Prison of our Own Making:
Immortal Grace

This review is yet another in the vampire genre, but newer, with just a touch of humor and noir not found in most others. Do read on, dear patron, and see what we mean.

Guilty Pleasures
by
Laurell K. Hamilton

Guilty Pleasures, the first Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel, concerns St. Louis' best known Animator and vampire slayer. A small gal, yet tough as nails, and quick as lightning when anything supernatural comes calling, Anita is the one to seek out if there's an answer needed from the dead, or a vampire that needs a kick in the behind--even the undead know that. So she's not quite surprised when Jean-Claude, a vampire with whom she has a shaky (and flirtatious) respect, insists she must meet someone he knows for a little chat--insists, that is, by taking Anita's best friend Catherine hostage. She reluctantly agrees not to deal too harshly--immediately--with Jean-Claude and his cohorts, and meets this someone.

Turns out, it's St. Louis' head vampire--Nikolaos, a being who looks no more threatening than a ten year old girl--and Nikolaos is mighty upset about the rash of vampire slayings about town, and insists Anita find out who is behind it, and stop it. Or else Catherine is a dead duck.

What's an Animator/vampire slayer to do but call in the best in the business--Edward, a man whose reputation (both good and bad) precedes him--and get to work? Anita does so, not at all sure who will kill her first: Jean-Claude, Edward, or Nikolaos.

And then there's the little matter of the ultra-sexy Phillip and the vampire junkies.
And an undead voodoo practicioner...
And the Church of Eternal Life...
And Humans Against Vampires...
And a host of ghouls, to boot... All of whom just so happen to have Anita on the top of their favorite hit lists.

All of which spurs Anita to head for the hills, and prime her powers for the battle of a lifetime. Will she win? Or is she in more trouble than she can handle? And what in the world is she going to do about Jean-Claude and his amorous intentions?

You will have to read to find out! Guilty Pleasures is a dark book, for sure, but Laurell K. Hamilton adds just the right touches, and the humor herein gives it a little something extra not found in too many other vampire series. If you're looking for something a little different from your average vampire novel, do give Guilty Pleasures. a try. I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

~Webmistress