Helpful Score: 3
I could not finish the book.
I tried, I seriously tried...but I just couldn't make myself finish this latest installment from LK Hamilton. I was first attracted to this series because of its female lead and what she did for a living and her challenges dating in a supernatural world. But as the books went on it became less vampire hunting and more vampire (and supernatural)...humping. And now with this book, it's less humping and more talking...and talking...and...talking.
When I started reading the series, I just began taking reading as a serious hobby. So, I don't know if it's me not knowing a lot of authors and their different writing styles or if Hamilton, and my apologies to serious fans, just got lazy. I mean, I think there should be a limit to how many times one could use the phrase, "What does that mean?" in a book. It can almost be use as a drinking game at book clubs. ("Whoa, ladies, there it is! Everyone pick up their wine glasses!")
I was really hoping that this new story of Anita helping the FBI foil an illegal zombie porn ring would be bring back more action, suspense and mystery but any semblance of this story only appears at the very beginning and, what I assume, is at the very end. Instead we are given dialogue after dialogue of what lover she should join her group of "sweeties" and which bedfellows she must cuddle with in order to heal. Seriously, she couldn't get from the car to the showers in the Circus of the Damned (to wash off the shifting goo out of her hair) without her going through a gauntlet of chapters of just her finding out she had a school event she had to go to; met a new female guard and had to reprimand another new male guard for being clueless of who she was. Phew. There was probably more but I just got tired. But there was an interesting zombie raising Anita performed that may have tied in with the investigation.
If you're new to the series start at the very beginning with Guilty Pleasures. Those books kept me interested and I would have to say the one that I remember most is Obsidian Butterfly (I think Edward is a really interesting character). After about the 9th or 10th book it starts going from supernatural, suspense, thriller to supernatural, erotic, romance. And then in later books... just erotic, romance - which I really didn't mind...for a while.
I tried, I seriously tried...but I just couldn't make myself finish this latest installment from LK Hamilton. I was first attracted to this series because of its female lead and what she did for a living and her challenges dating in a supernatural world. But as the books went on it became less vampire hunting and more vampire (and supernatural)...humping. And now with this book, it's less humping and more talking...and talking...and...talking.
When I started reading the series, I just began taking reading as a serious hobby. So, I don't know if it's me not knowing a lot of authors and their different writing styles or if Hamilton, and my apologies to serious fans, just got lazy. I mean, I think there should be a limit to how many times one could use the phrase, "What does that mean?" in a book. It can almost be use as a drinking game at book clubs. ("Whoa, ladies, there it is! Everyone pick up their wine glasses!")
I was really hoping that this new story of Anita helping the FBI foil an illegal zombie porn ring would be bring back more action, suspense and mystery but any semblance of this story only appears at the very beginning and, what I assume, is at the very end. Instead we are given dialogue after dialogue of what lover she should join her group of "sweeties" and which bedfellows she must cuddle with in order to heal. Seriously, she couldn't get from the car to the showers in the Circus of the Damned (to wash off the shifting goo out of her hair) without her going through a gauntlet of chapters of just her finding out she had a school event she had to go to; met a new female guard and had to reprimand another new male guard for being clueless of who she was. Phew. There was probably more but I just got tired. But there was an interesting zombie raising Anita performed that may have tied in with the investigation.
If you're new to the series start at the very beginning with Guilty Pleasures. Those books kept me interested and I would have to say the one that I remember most is Obsidian Butterfly (I think Edward is a really interesting character). After about the 9th or 10th book it starts going from supernatural, suspense, thriller to supernatural, erotic, romance. And then in later books... just erotic, romance - which I really didn't mind...for a while.
Kelly J. (KellitaJ) reviewed Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 24) on + 550 more book reviews
This is the best Anita Blake book written in many years. Honestly I had despaired that Laurell K Hamilton would ever be able to write another good Anita Blake novel because the last few have just been such duds. This enormously fat book, 566 pages, was just full of character development. It didn't have a bunch of fights in it, which I usually have to skip over. As a matter of fact I only skiped the cow sacrifice but I read the rest of the book, unlike her last couple of books where I skipped most of the book.
There were just a few story arcs that were dropped, like what happened at the cemetery with the ghouls, and what happened to all of the Tigers who came to the big meet and greet to be chosen.
So if you like the Anita Blake books and you wanted to know more about some of the other characters, this story might also be very interesting to you.
There were just a few story arcs that were dropped, like what happened at the cemetery with the ghouls, and what happened to all of the Tigers who came to the big meet and greet to be chosen.
So if you like the Anita Blake books and you wanted to know more about some of the other characters, this story might also be very interesting to you.
First off I have to say that I love Anita Blake... With that said I was a little disappointed with this book. What happened to Rafael? I was hoping more of bad ass Anita with her solving the crime. It seems like it was all crammed in at the end. Same with the wedding planning. All in all it was a great read, just didn't go how I thought it would.
First off, I am a HUGE fan of Laurell K. Hamilton however, that does not excuse this book. While I understand that backstory is important to explain why a character/s may act one way or another, you really don't need EVERYONE'S past revealed.
The idea was simple & straight forward enough. The FBI wants Anita's help to bring down a zombie porn ring. Great! 2 thumbs up! The author should have stuck with that.
Instead, it's like Hamilton got ADD & could not focus on that 1 thing. (apologies to those who are suffering from the disease.) You have a plot against the rat king, Asher's mistake, a global tiger meet & greet & oh, somehow Anita can make panweres now. All storylines picked up & discarded like a hyperactive 6 year old at a caravel.
I miss the old Anita Blake books. Ones where the balance between humor, sex & action was a beautiful thing. Fingers crossed for the next one.
The idea was simple & straight forward enough. The FBI wants Anita's help to bring down a zombie porn ring. Great! 2 thumbs up! The author should have stuck with that.
Instead, it's like Hamilton got ADD & could not focus on that 1 thing. (apologies to those who are suffering from the disease.) You have a plot against the rat king, Asher's mistake, a global tiger meet & greet & oh, somehow Anita can make panweres now. All storylines picked up & discarded like a hyperactive 6 year old at a caravel.
I miss the old Anita Blake books. Ones where the balance between humor, sex & action was a beautiful thing. Fingers crossed for the next one.
Cynthia L. (ceeceelandau) reviewed Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 24) on + 282 more book reviews
Let me preface by saying that I am a huge fan of Laurell K. Hamilton and Anita Blake books. I'm proud to be one of those readers who have gotten many others readers into her as well. With that in mind I'd I can't believe how disappointed I am with her most recent book. This book had none of Hamilton's usual fast pace, danger ridden, adrenaline pumping that her books are known for. My biggest problem with this book was all the unnecessary fluff. Dead Ice was filled with so much character history (for those who have never read her prior books) that the book became far too long and left no room for story development. Many previous characters, which fans have grown to love or become interested in, were barely mentioned or left out entirely, while new ones were once again introduced. The story has become so confusing and convoluted with the amount of characters that the storyline seems to have become secondary.
I tend to read books with other people and this book was no different. After reading this book I wasn't sure if it was just me that felt this book was rushed and filled with fluff. Initially I thought that perhaps my expectations were too high and unobtainable, but after a lengthy conversation with those I read this book with I found out that I wasn't the only one who felt this book wasn't up to par for a Laurell K. Hamilton book. For example:
What happened to Rafael the Rat King.....
Who plotted against Rafael....
Did he heal....
What happened to some of the other main characters....
Who is she doing a commitment ceremony with....
When is the wedding.....
What is happening to her gifts.....
What was Asher's punishment.....
I'm still a fan of Hamilton and I only wish her next book is better than this one.......
I tend to read books with other people and this book was no different. After reading this book I wasn't sure if it was just me that felt this book was rushed and filled with fluff. Initially I thought that perhaps my expectations were too high and unobtainable, but after a lengthy conversation with those I read this book with I found out that I wasn't the only one who felt this book wasn't up to par for a Laurell K. Hamilton book. For example:
What happened to Rafael the Rat King.....
Who plotted against Rafael....
Did he heal....
What happened to some of the other main characters....
Who is she doing a commitment ceremony with....
When is the wedding.....
What is happening to her gifts.....
What was Asher's punishment.....
I'm still a fan of Hamilton and I only wish her next book is better than this one.......
