Cerulean Sins

Cerulean Sins is the 11th book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and let's face it, you don't start a new series at book eleven. If you haven't read the previous books in the series, you'll probably be lost. Hamilton immerses us in plotlines and characters from previous books, and the story pretty much hits the ground running. That's not a bad thing, frankly; once a series hits double digits, it's reasonable to assume that the characters have gotten a little complex.

While not my favourite of the Anita Blake books, this one certainly was the most emotionally compelling so far. Hamilton has created a cast of characters I have become totally invested in and she manages to portray the emotional turmoil that Anita and the others go through so realistically I felt like I was experiencing it myself. Anita continues to mature, struggling with the realization that the simple rules that once guided her are no longer enough. Richard, the deeply damaged were-leader, represents what Anita would have become if she hadn't changed and the destruction he creates in his pack is a reflection of what Anita could create in the larger preternatural community. Still, each loss of innocence has its costs and Anita is often the one to pay.

This book has less action than some of the previous novels, with the paranormal police work taking a back seat to vampire politics, but it is still a good story. My only complaint though is that the two subplots having to do with the international terrorist and the police investigation feel kind of like an after-thought and didn't really mesh with the main story at all.

2010-098

Hamilton has done it again - another good book that I couldn't put down! Though not as action filled as previous ones, it was still an erotic, thought-provoking page turner.
The fact that Anita is "uncomfortable" with her actions during the ardeur shows she does still have morals, but sometimes they need to take a backseat to preserving your life.

I was apprehensive about this book but it was actually ok. I do think it will be one of the last for me though as the sex is not well done here and takes a lot of the book. I can’t stand Micah and loath Nathaniel. The two of them are just creepy. Anita is also becoming really too much to take. The Belle plot is good though it rings familiar. I liked the bits with J-C and Asher. The murder plot was underdeveloped I thought. BTW why does LKH hate blond women so much???

This book definitely did not impress me. It drifted away from a potentially exciting plot into way too much sex. I hope Hamilton's next Anita Blake book is closer to her earlier (and better) novels.