KISS THE DEAD (Anita Blake 21) by Laurell K Hamilton-a new release review

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KISS THE DEAD (Anita Blake 21) by Laurell K Hamilton-a new release review

KISS THE DEAD (Anita Blake 21) by Laurell K Hamilton -release date June 5, 2012

Is Laurell K. Hamilton STILL writing about Anita Blake??? Yes. Kiss the Dead, the latest installment in the long-running Anita Blake series is STILL full of vampires, wereleopards, weretigers, werewolves, etc. Anita is STILL killing bad guys and STILL raising the occasional zombie for Animators, Inc. Problem is Anita is STILL stuck in relationship drama with all of the above. In truth, Anita Blake has deteriorated into a standstill character for many books now.

Kiss the Dead, Book Number “Who really cares anymore?” lulls you into a false sense of security with a strong beginning. Ms. Hamilton regales us with honest, gritty details of Anita’s job duties as a Federal Marshall. A 15 year old girl has been kidnapped by vampires who have already killed 2 police officers. When one of the “slower” vamps is caught and is being interrogated by Anita (who has earned two (2) nicknames in the supernatural community as “The Executioner” and “War” for having the most “kills”), and exercises a juicy amount of psychic techniques to extract information, Barney (really?) reveals someone is setting up Anita.

A disgruntled group of vampires has been organized to rally against Anita and her long-time lover, and MY only reason for continuing this saga, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City. This bazaar group, comprised of geriatric vampires, (grandmas, people!) and the very youthful, which is actually forbidden, were advocating for vampire “freedom”; the right to not belong to any particular “master” (blood-oathed) nor the newly-founded, American Vampire Council. To support this “cause”, the motley crue was purposefully assembled to appeal to the human audience and thus reduce Anita’s ease when delivering legal execution. However undeterred, because she does manage to enter with a SWAT team and save the girl with procedural expertise, the action affects Anita personally and sets off a level of introspection that lasts throughout the book.

Anita isn’t only a Federal Marshall, vampire executioner and necromancer (ability to raise the dead), she’s also the human servant of Jean-Claude and a pan-were (multi-animal shifter due to an attack) without the ability to shift, in the middle of a crisis of conscience. Yikes! Just when you think Ms. Hamilton is taking us back to the Anita of old, the kick-ass Anita who was sent out to kill the “monsters”, BAM! You’re sucked right back down into the cesspool that is Anita Blake’s love life.

We learned long ago that Anita inherited Jean-Claude’s “gift” of the ardeur, which means she basically has to “feed” off sex every few hours. No joke. To say this subject is complicated, if not perplexing, is putting it mildly. When Anita accepted Jean-Claude’s blood (3 times thus far, but she’s refused the 4th exchange which would grant her immortality), she did it out of love for him, but had no idea the ardeur would be a consequence of her commitment. Putting it crudely, but it is just that, if fed “properly” through means of sex (and now anger), Anita can battle down the ability to shift. If she doesn’t, Anita seduces anyone in her line of vision. I said crude, remember?

I could go on, endlessly, about all that I loathe about Anita Blake, but it would be unfair to Kiss the Dead. Believe it or not, I was on Chapter 18 and not one sex scene was yet described! I’m rather elated to say LKH does NOT give Anita a new, never-before-met, lover. Instead, we’re relegated to suffer the same cast of characters and they’re worthy of hair-pulling and exasperation alone. My beloved Jean-Claude is still at the “helm”, inasmuch as Anita allows his involvement (HATE this declining role), Asher is still as whiny as ever (but is actually being “disciplined” for this new level of whine), and Micah and Nathaniel are still on hand as Anita’s shadows. But Cynric, Anita’s blue tiger to call, is another disaster in the making. Aside from nearly draining Nicky the werelion aka, her own “Bride of Dracula”, Anita is dealing with Cynric, her 18 year old tiger (to Anita’s 30) and she basically can’t escape feeling creeped out by his presence in her bed. To be fair, it was Marmee Noir aka, the Mother of All Darkness’, fault that Cynric even made it to Anita’s bed, but if we’re going to start pointing fingers…It IS that confusing. This is not a stand-alone book.

This series is over-saturated with overlapping lovers, over-indulged lovers, jealous lovers, neglected lovers, etc…Given the controversy surrounding Anita Blake, could the downward spiral of this series have prompted Ms. Hamilton to give Anita pause? It sure seemed like it. Vacillating between keeping her badge and keeping her lovers safe is the core of this book. How can Anita continue to sleep with vampires and shifters and remain impartial in her duties as a Federal Marshall? A hostage situation involving several of her lovers brings that issue to a head. There has to be a conflict of interest at some point, right?

Ultimately, all the contemplation afforded Anita does little else but force the reader to accept, or not, that Anita’s lifestyle is unique and that she is under no obligation to explain why she thrives as such. Will Anita’s personal choices affect her professional reputation at the expense of her beloved badge one day? In praise to Anita, the police agencies lack the fortitude she delivers. Anita embraces her inner “monster” and dispenses justice according to the law; no matter who she loves. They’d be crazy to let her go.

I am disheartened by this series to say the least. Ms. Hamilton’s writing style is also showing signs of trouble. Several scenes described were followed by variations of the same description. This isn’t a YA audience, Ms. Hamilton; we got the picture the first time! There are authors who I follow and subscribe to their websites to keep informed of new developments. I’ve never done that for LKH and perhaps that’s what’s kept me so critical of her series? If I read more about characters’ nuances and the reasons behind their choices…maybe then I could offer a more neutral opinion? Problem is….I’m STILL not that interested.

Reviewed by Carmen

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37 thoughts on “KISS THE DEAD (Anita Blake 21) by Laurell K Hamilton-a new release review”

  1. LMFAO well i say tell it like it is. Love your review Carmen i was shocked i thought it was by Sandy at first lol. Ok i Love Love Laurells books and sorry but i love Anita Blake i just did’nt love this book and i have to agree with you on her writing of this one she kept explaining parts of her book over and over and OVER again and i too was tired of it , i am shocked that she put out such crappy work all i can say is i hope her next book is alot better then this one was but i guess that won’t take much Sorry Laurell better luck next time.

      • HA! You know how worried I was about being SO honest, Sandy! 😉 I admit to being a fan of the series for a long time, in spite of its downward spiral, but I’ve just had it. More so than the Sookie Stackhouse series! 😀

    • I hope I wasn’t TOO offensive, Lori!!! Anita/LKH have just blown it with me BIG TIME. I’m an admitted Jean-Claude fan, could you tell??? :D, and just when they were heading to his room for alone time, seriously, when was the last time they had ALONE time?!….they’re interrupted by that whiny-ass Asher?! UGH. I’m done, done, done.

      • OH Carmen i still loved your review and i still love Laurell and will still read her books and hope she is just going through a bad spot, and yes i’m with you i think Jean-Claude needs some hot monkey love or is that kitty love hmmmmmmmm

        • I don’t know how my original response ended here, but I’m happy you read MY reply. Thank you for just enjoying the review!!! 😉

          See…kitties are Micah and Nathaniel…and I think LKH WAAAAY favors them. 🙁 I am ALL vampire, Lori!!! 😉

          At least we didn’t suffer through Richard’s whines! 😀

  2. Awesome review, Carmen. The amazing thing is you hold nothing back. I have heard, though I have never read the Anita Blake series, fans complaining about how badly this series has changed. The feedback has not been good.

    I can see all of those comments in your review, you wear your heart on your sleeves, whether you like the book or you don’t. Again, even if you weren’t satisfied, you told it the way you felt, which is all we can ever ask for, when reviewing a book.

    Great job, Carmen.

    • **Bowing gracefully** My thanks, Barb!!! You know how nervous I was about putting my ORIGINAL draft! 😀 There were good points; we got an in depth look into Anita’s job as a Federal Marshall, but the relationship drama….UGH….TOO much….it’s never-ending.

  4. ROFL!! Awesome review Carmen!! I’ve not read this series, but, a friend of mine was saying that, for her, this series has “jumped the shark”. Good job!!!

    • I remember you telling me about her. I feel like I should be saying more in defense of the series, since I was a fan for a long time, but I’m out of words. Now that’s strange! 😀

  5. Great review, Carmen!! I don’t read this series, so all I can add is……….,LMAO!! I could tell by the lack of oooooooo’s in your review that it was a dud!!!!

    • The oooooooo’s are quite telling, aren’t they?? 😀 I was ready to swoon when Anita and Jean-Claude were headed for his bedroom, but then they were rudely interrupted. It seems like LKH has given up on Jean-Claude and I just don’t get it???

      Thanks for reading my review, Jules!!! 😉

  6. One time I disagree with you Sandy. I really like this series and will continue to read it it . You either hate or love the books I have fgund.

    • Hiya, Fran, it was all ME…Carmen. 😉 You’re obviously committed to the series, so I’m relieved that my negativity didn’t sway you. I don’t mean to be obnoxious; I just can’t take Anita any more.

      Much love to you, Fran!!!!!! 😉

  7. I have not read this series, but have family and friends who have… they are all saying the same thing Carmen just did about the last few books… that has put me off… in the meantime… great that you told it the way it is and didn’t try to write it in tissue paper. Great review Carmen.

    • You’re very kind, Mary Ann, thank you!!!! I used to be a big fan of the series; Anita’s been outstanding many times. But the focus has just centered on her ever-building lovers and I’ve just had it. But more power to those who enjoy her! 😉

  8. Carmen, great review. After the Barney comment I laughed through the remaining review. I have several of the author’s books because they were part of a anthology. I read them but they didn’t draw my interest in reading the series.

    • Thank you so much, Lavonda!! It was actually pretty hard to be so harsh about Anita, believe it or not. I didn’t want to offensive, I wasn’t overly, right???, because God bless LKH for being so successful, but I couldn’t give a false review, either. The one before KtD was actually pretty good; MUCH better than this. 😉

    • TOO much? LOL. It’s posted….now all I can do is put up my shields to defend myself, lol!!!! Actually, everyone’s been VERY kind and I’m so thankful to them and to you and Sandy for letting me be so bold….all the way from Southern California…. 😀

  10. Outstanding review Carmen! I was laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes! Love it! You most certainly wear your heart on your sleve. We get what is real when it comes from you. And you are the type of reviewer who an reader appreciates when they do not waste their hard earned money on a book that others were afraid to be honest about. Your zest, and passion in all that you say never ceases to amaze me lady! Bravo my Dear Carmen!

    • **Tears in my eyes as I type**REALLY, Miranda???? Thank you!!!! Barb and Sandy will tell you that it took me a LONG time to be brave enough to post, but when you feel something SO intense for a book…it tends to spill. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

      But you hit the nail on the head!!! I had never spent a dime on the AB series; I borrowed them from my library. When I spent $14.99 on THIS…no way was I going to be subtle about my disappointment.

      Joan used to read AB. She told me a long time ago that when AB’s **ahem** was the solution to all her problems…the series was lost to her. Yikes!!!! 😀

  12. LOL Carmen you are just too funny and brutally honest…and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I have for some time contemplated giving the Anita Blake series a go but it’s the reviews that are stopping me….I have never heard a “betweener” review….it’s either some really really love the series or it’s some really really hate the series. So I may just wait a little longer.

    • I used to love Anita Blake. But LKH has just given her too many complications and I despise that. She’s turned AB into a greedy monster and it didn’t have to turn out that way.

      The first few are really strong, but like with any long-running series, it can only stay that way for so long.

  13. Hey Carmen, love the review. I love how open and honest you are when you review books. I’ve never read any of Hamilton’s works, and honestly when I’ve read the blurbs on the back of her books in bookstores, they didn’t really grab me. Now since I’ve been expanding my reading list I don’t think I’ll be adding this author to my list, based not only on your review, but others I’ve read online about how the series is in a downward spiral. I spend enough on books and I don’t like wasting money on series that are lacking or not up to par any more.

    • My thanks, Marcie!! I don’t know how I got turned on to AB, but I know LKH turned me OFF. I’ve put up with a lot, but I’ve become one of the disgruntled fans. My love for Jean-Claude, definitely worthy of a swoooooooon, will become cherished memories. I shudder to think what she’s going to do to him in the next book. Forget it.

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