Wounded (Kindle Single) (Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter)

Jean-Claude only on the last two pages? What a horror. While I certainly love Anita, Micha and Nathaniel, there is no loving like when you love Jean-Claude! The three stars are for Anita, Micha and Nathaniel. The remaining two stars are all for that handsome piece of vampire Jean-Claude!!!

The vitriol towards LKH really has me puzzled... if you don’t like it, don’t read it ~ seems pretty simple to me. Yes, her style has changed, yes, there’s more of a focus in the relationships than crime, so if you don’t like that, quit reading. I like her books, I keep buying her books, I continue liking her books, and I credit her with creating a genre that I truly enjoy. So, if you begrudge spending a measly $3 on an interesting interaction in her world, don’t do it, but quit spewing such hate, please - you’re being messier than wereanimal shift goop...

I love Laurell and Anita. I think that although I really appreciate Anita's emotional journey, sometimes it's just a bit too much and I need to lay off for a while, and often there is just too much description in general - I hate to complain about that because I think it ultimately serves the reader in seeing the characters as the author would like, but at this point I have a really good idea of who, and what, everyone is and we don't need to delve deep into everything and everyone yet again. If you're a new reader, fine, but I don't think a new reader would start later in the series. Nor should they.

I have not read her most recent book, but will. I still love all the characters and am a loyal reader.

I have read every Anita Blake novel by Laurel K Hamilton and have loved every one of them. This novella is no exception. It's great seeing more of the "normal" day to day happenings in the character's lives. While much of the story lines just can't happen in real life, attending a wedding, helping someone in need, these are possible for all of us. It adds the human equation which makes us more invested in the characters and their lives. LKH has kept the story lines fresh, interesting and with the characters learning and growing in their own lives and their relationships in each new book, making the Anita Blake series one of the most popular and long lived series in the genre. You can never go wrong choosing an Anita Blake book, be it novel or novella. Laurel K Hamilton never disappoints.

With Anita's extended family ties,there is a need for healing that can be best filled by Frank honesty. The rest of her friends and lovers carry such heavy armour around that few can see the pain they generally hide. Anita by contrast is like an exposed live wire. She is the axle the rest pivot around.

Sometimes the subject line is enough. Why write a long review for a short book? If you're on the fence about reading this series, do NOT start with this one, go back to the beginning and about the entire delicious ride. This one is dense with drama and relationships that won't make sense without prior exposure to the series. But it's excellent.

This book is why books made into movies suck. I adore the healthy attitudes and lessons on life in general that this book gives. Who would have thought such beauty and love could be shown through the eyes of a necromancer, vampire, and wereleopards? As always, Hamilton wrote another fabulous book! She's my favorite author!

I am sorry Darlings ( mass send out for several authors).
I got into a reading OCD mode, so I fell behind in writting reviews.
I am in the process of correcting that & hope I get to all of the books soon.

Excellent I just want more, This is the best series of book ever. You can't put them down. I have even started reading the whole series over from beginning to end. It's a must read for vampire, shape shifters, etc.

Laurell K. Hamilton is one of my favorite authors, right up there with Anne Rice and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Wonderful characters with a world that parallels our own. Always a delight and I always hate finishing them.

I love Laurell K Hamilton. I love Anita Blake. I love her family, her history, her scars. This series should almost be required reading for anyone considering or living an ethically non monogamous lifestyle.

Laurel K. Hamilton never fails to deliver an amazing read. I have been a fan for over 10 years and find her books to be above and beyond anyone else. She has brought her character, Anita Blake to life. I feel as though she is someone that I actually know. I have read all of her books and the Anita Blake series I would guess I have read them all numerous times. I am an avid reader and that is the highest compliment I can give an author. Wounded did not fail to deliver a fabulous read.

I like reading series and a continuation of those series are good. Some of the short stories were okay. I did not like this very well. It was put together good. It seems like the author do not wish to involve children. There are none in Anita's Blake books. There could be it is always short. There is no humor about children with Richard or Jean Claude always a plus even though the children belongs to someone else. There were the two vampires I mean human children besides Donna. If there are going to be short stories let it be about someone helping homeless kids get away from vampires or a kid that has so much stealth that he manages to get inside of Jean-Claude's lair.

This short story is sensual and thoughtful... At a wedding reception, a young man is counciled about what he should do to recover from a shooting incident. It was difficult for Tomas to accept, but when he listened to all 3of the people he looked up to, eventually he sees the light and follows their advice.

Seemed to be unfinished, like it was an after thought.
For a short read it was good. Hoping that the next book in the series concludes this.
All in all I love the whole series. Can't wait for the next book.

This is a great short story. Your not left hanging about what happened with the other characters. I love how she brought it all together. Laurell is such an awesome author. You actually feel like your there in her world.

This short story is sensual and thoughtful... At a wedding reception, a young man is counciled about what he should do to recover from a shooting incident. It was difficult for Tomas to accept, but when he listened to all 3of the people he looked up to, eventually he sees the light and follows their advice.

Seemed to be unfinished, like it was an after thought.
For a short read it was good. Hoping that the next book in the series concludes this.
All in all I love the whole series. Can't wait for the next book.

This is a great short story. Your not left hanging about what happened with the other characters. I love how she brought it all together. Laurell is such an awesome author. You actually feel like your there in her world.

Gives us a great glimpse into a minor character and his family. This story also showed how the main characters have grown. With the previous wedding, the three attending showed the struggle they were still having, to now, where they are happy and looking forward to the future.

Warning, this is not your typical Anita Blake story. There is no murder mystery to solve, no challenge to Jean Claude’s leadership, indeed there is no violence or even heavy sarcasm, but instead what we have is just a story of attending a wedding and dealing with the emotional pain of surviving. It is a moral for those who have suffered injury and must work their way toward recovery or know someone who has. Regular fans may be a bit disappointed but those who have experienced the ordeal of injury should be receptive to the story.

Although I do enjoy these brief vignettes into some of the secondary characters of Anita's life, I am left wanting more. But that happens with the seven hundred page books too.

Nice quick little read though. Enjoyed the scene at the end. To answer your question Ms Hamilton, yes I would enjoy reading more of these.

Why would you invite Anita Blake to a wedding? Either she'd pick fights with the guests to keep herself the center of attention, or she would sit in the corner, glowering and judging everyone.

Which brings us to "Wounded," which is all about Anita attending the world's most depressing Latino wedding reception, simply so Laurell K. Hamilton can reaffirm once more that her heroine is the greatest at everything. Unfortunately, Laurell K. Hamilton fails to give this short an actual reason to exist -- it's just to tell us that Anita is the awesomest and toughest, that physical therapy fixes emotional scars, and that objectifying women is totally an okay thing to do.

The story takes place shortly after the novel "Dead Ice," which ended with a bombshell revelation about Anita's ex-coworker Manny Rodrieguez. Does this short story follow up on that? Of course not. That's completely ignored. Instead, we follow Anita at the wedding reception of Manny's daughter Consuela, where she sits around doing what she usually does in a social gathering:
1) listing every single trait her favored boytoys have.
2) whining about things.
3) sneering at other women for being fat or old or ugly or dyeing their hair.
4) reaffirming that her sexual relationships are superior to everyone else's.

But then Manny's daughter asks Anita to talk to her brother Tomas, who is refusing to speak to her or his counselor about his debilitating injury. Why? Because they're women, and women aren't worthy of knowing about a man's feelings. So she gives Tomas a Very Special Lecture on the importance of physical therapy after an injury... and also how to stare at breasts without being caught. Not kidding. Not that he shouldn't do it, but that he should do it without those obnoxious women noticing.

Laurell K. Hamilton's e-shorts are united by a simple, common theme: Anita is the best, toughest and manliest that ever was, with her favored boytoys being second-best. There's no real story, no arc, nothing. Instead, "Wounded" has a rather ugly message -- get over your grief and trauma, and obsessively do physical therapy as if it's your "religion." If you don't, you're a pathetic "victim" who doesn't deserve sympathy, and nobody should coddle you because you don't deserve it. So just get over your inconvenient emotions, thirteen-year-old boy! What do you think you are, a girl?

It doesn't help that the story completely lacks energy. It's obvious Hamilton has never been to a Mexican wedding if she thinks they're this boring and lifeless, and she writes conversations like a particularly bad TV writer. Specifically, a middle-aged one trying to sound like a twentysomething ("Mercedes and I chatted, but we weren’t like besties or anything"), and a particularly trite one at that (“I prefer the word thriver, because I’m not just surviving, I’m thriving").

Unsurprisingly, Anita comes across as a sour, self-absorbed bully, who continues howling about how childish and awful monogamy is ("Why wouldn’t they let true love grow up and be real?"). When, of course, she's not implicitly perving on Tomas -- there's a little too much detail about his "bad boy" hair and him staring at her breasts for it not to come across as icky. And Nathaniel and Micah are apparently there just to tell Tomas his traumatic injuries are no big deal because THEIR lives have been way worse, so there.

And the cherry on top? Jean-Claude crashes the wedding just so the main characters -- allegedly all celebrities -- can paw and snog each other in front of the entire wedding reception, thus turning someone else's special romantic day into yet another ego-trip for Anita and Co. Does it get any tackier than that?

"Wounded" is a good encapsulation of all the Anita Blake series is now -- desperate attention-seeking, leching on teen boys, and bullying people who have suffered. But as an aid for bulimia, it's second to none.

This is another great Anita Blake story within a story. It was really interesting to see behind the scene after the dust has settled from the previous story. Thank you Laurell K. Hamilton for listening to your fans as we looked for closure for Manny's family especially
Thomas. I always love when Anita shares her past with others in order to help them.

I have one huge bookcase mostly filled with this author's work, and I still don't own all of it. "Prolific" is a word that suits her well indeed. This one is refreshing, in that it includes all of her special men, and shows how strong their ties to one another still are. They are all attending a wedding, and afterwards at the party, the bride's younger brother, Tomas, is their focus of attention. Only thirteen years old, and he's recovering from a bullet wound to the stomach. He's now tied to a wheelchair and uses a cane to walk a little, but they can tell that he's terrified that he'll never walk normally again. Anita and her guys know that fear very well, as all of them have suffered the same debilitating injuries, and know what effort it takes to recover from it. They are there for a reason, and that is to talk to him about what he is facing in order to get his life back. And it's beautifully done, no kidding, and it actually inspired me to take my PT after surgery more seriously. Positive thinking can work miracles, no doubt about it!
Jgtimm

Totally unnecessary and unenjoyable "story". The only reason for this story is that Laurell K. Hamilton wants some money from you. Luckily I did not buy this but got a loan at the library, so could return it. HA HA!!

My feeling is that the author has a stockpile of standard paragraphs she uses to describe...everything. Do we really need to know ad nauseum again about her sweeties in virtually the same wording she always uses...which is 100 words written for every 1 needed. Redundant, repetitive and ...most damning...BORING
She had disclaimers about not reading this story if you hadn't read Dead Ice. What about a disclaimer about not reading it unless you wanted to slog through 30% of this flimsy story that was all rehash. A disclaimer that if you are a new reader you can start at page 1 but a reader accustomed to anita's world can start at 30% thru it or something.

In any case, she lost me. I'm not interesting in spending my hard-earned money on her redundant and repetitive prose. Put out some new stuff or let someone else edit it, please.

I am so glad I waited for this novella before starting her newest book. It's been a while since I read Dead Ice anf this helped bring it back to me and all the relationship ins and outs that occur. Anita is such a special person and her men are just so perfectly fitted for her. Its like puzzle pieces that finally fit her. Really love everything about her story.

Always happy to read a laurell k. Hamilton book. I do however feel like this should have been released sooner. As the book in the preview is already released. Looking forward to the next book. Hopefully a Merideth Gentry book.

This was a thought provoking introspective book. Anita Micha and Nathaniel go to Manny's daughters wedding. While there they talk to Manny's son about his injury and life in general. The pace of this book is slow and there isn't any danger or real drama.

I love this series! This novella was great, because Hamilton wrote if about characters who aren't in every story but were included in a book with a not so happy ending. It still had the main characters but included Manny's family. Great job!

Totally unnecessary and unenjoyable "story". The only reason for this story is that Laurell K. Hamilton wants some money from you. Luckily I did not buy this but got a loan at the library, so could return it. HA HA!!

My feeling is that the author has a stockpile of standard paragraphs she uses to describe...everything. Do we really need to know ad nauseum again about her sweeties in virtually the same wording she always uses...which is 100 words written for every 1 needed. Redundant, repetitive and ...most damning...BORING
She had disclaimers about not reading this story if you hadn't read Dead Ice. What about a disclaimer about not reading it unless you wanted to slog through 30% of this flimsy story that was all rehash. A disclaimer that if you are a new reader you can start at page 1 but a reader accustomed to anita's world can start at 30% thru it or something.

In any case, she lost me. I'm not interesting in spending my hard-earned money on her redundant and repetitive prose. Put out some new stuff or let someone else edit it, please.

Thankfully it was so short that I didnt regret the time it took to finish. Absolutely nothing new was added to the storyline that used to be my favorite series by one of my favorite authors. This was simply a way to make money from a loyal fanbase, and frankly I feel used.

I am so glad I waited for this novella before starting her newest book. It's been a while since I read Dead Ice anf this helped bring it back to me and all the relationship ins and outs that occur. Anita is such a special person and her men are just so perfectly fitted for her. Its like puzzle pieces that finally fit her. Really love everything about her story.

Always happy to read a laurell k. Hamilton book. I do however feel like this should have been released sooner. As the book in the preview is already released. Looking forward to the next book. Hopefully a Merideth Gentry book.

This was a thought provoking introspective book. Anita Micha and Nathaniel go to Manny's daughters wedding. While there they talk to Manny's son about his injury and life in general. The pace of this book is slow and there isn't any danger or real drama.

I love this series! This novella was great, because Hamilton wrote if about characters who aren't in every story but were included in a book with a not so happy ending. It still had the main characters but included Manny's family. Great job!

I read this book be ause I lost a bet. The author had done such a thorough job of destroying what made Anita special that a bunch of us finally gave up on the series. Rhis got a five because I just witnessed a rebirth . It's not full of action, but I recommend it to anyone who cried for Anita and mouned the loss. I wonder when she found her way back.? Gotta go; research doesn't do itsel.

Like it stated in the preface, this is just an extended epilogue of Dead Ice. It was great to revisit what happened after Tomas and Connie were rescued. To have everyone see the love between
Manny and Rosita and for Anita, Micah and Nathaniel to be able to help Tomas begin to overcome his issues was a great snippet to read.

I love Hamilton's work and again, all too soon, it's over. I always feel like I run out of book. That's only caused by being fully engrossed in her writing. I can always read more of her wonderful writing. It gives me courage because the world still is very broken in it's treatment of women. Professional environment or not, her work outlines fighting all the way up simply because women are not equally respected. She has my full respect and support.

You need to give us more this was a holdover and it didn't help. It just open the doors to more of your storytelling of Anita Blake. Worthy read and holding out for more. I also read Merry Gentry series and I am waiting for a reprieve of something from this series.

Hamilton is going strong with,anita blake, I dont know what to fwel admiration, jealousy or pity, this poor woman cant carch a break with both hands, tireless, but always ready to go, its just not even possible to envy the poor woman and her band of brothers and lovers who are still going full speed aftwr several breathtaking adventure s. Hamilton is still able to bring it about in,a sometimes believablemannwr, even for this superwoman charachter, but she never says no, can she? I wiuld want an episode to usw for a much needed vacay from nonsrip killing and bedsports! Give the poor dear a nap sometimes, she tendsvto make me tired just reading about her exploits is enough to make me wanna loan this woman a good long nap with those gorgeous men wrapped around her like blankets, sounds goid to me!

I like all of LKH books but this one was good in the fact that it did not do the recap of every other book she has written to get the reader up to speed on what is happening. A good update on Tomas’ recovery from getting shot and bringing the relationship of Nathaniel and Micah more to the lime light. I’m not really a fan of their relationship but it works I guess for the story line. Happy reading.

This is an excerpt from after Dead Ice but before Crimson Death. Laurel K. Hamilton referred to it as an epilogue to the epilogue. Anyway, it is a quick read and fun caveat. This isn't a steamy scene like Beauty but rather just a compliment to wrapping up Dead Ice.

Time that I will never get back.

I really loved the first few Anita Blake books, but somewhere along the line I started finding them very disappointing. It had been a while, so I thought I would give one a try, in hopes that the author had found her way back to the interesting characters and having an actual plot.

I wish I hadn't bothered.

I really liked this novella. Anita and her men are sexy in a way they rarely are in her books. They are helping someone by doing something simple - talking. No blood or guns or knives or claws.

This takes me back to the Anita of the beginning of the series and I really liked it. FYI, I've been reading the series for many years, since the beginning, and would like to see a recurve of the characters back to helping others and kicking ass, with a bit less sex. Never thought I'd say that, but after this short I got a taste of what the series could be now that sexual and metaphysical relationships have been established.

As usual Laurel K. Hamilton does not disappoint! Somehow she is always able to perfectly convey her characters' passion, emotions, and the connection between them in such a pleasantly visceral way that keeps you longing for more! I can't wait for Anita Blake's next adventure.

*Possible spoilers!*

I have to say...this is the softest book I think Ms. Hamilton has ever written. No blood and gore, no zombies or crisises. No sex scenes. This isnt your typical Anita Blake story. And I really enjoyed it!

Amazing as always! Laurell delivers a behind the scenes look into the lives of more of her characters that shows us once again that there is always more to see or in this case read, than meets the eye!!

Borrowed from the Library and glad I didn't pay the 2.99. Nope, not even worth it. This is a very short story about the love Anita has for her boyfriends. Geez we get it. Waste of time and yes, a waste of money!

I like all of Laurells, Anita Blake stories and novels. There is monotony on some things, but all in all good characters and writing. There is so much crazy in her life, but it's her life to live. Kudos to Laurell and her books.

It's like seeing you're best friend slowly sink into a life of prostitution and drug use. At first you hold out hope that your beloved friend will pull herself out of this downward spiral and recover, but eventually you lose all hope and have to walk away.

the only reason it didnt get a five is it was way to short. i would love to have seen what happened between anita and the grooms father, or between rosita and the grooms mother. just sort of left hanging there.

I'm glad there was a bit of closure with Connie and Tomas, but I wish it was longer! I wanted to see how the reception turned out. Can't wait for Anita and Jean-Claude's wedding or Anita, Micah and Nathaniel's commitment ceremony. Hopefully, we'll meet Anita's family before the ceremonies.

I'm amazed at how Laurell Hamilton can keep everyone's stories straight and with so much detail. You MUST read Dead Ice before this book. Wounded will give you information that you don't want unless you have read it already. This book is a spinoff for the wedding that is woven into Dead Ice and Tomas' getting better.

I'm glad there was a bit of closure with Connie and Tomas, but I wish it was longer! I wanted to see how the reception turned out. Can't wait for Anita and Jean-Claude's wedding or Anita, Micah and Nathaniel's commitment ceremony. Hopefully, we'll meet Anita's family before the ceremonies.