Rating: Summary: It This is Your Thing, Go For It. Review: I'm pushing my comfort level a bit with all the nasty stuff in Hamilton's books, but if you're a fan of the horror genre, I'll admit she does it very well. Anita Blake has to be the toughest heroine I've ever run across, yet she maintains her humanity, and it's possible to at least somewhat identify with her. You get a lot happening in an Anita Blake book. The pace is frenzied, although this one takes more time between the action than in her other books. I thought that was okay, I wanted to take the time to get to know the characters a little better. Unfortunately there seemed to be a great many characters, and maybe it's just me but I had a hard time keeping track of who was a human, who was a vampire, who was a werewolf, and who was a wereleopard, let alone who outranked who. But we don't read horror stories to analyze them, we read them for immersion in an alternate and macabre world, and the Anita Blake books do a great job of providing that.
Rating: Summary: Anita gets deeper, and the books move to a new level Review: If you aren't currently an Anitaficionado, best to start with the first book (_Guilty Pleasures_). Not required, but recommended.Over the series, we have seen Anita's values shift somewhat. By this book, she has begun to question her basic truths--particularly, her definition of who are the monsters and who are the humans. Specifically, she is increasingly aware that not only may the line between monster and human be blurry--but she may by now be on the wrong side of it, and weirder still, she isn't 100% sure that's such an awful thing. It is interesting to watch Anita continue to come into her own power, while continuing to give short shrift to monsters who behave monstrously--and get by with it, for the most part. With her romantic triangle about 80% resolved for the moment, we get an interesting view of the vampires' council and some more depth on shapeshifters. Thus far Hamilton always has something new and interesting for us, and _Burnt Offerings_ lives up to the standard. Recommended in strong terms as a great vampire story or as fiction that goes much deeper than hack-and-slash.
Rating: Summary: More Jean-Claude, More Jean-Claude! Review: I have read and re-read of all of the Anita Blake books and turned many friends on to same! The bathtub scene from Killing Dance is the hottest, sexiest scene in contemporaty literature! I really enjoy the new/old character Asher and would love to see Laurell write a "pre-quel" and tell the Asher, Juliana, Jean-Claude story! Like many, I find Richard annoying and strangely violent with Anita (see both Killing Dance and Blue Moon), whereas Jean-Claude is tender, loving and non-demanding...also, surprisingly monogamous, unlike Richard. Richard is that seeming great guy, with the dark-side, whereas Jean-Claude is the evil one who really is not such a bad guy! My husband is jealous of my new obsession with JC. Good thing he isn't real! But he is definitely the reason I keep reading! Have already pre-ordered he next book due in October! Re: this book, I too was put off by the multiple rape scenes. And with Obsidian Butterfly, Ms. Hamilton crosses I line I with which I was completely uncomfortable. You'll recognize the scenes when you get there. It's the on book I would never re-read, for that reason.
Rating: Summary: Good story Review: This is about the second sci-fi book I've ever bought (my first Anita Blake book, though), and now I'm hooked in vampires, werewolves, and the like. I adore Anita, it's about time someone wrote about a heroine who's not a six-feet tall bundle of muscles, Linda Hamilton style; we small women can be real tough, too. The story is interesting and engrossing, although I could do without the parts where hunky werewolf ex-boyfriend Richard is quarreling with Anita, it's totally irrelevant to the story and besides, it should be illegal for exes to behave the way Richard does; no wonder she liked Jean Claude better, he's just divine and doesn't whine as much. Anyway, what else I can say about this book? It's a fun read, toss it in your beach bag and enjoy.
Rating: Summary: Great book in a super series..... Review: Incredible "Bad Guys",,,, quite scary, (NOT for the squeamish) & worse very sexy. Power is the theme, & those who wield it. Most of these "People" seem to be crazy, is it their centuries & age or the corruption of power. Interesting to watch Anita is being force to explore her new power & is fighting to control it. I'm in love with the new Vampire Asher, wow... makes me breath heavy... enjoy.
Rating: Summary: A While Ago.. Review: I read Burnt Offerings a while ago...Along with the other seven books whose titles I can't rememeber offhand...I absolutely LOVE Laurell K. Hamilton...Her character growth is superb, and I love the way Anita deals with Asher. I can't really pinpoint anything about specific about the book, since I did read all eight in the series almost a year ago...But I can say that if you read this book, definitely read the others. Hamilton's description in delicious, and she really gets into her characters' minds...Perfect for readers that love to lose themselves in literature!
Rating: Summary: Not her best.. Review: First off let me say I am a big fan of Hamilton's Anita Blake series and I understand that in series some books are better than others. Well, let me say that Burnt Offerings was my LEAST favorite. For some reason this book left me cold. I thought the story was slow and not in keeping with her usual faster paced stories. There were scenes that I felt were drawn out, especially were Anita is helping put out the fires and rescuing the vampires. And even that scene came late in the book, although the cover tells us that this is what the story is mainly about. I think Hamilton was short on ideas for this book and could have easily moved straight from The Killing Dance to Blue Moon WITHOUT this one. The only interesting thing about the book was the introduction of Asher, Jean- Claude's old friend. I thought his character was appealing and I look forward to seeing him in future books. But this one didn't do it for me, but dont' worry I will love Anita Blake no matter what!
Rating: Summary: Hot story.. Review: I have read all of Ms. Hamilton's Anita Blake books and of all of them this was my favorite one. Anita is a highly intelligent, tough-as-nails, sassy woman and I love her to death! It's about time a heroine did more than cry and faint. Anita makes MEN faint. In this book she helps Jean-Claude take on the Vampire council, the one entity that even Master Vampires fear! All Anita Blake fans should read this.
Rating: Summary: Burnt The Best Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Burnt Offerings, the best of the series so far. I really loved the Vampire Council especially the Traveler and the scene in the waterlogged basement with the vamps was chilling. Would make a great cinematic moment. Exciting!
Rating: Summary: Blue Moom Review: Laurell Hamilton is one of the premier writers of the gendre of our times! She is funny, thoughtful and keeps my wife and I intrigued at every point. It is sad, then, that we both feel Blue Moon was a terrible, disappointing book. We have read all her books with rapt attention-could not put them down. This was a major disappointment. The sudden change in personality, moral values,etc. was not in keeping with the character. The excessive,rambling,(and quite frankly, boring) delving into the "pack" behaviour served no purpose to the plot and left us feeling empty and disappointed. While I could relate to where the author was trying to go, the execution was pitiful. We will purchase the next book, but this one goes in the trash. We sincerly hope Laurell K. Hamilton is not offended by our review; she is extremely talented! I am sure she feels that this is not her best work. Sincerly, Frank & Pam Cannon
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