Well, the soft-porn element is still here, and the gore is still graphic. Either I am becoming desensitized, or Hamilton has been scaling it back to where it fits into my comfort zone [if you haven’t read my journal entry about the first in the series, I had to put the book down several times to go purge images out of my head].

Character development is going well. This reader appreciates Blake’s growth/skill development as she learns more about vampires and other undead. While the new love triangle is entertaining on one level, I’m getting uncomfortable with Jean-Claude’s disrespect of Anita’s wishes.

I’m hoping that Hamilton does not plan to end all or most of the Blake novels in the same manner. I’ll just say that there must be multiple ways out of a situation where magic or a stronger will is operative.

Previously published on BookCrossing.com, 2003