Reviews with content warning for Torture - Blue Moon

Re-read: The eighth book in Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. This installment sets up the Poly relationship that becomes much more center stage in later books, as well the magic Anita does becoming more sexual in nature. The mystery of the week is more back stage in this novel, but still present and connected to the magic, but different from previous books, because Anita isn't call in to solve a mystery but instead to save Richard. The focus of the books shifting to magic and relationships starts in this novel, but it still doesn't feel unbalanced. This book does deal with sexual assault off page and torture on and off page. The book was really good for interpersonal growth and relationship dynamics changing, however after doing all that work the book ends with a complete shift in only a few pages. This change at the end felt very rushed and out of the blue given the rest of the novel. A good installment in the series with great setup for future books and still having a decent if slightly lopsided balance between mystery and romance.

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kloughlin's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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kerttuli's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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ezraaa's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I liked this far more than the previous book in the series as well as this book made me hate Richard less. I don’t really know why I read this series but I can’t stop.

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ireadinbed's review

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adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

*reread oct 2022*
Honestly this reread was a doozy.

I really hate that the set up for the book is a false rape accusation. Personally thats a plotline i would rather people just avoid unless they are going to touch on the realities of how race affects the small amount of false accusations.

Its been done more than enough. So i started out with a really negative opinion.

I enjoyed the examinations of personal faith, and continued world building. The spice in this book works fir me particularly well . . .but the introduction of the primary villain occurs WAY too late in the book and it rushes the final act.

Just mixed feelings.

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