Tag Archives: Vampires

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Blood of Angels

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17264134

Blood of Angels (Blood Hunters #2)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I enjoyed the first book more this one was still enjoyable enough to make me want to continue the series. The characters, some of whom were introduced in the first book, get expanded on so that they take on a new dimension. I was drawn in more quickly this time because I was familiar with who they were and what was going on with the mains. The setting is maybe not exotic but it is very different and makes the players more interesting because of their location. The language works for the vampires and the humans as they banter.

Eighteen months ago István went to the Angel and got on the bad side of its owner Angyalka, who just happens to be a vampire, when he and a group of hunters went there trying to capture Saloman. Not long after this fiasco István was very badly injured in a fight at the hunter library which left him semi paralyzed with little hope. But he and his fellow hunters were saved by Saloman and so began their alliance with the enemy. He has recovered and is now on his feet once again and creating his electronic marvels again.

István returns to the Angel supposedly to research how to store psychic energy. He believes that Angyalka can help him with this even though she is not very old but appears to be very powerful. Angyalka has not forgotten the hunter who humiliated her in front of her patrons and is looking for some payback. What they find is that two people can sometimes come together over their mutual short comings even when they fight it.

I like the idea behind an alliance between vampires and those who have traditionally hunted them. You get to see both sides, those who are for cooperation and those who would like to see a war between them. The two sides are going to be clashing more and more as things progress. This was just a taste of how the sides can get along if they stop seeing each other as so different. The sex is hot but not over the top and appropriate for what is going on. I would recommend.

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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned

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87037329746631 12605395

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great set of graphic novels based on the book. Anita this time is contending with a master vampire that is leading others in a feeding frenzy. Victims have been found with multiple bites which would seem to keep them from being turned. There is someone trying to take the city from Jean-Claude and Anita seems to be the key. To top things off Richard is making his move on Anita even though Jean-Claude told him to stay away. Lots of things going on that cannot help but keep your attention and make you run through it.

I wish there were more because this condensed version with actual art work makes for a fun read.

 

 

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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse

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605250265944977278189

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

Reading this when I did was a good way to remind myself what Anita was like before she started dealing with the monsters on a personal level. This was my love/hate phase with Anita because she was such an extremely judgmental, holier-than-thou piece of work when she was younger. But at the same time she was a hard ass who knew enough to be afraid of what went bump in the night, since she knew it was real. The graphic novel just gave another dimension to the world that she lives in.

Anita as always has more going on than she can deal with alone. She has been asked to raise a zombie which will require a human sacrifice and refuses. She is also approached by Dominga Salvador to come and help her with a project she has with zombies, and the Senora does not like to be turned down. There is a killer zombie running around the city killing families and the police need Anita to help them capture and/or destroy it. Not to mention the fact that the Master of the City wishes to speak with her about her future. What’s a girl to do when she is this popular?

I loved this because the art work made it come alive so much more and has given me a visual to work with when I read the novels. I would recommend it to fans of the series or anyone who just wants to be entertained.

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Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors

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Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson #4)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This has been a fun and exciting series that has taken us through the ups and downs in the life of a new vampire. The characters have all become more real as the series has progressed and their world has become part of my world. I fell into the rhythm of the story right away and followed it to the end happily, though sad that it was ending.

Jane and Gabriel have moved in together and he is still trying to get her to say yes to his proposal. While at work something happens that changes the lives of Jane and all those around her. Jamie, the boy who delivers to her shop is struck by a car and Jane makes the decision to turn him, with his permission. Now she has the responsibility of raising a newly turned vampire in the same house as her boyfriend and sire.

Things get even worse when the person who ran Jamie down seems to be after Jane as well, or was she the original target?

This is a great ending to one of the most fun series I have read in a long time. Enjoy!

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Jason

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Jason (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #23)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
This was a nice short that gave a showcase to Jason Schuyler, a werewolf who works for Jean-Claude at his club and is also one of his blood donors. The story is straight forward and moves along cleanly and concisely as it lays itself out. The characters are mostly well established with a few new faces that are fleshed out good enough to make me like them. The language is just what you expect from the series after all this time. I am so happy that Jason got a feature since he has always been more of a side character, though he is mentioned quite often.

Jason has been speaking to several of Anita’s live-in loves behind her back. He has a request that he feels he needs back-up for even though Anita has managed to change so much over the past years. Jason is in love and he wants Anita to help him show J.J., the love of his life, what his type of rough sex is. He is considering making a move with J.J. and wants her to be completely good with who he is, just like he is for her. Things can go very well or very badly with the people involved in this little venture.

I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed the Anita Blake series.

“Anita,” Jason said. I looked at him and J.J. “You okay?” I shrugged. “I think this is the most complicated BDSM scene I’ve tried without Jean-Claude or Asher involved. It’s like we have all this talent and potential, but no one is in charge.” That was all true. It wasn’t exactly what was spooking me, but it was still part of the truth. It also meant that they’d probably quit asking me what was wrong. “I cannot be with Asher,” Jade said. I shook my head. “I wasn’t suggesting it, just not sure who’s directing everything.” “We’ve made love with Nathaniel in bed with us before,” she said, her voice soft, low, and strangely musical. Her voice didn’t always sound that way, but it often did when she was trying to persuade, or I guess manipulate me. I’d asked her if she’d had theater training, but she didn’t seem to know what I meant, so I’d let it go. I let a lot of things go with Jade, even I knew that, but when she puzzled me enough I stepped back rather than pushing. I wasn’t sure if I was growing up, or she was winning. “You’re in charge, Anita,” Domino said, “so be in charge. What do you want to do?” In my head I thought, Leave. Maybe it showed on my face, because he said, “Do what you enjoy and Jade will follow your lead.” Jade nodded. “Really?” I asked her. “Truly,” she said. “Okay, I know what I want to do.” “I will follow where you lead,” she said. I knew it was both the truth and a lie. She’d follow me for a while, until she decided she didn’t want to, or she got too uncomfortable, then she’d do whatever the hell she wanted to do and somehow it would be my fault, again. I was starting to seriously sympathize with the men who were dating me.”
― Laurell K. Hamilton, Jason       Laurell K. Hamilton
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Anita Blake: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 2

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3053342

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures, Volume 2 (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Graphic Novels #2 issues #7-12)

by Laurell K. Hamilton (Goodreads Author), Ron Lim (Artist), Brett Booth (Artist), Jessica Ruffner (Text)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The graphic novel did a great job of condensing the original novel. The art work is fantastic and gives a total sense of who the characters are. This is all well before Anita had found that monsters come in all varieties, and not just those with fangs and claws. A must have for Anita fans. Great visual for those who have read the novel and enjoy it.
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The Scarlet Deep

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25500387

The Scarlet Deep (Elemental World #3)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have loved these books since I read my first Elemental Mysteries novel. I was pulled into those and when the series ended and started again with the Elemental World I was more than happy to continue following. We have many of the characters from the first series showing up and having an active place in these books, which always makes for a good read since you are able to relate to them as you get to know the new characters, though here most have been seen in prior books. The story which was started in earlier novels continues here and is added on to seamlessly as events continue and those in the past are recounted. The characters continue to evolve and become more than just flat actors on the page.

Patrick Murphy is a man who seems to have everything he could want, he runs the immortal side of Dublin with efficiency and a soft touch, he can have any woman he wants immortal or human, but he has regrets that keep him from fully enjoying his life. Anne O’Dea ran away from a relationship after 30 years because she felt her mate was not to be trusted and she had lost herself in their life together,and was no longer who she had been. With the threat of Elixir becoming more and more real for everyone in Ireland these two have to decide what they want before the choice is taken from them.

Murphy is a scoundrel but a lovable guy that you can’t help but root for as he tries to win back the love of his life. Anne is like most intelligent people, she can see the mistakes others make but not her own. The mystery of who is distributing Elixir is still an important part of the story and it is not neglected for the love story. I totally enjoyed this.

“I HATE you,” she told her sister over the speakerphone in her secure wing of Brigid and Carwyn’s house. “No, you don’t.” “I do.” “What did Murphy do?” “Nothing.”  Except kiss me in Galway and remind me that I miss him like a lost limb.  Stare at me during the opera as if he’d eat me alive in the most pleasurable way possible.  Show off his intellect, which has always been the most attractive thing about him.  “Patrick Murphy has been a complete gentleman,” she said. “Unerringly polite and respectful. Painfully welcoming.” Anne heard Mary suck on her cigarette and release a breath. “Hateful man. That would irritate the piss out of me.”
― Elizabeth Hunter, The Scarlet Deep  Elizabeth Hunter
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Bite

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30279

Bite (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #8.5)

My rating: 4.6 of 5 stars
 Each story was very different from the other and while I liked some better than others I was still kept entertained by them all. The stories are all supposed to be based around vampires and lust, but only a few actually hit upon the lust.

‘The Girl Who Was Infatuated with Death’ is an Anita Blake short that takes place between Blue Moon and Obsidian Butterfly, which means Anita is still fighting her attraction to Jean-Claude, silly girl. A mother comes to Anita asking for help in finding her daughter before she can be turned and Anita goes to the one person she claims to want to avoid. While the heat level could have been higher I give it 5 stars for just showcasing Jean-Claude, who could have me with a look.

‘ One Word Answer’ is a Sookie Stackhouse short, very short, that does not really give much of anything. Bubba is present as well as Bill but this is about a cousin who is mentioned only briefly and does not really affect things one way or the other. The Queen of Louisiana sends two of her men to inform Sookie that her cousin is dead and has left her a legacy. This was a bit bland with nothing to really make it a true part of the overall story. I gave this 4 stars for at least having vampires in it.

‘Biting in Plain Sight’ is a Queen Betsy story. I really like these shorts with the dippy Queen, you always get to meet some of her more interesting subjects. Dr. Sophie is a veterinarian in Embarrass, Minnesota and has been for the past 40 years, not that anyone mentions it. It seems that one of her clients has had a crush on her since he was a little boy and now he is ready to act on it. The only problem is she is going to need to see the Queen because a vampire is being bad. I gave this 4.5 stars, it has a good story along with a little lusting going on. There are some laugh out loud moments as well.

‘Galahad’, is a great story and I am glad to have found this author who I have never read before. Caroline has only recently been turned into a witch and transported to Avalon, which is in another dimension. She starts having visions which show her fighting beside a very handsome vampire which she cannot ignore even though she would like to. This was a story that had everything as advertised, hot vampires, sex, and action. I gave this 5 stars and will be looking for more in the Mageverse.

‘Blood Lust’ is another story with an author I have not read before but will  in the future based on this. Daniel Hart is a scientist who has been working on synthetic blood in order to benefit mankind. He gets backing from a man who turns out not to be what he seemed and who steals all his research leaving him broken and battered. When he is healed he goes looking for revenge and finds much more than he expected. This got 4.5 stars because it had just the right mix of romance and vampire intrigue.

I would definitely recommend this book to vampire lovers.

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Guilty Pleasures

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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Graphic Novels #1-2 issues #1-12)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I totally enjoyed this graphic novel based on one of my favorite series. The story follows the novel but gives you that visuals that you always had to supply yourself. If you enjoy the Anita Blake series then you will definitely want to give the graphic novels a look. They hit the mark very well on their renditions of the characters. Going to keep reading them as long as they have them.
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Lost Embrace

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25183805

Lost Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans #6.5)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was very happy that this was done because it gave me a chance to catch up with characters who have not been seen fully for a while. This was the perfect short to bring this portion of the story to closure. With Sydney having been turned and not dealing with it, you had to wonder if she would even survive. Then there is the little fact that a serial killer that she put away has escaped and is making his way to New Orleans for some payback.
Anthony, Sydney’s old partner arrives in New Orleans with the news that a serial killer Syd put away has escaped and is more than likely on his way to her for pay back. What he finds is Sydney turned and unable to feed because she has psyched herself out because a demon tried to kill her.  Kade asks for Anthony’s help and because he has always been a little in love with Syd, he gladly gives it. But Sydney is still a cop at heart and she wants to bring this guy down for even thinking about coming after her.

Though it is a short story it is a fully realized one that gives a great story with characters not seen before who are very interesting. It also sets up the next book in the series with a character who has been elusive for several books but who you know has been orchestrating from the shadows. A must read!

* I just finished listening to this book on 9/10/15. Listening was even better than when I read it. The narrator gives such life to all the characters, though the women do sound like a man doing a woman, he still gives it a great try. This can be enjoyed both ways very easily.