There is a growing body of fiction exploring the supernatural worlds of vampires, fairies, werewolves and other shape shifters. Perhaps it began with Anne Rice and has now branched out to a whole new genre of books. They seem to fall into two broad categories, romantic and what I call political.
Some of them are alternate histories with these creatures "coming out" to the "normal humans" and then the fun ensues! In others, they are still trying to hide their existence from humans. Some of the books are fairly innocent and light when it comes to sex, and others are borderline erotica. I wasn't a reader of vampire books and would probably have dismissed them as horror, which I don't usually read, until I came across Diana Gabaldon's Methadone List (things to read while you are waiting for the next book in her series) in her book "The Outlandish Companion."
On the list was a recommendation for the "Anita Blake" series by Laurell K. Hamilton ("A unique series, dealing with the adventures of Anita Blake, licensed vampire executioner and working zombie-raiser, who - in the course of the series - is courted by a werewolf and a vampire, and battles just about every form of supernatural creature I've ever heard of - and not a few I hadn't.").
Not only did I read all the books in that series, but now I am always on the lookout for similar titles to read and share with other readers. Here are a few of the romances that I have read:
Katie MacAlister has a great sense of humor, and it shows in her writing. Although the characters and dialogue are improbable, they are highly entertaining. She always has a plot twist that raises her books above the pack.
"A Girl's Guide to Vampires" and "Sex and the Single Vampire" share some of the same characters, but her new book, "Even Vampires Get the Blues," is completely unrelated. I haven't read it, yet, but it should be just as good!
Lynsay Sands is known for her historical and contemporary romances and has recently joined the paranormal romance writers with several short stories and a series about the Argeneaus, a family of vampires living in Canada.
The series has an interesting take on the origin of vampires. They are descended from an advanced Atlantean society who used nano-technology to repair and sustain their bodies forever, if that is what they chose. They drink blood, as this is the fuel that the nanotechs need to function.
Speaking of Atlantis, there is another series that has a few Atlanteans in it. I had high hopes for Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dark Hunter" series, but I was ultimately disappointed. Despite a creative back story merging Atlantis, the Olympic Gods, Vampires, Dream Hunters and the Dark Hunters who protect humans against vampires, the books have formulaic heroes who are incredibly handsome, similar heroines, and even similar love scenes. But, since we all read for different reasons, you might want to try these and see what you think.
Now to my favorites - the political category. I call them political because the politics of the relationships between humans and paranormals, and the inter-group alliances are the main theme. The more powerful rule the less powerful, and they generally consider humans to be least powerful of all (so you can see how that might cause problems).
Hamilton's Anita Blake Series is the leader in this genre, and it has developed quite a following. One of the interesting threads within the series is the morality of what vampires and werewolves do to survive.
When you change the nature of the being, do the morals change as well? Her newest in the series, "Danse Macabre," is set to be published at the end of June. Hamilton also has a second series about a fairy princess and the royal courts of fairy, called the "Meredith Gentry" series. You'll never think of fairies the same way after reading these books, I recently discovered MaryJanice Davidson and her " Undead" and Un? series. These are quick, fun reads about Betsy Taylor, who has lived her life on a pretty superficial level.
She has somehow managed to become the Queen of the Vampires and has been forced to balance her need for Minola Blanik shoes against the needs of her friends and subjects. Two other authors to check out are Kim Harrison with " The Hollows" series and Charlaine Harris, who writes the " Southern Vampire" series. They aren't as light as Davidson's books, but they also have humor, and the action moves you along at a fairly good clip.
"Kitty and the Midnight Hour" by Carrie Vaughn is about Kitty and her werewolf pack. In this series, the paranormals are in hiding. Kitty starts a midnight talk radio show for the problems of lycanthropes (shape shifters) and vampires, and soon she is targeted by a werewolf assassin. If that isn't enough, she also is having problems with her pack and the local vampires.
The second book in the series is due out in July (" Kitty Goes to Washington" ).
You will find all these books in the Timberland Library catalog. You can place your holds online at www.trlib.org, in the library, or by calling Timberland Central Reference at 704-4636.
Source: http://159.54.227.3/apps/pbcs.dll/artic ... 80318/1003
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
