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"Enjoying pain with your pleasure is something you either get, or you don't. If you get it, then you don't really need it explained, because you know how good it feels, and if you don't get it then no amount of talking is going to convince you it makes sense."
But sometimes you have to explain the unexplainable, especially if the love of your life needs to understand, or she'll leave you. Jason Schuyler is one of Anita Blake's best friends and favorite werewolves, with benefits. J.J. is his lady love, an old flame from childhood who dances at one of the top ballet companies in New York. She's accomplished, beautiful, and she's crazy about him, too. Neither of them wants to be monogamous, so what could go wrong?
J.J. is enthusiastically bisexual, with an emphasis on the female side of things. She plans to keep sleeping with women, because Jason can't meet that need, just like she can't meet Jason's need for rough sex and bondage. J.J. doesn't understand why Jason isn’t content to go elsewhere for a need she can’t fulfil, so Jason asks Anita to help him explain.
Anita is having her own relationship growing pains with her only female lover ever, Jade. Jason suggests that J.J. might be able to help Anita with her girl problem, while she helps him with his kinky explanations. With some encouragement from a few other lovers in Anita's life she reluctantly agrees, and J. J. makes plans to fly into town for an experience that none of them will ever forget.
But sometimes you have to explain the unexplainable, especially if the love of your life needs to understand, or she'll leave you. Jason Schuyler is one of Anita Blake's best friends and favorite werewolves, with benefits. J.J. is his lady love, an old flame from childhood who dances at one of the top ballet companies in New York. She's accomplished, beautiful, and she's crazy about him, too. Neither of them wants to be monogamous, so what could go wrong?
J.J. is enthusiastically bisexual, with an emphasis on the female side of things. She plans to keep sleeping with women, because Jason can't meet that need, just like she can't meet Jason's need for rough sex and bondage. J.J. doesn't understand why Jason isn’t content to go elsewhere for a need she can’t fulfil, so Jason asks Anita to help him explain.
Anita is having her own relationship growing pains with her only female lover ever, Jade. Jason suggests that J.J. might be able to help Anita with her girl problem, while she helps him with his kinky explanations. With some encouragement from a few other lovers in Anita's life she reluctantly agrees, and J. J. makes plans to fly into town for an experience that none of them will ever forget.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2014
609 people are currently reading
8637 people want to read
About the author
Laurell K. Hamilton
422 books25.7k followersLaurell 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,164 reviews
July 7, 2018
As expected and as suggested in the description the vast majority of this long novella is sex. It's wrapped around personal growth for several of the characters, which is something that I've always enjoyed about the majority of the sex that happens in this series. While it can seem, sometimes, to be redundant in form it never seems gratuitous to me. I have to admit that I like that Anita has gotten so laid back about sex.
A couple of things happened in this that have me looking forward to seeing how they will evolve later on. Will Jason relocate? Will J.J. kick the girlfriend to the curb? Will Anita insist on a new dynamic with Jade? How will Domino fit in with Jade going forward?
My only significant disappointment is that apparently Jean-Claude has become the defacto "King of America" and/or "Leader of the American Vampire Council" which can only mean LKH intends for all that to have occurred off the page. I much prefer the supernatural politics to the police procedurals and have been patiently waiting while she moved the last several novels more to the police procedural format in the hope that the vampire politics would come up and take center stage at some point. But if J.C. is the "king" then it's happened off the page and I'm not going to get what I've been waiting for. I promise not to pitch a fit and make throwing rocks at LKH my new hobby over it. There is plenty of that to go around about the Anita series.
It seems to me that LKH has moved her novels back to predominately police procedural format and is covering the erotica in the shorts. I don't mind it, although I doubt it'll satisfy the whiners who seem to prop their egos up with bashing authors of books they no longer read. I would like to see more vampire politics, and supernatural group politics, but I suppose we can't all get what we want.
*********************
I just can not read the comments by other people on this series any longer.
We KNOW you don't like the sex, in fact you whinge so much I wonder if perhaps you don't like sex at all.
The description makes it clear that sex will be a driving plot point in this particular book. If you are still interested in the series but don't want to deal with sex as a main plot point then consider reading some of the more recent novels as the sex in them was minimal as was the angst about sex. If you are "too afraid" to try then move on and leave the series to those of us who are still enjoying it.
Unless you just enjoy the negativity, which is pretty much what I've come to and that's why I won't be reading your reviews or comments anymore.
A couple of things happened in this that have me looking forward to seeing how they will evolve later on. Will Jason relocate? Will J.J. kick the girlfriend to the curb? Will Anita insist on a new dynamic with Jade? How will Domino fit in with Jade going forward?
My only significant disappointment is that apparently Jean-Claude has become the defacto "King of America" and/or "Leader of the American Vampire Council" which can only mean LKH intends for all that to have occurred off the page. I much prefer the supernatural politics to the police procedurals and have been patiently waiting while she moved the last several novels more to the police procedural format in the hope that the vampire politics would come up and take center stage at some point. But if J.C. is the "king" then it's happened off the page and I'm not going to get what I've been waiting for. I promise not to pitch a fit and make throwing rocks at LKH my new hobby over it. There is plenty of that to go around about the Anita series.
It seems to me that LKH has moved her novels back to predominately police procedural format and is covering the erotica in the shorts. I don't mind it, although I doubt it'll satisfy the whiners who seem to prop their egos up with bashing authors of books they no longer read. I would like to see more vampire politics, and supernatural group politics, but I suppose we can't all get what we want.
*********************
I just can not read the comments by other people on this series any longer.
We KNOW you don't like the sex, in fact you whinge so much I wonder if perhaps you don't like sex at all.
The description makes it clear that sex will be a driving plot point in this particular book. If you are still interested in the series but don't want to deal with sex as a main plot point then consider reading some of the more recent novels as the sex in them was minimal as was the angst about sex. If you are "too afraid" to try then move on and leave the series to those of us who are still enjoying it.
Unless you just enjoy the negativity, which is pretty much what I've come to and that's why I won't be reading your reviews or comments anymore.
December 3, 2014
I actually had to just stop reading this. This is not a book. There is no plot. There is no story. How did this even get published? It is simply a bunch of random sex scenes, most of which are completely out of character and lack any and all continuity with previous books. I know that is something to be expected from LKH at this point, but again, how did this get published?
September 5, 2015
I am sitting here with a big unhappy face.
I don't know if I want to read this book! I am so sad that this synopsis sounds terrible. I love Anita Blake for her kick-ass action and her ability to handle all situations.
But lately the Anita Blake series has been mostly all about her multiple life partners and a lot of the dialogue has been spent with Anita defending her sex life to anyone she comes across in the book.. Don't get me wrong - when this happened the first say fifty times it was ok, I mean there was still lots of action and stuff going on and the prospect of the once monogamous Anita having multiple partners was fun but now its like why has Anita suddenly stopped mid fight to defend her right to have like 20 lovers or to make out with one or two of said lovers.
At this stage for me reading the Anita Blake series should be about her cases as a Federal Marshal, her life as the most powerful necromancer, her many strands of lycanthropy, her role as the human servant, Queen and fiancée to Jean Claude, her unusual position as a human vampire, her connection to all the men she does love - are they going to marry?- and her friendship with Edward! Throw in some sex here and there with her men and wham bam thank you mam I'm happy!
Please no more describing why she needs so many lovers or her need for rough sex - we get it - and no, Jason was never one of her lovers who liked it rough. What is going on?
The first say 15 books were perfect and then they started to go off the rails a wee bit. But I am hanging in there reading every book Laurell writes in the Anita Blake series because there is still some amazingly good action and romance plots that aren't interrupted by the pages on pages of defensive writing on Anita's love life.
Looking forward to book 24 - hopefully we'll find the old Anita in there!
December 3, 2014
Oh boy... When the only nice thing I can think to say about a book is "not as biphobic as it could have been" that's super bad. I've been reading these books since I was in high school and it's looking like I'm going to have to drop them for good. here's why:
I don't have a problem with the sex or the kink or the poly relationships. I do have a major problem with how they're presented and with how there's a marked double standard with how characters are treated and what behaviors are deemed acceptable. I don't think I actually enjoyed a second of reading this book and I guess I'm just going to have to pass on future LKH titles.
I don't have a problem with the sex or the kink or the poly relationships. I do have a major problem with how they're presented and with how there's a marked double standard with how characters are treated and what behaviors are deemed acceptable. I don't think I actually enjoyed a second of reading this book and I guess I'm just going to have to pass on future LKH titles.
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October 27, 2014Please get back to monsters, fighting and scariness. What happened to Anita Blake "hunter" ?
January 2, 2024
I love the Anitaverse. I love Anita, Nathaniel, Micah, Jean Claude, Nicky, Wicked, Truth and Jason. I feel like I need to preface with that because I do, I LOVE the Anita stories. But I am tired. I. Am. Tired.
Once again, there was a lot of talking and a surplus of rehashing points already practically beaten to death.
My issue with the Anita books is lately they seem to concentrate almost solely on the polyamorous relationships and sex of the characters (Which, in theory, sounds great, right? I love sexy books! I love a lot of sex in books! I'm totally ok with PWP... But it's not great.It's not fun, it's work. There are too many relationships and everyone has issues. I swear they have more issues than People magazine and they fucking talk about them all the time! I'm so tired of all the talking about the relationships and who's fucking who, and who's unhappy they aren't being fucked more, or fucked less). Either that or the stories concentrate almost solely on Anita being a U.S. Marshall and her duties therein. Which, ugh.
I miss when the stories used to be about when Anita was fighting a "Big Bad" and then coming home to the guys for some hot sex. (Like in "The Killing Dance", "Burnt Offerings", "Blue Moon", "Narcissis in Chains", "Incubus Dreams"...)
I miss when it was more about the animation and hunting or helping all the different shape shifters and vampires ("Guilty Pleasures", "Circus of the Damned", "The Lunatic Cafe", "Bloody Bones", "The Killing Dance"). When there was some police work with RPIT...but it wasn't about her being a Marshall (I like it better when she gets to be more...outside of the lines kind of bad ass and not hampered by laws and rules, like in "Obsidian Butterfly").
Anyway - rant over. This time around it's about making Jason's bisexual girlfriend, J.J., comfortable with Jason's need for rough sex. Not necessarily with J.J., because she doesn't like rough sex, but with Anita, who does. In turn, J.J. is also there to help make Anita more comfortable with the one woman in her bed, Jade. Especially as Anita doesn't swing that way, but wants to make Jade happy (which, let's face it - ain't never gonna happen) because she metaphysically tied Jade to her when she broke the bond Jade had with her old psycho, abusive master.
The relationship with the Jade character hasn't felt like it's happened naturally or comfortably. It hasn't been a good fit, not only because Anita is hetero, and not Bi, but because the Jade character is not someone that would gel with Anita (and her men) even if she weren't a broken, fucked up mess.
I realize that part of my resistance is because trying to force yourself to be someone you're not is painful to read about. Anita isn't gay or Bi. Women don't do it for her. Period. And, if she did, it would flow more easily, and be more pleasurable to read. So why does Hamilton keep forcing it? Why is Anita so guilty she can't be what Jade needs? Hopefully after the events that take place in this story Hamilton will give up that ghost and be like Elsa and just "Let It Go!"
Overall I can see the direction the series is going, so I'm holding on.
I can even see where Hamilton is trying to manipulate the direction in some places (hopefully for the better), and I'm persevering. I just hope Hamilton can get the series back to where it was when I loved it and not just tolerated it.
Once again, there was a lot of talking and a surplus of rehashing points already practically beaten to death.
My issue with the Anita books is lately they seem to concentrate almost solely on the polyamorous relationships and sex of the characters (Which, in theory, sounds great, right? I love sexy books! I love a lot of sex in books! I'm totally ok with PWP... But it's not great.It's not fun, it's work. There are too many relationships and everyone has issues. I swear they have more issues than People magazine and they fucking talk about them all the time! I'm so tired of all the talking about the relationships and who's fucking who, and who's unhappy they aren't being fucked more, or fucked less). Either that or the stories concentrate almost solely on Anita being a U.S. Marshall and her duties therein. Which, ugh.
I miss when the stories used to be about when Anita was fighting a "Big Bad" and then coming home to the guys for some hot sex. (Like in "The Killing Dance", "Burnt Offerings", "Blue Moon", "Narcissis in Chains", "Incubus Dreams"...)
I miss when it was more about the animation and hunting or helping all the different shape shifters and vampires ("Guilty Pleasures", "Circus of the Damned", "The Lunatic Cafe", "Bloody Bones", "The Killing Dance"). When there was some police work with RPIT...but it wasn't about her being a Marshall (I like it better when she gets to be more...outside of the lines kind of bad ass and not hampered by laws and rules, like in "Obsidian Butterfly").
Anyway - rant over. This time around it's about making Jason's bisexual girlfriend, J.J., comfortable with Jason's need for rough sex. Not necessarily with J.J., because she doesn't like rough sex, but with Anita, who does. In turn, J.J. is also there to help make Anita more comfortable with the one woman in her bed, Jade. Especially as Anita doesn't swing that way, but wants to make Jade happy (which, let's face it - ain't never gonna happen) because she metaphysically tied Jade to her when she broke the bond Jade had with her old psycho, abusive master.
The relationship with the Jade character hasn't felt like it's happened naturally or comfortably. It hasn't been a good fit, not only because Anita is hetero, and not Bi, but because the Jade character is not someone that would gel with Anita (and her men) even if she weren't a broken, fucked up mess.
I realize that part of my resistance is because trying to force yourself to be someone you're not is painful to read about. Anita isn't gay or Bi. Women don't do it for her. Period. And, if she did, it would flow more easily, and be more pleasurable to read. So why does Hamilton keep forcing it? Why is Anita so guilty she can't be what Jade needs? Hopefully after the events that take place in this story Hamilton will give up that ghost and be like Elsa and just "Let It Go!"
Overall I can see the direction the series is going, so I'm holding on.
I can even see where Hamilton is trying to manipulate the direction in some places (hopefully for the better), and I'm persevering. I just hope Hamilton can get the series back to where it was when I loved it and not just tolerated it.
January 2, 2015
I saw this book described as a “novella” and thought “this is just going to be a sex scene”. Then I opened it and saw that it was 150 pages long so took it back and assumed there was going to be a plot. I was right the first time, it’s just a very very long sex scene with a pointless pre-amble. This just goes to show that even cynical me has some stubborn, foolish hope that refuses to die despite repeatedly being stabbed in the head.
But let’s begin with that pre-amble. First of all, in classic Anita Blake style, every character who appears, no matter how briefly or how irrelevantly, is described in ludicrously unnecessary detail. That includes characters who are referred to but never actually have any role in the book. If the post man had visited while they were talking, I’m sure we’d have three paragraphs describing him as well.
We also have a huge chunk of completely irrelevant and unnecessary recap. It makes me wonder if this is a breakfast ritual at Anita’s house, along with pulling out the relationship flowchart. They discuss Richard’s issues with Nathaniel and Jason because they’re not dominant/powerful/big hulking manly enough for Anita and then a big tour of the whole “who is ruthless and why that is a good thing”. None of this is relevant. The characters they talk about aren’t even in this book – and all of this has been shown before, so why does it need to be told? It’s just a random insert.
That done we have a visit from a weretiger (called Envy. No, really). She’s had sex with Richard and left because he keeps hurting her, hammering away with his super-strength and enormous endowment despite her repeatedly telling him that she’s not having fun and he’s hurting her. There are many ways this could have been handled sensitively and kindly, but since Envy is a blonde woman she is Clearly Evil and instead we have a recounting of how Anita can totally take it with her Vagina Of Steel followed by Envy being envious (ha!) of the wonderful life and wonderful lovers Anita has because she’s just so damn awesome. Because this is Anita and all other women are inferior – even when meeting J.J. a woman Anita actually likes, one of the very first things she does is describe how amazingly, wonderfully curvy Anita is and how much she isn’t.
Then to the endless sex scenes and the pre-amble to it – and the problems here. First of all, this series whole approach to sex and consent is broken. One element that was really strong in this book is the idea that saying no = prudery. If you are not comfortable with a type of sex or a sex act then this isn’t your taste or preference or even sexual orientation – it’s some kind of flaw you need to overcome. If someone comes to you and says you should have sex wearing a wet suite, riding a llama while singing Wagner, then you better get a snorkel, put on your horned helmet and check ebay for an alpaca. This is really pushed in this book – Anita doesn’t get off on voyeurism? Get over it. Anita doesn’t want to share a bed with someone? Get over it. Jade doesn’t want to have sex with men? Get over it. Everyone must want to have sex in all ways at all times with all people or they are evil prudes of prudery who need de-pruding.
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But let’s begin with that pre-amble. First of all, in classic Anita Blake style, every character who appears, no matter how briefly or how irrelevantly, is described in ludicrously unnecessary detail. That includes characters who are referred to but never actually have any role in the book. If the post man had visited while they were talking, I’m sure we’d have three paragraphs describing him as well.
We also have a huge chunk of completely irrelevant and unnecessary recap. It makes me wonder if this is a breakfast ritual at Anita’s house, along with pulling out the relationship flowchart. They discuss Richard’s issues with Nathaniel and Jason because they’re not dominant/powerful/big hulking manly enough for Anita and then a big tour of the whole “who is ruthless and why that is a good thing”. None of this is relevant. The characters they talk about aren’t even in this book – and all of this has been shown before, so why does it need to be told? It’s just a random insert.
That done we have a visit from a weretiger (called Envy. No, really). She’s had sex with Richard and left because he keeps hurting her, hammering away with his super-strength and enormous endowment despite her repeatedly telling him that she’s not having fun and he’s hurting her. There are many ways this could have been handled sensitively and kindly, but since Envy is a blonde woman she is Clearly Evil and instead we have a recounting of how Anita can totally take it with her Vagina Of Steel followed by Envy being envious (ha!) of the wonderful life and wonderful lovers Anita has because she’s just so damn awesome. Because this is Anita and all other women are inferior – even when meeting J.J. a woman Anita actually likes, one of the very first things she does is describe how amazingly, wonderfully curvy Anita is and how much she isn’t.
Then to the endless sex scenes and the pre-amble to it – and the problems here. First of all, this series whole approach to sex and consent is broken. One element that was really strong in this book is the idea that saying no = prudery. If you are not comfortable with a type of sex or a sex act then this isn’t your taste or preference or even sexual orientation – it’s some kind of flaw you need to overcome. If someone comes to you and says you should have sex wearing a wet suite, riding a llama while singing Wagner, then you better get a snorkel, put on your horned helmet and check ebay for an alpaca. This is really pushed in this book – Anita doesn’t get off on voyeurism? Get over it. Anita doesn’t want to share a bed with someone? Get over it. Jade doesn’t want to have sex with men? Get over it. Everyone must want to have sex in all ways at all times with all people or they are evil prudes of prudery who need de-pruding.
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March 20, 2015
Last night I started Jason by Laurell K Hamilton
So far it's sex, sex, and more sex...but that's to be expected from her. It's weird though...some of her books are story oriented- as in moving forward with all the plots, subplots and the world and character building.
Others are just sex, sex and sex with a little character development thrown in for good measure. And I see this one is going to push the character development but in the end it's still all about relationships and sex.
Which don't get me wrong, I love books full of sex, but I fell in love with the Anita Blake series because of the world building and unique elements.
Now there are so many "main characters" I can't keep track of who is who and the elements of the world aren't even there half the time anymore. When was the last time Anita used her necromancy to raise a body?
I don't know, I'll see this series out because I do love it and sometimes the books are amazing but I really want more than just sex. I want a story, I want the world and the elements I fell in love with when I first started these books.
So far it's sex, sex, and more sex...but that's to be expected from her. It's weird though...some of her books are story oriented- as in moving forward with all the plots, subplots and the world and character building.
Others are just sex, sex and sex with a little character development thrown in for good measure. And I see this one is going to push the character development but in the end it's still all about relationships and sex.
Which don't get me wrong, I love books full of sex, but I fell in love with the Anita Blake series because of the world building and unique elements.
Now there are so many "main characters" I can't keep track of who is who and the elements of the world aren't even there half the time anymore. When was the last time Anita used her necromancy to raise a body?
I don't know, I'll see this series out because I do love it and sometimes the books are amazing but I really want more than just sex. I want a story, I want the world and the elements I fell in love with when I first started these books.
December 16, 2014
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
I've only ever read one other Anita Blake novel and after reading that book I experienced for the first time wanting to unread a story due to reasons too long to write here. Since then, I've been hesitant to even pick up the first few books of this series which are supposed to be excellent according to everyone I've spoken to. I decided to give JASON a chance as I was prepared for the random sexual encounters, throngs of characters, and over explaining of Anita's relationships. I thought I was prepared to have fun with the sex-capade that would be this book especially since the focus would be on Anita's friend Jason and therefore would be a tad different. Wow, was I wrong.
Jason's issue and its resolution is regulated to the side as we are invited to read pages and pages about Anita's complex relationships and personal issues. Now I am pretty darn open about poly relationships but the sheer amount of men this woman is connected to is just ridiculous. I think Anita had a relationship with a barely legal kid according to a passing reference in this story. I think the only other line this woman can cross is bestiality. Although she is having sex with shifters so I guess it could count as bestiality if they did it in were form. I am certain there is a chart out there with all of Anita's relationship connections because someone somewhere has to have figured out this tangled web.
Okay, the plot. I'm pretty okay with a story that has lots of sex though I like a bit more non-sex related action than what was in JASON of which was none. It was all rather not sexy sex and talking. Oh is there talking; talking during sex, talking getting ready for the sex, talking after sex, and more talking. It was work to read through the sex scenes especially since they talked so much through the sex. The issue of Jason wanting to show his girlfriend some rough sex is resolved through demonstrating rough sex with Anita. That's the story. Talking about and planning sex, then having said sex with Jason's issue resolved in a page or two.
With my previously read Anita Blake book I remember getting so frustrated with the talking and standing around to have sex with Anita (she needs to power up with orgies apparently?) while the bad guy ran off and created havoc that I just skipped to the last few pages to see if they got around to catching the bad guy. I think they did and by golly I was rooting for him to get away with it too. JASON doesn't have to worry about silly things like a bad guy or the world ending or plot when there is overly detailed sexytime to be planned and had! I stuck with tradition and skipped to the last few pages to see if anything interesting happens. Guess what...nothing interesting happened.
I've only ever read one other Anita Blake novel and after reading that book I experienced for the first time wanting to unread a story due to reasons too long to write here. Since then, I've been hesitant to even pick up the first few books of this series which are supposed to be excellent according to everyone I've spoken to. I decided to give JASON a chance as I was prepared for the random sexual encounters, throngs of characters, and over explaining of Anita's relationships. I thought I was prepared to have fun with the sex-capade that would be this book especially since the focus would be on Anita's friend Jason and therefore would be a tad different. Wow, was I wrong.
Jason's issue and its resolution is regulated to the side as we are invited to read pages and pages about Anita's complex relationships and personal issues. Now I am pretty darn open about poly relationships but the sheer amount of men this woman is connected to is just ridiculous. I think Anita had a relationship with a barely legal kid according to a passing reference in this story. I think the only other line this woman can cross is bestiality. Although she is having sex with shifters so I guess it could count as bestiality if they did it in were form. I am certain there is a chart out there with all of Anita's relationship connections because someone somewhere has to have figured out this tangled web.
Okay, the plot. I'm pretty okay with a story that has lots of sex though I like a bit more non-sex related action than what was in JASON of which was none. It was all rather not sexy sex and talking. Oh is there talking; talking during sex, talking getting ready for the sex, talking after sex, and more talking. It was work to read through the sex scenes especially since they talked so much through the sex. The issue of Jason wanting to show his girlfriend some rough sex is resolved through demonstrating rough sex with Anita. That's the story. Talking about and planning sex, then having said sex with Jason's issue resolved in a page or two.
With my previously read Anita Blake book I remember getting so frustrated with the talking and standing around to have sex with Anita (she needs to power up with orgies apparently?) while the bad guy ran off and created havoc that I just skipped to the last few pages to see if they got around to catching the bad guy. I think they did and by golly I was rooting for him to get away with it too. JASON doesn't have to worry about silly things like a bad guy or the world ending or plot when there is overly detailed sexytime to be planned and had! I stuck with tradition and skipped to the last few pages to see if anything interesting happens. Guess what...nothing interesting happened.
December 2, 2014
Well, at least Hamilton admitted this one is all about sex. And since she did, this one's better than the last, what- ten or so offerings in that it's finally what it's supposed to be: Porn with Plot. But still not much plot.
Roll Call: Anita, Nathaniel, Envy, Domino, Jason, Jade, JJ.
The first chapter is RSVP'd for yet another bout of Richard-bashing and Micah-glorifying. Richard, now marginally back in the fold since Shutdown, has been occupying himself with Envy- one of the Red Tigers who arrived in Bullet- as well as some unknown human woman, which doesn't give him much Anita time. But now that Richard's embraced his wolf side he likes it rough, too rough for Envy who can't get him to ease up so she's done with him and Anita can have him back. Jason empathizes since he's having problems getting his main squeeze JJ to indulge his edgier needs but feels there's more to it with Richard. Being such a golden boy Alpha Male deep down Richard resents that the Three Mini-Me Stooges- Jason, Nathaniel and Micah- get more of Anita than he does, and it rears it's ugly head during rough sex. Nate and Jason actually conclude that Micah could take Richard in a death match between Alphas- because Micah's so much more ruthless than Richard is.
I'll let you all absorb that one before moving on.
Meanwhile Jade is also having difficulty since she wants more from Anita but Anita's not really into her. Anyways, it all comes down to Anita & Co. helping JJ with her BDSM issues and since JJ's more into women than men, she can help Anita concering Jade. JJ flies in for their group get-together and cue the bow-chicka-bow-wow music.
As far as the frisky stuff goes- it has it's moments but they get lost in the shuffle of all the talking and angsting about everyone's relationships, statuses and issues. You're gonna start skimming.
The only real development of note is an almost throwaway admission about the nature of the Ardeur. Envy observes that the Ardeur is "like a date-rape drug that doesn't go away" (sic), and Anita herself agrees that it "makes people sick with desire", quipping that in this case "'Addicted to Love' isn't just a song lyric." So now it's official: those exposed to the Ardeur are addicted to it. And we all know addicts will die without their fix. Nothing ambiguous about that.
Almost three hundred pages of rumpy-pumpy and a three chapter preview of the next book. Not like we haven't seen worse around here.
Roll Call: Anita, Nathaniel, Envy, Domino, Jason, Jade, JJ.
The first chapter is RSVP'd for yet another bout of Richard-bashing and Micah-glorifying. Richard, now marginally back in the fold since Shutdown, has been occupying himself with Envy- one of the Red Tigers who arrived in Bullet- as well as some unknown human woman, which doesn't give him much Anita time. But now that Richard's embraced his wolf side he likes it rough, too rough for Envy who can't get him to ease up so she's done with him and Anita can have him back. Jason empathizes since he's having problems getting his main squeeze JJ to indulge his edgier needs but feels there's more to it with Richard. Being such a golden boy Alpha Male deep down Richard resents that the Three Mini-Me Stooges- Jason, Nathaniel and Micah- get more of Anita than he does, and it rears it's ugly head during rough sex. Nate and Jason actually conclude that Micah could take Richard in a death match between Alphas- because Micah's so much more ruthless than Richard is.
I'll let you all absorb that one before moving on.
Meanwhile Jade is also having difficulty since she wants more from Anita but Anita's not really into her. Anyways, it all comes down to Anita & Co. helping JJ with her BDSM issues and since JJ's more into women than men, she can help Anita concering Jade. JJ flies in for their group get-together and cue the bow-chicka-bow-wow music.
As far as the frisky stuff goes- it has it's moments but they get lost in the shuffle of all the talking and angsting about everyone's relationships, statuses and issues. You're gonna start skimming.
The only real development of note is an almost throwaway admission about the nature of the Ardeur. Envy observes that the Ardeur is "like a date-rape drug that doesn't go away" (sic), and Anita herself agrees that it "makes people sick with desire", quipping that in this case "'Addicted to Love' isn't just a song lyric." So now it's official: those exposed to the Ardeur are addicted to it. And we all know addicts will die without their fix. Nothing ambiguous about that.
Almost three hundred pages of rumpy-pumpy and a three chapter preview of the next book. Not like we haven't seen worse around here.
June 8, 2015
This novella is almost 100% about Jason and Anita setting up and then conducting a sex session that is supposed to include Jason, Anita, Nathanial, Jason's girlfriend J.J., and Anita's sort-of girlfriend Jade. The first half of the book is the negotiations for this session, which exceed in scope and detail anything the United Nations has ever attempted. I know Laurell is endlessly fascinated by her own polyamorous life, but as far as I can tell it requires 3.6 million times more talking about having sex than actually having sex, and it sounds exhausting. On the other hand, you do spend paragraphs at a time on highly relevant and character-developing details such as what kinds of tea are available in the cupboard, and which are in loose-leaf as opposed to bag form, and the temperatures at which various people prefer their coffee. Between that and everyone's minutely-described height, hair and eye color, musculature, and bone structure, what else could you need to know about anyone? The second half of the book is the group having sex. The salient points that come out of this are (a) someone reminds Anita that she is both tight and wet, (b) Anita wants to break up with Jade because she is a bummer and not because she is homophobic at all, which is apparently something that needs a lot of clarifying, and (c) Anita thinks that lady parts smell more like beef than fish. I don't recall Anita ever opining on what meats the guys she performs oral sex on smell like.
Oh, and the whole thing starts with a quote from Joseph Campbell, because apparently Laurell has no one on her team to tell her that perhaps highlighting the words of someone whose writing style doesn't immediately make people want to scratch their eyes out in frustration and horror might not be the best strategy.
Oh, and the whole thing starts with a quote from Joseph Campbell, because apparently Laurell has no one on her team to tell her that perhaps highlighting the words of someone whose writing style doesn't immediately make people want to scratch their eyes out in frustration and horror might not be the best strategy.
November 29, 2015
***Here is a quick review***
This book contains:
#No plot here what so ever
#No politics of the vampire, were-animal or human kind at all
#No ass-kicking of any kind
#No territorial fights
#No vampires at all
#No zombies
#No police or possible case to be investigated.
Instead there is:
Lots of boring sex and talking about sex.
Characters in this book:
Jason, his girlfriend, Nathaniel, Anita and a short appearance by Envy and Jade who are both weretigers.
***Warning: lots of rant and also spoilers ahead!***
“We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. Joseph Campbell”
I don't know about Ms Hamilton's choice of quote but I can honestly say the old Anita Blake from books 1-9 never planned a future like this. And I had no idea the surly, bad-ass, zombie raiser, monster executioner female anti-hero who helped the police to solve gruesome cases would turn into a succubus whose life is all about sex, relationship drama and more weird sex. The Old Anita was a bad-ass and I can just guess what she'd think of the present Anita Blake.
I'm I was a huge Anita Blake fan, but overtime I've become less impressed with the series after Obsidian Butterfly, so when I saw Jason I decided to read it without looking at the blurb or GR reviews because old series are better when you go in blind and because not knowing is half the fun. I was wrong!
You can just go ahead and judge this book by its cover because the truth is, it is so much worse...
Plot stuff contained in this book:
Jason Schuyler, one of Anita Blake's best friend with benefits and her favourite werewolf needs her help to introduce his bisexual girlfriend J.J.to his brand of BDSM, even though J.J. is happy to let Jason fulfil his needs elsewhere. Just like she fulfils her needs with her girlfriend because everyone here is in an open relationship or is polyamorous. But Jason needs Anita to explain and then demonstrate to J.J. why this is important to him and Anita's live in boyfriend, Nathaniel's, comes along for the ride because he is Jason's best friend and he has a unique prospective on pain and pleasure.
I'm starting to have a unique prospective on pain too and it has nothing to do with pleasure.
Of course, it wouldn't be Anita Blake book unless Anita is waxing about how beautiful her men are, especially Nathaniel, his long hair, the way he moves, his beautiful lavender eyes, his utter perfection. Here are some of Anita's Ode to the beauty that is Nathaniel so you can feel my pain.
His beautiful long hair...
'... His ankle-length hair was in its usual braid so that it was mostly hidden behind him with only glimpses of the thick auburn rope peeking from behind him as he moved. '
His sexiness and how much everyone wants a piece of him...
'He smiled, and it was the real deal, not the one that he flashed at Guilty Pleasures to get customers to shove hundred-dollar bills down his pants. If they could have seen this smile full of love and lust and just . . . Nathaniel, they’d have found thousand-dollar bills to offer him in hopes that he’d deliver on everything that smile hinted at.'
His beautiful lavender eyes...
'…His lavender eyes almost blue, as if they were paling in the warmth of all that sunshine. His eyes were truly the coluor of spring lilacs. Only two things made them darken to a truer purple: anger and lust.'
His flexibility and the way he moves..
'...He changed his walk slightly so that I was suddenly aware of just how well he moved, how muscular and yummy his naked upper body was. but it was the exotic dancer part of him that glided and strutted his way over to give me another good-morning kiss. We’d done more than kiss before I got out of bed to meet Jason in the kitchen. He bent that handsome face over me where I sat, coming in for a kiss. “You know just how much you affect me, don’t you?” I whispered.'
By the way, did I mention his mad bedroom skills and how he puts every guy to shame with his manly bits, staying power, amiable personality and beauty! Guh!
There is zero plot and its all talking about how everyone is beautiful, how Anita likes to get down and dirty with everyone in her life and how various other characters like or dislike sex with their various other partners and then comes the practical lesson of how Anita and various other characters like to get down and dirty with each other and more talking about personal sexual kinks and hangups and then more sex to get over said kinks and hangups. There is also Jade, Anita's only female lover, an Asian vampire who is just learning how to deal with freedom after centuries of sexual/emotional abuse by her old master; so of course Anita and her friends/lovers decide to help Jade get over her sex related fears with sex.
“She needs sex so good she forgets everything."
There is no sympathy for Jade or Richard's girlfriend who was complaining about his brand of rough sex and his general treatment of her. They don't care because these girls are not down with Anita and her kinky circle therefore they are not good enough. They should try to be more like Anita because she is the best at literally everything. The guys can't compete with her either in or out of bed because she is the best. She's a better monster than the monsters, better investigator than the police, better executioner than others in the profession, she is a better lover, fighter, She is more curvy, beautiful and full of spice and specialness. She's also a better protector and everything else you can thing of. It's clear Anita is the biggest Mary Sue character ever !!
It took me more than a month to slog through this short audiobook (almost 5hrs on audiobook) but I didn't want to quite on it and add to my growing list of DNF books so I did chores, played some Sudoku puzzles and even read a news story about a guy who the police came to visit at home because the neighbours heard a woman scream and a guy shouting 'I'll kill you' but it turns out, the guy was just chasing a house spider and it was his high pitched scream (Ned Flanders style) the neighbours herd! LOL! And yes, the audiobook was still going and nothing much was happening except Anita having contortionist sex. Yawn!
I'm getting jaded and numb to Anita and her various other sex partner's sexcapade at this point and I'm bored with Anita's relationship drama and how there isn't enough of her to go around for everyone who wants a little bit of Anita. After having read book 24 Dead Ice before Jason I'm left with strong urge to quite this series and never look back. Even Anita herself is left wondering when will this obsession with sexual taboo end.
'Every time I thought my sex life couldn't get weirder, or more complicated, I was so wrong... You’d think there would be a point where I’d had enough sex, broken enough taboos, thrown out enough traditional values that nothing would faze me, but it just didn't work that way'.
I keep holding on to this series out of nostalgia and blind hope that this is only a vary bad moment (years) in the series and that it'll all even out soon and we'll get a book with...
#More vampire politics.
#Some police cases.
#More Anita and Edward (aka death) pairing for monster hunting and general meham.
#More about Edward's shady past.
#More of Olaf or a closure to his character.
#Less angst and relationship drama
#Less of Richard, Asher and all other were tiger related drama.
This series has the potential to be complex, fast paced, action packed and enthralling as shown by earlier books. But only if Laurell K. Hamilton decides to use her considerable skills and imagination to actually write a story with a plot instead of using sex and over the top and increasingly annoying relationship drama as plot filler. And how long is Ms Hamilton planning to explore sexual kinks and taboos to titillate, shock and horrify her readers?
All I know is, after having read Dead Ice and Jason I'm over the Anita Blake series and I'm not holding my breath for things to change.
This book contains:
#No plot here what so ever
#No politics of the vampire, were-animal or human kind at all
#No ass-kicking of any kind
#No territorial fights
#No vampires at all
#No zombies
#No police or possible case to be investigated.
Instead there is:
Lots of boring sex and talking about sex.
Characters in this book:
Jason, his girlfriend, Nathaniel, Anita and a short appearance by Envy and Jade who are both weretigers.
***Warning: lots of rant and also spoilers ahead!***
“We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. Joseph Campbell”
I don't know about Ms Hamilton's choice of quote but I can honestly say the old Anita Blake from books 1-9 never planned a future like this. And I had no idea the surly, bad-ass, zombie raiser, monster executioner female anti-hero who helped the police to solve gruesome cases would turn into a succubus whose life is all about sex, relationship drama and more weird sex. The Old Anita was a bad-ass and I can just guess what she'd think of the present Anita Blake.
You can just go ahead and judge this book by its cover because the truth is, it is so much worse...
Jason Schuyler, one of Anita Blake's best friend with benefits and her favourite werewolf needs her help to introduce his bisexual girlfriend J.J.to his brand of BDSM, even though J.J. is happy to let Jason fulfil his needs elsewhere. Just like she fulfils her needs with her girlfriend because everyone here is in an open relationship or is polyamorous. But Jason needs Anita to explain and then demonstrate to J.J. why this is important to him and Anita's live in boyfriend, Nathaniel's, comes along for the ride because he is Jason's best friend and he has a unique prospective on pain and pleasure.
I'm starting to have a unique prospective on pain too and it has nothing to do with pleasure.
Of course, it wouldn't be Anita Blake book unless Anita is waxing about how beautiful her men are, especially Nathaniel, his long hair, the way he moves, his beautiful lavender eyes, his utter perfection. Here are some of Anita's Ode to the beauty that is Nathaniel so you can feel my pain.
His beautiful long hair...
'... His ankle-length hair was in its usual braid so that it was mostly hidden behind him with only glimpses of the thick auburn rope peeking from behind him as he moved. '
His sexiness and how much everyone wants a piece of him...
'He smiled, and it was the real deal, not the one that he flashed at Guilty Pleasures to get customers to shove hundred-dollar bills down his pants. If they could have seen this smile full of love and lust and just . . . Nathaniel, they’d have found thousand-dollar bills to offer him in hopes that he’d deliver on everything that smile hinted at.'
His beautiful lavender eyes...
'…His lavender eyes almost blue, as if they were paling in the warmth of all that sunshine. His eyes were truly the coluor of spring lilacs. Only two things made them darken to a truer purple: anger and lust.'
His flexibility and the way he moves..
'...He changed his walk slightly so that I was suddenly aware of just how well he moved, how muscular and yummy his naked upper body was. but it was the exotic dancer part of him that glided and strutted his way over to give me another good-morning kiss. We’d done more than kiss before I got out of bed to meet Jason in the kitchen. He bent that handsome face over me where I sat, coming in for a kiss. “You know just how much you affect me, don’t you?” I whispered.'
By the way, did I mention his mad bedroom skills and how he puts every guy to shame with his manly bits, staying power, amiable personality and beauty! Guh!
There is zero plot and its all talking about how everyone is beautiful, how Anita likes to get down and dirty with everyone in her life and how various other characters like or dislike sex with their various other partners and then comes the practical lesson of how Anita and various other characters like to get down and dirty with each other and more talking about personal sexual kinks and hangups and then more sex to get over said kinks and hangups. There is also Jade, Anita's only female lover, an Asian vampire who is just learning how to deal with freedom after centuries of sexual/emotional abuse by her old master; so of course Anita and her friends/lovers decide to help Jade get over her sex related fears with sex.
“She needs sex so good she forgets everything."
There is no sympathy for Jade or Richard's girlfriend who was complaining about his brand of rough sex and his general treatment of her. They don't care because these girls are not down with Anita and her kinky circle therefore they are not good enough. They should try to be more like Anita because she is the best at literally everything. The guys can't compete with her either in or out of bed because she is the best. She's a better monster than the monsters, better investigator than the police, better executioner than others in the profession, she is a better lover, fighter, She is more curvy, beautiful and full of spice and specialness. She's also a better protector and everything else you can thing of. It's clear Anita is the biggest Mary Sue character ever !!
It took me more than a month to slog through this short audiobook (almost 5hrs on audiobook) but I didn't want to quite on it and add to my growing list of DNF books so I did chores, played some Sudoku puzzles and even read a news story about a guy who the police came to visit at home because the neighbours heard a woman scream and a guy shouting 'I'll kill you' but it turns out, the guy was just chasing a house spider and it was his high pitched scream (Ned Flanders style) the neighbours herd! LOL! And yes, the audiobook was still going and nothing much was happening except Anita having contortionist sex. Yawn!
I'm getting jaded and numb to Anita and her various other sex partner's sexcapade at this point and I'm bored with Anita's relationship drama and how there isn't enough of her to go around for everyone who wants a little bit of Anita. After having read book 24 Dead Ice before Jason I'm left with strong urge to quite this series and never look back. Even Anita herself is left wondering when will this obsession with sexual taboo end.
'Every time I thought my sex life couldn't get weirder, or more complicated, I was so wrong... You’d think there would be a point where I’d had enough sex, broken enough taboos, thrown out enough traditional values that nothing would faze me, but it just didn't work that way'.
I keep holding on to this series out of nostalgia and blind hope that this is only a vary bad moment (years) in the series and that it'll all even out soon and we'll get a book with...
#More vampire politics.
#Some police cases.
#More Anita and Edward (aka death) pairing for monster hunting and general meham.
#More about Edward's shady past.
#More of Olaf or a closure to his character.
#Less angst and relationship drama
#Less of Richard, Asher and all other were tiger related drama.
This series has the potential to be complex, fast paced, action packed and enthralling as shown by earlier books. But only if Laurell K. Hamilton decides to use her considerable skills and imagination to actually write a story with a plot instead of using sex and over the top and increasingly annoying relationship drama as plot filler. And how long is Ms Hamilton planning to explore sexual kinks and taboos to titillate, shock and horrify her readers?
All I know is, after having read Dead Ice and Jason I'm over the Anita Blake series and I'm not holding my breath for things to change.
December 2, 2014
2.5 star review by The Blogger Girls.
I have loved Jason from the very beginning of the this series, so when I saw he was finally getting a book, I was thrilled. I admit, I didn’t even read the blurb on this one, which I probably should have. But Jason has played a pretty solid role up to this point, both in Jean Claude’s life, as well as Anita’s, and I really wanted to see more happen for him.
Now, however, he has a girlfriend, and he is in love. J.J. is bi-sexual and has a very jealous live-in girlfriend. That isn’t the main issue here though. No, that would be the rough sex Jason needs to have every so often, which J.J. is having trouble understanding. So, Jason, with the help of Nathanial and Domino, talks Anita into helping him explain, in person, together.
Anita is having some issues of her own dealing with all of her men, in addition to the female she now has in her harem, Jade. Jade is a lesbian, who, if you recall, was saved from an evil, abusive and manipulative bastard of a master. So, she has some major issues which are not helping Anita get past her own issues of being with a woman.
What does all this mean? Sex, sex and more sex. I know many of the later books in this series have had a lot of sex, but this one is almost all sex, with the exception of them having a meeting about sex in the beginning. Anita agrees to help show J.J. what they actually mean by rough sex, and J.J. agrees to help Anita with her lesbian skills. The rest of the story is that playing out and their conclusions about what to do with their respective relationships.
I was a bit disappointed this didn’t have any other plot besides fixing these relationship issues. No mention really about what was going on in the series other than how the different characters were coping or not coping with the sex or lack thereof of the right kind of sex. Jean Claude is mentioned, but not so much as a single Ma Petite is heard from him. It was great to see these characters again, but I was really hoping for more of the actual story. Thankfully, it seems things may go back in that direction in the next book.
December 3, 2014
I am not a prude. I have no problem reading sex scene’s that include BDSM, orgies, and bisexuality. I do have a problem reading a story that is plotless. There was no point to this novella. It simply rehashed all of the issues Anita has, but it was written as if we haven’t heard her whine about the same things for the past few books. We know Anita is juggling to many men. We know she’s still not completely comfortable with her poly lifestyle. We know she likes is crazy rough. We know she's not really into women.
The sex scene’s weren’t even hot to me, they were formulaic. With all her rotating lovers you’d think it would be different every time, but the sex scene’s just feel cut/paste/insert name here, to me. This “story” was an excuse for Anita to include women in her sexual rolodex. But I got the feeling Ms Hamilton didn’t even bother to at least watch some lesbian porn before watching this. At one point the discussed women tasting like meat or fish. I couldn’t help but laugh.
I’m so over Anita and her crew acting like there is something wrong with anyone who doesn’t want pain with sex, and who isn’t into a poly lifestyle. The characters have become just as preachy and annoying as their vanilla counterparts. Its hard to take anything they say as anything other that ridiculous and condescending especially since almost all the these pain loving poly characters have suffered serious trauma, and would be better suited on a therapists couch not Jean Claude giant sex bed. Anita had the nerve to not go back to therapy with one of her lovers, but instead introduce new sex partners to them. How exactly is that going to help someone heal from their physical and mental abuse?
All that being said I will probably be conned into reading the next book when it comes out. The except from Dead Ice seemed interesting. A new foe will be introduced and there may actually be a story and some action outside of the bedroom. Ugh, Anita why can’t I quit you...
The sex scene’s weren’t even hot to me, they were formulaic. With all her rotating lovers you’d think it would be different every time, but the sex scene’s just feel cut/paste/insert name here, to me. This “story” was an excuse for Anita to include women in her sexual rolodex. But I got the feeling Ms Hamilton didn’t even bother to at least watch some lesbian porn before watching this. At one point the discussed women tasting like meat or fish. I couldn’t help but laugh.
I’m so over Anita and her crew acting like there is something wrong with anyone who doesn’t want pain with sex, and who isn’t into a poly lifestyle. The characters have become just as preachy and annoying as their vanilla counterparts. Its hard to take anything they say as anything other that ridiculous and condescending especially since almost all the these pain loving poly characters have suffered serious trauma, and would be better suited on a therapists couch not Jean Claude giant sex bed. Anita had the nerve to not go back to therapy with one of her lovers, but instead introduce new sex partners to them. How exactly is that going to help someone heal from their physical and mental abuse?
All that being said I will probably be conned into reading the next book when it comes out. The except from Dead Ice seemed interesting. A new foe will be introduced and there may actually be a story and some action outside of the bedroom. Ugh, Anita why can’t I quit you...
not-sure-if-i-ll-read-it
February 19, 2018It's just me, or there is NO plot beside having sex issues?
April 7, 2015
I love Anita Blake and LKH. I am going to have a little rant before I review. First of all if you haven't liked Anita since book 10 then why did you continue to read the last 13 books? Stop complaining and either suck it up and quit the damn book. Those of you who are rating the book 1 star and haven't read it get a damn life *end rant*
This book is full of sex and if you thought it was going to be anything else read the darn synopsis and if you read the synopsis and still expect anything more than you might need to look at your reading comprehension skills.
I loved the character growth that we were able to experience between all the characters involved. I am happy that the men in Anita's life are helping her understand that she might not have a problem and she can't worry about everyone's emotional needs without losing her own.
I was happy with the growth that all involved experienced. It was amazing.
This book is full of sex and if you thought it was going to be anything else read the darn synopsis and if you read the synopsis and still expect anything more than you might need to look at your reading comprehension skills.
I loved the character growth that we were able to experience between all the characters involved. I am happy that the men in Anita's life are helping her understand that she might not have a problem and she can't worry about everyone's emotional needs without losing her own.
I was happy with the growth that all involved experienced. It was amazing.
December 1, 2014
Another disappointing offering from an author who used to have real talent. Many of the earlier Laurell Hamilton books are "comfort" reads for me - but for the past several years, her talent seems to have taken a nose dive. After reading the latest Merry Gentry a few months ago (TERRIBLE - didn't even recognize the character so badly written - boring on top of it)- and have just finished Jason and it is a BIG yawn... I really REALLY miss the early days when there were intricate plots, intriguing character studies and a really compelling interaction and plot twists that made the books hard to put down... for me, it all went to hell in Narcissus - and no, I'm not a prude, but I like some story with my porn...
no-just-no
December 20, 2014What is UP with everyone in her books and rough sex?
Ugh. This was at the stupormarket so I surreptitiously read some. Who even talks about sex like this?! Do we even need to know how Anita likes oral sex?
Ugh. This was at the stupormarket so I surreptitiously read some. Who even talks about sex like this?! Do we even need to know how Anita likes oral sex?
October 5, 2021
Serinin ilk kitapları ne de güzeldi oysa 🤔
December 14, 2014
I was surprised that the publisher chose to release this title straight to paperback. It never bodes well if even the publisher doesn't believe the content warrants a more expensive hardcover release.
Plus, the description seems eerily similar to last years free e-book 'Shutdown'. It sounds as if Anita is going to spend yet another novel lecturing a woman that she needs to change herself to please the man. I'll probably just flip through this one at the book store.
Plus, the description seems eerily similar to last years free e-book 'Shutdown'. It sounds as if Anita is going to spend yet another novel lecturing a woman that she needs to change herself to please the man. I'll probably just flip through this one at the book store.
June 9, 2015
Even though I was bummed it was only novella length and that it would not be focusing on one of Anita's cases, I was really looking forward to Jason, book 23 in the Anita Blake series. Mostly because I missed Anita and her sweeties and we didn't get a book this year. I was also excited about it because it's Jason and I love that wolf. He's added such depth and emotion, as well as much needed humor at times, and helped Anita sooo much throughout the course of the series. Unfortunately, the novella was disappointing for a couple of reasons.
First of all, the book was nothing more than a how-to guide for the polyamorous lifestyle and lesbian sex. Don't get me wrong, I love Anita and do not have an issue with the sexual content in the series nor the growing number of partners she gets freaky with. Not in the least bit. I've been avid about my acceptance of Anita and her growth with the ardeur. What I had an issue with was all of the bullshit thrown in to make it more about emotion than sex when it wasn't needed.
Secondly, I do not like Jade. She is not right for Anita in anyway, shape or form. Instead of adding emotion to the scene she was featured in, she reminded me of all the crap surrounding Richard and turned me cold. Smexy books are supposed to be a turn on and Jason simply did NOT deliver. Anita does not put up with that type of behavior from her men so why in the frak would she tolerate it from a female she's not even certain she's attracted to? Seriously.
While I was glad that Anita FINALLY got hot-and-heavy with a female (and I like JJ), I really didn't need the play-by-play. I get that lesbian sex is new to her but I did not need a how-to guide so I could learn how to get a woman off with my mouth. It was unnecessary.
Maybe I would have enjoyed Jason more had I not just read The King by Tiffany Reisz. That book also features BDSM and polyamory but it delivered the goods. Jason, unfortunately, did not. I give Jason 2.5 stars and kinda wish I had those four boring hours of my life back.
First of all, the book was nothing more than a how-to guide for the polyamorous lifestyle and lesbian sex. Don't get me wrong, I love Anita and do not have an issue with the sexual content in the series nor the growing number of partners she gets freaky with. Not in the least bit. I've been avid about my acceptance of Anita and her growth with the ardeur. What I had an issue with was all of the bullshit thrown in to make it more about emotion than sex when it wasn't needed.
Secondly, I do not like Jade. She is not right for Anita in anyway, shape or form. Instead of adding emotion to the scene she was featured in, she reminded me of all the crap surrounding Richard and turned me cold. Smexy books are supposed to be a turn on and Jason simply did NOT deliver. Anita does not put up with that type of behavior from her men so why in the frak would she tolerate it from a female she's not even certain she's attracted to? Seriously.
While I was glad that Anita FINALLY got hot-and-heavy with a female (and I like JJ), I really didn't need the play-by-play. I get that lesbian sex is new to her but I did not need a how-to guide so I could learn how to get a woman off with my mouth. It was unnecessary.
Maybe I would have enjoyed Jason more had I not just read The King by Tiffany Reisz. That book also features BDSM and polyamory but it delivered the goods. Jason, unfortunately, did not. I give Jason 2.5 stars and kinda wish I had those four boring hours of my life back.
December 15, 2014
I am a die hard Anita fan, and after 23 books, I think that the other fans will agree that we do not, I repeat, do not care how many men Anita is banging. Seriously! We LOVE that she is embracing her poly lifestyle! We don't need to be talked to death about the justification of her lifestyle! WE GET IT, SO STOP EXPLAINING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER in each book! I was so excited to get to read a smexxy adventure about our fav werewolf in Anita's group, Jason! How disappointed I was that the first quarter of the book was Anita and the gang drinking coffee around the breakfast table explaining her sex life to some chick having sex with one of Anita's men! I know the summary of the book said this was going to be sex, sex, sex, and I was looking forward to that. But I was not looking forward to being so bored with all the gibber gabber about why Anita needs rough sex, and why Jason needs rough sex, and the differences of the rough sex, and how they needed to have a show and tell for Jason's girlfriend to watch them have rough sex. Ugh!
If you are new to this series, please do not start with this one! Go back to the beginning when Anita was hunting monsters and the sex in the books wasn't driving the plot. And this is coming from someone that loves to read smut.
If you are new to this series, please do not start with this one! Go back to the beginning when Anita was hunting monsters and the sex in the books wasn't driving the plot. And this is coming from someone that loves to read smut.
December 28, 2014
Not at all what I expected.
Though, I shouldn't be surprised.
LKH has been writing herself into a corner for a long time now. I thought this might have been in the vein of Micah, where she actually disseminated a character and made him part of the group where before he had just been thrown in.
Jason has always been part of the group, so I really had hoped this was going to delve a bit deeper into his life. I found myself disappointed again.
I've become an anti-fan.
I read the reviews before, I knew it was going to be the same cut and paste descriptions, the same shitty sex scenes, I knew all of this, but I still bought it for my kindle and after a few hours, finished, realizing that there was no way this was ever going to get back to the calibre of writing that had drawn me in to begin with.
Where to start? I've never written a poor review. I know about the tantrums LKH has had with readers in the past. If this challenges you, read something else, blah blah blah. So I suppose I'll just address her directly.
I turned down an opportunity to meet you at a signing because I didn't want to be a fan that shat when she got to the table. I couldn't do it. I doubt you'll read this, so I don't feel bad at all about shitting anonymously into the wind.
I understand and have been involved in poly relationships for a very long time. I also am part of the bondage scene, so there's that. I write sex scenes that include many of these elements, and other authors put me to shame. You are not an original snowflake girl, get it together.
Spoilers to follow.
You don't treat a partner like human garbage because she's not comfortable with situations. You treat her with fucking respect. You don't use her as a lesbian instruction manual and then toss her on her ass because she can't do anything for you. You can talk about everything else under the sun in SO MANY WORDS but Anita can't just tell Jade what the hell is going on?!
If Jade were to react like anyone else, she's going to come out of this with a completely righteous anger against Anita, for giving her the out she needed and then giving her the boot. That's disrespectful as fuck considering everyone else does cartwheels to make Anita happy. She's become spoiled and petulant and I want to slap her most of the time.
And don't get me started on "spill". Spilled into the bed. Screamed my orgasm. Painted on. At least creamy white goodness doesn't make an appearance.
Stop being so predictable.
Another thing that bothers me is Anita's dislike of her Nordic looking parents but her enjoyment of her pale skin and whatever racial identity problem she is having. Mixed kids are beautiful no matter what. It's like she's at peace with herself now, but can't help bringing it up at every oppourtunity. Just shut up! We stopped caring about Anita's family, since obviously, they will never exist in the narrative.
Anyway. Watch some good porn. Go read other authors. Would I brew a beer without first tasting other variations of whatever style? Nope. Would I paint a sunrise without taking the time to watch one first? Nope. Would I.. Nevermind, you get it.
I read the excerpt from the next book, and I already see the tropes aligning. Female agent with issues she doesn't realize she has. Zerbrowski being Zerbrowski (yay!). Anita having to explain AGAIN the status of her stupid relationship setup. Oh and zombie rape.
I'll read it, yeah, I'm far too invested not to. But I'm done just skipping the review process, LKH. I guess that's all that matters though, make that money, girl.
Whatever. :)
Though, I shouldn't be surprised.
LKH has been writing herself into a corner for a long time now. I thought this might have been in the vein of Micah, where she actually disseminated a character and made him part of the group where before he had just been thrown in.
Jason has always been part of the group, so I really had hoped this was going to delve a bit deeper into his life. I found myself disappointed again.
I've become an anti-fan.
I read the reviews before, I knew it was going to be the same cut and paste descriptions, the same shitty sex scenes, I knew all of this, but I still bought it for my kindle and after a few hours, finished, realizing that there was no way this was ever going to get back to the calibre of writing that had drawn me in to begin with.
Where to start? I've never written a poor review. I know about the tantrums LKH has had with readers in the past. If this challenges you, read something else, blah blah blah. So I suppose I'll just address her directly.
I turned down an opportunity to meet you at a signing because I didn't want to be a fan that shat when she got to the table. I couldn't do it. I doubt you'll read this, so I don't feel bad at all about shitting anonymously into the wind.
I understand and have been involved in poly relationships for a very long time. I also am part of the bondage scene, so there's that. I write sex scenes that include many of these elements, and other authors put me to shame. You are not an original snowflake girl, get it together.
Spoilers to follow.
You don't treat a partner like human garbage because she's not comfortable with situations. You treat her with fucking respect. You don't use her as a lesbian instruction manual and then toss her on her ass because she can't do anything for you. You can talk about everything else under the sun in SO MANY WORDS but Anita can't just tell Jade what the hell is going on?!
If Jade were to react like anyone else, she's going to come out of this with a completely righteous anger against Anita, for giving her the out she needed and then giving her the boot. That's disrespectful as fuck considering everyone else does cartwheels to make Anita happy. She's become spoiled and petulant and I want to slap her most of the time.
And don't get me started on "spill". Spilled into the bed. Screamed my orgasm. Painted on. At least creamy white goodness doesn't make an appearance.
Stop being so predictable.
Another thing that bothers me is Anita's dislike of her Nordic looking parents but her enjoyment of her pale skin and whatever racial identity problem she is having. Mixed kids are beautiful no matter what. It's like she's at peace with herself now, but can't help bringing it up at every oppourtunity. Just shut up! We stopped caring about Anita's family, since obviously, they will never exist in the narrative.
Anyway. Watch some good porn. Go read other authors. Would I brew a beer without first tasting other variations of whatever style? Nope. Would I paint a sunrise without taking the time to watch one first? Nope. Would I.. Nevermind, you get it.
I read the excerpt from the next book, and I already see the tropes aligning. Female agent with issues she doesn't realize she has. Zerbrowski being Zerbrowski (yay!). Anita having to explain AGAIN the status of her stupid relationship setup. Oh and zombie rape.
I'll read it, yeah, I'm far too invested not to. But I'm done just skipping the review process, LKH. I guess that's all that matters though, make that money, girl.
Whatever. :)
December 18, 2014
So disappointing! No story just sex scene after sex scene..I was looking forward to a story about Jason. LKH whyyyyyy??
December 27, 2019
This book should have been amazing! I should have loved every second of it! It's Jason - my absolute favorite character from this series. But alas, just like the last Jason book, this disappointed. It was pretty much a 200 page orgy with instructions on how to please each other thrown in. Yay?
The shinning moments in this book came from the few scenes where there was actual dialogue. I actually really like Jason and JJ together and loved seeing him try to understand her life and bring her into his. He's really grown over the course of this series and it's nice to see, since everyone else seems stuck in their immaturity.
What I didn't like was pretty much everything else. Did we need another multiple page rant about Richard? Did we need another rehashing of how Anita has to take care of everyone? And did we need more people praising Anita's beauty and sex skills like she's the second coming of Christ? No, no and definitely no.
But can I just suggest that we kick Jade to the curb and bring JJ into the fold?
The shinning moments in this book came from the few scenes where there was actual dialogue. I actually really like Jason and JJ together and loved seeing him try to understand her life and bring her into his. He's really grown over the course of this series and it's nice to see, since everyone else seems stuck in their immaturity.
What I didn't like was pretty much everything else. Did we need another multiple page rant about Richard? Did we need another rehashing of how Anita has to take care of everyone? And did we need more people praising Anita's beauty and sex skills like she's the second coming of Christ? No, no and definitely no.
But can I just suggest that we kick Jade to the curb and bring JJ into the fold?
January 1, 2020
Better than a lot of the recent Anita Blake books. Being shorter than the full sized novels meant the story had a single focus and overall I enjoyed the focus. This was a character/relationship centric book. No zombies, no RPIT, no vampire politics, no Edward nonsense, no gun talk.
The other big plus being no attempt to get every available character on stage. Characters actually on stage included Nathaniel, Jason, J.J., Jade, Domino, Envy, and of course Anita. I've always loved Nathaniel and Jason. Really loving J.J. still. She's so like Jason in temperment. Tigers aside, this could almost directly follow up "Blood Noir" on a lot of counts.
Basically the story looked at what was dysfunctional with Envy's relationship with Richard -- the familiar Richard is big and likes things rough -- and Jade's relationship with Anita. And J.J. got to see the rougher version of sex Jason has with Anita. (J.J. is bisexual with a preference for girls. Jason and J.J. have an open relationship.)
Sex with J.J. is a lot like sex with Jason. Lots of serious pillow talk. I was pleased with Anita may be possibly coming to grips with the need to kicks some cats to the curb. Tigers, in this case, but I still have hopes for a unwelcomed lion that was only mentioned in passing.
***
P.S. The preview of "Dead Ice" is interesting. First 3 chapters so nothing spoilery. Anita, Zerbrowski, and two FBI agents. The FBI agents are briefing Anita on a "zombie porn" case. Only the zombies are like Dominga Salvador's (from "The Laughing Corpse") -- there is a soul behind the zombie's eyes.
*****
01/01/2020
God, I’ve missed Jason. I love him with JJ, but I hate that he’s not around the Circus so often. My favorite men are still Jean-Claude, Nathaniel, and Jason. Bumping the rating.
The other big plus being no attempt to get every available character on stage. Characters actually on stage included Nathaniel, Jason, J.J., Jade, Domino, Envy, and of course Anita. I've always loved Nathaniel and Jason. Really loving J.J. still. She's so like Jason in temperment. Tigers aside, this could almost directly follow up "Blood Noir" on a lot of counts.
Basically the story looked at what was dysfunctional with Envy's relationship with Richard -- the familiar Richard is big and likes things rough -- and Jade's relationship with Anita. And J.J. got to see the rougher version of sex Jason has with Anita. (J.J. is bisexual with a preference for girls. Jason and J.J. have an open relationship.)
Sex with J.J. is a lot like sex with Jason. Lots of serious pillow talk. I was pleased with Anita may be possibly coming to grips with the need to kicks some cats to the curb. Tigers, in this case, but I still have hopes for a unwelcomed lion that was only mentioned in passing.
***
P.S. The preview of "Dead Ice" is interesting. First 3 chapters so nothing spoilery. Anita, Zerbrowski, and two FBI agents. The FBI agents are briefing Anita on a "zombie porn" case. Only the zombies are like Dominga Salvador's (from "The Laughing Corpse") -- there is a soul behind the zombie's eyes.
*****
01/01/2020
God, I’ve missed Jason. I love him with JJ, but I hate that he’s not around the Circus so often. My favorite men are still Jean-Claude, Nathaniel, and Jason. Bumping the rating.
Read
November 21, 2014Even a series that started good and continued to be good would be bad after this many novels. This series started fascinating and was bad by the third book. Please, please, please stop. You've destroyed this character and series. When you meet Anita she won't sleep with someone she is not in love with. Does anyone else remember that? The very last book I read had her having sex with someone she didn't even like in the back of an SUV during a car chase. Bravo for the sense of ridiculous but I can get ridiculous for free out of a meme.
Read
November 27, 2014I haven't read this book, and I feel like I don't even have to. This is officially the nail in the coffin of this series. I'm done, I just can't.
December 5, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Jove
Format: ebook
Date/Year: December 2, 2014
Series: Anita Blake, #23
This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review.
"Enjoying pain with your pleasure is something you either get, or you don't. If you get it, then you don't really need it explained, because you know how good it feels, and if you don't get it then no amount of talking is going to convince you it makes sense."
But sometimes you have to explain the unexplainable, especially if the love of your life needs to understand, or she'll leave you. Jason Schuyler is one of Anita Blake's best friends and favorite werewolves, with benefits. J.J. is his lady love, an old flame from childhood who dances at one of the top ballet companies in New York. She's accomplished, beautiful, and she's crazy about him, too. Neither of them wants to be monogamous, so what could go wrong?
J.J. is enthusiastically bisexual, with an emphasis on the female side of things. She plans to keep sleeping with women, because Jason can't meet that need, just like she can't meet Jason's need for rough sex and bondage. J.J. doesn't understand why Jason isn’t content to go elsewhere for a need she can’t fulfil, so Jason asks Anita to help him explain.
Anita is having her own relationship growing pains with her only female lover ever, Jade. Jason suggests that J.J. might be able to help Anita with her girl problem, while she helps him with his kinky explanations. With some encouragement from a few other lovers in Anita's life she reluctantly agrees, and J. J. makes plans to fly into town for an experience that none of them will ever forget.
I love the Anita Blake books. Some of them more than others, just like any other series, but I love them. I know a lot of reviewers have issues with the extended sex scenes, but I enjoy them.
This book, however, starts out as being about just the sexual relationships. It has too much dialogue with nothing else happening. There is no plot besides the relationships. There is not a bad guy/vampire/demon/etc. for Anita to fight. It is all about the people.
And you know what? It worked.
I especially liked the fact that Anita is forced into recognizing she can’t be the emotional support for everyone she is linked to. She has said that before, but in this book I believe she really accepts it and realizes she has to take a stand with some of her partners.
My main criticism of the book is that neither Jean Claude nor Micah make an appearance. I love both of these characters and I want my fix!
However, beautiful, beautiful Nathaniel does have a large part, so I guess I can’t complain too much.
Yes, this book is all about the relationships, especially the sexual relationships, but it really does add a lot to Anita’s emotional growth. I can’t wait to see how that is manifested in the next book: Dead Ice. The release date is June 5th, 2015.
Publisher: Jove
Format: ebook
Date/Year: December 2, 2014
Series: Anita Blake, #23
This book was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review.
"Enjoying pain with your pleasure is something you either get, or you don't. If you get it, then you don't really need it explained, because you know how good it feels, and if you don't get it then no amount of talking is going to convince you it makes sense."
But sometimes you have to explain the unexplainable, especially if the love of your life needs to understand, or she'll leave you. Jason Schuyler is one of Anita Blake's best friends and favorite werewolves, with benefits. J.J. is his lady love, an old flame from childhood who dances at one of the top ballet companies in New York. She's accomplished, beautiful, and she's crazy about him, too. Neither of them wants to be monogamous, so what could go wrong?
J.J. is enthusiastically bisexual, with an emphasis on the female side of things. She plans to keep sleeping with women, because Jason can't meet that need, just like she can't meet Jason's need for rough sex and bondage. J.J. doesn't understand why Jason isn’t content to go elsewhere for a need she can’t fulfil, so Jason asks Anita to help him explain.
Anita is having her own relationship growing pains with her only female lover ever, Jade. Jason suggests that J.J. might be able to help Anita with her girl problem, while she helps him with his kinky explanations. With some encouragement from a few other lovers in Anita's life she reluctantly agrees, and J. J. makes plans to fly into town for an experience that none of them will ever forget.
I love the Anita Blake books. Some of them more than others, just like any other series, but I love them. I know a lot of reviewers have issues with the extended sex scenes, but I enjoy them.
This book, however, starts out as being about just the sexual relationships. It has too much dialogue with nothing else happening. There is no plot besides the relationships. There is not a bad guy/vampire/demon/etc. for Anita to fight. It is all about the people.
And you know what? It worked.
I especially liked the fact that Anita is forced into recognizing she can’t be the emotional support for everyone she is linked to. She has said that before, but in this book I believe she really accepts it and realizes she has to take a stand with some of her partners.
My main criticism of the book is that neither Jean Claude nor Micah make an appearance. I love both of these characters and I want my fix!
However, beautiful, beautiful Nathaniel does have a large part, so I guess I can’t complain too much.
Yes, this book is all about the relationships, especially the sexual relationships, but it really does add a lot to Anita’s emotional growth. I can’t wait to see how that is manifested in the next book: Dead Ice. The release date is June 5th, 2015.
January 1, 2015
I recently read someone say that the last couple of books read like therapy. While reading this one I counted more than half a dozen references to "working though an issue" with a therapist or a character going to therapy for whatever issue. While I don't think this was the author's goal, I was left feeling like the author is working through her own issues through this book.
And it left me feeling fairly... meh. I miss the early books in this series when she was hunting vamps and killing things, raising zombies, working with the police and being the biggest baddest bitch around.
Now Anita is having sex with multiple partners, male and female, and discussing what limits have been agreed upon in a particular "scene". It is no longer sexy, but reads more like a how-to-manual for the poly-amorous lifestyle. Which there is nothing wrong with that, but it's not what I want to read in an Anita Blake novel. I want action scenes, not this talk, talk, talk, inner monologue, talk some more, ultra staged BDSM sex scene, talk some more, discuss the feelings - that is happening throughout the series. Honestly, I think I am just about done with this series. :( This one was only worth 2 stars.
And it left me feeling fairly... meh. I miss the early books in this series when she was hunting vamps and killing things, raising zombies, working with the police and being the biggest baddest bitch around.
Now Anita is having sex with multiple partners, male and female, and discussing what limits have been agreed upon in a particular "scene". It is no longer sexy, but reads more like a how-to-manual for the poly-amorous lifestyle. Which there is nothing wrong with that, but it's not what I want to read in an Anita Blake novel. I want action scenes, not this talk, talk, talk, inner monologue, talk some more, ultra staged BDSM sex scene, talk some more, discuss the feelings - that is happening throughout the series. Honestly, I think I am just about done with this series. :( This one was only worth 2 stars.
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