Search - Bullet (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 19)

So, my thoughts on these books are always jumbled. I read through them at lightning speed, but I think it's because I've grown to love all of the characters so much. The story once again didn't really go anywhere. Richard came back in the picture, with a completely unrealistic turn-around from the person he was in the 18 previous books. Anita is less whiny about all the metaphysical things that she has to do, but it was still too much. The author also keep going on and on about small details and then when an important scene would happen it was rushed. We learned alot about how everything was redecorated, and what clothes they wore, and when the bad guys would come, the confrontation would be rushed and missing some important details.

Basically, while I still love the characters these books are just not the same caliber that they used to be, and I really miss that.

I've been thinking for several days as to how I should review this book. I'm not an LKH-basher, even though I've been pretty tough on several of the last published novels. But in the end, I just have to go with how I feel.

Truth: I gagged my way through the first three chapters of BULLET, skimmed through a few more, and finally gave up. Some may say that reading only a few chapters of a book makes me incapable of writing a review, but I beg to differ. Let's begin....

The first chapter starts with Anita doing a favor for someone we've never heard of before. Said someone doesn't like Anita, Anita doesn't like her, and the only thing bringing them together is the need for a little boy's costume hat. Could have worked, except said five-year-old little boy wants to kiss Anita on the lips, like "all of the big boys do." The point? Even a little kid knows Anita is a whore. I apologize for the rough language, but please, let's call a spade a spade. It's gotten to the point where even CHILDREN in this series recognize that Anita Blake is nothing but a sex machine.

When the entire "ardeur" thing began, I went with it. I even understood the concept and reasoning behind it. But face it people - we've moved beyond Anita needing sex for power. She's now nothing more than a walking vagina. Anita Blake has sex because there's absolutely nothing else for her to do with ANY of the characters in this series! I've never met a character with such sex appeal. However Anita's doing it - making every single male and female (living or undead), want to have sex with her - she needs to bottle that up and sell it for a profit. She could not only have a "puppy pile," she could BUY a damn kennel!

And the sex? Puhleeease. Richard getting it on with Asher? Hello? Is this the same Richard who two books ago couldn't even stand to see Anita look at another guy, never mind know that she would no doubt end up having sex with them? I'm all for the male-male sex scene when the story calls for it, but there is no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that the REAL Richard would ever bring his naked body anywhere NEAR that of the scarred but deeply emotional Asher.

I could go on, but is there really a point? You're probably asking yourself why, if I'm so disgusted with the series, I continue to read it. And you would have a wonderful point, one that I've finally taken to heart. I WON'T be reading this series any longer. I've spent too much time waiting for it to get better - to be as good as the first four or five books - and realize now that my wait is pointless. It's not going to get better, ladies and gents. The downhill slide started a long time ago, and there is no hope for redemption as long as LKH continues to live out her Mary Sue fantasies through Anita Blake.

So, au revoir, Anita. It's been one heck of a ride, but this reader has finally come to her senses. After all, there are too many other decent books out there just waiting for me to read them. And just about anything else has got to be better than this.

I think I'm giving up on reading any more Anita Blake books.

As someone else said, there's too much sex and the books aren't good like they once were. There used to be an interesting storyline with Anita actually doing something. Lately all she does is have sex and then more sex with almost anyone that she comes in contact with, or so it seems.

Enough is enough already. I'm glad I checked this out of the library instead of buying it or wasting a credit on it. Maybe in the next book things will improve and there will be a better storyline (in my opinion), but I'm not holding my breath. Don't waste your time on this book.

I see this book as being the natural progression of the series. To take a line from the book, Anita (and Richard) are just 'out-monstering the monsters'...because Anita won't back down from a fight...especially when it comes to protecting the weak and innocent.

A dscription of the plot has already been made. I enjoyed the book and was confused by it. I love the Anita Blake series, but I have to say the quick turn around for Richard did not seem plausible. I kept waiting for it to be disclosed he was possessed by Mommie Dearest or something. I don't mind the sex, that's part of the Blake series, and I liked the violence and further flushing out of Asher's character. But I was left confused by the transformation of Richard...I don't think wrapping it up by saying he's had therapy and simply accepts himself does it. Overall,it's an okay story, not one of her best. I would like to see a little less sex and more of the ruthlessness of Blake and Jean Claude.

So sad, so sad. I loved Anita Blake books because I fell in love with the characters and the really interesting story plots... but this book kind of ruins that for me. Jean Claude with Asher I can live with - Jean Claude with another woman - I felt betrayed and heartbroken. And Anita having sex with a tiger on the floor in the middle of a party also lost it for me. There was no love there... I couldn't even read that part. It just seemed so out of place and unnecessary.