Review of 'Crimson Death'
- StellaTheBookFairy
- Aug 4, 2017
- 3 min read
Review of 'Crimson Death' (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Novels) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Anita Blake is a Vampire Hunter, Executioner and the new Queen of the Preternatural world. Much of the book covers her personal relationships with the men and women in her life. The story also covers the journey across the globe,where Anita travels from America to Ireland - where she encounters a series of horrific deaths, newly made Vampires a- would-be evil Vampire Queen, and personal loss.
Anita Blake has changed a lot from first novel to this one - and I actually like that about her. Fictional characters should evolve and boy has Anita. You could use her polyamorous nature as a metaphor for 'letting people in' - for the Anita in Guilty Pleasures wasn't one for doing that. She was once back then a cool, stubborn, snarky Vampire Hunter and Necromancer (but she was also a bit narrow minded when it came to Preternatural Beings and was had a better work life than a personal life). Our Vamp Hunter has blossomed into a open hearted, fierce warrior who protects and cares for those she loves. That being said, I am glad she and Edward never gotten romantic, because it is good to be reassured that she can have men as 'just friends' these days.
There are many things that I love about this novel 'Crimson Death' - from the character development (particularly Damian, Sin and Dev) of getting to know the men and women in Anita Blake's life and her dealing with her newfound power that she absorbed from The Mother of Darkness (The ancient former Queen of all Vampires). Damien's character development was a most welcome focus in this book, as I never felt I got to really know him as well as Micah, Nathaniel, Jason and Richard. It is remedied here, for this book is as much Damien's tale as it is our protagonist Anita's. This insight into his character makes this tale so much richer for it.
The sexual elements of the series have divided Anita Blake fans for some time, into 3 different camps - those who only love the more chaste crime solving badass Anita of 'Guilty Pleasures/, those that prefer the more sexually liberated Queen of today, and those that adore the series in its entirety. I'm of the latter, as I love each puzzle piece of what makes her Anita. Fictional characters should not be exempt from change. Life changes us all and for fiction to reflect that - gives it more flavour, depth and realism. A reader does not have to be polyamorous to adore Anita's relationships, just as you don't have to be violent to enjoy gore and action. There are elements that many of us can relate to, such as love, friendship and loss. Her journey has been a thing of beauty and at times horror, and I loved every step of it.
Recommended to those that love a bit of sex with their Vampire novels. Full of beautiful supernatural beings from vamps, to were-tigers to were-leopards etc. Some lovely male and female book candy to engage ones fantasies. It is remarkable in that it features M/M, F/F and F/M relationships in a delicious supernatural world, mixed with crime, blood and intrigue. This book is for the open minded and open hearted.
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