Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 16)

This book focused on one plot line, rather than the usual 3. I had to practically skip the whole first disk of the book. It was more like the fairy series in that regard. I am not a romance novel person. I like the plot to move and lots of character development. I felt like she was thinking about something else when she wrote this, but had a deadline to meet. Not up to the usual par for Anita, still entertaining.

One of the worst books that I have read in a long time. I was a big fan of her early books and gave up on the series a few books ago. Lacking anything better to read I picked this one up and found it to be the worst one yet. Marmee wasn't scary because all she did was give Anita an excuse to screw more men and the other bad guys didn't enter the story until nearly the end. In other words very little action.

I have never read this series for the sex, I enjoyed the action. It was nice to see a strong female character. Anita is no longer strong, just sex starved.

I'm surprised that I am giving this book 3 stars because there are so many 1 starred reviews. But there are parts of this book that I enjoyed.

I think the most enjoyable part for me was the fact that one of my favorite and one of the earlier characters of the series, Jason was present throughout the book. I for one have gotten tired of all the new men. I can't even remember their species or their names anymore. I thought the chapters with Richard were pretty good. I am not a fan who is pro Richard or pro Jean Claude. I like them both and I like Micah too. I really enjoy the interaction between Anita and Richard in this book. Also a quip Richard made,(bottom of page 239) was for me very funny.

What didn't I like about the book? At the beginning of the book Jason was a little too cry babyish and that they jumped right into a sex scene that I thought a little raunchy. I was uncomfortable with what happened during Anita's 2 day blackout. Also I do not like all the affects to Anita and friends from Belle Mort and now Marmee Noir that have been happening in the books since Narcissus. With the ARDEUR there is no reason for the author not to try any erotic idea that she finds in her "adult closet".

As has become my habit since I.D. I borrowed this book and will continue to do so. Why keep reading them? Because I do love and wish to keep up with the characters from books 1 - 10. And I'm hoping that LKH will stop writing erotica. One can always hope!

I gave it 2 stars for the last 75 or so pages where Ms. Blake had to rely on her brains. The previous hundreds of pages were tedious beyond belief. Enough with the relationship rehashing and coddling the egos of the men in her life. It's like listening to break-up story over and over again.

One word: PLOT. Always go with plot. Otherwise, it's beginning to read like a bad Dr. Phil episode.

For the past 2 years or so, Laurell K Hamilton has been taking Anita to places she shouldn't be going. Her first books were wonderful. She strayed from the winning formula. In The Harlequin, she started putting it all back together again. In Blood Noir, she succeeded in getting Anita back on track.

I really enjoyed this book!! If you enjoyed the first 10 or so, you will enjoy this book. I am not disappointed. I refuse to tell the plot or "ruin" the book for any of the other readers.

I can't wait until the new one comes out. I am also an avid fan of the Merideth Gentry series.