Published 6/7/11 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0425241134

The latest offering in the Anita Blake series, finds Anita out of town on official Marshal duty trailing a group of killers murdering non-clan tigers. Being on official duty is both a blessing and a curse for the story. It means none of her normal bevy of lovers are surrounding her, big yay and small boo cause that also means basically no Richard, which I know is a good thing, but I can’t help myself I do love him. But on the other hand there is not Nathaniel, Jean-Claude, or Micah, no vampire politics, which is kind of weird and wonderful. Is there no Master of the City here? But it also means we get lots of Edward time, which in turn leads to Bernardo and Olaf time which is always a good time.

The case brings Anita to Seattle, which could be any city really, since we don’t see the city, are only told it is Seattle and that the cops and Marshals on the case are unfamiliar. And as much as I love the Marshal aspect of the story, the pissing contest gets a little old, especially this far into the game. I get it, Anita is pretty and dainty and sleeping with the monsters, but the extreme prejudices and constant little dog syndrome/ Napoleon complexes is tiresome. Even if it is realistic, does so much time and woe is me, I’m a girl but I’m as tough as the guys and have to overcompensate to prove it crap have to take up so much page space? I think not, and really, in the Marshals’s defense there wasn’t a lot of actual case work done on her part because she knew the culprits the entire time, the Harlequin, that super-secret vampire and shifter group that cannot be named, and spent most of her time look for ways to go off and hunt them on her own. And she did bring not 1 but 2 of her lovers out, granted after the accusations had been made, but out with her on the case none the less, which did distract her.

And speaking of the big bad, the Harlequin and Marmee Noir have been built up in the series for a very long time, and here they were such a let down. I mean I’m not completely surprised, because how could she really go up against the legendary and survive but I expected a bigger payout. And since Jake was former Harlequin why was he not there, because wouldn’t that werewolf be a huge asset here? Maybe I missed something.

However a couple of key twists, which were probably the least surprising ever, have set up the next arc and their expected conclusion, which hopefully will have bigger surprises and a better conclusion than this one did.

Relationships have shifted. Anita has always been sort of awkward about sex, even if she does engage in a gratuitous amount, but her relationship with Edward has always been more mentor and ally, but never a hint of sexual. He’s always been the yin to her yang, but never so fiercely protective to the point of obsessive. I love Edward, he has the best toys, and that cold confidence is sexy, he always brings more to the table than the others but not everyone has to fall into bed with Anita, and this one feels more and more inevitable, which is sad. Same with Olaf, creepy, psychotic Olaf seems closer to hoping into bed with Anita than Bernardo ever could every time he steps on the page. And back a few books, I wouldn’t have minded a good tumble with Bernardo. And the new Olaf, may even be creepy than the old Olaf.

There is less arduer which is a blessing, a big huge hallelujah but doesn’t keep Anita from finding a new lover. And I mean seriously, when is enough, enough. She has so many men I lose track, most of which we never see, and many I forgot she slept with, why continue to add more unless they bring something to the story, more than filler, please be more than filler, because I this one doesn’t get on my nerves like some of the others. I feel like I need a spreadsheet to keep track, or a world book, can I get a world book with a neatly laid out sex track record?

Over all, the book was very Obsidian Butterfly, good bordering on great, but not one of the best of the series. For new readers, many of the relationships and some of her powers were explained or touched on so it was easy to catch up, though many may have been confused about  Anita being called Necromancer when no other hint of that ability was shown. And whatever happened to raising the dead? Or the animators of Animators Inc? Larry, anyone? For old readers it was a nice refresher.  The story could have used more action, but what action there is was really good. The plot had a good premise, though the ending ruined it a bit. Hit List by no means redeems the series, but brings back a little of that old Anita-world that many of us are fond of, which makes me more than hopeful for the next book.   

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Released: February 28, 2006                       288  pages                          

Publisher: Jove

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 978-0515140873

Taking place shortly after Incubus Dreams Anita finds herself called out of town to help out a co-worker and raise the dead. Because of her growing needs with the Ardeur one of her lovers has to accompany her, and that job falls to Micah, the one lover I could stand to hear less about.

Sex is less of a plot point, and more point of the story here, and all the talk about his size made the few pages seem impossibly long. So much emphasis is really not needed, I get it, the small guy is huge in the pants, but they have been together for a year and this is suddenly an issue seems a little reaching. His history is also greatly explored, but it wasn’t great enough to have its own book, it wasn’t even good enough for this tiny novella.

Micah is not only short in pages, its short in plot. For new readers, it’s a great as a standalone book and a nice introduction into Anita’s world, but for current readers its pretty much a throw away novel. Compared to previous novels is completely subpar. All in all the book is pretty boring, with little payoff in the end, and none of the previous plot points even remotely touched.

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Released: 2004                                 658  pages                          

Publisher: Berkley Books

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 0-425-19824-3

Anita is back with a whole new set of problems. There’s the Brown family, who want her to resurrect their murdered son, which is a major no-no, since the zombie would not only murder his murderer, but also anyone in his way, but she agrees to assist in the investigation. Anita is still struggling with her powers, and she’s not the only one having unexpected problems and increases, so are Jean-Claude, Richard and Damian.

There’s a new threat on the vampire front, this time coming from the Dragon who is preying on the vampire fraction not blood bounded to Jean-Claude, namely, Malcolm’s church followers, the Church of Eternal Light.

Anita’s love-life is again a mess. Between the crushes and jealousy from outsiders, some wanting more, and others, including Anita herself, unsure of what they really want ,its all more than one girl should really have to deal with. And Anita really isn’t dealing all that well.

And there are a series of vampire serial killings involving strip club workers and patrons.

This book is not only big, it’s a bit of a big jumble, and not so cleanly wrapped up in the end like the previous novels. In fact many things are left undone, but there are a few that take the first steps to resolution. Richard’s change in attitude is touched on, hopefully paving the path back to the old Richard. The vampire political intrigue looks as though it’s not going to go away any time soon, as more and more of the story is over taken by it. But Anita is lightening up a little, seriously just a teeny tiny bit and exploring her powers more, which means exploring the powers of those around her.

She takes yet another lover, and renews a former relationship, but little else gets solved. Although the there were plenty of holes in the story, and much left unresolved, it was still a decent read. Hopefully the next novel picks up slack and resolves the issues or at least the cases.

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Released: 2003                                 405  pages                          

Publisher: Berkley Books

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 0-425-18836-1

Cerulean Sins finds Anita again in a whole heap of trouble, but at least her love life is in order, kinda. She’s happily dating Jean-Claude and Micah, living with Micah and Nathaniel, and takes a new lover for a multitude of reasons one of which is for protection. Her professional relationship with Dolph is all but gone, which truly sucks since with Dolph goes much of the police cooperation that she really could have used.

There’s a series of brutal rapes and murders which appear to be the work of a shapeshifter, and if that weren’t bad enough Jean-Claude gets a visit from Musette and her entourage whom represent his maker Belle Morte, who of course have a hidden agenda. There is also a group of rogue mercenaries looking to recruit Anita for some super secret mission.

 Anita too easily outwits and outmaneuvers her enemies. Either no one is smarter than Anita, or she just gets really lucky. Belle Morte looks to be positioning herself to go to war with the Mother of Darkness who of course seems to have an interest in Anita. Richard makes a showing when Anita needs him, but his part in the whole is very small. Asher takes on a bigger role in this one, but with as many emotional problems as he has, he’s surely to be more headache than he’s worth, and I say that with complete sadness since I do adore his wounded character.

Sticking with the previous formula, the pacing is good, with the action more intense in the last half, and the wrap-up very quick. Anita’s life outside of the vampire world is shrinking rapidly, and getting a little page time with Zerbowski was a little bittersweet.

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Released: 2001                 424  pages                          

Publisher: Berkley Books

Format: Paperback

ISBN: 0-425-18168-5

After spending the last two books out of town, the newest book finds Anita not only in town but also in a whole new heap of trouble. Anita is determined to renew her connection between the men that she’s tied to, Jean-Claude and Richard, and all the people that are connected to them. She continues to grow closer to Jean-Claude, accepting all his flaws, while hold Richard at arm’s length, picking and scrutinizing his every insecurity. No matter what he does it’s not right unless he’s doing exactly what Anita wants.  

And the men aren’t her only problem, especially not when alphas are disappearing from weaker Were groups, and new alphas arrive on the scene shaking up the balance of things. Micah is looking to unite his pard with Anita’s wereleopards, but Jacob is looking to tear Richard’s pack apart. There’s also the ardeur, the power to feed off lust, that Anita only recently discovered that Jean-Claude had infects her when he feeds through her, and now she must feed it as well.

New species are discovered, and Anita’s powers are tested further as she discovers things she never knew she could do. Anita is turning into something she should hate, she’s asking of others what she herself could never do, which should be wrong. She has grown a lot since the series has started, but she takes several steps back. Her selfish streak is widening, and her need for dominance annoying.

And as if one infection isn’t enough, she’s infected a second time by something completely different. There is a lot going on in this one, which makes for an interesting sometimes hard to follow story, and a messy  plot.  Anita’s logic is becoming increasing more illogical, and her morals continue to crumble. Thankfully the epilogue ties up the loose ends that the story hastily wrapped up.

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