Rating: 
Summary: Whatever!
Review: I don't think I have ever written a review this sloppy before but frankly after reading the book the best I can come up with is "whatever". I, like many other reviewers, don't know if I cared for this book or not. I'm not going to review the plot since there had to be fifteen different subplots and I, frankly, am not sure which was the main plot. To be honest, there were things I really liked about this book and there were things I hated.I enjoyed the marrying of the marks. It's time for Anita, Richard, and Jean Claude to move forward with their power base. Anita is developing powers that continue to amaze her. We see the vulnerable side as she tries to cope with the difference between love and sexual needs. Also incorporated into the story is Anita's struggle to keep her religious beliefs while dealing evil. It was nice to see Nathaniel develop some backbone and his dependency evolve into some form of independence for him. The addition of Micah was a surprise. Richard (my least favorite) finally showed what he was made of (not in a good way for you Richard fans). What did I not like about this book? Quite a bit to be honest. Where was the plot, or should I say which was the main plot? The book starts out well enough, but to me quickly degenerated into an orgy. Anita spent her time running from one crisis to the next while having sex in the middle. I missed some of the old favorites. Where was Larry? Not enough police action with Dolph! Many fans have complained they don't like the direction Anita is going, that she is losing her humanity. I'm not sure there is any humanity left in Anita at this point. That worries me because I don't see what direction is left for Laurell K. Hamilton to go with this fascinating series. I'll buy the next Anita Blake book in hopes that the author pulls it back in the direction it started out. There are still too many unresolved storylines to quit this series, but please Ms. Hamilton, give us a plot we can follow!
Rating: 
Summary: Anita how you're changing!
Review: I have read all of Anita Blake novels and have enjoyed them all. In Narcissus in Chains, Hamilton takes Anita and gives her a new direction with many possibilities for future storylines. The addition of Micah has potential when/if his character is fleshed out in the next book(I hope!). Richard needed to be shaken up, and Anita needed to accept she was one of the monsters...
This book solidified Anita's character---not just as a executioner or sex maniac, but as a protector. Anita is evolving, and therefore her world must change. I really liked the direction that Hamilton is taking Nathaniel and wonder what he'll be like as his character strengthens.
Narcissus(werehyena) was a major player in the intial section of the novel but became a bit player as the story continued. I would like to have gotten more play from this character and his interaction with the gang.
Rating:
Summary: Moving in a New Direction
Review: Necromancer Anita Blake is deep in it again when a mysterious group kidnaps one of the wereleopards in her charge at the S&M club Narcissus in Chains. Who ya gonna call in such a crisis? Her on-again off-again lover, Master Vampire Jean-Claude, fits the bill, and the subsequent overdue talk between them fulfilled all my expectations for that event. Ex-boyfriend (and Alpha werewolf) Richard Zeeman shows up at the club and the trio finally get past their differences enough to join the mystical marks between them and become a true triumvirate of power. This, too provided exactly the emotional payoff I expected from this scene. It turns out the threesome didn't wait a moment too long, because events rapidly go from bad to worse. First the cross-dressing club owner, the were-hyena Narcissus, demands a gift for not interfering in the rescue, something that none of them is eager to give up. The vampire Asher plays a vital role in this scene. Anita then manages to get her wereleopard Nathaniel back but refuses to leave without a pair of swanmanes who'd also been taken. In the ensuing fight, Anita is badly injured both by the bad guys and by an accidental swipe from one of her own wereleopards who was trying to protect her. Anita wakes to the prospect of becoming furry once a month and to the presence of a new pard of wereleopards in town who claim to want to join her pard. Can she trust their sexy Nimir-Raj? Just when she's trying to digest that new information, she's informed that Richard and his werewolf pack are holding the leopard who caused her injury on the accusation that he did it on purpose. Once more into the breach for Anita, with all of these new problems to deal with and this threatening mystery gang up to no good as well... LKH has broken with her usual format in this new novel, much as she did with Burnt Offerings but thankfully without certain imagery that made BO difficult for me to enjoy. She seems to be following her emotional prerogative with this story, much like really good manga-ka do. Anita's love triangle appears to be at least temporarily resolved and I not only like this solution, I liked a particular scene that set the stage for this solution. It was comic relief in a most unexpected setting and it came out of nowhere, as LKH's most amusing scenes tend to do. LKH also tied up loose ends with vampires Damian and Gretchen and granted Anita a support system that she desperately needed (with all these creatures coming under her wing, she can't be the lone ranger anymore). Many bit players put in appearances here, and many new ones were introduced. In fact, my only complaint as to the characters is that the cast might be getting so big that many peoples' favorites aren't going to get face time. Also, as previous reviewers have noted, there were redundancies in the prose that were a bit distracting to the story. Those are minor complaints though, as I greatly enjoyed this installment and thought it ended on a more triumphant note than recent episodes. I am greatly looking forward to the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: Narcissus in Chains reveals Hamilton as a Guilty Pleasure
Review: The fact that this book makes a significant break from the regular pattern on Anita Blake novels should be no surprise to the reader as they reflect on the book. While attempting to keep the same pattern, hence the subplot with Narcissus, Micah, and other new werepeople, it really tries to delve into Anita's personal life more. Those looking for a horror/mystery novel with a little sex thrown in on the side, the regular pattern of Anita Blake novels, may be unpleasantly surprised. This book is more of a personal drama/romance novel with horror and a little mystery thrown in.
Rating:
Summary: A solid thrill ride
Review: As an Anita Blake fan I must say I was quite happy with this book. It is a non stop thrill ride from the beginning. Both I an my husband finished the book withibn 24 hours of getting it in the mail. If you are going to read the book - start it when you have time to finish it because you will not want to put it down. As for the amount of sex in this book, well it was a lot but there were real reasons for it. My husband usually "skips" that portion of the book but even he admitted that the sex was important to the plot and yes there was a plot. In this book Anita finally confronts what has been the problem all along with Richard. Remember he told her that he needed her to be human but Anita has been saying all along that she is not. JC on the otherhand has to fess up about more of his past and we learn a little more about everyone. When I was done with this book I had to sit and think about it for a while. That always means it is good. I am now on my second slower reading of the book and it is still good. The only reason I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ending came a little too fast and I am missing the characters at Animators Inc. I would love to know what the other people in her life like Larry think of all the changes in her life. Back in the Bloody Bones we were told that Larry was more than just an animator but we have heard nothing of it since. I am looking foreward to the next book and hope we can catch up on all the old characters. I loved the addition of Micah. It is nice to see someone actually taking Anita like she is and not trying to change her or lecture her, before that the only one that seemed willing to do that was Rapheal. Read the book, prepare to be shocked and surprized thrilled and depressed all at once. Like the roller coaster ride it resembles it is over far too soon.
Rating:
Summary: At last, some emotional resolution
Review: I sympathize with those reviewers who found the plot too long, and lacking in action beyond the immediate focus of Anita's sex life. Much of the action in this one is internal, concerning Anita and her numerous relationships. But that's just fine with me. Hamilton has made a habit of delaying emotional (and sexual) resolutions, drawing out the suspense from book to book. This one finally delivers. I have two quibbles. First, despite the awful difficulties that Anita perpetually encounters, she usually winds up (and this book is no exception) in solving her problems through a certain amount of serendipity. In book after book, she's caught in the bad guy's lair, seemingly at his mercy, when a new power suddenly wells up within her and she carves out the bad guy's heart. Way to go, Anita. But in the end, it seems contrived and just a little too easy. My other quibble concerns Anita's lack of internal struggle. For at least five books now, she's been wrestling with her needs, desires and compulsions. At one point in this book, Anita tells Jean-Claude that she doesn't want to turn into "slut-girl." But the definition of slut-girl has changed considerably. In earlier books, the basically uptight Anita would have regarded having sex with a man to whom she was not engaged--or at least in love--as beyond the pale. In this one, slut-girl means participating in a gang-bang with strangers. Gang bangs with friends bother her only a little, and are pretty much okay. While the compulsions of her magic might make the sex inevitable, I think a bit more soul-searching and hand-wringing would have been more in character. Nevertheless, this book has the typical Hamilton energy. It's one damn thing after another, and the reader is taken for a wild ride. Like most of her fans, I'm already looking forward to the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: At the Bottom of the Hill
Review: Ever since Blue Moon, the series has been going down hill--and I don't think that Ms. Hamilton will be able to go any lower than Narcissus. The book is, in a word, disgusting. Pushing aside questions of plot or characterization, just what happened to our Blake from Guilty Pleasures? Because she definitely hasn't showed up in any books after Blue Moon--the protagonist of Narcissus is an imposter. Where did Anita's morals and headstrong intelligence go to? Everything that maked her likeable has disappeared like mist. And if you consider matters of plot and taste, Ms. Hamilton seems to have gotten rid of both. What made the series an enjoyable read is simply gone! The mystery, believable and interesting plotline, wonderful characters... All have been exchanged in order to make this just another porn book. I am extremely disappointed, to say the least. I am sick and tired of the gratuitous sex and rape scenes. What made the previous books sensous has gone overboard and it's just plain gross. I am definitely not going to buy any more Anita books, and I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of the ones I have.
Rating: 
Summary: The Evolution of Anita
Review: If you've followed the Anita Blake series from the beginning, it has been fascinating to watch Anita deal with her inner conflicts. This book brings a convincing portrait of a woman who has been tested by fire and emerged triumphant- and deeply changed. The character of Anita has grown in complexity and richness. Narcissus in Chains brings us a wonderful look at a changed Anita, and is well worthy of your time. Well written characterizations and kickin' action propel this book from beginning to end. You'll enjoy seeing what's new with beloved characters and meeting new ones as well. Don't miss this one- it's a true blue keeper.
Rating:
Summary: #1 Anita fan -NOT DISAPPOINTED
Review: Alright, so there are a few people who will argue that this book was different from Laurell's others, and some will even argue that it wasn't any good. haha. This is just not true. It just sounds like a couple of men complaining about how many "love scenes" there are. And there are some great scenes! This book focuses more on Anita's personal life rather than work, which most of Laurell's novels oftentimes consist of. So, yes, it's going to be different - but a good kind of different. It's a good change of pace. The reader will come face-to-face with some new, and very unusual, characters as well as some of the old favorites. So C'MON guys. Anita's been away from her men for quite some time. She has some personal business to take care of! Oh, and not to mention some new powers, but I'll just leave it at that. Trust me. You won't be disappointed. I've been a fan from the beginning, so I know what I'm talking about.
Rating:
Summary: Best Anita Blake book in the series!
Review: I was very dissapointed when I read so many negative reviews about this book. But after I read it I could NOT understand why people didn't like it! Throughout the series Anita has been struggling with her sexuality, the two men whom she loves and the forces of supernatural forces. In this book she is confronted with all three and must FINALLY choose her path with all of them. After 9 books of struggle, it was nice to have her finally face her fears. I loved it, all the new characters, (need I mention MICAH, drool) and where the plot headed. Keep it up, LKH! When is the next Anita book comming out??
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