Obsidian Butterfly stands out very oddly in that section of the series. Yes, Anita has to use her powers, but the primary scope of the story is the interelation of the four highly-dangerous, human killers. It's more the nature of violence and how it affects people, more than the Powers of the Month Club and "which stone hottie can't keep away from me this book." Well, there is the one guy who decides she's his soulmate, but at least she isn't drawn to him.

I know I read Obsidian Butterfly....I downloaded all the Anita Blakes available at that time to Palm Reader for a trip. Was that the one with the old dude who got butterfly familiars?

Maybe I shouldn't have read them all at once. I kinda liked the first one, and by the time I realized I didn't like them anymore I'd read a LOT of them. Oh well, at least it's not boring Anne Rice porn (raises glass to deb).

Was that the one with the old dude who got butterfly familiars?

The one you're remembering is when the really old vampires come to play mind games with Jean-Claude, and the old dude with the butterflies can start fires.

Obsidian Butterfly is set in the Southwest, and Anita's hitman friend Edward calls in a debt she owes him to help him find a killer.

Oh! Yeah, that was a good one. I always like it when Edward shows up.

I like how Edward is looking forward to the day he and Anita throw down and they can figure out which one's tougher. Plus the presents of cool new weapons he leaves for her.

What was Anita's line that described her feelings for Edward ... "I trusted him to give me a good death."

I have to add that I liked that one too. Anita and Edward are a fascinating pairing.

At first, I really liked the interplay between Anita and the vampire/werewolf duo as well...I just think she lost me with the (spoiler font since this is later in the series) "I get my power from sex and therefore must have sex with all of my submissive minion leopards while my poor angst-ridden ex-boyfriend gets progressively more self-destructive"phase.

"Oh dear Christ, another bestiality threesome with angst and handcuffs

threesome? -they are all magical orgies. I think the porn has gotten boring in LKH's books too.

Merry gentry - at least I know why she is haveing sex all the time. Since her purpose in life is to be a brood mare.

Oh, god, Richard, who hates himself so much. At least Jean-Claude is fairly upfront about what he wants. And Anita at least has had a decent time with Jean-Claude.

Boy, Anita's come a long way from "I slept with my fiance, I'm evil and impure."

I liked the old, guilt-filled Anita.

The rumor is that Richard was based on Hamilton's then-husband, and that the breakup and divorce have made it impossible for her to write the character sympathetically.

That's a shame, as I have always rooted for Richard and against Jean-Claude. Richard seemed more real and less cliched, which apparently is because he was. If she can't write the character honestly anymore, maybe she should kill him off or have him move to Mars.