Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton (2006, Hardcover)

So is Anita going to have a little Vampire or a little Were- ??? With more than 6 regular lovers and then the ardeur providing more potential fathers, the possibilities are enormous. Danse Macabre plot is more than about the possible pregnant Anita. The Weres and Vamps in Anita's life are growing stronger and developing more powers. I liked the interaction between Anita and the men in her life. I also liked the references to the 'Great Mother', she is one scary being and I feel certain this is setting the stage for some grand Vampire battles in the future with Anita right in the middle of it. Claudia the Were Bodyguard is showing more of a presence and is establishing a stronger loyalty to Anita. Nathaniel surprises everyone with his ability to stand up to more Dominants when Anita's in need. Richard is coming to grips with himself and what he is, but is still whining. Micha is still Anita's rock, and you will find out in this book just how he came to be that. More insights into Asher provide more insight into this wounded Vampire Hottie. Jean-Claude (my personal favorite) has more than a bit-part in this book. The story unfolds in Jean-Claude's club, there is a gathering of Master Vampires from every major city for a Supernatural Show that turns out to be much more than idle entertainment. Danse Macabre has several mini-plots evolving within the story, I expect those mini-plots to explode into future novels. This book is erotic, it is Adventure, it is suspense, it is action, it is GREAT. Hamilton goes all out with Danse Macabre - Not only are you treated to the cast of characters that we have all come to love, but there are new Vamps and Supernatural Shapeshifters on scene assuring that Anita is in for more action in future books in this series. This book was worth buying new (I did it twice - i got thru the first 100 pages and my new puppy ate my book - so I tried for one on Ebay - lost- couldn't wait to finish the story - went and bought the book new again!)

I love this series, but after reading this book, I found myself really disappointed. Basically, Anita has sex with a bunch of people, then she has sex with a bunch more, a little later, she has sex with some new people. For every thirty pages of very descriptive sex, you might get a couple that are supposed to be part of a plot. But what exactly happens here? I feel like the storyline didn't move at all.

I loved the book, but this is not the book to pick if you are not already an Anita Blake fan. What made this book so wonderful was the way Hamilton developed the characters in a relatively short amount of time (although alot of pages). This may not be the book for you if you mainly read the series for the Vampire hunter plots. The politics are interesting, but not much monster-butt kicking happening in this one. Like all of Hamilton's books, this left me waiting anxiously for the next one.

I bought this book because I really love this author and the Anita Blake series. Overall this was still a very good book but the reason I loved the Anita Blake novels is because she was a strong, independant woman that made the rest of us that read her feel more empowered and alot less afraid of our sexuality while still maintaining a career. In the latest book she is starting to really develope some great communication skills with all her many lovers but the rest of her life is gone. Where is the great Anita that could raise zombies, have sex 5 times a night and still have time to kill a couple of bad guys. I don't just buy the books for the sex and was sad to see it go so far this way in the book. But even through all of this I still believe that Laurell K. Hamilton at her worst is better than alot of authors at their best and I won't hesitate to buy the next novel when it comes out. In the end all I can say is... YOU GO GIRL BECAUSE YOUR STILL A GREAT AUTHOR!!

I bought Danse Macabre in the hopes that it would be as good as the earlier Anita Blake books. No such luck,I found this book to be worse than the tripe that the last two Anita Blake books were. This book couldn't even be described as erotica.. it is just full on hard core porn. (And TRUST me, I am not exagerating in the least with by using the term "hardcore porn.")
That said, unless you are looking for a book with god knows how many descriptions of what "just flat does it" for the new and definately NOT improved uber-slut that has become Anita Blake.. Do NOT buy this book!

I have to admit that I love Laurell's books but I was highly diapppointed with this one. It wasn't the kind of book that I was expecting from Laurell. There was something missing. There really is not much of a plot to it. Anita thinks she is pregnant, has sex with both old and new characters, gains new powers, contributes some power, almost dies, and I think that about somes it up. There are a few other interesting parts to the book but I did not want to spoil the whole book. My last thought is "If you are really into this series, please do not expect to much for this book because you probably are going to get it."

These days, Anita Blake is less interested in vampire politics than in an ancient, ordinary dread she shares with women down the ages: she may be pregnant. And, if she is, whether the father is a vampire, a werewolf, or someone else entirely, she knows perfectly well that being a Federal Marshal, known for raising the dead and being a vampire executioner, is no way to bring up a baby.

"Danse Macabre" is part of the Anita Blake, necromancer and vampire hunter, series. In earlier books, Anita had two boyfriends, Jean-Claude, vampire, and Richard, a werewolf. She slept with neither. In "Danse Macabre", Anita is bound to the "ardeur", a mystical presence that gives her lots of power. But in order to keep the ardeur from destroying her, Anita has to have sex about every couple of hours, which isn't clear exactly how many hours in this book. Whatever the amount of sex, Anita has several lovers. Two wereleopards, Nathaniel and Micah, live with her and both sleep with her at the same time. Jean-Claude is another lover who doesn't seem to mind her other lovers. Jean-Claude has become Master of the City and has decided to get all the Masters of Cities together to form alliances and to get to know the other Masters' strengths and weaknesses. He's also promised these Masters that Anita's ardeur will be shared with some of them but only those who can handle the energy and who aren't evil. In the midst of all these preparations, Anita fears she's become pregnant. A pregnancy test taken at her home registers positive. This causes Anita lots of anxiety. She's not sure who the father is and is afraid of a less adventurous future. When Richard, her on-again, off-again boyfriend learns of this he and Anita have a blowout. Richard believes the child is probably his and he proposes that Anita marry him, have only him as a lover, and end her dangerous job. Sounds reasonable to me but Anita reacts with anger. Neither Richard nor Anita understand each other. Richard is the voice of Reason or Rationality in the book but Anita tends to go by her feelings. He seems more concerned about the baby's environment than she does. By the end of the book, Richard has started dating.
I loved reading about the interactions between the Masters of the Cities and Jean-Claude with entourage. The encounter with the Mermaid type vampires was particularly interesting. And Laurell Hamilton's creation of such creatures was quite imaginative to say the least. In fact, the whole book is imaginative. However, there are so many sex scenes between Anita and whoever, they almost take over the plot itself. Hamilton writes erotica very well. This for me makes it harder to complain about the overabundance of sex scenes. Anita Blake herself is a less attractive figure to me than in Hamilton's earlier books in the series. In "Danse Macabre" Anita is always angry about something or another. No one around her is sure what will make her angry so they walk cautiously when in her presence. That Anita has so much courage and fights to save others is still very much in evidence here and redeems her character somewhat. I also didn't like the ending where there's too much talking and which leaves much unresolved. I'd recommend this book to anyone who doesn't mind more sex scenes than plot. But the plot is interesting enough to hold interest. This book was hard to put down but as I read it I couldn't help but wish it had more plot. I believe though, that one of Hamilton's best trait as a writer is her characterization. In this book, as in all her other books I've read, her characters come alive. They're multidimensional which is what makes "Danse Macabre" a recommended book for anyone who likes paranormal romance.

I loved the first books of the series, such a unique concept of raising the dead, witchy, Catholic in love with a vampire then as she becomes Federal Marshall chasing all kinds of bad guys...but this book should be x-rated, pornographic. Too bad, her characters and the adventure is great but explicit sex in sci-fi is just ridiculous...doesn't add to the story line at all. Ms. Hamilton is a brilliant writer, I just wouldn't want a young person to read this.

In my opinion I got real lucky with my purchase of a new Danse Macabre. The price of the book and shipping was a great deal, and one I couldn't pass up. If any of you like reading about vampires and werewolves or wereanimals then this book is for you but if you don't like reading about sex then do not read this series of books. The book was absolutely perfect and it was awesome reading. I love Laurell K. Hamilton book series.

Hamilton is no doubt a talented writer, however she is getting very weird in her subject matter. I found this book short on what I originally loved about her earlier Anita Blake books, kicking supernatural butt and her relationships with Dolph and the boys, and the byplay and undertones with Richard and Jean Claude. This book is not that. It seemed to me this story was a continual sex story of the bi,homo,and B and D type. I originally loved the Anita Blake books and thought it was a fun concept and really admire Hamilton's talent. I think she has become majorly aberrated and so have her books.

I love Hamilton, Love Anita, and Love the hot steamier sex. I do how ever wish to see more of a story line. The Anita Blake story has become more trash than a good read. I love the book but, long to see Anita kick a little butt and raise some dead. Thats what we all fell in love with. I pre ordered this book three months in advance and it was worth the wait. IF Laurell happens to read the Review on here i hope she notes we still love Anita, and the uber-sexy vixen she has turned into, just want more than a whole novel of sex.

As always, Laurell K. Hamilton writes a spellbinding novel, but the plot line she's laid out in the last few books has, quite unfotunately, led Danse Macabre to be nothing but a sex story. The book covers one or two days in Anita's life, where a group of master vamp's bring over some potential pomme de sang's for Anita to inspect, things get steamy in the first hour Anita's at Jean Claude's place, and things just sky-rocket from there. Unfortunately, there is no detective work in this book, and believe it or not, she only straps on her guns and knives once, and not really because she needs them. A good book overall, but I miss the old Anita from the beginning of the series; shoot first, ask questions later. So, a ten out of ten for being written well, but I will be a little more hesitant to buy right off the bat when the next book comes out.

I dot wanna give it away for those who haven t had the fortune of reading it But I loved it the only thing negative i can say is that I used to look forward to her working on a case throughout the novel while dealing woth all of the supernatural politics and love affairs as well but now its all about that I mean she used to be working all the time and now she barely works at all I hate to say but Laurel i think your moving from action and scci fi mystery to romance but other than that its amazing We got to meet new characters and a were introduced to some new shapeshifter groups I mean the lions play a big part in this book BUt being a werewolf fan I loved the middle books where the focus was mainly on the werewolves not so much the leopards and hot steamy love scenes

I thouroughly enjoyed this read! Though I am a long time Anita Blake fan, I thought the story in this one was great, can never wait to see wait Laurell K. Hamilton will turn out next.

I love this series, and others by Laurell K. Hamilton, and each time I finish one I can't wait for the next. But this time I just feel jipped, it's like she lost track of where she was going with it, and finished it in an hour instead of taking it where it could go. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't put it down, but the ending lacked something.

Laurell Hamilton's new Anita Blake novel is disappointing for fans who like a little mystery sprinkled among the sex scenes. Anita Blake is evolving into a supernatural being with supernatural sexual prowess. If you read the Anita Blake series as soft porn then you won't be disappointed. However, if you like some action that doesn't involve a sexual position then you will be sadly disappointed. Too bad, I was really looking forward to a thrilling read.

Wow, I couldn't wait for this book after the tease! What is Anita becoming?New loves? A baby? What will she do? Richard or Nathaniel? Jean-Claude, Damien, Asher? I took a day off and just read the whole thing and all I can divulge here is WOW! You really need to read the whole series in sequence, just once to appreciate the character/relationship development going on in the more recent books. I can't wait to see where this is going! I read the author's blog on her website where how she describes the journey these books take from her mind to our hands. WOW!

This book furthers Anita's involvement in the many factors of her world... this book really developed the plot toward something big coming down the line. There was a lot of interaction with many men that she is involved with regularly or occassionally. There was no mystery, raising the dead, or police involvement, but it really developed the storyline of Anita's power.

i dont know much about her books, but my wife is somewhat of a "book ninja" , and loves this author completely. Which to me is high praise indeed.

Does anyone else miss the old school anita blake who solved crimes and di dsomething else besides have sex? cause I do! I had hoped the author woudl get it out of her system with the merry gentry books, but apparently not. Please write to her and request she go back to the old days!

This is the ultimate downhill for the series, there is more elicit sex than plot. this book should be put in the erotica section, not the horror section, either that or they should rename the section "whore". the downhill slide began at Blue Moon, but if you're seriously already at this book, then you have no doubt been cruelly sucked into the series as I have and can't let go, in which case I would buy in used paperback.

Seriously one cannot be hopelessly in love with 7 different men and be in constant need of them screwing you without being a slut.

Personalmente, amo particolarmente la serie e lo consiglio a tutti quelli ke amano il genere horror, vampiri, ecc.... A prescindere che ci sia una gran dose di sesso, la storia di Anita è estremamente articolata e complessa (come da tempo non le leggevo); e come si nota da un libro all'altro, i personaggi e le vicende ad essi collegati, si intreccia e si arricchiscono, evolvendosi in maniera inaspettata, smaniando per leggere il successivo(qui in Italia ne sono usciti 7 finora, con cadenza anuale, sigh!!!!). Per ovviare il problema, me li sono doviti comprare in lingua originale!!!!! Buona lettura a tutti!!!!