Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Has your head been spinning a little lately with all the redefining of paranormal races? Cassandra Clare did it in Clockwork Angel when she declared Warlocks were not male witches nor were they only male. Nalini Singh did it when she declared vampires were created by angels in Angels' Blood. So do you like it when an author decides to redefine perhaps a traditional creature and make it their own or do you prefer it when an author leaves things the way they are? Does it confuse you? What things do you consider acceptable or not acceptable changes?

Every series seems to have different rules for vampires. Some can go out in the sun, some need to be invited in, sometimes religious items work, sometimes they don't, sometimes it's only Christian religious items, sometimes it's any item held sacred... yada, yada, yada-
I'm a little on the fence here- It's easier to understand the world if it follows traditional rules- however, I consider it the right of the author to write the characters any way they please- sometimes they come up with things that would never enter my imagination and that's awesome! It's why I read- to travel to new, different and exciting places without leaving home- but a word of caution- if it's too confusing, I'm likely not to finish it.

I kinda like that each paranormal series has a different way of defining and explaining the existence of the creatures in the world. It makes it really easy for me to keep the characters and plots all separate in my head. I also think this may be one reason why the paranormal genre is really succeeding right now. Every one is a little different. If they were all the same - you read one and you've read them all basically. That doesn't mean I think they all work and that nothing ever bothers me about some of the descriptions/explanations but it does make it kind of fun starting out and seeing for the first time what direction the author is going take. And when they work - woah do they work!

It really does boil down to if the author did a fair or better job. Even if the idea is way out there, I'll enjoy it if it's written well. Crap, I was reading a book with a great example of redefining a paranormal standard but I can't remember what book it is right now. It'll come to me. Anyway. Basically, if an author can make me enjoy the story, I'm happy to hop on the crazy train and read their version of paranormal.

Ah! I remembered. I started The Greyfriar last week and I liked where the author was going with the vampires. I read chapter one while I was waiting in line and apparently vamps are fine in the sun but they can't stand heat. They can't turn other people into vamps by biting/drinking them, religious iconography doesn't work, most of the standard myths are completely irrelevant it seems.

Lisa, like the different takes on vampires. It is interesting to see how the author approaches the subjects of holy water, sunlight, biting, etc.

Without a doubt, redefine. I don't want to feel like I'm reading the same thing over and over again. After I came down from my Twilight high I was looking for a good paranormal YA and everything seemed like an imitation so I was happy when I found the VA series which redefined vampires; good vamps vs. bad vamps-protected by half humans/half vampire bodyguards (that is some seriously good 'redefining')

I like when an author redefines the paranormal races in their books as long as their ideas are not too far fetched. For example I have no problem with vampires being the descendents of people who were injected with nanos in the time of Atlantis. Meanwhile I think that sparkly vamps are a little ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, it is creative and different, but not my taste at all.

I guess I don't mind redefining a component of a supernatural creature as long as it is clearly defined. Cassandra Clare was cutting it close because it wasn't really clearly defined what her definitions with witches and warlocks were, but since she did the Goodreads Q&A I can totally forgive her because she clarified it in that Q&A. :)

Heather, I liked how Cassandra Clare made it so that the Star of David also worked against vampires like the cross. Also in Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series Mercy was able to use a lamb as a symbolic item like a cross as well.

Being able to withstand light or not is also fine with me. As we've been drilled since little on when things come to you via the grape vine there are bound to be errors in the information you receive so it seems only logical there would be differences in the stories (if they were true).

I forgot to mention there is one series (and I hate to say this because the series is by one of my favorite authors) that has me thoroughly scratching my head with it's redefinition of a fallen angel. It's the Fallen Angels series by J. R. Ward. I haven't quite figured out what her definition of a fallen angel is and sure wish I could sit her down and ask her. If anyone has a clue as to what it is please let me know. It has me thoroughly confused. Is it just me or is anyone else confused?

Didn't she explain why Lassiter was a fallen angel in BDB 6? Did she maybe take that idea and just twist it a bit? I haven't read BDB 6 in a while and haven't read any of the Fallen Angels books yet, but I thought she used Lassiter as a blueprint for her new series.

**********Slight Spoiler for Ward's Fallen Angel Series*********

She has a human become a fallen angel, at least I assume he's considered fallen because he's in the series and is the main angel involved. He does have two other angels, but I don't get why, if the fate of the world were in the hands of angels, you'd send fallen ones in an attempt to save it? I totally get why Lassiter was a fallen angel, but the ones in her new series I don't think they ever explained what happened. I just know after reading Covet I was confused and still felt that way after Crave. Maybe I'll go back to BDB book 6 and reread it and see if there was something in it that helps out a little with this series.

Lisarenee wrote: "**********Slight Spoiler for Ward's Fallen Angel Series*********

She has a human become a fallen angel, at least I assume he's considered fallen because he's in the series and is the main angel in..."

Wow, I can't believe that Ward didn't clear that up in Crave. Now I'm thinking I might need to hold off on that one for a while. The first one was a bit confusing and I was really hoping that she would explain the whole angel thing in the second book a little more in depth.

Thanks Lacy. I was beginning to think it was just me who was confused. I usually get things fairly quickly, but I have been known on occasion to totally miss the ball on things. I think you have to go in to the story realizing that you won't get the full story about how the Fallen part comes in to play and then you'll enjoy the story more. I wonder if there are some novellas or maybe some short stories on her website that go into some depth about the series?

Lisarenee wrote: "Thanks Lacy. I was beginning to think it was just me who was confused. I usually get things fairly quickly, but I have been known on occasion to totally miss the ball on things. I think you have to..."

You are definitely not the only one. I mean I really enjoyed the story, but I walked away from it with more questions than answers. I even skimmed back thru the book to make sure I didn't miss anything, but still couldn't figure it out.

Lacy, I went back and skimmed too. I kept thinking I know I missed something.

We really just need a Q&A with Ward so that we can pick her brain and maybe see her vision too.

I nominate Lacy as winner for The Awesome-est Idea of the Day.

If I can get Ward what do I get? It would be like doing the impossible, but I'll take the risk. :)

Anyone know of a way to contact Ward?

Never mind I found her email. :)

Sans- Occasionally there is a laps in my insanity that brings on a moment of brilliance.

Lisa- It never hurts to ask, even if the answer is no. Besides we all know how busy authors are.

Okay, I don't know if this will change your opinion about sparkly vampires (probably not), but I envisioned that because they were referred to as the "cold ones" their skin sparkled like ice in the sun. They were so cold their skin was crystalized. Would help with preservation, but hey, I'm probably stretching it. lol

Zombie & human romance???? I don't think I could buy that combo.

I like the redefination and agree that if all authors stuck to the same rules it would get boring. I'm in the middle of reading Kim Harrison's Hollows series and she breaks all kinds of rules. Warlocks can be male or female and they have to pass a test to become a witch (witches have to renew their license yearly). Also, vampires are born and are "living vampires" until they die to become the undead. I believe both living and undead vamps can eat food but only the undead require blood (in order to stay sane). Werewolves are born, not bitten and demons can only be in our dimension when the sun is down. She keeps her rules consistent so it's not to hard to follow.

@Lisarenee... I agree I think Zombie / human romance would be gross... I mean don't zombies eat brains and fall apart into pieces as they decay? YUCK.

Kim Harrison sounds good, Stacy. I just checked my library and they have her. I'll definitely read her in the new year.

I was at the library and while passing the YA section I saw a book entitled I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It. Here's what the cover looked like:

Eew! What is the world coming to?

Then I found this:



Yikes!

LMAO.

Ha ha! Oh my goodness...I can't picture this human/zombie romance at all. But doesn't that book just make you want to read it? Kind of like when there is a car accident and everyone driving past it slows down to gawk at the scene?

I have to say I was tempted to check it out and was surprised such a book made it into my library. There are 24 copies floating around my library's co-op. Maybe I should read it just to see what it's about, but I just can't seem to let myself do it. Just too much of an Eew factor to it.

niquae wrote: "Another example of a redefinition would probably be Anne Bishop's Black Jewels series."

I picked these up at a library sale, they look really good.

Lisa, that picture is both epic and awesome.

So I was at the library today. Yes, it is one of my favorite haunts. I checked out I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It. Once I find time to read it I'll let you know how bad or good it is. Perhaps I should include a Eew Rating Scale. lol

You definitely should include an Eww Rating Scale. I can't wait to hear the final verdict, Lisarenee.

Thanks, niquae! A gal at a UBS I haunt frequent recommended the Black Jewels series to me. I ended up with a compilation of the 3 stories in one book, so it's like toting around a freaking dictionary. The size of the book is putting me off a bit, but really, I'm just being lazy. ^o^

Sans said, "I ended up with a compilation of the 3 stories in one book, so it's like toting around a freaking dictionary."
See reading is good for your health. Toting a book that size is like doing weight training. Reading makes you stronger. One of the added benefits of reading.

Excellent rationalization, Lisa!

Lisarenee wrote: "So I was at the library today. Yes, it is one of my favorite haunts. I checked out I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It. Once I find time to read it I'll let you know how bad or good it..."

I'm definitely eager to see what you think :D

Here is the long awaited review of I Kissed a Zombie, and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

The Good - I liked the message at the end which was don't take life for granted. Don't throw it away and enjoy it for the incredible gift it is. Plus, there was quite a bit of humor added in and this was not meant to be a serious romance.

First Kiss - before she knows he's a zombie. she thinks he's sick:

"There're a lot of things I can't do," he says. "With my health." (side note from me, Lisarenee - Thank Goodness!lol)

Well," I say, "can you kiss girls?"

He nods, and I lean over and give him our first kiss. Whatever it is that he has makes his mouth cold and dry, and I can taste the medicine on him, but he leans into the kiss."

If you really like someone, it doesn't matter what their mouth feels or tastes like. The kiss is still awesome. Page 42

The Bad: The first kiss had an Eew factor of 7 out of 10 on the Eew scale, but the fact she made out with the zombie (although not in great detail - thank goodness) brought it up to a 9 out of 10 on the Eew scale. Then there was the last scene which brought the Eew scale to 10, but I'm not going to spoil it for you with details. lol

The ugly - Zombies! Duh! Thankfully, I do not see a bunch of Zombie/Human romances in the near future. I say don't do it authors. It's just too gross!

So with the good, the bad, & the ugly out of the way I give this book 3 stars. It had me alternating between chuckles and Eews and had a nice message at the end.

Okay, I fixed this review. lol Somehow I put the page number in the wrong place and it looked like I said the last bit about the kiss being awesome, which I did not! Yikes! Also, I put the wrong rating on the Eew scale for the last rating.

Thanks for reviewing and for putting in the text of that kissing scene for us, Lisarenee. Although I did a cringe and shiver simultaneously at the end of that. I'm not sure how you got through that. I think I'd be laughing and saying eew a bunch of times throughout the book too.

I can almost understand not caring about morning breath when kissing someone you really love. But not putrefaction. No amount of love is going to get me near that.

The Zombie was drinking embalming fluid, hence the medicine taste. Isn't that the same as formaldehyde? Eew!

Lisarenee wrote: "The Zombie was drinking embalming fluid, hence the medicine taste. Isn't that the same as formaldehyde? Eew!"

Well, Bela Lugosi was drinking formaldehyde towards the end of his career/life. Booze just didn't do anything for him, especially with all the morphine and other crap running through his system. Still, I'd never want to kiss someone who was drinking formaldehyde!

For those of you who might think Zombie love is all the rage and doesn't cross the Ew line, I found the following giveaway on goodreads:

Hungry for Your Love: An Anthology of Zombie Romance
by Lori Perkins

Here is the link:
http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/ent...

Hungry for your love????? Are they sure that isn't code for Hungry for your brain?

I'm reading by Lia Habel and am half way through. This book has the potential to make me eat my words. We'll see how this one goes. I started reading it not knowing what it was.