Book Review: Skin Trade

MandiMay 26th, 2009 - 03:24:38

i am so glad to hear that she is going back to the old formula! my two favorite books are burnt offerings and blue moon! After OB, LKH seemed to switch her genres to more of a romantic bent than the original sci-fi/fantasy, horror. I have continued to read the books in hopes of seeing a return to the original theme that made me read the books in the first place.

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ChristinaJun 5th, 2009 - 07:16:28

This review is wrong. This book is just as bad, if not worse, than the last few books by Ms. Hamilton. Don't waste your money.

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TuomasJun 9th, 2009 - 22:30:50

Hamilton is dialing down on some of the crap that's had fans angry with recent books but it's not all sunshine either. The book keeps repeating earlier writings and Hamilton seems more confused than ever about her own works.

If you only barely remember the last book you read you won't have much trouble but if you have a good idea of what's been going on in the Anitaverse, you're going to be puzzled and bothered by the author apparently forgetting stuff she's already covered or that are 'in play' in the characters lives. Hamilton seems to have some surprising problems as a writer and basic issues of consistency and other 'storytechnical' issues keep tripping her up far more than they should for someone as talented as she otherwise is. Some of the characters are growing but the author is maybe even regressing.

Still, a good read and should make most fans happy for the direction the series is (hopefully) turning to.

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RageJun 15th, 2009 - 14:25:51

really... there will always people who wants to bring her down....

when im reading SKin TRade its like reading Obsidian Butterfly... i love it.

atleast LKH's vamps are not like those pathetic sparkling vampires.

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CornJun 16th, 2009 - 02:38:58

Haha, Rage, funny, I agree on the sparkling mess. Anita Blake has always been by far one the best vampire series I've read, but I've had my doubts after Narcissis in Chains. And please don't compare this book at all to Obsedian Butterfly. That by far has the best and most wow action and one of the reason I love Edward. This book was nothing like Obsedian Butterfly. No action, it's all metaphysics.

Obsedian Butterfly is my favorite besides Circus of the Damned. Skin Trade toned down the sex by not having any in the first 250 pages, but it horrendously continues right after the first sex act is done in this book...just like it continued after book six (The Killing Dance).

The original review was most likely done for promotional's sake. Don't fall for it. Skin Trade took a step in the right direction, but LKH is still trying to get there I guess. Kill MoAD COMPLETELY in the next book and I'll be happy.

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BedheadJun 20th, 2009 - 21:43:37

Skin Trade - it was if a new writer had stepped in - someone who had read every Hamilton book and then wrote this one.

Where was the editor? The repetition was annoying - explaining to bring a new reader up to speed? Jean Claude's angst was a repeat of previous books (why was that chapter even there?) and the constant I'm-a-girl complaints became equally annoying. We understood it the first 5 times.

There were parts that felt like the real LKH was there, writing, but for the most part it was a let down. And the ending felt like the author had to go out for dinner so needed to wrap it all up with a red bow. Enjoyed the changes w/ Olaf and the possibilities of his death. Wait for the library's copy.

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TorrinJun 22nd, 2009 - 15:36:16

I was actually quite happy with this one. Sure, there are still some problems here and there, but I am quite happy that I got 3/4 of the way through and there was nary a sex scene in sight. I am happy to have Anita back in a more kick-butt form, even if she's feeling conflicted and slightly wimpy, instead of the zombie/lycanthropy sex queen of the last few outings. It shows that Laurell has been listening to her readers and is making the effort to get back to basics. Yay. I still would have read them all, anyway, but now I look forward to the next one to see if she keeps it up. I miss my Anita.

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TuomasJun 26th, 2009 - 09:01:35

@ Rage:

There aren't people who want to bring her down. There are people who like her works but are tired and shocked by the constant stream of mistakes and problems even amateur writers should not be making. We are frustrated by seeing the potential in the good bits remain unrealized and Hamilton showing very little growth as a writer (either technically or in storytelling) despite a mass of books.

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