Laurel Hamilton...

[Devillishgirl]

I have just started reading the Anita Blake series and finding it good, light entertainment I sometimes can't be bothered with a hard going book so I think Hamilton is just the key.

rune, that's exactly why I read them. You might like the Southern Vamp series by Charlaine Harris if you like light entertainment in the form of vampire stories

 

[rune]

rune, that's exactly why I read them. You might like the Southern Vamp series by Charlaine Harris if you like light entertainment in the form of vampire stories

I've seen a books advertised on Amazon and wondered if they were any good. Would you say they are deeper in plot than Hamilton's series?

 

[Devillishgirl]

I've seen a books advertised on Amazon and wondered if they were any good. Would you say they are deeper in plot than Hamilton's series?

I wouldn't necessarily say deeper. That series is definitely light reading like the Blake series but not as crazy sexually though there are still sexual tensions and scenes, etc.

 

[rune]

Thanks for the info, I'll have to try one of them

 

[rune]

I've just got a copy of Obsidian Butterfly, and still enjoying this series so far


Which book in the series would you say is the best?

 

[Kraken]

Obsidian Butterfly is my favourite - but then, I'm an Edward fan

But past they they go downhill, I think. And Cerulean Sins isn't really a complete plot, unlike the previous ones, but I'm not sure I want to buy the new one to find out the rest of that storyline, given the reviews it's been getting.

 

[Space Monkey]

I've read them all up to Obsidian Butterfly, and I was told to avoid it because it will spoil my enjoyment of the series and taint my view of Edward. Because so far I think he's way cool. I love these books though; they're light, easy going and the politics between the vampire and were-animal communities are awesome.
In fact, I'm going to start on O.B. right now, I haven't read any Anita in way too long...

My favourite so far was Blue Moon - that was harsh and intense.

 

[rune]

Obsidian Butterfly is my favourite - but then, I'm an Edward fan

But past they they go downhill, I think. And Cerulean Sins isn't really a complete plot, unlike the previous ones, but I'm not sure I want to buy the new one to find out the rest of that storyline, given the reviews it's been getting.

I am half way through this book and so far I think it's the least well written of the series.
There are some good scenes and some good tension, but far too much detail that is slowing the plot down. Hard kicking action is what I expect from an Anita Blake book, and this is too detailed to be that.

 

[Leto]

Well, as I'm interested in vampires I gave a try to it, reading the one dealing with vodoun and human sacrifice, as well as the seductive vampire master. And I was rather unimpressed. Yes, it's easy to read but it tastes like a second-rate TV series. If I want an easy to read, fun experience with an horror book, I'll fetch first a Graham Masterton or a Peter Straub book. If it's about vampires I'm looking for, I'll go for a Fred Saberhagen's Vlad Tepes novels (from which I still have to read the Berserker serie). And for a good noir feeling, well Chester Himes, James Ellroy and others are still around.

 

[xRAZERx]

I found the Anita Blake book many years ago. And bought book 3 Circus of the Damned, I read it in a day and then had to go and buy all the other books because I was in love with Anita, and her world. I love the way she's developed and the way she interacts with her men.

I find the first 10 books the best read (book 10 is fantastic and drastic in the way I fear we loose "Ted" forever). The newest book [size=-1]Incubus Dreams was very enjoyable and has been re read several times.

I have a few issues with LKHs writing style though, such as her over use of describing mens long hair. I'm stick and tired of hearing a million and one different way to say "Richard has girly hair".

I also find the sex getting a bit annoying too.

Maybe the Anita Blake books are one to get from the libary first to "try before you buy"
[/size]

 

[rune]

I dont think she encorporates sex very well into this series. She does it much smoother in her Merry Gentry series and it doesnt seem to false.

 

[Circus Cranium]

The Merry Gentry series..........holy cow. It's ALL sex! At least the Anita series has action. However, the last few have been heading down that avenue as well. I do love the series, it's good quick fun, but she's kind of gotten too....horny? She needs to get with the killin and the animating of zombies like she used to.

 

[xRAZERx]

I dont think she encorporates sex very well into this series. She does it much smoother in her Merry Gentry series and it doesnt seem to false.

Strikes me from reading it, the sex is anything but smooth

 

[rune]

Strikes me from reading it, the sex is anything but smooth

Naughty

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

But is it scary? Call me a recidivist, but I still read horror to be scared, or at least alarmed, and none of this suggests anything of the sort, and reading for titillation seems a bit like doing long division to sort out your sock drawer.

 

[ravenus]

But is it scary? Call me a recidivist, but I still read horror to be scared, or at least alarmed, and none of this suggests anything of the sort, and reading for titillation seems a bit like doing long division to sort out your sock drawer.

As they would say in ancient India "Sadhu, Sadhu" (Hindu equivalent of Amen). If people are discussing the sex scenes in a horror book then there is no particular reason to regard it as a horror book. Just throwing in a few vampires does not a horror book make.

 

[Circus Cranium]

I wouldn't call it scary, per se, though the first half of the series had some great intensity to it. Think of Underworld, or rather, Buffy with an R rating and guns.

 

[rune]

When I use to read a lot of horror (some years back) it was much scarier and spooky (I felt)
However, I tend to find a lot of horror is more like dark fantasy. Which I really like so it's not a problem for me. However, it doesnt have the scare value that I think some horror use to have.

There are strange creatures and such like in the Anita Blake series. Noticed too magic is playing more of a part I personally like this, and very much enjoy the vampire characters.

But does it make it less or an horror because Hamilton has included a lot more sex?
Well I would say no it's still very much a dark fantasy/horror series. She has just developed complicated relationships between her characters that have progressed into sexual relationships.

The next question is are you (as a reader) happy with this development? Does this spoil the horror elements of the story?

 

[Circus Cranium]

I personally (my 2c!) like this type of horror, where the writing is clever and witty, and the paranormal reigns; magic if you will. I'm much more a fan of the bizzare, of unreality than of hardcore horror. There is a sect of horror writers out there that do nothing but basically torture and mutillation, and then they all huddle together and tell each other how brilliant they are. But it's all the same, and in my opinion, not inventive.

As for fear, it's been a long time since a book scared me; like when I was younger, The Shining scared me, and so on. Maybe we're desensitised now, who knows. Books can still chill me, however. House of Leaves I think was the last book that gave me willies in my soul.

 

[rune]

I personally (my 2c!) like this type of horror, where the writing is clever and witty, and the paranormal reigns; magic if you will. I'm much more a fan of the bizzare, of unreality than of hardcore horror. There is a sect of horror writers out there that do nothing but basically torture and mutillation, and then they all huddle together and tell each other how brilliant they are. But it's all the same, and in my opinion, not inventive.

As for fear, it's been a long time since a book scared me; like when I was younger, The Shining scared me, and so on. Maybe we're desensitised now, who knows. Books can still chill me, however. House of Leaves I think was the last book that gave me willies in my soul.

I find books rarely chill me too now, however, a good horror movie can still make me tense
I personally feel that horror (if made well) is better on screen, than in books.