Anita is actually working again in this book, I know that's a shocker. She has two clients in a row that want their spouses raised for different reasons, both of which are wrong. She refuses to do either of the animations. As a result she is kidnapped during lunchtime and the lives of her harem of men are put in danger.
There isn't a ton to say about this book. It is a lot like the rest of the recent books, except short and more wordy in the beginning. The beginning of the book is slow and full of more of Anita angsting about her morals and how she's is, or is not, comfortable with all the men in her life. The last third of the book is actually very engaging and fairly action packed (keep in mind the last third is maybe 50 pages in this case).
It is nice to see Anita working at her job...kind of. It is also nice to have her raising the dead again and using her necromancer powers. Unfortunately Anita manages to add another man to her ever increasing harem and there is the usual poorly written sex scene.
I was disappointed that, as has been the case with the last few books, Jean Claude is again shoved out of the story. Why has he become such a minor character in Anita's life? His place is taken by a fresher crowd...mainly Micah, Jason, and Nathaniel.
This is a very short book, took maybe 2 hours to read. Then there is an Afterword in which Hamilton tries to justify why she wrote this book. It was okay, the writing style itself is solid even if the content and Anita's rambling make for bad pacing and a loose plot. I didn't mind reading it. I think if it had been a longer book or if I had actually shelled out money for it I would have been pissed. But as it was, it only took an 1.5 hours of my time and was free...so I thought it was okay.
So, my suggestion would be to get this one from the library. Or just skip it all together. You won't miss a ton of the story if you do. If you decide to read it, just go in to it expecting what you've gotten from previous book and you shouldn't be too annoyed.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- The 100+ Book Reading Challenge
- Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge
Hamilton imposed in her writing of Anita was the Arduer. If she wanted to allow her characters to have sex, then allow them to. Only girls need an "excuse." And as Anita is fond of pointing out, she's the most unlike girl of the girls. Pick Jeaniene Frost, or Patricia Briggs or Karen Chance if you want adventure and excitement and sex. When their characters consent, there are no excuses and they actually further the plot.
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