I was a big fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series when it first came out. In fact, it was one of the first adult novels I had ever read when I was making my transition from YA to regular books. Halfway through the series (about when Narcissus in Chains came out) the plot disappeared and the Anita books that I had come to love devolved into poorly written PWP (porn without a plot). I just found out that her next two Anita books are titled Flirt and Bullet. I just don't know if I can make myself buy her books anymore. Anyone else disappointed with her latest books?

Also, just found out that the TV series they were supposed to be working on got scrapped. Apparently LKH didn't want hem changing the plot of her books at ALL. I guess she doesn't understand that there's only so much sex you can put in a TV show before HBO and Showtime can't even show it anymore. This makes me sad because I was really looking forward to what the screenwriters might be able to do for the book series that I fell in love with as a teen.

I totally agree with you Cheryl.  The Anita Blake series was one of the first paranormal books I have ever read too. Since the books started going down hill I don't even bother buying the books new.  I either try to get it here or from my local library.  (Yes, I can't believe my small town carries her books.)  I am not really disappoint about the dissolution of her TV series.  I usually like reading the book than watching it on the screen.

I think that it would have been interesting to see how the writers would take her early work and continue it without the smutt dissolution. Goodness, they'd have to actually write a plot!

I just got so tired of the constant sex without any emotional attachment or commitment, especially when the books didn't start out that way. Don't get me wrong, I like erotica just fine. But the books started out as a noir crime/mystery series but with paranormal creatures, and turned into mindless sex. I also got tired of Anita's amazing ability to grow powers out of thin air every time she encounters a bigger-and-badder new enemy. Spoiler:  It makes me wonder how she is going to defeat Mamee Noir. Will she figure out that she's actually a demi-goddess and just wish her away? It's ridiculous!

I like having a TV series to go with a much loved book series, but I find sometimes it's frustrating.   I get super annoyed with True Blood.  I totally love the show, don't get me wrong, but I find the Sookie and Bill storyline to be getting a little old, even if the main characters are engaged off screen.  I don't think a plot should be changed that drastically, but we'll see how the next season plays out.  On the other hand, I've read the Dexter novels and loved them but am 100 percent devoted to the show.

I feel the same way. Although with Dexter I think that they actually improved upon the story line. I enjoyed he novels but I love how Michael C. Hall portrays Dexter. He really makes the show work.

I agree with True Blood and am excited that they are bringing in Erik as a romantic interest. Although I didn't really like the way they made the issue with the Maened the entire plot of season two since she wasn't that much of the focus in the book. I also don't care for their complete role reversal with Tera and Arlene, mostly because Tera gets on my nerves a bit. I can't wait for them to bring in the shifters. I'm really interested to see who they get to play Quinn. 

Ohhh yeah Quinn is going to be interesting.  Back in the day I would have said Billy Zane, but I actually think the perfect actor to play Quinn would be Boris Kodjoe.  Don't know why he totally strikes me as Quinn though.  Dexter they definitely improved on the story line.  They actually didn't even touch on book 2 at all, which would have been hard since it was pretty gruesome. 

Yeah, I don't even know where they came up with the story line for Tara, in the book she not only had a very short role but she was white and a completely different character altogether.   The maenad was annoying in the show, utterly annoying.  I mean, in the books her love affair with Bill lasted all of 2 books I think and her connection with Eric went throughout.  I just hate to think that they're going to push the whole Bill thing because Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are engaged.  I even got the feeling that Harris' last book was leaning toward a reconcile with Bill and I also think that has to do with the show.  I think she changed up because of the hype of the show fans (personal opinion), but if there were no show and only books 90 percent of fans would want her to end up with Eric, they always had more, Bill was just a first crush who was never honest with her.

LKH really has a talent for making compelling characters, and her worldbuilding is top-notch - that's what keeps me reading her books.

I don't mind all of Anita's men, I don't mind the sex, but I definitely miss the crime-solving (anyone else think the "investigating" Anita did in the last book was more like Anita running around like a chicken with her head cut off than an actual investigation?) and I really miss Jean-Claude. He's my absolute favorite vampire ever and it seems like he's taken a major backseat to all this other stuff Anita has going on. I too get annoyed with the new powers popping up whenever it's convienent for the storyline. LKH has written herself into a mess with the huge cast of characters, though, I do like the vast majority of her characters in her books but it isn't easy to give that many great characters all the time they deserve.

I really hate that LKH created the ardour for Anita. I understand it with Jean Cleaude, but to bring anita into it seemed like a cop-out for getting this religious, sexually conservative woman to start having S&M orgies. I really hate that she has sex with about 20 different men. It's just so out of character and not with the original story line or character at all. I agree, I miss Jean-Claude. I also miss Asher. He was one of my favorite characters and I think that he got turned into a minor backgroung character. I think that all in all it would have been better if she stuck to just a few lovers, maybe 4 or 5, instead of this endless stream of new guys. I don't even remember half of them! It's just so ridiculous and I can't take her books seriously anymore. I miss the crime solving. And yes, Anita has been running around like a chicken with her head cut off.

Kim - Did you notice that in the last Sookie book Charlaine Harris describes Tera just like the actress? The character's race and dialogue completely change to fit the TV show. I was outraged at this. I understand why the screenwriters changed some stuff for the show, but the books should NOT be incorporating these changes. I wish that Sookie will stay with Erik and not go back to Bill. It wouldn't make any sense. In the TV show it appears that he left her because he was forcibly kidnapped by his maker, while in the book he left of his own free will and didn't tell her why until she goes down there to confront him and hauls his butt back. What I don't understand about the show is if Bill was magically "released" by his maker why can she still control him? It doesn't  make any sense. I think they are just afraid to stay true to the book and have Bill look like the asshole he is. Can you tell that I'm Team Erik?  Lol

Okay.  Sadly, I don't even remember Tara being in the last book...LOL  But now that you say that, I'm totally pissed off.  That's what I mean, that's why the last book wasn't really good, because she's trying to tailor it to the show instead of "writing" the characters she's created.  It's ridiculous.  The funny part is, if you've seen there's an interview with Alex Skaarsgard and he talks about being nervous to play Eric's character because of the overwhelming response to Eric and the anticipation from true Sookie fans about him, NOT BILL.  I understand that writers have to change some things to make it better for the screen, but the bottom line is, when a fan wants to see books come to life and LOVE the books that means they love the characters the way they are and want to see it played out on.  Especially when you take a love triangle and everyone leans toward a bond and then they go and switch it the opposite way, WTH?

I only watched a few episodes of True Blood before tuning out. I didn't really care for the show at all. I really hated Tara's character in the show and all the extra storyline they put into that (with her mom, with Sam, etc...). I did like Jason and what they had going on with him though. But I just don't think the show is that great compared to the books. Maybe if I hadn't read any of the books I'd feel differently, I dunno.

Kim- The only thing I can say to that is that they haven't done it yet. Although they are certainly setting it up so that Bill could come back and be forgiven, at least they are still sticking to the basic storyline. I preferred her relationship with Erik, because even though it was complicated it was also more honest. And Erik doesn't seem like the type to run off for months with no word or notice or post card saying "hey, I'm still alive so don't stress." I can't wait for them to bring in the shifters, and I wonder how they are going to do that whole thing with Alcai (sp?), whom I really didn't care for. I love me some Quinn though. 

Back to Laurell Hamilton....I'm with those who have given up. The sex is not an issue at all; they all just seem to be more of the same. She got real old, real fast, to me.

eric is getting a love interest but it isn't sookie....so glad I don't watch the show lol http://www.sidereel.com/_post/179913

Well -- Sookie does date Alcide, and then Quinn before she hooks up with Eric.

yea, but eric isn't suppose to have anyone else, least not on screen

Anyone else think Anita Blake is like the worst dressed heroine in any books?  LOL  I swear, every time I read one of those books and she's describing her outfits I have flashbacks to the '80s.

her and everyone else in the book, omg the things that woman puts on jean claude....course I haven't read the last few since they turned into garbage,.....but i was always redressing them in my head

I think I recall a Tweetie Bird sweater in one of the books, or was it a T-shirt...either way, yikes!

Anita's penguin fetish for nightwear was always odd. I guess it's supposed to be charming... but in my book a grown woman sleeping with dozens of stuffed animals on her bed is just odd.

As for True Blood  - I'm glad they're finally bringing Alcaid in because that means they're getting closer to Quinn.  :D  I don't know how I feel about a love interest for Eric since he and Sookie are supposed to be together. I guess the show doesn't want to do this since Moyer and Pacquin are a real couple... *shruggs* we'll see how it turns out. Eric will always be my favorite character no matter who they throw at him.

I don't watch the show, for many reasons but one is cause I can't stand Bill. I think it's bad buisness to have them together just because they are a real life couple.

Eric is my fav character in the books

Totally bad business.  Not bad if you're a professional and can handle whatever turn the story line takes, but if they change the story line because of it, BAAAADDD.   Example, Dexter Morgan is married to Jennifer Carpenter who plays his SISTER on the show, but still has a wife and gets hot and heavy with her.  Professional.  Fans of the books want to see their books come to life on the screen, not changed.  If they wanted to change it they should have just made up a new show.  It's annoying as hell.

Okay.  Can someone please tell around what book she stops hating on Jean-Claude and actually "gets together" with him?   I'm only on book 5, so her constant hatred and goody two-shoes thing is annoying.  Although I love the books, don't get me wrong.  But come on already.  LOL I find it hard to picture that she goes from Mother Theresa to a slut later on in the series with her "no sex before marriage" like we're in the 1920's or something.

Your almost there.  Everything changes in book 6.

cool.  It was gettiing annoying..LOL  Thanks.  Now I'm dying to get this one done. 

Okay.  I loved Killing Dance, some things definitely annoyed me, but overall was I was happy.  I started reading the reviews of all the books after and I cannot believe what I was reading.  Went from 4-5 stars down to 1-2 stars, starting at around book 10.  Like everyone here said, but the way the stories and characters are described was literally horrifying.  How can an author change an entire series that way?  That's why you have character building.  If you want to completely change plot and character, write a new series.  I honestly think I may get to book 10 and stop.  I would hate to totally ruin this series for myself.  If she wanted to start writing erotica, she should have, but used a new character.  UGH.  I haven't even gotten that far, but I'm annoyed.  LOL  5 books of Jean-Claude trying to win her for him to become a snivveling pet later on.  STOP