Narcissus in Chains (Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter

Narcissus in Chains was a book I eagerly anticipated. Like the rest of the Anita Blake series, I waited until I had a whole day fre to read it, knowing I would have a hard time putting it down. That much was true, but with the end of the book I felt something was missing. I'm not sure I can pinpoint exatly what it was, but the plot, while filled to bursting with new characters and old, just did not make it. I've been waiting for some sense of closure, insight, or sercure attachment on Anita's part, and while that happened more or less with Anita's wereleopards.... the rest of her actions seem less thought-out as usual, when I was hoping for more. Color me dissapointed and searching for that indefineable something that made the previous books worth reading and keeping.

Well, there was one good point that felt a bit like the rest of the series to me, and a logical outgrowth of same: when Anita picks up Jean-Claude from jail, and Zebrowski finally "gets it--" he understands why Anita no longer wants to kill Jean-Claude. Other than that, I'm not sure why Zebrowski, Dolph, et. al. were even in the book. The plot was basically an excuse to go from one sex scene to another. And how many new powers is Anita going to develop? She's a necromancer, a sexual vampire, a Nimir-Ra, a werewolf pack assassin...what next? And what happened to her job?

I absolutely love this series and was so excited to crack the binding on this newest edition. Unfortunately, it is pretty awful. Ms. Hamilton has abandoned the formula she used for the first 8 books, the formula that made me such a loyal fan. The writing itself is pretty bad and the characters are superficial and not terribly likeable. And why are all the guys skinny with long hair?! Please give the rest of us a man with another body type so we can stay interested too (Richard doesn't count anymore). I miss the police work. I miss her job as an animator. I miss the wit, the morality, the other characters I'd grown to love. I do sincerely hope the next book will be better than this one!

Let's get the important stuff out of the way right now - this is a VERY steamy novel. If you don't like your fictional sex explicit, inter-species, and at least somewhat homoerotic, forget this latest installment of the Anita Blake series. If, on the other hand, you are are not easily put off by love scenes that make you wonder who is doing what to whom, then "Narcissus in Chains" is just the ticket.
Our gal, Anita Blake, is one heckuva heroine. She is a licensed vampire executioner and zombie raiser who just happens to be in bed with with (1)the local Vampire Master, and (2) the leader of the local werewolf pack. The three of them are metaphysically tied together in a "triumvirate of power" that seems to raise as many problems as it solves for them.
In the last book of the series, a confused Anita had fled from her two guys in an attempt to come to terms with the changes engendered by the relationships. "Narcissus in Chains" finds the lady back in town - still undecided about her future. But all of that becomes irrelevant with the kidnapping of a wereleopard under her protection. She seeks help from her two preternatural bed partners, and the chase is on.
The plot in this novel is really very thin - the mysteries Anita is called on to solve are usually more interesting. The book serves more as a way to drive changes and developments in Anita's life. Without quite losing her humanity, Anita begins to show strong characteristics of both a vampire and a wereanimal. She finds a new lover, and loses an old one, along with most of her inhibitions. It's an interesting transition, and most readers will be anxious to see what happens next.
This book is not for those unfamiliar with the series - interested new readers should start at the beginning of the sequence to get a real appreciation for Anita, her trials, tribulations and triumphs. Since every book has its own unique appeal, that should be an easy assignment.

This series used to have a strong female lead, conflicted by her prejudices in a brave new world of the undead, fairies, werewolves, etc. It was a great premise, and the reader got to follow Anita as Dorothy in her trip through the author's facinating new Oz.
In this book, Dorothy goes to Oz's red light district and becomes every man's nympho fantasy. Anita's role in this book was to have sex with just about everyone, because....well, there's no other way to highlight group sex scenes and slash (that's same sex action), which we are now to understand Jean-Claude will be pursuing on the side, now that he's been given "permission" by Anita.
As for Ms. Blake, she continues taking on every power, sleeping with every male within the city limits, and becoming de facto head of every shapeshifter group....in between group sex.
The last few books convinced me that this series had run out of steam....except for the porno kind. I almost didn't pick this one up, but I was in an airport and had a long flight......any lingering hopes I had that this series or character could be redeemed were totally blown away.
This book cannot be read with ANY suspension of disbelief. If you just want the sex, go right for it-there's plenty to be had. If you are looking for the original Anita Blake character and her moral conflicts, forget it. She's gone. And unlike her zombies--she ain't rising again.

Narcissus in Chains is the tenth book in the AB:VH series and like all of the books it is never what you might be expecting. It's a lot more like riding a roller coaster than reading a book. A large part of the series sensuality has been the potential of dark deeds hinted at, implied but kept just out of sight despite the graphic levels of horror and sexuality that lay waste to the page. NiC marks an abrupt end to a reserve that many readers may not have realized was there.

Anita returns from vacation after six months of learning to control her powers and a near death experience garnered while helping out her sociopath assassin pal. Anita wants to work it out with her boyfriends; Jean-Claude, master vampire and Richard, leader of the local werewolf pack. As if dating two men at once wasn't complicated enough, they are bound by Jean-Claude's marks that hold them together in a triumervate of power which goes far beyond basic romantic intimacy.

Like most things in life or unlife, Anita has found that running away did little to solve any problems but only made them far worse. By separating herself from the boys she left herself vulnerable to mystical attacks. Not good since she's not only the world's most powerful necromancer but also human servant of Jean-Claude, queen of Richard's werewolves and protector of the wereleopards. So it's no surprise she's off to rescue said wereleopards from a DS club by chapter two and what better backup than your sex-in-a-coffin boyfriend, Jean-Claude. Thus beings the ride called NiC.

AB:VH is a mix of fantasy, horror, mystery and paranormal romance. Narcissus however crosses a fine line from elements of erotic romance to scenes best described as erotica. The sexually explicit scenes are littered without thought across the pages possibly giving this book the highest body count in the series. Sadly, they have as much impact as another bullet-ridden body on Anita's porch.

Some may wonder what happened to Anita from Guilty Pleasures who claimed she didn't date vampire but killed them. The erosion or evolution of Anita's morality, depending on your own personal point of view, has been a long process. Anita's B&W vision of the world is now putrid fog gray.

The events within the pages of Narcissus in Chains forever alter the world of Anita Blake as readers have come to know it. The delivery of these events is over the top and always at the expense of the plot. The mystery is thin, used as a vehicle to introduce even more characters into Anita's world that is already groaning, full to capacity. Fans of the series are going to have to judge the events within this book for themselves. Like riding a roller coaster, you may feel a bit ill at the end or you may have had the time of your life, getting back in line for another go round. I found myself looking for the barf bag.

Disappointing, sleazy, and boring.
I could, maybe, have liked this book more, if it actually contained Anita Blake, Vampire Executioner. The sleazy nymphomanic with all of supergirl's powers, but without the risk of kryptonite, kind of left me wondering "Did LKH just use her left-over sex scene notes from Merry Gentry, or what??" It seems like LKH has forgotten that they are two different series. I certainly did not recognize this Anita as The Executioner.
I will say that I liked that the reactions from the people Anita cut off during her 6 month stint away from everyone, and the changes and/or developments that occurred during that time was introduced. Things definitely would have changed in six months, and it was logical to reflect that.
Also, the break-down of Dolph was unexpected, and different. I defintely felt sorry for him.
Those are about the only 2 things I liked in this book.
The Micah thing was COMPLETELY unbelivable-Anita went from basically being a rape victim in their first tete-a-tete (she asked him to stop several times), and afterwards never even questioned her lack of reaction to it. After that, he was a permanent fixation. There was no background to him, he was just a there, flat and two-dimensional. The Anita I had known would have killed him, even afterwards, just because he had basically stolen her willpower, and that would have terrified her. She had always prized her self-control, and now doesn't even raise an eyebrow that she doesn't have any?? Whatever.
Sleeping with Nathaniel completely grossed me out. Anita had said all along how he was anyone's meat, and that she would always protect him, but I did not see much of that. Instead, she took advantage of his severely messed-up psyche and never looked back, at least not seriously.
Another thing: How many powers is she going to get, anyway?? It's like LKH just runs out of ideas with what she had, and instead of moving on, keeps degrading Anita's personality, and stuffing her full of more superpowers. This last one, the ardeur, just disgusts me. But I never got really worked up, though, because other than Phillip, I haven't seen Anita lose anyone yet. I knew, almost as a given, that once again, she would develop yet another power right at the last minute that would save whoever she was trying to save. No risk element at all. And the excuse: "These are things from legend. We have no idea what power you will develop next." has REALLY worn thin. Boring.
Gone are Anita's morals, her hard-as-nails willpower, her determination and individuality. Now, she is just a sexaholic with little qualms, and all her seeming otherworldly "friends" seem happy as clams to indulge her, whatever the mood: murderous, critical, sexual, whatever. (And, is there anyone in this little world who DOESN'T want to sleep with her? Geez!)
Which reminds me of Edward. I hope he decides that Anita is now his perfect idea of quarry, and doesn't suddenly feel the need to sleep with her, too. After all, she seems pretty much the pinnacle of the monsters he hunts now.
If I was reading this story as my introduction to the story, I would never have known Anita Blake, Vampire Executioner, had ever existed. I would have called this a cheap sex Harlequin book with a supernatural twist, shook my head, and not bothered with any of the other books in this series.

This is the last book I read. My son bought it and we both read it and was disappointed in it. I think I read one more book from her other series she had going on at the same time. This book turned me off of all the other books in this series as well as I made the choice not to buy anything else she writes. Most the family member's as well. Its sad in one day she lost three readers and a 4th later on. I will not buy any more books from her esp. after thinking I would see what the other said about her other books over the last 8 years and none of them seem to flatter her any longer.. My thought is OB was the last good thing out her series. Maybe in the long run she is burnt out on Anita Blake but can't seem to the let the character rest or retire. Maybe this is what you should be doing Ms Hamilton let Anita rest for a few years and see if in time you can reanimate her and do something that would bring us back even if its a good bye book to Anita Blake. But please no more dribble..

I'd give all the rest of her books 5 stars, I love them, and while this one is good, its not as great as it could have been. The overall story in the series didn't advance much, her love life became even more complicated, and the entire book seemed to revolve around the evidence pointing at her becoming a wereleopard, though as was said earlier in the series, she seems to be immune to actually having that happen. Its still a good read, I love all the lycanthrope info, but I missed the normal mystery to solve that just didn't seem to be present in this book.

Laurell K. Hamilton, Narcissus in Chains (Tor, 2001)

Now that I've read Narcissus in Chains, the book that seems to be universally considered the downfall of the Anita Blake series by Hamilton's critics, I think I can understand why. Most people simply dismiss the book as porn (though really, that's been the case for a few books now, though this is more obviously romance-novel-language tinged than previous books in the series) or say the series goes downhill without giving any reason for it. Well, I'm here to do that: this is the first book where the mystery angle falls by the wayside, save for a few final chapters which seem tacked on almost as an afterthought, and focuses solely on the soap opera aspects of Anita Blake's life. That kind of thing has bee successfully pulled off in the past, though from the reaction to this novel, that doesn't seem to be the case here.

Anita has been away from the boys for six months, but hasn't come any closer to making a decision. To throw a monkeywrench into the works, a new pard has come to town, on the run from an alpha who attempted a hostile takeover, and their leader believes that Anita may be his soulmate--and she's not sure he's wrong. Meanwhile, in the time Anita has been away from Richard, he's been working on recruitment, but some of the new members really rub Anita and the leopards the wrong way. All of this happens after the big opening, which involves Nathaniel and Gabriel, out for a night on the town at the S&M club Narcissus in Chains, being captured by a rogue group of shifters including a number of snakes and a lion. Anita has been pushing for a coalition among the notoriously clannish shifters, but this isn't quite what she had in mind...

There is a mystery here involving a number of missing shifters, but it's not well-developed (in fact, a number of characters involved are mentioned only at the beginning and the end of the story arc) and it comes in very late in the game, especially with this being a six hundred sixty-four page novel. It almost seems as if Hamilton suddenly realized she hadn't added a mystery after finishing a thousand pages of manuscript, went back to find the most promising element to create one, and built on that, rather than going back and integrating it into the story. That said, I didn't have nearly as much of a problem with the soap-opera aspects of the story that many people seem to have; I think we know these characters well enough by now that they can stand on their own. Micah (the leader of the new pard)'s appearance on the scene does seem a bit too convenient, where the timing is concerned, and that's also something of a strike against, but when it comes right down to it, the book has the same strengths as the others in the series; the pace is fast, the writing is solid if nothing special, the action is well-done. I liked it. *** ½

I have been a huge fan of Anita since I happened to pick up "Guilty Pleasures" as a random choice way back when. It was great, and I snatched up the sequels as soon as they were on the shelves. Heck, I still anxiously await her new releases, and I read this latest chapter in the Anita Blake saga and enjoyed it.
However...
It's beginning to turn into more of a romance series than sci-fi/fantasy/horror series. I preferred the sex how it was in the first books- just enough to fire up your imagination. "Kiss of Shadows" definitely shocked me with all that sex, especially when her last release was the decidedly horror focused "Obsidian Butterfly". I like the Meredith Gentry series as more of an erotic thing (it just fits with fairies in my mind), but I want the old Anita back.

I got hooked with the Anita Blake series with Obsidian Butterfly. I found Anita Blake to be a strong, smart, attractive character, a woman who charts her own course amongst so many characters who would love to chart her course for her. But here, Anita Blake has lost her way, seems helpless at times, and unable to do anything except give in to the events surrounding her. Many people who might read this understand that her helplessness is not her fault, as she is afflicted with something I won't describe that causes her personality to change and her willpower to diminish. Nonetheless, her fault or not, she is far less interesting this way, and truthfully, things happen within this story that alter the way I will view her character from now on. Unfortunately, I view this book now as the end of the series, because Anita Blake no longer appeals to me as a human being.

Even more than the last Hamilton is spending more time exploring the sexual aspects of this story than the story its self. That said, it is deffinatly on the right track to recapture tha magic of of her earlier work. It's not that I mind the sex bits, far from it, its just that anticipation and teasing are just as important. Forplay for the reader if you will. The 1st few books in the series did this, but as the series progressed it became more instant gratification-esk.

I waited patiently for a year with the rest of Anita Blake fans and picked it up on the first day, but as I read it, I was horribly disappointed. The plot line seemed weak, the characters seemed to stray from their normal personalities, and she gains yet another supernatural power with yet more consequences.
Jean Claude wasn't a main factor in this book, being of little relevence to moving the story along and what little he does do is as a back-of-the-mind kind of voice in Anita's head. Richard on the otherhand is featured quite a lot and the cruel streak that had been previewed in earlier books is displayed in force to my disappointment. Nathanael's character is developed a little more but sadly his is one of the few in this book. Jason, Damian, Asher, Larry, Cherry, Jamail, Shang-da, Sophie, are either almost cameo appearences or not in the book at all. A new major character, one that impacts Anita's life is a one dimensional character, and someone that she should have fleshed out more.
And a side note, as I write this, I notice there aren't many other strong female characters in her books. It seems that a character's importance hinges on how much she is attacted to them. Perhaps Hamilton feels that other really strong female characters would challenge Anita's position as alpha female too much.
The plot barely exists, it merely moves them from one scene to another so that Anita can meet yet more incredibly preternatural hunky guys or to more nasty and strange villians. This lack of plot is fairly noticeable and things that could have been resolved much quicker in other Anita Blake books take three times as long because she has to wade through dozens of men all salivating over her first.
And lastly she gains yet another super power making her possibly the most powerful being in St. Louis, it seems like everything wants a piece of her for either sex, power or both. This new development in her character changes her relationship with her friends, the pard, the vampires, and the lukoi. I found myself wondering how much more powerful could she get, I felt at the rate she is going, she can challenge the vampire council in four or five books or perhaps even less, which in my opinion makes Anita as a character weaker, because in the beginning, she was a very strong, independent human woman and now she is a even more strong, semi-independent, not-quite human woman who can kick anything in her way's butt.
So in conclusion, if you are a major fan of Anita Blake you will have to read this book because of some of the major changes that happens in it and you'd be lost without it, but some of you, be prepared to be disappointed. I only hope that the next one will return to Hamilton's normally stellar and addictive books.

My biggest gripe with this book is that there seems to be a great deal of character replacement: Nathaniel is becoming a strong, independent person finally, so they bring in Gil. Richard simply isn't working out, so we get Micah: the Diet Richard (great taste, less morals). Also, the intentional shock value was a little too high for my taste (a proverbial forest of naked, bleeding bodies hanging from the ceiling, for instance). It is good to have Anita back with the boys, though, and seeing the character development unfold was enough to keep me reading.

First - Listen to this book if you are listening to the series to keep current with some key things that come up in later books but keep your expectations low.

EASILY the worst of the series. To give you an idea of my personal ratings:
I'm rating an audio book so reading quality of the reader is 50% of the rating at least. Book itself is 50%. I've listened to the entire series as audio books.
No others are 1 or 2 stars.
Three or four others would be 3 stars.
The rest are 4 stars mostly.
The first 2 or 3 are 5 stars because of the high quality reading. The book would be a low to mid range 4 star with the reading a 5.

Note that books don't get 5 stars ever from me really unless they can compete with Shakespeare, War & Peace, Wuthering Heights and other true literary giants.

However, I'm rating an audio book and the quality of the reader makes a big difference. So previous books with the other reader get a lot of points for that high quality and this one loses a lot of points. Top that with a weak book over all and you get a 1 star on this one.

I listen to this series as audio books and the first few are amazingly well done (I don't normally read by author but I might start listening based on reader). This is a very different reader though and Cynthia Holloway is absolutely horrible. Cynthia doesn't read in a monotone or anything, but she only has one voice. Anita, Richard, Jean Claude and all the supporting cast sound exactly the same for the first half of the book. She eventually makes them a tiny bit different. So Richards deep baritone is a very high pitched woman's voice. In the previous novels, Kimberly Alexis does different voices for each character and accents and about everything you can hope for.

The reader also pronounces it "we're-wolf" (as in we are). It's a book almost entirely populated by lycanthropes and I have to hear "we're-wolf", "we're-leopard" and so on repeatedly. When you aren't listening to "we're-things" you have to listen to Jean-Claude speak without any accent at all. Some dictionaries say that "we're-wolf" is technically accurate but I've never heard anyone pronounce it this way. Maybe there are a few people in the audience that prefer this pronunciation but I would guess the majority of people are not going to like that at all.

To top it off, as the other low reviews state, the book just isn't as good as the others. I won't go into the various other issues as the other negative reviews cover that just fine.

For me personally, this was a long awaited release, since the previous book in the Anita Blake series, Obsidian Butterfly, did little to advance the ongoing plotlines that has been built up through the first 8 books.
Narcissus in Chains was supposed to be the book that resolved everything, and in this respect I was not disappointed. The author is a master story teller and she manages to tie all major issues from the previous books together perfectly. So perfectly in fact, that I got the feeling that this might be the last book in the Anita Blake series.
And as sad as that makes me, the series does seem to have run out of steam. Laurell K. Hamilton has evolved Anita from the tough talking, fast shooting gumshoe-with-a-twist kinda girl who survived on a knifes edge by equal ammounts of street-wiseness, luck and having the right friends, to an omnipotent being whose ability to overcome any antagonist is beyond questioning. To me, it would be hard to see where Anita could go from here.
Technically the book is far too long. The story is not very complex and could have been told in a book half this size. Instead the author spends page after page on numerous long and very detailed erotic scenes. And just when you think you are through one of them, another man enters the room, and it all starts over again. Arrrgh! I skipped fast over large parts of the book because of this, and that is something I have never done in an Anita Blake book before.
It seems like Laurell K. Hamilton has trouble keeping the hyper-erotic atmosphere from the Merry Gentry series out of this Anita book. Ok, erotics have been an integral part of the series all along - and this is executed perfectly in the other books - but in Narcissus in Chains there is way too much. And it is both completely irrelevant to the story and out of character for Anita Blake.
Conclusion: This book is essential since it ties everything up neatly, but get the other 9 books and read them first. And get ready to skip fast over a lot of lenghty boring erotic scenes.

I think im with the rest of the Ms. Hamiltons fans when I say CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON? The series are great and I love Anita Blakes character. She is one of the few strong female characters. Well at least she used to be. What happened? Now all she thinks about is lust? Like COME ON. I think she needs to get her head out of the bedroom scenes and do a little bit more action. Thats what drew me into The ANITA BLAKE series, it was the action. The strong Anita Blake is disspearing and needs to be brought back quick. Lets move and read some QUALITY work by Ms Hamilton because this is clearly not her best

I loved all the books in the A. Blake series until this one. The other reviews that gave low ratings have already explained the problems with this novel and I don't need to repeat it. I tried two times to read this book and managed to read half only. It is so bad with no plot and the usually charming characters (Anita, Jean-Claude, Richard) have turned into perverted psychopaths, completely unlikable. I wish I never started this book and only kept the earlier as a pleasant memory. I wont even look at any more books from this author.

I just love Laurell Hamilton vampire novels. The only parts i did not like was anita and richard broke up.Richard is not himself.He was acting like a spoiled little boy.I would like to see the old richard back.I just didn't get somethings in this book.They had so many new people in this book.You were like where did he come from or where did she come from.I really like how anita was acting with the leopards.She is showing that she does really care about them.I can't wait for the next book of this series.

After reading Obsidian Butterfly I was expecting Narcissus in Chains to be just as good. It was a big let down since so many of the original elements are gone. Important characters are left in the shadows, including Richard and Jean-Claude. A new man is brought into the mix and Anita accepts him way to easily. The plot is there, but so watered down by sex that it's hard to find.
The Anita everybody came to love is gone. The strong female character, one of the reasons I read the books, is gone. She's seems to have lost her edge. My recomendation, read the other books before. Killing Dance, Blue Moon, and Obsidian Butterfly are some of the best. Here's hoping that the next book is better and Micah is dropped completely.

If you've followed the Anita Blake series from the beginning, it has been fascinating to watch Anita deal with her inner conflicts. This book brings a convincing portrait of a woman who has been tested by fire and emerged triumphant- and deeply changed. The character of Anita has grown in complexity and richness. Narcissus in Chains brings us a wonderful look at a changed Anita, and is well worthy of your time. Well written characterizations and kickin' action propel this book from beginning to end. You'll enjoy seeing what's new with beloved characters and meeting new ones as well. Don't miss this one- it's a true blue keeper.

I adore the character of Anita Blake. She's strong, fun, sassy and more than capable of taking care of herself. It's been fun to watch her grow into her ever increasing powers and to grow as a young woman falling in love with two complicated men. So I bought this newest book immediately. And for the first time I didn't want to finish an Anita story. For the first time I thought, "This is the last Anita book I'm buying." I hate that.
All the contrived (and eventually tiresome) sex aside (I don't think anyone is dressed for the first 180 pages), the plot of this book is uneven, almost as if Hamilton combined the ideas of two books into one. But what really disappointed me was the way one major relationship ended. The relationship that had been building for nine books was cast aside as somewhat minor subplot. It was dissatisfying and disappointing. At the same time a major new relationship began within the matter of pages. A stranger that the reader has never seen before appears and suddenly Anita can't help herself around him. There are explanations but I think the readers were cheated of a chance to experience the developing attraction.
For a long time Anita got better and better. Now she's getting worse and worse. The second half of this book was much better than the first but that's not enough to earn a recommendation. Stick to the first seven books of the series. They're quality.

I know a lot of people said (bad) things about this book and they're entitled to their opinions, but I just have to say that I absolutely LOVED this newest addition to the Anita Blake series. I've been reading since the beginning and have salivated while waiting for each latest book. LKH is the author who got me turned on to the preternatural, and I owe her a great debt for that. Some can say Bram Stoker or any other great authors, but no, for me it's Laurell K. Hamilton.
First of all, I thought it was great that Laurell finally got Anita to almost come to terms with what she is. I mean, come on, people are complaining about the sex? It's been like that from the beginning. Every one of the books has been very sensual and focused on Anita's sexuality. AND, people keep on saying she's changed so much from the beginnging. Hello? It's called growth. Her character's been through a lot of (stuff). Of course she's not going to be the same 3 years later.I say way to go Laurell. And reviewers keep on saying that she let go of her morals or something for sleeping with Micah so fast after she met him. She had a very good reason for jumping into bed with him. He's her MATE!! Duh. Speaking of him, I thought it was great though that she finally found her true partner in Micah, because I really like his character, but whether she'll follow that path is anyone's guess. Although, I was a little disappointed that she didn't turn furry at the end. I thought Anita would make an excellent wereleopard. I have to say I'm glad she gave Richard his walking papers. Finally. By the end of the book he sounded like a whiny little boy, when he's supposed to be Ulfric and responsible for a lot of people's safety! I just wanted to clock him over the head. I can't wait for the next installment, and I'm hoping to see more of good ol' boy Edward. But, for now, I'm just going to have to settle for reading the first 9 over again. Keep up the good work, Laurell!!

Anita used to be a really cool character. A female character, that was strong and brave. She had a fierce personal code that applied to her professional life, and her sex life (what a wonderful novelty in most novels). And she had a vulnerability that was touching. She loses that a bit more with each book, and now its gone forever with this book. Characters have to grow, you say? Sure they do. Problem is Anita morphed into something utterly unlikeable. Now she's Anita, most powerful EVERYTHING in the universe, every creature bows before her incredible power, and men are just lined up to worship her. Actually, everyone worships her, and if you don't...you get spit on and banished from the books like poor Richard (run while you can Jean-Claude, you're probably next).
Oh yes, she still can beat up all manners of creatures, and with each book she becomes a colder and more vicious killer-how inspiring...NOT. In my world, that doesn't come close to making her a positive female character. In fact, just the opposite. Any stupid bully can beat [up] people or pull a trigger. And giving her all this magical power just means she no longer has need to actually use her brain. I frankly don't understand how anyone can read this book with its "ardeur" garbage, and not be incredibly offended...especially women. Anita had morals when it comes to sex....not anymore, lets give her this curse that makes it impossible to resist sex. What next? A curse that makes it impossible to keep her clothes on? Why have Anita take responsibility for her sexlife when you can just remove her freedom of choice, and put in plenty of meaningless and badly written sex scenes? (Hilariously, this author is quoted as saying that writing sex scenes is one of her strengths LOL) Way to go LKH, a stunning feminist statement if ever I heard one. And of course there are no other intelligent females within spitting distance of Anita. Perish the thought ! Every other female has to be weak, or judgemental, or a victim...we even have the prerequistie lesbian (whatever is takes to keep ever male character in Anita's web). Ugh, its nauseating. A strong female character doesn't offend me, I love them. But someone like Anita Blake being passed off as a strong female character....thats a joke, and an insulting one at that.

I am a HUGE fan of the Anita Blake books. This is my second time through the series and they're just as good as the first time. However, this one absolutely lacks plot. The characters you've come to know and love are dull and flat and down right whiny. There's way too much sex in this particular novel. I mean sure, a little sex is good but seriously? The whole thing is sex, sex, sex. She leaves no clues as to who the villain is so you're surprised at the end which is good. But there's NO plot until the last like 13% of the novel. I was extremely disappointed but don't let this one bad apple deter you from the reading the rest of the series.

I started to read the Anita Blake series when I read an exerpt of Narcissus in Chains in "Out of this World" when I was continuing with the "In Death" series by Nora Roberts AKA J.D.Robb. I loved that exerpt and was what got me into the Anita Blake series in the first place less than a year ago. I read a lot of books and something about that exerpt in "Out of this World" hooked me, so I started with "Guilty Pleasures"
As we all know after reading this book, "Guilty Pleasure" and "Narcissus in Chains" are very different. Yes, this book has sexual or more like sensual scenes, but it is not as bad as people make it seem.

Before I opened this book, I read the reviews and was a little hesitant when I started this book. But it had all the qualities that I love in Anita Blake and Laurell K. Hamilton. There is only two real sex scenes and a few near sex or sensual scenes. It is a book for an adult, but reading books like these in a series means that the audience reading it is mature enough to do so. Anita is not a whore, as I have read in the other reviews. She sleeps with two men, not seven or eight as one would think. Richard is one of her normal lovers and Micah is her Nimir-Raj. Even the scene with Nathaniel does not involve penetration, more like rubbing and touching (and biting, etc.). I don't know if the rest of the books in the series involves more men in her life since I have not read them, but at this point, the only men she has slept with is Jean-Claude, Richard and now Micah, who is her companion (and her previous fiancee who broke off the engagement because she was not 100% white). If anything, the scenes made me want to keep reading to see what was going to happen by the end of the book, considering all the other action going at the same time, as a reviewer said previously.

It may seem as if Richard is whinning a lot in this book, but I totally understand what he is going through. He is mad that he can't live a normal life, yet he really can't do anything about it anymore since he is Ulfric. He does need to accept that he is master wolfe, but somehow, even after so much time has passed, he has not accepted it, which he needs to do in order to save his pack. I do understand how other reviewers feel that he should just be taken out of the series or killed, but I know I would really be sad if he was killed off. I have come to care for him as a character in Anita's life and he is also one of Anita's weaknesses, proving that she is human, or something like it at least. I understand the jealousy that he is going through, I mean, who wouldn't feel jealous if their girlfriend or previous lover suddenly has an ardeur (or "curse" as Jean-Claude refers it) and needs lust to feed it. That means he has to accept that Anita must take a lover that will feed her lust. He is not willing to be a "pomme de sang" for her, so someone must. He loves her and she loves him, and suddenly they seem to be drifting further and further apart.

This book is more than just a sensual or transformation of Anita. The beginning starts with a kidnapping, then we see tortures, killing, more kidnapping of other lyncanthropes, and then the last section involved a psychopath lyncanthrope that wants Anita as his mate. So much happens in the 630 pages of this book that I read it in less than 24 hours, and the actions or new problems were not lost to me or did not confuse me.

I can't wait to read Cerulean Sins, I do hope to see some intimacy scenes with Jean-Claude, he is one of the my favorite characters (since he has been around since the first book) and, for some reason, am more attracted to him as the man for Anita than the others, even though Richard and Micah are way "bigger" as Anita puts it, and has seen Anita grow so much. Great books, and I just see the series getting stronger, not weaker.

Series jumps the shark (can I use that for a book?) right here with this book....get it from the library and see for yourself. New fans, do yourself a favor and stop here...you will only be disappointed! Old fans might want to just skip ahead to the newest, Skin Trade, which was better than the drivel in between all these books, and you won't have missed anything but lots of tasteless sex.

Narcissus in Chains, Book 10 in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, was a very complex read. I agree with some of the reviews that it was a little hard to follow because at this point, Anita Blake is still recognized as Lupa (but maybe not for long, as Richard, Ulfric wolf-king of his clan, decides to break it off because he can't accept what she's become--HYPOCRITE!--which makes me mad because he proves again that he is a sissy leader, and doesn't appreciate the fact that he's lucky she loves him), Nimir-Ra (of the wereleopards), a master necromancer with a "vampire servant", and is plagued by the arduer (a feeding sexual drive inherited when Jean-Claude marries her marks). Ok, it's complex, but really there's so much going on that Hamilton did a really good job portraying the action, power struggles between groups, witty sarcasm, and intense (and totally relevant) sexual scenes.
I liked the fact that the intimacy is completely different in this book, because Anita is evolving as a person, and just like everyone, she changes based on her experiences. Micah (Nimir-Raj, leader of his leopard pack) is a little strange, but is a strong character and very different than the other men she's had in her life. She needs a little unexplained attraction. The snakemen come into this series strong, and some unknown shapeshifters are introduced (like werelion and werefox).
The plot is complicated, interesting, and offers very little down-time.
Jean-Claude is still just as powerful and influential as before. I used to want Anita to dump him, but have slowly felt anti-Richard since the last couple books. Every book brings out more character and solidity in Jean-Claude. Will she end up becoming Nimir-Ra by changing for real, or is the leopard just her animal to call? Will she continue with her relationship with Micah? Is the arduer temporary or permanent? Will she be content to cutting everything off with Richard? Many surprises await in this book.

At first, I didn't want to believe what all the other fans were raving about. NIC had to be good. I had been waiting for my fix for months. *sigh* At first, it was great. I loved the addition of Narcissus and I couldn't wait to see what would happen with Jean Claude and Anita. I read the whole book, admited it was a bit foreign, a bit weird, perhaps not too satisfying. Then I re-read it and wanted to hurt myself. A lot of the elements that I had always enjoyed in the AB:VH novels were gone. The zombie raisings, the police work, the personal develelopment and awesome character additions. The only character that I thought was given any room to work was Nathaniel. Nathaniel and Narcissus were probably the only two in the book I thought that seemed a bit more like they belonged to the Anita world. Seriously though, there were just too many sub plots, plot twists, that made not much sense. It would of been so much better if it had been laid out into three books. Or not laid out at all. I just couldn't really believe the whole Anita and the new Nimir-Raj thing. It's not that I did't like the guy. It just didn't convince me. To sum it up, I'll wait for the next book, but my expectations will be lower. I'll stick with Bloody Bones and Burnt Offerings for now.

I had purchased the book but then became uncertain about reading it after I viewed some of the reviews. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the book. Ms. Hamilton seems to be leaning toward the Anne Rice side of the genre in this one, all the S & M sex scenes. But unlike some other reviewers I did not think it came out of left field or was totally unexpected, she had mentioned this in several of the other books in the series. I have also read all the books in the series and I too felt my confiedence in the character of Anita waver. My moment of questioning took place after "The Killing Dance". I could not understand why a character Ms. Hamilton had worked so hard to portray as a loyal person, and a person of strong convictions could casually have sex with the one "person" who had put her and hers in danger not just once but on several occasions. I know, I know, she LOVES him. Whatever. I like Jean-Claude but for the character that was first presented to us that was quite a leap.
Unlike that slap in the face I feel this book actually was based on solid ground work. There have been months between books and she has been working with her pard to bring them closer. She is much more comfortable with being touched and touching. Is she completely comfortable with herself, no. But how can she when she is changing so rapidly? Not everyone will like the changes in Anita but they are changes that had to be made. One could not face all that she has and stay the same.
Am I thrilled with all aspects of the book? No, my three stars say that as well. But I did enjoy this book.

I WAS a huge Anita Blake fan - I loved the strong fiesty female character, the snappy dialogue and the original plot lines of earlier books. However, I found this book unsatisfying and shallow. It seemed to be a bunch of loosly linked erotic sex scenes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a prude - if Anita sleeps with everything (and it seems only a matter of time!) thats fine by me. I was dissapointed in the poorly developed plot and the lack of meaningful interaction between the major characters and also the complete lack of a convincing, or even a mildly interesting, antagonist.
LKH's convenient creation of Narcissus and his bunch of merry werehyenas was just so unconvincing. The ultimate bad guy, who is anti-climatically revealed, comes across as if it was a last minute insertion in the book. I get the feeling LKH's editor said -'Hey Laurell, this book is really flat and lacks suspense, graft on a mysterious bad guy and give it a lift!'
One redeeming feature of this book is 10-12 pages of interaction between Anita, Dolph and Zebrowski. It reveals the reasons for Dolph's antivampire views and also reveals something of Anita's feelings and priorites to Zebrowski. This type of character conflict - where the ideologys and firmly held views clash - is what I have previously found so interesting in LKH's novels, and is so absent in this one. (The scene about Jean-Claude's long-term imprisonment/torture of Gretal and his justification to Anita is another such example.)
The book's ending was convinient and anticlimatic. There was no sense of surprise or suspense in the revelation of the ulimate bad guy. You just knew that the ever more powerful Anita (whats next - she will leap tall buildings in a single bound?) was in no danger.
For me it was the emotional conflict of the 'Anita character' in her continuing fight to retain humanity in the face of huge odds that I find so engrossing in LKHs novels. In this book major events in Anita's life and emotional well being were glossed over, such as the radical change in her relationship with Richard, and her calm acceptance of becoming a monster and a sexual predator.
In this book Anita seems to have just given up, or maybe it is more accurate to say LKH has given up. One more book like this and I will.

I don't know... I think this book series is headed downhill. Granted there are good parts in this book, though for the most part when I finished reading it, it left me empty.
I'm starting to realize on how much Anita's selfishness is getting to me. Case in point. If Jean Claude or Richard sleep with someone while she's with them, she's ... However she sleeps with everyone and thier brother and gets angry at them if they are upset by that. Sheesh!
Another thing that is getting to me is the trend of destroying some characters. First it was Edward. When we first met Edward he was called "death" by the vampires. Lately he's truning into a little girl who can't get out of situations without Anita. I mean come on, is Anita the toughest SOB on earth? Now it's Richard, ok here's the enigma. Anita wants him to be more blood thirsty and be ruthless and be the king. But wait, didn't when Richard killed Marcus and ate him, she was so disgusted that she ran to sleep with Jean Claude? Get it together woman, find out what you want!
I didn't like the Micha character in this book. I mean Anita used to have high morals, she stayed away from sex with strangers and now she's become a ..., granted there's nothing wrong with that but her complete change in morals doesn't even bother her anymore. Also if I ever hear an Anita thought with the words "It should have bothered me more than it did" again I'm going to go insane.
I hope the next book gets back on pace with her past books. It seems to me that Anita is slowly slipping into becoming a villan in her own books. She alienates any of her friends that disagree with her and is becoming more and more a monster. Anita needs to find her humanity again. The old Anita would hate who she's become.

This book was difficult for me to put down once I had picked it up! Though there were some aspects lacking, all of ones favourite characters from previous novels are there. Including the infamous (yet dead sexy) Jean-Claude. The storyline comes at the reader non-stop, one finds themselves exhausted right along with Anita Blake, though she bears up well. Sex, blood, magic, and lycanthropes.. oh and did I mention Jean-Claude? A most definitely recommended read!

Let me just start by saying that I've read all the books in this series. I may have had a quibble here and there with them, but overall I like them all. And then came this book, and I simply can't believe its this bad. Plot? Well, there isn't much of one. I think the point of this book is Anita getting in touch with her inner-monster, or something along those lines. No more need for those pesky morals, now its just sex and killing and threatening galore, and darn it, she likes it that way !! Pass the barf bag. Its especially amusing how the author has to constantly keep throwing in characters making comments about how wonderful and special and perfect and terrific Anita is, we are even assured God still loves her (really? I wouldn't be so sure). Its like the author had to keep reminding us "you are *supposed* to like Anita".
As for the other characters, Jean-Claude is relegated to bit status and mainly seems to be around to explain things to Anita, Richard is cruelly eviscerated with such malice it almost seems personal (can't help thinking that whoever she based this character is based on pissed the author off in a bad way), and Anita's human friends are essentially cast off as unimportant or "not understanding her". Anita has a new man now, her instant "yes" man/soulmate, who seems basically there to assure Anita, once again, that everything she does is the absolute best (ya know, in case we forgot the other 6534 times we are told in the book). If he's a permenant addition to the ever growing cast of characters, thats a real shame. And maybe the author should have tried to give him a personality based on more then his enormous...assets.
Lots of unsexy sex in the book b/c now Anita has the "arduer" so she can't help herself. Its too ridiculous a concept to even spend another minute thinking about. The book raises to the level of parody when Anita has to delay saving one of her "leopards" (who are so hapless, you'd like to push them all down a well) because she has to get in bed with 4 men for some magical screwfest. I can't believe I used to actually like this character.
This is the worst book I've read all year, and I've read many. Thats sad. The jury is out on whether I'll read the next one. Think I might just read the ...reviews and make my decision then. If you liked the Anita of the first books, and like the mystery/crime-solving element of the books, and enjoyed Anita's very real struggles with morality and her humanity be forewarned, this book is probably not for you. If you're someone that just says "Wow, Anita kicks butt and everyone wants to have sex with her, Cool!!", you'll probably love it.

This is easily the weakest book in the Anita Blake series, and yet even the weakest book has the power to be a page-turning read -- even if sometimes you're turning pages in a desperate effort to get to some semblance of plot or action. There's far too much navel gazing, repetitive conversations, not-particularly erotic sex scenes, and arguments that don't seem to go anywhere. Ms. Hamilton needs to get back to the fun mysteries and intriguing plots that made this series such a success in the first place.

I've read and enjoyed every single one of Hamilton's books in this series, eating them up like naughty bon bons, despite plot flaws, blatant dropped threads, and the staginess of getting Anita into ANOTHER moment where having public sex while dressed in skimpy leather is the only way to save someone's life. I really enjoyed meeting the new man in Anita's life, but this book gypped your loyal readers, Laurell. There's a threesome promised at the beginning of this book, a threesome that's been promised long ago, and readers have been waiting for it patiently, waiting for Anita Blake to get over her prudery. But Laurell, you didn't deliver it. Richard's fade from the scene wasn't believable, wasn't even on stage. I would rather see him engage in the threesome and not be able to handle it than just have you dismiss him as a used-up creation of your own past discomfort with the sexual side of Anita.

I had never thought of there possibly being "too much sex", but there is IMHO way too much sex in this story. If I had wanted that much graphic sex, I would have just rented a porno flick, turned up the volume and checked out the scenery every paragraph.
It is also not well-written. Some of her stories flow well; this one bucks and sunfishes like a bronco on a cold morning with a burr under its saddle.
To top it off, it became (gasp) PREDICTABLE!!! Halfway through the book you knew who the bad guy was going to be (or at least anyone who has ever taken college literature would know)...the only question was whether Anita would screw him before she killed him.
There are a few good scenes- we get to know a bit more about Asher and Jean Claude's history, for instance, but it isn't enough. (its why 2 stars instead of 1.)
Based on her previous books, this was a MAJOR disappointment.
I'll probably either sell off my hardback copy on ebay or just donate it to my local library- it WILL NOT become part of my personal collection, unlike all of her previous Anita Blake stories. (I have 3 sets- one to keep for myself, two to loan out for others to enjoy. I wouldn't intentionally inflict this on ANY of my friends.)

I have read all of the Anita Blake books in order through the entire series. I have also bought all the books except for Cerulean Sins which I am waiting for a paperback copy. I love this series and have recomended it to all my friends. I and most of my friends are avid readers and once we started reading this series we could not put it down. I bought Guilty Pleasures (the first Anita Blake book) on a whim, the very next day I had finished it and went back for the rest of the series. I read the entire series in one week, hardly even stopping to eat. And I have reread them more times than I can count. Being a poor college student I could not afford to buy Cerulean Sins in hardback, but as soon as I heard my local library had it I started haunting the place waiting for it to come in. I recommend if you enjoy anything even remotely fantasy or just want to try something new read Guilty Pleasures. But be forewarned the series is very addictive.

I love the Anita Blake series - but definitely not this one. To this point, Anita has been a witty, intelligent, dangerous woman with great internal strength. In this book, all that goes out the window. Her powers continue to grow, and her moral resolve crumbles to nothing. Where in previous books, she tries to make hard choices, and approaches life with a sense of humor, here she is not funny, and a sex maniac. To LKH I'd have to say - keep the sadomasochistic sexual tendencies to your fairie character from Kiss of Shadows - keep Anita the strong ass-kicking ball of INDEPENDENT fire that she always was. And bring back the humor! Where Anita was once a woman I could admire, and even wish to emulate, she has now become someone I would want nothing to do with. Remember - most of your readers are like Ronnie - regular people who want the best for Anita. We dont want to see her as a mindless, unfunny sex slave.

I don't consider myself a prude, but I found the many sex scenes in this book getting in the way of the rest of the story. Although I usually have no problem with sexual scenes when they advance the plot (and yes, sex is a part of the plot in Narcissus), I was rather turned off by this book. Hamilton struck me as lapsing into soft-core porn rather than delving into the dark, sensual fantasy that she usually produces. Especially after the fabulous Obsidian Butterfly, this book was a disappointment to me.
That being said, Anita does develop further as a character, making some very important choices that are certain to, pardon me, bite her later in the series. Because of the advancement, as well as the overall plot, which I enjoyed, I gave Narcissus three stars.

I have enjoyed almost all of the Anita Blake series. I say ALMOST because the Obsidian Butterly and now NIC have been very dissappointed. NIC is a mess. I'm all for character development and "growth" - gets boring without it, but NIC was one of the most inconsistant when it came to character development of the main characters.
We now find out that Jean Claude, suave vampire, is a barely controlled sex-addict, Richard is looking to end this whole werewolf thing via suicide (huh?), Asher is just plain bitter and Anita's two closest human friends (Ronnie and Dolph) are having hissy fits.
and what the heck was that throw in note during the epilogue that Narcisuss (manager of an S&M club... this was a whole other area of excess) is a hermaphrodite and is pregnant by a the bad guy.
The violence is over the top - instead of adding to the story it begins to detract and then there is the sex. Hey, I like books that have some good sex scenes and Laurell can write some great ones (check out Blue Moon and her new series about a Fey Princess), but this was ridiculous. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter and Sex Slave... give me a break.
My biggest recommendation to people out there who haven't read the Vampire Hunter series is to read any of the first eight books - violence, sex, but edgy and very cool. Skip NIC - it's a mess. Shame on her editors for not giving some better feed back to the auther.

As a long-time Anita Blake fan I've hung in while this series has headed down-hill and with Narcissus in Chains I think Hamilton has finally hit rock bottom (if she has, then the only place to go is up, right?) We can only hope. I've felt the quality of the entire series has degenerated, not because I didn't like Jean Claude, or didn't like Richard, but because the foundations of the series have eroded. Like plot. This entry has zero plot. Admittedly the previous books tended to rely on the formula of Anita and/or her friends, allies, lovers, etc. being threatend and Anita saving the day, but it was something. I also am tired of the endless and boring descriptions of clothing and personal appearance which more and more take the place of solid character development. I remember previous characters more by their penchant for short-shorts then whether they've contributed anything meaningful to the story.
I was also bothered by the endless and pointless sex. The Anita Blake series has always been highly sexual but when barely three pages go by and Anita is naked or having sex with a complete stranger it just gets old. I'm fine with it if it advances the plot or adds to the character's development or relantionship but this seemed like overkill. Filler in place of any real action or plot development. I was also bothered by the use of repetitive descriptions and phrases such as "our beasts rolled through each other" and frankly I thought there were several scenes borrowed from her Meredith Gentry series. The healing hand of flesh - or tongue if you will, makes a cross-over appearance. It all smacks of lazy writing on her part and I think her fans deserve a better effort.
In closing I won't say there wasn't anything good about the book. Anita seems to have grown up a little bit, knows herself and has come to terms with a lot of things that had been bothering her. I enjoyed her character more since she seems to have left the whiney, self-pitying Anita behind. I was also glad to see the whole Richard issue finally resolved and there were some tender moments with Anita showing her softer side that worked well. I wished that Dolph's wife had called Anita, I want to read about that conversation. I wished Edward had shown up since any book without Edward in it is a little less interesting. I wished it had been a book worth reading.
Hopefully now that some lingering issues have been cleared up and the weakest book written the series is ready to get going again, full speeed ahead, with non-stop action, a wise-cracking Anita and more bad guys around the corner to slay.

Unfortunately, this series continues to go downhill, sinking into a morass of gore, sex, S&M, rape and complete immorality. So hey, if thats your cup of tea, this is the book for you. Sadly, many of the things that made this series so interesting and unique initially are now gone. Getting through this book was like pushing jello uphill with a pitchfork. Slow, frustrating and ultimately pointless.
The book is mostly about Anita's love life, so....
In a nutshell, Richard is out and apparently having a nervous breakdown (bummer, but nobody seems to care anyway), JC is still the same (but more big brother/teacher than passionate lover), Micah is the new hot stud and soulmate ("who needs a personality when you have a big tool?"). Damian went on a murder spree and killed 2 people, but he's feeling much better now so its ok with Anita (this plot twist is covered in about 2 pages). Asher is still moping and feeling unloved (why doesn't he find his own city to be master of?). Nathanial is still doing his best to audition for the lead in the Perils of Pauline ("oh Anita, I fell down a well...HELP ME!!"). Jason fares the best, bless his furry little heart. And of course, they are all anxious to throw themselves at the feet of Anita and have sex with her(I suggest they take a number, at this rate, she'll . . . them all eventually...but it won't be because she WANTS to, but because she HAS to).
Can this series be saved? Sure, but I doubt Ms Hamilton is up to it. Stick with the Merry series, I understand that one is still fresh and fun.

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I would like to advise that everyone use there own judgment rather than depend on the opinions in regards to NIC.
Had I not used my own juggment, I would have missed out on a really great book.
Laurell has a gift, and her writing style sucked me into the story.
There are people who really dilike or can't even tolerate Anita at this point, and if that's the case, then it will definitely make a difference about how they view this book and the series.
Her perceptions and views will taint every scene and the interpretation of every action other characters take, so if you don't like her views that may influence of your enjoyment of her journey, and ultimately the series.
I believe this was a filler book to tie up lose ends and hopefully take the series in a new direction.
I also believe that this is a book that will divide the fandom
into those who liked the series before this book and those who will continue to enjoy it despite the changes.
I'm firmly in the latter category. I will continue to enjoy the series until it crosses lines I've established for my continued enjoyment.
I hope that we get back to basics in the next book.

Narcissus in Chains was quite a departure from the other novels in the series. I would like to say at the start that I am an Anita Blake junky, and find Laurell Hamilton's alternate universe to be one of the more creative worlds an author has allowed me to visit in quite a while. That said however, I was quite disappointed when I finished this novel.
Anita Blake "Surrendering" to anything.? Much less something requiring her to participate in group sex.?
When I closed the book my first thought was that this was a collaboration with another author.
Read by itself this book would be an interesting read if only for a glimpse of the world of Anita Blake.
For Anita Blake fans, you will of course have to purchase the book. If you enjoyed A Kiss of Shadows and it's Main Character, you will probably enjoy this book as it seems to merge Meredith Gentry and Anita Blake into one person. If you enjoyed the Anita Blake who would rather die than "surrender", you will probably be disappointed.

I started the Anita Blake series during my senior year of high school. I was totally hooked. I am now entering my junior year of college, and I have become very disappointed since I read Narcissus in Chains.
The story is full of mindless sex. I enjoy sex in novels; it's great, but most of these sexual scenes are out of nowhere and not tied to the actual plot.
More and more, I can't stand Nathaniel. He's a whiny little baby who looks to Anita for EVERYTHING. It's like someone suddenly yells FREEZE and the plot suddenly halts because Nathaniel needs something. I'm surprised that he isn't dead yet, really.
The villian in this novel was terrible. LKH pushed aside almost all of the plot's mystery so she could present us with smut. Suddenly, as the book is winding down, she has the gang drive over to the club and the gun fight is on. It's just too random. There was no extreme detective work. And LKH presented the villian as though we were supposed to know who it was all along. What the hell?
The series was wonderful when she was animating, solving crimes, and suffering under the weight of the sexual tension. LKH uses the arduer as a poor excuse for all the sex in her novels now.
This is the worst of all the novels in this series in my opinion. I'm going to read Incubus Dreams because I've already been a long time fan, but I don't have much hope for it.

I loved Narcissus in Chains. It is the book that Anita must face that her views on sexuality must become looser or she won't survive. I enjoyed her inner struggle. And I very much appreciated the way it was tied to the larger story line so her decision to engage in more promiscuous sex was based in something real.

And can I just say, hello Micah! This new man in Anita's life is a mystery in many ways, but seems to be just what Anita needs. He's uncomplicated, something she is completely missing in her other relationships. Sure, he has his reasons for wanting to be with her, but he's willing to without coming between her and other men.

The mystery in Narcissus in Chains was only vaguely hinted at in the first three quarters of the book. The beginning of the book was solely focused on Anita's personal, pack, and pard problems. Anita's issues need the focus and the book doesn't suffer for it. When the mystery comes to the forefront, every personal issue tackled in the beginning of the book shows how important it was to get settled earlier.

Narcissus in Chains changes the entire vibe of the entire Anita Blake series. Some fans will dislike the turn towards sexy paranormal romance, but others will see it as a clear evolution of the series. The sex scenes are hot and I love the new sexiness of the series that Narcissus in Chains begins.

Narcissus in Chains had to be the most anticipated book in the on-going Anita series. The series had returned to St. Louis after forays in New Mexico and Tenesessee and LKH was back on familiar territory. This book was a chance to become reacquainted with long-lost characters who we had not seen in the last few books. NIC started out on such high hopes. The marks were married and it appeared that the heroine and her two loves would actually work together and stop their bickering. This was the first 6 chapters!!!! The rest of the book was a disappointing foray into the netherworld of weres. By the middle of the book, LKH had introduced so many new weres that you needed a score card in order to keep track of them. I have one question to ask of Laurell- Huh???? What happened to our beloved characters? What happened to character devlopment? What happened to the plot, story line and mystery? Hopefully Book 11 will see a return of the Anita, JC and Richard of previous books. You can count me among the ranks of readers who were disappointed in this ride. If a reader is new to the series, the holes that I mentioned would not be as glaring. While I am sure that LKH has gained some new readers, she is standing at the crossroads for a number of people. Book 11 will be the turning point for this reviewer and countless others.

It has been six months since Anita Blake has seen her two lovers, Richard the shapeshifter and Jean-Claude the vampire. During that time she has been learning how to control her powers so something unpleasant doesn't shock her. She is almost ready to get in touch with her two men and see if they can come to an amicable arrangement since Richard, Jean-Claude and Anita are bound together in a triumvirate of power.

Before she can make the first move, two of her were-leopards are being tortured at the S & M club NARCISSUS IN CHAINS. She calls on Jean-Claude for help and he agrees only if she acquiesces to open herself up to the marks of power so she has a fighting chance of coming out of this encounter alive. After Anita takes care of business, she fears changing into a were-jaguar since one who was trying to save her life cut her. Meanwhile a were-Jaguar wants to merge his group with hers. Before anything can be arranged, an enemy strikes out at the triumvirate, forcing them to put personal problems on hold and learn who is after them so they can stop him.

NARCISSUS IN CHAINS seems to be the definitive book in the series. The protagonist has come to terms with what she is and accepts that her vampire lover is a part of her life because he needs her. She also sees that Richard will never change and makes plans accordingly. Laurel K. Hamilton has written the best book of her career because she gives the audience the long waited answers they have been waiting for. This action-supernatural thriller is a keeper and with the passage of time will be considered a classic.

Harriet Klausner

I eagerly pre-ordered this latest in the Anita Blake series and had been waiting very impatiently for its release...boy was I disappointed. Narcissus in Chains bears little resemblance to the series fans know and love. There were a number of things I didn't like about this book: the plot was weak, there were WAY too many sex scenes (Ms. Hamilton, leave this stuff to Princess Meredith and her series, please!) instead of Hamilton's usual tastefully erotic love scenes, and too many series "regulars" were nowhere to be found. Where was Edward? Willie? Larry? Animators, Inc? (Not to mention creepy Otto from Obsidian Butterfly!) Based upon the previous nine books in this series (all of which I've read multiple times), I barely recognized this Anita - her actions were way out of character and frankly, some were just tasteless. I sincerely hope that in book #11 we find Anita returned to her normal, sassy self.

I thought that the story of Anita could go no further, boy was I wrong! I was unable to put the book down until I finished it and I still wanted more. I don't want to tell you what happens, but lets just say I am glad the leopards are around. Ms. Hamilton knows how to tell a really great story and keep it going. I can't wait until the next book! If you like this series you should also try her new one the first book is Kiss of Shadows. Its very different, but same great quality.

...For curiosity's sake, I did flip through the remainder of the book, and found nothing to make me continue reading. This from a long-time fan of the series, who had heard rumors about this book not being great, but was willing to read and find out for herself - I was so disappointed in this limp, lifeless, excuse for a story and the constant sex that seemed joyless, forced, and written in a highly self-conscious style. I had to go back and Laughing Corpse to get the bad taste of this book out of my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, Laurell K Hamilton is still my favorite author. I have gobbled up her previous 9 Anita Blake novels, and they continue to be old favorites on nights when I want to revisit my favorite butt-kicking heroine.
Narcissus in Chains very much reminded me of "The Phantom Menace: Star Wars Episode I". Huge buildup, waited a long time, and it fell flat for me. I might have liked it a little if I didn't have the previous 9 to compare it to. The plot and character depth just wasn't there.
However, I felt that Anita's butt-kicking ability didn't shine through in this book. She cried SO many times! She bitched and demanded in a whiney fashon. She got sex, ALOT. Everyone seemed to pander to her. From Jean Claude to the entire lycanthrope community.
Will I buy her next book? You bet. One off book doesn't write an author off my list. Will I recommend this book to anyone? I'd say wait until it comes out on paperback.

A huge step back for Laurell K. Hamilton, the newest Anita Blake novel seems to lack a lot of things.
The character development we've all learned to love disappears into thin air when contradictions galore appear with old characters and new characters just seem to pop out with no back story. While it's fine and dandy to have Anita take a 90 degree turn in her personality, we as the readers want to see the turmoil happening. You don't just jump from point A to D without explaining B and C or putting some depth into the story. It ruins the moral climactic moments readers love.
Bad guys are thrown into the mix sloppily so it seems like they were just attached onto the story for no good reasons. The plot is secondary to the all mighty sex, so we're left with a soft porn feeling. Most of the sex scenes sounded like they were recycled from the old books anyway. Sorry, if I wanted to read half a book full of sex scenes, I would have bought an erotica.

This was the first Anita Blake novel I picked up, and hard as I tried, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't find a plot, there were sooo many characters and the kink was kinda bland.

So...having heard so many times how great the series is, I was a good little reader and went back and started at the beginning of the series and read in order. Okay...now I get it.

Some fans seem to be seriously turned off by the sexual content, but really, considering that Anita is a succubus in the making, it works. She's also a bit of a prude being thrown into the deep end, she's not sluttish, and has major issues with her new physical nature. Frankly, the ardeur is a lot less creepy than Anita channeling the munin of Raina.

This book is the beginning of a story arc that seems to resolve in book 15, Harlequin. Serious characters are stepping up here that will have big influence on where the future books go: Nathanial, Jason, and Asher, as well as the current Swan King. Oh...Micah...forgot about him. The author seems to want really bad to make Micah work, but for some reason, his character is really slow in developing, even in later books. Narcissus is just a seriously creepy fellow, and I'm glad he's still with us. Richard continues to be a wild card, a flawed hero who can throw a major monkey wrench into Anita's story. Ya love him, ya hate him. Long may he live...

Like so many others here, I found this book to be a major disappointment. And for many of the same reasons. If I had to use one word to discribe this one, that word would be "padded". It seems like once she'd written it, Hamilton came in 200-250 pages short, so she began having Anita start repeating herself. How many times did she tell us about what had happened up to this point...in detail? And the sex scenes got old real fast.
I've read every book up to this one, and enjoyed every one (including Obsidian Butterfly, which others found disappointing, as well). And what I find most disturbing is the stuff that's missing. Is Anita even still working for Animators, Inc. or the police department? You'd never know it from this book.
I'll be around for the next one, of course. I won't let one stumble chase me away. But more like this one, and I'll be gone. Sad, but still gone.

I first picked up on the Anita Blake series a little over a year ago. I was absolutely enthralled. Not only was the main character witty, intelligent, and kick-butt, but there was a memorable set of supporting characters to see her through. Who can forget Zerbrowski's antics (even in the worst of times) or the cold-hearted killing of everyone's favorite bounty hunter? After reading my share of the books and floating around to some of the other reviews here on the store, I am left wondering the same thing many of the other fans are: what happened?

I just finished Narcissus in Chains. Normally when I finish a book, I'm left with a sense of fulfillment, like I've accomplished something. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I've always found this series to capture me from the get-go, but trying to convince myself to read this one was hard. Not only was the plot rather weak, but Anita seemed to keep on debating the same situations over and over. Jean-Claude, Richard, Micah, and even Asher seem to plague her thoughts. And although she will do anything to save a member of her pard, or anyone else for that matter, her focus always seemed to drift back to the boys. And did anyone else notice the repetitiveness in the writing? Hamilton used the exact same wording for certain feelings or actions throughout the book. Unlike the earlier part of the series, the writing in Narcissus in Chains is less imaginative and less memorable. On top of it all, come the end of the book, we have this bad guy who I can't even remember where he came from in the first place!

My favorite part of the books has always been Anita's police work. I am honestly ten times more interested in her career than I am in her love life. I miss having a tight, intense plot that flows, instead of drifting around like some kid with a short attention span. And as pointed out in the book, the charming Anita Blake we used to know and love really has become a monster. A literary disaster of a monster.

Although the reviews for Cerulean Sins are probably just as grim as the reviews for Narcissus in Chains, I plan to go ahead and continue the series. I can't give up on something that has such great potential, and from the sound of it, this next one has a more recognizable plot. I can only hope. Unfortunately, I believe that Obsidian Butterfly was probably the last of one of the best series and best characters ever created.

Where were our beloved characters? Where was the sexy, mysterious JC/Asher? Where was the winsome Nathaniel? Where was our strong boy scout Richard? Not in this book. The good ol' characters that we've come to love, and the villians that we've come to hate are gone. They've been replaced with bad copies of themselves. Anita is now the all powerfull Master Vampire Human Necromancer Nimir-raj and NOTHING can kill her. I would've liked to see her learn to use what powers she has instead of gaining new ones. I'd actually like to see Edward or Richard finally kill her off so that we don't have to read about Little Miss Slut and her problems anymore. Her problems are all the same, who can she sleep with? Who is she going to kill now? Who's trying to kill her pard? *sigh* I was happy to see LKH put out a new AB book, but, just maybe it's time to see her stop writing about our now-un-loved AB before she ruins the characters anymore.

I loved Narcissus in Chains. It is the book that Anita must face that her views on sexuality must become looser or she won't survive. I enjoyed her inner struggle. And I very much appreciated the way it was tied to the larger story line so her decision to engage in more promiscuous sex was based in something real.

And can I just say, hello Micah! This new man in Anita's life is a mystery in many ways, but seems to be just what Anita needs. He's uncomplicated, something she is completely missing in her other relationships. Sure, he has his reasons for wanting to be with her, but he's willing to without coming between her and other men.

The mystery in Narcissus in Chains was only vaguely hinted at in the first three quarters of the book. The beginning of the book was solely focused on Anita's personal, pack, and pard problems. Anita's issues need the focus and the book doesn't suffer for it. When the mystery comes to the forefront, every personal issue tackled in the beginning of the book shows how important it was to get settled earlier.

Narcissus in Chains changes the entire vibe of the entire Anita Blake series. Some fans will dislike the turn towards sexy paranormal romance, but others will see it as a clear evolution of the series. The sex scenes are hot and I love the new sexiness of the series that Narcissus in Chains begins.

Like most other readers, I have been a fan of Anita Blake and her world since Guilty Pleasures. And that's why this book disappointed me so very much.
All of the characterisation that had been so painstakingly constructed over the last 9 novels just seems to have been chucked out of the window, and this is especially true when considering the character of Anita herself, who for so long has tried so hard to not be one of the monsters, but who now seems to relish in being the biggest and baddest of them all.
And what about all these super-powers she's suddenly gained? Important developments, important plot points, are just wrapped up in the concluding paragraphs and thrown away. Anita's gained some of the powers of a master vampire. Gee, wow. BUT WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN?! Hamilton gives our heroine new powers every book, without ever stopping to consider the implications of them, and it's really starting to annoy me.
And, two words. Micah sucks. Hamilton seems to have FINALLY listened to all the people that hated Richard, but has somehow managed to replace him with someone even more annoying (which I didn't think was possible before I read this.) And where is Jean-Claude? Condemned to the sub-plot from hell, to make way for Anita to have gratuitous sex with virtually every character in the book. I have no problem with sex in books, but after reading the equally dire A Kiss of Shadows, I am beginning to suspect that Ms. Hamilton is rather fixated on the subject, or that she just uses sex scenes when she has no other ideas. Given that there is a sex scene practically every chapter, this really does not bode well for the future of the series, unless she is seriously trying to make it into a collection of soft porn.
Of course I'll read the next book, but I'll approach it with less anticipation and a lot more trepidation.
And that's what makes me dislike Narcissus in Chains the most.

Narcissus in Chains had to be the most anticipated book in the on-going Anita series. The series had returned to St. Louis after forays in New Mexico and Tenesessee and LKH was back on familiar territory. This book was a chance to become reacquainted with long-lost characters who we had not seen in the last few books. NIC started out on such high hopes. The marks were married and it appeared that the heroine and her two loves would actually work together and stop their bickering. This was the first 6 chapters!!!! The rest of the book was a disappointing foray into the netherworld of weres. By the middle of the book, LKH had introduced so many new weres that you needed a score card in order to keep track of them. I have one question to ask of Laurell- Huh???? What happened to our beloved characters? What happened to character devlopment? What happened to the plot, story line and mystery? Hopefully Book 11 will see a return of the Anita, JC and Richard of previous books. You can count me among the ranks of readers who were disappointed in this ride. If a reader is new to the series, the holes that I mentioned would not be as glaring. While I am sure that LKH has gained some new readers, she is standing at the crossroads for a number of people. Book 11 will be the turning point for this reviewer and countless others.

It has been six months since Anita Blake has seen her two lovers, Richard the shapeshifter and Jean-Claude the vampire. During that time she has been learning how to control her powers so something unpleasant doesn't shock her. She is almost ready to get in touch with her two men and see if they can come to an amicable arrangement since Richard, Jean-Claude and Anita are bound together in a triumvirate of power.

Before she can make the first move, two of her were-leopards are being tortured at the S & M club NARCISSUS IN CHAINS. She calls on Jean-Claude for help and he agrees only if she acquiesces to open herself up to the marks of power so she has a fighting chance of coming out of this encounter alive. After Anita takes care of business, she fears changing into a were-jaguar since one who was trying to save her life cut her. Meanwhile a were-Jaguar wants to merge his group with hers. Before anything can be arranged, an enemy strikes out at the triumvirate, forcing them to put personal problems on hold and learn who is after them so they can stop him.

NARCISSUS IN CHAINS seems to be the definitive book in the series. The protagonist has come to terms with what she is and accepts that her vampire lover is a part of her life because he needs her. She also sees that Richard will never change and makes plans accordingly. Laurel K. Hamilton has written the best book of her career because she gives the audience the long waited answers they have been waiting for. This action-supernatural thriller is a keeper and with the passage of time will be considered a classic.

Harriet Klausner

I eagerly pre-ordered this latest in the Anita Blake series and had been waiting very impatiently for its release...boy was I disappointed. Narcissus in Chains bears little resemblance to the series fans know and love. There were a number of things I didn't like about this book: the plot was weak, there were WAY too many sex scenes (Ms. Hamilton, leave this stuff to Princess Meredith and her series, please!) instead of Hamilton's usual tastefully erotic love scenes, and too many series "regulars" were nowhere to be found. Where was Edward? Willie? Larry? Animators, Inc? (Not to mention creepy Otto from Obsidian Butterfly!) Based upon the previous nine books in this series (all of which I've read multiple times), I barely recognized this Anita - her actions were way out of character and frankly, some were just tasteless. I sincerely hope that in book #11 we find Anita returned to her normal, sassy self.

I thought that the story of Anita could go no further, boy was I wrong! I was unable to put the book down until I finished it and I still wanted more. I don't want to tell you what happens, but lets just say I am glad the leopards are around. Ms. Hamilton knows how to tell a really great story and keep it going. I can't wait until the next book! If you like this series you should also try her new one the first book is Kiss of Shadows. Its very different, but same great quality.

...For curiosity's sake, I did flip through the remainder of the book, and found nothing to make me continue reading. This from a long-time fan of the series, who had heard rumors about this book not being great, but was willing to read and find out for herself - I was so disappointed in this limp, lifeless, excuse for a story and the constant sex that seemed joyless, forced, and written in a highly self-conscious style. I had to go back and Laughing Corpse to get the bad taste of this book out of my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, Laurell K Hamilton is still my favorite author. I have gobbled up her previous 9 Anita Blake novels, and they continue to be old favorites on nights when I want to revisit my favorite butt-kicking heroine.
Narcissus in Chains very much reminded me of "The Phantom Menace: Star Wars Episode I". Huge buildup, waited a long time, and it fell flat for me. I might have liked it a little if I didn't have the previous 9 to compare it to. The plot and character depth just wasn't there.
However, I felt that Anita's butt-kicking ability didn't shine through in this book. She cried SO many times! She bitched and demanded in a whiney fashon. She got sex, ALOT. Everyone seemed to pander to her. From Jean Claude to the entire lycanthrope community.
Will I buy her next book? You bet. One off book doesn't write an author off my list. Will I recommend this book to anyone? I'd say wait until it comes out on paperback.

A huge step back for Laurell K. Hamilton, the newest Anita Blake novel seems to lack a lot of things.
The character development we've all learned to love disappears into thin air when contradictions galore appear with old characters and new characters just seem to pop out with no back story. While it's fine and dandy to have Anita take a 90 degree turn in her personality, we as the readers want to see the turmoil happening. You don't just jump from point A to D without explaining B and C or putting some depth into the story. It ruins the moral climactic moments readers love.
Bad guys are thrown into the mix sloppily so it seems like they were just attached onto the story for no good reasons. The plot is secondary to the all mighty sex, so we're left with a soft porn feeling. Most of the sex scenes sounded like they were recycled from the old books anyway. Sorry, if I wanted to read half a book full of sex scenes, I would have bought an erotica.

This was the first Anita Blake novel I picked up, and hard as I tried, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't find a plot, there were sooo many characters and the kink was kinda bland.

So...having heard so many times how great the series is, I was a good little reader and went back and started at the beginning of the series and read in order. Okay...now I get it.

Some fans seem to be seriously turned off by the sexual content, but really, considering that Anita is a succubus in the making, it works. She's also a bit of a prude being thrown into the deep end, she's not sluttish, and has major issues with her new physical nature. Frankly, the ardeur is a lot less creepy than Anita channeling the munin of Raina.

This book is the beginning of a story arc that seems to resolve in book 15, Harlequin. Serious characters are stepping up here that will have big influence on where the future books go: Nathanial, Jason, and Asher, as well as the current Swan King. Oh...Micah...forgot about him. The author seems to want really bad to make Micah work, but for some reason, his character is really slow in developing, even in later books. Narcissus is just a seriously creepy fellow, and I'm glad he's still with us. Richard continues to be a wild card, a flawed hero who can throw a major monkey wrench into Anita's story. Ya love him, ya hate him. Long may he live...

Like so many others here, I found this book to be a major disappointment. And for many of the same reasons. If I had to use one word to discribe this one, that word would be "padded". It seems like once she'd written it, Hamilton came in 200-250 pages short, so she began having Anita start repeating herself. How many times did she tell us about what had happened up to this point...in detail? And the sex scenes got old real fast.
I've read every book up to this one, and enjoyed every one (including Obsidian Butterfly, which others found disappointing, as well). And what I find most disturbing is the stuff that's missing. Is Anita even still working for Animators, Inc. or the police department? You'd never know it from this book.
I'll be around for the next one, of course. I won't let one stumble chase me away. But more like this one, and I'll be gone. Sad, but still gone.

I first picked up on the Anita Blake series a little over a year ago. I was absolutely enthralled. Not only was the main character witty, intelligent, and kick-butt, but there was a memorable set of supporting characters to see her through. Who can forget Zerbrowski's antics (even in the worst of times) or the cold-hearted killing of everyone's favorite bounty hunter? After reading my share of the books and floating around to some of the other reviews here on the store, I am left wondering the same thing many of the other fans are: what happened?

I just finished Narcissus in Chains. Normally when I finish a book, I'm left with a sense of fulfillment, like I've accomplished something. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I've always found this series to capture me from the get-go, but trying to convince myself to read this one was hard. Not only was the plot rather weak, but Anita seemed to keep on debating the same situations over and over. Jean-Claude, Richard, Micah, and even Asher seem to plague her thoughts. And although she will do anything to save a member of her pard, or anyone else for that matter, her focus always seemed to drift back to the boys. And did anyone else notice the repetitiveness in the writing? Hamilton used the exact same wording for certain feelings or actions throughout the book. Unlike the earlier part of the series, the writing in Narcissus in Chains is less imaginative and less memorable. On top of it all, come the end of the book, we have this bad guy who I can't even remember where he came from in the first place!

My favorite part of the books has always been Anita's police work. I am honestly ten times more interested in her career than I am in her love life. I miss having a tight, intense plot that flows, instead of drifting around like some kid with a short attention span. And as pointed out in the book, the charming Anita Blake we used to know and love really has become a monster. A literary disaster of a monster.

Although the reviews for Cerulean Sins are probably just as grim as the reviews for Narcissus in Chains, I plan to go ahead and continue the series. I can't give up on something that has such great potential, and from the sound of it, this next one has a more recognizable plot. I can only hope. Unfortunately, I believe that Obsidian Butterfly was probably the last of one of the best series and best characters ever created.

Where were our beloved characters? Where was the sexy, mysterious JC/Asher? Where was the winsome Nathaniel? Where was our strong boy scout Richard? Not in this book. The good ol' characters that we've come to love, and the villians that we've come to hate are gone. They've been replaced with bad copies of themselves. Anita is now the all powerfull Master Vampire Human Necromancer Nimir-raj and NOTHING can kill her. I would've liked to see her learn to use what powers she has instead of gaining new ones. I'd actually like to see Edward or Richard finally kill her off so that we don't have to read about Little Miss Slut and her problems anymore. Her problems are all the same, who can she sleep with? Who is she going to kill now? Who's trying to kill her pard? *sigh* I was happy to see LKH put out a new AB book, but, just maybe it's time to see her stop writing about our now-un-loved AB before she ruins the characters anymore.

Although this book is not "good" in any sense of the word, Anita goes through some important changes. Where I hated Anita with an unparalleled passion in the past however many books there were before this one, I find my hatred cooling while reading NiC. In fact, there were times in the previous books where I had to literally stop reading so that I wouldn't throw the book across the room. Anita has been unbearably arrogant, whining, bitchy, prudish, and altogether unpleasant since The Laughing Corpse, and it has only increased as this incredibly long series has gone on. In many scenes, she would shun Jean-Claude for "being a monster" while clinging to the oh-so-annoying, holier-than-thou Richard. She eventually chooses JC on a technicality, basically, and finally in NiC she lets down some of her ridiculous inhibitions about sexuality. Granted, she lets them down just a little too much by having weird orgies and casual sex. It's still more interesting than a chapter long description of exactly where and why she put each gun, knife, etc... Anita is finally understanding that she's been one of the "monsters" for quite some time and what that means about her relationship with Jean-Claude. Of course, I still hate Anita. She's still incredibly arrogant and stupidly stubborn and went from one extreme to another(collar clenching near nun who ironically kills everything in sight to complete "slut-girl") but I just found NiC's Anita to be more readable.

I love the book Narcissus in Chains. I believe it's a very good book. I love that fact that there are so many plots. When one thing happens, another problem comes right along. I like the fact that Anita's trap between two men. She doesn't really knows who she really loves. Her other problems is protecting her wereleopards and wolfs. Most of you, think her book has to much sex and doesn't follow the series. I mean just, because she's really deep, and get into her words, don't mean it stupid. I admired the way how Ms. Hamilton, expressed her words so strong and powerful, that it's make yoou feel like your in Anita's place. I like the fact, that monsters are walking legally in the streets. Even though, this is like the 4th book I read in her series (I don't follow the natural pattern)I love it. Lauren K. Hamilton has became one of my fav authors besides J.K. Rowling. If anyone was buying this book or wanting to buy it, I would suggest that you should (be over 14), because it's give you an idea of how a young womans life is never normal. She falls in love with a vampire and werewolf and becomes leader of wereleopards. It's a very very good book and I rate it with 5 stars or more if I could. I would like many other people to read this book, but don't do it as a class activity.

This is my favorite book of the series, and I can say that with glee because I've been reading anita since book 7 was released and after all this years shes still my favorite series. When I want a book to comfort me this is the one I choose. I've have to of read this book a hundred times. I actually ended up having to get another copy of in because I is so well read. Maybe my next copy will be on my kindle.
I won't spoil the read or hope the series ends as others hope because I truly wish for a long well planned ending many books from now.

Here's a quick summary of what goes on in this book:
First 50 pages -- thin, weak plot
Following 300 pages -- disturbing erotica
Last 50 pages -- even thinner, weaker plot
In other words, this book has all the substance of your sub-average porno. Hamiltion gets negative points for poor pacing, lack of plot, and ridiculous contrivances. The past several books have been all about Anita gaining all kinds of new, absurd, and previously unseen powers. At this point, I'm expecting her to wake up in the next book and say, "Wow, I'm GOD!" and recreate the universe. And then have sex. Lots of sex. Sex with random, well endowed guys who just happen to be super-natural. Super-naturally HORNY, that is.
If you like erotica, you'll probably love this book. If you liked the old Anita Blake books where the characterization made sense and the plot wasn't just a way to tenuously tie all the weird sex together, you'll probably dislike this book. I certainly did. I'm not looking foward to the next book in the series at all. If Hamilton's current trend of turning her flagship character into a super-powered demon-slut continues, the books won't even be worth reading in the bookstore, much less owning.
For those of you who haven't read the series yet, start at the beginning and quit reading around Killing Dance. After that, things start getting unnecessesarily messy and bizarre -- and not in a good way.

Anita Blake is changing, and I think that if we're asking why, we can look to the author. Laurell K. Hamilton is an excellent writer (her style comes through, regardless of the way the series is going, which is why I give it 5 stars), and we must remember that writing is an art. As such, it's a reflection of the artist. As Ms. Hamilton changes, so does Anita. Not that they're alike, but some traits may be similar. As Anita takes more time to think before she speaks, perhaps this means that the author is becoming more introspective? And she is certainly more confident in expressing sexuality through writing. This is a great book, but here's a word of caution before you read it: The other books in the series were not for people with weak stomachs. This one, with startling plot turns and sad tidbits that we learn about several characters, is not for the tender hearted. At least, not if you're like me, and have become fond of the characters in these books. Still, Narcissus In Chains is fantastic. Read it, I dare you.

A complete waste; of time, of money, of paper, you name it. Unless, of course, you enjoy voyeuristically wallowing in someone else's fantasies. It must have been difficult for the store to find six pages from this book to display that DON'T consist entirely of turgid sex scenes. And, even those weren't well written, in my opinion, though some of the female reviewers here seemed to like it. So, maybe it's a guy thing. The fact remains this book is basically porn, occasionally interrupted by other events.

I am so disappointed! I ravaged the first books in this series. I thought some of them were the scariest things I have ever read. But this one is just soft porn trash. Don't get me wrong, I like soft porn and Ms. Hamilton can sure slop it on with both hands; but my question is this: where is Anita Blake? I can't distinguish the "Narcissus in Chains" Anita from the "Kiss of Shadows" Merry Gentry. It seems that both women are surrounded by beautiful men who want to jump their bones and both are only too happy to comply. OK, I am fine with that; I am a guy for crying out loud. But I couldn't bring myself to slog through this mess. I didn't even finish the main sex scene between Anita and four guys (let's see, two vampires and two lycanthropes) before I put the book down in complete disappointment.

One of the true beauties of Ms. Hamilton's Anita Blake sagas has been the eroticism and realism of the character caught up in "unreal" situations. "Narcissus" goes further into the "unreal", further into the erotic, and further away from realism. While I still look forward to any other book in this series, Ms. Hamilton's disappointing last three books would not convince me to essay any other series she starts. I personally look forward to see how Ms. Blake resolves her life, but don't as whole-heartedly urge new readers to take up this project as the latter books in this series have been dissapointing in style, content and narrative.

Many reviews have been written about this book. Some have been good and some bad, but over all in my own opinion I believe this book is quite good except for a few key issues that LKH still refuses to address. One, that Richard needs to die or in some fashion taken out of the picture for good. Micah, brings life back to the story, and even though he is not my first pick for a lifemate or soul mate for Anita, at least he's not conflicted about who or what he is. Anita Blake is a sassy, arrogant, insecure, butt-kicking, feminist, but I can deal with that, if LKH would get back on track and remember that she's a vampire hunter and master necrosmancer now, let's see her use it!!!

Narcissus in Chains is the culmination of all of Anita Blakes kills. In this book, you finally realize the reasonings for all of her relationships and Anita realizes that she is not so much better than the monsters she takes to bed. This book is not a mystery like the others,slaying takes a back seat to Anita's personal problems. She resolves her issues with Richard and Jean Claude and another male character is introduced.
If you are not interested in her sexual life, do not read this book.

Anita Blake begins a shift starting with this book. I suppose it was inevitable with the character arcs moving the way they have been from the beginning, but this is the first of the Blake books that leaves me uncomfortable. Too much sex, not enough story for my tastes. That said, I have friends who stand in line to buy the hard covers the day they come out. They tell me I'm prudish. I can live with that. :-)

I have read all of Anita Blake novels and have enjoyed them all. In Narcissus in Chains, Hamilton takes Anita and gives her a new direction with many possibilities for future storylines. The addition of Micah has potential when/if his character is fleshed out in the next book(I hope!). Richard needed to be shaken up, and Anita needed to accept she was one of the monsters...
This book solidified Anita's character---not just as a executioner or sex maniac, but as a protector. Anita is evolving, and therefore her world must change. I really liked the direction that Hamilton is taking Nathaniel and wonder what he'll be like as his character strengthens.
Narcissus(werehyena) was a major player in the intial section of the novel but became a bit player as the story continued. I would like to have gotten more play from this character and his interaction with the gang.

First of all, I don't mind normally reading a steaming chapter or two of sexual encouters, but this time it was just to much of the same.
Too darn much sex, sex, sex and not much else - especially when LKH needs 10 to 15 pages to describe one sexual encounter.
It gets to the point where you ask yourself where the story is ?
The fact also that LKH in her intro says her usual clique of writer friends didn't see this one due to time constraints, points sort of the way to a novel that was quickly written.
All is not lost, if you're an optimist like me though - this could also be the book that describes Anita's descent into 'hell' and in the next book her fight against it and her climb back out of it. How to get rid of the marks ? How to get rid of the sex ?
I'll wait for the next one to check if Anita as we know it survives...
I'll be sorely disappointed if the next one doesn't

I've been starving for Anita Blake, but the story was written very haphazardly and the whole thing was choppy. I'm glad to have Anita back in St. Louis and a return to so many of the characters I love. I'll tell you now the book was a page turner, not because its prose, but because I had to find out what happened next. I finished the book with craving to find out what happens next. Its a good read but I found the plot, descriptions and the load of new characters incomplete. You won't be able to put the book down but you'll still be disappointed. A lot of people are slamming the book because of the amount of sex in the book. My advice is get over it. I've read worse; you've read worse. Stop trying to put yourself in the characters place and just enjoy the story. Stop projecting your morality on to others. GET OVER IT.

I so enjoyed this series and couldn't wait to get to the next book. I read all of them in order and was so pleased to find a series and heroine I was really excited about. What a let down. However, I persevered, read this book and went all the way to Cerulean Sins. Now, I understand the negative reviews and other remarks by disappointed readers and fans. I do not mind sexual influence when it adds to the story, character, whatever. But, this is down right ridiculous. I mean, give me a break here. It was one reviewers opinion that the author refuses to listen to her fans opinions, I hope that is not the case and the plots get back on track and off the current story lines. Because I miss the original Anita and her stories.

I first started Reading Anita novels when I bought out of this world, where it showed a preview of Narcissus in Chains. Let me tell you, I loved it when I realized that there was more to come but I had to buy the book. It whet my appetite and sometimes I dreamed people in the story and how I would continue/end it. When I got it I finished it that same day. You might have to read all 9 books but u should definitely get it. For all those people saying it has too much sex-that's stupid. The series was leadng up to this point and if u don't like it-don't read it. I like the development of Anita-it was a long time coming. I'm sorry to say this but I'm glad she and Richard broke up-he was getting on my nerves. She should stay with Jean Claude and hook up with Jason b/c it's goin to happen sooner or later; hopefully she hooks up with Aasher and/or Nathaniel.
Take my advice- go buy the book, but first read the others and then make your own opinion. But to me it doesn't have a lot of sex. Hope she stays with Micah also- it's better for her to accept what she is and she does it in this book;that's a good thing b/c this book is about growth and it's time she did that.
For those who read it and are eager for the next book,in case you don't know, Olaf-from Obsidian Butterfly-is coming back in book 11. Can't wait for it to come out.

Was I disappointed by this book? Yes. But it is hard to dismiss an old favorite that easily. Meeting familiar characters acting so unfamiliarly is very disconcerting. But the thrill of seeing the strange cast of Anita Blake series again cushioned the disappointment. If you like the series, you would read this book anyway and wait to see how things progress in Cerulean Sins coming in April 2003. If you haven't read any others in this series, better to start at the beginning. Then you can understand why this is not my favorite in the series,

Some of these reviewers seem pretty bitter than Anita isn't going to swoon first and then ask some big strong man, preferably Richard, with his wonderful conscience -- as well as his inconsistent beliefs and horrible temper (something they never mention) -- to save her. Get a life. This book was great. It was the first Anita Blake story I read and I have since read them all.
It's quirky. It's fun. The characters are great, and even though they are so far out there, they seem pretty real. Those who don't like it seem mostly not to like the direction the writer has taken Anita. Oh well. Go find some sob sister to read. I'd rather read something about a strong character with an interesting plot and good character development.
Hopefully, the author won't take these critics to heart and tone the character down in her upcoming book. Anita rules!

I was one of the fans waiting anxiously to read NIC. I heard the opening chapters read in Dallas, and, if I remember correctly, asked for a cigarette when it was over. It was that viscerally gripping.
The drivel that it devolved into in the finished work was a complete disappointment. I found it barely readable.
A few of the highlights (or would that be lowlights?):
1) The atrocious grammar, spelling and foreign language errors that have plagued the series from Day 1 were SO pronounced that, unlike in most of the earlier books (which also abounded with sloppy mechanics/editing), I couldn't ignore them. There was no story going on to distract me from them
2) Major characters exhibited illogical and contradictory behavior reeking of plot device (not only contradictory to their behavior in previous books, but from chapter to chapter in this book).
3) A new major character was introduced, apparently as a continuing romantic interest for Our Heroine. However, this is one of the creepiest "romantic" characters (if he can be dignified by the term character) I have ever encountered. From his description, he sounds more like a sideshow attraction than a romantic leading man. And I DON'T mean tentacles! (Now THEY were sexy.)
4) The endless tedious, joyless, loveless carnal acts.

5) The Anita-who-isn't-really-Anita. Plot device, again. It has been maintained, in various discussion fora, that, in NIC, Anita has "come to terms" with her sexuality. This is not in evidence on the page, as she continues to indulge in juvenile "THAT wasn't sex" arguments throughout the book. The fact that Anita simply accepts certain plot devices thrust upon her is SO far outside the scope of the character's evolution over the course of the series, that it might as well be a series about another person entirely.
6) Beloved supporting characters' mouths are filled with "Anita is the most wonderfullest being on the planet" pap. Virtually all the characters in this book exist to validate Anita as the best, baddest, most intriguing, alluring, etc. One that ever was. Including the bad guys.
7) There is no context for the events in this book. What made the series gripping and entertaining was the juxtaposition of the preternatural world with the mundane one. I remember the feeling I got reading the first couple of books that I, PERSONALLY, had been awake for days, living on coffee and adrenalin, as Anita shuttled from zombie raising to crime scene to preternatural face off, with an hour's sleep snatched here and there. I felt that THAT world truly lurked around the edges of ours. NIC lacked that spice of normalcy.
This is an ill-crafted work that does a disservice to a writer with a marvelous imagination.

Don't buy this one unless it for the (...) writing. Borrow it and skim for plot.
I skipped most of the first half of Narcissus in Chains looking for plot before I found something interesting. The book was decent after it finally got moving, but there isn't a lot of actual story here. Its mostly just a (...) book centered around Blake's love life. ( Is anyone else out there sick of Blake's love(...) life and ready for the plot to move a bit? Richard or Jean Claude, Jean Claude or Richard, now its Richard, Jean Claude, Micah, and Nathaniel. Should we add Asher and Damian as well? When did this character go from being the scourge of vampires to floozy? )
This series is hit and miss for me. I'm not a really big fan of romance or (...) books so some of the novels annoy me. I started reading the Anita Blake books because I liked Anita Blake. She was relatively believable in her reactions to things, smart, fierce, and the plot was different from most I've read. I'm hoping the author will finally start resolving some things in the next book. I want to see Blake in action again solving crimes, kicking (...) and rediscovering a sense of control and restraint.

Anita Blake was a great character. I loved her struggle with her humanity, her resistance to the darkness of her world, the wonderfully ordinary things about a woman that was so extraordinary. This book just blew that all up in a big steaming pile of...dust for me. Here we have an Anita who hardly even resembles a human. When she isn't having sex with strangers, she's tasting people's flesh, or feeding off their sex (What the HECK does that mean?) or channeling undead werewolves or unleashing her "power" and saving the day for all the were-creatures who can't seem to make it through a day without her help. And as a reader, I'm left with...who cares about this woman? She's become too powerful for anyone to defeat...she casts off lovers and gets new ones without blinking an eye...and she seems completely free of a conscience and humanity. Those were the very things I cherished in her to begin with.
As for the other characters, Jean-Claude floats around in the background giving advice (and once again, he almost gets killed...he is the most helpless "Master of the City" imaginable). Richard is slashed and burned as a character. I can understand if Richard & Anita can't make their relationship work...after all, Richard still clings to his humanity and is paralyzed with his conscience (which is written as a deplorable thing here, instead of honored for what it is). But I don't understand the writers need to destroy the character. Has it never occured to her that he may have fans too? Not everyone is blindly devoted to Anita. Jason, Asher and the rest seem to fare fine, though I wish they would stop worshipping at the altar of Anita. They deserve better, and should be allowed to grow into 3-D characters. And speaking of cardboard characters, Micah shows up on the scene. He is Anita's "Nimir-Raj" (I think thats wereleopard for "he who kisses Anita's backside"). According to the writer in an interview, he was brought in to "simplify Anita's lovelife". So, I guess instead of working through issues with the characters already introduced and developed, its easier to take the cheap and easy way out and write in a character that should have "the perfect mate in every way for Anita" stamped on his forehead. Disappointing, very disappointing.
I will read the next book and see if the author reverts to form. I'm hoping that Richard gets to pull himself together, and regains the important role he's played in previous books. I'm hoping the Jean-Claude gets his groove back. I'm hoping Micah is pushed into the obscurity the character so richly deserves. And I'm hoping that Anita regains that human vulnerability that made her a character worth reading about for 9 books.

I discovered the Anita Blake series a few years back on a suggestion. I was thrilled by the first book I read went back and hungril consumed the rest of the series. I knew from the start that the Blake books weren't high literature, but as escapist fantasy, they sure were fun.
Flash forward three increasingly disappointing books and we get to the latest dreck in the previously entertaining line, Narcissus in Chains. Any scrap of individuality that Blake had is totally lost in a book that a few hundred pages of muddled plot that's just a backdrop for Anita to have sex with anyone who walks past her, with the flimsiest excuse ever invented. Our once quirky heroine has become just another bimbo- and a psychopathic bimbo to boot. I suppose that would excuse her behavior, except that Hamilton has spent most of the last 9 books setting up a personality for her. There's no sign of it anywhere. Oh, and fans of the hard boiled detective angle should just skip this volume- Anita doesn't even come within spitting distance of her job. It amazes me that she can afford to support all the people who've moved in with her, or that the investigative agency hasn't fired her by now for never showing up at work. Oh, wait... her boyfriend pays for everything. Yep, that's one strong willed feminist there.
If I really wanted to read about grossly over powered characters with no believable actions, no consistent morals, a sudden lack of motivations or background, I'd play more D&D. If I wanted graphic sex scenes with no plot, I'd just buy soft core porn. I expected better of Hamilton and Blake.

I love Anita Blake but was bitterly disappointed in Obsidian Butterfly. "NIC" is a vast improvement but still has some disappointments....Richard returns (groan) with still more of his whinings (how the heck does he stay pack leader when he's such a wuss?), and the ardeur becomes a bore with more bedhopping. Anita is becoming a helpess nympho! Still she does return to her detective work and sinks her teeth in yet another mystery involving preternatural murders and meets a new pard of wereleopards, including Nimir-Raj Micah who is at least more interesting than Richard. The novel ends with an epic battle that's much more to fans of the first trilogy. Recommend for Anita Blake fans but let's hope Ms. Hamilton gets Anita back to her roots in future books.

When I started reading this book, I hoped that it would be as good as "Obisdian Butterfly." Mistake. Anita Blake seems to have the morals of your local hooker. I have to agree with the reader from Las Cruzes, these books are becoming sad. Anita no longer fights monsters, and is has lost touch with her human friends. Jean Claud and Richard are fast becoming things of the past and minor characters. Let there be no mistake, I AM NOT A PRUDE, a touch of sex (or perhaps a little more than a touch) of sex does not bother me, but three at a time?! We may end up having to buy her books at the local adult book store in the future. I would like the Anita Blake of the past to come back to the future. I do not mind change, I just don't like mindless change. Before you buy this book, read all of the reviews, and then ask yourself, would you leave this on the coffee table for younger teenagers to read? Go for the paperback if you want it.

If there is anything I have learned from reading people's reviews, it's that there's no guarantee that I'll feel the same way as the next person. There have been books that I have greatly enjoyed, such as this one, that others really dislike. That said, I enjoy books that bring large casts together and then crazy things start happening. There's a lot of change in this book, though if you read Obsidian Butterfly you might have expected it. If you like to stick with one or two characters faithfully and while the action changes, the characters remain the same, you might not like this book.
I think I look at this series a little differently than most fans in that I read the series backwards, starting with Obsidian Butterfly. Because of that, I could really see the way Hamilton's writing and her characters changed. Though I don't agree with all of her choices, it's not my book, and I'm not at all surprised with Richard's development. Besides, happiness does not make exciting fiction.
To me, this is a transition book. However, it's also one of my favorites. Cerulean Sins seems to confirm that this was the start of something a little different (maybe a new phase of Anita's life). Anita and her life are changing and the series is reflecting that. If you're thinking about quitting after this book, that's up to you. But don't decide not to read it simply because of someone's opinion.

I have followed the exciting heroine, Anita, through all of her nine thrill rides in the past books. However, when I read this one, I got sick! I didn't think that it could get this bad.
It seems that Anita has lost so much of herself. She has gotten all of her marks in this book and a new lover also. Richard, at the end, is thrown out of the picture, having not completley accepted his werewolf nature. Jeane-Claude is not as important as he used to be to Anita, and i'm sorry to say that she has become a slut, nothing like she was in the first books.
I'm so sad it has to be this way, but hey, I can make up my own ending where Anita ends up with Jeane-Claude and only Jeane-Claude, Micah is gay, and Richard finds a new lupa. I'm a sucker for good endings!

Book 10 in the Anita Blake-Vampire Hunter series is a complete trainwreck of a book. Awful is too kind. Perhaps parody would be a better description. Oh, where to start....well, the beginning of the book actually starts out promisingly. Anita's back in town after leaving to get her head together, a crisis erupts, Anita calls Jean-Claude, her vampire lover, for help...he shows up and brings Richard, Anita's werewolf lover, along. They "marry the marks" , and the book is humming. Then the boys somehow disappear, Anita gets injured and wakes up naked in bed with 2 men she's never seen before. WHAT??? Who substituted this piece of .... for the book I was reading? Well folks, from there it continues to spiral down into the abyss. The only good thing about this book is that it virtually guarantess that the next one will be better....because nothing could be as bad as this.

Although I'm a prolific reader;I don't usually write book reviews...probably because I'm too busy reading! However, I felt compelled to write one for THIS novel (especially since I'd found that 'other' reviewers had somehow given this book an average of 3 stars!). I feel that when you read something that is fantasy/alternative fiction, that you should basically have an "open" mind. I believe that Laurell K. Hamilton is a very brave/gutsey writer; who doesn't hesitate to literally 'touch' on controversial topics/behaviors when telling her stories. She is able to literally and vicariously put you into her novels as an almost "active" participant, while expanding our boundaries and horizons...which is what great fiction (especially fantasy) should do!

NARCISSUS IN CHAINS is Laurell K. Hamilton at her ultimate best. This book allows you to accompany her heroine, Anita Blake, on her self-appointed 'quest' to rescue two of her friends (dependents/submissive pard members who happened to be into S&M) from an otherwise deadly encounter. Needless, to say, this leads to OTHER even more intense difficulties. Anita is an animator/vampire executioner who also helps the police solve preternatural crimes (while somehow...against all of her preconceived ideals/morals, she has now managed to become more "comfortable with the very monsters" that she'd once felt should be killed on sight.) Anita finds herself torn between feeling love, respect, admiration (and lust!) for the master vampire Jean Claude; while beginning to understand and learn to appreciate that his (and other preternatural 'creatures')sexual/moral lifestyles over (hundreds of years) vastly differs from that of her own...or; does it really?

This novel is a multi-layered experience. Anita strives to achieve her professional and personal goals, and help her friends; while constantly re-evaluating her own inner conflicts/boundaries as she interacts with cultures other than her own. Yes, there are steamy and erotic sexual (and alternatively sexual) scenes. However, these are a well written part of Anita's self exploration as she becomes more aware of her own strengths/weaknesses; while also becoming more understanding and tolerant of those who once were so seemingly different from herself.

Anyone who enjoys reading J.D.Robb, Mercedes Lackey, Tanya Huff, or Anne Bishop; will enjoy Laurell K. Hamilton's books. Narcissus In Chains happens to be a prime example of one of her best!

While I might have my own preferences when it comes to the themes Ms. Hamilton focuses upon, for instance I enjoy the strong mystery and mystical angles more so than the lycanthrope political thread, I always thoroughly enjoy the journey into Anita's world. She is the only author whose work I gleefully anticipate. For as long as she continues the series, I will always read, hoard, devour and re-read her books. That is what being a fan is all about. Thank you!

I'm reviewing this early; I still have about 70 pages to go. I've
just been introduced to Gil and I don't trust him. (sly as a fox?) Maybe I'll be surprised. I like the book so far, although I
will admit all the sex started to get monotonous until I realized
it was, for the most part, necessary as it is part of Anita's
"evolution". At this point I'm hoping she and Nathanial can stay
tight without something coming between. I really like him and don't want him to get too "weird". So, that really just leaves
me with one complaint - Where's Edward? I love his character and
the way he and Anita interact. If there's a next novel, please bring him back.

True, at first glance there may seem to be differences in the book and Anita's character, but when you look at the pattern of the books you can see that Anita's power is always expanding and we as readers are learning with her the limits or lack thereof to her power. Certainly Anita acts out of character and does less than moral things in this book, but just as she needed training and practice to become a sure-shot and fast-draw, she will need to learn techniques to quell new desires and experience to bring fledgling abilities to second-nature skills. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and that there could have been less sex, but overall I'm excited to see Anita to grow as a tough character and anxiously await the next installment.

I read this book in about 3 days. Which is pretty good. It means I was never anywhere without it. For probably the first time in my reading career, after I was done with the book, I picked it up and read it again! It's a breathless read: adventure, humor,horror and sex. Plenty of sex. Let's just say Anita has finally decided to "open" herself up to being part of a trimuvarte. But it may *not* end up being the three you think.
The only real missing piece in the book is the lack of Edward, but I'm sure he'll show up soon. This is a strong book for the Vampire series and makes me hunger for the next one! Happy Reading!

Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton is the best book I've read in years. It's thrilling from the first page to the last, filled with action, lust, love, devotion, and a few crazy twists. This recent Anita Blake novel introduces new characters and a plot that could make anyone like were-animals.

Wow... do I have to say any more?? WOW and double WOW! Hamilton is the master of werewolf/leopard/rat fiction (there's an interesting subgenre, eh?). Great dialogue and a definite voice throughout all of it; Anita Blake is a great character to follow around. My only complaint is that every male in the book looks alike. I had trouble keeping track of who was whom.
Word Ninja

I've been a fan of Hamilton since 1994, but this book was such a disappointment. The plot was non existent, and Anita isn't tough, she's just annoying. There are lots of scenes in which it looks like she's just trying to prove how strong she is, but really is just pathetic. All the sex in the book is unexpected...it is a sharp contrast to Anita's earlier personality. It's understood if you want to gather more readers with a more provacative heroine, but this is ridiculous. If I'd wanted to read a porno, I would have picked up another book. Do not read unless you want to be disappointed! I hope Hamilton will change her writing. I'm still going to read the next book b/c I'm such a big fan of Anita, but I'm praying that it doesn't drag the reader into another gutter.

Well - I have been reading the Anita Series for about 3 years now...and after reading the other 9 books I never thought I would dread reading the next one....I did. *sigh* I wouldn't say that my reaction was enough to turn me off buying the next book, but it was close. I was expecting a nice, good Anita book - with Necromancy, Killing, and good Vampire-Hunter action...instead I feel like I got a Sequel to Kiss of Shadows. (...)
The only thing that I can think of is that LKH saw how well the Merry Gentry book was received and it just bled over to this series. (Pun intended :-> ).
(...) I know that I myself enjoyed her "suffering" with her sexuality (or celibacy) and to see her abandon all that now....*sigh* ah well.
Thank you
ME

This entire series is a Mary-Sue. Take one look at the author's picture and then read the description of Anita. Anita is the center of every single character's world. Every male abases themselves before her. Every female character either hates her or looks to her for protection. The police apparently can't do their jobs and it's up to her to fix things. Blah blah blah blah blah. It's basically 'Twilight' with porn except for the personalities of the main characters. I'm just glad I bought the books for a few cents instead of full price.

A lot of people started telling me how BAD this book was and that I shouldnt waste my money on it. So I was a bit biased going into reading it. But that made the icing on the cake all that much more sweet.
New characters, old loves, violence and yes, erotic passion. I wont deign to demean the episodes that most people think turn this book into a porn novel.
The whole thing was put together VERY well! I had a hard time trying to pry myself away and be with my family this Thanksgiving. Everyone in my house wants to read the book when I'm done. I can hardly wait for the paperback to come out!Laurell K. Hamilton puts a new twist on Anita Blake while actually keeping true to the storyline. I'm only saddened that Richard never actually stayed true to Anita and Jean Luc. But that's neither here nor there.
Despite what everyone but a few people think, Hamilton is still one of my favorite authors and I look forward to more of her mischief in future years.

Back to the erotica themes. The adversary in this one basically runs a deadly supernatural BDSM club of an often particularly nasty kind.

Anita discovers that she has Jean Claude's s*x you up, give you the horn and s*x slave you vampire ardeur powers.

She also adds being master of a vampire to her ever growing list of supernatural abilities and titles, and gets herself yet another boyfriend, a new male wereleopard in town.

There is just enough of a plot in there to keep some interest.

Threesomes abound for this chick.

Having read all of the Anita Blake books, I can honesty say this is the one that has had the most impact on me. I just finished reading it and I'm still shaking. Ths book is extremely provacoative. It gives you the excitement and adventure you've come to expect from Anita as well as the lust and mystery. It is exceptionally well written and like many of the past books, you start reading and it sucks you in, you simply cannot put it down, wanting to see what Anita will be up against next. This book is definately more introspective then the others. Anita spends more time trying to come to terms with what she is and is becomming. This is one I will definately read again and can't wait until the next one comes out.

I read this book first before the rest of the series. this book made me want to read lkh entire series. the characters are very real and flawed something you normaly do not find in most characters in all diffrent kinds of books. i thought this was one of the best so far other then the killing dance as that is still my favorite. I feel that lkh is delving deeper into all the relationships that anita is having with all the people in her life, for a woman who did not want to develop any relationships she is now having friendships, love affairs and maternal instincts for her pard. i am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book i love that lkh is now bringing in belle morte into the relationship with asher and jean claude. lkh has given anita the ability to have a heart and mind and to be as strong as all the men involved. i will say that i wish that richard would finaly grow up and realize that both jean claude and anita both need him and that he is a pivitol part of the trimvirate, yet i noticed how jason was able to come in and be used with that marks i would love to find out more about that. please keep more coming.

First off, I must admit that I started the Anita Blake books at Narcissus In Chains, so no points there, but I have went back and read them all from the begining. I like the new and improved Anita. Back in the begining she was too repressed. No sex before marriage?! How is that anyway to start a book? I'm glad the celibacy finally came to a head a few books back. As much as I like Narcissus in Chains, the backtracking, repetitive descriptions, and the overuse of the word, "said," get on my nerves. These things I can look past, because these books draw you in and let reality take a back seat; exactly what I look for in my fiction. Take it for what it is, and enjoy.

I have read all of the Anita Blake series in one month. Ms. Hamilton's writing is excellent!
I have only read Anne Rice's vampire books before and when I found Ms. Hamilton's I didn't think they'd be very good. However, I was wrong. I'd put her in the same category as Anne Rice.
She has the ability to draw her readers in to each one of her novels and it is a nice change from the Vampire Chronicles. She puts enough of the details into her writings that they almost put you there with Anita.
I never thought of reading any writings from other writings except Anne Rice, however, Ms. Hamiltons' book are excellent!
I couldn't put any of the books down until I'd finished them and was ready to go onto the next.
I hope she keeps up the series.

I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of the series. I happened on it by accident, loved it, then had to go back and read all the rest to fill in the characters.
It is not for children, it contains a lot of sex and violence. But there is a lot of the details about her life with the werelepords, how she's trying to correct the damage done by previous dysfunctional leaders, and help them find a feeling of family. Details about the rest of the Were Community, how they live, their rituals, coping mechanisims, ect. I enjoy that part very much.
The sex may not be to everyones liking, but I found it very erotic.
In short, it appealed on several levels; erotic, the maternal but strong heroine, getting to know the Were Community, action, and happy endings where the bad guys get it. I had to have a copy for my own, and have read it twice in four months.

Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton is the best book I've read in years. It's thrilling from the first page to the last, filled with action, lust, love, devotion, and a few crazy twists. This recent Anita Blake novel introduces new characters and a plot that could make anyone like were-animals.

Wow... do I have to say any more?? WOW and double WOW! Hamilton is the master of werewolf/leopard/rat fiction (there's an interesting subgenre, eh?). Great dialogue and a definite voice throughout all of it; Anita Blake is a great character to follow around. My only complaint is that every male in the book looks alike. I had trouble keeping track of who was whom.
Word Ninja

I've been a fan of Hamilton since 1994, but this book was such a disappointment. The plot was non existent, and Anita isn't tough, she's just annoying. There are lots of scenes in which it looks like she's just trying to prove how strong she is, but really is just pathetic. All the sex in the book is unexpected...it is a sharp contrast to Anita's earlier personality. It's understood if you want to gather more readers with a more provacative heroine, but this is ridiculous. If I'd wanted to read a porno, I would have picked up another book. Do not read unless you want to be disappointed! I hope Hamilton will change her writing. I'm still going to read the next book b/c I'm such a big fan of Anita, but I'm praying that it doesn't drag the reader into another gutter.

Well - I have been reading the Anita Series for about 3 years now...and after reading the other 9 books I never thought I would dread reading the next one....I did. *sigh* I wouldn't say that my reaction was enough to turn me off buying the next book, but it was close. I was expecting a nice, good Anita book - with Necromancy, Killing, and good Vampire-Hunter action...instead I feel like I got a Sequel to Kiss of Shadows. (...)
The only thing that I can think of is that LKH saw how well the Merry Gentry book was received and it just bled over to this series. (Pun intended :-> ).
(...) I know that I myself enjoyed her "suffering" with her sexuality (or celibacy) and to see her abandon all that now....*sigh* ah well.
Thank you
ME

This entire series is a Mary-Sue. Take one look at the author's picture and then read the description of Anita. Anita is the center of every single character's world. Every male abases themselves before her. Every female character either hates her or looks to her for protection. The police apparently can't do their jobs and it's up to her to fix things. Blah blah blah blah blah. It's basically 'Twilight' with porn except for the personalities of the main characters. I'm just glad I bought the books for a few cents instead of full price.

A lot of people started telling me how BAD this book was and that I shouldnt waste my money on it. So I was a bit biased going into reading it. But that made the icing on the cake all that much more sweet.
New characters, old loves, violence and yes, erotic passion. I wont deign to demean the episodes that most people think turn this book into a porn novel.
The whole thing was put together VERY well! I had a hard time trying to pry myself away and be with my family this Thanksgiving. Everyone in my house wants to read the book when I'm done. I can hardly wait for the paperback to come out!Laurell K. Hamilton puts a new twist on Anita Blake while actually keeping true to the storyline. I'm only saddened that Richard never actually stayed true to Anita and Jean Luc. But that's neither here nor there.
Despite what everyone but a few people think, Hamilton is still one of my favorite authors and I look forward to more of her mischief in future years.

Back to the erotica themes. The adversary in this one basically runs a deadly supernatural BDSM club of an often particularly nasty kind.

Anita discovers that she has Jean Claude's s*x you up, give you the horn and s*x slave you vampire ardeur powers.

She also adds being master of a vampire to her ever growing list of supernatural abilities and titles, and gets herself yet another boyfriend, a new male wereleopard in town.

There is just enough of a plot in there to keep some interest.

Threesomes abound for this chick.

Having read all of the Anita Blake books, I can honesty say this is the one that has had the most impact on me. I just finished reading it and I'm still shaking. Ths book is extremely provacoative. It gives you the excitement and adventure you've come to expect from Anita as well as the lust and mystery. It is exceptionally well written and like many of the past books, you start reading and it sucks you in, you simply cannot put it down, wanting to see what Anita will be up against next. This book is definately more introspective then the others. Anita spends more time trying to come to terms with what she is and is becomming. This is one I will definately read again and can't wait until the next one comes out.

I read this book first before the rest of the series. this book made me want to read lkh entire series. the characters are very real and flawed something you normaly do not find in most characters in all diffrent kinds of books. i thought this was one of the best so far other then the killing dance as that is still my favorite. I feel that lkh is delving deeper into all the relationships that anita is having with all the people in her life, for a woman who did not want to develop any relationships she is now having friendships, love affairs and maternal instincts for her pard. i am on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book i love that lkh is now bringing in belle morte into the relationship with asher and jean claude. lkh has given anita the ability to have a heart and mind and to be as strong as all the men involved. i will say that i wish that richard would finaly grow up and realize that both jean claude and anita both need him and that he is a pivitol part of the trimvirate, yet i noticed how jason was able to come in and be used with that marks i would love to find out more about that. please keep more coming.

NIC is a good read. I just re-read Ob. Butterfly before reading the new book. Transition is good and references are good. It does have some slow parts, but they are easily skimmed. Sex is quite prevalent in the book, similar to Kiss/Shadows, but is not the theme. However, I think the author is leaving the series open to explore the new side of Anita. It also covers the lych. politics in depth. I do agree with a reviewer who wrote the entire book seemed to be wrapped up too quickly at the end. The plot was good...... but could have been expanded to so much more. The subplot between Asher and JC could have been expanded or maybe Belle Morte? Maybe in the next books.......
Overall, Anita is always a good read.

First off, I must admit that I started the Anita Blake books at Narcissus In Chains, so no points there, but I have went back and read them all from the begining. I like the new and improved Anita. Back in the begining she was too repressed. No sex before marriage?! How is that anyway to start a book? I'm glad the celibacy finally came to a head a few books back. As much as I like Narcissus in Chains, the backtracking, repetitive descriptions, and the overuse of the word, "said," get on my nerves. These things I can look past, because these books draw you in and let reality take a back seat; exactly what I look for in my fiction. Take it for what it is, and enjoy.

I have read all of the Anita Blake series in one month. Ms. Hamilton's writing is excellent!
I have only read Anne Rice's vampire books before and when I found Ms. Hamilton's I didn't think they'd be very good. However, I was wrong. I'd put her in the same category as Anne Rice.
She has the ability to draw her readers in to each one of her novels and it is a nice change from the Vampire Chronicles. She puts enough of the details into her writings that they almost put you there with Anita.
I never thought of reading any writings from other writings except Anne Rice, however, Ms. Hamiltons' book are excellent!
I couldn't put any of the books down until I'd finished them and was ready to go onto the next.
I hope she keeps up the series.

I loved this book. I think it's my favorite of the series. I happened on it by accident, loved it, then had to go back and read all the rest to fill in the characters.
It is not for children, it contains a lot of sex and violence. But there is a lot of the details about her life with the werelepords, how she's trying to correct the damage done by previous dysfunctional leaders, and help them find a feeling of family. Details about the rest of the Were Community, how they live, their rituals, coping mechanisims, ect. I enjoy that part very much.
The sex may not be to everyones liking, but I found it very erotic.
In short, it appealed on several levels; erotic, the maternal but strong heroine, getting to know the Were Community, action, and happy endings where the bad guys get it. I had to have a copy for my own, and have read it twice in four months.

I got caught up in this series after reading the preview in j.d. robb's (nora roberts) "out of this world". being new to the series I got to read all 10 of these in short order. it was a rare treat. I think I was somewhat obsessed with the whole thing. it really built to a fever pitch by "narcissus" and it was well worth the reading. the books just kept getting better and better. I can't recommend enough that the books are much better read in order. each book could most likely stand on it's own but they mean so much more if you've read them all and know the whole story.
I say "great work, ms. hamilton, keep up the good work!"

I can't believe all the bad reviews. I must admit I did like Blue Moon better, but I loved this one too! I loved the long, intense love scene. I can't wait for her & Jean-Claude to really get it on. I definitely will continue reading the series!

One Redeeming quality: if I run out of toilet paper, I can put this to use as my ancestor's did the Sears catalog.

The author totally trashed this series, we have the Vampire Humper meets the Hardback Whore.

What a pity.

I strongly recommend you try something by any of the following authors instead: Charlaine Harris (I love her Shakespeare series), Jim Butcher, Wen Spencer, Patricia Briggs, Rebecca Bradley, Lilith Saintcrow, Rob Thurman, Tanya Huff, Lois McMasters Bujold.

Life's too short to read crap.

RIP Anita Blake.

i'm not sure if it's because this was the first anita blake book i read, but i really enjoyed it. i thought it had a very deeply involved storyline, with a lot of twists and turns. when i went back to the previous books, they were enjoyable, but not to the extend of this latest book. it involves more romance between richard and the master vamp. i don't know why this book got so many bad reviews from readers. i thought it was amazing, and didn't want it to end.

I have to say, I have read all 9 books and by far this is my favorite. A must read for any fan! It had all the aspects of the series that we all have come to love: Sex, violence, intrigue and a couple of great plot twists. I have to say just one bad thing about it. It felt so final at the end, as if this was the last Anita Blake book we might see for quite some time if at all. :-p If this is indeed the last book she writes in this series, it is one (...) way to end, on top! ENJOY!!

Yeah! Richard is gone sort of. Couldn't of happened to a nicer guy. Not that I don't like him which I don't but what a whiner. I wish he would just get over him self. This book was good not just because Richard might be a little more out of the picture. I have to admit though half way through I put the book down in shock. Not that the others books haven't had there moments but wow!!! I almost wasn't going to read the rest of the book. I consider my self to be a hard core Anita fan and I almost wavered. Well of course a day hadn't gone by before I was chewing my nails and making up all sorts of awful endings for the book. I finished it and wow. I'm still an Anita fan.

Needless to say, I was supremely disappointed with the newest installment in the Anita Blake books. Gosh...I even pre-ordered it, anxiously awaiting for its delivery! As a huge fan of her books and characters, I was crushed. I have to admit that I was not too thrilled with the last one either..but, this book was obviously written without much thought to the plot. The entire book only covers a few days which just tells me that she is just trying to crank them out as quickly as possible. I will buy the next book of course, but I hope it isn't a third strike!

LKH sure knows how to weave an exhilarating story. I loved the action, suspense, and eroticism. I couldn't put it down! The novels have continued to get better since Blue Moon. Unlike many of the reviews I've read about her books, I really think that the sex adds an interesting and unique spice to the series. If people let go of their puritanical senses and open their minds, they may realize that the various erotic scenes add rather than detract from the narratives.

I absolutely loved all of the previous Anita Blake books as they were the anti-dote to the bizarre overwrought works of Anne Rice. Anita was a moral character that was able to hold her own. Sadly, in Narcissus in Chains, she has become Anita Blake Necromancer extroidinaire and part time Porno Queen. It is my hope that Laurell Hamilton chalks up this work as some sort of anamoly and starts fresh with a new and improved storyline.

A nice change from the previous nine but just as good in it's own right. Missed some of the mystery but was glad to see Anita changing and developing as a person - accepting what she was and what she is becoming without too much squimishness. Happy to see Richard (FINALLY!) put on the backburner. I'm sorry, he's just too much of a whiner. Anita needs an equal not a little boy in love with self-pity and self-loathing. Welcome Micah! He's too good to be true - we await to see why. And there is of course Nathaniel but that's another story... This book was wonderfully refreshing, fast paced, entertaining and I'm pining away for the next installment already. Excellent read!

I LOVE the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. Laurell has such a creative imagination and with her descriptive story telling, the books seem to play out like movies in the reader's mind. Especially for someone with an over-active imagination like myself.

Narcissus in Chains is definitely a good read. Steamy . . . . no, boiling, fast paced, in your face and edge of your seat.

Anita has ended up being the reluctant Nimir-Ra, leopard queen, of a small pard of wereleopards, who are suddenly lost, thanks to Anita, without their cruel but oh-so-important leader. Nathanial, the weakest of them all, is a severely submissive character who craves a dominant in all things. He winds up at a club (Narcissus in Chains, run by a werehyena) at the mercy of some critters who just don't seem to know how to play nice. Her love life takes a nose-dive and an up-swing almost at the same time as she re-acclimates back into her life only to find that everything has fallen apart while she was away trying to put herself back togeather.

Anita rides in to Nathanial's rescue, and nearly gets herself killed in the process. What was supposed to be a simple "retrieve and leave" operation turns messy and complicated as it always does with dear Anita. Richard shows his true colors in this book as new characters are intodued, some nifty new powers appear for Anita, (thanks to a little help from the Master of the City: Jean-Claude and the marks that bind the three of them) and trouble finds its way into the city, yet again.

As hard as the book was to put down, little things drove me nuts. I'm no English Professor or anything, my spelling stinks and my punctuation is rusty but, really... Details, details... Misplaced period or two, confusing sentences and I think that some of the dialog was inacurately linked to the characters. (Something along the lines of a three person conversation and action scene. Someone screams, "Nooo!!" as something breaks but it's hard to say what or why THAT character said "Nooo!".) Just little details that the editor apparently missed.

Normally, Hamilton is so good at covering everything in her books. (Except for maybe the time Anita drove her car after totaling it and before getting the rental car. Go figure.) It seems, though, in Narcissus in Chains, she may have gotten a little carried away with the steamy plot-line and the lightning fast action and forgot a few things.

Over all, I highly recommmend the book to any Anita Blake or Laurell K. Hamilton fans. Also, as always, Hamilton is such a thorough author(most of the time) that one can come in at any place in the series and still get a brief overview and fairly good idea of what has gone on the the world of Ms. Blake prior to that particular book.

This book remains one of my most favorite in the entire series. Every aspect of the main character's relationships changes and she is starting to strip away the annoying tendencies that helped flesh out the character to begin with, but had become a little annoying that Anita, despite the radical changes in her life, could not seem to grow up.

How can you not love Anita? She has unlimited power and a conscience, an undaunting will to live and the ability to save those she cares about at almost any price. Each book gets better and better, I only wish all of them were available in audiobook. The reader and producer do an amazing job of bringing the characters to life!

The 10th book in the Anita Blake-Vampire Hunter series continues the disturbing trend of the last few books, especially the last 2, of heaping ridiculous power after ridiculous power onto Anita Blake. Thats fine if you're into reading comic books heroines that leap tall buildings in a single bound and "kick-...", but if you are looking for complex, mature, human females, you're probably going to want to skip these books from here on out. Anita doesn't even remotely resemble one anymore.
I gave the book 2 stars for the marrying of the marks in the beginning....a start that promised a better book then delivered, and Jean-Claude finally losing his temper with the childish Anita.

This book literally left me thrumming with nervous energy. Ms. Hamilton presents a darker Anita Blake. Anita is beginning to come into her own and to accept herself. With the addition of even more intense erotic situations than any other book in the series, along with the omnipresent violent situations, character clashes and class warfare this book is a steamroller. It will bowl you over and leave you wanting more. The only aspect that I do miss, is the dark humor that pervaded the previous books. But then again, with Anita's acceptance of herself as a semi-human sociopath, I guess you can't have everything. All in all, the best in the series and this book definately left me anticipating the next.

I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE NIGHT, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. WE NOW HAVE A FEW NEW CHARATORS ADDED IN TO THE SERIES. SHE STILL IS HAVING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE 2 MALES IN HER LIFE, AND THEN TO ADD MORE STRIFE A THIRD MALE APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE.
ANITA IS GETTING MORE AND MORE SAVAGE LIKE AND EVEN THOUGH JEAN-CLAUD TRIES, HE CAN'T HELP HER OR STOP IT. SHE IS COMMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO VERGE OF HUMANITY, TO FINILLY RELINQUISH TO THE BLOODLUST EVER GROWING INSIDE HER...

I absolutely love the Anita Blake series. Her previous books usually included a mystery to solve or a bad guy to conquer. Anita herself and her emotions seem to be the "bad guy" this time and it is her struggle with herself which moves the story along. It is interesting to see that all of the characters are evolving.
Hamilton's books are always a fascinating read and this is no exception.

Laurell K Hamilton writes an exciting tale in her continuing Anita Blake series. I felt this was a transitional book and Ms. Hamilton did an excellent job transforming Anita. Although I did not personally like the transformation of Anita, I still thought the book was well written and entertaining. It was well worth the money I spent to purchase it in hardcover.

I loved this book! The writing it is as always amazing! The stories fast, addictive, and interduces many new and interesting charactors! This book was all I'd hoped for it to be, the story line was new and different and leaves you dying for the next book (will april never come?). If you've read the other books then you can't miss this one. I've read a lot of reviews complaining that the book was to involved with sex but it works with the story and isn't some random thing. Sex is something that tends to be part of Anita's life and adding it to the story was obvious, its just the way it was added is something you wouldn't think of. Personally that adds to the story for me, anyway this book is worth reading, I personally have read it over and over.

NIC is a good read. I just re-read Ob. Butterfly before reading the new book. Transition is good and references are good. It does have some slow parts, but they are easily skimmed. Sex is quite prevalent in the book, similar to Kiss/Shadows, but is not the theme. However, I think the author is leaving the series open to explore the new side of Anita. It also covers the lych. politics in depth. I do agree with a reviewer who wrote the entire book seemed to be wrapped up too quickly at the end. The plot was good...... but could have been expanded to so much more. The subplot between Asher and JC could have been expanded or maybe Belle Morte? Maybe in the next books.......
Overall, Anita is always a good read.

I bought this book on 10/09 and finished in 7 hours. It is a thrilling ride I'll gladly take again. In fact, I have already reread it. Hamilton propels her characters along a path I never envisioned; and that is what's great about this book. I don't want to figure out the entire plot after 50 pages. I don't want repetitive books where Anita solves the preternatural crime and kills (almost) every vampire in sight. I want books that sell me a ticket into another world filled with adventure and maybe a little pain.
There are two plot points that are perhaps too obviously telegraphed but not enough to dampen the ride. After all, I read books for the journey not just the destination.
So, if you want to be challenged, to go outside your comfort zone, if you want to read books where the characters are vibrant, although not always "alive" and never predictable, read Laurell K Hamilton--read "Narcissus in Chains".

I absolutely loved all of the previous Anita Blake books as they were the anti-dote to the bizarre overwrought works of Anne Rice. Anita was a moral character that was able to hold her own. Sadly, in Narcissus in Chains, she has become Anita Blake Necromancer extroidinaire and part time Porno Queen. It is my hope that Laurell Hamilton chalks up this work as some sort of anamoly and starts fresh with a new and improved storyline.

A nice change from the previous nine but just as good in it's own right. Missed some of the mystery but was glad to see Anita changing and developing as a person - accepting what she was and what she is becoming without too much squimishness. Happy to see Richard (FINALLY!) put on the backburner. I'm sorry, he's just too much of a whiner. Anita needs an equal not a little boy in love with self-pity and self-loathing. Welcome Micah! He's too good to be true - we await to see why. And there is of course Nathaniel but that's another story... This book was wonderfully refreshing, fast paced, entertaining and I'm pining away for the next installment already. Excellent read!

I LOVE the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. Laurell has such a creative imagination and with her descriptive story telling, the books seem to play out like movies in the reader's mind. Especially for someone with an over-active imagination like myself.

Narcissus in Chains is definitely a good read. Steamy . . . . no, boiling, fast paced, in your face and edge of your seat.

Anita has ended up being the reluctant Nimir-Ra, leopard queen, of a small pard of wereleopards, who are suddenly lost, thanks to Anita, without their cruel but oh-so-important leader. Nathanial, the weakest of them all, is a severely submissive character who craves a dominant in all things. He winds up at a club (Narcissus in Chains, run by a werehyena) at the mercy of some critters who just don't seem to know how to play nice. Her love life takes a nose-dive and an up-swing almost at the same time as she re-acclimates back into her life only to find that everything has fallen apart while she was away trying to put herself back togeather.

Anita rides in to Nathanial's rescue, and nearly gets herself killed in the process. What was supposed to be a simple "retrieve and leave" operation turns messy and complicated as it always does with dear Anita. Richard shows his true colors in this book as new characters are intodued, some nifty new powers appear for Anita, (thanks to a little help from the Master of the City: Jean-Claude and the marks that bind the three of them) and trouble finds its way into the city, yet again.

As hard as the book was to put down, little things drove me nuts. I'm no English Professor or anything, my spelling stinks and my punctuation is rusty but, really... Details, details... Misplaced period or two, confusing sentences and I think that some of the dialog was inacurately linked to the characters. (Something along the lines of a three person conversation and action scene. Someone screams, "Nooo!!" as something breaks but it's hard to say what or why THAT character said "Nooo!".) Just little details that the editor apparently missed.

Normally, Hamilton is so good at covering everything in her books. (Except for maybe the time Anita drove her car after totaling it and before getting the rental car. Go figure.) It seems, though, in Narcissus in Chains, she may have gotten a little carried away with the steamy plot-line and the lightning fast action and forgot a few things.

Over all, I highly recommmend the book to any Anita Blake or Laurell K. Hamilton fans. Also, as always, Hamilton is such a thorough author(most of the time) that one can come in at any place in the series and still get a brief overview and fairly good idea of what has gone on the the world of Ms. Blake prior to that particular book.

This book remains one of my most favorite in the entire series. Every aspect of the main character's relationships changes and she is starting to strip away the annoying tendencies that helped flesh out the character to begin with, but had become a little annoying that Anita, despite the radical changes in her life, could not seem to grow up.

How can you not love Anita? She has unlimited power and a conscience, an undaunting will to live and the ability to save those she cares about at almost any price. Each book gets better and better, I only wish all of them were available in audiobook. The reader and producer do an amazing job of bringing the characters to life!

Well the first Anita Blakes were great, but this was one sex scene after another and just boring. Too much agruing over who is the greatest and blah blah.... not enough action and story.

BORING glad i borrowed from the library and did not buy it.

I would be returning it.

The 10th book in the Anita Blake-Vampire Hunter series continues the disturbing trend of the last few books, especially the last 2, of heaping ridiculous power after ridiculous power onto Anita Blake. Thats fine if you're into reading comic books heroines that leap tall buildings in a single bound and "kick-...", but if you are looking for complex, mature, human females, you're probably going to want to skip these books from here on out. Anita doesn't even remotely resemble one anymore.
I gave the book 2 stars for the marrying of the marks in the beginning....a start that promised a better book then delivered, and Jean-Claude finally losing his temper with the childish Anita.

This book literally left me thrumming with nervous energy. Ms. Hamilton presents a darker Anita Blake. Anita is beginning to come into her own and to accept herself. With the addition of even more intense erotic situations than any other book in the series, along with the omnipresent violent situations, character clashes and class warfare this book is a steamroller. It will bowl you over and leave you wanting more. The only aspect that I do miss, is the dark humor that pervaded the previous books. But then again, with Anita's acceptance of herself as a semi-human sociopath, I guess you can't have everything. All in all, the best in the series and this book definately left me anticipating the next.

I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE NIGHT, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. WE NOW HAVE A FEW NEW CHARATORS ADDED IN TO THE SERIES. SHE STILL IS HAVING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE 2 MALES IN HER LIFE, AND THEN TO ADD MORE STRIFE A THIRD MALE APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE.
ANITA IS GETTING MORE AND MORE SAVAGE LIKE AND EVEN THOUGH JEAN-CLAUD TRIES, HE CAN'T HELP HER OR STOP IT. SHE IS COMMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO VERGE OF HUMANITY, TO FINILLY RELINQUISH TO THE BLOODLUST EVER GROWING INSIDE HER...

I absolutely love the Anita Blake series. Her previous books usually included a mystery to solve or a bad guy to conquer. Anita herself and her emotions seem to be the "bad guy" this time and it is her struggle with herself which moves the story along. It is interesting to see that all of the characters are evolving.
Hamilton's books are always a fascinating read and this is no exception.

Laurell K Hamilton writes an exciting tale in her continuing Anita Blake series. I felt this was a transitional book and Ms. Hamilton did an excellent job transforming Anita. Although I did not personally like the transformation of Anita, I still thought the book was well written and entertaining. It was well worth the money I spent to purchase it in hardcover.

I loved this book! The writing it is as always amazing! The stories fast, addictive, and interduces many new and interesting charactors! This book was all I'd hoped for it to be, the story line was new and different and leaves you dying for the next book (will april never come?). If you've read the other books then you can't miss this one. I've read a lot of reviews complaining that the book was to involved with sex but it works with the story and isn't some random thing. Sex is something that tends to be part of Anita's life and adding it to the story was obvious, its just the way it was added is something you wouldn't think of. Personally that adds to the story for me, anyway this book is worth reading, I personally have read it over and over.

It took me a long time to find this book and read it in the order in which it was intended. Now that I have it has answered a lot of questions I had in book 11. Like just how and where Anita became infected with the other wearamminals. And about the collision, who started it and why. That stuff is not explained ver well in the next book.

I bought this book on 10/09 and finished in 7 hours. It is a thrilling ride I'll gladly take again. In fact, I have already reread it. Hamilton propels her characters along a path I never envisioned; and that is what's great about this book. I don't want to figure out the entire plot after 50 pages. I don't want repetitive books where Anita solves the preternatural crime and kills (almost) every vampire in sight. I want books that sell me a ticket into another world filled with adventure and maybe a little pain.
There are two plot points that are perhaps too obviously telegraphed but not enough to dampen the ride. After all, I read books for the journey not just the destination.
So, if you want to be challenged, to go outside your comfort zone, if you want to read books where the characters are vibrant, although not always "alive" and never predictable, read Laurell K Hamilton--read "Narcissus in Chains".

Is this an aberration or a "new direction"? If its the former, glad to hear it. If its the latter, thanks its been fun but I'm done.
You ever read a book and think....what was/is going on with this author that this book is the result? Thats how I felt about this book.
Maybe its just me, but having your main character screwing around every chapter with another male with an enormous schlong and calling it "characer development" is laughable to the extreme.
If you're a Jean-Claude or Richard fan, BEWARE !!! They are badly written, dumped on, and in the case of Richard, unbelievably mangled. Ah, but not to worry, Anita has a new instant soulmate, Micah. A character so flimsy and useless the most memorable thing about him is the size of his willy.
You had me until this one Ms Hamilton....

I was sorely disappointed by this book. i have been an avid reader of the whole series but with the last couple of books this series is on a seriousl decline. Anita is the most irrating character in the series, it would almost be perferrable if she was written out completely.Lately Anita is becoming more and more dominent while all the other characters become more and more subservient to her will. I don't encourange anyone to buy this book. if you have to read it, save yourself some money and rent it from the libary.

I am so tired of a great character, Anita Blake, being obsessed with sex, sex, sex. She was fabulous and now is totally one-dimensional. I think she would consider jumping a turnip if she walked close by one. And all this back-and-forth between Jean-Claude and Richard is BORING. How did Anita sink into this morass?

i just finished reading narcissus in chains, and immediately went back to read it again. i found it the most interesting and challenging addition in the series yet.
imagine my surprise at all the negative or at best lukewarm reviews i found here-- the main complaints seem to be that the book wasn't just like the earlier installments, and that anita isn't the same character she used to be.
imagine how boring things would get if an unchanging anita moved from one cookiecutter book to another. the part of the vampire hunter novels that i most enjoy is watching anita morph into someone deeper and more complex with every offering. my interest is not contingent on whether she stays "human enough"-- i can't wait to see what else it is she's turning into!

Maybe if I had read the other 9 books featuring character Anita Blake before this one I could get a better grip on just why this woman becomes violently angry in every other paragraph. In this particular book when she isn't having sex in some form or other with the main male characters, she's threatening to shoot them. I found the Anita Blake character and this book childish and rather melodramatic. Considering the subject line you'd have thought there would have been more meat on the bone as the saying goes but alas the was no real plot to follow unless the ardeur was to supply that also.

I love this book. Having read all of the A Blake series , I found this book particularly entertaining, someones been walking on the wild side(DS anyone ?). The always in control Anita finally losing control. Having to depend on others to keept her grounded, safe, to meet her needs. It' a'int shakespeare but then again what is ? Great escapism, and still one of the strongest women in contemporary print.

I always enjoy reading L.K.H. books since the first one, but this has got to be the worst story line ever...
Correction -NO STORY LINE- just sex,sex,sex...
poor excuse for menopause (heat flashes,etc)
Enjoy the previous books and skip this one.

This book was a wonderful escape. It has action, romance and psychoanalysis all from a female point of view. The plot kept me turning the pages. I loved Michah. I think Anita is beginning to come into her own. Don't believe the hype read this book. The only semi- down side may be if you're a Richard fan, but even that is left hopeful.

I have been reading the Anita Blake series since it first came out, and have loved every single book she has written in different ways. From Guilty Pleasures to Incubus Dreams, the story of Anita Blake and her comrades has intrigued me, and Narcisuss in Chains is probably one of Hamilton's better books in different ways than the rest she has written.

Most people are put off by the sensuality in the novels, and I think that this was Hamilton's intention. From the reactions of different characters in the novel who believe Anita to be a "slut" because she has accepted her sexuality and the fact that it can not only bring the people she loves closer, but heal them, shows Hamilton's intentions. It is easy to label someone a "whore" for having sexual relations with different men, but no one seems to be complaining that the different men in Anita's life have had sex with various different women themselves. As Anita seems to be struggling sublty with the man/woman stereotypes, Hamilton starkly outlines society's stereotypes, the ones that pertain to everyone, by making Anita someone who is both comfortable and frightened by her desires and her lack of regret for what she has done. As a devout believer in God, one would assume that she is contradicting her morals, but what really seems to be occuring is that Anita is becoming closer to God, but also closer to who she is as someone who kills when necessary, and closer to understanding the basic, primal needs all humans have but cannot face.

I have noticed that many people complain about the different men in Anita's life, mainly because they haven't been "developed" well enough. However, i have to disagree with this because in every character that is presented, a different facet of Anita and her struggle to come to terms with herself is brought into light. She loves Richard, but because of their inability to compromise, they have problems being together (Especially in Narcissus in Chains). As he is unwilling to change his weaknesses, Anita becomes more and more aware of how unwilling she is to change herself. She also loves Jean-Claude (honestly, I have been rooting for him from the beginning), but cannot give him her own blood or her heart, and pulls back from him, further showing how her previous relationship has damaged her for the men she loves and for herself. Micah serves as the example of someone who gives Anita what she wants, and yet she is not satisfied. She seems to be slowly realizing her faults, but still doesn't know what to do with them.

On top of all that, the various struggles throughout Narcissus add to the tension already escalating in Anita with her personal life. She isn't satisfied with her job, which was what was extremely secure to her before, and is even more confused with her love life than ever. As she struggles through this, she builds ties with her wereleopards, and begins realizing that she isn't a mere human at all, but growing in power because of the ties she has made.

Many have also complained that in Narcissus, Anita is no longer the same rebelious vampire killer as she ones was, but I feel that this is unfair to the overall plot of the story. The irony of it all is that what Anita hated most, what she feared most, she is becoming through her love of two men whom she should have killed because of who she was. Her powers grow through her ties and her love, through her closeness with others, yet she continues to push them away for fear of being consumed. She became even more believable, more human-like in her desperation to keep herself away from what she is becoming, because of the struggle. We all struggle against ourselves, against the pieces of ourselves that we wish weren't there. Anita, slowly beginning to realize she must accept them, yet continuing to fight them regardless of this, reveals a weakness that didn't seem to be present before. Because of this weakness, and Anita's continued "hard-ass" persona in order to protect those she loves, even if she hurts them emotionally, makes me like her even more than before. Anyone who couldn't see the developments, think past the steamy sex-scenes (that, initially, act to bring Anita and her lovers closer, making them a more tightly-knit unit, and probably to give Hamilton the last hurrah when people begin to squirm and shy away from something so obviously natural between all people) they would realize the depth the characters have, and how they seem to outline our own internal conflicts with ourselves.

Obsidian Butterfly was such a sexual drought, that it made me appreciate Narcissus in Chains more. I prefer Anita when she is getting some because she seems to mouth off less; the endless poking at people far bigger/stronger just because she is a runt annoyed me last book especially. I was happy to have some Jean Claude and Richard back in the story, and think Micah was a good addition. I like all the new aspects introduced to her character as well. Can't wait to read the next one and wish the people who "hate" the books would stop reading them!

I gotta say this is my favorite out of the whole series. It gives us a great conclusion of the Jean-Claude/Richard conflict and introduces some great new characters, like Anita's new boyfriend. As a Jean-Claude fan I especially loved how LKH got rid of the temperamental, insenitive, wimp, Richard. In NIC, Anita gets a new guy, who accepts her for who she is. Anita finally comes to terms with herself as this book show a different side of her, while still dominant but having human emotions too.
A great book for all Anita fans.

Obsidian Butterfly was without a doubt the best book in the Anita Blake series. Unfortunately, Narcissus in Chains made me not want to read any of the books anymore. I had no problem with the sex and S&M. I had a problem with the main character becoming something she originally despised. She always said she'd rather die than become anything less than human but she didn't. I loved this series until this book. After reading it, I didn't want to read another. Hamilton is a great writer but should have left Anita as she was.

By far the poorest of Ms Hamiltons Anita Blake series.
The author seemed more interested in putting Anita into any sort of sexual situation that she can think of, which would have been OK if i was reading a work of erotica. Instead i was hoping to read something else entirely. Nothing important or interesting happened until nearly half way through this book, which at 400+ pages made for some very dull reading.
I wouldn't recommend anyone buy this, borrow it instead.
Very dissappointing.

My least favorite so far. Too much sex, too much arguing, and not enough plot development. Introducing a conflict, like the one with Jacob, and then finishing it up in the epilogue was a bit cheap. All through the book I was expecting some kind of big showdown between the two of them and then I get, "my first order of business was to execute Jacob." WTF?

Anita finds herself caught between the monsters and humans again. She is now clearly on the monster side. Again we struggle with Richard and where Anita will draw the line with Jean-Claude. One thing is for sure, Anita will do just about anything to help her friends, and she has quite a list of followers who will protect her with their life.

I did not find the book to be pornographic as many readers have been complaining about. The group stuff was not that big a deal. Definately an adult book but nothing that would stop me from reading what's next.

The only time this reader will ever be dissapointed or sadden by Hamilton's writing ability is when she stops writting.
This book was perfection from beginning to end. I love her books and her writting abilty. I love the way she gets me so wrapped up in her worlds, this realitly seems to break away and hers drags me into the depts of her imagination. I love this woman's writing Wiether it be Anita blake sereis(Honestly my favorites and they better never end) Or her other tales, which I loved as much.
Jean Claudes character was as witty and sharp as ever. Though I'd like more of him in her books. And Richard well what can I say, You want to kiss him one second and beat some sense in him the next.
But you ain't seen nothing from this executioner yet. Her appetite for life becomes more enthralling in each book. Her tangled loves, her Libedo and her morals all get pushed to the limits in this book.Of coarse staying away from both of her loves for so long has made a mess of things,but she has her own special talents of making the bo-bo's all better.
Believe me reading this book will make the next 3 days your best.
Blessed Be

I was worried about reading this book because of the negative comments I had read, but I must admit I really enjoyed the change. I read these books for the relationships, and this one is all about the relationships among the characters. This book has a lot more sex, so if you like violence but not sex, this is not for you. As for me, I like sex much more that violence, so I am actually happy about the change in focus.

I wouldnt reccomend this drivel to anyone.Her characters are one demensional,boring,yet they are always exquisitely beautiful-please!!I was expecting much more and as you can tell was very let down.It was a long,boring read that went no place.The dialogue is often trite and stilted.At times the story is vague.I reccomend that Ms Hamilton work on making her characters a little more believeable,and a little less perfect.If you are going to throw in Bdsm and sex,to sell your books,at least make it erotic.It was a big Yawn.

This book made me consider Obsidian Butterfly as the true end of the Anita Blake series.She went from a strong women who could hang with the big boys to a women that has sex to make all of her problems go away. I'm not even a women and i feel offended!!!

Sure it was a bit sleazy, and big! But hey! I thought it was a good book! Of course this was the beggining of the sex books but this one had more of a point to it. I enjoyed anticipating what would happen to Anita. (If you read it you know what I mean.hint: Meow) It made me a bit annoyed with Micah in the begging but every book has at least one fault. Big deal.

Whew, Laurell K. is ready to break out into writing sheer erotica!
While I couldn't rate this book a 5, it is a book that I could not put down. Sexy, fun, and scary. A great read. I really grew to like JC in this book, as well as Nathanial. And it was refreshing to see Anita get rid of at least some of her burdensome guilt and middle-class morality.
I really enjoyed this and plan on reading it again, at a slower rate this time, ;). If you are a fan of Anita Blake, this is a must-read, and also, I believe, a book you'll be glad to read.

ALL I HAVE TO SAY TO MS. HAMILTON IS "GREAT BOOK." I LOVED THIS BOOK, AS I HAVE LOVED, ALL OF THE OTHER'S, UP TO THIS ONE. I WAS HOOKED FROM "DAY ONE" AFTER READING MY VERY FIRST BOOK ABOUT ANTIA BLAKE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT BOOKS, FOR ME, TO READ. I EVEN GOT ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER HOOKED ON THEM. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE NEW PEOPLE IN THIS BOOK. IT MADE IT EVEN MORE INTERESTING TO READ, NOT THAT ALL THE OLD PEOPLE AREN'T JUST AS MUCH FUN TO READ ABOUT TOO. OK..THERE WAS A LOT OF SEX IN THE BOOK...BUT IT WENT WELL AND ALONG WITH THE STORY LINE. AND BESIDES ANITA HAS TO GROW..DOESN'T SHE??? I FINISHED THIS BOOK TONITE, AND LOOK FORWARDS TO YOUR NEXT ANITA BLAKE BOOK....