RAPHAEL by Laurell K. Hamilton

Publisher: Penguin Random House
Date Published: February 09, 2021
ISBN: 9780593332917
Paranormal, Urban fantasy, Horror
Print
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)
Weblink: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/667559/rafael-by-laurell-k-hamilton/9780593332917
Obtained via publisher
Rating: 4 Hearts

 

 

Anita finds herself in the middle of a power struggle in the wererats. Raphael the king of the wererats has enemies that are determined to remove him and the alliance that he has with Anita. Will Raphael and the rats become nothing more than slaves to the vampires once Raphael becomes Anita’s or will they become stronger? As the wererats begin to take sides on this question Anita must also deal with emotions and problems in her own personal life. So much is going on with Anita and her life is becoming more complicated by the day and she longs for some peace, but will she ever get it?

 

This book brings back the emotional side of Anita. Unlike the previous book that had a return to more action Rafael brings us more emotional conflict than action. This story is full of angst and emotions. Anita seems to have taken a step back and is once again worried about everyone’s feelings and sexual habits. There are a lot of characters in this book and as it is the latest in a long series you need to read the previous books to understand who everyone is and what is going on. I enjoyed this quick stop in Anita’s world. We get a deeper look at the wererats and how their world works. This is another book that does a nice job in connecting Anita to many of the supporting characters in this series. Once again Anita must take a look at herself and deal with emotions as her life moves forward. Rafael is a nice addition to the Anita Blake series. Laurell K. Hamilton does a nice job of keeping readers engaged and interested in this world.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

SUCKER PUNCH by Laurell K. Hamilton

 Publisher: Berkley

Date Published: August 04,2020
ISBN: 9781984804457

Paranormal Fiction
eBook
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)
Weblink: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/603779/sucker-punch-by-laurell-k-hamilton/9781984804433
Obtained via publisher

Rating:4 Hearts

 

 

Once again Anita Blake must right a wrong. She has been asked to come to Michigan to consult on a murder case but to her dismay the so-called easy case turns out to be something much more. Time is beginning to run out and Anita must figure out if the man accused is guilty or not. Can she solve the case before it is too late? The evidence is growing but Anita cannot shake the question and the worries about this case. Time is not on her side, but Anita always gets her man and she is determined that she will do just that with this case.

This book will bring readers of this series back to the first few books that were filled with more plot and less sex. Anita is her usual badass self and is more than ready to take on the world. Police work is front and center in this book. It does move a bit slow and the story plods along. This is book twenty-seven, so I really advise you to read the previous books to understand just where you are headed in this universe. There is a lot going on in Anita’s life right now and dealing with Olaf is one of them. He is trying hard to be a man Anita wants but she is having none of it. Anita needs to close this case and soon, she has no time for games. This story delves into how Anita’s mind works at solving the crime and dealing with everything that is going on. It was nice to see Anita working with the police and solving crime as she did in the beginning of this series. We get to see a strong woman hold her own in a world where men are seen as the best. I enjoyed this latest adventure with Anita and look forward to the next one.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

FANTASTIC HOPE by Laurell K. Hamilton and others

Publisher: Berkley

Date Published: April 2020

ISBN:9780593099209

Science Fiction, Fantasy
Print
Reviewed by Gabrielle (meingee@yahoo.com)

Weblink: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/611815/fantastic-hope-by-edited-by-laurell-k-hamilton-and-william-mccaskey/9780593099209
Obtained via publisher
Rating: 4 Hearts

 FANTASTIC HOPE is a wonderful collection of stories from a great group of authors. They are full of science fiction and fantasy themes. So many different ideas and worlds are brought to the reader with these stories. You are able to enjoy stories full of things from zombies to omegas and many more wondrous things from these worlds.
I truly enjoyed all of the stories and would find it hard to just pick one as a favorite. This collection does contain a story by a few of my favorite authors and it was the drawing point for me. I am glad this collection caught my eye as I now have a few more authors to continue to enjoy. As a whole this is a good collection of stories. Each story pulls you in and keeps you engaged all the way to the end. There are many different characters and worlds to get lost in. Some stand out a bit more than others and some will have you wanting to visit their worlds in more depth. One particular story for me was from the Anita Blake series. I loved getting the quick look into that world again and seeing the characters that I know deal with a situation that may not require a whole book. Alongside that story you get many other ones with strong characters and plots. There is so much to enjoy from paranormal to fantasy in these stories. I loved the creativity in the worlds and the characters that these authors have encompassed these stories with.  This anthology is a great way to delve into some new authors. I was excited to see authors like Hamilton and Briggs contribute to this anthology and was pleased to get to enjoy many new authors. These stories are well written and keep your attention. Some will even have you longing for more.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

SERPENTINE by Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake #26
Berkley Publishing, August 2018
E-Book

Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN: 9780425255681
Paranormal/Fantasy
****

 

The latest installment in Laurell K. Hamilton’s incredibly successful Anita Blake series, SERPENTINE, is set to arrive in bookstores in August and already the comments, both good and bad, are starting to show up on blogs and web sites.  This reader does love an author that can generate that many strong opinions on her writing book after book.

SERPENTINE has Anita heading to a remote Florida island for the destination wedding of Anita’s best friend and fellow US Marshall, Edward/Ted.  It also happens to be the first vacation Anita has had with two of the three men she is engaged to, wereleopards Nathaniel and Micah.  Of course, nothing ever stays on course with Anita.  While in Florida, Micah is investigating a new and frightening form of lycanthropy believed to be the result of an ancient Greek curse that slowly over time has victims growing snakes for limbs.  And then there is that one bridesmaid who positively refuses to believe that Edward isn’t cheating on Donna, his intended, with Anita, despite everyone, including the bride and groom, telling her it simply isn’t true.  Then women start disappearing from the hotel.

As with all the Anita Blake books, SERPENTINE, is filled with Anita’s many men and how they make their poly-relationship work.  In addition to the sex inherent in Anita’s being of an incubus bloodline, the book is also heavy on magic.  The storyline moves along quickly and the characters are well developed.  The best part of all Laurell K. Hamilton books is the incredible way she has of setting the stage.  All readers’ senses are engaged in every page of each book.  Readers are able to almost feel what her characters are feeling, see what they are seeing, smell the scents around them and easily imagine themselves as an onlooker to the story unfolding.  SERPENTINE is yet another wonderful example of that talent.

Shapeshifters, vampires, magical creatures and more are what you will find in Laurell K. Hamilton’s SERPENTINE.  But it is the relationships between the characters and the incredible world building that always make Hamilton’s Anita books, and most recently SERPENTINE, such successful books.

Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."

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DEAD ICE by Laurell K. Hamilton

 

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #24
Berkley Books, June 2015
Hardcover
Obtained via:  publisher
ISBN:  0425255719

ISBN13: 9780425255711
Paranormal Romance
*****


 

Paranormal romance author Laurell K. Hamilton is back with the twenty-fourth book in her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, DEAD ICE, which has Anita researching a zombie pornography ring while preparing for her upcoming wedding to master vampire Jean-Claude.

Someone is raising some really lifelike zombies and using them in zombie pornography.  The zombies are not only very lifelike, their terror is apparent in their eyes, leading Anita to believe voodoo of the darkest kind is being used.  But Anita killed the only practitioner evil enough and strong enough to do this kind of magic.  With her upcoming wedding to vampire master Jean-Claude approaching and her commitment ceremony to Micah and Nathaniel considering adding another bride or groom to the party, Anita’s plate is once again brimming over with action, adventure and magic.

It appears that Laurell K. Hamilton has listened to her fans and really taken their comments to heart in her latest vampire hunter story, DEAD ICE.  Fans have been asking for her to go back to more police procedural type storylines for Anita and in DEAD ICE Anita is hot on the trail of someone using some very dark magic to raise some very lifelike zombies and forcing them to star in zombie pornography.  Anita is working with both her local police partner and the FBI throughout this story.  At the same time, fans who have been asking for Anita to shorten her long list of men down to her main men, have also gotten their wish as DEAD ICE centers on her core relationships, her wedding to Jean-Claude and her commitment ceremony with Micah and Nathaniel (and perhaps a third as yet to be determined tigershifter?).  While some of the others are briefly touched upon, Asher and Narcissus to name a few, they are slowly being moved out of the foreground and with good reason.  Of course, the magic is front and center and the sex is steamy but not overwhelming as it was in some of the prior books.  All in all, this reader would have to say that DEAD ICE incorporates just about all of Hamilton’s fans’ wish list suggestions and incorporates them well.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s writing style is unique and extremely entertaining.  Her stories flow well, weaving many storylines together seamlessly.  Her characters are multifaceted and all have individual characteristics that make each of them stand out from the others.  For those fans who are wondering if they should spring for the hardcover edition of DEAD ICE or just wait for the paperback to come out, go ahead and go for it.  DEAD ICE does not disappoint.  You asked for it and you got it.  Laurell K. Hamilton is an author that really does listen to her fans and it shows in her latest vampire hunter story, DEAD ICE.


Reviewed by T. Barringer
tammyLRM@gmail.com

"This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book."

Jason by Laurell K. Hamilton

Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group
Date published: December 20014
ISBN: 9780515156072
Paranormal
Reviewed by Gabrielle

Weblink: http://www.penguin.com/book/jason-by-laurell-k-hamilton/9780515156072

Obtained via publisher
Rating: 3.5 Hearts

 

This adventure takes Anita to a place that she has never really gone to before. Feelings are not something that Anita has embraced. Now she must find a way to help both herself and her good friend; Jason. If you are looking for the fast and constant action of the earlier books you will not find it in this story. This book gives the readers more of an insight on the personalities and emotions of these characters. I love both Jason and Anita and enjoyed this foray into their personal lives. Sometimes it is nice to just sit back and see some of the nuances in the relationships of this series. This book is about relationships and bonding not finding and beating the bad guy. I will admit it is full of sex but as I see it that is Anita’s way of bonding.

Both Jason and Anita need help in their current relationships and it seems that each one can help the other. Jason needs to explain his need for pain and pleasure while Anita is working through her first relationship with a female. As the two find a way to work through and help each other with their problems we watch Anita grow emotionally. She finds that she cannot be everything for everyone.

Jason is one of my favorite characters in this series and I was happy to see him as a main character in this book.  This book may not be filled with action but it still grabs your attention. I enjoyed it and loved seeing the bonding and emotional growth in this story. Love and friendship are very prominent in this book.  It was nice to see the other side of some of the characters in this series. We get to know more about what makes them tick. I was easily pulled in to this story. Emotions are strong right from the start and never waver. There is a lot of sex in this story but it is a bonding of the characters. Along with the sex is the dialogue. I enjoyed being able to see past the faces that these characters show the world and get a glimpse at their true selves.

This book is a great addition to the series for me and helps me to better understand some of the decisions Anita makes. I am glad I got to read this book and am eagerly waiting for the next Anita adventure.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.