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My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I picked this up with low expectations. And it was as infuriating as I expected it to be. I've been an Anita Blake fan from the beginning and have been along for the ride for years. And as the series got more character driven and less plot driven -- less and less substance, action and suspense, more and more sex and introspection -- I stuck with it stubbornly.
Like someone else already said, it's like a train wreck, you simply can't look away. But this book felt so much like a filler in between stories, that I am debating if I will get the next book in the series. But then again, train wreck!
There are numerous plot bunnies. But they never lead to anything. They raise their heads and then Anita briefly jumps into action (oh joy!), to then devolve into self-doubt, strangely placed morals, lots of anguish, thinking, wondering, mental mulling over anything and everything (oh no!), to then let is all go to engage into lots of sex with everybody in reach (again!). Rinse and repeat several times through the book.
The last three pages of the book then hurriedly tie up a few loose ends, including summaries for some of the plot bunnies.
I wonder -- if there was less pointless obsessing by Anita and more elaboration on the plot bunnies, we actually might have had a suspenseful, plot driven, action packed and fun to read Anita of old. I love character development, it'sm important and without it even great series eventually go stale. But a little storyline with some action would go a long way to keep me going!
As it is, this is not satisfying. It's a lot of hot wind and very little happens at all.
But because I'm a sucker and hope springs eternal, I will probably get the next book. Maybe there will be a story? With an Anita that is less whiny? Please?