Blue Moon

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1. 

   Jana L. Perskie @ 8:38 pm

   Anita Blake, Executioner, necromancer, lover and human servant to Jean-Claude – the charismatic Master Vampire of St. Louis, lupa of the Thronnus Roke Clan lukoi, and Nimir-ra of a pard of leopard lycanthropes, is changing…more so all the time. When Laurell Hamilton introduced her to us in “Guilty Pleasures,” Book One of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, she was a 24 year-old, smart, attractive, feisty, super-independent dynamo, who raised the dead for a living. She was almost a normal 21st century career girl. Of course she staked rogue vampires as a sideline, but we all have our quirks. Anita’s preternatural powers have been steadily increasing, and in “Blue Moon,” book eight in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, the lines are really beginning to blur between her humanity and the supernatural. Always an uncompromising and tough lady, she has developed a hardness, a detachment, that frightens even herself.

   Anita, Richard Zeeman, (an alpha werewolf and her old boyfriend), and Jean-Claude, (her present lover), had formed a Triumvirate of power – Master Vampire, Ulfric and necromancer. In other words, when the three connect, they exude tremendous force and are able to do much more magic than any one or two can do alone. The three are still bound to each other, even though Richard is furious with Anita for dumping him. She had to choose between “a flesh eater and a bloodsucker.” Do you see a pattern here?

   Late one evening Anita receives a phone call from Richard’s brother. Zeeman had been spending the summer in Meyerton, Tennessee, studying the Lesser Smokey Mountain Trolls which live in the area, and fulfilling the requirements for his Masters degree. He has been arrested for the rape of a local women, and is obviously innocent of the charge. Richard is squeaky clean, the ultimate Boy Scout, and very gentle, especially for a lycanthrope. To make the situation worse, a full moon will occur in five days. As luck would have it, this month, August, is a blue moon month – that means two full moons in 31 days – a phenomenon which arises every 3-4 years. And we all know what happens to werewolves during a full moon, don’t we? Richard has not “come out of the closet,” so to speak, to his parents, his employers, or to many other humans. Basically, he needs to get out of jail pronto. Anita flies down to Meyerton to give him a hand and get him a good attorney. At Jean-Claude’s insistence she is accompanied by an entourage of body guards. Colin, the master of the local vampires does not want Anita and cohorts on his turf – for any reason and has made some serious threats. So, vampires Asher and Damian, and lycanthropes Jason, Zane, Cherry, and Nathaniel are there to keep her safe – although, as always, Anita turns out to be the one who does the most protecting. Werewolves Jamil and Shang-Da are around for Richard, to assist him and to join in the Blue Moon celebrations with Verne, the local Ulfric and his pack..

   Freeing Richard proves easier than tangling with Colin and crew, plus the corrupt local police, and an assortment of other heinous monsters – there’s pure evil on the loose in these hills!! There are some interesting twists in character development in “Blue Moon.” Anita is more vulnerable here than previously. She has to confront her mixed feelings for both Richard and Jean-Claude, come to terms with Raina’s munin – the vengeful spirit who possesses her from time-to-time, make a decision about her reluctant status as leoparde-lionee of the Saint Louis wereleopards, and face her own ignorance in terms of the power she possesses. Anita fears that she is rapidly becoming as much a monster as those she hunts…and loves. Hamilton succeeds beautifully in developing this vulnerable side of Anita, without sacrificing the plot. However, at this point in the series a change was needed. There had to be more to Anita than one tough cookie who goes up against the monsters and wins, repeatedly. This is one of Laurell Hamilton’s best novels – tightly plotted, well structured, including wonderful dark humor, acerbic wit, and plenty of thrills and chills.

   Just a word about the sexual content in “Blue Moon.” I do not find it any more excessive or graphic than what one reads in most popular fiction – bestseller lists included – nor what is shown on afternoon TV. It would not be realistic to write about a healthy, single woman of 24 and exclude sex. Anyway, I loved this book and certainly recommend it!
   
   Jana

   
2. 

   Marc Ruby™ @ 11:12 pm

   I have been a fan of this series for some time, and so I find this a very difficult book to review. To me, this book represents a shift in genre. It is also possible that I simply mistook the genre I though they were in. Originally, Lauren Hamilton wrote what I would call vampire adventure stories. I loved them, and love them still. Hamilton has tremendous writing abilities. Her heroine, Anita Blake, was a superb job of characterization. Dialog and narrative were sparkling. And, truth be told, this is still quite true.

   But these are no longer simply vampire adventure. The sexual theme that has previously created some interesting character dynamics has suddenly become a strong, primary focus. The book is ostensibly about Anita coming to the rescue of Richard, her werewolf more-than-friend, but it is much more about Anita’s changing sexuality. This is quite intense, and really makes this book into a kind of tough girl’s romance story. There’s nothing wrong with that, just not what I expected.

   If you are considering trying this out as your first Hamilton novel, get some of the earlier volumes and read those first. Hamilton starts right in the action, and too many of the references will be confusing without some background.

   Is this a well-written book? Yes. But I think the focus on sex (and I’m not talking missionary position stuff here) weakens Anita’s character. Hamilton seems still a bit awkward with this material, but makes up for a lack of slickness with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm.

   Romance fanatics and those who are not put off by a lot of sexuality will no doubt love this book. Those who are a bit more timid and just wanted a great vampire/monster novel need to approach Blue Moon with more cautious expectations.

   
3. 

   Anonymous @ 12:36 am

   I love this book, as I love all the books in the Anita Blake series; however, I must admit that I was disappointed with some aspects of it. Let me just say first that I thought that it was very brave of LKH to take the characters in a different direction after having them already firmly esconced in the readers mind as were. But let’s face it, Anita (no matter how much I love and admire her) is not a goddess. How many more “undiscovered” powers can she have? That’s getting way to out of hand as far as her dominance over everybody else goes. How can she possibly be more powerful than Jean-Claude, a MV, or Richard, an Alpha? It’s just wrong.

   I also don’t like the twist in Jean-Claude’s personality, he’s a vampire ’nuff said. Sure he can fall in love, but he’s tending to lean towards “mother hen-ish” where Anita’s concerned, c’mon she’s the freaking Executioner, JC knows she can take of herself!! I applaud the fact that Richard now has some testicular fortitude where Anita’s concerned, but now he has lost his respect for women in general. Love Asher, LOVE HIM! Possibly more than JC; however, everybody can’t be in love with Anita, it’s just wrong. Also, missed Edward tremendously in “Blue Moon”, but am ecstatic to hear that “Obsidian Butterfly” is HIS book, so they say. Sadly enough, also missing Zerbrowski, though the gods only know why!

   Loved the Norse mythology viewpoint taken with the werewolves, EXCELLENT!! I excel at myth and was completely freaked when I read about the lukoi titles, my commendations LKH.

   One last criticism about “Blue Moon”, the plot sucked. What was with the whole “spear” thing that never even panned out? That was just too unbelievable, much better job in “Bloody Bones” with the fight over the land for the land’s sake; and the demon at the end bombed, how could Anita have “set it’s soul free”? Tone down the superpowers, she is human!! Maybe not as human as Larry, but she is not invincible!! I’m sorry, I love her but now she’s too unbelievable, how can she be the State Executioner, an animator, part of the RPIT, lupa, Nimir-ra, and yet maintain her position as top-dog (no pun intended) in the Triumverate?? LKH, please “humanize” Anita again. I realize that she has a “disassociation problem” when she kills, but she’s not a bloody superhero! I suggest that you bring in a new character that’s a threat to Anita, as in a woman who’s her equal, and better, someone just as rough and tough as she is who will give her a run for her money and jeopardize her relationship with oh, let’s say, the Master of the City. Thanx for the good reads, it’s been a real slice.

   
4. 

   Anonymous @ 2:57 am

   While I’ve enjoyed all of the Anita Blake series, her relationships and confusion with same have taken center stage over the past two installments, making me wonder just where our heroine’s focus was going to be throughout the rest of the series. Well, I’m happy to report that Anita is back on track! The tone and flow of this book are reminiscent of the first fast-paced novels and even the strange tension between Anita and her various admirers is resolved. Er…sort of. My only regrets are that we didn’t see Larry and Edward, but I’ll accept the trade off that Anita is finally going to go back to her magical roots and learn something of her powers before tripping into greater trouble. Of course, her powers and influence are starting to edge on the absurd….as Jean Claude says, its getting so you can’t do anything with or to the local monsters without getting her permission….but I like the directions she took in this book (I also like the status of relationships at the end). This is a terrific read!

   
5. 

   E. A Solinas @ 5:02 am

   Apparently the love triangle between Richard Zeeman, Anita Blake and Jean-Claude isn’t QUITE over, despite Anita dumping the werewolf to boink the French vampire. Lovely.

   But apparently the melodrama is not over yet in “Blue Moon,” the eighth novel of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Laurell K. Hamilton does succeed in creating some suspense and some intriguing supporting characters with their own woes and worries, but her writing alternates between choppy and painfully florid, and her heroine rapidly ascends the ladder of Mary-Suedom — she’s allegedly smarter, sexier, stronger and more powerful than anyone else.

   Anita receives a call from Richard’s brother — Richard is now in jail in Tennessee, accused of raping a local woman. So Anita heads out to Tennessee with a band of vampires and weres, including Asher, Damian and Jason. They’re all intent on proving Richard’s innocence, and there are only a matter of days until the “blue moon” exposes him as a werewolf.

   Oh yeah, and because of Anita’s charming and polite personality, the Master of the City regards their arrival as an act of war. Can’t blame him, considering what a reasonable, diplomatic person she is. Uh huh.

   Unfortunately Richard’s frame-up is at the center of a town-wide conspiracy, and a search for an ancient artifact using illegal means. And Colin (aforementioned Master) is determined to mess with the invading group, even to infecting one of the weres with a corrosive decay, while a werewolf first-one-to-catch-Anita-gets-to-rape-her jaunt in the woods leads to a new encounter with Richard. Unfortunately, his family has gotten drawn into this mess.

   “Blue Moon” is one of those novels that is overflowing with promise, but only turns out mediocre. It actually is quite strong for the first half — obviously-untrue rape charges, a sinister town conspiracy, and brewing tensions between two groups of werewolves and vampires. You can almost overlook Hamilton’s obvious contempt for women, cops, and anyone who doesn’t live in a major city (according to Hamilton, Tennessee is entirely populated by misogynist racist rednecks).

   Unfortunately, halfway through everything comes unravelled — instead we get an endless stream of absurd situations that emphasize one thing: “Anita is the awesomest most powerful person ever, and everyone wants to have sex with her.” Rapist werewolves, sneering at her ex-boyfriend’s new woman, being possessed by sex-mad werewolf ghosts, and magically fixing everything just by being so awesome and loving. It’s actually pretty nauseating to read someone so spectacularly Mary Sueish.

   And Hamilton’s writing isn’t up to saving the story either. The more hardboiled bits are pretty passable although rather choppily written. But when she tries to wrap that hardboiled prose in lush, sensual prose the results are laughable and appallingly awkward (“The two of us knelt bathed in power. A wind trailed Damian’s hair across my face, and I knew the wind was us”). And it doesn’t help that Anita constantly tosses off clunky fortune-cookie witticisms (“Love sucks. Sometimes it feels good. Sometimes it’s just another way to bleed”) and appalling similes (a vampire sucking blood is “like a feeding thing.” Well, what else would it be?).

   The biggest millstone is Anita: abrasive, arrogant, absurdly hypermacho, and pulls superpowers out of her butt at least twice a day. She’s also as airheaded as a ping-pong ball. She causes all the plot’s problems by howling verbal abuse at the Master of the City, but it never seems to occur to her that this trouble might be her fault. And it’s hard to sympathize with someone who whines about how angry it makes her that her ex-boyfriend, whom she cheated on, is having sex with someone else.

   The supporting characters are far more likable — the fragile vampire Asher manages to be far more endearing than Anita ever does, and the werewolf Jason is quite charming at times. Unfortunately most of the vampires are either there to be ego buffs to Anita (Jean-Claude) or damsels in distress (Damian).

   “Blue Moon” is a solid urban fantasy riddled with cracks — and the Grand Canyon in the middle is the alleged heroine. It’s a decent light read if you can focus on the supporting cast and the creepy noir moments, and ignore everything else.

   
6. 

   Emily @ 10:47 am

   I love this book, as I love all the books in the Anita Blake series; however, I must admit that I was disappointed with some aspects of it. Let me just say first that I thought that it was very brave of LKH to take the characters in a different direction after having them already firmly esconced in the readers mind as were. But let’s face it, Anita (no matter how much I love and admire her) is not a goddess. How many more “undiscovered” powers can she have? That’s getting way to out of hand as far as her dominance over everybody else goes. How can she possibly be more powerful than Jean-Claude, a MV, or Richard, an Alpha? It’s just wrong. I also don’t like the twist in Jean-Claude’s personality, he’s a vampire ’nuff said. Sure he can fall in love, but he’s tending to lean towards “mother hen-ish” where Anita’s concerned, c’mon she’s the freaking Executioner, JC knows she can take of herself!! I applaud the fact that Richard now has some testicular fortitude where Anita’s concerned, but now he has lost his respect for women in general. Love Asher, LOVE HIM! Possibly more than JC; however, everybody can’t be in love with Anita, it’s just wrong. Also, missed Edward tremendously in “Blue Moon”, but am ecstatic to hear that “Obsidian Butterfly” is HIS book, so they say. Sadly enough, also missing Zerbrowski, though the gods only know why! Loved the Norse mythology viewpoint taken with the werewolves, EXCELLENT!! I excel at myth and was completely freaked when I read about the lukoi titles, my commendations LKH. One last criticism about “Blue Moon”, the plot sucked. What was with the whole “spear” thing that never even panned out? That was just too unbelievable, much better job in “Bloody Bones” with the fight over the land for the land’s sake; and the demon at the end bombed, how could Anita have “set it’s soul free”? Tone down the superpowers, she is human!! Maybe not as human as Larry, but she is not invincible!! I’m sorry, I love her but now she’s too unbelievable, how can she be the State Executioner, an animator, part of the RPIT, lupa, Nimir-ra, and yet maintain her position as top-dog (no pun intended) in the Triumverate?? LKH, please “humanize” Anita again. I realize that she has a “disassociation problem” when she kills, but she’s not a bloody superhero! I suggest that you bring in a new character that’s a threat to Anita, as in a woman who’s her equal, and better, someone just as rough and tough as she is who will give her a run for her money and jeopardize her relationship with oh, let’s say, the Master of the City. Thanx for the good reads, it’s been a real slice.