The Killing Dance: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel

by Laurell K. Hamilton

Ebook, 1997

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Publication

Berkley (1997), 377 pages

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. Thriller. HTML:In the sixth adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Anita Blake�??s unique skills make her a wanted woman�??by vampire, by werewolf, and by a hit man...   Though she�??s dating a vampire and a werewolf, Anita is keeping them at arm�??s length. Which isn�??t easy considering that Jean-Claude is the master vampire of St. Louis and Richard Zeeman is the sexiest junior high school teacher she�??s ever seen.   Just to complicate Anita�??s already messy life, someone has put a price on her head. Love cannot save her this time, so she turns to Edward, hit man extraordinaire for help. But finding the person behind it won�??t be easy, because she�??s made a lot of ene

User reviews

LibraryThing member orangejulia
At this point in the series, I became extremely frustrated with Anita's prudishness especiallyy given how explicit the sex in the books was getting. This book focused a lot on Edward, a buddy of Anita's, and an interesting metaphoric deal with the devil Anita makes. Still worth reading, though with
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some grumbling tossed in.
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LibraryThing member la_librarian
The Killing Dance is where Anita really starts questioning her own humanity, she really begins to see herself as a possible "monster." The only major flaw at this point is Richard. He's hot and sweet, right, but other than that I'm not sure what makes Anita "in love" with him but not "in love" with
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Jean Claude. It seams they just represent both sides of Anita's personality. Obviously as Anita is embracing her dark side the life with Richard isn't possible.

Hamilton's writing is sharp and precise and they are getting better and better!
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LibraryThing member teharhynn
It hurts to rate this book as good. I knew that things would go in the direction that they did eventually because someone leaked a spoiler, but I didn’t want to believe it. I feel like I finally got what I wanted and it was tainted. I will miss Richard’s character. I really liked him. You
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screwed up Anita, and I’m sad for you.
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LibraryThing member sdtaylor555
A price on Anita's head? A ripping good time! I love this one.
LibraryThing member Darrol
The essence of a good Vampire story requires that the main character not feel really safe around the supernatural characters, even when there exist a major sexual element. Anita Blake experiences the fact that both of her "boyfriends" are seriously not human.
LibraryThing member susanbevans
Three words: I HEART EDWARD! This is my favorite Anita Blake book so far.
LibraryThing member jimmaclachlan
In this book or just beyond, the sex is getting out of hand, detracting from the story. Still a great world & set of characters, though. I own it & keep collecting them.
LibraryThing member TheSolitaryBookworm
Unlike the previous book, Bloody Bones, this was a fast read. I had finished this in one sitting. :) The adventure and hard core action get higher a notch as Anita get into serious trouble and complications. The series is very detailed and graphic that I often imagine myself as if I am in the book
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and witnessing itself like watching a movie. Since I have read the entire series, not including the 18 and 19th books, I can say that this is the start of a very complicated life to Anita as if her life isn't complicated enough with her two lovers right?

With the clash of power between creatures and supernatural, Anita tries to keep balance and avoids a messy life which is not likely to happened to her. I had to many "What the. . . ..." Ahhhh, but wait??" in this book and until now that keeps bugging me. I keep asking myself what the big deal about dominance is in this book, I get the master-servant thing but to point it out every time becomes a drag.

Another shocker was my taste of Hamiltons erotica in this book. I mean, it's not for teens. :)) I am a very visual reader, if there is a term, when I read I visualize immediately. So you might have known what happened after I read that part. * snickers*

Overall, the book was amazing. I'm pro Jean-Claude and this book gave him brownie points big time!! :) And the question that bugs me, how can a vampire impregnate their partner? I mean, when you die your egg cells or sperm dies as well right? So how does a vampire impregnated his partner????
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LibraryThing member Ceysa
The consequences of lots of choices is something that is an underlying theme for Anita, Jean Claude and Richard. How can everyone prove stregnth and protect the ones they love, who depend upon them, and how to save the entire supernatural world of St. Louis.
Dolph begins to question Anita's honesty
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with him, even as her life is endangered. How can she be involved with Jean Claude and still be on the right side of the law?
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LibraryThing member janersm
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, especially after the disappointment that was Bloody Bones. Laurell K. Hamilton pretty much redeemed herself in this book. The writing was much better, though there were some proof-reading issues.

The characters definitely became more defined than they
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had been in the past. Unfortunately, I still think that Anita Blake is too dependent on violence, but she the fear from the threat to her life did allow her to be a bit more human and quite a bit more likable. I definitely feel that Richard is excessive in his childish behavior, and I don't know that he could be the alpha that he wants to be. I wouldn't be surprised if (at some point) Richard ended up being as much of a monster as Marcus and Raina had been. His "inner darkness" seems to be more like an almost unrestrained abusive nature. Jean-Claude once again became the most likable member of the main character brigade, proving himself to be the better man.

I am happy that there was some resolution to some story-lines that had continued for too long. Even with the heightened level of violence and sexuality, this book actually seemed the least soap opera like book in the series. It seemed to have a rawer edge that gave it more power than any of the previous books in the series. Hopefully, the edge will remain in the future books, but I have been disappointed in the past with this series, so I can't help but be worried that the future will hold some level of disappointment.
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LibraryThing member MrsMich02
The questions surrounding Anita and Richard's relationship comes to a final answer as she discovers more about and involves herself more in his lupine community.
LibraryThing member averitasm
Liked it, I love all her books so far
LibraryThing member storywings
I will be honest, the events of The Killing Dance nearly had me walk away from this series and not look back.

Anita has a price on her head, considering how many people she has ticked off in the previous books, that isn’t difficult to comprehend. She calls in Edward, one of her only friends and
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one of the greatest hitmen around to help find out who wants her her dead so badly.

Anita’s character for me in The Killing Dance took a nosedive. What once was a kick-ass heroine has now turned into a weak-willed, spiteful princess. I cannot understand how she can treat someone she is supposed to love so horribly, not to mention throw all of her values – the ones I commended her on in my last review, Bloody Bones – because she was a little upset and grossed out by something natural, let alone something she wanted to see.

Anita was struggling in The Killing Dance with Richard’s werewolf nature. We have seen her come to terms with vampires in the last couple of books instead of clinging to her insessant hatred of them, but werewolves are taking a little longer for Anita to come to terms with. It led to a lot of problems within her relationship with Richard and didn’t help Anita’s problem with her hitmen as she was constantly storming off because of her inability to deal with her fear.

The fact that anyone could be so judgemental in any case, let alone Anita who has done some truly horrible killing in her time made my blood boil. I’m all for love being blind and accepting people for who they are, I’m even more for getting out early if there are problems or nuances that you can’t see yourself dealing with long term. But I am vehemently against cheating. I am especially against cheating because of a “moment of weakness”. It makes me sick to my stomach and it made me hate Anita for doing it. I still hate her now but because I am a masochistic dunderhead, I have the next three books sitting on my TBR pile.

Hamilton’s writing can’t be faulted in this series, as reflected in the rating that I will eventually be giving this book, she sucks you in and refuses to let go until you get to the end, which is why I finished The Killing Dance at all, it is a credit to her ability that I managed to get so angry at Anita in the first place.

I will be honest, I wasn’t going to continue with this series, but I decided to read ahead and went through the blurbs of the books to come, and it is only because I now know that a certain pairing will be made between characters that I am even bothering to continue on with the Anita Blake series at all.

Find this review at storywings.com
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
I'm one of those that felt this series dropped into an abyss with Narcissus in Chains, but not only is this still on the right side of the divide, I think this might be my favorite book in the series. In this book the relationships between Jean-Claude, the vampire master of the city, Richard the
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were-wolf leader, and Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter and her tug between the two men are what is in the forefront. And below be spoilers, because I can't see discussing this book without them.

Spoilers Below

Up to know, the Anita Blake books were more sensual than sexual. Yes, there has been eye-candy. And some books had scenes that depicted sexual violence, but Anita had still kept her body, if not her heart, untouched. I've seen reviews that see what Anita does in this book as "cheating" and feel she betrays Richard--sees her as hypocritical for her feeling repulsed by what she sees and turning to Jean-Claude. I don't see it that way. Anita started the series with a moral bright line that kept being undermined from book to book. Vampires and weres were monsters to her. Over the course of the books she not only learned to see them as people but to see the monster in herself. Richard was the good guy, at least compared to Jean-Claude. So, yes, I do understand why what she saw was such a shock to her. If she was depending on Richard to keep her grounded and human, well the scales dropped from her eyes here. And that naturally I think upset the balance between Jean-Claude and Richard in their rival claims to her heart. And between the two of them, given that Richard could come across as self-righteous and whiny, I was pulling for Jean-Claude.

Hell, given the endless stretching out of sexual tension up to this book, my reaction when Anita had sex was "Finally!" Little did I know that eventually sex wouldn't simply drive plot but take it over in this series.
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LibraryThing member vampyredhead
The 6th in a series about Anita Blake, vampire hunter. Romantic, erotic, and funny. And full of edge of your seat adventure. This series is highly addictive.
LibraryThing member janersm
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book, especially after the disappointment that was Bloody Bones. Laurell K. Hamilton pretty much redeemed herself in this book. The writing was much better, though there were some proof-reading issues.

The characters definitely became more defined than they
Show More
had been in the past. Unfortunately, I still think that Anita Blake is too dependent on violence, but she the fear from the threat to her life did allow her to be a bit more human and quite a bit more likable. I definitely feel that Richard is excessive in his childish behavior, and I don't know that he could be the alpha that he wants to be. I wouldn't be surprised if (at some point) Richard ended up being as much of a monster as Marcus and Raina had been. His "inner darkness" seems to be more like an almost unrestrained abusive nature. Jean-Claude once again became the most likable member of the main character brigade, proving himself to be the better man.

I am happy that there was some resolution to some story-lines that had continued for too long. Even with the heightened level of violence and sexuality, this book actually seemed the least soap opera like book in the series. It seemed to have a rawer edge that gave it more power than any of the previous books in the series. Hopefully, the edge will remain in the future books, but I have been disappointed in the past with this series, so I can't help but be worried that the future will hold some level of disappointment.
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LibraryThing member mlsimmons
This is a great story, probably the best so far in the series. Richard continues to drive everyone crazy. We meet Damian for the first time. We get to spend some time with Willie. Also, Edward joins the party and eventually brings a friend, it is the first time we realize that Edward might actually
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have friends.

No matter how many times I read/listen to this particular book of the series, it never gets old.
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LibraryThing member starsandscribbles
This series is my guilty pleasure and so far it hasn't disappointed.
LibraryThing member dearheart
Edward calls letting Anita know that he’s been offered a contract to kill her. He’s going to stall until he can get to town figuring he’ll get to kill more people if he tries to protect her. Attempts are made and she’s even brought in for questioning when a vampire is killed in a magical
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ritual. There’s a new vampire in town that stopped drinking human blood and he’s decaying. He and his necromancer human servant approach Anita and Jean-Claude, hoping to save him. We learn more about Pack politics and Anita cements her position as a dominant.

There’s a lot going on, but it does all tie together and finding out why the hit was contracted and by whom is somewhat a surprise. There’s lots of action and plenty of emotion as Anita loves both Richard and Jean-Claude but for different reasons. And we see Richard’s struggle with what he wants to see to make things better for the Pack and what he’d have to do it achieve it, becoming something he fears.

I’ve reread this story a number of times over the years. I enjoy seeing Anita prove herself, the struggle she faces between her desire for two very different guys, the differences in philosophies and all of the twists involved before the root reason of all is revealed.
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LibraryThing member rosetyper9
Im not sure why but everyone annoyed me in this book. Anita is a good guy...I get that but she always feels like it's her right to know everything about everyone and everything as soon as she says 'tell me'. It just annoyed me...and RICHARD. He is such a just...I don't know...a hypocrite is one
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thing but I just can't stand him...ever since we met him a couple of books ago. I like Jean-Claude. He seems to be the only character who is unapologetic about who is and makes no move to try and be something that he is not.

I did enjoy this book. Lots of characters moving forward although I know this is the downward spiral for Anita (I'm re-reading)...but I am happy she finally gave in to Jean-Claude and Richard moved to the curb. This book was dark, gritty, and bloody. Lots of rape and almost rape...blood..and all kinds of crazy happening.
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LibraryThing member BethanyMoore
Oh, Oh! I love Edward. Not really sure why, because he is so not lovable, but he's become one of my fav characters over time.
LibraryThing member LibraryCin
3.5 stars

In the 6th book in the series, Anita finds out someone is trying to have her killed. She is still caught up in a triangle with vampire Jean-Claude, and werewolf Richard.

Mostly, I liked this one, but I definitely did not like the ending. I still don't like Jean-Claude. I also mostly like
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the audios of these books, as there are some good sound effects, but I do wonder if it's the narrator's voice for J-C that has me disliking him so much (I'm not sure of that, though). I know that, at least closer to the start of the book, it was easy for me to tune out during scenes with J-C. I am wondering, though, if the next book is where the series starts to go wrong. Not sure if I'll continue on or not.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
"The Killing Dance" brings Anita to some decisions regarding her feelings for Jean-Claude, the seductive Master Vampire of the City, and Richard, the potential alpha male of the local werewolf pack. Who will she choose? Will she tell them both to take a hike? How will she reconcile her own
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ambiguous feelings about what it means to be a monster and what it means to be in love? There's something here to please almost everyone. These books are fun, they're scary, and I guarantee you'll keep reading them to find out what happens next!
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LibraryThing member LiteraryFeline
Let me start by saying that The Killing Dance is not the name of a place. “Somewhere out there, by tomorrow, someone would have my name on a to-do list. Pick up dry cleaning, buy groceries, kill Anita Blake.” Someone has put out a contract to kill Anita Blake. With the help of her friends, she
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has to stay alive and find out who is trying to kill her. The love triangle between Jean-Claude, Richard and Anita reaches intense levels and this book is very much about the three of them and their bond to each other. Ms. Hamilton does it again, keeping me turning pages as fast as I can to find out what will happen next.
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LibraryThing member themjrawr
Finally, some of the freaking tension resolved. Also, Richard still annoys me.

Language

Original publication date

1997-06

ISBN

9781101146309

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