Review: Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton

Bullet

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Publication: Berkley Hardcover (June 1, 2010)

 

Description: The music came back up and the next group of little girls, slightly older, came out. There was a lot of that in the next hour and change. I liked dance, and it was no reflection on the kids, but my will to live began to seep away on about the fifth group of sequined children...

 

Anita Blake is back in St. Louis and trying to live a normal life-as normal as possible for someone who is a legal vampire executioner and a U. S. Marshal. There are lovers, friends and their children, school programs to attend. In the midst of all the ordinary happiness a vampire from Anita's past reaches out. She was supposed to be dead, killed in an explosion, but the Mother of All Darkness is the first vampire, their dark creator. It's hard to kill a god. This dark goddess has reached out to her here-in St. Louis, home of everyone Anita loves most. The Mother of All Darkness has decided she has to act now or never, to control Anita, and all the vampires in America.

 

The Mother of All Darkness believes that the triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude with Anita and the werewolf Richard Zeeman has enough power for her to regain a body and to immigrate to the New World. But the body she wants to possess is already taken. Anita is about to learn a whole new meaning to sharing her body, one that has nothing to do with the bedroom. And if the Mother of All Darkness can't succeed in taking over Anita's body for herself, she means to see that no one else has the use of it, ever again. Even Belle Morte, not always a friend to Anita, has sent word: "Run if you can..."

 

My Thoughts: I don't really have too much to say about this one. It seemed to me to be all sex and politics. The time frame of the story seemed very short. I think the whole story takes place over just a couple of very intense days. Richard, a new contrite and cooperative Richard, plays a bigger than usual role in this one. Anita is slow to trust him because she has been burned too many times. It begins with Asher boiling over and threatening to take his werehyenas and leave. Turns out he is feeling neglected and not having his sexual needs met. Anita is losing her "sex is a sin" attitude and it shows in this one.

 

I big section of the plot has to do with gathering allies to oppose the Mother of All Darkness. Jean Claude needs to form a new council of the American vampires to have enough strength to battle her. Anita needs to gather all the colors of tigers to her also. Anita is torn because she sees the necessity but doesn't actually want any more sexual partners. For her, there is an emotional commitment and she feels as stretched emotionally as she can handle.

 

I recommend this episode to fans of the series. It would be completely baffling to those who aren't following along. I would have been clearer about the impkications of the actions has I refreshed my memory of previous events by reading the last couple of entries again.

 

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge