What point of view do you like to read from?

[Jessica]

I was wondering what point of view do you guys prefer to read from?

I really like first person b/c I feel you get to know the main character more but then I think of JR Ward. I love how she writes. Any thoughts?

[Heather B]

I agree, my favourite would have to be first person, you do get to know and relate to the main character more and I feel that you can get into the story more. But I've also read some books that are in the third person and I really liked how they were writen so it's hard to pick.

[Susan (Suz)]

I agree with you Heather! It's so hard to pick but I think if I had to choose I prefer first person. But really if the book sucks me in I don't care what POV it's written from!:)

[Gems]

I honestly have grown tired of first person POV mainly because I find the narrator voices to be too similar at times. They're all kick ass heroines with a cast of side characters just there to admire and worship her.

At least with 3rd person you get to know all the various characters and they seem to serve an actual purpose. It seems more insightful and gives the side characters a more important role as well as developing their personalities better. Again for Love interests, they don't just seem to be there just to be eye candy.

[new_user]

First person or third person, they can both sound too similar if the author doesn't have a distinctive voice.

I think you mean the sarcasm, humor, and love triangles in UF, Gems. I agree. They can be very similar. They have a lot in common, but their worlds and plots are different and thus far, I've enjoyed humble heroines and clever men. I've avoided bad UF, LOL.

[Jessica]

I find that third person sometimes reveals to much of the plot.

[Gems]

I found even reading The Night Huntress Series to be hard to swallow at times just for how Bones could be treated from time to time. I dunno if it's the way it's written but I find the men lacking something and I don't bond with them emotionally in the slightest. They're just eye candy - and I can't find myself caring. There's this barrier and that barrier is that I'm stuck in one person's body. Plus seeing it only from One person pov makes thing character to be the one thing the world must revolve around and I find that sometimes hard to swallow. It really depends on the writer though.

[new_user]

I hear you, I like seeing the male's PoV sometimes too. There is a distance that comes from only seeing him through the heroine's eyes. Maybe that keeps them more edgy. Sometimes they can get too, er, sensitive when we see their PoV. *coughWardcough*

[CAYLYN HENSON]

i def. agree, love first person.

[Laura Lulu]

new_user wrote: "Maybe that keeps them more edgy. Sometimes they can get too, er, sensitive when we see their PoV. *coughWardcough* "

LOL-Love the books, but couldn't agree more.

I don't really have a preference either way regarding 1st or 3rd person, but I will say that when a book is written well in 1st person, or I should say when the main character is written well in 1st person, I couldn't imagine reading the same book in 3rd--it would lose something.

Case in point--the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. I just love getting the glimpses of what goes on in her head, I lol'd more than a few times reading those books. I love snarky Kate. :)

[new_user]

LOL. The wit there is priceless. "Asshole innocent bystanders." xD

[Laura Lulu]

new_user wrote: "LOL. The wit there is priceless. "Asshole innocent bystanders." xD"

"I wouldn't want his demonic, undead-blood-smeared, wolf-smelling ass riding me either."

[Christy]

I can't stand 1st person unless the character is very funny or very transgressive.

[Gems]

I read a novella by the Kate Daniels author in 'Must Love Hellhounds' and it wasn't so bad but I dunno if I could read a whole series in that style.

I just think a lot of heroines are too similar these days and being inside their heads makes it worse because you don't even have physical appearances to make the differences. While I enjoy the story, I don't emerse myself in the world as much as I would in a 3rd POV. It's weird because I write a lot of 1st person stories and they're certainly easier to write but I find my third POV ones to be far more developed and also more enjoyable, the worlds are also better built too.

[new_user]

I gotcha, Gems. I agree that appearances and a less internal narrative in general make a story more memorable.

I've seen poorly constructed worlds in third and first person. The Kate Daniels series, for example, is well developed. I would say if you like a fast-paced, action-packed story with great characters and humor, then you would like it. It's like a comic book, minus the cheese and deeper. :) The focus is on the -fortunately humble- heroine though. It's not a PNR.

[Gems]

I'm going to wait for a few more books in that series to come out because what I've heard and seen of that writer seems really good but I like a little bit of romance to read - not wait for. By all means that doesn't mean I don't want build up - I love build up but I want there to be something at the end, so I'm going to wait a few more books yet because waiting for series in UF is a turn off and generally means I won't read the next few in the series because I forget about them.

I'm also holding out for the last book in the Fever series to come out before I start buying them - this time because I dislike cliff hangers, lol. I'll admit, there are a few 1st persons that have caught my eye mainly because there is that element of mystery and in romances, the wondering of what's going on in the man's head when he says something yet his actions show something else.

Anita Blake however turned me off first persons in a big way. I really dislike that series intensely and I loathe the main character now - it had such potential - and every first person book after it seemed to have a similar sounding voice. Not to mention the fact that I feel most UF's are first person and some UF's just bug me, it seems to be a genre where a female character is stronger than anyone in the world and has loads of men after her and that just smacks of wish fulfilment on behalf of the author.

Again I'm generalising which is wrong - I think I'll go meander through your list new_user. I think I'd probably like what you like.

[Megan]

Many books now, seem written from the first person, so it is getting pretty popular- and several books and series I read are written in first person. To me though, it can get tiring after a while.

I do prefer third person.

[Jessica]

Gems- that's why I love Patrica Briggs series so much the females aren't the strongest in the world but protect what they love. I also like that they aren't so...um narrow minded I guess you would say.

[Gems]

The Mercy series was good and it was certainly a more believable and enjoyable character but again, while I was rooting for the main pairing, I didn't feel any real heat between them from time to time. First person either skimps on the romance between characters or layers it on too thick - though third does it too, but not to the same extent. However, I'm incredibly picky. I've been reading the genre for almost ten years now so I'm becoming harder to please as I grow more jaded.

[new_user]

Gems wrote: "I'm going to wait for a few more books in that series to come out because what I've heard and seen of that writer seems really good but I like a little bit of romance to read - not wait for. By all..."

I completely understand. I love all the other elements of the series, but at the end of the day, I want that romance. I just enjoy that connection. I actually didn't continue the Daniels series after reading the first book for the same reason. Then some friends told me I would be pleased with the second and third books with many winks and nudges. So I read on. Hehe. I think their style is great though. It would probably be even more memorable if they wrote a scifi or something instead. It's hard to stand out when everyone else is also writing about magic, etc., but their world is pretty unique. I'll look forward to hearing your impressions on it. I'm waiting for the Moning series because of the cliffhangers too. What a nuisance, LOL.

There is a lot of wish fulfillment, I agree. Like when the BDB Brothers say that they've tattooed their mates' names on their backs and therefore serve them or something along those lines. I was like, "Well, that's not attractive." A lot of books geared towards women the romance just entails the guy fawning over the female lead-- who is just astoundingly accomplished and for some reason, often judgmental? I think that's what you were saying, Jessica.

I agree about the Mercy series missing some heat in comparison to more "mature" UF. That might not be the right word. After I was spoiled about the pairing, I just lost interest because that was the driving reason to read on for me. I think it's easy to exhaust oneself reading PNR and UF because there's a lot of similar material and similar approaches, etc. How many ways can you write about that werewolf? LOL. Hope you find some good reads on my shelves, hehe. Let me know if I can help you find anything. Maybe I can matchmake, LOL. ;)

[Heather B]

Susan (Suz) wrote: "I agree with you Heather! It's so hard to pick but I think if I had to choose I prefer first person. But really if the book sucks me in I don't care what POV it's written from!:) "

Ya I totally agree, if the book is good, it shouldn't matter what POV it's in.

[Jessica]

new_user can you recommend some good werewolf books to me? I prefer fur to fang for some reason.

[Heather B]

Jessica wrote: "new_user can you recommend some good werewolf books to me? I prefer fur to fang for some reason."

umm...
Blood and Chocolate, this one was good.
That's the only one that I can think of that is just werewolves, can it have other things other than werewolves? Because the Mortal Inturment series; City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, has werewolves in it but that's not all, and it's REALLY good, and Need also has werewolves in it and I liked that one. Also I think that Shiver is about werewolves too but I still haven't read it yet so I'm not sure, but I've heard that it's pretty good.

[new_user]

LOL. I do too. There aren't that many werewolf series for some reason (or I just haven't read them), but Nalini Singh writes a unique series about a futuristic world with shifters and telepaths. The telepaths are on top of the world and ruthless. They have been programmed to suppress emotion. The changelings are animal shifters who value bonds, family, and touch, in contrast. Watch the explosion, LOL. The series also has an overarching suspense/drama plot with political manipulation and underground wars and smashing romance. :D She has a very different writing style from Ward, more flowery, but a lot of people who like one like the other. Her world's well-developed.

If you like a good dose of spice, you might also like Cynthia Eden's Hotter After Midnight. A hot werewolf cop who doesn't mince words. :D

Also, the Kate Daniels series features shifters in the same manner as the Patricia Briggs series; they're her sometime accomplices, sometimes trouble, LOL. The romance is a slow-burn though while the action -or Kate's dilemmas saving people- is front and center. Hope one of these interest ya. :)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Well, there's Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series--its UF rather than PNR. The main character is a dhampire with a difference--instead of half human/half vamp--she's half vamp/half were-wolf. Her world has vamps, were's, humans and various other "things that go bump in the night" living together.

Also, gotta LOVE Mercy Thompson. You have Vamps, Fae, Were's and of course Mercy--who is half Native American and a skin-walker (coyote).

If you want humour, then there is Derik's Bane. Oh, and one that I found many, many moons ago with a "twist" on the were-wolf idea Howling Mad

[Gems]

Kelley Armstrong's Bitten and Stolen which feature werewolves as the predominant species but a lot of people dislike that series. I enjoyed Bitten a lot though and the other books but Bitten in particular - Clay was pretty special in his own unique way, certainly not the suits and flower type that seem to be making their presence known in UF and PNR.

new_user: I think the reason people like Nalini and JR is because the men are the main characters as much as the women, in a way more because they're the family, the pack and the women come into that world. Plus they're just great alpha males with not one whiny one in the bunch.

I suppose that's why I dislike UF in a way too; I for one, seem to prefer stories about male camaderie and there isn't much of that in UF because it all revolves around the female protagonist who sometimes can turn into a bit of a Mary-Sue with all those little quirks to her powers and everyone falling in love with her. Also there's none of that pack feeling in it, it's all dominance and powerplays were werewolves seem to be involved.

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

I thought I'd jump in with a few more shifter suggestions, as I'm quite partial to them myself.

Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series is actually quite popular, but I understand that it isn't for everyone. I agree though Gems, that Clay is fantastic. UF

I highly recommend Rachel Vincent's Shifters series. They're werecats, rather than werewolves, but it's a great series. UF

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series has a number of Were Hunters that are fabulous. I tend to prefer their stories to the Dark Hunters, actually. PNR

Caitlin Kittredge's Nocturne City series has a werewolf protagonist. There are other paranormal creatures about, but the werewolves play a key role. UF

Lori Handeland's Nightcreature series is based around werewolves. I've only read the first few, but I enjoyed them. PNR

[Laura Lulu]

I prefer shifters to vamps too, and I can second a few of the mentioned series.

Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld--I preferred the werewolf books to the witch & necromancer ones, but they're all good.

Love, love, LOVE Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels series--it's probably my fave UF series so far--still have LOTS more to read, though. :) Kate is just the best female protagonist, tough but self depreciating, she gets the job done but doesn't pat herself on the back for it, she's humble and kick ass at the same time. And most importantly, she's funny and snarky. And the Beast Lord's nothing to complain about either. :)

I am reading Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series right now--I am almost finished with the 2nd book but they're pretty good. Definite PNR as opposed to UF, each book has a different set of main characters who get their HEA at the end, but there is also a good storyline to go along with the romance. So far the shifters have both been big cats (leopard & jaguar) but I know the wolves end up getting their own books too. But I am loving me some big cats--the Beast Lord has corrupted me. :)

Also, I think I prefer the male camaraderie in the Nalani Singh books to the BDB books--it just feels more real to me, they're Pack and they have a total bond, but they don't get as ewwwy gooey personal as the guys in BDB do--sometimes the words Ward puts in the brothers' mouths makes me cringe in it's cheeseiness.

[new_user]

Yeah, Bitten is good, but unfortunately, the next books are not about Clay & Elena, so it kind of detracts from the series for me, but I would recommend the first if you're looking for a standalone.

Gems wrote: "I think the reason people like Nalini and JR is because the men are the main characters as much as the women, in a way more because they're the family, the pack and the women come into that world..."

That's a great point, Gems. I love the Pack bonds that we see in her novels. That does add something more to the werewolf/shifter dynamic than just powerplays. It makes them more appealing.

Also, I want to give a warning about Lori Handeland's Nightcreature series. The werewolves are basically monsters that the heroines slay, so they have about as much of a role as ghosts do in Pac Man, LOL. Now that you mention it, though, there's a hawt shifter romantic interest in her new UF series, the Phoenix Chronicles. :) I'm rooting for him to win, LOL. Definitely worth a look.

[Joseph]

Jessica wrote: "new_user can you recommend some good werewolf books to me? I prefer fur to fang for some reason."

If you want a great werewolf series, check out Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series. The main character and most of the supporting are werewolves.

Also, Yasmine Galenorn's Sisters of the Moon/Otherworld series has a werecat as one of the main characters. It's about three sisters who are half elf and half something else, the other two are a half-witch and a half-vampire, and they alternate narrating the books. The ones with the werecat narrating are Changeling and Night Huntress (Sisters of the Moon, #5), but you want to read the series in order.

[Jessica]

I've read Blood and Chocolateand really enjoyed it. I haven't read any of the others you all have recommended but look forward to. I love the Mercy's series and how Briggs writes.

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

new_user wrote: "Also, I want to give a warning about Lori Handeland's Nightcreature series. The werewolves are basically monsters that the heroines slay, so they have about as much of a role as ghosts do in Pac Man, LOL. Now that you mention it, though, there's a hawt shifter romantic interest in her new UF series, the Phoenix Chronicles. :) I'm rooting for him to win, LOL. Definitely worth a loor..."

That's a good point. It's been a while since I've read the few that I have, but I thought at least one had a were male lead. Might be mistaken though. But yeah, The Phoenix Chronicles is another good one.

[Angela]

I prefer third, but I also like 1st from time to time. Like Charlaine HarrisI like how she writes Sookie's book's in first.

[Amanda]

I think it depends on the book and the author. I've read from many point's of view, and while it's been difficult to adjust, I've enjoyed all.

Most books seem like they are in 3rd person, while focusing on the main characters feelings and actions. However, I read Karen Marie Moning's Darkfever, which is in first person, and really liked how you moved at the same pace that Mac did. It made you relate more with the main character, but because of that, you are in the same position as the main character. So you're just in the dark as she/he is.

[new_user]

DarkHeart wrote: "That's a good point. It's been a while since I've read the few that I have, but I thought at least one had a were male lead. Might be mistaken though..."

Yep, there was one. That was of course the one I liked the best, no surprise. I was disappointed when the next book when right back to boring people, LOL. I think I stopped reading there.

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

How much I enjoy a point of view depends on the author's writing style and the story. :)