In my weary research for a good new urban fantasy series to read, I recently found one that was actually written pretty well. The protagonist wasn't a complete idiot, bumbling into things until the powerful alpha male had to come and rescue her all the time (which I had to torture myself into reading in my search for a good urban fantasy series)—although it was a bit cliché—newly turned vampire and the master of the house of vamps, incidentally also her sire. Then again, which paranormal series doesn't at least have a cliché or two? The trick, with good authors, is in making that cliché interesting enough to readers who have already read it.
Called the Chicagoland Vampires, it was a bit slow in the mystery department as the main protagonist also dealt with her newly changing life, and the side characters that involved themselves into her life. I really loved how Chloe Neill wrote them—they had dimension, depth, and their own interesting little side-stories (that were sometimes, to me, more interesting than the protagonist's—but that's just because I'm mainly a matchmaker at heart).
Predictably, I consumed the entire five books that were in the series (as of present) within a span of three days. Sometimes, when a series gets really interesting, I'm unable to do anything—eat, sleep, or work—until I finish it. Yes, I have an addictive personality. Yes, I'm working on fixing it. But I digress. This was one of the few series that actually consumed me so. And, God, it's been such a long time since I've found an interesting series that didn't become too much of the same thing (the only others I've found to be so are the Dresden Files, Kate Daniels, Cassandra Palmer and Dorina Bhasarab, Night Huntress, the Mercedes Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, the Fever series, and—usually, as I'm not much of a fan of Blaze of Memory—Psy/Changeling and Guild Hunter). Sherrilyn Kenyon disappointed me. Gena Showalter disappointed me. Jacquelyn Frank started to bore me. Christine Feehan—God, I don't even want to talk about her. I liked the Drake sisters... until it got progressively worse with each book. I even gave the Carpathians a chance. But the rape scene in one book was too much for me. I could've handled it if the antagonist, or the villain had done it. But it was the hero. Just because he couldn't help himself. The fact that she was condoning rape... No. Just no.
And... I've gotten off-track again. I seem to do that a lot when I rant.
Anyway, while reading this series, I was really rooting for the canon couple. Sure they seemed to have the typical clichéd tension-ridden breakup-up-and-back-together-again cycle of a relationship, but, you know what, the protagonist actually had some serious concerns over the realtionship—which made it serious. It wasn't simply the fact that she was stubborn and refused to commit over a stupid reason (which is surprisingly common in many novels—of all genres).
Yesterday—well, tonight, actually—I had nearly reached the ending of the fifth book when a twist just stopped my mind. I kept going over the words again and again while my thoughts screamed out a verbal, "NOOoooooo!!!" I just... I'm in shock. All I'm thinking is, "WHY?" I mean, this was completely unexpected because you can't just... do that! It's, like, taboo for authors. And it's just so random. It's like going up to a complete stranger and punching him/her in the face. Yes, Chloe Neill has just metaphorically punched her readers in the face.
Now I'm frustrated and confused, just in time for my summer school test this morning. And I'll probably stay frustrated and confused (and, dammit, still slightly hopeful that what I read actually didn't happen) until November, which is when the next book in the series will come out.
I fucking hate cliffhangers.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Monday, 27 September 2010
Heroines
Another one of my rants that just wouldn't let go. This time it's about romance novel heroines.
I swear, everytime I read a historical romance novel, I always wonder at the stupidity of the heroine. Most romance novels have the character format of "Alpha hero" and "Upstart heroine," in which the heroine is this self-sufficient female that "doesn't need" a male in her life. What bullshit.
As the novel progresses, the heroine degenerates into more and more of a child, even sometimes crawling into the hero's lap and crying for comfort. It seems that she can't do anything without the hero there to point out her mistakes and "help" her along the way. Seriously? I mean, seriously? What the hell happened to the "proud, self-sufficient, doesn't-need-a-male" woman that was there in the beginning of the book?
What, she can't even go to a stupid ball without the hero there to hold her hand?? It's as if she's this little puppy that follows the male around and asks for scraps and leftovers.
And then, when the cynical hero "rejects"/"tries to protect" (I hate that phrase) her by not including her in important events, or not telling the truth, or even cheating on her, she comes back for more. What the hell happened to your pride, woman?
Oh, I've heard the argument: "He's very sensitive, he can't let go of his past, he can't help it, he needs me..." No, what he needs is a good kick in the face for even doing that in the first place.
These types of "heroines" are even in chicklits and contemporary romances. In chicklits, we have your classic clumsy, can't-seem-to-do-anything-right heroine. What's up with that? Why can't the heroine be a bitch, for once? Or even an independant, career-driven woman that is actually smart. And, strangely enough, this clumsy heroine manages to attract the attention of some successful businessman. Just how unrealistic do you want to get? Why don't you throw in a couple of vampires, just in case it isn't stupid enough? I mean, the guy is smart, successful, and NICE. Obviously he could do a LOT better than some Ordinary Jane. Successful people are attracted to successful people. Who'd want to go for anything lower?
I would actually like to read a chicklit in which the woman is a successful entrepreneur, and the guy is just some ordinary carpenter, or something. At least it would be original. Only with Nora Roberts have I found such a story. Perhaps that's why I like her work so much, despite her... lack of detail in certain scenes. But I digress.
Another thing that bothers me is that most of these heroines turn out to be virgins. God, how I hate that word. In historical romances, I can accept it, because that was how it was at the time. But contemporary? It's not even close to realistic. Why the hell would a woman wait until she was thirty to find "the one"? Why the hell would she even fall in love with her first? Doesn't she want to experiment, explore sexual freedom, and all that jazz? Oh, sure, the first would be memorable, but not for the reasons they state. It would be memorable because of how painful it would have been!
They say, "Oh, I'm saving myself for the one." Don't they realize that their first time is going to scar their experience with "the one"? I mean, considering how painful it is, I'm surprised they want to subject themselves to that pain by their beloved.
The hymen is an annoyance. Nothing more. It impedes a woman's progress in exploring all that life has to give her and even makes it painful when she wants to break out of her shell. I bet if it didn't exist, our human history would have drastically changed and women would have recieved equal rights even sooner.
And what the hell is up with Slut? It's just such a stupid and sexist word that it defies civilized nature, and I do not like it. If a woman wants to go with more than one man, it's her right. Or if she wants to wear short-shorts, it's her right. Who is anyone to judge? It's the same with a hijab. If a woman doesn't want to wear clothes that show skin, it's her right. Of course, some may argue that the right was taken away from her, but how do you know? If you don't, then don't judge.
The one thing that really bugs me is that all the people who write those romance novels are women. I always wonder what the hell is going on in their minds half the time. Why would they subject their main character to such humiliations, in which they need a male to survive? Real life doesn't work like that. You can only depend on yourself, and no one else, no matter how many people may delude themselves into thinking the opposite.
I mean, even male authors give their female characters more power than female authors. I recently read a book in which the heroine was more physically strong than the male, who was the main character, and it was written by a man. If men like women in power, why don't women?
The most obvious example to this rant is Twilight. I won't mention it again.
What saved female romance authors in my mind is the evolution of the urban fantasy genre. At least in those books there were actual smart and savvy heroines, who could completely fight for themselves, and didn't need a male's help, even though they accepted help sometimes. Anita Blake was a series I especially liked, since here was a smart, dangerous, and promiscuous woman who knew what she was talking about. Even though it devolved into full-blown erotica, I still remember the earlier books as being one of the best.
I just hope, as time progresses, so will romance authors and their heroines.
I swear, everytime I read a historical romance novel, I always wonder at the stupidity of the heroine. Most romance novels have the character format of "Alpha hero" and "Upstart heroine," in which the heroine is this self-sufficient female that "doesn't need" a male in her life. What bullshit.
As the novel progresses, the heroine degenerates into more and more of a child, even sometimes crawling into the hero's lap and crying for comfort. It seems that she can't do anything without the hero there to point out her mistakes and "help" her along the way. Seriously? I mean, seriously? What the hell happened to the "proud, self-sufficient, doesn't-need-a-male" woman that was there in the beginning of the book?
What, she can't even go to a stupid ball without the hero there to hold her hand?? It's as if she's this little puppy that follows the male around and asks for scraps and leftovers.
And then, when the cynical hero "rejects"/"tries to protect" (I hate that phrase) her by not including her in important events, or not telling the truth, or even cheating on her, she comes back for more. What the hell happened to your pride, woman?
Oh, I've heard the argument: "He's very sensitive, he can't let go of his past, he can't help it, he needs me..." No, what he needs is a good kick in the face for even doing that in the first place.
These types of "heroines" are even in chicklits and contemporary romances. In chicklits, we have your classic clumsy, can't-seem-to-do-anything-right heroine. What's up with that? Why can't the heroine be a bitch, for once? Or even an independant, career-driven woman that is actually smart. And, strangely enough, this clumsy heroine manages to attract the attention of some successful businessman. Just how unrealistic do you want to get? Why don't you throw in a couple of vampires, just in case it isn't stupid enough? I mean, the guy is smart, successful, and NICE. Obviously he could do a LOT better than some Ordinary Jane. Successful people are attracted to successful people. Who'd want to go for anything lower?
I would actually like to read a chicklit in which the woman is a successful entrepreneur, and the guy is just some ordinary carpenter, or something. At least it would be original. Only with Nora Roberts have I found such a story. Perhaps that's why I like her work so much, despite her... lack of detail in certain scenes. But I digress.
Another thing that bothers me is that most of these heroines turn out to be virgins. God, how I hate that word. In historical romances, I can accept it, because that was how it was at the time. But contemporary? It's not even close to realistic. Why the hell would a woman wait until she was thirty to find "the one"? Why the hell would she even fall in love with her first? Doesn't she want to experiment, explore sexual freedom, and all that jazz? Oh, sure, the first would be memorable, but not for the reasons they state. It would be memorable because of how painful it would have been!
They say, "Oh, I'm saving myself for the one." Don't they realize that their first time is going to scar their experience with "the one"? I mean, considering how painful it is, I'm surprised they want to subject themselves to that pain by their beloved.
The hymen is an annoyance. Nothing more. It impedes a woman's progress in exploring all that life has to give her and even makes it painful when she wants to break out of her shell. I bet if it didn't exist, our human history would have drastically changed and women would have recieved equal rights even sooner.
And what the hell is up with Slut? It's just such a stupid and sexist word that it defies civilized nature, and I do not like it. If a woman wants to go with more than one man, it's her right. Or if she wants to wear short-shorts, it's her right. Who is anyone to judge? It's the same with a hijab. If a woman doesn't want to wear clothes that show skin, it's her right. Of course, some may argue that the right was taken away from her, but how do you know? If you don't, then don't judge.
The one thing that really bugs me is that all the people who write those romance novels are women. I always wonder what the hell is going on in their minds half the time. Why would they subject their main character to such humiliations, in which they need a male to survive? Real life doesn't work like that. You can only depend on yourself, and no one else, no matter how many people may delude themselves into thinking the opposite.
I mean, even male authors give their female characters more power than female authors. I recently read a book in which the heroine was more physically strong than the male, who was the main character, and it was written by a man. If men like women in power, why don't women?
The most obvious example to this rant is Twilight. I won't mention it again.
What saved female romance authors in my mind is the evolution of the urban fantasy genre. At least in those books there were actual smart and savvy heroines, who could completely fight for themselves, and didn't need a male's help, even though they accepted help sometimes. Anita Blake was a series I especially liked, since here was a smart, dangerous, and promiscuous woman who knew what she was talking about. Even though it devolved into full-blown erotica, I still remember the earlier books as being one of the best.
I just hope, as time progresses, so will romance authors and their heroines.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Cliffhangers
Yes, I'm back. And here to talk about the BANE of my life. CLIFFHANGERS.
You know, every time I read a series that I really get into, it always ends in a cliffhanger. It's like there's this secret society with the best authors out there that blackmail other authors to end their most recent books in a cliffhanger. I'm going to follow one of my friend's example, and picture the scene:
Anyway, I just hate cliffhangers! It even happens in movies and shows now! What is with writers today? Can't they ever show closure in the show/movie/book? So what if the episode/movie/book was really good? It's the ending that makes a story!
I'm just griping about this because Jim Butcher's latest book, Changes, ended in a cliffhanger, all of Karen Marie Moning's Fever books end in cliffhangers (which just get to me, but I can't stop reading the most recent ones, cause they're so good), and now Supernatural's season finale (one of the reasons I hate season finales, even though they're usually the best episode in the season) ended in a cliffhanger!
Why do all of the good series/episodes/movies end in cliffhangers?
It's as if it's some sort of marketing campaign, to make sure people buy the next book that comes out almost instantly, or watch the new episode/movie almost instantly when it comes on.
You know, every time I read a series that I really get into, it always ends in a cliffhanger. It's like there's this secret society with the best authors out there that blackmail other authors to end their most recent books in a cliffhanger. I'm going to follow one of my friend's example, and picture the scene:
"Oh, Rai, we love you!" The famous author shut the door against the screaming fans. With her back to it, her chest heaving, she frowned. She hadn't realized that her last book, The Billionare's Blackmailed Bride, would become so popular.
"So you're the famous author, Rai Tore."
Rai looked to the side of her, and saw a hooded figure covered in the darkness of the corner of the room. Who wore cloaks in the summer? "Um, obviously. I'm, like, famous and everything. It's totally awesome. Haven't you read any of my über-famous books? They're, like, totally awesome."
"...Riight... Anyway, I'm here to tell you to put in a cliffhanger for your next book... or else."
"Or else what?"
"Or else we, the Society of Super-Famous-Awesome-Totally-Cool authors will ruin you." Dun dun dunnnn....Without saying anything else, the figure faded back into the darkness, never to be seen again. Rai wished she could do that. With a sigh, she opened the door and turned back to her adoring fans, trying to wade through the crowd.
Anyway, I just hate cliffhangers! It even happens in movies and shows now! What is with writers today? Can't they ever show closure in the show/movie/book? So what if the episode/movie/book was really good? It's the ending that makes a story!
I'm just griping about this because Jim Butcher's latest book, Changes, ended in a cliffhanger, all of Karen Marie Moning's Fever books end in cliffhangers (which just get to me, but I can't stop reading the most recent ones, cause they're so good), and now Supernatural's season finale (one of the reasons I hate season finales, even though they're usually the best episode in the season) ended in a cliffhanger!
Why do all of the good series/episodes/movies end in cliffhangers?
It's as if it's some sort of marketing campaign, to make sure people buy the next book that comes out almost instantly, or watch the new episode/movie almost instantly when it comes on.
Okay, now I'm done ranting. I just needed to get it out of my system. Thank god for blogs. You know what, now that summer's coming nearer, I'll probably be posting more now. Hopefully. Probably. Maybe.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Hello Again
Okay, so maybe I didn't keep my promise about the whole "months" thing, but school had started again, and exams... and all that shit, so I didn't really have the time, but since this is like an online diary with vague references about me (since this is online—safety matters, even though everyone pretends to ignore the adults that come in every month for "internet safety" assemblies, with their laptops and powerpoint presentations), but more about my interests, I'm sure no one would mind (ha—not that there is anyone to mind).
So, now I'm starting up again, and I'm probably going to disappear for months again... it's like a pattern. Write a few posts in a matter of hours or days, and then disappear for months.
Anyway, guess what I'm here to talk about? That's right: Books!! Don't you love books? I know I do *grin*.
So, I finally got the next book in the Cassie Palmer Series—trampling over people isn't that bad a crime is it?—and now I'm here to share what I read with the world—without spoiling all of it, of course. So think of this as an enlightened experience (even though it really is just a typical review, but whatever).
In the beginning, we read about Cassie going back in time to get some help from the former Pythia, Agnes. But all Agnes says is to "trust her clairvoyant abilities," so that she doesn't mess up the future, by being able to see how the future would be if she changed it. Anyway, Cassie is assigned a body guard by the delectable Mircea, Marco, who I think isn't all that bad for a new character. Throughout the book she keeps getting these apocalyptic visions given to her by her power, but she doesn't know what's going to happen. Also, for part of the book, Pritkin and Cassie experience how it's like to be in each other's bodies :P. And that's all the spoilers I'm going to give you.
As usual with Karen Chance, and what I'm beginning to love about her, the book is a complete action-packed adventure. Cassie goes from one problem to the next with barely any rest in between, if any at all.
So, now I'm starting up again, and I'm probably going to disappear for months again... it's like a pattern. Write a few posts in a matter of hours or days, and then disappear for months.
Anyway, guess what I'm here to talk about? That's right: Books!! Don't you love books? I know I do *grin*.
So, I finally got the next book in the Cassie Palmer Series—trampling over people isn't that bad a crime is it?—and now I'm here to share what I read with the world—without spoiling all of it, of course. So think of this as an enlightened experience (even though it really is just a typical review, but whatever).In the beginning, we read about Cassie going back in time to get some help from the former Pythia, Agnes. But all Agnes says is to "trust her clairvoyant abilities," so that she doesn't mess up the future, by being able to see how the future would be if she changed it. Anyway, Cassie is assigned a body guard by the delectable Mircea, Marco, who I think isn't all that bad for a new character. Throughout the book she keeps getting these apocalyptic visions given to her by her power, but she doesn't know what's going to happen. Also, for part of the book, Pritkin and Cassie experience how it's like to be in each other's bodies :P. And that's all the spoilers I'm going to give you.
As usual with Karen Chance, and what I'm beginning to love about her, the book is a complete action-packed adventure. Cassie goes from one problem to the next with barely any rest in between, if any at all.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Embrace the Night by Karen Chance
This is the third book in the Cassandra Palmer Series—one of my favourite supernatural series. As usual, with Karen Chance, you get right into the action and it never stops. This is one fast-paced book you don't want to miss. In this book, you learn more about each main character in the series, mostly Cassie, Pritkin, and Mircea. The plot revolves around the Codex Merlini and everyone who's after it or wants it destroyed. Cassie has to take help from those she wouldn't trust with her life, and Pritkin's most inner secret is revealed. The Greek "Gods" from the legends make more than a brief appearance and the conclusion to the geis draws to a close. From gunshots and magic blasts to revealing spells and ley-lines, this book never lets you catch your breath. Even as it ends abruptly, as usual, the series could end there and become a trilogy, as many had assumed. But that was before Karen Chance announced that the fourth book—Curse the Dawn—was coming out in 2009. Many fans, including me, are eagerly waiting for the next installment.
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