Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #1) in My Vampire Book Obsession

Apr 29, 2010 Pat aka Tygyr rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, reread, paranormal, thriller, mystery, 2014-books, long-time-ago-read

This is a reread for me. After rereading Black Dagger Brotherhood start to finish I decided to reread some of my other series. I have some of Anita Blake's books in hard cover and some in paper back. What is missing I am filling in with Kindle editions like this one.
I am so glad I decided to reread this series. Anita Blake is a kick ass, short statured, underrated by most males, animator (raises the dead for a living), the Executioner (kills Vampires for the government and because she hates them This is a reread for me. After rereading Black Dagger Brotherhood start to finish I decided to reread some of my other series. I have some of Anita Blake's books in hard cover and some in paper back. What is missing I am filling in with Kindle editions like this one.
I am so glad I decided to reread this series. Anita Blake is a kick ass, short statured, underrated by most males, animator (raises the dead for a living), the Executioner (kills Vampires for the government and because she hates them), Episcopalian (Catholics hated her professions, so she converted) woman. The police in St. Louis where she lives (and I live across the river, so I really enjoy all the St. Louis references), pay her for her expertise on the monsters. She also works for Animators, INC. Her boss will ask her to do anything as long as it brings in enough money to the business. She is not the only Animator at work, but she is clearly the strongest.
In Guilty Pleasures we see Anita at work at both of her jobs. She is a bridesmaid and attends a party with the bride and one other bridesmaid at a Vampire Bar - Guilty Pleasures. There she learns that the other bridesmaid set her up, because she is enthralled by a vampire. The bride is enthralled as part of the "entertainment" for the evening, all because Anita had refused to work for Vampires to help them find who is killing their own off. The mad (insane) Master of the City puts Anita in a cell until she is ready to talk to her. Rats (were rats) go on the attack. They are the Master's animal to call. She fights them off until their King arrives and orders them off. Jean Claude is also a vampire. Without her knowledge he has given her 2 marks, making her is human servant. She still refuses to do his bidding. But she is stronger for the marks. Less likely to be enthralled by other vamps. An old friend, more deadly than Anita comes to town. Edward is hunting the Master of the City. He wants Anita to tell him where the Master resides. The climax is the battle. Who dies and who lives? Since it is a series, clearly Anita survives, but at what cost?
In each book, Anita loses a little more of her humanity. She was bit by a were rat, will she go furry now? She has 2 marks of 4, will she have to obey Jean Claude? The murders the cops bring her in on are horrific, but with each one she becomes just a bit more immune to the sights.
Hamilton writes a great supernatural thriller with memorable characters and situations. Anita is constantly being stretched in too many directions, existing on coffee some days and little sleep. Only her stuffed penguin collection brings her a sense of comfort. She works mainly with and for men, but she doesn't date in this book. How would she fit it into her non-stop, action packed days and nights? ...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: horror, challenged, serial-killers, recommended-to-me, mixed-reviews, adult, with-reservations, catholic, vampires, series

The twist in this book is that Anita Blake isn't just a Vampire Executioner, but also an Animator (someone who can raise and put to rest the dead = zombies). Sassy, tough Anita Blake runs into some powerful master vampires and one makes her an offer that she can't refuse and one doesn't ask her first.

I listened to the first book because of the mixed reviews and I liked the narrator, so I think I will continue to listen to them, at least until the later books when people start complaining. Good b ...more

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Mar 31, 2011 Karma rated it really liked it

Wow. Really good book. She's an amazing writer. Can't wait for book 2! ...more

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Apr 24, 2010 Yusra Asaad rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 5-stars

2008, Since I love vampire stories I thought I'd try this out although I never read for this author before... I'm sure to read the rest of the series.. when I have the time :) I loved it.. It was fun !!
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