Incubus Dreams

Book 12 of the Anita Blake series once again departs from the strictly suspense driven plot to focus more on character development and the relationships between the characters, but I'm not complaining. This is one of my favourite Anita Blake books. It is raw and emotional. Hamilton really can write in a way that draws the reader's empathy for her characters. I love how we continue to see the characters and their relationships develop. I especially like how we see more of Nathaniel's personal growth.

The story opens at a wedding...Larry's and Tammy's. But, as with any event in Anita's life, a murder takes place and she is forced to leave the wedding to fulfill her duties as a consultant to the Regional Preternatural Investigation Unit and a Federal Marshal. It looks like St. Louis has a vampire serial killer (or killers) on the loose, raping and draining strippers dry. While Anita is positive none of Jean-Claude's vampires would commit this crime, others are not convinced and she must face many prejudices and find ways to fit into the cop mentality once again.

While many believe that the series has become nothing more than erotica, they are vastly underrating things. Yes, Incubus Dreams does contain many explicit sexual encounters, and Hamilton, as the voice of Anita, may be providing a tad TMI, especially in Anita's fascination with a certain part of the male anatomy, but the encounters are all part of the overall development of Anita's character. The powerful sexual incubus that Jean-Claude has inadvertently shared with Anita can not be tamed. It is a driving force that she must feed or face the consequences. This dilemma gives rise to the need for more sexual partners and provides the emotional turmoil that Anita faces. The sexuality is not gratuitous in nature and has a purpose in the story arc of the entire series.

2010-099

Incubus Dreams is the 12th book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series.

The book starts off with Anita standing in a wedding for Tammy and Larry. She must leave the reception early because of police business. She must investigate a stripper who was killed by multiple vamp bites and was drained. Anita is convinced it's not one of Jean-Claude's vamps, but the police think that Anita is "too involved" with him to be bias. She also realizes that Malcolm has not blood bonded his vamps and it leads to unrestrained predators.

Anita is still struggling with the Ardeur and balancing her lovers. Nathanial wants to be more to Anita and is pushing her to have sex with him. She struggling with herself and trying to please everyone. She must feed the ardeur constantly and it has lead to her feeding on men she just met. Anita also has to deal with the after affects and dealing with her morals to save the ones she loves.

Anita, Jean-Claude and Richard have a rise in power. They must try to control it, while it being unpredictable. Anita also forged a new trimulative with her vamp servant Damian and her pomme de sang Nathanial. This time, she is the head of the trimulative and is trying to learn to control it.

Let's talk about the sex. The book was full of it. I love Anita but it's getting too much. That being said I won't stop reading the books. I'm emotionally invested in these characters and will continue reading the series. People are upset of how much Anita has changed from Guilty Pleasures, but this is book 12. Many would complain if she was the same Anita and no real change in character development at this point. I trust Mrs Hamilton vision and will continue reading this wonderful series.

THE TIME HAS COME!!!!

This book was over the top. And not in a good way.
While the storyline as usual was fantastic, it was as if Hamilton lost her marbles and rented a porn film and wrote everything she saw. It cheapened so much she worked for.
There was so much love between her and Richard and it was crumbled down to her sucking his....manhood in a most graphic way.
I don't mind erotica...actually i enjoy them in supernatural book because it gives a break from horror and infuses humanity...
I understand the Ardeur...the need for Anita to have sex every six hours. This does not bother me. It was the ongoing chapters, back to back, decrypting the most graphic, gory, disgustingly depicted sex. I mean, I like sex as much as the next girl, but Honestly....it was simply too much.
I love Nathaniel, I was glad he got his.
I love Damian, I was thrilled that he finally got his connection with Anita.
The triumvirate between Nathaniel, Damian and Anita was awesome.
The new powers from it was amazing.
I still adore Anita's character.

The one thing that sucked was ...too much sexual information that cheapened instead of enriched the book. I see now why people took a step back from the book. I had to skip pages just to reach the next plot.
Overall, I will keep buying the books because the story is still original, amazing and enthralling....but I hope that the sex tones down.

Cheers.

Despite what all of you have to say about this book ,I have to disagree. All that Hamilton is trying to show with her sexual senses in this book is to show how Anita is growing, in the way she trusts and loves and that she has finally excepted the world that she has found herself entangled in. I recommend that you all re read this book and to think back to the fist , where Anita was so closed off, now she is opening up , she is growing. And in that she has found love and friendship. This book is not just about sex it is about Anita finally trusting herself in a way she thought was impossible.