donderdag 15 maart 2012

Laurell K. Hamilton

Perhaps you have read about my love for the books by Laurell K. Hamilton before. I know the Anita Blake series is one you either love or hate, most often by the change in the books.

Anita starts of as Kick Ass, but a woman who is not into casual sex. And because of the bond that she gets with Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City of St. Louis, and the werewolf Ulfric Richard, she changes. She is a necromancer herself, helping the police in preternatural cases when she is not raising zombies. She is not afraid to shoot or use a knife, to kill and to defend herself of those she cares about. But being bound to Jean-Claude and Richard, makes her own magic that much stronger, but also gives her part of theirs. Without being a shapeshifter, she gets a part of Richard’s wolf, and she gets part of Jean-Claude’s incubus (by book 10 that is). And so her life changes, no matter how hard she fights it. So casual sex and sex often is introduced. But still, the overall storyline keeps fascinating me. The battle against bigger and badder vampires, to survive.
But truly, the writing style sucks me into those books, time and again. I do believe this is the 12th time I am reading them, and you all know how many great long awaited new books I have received lately.

I wanted to give you a taste of Laurell K. Hamilton’s writing style, what is possible my most favourite paragraph in the whole series. Out of Narcissus in Chains:



“We’re coming”, Rafael said. He looked across the seat at me. “Shall we”?
I nodded. “I guess it’d be silly not to get out of the car.” He slid out to the edge of the seat, then hesitated, holding his arm out for me. Normally, I wouldn't have taken it, but tonight we were trying for a show of solidarity and style. So I stepped out of the car on the rat king's arm, like a trophy wife - except for the wrist sheaths and the two folding knives hidden in my clothing. Somehow I think trophy wives wear more makeup and less cutlery. But, hey, I haven't ever met a trophy wife, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they know what I know, that the true way to a man's heart is six inches of metal between his ribs. Sometimes four inches will do the job, but to be really sure, I like to have six. Funny how phallic objects are always more useful the bigger they are. Anyone who tells you size doesn't matter has been seeing too many small knives.



So, what do you say? Do you know those books? Do you like them? Hate them? Do you have a favourite piece of tekst of your own to share?

Today I got the newsletter, telling me about the next book to come out this summer, which will be the 21st in the series. And I am so much looking forward to it! O, there are some lesser books in here, like in all long series. But you have to take in account, this is one of the oldest series in the genre, the first book has been published in 1993.

To me, it is a 10 star series.

5 opmerkingen:

  1. I do not think they are for me. I read that someone said that there is nothing else but sex these days in them

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  2. I love this series! It has changed, but like you said the overall storyline is so fascinating it continues to pull me in. Laurell K. Hamilton has a great writing style and wonderful dialogue that always entertains me. Definitely looking forward to Hit List.

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  3. @Blodeuedd: That is so not true! Yes, there is a lot of sex, especially as the first 6 books have none, but the storyline itself is still great, and it does have a purpose! This series has a lot of mythological creatures, vampires, many different kind of were-animals, and zombies and magic. And such great main characters.
    And if the sex is really bothering you, you could skip those scenes.

    @Mirjam, yeah, I knew you loved it. What do you think of the paragraph I quoted? Makes me laugh every time I read it.

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  4. I haven't read this series, can you believe it? I need to start it.

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  5. I haven't gotten to the sex yet. I don't think she has been involved with anyone (it's been a bit). I think I'm coming up on book 6. I haven't read them all, but the ones that I've read I've really enjoyed.

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