Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Was a disappointment in the direction it went but was still an ok read, hopefully the next one will be better and we will see a reason for where this one went. Didn't read this one in a day like I usually do with her books.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointing Book From A Normally Great Author
Review: I waited patiently for a year with the rest of Anita Blake fans and picked it up on the first day, but as I read it, I was horribly disappointed. The plot line seemed weak, the characters seemed to stray from their normal personalities, and she gains yet another supernatural power with yet more consequences.
Jean Claude wasn't a main factor in this book, being of little relevence to moving the story along and what little he does do is as a back-of-the-mind kind of voice in Anita's head. Richard on the otherhand is featured quite a lot and the cruel streak that had been previewed in earlier books is displayed in force to my disappointment. Nathanael's character is developed a little more but sadly his is one of the few in this book. Jason, Damian, Asher, Larry, Cherry, Jamail, Shang-da, Sophie, are either almost cameo appearences or not in the book at all. A new major character, one that impacts Anita's life is a one dimensional character, and someone that she should have fleshed out more.
And a side note, as I write this, I notice there aren't many other strong female characters in her books. It seems that a character's importance hinges on how much she is attacted to them. Perhaps Hamilton feels that other really strong female characters would challenge Anita's position as alpha female too much.
The plot barely exists, it merely moves them from one scene to another so that Anita can meet yet more incredibly preternatural hunky guys or to more nasty and strange villians. This lack of plot is fairly noticeable and things that could have been resolved much quicker in other Anita Blake books take three times as long because she has to wade through dozens of men all salivating over her first.
And lastly she gains yet another super power making her possibly the most powerful being in St. Louis, it seems like everything wants a piece of her for either sex, power or both. This new development in her character changes her relationship with her friends, the pard, the vampires, and the lukoi. I found myself wondering how much more powerful could she get, I felt at the rate she is going, she can challenge the vampire council in four or five books or perhaps even less, which in my opinion makes Anita as a character weaker, because in the beginning, she was a very strong, independent human woman and now she is a even more strong, semi-independent, not-quite human woman who can kick anything in her way's butt.
So in conclusion, if you are a major fan of Anita Blake you will have to read this book because of some of the major changes that happens in it and you'd be lost without it, but some of you, be prepared to be disappointed. I only hope that the next one will return to Hamilton's normally stellar and addictive books.
Rating: 
Summary: Zero Stars
Review: I have been a fan of Anita Blake since the beginning of this series and the addition of & reading of Narcissus in Chains was a complete disappointment. No characterization, no plot and I had to force myself to finish it. Plenty of sex that was contrived, Jean-Claude is no longer the sexy vampire that I once knew. I liked the daily life of Anita Blake, her job, her interactions with other people like Dolph and her boss and her best friend. I liked learning more about Anita as a person. Narcissus in Chains disappoints in that it abandons the characters and what we have come to know about Anita Blake, vampire Executioner & the people who populate her world. (...)Where in the heck is the mystery? Anita hunting down the monsters? (...) This book was just AWFUL. (...)
Rating:
Summary: I want my money back.
Review: I am a great fan of the Anita Blake books and was more than excited when I picked this one up to read.
I have never been more dissapointed with an author in my entire life.
None of the characters were true to themselves, many too many faux character were added in for no good reason, there was no plot and way too much porn.
I am so dissappointed I don't think I'll be buying any of her other books.
Rating:
Summary: No Cohesiveness
Review: A fan since the first book, I was pretty disappointed with NARCISSUS IN CHAINS. It took me almost three weeks to get through it, when I used to read Laurell Hamilton's books in one sitting. In NARCISSUS, you meet all the regular characters, plus some new ones. The Plot: Um. I'm still working on that one. NIC is definitely a transition book - Anita is discovering more of her powers, she's trying to figure out her personal life (as she's been doing for the last 7 books or so), and she's trying to protect her wereleopards. Beyond that, there isn't much of a plot (unless it's "Save Gregory!" which takes up over half the books). This book lacked a lot of cohesiveness and the characters weren't true to themselves. They acted, and reacted, very differently than I would have expected. For example, Anita used to stand on her moral and ethical high ground when it came to sex and who she had it with. In NIC, she's involved in orgies and with strangers. Where's her moral highground?? Or are we seeing the moral degradation of her character? I am still something of a fan of Laurell Hamilton's, but can't help being let down with this book. Anyone interested in starting her books should start with the early ones - they are her best examples of great story-crafting.
Rating:
Summary: LKH gives us her equivalent to "The Phantom Menace"
Review: Don't get me wrong, Laurell K Hamilton is still my favorite author. I have gobbled up her previous 9 Anita Blake novels, and they continue to be old favorites on nights when I want to revisit my favorite butt-kicking heroine. Narcissus in Chains very much reminded me of "The Phantom Menace: Star Wars Episode I". Huge buildup, waited a long time, and it fell flat for me. I might have liked it a little if I didn't have the previous 9 to compare it to. The plot and character depth just wasn't there. However, I felt that Anita's butt-kicking ability didn't shine through in this book. She cried SO many times! She bitched and demanded in a whiney fashon. She got sex, ALOT. Everyone seemed to pander to her. From Jean Claude to the entire lycanthrope community. Will I buy her next book? You bet. One off book doesn't write an author off my list. Will I recommend this book to anyone? I'd say wait until it comes out on paperback.
Rating: 
Summary: Best of the Series, Outstanding!
Review: This is by far the best of the series, why, because it keeps you guessing and Jean Claude plays a major part in the book. I knew Laurell would not let me down on this one. I savored every part of the book, I did not want it the end. I like to new character Micah. I almost wished Anita would say the heck with Jean Claude and Richard and become a real family with Micah and the rest of the Wereleopards. But then I said what would she do without Jean Claude. And "The Ardeur" was a splendid infusion into Anita's life. I'm sorry about the absence of Richard, but I would rather have him leave than Jean Claude to leave (I have a romantic image of vampires). I think Laurell out done herself on this one. Maybe, in the next book Anita will find a true transformation into something or another. And it would have more romantic scenes with Jean Claude. But, as long as Jean Claude and Edward is in Anits's life everything is worthwhile. I can't wait until the next book come out in April of 2002. I will be holding my breath. This book rates right up there with "Burnt Offerings" and "Blue Moon". Congratulations, LKH
Rating:
Summary: The Best Yet!!!
Review: Laurel K. Hamilton has surpassed herself with this book, and considering how great the others are, that was tough to do. Anita continues to grow in both her power and in her acceptance of herself, we learn even more about Jean-Claude, who becomes more and more incredible, while Richard continues to struggle with accepting his own and Anitas' abilities. He's pretty hard to take in this book, I'm beginning to lose patience with his lack of courage about life. The new character Micah is wonderful, and I loved the further developement of Nathaniel and Jason. I couldn't put it down!Interesting spin with Damien.... These books are so addictive, I can't wait for the next one. Can't Richard see the Wizard of Oz for some guts? Just asking, He could be sooo sexy if I could respect him a little. Buy this book!!!!!! Thanks, Laurel, it's the best one yet!
Rating:
Summary: A slight disappointment
Review: As a huge Anita Blake fan, I couldn't wait to read this book. Once I started I couldn't wait to get it over with. As usual, it moves quickly, but it lacks substance in some places. And seeing old characters come back is great, but none of them have really grown. In fact, I found them annoying in their consistency. Some of it even got to me and while it bordered on the erotic, it also bordered on the gross (more so than usual). While the ending was 'odd' (aren't they all?), it wasn't the flash that I've come to know as LKH. The book just seemed to be too long, like she was looking for stuff to fill the pages. I'd recommend reading it to keep up with Anita's life, but only for that reason.
Rating:
Summary: What a failure
Review: Well, I _finally_ dragged my way through finishing this awful book. It took me like 5 days, and for 4 of them I was stalled out at the "climax" of the book, but I finally finished it. All I have to say is, I'm glad I got my money back, and I wish I could get my time back as well. This book, as far as I could tell, had NO plot. It seemed to start of swimmingly, with some tense moments and interesting character interaction within the tri, but beginning with the introduction of the obligatory naked, lustful men (Micah) it nose-dived into the abyss for me. Micah's whole character, including his suprising defiance at the end and his romantic interest in Anita seems contrived to me. He has to be the most cookie-cutter character I've read in a long time, from the stereotypical predestined love, to the fact that he acceps her unconditionally, without any other reason than his belief in the aforementioned destiny. And all this happens within a few pages of his itroduction, with no real character buildup involved. Anita's conviently forgets she's part of a TRIUMVIRATE, after all the buildup for how many book? The Tri includes _3_ people, three Specific people, and no amount of substituting power is going to change or remove the marks. Although, it's always possible for LKH to have Anita remove Richard's marks, but until it happens we're left with the chance that if one dies, all could die. Anita seems to blithly go on about her business ignoring this fact. It is my opinion that LKH basically writes Richard out because it's inconvient for her to deal with his character as is. Ok, here's the doosey, and the main reason I don't like this book: I'm aware that authors can only write what they know, but author's shouldn't write what they ARE. You don't have to be Freud to realize that Richard = Ex-husband, Micah = New Husband. The ex has fallen out of favor, so the character based on him has fallen out as well. LKH has found her perfect love (and more power to her for it, though I find it sad when anyone gets divorced) so Anita thus must find a new perfect love - Micah. Gee, if I brought my marital problems to work they'd fire me. I think it's a crime of professionalism that LKH brings her marital problems into her work and destroy's what little consistency her organic style of writing had left in these books. Perhaps now that she's happily remarried the books can attain actual PLOTS again, but I certainly won't be sticking around to see it. I'll try to forget what LKH has done to the characters in this book when I reread the previous nine, but the shoddy writing and unprofessionalism displayed in NIC has guaranteed I won't be touching any future books in this series. I'm truly glad that LKH has found happiness with another husband. I'm just disappointed that she brought the whole affair into her work. It had so much more potential than this.
|
