I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It has a plot! It was interesting. Old characters that I love were back. Go Edward! Richard was forced to face his fears and to understand that his feeling affect others. It's about freaking time. Nathaniel is really coming into his own and is quickly becoming my favorite boyfriend. Cookie Monster is back and in a way that I think I could like him as a steady character. This book honestly left me hoping for another book.

Share/Like this Review?

I was ready to stop reading this series. It had become nothing but one sexual romp after another. I am so glad I continued and bought this book!! I give this two big thumbs up!! It seems Ms. Hamilton has listened to her critics and returned to writing the type of books that brought her fame. There is some sex, but it is not over to top, and actually fits into the story line. (There is a story line!) I am once again a loyal reader of this series and cannot wait for the next installment.

Share/Like this Review?

This book was great and I read it in an evening because I couldn't put it down. It WAS nice not having to skim over all the repetitive sex (OMG--must be something wrong with me when it just gets boring!). This one had some vampire politics and action in it. GREAT!

I was happy to see that "Cookie Monster" is back, and I hope for good. I liked his character earlier so was anticipating a return.

Edward is, as usual, just awesome, and it fit into the story-line that he brought his stepson with for this adventure.

Overall, it was a wonderful read and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Share/Like this Review?

Super! I couldn't stop reading! If you like this series, you wont be disappointed in this installment. As usual, a bit heavy & descriptive on the sex but...I just kinda skip over those parts and get to the story.
Kathy

Share/Like this Review?

THE HARLEQUIN, for me, redeems the Anita Blake series. Although there's still sex (which in itself has never been a problem for me), the ratio of sex to story has finally turned. There's an actual plot in THE HARLEQUIN, and it's a pretty dang good one.

The Harlequin, what is akin to the vampire police, has come to town -- presumably just to observe. It soon becomes apparent, however, that at least some members of this elite and uber-scary group have harsher things on their mind.

The usual characters are all here, as well as reapperances by Edward (aka Tod Forrester) and the serial killer, Olaf. Peter, the teen who was rescued several stories back, is also there.

Some typical things happen -- Richard (once again) has serious problems with Anita and the ardeur. Some new plot lines develop -- the local lion king refuses to help in a moment of need, and the swan leader comes to the rescue.

Overall, THE HARLEQUIN was a quick, satisfying read that I totally enjoyed. I have renewed faith in the Anita Blake series, and hope that the next book doesn't take away that feeling.

Share/Like this Review?

Another GREAT Anita Blake book. I am really enjoying how the characters are progressing and growing. This is one series I can't get enough of. :)

Share/Like this Review?

I can't say enough good things about this one in her series!!! It took me just over two days and that is with taking breaks of course, but it was that good that I could not stay away from it for that long. Each page offered new surprises and the ending was awsome. I will not spoil for those still waiting to get it, but I will say this, there is not but an 1/8 of any sexual discussion in it compared to her others. It was well written not smutty at all. Very loving not slutty this time. I loved it. Made me remember why I couldn't wait to get to get the next book anytime this author put one out there.

You will love it as much as I.

Share/Like this Review?

I loved this book so much that I could not put it down and I read it in one day. My favorite character in the Anita Blake series is Olaf. I love how he is creepy, scary, a serial killer and just creepy. Seriously Anita is not strictly human anymore and she accepts all these 'monsters' but she is completely and utterly terrified of Olaf, a human. I guess Richard would be the character I love to hate. He has these antagonist and hypocritical views that just do not go away, and no they do not go away in this book either. How can you call the woman you love a whore because she sleeps around and yet when you have sex with random women its acceptable. Seriously if he is killed off anytime soon, I won't miss him at all. This book did have one thing missing though, no sex with Jean Claude.

Share/Like this Review?

I found myself trying to get into the head of a writer with the goals of this one. I got disgusted with the series around #9 but had read some good reviews on The Harlequin. This is a book about sex magic and how the magic of sex draws together men with one woman. It is about the power of love between men and women. Hamilton uses quite a bit of energy to explain why free love with multiple partners is moral and nothing is morally wrong with the people who do it. She shows how all the boyfriends change and grow in positive ways. Nathaniel is growing up into a sensitive kind person albeit he is into sadomasochism. The questions is posed that if Anita can't fulfill him sexually does he have the right to break up with her to find fulfillment elsewhere even though they love each other? Even though she has multiple lovers, Anita is jealous at the thought of sharing him. She splits a lot of hairs over what a prude about sex and nudity she is when not controlled by the ardeur. To me the ardeur is simply a rationalization to have an orgy or sex with whoever you want. There's also the contention that without regular sex to "feed the ardeur" she and others will. How convenient. A lot of energy is used to rationalize why anyone(usually conservative Christians or the conservative vampire church) would condemn the moral behavior of others who freely have sex with many. Conservatives do not grow and change generally. Like Richard, they tend to stay stuck in a world of judgement and hate. She contends that people who are judgemental and object to multiple partner sex are hypocrites who don't understand the power of love and probably don't love themselves either. The only person in a monogamous relationship who isn't attacked as a hypocrite is Edward. Every other monogamous couple in the series are made into bad guys.I also think the fact that almost all the men fall in love with Anita is really stretching reality. I find Hamilton's tendency to do this makes this series more of a narcissistic fantasy. I don't think all the sex is immoral necessarily but in some ways,Richard seems like the voice of reason and sanity. True, he has other partners without love but he wants the woman he fell in love back. He wants to know who Anita is without Jean Claude. You know What? I'd like to know too! What if Richard and Edward were to kidnap Anita and have her deprogrammed from Juan Claude. The theory is she would die. What if vampire powers made her believe what isn't real? The hightlight of the book was Anita's reaction to Olaf the serial killer. I had a few loud laughs over it. That was the only part not spoiled by the constant emotional barrage over the morality of what Anita does sexually. I really don't care. I'd like to see less emotional conflict over what she's going to do anyhow and more action. Is there a plot? Kind of sort of. The Harlequin are out to bring down Anita and Juan Claude and the magical use of sex strengthens Anita's friends against the Harlequin and helps defeat them. It's definitely an innovative plotting device. I think that Laurell Hamilton is talented enough of a writer that she doesn't have to use sex to sell books; however, she's enough of an exhibitionist that having millions read her sexual fantasies flat does it for her. Maybe Anita(and LKH)need to be in sexual rehab along with other well known celebrities.

Share/Like this Review?

This book was great and I read it in an evening because I couldn't put it down. It WAS nice not having to skim over all the repetitive sex (OMG--must be something wrong with me when it just gets boring!). This one had some vampire politics and action in it. GREAT!

I was happy to see that "Cookie Monster" is back, and I hope for good. I liked his character earlier so was anticipating a return.

Edward is, as usual, just awesome, and it fit into the story-line that he brought his stepson with for this adventure.

Overall, it was a wonderful read and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Share/Like this Review?

I give this book five stars as Laurel K Hamilton's Anita Blake books are awesome and this book is no exception

Share/Like this Review?

I liked Anita and Jean Claude. Then it became a mess, a big sexual orgy mess. It took me two years to finally pick up the book. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. It had a plot albeit convoluted plot. But all the characters came back in this one. The old Anita is not back, though, she's better!
And like others have said, I will be glad to see Richard go. I never really did like him.But Nathaniel is growing into his own. I would have like to see more of Asher, too.
I am ready for the next two books now. Hope they won't dissapoint. Maybe a hard act to follow after Harlequin.

Share/Like this Review?

The best part of this is having Edward back in the mix of monsters. Still a bit on the erotic side if you don't mind it.

Share/Like this Review?

Its about time Laurell Hamilton! I dont know what happened in the last couple books Anita had a ton of sex but was there really any story line? I was about to give this series up until The Harlequin. Anita is back to kicking butt and she bring with her one of my favorite characters, Edward.

Share/Like this Review?

Federal Marshall Anita Blake, necromancer and vampire executioner finds her powers growing everyday. As her animals grow, so do the men in her life. Once again attention is drawn to St. Louis. Malcolm, the master vamp of the vampire church has been nothing but critical of Anita and her lifestyle. Now he shows up in her office asking for protection. The Harlequin, the feared secret "police" of the vampires worldwide, sends a warning of a white mask. But instead of just observing according to The Harlequin rules, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City of St. Louis, is attacked. Anita is injured so bad she calls in Edward to help. Things go from bad to worse before they get better.

Another great Anita Blake, vampire hunter novel.

Share/Like this Review?

Alot better read than the last one, more with Edward and vamp hunting. It was a very enjoyable read.

Share/Like this Review?

I had begun to grow tired of this series recently. Hamilton's wonderful characters were being buried in pages and pages of (admittedly well-written) sex. In the Harlequin I rediscovered the Anita I fell in love with in Guilty Pleasures. This Anita is witty, charming, and has that unique mixture of incredible kindness and cold-bloodedness that only she can pull off.

This book is not for the prudish - there is still a great deal of sex. But this time it heightens the plot rather than smothering it.

Share/Like this Review?

At last, more story than sex, and Edward is part of this one. However, they keep talking about the ardeur.

Share/Like this Review?

I was suprised and thoroughly enjoyed this book. LKH is back

Share/Like this Review?

This was better than the last two have been, but Hamilton is still nowhere near the top of her game with this.

The sex-to-plot ratio has improved with this book, but there is still way too much annoying dialogue intruding on the action, leading one to wonder what the bad guys in any given scene are doing while the good guys stand around and have the same argument again and again and again...

Share/Like this Review?

OK, so this is probably actually a three star if compared to the early books but Edward and Olaf's reappearances combined with the (comparatively) minimal amount of Anita ardeur porn earned it the extra bullet. If anything, the book was talky giving a lot of background on The Harlequin and building an actual plot. I won't say that LKH has finally redeemed the series back to it's former state, but this was a breath of fresh air compared to the last several entries.

Share/Like this Review?

I so miss the original Anita Blake... when she actually raised zombies and there was a plot/mystery. Then it became all sex. I like so many characters and lately they haven't even been in the books. In this one some of them came back, not exactly how I wanted them but whatever... it's like a car wreck... you keep buying, looking and hoping that Ms. Hamilton will smack her head up against a wall and come back to good writing.

Share/Like this Review?

The Harlequin is a great name for this book, but it should be the publisher not the title. Ms. Hamilton has gone from a great writer to a writer of cheap romance novels. I remember when Anita Blake was a great necromancer and vampire hunter. Now, she's nothing more than a vessel for the ardeur, which means there's not much more to the book than sex. Granted, there's less in this book in previous books, but nonetheless the sex is a dominant part of her book.

I hate to say it, but I've most of the Anita Blake series, but this is definitely the last one I'll be reading - actually I said that after the last book, but I'm sticking to it this time.

Share/Like this Review?

My favorite paranormal romance novel writer.

Share/Like this Review?

This book isn't bad plot wise. Only had to skip a few sex scenes. Biggest gripe was what an idiot Richard is.

Share/Like this Review?

A lot more actual story to this one than the last few- I really enjoyed the change!

Share/Like this Review?

LKH is getting back to the good story.

Share/Like this Review?

Another masterpiece from Laurell K. Hamilton. The reason so many people are a big fan of her books isn't just because her books have interesting therms, characters or even storyline. Yes that's a big part of why we all love her books, but if it wasn't for her writing style and her ability to make a reader picture the world she created then and feel like we're a part of it, then we may never have read past the first book.

Harlequin didn't just have sex and death it had memorable characters like Edward and Olaf. Both are the kind of sociopaths and psychopaths you can have nightmares about. Yes the Harlequin are scary, but Olaf's the kind of serial killer that you know exists....and that is why her books have a different level of scary. You can differentiate between Vampires being fantasy and a person like Olaf being real.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. If it wasn't for work, kids and sleep I would have finished it faster. Still reading a book this size in about 3-4 days meant I truly loved it. I hope everyone else does too.

Share/Like this Review?

Loved it!

Share/Like this Review?