Incubus Dreams (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 12)

I am a huge fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's. That is, I used to be. This book started out promising enough, with a potential vampire serial killer (maybe a gang of them), then it wandered off from one sex scene to another. If this was a movie, they would have a hard time rating it. Although she uses the "f" word plenty, she can't use the "p" word (to describe a portion of the male anatomy). Go figure!

If I wanted all porn, all the time, I would have bought Hustler's Forum magazine or a subscription to Playgirl (Playboy for the rest of you).

I am severely disappointed. I kept hoping Hamilton would get off of the sex and get back to the serial killer plot, but by disc 7 (I bought the unabridged CDs), she still hadn't and there are only 8 discs to listen to.

I like to hear sexual parts of books, believe me, it makes them more fun and interesting. In the past, Hamilton has melded the sex and the mystery very well. This time, though, she completely forgot about a plot and wrote the x-rated vampire sex novel of the year.

I never finished the book because I was so disgusted and I am no prude. When I read a book, I want substance, I want a plot, and yes, a little sex is nice, but not page after page of orgies, sex on the floor, sex in the shower, sex on a stage, sex on a desk - you name it and main character Anita Blake is having sex on or in it in this book.

I'm finding a new author to embrace.

Hamilton lost a big fan.

I wish I could have given 0 stars, but 1 will do.

I find I'm both loving and hating this book. I'll start with the negative and end on the positive. The negative half of this is that I am confused as all hell. I have no idea WHAT's going on. Very few loose ends laid out in the series were tied up, and now there are a million more that have just sprouted out. I have absolutely no problem with the amount of sex that is going on, but I'm more upset about the fact is I don't find them titillating at all. The delivery is sloppy, wordy, and excessive and I'm yawning through them. The one scene that really starting to grip my attention with Nathanial (who I have been waiting books and books and books for a good sex scene with) got totally destroyed because Anita stops all the foreplay and stuff to have a freakin' heart to heart about her sexual hang ups with Jason who is sitting there watching! She and Nathanial supposedly didn't "lost the mood" because of it, but I sure did.

I also agree with A. Pang about how many times she uses "spill, spilling, and spilled" and how everybody screams in this book. Though by now, it keeps sending me into fits of giggles everytime I read it.

I think the worst part is I keep getting reminded I'm reading a book, not being part of the story, and that's really a shame.

Now for the parts I'm really enjoying. I am liking very much the character development. I think it's on par for Anita, and it is progressing nicely, learning valuble life's lessons with some very deep insights that make you stop and think. Richard is slowly coming to grips with himself, JC is relaxing a bit, and best of all, Nathaniel gets a personality! Yippee! I love all the little extra tidbits about the personal life and hobbies of the characters that's been added. It makes them all a bit more real. Plus, I'm just loving how all the men in Anita's life are finally giving her the proverbial smacks upside the head. Those are the moments that make you go "YEAH!"

All in all, I give it three stars. I really think this book could have been managed a lot better (interestingly enough, from what I gathered reading LKH's blog, she wasn't too happy about the way it was going either), but I still think it will sit nicely on my shelf, and be ready to pick up again some rainy night. And I'll still buy LKH's novels!

I'm not sure if the people reading this book have read the entire series or not. Anita has developed from a black and white no compromise person where there is only good or bad and no middle ground, into a real person that can see the grey areas and appreciate the fact that there is no absolute good or evil.

This book gives more depth to all the characters and lets you know what is going on inside them and why they are doing what they do. I can hardly wait for "Micah" and "Danse Macabre" to see even more of what drives the characters.

If you're looking for your typical vanilla vampires, were's, and other assorted monsters---human and otherwise, read something else. Anita Blake and company are hot and getting hotter.

the anita blake series is a fantastic series. i couldn't wait for incubus dreams to come out, however, after having read it now,i was dissappointed for the first time by Hamilton. the book was more sex than story telling. i love the drama in anita's life and this time sex prevailed. I am looking forward with great enthusiasum for danse macabre. over all, the series is a five star series, with just that one slip. i recommended it to all my friends, and i recommend it to all of you!!!!

This is a great product for my family and I would buy it again. Thanks and keep up the good work.