Danse Macabre (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 14)
by Laurell K. Hamilton
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Book Summary Information
Author: Laurell K. HamiltonEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-03-27
ISBN: 0515142816
Number of pages: 576
Publisher: Jove
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780515142815
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Danse Macabre (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 14)
Book Review: Surprised How Much I Enjoyed it.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read the series since the start. I loved the old books, ones where there is a plot, and Anita actually has a life and job. I also preferred the old character of Anita. She was tough, and difficult, whiny and in denial, but she was also fun, and caring, and not so self-centered and self-absorbed. The older books had almost no sex, whereas the recent ones are just badly written mechanical sex.
I was not expecting much from this book since the last one was so bad, and the reviews for DM were terrible. In fact I felt I had finally reached the end of my Anita addiction.
Since they have gone into HC I tend to get the HC, read it, and then get the PB when it comes out (the first 8 were in PB only). For DM I skipped the HC and only got the PB, and then didn't read it for a year. I heard so many bad reviews.
Well I finally read it last weekend, and actually sort of loved it. Its not the Anita of old, and it does have problems but it is so much better than the previous 2-3 books.
I have not really liked them since Blue Moon, and feel LKH did things in that book that replaced the real main characters with POD people. Because of the Podding they stopped talking to her, and she has been doing Anita as 'Merry with a Gun' to fill in. Now it seems that some of the real characters are coming back. Of course they have to carry on with the dreck that has built up since they have been AWOL.
What I liked:
There was less pointless sex overall. The sex scenes that were there, were not so mechanical and soul-less. The whole 'tight, wet, thrusting' theme is just tiring when you read it 20 times a book.
There were fewer new characters added than has been the case in the last books.
Some of the older characters got more stage time, and more development: Asher in particular. JC wasn't filed away from the action when the sun came up. Richard had some development rather than just angry lines. I like Claudia and her development. We also spent some time with Micah (still hate him) and Nathaniel (still hate him, but he is becoming an actual person). We didn't waste a lot of time with Damian (hate him too), the Were Dr. Lillian was there again.
Some of the new/newer characters got development: Remus, Requiem, London, Auggie, Meng Die, Samuel, Sampson, Thea
There was something of a plot, and a continuous thread moving through the book, though it was very light and not something that you can say afterwards that it made a great impression. But it did follow from A to Z while you were reading it.
LKH tried to make a story to cover the developments in the book: why Micah and Nathaniel have become so close to Anita so fast. Why everyone (men) seems drawn to her. Why she gets so many new powers, and why she has so many types of Lycanthropy (with hints of more to come). I actually liked using OB's stuff at the end. None of those development were good things, but now at least there is a part of the story to cover it. And I think this may be the first book in a while that AB hasn't gained a new power.
I actually enjoy a lot of dialog, and characters talking about thoughts and feelings, so I really enjoyed that.
I loved that JC finally got a man, and Anita was there for it, and it turned her on.
I liked the Richard developments and the implication that Joseph and the Lions are the self-destructive and dysfunctional result of trying to live as humans and not Weres (what Richard wants to do). I think it will be used in the future to show Richard the fatal folly of trying to be human. He actually seems to be learning and understanding in small bits.
There was also an attempt at humor, and while it wasn't the same as the old books, it was at least an attempt.
What I didn't like:
The whole start of the book, with Ronnie being trashed and turned into a jealous, shrewish, crazy, slut. It also exposed how hard, cold, nasty and selfish Anita has become. I hate that it now happens to any character who doesn't agree/worship Anita, especially the other women characters.
I can't say how loudly it comes across that LKH hates women and obviously herself in what she writes in the books. The whole concept of Anita as Prince Charming is just sad and sick.
The pregnancy scare was very contrived. LKH used it as a way to say some things, but it was too drawn out and too melodramatic.
The anemic plot. First we had Pregnancy Scare, Shopping for a Pomme de Sangre, then it became lets Test Anita around Masters (some from Belles's line, some not, some who had been with the ardeur, some not), then it was Make a Deal with Auggie, then it was Power Plays with Auggie, then the Ballet, and their Bad Behavior.
But the ballet part didn't start until the end, and it was over very quickly and easily, and it never made any sense as to what they hoped to gain (given the vampires rules about territories and allowable behaviors and all).
The whole thread about Mers got pushed into some future book, the Ballet got almost no stage time.
I didn't like a lot of stage time for Micah, Nathaniel, Damien - just kill them all. I hate the 2nd Tri.
I didn't like so many characters, and too much time for the new/newish ones. I can't keep track of them (who they are, where they came from, what they are, and what their motivations/issues are), and while some got development, I would rather we had older characters.
The ending was a fizzle.
Still with all the problems I read the book in about a day and a half, and it is probably one of the few recent ones (since Blue Moon) that I might actually read again.
Now of course I am wavering about The Harlequin. I really didn't want to buy it in HC, and now I am not sure if I can wait for the PB. I am not happy with the whole Negative Fan rant, as well as the path the series has taken and feel that I don't want to financially support LKH, so I am trying not to buy the HC. But who knows if I can wait.
Summary of Danse Macabre (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 14)
In the thralls of supernatural passion, Anita Blake faces a most human dilemma.
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