Anyone here read Laural K. Hamilton's books?

Question

Y'know, the Anita Blake series and Merideth Gentry series?

Is it just me, or has her writing gone down hill? Don't get me wrong, I loved the early Anita Blake stories, and her first book (Nightseer, I think it's called), but lately, her stuff is awful! Everything from book 10 (maybe) in the Anita series and all of the Gentry series is how big of a harem can the main girl have and how much sex (and what different kind of sex) can she pack in one book. Am I the only one who thinks her stuff is no longer fun to read? There's never much of a plot any more and it's boring knowing that any new guy is going to want to jump in bed with the female star, and she'll let him.

Quick note to Isthisname - I've just started reading Sherrilyn Kenyon, and I love her stuff. I also own the baby name book she edited.

Answer 1

I've read all of her books, and I definately agree that her writing has changed. I also like erotica so i don't have the problems with the later books that some people do, but i still hope we get a book soon that has more of a crime/action plot than endless scenes of sex. I find myself skimming through pages because I want to know what actually happens to the characters instead of who is joining Anita in bed this time.

I think a lot of her fans that don't like the ardeur and the multiple partners would not be as upset if that was still present but there were also awesome crime scenes, interesting villians coming to town, zombie raising, etc. I think the biggest problem fans of the older books have is that she is writing about the sex angle almost exclusively.

I like the Meredith Gentry series as is. From the first book, it was quite clear that if you were uninterested in reading about Merry in bed with many and multiple partners, you had the wrong series. But those books do have a plot, no matter how slow its moving along.

But for the fans who became invested in the Anita series from Guilty Pleasures on through Obsidian Butterfly, I don't think it's fair of LKH to almost completely ignore everything that appeals to the pre-ardeur fans. Saying she is the author and you don't have to read it is a little simplistic. Spending years and years being a loyal customer, waiting for the next book to come out, caring about the characters and the story...that should matter to her enough to give us an actual storyline that includes some facets of the Anita we got to know and love before she began "loving" anyone and everyone who crosses her path.

Answer 2

Looks like we're all thinking the same thing. I sometimes recommend the series for those seeking stories with vampires in them, but I will say - the first part of the series is great, but as it moves along, it loses substance. I really hate what she did to some of the characters - poor Dolph. Who knew he was such a jerk? Or is he just reacting to someone he no longer knows? I keep thinking I'm going to finish the series, but that's only if I find a book while I'm out shopping for those I sell on-line. Micah was a fluff book. I did enjoy the one (more so than other later ones) when she is called on by Edward and we learn a bit more about him. But it doesn't say much that I can't tell you the titles I have read because they just aren't memorable. The reviews on her books posted on Amazon mirror what's been written here.

And I'm sure it isn't that we can't deal with some sex in a book, but I do like some romance and I don't know why it has to be everyone and everything anywhere. After awhile, reading about it can get boring - it's not even very creative. I think because there's no emotional connection, as a reader, I just don't care.

I had a writer recommend another author to me in a similar genre - Sherrilyn Kenyon and the Dark Hunter series. I've read about 3 so far. And you know, there is sex in them, but the way it's presented and written is much different than Anita's bed hopping (or whatever might be around).

Answer 3

Amen! I started off reading the Anita Blake series and I was addicted at the end of the first book. I quickly spread my addiction to most of my friends, even the ones who don't like to read were in on it. The plots were well thought out and Anita was both charming and dangerous. Then Laurel introduced the "ardeur" and the books went to pot. The books are now more about sex and less about the detective work that Anita was so well known for. She then added all these boring and unnecessary characters ( Micah his oh so boring leopards).
Anita used to be a moral woman. Now she will jump into bed with ANYONE for any or no reason. The plots suck. I barely made it through Cerulean Sins and could not finish Danse Macabre at all.
The Gentry series is a blur of sex, sex and did I mention...sex? No plot.
And to add insult to injury, Ms. Hamilton has dissed her fans on her website. She has said that her fans cannot dictate how she writes! She says she wants to write erotica and tha is what she will write. Doesn't she know her fans keep money in her pocket?

Answer 4

It's not just you, her writing has gone down the toilet. I've only read her Anita Blake books, but I agree with you, what began as a series with interesting characters and plots has turned into nothing but vampire smut. I kind of hope that that is because the more recent books are being ghostwritten and are not really Hamilton's work. I thought she was a pretty good author, but not anymore.
If you did like her Anita Blake series, I suggest you check out Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series. It's really good, set in an alternate history where a worldwide pandemic caused by genetically modified tomatoes led to the death of a large portion of the world's human population. At that point, the hidden "Inderlanders," creatures such as witches, werewolves, vampires, and more, came forward and revealed their existence to the world. She has fun characters and enjoyable storylines in this series.

Answer 5

The only series that I have read is the Merideth Gentry Series. Now I have not read the newest one called Mistrial's Kiss and I missed the third in the series, but I found her books really good and fascinating to read. The last book Stoke of Midnight had more sex than the last few but I think that there was more meaning in it.

Answer 6

What a great question! I have not read that book, I am not especially fond of that genre. I do love to read, though. I am a big fan of Patricia Cornwell, John Saul, Dean Koontz, Karin Slaughter, Robin Cook, and Joy Fielding. They are very good suspense novelists. For a good laugh, try Janet Evanovich or Kathy Hogan Trocheck. I think one of my fave authors is Bentley Little...he is wonderful!

Answer 7

i agree. when i first started her books, i couldnt read them fast enough. then it allllll went downhill after cerulean sins, for me. now, i barely skim them, and i certainly dont buy em. i picked up micah and skimmed it in the bookstore, just so id know what happened in the plot. sides a lot of sex, not much. her book strange candy tho, that was good. more like the lkh that i first fell in love with.

Answer 8

Agreed! Her stuff used to be really good. Now it has gotten to be nothing more than literary pornography. I don't bother with her books anymore.