Retribution

I've been an Anna Strong fan ever since I started reading these books earlier this year, so when Retribution, the fifth book in this series released, I dropped what I was reading to read it instead.

In Retribution, Anna Strong is still dealing with her two sided nature, her vampire and human sides and trying to accept her new life as a vampire, which I think she starting to come around to, evident in her new-found relationship with another vampire who is also a super hot underwear model, Lance. Warren Williams, San Diego's ex police chief and her ex-mentor now the leader of the local supernaturals, is pressing Anna to help find the person responsible for draining newly turned vampires of their blood. Anna is resistant at first because show more she still feels a boat load of resentment towards Williams for having a part in her family move to a winery in France, even though it's the safest place for them to be, away from the dangers surrounding Anna's supernatural world.

As a bounty hunter, Anna has to be cunning and part sleuth in finding criminals on the run. These skills as a bounty hunter come in handy while she tries to track down Belinda Burke, a very powerful black witch who has put a death spell on one of her close shape shifting friends, Culebra. Culebra owns Beso de la Muerte (Kiss of Death), a bar in the deserts of Mexico that caters to the supernatural and when he shows up at his own bar near death with Belinda Burke's name the last words he speaks, the clock starts ticking for Anna to find Belinda.

Anna has always been a cocky, hard-edged gal with a strong stubborn streak, who has always been quick to speak her mind and never takes any bull from anyone but she's always had a soft heart inside the tough exterior she shows world.

Anna speaking to a bail jumper:
"Save your breath, sweetie," I whisper in her ear. "The last glimpse I had of Hank, he was hopping in the back of a pickup. He's long gone."
I reach down and haul her to her feet. I use one hand as if she weighs twenty-five pounds instead of two-fifty. "Looks like it's just you and me."
Hilda is looking at me bleary-eyed with confusion and alcohol. "How did you —? What did you—? Where did you—?"
I pat her head and push her toward my own car. "Don't try to figure it out, Hilda. You'll hurt yourself."

I've enjoyed reading about the situations she always seems to get herself into but this time there was a spot in the story line that really bothered me and I didn't like Anna's reaction, which I can't say anything about without giving out spoilers. I felt her behavior wasn't inline with her character. It was the only low spot in the book for me.

I love the characteristics of the witches in this book and their ability to conjure magic with just a wave of a hand. The witches here can be very powerful beings and they have a whole world of possibilities and dimensions. One of the witches in Retribution has a short story in the anthology Many Bloody Returns, the story gives a insightful look into the world of witches that live in Anna's world. It's not necessary to read it before Retribution but it would give you a better understanding of the witches here and it's a good quick read.

I really enjoy Jeanne Stein's writing style, her words easily flow off the page bringing you into her world of paranormals. The paranormal world she has created around Anna Strong is unique one with many surprises, that has intrigued and entertained me throughout reading the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles. Ms. Stein always adds an occurrence with an element of harsh realism in her books, they always leave me with deep thoughts on these matters. I like it when an author is not afraid to add an element that could shock and make me think long after I have finished reading a book.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and the fast pace set in Retribution. The main plot line gets tied up real nice with subtle hints into Anna's role in the supernatural world as the chosen, the one. I liked this book with the exception I noted and I'll be looking forward to the next book, which I hope will shed some light on Anna's role as the one. I think fans of the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles will happy with this latest installment, aptly named Retribution. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories based in an urban, supernatural world with an air of mystery. show less

Slightly better than the 4th book. I think this series might keep going for a while. It's not a bad read; fun, like most of these candy paranormals. The heroine is fledging out, as are the other main characters & the world. The author has the decency to write a well plotted story & doesn't try to throw in new shockers just for fun. I'll read the next when it is available.

Fairly good, but this felt a little like filler. Plenty of foreshadowing. The plot is a neat little mystery grown from the previous book that gets wrapped up by the end of this current book.
I miss her FBI dude. Anna's current boyfriend is pretty boring.

As stated in my last review of Anna Strong, I'm a little bored. She needs to move into this big role of hers that everyone else seems to know about. All it would take is one visit to the psychics in the control room and then she could really own who/what she is. That would be more interesting to me than her continuous bumbling into situations that she doesn't understand. And the thing with Williams is getting old too. What is it that he really wants? Is it just that he knows this "prophecy" and she is not what he expects? Let's get over this and move onto more interesting things. If she accepts what/who she is, then we can get into more supernatural crime-fighting and peace building in the super community.

I'm a bit disappointed with this book. Anna is a very strong character, but she did some pretty stupid things. The plot was decent though. I liked reading more of how the witches interact in this world. The main thing that annoyed me was the animosity between her and Williams. It got on my nerves and I couldn't decide who I wanted to slap more. Anna resists fully embracing her supernatural side and Williams is very resentful of that. I can't say I enjoyed the ending. I don't like where the story seems to be heading.

Things have settled into a level of calm for Anna. Her family is living in France on a winery they believe that they have inherited. Her partner David is on vacation and has finally separated from Gloria, the woman she hates and her vampire boyfriend is a model. As much as Anna misses her family she is relaxed and rebuilding a life for herself.

Anna gets a call from Culebra the shapshifter and is told to stay away from Beso de la Muerte because Sandra is going to be there and she has not gotten over the fact that Anna killed her lover. True to form, Anna goes straight there. Anna is nothing but predictable and this is why Culebra told her to stay away, in order to ensure that she would meet Williams there. Though Williams is no longer show more the police chief he still has connections and he wants Anna to investigate the death of young vampires. He is worried that these deaths will bring attention the community does not need. Anna however is not drawn into the investigation until Culebra ends up in a psychic coma cased by an old foe - Belinda Burke. In the process of tying to help him Fray gets drawn in and his life is also in danger. With the clock ticking down, Anna has to find a way to stop Burke for good.

As with all of the other books in this series, there is little GLBT inclusion. Anna does end up having sex with a woman in a blood exchange but it is something she is embarrassed and ashamed of. It reads more like the magic of the exchange made her do it. It is something that is certainly sexually one sided and done simply as payment for human blood. Sandra, the lesbian werewolf we met in Legacy, is briefly in the novel, but is of course now grieving since her lover was killed in the last book. Heaven forbid there be sex between people of the same gender without shame and a functioning same sex couple where neither partner dies.

The only two characters of colour are Ortiz and Culebra who spends most of the book in a coma. Ortiz who has done little but play the role of servant for Williams ends up dead and this brings his hatred of Anna to a new level because despite what she says, Williams believes that Anna could have saved him if she only believed that she is the chosen one. For the first time ever, we actually learn a little bit about Ortiz and this rounds out his character a little bit but it pales in comparison to how much we have learned about the other characters. His death is little more than a plot device to elevate the tension between Williams and Anna and in this way, he becomes the ultimate servant. To seal the deal we end up with Culebra pledging to give Anna anything she wants because she saved his life. What bound them before this was an interesting friendship and what remains is now nothing more than a master/slave relationship.

Anna has been told repeatedly that there is something special about her and yet she never deigns to ask what that means. She would rather bury her head in the sand and pretend that she is human than deal with the realities of her existence. Anna takes being an ostrich to a brand new level and it is beyond annoying. Considering that this is book five already, I think Stein should have revealed what the deal is with Anna. There is building up anticipation in a reader and then there is a long winded tale - Stein falls into the latter. At least let Anna find out what is and then make the decision to run screaming if she has to. The idea that because she doesn't trust Williams that she doesn't need to know is ridiculous.

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Here we are book five in the Anna Strong Chronicles. Strong is the kick ass heroine that always seems to find herself in a world of a mess. I like this character, and find her story to be one that never becomes tiresome. Although, this is not the only extraordinary character in these chronicles; this is a story of various amazing characters that will demand the readers attention.

Regretfully, I must admit that the past two books in this series seemed to be running out of steam. Honestly I had became concerned that this series might not have the power to continue its momentum. Retribution has restored my faith. Anna's story picked back up, and promises the next book to have a awesome storyline. A highlight to this novel what appears to be show more wrapping up the mystery of Strong's destiny. The past books have mentioned Strong's destiny, but I felt this book did a much better job and I look for the next book to layout Strong's future.

Stein is an very enjoyable writer that knows just what her readers like. The only complaint that I find consistently with her books is moments of inactivity that I find myself struggling for a few pages. This usually occurs immediately after a confrontation or situation that is being wrapped up; it seems there will be a page or two that is mildly annoying to get through before the next thing begins. Impressively, I find this is easy to overlook with an author that has such incredible stories, so I will just chalk it up to a minor flaw.

On an ending note, let's talk about the cover art. All of the Anna Strong Chronicles are covers are a theme of the a female portraying the main character with added props that will leave the readers guessing. All of the covers are attractive and a great addition to one's bookshelf, but they are far from my favorites. show less