Bullet
Yup…still reading it…. Guys, I don’t think I’m gonna make it. This will be a first (at least in this genre). I’ve never read a book so slowly in my life. I keep falling asleep (and with this book I don’t even try to struggle to stay awake). I’m literally halfway through the book, and NOTHING exciting has happened.
Everything’s so convoluted, I never really have an exact idea of what’s going on. Maybe cause it’s making me fall asleep. With all the metaphysical stuff and the ardeur, it’s just a big dreamy haze. I can’t grasp any of it. I just can’t relate to any of them. The characters run hot and cold, the whole lot of them. Whiny, bully, emotional wreck, bully (they even physically bully Anita). How can she be attracted to any of them? And personally, Anita has become so unfeeling and prides herself so much in being the “man” in the relationship (she does!!). I guess it’s her way of proving she’s tough amongst so much whiny alpha male. I can’t connect to any of them. They’re all so weird!
Yup right after orgy #1 (in the first quarter of the book) we headed right into orgy #2 (we hadn’t even hit half way mark yet) and Anita had no choice again. Cause it’s Haven (the “Rex” – head of the lions) and he’s mad cause Anita hasn’t chosen him completely yet, and he is making demands. And well it would be important for Jean-Claude and Anita to…*ahem* “DO HIM” and his clan together in a power force to absorb whatever power will now make lions their latest “animal to call” (meaning I guess, sorta…oh I dunno, animal slave, guard? Something like that).
Apparently in this series, that’s the only logical way to control the situation. ”DO” ’em all into submission. But of course, it’s logical. The “Ardeur” and all that…
Something goes arwy, in Anita’s “group power surge”, and they suddenly want to feed on death. The only way to fix it is to switch power gears from death to sex (Jean-Claude releases the “ardeur” – at FULL force - again). Wait…wasn’t that the plan, sorta, anyway? I dunno…
I had a moment of my skin running cold with fear, and then I suddenly felt a whole lot better about waking up nude, in the middle of what looked like a hell of an orgy. It was better than not waking up at all.
Uhhh….ewwwww!
And it just keeps getting worse for me. LKH just keeps adding more and more characters, animals, reasons (well, not reasons more then just – opportunities) for the animals to want to worship Anita, scenes where the animals power struggle against each other (and Anita)…it’s like putting 7 different species of animals together in a cage and demanding they all get along. Impossible right? Oh but they will GET ALONG as long as Anita orgy’s them in some way shape or form…and “orgy” them she does. And I’ll be honest…even the sex scenes bore me.
Oh sure…some sort of excitement. Another surprise power visit by the Mother of Darkness. She’s a threat I guess. Gonna take everyone over. Of course she wants Anita (who doesn’t, right?). Now they have to plan. That’s where I’m at. Jean Claude is gonna finally become a scary vampire… (evil but for the right reasons, of course).
“Are you planning to force them to give up power, even if they refuse?”
“To keep Morte d’Amour and the Mother of All Darkness from raping this country, oh yes.”
“This will make you the bad guy,” Richard said.
“I am aware of that.”
“Are you planning on us metaphysically raping the reluctant masters?”
“If necessary.”
“Isn’t that exactly what we’re fighting to keep the council from doing?” Richard asked.
“Yes but we are not doing it for evil purposes.”
“So they just have to trust that we mean well,” Richard said.
“No,” Jean-Claude said, “they just have to do what I tell them to do.”
So that’s pretty much where I’m at. Actually a little further (Haven’s whining, being a bully), they’re cleaning up the orgy (it’s really kinda gross).
So does it get better? Should I continue, or should I move on?
Quick Update: I’m forging on and guess what? Chapter 21 – 25 —>I liked them. This is better. I felt Anita’s nerves, anger, triumph and extreme sadness (very emotional scene). Deeper and more connected, and more realistic then all the metaphysical stuff. This was good.
Check out the entire series reading order guide right here ——> Laurell K Hamilton – Anita Blake Series Reading Order
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I have SO many things to say. I will say how “out of box” it is for you to even say “orgy” on here, you must be upset. I have heard bad things and more bad things and only saw one review that praised this book.
hehe yeah…I know. I’m perturbed to say the least
But it cannot be avoided…for this IS what the book is about.
Personally, I hated the book.Boring and thought she changed the Anita character and never really finished the book. At least there was 20% story ad the rest filler.Such a disappointment.Where was Edward? Don’t know if I can bear to read her next Anita book (never did I think I would write that or even think it) sigh..
Ha! Funny! My husband just walked by and said “Alllll that complaining and you’re finally into the book!” tee hee!
Well I guess I must have just hit the 20% story
I’m just skimming through your reviews at the moment, but I can’t help with agree on you on the Anita Blake series. I sincerely apreciate my time with the books, and I’ll be rereading them to review them, but it does get a bit much in the later books with all the sex. I mean, sure, what girl doesn’t love a few sexy moments now and then, but practically every chapter takes it a bit far.
I’ll read your reviews properly when I get the chance. Interested in seeing what you think of Edward. Got to love him. All blond and secretly mushy inside.
So sad that the series got lost in the “ardeur”. There is only so much sec one can read about…The last books have seemed plotless. But I am such a fan and keep reading.