Burnt Offerings, by Laurell K. Hamilton
Burnt Offerings, by Laurell K. Hamilton
Book 7 – Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series
Reviewed by Ciara
Burnt Offerings is the seventh instalment in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series.
Again, there is a police plot and a vampire plot. The crime plot revolves around a series of arson attacks around the country, which seem to be caused by a pyrokinetic.
The vampire plot, which takes up most of the book, revolves around a visit from the council, the last word in vampire law. They have come to St Louis to deal with Jean Claude, who they believe is trying to set up a rival council within the United States. Jean Claude is offered a seat on the council, to replace Earthmover, who Anita killed in The Killing Dance.
Asher a vampire who knew Jean Claude before he moved to the United States, travels with the council. He was once part of a trio with Jean Claude and Asher’s human servant. Asher believes Jean Claude is responsible for his human servant’s death hundreds of years ago, and as revenge, he has petitioned the council for permission to kill Anita. He is definitely not the greatest threat facing Anita
in this book though.
Anita’s character is developed even further in this book, especially in relation to her position as lupa in the werewolf pack. There is a lot more focus on the powers and responsibilities involved in that role than her natural powers as a necromancer.
With the relationship between Anita, Jean Claude and Richard settled for the meantime, there is plenty of time to focus on a great, convoluted plot, and to reintroduce some of the minor characters, such as Irving the werewolf reporter, and develop them a little more.
Towards the end of the book, an important, ongoing, and heavily criticised theme is introduced; sex. Yes, Anita has had sex in the previous books, but here we see sex become truly important. Anita can channel the munin, or spirit, of the werewolf pack’s former lupa, Raina. She can use this power to heal, but Raina wants something in return, and of course, it’s sex. So when Anita channels that energy to heal an injured wereleopard, she ends up embarrassing herself by groping and molesting him (it was consensual though, never fear).
This is the beginning of a very big change in the AVBH books. Many hardcore fans have admitted that they didn’t enjoy the books in which sex was the main theme, while many others have said they enjoyed them far more than the first books. It’s a matter of taste, and one we don’t have to deal with here until we get further into the series.
We lose a little of the criminal aspect of the books, which I personally have really enjoyed, and it is replaced by supernatural politics. It’s a fast- paced, exciting adventure nonetheless. There is plenty of sexual innuendo, some of it slightly frightening in nature, but less sex than some books.
Burnt Offerings is the beginning of a change in the books, which some people loved, some have hated and some have been indifferent to. It is a logical progression at first, after all, it wouldn’t be credible to keep Anita Blake celibate for the entire series. Some feel though, that Laurell K. Hamilton swings too far in the other direction, and the books become erotic novels. There’s nothing wrong with erotica, but that’s not what Anita Blake started out as.
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