Incubus Dreams

FromthePublisherAsconsultanttotheRegionalPreternaturalCrimeInvestigationUnit,Anita’scalledinonwhatappearstobeacaseinvolvingaserialkiller-avampireserialkiller-whomaybepreyingonstrippers.She’ssurethatnoneofthelocalvampsareresponsible-butherjudgmentmaybecloudedbyaconflictofinterest.Forsheis,afterall,theconsortofJean-Claude,theever-intoxicatingMasterVampireoftheCity-somethingthatbothherhumanfriendsandherex,thealphawerewolfRichard,arequicktopointout.Surroundedbysuspicion,overwhelmedbyherattemptstocontroltheprimalluststhatcontinuetowrackherasaresultofherpassionatecontactswithvampire,werewolf,andtheshapeshifterMicah,Anitadoessomethingunprecedented.Shecallsforhelp…PublishersWeeklyFansofbestsellerHamilton'svampirehunterAnitaBlakewillbethrilledwithatleastoneaspectofthistransitional12thinstallment(after2003'sCeruleanSins):Anitafinallyresolvesherrelationshipswithwerewolfex-boyfriendRichardZeemanandvampireboyfriendJean-Claude.They'llalsobepleasedtoseeAnitafinallygetcomfortablewithherownbehavior,despitecrossingmanylines-sexual,psychological,professional,paranormal-thatshepreviouslythoughtuncrossable.Inherroleasvampire-executionerandpreternatural-crimeinvestigator,Anitapursuesabandofserial-killingvampireswhopreyonfemalestrippers,butmuchofthenovelfocusesonherresponsibilitiesasaleaderinSt.Louis'svampiric-lycanthropiccommunity.Thoseobligationsareoftenintertwinedwithsex,thebasictoolofherever-growingmagicalpowers.Theardeurthatcompelshertohavesexinordertofuelhertwo"powertriumvirates"mustnowbefedwithincreasingfrequency.Oldfoesthreatenasnewenemiesemerge.There'splentyoflife(andundeath)leftinthisseries,andHamilton'simaginationisapparentlyasinexhaustibleasherheroine'ssupernaturalcapacityforcoupling.Agent,MerrileeHeifetzatWritersHouse.(Oct.5)Forecast:Thetrendtowardemphasizingtheeroticmaylosesomeestablishedfans,butislikelytogaintheauthormanymorenewreaders.A14-cityauthortourwillhelpkeepthemomentumgoing.Copyright2004ReedBusinessInformation.LibraryJournalAnitaBlakereturnsinthisthirdseriesentry,stillthesamegutsy,no-nonsensefemaleunafraidtotakeonanythingthatthepreternaturalworldthrowsherway.Hersexlifeisasextraordinaryasever:onelover,Richard,isleaderofawerewolfpack,whileanother,Jean-Claude,isthevampireMasteroftheCity.TheseandothercomplexphysicalrelationshipsstrengthenAnita'spsychicpowersandenablehertohelpthecopstrackdownagangofserialkillers;strippersfromlocalclubshavebeenmurdered,theirblood-drainedbodiescoveredwithmultiplevampirebites.Thefinalchaptersbecomeapage-turningadventureasAnitaandthepolicezeroinontheperpetrators.Fansoftheserieswillnotbedisappointed;recommendedwheretheseriesispopular.-PatriciaAltner,InformationSeekers,Columbia,MDCopyright2004ReedBusinessInformation.KirkusReviewsTwelfthentryandfourthhardcoverintheAnitaBlakeVampireHunterseries.Vampiresnowhaverightsandrestrictions.Butit'samazinghowsomanyhumanssurviveinanalternate-worldSt.Louis,whatwithallthevamppacks,wereleopards,werewolves,thelonewerefox,andanimatedzombiesbleedingfolksdryorrippingupbodies.SupernaturalserialkillershavebecomeBlake'sstock-in-trade(SeducedbyMoonlight,2003,etc.)whileshetriestostraightenoutherromanticsexlife(whenshe'snotcelibate).SexyAnitahasthreeotherworldlyboyfriends,sinceRichardZeeman,theWolf-Kingtowhomshewasengaged,dumpedherbecauseshe'shomierwithmonstersthanhe.SheandMicahCallahanareQueenandKingofthewereleopards,thoughshe'smoreconsortthanwifeuntiltheclimacticsexscene.StrippersarebeingmurderedbyroguevampswhileAnitasuffersendlesslyfromhercomplicatedlovelife,chastelysleepingwithhandsome20-year-oldNathaniel,herpommedesang,whilefightingoffherardeur,orbeastlylibido.UndertheardeurwhenherbelovedMasterVampire,Jean-Claude,feeds,shetastestheblood,andwhenRichardbringsdownadeer,itsmeatslidesdownherthroat.Theardeuralsoleadstoplentyofhotsex,allsteamandmind-pumpingpassion,butoftenleadingtometaphysicalwhammies.HeadingthekillerpackisolderVittorio,whoisstrongenoughtohidehisactsfromtheChurchofEternalRestandevenfromtheMasteroftheCity,ex-loverJean-Claude.Atthislength,Hamiltongoesreallybigtime.Butbetweenspellsofgrislymelodramaandenjoyablemonsterology,themaindevicehereisthatirritableAnitagetsalongwithnobodyandbitchesatgreatlengthwitheveryoneshemeets,attimesforwholechaptersoffiller-andit'snotevenmidlifecrisis.Agent:MerrileeHeifetz/WritersHouse