Review: The Lunatic Cafe- by Laurell K. Hamilton

In The Lunatic Cafe, the fourth novel in the Anita Blake series, the story starts out the way it usually does. Anita Blake, zombie animator/vampire executioner, is interviewing a client whose wife is missing, but Anita recommends him to her best friend instead since missing persons isn't really her strong suit. Anita is off to go on a nice date with Richard, the shapeshifter who was introduced in The Circus of the Damned, who she has been seeing since. Jean Claude, the master vampire of the city, is not happy with their relationship and is rather set on finding ways to end it. There are more problems when Gretchen, another vampire, tells Anita that she needs to give up her claim on Jean Claude. Did she have one? Huh. That could cause some problems.

Well, if that love square didn't pose enough problems, guess what else it's time for? Another murder mystery! It takes long enough to even find out what's going on because the local sheriffs department is causing all kinds of trouble for Anita, Dolph, and the rest of the Spook Squad. Turns out something killed a person, and it was probably some kind of shapeshifter.

Did I mention there are troubles in the shapeshifter ranks? Hmmm.... Anita gets taken to meet Richard's pack Alpha at the Lunatic Cafe and madness ensues. Long story short. The shapeshifters are having problems too and want Anita's help. Richard hadn't wanted to drag Anita into it, but that didn't go over to well. Their relationship begins to get a little bit rocky.

Oh, and Edward, aka Death, is in town, that can't be good. He, as usual, is here on a job to hunt a few supernatural people down, for a price, and wants Anita's help. She is not happy with what she finds out and neither is Richard. There is more going on with the pack than either of them realized, and Anita will have to face something she didn't think she would.

Jealousy, lust, envy, fighting, death, that's like any usual Anita Blake novel. Lots of dialogue, inner struggle, werewolf porn, Anita's trigger happy self, that all is a little more new. This novel was a little bit different than the previous ones, but I greatly enjoyed it. Things are taking a bit of a different turn, and that's fine with me. Darker, not a bad thing. There's still the essential Anita Blake wonderfulness from the first novels that got me into this series, but I don't want every one to be exactly the same or else there's no way I could make it through this series. All in all, a very good read and looking forward to the next one!

Review: Circus of the Damned- by Laurell K Hamilton

Adventures continue with Anita Blake, zombie-queen, police paranormal expert, and possible human servant to the Master of the City. It seems Anita will never be safe as long as she knows Jean Claude's identity. Radical human groups, police, vampire hunters, and rogue master vampires are all out to get him. How better to find the mysterious master than through such a well known human. Besides, humans are the easier target, right?
Also, thrown into the mix is the mysterious Richard Zeeman. He is under the control of Jean Claude, but why? For the first time in a long time Anita is drawn to a man, but it is possible that whatever secret hold Jean Claude has on him could be detrimental to their relationship. Then there is the ever confusing relationship between Anita and Jean Claude. Though she is drawn to him, she refuses to give in to him. Perhaps it is finally time for Anita to decide where her loyalties truly lie.
I think that so far I'm enjoying these books more and more as I get to know the characters. The murder mysteries, near death experiences, and continuing experiences with Jean Claude have me really enjoying this series. Plus, its always great when there is a woman that can take care of herself and kick some paranormal or human butt in the process!

Laurell K. Hamilton's website is HERE
Read the First 2 Chapters
Buy the book at Amazon HERE

Review: Swallowing Darkness- by Laurell K. Hamilton

Meredith Gentry is a princess of faerie, she is also heir to the Unseelie thrown. Finally pregnant with twins, it looks as if her future in faerie will be set as long as she can stay safe from her Uncle Taranis and cousin Cel. What happens, though, if there are more plots than they ever imagined? Will they ever be safe? How can the men protect Merry and her child, while she tries to protect them all?
I have been a follower of the Merry Gentry series, and it is a series that I both love and tire of sometimes. I must say I was very happy with Swallowing Darkness. It would not be a good book in the series to start with, as it picks up right where A Lick of Frost ended. This book did a much better job than some of the others in the series of continuing to move forward with the plot while keeping a balance with the love scenes that Laurell K. Hamilton likes to put in her books. Some of the books have been way to full of them to where it takes away from the story, but as I said before I found there to be much more of a balance in this one.
I am interested to know what others think about this book. It had an ending to it, like none of the others did. Really, I would have been happy enough with the series ending with this book. There is plenty more to be told, don't get me wrong, but the book did rather wrap up the story. Now, that I have said that, Divine Misdemeanors is out now, so hopefully soon I can read for myself exactly where next Laurell K. Hamilton is going to take us in Merry's world.

Review: The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton

Paranormal murder mysteries continue with Anita Blake. Someone or something is leaving bits of bodies behind, but very few clues to follow. Anita must help the police get in touch with a voodoo priestess, avoid killer zombies, and avoid a millionaire's attempts for paying her for a raising involving a human sacrifice. As if all that is not one large mess of trouble she has a run in with Jean Claude at The Laughing Corpse that may just leave her with more questions than answers and tempt her farther into his world.

I found this follow up to Guilty Pleasures to be fascinatingly, disturbing just like the first and loved it from beginning to end! Anita's strong sense of self is wonderful and her ability to take care of herself and just plan scare the guys is wonderful! Jean Claude's character begins to change a little bit from the previous book, but he is still a guy I can't wait to find out more and more about in books to come. So, you will definitely be seeing more of the Anita Blake series on this blog. It is one of my favorites!

For more information go check out Laurell K. Hamilton's SITE!
And go HERE to purchase the book.