Laurell K. Hamilton helped invent the foundations of urban
fantasy, and her beyond-genre style has often landed her in
hot water with her fans who often want her to sway her noir-
investigation-paranormal-erotica-action-fantasy into one
realm or the other. However, where Hamilton reigns supreme
is having real characters who edge multiple categories
beyond description. The series won't be pinned down, and
neither will Anita Blake. However, what Anita Blake,
vampire-hunting federal marshall, necromancer, lover to so
many men, and constant questioner, will do is grow up. Kiss
THE DEAD's Anita shows a new maturity and willingness to
not only face the hard questions, but also to look at
different perspectives. She may have finally realized that
all emotional fights don't need to be had out "right now."
In KISS THE DEAD, Anita not only attempts to save a young
girl from being forcibly turned into a vampire. She also
debates with the police, vampires, and herself about what
constitutes "freedom" and examines the constant question of
the series: what does it mean to be a monster?
As steamy as ever, KISS THE DEAD is no happy-happy-all-of-
the-time fairy tale. It is gritty, and it doesn't shy from
the hard questions, either. Anita has finally realized that
she really can be in love with more than one person, but is
love always enough, and can she have enough love for
everyone in the ways that they need?
Examining prejudice, sexuality, monstrousness, freedom, and
perception, KISS THE DEAD also maintains the action and the
heart we've come to expect from Laurell K. Hamilton. In
addition, she references an e-book only snippet online that
Anita fans will want to read.
When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s
up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she
does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a
terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents,
soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid
serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will
be more…
But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And
Anita is one of them…
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