Rating: Summary: What a huge disappointment! Review: Don't get me wrong, I love Anita Blake, at least up until Burnt Offerings and I have been eagerly awaiting the first installment of Laurell Hamilton's new series. I went out of my way to find a copy of A Kiss of Shadows before the official release date. I even saved it for a weekend read, no interruptions, just a chance to savor Ms. Hamilton's new book. All I can say is, ICK! The book is nothing but sex, no plot to speak of, no real character development, just various permutations of sex in the faerie community. Fairly kinky sex too. I'm no prude, I have no problem with sex as part of the plot as long as it furthers the plot or furthers character development. But this was just distasteful. There was no emotion involved, no storyline, unless you count having sex with goblins, faerie hybrids, blue faeries, green faeries, black faeries and silver faeries as storyline. But hey, the heroine, Merrie Gentry only goes all the way with one of them, so I guess it's only borderline porn.
Rating: Summary: Laurell K. Hamilton is captivating... Review: First of all, let me remind everyone that this is NOT an Anita Blake book... she's writing about the faeries, the fey, and her new heroine is Princess Meredith NicEssus. And although this book is similiar to the Anita Blake books, Meredith is a different character. For example, she likes sleeping in silk instead of Anita's customary long t-shirt.But the book is still awesome... I was lucky to get an advance reading copy since I work at a bookstore. I was still in the process of reading all the Anita Blake books so I couldn't start it until recently. It's sometimes hard to read because you are trying to find some correllation between Meredith's world of the fey and Anita's world of vampires, lycanthropes and all of the other "monsters." It's the same type of alternative history, but a little different. The book itself isn't released until November, but I so suggest that you get it... or at least eventually get it. It maybe isn't the same as the Anita Blake books, but it's still LKH, and still has the power as her other books. :)
Rating: Summary: A good beginning Review: I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book. I have to admit, I'd stopped reading fantasy a long time ago, because I found it was getting formulaic. But I'm very glad to have been introduced to this particular world. It's refreshing to read a book about the fairy folk that doesn't use Tolkien as a template. Here, Hamilton goes back to celtic tradition in bringing her characters to life. The machinations of the Courts are especially a treat. This is clearly intended to be the first book in a series (or perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part), and is a compelling start. The first book hasn't been published yet, and I can't wait for the second!
Rating: Summary: Not your "traditional" fairy book! Review: Unless you count traditional as pre-Tolken. LaurellK. Hamilton has reached far into the past of mythology to bring us ancient folklore. The Fey as they really are: capricious, cruel and totally inhuman. Merry Gentry is a hybrid: human and fey, owing allegiance to all and none. For fans of Anita Blake they will again see a strong female lead character. Rich visual descriptions and dialouge as only LKH can write it. Unlike Anita, Merry is older, wiser and more sure of herself. She has no doubt about who she is and what she wants. But she is a princess too in both Seelie and Unseelie courts. With relatives who will never let her forget she is less than they. Much prefering the life she has created for herself with as a private detective she struggles to keep her past a secret. Forced into a battle of succession she wants no part of, she must act to save her own life. She must make choices before they are made for her. Unless Prince Cel and his followers kill her first...
Rating: Summary: Torn between two men no need to fear ANITA BLAKE IS HERE Review: I thought that I had seen it all, but when I picked up the first Anita Blake about 4 years ago I had no idea what I was getting into. The characters are carefully crafted, the scenarios play out well. There is enough suspense, intrigue, romance and gore to keep the most die hard of romance readers turning the page. I had never read a really good romance novel that acted on the part of things that go bump in the night quite like this one. Laurell K. Hamilton is gaining ground with a series that will certainly change the way you see Dracula and the Wolfman; especially if they look anything like Jean Claude or Richard.
Rating: Summary: I love chocolate but thiese books are sooo much better... Review: Laurell K. Hamilton's books, especially her Anita Blake series, has obviously captured the hearts of thousands of fans around the world. What I love about them is that they are very fast paced, not dull and dragging like your normal series books would be, but exciting, new, and very enticing. The wait is always well worth it. I've never been bored by any of her books, in fact, the longest I've ever taken to read one of her books is five days. "Once you pick it up, you'll never be able to put it down." Daniell had once told me, and guess what? She was right. I've stayed up all night reading these, and I've never regretted doing so. Her books are just the best. I've never met up with any book that rivals hers, and I don't think I ever will...or at least not within the next two or three or maybe even more years. She's just got the best of imaginations, really. She mixes and blends like a great chef, never really measuring, simply judging, so that each batch comes out a bit different, but still perfect. I think the difference between Hamilton and the rest is that she has attitude. This shows up in her characters. Unlike several authors, Hamilton's characters say what they mean...well, all except Jean-Claude. If Anita's not happy, by God she'll let you know. In the past, the heroine has always been perfect, sweet, etc. Well, in real life, there's no such thing as "perfect", but Anita gets damn close, and she's not sweet unless she needs to be, she's got her own mind. Unlike other books, everything doesn't "work out perfectly and everyone lives happily ever after" type thing. There's friction between a few characters, and she lets that be included. Hamilton's the best author you'll find in this division, "on this, I do not lie"--Jean-Claude. Her characters are all so unique, her plot so original, and her way of weaving all of this together into her books is absolutely baffling. All of her books are so exhilaratingly fresh and so very new and different from anything you've ever seen before... Yes, I recommend this book. Of course, I recommend this book. I HIGHLY recommend this book and I really, really suggest you try to find it ASAP, because you've got quite a bit to catch up on, about 8 books in the Anita Blake series already, and several others scattered here and there. Don't worry, you'll be able to finish them within the month, the only problem is finding them. I know you'll love these books, just remember to share them...oh, and do try to sleep at least three hours or four. I know, I know, they're really really good, but you do need some rest every now and then. Au revoir, mes amies. Amicalement, *Grins* Moi
Rating: Summary: Hamilton's Anita Blake Books Are Better Than Chocholate Review: Another reviewer described Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series as being as addictive as heroin and I can not disagree. Hamilton had me so hooked after my first experience with "Bloody Bones" that I proceeded to the nearest bookstore to buy out the rest of the series. Hamilton's characters (whether vampire, nextdoor neighbor, alpha werewolf or police detective) are well developed and likeable; her stories are carefully spun, engrossing and fun. Hamilton's Anita Blake series (See "Burnt Offerings," "The Killing Dance," "Lunatic Cafe," "Bloody Bones," and "Blue Moon")will not only keep a variety of readers interested but addicted and desperately waiting for more!
Rating: Summary: Listen to Ddecember Review: Yep. Darla's right. It's not an Anita book, this one is about some Fey Queen Chick. I dunno, look on the net for her newsletter, it gives a few itty bitty spoilers.
Rating: Summary: Obsidian Butterfly is the next Anita book! Review: Obsidian Butterfly is due to be released January of 2000. Check your search engine for Laurell K. Hamilton and get the details from one of the web pages as well as Laurell's latest newsletter!
Rating: Summary: This isn't an Anita Blake book. Review: A Kiss of Shadows is Ms. Hamilton's new series. On her web sites they call it the Fey series. The next Anita Blake book will be Obsidian Butterfly, and it is due out in 2000. If you want more info on The Anita Blake books and the Fey books go to it's called the Alpha's Lair and it has a news and rumors page.
|