Way Back Wednesday - Burnt Offerings

Burnt Offerings is the 7th in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

Burnt Offerings continues the adventures of Anita Blake, as she attempts to solve a series of arsons and other crimes, and deal with a threat to one of her lovers, the vampire Jean-Claude, as he fends off a political challenge from the Vampire Council. Anita must also balance her romantic life with her roles as supernatural police consultant, vampire executioner, zombie animator, human servant and lover to the vampire Master of the City and Richard, the Ulfric of the local werewolf pack.

Because Anita killed the leader of the local wereleopard pard (pack) in The Killing Dance, the wereleopards are now looking for a leader. She accepts the role of Nimir-Ra, leader of the wereleopard pard. She is already the Lupa of the werewolf pack.

This is the book were we discover Anita has developed 3 new powers. She was able to raise 2 vampires (like she does the zombies), when she accidentally raises Damian and Willie. She now has the ability to cause harm from a distance with a slashing attack similar to some vampires. We also get another glimpse of Raina when Anita is able to call Raina's munin (sexual energy) to heal wounds or cause harm.

We are also witnessing the reconciliation between Jean-Claude and Asher, a vampire almost as old as Jean-Claude. We also see Jean-Claude push for his relationship with Anita to become more public. As with the other later novels in the series, Burnt Offerings blends elements of supernatural, police procedural, and erotic fiction.

As with previous novels, "Burnt Offerings" refers to a location within the novel itself. In this case, "Burnt Offerings" is a vampire-themed theme restaurant where some of the events of the novel take place. (The fictional restaurant is itself named after the real-world 1976 haunted house movie, Burnt Offerings.) As with the first 6 books, Burnt Offerings was originally released in paperback, but has been reissued in hardcover.