Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter Books In Order

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Books

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Collections

Vampire Hunter is a series of urban fantasy novels, narrated by title character Anita Blake, who resides in the parallel universe where shape-shifters and vampires exist. The presence of these creatures is also public knowledge, and this series of books tries to delve into Anita’s inner conflict with supernatural happenings in her world. There are many mysteries that need to be solved, which she is actually able to do because of her abilities. Anita also has to deal with complex romantic relationships. Politics also comes into play and she has to navigate her way through it all.

The first novel in the Vampire Hunter series is called “Guilty Pleasures”, and we learn how Anita Blake started raising the dead and killing the undead. As the story unfolds, we also learn how she meets with Jean Claude, who’s a vampire that is destined to not only become her number one nemesis, but also her top lover. One thing that will strike you is that Anita is a really young woman but she is a hunter and slayer of vampires, and she is not afraid of the undead and the occult.

The good thing about Guilty Pleasures is the fact that it is a fast read. The vampires in the story are similar to what we read in the legends, but they have their own unique differences that make the story more interesting. The character of Anita is also well developed and should be appealing to members of both genders. The story has a very good plot, and the story moves along in a very logical fashion. The pace of the story is good and it blends well with the overall theme. There is a big finale climax when the book ends, and based on the way things have been going on, it should provide a satisfying conclusion.

The characters and the dialogue that they engage in make the story memorable. There are a lot of action scenes, which will pump the reader full of adrenaline. An intriguing character known as Edward is introduced in the story. The good thing is that we find Anita being very active, assisting the police with their investigations by raising the dead in order to extract information. With vampires being murdered left, right and center, one of the chief vampires asks her to provide expertise to solve the mystery.

In order for Anita to gather more information abut the mysterious underground vampire society, she befriends Philip, who’s a vampire junkie. Anita is a strong-wiled and independent young woman. She is also judgmental and might come off as abrasive but she’s got a wickedly sharp tongue. There’s black humor in the book, which helps to lift the gloom and also makes Anita seem approachable. Perhaps the author tries too hard to paint the scenes that she has lengthy descriptions of what Anita is wearing. She also spends too much time describing guns. However, being the first book in the series, the author has done herself proud.

“The Laughing Corpse” is the second installment of the Vampire Hunter series. In this story, Harold Gaynor offers Anita Blake a million dollars to raise a 300-year-old zombie. However, Anita turns down the offer because she knows that a human being would need to be sacrificed for such a feat to be accomplished. However, when a series of dead bodies begin to show up, Anita quickly realizes that there is someone else who has managed to raise the zombie, and it has started killing. So Anita has to fight this zombie as well as the voodoo witch controlling it.

In this story, Anita learns that some secrets need to remain buried and that it would be better for some people to be dead. With this second effort, the author rips the reader from reality, tossing you into a dark world full of voodoo, betrayal, and forceful submission. Even the murder scenes have been made more gruesome, and this book is definitely not for the faint hearted. You might find your heart pounding in your chest while reading the book, and it’s almost as if you dread what is going to happen next.

The voodoo priestess confronts Anita, and this is someone who would scare anyone within easy reach, even those who feel that they’re unreachable and safe from her clutches. Unfortunately, even while you sleep in your bed, quiet and feeling relaxed and safe, you can still be haunted by nightmares. Death is still knocking at the door, and if you don’t open, it will slip through the windows. There is betrayal everywhere and Anita is left unsure about the future of her friendships, with other friends being forced upon her due to circumstances beyond her control.

Even though Anita comes off as a more likeable character in the second book, she still needs to manage her anger. Some of her views appear harsh, such as when she angrily berates a man who just wants to inform his wife that he’ll be late from work. Anita’s background and beliefs also start to become apparent in The Laughing Corpse, and we see her struggling with morality, trying to justify some of the things that she does.

There are not many characters in the story, but that’s a good thing because the reader is able to learn more about their backgrounds. Ronnie is an adorable character while Manny is going to prove popular with the readers. Anita’s boss appears quite bland but the reader gets a relief from the pretty character called Gainer. Dominga is an interesting character but some readers may not like what happens to her. Wheelchair Wanda is also a good character, while Jean-Claude brings plenty of sex appeal.

One thing that the author could try to tone down is the sexism and racial stereotyping in the book. Male police officers who are guilty of sexual harassment don’t get punished. The bodyguards are all beefy but are somewhat brainless. We also have the blondes being cast as stupid. The good thing is that the story is presented in a cleaner and more traditional format, which makes it easier for the reader to follow.