Anita Blake - Vampire Hunter

[Lord Douche]

I was wondering if anyone here has read this series of books? There is quite a BDSM theme throughout them.
I've just finished reading book 10, entitled "Narcissus in Chains", where "Narcissus in Chains" refers to a BDSM club.
It's a supernatural-themed book, vampires, werewolves, etc in it, so not everyone's cup of tea.
I'm facinated by these books because each one has more of a BDSM theme than the previous one, and get increasingly explicit in their depictions of the events.

For those that haven't, and enjoy this type of book, the author is Laurell K. Hamilton. It's not particularly erotic though, but a good read none the less.

Salute, LD

[kittenfemme]

Oh yes! I love LKH's work. I think my favorite is the latest Anita Blake novel, Cerulean Sins (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0425188361/qid=1063065228/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/104-9169130-3043116?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). But then, I'm rather partial to her version of vamp politics and the lastest is full of such things. You're right that the books have an SM spin. I hear (from a reliable source :D ) that the author is quite kinky herself.

[Lady Lance]

I was quite happy when I first heard the title for book ten was "Narcissus in Chains" what else could it be but have the token club be a BDSM one? Though I'm sure it'll be lost on most, I was rather pleased that Anita chewed out the leopards (or was it the wolves) for abonding Nathaniel in that club.

Overall I do enjoy her work, although lately I haven't found her books to be quite so good. Anita is just too powerful, IMHO.

[Lord Douche]

Yeah, I agree with that LL. The magic got pretty wacky through Book 10, and I had trouble following parts. Also, it was the hyenas at the club.
I'm going to have to be annoyed at you Kittenfemme, since Book 11 isn't out here yet :( Looking forward to it.

[kittenfemme]

Well then, be annoyed no longer! Have a peek at the first four chapters of Cerulean Sins.

:D

You may find them here (http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/CeruleanSins.htm) .

[Lord Douche]

*blinks at the front page*
When I get this book, it's going to be one to keep out of the way of prying eyes. My Dad read the back of Narcissus in Chains; there was much frowning :(
Anyway, I'll wait and get the (e?)book :)

[Lady Lance]

You might want to keep his hands off of this one as well. Anita continues her slutty ways in this one, and Nathaniel finally gets his wish to be her pet. Well, kind of it. Sorta.

You'll just have to wait and see.

[bondage_bunny]

I love the Anita Blake series--but I'm particularly partial to fantasy tales. And, of course, the bdsm theme also suits my tastes.

Have any of you read the other ongoing series that Hamilton writes? That's the Merry Gentry series. It's also fantasy with strong tones of bdsm running throughout (and lots of sex, natch).

[kittenfemme]

*nod* I've read her Ravenloft books. They are set in some D&D universe I knew nothing about previously. It was like a crash course. Once I was caught up, I liked them for the most part. I think she does vampire politics very well.

I loved the first Merry G book! I dug how she created the two court system of sovereignty. The sex was pretty hot too, though I wouldn't have complained if there was more overt BDSM. The thirsty rose thorns are a magnificent idea! I swooned and read that bit again and again.

The second Merry G book seemed like the author was setting up for something larger. It was mostly a bore. I think the next few will r0x0r though.

[kittenfemme]

BTW, the title for the next Anita Blake vamp hunter book is to be Incubus Dreams. :D

[Dari]

I guess I should write a thank you mail to LKH - she's partly "guilty" of making me realize what is going on inside of me. and I really loved the books, read all but the latest, and I'm baout to grap it the day the paperback comes out.

[Lord Douche]

...Cerulean Sins still hasn't come out here in Australia!
Unless I've missed it in the bookstore...

[kittenfemme]

Can you order it from Amazon.com or the like? It's (in my humble opinion) her best vamp politicing book yet. The sex scene between her and two vamps is pretty hot too... especially if you're into biting. *purrrrr*

[rhiannonmackey]

:) I have only had the chance to read the first of the series....but i want to read the rest..i just cant get my hands on em...:(

[Lady Lance]

Originally posted by rhiannonmackey
:) I have only had the chance to read the first of the series....but i want to read the rest..i just cant get my hands on em...:(

Have you checked your bookstore lately? The entire series is out in paperback, and most of them have been re-released with the more erotic covers as well. :)

[kittenfemme]

*nod* Additionally, Agave Books and Edicions Gigamesh are offering the line in Hungarian and Spanish respectively. I think a German publisher is either in the works or signed as well.

The latest Merry Gentry series was released recently, titled Seduced by Moonlight. Despite the cheesy title it's not bad. Lots of sex and not enough court politics for my taste, but not bad.

And the next Anita book will be called Incubus Dreams. It's due out in October! :[

[Duetta]

Laurell K. Hamilton is by far my favorite author at the moment.....

I just bought and read her latest - Seduced by Moonlight. As I read in a prior post, her next novel is out in October. That is very very bad news since I'm not by nature very patient at all!!! (Actually that might be a slight understatement)

Does anybody know of other good authors in the same genre??

[Morrighan]

The trilogy by Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar) are beautifully written books set in an alternative middle-age (ish) history. Phedre, the protagonist, is pricked by Kushiel's dart, and "forever condemned to experience pain and pleasure as one." The sex is woven beautifully and skilfully through the story, and actually drives the story forward--never gratuitous, always with a purpose. A long read, but an exceptional one.

[Morrighan]

If you enjoy the Laurell K Hamilton books, there's also a message board on her website--I believe it's laurellkhamilton.com, but I can't swear to it. If you're into the books for the sex, the last two, Narcissus in Chains and Cerulean Sins, have LOTS of sex. It's kind of ruining the series for those of us who like a PLOT, but the books before those two are pretty good. My favorite is Obsidian Butterfly--you may even need to check that out ahead of time. As long as you know who Edward is and what the "marks" are, I guarantee you won't be too lost.

Morrighan

[Morrighan]

Oh, I love LKH's work, but I think it's declined in quality for the last two books, dramatically. I'm hoping she gets back on track with Incubus Dreams (due out this fall.) I've been messaging between here and that Anita Blake forum, and there are some people that are all about the sex. I didn't make that assumption about you.

Have you gotten to Micah yet? Do you want him to die like the rest of us do?

Morrighan

[Lady Lance]

I agree with those that think the quality of her writing has declined:

Through book six it was all about the characters. Once she has sex with Jean Claude it's like LKH is finding any excuse she can to throw in a sex scene. While in some cases (like reading porn) this is not a bad thing, in this case I think it hurts the overall series. Outside of that, Anita has gotten so many powers the past few books, one of the books she's going to end up immortal like Jean Claude. How can she not?

As for the Merry series, I don't care for those at all. With Anita you had enough time to care about the characters for the first sex scene to be very hot, and all the build up to it made for some delicious UST. With Merry she's in the sack within the second chapter, I think. *yawn*

That being said, kudos to LKH for managing to make it to an author who comes out in hardback first. For those new to the series, through Obsidian Butterfly, the previous books all came out in paperback first. Once OB was released, then they went back and introduce the more erotic covers that you see now and re-released the older books with them.

[Morrighan]

The Merry Gentry books are okay; given the sidhe culture that LKH imagines and that the goal is to get Merry pregnant, a certain amount of sex is unavoidable. The plots are stretched thin, though, and as much as I lust after Frost in my heart, the books still aren't her best work. For that matter, the criminal "mystery" part of Cerulean Sins seemed to be just kind of tacked on as an afterthought. Incubus Dreams is supposed to be even longer than Obsidian Butterfly, so we'll see. If she manages to cram that book as full of sex as she did Cerulean Sins, I probably won't read them anymore.

But to anyone who's just starting her series, Guilty Pleasures through Obsidian Butterfly--especially Obsidian Butterfly--are highly recommended. Fast, funny, gruesome, sexy...they have it all.

Morrighan