The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova.  It's about this history of the real Dracula - Vlad Tsepes and it's beautifully written as a daughter following her father's history, who's following the history of another.

The Historian is on my list to read.

• Well - I totally fell for the Twilight Series.

• I also just read the 1st part of a trilogy called The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins which I liked very, very much. That one was a Stephenie Meyer pick.

• I  also recommend  I, Lucifer by Glen Duncan

Today I just checked out of the library 2 recommendation's by Charlaine Harris:

Bitten by Kelly Armstrong & Melusine by Sarah Monette

The next series CH recommends are The Darkfever Series by  Karen Marie Moning (there are 3 books in total) - if the above 2 are good, I'm going to check them out.

Haven't read any of those.  Are you heading out this weekend to see Twilight?

I'll put them on my list.  Are you only interested in fantasy/supernatural recs?  If not, I've got 2 fabulous series (one very light chicklit and one serious chicklit)

These are some interesting suggestions and I've ordered a few through paperbackswap.com (love this club/service).

I was curious if any of you had checked out the Anita Blake series?

Hey Gilly - Yes,I am going to see Twilight. Yes indeed.

I really like anything that has really good dialog w/ lots of subtext,  etc..or fast dialog w/quick wit & humor. (some of my fav's Atlas Shrugged, Lord of the Flies, P&P, A Winter's Tale, Confederacy of Dunces etc..)

But my 1st love is fantasy/Sci fi I guess - All time fav is Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland as A kid I loved LOTR & The Hobbit, The Secret Garden, Narnia etc...

I haven't read Anita Blake no - I did read a snippet of someone popular & I thought it was a little OTT in it's deadly serious tone esp. in comparison to the Sookie series but  I can't remember who it was. Maybe Laurell K. Hamilton... or something....

However - it was only a few pages so that's not really fair to make an entire judgment on that!

FYI -  A Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin is a really beautful Adult Fantasy take set in Manhattan  circa: Gangs of New york era...

At my office we have a give-away-table and I just landed a copy of "Holy Headshot!" -- probably the most hysterical find I've landed on the freebee table yet.

The reason why I am sharing this with you is because there is one person, Yenz Von Tillborg who thinks he is the next Johnny Depp and even includes a little of his audition as Dracula -- better still, the man lives in Boca Raton.

If you look at the video, you'll understand why I am sharing this with you... wow!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP6NGGHGZe8

Oh..........My...........God. I am stunned.

It's Charles Twinning!!!

That was so, SO good. I am giggling away over here w/tears. His count Dracula......oh.....oh.....

Honestly though watching him - I was also slightly frightened! He's so bizarre looking!I Had my hand covering my mouth & my eyes opened wide while watching him in wonder...

He's like a mix of Carrot Top, Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp (NOT), my image of Charles Twinning and Siegfried & Roy (I think more Siegfired but one can't be sure).

Oh, Rach! I have to second what Laura said - and add thanks for sharing!!!

That was so, SO good. I am giggling away over here w/tears. His count Dracula......oh.....oh..... 

Honestly though watching him - I was also slightly frightened! He's so bizarre looking!I Had my hand covering my mouth & my eyes opened wide while watching him in wonder...

You said it L, OMG, I'm still giggling - that was nicely strange - and very timely as I prepare to visit down South (though not in Boca, I'm going to that bastion of sanity in the South - New Orleans - FYI, Rach, I used to live there, and my parents still do). Actually I may see Charles Twinnin- er, I mean Yenz, or someone like him, ya never know.

Thanks for the levity for the day - that was priceless.

"You have your pancakes, I'll have blood"

LARGE laughter! Pancakes.....I have tears...

Hey, maybe by "pancakes" he is referring to his own make-up?

I think that Yenz has just earned a place on my fantasy casting list as Ray-Don or is it Don-Ray the vampire in Russell's entourage with the extra-coagulent saliva?

Alan Ball needs to put Yenz in True Blood....

Ray-Don. Who I call - Ray Dong.

I'm so juvenile sometimes.

Oh Rach, that is great.  I need to stop laughing now.

When I think Yenz, I do think saliva.

I think he was more 'greasepaint' than 'pancake' - but then again that performance was a whole other kind of cake entirely (and it really took the cake, so to speak).

Hope everyone had a great TG. I came done w/a cold so while resting, I have been doing a lot of reading.

I finished Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Underworld Book 1) & recommend reading it. It had it's flaws but I was easily engrossed from the beginning to end. It's a quick read.

Don't want to say too much but I think as a genre book it's a pretty good one (I don't have much to compare it to except Sookie & Anne Rice). I didn't find it OTT  - No crazy fashion!

Rach do you recommend the Laurell K Hamilton series?

I figured out the other series I read snippets of that was a bit OTT (in a serious way) was the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R.Ward (a woman).

They have names like Zsadist, Vishous, Rhage, Phury etc... it's pretty funny but I don't think it's meant to be at all. Oh - and they all smell sexual arousal in women & just "take them". It doesn't seem to be tongue-in-cheek.

Rach do you recommend the Laurell K Hamilton series?

Well, considering that I am up to book 11 now you'd think I'd be raving about Anita Blake -- I am not. It's an acquired taste sort of like foie gras (which I love but freely admit are revolting).

There are many parallels between the Sookie Stackhouse series and Anita Blake -- both Anita and Sookie loose their parents young, both women are sexually inexperienced, both women posses varients of ESP -- Sookie is a telepath and Anita is a necromancer, they both are involved in love traingles with vampires and shape-shifters and both find themselves in dangerous situations and are very loyal friends -- there are faries and demons in both series and sex and violence.

Anita Blake is a lot more sex and a more violence than Sookie -- there is a heavy influence of noir and pulp fiction in Anita Blake that is absent from Sookie Stackhouse. I think Sookie Stackhouse stands up to the criteria of classic literature whereas the Anita Blake is classic pulp and noir.

Anita is becoming borderline sociopath and a Mary-Sue I don't ever see that happening with our Sookie. Anita does keep a lovely harem though and I've fallen into the formula and rhythm of the books so I will finish out the series, there are some very original angles to the stories and the research on genetics, biology and mysticism is very well done.

I like the series, but it's an acquired taste and not a series I would try to strongarm anyone into.

Anita is becoming borderline sociopath and a Mary-Sue...

Wow really - so how do you find the character now? That might be tough for me to read. One of my roomies, for a little while in college was a sociopath. No lie. So that boils my blood. I was going to go to the library during lunch & pick up the 1st book. I have heard conflicting stories about the series.

One interview I just heard recently w/LKH where she stated he reason she started doing sex in her books was b'c an interviewer told her she shouldn't & couldn't b'c she was a woman w/a female lead. I can understand wanting to buck against that stereotype & limiting beliefs but if that's the only reason she started to add it. I'm not so sure I can get on board. It just didn't seem a legit enough reason for me.

But I am judging w/out reading. Although I went on her site & read al the chapters she had available - they do get pretty freakin' out there &  I was not. ness. feeling Anita, but I guess I'll pick up the 1st one & see how I get on from there.

As a whole though - do you hugely anticipate the next releases? Or you read them only because you started them, you're htis far & you want to see them through?

In fairness to Anita -- she is desparately trying not to become a sociopath, but there are definte tendencies there and some major character faults wuch asshe is willfully ignorant of the repercussions of her actions and choices -- and while she cleans up her messes, she doesn't always learn from them -- then again if LKH wasn't aware of the shortcomings then Anita would be written differently.

I just picked-up the series a few weeks ago, the books are long but easy reading and structured with every chapter ending with a cliffhanger -- so what's another 5 pages (and then you've gone and read 50).

Like all pulp-fiction, Anita Blake is over the top but there are many elements in the books that are well written that I keep moving onto the next installation in the series. For instance, one of the major themes of the series is gender roles -- and it's an interesting theme because the different characters have very different views and means of expression and I like that. Intimacy is another major theme in the series and this is well explored also.

In a windy kind of way, my answer to your question is that I am into the series probably more for the supporting characters than Anita herself -- and this may very well be by design of the author, to manipulate the reader to see the monster and contradictions and imperfections of Anita as well as gender, intimacy and to a lesser extent, religion.

Did I mention that the series is a veritable cornucopia of fashion faux-paus? Oh, yeah -- Sookie's lace-up jeans have NOTHING on what's going on in the Anita Blake series.

 TO Rach: *Anita Blake possible spoilers* although I tried to keep info minor.

OK so I started the 1st Anita Blake this weekend. It's already pretty interesting to me b'c I am really not very fond of her - yet I feel compelled to keep reading. I am almost finished w/it & took out the 2 & 3rd form the library. In fact - I find her kind of laughable even though I know she is supposed to be a bad ass & taken seriously for the most part (I mean - yeah she's snarky & but not in a very clever way). Also - she hasn't really done anything to warrant her nickname. I already don't like Ronnie either. So I guess they're a good match as far as friends go.

I have a feeling I am never going to warm up to her but your right - so far I like the secondary characters. I am really intrigued by Edward & Phillip, Aubrey & Jean-Claude seems alright (honestly though, LKH couldn't pick a better name?) and we know where that's going already.

B'c the book is so swift & condensed I feel I am missing bits though. Like....why exactly is she working for the vamps? Is it really just b'c of the Catherine issue?

Not quite getting how that Human servant thing happened or the what that storm they encountered was about - leaving Nikaolos' place. Or where they were for that matter. Also - the freak party, so they're humans that bite each other & essentially think they're vamps? Which is why Phillip had to protect Anita form the other humans?

And Guilty Pleasures - so the vampires - they don't really strip, am I right in saying it's just kind of a ruse so they can bespell people to come up on stage & bite them too (& of course make money)? 'Cause I didn't really see much stripping gong on but more biting a glamoring for their own end purposes.

Hi Ladies, I've been lurking around your forum for awhile and finally decided to sign up. I have some recommendations for book series if you would like to stick with fantasy/urban/supernatural genres. First would be the Hollows Series by Kim Harrison - in these the 'supes' have all come out into the open after a virus wipes out a large number of the human population, equalizing their numbers with those of the supes. Her main character Rachel Morgan is a witch who works for the supe version of the FBI with a vampire partner. Great characterizations, humor, very much like the Sookie series. The Hollows Series

Another great series is the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Set in Washington state, about a woman who is a 'walker', a Native American who can shift into a coyote and gets drawn into the local supernatural politics against her will. Great humor, wit, and a main character who also happens to be a Volkswagon mechanic. Should not be missed. The Mercy Thompson Series

If you are looking for a single book, something you can enjoy without committing to a series, I would recommend trying out War For The Oaks, by Emma Bull. Although its older, it definitely broke ground in the urban fantasy genre. A down-on-her-luck musician runs into a phouka and gets drawn into the world of Faerie, and the ancient war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. War for the Oaks

And if you'd like to try some urban fantasy with a male protagonist try Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Set in Britain, a man stumbles across a bleeding woman in the street and discovers a whole different London beneath the subway systems. This is definitely The Wizard of Oz for grownups. Neverwhere 

Welcome. Be sure to introduce yourself in the intro section of this board.

Thanks for the recommendations.

I recently started reading the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K. Hamilton. It's about faeries and is actually a lot of fun (if you're into faeries). I picked it up after the Anita Blake series and also because Charlaine Harris has many similar themes and character outlines from Anita Blake that I thought it might be a fun precursor to what we learn about Niall in book 9. I am only starting the third book in the Merry Gentry series and there are no vampires or were-anything but the length to which Laurel Hamilton has explored the legends and folkloric history of the fae is very impressive (and hugely entertaining).

Hi - I really liked the Merry Gentry series for a while - it gets to the point though where the author just seems to be dragging the story out IMO & I haven't bothered getting the latest book - but the first ones were good

Another author I like is Karen Marie Moning - she has written 2 series - the Highlander series - a set of stand-alone stories, with a few common threads, so it is best to read them in order if poss, and then she is currently 3/5 of the way through the Fever series.

I'm going to put my bid in for the Queen Betsy books by MaryJanice Davidson. I've really had a lot of fun with those and the Wyndham Werewolf stories that also fit within (and at some points interact with) the events of the Queen Betsy universe.

You're both giving me some great suggesstions to fill the time between now and the release of DaG, please keep them coming! Otherwise I will have to return to non-fiction and talking to people.

There's nothing wrong with non-fiction or talking to people - especially if what you're talking to them about are the Sookie books (yes, I have approached strangers in line at the bookstore to tell them how much they will enjoy the Sookie book that they're holding in their hands - and on the last election day, I was re-reading one of the Sookie books, and another voter asked me about the book I was reading - adn we proceeded to discuss the merits of the show [which she had seen the first few episodes of] verses the books - I think I convenced her to check them out).

Obsessed, naw, not me.

I love it that you chat people up in book stores, election lines or anywhere the opportunity presents itself -- I actually found myself in an impromptu book club on my bus route after noticing that a couple of other patrons were reading the same series.... which had the unanticipated fringe benefit of ensuring a comfy seat next to sane people.

Never underestimate the value of a seat next to the sane on public transportation... thank you Sookie!

LOL! I remember taking public transportation (to go to school) in New Orleans - truer words have nev' been spoke.

For those of you that Really love P&P.....I read a really good sequel....if you don't mind some literary creativity and a lot of nookie! Very good!

Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife  by Linda Berdoll

It seems lately I've been reading lots of series -- here are a few good (and great) ones to check out:

Night Huntress Series by Jeannine Frost (GREAT): The third book came out in December and the series is one of the best. Kat is half-vampire, half-human and she is the heroine throughout the series. She works with "Bones" who is a vampire -- and one of the best-written heroes of all time. I could melt just thinking about him. If you try just one new author, make it Frost and read the first book in this series "Halfway to the Grave" -- you won't be sorry.

Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter (GOOD): There are four books out so far, each one has a different hero/heroine.

Immortals After Dark Series by Kresley Cole (GREAT): Again, each book has a different hero/heroine, all set in the same universe.

Midnight Breed Series by Lara Adrian (GOOD): The fifth book just came out, each has a different hero/heroine.

Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason (GREAT): The fifth (and final) book in the series comes out in March. Victoria Gardella is the heroine in each book. This book series is advertised as "Jane Austen meets Buffy", and that's very apt. Victoria is a vampire slayer in victorian times, and the author does an excellent job of creating very believable romantic leads for the heroine that I truly did not know who Victoria was going to pick until the end of book 4 (though I did have my favorite I was rooting for -- much like I'm rooting for Eric!). I've read so much over the years that it takes a really good writer to keep me guessing!

Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs (GREAT): The 4th book is due out in February. Someone mentioned this further up, so I will just second that recommendation!

Thanks for the information and the background on each. It is very helpful.

Also, it is nice to have conformation that some of the series that I've been considering trying out are well-reviewed by others.

Hey Guys - I just finished the Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K Hamilton & I LOVED it. I highly recommmend. I have just added it to the list of one of my favorite series. If you have any questions, let me know.

The series is about the Fae.

Was this last book the "last" - I was upset by "A Lick of Frost" but ...?

Oh you were?! I loved it! Frost's speech alone made me swoon. It was so beautifully written.

No it's not the last - did you read Swallowing Darkness? That comes after ALOF. If you haven't read it yet - go out tomorrow & get it.

But LKH confirmed that SD is not the last in the series. Thank god. I adored them. So imaginative.

I read them all in rapid succession, so I was eager for a "finish" - you may not have noticed, but I'm a little impatient about these things  - and I liked Frost, but I might give SD a try now.  Following the recommendation here, I'm trying the Gardella Vampire Chronicles at the moment - pretty good - I'm just trying to imagine Lizzie Bennett with a stake stuck in her garter!  And you might like Karen Marie Moning - I've recommended her books somewhere on here, she writes a good story, with a smattering of HMS here and there!

I am all for the HMS in my books!! I was actually going to read the Moning's Fae books next. Have you read Anita Blake?

I am curious as to why you were disappointed in ALOF. Rachel recommended them to me & she told me that one was not the fan favorite for most people. I think I have an idea why but I am not sure b'c I loved it. My least favorite was the 2nd book; A Caress of Twilight. By least favorite I mean I gave ot 4 out of 5 stars.

Will you PM me why you were disappointed in it? I don't want spoilers on this.

BTW: Merry 8 has a title: Divine Misdemeanors.

I just started the Anita Blake series today. So far I am not sure what to think of them, pretty interesting. I haven't quite decided if I like it or not, but I will give it a fair chance before I give up on it.

Just so you know  - I didn't love the 1st Anita Blake. It was just OK for me. But by the 3rd one it really started to pick up & by the 4th one I was hooked.

Thanks I will keep that in mind. I am giving it a chance, I am sure I will hit a point where I can't give them up. Right now, they are interesting, but also something I wouldn't go crazy over if I didn't have them.

Need something to pass the time until May, huh?

I just started the Anita Blake series today. So far I am not sure what to think of them, pretty interesting. I haven't quite decided if I like it or not, but I will give it a fair chance before I give up on it.

Just to echo Laura, the series really doesn't take off until book 4.

The first book introduces Anita and other main characters, book 2 doesn't really connect with the rest of the series though but book 3 sets the map for the rest of the series and book 4 takes off. What sucked me into Anita Blake are the characters, LKH creates very compelling and multi-dimensional characters that as a reader, you get very invested in and it was her characters that kept me moving through 17 books in less than 6 weeks.

If you make it to book 4, you should finish off the series just in time for a new Sookie and a new Anita this spring too -- all around, a paranormal fun fest!

The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward is pretty fantastic.  It's a different take on vampire fiction.  It has love, action as well as some humor.  I have read all the books in the series to that one as well.  I would recomend this series to anyone who enjoyes the vampire genre.  The series begins with the book called Dark Lover.  Has anyone else read this series?  If so what did you think?

Most of you are probably familiar with the The Dark Tower Series from Stephen King, but if not, it is totally worth the read.  I have read everything the man has ever written and they are for the me the BEST!!  He took almost twenty years to write all 7 books and I had to wait patiently to finish them.  They are very involved and very character driven.  If you want something to tide you over till May these are very much worth it.  If you have read most of King's work you will be rewarded with other characters from other books being intertwined.  That makes it all the more special for me.  And yes there are vampires in it!!  The theme song for these books is Bad company's "Bad Company"  I suggest listening to this song before reading them.  Hope you enjoy.

The Dark Tower series is fabulous! I may have to give it a re-read. Other than Stephen King, it has been a long time since I've read large amounts of fiction. A lot of fiction books out there just start to seem like continuations of every other fiction book after awhile. CH just seems to know how to add an element of fun to all of the mystery and romance.

That being said I am going to break out some of my favorite reads this year (Beside the Sookie Stackhouse Series of course)

Part 1

I am not myself the days- Josh Kilmer Purcell

I thought this memoir read almost like fiction. It is a love story that manages to be very funny and sweet at the same time. Every time I try to write about it, I fail at capturing the essence, so I am attaching an Exerpt from bookslut.com

I Am Not Myself These Days is Josh Kilmer-Purcell's (perhaps generously labeled) memoir of a year he spent moonlighting as a drag queen in New York City, in love with a crack-addicted hooker. Despite the complications of the boyfriend's drug habits and sadomasochistic prostitution, not to mention Josh's rampant alcoholism and gender-bending alter-ego, theirs is a rather simple love story filled with all the usual insecurities, self-doubt, and delusional effervescence expected of any romantic comedy (except the ending).

Though I think even that gives away too much, oh well.

The Sacred Willow- Duong Van Elliott

A very different kind of memoir. It is a little heavy on family history and on war history, but is engrossing and gave me an amazing perspective on what life in Vietnom was like for a very long time. Of course this is told from the point of veiw of a girl who comes from prominent manderin family, but it still has a suprising amount of perspective that comes from other areas affected be the war. This book has a great rythm to it. I thinks all great books do actually, but this one just flows clearly. That is the only way I know how to explain it.

Part 2- I'll try to be shorter

Beasts of No Nation- Uzodinma Iweala

A work of fiction about a boy who's parents die and is swept up into being part of Guerrilla warfare. He is actually quite young and innocent and it is from that perspective that it is told. It is a fast read, but even my boyfriend, who doesn't read anything, read this over the course of a couple of hours.

The gift of Fear- Gavin De Becker

A book about intuition and what it can do to save your life. Very interesting and reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell which brings me to...

Outliers, Blink, The Tipping Point- Malcom Gladwell.

These three book explores a lot about how we understand stuff and succeed as individuals and society as a whole because of it.

Freedom in Exhile- Dalai Lama

An autobiography. I l loved it. I learned so much, and I love the way he thinks.

Thinking in Pictures- Temple Grandin

An autobiography about living with autism. This women is amazing and has accomplished so much through the constraints of thinking in Pictures in a society that thinks more verbally.

A Short History of Nearly Everything- Bill Bryson

This book manages to tell you everything about how we have some to know what we know scientifically. It also manages to convey how very little we still know.

Also, I now need to read Pride and Prejuduse because you all have wirtten so much about the parellels!

Ok this is not a book recommendation but I did not know where else to put it. I found this on the IMDB boards for True Blood it is a BBC show on vamps that is currently running if you hit the preview link some times it will let the episode play threw, sometimes not saying it is not allowed out side the UK. I have seen one so far and I liked it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/beinghuman/

the lead actor would be a good Razual

you can find the pilot on you tube.

Well I will 2nd Frenchie's earlier recommendation about Karen Marie Moning's Fever Series.

Each book just kept getting better & I couldn't put the 3rd one down. By the looks of her website there will be 5 books in the series.

It is about the Fae & a very different take from LKH's version of the Seelie & Unseelie in Merry Gentry. The main protagonist is a young 22 year old woman named Mac & I really, really came to like her. She is very different, IMO, from many other of the female leads I have read so far. An very solid read. Loved it.

I just finished the 8 book Highlander series also by Karen Marie Moning (another recommend by Frenchie) & liked it very much probably more b'c it was especially informative & worked in conjunction w/the Fever series giving you much more insight to that series which made it well worth the read(s), IMO

So I if you do read Fever & like it enough, I recommend reading HIghlander after you read Fever. And also to read them in order b'c w/each book a little bit more is revealed related to the Fever series & it's probably easier to keep organized b'c there's a lot of time travelling.

If you don't read Fever & just want something more in the paranormal "romance" vein this books should be up your alley.  Moning is a creative enough writer they even though she adhere's to the writing outline that publishers give romance authors to follow, she pays enough creative attention to the plot to make it fun & interesting. Plus the romance is nice - she is good at writing her characters connection & longings. Great for the beach.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward is pretty fantastic. The series begins with the book called Dark Lover.  Has anyone else read this series?  If so what did you think?

Oh my god! I just finished this book & I have to talk about it! Let me 1st start off by saying that I totally liked it... for what it is.

But man! Was this groan inducing cheesy, overwrought & unintentionally hilarious! Seriously! What is with the vernacular in this book?!! Does our lily-white author have a jones for gangsta rap so badly? What in the world is she doing??

It was like reading "White Men Can't Be Blade".   

Or like a text version of the movie's The Last Dragon, Big Trouble in Little China meets Shaft & Blacula.

Seriously - even her baddies are remanents of Johnny Lawrence (Billy Zabka) from the Karate Kid & James Hong of BTILC.

Aside from me questioning the literacy level of the author alone based on the laughable & I guess meant to be bad ass "gangsta'" names...Wrath, Zsadist, Rhage, Phury, Thorment (if your a buddy - call him 'T') & Vishous.

There's the dialog (I though these guys were centuries old?):

"That's right you just stay here & let me take care of you, dig?"

WHO SAYS DIG as in 'YA Dig', Anymore??! White, black, purple, yellow? NO ONE unless they are purposely trying to be cheeky.

"Yo B, wake me up when it's 8 o'clock. True?"
"True."

"Rhage, the brother, has some serious pimp juice."  

Pimp juice! I was dying! Even Beth's cat is named Boo & I don't think Boo as in ghost but "my boo".

I'm just waiting to hear the words; "Fresh" or "Dope" or the phrase "bust a cap in yo' ass" to truly get my money's worth. If she starts having her characters use "Dawg" though - I'm sorry, that will be the line drawn the in RandyJackson sand.

I can't help but feel that the author is trying to prove something to someone B'c she is going out of her way to show she's "down". 

Go J.R Ward "keepin' it real, yo."

And don't expect much of the plot. It's super predictable. And wraps up neat & tidy. I saw & can see a few plotlines a mile away.

But honestly - I feel like those friends of mine whose secret shame is being addicted to Army Wives on Lifetime. I will keep reading. Oh yes.. I will. It's so bad, it's good.

So for a guilty, B movie style, MTV Cribs, silly, mindless pleasure, I recommmend.

Hey guys so I finished the Black Dagger series (plus the little ebook Father Mine to be read after book 6) & I have to say I ended up loving them! However...and it's kind of a big however...it took me until late in the series to start taking them a bit more seriously. I started to see the writer shift gears 3/4's of the way through Book 4.

That is when I started noticing the world she created started to become a bit larger & secondary characters started being paid more attention to & other storylines moving to the forefront, making the series as a whole more cohesive.

Books 1-5 focus on each Brother & their story (their personal issues/demons) & finding their true mate. However - like I said, towards the end of book 4, you see her starting to branch out form that formula. Book 5 still has it but there are bigger themes at work w/in it & it sets it all up for Book 6 which was unlike the any of the other books in the series.

Personally,  I loved 6 & thought it was exactly what the series needed & should be like. However - it is not the fan favorite. A lot of fans complained about the lack of romance. I thought the writing & the story were so much better, the lack of romance didn't bother me at all (there was some though).

Basically, my take on the whole series is that Ward was abiding by the publisher's request to stick to a formula until she built a solid fan base. Then once she did & the series become nice & popular, the writing reigns were loosened & Ward was finally allowed to write the story as she intended.

Or maybe not...however, it sure seems that way to me b'c Book 6 had so many diff. but parallel stories running throughout it. It felt like she was busting at the seems to get it out!

So in the end I defintely recommend as well. I think the payoff is worth reading throught the other books.

Hi Laura,

  Thanks for sharing.  I've just purchased Dark Lover (Black Dagger Series Book 1) and I've sort of been procrastinating.  I'll go ahead and get started on it.

Hi guys! I am back w/more books (yes I have been reading a ton thanks to my Kindle being attached to my hip) to recommend.

So I kinda hugely recommend (especially for BUFFY fans):

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series (try not to read the summary - it's better to go in blind). I know it's considered Y/A but I couldn't put it down.

The 1st book: Vampire Academy was good. Not great but good. It's like all set-up books.

Each book though, gets progressively darker.

I thought the 2nd book: Frostbite  was great for various reasons (I really want to discuss but truly do not want to give anything away).

The 3rd book: Shadow Kiss I didn't put down until I finished it which left me reading until 4:30am.

So I do recommend the series all & all but I also do esp. think that Buffy fans will truly appreciate them. I guess in various ways I felt it was a great homage to the series.

____

On a separate note: I read the Mercy Thompson series & was pretty disappointed in it (esp. given all the great series I have been reading lately in comparison). I know I am in the minority but has anyone else read them & felt the same?

I've been reading the Mercy Thompson books to bide time till the paperback version of FDTW arrived and I like them pretty well.  They strike me as being quite, quite different from the Sookie books, though, but interesting nonetheless.  I particularly liked Iron Kissed and the exploration of the fae (which strike me as being portrayed rather differently from in the Sookieverse, but, that said, I've only read books 1-7 of Sookie so far and understand there is more coming in that vein).

On the other hand, the Mercy books and the Sookie books are my first foray into paranormal fiction/urban fantasy (well, except for the Twilight series), so I might not have as good a basis for making a comparison.

Hi I'm Fiona and new to this site.  I have just discovered Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Park series & I think most of you would enjoy it (I hope).  I read these right after my 9th reading of the SVM so being high on Charlaine I was initially very critical about the plot, writing, heroine etc. But that's not fair because there's only one Charlaine.  If anyone else has read these I'd love to discuss and get other opinions.

I had never heard of Jaz Park. I just went on Amazon - they look interesting. Right now, I am on a roll. t looks as if I am tryng every series at least once. How did you hear of them?

Has anyone read the other Charlaine Harris books -- the Lily Bard , Aurora Teagarden, or Harper Connelly books?

I'm on book 4 of the Mercy Thompson series and this one isn't going as quickly, although it may be because FDTW arrived right in the middle and I had to put Mercy down in favor of Sookie immediately.  I second the rec above for Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, which I read awhile back and found completely engrossing.  Also of interest might be Bram Stoker's Dracula -- I had never read it (but must have seen the early 90s movie with Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder 5 times) -- but picked it up last month and found it really interesting.

As for non paranormal/urban fantasy books, some of my favorite books I read in 2008 were:

The Book Thief -- Markus Zusak.  Suite Francaise -- Irene Nemirovsky.  Swedish Tango -- Alyson Richman.  Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial -- Joseph Persico. 
Cold Comfort Farm -- Stella Gibbons.   
The Brief History of the Dead -- Kevin Brockmeier. 
The Other Side of the Bridge -- Mary Lawson. 
The Visible World -- Mark Slouka.  When We Were Orphans -- Kazuo Ishiguro.

HI Imb1309 (Laura correct?) I was on Amzon and you know where they have "if you like xxx, then you'll like yyy?"  I found it there.   Let me know what you think if you read them.

Hi M - I have read Harper Connelly and really liked it but read only one of Lily Bard books which I liked also however,  I couldn't get into Aurora Teagarden. I love CH's writing and characters but Aurora just isn't clicking with me.  Have you finished The Historian yet? I read it when it first came out but don't want to say anything if you haven't finished it yet.

I'm off on holiday today and am bringing the Gardella and Darkfever series with me.  I have a feeling I'll get through them asap, thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

I am feeling odd without have my SVM with me...I must break the cycle...I must break the cycle...I must break the cycle...

Has anyone read the other Charlaine Harris books -- the Lily Bard , Aurora Teagarden, or Harper Connelly books?

I have read Harper. I wasn't a fan. I personally didn't like Harper as a MC & thought the plots were predictable & actually kind of boring. The 3rd one was a bit better but....the series is not on my recommend list.

Yes - Laura - Hi Fiona 

I have the Historian on my Kindle - I will be getting to that at some point. I haven't read Gardella yet but it's on my kindle & oooh - Fever! Let me know if you enjoy the series. We have a few Fever junkies on this board.

Note for Fever  - pay attention. I didn't expect it to be what it was so by the time I got the 3rd book I was going back & hunting for clues & cursing trying to find stuff that I had overlooked. I kind of thought it was just going to be a fun light read & not so.....interactive? Hmm ...more like - theory worthy.

Hi Laura,  I'm actually getting quite excited about the Fever series I've heard that they are pretty good and inventive which says alot, to me at least.  thanks for the tip I will pay attention.  Maybe you're going to have to start a Darkfever site????   I'm trying not to have any preconceived notions about the Gardella series because it sounds like an historical Buffy but let's see.

So you didn't like Harper huh?  Did you like Lily Bard?

I am so excited about people getting excited about Fever!!!!  Gardella isn't up there with CH & KMM (Fever), but it's not too bad & will probably be a good holiday read - hope that you have fun!

Hey Fiona - well if you like Fever & want to discuss let me know

No... no (sigh) I didn't like Harper. I really expected to! I wanted to! I just never connected w/her even though I understood her, I couldn't empathize. The plots weren't v. original & I guess I felt that CH wasn't as involved w/this character as she is Sookie. I felt it lacked heart.

Lily I haven't read but I have heard good things. I will try to give it a go.

That's it, I am ordering the Fever books!

Guys - Here is a recommend from CH's website from CH herself. I am excited b'c CH was a Buffy fan (knew she had great taste ).

Anyway - for those who watched Amber Benson just wrote her 1st novel. Amber played Willow's girlfriend Tara. Here's what she has to say about it.

http://www.charlaineharris.com/bb/bb_current.html

Have any of you read Kim Harrison's The Hollows series? I love these!!!! They were great, and I can't wait for more to come out.

OH and Kelley Armstrongs's Women of the Otherworld series is wonderful also!

I have downloaded the 1st book in the Hollows series It is actually my next read after I finish Storm Born by Richelle Mead.

Do you have a favorite in the Armstrong series? I only read the 1st two. CH adores Kelley Armstrong.

I loved them all, but I really love the Elena and Clay stories, I think they are my favorite characters. But the again as you get into each book each new character grows on you. I do feel that they need to be read in order, as all the characters are tied together, one book might introduce you to someone new, and then the next book is about that person.

I hope you enjoy the Hollow series, I got such a kick out of them.

I love Clay & Jeremy. Things about Elena bothered me. However - it was very clear that Armstrong is a strong writer. And when I read book 2, Elena was the most engaging character for me (as opposed to Cassandra, Paige etc..).

But Clay? Oh he 's a GREAT character. I also really love Jeremy.

I just downloaded the rest of the series - I'll be reading them. Have you read Men of the Otherworld yet? Clay's story?

oh Men of the the Otherworld was great as well. I guess she is supposed to be coming out with more of those. I can't wait.

and yes I liked Jeremy as well, he's just a sweetheart.

I hear ya about Elena, somethings bothered me as well. But it was just the 2 of them together, their relationship made me laugh out loud sometimes.

Oh - for sure they are very compelling together.

Cool I can't wait to read it then!

Thanks to you guys I seem to have gone on a book-buying binge -- heading my way are the first two books in the Fever series, the first three books in the Anita Blake series, and the first three Lily Bard books.  I am restraining myself from getting Merry Gentry as well . . . I need something kept in reserve to keep me occupied after D&G as the indefinite wait for Sookie #10 begins!

Hello All...I've just read Dark Lover Book #1 (Black Dagger Brotherhood series) by J.R. Ward and Kiss of Midnight Book #1 (Midnight Breed series) by Lara Adrian and I find that I really liked them both.   Thank you to those of you that previously recommended them in this topic.  They were so good that I managed to read them in less than 4 days each.  I've already ordered the remaining published books for both series.  They will keep me quite 'enthralled' until May 5th!

I've just read the first two books in the Fever series and liked them a lot -- the 3rd one comes out in paperback this summer, so I will probably wait for it instead of getting hardback.  In the meantime, the first 3 books in the Anita Blake series are due to arrive Monday, and luckily there are lots of books in that series to tide me over for awhile.

I just realized that D&G will arrive while I am out of town on business travel (!)  Ah. delayed gratification.

M -PM me in regards to  the 3rd Fever book....

Or rather - here is the link:

http://www.4shared.com/file/77229217/5063788f/fever_03_-_faefever.html?s=1

Glaukos -I PM'd you a large list of ?'s in regards to the Hollows.

I am just mentioning it in case you don't realize you have a PM. Sometimes it's hard to realize you do. I have gone days w/realizing I have one. I am also mentioning it b'c I am so confused! And need some help!

Has anyone read Dakota Cassidy series... The Accidental Werewolf?  I've heard good things from other sources so I was curious if anyone here has read them.  We all seem to have similar taste in books, so let me know if you have and what you thought.

Thanks Laura, I did see it, and answered your questions at least I hope I did.

I have not heard of them, but I think I will google and learn more about them.

I am nearly finished with the first Lily Bard book and find it interesting -- it is a totally different type of book from the Sookie books and seems to have a much different tone, probably because the main character (Lily) is a very different person, with very different past experiences from Sookie.  I'll keep reading the series since I bought the first three together and they're very short, but I definitely prefer the Sookie books.

Hi Laura

I'm back from oblivion having finished the Darkfever series, I just started Jeanine Frost but am going to put it aside until I'm finished D&G.

Ok, do you think Jericho is a vampire?

Heya Fiona! Glad to have you back in time! Jericho? No I do not but check out the other forum - lots & lots of discussions about it. Paranormal Fiction forum....

Is that on this website??

Here's one ya'll might like: Some Girls Bite.  It almost reads like a "what would happen if Sookie became a vampire."  I see a lot of the Sookie books in it, but, since she's only on the first or second., it feels fresh.  And the MC might be more likable that everyone feels Sookie was in D&G!

Maybe it's time to revive this thread - CH will write what she writes and we will react accordingly - as is appropriate in a democracy with freedom of speech.

In the meantime I will again recommend the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning (about the Fae).  Book 4 of this 5-parter is due out in August.  Also, as a result of a recommendation here, I have been reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward.  Book 7 was released a week before DAG, and it was awesome.  This is another vampire series, but each book sort of stands alone, so you get some sense of closure at the end of each book, but there are enough open story lines to keep you hooked - she spins a brilliant story.  There are also a lot of other series that are discussed on another Tangler board - Paranormal Fiction - Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies - Oh My!

Maybe it's time to revive this thread - CH will write what she writes and we will react accordingly - as is appropriate in a democracy with freedom of speech.

Too True....

Laura Loo has me reading the succubus series by Richelle Mead (which I think she has mentioned here before). It is good stuff. The main character, Georgina Kincaid, is a succubus (of course) and has a wry and pragmatic whit. Set in Seattle, She has some of that Seattle angst by being as conscientious as a succubus can be. Not in the green or crunchy way but in a lesser of two evils way... made me want to be a succubus (sorta, well not really, but she is very likable)... 

I am not sure if this series would fit in the same genera as the Sookie Stackhouse books, but I love Clive Barker's Abarat series. They are meant for children or young adults, but they have a considerably darker in tone than the Sookieverse. The main character, a teen named Candy Quackenbush, is a typical disaffected teen who discovers a parallel universe of Islands that are set to the 24 hours of the day, each island always being a certain time, midnight being the pinnacle of darkness where it is always the darkest midnight....

These books are different than the Stackhouse books. I really enjoyed them. They are really funny and a light read. You aren't going to have an addiction like with Sookie, but still worth while I think. They aren't really a series but they overlap, and have the same characters.

The first two are Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story followed by You Suck: A Love Story. Both of course are about vampires.

And the third A Dirty Job (my favorite) is about Charlie a widower with a new baby girl. Immediately after the death of his wife, he meets a strange man, and people start dropping like flies around him. While juggling his new daughter and running an antique shop, he starts discovering things he never knew existed, and learns about his new role in the universe, or at least San Fransico.

If you are used to authors like Harris, these are very different, but fun. Christopher Moore has other books, all fantasy, but these are the only ones I've read.

Hey Heather - I have read BF & YS by Moore. They're cute!

You should definately read A Dirty Job then. It was so cute. And the MC is adorable.

I'm sure someone here has mentioned Patricia Briggs (I'm cooking dinner and can't peruse the whole thread) but if anyone is interested, I have a Mercyverse Forum.

I've just read the first 3 Succubus books by Richelle Mead and liked them a lot -- they are light and funny and the characters are likeable.  The 4th is due to arrive from amazon tomorrow.  I also liked the Fever series, although the tone is totally different and they somehow seemed trashier to me (yes, even though the other series has a narrator that is a succubus, I know).

The Mercy books have yet again a different tone (more dry and a bit more straight to the point with less humor and innuendo) and Anita Blake yet another (fairly harsh, more gritty).

Completely unrelated to any paranormal books, I recently revisited my much-beloved copy of the first book in the Amelia Peabody archeology series by Elizabeth Peters.  It really made me laugh out loud in a lot of places and I am looking forward to going back through the series, or at least through the first several books -- it has been a long time, and the first book is really clever.

Oh, gosh I used to love Amelia Peabody!  I forgot all about those . . . I haven't thought of them in years.

OK so I am reading the Vampire Diaries right now (http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries).

Almost done with the 2nd book (super easy YA books). The reason I am reading is b'c the CW is making it into a new series this fall & with that - there has been a brou-ha-ha about how they were the original Twilight (but better) & Stephenie Meyer ripped these books off. And I remember how people were also saying she ripped off Harris as well (which I think she certainly did).

I'll SAY!! My god! There is one scene in particular when I was reading - my jaw was open I was so shocked at how badly Meyer poached from L.J. Smith. Meyer change the environment & tweaked a few words but it was the SAME exact scene!!.

I feel like SM did it better b'c she put more meat on the bones & really fleshed out the characters in comparison (although I am not done yet with the series but technically they books are only about 200 pages each. I read the 1st one in a few hours) - but honestly - it is ridiculous that she claims to have never read another single vampire book & all of her ideas came to her in a dream.

Hells no. No way. If anyone else reads these - you have to let me know what you think.

She completely hacked off L.J. Smith's ideas  - major, and then on a slightly less major note - Harris.

By the way - the books are OK. They're actually dakrer..a bit scarier than Twilight. I'll keep you posted.

Another good series to read is the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.  It's a young adult series but it's really good.  She put a really good twist on the vampires and each book will leave you waiting for the next one.  I think there are 7 or 8 of them out right now.

Michelle Rowan has a series out too which is good. And funny.

Kimberly Raye too. The main vampiress owns a dating service for all the different creatures.  Quite humurous.

And if you like contemporaries check out Katie MacAlister.  She is a hoot.  My favorites from her are Improper English, Men in Kilts, and the Corset Diaries.  Each one will have you laughing out loud.  For a very long time.  Several times.

Thanks for all of the book recommendations! Anyone read the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare? http://www.mortalinstruments.com/ I'm almost done with the 2nd book of the trilogy and I LOVE it! It's super fast paced with great characters. It's classified as Young Adult but is easily appealing to mature readers. It's urban fantasy/supernatural- funny, sexy, exciting- vamps, weres, faeries, demons and humans who are part of a secret society that keep the rest of the unsuspecting human world safe from the supes. I highly recommend it. It took me just a little bit to get into the first book but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I've been up past midnight every night this week reading these things and I get up at 6:30am!

Ooh Montriac just asked me about those. I will make sure she sees your post! Thank you.

Really, they're highly addictive. She's a good writer, every moment of the story line is easy to picture. I have to say there's something about the lead male character Jace that reminds me of a young Eric. He loves a good battle, he's extremely confident, he's aware that he's gorgeous and makes sure that you're aware of it too, he's funny and he's very emotionally guarded but once he figures out what he wants, he opens right up. I can't wait to get home and finish the 2nd book!

OK you have sold me!  I was going to read Jaz Parks next but I might read these 1st instead!

My 13-year-old just finished those, and she recommended them to me (we share books).  She said they were great.

I have a 10 year old daughter. She's reading the Maximum Ride series right now and I'll probably read it after her. : )

That's cool you guys share with your children. Do you do that so you keep an eye on what their reading or b'c you have the same tastes? Or both!?

Do you know if they have read the House of Night series by PC Cast? I hear a lot about those books.

Both.  We've both read the PC Cast books, and really liked them.  They were written by a mother/daughter team, which we thought was cool.  Vampires and Feminine/Goddess slant.  It's interesting and good for her.  It give us something to discuss when my hormonal teenager is being her new demon self.  We can always go to books to be "the way we were". We also both really like "The Summoning" and "The Awakening".  I can't remember which one comes first.  Really good!  But, like CH, we're waiting on #3.

It give us something to discuss when my hormonal teenager is being her new demon self.

LOL! That's great.

We also both really like "The Summoning" and "The Awakening".

Those are the Vampire Diaries book by LJ Smith, yes (or are they also the names of the HoN books)? if they are - I am reading them now. I am almost finished with book 3 - The Fury. But I have book 4 in the wings - "Dark Reunion" or something......

"The Summoning" and "The Awakening" are by Kelley Armstrong.  "The Summoning" is the first one.

I definitely like to know what she's reading but I like a lot of it too. We read Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Book together recently and loved it. I think she might have been a little creeped out if she read it by herself (man stalks toddler with knife- yep creepy) but reading it together made it less spooky. I'll have to look into getting her the Vampire Diaries. She already thinks she's a little goth. A ten year old goth? Really honey?

Haha, "her new demon self". I'm so scared. Mine isn't there yet but I know it's coming.

She already thinks she's a little goth. A ten year old goth? Really honey?

ROTFL!!  Hilarious.

Yes, it is inevitable.  You should check out the Percy Jackson series.  He just finished it, with Book 5.  The first one it "The Lightening Theif" The hero is a human with a "Greek God" parent.  My daughter is really into Greek mythology, and she has read these so many times, and forced all her friends to read them too.  They walk around  with "Camp Half-Blood" t-shirts on.  At 13, no less...

The ironic thing is my friends describe my daughter's personality as "a unicorn dancing on a rainbow" so the goth thing just isn't taking hold. I guess she doesn't wear her dark soul on the outside as well as she'd like.

Oh good, I'm glad to hear something about the Percy Jackson series. I think we both might like that.

That's a funny description.  My daughter had always been so sweet, and she still is, just not to her family.  For a while, I just felt like I had lost my best friend.  She still has some moments. Mostly at the bookstore, or when we're talking about books.

Valhalla: you read it together with your daughter out loud? isnt it embarrassing for her to read the sex scenes with her mother? it would have been to me..

No, she can't read Sookie books at all until she's older.  She doesn't want to.  I even bothered her that Bella was having a baby.  Usually we take turns reading books--she gets them during the day, and I get them after I tuck her in.  Unfortunately, sometimes I stay up way too late.  We used to read out loud together, but she wanted to go faster, take them to school, etc.

When my daughter and I read something together and the story gets a little too eh, mature, I just tell her that we're skipping that part because it's not appropriate for her.... then I read it : )

Have you heard of the "39 Clues" series?  Scholastic started it last year.  It will be a series of 10 books that are an interactive mystery.  There are only 3 books out right now, and each books coordinates with clues and an online site for figuring things out.  Whoever figures out the mystery wins a bunch of money.  We started, but she's working on them with a friend now instead.  You should check those out.  They might be good for a 10-year old.

She has the 1st 39 Clues book but hasn't read it yet. What a great concept though!

well and you dont mind it Valhalla? i quite enjoy the sex scenes.. and having someone around.. dunno:-D and being interrupted.. but i think she reads them later alone too at least I read some stuff like this when I was 13 i think..

saraswati: i see.. well she'll read them sooner or later im sure..

sorry Valhalla.. i thought your daughter is 13.. but it was Saraswati's

Anyway I really envy you guys.. i've never read books with my mom.. you must have great relationship with your daughters..

Yeah, I think mine is blissfully ignorant enough right now that she could read something that was full of sexual tension and just think "oh that means he thinks she's cute!".

Mine would say, Ew!

Mine would say, Ew!   Really? we talked a lot about sex wth friends when we were 13:D and we also read some romances for girls where there were sex scenes and stuff.. but maybe its different in US? (im from Czech Republic)

There are some girls her age who are more interested, but she's strangely pragmatic and unromantic that way. I'm sure it will change, but right now I'm really happy about it.

im sure you are:-)

I'm envious of all you moms who can share books with their daughters.  I have a 12-year-old son and I used to read books to him and even turned him on to some books that are among his favorites now (e.g., Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy).  But most of these books you've spoken about are geared more towards young girls.  Does anyone know of good books appropriate for tween/teen boys?

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians is geared towards both.  Male author (Rick Riordan?), male hero.  Harry Potter, Charlie Bones, the Graveyard Book,The City of Embers series (there are 4 or 5). Peter and the Starcatchers (there are 3, Peter Pan pre-quels), and Kingdom Keepers (there are 2) about some kids in Disneyland.  Lionboy (has 3 books) written by a mom and daughter, but about a boy.  "The Coming of Dragons" is cool.  Artemis Fowl series, too.  My daughter goes on http://www.goodreads.com and makes a list of all the books she recommends.  You could check that out.

Thanks guys - I started "The Lightning Thief" with my son this week (v. good so far) & have "The 39 Clues" on our summer reading pile - good to know that we're heading for some good reads.

Just finished Vampire Diaries -it wasn't very good, IMO. I don't think I would have liked it even at 12-13. So I don't really recommend.

There was a series I read at 14 which I loved, loved loved called The Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce:

And still to this day I have the original Hardbacks in my library & re-read them from time to time.

Vol 1: The Darkangel

Vol 2: A Gathering of Gargoyles

Vol 3: The Pearl of the Soul of the World

When I posted previously about the Mortal Instruments trilogy, I was only half-way through the series and I finished the last book this morning so I thought I'd give an update. I thought it was fantastic all the way through! She really makes you care about the characters, so much so that parts of it are literally painful to read. Anyhow, just thought I'd give a final, enthusiastic two thumbs up for Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments.

I have just started it!

I hope you like it! I can't wait to hear what you think. Books 2 and 3 were my favorite but that's partly because she leaps right into the story from the start- no recapping (something that was driving me nuts with the Sookie books) and no real break in time from one book to the next so the intensity is still there.

I have to second that opinion with Valhalla about the Mortal Instrument!! Loved it and would love to see another book with the continuation of the series!! Though the series ends at volume three i had a feeling that she does insinuates that there might be something more!! Would really like to see it becoming true!!

She says that she's done with Mortal Instruments but she sure did leave room to pick it back up if she wanted didn't she? I hope she does, they're all such great characters. I'm really looking forward to reading the Infernal Devices series when it comes out. I think she's a really gifted writer. I found myself re-reading certain paragraphs just because her wording so was beautiful and vivid.

Yes she certainly did!! XD And what i also loved was that she never wasted words, when the story was rolling she told the story beautifully without making it heavy and tiering!! Never had the thought she writes to fill the pages she needed for the publishing company, like i had with many other books...

I totally agree about not wasting space. Everything she says serves a purpose and feels important to the story. I think she was also really good about tying in little pieces/clues here and there so when you got to an explanation for whatever was happening, it felt right and made sense.

Yup she did that!! Though she made it a little to easy for my taste!! Favorite?? (Except for the leads...) I really liked Magnus, and he is in the infernal devices!!!

Yeah, I appreciated her foreshadowing but at the same time by book 3, there weren't that many shocking moments because of it. Still, even if you could see something coming, it didn't feel like a let down because it at least made sense when it happened.

I LOVED Magnus! I didn't know that he will be in Infernal Devices, that's great! He and Jace were my favorite characters. I so hope the Mortal Instruments will be made into a movie just to see Magnus come to life. Love his fashion sense! haha

lol!!! True true and such a sense of humor!! Totally cute!!

I read a little bit in CC blog here:

And now a little excerpt from The Clockwork Princess (the first book of Devices.) You'll recognize at least one of the characters in it.


“And that there,” Magnus said, looking across the room at Will. “The boy with the angry looks and the eyes like twilight in Hell. That's Will?”
“That is unfortunately Will,” Tessa acknowledged.
“He'll be in demand tonight,” Magnus predicted. “He’s very pretty, and vampires like that.” He narrowed his eyes. “Black hair and blue eyes,” he added, with a sort of drawl. “My favorite.”


(I've been avoiding mentioning Will's last name — it's spoilery for something in Glass. Strange how that works!) 

Though i dont get what the spoiler could be.. Guess i'll have to wait til the book comes out!!  Doesn't Willl sound a little bit like Alex? Same coloring ne?

Oh and something else i found!! I always knew I'd be done with Clary's story after City of Glass, but I wasn't done with the world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders. So i guess no more, but maybe something different... XD
   

he sounds exactly like Alec but with Jace's temperament : )

I just read a book that I think is worth recommending. It's called A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb. Saraswati, I think you in particular might be interested in this. It's another YA book but again, totally readable for mature audiences and for a YA book, it goes a litte further than most when it comes to sex and language but there's nothing in there that I think would bother most parents of well read teens (Saraswati, your daughter may say "Ick!!" a few times but still end up liking the story). In essence, it's a ghost story but it's not typical or trite at all. Helen is a 130 year old ghost who has spent the years after her death following "hosts" around who are unable to see her or feel her. The thing she wants most is to be able to communicate with them but she can't. One day she is actually "seen" by a teenage boy in her host's class and they are immediately drawn to each other. The reason he can see her is because the boy's body is inhabited by the spirit of James, who has been dead for about 80 years (I think). Neither of them has ever been able to speak to another ghost before so realizing that they may be the only two of their kind, they fall in love. Of course it can't be as sweet or easy as all of that because of the complications of the human world and because of the guilt that they each carry around from memories that they can't unlock from their own mortal lives. I won't say anymore so I don't spoil anything but it's really a beautiful little book. A great rainy afternoon read- only 282 pages.

Thanks for the recommendation.  I just whizzed through the City of Bones series.  It was GREAT!  I'm now reading "The Darkangel" and will pass it on to my daughter.  I'll have to get "A Certain Slant of Light" next.  By the way, my daughter has really enjoyed "The Sisters Grimm" series.  I think there are 5 (I don't know if they're finished or not.) Two sisters are guarding "fairytale land" and trying to find their missing parents.  We bought the Brothers Grimm works and learned a lot....so many references.  Very cool.  Maybe a girl book...

I had such a good time reading the Mortal Instruments books, I'm glad you liked them too. If I was a teenager I'd be so in love with Jace Wayland : )  I'll have to check out the Sisters Grimm series. That sounds like something my daughter Noelle would love. You may want to read A Certain Slant of Light before passing it on to your daughter. I don't think that it's too graphic but there is one scene in particular that surprised me a little though still, it's not on par with Harris talking about Eric's body fluids either, haha.

I just ordered a bunch of books online, some of which were recommended here. I'm trying out the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, the Historian and a few that just had good reviews on Amazon- War for the Oaks, Blood and Chocolate and Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Yay for new reads!

Oh I loved Fever. It was so much fun. I have War for the Oaks too - let me know when you start it.

You said you were reading Mortal Instruments didn't you? What do you think of it?

I am only about 30% the way through the 1st one - I have been so tired when I have been going to bed I can barely keep my eyes awake to read. So far I am liking it though.

Do you like Clary?

At first, Clary reminded me a little too much of Bella from Twilight- a little whiny and indecisive but I liked her more as the story went on. One thing I like about Clary is that she's pretty fearless- or at least she becomes that way. I think that it took me about 150 pages to really start getting into City of Bones but after that, it just flew by and I was salivating for the next book.

Hey ya'll.  I read the MI series and had fun with it.  As for Will's name - is he the Herondale?  One of the characters is a Herondale, but I forget which one.  She says it in some Q&A on some blog - I forget which.  Maybe this site she posts on called Mundie Moms?  (Yeah, I know, original, right? Total rip off of the TwiMom thing).  She explains somewhere that to some extent the Infernal Devices relate backstory for the characters in the MI.

Also - are any of you MI fans aware of the CC's history and the plagarism scandal?  I got so much enjoyment from the series, but somehow learning about that dimmed things for me a little.

I just finished The Books of Pellinor and they are WONDERFUL!   They are quite different from some of the other recommendations listed here.  They are more traditional fantasy, similar to Lord of the Rings - set in a long-gone time. I don't usually like that so much, but these were lovely. They are written by an Australian poet and are quite beautifully written.  Sometimes I find with fantasy, paranormal and the YA books that the writing suffers, even if the stories are fun.  These are really charming - and they have a good, strong female lead, which was great.

I also recently read the Warrior Heir - forget the author.  It features a boy so might be good for a boy.  It was just okay in my opnion, though.  I have not yet read the follow up to it.

And I just ordered China Mieville's The City & The City and am so excited about that!  Anyone read it?

I've heard Clary described as kind of an idealized or fleshed out Ginny from the HP series . . .

I hadn't read anything about the plagiarism claim but after looking it up just now, is the big issue that she may have plagiarized on a fan fiction site? If that's the case, to me it's not a big deal since people are writing fan fic based on someone else's inspiration anyway- or at least that's how most of it goes right? I'm also seeing that maybe she just did a half assed attribution to the writers she was borrowing from which is better than just calling it her own. Still, if it's not something that's being published and sold, it doesn't really bother me.

I loved LOTR, I'll have to look into the Books of Pellinor. Thanks!

Oh gosh, if you loved LOTR, you should love the Pellinor series.  Here's a link to the series website.  http://www.alisoncroggon.com/fantasy/ 

On the plagarism thing, I think what made me sad was that, from what I can tell, she was really, really plagarizing.  I had to dig to find this (I'm writing an article about fan fiction which is how/why I come to know this) but someone went to the trouble of doing a side by side comparison of her Draco fan fiction with some other work (not an HP book) and she literally lifted entire passages word for word.  Even if it's not being sold, even if it's just fan fic, it still troubles me that she would actually copy entire passages from another author and pass them off as her own.  For me, it went beyond it was more than just being inspired by another's work or failing to credit an inspiration.  As I said, I still enjoyed the MI series immensely, and I have not seen any substantiated claims that she plagarized in that (although there are some general allegations to that effect).  I guess I just think, would she as an author accept someone else doing what she did - to the extent she did - with her books?  Unlikely . . . and I wouldn't want anyone to, you know?

I am posting this info here sense it is non-sookie, but if you are a fan of  the Black Dagger Brotherhood books by J.R. Ward, I think you will like these short fan fics I found.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4605425/1/Need

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4605411/1/Whats_in_a_Name

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4605331/1/The_Addiction

most of the fan fics for the Brotherhood are hard to find and not all that but these three by the same writer I really enjoyed.

Ladies, Ladies! Tracy & Judi - I am almost done with Book 3 of the Mortal Instruments & have LOVED them!! I am 85% of the way through with the 3rd one & cannot wait to finish. I am on my lunch break now so hopefully I will.

Thank you for the recommend!

I know!  I stayed up all night to read the 3rd so that I wouldn't have to read it interrupted...I thought they were fantastic.  Clary and Jace were great characters.  Clary reminds me of Chloe Saunders... I'm waiting for her next, but have read "The Darkangel" (I think you recommended that) and just finished "The Naming" from the Pellinor series.

OK I finished it. I kind of didn't want it to end!!

But you guys were so right - Clare doesn’t waste words. She gives you the detail that is pertinent but she doesn’t go on & on just to tell you how a character got from scene A to B.

She often has the dialog between characters that is necessary & appropriate to the scene. The dialog that you would want to hear. The questions asked or things said that should be. And she is succinct about it. She gets to the point w/out taking the long way around. There are no avoidance tactics or drama for drama’s sake (THANK GOD)!!

There are no dumb & continual misinterpretations just b'c many authors have characters who won't communicate with one another OR ask  the wrong questions (or none at all) just to build tension. Things are generally addressed and confronted as they should be in relation to the time & scene of the book.

For example - When I was reading & I'd get to a scene where let's say.... Simon & Clary were talking & I'd hoped Simon would say or express certain things & Clary would handle rationally & not clam up & just deal & really - the majority of the time Clare gave that to the readers & her own characters. They were mature. And guess what?? There was still drama & tension even still.

For that alone I love Clare’s writing & at this point am so appreciative to get that from an author.

The only thing is that Clare is not subtle with the foreshadow so you can see a ton of things coming a mile away. The trilogy would be completely epic if she was able to not be so obvious & shock the reader on numerous occasions.   I think I know the reason why she is so obvious but I won't write it b'c it's a spoiler.

Anyway – thumbs up big time for Mortal Instruments! It’s a lot of fun, imaginative (of course it borrows too but she does well in making it her own) with great, great characters & completely reeled me in.

Hey Judi and Laura! I'm so glad that you both enjoyed Mortal Instruments. I hope she revisists those characters after the prequel that she's writing, though I'm definitely looking forward to that too. By the way Laura, how nice is it to read a series and actually get some answers unlike what we've been getting from our beloved Ms. Harris! I definitely agree about being too heavy handed with the foreshadowing but I still enjoyed it, even if I knew the answer to the big question(s). I just fell in love with the characters, even the ones that annoyed me in the beginning. I thought what Clary did with the rune on the ship in book 2 was bad ass!!

I just bought a ton of books on Amazon and Ebay- a bunch of Kelley Armstrong, the Fever series, the Historian, Blood and Chocolate, War for the Oaks and Sunshine by Robin McKinley. I just started reading Sunshine last night. The beginning didn't grab me, seemed a little rambling but now that I'm about 100 pages in, I'm hooked. I can't wait to hear more about Constantine. Has anyone else read it? While I was waiting for my big book shipment to come in I read the first book of my daughter's Maximum Ride series. It's very young but it was actually a fun read. I think I'll continue with the series if for no other reason than it makes me look cool to my daughter's little friends- looking cool to the 10-11 year old set is important to me, haha  : )

By the way Laura, how nice is it to read a series and actually get some answers unlike what we've been getting from our beloved Ms. Harris!

Oh, it's really so nice. I realize that when you have an end in sight & a book # designation, it keeps the writing really tight so of course, more would be revealed. However, I have read other long running series which do provide more concrete answers, on certain matters,  sooner & along the way.

I thought what Clary did with the rune on the ship in book 2 was bad ass!! 

I came to really like Clary & admire her. She sort of reminded me Mac in the fever series. Even though Fever is an adult series & MI is YA, the characters are both teens. Mac is just slightly older if I remember correctly. Anyway - both heroines really take the initiative & figure out ways to do things for themselves which I really admire in a female MC. Really - they are fiercely independent.  So far, I haven't had that from 2 many MC's.

Most MC's - their independence comes with strings & insecurities or a bit of whining/complaining involved. I don't know if it is b'c they are teens so they have less responsibility to worry about, that these authors can draw them that way. but with these 2 young woman - I felt like they just ultimately resolve to do it for themsleves no ifs, ands or buts & just get on & do it. They seem to accept the world as it comes to them despite how challenging & strange & life altering & just...do whats best for them & the ones they love without agonizing over the current state of their life. I really like that.

Who wrote Sunshine?

I am now - FINALLY starting the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin.

Sunshine is written by Robin McKinley. I don't really know any of her work but I think I read somewhere that Sunshine is a departure for her. There were lots of fantastic reviews on Amazon about Sunshine. I'll let you know what I think of it when I finish.

I like Clary. She's pretty fearless and does what she thinks is right even if it means she'll suffer for it. Girl power!!! haha

Oh & I might have mentioned this but you guys will probably like as well as your girls - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's another trilogy with the 2nd one coming out in Sept. It's really very good & I can't wait for the next book.

Set in a postapocalyptic world where the government (a la Orwell's 1984) is like Big Brother to the max & has different sects of people in like their own districts (prison camps in a way) to keep them under control.  They have a yearly "games" fest & the person who survives get food for themesleves & their family & fame for their district. the youngest age to enter the games is I think around 12 & up.

The MC is a girl names Katniss & she is a hunter by day for her family. She braves climbing over district fences to get food & bring back to markets to try & sell to get gain etc.. in return for her family. Needless to say - she ends up in the games.

It's really well paced & engaging & pretty much kept me at the edge of my seat & couldn't put it down. I found it a very adult worthy read based on it's numerous themes about dystopian government, segreation, colonisation, humanity through the lens of reality TV etc.. etc..

The book reminded me of The Running Man, 1984, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Death Race 2000 - basically  a whole bunch of things.

i know it sounds dark & it is but there's humor too though & romance.

The Pellinor books are really good if you're into LOTR.  Very similar themes, writing style.  These were her first books, right?  I'm impressed.  I just started Kelly Armstrong's "Bitten".  Has anybody read this "Underworld" series?  The MC is a werewolf.  So far, I like it.  I also finished "Dark Lover" by JR Ward.  A nice romance + HMS, but I agree with Laura, some of the dialogue, you wonder where she came up with the slang.  But I got my fix...

Joejoe... what are the links to ally McBeal and Scrubs that keep showing up on your post?

Also, when you get a chance introduce yourself and read the rules about posting..

Hey Judi - yes I read Bitten & Stolen. I liked them but did not love. Bitten is stronger than Stolen, IMO. The prose is stronger & it's more "serious"? If that makes any sense. Stolen is more action & fun but the concept plot line has been done a few time over & b'c I am not the biggest fan of Elena (or the new character Paige), I wasn't bowled over enough to make up for the lack of originality in story.

Elena bothered me. Clay & Jeremy are great characters though & I am looking forward to reading their own stories. I think Armstrong is a very talented writer (CH LOVES her) but I had issues with Elena's constant whining in Bitten. It grew very tedious for me. I think after all of Sookie's push & pull & indecision & laying blame without getting explanations...it just drove me crazy & have little patience for characters like that.

But they are definitely worth reading. Paige's book is after Stolen & I haven't felt compelled to continue the series b'c she didn't do much for me. If you get to her book & beyond it, will you let me know what you think?

I've been told that Jacquelyn Frank's The Nightwalkers series is really good. Has anyone here read those?   I'm going to start reading Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series when I'm done with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter and Dream-Hunter series.  She has A LOT of books written.  If I'm not mistaking she has about 25 books combined between the Dark-Hunter and Dream-Hunter series in addition to others that's not a part of the series.   I find them very interesting but they touch more on subjects of gods and goddesses.  I actually have my co-worker hooked on them now and nothing can hold that girl's attention too long!  So far, I've read JR Ward's BDB (which I absolutely LOVE) and Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed.   IMO if you like BDB you would like Lara Adrian's books too.

Mtru - Rachel (Montbriac) read the entire Kenyon series. You should PM her about them. I am taking liberty here & paraphrasing majorly for her but basically, my interpretation of what she said was -  cheesy, crazy overwrought dialog which is funny + flat out bang your head bad (at times), some of the books are absolutely skippable, concepts are borrowed largely from another author (can't remember who right now) but yet..in fairness.... she read the whole series & I think they got better as they went on. But I don't think that development happened until much later in a very large series? She ended up really enjoying the mythology factor of the stories which was a bit new.

Anyway - she was largely on the fence in recommended them to me the whole time & then pretty much said she would recommend for certain concepts as long as I skipped a bunch of books & took it is as more candy/beach read. So it's on my "maybe I'll get to eventually" list.

She also read Immortals. I actually hated the 1st book for various reasons & didn't continue but she said they get a bit better & came to think Cole turned out to be pretty decent. She said both series are firmly in the PNR (emphasis on the cliche Romance formula aspect). Funnily enough, despite my hate of book 1, I will probably attempt the 2nd Immortals before I try Kenyon based on what Rache had to say about both.

I just started Midnight Breed (I had to put down the Jaz Parks, it wasn't doing it for me but I'll probably finish at some point).

HOLY BDB rip off Batman! Yet I like it. Plus Ward gives the thumbs up so if she can read it without bringing on a plagarism suit - then who am I to complain?

I am only about 33% in the 1st book but I love the Sci/Fi horror aspect. There having been a couple of strikingly visual scenes which actually disturbed me & made me almost say; "ooohhh, ewwww" outloud. So far it has a geuine creep factor for me in parts. I like that.

The 1st book is so Bella/Wrath though it's crazy!

Hi Laura....you can call me Melissa (if you remember )...Yes Kenyon's books did get better later.  In the beginning while you're reading it you can't help but think that you want to give it a chance.  Some books are skippable.   I do have my favorites in the series but in truth they are good pass time books while waiting for a new J.R. Ward or CH release.  Maybe Rachel felt the same way to have called them 'cheesy' but still kept reading...LOL.  I find that most authors in this genre borrow from other authors.   I really like the Midnight Breed series but the last book "Ashes of Midnight' was a little weak to me.

Yes! Hi Melissa - thanks (Doh).

Maybe Rachel felt the same way to have called them 'cheesy' but still kept reading...LOL.

Oh yes, I'd say she did. It's funny b'c normally that's me with the tolerance for some cheese but she succumbed!

Which ones are your fav in the series? I wonder if they are the same ones as Rach? Do you think I could read them stand alone (which is not something I normally do but now both of you said books were skippable).

I find that most authors in this genre borrow from other authors.   I really like the Midnight Breed series but the last book "Ashes of Midnight' was a little weak to me.

Yes most of them do. But some - astoundingly more obvious about it than others! So far I am very into Midnight Breed. I only started it late last night and am pretty far. As opposed to Jaz Parks. It was taking me ridiculously long to read such small books ( I mean tiny really), so right there it tells me, I wasn't that into it. Normally if I am really into a book, I blow through it.

Do you have a favorite in the MB series?? 

Sorry it's so long everyone but I wanted to give Laura my favorites and why. 

Dark-Hunter Series…

Night Embrace - Talon and Sunshine - I liked the way she made everything that could possibly go wrong go wrong for Talon when they first met.

Seize the Night - Valerius and Tabitha - I truly felt sorry for him because of how he was treated because his grand father killed Kyrian. He was alone and Tabitha was the only one willing to give him a chance.

Night Play - Vane and Bride - I think this one is my most favorite.  Vane didn’t care that Bride was overweight.  She kept waiting for a practical joke to play out because she felt there was no way that someone as good looking as Vane would be interested in her….boy did he prove her wrong! It was a book that would make you relate to how a person can feel self-conscious about the way they look.

Unleash the Night - Wren and Maggie - He considered himself an outcast because he was 'triple-natured' and often kept to himself while he worked as a busboy.  He saw Maggie and felt an instant attraction to her which led him out of his shell. 

Devil May Cry - Sin and Katra - this book was slow but it was the key information revealed about Katra, Artemis and Acheron the made it interesting.

Acheron - Acheron and Tory - This one was a bit long but because you knew of Acheron all the way back from the book 2 and this is book 22 you have that anticipation built to find out what Acheron really was and his background. 

Midnight Breed…I like that this series is written in the way that the vamps can only procreate with certain types of females called breedmates and they are born not turned.  It's sort of the same concept as BDB.  It gives you a little something different.   

Kiss of Midnight - Lucan and Gabrielle - I think the author did pretty well with introducing the series with this book.  I enjoyed Lucan's struggle to remain focused on his leadership role with the order while falling hopelessly for Gabriele.

Midnight Awakening - Tegan and Elise - Tegan was kind of a hard ass 'don't mess with me' kind of warrior and Elise breaks him down slowly.

Midnight Rising - Rio and Dylan - You tend to feel sorry for Rio because of the betrayal he suffered from book 1 that left him less attractive as he once was.  But that didn't matter to Dylan.

Veil of Midnight - Nikolai and Renatta - This one is okay.  It was mainly about learning to trust and survival. 

I also wanted to mention...J.R. Ward wrote a short story called "The Story of Son".  If you all can find it on the net you may find it interesting.  It's included in one of those books that has several anthologies from various authors including Sherrilyn Kenyon.  The book is called Dead After Dark.  

Hey Melissa - I finished Book 1 (kiss of Midnight) last night & liked it. I blew through it! Anyway - I am in for the ride.

I didn't know about The Story of Son. Thanks so much!

Hey Laura...if you're like me you may not like book 2 (Kiss of Crimson) as much as book 1 but the next one is better.

The Story of Son is a vamp story as well.  J.R. did very well with it.

I have yet to start the Midnight Breed series but I am accumulating -- since the subject was raised about favorites in Kenyon's Dark Hunter/Dream Hunter series, I thought I'd share mine.

When I started the series, I was really interested to get a handle on what made it so incredibly popular (Particularly since the first book, Fantasy Lover is the worst book I have ever read. Why did I finish it? So I could answer the question, "Rachel, what's the worst book you've ever read?" It's Fantasy Lover hand's down -- but I digress).

What hooked me in the series was later, when stories started to overlap and the reader received a quasi-Roshamon effect when we'd finally get a different POV on the same events, I really liked that because it pulled some of the loose ends and weak threads together. Also, Kenyon has a good sense of humor, and it's coming out more in the later books. I like the direction the series is going post Acheron, there is a clear arc and evolution to the world the series exists in rather than just telling charaters' stories in a vaccum which is how the early books were rolled out.

Without any more rambling from me, here are my favorites in the series...

The Begining - This is the short story which was released after the series had been established but it introduces Acheron and the creation of the Dark Hunters. It's a good short story and is the foundation for the series, I'd reccomend anyone who was interested in the series start here.

Night Embrace - This is Tallon and Sunshine and is entertaining in it's own right. I found sunshine a breath of fresh air in PNR since she's one of the few heroines who owns her sexuality and has no identity issues -- one of the few heroines who is geniunely comfortable in her own skin. This book is important to the series since it introduces us to many of the characters that will play an intregral role later in the series. Also, this book had the best line from Sunshine's mother upon seeing Tallon nude... You know Sunshine, you need to find a man like that to marry. Someone so well hung that even after three or four kids, he'd still be wall to wall.

Seize The Night - This is a classic opposites attract romance, the twist that makes it one of my favorites in the series is that it's the first book in which Kenyon gives a different point of view on the history of characters and events.

Unleash the Night - This is just a good old-fashioned romance with a paranormal twist and is one of the better constructed books in the series as it pulls together other story lines and brings in more the Were Hunter culture and my favorite character in the series, Savitar. It also puts some of the other perihery characters into context which was a boon.

Dream Hunter - This is an important book in laying the foundation for events that will effect the series later, however, I was really drawn into Arik's story of a Skotos (naughty dream god) and his quest to gain emotion and what the quest costs him and what he learns. I liked this book. Admittedly, I prefer the Dream Hunters to the Dark Hunters.

Devil May Cry - Another opposites attract love story, but I bought the connection in this book and it's another really important book in the series in terms of building on the foundation of an actual arc to the series laid in previous books and tying together some loose ends and instroducing new complexities to the world in which the series exists. I liked the theme of trust in this book too.

Dream Chaser - I have a soft spot for ghosts and demons and that this book explored the themes of sacrifice and honor, appealed to me. We're also introduced to Jaden here and I like him (does anyone know exactly what the nature of the relationship between Jaden and Jared is).

Dream Warrior - I loved Cratus/Jericho, the love story is classic Greek theater and I really liked it. At this point in the series, Kenyon knows exactly where she is going and so there are layers and subplots to keep things moving. Also, her writing has really improved from her earlier works and she is much more skilled at presenting a scene. I really liked this book, it left a big old cliff hanger for the next installment in the series and I appreciated that!

Honorable mention goes to Dark Side of the Moon because it's the funniest (not all of the comedy is intentional -- some of the action is a little too over the top) -- if you have pet allergies you'll get the joke.

In my opinion, the series sticks to it's romance roots and follows the conventions of the romance genre more closely than some of the other series. That said, I think Kenyon creates an interesting world and the books are light, quick reads. I am a sucker for Greek mythology and Kenyon nails it -- and her Simi is one of the better characters in any PNR series (got to love the diamondique).

I would only reccomend this series to a reader who enjoys the romance genre -- even so, skip Fantasy Lover. Anything you might need to know from that book will be re-capped later (with much less damage to your brain).

One last comment is about the author herself, every year Kenyon hosts a convention in New Orleans for her fans. Attendance is limited to 200 so she can spend quality time with each attendee -- I really like the way she treats her fans.

Hi Rachel...I'm glad you brought that up about Fantasy Lover.  It was very weak but yet I felt compelled to finish reading the darn book because I wanted to give it a chance. One might think that after reading the very first book of the series and disliking it that I would have stopped...I can't answer that because I don't know why I didn't stop but I'm glad I didn't because it did get better.  All I know is that I was interested in another vampire series and the first book isn't even about vamps!   I tried to skip the Dream-Hunter books but I find that Kenyon has the two series so heavily intergrated that you kinda have to read them.  I would love to see a book about Savitar the Chthonian that loves his beach.   I stopped after Acheron and went back to the anthologies (my fave is 'Winter Born') and the Dream-Hunter books.  Right now I'm trying to get through Upon the Midnight Clear but that's coming along very slowly.   I haven't purchased any of the Dream-Hunter books and I'm glad I didn't because I can read them all on Wattpad.   Speaking of which, does anyone know of another site where I can read books free like with Wattpad?

LQTM, I don't think anyone wants to get me started on my laundry list of all that is wrong with Fantasy Lover, I guess that you can just add it to your list of truly awful books you've read.

Upon A Midnight Clear is very weak, you can skip it and not be at a loss for what develops in the series; all you need to take away from that book is summarized in Dream Warrior. The Dream Hunter series is intregral to the direction Kenyon is going with the entire series; big changes are afoot in the Greek pantheon and they're happening through the Dream Hunter series.

Kenyon is structuring the her series into four parts; the first centers on Acheron, the second is Jaden, the third is Savitar (yes) and the fourth is a character we haven't met yet. According to Kenyon, we're in part two now (once you've finished Acheron) and there is more of Jaden in the books that followed Acheron. The Dream Hunter series is meant to be read interdispered with the Dark Hunter series, I believe this is to transistion to the next arc in the series which is Jaden. My advice is to put Upon A Midnight Clear down and move on to Dream Chaser which is better, but the best in the Dream Hunter series is Dream Warrior.

As for other sites with freebee's you can always check out Scribd -- individual users and even some publishers post books there, for instance Darkfever is available there from the publisher for free to download through August. I also found the most recent Mercy Thompson Bone Crossed there.

I hope this is helpful!

http://www.scribd.com/

Thank you so much Rachel.  I'll skip Upon the Midnight Clear especially since I almost have to force myself to read it.

Never waste your time on a book you aren't getting anything out of reading -- life is much too short to waste precious hours you'll never get back on a book you're not enjoying.

At the risk of sound like a broken record, I'd like put in a plug for Richelle Mead's series about the reluctant succubus, Georgina Kincaid. It's a very well contructed series with a lot of heart and soul, it's also very clever. It's one of the series that was reccomended by another member of this forum and I really liked it a lot.

I'd also like to put in an endorsement for the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning -- if you like the adventure aspect of the Dark Hunter series, then prepare to have your socks knocked off by Fever (there is also loads of sexual tension). The first book in the series, Darkfever is available from the publisher for a limited time for free as an e-book you can even download at this link:

  http://www.scribd.com/doc/17001588/Darkfever-by-Karen-Marie-Moning-full-book

I'd encourage one and all to download this book and give it a read, it's free! You have nothing to loose and potentially, a whole new series to gain!

Rachel, that is so funny, cause I finished Darkfever on Monday and Bloodfever yesterday...I couldn't put them down!  I read the first two chapters of Faefever last night and hope I can finish it after work today  The sexual tension in these books is fabulous and the plot is fascinating...I'm glad you brought this series up, I was just about to make a recommendation for it

Ha! I just finished Bloodfever last night and started on Faefever too! I'm loving the series. I really like her writing style- very suspensful, not so much foreshadowing that you're figuring everything out easily, and yes, the sexual tension is delicious! Barrons and V'Lane = meow!

YES! Fever converts!

Haha, I'm totally hooked now and I know I'll be standing in line at Barnes and Noble on August 18th when the 4th book comes out. We need to have a big Fever discussion somewhere after the Fever readers have had a chance to devour book 4. Barrons sounds like the sexiest thing on legs. When I read Barrons' parts, I can't help but picture him as Gerard Butler- total sex god IMHO- so that only makes the character more appealing : )

 lmb1309

17 Jun 09, 3:31 PM

OK so I am reading the Vampire Diaries right now (http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries).

My god! There is one scene in particular when I was reading - my jaw was open I was so shocked at how badly Meyer poached from L.J. Smith. Meyer change the environment & tweaked a few words but it was the SAME exact scene!!.

 

Im readin it now, and just got to the scene you were talking about.  There is no way Mejer never read this book.  She may not have read it in a long time and THINKS she dreamed it up, but she read it.

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I'm reading Vampire Diaries now,  and I totally got to the scene that was almost word for word in Twilight.  All I could think was.... "whoa, there is no way Stephanie Meyer never read this"

There is no way Mejer never read this book.  If I were L. J. Smith I would be mad that Meyer had gotten the movie deals but at least Smith gets a TV Series now.

What I find interesting is that not all vamp TV Shows make it.  I thought Moonlight was ok and so was Blood Ties (to an extent) and they both got cancelled.  The only long running vamp shows (not on the movie channels) were Buffy and Angel that I can think of.  Looks like Vampire Diaries will be a pretty good show with a healthy dose of action to not make the show seem so boring.

OK Melissa finished MB #2 last night & about 20% the way into book #3. Here are my thoughts on it:

Adrian borrows extremely heavily from Ward's BDB series that I am surprised she actually hasn't been done in for plagiarism after this book.

This book for me, was essentially a reworking of BDB #5 w/out the depth. Dante (D) = V, Doc Tess = Doc Jane, Chase = Butch (b'c by the end the cop has made peace w/D & we find out in the beginning of the next book Chase & Dante are inseparable).

Oh and I can see Zsadist's reworking coming in the form of Rio's character! Crazy.

The book was enjoyable though & I really liked Dante. Tess annoyed me at the end. After being brutally attacked by 2 rogue's, she still refused to believe there are vampires & that Dante was a good guy despite saving her. So what does she do? Leave the safety of the compound to go back to the proven drug dealer ex to make sure she was OK. Dante to the rescue again in a matter of hours from the last attack. In broad daylight this time.

I felt Adrian actually owed the character a bit more than that but considering the end was so quickly & neatly wrapped up, how else was she going to get Tess to quickly come 'round & accept him/them?

But overall I liked it. I found it marginally better than the 1st book b'c I really liked Dante. So far #3 seems the most "original" of Adrian's character's & I am liking the story (on Chapter 10).

________

She may not have read it in a long time and THINKS she dreamed it up, but she read it.   

Absolutely. I cannot believe how badly she lied b'c it is obscenely obvious.

 Im readin it now, and just got to the scene you were talking about.

The scene in Stefan's room right?

Hey Laura...are you speed reading?!!!  Adrian borrows extremely heavily from Ward's BDB series that I am surprised she actually hasn't been done in for plagiarism after this book.  What's funny is that if you look on the cover of Adrian's books, you'll see a review from JR Ward on every book.

Oh and I can see Zsadist's reworking coming in the form of Rio's character! Crazy...YES!  Sure does!

I really liked book 3 because of Tegan. He has a 'roughneck' persona brought on by the death of his breedmate but he later succumbs to love again.  I also think that Rio's book #4 is a pretty good read. 

Yeah... Stefen's room/ The meadow scene  lol

Hey BDB fans!  I found this picture at http://midnightbreeds.heavenforum.com/kiss-of-midnight-5-f4/kiss-of-midnight-t58-30.htm.  Although it's a Midnight Breed Series forum there are several HOT! pictures within the postings of this site.  This picture below is supposed to be Vishous...Enjoy!

fdsdsf...huh? what does that mean?

LMAO. I think it's some fugasi bull. I'll erase it if the person doesn't intro themselves.

BTW - that's a Damn good V.  It's pretty much how I picture him.

Yes it is!...it surprises me that no one else has commented on it yet!

Thank you all for putting these book recommendations down. I went out yesterday and got darkfever and bloodfever. I love these books so far. I finished darkfever yesterday and hopefully will finish bloodfever today sometime. Sooo loving Barrons and V'Lane!!!

Oh yes, both of those characters are big sexy brain candy!

OK Melissa - I finished Midnight Breed series. I liked it. It was good. I definitely couldn't stop comparing it to BDB though as a poorer cousin though.

Even her entire story arc was the same as BDB down to the 6th book being the most depth emotionally & also story wise with less focus on the romance & more on the ensuing storyline of the war gearing up.

However - what she did differently, IMO & which I really liked a lot is that she had the woman be very valuable & useful in their own right. For example, it wasn't until Book 5 in BDB when I felt that I truly got why this bad ass, extrememly intelligent warrior fell in love with Doc Jane. She was a great character. Formidable in her own right. The other ladies in the series - I never really felt that. I kind of always felt - what's the big deal about them, really - when you comapre?

In this series - aside from Gabrielle (& Claire didn't really do it for me either) - I felt the ladies were put to better use. They were just as actively involved as the men. I love that Renata goes & hunts with the guys & they trust her in the face of all this massive danger. And that it is the most important thing to Rio to have Dylan actively involved b'c of what he went through. They are true partnerships. So I really enjoyed that aspect.

The books on a whole I felt were pretty on par with one another. They were all a solid 'good' & I wasn't disappointed nor blown away. You know what I mean? They didn't soar at any point but they didn't regress either.

Book 1 - I thought this was Good for an intro book. Gabrielle & Lucan both kind of annoyed me. Lucan with the tortured soul - I'm not good enough bit (I am a little tired of that story line) & Gabby with her freak out at the end. But it was resolved quick & Adrian keeps it moving.

Book 2- I liked. Dante is cool. Dante's character just really appealed to me. I thought Tess was a little thick in the head about Ben but she grew on me. Esp. the snippets we saw of them in the later books.

Book 3 -  Tegan & Elise. It was a good plot but he annoyed me b'c it was the excessive tortured soul bit again. I'm over that. I liked & enjoyed Elise very much though.

Book 4 - Rio & Dylan. Both characters appealed to me, surprisingly. My fav. of the bunch I think.

Book 5 - it was OK to Good for me. It took me a bit to get into b'c I felt the Nikolai wasn't a fleshed out character before hand so I didn't really care about him all that much b'c I didn't know that much about him. But I ended up liking it enough.

Book 6 - I liked this b'c I I was surprised by Andre's character. I didn't expect him to be so volatile & I enjoyed the story gearing up. It was an active & compelling read.

So I think #2, 4 & 6 were the ones I enjoyed most.

I wouldn't run out to read as soon as the next one is released but I will defintely keep them in my queue of series to continue reading.  I'll keep up with it. 

I just finished the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts and I really loved it.  In this series, six men and women from different times and places were selected by a goddess to prevent the gathering forces of an evil vampire queen from destroying the worlds (parallel universes).  I loved the mix of modern and medieval nuances and the characterization of the women as smart and kick-ass members of the team.

Hey there!  Saraswati and Valhalla - did you end up liking the Pellinor books?

Also, for any Vampire Academy fans out there, Richelle Mead is posting a sample chapter of Blood Promise this weekend on her website!

I haven't gotten to them yet but I do have them on my Amazon wish list! I just received Karen Moning's Highlander series in the mail today and that's like what, 8 books? Gag, the cover art makes me cringe and if anyone walks by my desk and sees them, I'll just die of embarrassment because they're so Fabio looking but Laura and Rachel tell me that they compliment Moning's Fever series (which is fanfriggintastic!) so I'll pretend not to see the awful covers.

You must have got the ones with the original covers! Oh my god - they are hilarious. They look like the books my grandma used to read. Who BTW - had a massive thing for Fabio.

I was with her when we randomly met him once. My little Baby Gram as we call her (she is 4'8") - happened to be standing at the bottom of the elevator & my Gram looks up & I see her face & she claps her hands together & screams "FABIO!" & starts laughing & clapping her hands & practically throws herself at his feet. He comes down & kind of picks her up & hugs her & she grabs his face w/both hands & like a classic Italian grandma & pinched his both cheeks relly hard & goes: "Ooooh! I LOVE YOU! You are so HANDSOME!"

I was in tears of laughter. He puts her down in a 1/2 stunned way & she puts her hand over her heart & starts hyperventilating & has tears in her eyes & has to lean on a store kiosk while she's muttering on how "that was Fabio! That was Fabio". From that point on I made a mental note - when meeting someone even B list, semi-famous... do not.. lose.. your shit.

I could only imagine what would've happened it she met Vince Gill, b'c at the time he was REALLY famous & she was a huge fan.

Oh Laura, that's got to be one of the best stories I've ever heard!!! How funny, I can totally picture it. I have a whole new respect for Fabio now for being so sweet to your grandma (even if he was a little scared of her!). Wow, too bad you couldn't have gotten that on film!

 I can also see how the storyline is going to go in the next few books, but I don't feel an urge to go out and get it.  Anyone have an opinion?

Keep going with Vamp Academy - IMO, they kept getting stronger. And althought you can see some things coming - she does throw a few surprises in there.

I thought the 1st book was good. Not great but good enough that I could appreciate the set/up &  structure to move on to the next. I was pleased I did. Very. I fee the series is defo an adult worthy read.

I agree.  I'm a huge Vamp Academy fan.  They do keep getting stronger.  She starts to explore some much more mature themes about duty and friendship (as well as the forbidden romance thing).  I really like.  I also think she writes teenagers better than a lot of other YA books I"ve read, which I appreciate.  I think it's hard to write for a YA audience - (speaking as someone who is trying to tackle that challenge as we speak!) you want to strike the right balance between things that are not too mature but you also can't write down to them because kids are sophisitcated today.  Also, YA, as Laura has astutely pointed out, labeling osmething YA is kind of a marketing thing and lots of adults - including many on these boards - read YA nd alove it!

As for the Pellinor books - you're right.  The Crow is about the brother.  It was not my favorite in the series, although it's fairly dark and I thought that was well done.  But it's necessary to read the 3rd book - at least skim it - to get the 4th book.  Which is totally worth it in IMO!  The 4th is mostly Myraed and Cadvan's adventures with a couple of Hem parts and then the big conclusion with the two of them.  The payoff is worth the investment, I thought.

Oh - plus in the second Vamp Academy, you'll meet Adrian, who, upon re-reading, has become a real favorite character of mine.  (Laura will probably laugh at that, since she has been more open to him since the start and I had some abivalent to unfriendly things to say about him at first!)

Ahhh Gilly!!! Loving Adrian now are we?? LOL!

Hi Guys... Completely different type of book, but if you are interested in southern Mountain culture try reading Lee Smith. Two of her books that I just LOVE are Oral History & Fair and Tender Ladies. The voice that she uses when she writes is spot on.

http://www.leesmith.com/

Hi Laura...I'm so glad that you like Midnight Breed.  I think it's a good 'knock off' to BDB.  I too like the way the women are valued in this series.   I also think that Adrian did well with the Ancient/Alien part to create how the Breed came to be.  If I'm not mistaking the next one won't be released until January 2010 for that series.  Does anyone know when the next BDB book will be released?  I can't wait to see what John will do to get Xhex back from Lash.

Has anyone read anything by Christine Feehan? I've just started reading Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalkers - Jacob.  This one is about demons and so far it's not too bad but not the best either.

Hey Melissa - usually the books are released a year form the last release date so I am gonna say BDB 8 will be out April 2010.

I haven't read either of the 2 authors you mentioned.

Has anyone read The Night Huntress series?

I just finished all 9 books this week (took me about 3 weeks), and now I'm going through withdrawal.  I don't even know what to do with myself!  I'm so spoiled because I got to read them all at once and now I want the next one right now!

Any suggestions?

How was CH's other series??

Hey Lisa  - I highly suggest the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, Georgina Kincaid by Richelle Mead or Black Dagger by JR Ward.

I read the 1st 3 Harper books by CH & they didn't do it for me personally. I found the plot predictable from early on in each book & the MC unappealing.

Laura, I've read the Night Huntress series and it's awesome! I totally reccomend it. Great series. Romantic, funny, fun and with a lot of action. It's one of my favorite series besides Sookie. You should def. check it out.

I think I'll stay away from Christine Feehan's books until I hear a little bit more about them. I have also started ready Kresley Cole's books (Immortals After Dark Series) and I find that I really do like those as well.  What about Kim Harrison, Susan Sizemore and Nalini Singh?

Ok, I went back and read most of this thread. I’m always in need of book recs and I’ve been spending way too much time reading fanfic.

I decided to make a list of books series I’ve read with pertinent comments. Not in depth reviews, but my personal impressions. Here we go:

1)      Night Huntress: I truly love this series. It has a great romance, action and funny bits. I really like the main character Cat and love the leading man Bone. But be aware that Bones is totally modeled after Spike. The books have a Buffy tone to it, which is good but Bones it physically a Xerox of Spike and is british. I do love him though. He is awesome. The plot/stories are original imo, as orginal as it can be in this genre. It’s one of my faves besides the Sookie books. I totally recommend it to all of you. I’m dying for the next one.

2)      Vampire Academy: I’m in live with this series also. I was reluctant to read it but oh so glad I did. The last one left me desperate for the next. I’m counting down the days till the 4^th is released. It’s just great. Don’t let the YA fool you, adults will love it too.

3)      Vampire Diaries: I have no idea why this series is so overrated. I guess when it came out there weren’t many to choose from in the genre, so hence the hype. I read the first 3 and didn’t bothered to read the new one, the 4^th, she released recently, I read reviews that said it was crap, since I wasn’t too invested to begin with I passed on that. I don’t even like the leading lady, not really. SM did rip it off, as she did with Sookie. Not great books imo, okay but not great.

4)      Morganville Vampires: I read the first 5 in a row and liked them a lot. They kinda of disturbed me a bit when I finished and thought about it. They have a very dark tone. I can put my finger on what exactly. I have the 6^th one that came out but haven’t read it. I was invested while reading but now I can’t say then same. But they are good books and original too. I do like them a lot.

5)      Black Dagger Brotherhood: I love them. The third one about Zhadist is the best one imo. Awesome book, great characters. I really like the series, you just have to get past the slang and the weird name, but they are totally worth it. I have the 7^th boo also but haven’t read it yet. I’m not into Revhenge, so that is probably why. I’ll get to it soon enough though. I can rec it too.

6)      Midnight Breed series: I total rip off of the blackdagger series. I read the first one, I did enjoy it but didn’t read the rest. I might get to it if I’m really bored but I might not. Read JR Ward instead.

7)      Immortals after dark: I read the first one. It was okay. Not really my thing. I don’t think I will read the rest.

8)      Fantasy lover: Crappy. Not my thing at all. I will NOT read the rest. EVER.

9)      Mercy Thompson: I read the first 2. I like Mercy a lot and really enjoyed the books but I was spoiled for something that will happen and I have no interest at the moment to continue. I won’t spoil anyone but I lost my curiosity for them. I would rec it though.

10)   The Hollows: I read the first 4 or 5 and stopped in the middle of the last one I was reading. I did like them a lot at the beginning but got bored by it and stopped. Might get back to it one day, might not. I think they are overrated too. The thing with Ivy was getting to tiresome.

11)   Anita Blake: Those are the hardest to comment on. I loved the first ones and was really into it, although I wasn’t feeling Anita. I bought all 16 at once, so I was going to read them all anyway. But when Anita began to grow on me everything went to hell in a hand basket. The porno began. I have nothing against sex scenes but it got to be too much in detriment of the plot and so very boring. The “orgies” were making me yawn. But I do love a lot of the characters and I have read all 17 of them. I just can’t stop. I dunno why. I keep hoping she will fix the series but I guess she won’t. I do love Jean Claude, well the old JC anyway, not the p*ssywhipped one. I HATE Richard with a fierce passion, always have. He bugs the hell out of me. But I do love almost everyone else. It’s a guilty pleasure. I can rec the first 9 or 10, after that you are on your own.

12)   Jaz Parks: I read the first one and stopped in the beginning of the second one. Didn’t really got to me. I gave up and don’t regret it, it’s just blah, you know?

13)   Twilight saga: Shamefully I loved them. A lot. I did. Shoot me. I know, I know, but I still did love them. I confess.

14)   Queen Betsy (Undead Series) by MayJanice Davidson: I love them. I do. All 8. They are the funniest books. Betsy is annoying, self-centered, selfish, a little dumb and totally clueless but she is hilarious and so is everyone else. It’s mindless fun, but a lot of fun. Chick lit, silly vampires, but I can rec it. Check it out, at least the first one. I had never laughed so much.

15)   Young Brothers series by Kathy Love: Totally silly, in the same lines as Queen Betsy, mindless fun, but oh so funny, especially the first one. Try it out!

I think I’m forgetting a lot of series I’ve read but that’s it for now. I’m gonna try the Fever one since you all like it so much. Thanks for the rec!

Hope my list helps.

I read Kim Harrison The Hollows. That's an interesting one for me. Here's what I found - I found Harrison had moments of genius & I think she is incredibly creative & she has created a very cool & cheeky concept which is very intricate. But.. I felt that she let her imagination overwhelm her & thusly, the world she created became way overcomplicated.

By the end I was stuck b'c I had realized some pretty big continuity issues. For example: she gave an explanation for something pretty huge in the 3rd book & then by the 7th book there was a totally different reason. I honestly think it was a case of her forgetting her plot a bit b'c she has SO much going on, it got lost. And I don't think readers picked up on it for that same reason. Which kind of sucks b'c it doesn't keep the author accountable & therefore, tight in her storyline.

When she is on point though - she is really on point. She can do humor really well esp with 2 characters that I came to adore. And she is very good at dialog & banter between people. It has a very natural flow to it, IMO. Like you are sitting there with old friends who know you like the back of your hand & take the piss out of you. Those aspects I really loved.

But in truth - the series took me longer than usual, to get through. Some of the books were painfully sloooooow for me. And Harrison really needs to stop pounding a few scenarios into the ground. She is big on repetition - esp between the MC & her roomie. By the end I wanted to put a noose around one of their necks. And she needs some new descriptive adjectives/adverbs etc.. in her narration.

Is it on my 'must read' recommmends list? No. It's not one I look to tell people about.  BUT is it an 'absolutely not'? No. Not that either. it's somewhere in the middle - like...  give it a go if you feel like it. I've read a hell of a lot worse!!  It's just that Harrison never reached her full potential for me. I thought once she hit her stride it was going to soar, only to have the next book completely falter for me. So the whole series was a succession of fits & starts. But I am rooting for Harrison! I do think she has heart.

It's a really popular series & when I look at the reviews I am vastly in the minority. So, maybe check out the 1st book & decide from there b'c I may not be the best barometer.

I agree Laura. I just gave up on the books, probaluy because I was reading one after the other with no interruptions. It's very rare that I quit a book in the middle but I did with one of the Hollows. It's the one where I characters dies. I quit before it happened. I was a bit pissed said character was going to get killed so that might have been it though. I'll try to get back to it one day.

But please check out the Night Huntress series, you won't be sorry!

Oh you can find it on scribd or email me and I'll send them to you!

I agree with Laura about the Hollows series.  I tried the first and stopped less than halfway through.  I found that I just didn't care about any of the characters.  I just got the first Fever, but I might try the Night Huntress first.

Yes, Laura  I'm having to eat my prior words re: Adrian.

I have not read most of the series recommended here!  Now I have performance anxiety!  Must . . . catch . . . up

Oh, but I am reading The City & City by China Mieville.  Anyone heard of it?  It's really good!  Wildly different from most other things recommended on this board, though SF.  A male author.  It's a really fascinating concept though - about two cities that are intertwined physically in certain places but are separate countries.  His voice is unique and the idea is very interesting.

Has anyone read Jim Butcher - Dresden Files? I've heard great things and I have the books, but I just can seem to want to read them.

Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller?

Saraswati, try the Night Huntress series! I sound like a cheerleader for that but it was such a great find. I was so happy when I did. I also addicted a good real life friend who has the same taste as me (re: huge Buffy, Sookie, Eric fan). She loves it too.

If you read it let me know!

I'll get the first one today and let you know.  I heard of The City and the City. It was an Amazon recommended last month.  I haven't read it, but the Amazon list is a good indication

I am convinced - Night Huntress is my next read. I am a massive Buffy fan so I am sold.

No Gilly I haven't heard of it but I am going to look it up!

Haven't read Dresen yet but it is in my queue!

YAY!

*does Snoopy dance*

Loved The Historian.  Loved it.

I also enjoyed the Gemme Doyle Trilogy.  It is technically Y/A fiction but its fantacy/sci fi combined with English Gothic literature and Greek mythology. Can't really go wrong there.  Think Wuthering Heights meets Harry Potter, but at a ladies' finishing school.

I enjoyed the "Study" books (Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study) by Maria V. Snyder.  These are magic books, not vampire books.  But the world that Snyder creates is interesting and well done.

I agree with all the comments about the Hollows series.

I enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's adult Sci Fi book The Host.

In the non-science fiction category, I've also read a couple of good ones lately: The Ten Year Nap is excellent, especially for moms.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is wonderful.  And I really think this group would enjoy Carlos Zafon's The Shadown of the Wind.

Amy I'm so glad you said you loved the Historian. It's one of the books sitting on my table waiting to be read. I've also been curious about the Gemme Doyle trilogy so good to know that it's worth the read.

Okay, "Halfway in the Grave", the first in the Night Huntress series, kicks butt.  What a cool, rich, deep female MC, and what a cool man she's got (okay, vampire).  I just kept thinking Jude Law.  Yum.  Great book.  Thanks so much for recommending.  Laura, you're gonna love it.

Yay, I'm sooooooooooo happy you like it! I thought the same thing, It's a totally underrated book. The best thing is that the 4th one on the series is coming out on July 28th. I'm dying to read it. Can't wait!

If you like mindless fun and silly but funny stuff, check out the Queen Betsy books, Totally diferent but so much fun.

Oh and I'm in love with Bones too. He rocks!

Yes, Bones is a worthy Eric substitute.  I like his subtlety.

I just read the Vampire Academy series this past week on vacation and totally gobbled them up -- I could not put down.  I want to read 4 when it comes out but do not want to buy the hardcover . . . dilemmas!

I finished the 4th Succubus book in Mead's series and liked but not as well as some of the previous books -- I think it is because I just don't like the Georgina-Seth combo very much.

On the advice of this thread, I think the Black Dagger Brotherhood will be the next that I pick up.  Meanwhile I have been relying on the Sookie boxset and 1st season of True Blood DVD set as my go-to birthday present for all my sisters-in-law. 

DId anyone else read the first chapter of VA's Blood Promise?

*M* - I don't know if the VA books are in hardcover.  Not all books get hardcover deals.  Some are published only in paperback form . . .

Holy Moses - I just finished the 1st book in the Night Huntress series (Halfway to the Grave) - why the hell aren't these books more popular!!??

It is the best 1st book in a series I have read so far. Most 1st books are all about the intro & set up but this one!?? How did so much happen but yet it was all soooo good & is keeping me coming back for more? I mean it had set-up but you actually had major character growth! Jeaniene Frost is another author who doesn't waste words b'c she's actually good with them & point driven. What she writes to succinct & meaningful. Awesome.

Alternating between hilarious (there are some bits that had me laughing out loud), kind of insane, bad ass, romantic and poignant.The book just did it for me.

Bones is a FABULOUS character!! And Bones & Cat?? Magic.

I am in love. I hope the rest of the books are just as good if not better.

So far...I finished the 3rd yesterday, and am waiting for the 4th next week...yeah, finally a short wait for a book!  All of the books are great, Laura, you're going to love love them.  And Bones just gets better and better.

OMG! I'm soooooo happy you enjoyed it. I told you so, lol. They are all awesome and I'm on count down to the next one in the series.

T minus 3 days!

*does snoopy dance*

I'm thinking of starting today that first one on that mother/daughter author team (Cast) series. Marked is called the first one.

Has anyone one read them?

My daughter and I have whipped through all of them.  They write vampires with a goddess twist.  We both really liked them, although I felt like she draws out the plot a little more than I'd like, but we're waiting anxiously for the next one.  Definitely read them!

I was actually going to try that Cast series series before Night Huntress so I may try that one next.

I read the Cast series.  It not one of my more favorite series, unfortunately.  I agree that the plot is drawn out a bit much.  Also, at some point, there are a couple of characters who kind of do 180's in the personality department, which annoyed me to no end.  Saraswati - do you know what I'm talking about?  Also, the main character has a thing about not swearing, so she's constantly saying stuff like "bullpoopy" which I find completely weird for a teenager.  I don't, you ladies tell me if you've got older daughters - mine's only 2.  I have a friend at work who says she was kind of like that when she was a teen, but as for me, all my friends swore to varying levels but not one said bullpoopy.

Actually, I have been wondering if anyone here would be interested in a book swap? Rachel's uses a service online and it's free, you just pay shipping.   WIth so many of us on here recommending books and wanting to read one another's recommendations, it might work for us.  We could clearly label the books with our names and then if no one has requested the boo9k next, the person could send it back to the original owner.   Any thoughts?  I would totally offer up the Cast series . . .

I'm reading the fever books, love them!  Finished the first one today. I heard some of the characters are from Moning highlander series. Should I read them next? I really want to know more about the Seelie Queen...

Newlybitten, yes, but my daughter's 13 and she really, really liked them.  I liked them too, because it introduced her to the "pagan" idea, and since she's an atheist, I thought it might be good for her.  There are some character issues, but overall, I think the stories are strong.  Laura, I'd read Night Huntress first.  It's a better fix for an adult.  The Cast series is definitely YA.

Hey Gilly - I read most of my books on kindle now! or else I would have done a swap with you. I can swap those with you?

Oh yes - Judi - I am reading NH I am on the 3rd book. I LOVE it.  What I had meant was that before I made the decision to read NH I was on the verge of reading HoN, but then switched. So when I am done with NH - I will probably try HoN! Or...maybe  not. Depends if I feel like YA.

I read Bitten and the second book in Armstrong's Women of the Underworld series this weekend.  They were fun but I don't think I'll read the third.  I really liked the werewolf protagonist, Elena and the books switch to a young witch.  I sort of felt bait and switched...

Yeah I stopped after the 2nd book & haven't felt hugely compelled to read on ..

Me too.  Paige's introduction in the 2nd book didn't make me want to read her stories.  But she has written Men of the Underworld, and I might check those out.  Jeremy would be interesting.

Me neither! Paige did not do it for me. But I agree - like Jeremy & also Clay.

I've been reading the Vampire Academy this weekend.  I just finished the 3rd and am waiting for "Blood Promise."  I actually prefer Adrian to Dimitri.  Dimitri isn't a believable character to me.  Adrian is a tortured soul...I hope she ends up with him.  Anybody else?

Vampangel, thanks for recommening Queen Betsy.  She is a weird character, and although I'm not sure I would ever want to be friends with her, I really admire her wit.  I just finished the first one this afternoon.  Yes, I do read all the time.

Adrian's my boy!

And Gilly just conceded on her re-read that she is now coming to be a fan of Adrian.

Of course.  Who can resist the rich bad-ass falling hard for the wrong girl?  And the dream thing.  Oh my...

Oh my is right!

Are you pleased you kept with it now?

Yes, it is a great series, and my daughter's disappointed that I got to it first.  I just don't get Dimitri.  He's too ideal and has no personality.

I get Dimitri (this is the thing I personally love about Mead, I am able to see most or all the POV's & attractions despite the flaws & I don't know how she pulls that from me - but she does. She can pull the empathy & compassion for all characters).

I get it from the Rose angle - I get it from his. Their situation in general is heartbreaking & psychologically difficult. All guardians that is.

However Adrian...my, my....what another wonderfully rich & complicated character. I love those that aren't what they seem, esp. if they start at the bottom.

I agree.  They are my weakness.

Read Georgina Kincaid next if you haven't already.

Really?  I just started "The Historian".  I don't know anything about Kincaid except a lot of people recommended it.  I'll try the first one this week.  (God, I'm scheduling my books now.. so pathetic.)

It's personally one of my favorites. If you can look past the humor (which there is a lot &  right up my alley b'c it is cheeky) there is so, so much there to look at & discuss & think about.

I schedule books too. I read all the time.

I'll give it a whirl and let you know.

Cool.

Ok...After reading you all talk about Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series I've decided I'm going to give it a try.  I've just finished reading the second book (Gideon) from Jacquelyn Frank's The Nightwalkers series...it's ok but certainly not the best I've read but it keeps me entertained although I don't have my usual "I can't put this book down" moments. With that said, it's takes me longer than usual to finish reading them.  I find that I like Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark better than Frank's Nightwalker Series.

NightHunter series is great.  I just finished the 4th.  Great character development.  I highly recommend them.

Ok I think I'm sold on the Night Huntress series to be my next.  I'm going on vacation to california soon and I'm glad I have some books to look forward to now instead of sulking about finishing the Sookie books.:)

VampAngel, I just read the first part of the first Night Huntress book online and I already am very into it.  Thanks!!

OOOH I am so excited to Get my dirty mitts on the 4th Night Huntress!! I finished all 3 & adored the series. It's definitely on my list of recommends.

BTW - CH said, before the release of DAG, that she had recently read some books where the MC got together with their partner & still had awesome adventures together as a couple & so she could change her mind about waiting until the end. I completely wonder of Night Huntress was one of the series she read which inspired her to possibly re-think.

Thoughts??

Well, the Underworld Series, at least Elena, has the MC working with her "husband", although so far their relationship isn't resolved.  The only one I can think of off hand is Night Huntress.

Has anybody read the Maximum Ride books?  "The Angel Experiment" is the first one...any feedback before I get it would be great.

Laura---Georgina Kincaid is good.  I like her dichotomy and the whole bookstore atmosphere is great.  Thanks for the recommend.

Hey ladies, I'm about to start the 4th Night Huntress book, yay!

saraswati, I agree about Queen Betsy, I don't think I would be her friend either but she is hilarious. The whole thing is, it just cracks me up. It's a super fun read.  I'm glad you enjoyed it. Did you read them all?

LisaboBisa, I'm glad I hooked you up, Í try to turn everybody into the Night Huntress series, they are wonderful books for fans of the genre and they are so underrated. I'm totally into them. Ok, I'm off to read the 4th!

Oh God Barbara - I am 60% of the way through the 4th book right now & can't put it down.

I just finished the 4th book, right this minute. I loved it. It was a hell of a ride and it had me worried. But I have to say I totally love Vlad, he was one of my favorite characters before, but now he is totally right up there. I heart him. Best version of Dracula ever, imo.

Why do you think he relates/likes Cat so much, Laura?

I have to get some sleep but I'll be back later!

Hey VampAngel.  Did you really read until 4 in the morning?  I'm glad I'm not the only one.  I heart Vlad too.  Imagine Drac just wants to cuddle...

I read the first 3 Queen Betsy books.  I'm taking a break for "The Historian"  (VERY good so far, but I keep interrupting with other books) and I just started "The Madness of Angels"  Anyone heard of that.  I saw it in the bookstore yesterday and it intrigued me.  The author is an award-winning YA, and this is her first adult novel.  I'll let you know what I think...

saraswati, I did read it in one sitting but not until 4am, it was 7 am here when I finished (I strated it pretty late). I tend to read all good books in one sitting. It's weird but I can't put it down. I won't function in real life if I don't finish whatever I'm reading, lol.

Awwww, I heart Vlad, he reminded me of Eric in the scene in bed with Sookie where she asks him what he's doing there and he says snuggling. Vlad is a great friend to Cat, plus he is single and lonely. I could totally keep him company, I love to cuddle... But I digress.

Anyhoo, are you really enjoying the Historian? I have been wanting to read it but I have this fear the story will drag on and be boring. Is that why you are interrupting it?

I need to start a new book today, I think I'm gonna go with House of Night, but I dunno. I think the reason I haven't bveen reading as much as I'm used to because I just can't choose a book. Argh.

Oh and I don't remember who mention the vampire academy series, but I have to say I'm couting the days for Blood Promise, have you read the first chapter? And althogh I like Adrian, my heart lies with Dimitri. What can I say I like a man who can kick major ass, it turn me on to no end (too much information, no?). Ahem . Sorry.

I'm not interrupting "The Historian" for any reason other than that's the way I read.  Sometimes I do 3 or 4 books at a time, although, like you, I have stayed up all night to finish one.  Nothing like closing the book and making coffee and pretending to your husband that you just happened to wake up on your own.  I think "The Historian" deserves more focus than some of the other books I've read recently.  Betsy, for instance, and I have 3 kids, so my focus time is really limited.

I read the first chapter of "Blood Promise" on line, and I'm excited, although I'm Adrian all the way.  Dimitri doesn't cut it for me.   The House of Night series is nice, YA , but good. Good plot although  a little drawn out.  I think Laura's reading those next, too

Great, thanks I'll put The Historian in my list. I really admire you capacity to read more than one book at a time. I could neever do that. I pretty much put my life on hold while I finish a book. If I was to read mkore than one, oh my, I think I would go insane. Even when I don't really like a book I have to finish it before starting a new one. My best friend in like you though.

I really like Adrian but I dunno Dimitri has me', although I'm not sure how that will turn out. I could go either way for her character, but Dimitri is more my personal type I guess.

I think Marked is gonna be it. I'm gonna start it in a bit, after I eat. I'll let you know.

Oh and Queen Betsy is the best light read, perfect for the beach and any other place you don't have to concentrate. I did laughed out loud a lot so that might make people look at you funny, but I'm used to that, lol.

Another great light read that has humor like the Queen Betsy book and is a bit more romantic is Fangs but no fangs, by Kathy Love. It's priceless. A vampire with amnesia, I never laughed so much. Please check it out, totally worth it, but also in the line of mindless fun.

NO, I'm sorry Fangs but no fangs is the second in the series, the first one is the best one of the bunch and it's called FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES. That's the one with a amnesiac vamp.

Here: http://www.amazon.com/Fangs-Memories-Young-Brothers-Book/dp/0758211325/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b 

Thanks, I'll check those out.  I just love Betsy when she lisps with her fangs out.  That makes me chuckle out loud.

Personally, I don't know how Dimitri have survive what has happened.  There's another book scheduled for April 2010, so it will be interesting to see how she resolves his situation.

I just checked out the amazon page.  "darkly erotic", hm?  Okay, you twisted my arm...see, now you've interrupted "The Historian" again!

LOL! But don't get too excited I don't remember it being darkly erotic. It might have been and I just don't recall. What stuck with me was the humor, cuz I laughed a lot reading it. The romance was nice too.

YES! Betsy lisping is my favorite. The first time she did it I think I spurt my drink. One of my favorite scenes is from the first book whe she is trying to kill herself and the other is when she is kidnapped to the cemetery and the whole thing there. When they throw holy water on her, I was LOLing so hard.

I can't see Dimitri surviving it either, but I can't wait to find out. I'll miss him though if he's gone.

Oh and when they shibe the crosses on her face and she is like, oh yeah, it hurts, it hurts, lol.

er shove.

She is really well written, but so shallow.  Part of me wishes she'd get over that, but then she wouldn't be Betsy.  And then, she's a quick read, and sometimes, that's all I can manage.

Yup, but I find it fun to laugh at her and not with her. I just wished Eric Sinclair were more developed as a character. I find him very interesting but we get so little from him.Oh and I have no idea in what book it happens but you have to get to the part where her half-sister shows up, Her sis is the daughter of the Devil and the Devil looks like Lena Olin. It cracks me up.

Ok, Marked is waiting. I'm off to read it. Very nice talking to you saraswati, let me know if there are any other books you recommed, we seem to have simnilar taste. *smooches*

I just finished Marked, the first book in the Houe of Night series. It was ok, kinda of blah. I had its moments but it also sounded very silly in some parts that annoyed me. Her saying poopie a lot didn't help. I mean, I haven't been a teenager in well over 10 years but do teens talk like that? Does any 16 year old behaves and talks that way? I'm not sure. But I did like some of the sutff so I'll read the second one to see it it gets better. I'll let you know.

Laura, have you finished the 4th Night Huntress?

Oh and does anybody have any other series to recommend?

saraswati, I'm with you on the book list. I'm making a list right now on a notebook of the books I want to read and in what order. I'm such a dork.

It's true that Zooey Redbird has a cursing problem, and I don't like that about her, and the plot drags throughout the books, like they were after quantity, and sometimes I felt like, "just get on with it already!" but overall I thought the storyline and the characters were interesting.  None of the men (boys) thrilled me like Eric or Bones (or Adrian), but it gets more intriguing, for sure.

She's a little miss goody two shoes for me, but I did like the plot and the characters. Erik was a little under developed but I'm guessing that changes in the next books. I woke up today wanting to read the second one, so that's a good sign. I'll probably start it in a bit. I'll let you know. I think my problem with the book was really the way she talks and some of her interections with other teens, I found the dialogue very force and not very real. Oh but I'm totally suspicious of Nesfetet and what is going on with the dying teens, but I do hope I'm notm right and I'll be surprise by the twists, hopefully.

VampAngel, Have you read the Immortal Instruments series?

Hey guys - been knee deep in moving but when I haven't been, then knee deep in Night Huntress 4 & the latest release from Richelle Mead - the Dark Swan series Thorn Queen which I recommend.

Vlad, he was one of my favorite characters before, but now he is totally right up there. I heart him. Best version of Dracula ever, imo. Why do you think he relates/likes Cat so much, Laura?

Barbara - Vlad rocks. What an inspired idea to re-create Dracula this way. Brilliant.

I think he likes Cat b'c she is very much her own person even though she has become this "legend" so to speak. Much like he has with the whole Dracula thing. He knows he is something much more despite he fame & infamy. And I think he's sees the same in Cat. He sees the real Catherine through this creation of the Red Reaper & Cat. I think he sense how scared & lonely she is - I think he relates to that as well.

And I think he wants to try & honor her true self. I think there is just so much in her he sees in himself & he has been through so much more than her with no one to guide him or help him & I don't think he wants that for her. He can support her b'c he "gets it" so that's what he's doing.

At least - this is my interpretation.

Oh and I don't remember who mention the vampire academy series, but I have to say I'm couting the days for Blood Promise, have you read the first chapter?

I meantioned them a while ago & then Gilly recommended them too!! You read them?! Awesome huh? Richelle Mead just does it for me. I think she is a seriously talented & under rated writer.

I read the 1st chapter - yes!

And yes - I think I am going to start HoN now.

Oh and does anybody have any other series to recommend?

I can't remember are you on the Fever train yet? 

If you have then check out any of Mead's other 2 series and/or  Mortal Instruments  which Tracy & Judi recommended to me.

Judi have you finished the Georgina series yet? I really want more people to finish it! I think Rachel & I are the only one who have & have adored it! I want more people to love it!!

i finished the first one, but haven't made it to the second yet.  It was good.  I really liked the main character and her lifestyle.  I liked that she and her friends were supposedly "evil" and yet it was this small aspect of their overall character.  I loved the angel, I think he'll be more important later, but Seth didn't thrill me.  I have a sexy cerebral man at home, I guess.  I look for something else in my books.  But I'll definitely read the rest of them.  I'm working my way through "The Historian" right now, but VampAngel keeps distracting me with fluff.

By the way, anyone who uses a Kindle...Darkfever (the first one?) is free on a Kindle, and I just got "The Angel Experiment" by James Patterson free, too.  It's a YA, but it's free, so I thought, why not....

Read the rest - Seth is...well, he's integral. He did not thrill me either but regardless - Mead's writing of Georgina was such for me, that despite my personal preference, I felt every nuance of emotion she experiences throughout the series & I just wanted so much for her. You know? I wanted whatever she wanted for herself type of thing. She roped me in. The books get better & much more emotionally complicated.

I use a Kindle. Thanks for the tip!

saraswati, I haven't read the Mortal Instruments series yet but I have them right here and wirtten down on my list. Btw, did you read Fangs for the memories yet? Sorry to distract you from the Historian (also on my list), lol.

Laura, I agree with everything you said about Vlad. You are a lot more eloquent than I am, that;s why I wanted your opinion. I just totally heart him. I haven't read the fever nor the succubus series yet. I think the Succubus series from Richelle Mead is next in my list and I'll put the Fever one second.

Thanks for the recs girls!

I just finished the second book on the HoN series, Betrayed. I knew it! I won't spoil anyone though. I like the second one better, yes I agree the plot dragged a bit but at least I wasn't as annoyed by the conversations between the teens and I did cry reading it. Í think I'm gonna finished the series beore starting a new one. I'm gonna start the third one now.

I'll be back later!

VampAngel, I did read "Fangs for the Memories", but I definitely prefer the Queen Betsy books.  I've read the first 4.  The 3rd is where she meets her half-sister.  The books are so hilarious, and so much fun to read.  Her wit and come-backs are incredibly funny.  It reminds me of me on PMS.  I probably won't continue the "Fangs" series, but the Queen Betsy series are great.  You're gonna love Mortal Instruments.

I'm still wading through "The Historian", but I'm also reading "The Madness of Angels".  (The cover was intriguing...)  This writer is a description goddess.  What beautiful, vivid images.  I'm amazed. 

Hey has anyne read anything by Nalini Singh - she started this new series I've been hearing about called The Guild Hunter

I don't know if she is more toward the overly dramatic romance or not? Anyone? I know she writes a series called Psy-Changelings which I think is fairly popular but that's all I know.

Also - anyone read Viki Petterson Signs of the Zodiac series? I think I feel like that one before HoN....

Laura, I checked out "the Guild Hunter" on Amazon. It got great reviews as a series.  4.5 stars from most people.  I will check it out, but I have a long queue....Let me know when you get to it, and we'll read it together.

OK I will - I have a huge queue as well. Should keep me plenty busy. I just started Signs of the Zodiac about 20% the way through. It's different so far. The tone & I am still in the dark as to what exactly is going on. The author has pretty decent prose. Just when I think she is going to get too descriptive, she pulls back which is good. We'll see I am still a bit dubious for some reason. Oh maybe b'c this far into the book I don't know what the main character looks like. I hate that. I know she has a simple bob haircut & her ex thinks she's "stunning".

The Madness of Angels sounds awesome - I have downloaded it.

Hey girls, I just bought the first Night Huntress book today and am gonna read tonight...I am so excited to see what all the hype is about.....I'll update to let ya know what I think....thanks for suggesting it I needed something new to read!

Yip! I can't wait to see what you think!

I just finished this book called "Fledgling" by Octavia Butler.  It's a vampire novel but not a romance novel; more like a social commentary kind of novel.  The main character is from a different specie/race called Ina who is a product of genetic re-engineering - mixing black human DNA with Ina DNA to get a "vampire" who can walk in daylight.  It's interesting.

That's in my queue. Interesting as in ..good? Or interesting as in ..still deciding..??

I think it is a good book, a good and serious book.  The author is African American, which gives the story a different kind of perspective, similar to AB's/CH's metaphors for race relations in the vampire/human relations in the TB/SVM universe, except that I think her approach is more cerebral, not in-your-face listen-to-me-when-I-say-something kind of approach.

With all that I've been reading on this thread about the Night Huntress series, my curiosity got to the point that I just had to get hold of book 1 for myself.  Well, I borrowed it from the library and I read it from cover to cover today.  Wow, what a ride!  Sexy, thrilling, snarkily funny, romantic with just the right amount of angst...  I'm ready for book 2.

I also read book 1 of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and I like it so much that I'm now experiencing it all over again through the audiobook version.  It has a Harry Potter feel to it, except that it's more immediately dark in tone and gratifyingly American in milieu.

I love it when a book has both print and audio versions.  When done right, the audiobook version opens up a whole new perspective on the story and often allows me to discover things that I might have glossed over when reading the print version.  The Sookie books worked that way for me.  As well as the Nora Roberts Circle Trilogy (except that the thick Irish brogue of the narrator for that one made things a wee bit difficult).  One book series I would strongly recommend staying away from the audiobook version though is the MaryJanice Davidson Undead series.  I totally love Queen Betsy and her supporting cast of characters, but the narrator of the audiobooks truly detracts from enjoying the audio version.  Listening to her characterizations is like listening to nails being dragged on a chalkboard.  It works a whole lot better in print.

Has any one read CH's latest short story in Strange Brew called "Bacon"? I heard it's not that good.

I haven't read it. It's not a SS short story...right?  Which is why I haven't bothered with it.  I'm starting to wonder if Charlaine is getting tired of writing.  She seems to be losing her..."pizazz"...I was a little disappointed in DAG.

I was looking for something else to read similar to sookie stackhouse so I checked out this thread. The night huntress series by jeaniene frost was reccommended. I was a little skepitcal because I'm more into fantasy/mystery vs. romance, however I picked up the first book Saturday morning and finished the whole series by last night. They were really good...not as good as sookie, but good. If anyone else is looking for something else to read, give it a try.

Lacuna, I did give it a try just this weekend.  I read the first book in one sitting. You are right; if I go by that first one, the series promises to be really good.  And though the romance is toe-curling, I would also classify it more as an urban fantasy novel with kickass action.

I just came across an interview on the Bitten By Books website about an upcoming release from author Amanda Grange called Mr. Darcy, Vampyre.  Now, that would be interesting for Jane Austen and PNR fans alike, I think...  (Of course, there's already Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but hey! I like vampires better.)  I'll definitely check that out when it's released.

Hi guys... Not  book, but thought here is as good a place as any... New vamp movie in January called daybreakers.. Looks interesting.

Thanks Caroline...I'll be sure to check it out. Seems like TB has paved the road for a lot of Vamp shows.  Too bad Moonlight didn't survive!

Oh, Moonlight *sigh*  Loved me some Alex O!  Wasn't crazy about that chick though...her eyes bugged me.

I didn't like Moonlight! I stopped watching after the 1st couple of episodes. Did it get better?? B'c I heard it actually garnerd a cult following? I wanted to love it b'c I LOVE me some Jason Dohring but I thought the acting was pretty bad. But maybe I watch on the internet if you guys say it got better.

Did anyone ever watch Wolf Lake? I liked that. The dude that's going to be in Vampire Diaries series was in that. I actually can't wait to see Ian Somerhalden as a baddie vamp. I think he'll be good.

Some of the acting was pretty bad. It seemed a little low budget to me.  Remember "Blood Ties" that aired on Lifetime.  I thought that one was pretty bad.

That was super bad.

I LOVED Blade the series though b'c I thought Neil Jackson was one of the best baddie vamps. Super, ridonkulously hot & sexy. he's the only reason I looked forward to it (b'c the actress was horrible).

I found it hard to get into Blade simply because he wasn't the 'original' actor from the movie. I supposed I didn't want it ruined in case he was bad.

Yeah - if not for Neil - it would suck. but Neil was yuuuuummmmmm.

Speaking of vampire shows, there's another relatively new one on BBC America called Being Human.

Thanks Ronelle.  I'll look into that one too.  All I need to do is set my TiVo to record them.

Being Human is great. Very funny with typical British humour. The vamp in it is lovely which always helps!

I loved that series too, all the actors are great, and true the vamps is super cute too. They have a different set of vamp rules though.  too bad it lasted only one season.

They are about to start filming the 2nd series this month I heard. They were at ComiCon promoting it.

For real? This is a great news , it ended with a cliffhanger, so now we will know what happen. Woot!

I just did a search and it should air in  January 2010, probably in the UK though, no idea if this will air everywhere all at once.

I watched the whole of the series on Youtube.

Also, (since we're off the topic wagon here) there is a vampire movie coming out by Korean director Park Chan Wook called Thirst. It probably won't be in very wide release since it's Korean and subtitled but his movies are pretty bad ass. (Anyone see Old Boy?) It will no doubt be very bloody and disturbing but also probably really good. Looks like lots of forbidden love which is always compelling- he's a priest turned vampire! How fun is that?! Here's a link with more info and a trailer.

 http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/thirst/

I didn't like Moonlight! I stopped watching after the 1st couple of episodes. Did it get better??...I thought the acting was pretty bad

Um...the acting stayed pretty bad...but I love Jason Dohring as well and I REALLY liked the music in it (dumb reason to watch, but whatever, tee hee)...it had a few shining plotlines and I think it could have gotten better...but eh, what are ya gonna do?

Yup Tracy. That looks typically disturbingly Park Chan! I saw Old Boy, did you like it? I knew what was going to happen! So it wasn't that surprising to me & I think it took the impact out of it. Visually I think he is great but I think he's overrated. Did you see the movie 3 Extremes? He had a short film in that one called "Cut". Visually it was stunning but the story? Meh.

I attempt to watch it though b'c I have to try & watch all things vampire!

The girl that played Beth in "Moonlight" also played in the first "Underworld".  She was better in the movie though she had a small part.  She was the blonde that wanted Kraven.  One of her lines was..."Her human, he's not a human at all.  He's a Lycan."  Remember her?

Laura- It's been a long time since I saw Old Boy so I can't remember if I figured it out ahead of time or not but I do remember that I thought the lead actor was great and yes, I did like the movie. I think Thirst will be cool and like you, I'm all about the vampire movies even the cheesy ones (hence me watching Dracula 2000- Christ almighty that was bad- I knew it would be but couldn't stop myself- besides, I'll watch anything with Gerard Butler in it). Thirst won the Jury Prize at Cannes so it should be worth watching. Speaking of disturbing Asian flicks, did you ever see Audition? Ugh, I've never had such a hard time watching a movie. That is hands down the most disturbing thing I've ever seen.

By the way, I've finished books 1-4 of the Highlander series and am just about to start 5. VERY interesting possibilities are opening up in relation to the Fever series now! And only 13 more days till Dreamfever comes out! Woo hoo!

I so watched Dracula 2000 too & got into it! Yes I did. You know what else I got into? Queen of the Damned. I thought Aliaya (sp?) was great!

Audition...sounds familiar but I don't think I saw it. But I think I remember the trailer.

Whoo-hoo Higlander! Oh yes - it opens up a heck of a lot more now. I know - I am so excited for Dreamfever. I am oging to re-read all 3 books when I am done with this Sign of the Zodiac book I am reading now.

Haha, girl I own the DVD of Queen of the Damned. Talk about guilty pleasures- cheesy movie but Stewart Townsend = yummy. And Aaliya was a great Akasha.

If you haven't seen Audition, don't do it, save yourself unless you want to walk around with an irrational fear of adorable Japanese women for the rest of your life.

Krystal is a little ahead of me in the Highlander series and she says there's actually a brunette female in there. NO WAY!!! Surely she's still a virgin though and ridiculously fertile : )

Yes Aaliyah was good too bad she died so young in that plan crash. It was rumored that she was supposed to star in one of the Matrix films before her death. Stewart Townsend has been dating Charlize Theron like forever.

If you haven't seen Audition, don't do it, save yourself unless you want to walk around with an irrational fear of adorable Japanese women for the rest of your life.

You're killing me today! I just barked out loud laughing. 

Surely she's still a virgin though and ridiculously fertile : )

Aren't they all? Yeah - I am curious as to what you think of Chloe. I will wait to chime in until you're done.

Less than 2 weeks for Dreamfever, wheeeeeeee!  I'm on book 6 of the Highlander series now, the one that focuses on Adam...I have to admit, I think her writing is way better through the Fever series, though mad props to Miss Moning for all the lovely sexual tension.  Funny aside, my hubby calls her 'that Moaning woman' *snort*

Yes I agree - Fever is a HELL of a lot better but I think she does the typical Romance novel justice but making this a crossover so it makes it a bit more compelling & legit than a straight - Alpha Male, takes Virgin - Romance formula.

That's funny what he calls her. What does your hubby make of your time on the boards & reading all these Paranormal & PNR books?

What does your hubby make of your time on the boards & reading all these Paranormal & PNR books?

He's cool with it, we're both big ol' nerds...we were delighted to find out that we were both big Buffy fans when we started dating  He's more into online gaming...so he understands all my 'forum talk'  After I read the first 3 Fever books I toted him along with me to Borders to find the Highlander series...

Matt - What's her last name?

Me - Moning.

Matt - Moaning?  Yeah, that's about right, for a romance novelist. 

Me - No, MON-ing *snort* 

Did you tell him about eating Unseelie? That's not very romantic : )

LOL! Giggling again.

Britt - you know...I pronounce is MOAN-ing too. The difference is?? I thought that was really how it was said!

Hahaha, no, I haven't filled him in on the eating of Unseelie, but he has definitly been reaping the rewards of my reading romance novels...if ya know what I'm saying *wink*

I actually have no idea how to pronounce her last name, Laura...I just felt like a goober telling HIM that her last name would be pronounced that way Tee hee hee.

Ahhh I see! LOL.

ARGH!  I disappear for a few days and there A HUNDRED MESSAGES on this thread alone to catch up on.

So yes, I'm a HUGE Vampire Academy fan.  I think it does a really good job of portraying teens accurately.  At least, I remember during my teenage years feeling and speaking a lot more like Rose than Zoey from the HoN series.  Like other on this board, I find Zoey a little silly.  And I have major issues with the character development of Eric and Heath (that's his name, right?)

As for the Dmitri/Adrain debate - hmmm.  I am a recent fan of Adrian.  I always liked him since he was funny and snarky but I wasn't into the idea of him and Rose together since felt a little - I don't - poor girl/rich boy true love overcomes, blah.  A little too Elizabeth/Mr. Darcy I guess.  But upon re-reading I'm open to the idea.  I'm not yet invested in either one being The One though.  Physically, Adrian is the hot one in my book.  Dmitri - not so much.  He's crazy tall (like 6'7 right?) which kind of creeps me out -(maybe just because I'm really short) and Russian doesn't do it for me.  I used to live in Israel which has a huge Russian population, so I'm fairly familiar with the accent.  I don't know - I just find other accents hotter . . . although, the passion between D and Rose is smoldering, I have to admit.

I read the first chapter of Blood Promise.  I'm SO EXCITED for the book.  And for Mead to come to Dragon Con, which I am attending.

I am also a dedicated reader of Mead's blog.  She can be as funny on it as she is in her books. The other day she posted about her writing - about a conversation she had with her boyfriend about a bit of a VA book - I'm going to assume the one after Blood Promise since that one's got to be in the bag already since it's so close to publication.  Anyway, he was saying he wanted to read more of the fight description and she said she couldn't describe all the fights in detail because for every line she spends on a fight, her readers are going to be like, get to Dmitri already.  Which made me momentarily worry - are not we not going to get to him in Blood Promise?  I guess she could just had meant within that one book, but a part of me worries that the showdown between Rose and D is going to have to be like a big, cataclysmic end of the world kind of thing - and that seems unlikely in book four of a six book series.  Anyone else have any thoughts?

Oh - and speaking of vampire TV shows - they're making a TV series of Vampire Diaries for the CW and filming it in Covington GA - I think there are a couple of others on this board who might live around here - in case anyone wants to go looking for extra work!

Did anyone else read the Vampires Diaries?  I started, but just could not get through it.  It was terrible.  However, it cracked me up.  SMeyer of Twlilight claims not to have read any other vmapire books, but there are significant similarities between the two!

Did anyone else read the Vampires Diaries?  I started, but just could not get through it.  It was terrible.  However, it cracked me up.  SMeyer of Twlilight claims not to have read any other vmapire books, but there are significant similarities between the two!

Oh yes, Gilly. I read them & thought they sucked as a whole. I thought it had promise after the 2nd one but alas...not for me. And yeah - I actually brought up the scene with Elena & Stefan in his room being an exact replica of the Meadow scene. She is full of shit - Meyer. No wonder her peers are snide about her.

PS I finally up of the VA thread in the other forum!

I started to read the P.C. & Kristin Cast "House of Night" series but I stopped after 'Marked'.  For 'young adult' books they shocked me with some of the things that were in there.  I will probably continue to read them after I'm done with all the other more 'adult' series I'm reading...(I have a total of 17 untouched books waiting for me to read them).  I thought House of Night was okay and it may be a little bit better than the Twilight Saga but I did only read the 1st book. Maybe I'll go for Vampire Diaries next now that there's a show getting ready to air.  I always like to compare the books to shows and movies.

Personally, I found HoN series better than Vampire Diaries.  I barely made it through the first book in VD, I just kept thinking, do I have to keep reading this drivel?  I couldn't stand the MC.

I was "sucked" into a neighborhood book club and our first book was Twilight, which turned into us reading all 4 books.  One of my friends found out I read it, and she gave me a bunch more vamp books.  I read the Sookie books and totally fell in love with them.  I thought it was really strange how similar the abilities of the characters were between Twilight and Sookie.

Then I read House of Night, and I enjoyed them, although they're not as "involved" as the Sookie books.  I still found myself re-reading parts and looking through the books for certain conversations, so I realized that I really liked it.  For me, it's a good distraction until the next Sookie book is out.  The next HoN book is out in Oct.

My husband is actually reading the Sookie books - he's on the 9th one and I'm wondering if he's going to protest reading the one out next year.  He's threatened doing so if certain events end up happening and he's guessed right (but he doesn't know that yet).  I had to give him a head's up that this last book has a different tone than the rest of them - and he remembered how upset I was when I finished it.  So, we'll see...

I'll skip Vampire Diaries now that I've read what a lot of you thought of them.   = )

Just finished the Fever series...I am already dying to get my hands on DreamFever. Quick question: Should I read the Highlander Series? My local bookstore doesnt have it so if I have to order it I am looking at an easy $50 spent. I just don't know if it's worth it? Is it?

Umm....maybe read them online as a solution to spending the money...that's what I did.

Yay! Another Fever convert!

He's threatened doing so if certain events end up happening and he's guessed right (but he doesn't know that yet).

What has he guessed?

OMG!!! I totally forgot I could do that!!!!! YAY!!!!

I lovelovelovelove the Fever series...I'm afraid I'm addicted now....My housework has suffered due to it

Thanks, Laura!

Oh my god, Imb ( or should I call you Laura?) I loved Marcus Van Sciver! He was great. Only Eric in TB tops him for me. I was pissed Spike tv canceled the series. Yeah, the lead actor and actress were terrible. But I loved the way the series explored vampire polics: the 12 houses and the exiled house of Armaya;  creepily-awesome-baby-eating-pure-blood Amelia =)

I don't know if I told anyone here my name, I'm Isabel. I'm reading Faefever now. 2 weeks for the next, huh? I'll see if I can read the highlander series before that too.

What has he guessed?

The biggest thing to him is if anything happends to Claudine.  He's so worried and said he would stop reading in protest.  He's getting close to the fairy war, because he just finished the chapter when Eric spends the night.  So, I don't know.  I told him that was kind of a cop-out because I went in reading the book blind - like most of us on here - and at least he gets a head's up that it's different than the others.

Umm....maybe read them online as a solution to spending the money...that's what I did.

Could someone please post the link?

Yes, please. A link would be very helpful right now. My usual site is not working right now. ?

Oh my god, Imb ( or should I call you Laura?) I loved Marcus Van Sciver!

Hi Isabel, call me Laura:) Oh yay someone else who loved him! He's DEVINE.  And yup - I agree only Eric tops him! Oh well...maybe not I have a huge thing for Spike from Buffy but all 3 men are up there for me as the best vamps ever! I was pissed it was cancelled too. It was actually starting to get pretty interesting!

Could someone please post the link?

Always check out 4shared.com, scribd.com or wattpad, generally between those, you'll come up with what you're looking for.

LQTM...Hmmm, asking the hubby to role play as Spike, huh Amy? You have just given me an idea!! I can't believe I haven't thought of that before since my hubby is a Brit! Maybe I'll start him slow & see if he can do impressions. He's usually amazing at impression.If he can pull it off...oh boy!

It's funny b'c I recently had a Spike jones (yes, missing him...aww) & had to find old episodes online & watch a few. Spike was/is the shizz. James Marsters played him brilliantly.

Buffy was my first vampire show, Spike was the best! I finally understood why people liked vampires...Angel did nothing for me, don't know why...

I cant help it. I'm in love with V'lane. Love! I tell you. I just passed their visit to to abbey. I can't believe how easily I forgive him. He can be soo sweet, omg!

I cant help it. I'm in love with V'lane. Love! I tell you. I just passed their visit to to abbey. I can't believe how easily I forgive him. He can be soo sweet, omg!

I love V'lane goo.  I just finished the 3rd Fever last night.  Mac is great.  Now I'm really worried about her...When does the 4th come out? 

It will be released on august 18...Can't wait! I'm almost halfway through faefever.

I cant help it. I'm in love with V'lane. Love! I tell you.

Yes V'lane is sooo sexy...He can do no wrong in my eyes. I love me some Barrons too.... So Hot and Mysterious!!!

Barrons is such a conundrum.  At first, I thought, oh no, don't throw another tall, dark, smouldering man at us, and make him pine for Mac secretly, but the author has done such a good job creating a mystery of all the men in Mac's life that I feel just like she does.  I don't know who to trust either.

Yeah she really has done a great job. Barrons is the only character that i can sit there all day long and try to figure out what the hell he is. Who's bad and who's not so bad??? LOVE IT!! Kudos to Karen for writing these characters.

Fever is also the first series that I've read with more than one potential love interest where I would be perfectly happy with her being with either one. Usually I have a strong preference but I like V'lane and Barrons almost equally. I think I like Barrons more right now but V'lane definitely has potential.

Almost done! I agree, I'll be happy whoever Mac ends up with. I'm really getting into fairy lore...

I deleted a few posts, don't want to spoil anyone =)

Mac is great. The whole thing between her, V'lane and Barrons is hilarious. I must go. Really need to finish the book.

For those that want to discuss Fever in a a spoiler thread - we have a Paranormal Fiction forum on Tangler. Check it out!

Hey Ladies....just wanted you all to know that I am almost finished with the first Night Huntress book and I am really loving it....it is my fave since the Sookie series that I have read.   I love BONES.....these books are a real treat!!!  Thanks for reccommending them.  I am reading slow since there are only four of them out so that I can stretch them out as long as possible.  HA HA.   I really like the characters and like the world she has created.   Thanks again

I finally fineshed it. OMG. Ok, going to the paranormal forums

Fever is also the first series that I've read with more than one potential love interest where I would be perfectly happy with her being with either one. Usually I have a strong preference but I like V'lane and Barrons almost equally. I think I like Barrons more right now but V'lane definitely has potential.

Oh, I wish I could say the same! I enjoy both characters, but until I can find out what the heck Barrons is I just can't choose! I'm very much like Mac on this subject: Jericho is the "lesser of two evils" for lack of a better phrase. I don't sense the sexual tension between V'lane and Mac just because she knows that he's sexing her up for his own purpose. Now Barrons on the othe hand, the sexual tension is totally not on purpose. Its like it slips thru when he least expects it. and it totally pisses him off that Mac is getting to him like she is! I'm all about the Fever books right now!!!

Just one more week to go

I just read the first book of the Anna Strong series- The Becoming. It was horrible. Stein had little character development, inconsistencies and a completely lackluster romance and mystery. I am so disappointed I feel like writing the author a letter.

Has anyone else read these books and if so what was your opinion? Maybe I was just in a bad mood or compared them too much to sookie and nighthuntress books (which is like comparing cat in the hat to catcher in the rye).

Also if anyone has any suggestions to get this "bad taste" out of my mouth that would be great.

This is my recommend list so far of all the series I have read. The YA ones I think are very adult worthy reads.

• Fever Series - Karen Marie Moning
• Night Huntress - Jeaniene Frost
• Black Dagger Brotherhood - J.R. Ward
• Merry Gentry (caveat must not mind a lot of sex in your books) - Laurell K Hamilton
• Anita Blake (same caveat) - Laurell K Hamilton
• Georgina Kincaid  - Richelle Mead
• Vampire Academy (YA)  - Richelle Mead
• The Hunger Games  (YA)- Suzanne Collins
• Mortal Instruments (YA) - Cassandra Clare
• Dark Swan/Eugenie Markham series - Richelle Mead

Okay ladies!!!! I've finally found an online copy of J.R. Ward's "The Story of Son" on wattpad.  This is a story that I'd recommended to Laura some time ago.  In my opinion, It's a very very good vampire short story.  Most of you are familiar with Ward's work so I'm sure you won't doubt that it's a pretty good story.   Go to the link below.  Then scroll down that page to where the text ends and click on "show full text" then search for "The Story of Son" and your seach should take you directly the where the story begins.  These steps are necessary because this link has the entire "Dead After Dark" book copied to it with a total of 4 anthologies. Enjoy!!!

Dead After Dark (J.R. Ward, Susan Squires, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love)

http://www.wattpad.com/170982?p=1 

Thanks Melissa!

You are very welcomed.  Let me know what you think when you're done.

Oh Laura, I just finished the first book of the Georgina Kincaid series, Succubus Blues. I totally loved it! She is a great character and so funny. I'm in loive with Seth, his emails were the best. I love everything about it, the only complain is that I figured out the big mistery very very early on. This tends to happen to me a lot, so I'm not sure if it's that obvious or if my dectitive skills are good, either way, I still love it. I'm gonna read book 2 now.

Thank you so much for the rec!

Oh yay, oh yay! It gets so much better - much more emotionally complicated  - after you read book 2 - make sure to read the short story, I can send it to you.

Yes - she is not too subtle about the plot mystery of each book but there are other things you'll get pulled into to forgive them. Really the plot for each book is just a device & the real themes run through the whole series & it's all about Georgina.

Dreamfever in ~3 hours!!!  Apparently there's a BIG spoiler on KMM's website...6 pages worth of audiobook...I'm trying to resist.

BTW - if someone gets their dirty mitts on Dreamfever can they pass it on!!????

I ordered mine on my Kindle

Can you send me the file please?? I have a Kindle!

Britt - PM'd you...

You can do that with a Kindle?!? I need one of those bad

Oh there's lots you can do

Can't wait for Dreamfever to get here! It's somewhere between a distribution center in Kentucky and Atlanta right now. I also ordered the first Night Huntress : )

Tracy - a few people have read it on the other forum & are going nuts. I am dying. Rachel is reading it at work she told me I have to get it STAT!

I have stayed far away from the Fever forum this week so I won't get too "spoiled". I'm totally salivating about reading this!  I'm having it shipped to my office so I may have to become mysteriously ill right after the mail comes in : )

Actually everyone has been really good not spoiling so you can go if you want- we've just been crazy with the theories & specualtion. Some really fun stuff!

Hello All...Borders/Waldenbooks is offering 40% off any ALL DVD Boxsets.  When I'd gotten this email the TrueBlood Season 1 boxset was pictured in email as well. I just wanted to pass this along in case anyone is waiting for the price of the TB Season 1 Boxset to come down. Better hurry if you're going to use it because it expires on Sunday 8/23/09  http://www.bordersmedia.com/coup/coupon40dbs0820.asp?cmpid=SA_20090820_REW  Also, here's a 20% off coupon to any one item that expires on 8/28/09. http://www.bordersmedia.com/visitborders/?schid=YHO  Both coupons are in-store only.