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Book Review of Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 10)

Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 10)
reviewed on + 503 more book reviews


For LKH fans, Anita Blake fans, Narcissus in Chains is a major turning point in the series. Anita really has become one of the monsters. At this juncture, Anita has become a succubus, she has multiple "boyfriends" and participates in group sex. The books in the series, from here forward, have much more emphasis on sex as not only a thing of romance but as a tool and a weapon in the supernatural world. For those who find the change in the character and narrative of this series distasteful, you should stop reading the series here because it only gets more graphic. There is no going back to the Anita Blake of books 1-4, sorry folks.

The plot points in this book were pretty engaging. In re-reading the series it is easy to decide what I can skip (too much detail about what people wear) and what to re-read. Over the last few books it becomes ever apparent that each bad guy with whom Anita interacts eventually passes his or her unique powers to Anita. So it is interesting and worthwhile to see what new powers she develops. Also interesting to see which new love interests she develops and be reminded what those relationships were like in the early days.

This book introduces Micah, a character whom I gather is pretty controversial. He arrives on the scene out of nowhere, insinuates himself into Anita's life and bed, and admits to having an ulterior agenda - to find someone who can save his pard. The story also moves Nathaniel from a more peripheral and child-like character into someone who is part of Anita's core group and also binds Damien and Anita more tightly.