Volume 15

www.read-that.com book review

Have you ever heard of the Harlequin? We’re not talking about the french clowns either. The Harlequin seem to be the main force that keeps the vampires and I mean all vampires in check. Marmee Noir made them so the vampires would be controlled to an extent. There are rules about them such as, once they are gone, its forbidden to speak so much as their name around others. Another rule specifically for the Harlequin is that you abide by niceties such as a white mask delivered means you are just being observed. A red mask meaning you will be hurt as in blood shed but not killed. Then there is the black mask which means death.

Malcolm is head of the Church in St. Louis and he’s scared enough to come to Anita and relay a message to Jean Claude. Jean Claude is the Master of the City in St. Louis and Anita is, among other things, his human servant. Also add the Vampire Executioner, Lupa and Bolverk for the local werewolf clan, Necromancer (raising the dead), and she’s also Nimir Ra for the local leopard pard. Her live in boyfriends, Micah and Nathaniel, are both leopards but Micah is Nimir Raj to Anita’s Nimir Ra (king to queen). Nathaniel is now her animal to call since she has made a triumvirate with him and her vampire servant, Damien.  She is also a third in Jean Claude’s triumvirate, which includes Richard. Richard is the Ulfric King of the local werewolf clan.Anita might not turn furry once a month but she does carry four different types of lycanthropy in her. When one of her beast gets out of control, she has to have that flavor of animal near by to give her beast to them. After sending a too powerful werelion back to Chicago, Anita has been trying to find a lion that would make her beast happy. Not good, so far.

While fighting to control her beasts and balance the ardeur, Anita is having the Harlequin mess with her head. Not just hers either. Many of those in Jean Claude’s kiss of vampires are being messed with. Also the guards, who are mainly wereanimals of some flavor are being tainted as well. It seems that the Harlequin are boogy men to the vampires and has everyone treading lightly. The ardeur is similar to blood lust for a vampire but Anita has to feed on lust, or sex if you will but she is having better control over that as well until the Harlequin taint that as well. Can they do that with only sending a white mask? Or will there be more masks to come?

I think that Hamilton is getting better and better. I could read 20 more when they’re this good. There are just enough new characters to keep you guessing but not leave out all the rest of the family. You know that the author is good when you are so mad at one of the characters but then remember that its just a story. Wonderful imagination and just down right awesome. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Two Thumbs Up!!! A Must Read!!!