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Review: The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton
Format read: paperback
Genre: Horror
Release Date: 4 April 2006
Length: 387 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Formats available: hardcover, paperback, ebook, audiobook
Purchasing Info: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Book Depository US | Book Depository (UK)
Book Blurb:
The dead obey her, The undead fear her. Anita Blake, animator and vampire hunter, lives a dual life.
My Thoughts:
I will be honest, the events of The Killing Dance nearly had me walk away from this series and not look back.
Anita has a price on her head, considering how many people she has ticked off in the previous books, that isn’t difficult to comprehend. She calls in Edward, one of her only friends and one of the greatest hitmen around to help find out who wants her her dead so badly.
Anita’s character for me in The Killing Dance took a nosedive. What once was a kick-ass heroine has now turned into a weak-willed, spiteful princess. I cannot understand how she can treat someone she is supposed to love so horribly, not to mention throw all of her values – the ones I commended her on in my last review, Bloody Bones – because she was a little upset and grossed out by something natural, let alone something she wanted to see.
Anita was struggling in The Killing Dance with Richard’s werewolf nature. We have seen her come to terms with vampires in the last couple of books instead of clinging to her insessant hatred of them, but werewolves are taking a little longer for Anita to come to terms with. It led to a lot of problems within her relationship with Richard and didn’t help Anita’s problem with her hitmen as she was constantly storming off because of her inability to deal with her fear.
The fact that anyone could be so judgemental in any case, let alone Anita who has done some truly horrible killing in her time made my blood boil. I’m all for love being blind and accepting people for who they are, I’m even more for getting out early if there are problems or nuances that you can’t see yourself dealing with long term. But I am vehemently against cheating. I am especially against cheating because of a “moment of weakness”. It makes me sick to my stomach and it made me hate Anita for doing it. I still hate her now but because I am a masochistic dunderhead, I have the next three books sitting on my TBR pile.
Hamilton’s writing can’t be faulted in this series, as reflected in the rating that I will eventually be giving this book, she sucks you in and refuses to let go until you get to the end, which is why I finished The Killing Dance at all, it is a credit to her ability that I managed to get so angry at Anita in the first place.
I will be honest, I wasn’t going to continue with this series, but I decided to read ahead and went through the blurbs of the books to come, and it is only because I now know that a certain pairing will be made between characters that I am even bothering to continue on with the Anita Blake series at all.
I give The Killing Dance 2 stars
***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.
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| 5 Stars: Perfect! I Love It! | |||||||||
| 4 Stars: Awesome Book! | |||||||||
| 3 Stars: I Liked It! | |||||||||
| 2 Stars: Not bad, but maybe not for me. | |||||||||
| 1 Star: Didn't like it! Did Not Finish it. | |||||||||
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Ooo I so disagree with you! You dislike her for freaking out of Richard changing on top of her, and then eating the former Alpha??? I absolutely love this series, and I also absolutely hate Richard … but I really do hope you will continue reading the series, and love it all again. After some lesser stories, it all picks up again. And I love Edward’s appearances in the books.
Nah, freak out all you want…but don’t turn around and sleep with someone else. And granted Richard may not be my favourite character, but no one deserves that no matter who you eat. I love Edward too! I think he’s going to end up a favourite. I want to continue now because I did like the series I just don’t like cheaters.
Anita has a lot of problems – and a lot of growing up to do still in this series – don’t give up yet on her – as for Richard – well her hatred of some of what he does in this book is because of the fact he hates himself too – they both have issues with shapeshifters they will need to address – and believe me – they will – I’m behind reading the newest books but I still do love this series
IMHO, give up on the series. It gets worse and worse as the books go on.
That’s no lie! The plots just get more bizarre, and the sex gets more prominent. The later books are practically porn with a little story thrown in.
really? i thought we had lora leigh for porn with little plot