She’s so much more in control and so much more interesting. I really love it when Anita’s bad side comes out. I like nicely tied off loose ends, and, while the ends don’t have to end happy or even neatly, it’s nice to have just some identification of what that point meant or that it might mean something in the future.Īfter a sleepy first half, the book picks up considerable speed and ends with a full-out bang. There’s an awful lot alluded to and left totally unexplained about this part of North Carolina and Jason’s family – one of things that can really bug me about a book. Jason’s dad is dying and he talks Anita into going home with him to prove to his SOB of a dad that he’s not gay. For those of you who are unaware of who Jason is, he’s Jean-Claude’s pomme de sang (blood donor) and one of Anita’s good friends.

We spend the first half of the book examining Jason’s familial navel lint. In my opinion, the start of the last few AB novels have been almost lethargic and Noir is no exception. I just don’t have patience for annoying men, whether in novels or real life. I don’t understand Hamilton’s purpose behind leaving the Loser around and I hope she kills him off soon. Sometimes he is sweet, but always he is annoying. And can I say I hate Richard? I have always hated Richard. Anita’s emotional dithering is, as always, painful to drag thru even if now she seems more at peace with herself than ever before. There’s a lot I don’t find so compelling about the Blake novels, too. There’s a lot of things that I find compelling about Hamilton’s AB books – the paranormal elements, the kick-ass heroine who always seems to get more powerful, and interesting plot lines.

I wouldn’t say they’re an auto-buy, though I do always end up reading them and normally sooner than later. I’ve been reading Anita Blake novels for a long while. Read on to find out where I depart ways with other reviewers and where I think they may have a point… At the end of this post, there’s also a little bonus review of Hamilton’s 5 June 2007 release, Strange Candy – a single author anthology. I’ve heard people describe this book as “florid” and reviews using phrases like “growing sense of ennui”. Urban fantasy hardcover released by Berkley 27 May 08 Gwen’s review of Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 16) by Laurell K.

Blood noir laurell k hamilton