Saturday, October 8, 2016

Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton


Synopsis via www.laurellkhamilton.com:

Anita Blake has the highest kill count of any vampire executioner in the country. She’s a U.S. Marshal who can raise zombies with the best of them. But ever since she and master vampire Jean-Claude went public with their engagement, all she is to anyone and everyone is Jean-Claude’s fiancĂ©e.

It’s wreaking havoc with her reputation as a hard ass—to some extent. Luckily, in professional circles, she’s still the go-to expert for zombie issues. And right now, the FBI is having one hell of a zombie issue.

Someone is producing zombie porn. Anita has seen her share of freaky undead fetishes, so this shouldn’t bother her. But the women being victimized aren’t just mindless, rotting corpses. Their souls are trapped behind their eyes, signaling voodoo of the blackest kind.

It’s the sort of case that can leave a mark on a person. And Anita’s own soul may not survive unscathed…

If you have not read any of the Anita Blake stories and you like Paranormal Erotic Romance, then you really need to read the first book in the series. Not only will this hook you on the Anita Blake books, it will hook you on Miss Hamilton's  writing.
In Dead Ice, Anita is once again called upon to save someone or something. We get to see her use her necromancy skills again. This time, she is up against an egomaniac that wants to prove his necromancy skills are better than hers. Along the way she must deal with the "pop up issues" on the "personal" side of her life. She, Jean-Claude, Micah, Nathaniel, and all her vampires and furry boyfriends and girlfriends must deal with all the political issues that go along with being the fiancee of the Vampire King.
This story, like most of the other Anita Blake stories, is not light reading. This story has so many plots within plots and twists and turns, that you must give the story your whole attention or you will have difficulty keeping everything straight. Miss Hamilton does a pretty good job of  tying in past stories in a way that doesn't make the reader feel like they are missing important facts. That being said, it will help you to read the series in order. There are still little nuances that you will not understand if you don't know all the stories.
In Dead Ice, Anita is starting to transform herself into a more girly person. While it seems like she is softening up, I see it more that she is evolving. She is learning how to put her selfishness aside and put her loved ones needs to the forefront. Now, for those that have read any of the Anita Blake series, don't fear! Anita is not losing herself, she is becoming a productive member of her relationships.
If you are not into graphic sex scenes, then not only is Dead Ice not for you, but neither is any of Miss Hamilton's books. BUT, if you are into the whole Paranormal Erotica, Miss Hamilton's writing will not leave you wanting more.
For me personally, the complexity of Anita's relationships can get too complex at times. The story really did require all of my attention. I found that if my mind wandered for even a second, I had to re-read to maneuver all of the twists and turns. But, all in all, I really enjoyed delving back into Anita's story. All of the characters are special. Each character has a personality so different from the others. It is like they come alive right before your eyes. Each character picks up in the new story where they left off in the previous story. Their personalities are the basis of bringing the story to life. Miss Hamilton delves so deeply into each character, that without them, the story would fall flat. And this story definitely does not fall flat!
I definitely recommend not only Dead Ice, but Miss Hamilton as well. Dive into a whole new world!