Rating: 1 star
Well, here we go again. As I did with Lover Mine, I came in at the deep end of a series; in this case, #19. Just like before I thought I wasn't loving the book because I didn't have the connection to the characters the way that die-hard fans would have cultivated over the past 18 books.
I also got the same nagging feeling that it was me and not the author that was coming up short—I mean this is the 19th book; it wouldn't have come this far if it wasn't quality. However, after checking out the aforementioned die-hard fans' comments, it's déjà vu—apparently, it’s not me, but you, Ms. Hamilton.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for the single woman (ring leader and zombie-maker, Anita Blake) leading a stable of men in varying shapes, sizes and ages. Some may say "slut", but I say, "If ya gottem, do em". And, if one of said men chooses to frolic with another of the said men, I'm OK with that too. It's just that it's getting so...common.
Even Anita herself was a let-down. I'm expecting this kick-ass-zombie-raising-man-banging-super-powered-beast-wrangling-leather-clad-mega bitch and instead I got some anxiety-ridden-den-mother bringing a little boy his clown hat for a dance recital—where of course the entire were-clan, vampires and leopard people attend to show support, clap furiously and ponder that they didn't know their little clan members could dance so beautifully. Seriously?
I also didn't quite get (or appreciate) the constant descriptions of everything, Hamilton makes Ann Rice look like she gets right to the point. Don't even get me started on the whole fashion tangent. Men in thigh-high boots and painted-on pants? No thank you. Just tell me the color of their eyes, yet again.
I'd like to rehash the basis of the plot for you to add my two cents for review, but I wasn't able to find one that was coherent or fleshed out. I tried to blame it on trying to keep the huge roster of characters straight, but alas, once again, it wasn't me... Promises made on the cover and otherwise never really seemed to come to fruition. Therefore, I cannot review what I did not read.
Well, I could go on and on, but why? I think you get the picture—at least 89 out of 162 of you do.
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Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (June 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0425234334