When she started writing this series, back in the days when she really had no intention of writing books with sex scenes in them, I don’t think Laurell K Hamilton knew just how apt the first book’s title would be. The Anita Blake vampire hunter novels truly are a Guilty Pleasure.

There is something about these books that allows you to become totally engrossed in the world, in the voice, only moments after picking it up again. Long time fans know Anita, and never have to stretch to find character and become one with her. It is captivating. It is totally escapist. It’s also hot and steamy…

Lots of people are hard on LKH and this series; people critique Anita and the plot device of the Arduer. Nevertheless it is an entertaining read that assures an escape from this mundane world. I love Anita. Even more than Anita, I love Jean-Claude, but that’s hardly the point of this review ;)

My patience is growing thin with this series. Anita used to be so kick-ass and now, she’s kind of wimpy. The sex is boring…the characters are getting flat. I’m not saying it was horrible, it just wasn’t up to normal LKH standards and neither was Incubus Dreams. People can say what they want about the characters growing and evolving, but to me sex isn’t character development, it’s filler, even if it is central to the arduer plot line. Blah…I’m sorry I paid full price for it. Still it had some good points, Asher gaining power, etc.