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Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #1-5

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Collection 1-5

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"Long before Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series and Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels, [there was] sexy, strong-willed vampire hunter Anita Blake."-USA Today...The first five Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels in the phenomenal #1 New York Times bestselling series. Guilty Pleasures The Laughing Corpse Circus of the Damned The Lunatic Caf Bloody Bones

1611 pages, ebook

First published June 7, 2011

416 people are currently reading
433 people want to read

About the author

Laurell K. Hamilton

422 books25.7k followers
Laurell K. Hamilton is one of the leading writers of paranormal fiction. A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Hamilton writes the popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels and the Meredith Gentry series. She is also the creator of a bestselling comic book series based on her Anita Blake novels and published by Marvel Comics. Hamilton is a full-time writer and lives in the suburbs of St. Louis with her family.

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5 stars
887 (75%)
4 stars
210 (17%)
3 stars
71 (6%)
2 stars
5 (<1%)
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8 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
42 reviews
October 5, 2016
Anita Blake, books 1-5

This series is one that I've read every time a new book comes out. I absolutely love it. It has the battle of good vs. evil, mystery, love, paranormal and monsters. The character development from story to story is incredible and Anita is one kick ass heroin!!
Profile Image for Caytie.
395 reviews39 followers
May 29, 2018
Quicker to read

Love this "bind up" it makes it quick to just jump into the next book. And of course the book itself was amazing
561 reviews
March 1, 2018
All in all, fantastic series with murder, mystery, a bit of romance and a slew of supernatural creatures also quite a bit of violence & gore. Gets gorier as Anita get deeper into the supernatural world and it's many villains & victems. Not yet doused in the sex heavy plots to come. Sexual tension yes, but nothing yet consumated.

Re-reading the Anita Blake series from the beginning. It's been a while and I still love it. I had all the books at one time and am now having to repurchase the missing hardcovers.
2/23- In Guilty Pleasures I meet Anita and Jean-Claude for the first time and the evil Nikolaos and the forgotten Phillip (I completely forgot who he was). I realized that I forgot much of the book so it was almost like reading it for the first time. I enjoyed being re-exposed to the earlier version of Anita. Still very innocent despite her toughness of attitude, form & language. Still standing firm in her beliefs.
2/25 -Finished Guilty Pleasures two days ago and just finished the Laughing Corpse.
I love how the story sucks you right in... Anita being chased by an amorous vampire, a villainous client, and a powerful voodoo priestess while she chases murderer(s).
2/27 -Just finished Circus of the Damned.
Another great story. Still a murder mystery but this time more heavily in the supernatural world. Introduces Mr. Oliver and his minions, a few more species outside the regular wearwolf and rat weres and a very young and eager Larry Kirkland.
And possibly (IMO) Anita's favorite moment in the book....Edward gives her his number! :) Now onto the Lunatic Cafe.
2/28 -Just finished Lunatic Cafe. So many rhings going on here. we get a break from Larry. Burts being a greedy obstinate ass...as usual. Murders abound and more Weres are introduced and we see more of what's been going on in the supernatural community... away from Anita's awareness. Here also come the terrible Raina & Gabriel, they really are so crazy, creepy & vicious. Also Marcus and Richard's stuggle with him. Our beloved Jason is a newbie and Edward is here, there and apparently everywhere. We see more of Richard ... more than the ideal boyfriend... more the real man and his inner stuggles about himself and his seeing Anita being more lethal than he'd like. Anita is definitely getting more comfortable giving the bad guys what they deserve. This is the beginning of the fork of their paths separating. So sad.
Ok now on to the last book of this 5 book collection
3/1 -Just finish Bloody Bones . It was gruesome. So now we have the fae introduced here....don't recall if we encounter any more until Damian's story in Crimson Death. Interestingly in chapter 17 Bauvier say, while eyeing Larry "He is not a Necromancer but he is more than he seems." So far LKH hasn't touched on that yet (at least as far as I can remember. Hopefully that doesn't bode ill for the good good guys human or supernatural ...
Profile Image for Charlotta Charbarneau.
24 reviews6 followers
December 19, 2017
The beginning of this series is the part of the series I enjoy the most. Vampires, zombies, were-animals, bad-ass female hero, and humor? Yes please! Anita Blake has been one of my favorite fictional characters since high school. She is tough, spunky, and knows how to handle herself. Her level of confidence, that yes borders on arrogance, was always something I wish I had. Unfortunately as the series progresses (I would say after book eight) the series really goes downhill. The story line focuses more on steamy sex scenes and sexual angst than on developing characters or a real plot line. I felt that Anita also started loosing her umph after book 8, and she continued to do so as the series went on. She becomes a sex maniac, a point that is explained, but feels like a feeble attempt to maintain any sort of plot line. In reality Anita loses her backbone, the very thing that made people fall in love with her character. Yes the sex scenes are steamy and well written, but once the series became straight up book porn I stopped reading. All that being said, I still recommend this book series. I just suggest you treat it like it’s 1-8 books long and ignore the rest unless supernatural erotica is what you are looking for.
Profile Image for greeneyes9999.
414 reviews3 followers
November 8, 2020
Amazing, strong female character that keeps on kicking and keeps going!

I picked up this series as a recommendation because of my past repeated readings of: Mercy Thompson, Merit, Jane Yellowrock, and Kate Daniels. What all these characters have in common is that they are all (hands down) Amazing, Strong, Independent, Mouthy, Kickbutt Female Main Characters! Every one of these series are so amazing that you can’t put them down! The authors grab you right off and they are always a cover to cover read no matter how many times I read them! I’m so excited to discover this author and her amazing main character, Anita Blake! I hope that everyone enjoys this series as much as I have so far! Plus if you love strong willed, mouthy females try out the other series! You won’t be disappointed! Also buy the multi pack of books if you can, it’s so awesome to just read 5 books in a row with out stopping! I can’t wait to go to Kindle store and buy the next bundle! Enjoy and share your thoughts with others, you won’t be disappointed and this author deserves recognition (as well as ther others)!
Profile Image for Carol Harris.
168 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2025
Wonderful fantasy mysteries collection!!!!!

All theses books are great alone or together as in this collection. I have read all these books before and still can read them again and again. The interaction of the characters are so real,believable and brings me back again and again. I love the characters and find them lovable,brave and real. The stories are full of action, mystery and romance. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection and all the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series!!!!!
Profile Image for Heather .
1,193 reviews18 followers
October 20, 2019
Wild ride

Anita Blake Bad A** animator (raises zombies). Follow in the very busy dramatic action filled life of Anita with 5 books to devour.
She can raise the dead, tangle with the monsters; killing zombies, witches, lycanthrops, and humans. When its life or death she will always choose herself first enemies beware she doesn't go down without a fight.
Action packed mystery, paranormal shebang.
This is a reread for me and wasn't any less thrilling.
9 reviews
December 24, 2024
Interesting book with vampires being legal. Explores the problems law enforcement faces and how they are inadequately funded (sound familiar?). Book centers around a woman who hunts the bad vampires as a sideline but is fully employed as one who raises the dearly departed. The books include ghouls, zombies, shifters and other supes. The books follow her relationships with shifters and a vampire master.
82 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2020
These are not your child's vampires.

I read some of these books about 7-8 years ago. It's most interesting to read them in order, following Anita's thought processes as her character grows and develops. And the situations she finds herself in would challenge Hercules! I must have the whole set.
Profile Image for Karen Ireland-Phillips.
135 reviews4 followers
January 6, 2025
A reminder of why I glommed onto this series. Early Anita Blake is highly conflicted and self-righteous, yet compelling. The mysteries in these small volumes are fast paced and inhabited by compelling characters. Minimal sex compared to later stories in the series, but plenty of violence and action.
516 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2025
Third time reading this series!

I've had these books in book form since I discovered Laurel k. Hamilton. They are a terrific read when you want something that you know will not disappoint you, you can choose these books. I have now passed my hard copies to my granddaughter and rethought them for my Kendle.
Profile Image for robin page.
73 reviews
May 18, 2019
Witches, Vampires and a vigilante

Best vampire book I have ever read! I enjoy the main character Anita Blake necromancer, vampire executioner and she raises the dead. I will read more from this author.
Profile Image for Natacha.
24 reviews2 followers
August 17, 2019
Love it!!

Sooo I fell in love with these books. I’m hooked, Anita is my hero. She’s a bad mamma jama and I love it. Secretly, I hope she drops Richard and ends up with Jean-Claude
Profile Image for Kelly.
45 reviews
July 27, 2020
The monsters are real

The monsters are real and it's a thrill ride from one book to the next. Set in our world every thing that goes bump in the night is living and breathing in these books. I've loved this series for more than 20 years and it just gets better.
146 reviews2 followers
December 15, 2021
Great

I really like Anita Blake as a strong female character. Constant conflict. It was great. All of the first five books in one set.
1,102 reviews2 followers
December 25, 2021
The beginning of the Anita Blake series - definitely more murder mystery in the beginning, with great introductions to the world that she lives in.
Profile Image for Debbie Estenes.
18 reviews
May 10, 2023
Entertaining

Good fantasy ! I found it very entertaining and it kept my interest. At times, it was predictable and often the wardrobe details were a bit much. Overall I enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Rhonda.
54 reviews
November 29, 2023
love Anita

Anita is a badass vamp executioner and the cases are wilder and wilder. Can’t wait to see what’s next in the series
Profile Image for Jeannie.
1,028 reviews30 followers
September 11, 2024
2022: Amazing series that’s takes you away from the daily grind.
Profile Image for Felix Bearden.
22 reviews
October 1, 2015
Everything Vamp fiction SHOULD be!

This collection has well and truly wrapped me around Laurell K. Hamilton's little finger! It is everything I've been looking for in Vamp fiction! Sassy strong heroine who kicks butt even though she's only 5'3" and frequently rescues the men in her life... Plots that are not sex driven... Wit and pithy rejoinders... Yep. I'm hooked and have already bought the next five books!
Profile Image for J.R..
Author 1 book6 followers
February 18, 2025
Love this series

The foundation of one of the best series I've ever read. The army days of vampire hunting and zombie raising are classics. Baby Anita still learning her power and position is just wonderful.
25 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2012
Great first 5 books but then it shifted to everyone is in love with Anita Blake and that got boring fast.
Profile Image for Saema Khan.
6 reviews
January 4, 2014
I've read way too many of these more out of loyalty to the series but the last eight or so have been terribly disappointing and I give up.
Profile Image for Beth.
1,290 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2016
Re-read. Bloody bones is the book that hooked me into this series. If it hadnt been good I know I would have given up on this series.
Profile Image for Jbgreendawn.
212 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2017
I decided to start this series all over again from the beginning before I finish the newer books because, I really don't remember the details that well anymore so, it has been long enough between readings it is like reading them again for the first time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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