| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Writing a bestselling series seems to be a sign of creative doom, because sooner or later the author starts writing for the sake of the series, not because it actually takes the story anywhere.
Sadly this is the case in the latest moribund volume of the Anita Blake series, "Danse Macabre." The entire plotless, meandering mess seems to have been written for two reasons: money, and to blow a big raspberry at Laurell K. Hamilton's readers. Given the only real plot development is a pregnancy scare, it doesn't seem worth it.
Anita has a new dilemma -- she might be pregnant, which isn't surprising for a woman who has spent the last few books being shagged left, right and every way to Sunday by every vamp, human and lycanthrope imaginable. What's more, many powerful vampires are arriving in St. Louis, including a vampiric ballet troupe in Jean-Claude's territory.
As if this weren't bad enough, the ardeur seems to be showing signs of seeking out new sex partners for her, and is affecting her lovers as well -- and her lycanthropic and vampiric edges are starting to affect those around her. Can Anita regain control of her increasingly unstable life?
Those desperately hoping that the plot will return in "Danse Macabre" can hang their heads and weep. There isn't a shred of actual plot in this book that isn't connected to the ardeur in some way -- no detecting, no zombies, no nothing. In fact, the biggest chill in this entire book is the pregnancy scare.
This isn't a plot in the sense that it really goes nowhere and nothing ever really comes of it; the book is left open-ended for the inevitable next volume. Even Hamilton doesn't seem to know what to do with the plot, since the writing is repetitive and often rather colourless.
And it's crammed with voyeuristic vamps, endless sexathons, and the suggestion that the ardeur might be binding Anita's lovers to her. As if the whole ardeur plot weren't nauseating enough, the Masters show up with more hot lovers so Anita can satisfy the strengthened ardeur. How very nice of them -- for Anita, not for the readers.
What's more, Hamilton has tossed out even the pretense of civility. The book starts with an appalling scene where, for daring to criticize Anita's hedonistic ways, Ronnie is dismissed as a bitter prude who is just jealous that Anita gets to bed all these hot guys. It would be a hilarious scene, if it weren't for the obvious razzie to her readers.
Anita herself remains an empty shell, who alternately fusses about whether she's a slut and hisses at anyone who says she is. The women are all nasty and catty, while the men uniformly adore her. The only exception is Richard, who really does seem like the only quasi-normal person in the whole book. Hamilton obviously expects us to scoff at his prudishness, but instead I found myself sympathizing with him.
"Danse Macabre" has a cool title, but not much between the pages. Between the nonexistant plot and porn subplots, it's hard to see why anyone would want this dance.
Sadly this is the case in the latest moribund volume of the Anita Blake series, "Danse Macabre." The entire plotless, meandering mess seems to have been written for two reasons: money, and to blow a big raspberry at Laurell K. Hamilton's readers. Given the only real plot development is a pregnancy scare, it doesn't seem worth it.
Anita has a new dilemma -- she might be pregnant, which isn't surprising for a woman who has spent the last few books being shagged left, right and every way to Sunday by every vamp, human and lycanthrope imaginable. What's more, many powerful vampires are arriving in St. Louis, including a vampiric ballet troupe in Jean-Claude's territory.
As if this weren't bad enough, the ardeur seems to be showing signs of seeking out new sex partners for her, and is affecting her lovers as well -- and her lycanthropic and vampiric edges are starting to affect those around her. Can Anita regain control of her increasingly unstable life?
Those desperately hoping that the plot will return in "Danse Macabre" can hang their heads and weep. There isn't a shred of actual plot in this book that isn't connected to the ardeur in some way -- no detecting, no zombies, no nothing. In fact, the biggest chill in this entire book is the pregnancy scare.
This isn't a plot in the sense that it really goes nowhere and nothing ever really comes of it; the book is left open-ended for the inevitable next volume. Even Hamilton doesn't seem to know what to do with the plot, since the writing is repetitive and often rather colourless.
And it's crammed with voyeuristic vamps, endless sexathons, and the suggestion that the ardeur might be binding Anita's lovers to her. As if the whole ardeur plot weren't nauseating enough, the Masters show up with more hot lovers so Anita can satisfy the strengthened ardeur. How very nice of them -- for Anita, not for the readers.
What's more, Hamilton has tossed out even the pretense of civility. The book starts with an appalling scene where, for daring to criticize Anita's hedonistic ways, Ronnie is dismissed as a bitter prude who is just jealous that Anita gets to bed all these hot guys. It would be a hilarious scene, if it weren't for the obvious razzie to her readers.
Anita herself remains an empty shell, who alternately fusses about whether she's a slut and hisses at anyone who says she is. The women are all nasty and catty, while the men uniformly adore her. The only exception is Richard, who really does seem like the only quasi-normal person in the whole book. Hamilton obviously expects us to scoff at his prudishness, but instead I found myself sympathizing with him.
"Danse Macabre" has a cool title, but not much between the pages. Between the nonexistant plot and porn subplots, it's hard to see why anyone would want this dance.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a true diehard Anita fan but even I am having trouble justifying spending time and money on the series having just read this latest installment.
I have to say that I agree with all the other reviewers who say that there is almost no plot to this book whatsoever. I also noticed that it is poorly edited so that in places I felt I had missed a part of a conversation or a scene and found myself skipping back over pages to see if I had accidentally missed something. But no, it's just badly put together.
It seems that Hamilton is more concerned with giving minutely detailed information about the appearance of her characters (so many new people are introduced in this book starting with the exact different shades and length of their hair right down to the shoes they are wearing) while little thought is put into actually making them do anything.
The sex is really getting ridiculous at this point. Anita has gone from being the uber-virgin of the earlier books to the sorts of orgies only seen in illegal hardcore porn in this latest installment. It has gotten to the point that rather than being titillating it's now just boring.
If you are new to the Anita Blake series I heartily recommend you read no further than book 9 (Obsidian Butterfly) as the earlier books are still by far some of the best vampire/supernatural fiction I have read (and I have read A LOT).
Will I buy the next book when it arrives? Probably. Will it be worth reading? I doubt it.
I have to say that I agree with all the other reviewers who say that there is almost no plot to this book whatsoever. I also noticed that it is poorly edited so that in places I felt I had missed a part of a conversation or a scene and found myself skipping back over pages to see if I had accidentally missed something. But no, it's just badly put together.
It seems that Hamilton is more concerned with giving minutely detailed information about the appearance of her characters (so many new people are introduced in this book starting with the exact different shades and length of their hair right down to the shoes they are wearing) while little thought is put into actually making them do anything.
The sex is really getting ridiculous at this point. Anita has gone from being the uber-virgin of the earlier books to the sorts of orgies only seen in illegal hardcore porn in this latest installment. It has gotten to the point that rather than being titillating it's now just boring.
If you are new to the Anita Blake series I heartily recommend you read no further than book 9 (Obsidian Butterfly) as the earlier books are still by far some of the best vampire/supernatural fiction I have read (and I have read A LOT).
Will I buy the next book when it arrives? Probably. Will it be worth reading? I doubt it.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is only worth it if you want to read fantasy that is based round many sex scenes, cut with monologues or overly contrived conversations that exist merely to persuade the main character to agree to sex in the first place.
This volume was an overlong vignette covering a day or so where Anita has a bust up with her friend, goes to her lover's 'lair' where the main part of the action occurs. Then in the last few chapters they go to a ballet and end up back at her lover's lair again.
Danse Macabre does not have a true beginning/middle/end setup, and as such cannot be considered as a standalone volume. You really do have to have read other Anita Blake volumes to get what's going on. Any character development achieved in this piece could have equally well been knit into a book that actually had a story.
The Anita Blake books that anyone will enjoy:
1. Guilty Pleasures (1993)
2. The Laughing Corpse (1994)
3. Circus of the Damned (1995)
4. The Lunatic Cafe (1996)
9. Obsidian Butterfly (2000)
That's right, there's only 5 out of 14 - the numbers refer to their position in the series. These books have more complex plots than any of the others and don't centre round sex, unlike Danse Macabre.
This volume was an overlong vignette covering a day or so where Anita has a bust up with her friend, goes to her lover's 'lair' where the main part of the action occurs. Then in the last few chapters they go to a ballet and end up back at her lover's lair again.
Danse Macabre does not have a true beginning/middle/end setup, and as such cannot be considered as a standalone volume. You really do have to have read other Anita Blake volumes to get what's going on. Any character development achieved in this piece could have equally well been knit into a book that actually had a story.
The Anita Blake books that anyone will enjoy:
1. Guilty Pleasures (1993)
2. The Laughing Corpse (1994)
3. Circus of the Damned (1995)
4. The Lunatic Cafe (1996)
9. Obsidian Butterfly (2000)
That's right, there's only 5 out of 14 - the numbers refer to their position in the series. These books have more complex plots than any of the others and don't centre round sex, unlike Danse Macabre.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
"Anita Blake Vampire Hunter" series book 13
New enemies are faced as Jean-Claude plays host to a group of powerful master vampires supplying potential candidates for the role of Anita's new pomme de sang. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Book Addict
I enjoy all Laurell K Hamilton books.
I enjoy all Laurell K Hamilton books.
Never read a bad book by her yet.
Never read a bad book by her yet.
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by Mr. Aj Rigby
Half way through, and they havent left the bedroom.....?
i'm sorry to write this, but i am over half way through this book and i was hoping for a good read, of adventure, thriller, supernatural.... and it is just S E X. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2010 by Mrs. P. Thomas
disappointing
This is a book without a plot. Anita doesn't raise zombies or hunt vampires in it either, so what are we left with? Sex and that's pretty much it really. Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2010 by Potterywhizz
Get it from the library - it isn't worth paying for
I don't know why Anita makes such a fuss about Richard wanting her to give up working with the police or being a Federal Marshal since she doesn't do either. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2009 by Fren
A little long, but a very good read
This was the first Anita Blake/ Hamilton book I read so I did find some of it a bit confusing, but on the whole I really enjoyed it. Read more
Published on 14 July 2008 by Mrs. H. Graham
OK bored now
It comes to something when the fanfic becomes better in plot, characterisation and writing style than the original. The early books were great. Read more
Published on 1 April 2008 by Little Ray of Sunshine
I hate them all
Anita has become a bullying elitist whore, who literally cannot survive more than a few hours without partaking in a gang bang. Read more
Published on 13 Mar 2008 by Random Task
Tired of whining Richard...
A lot of the reviews comment on the amount of sex as a negative thing. To be quite honest, I don't mind it. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2008 by Dark Clarissa
no stars if one could get away with it
Where does one start?
Anita books 1-7 were incredible, went a bit ott with 8, cleaned up after itself in 9, started going loony again in 10, but was still worth it, 11, 12,... Read more
Anita books 1-7 were incredible, went a bit ott with 8, cleaned up after itself in 9, started going loony again in 10, but was still worth it, 11, 12,... Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2007 by DarkDreamer
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
