(no subject)

[tygati]

I have figured it out. *nod*

So, a while back I was reading Mercedes Lackey's One Good Knight and kinda whining a bit about how it was written for a fantasy-romance publisher but wasn't really much of a romance thing, and was speculating as to maybe maderr had just spoiled me.

Turns out it is not so! There is apparently a very different approach needed to write a good romance than is required for a good adventure story. Mercedes Lackey writes adventure stories. Grand quests, fantastic creatures, magic powers... yeah. You get swept away in the events and sometimes almost forget that there's usually a romance a-brewing too. Now, don't get me wrong, Misty Lackey is my absolute favorite author, but she probably shouldn't write romances. She focuses too much on Plot and things happening and not enough on people and emotions- perfect in her normal genre, but kinda disappointing when you're expecting something else.

Tonight, I was reading a new book. Fifth in a series, actually, though I haven't read the first four in quite a while. So, as I was reading and squeeing over the main couple, it suddenly occured to me that it's almost like reading one of maderr's stories, only with a het couple. o.o Weird.

But, yeah. 9.9 Both of 'em have figured out how to weave the story in such a way that the events occurring around the main characters are almost trivial- important in how they affect the characters, but not too overpowering that your attention is taken away from where it belongs. You really care about these characters, to the point where I had to put the book down and come write this because something really terrible just happened and, while I know everything will be okay in the end, I'm worried enough that I keep trying to skip pages. >.> Bad Kitty.

So. Much love for Sharon Shinn's Angel-Seeker. Also much love for Archangel. Not so impressed with the other three, but that may be because there was more plot and less relationship in those. Shinn is good at emotions and impossible romances. Not so much grand adventures. But write me another couple like Gabriel & Rachel or Obadiah & Rebekah, and I will be a happy camper. ^.^

*toddles back to book*

Comments

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

I loved Archangel too. Although I remember reading it and accidentally stumbling onto the mother of all plotholes. Something about Raphael. I'd have to look back at it to remember it fully. Still an awesome book.

I read once that a romance novel is actually two novels in one book. They're right: you have the action plot (what is happening to the characters) and the emotional plot (the romantic parts). Some people (even some romance novelists) don't get that. I'm not surprised that the fantasy novelists (there were others who also wrote for that line of romance books) can't do romance.

[since-that-day.livejournal.com]

*goes totally drool fest over the mere mention of Mercedes Lackey's work* Gaaah! I adore her! I'm almost at the cult level!

I hope you read Fairy Godmother before One Good Knight or else it's no good. But, the third one was by far the most amazing thing I've ever read... sort of and I think. Damned book love.

Signed, zee Logophile!