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Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #10)

Laurell K. Hamilton

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Jan 01, 2008 mlady_rebecca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: author__laurell_k_hamilton__ab, genre__urban_fantasy, 2019, characters__necromancers_or_reapers, characters__vamps, fictional_series__traditional, fiction__speculative, troupe__mindlink_mates, characters__incubii_succubii, writing_as_laurell_k_hamilton

This is still one of my favorite books in the Anita Blake series. Part of that is that it was the last book I read when I first discovered the series and read them in one great rush. (In other words, "Cerulean Sins" was the first book I had to wait for.) But a lot of it is the fact that I like the possibilities this book opened up.

This book represented a turning point in the series, one that many readers disliked, but I was quite fond of.

There is an underlying theme in these books. Anita goes f This is still one of my favorite books in the Anita Blake series. Part of that is that it was the last book I read when I first discovered the series and read them in one great rush. (In other words, "Cerulean Sins" was the first book I had to wait for.) But a lot of it is the fact that I like the possibilities this book opened up.

This book represented a turning point in the series, one that many readers disliked, but I was quite fond of.

There is an underlying theme in these books. Anita goes from a very black and white closed off individual in "Guilty Pleasures", to an individual who sees the world in shades of grey. She stops seeing the "monsters" as other and starts judging individuals on their own merit. She also slowly releases all her self-imposed restrictions on who and how she can find love.

(Minor spoilers, although not enough to tag the whole review.)

After the Tri married the marks in the first few chapters of the book, I would have been satisfied with things moving forward as a threesome, but I'll admit in retrospect I like this twist much better.

I love Jean-Claude's lover's list and the fact that it was realized in future books. I love the fact that, even with the ardeur, Anita still makes the men in her life earn a place at her side. She's not a woman of casual lusts, no matter how things look from the outside.

I also love that this book managed to visit with most of the characters we've come to love. Except for Animator's Inc., I think everyone (in St. Louis) was on stage. Of the vamps, we saw plenty of Jean-Claude, Asher, Damian, and even Gretchen, plus we were introduced to Meng Die and Faust. Additionally, this was the first real introduction of Belle (from a distance). With the wolves, we saw plenty of Richard, Jason, Stephen, Sylvie, Jamill, Shang-Da, and even a hint of Irving. Oh, and Raina, can't forget her. With the leopards we saw plenty of Nathaniel, Gregory, Cherry, Zane, Elizabeth, and Vivian and we were introduced to Micah and his pard. With the wererats, we saw Raphael, Dr. Lillian, and a hint of Louie, plus we were introduced to Claudia and Bobby Lee. We saw Ronnie and Zerbrowski and Dolph. I'm very very impressed that everyone was on stage like that. We also had both vamp and furry politics going on, as well as a (very connected) RPIT case.

Overall, I love this book and all the possibilities it brought out for the later books in the series, especially the next two - "Cerulean Sins" and "Incubus Dreams". Can't recommend enough.

(Review date: 03/25/2009) ...more

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Aug 16, 2010 Yulia rated it really liked it

Shelves: vampires, paranormal, werewolves, shape-shifters, urban-fantasy

I guess I came to the point that so many decided to drop it, and I can kind of see the reason why.
Until now every book has a certain structure that is messed up in this one. The usually is someone getting into shit and Anita having to help out, the books just started with shit happening somewhere. But in this one the shit is kind of pushed back and instead we get lots of the other kind of action, that really boarders the lint into the erotica genre. The killing is kind of not the same, I guess.. ...more

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Oct 27, 2010 Pat aka Tygyr rated it really liked it

Shelves: reread, paranormal, erotica, own, romance, 2014-books

In this the 10th book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series, Anita returns home after being gone for 6 months. She is considering taking up again with her 2 loves - Richard the Ulfric of the local werewolves and Jean Claude the vampire Master of the City. Through mystical marks the 3 are a Triumvirate of power. While she was gone she learned to close the marks and the 2 men were weaker because of it. Richard decided to make the wolf pack a democracy. It meant giving up a lot of his power as l In this the 10th book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series, Anita returns home after being gone for 6 months. She is considering taking up again with her 2 loves - Richard the Ulfric of the local werewolves and Jean Claude the vampire Master of the City. Through mystical marks the 3 are a Triumvirate of power. While she was gone she learned to close the marks and the 2 men were weaker because of it. Richard decided to make the wolf pack a democracy. It meant giving up a lot of his power as leader. Jean Claude's power in large part comes from sex, but he was true to Anita, so he was weakened and at risk for a take over.
Micah, a Nimir-Raj of a different leopard pard has come to town. He recognizes that Anita has the power of a Nimir-Ra, a queen. She has been acting the part after killing the Nimir-Raj of the local pard. One of her leopard's - Nathaniel - is captured. Nathaniel is a submissive and he likes his sex rough, unfortunately, Nathaniel is incapable of saying no to anyone. Anita learns that Nathaniel is in trouble at an S & M club in Illinois. She calls on Jean Claude for help. They go with a couple of wolves, leopards and Asher (vampire) to a club called Narcissus in chains. It is run by a werehyena - Narcissus. They are forced to give up their guns before they can enter. A lion and snake men have Nathaniel and 3 swan women chained and bleeding nearly to death. In the battle to save them, Gregory (one of Anita's leopards) is in animal form and accidentally gores her deeply. In the hospital it becomes apparent that cold (Jean Claude's body) is not sufficient to bring down her high fever. She responds to the warmth of Richard's were wolf. Micah and his leopards surround her and heal her. Everyone expects that at the full moon she will shift to a leopard and become the Nimir-Ra for real. Richard considers Gregory's actions to have killed his Lupa, since she is now believed to be leopard, she can't be his Lupa. Gregory is captured and tortured. The snakes keep trying to capture Anita. The wolves are so divided that it is difficult for Anita to get Gregory back.
Who is Micah? Why is he in her territory without her permission? Why does she seem so out of control and only sex or others lust can calm her? She has Jean Claude's Ardeur through the strengthening of the marks. She must learn to master it before it masters her. Alphas of smaller and diverse were groups are missing. Why? Can Anita save them? Damian (a vampire she twice raised with her necromancy) went crazy when she left town. When she brings him out of the coffin he has been chained in, it becomes apparent that she now has a servant Vampire. Anita is now in theory human, a Master to a vampire, Lupa to the Wolves and Nimir-Ra to the leopards. She also took on a were fox who had no one to protect him. Will her powers ever stop growing? How many more vampires and were animals can she protect? ...more

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May 05, 2010 Hollee rated it really liked it

Shelves: anita-blake

Love Micah!!!! Love love love Micah!!! And Nathaniel OMG!!!

Totally and utterly hate Richard!!! He's a total hypocrite!! If he didn't want to be a Wolf (aka a monster) then why is the leader of the pack? huh?

The way he just left Anita, broke not only her heart but mine as well and for many others that I am sure of!!!

I found this book seriously cruel, intense, honest and disturbingly awesome!! ("not to mention incredibly sexy meow!!!")
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