Rating: 
Summary: Obsidian Butterfly / The Edward Book
Review: As Laurell Hamilton said in the opening acknowledgements, this book is for the Edward fans out there. (Edward is the sociopathic bounty hunter we know from the earlier Blake books.) People who haven't read the rest of the Anita Blake series won't get much out of this one; unlike its predecessors, it doesn't bother explaining past events and relationships, and new readers may be completely lost. However, assuming you've read the first eight books of the series, there's a lot to be enjoyed in Obsidian Butterfly. The author does a wonderful job with the characters in this book, especially Edward, and watching them develop and interact in new situations is a treat. Though only Anita and Edward are familiar from the previous books, a new supporting cast of surprisingly deep characters makes its appearance. It's enough to make most readers overlook the shallow, muddled plot and the irritatingly repetetive self-analysis by the hero, who narrates the book. Despite the excellent character development, witty dialogue, top-notch action sequences, and morbidly fascinating gore, this is not one of Laurell Hamilton's best books. Add the fact that this book is unsuitable for readers new to the series, and it becomes a poor choice for Laurell Hamilton's hardback debut.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Laurell has read the first 5 chapters aloud at a sci/fi con. What can we say but WOW! Edward calls in his favor and Anita runs to Santa Fe to help out. Edward also has a bombshell to drop Anita's way. You won't believe it till you see it. The things we learn about Edwards private life will shock you! This series just keeps getting better and better!
Rating:
Summary: Best book so far!
Review: I've read all the previous Anita Blake books, and I have to say this book gave me a pleasant surprise after the crap that was "Blue Moon". Blue Moon was the previous book and had so much sex and porn inclinations in it, that I was skipping whole sections at one go. Now I'm just a regular guy who loves the occasional porn, but Blue Moon really went overboard. In Obsidian, the story was interesting, and there was surprisingly little sex. It felt like Laurell finally woke up and concentrate on writing a good story instead of trash. Well done!
Rating:
Summary: Edward/Ted Rocks! As Does Anita, Obviously!
Review: Laurell Hamilton dedicated "Obsidian Butterfly," to her "Edward fans" - meaning that nice guy Ted Forrester, whose alter ego Edward, a sociopathic assassin, co-star, along with protagonist Anita, in this ninth novel in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Edward, is a hit man specializing in monsters - vampires, lycanthropes, even an occasional human. He is an equal opportunity killer, a predator, no doubt about it. Monsters call him "Death," but then they call Anita "Executioner." Both have bad, but honest, raps in the world of the undead. Edward is also Anita's deadliest ally and good friend, when he's not fantasizing about killing her in a duel to the death to see which is faster on the draw. The book opens with a telephone call, Edward to Anita. He wants a favor. She owes him. He needs her help, backup assistance, in Santa Fe, NM, now. What else can Anita do, but go?
Edward's sociable half, Ted, meets her at the airport. Ted Forrester is Edward's only legal identity, as well as the persona he assumes when dealing with most humans. He is a bounty hunter, it looks better on a business card than assassin. The ease with which Edward switches back and forth, between himself and the likeable Ted, is spooky. Then again, Richard Zeeman, Anita's primary love interest, switches to his werewolf form quickly. And vampire Jean-Claude, the other love...forgive me, I digress. But you get the drift. Ted, rather than Edward, meets Anita because his fiance and her two children are outside waiting for them. Engaged? Her name is Donna, a New Age, naive single mother with an adolescent son and a little girl who could pass for Shirley Temple. Ted must have popped the question while Edward was focused elsewhere, but both halves appear to be extremely attached to this Norman Rockwell-like family. Ted/Edward realize he is unable to maintain normalcy long enough to marry. Also, anyone he loves becomes a potential hostage for his numerous enemies.
The New Mexican authorities, police and FBI, have asked Ted to assist them in an unspeakably savage serial murder case. The few survivors have been skinned alive and mutilated, the dead were brutally ripped limb from limb. Yeachh! Supposing that the predator(s) might be supernatural, Edward contacted Anita. Despite Anita's record as a consultant to the St. Louis Regional Preternatural Investigation Team, the bigoted local police resent her interference, especially the Lieutenant, who thinks she's a witch. Working alongside Edward and Anita are the backup team, Olaf and Bernardo. Olaf is an unrepentant rapist, who hates Anita on sight, especially since Edward thinks so highly of her. And hunky Bernardo is more than willing to have an extremely short-term, intimate relationship with her, which Edward strongly supports. He really wants her to distance from Richard and Jean-Claude.
All known monster species are eliminated as possible perpetrators during the investigation, but there is definitely dark magic involved with the crimes. The clues point to magic which was once known to the Aztecs. The search takes our team from the local Vampire Queen, Itzpapalotl, to the nearest den of werewolves, their Ulfric and his pet "'witch," a fellow necromancer, like Anita. Anita senses a power so strong it turns her blood cold, and has since day one. Ultimately, this is about good vs. evil. I'm rooting for the good guys, although sometimes it is hard to tell them apart. The thrills, chills and mystery along the way will rivet you to your seat, and your eyes to the page. Even with the obvious absence of the romantic triumvirate and the unusual suspects, "Obsidian Butterfly" provides an excellent read.
My only complaint, are the initial 40 pages, which find Anita and Edward bickering, bantering, threatening, etc. Enough, Ms. Hamilton! We all know Ms. Blake is a tough lady. You bog the reader down with an unwieldy vaudeville act as an introduction to the story. This gets old real fast. I decided to rate the book 5 stars, however, because the storyline and narrative are spellbinding - even after the bad beginning. As always, Laurell Hamilton and cohorts rock!!
Jana
Rating:
Summary: The last Anita Blake I'll read....SPOILER WARNING
Review: I read this book to find out about Edward and in that, I was satisfied. For the most part, the story had enough twists and action to keep me going.
However, this is the last Laurell K. Hamilton book I will read. She's gone over to the Dark Side and not in a good way. Her writing has gone from humor to erotica to hard erotica to sick violence.
"I don't sleep with vampires," Anita Blake was known to say in her first novels. "I kill them."
I could forgive her for sleeping with Jean-Claude. Hey, the menage a trois was interesting, but it took up too much space when I was reading for the mystery, interplay between good and evil, and action. And, Anita was spending waaay too much time on "Why am I doing this?" internal dialogues when she wasn't involved with the Richard and Jean Claude.
Then, the books got more violent. Women were abused, then men. I've had it with this last book. Yes, bad things happen to babies, but there is one scene in "Obsidian Butterfly" that is completely inexcusable. Having lived in Oklahoma City when the bomb blew up the Murrah Building, I found what LKH wrote about the babies in the nursery cruel and completely unnecessary. An author can paint tragedy with a light enough brush that we have an idea of happening without wallowing and being almost obsessive about it.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: This book was action packed from page one till the end! The action never stopped. It wasn't as steamy as some of the other books in the series, but nevertheless you won't be able to put this book down! Anita is stronger than ever and Edward, well, we'll put it this way. You see a different side of Edward. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! You'll love this fantastic read!
Rating:
Summary: Only 3 Stars.....(Spoiler)
Review: Normally, I don't like to give too much away, but I didn't see anyone else mention this, so I thought I would.
I understand the need to show just how bad, the bad guy really is, BUT there is a scene in the book that I found completely distasteful and just not needed at all. Anita is in the hospital guarding some of the 'victims' when one gets loose and enters the hospital's nursery. Now, I would have found the scene MUCH more suspenseful if Anita is battling it out while trying to protect the babies, but LKH takes some of them out of the equation in a most distasteful manner. One I found almost offensive. It wasn't needed and I wish it wasn't in the book.
Like a few others I chalk that up to poor editing. If the book had been thoroughly looked over, one hopes a good editor would have pointed out the offensive nature of the scene.
I do disagree about the introduction of the bad guy, you knew all along it wasn't who you thought it was, and LKH had enough nuances in the book that the baddie was kept on the front-burner.
Not the strongest in the series, but it had its moments. I really liked getting to know Edward, and I especially liked the introduction of Olaf's character. I hope that he revisits Anita in a later book. Bernardo was another tempting character, and I hope he also resurfaces.
Truthfully, the only reason I gave this particular book three stars, was that one particular chapter. I just found the way it was handled offensive for some reason, and I don't think it was needed. It put a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the book.
Rating: 
Summary: doesn't fit
Review: unlike most people who have reviewed this book, i did not like it. it doesn't fit the series and seems to throw everything off. i've read every book and if you skip this book and go to narcissis, the series will stay true. this one just wasn't impressive.
Rating:
Summary: Editor, where for art thou, editor?
Review: A good, but flawed entry in the series that is badly in need of an editor. It has the humor, gore, action, body count and tension that all her other books have up through this novel and I think, with regard to literary quality and being true to the writing, this is one of her better efforts, despite its flaws.
I was ambivalent about the changes in Edward, at first, but realized that the his character required these changes to have some depth and make him, and the story, more interesting.
Anita's growing moral ambiguity was good to see but it grew repetitive, bordering on whiny at times. The juxtaposition of her own flagging ethics and those without any ethics at all was a nice touch. The character of Donna is, sadly, not as much a caricature as one could wish.
Clearly some thought went into this novel; thoughts about how characters relate and change, thoughts about the consequences of actions and relationships, more so than in most horror novels and I appreciate that. There is one flaw that editting can't save and that's the nature of Anita herself.
I get the feeling that Ms. Hamilton is beginning to write herself into a Mary Sue corner with Anita. The charcter is getting more powerful so the Big Bad has to be more powerful with each encounter. It will get to a point where Anita will become TOO powerful to be interesting or to be challenged by the bad guys she has to face. Perhaps that's why the most recent novels have devolved into almost farcical sex romps and not the stated reason of 'they don't want women writing sex so I write it and write it raunchy'.
Beyond that the recurrent editting problems drag this book down and and turn a good read into mediocrity at times.
Ms. Hamilton's publishers seem to hide their editors when her manuscripts arrive in their offices and it appears her first/second draft efforts are sent immediately to the presses without the most cursory of reads. Frequent repetition of metaphors, obvious repetition of a point the characters covered before, restating, in almost the same words, thoughts and feelings frequently throughout the book, spelling mistakes... a good 50 to 100 pages could have been cut by making these simple edits and this would have been a better novel.
I do have to say, though, introducing the penultimate bad guy in the last 80 pages (a few previous mentions not withstanding) was slipshod. That storyline, alone could have been better handled and made the connection to the Big Bad more seemless. As it was, it was a set piece for some tough guy action and some squick that made me truly uncomfortable.
I like this series; the books are fun, engaging without requiring too much mental heavy lifting but I'm irritated by the carelessness.
I give it 3 stars because it was better than I expected but it could have been a 5 with some care and a third/fourth draft.
Rating:
Summary: Where is the heat??
Review: I have really enjoyed reading the Anita Blake series up to this book, however, when I got to this book I felt like something was missing. I really enjoyed the sexual tension between Anita and her various men and fellow monsters. I got about half was through the book and really thought about just going on to the next book instead. I really love the relationship between Anita and Edward, the "this is what you are if you cross that line." type friction, but I think that this could have been covered maybe in a couple of chapters without having to resort to a full book that just drags you kicking and screaming through the whole bloody (pun intended) and somewhat disgusting book. The homosexual scenes I know I could have done without ever having read about. I may continue with the series just to see if Ms. Hamilton gets back to the normal writing that I am used to, but if there is another book like this, I may decide NOT to finish it for that exact reason. Unless you really, REALLY love and are desperately interested in hearing about Edward and his psychopathic tendancies, I would recommend just skipping this book and going on to the next one in the series instead.
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