Vaginal Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hey everyone,

I'm just curious who else is continuing on any of the series started in this group... and if so which ones. Do you feel the series gets better? Worse? Will you plod on through it 'til the end 'cause you're already invested now?

****NEW EDIT: If you've already started up a thread about continuing on a specific series we've read (whether main, alt, or alt-alt), please link it below and I will add it to this list here so everyone can find them easily. Please feel free to discuss my above and below statements here as well.

LIST of SERIES DISCUSSIONS
Sirantha Jax series:Beyond Grimspace (Wanderlust, Doubleblind, etc.)
Weather Warden series:After Ill Wind (Heat Stroke, Chill Factor, etc.)

More to come!


********More of my Original Post below**********

For me, I have mostly been reading the ALT suggestions, and back when it was time for Gail Carriger's Soulless, I fell in love with Alexis Tarabotti (the main character)'s personality. I've read as far as I can (only the first 3 books) before they became unavailable at my library (unless I go to the fancy Sci-Fi collection, and read the whole book there a bit at a time). I want to read HEARTLESS so bad!

I'm also following the Sirantha Jax books by Ann Aguirre. I'm just starting Doubleblind - the third one (Grimspace was the alt). They are really, really good. The last one had some heartwrenching moments, if you like that kind of agony when you read. And this one is following on that track so far. (Not as much action... yet.) If you liked the first one, continue reading! Again, I really like the main character... and I feel that the cast of characters in this series is very well rounded. Ava/Amy is very good at crafting her plots, as I've actually felt a few surprises when reading her books. I love March... and the way telepathy is used, and he finishes Sirantha's thoughts out loud... it's a really fun element.

I just want to talk to someone about these two series - especially the Sirantha Jax series because I feel like it's the more "serious" of the two - Parasol Protectorate is much more lighthearted.

So yeah... anyone?

There's a thread of people looking to discuss some of the book series here.

Also, feel free to start a thread about another book in a series we've read or the series in general in the monthly discussion folder for that book. (Grimspace in the Gabriel's Ghost folder, Soulless in The Iron Duke folder, etc).

You think that would be better? Hmm.. I may do that, and if/when I do, I'll delete/modify this thread.

Hmm... that link you provided has totally a different tone and focus I think than what I was looking for. I'll take a closer look at it later (I'm guessing it'll go off on a tangent and that is why you recommended it). I'll probably go ahead and make 2 separate threads in the old sections - but do people still post in them way back there? (hence starting it in this more general area).

I feel like my whole response to you should be a private message instead of a post in this thread... but I don't know if Goodreads does that. >.>

Christine wrote: "I'm just curious who else is continuing on any of the series started in this group... and if so which ones..."

I've continued with a few:

The Psy/changeling series by Nalini Singh, which I'm loving. I love how the story arc continues through each of the books even though you're following a different couples story.

The Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger. I love the characters and humour in this series.

The Iron Seas by Meljean Brook. I tend to avoid anything with zombies, so it just goes to show how good these books are that I'm carrying on regardless.

I will be carrying on with Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series on the basis that I enjoyed her Morganville Vampires series.

I have to say that this book club is costing me quite a bit of money but I don't begrudge it at all.

Hah! Have you read any more of the Weather Warden series yet? I've just finished Heat Stroke last week.

Did you finish Parasol Protectorate? I really want to read Heartless... the last one I read was Blameless - I have to agree with your assessment!

I don't remember the Nalini Singh books - which month was that (or are not all the series you're listing from this group?)

Care to discuss Parasol further? I just LOVE Madame Lefoux. I can imagine her dimples every time. If the books were ever made into a movie or tv series, I'd want to play her - or I'd choose Carrie-Anne Moss, maybe.

If you do want to discuss it further, let's make a general "Parasol Protectorate" thread under the Iron Duke section, and I'll link it from here in the original topic. :D

Reading Nalini Singh's angel blood, enjoying very much :) lots of good smut and great world-building.

Christine wrote: "Hah! Have you read any more of the Weather Warden series yet? I've just finished Heat Stroke last week.

Did you finish Parasol Protectorate? I really want to read Heartless... the last one I read ..."

No, I haven't read any more of the Weather Warden series yet.

I've read the second and third books of the Parasol Protectorate. I had to read the third one straight after the second one just to make sure that everything turned out ok.

The Nalini Singh book was the third book the group read. The first one is called Slave to Sensation. I'd definitely recommend them.

I'm on the fourth Weather Warden book - picked them up after hearing Felicia mention them on the Flog.

As soon as I finished Souless I ran to buy the rest in the series. Haven't had a chance to start #2 yet, but hopefully soon!

I also have the second and third in the Sirantha Jax series an intend to continue with that ... just as soon as I clone myself so I have time to read all the things I want. Love this club, but it's filling up my bookshelf and emptying my wallet faster than I can keep up with!

Rachel - Parasol - So did I!
OH.... I watched the Hangout video (like 3 months later)... that doesn't sound like my kind of book. Maybe I'll give it a try, though. I literally have 4 books from the library on my coffee table that need to get read - and one in my bag (Doubleblind - the 3rd Grimspace/Sirantha Jax novel) that's overdue. XD

Do it! Claire, The Parasol books only get better and better! I have Chill Factor on my table... is it better than Heat Stroke?

Ha, that's why I'm using my library. However, it's still emptying my wallet a little, with some fines. Eheheh... I really love the Jax novels. Maybe when you start Changeless, start a thread in the Iron Duke section, I'll link it! :D

I have read the first few of each and generally get bored so I stop reading them. I tend to "binge" on books.

Sirantha Jax -- books 1 &2, yawn.
Parasol Protectorate --- all are good on that front!
Nalini Singh -- read the first 4, same plot different characters names, very Christine Feehan style so it got old fast for me.
Rachel Caine -- didn't like Ill Wind much so unlikely to finish that series but have started the Outcast series (not holding high hopes for it), read the first 4 of the Morganville series (yawn), read book 1 of Revivalist and will continue for now.

I didn't read the Meljean book, I can't get past the cover. It's strange but ...

I forgot to add that I've also read through the Elder Races series this week, by Thea Harrison. I think Oracle Moon was an alt.

It's a series I'm really enjoying. I don't know why. Perhaps because each book is slightly different and not the same pairings. *shrug* It's good and I like 'em.

Eperdu wrote: "I forgot to add that I've also read through the Elder Races series this week, by Thea Harrison. I think Oracle Moon was an alt.

It's a series I'm really enjoying. I don't know why. Perhaps because..."

I borrowed the first 2 in the series after finishing the alt last month as well. Really liked #2 with Tiago and Tricks, and I just finished #1. Mixed feelings about that one, but I liked Graydon a lot and hope he gets his own book!

#3 with Rune and Carling sounded the least interesting to me, but I'll probably read it just to see if Tricks pops up at all. There are also some novellas that fill in other characters, but they're only available as ebooks.

For me, these books are kind of a guilty pleasure that I shouldn't feel so guilty about. There is some really good dialogue, lots of action, and the sex is fairly well done. I think its all the smoldering shirtless guys on the cover that make me feel like I should be embarrassed to be reading them! I had kind of the same issue with the Mercy Thompson books. Love the story to death, but the Mercy in my head would never flounce around in cutoffs showing off her tramp stamp! She was always described as wearing sweats and jumpsuits in the books.

And that should probably all go in a different thread, sorry!

Christine wrote "Do it! Claire, The Parasol books only get better and better! I have Chill Factor on my table... is it better than Heat Stroke?"

I thought it was pretty good. David actually isn't present for much of the story, so we got a lot more insight into Jo as a character and more of her backstory. I really didn't miss him all that much! There is another set of powers that be introduced as well and things are shaping up to be quite stormy in book 4 (har har, obligatory weather pun!)

I've read all the Parasol Protectorate books, and recommended them to just about everyone I know I loved them so, so much.
I've read the Iron Seas 2nd book by Meljean Brooks and have the new one on pre-order.
I won't be reading any more Weather Warden as I wasn't keen on the first one, but I did try the first Kate Daniels on the strength of a recommendation on here and intend to read all of them as I loved her so much.
I intend to read the next Sirantha Jax book as soon as I can afford to buy it - my library doesn't carry the series.
I too am finding this book club is hard on my finances (but I don't mind either!!)

EDIT oh and I'm on book 7 of the Dresden Files, again a series I started on the back of a recommendation on here :)

Claire wrote: "#3 with Rune and Carling sounded the least interesting to me, but I'll probably read it just to see if Tricks pops up at all. There are also some novellas that fill in other characters, but they're only available as ebooks. "


I read them out of order due to availability but I really liked #3. There were some issues I had with it (namely the ending) but really liked how it played out. I really liked Rune and Carling.

Tricks and Tiago are mentioned since they play a role in how Rune and Carling come to be together.

I ended up reading aall 9 of the Kushiel series. It was more like 3 trilogies. I enjoyed the characters so much and her depictions of the places they ended up visiting how it correlated to "real world" places.

I read all of the "Desperate Duchhesses" series and really enjoyed them.

I am actually in a phase of reading a lot of the historic romance books at the moment. I am a little burn out on the paranormal thing.

I have all of the Ill wind books (except #3) and plan on reading all of them, at some point.
I did not start actively participating in Vaginal Fantasies until Kushiel Dart, and I have the second book of that series, but I am just slowly reading it now and then.

I read all the Kushiel books years ago, well the original two trilogies I guess. I've read all the Sirantha Jax books, and actually just picked up the last one in the series this week. I finished the Weather Warden series as well, and they do actually get better as the series progresses. I don't think I can stand to read any more of the Desperate Duchesses series, the first one made me want to throw my Kindle across the room.

I'm on the fifth Kushiel book, have the last? Jax book waiting for me, read all the Weather Warden books before it was ever a pick, reading the 2nd Parasol Protectorate right now, read the 2nd Nalini Singh and have the 3rd from the library; intending to continue the Silent in the Grave and Grave Witch series, have read the first and second Thea Harrison books... I am somewhat obsessive when it comes to finishing series if you can't tell. Only one I tried and couldn't handle was the second Black Jewels. I am intrigued by that world but the story.... I just can't... Too molesty and weird.

Laura wrote: "I've read all the Parasol Protectorate books, and recommended them to just about everyone I know I loved them so, so much.
I've read the Iron Seas 2nd book by Meljean Brooks and have the new one on..."

I love Dresden Files.. have read all the books he's written in that series (And the Codex Alera) unless there is a new one I don't know yet.

Ive bought Kushiels chosen which is the second book in the series, Ive bought heatstroke second weather warden book and also the kindle only follow on to the Iron Duke I forget the name of it, I want to read more of the grimspace series because I loved that book and also the next in the series after silent in the grave.
So I have plans to read more in a few of the series but my problem is im a slow reader, it generally takes me the entire month to read the monthly pick and Im also trying to read things for the sword and laser group. Oh and I also want to read the Codex Alera series, so so many good books so little time!!

It's not easy being on the other end of the spectrum with regards to reading speed! I average 5 books per week but have read 10 of them in the past 2 weeks. It's an expensive hobby which is why I'm grateful for my library!

Eperdu wrote: "It's not easy being on the other end of the spectrum with regards to reading speed! I average 5 books per week but have read 10 of them in the past 2 weeks. It's an expensive hobby which is why I'm..."

Im so jealous!!! and yes man is it expensive ive spent a small fortune on books just lately lol

Claire said: "And that should probably all go in a different thread, sorry!"

No! That's exactly why I started this thread! :D

I was going to read Chill Wind next, but the way that Doubleblind ended I had to go right into Killbox (Jax #4) since I had both of them sitting on my coffee table waiting. You'll really want to read Doubleblind RIGHT after Wanderlust, too. Ann Aguirre really knows how to do a book cliffhanger, without the story you were currently reading feeling unresolved.

Eperdu wrote: "It's not easy being on the other end of the spectrum with regards to reading speed! I average 5 books per week but have read 10 of them in the past 2 weeks. It's an expensive hobby which is why I'm..."

I'm the same way, but I live in a pretty small town, and our library has a really terrible selection of books. If it's less than 20 years old, it's probably not available. Therefore, I spend a huge amount of money on books.

Christine wrote: "I was going to read Chill Wind next, but the way that Doubleblind end..."

The last one in the Jax series just came out, right? With all these cliffhangers I keep hearing about I'm kind of glad I didn't discover the series until now! I'v got a few days off in a row coming up and I may have to stock up and plan a marathon.

Grave Witch: I'd read the sequel immediately and thought I'd found something I'd follow until the author ended the series, but I've stalled a few chapters into book 3 because its turned into this dreary seen-it-before love triangle. If I wanted a love triangle with only a token non-romance plot, I'd go back to the Stephanie Plum novels.

The Iron Duke: starting the next in The Iron Seas series today. (Yay!)Yes, The Iron Duke was the worst in the series and is in no way indicative of the quality of swashbuckling, non-rapey, female-character-driven adventure Meljean Brooks can write. I hated parts of The Iron Duke so much that despite reading every other book and novella in the series I don't think I'll bother with the snippet that fills in Mina & DickHead's missing months. (Loved the alt pic much more, but the rest of The Parasol Protectorate series is near the bottom of my huge tbr pile)

Gabriel's Ghost:I'm still recc-ing Hope's Folly to anyone who doesn't run away fast enough, but I think that's as far as my Linnea Sinclair explorations will go.(Loved the alt pic much more, but the rest of The Sirantha Jax series is near the bottom of my huge tbr pile too) .

Nine Rules (etc): Read the other 3 immediately.

Oracle's Moon: I'd read all of those Thea Harrison books prior to VFH. Some are pretty generic but others are really good. Dragon Bound starts of great then gets a bit silly, but I really enjoyed the timey wimey stuff in Serpent's Kiss

I usually like to make sure my reading genres don't touch on the plate, so three cheers to VFH for booting me out of my comfort zone! Also "boooooo!" to VFH for quadrupling my TBR pile. The average human life span does not accommodate my reading goals, dammit!

One problem I'm having with everything here in one thread is hitting spoilers or maybe not being on that book.

I've read all of some of the books, a few of others and none of some so I have to stop looking at this thread since I don't want to hit any spoilers even though I'd really like to continue chatting about the books.

Jute wrote: "One problem I'm having with everything here in one thread is hitting spoilers or maybe not being on that book."

I agree. I started some new threads for past series that we've read - all in their book specific folder - so people can start discussing series there.

I also updated the VF Picks: Book and Series Discussion Index to include links to series discussions for all series.

If a discussion for the series already existed, I linked that one. If one didn't exist, I made one.

Hopefully this will help fuel series discussion and keep it all organized!

I had to re-read this thread and looks for spoilers and I didn't see anything that would ruin a book for anyone. I think we've all been pretty careful about it.

Eperdu wrote: "I had to re-read this thread and looks for spoilers and I didn't see anything that would ruin a book for anyone. I think we've all been pretty careful about it."

I don't think there's anything super spoiler-y yet, but I think it make sense to break off discussions like this to their own threads.

Imagine if we were discussing Lord of the Rings and The Hitchhiker's Guide in the same thread - people reading one but not the other would surely stumble upon spoiler-y things.

This is fine for general comments about what series you are/aren't continuing to read - but I think separate threads are better for more in-depth discussions on what you like/don't like about the series.

This also isn't the only place people are talking about series - it seems like a lot of people want to talk about them but aren't sure where to go. Please don't think I'm trying to crash your party, I'm just trying to make it easier for everyone to find and discuss the things they want to discuss!