When my coworker first got me to check out the first Anita Blake series book, “Guilty Pleasures”, I was admittedly interested right off the bat. Vampires and a necromancer, I’m in! When I read the book’s opening, I was not entirely sure what to expect. Urban fantasy was familiar territory, but vampire fiction—especially from the early 1990s—often veered into gothic melodrama. Equally, sometimes it turns into more of an adult read in these types of fiction.
What I found instead was a sharp, disciplined story that blends the supernatural with crime noir. Not cringy crime noir either, but very authentic for the time and characters involved. Hamilton wrote with confidence from the start, making sure we knew her tone immediately.
Introducing the Main Character: Anita Blake
Hamilton wastes no time in introducing Anita Blake, an animator who raises the dead for work and is also a vampire executioner. A licensed one, at that! Our maker is quickly established as an employee who is beyond competent in her line of work and pragmatic. Oh, and morally firm, which impacts the precarious situations she finds herself in. Her job and morals tend to complicate implications. Somehow, she makes it all work while on the clock.
Licensed Vampire Executioner Anita Blake grounds the supernatural elements somehow within legal parameters with both of her jobs. This brings the reader an unusual sense of realism despite its fantastical premise. In “Guilty Pleasures,” Hamilton makes it seem possible that the existence of vampires and raised corpses feels disturbingly plausible.
Two Book Cover Editions of “Guilty Pleasures”
Courtesy of: Goodreads
Multiple Covers and Editions
“Guilty Pleasures” has at least nine different covers and multiple editions. It also comes in different formats: paperback, audiobook, ebook, and more. It is even part of some collectible edition sets and is printed in different languages. No matter which you get your hands on (or ears on), it’s very captivating. Anita Blake will keep your interest, no matter the format.
An Overview Without Spoilers
One of the book’s strengths is its atmosphere. Guilty Pleasures is set to be dark, and it is. It manages to read without being too indulgent, violent without feeling rushed. The city feels lived-in, dangerous, and busy like it really is. Mix in morally complicated, filled with vampires who are not mysterious figures lurking in the shadows; they are legally recognized citizens of America. Anita Blake works with the law, but how does she feel?
This creates so much tension, since not everyone shares the law’s opinion. A certain nightclub becomes a major part of the book and its location. It is a perfect example of the uneasy coexistence between humans and vampires. The nightclub is a place that is seductive, threatening, and yet somehow perfectly legal. Many do not like it, and those that do are paying customer is part of a power dynamic that extends far beyond its walls.
Hamilton’s writing style is brisk and direct, as I mentioned before. It really suits the story well, especially for our main character. Anita’s first-person narration is sharp, often blunt, but it never feels careless. There is an underlying intelligence to the way she observes the world and the actions of those in it. Characters like Jean-Claude, the enigmatic vampire master of the city, and Edward, a dangerous professional ally, are introduced with restraint. It allows their presence and reputation to speak louder than having them everywhere all at once. Even without knowing where their arcs will lead in later books, their early appearances leave a lasting impression.
More Books?
Yes, you read that correctly. Later books means more books! This is the first book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series. “Guilty Pleasures” does not disappoint, and I most definitely found myself going for the next book. I actually admit that I have it in both audiobook and digital editions! It’s hard to get me into an actual fiction series, if I’m being honest. I can read graphic novels and comic series, but it takes more to hold my interest in books that aren’t more artistic.
This one definitely got me, and is more than worth the read. If you like a good crime series, or even unexpected romance, this book is definitely for you. If you like dark and moody reads, this book is also for you! I can’t wait to tell you about the next book in the Anita Blake series!
