Reviews

Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton

crystalstarrlight's review against another edition

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2.0

"You are making this too complicated."

Anita Blake is woken in the middle of the night by a call from Daniel, Richard's younger brother. It appears while Richard was in Tennessee studying trolls and such for his master's thesis that he has been thrown in jail for rape. Anita immediately comes to the rescue, along with Asher, Damien, Jason, Jamil, Cherry, and a few other were's, against the explicit orders of the Master of the City, Colin. Can Anita clear Richard's name, keep her troop alive, and learn her burgeoning new abilities?

I'm really on the fence with the rating on this one. There were some key plot elements that I liked, but more than ever, there were parts that bugged the hell out of me.

I've never been a fan of Anita. I've always thought she's been b!tchy and unlikable, thinking more with whatever weapon she has at hand then with her brain. But Anita here is somehow even more unlikable than she's been in the last 7 books.

+ She calls Cherry a slut on numerous occasions for wearing "slutty clothes"--and then proceeds to wear a velvet midriff baring blouse with a neckline so low she had to wear a special black bra.

+ She basically causes the fight with Colin because she insists on barging in and fighting with the native vampires.

+ While the situation is critical and people are severely injured, she starts talking about people's sexual orientation, as if it is her business who they have sex with.

+ She criticizes Richard for sleeping around, when she cheated on Richard with Jean-Claude.

+ She is upset when Richard refuses to be monogamous unless Anita dumps Jean-Claude but expects Richard to respect her relationship with Jean-Claude. Anita also makes out with at least THREE guys with whom she is not in a relationship: Nathaniel, Asher, and Damien.

+ Anita resorts to torture or coercion TWICE in order to obtain information (one of those times, she refuses to allow medical treatment until she finds out what she wants) and then justifies her actions and "becoming the monster".

+ She never turns herself in for MURDER and TORTURE.

Okay, so before she was b!tchy, trigger-happy and impulsive, but at least she didn't commit blatant crimes (murder, torture, etc.) and then come across as the Spotless Pure and Holy Mother of God (well, she does hem and haw about "becoming the monster").

The books have already started to move away from the formula of the earlier entries--and not in a good way. I may not have been fond of the "Monster of the Week" plot device, but at least the earlier books bothered to HAVE a plot, a beginning, middle, and end.

The shame is, there IS a good plot in here. I liked Anita leaving to "rescue" Richard. I thought that if we had introduced the troll/corrupt cop/hidden artifact portion earlier in the novel, we would have a lot stronger of a novel.

Instead, the first half is mainly about Anita making people mad with her big, fat mouth. She walks into another vampire's territory, after he told her not to come, and expects him to just lie down and roll over. I'm sorry, Anita, choices have consequences. I'm sure if some self-important "Vampire Hunter" (because, honestly, when was the last time Anita actually hunted a Vampire?) barged into Jean-Claude's territory, you wouldn't hesitate to jump onto her and scare her away.

Anita's actions end up with Nathaniel badly injured (though, if LKH was a good author, Nathaniel would have been DEAD). To save his life, Anita has no problems throwing both Damien's AND Asher's lives on the life. For ONE GUY. That she doesn't know that well and DOESN'T EVEN LIKE.

The middle portion is mostly about Anita wanting to hump anything with a d!ck. As I said above, she makes out with THREE guys she is not in a relationship with and has sex with Richard. When she is dating Jean-Claude. So basically, she is cheating on her boyfriend, YET AGAIN.

The latter portion tries to add a plot, but it's so late in the game, it has to be hastily wrapped up LKH-style: meaning, Anita talks (argues) with someone who knows all the answers to the mystery. Once again, I am floored that Anita is considered so "smart". Half of the time, she wanders around having no f@#$ing clue what is going on, asking people over and over and over to explain the plot for her and the audience.

As if this weren't bad enough, the middle and latter halves bring up the first hints of the increased sexuality that I've heard plagues the latter books. Damien reveals to Anita that Jean-Claude is basically an incubus; also, Anita learns she must "be more comfortable" with sex when dealing with her wereleopards (because they are SO SEXUAL RAWR). Several times, Anita has to make out, disrobe, or do something sexual for some plot convenience--distraction, because of some arcane, never-before heard of plot device, etc. And then we have so much rape. It seems like, in order to show the audience who the bad guys are, LKH has them rape someone--and of course, it's usually the females.

I don't think I would mind these so much if it didn't feel so tacked on. Sure, the books have always had a sexual bent; but never in the earlier books did you have so much talk about sex and its relation to sloppily constructed, silly vampire/werewolf/wereleopard laws.

And then the clothes!! I'm pretty sure all the men are impotent (probably the women too), as it seems no one can find a pair of pants that isn't "painted on".

And the writing!! Good God, LKH has never been the most stellar writer, but at least I didn't have to read the phrase "A glob of something thicker than blood" a billion times per book in earlier books.

BUT there were parts I liked. The plot elements I described, along with a few key characters. Asher still seems pretty cool. I really enjoyed Jamil (who gives the review its title). I enjoyed seeing Anita and Richard get back together, and I nearly fainted to see a somewhat competent, powerful female, Marianne. And Marianne ACTUALLY MENTORS Anita (Anita doesn't know everything OMG)!

This is not the worst of the series--but it is close. You can already see the shift in the series, and if you didn't like the change in "Burnt Offerings", you are probably not going to like it here. Which is a shame, because LKH does have some really good ideas that, if she had trimmed away the fat, could have made a really good novel. 2.5 stars rounded down to 2 stars.

linabird03's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

kathydavie's review against another edition

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5.0

Eighth in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter urban fantasy series set in an alternate St. Louis, Missouri.

My Take
There's the dream invasions, the wicked dance that Jean-Claude wants one more time… The conflict between loving Jean-Claude and how the marks that have changed things between the three of them has created some issues between them. And she seems to forget that this situation is something unique to all three of them, even as she expects Jean-Claude and Richard to inform her of everything…*eye roll*… Wah.
"Love sucks. Sometimes it feels good. Sometimes it's just another way to bleed."Then there's Colin. Jeez. What a wimp! And Anita's reaction to his refusals allow Jean-Claude to pull out all the stops.

Oh, crack me up. Zane and Cherry are Tweedle-punk and Tweedle-slut! Why should Anita have to tell Cherry or Zane they should have dressed to blend in? Wouldn't it be simple common sense? Tennessee? In the countryside? Hullo?The trip does provide a opportunity to get to know Nathaniel better, for Anita to think about him (his hair is knee-length at this point).

It is interesting that Jamil is concerned about Anita's reactions to Richard's activities, especially considering what he was like in The Killing Dance, 6.

This ain't a subtle town. And I do love how easily Anita and friends take the bad guys out. Again and again and again. It's an indictment of bullies with lessons in self-defense and leverage. It is a great way for Anita to earn Shang-Da's respect and reinforces Jamil's. I like the phone call Anita made after the fight. Pissed that sheriff off, LOL.

This, this is what really ticks me off about Anita. For some reason, she thinks she's the only person who can screw around. She's seeing Jean-Claude, bedding him, and not seeing Richard. When that changes, she still expects to sleep with Jean-Claude and Richard, but they can't see anyone but her?? She actually expected him to be celibate? Yeah, I get that seeing Richard eat Marcus was totally gross — And it sure took Richard long enough to figure out what his part was in sending Anita screaming. And she'd been investigating, researching wolves, so she what? She just stopped at one point? Didn't bother to really get into it? Didn't bother to ask?

Whoa, Jean-Claude fears Richard? It is astonishing how jealous and insecure Jean-Claude is.

And again, another reason why I let her irritating off-and-on behavior slide by is that snarky attitude. I do love it.

It's lucky for Anita that she came here, as she will finally learn how to use her magic. To protect herself. To learn that touch does not automatically mean sex!

The Story
Boy Scout Richard has been jailed for rape and Anita flies to Tennessee to rescue him—there will be two full moons this month and Richard cannot be in jail when even one of them rises. Jean-Claude is resigned. Anita is going despite the denial of safe passage from the Master of that City, Colin. Good thing Jean-Claude insisted on Anita taking backup because not only is Colin upset but the local law isn't too happy with her presence nor are the bad guys paying off the law.

Naturally, it just isn't an Anita Blake novel without lots of problems and the local Pack certainly doesn't help. Vern is a bit insecure and his lupa a bit psychotic. A benefit is that Anita does meet her magic teacher, Marianne. Anita also learns a lot more about her powers, scary as that may be!

Jean-Claude has mixed feelings as Anita brings Richard to a fuller partnership with more power for their triumvirate even though it means he must share her more.

The Characters
Anita Blake is a vampire executioner—the Executioner — and a necromancer with a strong sense of what's right. And, in spite of her relationship and love for Jean-Claude, the vampire Master of the City of St. Louis, she still loves Richard. She's also the lupa for the pack, Nimir-Ra for the pard, and Jean-Claude's human servant. And mildly regretting the different path her life took, away from the preternatural biology she had wanted to pursue.

Richard Zeeman, Anita's former fiancé is pursuing his master's degree in biology, studying Lesser Smokey Mountain Trolls, and he loves the outdoors. He's the St. Louis alpha of the Thronnos Rokepack and one-third of the triumvirate with Anita and Jean-Claude. Only his twenty-four-year-old baby brother, Daniel Zeeman, knows his secret. Richard's other brothers include Glenn (his wife is always butting heads with Charlotte), Aaron is a widower, and a sister, Beverly, who's married with her fifth baby on the way. Charlotte Zeeman is their very strong mother from whom Richard learned his boy scout values. Jamil and Shang-Da are Richard's werewolf enforcers, his Sköll and Hati, who followed him to Tennessee.

Asher, a master vampire, is Jean-Claude's vampire lieutenant since Burnt Offerings, 7. Julianna had been Asher's human servant whom he'd shared with Jean-Claude.

The Crew Who Forms Anita's Entourage
Jason Schulyer, Jean-Claude's snack and pet werewolf, has turned 21. Turns out, he reads. Shhh. Zane; Cherry, fired from her nursing job when they learned of her shifter nature; and, Nathaniel, a stripper at Guilty Pleasures who loves pain and doesn't know when to say stop, are the wereleopards along as food for Asher and the 1,000-year-old Damian, a former helmet-wearing, ax-wielding Viking and one of the vampires Anita roused.

Tennessee
Betty Schaffer is the slut who claims Richard raped her.

Milo Hart, a bodyguard, works for Frank Niley, a man too interested in the land the trolls inhabit, is an art dealer specializing in mystical artifacts. Howard Grant is his clairvoyant. Linus Beck is a 500-pound sorcerer calling up demons.

Colin is the local Master of the City, a night hag, a mora, a vampire who feeds from fear, who can cause it; Barnaby is the one who rots. Collin's human servant is a Native American, Nikki. Donald is the vampire who delivers the message with Thompson.

The Blue Moon Cabins
The cabins are run by Verne, the local Ulfric; Roxanne is his psychotic lupa. Some of the other girls Richard "dated" include Lucy Winston and Mira, a couple of the local wolves, and Dr. Carrie Onslow. The Pack's vargamor, a neutral wise woman, is Marianne; Roland is her wolf bodyguard. Erin is one of Verne's wolves whom he lost to Colin's "tender mercies". Eric, the pack Freki, seems to have issues. The cowardly Dr. Patrick. Ben is Verne's offering to Anita as a bodyguard replacement.

The Myerton police
Officer Maiden drops a few clues here and there. Sheriff Billy Wilkes doesn't seem to like Richard or any of his friends. Deputy Thompson is a jerk, a goon with a badge. Judge Henry is their justice. Mel Cooper, Chuck, and Terry Fletcher help the police out.

I adore Millie. She's a grandma on whose porch Shang-Da's been keeping guard, and she stands up for what's right! Ivan Greene is the farmer whose land the trolls have been living on, but he died six months ago and his son is not the same man.

The state police
Captain Henderson is in charge of this murder scene. Sergeant Michaels.

Catherine Maison-Gillette is Anita's criminal lawyer friend with a good recommendation for a criminal attorney: Carl Belisarius. Bob is Catherine's patient husband.

Animators, Inc. is the company for which Anita raises the dead. Bert Vaughn is her greedy boss. Gerald Mallory is the grandfather of the vampire executioner business.

Brewster's Law seems to be something that might give vampire executioners federal marshal status as well as take away the vampires' status as legal citizens. Currently, vampire executioners are licensed by the state. Means they have to get a license to execute in each new state the vampire flees to and they can't help out in a crime unless invited. The munin are the ancestral memories of the lukoi, spirits of the dead.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a blue tone-on-tone with the nude torso of a woman with her arms crossed in front of her and a wolf baying at the moon behind her.

The title refers to a rare event in nature, a Blue Moon, a second full moon in the same month. A time when werewolves can't avoid the change.

hazelrayson's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

readingrebel0628's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-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

devansbooklife's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 Fun Stars
This series is entertaining as hell. Adventurous, thrilling, violent, and deadly all tossed together with a slice of sarcasm. Anita is very easy to like but her wishy washey ways make her less than what she could be. And it is getting a bit overwhelming with the lust and constant sexual energy that goes on. That may break my streak on this series but for now I am still holding on. When those things take over the majority of the story I will have to move on to something different. But until then I will go back to having my cake and eating it too. I mean that is totally allowed after this book right?

hellxriver's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75


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afelder's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

abumblebeee's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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julieabe89's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This had some interesting developments for the characters. I have a lot of thoughts on Anita's shaming of other women all the time. She's got big "not like other girls" energy.