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sparkindarknessHow do I classify this? Addiction? Masochistic drive? Self-annihilation impulse? Foolish optimism?
Yes, I bought Blood Noir and Swallowing Darkness - Laurell K Hamilton’s newest books in the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.
I know, I know. Why do I keep trying? The first few books in the series were so very good. It is tragic, truly tragic, that they have devolved as much as they have. I wouldn’t mind so much if she had started out writing poorly-disguised porn, but the fact she has written such brilliant novels in the past just makes it all the more depressing.
To try and soften to blow (and with a due sense of dread) I read Swallowing Darkness first. After all, the Merry Gentry series has never been anything but a pornfest so how can I be disappointed?
And I was shocked. There isn’t a sex scene in the book. Oh, there’s one abortive, almost sex scene. But that’s it. There was actually... plot. It did feel rushed and crammed - but it managed to pull of action packed and wondrous and hectic and fast paced more than anything. It was exciting, it was sad, it actually evoked emotions (other than frustration) and had me hanging on every page. I actually wanted to know what happened next, I cared, I dove frantically through the pages to try and find the end to plot hooks. The character’s anger and giref actually sparked my own. It was a gripping read
I actually stayed up all night to finish it. Laurell, where have you been?
Meredith is finally preggers so everyone is not eager to jump her bones. There is angst - in fact it’s actually brushed over a lot in a way that should have got the author a slapping (the love of her life is a deer, her Granny is dead and she’s just been raped by her uncle. Seriously, if she wants to take a time out to have screaming meemies in the corner, I’d completely forgive it. But she doesn’t even blink!) but since previous Hamilton books have had half the cast crying in corners bemoaning their terrible terrible lives, it was a relief not to have her crying). Instead she spends most of the book reacting to disasters around her - not exactly unexpected. If I had one complaint about the Merry Gentry books, beyond the vast amounts of porn, it would be how reactive they are. The main characters are always bouncing from disaster to disaster, from their enemies or the weird magical crap of the day (or hour), constantly. They don’t do anything pro-active and any down time between the action feels like an interlude.
But the reaction and action WAS fun. From riding the wild hunt onwards it was quick, fun and rocky and the quick series of well done events certainly kept you moving and reading.
In truth, it probably wasn’t that good. The Mary Suism is still going strong with all the magical powers of shininess raining down endlessly and so perfectly. The same descriptions were used and overused - but, damn, the contrast between it an earlier novels made it all the more brilliant to read.
It wasn’t a deep, intricate novel - but it was exciting, it was fun and it was gripping. Finally a book from Laurell I am happy I bought and wanted to re-read the minute I put it down.
Yes, I bought Blood Noir and Swallowing Darkness - Laurell K Hamilton’s newest books in the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.
I know, I know. Why do I keep trying? The first few books in the series were so very good. It is tragic, truly tragic, that they have devolved as much as they have. I wouldn’t mind so much if she had started out writing poorly-disguised porn, but the fact she has written such brilliant novels in the past just makes it all the more depressing.
To try and soften to blow (and with a due sense of dread) I read Swallowing Darkness first. After all, the Merry Gentry series has never been anything but a pornfest so how can I be disappointed?
And I was shocked. There isn’t a sex scene in the book. Oh, there’s one abortive, almost sex scene. But that’s it. There was actually... plot. It did feel rushed and crammed - but it managed to pull of action packed and wondrous and hectic and fast paced more than anything. It was exciting, it was sad, it actually evoked emotions (other than frustration) and had me hanging on every page. I actually wanted to know what happened next, I cared, I dove frantically through the pages to try and find the end to plot hooks. The character’s anger and giref actually sparked my own. It was a gripping read
I actually stayed up all night to finish it. Laurell, where have you been?
Meredith is finally preggers so everyone is not eager to jump her bones. There is angst - in fact it’s actually brushed over a lot in a way that should have got the author a slapping (the love of her life is a deer, her Granny is dead and she’s just been raped by her uncle. Seriously, if she wants to take a time out to have screaming meemies in the corner, I’d completely forgive it. But she doesn’t even blink!) but since previous Hamilton books have had half the cast crying in corners bemoaning their terrible terrible lives, it was a relief not to have her crying). Instead she spends most of the book reacting to disasters around her - not exactly unexpected. If I had one complaint about the Merry Gentry books, beyond the vast amounts of porn, it would be how reactive they are. The main characters are always bouncing from disaster to disaster, from their enemies or the weird magical crap of the day (or hour), constantly. They don’t do anything pro-active and any down time between the action feels like an interlude.
But the reaction and action WAS fun. From riding the wild hunt onwards it was quick, fun and rocky and the quick series of well done events certainly kept you moving and reading.
In truth, it probably wasn’t that good. The Mary Suism is still going strong with all the magical powers of shininess raining down endlessly and so perfectly. The same descriptions were used and overused - but, damn, the contrast between it an earlier novels made it all the more brilliant to read.
It wasn’t a deep, intricate novel - but it was exciting, it was fun and it was gripping. Finally a book from Laurell I am happy I bought and wanted to re-read the minute I put it down.
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Date: 2009-01-13 06:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-13 06:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-17 12:50 am (UTC)