Win A Copy Of Ardeur Edited By Laurell K. Hamiton
April 14, 2010 in Contests
Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series is a literary sensation, thanks to its strong female hero, well-fleshed (both literally and literarily) characters and unabashed attitude toward sex. The world Hamilton has created is powerfully compelling and stunningly complex–and it gets deeper and richer, and more perilous, with every book.
Straddling the series’ dominant themes of sex and power, Ardeur gives Anita fans a deeper look into the dynamics, both personal political, that have kept readers fascinated throughout the run of the series. Why is the ardeur the very best thing that could have happened to Anita, personally (aside from all the sex it requires her to have with hot men)? How is Anita’s alternate United States a logical legal extension of our own? And as the series continues, what other bargains might Anita have to make with herself and others in order to keep the people she loves safe from harm?
Thanks to Jennifer & Heather at Smart Pop Books one lucky commentor will win a copy of Ardeur. To enter you must answer the following question:
What do you think about Anita Blake? Has she changed too much or just enough?
Contest Open To US & Canadian Residents ONLY! Run’s until Friday April 23, 2010 at 11:59PM EST
I think that Anita has changed as she needed and that she still has hangups over stuff that I thought was decided awile mkae me alwasy ready to read the next book. All the peoples involved in Anita’s life are always surprising me with the new facets of personality that show up in each book and love how those play off Anitas changing views. The first books in the series caught my attention for the tough woman that Anita first presented but am now in love with her realness and humanity. Its cool how the fights to get understanding and equal rights for the paranormal culture mirrors our own growing and changing society. Watching Anita learn all her new and devloping preterntural powers is amazing and makes you realize just how much she has grown since the start. I admire Anita and all the members of her country especially the were’s but hey we all got our prefrences ryt? lol
Everyone changes. LKH grows as a writer with each book, and her characters age and change with her. It’s a necessary thing for life: progress and evolution. None of us are the same person as we started out as. I know I am not the same person I was when I first started reading the series. I wouldn’t be happy with a character(s) who stayed static while I changed. Anita handles the problems thrust upon her in her life, and each of them changes her, leaving an impact. She’s human (well, mostly
.
I enjoy reading each new book and seeing how everyone grows. It’s as much of interest as the actual plot.
I have only read the first book so I don’t have anything to compare to her changing. But change is a good thing. So I would hope she changes just to see the character of Anita evolve.
Thanks for the giveaway!
email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
Oh you have much more fun to come =)
I love the changes in Anita. She has grown with her needs as any good character should. I think it’s great that LKH hasn’t given into the critics and “toned down” her books. As far a sex scenes go LKH rocks them!!
I have read all the Anita Blake books. I think that Anita is a strong motivated woman like most of us want to be. She also has falts. She cant deside what she wants at times and at others she thinks fast on her toes.I think she is someone you would want as a friend and hope you never make her mad.
I like the way she has changed. At times it is a little bit and at others she has big changes. They are usually good changes. Something to benafit her or someone around her.
I think Laurell is doing a wonderful job developing the story plot and she should keep it up as long as she can. I can’t wait till the nexy book comes out in a few months. Until then I will read The Anita Blake Series over and over again.
Anita has changed an incredible amount since Guilty Pleasures. Her attitude towards what people would consider to be monsters has just about done a 180, She would have never considered loving a vampire much less having sex with one. Gaining the ardeur has forced her to change her outlook on many things. Also her police work caused massive changes in her attitude as to what constitutes monster. Edward also played an important part in her evolution. Every book is an adventure and most of her readers, myself included. eagerly await every book. Thanks Laurel for a fascinating series.
Anita has become a female misogynist. She hates any woman she views as weak but loves men that are submissive to her will. She is a killer by her own admission but it’s okay because she does it for this or that reason. And she still passes judgment on everyone else for doing exactly what she does.
I miss the old Anita that had morals and stuck by them unless she was forced to compromise them. She is not an empowered woman by any means. She’s a bully who will literally kill you to get her way.
I think Anita’s grown up quite a bit, but sometimes I still feel like slapping her and saying “you’ve already dealt with this issue many times, get over it already!” I can’t think of another series where the main characters have gone through so much development though so I’m more than willing to put up with some of her whiny-ness. =)
I love the Anita Blake novels. It’s a nivce world to escape to when I need a break from mine.
I think that she will continue to change as things in her life changes. I think it is a good thing. Nobody stays the same, and with the life Anita lives there is no way it and she will stay the same. It’s an exciting, dangerous life this Heroine lives and I can’t wait to continue on with her adventures.
Anita has indeed grown up a great deal, having followed her from the begining to current. I am torn in how I feel about some of her changes, however they are all part of the whole of who Anita is, and I do love Anita.
From the begining we could see the strength that Anita still shows us. The stubborness and determination that are still there. She is more self sufficient with each book, but this is as all women should be, Men are great, but we need to be able to take care of ourselves. And boy can Anita take care of herself. She needs men too, but not in the way some women do. All of this is good, and make the Anita series good books to read for those in need of self growth.
Anita still has the same morals as she had at the begining, I think she will wrestle with them, at least internally, as we all do. Morals are the basis of us all.
Anita is strong, both in mind and body, this makes her attractive to many. She is quick on her feet and quick in her thoughts. She has more room in her heart than she will ever know, cause just as her list of men grows, so does her heart.
I see Anita’s changes from Guilty Pleasures to Flirt being those of a person learning and growing into their adult self. Her life has gone through some major changes and upheavals and it only makes sense that her magical self must change along with her emotional and psychological self. I also think that the changes that the Ardeur have brought to her are beneficial to her in the long run. It may not seem like that great of a thing now, but I have a feeling that she will soon find the silver lining in all this change.
I think she’s changed in terms of being pulled in more directions and having to deal with difficult decisions. I wish she were able to use her bitterness in a better way sometimes to not judge others like she has been judged. I’ve only had time to read through Blood Noir, but I will read the others because I like more than I don’t like, even though I’d skip some over-doing descriptive adjectives sometimes. The sex scenes are fine with me, and I like many of the secondary characters, so my “image” of Anita is more like the short, learned to protect herself from bullies at a young age by showing strength and wit like me, even when she strays from her beliefs. She needs to settle herself with her new world and realize that love can be shown in many ways that aren’t all shameful. Eventually, I hope she gets over the pain so that she can be more comfortable in her life and job and the men in her life that deserve well-treatment. Sometimes, you have to accept your good self to improve your bad self.
I really enjoy Anita. When I first started the series, she’s what pulled me into the series and she’s what keeps me reading them now. She reminds me of myself sometimes with some of the things she says. I think she’s had to change as we all must. I’ve bragged on the books so much to my co-workers that I now have several of them reading the Anita series and keep asking me when the next one comes out. I hope that Laurell K Hamilton never gives in to those who are unhappy with how Anita has evolved and changed during the course of the series.
I don’t think there could have been this many books if Anita didn’t change and grow and evolve as new people and new abilities surfaced. It’s not a crime series. It’s not a romance series. It’s the only series I’ve really found that has elements of both of these and more. It’s her world. And love it or hate or it, I’m glad Laurell K. Hamilton continues to write what’s in her head and not bow to pressures one way or the other.
I love Anita!!! She is strong and caring. She has changed progressively thru the series of books. She backtracks sometimes, but I love her personality. She says what she means and still has great chemistry with her many boyfriends. I am so happy that Laurell keeps writing about Anita and keeps expanding her horizons with new powers and with her men. Keep up the great work!!
I love Anita Blake for her independence, yet recognition that her significant others compliment her in ways she is still discovering. I think she has changed for the better as a character, because she is becoming more at peace with herself. The line between human and monster gets more blurred with each novel. Granted, I do miss some of the mystery that started the series, all the books show a journey in the life of this amazing character and her unbelievably BELIEVABLE world. Thank you Laurell!
I think Anita should have changed over the course of the books and should continue to change over the course of (Deity willing) many more books. It does seem like in one book, she’s completely freaked out and adamant about something and in subsequent books, she’s over it and it’s no big deal. That kind of bothers me. Then again, maybe I’m projecting.
I love Anita. I think she is a really complex character and it’s interesting to see how she continues to change and evolve. I admire Laurell for sticking to her guns and writing on her terms in spite of the tons of criticism she has gotten for the sexual nature of her books.
I don’t mind the changes that Anita has gone through. What I mind is the constant approval seeking/defensiveness that we have to go through all the time with her. I don’t have a problem with the sex, but Anita sure seems to have a lot of insecurities about it. Every new person she meets judges her and usually makes some comment and we repeatedly have to witness Anita agonize over it, be offended by it, be defensive of her life.
I love how Anita’s view of others has grown and expanded. She is growing into a woman who understands that myths are sometimes just that and that experience speaks more accurately to who or what any being is/can be. I also like that although her religious views that she grew up with are challenged all the time, that her faith seems pretty steady. I can not wait for the next book!
I admire Anita. She is strong, independent, and truly her own woman. Change for Anita is constant and this is what makes her so fascinating. I can hardly wait for her next chapter!!!
Hrmm.. At times I think Anita has changed.. but I don’t know if it’s for the good. I absolutely love this series and no matter how Anita is acting, I find I can’t hold it against her. Anita is a tad too open minded with her men these days..but it can’t be helped I suppose. I loved the Necromancer Anita the most. I want her back to her old ways with a touch of the new Anita I suppose. I know this is a bit off topic, but I would love to see more Jean Claude again.. I loved how he was in charge and irresistible.. I hate how Anita is straying from him, even if she doesn’t realize.
So to answer the question, I love how she’s grown and expanded in judge of character and her views, but I almost miss the old Anita. *shurgs* I can’t narrow it down any more than that.. lol
At the beginning of the series Anita is a strong-willed self-reliant individual, I felt at times she was too independent never excepting help and getting into loads of trouble with flippant remarks. Since then she has grown, become more reliant on others, and not all together in a bad way, she has grown up a lot. More over Anita has become more tolerant of others and their ways, remember how she used to think that vampires were the very core of evil, but since she’s been dating them, Anita finds that even if some are evil blood-thirsty monsters, so can they be compassionate and capable of great emotion. The Ardeur helps Anita get in touch with sex, she was taught how evil and wrong it was, but with the Ardeur forcing her to make decisions that she normally would not have has changed her from a prude to a sexually adventurous person. I like the Ardeur, although I do believe that it has run its course, in my opinion it brought on some needed change into, not only Anita’s life but those around her.
P.S. I’m very much looking forward to reading Bullet. Sign me up for this contest.
I’ve read a lot of comments that a lot of readers think Anita has jumped the shark but I’ve only read the first 4 books in the series( I do have the rest just need some time to commit to the series). I loved those and so look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I think Anita has changed for the better, but I would like to see her with the vamps more.
I have never actually read an Anita Blake book yet. Hopefully I will soon though
I think Anita and her world have evolved into a fascinating place to visit. I love the series and all the characters in it. I am so looking forward to Bullet! I have already reread the series again since Flirt.
I think Anita has changed just enough. She did a lot of growing up and opening up since Guilty Pleasures. She’s been able to achieve a lot over the years because of the changes that she’s gone through. Her friends, those she would kill to protect, her lovers, all of this has brought about positive changes in her life.
I think Anita Has changed just enough. Her as a character Has grown and developed very well. I am very much enjoying all the character growth.
Anita has changed a lot in so many ways. People are influenced by those around them. In ways I think she’s changed too much. Sex with hot guys is great, but I think she has too many, but maybe that’s just me being a prude. LOL! I love the characters and look forward to reading the next one, sex included.
I think Anita and her world have evolved into a fascinating place to visit. I love the series and all the characters in it. I am so looking forward to Bullet! I have already reread the series again since Flirt.
[...] Win a copy of Ardeur edited by Laurell K. Hamilton – Contest ends Friday April 23 @ 11:59am EST, winner announced Saturday April 24 [...]
Watching Anita evolve has been fascinating. This series is still an auto-buy for me, and every story gives us another tidbit about Anita’s personality, her men and another piece of the magic of the ardeur.
US
caity_mack(at)yahoo(dot)com
It’s been a while since I’ve read one of her books. I know most authors grow as they write and I haven’t seen to many that have changed for the worst so I’m sure Anita has changed for the better. I have several of her books on my TBR list as I had to slow down a little during my last semester of college and two jobs, I was wearing myself out.
I don’t think Anita has changed too much in the sense of excess. I’ve been fascinated to see her progress from the beginning of the series as a monster-slayer to the horror of being one of the monsters, and then on to near-acceptance. I can’t wait to see what (and who!) the future holds in store for her.
I think anita has changed too much and not enough. Her hang ups on sex are unrealistic with the amount and necessity of sex in her life now. At this point its just whining and interferes the plot.
Anita has change to much in some things and too little in others. Her hang up about sex should be smoothed out because sex is necessary now or sex should be lightened up in book to go with her hang ups. She needs to mature more, grow up to the real world. She has decisions to make and needs the maturity to make these decisions correctly.
She’s changed too much I liked the old Anita better, and the beginning of the series way more
I’m a rather new reader. I’ve only been reading since Augus09 and haven’t read her yet. I’d like too and hope I can still be entered.
Christine