Obsidian Butterfly

Wow, it took me a while to finish this book. I will admit that I have been busy, BUT, this is an unusual amount of time for me even with a busy life.

I have to say that this Anita Blake novel was not as good as even the last. So, they are going a little downhill for me. I peaked with Bloody Bones, I think. In this edition of Anita's extraordinary life, she goes to New Mexico to help her friend and co-monster slayer, Edward. It is a good look into Edward's life, as the novel focuses on him and his world. There are mentions of the vampire and the werewolf in Anita's life, but they are not in the book themselves. So, for the fact that Edward's character is explored and revealed, the book was worth reading.

That being said...the plot was very confusing to me. The monster that they were tracking and its motives still eludes me and I am finished the book. I didn't really follow the how and why and even some of the who of that part of the story line. It was confusing and quickly explained and quickly wrapped up. It took me so long to finish this book because I simply wasn't that interested in that part of the story. I found other things to do, rather than read, and that isn't like me. When I have the time, reading is what I choose to do. While reading this book, I chose to watch TV or a movie, and on one occasion actually rake leaves. Not much of an endorsement for the book.

Laurell K. Hamilton also goes farther with the gore and disturbing acts of violence in this book. With each book, I think she can't get any darker or any more horrendous with her victims or the level of violence. And each time she proves me wrong. In this book there is very disturbing violence that takes place in the nursery of a hospital and also child sexual abuse. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

I will keep going in the series. I am still interested enough to see where life takes Anita. But I am not going to pick up the next book right away. I am going to read something else first, then pick up the next one.

Happy Reading!

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, was a fascinating novel. I didn't expect to be as enthralled with it as I was. It is at once horrifying, funny, shocking and thought provoking. Full of symbolism and political commentary, it was a page turner until the very end.

The Handmaid's Tale is set in some future year that is not specified. There have been natural disasters, and a government coup of sorts, that change life as people know it. It is a gripping diary of one woman's journey through a new society where everything isn't as it should be. Families are torn apart, rights stripped away, new roles mandated and punishments given that are reminiscent of a less civilized time. As this woman makes her way through this new society in her new role, she must figure out the politics of the relationships between her and those she serves, with others in the household, as well as the relationships between the other household members themselves. She must also learn to deal with devastating loss and decide whether to continue on as instructed, fight, or give up and die.

It was a fascinating novel, filled with horrific things that don't seem so far fetched. This book makes you realize how fragile a society can be and how quickly things can change. It was especially appropriate to be reading it during our election process. I read this with my "book club girls" and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We had more to discuss from this book than we have in a long time. I would highly recommend this book.

Happy Reading!

Next Pick

I have to take a break from the Vampire Hunter novels. I think it is time. My next pick is a Book Club book. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I have to finish it quickly, because we meet tomorrow night! From what my friends have told me, it should be a quick read, the kind of book you can't put down.

Happy Reading!

Blue Moon

I just finished Blue Moon the next Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel. This novel focuses more on Anita's relationships with the lycanthropes in her life -- the werewolves and other "shapeshifters". It was just as action packed and gruesome as the other novels. Anita learns more about what the relationship she has forged with the vampire and the werewolf means, and how to control the magical powers that she possesses. Some important changes in that relationship happen. She also crosses a personal line that, I thought, changes the reader's viewpoint of her. But in the end, she redeems herself with her personal faith. The line she crosses is justified because she did it for noble purposes.

This novel took me a little more time to get through. Maybe because I have read so many of the same thing in a row, maybe just timing - not being able to read as much because life was too busy. I did enjoy the book as much as the others. It did not stand out to me as a favorite.

Happy Reading!

Burnt Offerings

Burnt Offerings is book seven in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels written by Laurell K. Hamilton. It was not the best one that I have read. But the series still has me hooked.

In this edition of Anita's life, the Vampire Council pays her vampire boyfriend a visit. The result is lots of gruesome torture, tense moments, and more information into the politics of being a vampire. It is a fast paced novel, but not as gripping as the others. Anita's character doesn't develop much further in this novel. There is a side plot of Anita helping with a police investigation of vampires being burned, that sort of gets forgotten in the middle of the novel. I felt that the end was just wrapped up too nicely and quickly. The writing is still witty and fun, with lots of macabre thrown in, too.

These novels never disappoint when it comes to the grotesque stuff nightmares are made of, and the author has begun to throw a lot of sex in, too. The novels started PG-13 and are now becoming NC-17! From what I hear, they will soon move into XXX.

I am the type if reader that will need to see what happens to Anita and her friends as the story continues. I can't put a book down without finishing it, even if I don't like the book. Kinda stupid, I know, because I waste my time on something that I don't really enjoy. But that is how I am. I know that I will probably see this series through to the end. But I have heard that the books don't get any better from this point on. Regardless, I am already reading number seven, Blue Moon.

Happy Reading!

The Killing Dance is the next installment in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not like the ending, but I believe that if a novel can evoke an emotion, even one of disappointment at a character's choice, the author has done his or her job.

In this novel, the werewolf in Anita's life finally has to embrace who and what he is, and make a play to be the Alpha for the pack. There is a price on Anita's head, so in addition to the political mess within the lycanthrope community, she has to escape multiple attempts on her life. Oh, and she and the werewolf need the Master of the City vampire to help them out. (She is dating both the werewolf and the vampire...complicated doesn't begin to describe it!)

There is some complicated hierarchy and political issues within both the lycanthrope (werewolves and other "were" animals) community and the vampire community. The author doesn't take a lot of time to explain. I was left confused by some of the terminology and the political issues because they were glanced over too quickly. Being willing to overlook that, because it wasn't central to my enjoyment of the story line, it did not ruin the book for me. It was quite confusing, but only slightly bothersome.

Toward the end of the book, Anita makes a decision that changes the direction of her relationships. I was so conflicted. I was upset that she did what she did, but I also enjoyed that part of the novel. I felt real emotion afterward, when someone got terribly hurt. The book even made me cry and I didn't think these books would be able to do that for me. In the end of the book, I just don't see how Anita could continue with her behavior. I was disappointed in her decision, but it should be interesting to see where it takes her. So that leads me on to number six...which I started as soon as I closed this book.

Happy Reading!

Bloody Bones

Bloody Bones is the fifth novel in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. It is the most entertaining one yet. Full of action, suspense and sexual tension. It is non stop, page turning action that makes you want to keep reading even when life tells you to put the book down and get back to work.

This book was the best yet, however I did find some of the supernatural elements confusing. In this book, Anita comes up against fairies, in addition to the vampires. Not much time is taken to explain how things work in the world of fey. It could be that because supernatural and sci-fi are not my typical genre, I find it confusing. But the action is good enough that I look past the confusing parts, suspend reality and trust Hamilton and Anita. They do not ever fail or disappoint.

If you are willing to suspend disbelief, give the author some slack and let her lead you, she takes you places you could not imagine in your worst nightmares. But she doesn't scare you the way Stephen King or Dean Koontz can. She just entertains, and most of the good guys win in her books. I am eagerly awaiting where she will take me in the next book, The Killing Dance.

Happy Reading!