I am a masochist

[kelliem]

No, I'm not confessing to secretly being into BDSM, (apologies to anyone who was about to call me a hypocrite since I've always maintained I dislike BDSM fic) but rather I am confessing to the fact that once I start a series of books, I have a hard time stopping before I get to the end, even if in some ways they annoy the snot out of me.

Case in point. I was out of things to read, having just finished my newly-delivered copy of matociquala's New Amsterdam, (which I loved!) and my housemate handed me a stack of three books, a series basically in the Supernatural Romance/Mystery genre by someone Kelley Armstrong, which have a female werewolf for a protagonist.

Now, I've read two of the books, and am only halfway through the third (and have just come to realize that the housemate apparently didn't realize there are two other books loosely related to this series that I probably should read if I want to have the complete picture) but still, on the basis of two-and-a-half books out of five I can definitely say that I would like the whole series a LOT better if the protagonist would STOP DOING STUPID THINGS THAT GET HER IN TROUBLE. The book cover blurb says "Smart, sexy and supernatural" but I'm finding she's definitely NOT smart.

And yanno, I could probably handle the occasional foray into stupidity without too much bitching, but the aspect that makes the whole series absolutely maddening to me is is that nine times out of ten the person who warned her not to do the stupid thing is male. The books are virtually paens to patriarchalism (though I suspect the author would be shocked to find someone saying that since the protagonist usually manages to get herself out of the fix she got herself into) but every single time, it seems like if she'd just listened to The Male tm (who is apparently all-seeing and wise) she wouldn't have gotten into the fix to start with. Gah.

I am also very not fond of the fact that in Book One she's living with a human guy, practically engaged to him, yet goes back to sleeping with her supposedly much-loathed werewolf ex BF at the drop of a hat without, apparently, feeling much guilt over it. Other than at sleeping with someone she ostensibly hates. No thought spared to the infidelity aspect.

Yes, I have issues about infidelity.

However, despite all of the above, I will probably finish the third book. And that makes me a masochist.

Comments

[elynross.livejournal.com]

I started the first couple books in this series a few years back with high hopes, because in concept it's the kind of thing I like, but really not. I've skimmed some of the later ones, and they're no better. I can't say I articulated what bugged me in any real degree, but they just felt... mushy, somehow, and histrionic and kludgy, and yeah, like I'm supposed to see the female protagonists as these strong women, but they seemed to succeed as much by sheer luck as any actual competence.

If you haven't read them, I'd recommend Patricia Briggs's Moon Called and Blood Bound, about a coyote shapeshifting woman and her dealings with the fae and vampires and werewolves -- I found her a much more satisfying heroine.

Ditto

[cattraine.livejournal.com]

Brigg's books are much better. Armstrong's books remind me way too much of regency romances--only with more fur.

Re: Ditto

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Now see, I like a good Regency romance (emphasis on good) now and then, in part because the women in them usually really are competent and strong. The women in the Armstrong books... aren't.

Re: Ditto

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

Georgette Heyer, anyone?

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

they seemed to succeed as much by sheer luck as any actual competence.

Yes! Exactly! So frustrating and annoying.

I'll look for the Briggs' books next time I'm bookshopping, thanks.