Jeanne C. Stein: Retribution

Review by Vicky London

Retribution is the fifth book in Jeanne C. Stein’s Anna Strong adventure series. Here’s the cover blurb:

With Belinda Burke, a powerful and deadly witch to track down, the last thing Anna needs is additional trouble with Williams. Warren Williams is the ex chief of police in San Diego, and a current leader in the local supernatural community. Their relationship has never been what Anna would consider good, but it’s deteriorating to a point that could be dangerous to both of their undead lives. Williams has a score to settle and he has no trouble destroying anyone who gets in his way, but it’s Anna who will ultimately put her life on the line and quite possibly save the supernatural population from a torturous and destructive future.

I’m starting to like Anna Strong a lot less in this book. She doesn’t seem to learn from her mistakes and she continues to rush headlong into things based on an emotional reaction without thinking through the consequences. Anna comes across as very selfish and childishly ignorant. She gets some pretty strong hints from Warren Williams that she’s much more powerful than other vampires and that something significant is going to happen soon. Anna allows her hatred and antagonism toward him prevent her from finding out who she truly is. It strikes me as cutting off your nose to spite your face. Normally this wouldn’t bother me as much in a character but people die because of her immaturity and her friends are seriously injured. Anna’s arrogance has creates another enemy for herself that has the ability to cause her immeasurable trouble.

One of the things I really liked about this book tied in with a short story that Stein wrote for the Many Bloody Returns anthology. It was about Sophie, a witch who finds a new secret ingredient for her magical face creams and gets a terrifying surprise from a vampire client. It was very creepy and I loved it. She ties that story into Retribution and along the way meets the witch who shares a body with a dead vampire’s soul. This becomes a lot less freaky and definitely more sweet. These two truly are soul mates. I still think Jeanne is a fantastic writer and I look forward to Anna’s continuing adventures. Here’s to hoping Anna grows up soon.

Click here to read an excerpt of Retribution.

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Ace (August 25, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0441017738

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