Monday, February 6, 2012

I Loved This Book Series! But That Other One, Not So Much...


I've never written a book rec before. Actually, I'm not even sure I know how, so bear with me...


It started on Twitter.

@sistersurf was persistent.

Read it! You'll love it! Try it - you'll like it! she encouraged (because that worked out so well for Mikey when someone proffered PopRocks and Coca-Cola - RIP, sweet Mikey angel). So I didn't heed her advice, for a long time. You can lead a blogger to book recs, but you can't make them read. So I read other crappy stuff instead. And I mean, deplorably wretched.

Let me take a step back: I had read about - and then heard an interview in the radio with - a young author named Amanda Hocking. If you don't know her story, she started off self-publishing teen paranormal romances on Amazon after being turned down by all the publishing houses (or something similar). As a result of a lot of self-promotion and word of mouth, she eventually sold over a million copies of her books there (becoming a millionaire in the process, natch) before finally getting a "real" book deal. I read a lot of reviews before I committed - they ranged from "So much better than Twilight!" to "JMFHF THIS IS AAAAWWWWFUL!!!" Sadly, I think the latter is more accurate, if not something of an understatement. In fact, her writing is dreadful, and makes Stephenie Meyer's body of work read like contemporary adult literature by comparison.

Sorry, she seems like a lovely young woman and I don't begrudge her the success she's achieved (much... score one for the underdog!), but it does leave me scratching my head a little bit after reading "My Blood Approves" - it was just painfully bad. Let me put it this way: I would read "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner" again - twice - followed by a re-read of just the Jacob part of Breaking Dawn - before I would read another one of Amanda Hocking's novels. I'd throw some examples of her egregious prose in here to illustrate my point, but that would mean I would have to go back into the book and scan the text, and I refuse to waste another moment of my own short life on it.

But after I got my iPad and downloaded the Kindle app, I had a burning need to find a good, fun, engrossing read to dig into and distract me from all that RL nonsense. Something engaging but simple enough that I wouldn't have to reread passages for comprehension as I tried to read myself to sleep at night. I found it in sistersurf's rec, the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning.


I'm currently on the fifth and final book in the series - Shadowfever - and while there are some maddening parts (aren't there always?), I haven't felt compelled to throw it across the room - much - the way I did when reading Breaking Dawn. So there's that... It's a a fast read - the author has created an interesting world - or worlds - that stick in my brain long after I stop reading for the night. I probably would have been done with this entire series in a few days if not for the fact Mr. Snarky and I share one iPad so I don't always have it handy. I'm pretty much ripping it from his mitts the second we are both home again, and I feel a teeny bit guilty when I don't put it down for more than ten seconds a day for days on end.

This isn't high literature - I don't even know if it's considered y/a or not, to be honest, but regardless, it's got a page-turner, hfs-what-happens-next?! quality that I've missed since Stephenie Meyer's Edward and Bella skipped off into their small but perfect piece of forever and Myg's Edward and Bella sailed off to Maui.

Plus if you get REALLY into it (and I am enjoying it but haven't went ape-shit like I did over Twilight), there is apparently a lot of extra info to be had at the official website, as well as a familiar-sounding rabid online community with message boards filled with speculation about who should be cast as the lead characters in the movie, and of course, a gallery of fan tattoo. Because if you really like a book, you should ink a fitting tribute to it on your skin. 

I know she has a chess piece on her somewhere, too. Probably.

Looking for something new to read? Give the Fever Series it a try! The books are pretty light on lemony goodness, although there is a good deal of sexual tension, and the author's other works are rumored to be more bodice-ripper-y and tawdry. Consider this series the February equivalent of a guilty-pleasure beach read. And if you hate it, don't blame me - you already knew I have questionable taste in books.

P.S. Who wants to head up the Very Unofficial Friends of Twitarded Kindle Lending Library? Because I spent forty bucks on this series (damn you, Amazon One-Click!) and would love to share or swap reads now that I am wrapping it up... My Blood Approves is just one request away from horrifying you, too!

32 comments:

  1. I'm so pissed...I just wrote a big spiel...and lost it...grrr...yah what Snarkier said...

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    1. HATE THAT! But your rec of this series is appreciated! Great time-suck! Now if you will excuse me, I have to get back to V'lane and Mac on the beach in Rio...

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    2. ...have you read any of her other stuff??? I tend to go on benders when I find an author I enjoy... From what I understand, this series is different than her other books, which are a little more romance-y???

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    3. Karen Moning's Highlander series is fast and fun to read, but a little formulaic. Start off with book 4 - Kiss of the Highlander. Basically, it's big beefy Highlander, teeny tiny virgin (not for long), some time travel, a little fae mischief, and some smexy times. It has a tiny bit of background for the Fever series. Enjoy!

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    4. Start with Book 4??? Isn't that cheating or something lol??? I did notice that some of the "lore" seems to be in both series...

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  2. I finally broke down and read The Hunger Games. Fuckin' awesome!

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    1. DEFInITely adored The Hunger Games - and cannot WAIT to see the movie! Very excited about that - THG is an absolute must-read imho.

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  3. I've had a Kindle for about a year and a half and I use it to read mostly completed FanFic (although I just finished reading Gone with the Wind and I'm currently reading the professionally edited fanfic Scarlett).

    But I digress... I didn't realize you could share legally purchased books. If there's a way to do that I'd like to share! I have no idea what it would take to make that happen... any ideas?

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    1. If I recall - and this might just be with some books - there is an option on Amazon to send an invite (via email) to someone so that they can "borrrow" the book for up to two weeks. But I am new to Kindle so maybe there are very limited titles allowing for this? I'll have to look into it further.

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  4. As a self-published author myself, I was glad to hear she was doing so well, but I'm LOVING that the prose sucks! Ha! I haven't read it because I was afraid I'd get jealous, but now I want to read it just so I can say I write better than that!
    I'm going to give your recommended series a try.

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  5. Black Dagger Brotherhood series by Jr ward....just skim over the boring parts with the "lesser" villains. Also Sherilyn Kenyon and Laura Aidrian. All great escapes from RL.

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  6. I agree with Anonymous. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is great! But yeah you can skip the parts with the villians and still get the whole story.

    I think I'll take a stab at the fever series. I don't have a kindle or I'd be willing to swap. I borrowed the BDB series and they were 'real' books. I forgot what it felt like to hold a real book LOL

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    1. I have heard of this series at every turn over the past few yeras - one of these days I'm just going to have to break down and read the damn thing lol... I'd borrow from the "real" library but I hate the idea of a pawed-over book (CDO alert!).

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  7. I read the Fever series recently, and by read I mean I devoured the entire thing in less than a week. I haven't done anything of the sort since I picked up Twilight. Read it!

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  8. I've heard about this series because they are making a movie out of it and I did a post on it on my film blog. Yet, now I'm curious to read the novel. Thanks for the rec! Books are not cheap, so it's nice to hear other people's thoughts on good reads these days.

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  9. I've been hearing about these books for awhile now, and have had them on my to-read list, knowing I'd get around to reading them sooner or later. And then TWO blogs I read rec'd them on the same day. I'm guessing I should move them up the list. :)

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  10. I haven't read these but it sounds like something I might like. I mostly use my kindle for fanfic but maybe I should read a real book one day. I have a few on there and would be happy to share.

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  11. I too read "My Blood Approves" and will never purchase another one of her books. I barely made it through that one..

    The Fever Series have been on my TBR list for a while. I will have to give it a try when I break away from fanfic...

    The Black Dagger brotherhood Series started off good, but then you realize every book is laid out the same way. The part of the story I really wanted more of was stuck in the middle of this love story that happens in each book, I gave up after book 6.

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  12. I highly, highly recommend the fault in our stars. YA. Funny and sad ---- people you wish you could have been friends with in high school No vampires. The twilight producers are on board for the movie. Read. It. Now.

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  13. Amanda Hocking...my co-worker rec'd her and I never did read it, simply because it sounded like fanfic that was pulled and then published with different names. And it didn't sound like it was good fanfic that would be WORTH it (and there are some great ones out there). Glad to hear that skipping her books was a good idea.
    I just read "Angel Burn" (YA pretty decent) but my new favorite series is Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs, awesome paranormal books. Not too heavy (not much for lemons, but you don't really need them in her series). I also am reading The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. Great fantasy books, something a bit darker and different.

    If anyone wants to share via kindle please let me know!

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  14. Gotta say I love the Fever series. The ust is great & that Jerricho Barrons...just yum! Def not YA ;)

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  15. I apologize if someone already mentioned and I missed it, but the Cat and Bones stories, especially 2 and 3 (read 1 though for sure) are so much fun, and Bones is so hot I transferred my crush from Edward to him. Plus, if you get them on audible, the reader is fantastic, and really gets his fuckhawt Cockney accent right-although it's not perfect until book 2. Author is Jeaniene Frost. Vampires and Ghouls. Super funny and very steamy. Not a YA book for sure. NIght Huntress series I think it's called.

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  16. I read the Fever series and LOVED it! I love Mac and especially Danni, who is getting her own series called Iced. You can pre order it on Amazon. But what I loved most of all was Barron's. Helloooo Jerricho.

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  17. Sweet! I have the Darkfever ebook checked out from the library. Can you check out ebooks from your library? I'm skeeved out by physical books a billion snot nosed masturbators have handled too. Thank God for my sanitary Kindle.

    I'm glad you reviewed the Hocking book. I had it on my wish list but I was on the fence about it. I don't like YA books. GASP! I know.....I think Twilight was a fluke.

    BTW. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is THE SHIT. I resisted reading them for a very long time because of the character's dumbass names and the exaggerated macho dialogue but I finally gave in and Im so glad I did. Just take it for the cheesiness that it is and let it take you away to a land of beefcakes and cunulingus.

    Oh. I read Halfway to the Grave from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost and really liked it. It's pretty light and silly. Check it out if you're looking for more vamp reads. Unfortunately Amazon won't allow that title to be loaned out.

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  18. The book series that got me hooked to Vampires is Sherrilyn Kenyon's Darkhunter series. The first book is Night Pleasures. The second which doesn't lend anything at all to the series in any shape or form is Dragonswan.... That one you can completely skip and go on to book 3 which is Night Embrace. Their are currently 23 book totally, but there will be more. The premise is that the Immortal's who when they were alive were wronged so badly that when they die their dying scream is heard by Artemis, the Greek Goddess of The Hunt, Artemis tells them they can have their vengeance. On one condition. Their souls belong to her forever and in return they must hunt the Deimons (vampires to you and me)... I know, I know this kinda sound a little Buffy? No WAY better than Buffy and all the men are hot as hell! Also in the series we are introduced to Were-Hunters, Much like Jacob and the Quileute's, but backwards. They are born as an animal of some sort and later transform to Human. And they can transform back and forth. It's a series that I think all Twihards should check out.... Well adult Twihards... the books can get smutty... but in a tasteful way. Not as slutty as Ellora's Cave books, but not dry like Twilight. The sex is detailed! You should give books 1 and 3 a read. The best one is Acheron... The raw emotion in it rocks you to your core.

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    1. OMG, this is my favorite series. Funny that you mention the first 3 books in the series that I read (Night Pleasures, Night Embrace, Acheron), then I went back and read the rest of them in order. I'm seriously in LOVE with Ash (I need help - is there some sort of Acheron Anonymous group out there?)!

      I've also gone on to read Kenyon's The League series & Alterant series. They're good, but nothing (even Twilight *gasp*) is as good as the Dark-Hunters.

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    2. lol Don't know about an Ash Anon site, but Kenyon's forums are heavily followed. LOTS of activity, much like Twilighted. I myself love Ash as well, but my heart lies with Talon. His book was my first DH book. Also LOVE Simi! The only other series I read of Kenyon's was her Lords of Avalon under her pen name Kinley MacGregor. Vary nice, but DHs will always be my favorite!

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  19. Yes-I loved Fever and have also read BDB, Night Huntress & Mercy Thompson. Immortals after Dark is another one similar to BDB. I have all the Darkhunter, but it's 25 books so I've been putting it off in favor of some of my smaller series before I commit that much time to a series!! Also love the Mortal Insturments & the Hush Hush series. I have all of these books for Kindle + hundreds more. It is really simple to share your books w/o going through Amazon or the library...email me & I can walk you through it-I've loaded up everyone's Kindles at work ;) #pornpusher my email is my name @ gmail

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  20. Thanks for the rec! I literally plowed through these in a week (yup, all five, my kids were a bit neglected, lots of pogos and eggo waffles for meals, yikes). I'm wondering if there's any good fanfic out there for it? Mmmm, trying to figure out who would be a good Barrons, me thinks Michael Fassbender, yum. And thanks god Dreamworks has the option for this and not Summit, if they ruined another series for me I'd be pissed. Thanks ladies for all your hilarious posts and great recs!

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  21. You should also try the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Fun, quick, easy read.

    Or anything by Laurell K. Hamilton, though her books are a bit...Fifty Shades kind of deviant. The first 10 books of the Anita Blake series aren't so bad, but the last 12 (I can't keep count how many are in the series now) are quite different. Her Merry Gentry series is a little out there too, but I like them both. What can I say, I have a twisted streak ;)

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