30 Days of Books - Day 25

Any five books from your “to be read” stack

In no particular order:

• A Shiver of Light - Laurell K. Hamilton
• Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
• The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri
• The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole
• Betrayer - C. J. Cherryh

What's in your "waiting to be read" pile?

30 Days of Books - Day 22

Favorite non-sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)

Kiriel's copy of Anita Blake: The First Death by Laurell K. Hamilton

Hands down, My favorite platonic relationship is between Anita and Edward in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels. Earlier this month, I blogged about Anita as My favorite female character in a novel. Edward is one of Anita's best friends and one of the people who taught Anita to kick ass as well as she does.

Edward is ex-special forces turned hit man. But he doesn't take contracts on humans anymore. Edward only hunts lycanthropes and vampires because killing humans got too easy. In Laurell K. Hamilton's mythology, vampires like to give nicknames. It's a sign of respect. Anita is "The Executioner" because she's killed more vampires than anyone...except Edward. The vampires call Edward "Death."

Do you have a favorite friendship in a novel? Comment and tell Me the name of the novel or series and who the characters are.

30 Days of Books - Day 21

Favorite romantic/sexual relationship (including asexual romantic relationships)

I've read a lot of romance novels and novels with romantic subplots. A lot, as in hundreds. Of all of them, My favorite romantic relationship is between Merry and her men in Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry novels.

That's right, I said men. Plural. How Merry winds up with six husbands and at least another half-dozen part time lovers - all at the same time - is a long and convoluted story, but suffice it to say there's a lot of sexy time happening in these books. Ohhhh myyyy.

What's your favorite amorous relationship in a novel? 

30 Days of Books - Day 15

Favorite female character

Anita Blake (from Kiriel's copy of The First Death Pt. 1 comic)

I first discovered Laurell K. Hamilton when I had a subscription to a sci-fi and fantasy book club. They had a compendium of the first three Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels. I bought it on the recommendation of an ex-boyfriend who had already read them and I loved it. Anita is the perfect combination of sarcastic wit and kick-ass fighting. Granted, she has a lot of personal issues (who am I kidding, the girl has subscriptions), but I love her anyway.

Who's your favorite female character? Is the book part of a series or a stand-alone novel?

30 Days of Books - Day 14

Favorite male character

Kiriel's copy of Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton

One of My favorite series is the Merry Gentry novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. There are a lot of male characters in Laurell K. Hamilton's novels and I love quite a few of them. But the one that stands out above the rest is Doyle, aka "Darkness." He's a sidhe* warrior and ends up being Merry's lover. Merry is a fairy princess and heir to the throne. Doyle is a fitting consort to be king to her queen.



*Sidhe - the high-court fey in Celtic mythology; similar to J. R. R. Tolkien's high elves in the Lord of the Rings.

30 Days of Books - Day 3 + Wordless Wednesday

A book or series of books you’ve read more than five times

Part of Kiriel's collection of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels