Do you remember when you first found a really good series? Your first J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunters, or Christine Feehan’s Dark Series, J.D. Robb’s In Death series, or [insert favorite series title here]. You get to the end of the book and go, “Wow!” and then you say, “Hot Damn! There’s [x] more just like this!! Where are my car keys!?”
You find yourself setting land speed records getting to the bookstore or website. You order all the previous releases. Once you have them, you blaze thru the backlist. Then. You wait. And wait. And WAIT. All with barely restrained enthusiasm and/or frustration for the next book. It’s CRUSHING to hear a series is no more (can we say Harry Potter?), to see an author give up on it, or to see a series jump the shark. By that point, you’re so invested in the characters that the thought of not having another book to look forward to is just too sad for words. (heh heh – unintended pun)
I don’t know about you folks, but finding a great new series is the THIRD BEST feeling in the world to me. First is, well, you know. Second is when my little girl says, “I love you, mama.” Fourth is chocolate when I really need it. Fifth and sixth is a nice male toucus. Oh hell, now I’ve distracted myself… Where was I? Oh yeah – series.
I’ll never forget when I found Christine Feehan’s Dark Series. I popped that cherry with Dark Demon, and immediately went out and bought all of the Dark Series titles I could get my hands on. Feehan creates such VIVID heroes and heroines, and truly evil bad-guys. I sucked all of them down in record time. Some were better than others (Dark Celebration was very disappointing), but they were all fun. Book 15 in this series, Dark Possession, releases hardcover today – it’s Manolito de la Cruz’s story and should be nicely steamy and suitably suspenseful.
Then, I innocently picked up Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Fantasy Lover. What a good book! Then I read the little teaser at the end and realized that there was this whole Dark-Hunter world out there! Oh my gosh! I had to go out RIGHT THEN and buy all the Dark-Hunters I could find! My favorite was Zarek’s story, Dance with the Devil, and I think second place goes to his brother, Valerius, in Seize the Night. Again, some are better than others. Case in point, the latest in this series, Devil May Cry, seems to be jumping minnows, if not quite sharks (yet). I’m waiting to see if the next book, Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunter, book 2) redeems the series when it releases this October (love the cover – that guy is gorgeous).
I always catch a J.D. Robb In Death book when it comes out. I love these as audio books – the Brilliance Audio performer, Susan Ericksen, is just terrific with these roles. And I loves me some Roarke! Oh my oh my oh my. That man is like chocolate to me. All dark and sensual and melt in your mouth yummy. In November, we get to see Eve and Roarke again in Creation In Death (hardcover release) and Eternity in Death, one of the stories in the anthology Dead of Night (with Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, and Mary Kay McComas).
And last, but most certainly not least, was the feeling of pure bliss when I found J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. I lost my BDB virginity to Lover Eternal (if only!). I finished reading that book and was quite literally PANTING for more. Like a dog in heat. It was awful. The night I finished it, I almost drove the 70-odd miles to an all-night WalMart on the off-chance that they’d have Dark Lover. I couldn’t fathom the wait of months and months for Lover Awakened. And now, two books later, we are about to be blessed once again by the BDB fairy, uh, Chosen, whatever, with Lover Unbound. I am a happy series queen!
Lover Enshrined, Apr 08
If I’ve left any series out of my brief list, it’s only because of space concerns, not because I think them unworthy. They are totally worthy. (Shiloh – that means you.) I’m just running out of room!
So what about you? Any series you’re married to, ’til death do you part and all that? Any you’re disappointed in? What series has you by the short hairs, whether you like it or not, and you just gotta buy it? What series is just starting that you’re looking forward to seeing develop?
Just what is it about series that is so bloody compelling?
I was never a big series fan, but the one that started it all was the Anita Blake series by Laurell Hamilton. I glommed every book and spent over $100 in one weekend for 9 of those books because she sucked me in. But the two series I am a die hard fan ar JD Robb and JR Ward. These authors write compelling, structured, entertaining and sexy men and women that I have never read about before.
It is an addiction, and if done well, I will be a loyal reader and buying till they stop writing **GASP** I don’t even want to think about that!
Well, I’ve never made it a secret that I’m a total LKH fangirl- both the Anita Blake AND Merry Gentry series. Some of the books have been better than others, but I can’t imagine never being part of either of those worlds again. When I finish one of the books, it takes me awhile to wrap my head around the fact that I can’t just go to St. Louis and catch up with these people.
Karen Marie Moning’s Darkfever blew me away. I read it, turned it over, read it again, then listened to the audio book. I seriously quiver with book lust anticipating the release of Bloodfever on Oct. 16.
I didn’t start the BDBs until after (IIRC) the third book was out. They ARE interesting, no doubt about it!
Feehan’s Carpathians and Kenyon’s DH’s have just become habit for me to automatically buy. I’ll probably stop Kenyon’s series after Ash’s book. I keep saying I’m stopping with the Carpathians, but I keep buying them anyhow- I just bought the new one– IN FREAKIN’ HARDCOVER– tonight. I might need an intervention.
And I keep buying those damn Sunny books. Her Monere books are such a complete Anne Bishop/LKH rip-off, yet I keep buying the damn things. It’s an ILLNESS I tell you!
We definitely need to do a Sunny intervention for you, Bev!
Where’s that number for Promises. Perhaps Britney still has it in her speed dial…
I will never forget stumbling across this big ol’ hardback book in the local library when I was 16. I picked it up because there was some tartan in the cover design (at this age I was going through a mega crush on all things Scottish) and took it home. I had always loved to read, but that book was like a portal into another world. I couldn’t sleep, barely took time to eat…I just had to get back to, you got it, Jamie and Claire. I sobbed buckets over the torture scene but felt a small glimmer of hope return by the end of the book as Claire rescued Jamie’s soul from despair. I couldn’t believe that I would have to leave these amazing people that I felt I knew. And then I found out that it was a SERIES!!! Oh frabjous day! And there were already 2 more books out there to be read and the promise of more to come?!?! Twelve years later (omg, has it really been that long?) and I’m still delighted when I get a new installment and can spend quality time with my favorite characters.
More recently, I came across Lover Eternal in my local library and picked it up because I recognized the name JR Ward from the AAR boards. Holy crap! I think I read it in one sitting and went to Borders the next day to buy Dark Lover. Lucky for me, Lover Awakened was also available and I only had to wait, ummm, like half a year for Lover Revealed. There’s just something about the BDB…I can’t explain it. But I’m definitely addicted. It’s like going into another world. Once I start a re-read, I find that I can’t pick up the latest Regency novel sitting beside my bed no matter how much I like the author. I need more BDB and I need it now. (for some reason, having flashbacks to Chris Walken in SNL…I got a fevah!! And the only cure…is more cowbell!!!) I can’t wait for my V fix which can’t come quickly enough.
I try to limit my addiction to series, but these two aren’t even an option. The moral to this story? Good things come to those who hang out in their local library. 😉
Sula – LMAO!
That Moody Blues skit on SNL with Walken is a classic! He did some good stuff. From what I hear, though it’s rumor only and I have no PERSONAL experience with it, it’s even funnier if you’ve had a margarita or two, or smoked a bowl or two. OR SO I HEAR!
Other series for whom I am their bitch:
– Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine books;
– Kinley McGregor’s Avalon series;
– Lisa Marie Moning’s Highlander series – oh Daegus oh Daegus oh Daegus, you yummy man you. I hear LMM is recovering from undiagnosed Lyme Disease. She’s been very ill (couldn’t speak or write at one point), but she’s doing better. Thank goodness. I need me more Highlanders! (It’s all about me, after all. 🙂 ).
Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooter series. I read the first one a few years ago and immediately got every backlist book out of the library. Now I wait eagerly for the next book in the series to appear.
I’ve been hearing so much about J.R. Ward’s BDB, I’m going to have to try those. I’m not a paranormal fan, but I’ve been convinced to try them!
I used to love Janet Evanovich’s Plum series but now I just want Stephanie to pick one of the guys already and get it over with. I get the audio books out of the library b/c I just want to see which one she picks.
Put me down as a diehard JR Ward fan. I’m enthralled by her big, tortured brothers. (Your fault, Sybil!) Interesting to me is that I’ve recommended these books to a wide range of readers–some of whom say, “Vampires! I don’t think so.” To which I respond, “Try one . . . just one. You’ll like it, I promise.” And without exception, they have. The fanged ones are irresistible.
And, of course, you can’t read just one. 🙂 Keep ’em coming, JR!
LOL! Yep, read them all. I’m sick I tell you, sick! I don’t know when I became such a series slut? No…I remember, I blame CS Lewis. I read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and went nuts. Made my mom take me to the library to pick all of them up.
CF, that one is getting a bit old for me. Dark Secret did it, after she wrote the “rape” scene I never read her the same way again.
I had a friend who recommended SK’s Dark Hunters. Picked up Night Pleasures and went out the next day and made B&N very happy. In fact I recently went to a booksigning for her and took my entire backlist, yes it was a very full bag, and she graciously signed them all. Word to the wise, the DH series will have 4 complete arcs. The first one will come to an end with Acheron’s book, then she moves on to Savitar after that. *sigh* I’m not sure even I’m up for that. Shouldn’t there be a book limit on a series?
JD Robb’s In Death series is one of the better series considering how many there are. In fact some of the recent books have been better than some of the early ones. When I picked them up at the library someone else was reading them as well, and they were a book ahead of me. I always had to wait for the next one, drove me nuts. What’s odd is I don’t really care for Nora’s work, but JD is another story. Hello?? She’s the same person. Mmmm, Roarke.
But one of the best is JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. I’m currently doing a reread in anticipation of V’s book, it’s amazing the little things you miss. She’s got a new series that will be coming out, and no doubt I’ll be squeeing over those as well. When I was at the Kenyon booksigning I was talking to a gal who hadn’t heard of the BDB books. Well, I educated the poor woman. Let’s hope she followed-up and bought Dark Lover. I find it most interesting that the BDB books are either love ’em or hate ’em. And those who hate them, hate them with a passion.
Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series is another really good one. I said I read too many of them, didn’t I?
I have a few….
BDB- I’m hooked on the brothers. I’ve read my copies so many times that I think my next trip to B&N’s will be to replace them with new ones. Probably about the time LU comes out ;-). They make every other book pale in comparison. I must have 6 books sitting in my TBR pile, and I keep going back to these. What does that say about me??????????????
JD Robb- OMG Roarke. ‘Nuf said!
Sherrilyn Kenyons books-
1.Dark-hunters- Oh yeah!I first read “Sins of the Night” while stuck in Chemotherapy. The book was on the shelves there. Read about 1/2, and then stopped at a store on the way home to buy several more. ( Chemo has ended- my love of the DH’s has not!)
2.Brotherhood of the Sword- SIN!!!!!
KMM’s Highlanders- YUMMY! The twins and Adam had me hooked from the get-go!
I’ve read some/most ( I think?) of LKH’s books, as I have of CF’s Carpathians. And while I’ll probably keep on reading them, they are not an “auto-buy” for me as the ones listed above. But they do get my $$$, since no author can write enough books to keep my TBR pile full all year. My other half says I don’t read books- I “burn through them”. Which is admittedly true. I can read 2-3 books a weekend easily, along with all the “Mommy” chores required. Could be why he bought stock in B&N’s?????
I can’t live without Robb’s In Death series. If I can breath for them, I would do it.
BDB is the best paranormal series NOW. I love the brothers.
Dark-Hunter used to be No. 1 for me but that about 4-5 books ago. But I still cannot help myself following on Acheron’s storyline.
Series I currently follow;
Midnight Warriors/ Deidre Knight
Paladin/ Alexis Morgan
Breed/ Lora Leigh
Hunter/ Shiloh Walker
Immortal After dark/ Kresley Cole
There is more but I do not to bore you all
I like the following:
The Louis Kincaid series by P.J. Parrish
Clare Westbrook Trilogy by linda Lael Miller
Reverend Clare Fergusson series by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Jane Rizzoli series by Tess Gerritsen
Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs
Kay Delaney series by Illona Haus
Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver
Just to name a few.
I’m totally a series slut, but I’ve given up on SK and JRW. Too many inconsistencies (that stuff drives me batty!).
I’m still obsessed with JD Robb and KMM, tho. Those highlanders..YUM!
I also have to add Susan Elisabeth Phillips Stars’ series. She swore Natural Born Charmer was the last, but I’m hoping…lol
I loved Brockmann’s TDD series, and I’m enjoying the Troubleshooters, though I prefer a book that concentrates on one couple.
Susan Squires’ vamps are yummy, too.
I started with Feehan, and I still pick them up, though I don’t do hardback.
And what about the historical series? (Moning’s are time travel so don’t really count!) Jo Beverley’s Rogues and Mallorens, Mary Jo Putney’s Fallen Angels.
Love them all! It’s nice to really get to know characters, the way you can in series.
I love it when you find a new series. I especially like when you find it after it’s been around for a bit, so you can glom and there’s not as much wait between books. That happened to me with the Tara Janzen “Crazy” series.
That being said, I need to find some new series. The BDB is the only one right now I’m still getting breathless for. I was crazy for the Dark Hunters, but she seriously started losing me at Dark Side of the Moon. Ash was overtaking the main couple, who were super generic. Plus, she changed up so many rules of DH-dom.
Ah well, perhaps Janzen can turn it around with her next one. The other series I’ve lost interest in, I’m not gonna sweat, b/c perhaps a little hiatus will make the heart grow fonder.