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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780425222195
ISBN number: 0425222195
Label: Berkley Hardcover
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: May 27, 2008
Publishing house: Berkley Hardcover
Sale Popularity Level: 437
Studio: Berkley Hardcover
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Product Description:
Readers cant get enough of the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
A favor for Jason, vampire hunter Anita Blakes werewolf lover, puts her in the center of a fullblown scandal that threatens master-vampire Jean- Claudes reignand makes her a pawn in an ancient vampire queens new rise to power.
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Rated by buyers 
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This felt like a filler book. Not too much went on. I was disappointed with it. I thought that LKH might start writing with plot and good sex again, but I was really disappointed with this book. The sex was marginal, and the plot was really thin. I miss the days of Burnt Offerings and Obsidian Butterfly. I'd have given this book no stars if Amazon allowed. I really enjoyed the very first 8 Anita Blake books, unfortunately she started having bad sex scenes after that with little to no plot and a huge Mary Sue complex. Don't get me wrong. I love sex. I love when it's well written, but this book doesn't have it. The sex in LKH's books are boring. If you want vampires that are enjoyable, try Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse books, or try MaryJanice Davidson's Betsy the Vampire Queen books, or even Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series. Those 3 series won't disappoint. Unfortunately for now, LKH will disappoint you.
Rated by buyers -
I was so happy when I discovered the Anita Blake series. I have every book, pre-order them before they even come out. I always get hardback, because they are going on my shelves. Now, I'm not thinking I'll be pre-ordering anymore. I may not even get the subsequent one in the series. This series has totally degenerated from what it was when it started. It is almost as if someone else is writing it, as if LKH has had a personality change. What else could explain such a 180 from the original direction of the series? If you were to read the very first book in the series, and then read "Bloody Noir", you would never believe the same person wrote them. So, once again, I ask "What happened???"
Rated by buyers 
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i really can't believe it took that long to write such a crappy book. Not only did it completely veer from her usual bloody gruesome work, but the erotica was lame and childish. This was like a bad beginning to what could maybe have passed as a good story if only it kept going for another 200 pages. I was sorely disappointed. I am not one to write reviews of books, however after such a travesty I could not hold my tongue. While the psychological insight was appreciated (as it is touched on in many of the other novels) dragging it through the entire book was a waste of time. I am not going to waste more time writing this, but I will defiantly read the reviews for the subsequent book and actually listen to them this time.
Rated by buyers -
I could re-cap the story line of"Blood Noir" here, but really, why bother? It's a shame that this series has degenerated into such tedious, ugly pornography. I've purchased and read the last few books in this series in the hope that Ms. Hamilton would turn her story telling focus away from violent group sex and oh-so tiresome vampire politics back to the gripping, sexy, and truly scary paranormal mysteries, featuring the smart, tough, and appealing Anita Blake, that we have known and loved. Alas, it appears that this is not to be. Good-bye Anita, good-bye Ms. Hamilton's novels - "Blood Noir" is the last book of this series on which I will waste my money and my time.
If you are looking for a good read in the paranormal mystery/suspense genre, I would suggest that you try the books in Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series, and on the lighter side, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series - good reads all.
Rated by buyers -
It would be easy to say that Laurell K. Hamilton is a bad writer, but that would be untrue. She is a good author and reading some of her earlier works in the Anita Black series you can easily see where she excelled and what propelled the series' popularity. Unfortunately, where these books now fail is in structure.
Telling vs. Showing: A basic tenant for good writing is the ability tell the story through the characters actions and reactions versus an author telling the reader what's happening. After many pages of three way sex, one participant says to another (and main character), Anita Blake: "You are so uncomfortable with sex Anita..." Huh? What?? This after not just any old ménage a' trois, but one tinged with light bondage. The statement just throws the reader off because that is not what the story has said so far.
Talking Heads: "Dr. Phil's approach to relationships and the supernatural." I've never read a book that devoted entire chapters to whether or not to have sex. When deciding to have a ménage a' trois or not - does one person really say to another, "And you, Anita, what's your motivations?" Ms. Hamilton usually does a nice job with her dialogues, but these type of statements are awkward and happens several times through out the book.
Failed plot points: There's repeated references the Vampire Council and Anita jeopardizing Vampire master Jean-Claude's position by her not being a better "human-servant." Much conversation is dedicated to this. Toward the end of the book she and friend, Jason, are mistakenly targeted by another vampire leader and attacked. There are no real repercussions on the council level to this - especially after the leader and his own human servant are killed. Why?
Anger Management: In regards to Richard tantrums: Can we please move on? Every book there is some sort of over the top emotional, angry argument with Richard and his love/hate relationship with Anita. Although for several books, we've known that this is due to the psychic link between he, Anita, and Jean-Claude; Richard has taken on some of Anita's emotions. Although I was grateful that we have some resolution here (Anita re-absorbs the rage) Richard does the same thing, but under a different guise (now Anita's "ardeur" or succubus ability is shared). Richard as an emotional slave and whipping boy is getting old.
False Advertising: In the book flap of Blood Noir the description leads a potential reader to conclude that the book is about battling or dealing with Marmee Noir, the "ancient [and very scary] mother of all vampires." However when Marmee finally makes her metaphysical appearance (3/4th of the way through the book,) in context to the entire story, the action surrounding this is relatively brief.
I am again disappointed by this latest in the Anita Blake series. Although I understand that the author would not want to go back to what she wrote earlier in her career, but I do think that a quick review of the very first six books may remind Ms. Hamilton of what made this series so popular in the very first place. I hope in the future to see (1) a real plot (beginning, middle, and end), (2) tightened dialogues, (3) try to get some middle ground between narrative portions and overly long yacking to communicate important plot points. The last few books have basically been soft porn connected by weak attempts at a story line. I continue to be hopeful for future books by Ms. Hamilton.
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