The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton

From the Publisher

Readers haven't seen anything yet-new in the "fabulously imagined series" (Publishers Weekly) from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Anita Blake is about to face the challenge of her life. Into her world-a world already overflowing with power-have come creatures so feared that powerful, centuries-old vampires refuse to mention their names. It is forbidden to speak of The Harlequin unless you've been contacted. And to be contacted by The Harlequin is to be under sentence of death.

Long-time rivals for Anita's affections, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City, and Richard, alpha-werewolf, will need to become allies. Shapeshifters Nathaniel and Micah will have to step up their support. And then there's Edward. In this situation, Anita knows that she needs to call the one man who has always been there for her...

My comments:

Anita Blake is a walking paradox. A vampire executioner feared by most vampires and lycanthropes everywhere, she is also in love with some of the most powerful men in both groups of monsters. Not all vampires fear her, but they all fear The Harlequin. And The Harlequin are watching... Anita has become too powerful to avoid attention from the heaviest of heavy hitters, but will she be powerful enough to unite them all in a struggle for dominance that could change everything?

I was a passionate fan of the Anita Blake series, and then after Narcissus in Chains, I felt like the focus was gradually falling away from the outstanding stories and Anita has lost control of herself. She was ruled by sex and no longer spent enough time out of bed to fight the monsters and protect the innocent. I missed the detailed plots and storylines that so enthralled me. In their place were hundreds of pages of eroticism that were shocking and exciting at first, but quickly became long winded and boring. There were too many characters and not enough time spent with many of them.

Then came The Harlequin.

It was a wonderful blend of fascinating characters with a bottomless well of possibilities, a story that kept its exciting pace and made me sad when I had to put it down. The sex scenes were steamy and well thought out. They only added to the plot without distracting from it and never replacing it. Oh, joy!

This is the fifteenth book in The Anita Blake series. I would discourage anyone from starting out in the middle of what has become a saga of epic proportions and endless potential. Start at the beginning and take your time enjoying them all. If you haven’t read them before, I have to admit to being jealous of the excitement that comes with meeting Anita and Jean Claude for the first time.

Laurell K.Hamilton has found a winning combination of a captivating story with an erotic edge. It’s a pleasure to enjoy Anita Blake and her adventures again.