CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Best of 2006...

Paranormal edition!





Overall, I must say, 2006 was not quite the reading year that 2005 was for me. I read a lot of books that I was "whatever" about, and a number that were outright disappointments. This week, I'd like to highlight some of my favorites of the past year. Let's begin with the paranormals. The romance market has absolutely been glutted with paranormals, as everybody and their mother tries their take on the vampire legends. In a genre that has quickly become hackneyed and cliched, J.R. Ward's books stand out. The premise is not particularly original (leather-clad vampire warriors), but the execution is so vivid that you can't help but get caught up in the world. I think the characterization is a particular strength. Thus far, Ward has created heroes (and potential heroes) who are not only vividly drawn, but quite distinct from each other. They're not all just grumpy, broody guys whose parents were mean to them or whatever. I enjoyed both Lover Eternal and Lover Awakened a lot. Have already re-read both a number of times. I loved both heroes, and I liked that the stories were so different from each other in tone. Ward's world is telescoping at a nice rate, so that I'm actually intrigued and interested. It must be said that Butch and Marissa are the characters I find least interesting, but I'm very excited (like dance in my seat excited) for their book, Lover Revealed, just for the return to the world of the BDB. Then again, I didn't think I'd like Rhage's book that much, but it's my favorite so far, so who knows?

In short, bring on the stupid spellings and names, and the annoying slang! Ms. Ward makes it work. Slap my ass and call me a fangirl.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

SLap my ass and call me a fangirl might have to be my new blog description for SportSquee. Awesome. Just awesome.

Anonymous said...

I definitely agree with you that the blackdagger brotherhood stood out amongst all the other vampire books out there. :P

Happy New Year Devon!

nath said...

Happy New Year :D

I liked Dark Lover enough and Lover Eternal wasn't bad... but still doesn't grab me as much... Sigh. I do agree that this would be the vampire series of the year tho.

Anonymous said...

totally agree... and thought LR was fab too *g*

Devon said...

Hi all! Arggghhh, Sybil is an ebil, ebil woman, teasing us like that. Only what, two months to go for us plebes?

Mailyn said...

LOVED DIW!!!