SMOLDER is the twenty-ninth book in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series. This story is full of wedding planning and planning for battle with an enigmatic villain. I think readers have to be familiar with some of the previous books in this series, in order to fully appreciate and enjoy this story. There is an equal amount of strategy and emotionally powerful moments with recurring characters.

As a fan, I was delighted to have SMOLDER open with Anita and Edward amid fittings for Anita’s upcoming wedding. It’s a nice scene with something so mundane but with extraordinary characters. There’s a nice symmetry because the book starts with Anita and her bestie doing something commonplace, and it ends with Anita, Edward, and her crew doing something that most people never do – plotting ways to take down a supernatural being. It’s a nice juxtaposition. Werewolf king, Richard, makes a major appearance in SMOLDER. I won’t give away in what capacity he is used in this story, but for readers who may have found him frustrating in past stories, he appears to have undergone some personal growth. For some readers, Richard has been a very polarizing figure, but I think in SMOLDER, Richard has a purpose and is a bit more self-aware than in previous books. I find this encouraging and I look forward to seeing where Laurell K. Hamilton takes his story. The villain in this book is elusive, threatening, and someone who tests the main characters. I’m intrigued – both by the possibilities presented by this character, and by the ability of some of the main characters to work together who otherwise might not.

SMOLDER lets readers revel in character-driven storytelling and whets their appetite for a future battle royale. I like how familiar characters were used strategically in this book and behaved in a way that seemed very organic and true to who they are. I can’t wait for the next book to pick up where this book leaves off.