Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion
General Discussion
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What are you reading right now?
Doubt! The leader of the Greek warriors that they hadn't seen in a billion years. Okay, maybe just a couple of thousand...
Ohhh gotcha. I really need to reread those books!
Mmmmm...... Sabin.....I love Lords of the Underworld, but The first one (The Darkest Night) was the weakest. I thought the next two were much better. I'm beginning to notice a trend that the first book in a series is the weakest. Seems like it takes a book for the author to really hit their stride.
Kristen wrote: "Finally jumping into On the Prowl and loving the first short story by Patricia Briggs so ..."I just finished Cry Wolf, the contiuned part from "On the Prowl" it is really good. If you have not read it..I would Recommend it. You get to see a different side of Charles.
I just finished Ravenous and I would highly recommend it it was a good read. I am currently reading Devil May Cry by Kenyon and I am not really into this book ...wonder if I have overdosed???Also I like the Lords of the Underground series I think I liked them all actually. I think when I read the first I was like oh this is good and then I read the second and was like this is better and so on
Thanks for letting me know Brandy, I'll look into it!
Dawn - what is ravenous about, and who is the author, I tried searching for it but couldn't find it? I loved Devil May Cry, it was one of my favorite books. Maybe you have read them to close together. Maybe you should take a break with another series and then go back to it. It's too good of a series to get tired of it...
Hey, Dawn. That's Sin's story, right? If you're past the point of Kat getting captured and you still don't like, then maybe you have OD'd! I really liked Sin, and Kish and the Casino manager in that one, but it has sort of an odd start and doesn't pick up til Kat starts interacting with everyone. I'm trying to be vague to not give things away...
ooo Sin.. how can anyone not love him?? lol. Kat and Sin definitely begin to heat up as the book progresses and not so much in the beginning
I know, Jess. I love Sin. He made the List-o-Men. And his interaction with Appolymi is great. I also adored cute little deadpan Kish.
Ahh, the List-o-Men. When will they come out with a Dark Hunter catalogue so I can order men to my door?
I'm about 1/3 through Night Pleasures (DH bk 2) and so far am wondering what all the fuss is about?I mean, I trust you guys. I'm sure the series gets better, but for all the hype surrounding the series, I would have expected to be at least a little bit hooked by now. So far I'm just thinking, "Well, this is alright..." Not feeling much compulsion to continue beyond everyone on this list's claim that it's the greatest thing ever.
I'll admit, I was immediately turned off when on page 10, Sherrilyn Kenyon started PLUGGING HER OWN BOOKS. That was really lame and annoying.
Nichole: There are actually plenty of people on here who don't feel Kenyon. I came into it already having a bit of an obsession with Greek mythology, so that definitely helped reel me in and I like how she has a lot more going on throughout the series than just the romance aspect. The men happen to suit my taste too. But hey, if it ain't your cup of tea, it just ain't.
I was hooked from the get-go with Kyrian, as I think most of the obsessed people were, so I guess the series isn't for you!
Sorry!
Michelle - I also am in love with Greek and Roman mythology, so I loved how Kenyon incorporated that, when no other authors haveNichole - I think I enjoy the books so much because of how they are all interconnected with one another. It's sort of like all the books (in my mind at least) have become one giant book.. or movie.
There are definitely a lot of people who don't like her writing all that much. you could just be one of those people. I must say that as soon as I read the first book I was hooked and had to have my hands on the whole series and the anthologies as well.
Sin's was the first Dark Hunter book I read...was it Devil May Cry? I can't remember, but I DO remember him ;)Love those books...
Jess: My friend and I keep getting into long debates over the whole series and being that she speaks Greek, she keeps expanding my knowledge of how deep Kenyon goes with not just the mythology, but also the root meaning to everyone's names. It's become even more apparent to me just how far Kenyon went in her world-building. We're CRAZY obsessed.
Michelle M. wrote: "Plugging her own books?"Yeah... And I quote:
" 'Yeah, right, like you're not sitting alone on the sofa, reading Kinley MacGregor's latest romance.' Amanda arched her brow as she looked at her copy of Claiming the Highlander on the end table."
The Greek mythology part I actually like, that's interesting to me. My problem so far is that I just don't find the characters very engaging. Maybe I've just read too many "He'd never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her, he got hard just thinking of her, he'd never reacted to a woman this way, he hadn't been with a woman in thousands of years and it didn't bother him until now" stories. And that particular theme got pounded really hard in the first 50 pages.
Hahaha... Oh, man.
Yeah, I get tired of that too, but as Kenyon goes through the series she has so much other shit going on that I got obsessed with the intrigue and the side characters and who's plotting against whom and who's your daddy and so it's like one huge puzzle, which also happens to have some HEAs. I don't do well with the books that stay completely formulaic, and though Kenyon does have her tortured warrior syndrome groove goin' on, there's more to it.
But like I said before, it might not be your thang. If at the end, you're on the fence, try one more. But we shan't flog you for not liking the DH.
As for the plug, I had totally forgotten about that. I was more forgiving, just chalking it up to her being a wise-ass.
I'll give it at least through Night Embrace, since I already have that one sitting on my shelf. I really like series that have a good overarcing storyline, so I'm hoping to get more involved. But so far hasn't hooked me the way BDB or Immortals After Dark did.
I haven't read either of those two yet! So few hours in a day...
Oh, now I remember why I was holding off on BDB. I was having a mental fit over the character names Rhage and Vishous. Not that I won't give them a try, since most people seem very enamored, but my first reaction was "Really? Come along now."
I am completely desolate, and I rushed to tell you guys first because I knew you'd understand better than anybody:
I have run out of PNR books.
!!!
My library requests haven't come in, I've read everything I already have twice, and now I'm just sitting here, with nowhere to go and nothing to do.
And given that I have a slight problem with obsessional tendencies (and that I'm totally fixated on PNR at the moment and can't. let. go.), no other book will do. I tried a Bill Bryson this morning, J.K Rowling this afternoon, and Bruce Chatwin this evening, no joy.
Whattodowhattodoyaaaahhh.
I have run out of PNR books.
!!!
My library requests haven't come in, I've read everything I already have twice, and now I'm just sitting here, with nowhere to go and nothing to do.
And given that I have a slight problem with obsessional tendencies (and that I'm totally fixated on PNR at the moment and can't. let. go.), no other book will do. I tried a Bill Bryson this morning, J.K Rowling this afternoon, and Bruce Chatwin this evening, no joy.
Whattodowhattodoyaaaahhh.
ahh healing sympathy...lol..
Pitiful eh? I can't do ebooks hon, but thanks anyway, my eyes are fighting lubrication issues as it is. I'll just have to go to bed and woe myself to sleep.
Pitiful eh? I can't do ebooks hon, but thanks anyway, my eyes are fighting lubrication issues as it is. I'll just have to go to bed and woe myself to sleep.
Nichole wrote: "I'm about 1/3 through Night Pleasures (DH bk 2) and so far am wondering what all the fuss is about? ..."That was my first DH book and I wasn't overwhelmed, but I decided to keep reading and the next book - and Talon - pulled me in. So maybe, like me, Kyrian just isn't for you. Plus you haven't met any of the were hunters yet, and they're awesome! You'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't love Vane. ;)
Sara wrote: "I'm reading the first House of Night novels - Marked by PC Cast..."Are you enjoying House of Night? Zoey drives me insane, but I liked the overall story line.
Mod
Started Nalini Singh's Hostage to Pleasure yesterday and is almost halfway through. As usual, it is so easy to get pulled into her Psy/Changeling world, and as they say, the plot thickens. Definitely another good, solid read its turning out to be.
I just finished 'Beyond the Highland Mist' the 1st in the Highlander series by Karen Moning. I have to say that I don't like it as much as her Fever series. Is the 2nd book better than the 1st one? I don't know if I want to continue the series.
Nichole, I'm not really a fan of the DH series either. It may just not be for you. It's disappointing really because Kenyon has such an interesting concept going. I really wanted to love the series, but her writing style just gets on my nerves. I've read a couple of her full length books, and a couple of her short stories in anthologies, so I gave it the old college try. I just don't like the way she writes.
I'm gonna keep going with the Dark Hunters. It's not like I hate it or it's really bugging me or anything, I just would have hoped to be more sucked in by now. I'm more than halfway through NP. I'll admit, I got more interested when she started going into Kyrian's history. That's the best part so far, and I think that was the best part in Fanasy Lover as well. But I'm still at this point where if I had to return it to the library right now without finishing I wouldn't be too sad.I expect I'll probably end up reading the whole series eventually, but I have a feeling I'm just not going to love it like everyone else does.
(Or maybe I will, who knows???)
Amy-Yes! Keep reading the Highlander series. The first book was the worst one. 2 and 3 are better, and then it really hits its stride with book 4, Kiss of the Highlander. In fact, I'm betting you wouldn't be missing too much by jumping right to that one, but 2 and 3 are pretty good as well. I didn't like Beyond the Highland Mist either.
Thanks, Nicole. That's good to know that it's not critical to read in order. I might do just that.
Yz wrote: "....Started Nalini Singh's Hostage to Pleasure yesterday and is almost halfway through. As usual, it is so easy to get pulled into her Psy/Changeling world, and as they say, the plot thickens. Definitely another good, solid read its turning out to be. "
Yz, I think Nalini Singh is probably commanding my attention more than any other PNR writer at the moment. Her world is so persuasive, and the characters are developing so well (I love how Dorian's personality was being added to bit by bit in each book), it just makes the whole series such a cohesive whole IMO. I also really like how her story arc re the Psy Council and the power plays there is developing. It's not so complicated that you can't follow it, which I love, and it adds a depth to the psy-changeling universe that makes you want to keep reading beyond whatever pairing is to come next (Mercy, for me). Love the series! I hope she stays in this world for a while, although I'm also dying to read Angel's Blood.
Yz, I think Nalini Singh is probably commanding my attention more than any other PNR writer at the moment. Her world is so persuasive, and the characters are developing so well (I love how Dorian's personality was being added to bit by bit in each book), it just makes the whole series such a cohesive whole IMO. I also really like how her story arc re the Psy Council and the power plays there is developing. It's not so complicated that you can't follow it, which I love, and it adds a depth to the psy-changeling universe that makes you want to keep reading beyond whatever pairing is to come next (Mercy, for me). Love the series! I hope she stays in this world for a while, although I'm also dying to read Angel's Blood.
Moss wrote: "Yz wrote: "....Started Nalini Singh's Hostage to Pleasure yesterday and is almost halfway through. As usual, it is so easy to get pulled into her Psy/Changeling world, and as they say, the plot thi..."Is there a reading order to these books?
Uniquely Moi wrote: "Is there a reading order to these books?"Here's the correct order and I highly recommend you read them as suggested or you may not understand the world she's created. She also brings back characters from each previous book.
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Caresssed By Ice
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Branded by Fire - Jul 09
Lori wrote: "Uniquely Moi wrote: "Is there a reading order to these books?"Here's the correct order and I highly recommend you read them as suggested or you may not understand the world she's created. She als..."
Thank you! It's always nice to read in order whenever possible.
I just ate up Evermore The Immortals, Book 1 this weekend and loved it! It reminds me of Twilight, only different - way different. But that same romance based plot.
Mod
Just like you, guys, I can't get behind Kenyon's style of writing. I've read a few Dark Hunter's books (Wren, Alexion, hmmm..can't remember the others) and also a few of her Kinley McGregor's books. I guess, she is just not my type. I still have her books in my TBR list, but its not top priority.
Amy,
I love the Highlander books, but they are pure PNR, with big emphasis on Romance. So if the Fever series is more your style, then you are more of an Urban Fantasy reader.
Uniquely Moi,
To second with Moss and Lori, I love Singh's Psy/Changeling series. Read it in order and enjoy it.
I think that Singh's series has definitely become one of my favorite series. I love her characters and her storylines. I also really enjoyed her latest book Angels' Blood - I think that it is going to turn into a great series as well!I'm currently reading Driven by Eve Kenin and then I'm going to be starting one of Marjorie Liu's Dirke and Steele books: The Red Heart of Jade
Marjorie is also becoming one of my favorites!
Now, are the Singh books very sexual?
Uniquely Moi wrote: "Now, are the Singh books very sexual?"
Hmm I think they are fairly sexual, but it's sort of...structured, if you know what I mean. The sex scenes follow the story arc pretty well, so it's all flustered and high energy at the beginning, and then settles into more intimate stuff towards the end (IMO, others may have different opinions). I guess a comparison for me would be some of the Lora Leigh books I've read, where the characters seem to sort of habitually shed their clothes and make like lusty monkeys pretty regularly.
If you mean, are the sex scenes very graphic then again hmmm, I guess it depends on your frame of reference. She certainly goes into details, but I dunno, I'm so along for the ride as the reader that it all feels very natural and uninhibited.
Hope that helps! :)
Hmm I think they are fairly sexual, but it's sort of...structured, if you know what I mean. The sex scenes follow the story arc pretty well, so it's all flustered and high energy at the beginning, and then settles into more intimate stuff towards the end (IMO, others may have different opinions). I guess a comparison for me would be some of the Lora Leigh books I've read, where the characters seem to sort of habitually shed their clothes and make like lusty monkeys pretty regularly.
If you mean, are the sex scenes very graphic then again hmmm, I guess it depends on your frame of reference. She certainly goes into details, but I dunno, I'm so along for the ride as the reader that it all feels very natural and uninhibited.
Hope that helps! :)
currently reading Hunted (Book 5 in the House of Night series)
Now, are the Singh books very sexual?"very sexual" is sort of subjective and since I'm a huge erotica reader, I'm probably not the best person to answer this question...but I will try anyway.
There is sex in the books. Part of the entire premise of these books is that the psy have suppressed all of their emotions and they do not have sex to procreate anymore. They do not experience pleasure though food, touch, music, art, etc... Enter the changelings, shape shifters who are hot blooded, temperamental, touch each other freely to offer comfort and support, are comfortable with sex and nudity...throw a psy and a changeling together, have them bond as mates...and well yes, there will be sex. And the sex will be important to the story because the psy have never had sex and it's an important part of their metamorphosis from cold, frigid psy to something more human. Sex is not the main focus of the books though. It is about the struggles of these two, very different races coming together, learning to trust one another and discovering that love can overcome almost insurmountable odds.
Thank you! I just get tired of having to skip through page after page of gratuitous sex that was put into the story just for the sake of selling the book. Did that make sense?
Mod
But then, we all have different standards, and levels of what is comfortable or what we think is needed. What I might consider mild, might be too much for others.
However, I'm confident to say that the sex in the Psy/Changeling books pretty much contribute to the development of the story. So your question definitely makes sense.
I just finished Wen Spencer's book Tinker and it was FANTASTIC! It's hard to say which sub-genre it belongs to - it has paranormal romance elements, urban/contemporary fantasy, traditional fantasy, and science fiction all woven together. The writing was great, the plot interesting - I felt it had everything going for it and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it. Don't be fooled by the blurb - it is not young adult, but I think a teen could read it and not be too scandalized. I think there are 3 sex scenes. Not graphic by my standards, but I read erotica, so it takes a lot to be graphic by my standards.
@Lori: your response was so much more lucid than mine. Thanks for the summing up, that's exactly how the sexual tension plays out in the books. I can't wait for Mercy's story to come out, it looks like it's going to be terrific.
Re-reading Dark Lover while waiting for my other reserves to come in at the library. Have to admit I skipped lots of the Lesser stuff at the first read, so will try and take my time with them this round. Will probably fail, but the intent is there.
Re-reading Dark Lover while waiting for my other reserves to come in at the library. Have to admit I skipped lots of the Lesser stuff at the first read, so will try and take my time with them this round. Will probably fail, but the intent is there.
Last night I finished The Darkest Pleasure. This was my favorite of the series so far. I really liked both Rhys and Danika. One thing that bothered me though was Paris's apparent homophobia. Strider also made a comment "I don't swing that way" which struck me as odd and not really necessary. Unless...she's setting up a m/m encounter for Paris in an upcoming book? I love m/m and am very active in the gay rights movement so maybe I'm just more sensitive to it then others but I just don't see why it's necessary for her to make such a big deal about Paris having sex with a guy. His demon doesn't care. At first when reference was made to the awful (I'm paraphrasing because I don't remember the exact term she used) things Paris would have to resort to if he couldn't get a woman...I'm thinking what animals? It never occurred to me she meant having sex with another man. I wish I could ask her about it.Now I'm reading One Foot in the Grave and OMG this just sucked me right in. I had to make myself turn out the light at 1:00 this morning and I'm so tempted to blow off work today just so I can read more. I think I'm going to take the afternoon off :)
Update: I sent her an email and asked her about it. I don't expect a response but I just had to speak my mind. It really bothered me.
Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy
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Hmnn..."
I hope it's May lol... Which one was Sabin again? Was he the demon of lies?