Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 8) Mass Market Paperback – September 24, 2002

Anita Blake, Executioner, necromancer, lover and human servant to Jean-Claude - the charismatic Master Vampire of St. Louis, lupa of the Thronnus Roke Clan lukoi, and Nimir-ra of a pard of leopard lycanthropes, is changing...more so all the time. When Laurell Hamilton introduced her to us in "Guilty Pleasures," Book One of the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, she was a 24 year-old, smart, attractive, feisty, super-independent dynamo, who raised the dead for a living. She was almost a normal 21st century career girl. Of course she staked rogue vampires as a sideline, but we all have our quirks. Anita's preternatural powers have been steadily increasing, and in "Blue Moon," book eight in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, the lines are really beginning to blur between her humanity and the supernatural. Always an uncompromising and tough lady, she has developed a hardness, a detachment, that frightens even herself.Anita, Richard Zeeman, (an alpha werewolf and her old boyfriend), and Jean-Claude, (her present lover), had formed a Triumvirate of power - Master Vampire, Ulfric and necromancer. In other words, when the three connect, they exude tremendous force and are able to do much more magic than any one or two can do alone. The three are still bound to each other, even though Richard is furious with Anita for dumping him. She had to choose between "a flesh eater and a bloodsucker." Do you see a pattern here?Late one evening Anita receives a phone call from Richard's brother. Zeeman had been spending the summer in Meyerton, Tennessee, studying the Lesser Smokey Mountain Trolls which live in the area, and fulfilling the requirements for his Masters degree. He has been arrested for the rape of a local women, and is obviously innocent of the charge. Richard is squeaky clean, the ultimate Boy Scout, and very gentle, especially for a lycanthrope. To make the situation worse, a full moon will occur in five days. As luck would have it, this month, August, is a blue moon month - that means two full moons in 31 days - a phenomenon which arises every 3-4 years. And we all know what happens to werewolves during a full moon, don't we? Richard has not "come out of the closet," so to speak, to his parents, his employers, or to many other humans. Basically, he needs to get out of jail pronto. Anita flies down to Meyerton to give him a hand and get him a good attorney. At Jean-Claude's insistence she is accompanied by an entourage of body guards. Colin, the master of the local vampires does not want Anita and cohorts on his turf - for any reason and has made some serious threats. So, vampires Asher and Damian, and lycanthropes Jason, Zane, Cherry, and Nathaniel are there to keep her safe - although, as always, Anita turns out to be the one who does the most protecting. Werewolves Jamil and Shang-Da are around for Richard, to assist him and to join in the Blue Moon celebrations with Verne, the local Ulfric and his pack..Freeing Richard proves easier than tangling with Colin and crew, plus the corrupt local police, and an assortment of other heinous monsters - there's pure evil on the loose in these hills!! There are some interesting twists in character development in "Blue Moon." Anita is more vulnerable here than previously. She has to confront her mixed feelings for both Richard and Jean-Claude, come to terms with Raina's munin - the vengeful spirit who possesses her from time-to-time, make a decision about her reluctant status as leoparde-lionee of the Saint Louis wereleopards, and face her own ignorance in terms of the power she possesses. Anita fears that she is rapidly becoming as much a monster as those she hunts...and loves. Hamilton succeeds beautifully in developing this vulnerable side of Anita, without sacrificing the plot. However, at this point in the series a change was needed. There had to be more to Anita than one tough cookie who goes up against the monsters and wins, repeatedly. This is one of Laurell Hamilton's best novels - tightly plotted, well structured, including wonderful dark humor, acerbic wit, and plenty of thrills and chills.Just a word about the sexual content in "Blue Moon." I do not find it any more excessive or graphic than what one reads in most popular fiction - bestseller lists included - nor what is shown on afternoon TV. It would not be realistic to write about a healthy, single woman of 24 and exclude sex. Anyway, I loved this book and certainly recommend it!Jana

the audiobook was great

After the decision to choose life rather than death leading to the involvement in the indubitable triumvirate; Burnt Offerings allowed you to embrace Anita's powers and how they affect the vampires, but Blue Moon gives you more incite into the world of the lycanthropes and her role as Nimir-ra and lupa. Anita seems to be discovering more and more powers not only coming from the bond, but also the strength as a necromancer.Anita is called to Meyerton in order to rescue Richard, Alpha, from a very wrongful accusation that will convoy to other mysteries involved and why Meyerton is trying to rid itself of the science teacher. By going to Meyerton, she must get permission from the Master of the City, Colin, who refuses to allow them safe passage due to the frightful stories of the triumvirate and incrimination that Jean Claude will try and overthrow Colin for expansion of his own city limits. Anita cares not of the MC in Tennessee and decides to go anyway which causes strife with the local vampires. As if the vampires are not lurid enough, she is also being threatened by the local rogue police officers that have locked Richard up.After a terrible struggle with their heinous predecessors, Anita calls Raina's munin to use to her advantage by healing other. Although the munin proves to be a very useful tool, its is incredibly unstable and takes control of Anita and her inhibitions, more than once, forcing her to do things she normally would not do on her own with a not so chaste kiss with Damian and a sizzling HOTT bedroom scene with Richard.Anita is tested in Blue Moon as her supernatural abilities strengthen; her personality and her morals seem to be blurred as she discovers her humanity is in question. Her capabilities appear to be getting a little excessive, she is almost invincible; no wonder her humanity is an issue! Monogamy is also out the window, which is completely fine by me (girl needs a healthy sexual life), but I am biased when I say, I would prefer her to choose an undead blood sucker than a full moon beast. She also seems to have infinite amount of preternatural beau's she can choose from, proving a little over the top and maybe a tad wishful for any gal, even for an irresistible, charismatic, hard headed, bad ass like Anita. Whomever she chooses, I just don't think it is "like" Anita to string people along.With a few exceptions in the plot and direction of Blue Moon, I have absolutely fell head over heels for this series and I immensely enjoyed this novel due to my adoration for Hamilton's very unique ability to create these very authentic characters and imaginative scenarios.

I have tried to read something else but I can’t. I just can’t stop reading this series. On to the next book.

As expected

I’m reading the series again, and it’s still my favorite series of all times, i’m always enjoying every piece of these books!! I’m more than satisfied ..a super biased fan!

this is the first novel i read in this series, been wanting to read it before now but you know, i have other series i favor.so, after that, i think there are like 3 story lines going on and none of them are interesting enough to give a good book, not all the situations add to a main story line and that just makes me think that there is not well thought.then we have the richard anita jean claude situation, she says she is a prude and her moral all over the book yet she still sleeps with one while she is not going to leave the other, what? sure that's totally moral and prudish... oh and she also wants the two of them to not sleep around.. what? hypocrite anyway, i just found the book kind of boring, not interesting enough and it is not the first in the series to have that in mind. i just don't know if i will read another of this, i might because i want to know what is all the rattle about it, it is supposed to be very good series and i just find anita like a bipolar person as opposed as a person with moral struggles, i don't know, this one, i didn't like.C. C.

I know a lot of people start hating on this series but for me it only gets better. Anita is torn between two loves of her life. The good guy, Richard who is wholesome, kind, loving oh but he's a werewolf. And Jean Claude who is the bad guy but he is seductive, mysterious, a ladies man and balances Anitas own dark side perfectly. He is the Master Vampire and so far is winning the battle for Anita's heart.I like that Richard as the "good guy" finally gets a storyline with Anita. Will love conquer all?Whenever I start the next book in this series it means all night reading and tired mornings but totally worth it.

I seriously think this is my favourite book so far! I will try not to spoil for you but if you are like me a 'team richard' then you will definitely love this book! Anita once again discovers powers and fears that very strong and she needs to overcome them. She finds that after all bad she's done 'God' still loves and cares for her. The pack both wolves and leopards are more and more close to her and at one point i think that what she fears the most is loosing the human side on her since now she even craves for blood on some moments! But I'm delighted to see that JC only shows up on a couple of pages at the starting of the book!! lol