Cerulean Sins: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel, Book 11

I've read all of Hamilton's work, and I have the feeling she's been reading the reviews from readers. Although a lot of the aspects of NiC IS still present, there are some big differences, and they happen to be all the ones we complained about.Really the primary one is, well, the amount of sex. There wasn't a "four guys, one girl" thing (thank GOD), but there still is a lot of it. Hamilton can't seem to keep her hands off the erotica stuff, and, having read the "Gentry" stuff, I think she's trying to find her stride in the "Blake" novels. Frankly, I don't think that it NEEDS all the sex, but OKIE-DOKIE.In the "Gentry" novels, there's a lot of men literally begging to have sex with the solo woman, and she is okay with it, in a whole "sex is okay" kinda way. I suspect Hamilton is trying to do that with Anita Blake, because there was a lot of discussion on what exactly constitutes "sex" and the differences between the "American" and "European" definition. Also, Hamilton seems to be making Anita take "control" of the ardeur, which means it may not show up in the next one! (My personal hope)I'm also glad there were more vampire, and less were- politics. Richard thankfully improves in this one, another saving grace, and Damien finds a new purpose (I guess hanging around looking pitiful wasn't good enough).Anita is ACTUALLY BACK AT WORK for this one, and by that I mean she's raising the dead, but Hamilton also loosened more of the strings that controlled Anita's sphere of influence by making her a "Federal Marshall." Plot device, ahoy! Let's see where she goes with that one.Any way, the head of RPIT, Dolph, loses it in front of EVERYONE, and international terrorists are after Anita for some reason. (You're going to just have to read this one; it's kinda flimsy.)BUT... I don't read these things just for the plot anymore (otherwise, I wouldn't have read NiC, really). I REALLY want to see where Richard, Anita, and Jean-Claude go. Hamilton also seems to be gearing up for a HUGE slugfest with the Vampire Council.There's a therapy session with Jason that was sort of interesting, but Anita does some more "woe is me; no one can love me, just for me, not even me." She's hopefully getting out of this, or she was towards the end of the novel.If I seem to be complaining more than praising, it's because there is a lot to like and a lot to get discouraged about. Hamilton always makes the fight scenes interesting, the relationships of the various characters make it worth reading, the connection of all these individuals is fascinating, and it is, in its own way, a reminder than one person can make a difference to a lot of individuals, who, when counted together, are many thinking as one. She kept the humor and the complicated nature of relationships intact.I also like the introduction of more vampires (Belle Morte and Musette), and Jean-Claude finds a new power. Jason gets more of a spotlight, and there's definite indication that he and Nathaniel are growing up!Ah, but Musette doesn't get enough time, there's a lot of ethereal hocus-pocus that's just not as interesting as the physical trouble (like when two servants of the Mother of all Darkness show up), and Anita doesn't get to really kick anyone's ass. When will she get to be physical, like she used to be, and not rely so much on her magic or her gun? It's this bend on self-reflection that's going to get Hamilton in trouble, because I didn't start reading Anita Blake to get a pseudo-therapy session. Anita's got a lot of hang-ups, and Hamilton is slowing turning her into someone else. Character development, I suppose, but it doesn't FEEL like character development. It feels like betrayal because it's happening so fast, unlike the changes in Nathaniel and Jason. Hamilton is pushing Anita Blake, and it's taking its toll on reader, author, and character.I hope the next one is even better. I hope that CS is the first step towards a better Anita Blake, with less emphasis on sex and the purely magical (when you read the whole "Mommy dearest" stuff, you'll know what I'm talking about), and more focus on the tightly written plot and the physical. I want more of what brought Anita Blake to my attention before, which was a clean plot structure and good character development, and I'm willing to wait for a long while if it means that I can get a better book for it. Still, this one was SO much better than NiC, with more humor and less trauma, it's good to see Hamilton is trying hard to keep Anita alive.

I was a bit worried about this series after about book 7/8 the reviews seemed to be going way down. I just finished book 11 last night and I am awaiting the next 3 I ordered. I admit that at some points like books 9 & 10 there seems to be a lot more of the sit around and talk, but at the same time it does help you to understand some things about the America they live in the side where all the supernatural happens I guess you can say and peoples powers and how they work.I like the direction this series is going. Anita is working through her struggles with her own powers because no one knows much about her necromancer. To me out of all the guys Anita has in her life JC is basically the one who "gets" her. Who shows some kind of understanding in all this. He accepts her as is and knows where her thinking comes from and how it works and to me it looks as though he is willing to wait it out and just be there for her while she continues to help everyone in her life, she is very nurturing and loyal to those she cares for.I am not sure where I read this if it was a reviewer or part of the description of one of the books, but it said something like this. The more Anita embraces the supernatural stuff even her own supernatural side she actually seems to be thinking more human. I totally agree with this. Especially in this book she has found herself in circumstance where she would think I would normally be squeamish about something like this but I am not and I should be. It just shows how much more she is accepting these changes and noticing that it's ok because this is who she is. She is embracing her powers.These books definitely should be read in order and not as stand alone as they are written to be stand alone but you get way more out of them if you start from book 1. :0)

The book starts with Anita raising a Zombie. Very imaginative, very surreal, very cool.Mussette shows up uninvited and Anita's cavalry arrives, it was so intense when all the were animals showed up. And the writer does such a great job at reminding us about the details of each pack. I just knew things were gonna turn in our favor when they showed.I totally got the title but I'm not gonna spoil it, all I can say is poor Asher I feel so sorry for him, seeing his scarred face and body and seeing Jean Claude perfectness and all the power around them that Asher can never have. But the things Anita says about him makes him more wonderful to me.I very much enjoyed the new and improved Anita, she doesn't question her every move anymore. I feel like she is trusting her instincts at all times now which is refreshing.I can't help but wonder where does Nathaniel's thick auburn hair goes when he shapeshifts? We may never find out...When Richard helped Anita push Belle Mortes mark away I felt that destiny keeps bringing them together and I feel the same way Anita does, just when I thought I was over him he comes back looking better and even with all his demons I just love him and I understand why she can't stop loving him.I cannot comprehend the change in Dolph, he was one of my favorite characters and this book made me almost hate him.I am glad the dinner at Jean Claude's didn't happen because eating in the floor would have been so humiliating for the shifters.I also wonder if we will ever find out why the stairs down the circus of the damned are so wide?

Cerulean Sins was pretty much just what I'd hoped; less werewolf and shifter stuff, less long confusing conversations, and relationship angst, and more vampire business and police work. Anita even got to do some zombie raising. Everything was basically much more like earlier books. I hadn't enjoyed the last book in the series at all, but CS gave me most of what I was hoping it would, so I will be continuing the series.I had read that many people ditched the books around this point, mainly due to the change in Anita and her suddenly sleeping around and having so many partners. Honestly, I don't mind that. There's not that much sex. Hamilton doesn't write particularly great sex scenes, in my opinion. There are a couple of awkward moments, one scene with Jean Claude left me open-mouthed in a bad way, another scene where she ended up 'trapped' and ill, well, I don't know if we were supposed to laugh at that, or be disturbed. But there are a few hot moments. I don't really care that Anita has so many boyfriends, in fact I quite like it. I think what I do question is how she no longer seems to care about other peoples opinions; she is quite open about having multiple partners. I don't know, it seems very odd given her character in earlier books. I imagined that she would keep things more private.I would say that the 'big bad murderer' of the book all gets wrapped up very quickly in the end. Also, while I love the vampire politics stuff, I am getting a bit tired of the same ways that master vampires come in with their scary entourage and make demands, act unnecessarily evil, and Anita basically railroads through it all, pinging people off, causing and solving problems, honestly she's pretty heavy handed sometimes and frankly a bit stupid occasionally. One day can't they have some other vampire visitors who they can just sit down with and have a fun time with? Instead of being threatened and forced to follow weird rules, play mind games, power play, etc? Probably not! I do like that Anita is accepting her otherworldliness and her powers more and more, and that she is taking responsibility for those around her.There was a scene in the middle of the book where they are in a car getting tailed, it seems to go on for chapters and chapters, Hamilton seems to do this sometimes, and I wish that she'd edit these scenes down to keep the action more focused.I have to say that in terms of the men in Anita's life, all in all I like them and I like where things are going. While Micah seems to have come out of nowhere (quite literally in an earlier book), he seems uncomplicated and easy going, very much what Anita needs in a partner. Having said that, he is supposed to be an 'alpha' character as head of the were leopards, so I'm surprised he isn't a bit stronger. Nathaniel is still adorbs, and Jean Claude is awesome in the way I always want my vampire leading men to be. Asher was a little whiny in this book, sadly. I hope that changes but I doubt it will, I envisage further problems with that menage a trois down the line. Richard continues to be frustrating and confusing. I wish Hamilton would wrap that up somehow. Anita takes a further beau in this book, but I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read yet. I will say it worked for me, though, and I hope it continues.All in all I found it a good, meaty read. Plenty going on, some good conversations without too much unnecessary waffling about the ardeur, etc. Some vampire political stuff and set ups for future books and big bads on that side of things.

This will be the 5th time for me reading this book and working my way through the series. I love the strong characters within the book. Anita is one of the strongest bit has her soft side, that she doesn't like people to see.If you like action, murder mystery and fantasy all thrown together. You will love these books.

I loved these books when I first started reading them as I enjoyed the balance between adult themes and violence but as the series went on it just got more and more about Anita's obsession with sex than her job hunting and taking down bad vamps and supes! Shame really as they started out so well.....Not everyone wants to read a book about a vampire/supe hunter that does more vamps than she kills!If I had wanted to read porn I would have bought accordingly!

Greetings!Laurell's Anita Blake series just keeps getting better and better. And her latest release is so hot it's on fire!I received my copy pre-ordered through the post three days ago and finished it with relish last night. This book deals predominantly with the men in Anita's chaotic love life and a serial killer investigation thrown in to boot. Anita discovers some new things about herself and realises that her moral high ground is not as high as it used to be or so clean cut.There is major, MAJOR vamp angst in this one and the build up we have all enjoyed reading, in previous books of this series, of the love-hate relationship between Jean-Claude and Asher finally reaches a head in spectacular Laurell fashion.If your like me, it's a must have for all you Asher fans out there!Happy, happy reading!

Anita and her strugles! I just love jer, i love girl power stories! Anita and the gang have to take care of the guests sent by Bele Morte. They bring danger but above all they are disreecting the local Master Vampire. I love the power growing and blossoming on Anita! I,m reading 4 of the books by the beach on my holidays, have started succubos dream now! Soooo good!