Flirt is the 18th book in the Anita Blake series. This is my
absolute favourite series, hands down. I don't care what anyone
else has to say about it. Hamilton has created a fascinating and
exciting alternate universe where magic and the supernatural
co-exist uneasily with the mundane. A darker, more graphic series,
it's not for the faint of heart (or weak stomached). It's shelved
in the horror section and none of the creatures found among the
pages sparkle. The vampires here are definitely not 'vegetarians'
and the shifters (also known as weres) don't just magically
transform from animal to human and back again. Their change is
painful, messy and reminiscent of being born. Anita herself is
something more than human - with the ability to raise the dead and
other supernatural powers of her own. Armed with guns, knives, and
a razor sharp wit, she makes a kickass heroine who also has a
vulnerable side.
As with any series with as many books as this one, there will
always be some books you like better than others. This one is no
exception. I liked it, but it's not my favourite. There were many
good things about this book and a few disappointments.
Flirt takes us back to Anita's original profession, that of
zombie-raiser. We get to see Anita at work, talking with clients,
being an Animator, Which really, we haven't seen in a while. The
only thing missing is a run-in with Bert.
Anita's reputation as an animator has grown and that seems to have
brought some real characters out of the woodwork. Over the course
of a few days, she interviews not one, but two, prospective clients
who want her to raise the dead for rather dubious reasons, money is
no object. Since money is not the deciding factor for Anita she
turns them both down. Neither are pleased, but it comes as a
surprise when she finds herself kidnapped and her lovers threatened
in order to force her to raise a zombie.
This book is too short. I don't mean that the story left me feeling
unsatisfied because it felt unfinished. The story itself was
satisfying, it's just that it left me wanting more. Having provided
a tantalizing taste of what this series can be like, it has left me
jonesing for another fix. While the story itself is good, I
couldn't help but think it could have been fleshed out just a bit
more - I mean I did pay hardcover prices for this book afterall and
as far as I am concerned, 158 pages is a short story.
I was also disappointed that Jean Claude (or any of the vamps)
didn't make an appearance. His presence in the last couple of books
has been sparse to non-existent, which is really too bad because he
is the only one who can hold his own with Anita, power and
personality-wise. At least there was some interaction between Anita
and her live in boys, Micah and Nathaniel (plus Jason). I really
missed them in the last book.
Much like the novella, Micah, this book feels more like an
interlude in the overall storyline. It tells a complete, stand
alone story that, except for one development (involving yet another
guy in her life), you could probably skip it completely and read
the next full length novel without feeling like you missed a thing.
The one thing it does do though is perhaps foreshadow the start of
a change in attitude for Anita. For the first time, it seems
apparent that Anita's thinking has shifted. More than ever, her
practicality forces her to do distasteful things but it seems to
bother her quite a bit less.
2010-035