In SMOLDER, Anita Blake is a U.S. Marshall who deals with preternatural beings as part of her job. But, being a Marshall is a snap in light of all that she has to face. She is planning a wedding to the King of Vampires, Jean Claude, and it is pushing all the wrong buttons for her. Though seeing her best friend Ted dressed in the finery that her fiance has chosen makes it more worthwhile.
In the midst of this lighter moment, Anita's job pulls her to the scene of a possible copycat killing of a vampire with the innocuous label of "Sunshine Murders." The vampires are killed by someone drawing the drapes in their hotel rooms and when the sun rises they are set ablaze.
Rushing back, Anita gets glammed up for her date night. While watching JC perform, frightening things begin to happen and soon all of her people--friends and lovers--are in danger. Fighting to free themselves and their patrons leaves them little time to get to safety.
SMOLDER brings us back into author Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series with the world gone crazy. There is so much happening but it seems that a lot of it is talk. We are reintroduced to various people, a few we haven't seen in a while. The reintroduction is good as with so many people in Anita's life and getting to know them better is always helpful.
SMOLDER has its moments of wicked sexy, but there's more talk about the security teams trying to get the King and his entire entourage to safety. We learn about the identity of the dangerous entity that tried to mind control the whole club; the return of Richard; the problems Asher is having with and because of Kane; and, of course, the fight for power and sex.
The triumvirate of Jean-Claude, Anita, and Richard, formed early on, had been twisted, if not broken, but Richard is returning to the fold. He asks for forgiveness but will have a lot to learn about the new poly world Ms. Hamilton has formed. At some point to deescalate an issue with Kane he reminds Asher of their past and joins the "family" sleeping arrangements.
SMOLDER may disappoint some people as it feels like a setup for the next book as Anita and JC continue to plan the wedding, get rid of the evil entity, and meet Anita's grandmother who wants to save her soul. Hopefully, that all happens in the next book!
Vampire hunter Anita Blake is no stranger to killing monsters. It’s part of her job as a Preternatural U.S. Marshal, after all. But even her experience isn’t enough to stop something that is bent on destroying everything—and everyone—she loves.
Anita Blake is engaged to Jean-Claude, the new vampire king of America. Humans think she’s gone over to the side of the monsters. The vampires fear that their new king has fallen under the spell of the most powerful necromancer in a thousand years.
In the midst of wedding preparations—including getting Edward, aka U.S. Marshal Ted Forrester, fitted as best man—Anita gets a call that the local police need her expertise at a brutal murder scene linked to a nationwide slaughter of vampires and humans, dubbed the Sunshine Murders.
But there is more than just a murderer to catch: an ancient evil has arrived in St. Louis to challenge Jean-Claude for his crown, his life, Anita, and all they hold dear. Even with Jean-Claude’s new powers as king and Anita’s necromancy, it isn’t enough; they must embrace their triumvirate or allow primeval darkness to spread across the country, possessing first the vampires and then the humans. Evil will triumph unless Jean-Claude and Anita can prove that love conquers all.
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