Hardcover copy from the Cancer Society Charity Shop in Moneta, VA.
(BC Label is from MaryZee's collection.)

From Goodreads.com
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...

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Added to the Round V Vampire Bookbox.

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This book rode to the end of the box, since Azuki said they didn't need them sent back at the end. Unfortunately, the box got soaked, and several books have some water damage. This one seems unharmed.

I haven't read any Anita Blake books in a long while, but I'm going to give this one a go.

Overall, this was a fun read. I'm not sure how much I bought the premise, but it was a good excuse for emotional tensions. This series does seem to be falling into the trap of always needing a bigger, badder, more powerful enemy than ever before (paired with Anita and her powers needing to become more special.) Eventually, it starts getting a little out of hand!

On the other hand, I really enjoyed some of the complex romantic twists and turns. (I'm really hoping Richard is moving out of the picture, because his and Anita's broken romance just seems to slide more and more into some borderline-abusive territory.) Anita's love-life may not be something most humans could handle, but it does make for entertaining reading. We also got to see some more average human responses to her supernatural world, with some of the human police force and Edward's family coming into play here. It mainly seemed to show up how Anita has changed, but some of the conflicts did a nice job of paralleling real-world homophobia, fear of polyamory, and disease concerns. I always appreciate when spec-fic takes the opportunity to point out the weakness of real-world bigotry.

One of the books starting the newest round of the Vampire Bookbox

Received in the Vampire Bookbox: Round VI

I will release this back into the box.

#15 book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series

Released into the Vampire Bookbox: Round VI .

Please enjoy!

I'm claiming this hardcover from the latest round of the Vampire Bookbox. I've had some ups and downs with Hamilton's "Anita Blake" books, but I figured I'd give this one a try and see how it goes!

Later: Hmmm. While it was nice to see some of my favorite secondary characters with meatier (pardon the expression) roles, the whole non-consensual-sex vibe got too much for me. I realize that Anita-as-sex-magic-wielder-of-power is the core of the series, but the peripheral damage to the beings she uses isn't fun to read about... Ah, well! Perhaps someone else will enjoy this one more than I did.

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

Since NH-to-Maine travel has been OKed (with suitable precautions, of course) I ventured on my first Maine trip since pre-COVID March. Left this book in the handsome LFL in Eliot, ME. Hope someone enjoys the book!

[See other recent releases in Maine here.]

*** Released for the 2020 Keep Them Moving challenge. ***