Kiss the Dead

Anita and her RPIT colleagues are trying to diffuse a rogue kiss of vampires that have been making threats against the Master of St. Louis. After the fall of the Harlequin and the death of the Mother of All Darkness, there is a power vacuum in the vampire community. The rumors go that Jean Claude is going to set up his own version of the vampire council in America. This rogue group of vampires is not interested in being subjugated and wants to create a world where vampires don't swear fealty to any masters. Unfortunately, they are also kidnapping and turning underage kids. It's up to Anita and crew to track down the rogues and their "non master" who is directing their movements.

Meanwhile, Anita is dealing with a number of personal show more issues related to her many lovers. Her youngest is currently in high school and goes by the name "Sin". He's deeply disturbed by Anita's dangerous job. Anita is disturbed by dating someone twelve years young than her. Also, Asher's jealous temper is causing friction which boils over into a violent outburst which leaves Anita and Sin injured. She and Jean Claude decide to send Asher off to visit another city where he might choose to become a Master.

Also, Anita almost kills her "Bride" Nicky during sex. That's something Belle Morte used to do to gain power. Although Nicky is able to be revived it's an upsetting reminder of her growing power.

Wow, this book is a joyless slog through incredibly low stakes and repetitive action pieces. The band of rogue vampires are pathetically weak and are never really a threat to anyone, even when a suicide bomber holds half of Anita's boyfriends hostage. They are literally all lycanthropes and end up just overpowering him.

The sex scenes are also tedious and almost word for word identical. It's really amusing to imagine Anita reaching multiple "screaming", "writhing" orgasms in a single lovemaking session. Is thrashing around while shrieking supposed to be sexy? I feel like the author thinks it is because she uses this image so frequently. It's ludicrous at this point, especially when you consider that all of Anita's lovers are supernatural in some way. They all have extra powerful hearing and their chosen fuck buddy celebrates her orgasms by emitting high frequency screeches like some sort of lusty bat. Bizarre.

I also cannot let it pass without commenting that this whole, "Gee, look at me, fucking a teenager, isn't this awkward," thing that Anita has been doing the last few books is not a good look. I don't understand the addition of Sin to the book. This is decidedly NOT sexy and the drama it adds is very confusing. Anita feels guilty for fucking a child. But she also feels guilty because he is obsessed with her and she's not really that into it. But she feels like she has to keep doing it because she owes him something. It's all so fucked up. I don't care if it's "technically legal" as our intrepid protagonist so frequently reminds us. It's morally reprehensible. It's immorality is not improved by the fact that she doesn't love him or particularly like him. I don't understand what this plot line is supposed to add or who it's for. Besides its ethical implications, it's just narratively repetitive because it's essentially the same drama as when she was deciding whether or not she wanted to be with Nathaniel. And I'm just really tired of listening to her talk about how she has too many men and how she's fucking guys she doesn't really love and they all want to be in committed relationships. Here's the thing: you don't owe anyone anything. You don't have to be with someone just because they want you. You DEFINITELY don't have to date a high schooler because he's obsessed with you. You are a 30 year old woman, ANITA. Do whatever you want to do.

Also, WTF, now Asher is a jealous, violent asshole? Since when? In the last book he was basically just begging to add more people to the bedroom rotation and agitating for looser restrictions on coupling. I remember how sweet he was in the earlier books, how he was just looking for crumbs of kindness and was terrified of scaring Anita away. And now he's violently attacking her and her lovers? I just don't buy it. And I hate it and I'll never forgive LKH.

This book is offensively bad. show less

*head-desk*

And Hit List made me hopeful. I should have known better. As a review I once read stated, LKH "tends to take one step forward, two orgies back." It was too much to hope for 2 good books in a row.

I'm not sure where to start. Like so many others, the book started out very interesting. It even held my interest longer than some other of the Anita Blake books, but lo and behold the endless sex scenes began again, and what little plot there was flew out the window with Anita's knickers.

If I have to effing read once more about how tiny/small/petite Anita is, I will punch a baby. Seriously. I'm only 5'4"--an inch taller than Anita--yet I somehow make it through my week without constantly thinking, "Oh, I'm so small. Look how small my show more hands are next to his. I'm so tiny. I only come up to his chest. I got used to being the smallest kid in school." Because you know why? 5'3"-5'4" isn't that effing short!!! Yes, I am shorter than many people, but there are times I am often one of the tallest people standing in line at the post office or whatnot. I'm a little shorter than average, but it's not such a fking rarity that it's constantly remarked upon by those around me/by my own inner dialogue.

There is good news, though: that was the final published Anita Blake book. If my OCD permits, I will not look for upcoming installments. I'm done. Thank god, I'm done. show less

Okay, trying to figure out how I feel about this book. I liked the beginning, the sex was boring in the extreme and felt like filler. The actual plot was again wasted by a too fast and skimpy resolution. I also didn't understand why the SWAT knowing they were waiting for daylight to go three areas to kill vampires allowed Anita to go home to sleep or fuck all day. It wasn't clear that the other three places were cleared without her and Brice found this fourth. LKH lost the thread of the plot. I loved the little family group at breakfast...nice to see Gina and Zeke again. I was happy about the Asher decision...about time. I miss London. The book was a snack that left me feeling unsatisfied. The author actually had the nerve to charge show more 3.00US for a sex outtake on a book that already had too much valueless sex for the price especially since Beauty came out before as a teaser. My gut reaction is...the writer thinks because this is a series she has to recap everything from all the books to date to make each new novel a stand-alone as well as the next section in the series. At some point the reader wonders if it is deliberate because she has no new story ideas so just repeats and repeats and repeats till the reader gets pissed. She is just not good enough as a writer to prune the recap information or at least make it different enough in each new novel while still giving the flavour of the series. We are getting so much recap that financially sometimes I feel ripped off. There is new stuff, new people that a collector wants for the series and tiny bits of new information about the loved characters (eg Asher in this one) but the rest is a cheat. show less

While this novel covered a very brief span of time, it was packed with the issues that we have come to expect in an Anita Blake novel. While Anita has been accepted by her police squad and respected by the SWAT teams she works with, she still has to face the disapproval of some the higher ups who feel that her personal life will affect her working life. She is still having problems with one of the women she works with who is jealous about all the hot men who are Anita's lovers.

This case with the kidnapped girl brings in vampire politics as the kidnappers are vampires who want to live without a master. We get to see Anita as the very scary vampire executioner who brings terror to all the bad little vampires and even those who just have show more guilty consciences. This violence was quite graphic and not for those with a weak stomach.

At home, Anita is dealing with problems with her youngest lover because she is hung up on his youth and the age difference between them. The problems with Asher's jealousy also come to a head in this story resulting in Jean Claude sending him away to another city for a while. Whether or not he comes back is left undecided in this one.

Anita also seems to be deciding that she just can't keep adding new men to her list of lovers. She is realizing that her heart isn't big enough to incorporate all of them. As she tells one of the new Marshals, her dance card is full. There are a number of graphic sex scenes in this one. This story isn't for those who are sensitive to romances with multiple partners and kinky variations as that seems to be a constant in Anita's life now.

This book is for devoted fans of the series who want to keep up with Anita's latest adventures. Readers who are fans of Richard or Edward will be disappointed as neither makes an appearance here. Actually Jean Claude's role is small in this one too. Anita spends most of the time with her wereanimals or with her police colleagues.

The story was a quick read for me but I don't think it will be one that I will re-read. show less

Weirdly preachy in places, but much more in keeping with the stronger early works in terms of writing style, editing, and character strength. Lots of smut, but not in a bad way - it's got plot in it, and doesn't feel like the plot is only moonlighting between shags. As someone indifferent to smut, but enamored of plot and character, I had a good time - first book in the series since Obsidian Butterfly where I really felt moved by the story as a whole rather than isolated vignettes.

Anita Blake is back – and this one merges the early Blake (all thriller/murder-mystery) with the later Blake (all sex alla time) in an interesting balancing act. I’m pleased that she continues to develop as a character (although thank goodness, no more manifesting new animals to call this time around) – will her constantly evolving powers never cease? And how do the less powerful feel under her boots? She’s thinking about that a lot.

I thought the plot of this book was interesting. As this series progresses, the main focus is Anita's poly love life with a side of preternatural action. When the balance is the other way, I really dig the books. I don't give much of a hoot about Anita's love drama except to think she should curb some of these drama llamas. But she's one too, so I guess it's a case of birds of a feather...

When it comes to the sex scenes, I pretty much just skim till they are done. I don't find them to my taste, and the 3 star rating is despite them, not including them. It's a personal taste thing, not to say they are poorly written. I can call it "different strokes" and skim those parts. That may do a disservice to the writing, but it's the only way I show more can enjoy the series now that the primary focus on Anita's life is her complicated love life style. show less