Rachel B. (montbriac) - reviewed Hit List (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 20) on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
Ive followed this series for years and loved most of it, but my opinion of this book is not good at all.
There are three real issues with this book, the first is one that other reviewers have remarked on and that is in the construction of the story itself. Here we have a story that is ostensibly a return to Anitas roots as a US Marshall involved in a manhunt but very little time is given to that in this book. Instead we have chapters of banter between Anita and the boys and the manhunt is reduced to a few chapters of largely incoherent action at the end almost as if the author realized she had a deadline to meet and decided to just wrap it up.
The second problem I had with this book is how terribly myopic and narcissistic the character of Anita Blake has become the perfect example of this issue is Anitas response to the return of Otto/Olaf. Instead of being disgusted by the fact that one of the vilest serial killers she has ever met is still alive and on the loose, all she can think about is what it means to her personally and how she can use him to her own ends. Earlier incarnations of Anita Blake would have happily put a bullet through his brain on general principal alone but this version of Anita isnt at all concerned about justice or protection for his victims rather, all she cares about is whether or not Otto/Olaf is going to make a play to get her into bed.
Whether this change in Anitas character is a deliberate design of the author to show just how far from the path of righteous savior Anita has strayed, remains to be seen. Id like to think that there will be a moral reckoning for Anita in respect to the violence and indifference to the brutalization of the lives of people she is not in love with however, the only moral considerations Ive seen Anita make recently have been about sex and really, what does a little nookie matter in comparison to lives?
The third issue I had with this book is the way in which all of the other women were portrayed as inferior. A particularly offensive scene was in the hospital when all of the female staff were gushing over Anitas bodyguards and the US Marshalls like a bunch of teenagers at a Justin Bieber event. These are all educated and accomplished women, yet theyre reduced to quivering, slobbering hormones at the sight of attractive men. The author needs to find a different way to elevate Anita without denigrating other women in the story its base, its objectification and its just plain old fashioned offensive.
I believe there has been some comparison between Hit List with Obsidian Butterfly and thats a shame because Obsidian Butterfly is a well-balanced installment in the series that skillfully mixed suspense, horror, magic and a manhunt into a page-turner whereas Hit List is a book that would probably never have found a publisher if it was penned by a first time author.
There are three real issues with this book, the first is one that other reviewers have remarked on and that is in the construction of the story itself. Here we have a story that is ostensibly a return to Anitas roots as a US Marshall involved in a manhunt but very little time is given to that in this book. Instead we have chapters of banter between Anita and the boys and the manhunt is reduced to a few chapters of largely incoherent action at the end almost as if the author realized she had a deadline to meet and decided to just wrap it up.
The second problem I had with this book is how terribly myopic and narcissistic the character of Anita Blake has become the perfect example of this issue is Anitas response to the return of Otto/Olaf. Instead of being disgusted by the fact that one of the vilest serial killers she has ever met is still alive and on the loose, all she can think about is what it means to her personally and how she can use him to her own ends. Earlier incarnations of Anita Blake would have happily put a bullet through his brain on general principal alone but this version of Anita isnt at all concerned about justice or protection for his victims rather, all she cares about is whether or not Otto/Olaf is going to make a play to get her into bed.
Whether this change in Anitas character is a deliberate design of the author to show just how far from the path of righteous savior Anita has strayed, remains to be seen. Id like to think that there will be a moral reckoning for Anita in respect to the violence and indifference to the brutalization of the lives of people she is not in love with however, the only moral considerations Ive seen Anita make recently have been about sex and really, what does a little nookie matter in comparison to lives?
The third issue I had with this book is the way in which all of the other women were portrayed as inferior. A particularly offensive scene was in the hospital when all of the female staff were gushing over Anitas bodyguards and the US Marshalls like a bunch of teenagers at a Justin Bieber event. These are all educated and accomplished women, yet theyre reduced to quivering, slobbering hormones at the sight of attractive men. The author needs to find a different way to elevate Anita without denigrating other women in the story its base, its objectification and its just plain old fashioned offensive.
I believe there has been some comparison between Hit List with Obsidian Butterfly and thats a shame because Obsidian Butterfly is a well-balanced installment in the series that skillfully mixed suspense, horror, magic and a manhunt into a page-turner whereas Hit List is a book that would probably never have found a publisher if it was penned by a first time author.
Diana J. (eqfan80) -
Helpful Score: 6
It was nice visiting with Anita again but I must say I missed her guys, specifically Jean-Claude, Nathaniel and Micah. They didn't have a cameo in this one. So sad. Otherwise, this book ended a lingering menace in Anita's life, and created a new one for her, which I must say I am looking forward to seeing what happens with that. The sex was minimal, which I also appreciated, and Anita still ended up bringing a new guy home. This book seemed more like a something to carry the storyline to the next step, rather than a major contributor to the storyline. I would still recommend it, if you are a fan.
Heather D. (daylily77) reviewed Hit List (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 20) on + 236 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Absolutely love this series. I'm excited to see the repercussions of this book! Super fantastic! Drives me nuts to have to wait so long between books.
This book goes back to the older Anita days. Less sexy time, more hunting.
This book leaves so many avenues to explore, all very interesting!
If you've recently lost faith in the Anita series, I think this book will bring you back!
This book goes back to the older Anita days. Less sexy time, more hunting.
This book leaves so many avenues to explore, all very interesting!
If you've recently lost faith in the Anita series, I think this book will bring you back!
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of the rare books in this series that doesn't revolve around Anita's need to have sex with multiple partners. She, Edward, Bernardo and Olaf get to play marshal in Tacoma Washington where a brutal serial killer (actually the Harlequin) is taking out lone weretigers. The Harlquin take orders from the Mother of All Darkness and she wants to possess Anita forever. This is an exciting story of Those Who Cannot Be Named (The Harlequin) apparently to name them results in your death and the death of anyone you told. They are freakish human beings with incredible powers who come and go like smoke and kick some major ass while doing it. Anita certainly has her hands full with this bunch and because that is just not enough stress, Olaf (the creepy serial killer who has Anita in his sights) is up to his old tricks again. IMHO this is one dude who needs killing. It doesn't matter how good a marshal he is if he cannot be trusted to be around Anita without backup. This is one element of the story that I really can't understand. Edward is always protecting her but he does nothing with the whole Olaf thing. Strange.
Anyway, I enjoyed this diversion from Anita's usual life and hope we see more of this new behavior in future books. Don't get me wrong, I like all her men, I just don't like reading page after page of her sexcapades.
Anyway, I enjoyed this diversion from Anita's usual life and hope we see more of this new behavior in future books. Don't get me wrong, I like all her men, I just don't like reading page after page of her sexcapades.
Meghan S. (meghan1964) -
Helpful Score: 2
I was hoping this would get Anita back on track. I was wrong. I like Edwards character, but want the dynamics between Jean Claude and Richard. All we got in the last book was an agreed group sex and no resolution to the feeling they have for each other. In this one we continue with the posturing, no one answering a question directly, everything is a challenge, male law enforcement only commenting about who she has sex with. I had to stop about half way through, skip to the end and find the resolution - 40 pages of a shoot out where nothing happens is just boring. I don't know if I'll pick up the next one if the guys aren't in it. I don't even care about Micah, Nathaniel and that lot. We need some action with or closure with JC and Richard. 20 books of dragging this along is enough.
