As always, the Anita Blake series is a pleasure to read, largely due to the personality of the main character, which we get undiluted through a first-person narrative. Hamilton does a wonderful job of telling a continuing story, as each book builds on what has gone before while still containing one complete plot within itself. What really makes this book stand out as better than the previous six in the series (which were all quite good in their own right) is that one of the key concepts in this series -- the evolution of the character of Anita as she gains more power (or perhaps simply discovers powers that she had all along but wasn't aware of) and has to struggle against the old "power corrupts" truism, sometimes less successfully than others -- begins to be really obvious in this book, whereas it was only hinted at previously. Anita Blake has, by this time, thoroughly established her "hero" bonafides, and cannot be dismissed as less than that. Still, she begins to find herself in situations that have no good solution, but require a choice between evils, and no matter how much she dislikes compromising her principles she sometimes has to accept that. Being a strong and well-balanced character, she doesn't spend too much time being traumatized by having to make such choices, but she is aware that she is doing things that a short time ago she would have been appalled by, things that some of her non-supernatural friends would definitely disapprove of. It is interesting to see a character established as truly heroic making difficult choices in very difficult situations, making the best ones available, and still losing a little bit of humanity each time she has to accept a compromise of her basic principles. This concept is handled better in this series than I have ever seen before, and better in this book than in any of the previous books in this series, although they were necessary to set the stage for this one.

As always L.K.H delivers, but this book had more drama than I expected. I'm not a drama person, but i really enjoied the book. L.K.H. always delivers.

This is the seventh novel in the Anita Blake preternatural mystery thriller series. Anita is the hard-boiled licensed vampire executioner and necromancer--also known as the premier zombie queen of St. Louis. Formerly she dated Richard, the head werewolf of the local pack but now she only dates, and sleeps with, Jean Claude, the master vampire of the city. These attachments cause her grief with her police co-workers on the Preternatural Investigation Team who accuse her of sleeping with the monsters.

Anita has her plate full of challenges as usual. Her involvement with Richard and his struggle for dominance with the werewolf pack continues despite their break-up. The local were-leopard pack also needs her help and protection since Anita killed their leader. In addition an arsonist has targeted some prominent vampires in the community. And Jean Claude is challenged by the Vampire Council in a life-threatening way. Time to brew up a big pot of coffee--Anita won't be getting much sleep!

This seventh novel is a worthy installment in the series. Anita continues to provide her uniquely sardonic commentary in the face of danger. This novel goes more into detail of the internal dramas of the various monster groups that Anita is involved in--the vampires, wereleopards and werewolves, which makes the interactions somewhat more torrid. Although this is a good book it is more drama than action focused and seems a little contrived at times. Despite this flaw Anita is a highly likeable character, and the book a page turner!

Burnt Offerings is every bit as good as it's predecessor, "The Killing Dance". Anita's powers continue to grow as she (along with her vampire and lycanthropes allies) face off against the previously alluded to vampire council. This installment has all the elements from the previous books - vampires, lycanthropes, necromancy, action, romance, adventure, the macabre, etc. It's a face-paced light read and if you have read the first six books, by all means continue here - it keeps getting better and better.

As the local expert on vampires, it is logical that the cops would seek the aid of Anita Blake in tracking down the arsonist who is targeting all vampire-owned businesses in St Louis. With the mysterious arsonist seemingly intent on recreating the infamous "Inferno" that occurred centuries ago, which killed hundreds of vampires, once again it is Anita Blake to the rescue. But who is going to rescue our feisty heroine from the Vampire Council?

In the vampire world, there is a law stating that whoever kills a member of the Vampire Council must take their place. With Jean-Claude's refusal to take his seat in the council raising everyone's suspicions, not to mention their fear that he is getting too powerful, two of the most powerful vampires have arrived in St Louis demanding the truth behind Mr. Oliver's death (Book 3, Circus of the Damned). But as part of the triumvirate, they also have their sights set on the petite necromancer whose defiance and inhuman-like powers pose a threat to the vampire hierarchy, and also on Richard who is proving to be a very powerful Ulfric, werewolf king. Can the newly-formed triumvirate win over the council? And what new powers will they discover along the way?

Towards the end of the last book (THE KILLING DANCE), we knew that it wouldn't take long before the Council makes an appearance in St Louis. And what a scary introduction it was, too! From Padma, who can control any animals, to Traveler, who can inhabit any body, down to their servants who take such perverse pleasure in torturing and raping the weaker shapeshifters. As you read those scenes, you know that there is a hell of a lot to pay and you'll be waiting for the final showdown between the triumvirate and council members.

BURNT OFFERINGS proves once more that Hamilton knows how to mix horror, supernatural theme, romance and humor brilliantly. Just when you think that the series would soon struggle, the author adds another complex twist to Anita's already complicated life, as seen in her new status as werewolf Lupa and wereleopard Nimir-Ra, not to mention having to deal with the guilt over Richard's heartache. This is another fantastic addition to the series!