The Works of Laurell K. Hamilton

[Deleted]

Seduced by Moonlight. I think it covers about 24 hours, and for a LKH book there's not that much actual sex, but the problem is when they aren't having sex, they're talking about sex. On and on and on and on and on and fucking on. Pretty much the whole plot is 'Merry + Skittles travel to the Unseelie court; meanwhile, sex happens with odd and momentous consequences.' Stuff happens once the get to the court, but it's pretty stupid.

[Deleted]

Yes, that's it. Nothing actually happened. And I'm told Mistral's Kiss is even worse. I struggled through Danse Macabre, but I don't think I can face Mistral's Kiss.

The problem, really, is exactly what you're describing, dis, that if people aren't having sex, they're talking about having sex, or dealing with the surprising consequences of having sex. The supernatural plots - apart from the bits involving sex - are all but gone. It's depressing.

[iceblink]

What really annoyed me about the Merry books is that they have such an interesting premise that has barely been explored at all because it would take time away from the sex. At least with Anita, there were, what, 8 or 9 books that really got into the details of that world before the sex took over. The Merry books are such a wasted opportunity in comparison.

[Door]

Laurell wanks. Apparently those of us who are critical of the recent books just don't get it. I consider this rant to be pretty unprofessional, and several noted authors have since publicly criticized her for alienating her fanbase and acting like a spoiled child.

[Inkyblott]

Erinnyes I stand corrected. I read the book and then promptly forgot about the fact that it really does take place over the course of one day. One long day full of bland sex with a side order of mystery plot.

And you guys are right about the interesting premise. She could have taken the books in several directions. She could have focused on some of the weird day to day events of the Unseelie Court, with the tensions between the two courts, or with the fact that the queen's power if fading. Instead, we get sex and more sex (but only straight sex, no hot male fey on fey action) and everyone lusting after Merry and her ruby red hair.

Looks like LKH is taking a page from the Anne Rice book of how to completely snub your fanbase.

[Deleted]

And just like Anita, Merry keeps getting additional powers (or having more and more powerful things happen around her as a result of the Hot Skittle Lovin').

Note to LKH - you don't have to keep amping up the abilities of your heroines to keep things interesting.

[shawnalanne]

door said:

Laurell wanks. Apparently those of us who are critical of the recent books just don't get it. I consider this rant to be pretty unprofessional, and several noted authors have since publicly criticized her for alienating her fanbase and acting like a spoiled child.

She really is a self-obsessed twat. If I hadn't already decided not to read her anymore, this would of done it for me.

[LurkerNan]

Except...they kind of are. The first couple weren't, but the rest definitely are. Touch of Moonlight (or whatever it was called, something with the moon) took place over about eight hours, during which time she had a lot of sex and arguments. And I gather in the next one she pretty much walks down a hall, and...that's it. Well, she has sex with a lot of people.

I sat down to read Mistral's Kiss yesterday, which I did in 3 hours. Here's the entire book summarized:

SPOILER: Click to show

The Skittles and Merry wake up after a dream. Merry find a cup in bed, gives it to one of the Skittles. Merry has sex with Cup-holding Skittle while Mistral waits for his turn to do it rough, while trying to bring life to a dead underground garden, after a wager is made with the Queen. After much Magykal Sex, Merry and some of the Rainbow Sperm Brigade are transported to a different dead garden, which belongs to the Slough.

Since they shouldn't be there since they were not invited, Merry ends up having sex with Sholto (King of the Slough) even though his tummy tentacles have been cut off by some prankster Seelies. Sex was so Magykal that Sholo gets healed and decides to call the Wild Hunt to chase the higher Seelie-types. The Hunt chases Merry, the Skittles and even Sholto (Because Dufus King Tentacles didn't realize sex with Merry made him more Seelie-ish ). Merry calls on some Goblins to help them by promising more sex all around. And the Queen sendes Merry back to LA after her son gets let out of his sex torture prison. The End.

That's it... 9 sentences could have saved me 3 hours of my life and 25 bucks. Plus my self respect at having read that drivel.

Oh, I forgot : Not once in the book does Merry get to wear clothes, and it all happens over the span of about 6 hours. Most of the Skittles are nekkid for that duration also. But hey, I guess long descriptions of eye color and glowing make up for the lack of attire.

[Inkyblott]

Wow....just, wow. I knew it was going to be bad but holy tri-colored eyes, Batman, that just reeks! On the upside, Sholto always was one of my favorite characters.

And isn't all of this wandering around randomly having sex on every surface kind of unsanitary. Dried Unseelie semen is so not fae.

[LurkerNan]

Merry has the nerve to warn the Skittles that she might have to take some antibiotics after she gets dunked into a lake of old bones and other assorted debris during her visit to the slough garden. I was thinking the way she's been courting venereal diseases would be a much better reason to take 'em.