My review guidelines can be found HERE.Blood Noir
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 16
by Laurell K. Hamilton
Jason Schuyler is a werewolf. He's also one of Anita Blake's best friends, and sometimes her lover. And right now he needs her --not to be a vampire hunter, or a federal marshal, or a necromancer, or even for her rank in the werewolf pack, but because his father's dying. He needs Anita because she's a pretty woman who loves him, who can make him look like an everyday guy, who agrees to go home with him and help him say good-bye to the abusive father he never loved. The fact that Jason is about as much an everyday guy as Anita is a pretty woman is something they figure they can keep under the wraps for a couple of days in a small town. How hard can that be?
Really, by now, Anita Blake should know better.
Marmee Noir, ancient mother of all vampires, picks this weekend to make a move. Somehow, she has cut the connection that binds Anita and Jean-Claude, leaving Jean-Claude unable to sense what is happening. Dangerous even as she sleeps, buried in darkness for a thousand years somewhere beneath the old country of Europe, Marmee Noir reaches out toward power. She has attacked Anita before, but never like this. In Anita she senses what she needs to make her enemies tremble...
COVER ART
• Metallic Scissors... Huh?
PARANORMALITY
• Necromancer, Anita
• Wereleopards, Nathaniel etc.
• Werewolf, Jason
• Vampires, Jean-Claude etc.
• Weretigers
• Bridesmaids and a hysterical bride
SEXUALITY
• M/F/M, with manual restraint and physical restraint
• M/F, sexual healing
• M/F/M/M, psychic rape
REVIEW
• I read this book, 404 pages, in a day. My husband says I read too fast. He might be right, but this IS my third time through this book.
• The story starts out with a very hot threesome, with the men focusing on the woman. I like the way Ms. Hamilton describes Anita's newfound enjoyment of restraint. She is exploring the excitement of being held down/tight but the mental paths are very interesting. Well explained.
• Some hard issues addressed here: Remembered childhood abuse, terminal cancer, and misunderstood sexuality. (See next bullet)
• The story also starts out with an emotional bomb. Jason is one of Anita's closest friends, and he needs her to be a friend. Nothing paranormal, just there for him while he goes through a very hard time in him life. A very natural interaction between two people.
• The first half of the story reads like a contemporary romance. A few paranormal elements thrown in there and there but mostly just Anita and Jason getting through some relationship and family stuff.
• When Anita leaves town, she has to call Jean-Claude (her master) and Micah (her Nimir-Raj). Nathaniel (her animal servant) is already in the loop BUT never does she mention Damian (her vampire servant). A little hole, but one I like to pick at. *wink*
• About a third of the way into the story (really still the set up) there is a big revelation about how Jean-Claude needs to bring his house into order and punishment will have to be doled out, deserved or not. Major stuff here. But all you hear is a synopsis at the end. *sigh*
• Lots of politics flying about here. Weretiger politics, vampire politics and big bad mother-of-all-vampire politics.
• The Ardeur acquires a new flavor for Anita and raises its ugly head inside Richard's.
• This story starts out sweet and understanding. Friends with benefits fighting childhood specters. Then the paranormal creeps in and screws everyone. Insane twists tie up the cliffhanger ending and leave you gasping for air once again.
Read an friends with benefits excerpt HERE.
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3 comments:
Three times?!??? O.o
Ditto what Chris said! 0_0
You're better than I am, I only read it twice. :)
Btw, I like your bullets, you listed everything important about the book.
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Thanks so much for delving into my head. It's scary in here sometimes, so it is nice to have company! Don't step on the zephyr...