Tuesday Reviews: Slay by Laurell K. Hamilton

 

Series: Anita Blake Series

Laurell K. Hamilton has captivated readers with her gritty, seductive tales of vampire hunter Anita Blake for thirty bloody fantastic years. Now, in the thirtieth novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, wedding bells are ringing. But before Anita can make it to the altar, she must face an obstacle more daunting than any supernatural threat....

Necromancer Anita Blake is small, dark, and dangerous. Her turf is the city of St. Louis. Her job: U.S. Marshal—Preternatural Branch. She’s faced horrifying monsters and brutal killers and come out the other side still standing.

Considering how things in her life tend to go, Anita never expected her walk down the aisle with Jean-Claude to go smoothly. They’ve already been confronted with naysayers and a power-hungry ancient evil, but now Anita has to do the one thing that actually scares her: introduce her very religious, very human relatives to her fiancé—the newly crowned vampire king of America.

As Anita tries to keep the peace between the family she left behind and the family she’s chosen, dark forces jump at the chance to take advantage of the chaos. With her happy-ever-after at risk and everyone’s immortal souls hanging in the balance, Anita grapples with a hard truth: Blood makes you related, but loyalty makes you family.

I recently finished "Slay" by Laurell K. Hamilton, and while it had its moments, I can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed. The novel is part of a long-running series, and although I appreciated the author's ability to create a rich and complex supernatural world, there were aspects that left me wanting more.

Firstly, the pacing of the story was a bit uneven. At times, it felt like the plot was dragging, with unnecessary details slowing down the narrative. On the other hand, there were moments when the action escalated too quickly, leaving me struggling to keep up with the sudden shifts in intensity.

Additionally, the characters, while interesting, lacked the depth I was hoping for. The protagonist, despite being a strong and empowered figure, seemed to fall into predictable patterns, and I found it challenging to connect with her on a deeper level. The supporting characters, though diverse, also felt somewhat one-dimensional, and their development was overshadowed by the main storyline.

On a positive note, Hamilton's writing style is engaging, and she has a talent for creating vivid and atmospheric scenes. The world-building is intricate, and I appreciated the effort put into crafting a unique universe filled with supernatural elements. However, these strengths were not enough to fully compensate for the shortcomings in character development and pacing.

"Slay" is a decent addition to the series, but it may not fully satisfy readers looking for a more immersive and well-rounded experience. If you're a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's previous works, you may find some enjoyment in this novel, but newcomers to the series might want to start elsewhere for a more compelling introduction to the author's storytelling.