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circus_of_damned's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reread: In this installment of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series we see the fallout of the love triangle imploding, but them still tied together through magic. Then add in there being forced together by the vampire council arrival. Now it needs to be stated this book has quite a bit of sexual assult, violence, torture, and abuse present in the story. The vampire council presence extends into the police investigation in this installment, it was done very well in this book. Add in that we meet Nathaniel in this installment and how rocky his relationship starts off. The book was really enjoyable, but the fallout of the love triangle was frustrating given how the romantic relationships evolve in the series.
I love early Anita Blake with the mystery/cop interaction and work, plus early vampire councile interaction and all the wereanimal groups uniting together. I don't like Anita, Richard, and Jean-Claude interactions, the cruel, nasty,spitful, hatrid is understanding but an annoancy none the less. Then there Anita fightin what the star of her being poly, which again understanding but still alittle stupid given future books. Then there Nathaniel and I love him even in the earlier books, but I hate Anita treatment of him. But the mix of sex and emotional stuff compared to action and magic is perfect. So while there are certain parts of this book I'm not crazy about overall I love the tone of the book, esspecially given the later book over focus on sex and relationship drama.
I love early Anita Blake with the mystery/cop interaction and work, plus early vampire councile interaction and all the wereanimal groups uniting together. I don't like Anita, Richard, and Jean-Claude interactions, the cruel, nasty,spitful, hatrid is understanding but an annoancy none the less. Then there Anita fightin what the star of her being poly, which again understanding but still alittle stupid given future books. Then there Nathaniel and I love him even in the earlier books, but I hate Anita treatment of him. But the mix of sex and emotional stuff compared to action and magic is perfect. So while there are certain parts of this book I'm not crazy about overall I love the tone of the book, esspecially given the later book over focus on sex and relationship drama.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
noellelovesbooks's review
3.5
Content Warnings: Blood/gore, body horror, rape, torture, death, gun violence, homophobia, fire injury, murder, sexual assault, sexism, and sexual situations.
When I originally read this I was more interested in all the police work than the interpersonal info/dramas but this read I'm more invested in all the interpersonal stuff lol
When I originally read this I was more interested in all the police work than the interpersonal info/dramas but this read I'm more invested in all the interpersonal stuff lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia, Homophobia, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury
elfflame's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zetarose's review
2.0
I'm writing this review before I have even finished the book. I'm about 30 pages from the end. Yes, that's right I set the book down last night with only 30 pages left to go because I was so bored I was falling asleep. I have had the hardest time getting into this one. The story is mediocre at best and it seems that Hamilton is relying on the strength of the characters to carry this book. The problem is with the boring plot line the characters' idiosyncrasies stand out all the more. I find myself disliking the characters more and more with each book especially the main character and that is not good. Anita has shown almost no real growth in 7 books. Yeah she is a little more open to the monsters but her reactions to stressful situations are so formulaic that even a three year old could guess how Anita is going to react. It's a little disappointing because her character has so much room for growth. Don't even get me started on how Anita goes back and forth between her feelings for Jean Claude and Richard. Speaking of which, where is the relationship development? Why does she choose who she chooses? Why does she stay with him if she's so unsure of her feelings. There needs to be more here. It just seems there is no real reason for the relationship, it just is. I also find myself getting annoyed with Hamilton's repetitive writing style. If I read the phrase, "(fill in the blank), who me?" one more time I think I'll scream. Then there is Jean Claude's moniker for Anita, Ma Petite. I actually like this. It's sweet, endearing and it humanizes Jean Claude a bit but he says it almost every time he addresses Anita and sometimes more than once. It's total overkill. I really want to like these books, because I am such a sucker (pun intended) for vampire novels but it seems I'm always a little disappointed.
cana's review
1.0
I think this is the last one I'm going to read--I was going to reread up to Obsidian Butterfly, but I just cannot stand any of these people or their awful circumstances. Everyone is terrible and the books are just unpleasant.
This book takes a real turn for the stupid--Anita suddenly levels up and starts taking over random supernatural groups for no real reason. We get introduced to a couple members of the coming harem-all while staying true to the slut-shaming and gun fetishizing that we've come to know and love. It's not even fun to hate read.
The really frustrating thing about this series are the flashes of really cool mythology, worldbuilding, and genuinely good action/horror scenes that just get overwhelmed by the...everything else. It's kind of sad.
This book takes a real turn for the stupid--Anita suddenly levels up and starts taking over random supernatural groups for no real reason. We get introduced to a couple members of the coming harem-all while staying true to the slut-shaming and gun fetishizing that we've come to know and love. It's not even fun to hate read.
The really frustrating thing about this series are the flashes of really cool mythology, worldbuilding, and genuinely good action/horror scenes that just get overwhelmed by the...everything else. It's kind of sad.
watermelonprose's review
4.0
This is one of my favourites so far, I love how the relationship has finally developed between Jean-Claude and Anita, yet I still feel sorry for Richard. The actual plot outside of the relationships is interesting and also gets you sucked in. The only problem is Hamilton's use of so much discription and I found myself skipping through heavily described paragraphs of writing.
elisewardlow's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annastarlight's review
4.0
The Anita Blake series is a guilty pleasure of mine. I just don't know why, but I enjoy reading them. I like to see main character Anita struggling with herself and her countless "I'm bigger and badder than you" enemies. I like the horror side of the series. Ms Hamilton definitely has a sick mind sometimes, but it works.
Burnt Offerings was perfect for satisfying my Anita Blake fix. I'm glad Anita is still (kind of) monogamous in this one, from what I've heard she won't really stay that way. The infamous vampire council comes to town, which brings a big bunch of amazing characters like the tortured Asher and another triumvarate.
Anita, as always, runs around waving with her gun and generally kicking ass. She's getting some very interesting powers with Richard and Jean-Claude behind her. But I see a bit of a change in this book; she's mellowing down a bit. Don't take me wrong, she still has attitude problems. But she knows when a person needs a bit of comfort, and she doesn't shy away of giving it.
There was a lot of plot going on in Burnt Offerings. Anita has to deal with the vampire council, an arsonist on a rampage, two kinds of shifters that vie for her attention, and a jealous boyfriend. I wasn't completely satisfied by the way everything wrapped up. Probably just because I wasn't expecting it to be that way.
The Anita Blake series is one that you can't recommend or discommend. You either hate it, or love it. Some people love the early books, but hate the latter. There is just one way to find out to which team you belong, and that is to try it. I personally know for sure, I'm not done yet with Anita.
Burnt Offerings was perfect for satisfying my Anita Blake fix. I'm glad Anita is still (kind of) monogamous in this one, from what I've heard she won't really stay that way. The infamous vampire council comes to town, which brings a big bunch of amazing characters like the tortured Asher and another triumvarate.
Anita, as always, runs around waving with her gun and generally kicking ass. She's getting some very interesting powers with Richard and Jean-Claude behind her. But I see a bit of a change in this book; she's mellowing down a bit. Don't take me wrong, she still has attitude problems. But she knows when a person needs a bit of comfort, and she doesn't shy away of giving it.
There was a lot of plot going on in Burnt Offerings. Anita has to deal with the vampire council, an arsonist on a rampage, two kinds of shifters that vie for her attention, and a jealous boyfriend. I wasn't completely satisfied by the way everything wrapped up. Probably just because I wasn't expecting it to be that way.
The Anita Blake series is one that you can't recommend or discommend. You either hate it, or love it. Some people love the early books, but hate the latter. There is just one way to find out to which team you belong, and that is to try it. I personally know for sure, I'm not done yet with Anita.
natashambrown's review
5.0
enjoyable as always. sexy fun and bandanas.
Anita's character is evolving.
my one problem is she's getting all these new powers and then they disappear and I would hope they return in later books.
love the series though
Anita's character is evolving.
my one problem is she's getting all these new powers and then they disappear and I would hope they return in later books.
love the series though