Day 197 - Circus of the Damned

Circus of the Damned

Laurell K. Hamilton

Series or Stand Alone: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series, book three

Release Date: January 2, 2007

Publisher: Berkley Trade (Originally published by Ace in paperback - May, 1995)

Pages: 320 (Trade Size - reprint)

My Rating: 5/5

Synopsis [from fantasticfiction.co.uk]:

I'm Anita Blake, expert on creatures of the night. I've dined with shapeshifters, danced with werewolves, and been wooed - but not won - by Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire of the City.

And now a darkly dangerous vampire named Alejandro has hit town. He too wants me for his human servant. A war of the undead has begun. Over me.

I would be flattered. If my life weren't at stake.

Review:

Poor, poor Anita. She can never seem to get a break. She's called on again by Dolph and the police to help look at some more "unusual" murders in St. Louis. Anita suspects a rogue master vampire after seeing the victim and bite marks on him from a number of different vamps. The only way to find out if a master vampire is on the loose is to go ask Jean-Claude, which she really doesn't want to do.

At her meeting she meets an ally master vamp of Jean-Claude's named Yasmeen. Beautiful but deadly, she challenges Anita while trying to seduce her at the same time. It seems Anita's refusal to fully accept and become Jean-Claude's human servant is causing him some political tension. Apparently many are questioning his power because of Anita and her stubborn ways. But frankly, there's no way in hell she's gonna be anyone's servant. And that includes this new vampire, Alejandro, who has been around since the Aztec's time. He wants Anita too and he won't go about it as gently and subtly as Jean-Claude has.

Everyone seems to want to know who the Master of the City is and where the Master rests. She's confronted left and right from people that want to kill him and vampires that want to challenge him. She can't betray Jean-Claude...or can she? She sure doesn't want the two vampire marks he gave her, but can she actually give him up to die...

If that isn't enough for Anita, she has to train a new animator, Larry Kirkland. Barely out of college, Larry is entirely too enthusiastic about his job and he wants to be a vampire hunter. Anita feels he's too young and innocent for the job but Larry is persistant. She also has to deal with a prospective love interest after meeting Richard Zeeman at the Circus of the Damned. Richard, a junior high school science teacher, is somehow involved with the paranormal mess that is always around her. So she definitely has a feeling that he's got a secret that he's just not sharing...But he's human so why not date him?

The third installment of this series was GREAT! There was paranormal activity all over the place and characters being introduced like crazy, but not once did I get confused. I was totally wrapped up in the story. I also really like how the first three novels have been named after a place in Anita's world. I think it's so cool. I can't wait for to read The Lunatic Cafe. If you haven't started the series, hop to it!!

I'd like to leave you all with two quick little snippets which will hopefully make you want to read more about Anita and her world =)

++++

" ' If the master eats you, can I have your nifty coveralls?' Zerbrowski asked.

'Buy your own, you cheap bastard.'

'I'd rather have the ones that have enveloped your luscious body.'

'Give it a rest, Zerbrowski. I'm not into little choo-choos.'
'What the hell do trains have to do with anything?' Dolph asked.

Zerbrowski and I looked at each other. We started giggling and couldn't stop. " (14)

++++

" The door was heavy wood with some flowering vine carved into it. The doorknob was white with tiny pink flowers in the center of it. It was an awfully feminine door. Of course, no rules against men liking flowers. None at all. It was a sexist comment. Forget I thought it. " (34)

++++

Day 192 - Teaser Tuesday [15]

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:


-Grab your current read.
-Let the book fall open to a random page.
-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
-Please avoid spoilers!





"Being friends with Edward was like being friends with a tame leopard. You could pet it and it seemed to like you, but knew deep down that if it ever got hungry enough, or angry enough, it would kill you. Kill you and eat the flesh from your bones." (82)

Circus of the Damned :: Laurell K. Hamilton

Day 176 - The Laughing Corpse

The Laughing Corpse

Laurell K. Hamilton

Series or Stand Alone: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series, book two

Synopsis: [from bn.com]

The novels of New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton take readers into the dangerous life of Anita Blake, animator and vampire hunter—a woman as good at raising the dead as she is at slaying the undead. Now, a creature from beyond the grave is tearing a swath of murder through St. Louis. And Anita will learn that there are some secrets better left buried—and some people better off dead...

Review:

I had no idea how much I missed Hamilton's writing until I picked up The Laughing Corpse. Even though this was crazy different then Guilty Pleasures (reviewed here), I'm still head over heels in love with Anita!

Not a lot of vampire love and/or slaying in this installment. This one is all about, yep you guessed it, zombies! My first real zombie fix to be honest. Anita is helping the police with some very gruesome murders that have been happening lately. As if being horrifically killed wasn't enough for the poor victims, it seems they have been eaten too. Seems there is a killer zombie on the loose and Anita needs to find a way to put a stop to his rampage. She needs to find out who raised the zombie and why, but more importantly she needs to get to it before it gets to another victim!

I think what's so great about the series so far is that the bad guys are truly bad! No redeeming qualities whatsoever, so it's impossible not to hate them. Definitely makes it so much more enjoyable when they meet their not-so-pretty demise when their time is up.

I like the fact that the background supernatural world was delved into more. Instead of being told how things are in Anita's world, I learned about them around the same time she did. I also really enjoyed some background character developing on Anita herself. Hamilton does really well throwing in tidbits about Anita's affinity with the dead and how her abilities are an inherited talent.

And yes, Jean-Claude is in the story, so untwist your nervous hands if you were thinking he wasn't. However, his part in the book was more a sub-plot line. He's now the master vampire of St. Louis and is still heavily pursuing Anita. Apparently though, she's been given two of the four marks that will make her Jean-Claude's human servant. But do you really think Anita wants to be someone's servant, no matter how sexy the person may be?! I think not. Although, he does seem pretty yummy...I know I'd have a more difficult time saying no to the guy, but that's a different story.

Overall, I loved The Laughing Corpse. It was different: bloody and gory and full of a great writing style (IMHO) I already have book three, Circus of the Damned, waiting to be read in my room!

Day 171 - Teaser Tuesday [12]

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

-Grab your current read.

-Let the book fall open to a random page.

-Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

-You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

-Please avoid spoilers!

"The tears were back, stinging just behind my eyes. There was blood all over my penguins. I didn't give a damn about the walls and carpet. They could be replaced, but I'd collected those damned stuffed toys over years." (141-142)

The Laughing Corpse :: Laurell K. Hamilton

Day 33 - Guilty Pleasures: Vol. 1 & 2

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Vol. 1

Synopsis [bn.com]
New York Times Best-Selling author Laurell K. Hamilton offers readers a brand new experience in the world of Anita Blake! Fusing mythology, werewolves and vampires with a story loaded with mystery, action and romance, the Anita Blake novels take place in a world where vampires, werewolves, and other creatures of nightmare have been declared legal citizens of the United States. Anita Blake is an "animator" - a profession that involves raising the dead for a living. Anita Blake is also known as a fearsome hunter of criminal vampires, and she moonlights by investigating cases that are far too much for "conventional" police. But as Anita gains the attention of the vampire masters in her hometown of St. Louis, she also risks revealing an intriguing secret about herself - the source of her unusual strength and power. As a special treat, Anita Blake fans will also discover an original side story featuring Anita and Dolph, written specially for the hardcover edition by Laurell K. Hamilton. Collects Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures #1-6

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Vol. 2

Synopsis [bn.com]
The hit adaptation of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series continues! What price will Anita pay in order to save her friend's life and solve the Vampire Murders? Will she actually kiss Phillip? How far will Edward go in order to find out where the daytime resting place of the Master Vampires truly is? Where is Jean-Claude? And most important, who is behind the Vampire Murders? What's next for Anita Blake, you ask? The answers to all of those questions are here! Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures #7-12

Review

Guilty Pleasures illustrated in these two graphic novels was fun and exciting. Seeing the characters I came to know and love (or hate) was so great that I was giddy with excitement while reading both. I quickly devoured the illustrations and pages since I already knew what had happened in the story.

For those who have never read Guilty Pleasures Anita Blake is an animator for a living. She's hired to raise the dead back to life for Animators Inc. She's also a vampire hunter, better known as the Executioner. Vol. 1 starts off with the Anita meeting with Willie, a now-vampire who she knew before his change. Willie is trying to hire Anita to find out who is killing off the master vampires in the city.

While Anita refuses to help she is quickly dragged into the vampire night life as she is forced to accept the job by the oldest vampire she has ever met, Nikolaos.

The two graphic novels follow Anita as she goes about tracking the murderer down while trying to basically stay alive and sane at the same time. The reader will meet some crazy characters that will definitely make you want more.

I really enjoyed seeing the book adapted into graphic novels. I loved the way Anita was depicted. She was just as I imagined. I recommend any Anita Blake fan to read these and anyone who hasn't to take a peek as well. Be sure to read the novel though, it goes into so much more depth.

Day 24 - Guilty Pleasures

Guilty Pleasures
Laurell K. Hamilton

Synopsis [ from laurellkhamilton.org]

My name is Anita Blake. Vampires call me The Executioner. What I call them isn't repeatable. Ever since the Supreme Court granted the undead equal rights, most people think vampires are just ordinary folks with fangs. I know better. I've seen their victims. I carry the scars...But now a serial killer is murdering vampires -- and the most powerful bloodsucker in town wants me to find the killer...
Encounter with a Vampire!
I arrived at Guilty Pleasures a little after midnight. Jean-Claude was standing at the bottom of the steps. He was leaning against the wall, utterly still. If he was breathing, I couldn't see it. A lock of black hair trailed across the smooth paleness of his cheek.
"You smell of other people's blood, ma petite."
I smiled at him, sweetly. "It was no one you knew...."


Review

I should have started this series ages ago! Shame on me. I absolutely loved the book. Anita is definitely a bad ass but she's got this soft side that I find so endearing. She's not a tough gung-ho chick that goes into things guns-a-blazing. She's just very....prepared (= And since the book is in first-person I got to read her hilarious thoughts that went through her mind. From how much she loves stuffed penguins to her worrisome thoughts of what her neighbors would think of her if they saw her hanging in her hallway with her gun drawn in the wee hours of the morning. I immediately liked her in the opening scenes of the book and she didn't let me down even a little. I liked her even more when the book came to an end.

Anita is an animator for a living. Raising the dead has gotta have it's perks, right? She's also a vampire slayer better known as the Executioner. Since she lives in a world where vampires are legal citizens, they are held accountable for their unruly actions just like humans. Instead of going to prison vampires are pretty much given a death sentence. Anita even works with the police by lending her "gifts" at crime scenes involving the supernatural.

We meet some interesting characters along the way...
Jean-Claude- the alluring vampire that seems more friend than foe,
Ronnie- Anita's female bud who is a tough chick in her own right,
Phillip- the lost stripper/vampire addict that I just couldn't help but like,
Aubrey- psycho vampire that just likes to hurt people and control them,
Winter- human bodybuilder/bodyguard extraordinaire
Valentine- a long time enemy of Anita's that bears holy water scars on his face [Score one for Anita! =D],
Nikolaos- the child-like evil master vampire who wants Anita to hunt down the vampire murderer in town,
Zachary- mysterious fellow animator,
and Edward- Anita's not so sane hit-man friend that she's worked with before.
There are also a number of smaller characters thrown into the mix as well. Ranging from Anita's money hungry boss to scary WereRats in the underground of the city's clubs. The character development in the main characters I thought was pretty well done. For the unfortunate few that didn't get quite enough time in the limelight, I have a feeling, will get their time to shine in following books.

Anita has to find out who is murdering the master vampires in the city pretty much against her will thanks to psycho Nikolaos. Speaking of Nik...whew, what a time bomb. You can almost immediately see how strong she is when we find out her age and the fact that so many people are afraid of her. However, her child-like appearance is unnerving at best.

I definitely recommend anyone who hasn't started this series to get to it! ASAP (= I'm looking forward to the Guilty Pleasures graphic novels as well. Both volumes will be arriving shortly at my door thanks to a BN gift card from my love and I'm very excited to see how they turned out. So I know I'm behind in this serious but I will definitely be continuing along.

By the way, I have heard that this series goes down the drain around book 7-ish. That's so sad to hear. I will continue the series until I find a reason not to. Who knows, I may very well enjoy the whole series Ms. Hamilton has written already. All I know is, book 2 here I come!!