Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton, 566 pages

The latest Anita Blake book. This book dealt more with the political and power struggles going on in Anita's life and had less of the sex and blood of some of the previous books so I enjoyed it more. I still think I liked the earlier books more in the series but I will continue to read her books.

Kiss the Dead by Laurell K. Hamilton, 359 pages

I've been reading the Anita Blake books since the very beginning, and the last 4 or 5 just have been getting way too dark and sexually graphic for me to really enjoy. This one seems to have moved back a little, with not so much sex and extreme violence, making it a more enjoyable read. While I'm a big fan of these books, I hesitate to recommend them a lot, because of just how explicit the series got. If the books continue to ebb in blood and sex (with the two combined) I will be glad of it.

Circus of the Damned -The Ingenue by Laurell K. Hamilton, 117 pages

I've read all the Anita Blake books at least once, and the graphic novels are a fresh new look at the same stories. The artwork is superb and really brings new life to the stories. While I wouldn't recommend just jumping into the the books with this book, they are a treat for vampire fans. It will be interesting to see how the graphic novels handle the storyline when it becomes more sexually explicit down the line.

Hit List by Laurell K. Hamilton, 320 pages

Anita Blake is on the trail of the Harlequin, the professional killers of the vampire council for hundreds of years, a force so scary that even speaking their name insures your death. They serve the Mother of All Darkness, the original vampire, believed to be dead. She is without a body but plans on taking over Anita's. Anita teams up with Edward to try to track these powerful monsters, but the odds aren't in their favor. Who will survive the coming showdown?
I've been reading the Anita Blake series since the mid 1990s and have really enjoyed. But the series has taken a turn to a more sexually explicit storyline that I didn't always enjoy as much. This book has less sex and much more of the original Anita Blake feel that hooked me in the beginning. I won't go into details to keep from giving away the plot, but this book left me thinking she was close to ending this series.

Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton, 424 pages

Richard no longer wants Anita to be lupa of his werewolves, a new leader for the wereleopards is in town, and Anita finds herself overwhelmed by the ardeur, a thirst that must be fed by blood or lust. All in all, another normal time for Anita.
This is the book that took this series from a fun and dark vampire/werewolf series to an almost sexually disturbing series, but I still read the books. Now, I'm just creeped out when I see my mother-in-law reading them.

Obsidian Butterfly by Laurell K. Hamilton, 596 pages

Another entry in the Anita Blake series. Significantly darker, with some scenes of child abuse, lots of blood and gore, this is not a book for the faint of heart.

Blue Moon by Laurell K. Hamilton, 418 pages

Anita Blake gets a call that her former fiance, Richard, has been arrested in Tennessee on charges of rape. Knowing that there is no way Richard could have done it and the full moon is only days away, Anita races to Tennessee to help find a way to clear Richard. It quickly becomes apparent that Richard has been framed to remove him from the scene. But what do the locals not want them to find out, so badly that they are willing to kill for it.
It has been years since I'd read this book in the Anita Blake series, so I had pretty much forgotten everything it. It was a treat to enjoy it again for what seemed like the first time. This book had werewolves, wereleopards, vampires, and even a demon. If you like dark and delicious vampire books, this is the series for you.

Burnt Offerings by Laurell K. Hamilton, 392 pages

The vampire council has shown up to decide if Jean-Claude deserves punishment for killing council member "Earthmover." It's up to Richard, Jean-Claude and Anita to work together to save not only themselves but all the vampires and lycanthropes in St. Louis. But Richard's anger towards Anita and Jean-Claude for their relationship threatens to pull them all apart when they need to pull together more than ever.
This is probably the book in the series where the Anita Blake series started to get weird sexually. But the vampires, werewolves and zombies make it worth reading.

The Killing Dance by Laurell K. Hamilton, 287 pages

Anita Blake is back, dating both werewolf Richard and vampire Jean-Claude. As if her life wasn't complicated enough, she finds out that there is a hit out on her, with a deadline of 24 hours. Bounty hunter and professional killer Edward has shown up to help protect Anita. All of this muscle behind still might not be enough to keep her alive.
Every book reminds me of why I enjoy this series so much, especially the early books. I love vampires, werewolves, and anything creepy with a good story line, and Laurell K. Hamilton always delivers!

Bloody Bones by Laurell K. Hamilton, 328 pages

This Anita Blake book features vampires, zombies and faeries, including one really disturbing boggle. This book was the first book that Anita admits that she lusts after Jean-Claude and Jean-Claude that he loves Anita. This was one of the darkest books so far, but each book does get darker and more disturbing.

The Lunatic Cafe by Laurell K. Hamilton, 369 pages

This book in the Anita Blake series dealt with shapeshifters, lycanthropes, and immortals, all of which have distinct differences. Also, Jean-Claude, vampire master of the city, demands that Anita gives him a chance to woo her. Lots of action, supernatural activity, and blood. Anita Blake really changed the face of vampire fiction.

Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton, 303 pages

I had forgotten how much I liked this series. This book had werewolves, vampires (including one that was 1,000s of years old), a lamia (snake woman), giant cobra, and little Anita Blake, zombie raiser. I finished this book on my break today and with 15 minutes left I had to go and immediately get the next book in the series. I'm enjoying this series for the third time just as much as I did the first time.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, 266 pages

I've read this book at least two times before but felt a longing to read some of the early books in this series again. Anita Blake is an animator, raising the dead, in St. Louis, MO. She is also a vampire slayer and consultant for the police on their spook group. She is approached by the Master Vampire of the city to help solve vampire murders. Anita initially declines but quickly changes her mind due to some "persuasion."
This book features vampires, zombies, wererats, seduction, blood, and lots of action. The Anita Blake books have played an integral part in changing vampire fiction. This first book in the series introduces many of the characters that will play an important in the series over the next books.