Hamilton’s second novel in the Anita Blake, vampire hunter, series was first published in 1995 by Penguin Publishing Group and is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats, as well as at your local library or through the Libby App. The audiobook, published in 2009 by Penguin Audio, is outstanding. Read by Kimberly Alexis, who personifies Anita’s character through and through, plus the audio effects add an extra layer to the storytelling, drawing the listeners in.

Circus of the Damned is a first-person perspective narrative that finds Anita in the crosshairs of an undead turf war when a rogue master vampire arrives in town. Jean-Claude, the city’s master vampire, wants Anita as his human servant. The new rogue vampire also wants Anita under his thumb. Jean-Claude already gave Anita the first two marks to achieve his goal. His foe, wanting to be even with him, also offers Anita the first two marks, making her mad as a hornet. Unwilling to give Anita the third mark without Anita’s permission, Jean-Claude loses his edge in this war because his opponent doesn’t have such scruples and continues to mark Anita until he has her as his servant, thus eliminating Jean-Claude’s marks. In the midst of all that’s happening, Anita meets a striking junior high science teacher named Richard Zeeman, who pulls at her heartstrings.

Hamilton keeps up her fast-paced, action-packed writing, with a strong-willed, independent, judgmental, abrasive protagonist at the forefront. Anita takes charge and doesn’t let vampires rule her, marks or not. She proves to them she’s her own person and defeats her master, ridding herself of his marks and ending the turf war. Unmarked, she reminds Jean-Claude to leave her alone, or she’ll kill him. Jean-Claude’s little smirk tells her he has something up his sleeve, a problem for another day.

The vivid descriptions, throat-clawing fear, the untamed violence, and well-rounded characters are where Hamilton’s voice shines, making this a 4-star supernatural read or listen. Great for fans of anything that goes bump in the night.