Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #7) By: Laurell K. Hamilton (Book Review)

 ***This review will contain spoilers***

Summary:

"You can't trust anyone who sleeps with the monsters."

That's what I've always said. That's what I've always believed. But now I'm the one sharing a bed with the Master Vampire of the City. Me, Anita Blake. The woman the vampires call the Executioner. From part of the solution, I've become part of the problem. So it hits close to home when an arsonist begins to target vampire-owned businesses all over town -- an arsonist who seems to want to destroy more than just property. It's the monsters who are in danger now. And it's up the the Executioner to save them from the inferno...

This has been a nice change of pace. From the start, Anita has come up against very old and very powerful vampires with different kinds of abilities. Throughout this book, we have an insight on just how much the triumvirate with Richard and Jean-Claude has affected Anita. The council comes strolling into town who are the authority figures in the vampire world which means Anita can't just go in with brute force and guns blazing. We got to see just how methodical Jean-Claude is and how well he can maneuver politically when confronted with the vampire council. Plus, we get to see a whole new side to shapeshifters. And on top of all of that, we have a pyromaniac going after vampire businesses.                                                                                                                                                                          In this one book, Anita has grown so much. She is more aware and has her eyes wide open when it comes to being tied to both Richard and Jean-Claude, she has a better understanding and is getting more comfortable to shapeshifters and their way of living. Being tied to Richard she finally was able to tap into the power of the pack and do things she was never able to do before. She was able to heal several people, suddenly know the right things to say that are important to the pack and she has finally embraced her position as lupa. Granted Richard was definitely not happy about that and will try to replace her eventually but the fact that she's human and she's able to do all of this while being tied to Richard is incredible. When she faced Master of the Beasts; Padma he said he sensed a animal in her. Maybe being tied to Richard has something to do with it but how awesome would it be if she could actually shapeshift? Practically becoming unstoppable. When facing Yvette, Anita was able to lash out psychically and cut her like master vampires are able to do. She's obviously growing stronger and stronger as time passes on. 

Anita after finding out that the leopards are left all alone since she killed their leader immediately takes them under her wing and takes care of them. We're seeing a softer side of her and I hope we get to see more of it. I don't blame her for being so trigger happy when facing bad guys. Rafael, the rat king and Anita's friend while in the hands of Padma had his whole back skinned. Luckily, he is still alive. Both Sylvie (werewolf) and Vivian (wereleopard) were raped by Fernando (Padma's son). No one should ever be in that position and quite frankly I would do the same thing in Anita's shoes. She protects those that belong to her and she kills anyone who threatens them. People have called her a monster but faced with those horror's on a daily basis changes people. She still cares and for that alone I don't consider her a monster. 

Anita has faced a lot of powerful baddies but the vampire council is a whole different kind of opponent that she can't really kill just cause she feels like it. The whole reason why they are in town is because they wanted to know who killed Oliver, the earthmover. Oliver was an incredibly old and powerful vampire. They did not believe that Jean-Claude was powerful enough or even the one to kill him. They took over the circus of the damned during their stay. Some of the council members included the traveler who could inhabit any vampires body, Padma the master of beasts, Yvette and Asher.

Anita along with Jean-Claude, Richard, the werewolves and the leopards were able to show a strong united front and outmaneuvered the council. Yvette was killed because she was orchestrating all the fires so vampires would attack humans and try to revert things back before vampires were legal citizens. With her dead, they were able to stop her last big hurrah. Averting crisis' seems to be a full time job for Anita. For now everyone is safe but I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of the council soon. 

Rating:

I am going to give Burnt Offerings 5 stars on 5. I absolutely loved it! Hamilton changed up the pace and introduced the vampire council. The vampire authority and we got to see just how powerful and unique vampires can be. A body snatcher and a master of all shifters. Pretty damn cool. And we weren't even introduced to the whole council yet. I have a feeling some epic battles await us. One thing I have always appreciated about Hamilton is that she doesn't humanize the monsters. She shows us exactly who they are and just how dangerous they can be. I'm excited to see what else is in store for Anita.