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    Circus of the Damned
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    Circus of the Damned
    Unavailable
    Circus of the Damned
    Audiobook10 hours

    Circus of the Damned

    Written by Laurell K. Hamilton

    Narrated by Kimberly Alexis

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    First time in trade paperback: the third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

    In Circus of the Damned-now in trade paperback for the first time-a rogue master vampire hits town, and Anita gets caught in the middle of an undead turf war. Jean-Claude, the Master Vamp of the city, wants her for his own-but his enemies have other plans. And to make matters worse, Anita takes a hit to the heart when she meets a stunningly handsome junior high science teacher named Richard Zeeman. They're two humans caught in the crossfire-or so Anita thinks.


    From the Trade Paperback edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateOct 1, 2009
    ISBN9781101145654
    Unavailable
    Circus of the Damned
    Author

    Laurell K. Hamilton

    Laurell K. Hamilton is the author of the New York Times bestselling Anita Blake series and Merry Gentry series. She lives with her family in St. Louis, Missouri.

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    Reviews for Circus of the Damned

    4/5

    1,744 ratings56 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      This review first appeared on A Weebish Book Blog.CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED is by no means my favorite Anita Blake novel, but it does play an important part in the progression of the series. Anita is introduced to Richard Zeeman—closeted werewolf and high school science teacher—and sparks begin to fly, much to Jean Claude’s frustration. Out-of-town vampires stir up trouble as they make power plays that impact future books, and human hate organizations get involved with their own hidden agendas.I’ve never been a huge Richard Zeeman fan (and in later books, I find myself wanting to strangle the dude) but things do get interesting between Anita and Jean-Claude as jealously rears its ugly head.All-in-all, CIRCUS OF THE DAMNED was entertaining and delves Blake further into vampire politics and the furry side of the preternatural world.
    • 1/5
      The Anita Blake series starts out well, but really begins to turn toward the victim-as-passion pretty soon. If you're into that, then these deliver, but it's really not my thing. By the time we get well into the series, Hamilton's Blake is pathetically power hungry and driven by a sense of acceptance from men that would have any truly independent person retching in the aisle. Eventually it devolves into farcical S&M exploration, delivering light porn, but not truly erotica. If you don't want to admit what your hungers are to yourself, then these are books made for you, as I Blake (and possibly by extension Hamilton herself) suffers from the same plight. My favorite character of all is Edward, and we really never do get to see enough of him.
    • 5/5
      Book 3 in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. This one has a new master(s) trying to take over the city. Anita gets involved when it appears that a new band of rogue vampires is on a killing spree. She also takes on a new apprentice at Animators Inc. Like the others in this series once it starts rolling it never lets down. Am really enjoying this series so far.
    • 4/5
      See Guilty Pleasures. This was my favorite of the series.
    • 5/5
      Wow! So I've been slowly working my way through this series, but this book has completely sealed the deal as far as falling in love with all the characters.

      This book starts up not long after the end of Laughing Corpse and we are following Anita as she tracks a rogue master vampire who is killing people around the city. We also have Anita meeting a new love interest Richard in this book. This book involves a lot of growth as far as Anita goes and it really leads up to a feeling that her perspective on things are going to be changing.

      The plot is basically her chasing down this rogue master vampire and her old pal Edward showing up. It is a bit of a shock as far as the end goes when we find out what is really going on though.

      This has been my favorite in the series so far for plot. Can't wait to read book #4!
    • 3/5
      more vamps
    • 4/5
      In this third Anita Black novel, she meets a few more master vampires fighting for control over Saint Louis, gains a sidekick, and somehow manages to lose neither her job nor her life, though it's touch and go there for a while. Anita's a fun character with amusing asides in the narration, but I like how the monsters she deals with are unmistakeably that. Sure, she has some mixed feelings over the sexy Jean-Claude, but in general, vampires are shown to be the bloodsucking fiends they really are (as opposed to misunderstood pale pretty people). The violence and gore can be a bit much, pushing this further into the horror genre than strictly thriller, but I'm finding that I'm still mostly enjoying the series. I'll probably pick up the fourth book at some point.A note on the audio: Kimberley Alexis is fantastic. I'd forgotten that these books have the occasional background music and sound effects (mostly gunshots), which confused me at first, but actually add to the ambiance, especially during the high-tension chase/fight scenes.
    • 3/5
      it really wasn't that bad, but the whole 'millions year old vampire' thing really irritated me.
    • 4/5
      While helping the St. Louis Police investigate a pair of human murders carried out by an unknown vampire pack Anita Blake realizes that there is a new master vampire in the city. One that is intent on terrorizing the populace and challenging Jean-Claude as Master of the City. In a series of startling confrontations she finds out there are not one, but two such vampires. The first, Alejandro, was young when the Aztecs were spilling the blood of sacrifices. The other, Mr. Oliver, has roots that extend into time immemorial. Either vampire is powerful enough to challenge Jean-Claude, and neither has any intention of observing the uneasy truce between humans and the undead. Laurell K. Hamilton is a wonderful story teller who keeps the reader glued to the book with a wonderful style of action, suspence, humor and horror. Hamilton offers the reader a solid plot with many, many twists. Once you start reading Circus of the Damned, you'll have a hard time putting it down. Again be warned that there is LOTS of sex in all Laural K. Hamilton's books.
    • 5/5
      Great book, as all of the books in this series have been.
    • 5/5
      Once again Anita ia back and she is ready to go. In this book she is still trying to get Jean Claude to back off. She meets Richard a were wolf of her dreams and her new partner. The action is great and the book is a real page turner.
    • 3/5
      I generally enjoyed this book, but it left me feeling like I was missing something. I'm unclear as to why the giant snake was used at the beginning of the book, other than to set up the idea of snakes that pervaded the rest of the book. And to introduce new characters. I'll listen to (probably not take time to read) more books in this series, but I'm not in love.
    • 4/5
      I honestly cannot tell if these books are getting better and better or worse and worse. It's like a black hole of sugary goodness - you know it's rotting you from the inside out, but you just keep falling anyway.Has the writing gotten any better? Absolutely not. This third book in the series had more typos than you could shake a stick at (not that I'm sure that shaking a stick could really prove much of anything). Has Anita's annoying inner dialogue been improved? Yeah...riiiiiiight. (Did you get that joke?)But yet there is something almost intangible that makes me want to keep reading these damn books. Will it bring me through the dozens of volumes left? Who knows?
    • 2/5
      When I picked up this book, I was intrigued. The title really caught my attention, not to mention that its main character was a vampire HUNTER for a change. I should preface the rest of this by saying that I have not read the first books in the series but, because of the way this author seems to write, I really didn't need to. There didn't appear to be a lot of carry over. A few minor relationship or personal details that were either unimportant, or quite obvious to the point that you didn't even know there were other books.

      Anyway, I started reading it, and it was starting to feel a little more like an adult version of Twilight. I know, I know, vampires are sexy beasts and they've been romanticized in literature basically making them sex symbols now. I get it. I really do, but do we HAVE to be reminded of it in EVERY book that contains a vampire? It's great that Anita is physically attracted to Jean-Claude, fantastic even, but do we have to hear about it whenever she meets him, both in person and in her dreams (Literally. He invades her dreams. Creeper).

      All that aside, I liked the book for the most part. One thing that really bothered me though, was that we met Richard in the beginning, Anita plans a date with the guy, and then we don't hear about him again until almost the end of the book. Why bother at that point? He's not the only one, either. It happens with the guys at the police department and a few other characters too.

      The ending surprised me. I'll leave it at that so I don't spoil it for anyone.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this installment of the Anita Blake series. I loved the introduction of Richard. I can't wait to see how adding him into the mix plays out in the rest of the series.
    • 4/5
      Part of me wants to go back to this book and rewrite it so Anita never meets Richard. I don't like him one bit. I also love how Anita (being mostly human) gets involved in the whole thing at the end (sorry trying not to spoil). I do love Edward though. He's one of my favorite characters in this world.
    • 4/5
      Enter Richard... and now the vamp-girl-wolf triangle begins. (Anita was struggling with this long before Bella was thought of!)

      I love love loved Richard in these early books... of course, I'm twenty books in now and have some serious issues with him, but that's neither here nor there.
    • 3/5
      I really like listening to these on audiobook. This book in the series had a lot going on, but not as interesting as the first 2. I will keep reading though. I love the sarcasm of Anita.
    • 4/5
      I read this series a long time ago. I was hooked on book one. Captivated by book two, still interested in book 4 and then it turned in to "romance" novel status. Yes, I continued to read the rest of the series, I'll admit it. But the urban part was gone and it really was just fantasy. Hamilton took a great character with a ton of potential and turned her into a sex goddess with so many lovers, who could keep track. What happened to the short, crazy haired, black nike wearing Anita. In it's place a nymphomaniac arose and I just can't find the interest to check out the most recent novel.
    • 4/5
      I give it a 3.5 because Laurell K. Hamilton really knows how to write an ending. She may not excel at other things, but dang. Her endings really are fabulous, and they leave you wanting more.The problem is I -don't- really want more. For the majority of the book, I was pushing through it, groaning through silly clothing description and sighing as handsome male after handsome male swarmed around Anita Blake. The first two books in this series are so good, but now I'm starting to believe the people who told me it goes downhill. It's all just getting a tad ridiculous.I may peek into the next book, or I may not. Because like I said, Laurell K. Hamilton really knows how to write a fabulous finale.
    • 4/5
      I honestly cannot tell if these books are getting better and better or worse and worse. It's like a black hole of sugary goodness - you know it's rotting you from the inside out, but you just keep falling anyway.Has the writing gotten any better? Absolutely not. This third book in the series had more typos than you could shake a stick at (not that I'm sure that shaking a stick could really prove much of anything). Has Anita's annoying inner dialogue been improved? Yeah...riiiiiiight. (Did you get that joke?)But yet there is something almost intangible that makes me want to keep reading these damn books. Will it bring me through the dozens of volumes left? Who knows?
    • 5/5
      I'm going back through and re-listening to the entire series, start to finish. I'm hoping to be done before the next book comes out. It'll be tight, but I think I can make it.

      Circus is a great book. Which I love all the books with Edward in them. Death always brings fun to a party. We meet Richard in this book. Wow, I forgot he was a pain in the ass from the first moment. I think Anita should've walked away from him at the beginning. We also meet Larry for the first time. Talk about someone who is wet behind the ears. I've always liked Larry, but I think his morals are going to get him killed one day.

      I love this series. This narrator is okay. I really didn't like her at first. The series started on audio with Narcissus in Chains (abridged, booooo) with Cynthia Holloway. Then with a different audio publisher, they've gone back and put all the old books on audio. The new girl has done all of those and the most recent books. I've gotten to where I'm okay with Kimberly Alexis, but I don't think she is as good as Cynthia Holloway.
    • 4/5
      Set in St. Louis, the third book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, series takes the reader deeper into the world of vampires, lycanthropes, and other ancient beings. With Anita Blake right in the center of the action, it comes down to the fight for not only the soul of the city, but also for Anita’s soul. Circus of the Damned was by far the best in the series so far. Anita’s dry sense of humor, the sexual tension between she and Jean-Claude, the introduction of another possible love interest in Anita’s life, and the life and death battle scenes add character to the already exciting story, which had me sitting on the edge of the couch, not wanting to put the book down for anything.
    • 5/5
      A group of vampires is attacking and killing humans and leaving them out for the police to find. They are more powerful than Jean-Claude as he can’t even tell they’re in town. One wants to make Anita his human servant. Humans First wants Anita to provide them with the resting place of the Master of the City, as does the oldest/most powerful vampire Anita has ever met. On a more personal note, Richard, a man who was hanging around with Jean-Claude, talks Anita into dating. She’s having trouble accepting why he’d want to, but says yes. And Animators, Inc gets a new animator.Anita faces danger throughout the story from so many fronts, including something she didn’t know still existed. And if they can’t put a stop to the biggest threat, St Louis is going to become a vastly different place.I’ve re-read this story a number of times over the years. It’s one of my favorites in the series partly because of the introduction of Richard, but mostly because of all of the action on how decisions Anita makes affects her life and the entire city. Anita knows more about vampires than most other humans, but she’s just now starting to learn a little about vampire politics, and how her refusal to accept that she’s Jean-Claude’s human servant is weakening his position. A really strong kick butt heroine who has her own set of ethics and feels strongly about sticking to them.
    • 3/5
      Hamilton continues her Anita Blake series with “Circus of the Damned”. Just when you think there couldn’t be anything else to add to her story of creatures, voodoo and urban terrorism you find out that there is more. With vampires nothing is easy and with a sarcastic, strong-minded heroine there is bound to be something interesting just a page turn away.

      Blake continues her work with the police investing preternatural crimes while refusing to be made into a human servant by the Master of the City. Murder runs amok in St. Louis and, of course, Anita is caught up in it. Between Humans First, Humans Against Vampires, the vampires themselves, lycanthropes, lamias, werewolves, zombies and feuding master vampires this novel is filled with curiosities and gruesome deaths.

      I have read several novels on vampires but never an urban “fantasy” series quite like Laurell Hamilton’s and her take on this world of creatures is both refreshing, gory and curious. Easy reads (I’ve averaged almost a book a day for these first 3) they are a truly unique reading experience.
    • 3/5
      Well… I not sure I’ll abandon the series just yet but I’m positive that this series is never going to get above a 3 Star. The writing is mediocre, and I’m liking Anita less than usual in this third book. I like my characters to be open minded or even just able to grow. Anita is not growing. I keep hoping she will. Sometimes I think there are some hints. Which I guess is why I’m still reading/listening. I’m hoping she will grow as a character. But the story itself seems to be growing, which is another reason I’m still reading. This third book trumps the first and second book. So maybe it’s a pattern. We’ll see.
    • 3/5
      Interesting and even exciting at times, but the narration could easily be strong and the character/writer is a little bit harsh on other women.
    • 4/5
      Anita is right in the thick of things - investigating weird vampiric murders, training a new animator, figuring out where her loyalties lie. I like her wit and bravado - my only regret about this series is the amount of cursing - it gets in the way of my enjoyment of the story.
    • 5/5
      Book #3 Anita Blake series. Anita meets Richard Zimmer when she went to Circus of the Damned to see if Jean Claude can help to find the new master in the city that is killing peaple. Plus there is other master Vampire want to take down Jean Claude So they take over his Tarratory.
    • 5/5
      I read this novel only once several years ago, but it's still one that stands out in my mind among the Anita Blake novels I've read. (17 and a half, since I gave up on the series mid-way through Flirt, though I thought the series long jumped the shark in the tenth book.) But this is still vintage Anita Blake, back when she was a snarky, tough take no prisoners necromancer and vampire hunter. Back when Jean-Claude was still ruthless and dangerous--and Richard the werewolf represented a chance at normalcy. And with Mr Oliver Anita found herself against one of her most memorable baddies. I still remember the spine-chilling moment when his nature and history was revealed. So, yes, I'd recommend this as a perfect Halloween read. But with the understanding that the series falls into the abyss with Narcissus in Chains. You can't say I didn't warn you.