wrathofkublakhan Posted February 24, 2007 Posted February 24, 2007 Guilty Pleasures (many of the books titles are fun names for local clubs or hangouts) is the first of a wonderful series. For me, it served as an introduction to the world and was not really a strong enough effort to keep a reader coming back -- even though I did. My first romp through Anita Blake found me buying two books at a time, madly tearing through them and then buying the next until none more were published. Then I did something I've never done before -- I started at the beginning and read them all through again. I think the strength of the books are the characters. The growing cast over so many books are really old friends -- when Anita returns to St. Louis in Narcissus in Chains and meets Stephan and she just can't stop smiling; I kinda felt the same way. It's also an accumulative series, each book builds upon the last. I might guess that Obsidian Butterfly (a club outside of Santa Fe) is the book most likely to stand on it's own. At this point in the series there are some things that may or may not happen, though I think there are plenty of hints. Here's my list for the Book Club Forum to encourage discussion: Will Olaf return? Will the un-oathed vamps of the church be tapped for a huge power source? What is the 5th and unknown strain of lycanthropy in Anita? (actually I'm not sure of the four known: wolves, panthers, lions, rats?) How is Dolph doing with his daughter? Will Anita continue to develop Master-Vamp skills like The Voice? Will there be another showdown with the Council? (I'd love for Anita to meet Padma now, five books later!) Is Anita done with the FBI and those guys with the black folders? In Micah, we learned with were-wolf blood she can raise a graveyard, how will this continue to threated the vamps in her skill in calling the dead? Keep the blood, sex and magic coming! Quote
Wraith* Posted February 24, 2007 Posted February 24, 2007 As I am a person in the know on some of these subjects. Olaf and Edward will be back in the next book, along with a young Peter in training. Edward is, sadly in my opinion, still in his relationship with Donna. Also in the next book a HUMAN will be killed off at the end (it won't be Edward) but I'm guessing one of the police. Anita gets to meet the Mother of All Darkness. Anita is going on to develop lots of new skills and powers until it's revealed she is the second coming of Christ... Sadly the sex scenes will continue but the next book will have more of a "traditional" Anita Blake feel to it (police investigations and actually killing monsters). Anita also gets a new gun, or two... Quote
Michelle Posted February 24, 2007 Posted February 24, 2007 I've seperated these 2 posts from the original review, and moved them here, as it's more suited for a discussion. Quote
kitty Posted February 24, 2007 Posted February 24, 2007 I have yet to read any of her books, they have been on my buying list for ages. Every time I look at the library, they only have books half way through the series. Im hoping to get a least one for my birthday though! Quote
wrathofkublakhan Posted February 24, 2007 Author Posted February 24, 2007 Also in the next book a HUMAN will be killed off at the end (it won't be Edward) but I'm guessing one of the police. More likely Olaf will be killed; esp. if they are coming to St. Louis. And, yes....a more traditional Anita story would be welcome. Quote
Wraith* Posted February 24, 2007 Posted February 24, 2007 From what Laurell said in her email it will be someone who's been in several books so that would count Olaf out. You'll be able to read the book in July. Quote
wrathofkublakhan Posted March 2, 2007 Author Posted March 2, 2007 From what Laurell said in her email it will be someone who's been in several books so that would count Olaf out. You'll be able to read the book in July. Wow. Can you post the e-mail? I'd love to read it. Quote
kitty_kitty Posted March 3, 2007 Posted March 3, 2007 I love her books both the anita blake series and the meredith gentry series but i have found they have lost their way with too much sex and little plot so i hope they get back to the form the earlier books had Quote
wrathofkublakhan Posted March 7, 2007 Author Posted March 7, 2007 I love her books both the anita blake series and the meredith gentry series but i have found they have lost their way with too much sex and little plot so i hope they get back to the form the earlier books had Ya ya, I've read some Meredith Gentry books ~ fun stuff. Obviously I'm passionate about the Anita Blake series. Meredith just seemed a little ... girly. Not that I mind a Girly Book now and then! Quote
kitty_kitty Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 I known what you mean Anita does the fighting herself whereas Meredith hides behind her guards!!! However i have them all and really love them but more action less icky sex Quote
Wraith* Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 And it's not that I have a problem with the sex but it's BAD sex... Quote
kitty_kitty Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 BAD and sometimes ICKY. I can actually blush if i am reading it on a bus too and i am prudish I just adored her earlier stories with more action and the relationships between the characters thatr weren't just sex Quote
Wraith* Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 Or the newer ones that have orgys and sex with animals... Quote
kitty Posted March 7, 2007 Posted March 7, 2007 My first Anita Blake book came in the post today, carnt wait to finish my current book so I can start this. Looks like the type of book you could read in one day! Quote
wrathofkublakhan Posted March 8, 2007 Author Posted March 8, 2007 My first Anita Blake book came in the post today, carnt wait to finish my current book so I can start this. Looks like the type of book you could read in one day! Reading is such a Guilty Pleasure, isn't it? Quote
kitty Posted March 8, 2007 Posted March 8, 2007 Has anybody read it in a whole day? When I was in Borders today, next to the Anita Blake books they had put a note, saying if you love Anita Black why not try Jim Butchers Harry Dresden series. He is a Wizard. Anybody read any? Quote
kitty_kitty Posted March 8, 2007 Posted March 8, 2007 No but i will have to keep my eye open. I knew i shouldn't have looked on the website Quote
Wraith* Posted March 9, 2007 Posted March 9, 2007 Has anybody read it in a whole day? When I was in Borders today, next to the Anita Blake books they had put a note, saying if you love Anita Black why not try Jim Butchers Harry Dresden series. He is a Wizard. Anybody read any? Yeah Dresden is good, very Anita like, sarcastic, sassy, gets things done. With less of the icky sex. You shuld also check out the Rachael Harrison books, she has a very good series featuring a preturnatural universe... IIRC the first one is Dead Witch Walking. Quote
Michelle Posted March 9, 2007 Posted March 9, 2007 Wraith, did you get hold of Raven Hart's book? I'd be interested to know how you found it.. including the sex scenes. To me, they fit well with the story, rather than being there for the sake of it. Quote
Wraith* Posted March 9, 2007 Posted March 9, 2007 Nope, we looks in quite a few bookshops but couldn't find any. I'll have a search online and see if I can find it though. You sort of reminded me lol. Quote
Michelle Posted March 9, 2007 Posted March 9, 2007 It's only £3.99 in Amazon.. but of course there's the postage on top of that. Unless, of course, you can find a few more books to spend £15! Quote
kitty Posted March 9, 2007 Posted March 9, 2007 Thanks Wraith, will have a look at the Rachael Harrison site on my lunch break! Oh my god, there is just to to many books to read! I need to book time off work, to get through some. Quote
kitty_kitty Posted March 16, 2007 Posted March 16, 2007 The Kim Harrsion books are on 3 for 2 in my Waterstones so OH treated me to all 5 of them - getting another book for himself too! I got: 1. Dead Witch walking 2. The good, the bad and the undead. 3. Every Witch way but dead. 4. A Fistful of charms. 5. For a few Demons more. As when i looked on amazon tehy were not much cheaper. Quote
kitty Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 Just finished reading Guilty Pleasures, I really enjoyed it so im on the look out for the next one now! I must say Wraith, it has put me off Laurell K. Hamilton a bit though, after reading her rant. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.