Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton (Review by Lara Ferguson)

4 of 5 stars

Laurell Hamilton is at it again. Since 1993, she has been thrilling us with Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter stories that are a unique blend of detective, action, love story, filled with paranormal twists and unexpected outcomes. Smolder, is no different.

This time, we enter the story as Anita is begrudgingly immersed in the preparations for her wedding to Jean-Claude, the new vampire king of America. Anita is excited about the marriage, but is beginning to feel the pressure of trying to keep the peace within her families-the one she was born into as well as the one she is creating.

In the midst of her personal saga, there is a vampire killer in her city as well. Local law enforcement has requested her assistance with a murder that is linked to what appears to be a string of murders of vampires and humans across the nation.

Swirling around in the chaos that surrounds her are also signs that something evil is trying to challenge Jean-Claude’s crown and cover the world in darkness and pain, beginning with the vampires. The only chance they have is to bond together and show the world that love is more powerful than anything.

Although it is part of a series, this novel can easily serve as an introduction to the storyline. From the outset, it beautifully complements the ones before without requiring the reader to have already consumed the earlier books. It simply wets the appetite to go back and learn the beginning of the story.