mention creepy Otto from Obsidian Butterfly!) Based upon the previous nine books in this series (all of which I've read multiple times), I barely recognized this Anita - her actions were way out of character and frankly, some were just tasteless. I sincerely hope that in book #11 we find Anita returned to her normal, sassy self.
Rating:
Summary: Anita Blake, A sensual read
Review: I have been waiting for the next Anita Blake book. I found this one to be very sensual and am happy that new characters have emerged. Anita has come to some terms with who and what she is. A vampite executioner, raiser of the dead, a lover of a vampire and shapeshifter and even a cold blooded killer. I loved reading this book and couln't put it down. Now I can't wait for the next one to come out.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the wait!!!
Review: If your an Anita Blake fan. You know that these books are action packed and very spicy. Well, Ms.Hamilton lastest venture into the world of Anita Blake is nothing short of spectacular. All the hot sex, adventure, suspense and thrills that you have come to expect are here. This is a huge turning point in the life of Anita an its not to be missed. Now if your not an Anita Blake fan.... What are you waiting for!
Tired of the insipid adventures of a not to be mentioned Vampire Slayer. Well, Get with the only true female vampire hunter: Anita Blake. Trust me if you even like what-her-name you will asolutely love this series. If your looking for a strong, independant, fearless, female character Anita fits the bill. I honestly envy anyone that hasn't read this series. Cause you are in for a treat. There are ten books in this series and this is the best and I have no doubt the following one will be even better. This series is an Rollercoaster that you will gladly ride again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Yes, it is a crossroads, but then again, people do change...
Review: I've always enjoyed the Pard. Talk about a dysfunctional family unit striving to understand each other. I was rather surprised how Hamilton worked in the dynamics of such a change... to the better. I know, I know... The fans of Richard are going to be sorely disappointed if they conceived a final joining between the Ulfric and the necromancer, however, Richard demonstrates such a self-hate, that it has been wearing on me as well as Anita. I did think it was about time that Anita realized her true position as Jean-Claude's Human servant. And realization she does -- even seeing how her denial of what she is, what she is to the Master of the City, as well as who she is over the last 12 months have severely affected all those involved -- some irrevocably. It's about time she realizes her responsibilitis -- even though she really didn't ask for them in the first place. Just as Edward changed forever in OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY, so has Anita. I like the idea that she has a beast within that calls to the leopards. I'm not sure how I will respond to the Aurdeur she has inherited from Jean-Claude. Yes, I think the hard-back was worth the price -- through Amazon. I know we will debate over and over the many new issues brought up, but then again, any book that makes you think, lets you discuss the details with friends, and even if you end up hating it, at least it stirs up some emotions within. Isn't that the job of the writer in the first place???
Rating:
Summary: You'll either love it or completely hate it....
Review: *
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I would like to advise that everyone use there own judgment rather than depend on the opinions in regards to NIC. Had I not used my own juggment, I would have missed out on a really great book. Laurell has a gift, and her writing style sucked me into the story. There are people who really dilike or can't even tolerate Anita at this point, and if that's the case, then it will definitely make a difference about how they view this book and the series. Her perceptions and views will taint every scene and the interpretation of every action other characters take, so if you don't like her views that may influence of your enjoyment of her journey, and ultimately the series. I believe this was a filler book to tie up lose ends and hopefully take the series in a new direction. I also believe that this is a book that will divide the fandom
into those who liked the series before this book and those who will continue to enjoy it despite the changes. I'm firmly in the latter category. I will continue to enjoy the series until it crosses lines I've established for my continued enjoyment. I hope that we get back to basics in the next book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sharp Break
Review: For those Anita Blake fans, be warned: Narcissus in Chains is a definite departure, both in genre and characterization from the previous Anita Blake books. This is definitely soft porn...if you like it, go for it. I find that, in this case, it distracts from the plot; not just distracts, but fills in holes in plot and characterization.
Anita is not acting like herself...which can be explained by the trauma from 'marrying' the vampire marks bestowed by the beautiful Jean-Claude on her and her werewolf-love, Richard. But I liked Anita just fine, and to see her hardly fighting something that she's always hated (being forced to do ANYTHING she didn't decide to) leaves a bad taste in my mouth, "ardeur" or no. She allows herself to be warmer, softer here, which is explained by her working with her pard (the wereleopards she's adopted) to create a viable, cohesive group. But we certainly didn't see that in Obsidian Butterfly, which should have been only a few weeks back, in Anita's time.
Micah, who is the Nimir-Raj from out-of-town (as Anita is the Nimir-Ra of her pard (not Nimir-Rani?, oh well)) could have been a very interesting character, but too much time on sex and not enough on him as a person leaves that to be seen sometime in the future.
I'll be reading the next Anita Blake book before I buy it; if this is the new Anita, I'll be looking elsewhere for the strong heroine I liked so much.
Some people will love the new direction the series has taken, some will hate it. That doesn't help you decide if this book's for you, I know, but read the other reviews, and you'll get a feeling for what's changed, what's there, and what's gone. And no, while Richard has a hissy-fit in NIC, he's still definitely there.
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