Anita Blake is the protagonist of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. She works as an animator in St. Louis, raising the dead for legal purposes such as will disputes, and as a federal marshal licensed to execute dangerous vampires.
Anita is a necromancer, meaning she has an innate power over death and the dead that goes beyond simple animation. In the world of the series, vampires and other supernatural creatures are legal citizens with rights, but those who commit crimes can be sentenced to death. Anita is one of the marshals authorized to carry out such sentences.
Background
Anita is of mixed heritage, with a German father and a Mexican mother who died when Anita was young. She was raised Catholic and struggles throughout the series with reconciling her faith with her necromantic powers and her relationships with supernatural beings.
She is short, dark-haired, and often underestimated by those who do not know her reputation. By profession she is known as “The Executioner” for her body count among the vampire community.
Powers and Abilities
Anita’s necromancy allows her to raise zombies, sense and repel vampires, and interact with the dead in ways others cannot. Over the course of the series, she acquires additional powers through her connections with vampires and lycanthropes, including the ability to call various types of shapeshifters and share power with her supernatural partners.
She is also an expert with firearms and carries multiple guns at all times. Her physical skills and tactical thinking make her dangerous even without her supernatural abilities.
Relationships
Anita’s romantic life is complicated by her connections to the supernatural. Her primary relationships are with Jean-Claude, the Master of the City of St. Louis, and Richard Zeeman, the Ulfric (leader) of the local werewolf pack. The series increasingly explores polyamorous relationship dynamics as Anita’s supernatural connections multiply.
Reading Order
See the complete Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter reading order for all books in the series.