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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
2.0
The more I read of Hamilton's books, the more infuriated I get. When I started reading them, I thought they had potential as possible crime-cum-whodunnit stories but they're now becoming almost Mills and Boonish style love stories set against a background of vampires, werewolves and murder threats.
This book carries on in much the same vein. Anita Blake has had someone "take out a hit" on her but this seems to be largely an excuse for her to be locked in rooms with the two other corners of the particular love triangle she's in at the moment. People might like this premiss, but I don't. Had I not bought the book that followed this one in the series, I'd stop reading them now.
This book carries on in much the same vein. Anita Blake has had someone "take out a hit" on her but this seems to be largely an excuse for her to be locked in rooms with the two other corners of the particular love triangle she's in at the moment. People might like this premiss, but I don't. Had I not bought the book that followed this one in the series, I'd stop reading them now.
totallykayt's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Sixth in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter urban fantasy series set in a contemporary St. Louis, Missouri.
The Story
The action really cranks up when Edward calls Anita with the news that he's just been offered a job to assassinate her. And as the attempts fail, the price goes up until someone is going to earn half a million if they can off Anita within two days.
Naturally Anita's self-defense leaves some bodies on the floor and the St. Louis police are not too happy with her. They're so not happy that Anita is shocked to find that they suspect her of a ritual murder. Part of their reaction is the outing of Anita's relationship with Jean-Claude at the opening of Danse Macabre, Jean-Claude's new dance club. Anita doesn't seem quite so trustworthy anymore. And the dead vamp? It's known that Anita can't stand him.
There's also the master vampire, Sabin, who shows up with his human servant (and a necromancer), Domenic, to ask Jean-Claude's help in curing Sabin's illness. They believe that Anita could cure Sabin if she and Domenic focused their powers.
On the Anita-Jean-Claude front, Anita learns that Jean-Claude has been lying about a number of things including the little factoid about why vampires fear necromancers. Fortunately?? Domenic is there to help Anita put them back. On the plus side (for J-C), Jean-Claude finds his heart and realizes he cannot force Anita into anything including a relationship. Nor can he hurt anyone important to her.
On the Anita-Richard side of life, they're fighting. Anita believes Richard must kill Marcus to make a point and save his wolf allies while Richard believes that you must uphold your own moral issues even when it is no longer easy. A lovely moral stand but ineffective when the people you are trying to impress are only impressed by death. A point that slowly but effectively is made with each attack against Anita, when Richard and Anita rescue Stephen from Raina's film studio, and finally when Richard and Anita learn who has put out the contract on her.
Richard finally realizes he must fight for his Pack and he and Jean-Claude hatch their plan to build upon what had happened in Lunatic Café. To share their power. Only, it won't work without Anita.
But the results of the fight don't work for Anita either and she escapes back to Jean-Claude. To his bed. Where Richard finds her. Where her betrayer finds her and gives her over to Raina and Gabriel. Raina fears Anita's power. Gabriel wants to fulfill his snuff film fantasy. The betrayer wants to ensure the survival of her own by taking Anita's men.
Just for Future Reference
Edward makes a joke! "I'm your bodyguard. If you die under my protection, the other bodyguards will make fun of me."
Jamil and Sebastian are some of those on Raina's side. Anita meets Damian…and not in a good way. He challenges her constantly by pushing the limits—all the limits.
My Take
Busy, busy, busy. How Anita finds time to do her job as an animator and date both Richard and Jean-Claude… I am rather impressed by how long she managed to hold out against any sex at all.
Ya gotta appreciate Richard trying so hard to do the right thing no matter what. On the other hand, his stance won't work at the start until he has all the wolves under his control This means Richard has to be hard. Once he's established himself, he can slowly start to ease up. Marcus has already started this process with not killing any human who learns of their secret terms. Yeah, it's slow but eventually Richard would get want he wants. He's already on the brink of losing Anita as she fears she'll lose him.
Speaking of which, WTF! Does Anita really think if she breaks off with Richard and he dies that she won't suffer? Why not be with him for as long as possible. Nooooo. Instead they both have to be so stubborn about "their way or the highway". And Anita is being such a hypocrite…as she discovers when Jean-Claude confronts her over the press coverage for the dance club's opening. She's just as much of a hypocrite over Richard and his wolf when in many people's lights she's just as much a monster as any of them. I think Richard makes a good point when he tells her that she's okay with killing monsters, just not fucking them.
The Cover
The top three-fourths of the cover is obviously a woman's back with what appears to be the shadow of a tree branch across it. The bottom fourth…well, it looks like an ear…
The title is certainly appropriate as the werewolves call sex the Killing Dance and it certainly does rev up in this story.
The Story
The action really cranks up when Edward calls Anita with the news that he's just been offered a job to assassinate her. And as the attempts fail, the price goes up until someone is going to earn half a million if they can off Anita within two days.
Naturally Anita's self-defense leaves some bodies on the floor and the St. Louis police are not too happy with her. They're so not happy that Anita is shocked to find that they suspect her of a ritual murder. Part of their reaction is the outing of Anita's relationship with Jean-Claude at the opening of Danse Macabre, Jean-Claude's new dance club. Anita doesn't seem quite so trustworthy anymore. And the dead vamp? It's known that Anita can't stand him.
There's also the master vampire, Sabin, who shows up with his human servant (and a necromancer), Domenic, to ask Jean-Claude's help in curing Sabin's illness. They believe that Anita could cure Sabin if she and Domenic focused their powers.
On the Anita-Jean-Claude front, Anita learns that Jean-Claude has been lying about a number of things including the little factoid about why vampires fear necromancers. Fortunately?? Domenic is there to help Anita put them back. On the plus side (for J-C), Jean-Claude finds his heart and realizes he cannot force Anita into anything including a relationship. Nor can he hurt anyone important to her.
On the Anita-Richard side of life, they're fighting. Anita believes Richard must kill Marcus to make a point and save his wolf allies while Richard believes that you must uphold your own moral issues even when it is no longer easy. A lovely moral stand but ineffective when the people you are trying to impress are only impressed by death. A point that slowly but effectively is made with each attack against Anita, when Richard and Anita rescue Stephen from Raina's film studio, and finally when Richard and Anita learn who has put out the contract on her.
Richard finally realizes he must fight for his Pack and he and Jean-Claude hatch their plan to build upon what had happened in Lunatic Café. To share their power. Only, it won't work without Anita.
But the results of the fight don't work for Anita either and she escapes back to Jean-Claude. To his bed. Where Richard finds her. Where her betrayer finds her and gives her over to Raina and Gabriel. Raina fears Anita's power. Gabriel wants to fulfill his snuff film fantasy. The betrayer wants to ensure the survival of her own by taking Anita's men.
Just for Future Reference
Edward makes a joke! "I'm your bodyguard. If you die under my protection, the other bodyguards will make fun of me."
Jamil and Sebastian are some of those on Raina's side. Anita meets Damian…and not in a good way. He challenges her constantly by pushing the limits—all the limits.
My Take
Busy, busy, busy. How Anita finds time to do her job as an animator and date both Richard and Jean-Claude… I am rather impressed by how long she managed to hold out against any sex at all.
Ya gotta appreciate Richard trying so hard to do the right thing no matter what. On the other hand, his stance won't work at the start until he has all the wolves under his control This means Richard has to be hard. Once he's established himself, he can slowly start to ease up. Marcus has already started this process with not killing any human who learns of their secret terms. Yeah, it's slow but eventually Richard would get want he wants. He's already on the brink of losing Anita as she fears she'll lose him.
Speaking of which, WTF! Does Anita really think if she breaks off with Richard and he dies that she won't suffer? Why not be with him for as long as possible. Nooooo. Instead they both have to be so stubborn about "their way or the highway". And Anita is being such a hypocrite…as she discovers when Jean-Claude confronts her over the press coverage for the dance club's opening. She's just as much of a hypocrite over Richard and his wolf when in many people's lights she's just as much a monster as any of them. I think Richard makes a good point when he tells her that she's okay with killing monsters, just not fucking them.
The Cover
The top three-fourths of the cover is obviously a woman's back with what appears to be the shadow of a tree branch across it. The bottom fourth…well, it looks like an ear…
The title is certainly appropriate as the werewolves call sex the Killing Dance and it certainly does rev up in this story.
ked90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cherrybomb743's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
hazelrayson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sarahrheawerner's review against another edition
4.0
Anita Blake is a vampire hunter (and maybe a couple other things as well). Her story is kind of like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”-meets-paranormal romance-meets-’90s noir. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d recommend starting with the first book in the series, Guilty Pleasures.
Or not. It’s your life, and you’re free to read whatever books you like in whatever order you wish.
Anyway, I’m not going to recommend this one too heartily. I know that it was one of the first of its kind, but it smacks of “Buffy”, gives you more silly men with absurdly long hair and “puffy shirts” than you can handle, and can get kind of uncomfortable at times.
I also just have some basic issues with Anita Blake as a “strong female character”. Yeah, she has a short temper and loves guns and hates makeup and doesn’t take crap from anyone, but just because she acts very tough-guy doesn’t make her a strong female character.
In fact, the attention paid to her more masculine traits only creates an inherent weakness in what is “traditionally female,” from makeup to kindness.
I’ll do a separate podcast on what makes a true “strong female character” in the near future. :)
Or not. It’s your life, and you’re free to read whatever books you like in whatever order you wish.
Anyway, I’m not going to recommend this one too heartily. I know that it was one of the first of its kind, but it smacks of “Buffy”, gives you more silly men with absurdly long hair and “puffy shirts” than you can handle, and can get kind of uncomfortable at times.
I also just have some basic issues with Anita Blake as a “strong female character”. Yeah, she has a short temper and loves guns and hates makeup and doesn’t take crap from anyone, but just because she acts very tough-guy doesn’t make her a strong female character.
In fact, the attention paid to her more masculine traits only creates an inherent weakness in what is “traditionally female,” from makeup to kindness.
I’ll do a separate podcast on what makes a true “strong female character” in the near future. :)
mollymarsland's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kcrawfish's review against another edition
2.0
Gah the stuff that I liked, I really liked, the stuff that I didn’t like, I HATED.
I wish there was a rating for that, because this either deserves 1 or 4 stars, and it feels inaccurate for me to give it 2....
There was a reason Anita worked in a love triangle at the beginning. She was very much herself, very individual, there was something in her character that the reader (or at least I) found magnetic and entertaining.
That has DRAINED AWAY. I’m stranded with really enjoying certain aspects, like the power and the mythology, but NOW the relationships feel UNREAL. I liked her and she worked with both of her interests in different ways, but now I DON’T love her like I did, and these men are panting after her way harder.
What is happening!?
I wish there was a rating for that, because this either deserves 1 or 4 stars, and it feels inaccurate for me to give it 2....
There was a reason Anita worked in a love triangle at the beginning. She was very much herself, very individual, there was something in her character that the reader (or at least I) found magnetic and entertaining.
That has DRAINED AWAY. I’m stranded with really enjoying certain aspects, like the power and the mythology, but NOW the relationships feel UNREAL. I liked her and she worked with both of her interests in different ways, but now I DON’T love her like I did, and these men are panting after her way harder.
What is happening!?
devansbooklife's review against another edition
4.0
4 Sizzling Stars
This was exciting. An action packed ride right from the start. I couldn't put it down. Very addictive. And then the heat came like a blazing inferno. Like lava pouring out with any real plan or destination. Excellently executed. Can't wait for what is next
This was exciting. An action packed ride right from the start. I couldn't put it down. Very addictive. And then the heat came like a blazing inferno. Like lava pouring out with any real plan or destination. Excellently executed. Can't wait for what is next