I read through the first three of the Stackhouse series, and I think I skimmed through two more (I picked them up at a used Library bookstore!).
I liked the voice, too, but as the series went on, I didn't like the increasingly unhealthy and twisted relationship between Sookie and her vamp-lover, and her other vamp-lover. The relationships are treated as unhealthy and codependent, but that doesn't mean they aren't fetishized at the same time, if you know what I mean.
I have the same complaints about female characters in urban fantasy and its variations. I think it's because of the Romance origins of much of vampire/urban fantasy lore. Not all urban fantasy (at least, the "legitimate" urban fantasy of the type written before this kind took off). Why do they have to have tons of guys falling over them and panting after them? ALL.THE.TIME?
I actually wrote a vent-post on this about urban fantasy a few months ago. I'm also sick and tired of the dom-sub relationships that uf tends to reiterate until it's dead in the water. (maybe that should be the title of the next Stackhouse book...)
I can see this variety of urban fantasy having a large crash in a couple of years. It'll always be *around*, but not in force the way it is now.
I hate to sound sexist, but uf should be labelled as "urban fantasy ROMANCE". I really am not overly fond of Romance weaseling its way into my fantasy books. I hates it.
no subject
I liked the voice, too, but as the series went on, I didn't like the increasingly unhealthy and twisted relationship between Sookie and her vamp-lover, and her other vamp-lover. The relationships are treated as unhealthy and codependent, but that doesn't mean they aren't fetishized at the same time, if you know what I mean.
I have the same complaints about female characters in urban fantasy and its variations. I think it's because of the Romance origins of much of vampire/urban fantasy lore. Not all urban fantasy (at least, the "legitimate" urban fantasy of the type written before this kind took off). Why do they have to have tons of guys falling over them and panting after them? ALL.THE.TIME?
I actually wrote a vent-post on this about urban fantasy a few months ago. I'm also sick and tired of the dom-sub relationships that uf tends to reiterate until it's dead in the water. (maybe that should be the title of the next Stackhouse book...)
I can see this variety of urban fantasy having a large crash in a couple of years. It'll always be *around*, but not in force the way it is now.
I hate to sound sexist, but uf should be labelled as "urban fantasy ROMANCE". I really am not overly fond of Romance weaseling its way into my fantasy books. I hates it.