Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K. Hamilton
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Book Reviews of Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter)
Book Review: You give her an inch
Summary: 2 Stars
Ever since Cerulean Sins I have vowed to never spend another dollar on a LKH book. I keep reading the books with the hope that the author I once loved will snap out of her funk and remember that she's a sci/fi fantasy writer and NOT a romance author.
The Harlequin gave me such hope. There were real minutes of the "old" Anita there. Beyond the bad sex there were her quick wit and humor coming back to overshadow her jaded rants and tiring complaining. I found myself really enjoying the book. Then I picked up Blood Noir.
First, why are LKH's books suddenly half the size they used to be?
Second, is it just me or did anyone else see constant repetitive lines? "Give Nathanial my love" and then one paragraph down... "Give Nathanial my love" I found over a dozen instances where immediately after explaining something she goes on to do it again, using the same metaphor. Does Ms. Hamilton not have an editor?
Third, I know the books are the "Anita Blake Series" but it just seems like bad writing to me to alienate us from main characters. Where are Jean Claude, Asher, Damien, even Micha is missing from this book. I thought maybe this would be like Obsidian Butterfly and all the characters would return in the next book but have since learned that Skin Trade will take place in Las Vegas (I'm thinking the gang won't all be there). There is no consistency! If Anita really loved these guys as much as she proclaims to, wouldn't she be with them more?
Lastly I will just say that Blood Noir was "A" typical Hamilton where the sex and angst went on and on until you almost thought the book wasn't going to "wrap it up" then finally we get to a climax that is told in less than 3 pages and boom we're done. It's like she got so into writing her angst and then realized that she needed to end the book and didn't have time to really write a proper ending.
Way to go LHK, I gave you an inch with The Harlequin and you took more than a mile from me with Blood Noir. You've assured me that the hundreds of dollars I've saved by getting your books from the library has indeed been a wise choice.
Book Review: A Disappointing Filler
Summary: 2 Stars
Laurell K Hamilton once again stays away from the main story to write a filler novel. There is hardly any relevance to what has been happening during the series and the book is just filled with sex and very little plot. The only part of the book that is remotely like the first Anita Blake novels is during the last 3-5 chapters (don't forget Hamilton's chapters can be short). I recommend borrowing it from the library.Book Review: Not much there!
Summary: 2 Stars
Kind of whacky...cancer and sex, vampires and celeb's, with a little who populated the entire town with the same look...Leaves you looking for something with a little substance. Like the TV Guide? I know she can do better...Book Review: Anita! Are you in there ANYWHERE???
Summary: 1 Stars
I found the Anita Blake series in the late 90's and LOVED THEM...I read what was published in a "feeding" frenzy; then waited for the next in the series to arrive. I felt empowered by Anita; I could identify with Anita; she was the inner me with a real "edge" and had such great adventures with the vampires, werewolves, etc. Anita had courage, convictions, and class. Sadly, for me, Anita became more of a [...] with a gun around Incubus Dreams. I stopped reading the series entirely, wanting those good memories to stay around. At the library the other day, I saw the CD version of "Blood Noir" and thought I'd give it a try--wish I hadn't. On the first CD, there was a snippet of story followed by a threesome (Anita, Nathaniel and Jason). The threesome was given about 4x the amount of "air time" the preceding story snippet had been given. *sigh* No more Anita for me, I guess. I would like to say to Ms. Hamilton that I KNOW about sex, I've HAD sex for heaven's sake. As my Dad so eloquently used to say, "parts is parts." What I HAVEN'T had or done is be involved with vampires, werewolves, etc. THAT'S what I want to READ about! Not erotica sprinkled with bits of story! For me, this is SOLID EROTICA...if I wanted erotica, I would READ erotica. Yes, the sex is with vampires, werewolves, etc., but, again, "parts is parts." Oh, for the days when there was some sexual tension between the characters in the books and I could actually USE MY IMAGINATION to fill in the blanks. The ardeur has given Anita the excuse to have a LOT of sex with a LOT of people. I almost laugh out loud now when she has internal struggles....puh-leez. It is strange that, for me, when Anita made the jump to hardcover, the stories began to be so sexually explicit. And this is a recurring theme, of course, in ALL of her books now. Princess Meredith is ordered to get pregnant and how shall we accomplish that? Sleep with as MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE! haha I hope that those people finding the series now will go back and read the adventures of "my" Anita. Ratings keep going down and down with the same complaints....will things change? I hope so.Book Review: It's a crying shame. The series is done.
Summary: 1 Stars
If you liked the first 5 books of the Anita Blake series, thought the next 5 were going downhill somewhat & thought the next 5 descended into romance & page counts, then you feel about the series as I do. If you thought the writing got poorer in the past few, we also agree. If you felt ripped off by "Micah", we still agree. In that case, don't bother to read this book. Seriously, keep the few good memories you have.
I'm afraid that Hamilton has had it as a writer. This was the worst book I've read in the past couple of years. Certainly the worst one I finished. Why did I? Because I've read the all the previous ones & I skimmed a LOT with the forlorn hope that things would get better. Also, the book was given to me.
The plot was poor & half the book took place in one hotel room. Bring lots of cheese, because all the characters do is whine about & to each other about their lives, feelings, relationships & powers. The only displays of the last are filled with remorse, anger & desire - but the last isn't even very well done. It's not even good soft porn. Basically, it's a very negative play of how to have bad, supernatural relationships & spend hundreds of pages whining about it.
There is no suspense. Every possible suspense element is obvious & hackneyed. They're usually immediately revealed. One is saved for the very end, but it is so obvious that I knew it from the start & kept hoping for a twist. Didn't get it though. The book was nothing, if not predictable. I think Hamilton is just tired.
Finally, I got to the last chapter which could have been a good book - should have been the book, with all the wasted pages beforehand edited down to a couple of chapters - at most. In a few terse paragraphs, all the action that should have been in the book is summarized in a very passionless voice. "This happened, that happened, end of story."
Yeah, it's the end of the Anita Blake story for me. It's a shame. I loved the first books but I can't bear to read another.