Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter or Anita Blake or Karin Marie Moning-Fever Series or Jacqueline Frank-Nightwalkers or Kim Harrison-Rachael Morgan...

Which one to start???

I love the Rachel Morgan series. I love the world the author has created and I loved all the characters from the beginning. There is humor and friendship and loyalty and love all in this believable fantasy world. Lots of action and great plots. I also love how long the books are. I am always so glad to start one of these books because I'm going to get to spend a lot of time inside that world. There are always surprises that keep me guessing. There is always an ending that makes it seem impossible to wait for the next book. This is one of those series that people either love it or hate it. If you weren't able to get into the first book, I'm not sure you'd enjoy the series. I think they get better and better, but I also loved the first one.

I have read only the first two dark hunters and I liked them both. The first one wasn't as closely related to the rest of the series, but the writing is similar. She's a good writer. Likeable characters. Heavy on the romance. I haven't gotten far into the series though to say much beyond that.

Can't help on the other series either. I own them all, but have not gotten around to reading them. I'll be interested to see what other readers suggest so I can take the advice too!

I own all the Harrison books but haven't read them yet. I'll get to them eventually, and people seem to either love them or hate them.

I haven't read Moning's fever series, but they are pretty well received around here.

I just started Frank's Nightwalkers series. I'm almost through the first book, and its been good so far.

I personally am not a fan of Kenyon. I have read a couple of her books, and I just don't like her writing style. It seems very juvenile and underdeveloped to me, but that is just my opinion. She has a huge, rabid, fan base.

Basically, you're just going to have to choose whatever appeals to you the most at the present time. What are you in the mood for?

Oops, I skipped right over the Anita Blake series... I have read the first four of those and liked them. I'll get back to that series eventually.

I'm reading the Anita Blake series now and loving them. I'm up to book 10. I've also read the first Rachel Morgan book and liked it a lot. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I really want to read the Dark Hunter series but am having problems finding the earlier books. Have you read all of the Southern Vampire books by Charlaine Harris? They are fabulous.

I haven't read any of the other books but I have read the first 2 of the Anita Blake ones and I would say read those. And I agree with Lori... the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire books by Charlaine Harris would be my number one pick over the Anita Blake ones. lol

I'm not a Sherrilyn Kenyon fan, read a few of her books in the Dark Hunter series, and it was sort of blah for me.

I like the Anita Blake series, even though I did not read it in order. Fascinated by KMM's Fever series, so that comes highly recommended by me.

As for Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalkers, I like the first two I've read so far, but I also understand why others don't like it. The descriptions are pretty long and detailed, and if you sort of want action immediately, it might not be your thing. I would still suggest you trying the first book, and see if it is to your liking.

Unfortunately, I haven't read Kim Harrison's books yet.

FOr me it's one of the following:

Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter
Jacqueline Frank-Nightwalkers

The stories are totally different, but I think you'll like them. Yes, Frank's is a bit wordy, but I found after I got a bit into them, I didn't notice that as much. It was the story that kept me in them. :)

Jennifer---In the mood for something to get hopelessly sucked into! I have a gift card on its way to me that I plan on shamelessly blowing on books.

I am borrowing the Sooki Stackhouse series from a friend when she is done (excited about getting into those!)

The list that I had were ones that I had on my list that I have been avoiding for some reason—not sure why…Did that for a long time with the Kresley Cole Immortals After Dark series and when I finally gave up and got them, I ended up loving them…Wanted something established, with a ton a books out that I can binge on!

Also open to any other recommendations!

Tracey Ellen I love Anita Blake the only book in that series I wsn't too happy with was Blood Noir. I read the first Rachel Morgan and put it down half through. Nightwalker and the Fever series are on my TBR list as well so I ca't you there. I say go for Anita Blake they're very entertaining.

Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter or Anita Blake or Karin Marie Moning-Fever Series or Jacqueline Frank-Nightwalkers or Kim Harrison-Rachael Morgan...

Both the Anita Blake series and the Rachel Morgan series are urban fantasy. The Dark-Hunter series is paranormal romance. So if you want the happily ever after type romance, I'd go with Sherrilyn Kenyon. If you want more mutable relationships, you might light the urban fantasy series better.

My personal favorite is Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. The characters are so real they stay with you long after you put the books down. I am up to date with all three series.

I haven't read anything by the other two authors.

I've read all of the Dark Hunter and Nightwalker series. Both great but if I had to choose one it would be Dark Hunter.

Frank's Nightwalker series is similar to Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series. I like Showalter's series better though. It's written better, and the characters feel more real to me. The plot is grittier, a little more urban fantasy. Frank's Nightwalker series is good, but a bit schmaltzy.

I love the Rachel Morgan series. Each book gets better and better. The best thing about them is that the characters for the most part are neither all bad or all good, and everyone shows progression over the series.

Karen Marie Moning is another one that the first book was good, but the 2 after that just keep getting better and better. Her characters really show development over the course of the series. You'll be left hanging until the next installment comes out though.

Love the Anita Blake series...at least for the first 10 or so books. After that the story will take a back seat to the sex. I will say though that the latest book, Blood Noir, is showing signs that Hamilton is getting back on track with the story.

I like Sherrilyn Kenyon's books; some of them more than others. Acheron was phenomenal.

I'm in the middle of Frank's Nightwalker series and am liking them pretty well. I agree with Jennifer that they can be a bit schmaltzy...especially the first book. They are more of a romantic nature than the others.

Diana, I have a theory about the Evolution of Anita. I'm totally obsessed with these books and because of that have been spending way too much time thinking about them LOL. I'm reading Incubus Dreams right now and I think it's fascinating how Anita's character has morphed from nun to nympho. Not complaining...au contrair...I love the turn the books have taken, I just think it's fascinating. After reading about Laurell's personal life, it seems obvious to me that the books reflect what is going on in her life at the time. With her first husband, there was very little sex in the books and he wanted Anita to wait until marriage before she and Richard did the deed. Once their marriage fell apart and Laurell started dating Jon, Anita came into her own and embraced her sexuality...well as much as Anita can. I think Laurell had a sexual awakening of her own...thanks to Jon...and as she became more comfortable with her own sexuality, so did Anita. It's as if while writing Cerulean Sins & Incubus Blues, sex was never far from her mind. Isn't that the way it is in every new relationship. That's all you think about. I think we have Jon to credit for Anita's metamorphosis. It makes sense that now that she and Jon have been together for awhile that the heat and passion of their relationship has probably mellowed a little and her writing would be less sexcentric.

Agreeing with Jennifer and Diana on Frank and her sappiness, LOL.

Okay---so I got the first 4 Anita Blake (stupid box set sucked me in) and the first two Dark-Hunters. We'll see how it goes!